Currie v. Jané, 2014 VT 106

Parties bought a house in Orwell for $245,000; title was joint tenants with rights of survivorship.
Defendant contributed $200,000 plus closing costs; plaintiff contributed $45,000 and assumed mortgage, with both signing a promissory note to the Tricketts.
Defendant’s $200,000 contribution was treated as a gift; plaintiff indemnified defendant for the mortgage debt.
Post-purchase, defendant paid for improvements and ongoing carrying costs; plaintiff paid some expenses and later rental income from the property.
Parties’ relationship ended; defendant moved out in 2009; plaintiff largely paid ongoing expenses and earned $27,300 in rent since 2010.
Trial court found disproportionate ownership (81.7% to defendant) but equal upkeep obligations; ordered plaintiff to buy out defendant or have defendant sell the property; total appraised value was $240,000.

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
Whether 81.7%/18.3% ownership is supported by the record	Currie argues equal ownership presumption controls.	Jané contends contributions justify unequal shares.	Yes; evidence supports unequal ownership.
Whether the buy-out amount was equitable	$158,144 plus other debts is inequitable.	Buy-out amount reflects contributions and debts.	Court did not abuse discretion; buy-out within equity bounds.

Whippie v. O’Connor, 2010 VT 32 (Vt. 2010) (presumption of equal ownership rebuttable; setoffs for unequal contributions)
Massey v. Hrostek, 2009 VT 70 (Vt. 2009) (equal ownership presumption; gifts and contributions impact shares)
Wilk v. Wilk, 173 Vt. 343 (Vt. 2002) (partition should favor equity; broad discretion to assign property)