Former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is at the center of a $75,000-plus Homewrecker lawsuit in North Carolina, where a little-known law allows a spouse to seek damages from a third party accused of interfering in a marriage.

The lawsuit filed by Heather Ammel alleges that Sinema had an affair with her then-husband, Matthew Ammel, while he was still married and working as Sinema’s bodyguard.

Homewrecker Case Stems from Married Bodyguard's Infidelity

The case has drawn renewed attention to North Carolina’s unusual “alienation of affection” law, one of a small number of so-called heartbalm laws that remain available in the United States.

According to court records cited in the lawsuit, Sinema acknowledged during a deposition that she and Ammel had a sexual relationship beginning in 2024. Sinema said the first encounter occurred around Memorial Day at an Airbnb in Napa, California.

The former Arizona senator also acknowledged additional encounters in New York City, Washington, D.C., Colorado and Phoenix, according to the deposition.

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What Is North Carolina’s Homewrecker Law?

The term “homewrecker law” is a popular description for North Carolina’s alienation of affection cause of action. It is not a criminal statute and does not make adultery a crime. Instead, it permits a spouse to bring a civil lawsuit against a third party accused of intentionally damaging the marital relationship.

Under North Carolina law, a plaintiff generally must establish three elements: that a genuine love and affection existed between the spouses, that the affection was alienated or destroyed, and that the defendant’s wrongful and malicious conduct caused the loss of that affection.

The law also places important limits on these cases. North Carolina law states that conduct occurring after spouses physically separate with the intent that the separation remain permanent cannot form the basis of an alienation-of-affection claim.

A lawsuit generally must be filed within three years of the defendant’s last qualifying act.

When Was the Law Last Successfully Used?

One of the most recent successful cases involving the law was Fish v. Stetina, which went to trial in Catawba County in March 2023.

John Fish sued Wayne Stetina, alleging that Stetina’s relationship with Fish’s wife contributed to the destruction of their marriage. A North Carolina jury found Stetina liable for alienation of affection on March 14, 2023.

The jury awarded Fish $804,000 in compensatory damages and $500,000 in punitive damages, for a total of $1.304 million. The trial court entered judgment in April 2023.

Stetina appealed, but the North Carolina Court of Appeals upheld the judgment in a published decision filed Feb. 19, 2025. The appellate court found no error in the trial proceedings, including the admission of evidence and the submission of punitive damages to the jury.

So, in terms of a recent case producing a jury verdict and substantial monetary award, the answer is yes: the law was successful. Fish received a $1.304 million judgment after a jury concluded that the defendant was liable.

The case is significant because it demonstrates that the law is more than a historical curiosity. Although these lawsuits are relatively rare, North Carolina courts continue to recognize the cause of action.

Sinema Case Raises New Questions

The Sinema case presents a different set of circumstances.

Heather Ammel alleges that her marriage to Matthew Ammel was damaged by his relationship with Sinema. The couple separated in November 2024, and their divorce was finalized in March 2026, according to the material provided for the case.

Sinema has acknowledged that she knew Ammel was married and had three children. During her deposition, she described the relationship and said she cared about Ammel, including concerns about injuries and mental health problems he experienced after military deployments.

Ammel's lawsuit also makes allegations concerning Sinema's purported role in introducing her former husband to psychedelics. Those allegations are separate from the basic alienation-of-affection claim and remain matters for the court to evaluate.

The case was moved to federal court in January, with Sinema arguing, among other issues, that the alleged conduct occurred outside North Carolina.

An evidentiary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 19.

Is the Homewrecker Law Still in Effect?

Despite recent efforts to eliminate it, North Carolina’s alienation-of-affection law remains significant to the Sinema case.

A 2026 bill, Senate Bill 836, was introduced with provisions that would repeal the existing statute and abolish the common-law causes of action for alienation of affection and criminal conversation.

However, the North Carolina General Assembly’s official bill history shows that the measure was referred to the Senate Appropriations/Base Budget Committee on April 28, 2026. It never shows where it became a law.

That distinction matters. A proposal to abolish the law is not the same as an enacted repeal.

Alienation of Affection Before the Couple Separates

The North Carolina Supreme Court also addressed the continuing legal framework surrounding alienation-of-affection claims in Beavers v. McMican in 2024.

The court explained the elements required to establish such a claim and ruled that certain post-separation evidence could be used to corroborate pre-separation conduct under specific circumstances.

For now, the Sinema litigation provides another test of one of America's most unusual relationship-related civil causes of action. Whether Heather Ammel can ultimately prove her allegations and recover damages remains for the court to determine.

Related Resources

• North Carolina General Statutes — Chapter 52
• North Carolina Court of Appeals — Fish v. Stetina
• North Carolina Supreme Court — Beavers v. McMican
• North Carolina General Assembly — Senate Bill 836
• North Carolina Court of Appeals — Little v. Clay