Rules of Evidence Properly Relaxed to Allow Hearsay In Proceeding to Modify Guardian’s Power to Control the Social Environment of the Incapacitated Person

In affirming the denial of a petition to modify the court-appointed guardian’s power to control the social environment of Mary WW, the incapacitated person (to compel the guardian to allow petitioner to visit Mary WW), the Third Department agreed with Supreme Court that hearsay was admissible in the proceeding:

…. [P]etitioner contends that, in denying her motion, Supreme Court improperly relied upon the hearsay statements of witnesses who had contact with Mary WW. We disagree. Although the rules of evidence are generally applicable to proceedings brought under Mental Hygiene Law article 81, Mental Hygiene Law § 81.12 (b) provides that the court may waive such rules “for good cause shown.” Here, we note that Mary WW. initially consented to the guardianship, it was recommended by the court evaluator and none of Mary WW.’s children, except for petitioner, objected. Moreover, it is undisputed that Mary WW. now suffers from severe dementia and was unable to attend the modification hearing, which occurred nearly four years after the guardianship was established. In view of this, it was necessary for other witnesses to testify concerning her interactions with petitioner. Significantly, petitioner was not prejudiced, as she was present at the hearing and denied the allegations. Under these circumstances, we find that Supreme Court had good cause for relaxing the rules of evidence and considering the hearsay statements of witnesses who had contact with Mary WW. Matter of Mary WW…, 2015 NY Slip Op 01704, 3rd Dept 2-26-15