The Law Should Punish Cheating Spouses and Their Lovers

Finally, there is a way for scorned spouses to make the person who broke up their marriage pay.

Literally.

Laws in seven states, including Utah, North Carolina, South Dakota, Hawaii, Mississippi, Illinois and New Mexico, now allow spouses of adulterous mates to sue their partner's lover, according to CNN.com.

These "alienation of affection" lawsuits might be the best way for spurned spouses to keep their wandering partners in check. If their adulterous mates cannot find lovers, they cannot cheat. These lovers are as responsible for the adultery as their married partners and should face the consequences for violating a legally binding agreement.

However, a person who was unaware that his or her new lover was married should not pay for his or her bad judgment.

Of course, there are issues with these lawsuits. There's the possibility that married couples could dupe a wealthy person into sleeping with either of them in order to collect damages. Fortunately, the legal system is designed to prevent these dishonest people from collecting damages they are not owed.

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Lawyer's Affair Costs $1.5 Million

A Mississippi attorney must pay $1.5 million for having an affair with a former client's wife.

Affirming a jury verdict in Rankin County Circuit Court, the Supreme Court of Mississippi found Ronald Henry Pierce liable to his former client, Ernest Allan Cook, who, along with his wife Kathleen Shorkey Cook, had hired Pierce to represent them and their son in a medical malpractice action.

The appellate court found Pierce, a solo practitioner, liable for intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of contract and alienation of affection.

Pierce began having an affair with Kathleen Cook in September 2000 after her husband had moved to California to pursue a film career. Ernest Cook discovered the affair and hired a private investigator.