In re Mary Alice V. Angel Guardian Home
Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York; September 27, 1999; New York; State Appellate Court
The father appeals two orders from the Family Court in Queens County, both dated May 5, 1997, which terminated his parental rights to his daughters, Mary Alice V. and Malinda V., due to abandonment and permanent neglect. The court transferred custody and guardianship of the children to the petitioner and the Commissioner of Social Services for adoption purposes. The mother also appeals the same orders, but her appeals are dismissed due to failure to timely perfect them as per court rules. The court affirms the orders regarding the father's appeal, noting that the petitioner provided clear and convincing evidence of the father’s abandonment and permanent neglect. Specifically, the father admitted to not having contact with the children or the petitioner for six months before the petition was filed, and he ignored multiple efforts by the petitioner to promote a parental relationship without justification. The court concludes that the termination of the father's parental rights was appropriate, and the father's remaining arguments are deemed without merit. Justices Altman, Krausman, Miller, and Schmidt concur with the decision.