The Second Department, reversing Family Court, determined the evidence that mother attacked her sister with a knife while mother’s children were in the home supported the finding of neglect. There was no need to demonstrate the children witnessed the attack:
“To establish neglect pursuant to Family Court Act § 1012(f)(i)(B), a petitioner must demonstrate, by a preponderance of the evidence, (1) that the child’s physical, mental, or emotional condition has been impaired or is in imminent danger of becoming impaired, and (2) that the actual or threatened harm to the child is due to the failure of the parent or caretaker to exercise a minimum degree of care in providing the child with proper supervision or guardianship” … .
Contrary to the Family Court’s determination, an imminent danger of impairment to the physical, mental, or emotional condition of the subject children should be inferred from the mother’s egregious conduct of attacking the children’s pregnant aunt with a knife while the children were in the home … . Furthermore, impairment or imminent danger of physical impairment should also be inferred from the subject children’s proximity to violence directed against a family member, “even absent evidence that they were aware of or emotionally impacted by the violence” … . Matter of Najaie C. (Niger C.), 2019 NY Slip Op 04935, Second Dept 6-19-19