IN RE: Ebony LOUISSAINT (2025)

DECISION & ORDER

In a proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 8, the petitioner appeals from an order of the Family Court, Westchester County (Arlene E. Katz, J.), dated December 11, 2023.  The order, insofar as appealed from, dismissed the petition with prejudice.

ORDERED that the appeal is dismissed, without costs or disbursements.

In May 2023, the petitioner commenced this family offense proceeding against the respondent.  In December 2023, the parties appeared with counsel for a conference.  During the conference, the petitioner voluntarily left the courtroom against the advice of counsel and after being advised by the Family Court that if she did so, the court would proceed in her absence.  Thereafter, in an order dated December 11, 2023 (hereinafter the December 2023 order), the court, inter alia, dismissed the petition with prejudice.  The petitioner appeals.

No appeal lies from an order entered upon the default of the appealing party (see CPLR 5511).  The proper procedure for obtaining review of an order entered on default is to move to vacate the default and, if necessary, appeal from the order deciding that motion (see U.S. Bank N.A. v. Tenenbaum, 228 A.D.3d 701, 701, 210 N.Y.S.3d 502;  Matter of Board of Mgrs. of Plum Point–On Hudson Condominium I v. Assessor of the Town of New Windsor, 181 A.D.3d 591, 591–592, 117 N.Y.S.3d 595).

Here, the appeal must be dismissed, as the December 2023 order, insofar as appealed from, was entered upon the petitioner's default (see CPLR 5511;  U.S. Bank N.A. v. Tenenbaum, 228 A.D.3d at 701, 210 N.Y.S.3d 502;  Matter of Kingston V.R. [Victor R.], 216 A.D.3d 1096, 1096, 187 N.Y.S.3d 812).

DUFFY, J.P., WOOTEN, LANDICINO and MCCORMACK, JJ., concur.