Opinion
December 22, 1995
Appeal from the Niagara County Family Court, Hamilton, H.E.
Present — Pine, J.P., Lawton, Wesley, Callahan and Davis, JJ.
Appeal unanimously dismissed without costs. Memorandum: Respondent appeals from an order of filiation adjudicating him the father of a female child born on July 13, 1992. Respondent also appeals from the subsequent order of a Hearing Examiner directing him to pay child support in the amount of $45 per week.
No appeal lies from the order of the Hearing Examiner because no objections were filed and the order was not reviewed by a Judge (see, Family Ct Act § 439 [e]; Matter of Erie County Dept. of Social Servs. [Cheryl P.] v Theodore D. [appeal No. 1], 217 A.D.2d 998; Matter of Erie County Dept. of Social Servs. [Deborah A.R.] v Felix M.C. [appeal No. 2], 209 A.D.2d 1031). Thus, the appeal from that order is dismissed.
The order of filiation is not appealable as of right (see, Family Ct Act § 1112 [a]; Matter of Jane PP. v Paul QQ., 64 N.Y.2d 15, 17). We deem the notice of appeal from the order of filiation to be an application for leave to appeal from that order and, in the exercise of our discretion, grant leave to appeal (see, Family Ct Act § 1112 [a]; Matter of Niagara County Dept. of Social Servs. [Kimmie W.] v Randy M., 206 A.D.2d 878).
There is no basis in the record to disturb the determination that petitioner met its burden of establishing respondent's paternity by clear and convincing evidence (see, Jane PP. v Paul QQ., 65 N.Y.2d 994, 996) and of rebutting the presumption of legitimacy by clear and convincing evidence (see, Wayne County Dept. of Social Servs. v Titcomb, 124 A.D.2d 989; see also, Erie County Dept. of Social Servs. [Cheryl P.] v Theodore D., supra). "The greatest deference should be given to the decision of the hearing Judge who is in the best position to assess the credibility of the witnesses and the evidence proffered" (Matter of McCarthy v Braiman, 125 A.D.2d 572).