Bloomberg Law
December 20, 2016, 4:10 PM UTC

Man May Sue Jilted Fiancee for Return of Ring

Bloomberg Law - Staff Reports

By Julianne Tobin Wojay, Bloomberg BNA

A statute barring lawsuits for a person’s breach of a promise to marry doesn’t bar an action for the recovery of an engagement ring after the wedding is called off, a unanimous Virginia Supreme Court held Dec. 15.

Explaining that the so-called “heartbalm” law doesn’t foreclose an action for recovery of property exchanged in contemplation of marriage, the court followed the majority view among other states on this issue.

Love Yielded to Litigation

When Julia McGrath accepted Ethan Dockendorf’s marriage proposal, he gave her a two-carat engagement ring worth $26,000. He broke off the ...

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