Massachusetts Court Rules on Engagement Ring Ownership

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has issued a landmark ruling regarding the ownership of engagement rings following a broken engagement, overturning a 65-year-old precedent that required judges to determine fault in a relationship's demise. The case involved Bruce Johnson and Caroline Settino, who were engaged after Johnson gifted Settino a $70,000 engagement ring. Following a tumultuous relationship marked by personal crises and allegations of infidelity, Johnson sought the return of the ring after ending the engagement. The court ruled that engagement rings are conditional gifts that must be returned to the purchaser, irrespective of who was at fault, aligning Massachusetts with the majority of other jurisdictions. This decision modernizes the legal landscape surrounding engagement rings and aims to reduce contentious litigation over personal matters. Johnson's attorney praised the ruling as a significant step towards simplifying disputes without the need for public court battles.