Case Name: In the Matter of Giah A. Suffolk County Department of Social Services, Respondent; Israel A., Appellant. (Proceeding No. 1.) In the Matter of Antonio M. Suffolk County Department of Social Services, Respondent; Israel A., Appellant. (Proceeding No. 2.) In the Matter of Khristianna B. Suffolk County Department of Social Services, Respondent; Israel A., Appellant. (Proceeding No. 3.) In the Matter of Nicholas A. Suffolk County Department of Social Services, Respondent; Israel A., Appellant. (Proceeding No. 4.)
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2017-10-18
Citations: 154 A.D.3d 841
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Giah A. Suffolk County Department of Social Services, Respondent; Israel A., Appellant. (Proceeding No. 1.) In the Matter of Antonio M. Suffolk County Department of Social Services, Respondent; Israel A., Appellant. (Proceeding No. 2.) In the Matter of Khristianna B. Suffolk County Department of Social Services, Respondent; Israel A., Appellant. (Proceeding No. 3.) In the Matter of Nicholas A. Suffolk County Department of Social Services, Respondent; Israel A., Appellant. (Proceeding No. 4.)
Judges: Mastro, J.R, Sgroi, Cohen and Maltese, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 154
Pages: 841–842

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Giah A. Suffolk County Department of Social Services, Respondent; Israel A., Appellant. (Proceeding No. 1.) In the Matter of Antonio M. Suffolk County Department of Social Services, Respondent; Israel A., Appellant. (Proceeding No. 2.) In the Matter of Khristianna B. Suffolk County Department of Social Services, Respondent; Israel A., Appellant. (Proceeding No. 3.) In the Matter of Nicholas A. Suffolk County Department of Social Services, Respondent; Israel A., Appellant. (Proceeding No. 4.)
[62 NYS3d 173]

Opinion:
— Appeal by the father from an order of fact-finding and disposition of the Family Court, Suffolk County (Richard Hoffmann, J.), dated August 26, 2016. The order of fact-finding and disposition, insofar as appealed from, after a fact-finding hearing, found that the father neglected the subject children.
Ordered that the appeal from so much of the order of fact-finding and disposition as pertains to the child Antonio M. is dismissed as academic, without costs or disbursements; and it is further,
Ordered that the order of fact-finding and disposition is affirmed insofar as reviewed, without costs or disbursements.
After a fact-finding hearing in these related child protective proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 10, the Family Court issued an order of fact-finding and disposition dated August 26, 2016, finding that the father neglected the four subject children by, inter alia, misusing drugs. The father appeals.
The appeal from so much of the order of fact-finding and disposition as pertains to the child Antonio M. must be dismissed as academic, in light of an order of the Family Court dated December 8, 2016, which vacated all orders entered with respect to the neglect proceeding regarding that child, because he is deceased (see Matter of Mia M. [Karen M.], 114 AD3d 793 [2014]).
Contrary to the father's contention, the Family Court's finding of neglect as to the other three children is supported by a preponderance of the evidence (see Family Ct Act § 1012 [f] [i] [B]; 1046 [a] [iii]). The evidence of the father's repeated misuse of prescription drugs adduced at the fact-finding hearing established a prima facie case of neglect, and therefore neither actual impairment of the children's physical, mental, or emotional condition, nor a specific risk of impairment, needed to be established (see Matter of Michael D. [Michael D.], 151 AD3d 851, 851 [2017]; Matter of Audrey K. [Erik K.], 108 AD3d 717 [2013]; Matter of Sadiq H. [Karl H.], 81 AD3d 647 [2011]).
Accordingly, the Family Court properly found that the father neglected the three other children.
Mastro, J.R, Sgroi, Cohen and Maltese, JJ., concur.