Majority
It was not an improvident exercise of discretion to award the defendant interim counsel fees without a showing of need (see, DeCabrera v Cabrera-Rosete, 70 NY2d 879 ; Anonymous v Anonymous, 213 AD2d 183 ). The defendant was not required to exhaust her own capital in order to qualify for an interim counsel fee award (see, Lieberman v Lieberman, 187 AD2d 567 ; Cole v Cole, 182 AD2d 738 ). Given the financial circumstances of the parties, the award of counsel fees was a proper exercise of the Supreme Court’s discretion (see, Ljutic v Ljutic, 216 AD2d 274 ; Roach v Roach, 193 AD2d 660 ). Miller, J. P., Copertino, Santucci and Altman, JJ., concur.
Cases cited
- Kristiansen v. Kristiansen 144 AD2d 441 at 442 p. 484
- DeCabrera v. Cabrera-Rosete 70 NY2d 879 p. 484
- Lieberman v. Lieberman 187 AD2d 567 p. 484
- Fields v. Casse 182 AD2d 738 p. 484
- Ljutic v. Ljutic 216 AD2d 274 p. 484
- Roach v. Roach 193 AD2d 660 p. 484