A woman in New Taipei City has been cleared by the court after being sued for NT$600,000 in damages by the wife of her boyfriend, who had falsely claimed to be unmarried. The New Taipei City District Court ruled that the woman, surnamed Bai, was unaware that her boyfriend, Mr. Wu, was married, and had no intent to harm his family.
According to court documents, Ms. Bai had been in a relationship with Mr. Wu since 2023 and had been living with him. Throughout their two-year relationship, Wu consistently misrepresented his marital status. When Bai discovered photos of a woman and children on Wu’s phone, he falsely claimed they were his sister and nephew.
It wasn’t until late November last year that Bai learned from another person that Wu was, in fact, married with children. Seeking the truth, she contacted Wu’s wife, Ms. Ye, through Instagram and wrote, “I am Wu’s girlfriend. He told me you’re his sister. I just want to confirm if this is true.”
Upon confirming the truth with Ye, Bai confronted Wu through text, demanding answers. “Are you married? Do you have children? I give you two hours to appear in front of me and deal with this matter,” she wrote. In a moment of emotional distress, she responded to Wu’s question about whether she would still stay with him despite the revelation by saying “yes.” However, the court determined this was not a genuine willingness to be a mistress, but rather an impulsive response driven by shock.
The court also noted that even Wu’s friends were unaware of his family life, suggesting that Bai had no reason to suspect he was married. After learning the truth, Bai immediately ended the relationship, moved out of their shared residence, and asked Wu to cancel their lease agreement.
The court concluded that Bai acted in good faith, was deceived, and had no intention of interfering in Wu’s marriage. As a result, she was found not liable for any compensation. The lawsuit filed by Ms. Ye was dismissed, and she was ordered to cover litigation costs.
This case highlights the complexities of legal claims involving relationships and marital deception, emphasizing the importance of intent and knowledge in determining liability.
