THE EVIDENCE FATHER NEGLECTED THREE OF THE CHILDREN BY THROWING AN OBJECT AT MOTHER AND YELLING AT MOTHER WAS INSUFFICIENT (SECOND DEPT).
The Second Department, reversing Family Court, determined the evidence father neglected three of the children by throwing an object at mother and yelling at mother was insufficient:
Family Court providently exercised its discretion in determining that the out-of-court statements of Tawdrea G., Terel R., and Micah M. G. to an ACS caseworker that the father threw an object at the mother cross-corroborated each other, and that the record as a whole demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence that the physical, mental, or emotional condition of Tawdrea G., Terel R., and Micah M. G. was impaired or was in danger of becoming impaired when the father threw an object at the mother in their presence … .
However, the Family Court erred in determining that a preponderance of the evidence established that the father neglected Tyresse M., Makai G., Tamera P.-C. M., or Divine K. M., based on the father throwing an object at the mother. There was no evidence that Tyresse M., Makai G., Tamera P.-C. M., or Divine K. M. witnessed that event. Moreover, there was insufficient evidence to establish that the physical, emotional, or mental condition of Tyresse M., Makai G., Tamera P.-C. M., or Divine K. M., was impaired or placed in imminent danger of impairment based on that incident … .
The Family Court also erred in determining that a preponderance of the evidence established that the father neglected any of the children by verbally abusing the mother in the presence of the children. While it was inappropriate for the father to yell at the mother in the presence of the children, the evidence concerning those arguments was insufficient to establish that the children’s physical, mental, or emotional condition was impaired or in imminent danger becoming impaired … . Matter of Divine K. M. (Andre G.), 2022 NY Slip Op 06929, Second Dept 12-7-22
Practice Point: There was no evidence three of the children were present when father threw an object at mother and there was no evidence the children’s physical, mental, or emotional condition was impaired by father’s yelling at mother. The relevant neglect findings were reversed.
