MATTER OF HOUCK v. Garraway

• Decision Date: 04 April 2002
• Parties: In the Matter of DENISE L. HOUCK, Respondent,<BR>v.<BR>ANTHONY M. GARRAWAY, Appellant.
• Court: New York Supreme Court — Appellate Division

293 A.D.2d 782

739 N.Y.S.2d 499

In the Matter of DENISE L. HOUCK, Respondent,

v.ANTHONY M. GARRAWAY, Appellant.

Carpinello, J.

Decided April 4, 2002.

Peters, J.P., Mugglin, Rose and Lahtinen, JJ., concur.

Carpinello, J.

The parties, who are not married, are the parents of one son, now almost three years old. In April 2000, a petition for sole custody and a separate family offense petition requesting an order of protection were filed by petitioner, each containing allegations of domestic violence. Approximately one month later, even though represented by counsel at that time, petitioner wrote a pro se letter to Family Court requesting withdrawal of both petitions and "withdrawal" of a temporary order of protection entered by the court. These requests were denied. At a subsequent June 2, 2000 appearance, the parties agreed that respondent would have flexible visitation with the child, an arrangement approved by the Law Guardian, albeit with some trepidation pending an investigation by the Broome County Department of Social Services (hereinafter Department) pursuant to Family Court Act § 1034. The matter was then adjourned for a September 12, 2000 hearing.

Thereafter, petitioner's attorney was discharged, petitioner proceeded pro se and the Department completed its investigation. In a report issued in early September 2000, the Department advised Family Court that its case was closed since both parents refused voluntary services, "there was insufficient cause to mandate services" and because "no child protective concerns [could] be identified at [that] time." Neither party showed up for the September 12, 2000 hearing, although respondent's counsel and the Law Guardian did appear.^[1] There is no evidence in the record that the Law Guardian had otherwise relevant evidence bearing on the issue of whether joint custody or continued visitation between respondent and the child would be detrimental to the child or not otherwise in his best interest. Two orders were subsequently entered, one on September 21, 2000 granting the parties joint custody with petitioner to have primary physical custody and respondent to have visitation as agreed, and one on September 28, 2000 granting petitioner an order of protection. Respondent filed a notice of appeal from the September 21, 2000 order only.^[2]

We are unpersuaded by respondent's contention that Family Court should have treated petitioner's pro se motion to withdraw as a request for a voluntary discontinuance under CPLR 3217 and that its failure to do so warrants vacatur of the September 21, 2000 order. First, petitioner was represented by counsel at the time the withdrawal motion was made and counsel could have, but did not, make this particular motion on petitioner's behalf. Moreover, it is indeed questionable whether respondent, as a nonmovant who failed to join in said motion, is an aggrieved party who can properly raise this alleged error on appeal (see generally, DeGennaro v Church of St. Apostle, 234 AD2d 168). Finally, and in any event, given the allegations of domestic violence in the petitioning papers, Family Court did not abuse its discretion in denying the pro se relief (see, Matter of Irene D. v Anthony D., 113 Misc 2d 561; see also, People ex rel. Weissman v Weissman, 50 AD2d 989). Nor are we persuaded by respondent's claim that Family Court's decision to continue with the custody proceeding, despite petitioner's motion to withdraw, constituted an unconstitutional interference with his right to raise his child.^[3]

With respect to the Law Guardian's claim on appeal that Family Court erred in rendering the custody order without conducting an evidentiary...