Court Opinion

ID: 9353829
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-01-12 20:11:52.058559+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:11:53.943222
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Spehar v. Spehar, 2023-Ohio-32.]

                                       COURT OF APPEALS
                                      STARK COUNTY, OHIO
                                   FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

MICHELLE M. SPEHAR                          :       JUDGES:
                                            :       Hon. Earle E. Wise, Jr., P.J.
        Plaintiff-Appellant                 :       Hon. John W. Wise, J.
                                            :       Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J.
-vs-                                        :
                                            :
GEORGE SPEHAR                               :       Case No. 2022 CA 93
                                            :
        Defendant-Appellee                  :       OPINION

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING:                            Appeal from the Court of Common
                                                    Pleas, Domestic Relations Division,
                                                    Case No. 2021DR00149

JUDGMENT:                                           Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT:                                   January 6, 2023

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellant                             For Defendant-Appellee

JEFFREY JAKMIDES                                    ROSEMARY G. RUBIN
325 East Main Street                                1435 Market Avenue, North
Alliance, OH 44601                                  Canton, OH 44714
Stark County, Case No. 2022 CA 93                                                         2

Wise, Earle, P.J.

       {¶ 1} Plaintiff-Appellant, Michelle M. Spehar, appeals the July 6, 2022 judgment

entry of the Court of Common Pleas of Stark County, Ohio, Domestic Relations Division,

finding her to be in a cohabitation relationship and terminating the spousal support

obligation of Defendant-Appellee, George Spehar.

                         FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

       {¶ 2} Appellant and appellee were divorced on August 12, 2021. Pursuant to the

parties' separation agreement, appellee was required to pay spousal support to appellant

in the amount of $800.00 per month for eighty-four months. Spousal support would

terminate upon the death of either party, remarriage of appellant, or cohabitation by

appellant with a non-related male. The trial court retained continuing jurisdiction over the

issue of spousal support. In addition, appellant was required to refinance the marital

property within ninety days and pay appellee $37,000.00 as his portion of the equity in

the home.

       {¶ 3} Appellant was unable to refinance the home without a co-signor. Relatives

were unable to co-sign, so appellant's fiancé, Frank Tatka, III, co-signed on the mortgage.

Both appellant and Mr. Tatka were placed on the joint and survivorship deed.

       {¶ 4} On December 7, 2021, appellee filed a motion to terminate spousal support

due to appellant's cohabitation with Mr. Tatka. A hearing before a magistrate was held

on March 17, 2022. By decision filed March 30, 2022, the magistrate found appellant was

not cohabitating with Mr. Tatka, nor was he providing her with financial support.

Therefore, the magistrate denied appellee's motion.
Stark County, Case No. 2022 CA 93                                                       3

       {¶ 5} Appellee filed objections. A hearing before the trial court was held on May

12, 2022. By judgment entry filed July 6, 2022, the trial court sustained appellee's

objection, finding appellant was in a cohabitation relationship and terminating appellee's

spousal support obligation.

       {¶ 6} Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for

consideration. Assignment of error is as follows:

                                            I

       {¶ 7} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN OVERRULING THE MAGISTRATE,

FINDING THAT APPELLANT AND HER FIANCÉ WERE COHABITATING AND RULING

THAT APPELLEE'S SPOUSAL SUPPORT OBLIGATION SHOULD TERMINATE ON

DECEMBER 7, 2021."

                                            I

       {¶ 8} In her sole assignment of error, appellant claims the trial court erred in

overruling the magistrate's decision and finding her to be in a cohabitation relationship

and terminating appellee's spousal support obligation. We disagree.

       {¶ 9} In order to establish cohabitation, our colleagues from the Sixth District in

Moell v. Moell, 98 Ohio App.3d 748, 752, 649 N.E.2d 880 (6th Dist.1994), stated the

following:

             Whether or not a particular living arrangement rises to the level of

       lifestyle known as "cohabitation" is a factual question to be initially

       determined by the trial court. Dickerson v. Dickerson (1993), 87 Ohio

       App.3d 848, 851, 623 N.E.2d 237, 239; Piscione v. Piscione (1992), 85 Ohio
Stark County, Case No. 2022 CA 93                                                          4

       App.3d 273, 276, 619 N.E.2d 1030, 1032. Many factors may be considered

       in deciding whether cohabitation exists in a particular set of facts. We

       previously addressed the issue of cohabitation in Dickerson v. Dickerson,

       supra. In that case, we noted that "cohabitation" describes an issue of

       lifestyle, not a housing arrangement. Dickerson, supra, 87 Ohio App.3d at

       850, 623 N.E.2d at 239. Further, when considering the evidence, the trial

       court should look to three principal factors. These factors are "(1) an actual

       living together; (2) of a sustained duration; and (3) with shared expenses

       with respect to financing and day-to-day incidental expenses." Id. at fn. 2,

       citing Birthelmer v. Birthelmer (July 15, 1983), Lucas App. No. L-83-046,

       unreported, 1983 WL 6869.

       {¶ 10} " 'Possible factors establishing shared familial or financial responsibilities

might include provisions for shelter, food, clothing, utilities, and/or commingled assets.

Factors that might establish consortium include mutual respect, fidelity, affection, society,

cooperation, solace, comfort, aid of each other, friendship, and conjugal relations.' "

Bickham v. Bickham, 5th Dist. Fairfield No. 11-CA-9, 2011-Ohio-4213, ¶ 7, quoting State

v. Williams, 79 Ohio St.3d 459, 465, 683 N.E.2d 1126 (1997).

       {¶ 11} The magistrate heard testimony from several witnesses including appellant

and Mr. Tatka. The magistrate found the testimony of both appellant and Mr. Tatka to be

credible, and found appellee did not meet his burden of demonstrating cohabitation. The

magistrate found "the parties do not reside together * * * Mr. Tatka provides no financial
Stark County, Case No. 2022 CA 93                                                         5

support to Plaintiff," the parties "share no expenses and Mr. Tatka provides no financial

support." March 30, 2022 Magistrate's Decision, Applicable Law and Analysis.

      {¶ 12} In a lengthy judgment entry filed July 6, 2022, the trial court quoted

numerous excerpts of testimony and found appellant and Mr. Tatka "have lived together

for a sustained duration with shared expenses with respect to financing and day-to-day

expenses." (Emphasis deleted.) The trial court noted appellant and Mr. Tatka "jointly

own a residence for which they are both legally obligated to pay the mortgage." The

parties "knowingly obtained a mortgage for an amount which was above and beyond that

which was required by the divorce decree." The excess funds have been used to pay

day-to-day living expenses as well as purchase furnishings for the jointly owned home.

Mr. Tatka spends three to five nights a week at the home where they share a bedroom.

"They have followed this schedule on a regular basis since shortly after the divorce in

August, 2021." Mr. Tatka has helped with repairs at the home, takes appellant and her

children out to dinner, and shares a cell phone plan with appellant. The trial court then

concluded the following:

             It is clear to this court, Plaintiff and her fiancé, Mr. Tatka, are in a

      traditional marriage-like relationship with all the benefits and responsibilities

      which go along with such a relationship. Their relationship approximates,

      or is the functional equivalent of, a marriage. It is clear Plaintiff and her

      fiancé, Mr. Tatka, are in a living arrangement which rises to the level of

      lifestyle known as cohabitation. The rationale presented by the Plaintiff that

      the Decree of Divorce forced her to refinance the house with the assistance
Stark County, Case No. 2022 CA 93                                                       6

      of her fiancé, Mr. Tatka, has no basis in law. Every payment made toward

      the outstanding mortgage increases the equity for both Plaintiff and her

      fiancé, Mr. Tatka.

      {¶ 13} In our review of the testimony presented, we cannot say the trial court

abused its discretion in finding cohabitation. March 17, 2022 T. at 7-11, 20-23, 26-29,

35-36, 38, 41-44, 49-52, 55-56, 62-67. Although the magistrate's decision found no

cohabitation, we do not find the trial court's decision to be completely unreasonable and

arbitrary for all the reasons cited above. Notwithstanding the fact Mr. Tatka maintains a

separate residence that he rents, as a co-signor on the prior marital residence, Mr. Tatka

is building equity in the home and in the event appellant should pass first, Mr. Tatka

becomes the sole owner of the home. We find this to be a distinguishing factor from the

case cited by appellant in support of her position, Grischow v. Grischow, 5th Dist.

Delaware No. 18 CAF 07 0052, 2019-Ohio-1856.

      {¶ 14} Upon review, we find the trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding

cohabitation and terminating spousal support.

      {¶ 15} The sole assignment of error is denied.

      {¶ 16} The judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Stark County, Ohio,

Domestic Relations Division, is hereby affirmed.

By Wise, Earle, P.J.

Wise, John, J. and

Baldwin, J. concur.

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