| Matter of Orlando G. |
| 2014 NY Slip Op 00353 [113 AD3d 766] |
| January 22, 2014 |
| Appellate Division, Second Department |
| Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431. |
| In the Matter of Orlando G., a Person Alleged to be a Juvenile Delinquent, Appellant. |
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Jeffrey D. Friedlander, Acting Corporation Counsel, New York, N.Y. (Kristin M.
Helmers and Michael J. Pastor of counsel), for respondent.
In a juvenile delinquency proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 3, Orlando G. appeals from an order of disposition of the Family Court, Queens County (Lubow, J.), dated November 28, 2012, which, upon an order of fact-finding of the same court dated October 24, 2012, made after a hearing, finding that he committed acts which, if committed by an adult, would have constituted the crime of obstruction of governmental administration in the second degree, adjudged him to be a juvenile delinquent, and placed him in the custody of the New York City Administration for Children's Services for a period of 12 months. The appeal from the order of disposition brings up for review the order of fact-finding dated October 24, 2012.
Ordered that the appeal from so much of the order of disposition as placed the appellant in the custody of the New York City Administration for Children's Services for a period of 12 months is dismissed as academic, without costs or disbursements; and it is further,
Ordered that the order of disposition is affirmed insofar as reviewed, without costs or disbursements.
The appeal from so much of the order of disposition as placed the appellant in the custody of the New York City Administration for Children's Services for a period of 12 months has been rendered academic, as the period of placement has expired (see Matter of Stanley F., 76 AD3d 1067, 1068 [2010]).
Contrary to the appellant's contention, he was not deprived of a speedy fact-finding hearing, as required by Family Court Act § 340.1 (1). The Family Court providently exercised its discretion in finding "good cause" to justify the initial adjournment of the fact-finding hearing (Family Ct Act § 340.1 [4] [a]; see Matter of Randy K., 77 NY2d 398, 400 [1991]; Matter of Jamell H., 219 AD2d 531 [1995]). Although it is unpreserved for appellate review, we reach, in the interest of justice, the appellant's challenge to the Family Court's second adjournment of the fact-finding hearing, which was for one day (cf. CPL 470.05 [2]; 470.15 [1], [6] [a]). Contrary to the appellant's contention, special circumstances existed to warrant the Family Court's second adjournment of the fact-finding [*2]hearing (see Family Ct Act § 340.1 [6]; Matter of Jamel C., 302 AD2d 457, 458 [2003]; cf. Matter of Nakia L., 81 NY2d 898, 901 [1993]; Matter of Frank C., 70 NY2d 408, 414-415 [1987]; Matter of Paul W., 96 AD3d 426, 427 [2012]). These circumstances included the failure of the appellant's mother to appear in court, a fact of which the Family Court was not timely notified, the resulting need to appoint a guardian ad litem for the appellant, and the guardian ad litem's scheduling conflicts that prevented him from being present for a fact-finding hearing on the first adjourned date. Rivera, J.P., Leventhal, Hall and Roman, JJ., concur.