Opinion
2002-02571
Submitted September 4, 2003.
September 22, 2003.
In a proceeding pursuant to Social Services Law § 384-b to terminate parental rights on the ground of permanent neglect, the father appeals from an order of fact-finding and disposition of the Family Court, Kings County (Pearce, J.), dated December 17, 2001, which, after fact-finding and dispositional hearings, terminated his parental rights and transferred custody and guardianship of the child for the purpose of adoption.
Peter A. Wilner, Jamaica, N.Y., for appellant.
Magovern Sclafani, New York, N.Y. (Keith D. Grace of counsel), for the nonparty-respondent.
Monica Drinane, New York, N.Y. (Eva Pappadopoulos of counsel), Law Guardian for the child.
Before: ANITA R. FLORIO, J.P., SONDRA MILLER, WILLIAM D. FRIEDMANN, DANIEL F. LUCIANO, JJ.
DECISION ORDER
ORDERED that the order of fact-finding and disposition is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
The petitioner met its burden of establishing by clear and convincing evidence, that despite its diligent efforts to encourage and strengthen the parental relationship, the father permanently neglected his child by failing to make plans for the child's future ( see Social Services Law § 384-b[a]; Matter of Star Leslie W., 63 N.Y.2d 136; Matter of Jamie M., 63 N.Y.2d 388; Matter of Sheila G., 61 N.Y.2d 368, 383). Accordingly, the Family Court properly found that the child was permanently neglected and terminated the father's parental rights.
The father's remaining contentions are without merit.
FLORIO, J.P., S. MILLER, FRIEDMANN and LUCIANO, JJ., concur.