Opinion
2018–12179 Docket Nos. O-14267-15/16A/17B/17C/17D
10-09-2019
In the Matter of Robert AIELLO, Respondent, v. Chantelle CHAFFAT, Appellant.
Kathy A. Polias, Brooklyn, NY, for appellant. Richard A. Izzo, Brooklyn, NY, for respondent.
Kathy A. Polias, Brooklyn, NY, for appellant.
Richard A. Izzo, Brooklyn, NY, for respondent.
REINALDO E. RIVERA, J.P., LEONARD B. AUSTIN, JOHN M. LEVENTHAL, ANGELA G. IANNACCI, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER In related proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 8, Chantelle Chaffat appeals from an order of the Family Court, Kings County (Javier E. Vargas, J.), dated September 27, 2018. The order, insofar as appealed from, (1) denied those branches of the appellant's motion which were pursuant to CPLR 5015 to vacate (a) an order of fact-finding and disposition of the same court (Sharon A. Bourne–Clarke, J.) dated August 16, 2017, finding that she committed the family offenses of aggravated harassment in the second degree, harassment in the second degree, and stalking in the fourth degree, and (b) a related order of protection of the same court dated August 15, 2017, both of which were entered after an inquest upon her default in appearing at the fact-finding and dispositional hearings, and (2) denied those branches of the appellant's motion which were pursuant to CPLR 5015(a)(1) to vacate (a) an order of the same court dated September 11, 2017, finding that she violated certain orders of protection, and (b) certain provisions of a related order of protection of the same court, also dated September 11, 2017, both of which were entered after an inquest upon her default in appearing for a scheduled court date.
ORDERED that the order dated September 27, 2018, is affirmed insofar as appealed from, without costs or disbursements.
On June 9, 2015, the petitioner filed a petition against the appellant, alleging that the appellant, with whom he had an intimate relationship, committed certain family offenses. On August 15, 2017, the appellant failed to appear for a scheduled fact-finding hearing. The Family Court conducted an inquest in the appellant's absence, after which the court found that she committed the family offenses of aggravated harassment in the second degree, harassment in the second degree, and stalking in the fourth degree. On August 15, 2017, the court issued an order of protection in favor of the petitioner, and on August 16, 2017, the court issued an order of fact-finding and disposition (hereinafter together the August 2017 orders). On September 11, 2017, the appellant failed to appear for a scheduled court date as to petitions alleging that she violated orders of protection. On that date, the court, after an inquest, issued an order finding that the appellant violated certain provisions of the orders of protection, and also issued an order of protection in favor of the petitioner (hereinafter together the September 2017 orders).
Thereafter, the appellant moved, inter alia, pursuant to CPLR 5015 to vacate the August 2017 orders, and separately moved pursuant to CPLR 5015(a)(1) to vacate the September 2017 orders. In the order appealed from, dated September 27, 2018, the Family Court denied those branches of the appellant's motion which were to vacate the August 2017 orders. The court also denied the appellant's motion to vacate the September 2017 orders, except that the court vacated portions of the orders to the extent that the order of protection dated September 11, 2017, had directed the appellant to refrain from contacting the petitioner's family members, business associates, friends, and colleagues.
Contrary to the appellant's contention, her failure to appear for the scheduled hearing on August 15, 2017, constituted a default (see Matter of Saporito v. Ward, 160 A.D.3d 651, 73 N.Y.S.3d 606 ; Matter of Sacks v. Abraham, 114 A.D.3d 799, 800, 980 N.Y.S.2d 525 ).
"A party ‘seeking to vacate an order of protection entered upon his or her failure to appear on a family offense petition must demonstrate a reasonable excuse for the default and a potentially meritorious defense to the petition’ " ( Matter of Ignatieva v. Sullivan, 169 A.D.3d 680, 680–681, 91 N.Y.S.3d 724, quoting Matter of McKinney v. Jones, 151 A.D.3d 973, 973, 54 N.Y.S.3d 304 ). "The determination of whether to relieve a party of an order entered upon that party's default is within the sound discretion of the Family Court" ( Matter of McKinney v. Jones, 151 A.D.3d at 973, 54 N.Y.S.3d 304 ). Here, the appellant failed to demonstrate a reasonable excuse for her failure to appear at the scheduled hearing on August 15, 2017, and the scheduled court date on September 11, 2017 (see Matter of Tyrone F. v. Mariah O., 165 A.D.3d 433, 85 N.Y.S.3d 46 ; Matter of Matthew C. v. Robin B., 162 A.D.3d 436, 78 N.Y.S.3d 332 ; Matter of Jade Yun Hon v. Tin Yat Chin, 126 A.D.3d 904, 2 N.Y.S.3d 924 ; Matter of Davis v. Davis, 84 A.D.3d 1080, 1081–1082, 923 N.Y.S.2d 633 ). Since the appellant did not have a reasonable excuse for her defaults, this Court need not determine whether she established a potentially meritorious defense to the petitions (see Matter of Kamiyah D.B.V. [Myron B.], 168 A.D.3d 752, 753, 89 N.Y.S.3d 650 ).
The appellant's remaining contentions are without merit.
Accordingly, we agree with the Family Court's determinations denying those branches of the appellant's motion which were to vacate the August 2017 orders, and denying the appellant's motion to vacate the September 2017 orders, except to the extent indicated in the order appealed from.
RIVERA, J.P., AUSTIN, LEVENTHAL and IANNACCI, JJ., concur.