BOSTON — Massachusetts' top court on Friday (Nov 8) ruled that a would-be bride must return a US$70,000 (S$93,000) engagement ring from Tiffany & Co to her former fiance in a decision that ended 65 years of courts in the New England state trying to sort through who is to blame when a relationship falls apart.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court sided with Bruce Johnson in his years-long legal battle with his former romantic partner, Caroline Settino, in his bid to reclaim the pricey remnant of their relationship after he called off their wedding.

In making its ruling, the court said it was updating how it approaches lawsuits seeking the return of rings and join the "modern trend" of states that today treat engagements rings as gifts that must be returned to the donor regardless of fault.

Nicholas Rosenberg, Settino's lawyer, in a statement called the ruling disappointing, saying that "the idea of an engagement ring as a conditional gift is predicated on outdated notions."

Johnson's lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.

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