ASSIGNED COUNSEL’S FAILURE TO FILE A NOTICE OF APPEAL IN A NEGLECT PROCEEDING CONSTITUTED INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL, FAMILY COURT TO ISSUE REPLACEMENT ORDER FROM WHICH AN APPEAL MAY BE TAKEN (SECOND DEPT).
The Second Department determined that assigned counsel’s failure to file a notice of appeal in a neglect proceeding constituted ineffective assistance:
“A respondent in a proceeding pursuant to Social Services Law § 384-b has the right to the assistance of counsel (see Family Ct Act § 262[a][iv]), which encompasses the right to the effective assistance of counsel” … . “[T]he statutory right to counsel under Family Court Act § 262 affords protections equivalent to the constitutional standard of effective assistance of counsel afforded to defendants in criminal proceedings” … . Further, “certain Family Court proceedings, although civil in nature, implicate constitutional due process considerations because they involve issues relating to the custody and welfare of children” … .
Here, the father demonstrated that his assigned counsel’s failure to timely file a notice of appeal from the order of fact-finding and disposition constituted ineffective assistance of counsel. Under the circumstances of this case, reversal of the order appealed from is warranted, and we grant the father’s motion to vacate the order of fact-finding and disposition and remit the matter to the Family Court … . Upon remittitur, the court should issue a replacement order of fact-finding and disposition so that the father’s time to appeal will run anew. Matter of Ricardo T. (Ricardo T.), 2019 NY Slip Op 03347, Second Dept 5-1-19