Case Title: Pirestani v. Reagan

Citation: 

Docket Number: 165, 2004

State: delaware

Court: Delaware Supreme Court

Date: 2005-07-18T00:00:00Z

Document:
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE 
JOSEPH D. PIRESTANI,                      
           
Respondent Below- 
Appellant,   
 
v. 
 
DEBORAH A. REAGAN, 
     
 
 
     
Petitioner Below- 
Appellee. 
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   No. 165, 2004 
 
   Court Below---Family Court 
   of the State of Delaware, 
   in and for New Castle County  
   File No. CN96-10583 
   Petition No. 98-24863                   
 
Submitted: June 13, 2005  
   Decided: July 18, 2005    
 
Before HOLLAND, BERGER and JACOBS, Justices 
 
 
O R D E R 
 
 
This 18th day of July 2005, upon consideration of the Family Court’s report 
following remand, the appellant’s response thereto, the notice to show cause issued 
by the Clerk, and the appellant’s response thereto, it appears to the Court that: 
 
(1) 
Petitioner-appellee, Deborah A. Reagan, filed a petition for divorce 
from respondent-appellant, Joseph D. Pirestani, which was granted by the Family 
Court.  Pirestani filed an appeal from the Family Court’s order.  On January 18, 
2005, this Court remanded the matter to the Family Court for consideration of the 
parties’ joint request that the Family Court vacate the divorce decree and dismiss 
Reagan’s divorce petition. 
 
 
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(2) 
On May 11, 2005, the Family Court issued its report following 
remand.  The Family Court had held a hearing on April 15, 2005, which was 
attended by both Pirestani and Reagan.  Both parties testified that, while there had 
been problems in the marriage, they wanted to remain married and did not want to 
proceed with any further matters in the Family Court.1  Moreover, Reagan testified 
that her decision to reconcile with Pirestani was made freely and voluntarily.  On 
the basis of the testimony presented, the Family Court vacated its divorce decree 
and dismissed Reagan’s divorce petition.2   
 
(3) 
On May 16, 2005, the Clerk issued a notice to show cause why this 
appeal should not be dismissed as moot in view of the Family Court’s disposition 
on remand.  Pirestani responded to the notice to show cause, arguing that there 
were various errors in the Family Court proceedings that he would like to have 
corrected.   
 
(4) 
Pirestani has received the relief he requested in his appeal to this 
Court.  We are not persuaded by Pirestani’s argument that alleged errors in the 
Family Court proceedings should prevent the dismissal of this matter on the 
ground of mootness. 
                                                 
1 The parties filed a Stipulation to Vacate the Divorce Decree and a Stipulation of Voluntary 
Dismissal of Divorce Petition on March 28, 2005, which Reagan testified she voluntarily 
executed in the presence of Family Court staff. 
2 Fam. Ct. Civ. R. 60(b) (permitting relief from a final judgment, order or proceeding of the 
Family Court). 
 
 
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NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that Pirestani’s appeal is 
DISMISSED AS MOOT. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BY THE COURT: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Carolyn Berger 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Justice