Interesting NC Court Decisions
In North Carolina, a father has zero say in their child's life -- if he's not married to the mother. Keep that in mind, potential fathers. In the decision, the courts ruled that a father could not object to a child being put up for adoption the mother supported.
In addition, the court ruled that the alienation of affection law (utterly HATED by liberal Democrats) could be applied to someone who steals a spouse even after the date of divorce. The alienation of affection law, for those not in NC, says that if one person "lures" another into adultery, the person not in the marriage can be sued for financial and other damages. In this case, the relationship started, then the couple got divorced. And folks, that's against the law. Keep that in mind, if you're visiting the this state.
Comments
As for the other one, what the hell. The article you have linked doesn't say anything about "stealing" a spouse after a divorce. If it did I think I'd be a little more livid. Once the divorce is finalized, then there is no alienation of affection (rolleyes). They are divorced, end of story.
As for having an affair before the marriage is disolved, in Illinois that's criminal charges called "adultry" and "Fornication".
Posted by: Contagion at February 03, 2006 01:41 PM (Q5WxB)
Adultery is a criminal matter, something different altogether. At issue in the case linked was that the non-marriage member started a relationship with the married person, then the divorce happened, then the sex. The court ruled that was still alienation of affection and the non-married person who "stole" the married person is still liable.
Posted by: Ogre at February 03, 2006 02:22 PM (/k+l4)
The difference between the criminal/civil issue I understand, I was just stating it's Illegal to have an affair in this state. Rarely inforced.
But this civil law in NC is just stupid. I'm sorry.
Posted by: Contagion at February 03, 2006 03:26 PM (Q5WxB)
Posted by: Smoke Eater at February 03, 2006 03:46 PM (K7uqT)
I like the law, myself, because it does encourge fidelity. And that is the state's business -- without more citizens, there is no state.
Posted by: Ogre at February 03, 2006 03:57 PM (/k+l4)
Posted by: Contagion at February 04, 2006 12:27 AM (e8b4J)
Posted by: Ogre at February 04, 2006 02:24 PM (+Gl1m)
How do they prove the one person was lured away? Is it just because it happens? If Jane meets Ted and decides she likes him better then her husband Tom and starts the affair. Does that mean Tom has no case? What if Tom has been emotionally distant because he spends all his time blogging? There are too many factors here.
Posted by: Contagion at February 04, 2006 03:43 PM (Q5WxB)
It is a questionable law, but it's intent is to keep married couples intact. It's designed to keep people honest. It's designed to promote families.
If Jane likes Ted better than Tom, then why did she marry Tom? Marriages are supposed to be "till death do us part," so saying she made a mistake is not enough. If Tom is emotionally distant, that doesn't give Jane the right to ignore her marriage vows (for better or worse).
In a way, I see this as an additional function of the state: contract enforcement. Jane and Tom signed a contract. If one of the two parties breaks that contract, the state should be able to intervene to enforce the contract or award damages against the party who broke the contract!
But then again, contract law is pretty much non-existent today.
Posted by: Ogre at February 04, 2006 03:48 PM (+Gl1m)
Contracts are all well and good, but even the most binding of contracts have legal ways to be broken. Especially if both sides don't live up to that contract.
It'd be fun if I was a lawyer to use this law to sue a husband for using the internet. It's an alienation of affection, especially if he's looking at porn.
And I'm seeing this a gateway law to other ways for the government to dictate how I can and can't live my life.
Posted by: Contagion at February 04, 2006 04:43 PM (Q5WxB)
Posted by: Ogre at February 04, 2006 11:11 PM (+Gl1m)
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