Opinion ID: 1226898
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the tort of criminal conversation

Text: Defendant also asserts that this Court should abolish the tort of criminal conversation because the tort is even more subject to abuse than the tort of alienation of affections. The tort of criminal conversation was not at issue in Nelson v. Jacobsen, 669 P.2d 1207 (Utah 1983). Because the primary rationale for the tort of criminal conversation is not the protection of the marital relationship as such, but the right to exclusive sexual intercourse with a spouse, Hackford has no bearing on the issue we now address. The argument that this tort should be abolished is addressed, therefore, by this Court for the first time in recent years in this case and the companion case of Sharp v. Roskelley, 818 P.2d 4 (Utah 1991). The tort of criminal conversation came into existence primarily because of the great importance that feudal society placed on insuring that the right of inheritance to property, title, and office descended to legitimate children only. Conflicting claims to titles, property, and estates could lead to discord and even violence. The law afforded a remedy designed to prevent illegitimate children by allowing a husband to sue another man who had intercourse with his wife. Stone, The Family, Sex and Marriage 316 (abridged ed. 1979). See also Nelson v. Jacobsen, 669 P.2d 1207, 1222 (Utah 1983) (Durham, J., dissenting). In 1857, the tort of criminal conversation was abolished in England by the Matrimonial Causes Act. In Cahoon v. Pelton, 9 Utah 2d 224, 342 P.2d 94 (1959), this Court addressed for the first time the question of whether the tort of criminal conversation should be recognized in this state. The Court rejected the common-law theory that adultery was actionable as a trespass on a man's wife. Instead, the Court held that adultery, or the tort of criminal conversation, was actionable because of the exclusive right of either spouse to intercourse with the other. 9 Utah 2d at 231, 342 P.2d at 98. The Court stated that a person who violates this right, though with the consent or even enticement of the guilty spouse, is liable in damages to the innocent spouse. It is similar in some respects to the right against alienation of affections but is stronger in that it requires the commission of adultery in violation of the criminal law. 9 Utah 2d at 231, 342 P.2d at 98-99. Whatever the underlying rationale, damages, including punitive damages, may be awarded against one who engages in an extramarital affair with the spouse of another, even if there has been a complete and irreparable loss of affection and companionship between the marriage partners before the affair, and even if the husband and wife are only awaiting the entry of a final divorce decree. 1 F. Harper & F. James, The Law of Torts § 8.3, at 612 (1956). In truth, the tort is essentially a tort of strict liability. The tort is not designed to indemnify the aggrieved spouse for any loss to the marriage relationship. Indeed, a damage award may well be a complete windfall to the plaintiff. Moreover, there are no defenses, even if the offending spouse was the aggressor and wholly responsible for enticing the defendant into the act. A damage award in such circumstances may simply be a reward for greed and vindictiveness, which could destroy whatever possibility there might be of restoring the marital relationship. Furthermore, the tort may impose large punitive damages on one of two parties to a mutual act, even though the one held liable under the law was not the aggressor and was less culpable. Whether the offending spouse is the initiator, or intercourse occurs because of the mutual desire of both parties, or the offending spouse is wholly passive, the offending spouse always acts consensually. [11] Thus, despite the inevitable contributing fault of the offending spouse, the tort imposes total liability for the act of two people on only one of them. [12] Because it is both unfair and bad policy to allow a non-offending spouse who has not been damaged to recover damages for the adultery of the other spouse and a third person when that act does not affect the marital interest, the tort serves no useful purpose. It may even be counterproductive if it is used for vindictive purposes by a spouse whose marriage has failed for reasons attributable to the fault of that spouse. Because the law provides an adequate remedy when the marital bonds and relational interests are damaged by illicit sexual intercourse, we hold that the tort of criminal conversation is unnecessary and should be abolished as a tort separate and apart from the overlapping tort of alienation of affections. [13] The only reason both torts have continued to exist in modern times is simply historical. To the extent that the tort of criminal conversation provides a cause of action for adultery when the marriage commitment is dead, it serves no useful purpose in awarding damages. If the marriage commitment of the spouses is not dead, the tort of alienation of affections provides an adequate legal remedy. In abolishing criminal conversation, we join a number of other courts that have done the same. Bearbower v. Merry, 266 N.W.2d 128 (Iowa 1978); Kline v. Ansell, 287 Md. 585, 414 A.2d 929 (1980); Feldman v. Feldman, 125 N.H. 102, 480 A.2d 34 (1984); Lynn v. Shaw, 620 P.2d 899 (Okla. 1980); Fadgen v. Lenkner, 469 Pa. 272, 365 A.2d 147 (1976); Hunt v. Hunt, 309 N.W.2d 818 (S.D. 1981); Irwin v. Coluccio, 32 Wash. App. 510, 648 P.2d 458 (1982). The state of Louisiana, a civil law state, refused to recognize the tort several decades ago. Moulin v. Monteleone, 165 La. 169, 115 So. 447, 448-49 (1927). See also Note, The Case for Retention of Causes of Action for Intentional Interference with the Marital Relationship, 48 Notre Dame Lawyer 426, 433 (1972) (To allow recovery on the basis of the sexual conduct alone without proof of a resulting diminution of affections or similar loss would leave the door open to flagrant injustices.). We note in passing that abolition of the tort of criminal conversation by this Court does not violate Article I, section 11 of the Utah Constitution, the open courts provision. That provision insures a legal remedy for injury to person, property, or reputation. The purpose of the tort of criminal conversation is to protect the right of marital exclusivity in sexual intercourse with one's spouse. Adultery may constitute an injury to one's marital relationship but not to one's own person. However, even if it could be so construed, abolition of criminal conversation does not violate the open courts provision. Berry v. Beech Aircraft Corp., 717 P.2d 670, 680 (Utah 1985), made clear that Article I, section 11 does not prevent the abolition of obsolete causes of action. Certainly, alienation of affections provides an effective and reasonable alternative remedy, in any event. The argument that this Court should leave the issue of abolishing the tort of criminal conversation to the Legislature is an argument for abdication of judicial responsibility, which we reject. The tort of criminal conversation was created by the courts through the evolutionary processes of the common law. It is the responsibility of the judiciary to examine those causes of action which it has created, to alter them when appropriate, and to abolish them when necessary. The basic evolutionary provisions of the common law have not been repealed. Judicial power to alter, abolish, and create causes of action does not, of course, restrict the right of the Legislature to have the last word with respect to tort law, at least insofar as the Legislature does not transgress constitutional limitations on its powers. See Utah Const. art. I, § 11. The New Hampshire Supreme Court, confronted with this same argument, aptly observed: As a common-law tort, the action for criminal conversation is a creation of the judiciary. Consequently, it is the duty of the judiciary to examine it and make such changes as justice requires when the legislature has chosen not to act. Briere v. Briere, 107 N.H. 432, 434, 224 A.2d 588, 590 (1966). The legislature expressed its will by enacting laws, not by failing to do so. Furthermore, its inaction could be motivated by its assumption that if a judicially developed rule is unjust the courts will overrule it. Merrill v. Manchester, 114 N.H. 722, 728, 332 A.2d 378, 382 (1974). It follows that the general rule of deference to the legislative intent has no application here, where the legislature has expressed no intent that the cause of action be retained. Feldman v. Feldman, 125 N.H. 102, 104-105, 480 A.2d 34, 35 (1984). The order of the trial court sustaining the tort of alienation of affections is affirmed. The order denying the motion to dismiss with respect to the tort of criminal conversation is reversed. Remanded for further proceedings.