Opinion
2013-06-12
Nicole FINI, respondent, v. Thomas FINI, appellant.
Larkin, Axelrod, Ingrassia & Tetenbaum, LLP, Newburgh, N.Y. (William J. Larkin III of counsel), for appellant. Carol W. Most & Associates, P.C., White Plains, N.Y. (Adam W. Schneid of counsel), for respondent.
Larkin, Axelrod, Ingrassia & Tetenbaum, LLP, Newburgh, N.Y. (William J. Larkin III of counsel), for appellant. Carol W. Most & Associates, P.C., White Plains, N.Y. (Adam W. Schneid of counsel), for respondent.
In an action for a divorce and ancillary relief, the defendant appeals, as limited by his brief, from so much of an order of the Supreme Court, Orange County (Ecker, J.), dated September 8, 2011, as, upon granting the plaintiff's motion for an award of pendente lite maintenance, directed him to pay pendente lite maintenance in the sum of $7,500 per month.
ORDERED that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, with costs.
“Pendente lite awards should reflect an accommodation between the reasonable needs of the moving spouse and the financial ability of the other spouse with due regard for the parties' pre-separation standard of living” ( DeVerna v. DeVerna, 4 A.D.3d 323, 323–324, 770 N.Y.S.2d 892). In the instant case, the defendant's evidence of his gross income was insufficient, and was not reconcilable with his prior spending habits or the parties' standard of living. Accordingly, the Supreme Court properly awarded the plaintiff temporary maintenance, based upon her needs and the standard of living of the parties prior to commencement of the divorce action ( seeDomestic Relations Law § 236[B][5–a][g] ).
Further, the Supreme Court took the award of temporary maintenance into account when it directed the plaintiff to pay the carrying charges of the marital residence from the maintenance and child support awarded to her ( see Woodford v. Woodford, 100 A.D.3d 875, 955 N.Y.S.2d 355). The defendant failed to demonstrate that the pendente lite award left him unable to meet his financial obligations ( see Maksoud v. Maksoud, 71 A.D.3d 643, 644, 896 N.Y.S.2d 387) There is no basis in this record to disturb the award of temporary maintenance. Any perceived inequities can best be remedied by a speedy trial ( see McMahon v. McMahon, 94 A.D.3d 958, 942 N.Y.S.2d 588).