Matter of Michael M. v. Makiko M., 2017 NY Slip Op 5645 (N.Y. App. Div. 2017). · Go Syfert
Matter of Michael M. v. Makiko M., 2017 NY Slip Op 5645 (N.Y. App. Div. 2017). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
11 citation events (11 in the last 25 years) across 1 distinct court.
Strongest positive: Belmonte v. Belmonte (nyappdiv, 2022-12-01)
Top citers, strongest first. 9 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Belmonte v. Belmonte
N.Y. App. Div. · 2022 · confidence medium
Under these circumstances, and deferring to the court's credibility determinations, we find that the court did not abuse its discretion when it found that the husband willfully violated the February 2021 order or when it found the husband in contempt ( see Matter of Michael M. v Makiko M. , 152 AD3d 909, 910 [3d Dept 2017]; Somerville v Somerville , 26 AD3d 647, 648 [3d Dept 2006], lv dismissed 7 NY3d 859 [2006]; compare Matter of Tamika B. v Pamela C. , 187 AD3d at 1338).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matter of Harley K. v. Brittany J.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2020 · confidence medium
This Court will accord deference to Family Court's credibility findings, and the determination of whether to hold a party in contempt will generally not be disturbed absent an abuse of discretion ( see Matter of Jemar H. v Nevada I. , 182 AD3d 805, 808 [2020]; Matter of Carl KK. v Michelle JJ. , 175 AD3d at 1628; Matter of Michael M. v Makiko M. , 152 AD3d 909, 910 [2017]; Matter of Wesko v Hollenbeck , 149 AD3d at 1176 ).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matter of Aaron K v. Laurie K.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2020 · confidence medium
We will not disturb Family Court's determination on a violation petition absent an abuse of discretion ( see Matter of Jemar H. v Nevada I. , 182 AD3d 805, 808 [2020]; Matter of Carl KK. v Michelle JJ. , 175 AD3d at 1628; Matter of Michael M. v Makiko M. , 152 AD3d 909, 910 [2017]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matter of Tamika B. v. Pamela C.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2020 · confidence medium
We will not disturb Family Court's determination on a violation petition absent an abuse of discretion ( see Matter of Jemar H. v Nevada I. , 182 AD3d 805, 808 [2020]; Matter of Carl KK. v Michelle JJ. , 175 AD3d at 1628; Matter of Michael M. v Makiko M. , 152 AD3d 909, 910 [2017]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matter of Nilesha RR. (Loretta RR.)
N.Y. App. Div. · 2019 · confidence medium
Therefore, all of the elements establishing civil contempt have not been established and that portion of Family Court's order must be reversed ( compare Matter of Kieran XX. [Kayla ZZ.] , 154 AD3d 1094, 1096-1097 [2017]; Matter of Michael M. v Makiko M., 152 AD3d 909, 910 [2017]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matter of Romero v. Guzman
N.Y. App. Div. · 2018 · confidence medium
The mother's contention that Family Court abused its discretion in finding her to be in willful violation of the September 2012 order is without merit inasmuch as the record provides clear and convincing evidence that she was aware that "there was a lawful court order in effect that clearly expressed an unequivocal mandate" ( Matter of Paul A. v Shaundell LL. , 117 AD3d 1346, 1347-1348 [2014], lv dismissed and denied 24 NY3d 937 [2014]), yet she failed to abide by the designated drop-off and pick-up points and to drop the child off for visitation on certain occasions, impairing the father's ab…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Matter of XX. (Kayla ZZ.) (2×)
N.Y. App. Div. · 2017 · confidence medium
Thus, according deference to Family Court’s credibility determinations (see Matter of Thomas M. [Susan M.], 81 AD3d at 1109), we conclude that there was a preponderance of evidence in the record to support the finding that the mother neglected Kieran. 2 Turning to the violation petition, “[t]o sustain a finding of civil contempt based on a willful violation of a court order, ‘a petitioner must show by clear and convincing evidence that (1) Family Court issued a valid, clear and explicit order, (2) the party alleged to have violated the order actually knew the conditions of that order, an…
discussed Cited "see" Matter of Timothy RR. v. Peggy SS.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2022 · signal: see · confidence high
"In reviewing Family Court's determination on a violation petition, we defer to any credibility assessments made, and we will not disturb the court's decision absent an abuse of discretion" ( Matter of Carl KK. v Michelle JJ. , 175 AD3d at 1628 [citations omitted]; see Matter of Michael M. v Makiko M. , 152 AD3d 909, 909-910 [2017]).
discussed Cited "see" Matter of Timothy RR. v. Peggy SS.
N.Y. App. Div. · 2022 · signal: see · confidence high
"In reviewing Family Court's determination on a violation petition, we defer to any credibility assessments made, and we will not disturb the court's decision absent an abuse of discretion" ( Matter of Carl KK. v Michelle JJ. , 175 AD3d at 1628 [citations omitted]; see Matter of Michael M. v Makiko M. , 152 AD3d 909, 909-910 [2017]).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
In the Matter of Michael M., Respondent,
v.
Makiko M., Appellant
523526.
Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
Jul 13, 2017.
2017 NY Slip Op 5645
Lynch, Garry, Egan, Mulvey, Aarons.
Cited by 9 opinions  |  Published
Lynch, J.

Appeal from an order of the Family Court of Ulster County (McGinty, J.), entered June 16, 2016, which granted petitioner’s application, in a proceeding pursuant to Family Ct Act article 6, for an award of counsel fees.

Petitioner (hereinafter the father) and respondent (hereinafter the mother) are the parents of a child born in 2008. In January 2013, Family Court issued an order granting parenting time to the father on each Father’s Day from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In June 2015, the mother did not deliver the child to the father at 9:00 a.m. on Father’s Day. The father commenced this proceeding seeking to hold the mother in contempt of the January 2013 order and for counsel fees. Family Court granted the petition and awarded counsel fees in the amount of $912.50. The mother now appeals.

To sustain a finding of civil contempt based on a willful violation of a court order, “a petitioner must show by clear and convincing evidence that (1) Family Court issued a valid, clear and explicit order, (2) the party alleged to have violated the order actually knew the conditions of that order, and (3) the alleged violation prejudiced some right of the petitioner” (Matter of Khan v Khan, 140 AD3d 1252, 1253-1254 [2016] [internal quotation marks and citation omitted]; see Matter of Paul A. v Shaundell LL., 117 AD3d 1346, 1347 [2014], lv dismissed and denied 24 NY3d 937 [2014]). “This Court will apply deference to Family Court’s credibility determinations, and the determination of whether or not to hold a party in contempt will not be disturbed absent an abuse of discretion” (Matter of Wesko v [*910] Hollenbeck, 149 AD3d 1175, 1176 [2017] [citations omitted]). Where, as here, the contemptuous conduct does not cause actual loss or injury, the court is permitted to impose a fine “not exceeding the amount of the complainant’s costs and expenses, and [$250] in addition thereto” (Judiciary Law § 773; accord Matter of Khan v Khan, 140 AD3d at 1255; Matter of Lembo v Mayendia-Valdes, 293 AD2d 789, 790 [2002]).

Here, the mother admitted that she was aware of the January 2013 order but testified that, because she relied on a prior version of the order, she believed that the father’s parenting time did not begin until 3:00 p.m. on Father’s Day. Further, the mother testified that once she realized she made the mistake, she apologized and offered to allow the father to have additional parenting time. The father testified that he was able to have parenting time with the child from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Father’s Day and disputed the mother’s claim that she allowed him extra parenting time to make up for the lost time. Given the mother’s concessions and deferring to Family Court’s credibility determinations, we discern no abuse of discretion in its determination that the mother willfully violated the January 2013 order (see Matter of Khan v Khan, 140 AD3d at 1254; Matter of Paul A. v Shaundell LL., 117 AD3d at 1348).

The mother also contends that Family Court should not have awarded counsel fees without a hearing. At the fact-finding hearing, however, the mother’s counsel asked the court to decide the issue “on papers with the [p]arties submitting [flinancial [a]ffidavit[s]” and did not object when the court confirmed that the parties wanted to “submit on the [counsel] fee question” and that the court would only “take testimony with respect to mitigation.” Accordingly, the parties waived a hearing on the counsel fees and Family Court properly decided the issue on the papers submitted (see He v Realty USA, 150 AD3d 1418, 1419-1420 [2017]; Pfister v Pfister, 146 AD3d 1135, 1141 [2017]). Contrary to the mother’s claim, we find that her financial disclosure affidavit, W-2 form and tax return provided ample factual basis for the court’s determination.

Garry, J.P., Egan Jr., Mulvey and Aarons, JJ., concur.

Ordered that the order is affirmed, without costs.