Opinion
2017-10812 Docket Nos. N-2598-16, N-2599-16, N-2600-16, N-2601-16
11-21-2018
In the MATTER OF PATRICK M. (Anonymous). Orange County Department of Social Services, Petitioner-Respondent; v. Patrick M.M. (Anonymous), Respondent-Appellant, et al., Respondent. (Proceeding No. 1) In the Matter of Georgia M. (Anonymous). Orange County Department of Social Services, Petitioner-Respondent; v. Patrick M.M. (Anonymous), Respondent-Appellant, et al., Respondent. (Proceeding No. 2) In the Matter of Luke M. (Anonymous). Orange County Department of Social Services, Petitioner-Respondent; v. Patrick M.M. (Anonymous), Respondent-Appellant, et al., Respondent. (Proceeding No. 3) In the Matter of Liam M. (Anonymous). Orange County Department of Social Services, Petitioner-Respondent; v. Patrick M.M. (Anonymous), Respondent-Appellant, et al., Respondent. (Proceeding No. 4)
Patrick M. M., Cornwall, NY, respondent-appellant pro se. Langdon C. Chapman, County Attorney, Goshen, N.Y. (Peter R. Schwarz of counsel), for petitioner-respondent. Gary E. Eisenberg, New City, NY, attorney for the children.
Patrick M. M., Cornwall, NY, respondent-appellant pro se.
Langdon C. Chapman, County Attorney, Goshen, N.Y. (Peter R. Schwarz of counsel), for petitioner-respondent.
Gary E. Eisenberg, New City, NY, attorney for the children.
ALAN D. SCHEINKMAN, P.J., MARK C. DILLON, JEFFREY A. COHEN, LINDA CHRISTOPHER, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER
In related neglect proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 10, the father appeals from an order of disposition of the Family Court, Orange County (Carol S. Klein, J.), entered September 12, 2017. The order of disposition, after a hearing, and upon an order of fact-finding of the same court dated July 28, 2017, finding that the father neglected the four subject children, placed the home of the father and the children under the supervision of the Orange County Department of Social Services for a period of 12 months.
ORDERED that the appeal from so much of the order of disposition as placed the home of the father and the subject children under the supervision of the Orange County Department of Social Services for a period of 12 months is dismissed, without costs or disbursements; and it is further,
ORDERED that the order of disposition is affirmed insofar as reviewed, without costs or disbursements.
The petitioner commenced these related proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 10, alleging that the mother and the father neglected the four subject children. The mother consented to a neglect finding without admission, while the petition against the father proceeded to a hearing. At the hearing, the Family Court heard the testimony of two caseworkers for the petitioner, and also considered the testimony of the mother as given in her related proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 8 against the father. The court found that the father neglected the four subject children.
The appeal from so much of the order of disposition as placed the home of the father and the four subject children under the supervision of the Orange County Department of Social Services for a period of 12 months, is academic, as it has expired by its own terms (see Matter of Jamiah C. [Vitocria O.], 162 A.D.3d 1012, 79 N.Y.S.3d 681 ).
A preponderance of the evidence supports the Family Court's neglect finding against the father (see Family Ct. Act §§ 1012[f][i][A], [B] ; 1046[b][i]; Nicholson v. Scoppetta, 3 N.Y.3d 357, 368, 787 N.Y.S.2d 196, 820 N.E.2d 840 ).
The neglect finding as to all four children is supported by evidence that the children's physical, mental, or emotional condition was impaired or was in danger of becoming impaired by the father's commission of acts of domestic violence in the children's presence (see Matter of Eric P. [Omar P.], 155 A.D.3d 1041, 65 N.Y.S.3d 460 ; Matter of Melady S. [Elio S.], 144 A.D.3d 926, 41 N.Y.S.3d 547 ; Matter of Kiara C. [David C.], 85 A.D.3d 1025, 926 N.Y.S.2d 566 ). The Family Court erred in considering the testimony of the mother taken at the hearing in the article 8 proceeding without first determining that the mother was not available to testify (see CPLR 4517[a][3] ). However, there was no objection to the receipt of that testimony, and the error was harmless, as there was sufficient evidence of neglect without considering that testimony (see Matter of Kinara C. [Jerome C.], 89 A.D.3d 839, 932 N.Y.S.2d 169 ), including prior orders made by the same court in the article 8 proceeding (see Caffrey v North Arrow Abstract & Settlement Servs., Inc., 160 A.D.3d 121, 126, 73 N.Y.S.3d 70 ; Matter of Khatibi v. Weill, 8 A.D.3d 485, 778 N.Y.S.2d 511 ).
The father's remaining contentions are without merit.
SCHEINKMAN, P.J., DILLON, COHEN and CHRISTOPHER, JJ., concur.