Tausik v. Tausik

38 Misc. 2d 24, 235 N.Y.S.2d 776, 1962 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2134
New York Supreme Court·Decided December 11, 1962·Published·Cited by 1 cases

Opinion

Matthew M. Levy, J.

In my earlier opinion in these cases, I said — in respect of certain household furniture and furnishings purchased by the plaintiff husband — “ [n] othing in the record warrants the conclusion, as claimed by the defendant [wife], that plaintiff made a gift to her of the property ”, and, citing Plohn v. Plohn, 1 A D 2d 824 (which modified and affirmed the trial court in 206 Misc. 969), that the law is now clear, even here, that, absent affirmative proof of a different intent, household property obtained [by either spouse] for the general use, comfort and benefit of both husband and wife, is deemed to be the property of both of them ”, and that, since I found that “ [n]o credible evidence has been presented in the instant case that the parties had any specific intent as to the ownership of such household property ”, I held “ that the defendant, by virtue of her status as the plaintiff’s wife, is entitled to share equally with him in the use and enjoyment of the household furniture and furnishings And I directed that [i]f the parties are unable to arrive at a satisfactory and amicable division of such properties, the judgment to be submitted herein may provide for their sale and an equal division between the parties of the proceeds thereof.” (Tausik v. Tausik, 38 Misc 2d 11, 20.)

Since the rendition of my opinion, and after my passing upon the findings of fact and conclusions of law proposed by the respective parties — but before the signing of decisions or judgments therein — I held a conference with counsel for the purpose of endeavoring to obtain a consensual division of the household furniture and furnishings, as I had suggested in my opinion. In the meanwhile, Rosenstiel v. Rosenstiel was decided by the Appellate Division (17 A D 2d 106), and, at the conference, I brought that case to the attention of counsel.

I recognize that the Appellate Division, in its recent opinion, expressed views which may be deemed to be in disagreement with my determination in the cases at bar. But it is first worthy of note that Bosenstiel was solely a replevin action and that it arose on the pleadings alone, while the instant cases involved a separation action, an action to recover damages including counterclaims therefor, and a suit contesting the title to and the right to the use of the property, and that they were determined jointly after trial. It is also important to point out that the Appellate Division said, in the Bosenstiel opinion, that the issue may always be tendered of the wife’s original title or one [26]*26based on a gift made expressly or tacitly, or of an intentional abandonment of the property by the husband (see 15 N. Y. Jur., Domestic Relations, §§ 221, 222). And, too, defendant wife has remedies based on the duty to support which are appropriate in a matrimonial action. ’’

My efforts to achieve the amicable disposition suggested were fruitless, but in the light of the Rosenstiel decision the defendants have sought leave to present further and substitute findings and conclusions. No counter-proposed findings and conclusions were submitted by the plaintiff and no objection (general or specific) has been noted by the plaintiff to those now submitted by the defendants.

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Tausik v. Tausik, 38 Misc. 2d 24, 235 N.Y.S.2d 776, 1962 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2134 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1962).

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