He called off the wedding — can she keep the ring?

[SNOWFLAKE]

The Massachusetts high court waded into a debate involving hurt feelings, suspicions of infidelity and a $70,000 Tiffany stunner.

He called off the wedding — can she keep the ring?

The Massachusetts high court waded into a debate involving hurt feelings, suspicions of infidelity and a $70,000 Tiffany stunner.

www.courthousenews.com

BOSTON (CN) — A couple who spent almost seven years litigating over who gets to keep a ring after calling off their three-month engagement brought their squabble to the Massachusetts Supreme Court on Friday, with the justices appearing both amused and uncomfortable at having to pass judgment on a romantic imbroglio.

Bruce Johnson gave a $70,000 Tiffany ring to Caroline Settino when they got engaged in August 2017. But according to Johnson, the relationship quickly went downhill — Settino began calling him a “moron,” treated him like a child, didn’t support him when he had cancer treatments and verbally abused him in public, to the point where a waitress who observed Settino’s behavior advised him, “You know, you don’t have to put up with that.”

In November, after Settino stormed off following an argument, Johnson looked through her phone and found voice messages from a man named Steven Henault who referred to Settino as “cupcake” and lamented that they didn’t spend enough time together. He also found a text in which Settino told Henault, “Bruce is going to be in Connecticut for three days. I need some playtime.”

A trial judge sided with Settino, finding that Johnson wasn’t able to prove that she had an affair and was at fault for the breakup because he was the one who canceled the engagement. To make matters worse for Johnson, the judge ordered him to make good on an earlier promise to pay for Settino to have dental surgery.

Some other states have adopted a “no-fault” approach and say that if a marriage doesn’t go through, the giver of the ring gets it back no matter who was responsible. That’s the rule in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico and Wisconsin.

Montana has a different approach: a ring is simply a gift and the recipient can keep it no matter what.

What say you? Should she return the ring or be allowed to keep it?

And what is up with that judge saying he still has to pay for her dental surgery?

 

[Irredentist]

The Massachusetts high court waded into a debate involving hurt feelings, suspicions of infidelity and a $70,000 Tiffany stunner.

He called off the wedding — can she keep the ring?

The Massachusetts high court waded into a debate involving hurt feelings, suspicions of infidelity and a $70,000 Tiffany stunner.

www.courthousenews.com

What say you? Should she return the ring or be allowed to keep it?

And what is up with that judge saying he still has to pay for her dental surgery?

If the engagement is broken off, you return the ring. That's a no brainer. I can't believe there's anyone who thinks otherwise.

 

[MamboDervish]

The Massachusetts high court waded into a debate involving hurt feelings, suspicions of infidelity and a $70,000 Tiffany stunner.

He called off the wedding — can she keep the ring?

The Massachusetts high court waded into a debate involving hurt feelings, suspicions of infidelity and a $70,000 Tiffany stunner.

www.courthousenews.com

What say you? Should she return the ring or be allowed to keep it?

And what is up with that judge saying he still has to pay for her dental surgery?

The whole thing has long become a very sexist cliche. My suggestion would be, if they are betrothed, they both give each other rings of equal value. Problem solved. The pronouncement that comes with a ring attached should cut both ways, for both parties. Or no ring at all.

 

[Loulit01]

There are laws about this. They differ from state to state.

Massachusetts law considers an engagement ring a "conditional gift," saying the gift giver can get the ring back if they are found to be without fault in the relationship ending.

So the question becomes: Who's at fault?

In NJ, if there's no wedding the woman must return the ring.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

If the engagement is broken off, you return the ring. That's a no brainer. I can't believe there's anyone who thinks otherwise.

Yes, but................. if she refuses?

 

[Irredentist]

Yes, but................. if she refuses?

Then that's shitty of her. But in my opinion, you should never buy someone an expensive engagement ring in the first place. There's an inverse correlation between the value of engagement rings, and the value of the person whose finger it's on. The more expensive a ring your fiance demands, the less valuable she's going to be as a wife.

 

[Sweden]

The Massachusetts high court waded into a debate involving hurt feelings, suspicions of infidelity and a $70,000 Tiffany stunner.

He called off the wedding — can she keep the ring?

The Massachusetts high court waded into a debate involving hurt feelings, suspicions of infidelity and a $70,000 Tiffany stunner.

www.courthousenews.com

What say you? Should she return the ring or be allowed to keep it?

And what is up with that judge saying he still has to pay for her dental surgery?

It would be interesting to know how much they spent on lawyers during seven years litigation.

 

[iamwhatiseem]

The Massachusetts high court waded into a debate involving hurt feelings, suspicions of infidelity and a $70,000 Tiffany stunner.

He called off the wedding — can she keep the ring?

The Massachusetts high court waded into a debate involving hurt feelings, suspicions of infidelity and a $70,000 Tiffany stunner.

www.courthousenews.com

What say you? Should she return the ring or be allowed to keep it?

And what is up with that judge saying he still has to pay for her dental surgery?

If he was stupid enough to spend $70k on a ring in a relationship that fell apart in a few weeks - he deserves to lose the $$.
At the same time - she doesn't deserve it either. Anyone who would accept such a ring in a dysfunctional relationship doesn't deserve it either.
The court should take it and give the money to foster parent organization.

 

[Bok Tuklo]

This seems straight forward to me.

If you give someone something, it is theirs.

 

[Binary_Digit]

This seems straight forward to me.

If you give someone something, it is theirs.

Yep. He should think of it as paying for an education on what not to do.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

It would be interesting to know how much they spent on lawyers during seven years litigation.

More than the ring is worth?

 

[Sweden]

More than the ring is worth?

Could be. I hear that US lawyers don't come cheap.

 

[Common Sense 1]

If he broke it off the ring is hers.

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

If he broke it off the ring is hers.

How about the dental surgery? Still obliged to pay for it?

 

[Common Sense 1]

How about the dental surgery? Still obliged to pay for it?

I don't think he should have to pay for dental surgery but the court thinks otherwise.

 

[Helix]

1. 70k is too much for an engagement ring. The beautiful ring that I gave my wife is heirloom quality, and it cost far less.
2. The woman in the story sounds like an abusive, cheating asshole, so she's lost any sympathy I had for her.
3. I have always leaned towards the belief that the ring, once given, belongs to the recipient whether shit works out or not.
4. She can pay for her own dental surgery. Sell the ring.

 

[DrewPaul]

1. 70k is too much for an engagement ring. The beautiful ring that I gave my wife is heirloom quality, and it cost far less.
2. The woman in the story sounds like an abusive, cheating asshole, so she's lost any sympathy I had for her.
3. I have always leaned towards the belief that the ring, once given, belongs to the recipient whether shit works out or not.
4. She can pay for her own dental surgery. Sell the ring.

Technically and probably legally I agree with point three. However from a golden rule perspective she should have given the ring back.

 

[noonereal]

The Massachusetts high court waded into a debate involving hurt feelings, suspicions of infidelity and a $70,000 Tiffany stunner.

He called off the wedding — can she keep the ring?

The Massachusetts high court waded into a debate involving hurt feelings, suspicions of infidelity and a $70,000 Tiffany stunner.

www.courthousenews.com

What say you? Should she return the ring or be allowed to keep it?

And what is up with that judge saying he still has to pay for her dental surgery?

The law is pretty clear. It is a promissory note just like any other. Here in NY.

 

[Jessie C]

The Massachusetts high court waded into a debate involving hurt feelings, suspicions of infidelity and a $70,000 Tiffany stunner.

He called off the wedding — can she keep the ring?

The Massachusetts high court waded into a debate involving hurt feelings, suspicions of infidelity and a $70,000 Tiffany stunner.

www.courthousenews.com

What say you? Should she return the ring or be allowed to keep it?

And what is up with that judge saying he still has to pay for her dental surgery?

Growing up, I was told if the woman ends the relationship, she gives the ring back. If the guy ends the relationship, she keeps it. Kinda like a consolation prize?

 

[Rumpelstil]

The whole thing has long become a very sexist cliche. My suggestion would be, if they are betrothed, they both give each other rings of equal value. Problem solved. The pronouncement that comes with a ring attached should cut both ways, for both parties. Or no ring at all.

sounds sensible