Lindh v. Surman
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
742 A.2d 643 (1999)
Rodger Lindh (plaintiff) proposed to Janis Surman (defendant) with an expensive ring, broke up with her two months later and had her return it, then later reconciled and proposed again with the same ring, only to again rescind his proposal and ask for the ring back — this time Surman refused. Lindh sued to recover the ring or its value; Surman won at arbitration, but Lindh won on appeal to the county court and again on further appeal, prompting Surman to petition the Supreme Court for review.
Whether, under Pennsylvania law, the offeror of an engagement ring retains the right to ownership of the ring upon breach of the commitment to marry, even when it is the offeror who breaches the commitment.