Opinion
2013-09-26
In the Matter of Lisa A. GUILD, Respondent, v. Reggie A. CLIFFORD, Appellant. (And Two Other Related Proceedings.)
John A. Cirando, Syracuse, for appellant. Thomas Wheeler, Potsdam, attorney for the child.
John A. Cirando, Syracuse, for appellant. Thomas Wheeler, Potsdam, attorney for the child.
Before: ROSE, J.P., SPAIN, GARRY and EGAN JR., JJ.
GARRY, J.
Appeal from an order of the Family Court of St. Lawrence County (Morris, J.), entered May 4, 2012, which granted petitioner's application, in a proceeding pursuant to Family Ct. Act article 6, to find respondent in willful violation of a prior court order.
The parties are the parents of one child (born in 2008). In 2011, an order was entered placing sole custody of the child with petitioner (hereinafter the mother) and providing respondent (hereinafter the father) with parenting time “at such times as the parties agree.” Later that year, the mother filed these petitions alleging that the father had violated the order by refusing to return the child to her after an extended period of visitation. Following a hearing, Family Court found that the father willfully violated the custody order but, due to all of the circumstances, declined to impose any penalty. The father appeals.
Initially, we note that the father's appeal from the finding of willful violation is not moot, as such a finding may have “enduring consequences” with regard to future custody and visitation matters ( Matter of Bickwid v. Deutsch, 87 N.Y.2d 862, 863, 638 N.Y.S.2d 932, 662 N.E.2d 250 [1995]; see Matter of Destiny F. [Angela F.], 85 A.D.3d 1229, 1229, 925 N.Y.S.2d 224 [2011],lv. dismissed17 N.Y.3d 854, 930 N.Y.S.2d 549, 954 N.E.2d 1175 [2011];Matter of Ashley E. [Mark E.], 68 A.D.3d 1185, 1186, 889 N.Y.S.2d 727 [2009] ). Turning to the merits, the record provides the clear and convincing proof necessary to support the finding of willful violation ( see Matter of Holland v. Holland, 80 A.D.3d 807, 808, 914 N.Y.S.2d 397 [2011];Matter of Duane H. v. Tina J., 66 A.D.3d 1148, 1149, 887 N.Y.S.2d 345 [2009];Matter of Aurelia v. Aurelia, 56 A.D.3d 963, 964, 869 N.Y.S.2d 227 [2008] ). Although Family Court did not find either party particularly credible, the one fact that was testified to consistently by both of them was that, despite an existing court order providing the mother with sole custody and the father parenting time upon the parties' agreement, the father refused to return the child to the mother when she sought to retrieve the child after a lengthy period of parenting time with the father. Accordingly, we find no error in the court's decision ( see Matter of Holland v. Holland, 80 A.D.3d at 808, 914 N.Y.S.2d 397;Matter of Aurelia v. Aurelia, 56 A.D.3d at 964, 869 N.Y.S.2d 227).
ORDERED that the order is affirmed, without costs.