Opinion
2012-03-16
In the Matter of ILONA H.Erie County Department of Social Services, Petitioner–Respondent;Elton H., Respondent–Appellant.
Bernadette M. Hoppe, Buffalo, for Respondent–Appellant. Joseph T. Jarzembek, Buffalo, for Petitioner–Respondent.
Bernadette M. Hoppe, Buffalo, for Respondent–Appellant. Joseph T. Jarzembek, Buffalo, for Petitioner–Respondent. David C. Schopp, Attorney for The Child, The Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., Buffalo (Charles D. Halvorsen of Counsel), for Ilona H.
PRESENT: CENTRA, J.P., FAHEY, PERADOTTO, CARNI, AND LINDLEY, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:
Respondent father appeals from an amended order adjudging that he neglected the child who is the subject of this proceeding. The father contends that petitioner failed to establish that domestic violence occurred in the presence of the child and that the child was at risk of being harmed during the alleged domestic violence. We agree with the father, and we therefore reverse the amended order and dismiss the petition.
We must give great deference to Family Court's assessment of the credibility of the witnesses at the fact-finding hearing ( see Matter of Tina L., 255 A.D.2d 868, 680 N.Y.S.2d 137), and its decision “will not be disturbed unless [it] lack[s] a sound and substantial basis in the record” ( Matter of Kaleb U., 77 A.D.3d 1097, 1098, 908 N.Y.S.2d 773). To establish neglect, the petitioner must demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence “first, that [the] child's physical, mental or emotional condition has been impaired or is in imminent danger of becoming impaired and second, that the actual or threatened harm to the child is a consequence of the failure of the parent ... to exercise a minimum degree of care in providing the child with proper supervision or guardianship” ( Nicholson v. Scoppetta, 3 N.Y.3d 357, 368, 787 N.Y.S.2d 196, 820 N.E.2d 840; see Family Ct. Act § 1012[f][i]; § 1046[b] [i] ). Although the “exposure of the child to domestic violence between the parents may form the basis for a finding of neglect” ( Matter of Michael G., 300 A.D.2d 1144, 1144, 752 N.Y.S.2d 772), “exposing a child to domestic violence is not presumptively neglectful. Not every child exposed to domestic violence is at risk of impairment” ( Nicholson, 3 N.Y.3d at 375, 787 N.Y.S.2d 196, 820 N.E.2d 840). Indeed, a single incident of domestic violence that the child did not witness may be insufficient to establish neglect ( see e.g. Matter of Eustace B., 76 A.D.3d 428, 906 N.Y.S.2d 229; Matter of Christy C., 74 A.D.3d 561, 562, 903 N.Y.S.2d 365; cf. Matter of Ariella S., 89 A.D.3d 1092, 1093–1094, 934 N.Y.S.2d 422; Matter of Batchateu v. Peters, 77 A.D.3d 1366, 909 N.Y.S.2d 605).
Here, the only evidence of domestic violence presented by petitioner was that the father struck the child's mother on one occasion when the child was eight months old. The father testified at the fact-finding hearing that the altercation occurred outside the presence of the child. Thus, we conclude that petitioner did not establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the physical, mental or emotional condition of the child had been placed in danger of impairment as a result of the father's conduct ( see Family Ct. Act § 1012[f][i][B]; § 1046[b][i]; Eustace B., 76 A.D.3d 428, 906 N.Y.S.2d 229; Christy C., 74 A.D.3d at 562, 903 N.Y.S.2d 365). There is no evidence in the record indicating that the domestic violence was anything other than an isolated incident with no negative repercussions on the child's well-being. A neglect determination may not be premised solely on a finding of domestic violence without any evidence that the physical, mental or emotional condition of the child was impaired or was in imminent danger of becoming impaired ( see Nicholson, 3 N.Y.3d at 368–369, 787 N.Y.S.2d 196, 820 N.E.2d 840).
It is hereby ORDERED that the amended order so appealed from is unanimously reversed on the law without costs and the petition is dismissed.