Gutman v. Gutman

Decision Date12 January 1976
Citation377 N.Y.S.2d 641,51 A.D.2d 535
PartiesMildred GUTMAN, Appellant, v. Maurice GUTMAN, Respondent.
CourtNew York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

Arnold B. Firestone, Hauppauge, for appellant.

George C. Furman, Patchogue (John E. Dolan, Jr., Patchogue, of counsel), for respondent.

Before HOPKINS, Acting P.J., and MARTUSCELLO, MARGETT, CHRIST and SHAPIRO, JJ.

MEMORANDUM BY THE COURT.

In an action to recover a sum of money due and owing under a separation agreement, the plaintiff wife appeals from an order of the Supreme Court, Suffolk County, dated February 3, 1975, which, Inter alia, (1) granted the branch of defendant's motion which was for a bill of particulars to the extent of directing plaintiff to furnish a bill of particulars stating how she computes the amount due her, and (2) failed to grant her cross motion (a) to strike the answer and (b) for summary judgment.

Order reversed, with $50 costs and disbursements, plaintiff's motion for summary judgment for the relief demanded in the complaint, plus interest, granted, and defendant's motion denied.

Pursuant to the terms of a separation agreement executed on February 7, 1973, defendant, Inter alia, was to pay the plaintiff $100 per week for her support and maintenance so long as the parties had two children under the age of 21 years. Plaintiff's action is based upon defendant's failure to pay her the amounts due under this agreement. Defendant's answer consists of a general denial of the material allegations of the complaint. In his affidavit in opposition to plaintiff's cross motion to strike his answer and for summary judgment, defendant interposed a purported defense based upon his wife's cohabitation with another man to the detriment of the children's welfare. More specifically, his argument is based upon paragraph 7(d) of the agreement which, in relevant part, provides that the parties 'mutually agree that if either of them has knowledge of any illness or accident or other circumstances seriously affecting the health or welfare of the children, the Husband or the Wife, as the case may be, will promptly notify the other of such circumstances.' Defendant argues that plaintiff's failure to advise him of her cohabitation with another man violates the above-quoted provision and is a substantial breach of the agreement, thereby relieving him of his obligation to make support payments.

We disagree. It is well settled that a wife's adultery or similar misconduct is no...

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3 cases
  • Stasiak v. Forlenza
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division
    • 24 d2 Maio d2 2011
    ...208; Runfola v. Cavagnaro, 78 A.D.3d 1035, 910 N.Y.S.2d 910; Zarembka v. Zarembka, 81 A.D.2d 742, 438 N.Y.S.2d 420; Gutman v. Gutman, 51 A.D.2d 535, 536, 377 N.Y.S.2d 641). Further, the amount awarded in the judgment entered July 8, 2009, was based on the assumption that the husband would b......
  • Litwack v. Litwack
    • United States
    • Pennsylvania Superior Court
    • 7 d5 Agosto d5 1981
    ... ... This court cannot read ... into the agreement a provision which the parties chose not to ... insert. See: Gutman v. Gutman, 51 A.D.2d 535, 377 ... N.Y.S.2d 641 (1976); Maloy v. Maloy, 362 So.2d 484 ... (Fla.App.1978) ... Our decision ... does not ... ...
  • Maloy v. Maloy
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • 20 d3 Setembro d3 1978
    ...the agreement. We will not supply that limitation for him. See Walter v. Walter, 37 Del.Ch. 35, 136 A.2d 202 (1957); Gutman v. Gutman, 51 A.D.2d 535, 377 N.Y.S.2d 641 (1976); Wilson v. Atwood, 63 App.D.C. 80, 69 F.2d 398 (1934); 30 C.J. 1065 (authorities collected). 1 The record in this cas......

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