Editing Breach of promise (section)

=== North America ===
In Canada, the common law action has been abolished in some provinces by legislation. For example, in [[Saskatchewan]], the action for breach of promise was formally abolished by legislation in 2010.<ref>[http://www.qp.gov.sk.ca/documents/english/Chapters/2010/Chap-28.pdf ''The Queen's Bench Amendment Act, 2010''], Statutes of Saskatchewan 2010, c. 28, s. 6.</ref>

The first known [[lawsuit]] for breach of promise in [[colonial America]] and the first in which the defendant was a woman was [[Cecily Jordan v. Greville Pooley dispute|''Cecily Jordan v. Greville Pooley'']].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pqdOAQAAMAAJ&q=first+breach+of+promise+suit+women+pooley&pg=PA108|title=A History of Colonial Virginia: The First Permanent Colony in America|last=Criddlin|first=William Broaddus|access-date=20 Jan 2019|year=1923}}</ref>{{rp|107–108}} This case was tried in the chambers of the [[Virginia Company]] and never went to a civil court, as the [[plaintiff]] withdrew his complaint. The first successful case was ''Stretch v Parker'' in 1639.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Contracts To Marry-Columbia Law Review Vol 25, No.3 (Mar., 1925)|journal = Columbia Law Review|volume = 25|issue = 3|pages = 343–348|jstor = 1113025|year = 1925}}</ref>{{rp|343}}

In 1915, [[Louis A. Merrilat]], an [[American football]] [[End (American football)|end]] and military officer active in the early 20th century, was sued by Helen Van Ness for breach of promise after breaking off an engagement.<ref>{{cite news|title=Merillat, Former Army Eleven Captain, Is Sued for Breach of Promise|work=Indianapolis Star|date=1915-11-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=She sues Army athlete: Girl Claims Lieut. Merillat Jilted Her and Asks $20,000; Miss Van Ness, of Ohio, Says Officer Wed Another — Met Him at West Point Social Function|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=1915-11-23}}</ref>  Merrilat hired the noted Chicago attorney [[Clarence Darrow]] to defend him against the charges, which were eventually dismissed.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-football-star-and-the-wrath-of-his-would-be-bride-3622576/ | title=The Football Star and the Wrath of his Would-Be Bride}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Asks $20,000 Heart Balm: Girl sues Army officer; Miss Van Ness and Lieutenant Merillat, Jr.; Jilted Stenographer Seeks Redress When West Pointer Weds Another|work=Salt Lake Tribune|date=1915-11-29}}</ref>

In the United States, most states repealed breach-of-promise laws or limited them, beginning in 1935.<ref name="Brinig" /> Partly as a result, expensive diamond [[engagement ring]]s, previously uncommon, began to become commonplace, and formed a sort of financial security for the woman.<ref name="Brinig" />

[[South Carolina]] is one of the states that still recognizes a breach of promise action: [https://scholar.google.com.au/scholar_case?case=16439775895686510622&hl=en&as_sdt=6&as_vis=1&oi=scholarr&sa=X&ei=yunaU-GFE5fq8AXRp4H4Aw&ved=0CB4QgAMoATAA ''Campbell v Robinson''], 398 S.C. 12, 726 S.E. 2d 221 (Ct. App. 2012). About one-half of U.S. states still permit such lawsuits, according to the [[National Paralegal College]]. Examples of such suits include a jury award of $150,000 in the 2008 Shell case in Georgia,<ref name=ShellCase/> and $130,000 in a North Carolina jury trial December 17, 2010, in the case of ''Dellinger v. Barnes'' (No. 08 CVS 1006). Laws vary by state.  In [[Illinois]], for example, documented wedding expenses can be recovered, but damages for emotional distress are prohibited, and notice of an intent to sue must be provided within three months of the engagement being dissolved.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.isba.org/sections/familylaw/newsletter/2011/06/brokenengagements|title=Broken engagements|last=Manzano|first=Kelly|date=June 2011|publisher=Illinois State Bar Association|language=en|access-date=2017-04-29}}</ref>