Are you dating a married person in North Carolina, Illinois, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Mexico, South Dakota or Utah?
If so, be aware that if your significant other's significant other can validate his/her marriage in a court of law (presumably with a marriage certificate) and prove that you had sex with hubby/wifey, even just once, he/she can sue the living daylights out of you!
Each of the seven states above listed, have passed legislation which qualifies the act of an outsider having sex with a married person as
"criminal conversion"-or the "anti-jumpoff law". This legislation differs from
"alienation of affection" in that it renders the person's piece-on-the-side wholly responsible and essentially indefensible against the charges: if there exists a marriage certificate, and proof that the husband/wife had sex with the mistress/mister(?) even just once, that person is liable for all "damages"!!! Whether the accusing part of the marriage has had affairs themselves is immaterial!
This all come to light earlier today when gossip blog
MediaTakeOut.com reported that Fantasia Barrino, of American-Idol-Season-3-Winner-and-nothing-else fame might face a hefty lawsuit (we're talking millions!) served by her boyfriend Antwaun Cook's estranged wife in North Carolina!
This all seems atrociously unfair to me-not because I particularly care about Fantasia-but because I am a firm believer that when it comes to infidelity, the guilt should squarely fall on the shoulders of the person breaking the commitment-presumably the married person. I don't condone dating married men/women, but I still think the cheating person is wrong
er than the other parties involved.
I know, I know...many people will say mistresses and misters (we'll just go with this word to convey men who are with women who are taken) are guilty as well; and they are to some extent, but they're also (technically) being cheated on.
In most cases of infidelity-there is one person who is considered the cheater, and two that are being played out. How often do we hear about married men lying to their mistresses, filling them with tall tales that they'll one day be together, and that it's just not the right time for this or that reason *coughTigerWoodscough*?
Mistresses and misters are also (most likely) being lied to-and in my opinion, if a man or woman is capable of breaking that promise, then they're just as capable of cheating/lying to everyone in their life just to get what they want. So why should one victimized part of the cheating equation bear the brunt of blame while the predatory victimizer continues to live freely and blamelessly?
Even if the mistress/mister is not being victimized-if she/he and the cheater are truly in love and just unfortunately met while one of them was taken (I'll admit, it happens), isn't it unfair that an understandably scorned ex-lover has the option of financially destroying them?
And doesn't it seem possible that under this legislation, a couple could set up a wealthy third party just to sue them later and get all the money?
The sociopath in me is already plotting a move to sunny North Carolina, marrying some debonair southern gentleman, running him into the arms of some wealthy harlot, video-taping it, then submitting it all to a North Carolinian court of law.***
***Wealthy southern harlots, fear not. The "sociopath in me" is a tamed pussycat, so I am not really coming for you-though someone else might!
Do you think misters/mistresses should be solely held responsible, morally or financially, for infidelity? Do you think it's appropriate for such issues to be resolved in a court of law?
Recommend
Comments (32)
That's really stupid. While it takes two to cheat, it would make more sense to sue your actual spouse, and not the "other woman."
or you could, you know, not date married people.
how's about that concept?
Why date married people anyway? It's too much drama!
Tacky. I dont see how people who sabotage relationships can stand up & be proud of themselves. When the chips are down & the cheater has to make a choice, 9 times out of 10, he/she are going back to their significant other. And even if they leave them for you, you wont get anything out of it but drama & probably have the same crap done right back to you.
Don't judge Tiger Woods. I'm not a fan of him, but I do like him regardless of what he does, he's still a great golfer and a model of character for all people (He's shown us how to act AND how NOT to act).
But anyways, why would you date married people? *sigh* Datingish..
Only on Datingish will we see such tacky articles. This takes the cake. Why would anyone date someone thats married, unless the married party can't keep it in their pants, and they want a quick hookup or revenge...thats my only reasoning.
Well, now I know 7 more states I won't be moving to any time soon.
well if the said married person lied about their status and ended up dating someone with the intention of cheating, then the person who didn't know is truly the victim. So I think the law should be fudged a little and charge the cheater instead of the cheatee?
If she was an estranged wife, I doubt they thought they'd have a problem from her in this day and age.
@sarahzthoughts@xanga - I agree with this, although some people don't actually know they're cheating because they haven't been told that their partner is married. Also I don't think they we get told straight away and if you're in love then for some people it can be hard to let go.
I'm not saying that cheating is right in that paragraph above, I am just simply explaining what might happen in some cases of cheating.
Awesome! I'm gonna tell my hubby to cheat on me so we can sue someone and get money.
Hella pimpin!hahaha this is so stupid. It won't be long before just looking at a married person becomes illegal. Us Americans always wanna sue everyone. Why not sue your cheating spouse?
Or you could just not be a dip shit slut.
Anyone ever heard of separation? Sometimes people are separated but not yet divorced and date other people.
Narrow minded people...
@greenglow28@xanga - Great Concept. lmao.
No! Because the "other person" may not be aware they're dating a married person. The spouse should be held accountable.
@EarthsAzureLight@xanga - Exactly what I was going to say. Also, there are plenty of people who are being lied to.... who think they are dating a single person when in fact the person is married. Who asks to see a divorce decree or marriage certificate on the first date... or third...or fifth, for that matter?
When it comes to marriage both persons involved in cheating are at fault, unless someone is unaware that their partner is married. I think that cheating is horrible, horrible, horrible, but it's even more horrible, when you are married. If you help someone cheat on your bf or gf that's bad, maybe not as bad as the bf or gf doing the cheating, but if you willingly engage in adultery with someone else you are just as guilty as they are in my book.
PS: People should NOT say I do unless they seriously 100% are ready for and mean what they say when they take their vows.
PPS: I am gonna have to watch out for you, I live in NC lol
So say someone caught their spouse cheating. They sue the person. Then what afterwards...divorce their SO? You have to also keep in mind that not everyone is honest. Kinda stupid I think. Seeing as I live in one of the mentioned states, I wonder how well this will go.
@rainbowbrite2200@xanga - it's tacky to write about actual laws in America, the way they affect people, and my opinion on them? if so, then i'm "tacky" with pride, biddy.
@Shinbi_Belldandy@xanga - "I don't condone dating married men/women, but I still think the cheating person is wronger than the other parties involved...I know, I know...many people will say mistresses and misters (we'll
just go with this word to convey men who are with women who are taken)
are guilty as well; and they are to some extent, but they're also
(technically) being cheated on."
"in my opinion, if a man or woman is capable of breaking that promise,
then they're just as capable of cheating/lying to everyone in their
life just to get what they want"
if you don't bother reading the post...why comment? no one is "standing up and being proud" of anything. i just don't think fantasia should be sued for *millions* by an estranged wife.
reading is cool.
suing the cheater or the other woman/women and getting his/her money isn't enough justification if it happened to me. invite them to the eye for an eye tv show and I'll beat all the mistresses with a baseball bat. you got served, bitch!
he doesn't get a pat on the back either. he'll be a pinata for a day
@missneeraja@tripcrazed - I did read it & I was referring to the cheaters you mentioned, not you.
And marriage is a legal contract according to law, so if it's broken, people can/have & will find grounds to sue. Usually it's the injured party suing the cheater but since there was someone else involved who contributed to the situation, they can be implemented in the suit. Even if it starts in the millions, it'll be settled for a way lower number. If you dont want to pay, I suggest finding a single man/woman & not imposing on someone else's union. Even if you were approached, you should have enough respect for yourself & the other person to not get involved or leave when you find out you were lied to (like you said, it happens).
Although if they could prove it why not? She/he should be just as accountable.
There is a reason why I don't date married people. It's because they are MARRIED.
well, for those that don't know, the cheating spouse does have to pay too (guys anyway), it's called "taking half of everything you own!" haha
I kinda of like this law, only IF the "outsider" know about the marriage and still help your S.O. cheat....then they both deserves what's coming to them!
if your supposedly S.O. didn't tell them that he/she is marriage, then it's kinda of Hurst on the outsider,.....yeah, some people do lie about being "single"