IN RE: R.M. and Others (2026)

Appeal from order of fact-finding and disposition (one paper), Family Court, New York County (Hasa A. Kingo, J.), entered on or about September 25, 2024, which, upon a fact-finding determination, entered on default, that respondent committed the family offenses of harassment in the first and second degrees, disorderly conduct, menacing in the second degree, criminal obstruction of breathing, reckless endangerment, and attempted assault, granted a two-year order of protection in favor of petitioners, unanimously dismissed, without costs, as taken from a nonappealable paper.

Respondent did not move to vacate his default;  therefore, the appeal is dismissed as taken from a nonappealable paper (see Matter of Neil F.J. v. Maria I.M., 208 A.D.3d 1101, 174 N.Y.S.3d 699 [1st Dept. 2022]).  Although respondent argues that his default was not willful, his act of walking out of the hearing—after being warned that the proceedings would continue in his absence—was properly treated as a knowing and willful default (see Matter of Anita L. v. Damon N., 54 A.D.3d 630, 631, 864 N.Y.S.2d 23 [1st Dept. 2008]).

Were we to consider respondent's arguments on the merits, we would affirm the order.  The court's refusal to appoint respondent an 18B counsel did not deprive him of his right to be represented (see Matter of Alphonse v. Alphonse, 189 A.D.3d 1028, 1029, 136 N.Y.S.3d 322 [2d Dept. 2020]), particularly where he failed to fully and timely provide the disclosures necessary to support his claim of indigency (see Matter of Moiseeva v. Sichkin, 129 A.D.3d 974, 975, 13 N.Y.S.3d 123 [2d Dept. 2015]).

The court providently exercised its discretion in denying respondent's adjournment request.  He had repeatedly indicated to the court that he was unwilling to retain an attorney and, in fact, proceeded pro se for three days of the hearing.  The record further shows that the court granted multiple requests to allow him additional time to secure representation, as well as an adjournment based on his asserted medical emergency.  Since he did not qualify for assigned counsel and was unwilling to proceed pro se, the court properly declined to grant a further adjournment (see Matter of Garner v. Garner, 94 A.D.3d 761, 762, 941 N.Y.S.2d 268 [2d Dept. 2012]).

As to respondent's contention that a medical emergency prevented him from continuing with the fact-finding hearing, the argument lacks credibility.  The court observed that respondent had appeared earlier that morning and made no mention of any physical ailments or limitations that would have prevented him from proceeding with the hearing (see Matter of Josephine F. v. Rodney W., 168 A.D.3d 486, 487, 92 N.Y.S.3d 13 [1st Dept. 2019], lv denied 32 N.Y.3d 918, 2019 WL 1348167 [2019]).