Case Name: In the Matter of Marilyn Howell, Appellant, v. Gordon E. Howell, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2013-04-10
Citations: 105 A.D.3d 847
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Marilyn Howell, Appellant, v Gordon E. Howell, Respondent.
Judges: Skelos, J.E, Angiolillo, Roman and Cohen, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 105
Pages: 847–848

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Marilyn Howell, Appellant, v Gordon E. Howell, Respondent.
[961 NYS2d 805]

Opinion:
—In a family offense proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 8, the petitioner appeals from an order of the Family Court, Kings County (Cannataro, J.), dated April 4, 2012, which, after a hearing, dismissed the petition and vacated a temporary order of protection against the respondent.
Ordered that the order is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
"The determination of whether a family offense was committed is a factual issue to be resolved by the hearing court" (Matter of Creighton v Whitmore, 71 AD3d 1141, 1141 [2010]; see Family Ct Act § 812, 832; Matter of Clarke-Golding v Golding, 101 AD3d 1117 [2012]; Matter of Halper v Halper, 61 AD3d 687 [2009]), "and that court's determination regarding the credibility of witnesses is entitled to great weight on appeal unless clearly unsupported by the record" (Matter of Creighton v Whitmore, 71 AD3d at 1141; see Matter of Kaur v Singh, 73 AD3d 1178, 1178 [2010]).
Here, the record supports the Family Court's determination that the petitioner failed to prove, by a fair preponderance of the credible evidence, that the respondent committed an act constituting a family offense (see Family Ct Act § 832; Matter of Robinson v Bennett, 49 AD3d 652 [2008]; Matter of Waaldijk-Howell v Howell, 22 AD3d 675 [2005]). The petitioner's remaining contention is without merit. Accordingly, the Family Court properly dismissed the petition and vacated the temporary or der of protection against the respondent.
Skelos, J.E, Angiolillo, Roman and Cohen, JJ., concur.