APPEAL RENDERED MOOT BY THE RETURN OF THE CHILD IN THIS CHILD NEGLECT – TEMPORARY REMOVAL PROCEEDING AND THE EXCEPTION TO THE MOOTNESS DOCTRINE DID NOT APPLY, TWO JUSTICE DISSENT ARGUED A NOVEL ISSUE HAD BEEN RAISED CONCERNING CONSENT TO THE TEMPORARY REMOVAL AND THE EXCEPTION TO THE MOOTNESS DOCTRINE WAS APPLICABLE (THIRD DEPT).
The Third Department, over a two-justice dissent, determined that the appeal in this child neglect/temporary matter removal had been rendered moot by a disposition which returned the child and the exception to the mootness doctrine, which would allow consideration on appeal, did not apply. The dissent argued that the exception to the mootness doctrine was applicable:
Family Court … rejected respondent’s offer to consent to the continued removal without also admitting that the removal was “necessary to avoid imminent risk to the child’s life or health”… . Family Court made such a finding at the conclusion of the hearing and issued an order continuing the temporary removal. …
Following the issuance of the appealed-from order, respondent agreed to a resolution in which the violation petition was withdrawn, the neglect petition was adjourned in contemplation of dismissal and the child returned to respondent’s care. Contrary to her contention, these developments rendered her appeal moot… She further argues that this case presents an issue that is “likely to recur, typically evades review, and raises a substantial and novel question” so as to fall within the exception to the mootness doctrine, pointing to Family Court’s refusal to allow her to waive the removal hearing and consent to the continued removal absent an admission of imminent risk … . Appeals from temporary removal orders are often rendered moot when the petition is disposed of before an appeal on the temporary order is decided … , but issues arising from such orders need not evade review considering the preference available for appeals from orders issued under Family Ct Act article 10 … More importantly, the law is clear that any order of temporary removal must include a finding that removal “is necessary to avoid imminent risk to the child’s life or health” … . The contention that this requirement can be waived at respondent’s convenience is not “sufficiently substantial to warrant [invoking] the exception to the mootness doctrine” … .
From the dissent:
While we agree with the majority that this appeal is moot, we find that the exception to the mootness doctrine applies. The substantive issue presented is whether a respondent in a proceeding under Family Ct Act article 10, part 2 may consent to the temporary removal of his or her child. The record shows that Family Court interpreted both Family Court §§ 1022 and 1027 as requiring the court to make a factual finding that a child is in imminent danger before issuing a temporary removal order. That is certainly the case in a contested proceeding… . The distinct question here, however, is whether a parent may consent to the temporary removal, obviating the need for either an admission of wrongdoing or a hearing eliciting facts of imminent risk as required by Family Court. Given the court’s position, it is evident that the issue will readily recur in proceedings before that court. Moreover, appeals from temporary removal orders are routinely found to be moot because a disposition is reached before an appeal is decided … . Because the procedures surrounding the removal of children from their parents are manifestly of public importance, we consider the consent issue important to resolve. It also appears to be novel. As such, we are persuaded that the exception to the mootness doctrine should be applied … . Matter of Tyrell FF. (Jaquasisa GG.), 2018 NY Slip Op 07985, Third Dept 11-21-18
FAMILY LAW (APPEAL RENDERED MOOT BY THE RETURN OF THE CHILD IN THIS CHILD NEGLECT – TEMPORARY REMOVAL PROCEEDING AND THE EXCEPTION TO THE MOOTNESS DOCTRINE DID NOT APPLY, TWO JUSTICE DISSENT ARGUED A NOVEL ISSUE HAD BEEN RAISED CONCERNING CONSENT TO THE TEMPORARY REMOVAL AND THE EXCEPTION TO THE MOOTNESS DOCTRINE WAS APPLICABLE (THIRD DEPT))/APPEALS (FAMILY LAW, APPEAL RENDERED MOOT BY THE RETURN OF THE CHILD IN THIS CHILD NEGLECT – TEMPORARY REMOVAL PROCEEDING AND THE EXCEPTION TO THE MOOTNESS DOCTRINE DID NOT APPLY, TWO JUSTICE DISSENT ARGUED A NOVEL ISSUE HAD BEEN RAISED CONCERNING CONSENT TO THE TEMPORARY REMOVAL AND THE EXCEPTION TO THE MOOTNESS DOCTRINE WAS APPLICABLE (THIRD DEPT))/MOOTNESS DOCTRINE, EXCEPTION TO (APPEALS, FAMILY LAW, APPEAL RENDERED MOOT BY THE RETURN OF THE CHILD IN THIS CHILD NEGLECT – TEMPORARY REMOVAL PROCEEDING AND THE EXCEPTION TO THE MOOTNESS DOCTRINE DID NOT APPLY, TWO JUSTICE DISSENT ARGUED A NOVEL ISSUE HAD BEEN RAISED CONCERNING CONSENT TO THE TEMPORARY REMOVAL AND THE EXCEPTION TO THE MOOTNESS DOCTRINE WAS APPLICABLE (THIRD DEPT))