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Matter of Shavira P

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
May 2, 2001
283 A.D.2d 1027 (N.Y. App. Div. 2001)

Opinion

Filed May 2, 2001.

Appeal from Order of Erie County Family Court, Dillon, J. — Terminate Parental Rights.

PRESENT: PIGOTT, JR., P.J., GREEN, WISNER, KEHOE AND LAWTON, JJ.


Order unanimously affirmed without costs.

Memorandum:

In each appeal, respondent appeals from an order that, following a hearing, revoked an order suspending judgment based upon her failure to comply with the conditions of each order suspending judgment, terminated her parental rights and transferred the guardianship and custody of her children to petitioner. Family Court properly denied the request of respondent's counsel for an adjournment based upon respondent's absence and proceeded with the hearing on the final scheduled hearing date ( see, Matter of Jennifer DD., 227 A.D.2d 675, 676; see also, Matter of Shemeco D., 265 A.D.2d 860). The court also properly refused to adjourn the hearing based upon the failure of respondent's final witness to appear. The unexplained absence of the witness did not constitute good cause for an adjournment ( see, Family Ct Act § 626 [a]; Matter of Noele D., 209 A.D.2d 828, 829). Finally, we reject the contention of respondent that the court erred in terminating her parental rights without conducting a further hearing on the best interests of the children. The court "had already considered their best interests when it suspended judgment and indicated to respondent that if [s]he failed to comply with the conditions [her] parental rights could be terminated" ( Matter of Grace Q., 200 A.D.2d 894, 896; see, Matter of Patricia O., 175 A.D.2d 870, 870-871). Thus, there was no need to conduct a further dispositional hearing ( see, Matter of Brendan A., 278 A.D.2d 784; Matter of Wendy F. v. Onondaga County Dept. of Social Servs., 273 A.D.2d 927, 928).


Summaries of

Matter of Shavira P

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department
May 2, 2001
283 A.D.2d 1027 (N.Y. App. Div. 2001)
Case details for

Matter of Shavira P

Case Details

Full title:MATTER OF SHAVIRA P. ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES…

Court:Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, Fourth Department

Date published: May 2, 2001

Citations

283 A.D.2d 1027 (N.Y. App. Div. 2001)
723 N.Y.S.2d 919

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