THE EVIDENCE DID NOT SUPPORT THE FINDINGS THAT MOTHER AND FATHER NEGLECTED THE NEWBORN WHO TESTED POSITIVE FOR AMPHETAMINES AND DOCTOR-PRESCRIBED SUBUTEX; THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THE CHILD’S LOW BIRTH WEIGHT AND NEED FOR COMFORTING WAS RELATED TO AMPHETAMINES AS OPPOSED TO THE SUBUTEX; FATHER’S “HOSTILE” BEHAVIOR TOWARD PETITIONERS AND HIS REFUSAL TO SIGN A BIRTH CERTIFICATE WERE NOT VALID GROUNDS FOR A NEGLECT FINDING (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing Family Court, determined the evidence did not support finding mother and father had neglected the newborn child based upon positive toxicology results for amphetamines and Subutex. Subutex had been prescribed by a doctor. Mother admitted using a methamphetamine once during the pregnancy. The evidence did not demonstrate a causal connection between the child’s low birth weight and need for extra comforting and the use of amphetamines as opposed to the doctor-prescribed Subutex:

In finding that the child had been neglected by the mother, Family Court referenced the positive toxicology results and the mother’s admission to having used “ICE.” The court also referenced that the child was born with a “low birth weight consistent with experiencing in utero drug exposure.” While the hospital records confirm the child was “small for gestational age,” there was no testimony linking this to the mother’s use of amphetamines/methamphetamines during pregnancy. The court also cited to the child exhibiting “telltale signs of drug exposure, exhibiting increased tremors when disturbed, high pitch crying and a need for extra comforting.” There was testimony from a registered nurse who cared for the child that the child had withdrawal symptoms, such as a “high-pitched, shrill cry” and “constantly need[ing] to be held and have human touch.” However, there was no testimony as to whether the child’s small birth weight and withdrawal symptoms were related to the mother’s methamphetamine use, rather than her use of Subutex, which her unrefuted testimony demonstrates was prescribed by a doctor.[FN2] In fact, the mother testified that, during her pregnancy, medical professionals informed her that using Subutex would be fine for the child, that there would not be any side effects, but there may be “some withdrawals.” * * *

We reach the same result regarding the father’s neglect finding, which was based upon the father’s behavior toward petitioner’s staff, as well as hospital staff, which was “hostile beyond what would be deemed acceptable by a reasonable and prudent standard.” The finding was also based upon the father’s refusal to sign a birth certificate or acknowledgement of paternity, “effectively abandoning the child when the mother was deemed to be an unsafe caregiver.” There is no support in the law that either of these behaviors constitute neglect, nor did petitioner “demonstrate that [the child’s] physical, mental or emotional condition was in imminent danger of being impaired” based upon these behaviors … . And finally, Family Court imputed the father with knowledge of the mother’s drug use and found that he neglected the child “by failing to exercise a minimum degree of care to prevent the mother from abusing drugs during her pregnancy.” This statement exaggerates what the testimony revealed was the extent of the mother’s drug use during pregnancy, and there simply was no evidence regarding the father’s knowledge of her use … . Matter of Raivyn BB. (Courtney BB.), 2025 NY Slip Op 06564, Third Dept 11-26-25

Practice Point: A newborn’s testing positive for amphetamines is not enough to support a neglect finding without proof the baby’s low birth weight and need for comforting was caused by amphetamines.

Practice Point: Father’s “hostile” attitude and refusal to sign the birth certificate were not valid grounds or a neglect finding.