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THE REFEREE DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO PRECLUDE DEFENDANT FROM PRESENTING EVIDENCE AS AN APPARENT SANCTION FOR DEFENDANT’S FAILURE TO APPEAR; THE REFEREE’S REPORT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the referee’s report in this matrimonial matter should not have been confirmed because the referee exceeded her authority by ruling the defendant could not present any evidence, an apparent sanction for defendant’s failure to appear:

“A referee derives his or her authority from an order of reference by the court, and the scope of the authority is defined by the order of reference” (… see CPLR 4311). “A referee who attempts to determine matters not referred to him or her by the order of reference acts beyond and in excess of his or her jurisdiction” … . Where, as here, the parties did not consent to the determination of any issues by the referee, and the order of reference directed the referee to hear and report (see CPLR 4317 [a]), “the referee had the power only to hear and report his [or her] findings”… .

Here, the Referee exceeded her authority to hear and report her findings based upon the evidence presented at trial by making a determination to preclude the defendant from presenting a case … . Pursuant to CPLR 4201, a referee assigned to hear and report “shall have the power to issue subpoenas, to administer oaths and to direct the parties to engage in and permit such disclosure proceedings as will expedite the disposition of the issues.” However, neither CPLR 4201 nor any other provision confers the authority on a referee assigned to hear and report to impose a penalty on a party for failing to appear, such as precluding that party from presenting any evidence. Pulver v Pulver, 2021 NY Slip Op 04727, Second Dept 8-18-21

 

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