Father Not Denied Due Process by Absence from Portion of Neglect Proceeding

In affirming Family Court’s finding that the parents had permanently neglected their daughter, the Third Department noted that father had not been denied due process based on his absence from some of the proceedings:

We reject the father’s assertion that his due process rights were violated when Family Court proceeded with a portion of the fact-finding hearing in his absence.  Although a parent in a proceeding seeking to terminate parental rights has a right to be present for all stages of the proceeding, that right is not absolute … .  On the second day of the factfinding hearing, the father’s counsel appeared and informed the court that his client would not be present due to health reasons. Rather than request an adjournment, counsel affirmed that the father’s attendance at the hearing “would not be required today,” requested another hearing date – which the court agreed to schedule – so as to allow the father to testify, and thereafter actively participated in the hearing.   Under these circumstances, we discern no error in Family Court’s decision to proceed with the hearing in the father’s absence or any prejudice inuring to the father as a result thereof… . Matter of Arianna BB…, 2013 NY Slip Op 06758, 3rd Dept 10-17-13