Opinion
447 CAF 23-00016
07-28-2023
In the Matter of Erin S. KELLEY, Petitioner-Appellant, v. Robert CRAMMOND, Respondent-Respondent.
PETER J. DIGIORGIO, JR., UTICA, FOR PETITIONER-APPELLANT.
PETER J. DIGIORGIO, JR., UTICA, FOR PETITIONER-APPELLANT.
PRESENT: SMITH, J.P., PERADOTTO, CURRAN, MONTOUR, AND OGDEN, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.
Memorandum: In this proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 6, petitioner mother appeals from an order that, inter alia, dismissed her violation petitions against respondent father and granted her petition seeking to modify an existing custody and visitation order to the extent of requiring that the child not be in the presence of the father's wife without "other adult supervision unless ... [the father] is substantially present." Contrary to the mother's contention, Family Court did not err in dismissing the violation petitions inasmuch as the mother failed to establish that the father's conduct "defeated, impaired, impeded, or prejudiced any right or remedy to which she was entitled" ( Matter of Hall v. Hawthorne , 99 A.D.3d 1237, 1238, 951 N.Y.S.2d 446 [4th Dept. 2012] [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Matter of Oravec v. Oravec , 89 A.D.3d 1475, 1475, 932 N.Y.S.2d 655 [4th Dept. 2011] ).
The mother further contends that the court abused its discretion in failing to prohibit the father's wife from having any contact with the child and instead allowing contact with other adult supervision. We reject that contention. "Family Court is afforded wide discretion in crafting an appropriate visitation schedule ... and has the power to impose restrictions on [a] child[ ]’s interactions with third parties during visitation if it is in the child[ ]’s best interests to do so" ( Matter of Santana v. Barnes , 203 A.D.3d 1561, 1561, 161 N.Y.S.3d 896 [4th Dept. 2022] ; see Matter of Chromczak v. Salek , 173 A.D.3d 1750, 1751-1752, 105 N.Y.S.3d 629 [4th Dept. 2019] ). We see no basis to disturb the court's determination inasmuch as it "is supported by a sound and substantial basis in the record," including the Lincoln hearing ( Santana , 203 A.D.3d at 1561, 161 N.Y.S.3d 896 ; see Matter of Carr v. Stebbins , 123 A.D.3d 1164, 1165, 997 N.Y.S.2d 829 [3d Dept. 2014] ; see generally Matter of Allen v. Boswell , 149 A.D.3d 1528, 1529, 53 N.Y.S.3d 432 [4th Dept. 2017], lv denied 30 N.Y.3d 902, 2017 WL 4653468 [2017] ).