A question of ownership (any lawyers out there?)

[purple haze]

A guy invited my daughter to the prom, and gave her a ticket. He then decided that he didn't want to go with her, and broke the date. He informed her of this on the last day possible to buy tickets at the school, and at the end of the day. She didn't have any money with her to buy herself a ticket. He said - no big deal, just keep it.

Then, he got back together with a former girlfriend and asked my daughter for the ticket back. She refused. He complained to the teacher that is in charge of the prom, and she told my daughter that if she didn't give the ticket back to this boy, hers would be voided and he would receive the money.

WTF?

So, what is the law here? I want to be ready when I go see this wench tomorrow. It seems like it will be his word against hers - will we have any legal leg to stand on?

Thanks,

PurpleHaze

[Muffin]

Now that's a $67,000,000 question.

(Tell him to grow up. A gift is a gift, and your daughter has relied on the gift.)

[Zabali_Clawbane]

I'd say the teacher should make an exception and sell either your daughter or the fellow a ticket, despite the date. That's BS, in my opinion.

[Happy Scrappy Hero Pup]

If the tickets were non-transferable, then your daughter is SOL because the boy gave a gift that he couldn't give.

If the tickets were not non-transferable, then your daughter has one ticket to the prom that was given to her as a gift.

However, since they're under 18, neither of them can enter into a valid contract.

Besides which, this is a school event at which school policy is likely to govern.


Furthermore, attempting to impose a legal argument on a prom dispute is... shall we say... a good way to be ridiculed.


Go talk. Don't threaten. Go TALK. As in stay away from "These are my daughter's rights, how dare you!" and go with, "How can we arrange this so that everyone gets what they want?"


There don't have to be winners and losers here.

[Rigamarole]

What HSHP said.

[vetbridge]

Originally Posted by purple haze

He complained to the teacher

Tell your daughter that she lucked out not having to attend the prom with this pussy.

[Will Repair]

Case law from The Wedding Channel:

In several states, returning the engagement ring is a matter of law. In Iowa, Ohio, New York, Wisconsin and New Jersey, the appellate courts have determined that an engagement ring is a conditional gift. If the engagement is broken, the ring belongs to the person who purchased it.

In most situations, however, the topic is a subject of much debate. Here's one expert's opinion:

If you mutually wished to end the engagement, the bride should return the ring.

If the bride broke off the engagement, she should return the ring.

If the groom broke off the engagement, the bride may keep the ring if she wishes; she may do whatever she wishes with it, including selling it to defray any expenses incurred or deposits lost due to the cancellation of the wedding.

The exception to all of the above: if the ring is a family heirloom, it absolutely should be returned, no matter who broke off the engagement.

[Muffin]

But there was no engagement.

[Happy Scrappy Hero Pup]

She refused. He complained to the teacher that is in charge of the prom,

Wow. Wonder how that'll work out if New Date decides against engaging in the classic after-prom activities?

This guy is a chump. Your daughter is better off.

What came of your (hopefully rational) talk with whatever Powers that Be?

[FRDE]

Basically what HSHP but take the ticket with you, hand it over to the teacher, and do a bit of eye rolling when you say that she is really cut up about not being able to go. Oh, and give the teacher the price of the ticket and ask for first grab on any cancellation.

I would be surprized if the teacher did not pony up another ticket and be relieved to have got rid of the problem
- but as a precaution scan the ticket - a really vindictive swine would run off a few hundred copies. I strongly suggest that you tell absolutely no one about plan B - anyone at all.

Also, please do come back and tell us what happened

[purple haze]

I decided to call the principal and give him a quick version of what had happened. I didn't mention the boy's name, just what had happened. He said that that boy needed a lesson in manners, and that my daughter was welcome to use her ticket and attend the prom.

Yay!

Not sure why that teacher made the decision that she did. I don't think it was too nice to add insult to injury and ask for the ticket back. What if it had been her daughter that something like that happened to? How would she feel if the organizer of the event did that?

Both kids are seniors and 18. I totally agree that it is no loss not to go with this guy. He sounds like an idiot.

[Muffin]

Originally Posted by purple haze

Not sure why that teacher made the decision that she did.

Simple. She's stupid.

[Happy Scrappy Hero Pup]

Not sure why that teacher made the decision that she did.

Appeasement and trust that one will be obeyed.


Glad everything worked out.

Will your daughter be able to get a date/bring that date? Will the other guy?

My date for the Upper Perk prom had a best friend that went stag after a prom-week dumping. Awkward. And I was not yet wise enough in the ways of womenfolk to play that to my advantage.