A former trustee of a property owners association is embroiled in a legal battle over allegations of contempt and breach of fiduciary duty. Leonard H. Slodov, acting pro se, filed an appeal with the Court of Appeals of Ohio on November 24, 2025, against Eagle Ridge Subdivision Property Owner’s Association, Incorporated, after being found in contempt by the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas.
The dispute traces back to a contentious board election held on November 11, 2021, where Slodov was not re-elected as a trustee. Following this, on January 25, 2022, Slodov initiated legal proceedings challenging the validity of the election process. In response, Eagle Ridge and its board members—Todd Bemak, Scott Martin, and Gavin Mitchell—filed a counterclaim seeking affirmation of their election results. The crux of the matter escalated when Slodov was ordered by the court to provide access to certain association records and email accounts but failed to comply fully.
Slodov’s appeal raises three main assignments of error: questioning the trial court’s jurisdiction post-agreement entry dated June 17, 2024; challenging the enforcement actions taken by Eagle Ridge; and alleging breaches of fiduciary duty by the board members. The trial court had previously ruled that it retained jurisdiction until full compliance was achieved from Slodov’s side—a point contested by him as he believed jurisdiction ended upon his payment fulfillment.
The court documents reveal that despite an agreed judgment entry stipulating conditions for record access and financial penalties for non-compliance, disputes continued over email account access. Slodov allegedly enabled two-factor authentication which hindered access for Eagle Ridge officials—a move seen as non-compliant with court orders mandating “unfettered access.”
Ultimately, Slodov was found in contempt multiple times for failing to meet these requirements and faced sanctions including attorney fees amounting to $7,373.50. Despite attempts at compliance through partial measures like disabling security features on email accounts or extending limited access periods unilaterally deemed sufficient by him—the courts ruled otherwise.
Representing himself throughout most proceedings until retaining counsel briefly in April 2024—Slodov’s appeals were dismissed as lacking merit by Judges John J. Eklund, Matt Lynch, and Scott Lynch who concurred in affirming the lower court’s decision.
Source: 2025G0015_Slodov_v_Eagle_Ridge_Subdivision_Property_Owners_Association_Incorporated_Opinion_Ohio_Court_of_Appeals.pdf