Opinion
No. 2008-00762.
March 17, 2009.
In a proceeding pursuant to Social Services Law § 384-b to terminate parental rights on the ground of abandonment, Eric Vincent C. appeals, as limited by his brief, from so much of an order of fact-finding and disposition of the Family Court, Kings County (Hamill, J.), dated August 22, 2007, as, after a hearing, determined that he was not a putative father whose consent to the adoption was required pursuant to Domestic Relations Law § 111.
Mark Brandys, New York, N.Y., for appellant.
Magovern Sclafani, New York, N.Y. (Joanna M. Robertson and Frederick J. Magovern of counsel), for petitioner-respondent Catholic Guardian Society and Home Bureau.
Steven Banks, New York, N.Y. (Tamara A. Steckler and Mitchell Katz of counsel), attorney for the child.
Before: Mastro, J.P., Covello, Eng and Leventhal, JJ.
Ordered that the order of fact-finding and disposition is affirmed insofar as appealed from, without costs or disbursements.
The Family Court's determination that the appellant's consent to the adoption was not required was supported by clear and convincing evidence ( see Matter of Sharissa G., 51 AD3d 1019). The appellant failed to meet his burden of establishing that he maintained substantial and continuous or repeated contact with the child through the payment of support and either regular visitation or other communication with the child ( see Domestic Relations Law § 111 [d]; Matter of Hassan Lawrence W., 42 AD3d 573). Imprisonment does not excuse a parent from maintaining contact with a child or agency ( see Matter of Baby Boy C., 13 AD3d 619, 620-621; Matter of Felix M., 9 AD3d 432, 433).
In light of the foregoing, we need not reach the appellant's remaining contentions.