Opinion
10-11-2017
In the Matter of Ifeanyi Gabriel AGU, petitioner-respondent, v. Deborah WILLIAMS, appellant; Administration for Children's Services, respondent-respondent.
Heath J. Goldstein, Jamaica, NY, for appellant. Janis A. Parazzelli, Floral Park, NY, for petitioner-respondent. Zachary W. Carter, Corporation Counsel, New York, NY (Pamela Seider Dolgow and Susan Paulson of counsel), for respondent-respondent. Seymour W. James, Jr., New York, NY (Tamara A. Steckler and Marianne Allegro of counsel), attorney for the child.
Heath J. Goldstein, Jamaica, NY, for appellant.
Janis A. Parazzelli, Floral Park, NY, for petitioner-respondent.
Zachary W. Carter, Corporation Counsel, New York, NY (Pamela Seider Dolgow and Susan Paulson of counsel), for respondent-respondent.
Seymour W. James, Jr., New York, NY (Tamara A. Steckler and Marianne Allegro of counsel), attorney for the child.
REINALDO E. RIVERA, J.P., SHERI S. ROMAN, JOSEPH J. MALTESE, and HECTOR D. LaSALLE, JJ.
Appeal by the mother from an order of the Family Court, Queens County (Mary R. O'Donoghue, J.), dated June 22, 2016. The order, insofar as appealed from, after a fact-finding hearing, granted the father's petition for custody of the subject child.
ORDERED that order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, without costs or disbursements.
" ‘The court's paramount concern in any custody dispute is to determine, under the totality of the circumstances, what is in the best interests of the child’ " (Matter of Gooler v. Gooler, 107 A.D.3d 712, 712, 966 N.Y.S.2d 208, quoting Matter of Julie v. Wills, 73 A.D.3d 777, 777, 899 N.Y.S.2d 669 ; see Eschbach v. Eschbach, 56 N.Y.2d 167, 171, 451 N.Y.S.2d 658, 436 N.E.2d 1260 ). In determining an initial petition for child custody, the court must consider, among other things, "(1) which alternative will best promote stability; (2) the available home environments; (3) the past performance of each parent; (4) each parent's relative fitness, including his or her ability to guide the child, provide for the child's overall well being, and foster the child's relationship with the noncustodial parent; and (5) the child's desires" (Matter of Supangkat v. Torres, 101 A.D.3d 889, 890, 954 N.Y.S.2d 915 ). Custody determinations depend to a great extent upon an assessment of the character and credibility of the parties and witnesses, and therefore, deference is accorded to the trial court's findings in this regard (see Matter of Gooler v. Gooler, 107 A.D.3d at 712, 966 N.Y.S.2d 208 ). Such findings will not be disturbed unless they lack a sound and substantial basis in the record (see id.; see also Matter of Frankiv v. Kalitka, 105 A.D.3d 1045, 963 N.Y.S.2d 393 ).
Here, the evidence presented at the hearing established that the mother had been diagnosed by at least two mental health experts as suffering from "Psychotic Disorder NOS" and/or "Personality Disorder NOS with Paranoid and Schizotypal Features," that the mother refused to obtain appropriate treatment for her serious mental health problems, and that these problems impaired her ability to function appropriately as a custodial parent (see Matter of Angelina L.C. [Michael C.—Patricia H.–C.], 110 A.D.3d 793, 796, 973 N.Y.S.2d 668 ; Matter of Berkham v. Vessia, 63 A.D.3d 1155, 1156, 882 N.Y.S.2d 449 ; Matter of Berrouet v. Greaves, 35 A.D.3d 460, 461, 825 N.Y.S.2d 719 ). Accordingly, the Family Court's determination to award custody to the father, which was consistent with the opinion of the court-appointed forensic expert and the position of the attorney for the child, has a sound and substantial basis in the record and will not be disturbed.