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Ex-Hooters Girls Dumps Fiance so NYC Exec Sues Her for $50K

By Edward Tan, JD on May 25, 2012 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Sometimes love just doesn't work out. Other times you need to give a relationship a second chance to grow. But if it still isn't playing out right, then you can be like Steven Silverstein and sue your ex-fiancée.

The 29-year-old telecommunications executive met his would-be bride, Kendra Platt-Lee, when she was working as a flight attendant. They started dating in 2008 and within a year they were engaged, the New York Post reports. However, they broke up for about 15 months before getting re-engaged again.

The second attempt wouldn't last, either. And now Silverstein is claiming over $50,000 worth of damage. For what, you ask?

He's accusing Platt-Lee of high-tailing it with $19,000 from their joint bank account. In addition, he also says she owes him $28,000 in back rent and half of the $27,000 nonrefundable deposit he put down for their wedding.

In response, Platt-Lee has "generally denied" all of the allegations and plans to file her own countersuit, her lawyer said. She claims Silverstein hasn't returned some of her belongings, like her makeup.

Typically, gifts aren't revocable. The law here essentially follows schoolyard rules (i.e. no givesies-backsies). But Silverstein argues he's entitled to compensation because he claims the money was a gift in "contemplation of marriage."

Also known as "conditional gifts," this is one of the rare circumstances where a gift can be taken back. In essence, the plaintiff claims they gave a present with the expectation that some future event or action would occur (such as a tying the knot).

If a court or jury buys Steven Silverstein's argument, he might be able to win his lawsuit. However, there's no word yet on whether suing can mend a broken heart.

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