New York case law is clear, ruling in 1971 that an engagement ring “is in the nature of a pledge for the contract of marriage” and the recipient is required “upon demand, to return the ring on the theory that it constituted a conditional gift” (Lowe v. Quinn, 27 NY2d 397).
And, what if the breakup wasn’t mutual or even your idea? Way back in 1992, NY Courts ruled that “whether Defendant was at fault for the breakup of the engagement is wholly irrelevant to his right to recover possession of an engagement ring that he …gave to defendant in contemplation of marriage “(Gagliardo v. Clemente; 180 AD2d 551). So the diamond (or perhaps cubic zirconia!) must be returned!
So, this Valentine’s Day, if the proposal ends with a “yes,” we hope you mean it…. unlike discarded broken pie-crust, a broken engagement means a return of the ring……
Juneteenth became a Federal Holiday when President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act in 2021…. And here at The New York Law Institute, we believe one of the best ways to celebrate Juneteenth is to learn more about the Holiday…. ProQuest Congressional is always a great place to begin researching any Federal Legislative…
New York City Department stores — past & present — have been noted for their holiday window displays — from the edgy Barneys, glamorous Saks Fifth Avenue.… to people pleasing Macy’s — it’s all on display, a freebie to make you stop and maybe stop by and play Santa by buying some gift items. We’ve…
The term polymath is rarely used — as it seldom truly applies to an individual’s breadth of talent & abilities….. But polymath is the exact word for capturing the many talents of Arturo Schomburg…. Writer, Historian, Curator, & Activist….. … And let’s not forget librarian! To learn more about this remarkable individual — and to…
You must know, if you’ve read this far!, that the Wagner Act guaranteed the rights of employees to form unions and collectively bargain with their employers. But did you know that the act only covered “private sector” workers? And that it specifically excluded agricultural workers, domestic servants and railroad employees? You may have guessed that…
The 1960s were a decade of momentous change… Including a momentous change in New York’s Civil Practice as the Civil Practice Act was completely revised to become the basis of today’s Civil Practice Law & Rules…. The 1962 NY Chap 308 created the CPLR., which went into effective on 9/1/1963… And if you want to…
The written word, images, music and film all exit the world of copyright and enter into public domain….. This Public Domain Day (1.1.2025), we’ve got some interesting graduates entering into the latest class of public domain works of art…. Virginia Woolf’s seminal feminist essay “A Room of One’s Own,”as well as Hemingway’s war novel “A…
