A private finance TikToker mentioned her ex sued her for taking their canine within the breakup — and he or she promptly paid him $5,000 for 'peace of thoughts'

• A private finance TikToker recounted a “heated” breakup together with her ex, leading to a custody dispute over their canine.
• Erin Confortini mentioned her ex sued her for the price of the pet and punitive damages, totaling $5,000.
• Though she felt she would prevail in courtroom, she finally paid him off to protect her peace.

The TikToker Erin Confortini, who shares monetary recommendation focused to a Gen Z viewers, recounted in a viral video on Tuesday a $5,000 determination she mentioned she was pressured to make within the wake of an acrimonious breakup. 

Whereas petting her golden retriever, Bella, Confortini instructed 2.6 million viewers that she’d simply coughed up the cash to her ex after he’d sued her for taking their jointly-owned golden retriever after they break up. Despite the fact that viewers instructed her she shouldn’t have forfeited the cash, Confortini instructed Insider that it was nicely spent to protect her “peace of thoughts.”

The battle first began after Confortini and her ex broke up earlier this 12 months, and he or she was transferring out of their joint residence.

“Bella was 100% my first concern,” Confortini mentioned on TikTok. “That is actually all I cared about.”

In line with Confortini, the day of the breakup received “actually heated,” and culminated in a police go to. When her ex returned residence from work, he mentioned he was taking Bella to his dad and mom’ home, and instructed Confortini to say her goodbyes, she recounted within the video. When she tried to go away with Bella, she claimed her ex slammed the door on her, which prompted her to name the police.

The police finally let Confortini take Bella residence, she mentioned, however instructed the previous couple to mediate the state of affairs themselves. 

Although Bella was collectively registered to Confortini and her ex, per a certificates from the American Kennel Membership she offered to Insider, her ex filed a civil grievance in opposition to her on March 6, alleging that he’d bought Bella from the breeder for $1,000 and that Confortini “by no means paid any compensation” for Bella, the grievance acknowledged.

Confortini disputes this account and offered Insider with screenshots of transactions displaying she paid for half of the canine, in addition to screenshots of Bella’s subsequent vet payments and pet insurance coverage, which solely record her title.  

In a second TikTok in regards to the saga, Confortini mentioned she contacted a lawyer about drafting a custody settlement together with her ex, previous to receiving her grievance. However her ex had apparently refused to signal one. 

Regardless of pushback on-line, Confortini finally stands by her determination to pay him off

A replica of the civil grievance in opposition to Confortini requested the “return of the canine with by financial damages.” Nonetheless, “within the different, the Plaintiff would request the quantity of $5,000 for each price and punitive damages in opposition to the defendant,” it acknowledged.

Confortini had a number of points with claims her ex made within the civil swimsuit in opposition to her. For one, Bella price $1,200 — not $1,000 — and he or she claims the 2 had break up the worth evenly. (She offered Insider with a screenshot from a banking app displaying an ATM withdrawal of $503.75 on April 16, 2022 — the pickup date, she mentioned — in addition to a Venmo switch to her ex for $100 the month prior, with a pet emoji within the description.) 

Commenters on TikTok had been largely on Confortini’s aspect, however some puzzled whether or not there was one other aspect to the story.

“The explanation she paying, is as a result of she knew she was within the improper, and nonetheless she is trash speaking him,” one commenter wrote.

“I am unable to imagine you gave him the 5k,” one other particular person reacted.

Confortini has responded to a few of these critiques, including that that they had a sexist tinge. She finally determined after weighing her choices that paying her ex to maintain Bella was the best choice for her. 

In a 3rd video, Confortini mentioned she initially balked on the sum and was satisfied she may prevail in courtroom – although the lawyer she’d been consulting mentioned the authorized charges could possibly be corresponding to $5,000. 

On the finish of the day, she determined to jot down the verify, saying she was pleased with herself for not letting him take the canine, and for being financially unbiased sufficient to pay him off.

“My peace of thoughts and simply understanding that that is all completed and over with I believe is well worth the cash for me,” she mentioned.