Court Opinion

ID: 4110855
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-12-23 20:09:49.525375+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:34:36.255794
License: Public Domain

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
           Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department

1166
CAF 14-00965
PRESENT: CARNI, J.P., LINDLEY, DEJOSEPH, CURRAN, AND TROUTMAN, JJ.

IN THE MATTER OF DANARYEE B.
------------------------------------------
ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES,       MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
PETITIONER-RESPONDENT;

ERICA T., RESPONDENT-APPELLANT.

EVELYNE A. O’SULLIVAN, EAST AMHERST, FOR RESPONDENT-APPELLANT.

NICHOLAS G. LOCICERO, BUFFALO, FOR PETITIONER-RESPONDENT.

DAVID C. SCHOPP, ATTORNEY FOR THE CHILD, THE LEGAL AID BUREAU OF
BUFFALO, INC., BUFFALO (CHARLES D. HALVORSEN OF COUNSEL).

     Appeal from an order of the Family Court, Erie County (Sharon M.
LoVallo, J.), entered May 29, 2014 in a proceeding pursuant to Family
Court Act article 10. The order, inter alia, determined that
respondent had neglected the subject child.

     It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is
unanimously affirmed without costs.

     Memorandum: In this proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act
article 10, respondent mother appeals from an order finding that she
neglected the subject child. Contrary to the mother’s contention,
petitioner established by a preponderance of the evidence that the
physical, mental, or emotional condition of the child had been or is
in imminent danger of becoming impaired as a result of the mother’s
failure to exercise a minimum degree of care (see Family Ct Act
§§ 1012 [f] [i]; 1046 [b] [i]; see generally Nicholson v Scoppetta, 3
NY3d 357, 368). Specifically, petitioner presented evidence
establishing that the child was in imminent danger because she was
exposed to unsanitary and deplorable living conditions, including
floors covered in animal feces and ankle-deep piles of garbage (see
Matter of Josee Louise L.H. [DeCarla L.], 121 AD3d 492, 492-493, lv
denied 24 NY3d 913; Matter of Holly B. [Scott B.], 117 AD3d 1592,
1592-1593; Matter of Raven B. [Melissa K.N.], 115 AD3d 1276, 1280-
1281). Further, the credible evidence established that the mother’s
residence did not contain a bed or diapers for the child (see Matter
of China C. [Alexis C.], 116 AD3d 953, 954, lv dismissed 23 NY3d 1047;
Matter of Commissioner of Social Servs. v Anne F., 225 AD2d 620, 620).

     Contrary to the mother’s further contention, any error in
receiving petitioner’s exhibits in evidence is harmless “because the
                                 -2-                          1166
                                                         CAF 14-00965

record otherwise contains ample admissible evidence to support [Family
Court’s] determination” that the mother neglected the child (Matter of
Matthews v Matthews, 72 AD3d 1631, 1632, lv denied 15 NY3d 704; see
Matter of Delehia J. [Tameka J.], 93 AD3d 668, 670). Finally, the
mother’s contention that the court erred in striking the testimony of
one of her witnesses is not preserved for our review (see generally
CPLR 5501 [a] [3]; Matter of Crystal A., 11 AD3d 897, 898).

Entered:   December 23, 2016                   Frances E. Cafarell
                                               Clerk of the Court