Collins v. Telcoa International Corp. — 86 A.D.3d 549

Majority

p. 549

Joseph Collins, Appellant, v Telcoa International Corp. et al., Respondents, et al., Defendants. Martin P. Unger et al., Nonparty Respondents.

[927 NYS2d 151]

Where, as here, a party seeks an adjudication of civil contempt based upon a violation of a court order, he or she must establish a willful and deliberate violation of a lawful court order expressing a clear and unequivocal mandate (see Judiciary Law § 753; McCain v Dinkins, 84 NY2d 216 , 226 [1994]; Matter of Mc

p. 550

Cormick v Axelrod, 59 NY2d 574 , 583 [1983]; Delijani v Delijani, 73 AD3d 972 , 973 [2010]; Rupp-Elmasri v Elmasri, 305 AD2d 394 , 395 [2003]). The burden of proof is on the party seeking the contempt adjudication, and the facts constituting the basis of the contempt must be proved by clear and convincing evidence (see Miller v Miller, 61 AD3d 651 , 652 [2009]; Denaro v Rosalia, 50 AD3d 727 [2008]; Rienzi v Rienzi, 23 AD3d 447 , 448 [2005]; Vujovic v Vujouic, 16 AD3d 490 , 491 [2005]). The question of whether to then grant a civil contempt motion and, if so, the fixing of the appropriate remedy, is addressed to the sound discretion of the motion court upon consideration of the surrounding circumstances (see Matter of Philie v Singer, 79 AD3d 1041 , 1042 [2010]; Bais Yoel Ohel Feige v Congregation Yetev Lev D’Satmar of Kiryas Joel, Inc., 78 AD3d 626 [2010]; Educational Reading Aids Corp. v Young, 175 AD2d 152 [1991]; Matter of Storm, 28 AD2d 290 [1967]).

Contrary to the plaintiffs contention, he failed to sustain his burden. Given the differences between the terms of the court orders at issue and of the stipulation entered into by the parties, the Supreme Court properly determined that the respondents did not willfully violate a clear and unequivocal mandate of the court (see generally Quick v ABS Realty Corp., 13 AD3d 1021 , 1022 [2004]; Muwwakkil v Metropolitan Suburban Bus Auth., 289 AD2d 309 [2001]).

In view of the foregoing, we need not reach the parties’ remaining contentions. Mastro, J.P., Florio, Belen and Chambers, JJ., concur.

Cases cited

McCain v. Dinkins 84 NY2d 216 N.Y. 1994-05-10 at 226 p. 549
McCormick v. Axelrod 59 NY2d 574 N.Y. 1983-07-07 at 583 p. 550
Delijani v. Delijani 73 AD3d 972 N.Y. App. Div. 2010-05-18 at 973 p. 550
Rupp-Elmasri v. Elmasri 305 AD2d 394 N.Y. App. Div. 2003-05-05 at 395 p. 550
Miller v. Miller 61 AD3d 651 N.Y. App. Div. 2009-04-07 at 652 p. 550
Vujovic v. Vujovic 16 AD3d 490 N.Y. App. Div. 2005-03-14 at 491 p. 550
Philie v. Singer 79 AD3d 1041 N.Y. App. Div. 2010-12-21 at 1042 p. 550
Bais Yoel Ohel Feige v. Congregation Yetev Lev D'Satmar of Kiryas Joel, Inc. 78 AD3d 626 N.Y. App. Div. 2010-11-03 p. 550
Educational Reading Aids Corp. v. Young 175 AD2d 152 N.Y. App. Div. 1991-07-08 p. 550
In re Hildreth 28 AD2d 290 N.Y. App. Div. 1967-11-28 p. 550
Quick v. ABS Realty Corp. 13 AD3d 1021 N.Y. App. Div. 2004-12-30 at 1022 p. 550

Statutes and regulations cited

Judiciary Law p. 549