THE GREY DIVORCE

 
According to Wiki: "Grey divorce is a term referring to the demographic trend of an increasing divorce rate for older ("grey-haired") couples in long-lasting marriages. Former American vice-presidential couple Tipper and Al Gore's decision to separate after over 40 years of marriage is an example of this trend."

Recently many articles are coming out by firms discussing this trend following this months article in Forbes "Gray Divorce: A Financial Double Whammy For Women"s

See  http://www.forbes.com/sites/jefflanders/2016/07/13/gray-divorce-a-financial-double-whammy-for-women/#70b4935b70fc

DAMAGES IN SELF-HELP CASES

Hood v. KOZIEJ, 2016 NY Slip Op 4889 - NY: Appellate Div., 1st Dept. 2016:
 
"As to whether plaintiff is entitled to treble damages under Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law § 853, the statute provides:

"If a person is disseized, ejected, or put out of real property in a forcible or unlawful manner, or, after he has been put out, is held and kept out by force or by putting him in fear of personal violence or by unlawful means, he is entitled to recover treble damages in an action therefor against the wrong-doer."

"RPAPL § 853 and its predecessor. . . were enacted to discourage undue intimidation and violence in the ejection of persons from real property by providing for treble damages under certain circumstances" (Rudolph de Winter and Larry M. Loeb, Practice Commentaries, McKinney's Cons Laws of NY, Book 49½, RPAPL 853). The statute was amended in 1981 to include the references to "unlawful manner" and "unlawful means" (see Lyke v Anderson, 147 AD2d 18, 24 [2d Dept 1989]; see also Mannion v Bayfield Dev. Co., 134 Misc 2d 1060 [Sup Ct, NY County 1987]) and was "intended to remedy such actions as removing the tenant's possessions while he or she is out, or by. . . changing the door lock &Adie; actions beyond the narrow legal definition of force'" (Mayes v UVI Holdings, 280 AD2d 153, 160 [1st Dept 2001], quoting 1981 NY Legis Ann at 256).

In Mayes, this Court, without ultimately reaching the issue, acknowledged that "[t]he [1981] amendment to the statute has resulted in some variation in the criteria applied in assessing treble damages against a wrongdoer" (280 AD2d at 160). Since 1981, courts have framed the issue as whether, under RPAPL 853, an award of treble damages is discretionary or mandatory in cases where the record establishes forcible or unlawful entry into real property. Although this Court has not decided the issue, the Appellate Division, Second Department, and the Supreme Court, New York County, have determined that the legislature intended to leave the question of whether treble damages should be awarded, pursuant to RPAPL 853, to the discretion of the court (Lyke, 147 AD2d at 28; Mannion, 134 Misc 2d at 1064)^[1]. In fact, plaintiff here does not advocate that he is automatically entitled to recovery under RPAPL 853, simply because he prevailed on his wrongful eviction claim, but rather takes the position that the decision to award treble damages is a matter left to the Court's discretion. Therefore, the issue of whether the statute mandates treble damages is not specifically before us and we need not reach it^[2] . In any event, plaintiff should prevail here under either interpretation of the statute.

Plaintiff cites to this Court's decision in Rocke v 1041 Bushwick Ave. Assoc. (169 AD2d 525 [1st Dept 1991]), affirming the trial court's award of treble damages pursuant to RPAPL 853 where the record showed that while the plaintiff was out of her apartment, the building superintendent moved her belongings to the basement and changed her apartment door lock. The record there also contained evidence sufficient to allow a jury to conclude that the building superintendent did this on instructions from the building's manager, who was a friend of the plaintiff's ex-husband, with whom the plaintiff had recently had an argument. Here, defendants did not dispute plaintiff's allegations that after executing a lease extension, which defendants wanted to rescind, he returned home and found defendants in the process of changing the dead bolt lock on his front door, despite the fact that they had not commenced legal proceedings to evict him and did not have permission to enter the apartment. Plaintiff also alleged, and provided an affidavit supporting his claim, that all of his personal effects, clothing, valuable jewelry, electronics and other possessions were removed from the apartment, and his demands for the location and return of his property were refused by defendants for at least a month.

Defendants do not oppose plaintiff's request for treble damages on the merits. Instead, defendants argue that it is premature to reach the issue because there are conflicting facts and a trial is needed. Since we have already found, infra, that plaintiff was properly awarded summary judgment on liability and there has been a hearing on actual damages, the record is sufficiently developed to determine treble damages (cf. Mayes, 280 AD2d at 161 [declining to reach the issue of treble damages where "no damages have been assessed, and the propriety of the imposition of treble damages against any defendant remains to be evaluated upon a full record after trial"]). Accordingly, under the circumstances presented here, we find that the trial court's denial of treble damages under RPAPL 853 was improvident and plaintiff is entitled to treble damages on his damages award of $6,700 (Rocke, 169 AD2d at 525; see also Clinkscale v Sampson, 48 AD3d 730, 731 [2d Dept 2008]; Moran v Orth, 36 AD3d 771, 773 [2d Dept 2007]).

ADHD AND SCHOOLS - KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, has issued guidelines aimed at preventing schools from discriminating against the growing numbers of students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In a letter to school districts and a “know your rights” document, the department said schools must obey existing civil rights law to identify students with the disorder and provide them with accommodations to help them learn.

See http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201607-504-adhd.pdf

FROM TITLE GUARANTEE - NYC LETTERS OF NO OBJECTION

"It is becoming more and more common for purchasers, attorneys, and lenders to require more than just a note stating that a property built prior to 1938 without a Certificate of Occupancy can legally be used as intended. The NYC Department of Buildings typically did not require a certificate of Occupancy before January 1, 1938 to confirm the legal use of the property. In cases where parties in a real estate transaction are worried about the legality of the current usage of the property that was built prior to 1938, the DOB issues a Letter of No Objection (LNO). This is a letter directly from the DOB stating that they have no objection to the current usage of the property and a New Certificate of Occupancy is not required.   Properties built before 1938 in Harlem and Upper Manhattan, as well areas in Brooklyn, have seen a tremendous increase in value over the past ten years. This trend has also increased the need for LNO's issued by the DOB. Because of this, the City has formalized the process; however, it is still rather time consuming and expensive.  The cost to gather all the documents together and submit the request to the city can be close to $1500.00 and take anywhere from 3-6 months to obtain. At TGI, Title Guarantee Inc., we have the experience and the process to help obtain these LNO's in an efficient and timely manner. Here is a sample LNO application form: LNO APPLICATION FORM   WHY LETTERS OF NO OBJECTION ARE IMPORTANT   When investing a million dollars in a property, built prior to 1938, that you believe is a legal three family residential dwelling, it is important to obtain substantial proof that your intended use of the property is legal. A tax classification can give you an idea of how usage of property is viewed by the city but the Department of Finance and the Department of Buildings may not always have their records in order and they may not be able to confirm. Obtaining LNO's from the DOB will give you legal confirmation that your property in question can legally be used as intended.   You might be interested to know you can get obtain a LNO for a property that has an existing Certificate of Occupancy. For example, let's say the property has a Certificate of Occupancy stating the property is a two family dwelling.  Currently it is being used as a one family dwelling.  You can submit for a LNO where the DOB states they do not object to the usage of the property as a one family. It should be noted that if there is any increase in usage to an existing Certificate of Occupancy, such as going from a two family to a three family dwelling, usually requires a submission of plans to the DOB.   For More information on why and how to obtain a LNO, please give us a call.

Sincerely, James D. Gavrity, CEO TGI, Title Guarantee Inc. JGavrity@titleguarantee.com TitleGuarantee.com 212-776-9211

"

CHILD VISITATION - PICKUP/DROP OFF

Bye Bye Love was a 1995 American comedy-drama film that deals with the central issue of divorce and parenting time. If you ever saw the movie, you would have realized that production costs were underwritten by McDonald's product placement as one of the key plots was that the children were always picked up or dropped off at McDonald's.

According to one attorney, this is a great idea and states:

"These days, I see more court orders for McDonald’s to be utilized as a pick-up/drop-off point for children than anywhere else. McDonald’s serves the goal of having a public place that is well-lit at night, and you are less likely to have a confrontation. McDonald’s also has surveillance cameras deployed, and there are always witnesses. Every parent seems to know the locations of every McD’s!"

For the full article, read the blog of Joshua Katz, Esq.: http://katz.recommendedauthors.com/visitation-pick-up-drop-off-locations-no-communication-zones/

WAGE WITHHOLDINGS FOR CHILD SUPPORT

The Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA) limits withholding for child support. The maximum that can be withheld may range from 50–65% of an employee or independent contractor's disposable income for support.

The New York Child Support Online support program provides custodial parents with assistance in obtaining financial support and medical insurance coverage for their children by locating parents, establishing paternity, establishing support orders, and collecting and distributing child support payments.They also have a Withholding Limitations Worksheet for employers when they are served with an Income Withholding For Support Order (IWO).

See https://www.childsupport.ny.gov/dcse/iex_worksheet.html#max

See http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/css/employers/employer-responsibilities/income-withholding

ENFORCING SUPPORT ORDER THROUGH CONTEMPT

Rhodes v. Rhodes, 2016 NY Slip Op 1657 - NY: Appellate Div., 2nd Dept. 2016:

"......

In matrimonial actions, Domestic Relations Law § 245 grants the court authority to punish a party for civil contempt pursuant to Judiciary Law § 756 where the party defaults "in paying any sum of money" required by a judgment or order, "and it appears presumptively, to the satisfaction of the court, that payment cannot be enforced" pursuant to the enforcement mechanisms provided in Domestic Relations Law §§ 243 and 244 and CPLR 5241 and 5242. "A civil contempt motion in a [matrimonial] action should be denied where the movant fails to make a showing pursuant to section 245 that resort to other, less drastic enforcement mechanisms had been exhausted or would be ineffectual'" (El-Dehdan v El-Dehdan, 114 AD3d 4, 23, affd 26 NY3d 19, quoting Capurso v Capurso, 61 AD3d 913, 914; see Wolfe v Wolfe, 71 AD3d 878, 879). Here, the mother did not attempt to utilize any less drastic enforcement mechanism before moving to hold the father in contempt, and failed to demonstrate that resort to a less drastic enforcement mechanism would be ineffectual. Contrary to the mother's contention, the fact that the child care, medical care, and extracurricular activity expenses she sought payment of were not for a sum certain did not prevent her from seeking to fix any arrears due for those expenses and enforcing the father's payment obligations through less drastic means. Under these circumstances, the Supreme Court properly denied those branches of the mother's motion which were to hold the father in civil contempt (see Belkhir v Amrane-Belkhir, 128 AD3d 1382, 1383; Wolfe v Wolfe, 71 AD3d at 879; Capurso v Capurso, 61 AD3d at 914; Rienzi v Rienzi, 23 AD3d 447, 449; Snow v Snow, 209 AD2d 399, 401), and for an award of an attorney's fee (see Cooper v Cooper, 21 AD3d 869, 871)."

ONLINE REVIEWS- THE ASTER DENTAL CASE

From the current ABA Journal:

"Robert Allen Lee desperately needed a dentist.

Dr. Stacy Makhnevich at Aster Dental in New York City was able to squeeze Lee in to treat his toothache. When Lee arrived, the dentist required he sign a "mutual agreement to maintain privacy"—a confidentiality agreement with a nondisparagement clause that waives patients' rights to publicly comment on services and assigns copyright to the provider. Anxious for treatment, Lee signed and slid into the dentist's chair.


Though Lee found relief from his toothache, dealing with his dentist over the bill—which totaled $4,766 for the filling—became a pain. He complained about Makhnevich on Yelp and DoctorBase, another online site, claiming the dentist overcharged him and did not furnish the treatment records that would allow him to make an insurance claim and be reimbursed.
Makhnevich fought back. Armed with the privacy agreement Lee signed, she sent takedown notices to the websites hosting the complaints. She then threatened to sue Lee, sending him invoices of $100 a day for copyright infringement.

Lee returned fire. He filed suit against the dentist in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, aiming to invalidate the copyright claim.

“She charged him a lot of money. It was outrageous,” says Paul Alan Levy, an attorney with the Public Citizen Litigation Group in Washington, D.C., who works on online free speech issues and handled Lee’s case. “What he wrote was true.”

More than four years after treatment, Lee won. The court, in its 2015 ruling, termed the privacy agreement null and void, calling the contract “a deceptive act or practice in violation of New York General Business Law,” which bars deceptive business practices. Lee was awarded $4,766 in damages."

NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

According to one source: "Makhnevich and her practice disappeared after the ruling, and even her own lawyers were unable to contact her." See http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/02/dentist-said-to-hit-patients-will-pay-12k-for-trying-to-out-youtube-critic/

A google search on Dr. Makhnevich reveals that she is a "dentist, artist and opera singer" apparently now in Canada and/or in Europe (see http://www.stacymakhnevich.com)

E PRESCRIPTIONS

New York is the first state to require that all prescriptions be created electronically and to back up that mandate with penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for physicians who fail to comply. Practitioners are mandated to electronically prescribe both controlled and non-controlled substances effective March 27, 2016.

However, there are a number of exceptions in which a practitioner may issue an Official New York State prescription (ONYSRx) form, oral prescription or a fax of an ONYSRx.

See http://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/narcotic/electronic_prescribing/

ON INTRODUCING ELECTRONIC EVIDENCE: WEB PAGES

PAGE VAULT software allows legal professionals to easily capture webpage content (social media, corporate websites, blog posts) in a way that is forensically defensible and legally admissible. With one click, webpages are archived exactly as they appear online, key metadata is automatically stored, and an easy-to-share output file is created. Captures can be immediately downloaded or imported into standard eDiscovery platforms.

Affidavits are also available that attest to the patent-pending architecture that preserves an evidential chain of custody. In addition to software solutions, Page Vault also offers Collection Services to assist law firms with complex webpage and website captures. This service is especially suitable for high-volume capture projects, such as websites containing large numbers of pages.

Note: NYSBA members can save 10% for any month-to-month subscription, and 20% off for any annual subscription.

See https://www.page-vault.com/

WHEN A VEHICLE OWNER DIES

New York is a title state and it is generally assumed that to transfer title of a car belonging to the deceased, letters testamentary or administration are required - a probate of the estate.

But that is not true with respect to all transfers of a deceased vehicle owner. The following is from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles website and applies to vehicles having a value of $25,000 or less:

" For transfers made by the surviving spouse 'According to the Estates, Powers & Trust Law of New York State,' the owner of one vehicle that has a value of $25,000 or less automatically transfers to the surviving spouse. If the surviving spouse wishes to transfer ownership, they must print the decedent’s name in the “Seller’s Name (Print in Full)” section on the back of the Title and sign their name in the “Seller’s Signature” Section followed by the words “as surviving Spouse”.

The ownership of one vehicle that has a value of $25,000 or less transfers to the surviving children under the age of 21 if there is no surviving spouse or the spouse is disqualified. The spouse or the legal guardian of one of the children must sign the title certificate. When the spouse or the guardian signs the title certificate, they must indicate the relationship to the deceased owner. A spouse writes the word "spouse" under the signature. A guardian writes "guardian of", and the name and the relationship of the child to the deceased owner (for example, "Charles Edwards, guardian of John Smith, son").

To transfer ownership of the vehicle to another person, the spouse or guardian must complete an Affidavit for Transfer of Motor Vehicle (MV 349.1). The form must be notarized. The spouse or guardian also gives the new owner a photocopy of the death certificate or certification of death. The DMV accepts a photocopy of the death certificate or certification of death. When the new owner applies for a vehicle registration or a title certificate, they must provide form MV-349.1 and the copy of the death certificate or certification of death."

For more information, see https://dmv.ny.gov/registration/transfer-ownership-and-acceptable-proofs-ownership#Deceased

SERBONIAN BOG AND THE LAW

It's a phrase that means a mess from which there is no way of extricating oneself. It relates  to the lake of Serbonis in Egypt, which by reason of the sand blowing into it had a deceptive appearance of being solid land, but was a bog. It is believed that in the past, whole armies had been lost in the lake.

In law, it is an expression used quite often. According to "Surveying the Serbonian Bog: A Brief History of a Judicial Metaphor Summer, 2004,  28 Tul. Mar. L. J. 519 ny Parker B. Potter, Jr.:


"...the phrase "Serbonian bog" has appeared in no fewer than 222 state and federal cases since 1847.  The phrase has also been put to use by the authors of numerous law review articles......

As for the origins of the allusion, it has been written that "the first court use of Serbonian Bog was attributed to Justice Cardozo"  who wrote that "the attempted distinction between accidental results and accidental means will plunge this branch of the law into a Serbonian Bog."  While Justice Cardozo did not say where he had found the inspiration to refer to the Serbonian bog,  my Westlaw search quickly revealed what Cardozo had not disclosed - the reference comes from .....John Milton's Paradise Lost"

"A gulf profound as that Serbonian bog...
Where armies whole have sunk.

– John Milton, Paradise Lost (Book II, lines 592–594)."

CAR LEASING RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS IN NEW YORK

New York State closely regulates vehicle leasing through the Motor Vehicle Retail Leasing Act, contained in the New York Code on Personal Property, 9-A, Sections 330-353.

For more information, see: http://www.ag.ny.gov/consumer-frauds/motor-vehicle-leasing-rights2

WHEN UNFOUNDED ALLEGATIONS ARE MADE IN CHILD CUSTODY

MATTER OF KORTRIGHT v. BHOORASINGH, 2016 NY Slip Op 1851 - NY: Appellate Div., 2nd Dept. 2016:

"..............

Here, while the subject child, who was seven years old at the time the order of custody was issued, had lived with the mother since birth, the evidence adduced at the hearing established that the mother made repeated and unfounded allegations of sexual abuse against the father. As a result, the child was subjected to numerous examinations by medical, law enforcement, Administration for Children's Services, and mental health personnel, which have had a detrimental impact on the child. These are acts "of interference with the parent-child relationship so inconsistent with the best interests of the child as to raise a strong probability that the mother is unfit to act as custodial parent" (Matter of Fargasch v Alves, 116 AD3d 774, 775; see Matter of Goldfarb v Szabo, 130 AD3d 728, 729; Matter of Honeywell v Honeywell, 39 AD3d 857, 858; Matter of Tyrone G. v Lucretia S., 4 AD3d 205, 205).

There was a sound and substantial basis in the record for the Family Court's determination, upon its consideration of the totality of the circumstances, that the best interests of the subject child would be served by, inter alia, awarding custody to the father."

ON PRO BONO

This morning, I will be a volunteer lawyer with Nassau Suffolk Law Services at Landlord/Tenant court in Hempstead.

This afternoon,I will be volunteering at the Nassau County Bar Association's free clinic for Mortgage Foreclosure, Bankruptcy and Superstorm Sandy issues, from 3pm to 6pm.

For more information, contact Nassau County Bar Association, 15^th and West Streets, Mineola, NY 11501 at (516) 747-4070

PARENT SEEKING VISITATION WHILE INCARCERATED

Matter of Jackson v Wylie-Tunstall 2016 NY Slip Op 01848 Decided on March 16, 2016 Appellate Division, Second Department:

"The mother and father, who were never married, are the parents of a daughter, born on March 21, 2003. The father has been incarcerated since August 2006. In January 2011, the Family Court issued an order awarding sole custody of the child to the mother upon the father's consent. The order did not address visitation or include a provision regarding visitation. In April 2013, the father filed a petition pursuant to Family Court Act article 6 seeking visitation with the child.

The father's initial petition stated that there had been no prior order regarding visitation. In October 2013, after the parties had appeared for several conferences, the father filed an amended petition, in which he alleged that a change in circumstances had occurred since the issuance of the January 2011 custody order. Specifically, the father alleged that he had a lengthy telephone conversation with the child in August 2013, and the child had expressed a desire to have a relationship with him. The father clarified at further court appearances, which he attended via video conference, that he sought supervised telephone visitation and to communicate with the child by letter. The mother opposed the father's amended petition and requested that the court dismiss the proceeding due to the father's failure to adequately plead a change in circumstances. After meeting with the child, the attorney for the child joined in the mother's application to dismiss the father's amended petition, asserting that the child said she did not want a relationship with the father. Without holding a hearing, the Family Court found that the father failed to sufficiently allege a change in circumstances and dismissed the amended petition. The father appeals. We reverse.

The Family Court erred when it utilized a change-in-circumstances analysis in this [*2]case. The father's initial petition stated that he was seeking an initial visitation determination and the record does not reflect that there had ever been a judicial determination, or any court-sanctioned arrangement, with respect to visitation. Since there was no prior visitation order at the time this proceeding was commenced, the court was required to consider the best interests of the child under the totality of the circumstances, without regard to a change in circumstances (see Eschbach v Eschbach, 56 NY2d 167, 174; Matter of Land-Wheatley v Land-Wheatley, 108 AD3d 674; Matter of Burgess v Burgess, 99 AD3d 797, 797; Matter of Gutkaiss v Leahy, 262 AD2d 681, 682; cf. Matter of Coull v Rottman, 131 AD3d 964, 964; Matter of Rambali v Rambali, 102 AD3d 797, 799).

While, generally, a visitation determination should be made after a full evidentiary hearing, a hearing is not necessary where the court possesses adequate relevant information to make an informed and comprehensive assessment of the child's best interests (see Matter of Burgess v Burgess, 99 AD3d at 798; Matter of Johnson v Alaji, 74 AD3d 1202, 1202). Here, there was a lack of adequate relevant information before the Family Court to permit a comprehensive, independent review of the child's best interests. Thus, the court should have conducted a hearing to fully assess the best interests of the child before deciding the father's amended petition (see Matter of Bell v Mays, 127 AD3d 1179, 1180; Matter of Burgess v Burgess, 99 AD3d at 798; Matter of Pettiford-Brown v Brown, 42 AD3d 541, 542). Accordingly, we remit the matter to the Family Court, Suffolk County, for a hearing to determine the best interests of the child and for a new determination of the father's amended petition thereafter.

We express no opinion as to whether visitation is appropriate."

NOTE: AT this point, the child is 13 years old and, as noted in past blogs, a teenager's preference is extremely relevant.

CHILD CUSTODY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

 

Jin C. v Juliana L. 2016 NY Slip Op 02044 Decided on March 23, 2016 Appellate Division, Second Department:


"The plaintiff father and the defendant mother were married in December 2007. They have one child, a daughter, born in July 2008. The father commenced this action for a divorce and ancillary relief in November 2009.

At a hearing on temporary custody, both parties testified as to instances of domestic violence that occurred on August 31, 2009, and November 3, 2009. The Supreme Court found that the father had been the victim of domestic violence. At a subsequent hearing regarding a family offense petition filed by the mother, the court sustained the father's objection to the mother offering more testimony regarding those incidents. The court also granted the father's application to dismiss the mother's family offense petition.
At the custody hearing, the father testified that he had been employed by the Long Island Rail Road for 12 years. He testified that both of his parents are retired, and that they help him raise the child. The mother testified that both of her parents are deceased, and her siblings live in Indonesia and Singapore. The mother admitted to leaving the marital residence with the child on December 7, 2009, and further admitted that she did not contact the father for the next two months to ask if he wanted to see the child.

In the interlocutory judgment appealed from, the Supreme Court awarded full custody of the child to the father. The court granted the mother visitation every other weekend from Friday at 6:00 p.m. until Sunday at 8:00 p.m., and dinner on every Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The mother appeals.

The Appellate Division's authority in child custody cases is as broad as that of the trial court (see Miller v Pipia, 297 AD2d 362, 364). The essential consideration in making an award of custody is the best interests of the child (see Eschbach v Eschbach, 56 NY2d 167, 171). "In making an initial custody determination, the courts must consider the best interests of the child by reviewing such factors as maintaining stability for the child, the child's wishes, the home environment with each parent, each parent's past performance, relative fitness, ability to guide and provide for the child's overall well-being, and the willingness of each parent to foster a relationship with the other parent'" (Matter of Swinson v Brewington, 84 AD3d 1251, 1253, quoting Matter of Anson v Anson, 20 AD3d 603, 604). "Since custody determinations turn in large part on assessments of the credibility, character, temperament and sincerity of the parties, the [trial] [c]ourt's determination should not be disturbed unless it lacks a sound and substantial basis in the record" (Matter of Chery v Richardson, 88 AD3d 788, 788). Moreover, the determination of visitation issues is entrusted to the sound discretion of the trial court, and should not be disturbed on appeal unless it lacks a substantial evidentiary basis in the record (see Matter of Mera v Rodriguez, 73 AD3d 1069; Matter of Thompson v Yu-Thompson, 41 AD3d 487, 488).

Here, the Supreme Court's determination awarding custody to the father, with visitation to the mother, has a sound and substantial basis in the record and will not be disturbed.

The mother's remaining contentions are without merit."

NOTE: The mother left the marital residence with the child - was she, albeit absent proof, also a victim of domestic violence?

SNAP LIMITS

It's the return of the time limits in SNAP for childless adults between the ages of 18 and 49. Beginning January 1, 2016, this group—referred to in SNAP regulations as Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD)—will face a harsh and complicated time limit rule in NYS. The time limit rule requires that people identified as an “ABAWD” be limited to receiving SNAP benefits for three full months in any three year period unless they live in a waived area of the state, qualify for an exemption, or are meeting work requirements.

See http://hungersolutionsny.org/abawd

HOPE YOU HAD AN ENJOYABLE 4th OF JULY

GRANDPARENTS RIGHTS GRANTED AGAINST WISHES OF BOTH PARENTS

Grandparent alienation is real but not every case is black and white. The facts in the following case illustrates a common deterioration of a family. Here, the relationship between the parents and the paternal grandparents deteriorated. Although we do not know the reasons for the dispute, we know that the grandparents had maintained regular contact with the child and his siblings for many years before a dispute between the grandparents and the parents led the children's parents to cease permitting such contact. The other note to point out is that the grandparents here are only seeking visitation rights with the one grandchild - and not with their other grandchildren (one hopes that perhaps the other grandchildren are 18 or over and have made their own decision to visit with the grandparents).


Matter of Fitzpatrick v Fitzpatrick 2016 NY Slip Op 01488 Decided on March 2, 2016 Appellate Division, Second Department:

"The appellants are the parents of the subject child. The petitioners are the paternal grandparents, who sought an order awarding them visitation. The petition was granted over the objection of both appellants, and this appeal followed.

" When a grandparent seeks visitation pursuant to Domestic Relations Law § 72(1), the court must make a two-part inquiry'" (Matter of Moskowitz v Moskowitz, 128 AD3d 1070, 1070, quoting Matter of Brancato v Federico, 118 AD3d 986, 986; see Matter of Gray v Varone, 101 AD3d 1122, 1123). "First, it must find that the grandparent has standing, based on, inter alia, equitable considerations" (Matter of Gray v Varone, 101 AD3d at 1123; see Matter of Moskowitz v Moskowitz, 128 AD3d at 1070; Matter of Brancato v Federico, 118 AD3d at 986). "If it concludes that the grandparent has established standing to petition for visitation, then the court must determine if visitation is in the best interests of the child" (Matter of Gray v Varone, 101 AD3d at 1123; see Matter of E.S. v P.D., 8 NY3d 150, 157; Matter of Moskowitz v Moskowitz, 128 AD3d at 1070).

"In considering whether a grandparent has standing to petition for visitation based upon circumstances show[ing] that conditions exist which equity would see fit to intervene' (Domestic Relations Law § 72[1]), an essential part of the inquiry is the nature and extent of the grandparent-grandchild relationship,' among other factors" (Matter of Lipton v Lipton, 98 AD3d 621, 621, quoting Matter of Emanuel S. v Joseph E., 78 NY2d 178, 182; see Matter of Moskowitz v Moskowitz, 128 AD3d at 1070). The court must also consider " the nature and basis of the parents' objection to visitation'" (Matter of Bender v Cendali, 107 AD3d 981, 982; quoting Matter of Emanuel S. v Joseph E., 78 NY2d at 182; see Matter of Brancato v Federico, 118 AD3d at 986). "In cases where such a [grandparent-grandchild] relationship has been frustrated by a parent, the grandparent must show, inter alia, that he or she has made a sufficient effort to establish [a relationship with the child], so that the court perceives [the matter] as one deserving the court's intervention" (Matter of Brancato v Federico, 118 AD3d at 987 [internal quotation marks omitted]; see Matter of Emanuel S. v Joseph E., 78 NY2d at 182). " The evidence necessary will vary in each [*2]case but what is required of grandparents must always be measured against what they could reasonably have done under the circumstances'" (Matter of Bender v Cendali, 107 AD3d at 982, quoting Matter of Emanuel S. v Joseph E., 78 NY2d at 183; see Matter of Lipton v Lipton, 98 AD3d at 622).
Here, the Family Court providently exercised its discretion in determining that the paternal grandparents had standing to petition for visitation pursuant to the equitable circumstances clause of Domestic Relations Law § 72(1) (see Matter of Quinn v Heffler, 102 AD3d 876, 876; Matter of Gort v Kull, 96 AD3d 842, 843). Through their testimony and the photographic evidence they submitted, the grandparents established that they had maintained regular contact with the subject child and his siblings for many years before a dispute between the grandparents and the parents led the children's parents to cease permitting such contact (see Matter of Gray v Varone, 101 AD3d at 1123; Matter of Gort v Kull, 96 AD3d at 843; Matter of Dubiel v Schaefer, 108 AD3d 1093, 1095; Matter of Agusta v Carousso, 208 AD2d 620, 621).

Standing to petition alone, however, does not ensure that grandparent visitation will be granted. As stated previously, the Family Court must also find that such visitation is in the best interests of the subject child (see Matter of Wilson v McGlinchey, 2 NY3d 375, 380). In making this determination, "courts should not lightly intrude on the family relationship against a fit parent's wishes," as "[t]he presumption that a fit parent's decisions are in the child's best interests is a strong one" (Matter of E.S. v P.D., 8 NY3d at 157). "[W]hile . . . the problems created by parent-grandparent antagonism cannot be ignored, an acrimonious relationship is generally not sufficient cause to deny visitation" (id. at 157; compare Matter of E.S. v P.D., 27 AD3d 757, 758-759, affd 8 NY3d 150, with Matter of Wilson v McGlinchey, 2 NY3d 375, 382 and Matter of Coulter v Barber, 214 AD2d 195, 197).

Applying these principles here, and considering the Family Court's assessment of the credibility of the witnesses (see Matter of Quinn v Heffler, 102 AD3d at 876), the Family Court providently exercised its discretion in determining that it was in the best interests of the subject child to grant the grandparents' petition for visitation (see Matter of Luft v Luft, 123 AD3d 831, 832).

The parents' remaining contentions are either without merit or not properly before this Court.

Accordingly, the Family Court properly granted the grandparents' petition for visitation with the subject child."