In re Ashley M.V.
Opinion of the Court
Order of fact-finding, Family Court, New York County (Douglas E. Hoffman, J.), entered on or about July 22, 2010, which, inter alia, after a hearing, found that respondent father had sexually abused his daughter Ashley M.V and derivatively abused his sons Victor V and Isaiah V, unanimously affirmed, without costs. Appeal from order of disposition, same court and Judge, entered on or about October 27, 2010, which placed Ashley M.V in the custody of the Commissioner of Social Services until the completion of the next permanency hearing, unanimously dismissed, without costs, as moot.
The testimony of respondent’s daughter at the fact-finding
Petitioner’s establishment of its prima facie case resulted in the burden shifting to respondent to explain his conduct and rebut the evidence of his culpability. However, upon his failure to testify, the court properly drew a negative inference against him (see Matter of Nicole H., 12 AD3d 182, 183 [1st Dept 2004]).
The determination that respondent, by sexually abusing his daughter, derivatively abused his two sons was supported by a preponderance of the evidence. Respondent’s actions showed a fundamental defect in understanding his parental obligations (see Matter of Marino S., 100 NY2d 361, 374-375 [2003], cert denied 540 US 1059 [2003]).
Respondent advances no argument with respect to his daughter’s placement on appeal and in any event, the dispositional order from which he appeals has expired (see Matter of Kaila A. [Reginald A.—Lovely A.], 95 AD3d 421 [1st Dept 2012]). Concur—Sweeny, J.P, Saxe, Moskowitz, Gische and Clark, JJ.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.