KATZ v. KATZ (2007)

In an action for a divorce and ancillary relief, the plaintiff appeals, as limited by her brief, from so much of an order of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Stack, J.), dated March 17, 2005, as (1) granted the defendant's motion for summary judgment dismissing her fourth cause of action for rescission of the parties' prenuptial agreement dated November 19, 1997, for summary judgment declaring the prenuptial agreement to be valid, enforceable, and dispositive on the issues of spousal support and equitable distribution, for summary judgment dismissing so much of her third cause of action as sought spousal support pursuant to Family Court Act § 412, and for summary judgment dismissing so much of her second cause of action as sought a judgment for spousal support necessaries, (2) denied her cross motion for leave to serve an amended verified complaint, and (3) granted that branch of the defendant's motion which was to enjoin and restrain her from conducting discovery to the extent of limiting her to discovery of the defendant's pre-tax income for the tax years 2003, 2004, and 2005.

ORDERED that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, with costs.

On November 19, 1997, the parties executed a prenuptial agreement, which governed property distribution, spousal maintenance, and their financial relationship in the event of divorce, separation, or death.   The parties married on December 13, 1997.   In July 2004, the wife commenced the instant action, seeking, inter alia, a divorce, spousal support necessaries, spousal support pursuant to Family Court Act § 412, and rescission of the prenuptial agreement.   Upon his motion for summary judgment, the husband made a prima facie showing that the fourth cause of action, seeking rescission of the parties' prenuptial agreement, was time barred by the six-year statute of limitations (see CPLR 213[1];  DeMille v. DeMille, 5 A.D.3d 428, 429, 774 N.Y.S.2d 156;  Anonymous v. Anonymous, 233 A.D.2d 350, 351, 650 N.Y.S.2d 589).   The husband also made a prima facie showing that the agreement was valid, enforceable, and dispositive as to equitable distribution and spousal support, thereby requiring dismissal of so much of the second and third causes of action as sought spousal support pursuant to Family Court Act § 412 and reimbursement for spousal support necessaries (see Rubin v. Rubin, 33 A.D.3d 983, 984, 823 N.Y.S.2d 218;  cf. Kerr v. Kerr, 8 A.D.3d 626, 779 N.Y.S.2d 246).   In opposition, the wife failed to raise a triable issue of fact (see Rubin v. Rubin, supra;  DeMille v. DeMille, supra;  Pacchiana v. Pacchiana, 94 A.D.2d 721, 462 N.Y.S.2d 256;  but see Bloomfield v. Bloomfield, 281 A.D.2d 301, 304, 723 N.Y.S.2d 143, revd. on other grounds 97 N.Y.2d 188, 738 N.Y.S.2d 650, 764 N.E.2d 950).

Further, the court providently exercised its discretion in denying the wife's cross motion for leave to serve an amended verified complaint.   The amendment failed to cure omission of an allegation as to causation and would not have revived the untimely fourth cause of action (see CPLR 3025[b];  Ruddock v. Boland Rentals, 5 A.D.3d 368, 370, 774 N.Y.S.2d 50;  Ruffing v. Union Carbide Corp., 1 A.D.3d 339, 341, 766 N.Y.S.2d 439;  cf. AYW Networks v. Teleport Communications Group, 309 A.D.2d 724, 725, 765 N.Y.S.2d 379;  Leszczynski v. Kelly & McGlynn, 281 A.D.2d 519, 520-521, 722 N.Y.S.2d 254;  Mishalove v. Goldfarb, 260 A.D.2d 219, 687 N.Y.S.2d 628).

Finally, under the circumstances, the court's decision to limit disclosure of the husband's financial circumstances to his pre-tax income for the tax years 2003, 2004, and 2005, was a provident exercise of its discretion (see Matter of Brim v. Combs, 25 A.D.3d 691, 693, 808 N.Y.S.2d 735;  Anonymous v. Anonymous, 258 A.D.2d 546, 547, 683 N.Y.S.2d 893;  Garguilio v. Garguilio, 168 A.D.2d 666, 667, 563 N.Y.S.2d 840).