Opinion
05-05-2017
In the Matter of BROOKLYN S. Onondaga County Department of Children and Family Services, Petitioner–Respondent; Stafania Q., Respondent, and Devin S., Respondent–Appellant.
D.J. & J.A. Cirando, Esqs., Syracuse (Elizabeth deV. Moeller of Counsel), for Respondent–Appellant. Robert A. Durr, County Attorney, Syracuse (Catherine Z. Gilmore of Counsel), for Petitioner–Respondent. Elizabeth Schenck, Attorney for the Child, Syracuse.
D.J. & J.A. Cirando, Esqs., Syracuse (Elizabeth deV. Moeller of Counsel), for Respondent–Appellant.
Robert A. Durr, County Attorney, Syracuse (Catherine Z. Gilmore of Counsel), for Petitioner–Respondent.
Elizabeth Schenck, Attorney for the Child, Syracuse.
PRESENT: CARNI, J.P., LINDLEY, DeJOSEPH, CURRAN, AND TROUTMAN, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:Respondent father appeals from an order adjudging that he neglected his child pursuant to Family Court Act article 10. Contrary to the father's contention, Family Court's finding that he neglected his child is supported by a preponderance of the evidence (see Family Ct. Act § 1046[b] [i] ). According to the undisputed evidence, the father abused illicit substances, including heroin. Generally, such evidence would constitute "prima facie evidence that a child of or who is the legal responsibility of [the father] is a neglected child" (§ 1046[a][iii] ). A parent may, however, rebut the presumption of neglect where the parent establishes that he or she "is voluntarily and regularly participating in a recognized rehabilitative program" (id. [emphasis added] ). "[T]he issue of whether [a parent] was ‘voluntarily and regularly participating’ in [a treatment] program is a factual one" (Matter of Keira O., 44 A.D.3d 668, 670, 844 N.Y.S.2d 344 ). Here, although the evidence established that the father had voluntarily begun a rehabilitative treatment program, "the evidence does not support a finding that [he] was ... regularly participating in [that] program" (Matter of Luis B., 302 A.D.2d 379, 379, 754 N.Y.S.2d 571 ). Rather, the evidence established that he attended only a third of his appointments. Moreover, as the court correctly found, the fact that the father "tested positive for drug use while participating in the program ... establish[es] imminent risk to the child[ ]'s physical, mental and emotional condition" (Matter of Messiah T. [Karen S.], 94 A.D.3d 566, 566, 942 N.Y.S.2d 344 ; see Matter of Brandon R. [James U.], 114 A.D.3d 1028, 1029, 981 N.Y.S.2d 171 ; see generally Keira O., 44 A.D.3d at 670, 844 N.Y.S.2d 344 ).
In addition, the finding of neglect is supported by evidence that "the father was aware of the mother's drug use during the time when she was responsible for the child's care, and that he failed to intervene" (Matter of Sadiq H. [Karl H.], 81 A.D.3d 647, 648, 915 N.Y.S.2d 867 ). The child, who was born with a positive toxicology for opiates, remained hospitalized for "neonatal abstinence syndrome." During that time, the child was to be weaned off the opiates by morphine management. Despite medical intervention, however, the child's condition worsened, causing medical professionals to suspect that the mother, who was breastfeeding the child, was still using illicit substances. A sample of the mother's breast milk tested positive for morphine, codeine, and heroin metabolites. When presented with the results of the testing, the father admitted that the mother had "gone on a bender" the weekend before. Inasmuch as a finding of neglect has been supported where a mother has been observed breastfeeding a child while having a high blood alcohol level (see Matter of Maranda LaP., 23 A.D.3d 221, 222, 804 N.Y.S.2d 300 ; Matter of W. H., 158 Misc.2d 788, 790, 602 N.Y.S.2d 70 ), we conclude that the father's failure to intervene to prevent the mother from nursing the child is further evidence of neglect (see Sadiq H., 81 A.D.3d at 648, 915 N.Y.S.2d 867 ).
The father further contends that the court erred in admitting in evidence hospital records that allegedly contained inadmissible hearsay and in permitting a witness to testify based on that inadmissible hearsay. The father's objection to the testimonial evidence was sustained, and the father did not make any further hearsay objections. We thus conclude that he did not preserve his contention that any additional testimony from that witness constituted inadmissible hearsay (see Matter of Britiny U. [Tara S.], 124 A.D.3d 964, 965, 1 N.Y.S.3d 477 ). Moreover, the hospital records were admitted without objection, and thus any challenge to the admission of those records is not preserved for our review (see Matter of Cory S. [Terry W.], 70 A.D.3d 1321, 1322, 897 N.Y.S.2d 322 ). In any event, even if the court erred in admitting the alleged hearsay evidence, we conclude that the error is harmless inasmuch as "the record otherwise contains ample evidence supporting [the] [c]ourt's determination" (Matter of Kenneth C. [Terri C.], 145 A.D.3d 1612, 1612, 43 N.Y.S.3d 819 ; see Matter of Bentleigh O. [Jacqueline O.], 125 A.D.3d 1402, 1403, 3 N.Y.S.3d 247, lv. denied 25 N.Y.3d 907, 2015 WL 2237488 ).
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.