Kyrsten Sinema may face substantial financial consequences due to her affair with a former bodyguard. This situation arose after her estranged wife filed a lawsuit under a 19th-century law, which permits such actions in a limited number of states in the U.S. Essentially, the lawsuit accuses Sinema of “deliberate and malicious interference” in their marriage, seeking $25,000 in damages.
“Alienation of affection” claims are recognized in only six states, including North Carolina, where Matthew Ummell lived for about a decade with his estranged wife, Heather. The lawsuit details claims that Sinema’s actions significantly harmed the marital relationship.
For a plaintiff to win this type of case, they generally need to prove a few key points: that a genuine love existed in the marriage prior to the affair, that this affection has been severely damaged, and that the defendant was responsible for this destruction.
Interestingly, the lawsuit includes detailed accounts of Sinema and Ammel’s relationship, starting from their professional connection to a romantic one. Sinema reportedly sent suggestive texts to Ammel through a messaging app just months before officially separating from her spouse. These messages included personal sentiments and even proposals for shared experiences.
In some cases, Heather was involved with them during outings, such as accompanying her husband and Sinema to concerts. At one point, she confronted Ammel directly about the affair, which led to further complications.
The suit also claims that Sinema’s actions wrongfully deprived Heather of companionship and love, suggesting a clear narrative of betrayal. Even though Sinema has admitted to the affair, her legal team argues the case should be dismissed, citing jurisdictional issues.
While cases like this are becoming rarer today, there have been significant awards in the past. One woman won $9 million in a similar lawsuit in North Carolina. The legal battle continues, with a judge requiring Ammel to respond to the motion to dismiss by mid-April.
