Case Name: Jennie Karp, Respondent, v. Jacob Karp, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1939-06-05
Citations: 257 A.D. 966
Docket Number: 
Parties: Jennie Karp, Respondent, v. Jacob Karp, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 257
Pages: 966–966

Head Matter:
Jennie Karp, Respondent, v. Jacob Karp, Appellant.

Opinion:
In an action for divorce, defendant appeals from an order adjudging him to be in contempt of court and imposing a fine therefor. Order reversed on the law, without costs, and matter remitted to Special Term for further proceedings in accordance with the rule stated in Aron v. Aron (280 N. Y. 328). Where, as here, confirmation is opposed, of the report of a referee in a proceeding to punish for contempt, the court is not justified in confirming the report and making an order to punish for contempt without consideration of the testimony in some form or agreement by the parties as to its substance sufficient to permit the court to pass upon a challenge made to the sufficiency of the evidence. (Ibid.; and see Rules Civ. Prae. rule 170.) Neither of these alternative essentials was incident to the proceedings of the court below and remission is, therefore, proper. If this court were not lacking in power so to do, it would modify the order appealed from to the extent of striking out the finding of contempt and punishment adjudged therefor, and as thus modified, would affirm it. Lazansky, P. J., Johnston, Adel, Taylor and Close, JJ., concur. [See post, p. 968.]