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Ga. Man Must Pay $50,000 After Breaking Engagement to Fiancee, Appeals Court Says

Arthur Seward

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At first blush I thought you gotta be kidding. However upon reading into the matter and given the fraud committed here, plus the fact the woman quit her job and then was asked to move out of the home they shared by the philandering fiancee? I'm less inclined to be shocked at the verdict though not sure how I feel about the legality of it. In any case the man's excuse is just stupid. :roll:

Ga. Man Must Pay $50,000 After Breaking Engagement to Fiancee, Appeals Court Says - Yahoo


A Georgia man is undecided about whether to challenge a state appeals court's decision that he must pay his jilted former fiancée $50,000, his lawyer says.

Accused of breach of promise to marry, part of his defense was that he never said the words, "Will you marry me?" to her, the court filing states.

On Dec. 23, 2004, Christopher Ned Kelley, who works in IT, gave Melissa Cooper a ring valued at about $10,000, a court document states; she accepted and the two moved to a new home. Since 2000, Kelly, had lived with Cooper, who also had a child with him, the filing says.

She says she left her job at his request to stay home and raise their child and her child from a previous relationship, according to a court document.

But after the proposal, she learned that Kelley had been in a two-year relationship with another woman that began before the proposal. After Cooper confronted him, she agreed to stay with him "because of his pledges not to see the other woman again and his promises thereafter to marry Cooper," the court document states.

But in April 2011, when Cooper confronted him about a relationship with yet another woman, he told her that he wanted to be with that woman and that Cooper and the children should move out.

"Cooper was 'devastated' by this development," the court document stated.

In response, Cooper filed a lawsuit for a number of claims, including fraud and breach of contract to marry. The Coweta County Superior Court awarded her $43,500 and attorney fees of $6,500.
 
At first blush I thought you gotta be kidding. However upon reading into the matter and given the fraud committed here, plus the fact the woman quit her job and then was asked to move out of the home they shared by the philandering fiancee? I'm less inclined to be shocked at the verdict though not sure how I feel about the legality of it. In any case the man's excuse is just stupid. :roll:

Ga. Man Must Pay $50,000 After Breaking Engagement to Fiancee, Appeals Court Says - Yahoo


A Georgia man is undecided about whether to challenge a state appeals court's decision that he must pay his jilted former fiancée $50,000, his lawyer says.

Accused of breach of promise to marry, part of his defense was that he never said the words, "Will you marry me?" to her, the court filing states.

On Dec. 23, 2004, Christopher Ned Kelley, who works in IT, gave Melissa Cooper a ring valued at about $10,000, a court document states; she accepted and the two moved to a new home. Since 2000, Kelly, had lived with Cooper, who also had a child with him, the filing says.

She says she left her job at his request to stay home and raise their child and her child from a previous relationship, according to a court document.

But after the proposal, she learned that Kelley had been in a two-year relationship with another woman that began before the proposal. After Cooper confronted him, she agreed to stay with him "because of his pledges not to see the other woman again and his promises thereafter to marry Cooper," the court document states.

But in April 2011, when Cooper confronted him about a relationship with yet another woman, he told her that he wanted to be with that woman and that Cooper and the children should move out.

"Cooper was 'devastated' by this development," the court document stated.

In response, Cooper filed a lawsuit for a number of claims, including fraud and breach of contract to marry. The Coweta County Superior Court awarded her $43,500 and attorney fees of $6,500.

Just **** her best friend until she breaks it off. Easy peasy.
 
Guess GA doesn't have common law marriage otherwise he'd be on the hook for half of everything and he'd be moving not her. They set up home as a family and she kept the covenant, he didn't, he should pay through the nose.
 
She was common street trash anyway. She had 2 kids with 2 different baby daddies.

She was looking for a payday. Her meal ticket bolted for better ass, and she decided to get paid on his wallet.

If I was him, I'd be plastering naked pics of her online. She deserves nothing less.
 
wow, that is all I can say. Wow.
 
At first blush I thought you gotta be kidding. However upon reading into the matter and given the fraud committed here, plus the fact the woman quit her job and then was asked to move out of the home they shared by the philandering fiancee? I'm less inclined to be shocked at the verdict though not sure how I feel about the legality of it. In any case the man's excuse is just stupid. :roll:

Ga. Man Must Pay $50,000 After Breaking Engagement to Fiancee, Appeals Court Says - Yahoo


A Georgia man is undecided about whether to challenge a state appeals court's decision that he must pay his jilted former fiancée $50,000, his lawyer says.

Accused of breach of promise to marry, part of his defense was that he never said the words, "Will you marry me?" to her, the court filing states.

On Dec. 23, 2004, Christopher Ned Kelley, who works in IT, gave Melissa Cooper a ring valued at about $10,000, a court document states; she accepted and the two moved to a new home. Since 2000, Kelly, had lived with Cooper, who also had a child with him, the filing says.

She says she left her job at his request to stay home and raise their child and her child from a previous relationship, according to a court document.

But after the proposal, she learned that Kelley had been in a two-year relationship with another woman that began before the proposal. After Cooper confronted him, she agreed to stay with him "because of his pledges not to see the other woman again and his promises thereafter to marry Cooper," the court document states.

But in April 2011, when Cooper confronted him about a relationship with yet another woman, he told her that he wanted to be with that woman and that Cooper and the children should move out.

"Cooper was 'devastated' by this development," the court document stated.

In response, Cooper filed a lawsuit for a number of claims, including fraud and breach of contract to marry. The Coweta County Superior Court awarded her $43,500 and attorney fees of $6,500.

Well, guys, it looks as though the legal system is tightening the noose. I'm surprised, but I can't say I disagree with it. A $10,000 engagement ring sure looks like a promise to marry. And asking her to stay home to raise their (and her) child looks like a further commitment. Guess he can't just throw her away. *shrug*

(I'm a little ambivalent because it's not something I personally would do -- her decisions. There's a part of me that says, "Hey, ya' takes your chances.")
 
At first blush I thought you gotta be kidding. However upon reading into the matter and given the fraud committed here, plus the fact the woman quit her job and then was asked to move out of the home they shared by the philandering fiancee? I'm less inclined to be shocked at the verdict though not sure how I feel about the legality of it. In any case the man's excuse is just stupid. :roll:

Ga. Man Must Pay $50,000 After Breaking Engagement to Fiancee, Appeals Court Says - Yahoo


A Georgia man is undecided about whether to challenge a state appeals court's decision that he must pay his jilted former fiancée $50,000, his lawyer says.

Accused of breach of promise to marry, part of his defense was that he never said the words, "Will you marry me?" to her, the court filing states.

On Dec. 23, 2004, Christopher Ned Kelley, who works in IT, gave Melissa Cooper a ring valued at about $10,000, a court document states; she accepted and the two moved to a new home. Since 2000, Kelly, had lived with Cooper, who also had a child with him, the filing says.

She says she left her job at his request to stay home and raise their child and her child from a previous relationship, according to a court document.

But after the proposal, she learned that Kelley had been in a two-year relationship with another woman that began before the proposal. After Cooper confronted him, she agreed to stay with him "because of his pledges not to see the other woman again and his promises thereafter to marry Cooper," the court document states.

But in April 2011, when Cooper confronted him about a relationship with yet another woman, he told her that he wanted to be with that woman and that Cooper and the children should move out.

"Cooper was 'devastated' by this development," the court document stated.

In response, Cooper filed a lawsuit for a number of claims, including fraud and breach of contract to marry. The Coweta County Superior Court awarded her $43,500 and attorney fees of $6,500.

Harder and Harder to be man when it comes to the American Legal System.
 
I don't think there's a basis for this. No one made her quit her job, no matter who suggested she do so. No one made her move in. No one made her do any of that stuff. People break promises all the time. It's unfortunately part of being alive, and I don't think that's grounds to actually sue someone. You make your bed and if you don't like how it's made, then just chalk it up to a learning experience. Hell, hawk the ring. It's a gift, so it's hers. There's 10 grand right there.

She's basically suing because life doesn't always turn out how you want. That's stupid. And I mean, if a guy gives you a ring and you're still not married 10 years later, you should join us here in reality and realize it's never gonna happen. That combined with the fact that she also had an affair, and I don't see where she gets off trying to sue him.

Georgia does not recognize cohabitating couples if they have not professed themselves to be married in common law, but there is still a procedure for divvying up property and custody/child support in these cases. That should be all she's doing, not suing.
 
Harder and Harder to be man when it comes to the American Legal System.

Not really, just have to act like a man is all. Having a penis doesn't automatically make you a man, it might mean nothing more than being another prick with legs. :2wave:
 
Harder and Harder to be man when it comes to the American Legal System.

I'd say this fellow hasn't been much of a man and that has nothing to do with the legal system, it's all on him.
 
Here's the thing, if Georgia doesn't have common law marriage then it has no right to force this man to pay $50k. Now to most people it would appear that this was a couple and that they were together.

However the Georgia legislature recognized common law marriage in the past. With the consent of the people of Georgia they intentionally nullified CLM. The judge is trying to allow this woman to eat her cake and have it too. At the end of the day it sucks for the woman, but she has no right to the money and she should contact her representatives in the state, because that is the body that made it illegal to have the money.

Common Law Marriage Georgia

“No common-law marriage [in Georgia] shall be entered in this state on or after January 1, 1997. Otherwise valid common-law marriages entered into prior to January 1, 1997, shall not be affected by this Code section and shall continue to be recognized in this state.” - See more at: Common Law Marriage Georgia
 
Yup. Met one, met 'em all.

I can't help but think any GF ya have RT must be so proud. :roll:

Course there are quite a few women with kids from other relationships, bet you know a few and chase after them rather hard, but having kids doesn't make them trash.

Does sound like the man in the OP was being rather controlling and arrogant, wanted her isolated and dependent on him. Still wanted to chase other women and seems to think the grass is greener- or rather no need to marry them, just graze on through.

Now that I am talking to you after reading the OP- you live in Georgia don't you????
 
Harder and Harder to be man when it comes to the American Legal System.
Yep, women are increasingly being accomodated by the legal system in unprecedented ways. If it was the other way around you better believe a man wouldn't be getting 50k.
 
Nobody has mentioned the famous case of Lee Marvin. He lost big time.

You can't make promises that change other peoples lives and the renege for free. He owes her this money.
 
I can't help but think any GF ya have RT must be so proud. :roll:

Course there are quite a few women with kids from other relationships, bet you know a few and chase after them rather hard, but having kids doesn't make them trash.

Does sound like the man in the OP was being rather controlling and arrogant, wanted her isolated and dependent on him. Still wanted to chase other women and seems to think the grass is greener- or rather no need to marry them, just graze on through.

Now that I am talking to you after reading the OP- you live in Georgia don't you????

No I don't.
 
Nobody has mentioned the famous case of Lee Marvin. He lost big time.

You can't make promises that change other peoples lives and the renege for free. He owes her this money.

In 1971, Marvin was sued by Michelle Triola, his live-in girlfriend from 1965 to 1970, who legally changed her surname to "Marvin". ...snip...
...Although the couple never married, she sought financial compensation similar to that available to spouses under California's alimony and community property laws. ...

..
In August 1981, the California Court of Appeal found there was no such contract, and thus nullified the award she had been made. Michelle Triola died of lung cancer on October 30, 2009.
I hope she died a horrible painful death penniless and unloved because she was a gold digging whore and a parasite.
 
Here's the thing, if Georgia doesn't have common law marriage then it has no right to force this man to pay $50k. Now to most people it would appear that this was a couple and that they were together.

However the Georgia legislature recognized common law marriage in the past. With the consent of the people of Georgia they intentionally nullified CLM. The judge is trying to allow this woman to eat her cake and have it too. At the end of the day it sucks for the woman, but she has no right to the money and she should contact her representatives in the state, because that is the body that made it illegal to have the money.

Common Law Marriage Georgia

“No common-law marriage [in Georgia] shall be entered in this state on or after January 1, 1997. Otherwise valid common-law marriages entered into prior to January 1, 1997, shall not be affected by this Code section and shall continue to be recognized in this state.” - See more at: Common Law Marriage Georgia

In our legal system, a promise becomes an enforceable contract when one relies on it to their financial detriment.

Are there any instances in which a contract could exist even though the parties did not complete the deal?

If one party makes a statement or a promise that causes another party to rely on that statement in such a way that he or she is financially injured by that reliance, then a court will enforce the statement or promise as if it was a completed contract. The court does not need to find an agreement or consideration in order to enforce the promise like a contract.

- See more at: http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com/bu...onsidered-a-binding.html#sthash.QKAx5QJg.dpuf
 
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At first blush I thought you gotta be kidding. However upon reading into the matter and given the fraud committed here, plus the fact the woman quit her job and then was asked to move out of the home they shared by the philandering fiancee? I'm less inclined to be shocked at the verdict though not sure how I feel about the legality of it. In any case the man's excuse is just stupid. :roll:

Ga. Man Must Pay $50,000 After Breaking Engagement to Fiancee, Appeals Court Says - Yahoo


A Georgia man is undecided about whether to challenge a state appeals court's decision that he must pay his jilted former fiancée $50,000, his lawyer says.

Accused of breach of promise to marry, part of his defense was that he never said the words, "Will you marry me?" to her, the court filing states.

On Dec. 23, 2004, Christopher Ned Kelley, who works in IT, gave Melissa Cooper a ring valued at about $10,000, a court document states; she accepted and the two moved to a new home. Since 2000, Kelly, had lived with Cooper, who also had a child with him, the filing says.

She says she left her job at his request to stay home and raise their child and her child from a previous relationship, according to a court document.

But after the proposal, she learned that Kelley had been in a two-year relationship with another woman that began before the proposal. After Cooper confronted him, she agreed to stay with him "because of his pledges not to see the other woman again and his promises thereafter to marry Cooper," the court document states.

But in April 2011, when Cooper confronted him about a relationship with yet another woman, he told her that he wanted to be with that woman and that Cooper and the children should move out.

"Cooper was 'devastated' by this development," the court document stated.

In response, Cooper filed a lawsuit for a number of claims, including fraud and breach of contract to marry. The Coweta County Superior Court awarded her $43,500 and attorney fees of $6,500.

Oh, he's a total scumbag. I really don't care how badly he gets screwed.
 
In our legal system, a promise becomes an enforceable contract when one relies on it to their detriment.

Well, apparently not always, going by the precedent case above. But even if that were universally the case, I mean, how far do you wanna take this?

If someone owes me money, verbally promises to pay by X time, I just spend all my income assuming they'll pay, and then they don't pay, do I get to sue them for my late fees on my rent...

Or am I just stupid with my money and should probably know better?

Besides that, whose word do we believe? His or hers?
 
Breach to promise to marry? WTF is that? How in the hell do they prove that anyway?
 
Breach to promise to marry? WTF is that?

That's been around forever. Do you think it's right that a couple get engaged, set a wedding date, plan their wedding, one of them puts down deposits all over hell and gone for their big day . . . and then the other cancels and thinks they ought to just walk away?

I don't.
 
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