The People’s Court Explains Why Michelle Parker Owed Dale Smith
Who gets to keep the engagement ring when a wedding is called off? Judge Marilyn Milian tackles that question as Michelle Parker and Dale Smith Jr. battle over a $5,000 ring. Frustrated by the couple’s arguments, the judge delivers a straightforward explanation of engagement ring law, including why a ring given in anticipation of marriage may have to be returned when the relationship ends.
In this archival episode of The People’s Court, which aired November 17, 2011, Judge Milian explains that engagement ring laws vary by state before outlining the legal principle she considers most sensible. She ultimately ordered Parker to pay Smith $2,500. Tragically, Parker disappeared in Orlando later that same day after dropping off the couple’s twin children at Smith’s condominium.
Nearly 15 years later, on October 14, 2026, Orlando police arrested Smith and charged him with second-degree murder in connection with Parker’s disappearance. The charge is an allegation, not a conviction. Watch this memorable People’s Court exchange as Judge Milian breaks down the legal dispute at the center of a case that would later take on heartbreaking significance.