Opinion
12-07-2016
In the Matter of HYPNOTIC L.D. (Anonymous). Jewish Child Care Association of New York, et al., petitioners-respondents; Alexa R.N. (Anonymous), appellant, et al., respondent. (Proceeding No. 1) In the Matter of Hennesse A.D. (Anonymous). Jewish Child Care Association of New York, et al., petitioners-respondents; Alexa R.N. (Anonymous), appellant, et al., respondent. (Proceeding No. 2).
Francine Shraga, Brooklyn, NY, for appellant. James M. Abramson, PLLC, New York, NY (Dawn M. Orsatti of counsel), for respondent. Seymour W. James, Jr., New York, NY (Tamara A. Steckler and John A. Newbery of counsel), attorney for the children.
Francine Shraga, Brooklyn, NY, for appellant.
James M. Abramson, PLLC, New York, NY (Dawn M. Orsatti of counsel), for respondent.
Seymour W. James, Jr., New York, NY (Tamara A. Steckler and John A. Newbery of counsel), attorney for the children.
MARK C. DILLON, J.P., JOHN M. LEVENTHAL, JEFFREY A. COHEN, and ROBERT J. MILLER, JJ.
Appeals from two orders of disposition of the Family Court, Kings County (Daniel Turbow, J.) (one as to each child), both dated January 16, 2015. The orders of disposition, after a hearing, revoked an order of suspended judgment of that court dated January 15, 2013, terminated the mother's parental rights, and transferred custody and guardianship of the subject children to the Jewish Child Care Association of New York and to the Commissioner of Children's Services of the City of New York for the purposes of adoption.
ORDERED that the orders of disposition are affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
The Family Court may revoke a suspended judgment after a violation hearing if it finds, upon a preponderance of the evidence, that the parent failed to comply with one or more of the conditions of the suspended judgment (see Matter of Derrick D.A. [Schavonna L.L.D.], 134 A.D.3d 928, 929, 22 N.Y.S.3d 472 ; Matter of Mashlai D.M. [Jalisa R.D.], 110 A.D.3d 813, 813–814, 971 N.Y.S.2d 900 ; Matter of Carmen C. [Margarita N.], 95 A.D.3d 1006, 1008, 944 N.Y.S.2d 214 ). The credibility findings of the Family Court should be accorded great deference, as it had direct access to the parties and was in the best position to evaluate their testimony, character, and sincerity (see Matter of Derrick D.A. [Schavonna L.L.D.], 134 A.D.3d at 929, 22 N.Y.S.3d 472 ; Matter of Christyn Ann D., 26 A.D.3d 491, 492, 811 N.Y.S.2d 94 ). Here, the court properly found, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the mother failed to comply with several of the conditions of her suspended judgment (see Matter of Derrick D.A., 134 A.D.3d at 929, 22 N.Y.S.3d 472 ; Matter of Kimble G., II [Kimble G.], 108 A.D.3d 534, 535, 969 N.Y.S.2d 112 ; Matter of Carmen C. [Margarita N.], 95 A.D.3d at 1008, 944 N.Y.S.2d 214 ; Matter of Michael Phillip
T., 44 A.D.3d 1062, 1063, 845 N.Y.S.2d 790 ).
Contrary to the mother's contention, the Family Court providently exercised its discretion in determining that a separate dispositional hearing was not required before terminating her parental rights, particularly where, as here, the court has presided over prior proceedings from which it became acquainted with the parties, and the record shows that the court was aware of and considered the childrens' best interests (see Matter of Kai G. [Janice K.], 126 A.D.3d 902, 903, 2 N.Y.S.3d 922 ; Matter of Antoinne T. [April T.], 83 A.D.3d 721, 919 N.Y.S.2d 528 ; Matter of Darren V., 61 A.D.3d 986, 988, 878 N.Y.S.2d 171 ).