Is an Agreement a Contract? In August of 1994, Jerod Heiman purchased a $9,033 diamond engagement ring. He then asked Heather Parrish to marry him. She said yes and took the ring. About a year later, in October 1995, Mr. Heiman broke off the engagement. Mr. Heiman asked Ms. Parrish to return the ring to him, but she refused. Mr. Heiman then sued her to retrieve the ring. Ms. Parrish argued to the court that an engagement ring is a part of a contract between two parties to get married at a later date. She argued that Mr. Heiman broke off the engagement, breached the contract, and could not recover the ring. Mr. Heiman argued that the proposal and engagement were not a binding contract but rather a statement that the parties would get married. The ring was a conditional gift to Ms. Parrish, which Ms. Parrish could keep if the two got married. Since the two

did not get married, Mr. Heiman had a right to recover the ring.

1. Was there a contract between Mr. Heiman and Ms. Parrish?