Opinion
2013-12-26
In the Matter of Gurdeep SINGH, appellant, v. Gurmail SINGH, et al., respondents.
Frank Bruno, Glendale, N.Y., for appellant. Diana H. Kelly, Jamaica, N.Y. for respondent Gurmail Singh.
Frank Bruno, Glendale, N.Y., for appellant. Diana H. Kelly, Jamaica, N.Y. for respondent Gurmail Singh.
Helene Bernstein, Brooklyn, N.Y., for respondent Sarbjeet Kaur.
Kristine M. Marshall, Jamaica, N.Y., attorney for the child.
In a sibling visitation proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 6, the petitioner appeals from an order of the Family Court, Queens County (Fitzmaurice, J.), dated November 18, 2011, which, after a fact-finding hearing, dismissed his petition seeking visitation with his minor sibling.
ORDERED that the order is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
“[T]he determination of visitation is within the sound discretion of the trial court based upon the best interests of the child, and its determination will not be set aside unless it lacks a sound and substantial basis in the record” ( Matter of Lane v. Lane, 68 A.D.3d 995, 997, 892 N.Y.S.2d 130; see Matter of Torres v. Ojeda, 108 A.D.3d 570, 570–571, 968 N.Y.S.2d 191). The Family Court's determination that the denial of visitation between the petitioner and the subject child was in the child's best interests has a sound and substantial basis in the record and, therefore, we find no basis to disturb it ( see Matter of Samuel S. v. Dayawathie R., 63 A.D.3d 746, 747, 880 N.Y.S.2d 685; Matter of Samia Z., 297 A.D.2d 385, 746 N.Y.S.2d 598; Matter of Licitra v. Licitra, 255 A.D.2d 384, 679 N.Y.S.2d 700).
Motion by the respondent Sarbjeet Kaur on an appeal from an order of the Family Court, Queens County, dated November 18, 2011, inter alia, to strike stated portions of the appellant's brief on the ground that they refer to matter dehors the record. By decision and order on motion of this Court dated September 10, 2013, that branch of the motion was held in abeyance and referred to the panel of Justices hearing the appeal for determination upon the argument or submission thereof.
Upon the papers submitted in support of the motion and the papers submitted in opposition thereto, and upon the submission of the appeal, it is
ORDERED that the branch of the motion which is to strike stated portions of the appellant's brief is denied. SKELOS, J.P., LEVENTHAL, LOTT and COHEN, JJ., concur.