| Matter of Derek J. |
| 2008 NY Slip Op 08737 [56 AD3d 558] |
| November 12, 2008 |
| Appellate Division, Second Department |
| In the Matter of Derek J., a Child Alleged to be Neglected.Administration for Children's Services, Respondent; Dina J., Appellant. (Proceeding No. 1.) Inthe Matter of Devon M., a Child Alleged to be Neglected. Administration for Children's Services,Respondent; Dina J., Appellant. (Proceeding No. 2.) In the Matter of Devoniqaua M., a ChildAlleged to be Neglected. Administration for Children's Services, Respondent; Dina J., Appellant.(Proceeding No. 3.) In the Matter of Devonique M., a Child Alleged to be Neglected.Administration for Children's Services, Respondent; Dina J., Appellant. (Proceeding No.4.) |
—[*1] Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel, New York, N.Y. (Leonard Koerner and PamelaSeider Dolgow of counsel), for respondent. [*2]Catherine S. Bridge, Staten Island, N.Y., for Derek J. Steven Banks, New York, N.Y. (Tamara A. Steckler and Susan Clement of counsel), forDevon M., Devoniqaua M., and Devonique M.
In four related child protective proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 10, themother appeals from so much of an order of fact-finding of the Family Court, Richmond County(McElrath, J.), dated February 1, 2007, as, after a fact-finding hearing, found that she neglectedthe children Devon M. and Devonique M. and derivatively neglected the children Derek J. andDevoniqaua M.
Ordered that the order is affirmed insofar as appealed from, without costs or disbursements.
Contrary to the mother's contention, the Family Court's finding of neglect as to the childrenDevon M. and Devonique M. based on her use of excessive corporal punishment is supported bya preponderance of the evidence (see Family Ct Act § 1012 [f] [i] [B]; §1046 [b] [i]). The out-of-court statements of those children that their mother beat them with awire or belt were sufficiently corroborated by the caseworker's observations of the injuries andthe nurses' reports of the injuries (see Family Ct Act § 1046 [b] [i]; Matter of Joshua B., 28 AD3d 759[2006]; Matter of Joseph O., 28AD3d 562 [2006]; Matter ofSheneika V., 20 AD3d 541 [2005]; Matter of Jonathan W., 17 AD3d 374 [2005]). Furthermore,because the mother's conduct towards Devon M. and Devonique M. demonstrated a fundamentaldefect in her understanding of parental duties relating to the care of children, there was sufficientevidence to make a finding of derivative neglect as to Derek J. and Devoniqaua M. (seeFamily Ct Act § 1046 [a] [i]; see also Matter of Joshua R., 47 AD3d 465 [2008]; Matter of Jasmine A., 18 AD3d546 [2005]; Matter of Christina Maria C., 89 AD2d 855 [1982]). Skelos, J.P., Fisher,Dickerson and Belen, JJ., concur.