Opinion
No. 2021-07920 Docket Nos. B-2628-19/20B B-2631-19/20B
07-12-2023
In the Matter of Joel K. S. (Anonymous). Nassau County Department of Social Services, respondent; Duane S. (Anonymous), appellant.
N. Scott Banks, Hempstead, NY (Tammy Feman and Daniel P. Schumeister of counsel), for appellant. Thomas A. Adams, County Attorney, Mineola, NY (Robert V. Van der Waag and Samantha A. Goetz of counsel), for respondent. Adrienne Flipse Hausch, Mineola, NY, attorney for the child.
N. Scott Banks, Hempstead, NY (Tammy Feman and Daniel P. Schumeister of counsel), for appellant.
Thomas A. Adams, County Attorney, Mineola, NY (Robert V. Van der Waag and Samantha A. Goetz of counsel), for respondent.
Adrienne Flipse Hausch, Mineola, NY, attorney for the child.
HECTOR D. LASALLE, P.J., FRANCESCA E. CONNOLLY, CHERYL E. CHAMBERS, JANICE A. TAYLOR, JJ.
DECISION & ORDER
In a proceeding pursuant to Social Services Law § 384-b, the father appeals from an order of the Family Court, Nassau County (Robin M. Kent, J.), dated September 27, 2021. The order, insofar as appealed from, after a hearing, found that the father violated the terms and conditions of a suspended judgment dated October 17, 2019, revoked the suspended judgment, and terminated the father's parental rights.
ORDERED that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, without costs or disbursements.
The subject child was born prematurely in 2017, and has been in the same kinship foster home since his release from the neonatal intensive care unit four months later. The petitioner commenced this proceeding pursuant to Social Services Law § 384-b to, inter alia, terminate the father's parental rights to the child on the ground of permanent neglect. On October 17, 2019, a suspended judgment was entered with certain terms and conditions, including that the father consistently visit the child and attend all of the child's medical appointments and school meetings.
The petitioner subsequently alleged that the father failed to comply with certain terms and conditions of the suspended judgment. After a hearing, the Family Court, among other things, found that the father failed to comply with the terms and conditions of the suspended judgment, terminated his parental rights, and transferred custody and guardianship of the child to the Commissioner of Social Services of Nassau County for the purpose of adoption. The father appeals.
"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 its conditions" (Matter of Jahshanty L.C. [Ann-Marie N.M.], 179 A.D.3d 672, 672). "When determining compliance with a suspended judgment, it is the parent's obligation to demonstrate that progress has been made to overcome the specific problems which led to the removal" of the child" (Matter of Marish G. [Maria E.G.], 215 A.D.3d 966, 966). "[A] parent's attempt to comply with the literal provisions of the suspended judgment is not enough" (Matter of Deysanni H. [Deysanna H.], 156 A.D.3d 699, 700). "The parent must also have gained insight into the problems that were preventing the child['s] return to his or her care" (Matter of Marish G. [Maria E.G.], 215 A.D.3d at 966). "An order of disposition shall be made... solely on the basis of the best interest of the child, and there shall be no presumption that such interests will be promoted by any particular disposition" (Family Ct Act § 631). "The best interests of the child remain relevant at all stages of a proceeding to terminate parental rights on the ground of permanent neglect, including proceedings for the revocation of a suspended judgment" (Matter of Ashantewa P.W.L. [Doris L.], 174 A.D.3d 714, 714).
Here, a preponderance of the evidence established that the father failed to comply with the conditions of the suspended judgment during its one-year term and that he failed to demonstrate that he had made progress to overcome the specific problems which led to the removal of the child (see Matter of Davon K.W. [Lissette N.C. ], 187 A.D.3d 766, 768; Matter of Gabriel M.I. [Steven M.I.], 160 A.D.3d 858, 859). Thus, the Family Court properly revoked the suspended judgment.
Furthermore, the best interests of the child would be served by terminating the father's parental rights and freeing the child for adoption (see Matter of Daniel J.L. [Sayid L.], 213 A.D.3d 939, 940; Matter of Hope J. [Fatima M.], 191 A.D.3d 673, 674). The child's foster mother has cared for the child since he was four months old and has provided him with a stable and loving home, which is the only home he has ever known (see Matter of Daniel J.L. [Sayid L.], 213 A.D.3d at 940; Matter of Vincent N.B. [Gregory B.], 173 A.D.3d 855, 856).
The father's remaining contention is without merit.
LASALLE, P.J., CONNOLLY, CHAMBERS and TAYLOR, JJ., concur.