In a manner of speaking. The Winston-Salem Journal reports the N.C. Court of Appeals has ruled against a Forsyth County woman challenging the constitutionality of a law that allows people to sue their spouse’s lover.

Melissa Oliver is challenging North Carolina divorce law that allows a spouse to sue a lover for alienation of affection on the grounds that it violates rights to privacy and free speech:

Oliver filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit in Forsyth Superior Court, which was denied. She appealed the decision to the N.C. Court of Appeals, arguing that the laws on alienation of affection and “criminal conversation” (a legal term for extramarital sex) violate rights to privacy and free speech.

In a decision handed down Tuesday, the court said Oliver failed to prove a “substantial” right that would be affected if the court did not take up her appeal before a final judgment in the lawsuit was reached.

This is significant locally because the plaintiff in the alienation of affection lawsuit is Veronica Filipowski, ex-wife of former Winston-Salem Dash co-owner Flip Filipowski. The divorce caused Filipowski to end his business relationship with Dash owner Billy Prim, causing delays in the construction of the Dash’s taxpayer-financed downtown stadium.