Matter of Abigail G. (Barrington G.)
2011 NY Slip Op 04465 [84 AD3d 1235]
May 24, 2011
Appellate Division, Second Department
As corrected through Wednesday, July 6, 2011


In the Matter of Abigail G., Suffolk County Department of SocialServices, Respondent; Barrington G., Appellant. (Proceeding No. 1.) In the Matter of Kahi G.Suffolk County Department of Social Services, Respondent; Barrington G., Appellant.(Proceeding No. 2.)

[*1]Donna England, Centereach, N.Y., for appellant.

Christine Malafi, County Attorney, Central Islip, N.Y. (Steven B. Nacht of counsel), forrespondent.

Robert C. Mitchell, Central Islip, N.Y. (John B. Belmonte of counsel), Attorney for theChildren.

In two related child protective proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 10, the fatherappeals from an order of the Family Court, Suffolk County (Budd, J.), dated July 16, 2010,which, after a fact-finding hearing, determined that he neglected the child Kahi G. andderivatively neglected the child Abigail G.

Ordered that the order is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.

The Family Court's finding that the father neglected the child Kahi G. by using excessivecorporal punishment was supported by a preponderance of the evidence (see Family CtAct § 1012 [f] [i] [B]; see also Matter of Maria Raquel L., 36 AD3d 425 [2007];Matter of Joshua B., 28 AD3d 759 [2006]; Matter of Joseph O., 28 AD3d 562[2006]; Matter of Alysha M., 24 AD3d 255 [2005]; Matter of Sheneika V., 20AD3d 541 [2005]; Matter of Jonathan W., 17 AD3d 374 [2005]; Matter of JohannahQQ., 266 AD2d 769 [1999]; Matter of Suffolk County Dept. of Social Servs. v NicoleS., 266 AD2d 556 [1999]). Furthermore, the father's excessive corporal punishment of KahiG. demonstrated a fundamental defect in the father's understanding of his parental duties and,therefore, constituted derivative neglect as to Abigail G. (see Family Ct Act § 1046[a] [i]; see also Matter of Jasmine A., 18 AD3d 546, 547 [2005]). Skelos, J.P., Dickerson,Hall and Sgroi, JJ., concur.


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