Opinion ID: 1130417
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: connivance

Text: First Gregory argues that Judy's actions amount to connivance which is generally a valid defense. See Bunkley & Morse, Amis' Divorce and Separation in Mississippi § 401 at 140 (1957). Gregory cites this passage: To connive means to encourage or assent to a wrong by silence or feigned ignorance, and connivance means the act of causing, encouraging or assenting thereto in the same manner. In connivance there is not concert as in the case of collusion, but there must be consent, either express or implied. What Gregory does not cite is the following passage: But, Merely suffering in a single case a wife whom he already suspects of having been guilty of adultery to avail herself to the full extent of an opportunity to indulge her adulterous disposition, which she has arranged without his knowledge does not constitute connivance on the part of the husband, even though he hopes he may obtain proof which will entitle him to a divorce, and purposely refrains from warning her for that reason. He may properly watch his wife whom he suspects of adultery in order to obtain proof of that fact. He may do it with the hope and purpose of getting a divorce if he obtains evidence. He must not, however, make opportunities for her, though he may leave her free to follow opportunities which she has herself made. He is not obliged to throw obstacles in her way, but he must not smooth her path to the adulterous bed. [emphasis added] Id. at 141. Here, recall, Judy's investigator had pictures linking Gregory with his partner at a camp house on June 30, 1985. A second indiscretion was noted July 13-14, 1985. Whether waiting for a second indiscretion amounts to connivance would seemingly depend on the facts, and the facts of this case do not support connivance. First, the proof of the initial indiscretion is far from conclusive. The photographs only put the pair together for some two hours. Second, as discussed below, Judy did not condone the adultery; thus, consent would seem less likely to be implied.