Opinion
02-11-2015
In the Matter of Jennifer L. BURKE, respondent, v. Stephen ERLE, appellant.
Del Atwell, East Hampton, N.Y., for appellant.
Del Atwell, East Hampton, N.Y., for appellant.
Opinion Appeals from two orders of the Family Court, Dutchess County (Valentino T. Sammarco, J.), both entered July 25, 2013. The first order, in effect, granted the petitioner's motion to hold Stephen Erle in contempt of so much of a prior order as directed him to pay an attorney's fee to the petitioner. The second order directed the entry of a money judgment in favor of the petitioner and against Stephen Erle in the principal sum of $4,230.
ORDERED that the orders are affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
The petitioner proved by clear and convincing evidence (1) that a lawful order of the court, clearly expressing an unequivocal mandate, was in effect, (2) that the appellant disobeyed the order with knowledge of its terms, and (3) that the petitioner was prejudiced by the offending conduct (see El–Dehdan v. El–Dehdan, 114 A.D.3d 4, 16–17, 978 N.Y.S.2d 239 ; Bennet v. Liberty Lines Tr., Inc., 106 A.D.3d 1038, 1040, 967 N.Y.S.2d 390 ; Bernard–Cadet v. Gobin, 94 A.D.3d 1030,1031, 943 N.Y.S.2d 164 ). Accordingly, the Supreme Court properly granted the petitioner's motion to hold the appellant in contempt.
The appellant's remaining contentions are unpreserved for appellate review, waived, or without merit.
DILLON, J.P., LEVENTHAL, CHAMBERS and ROMAN, JJ., concur.