Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
IN RE: ONELIO OLVEIN ELIJAH VIDAL ONDALIS SANTIAGO C., A Dependent Child Under the Age of Eighteen Years, etc., Colleen Veronica P.C., etc., Respondent-Appellant, New York Foundling Hospital, Petitioner-Respondent.
Order of disposition, Family Court, New York County (Sara P. Schechter, J.), entered on or about October 16, 2002, which, to the extent appealed from, upon a finding of permanent neglect and a further finding that respondent mother violated the terms of a suspended judgment, terminated respondent's parental rights to the subject child and committed custody and guardianship of the child to petitioner agency and the Commission of Social Services of the City of New York for the purpose of adoption, unanimously affirmed, without costs.
A preponderance of the evidence supports Family Court's findings that respondent, by failing to aggressively seek suitable family housing and failing to cooperate with petitioner agency's meaningful efforts to help her secure such housing, had not satisfied conditions upon which continuation of the suspended judgment previously issued in this matter depended (see Matter of Terry L.G., 6 A.D.3d 1144, 776 N.Y.S.2d 429 [2004] ). Contrary to respondent's contention, there were no exceptional circumstances warranting continuation of the suspended judgment (see Matter of Michael B., 80 N.Y.2d 299, 310-311, 590 N.Y.S.2d 60, 604 N.E.2d 122 [1992] ). The evidence established that respondent's failure to obtain suitable local housing was attributable to her highly particular notions of what amenities such housing should include and to her undisclosed intention to move to Georgia, rather than factors beyond her control.
The finding that termination of respondent's parental rights was in the subject child's best interests was supported by a preponderance of the evidence (see Matter of Amanda Crystal Juton A., 6 A.D.3d 314, 775 N.Y.S.2d 136 [2004] ). Respondent, although afforded the opportunity to do so, had not met her basic parental obligation to provide a suitable home for her child, and the caseworker's testimony established that the child's long-term foster home was a happy one in which his needs, some of them involving special medical care, were met.
Thank you for your feedback!
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Decided: December 07, 2004
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, New York.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)