IN RE: Andrew B. (Anonymous).  Suffolk County Department of Social Services (2010)

Argued-May 3, 2010

DECISION & ORDER

Robert D. Gallo, Sayville, N.Y., attorney for the children.

In two related neglect proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 10, the mother appeals (1) from an order of the Family Court, Suffolk County (Quinn, J.), dated May 22, 2009, and (2), as limited by her brief, from stated portions of an order of fact-finding and disposition of the same court, also dated May 22, 2009, which, upon a decision of the same court dated April 8, 2009, made after a hearing, inter alia, found that she neglected her daughter Jasmine B. and derivatively neglected her son Andrew B.

ORDERED that the appeal from the first order dated May 22, 2009, is dismissed, as abandoned, without costs or disbursements;  and it is further,

ORDERED that the order of fact-finding and disposition is affirmed insofar as appealed from, without costs or disbursements.

We decline to review the mother's contention that the findings of neglect due to her mental condition were precluded by res judicata and collateral estoppel based upon a previous finding by the Supreme Court, Suffolk County, after a hearing pursuant to Mental Hygiene Law § 9.39, that her continued hospitalization was not required, as the mother failed to perfect a prior appeal from the Family Court's order denying her motion to dismiss the petitions upon those grounds (see Bray v. Cox, 38 N.Y.2d 350).

The Family Court's assessment of the credibility of witnesses is entitled to considerable deference unless clearly unsupported by the record (see Matter of Irene O., 38 N.Y.2d 776;  Matter of Aminat O., 20 AD3d 480).   The Family Court's finding that the mother's mental condition caused impairment, or an imminent danger of impairment, to the physical, mental, or emotional condition of her daughter, Jasmine, was supported by a preponderance of the evidence (see Family Ct Act § 1012[f][i], 1046[b][i];  Matter of Ifeiye O., 53 AD3d 501;  Matter of Caress S., 250 A.D.2d 490;  Matter of Nassau County Dept. of Social Servs. v Diane B., 231 A.D.2d 523;  Matter of Child Welfare Admin. v Jennifer A., 218 A.D.2d 694;  Matter of Baby Boy E., 187 A.D.2d 512).   Jasmine's testimony was not incredible.   Further, the evidence supported the derivative finding of neglect as to Andrew (see Family Ct Act § 1046[a] [i];  Matter of Amber C., 38 AD3d 538).

FISHER, J.P., DICKERSON, ENG and BELEN, JJ., concur.

ENTER:

James Edward Pelzer

Clerk of the Court