Opinion
03-08-2017
In the Matter of JAURELIOUS G. (Anonymous). Administration for Children's Services, appellant; Gwendolyn J. (Anonymous), respondent. (Proceeding No. 1) In the Matter of Jamakie B. (Anonymous). Administration for Children's Services, appellant; Gwendolyn J. (Anonymous), respondent. (Proceeding No. 2) In the Matter of Jazlinne M. (Anonymous). Administration for Children's Services, appellant; Gwendolyn J. (Anonymous), respondent. (Proceeding No. 3).
Zachary W. Carter, Corporation Counsel, New York, NY (Fay Ng and MacKenzie Fillow of counsel), for appellant. Center for Family Representation, Inc., Jamaica, NY (William Price of counsel), for respondent. Seymour W. James, Jr., New York, NY (Tamara A. Steckler and Patricia Colella of counsel), attorney for the children.
Zachary W. Carter, Corporation Counsel, New York, NY (Fay Ng and MacKenzie Fillow of counsel), for appellant.
Center for Family Representation, Inc., Jamaica, NY (William Price of counsel), for respondent.
Seymour W. James, Jr., New York, NY (Tamara A. Steckler and Patricia Colella of counsel), attorney for the children.
MARK C. DILLON, J.P., SHERI S. ROMAN, SYLVIA O. HINDS–RADIX, and COLLEEN D. DUFFY, JJ.
Appeal by the petitioner from an order of fact-finding and disposition of the Family Court, Queens County (Emily Ruben, J.), dated August 3, 2016. The order, after a fact-finding hearing, dismissed petitions alleging, inter alia, that the mother neglected the subject children as a result of mental illness. By decision and order on motion of this Court dated September 2, 2016, enforcement of certain portions of the order was stayed pending hearing and determination of the appeal.
ORDERED that the order of fact-finding and disposition is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
The petitioner commenced these neglect proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 10 alleging, inter alia, that the mother neglected the subject children as a result of her mental illness. After a fact-finding hearing, where evidence of the mother's mental illness, her ongoing treatment for her mental illness, and the condition of the children was admitted, the Family Court dismissed the proceedings on the ground that neglect was not established. The petitioner appeals.
In a neglect proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 10, the petitioner has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the subject child was neglected (see Family Ct. Act § 1046[b] [i] ; Matter of Justin L. [Sandra L.], 144 A.D.3d 915, 41 N.Y.S.3d 277 ). "[A] party seeking to establish neglect must show, by a preponderance of the evidence, first, that a child's physical, mental or emotional condition has been impaired or is in imminent danger of becoming impaired and second, that the actual or threatened harm to the child is a consequence of the failure of the parent or caretaker to exercise a minimum degree of care in providing the child with proper supervision or guardianship" (Nicholson v. Scoppetta, 3 N.Y.3d 357, 368, 787 N.Y.S.2d 196, 820 N.E.2d 840 [citation omitted]; see Matter of Justin L. [Sandra L.], 144 A.D.3d at 915, 41 N.Y.S.3d 277). Although a finding of neglect may be predicated upon proof that a child's mental, physical, or emotional condition is in imminent danger of becoming impaired as a result of a parent's mental illness, "proof of mental illness alone will not support a finding of neglect" (Matter of Alexis S.G. [Shanese B.], 107 A.D.3d 799, 799, 967 N.Y.S.2d 737 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Matter of Nialani T. [Elizabeth B.], 125 A.D.3d 672, 674, 2 N.Y.S.3d 581 ).
Here, the petitioner failed to sustain its burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the children's physical, mental, or emotional condition was in imminent danger of becoming impaired as a result of the mother's mental illness (see Matter of Justin L. [Sandra L.], 144 A.D.3d at 916, 41 N.Y.S.3d 277; Matter of Nialani T. [Elizabeth B.], 125 A.D.3d at 674, 2 N.Y.S.3d 581 ; Matter of Joseph A. [Fausat O.], 91 A.D.3d 638, 640, 937 N.Y.S.2d 250 ). The evidence showed that the children were healthy and well cared for by the mother (see Matter of Justin L. [Sandra L.], 144 A.D.3d at 916, 41 N.Y.S.3d 277; Matter of Nialani T. [Elizabeth B.], 125 A.D.3d at 674, 2 N.Y.S.3d 581 ; Matter of Joseph A. [Fausat O.], 91 A.D.3d at 640, 937 N.Y.S.2d 250 ). Accordingly, the Family Court properly dismissed the neglect petitions.