Opinion
2013-01-29
In re XIOMARA M., Petitioner–Respondent, v. ROBERT M., JR., Respondent–Appellant.
Andrew J. Baer, New York, for appellant. Karen P. Simmons, The Children's Law Center, Brooklyn (Susan M. Cordaro of counsel), attorney for the children.
Andrew J. Baer, New York, for appellant. Karen P. Simmons, The Children's Law Center, Brooklyn (Susan M. Cordaro of counsel), attorney for the children.
ANDRIAS, J.P., SWEENY, DeGRASSE, FREEDMAN, RICHTER, JJ.
Order, Family Court, Bronx County (Myrna Martinez–Perez, J.), entered on or about November 15, 2011, awarding petitioner mother sole legal and physical custody of the parties' children, subject to respondent father's right of visitation, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
The record supports the court's determination that the totality of the circumstanceswarrants awarding custody of the children to petitioner ( see Eschbach v. Eschbach, 56 N.Y.2d 167, 451 N.Y.S.2d 658, 436 N.E.2d 1260 [1982] ). In determining the best interests of the children, the court considered the appropriate factors, including that petitioner had always been the primary care giver and made sure that the children received the educational and medical attention they required ( see e.g. Matter of Battista v. Fasano, 41 A.D.3d 712, 838 N.Y.S.2d 178 [2nd Dept.2007],lv. denied9 N.Y.3d 818, 852 N.Y.S.2d 14, 881 N.E.2d 1201 [2008] ), that she was more likely to foster a relationship between respondent and the children than he was to foster a relationship between petitioner and the children ( see Matter of Lionel E. v. Shaquana R.B., 73 A.D.3d 434, 901 N.Y.S.2d 181 [1st Dept.2010] ), and the history of domestic violence at the hands of respondent ( seeDomestic Relations Law 240[1][a] ).
The court reasonably rejected the recommendation of its appointed forensic psychologist ( see Matter of Kozlowski v. Mangialino, 36 A.D.3d 916, 830 N.Y.S.2d 557 [2nd Dept.2007] ). The court fairly found, inter alia, that the expert did not sufficiently weigh the impact of domestic violence on petitioner's emotional and psychic state, perhaps causing her depression and the other difficulties she faced. The court fairly concluded that the expert disproportionately blamed petitioner for problems in the parties' relationship while ignoring her explanations, and relied too heavily on the reports of the paternal grandparents, who had themselves made false reports of abuse and neglect against petitioner.
The court properly considered the wishes of the children as one of many factors in its determination. There is no support for respondent's contention that the court treated the children's wishes as determinative.