Opinion
12-07-2016
In the Matter of TRALISA R. (Anonymous), petitioner-respondent, v. MAX S. (Anonymous), respondent-respondent; Giovanni L.R. (Anonymous), nonparty-appellant.
Karen P. Simmons, Brooklyn, NY (Janet Neustaetter and Barbara H. Dildine of counsel), for nonparty-appellant. The Pickney Law Firm, Mineola, NY (Christian Aaron Pickney and Adam James Titterton of counsel), for respondent-respondent.
Karen P. Simmons, Brooklyn, NY (Janet Neustaetter and Barbara H. Dildine of counsel), for nonparty-appellant.
The Pickney Law Firm, Mineola, NY (Christian Aaron Pickney and Adam James Titterton of counsel), for respondent-respondent.
REINALDO E. RIVERA, J.P., CHERYL E. CHAMBERS, SHERI S. ROMAN, and VALERIE BRATHWAITE NELSON, JJ.
Appeal by the child from an order of the Family Court, Kings County (Sharon A. Bourne–Clarke, J.), dated February 23, 2016. The order, without a hearing, directed the parties and the child to submit to genetic marker testing. By decision and order on motion dated March 24, 2016, this Court granted the child's motion to stay enforcement of the order pending hearing and determination of this appeal.
ORDERED that the order is reversed, on the law, without costs or disbursements, and the matter is remitted to the Family Court, Kings County, for a hearing and determination in accordance herewith.
In November 2015, the mother commenced the instant paternity proceeding against the putative father. Thereafter, the putative father requested that the Family Court direct the parties and the child to submit to genetic marker testing. However, the attorney for the child objected and requested that the court address the issue of equitable estoppel before ordering any testing. Over the objection of the attorney for the child, the court directed the parties and the child to submit to genetic marker testing and indicated that it would subsequently address the issue of equitable estoppel if necessary. The child appeals.
Family Court Act § 532 provides that, in a proceeding to establish paternity, "on the court's own motion or the motion of any party, [the court] shall order the mother, her child and the alleged father to submit to one or more genetic marker or DNA tests" (Family Ct. Act § 532[a] ; see Matter of Shondel J. v. Mark D., 7 N.Y.3d 320, 329, 820 N.Y.S.2d 199, 853 N.E.2d 610 ). However, "[n]o paternity test shall be ordered upon a written finding by the court that it is not in the best interests of the child on the basis of, inter alia, equitable estoppel" (Matter of Merritt v. Allen, 99 A.D.3d 1006, 1006–1007, 953 N.Y.S.2d 128 ). "Where a party to a paternity proceeding raises an issue of equitable estoppel, that issue must be resolved before any biological testing is ordered" (Matter of Marilene S. v. David H., 85 A.D.3d 1035, 1036, 925 N.Y.S.2d 871 ; see Matter of Juanita A. v. Kenneth Mark N., 15 N.Y.3d 1, 6, 904 N.Y.S.2d 293, 930 N.E.2d 214 n; Matter of Shondel J. v. Mark D., 7 N.Y.3d at 330, 820 N.Y.S.2d 199, 853 N.E.2d 610 ; Matter of Isaiah A.C. v. Faith T., 43 A.D.3d 1048, 1048, 842 N.Y.S.2d 69 ; Matter of Darlene L.-B. v. Claudio B., 27 A.D.3d 564, 564–565, 813 N.Y.S.2d 139 ; Matter of Westchester County Dept. of Social Servs. v. Robert W.R., 25 A.D.3d 62, 71–72, 803 N.Y.S.2d 672 ).
Here, the Family Court erred in directing the parties and the child to submit to genetic marker testing before resolving the issue of equitable estoppel (see Matter of Shondel J. v. Mark D., 7 N.Y.3d at 330, 820 N.Y.S.2d 199, 853 N.E.2d 610 ; Matter of Augustine A. v. Samantha R.S., 138 A.D.3d 458, 459, 29 N.Y.S.3d 303 ; Matter of Darlene L.-B. v. Claudio B., 27 A.D.3d at 564, 813 N.Y.S.2d 139 ; cf. Matter of Marilene S. v. David H., 85 A.D.3d at 1035, 925 N.Y.S.2d 871 ; Matter of Leon L. v. Carole H., 210 A.D.2d 484, 485, 621 N.Y.S.2d 93 ). Thus, we remit the matter to the Family Court, Kings County, for a hearing on the issue of equitable estoppel. If, and only if, the court determines that equitable estoppel should not be applied based upon the child's best interests, then the court should order genetic marker or DNA tests and reach a determination thereon (see Matter of Darlene L.-B v. Claudio B., 27 A.D.3d at 565, 813 N.Y.S.2d 139 ).