McGrath v. Dockendorf

OPINION BY JUSTICE STEPHEN R. McCULLOUGH

**836 We resolve in this appeal whether the "heart balm" statute, Code § 8.01-220, bars an action in detinue for recovery of an engagement ring following the breakoff of the engagement. We conclude that the heart balm statute does not bar such an action, and, therefore, we affirm.

BACKGROUND

On August 25, 2012, Ethan L. Dockendorf proposed to Julia V. McGrath. She accepted. He offered her a two-carat engagement ring worth approximately $26,000. In September 2013, after the relationship deteriorated, he broke off the engagement. The parties never married.…