Case Name: In the Matter of Destiny Marie M., a Child Alleged to be Neglected. Phillip F., Appellant; Administration for Children's Services, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2015-11-10
Citations: 133 A.D.3d 440
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Destiny Marie M., a Child Alleged to be Neglected. Phillip F., Appellant; Administration for Children’s Services, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 133
Pages: 440–441

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Destiny Marie M., a Child Alleged to be Neglected. Phillip F., Appellant; Administration for Children’s Services, Respondent.
[18 NYS3d 851]

Opinion:
Order of disposition, Family Court, New York County (Stewart H. Weinstein, J.), entered on or about July 30, 2014, to the extent it brings up for review a fact-finding order, same court and Judge, entered on or about the same date, which found that respondent father had neglected the subject child, unanimously affirmed, without costs. Appeal from fact-finding order unanimously dismissed, without costs, as subsumed in the appeal from the order of disposition.
The finding of neglect is supported by a preponderance of the evidence, including the caseworker's and mother's testimony that the father was aware of the child's existence in 2010 but failed to assert his parental rights and assume his parental responsibilities until three years later, when the child was four years old (see Family Ct Act § 1012 [f]; Nicholson v Scoppetta, 3 NY3d 357, 368 [2004]). The court's credibility determination is entitled to deference (see Matter of Irene O., 38 NY2d 776, 777 [1975]). Concur — Mazzarelli, J.P., Renwick, Saxe and Moskowitz, JJ.