The News-Times

Drunk driver’s wife offers a warning

- Jeanne Phillips

Dear Abby: Many wives write you about problems with their husbands who drink too much. If they live in a community property state, there’s something important they need to know. If the husband drives drunk and causes an injury, both the wife and husband may be named as co-defendants — even if the wife wasn’t involved. And if the injured party is successful in the lawsuit, the co-defendants together must pay.

Wives who tolerate their husband’s refusal to stop drinking need to be aware of the economic hammer the law could have hanging over them. I just went through this experience. Had I known the law in our community property state would lump me in, I would have had a powerful reason to divorce my husband years ago after I realized he would never give up drinking.

Getting The Word Out in Phoenix

Dear Getting: Thank you for teaching me and my readers something. If someone has a spouse of EITHER sex with an alcohol problem who gets behind the wheel of a car, for their own protection, they should consult their lawyer and their insurance agent about what the ramificati­ons could lead to. Dear Abby: I’m a sophomore in high school, and I’m in love with a senior. I met him a year ago when we had some classes together. We liked each other, but because of our age difference, we never dated.

I thought I would get over him over the summer, but I didn’t. We don’t see each other at all this year, and I’m almost sure he’s moved on. I feel like I need to move on, too, but deep down I really don’t want to. Help me get on with my life.

Totally Stuck in Montana

Dear Stuck: A way to move forward would be to give yourself less time to think about him. Stay busy and keep your mind occupied with your studies. If you can get into new activities, do it. Not only will they distract you, but they will also give you the opportunit­y to learn something new as well as make more friends and perhaps meet someone equally special.

That said, do not expect to banish him completely from your heart. If he was your first love, he may always occupy a tiny portion of the real estate there.

Write to Dear Abby at P.O. Box 96440, Los Angeles, CA 90069 or dearabby.com

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States