Bielecki v. Bielecki

• Decision Date: 03 May 2013
• Citation: 106 A.D.3d 1454,964 N.Y.S.2d 832,2013 N.Y. Slip Op. 03198
• Parties: Inez BIELECKI, Plaintiff–Respondent, v. Richard BIELECKI, Defendant–Appellant.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

106 A.D.3d 1454
964 N.Y.S.2d 832
2013 N.Y. Slip Op. 03198

Inez BIELECKI, Plaintiff–Respondent,
v.
Richard BIELECKI, Defendant–Appellant.

Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department, New York.

May 3, 2013.

Bennett, Difilippo & Kurtzhalts, LLP, East Aurora (David S. Whittemore of Counsel), for Defendant–Appellant.

Holly Baum, Buffalo (James P. Renda of Counsel), for Plaintiff–Respondent.

PRESENT: SMITH, J.P., FAHEY, SCONIERS, VALENTINO, AND WHALEN, JJ.

MEMORANDUM:

[106 A.D.3d 1454]In this post-matrimonial proceeding, defendant appeals from an order that granted plaintiff's motion seeking a money judgment for sums allegedly due to plaintiff as her share of defendant's pension benefits. The judgment of divorce, [106 A.D.3d 1455]entered in 1985, provided that plaintiff was entitled to her Majauskas share of defendant's pension “when said defendant starts to obtain his pension.” Defendant began receiving pension benefits in March 1991. Plaintiff, however, was unaware that defendant was receiving such benefits and she did not begin to receive her share until October 2005, when she obtained a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO). By notice of motion filed October 21, 2010, plaintiff sought her share of pension benefits received by defendant from the date of his retirement in March 1991 until October 2005, when plaintiff began prospectively receiving her share of such benefits pursuant to the QDRO.

Supreme Court erred in granting plaintiff's motion in its entirety. Plaintiff's

[964 N.Y.S.2d 833]

claim with respect to defendant's pension benefits is subject to the six-year statute of limitations set forth in CPLR 213(1) ( see Tauber v. Lebow, 65 N.Y.2d 596, 598, 493 N.Y.S.2d 1008, 483 N.E.2d 1140;Patricia A.M. v. Eugene W.M., 24 Misc.3d 1012, 1015, 885 N.Y.S.2d 178;see also Woronoff v. Woronoff, 70 A.D.3d 933, 934, 894 N.Y.S.2d 529,lv. denied14 N.Y.3d 713, 2010 WL 2301700). The statute began to run when defendant began receiving his pension in March 1991 ( see Duhamel v. Duhamel, 188 Misc.2d 754, 756, 729 N.Y.S.2d 601,affd.4 A.D.3d 739, 771 N.Y.S.2d 476;Patricia A.M., 24 Misc.3d at 1015, 885 N.Y.S.2d 178;see also Bayen v. Bayen, 81 A.D.3d 865, 866, 917 N.Y.S.2d 269). Because defendant's obligation to pay plaintiff her share of the pension was ongoing, the statute began to run anew with each missed payment ( see Patricia A.M., 24 Misc.3d at 1015–1016, 885 N.Y.S.2d 178;see generally Medalie v. Jacobson, 120 A.D.2d 652, 502 N.Y.S.2d 247). Thus,...