Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%
Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.
'Double Dipping' Rejected in Calculating Child Support
Finding a lack of authority on the issue of “double dipping” in child support awards, Justice Robert A. Ross of the Nassau County Supreme Court found in a case decided earlier this year that the public policy against “miscalculations” in distributive awards demanded that the amount the husband paid the wife for his enhanced earnings capacity could not be computed as part of his income in determining his child support payments. Goodman v. Goodman, 201099-00. Justice Ross' decision also held that since the enhanced earnings capacity award should not be calculated as income for the husband in the case, the portion going to the wife must be determined as her income for purposes of determining a child custody award. The double-dipping issue arises when courts, in determining the amount of child support a non-custodial spouse owes, do not exempt from the non-custodial spouse's income the amount he or she must pay out in an enhanced earnings capacity award to the custodial spouse.
In reaching his decision, Justice Ross turned to two court of appeals cases, which held that enhanced earnings capacity could not be used in calculating maintenance awards. Although McSparron v. McSparron, 87 NY2d 75, and Grunfeld v. Grunfeld, 94 NY2d 696, did not specifically include child support in their ban against double-dipping, Justice Ross reasoned that the cases' general warnings for courts to guard against duplication in maintenance awards warranted his finding.
New York state courts apply the doctrine of enhanced earnings capacity, which is recognized by only a few jurisdictions, to divorcing spouses who have earned a degree, professional license or other income booster during the life of the marriage. The source of much expert testimony and litigation in divorce actions, enhanced earnings capacity is intended to distribute fairly the boosted future income, computed up to retirement age, which the non-titled spouse in some way assisted the titled spouse in obtaining.
Yachts, Jets, Horses & Hooch: Specialized Commercial Leasing Models
Defining commercial real estate asset class is essentially a property explaining how it identifies — not necessarily what its original intention was or what others think it ought to be. This article discusses, from a general issue-spot and contextual analysis perspective, how lawyers ought to think about specialized leasing formats and the regulatory backdrops that may inform what the documentation needs to contain for compliance purposes.
Hyperlinked Documents: The Latest e-Discovery Challenge
As courts and discovery experts debate whether hyperlinked content should be treated the same as traditional attachments, legal practitioners are grappling with the technical and legal complexities of collecting, analyzing and reviewing these documents in real-world cases.
Identifying Your Practice's Differentiator
How to Convey Your Merits In a Way That Earns Trust, Clients and Distinctions Just as no two individuals have the exact same face, no two lawyers practice in their respective fields or serve clients in the exact same way. Think of this as a "Unique Value Proposition." Internal consideration about what you uniquely bring to your clients, colleagues, firm and industry can provide untold benefits for your law practice.
Risks and Ad Fraud Protection In Digital Advertising
The ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, coupled with the industry-wide adoption of programmatic advertising, poses a significant threat to the effectiveness and integrity of digital advertising campaigns. This article explores various risks to digital advertising from pixel stuffing and ad stacking to domain spoofing and bots. It will also explore what should be done to ensure ad fraud protection and improve effectiveness.
Turning Business Development Plans Into Reality
This article offers practical insights and best practices to navigate the path from roadmap to rainmaking, ensuring your business development efforts are not just sporadic bursts of activity, but an integrated part of your daily success.