This matter was referred to the court by a Child support Magistrate, for the purpose of inquiry into the question of whether the petitioner may invoke the equitable estoppel doctrine in this paternity matter.
A Suffolk County Child support attorney said that the court set a briefing schedule; all papers have now been filed and the court has marked this matter for submission and decision.
A New York Family Lawyer said the burden is upon the petitioner to prove, prima facie, that it is entitled to assert the doctrine of equitable estoppel. In support of its position, the Commissioner admits that on three prior occasions, dating from July 1999, the Commissioner filed three separate petitions seeking to establish orders of paternity and child support against this respondent, and that with respect to all three prior petitions, each was dismissed for failure of the assignor to cooperate and for her failure to appear on the various scheduled court dates.
The current matter is the result of a fourth petition filed. There is no affidavit in support by a person having personal knowledge and the sole allegations are those of a deputy county attorney, on behalf of the petitioner. A New Custody Lawyer rose allegations state that the respondent “initiated contact” with the subject child approximately four years ago, that they have developed a “warm parent-child” relationship; that the respondent “visits the child on a regular basis and frequently takes her shopping.” Lastly, the moving papers state that, for the last four years, the child knows only the respondent “as her father.”
The respondent opposes the motion by way of cross motion to dismiss the petition, and states that equitable estoppel is not applicable to the facts of this case. The cross motion is also submitted by counsel only, and there is no affidavit from the respondent himself, nor anyone else with personal knowledge.
The Law Guardian states that this court should invoke the doctrine of equitable estoppel and that DNA tests should not be ordered, or, in the alternative, that a hearing should be held on the nature of the bonds, if any, between the child and the respondent.
“Equitable estoppel is a principle that is applied in the interest of fairness to preclude a party from speaking against his own acts, commitments or representations which induce another, who reasonably relied on such words or conduct and who would suffer injury if such conduct or representations were allowed to stand.”
Here, a Nassau County Family Lawyer said it is admitted that the child, at the time of the filing of the current petition, was almost 18 years of age, and that whatever relationship exists between the child and the respondent has only been for a period of the last four years or only the last three years. There is no reason given whatsoever as to why the petitioner waited so many years before bringing this matter before the court. Although not giving any details, respondent alleges that previously the petitioner had brought a similar petition against a different respondent.
The failure of the petitioner to include an affidavit upon personal knowledge is fatal to the instant motion. The rules governing such a motion now before this court are the same as those applicable to a summary judgment motion. The petitioner must set forth a prima facie showing of its entitlement to invoke the doctrine of equitable estoppel, and if it fails to meet its burden, then the motion must be denied.
The affidavits submitted either in support or in opposition to the motion for summary judgment must be upon personal knowledge by a person having knowledge of the facts.
It is incumbent upon the petitioner to submit evidentiary proof in admissible form, in order to set forth, prima facie, its entitlement to the relief it seeks.
In a case, a Nassau County Custody Lawyer said the Court of Appeals reversed the Appellate Division and granted summary judgment to the petitioner, where the only paper submitted in opposition to the motion was the affirmation of the opposing attorney. The court found that the opposing affirmation was without evidentiary value, and that “mere conclusions, expressions of hope or unsubstantiated allegations are insufficient.” Furthermore, the establishment of neglect of the first child, which constitutes admissible proof of the neglect of the other children in accordance with Family Court Act § 1046 (a) (i), shifts the burden of proof to the respondent to submit admissible evidence to create a triable issue regarding neglect of the other children; and respondent’s failure to submit such evidence allows the court to grant summary judgment as to the other children.
Although the above case is a neglect matter, the rule enunciated by the Court of Appeals applies just as equally to the instant matter. The burden upon the moving party is to show, by clear and convincing evidence, that it is entitled to invoke the doctrine of equitable estoppel. By the movant’s failure to submit its prima facie entitlement to the relief it seeks, it has failed to reach the level of clear and convincing proof.
Furthermore, in such an application where there is prima facie an absence of proof, the moving party is not entitled to a hearing and the application for equitable estoppel may be properly dismissed.
Lastly, respondent states that petitioner’s instant application must be denied upon the grounds of res judicata and collateral estoppel, due to the fact that the Commissioner has previously brought the same petition against this respondent, on three prior occasions. In this the respondent is mistaken, as none of the three prior applications were dismissed with prejudice, and there was no finding upon the merits. The cases cited by respondent for his proposition all deal with matters where there was a decision on the merits and, therefore, are not applicable to this instant matter.
Based upon the foregoing, the petitioner’s motion is denied and the doctrine of equitable estoppel is not available to the petitioner.
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