Peltier v. Peltier

This case concerns an attorney’s susceptibility to summary punishment for contempt for failure to attend court at an appointed time.

On July 8, 1976, a divorce action was heard in part in the Family Court before Justice William R. Goldberg and was then recessed until 12 noon the following day. At the appointed time on that day both parties and the wife’s attorney were present in court, but Aram K. Berberian, the husband’s attorney, was absent. When he arrived at 2:40 p.m., he apologized for his tardiness and explained that several short criminal matters previously scheduled for hearing on that…