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ALTHOUGH FATHER, WHO HAD BEEN IN THE MILITARY, HAD NOT PROCURED HOUSING FOR HIMSELF AND HIS UNDER-SIX-MONTH-OLD SON, HE DEMONSTRATED HE WAS WILLING AND ABLE TO CARE FOR THE CHILD; THEREFORE HIS CONSENT TO ADOPTION BY PETITIONERS-RESPONDENTS WAS REQUIRED AND CUSTODY WAS PROPERLY AWARDED TO HIM; THE DISSENT ARGUED FATHER’S FAILURE TO PROCURE HOUSING RENDERED HIM UNABLE TO CARE FOR THE CHILD (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, over a dissent, determined father demonstrated he is willing and able to enter a full relationship with his under-six-year-old child and, therefore, his consent to adoption by the petitioners-respondents was required and he was properly awarded custody of the child. The dissent argued father, who was in the military, made no attempt to procure housing for himself and the child and, therefore, did not demonstrate he was able to care for the child:

We … disagree with our dissenting colleague and conclude that the father established his ability to assume custody of the child. Contrary to the position of the dissent and petitioners, custody and housing are separate and distinct concepts. A parent who lacks housing for a child is not legally precluded from obtaining custody. Certainly, active military members should not lose custody of a child due to their service to our country. Many parents enlist the aid of family members to help them provide housing, including single parents who serve in the military. That temporary inability to provide housing should not preclude them from asserting their custodial rights to the children where, as here, they have established their intent to embrace their parental responsibility. Matter of William, 2022 NY Slip Op 03831, Fourth Dept 6-9-22

Practice Point: The Fourth Department noted that custody and housing are separate and distinct concepts. Although father, who had been in the military, had not procured housing for himself and the child, he demonstrated he was willing and able to care for the child. Therefore his consent to adoption by the petitioners-respondents was required and custody was properly awarded to him.

 

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THE WIFE RAISED QUESTIONS OF FACT ABOUT (1) THE FAIRNESS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENT, (2) WHETHER HER ATTORNEY, CHOSEN FOR HER, ENGAGED IN MEANINGFUL NEGOTIATIONS, (3) WHETHER SHE RATIFIED THE AGREEMENT, AND (4) WHETHER SHE WAS ENTITLED TO TEMPORARY MAINTENANCE (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the wife raised questions of fact about the fairness of the prenuptial agreement negotiations and whether she ratified the agreement. The wife alleged her husband chose the attorney who represented her merely to ensure she understood the agreement and not to negotiate its terms. In addition, Supreme Court should not have denied the wife’s motion for temporary maintenance:

On the last day of negotiations between counsel, the wife averred that she was preparing to travel to Florida with the parties’ children. While the communications submitted by the husband in support of his motion indicate that counsel for the parties continued discussing potential changes to the agreement, there is conflicting evidence establishing the extent that the wife was meaningfully involved in those discussions. The wife further averred that the first opportunity she had to review the agreement was in Florida, at which point it was already in its final form. We find that the foregoing facts, if established, raise issues concerning whether the wife was meaningfully represented during the abbreviated negotiations, and also raise an inference that the husband did not intend on engaging in a good faith negotiation of the agreement from the outset, which, if true, would be sufficient to establish overreaching on his part … . …

We further … the husband’s contention that the wife ratified the agreement and is therefore foreclosed from challenging its validity. … [I]t is clear that the wife did not begin receiving benefits under the agreement until the husband commenced this divorce action, and she took sufficiently prompt action to challenge the validity of the agreement in the context of this litigation … . …

… Supreme Court improperly denied the wife’s cross motion for temporary maintenance. To this end, the wife argues that the maintenance provision of the agreement must be invalidated for failing to comply with the requirements of Domestic Relations Law former § 236 (B) (5-a) (f). We agree. Spiegel v Spiegel, 2022 NY Slip Op 03778, Third Dept 6-9-22

Practice Point: Here in this divorce action there were questions of fact whether the wife was meaningfully represented in the prenuptial-agreement negotiations and whether she ratified the agreement. In addition, pursuant to the Domestic Relation Law, Supreme Court should have awarded temporary maintenance.

 

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NO REASON MOTHER’S ATTORNEY COULD NOT BE PRESENT, EITHER IN PERSON OR ELECTRONICALLY, DURING A HOME VISIT BY THE ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES (ACS) (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Family Court, determined there was no reason mother’s attorney could not be present, either in person of electronically, during a home visit by the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS):

Where, as here, the Family Court issued an order temporarily releasing a child who is the subject of a neglect proceeding to a parent pending a final order of disposition (see Family Ct Act § 1027[d]), the order may include a direction for the parent to “cooperat[e] in making the child available for . . . visits by the child protective agency, including visits in the home” (id. § 1017[3]). However, there are no provisions of the Family Court Act—nor does ACS cite to any other authority—prohibiting a respondent in a proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 10 from having counsel present during a home visit. Thus, the respondent is not automatically prohibited from having an attorney—or any other individual—present in her home during the home visit, either in person or electronically. Matter of Lexis B. (Natalia B.), 2022 NY Slip Op 03721, Second Dept 6-8-22

​Practice Point: The Administration for Children’s Services (ASC) did not cite any authority for its attempt to preclude mother’s attorney from being present, either in person or electronically, during ASC’s home visits.

 

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ALTHOUGH FATHER FAILED TO APPEAR, HIS COUNSEL APPEARED AND FATHER WAS THEREFORE NOT IN DEFAULT; BECAUSE FATHER WAS NOT IN DEFAULT, APPEAL IS NOT PRECLUDED (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, vacating the portions of the order entered on default, determined father’s failure to appear was not a default because his counsel appeared. Because father was not in default, appeal is not precluded:

We agree with the father that Family Court erred in entering the order upon his default based on his failure to appear in court. The record establishes that the father “was represented by counsel, and we have previously determined that, [w]here a party fails to appear [in court on a scheduled date] but is represented by counsel, the order is not one entered upon the default of the aggrieved party and appeal is not precluded” … . Matter of Akol v Afet, 2022 NY Slip Op 03641, Fourth Dept 6-3-22

Practice Point: When counsel appears in Family Court, the party represented by counsel is not in default. An appeal is available to a party not in default.

 

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FATHER’S PETITION FOR A MODIFICATION OF CUSTODY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DENIED WITHOUT A HEARING (THIRD DEPT). ​

The Third Department, reversing Family Court, determined the court should have held a hearing on father’s petition for a modification of custody:

… [T]he father alleged … that, since the prior order, he has relocated to a small, quiet apartment but now has a lengthy commute each way to exercise his parenting time, the child wishes to spend more time with him and the prior order provides him with a limited amount of a parenting time when considering the progress he has made to care for the child. Family Court sua sponte dismissed the father’s petition without prejudice, finding that the father failed to allege a sufficient change in circumstances. The father appeals.

Family Court erred in dismissing the petition without holding a hearing. “A parent seeking to modify a prior order of custody and visitation is required to demonstrate that a change in circumstances has occurred since entry thereof that then warrants the court engaging in an analysis as to the best interests of the child” … . “While not every petition in a Family Ct Act article 6 proceeding is automatically entitled to a hearing” … , “[g]enerally, where a facially sufficient petition has been filed, modification of a Family Ct Act article 6 custody order requires a full and comprehensive hearing at which a parent is to be afforded a full and fair opportunity to be heard” … . Matter of Neil VV. v Joanne WW., 2022 NY Slip Op 03557, Third Dept 6-2-22

Practice Point: Where, as here, a facially sufficient petition for a modification of custody had been filed, petitioner is entitled to a hearing.

 

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THIS JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PROCEEDING STEMMED FROM ALLEGATIONS RESPONDENT COMMITTED VIOLENT ACTS AGAINST THE MOTHER OF HIS CHILD; THE PROCEEDING SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISMISSED “IN FURTHERANCE OF JUSTICE;” CRITERIA EXPLAINED (THIRD DEPT). ​

The Third Department, reversing Family Court, determined this juvenile delinquency proceeding should not have been dismissed “in furtherance of justice.” The respondent was charged with acts of violence against the mother of his child:

Dismissal in the furtherance of justice is an extraordinary remedy that must be employed “sparingly, that is, only in those rare cases where there is a compelling factor which clearly demonstrates that prosecution . . . would be an injustice” … . In determining such a motion, the statutory factors which must be considered, individually and collectively, are as follows: “(a) the seriousness and circumstances of the crime; (b) the extent of harm caused by the crime; (c) any exceptionally serious misconduct of law enforcement personnel in the investigation and arrest of the respondent or in the presentment of the petition; (d) the history, character and condition of the respondent; (e) the needs and best interest of the respondent; (f) the need for protection of the community; and (g) any other relevant fact indicating that a finding would serve no useful purpose” … . “At least one of these factors must be readily identifiable and sufficiently compelling to support the dismissal” …

According to the sworn statement of the victim — the mother of respondent’s child — respondent became verbally abusive toward her when she got pregnant, and physically abusive after their child was born, including pinching, punching and slapping her, once when she was holding the child. On the date in question, respondent threw a full, eight-ounce baby bottle at the victim, which hit her in the face, when she asked him to feed the child, who was crying. The victim stated that, although she was bleeding heavily, respondent and his father discouraged her from seeking medical attention. When she eventually did go to the hospital the next day, a cut on her face was glued shut by a doctor and she was told to return for X rays after the swelling had abated. The victim indicated that she felt unsafe living with the child in the home of respondent and his father. Matter of James JJ., 2022 NY Slip Op 03555, Third Dept 6-2-22

Practice Point: The allegations of violence in this juvenile delinquency proceeding were deemed too serious to warrant dismissal of the juvenile delinquency proceeding “in furtherance of justice.” This remedy should be used sparingly and at least one of the statutory factors for dismissal in furtherance of justice must be readily identifiable.

 

A REJECTED PURCHASE OFFER WAS NOT ADMISSIBLE AT TRIAL TO PROVE THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE MARITAL RESIDENCE (FIRST DEPT). ​

The First Department, reversing (modifying) Supreme Court in this divorce case, determined a purchase offer was not admissible to show the fair market value of the marital residence:

Order … which … granted plaintiff’s motion to set a minimum net value for marital real property located in Southampton, New York, at $20 million for equitable distribution purposes, unanimously reversed … .

With respect to the parties’ Southampton marital property, we find that the court erred in imposing a minimum value based on a purchase offer of $20 million rejected by defendant, as evidence of an offer to purchase is generally inadmissible at trial to show fair market value … . Lauren S. v Alexander S., 2022 NY Slip Op 03462, First Dept 5-26-22

Practice Point: In a divorce action, a rejected purchase offer was not admissible at trial to prove the fair market value of a marital residence.

 

PLAINTIFF HUSBAND WAS ENTITLED TO 15% OF THE APPRECIATON OF THE WIFE’S PREMARITAL ART-GALLERY BUSINESS IN THIS DIVORCE PROCEEDING REQUIRING THE DISTRIBUTION OF A NUMBER OF SUBSTANTIAL ASSETS (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Gesmer, modified some of some of Supreme Court’s distribution of marital assets in this divorce action. The opinion is too detailed, and addressed too many substantial assets to be fairly summarized here. With respect to the valuation of the husband’s portion of the appreciation of the wife’s art gallery, AWI, founded before the marriage, the First Department wrote:

… [P]laintiff met his burden to show that the appreciation in value of defendant’s pre-marital business, AWI, during the marriage constituted marital property subject to distribution … . …

An award to plaintiff of significantly less than half of the marital portion of AWI is justified by the following facts: defendant started her business years before she met plaintiff; plaintiff was not involved with defendant’s acquisition or sale of art; plaintiff’s conduct was at times problematic and even a hindrance to defendant’s business success; plaintiff’s contributions to the marriage diminished over time; and defendant will bear substantial tax consequences when she sells art to pay plaintiff a distributive award (see Domestic Relations Law § 236[B][5][d][7], [8], [11]; see also Cotton, 170 AD3d at 596). * * * Considering all of the circumstances, we find that plaintiff’s share of AWI’s appreciation during the marriage should be 15%, or $3,486,821 … . Culman v Boesky, 2022 NY Slip Op 03440, First Dept 5-26-22

Practice Point: In this complex divorce action involving may substantial assets, based upon the husband’s limited participation in the wife’s pre-marital art-gallery business, the husband was entitled to 15% of the appreciation of the business during the marriage.

 

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BOTH THE WIFE AND THE JUDGE WERE AWARE OF THE HUSBAND’S MENTAL ILLNESS IN THIS DIVORCE ACTION IN WHICH THE HUSBAND WAS PRO SE; WHEN THE HUSBAND FAILED TO APPEAR FOR THE INQUEST AN INQUIRY INTO WHETHER A GUARDIAN AD LITEM SHOULD BE APPOINTED SHOULD HAVE BEEN HELD (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the judge should have conducted an inquiry into whether a guardian ad litem should be appointed for the husband in this divorce action. The husband did not appear at the inquest and both the wife and the judge were aware of the husband’s significant mental illness:

Judgment was entered in this divorce proceeding after the husband, pro se, failed to appear for an inquest. At the time of the inquest, both the wife and Supreme Court were aware that the husband had been diagnosed with a significant mental health condition, which resulted in episodes during which the husband was demonstrably unable to care for himself or otherwise protect his interests. Indeed, at the conclusion of the inquest, the court explicitly acknowledged that the husband’s absence was likely attributable to his mental health. Thus, before entering judgment upon the husband’s default, there should have been an inquiry into whether a guardian ad litem was necessary (see CPLR 1201, 1203 …). Because there was no inquiry, the judgment must be vacated and the matter remanded for further proceedings, including, if necessary, an inquiry into the husband’s current capacity … . Richard v Buck, 2022 NY Slip Op 03335, First Dept 5-19-22

Practice Point: Here both the wife and the judge in this divorce action were aware of the husband’s mental illness. When the husband, who was representing himself, did not appear at the inquest, an inquiry into whether a guardian ad litem should be appointed should have been made.

 

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THE DIVORCE STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT REQUIRED DEFENDANT TO PAY THE CHILDREN’S COLLEGE EXPENSES FOR FOUR YEARS AND DID NOT MENTION AN AGE CUT-OFF; SUPREME COURT SHOULD NOT HAVE DETERMINED DEFENDANT’S OBLIGATION CEASED AT AGE 21 (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the stipulation of settlement in the divorce stated that defendant would pay the children’s college expenses for four years with no mention of a cut-off at age 21. Supreme Court should not have ruled that the obligation ceased when the child turned 21:

… [T]he stipulation clearly and unambiguously required the defendant to pay 50% of the costs and expenses for each child’s college education for a total of four years, though his obligation to contribute to room and board expenses would be offset by any child support payments he made during that time. Contrary to the defendant’s contention, no age limitation or restriction was placed on his obligation to pay his share of these costs and expenses, and the stipulation cannot be fairly interpreted to provide that this obligation terminated upon the child’s emancipation … . Pape v Pape, 2022 NY Slip Op 03246, Second Dept 5-18-22

Practice Point: Here the divorce stipulation of settlement clearly stated defendant was obligated to pay the children’s college expenses for four years. Supreme Court should not have ruled the obligation ceased at age 21.

 

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