You are here: / / MOTHER DEMONSTRATED CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES RELATED TO EXCESSIVE PUNISHMENT...

MOTHER DEMONSTRATED CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES RELATED TO EXCESSIVE PUNISHMENT BY HUSBAND; FAMILY COURT REVERSED, CUSTODY AWARDED TO MOTHER.

The Fourth Department reversed Family Court finding changes in circumstances sufficient to modify the custody arrangement and award sole physical custody to mother. The evidence demonstrated father imposed excessive corporal punishment. The Fourth Department noted the Family Court judge placed too much emphasis on mother’s sexual conduct:

 

Although the father testified that each of [the] types of physical discipline was a one-time occurrence, the records of the daughter’s medical examination documenting that the daughter had “multiple bruises all over her body in different stages of healing,” as well as the son’s statements with respect to the frequency of the father’s physical discipline, support the finding that the father repeatedly inflicted excessive corporal punishment on the daughter. We thus conclude that there was a sufficient change in circumstances to warrant an inquiry into the best interests of the children … . Furthermore, even crediting the father’s assertion that the daughter’s injuries resulted from tantrums, we conclude that there was a sufficient change in circumstances inasmuch as the father was admittedly unable to handle the daughter’s behavioral issues, resorted to inappropriate physical discipline to punish the daughter for her alleged misbehavior, and requested that the mother remove the daughter from his care … .

We further agree with the mother and the AFC that the court’s custody determination lacks a sound and substantial basis in the record … . Upon our review of the relevant factors … , “including an evaluation of the character and relative parental fitness of the parties” … , we conclude that it is in the best interests of the children to award the mother sole legal and primary physical custody. Matter of DeJesus v Gonzalez, 2016 NY Slip Op 01059, 4th Dept 2-11-16

 

FAMILY LAW (EXCESSIVE PUNISHMENT BY FATHER CONSTITUTED SUFFICIENT CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES, CUSTODY AWARDED TO MOTHER)/CUSTODY (EXCESSIVE PUNISHMENT BY FATHER CONSTITUTED SUFFICIENT CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES, CUSTODY AWARDED TO MOTHER)

You might also like
PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION TO SET ASIDE THE JURY’S DAMAGES AWARD IN THIS PERSONAL INJURY CASE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GRANTED, THE JURY WAS FREE TO DISREGARD EXPERT OPINION (FOURTH DEPT).
Insurance Company’s Documents Protected by Attorney-Client Privilege/Where there is a Discrepancy Between an Order and the Related Decision, the Decision Controls
ALTHOUGH NO GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW NOTICE OF CLAIM NEED BE FILED FOR THE FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION OR THE STATE HUMAN RIGHTS LAW CAUSES OF ACTION, A NOTICE OF CLAIM PURSUANT TO THE SYRACUSE CITY CHARTER WAS REQUIRED FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS LAW CAUSES OF ACTION (FOURTH DEPT).
Maximum Sentence Deemed Unduly Harsh and Severe
Successful Challenge to Property Tax Assessment Affirmed,
ALTHOUGH THE PERSISTENT FELONY OFFENDER STATUS WAS AUTHORIZED AND LEGAL, THE APPELLATE DIVISION EXERCISED ITS DISCRETION TO FIND DEFENDANT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SENTENCED AS A PERSISTENT FELONY OFFENDER AND REDUCED HIS SENTENCE (FOURTH DEPT).
Defendant’s Attorney Not Ineffective for Failing to Make a Motion to Suppress—Nature of a Motion Which, If Not Made, Would Constitute Ineffective Assistance Addressed by the Majority and the Dissent
PLAINTIFF’S EXPERT AFFIDAVIT DID NOT ADDRESS ONE CAUSE OF ACTION IN THIS MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CASE; THEREFORE THAT CAUSE OF ACTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISMISSED (FOURTH DEPT).

Categories

Sign Up for the Mailing List to Be Notified When the Site Is Updated.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright © 2026 New York Appellate Digest, Inc.
Site by CurlyHost | Privacy Policy

POLICE OFFICER’S CAUSES OF ACTION FOR DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION SHOULD... FAMILY COURT DID NOT HAVE AUTHORITY TO REVOKE FIREARMS PERMIT AS PART OF AN...