Legal Question in Civil Litigation in California
Broken Engagement - who pays the wedding expenses?
I initiated discussions with my ex-fiance and we mutually decided to break our engagement one week before the wedding date. Now, seven months later, she's suing me for half of the wedding expenses. She was doing the majority of the planning and she is claiming $19,000 in wedding costs, but only has receipts for $14,000. We never had a formal agreement that we would share the expenses 50/50 since she makes 3 times more than me and I always felt that the expenses were too great anyway. I have cleared checks, bank statements, etc. that total about $5000 that I contributed to the wedding plans. In addition, she still has the engagement ring which I paid $10,000 for. That's $15,000 that I've lost! Does she have a case to actually sue me for a couple of thousand more? I can't believe that the law would be constructed in such a way that a person is punished for making a healthy decision. If she wins, I will have lost $17,000 compared to her $7,000.
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Broken Engagement
If you have receipts showing that you paid for some
of the expenses bring them to court with you and
show the judge. You didn't state what court she
was suing you in Municipal, Small Claims or Superior.
Depending on the court she can sue from $5,000 to
actual damages. She will probably sue you for
intentional infliction of emotional distress which
legally she can get punitive damages. If she spent
the money it is her loss not yours. I doubt she would
win, hopefully the judge will see her for what she
is a women scorned. If you need any help defending
this give me a call. If I were your lawyer I would
probably file for a Summary Judgment so that this
doesn't drag on for years but rather puts it right
to a judge for a decision which would probably be
a dismissal.
Re: Broken Engagement
Mr. Hayes' analysis seems to be generally correct (because I have not worked on a similar case, I can't offer very specific guidance here). I would add that, depending on the circumstances of your decision to cancel -- and on how much of it you can prove -- you may be able to get the ring back.
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