Opinion
02-22-2017
In the Matter of Sylvanus BACCHUS, appellant, v. Nadine McGREGOR, respondent.
Jeffrey C. Bluth, New York, NY, for appellant. Robert Marinelli, New York, NY, for respondent. Karen P. Simmons, Brooklyn, NY (Susan M. Cordaro and Janet Neustaetter of counsel), attorney for the child.
Jeffrey C. Bluth, New York, NY, for appellant.
Robert Marinelli, New York, NY, for respondent.
Karen P. Simmons, Brooklyn, NY (Susan M. Cordaro and Janet Neustaetter of counsel), attorney for the child.
WILLIAM F. MASTRO, J.P., RUTH C. BALKIN, JEFFREY A. COHEN, and VALERIE BRATHWAITE NELSON, JJ.
Appeal by the father from an order of the Family Court, Kings County (Anthony Cannataro, J.), dated August 18, 2015. The order granted the mother's motion, made at the close of the father's case, to dismiss his petition to modify an order of custody and visitation of that court (Anne G. Feldman, J.H.O.) dated March 31, 2009.
ORDERED that the order dated August 18, 2015, is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
A final order of custody and visitation dated March 31, 2009, awarded custody of the subject child to the mother with visitation to the father. In March 2013, the father filed a petition to modify that order so as to award him custody. The Family Court conducted a hearing and, at the conclusion of the father's case, granted the mother's motion to dismiss his petition for failure to establish a prima facie case.
"An order of custody or visitation may be modified only upon a showing that there has been a subsequent change of circumstances such that modification is required to ensure the best interests of the child" (Matter of C.H. v. F.M., 130 A.D.3d 1028, 1028, 14 N.Y.S.3d 482 ; see Matter of Cruz v. Figueroa, 132 A.D.3d 669, 17 N.Y.S.3d 503 ; Vollkommer v. Vollkommer, 101 A.D.3d 1108, 956 N.Y.S.2d 550 ; Matter of Aronowich–Culhane v. Fournier, 94 A.D.3d 1114, 1115, 943 N.Y.S.2d 174 ). In deciding a motion to dismiss a petition for failure to establish a prima facie case, the court must accept the petitioner's evidence as true and afford the petitioner the benefit of every favorable inference that can reasonably be drawn therefrom (see Matter
of Cruz v. Figueroa, 132 A.D.3d at 669, 17 N.Y.S.3d 503 ; Matter of C.H. v. F.M., 130 A.D.3d at 1028, 14 N.Y.S.3d 482 ; Matter of Kerwin v. Kerwin, 39 A.D.3d 950, 951, 833 N.Y.S.2d 694 ). "The question of credibility is irrelevant and should not be considered (Gonzalez v. Gonzalez, 262 A.D.2d 281, 282, 691 N.Y.S.2d 122 ; see Matter of Ramroop v. Ramsagar, 74 A.D.3d 1208, 1209, 902 N.Y.S.2d 422 ). Here, accepting his evidence as true and affording him the benefit of every reasonable inference, the father failed to present evidence sufficient to establish a prima facie case of a change of circumstances which might warrant modification of the underlying custody and visitation order (see Matter of Cruz v. Figueroa, 132 A.D.3d at 669, 17 N.Y.S.3d 503 ; Matter of C.H. v. F.M., 130 A.D.3d at 1028, 14 N.Y.S.3d 482 ). The Family Court, therefore, properly granted the mother's motion, made at the close of the father's case, to dismiss the petition to modify that order.
The father's remaining contentions are without merit.