A court in the US has ruled that a woman must return a $70,000 engagement ring, marking a significant shift in legal precedent. The decision, made by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, states that an engagement ring is a conditional gift that must be returned if the wedding does not happen, regardless of who is at fault.
Bruce Johnson, 67, gave the Tiffany & Co. ring to Caroline Settino, 59, in August 2017. However, Johnson called off the wedding later that year, citing suspicions of an affair, which Settino denies, and alleging that she did not support him during his battle with prostate cancer.
The court’s ruling on November 8th overturns the “fault-based” rule that had been in place in Massachusetts for 65 years. Under the old rule, a court would only order the return of an engagement ring if the giver was not at fault for the cancellation of the wedding.
In a unanimous decision, the six-judge panel agreed that engagement rings should be treated as conditional gifts. Associate Justice Dalila Argaez Wendlandt noted that most jurisdictions now follow this approach, stating that an engagement ring must be returned if the wedding does not happen, regardless of who is to blame. This ruling reverses a previous decision by a lower court that allowed Settino to keep the ring.
Justice Wendlandt emphasized that engagement rings are universally understood to be gifts contingent upon marriage. “The engagement ring must be returned to the donor when the wedding does not occur,” she wrote.
Related topics:
- $5M Cartier Diamond Necklace Smashes Pre-Sale Estimate at Christie’s Auction
- KP Members Need to Redefine Conflict Diamonds
- Red Rock Shines at $13.8M Phillips Geneva Jewelry Auction
