Opinion
2015-07-16
In the Matter of ALEXUS SS. and Others, Neglected Children. Ulster County Department of Social Services, Respondent; Chezzy SS., Appellant. (And Another Related Proceeding.).
Marshall Nadan, Kingston, for appellant. Heather D. Harp, Ulster County Department of Social Services, Kingston, for respondent.
Marshall Nadan, Kingston, for appellant. Heather D. Harp, Ulster County Department of Social Services, Kingston, for respondent.
Valerie Wacks, Olivebridge, attorney for the children.
Before: PETERS, P.J., McCARTHY, EGAN JR. and ROSE, JJ.
PETERS, P.J.
Appeal from an order of the Family Court of Ulster County (McGinty, J.), entered March 27, 2014, which, in two proceedings pursuant to Family Ct. Act article 10–A, found that petitioner failed to make reasonable efforts to finalize the permanency plan for the subject children.
Respondent's three children (born in 2006, 2009 and 2011) were placed in petitioner's custody in March 2011. A finding of neglect was thereafter entered against respondent, and Family Court approved a permanency plan of reunification with respondent. At a September 2013 permanency hearing, the parties proposed that the permanency plan be altered to placement with fit and willing relatives—namely, the children's paternal aunt and uncle—in contemplation that they would obtain guardianship of the children and that the children may eventually be returned to respondent. Family Court rejected the parties' proposal, modified the permanency goal to placement for adoption and directed petitioner to file a petition seeking the termination of respondent's parental rights.
Upon petitioner's and respondent's appeals from that order, this Court determined that Family Court's modification of the permanency goal and directive that petitioner seek the termination of respondent's parental rights were not supported by a sound and substantial basis in the record (125 A.D.3d 1141, 1143, 4 N.Y.S.3d 346 [2015] ). Accordingly, we reversed so much of the order as changed the permanency goal from return to parent to placement for adoption and directed petitioner to file a termination of parental rights petition, and remitted the matter to Family Court for further proceedings (id. at 1143–1144, 4 N.Y.S.3d 346).
Thereafter, petitioner removed the children from the custody of their foster parents and placed them in the custody of the aunt and uncle. Petitioner did not file a termination of parental rights petition as directed by Family Court, and, at a subsequent permanency hearing, Family Court held that petitioner failed to make reasonable efforts to execute the permanency plan of placement for adoption, continued that permanency plan and again directed petitioner to file a petition seeking the termination of respondent's parental rights. Respondent now appeals from this order.
This appeal must be dismissed as moot. Respondent has voluntarily surrendered his parental rights, and there is no indication that he has challenged the voluntariness of that surrender ( see Matter of Randi NN. [Randi MM.-Joseph MM.], 80 A.D.3d 1086, 1086–1087, 914 N.Y.S.2d 919 [2011], lv. denied16 N.Y.3d 712, 2011 WL 1643552 [2011]; Matter of Andrew L. [Cassi M.], 68 A.D.3d 1477, 1478, 891 N.Y.S.2d 669 [2009] ). Furthermore, we do not find the exception to the mootness doctrine applicable under the circumstances presented here ( see Matter of Randi NN. [Randi MM.-Joseph MM.], 80 A.D.3d at 1087, 914 N.Y.S.2d 919; Matter of Vivian OO., 34 A.D.3d 1084, 1085, 826 N.Y.S.2d 762 [2006] ).
The mother has also surrendered her parental rights to the children.
Moreover, the permanency plan in the order appealed from was the direct result of Family Court's prior permanency hearing order ( see Matter of Jacelyn TT. [Tonia TT.-Carlton TT.], 80 A.D.3d 1119, 1120, 915 N.Y.S.2d 732 [2011] ), which, as noted, this Court modified by restoring the permanency goal to return to parent (125 A.D.3d at 1143–1144, 4 N.Y.S.3d 346).
ORDERED that the appeal is dismissed, as moot, without costs.