Opinion
2013-12-11
In the Matter of ROBERTA W. (Anonymous), respondent, v. CARLTON McK. (Anonymous), appellant. (Proceeding No. 1) In the Matter of Carlton McK. (Anonymous), appellant, v. Eileen W. (Anonymous), et al., respondents. (Proceeding No. 2).
Cheryl Gammone, Staten Island, N.Y., for appellant. Karen P. Simmons, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Barbara H. Dildine and Janet Neustaetter of counsel), attorney for the child.
Cheryl Gammone, Staten Island, N.Y., for appellant. Karen P. Simmons, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Barbara H. Dildine and Janet Neustaetter of counsel), attorney for the child.
REINALDO E. RIVERA, J.P., MARK C. DILLON, SHERI S. ROMAN, and ROBERT J. MILLER, JJ.
In a child custody proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 6, and a related guardianship proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 6, the father appeals (1) from an order of the Family Court, Kings County (Katz, J.), dated May 10, 2012, under Docket No. G–19295–08, which granted the petition of the maternal grandmother for her appointment as the permanent guardian of the person of the subject child, and (2), as limited by his brief, from so much of an order of the same court, also dated May 10, 2012, under Docket No. V–19511–08, as, in effect, denied that branch of his petition which was for custody of the subject child.
ORDERED that the order dated May 10, 2012, under Docket No. G–19295–08, is affirmed, without costs or disbursements; and it is further,
ORDERED that the order dated May 10, 2012, under Docket No. V–19511–08, is affirmed insofar as appealed from, without costs or disbursements.
“[A]s between a parent and a nonparent, the parent has the superior right to custody that cannot be denied unless the nonparent establishes that the parent has relinquished that right due to surrender, abandonment, persistent neglect, unfitness, or other extraordinary circumstances” ( Matter of Rudy v. Mazzetti, 5 A.D.3d 777, 777–778, 774 N.Y.S.2d 171; see Matter of Bennett v. Jeffreys, 40 N.Y.2d 543, 546, 387 N.Y.S.2d 821, 356 N.E.2d 277; Matter of Campo v. Chapman, 24 A.D.3d 439, 805 N.Y.S.2d 121). Here, the maternal grandmother of the subject child satisfied her burden of establishing extraordinary circumstances on the basis of the evidence as to the father's history of substance abuse and failure to comply with mental health treatment, the father's criminal history and history of domestic violence, the father's inability to support the child, and the grandmother's demonstrated ability to care for the child's extraordinary special needs, as well as the strong emotional bond that the child has developed with the grandmother ( see Matter of Cockrell v. Burke, 50 A.D.3d 895, 896–897, 856 N.Y.S.2d 212; Matter of Dellolio v. Tracy, 35 A.D.3d 737, 738, 825 N.Y.S.2d 783; Matter of Campo v. Chapman, 24 A.D.3d at 439–440, 805 N.Y.S.2d 121; Matter of Koch v. Andres, 299 A.D.2d 411, 411–412, 749 N.Y.S.2d 561).
Inasmuch as the Family Court is in the best position to evaluate the credibility, temperament, and sincerity of the parties, its determination should be set aside only if it lacks a sound and substantial basis in the record ( see Matter of Louise E.S. v. W. Stephen S., 64 N.Y.2d 946, 488 N.Y.S.2d 637, 477 N.E.2d 1091; Matter of Leonard v. DeGeorge–Simpson, 249 A.D.2d 475, 476, 671 N.Y.S.2d 308). Here, the Family Court's determination that the best interests of the child require that he be placed in the permanent guardianship of the maternal grandmother had a sound and substantial basis in the record ( see Matter of Cockrell v. Burke, 50 A.D.3d at 897, 856 N.Y.S.2d 212; Matter of Dellolio v. Tracy, 35 A.D.3d at 737–738, 825 N.Y.S.2d 783; Matter of Campo v. Chapman, 24 A.D.3d at 440, 805 N.Y.S.2d 121; Matter of Koch v. Andres, 299 A.D.2d at 412, 749 N.Y.S.2d 561).