Matter of Albert Francis B.
2009 NY Slip Op 07403 [66 AD3d 769]
October 13, 2009
Appellate Division, Second Department
As corrected through Wednesday, December 9, 2009


In the Matter of Albert Francis B., an Infant. Westchester CountyDepartment of Social Services, Respondent; Melissa N., Appellant, et al.,Respondent.

[*1]George E. Reed, Jr., White Plains, N.Y., for appellant.

Charlene M. Indelicato, County Attorney, White Plains, N.Y. (Stacey Dolgin-Kmetz andJustin R. Adin of counsel), for petitioner-respondent.

Lisa F. Colin, White Plains, N.Y., attorney for the child.

In a child protective proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 10, the mother appeals,as limited by her brief, from so much of an order of fact-finding and disposition of the FamilyCourt, Westchester County (Davidson, J.), entered April 28, 2008, as, after a hearing, found thatshe had neglected her newborn son.

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

The appeal from the portion of the order of fact-finding and disposition which, after ahearing, found that the mother neglected her newborn son, was not rendered academic by reasonof the mother's subsequent execution of a surrender of the child for adoption, since thatadjudication constitutes a permanent and significant stigma which might indirectly affect themother's status in future proceedings (see generally Matter of Ifeiye O., 53 AD3d 501, 502 [2008]; Matter of Daqwuan G., 29 AD3d694 [2006]).

Contrary to the mother's contentions, the Family Court's finding of neglect based upon themother's history of mental illness, which impaired her ability to safely care for the subject child,and her failure to exercise a minimum degree of care in supplying the child with adequate food,clothing, and shelter, was supported by a preponderance of the evidence (see Family CtAct § 1012 [f] [i]; see also Matterof Ifeiye O., 53 AD3d 501 [2008]; Matter of Krewsean S., 273 AD2d 393[2000]).

The mother's remaining contentions are without merit. Mastro, J.P., Santucci, Chambers andLott, JJ., concur.


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