Taken from the Greensboro News and Record
3-18-2010
GREENSBORO — A jury in Guilford County District Court this week awarded $9 million to a former Greensboro woman, agreeing that her husband’s lover ruined their marriage.
Cynthia Shackelford, 60, who now lives in Raleigh, sued Anne Lundquist in 2007 for having an affair with her husband, Allan Shackelford.
In the lawsuit, Cynthia Shackelford said her husband began an affair with Lundquist before the Shackelfords separated in April 2005. She said she and her husband were still in love when Lundquist broke up the marriage.
Cynthia Shackelford said in a telephone interview Wednesday that her husband, a Greensboro attorney at the time, met Lundquist while providing legal services for Guilford College. Lundquist was the dean of campus life at the private school.
“If you want to know the truth, I am still like in a fog,” Cynthia Shackelford said.
She said the two-day trial, which ended Tuesday, was difficult. Testimony included the private investigator detailing times that he saw her husband spending time with Lundquist, she said.
“I really loved him, and I really thought he loved me,” Cynthia Shackelford said. “I had not a clue that Allan would wander. He kept telling me 'Oh, she’s just a friend. There’s no affair. I love you.’”
Lundquist did not return a call late Wednesday afternoon. She is the dean of students at Wells College, according to the Web site of the small private school in central New York.
In 2007, she and Allan Shackelford co-authored a book through LRP Publications .
Court records show the Shackelfords’ divorce has not been finalized. Cynthia Shackelford said she believes Lundquist and her husband are still a couple.
The jury awarded Cynthia Shackelford money for alienation of affections, criminal conversation (legal speak for adultery) and intentionally or recklessly causing severe emotional distress.
North Carolina remains one of a few states that allow someone to sue the person alleged to have interfered in a marriage — called alienation of affections. More than 200 such cases are filed statewide in an average year, according to the Rosen law firm in Raleigh.
The firm cites several high-dollar cases over the years, but none near the mark of the Shackelford-Lundquist case.
In 1997, separate juries awarded $1 million in an Alamance County case and $1.2 million in a Forsyth County case.
In 2001, a jury awarded $1.4 million to a distraught husband in Mecklenburg County. On appeal, the court reversed the decision on $910,000 of the award but left about $500,000 for the husband.
Collecting money in such awards can be difficult but is not impossible, said Will Jordan, the Greensboro attorney who represented Cynthia Shackelford.
“We may not get the full $9 million, but I’m hopeful that we’ll collect a substantial sum of money,” he said. “In addition to just collecting the judgment, there’s a certain amount of validation or vindication that goes with having a jury acknowledge that you were done wrong.”
Cynthia Shackelford said she gave up teaching to raise two children and support her husband’s career. After the marriage fell apart, she moved in with friends because she couldn’t afford an apartment.
Court records show that Allan Shackelford has never paid court-ordered spousal support and faces arrest on a contempt of court charge for violating that support order.
Cynthia Shackelford, who eventually moved to Raleigh, wanted others to know about her case.
“We would like for people to respect the sanctity of marriage,” Cynthia Shackelford said. “We wanted a number high enough that it would keep other people from ... going after other married spouses.”
3-18-2010
GREENSBORO — A jury in Guilford County District Court this week awarded $9 million to a former Greensboro woman, agreeing that her husband’s lover ruined their marriage.
Cynthia Shackelford, 60, who now lives in Raleigh, sued Anne Lundquist in 2007 for having an affair with her husband, Allan Shackelford.
In the lawsuit, Cynthia Shackelford said her husband began an affair with Lundquist before the Shackelfords separated in April 2005. She said she and her husband were still in love when Lundquist broke up the marriage.
Cynthia Shackelford said in a telephone interview Wednesday that her husband, a Greensboro attorney at the time, met Lundquist while providing legal services for Guilford College. Lundquist was the dean of campus life at the private school.
“If you want to know the truth, I am still like in a fog,” Cynthia Shackelford said.
She said the two-day trial, which ended Tuesday, was difficult. Testimony included the private investigator detailing times that he saw her husband spending time with Lundquist, she said.
“I really loved him, and I really thought he loved me,” Cynthia Shackelford said. “I had not a clue that Allan would wander. He kept telling me 'Oh, she’s just a friend. There’s no affair. I love you.’”
Lundquist did not return a call late Wednesday afternoon. She is the dean of students at Wells College, according to the Web site of the small private school in central New York.
In 2007, she and Allan Shackelford co-authored a book through LRP Publications .
Court records show the Shackelfords’ divorce has not been finalized. Cynthia Shackelford said she believes Lundquist and her husband are still a couple.
The jury awarded Cynthia Shackelford money for alienation of affections, criminal conversation (legal speak for adultery) and intentionally or recklessly causing severe emotional distress.
North Carolina remains one of a few states that allow someone to sue the person alleged to have interfered in a marriage — called alienation of affections. More than 200 such cases are filed statewide in an average year, according to the Rosen law firm in Raleigh.
The firm cites several high-dollar cases over the years, but none near the mark of the Shackelford-Lundquist case.
In 1997, separate juries awarded $1 million in an Alamance County case and $1.2 million in a Forsyth County case.
In 2001, a jury awarded $1.4 million to a distraught husband in Mecklenburg County. On appeal, the court reversed the decision on $910,000 of the award but left about $500,000 for the husband.
Collecting money in such awards can be difficult but is not impossible, said Will Jordan, the Greensboro attorney who represented Cynthia Shackelford.
“We may not get the full $9 million, but I’m hopeful that we’ll collect a substantial sum of money,” he said. “In addition to just collecting the judgment, there’s a certain amount of validation or vindication that goes with having a jury acknowledge that you were done wrong.”
Cynthia Shackelford said she gave up teaching to raise two children and support her husband’s career. After the marriage fell apart, she moved in with friends because she couldn’t afford an apartment.
Court records show that Allan Shackelford has never paid court-ordered spousal support and faces arrest on a contempt of court charge for violating that support order.
Cynthia Shackelford, who eventually moved to Raleigh, wanted others to know about her case.
“We would like for people to respect the sanctity of marriage,” Cynthia Shackelford said. “We wanted a number high enough that it would keep other people from ... going after other married spouses.”
Holy Crap - as in HOLY CRAP.
No, really, I mean HOLY CRAP!!!
No, really, I mean HOLY CRAP!!!
Wow! I guess that means prostitutes in NC need to invest in better workplace liability insurance plans. Maybe there's an angle here for a startup business? Need a name though...
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MetWife
Underwrithers Padding TLC
Progressive Hoe Insurance
Safehoe
VDsurance
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And then a slogan...
Get a Piece of the Cock
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Fly By Pants Insurance
MetWife
Underwrithers Padding TLC
Progressive Hoe Insurance
Safehoe
VDsurance
Capital Skank
Openwide Mutual
And then a slogan...
Get a Piece of the Cock
What's In His Wallet?
Like a Good Neighbor
You're in Good Hands
Gets You On Your Back Where You Belong
The Company You Fuck
Bottom Fine, A Better Value
Enriching the Lives of People You Fuck
I do have to laugh as I also have a friend of one of my ex wife's who was sued for the same thing, Her ex husband sued her lover and won over 100k for his embarssment.
This is a hint for all who do not want ot be married anymore to get a divorce before having your life move on.
There are to many singles out there to have to disrespect your husband / wife. Share the love, but make sure you can with out breaking some one's heart.
This is a hint for all who do not want ot be married anymore to get a divorce before having your life move on.
There are to many singles out there to have to disrespect your husband / wife. Share the love, but make sure you can with out breaking some one's heart.
I wonder how many scams could come from this? A couple's in bad finances, so one has an affair with someone with money, then the other sues and collects.
Wow,some people need to learn to let it go, when its over its over. Takes two to make and two to break a marriage and this verdict is just saying she did nothing, obviously he was pushed or felt the need to go that way. Obviously she was not taking care of business at home. Anyway, I dont agree plus not to mention if children involved this just brings them into it, litterally how could they not be with it that public. I just believe that somethings are private and need to stay that way and not be publicized
Yeah, butt either way - HOLY FUCKIN CRAP!!
What ever happened to gettin a little on the side and everyone walks away with a smile on their face?
Shit - I thought EVERYONE knew it was NOT to be taken seriously.
I tried multiplying all the times I coulda been sued for $9 million a pop - but my calculator won't go that high.
NOTICE TO ALL NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS:
Never mind.
What ever happened to gettin a little on the side and everyone walks away with a smile on their face?
Shit - I thought EVERYONE knew it was NOT to be taken seriously.
I tried multiplying all the times I coulda been sued for $9 million a pop - but my calculator won't go that high.
NOTICE TO ALL NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS:
Never mind.
Fucking lawyers - our legal system sucks big time. Really - What happened to prosecuting real crimes - "alienation of affections, criminal conversation and intentionally or recklessly causing severe emotional distress" - what a bunch of BULLSHIT! That's worth 9 mill - whatever!
I just don't understand how two people who were "in love" can do this to each other. So the way it's written, the dude's innocent . . . didn't want it . . . just said "no" - didn't want to stick it in her . . . yeah, right, in what universe are we talking here. It was all the lady's fault - she was in hot pursuit - out to break up happy homes . . . sounds to me like the home wasn't all that happy to begin with. If she had to ask about the relationship and questioned what was going on, then she was worried about it - all was not well in Tar Heel Country. And I just thought I didn't like North Carolina because it's so fucking humid!
All I can say is they shoulda found a couple to fuck!
I just don't understand how two people who were "in love" can do this to each other. So the way it's written, the dude's innocent . . . didn't want it . . . just said "no" - didn't want to stick it in her . . . yeah, right, in what universe are we talking here. It was all the lady's fault - she was in hot pursuit - out to break up happy homes . . . sounds to me like the home wasn't all that happy to begin with. If she had to ask about the relationship and questioned what was going on, then she was worried about it - all was not well in Tar Heel Country. And I just thought I didn't like North Carolina because it's so fucking humid!
All I can say is they shoulda found a couple to fuck!
I am sorry. I have to put my two cents in. Well, The woman is no guiltier than the man. As a matter of fact the man is more guilty because he was in a marriage. good or not. the lover may or may not have known. I have had an affair with a married man. but i was not aware that he was married. once i found out it was over. I hurt me to know that he would do something like that to me. Course that's what I get for not being careful. women don't realize it's happening, most of the time. 9 million I agree that's way to much. PS I live in North carolina.
There would be a lot less divorce in the world if most cpls would swing !!!!!!!! way less affairs....
Well your honor, I fell thru the roof of the place I was breaking in to and hurt myself. How much $$$$$$$$ are you going to "award" me?
Wow! Such incentive to get married, for Love AND money..LOL