Big Win by Charlotte M. Betts Highlighted in New York Law Journal
The Defendant-Wife’s application for $25,000.00 in interim counsel fees in protracted post-judgment litigation was denied by Acting Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Cheryl A. Joseph. The Court’s decision was published in the New York Law Journal on April 27, 2020. Charlotte M. Betts of Simonetti & Associates represented the Plaintiff-Husband.
Despite the Plaintiff-Husband’s nominally higher annual income and presumption that counsel fees should be awarded to the “less monied” spouse; Ms. Betts persuasively highlighted the Defendant-Wife’s refusal to engage in settlement discussions in good faith; lack of candor in disclosing her expenditures and assets; dilatory conduct; and history of unnecessary motion practice – including bringing an application for a Writ of Habeas Corpus in the midst of the national COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result, the Court adopted Ms. Betts’ argument that just because one party may earn more than the other, they are not automatically deemed, the “monied spouse.”
Charlotte M. Betts is a highly-regarded and sought-after matrimonial attorney. Prior to joining Simonetti & Associates, Ms. Betts was a partner at the firm then known as Gassman Baiamonte Betts, PC. She is universally respected by both the bench and bar and has developed a reputation as one of the preeminent matrimonial attorneys on Long Island; and has particular expertise in handling complex, high net-worth cases with complicated child custody and financial issues.
The decision can be viewed in the New York Law Journal:
https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/almID/1587663543NY273612010/ (subscription required)