Opinion
2019–04203 Docket Nos. V–06236–15/17A V–06236–15/17B
10-14-2020
In the Matter of Guy FOUYALLE, Appellant, v. Tamiko JACKSON, Respondent. (Proceeding No. 1) In the Matter of Tamiko Africa Jackson, Respondent, v. Guy Fouyalle, Appellant. (Proceeding No. 2)
Hani M. Moskowitz, Garden City, NY, for appellant. Gemelli Gross & Dujmic, P.C., Forest Hills, N.Y. (Josephine M. Marino and David M. Gross of counsel), for respondent. John M. Zenir, Garden City, NY, attorney for the child.
Hani M. Moskowitz, Garden City, NY, for appellant.
Gemelli Gross & Dujmic, P.C., Forest Hills, N.Y. (Josephine M. Marino and David M. Gross of counsel), for respondent.
John M. Zenir, Garden City, NY, attorney for the child.
REINALDO E. RIVERA, J.P., MARK C. DILLON, ROBERT J. MILLER, BETSY BARROS, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER
In two related proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 6, the father appeals from an order of the Family Court, Nassau County (Robert Lopresti, Ct. Atty. Ref.), dated March 25, 2019. The order, without a hearing, granted the mother's petition to modify a prior order of parental access dated March 22, 2016, so as to suspend parental access between the father and the subject child and denied the father's petition to enforce the prior order.
ORDERED that the order dated March 25, 2019, is reversed, on the law, without costs or disbursements, and the matter is remitted to the Family Court, Nassau County, to expeditiously conduct a hearing and for a new determination thereafter of the mother's petition and the father's petition; and it is further,
ORDERED that pending the hearing and new determination of the petitions, the provisions of the order dated March 25, 2019, shall remain in effect.
In 2015, the mother filed a custody petition seeking, inter alia, custody of the parties' child. In an order dated March 22, 2016 (hereinafter the 2016 order), the Family Court awarded the parties joint legal custody with residential custody to the mother and liberal parental access to the father. In November 2017, the mother and the father filed separate petitions concerning the 2016 order. The mother sought to modify the 2016 order to suspend parental access between the father and the child at the request of the then 11–year–old child, which application was supported by the attorney for the child. The father sought to enforce the 2016 order. The court granted the mother's petition, and denied the father's petition. The father appeals.
Custody and parental access determinations should "[g]enerally be made only after a full and plenary hearing and inquiry" ( S.L. v. J.R. , 27 N.Y.3d 558, 563, 36 N.Y.S.3d 411, 56 N.E.3d 193 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Matter of Guy v. Weichel , 173 A.D.3d 1028, 1030, 105 N.Y.S.3d 452 ). "The general rule furthers the substantial interest, shared by the State, the children, and the parents, in ensuring that custody proceedings generate a just and enduring result that, above all else, serves the best interest of a child" ( S.L. v. J.R. , 27 N.Y.3d at 563, 36 N.Y.S.3d 411, 56 N.E.3d 193 ). "Although the Court of Appeals has declined ‘to fashion a ... rule mandating a hearing in every custody case statewide’ ( S.L. v. J.R. , 27 N.Y.3d at 564, 36 N.Y.S.3d 411, 56 N.E.3d 193 ), it has nevertheless held that ‘[w]here ... facts material to the best interest analysis, and the circumstances surrounding such facts, remain in dispute, a custody hearing is required’ " ( Brin v. Shady , 179 A.D.3d 760, 762, 116 N.Y.S.3d 688, quoting S.L. v. J.R. , 27 N.Y.3d at 564, 36 N.Y.S.3d 411, 56 N.E.3d 193 ).
Here, the record demonstrates disputed factual issues so as to require a hearing on the issue of the father's parental access (see S.L. v. J.R. , 27 N.Y.3d at 562, 36 N.Y.S.3d 411, 56 N.E.3d 193 ; Brin v. Shady , 179 A.D.3d at 762, 116 N.Y.S.3d 688 ; Matter of DiSisto v. Dimitri , 173 A.D.3d 863, 863–864, 100 N.Y.S.3d 549 ). Moreover, the Family Court, in making its determination, without a hearing, to indefinitely suspend the father's parental access, relied upon the hearsay statements and conclusions of the forensic evaluator and the child's therapist, whose opinions and credibility were untested by the parties. Contrary to the contentions of the attorney for the child and the mother, the court's mere reliance upon "adequate relevant information," as opposed to admissible evidence, was erroneous (see S.L. v. J.R. , 27 N.Y.3d at 564, 36 N.Y.S.3d 411, 56 N.E.3d 193 ).
Accordingly, the matter must be remitted to the Family Court, Nassau County, to conduct a hearing and for a new determination thereafter of the mother's and the father's separate petitions.
The father's remaining contentions either need not be reached in light of our determination or are without merit.
RIVERA, J.P., DILLON, MILLER and BARROS, JJ., concur.