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.
IN RE: Yolanda GREENE-TYUS, respondent, v. John TYUS, appellant.
In a child support proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 4, the father appeals from an order of commitment of the Family Court, Queens County (Buggs, J.), dated March 7, 2008, which, upon an order of the same court (Hickey, S.M.), also dated March 7, 2008, finding that he willfully violated a prior order of support, in effect, confirmed the finding of willfulness and committed him to the New York City Department of Corrections for a term of imprisonment of 90 days for nonpayment of child support unless he paid the sum of $30,000 for child support.
ORDERED that the appeal from so much of the order of commitment as committed the father to the New York City Department of Corrections for a term of imprisonment of 90 days is dismissed as academic, without costs or disbursements, as the period of imprisonment has expired (see Heinz v. Faljean, 57 A.D.3d 665, 868 N.Y.S.2d 547); and it is further,
ORDERED that the order of commitment is affirmed insofar as reviewed, without costs or disbursements.
Contrary to the father's contention, the Family Court properly determined that he willfully violated the order of support. The mother demonstrated that the father failed to pay child support as ordered, and this constituted prima facie evidence of the father's willful violation of the order of support. The father failed to rebut this prima facie evidence of willfulness by offering competent, credible evidence of his inability to pay (see Matter of Fraser v. Green, 57 A.D.3d 896, 868 N.Y.S.2d 920; Heinz v. Faljean, 57 A.D.3d 665, 868 N.Y.S.2d 547; Matter of Powers v. Horner, 12 A.D.3d 609, 785 N.Y.S.2d 117).
The father's contention that the court erred in dismissing his petition for a downward modification of his child support obligation is not properly before this Court (see Matter of McDowell v. Domenech, 31 A.D.3d 554, 817 N.Y.S.2d 529).
Thank you for your feedback!
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: April 14, 2009
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second 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)