Opinion
2012-03-20
Andrew GERING, Plaintiff–Respondent, v. Charisse TAVANO, Defendant–Appellant.
Charisse Tavano, appellant pro se. Cohen Rabin Stine Schumann LLP, New York (Gretchen Beall Schumann of counsel), for respondent.
Charisse Tavano, appellant pro se. Cohen Rabin Stine Schumann LLP, New York (Gretchen Beall Schumann of counsel), for respondent.
MAZZARELLI, J.P., SAXE, RENWICK, ABDUS–SALAAM, JJ.
Order, Supreme Court, New York County (Matthew F. Cooper, J.), entered October 5, 2010, which, insofar as appealed from as limited by the briefs, denied defendant wife's motion to set aside the parties' judgment of divorce, to reinstate spousal support, and for an upward modification of child support, unanimously affirmed, without costs. Order, same court and Justice, entered May 3, 2011, which, insofar as appealed from as limited by the briefs, denied defendant's motion to compel plaintiff husband to pay for the parties' children's college expenses and granted plaintiff's cross motion to the extent of finding that plaintiff has no obligation to pay for such expenses, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
Defendant failed to make a prima facie showing that a substantial, unanticipated change in circumstances has occurred warranting a modification of the maintenance or child support awards ( see Merl v. Merl, 67 N.Y.2d 359, 362, 502 N.Y.S.2d 712, 493 N.E.2d 936 [1986] ). Although defendant submitted a net worth statement, she failed to submit tax returns, credit card statements, bank account statements, or other documents to support her claim of financial hardship ( see Domestic Relations Law § 236[B][4][a] ). Nor did she submit medical records to support her claim that she is unable to work due to a medical issue. The issue of the parties' son's learning disability has already been litigated and decided, and defendant did not submit any evidence showing that her son's educational needs have changed. In light of the absence of any evidence supporting a modification of the maintenance and child support awards, a hearing is unnecessary ( see Shachnow v. Shafer, 82 A.D.3d 423, 424, 918 N.Y.S.2d 402 [2011], lv. dismissed 17 N.Y.3d 935, 935 N.Y.S.2d 577, 959 N.E.2d 514 [2011]; see also Lloyd v. Lloyd, 226 A.D.2d 816, 817, 640 N.Y.S.2d 293 [1996] ).
Defendant did not set forth any basis for vacating the parties' divorce judgment ( see CPLR 5015[a][2],[3] ); she merely seeks to relitigate issues that have already been presented and decided. Further, as we stated in a prior order in this action (50 A.D.3d 299, 301, 855 N.Y.S.2d 436 [2008], lv. denied 11 N.Y.3d 707, 868 N.Y.S.2d 599, 897 N.E.2d 1083 [2008] ), Supreme Court providently exercised its discretion in not requiring plaintiff to pay for the children's college expenses.
Upon plaintiff's motion (M–4994, decided December 15, 2011), we dismissed defendant's purported appeal from the order entered on or about February 15, 2011. We have considered defendant's remaining contentions and find them unavailing.