Jolene’s comeuppance.
A homewrecker TikTok influencer has been reportedly ordered to pay $1.75 million for allegedly destroying her supervisor’s marriage underneath an uncommon state regulation designed to crack down on dishonest methods, in line with North Carolina courtroom information.
Brenay Kennard, who has almost 3 million TikTok followers, allegedly seduced her supervisor, Tim Montague, in line with a lawsuit filed in a Durham, NC courtroom by the loverboy’s jilted ex-wife, Akria, in line with WTVD.
The indignant Mrs. Montague had initially sought $3.5 million in damages from Kennard when she first filed a civil lawsuit in 2024 underneath North Carolina’s alienation of affection regulation.
Beneath the regulation employed by the indignant Mrs. Montague — which reads like lyrics from Dolly Parton’s 1973 hit “Jolene” — the plaintiff should show they’re in a loving marriage, the third occasion had information of the wedding, and the wedding continued whereas the affair is happening.
North Carolina is one among solely six states that also permits a partner to sue a 3rd occasion for interfering of their marriage, underneath a follow that originated in English frequent regulation.
“If you find yourself desirous about alienation of affection, it’s a must to take into consideration the humiliation that the partner went by,” Ms Montague’s legal professional, Robonetta Jones, advised WTVD.
“Ms Kennard flaunted her relationship with a married man. And naturally, it went viral and my consumer was humiliated on account of that,” she continued.
Akira Montague efficiently claimed the affair had precipitated her psychological anguish, broken her well being, and disadvantaged her kids of a two-parent family, WRAL reported.
There was cheering within the public gallery because the settlement was agreed, with Ms Montague sharing a hug together with her legal professional as Kennard rapidly left the courtroom.
Kennard denied the entire allegations towards her in courtroom, claiming that Ms Montague knew the wedding was over and had allowed the affair.
“She gave her consent. She mentioned it was okay as a result of she knew her marriage was over with, and it was achieved,” Kennard advised the jury, as reported by WRAL.
Mr Montague ultimately left his spouse for Kennard.
Jones introduced greater than 700 pages of proof all through the six-day trial, which concluded on Monday with the awarding of damages to Ms Montague.
Kennard was married to Mr Montague’s first cousin on the time of the alleged affair.
She posted quite a few photos and movies to social media exhibiting the 2 {couples} hanging out.
“They have been capable of take journeys collectively, spend time collectively, and nonetheless ensure they held themselves out to be husband and spouse,” Jones mentioned, including that textual content messages from Kennard had “helped lots as nicely.”
Kennard filed an unsuccessful movement to dismiss the case on the grounds that photographs and movies introduced in courtroom have been obtained unlawfully.
However Ms Montague was awarded $1.5 million for alienation of affection and $250,000 for felony dialog by a Durham County jury, the third-largest settlement in such a case in North Carolina historical past.
In 2011, Betty Devin was ordered to pay $30 million to Carol Puryear, for having an affair with Donald Puryear, proprietor of a Raleigh trucking firm.
In 2021, former state Sen. Rick Gunn settled a lawsuit filed by Arthur Johns for $3 million, after he was accused of getting a long-running affair with John’s spouse.
In 2018, NFL star Fletcher Cox was sued by one Joshua Jeffords, who claimed the ex-Philadelphia Eagle had an affair along with his spouse.
“I imagine the message is that there are penalties for interfering with one other individual’s marriage,” Jones mentioned.
“Folks need to know that should you intervene and also you sleep with somebody who’s married, there are penalties within the state of North Carolina and possibly they are going to assume twice earlier than they do it,” she continued.
Kennard didn’t reply instantly to requests for remark.
