News
And finally… in the doghouse
A woman who abandoned her boyfriend after he broke his promise to look after her dogs has failed in a legal bid to force him to pay compensation.
The New Zealand Disputes Tribunal heard that the woman, CL, expected her then-boyfriend, HG, to collect her from her home, take her to the airport and then look after her dog while she was away.
On the day, the boyfriend didn’t show up, causing the woman to miss her flight. She had to reschedule the trip the next day and put her dogs in a kennel.
CL alleged that HG “entered into a verbal contract with her” and noted that he “had taken care of her dogs in the past.”
However, the court sustained that “social arrangements” cannot normally be legally enforced.
“In this case, I consider that the nature of the promises were exchanged as a normal give and take in an intimate relationship and there is nothing to indicate an intention between the parties that HG would be bound by the promises he made,” the court said. .
“The parties did not take any steps to demonstrate their intention to withdraw from the agreement on a promise made between friends and to create legally binding consequences. Although a promise has been made, it does not amount to a contract.
“It is part of everyday family and domestic relationship agreements that are not enforceable in the Court of Disputes.”