Triangle man uses NC law to get back at man he says ruined his marriage
NUT TRANSPORTATION
>>> WE BEGIN WAY RARELY USED
LAW.
THE CANADIANS RARELY GO TO
TRIAL BUT TONIGHT, A DURHAM MAN
IS SITTING ON AN AWARD OF $8.8
MILLION FROM A JUDGE, ALL OF
THIS THAT I LAWSUIT REGARDING
ALIENATION OF AFFECTION.
I'M DAVID CRABTREE.
>> I'M DEBORAH MORGAN.
TODAY, KEYING KING SPOKE TO ONE
LOCAL STATION, WRAL.
AMANNED LAMB SAT DOWN WITH HIM
AT HIS ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND
JOINS US WHAT HE HAD TO SAY.
>> Reporter: WE ARE ONLY ONE OF
SIX STATES THAT STILL HAVE THIS
LAW AND THEY OFTEN RESULT IN
BIG PAYOUTS.
BUT KEITH KING SAYS THIS IS NOT
ABOUT THE MONEY.
IT IS ABOUT PRINCIPLE AND YOU
ARE ABOUT TO SEE A DRAMATIC
HOME VIDEO SHOT BY HIS
ESTRANGED WIFE OF OF THE TWO
MEN FIGHTING THAT SHOWS JUST
HOW DIFFICULT THIS SITUATION
GOT.
>> STOP TRYING TO ENTER.
>> Reporter: THE FIGHT BETWEEN
KEITH KING AND HIS WIFE'S
LOVER, FRANCISCO.
>> YOU HEAR THAT REQUEST.
>> SHE IS MY WIFE, MAN.
SHE IS MY WIFE.
THAT IS MY WIFE, MAN.
>> Reporter: THIS IS AN EXAMPLE
OF HOW INTENSE THE ANGER CAME
BETWEEN THE MEN I DON'T YOU ARE
PICKING HIM OVER ME NOW?
>> Reporter: KING MARRIED
DANIELLE IN 2010.
HE SAID HE DISCOVERED FLIRT
ARABS TEXTS AFTER THEY MET ON A
BUSINESS TRIP.
>> MY MARRIAGE WAS MURDERED.
IT WAS DESTROYED.
>> Reporter: AFTER TRYING TO
REPAIR THE MARRIAGE, KING
LEARNED FROM A FRIEND ABOUT
ALIENATION OF AFFECTION.
I WAS LIKE WAIT A MINUTE.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?
YOU CAN SUE THE PERSON THAT
DESTROYED YOUR MARRIAGE.
HE SAID ABSOLUTELY.
>> Reporter: IN 2017, HE SKEWED
FRANCISCO.
DO YOU THINK HE REALLY THOUGHT
YOU WERE GOING TO GO THROUGH
WITH IT.
>> I THINK HE THOUGHT IT WAS A
JOKE.
>> Reporter: IT WAS KNOW JOKE,
SAID KING'S ATTORNEY.
>> MOST OF THE CASE THAT PEOPLE
WANT TO BRING WOULD NEVER YIELD
THIS TYPE OF RESULT.
>> Reporter: DOROTHY O'NEILL
SAYS YOU HAVE TO PROVE THE
THIRD PARTY WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR
DESTROYING THE MARRIAGE.
A JUDGE AWARDED KING $8.8
MILLION.
>> THISES WITH A VERY CLASSIC
CASE THAT JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE
ALL OF THE FACTORS.
>> Reporter: HOW DID THAT FEEL
TO HAVE THAT JUDGMENT?
>> IT FELT LIKE THE TRUTH HAD
COME OUT, YOU KNOW?
IT FELT HIKE I WAS RIGHT.
>> Reporter: THE OTHER ATTORNEY
GOT BACK TO US LATE THIS
AFTERNOON SAYING MY CLIENT
BECAME EMBROILED IN A VERY
UNFORTUNATE SITUATION.
HE NEVER SOUGHT TO AIR THE
DETAIL OF THE SITUATION IN
PUBLIC.
THE ALIENATION OF AFFECTION LAW
ARCHAIC AND SHOULD BE STRICKEN.
VERDICTS LIKE THESE IGNORE HE
REALITIES OF HOW AND WHY
MARRIAGES FAIL AND REMOVE
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR A
PERSON'S OWN MOISTURE.
SO VERY CONTROVERSIAL, DEBORAH.
>> WHAT ARE CHANCE THAT KING
WILL SEE THAT $8.8 MILLION?
>> NOT A GREAT CHANCE BUT HIS
ATTORNEY SAYS CHANCES ARE HE
WILL SEE A LITTLE OF T BUT HE