“An essential element of criminal contempt is willful disobedience” (Dalessio v Kressler, 6 AD3d 57, 66 [2004]). Indeed,
Here, we agree with the Supreme Court that the plaintiff failed to make the prima facie showing of willful disregard of a court order by the defendants Mark Meyerowitz and Karen Meyerowitz necessary to support a finding of criminal contempt. While those defendants may have misinterpreted a certain provision of the judgment, the record nevertheless supports the conclusion that they made reasonable attempts to comply with that provision soon after the entry of the judgment. Under such circumstances, a finding of criminal contempt was not warranted (cf. Ferraro v Ferraro, 272 AD2d 510 [2000]). Skelos, J.P., Lifson, Santucci and Balkin, JJ., concur.