Death and Divorce

As a family lawyer we often say that we get to see good people at their worst while criminal attorneys get to see bad people at their best. Unfortunately, in some cases, divorce not only brings out the worst in people, it sometimes leads to unspeakable crimes. There was a case in California in the early 1990s about a woman who killed her ex-husband and his new wife out of rage. She was tried and convicted of two counts of second-degree murder with back to back sentences of 15 years to life. Ms. Broderick is now seeking parole. I don't know all the facts of this case, but it seems that she broke into her ex-husband's house and may very well have had the intention of killing him. I never think that hurt feelings or trying to wrong a right that occurred in your marriage is justification for violence. I encourage all of you out there who are feeling out of control anger and the need to hurt your ex-spouse, please get help and do not act on those feelings. While anger, disappointment and sometimes rage can be normal feelings in a divorce, getting help when those feelings cannot be controlled is in every one's best interest, including your own.

Virtual Divorce

I've heard about marriages breaking up over one spouse's addiction to certain online games, but when I ran across the following article, it was the first time that I heard of anyone getting divorced IN a video game. The game that I am talking about is a game called Maple Story where players create and manipulate avatars that represent themselves in relationships, social activities and fighting monsters and other obstacles. A woman became enraged when she was divorced in this game. What she did in retaliation may cause her to have to pay over $5,000.00 in fines. Yes, sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction.

This blog is based on the following story:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24544795-12377,00.html

Should Killer Get Alimony?

A state appeals court in New Jersey recently held that a woman could not be automatically barred from receiving alimony despite the fact that she had killed the parties' 14 year old son and is currently serving a sentence for beating the child to death. The reasoning was that there was nothing in the current statute that specifically barred alimony for a person who had committed murder, manslaughter or any other crime involving taking the life of another human being. In a nutshell, this just goes to show you that the Judiciary can only do so much and cannot legislate from the bench. If there are certain laws that you would like to see changed, you have to bring the issue before your legislature, because a court cannot and should not change laws, they are only there to interpret them.

To read the story upon which this blog is based, see: http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3MjI0NzQzJnlyaXJ5N2Y3MTdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5Mg==