Pantelidis v. Pantelidis

It is well settled that a finding of civil contempt, predicated upon a violation of a court order, must be based upon a determination that there existed a lawful court order expressing an “unequivocal mandate,” that the person to be held in contempt of such order had actual knowledge of its terms, and that the offending conduct “defeated, impaired, impeded, or prejudiced” a right or remedy of the complaining party (see McCain v Dinkins, 84 NY2d 216, 226; Matter of McCormick v Axelrod, 59 *792NY2d 574, 583; Matter of Hoglund v Hoglund, 234 AD2d 794; Paulmann v Paulmann, 224 AD2d 891, 892). The…