Opinion
August 15, 1994
Appeal from the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Prudenti, J.).
Ordered that the judgment is affirmed insofar as appealed from, with costs.
Contrary to the husband's contentions, it was not an improvident exercise of discretion for the trial court to rely upon the wife's expert's opinion regarding the value of the family business, a Lemon Tree beauty salon franchise. The evaluation of the credibility of witnesses and quality of proof can best be made by the trial court, which has direct access to the parties, and appellate courts afford such determinations great weight (see, Northern Westchester Professional Park Assocs. v. Town of Bedford, 60 N.Y.2d 492; Monette v. Monette, 177 A.D.2d 802; Greenman v. Greenman, 175 A.D.2d 360).
The husband contends further that the court improperly awarded him 40% of the value of the family hair salon. We disagree. The trial court properly considered both parties' investment of time and money in running the business since its creation in 1983. While the husband initially made significant financial contributions, the wife worked at the salon on a daily basis throughout the marriage and after the couple's separation. Accordingly, the court distribution of 40% of the value of the salon to the husband and 60% to the wife was appropriate (see, Scalfani v. Scalfani, 178 A.D.2d 830; Monette v. Monette, 177 A.D.2d 802, supra).
The husband's remaining contentions are without merit. Lawrence, J.P., Ritter, Friedmann and Krausman, JJ., concur.