Carol J. v. William J.

119 Misc. 2d 739, 464 N.Y.S.2d 635, 1983 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3588
CourtNew York City Family Court
DecidedMay 25, 1983
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 119 Misc. 2d 739 (Carol J. v. William J.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York City Family Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Carol J. v. William J., 119 Misc. 2d 739, 464 N.Y.S.2d 635, 1983 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3588 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1983).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Jack Turret, J,

This Uniform Support of Dependents Law proceeding brought under article 3-A of the Domestic Relations Law was commenced on May 8,1981. Petitioner, former wife of respondent, is seeking enforcement of respondent’s obligation to support their two children under a judgment of divorce of the Superior Court, Judicial District of Fairfield, Connecticut, dated June 13,1979. This judgment obligates [740]*740respondent to pay $1,740 per month for alimony and child support. Respondent initially appeared pro se. Petitioner appeared with the Corporation Counsel as her statutory representative. Reference was made to the hearing examiner (Family Ct Act, § 439).

On July 29, 1981, an agreement was reached before the hearing examiner that provided for temporary support ($700 per month) and a contingent payroll deduction order. It was subsequently reconfirmed by the respondent on November 24, 1981, January 6, 1982 and March 11, 1982. On June 14, 1982, the hearing examiner issued a report recommending modification of the temporary order to $500 per month and holding arrears in abeyance. Objections were filed and heard by me on July 28, 1982. At which time, while represented by counsel for the first time, respondent asserted orally that section 1673 of title 15 of the United States Code prohibits entry of any payroll deduction order in excess of 50% of his disposable income.2 Ruling from the Bench, this court declined to vacate the payroll deduction order and ordered a hearing de novo as the record made before the hearing examiner was insufficient. An order was signed on the following day, July 29, 1982, making the payroll deduction order “effective at once, first payment August 1, 1982. Arrears are fixed at $2,100 as of June 1, 1982” (the total of three payments).

On August 25, 1982, a hearing de novo before the hearing examiner began. It was continued to October 4, 1982 when decision was reserved. On October 5, 1982, respondent brought on an order to show cause seeking to have the payroll deduction order vacated alleging it was in violation of section 1673 of title 15 of the United States Code. Argument on this application was heard on October 8, 1982 with both sides given an opportunity for final submissions.

On November 3,1982, though the hearing examiner had not yet rendered a decision, the court ruled on respondent’s application. Since the supremacy clause was involved, visa-vis section 1673 of title 15 of the United States Code, [741]*741and because of petitioner’s serious allegation that respondent was attempting to avoid or minimize his duty to support by purposefully reducing his stated or actual income, the court felt an interim ruling was warranted pending issuance of the hearing examiner’s report. Noting the court’s order of July 29, 1982 was grounded on an agreement to pay, that the agreement was entered into freely by a businessman well versed in the effects and implications of more complicated instruments, and respondent without duress or other restraint signed and subsequently reaffirmed the agreement after being allocuted as to his right to counsel and waiving that right, the court refused to vacate or modify either the temporary order of support, or its contingent payroll deduction order.3 The court also held, pending further countervailing direction from this court, respondent’s employer could comply with the Consumer Credit Protection Act guidelines (see Bigness v Obit, 112 Misc 2d 1078).

On November 29, 1982, the hearing examiner rendered her report. Based on the evidence adduced before her, the hearing examiner found: (1) “[Respondent is attempting to minimize his duty to support by purposefully reducing his stated or actual income”; (2) “[Respondent has skills and experience in an area where the earning opportunities for someone of his background are substantially higher”; (3) “arrears were $5,054.62 as of December 2, 1982”; and (4) “[Respondent has the potential earning ability to pay an order of support of $800 per month”.

Typical of respondent’s actions which led the hearing examiner to make such findings were his selling an antique car for $8,100 without a cent going for child support; his failure to comply with the financial disclosure request made by Corporation Counsel; the fact that respondent holds a job as a stock and commodities broker for Shearson Loeb Rhodes, where from 1979 to 1980, he was making approximately $45,000 per year, and that after 16 years in the profession, he presently reports an income of $15,000 per year.

[742]*742The hearing examiner thus recommended: (1) arrears be fixed at $5,054.63 as of December 2, 1982; (2) an order of support for the two children of $800 per month plus an additional $50 per month on arrears, payable to the support collection unit, effective December 21,1982; (3) vacating the payroll deduction order in effect with a contingent payroll deduction order as a replacement; and (4) respondent be directed to submit proof of his compliance with paragraphs 3 and 4 of the divorce decree, pertaining to medical insurance coverage.

Both sides filed objections. The matter was referred to this court in light of its prior orders.

Respondent on the return date of the objections was granted an opportunity to submit a memorandum of law supporting his contentions two weeks after receiving transcripts of the tapes made of the hearing. Well past respondent’s attorney’s receipt of the transcripts of the tapes and well past the additional time granted at said attorney’s request, no papers have been received.

The court concurs with the hearing examiner’s findings and recommendations except as to: (1) the payroll deduction order; (2) arrears.

PAYROLL DEDUCTION ORDER

Based on the evidence adduced in all proceedings heretofore held, the court confirms the hearing examiner’s finding that respondent “is attempting to minimize his duty to support”. Precisely for this reason, the court rejects the hearing examiner’s recommendation that the payroll deduction order in effect be vacated and a contingent one substituted.

It is a well-established equitable principle that one should not be permitted to take advantage of his own wrong (Stearns Co. v United States, 291 US 54, 61-62). On this principle, an individual may be denied use of a statute by his acts (see Simcuski v Saeli, 44 NY2d 442). Though not a court of equity, Family Court should strive to do equitable justice (Besharov, Practice Commentaries, McKinney’s Cons Laws of NY, Book 29A, Family Ct Act, § 115, p 22; cf. Pinto v Pinto, 91 NYS2d 124).

[743]*743One who purposefully minimizes his income, may have his duty to support based upon potential not just actual earnings (see Besharov, Practice Commentary, McKinney’s Cons Laws of NY, Book 29 A, Supp Pamph, Family Ct Act, § 442, pp 169-170, and cases cited therein). To afford respondent the relief of the Consumer Credit Protection Act (US Code, tit 15, § 1673), would be to allow him to circumvent this legal obligation through his own acts.

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Bluebook (online)
119 Misc. 2d 739, 464 N.Y.S.2d 635, 1983 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3588, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/carol-j-v-william-j-nycfamct-1983.