A North Carolina woman has been ordered to pay nearly $2 million for breaking up another couple's marriage. Attorney and legal analyst Eric Guster joins CBS News to unpack the case.

North Carolina

A North Carolina woman has been ordered by a court to pay almost $2 million after being found responsible for breaking up another couple's marriage. The lawsuit, filed by the ex-wife, accused TikTok influencer Brene Kennard of intentionally seducing her then-husband, leading to the dissolution of their marriage.

This case was brought under North Carolina's alienation of affection law, which allows a spouse to sue a third party for interfering in their marriage. Legal experts note that such laws are controversial but are increasingly resulting in significant judgments, as more states consider similar statutes.

Woman ordered to pay $2M for breaking up marriage under new NC law

Welcome in a verdict you don't see often a North Carolina woman has been ordered to pay nearly $2 million for destroying another couple's marriage. A tiktok influencer is accused of breaking up the marriage. The lawsuit by the man's ex wife says the influencer, Brene Kennard, seduced her then husband intentionally interfering with the relationship. A lot to unpack here. Attorney and legal analyst Eric Guster joining us live now to help us out. First of all, let's talk about this law in place in North Carolina and several other states. Yeah, this law allows a jilted spouse whose spouse was cheating on them with someone else to sue the person who the spouse is cheating with. That's called alienation of affection and holding the other party responsible for breaking up their marriage is very new law, very controversial, but a lot of judgments are happening from it. Why isn't the actual cheater held accountable? So in this case, the husband, the cheaters held accountable. But then you'll be suing yourself if you're married to somebody because that's your own pot of money. But the cheater will be held accountable in court if they get a divorce because the divorce court will look at this and say, Hey, this person was cheating on this other person. They broke their vows. They could be held responsible in divorce court and have to pay half their life insurance, half of their retirement and other funds towards their spouse's recovery. Okay, so let's kind of delve into the words here. The term seduced was used in the lawsuit. So how do you prove prove that someone was seduced and isn't just a cheater in the lawsuit? You make all kinds of claims. We make a complaint. You make all kinds of complaints, but they're all types of of statuses saying that, Hey, this person seduced my my spouse. She's claiming that he would not have cheat on his wife except for what this actions of this young lady did. That's tough to prove. But we do know that they were married, that they had a covenant, and this other person knew he was married but proceeded to cheat with him anyway. And that's what the case is about what she knew and which the vows that she helped him break. Have you ever had to deal with the case like this? And what if she went after the husband instead of the mistress? Eric Guster does not do divorce cases, but these air nasty. They're messy. I want no part of it. But I advise people on these. I see a lot of it happening where spouses saying this person responsible breaking up my happy home. These people had two Children. The Children did not have their dad at home. Now the Children don't have two parent households, and they're holding these other people responsible for what happened in their marriage. And this is emerging law, and it's new. And a lot more states are going after this because everyone wants the marriage to stay together. They want the spouses to live happily ever after and blame the person who was not in the marriage for what happened. And it's very, very ugly now. And I like your public service announcement. Eric Guster does not do these type of cases. And I love your family photo behind you, Eric. Very nice. Can't wait to see your Christmas card coming up. All right. Great to have you always. Thank you.

As F-35 stealth fighter jets fly missions from a reopened naval base in Puerto Rico and Marines practice beach landings, sources tell CBS News the Pentagon is preparing for possible military action in Venezuela. Charlie D'Agata reports.

Washington

Pentagon preparing for possible military action in Venezuela

President Trump's name appears hundreds of times in the newly-released batch of 23,000 pages of records and messages from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, raising questions about their relationship. Mr. Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has called the scandal a "hoax" perpetrated by Democrats.

Trump named hundreds of times in newly released Epstein files

A federal judge has ruled that hundreds of people detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement during "Operation Midway Blitz" in the Chicago area must be released. CBS News immigration and politics reporter Camilo Montoya-Galvez has more.

Chicago

Judge finds ICE illegally arrested hundreds of people in Chicago

For the first time in six weeks, the U.S. government is open. President Trump signed a bill last night to fund the government through the end of January.

Trump says he is 'willing to work with anyone' on health care

U.S. forces have killed four people in the latest strike on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean. CBS News national security coordinating producer James LaPorta has more.

Caracas

U.S. forces kill four in latest Caribbean drug boat strike

Israeli settlers set fire to a mosque in the West Bank on Thursday (November 13) and sprayed racist slogans on its walls, Palestinian residents said.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israeli settlers torch mosque in West Bank, residents say

Thailand-Cambodia border tensions escalate days after a US-backed ceasefire agreement breaks down.

Bangkok

Thailand-Cambodia tensions escalate as truce hangs in the balance

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is one step closer to the full release of the Justice Department's documents on Jeffrey Epstein after securing the final signature needed to force a House vote. Scott MacFarlane reports.

House to vote on Epstein files release after bipartisan group push

With the Amazon nearing a tipping point, Indigenous voices are demanding immediate action at COP30, with campaigners saying their protests are a stark reminder that time is running out to stop catastrophic climate change.

Belém

Indigenous voices demand action at COP30 amid Amazon crisis

The U.S. government's longest standoff left both parties facing heavy criticism, and neither is likely to claim victory. Millions of Americans felt the impact, from hundreds of thousands of unpaid federal workers to families left without food stamps.

Trump signs deal to end record 43-day U.S. shutdown

Venezuela is preparing a 'massive mobilization' of its military as the U.S.’s largest warship arrives in the Caribbean Sea after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a military buildup in the region.

Venezuela readying military as U.S.’s largest warship arrives

After 43 days, Congress passes a bill to reopen the U.S. government—Trump to sign spending legislation into law.

Washington County

U.S. House votes to re-open government, Trump to sign bill

Linda Sun faces trial – Prosecutors allege she secretly advanced China’s interests while serving in New York government.

New York

Ex-aide to NY governor accused of being China agent

The House passed a funding bill to end the government shutdown on Wednesday night, sending the measure to President Trump's desk for final signature.

House passes bill to fund government and end U.S. shutdown

Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the G7 summit to discuss defense, trade, and global security cooperation amid growing geopolitical tensions.

Kananaskis

Canada meets with U.S. counterpart Rubio at G7 summit

Venezuela has announced a "massive mobilization" of its military forces, as the U.S. continues its military buildup in the Caribbean. The announcement comes in the wake of U.S. strikes that have targeted at least 20 vessels in the waters around Latin America, killing dozens of people.

Venezuela mobilizing military as U.S. builds up military presence

The House of Representatives is preparing to vote on a long-awaited bill to end the government shutdown. CBS News congressional reporter Taurean Small has more from Capitol Hill.

House of Representatives ready vote on ending government shutdown

Warning: Some details are disturbing. An Army OB-GYN in Texas is accused of years of sexual assault and abuse of women on multiple bases, according to a recent lawsuit.

Killeen

Army gynecologist accused of secretly taking videos during exams

U.S. House Democrats on Wednesday released emails from Jeffrey Epstein referencing President Donald Trump, who has denied any knowledge of the convicted sex offender's crimes. In a 2019 email, Epstein said Trump "knew about the girls as he asked Ghislaine to stop."

New emails from Epstein mentioning Trump released by House Democrats

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz was arraigned on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to allegations of taking bribes to rig pitches. CBS News' Shanelle Kaul reports.

Brooklyn

Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz arraigned, pleads not guilty

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer backed the BBC while urging it to correct errors after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened a $1 billion lawsuit over a misleading edit of his Jan. 6, 2021 speech. The controversy led to the resignations of the BBC director general and head of news.

London

UK PM Keir Starmer backs BBC amid Trump threat

The U.S. House of Representatives will vote Wednesday on a spending bill that passed in the Senate earlier this week and could bring the longest government shutdown to an end.

House to vote on funding bill that could reopen government

The USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier strike group has moved into the Latin America region, U.S. officials say, dramatically escalating a military buildup that has deepened tensions with Venezuela.

Largest U.S. aircraft carrier sailing to Latin America region

U.S. President Donald Trump sent a letter to Israeli President Isaac Herzog urging him to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. CBS News' Courtney Kealy has more.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Trump urges Israel's president to pardon Benjamin Netanyahu

Three astronauts remain stuck in space after their return capsule was damaged by orbital debris—delaying their journey home.

Beijing

Three Chinese astronauts stranded in space after capsule damage

The former first lady of Gabon and her son were being tried in absentia on various corruption charges.

Libreville

Gabon ex-first lady sentenced to 20 years in jail for embezzlement

Online platforms will ping Australian teenagers through over a million accounts in coming days offering a choice: download data, freeze profiles or lose the lot when a world-first ban on kids using social media starts on December 10. TikTok, Snapchat, Meta, Instagram and Threads are poised to deactivate accounts registered by users under 16, according to insiders.

Council of the City of Sydney

Big Tech starts complying with Australia's teen social media ban

Protesters stormed the COP30 climate conference in Brazil, clashing with security and overshadowing discussions earlier in the day California Gov. Gavin Newsom slamming America’s current stance on climate change.

Protesters storm into COP30 climate conference in Brazil

ByHeart is recalling all batches of its baby formula products after at least 15 infants were sickened. Dr. Steven Abrams, professor of pediatrics at the University of Texas at Austin, joins CBS News to discuss how parents can keep their children safe.

ByHeart recalls baby formula amid growing botulism outbreak

Israel’s parliament has passed the first reading of a bill that would introduce the death penalty for “terrorism”.

Breakdown