Opinion
306 CA 17–01740
04-27-2018
Sarah E. LAVECK, Plaintiff–Appellant, v. Chad G. LAVECK, Defendant–Respondent.
KELLY WHITE DONOFRIO LLP, ROCHESTER (DONALD A. WHITE OF COUNSEL), FOR PLAINTIFF–APPELLANT. UNDERBERG & KESSLER LLP, ROCHESTER (RONALD G. HULL OF COUNSEL), FOR DEFENDANT–RESPONDENT. EDWARD W. RILEY, BROCKPORT, ATTORNEY FOR THE CHILDREN.
KELLY WHITE DONOFRIO LLP, ROCHESTER (DONALD A. WHITE OF COUNSEL), FOR PLAINTIFF–APPELLANT.
UNDERBERG & KESSLER LLP, ROCHESTER (RONALD G. HULL OF COUNSEL), FOR DEFENDANT–RESPONDENT.
EDWARD W. RILEY, BROCKPORT, ATTORNEY FOR THE CHILDREN.
PRESENT: WHALEN, P.J., PERADOTTO, LINDLEY, CURRAN, AND TROUTMAN, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Memorandum:
In this postjudgment matrimonial proceeding, plaintiff mother moved for an order directing, inter alia, that the parties' parenting schedule, as established by their property settlement and separation agreement (Agreement), which was incorporated but not merged into the judgment of divorce, be modified by awarding the mother primary physical residence of the children. Contrary to the mother's contention, although the Agreement provided for an annual review of the parties' parenting schedule, it did not provide for an annual review of the children's primary physical residence. We thus conclude that Supreme Court properly denied that part of the mother's motion seeking to modify the children's primary physical residence upon determining that the mother had failed to establish the requisite significant change in circumstances.
"It is well established that a separation agreement that is incorporated but not merged into a judgment of divorce ‘is a contract subject to the principles of contract construction and interpretation’ " ( Anderson v. Anderson, 120 A.D.3d 1559, 1560, 993 N.Y.S.2d 220 [4th Dept. 2014], lv denied 24 N.Y.3d 913, 2015 WL 144944 [2015], quoting Matter of Meccico v. Meccico, 76 N.Y.2d 822, 823–824, 559 N.Y.S.2d 974, 559 N.E.2d 668 [1990], rearg. denied 76 N.Y.2d 889, 561 N.Y.S.2d 551, 562 N.E.2d 876 [1990] ). " ‘[A] written agreement that is complete, clear and unambiguous on its face must be enforced according to the plain meaning of its terms,’ ... [and] courts may consider extrinsic or parol evidence of the parties' intent only if the contract is ambiguous" ( Colella v. Colella, 129 A.D.3d 1650, 1651, 12 N.Y.S.3d 459 [4th Dept. 2015], quoting Greenfield v. Philles Records, Inc., 98 N.Y.2d 562, 569, 750 N.Y.S.2d 565, 780 N.E.2d 166 [2002] ; see Sears v. Sears, 138 A.D.3d 1401, 1401, 30 N.Y.S.3d 770 [4th Dept. 2016] ). "Whether an agreement is ambiguous is a question of law for the court to resolve ... In making that determination, the proper inquiry is ‘whether the agreement on its face is reasonably susceptible of more than one interpretation’ " ( Roche v. Lorenzo–Roche, 149 A.D.3d 1513, 1514, 52 N.Y.S.3d 778 [4th Dept. 2017], quoting Chimart Assoc. v. Paul, 66 N.Y.2d 570, 573, 498 N.Y.S.2d 344, 489 N.E.2d 231 [1986] ; see Colella, 129 A.D.3d at 1651, 12 N.Y.S.3d 459 ).
We conclude that the Agreement is unambiguous and does not provide for an annual review of the children's primary physical residence. In pertinent part, the Agreement provides that "[p]rimary physical residence of the children shall be with the Father and the parties shall divide the time with the children as set forth on Schedule A . Commencing August 2016 and each August thereafter, the parties shall meet and determine the residency schedule for the next 12 months, based upon the circumstances of the children and parents at the time" (emphasis added). That provision clearly and unambiguously awards defendant father primary physical residence and thereafter discusses how the parties will divide their time with the children. The division of time is to be set by a residency "schedule," and that "schedule" is subject to annual modification based on the children's and parents' circumstances at that time. That provision does not provide for or permit annual modification of the children's primary physical residence. As a result, any change to the children's primary physical residence is based on standard rules of modification of custody and requires the mother, who is seeking to change an existing custody arrangement based upon stipulation, first to establish a significant change in circumstances "since the time of the stipulation" ( Matter of Hight v. Hight, 19 A.D.3d 1159, 1160, 796 N.Y.S.2d 494 [4th Dept. 2005] [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Matter of Aronica v. Aronica, 151 A.D.3d 1605, 1605, 56 N.Y.S.3d 701 [4th Dept. 2017] ). Here, the mother failed to demonstrate the requisite change in circumstances warranting an inquiry into whether the best interests of the children would be served by a modification of the existing custody arrangement (see Gizzi v. Gizzi, 136 A.D.3d 1405, 1406, 24 N.Y.S.3d 839 [4th Dept. 2016] ).
The mother additionally contends that the court erred in failing to hold a hearing before ordering a particular residency schedule for the period "through August 2017." Inasmuch as those provisions of the court's order have expired by their terms and have been superseded by the residency schedule established for the period from August 2017 through August 2018, the mother's contention is moot, and the mother raises no issue that falls within the exception to the mootness doctrine (see generally Matter of Hearst Corp. v. Clyne, 50 N.Y.2d 707, 714–715, 431 N.Y.S.2d 400, 409 N.E.2d 876 [1980] ).
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.