IN RE: Danielle WOOD (2018)

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

Petitioner filed a family offense petition alleging that respondent harassed and stalked her.  Following a hearing, Family Court granted the petition and issued a one-year order of protection requiring respondent to stay away from petitioner and her children.  Respondent appeals.¹

Viewing the record in its entirety, we agree with respondent's argument that he was denied meaningful representation (see Matter of Jaikob O. [William O.], 88 A.D.3d 1075, 1077, 931 N.Y.S.2d 156 [2011] ).  Before the hearing, counsel did not engage in any discovery.  At the hearing, counsel did not present an opening or closing statement.  Nor did counsel object when Family Court questioned petitioner – who appeared pro se – and admittedly assisted her in establishing a foundation for two of her three photographic exhibits.  Counsel asked questions of petitioner regarding those exhibits on voir dire, but objected to admission of only one of them, did not request that the court disregard petitioner's handwritten notes on the exhibits, and did not object to the many hearsay statements made by petitioner.  Counsel declined to cross-examine petitioner, at which point the court stated that she had established a prima facie case and did not need to call any further witnesses.  Even though respondent had stated – while not under oath – that one of the photographs was taken when the parties were out together, rather than while petitioner was unaware of his presence, counsel did not call respondent or any other witnesses to testify.  In short, counsel did almost nothing to assist his client.  Because respondent was denied effective assistance (see Matter of Jaikob O. [William O.], 88 A.D.3d at 1077–1078, 931 N.Y.S.2d 156; Matter of Templeton v. Templeton, 74 A.D.3d 1513, 1514 [2010], 902 N.Y.S.2d 234; compare Matter of Hurlburt v. Behr, 70 A.D.3d 1266, 1267–1268, 897 N.Y.S.2d 271 [2010], lv dismissed 15 N.Y.3d 943, 915 N.Y.S.2d 214, 940 N.E.2d 919 [2010] ), we reverse and remit for a new hearing on the petition.

ORDERED that the order is reversed, on the law, without costs, and matter remitted to the Family Court of Broome County for further proceedings not inconsistent with this Court's decision.

FOOTNOTES

1.   Although the order of protection expired by its own terms, this appeal is not moot because that order has continuing legal and reputational consequences for respondent (see Matter of Veronica P. v. Radcliff A., 24 N.Y.3d 668, 671–673, 3 N.Y.S.3d 288, 26 N.E.3d 1143 [2015] ).

McCarthy, J.P.

Egan Jr., Lynch, Mulvey and Rumsey, JJ., concur.