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Monday, March 7, 2011 | 9:11 a.m.
A Chicago woman sued her ex-fiance on Friday, charging their marriage plans fell apart after she found text messages showing he "hooked up" with a woman he met during his Las Vegas bachelor party.
Lauren Serafin filed suit in Cook County Circuit Court against Robert Leighton, alleging he has failed to reimburse her the $62,814 she spent preparing for the wedding and honeymoon.
Serafin, an attorney, alleges she dated Leighton, also an attorney, for two years and that after he proposed to her, they had planned to marry on Aug. 21, 2010.
But the lawsuit says she discovered through text messages on his cell phone that on July 17, while in Las Vegas with friends for his bachelor party, he met a woman named Danielle and arranged to meet her at a nightclub that night.
The suit says that after meeting the woman at the club, they had sex in Leighton's hotel room.
On July 24, after returning to Chicago, Leighton attended a wedding shower with Serafin and acted as if nothing had happened, the lawsuit said.
Serafin found the text messages on July 28 and confronted Leighton, the suit says.
"Defendant, seemingly believing that 'what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,' denied that anything happened between himself and Danielle in Las Vegas," the lawsuit charges.
Leighton finally admitted he "made out" with Danielle in Las Vegas and then informed Serafin he would not marry her, the suit charges.
Later, Leighton admitted he "hooked up" with Danielle and Danielle apologized to Serafin, "claiming defendant deceived her as well by not advising her that he was in Las Vegas attending his own bachelor party and that he was engaged to be married," the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit, posted on the website onpointnews.com, alleges breach of the promise to marry and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
"Defendant had a fiduciary duty of implied fidelity to plaintiff," the lawsuit says, adding Serafin "suffered humiliation" by having to tell family members, friends and co-workers that the wedding was canceled and why.
Saying 170 people had planned to attend the wedding and reception, Serafin says in the suit she had reserved a banquet hall at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago and that this involved a cancellation penalty.
The suit says she made nonrefundable purchases of a wedding dress and veil, had reserved salon services, reserved a band, made a deposit with a florist, made nonrefundable purchases of dresses for bridesmaids and flower girls, spent money on invitations, made a deposit with a photographer, booked a hotel for a bachelorette party, booked a wedding shower at a restaurant and made nonrefundable reservations for airfare and a hotel for the honeymoon in Bora Bora.
Leighton declined comment when he was contacted by the Chicago Tribune on Friday, the Tribune reported.
She should just postpone all the arrangements so she can use them when she meets the right guy (or girl).
That much money for a wedding? Too much money anyways.
Implied Fidelity? in Las Vegas? She should have planned the wedding in Bora Bora and the honeymoon in Las Vegas.
i will go with her.
Only an attorney could find the right language for a lawsuit on not getting married..."implied fidelity". Maybe the lady should've realized who she was marrying....an attorney.
It sounds like she is hoping/fishing for a reality show. Stuff happens.
Sounds like both ladies got screwed by the attorney! lol
Only a lawyer like Serafin would cry "boo hoo." Implied fidelity my rump. Gee if they got married and she witheld sex could he sue her for breach of implied coitus? SHE called it off. Not him. She should look at this as a cheap price to pay for not marrying a cheater.
Lawyers don't have emotional distress.
I think she should get the money, but be glad she got out of this before it was too late. Anyway it is degrading to her. Go Girl.
The document is brutal--she even mentions the name of his law firm--can't buy that kind of publicity and I bet the partners appreciate it!)
"That at all times relevant to this action and at the time of drafting the instant complaint' DEFENDANT was an attorney practicing law at the law firm of Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago, Illinois."
"That DEFENDANT breached that duty when he engaged in sexual intercourse with a stranger while co-workers,friends and family members, all acquainted with PLAINTIFF, were present in an adjoining hotel room."
"That on July 28, 2010, DEFENDANT admitted he hooked up,, with Danielle in Las Vegas, Nevada stated his actions were the fault of the PLANTIFF, and informed PLAINTIFF he no longer wanted to marry her."
She is better off without him and will be better off still when she sees his $62,814.
The pleading lists a number of items she is in this for including the banquet at the Ritz, the deposit for the band, the dress, honeymoon, etc.
Fidelity is found in good electronic stores-implied and explicit fidelity is found in hotel rooms.
This is absurd, suing someone for behaving in a manner you wish they wouldn't. What's next, lawsuits for "he got a beer belly/she went from a size 7 to a size 14 two years after we were married?"
Please.
As he was the one who cheated, and more importantly, called off the wedding, he should be responsible for the costs incurred for cancelling the said wedding.
Turrialba has it correct- the document is brutal. But it does give a much better understanding of the plantiff's case.
No judge is ever going to hear this case. Can you imagine enpaneling a jury over this? Not gonna' happen 'cause this isn't the first time something like this occured. She wants her money back. Fine. Then marry him and take half his estate when you divorce him when he does it again.
Boo hoo, he won't marry me!! Hey like you would still have married his ass if he didn't call off the wedding? All of these dumb ass woman like to spend a fortune on their fairy tale wedding, what a waste of money. In these economic times you have that much money to blow on a wedding then too bad you gambled & lost in love. Like you wouldn't have spent the money or more then got married found out he would have cheated on you anyway then get a divorce, yeah that would have ended better. Just get over it & learn to be practical & try to stop creating a fairytale.
Another dumbguy fails to protect his cell phone records - ala Tiger Woods. Pay for half the expenses, Shyster!
Huge weddings are an irrational expense. "Let's throw a hugh party to celebrate a contract that has a 50% chance of success."
Dum dee dum dee dum.
Sounds like some on this forum (for example James Reza) loves the single life (or is joining it soon.).
There is NO law that the female has to pick up all the marriage costs - and in this case the guy stole not only a mutual trust, but over 60,000 of money that was supposed to make his marriage a dream marriage.
Its time for the guy to pay up - and females: note his name and ignore him for life. Sounds like others on this forum might deserve similar treatment given their comments.
one of many reasons i never understood why so many people make such a big production out of weddings. it's "look at me," fantasyland and about 50% end in divorce anyway.
Is this the first time in history something like this happened at a bachelor party? It's long been known those parties are sometimes the last shindig before the people commit. Would it be better if he had married her and then cheated?
What did she think might happen when her fiance is in Vegas for his bachelor party? Is she naive,...or is he much better off without her anyway. Perhaps someone here overreacted? Perhaps somebody should have deleted text messages,...and while I'm at it, what was she doing poking around in his phone? They weren't married yet,...and even then what about each others privacy?
Who's right,...who's wrong here? Its a good thing were dealing with lawyers,...that makes this kinda funny.
"That at all times relevant to this action and at the time of drafting the instant complaint' DEFENDANT was an attorney practicing law at the law firm of Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago, Illinois."
I think this guy's career was just torpedoed. No woman juror will take this guy seriously or his clients.
I wouldn't be surprised to find that he will be seeking employment elsewhere, if he hasn't already been asked to leave after this hit the press.
"Sidley is a global law firm, with approximately 1700 lawyers in 17 offices. We are privileged to serve clients across the entire spectrum of law, from complex transactions to "bet the company" litigation to cutting-edge regulatory issues."
"We describe here, in detail, our practices, our industries and our community commitments that continue a tradition of more than 140 years and that define and distinguish our firm. "
This dude is toast.
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned
I don't think their clients will like this one.
So she dropped 62k and he didn't pay anything into it? She should be happy to be rid of this freeloader. I imagine the suit will be settled for a smaller amount (assuming he has ANY money at all). Remember, what happens in Vegas.....is tomorrow's headline.
Here is the article, pictures and tidbits from "Above the Law". The "other woman" is pictured as well.
http://abovethelaw.com/2011/03/lawsuit-o...
oops. There is a counter suit (no surprise here). She kept the $45,000 3 karat engagement ring. He is suing.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/3211207-418...
Turrialba: Read your posted articles again - closely this time. You're getting two similar cases confounded.
Turrialba, The second one you posted about the counter suit is another couple, not the ones involved in this case.
Judges have normally ruled in the "womens" side when she has kept the ring if the man is the one that has broken the engagement. But don't matter in this case, there is no counter suit.
Ms. Serafin should be aware of the inherent risk associated with any romantic relationship. Monetary expenses should be reviewed and split evenly.
This is why they invented a cell phone delete button. All you have to do is use it.
What frivolity and voyeurism by those of you getting so wrapped up in such a dopey case. Turrialba, you're better than this.
oops. My mistake on the link.
They're both attornies. Seize their assets and turn them over to the Taliban as infidels.
JERRY.....JERRY.....JERRY.....
JERRY.....JERRY.....JERRY.....
JERRY.....JERRY.....JERRY.....
Final thoughts ?
Hell, Las Vegas has many wedding and suite packages with bargains to offer (fully furnished) for less than 10 percent of the cost of $62,814.
I'm sure you could get a week's honeymoon at a luxury suite at the Venetian, unlimited gondola rides, unlimited food, unlimited wedding dress and tux rentals, rent-a-minister, rent-a-guests for less than $10,000. -No comps though.
A. To the "former bride" I say, "You know what they say in Russia: Tuff-ski, S**t-ski." B. If I were engaged to someone who looked like that B***H, I would have hooked up in Las Vegas too, before I spent the rest of my life with that woman. and C. Give back the $45K diamond ring and will call it even, my dear.
Implied-fidelity..the word is meaningless..like the word pre-boarding. You board before you board? Fidelity only applies to marriage not during courtship. She blew 64K on an implied marriage and implied honeymoon in Bora Bora--this makes the implied bride..poorer poorer!
I don't even know where to start. SHE SUED HIM? Give me a damned break. Also did she keep the engagement ring? I notice that isn't mentioned in any of the articles. Because if she's seriously claiming she had over 60K in expenses for this wedding and he put no money towards it, the first thing that should be done is that damn ring is sold to pay off some of these expenses.
Also, what kind of a free loader was she set on marrying that she alleges 60K in expenses that only SHE contributed to?
I find this entire lawyer lawsuit shenanigan to be kind of amusing - unfortunate situation aside. I feel bad that the entire wedding blew up - but better before than while she's walking down the aisle. No?
Anyone who can afford $62,814 to PREPARE for a wedding doesn't know what a marriage is about in the first place.
What was she really after - a Constitutional Amendment to go with the ring?
Both sound a bit self absorbed with "entitlement" mentalities. They'd fit right in. Move to Vegas soon. You can always run to the County, City and State Legislature for anything else you might need.
Nevada is a no-fault state. The judges dont have to consider much. I recently saw a judge give child custody to an admitted irresponsible and pregnant-by-another-man wife and her felon-DUI-assault laden family! We definitly need new judges in Nevada.
Comment removed by moderator. Language.
What a hoot!! My guess is because the firm is Sidley & Austin - she will get at least half of her money back from Mr. Wonderful's savings account. It doesn't say what firm HE is at. I'm curious.
Also, according to etiquette concerning cancelled weddings - she should give him the ring back. HE can get a refund for the ring if he purchsed it, she cannot. She will only be able to get a fraction of the cost of the ring if she eventually wants to sell it.
Appears these two were not ready for marriage. If the groom screws around at his bachelor party, he has a problem and is definitely not ready to get married. She is lucky she dodged a bullet with this guy because if he did it then, he will do it again. And again. There was NO EXCUSE for him to do that in Vegas. The kid has a problem.
A lesson learned for this young woman who thought she was in love. He is a born cheater. And she was "in love" with getting married.
By the way - everyone should be VERY careful on what is on your cell phone - whether it is texts or telephone calls received and phone numbers called out. I busted my ex via his cell phone. Wondered who he was talking to and just waited until he was dead to the world sleeping...then checked his cell phone!! BINGO!! Right BEFORE a call to me, were calls to her - name and both phone numbers, home and cell. Stupid.
Suspicious - check your mate's cell phone.
I believe the amount is inflated and she should only get what she paid out to the dollar and she should give the wedding ring back so he can turn it in and pay her back the cash.
This story reminds me of the 1998 movie "Very Bad Things" which promptly fell into a black hole after it's release. For those without a Pollyannaist view on marriage, it might be worth digging up and viewing.
"Very Bad Things" http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/very_bad...
"Peter Berg's dark comedy about a bachelor party gone horribly awry is highly ambitious in its attempts to satirize suburbia, male bonding, and self-help philosophy, and for the most part it does succeed in hitting its targets with a malicious, misanthropic glee. When five buddies arrive in Las Vegas for some pre-wedding shenanigans, things quickly spiral out of control when the requisite prostitute falls victim to a grisly accident, igniting a spark in an already unstable powder keg of personalities. Following the lead of real estate agent and self-help guy Robert (Christian Slater), the men warily agree on a cover-up and covert desert burial. A couple hours and another corpse later, however, they're already at each other's throats, and their escalating breakdowns threaten to disrupt the highly prized wedding of hard-as-nails bride Laura (a stunning Cameron Diaz). Berg, like most actor-turned-directors (this is The Last Seduction star's filmmaking debut) helms the film with a wildly sliding tone and tends to weigh its strengths heavily on its performers. Slater's psycho turn is by far his most inventive yet (he's more in control than ever before), Diaz effectively mixes sunshine with poison, and Jon Favreau is effective and understated as the hapless bridegroom; the rest of the cast, however, tends to play up the histrionics. Be warned, though: Those expecting a sunny-style There's Something About Mary gross-out comedy will probably be shocked by Berg's take-no-prisoners agenda; this is comedy at its absolute blackest, and no one is spared. --Mark Englehart"
I hope his Vegas hook up was worth it because his slighted would have been bride is pretty damn hot.
Didn't Tiger teach us anything? If you're gonna be a scumbag and cheat - don't leave a paper trail! Why would this guy not delete his text messages? Better yet, get a disposable phone for the weekend and text away to your heart's content.