Rosenwasser v. Rosenwasser

117 Misc. 123
New York Supreme Court·Decided November 15, 1921·Published·Cited by 2 cases

Opinion

Benedict, J.

This cause is now before me on the settlement of the judgment. On the trial last June a decision was made by the court, with the practical consent of the defendant and on disputed evidence, awarding a decree of separation in favor of the wife, and ordering a reference to I. Maurice Wormser, as referee, to take proof as to the question of the defendant’s financial resources, and also to report to the court what amount is necessary to be allowed for the support of the plaintiff and the three minor children, the issue of the marriage.

It was impossible for the court on the trial to gain any satisfactory idea .as to the resources and income of the defendant on which to base intelligent action. The parties appeared before the referee, and after several months spent in a very painstaking investigation of the matter the referee has reached a conclusion which seems substantially correct. He was confronted on the plaintiff’s side with extravagant claims as to the defendant’s wealth and as to her and her daughters’ requirements. On the other hand, the defendant apparently attempted to conceal his real financial position. The referee has recommended allowances which, on the evidence referred to in his report, seem to be suitable and just to both parties. He has discharged a very difficult duty with discretion and ability, and I am disposed on his report and the elaborate briefs submitted by both counsel to adopt his findings in substance.

The referee began his hearings on June thirteenth, and continued them at intervals until September 28, 1921. He has submitted an exhaustive report, accompanied by eleven hundred pages of minutes of the hearings before him. Much time was necessarily occupied on the reference in the effort to get at the truth concerning the resources of. the defendant. Two expert [125] accountants were employed, one by each party, who reached results, as shown by their reports, more than $114,000 apart as to resources. The plaintiff’s expert showed that the defendant’s income had averaged yearly from 1916 to 1920 almost $50,000. The referee, however, only found that it was during that period well in excess of $25,000,” and that his present income is from $17,000 to $20,000 per annum.

On all the evidence before him the learned referee recommended a yearly allowance of $8,400 for the support of the wife and the three daughters of the marriage. This was arrived at as follows, viz., for rent of an apartment, in case the plaintiff is not permitted to continue to occupy the defendant’s residence with her children, $1,500. For the support of the plaintiff, $2,500; for the support of the eldest daughter, who is sickly, $2,000, and for the support of each of the two younger daughters, $1,200 a year. Both parties have expressed some dissatisfaction with these recommendations and have submitted quite elaborate briefs in support of their respective positions.

As to the plaintiff’s claim that the allowance of the sum recommended by the referee is inadequate, I do not agree. I shall not now adopt her suggestion that the defendant be required to give security for his obedience to the directions which the court shall give in respect of the payments to be ordered. I will not anticipate a failure or refusal on the defendant’s part to comply with the judgment. He is a man of considerable property and of good standing in the business community. IE in the future his business shall improve so that his income will be materially' increased, the judgment may be modified in the manner provided in section 1170 of the Civil Practice Act, ■after leave granted. This is as far as I am, as at present advised, inclined to go.

[126] The learned counsel for the defendant- does not very seriously object to the sums which the referee has recommended for the support of the plaintiff and her -children, but he strongly objects to those amounts being increased as the plaintiff requests. The court does not understand, as defendant’s counsel assumes, that if it should conclude not to adopt the recommendations as made it would be incumbent on it to examine the entire testimony and the exhibits anew in order to see whether the facts found by the referee were supported by the evidence. I will, however, assume that they are and shall adopt them as the basis for fixing the amount which should be allowed. I shall award the sum of $2,500 yearly to the plaintiff for her own support, beginning as of June 6, 1921, the date when the cause was heard and decided in plaintiff’s favor. See McCarthy v. McCarthy, 143 N. Y. 235, 240. I shall award for the maintenance of the daughter Ruth, seventeen years of age, the sum of $2,000 yearly, payable to her mother for the daughter’s support and education, beginning as of the date of the judgment herein and continuing until she attains her majority. I shall award for the maintenance of each of the daughters, Henrietta, fifteen years of age, and Rose, eleven years of age, the sum of $1,200 yearly, payable to their mother for their support and education, beginning as of the date of the judgment and continuing until they respectively attain their majorities. These payments will be made in monthly installments, except that those already accrued will be made in one sum, payable in ten days after -entry of the judgment. No 'alimony pendente iite has been allowed in the present ease, ,and I do not understand that the defendant has given the plaintiff any money or furnished her with any clothing since the fall of 1919, although he has paid the household expenses and clothed the children.

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Rosenwasser v. Rosenwasser, 117 Misc. 123 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1921).

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