Opinion
2013-06-7
In the Matter of Janie JASCO, Petitioner–Respondent, v. David ALVIRA, Respondent–Appellant.
Colucci & Gallaher, P.C., Buffalo (John Keenan of Counsel), for Respondent–Appellant.
PRESENT: SCUDDER, P.J., SMITH, CENTRA, AND LINDLEY, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
Respondent father appeals from an order confirming the finding of the Support Magistrate that he was in contempt of court based on his willful violation of a prior order of support, and incarcerating him. Initially, we agree with the father that, although he has completed serving the sentence of incarceration, the appeal is not moot because of the “enduring consequences [that] potentially flow from an order adjudicating a party in civil contempt” ( Matter of Bickwid v. Deutsch, 87 N.Y.2d 862, 863, 638 N.Y.S.2d 932, 662 N.E.2d 250;see Matter of Storelli v. Storelli, 101 A.D.3d 1787, 1788, 958 N.Y.S.2d 249).
The father's further contention that Family Court lacked subject matter jurisdiction is in actuality a contention that the petition was not legally sufficient because it failed to allege that he willfully failed to comply with a prior order requiring him to pay child support. The father failed to preserve that contention for our review ( see generally Matter of Irene C. [Reina M.], 68 A.D.3d 416, 416, 889 N.Y.S.2d 574;Matter of Toshea C.J., 62 A.D.3d 587, 587, 880 N.Y.S.2d 36;Matter of Kimberly Vanessa J., 37 A.D.3d 185, 185, 829 N.Y.S.2d 473), and in any event it is without merit ( see generally Matter of Child Support Enforcement Unit v. John M., 283 A.D.2d 40, 43, 724 N.Y.S.2d 235). The petition included, in capital letters and large bold type on the front page, the “warning” that a hearing was being requested, the purpose of which was to punish the father for contempt of court. The “warning” further advised the father that the sanction of imprisonment could be imposed. Furthermore, the father admitted that he was in willful violation of the prior order, and the Support Magistrate, “on more than one occasionprior to the [admission by the father that he violated the prior order,] confirmed that the petition was for a willful violation of the prior order[ ]” ( Matter of Santana v. Gonzalez, 90 A.D.3d 1198, 1199, 935 N.Y.S.2d 156).
We reject the further contention of the father that he was not afforded effective assistance of counsel ( see Matter of Rothfuss v. Thomas, 6 A.D.3d 1145, 1146, 775 N.Y.S.2d 657,lv. denied3 N.Y.3d 603, 782 N.Y.S.2d 697, 816 N.E.2d 570;Matter of Amanda L., 302 A.D.2d 1004, 1004, 754 N.Y.S.2d 494). We have considered the father's remaining contention and conclude that it is without merit.
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.