Matter of Nasir Levon L. (Ashley Bernadette B.)

Matter of Nasir Levon L. (Ashley Bernadette B.) 2013 NY Slip Op 06939 Decided on October 24, 2013 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 24, 2013
Andrias, J.P., Friedman, Acosta, DeGrasse, Freedman, JJ.
10848

[*1]In re Nasir Levon L., A Dependent Child Under the Age of Eighteen Years, etc.,

and

Ashley Bernadette B., Respondent-Appellant, Jewish Child Care Association of New York, Petitioner-Respondent.




Tennille M. Tatum-Evans, New York, for appellant.
Law Offices of James M. Abramson, PLLC, New York (Dawn
M. Orsatti of counsel), for respondent.
Tamara A. Steckler, The Legal Aid Society, New York (John A.
Newbery of counsel), attorney for the child.

Order, Family Court, New York County (Clark V. Richardson, J.), entered on or about September 27, 2011, which denied respondent mother's motion to vacate orders of fact finding and disposition, same court and Judge, entered on or about August 1, 2011, determining that she permanently neglected the subject child, terminating her parental rights, and committing the custody and guardianship of the child to petitioner agency and the Commissioner of Social Services for the purpose of adoption, unanimously affirmed, without costs.

Respondent failed to demonstrate a reasonable excuse for her default and a meritorious defense to the petition (see CPLR 5015 [a][1]; Matter of Tyieyanna L. [Twanya McK.], 94 AD3d 494 [1st Dept 2012]). Her delay in obtaining a mental health treatment discharge report until the day she had to appear in court, and alleged public transportation difficulties on that same day, do not establish a reasonable excuse for the failure to appear, especially as respondent does not claim that she was unfamiliar with the public transportation system or had not previously used it to travel to Family Court (see Matter of Christian E., 66 AD3d 433 [1st Dept 2009]; Matter of Male H., 179 AD2d 384 [1st Dept 1992], lv dismissed in part and denied in part 79 NY2d 1026 [1992]).

There is no evidence that respondent completed the mental health treatment program called for in her service plan within the relevant one-year period so as to demonstrate a meritorious defense to the allegations of permanent neglect. The program discharge summary submitted by respondent states that she was
inconsistent and noncompliant with treatment, had no interest in treatment, and terminated treatment of her own accord (see Matter of Tyieyanna L., 94 AD3d at 494).

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

ENTERED: OCTOBER 24, 2013

CLERK