12/20/2013 – Georgia — We’ve all heard the critics claims, that prostitution should be legal because all relationships and marriage are just a form of prostitution. Well, a Georgia court disagrees and orders a man who promised to marry a woman and then cheated on her to pay up…. and pay up big!
According to published reports, Christopher Ned Kelley, an IT professional, had been in a decade long live-in relationship with his girlfriend Melissa Cooper and her child from another man.
During their relationship Cooper had Kelley’s child, quit her job to be a stay-at-home mom of two, and was given a $10,000 engagement ring in 2004.
However, after Cooper caught Kelley cheating on her, for at least the second time, Kelley told Cooper he was in love with his mistress and Kelley needed to pack her belongings and the kids and move out.
Cooper decided Kelley wasn’t going to be getting off the hook that easy and sued Kelley on the grounds of ‘breach of promise to marry.’
Kelley’s defense? The promise to marry was void because he claims he never said the words “Will you marry me?” and that their relationship was based on an illegal pact that was akin to prostitution.
Kelley’s lawyer argued (probably not with straight face) that Kelley was simply paying her for sex and had either one stopped giving the other what they desired then there would have been no relationship and since prostitution is illegal their relationship was too, so he shouldn’t have to pay a dime.
Well, that defense didn’t go over so great and the Coweta County Superior Court awarded Cooper $43,500 in damages and $6,500 in attorney fees.
Kelley’s initial appeal to the ruling has already been dismissed.
Kelley could next appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court.
Kelley has also been ordered to pay child support for the child he fathered that is now in the primary custody of Cooper.