Opinion
October 4, 1988
Appeal from the Supreme Court, New York County (Walter M. Schackman, J.).
Although reasonable differences of opinion are possible with regard to one or another of the IAS court's determinations in this complex marital litigation, we are satisfied, with one exception, that the various determinations represent appropriate exercises of discretion on the basis of the facts presented and in accordance with the applicable rules of law. The single exception relates to the court's limiting plaintiff's maintenance award to $1,000 per week for one year and $500 per week for one additional year.
In light of the balance of circumstances disclosed by the record — the standard of living established by the parties during the marriage, the defendant husband's very large yearly income totaling almost $3 million a year during the year in which the case was tried, the presently unemployed status of the plaintiff, and the uncertainty as to when the plaintiff will be able to secure employment providing her with meaningful income — the award seems to us inadequate. Accordingly, we are modifying that aspect of the judgment below to provide for maintenance of the plaintiff of $3,000 per week for the first year, $2,500 per week for the second and third years, and $2,000 per week for the fourth and final year.
Concur — Sandler, J.P., Sullivan, Rosenberger, Ellerin and Wallach, JJ.