Peter v. Langley, 89 Va. Cir. 281, 2014 Va. Cir. LEXIS 124 (Va. Cir. Ct. 2014)
Nov 06, 2014OUTCOME: Motion granted
In an action arising out of a broken engagement, plaintiff's motion for detinue, seeking return of the engagement ring given to defendant or judgment for its value pursuant to Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-121, ... was granted because plaintiff had proven all the required elements of detinue as he had a right to the engagement ring based on upon the breach of the engagement to be married, he had an immediate right to possession of the ring in light of the breach of the engagement, the ring was capable of identification, the value of the ring was testified to at trial, and plaintiff had possession of the ring at some time prior to commencement of the action; and the intention behind Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-220 of the Heart Balm Act was not to prohibit the return of engagement gifts; thus, defendant was order to relinquish possession of the engagement ring to plaintiff.