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IN RE: Donna A. BARTLEY, respondent, v. Ronald C. BARTLEY, appellant.
In a family offense proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 8, Ronald C. Bartley appeals from an order of disposition of the Family Court, Orange County (Bivona, J.), entered October 2, 2007, which, after a hearing, and upon a finding that he committed the family offense of disorderly conduct, directed him to abide by the conditions set forth in an order of protection of the same court entered August 23, 2007.
ORDERED that the notice of appeal from the order of protection is deemed a premature notice of appeal from the order of disposition (see CPLR 5520 [c] ); and it is further,
ORDERED that the order of disposition is reversed, on the law, without costs or disbursements, the order of protection is vacated, and the proceeding is dismissed.
Contrary to the Family Court's determination, the record does not support its finding that the petitioner proved by a preponderance of the evidence (see Family Ct. Act § 832; Matter of Phillips v. Laland, 4 A.D.3d 529, 530, 771 N.Y.S.2d 718) that the appellant committed acts constituting the family offense of disorderly conduct, warranting the issuance of an order of protection. The testimony and evidence demonstrates that while the appellant was clearly upset with the petitioner during and after the event celebrating their daughter's college graduation, and demonstrated poor judgment in confronting the petitioner in the upstairs of the marital home and in arguing with her and three others in the kitchen, he barely raised his voice, he did not threaten the petitioner, and his conduct did not cause those involved in the argument to leave the home (see Family Ct. Act §§ 812, 832; Penal Law § 240.20; cf. Matter of Rankoth v. Sloan, 44 A.D.3d 863, 844 N.Y.S.2d 357; Matter of Bonsignore v. Bonsignore, 37 A.D.3d 602, 828 N.Y.S.2d 814; Matter of Kraus v. Kraus, 26 A.D.3d 494, 809 N.Y.S.2d 471; Matter of Sarmuksnis v. Priest, 21 A.D.3d 381, 383, 800 N.Y.S.2d 28; Matter of Clarke v. Clarke, 8 A.D.3d 375, 777 N.Y.S.2d 738; Matter of Platsky v. Platsky, 237 A.D.2d 610, 655 N.Y.S.2d 650).
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Decided: February 19, 2008
Court: Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, New York.
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