Opinion
03-31-2017
In the Matter of BABY B.W., also known as Raleak H. Oneida County Department of Social Services, Petitioner–Respondent; Tracy B.H., Respondent–Appellant.
Peter J. Digiorgio, Jr., Utica, for Respondent–Appellant. Denise J. Morgan, Utica, for Petitioner–Respondent. John G. Koslosky, Attorney for the Child, Utica.
Peter J. Digiorgio, Jr., Utica, for Respondent–Appellant.
Denise J. Morgan, Utica, for Petitioner–Respondent.John G. Koslosky, Attorney for the Child, Utica.
PRESENT: CENTRA, J.P., PERADOTTO, DeJOSEPH, CURRAN, AND SCUDDER, JJ.
MEMORANDUM:Respondent father appeals from an order adjudicating his child to be neglected based upon the father's illegal drug use simultaneously with the mother's illegal drug use during the pregnancy. Contrary to the father's contention, petitioner met its burden of establishing by a preponderance of the evidence that the child was neglected (see generally Family Ct. Act § 1046[b][i] ). "It is well established that ‘a finding of neglect may be appropriate even when a child has not been actually impaired, in order to protect that child and prevent impairment’ " (matter of lavountae a., 57 a.d.3d 1382, 1382, 870 N.Y.S.2D 676, affd. 12 N.Y.3d 832, 880 N.Y.S.2d 914, 908 N.E.2d 904 ; see Matter of Serenity P. [Shameka P.], 74 A.D.3d 1855, 1855–1856, 902 N.Y.S.2d 741 ), and that "[a] single incident where the parent's judgment was strongly impaired and the child exposed to a risk of substantial harm can sustain a finding of neglect" (Serenity P., 74 A.D.3d at 1856, 902 N.Y.S.2d 741 [internal quotation marks omitted] ). Here, the child was born with a positive toxicology for crack cocaine and marihuana and, based upon the testimony adduced at the hearing, Family Court properly found that the father's drug use simultaneously with the mother's use contributed to the mother's use of illegal drugs, which was harmful to the child. The positive toxicology, together with the father's substance abuse history, his failure to submit to drug screening as requested, and his mental health issues, for which he fails to take his prescribed medication and fails to attend mental health appointments, supports the finding of neglect on the ground that the child was placed in imminent danger (see Matter of Nassau County Dept. of Social Servs. v. Denise J., 87 N.Y.2d 73, 79, 637 N.Y.S.2d 666, 661 N.E.2d 138 ). To the extent that the positive toxicology may not have been the basis for the court's finding of neglect, we conclude that we are not precluded from affirming the order based in part on that finding inasmuch as "the authority of this Court to review the facts is as broad as that of Family Court" (Matter of David R., 39 A.D.3d 1187, 1188, 834 N.Y.S.2d 796 ; see Matter of Anthony L. [Lisa P.], 144 A.D.3d 1690, 1692, 41 N.Y.S.3d 641, lv. denied 28 N.Y.3d 914, 2017 WL 581722). Contrary to the father's further contention, the court was entitled to draw " ‘the strongest inference [against him] that the opposing evidence permits' based on [his] failure to testify at the fact-finding hearing" (Serenity P., 74 A.D.3d at 1855, 902 N.Y.S.2d 741 ; see Denise J., 87 N.Y.2d at 79, 637 N.Y.S.2d 666, 661 N.E.2d 138 ; Lavountae A., 57 A.D.3d at 1382, 870 N.Y.S.2d 676 ).
It is hereby ORDERED that the order so appealed from is unanimously affirmed without costs.