Opinion
1001 CAF 20-00198
12-23-2021
In the Matter of Michael JANOWSKY, Petitioner-Appellant, v. Emily MONTE, Respondent-Respondent.
CHARLES J. GREENBERG, AMHERST, FOR PETITIONER-APPELLANT. DAVID J. PAJAK, ALDEN, FOR RESPONDENT-RESPONDENT. MARY ANNE CONNELL, BUFFALO, ATTORNEY FOR THE CHILDREN.
CHARLES J. GREENBERG, AMHERST, FOR PETITIONER-APPELLANT.
DAVID J. PAJAK, ALDEN, FOR RESPONDENT-RESPONDENT.
MARY ANNE CONNELL, BUFFALO, ATTORNEY FOR THE CHILDREN.
PRESENT: CENTRA, J.P., PERADOTTO, TROUTMAN, WINSLOW, AND DEJOSEPH, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
It is hereby ORDERED that said appeal insofar as it concerns the older child is unanimously dismissed and the order is affirmed without costs.
Memorandum: In this proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 6, petitioner father appeals from an order that denied his petition seeking to modify a prior order of custody and visitation, entered upon consent, by affording him increased visitation with respect to the two subject children while he was incarcerated, as well as other ancillary relief. The appeal is moot with respect to the older child because she is now 18 years old (see Matter of Richter v. Richter , 187 A.D.3d 1592, 1592-1593, 129 N.Y.S.3d 892 [4th Dept. 2020] ).
With respect to the younger child, inasmuch as the father is no longer incarcerated, his request for prison visitation is moot (see Matter of April L.S. v. Joshua F. , 173 A.D.3d 1675, 1677, 100 N.Y.S.3d 587 [4th Dept. 2019] ; Matter of Ryan M.B. v. Mary R. , 43 A.D.3d 1304, 1304, 841 N.Y.S.2d 905 [4th Dept. 2007] ). As for the remaining relief sought by the father, where, as here, the parties’ existing custody arrangement is based upon a consent order, Family Court "cannot modify that order unless a sufficient change in circumstances—since the time of the stipulation—has been established, and then only where a modification would be in the best interests of the child[ ]" ( Matter of Hight v. Hight , 19 A.D.3d 1159, 1160, 796 N.Y.S.2d 494 [4th Dept. 2005] [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Matter of McKenzie v. Polk , 166 A.D.3d 1529, 1529, 85 N.Y.S.3d 810 [4th Dept. 2018] ). Although the father established a change in circumstances under the terms specified in the prior consent order, we conclude that, contrary to the father's contention, a "sound and substantial basis in the record" supports the court's determination that the father failed to establish that the requested modifications would be in the best interests of the younger child ( Matter of Suarez v. Williams , 134 A.D.3d 1479, 1480, 21 N.Y.S.3d 899 [4th Dept. 2015] ), and we therefore will not disturb that determination.