Is it proper to sue a spouse who leaks dirty secrets as court ruled?

The ruling by the Court of Appeal that barred a wife from speaking ill of her estranged spouse was long overdue. It will set a good example to individuals who make malicious comments about former spouses after falling out with them.

It is good to tame the bad conduct of people that may affect the lives of people they do not see eye-to-eye with. It is painful to be dismissed from work, simply because of a falsehood peddled by a bitter lover or an estranged wife or husband.

With the precedent set by the Court of Appeal, people will now think twice before making utterances that will adversely affect the lives of their former partners. Leaking privileged information is criminal.  To make public the dirty secrets of an individual you stayed with, by virtue of your former position in their lives is misusing the position.

Such a person should be made to pay for the damages caused by what they utter. I have heard people argue that taking a partner to court will break up a family. I disagree totally, because when a spouse decides to air the dirty linen of their wife or husband, there is no relationship in the first place.

After losing a job because of what their partner said to their employer or public, where does an individual go? Couples should not disclose information about the other maliciously, in the event they leak damaging information, they should be ready to bear the consequences.

 

Mr Ayora is a city lawyer