Opinion
2014-01-3
In the Matter of JADA G. and Jonathan G. Wyoming County Department of Social Services, Petitioner–Respondent; Marcella G., Respondent–Appellant, and Jonathan C., Respondent.
Appeal from an order of the Family Court, Wyoming County (Michael F. Griffith, J.), entered November 28, 2012 in a proceeding pursuant to Social Services Law § 384–b. The order, inter alia, terminated the parental rights of respondents. Davison Law Office PLLC, Canandaigua (Mary P. Davison of Counsel), for Respondent–Appellant. Wendy S. Sisson, Geneseo, for Petitioner–Respondent.
Appeal from an order of the Family Court, Wyoming County (Michael F. Griffith, J.), entered November 28, 2012 in a proceeding pursuant to Social Services Law § 384–b. The order, inter alia, terminated the parental rights of respondents.
Davison Law Office PLLC, Canandaigua (Mary P. Davison of Counsel), for Respondent–Appellant. Wendy S. Sisson, Geneseo, for Petitioner–Respondent.
Linda M. Jones, Attorney for the Children, Batavia.
MEMORANDUM:
On appeal from an order terminating her parental rights on the ground of permanent neglect and transferring guardianship and custody of the children to petitioner, respondent mother contends that she was denied effective assistance of counsel. We reject that contention. It is well settled that “[a] parent alleging ineffective assistance of counsel has the burden of demonstrating both that he or she was denied meaningful representation and that the deficient representation resulted in actual prejudice” (Matter of Michael C., 82 A.D.3d 1651, 1652, 920 N.Y.S.2d 502, lv. denied17 N.Y.3d 704, 2011 WL 2535216). Here, the mother's attorney provided meaningful representation at the hearing on the petition alleging that she violated the terms of the suspended judgment and at the dispositional hearing, and the mother's contention otherwise “is impermissibly based on speculation, i.e., that favorable evidence could and should have been offered on [her] behalf” ( Matter of Devonte M.T. [Leroy T.], 79 A.D.3d 1818, 1819, 913 N.Y.S.2d 457). Contrary to the mother's contention, reversal is not required based upon her attorney's alleged conflict of interest with a witness called by petitioner. The testimony was of a trivial nature, and in any event the record reflects that the mother upon an inquiry by the court indicated that she understood the relationship between the witness and her attorney and was not concerned about her attorney questioning the witness ( see generally People v. Wallace, 60 A.D.3d 1268, 1271, 875 N.Y.S.2d 353, lv. denied12 N.Y.3d 922, 884 N.Y.S.2d 703, 912 N.E.2d 1084). Finally, although the mother asks this Court to remit the matter to Family Court to establish a schedule of therapeutic “winding down” of the parent/child relationships, we note that courts are without authority to order posttermination contact where, as here, parental rights have been terminated ( see Matter of Hailey ZZ. [Ricky ZZ.], 19 N.Y.3d 422, 437–438, 948 N.Y.S.2d 846, 972 N.E.2d 87).
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs. CENTRA, J.P., PERADOTTO, CARNI, LINDLEY, and VALENTINO, JJ., concur.