4 July 2007: The Price of Love

A man has been ordered to pay around £2,500 in damages over a love affair.

The man, from Chicago, was sued by the husband of his lover, using a little-known piece of legislation called the 'alienation of affection law'. The law allows deserted spouses to seek damages from their rival for the loss of love.

Alienation of affections was first recognized by the New York state legislature in 1864, but since 1935 it has been abolished in all but 7 states.

As far as SaintFM can ascertain there is no equivalent in St. Helena.