Opinion
06-16-2017
In the Matter of Cheris N. LAWRENCE, Petitioner–Respondent, v. Stephen C. LAWRENCE, Respondent–Respondent. Susan B. Marris, Esq., Attorney for the Child, Appellant.
Susan B. Marris, Attorney for the Child, Manlius, appellant pro se. Stephanie N. Davis, Attorney for the Child, Oswego.
Susan B. Marris, Attorney for the Child, Manlius, appellant pro se.
Stephanie N. Davis, Attorney for the Child, Oswego.
MEMORANDUM:
In this proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 6, the Attorney for the Child representing the parties' oldest child appeals from an order dismissing the mother's petition seeking modification of a custody order. Inasmuch as "the mother has not taken an appeal from that order[, the] child [ ], while dissatisfied with the order, cannot force the mother to litigate a petition that she has since abandoned" (Matter of Kessler v. Fancher, 112 A.D.3d 1323, 1324, 978 N.Y.S.2d 501 ). A child in a custody matter does not have "full-party status" (Matter of McDermott v. Bale, 94 A.D.3d 1542, 1543, 943 N.Y.S.2d 708 ), and we decline to permit the child's desires "to chart the course of litigation" (Kessler, 112 A.D.3d at 1324, 978 N.Y.S.2d 501 ).
It is hereby ORDERED that said appeal is unanimously dismissed without costs.
WHALEN, P.J., PERADOTTO, DeJOSEPH, CURRAN, and WINSLOW, JJ., concur.