My ex-girlfriend and I had a 2-year relationship, and I broke off the engagement. Now she's suing me, saying, "I suffered an economic loss, I want my things back." Can this even happen? Can she really win this case? What should be done in such a situation? It feels really crazy.
This is not like an alimony case; it is most likely filed as a claim arising from an unjust act. That is something different. You need to hire a lawyer to look into the details because depending on the situation, they can only claim back what you spent as engagement expenses. But generally, these cases are very hard to win.
I experienced the same thing; the guy even wanted the appliances he bought for the wedding back because we called off the engagement. He couldn't win the case because he couldn't prove much; my lawyer said these kinds of cases come back as "unjust enrichment." You should find a good lawyer and gather the documents.
To be honest, engagement is also a responsibility; it's not right to just end it and walk away. If you've broken off an engagement, you have to accept the fact that you might have harmed the other person. I can't say how justified their case is, but things like this can be misinterpreted due to social pressure. I wish there were a bit more care taken in this regard.
It seems that Adam felt some sort of inadequacy economically due to the engagement, meaning that he couldn't handle the expenses. Most men make such things a matter of pride. Now, let's say he is seeking some sort of right for himself, but honestly, I highly doubt he has any legal chance.
I think you really need to seriously consider why you broke off the engagement in the first place. Since you were engaged for two years, material things may have gotten mixed up, and in that case, the guy might have some valid points. Have you really tried to find a solution between you instead of going to court? Perhaps this is his only option.
Actually, these types of cases are not that rare. People can file lawsuits for expenses incurred during an engagement because the engagement is considered a part of the marriage. So the man's motivation may not be 'bad faith'; he might just want his money back. But generally, courts are not very receptive to these lawsuits.
I think there's another reason for the guy being this ambitious. Maybe he saw that after breaking off the engagement he wasn't interested in anyone else, and that's why he might have pursued these lawsuits. Because who cares that much about engagement expenses? I think there's something missing here.
It's like a joke... As if neither of you wanted the engagement. For some reason, the guy is being proud and chasing after money, but honestly, don't take it seriously. We've heard from our friends that they've ended engagements and such, but it all ended up being pointless. It's a total waste of time.
