N.J. Man Sues Ex Who Wrote ‘Bum,’ ‘Loser’ on Alimony Checks

Words can hurt. In this case, they can also lead you to court.

The Daily Record reports that a New Jersey woman is actually being sued by her ex-husband for allegedly writing derogatory terms such as "bum" and "loser" on the memo line of her weekly spousal support checks to him.

The ex-husband is suing for harassment and infliction of emotional distress.

Attorney Gregg D. Trautmann filed a lawsuit Thursday on behalf of his client, 61 year-old Francis J. Wagner Jr. Wagner claims that the insults have exacerbated his poor health, which also includes cancer plus a heart condition.

The ex-wife's name is Diane Wagner. The 57 year-old Hopatcong, NJ woman says that her ten year marriage to Francis wasn't easy at all, and that she had to put up with his drunken tirades. According to the Daily Record, she is also undergoing treatment for cancer that started in her lungs and then progressed to her bones.

Diane says that her ex-husband collects Social Security/Disability, and that she couldn't afford a divorce trial so she agreed to pay her the unemployed man the $744 a month in spousal support so she get the divorce. Wagner said in an interview

As far as I'm concerned I can write anything I want on the memo line because it's a note to myself. I was the victim in that marriage. What more blood does he want from me? I pay him religiously.

The lawsuit states that the divorce between the couple was finalized on July 21, 2014.