Opinion
06-15-2016
In the Matter of ANNATA M. (Anonymous). Administration for Children's Services, respondent; Clinton B. (Anonymous), appellant. (Proceeding No. 1) In the Matter of Clevon D.-B. (Anonymous). Administration for Children's Services, respondent; Clinton B. (Anonymous), appellant. (Proceeding No. 2) In the Matter of Cori M. (Anonymous). Administration for Children's Services, respondent; Clinton B. (Anonymous), appellant. (Proceeding No. 3) In the Matter of Tyrone M. (Anonymous). Administration for Children's Services, respondent; Clinton B. (Anonymous), appellant. (Proceeding No. 4) In the Matter of Charla D.-B. (Anonymous). Administration for Children's Services, respondent; Clinton B. (Anonymous), appellant. (Proceeding No. 5) In the Matter of Cafrica D.-B. (Anonymous). Administration for Children's Services, respondent; Clinton B. (Anonymous), appellant. (Proceeding No. 6) In the Matter of Michael M. (Anonymous). Administration for Children's Services, respondent; Clinton B. (Anonymous), appellant. (Proceeding No. 7).
Helene Bernstein, Brooklyn, N.Y., for appellant. Zachary W. Carter, Corporation Counsel, New York, N.Y. (Scott Shorr and Emma Grunberg of counsel), for respondent. Seymour W. James, Jr., New York, N.Y. (Tamara A. Steckler and Jess Rao of counsel), attorney for the children.
Helene Bernstein, Brooklyn, N.Y., for appellant.
Zachary W. Carter, Corporation Counsel, New York, N.Y. (Scott Shorr and Emma Grunberg of counsel), for respondent.
Seymour W. James, Jr., New York, N.Y. (Tamara A. Steckler and Jess Rao of counsel), attorney for the children.
JOHN M. LEVENTHAL, J.P., THOMAS A. DICKERSON, SANDRA L. SGROI, and JEFFREY A. COHEN, JJ.
Opinion Appeal from an order of the Family Court, Kings County (Barbara Salinitro, J.), dated May 7, 2015. The order denied Clinton B.'s motion to vacate an order of fact-finding of that court (Emily M. Olshansky, J.), dated May 19, 2014, which, upon his failure to appear at a fact-finding hearing and after an inquest, found that he neglected the subject children.
ORDERED that the order dated May 7, 2015, is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
The appellant is a person legally responsible for the care of Annata M., Tyrone M., and Michael M., and the biological parent of Clevon D.-B., Cori M., Charla D.-B, and Cafrica D.-B. The petitioner commenced the instant proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 10 alleging that the appellant neglected the subject children. Following an inquest upon the appellant's failure to appear at a fact-finding hearing, the Family Court issued an order of fact-finding dated May 19, 2014, finding that the appellant neglected the subject children. Thereafter, the appellant moved to vacate the order of fact-finding. The Family Court denied the motion.
When, as here, a party seeking to vacate an order entered upon default seeks a discretionary vacatur and raises a jurisdictional objection, the jurisdictional question must be resolved before determining whether it is appropriate to grant a discretionary vacatur (see Wachovia Bank, National Association v. Greenberg, 138 A.D.3d 984, 31 N.Y.S.3d 110 ; Vapnersh v. Tabak, 131 A.D.3d 472, 15 N.Y.S.3d 131 ; HSBC Bank USA, N.A. v. Miller, 121 A.D.3d 1044, 1045, 995 N.Y.S.2d 198 ). A process server's affidavit of service ordinarily constitutes prima facie evidence of proper service (see Velez v. Forcelli, 125 A.D.3d 643, 644, 3 N.Y.S.3d 84 ; Sileo v. Victor, 104 A.D.3d 669, 960 N.Y.S.2d 466 ). Although a sworn denial of receipt of service generally rebuts the presumption of proper service established by the process server's affidavit and necessitates an evidentiary hearing, no hearing is required where the movant fails to swear to specific facts to rebut the statements in the process server's affidavit (see U.S. Bank, N.A. v. Arias, 85 A.D.3d 1014, 1015, 927 N.Y.S.2d 362 ; Scarano v. Scarano, 63 A.D.3d 716, 716, 880 N.Y.S.2d 682 ). Here, the appellant's bare and unsubstantiated denial of service lacked the factual specificity and detail required to rebut the prima facie proof of proper service (see Rabinowitz v. Rabinowitz, 137 A.D.3d 884, 28 N.Y.S.3d 70 ; Deutsche Bank Natl. Trust Co. v. Quinones, 114 A.D.3d 719, 719, 981 N.Y.S.2d 107 ). Accordingly, no hearing was required.
If the parent or other person legally responsible for the child's care is not present, the court may proceed to hear a petition pursuant to Family Court Act article 10 if the child is represented by counsel (see Family Ct. Act § 1042 ). However, a timely motion to vacate the resulting fact-finding order shall be granted upon an affidavit showing, inter alia, a potentially meritorious defense to the petition unless the court finds that the parent or other person legally responsible for the child's care willfully refused to appear at the hearing (see Family Ct. Act § 1042 ; Matter of Mark W. [Juanita W.], 107 A.D.3d 816, 817–818, 966 N.Y.S.2d 520 ; Matter of Tahanie S. [Ramon A.], 97 A.D.3d 751, 753–754, 948 N.Y.S.2d 407 ). Here, the appellant's conclusory affidavit, without more, was insufficient to establish a potentially meritorious defense to the petitions alleging that he neglected the subject children (see Matter of Camellia R.W. [Ann M.], 134 A.D.3d 848, 19 N.Y.S.3d 908; Matter of Evelyn R. [Franklin R.], 117 A.D.3d 957, 986 N.Y.S.2d 223 ). Thus, the Family Court providently exercised its discretion in denying the appellant's motion to vacate the fact-finding order (see Matter of Samantha P. [William C.], 127 A.D.3d 1094, 7 N.Y.S.3d 499 ; Matter of Michael O.F. [Fausat O.], 119 A.D.3d 785, 786, 989 N.Y.S.2d 343 ; Matter of Devyn B. [Duncan B.-R.], 114 A.D.3d 768, 980 N.Y.S.2d 504 ; Matter of Dimitri G. [Alex G.], 110 A.D.3d 1077, 974 N.Y.S.2d 494 ).
The appellant's remaining contentions are without merit.