Opinion
2022-01997 N-2027-19
03-23-2022
In the Matter of Destiny B. (Anonymous). Dutchess County Department of Community and Family Services, respondent; Anthony R. (Anonymous), etc., appellant.
Yasmin Daley Duncan, Brooklyn, NY, for appellant. Caroline E. Blackburn, County Attorney, Poughkeepsie, NY (Thomas P. Delpizzo of counsel), for respondent. Karen C. Palumbo, Poughkeepsie, NY, attorney for the child.
Yasmin Daley Duncan, Brooklyn, NY, for appellant.
Caroline E. Blackburn, County Attorney, Poughkeepsie, NY (Thomas P. Delpizzo of counsel), for respondent.
Karen C. Palumbo, Poughkeepsie, NY, attorney for the child.
MARK C. DILLON, J.P., COLLEEN D. DUFFY, FRANCESCA E. CONNOLLY, LINDA CHRISTOPHER, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER
In a proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 10, the father appeals from an order of fact-finding of the Family Court, Dutchess County (Tracy C. MacKenzie, J.), entered May 24, 2021. The order of fact-finding, after a hearing, found that the father neglected the subject child.
ORDERED that the order of fact-finding is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
In May 2019, the Dutchess County Department of Community and Family Services (hereinafter DCFS) commenced this proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 10 against the father of a child who had been in foster care since her birth in May 2019. DCFS alleged, inter alia, that the father neglected the child by failing to appropriately and effectively plan for her care.
After a fact-finding hearing, the Family Court found that the father neglected the child by refusing to work with DCFS to plan for the care and needs of the child. The father appeals.
"[A] party seeking to establish neglect must show, by a preponderance of the evidence, first, that a child's physical, mental or emotional condition has been impaired or is in imminent danger of becoming impaired and second, that the actual or threatened harm to the child is a consequence of the failure of the parent or caretaker to exercise a minimum degree of care in providing the child with proper supervision or guardianship" (Nicholson v Scoppetta, 3 N.Y.3d 357, 368 [citation omitted]; see Family Ct Act § 1012[f][i][B]; Matter of Isabela P. [Jacob P.], 195 A.D.3d 722, 723). Proof of actual or imminent danger of impairment is a prerequisite to a finding of neglect, as the focus must be on the existence of serious harm or potential harm to the child, not just on what might be considered undesirable parental behavior (see Nicholson v Scoppetta, 3 N.Y.3d at 369; Matter of Isabela P. [Jacob P.], 195 A.D.3d at 723).
"'The credibility findings of the Family Court should be accorded great deference, as it had direct access to the parties and was in the best position to evaluate their testimony, character, and sincerity'" (Matter of Isabela P. [Jacob P.], 195 A.D.3d at 723, quoting Matter of William U.L. [Rachel D.H.], 139 A.D.3d 732, 733 [internal quotation marks omitted]). Here, the Family Court's finding that the father neglected the child is supported by a preponderance of the evidence. The evidence adduced at the fact-finding hearing, together with the adverse inference that the court drew against the father based upon his failure to testify (see Matter of Dior Z.J. [Dior J.], 139 A.D.3d 1065, 1067; Matter of Honesti H. [Ted H.], 126 A.D.3d 972, 973), supported the court's finding that the child was at imminent risk of harm as a result of the father's failure to work with DCFS or follow through on any of his parental obligations, including his responsibility to adequately plan for her care (see e.g. Matter of Evan T. [Shaquela T.], 155 A.D.3d 964, 966; Matter of Ariel R. [Danielle K.], 118 A.D.3d 1010, 1010).
The father's remaining contentions are without merit.
DILLON, J.P., DUFFY, CONNOLLY and CHRISTOPHER, JJ., concur.