When an engagement breaks down, who gets to keep the ring? A case deciding just that was argued before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Friday.
The state’s highest court heard arguments from lawyers representing Bruce Johnson and Caroline Settino, who were briefly engaged in 2017.
According to court documents, Johnson bought the engagement ring from Tiffany’s in Boston, paying more than $70,000.
Shortly after the pair became engaged, the relationship ended.
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.
The question before the courts has been just that – who is at fault?
Johnson accused Settino of being verbally abusive and having an affair. He said in a court filing that he found a text message from Settino to a man that said, “My Bruce is going to be in Connecticut for three days. I need some playtime.”
Settino argued that there was no affair – the man she texted was just a friend. A trial court judge ruled in her favor, saying Johnson was at fault for calling off the engagement and she gets to keep the ring,
Johnson appealed the decision and a Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled in his favor. The appeals court said the existence or non-existence of an affair was not the only factor in the case; Johnson may still have had solid reasons to call off the engagement.
“Sometimes there simply is no fault to be had,” the court said.
Read more at CBSNews.com
What Are Your Thoughts?
