Court Orders Return of $70,000 Engagement Ring in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that a would-be bride must return a $70,000 engagement ring to her ex-fiancé. This decision resolves a 65-year legal challenge regarding fault in broken engagements. The court sided with Bruce Johnson in his ongoing legal battle against Caroline Settino.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has delivered a decisive verdict concerning a valuable engagement ring dispute that has resonated through New England's legal history for 65 years. The court ordered Caroline Settino to return the $70,000 Tiffany & Co ring to her former fiancé, Bruce Johnson, after a long-standing legal battle following their called-off wedding.

This landmark decision provides clarity to a contentious issue of determining responsibility and asset distribution when an engagement is dissolved. Johnson pursued legal recourse to reclaim the ring, arguing his right to retain it since he ended the engagement.

The ruling represents a significant interpretation of engagement ring laws, potentially guiding future cases in the state and beyond. Legal experts will likely analyze how this may affect similar disputes under Massachusetts law.

(With inputs from agencies.)