Opinion
2017–01249 Docket Nos. B–5826–16 B–5830–16
01-10-2018
In the MATTER OF JOHANNA B. (Anonymous). Suffolk County Department of Social Services, respondent; v. Grace B. (Anonymous), appellant. (Proceeding No. 1) In the Matter of Josiah B. (Anonymous). Suffolk County Department of Social Services, respondent; v. Grace B. (Anonymous), appellant. (Proceeding No. 2)
Marina M. Martielli, East Quogue, NY, for appellant. Dennis M. Brown, County Attorney, Riverhead, N.Y. (Jayne St. James of counsel), for respondent. Laurette Mulry, Central Islip, N.Y. (John B. Belmonte of counsel), attorney for the children.
Marina M. Martielli, East Quogue, NY, for appellant.
Dennis M. Brown, County Attorney, Riverhead, N.Y. (Jayne St. James of counsel), for respondent.
Laurette Mulry, Central Islip, N.Y. (John B. Belmonte of counsel), attorney for the children.
REINALDO E. RIVERA, J.P., JEFFREY A. COHEN, JOSEPH J. MALTESE, ANGELA G. IANNACCI, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER Appeal from an order of the Family Court, Suffolk County (Theresa Whelan, J.), dated January 4, 2017. The order denied the mother's motion to vacate an order of fact-finding and disposition of that court dated August 3, 2016, which, upon her failure to appear at a hearing after an inquest, terminated her parental rights on the ground of permanent neglect, and transferred custody and guardianship of the subject children to the Suffolk County Department of Social Services for the purpose of adoption.
ORDERED that the order dated January 4, 2017, is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
In these two related proceedings pursuant to Social Services Law § 384–b to terminate the mother's parental rights on the ground of permanent neglect, the mother was sent written notice that if she failed to appear in court on a scheduled hearing date, an inquest would be held in her absence. The mother failed to appear and the Family Court conducted an inquest in her absence. The court found that the mother did not satisfy the requirement, imposed on her in a prior order, that she successfully complete a drug rehabilitation program, including follow-up treatment, and did not visit with the children regularly. The court found that the mother had permanently neglected the children, and committed guardianship and custody of the children to the Suffolk County Department of Social Services for the purpose of adoption. The mother moved pursuant to CPLR 5015 to vacate the order entered upon her default. The court denied the mother's motion, finding that she had failed to set forth a reasonable excuse or a potentially meritorious defense to warrant vacatur of the order. The mother appeals.
The determination of whether to relieve a party of a default is within the sound discretion of the Family Court (see Matter of Isabella R.W. [Jessica W.], 142 A.D.3d 503, 504, 36 N.Y.S.3d 205; Matter of Kimberly S.K. [Kimberly K.], 138 A.D.3d 853, 854, 29 N.Y.S.3d 505 ; Matter of Stephen Daniel A. [Sandra M.–A.], 122 A.D.3d 837, 839, 995 N.Y.S.2d 511 ). A parent seeking to vacate an order entered upon his or her default in a termination of parental rights proceeding must establish a reasonable excuse for the default, as well as a potentially meritorious defense to the relief sought in the petition (see CPLR 5015[a][1] ; Matter of Isabella R.W. [Jessica W.], 142 A.D.3d at 504, 36 N.Y.S.3d 205; Matter of Kimberly S.K. [Kimberly K.], 138 A.D.3d at 854, 29 N.Y.S.3d 505 ; Matter of Stephen Daniel A. [Sandra M.–A.], 122 A.D.3d at 839, 995 N.Y.S.2d 511 ).
Here, the Family Court providently exercised its discretion in denying the mother's motion to vacate the order entered upon her default. The mother failed to show a reasonable excuse for her default. The court determined that the mother's excuse that she was unaware of the court date was not credible. This determination is supported by the record, and should not be disturbed (see Matter of Irene O., 38 N.Y.2d 776, 381 N.Y.S.2d 865, 345 N.E.2d 337; Matter of Iris G. [Angel G.], 144 A.D.3d 908, 908, 41 N.Y.S.3d 538; Matter of Bullard v. Clark, 154 A.D.3d 846, 62 N.Y.S.3d 189 ). Because the mother did not have a reasonable excuse for her default, this Court need not determine whether she established that she had a potentially meritorious defense (see Matter of Brandon G. [Tiynia D.], 155 A.D.3d 626, 627, 63 N.Y.S.3d 484 ; Matter of Nathalie D.N. [Nathaniel H.], 149 A.D.3d 750, 51 N.Y.S.3d 167 ).
RIVERA, J.P., COHEN, MALTESE and IANNACCI, JJ., concur.