Opinion
2014-10-21
In re JOHN S., Petitioner–Appellant, v. IMARI W., Respondent, Kwamel B., Respondent–Respondent.
Law Office of Thomas R. Villecco, P.C., Jericho (Thomas R. Villecco of counsel), for appellant. Jo Ann Douglas, New York, for respondent.
Law Office of Thomas R. Villecco, P.C., Jericho (Thomas R. Villecco of counsel), for appellant. Jo Ann Douglas, New York, for respondent.
Karen Freedman, Lawyers for Children, Inc., New York (Shirim Nothenberg of counsel), attorney for the child.
Order, Family Court, New York County (Douglas E. Hoffman, J.), entered on or about August 5, 2013, which granted the motion of respondent Kwamel B. to dismiss the petition of John S. for a declaration of paternity of the subject child, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The court properly determined that it was in the best interests of the child to equitably estop petitioner from asserting paternity ( see Matter of Shondel J. v. Mark D., 7 N.Y.3d 320, 326, 820 N.Y.S.2d 199, 853 N.E.2d 610 [2006] ). The evidence shows that petitioner has failed to establish any kind of meaningful bond during the child's life, that the child recognizes respondent Kwamel B. as his father, that Kwamel has been the child's primary caregiver, and that it would be “detrimental to the child's interests to disrupt [his] close relationship” with Kwamel ( Matter of Fidel A. v. Sharon N., 71 A.D.3d 437, 437, 894 N.Y.S.2d 753 [1st Dept.2010] ). Petitioner's claim that he promptly asserted his paternity rights is without merit, given his unexplained delay in bringing the petition for over two years after he met the child and was told that he was the child's father ( see Matter of Rudman v. Rubenfeld, 300 A.D.2d 79, 751 N.Y.S.2d 448 [1st Dept.2002] ).
We have considered petitioner's remaining contentions and find them unavailing. TOM, J.P., RENWICK, MOSKOWITZ, RICHTER, KAPNICK, JJ., concur.