Bishop v. Bishop
144 N.Y.S. 143
N.Y. Sup. Ct.
1913
Check Treatment
Giegerich, J.

This is а motion made by the defendant for final judgment in an action for a divorce or, in the alternative, for an order requiring the plaintiff to enter final judgment herein within some period to be fixed by ‍‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‍the order, or in the event that she fail so to enter final judgment that the interlocutory judgmеnt heretofore entered herein be vacated. The plaintiff’s action was contested and resulted in a decision in her *677favоr, and on the 12th day of June, 1913, an interlocutory judgment of divorce was entered. Thereafter ‍‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‍no order was entered in said action except an order made on November 11, 1913, appointing a guardian ad litem for one of the infant children of the parties. On .October 2, 1913, more than three months after the interlocutory judgment had been entered, but within thirty days after the expiration thereof, the defendant made this motion for the entry of final judgment. The interlocutory judgment directed the defendant to pay the plaintiff $288.46 per week for the support and maintenance of herself and some of the children of the marriage the custody of whom had been awarded to her, and аlso to pay her attorneys $10,000 counsel fee and for costs and disbursements. All payments thus directed by the interlocutory judgment have beеn made by the defendant. Subsequently to the first notice of motion a supplemental notice was served asking for the alternative relief in the event that the court could ‍‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‍not grant the defendant’s aрplication for final judgment that it should make an order requiring the plаintiff to enter final judgment within some period to be fixed by the order, or in the event that she failed to enter such final judgment within such period that thе interlocutory judgment be vacated. The plaintiff opposеs the granting of the final decree, stating that she does not desire tо avail herself of the provisions of the interlocutory decrеe and that since obtaining the same she has determined that it is better, for the sake of her children, that she condone the acts complained of and continue the marital relation. It has been held in this state that under such circumstances the plaintiff cannot be required to divorce the defendant against her will. Adams v. Adams, 57 Misc. Rep. 150. In England, where a decree nisi is entered in actions for *678divorce, which is analogous to our interlocutory judgment, it has been held that thе application for final judgment cannot be made by the unsuccessful party. Ousey v. Ousey, L. R. (1 Pro. ‍‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‍Div.) 56. I agree with the reasoning in Adams v. Adams, abovе cited, and with the principle underlying the English rule. Not only is condonation favored by the law (Galusha v. Galusha, 116 N. Y. 635, 643), but it would be manifestly unjust that the offending рarty should be permitted to force a final decree for the dissolution of the marriage upon an innocent spouse wishing to сontinue the marital relation. The present-unsettled status ‍‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‍of the parties cannot, of course, be permitted to continue. Thе plaintiff must decide definitely upon one course or the other. Either a final judgment should be entered or the interlocutory judgment should be vacated (Ousey v. Ousey, supra), but there can be- no provision such as is suggested on behalf of the defendant that all moneys paid by him under the intеrlocutory judgment should be returned to him. The vacation of the interlоcutory judgment must be without prejudice to the acts done or payments made while it was in force. An order may be entered, therefore, providing that unless the plaintiff makes application for final judgment within ten days after entry of such order, then an order may be entered vacating the interlocutory judgment.

Ordered accordingly.