Opinion
2014-06-20
In the Matter of Kathleen G. ISLER, Petitioner–Appellant, v. Victor C. JOHNSON, Respondent–Respondent. Emily A. Vella, Esq., Attorney for the Children, Appellant.
Emily A. Vella, Attorney for the Children, Springville, Appellant Pro Se. Erickson Webb Scolton & Hajdu, Lakewood (Lyle T. Hajdu of Counsel), for Petitioner–Appellant.
Emily A. Vella, Attorney for the Children, Springville, Appellant Pro Se. Erickson Webb Scolton & Hajdu, Lakewood (Lyle T. Hajdu of Counsel), for Petitioner–Appellant.
Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc., Olean (Steven A. Lanza of Counsel), for Respondent–Respondent.
PRESENT: SMITH, J.P., FAHEY, PERADOTTO, SCONIERS AND VALENTINO, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
Petitioner mother commenced this proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 6, seeking to modify a prior custody agreement. The parties were divorced by a 2011 judgment of divorce, entered in Supreme Court, Erie County, that incorporated but did not merge their stipulation of settlement, pursuant to which the mother was granted custody of the subject children with visitation to respondent father. In May of 2013, the parties further stipulated in Family Court, Cattaraugus County, to an order that, inter alia, granted the parties joint custody of the children with primary physical residence with the father. The mother filed this petition in August 2013, alleging that the father had used excessive corporal punishment against one of the children after the entry of the Family Court order. The mother also alleged that the father had refused to permit her to exercise visitation pursuant to the prior arrangement. The mother and the Attorney for the Children appeal from an order dismissing the petition without a hearing.
It is well settled that a party seeking a change in an established custody arrangement must show “a change in circumstances [that] reflects a real need for change to ensure the best interest[s] of the child [ren]” (Matter of Irwin v. Neyland, 213 A.D.2d 773, 773, 623 N.Y.S.2d 18;see Matter of Moore v. Moore, 78 A.D.3d 1630, 1630, 910 N.Y.S.2d 803,lv. denied16 N.Y.3d 704, 2011 WL 500900;Matter of Hight v. Hight, 19 A.D.3d 1159, 1160, 796 N.Y.S.2d 494). Although a “hearing is not automatically required whenever a parent seeks modification of a custody order” (Matter of Wurmlinger v. Freer, 256 A.D.2d 1069, 1069, 682 N.Y.S.2d 757;see Matter of Consilio v. Terrigino, 114 A.D.3d 1248, 1248, 980 N.Y.S.2d 854), we conclude that the mother made a sufficient evidentiary showing of a change in circumstances to warrant a hearing ( cf. Matter of Warrior v. Beatman, 70 A.D.3d 1358, 1359, 893 N.Y.S.2d 786,lv. denied14 N.Y.3d 711, 2010 WL 1854447). “[T]he mother's allegations that [the father] imposed excessive and inappropriate discipline on the subject children, including corporal punishment, [were] sufficient to warrant a hearing” (Matter of Vasquez–Williams v. Williams, 32 A.D.3d 859, 860, 821 N.Y.S.2d 226), as were the mother's allegations that the father had refused to permit her to exercise visitation with the subject children for four weeks ( see Brodsky v. Brodsky, 267 A.D.2d 897, 898–899, 700 N.Y.S.2d 546). Consequently, we agree with the mother that the court erred in dismissing the petition without conducting a hearing. We therefore reverse the order, reinstate the petition and remit the matter to Family Court for a hearing.
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously reversed on the law without costs, the petition is reinstated, and the matter is remitted to Family Court, Cattaraugus County, for further proceedings.