Opinion
03-08-2016
In re AARON P., Petitioner–Respondent, v. TAMARA F., Respondent–Appellant.
Steven N. Feinman, White Plains, for appellant. Law Office of Cabelly & Calderon, Jamaica (Lewis S. Calderon of counsel), for respondent. Tamara A. Steckler, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Claire V. Merkine of counsel), attorney for the child.
Steven N. Feinman, White Plains, for appellant.
Law Office of Cabelly & Calderon, Jamaica (Lewis S. Calderon of counsel), for respondent.
Tamara A. Steckler, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Claire V. Merkine of counsel), attorney for the child.
FRIEDMAN, J.P., ACOSTA, RENWICK, RICHTER, JJ.
Order, Family Court, New York County (Jane Pearl, J.), entered on or about March 11, 2015, which, after a hearing, granted petitioner father's petition for custody of the parties' child, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
Family Court's conclusion that an award of custody to the father would be in the best interests of the child is supported by a sound and substantial basis in the record and is entitled to deference (see Eschbach v. Eschbach, 56 N.Y.2d 167, 173, 451 N.Y.S.2d 658, 436 N.E.2d 1260 [1982] ). The record shows that, since the child was placed into the father's care, the father has parented appropriately and has provided a loving and stable home for the child. In addition, the father resides with the child's paternal grandmother and great-grandmother, who have provided financial assistance and assisted with the child's care when needed (see Matter of Joshua C. v. Tenequa A., 132 A.D.3d 497, 497, 17 N.Y.S.3d 708 [1st Dept.2015] ). Moreover, the father remained amenable to continuing respondent mother's visits with the child, which demonstrated his understanding of the benefit to the child of maintaining a relationship with the mother, as well as his sensitivity toward the child's needs.
By contrast, the record shows that the mother suffers from mental illness and has exhibited violent, threatening and aggressive behavior, including an episode of excessive corporal punishment against the child that led to the finding of neglect against the mother (132 A.D.3d at 497, 17 N.Y.S.3d 708 ). The mother failed to appreciate the effect her behavior has on the child.
Family Court properly credited the testimony of the expert psychiatrist, who diagnosed the mother as suffering from disruptive impulse control and conduct disorder, deemed her parental functioning to be "severely limited," and recommended that she have only supervised visitation with the child and engage in mental health counseling (see Matter of Frederick A. v. Lisa C., 121 A.D.3d 495, 495, 994 N.Y.S.2d 115 [1st Dept.2014] ). The psychiatrist found that the father did not meet the criteria for any mental health diagnosis and was a capable parent.
We have considered the mother's remaining arguments and find them unavailing.