Opinion ID: 6353596
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Oklahoma property

Text: A house in Oklahoma was acquired and titled in Dropik’s name during the course of the parties’ relationship. Wright obtained $15,000 for the down payment from her daughter. The parties disputed whether the house was to be owned by Dropik only or by both of them. Wright’s name was not on the house loan. Dropik testified that his name alone appeared on the loan for “financial reasons” but that they agreed to “split it and [] eventually move down there,” sharing expenses 50/50. Dropik testified that they were “equally invested in it” and that Wright was “putting up half of the money.” Wright testified that the parties did not discuss these arrangements beyond seemingly agreeing that they would share the property “[i]f [they] resided there.” Wright was not listed on the title, which Dropik testified was because they found out at closing that he could not add her “unless [they] were both there.” Wright, however, testified that she was present at the closing. Dropik added that Wright “regularly wanted [him] to add her to the title” but that they never found the time to do so. Wright testified that she never -4- 7600 asked to be put on the title but added that Dropik “would” have added her to the title “if [they] moved down there.” Wright and Dropik never moved into the house and instead found renters, who did not pay their rent and damaged the house, necessitating repair costs. Dropik sold the home without any involvement from Wright after their relationship ended. Dropik repaid Wright’s daughter $7,500 for what he characterized as his half of the borrowed money. Wright argued, and Wright’s daughter testified, that Dropik borrowed the entire $15,000, meaning Wright was still owed $7,500 for the amount she eventually repaid her daughter. Dropik claimed he lost $28,457 on the Oklahoma property and argued Wright owes him $10,478 to cover her half of those losses as a joint owner of that property.1