Opinion
10708
01-07-2020
In re DEANNA V., Petitioner–Respondent, v. MICHAEL C., Respondent–Appellant.
Bruce A. Young, New York, for appellant. Carol L. Kahn, New York, for respondent. Law Office of Randall S. Carmel, Jericho (Randall S. Carmel of counsel), attorney for the child.
Bruce A. Young, New York, for appellant.
Carol L. Kahn, New York, for respondent.
Law Office of Randall S. Carmel, Jericho (Randall S. Carmel of counsel), attorney for the child.
Friedman, J.P., Webber, Singh, Moulton, JJ.
Order, Family Court, Bronx County (Tracey A. Bing, J.), entered on or about April 7, 2019, which, to the extent appealed from as limited by the briefs, granted the mother's petition to modify the custody order, awarded her sole legal and physical custody of the parties' child and ordered that the child commute from the Bronx to Long Beach for high school, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The record demonstrates that, upon the parties' agreement in 2012, the child went to live with the father and paternal grandmother in Long Beach, Long Island and would visit the mother every weekend. However, by 2016, the father was spending 2 of 5 weeknights at his girlfriend's home in Brooklyn, and the child was being supervised by the grandmother. The grandmother enrolled the child in school and took him to all medical, dental, and therapy appointments. She was also disciplining the child. The record showed that the child complained to his mother that his grandmother was abusing him, took away his things, and prevented him from contacting her. The child, through his attorney, expressed his desire to not live with the grandmother, and to either live with the father outside of the grandmother's home or with his mother.
A court has the discretion to order a change in custody when the totality of the circumstances warrants its doing so and it is in the best interest of the child ( Eschbach v. Eschbach , 56 N.Y.2d 167, 172–174, 451 N.Y.S.2d 658, 436 N.E.2d 1260 [1982] ). Factors to consider in determining the best interests of the child include the quality of each parent's home environment; the length of time the child has resided with each parent; the parents' past performance and relative fitness as a parent; their respective abilities to provide for the child's emotional and intellectual growth/development; the quality of the home environment and the parental guidance provided; and the willingness of each to foster a positive relationship with the other parent (see id. ; Matter of Louise E.S. v. W. Stephen S. , 64 N.Y.2d 946, 947, 488 N.Y.S.2d 637, 477 N.E.2d 1091 [1985] ). Matters of custody are within the sound discretion of the trial court ( Sequeira v. Sequeira , 105 A.D.3d 504, 963 N.Y.S.2d 102 [1st Dept. 2013], lv dismissed 21 N.Y.3d 1052 2015, 973 N.Y.S.2d 85, 995 N.E.2d 1157 ] ), and its findings should be accorded great deference since that court was in the best position to evaluate the testimony, character, and sincerity of the parties ( Matter of Lisa W. v. John M. , 142 A.D.3d 879, 879, 38 N.Y.S.3d 148 [1st Dept. 2016], lv denied 28 N.Y.3d 912, 2017 WL 53563 [2017] ). Further, the court's determination should not be disturbed unless it lacks a sound and substantial basis in the record ( Matter of David H. v. Khalima H., 111 A.D.3d 544, 545, 976 N.Y.S.2d 32 [1st Dept. 2013], lv dismissed 22 N.Y.3d 1149, 984 N.Y.S.2d 289, 7 N.E.3d 502 [2014] ).
The Family Court's determination that it was in the subject child's best interests to modify the prior joint custody order and award the mother sole legal and physical custody of the child, with visitation to the father, has a sound and substantial basis in the record (see Matter of Phillip M. v. Precious B., 173 A.D.3d 434, 435, 105 N.Y.S.3d 378 [1st Dept. 2019], lv denied 33 N.Y.3d 911, 2019 WL 4068326 [2019] ). It is clear from the child's actions that the father's current home, which he shares with the paternal grandmother, is harming the child's emotional and mental health. In addition, while the father does play a role in the child's life, he has delegated decision-making authority to the grandmother, rather than sharing it with the mother. As such, the Court properly determined that it was in the child's best interests to transfer physical custody to the mother. The circumstances also support the Court's order that the child continue to attend Long Beach High School so that he may remain with his friends and continue his extracurricular activities.
Moreover, it was clear from the extensive litigation history and the parties' acrimonious relationship that the parents are unable to reach a consensus or communicate on issues relating to the child. Accordingly, joint legal custody is inappropriate (see id. ; Sendor v. Sendor, 93 A.D.3d 586, 587, 941 N.Y.S.2d 556 [1st Dept. 2012] ).
We have considered the remaining arguments and find them unavailing.