Opinion
2013-05-29
In the Matter of ANNETTE J.S.J. (Anonymous). Administration for Children's Services, et al., respondents; Rebecca F. (Anonymous), appellant. (Proceeding No. 1) In the Matter of Sabrina R.M.I. (Anonymous). Administration for Children's Services, et al., respondents; Rebecca F. (Anonymous), appellant. (Proceeding No. 2).
Lisa Lewis, Brooklyn, N.Y., for appellant. Carrieri & Carrieri, P.C., Mineola, N.Y. (Ralph R. Carrieri of counsel), for respondent Little Flower Children and Family Services.
Lisa Lewis, Brooklyn, N.Y., for appellant. Carrieri & Carrieri, P.C., Mineola, N.Y. (Ralph R. Carrieri of counsel), for respondent Little Flower Children and Family Services.
Steven Banks, New York, N.Y. (Tamara A. Steckler and John A. Newberry of counsel), attorney for the children.
WILLIAM F. MASTRO, J.P., JOHN M. LEVENTHAL, SANDRA L. SGROI, and ROBERT J. MILLER, JJ.
In two related proceedings pursuant to Social Services Law § 384–b to terminate parental rights on the grounds of abandonment and permanent neglect, the mother appeals from an order of the Family Court, Kings County (Turbow, J.), dated August 3, 2012, which, after a hearing, denied her motion to vacate two orders of fact-finding and disposition of the same court dated June 4, 2012, which, upon her default in appearing at the fact-finding and dispositional hearings, terminated her parental rights and transferred guardianship and custody of the subject children to the Commissioner of Social Services of the City of New York and the petitioner Little Flower Children and Family Services for the purpose of adoption.
ORDERED that the order dated August 3, 2012, is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
A parent seeking to vacate a default in a proceeding to terminate parental rights must establish a reasonable excuse for the default, and a potentially meritorious defense to the relief sought in the petition ( seeCPLR 5015[a][1]; Matter of Martique S.C. [ Sharika C. ], 101 A.D.3d 1116, 956 N.Y.S.2d 192; Matter of Niaja A.W. [ Paulette G. ], 100 A.D.3d 1009, 955 N.Y.S.2d 154;Matter of Daniel Marcus Y. [ Marilyn Y. ], 77 A.D.3d 843, 909 N.Y.S.2d 378). The determination of whether to relieve a party of a default is within the sound discretion of the Family Court ( see Matter of Martique S.C. [ Sharika C. ], 101 A.D.3d at 1116, 956 N.Y.S.2d 192;Matter of Niaja A.W. [ Paulette G. ], 100 A.D.3d at 1009, 955 N.Y.S.2d 154;Matter of Daniel Marcus Y. [ Marilyn Y. ], 77 A.D.3d 843, 909 N.Y.S.2d 378).
Here, the mother did not establish a reasonable excuse for her default or a potentially meritorious defense to the relief sought in the petitions. Accordingly, the Family Court properly denied the mother's motion to vacate the orders of fact-finding and disposition entered upon her default.