A judge in North Carolina has ordered a man to pay $750,000 to his girlfriend's ex-husband for "alienation of affection."

North Carolina is one of six states that still allows lawsuits based on claims of alienation of affection. Kevin Howard sued his ex-wife's lover, claiming the boyfriend caused the break up of his twelve-year marriage.

"Other families should see what the consequences are to not only breaking the vow to whatever religion you subscribe to, but also your legal responsibilities," Howard told news sources. "He [the boyfriend] was a colleague of hers from work. He ate dinner with us several times, we spent time together ... I thought this was a friend."

According to Howard's attorney, Cindy Mills, the defendant in the case initially didn't take the lawsuit seriously, laughing when they brought the case.

"I said, 'Do you find something funny about this process?'" Mills said. "That's very dangerous perception to have because the same person who laughed in that deposition, that defendant, now has a $750,000 judgment against them, so I don't think he's laughing now."

—Source: patch.com