Opinion
2016–01894 Docket No. P–33063–13
04-18-2018
In the Matter of DWAYNE H. (Anonymous), petitioner-respondent, v. CHANIECE T. (Anonymous), respondent, Michael A. (Anonymous), appellant.
Leighton M. Jackson, New York, NY, for appellant. David Laniado, Cedarhurst, NY, for petitioner-respondent. Karen P. Simmons, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Janet Neustaetter and Barbara H. Dildine of counsel), attorney for the child.
Leighton M. Jackson, New York, NY, for appellant.
David Laniado, Cedarhurst, NY, for petitioner-respondent.
Karen P. Simmons, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Janet Neustaetter and Barbara H. Dildine of counsel), attorney for the child.
REINALDO E. RIVERA, J.P., SANDRA L. SGROI, COLLEEN D. DUFFY, ANGELA G. IANNACCI, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER
In a proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 5, Michael A. appeals from an order of filiation of the Family Court, Kings County (Erik S. Pitchal, J.), dated December 17, 2015. The order of filiation adjudicated the petitioner to be the father of the subject child.
ORDERED that the order of filiation is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
In December 2013, the petitioner commenced this paternity proceeding against the mother of the subject child, seeking an order declaring the petitioner to be the child's father. In August 2014, the appellant signed an acknowledgment of paternity of the child, and in June 2015, he was added as a necessary party to the proceeding. After the appellant was added to the proceeding, the Family Court indicated that it would hold an equitable estoppel hearing before allowing the petitioner to proceed on his paternity petition or obtain genetic marker testing (hereinafter DNA testing).
Thereafter, the appellant failed to appear for the equitable estoppel hearing on July 1, 2015, and the Family Court, in effect, determined that the appellant had defaulted, dismissed the appellant's equitable estoppel defense to the petition, and granted the petitioner's request for DNA testing. Approximately one month later, the appellant moved, inter alia, in effect, to vacate his default in appearing at the equitable estoppel hearing and to reschedule the equitable estoppel hearing and bar admission of the DNA testing results. In support of the appellant's motion, counsel for the appellant represented that the appellant had not appeared at the hearing on July 1, 2015, because the appellant had gone to Georgia to obtain the child's birth certificate and, due to a bus delay, arrived late in court that day after the conclusion of the hearing. The court denied the appellant's motion. Following receipt of the DNA testing results, in an order dated December 17, 2015, the court declared the petitioner to be the father of the child.
Contrary to the Family Court's determination, the representation by counsel for the appellant that the appellant arrived to court late on July 1, 2015, because his bus was delayed constitutes a reasonable excuse for failing to appear in time for the hearing (see Matter of Morales v. Marma , 88 A.D.3d 722, 723, 930 N.Y.S.2d 629 ). Nonetheless, the appellant failed to demonstrate that he had a potentially meritorious defense of equitable estoppel. The appellant's submissions failed to demonstrate that a loving parent-child bond was established between him and the child or that the child relied upon his alleged representation of paternity (see Matter of Juanita A. v. Kenneth Mark N. , 15 N.Y.3d 1, 5–6, 904 N.Y.S.2d 293, 930 N.E.2d 214 ; Matter of John J. v. Kayla I. , 137 A.D.3d 1500, 1502, 28 N.Y.S.3d 485 ; Matter of Stephen W. v. Christina X. , 80 A.D.3d 1083, 1085–1086, 916 N.Y.S.2d 260 ). Accordingly, the court properly denied the appellant's motion.
Contrary to the appellant's contention, he was not deprived of the effective assistance of counsel (see Family Ct Act § 262[a][viii] ; People v. Benevento, 91 N.Y.2d 708, 712, 674 N.Y.S.2d 629, 697 N.E.2d 584 ; Matter of Dylan Mc. [Michelle M. Mc.], 105 A.D.3d 1049, 1050, 964 N.Y.S.2d 209 ; Matter of Ingravera v. Goss , 13 A.D.3d 627, 628, 786 N.Y.S.2d 344 ).
RIVERA, J.P., SGROI, DUFFY and IANNACCI, JJ., concur.