I like lawyers who are candid and practical in assessing the position of their client, who are knowledgable about the state of the law and its applicability and who get to the heart of the matter that prevents resolution. I dislike lawyers who demand a firm trial date, obtain the same and then are not ready for trial, or who have given the matter so little thought that they have no idea how many days are required for trial. Second Department upheld denial of plaintiff wife's motion to vacate her default in matrimonial action. Klam v. Klam , NYLJ , Feb. 16, 1996. Chiofalo v. Chiofalo , NYLJ , May 23, 1997.
Child has no ''home state'' in military family's custody fight.
The fact that petitioner is not a licensed psychologist is not an insurmountable barrier to appointment by the court as an expert and cannot serve as a bar to her right to be compensated for services rendered. DeJesus v. DeJesus , NYLJ , Feb. 24, 1997. Denied custodial parent's request to relocate to Puerto Rico after she was offered higher-paying jobs there, citing the children's inability to speak Spanish and a restriction in the separation agreement limiting relocation. Anonymous v. Anonymous , NYLJ , June 5, 1996. Granted father's request for custody after custodial mother relocated without permission, leaving the children with the father.