Matter of Alexander L. (Andrea L.)

Matter of Matter of Alexander L. (Andrea L.) 2012 NY Slip Op 07062 Decided on October 23, 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 23, 2012
Tom, J.P., Andrias, Saxe, DeGrasse, Manzanet-Daniels, JJ.
8345

[*1]8344-In re Alexander L., A Child Under the Age of Eighteen Years, etc.,

and

Andrea L., Respondent-Appellant, Commissioner of Social Services of the City of New York, Petitioner-Respondent.




Dora M. Lassinger, East Rockaway, for appellant.
Michael A. Cardozo, Corporation Counsel, New York (Sharyn
Rootenberg of counsel), for respondent.
Tamara A. Steckler, The Legal Aid Society, New York (Claire
V. Merkine of counsel), attorney for the child.

Order of disposition, Family Court, New York County (Jody Adams, J.), entered on or about November 16, 2011, which, upon a fact-finding determination that respondent mother neglected the subject child, placed the child in the custody of the Commissioner of Social Services of the City of New York until the date of the next permanency hearing, unanimously affirmed, without costs.

The finding of neglect based on respondent's failure to provide adequate shelter is supported by a preponderance of the evidence and is, by itself, sufficient to support the finding of neglect (see Matter of Tia B., 257 AD2d 366 [1st Dept 1999]). The record establishes that although respondent was repeatedly advised that her unstable living situation was the cause of her son's progressively deteriorating mental condition, she remained with the child in the New York City homeless shelter system for nearly five years and unreasonably refused suitable permanent housing options.

Respondent's well documented alcohol abuse as well as her erratic and often violent behavior toward her son and others, is an independent basis for a finding of impairment, and a risk thereof, to the child's mental, emotional, and physical well being (see FCA § 1012[f][i][B]; Matter of Jared S. [Monet S.], 78 AD3d 536 [1st Dept 2010], lv denied 16 NY3d 705 [2011]). In addition, respondent's abrupt termination of her son's weekly psychotherapy sessions after more than three years, with no available replacement, particularly at a time when his emotional state was fragile, placed him in imminent risk of emotional
impairment (see Matter of Perry S. v Cynthia S., 22 AD3d 234, 235 [1st Dept 2005]; In re LeVonn G., 20 AD3d 530, 530-31 [2nd Dept 2005]). [*2]

THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER
OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.

ENTERED: OCTOBER 23, 2012

CLERK