Matter of Aniya C. (Michelle C.)

Matter of Matter of Aniya C. (Michelle C.) 2012 NY Slip Op 06740 Decided on October 9, 2012 Appellate Division, First Department Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431. This opinion is uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the Official Reports.

Decided on October 9, 2012
Tom, J.P., Mazzarelli, Catterson, Renwick, DeGrasse, JJ.
8224

[*1]8222- In re Aniya C., 8223- A Dependent Child under Eighteen Years of Age, etc.,

and

Michelle C., Respondent-Appellant. Administration for Children's Services, Petitioner-Respondent,




Steven N. Feinman, White Plains, for appellant.
Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel, New York (Dona B.
Morris of counsel), for respondent.
Tamara A. Steckler, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Judith
Stern of counsel), attorney for the child.

Order, Family Court, New York County (Rhoda J. Cohen, J.) entered on or about April 4, 2011, which, after a fact-finding hearing, found that appellant had neglected the subject child by using excessive corporal punishment, unanimously affirmed, without costs.

The finding of neglect is supported by a preponderance of the evidence (Family Ct Act § 1046 [b][i]) showing that appellant inflicted excessive corporal punishment (Family Ct Act § 1012 [f][i][B]), by beating her daughter with a belt that left bruises and marks on her neck, arms and legs (see Matter of Alysha M., 24 AD3d 255 [1st Dept 2005], lv denied 6 NY3d 709 [2006]). Contrary to appellant's contention, petitioner was not required to demonstrate that the child suffered a "significant injury" (see Matter of Jonathan F., 294 AD2d 121 [1st Dept 2002]).

The out-of-court testimony of the child to the ACS caseworker was corroborated by the caseworker's observation of the child's injuries, the photographs depicting the child's injuries, and the child's medical records related to the subject incident, which contained signed diagrams chronicling the location and/or size of the marks and bruises that were visible on the child's body approximately three days after the incident (see Matter of Jazmyn R. [Luceita F.], 67 AD3d 495 [1st Dept 2009]; Matter of Fred Darryl B., 41 AD3d 276 [1st Dept 2007]; Matter of Maria Raquel L., 36 AD3d 425 [1st Dept 2007]).

No basis exists to disturb the court's credibility determinations (see generally Matter of Irene O., 38 NY2d 776, 777-778 [1975]).

THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER
OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT. [*2]

ENTERED: OCTOBER 9, 2012

CLERK