Opinion
671 CAF 17–00337
08-22-2018
In the MATTER OF NEVIN H. and Novahlee H. Onondaga County Department of Children and Family Services, Petitioner–Respondent; v. Stephanie H., Respondent–Appellant. (Appeal No. 1.)
FRANK H. HISCOCK LEGAL AID SOCIETY, SYRACUSE (PHILIP ROTHSCHILD OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT–APPELLANT. ROBERT A. DURR, COUNTY ATTORNEY, SYRACUSE (MAGGIE SEIKALY OF COUNSEL), FOR PETITIONER–RESPONDENT. ROBERT F. RHINEHART, SYRACUSE, ATTORNEY FOR THE CHILDREN.
FRANK H. HISCOCK LEGAL AID SOCIETY, SYRACUSE (PHILIP ROTHSCHILD OF COUNSEL), FOR RESPONDENT–APPELLANT.
ROBERT A. DURR, COUNTY ATTORNEY, SYRACUSE (MAGGIE SEIKALY OF COUNSEL), FOR PETITIONER–RESPONDENT.
ROBERT F. RHINEHART, SYRACUSE, ATTORNEY FOR THE CHILDREN.
PRESENT: SMITH, J.P., CARNI, DEJOSEPH, NEMOYER, AND CURRAN, JJ.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously reversed on the law without costs and the petition is dismissed.
Memorandum: These consolidated appeals arise from separate proceedings concerning, among other things, custody and visitation issues with respect to Nevin H. and Novahlee H. (collectively, subject children), the son and daughter of Stephanie H., who is the respondent in both proceedings. Erik M.F., the petitioner in appeal No. 2, is the father of Novahlee (hereafter, subject daughter). Appeal No. 1 arises from a petition pursuant to Family Court Act article 10, in which the petitioner therein, Onondaga County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), alleged that the mother neglected the subject children. In that appeal, the mother appeals from an order that, inter alia, determined that she neglected the subject children and placed the mother under the supervision of DCFS. In appeal No. 2, the mother appeals in a custody proceeding from an order granting custody of the subject daughter to petitioner father with specified visitation to the mother. In appeal No. 1, the mother contends that the evidence is legally insufficient to establish that she neglected the subject children. We agree. In order to establish a prima facie case of neglect, DCFS was required, insofar as relevant here, to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the subject children's "physical, mental or emotional condition has been impaired or is in imminent danger of becoming impaired as a result of the failure of [their] parent or other person legally responsible for [their] care to exercise a minimum degree of care" ( Family Ct. Act § 1012[f][i] ). In the petition, DCFS alleged that the mother neglected the subject children by exposing them to domestic violence, i.e., by allowing her paramour into her house on several occasions in the presence of the subject children despite his history of violent actions toward her, during which she was again subjected to domestic violence. It is well settled that, in certain situations, "[t]he exposure of the child to domestic violence between the parents may form the basis for a finding of neglect" ( Matter of Michael G., 300 A.D.2d 1144, 1144, 752 N.Y.S.2d 772 [4th Dept. 2002] ; see Matter of Trinity E. [Robert E.], 137 A.D.3d 1590, 1591, 27 N.Y.S.3d 758 [4th Dept. 2016] ). To establish neglect, however, "there must be ‘proof of actual (or imminent danger of) physical, emotional or mental impairment to the child’ ... In order for danger to be ‘imminent,’ it must be ‘near or impending, not merely possible’ ... Further, there must be a ‘causal connection between the basis for the neglect petition and the circumstances that allegedly produce the ... imminent danger of impairment’ " ( Matter of Afton C. [James C.], 17 N.Y.3d 1, 9, 926 N.Y.S.2d 365, 950 N.E.2d 101 [2011] ; see Trinity E., 137 A.D.3d at 1590–1591, 27 N.Y.S.3d 758 ). Thus, "[a] neglect determination may not be premised solely on a finding of domestic violence without any evidence that the physical, mental or emotional condition of the child was impaired or was in imminent danger of becoming impaired" ( Matter of Ilona H. [Elton H.], 93 A.D.3d 1165, 1166–1167, 940 N.Y.S.2d 406 [4th Dept. 2012] ). "When ‘the sole allegation’ is that the mother has been abused and the child has witnessed the abuse, such a showing has not been made" ( Nicholson v. Scoppetta, 3 N.Y.3d 357, 371, 787 N.Y.S.2d 196, 820 N.E.2d 840 [2004] ). Indeed, the Court of Appeals has "rejected use of a presumption of neglect where a parent had allowed a child to witness domestic violence, holding that this bare allegation did not meet the Family Court Act's requirements" ( Afton C., 17 N.Y.3d at 10, 926 N.Y.S.2d 365, 950 N.E.2d 101 ).
Here, inasmuch as the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to DCFS, merely demonstrates that the subject children were present when domestic violence occurred, there is insufficient "proof of actual (or imminent danger of) physical, emotional or mental impairment to the child[ren]" ( Nicholson, 3 N.Y.3d at 369, 787 N.Y.S.2d 196, 820 N.E.2d 840 ; see Afton C., 17 N.Y.3d at 9, 926 N.Y.S.2d 365, 950 N.E.2d 101 ). Consequently, we reverse the order in appeal No. 1 and dismiss the petition. The mother's further contentions with respect to the order in appeal No. 1 are moot in light of our determination.
In appeal No. 2, the mother contends that Family Court erred in concluding that the father established the requisite change in circumstances to warrant an inquiry into whether the existing custody arrangement was in the best interests of the subject daughter (see Matter of Carey v. Windover, 85 A.D.3d 1574, 1574, 925 N.Y.S.2d 360 [4th Dept. 2011], lv denied 17 N.Y.3d 710, 2011 WL 4357160 [2011] ). We reject that contention. Here, the evidence presented at the hearing establishes that the mother lost her job, leaving her unable to provide financial support for the subject daughter, and thus the court properly relied on the mother's "deteriorating financial situation" in concluding that a sufficient change in circumstances had occurred ( Matter of Breitung v. Trask, 279 A.D.2d 677, 678, 717 N.Y.S.2d 799 [3d Dept. 2001] ). In addition, the evidence establishes that the mother lacked suitable housing, which is also sufficient to demonstrate "a change in circumstances [that] reflects a real need for change to ensure the best interest[s] of the child" ( Matter of Amy L.M. v. Kevin M.M., 31 A.D.3d 1224, 1225, 817 N.Y.S.2d 850 [4th Dept. 2006] ).
We reject the mother's further contention in appeal No. 2 that the court erred in awarding custody of the subject daughter to the father upon determining that there was the requisite change in circumstances. It is well settled that "a court's determination regarding custody and visitation issues, based upon a first-hand assessment of the credibility of the witnesses after an evidentiary hearing, is entitled to great weight and will not be set aside unless it lacks an evidentiary basis in the record" ( Matter of Krug v. Krug, 55 A.D.3d 1373, 1374, 865 N.Y.S.2d 450 [4th Dept. 2008] [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Matter of Green v. Bontzolakes, 83 A.D.3d 1401, 1402, 919 N.Y.S.2d 451 [4th Dept. 2011], lv. denied 17 N.Y.3d 703, 2011 WL 2473059 [2011] ), i.e., it is not " ‘supported by a sound and substantial basis in the record’ " ( Krug , 55 A.D.3d at 1374, 865 N.Y.S.2d 450 ; see Matter of Dubuque v. Bremiller, 79 A.D.3d 1743, 1744, 913 N.Y.S.2d 855 [4th Dept. 2010] ). Here, we see no reason to reject the court's credibility assessment, and we conclude that its custody determination is supported by a sound and substantial basis in the record.
The mother's remaining contentions in appeal No. 2 are academic in light of our determination in appeal No. 1 or do not require modification or reversal of the order in appeal No. 2.