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FATHER’S EXCUSE FOR NOT APPEARING (HE OVERSLEPT) WAS REASONABLE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND FATHER DEMONSTRATED A MERITORIOUS DEFENSE TO THE GRANDPARENTS’ PETITION FOR CUSTODY OF THE CHILD; DEFAULT CUSTODY ORDER VACATED AND MATTER REMITTED FOR A HEARING (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined father’s motion to vacate the order granting, without a hearing, custody of the child to the grandparents should have been granted. The Third Department found that father’s failure to appear was excusable (he overslept) and father had a meritorious defense to the grandparents’ application for custody:

Although oversleeping may not ordinarily constitute a reasonable excuse, we find such excuse to be reasonable under the particular circumstances of this case … . …

… [B]efore Family Court may award custody to a nonparent, it must have first made a finding of extraordinary circumstances and then determined that such award is in the child’s best interests … . …

… .Family Court failed to conduct an evidentiary hearing and make the requisite extraordinary circumstances and best interests findings prior to awarding the grandparents permanent custody of the child. … Family Court’s failures in this regard, together with the father’s superior claim to custody of the child, constitute a meritorious defense … . Matter of Melissa F. v Raymond E., 2021 NY Slip Op 02026, Third Dept 4-1-21

 

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