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……
Happy 50th Birthday Hip Hop! The Bronx, home of the Yankees and Fordham University, is credited to giving the world the music of hip hop…. NYLI gives its shout out & birthday greetings to Hip Hop …& hopes you consider these resources when protecting your creative rights…. And in our eBook collection.. .there’s…. The New…
We are in the middle of March… Women’s History Month… and who better to have on our NYLI T.V. set (which doubles as pencil holder photo frame, lol!)… than Brooklyn’s own – Shirley Chisholm! Want to know more about the life of Shirley Chisholm? Then tune into NYLI’s eBook collection…. Want to know more about…
Regina Anderson Andrews was a true Renaissance woman — a writer, salon doyenne and librarian. And, she was instrumental in the rebirth of interest in African-American culture… that has become known as the Harlem Renaissance…. Celebrate the life of Regina Andrews Anderson — by learning more about her life by exploring The New York Law…
Staff Picks: NYLI’s Super Superseded Collection by Brooke Raymond I’ve been at NYLI since June 2022 and am still continually amazed at the breadth of its collection. It’s been hard to pick a favorite – our print, eBooks, Records & Briefs, LLMC, ProQuest Congressional and all the standard databases – are all essential resources for…
The New York Law Institute will close at 2:00 PM on Friday, August 29th and will be closed on Monday, September 1, 2025 in observance of the Labor Day national holiday. NYLI will reopen at 9 AM on Tuesday the 2nd of September.
