JACKSON, Miss. — Professional golfer John Daly’s fiancee says his ex-wife shouldn’t be allowed to sue her over accusations that she broke up their marriage.
Sherrie Allison Miller is suing Anna Cladakis — who also is Daly’s caddie — under a provision known as "alienation of affection." That law, in effect in only six states including Mississippi, would allow Miller to collect damages from Cladakis if she can prove the two had a sexual relationship while Miller was still married to Daly.
Neither Daly nor Cladakis lives in Mississippi, and Miller has to prove that’s where the trysts took place. Miller claims they took place in DeSoto County, not far from Memphis across the state line. Attorneys for Cladakis say Miller simply shopped around for a place to file a lawsuit and asked the U.S. Supreme Court last month to throw it out. Miller has until Monday to respond to that appeal.
Cladakis had lived in Florida, and Daly and Miller had lived in Tennessee. Neither state recognizes "alienation of affection" lawsuits.
Daly remains a popular figure at golf tournaments because of his power and because he’s unpredictable on the course. He has not had a full PGA Tour card since 2006, though he continues to play a relatively full schedule through sponsor exemptions. His last victory was the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines in 2004.
He has gotten as much attention for his play on the course as his antics and personal troubles. Nicknamed "Wild Thing," he was in rehab several times to treat alcohol addiction and at times was easy to spot with his colorful outfits and cigarette in hand.
Cladakis now caddies for him, and Daly’s son from his previous marriage to Miller often travels with them. He announced on Twitter in December that he had popped the question to Cladakis, whom he has been with for seven years.
Daly and Miller wed in 2001, separated in 2007 and finalized their divorce in 2010. Miller, his fourth wife, claims he and Cladakis developed their relationship while she and Daly were separated but still legally married.
A Mississippi judge had initially dismissed the lawsuit in 2012 because no one involved was based in the state. An appeals court overturned that ruling, however, and the state Supreme Court gave Miller the green light to move ahead with the lawsuit in February.
