Opinion
12-29-2016
In re DALEENA T., and Another, Dependent Children Under the Age of Eighteen Years, etc., Wanda W., Respondent–Appellant, Derek T., Respondent–Appellant, Administration for Children's Services, Petitioner–Respondent.
Andrew J. Baer, New York, for Wanda W., appellant. Daniel R. Katz, New York, for Derek T., appellant. Zachary W. Carter, Corporation Counsel, New York (Deborah A. Brenner of counsel), for respondent. Tamara A. Steckler, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Marcia Egger of counsel), attorney for the child Daleena T. Karen Freedman, Lawyers for The Children, Inc., New York (Shirim Nothenberg of counsel), attorney for the child Jelinea K.T.
Andrew J. Baer, New York, for Wanda W., appellant.
Daniel R. Katz, New York, for Derek T., appellant.
Zachary W. Carter, Corporation Counsel, New York (Deborah A. Brenner of counsel), for respondent.
Tamara A. Steckler, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Marcia Egger of counsel), attorney for the child Daleena T.
Karen Freedman, Lawyers for The Children, Inc., New York (Shirim Nothenberg of counsel), attorney for the child Jelinea K.T.
Appeals from amended fact-finding order, Family Court, New York County (Susan K. Knipps, J.), entered on or about September 2, 2015, which, after a fact-finding hearing, found that respondent parents neglected the subject children, unanimously dismissed, without costs. Appeal from order of disposition, same court and Judge, entered on or about September 2, 2015, which placed the subject children with petitioner Administration for Children's Services (ACS) until the next permanency hearing scheduled for April 20, 2016, unanimously dismissed, without costs, as academic.
The appeals from the fact-finding order are dismissed because the parents defaulted in appearing at the continued fact-finding hearing and did not move to vacate their default (see Matter of Sandra J., 25 A.D.3d 360, 807 N.Y.S.2d 71 [1st Dept.2006] ).
In any event, the record establishes that respondents neglected the subject children. It is undisputed that respondent father, who had a long-standing history of mental illness, left his infant son in a stroller on the street unattended for half an hour, thereby exposing the child to risk of imminent harm (see Matter of Malachi H. [Dequisa H.], 125 A.D.3d 478, 2 N.Y.S.3d 482 [1st Dept.2015] ).
Regarding respondent mother, the record shows that she refused to comply with orders of protection barring the father from the home, continued to leave the children in his custody after the incident, did not acknowledge that he posed a danger to the children, and refused to cooperate with ACS supervision or sign a release to permit ACS to verify her claim that she was receiving therapy (see Matter of Beautiful B. [Damion R.], 106 A.D.3d 665, 965 N.Y.S.2d 722 [1st Dept.2013] ). There exists no basis to disturb the Family Court's credibility determinations (see Matter of Irene O., 38 N.Y.2d 776, 381 N.Y.S.2d 865, 345 N.E.2d 337 [1975] ).
Although the mother appeared at the dispositional hearing, her appeal from that order is dismissed as academic since it expired on its own terms (see Matter of Fred Darryl B., 41 A.D.3d 276, 836 N.Y.S.2d 878 [1st Dept.2007] ).
ACOSTA, J.P., RENWICK, ANDRIAS, SAXE, GISCHE, JJ., concur.