Edwards v. Wells

*531“An order of reference shall direct the referee to determine the entire action or specific issues, to report issues, to perform particular acts, or to receive and report evidence only. It may specify or limit the powers of the referee and the time for the filing of his report and may fix a time and place for the hearing” (CPLR 4311). “[A] Referee’s authority is derived from the order of reference and a Judicial Hearing Officer who attempts to determine matters not referred to him [or her] by the order of reference acts beyond and in excess of his [or her] jurisdiction” (McCormack v McCormack,…