Written by DCist contributor Judy Coleman. See all her biting legal analysis here.

Summer lovin’ may be a blast. Summer lovin’, as it is wont to do, happens so fast. But, gonorrhea, that takes a long time to detect – so long that you might not be able to sue your summer fling for giving it to you. As cupid stumbles, hiccuping, out of The Big Hunt this summer, pointing his bow where he probably shouldn’t, interns new to the D.C. scene should beware the lessons of Duke v. Housen. The case that makes up in human interest what it lacks in name recognition.

The year was 1970 and young District resident Margaret Housen was clearly looking for excitement in her life. A part-time college student who worked on the side, Margaret was an opportunistic lass, and when her brother introduced her to defendant Angiers St. George Biddle “Pony” Duke, Jr., she wasted no time – indeed, saying his name alone took up precious seconds. That night, Margaret and Pony got off to a galloping start in the front seat of his pickup truck somewhere in Virginia.

Pony Duke, you see, was from Wyoming. And like Wyoming ‘s representation in our government, was larger than life. He declared his love for Margaret, as well as a desire to marry her, and, because she apparently was not a degree candidate in the school of romance, Margaret agreed to join Pony for a cross-country road trip. They went from New York to Iowa and finally to Denver, where he ditched her and drove back to Wyoming on his own. Incredibly, it is legally relevant that Margaret Housen and Angiers Duke had sex frequently throughout this trip, in many states. When it came time to sue the bastard for giving her The Clap, only certain states would allow Margaret to do so.