In the Matter of Paolo W.

• Decision Date: 20 November 2008
• Docket Number: 502651.
• Citation: 867 N.Y.S.2d 753,56 A.D.3d 966,2008 NY Slip Op 09124
• Parties: In the Matter of PAOLO W. and Another, Children Alleged to be Neglected. SCHENECTADY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, Appellant; PAUL W., Respondent.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

56 A.D.3d 966

867 N.Y.S.2d 753

2008 NY Slip Op 09124

In the Matter of PAOLO W. and Another, Children Alleged to be Neglected. SCHENECTADY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, Appellant; PAUL W., Respondent.

502651.

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Third Department.

November 20, 2008.

Appeal from an order of the Family Court of Schenectady County (Taub, J.H.O.), entered May 7, 2007, which dismissed petitioner's application, in a proceeding pursuant to Family Ct Act article 10, to adjudicate the subject children to be neglected.

MERCURE, J.P.

In July 2006, petitioner received two hotline telephone calls reporting that respondent and his wife were abusing heroin while caring for their two children (born in 1998 and 2004). Following an investigation and respondent's failure to comply with drug screens, as well as his dismissal from a recommended drug treatment program for noncompliance, petitioner commenced this proceeding, alleging that respondent neglected the children. A fact-finding hearing was held, during which respondent and two senior caseworkers testified, and Family Court thereafter dismissed the petition. Petitioner appeals, and we now reverse.

Family Ct Act § 1012 (f) (i) (B) defines a "[n]eglected child" as one whose "physical, mental or emotional condition has been impaired or is in imminent danger of becoming impaired" because of a parent's failure "to exercise a minimum degree of care . . . by misusing a drug." In addition, Family Ct Act § 1046 (a) (iii) provides that severe parental drug use is prima facie evidence of parental culpability (see Matter of William T., 185 AD2d 413, 414 [1992]; see also Matter of Philip M., 82 NY2d 238, 246 [1993]; Matter of Ashley RR., 30 AD3d 699, 700 [2006]). In particular, that section states that "proof that a [parent] repeatedly misuses a drug . . . to the extent that it has or would ordinarily have the effect of producing in the user thereof a substantial state of stupor, unconsciousness, intoxication, hallucination, disorientation, or incompetence, or a substantial impairment of judgment, or a substantial manifestation of irrationality, shall be prima facie evidence" of neglect except when the parent "is voluntarily and regularly participating in a recognized rehabilitative program" (Family Ct Act § 1046 [a] [iii] [emphasis added]; see Matter of Amber DD., 26 AD3d 689, 690 [2006]; see also Besharov, Practice Commentaries, McKinney's Cons Laws of NY, Book 29A, Family Ct Act § 1012, at 351-352). In other words, "[t]he presumption contained in Family [Ct] Act § 1046 (a) (iii) operates to eliminate a requirement of specific parental conduct vis-à-vis the child and neither actual impairment nor specific risk of impairment need be established" (Matter of Stefanel Tyesha C., 157 AD2d 322, 328 [1990], appeal dismissed 76 NY2d 983 [1990]; Matter of William T., 185 AD2d at 414).

Here, caseworkers testified that respondent was actively using heroin, and respondent admitted both to using between two and six bags of heroin per day and that his withdrawals were so bad that he could not function. He further admitted that he was dismissed from a drug treatment program for noncompliance. Thus, as Family Court concluded, petitioner established a prima facie case and the presumption of neglect applied. The court then found, however, that the presumption was rebutted by the testimony of petitioner's witnesses indicating that "the children were never in danger and were...