Opinion
2014-01-22
In the Matter of Elizabeth GRILL, respondent, v. Christian GENITRINI, appellant.
William Martin, White Plains, N.Y., for appellant. Roberta Michael, Elmsford, N.Y., for respondent.
William Martin, White Plains, N.Y., for appellant. Roberta Michael, Elmsford, N.Y., for respondent.
Steven P. Kmetz, White Plains, N.Y., attorney for the child.
In related visitation proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 6, the father appeals from so much of an order of the Family Court, Westchester County (Greenwald, J.), entered December 17, 2012, as, in effect, granted the mother's petition to enforce the parties' stipulation of settlement dated June 8, 2010, to the extent of directing that the subject child “shall attend Hebrew School.”
ORDERED that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, without costs or disbursements.
A stipulation of settlement is a contract “subject to principles of contract interpretation” (Rainbow v. Swisher, 72 N.Y.2d 106, 109, 531 N.Y.S.2d 775, 527 N.E.2d 258; see Solomon v. Solomon, 74 A.D.3d 784, 901 N.Y.S.2d 550; DeWitt v. DeWitt, 62 A.D.3d 744, 745, 879 N.Y.S.2d 516). “ ‘[W]hen interpreting a contract, the court should arrive at a construction which will give fair meaning to all of the language employed by the parties to reach a practical interpretation of the expressions of the parties so that their reasonable expectations will be realized’ ” (Fetner v. Fetner, 293 A.D.2d 645, 645, 741 N.Y.S.2d 256, quoting Joseph v. Creek & Pines, 217 A.D.2d 534, 535, 629 N.Y.S.2d 75; see Carlin v. Carlin, 108 A.D.3d 493, 495, 969 N.Y.S.2d 115; Bayen v. Bayen, 81 A.D.3d 865, 866, 917 N.Y.S.2d 269; Herzfeld v. Herzfeld, 50 A.D.3d 851, 857 N.Y.S.2d 170).
Here, the parties' stipulation of settlement dated June 8, 2010, provided, inter alia, that the children would be raised in the Jewish faith, including, without limitation, attending religious school. While the stipulation of settlement also stated that “[n]either parent shall enroll the [c]hildren in an Activity during the other parent's scheduled access time without the consent of the other parent,” that provision related to “ Extracurricular Activities/Summer Camp.” In interpreting the stipulation of settlement in a manner so as to give full meaning and effect to its material terms ( see Carlin v. Carlin, 108 A.D.3d at 495, 969 N.Y.S.2d 115; Lobacz v. Lobacz, 72 A.D.3d 653, 654–655, 897 N.Y.S.2d 516), contrary to the father's contention, the subject child's attendance at religious school cannot be considered an “Activity” within the meaning of the stipulation of settlement. Accordingly, the Family Court, in effect, properly granted the mother's petition for enforcement of the parties' stipulation of settlement to the extent of directing that the subject child “shall attend Hebrew School.” RIVERA, J.P., DICKERSON, LEVENTHAL and HALL, JJ., concur.