What is your opinion of the "alienation of affection" laws?

Question

A friend of mine was sued for seeing a married woman for something called alienation of affection. Personally I think this law is Brilliant. What are your thoughts?

Answer 1

Absolutely Brilliant!!! If more people thought they would get into trouble with the law for sleeping with someone else's spouse or for cheating on their own spouse, I think there would be much less adultery. This law is genius!!!

Answer 2

In the US, there are very few states that still allow alienation of affection lawsuits.

My state does allow them, but they’ve been trying for years to get them abolished--so far, unsuccessfully, but I imagine one day they will accomplish it. Many attorneys here support abolishing these lawsuits, and when even attorneys--who make money off these lawsuits--support abolishing them, that says a lot.

In my state (I don’t know about other states because I never researched it in detail), people RARELY win these lawsuits (but when they do win, they win big--there have been some million awards). In order to be successful, the spouse has to prove that there was ‘love and affection’ in the marriage when the new person entered the picture. Generally, that’s not the case. Normally, the marriage was already in trouble before the affair started.

Personally, I think these lawsuits should be abolished in every state. But, I also think that adultery should be a consideration in awarding property settlement and alimony (and in most states, it’s not). That might make people think twice about cheating. If you’re not happy in a marriage, then you need to get divorced *first* before you move on to the next person.

Answer 3

I do not think someone should be able to sue for alienation of affection, however I do believe it should be admissable in all divorces.

Also in response to the poster about PAS - this is abogus syndrome, the APA does not recognize this. This syndrome was created by Richard Gardner (who has since killed himself by slicing his own neck and stabbing himself in the chest), created this bogus syndrome in order to legalize and minimize the effects of spousal abuse, child abuse, and incest. In fact, if you look at his research you will see some of the same people who supported him writing stories and articles about making incest legal, how incest is only bad if we choose to tell children it is bad, and also saying that a father should be allowed to freely express his feelings for his children no matter what form those feelings might take.

Answer 4

I think it's stupid and that the government has absolutely no place in the bedroom of any couple. I think that America has gone over the top with lawsuits and this is just another example of the idiocy of the American judicial system. Your friend was sleeping with a married woman, sure, but your friend is in no way responsible for the end of her marriage. Why? Well, it was over long before they started sleeping together for her to even do that and besides, if it wasn't him, it would just be some other guy or girl. What's the point in suing him besides bitter payback? Screw it.

Answer 5

It is brilliant. I think more people should use it. No sense in anyone ever cheating on the other with someone. If they didn't want to be with the person they married, they should have given it more thought be for they married.

Answer 6

It sure beats affection of aliens.

Answer 7

Yes, me too. They should also strongly apply to divorced parents with children - parental alienation from the child. Anyone who steps in and tries to alienate a husband and wife or parent and child should get in trouble.....it is wrong.

Answer 8

I think it is a law based on archaic property laws. I think it is now used as a modern method of vengeance and I think that is childish.