Paul and Janet had been dating for about two years when Paul proposed marriage. Janet agreed and a wedding date was set. As a sign of their engagement, Paul gave her a family heirloom, an 8-carat pure white diamond on a white gold band. Three months later, Paul thought better of it and broke the engagement. He then requested the return of the ring. Janet refused, claiming it was Paul fault for breaking off the engagement and she had a right to keep it. Who wins?
Paul does. Our firm won the lead case on this issue, Gagliardo v. Clemente, a New York Appellate Division, 1st Department case from 1992. The court held that giving an engagement ring is only a conditional gift given in contemplation of marriage. If the marriage does not go through, the gift is not completed and the ring must be returned. It is wholly irrelevant as to who caused the breakup. Just as New York has a no-fault divorce law, there is a no-fault engagement ring rule. The rule is the same in New Jersey according to Aronow v. Silver, a 1987 NJ Superior Court case.
What if the man is already married and gave the engagement ring upon her promise to marry him when and if he got a divorce from his current marriage?
