In re Lemar H.
Cases that cite this one
17 later published cases cite this decision.
- Matter of Tereza R. (Jose A.) (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2021)
- Matter of Jensli C. (Orlenis C.) (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2020)
- Matter of Zahyre A. (Faye A.) (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2018)
- Matter of Lea C. (Akil F.) (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2018)
- Matter of Michael L. (MacThaddeus L.) (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2018)
- Matter of Brilliance B. (Sydell B.) (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2015)
- Matter of Victoria P. (Victor P.) (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2014)
- In re Phillips N. (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2013)
- In re Phillips N. (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2013)
- In re Salvatore M. (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2013)
- In re Salvatore M. (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2013)
- In re Natasha M. (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2012)
- In re Eric Z. (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2012)
- In re Eric Z. (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2012)
- In re Carlena B. (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2009)
- In re Gordon Lee R. (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2008)
- In re Amy B. (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York 2007)
This list shows which later cases cite this one. It does not say how they treated it, and no review of that has been done. Not a substitute for Shepard’s or KeyCite — verify before relying.
Opinion of the Court
In two related child protective proceedings pursuant to Family Court Act article 10, Ervin H. appeals from (1) a fact-finding order of the Family Court, Queens County (Richroath, J.), dated June 30, 2004, which, after a fact-finding hearing, found that he neglected the child Lemar H. and derivatively neglected the child Kemmar H., and (2) an order of disposition of the same
Ordered that the appeal from the fact-finding order is dismissed, without costs or disbursements, as that order was superseded by the order of disposition; and it is further,
Ordered that the order of disposition is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
The Family Court’s finding that the appellant, the children’s paternal grandfather, neglected Lemar H. based on the use of excessive corporal punishment is supported by a preponderance of the evidence. Contrary to the appellant’s contention, the evidence presented by the petitioner established that the appellant struck Lemar not merely once, but on numerous occasions (see Matter of Sheneika V., 20 AD3d 541 [2005]; Matter of Anthony C., 201 AD2d 342 [1994]). Moreover, Lemar’s out-of-court statements that the appellant hit him “a lot” were sufficiently corroborated by the testimony of a New York City Police Detective and a case worker who interviewed him, as well as by photographs of scars, and other marks on his body and his hospital records (see Matter of Dareth O., 304 AD2d 667 [2003]; Matter of Commissioner of Social Servs. v Lorenzo M., 239 AD2d 498 [1997]; Matter of Commissioner of Social Servs. of City of N.Y. v Evelyn R., 217 AD2d 697 [1995]).
The Family Court properly found that the child Kemmar H. was derivatively neglected (see Matter of John N., 19 AD3d 497 [2005]; Matter of Christina Maria C., 89 AD2d 855 [1982]).
“The paramount concern in a dispositional hearing is the best interests of the child” (Matter of Commissioner of Social Servs. of City of N.Y. v Leona W., 192 AD2d 602, 603 [1993]; see Matter of Stephanie Jane S., 303 AD2d 412 [2003]). The factors to be considered in making the determination include the parent or caretaker’s “capacity to properly supervise the child, based on current information” and “the potential threat of future abuse and neglect” (Matter of Commissioner of Social Servs. of City of N.Y. v Leona W., supra at 603-604). The Family Court’s determination “is entitled to great deference, since it had the advantage of viewing the witnesses and assessing their character and credibility” (Matter of Dominique W., 9 AD3d 368, 369 [2004]).
A review of the record indicates that, despite the appellant’s successful completion of Family Court ordered parenting skills and anger management classes and the evidence of his efforts to arrange a suitable living situation for the children, it is in the
Case-law data current through September 30, 2026. Source: CourtListener bulk data.