Molloy v. Molloy

33 A.D.3d 892, 823 N.Y.S.2d 209

This text of 33 A.D.3d 892 (Molloy v. Molloy) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Molloy v. Molloy, 33 A.D.3d 892, 823 N.Y.S.2d 209 (N.Y. Ct. App. 2006).

Opinion

In an action for divorce and ancillary relief, the plaintiff appeals from a judgment of the Supreme Court, Westchester County (Tolbert, J.), entered July 11, 2005, which, upon the denial of his motion for summary judgment, determined that he failed to prove abandonment, and dismissed the complaint.

Ordered that the judgment is affirmed, with costs.

The Supreme Court correctly determined that the plaintiff made a prima facie showing of entitlement to judgment as a matter of law by submitting sufficient evidence to establish the elements of abandonment and the absence of any issues of fact (see Friends of Animals v Associated Fur Mfrs., 46 NY2d 1065, 1067 [1979]; Caprise v Caprise, 143 AD2d 968, 969-970 [1988]). In opposition, the defendant raised a triable issue of fact with respect to whether the plaintiffs offer to resume cohabitation was made in good faith (see Zuckerman v City of New York, 49 NY2d 557, 563 [1980]; Solomon v Solomon, 290 NY 337, 340-341 [1943]; Bohmert v Bohmert, 241 NY 446, 452-453 [1926]), thereby necessitating a trial. The defendant’s contention that the plaintiff’s offer to resume cohabitation was not made in good faith was not an affirmative defense that had been precluded by any previous order of the Supreme Court.

After trial, the Supreme Court properly dismissed the [893]*893plaintiff’s complaint, as he failed to establish the alleged abandonment (see Lyons v Lyons, 187 AD2d 415, 416 [1992]; George M. v Mary Ann M., 171 AD2d 651, 651-652 [1991]; Caprise v Caprise, supra at 970). Specifically, the Supreme Court determined that the plaintiff’s offer to resume cohabitation with the defendant, made only through counsel during the course of an earlier proceeding and without any follow-up effort, was not a good-faith offer, thereby warranting a dismissal of the complaint (see Gleckman v Kaplan, 215 AD2d 527, 528 [1995]).

The parties’ remaining contentions either are without merit or have been rendered academic. Miller, J.E, Ritter, Spolzino and Dillon, JJ., concur.

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

Related

Solomon v. Solomon
49 N.E.2d 470 (New York Court of Appeals, 1943)
Bohmert v. Bohmert
150 N.E. 511 (New York Court of Appeals, 1926)
Friends of Animals, Inc. v. Associated Fur Manufacturers, Inc.
390 N.E.2d 298 (New York Court of Appeals, 1979)
Zuckerman v. City of New York
404 N.E.2d 718 (New York Court of Appeals, 1980)
Caprise v. Caprise
143 A.D.2d 968 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1988)
George M. v. Mary Ann M.
171 A.D.2d 651 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1991)
Lyons v. Lyons
187 A.D.2d 415 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1992)
Gleckman v. Kaplan
215 A.D.2d 527 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1995)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
33 A.D.3d 892, 823 N.Y.S.2d 209, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/molloy-v-molloy-nyappdiv-2006.