Opinion
11-10-2016
In the Matter of LUNDYN S. Cayuga County Department of Health and Human Services, Petitioner; Al–Rahim S., Respondent. In the Matter of Velvia S., Petitioner–Appellant, v. Carrie L., Cayuga County Department of Health and Human Services, and Al–Rahim S., Respondents–Respondents.
D.J. & J.A. Cirando, Esqs., Syracuse (Elizabeth deV. Moeller of Counsel), for Petitioner–Appellant. Harris Beach PLLC, Buffalo (Allison A. Fiut of Counsel), for Respondent–Respondent Cayuga County Department of Health and Human Services. Michele R. Driscoll, Attorney for the Child, Auburn.
D.J. & J.A. Cirando, Esqs., Syracuse (Elizabeth deV. Moeller of Counsel), for Petitioner–Appellant.
Harris Beach PLLC, Buffalo (Allison A. Fiut of Counsel), for Respondent–Respondent Cayuga County Department of Health and Human Services.
Michele R. Driscoll, Attorney for the Child, Auburn.
PRESENT: SMITH, J.P., CARNI, LINDLEY, DeJOSEPH, AND SCUDDER, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:Petitioner Cayuga County Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) commenced a proceeding seeking to terminate the parental rights of respondent father Al–Rahim S. with respect to the subject child, and the father's mother, petitioner Velvia S. (petitioner), also sought custody of the child. Petitioner now appeals from an order that denied her petition and continued custody of the child with DHS.
Petitioner contends that reversal is required because DHS did not comply with the statutory requirement to contact her and advise her of the pendency of this proceeding and her right to seek to become a foster parent or obtain custody of the child (see Family Ct. Act § 1017[1] ). We reject that contention. Even assuming, arguendo, that DHS failed to fulfill its statutory duty to locate the subject child's relatives and inform them of the pendency of the proceeding and of the opportunity for becoming foster parents or for seeking custody of the child, “[u]nder the provisions of article 10 ..., there is ... an explicit ‘best interests' standard of review” for review of petitions seeking placement of a child with a relative (Matter of Deborah E.C. v. Shawn K., 63 A.D.3d 1724, 1725, 883 N.Y.S.2d 401, lv. denied 13 N.Y.3d 710, 2009 WL 3428575 ; see § 1055–b [a][ii] ). On the father's prior appeal from the same order, we rejected his contention that the best interests of the child would be served by awarding custody of her to petitioner, rather than “awarding custody to [DHS] so that the child may be adopted by her foster parents” (Matter of Lundyn S. [Al–Rahim S.], 128 A.D.3d 1406, 1407–1408, 7 N.Y.S.3d 803 ). For reasons stated by this Court in the father's prior appeal, we reject petitioner's contention that the best interests of the child would be served by awarding custody to petitioner (see id. ). In addition, we note that a “nonparent relative of the child does not have ‘a greater right to custody’ than the child's foster parents” (Matter of Matthew E. v. Erie County Dept. of Social Servs., 41 A.D.3d 1240, 1241, 839 N.Y.S.2d 871 ; see Matter of Gordon B.B., 30 A.D.3d 1005, 1006, 818 N.Y.S.2d 692 ; see generally Matter of Thurston v. Skellington, 89 A.D.3d 1520, 1520, 933 N.Y.S.2d 154 ).
Finally, petitioner contends that she was deprived of effective assistance of counsel because her attorney failed to move to vacate the prior placement order pursuant to Family Court Act § 1061 at the same time that her attorney filed the instant petition seeking custody of the child. Even assuming, arguendo, that petitioner is entitled to assigned counsel or may otherwise raise the issue of effective assistance of counsel (cf. § 262; see generally Matter of Brittni K., 297 A.D.2d 236, 240–241, 746 N.Y.S.2d 290 ), we reject that contention. “There is no denial of effective assistance of counsel ... arising from a failure to make a motion or argument that has little or no chance of success” (Matter of Kelsey R.K. [John J.K.], 113 A.D.3d 1139, 1140, 978 N.Y.S.2d 560, lv. denied 22 N.Y.3d 866, 2014 WL 1362321 ). On a motion pursuant to section 1061, a court may modify or vacate an order of custody upon a showing of good cause (see generally Matter of Arkadian S. [Crystal S.], 130 A.D.3d 1457, 1457–1458, 13 N.Y.S.3d 746, lv. dismissed 26 N.Y.3d 995, 19 N.Y.S.3d 216, 41 N.E.3d 73 ), and “the modified order ‘must reflect a resolution consistent with the best interests of the children after consideration of all relevant facts and circumstances, and must be supported by a sound and substantial basis in the record’ ” (Matter of Kenneth QQ. [Jodi QQ.], 77 A.D.3d 1223, 1224, 909 N.Y.S.2d 585 ). Here, because the court properly determined after a hearing that the best interests of the child were served by awarding custody to DHS so that the child may be adopted by her foster parents (see Lundyn S., 128 A.D.3d at 1407–1408, 7 N.Y.S.3d 803 ), there is little or no chance that a motion pursuant to section 1061 would have been successful.
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.