He Didn’t Take Her To The Airport So She Sued Him: Are Relationship Promises Legally Binding
I always joke that the reason people get married, is to have someone to take them to the airport. Makes sense to me. However, this couple is probably not going to make it tithe altar.
Woman Sues Boyfriend For Not Taking Her To The Airport
A guy in New Zealand promised to take his girlfriend to the airport, but he never showed up. No call, no show – she missed her flight!
So what do you do if that happens? Well, she SUED him for the costs she incurred, from missing her flight. A judge ruled against her though, and said the promise wasn’t legally binding. Here’s how that went, and some future advice.
Is Every ‘Promise’ You Make Legally Binding
What if every promise you made in a relationship actually was legally binding? From “I do” all the way down to “I promise to do the dishes.” Or “I promise to I’ll put gas in the car.” Or “I promise I wasn’t faking…” Ok, I’ll save that for a different article.
A woman in New Zealand just sued her boyfriend of six years for not driving her to the airport. He said he’d pick her up and take her, but didn’t show up. So she missed her flight, and a big concert she’d been planning to go to.
He also promised to stay at her house and dog-sit, but didn’t do that either. I’m beginning to think that they have bigger problems.
Here’s What the Judge Says About Making Promises Legally Binding
So she took him to court and sued for damages: plane ticket, the cost of a dog sitter, shuttle to the airport, and a few other things. A judge heard the case and considered whether the agreement was legally binding, or not.
Decision? Promises are NOT legally binding. And she was NOT to awarded any money.
The judge said that while partners, friends, and colleagues often make social arrangements, they’re not legally enforceable unless there’s an “act that demonstrates an intention that the person will be bound by their promises.”
In other words, make your boyfriend (spouse/partner) sign a contract saying he’ll take you to the airport. Otherwise, you’re probably out of luck.
Oh, by the way – the New Zealand couple in this story are no longer together. What? No!