Matter of Pascal W. v. Carlos M.-J.

<div>Matter of Pascal W. v Carlos M.-J. - 2026 NY Slip Op 02384

<div> skip to main content </div>

<div> <p>It appears you are using Adblock. Please disable Adblock to best experience our website.</p> </div>

<div> <header> <div> <img src="/reporter/images/nys-logo-white.svg" alt=""> </div> <div> <span title="Law Reporting Bureau Home Page">Law Reporting <br>Bureau <span></span></span> <span>Thomas J.K. Smith, State Reporter</span> <nav> Court Decisions Resources About </nav> </div> <div> <img src="/reporter/images/lrb-seal.png" alt=""> </div> </header> </div>

<nav> <ol> <li>Home</li> <li>All Court Decisions</li> <li>Decisions</li> </ol> </nav> <div> <div> <h1>Matter of Pascal W. v Carlos M.-J.</h1> <p>2026 NY Slip Op 02384</p> <p>April 21, 2026</p> <p>Appellate Division, First Department</p> <p>Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.</p> <p>This decision is uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the Official Reports.</p> </div> <div> <p>In the Matter of Pascal W., Respondent,</p> <p>v</p> <p>Carlos M.-J., Appellant.</p> </div> <p>Decided and Entered: April 21, 2026</p> <p>Docket No. O-05047/22|Appeal No. 6413|Case No. 2025-02470|</p> <p>Before: Renwick, P.J., Friedman, Gesmer, Pitt-Burke, Hagler, JJ. </p> <div> <p>Law Office of Lewis S. Calderon, Jamaica (Lewis Calderon of counsel), for appellant.</p> </div> <span>[*1]</span> <p>Order, Family Court, New York County (Jacob K. Maeroff, Ref.), entered on or about April 8, 2025, which, after a fact-finding hearing, determined that respondent committed a family offense act that would constitute harassment in the second degree, suspended judgment for six months, and issued an order of protection to be in effect during the six-month period, unanimously affirmed, without costs.</p> <p>The expiration of the order of protection by its own terms did not render this appeal moot, as the order finding that respondent committed a family offense can "prompt severely deleterious future legal rulings against" him (<i>Matter of Veronica P. v Radcliff A.,</i> 24 NY3d 668, 671-672 [2015]).</p> <p>Nevertheless, a fair preponderance of the evidence supports the finding that respondent committed a family offense by performing an act that constitutes second-degree harassment by intentionally bumping into petitioner for no legitimate purpose (Family Court Act § 812; Penal Law § 240.26[1]; <i>see Matter of</i> <i>Edward B. v Elizabeth T.,</i> 156 AD3d 423, 424 [1st Dept 2017]). Petitioner's witness testified that as the parties passed each other on the sidewalk, respondent moved towards petitioner, bumped into him, and "kind of shove[d] him . . . to the left." The court's credibility determination that respondent was less credible than petitioner and the witness is entitled to great deference and there is no basis to disturb it (<i>see</i> <i>Matter of R.H. v M.C.H</i>., 239 AD3d 577, 578 [1st Dept 2025]).</p> <p>Family Court providently exercised its discretion in issuing a six-month order of protection upon finding that respondent committed a family offense (Family Court Act § 842[a]; <i>see Matter of Miriam M. v Warren M.</i>, 51 AD3d 581, 582 [1st Dept 2008]).</p> <p>We have considered respondent's remaining contentions and find them unavailing.</p> <p>THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.</p> <p>ENTERED: April 21, 2026</p> </div>

<div> <footer> <div> <p>Court Decisions</p> All Court Decisions Official Reports Service Bound Volumes Decision Search </div> <div> <p>Resources</p> RSS Feeds Style Manual Citation Tools Opinion Formatting &amp; Privacy Guidelines Opinion Selection Criteria Legal Research Portal Site Index </div> <div> <p>About</p> About the Law Reporting Bureau About our Operations Contact Us Twitter </div> <div> <p>Quick Contact Info</p> <p>17 Lodge Street</p> <p>Albany, NY 12207</p> <p>Phone: (518) 453-6900</p> </div> </footer> </div> <div> <p>Links to or from other sites do not signify endorsement or relationship with them.</p> </div>

</div>