Opinion
421 CAF 14-01822.
05-06-2016
In the Matter of TYLER M. Erie County Department of Social Services, Petitioner–Respondent; Traci C., Respondent, and Scott M., Respondent–Appellant.
David J. Pajak, Alden, for Respondent–Appellant. Joseph T. Jarzembek, Buffalo, for Petitioner–Respondent. Jeffrey C. Mannillo, Attorney for the Child, Buffalo.
David J. Pajak, Alden, for Respondent–Appellant.
Joseph T. Jarzembek, Buffalo, for Petitioner–Respondent.
Jeffrey C. Mannillo, Attorney for the Child, Buffalo.
PRESENT: WHALEN, P.J., PERADOTTO, LINDLEY, DeJOSEPH, AND NEMOYER, JJ.
MEMORANDUM: In this proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 10, respondent father appeals from an order that, inter alia, determined that he neglected the subject child. We agree with the father that petitioner failed to meet its burden of establishing neglect by a preponderance of the evidence (see Family Ct. Act § 1046[b][i] ). At the fact-finding hearing, “only competent, material and relevant evidence may be admitted” (§ 1046[b][iii] ). Here, however, the evidence admitted in support of the petition consisted primarily of the caseworker's testimony regarding the mother's out-of-court statements, as well as portions of a police report containing the mother's statements to the police. The mother's out-of-court statements constituted hearsay, and “were not admissible against the father in the absence of a showing that they came within a statutory or common-law exception to the hearsay rule” (Matter of Nicholas C. [Erika H.-Robert C.], 105 A.D.3d 1402, 1402, 964 N.Y.S.2d 806 ; see Matter of Imani B., 27 A.D.3d 645, 646, 811 N.Y.S.2d 447 ). Petitioner failed to make such showing (see Nicholas C., 105 A.D.3d at 1403, 964 N.Y.S.2d 806 ). Inasmuch as “ [t]he nonhearsay evidence in the record is insufficient to establish that the child's physical, mental or emotional condition was impaired or in imminent danger of being impaired as a consequence of the father's conduct,” the petition must be dismissed (id.; see Family Ct. Act § 1012[f][i] ; Matter of Imani O. [Marcus O.], 91 A.D.3d 466, 468, 937 N.Y.S.2d 162 ).
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously reversed on the law without costs and the petition against respondent Scott M. is dismissed.