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ABSENT PROOF OF SERVICE OF THE SUPPORT MAGISTRATE’S ORDER ON FATHER OR FATHER’S COUNSEL, THE TIME FOR FILING OBJECTIONS TO THE ORDER NEVER BEGAN RUNNING (SECOND DEPT). ​

The Second Department, reversing Family Court, determined the time for filing objections to the order of the Support Magistrate never started to run because there was no evidence the order was served or mailed, notwithstanding father’s possession of the order:

Pursuant to Family Court Act § 439(e), objections to an order of a Support Magistrate must be filed within 30 days after the date on which the order is provided to the objecting party in court or by personal service, or within 35 days after the date in which the order is mailed to the objecting party … . When a party is represented by counsel, the 35-day time requirement does not begin to run until the final order is mailed to counsel … . Here, the father and the father’s prior counsel indicated that neither of them received the Support Magistrate’s order by either personal service or mail. In addition, there is no evidence in the record demonstrating that the Support Magistrate’s order was mailed or personally served on the father’s counsel. Since there is no evidence in the record indicating that the Support Magistrate’s order was personally served or mailed to the father’s counsel … , the time in which the father was required to file his objections never began to run … . Contrary to the Family Court’s determination, the father’s actual possession of the Support Magistrate’s order, which prior counsel indicated was obtained from the Family Court record room, is not dispositive, as the time limitations of Family Court Act § 439(e) do not begin to run until service is effectuated in accordance therewith … . Hughes v Lugo, 2020 NY Slip Op 04308, Second Dept 7-29-20

 

MOTHER, WHO OPPOSES VACCINATING THE CHILD, SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AWARDED MEDICAL DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing (modifying) Family Court, determined mother, who opposes vaccination of the child, should not have been awarded medical decision-making authority:

Here, the child, by his attorney … , asserts that the mother should not have medical decision-making authority over him. The mother opposes vaccinating the child. However, at the hearing, the father testified that he would innoculate the child for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, and measles, mumps, and rubella, expressed concern that the child could become infected and young and elderly members of his family were at risk due to the child’s lack of immunization against “highly contagious preventable diseases,” and further noted that his younger child had received a “full set” of vaccinations. The forensic evaluator recommended that the father should be awarded medical decision-making authority due to his position on vaccinations which was safer for the child, a position which was entitled to some weight … . Under the circumstances, the determination of the Family Court to award the mother medical decision-making authority did not have a sound an substantial basis in the record, and the father should have been awarded medical decision-making authority … . Matter of Ednie v Haniquet, 2020 NY Slip Op 04305, Second Dept 7-29-20

 

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THE ATTORNEY FOR THE CHILD (AFC) TOOK AND ADVOCATED POSITIONS WHICH WERE CONTRARY TO THE WISHES OF THE CHILDREN; NEW CUSTODY HEARING ORDERED WITH A NEW AFC (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Christopher, determined the attorney for the children (AFC) took a position contrary to the  children’s wishes in this custody action, requiring a new hearing and the appointment of a new AFC:

An AFC is required to “zealously advocate the child’s position” (22 NYCRR 7.2[d] … ). In order to determine the child’s wishes, the AFC must “consult with and advise the child to the extent of and in a manner consistent with the child’s capacities, and have a thorough knowledge of the child’s circumstances” (22 NYCRR 7.2[d][1]). The rules further state that ” the [AFC] should be directed by the wishes of the child, even if the [AFC] believes that what the child wants is not in the child’s best interests’ and that the [AFC] should explain fully the options available to the child, and may recommend to the child a course of action that in the [AFC]’s view would best promote the child’s interests'” … . * * *

… [T]he AFC’s representation was in direct contravention of her clients’ stated parameters. Throughout the course of the proceedings, she failed to advocate on behalf of her clients, who were 13 and 11 years old at the time of the hearing, and who were both on the high honor roll and involved in extracurricular activities. The AFC actively pursued a course of litigation aimed at opposing their stated positions. She joined the plaintiff in opposing the introduction of evidence and witnesses in support of the defendant’s case. When the defendant sought to introduce evidence in defense of the plaintiff’s allegations that the defendant provided the children with unnecessary medical care, the AFC joined the plaintiff in opposing the introduction of the defendant’s evidence. The AFC also opposed the introduction of evidence that may have supported one child’s claim that the plaintiff attempted to strangle her. The AFC objected to the testimony of school personnel for the purpose of explaining the children’s seemingly excessive school absences. The AFC’s questions of the plaintiff during cross-examination were designed to elicit testimony in support of the plaintiff’s case, in opposition to her clients’ wishes. Silverman v Silverman, 2020 NY Slip Op 04338, Second Dept 7-29-20

 

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SEVERE ABUSE FINDING SUPPORTED BY FATHER’S FAILURE TO SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CARE FOR THE SERIOUSLY INJURED CHILD (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, over a dissent, determined the evidence supported the severe abuse finding against father on the ground father delayed in seeking medical attention for the child’s severe injuries:

Family Court’s finding of severe abuse was based on two incidents in which the father found the older child at the bottom of the basement stairs in the morning. After the first incident, the older child sustained back and leg injuries, torso abrasions and facial bruising that was so severe that she could not open her eyes all the way. After the second incident, the child had two lacerations across the front of her neck that required significant medical attention. * * *

A finding of severe abuse requires clear and convincing evidence that a child was found to be abused “as a result of reckless or intentional acts of the parent committed under circumstances evincing a depraved indifference to human life, which result in serious physical injury to the child as defined in [Penal Law § 10.00 (10)]” (Social Services Law § 384-b [8] [a] [i]; see Family Ct Act §§ 1046 [b] [ii]; 1051 [e]). Here, the older child suffered severe injuries, including cuts to her throat that required a significant amount of medical attention and serious bruising. The act of cutting the older child’s throat twice demonstrates that the actor did so because he or she simply did not care whether grievous harm would result to the older child. Even assuming, arguendo, that the evidence did not establish that the father was the one who inflicted those injuries, we conclude that the evidence demonstrates that he was in the home when the older child sustained her serious physical injuries and that he offered no compelling explanation for what caused them or why he failed to seek immediate medical help for her after discovering those injuries … .

We disagree with the dissent’s view that petitioner was required to present evidence that the father’s delay in seeking medical treatment exacerbated the older child’s injuries or complicated the older child’s medical treatment. Matter of Mya N. (Reginald N.–Sadie H.), 2020 NY Slip Op 04266, Fourth Dept 7-24-20

 

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FAMILY COURT SHOULD NOT HAVE AWARDED CUSTODY OF THE CHILDREN TO A NONPARENT WITHOUT FIRST MAKING A FINDING WHETHER EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES EXISTED; THE ISSUE WAS NOT PRESERVED, APPEAL HEARD IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reversing Family Court, determined Family Court did not make the required initial finding of extraordinary circumstances before awarding custody of the children to a nonparent. Although the issue was not preserved, it was heard in the interest of justice:

” [A]s between a parent and a nonparent, the parent has a superior right to custody that cannot be denied unless the nonparent establishes that the parent has relinquished that right because of surrender, abandonment, persisting neglect, unfitness or other like extraordinary circumstances . . . The nonparent has the burden of proving that extraordinary circumstances exist, and until such circumstances are shown, the court does not reach the issue of the best interests of the child’ ” … . That rule ” applies even if there is an existing order of custody concerning that child unless there is a prior determination that extraordinary circumstances exist’ ” … . A prior consent order does not by itself constitute a judicial finding or an admission of extraordinary circumstances … . There is no indication in the record that the court previously made a determination of extraordinary circumstances … . Matter of Byler v Byler, 2020 NY Slip Op 04025, Fourth Dept 7-17-20

 

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ALTHOUGH MOTHER WAS GENERALLY AWARE FATHER HAD MOVED TO DELAWARE, FATHER DID NOT SPECIFY AN AGENT FOR SERVICE AS REQUIRED BY THE FAMILY COURT ACT; THEREFORE SERVICE OF MOTHER’S OBJECTIONS TO THE SUPPORT MAGISTRATE’S ORDER AT FATHER’S LAST KNOWN ADDRESS WAS PROPER (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Family Court, determined mother’s objections to the Support Magistrate’s order should not have been rejected on the ground father was not properly served. The papers were served at father’s prior address in Brooklyn. Although mother was aware father may live in Delaware from representation made to the court, father did not specify an agent for service as required by Family Court Act. Therefore service at father’s last known address was proper:

“Family Court Act § 439(e) provides, in pertinent part, that [a] party filing objections shall serve a copy of such objections upon the opposing party,’ and that [p]roof of service upon the opposing party shall be filed with the [Family Court] at the time of filing of objections and any rebuttal'” … . Here, the mother served her objections upon the father at an address in Brooklyn, which was the same address she listed for the father in her petition. The court rejected the proof of service because, inter alia, the court file reflected a Delaware address for the father. While the mother was generally aware that the father represented to the court that his address was in Delaware, there was no evidence in the record that the address was ever disclosed to the mother. Moreover, following the mailing of the original summons to the father’s Brooklyn address, he filed an Address Confidentiality Affidavit. In his Address Confidentiality Affidavit, the father failed to specify an agent for service, and there was no evidence that the mother ever received notice of an agent for service for the father as required by Family Court Act § 154-b(2)(c). Under these circumstances, the mother had insufficient notice of the father’s purported new address in Delaware and lacked notice of an agent for service for the father. Therefore, service upon the father at the address last known to the mother was proper (see CPLR 2103[b][2] …). Matter of Deyanira P. v Rodolfo P.-B., 2020 NY Slip Op 03918, Second Dept 7-15-20

 

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MOTHER PRESENTED SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF HER PRO SE PETITION FOR A MODIFICATION OF CUSTODY TO WARRANT A HEARING (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing Family Court, determined that mother presented enough evidence in her pro se petition for a modification of custody to warrant a hearing:

“A parent seeking to modify an existing custody order first must demonstrate that a change in circumstances has occurred since the entry thereof that is sufficient to warrant the court undertaking a best interests analysis in the first instance; assuming this threshold requirement is met, the parent then must show that modification of the underlying order is necessary to ensure the child’s continued best interests” … . “[I]n determining whether a pro se petitioner made a sufficient evidentiary showing to warrant a hearing, we construe the pleadings liberally and afford the petitioner the benefit of every favorable inference. As a general matter, custody determinations should be rendered only after a full and plenary hearing” … .

In her petition, the mother alleged, among other things, that the father repeatedly attempted to take the child with him to a prison to visit an inmate who was convicted of murder and on at least one occasion was successful. She also asserted that the child had no desire to accompany the father on these visits and, in fact, they caused the child significant distress. Furthermore, the mother alleged in her petition that the father has refused to allow any additional parenting time, despite numerous requests, and that he has threatened to take away her court-ordered parenting time. Finally, the mother averred that she has completed therapeutic counseling, is continuing with further therapy and is a fit parent. We find that the pro se petition is sufficient to warrant an evidentiary hearing based on these allegations. “We also note that the prior custody order was entered upon consent of the parties and there has not . . . been a plenary hearing regarding custody” since 2014 … . Matter of Kimberly H. v Daniel I., 2020 NY Slip Op 03830, Third Dept 7-9-20

 

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FAMILY COURT ALLOWED MOTHER TO TESTIFY BY TELEPHONE WITHOUT WARNING HER A NOTARY SHOULD BE PRESENT SO SHE COULD BE SWORN AND THEN, SUA SPONTE, REJECTED MOTHER’S TESTIMONY BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SWORN; NEW HEARING ORDERED (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing Family Court in this child support violation proceeding, determined that mother’s testimony by telephone should not have been rejected, sua sponte, because it was unsworn. Family Court allowed mother to testify and mother, who was facing incarceration for the child-support violation, had not been warned to have a notary present so her testimony could be sworn:

In noting the lack of a notary present with the mother to swear her in, Family Court correctly identified a critical issue about to unfold at the hearing, but then took no timely corrective action to address the issue, permitted the unsworn questioning to occur and then, in its written decision, found fault with the very unsworn testimony methodology that it had permitted to occur at the hearing. The correct course of action would have been for the court to explain up front that, if the mother wished to testify, she would have to do so under oath and then administer the oath itself if the mother had not made other suitable arrangements. Given that the mother was facing a potential period of incarceration of up to six months in the event that Family Court determined that her failure to pay child support was willful (see Family Ct. Act § 454 [3] [a]), the mother’s testimony was essential to the court’s determination as to whether she had had the ability to pay or willfully disobeyed the prior support order. Thus, having permitted the mother to give unsworn testimony telephonically, it was error for Family Court to thereafter sua sponte rule, nearly 1½ months after the hearing, that it would not credit the mother’s testimony given that it was not sworn.  Matter of Burnett v Andrews-Dyke, 2020 NY Slip Op 03838, Third Dept 7-9-20

 

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FAMILY COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION BY DENYING THE REQUEST FOR AN ADJOURNMENT IN CONTEMPLATION OF DISMISSAL IN THIS JUVENILE DELINQUENCY PROCEEDING (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Family Court, determined Family Court abused its discretion in denying appellant’s request for an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal in this juvenile delinquency proceeding:

The Family Court has broad discretion in determining whether to adjourn a proceeding in contemplation of dismissal … . Although, as it is often stated, a respondent is not entitled to an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal merely because this was his or her “first brush with the law” … , a respondent’s criminal and disciplinary history is nevertheless relevant to a court’s discretionary determination of whether to adjourn a proceeding in contemplation of dismissal … . Other relevant factors include, but are not necessarily limited to, a respondent’s history of drug or alcohol use … , a respondent’s association with gang activity … , a respondent’s academic and school attendance record … , the nature of the underlying incident … , a respondent’s decision to accept responsibility for his or her actions … , any recommendations made in a probation or mental health report … , the degree to which the respondent’s parent or guardian is involved in the respondent’s home and academic life … , and the ability of the respondent’s parent or guardian to provide adequate supervision … .

Here, the Family Court improvidently exercised its discretion in denying the appellant’s application pursuant to Family Court Act § 315.3(1) for an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal. This proceeding constituted the appellant’s first contact with the court system, the appellant took responsibility for his actions, and the record demonstrates that he had learned from his mistakes. Matter of Brian M., 2020 NY Slip Op 03785, Second Dept 7-8-20

 

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THE CONDITIONAL DIRECTIVE THAT FATHER BE AWARDED SOLE CUSTODY IF MOTHER DID NOT RETURN FROM SWEDEN WITH THE CHILD IS NOT ENFORCEABLE; A CHANGE IN CUSTODY MUST BE BASED ON THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD AND SHOULD NOT BE USED TO PUNISH A PARENT (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Family Court, determined the conditional directive that sole custody of the child be awarded to father if mother did not return from Sweden with the child within 30 days was not enforceable. There was no application for a change of custody before the court. The conditional directive was issued to punish mother for moving to and remaining in Sweden and was not based upon the best interests of the child:

The paramount concern in any custody determination is the best interests of the child, under the totality of the circumstances  … . Reversal or modification of an existing custody order ” should not be a weapon wielded as a means of punishing a recalcitrant’ or contemptuous parent” … . In addition, “where no party has moved for a change in custody, a court may not modify an existing custody order in a non-emergency situation absent notice to the parties, and without affording the custodial parent an opportunity to present evidence and to call and cross-examine witnesses” … .

Here, the Family Court’s conditional directive that sole legal and physical custody of the child shall be transferred to the father if the mother did not return the child to New York City within 30 days was meant to punish the mother and was not based on the court’s determination of the best interests of the child. The court should not have considered a change in custody in the absence of an application for such relief with notice to the mother …. Further, the court’s conditional award of custody to the father was improper in light of the court’s determination otherwise that it was in the child’s best interests to remain in the custody of the mother, and considering, among other things, that the mother had always been the child’s primary caretaker, the father did not have overnight visits with the child, and the court had previously expressed concerns about the father’s ability to care for the child for an extended period of time … . Matter of Ross v Ross, 2020 NY Slip Op 03668, Second Dept 7-1-20

 

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