Opinion
2012-05-17
In re AMIRE B., A Dependent Child Under Eighteen Years of Age, etc., Selika B., Respondent–Appellant, The Administration for Children's Services, Petitioner–Respondent.
Neal D. Futerfas, White Plains, for appellant. Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel, New York (Elizabeth I. Freedman of counsel), for respondent.
Neal D. Futerfas, White Plains, for appellant. Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel, New York (Elizabeth I. Freedman of counsel), for respondent.
Lawyers for Children, Inc., New York (Michael Moorman of counsel), attorney for the child.
FRIEDMAN, J.P., SWEENY, ACOSTA, RENWICK, ABDUS–SALAAM, JJ.
Order of disposition, Family Court, New York County (Susan K. Knipps, J.), entered on or about March 9, 2010, which, to the extent appealed from as limited by the briefs, brings up for review a fact-finding determination that respondent abused and neglected the subject child, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The finding of abuse and neglect was supported by a preponderance of the evidence (Family Ct. Act § 1046[b][i] ). Petitioner made a prima facie showing that a spiral fracture of the infant's right humerus would ordinarily not have been sustained except by reason of respondent mother's acts or omissions, a showing which respondent failed to adequately rebut “with a credible and reasonable explanation of how the child suffered [the injury]” (Matter of Nakym S., 60 A.D.3d 578, 578, 877 N.Y.S.2d 241 [2009];see also Matter of Nasir J., 35 A.D.3d 299, 827 N.Y.S.2d 41 [2006] ). There is no basis to disturb the court's credibility determinations with respect to the mother's varying accounts of the occurrence, nor the court's decision to credit petitioner's expert over respondent's expert. It is well settled that “the court's determination regarding credibility of the witnesses is entitled to great weight on appeal” (Matter of Ashanti A., 56 A.D.3d 373, 373, 869 N.Y.S.2d 20 [2008];Matter of Nakym S., 60 A.D.3d at 578, 877 N.Y.S.2d 241).