CUSTODY AND VISITATION Selected Statues and Cases Introduction to Effective Representation of Children April 28, 2021 Assembled by: Michele A. Brown, Esq. Chief Attorney for Children Children’s Legal Center 438 Main St., Suite 200 Buffalo, NY 14202 (716) 332-0990 FAX (716) 332-0997 [email protected] PART 1 Be a Lawyer CPLR Section 3217................................................................................ 1 Starla D. v Jeremy E., 121 AD3d 1221 (3rd Dept 2014)......................... 2 Brown v Heubusch, 124 AD3d 1396 (4th Dept 2015)............................. 5 Matter of Brian S., 141 AD3d 1145 (4th Dept 2016)............................... 6 PART 2 Custody: Basic / Modification DRL Section 70....................................................................................... 11 DRL Section 240..................................................................................... 12 FCA Section 651 to 652.......................................................................... 36 Eschbach v Eschbach, 56 NY2d 167 (1982)........................................... 40 Friederwitzer v Friederwitzer, 55 NY2d 89 (1982)................................... 45 Nehra v Uhlar, 43 NY2d 242 (1977)................................................... ..... 50 Joint v Sole Custody Braiman v Braiman, 44 NY2d 584 (1978)................................................ 57 Wideman v Wideman, 38 AD3d 1318 (4th Dept 2007)............................ 63 Fiorelli v Fiorelli, 34 AD3d 1216 (4th Dept 2006)..................................... 65 Scott M. v Ilona M., 38 Misc3d 1216 (Sup Ct Kings Co 2013)................. 66 Fuentes v Board of Education, 12 NY3d 309 (2009)............................... 75 Fermon v Fermon, 135 AD3d 1045 (3rd Dept 2016)............................... 79 Relocation Tropea v Tropea, 87 NY2d 727 (1996).................................................... 83 Forrestel v Forrestel, 125 AD3d 1299 (4th Dept 2015)............................ 93 Access (Visitation) Katz v Katz, 97 AD2d 398 (2nd Dept 1983)............................................. 95 Culver v Culver, 82 AD3d 1296 (3rd Dept 2011)..................................... 96 James W. v Theresa D., 71 AD3d 556 (1st Dept 2010).......................... 101 Jacobs v Chadwick, 67 AD3d 1373 (4th Dept 2009)............................... 102 Matter of Granger v Misercola, 21 NY3d 86 (2013)................................. 103 Coull v Rottman, 131 AD3d 964 (2nd Dept 2015)................................... 108 Siblings Cook v Cook, 142 AD3d 530 (2nd Dept 2016)........................................ 110 Domestic Violence Wissink v Wissink, 301 AD2d 36 (2nd Dept 2002).................................. 114 Scialdo v Kernan, 301 AD2d 884 (3rd Dept 2003).................................. 118 PART 3 3rd Party Non-parent Custody DRL Section 72....................................................................................... 120 Bennett v Jeffreys, 40 NY2d 543 (1976)................................................. 121 Guinta v Doxtator, 20 AD3d 47 (4th Dept 2005)..................................... 129 Suarez v Williams, 26 NY3d 440 (2015)................................................. 135 Stent v Schwartz, 133 AD3d 1302 (4th Dept 2015)................................ 144 (See also FCA Section 651 above) 3rd Party Non-parent Access (Visitation) DRL 71................................................................................................... 147 Alison D. v Virginia M., 77 NY2d 651 (1991).......................................... 148 In the Matter of E.S. v P.D., 8 NY3d 150 (2007).................................... 155 Brooke S.B. v Elizabeth A.C.C., 28 NY3d 1 (2016)................................ 162 Paternity FCA Section 511.................................................................................... 181 FCA Section 516-a................................................................................. 182 Shondel J. v Mark D., 7 NY3d 320 (2006).............................................. 184 Juanita A. v Kenneth Mark N., 15 NY3d 1 (2010).................................. 194 Elizabeth S. v Julio J., 20 NY3d 995 (2013)........................................... 198 Christopher YY v Jessica ZZ and Nichole ZZ, 159 AD3d 18 (3rd Dept 2018)...................................................................................... 200 Child Support Saunders v Aiello, 59 AD3d 1090 (4th Dept 2009)................................. 212 Garcia v Barie, 59 AD3d 1090 (4th Dept 2009)...................................... 214 Haggerty v Haggerty, 169 AD3d 1388 (4th Dept 2019).......................... 215 Child Support - Non-parent H.M. v E.T., 14 NY3d 521 (2010)............................................................ 217 PART 4 Peculiar Attorney for the Child / Access Issues Appointments FCA Section 241..................................................................................... 225 FCA Section 249..................................................................................... 226 Preference for Re-appointment Kristi L.T. v Andrew R.V., 48 AD3d 1202 (4th Dept 2008)...................... 228 In Camera Hearings FCA Section 664..................................................................................... 231 Lincoln v Lincoln, 24 NY2d 270 (1969)................................................... 232 Matter of Justin C.C., 77 AD3d 207 (3rd Dept 2010).............................. 235 Spencer v Spencer, 85 AD3d 1244 (3rd Dept 2011).............................. 239 Jessica B. v Robert B., 104 AD3d 1077 (3rd Dept 2013)....................... 241 T.E.G. v G.T.G., 44 Misc3d 449 (Sup Ct Monroe Co 2014)................... 243 Hearsay FCA Section 1046.................................................................................. 248 Mateo v Tuttle, 26 AD3d 731 (4th Dept 2006)........................................ 250 Disclosure / Civil Practice Campolongo v Campolongo, 2 AD3d 476 (2nd Dept 2003)................... 251 Substitution of Judgment Krieger v Krieger, 65 AD3d 1350 (2nd Dept 2009)................................. 253 Hilgenberg v Hertel, 100 AD3d 1432 (4th Dept 2012)............................ 255 Lopez v Lugo, 115 AD3d 1237 (4th Dept 2014)..................................... 257 Viscuso v Viscuso, 129 AD3d 1679 (4th Dept 2015).............................. 259 Settlements Cruciata v Cruciata, 10 AD3d 349 (2nd Dept 2004)............................... 262 Figueroa v Lopez, 48 AD3d 906 (3rd Dept 2008)................................... 264 McDermott v Bale, 94 AD3d 1542 (4th Dept 2012)................................ 266 Kessler v Fancher, 112 AD3d 1323 (4th Dept 2013).............................. 268 Report Cobb v Cobb, 4 AD3d 747 (4th Dept 2004)............................................ 270 Amy L.W. v Brendan K.H., 37 AD3d 1060 (4th Dept 2007).................... 271 Neglect FCA Sections 1032 and 1033................................................................. 272 James M.M. v June O.O., 294 AD2d 630 (3rd Dept 2002)..................... 274 Appeals Baxter v Borden, 122 AD3d 1419 (4th Dept 2014)................................. 276 Lawrence v Lawrence, 151 AD3d 1879 (4th Dept 2017)......................... 278 Rule 3217. Voluntary discontinuance, NY CPLR Rule 3217 McKinney's Consolidated Laws of New York Annotated Civil Practice Law and Rules (Refs & Annos) Chapter Eight. Of the Consolidated Laws Article 32. Accelerated Judgment (Refs & Annos) McKinney's CPLR Rule 3217 Rule 3217. Voluntary discontinuance Effective: January 1, 2012 Currentness (a) Without an order. Any party asserting a claim may discontinue it without an order 1. by serving upon all parties to the action a notice of discontinuance at any time before a responsive pleading is served or, if no responsive pleading is required, within twenty days after service of the pleading asserting the claim and filing the notice with proof of service with the clerk of the court; or 2. by filing with the clerk of the court before the case has been submitted to the court or jury a stipulation in writing signed by the attorneys of record for all parties, provided that no party is an infant, incompetent person for whom a committee has been appointed or conservatee and no person not a party has an interest in the subject matter of the action; or 3. by filing with the clerk of the court before the case has been submitted to the court or jury a certificate or notice of discontinuance stating that any parcel of land which is the subject matter of the action is to be excluded pursuant to title three of article eleven of the real property tax law. (b) By order of court. Except as provided in subdivision (a), an action shall not be discontinued by a party asserting a claim except upon order of the court and upon terms and conditions, as the court deems proper. After the cause has been submitted to the court or jury to determine the facts the court may not order an action discontinued except upon the stipulation of all parties appearing in the action. (c) Effect of discontinuance. Unless otherwise stated in the notice, stipulation or order of discontinuance, the discontinuance is without prejudice, except that a discontinuance by means of notice operates as an adjudication on the merits if the party has once before discontinued by any method an action based on or including the same cause of action in a court of any state or the United States. (d) All notices, stipulations, or certificates pursuant to this rule shall be filed with the county clerk by the defendant. Credits