NC: $8.8M Verdict for Alienation of Affections & Criminal Conversation

The heartbalm torts–torts used to soothe a spouse’s heart if cheated upon–have been abrogated in most jurisdictions.  Six jurisdictions, however, retain some version of alienation of affections, criminal conversation, or both:  Hawaii, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, and Utah.  In these states, a cheated-upon spouse can sue the interloper in the marriage, not the other spouse.  North Carolina makes the most use of these torts, and this week a man was hit with an $8.8M verdict for conducting a 16-month affair with another man’s wife.  Most of the verdict was in punitive damages, but $2.2M was in compensatory damages.  When the plaintiff learned of his wife’s infidelity, his business lost revenue and a valued employee (his wife).  CNN has the story.