Appellate Division: Second Judicial Department

M254508

E/mm

ALAN D. SCHEINKMAN, P.C.

WILLIAM A. MASTRO

REINALDO E. RIVERA

MARK C. DILLON

RUTH C. BALKIN, JJ.

2018-09254 In the Matter of Lia G. (Anonymous). Suffolk County Department of Social Services, petitioner-respondent; Benjamin R. (Anonymous), respondent-appellant, et al., respondent. (Proceeding No. 1) In the Matter of Mia G. (Anonymous). Suffolk County Department of Social Services, petitioner-respondent; Benjamin R. (Anonymous), respondent-appellant, et al., respondent. (Proceeding No. 2) (Docket Nos. N-16889-17, N-16891-17, N-16892-17, N-16890-17)

ORDER ON CERTIFICATION Assignment of Counsel

Appeal by Benjamin R. from an order of the Family Court, Suffolk County, dated July 12, 2018. Pursuant to Family Court Act §§ 1118 and 1120, and upon the certification of Annemarie Grattan, Esq., dated August 21, 2018, it is

ORDERED that the respondent-appellant is granted leave to proceed as a poor person on the appeal, and the following named attorney is assigned as counsel to prosecute the appeal:

Heather Fig

Bayport Professional Centre

982 Montauk Highway, Suite 6

Bayport, NY 11705

631-419-6111

and it is further,

ORDERED that assigned counsel shall promptly attempt to contact the respondent-appellant at the address provided by this Court, and on or before September 12, 2018, shall notify the Case Manager assigned to the appeal, in writing, that she has done so and that either

(1) the respondent-appellant is interested in prosecuting the appeal, or

(2) the respondent-appellant is not interested in prosecuting the appeal, or that she has been unable to contact the respondent-appellant, and wishes to be relieved of the assignment; and it is further,

ORDERED that the appeal will be heard on the original papers (including a certified transcript of the proceedings, if any) and on the briefs of the respondent-appellant, the respondent, and the attorney for the children, if any. The parties are directed to file nine copies of their respective briefs and to serve one copy on each other (22 NYCRR 670.9[d][1][ii]; Family Ct Act § 1116); and it is further,

ORDERED that the stenographer(s) and/or the transcription service(s) is/are required promptly to make and certify two transcripts of the proceedings, if any, except for those minutes previously transcribed and certified (22 NYCRR 671.9); in the case of stenographers, both transcripts shall be filed with the clerk of the Family Court, and the clerk of the Family Court shall furnish one of such certified transcripts to the respondent-appellant's assigned counsel, without charge; in the case of transcription services, one transcript shall be filed with the clerk of the Family Court and one transcript shall be delivered to the assigned counsel. Assigned counsel is directed to provide copies of said transcripts to all of the other parties to the appeal, including the attorney for the children, if any, when counsel serves the respondent-appellant's brief upon those parties; and it is further,

ORDERED that the assigned counsel shall prosecute the appeal expeditiously in accordance with any scheduling order or orders issued pursuant to § 670.4(a) of the rules of this Court (22 NYCRR 670.4[a]); and it is further,

ORDERED that upon a determination that the respondent-appellant is interested in proceeding with the appeal, the assigned counsel is directed to serve a copy of this order upon the clerk of the court from which the appeal is taken.

SCHEINKMAN, P.J., MASTRO, RIVERA, DILLON and BALKIN, JJ., concur.

ENTER:

Aprilanne Agostino

Clerk of the Court

The Case Manager assigned to this case is Ms. Vazquez. Please contact her at 718-722-6488 with any questions.