According to the Beijing News (reporter: Wang Qiushi), after three years of romantic relationship, Ms. Chen and Mr. Zhang broke up due to incompatibility. Subsequently, Ms. Chen asked Mr. Zhang to write her an IOU for 200,000 yuan. Later, she filed a lawsuit in court with this IOU, demanding that Mr. Zhang pay her back 200,000 yuan. Yesterday, it was reported that the Haidian Court ruled that the nature of these 200,000 yuan was a "breakup fee," which violates social morality, and thus ruled against Ms. Chen.
Ms. Chen stated that she met Mr. Zhang in 2005 and they started dating the following year. After three years of being together, Mr. Zhang proposed breaking up, to which she agreed. Since she had previously purchased a large amount of jade, high-grade tea, and other items for Mr. Zhang during their relationship, both parties agreed that Mr. Zhang would pay her 200,000 yuan and wrote down the IOU. However, after their breakup, Mr. Zhang refused to pay the money, prompting her to file a lawsuit demanding repayment.
During the trial, Mr. Zhang claimed that there was no real creditor-debtor relationship between him and Ms. Chen. Although he did write the IOU, the amount on it was actually a "breakup fee" rather than a settlement for the items purchased, and he wrote it under the threat of his ex-girlfriend. He now refuses to pay.
The court ruled that Mr. Zhang's claim that the payment was actually a "breakup fee" in nature was supported by audio recordings provided as evidence. Meanwhile, Ms. Chen failed to provide any evidence supporting her claims. Therefore, the court determined that the debt described in the IOU had the nature of a "breakup fee" and that no actual creditor-debtor relationship existed. Additionally, "breakup fees" do not conform to the principles of public order and good morals, and thus the court denied Ms. Chen's lawsuit. In conclusion, her request was dismissed.
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