Appellate Division: Second Judicial Department

M310781

KL/

HECTOR D. LASALLE, P.J.

MARK C. DILLON

COLLEEN D. DUFFY

BETSY BARROS

FRANCESCA E. CONNOLLY, JJ.

2025-15314, 2025-15316, 2025-15317 In the Matter of Keisha Pernell, respondent, v Maurice Bertrand, appellant. (Docket Nos. V-1804-2019/2023I, V-2747-2019/2023I)

ORDER ON CERTIFICATION Assignment of Counsel

Appeals by Maurice Bertrand from three orders of the Family Court, Richmond County, dated December 12, 2025, and October 30, 2025 (two orders), respectively. Pursuant to Family Court Act §§ 1118 and 1120, and upon the certification of Nicholas Murgolo, dated December 16, 2025, it is

ORDERED that the appellant is granted waiver of costs, fees, and expenses on the appeal, and the following named attorney is assigned as counsel to prosecute the appeals:

Paul W. Matthews

50 Garretson Lane

Staten Island, NY 10304

347-461-0760

and it is further,

ORDERED that assigned counsel shall promptly attempt to contact the appellant at the address provided by this Court, and on or before February 11, 2026, shall notify the Case Manager assigned to the appeal, in writing, that he has done so and that either

(1) the appellant is interested in prosecuting the appeals, or

(2) the appellant is not interested in prosecuting the appeals, or that he has been unable to contact the appellant, and wishes to be relieved of the assignment;

and it is further,

ORDERED that the appeals will be heard on the original papers (including a certified transcript of the proceedings, if any) and on the briefs of the parties, who are directed to upload, through the digital portal on this Court's website, digital copies of their respective briefs, with proof of service of one hard copy on each other, or, if self-represented and unable to upload a digital copy, to file one original copy with the Clerk of this Court, with proof of service of one hard copy on each other (22 NYCRR 670.9[a], 1250.5[e][1], 1250.9[e]; 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 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 appeals, including the attorney for the child, if any, when counsel serves the appellant's brief upon those parties; and it is further,

ORDERED that the assigned counsel shall prosecute the appeals expeditiously in accordance with any scheduling order or orders issued pursuant to § 670.3(b) of the rules of this Court (22 NYCRR 670.3[b]); and it is further,

ORDERED that upon a determination that the 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 appeals are taken.

LASALLE, P.J., DILLON, DUFFY, BARROS and CONNOLLY, JJ., concur.

ENTER:

Darrell M. Joseph

Clerk of the Court

The Case Manager assigned to this case is Ms. Landaverde. Please contact her at [email protected] or 718-722-6487 with any questions.