Court Opinion

ID: 5962321
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-13 07:02:57.976883+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:48:10.285871
License: Public Domain

Judgment unanimously modified on the law and as modified affirmed with costs to defendant in accordance with the following Memorandum: We agree with the conclusion of the IAS Court that the antenuptial agreement executed by the parties on February 17, 1977 is fairly susceptible of more than one reasonable construction (see, Stedman Energy v Lenape Resources Corp., 175 AD2d 646, 647). Having determined that the agreement is ambiguous, we construe its language against plaintiff, the party who prepared it (see, Dimino v Dimino, 91 AD2d 1185; see generally, 22 NY Jur 2d, Contracts, § 228, at 76) and conclude that it does not apply in case of divorce. We modify the judgment, however, to declare that the agreement executed by the parties is valid and enforceable to the extent that it provides for the property rights of the parties if the parties are married at the time of plaintiff’s death. (Appeals from Judgment of Supreme Court, Erie County, Howe, J.—Divorce.) Present—Denman, P. J., Pine, Balio, Boomer and Davis, JJ.