The News-Record by Jennifer Fernandez - March 18, 2010
GREENSBORO, NC — A jury in Guilford County District Court this week awarded $9 million to a former Greensboro woman, agreeing that her husband’s lover ruined their marriage. Cynthia Shackelford, 60, who now lives in Raleigh, sued Anne Lundquist in 2007 for having an affair with her husband, Allan Shackelford. In the lawsuit, Cynthia Shackelford said her husband began an affair with Lundquist before the Shackelfords separated in April 2005. She said she and her husband were still in love when Lundquist broke up the marriage. Cynthia Shackelford said in a telephone interview Wednesday that her husband, a Greensboro attorney at the time, met Lundquist while providing legal services for Guilford College. Lundquist was the dean of campus life at the private school. “If you want to know the truth, I am still like in a fog,” Cynthia Shackelford said. She said the two-day trial, which ended Tuesday, was difficult. Testimony included the private investigator detailing times that he saw her husband spending time with Lundquist, she said. “I really loved him, and I really thought he loved me,” Cynthia Shackelford said. “I had not a clue that Allan would wander. He kept telling me 'Oh, she’s just a friend. There’s no affair. I love you.’” Lundquist did not return a call late Wednesday afternoon. She is the dean of students at Wells College, according to the Web site of the small private school in central New York. In 2007, she and Allan Shackelford co-authored a book through LRP Publications. Court records show the Shackelfords’ divorce has not been finalized. Cynthia Shackelford said she believes Lundquist and her husband are still a couple. The jury awarded Cynthia Shackelford money for alienation of affections, criminal conversation (legal speak for adultery) and intentionally or recklessly causing severe emotional distress. North Carolina remains one of a few states that allow someone to sue the person alleged to have interfered in a marriage — called alienation of affections. More than 200 such cases are filed statewide in an average year, according to the Rosen law firm in Raleigh. The firm cites several high-dollar cases over the years, but none near the mark of the Shackelford-Lundquist case. In 1997, separate juries awarded $1 million in an Alamance County case and $1.2 million in a Forsyth County case. In 2001, a jury awarded $1.4 million to a distraught husband in Mecklenburg County. On appeal, the court reversed the decision on $910,000 of the award but left about $500,000 for the husband. Collecting money in such awards can be difficult but is not impossible, said Will Jordan, the Greensboro attorney who represented Cynthia Shackelford. “We may not get the full $9 million, but I’m hopeful that we’ll collect a substantial sum of money,” he said. “In addition to just collecting the judgment, there’s a certain amount of validation or vindication that goes with having a jury acknowledge that you were done wrong.” Cynthia Shackelford said she gave up teaching to raise two children and support her husband’s career. After the marriage fell apart, she moved in with friends because she couldn’t afford an apartment. Court records show that Allan Shackelford has never paid court-ordered spousal support and faces arrest on a contempt of court charge for violating that support order. Cynthia Shackelford, who eventually moved to Raleigh, wanted others to know about her case. “We would like for people to respect the sanctity of marriage,” Cynthia Shackelford said. “We wanted a number high enough that it would keep other people from ... going after other married spouses.” Contact Jennifer Fernandez at 373-7064 or jennifer.fernandez@news-record.com
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Wells College dean to appeal $9 million judgment awarded to her lover's wife
The Post-Standard by Scott Rapp - March 19, 2010
Aurora NY -- A Wells College administrator said Friday she would appeal a North Carolina jury’s order for her to pay $9 million to her lover’s wife. Anne Lundquist, dean of students at Wells since 2006, called the judgment “ludicrous’’ and said she will start the appeal process on Monday. “The decision is not based on reality. I certainly don’t have that kind of money nor will I ever,’’ Lundquist said. On Tuesday, following a two-day trial, a Greensboro, N.C., jury awarded the $9 million judgment to Cynthia Shackelford under a state law that allows jilted spouses to sue over adulterous affairs. Shackelford, 60, now of Raleigh, N.C., blamed her husband Allan’s affair with Lundquist for ruining their marriage, according to a North Carolina newspaper story on the $9 million judgment. North Carolina is one of the few states that allow spouses to sue and be awarded damages for “alienation of affection.’’ Lundquist, 49, confirmed she lives with Allan Shackelford in Aurora. She said the couple met in North Carolina after his marriage had fallen apart. The Shackelfords have been separated since 2005 and are getting divorced, the North Carolina paper reported. Lundquist held administrative positions at two small North Carolina colleges before coming to Wells after a short stint at Green Mountain College in Vermont, according to the Wells College website. Lundquist said she was planning to represent herself at last week’s trial but did not attend because she said she was not given adequate notice of when the trial was to start. She was unsuccessful in trying to postpone the trial. You can reach Scott Rapp at srapp@syracuse.com or 289-4839
At least the North Carolina attorney moved to the most corrupt legal system in America. Welcome to the legal bunch of New York thugs, Mr. Lawyer.
ReplyDeleteWells Student Coalition
ReplyDeletePresident Ryerson sent this email out to students today:
"Dear Wells students:
I know many of you are aware of current discussions and planning involving the College’s budget and staffing structure. Specifically, I have shared with the community that in order to both provide an excellent, holistic education and reach sustainable financial equilibrium, we must realign our administrative structure and eliminate and reconfigure some positions. In doing so, we will eliminate $1.5 million of an ongoing deficit in our annual operating budget. Simply put, our organizational structure has become too large and financially unsustainable for a small college. This is a critical moment in the life of Wells College when we have the opportunity to correct long-standing structural issues so that we can provide the very best experience possible for our students.
Nonetheless, I understand that change can be difficult overall and for individuals, but please know that our guiding principles as we move forward are to support a seamless, highly engaged learning community focused on educating the whole person, and create a financially sustainable college that manages costs to ensure access to the next generation of Wells students. When we open our doors next semester, I expect that we will have accomplished both of those goals.
The many students who serve on campus committees, such as the Strategic Planning Committee, have provided valuable contributions as we consider the best possible outcomes for Wells College. In addition to their participation and sharing of important information, I hope to attend a Rep Council meeting before the close of the semester. In the meantime, please feel free to contact Dean Lundquist or me if you have concerns.
Regards,
President Lisa Marsh Ryerson"
We can be sure that the NY bar disciplinary committee will find a lawyer skipping out on court orders in another State as unfit to be a member of the distinguished New York Bar.
ReplyDeleteI apologize, I forgot this is New York, where lawyers wear their dishonorable conduct as a secret badge of honor among other lawyers. and disciplinary committees are a farce.
And poor Dean Lundquist was unfairly deprived of her right to present, with tears, her sad tale of true love to the jury.
But don't worry Dean Lundquist, it's a New York lawyer who'll teach you about who a lawyer loves and sadden your life next.