According to court filings, the case involved Bruce Johnson and Caroline Settino, who started dating in the summer of 2016.
A $USD70,000 engagement ring was purchased by Johnson in August 2017 from Tiffany & Co. to mark an engagement; however, the wedding was cancelled later that year after allegations of infidelity emerged.
A US trial judge initially concluded that Settino was entitled to keep the engagement ring; however, in September, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court heard the case and ruled that Johnson should keep it.
On 8 November, the court declared the ring a ‘conditional gift’ and ordered its return as the wedding did not occur.
Six judges unanimously reached the decision, which reverses the 'fault-based' position held by courts in Massachusetts for the past 65 years.
“We now join the modern trend adopted by the majority of jurisdictions that have considered the issue and retire the concept of fault in this context,” the decision reads.
“Where, as here, the planned wedding does not ensue, and the engagement is ended, the engagement ring must be returned to the donor regardless of fault.”
According to the Associated Press, Johnson’s lawyer praised the court's decision. However, a legal representative for Settino argued that the ruling was based on outdated beliefs.
“We firmly believe that the notion of an engagement ring as a conditional gift is predicated on outdated notions and should no longer be a legal loophole in our otherwise well-established rule that a breach of a promise to marry is not an injury recognised by law,” the representative said.
In Australia, engagement rings are broadly defined as ‘conditional gifts’. If the marriage doesn’t proceed, rings are typically returned; however, in the event of exceptional circumstances, including domestic violence, family heirlooms, and mutual, among others, the recipient may be able to maintain possession.
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