Opinion
2012-11-7
In the Matter of AMOYA S. (Anonymous). Administration for Children's Services, petitioner-respondent; Henry C. (Anonymous), et al., respondents; Syvonne C. (Anonymous), et al., appellants. (Proceeding No. 1) In the Matter of Amarleya B. (Anonymous). Administration for Children's Services, petitioner-respondent; Henry C. (Anonymous), et al., respondents; Syvonne C. (Anonymous), et al., appellants. (Proceeding No. 2).
Epstein & Conroy, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Gary R. Conroy of counsel), for appellants. Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel, New York, N.Y. (Larry A. Sonnenshein and Diana Lawless of counsel), for petitioner-respondent.
Epstein & Conroy, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Gary R. Conroy of counsel), for appellants. Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel, New York, N.Y. (Larry A. Sonnenshein and Diana Lawless of counsel), for petitioner-respondent.
Steven Banks, New York, N.Y. (Tamara A. Steckler and Elana Roffman of counsel), attorney for the children.
REINALDO E. RIVERA, J.P., DANIEL D. ANGIOLILLO, CHERYL E. CHAMBERS, and SHERI S. ROMAN, JJ.
In two related child protective proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 10, Stacy C. and Syvonne C., the mother and the aunt, respectively, of the child Amarleya B., appeal from (1) an order of the Family Court, Kings County (Ambrosio, J.), dated April 13, 2011, and (2) an order of fact-finding of the same court entered July 8, 2011, which, after a hearing, found that they had abused Amarleya B., and that Syvonne C. had derivatively abused her biological child, Amoya S.
ORDERED that the appeal from the order dated April 13, 2011, is dismissed, without costs or disbursements, as that order was superseded by the order of fact-finding; and it is further,
ORDERED that the order of fact-finding is modified, on the law, by deleting the provision thereof finding that Syvonne C. derivatively abused her biological child, Amoya S.; as so modified, the order of fact-finding is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
The petitioner established a prima facie case of abuse against the appellants by introducing evidence demonstrating that, while in their care, the child Amarleya B. suffered an injury that would not ordinarily occur absent an act or omission of the appellants ( seeFamily Ct. Act § 1046[a][ii]; Matter of Philip M., 82 N.Y.2d 238, 243, 604 N.Y.S.2d 40, 624 N.E.2d 168). Thus, the burden of going forward shifted to the appellants to rebut the evidence of culpability ( see Matter of Philip M., 82 N.Y.2d at 244, 604 N.Y.S.2d 40, 624 N.E.2d 168;Matter of Aliyah G. [Arlenie G.], 95 A.D.3d 885, 887, 942 N.Y.S.2d 903;Matter of Fantaysia L., 36 A.D.3d 813, 814, 828 N.Y.S.2d 497). The appellants failed to rebut the prima facie case of abuse ( see Matter of Aliyah G. [Arlenie G.], 95 A.D.3d at 887, 942 N.Y.S.2d 903;Matter of Fantaysia L., 36 A.D.3d at 814, 828 N.Y.S.2d 497). Accordingly, the finding of abuse was supported by a preponderance of the evidence.
However, the Family Court erred in finding that Syvonne C. derivatively abused her biological child, Amoya S. The evidence that Amarleya B. was sexually abused, standing alone, was insufficient to support a finding that Amoya S. was derivatively abused ( see Matter of Abigail S., 21 A.D.3d 380, 381, 800 N.Y.S.2d 39;Matter of Starr H., 156 A.D.2d 1025, 1026, 550 N.Y.S.2d 766).
Under the circumstances of this case, the Family Court providently exercised its discretion in declining to compel Amarleya B. to testify either in open court or in camera ( see Matter of Imman H., 49 A.D.3d 879, 880–881, 854 N.Y.S.2d 517;Matter of Christopher L., 19 A.D.3d 597, 598, 797 N.Y.S.2d 535).
The appellants' remaining contentions either are without merit or have been rendered academic.