Opinion
16583 16582
01-07-2016
In re SAHAIRAH J., and Others, Children Under the Age of Eighteen Years, etc., Rosemarie R., et al., Respondents–Appellants, v. Administration for Children's Services, Petitioner–Respondent.
Tennille M. Tatum–Evans, New York, for Rosemarie R., appellant. Steven N. Feinman, White Plains, for Travis J., appellant. Zachary W. Carter, Corporation Counsel, New York (Devin Slack of counsel), for respondent. Tamara A. Steckler, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Susan Clement of counsel), attorney for the children.
Tennille M. Tatum–Evans, New York, for Rosemarie R., appellant.
Steven N. Feinman, White Plains, for Travis J., appellant.
Zachary W. Carter, Corporation Counsel, New York (Devin Slack of counsel), for respondent.
Tamara A. Steckler, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Susan Clement of counsel), attorney for the children.
Opinion
Order, Family Court, New York County (Clark V. Richardson, J.), entered on or about July 16, 2014, which, after a fact-finding hearing, determined that respondent parents had medically neglected the middle child, that both parents had neglected the subject children by failing to supply them with adequate shelter, and that respondent father had neglected the subject children by misusing drugs, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
Petitioner agency proved by a preponderance of the evidence that the parents medically neglected the middle child (see Family Ct. Act §§ 1012[f][i][A]; 1046[b] ). The evidence shows that the parents failed to provide or obtain prompt and proper treatment for the child's full-body rash, which was ultimately diagnosed as scabies, despite being advised by a doctor to return to the hospital if the child's rash did not improve in one week (see Matter of Faridah W., 180 A.D.2d 451, 452, 579 N.Y.S.2d 377 1st Dept.1992, lv. denied 80 N.Y.2d 751, 587 N.Y.S.2d 287, 599 N.E.2d 691 1992 ).
A preponderance of the evidence also supports Family Court's finding of neglect based on inadequate shelter (see Family Ct. Act § 1012[f][i][A] ). The evidence shows that the parents' home was dirty, malodorous, and infested with roaches and bed bugs, and that it had a gaping hole in the wall. Although the parents complained to the Housing Authority about the insect infestation and hole, they failed to take steps to address the odor and dirt (see Commissioner of Social Servs., 212 A.D.2d 400, 622 N.Y.S.2d 518 1st Dept.1995 ).
A preponderance of the evidence supports Family Court's finding of neglect based on the father's misuse of drugs (Family Ct. Act § 1012[f][i] [B] ). The father admitted that he used K2, a synthetic form of marijuana, every other day, and the expert's testimony established that the active ingredient in K2 was a Schedule 1 controlled substance, like marijuana. Under these circumstances, there is a statutory presumption of neglect, which the father failed to refute, as there is no evidence that he was participating in a rehabilitative program (see Family Ct. Act § 1046[a][iii]; Matter of Keoni Daquan A. [Brandon W.-April A.], 91 A.D.3d 414, 415, 937 N.Y.S.2d 160 1st Dept.2012 ).
We have considered the parents' remaining contentions and find them unavailing.