What to do when her ex sues you for mental duress.
A clear, no-nonsense guide written in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and ninety-seven.
Read the protocolDo not speak to the plaintiff.
Any contact, even a single sentence, can be twisted and entered into evidence. Forward all correspondence to counsel immediately.
Document everything.
Keep a contemporaneous log of dates, conversations, and public statements made by the ex. Save every letter, email, and court filing in triplicate.
Retain counsel who understands relationships.
Not every litigator is equipped for the peculiar geometry of romantic triangles. Seek someone who has handled at least one similar matter.
The practical reality
Mental duress claims of this nature rarely survive summary judgment when the relationship was consensual and no physical threat existed. The burden remains on the plaintiff to prove both the existence of severe emotional injury and that your conduct was the proximate cause.
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