Opinion
10-20-2016
In the Matter of JOHN V., Respondent, v. SARAH W., Appellant.
Norbert A. Higgins, Binghamton, for appellant. Richard J. Grace, Binghamton, for respondent. Andrew Bailey, Binghamton, attorney for the child.
Norbert A. Higgins, Binghamton, for appellant.Richard J. Grace, Binghamton, for respondent.
Andrew Bailey, Binghamton, attorney for the child.
Before: McCARTHY, J.P., EGAN JR., DEVINE, CLARK and AARONS, JJ.
CLARK, J.Appeal from an order of the Family Court of Broome County (Connerton, J.), entered December 11, 2014, which granted petitioner's application, in a proceeding pursuant to Family Ct. Act article 6, to modify a prior order of custody.
Petitioner (hereinafter the father) and respondent (hereinafter the mother) are the parents of a son (born in 2002). Pursuant to a 2009 order entered upon consent, the parties had joint legal custody of the child, with primary physical custody to the mother and parenting time to the father as arranged by the parties. In July 2014, after the child reported to the father that the mother's live-in fiancé “ha[d] been hitting” him, the father commenced this proceeding seeking primary physical custody of the child. Following a fact-finding hearing, which included testimony given by the child outside the presence of the parties but in the presence of counsel, Family Court modified the prior order of custody by awarding primary physical custody to the father and “reasonable” parenting time to the mother to be arranged between the parties. The mother appeals, and we affirm.
As the parties have not asked this Court to fashion a parenting time schedule, we decline to do so.
A parent seeking to modify an existing custody order must demonstrate that there has been a change in circumstances that warrants an inquiry into the best interests of the child and, once this threshold showing has been made, that modification of the existing order is necessary to ensure the child's continued best interests (see Matter of Schmitz v. Schmitz, 139 A.D.3d 1123, 1123, 31 N.Y.S.3d 295 [2016] ; Matter of Ryan v. Lewis, 135 A.D.3d 1135, 1136, 23 N.Y.S.3d 455 [2016] ). As established through testimony given by the mother, the child and the father, the mother's fiancé struck the child on the back of the head after accusing the child of touching the television screen and later raised his fist at the child and stated that he could punch the child, at which point the mother separated the child and her fiancé. The child testified that the fiancé had never before raised a fist at him, but had kicked him in the butt more than 10 times, frequently yelled at him and occasionally called him derogatory names. The mother stated that she had seen her fiancé kick the child in the butt on one occasion. As Family Court properly concluded, this evidence demonstrated a change in circumstances warranting an inquiry into the best interests of child (see Matter of Kelsey v. Kelsey, 111 A.D.3d 1338, 1338, 974 N.Y.S.2d 826 [2013] ; Matter of Michael CC. v. Amber CC., 57 A.D.3d 1037, 1038–1040, 868 N.Y.S.2d 803 [2008] ; Matter of Hagans v. Harden, 12 A.D.3d 972, 973, 785 N.Y.S.2d 173 [2004], lv. denied 4 N.Y.3d 705, 794 N.Y.S.2d 300, 827 N.E.2d 284 [2005] ).
We also note that the mother stated in her answer that a finding of a change in circumstances was “warranted.”
The requisite change in circumstances having been established, we thus turn to the best interests analysis, which involves consideration of, among other factors, each parent's relative fitness and past parenting performance, the duration of the prior custody arrangement, the child's wishes, the respective home environments, including the existence of domestic violence, and the likelihood of each parent to foster a relationship between the child and the other parent (see Matter of Edward II. v. Renee II., 139 A.D.3d 1140, 1141, 31 N.Y.S.3d 290 [2016] ; Matter of Chris X. v. Jeanette Y., 124 A.D.3d 1013, 1014, 1 N.Y.S.3d 534 [2015] ). It is evident from the record that both the mother and the father are capable and loving parents and that, as demonstrated by the periods in which each were the primary custodian, the child has thrived in each parent's care. However, the mother's testimony revealed that she minimized and made excuses for her fiancé's inappropriate behavior. In addition, Family Court found that the mother was “angry” about the events that transpired after her fiancé struck the child and that she blamed the child for the situation, as well as the legal fees that she and her fiancé had incurred. The record further demonstrated that the father was the parent who was more apt to promote the child's relationship with the other parent. Indeed, the mother stated that, regardless of his wishes, the child should live with her and that she was unsure how amenable she would be to the child having visits with the father. In contrast, the father testified that the child could call the mother as often as desired and he did not express any opposition to the mother having parenting time with the child. Considering the foregoing evidence, as well as the child's preferences, and according due deference to Family Court's credibility assessments and factual findings (see Matter of Williams v. Williams, 66 A.D.3d 1149, 1151, 887 N.Y.S.2d 350 [2009] ), there is a sound and substantial basis in the record for Family Court's determination that an award of primary physical custody to the father was in the child's best interests (see Matter of Virginia C. v. Donald C., 114 A.D.3d 1032, 1033–1036, 980 N.Y.S.2d 597 [2014] ; Matter of Mahoney v. Regan, 100 A.D.3d 1237, 1238, 955 N.Y.S.2d 241 [2012], lv. denied 20 N.Y.3d 859, 2013 WL 518559 [2013] ).
Further, we reject the mother's assertion that her trial counsel was ineffective for not calling her fiancé as a witness at the hearing. It is speculative to conclude that, if called as a witness, the mother's fiancé would have provided testimony that would have been favorable to the mother, particularly since the mother herself testified that her fiancé had hit the child (see Matter of Coleman v. Millington, 140 A.D.3d 1245, 1248, 32 N.Y.S.3d 707 [2016] ; Matter of Hurlburt v. Behr, 70 A.D.3d 1266, 1267, 897 N.Y.S.2d 271 [2010], lv. dismissed 15 N.Y.3d 943, 915 N.Y.S.2d 214, 940 N.E.2d 919 [2010] ; Matter of Baker v. Baker, 283 A.D.2d 730, 731, 724 N.Y.S.2d 131 [2001], lv. denied 96 N.Y.2d 720, 733 N.Y.S.2d 372, 759 N.E.2d 371 [2001] ). In addition, we are satisfied that the mother received meaningful representation, as her counsel engaged in thorough and effective direct and cross-examinations, pursued a clear strategy and made appropriate objections and motions (see Matter of Coleman v. Millington, 140 A.D.3d at 1248, 32 N.Y.S.3d 707; Matter of Robinson v. Bick, 123 A.D.3d 1242, 1243, 998 N.Y.S.2d 530 [2014] ).
Finally, the mother argues that Family Court committed reversible error by allowing the child to testify as a fact witness in the presence of counsel but not the parties, and by not sealing the child's testimony. Initially, the mother, having raised no objection to Family Court's proposed procedure and, moreover, having requested that the parties' counsel be present for the testimony, “cannot now be heard to complain” about the course taken by Family Court (Matter of Washington v. Marquis, 97 A.D.3d 930, 931, 948 N.Y.S.2d 712 [2012] ; see Matter of Battin v. Battin, 130 A.D.3d 1265, 1266, 12 N.Y.S.3d 672 [2015] ; Matter of Baxter v. Perico, 288 A.D.2d 717, 717–718, 732 N.Y.S.2d 715 [2001] ). Nevertheless, we take this opportunity to underscore the importance of protecting a child's right to confidentiality, which is paramount and superior to the rights of the parties (see Matter of Prefario v. Gladhill, 140 A.D.3d 1235, 1237 n., 32 N.Y.S.3d 698 [2016] ; Matter of Rohde v. Rohde, 135 A.D.3d 1011, 1011 n., 22 N.Y.S.3d 666 [2016] ; Matter of Julie E. v. David E., 124 A.D.3d 934, 937, 1 N.Y.S.3d 431 [2015] ). Even if, as occurred here, a child assents to his or her testimony being shared with his or her parents, Family Court must not put a child in “the position of having [his or her] relationship with either parent further jeopardized by having to publicly relate [his or her] difficulties with them or be required to openly choose between them” (Matter of Lincoln v. Lincoln, 24 N.Y.2d 270, 272, 299 N.Y.S.2d 842, 247 N.E.2d 659 [1969] ; accord Matter of Julie E. v. David E., 124 A.D.3d at 937, 1 N.Y.S.3d 431 ; see Matter of Rivera v. LaSalle, 84 A.D.3d 1436, 1437, 923 N.Y.S.2d 254 [2011] ). Moreover, because the mother corroborated the father's hearsay account of the incident that occurred between the child and the fiancé, we perceive no reason for the child to have testified as a fact witness and we reiterate that such a practice should be used sparingly and only when absolutely necessary (see Matter of Gonzalez v. Hunter, 137 A.D.3d 1339, 1343, 26 N.Y.S.3d 625 [2016], lv. dismissed and denied 27 N.Y.3d 1061, 35 N.Y.S.3d 294, 54 N.E.3d 1165 [2016] ; Matter of Battin v. Battin, 130 A.D.3d at 1266 n. 2, 12 N.Y.S.3d 672 ).
ORDERED that the order is affirmed, without costs.
McCARTHY, J.P., EGAN JR., DEVINE and AARONS, JJ., concur.