Description
On January 26, 2026, the New Mexico Supreme Court finally abolished the tort of “alienation of affections.” Rooted in the 1300’s and the Black Death, this legal doctrine allowed a person to sue someone who they believed interfered with their marriage. This lecture explores the history of the tort and other laws designed to remedy broken hearts, as well as the later “heart balm racket”.
Lorna Wiggins is president of Wiggins, Williams & Wesenberg, PC. Wiggins started practicing law in New Mexico in 1983 after completing a judicial clerkship. She specializes in the areas of labor and employment law. She is the chair of the Oasis Albuquerque Board of Directors.