Man seeking repayment of loan of more than $150K

A Tiffin man has accused a Florida woman of fraud and is seeking to recoup more than $150,000 he loaned her, according to Seneca County Clerk of Courts records. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Steven Smith of Tiffin against Kristi Rowe of Orlando. It states Smith and Rowe became acquainted, and Rowe befriended Smith and acquired personal financial information about him. Rowe told Smith she had cancer and was undergoing treatment, and that a family member was killed in an accident and she'd repay him because she was the beneficiary of the funds, according to the lawsuit. It states Smith loaned Rowe the money through payments in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, and Rowe had promised to repay him. The loan totaled $152,657.90, it states. "Defendant accepted loan funds from Plaintiff and has unjustly failed and refused to repay the money Plaintiff loaned Defendant," the lawsuit states. Seneca County Common Pleas Court Judge Steve Shuff is to preside over the case.