A Mississippi millionaire must pay $750,000 to the man whose wife he stole away, after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case.
Sandra Valentine had been married to plumber Johnny Valentine for four years when she began working for Holly Springs, Miss., businessman Jerry Fitch Sr.
Within a year, Sandra and Fitch, who was also married, began an affair. When Sandra got pregnant, Johnny, who suspected she was cheating, ordered a paternity test, which showed he was not the father.
Johnny filed for divorce and then sued Fitch, claiming “alienation of affection,” or, in other words, stealing his wife’s love.
Johnny won more than $750,000 in state court, and the verdict was upheld by the state Supreme Court. Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case, ending Fitch’s appeal.
I hope Mrs Fitch gets the rest.
Good!
And Gordian, I agree with your comment.
Mississippi is somewhat behind the rest of the nation in their domestic relationship law here. Few states still hold that a wife’s “affection” is the lega property of the husband, such that it can be “stolen” from him by another.
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#3, I know in NC, the alienation of affection law cuts both ways. It’s too bad it’s going out of style–it might help people to know they could get bit by their misbehavior.
[3] B. Rabbit–We lawyers are never dissuaded. We would probably just come up with a new theory, like “tortious interference with a contractual relationship.” 🙂
$750K plus eternity in Hell for committing adultery.
uh, Charley, not that I’m trying to defend the behaviour – there is no defense – but didn’t Somebody say something about sins being forgiven?
A complete defense is that there were no affections to alienate.
Sounds like good old-fashioned justice: indeed a reminder that your misbehaviour will bite you. I understand that alienation-of-affections laws apply to both sexes or at least as in NC they ought to.
[url=http://aconservativesiteforpeace.info]Blog.[/url]
Uh, shouldn’t the wife being paying some dough? She has a free mind, right? Even in Mississippi, right?
being = be
Wow. This treats women like chattel. She walked away of her own free will.
#10, please elaborate. I believe their were 7 states (nc included) with this law.
Glad to hear the adulterers will have to fork over major bucks.