B.C. couple resolves gift dispute in court

It’s always a struggle to figure out what to do with gifts at the end of a relationship — do you keep them, give them back or give them away?

Well, for one former couple here in BC, the matter ended up in small claims court when Khalil Kassam alleged Jamie Meilen-Ramsay “stole” almost $5,000 dollars in luxury gifts he gave her.

The nearly $5,000 in gifts included luxury items like a Cartier ring, a Burberry Dress, Louboutin shoes, and Free People Clothing.

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Kassam tried to claim each item was his “personal property,” resulting in the ensuing court dispute.

Meanwhile, Meilen-Ramsay says she offered to return them, but the parties could not agree on terms where she would be willing to return the items and Kassam would be willing to accept them.

She says Kassam has asked to return the items several times throughout their relationship.

Eventually, the BC Civil Resolution Tribunal disagreed, saying Kassam was trying to “revoke” gifts he had given to Meilen-Ramsay and dismissed his claim.

“Ms. Meilen-Ramsay argues Mr. Kassam gifted all the claimed items to her during their relationship, so they are not his personal property. Under the law of gifts, the person who received the alleged gift must establish it was intended to be a gift, and that they accepted the gift when the giver transferred it to them. The evidence should show the giver’s intention to make a gift was inconsistent with any other intention,” read the court document.

While their relationship came to an end Jan. 10, 2022, their dispute is officially dismissed just over 11 months later, on Dec. 20.