A MARRIED MAN PROPOSED TO A SINGLE WOMAN, PROMISING TO DIVORCE HIS WIFE IN THE NEAR FUTURE, AND GAVE THE WOMAN A RING, WHICH HE CLAIMED TO BE AN ENGAGEMENT RING. THE WOMAN ACCEPTED THE PROPOSAL OF MARRIAGE AT FIRST BUT LATER RESCINDED, AND REFUSED TO RETURN THE RING WHICH SHE CLAIMED WAS MERELY A GIFT AND NOT WORTH THE VALUE ALLEGED IN THE COMPLAINT AGAINST HER. THIS RELATIVELY SIMPLE CASE IS FOLLOWED FROM BEGINNING TO END AND ILLUSTRATES THE VAST ARRAY OF LEGAL AND EQUITABLE CONSIDERATION INVOLVED IN PROCESSING A LEGAL MATTER. THE QUEST FOR JUSTICE, THE ROLE OF PUBLIC POLICY, THE DOCTRINE OF ESTOPPEL, THE CONCEPT OF UNJUST ENRICHMENT, THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMON LAW, THE INTERPRETATION OF STATUTES, THE FORCE OF PRECEDENT, AND THE INTERPLAY OF COURTS AND LEGISLATURES ARE CONSIDERED IN THE COURSE OF THE CASE STUDY. THE TEXT DISCUSSES THE PROCEEDINGS AT SPECIAL TERM, ON APPEAL TO THE APPELLATE DIVISION, AND ON APPEAL TO THE COURT OF APPEALS. THE FINAL CHAPTER DEALS WITH THE BACKGROUND OF THE 'CLEAN HANDS DOCTRINE' IN EQUITY CASES, WHICH IS THE UNDERLYING THEME OF THE CASE STUDY. IT ALSO CONSIDERS THE RECENT APPLICATIONS OF THE 'CLEAN HANDS DOCTRINE' IN COURT. AN INDEX AND TABLE OF CASES ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)