Opinion
2013-05-9
In re ANTHONY WAYNE S. and Another, Dependent Children Under the Age of Eighteen Years, etc., Anthony Wayne S., Respondent–Appellant, Damaris S., Respondent, Abbott House, Petitioner–Respondent.
Larry S. Bachner, Jamaica, for appellant. Quinlan & Fields, Hawthorne (Jeremiah Quinlan of counsel), for Abbott House, respondent.
Larry S. Bachner, Jamaica, for appellant. Quinlan & Fields, Hawthorne (Jeremiah Quinlan of counsel), for Abbott House, respondent.
Tamara A. Steckler, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Patricia S. Colella of counsel), attorney for the children.
ANDRIAS, J.P., SAXE, FREEDMAN, ROMÁN, JJ.
Order, Family Court, Bronx County (Monica Drinane, J.), entered on or about September 11, 2012, which, to the extent appealed from as limited by the briefs, revoked a suspended judgment entered on a finding of permanent neglect, terminated respondent father's parental rights to the subject children, and committed custody and guardianship of the children to petitioner agency for the purpose of adoption, unanimously affirmed, without costs. Appeal from order, same court and Judge and entered on or about the same date, which, to the extent appealed from, denied respondent father's application for a stay of the court's order terminating his parental rights and for continued visitation with the subject children pending the stay, unanimously dismissed, without costs, as abandoned.
The finding that the father had violated the terms of the suspended judgment is supported by a preponderance of the evidence ( see Matter of Kendra C.R. [Charles R.], 68 A.D.3d 467, 467–468, 890 N.Y.S.2d 51 [1st Dept. 2009], lv. dismissed and denied14 N.Y.3d 870, 903 N.Y.S.2d 329, 929 N.E.2d 391 [2010] ). The father failed to show that he stopped the cycle of domestic violence with the children's mother, which was one of the reasons the children entered into foster care, and his actions demonstrated his inability to take full responsibility as the children's primary caretaker ( see Matter of Darren V., 61 A.D.3d 986, 987, 878 N.Y.S.2d 171 [2d Dept. 2009], lv. denied12 N.Y.3d 715, 884 N.Y.S.2d 690, 912 N.E.2d 1071 [2009] ).
A preponderance of the evidence supports the determination that the children's best interests would be served by terminating the father's parental rights ( Matter of Star Leslie W., 63 N.Y.2d 136, 147–148, 481 N.Y.S.2d 26, 470 N.E.2d 824 [1984] ). The children have been in the same foster homes for most of their lives, and the foster parents have provided for their special needs and wish to adopt them ( see Matter of Aliyah Careema D. [Sophia Seku D.], 88 A.D.3d 529, 529–530, 930 N.Y.S.2d 579 [1st Dept. 2011] ). Moreover, the father has failed to demonstrate that exceptional circumstances exist requiring the court to extend the suspended judgment or that a fourth attempt to reunite the family is in the best interests of the children ( see Matter of Lourdes O., 52 A.D.3d 203, 204, 859 N.Y.S.2d 78 [1st Dept. 2008] ).
We have considered the father's remaining contentions and find them unavailing.