D. M. E. v. D. D. E.

179 Misc. 406, 39 N.Y.S.2d 406, 1942 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2336
CourtNew York Family Court
DecidedDecember 11, 1942
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 179 Misc. 406 (D. M. E. v. D. D. E.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Family Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
D. M. E. v. D. D. E., 179 Misc. 406, 39 N.Y.S.2d 406, 1942 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2336 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1942).

Opinion

Siegel, J.

The petitioner as the mother of three infant children seeks an order requiring respondent, father of the children, to support them. The parties were married on September 1, 1935, in Queens county, at a ceremonial marriage performed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

Petitioner and respondent have not been living together since September, 1942. They reside in the borough of Manhattan.

[407]*407The children are respectively four, three, and one and one-half years of age. At the present time the mother is employed at a salary of twenty-seven dollars per week, plus commissions which amount to about eight dollars per week. She works six days a week from 8:30 a. m. to 5:30 p. m. Since January, 1942, the respondent has been earning on the average of seventy dollars per week. In September, 1942, the petitioner learned that respondent was already married when he married her and that, in 1930, he had abandoned his former wife and their child in Utah. She also learned that his former wife had sued him for a divorce in February, 1936, and that a decree awarding her custody of their child was entered in May, 1936. Petitioner and respondent separated. The three children were taken by her, and she rented an apartment and arranged for a nursemaid to take care of the children during the day while she worked. This nursemaid agreed to sleep in and her wages were seventeen dollars a week. In October, 1942, petitioner was notified by the nursemaid that she would not remain. Efforts to secure a person to take her place were unavailing. Efforts to locate a suitable kindergarten in the neighborhood, where the children could be properly taken care of during the day, were also unsuccessful. As the nursemaid was leaving, something had to be done by petitioner as she had to keep on working. Efforts made by her to obtain a nursemaid within her limited financial means failed. She finally succeeded in locating a boarding school suitable for the children and situated at Great Neck, where the children have been since November 1, 1942. She secured a special rate of $130 per month for the three children.

An agreement had been entered into between the mother and the respondent on October 7, 1942, which provided that the children should reside with the mother who was to continue to maintain her residence in the city of New York, at which residence respondent father should have the right to visit the children. The agreement also provided that the respondent would pay to the mother twenty-seven dollars and fifty cents per week on Saturday of each week, commencing on October 10, 1942. In addition, he was also to pay all necessary medical bills, surgical bills, dental bills, hospital and nursing charges in connection with any illness of the children. In the event any serious operation be required, he was also to be responsible for the costs thereof only if he consented to the operation, which consent was not to be unreasonably withheld.

After the children had been placed in the boarding school, the respondent claimed that he would find no difficulty in procuring [408]*408a suitable nursemaid to take care of them at petitioner’s home. When requested to give the names and addresses of such nursemaids he did not furnish any.

On .September 17, 1942, an action was commenced in the Supreme Court, Queens County, wherein the mother was the plaintiff and the respondent was the defendant, to annul their marriage on the ground that respondent had a former wife living at the time he married the mother and that she was innocent of that fact. (Civ. Pr. Act, §§ 1134,1135.) The respondent’s time to answer in the Supreme Court action has expired. Respondent stated before this court that he did not intend to defend the action.

On November 12,1942, a motion made by the petitioner for an order pursuant to section 1169 of the Civil Practice Act, requiring respondent to pay the sum of twenty-seven dollars and fifty cents per week for the support of the children, was heard before Mr. Justice Cuff sitting in Special Term, who denied same. Thereupon, on November 17, 1942, the petitioner, in behalf of the three children, instituted proceedings in this court asking for an order requiring the respondent to support said children and asking that he be required to pay a fair and reasonable amount, and for such other and further relief as the law provides. On the same day, this court made a temporary order of twenty dollars per week to be paid by respondent. Both parties were represented by their present counsel and, by consent, the case was adjourned to the 24th day of November, 1942. On the latter date, the parties again appeared before the court and the case, by consent, was again adjourned to December 1, 1942,- on which day testimony was taken by this court. Counsel for the respondent and for the petitioner stated that Justice Cuff had issued an order restraining the petitioner from proceeding in this court and reserved decision as to whether the restraining order would be continued. Thereafter, Mr. Justice Cuff, in a lengthy opinion (New York Law Journal, Dec. 5,1942, p. 1772), decided: Without considering the above reasons this court is without power to restrain this plaintiff from applying to the Domestic Relations Court or any other court for the relief which she is advised she is entitled to receive. All of the reasons that defendant urges for granting this motion should be submitted to the Domestic Relations Court where they will be given full consideration when that court is making a disposition of the wife’s petition in behalf of her children. This motion is denied and the stay vacated.”

[409]*409The action of Justice Cuff follows the decision rendered by the Appellate Division that an order of prohibition to stay this court will be refused and that the aggrieved party has the remedy of appeal. (See Matter of Kohn v. Domestic Relations Court of the City of New York, 244 App. Div. 829.)

Respondent has raised the issue that this court has no jurisdiction to make an order requiring him to support the children in the absence of an order of the Supreme Court providing for said support. It may be here stated that, in so far as relevant to this proceeding, the jurisdiction and powers conferred on this court include: Jurisdiction within the city to hear and determine all proceedings to compel the support of a * * * child.” (N. Y. City Dom. Rel. Ct. Act, § 91, subd. 1.)

To order support of a * * * child * * * , irrespective of whether [he] is likely to become a public charge, as justice requires having due regard to the circumstances of the respective parties.” (N. Y. City Dom. Rel. Act, § 92, subd. 1.)

“ To include in the requirements of an order for support the providing of necessary shelter, food, clothing, care, medical attention, * * * the expense of educating his child, * * * and other proper and reasonable expenses.” (N. Y. City Dom. Rel. Ct. Act, § 92, subd. 2.)

To require of persons legally chargeable with the support of a * * .* child * * * and who are possessed of sufficient means or who are able to earn such means, the payment weekly, or at other fixed periods, of a fair and reasonable sum for such support, or as a contribution towards such support, according to the means of the persons so chargeable * * *.” (N. Y. City Dom. Rel. Ct. Act, § 92, subd. 3.)

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Harvey-Cook v. Neill
118 A.D.2d 109 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1986)
Smith v. Jones
43 Misc. 2d 350 (NYC Family Court, 1964)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
179 Misc. 406, 39 N.Y.S.2d 406, 1942 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2336, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/d-m-e-v-d-d-e-nyfamct-1942.