G.M. v. R.M.

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                      APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
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        parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.




                                       SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                       APPELLATE DIVISION
                                       DOCKET NO. A-1341-16T4
G.M.

        Plaintiff-Appellant,

v.

R.M.,

     Defendant-Respondent.
____________________________

              Argued December 20, 2017 – Decided February 2, 2018

              Before Judges Nugent and Geiger.

              On appeal from Superior Court of New Jersey,
              Chancery Division, Monmouth County, Docket No.
              FM-13-0369-15.

              Robert H. Siegel argued the cause for
              appellant   (Ansell  Grimm  &   Aaron,  PC,
              attorneys; Robert H. Siegel, of counsel and
              on the brief).

              Stephanie Palo argued the cause for respondent
              (Adams   Buchan   &  Palo,   LLC,   attorneys;
              Stephanie Palo, of counsel and on the brief).

PER CURIAM

        Plaintiff G.M. appeals from a September 30, 2016 order denying

her post-judgment motion to set aside the parties' Matrimonial

Settlement Agreement (MSA), conduct a plenary hearing on the issue
of alleged fraud, award her alimony, and award her attorney's fees

and costs.    Plaintiff contends the MSA was induced by fraud and

is inequitable.      We affirm.

     We derive the following facts from the record.                 The parties

were married on May 26, 2000.          Three children were born of the

marriage.      In    August   2013,   the     parties     separated    due     to

irreconcilable      differences.      Two     months    later,   the    parties

retained experienced matrimonial counsel and engaged in lengthy

negotiations with the intent to reach a comprehensive MSA.                   The

parties also retained a joint financial expert regarding the

marital finances.       The negotiations culminated in the parties

reaching a general consensus as to the terms of an MSA in late

July 2014.    Defendant's attorney drafted a comprehensive MSA which

was executed by plaintiff on September 2, 2014, and defendant on

September 9, 2014.       Because the MSA affected a trust for the

benefit of the children, the Trustee of the R.M. Children's Trust

(the Trust) also executed the MSA.

     During the negotiation of the MSA, federal law enforcement

authorities    investigated       defendant     in     connection    with    his

embezzlement of more than $1.1 million from a medical practice,

in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341.             Conviction of that offense

exposed defendant to a maximum prison term of twenty years and a

maximum fine of: (1) $250,000; (2) twice the gross amount of any

                                      2                                 A-1341-16T4
pecuniary gain that any individuals derived from the offense; or

(3) twice the gross amount of any pecuniary loss sustained by any

victims of the offenses.     18 U.S.C. § 1341.

     In October 2011, defendant entered into plea negotiations

with the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey.

Under the terms of the resulting plea agreement, defendant would

plead guilty to one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 1341.

     The plea agreement did not include a recommended sentence.

Instead, the sentence was left "within the sole discretion of the

sentencing    judge."      The     United   States    Attorney's     Office

"reserve[d] its right to take any position with respect to the

appropriate sentence to be imposed on R.M. by the sentencing

judge."   The plea agreement further stated:

          The sentencing judge may impose any reasonable
          sentence up to and including the statutory
          maximum term of imprisonment and the maximum
          statutory fine. This Office cannot and does
          not make any representation or promise as to
          what guideline range may be found by the
          sentencing judge, or as to what sentence
          [defendant] ultimately will receive.

     United   States    District    Court   Judge    Stanley   R.   Chesler

conducted the plea hearing on February 19, 2014, during which

defendant pled guilty to a single count of violating 18 U.S.C. §

1341.




                                     3                              A-1341-16T4
      After several delays, defendant appeared for sentencing on

September 4, 2014. Judge Chesler concluded a noncustodial sentence

was   warranted   in   light    of     the    defendant's   "extraordinary

cooperation."1    The judge imposed a five-year probationary term

with electronically monitored house arrest for one year. Defendant

was required to perform 2500 hours of community service and pay a

$75,000 fine within thirty days of sentencing.

      Defendant is a board-certified anesthesiologist.            During the

same period defendant was also subject to three complaints filed

by the Attorney General of New Jersey to have the New Jersey Board

of Medical Examiners suspend or revoke defendant's license to

practice medicine.      Together the complaints alleged: gross and

repeated malpractice by defendant in his pain management practice,

indiscriminate prescribing of controlled drugs, excessive fees,

unreliable computer-composed and generated progress notes, failure

to disclose a financial interest in a self-owned health care

service   to   which   he   referred       patients,   Medicare   inspection

deficiencies of one of his ambulatory surgery facilities, and

moral turpitude for his embezzlement of over $1.1 million from a

medical practice of which he was an owner and also the medical



1
   The record contains only a portion of the sentencing hearing
transcript. The portions of the sentencing hearing containing the
arguments of the United States and defendant are omitted.

                                       4                             A-1341-16T4
director.     The complaints further alleged defendant's conduct

violated 
N.J.S.A. 45:1-21, 
N.J.S.A. 45:9-6, 
N.J.S.A. 45:9-19.16,

and 
N.J.S.A. 45:9-22.4.      Defendant either pled no contest or

admitted to the allegations.

     The complaints led to defendant consenting to the terms of

an Administrative Action Final Order (AAFO) dated October 8, 2014,

which revoked his license to practice medicine effective October

10, 2014.   The AAFO also required defendant to promptly terminate

all arrangements in which he served as medical director in any

medical practice and to terminate his professional affiliation

with any medical practice and medical health care service.          In

addition, defendant was assessed a $120,000 civil penalty and

costs of $90,068.

     The AAFO permitted defendant to apply for relicensure no

earlier than April 10, 2017, and, if granted by the Board, to be

effective no earlier than October 10, 2017.     Defendant's license

to practice medicine has not been restored.

     Pertinent to this appeal, the MSA includes a mutual waiver

of alimony, stating:

                 The parties do hereby specifically accept
            the payments as set forth in this Agreement
            and/or the division of property as set forth
            in this Agreement as full and complete
            satisfaction of all claims for alimony and
            spousal support that one may have against the
            other and each hereby waives their respective

                                  5                          A-1341-16T4
            right to seek alimony at the present time.
            Each party shall be solely responsible to
            support him/herself and to pay for all of
            his/her personal and other related expenses.

Notably, the MSA also provides:

            Each party hereby specifically waives their
            respective   right   to   a   fact-sensitive
            determination by the court regarding the
            standard of living and lifestyle enjoyed
            during the marriage, as pursuant to Crews v.
            Crews, 
164 N.J. 11 (2000), Weishaus v.
            Weishuas, 
180 N.J. 131 (2004), and their
            progeny.

      The MSA also contains the following provisions regarding

custody, child support, and counsel fees: (1) the parties share

joint legal and physical custody of the children; (2) in lieu of

direct child support, plaintiff receives $15,000 per year per

child from the Trust, with the amount being adjusted every two

years to reflect cost of living changes; (3) the Trust also pays

for   all   of   the   children's   extracurricular    activities,    health

insurance costs, unreimbursed medical and prescription medication

costs; (4) the Trust further pays for all of the children's

extracurricular activities, private education costs, and college

and graduate school expenses (except those paid by Section 529

accounts established for the children); (5) defendant would pay

for   plaintiff's      reasonable    and   necessary    counsel   fees      in

connection with the divorce.



                                      6                              A-1341-16T4
     With regard to equitable distribution, plaintiff agreed to

accept a one-time, non-taxable, lump sum equitable distribution

payment of $3,500,000 in the MSA.          Defendant received the former

marital home located in Colts Neck, the Howell Township residence,

and his business and professional accounts, free and clear of any

claim by plaintiff.      Plaintiff retained the Morgan Stanley Smith

Barney account in her name.        Defendant retained the Morgan Stanley

Active Asset and Barclays accounts in his name.                   Each party

retained their own Individual Retirement Accounts.          An additional

residential property located in Point Pleasant is held by the

Trust.

     The   MSA   also   contains    the   following   provision    regarding

waiver of discovery:

           WAIVER OF DISCOVERY.    The parties represent
           to each other that they have fully and
           completely disclosed their respective assets,
           liabilities, income and expenses. Each party
           represents that the financial information
           provided to each other is true, accurate and
           complete.     Both   parties   knowingly  and
           willingly waive their respective rights to
           take further discovery in this divorce matter
           by way of answers to interrogatories, formal
           responses to request to produce documents,
           depositions, examination of the books and
           records of the other party as well as all
           rights to an independent, separate evaluation
           and/or appraisals of the assets possessed or
           controlled by the other or themselves (other
           than real estate which was appraised), and
           such other tools of discovery as may be
           available pursuant to Court Rules.       Both

                                      7                              A-1341-16T4
           parties have had the opportunity to consult
           with accountants and tax advisors prior to
           entering into this Agreement.

     The   MSA   contains   the   following   provision   confirming   the

parties entered into the agreement knowingly and voluntarily, with

the belief the agreement was fair and equitable:

           VOLUNTARY AND INFORMED AGREEMENT. The Husband
           and Wife each acknowledge they are entering
           into this Agreement voluntarily, without
           threat, force, coercion or duress being placed
           upon their informed consent and voluntary act
           by any person. They further acknowledge that
           they are not under the influence of any drugs
           or alcoholic beverages which would impair
           their ability to understand this Agreement and
           its consequences, nor have they been under
           such influence at any time during the
           negotiation of this Agreement.     Each party
           acknowledges that he or she has read this
           Agreement in its entirety prior to signing.
           Each party further acknowledges being fully
           informed by counsel as to his or her legal
           rights and obligations.    Each party further
           acknowledges that he or she believes that this
           Agreement is fair, equitable and appropriate
           under all of the circumstances of this case.

     On August 27, 2014, plaintiff filed a complaint for divorce

alleging irreconcilable differences, which proceeded to a final

hearing as an uncontested action. On October 27, 2014, the parties

appeared with counsel for a final hearing on the uncontested

divorce.    During the hearing, plaintiff testified under oath

regarding the fairness and voluntariness of the MSA. She testified

the MSA was the product of arms-length negotiations with her


                                     8                           A-1341-16T4
husband through counsel.        Plaintiff confirmed she reviewed the

agreement with her attorney and fully understood the agreement.

Plaintiff also confirmed the basic provisions of the agreement.

      With regard to her reasons for waiving alimony and agreeing

to the terms of the MSA, plaintiff stated it was "[b]ecause

[defendant's] supposed to go to court and not practice medicine

again."     She confirmed defendant had pled guilty to a criminal

offense and there were several other pending court actions relative

to defendant's practice of medicine.

      Plaintiff testified she thought the MSA was fair, equitable,

and just.     She confirmed she signed the MSA of her own free will,

without anyone forcing, coercing, or threatening her to do so.

She   further    testified    she   was     satisfied   with    her   counsel's

services.     She also testified she realized she did not have to

settle the case and could have "gone to court" to have the judge

decide all of the issues covered by the MSA.            With that knowledge,

she indicated she felt entering into the MSA and giving up her

right to a trial was the right thing to do.             Finally, she stated

she did not have any questions for her attorney or the court.

      Based on the parties' testimony, which she found credible,

the judge determined the MSA was the product of negotiation through

counsel, and was entered into "freely, knowingly and voluntarily."

The   judge     granted   a   divorce       to   plaintiff     on   grounds    of

                                        9                               A-1341-16T4
irreconcilable differences with the MSA incorporated into the

final judgment of divorce (FJOD).

     On August 4, 2016, some twenty-three months after executing

the MSA, and more than twenty-one months after the FJOD was

entered, plaintiff filed a motion to: (1) grant her alimony; (2)

set aside the MSA; (3) conduct a plenary hearing on the issue of

fraud; (4) require defendant to prove payment to the children's

trust for rent; and (5) award her counsel fees and costs for the

motion and plenary hearing.         Defendant filed a cross-motion to

deny plaintiff's motion and award him counsel fees and costs

incurred in opposing plaintiff's motion and preparing his cross-

motion.

     In support of her application, plaintiff claimed for the

first time the MSA was inequitable and induced by fraud. Plaintiff

claimed she was "unjustifiably rushed into signing a complex MSA

after   she   had   already    agreed    to   its   terms   based   upon   false

representations made to her by the [d]efendant and his counsel

regarding [d]efendant's legal troubles, and a potential lengthy

prison sentence."       Plaintiff further alleged defendant's counsel

misrepresented that defendant's legal situation had "worsened."

     In support of her demand for a plenary hearing on the basis

of fraud, plaintiff contended defendant did not share adequate

information    during    the    settlement     discussions     regarding    the

                                        10                             A-1341-16T4
marital finances.   In her July 13, 2016 certification, she stated,

"[d]efendant has lied, cheated, and defrauded me now and throughout

our marriage. He has controlled and manipulated all of our assets

without my knowledge, consent or input during the marriage."

     In support of her alimony argument, plaintiff claimed she

believed alimony was waived at the time the MSA was signed, but

not indefinitely.   Plaintiff stated:

               My life changed radically after defendant
          told me of our problems, and then left the
          home, leaving me to deal with this and the
          impending death of my mother.        I cannot
          express how totally distraught and frightened
          I was after hearing our problems. I had waived
          my claim for alimony at the time of the
          agreement based upon the circumstances at that
          time.

     Defendant contended there is no basis to set aside the MSA

because it was a fair and equitable representation of the parties'

agreement and was entered into at arm's length.   Defendant pointed

out plaintiff did not challenge the MSA until nearly two years

after the MSA was signed and FJOD entered, and after plaintiff had

already enjoyed the benefits of the $3,500,000 in tax-free lump

sum equitable distribution she received among other additional

equitable distribution and pursuant to the parties' MSA. Defendant

further noted he prepared a detailed case information statement

(CIS), which was submitted to plaintiff for the purposes of



                                11                          A-1341-16T4
settlement negotiations and included 184 pages of financial and

trust documents.

     The motion judge heard oral argument on September 30, 2016.

The judge made the following comments during the motion hearing:

             Wife waived her claim to alimony because she
             got $3.5 million in assets. She chose not to
             engage in litigation at the time of the
             divorce because I believe she was in fact
             engaging along with the defendant in an effort
             to -- I won't go so far as to say defraud the
             Government. But to marshal assets so that the
             Government could not then collect those assets
             as a result of a criminal prosecution against
             the defendant.    She chose to move forward
             without engaging, as you say, in full
             litigation.   She chose to accept no alimony
             and she chose to accept $3.5 million in assets
             at the time of the divorce.

                  She cannot come forward two years later,
             without really presenting much of anything,
             other than, I didn't think it was going to
             work out this way, and seek alimony. I don't
             think she's made any case for me to change the
             parties' agreement from two years ago.

     On the same day, the judge issued a seven-page order denying

plaintiff's     motion   and   defendant's   cross-motion     in     their

entirety.2    The judge found there was no fraud in the negotiation

of the MSA, reasoning:

                  In order to set aside the MSA, the
             [c]ourt    must     find     either     fraud,
             unconscionability, or some overreaching in the
             negotiations of the settlement.     Here, none

2
   We note the judge inadvertently reversed the relief sought by
each party in the relief requested section of the order.

                                  12                               A-1341-16T4
            of that is present. Both parties knew each
            other's true intent. This could not be more
            evident than Wife's receipt of $3,500,000.00
            in   equitable   distribution,   as  well   as
            $45,000.00 per year in child support payments.
            The argument that Wife could have or should
            have received more is not proof of fraud, or
            that the MSA should be set aside in order to
            award Wife alimony. Wife waived her claim to
            alimony and has presented no fraud or failure
            to disclose assets that warrant her requests.
            Further, Wife's claim that Husband was facing
            impending legal charges during the MSA
            negotiations has no bearing on whether there
            was full disclosure of the assets or that the
            agreement she entered [into] was not fair
            because she still received a large equitable
            distribution, and Husband did in fact face
            criminal charges.

     This appeal followed.        On appeal, plaintiff argues: (1) the

trial court erred by not setting aside the MSA due to fraud,

overreaching,     coercion,    and   duress;3    (2)   the   case   should    be

remanded to the trial court to determine defendant's alimony

obligation based on the former marital lifestyle; (3) the trial

court erred by not requiring defendant to submit an updated CIS;

(4) the trial court erred by not scheduling a plenary hearing to

review   additional    financial      disclosures      and   take   testimony

regarding   the   marital     lifestyle   to    address   whether   defendant

should have a long-term alimony obligation (not raised below); and



3
 Plaintiff did not raise the issues of overreaching, coercion, or
duress in her moving papers or during oral argument before the
motion court.

                                     13                                A-1341-16T4
(5) plaintiff should be awarded counsel fees and costs for all

services related to this appeal and the hearing on remand (not

raised below).

     We have considered plaintiff's arguments in light of the

record and applicable law and are not persuaded by any of them.

For the following reasons, we find plaintiff's contentions to be

substantively without merit and procedurally barred.

     Our review of a Family Part's order is limited. Cesare v.

Cesare, 
154 N.J. 394, 411 (1998).             We do not substitute our

judgment for that of the trial court unless a manifest injustice

would result.      Id. at 412 (citing Rova Farm Resort, Inc. v.

Investors   Ins.   Co.,   
65 N.J.    474,   484   (1974)).   We    accord

substantial deference to fact finding by the family court because

of its special jurisdiction and expertise.           Id. at 413.

     The record amply supports the motion judge's conclusion that

plaintiff had not made a prima facie showing of fraud.         Fraud must

be plead with particularity.          R. 4:5-8(a).     To establish legal

fraud, a party must prove: "(1) a material representation by the

defendant of a presently existing or past fact; (2) knowledge or

belief by the defendant of its falsity; (3) an intent that the

plaintiff rely upon it; (4) reasonable reliance by the plaintiff;

and (5) resulting damage to the plaintiff."              Weil v. Express

Container Corp., 
360 N.J. Super. 599, 612-13 (App. Div. 2003)

                                      14                            A-1341-16T4
(citing Jewish Ctr. of Sussex Cty. v. Whale, 
86 N.J. 619, 624

(1981)).

     Here, plaintiff has not shown the statements made by defendant

in advance of his sentencing were a material representation by the

defendant of a presently existing or past fact.     On the contrary,

defendant was facing potential imprisonment for up to twenty years.

The plea agreement did not include a sentencing recommendation.

The United States Attorney reserved the right to argue for a

maximum sentence.    The sentencing was in the sole discretion of

the federal judge.      Defendant was not sentenced until after

plaintiff had executed the MSA.

     Any statements made by defendant or his counsel regarding

defendant's sentencing exposure and worsening legal situation were

opinions, not statements of fact.     Moreover, at the time they were

made, these opinions were not false or misleading.        It was not

until he was sentenced that defendant learned he would receive "a

break" from the federal judge, who departed from federal sentencing

guidelines by sentencing him to probation with house arrest for

one year, rather than a significant term of imprisonment.

     Plaintiff was represented by an experienced attorney in the

negotiation of the settlement agreement.    She understood the terms

of the agreement.   There are no substantiated allegations of fraud

in the negotiation of the MSA.      Given these circumstances, there

                                 15                           A-1341-16T4
is no legal or equitable basis to set aside the MSA.             See Miller

v. Miller, 
160 N.J. 408, 419 (1999).

     For the first time on appeal, plaintiff raises the issues of

overreaching,    coercion,     and    duress.      "An    appellate      court

ordinarily will not consider issues that were not presented to the

trial court."    State v. Arthur, 
184 N.J. 307, 327 (2005) (citing

Nieder v. Royal Indem. Ins. Co., 
62 N.J. 229, 234 (1973)); accord

Johnson   v.   Roselle   EZ   Quick   LLC,   
226 N.J.   370,   396    (2016)

(declining to address an issue not raised before the trial court

that was not an issue of sufficient public concern).             We decline

to consider these issues not raised in her moving papers or during

oral argument before the motion court.

     Plaintiff's motion is also procedurally barred.             Motions to

reopen or set aside a judgment incorporating an MSA on grounds of

fraud or inequitableness are governed by Rule 4:50-1. See Pressler

& Verniero, Current N.J. Court Rules, cmt. 6.1 on R. 4:50-1 (2018).

"Regardless of the basis, vacation of a judgment under Rule 4:50-

1 should be granted sparingly."        In re Guardianship of J.N.H., 
172 N.J. 440, 473-74 (2002) (citing Pressler & Verniero, cmt. 1.1 on

R. 4:50-1 (2001)).

     Rule 4:50-1 motions "shall be made within a reasonable time,

and for reasons (a), (b) and (c) of R. 4:50-1 not more than one

year after the judgment, order or proceeding was entered or taken."

                                      16                               A-1341-16T
4 R. 4:50-2.     Here, plaintiff's motion to reopen the judgment and

set aside the incorporated MSA was filed on August 4, 2016, more

than twenty-one months after the divorce was granted.             Moreover,

defendant was sentenced on September 4, 2014, fifty-three days

before the divorce hearing.        The sentencing took place in open

court.     The judgment of conviction is a matter of public record.

Plaintiff could easily have learned defendant was sentenced to

probation with house arrest before the divorce hearing. The record

does not support plaintiff's attempt to do so.

     Plaintiff's motion was not filed within one year or within a

reasonable time of the entry of the FJOD.              Plaintiff offers no

reason for the delay.        Accordingly, plaintiff's motion to set

aside the MSA is time barred by Rule 4:50-2.           For this additional

reason, the motion was properly denied without conducting a plenary

hearing.

     In addition, plaintiff seeks to set aside only the alimony

waiver, not the equitable distribution, custody, child support,

or counsel fee aspects of the MSA.             The MSA was an integrated

agreement.    It not only resolved issues of custody and parenting

time, but also all of the marital financial matters including

equitable distribution and spousal and child support.               "No one

element    stands   alone   and   can    be   read   without   reference    or

consideration of the others."           Glass v. Glass, 366 N.J. Super.

                                    17                               A-1341-16T4
357, 373 (App. Div. 2004).    Plaintiff cannot set aside the alimony

waiver, yet continue to enforce the equitable distribution and

other aspects of the agreement.     See Lepis v. Lepis, 
83 N.J. 139,

154 (1980) (noting courts have refused to consider an alimony

award in isolation and consider earnings received from investments

funded by an equitable distribution award); Esposito v. Esposito,


158 N.J. Super. 285, 300 (App. Div. 1978) (recognizing "support

payments are intimately related to equitable distribution and the

financial security and potential income available because of said

distribution").

     Even more fundamentally, "[i]t is a well recognized rule that

a litigant who voluntarily accepts the benefits of a judgment is

estopped from attacking it on appeal."     Tassie v. Tassie, 
140 N.J.

Super. 517, 524 (App. Div. 1976).      The rule is "a corollary to the

established principle that any act upon the part of a litigant by

which he expressly or impliedly recognizes the validity of a

judgment operates as a waiver or surrender of his right to appeal

therefrom."    Id. at 525 (citing Sturdivant v. General Brass &

Machine Corp., 
115 N.J. Super. 224, 227-28 (App. Div. 1971)).

     Here,    plaintiff   benefitted    substantially   from   the   MSA

incorporated into the FJOD.     She accepted a $3,500,000 lump sum

equitable distribution payment and has received child support at

the rate of $45,000 per year.     She cannot seek appellate review

                                 18                             A-1341-16T4
at   this   late    date   after   receiving     such   payments.    For     this

additional reason, plaintiff's motion was properly denied.

      Plaintiff argues the trial court erred by not conducting a

plenary hearing on the issue of her alimony claim.              A moving party

is entitled to a plenary hearing only where he or she clearly

demonstrates the existence of a genuine issue of material fact

entitling    the     party   to    relief   through     competent   supporting

documents and affidavits.          Lepis, 
83 N.J. at 159; Eaton v. Grau,


368 N.J. Super. 215, 222 (App. Div. 2004).

      Support provisions contained in settlement agreements or

judicial orders are subject to the same standard of judicial

modification based on substantially changed circumstances.                    See

generally Lepis, 
83 N.J. at 147-48; Smith v. Smith, 
72 N.J. 350,

360 (1977).        "An increase in support becomes necessary whenever

changed circumstances substantially impair the dependent spouse's

ability to maintain the standard of living reflected in the

original decree or agreement."          Lepis, 
83 N.J. at 152-53.

      Plaintiff      has   not    claimed   or   demonstrated   substantially

changed circumstances since the divorce was granted.                 Absent a

prima   facie      showing   of    substantially    changed     circumstances,

plaintiff is not entitled to a plenary hearing or an alimony award.

      Plaintiff further asserts the motion court erred by not

requiring defendant to submit a current CIS.              We disagree.     Under

                                       19                                A-1341-16T
4 Rule    5:5-4(a),   the   party    seeking   alimony   modification   must

demonstrate a prima facie showing of a change in circumstances

before the opposing party will be compelled to produce a current

CIS.    See also Lepis, 
83 N.J. at 157 ("A prima facie showing of

changed circumstances must be made before a court will order

discovery of an ex-spouse's financial status.")          "Only after the

movant has made this prima facie showing should the respondent's

ability to pay become a factor for the court to consider."            Ibid.

Plaintiff is not claiming, and has not made a prima facie showing,

of changed circumstances.     Accordingly, defendant was not required

to produce a current CIS.         Donnelly v. Donnelly, 
405 N.J. Super.
 117, 131 (App. Div. 2009).

       Finally, plaintiff sought an award of attorney's fees for the

motion and requested plenary hearing.         Awards of counsel fees and

costs are discretionary with the court and will only be disturbed

in clear cases of abuse.      Rendine v. Pantzer, 
141 N.J. 292, 317

(1995); Yueh v. Yueh, 
329 N.J. Super. 447, 450 (App. Div. 2000).

The factors to be considered in determining whether to award

counsel fees are enumerated in Rule 5:3-5(c).           The motion judge

found "no relevant factors warranting an award for counsel fees,

and decline[d] to award counsel fees to either [party]."                 We

discern no abuse of discretion in denying an award of counsel fees

in this matter.

                                     20                           A-1341-16T4
Affirmed.




            21   A-1341-16T4


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