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Hejna v. Reilly

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Third Department
Mar 13, 1997
237 A.D.2d 809 (N.Y. App. Div. 1997)

Opinion

March 13, 1997.

White, J. Appeal from an order of the Supreme Court (Teresi, J.), entered July 1, 1996 in Albany County, which denied defendant's motion to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a cause of action.

Before: Cardona, P.J., Mercure, Casey and Carpinello, JJ.


We affirm Supreme Court's denial of defendant's CPLR 3211 (a) (7) motion to dismiss plaintiffs complaint in this divorce action based upon cruel and inhuman treatment. On such a motion, the court's sole inquiry is whether the facts alleged in the complaint fit within any cognizable legal theory, not whether there is evidentiary support for the complaint ( see, Leon v Martinez, 84 NY2d 83, 87-88; Pietrosanto v NYNEX Corp., 195 AD2d 843, 844). A complaint seeking a divorce on the ground of cruel and inhuman treatment meets this test if it alleges a course of conduct by the defendant spouse which is harmful to the physical or mental health of the plaintiff and makes cohabitation unsafe or improper ( see, Haydock v Haydock, 222 AD2d 554, 555).

Plaintiff's complaint fits within these parameters as it alleges that defendant has denigrated her, has refused to have marital relations for an extended period, has committed an act of physical abuse, refuses to communicate with plaintiff, is excessively argumentative with plaintiff and the children, and has withheld financial assistance from plaintiff, all of which has endangered plaintiff's physical and mental well-being thereby rendering it unsafe or improper for her to cohabit with defendant ( see, Stoothoff v Stoothoff, 226 AD2d 209). Thus, it was properly sustained.

Ordered that the order is affirmed, with costs.


Summaries of

Hejna v. Reilly

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Third Department
Mar 13, 1997
237 A.D.2d 809 (N.Y. App. Div. 1997)
Case details for

Hejna v. Reilly

Case Details

Full title:CAROLYN I. HEJNA, Respondent, v. ANDREW A. REILLY, Appellant

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Third Department

Date published: Mar 13, 1997

Citations

237 A.D.2d 809 (N.Y. App. Div. 1997)
655 N.Y.S.2d 125

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