Opinion
10456
12-03-2019
In re JOHANNA DEL C.T., Petitioner–Respondent, v. GREGORIO A.L., Respondent–Appellant.
Marion C. Perry, Brooklyn, for appellant. James E. Iniguez & Associates, PPLC, New York (Ilana Hochman of counsel), for respondent. Diaz & Moskowitz, PLLC, New York (Hani Moskowitz of counsel), attorney for the child.
Marion C. Perry, Brooklyn, for appellant.
James E. Iniguez & Associates, PPLC, New York (Ilana Hochman of counsel), for respondent.
Diaz & Moskowitz, PLLC, New York (Hani Moskowitz of counsel), attorney for the child.
Friedman, J.P., Oing, Singh, Moulton, JJ.
Order, Family Court, New York County (Referee Marva A. Burnett), entered on or about April 26, 2018, which, after a hearing, granted petitioner mother's application to modify a prior order of custody to grant the mother sole legal custody of the child, with alternate weekend visitation to respondent father, unanimously modified, on the law, to remand the matter for further proceedings on visitation in accordance with this order and to include a provision directing the mother to inform the father of all major decisions with respect to the child, and otherwise affirmed, without costs.
The mother provided sufficient evidence that a breakdown in the parties' communication constituted a change in circumstances since their divorce ( Matter of Moore v. Gonzalez , 134 A.D.3d 718, 720, 21 N.Y.S.3d 292 [2d Dept. 2015] ). The determination that it is in the best interests of the child that sole custody be awarded to the mother has a sound and substantial basis in the record (see Lubit v. Lubit , 65 A.D.3d 954, 955, 885 N.Y.S.2d 492 [1st Dept. 2009], lv denied 13 N.Y.3d 716, 2010 WL 118203 [2010], cert denied 560 U.S. 940, 130 S.Ct. 3362, 176 L.Ed.2d 1247 [2010] ). The evidence demonstrates that the mother has been responsible for major decisions with respect to the child, with little input or interest from the father (see Matter of Dean W. v. Karina McK. , 121 A.D.3d 440, 441, 993 N.Y.S.2d 705 [1st Dept. 2014] ).
With respect to the visitation schedule set forth by the Family Court, we agree with the father that the matter should be remanded for further proceedings on the visitation schedule, to address, inter alia, holidays and vacations (see Matter of Aly T. v. Francisco B. , 146 A.D.3d 425, 426, 45 N.Y.S.3d 34 [1st Dept. 2017] ). In light of evidence that the mother inappropriately depended upon the child to communicate with the father, upon remand, the Family Court must also include a provision directing the mother, as custodial parent, to inform the father of any major decision she makes concerning the child ( Moore , 134 A.D.3d at 719–720, 21 N.Y.S.3d 292 ).
The father contends that the Family Court erred in dismissing his petition alleging that the mother violated a temporary order of visitation. The issue, however, is moot, since the final custody order superseded the temporary order for which the violation petition was filed (see Matter of Grace E.-J. v. Robert J.-R. , 158 A.D.3d 509, 509, 68 N.Y.S.3d 713 [1st Dept. 2018] ).