Massachusetts Court Rules Engagement Ring Must Be Returned to Buyer

A landmark decision ends the state's six-decade-old fault-based rule on engagement ring ownership after a breakup.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that engagement rings are conditional gifts that must be returned to the purchaser if a wedding is called off, regardless of who is at fault.
This decision aligns Massachusetts with the majority of U.S. states that have adopted a no-fault approach to engagement ring disputes.
The case involved Bruce Johnson and Caroline Settino, with Johnson claiming Settino was unsupportive during his cancer treatment and had inappropriate communications with another man.
Initially, a trial judge sided with Settino, but the decision was overturned by an appeals court, leading to the Supreme Judicial Court's final ruling in favor of Johnson.
Settino's lawyer expressed disappointment, arguing the ruling is based on outdated notions, while Johnson's lawyer praised the decision as fair and modern.