Case Name: In the Matter of Barbara Merritt, Appellant, v. Fred Way, Respondent
Court: New York Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1983-02-08
Citations: 58 N.Y.2d 850
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Barbara Merritt, Appellant, v Fred Way, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Reports
Volume: 58
Pages: 850–853

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Barbara Merritt, Appellant, v Fred Way, Respondent.
Argued January 6, 1983;
decided February 8, 1983
APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL
Abraham Hecht for appellant.
Fred Way, respondent pro se.
Barbara H. Dildine and Lenore Gittis, Law Guardians.

Opinion:
OPINION OF THE COURT
Memorandum.
The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed, with costs. In a custody contest between parent and non- parent, the question of best interests is not reached absent a showing of surrender, abandonment, unfitness, persistent neglect or other extraordinary circumstance (Matter of Bennett v Jeffreys, 40 NY2d 543). The Family Court found that petitioner's evidence did not establish extraordinary circumstances. That finding having been affirmed by the Appellate Division is beyond our power of review (Laufer v Ostrow, 55 NY2d 305).
Chief Judge Cooke and Judges Jasen, Jones, Wachtler, Fuchsberg, Meyer and Simons concur.
Order affirmed, with costs, in a memorandum.