Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Stephanie DOWNS, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. Elmer YUEN, Defendant-Appellant.
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Marilyn Shafer, J.), entered May 17, 2002, awarding plaintiff $10,486,000, plus interest, costs and disbursements, pursuant to an order, same court and Justice, entered May 14, 2002, which, in an action to enforce a Hong Kong judgment rendered in a divorce action awarding plaintiff a lump sum in the principal amount of $10 million, inter alia, granted plaintiff's motion for summary judgment, unanimously affirmed, with costs. Appeal from the aforesaid order, unanimously dismissed, without costs, as superseded by the appeal from the judgment.
Even if the subject judgment is, at least in part, one “for support” within the meaning of CPLR 5301(b), and therefore, at least in part, not enforceable under CPLR article 53, the Foreign Country Money-Judgments Recognition Act, there is no reason why the judgment should not be enforced under general principles of comity (CPLR 5307; see Mandel-Mantello v. Treves, 79 A.D.2d 569, 434 N.Y.S.2d 29). The CPLR 5301(b) exclusion of foreign support awards in matrimonial and family matters “is not designed to preclude recognition, but to acknowledge their unique status and treatment and leave them to existing law, which is ․ quite generous in New York” (Siegel, Practice Commentaries, McKinney's Cons. Law of N.Y., Book 7B, CPLR C5301:2, at 541, see also 11 Weinstein-Korn-Miller, N.Y. Civ Prac ¶ 5301.03). Nor are general principles of comity precluded by Family Court Act article 5-B, the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, absent evidence that Hong Kong is a “State” within the meaning of that act, i.e., has adopted laws or procedures for enforcement of support orders substantially similar to those under the act (Family Ct Act § 580-101[19] [ii] ). Moreover, by its terms, article 5-B does not preempt other enforcement remedies (Family Ct Act § 580-103; cf. Haker-Volkening v. Haker, 143 N.C.App. 688, 694-695, 547 S.E.2d 127, 131, review denied 354 N.C. 217, 554 S.E.2d 338). We also reject defendant's argument that the subject judgment should not be enforced as a matter of comity because he was denied due process by the Hong Kong court. The question is not whether defendant was denied due process, but whether the Hong Kong judicial system as a whole comports with due process (see CIBC Mellon Trust Co. v. Mora Hotel Corp., 296 A.D.2d 81, 743 N.Y.S.2d 408, 415; Society of Lloyd's v. Ashenden, 233 F.3d 473, 476-477). There being ample precedent that it always has, both prior and subsequent to the transfer of sovereignty to China (see e.g. Kwongyuen Hangkee Co. v. Starr Fireworks, 2001 SD 113, P13-15, 634 N.W.2d 95, 98; Chong v. Superior Ct., 58 Cal.App.4th 1032, 1035, 1038-1036, 68 Cal.Rptr.2d 427 [1997]; Matter of Axona Intl. Credit & Commerce Ltd., 88 B.R. 597, 611 [1988], affd. 115 B.R. 442, appeal dismissed 924 F.2d 31), the burden was on defendant, not plaintiff, initially to offer evidence on that point (cf. Society of Lloyd's, 233 F.3d at 477, Lenchyshyn v. Pelko Elec., 281 A.D.2d 42, 46, 723 N.Y.S.2d 285). This he failed to do. In any event, were we to review the particular proceedings underlying the subject judgment, we would find that defendant was given ample notice and opportunity to be heard (see CIBC, 743 N.Y.S.2d at 416). Due process does not necessarily require a party's presence at a hearing; nor did it require the Hong Kong court to grant defendant a second adjournment after rejecting his excuses for not being able to proceed that were reflective of his consistent pattern of delay (see Matter of Lazachek v. Board of Regents, 101 A.D.2d 639, 640, 475 N.Y.S.2d 160, lv. denied 63 N.Y.2d 608, 483 N.Y.S.2d 1023, 472 N.E.2d 1043; Ungar v. Sarafite, 376 U.S. 575, 589-590, 84 S.Ct. 841, 11 L.Ed.2d 921).
Defendant's other points are unavailing. Neither the pendency in New Jersey of an action to enforce the same Hong Kong judgment, which, we note was later commenced, nor the denial therein of a motion by plaintiff for summary judgment, has any preclusive effect on this action (see Matter of McGrath v. Gold, 36 N.Y.2d 406, 412, 369 N.Y.S.2d 62, 330 N.E.2d 35; Laker Airways v. Sabena, 731 F.2d 909, 926-927). Defendant's request to supplement his opposition, made after he retained an attorney, was properly rejected absent an explanation for his delay in obtaining an attorney (CPLR 2004; 2214 [c] ). In any event, any error was harmless since the IAS court considered the only new, relevant argument raised in the supplemental papers, namely, that CPLR article 53 does not apply to the subject judgment.
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Decided: October 08, 2002
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, New York.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)