Opinion
11611- Dkt. V-30013/13 V-30012-13/14G V-30013-13/15H V-1771-14/15G
06-04-2020
In re JOHNELL E.K., Petitioner-Respondent, v. FATIMA T., Respondent-Appellant.
Leslie S. Lowenstein, Woodmere, for appellant. Kenneth M. Tuccillo, Hastings on Hudson, attorney for the child.
Leslie S. Lowenstein, Woodmere, for appellant.
Kenneth M. Tuccillo, Hastings on Hudson, attorney for the child.
Renwick, J.P., Gische, Webber, Oing, Moulton, JJ.
Orders, Family Court, Bronx County (Dakota D. Ramseur, J.), entered on or about October 17, 2016, and January 17, 2016, which, after a hearing, granted the father's petition, awarding him sole legal and physical custody of the parties' child, and denied the mother's petition, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The court's determination that the award of sole legal and physical custody to the father would serve the best interests of the child has a sound and substantial basis in the record (see Eschbach v. Eschbach, 56 N.Y.2d 167, 171, 451 N.Y.S.2d 658, 436 N.E.2d 1260 [1982], citing Domestic Relations Law § 70 ). The evidence shows that the child has lived with the father since October 2014, and he takes care of her physical, emotional, educational, and medical needs. He has enrolled the child in day care, managed her asthma, bought her clothes, and, by all accounts, formed a close, loving bond with the child (see generally Eschbach, 56 N.Y.2d at 172–174, 451 N.Y.S.2d 658, 436 N.E.2d 1260 ). The mother provided little or no financial support and has an unpredictable work schedule. Beginning early on, after the parties separated, the mother continually interfered with the father's access to the child, prompting the court to award the father temporary custody during the pendency of these proceedings. The mother also did not initially believe the child's asthma diagnosis and refused to administer the prescribed medication ( id. ). By the mother's own testimony, the father cooperated in facilitating her visitation with the child and there is no indication that he would not continue to foster a positive relationship between mother and child as the custodial parent. While the trial court recognized the mother's strides toward improving her parenting skills, overall the father still remained the parent more able to serve the child's best interests.