IN RE: Andrew R. DUPONT (2022)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously reversed on the law without costs and the matter is remitted to Family Court, Oneida County, for further proceedings in accordance with the following memorandum: In this Family Court Act article 6 proceeding, respondent mother appeals from an order that, inter alia, granted petitioner father's petition seeking to modify a prior order entered on consent by transferring primary residential custody of the parties’ child from the mother to the father. Approximately one week prior to the hearing on the father's petition, the mother's attorney informed Family Court that there had been a breakdown in her attorney-client relationship with the mother, as a result of which she was no longer representing the mother, and she requested an adjournment of the hearing. On the morning of the hearing, the court failed to make any inquiry of the mother concerning the fact that her attorney was not present at the hearing, nor did the court make any mention of the attorney's adjournment request. The mother herself then sought an adjournment and confirmed to the court that there had been a fundamental breakdown in the relationship with her attorney. The mother explained that she had spoken to, and scheduled a meeting with, a new attorney and that the new attorney could not be present due to a preexisting obligation. The court denied her request, and required the mother to proceed pro se through the conclusion of the hearing.

We agree with the mother that the court abused its discretion in denying her request to adjourn the hearing (see Daming Zhu v. Ye Cheng, 142 A.D.3d 1365, 1365, 38 N.Y.S.3d 344 [4th Dept. 2016]; Matter of Bobi Jo B. v. Jerry L.W., 45 A.D.3d 1382, 1383, 845 N.Y.S.2d 586 [4th Dept. 2007]; cf. Matter of Latonia W. [Anthony W.], 144 A.D.3d 1692, 1693, 41 N.Y.S.3d 643 [4th Dept. 2016]). The record establishes that the mother's request was not a delay tactic and did not result from her lack of diligence in retaining new counsel (see Bobi Jo B., 45 A.D.3d at 1383, 845 N.Y.S.2d 586). Moreover, the request was the mother's first request for an adjournment in the matter (see Matter of Cameron B. [Nicole C.], 149 A.D.3d 1502, 1503, 52 N.Y.S.3d 774 [4th Dept. 2017]). We therefore reverse the order and remit the matter to Family Court for a new hearing on the petition. Pending the court's determination upon remittal, the custody and visitation provisions in the order appealed from shall remain in effect (see Daming Zhu, 142 A.D.3d at 1366, 38 N.Y.S.3d 344).

In light of our determination, we do not reach the mother's remaining contentions.