| Matter of Dennis K.A. |
| 2008 NY Slip Op 07544 [55 AD3d 1422] |
| October 3, 2008 |
| Appellate Division, Fourth Department |
| Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant
to Judiciary Law § 431. |
| As corrected through Wednesday, December 10, 2008 |
| In the Matter of Dennis K.A., III, and Another, Infants. Wyoming County
Department of Social Services, Respondent; Dennis A., Jr., Appellant. |
—[*1]The case is held, the decision is reserved, the motion to
relieve counsel of assignment is granted, and new counsel is to be assigned. Memorandum: Respondent
appeals from an order that terminated his parental rights upon a finding that he had abandoned the
subject children (see Social Services Law § 384-b [4] [b]). Respondent's assigned
appellate counsel has moved to be relieved of the assignment, and has submitted an affidavit in which
she concludes that there are no nonfrivolous issues meriting this Court's consideration (see Matter
of Jordan S., 179 AD2d 1091 [1992]). Because the petitions allege only that the children were
permanently neglected (see Social Services Law § 384-b [4] [d]), we conclude that a
nonfrivolous issue exists as to whether Family Court's determination violated father's right to due
process. Therefore, we relieve counsel of her assignment and assign new counsel to brief this issue, as
well as any other issues that counsel's review of the record may disclose. (Appeal from Order of Family
Court, Wyoming County, Michael F. Griffith, J.—Terminate Parental Rights.)
Present—Scudder, P.J., Hurlbutt, Martoche, Smith and Lunn, JJ.