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HERE THE JUDGE DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SUMMARILY MAKE A SEVERE ABUSE FINDING AND TERMINATE RESPONDENTS’ PARENTAL RIGHTS BASED UPON A PRIOR ABUSE HEARING; SEVERE ABUSE WAS NOT ALLEGED IN THE PRIOR HEARING; A SEVERE ABUSE FINDING MUST BE BASED ON A “CLEAR AND CONVINCING” STANDARD, NOT THE “PREPONDERANCE OF EVIDENCE” STANDARD APPLIED IN THE PRIOR HEARING; IN ADDITION, THE JUDGE SHOULD NOT HAVE ISSUED AN ORDER OF DISPOSITION WITHOUT HOLDING A DISPOSITIONAL HEARING; MATTER REMITTED (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reversing Family Court’s “severe abuse” finding and the consequent termination of parental rights, determined it was error to make these rulings based upon a prior abuse hearing because “severe abuse” was not alleged in that hearing. In addition, a finding of “severe abuse” must be based on “clear and convincing evidence,” not the “preponderance of the evidence” standard applied in the prior hearing. Also, the judge should not have issued an order of disposition without holding a dispositional hearing:

… [T]he court did not have the authority, in the context of this Social Services Law § 384-b proceeding, to retroactively make a finding of severe abuse under Family Court Act § 1051 (e) based upon the evidence adduced during the prior article 10 abuse proceeding. … Family Court Act § 1051 (e) provides that in an article 10 abuse case, the court may “[i]n addition to a finding of abuse, . . . enter a finding of severe abuse or repeated abuse, . . . which shall be admissible in a proceeding to terminate parental rights pursuant to [Social Services Law § 384-b (4) (e)] . . . If the court makes such additional finding of severe abuse or repeated abuse, the court shall state the grounds for its determination, which shall be based upon clear and convincing evidence.”

Thus, while it is true that a court is permitted to make a severe abuse finding as part of the disposition in an article 10 abuse case … , that did not occur here. Indeed, in the context of the underlying article 10 proceeding, petitioner did not seek a determination that Respondents severely abused the child, and the court made no such determination. Moreover, the entirety of the court’s findings in the article 10 matter were based upon a preponderance of the evidence—not clear and convincing evidence as required by the statute … . Finally, we note that the court improperly issued an order of disposition in this case before conducting a dispositional hearing (see Family Ct Act § 631; Social Services Law § 384-b [8] [f]). We therefore reverse the order and remit the matter to Family Court for further proceedings on the petition.  Matter of Kevin V. (Sara L.), 2025 NY Slip Op 06422, Fourth Dept 11-21-25

 

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IN THIS CHILD VICTIMS ACT SUIT AGAINST THE COUNTY ALLEGING NEGLIGENT PLACEMENT IN FOSTER CARE, THE COUNTY DID NOT DEMONSTRATE IT WAS ENTITLED TO GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTION IMMUNITY OR IMMUNITY PURSUANT TO THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the county did not have immunity in this Child Victims Act lawsuit alleging negligent foster-care placement of plaintiff. Plaintiff alleged she was sexually abused by her foster father in the late 70’s:

“The governmental function immunity defense provides immunity for the exercise of discretionary authority during the performance of a governmental function” … . “[T]he governmental function immunity defense cannot attach unless the municipal defendant establishes that the discretion possessed by its employees was in fact exercised in relation to the conduct on which liability is predicated” … .

… [T]he County failed to establish, prima facie, that the relevant acts of the County’s employees relating to the alleged negligent supervision of the plaintiff’s foster care placement were discretionary and thus entitled to immunity … . … [E]ven if the acts at issue could potentially be considered discretionary, the County failed to demonstrate that the alleged discretion was in fact exercised in relation to the conduct on which liability is predicated … .

… Contrary to the County’s contention, it “was not entitled to qualified immunity pursuant to Social Services Law § 419, as qualified immunity does not bar recovery for the negligent supervision of children in foster care” … . M.W. v Nassau County, 2025 NY Slip Op 05550, Second Dept 10-8-25

Practice Point: Use this decision as a starting point for research into how governmental function immunity and immunity under the Social Services Law apply to a county foster-care placement. Here the court determined neither type of immunity applied in this Child Victims Act lawsuit.

 

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THE FOSTER CARE AGENCY DID NOT PROVE IT MADE DILIGENT EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE AND STRENGTHEN THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP BEFORE FILING THE PETITION TO TERMINATE MOTHER’S PARENTAL RIGHTS; PETITION DISMISSED (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Family Court, determined the petitioner foster-care-agency in this termination of parental rights proceeding did not demonstrate it made diligent efforts to encourage and strengthen the parent-child relationship before filing the petition:

When a foster care agency brings a proceeding to terminate parental rights on the ground of permanent neglect, it must, as a threshold matter, prove by clear and convincing evidence that it has fulfilled its statutory duty to exercise diligent efforts to encourage and strengthen the parent-child relationship” ( … see Social Services Law § 384-b[7][a]). “Those efforts must include counseling, making suitable arrangements for parental access, providing assistance to the parents to resolve the problems preventing the child’s discharge, and advising the parents of the child’s progress and development” … . “An agency must always determine the particular problems facing a parent with respect to the return of his or her child and make affirmative, repeated, and meaningful efforts to assist the parent in overcoming these handicaps” … .

Here, the petitioner failed to meet its initial burden of establishing by clear and convincing evidence that it exercised diligent efforts to strengthen the parental relationship between the mother and the child (see Social Services Law § 384-b[7][a], [f]). The evidence adduced at the fact-finding hearing failed to establish that the petitioner assisted the single, working mother with obtaining childcare services, followed up with her therapy progress for six months, or built a rapport with her in order to engage in cooperative dialogue…. . Matter of Syiah C.M. (Shatasia C.M.), 2025 NY Slip Op 04095, Second Dept 7-9-25

Practice Point: Consult this decision for some insight into what a foster care agency must try to do to strengthen the parent-child relationship before filing a petition to terminate a mother’s parental rights.

 

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THE NEW YORK CITY LOCAL LAWS REFORMING THE NYC FIGHTING HOMELESSNES AND EVICTION PREVENTION SUPPLEMENT ARE NOT PREEMPTED BY THE NEW YORK STATE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Higgitt, determined that the local laws passed by the City Council modifying the New York City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (FHEPS) were not preempted by the New York State Social Services Law. The opinion is comprehensive and too detailed to fairly summarize here:

[The] FHEPS reform laws were prompted by three conditions faced by the City: the rising number of evictions of residential tenants, a dramatic increase in the rate of homelessness, and an overburdened shelter system.  These laws were designed to broaden eligibility for City-funded rental assistance, and promote quantitatively and qualitatively greater assistance. Thus, the FHEPS reform laws increased the income eligibility threshold, eliminated a 90-day shelter residency requirement, eliminated recipient work requirements, prohibited the New York City Department of Social Services (City DSS) from deducting a utility allowance from the maximum rental allowance for a FHEPS voucher, and expanded the list of individuals eligible for rental assistance (see Local Law Nos. 99-102). * * *

Several individuals who hoped to avail themselves of the benefits of the FHEPS reform laws commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding, challenging the Mayor’s refusal to implement those laws. The individuals initiated the proceeding as a putative class action, and bring the case on behalf of themselves and others similarly situated. The City Council was granted leave to intervene in the proceeding, and sought an order directing the Mayor to implement the FHEPS reform laws or, alternatively, a declaration that those laws are valid. With respect to the principal relief sought, the City Council makes plain that it “seeks only that the Mayor be directed to take action to implement [the new local laws]. How the administration implements the [FHEPS] Reform Laws is within the administration’s discretion.”

The Mayor opposed the article 78 petition on the ground that the FHEPS reform laws are preempted by the State’s Social Services Law. Matter of Vincent v Adams, 2025 NY Slip Op 04146, First Dept 5-27-25

Practice Point: Consult this opinion for an analysis of the preemption doctrine in the context of NYC Local Laws and the NYS Social Services Law.

 

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THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (OCFS) DID NOT EXCEED ITS AUTHORITY IN CREATING THE HOST FAMILY PROGRAM FOR TEMPORARY PLACEMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Garry, over a two-justice dissenting opinion, determined the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) did not exceed its authority when creating the Host Family Home program for temporary placement of children and families. The appellants argued the Host Family Home program was essentially a foster care program without the legislative foster-care safeguards:

The subject regulations established the Host Family Home program (see 18 NYCRR 444.1), which aims to provide “supportive services . . . to children and their families . . . for the purpose of: assisting a family in need of day-to-day community-based supports by peers, arranging for parents and children to be temporarily cared for together in a host family home, and/or temporarily supporting a family when a parent has determined that he/she is temporarily unable to care for their child . . . as a way to avert the need for more formal child welfare intervention” … . * * *

Petitioners’ argument that OCFS exceeded its authority when it created the Host Family Home program is unpersuasive. “Administrative agencies have all the powers expressly delegated to them by the Legislature, and are permitted to adopt regulations that go beyond the text of their enabling legislation, so long as those regulations are consistent with the statutory language and underlying purpose” … . “While an administrative agency may not, in the exercise of rule-making authority, engage in broad-based public policy determinations, the cornerstone of administrative law is the principle that the Legislature may declare its will, and after fixing a primary standard, endow administrative agencies with the power to fill in the interstices in the legislative product by prescribing rules and regulations consistent with the enabling legislation” … . * * *

On balance, the Boreali factors [Boreali v Axelrod, 71 NY2d 1] lead us to the conclusion that the Host Family Home program regulations are a valid exercise of OCFS’s rulemaking authority, bringing an end to our inquiry. We emphasize that “[o]ur role in this regard is not to question the efficacy or wisdom of the means chosen by the agency to accomplish the ends identified by the [L]egislature” … . As we have also found that the regulations are consistent with the governing statutory language and its purpose, we affirm. Matter of Lawyers for Children v New York State Off. of Children & Family Servs., 2025 NY Slip Op 02115, Third Dept 4-10-25

Practice Point: Consult this opinion for an in-depth analysis of the authority of an agency to promulgate regulations.

 

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THE NYS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH’S CLARIFICATION OF BILLING PRACTICES FOR PHYSICIANS WHO DISPENSE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS UNDER THE MEDICAID PROGRAM IS VALID; THE CLARIFICATION IS NOT A “RULE” AND IS NOT VOID FOR VAGUENESS (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Garry, determined a clarification issued by the respondent NYS Department of Health, was valid, was not a rule, and was not void for vagueness. The clarification concerned the billing practices for physicians who dispense prescription drugs:

As it regularly does, respondent [NYS Department of Health] took steps to clarify appropriate billing practices. This included issuance of the July 2022 edition of its official newsletter of the New York State Medicaid Program — Medicaid Update. In a section entitled “Policy Clarification for Practitioner Dispensing” … , which purported to “supersede[ ] previous communications on this topic,” respondent stated that the state Medicaid program reimburses for drugs furnished by practitioners to their patients on the basis of the acquisition cost to the practitioner and that additional registration or ownership of a pharmacy is not required. The clarification went on to provide that practitioners billing for medications dispensed to its fee-for-service patients should use the medical claim format and that practitioners still participating in managed care should check with the patient’s health plan to determine the billing policy for prescription drugs dispensed directly to patients. Reportedly confused by the alleged change in billing practice, petitioner subsequently contacted respondent for further clarification. In response, respondent reiterated that a practitioner that dispenses drugs to their patients is not considered a pharmacy under either statutory or enrollment requirements and therefore should not be enrolled or billing as a pharmacy provider.

Petitioner then commenced this CPLR article 78 proceeding to annul the clarification as an unpromulgated rule, unconstitutionally vague, irrational and violative of section 504 the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (see 29 USC § 794). Citing anticipated financial losses for expenses attendant to medication dispensing, that is, beyond the acquisition cost of the drugs, petitioner argued that respondent’s alleged new rule would force it to cease its physician-dispensing services altogether, thereby both irrationally depriving cancer patients from effective treatment and discriminating against them by effectively precluding them from meaningful access to the provider of their choice. Matter of North Shore Hematology-Oncology Assoc., P.C. v New York State Dept. of Health, 2025 NY Slip Op 01985, Third Dept 4-3-25

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THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW PROHIBITS THE RELEASE OF THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF PERSONS RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE; THEREFORE THE FOIL REQUEST FOR THE ADDRESSES OF HOMELESS SHELTERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DENIED (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the FOIL request for the addresses of homeless shelters should not have been granted. Social Services Law section 136(1) provides that “[t]he names or addresses of persons applying for or receiving public assistance and care shall not be included in any published report or printed in any newspaper” … :

A shelter constitutes the “address” of its occupants. “Address” means “[t]he place where mail or other communication is sent” … or “a place where a person . . . may be communicated with” … . Shelter residents “have the right to receive and send mail” at their shelters, as well as “the right to receive visitors” there (18 NYCRR 491.12[c][6], [17]). There is nothing in the definition of “address” that would exclude temporary housing. Matter of NYP Holdings, Inc. v New York City Dept. of Social Servs., 2025 NY Slip Op 02013, First Dept 4-3-25

Practice Point: The Social Services Law prohibits the release of the names and addresses of persons receiving public assistance. Therefore the FOIL request for the addresses of homeless shelters should have been denied.

 

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MOTHER SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DEEMED COLLATERALLY ESTOPPED FROM PRESENTING EVIDENCE OF HER MENTAL HEALTH IN THIS TERMINATION-OF-PARENTAL-RIGHTS ACTION; THE PRIOR MENTAL-HEALTH-BASED RULING WAS BASED ON THREE-TO-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD EVIDENCE (FOURTH DEPT).

The Fourth Department, reversing Family Court, determined mother should not have been prevented from presenting evidence of her mental health in this termination-of-parental-rights proceeding under the collateral estoppel doctrine. Although mother had previously been adjudicated unable to provide proper and adequate care of the children in 2018, there was no evidence of mother’s current mental health:

Neither the relied-upon 2018 order of disposition nor its supporting decision … contains a finding of fact or conclusion of law that the mother’s mental illness or intellectual disability permanently impaired the mother’s ability to provide adequate care for a child … . Instead, the prior judicial determination that the mother was “presently and for the foreseeable future” unable to provide adequate care was premised upon evaluations of the mother conducted in 2012 and 2017. Further, that determination was issued a year prior to the birth of the subject child in the present proceeding and, although the subject child was ordered into petitioner’s care almost immediately following her birth, the instant petition was nonetheless not filed for yet another two years. Thus, the 2018 judicial determination, premised on three- to eight-year-old evidence, is insufficient to establish by clear and convincing evidence, as a matter of law, that the mother was, at the time of this proceeding, “presently and for the foreseeable future unable, by reason of mental illness or intellectual disability, to provide proper and adequate care for [the subject] child” (Social Services Law § 384-b [4] [c] …). Matter of Juliet W. (Amy W.), 2024 NY Slip Op 05690, Fourth Dept 11-15-24

Practice Point: Here there was a prior ruling based on three-to-eight-year-old evidence that mother’s mental health prevented her from adequately caring for her children. The collateral estoppel doctrine should not have been applied to prevent her from presenting evidence of her current mental health.

 

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THE RECORD ON APPEAL DID NOT SUPPORT FAMILY COURT’S RULING MOTHER HAD FORFEITED HER RIGHT TO COUNSEL IN THIS TERMINATION-OF-PARENTAL-RIGHTS PROCEEDING (SECOND DEPT).

The Second Department, reversing Family Court, determined the record on appeal did not support Family Court’s ruling mother had forfeited her right to counsel in this termination-of-parental-rights proceeding.

​… Family Court granted a second application by the mother’s assigned counsel to be relieved and determined that the mother had forfeited her right to be assigned new counsel. The court’s determination was based upon, among other things, “suspicions” that the mother had been “involved” in a recent security compromise of the assigned counsel’s computer. The court also cited as a basis for its determination the fact that, over the course of the child protective proceeding and this proceeding, the mother had a total of three attorneys assigned to represent her or to act as her legal advisor. The record on appeal does not reflect how long the prior assigned attorneys represented the mother or why they ceased representing her. * * *

A respondent in a proceeding pursuant to Social Services Law § 384-b has the right to the assistance of counsel … . A party may forfeit the fundamental right to counsel by engaging in “‘egregious conduct,'” but only as a matter of “‘extreme, last resort'” … . Here, the record fails to clearly reflect that the mother engaged in the sort of egregious conduct that would justify a finding that she forfeited her right to assigned counsel … .

The deprivation of the mother’s right to counsel requires reversal without regard to the merits of her position … . Matter of Sa’Nai F. B. M. A. (Chaniece T.), 2024 NY Slip Op 05440, Second Dept 11-6-24

Practice Point: Consult this decision for some insight into the criteria for finding a party in a termination-of-parental-rights proceeding has forfeited the right to counsel.​

THE COMMISSIONER OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE CAN RECOUP MONEY PAID TO A SSI-BENEFIT-APPLICANT UNDER A WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM (WEP) DURING THE PERIOD THE APPLICANT IS AWAITING SSI-BENEFIT APPROVAL (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the Commissioner of Temporary and Disability Assistance can seek reimbursement of income earned in a work experience program (WEP) while awaiting approval of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits:

… [T]he Commissioner offers the example of an individual who receives $14,000 in interim assistance while waiting 28 months for the Social Security Administration to render a determination on his or her SSI application. The interim assistance recipient performs unpaid work under a WEP during that period and would have received $11,200 had a minimum wage been paid for that work. The SSI application is then approved and an initial lump sum retroactive payment of $16,800 is made, at which point the State seeks and obtains reimbursement for the $14,000 in interim assistance benefits. The benefits recipient has received $14,000 in interim assistance benefits for the 28-month pendency of the SSI application — an amount that includes the value of his or her work — and retains that money. The only effect of the recoupment upon the recipient is to reduce the retroactive SSI payment to account for the duplicative interim assistance payments for those 28 months, preventing the recipient from “double dipping” and receiving both interim assistance benefits and SSI benefits during that period.

The Commissioner’s logic is compelling and, as it comports with the statutory framework, we reverse. Matter of Andersen v Hein, 2024 NY Slip Op 04167, Third Dept 8-8-24

 

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