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Hassin Bin Sober

(27,457 posts)

67. A breach of promise to marry is not a contract but can be actionable.

Mon Dec 9, 2013, 10:16 PM

Dec 2013

From what I remember, a promise is not a contract because there is no consideration. BUT a breach of promise can be actionable if the injured party acts on the promise to their own detriment - the article says she quit her job. Quitting her job in anticipation of being a housewife/mother seems like she relied on the promise to her own detriment.

We also talked about breaches of promise regarding gifts. Same logic. If I promise to give $1 million dollars to XYZ charity but change my mind - not actionable. BUT, if I promise to give XYZ charity $1million dollars and they go out and acquire property to build their new wing with my donation, then that might be actionable as they relied on my promise to their detriment.

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Highlight:

Georgia man must pay $50k for breaking promise to marry [View all] Harmony Blue Dec 2013 OP

no fury Niceguy1 Dec 2013 #1

And women are defined by their spouses! longship Dec 2013 #4

What was that about Georgia? dawg Dec 2013 #12

michigan, indeed... n/t ProdigalJunkMail Dec 2013 #16

Touch�! nt longship Dec 2013 #22

And no stupidity like a contract broken... LanternWaste Dec 2013 #9

A man could use that law too, no doubt treestar Dec 2013 #19

old and tired. hey... men exhibit fury? mellow dudes that they are? really? you want to argue seabeyond Dec 2013 #27

Well, I do remember reading a book... NaturalHigh Dec 2013 #29

hm. one. and you might check out the vast number of men murdering their wives seabeyond Dec 2013 #30

"just throw out a bullshit saying to create a caricature of a woman" NaturalHigh Dec 2013 #31

facts are .... the majority of spousal murderers are men. the majority do it because they are seabeyond Dec 2013 #32

I don't have an issue with you posting whatever you want. NaturalHigh Dec 2013 #33

thank you. let me correct you, again. i was correcting your correlation that ONE event creates a seabeyond Dec 2013 #37

I'm sure you could post several facts... NaturalHigh Dec 2013 #38

ha ha. you are so funny. strong majority of men kill spouse. majority because scorned and you seabeyond Dec 2013 #40

The strong majority of men kill their spouses? NaturalHigh Dec 2013 #42

there is clarity thru out this subthread. and your obvious attempt to back pedal from the stupid seabeyond Dec 2013 #44

Actually, I didn't make the original comment... NaturalHigh Dec 2013 #55

and i did not make the original statement and pointed out it was stupid to say.... no fury like a seabeyond Dec 2013 #57

I pointed out a case... NaturalHigh Dec 2013 #60

are you purposely obtuse. first post to you i addressed. did you not read? seabeyond Dec 2013 #61

Actually, I did read all of these posts... NaturalHigh Dec 2013 #63

do not prioject my feelings to me. i did not take offense. i pointed out your error. that simple. seabeyond Dec 2013 #64

Points one and three... NaturalHigh Dec 2013 #65

Look I disagree with Betty big time but that was not about money malaise Dec 2013 #43

Honestly, you do make some valid points. NaturalHigh Dec 2013 #56

It's a truly sad story malaise Dec 2013 #59

I hate that stupid saying treestar Dec 2013 #69

factually, yes, men are worse. they murder significantly more out of being scorned. women seabeyond Dec 2013 #70

One of the consequences of conservatives eliminating common-law marraige Blue_Tires Dec 2013 #2

Maybe that's what her family already spent on wedding plans. Warpy Dec 2013 #3

The article says she quit her job. Hassin Bin Sober Dec 2013 #5

I guess I need more info... Blue_Tires Dec 2013 #6

Absolutely. Hassin Bin Sober Dec 2013 #7

Who gets the engagement ring is a matter of state law. FarCenter Dec 2013 #11

He cheated on her twice... Javaman Dec 2013 #8

Absent of more detail I have a HUGE problem with him paying... Blue_Tires Dec 2013 #10

While that's true, the concept of a marriage is a legal contract Javaman Dec 2013 #13

... sibelian Dec 2013 #15

Do you have any idea what weddings cost these days? Javaman Dec 2013 #20

hm! Weddings cost whatever you want them to cost. sibelian Dec 2013 #45

I was just being snarky with the headline. lol nt Javaman Dec 2013 #47

In many states, a verbal contract can be a legal contract. Xithras Dec 2013 #26

Well, I need to read the article, I think. sibelian Dec 2013 #36

I have no issues with the idea of marriage as a legal contract Major Nikon Dec 2013 #21

Obviously you know more about the law than I do.. Javaman Dec 2013 #23

At best it's a verbal contract for a promise of a written contract Major Nikon Dec 2013 #24

Interesting. thanks for the insight and information. Javaman Dec 2013 #46

A breach of promise to marry is not a contract but can be actionable. Hassin Bin Sober Dec 2013 #67

I think what sunk his ship is he encouraged her to quit her job Major Nikon Dec 2013 #68

She also cheated on him by her own admission Major Nikon Dec 2013 #50

oy, quite a pair. Javaman Dec 2013 #54

I am very surprised by this. Sheldon Cooper Dec 2013 #14

The ONLY way I agree with paying "damages" is when a wedding is canceled SoCalDem Dec 2013 #17

They still have that law in Georgia? treestar Dec 2013 #18

It is rare in the United States for this type of law to be enforced Harmony Blue Dec 2013 #66

No means no? I guess not always. n/t hughee99 Dec 2013 #25

How is this enforceable under Statute of Frauds Gothmog Dec 2013 #28

Great catch..... Swede Atlanta Dec 2013 #39

I doubt that it is a contract claim Gothmog Dec 2013 #41

Not very smart but his attorney tried every defense........ Swede Atlanta Dec 2013 #34

Not only that.. sendero Dec 2013 #53

I wonder if this is because they were in a common law marriage? gollygee Dec 2013 #35

Common law marriages were sunset in GA in 1997 Major Nikon Dec 2013 #49

must be the only man mstinamotorcity2 Dec 2013 #48

No one has remarked yet that he called her a prostitute as part of his defense. Starry Messenger Dec 2013 #51

"She deserves every penny" Did you intend the irony? n/t lumberjack_jeff Dec 2013 #58

That the woman who is the mother of his children got called a whore by him in court? Starry Messenger Dec 2013 #62

He claimed that defense because that's how the law defines it Major Nikon Dec 2013 #71

I know this wasn't officially a real "divorce" case, but Blue_Tires Dec 2013 #72

My parents had a nasty divorce. Starry Messenger Dec 2013 #73

Anyone seen Trial by Jury? N.T. Donald Ian Rankin Dec 2013 #52