Capel v. Capel

MEMORANDUM OPINION

RICHARD J. LEON, United States District Judge

The underlying dispute in this case began when Laura Capel (“Ms. Capel” or “defendant”) learned that her husband, Thomas Daniel Capel (“Mr. Capel” or “decedent”), had passed away unexpectedly. Ms. Capel was separated, but not divorced, from Mr. Capel at the time, so she was understandably shocked when she discovered, shortly after Mr. Capel’s death, that her husband had apparently married Brooke Norman (“Norman”).-Ms. Capel accordingly filed suit in North Carolina state court, seeking a declaratory judgment .that she was, in fact,…