Opinion
2013-06-12
In the Matter of ANGELICA M. (Anonymous). Administration for Children's Services, respondent; Nugene A. (Anonymous), appellant. (Proceeding No. 1) In the Matter of Jacob A. (Anonymous). Administration for Children's Services, respondent; Nugene A. (Anonymous), appellant. (Proceeding No. 2) In the Matter of Jaylee M. (Anonymous). Administration for Children's Services, respondent; Nugene A. (Anonymous), appellant. (Proceeding No. 3) In the Matter of Nugene A. (Anonymous). Administration for Children's Services, respondent; Nugene A. (Anonymous), appellant. (Proceeding No. 4) In the Matter of Shaileen M. (Anonymous). Administration for Children's Services, respondent; Nugene A. (Anonymous), appellant. (Proceeding No. 5)
Cheryl Charles–Duval, Brooklyn, N.Y., for appellant. Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel, New York, N.Y. (Pamela Seider Dolgow and Elizabeth S. Natrella of counsel), for respondent.
Cheryl Charles–Duval, Brooklyn, N.Y., for appellant. Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel, New York, N.Y. (Pamela Seider Dolgow and Elizabeth S. Natrella of counsel), for respondent.
Richard Giacoma, Jamaica, N.Y., attorney for the children Angelica M. and Shaileen M. (no brief filed).
Ronna Gordon–Galchus, Fresh Meadows, N.Y., attorney for the children Jacob A., Jaylee M., and Nugene A.
REINALDO E. RIVERA, J.P., JOHN M. LEVENTHAL, SANDRA L. SGROI, and JEFFREY A. COHEN, JJ.
In five related child protective proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 10, the father appeals, as limited by his brief, from so much of an order of the Family Court, Queens County (Tally, J.), dated February 10, 2012, as granted that branch of the petitioner's motion which was for summary judgment on the issue of the father's derivative abuse of the children Jacob A., Jaylee M., and Nugene A.
ORDERED that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, without costs or disbursements.
In July 2010, the New York City Administration for Children's Services (hereinafter the ACS) filed petitions pursuant to Family Court Act article 10, alleging, among other things, that the father sexually abused his stepdaughters Angelica M. and Shaileen M. and derivatively abused his children Jacob A., Jaylee M., and Nugene A. In August 2011, the father was convicted of course of sexual conduct against a child in the first degree (Penal Law § 130.75[1][b] ), course of sexual conduct against a child in the second degree (Penal Law § 130.80[1][b] ), rape in the second degree (Penal Law § 130.30[1] ), and endangering the welfare of a child (Penal Law § 260.10[1] ) (two counts) with respect to acts against Angelica M. and Shaileen M.
Thereafter, the ACS moved for summary judgment on the Family Court Act article 10 petitions, based upon the criminal convictions and the doctrine of collateral estoppel. The Family Court granted those branches of the motion which were for summary judgment on the issues of the father's abuse of Angelica M. and Shaileen M., and the derivative abuse of Jacob A., Jaylee M., and Nugene A. The father appeals from so much of the order as granted that branch of the motion which was for summary judgment on the issue of the father's derivative abuse of Jacob A., Jaylee M., and Nugene A.
The Family Court properly granted that branch of the motion of the ACS which was for summary judgment on the issue of the father's derivative abuse. The ACS met its prima facie burden of showing that the doctrine of collateral estoppel is applicable ( see Matter of Suffolk County Dept. of Social Servs. v. James M., 83 N.Y.2d 178, 182, 608 N.Y.S.2d 940, 630 N.E.2d 636;Matter of Idhailia P. [Philip S.P.], 95 A.D.3d 1333, 945 N.Y.S.2d 705;Matter of Ajay P., 60 A.D.3d 681, 683, 875 N.Y.S.2d 149). “A determination in a criminal action may be given collateral estoppel effect in a Family Court proceeding where the identical issue has been resolved, and the defendant in the criminal action had a full and fair opportunity to litigate the issue of his or her criminal conduct” (Matter of Javon T., 64 A.D.3d 608, 608, 882 N.Y.S.2d 302;see Matter of Suffolk County Dept. of Social Servs. v. James M., 83 N.Y.2d at 182–183, 608 N.Y.S.2d 940, 630 N.E.2d 636;Matter of Yamillette G. [Marlene M.], 74 A.D.3d 1066, 1067, 906 N.Y.S.2d 271; Matter of Leon K. [Marilyn O.], 69 A.D.3d 856, 857, 894 N.Y.S.2d 455;Matter of Ajay P., 60 A.D.3d at 683, 875 N.Y.S.2d 149). The father's convictions of course of sexual conduct against a child in the first degree, course of sexual conduct against a child in the second degree, rape in the second degree, and endangering the welfare of a child were based upon the same acts alleged to constitute sexual abuse as set forth in Family Court Act article 10 petitions ( seeFamily Ct. Act § 1012[e][iii] ).
Moreover, the father's convictions for sexual acts against Angelica M. and Shaileen M. established a fundamental defect in the father's understanding of his parental duties relating to the care of children and demonstrated that his impulse control was so defective as to create a substantial risk of harm to any child in his care. Accordingly, the ACS demonstrated, prima facie, that the other children were derivatively abused ( seeFamily Ct. Act §§ 1012[e][ii]; 1046[a][i]; see also Matter of Leah R. [Miguel R.], 104 A.D.3d 774, 961 N.Y.S.2d 249;Matter of Daniel W., 37 A.D.3d 842, 831 N.Y.S.2d 244;Matter of Kristina R., 21 A.D.3d 560, 800 N.Y.S.2d 454;Matter of Tiffany AA., 268 A.D.2d 818, 820, 702 N.Y.S.2d 413;Matter of Amanda LL., 195 A.D.2d 708, 709, 600 N.Y.S.2d 298). In opposition, the father failed to raise a triable issue of fact as to either the collateral estoppel effect of his convictions or as to whether the other children were derivatively abused ( see Matter of Idhailia P. [Philip S.P.], 95 A.D.3d at 1335, 945 N.Y.S.2d 705;Matter of Yamillette G. [Marlene M.], 74 A.D.3d at 1067, 906 N.Y.S.2d 271;Matter of Ajay P., 60 A.D.3d at 683, 875 N.Y.S.2d 149).