Appellate Division: Second Judicial Department

M311673

KL/

HECTOR D. LASALLE, P.J.

MARK C. DILLON

COLLEEN D. DUFFY

BETSY BARROS

FRANCESCA E. CONNOLLY, JJ.

2025-15519, 2025-15522 In the Matter of Harold D. Ezzell, petitioner-respondent-appellant, v Gabriella N. Garrett, respondent- appellant-respondent. (Appeal No. 1) In the Matter of Harold D. Ezzell, petitioner-respondent, v Gabriella N. Garrett, respondent- appellant. (Appeal No. 2) (Docket No. V-10163-2020/2024F)

ORDER ON CERTIFICATION Assignment of Counsel

Appeals by Gabriella N. Garrett from a final order and an order of the Family Court, Kings County, both dated December 16, 2025, and cross-appeal by Harold D. Ezzell from the final order dated December 16, 2025. Pursuant to Family Court Act §§ 1118 and 1120, and upon the certification of Meredith Ann Yates, dated January 14, 2026, it is

ORDERED that the respondent-appellant Harold D. Ezzell is granted waiver of costs, fees, and expenses on the cross-appeal, and the following named attorney is assigned as counsel to prosecute the cross-appeal:

Catherine S. Bridge

1110 South Ave., Ste. 402

Staten Island, NY 10314

718-448-9600

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 March 27, 2026, shall notify the Case Manager assigned to the appeal, in writing, that he has done so and that either

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

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

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

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

ENTER:

Darrell M. Joseph

Clerk of the Court