by Angie Pollock

Created on: March 24, 2010

It’s becoming a common scene in marriages today – husband cheats, wife is thrown to the wayside, and the mistress gets the man.  But cheaters living dual lives should think again as the case of Cynthia Shackelford could be setting the trend for the future of cheating spouses and those they cheat with.

After Shackelford’s attorney husband left her high and dry following his infidelities with University Dean Anne Lundquist, the scorned wife sued the other woman.  Cynthia Shackelford not only won her lawsuit but a North Carolina jury awarded Ms. Shackelford $9 million - $4 million for punitive damages and another $5 million in compensatory damages.

After many years of supporting her husband (Attorney Allan Shackelford) and raising their children, Cynthia Shackelford discovered that her husband was having an affair.  According to Ms. Shackelford, Anne Lundquist (her husband’s mistress) knew that her husband was married.  “You don’t go after married men and break up families.” said Shackelford.  

Like many wives, Ms. Shackelford thought she had a wonderful marriage and her husband loved her.  But suspicions arose when her husband had one too many “late nights” at the office.  Irregular charges made on his credit card and cell phone records also raised red flags.  With the help of a private investigator, Ms. Shackelford’s suspensions were confirmed – Allan, her long time husband of 33 years, was having an extra-marital affair.

Cynthia Shackelford used case law in North Carolina to sue her husband’s mistress for “alienation of affection”.  The old law was not really known about until this momentous case was filed.  There are only a few states with laws that allow someone to sue for interfering in a marriage.  This North Carolina law dates back over two centuries – back to the time when the wife was deemed a man’s property.  Ms. Shackelford hopes that this large sum of money may deter someone else from disrespecting the sanctity of a couple’s marriage.

During an interview on “Good Morning America”, Cynthia Shackelford stated, “My main message is to all those women out there who might have their eyes on some guy that is married…”.  Her outcry was not only for herself but also the devastation this caused her children.

Although Anne Lundquist has referred to the judgment as “….kind of hysterical” since she has no means of paying her lover’s ex-wife $9 million, Ms. Shackleford still believes the case was worth taking to trial.  To those considering cheating on their spouse and to those they cheat with, this case sends the message – cheating might just cost you more than a marriage.

References:

http://www.inquisitr.com/67407/nc-wife-sues-husbands -mistress-for-9m-wins/

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Business/wife-wins-million -husbands-alleged-mistress/story?id=10177637

http://cbs5.com/watercooler/mistress.lawsuit.affecti on.2.1584907.html

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