Case Name: In the Matter of Jabez F. and Another, Children Alleged to be Neglected. Martha L., Appellant; Bernard F., Respondent; Commissioner of Administration for Children's Service, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 2012-02-07
Citations: 92 A.D.3d 448
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Jabez F. and Another, Children Alleged to be Neglected. Martha L., Appellant; Bernard F., Respondent; Commissioner of Administration for Children’s Service, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 92
Pages: 448–448

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Jabez F. and Another, Children Alleged to be Neglected. Martha L., Appellant; Bernard F., Respondent; Commissioner of Administration for Children’s Service, Respondent.
[938 NYS2d 518]

Opinion:
Respondent mother's claim that the court, following a hearing pursuant to Family Court Act § 1028, erred in denying her application to have the children returned to her pending the neglect proceeding was rendered moot by the subsequent fact-finding determination of neglect (see Matter of Charnel T., 49 AD3d 427 [2008]).
The Family Court's determination that neglect was proved by a preponderance of the evidence was amply supported by the record. The mother had, inter alia, a conviction of aggravated sexual abuse of her older children in another state, for which she served five years, a long history of drug abuse that extended, by her own admission, five months into her pregnancy with the younger of the subject children, and a history of serious mental illness (see Matter of Justice T., 305 AD2d 1076 [2003], lv denied 100 NY2d 512 [2003]). Concur — Mazzarelli, J.P., Andrias, DeGrasse, Richter and Abdus-Salaam, JJ.