James R Cline lost his appeal on October 26, as the Ohio appeals court upheld a lower court’s order requiring him to pay his ex-partner, Ashley A Lokash, $41,466.50 from the proceeds of their former Niles home. The ruling rejects Cline’s central argument that Lokash violated their 2021 cohabitation agreement by failing to spend the full $40,000 cap designated for property improvements. Instead, the judges clarified that the document set a maximum limit, not a minimum requirement, meaning Lokash’s smaller contributions were still contractually binding.
The dispute traces back to September 2021, when the couple, then engaged to be married, signed a written agreement outlining financial responsibilities for the house, which was purchased with a VA-guaranteed loan and registered solely in Cline’s name. The deal allowed Lokash to spend up to $40,000 on renovations, with reimbursement due upon sale, followed by an equal split of remaining net proceeds. Their relationship ended in March 2022, but the contract survived. Cline continued living in the house, keeping furniture and materials Lokash had purchased, while she filed a lien on the property records to protect her financial interest.
When Cline sold the home in December 2023, the title company, Premiere Settlement & Title, froze $55,568.51 of the sale proceeds after flagging Lokash’s recorded claim. The company had already paid Cline $15,000 but could not determine how to distribute the remainder without a court order. Cline argued in court that Lokash had only spent $1,191.34 on post-agreement materials—paint from Sherwin Williams and carpeting from Tondo Carpets—and that these minor costs did not justify the payout. He also claimed the purchases did not significantly improve the property’s value.
The appellate judges dismantled Cline’s defense, noting that he possessed the materials Lokash bought but chose not to use them. The court ruled he could not deny her compensation by refusing to apply her investments to the home. The final award breaks down into $11,035.38 for reimbursing her initial contributions, including $2,525 toward the purchase price and $3,325 for flooring, plus $30,431.12 as her half of the net sale proceeds. Cline retains the remaining funds from the transaction.
This decision stands as a specific interpretation of pre-marital cohabitation contracts in Ohio, emphasizing that maximum spending limits do not waive rights to reimbursement for actual expenditures. There is no indication of further appeal, leaving the financial obligation immediate and enforceable.