Matter of Elijah J. (Yvonda M.)
2013 NY Slip Op 02322 [105 AD3d 449]
April 4, 2013
Appellate Division, First Department
Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.
As corrected through Wednesday, May 29, 2013


In the Matter of Elijah J. and Another, Children Alleged to be Neglected. Yvonda M., Appellant; Administration for Children's Services, Respondent.

[*1] Dora M. Lassinger, East Rockaway, for appellant.

Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel, New York (Diana Lawless of counsel), for respondent.

Tamara A. Steckler, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Patricia Colella of counsel), attorney for the children.

Order of fact-finding, Family Court, Bronx County (Jane Pearl, J.), entered on or about January 18, 2012, which, after a hearing, found that respondent mother had neglected the subject children, unanimously affirmed, without costs. Appeal from orders of disposition, same court and Judge, entered on or about April 9, 2012, unanimously dismissed as abandoned, without costs.

A preponderance of the evidence supports the findings of neglect (see Family Ct Act § 1046 [b] [i]). Family Court properly found that the subject children's physical, mental or emotional condition is in imminent danger of becoming impaired, since the mother left the children, then ages 4 and 15, with their 21-year-old brother for over a week without sufficient food, shelter, or clothing (see Family Ct Act § 1012 [f] [i] [A]; Matter of Lah De W. [Takisha W.], 78 AD3d 523, 523-524 [1st Dept 2010]).

The Family Court also properly found neglect based on the mother's regular misuse of marijuana (see Family Ct Act § 1012 [f] [i] [B]; Matter of Keoni Daquan A. [Brandon W.—April A.], 91 AD3d 414, 415 [1st Dept 2012]). The mother's entry into a drug treatment program after the relevant statutory time period is unavailing (see Matter of Messiah C. [Laverne C.], 95 AD3d 449, 450 [1st Dept 2012]). Under the circumstances, petitioner agency was not required to prove [*2]actual or imminent impairment to the children (see Matter of Keoni, 91 AD3d at 415).

There is no basis to disturb the court's credibility determinations (see Matter of Irene O., 38 NY2d 776, 777 [1975]). Concur—Tom, J.P., Andrias, Saxe, Abdus-Salaam and Gische, JJ.