Oppenheimer v. Oppenheimer

107 Misc. 2d 556, 435 N.Y.S.2d 623, 1980 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2902
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 3, 1980
StatusPublished

This text of 107 Misc. 2d 556 (Oppenheimer v. Oppenheimer) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Oppenheimer v. Oppenheimer, 107 Misc. 2d 556, 435 N.Y.S.2d 623, 1980 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2902 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1980).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Arthur D. Spatt, J.

This “action” in the nature of a “special proceeding” wherein plaintiff seeks an order directing the following relief: fixing temporary alimony and support in a slim stated; exclusive occupancy of the marital residence; enjoining defendant from seeking an offering to sell the marital premises located at 20 Burbury Lane, Great Neck, New York; directing defendant to notify all agents previously engaged to negotiate such sale that said premises has been withdrawn from sale; directing defendant to cease harassing plaintiff; granting counsel fees; and declaring the antenuptial agreement null and void, is determined as set forth below.

BACKGROUND

By á summons dated July 8, 1980-, served pursuant to an order fixing the manner of service dated July 15, 1980, defendant herein, Fred Oppenheimer, commenced an ac[557]*557tian against plaintiff herein, Dorothee Oppenheimer, for divorce. Said action for divorce is pending in this court under Index No. 11769/80.

At the time the instant “special proceeding” was commenced, it appears that no complaint and, a fortiori, no answer, had been interposed in the divorce action.

This “special proceeding” was initially submitted for decision on August 15, 1980. At that time, defendant Fred Oppenheimer interposed answering papers which, while not addressing the substance of those requests for relief made by plaintiff, asserted, in substance, that “these proceedings are completely defective and without any jurisdictional basis whatsoever”. It was defendant’s assertion that the instant proceeding was a nullity, and that any pendente lite relief should have been sought via the matrimonial action. In the alternative, defendant herein stated as follows: “That in the event that the Order to Show Cause is sustained, that is, the court feels that the plaintiff followed the proper procedure, it is respectfully requested that I be granted leave to prepare and serve an affidavit in opposition to said motion.”

Thereafter, by an order dated August 27, 1980 (Burke, J.), this court held as follows:

“by plaintiff for omnibus relief against defendant is adjourned until September 18, 1980 in order that plaintiff may correct an apparent misidentification of the caption and index number of this action and to permit defendant to respond to the merits of the present motion.
“It appears from the papers and affidavits submitted that although there is an action between the parties pending in this court, the caption and index number are not those given by movant. Defendant in opposition to the motion limits his argument to the moving papers’ technical imperfections and does not touch upon the merits of plaintiff’s motion. Defendant shall submit any further papers in opposition to the merits of the motion three days prior to the adjourned date of this motion.”

On September 18, 1980, this motion was submitted to me for decision. Both plaintiff and defendant submitted supplemental affidavits on that date.

[558]*558By her supplemental affidavit, plaintiff maintains that there was no “misidentification” of the instant proceeding. Rather, she asserts, that this is an action in the nature of a “special proceeding”, commenced by order to show cause pursuant to the terms of CPLR article 4, seeking relief in the nature of a petition for support under the Family Court Act, and is independent of the matrimonial action. While maintaining that the instant “action” is viable, plaintiff, in the alternative, contends as follows: “9. But unlike the respondent, it is our concern to bring the issues to a head at the earliest possible time and not to permit their obfuscation by procedural manipulation. Therefore, although we firmly believe that the relief sought by our special proceeding is entitled to be determined separately from respondent’s action for a divorce, if in the Court’s judgment we have erred, we freely consent to the matter being considered under the caption and index number which the respondent has initiated. Although it is obviously gratuitous under the circumstances, we have given our firm’s notice of appearance in the respondent’s action.” (Emphasis supplied.)

In his supplemental affidavit, defendant restates his initial position, that is, that this “special proceeding” is jurisdictionally defective. Defendant asserts that the relief requested herein should have been sought as part and parcel of the matrimonial action, and that, in view of the decision of Justice Burke, this proceeding should be dismissed and the requested relief denied. However, defendant has not submitted financial or other relevant data as to the “merits” of the support application — leave to submit such data having heretofore been granted by Justice Burke.

DETERMINATIONS

This court has authority to award “support” to a party separate and apart from a matrimonial action — such authority arising out of this court’s concurrent jurisdiction over any matter within the jurisdiction of the Family Court. (See Kagen v Kagen, 21 NY2d 532; Levy v Levy, 46 AD2d 876; NY Const, art VI, § 7, subd a; Besharov, Practice Commentary, McKinney’s Cons Laws of NY, Book [559]*55929A, Part 1, Judiciary — Court Acts, Supp, pp 54-55; Family Ct Act, §§ 411, 412, 434.)

Similarly, attendant to a “support proceeding” commenced in the Supreme Court, such court may grant “temporary support” pending a final determination of the action. (See Levy v Levy, supra; Family Ct Act, § 434.) However, it appears that when the Supreme Court exercises its constitutional jurisdiction to entertain a support proceeding, it is bound by the substantive and procedural rules set forth in the Family Court Act. (See Besharov, Practice Commentary, McKinney’s Cons Laws of NY, Book 29A, Part 1, Judiciary — Court Acts, Supp, pp 54-55.)

Thus, while this court may entertain a petition or “proceeding” for support in the nature of one made under the Family Court Act, the breadth of this court’s discretion upon such application is limited to that which, under the facts presented, would have been vested in the Family Court.

Assuming, arguendo, that the instant proceeding was commenced prior to the institution of the divorce action, which it was not, this court’s power to fix “temporary support” is, in such case, determined by section 434 of the Family Court Act, which provides as follows:

“§ 434. Temporary order of support

“Where the petitioner’s needs are so urgent as to require it, the court may make a temporary order for support pending a final determination.”

Thus, under section 434, this court may grant temporary “support” only when it has been demonstrated by petitioner that “petitioner’s needs are so urgent as to require it” (see Levy v Levy, supra) and then only where a plenary action for support has also been commenced. Here, upon the affidavit submitted, plaintiff wife has failed to demonstrate that her “needs are so urgent as to require it (temporary support)”.

Further, the instant “special proceeding” is not one in the nature of a petition for support, but rather, the sole and final relief sought herein is “temporary support”, and thus, this “proceeding” does not come within the terms of [560]*560section 434 of the Family Court Act.

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

Related

Kagen v. Kagen
236 N.E.2d 475 (New York Court of Appeals, 1968)
Levy v. Levy
46 A.D.2d 876 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1974)
Montes v. Montes
54 A.D.2d 627 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1976)
Lapiana v. Lapiana
67 A.D.2d 966 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1979)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
107 Misc. 2d 556, 435 N.Y.S.2d 623, 1980 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2902, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/oppenheimer-v-oppenheimer-nysupct-1980.