RALEIGH – A detailed lawsuit filed by a former Apex city councilman claims that North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland County) began an affair with his wife and had sex in group with other people who sought political favor.
Scott Riley Lassiter is suing Moore and an unnamed John Doe defendant for various claims, including alienation of affections and civil conspiracy.
Channel 9 obtained the court documents, which allege that Moore “used his position as Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives to initiate contact and develop a personal relationship with Ms. Lassiter, despite knowing that she was married to the plaintiff”.
The lawsuit says Lassiter’s spouse worked in state government and had known the Republican president for years. Jamie Liles Lassiter is currently the Executive Director of the North Carolina Conference of Superior Court Clerks.
The lawsuit says Lassiter heard rumors that his wife was having an affair with Moore. On December 21, 2022, Lassiter watched his wife after she told him she was going to see a movie with a friend, and discovered that she was going to dinner with Moore at a Raleigh steakhouse. Court documents say Lassiter found his wife and Moore went to Moore’s home in Raleigh and spent hours together. Lassiter says he believed Moore and his wife were having sex.
The lawsuit included a photo of Ms. Lassiter and Moore outside the Raleigh grill.
Lassiter’s wife allegedly admitted to the extramarital affair when confronted in the early morning hours of Dec. 22, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit says Lassiter’s wife confessed to having an affair for three years and that she had “engaged in sexual activity with defendant Tim Moore (including group sex with other individuals seeking political favors from Tim Moore) and that he was afraid to end the relationship with [Moore] would cause him to lose his job.”
Court documents say Lassiter asked to speak with Moore to confront him about the matter. On December 26, Lassiter met with Moore at a Biscuitville in Raleigh, and Moore admitted to having had a sexual relationship with Ms. Lassiter for several years. According to the lawsuit, Moore asked Lassiter at the end of the meeting, “if there was anything he could do for the plaintiff, implying that he could use the power he had as a spokesperson in some way to benefit the plaintiff.”
According to the lawsuit, the Lassiters tried therapeutic counseling but eventually decided to separate because Ms. Lassiter was unable to end her relationship with Moore.
The lawsuit also claims an unnamed man set up a camera on Lassiter’s property to record video. Lassiter states that “Moore, either personally or through an agent authorized to act on his behalf, solicited the unlawful intervention of defendant John Doe [Lassiter’s] real estate and place a motion-activated camera… to capture photos and videos [Lassiter] this [Moore] could serve to persuade [Lassiter] not exercise any of the valid legal claims against him”.
Channel 9 has reached out to Moore’s office for comment on the lawsuit, but has not yet heard back.
Moore’s attorney did send a statement to WRAL in Raleighsaying the claims were false.
“I look forward to meeting Mr. Lassiter in the courtroom. We are confident that the speaker will be vindicated,” Moore’s attorney told WRAL.
Lassiter’s wife also sent a statement to WRAL, saying Moore is not to blame.
“The claims are not only false, but impossible as we have been separated for years with a signed separation document,” he told WRAL. “Our marriage was a nightmare, and since I left him it’s gotten worse. We’re nearing the end of our divorce proceedings and this is how he’s lashing out.”
Lassiter is suing for more than $200,000 in damages.
Alienation of affection:
North Carolina is one of six states where an alienation of affection lawsuit can be filed.
“This case, in particular, is quite fascinating,” David Simmons, senior counsel for Law of Sodomsaid
Sodoma Law is not involved in Moore’s case, but is often in charge of alienation of affection cases.
“You would show that you have a marriage with genuine love and affection,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be perfect, but just a marriage with love and affection, love and affection was destroyed and destroyed because of the malicious acts of a third party.”
Simmons says that even if a separation document were signed, it doesn’t necessarily change things.
“In terms of proving that the acts of a third party have caused that marriage to no longer exist, you’re still going to have those questions even if the separation agreement has been executed,” he said.
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