Simmons v. Simmons

91 A.D.3d 960, 937 N.Y.2d 619

Opinion

The Family Court properly granted that branch of the father’s motion which was to dismiss the mother’s petition to modify a prior order of child support nunc pro tunc on the ground of newly discovered evidence (see Family Ct Act § 451 [1]). On a prior appeal, this Court, among other things, affirmed an order of the Family Court denying the mother’s objections to an order which denied her motion to modify the prior support order (see Matter of Simmons v Simmons, 71 AD3d 775 [2010]). The issues raised on the prior motion were identical to the issues raised in the instant petition. The mother did not allege a change in circumstances as of the date of the prior determination, and she had a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue. Accordingly, the mother was collaterally estopped from again raising the issue of “newly discovered evidence” before the Family Court (see Buechel v Bain, 97 NY2d 295, 303-304 [2001], cert denied 535 US 1096 [2002]; Matter of Csorba v Renzi, 77 AD3d 660 [2010]; Westchester County Correction Officers Benevolent Assn., Inc. v County of Westchester, 65 AD3d 1226, 1227 [2009]). Balkin, J.E, Leventhal, Belen and Roman, JJ., concur.