Ex New England Couple Fighting Over Engagement Ring

Picture this: man and woman meet each other and are instantly enamored with one another. They are 'the one. for each other.' They just know it. They feel it. They are so in love. He decides to spend $70,000 (ok ... that's A LOT, but it's what happened) on an engagement ring. He gets on a knee, she says yes, and a wedding is planned.

Perfect, American love story, right?

Except now that couple is headed to the Massachusetts Supreme Court, and not to share vows, but verbal fists. The couple has broken up, and they are fighting over who get the $70,000 ring (which was purchased at Tiffany's by the way).

The ex-groom-to-be, Bruce Johnson, claims that the ex-bride-to-be was verbally abusive and was cheating on him and that is why he called off the wedding. She denies the allegations. In most states, if a wedding is called off and the condition is never met, then the ring should be returned.

What Are Maine's Laws with Engagement Rings?

Here in Maine, we are a fault-based state but with an exception. If the recipient breaks off the engagement without justification, the ring has to be returned, and if the giver calls off the wedding, the recipient can keep it. But unlike most other fault-based states, the recipient can also keep the ring in Maine if the breakup was mutual.

What Are Massachusetts's Laws Regarding Engagement Rings?

Massachusetts regards engagement rings as conditional gifts but doesn't take the modern no-fault approach. The person who gets to keep the ring depends on who ended the engagement and why.

And that is what happened for this couple. A trial court ruled in favor of the ex-bride-to-be keeping the ring and now Johnson is taking the case to the Massachusetts Supreme Court. There is no date set, but what do you think? Who should get the ring in this case? Share your thoughts by clicking here or on the Facebook post below.