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: WILLIAM XX., Appellant, v. BROOME COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES et al., Respondents. (And Three Other Related Proceedings.) In the Matter of Caleb F. and Another, Alleged to be Neglected Children. Broome County Department of Social Services, Respondent; Arlene F., Respondent. William XX., Appellant.
Appeals (1) from seven orders of the Family Court of Broome County (Pines, J.), entered October 1, 2002, October 8, 2002, October 11, 2002, October 25, 2002, November 15, 2002, December 16, 2002, and January 24, 2003, which, in four proceedings pursuant to Family Ct. Act articles 6 and 10, inter alia, denied William XX. visitation with his grandchildren, and (2) from an order of said court, entered March 7, 2003, which granted the Broome County Department of Social Services' application, in a proceeding pursuant to Family Ct. Act article 10, for an order of protection.
While the procedural background of these proceedings is extensive, the relevant facts and issues are straightforward. William XX. and Eva XX. are the grandparents of Caleb F. and Selena F. Both William XX. and Eva XX. were previously found to have sexually abused and neglected their two daughters based upon, among other things, William XX. having sexual intercourse and impregnating one daughter while Eva XX. was in the same bed. Their other daughter, Arlene F., is the mother of Caleb F. and Selena F. William XX. and Eva XX. filed a petition seeking visitation with Caleb F. and Selena F. and, while they ostensibly reached an informal agreement with the children's parents, no court order was issued regarding visitation. William XX.'s subsequent petition alleging that the Broome County Department of Social Services and Arlene F. were violating an order allowing him to visit the children was thus dismissed by Family Court. A neglect proceeding brought by the Broome County Department of Social Services against Arlene F. culminated in an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal based upon the agreed entry of an order providing, among other things, that Arlene F. would not permit contact between the children and William XX. and Eva XX. William XX. appeals.
Appellate counsel for William XX. has filed an Anders brief seeking to be relieved of his assignment on the ground that there are no nonfrivolous issues to pursue on appeal (see Matter of Joshua M. v. Dimari N., 9 A.D.3d 617, 618-619, 780 N.Y.S.2d 218 [2004]; Matter of Amber F. [Andrew G.], 272 A.D.2d 788, 789, 708 N.Y.S.2d 919 [2000] ). We agree. The record does not contain an order granting William XX. visitation rights (see Domestic Relations Law § 72; Matter of Wilson v. McGlinchey, 2 N.Y.3d 375, 380, 779 N.Y.S.2d 159, 811 N.E.2d 526 [2004] ) and, thus, Family Court properly dismissed his visitation violation petition. With respect to the protective order, William XX. was not a party to that proceeding, he did not seek to intervene despite having knowledge of the proceeding, the order does not direct him to do or refrain from doing anything, the order was issued with the consent of the children's mother,1 and she has not appealed from that order. Under such circumstances, William XX. is not an aggrieved party and, accordingly, there is no basis for him to appeal from that order (see CPLR 5511; cf. Matter of Dana S. [George S.-Marie R.], 249 A.D.2d 582, 584, 670 N.Y.S.2d 627 [1998] ). The ex parte temporary orders from which William XX. appeals have expired. Those orders are both academic and nonappealable (see Matter of Jazmone S. [Philip J.], 307 A.D.2d 320, 321, 762 N.Y.S.2d 811 [2003], lvs. dismissed 100 N.Y.2d 615, 767 N.Y.S.2d 397, 799 N.E.2d 620 [2003], 1 N.Y.3d 584, 776 N.Y.S.2d 214, 808 N.E.2d 349 [2004]; see also Sholes v. Meagher, 100 N.Y.2d 333, 335, 763 N.Y.S.2d 522, 794 N.E.2d 664 [2003] ). We have reviewed the pro se submissions of William XX. and find no nonfrivolous issues set forth therein.
ORDERED that the orders are affirmed, without costs, and application to be relieved of assignment granted.
FOOTNOTES
1. The children's father was incarcerated and the subject of a separate protective order.
LAHTINEN, J.
MERCURE, J.P., CREW III, SPAIN and KANE, JJ., concur.
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: October 21, 2004
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third 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)