Justin v. Justin

Jan 8, 2008
Versions:47 A.D.3d 615
848 N.Y.S.2d 537

Tricia Justin, Respondent, v Andrew Justin, Appellant. [848 NYS2d 537]—In an action for a divorce and ancillary relief, the defendant appeals, by permission, from an order of the Supreme Court, Nassau County (Sher, J.), entered February 16, 2007, which, after a nonjury trial, granted the plaintiff a divorce on the ground of cruel and inhuman treatment.

Ordered that the order is reversed, on the law, with costs, and the complaint is dismissed.

The plaintiff sought a divorce on the ground of cruel and inhuman treatment. After a nonjury trial, the Supreme Court granted the plaintiff a divorce. We reverse.

To obtain a divorce on the ground of cruel and inhuman treatment, the plaintiff must show conduct of the defendant spouse which “so endangers the physical or mental well being of the plaintiff as [to] render[ ] it unsafe or improper for the plaintiff to cohabit with the defendant” (Domestic Relations Law § 170 [1]; see Gross v Gross, 40 AD3d 448 [2007]; Cauthers v Cauthers, 32 AD3d 880 [2006]). “When the marriage is one of long duration, a high degree of proof of cruel and inhuman treatment is required” (Cauthers v Cauthers, 32 AD3d at 880-881; see Archibald v Archibald, 15 AD3d 431, 432 [2005]).

The parties were married for approximately 20 years. The plaintiff failed, as a matter of law, to establish facts which would satisfy the high degree of proof of cruel and inhuman treatment required when the marriage is one of long duration (see Cauthers v Cauthers, 32 AD3d at 881; Archibald v Archibald, 15 AD3d at 432). Accordingly, the Supreme Court improperly granted the plaintiff a divorce. Crane, J.P., Rivera, Florio and Balkin, JJ., concur.