$9 Million from Anne Lundquist for Stealing Her Husband

Presenting today's ethical dilemma: North Carolina may have cooled out in recent years with the influx of outsiders to its research triangle, but it still harbors some archaic laws. One allows people to sue those who've cheated with their spouse...


Cynthia Shackelford says she was still in love when college dean Anne Lundquist stole her husband away

​Think of it as an old-time home-wrecker statute. You can still sue someone for alienation of affection if they have an affair with your husband or wife. That's exactly what 60-year-old Cynthia Shackelford did.

In 2005, her husband met Anne Lundquist (pictured at top), a dean at Guilford College. Allan Shackelford, a lawyer, was doing some legal work for the school when he apparently became smitten with the dean. He claims his marriage was falling apart at the time. But according to a private investigator, Allan was prancing around with Lundquist before he eventually separated from his wife.

Cynthia says she was still in love at the time -- and thought her husband was too. She also says she gave up her teaching career to raise their kids and support Allan's career. But after they separated, she couldn't even afford her own place so she had to move in with friends. And Allan's stiffed her ever since on court-ordered spousal support.

So in 2007, she decided to sue Lundquist for stealing her man. Earlier this week, a jury ordered Lundquist to pay $9 million for essentially swiping Cynthia's husband.

Allan and his mistress have since moved to New York, where Lundquist is dean of students at Wells College. He faces arrest in North Carolina for failing to pay support, and now she's looking at a $9 payout for adultery.

North Carolina officials say about 200 people a year sue others under the law. But the biggest verdicts have been in the $1 million range. Lundquist is now arguing that the judgment is so out of line that it should be reduced to $1.

So what do you think, dear reader? If anyone's at fault here, wouldn't it be Allan? He's the one who took the vow of marriage -- not Lundquist -- and he's the one who cheated on his wife.

Then again, with a 50 percent divorce rate nationwide, should this even be considered a crime? If it was prosecuted everywhere, it would entail hauling millions of people into court for the crime of basic human fallibility.

Or is Cynthia entitled to her money, since she's the victim of one of the ultimate sins?