In re Mostofsky

14 Mills Surr. 377, 90 Misc. 549, 154 N.Y.S. 927

• Court: New York Surrogate's Court
• Decided: May 15, 1915
• Status: Published

Opinion

Ketcham, S.—

Objections to the probate of the will having been filed by one claiming to be the decedent’s widow, the proponent moves that the objections be stricken out before trial, on the ground that it has been decided by the Appellate Division of this department that the alleged marriage between the decedent and herself was void.

Such was the decision, but it was not made upon a trial of the issues. It was made in an action brought by the objectant . against the decedent for limited divorce, and was the expression of the ground upon which the Appellate Division reversed an order granting to her alimony and counsel fee. There may have been an order entered upon the decision, but no final judgment was rendered. Eone was possible.

Ordinarily an interlocutory order in an action is not a conclusive adjudication. Eothing is shown upon this motion to lift the determination of the Appellate Division out of the ordinary class. A fair test of its effect readily suggests itself, by which it must appear that the order or decision was not such final adjudication as would prevent a re-examination. If the order be not a final adjudication, in the sense that it stops any renewal of the controversy affected thereby, it would have had the same character and force in that action.

It would not have been a bar to the determination of the status of the parties thereto, if one of them had insisted upon a trial of the issues involved in the action in which the order of the Appellate Division was made. Clearly, if it could not be put in evidence against the alleged wife upon the trial of that action it cannot be availed of to conclude her in this proceeding.

Motion denied.