General
In the Matter of Za'Niya D. Suffolk County Department of Social Services, Respondent; Kenneth R., Appellant
133 A.D.3d 65718 N.Y.S.3d 882·New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division·2015·NY
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Opinion
In the Matter of Za’Niya D. Suffolk County Department of Social Services, Respondent; Kenneth R., Appellant.
[18 NYS3d 882]
[MAJORITY]
Appeal from an order of fact-finding and disposition of the Family Court, Suffolk County (Theresa Whelan, J.), dated August 21, 2014. The order, insofar as appealed from, after a fact-finding hearing, determined that the father neglected the subject child, Za’Niya D.
Ordered that order of fact-finding and disposition is affirmed insofar as appealed from, without costs or disbursements.
A single incident of excessive corporal punishment is sufficient to sustain a finding of neglect (see Matter of Yanni D. [Hope J.], 95 AD3d 1313 [2012]; Matter of James S. [Kathleen S.], 88 AD3d 1006 [2011]; Matter of Alexander J.S. [David S.], 72 AD3d 829 [2010]; Matter of Rachel H., 60 AD3d 1060 [2009]). Here, the Family Court’s findings that the father neglected the subject child Za’Niya D. by subjecting her to excessive corporal punishment is supported by a preponderance of the evidence (see Family Ct Act § 1012 [i] [i] [B]; Matter of Dylan G. [Victor M.], 119 AD3d 786 [2014]; Matter of Nurridin B. [Louis J.], 116 AD3d 770 [2014]; Matter of Yanni D. [Hope J.], 95 AD3d 1313 [2012]; Matter of James S. [Kathleen S.], 88 AD3d 1006 [2011]; Matter of Padmine M. [Sandra M.], 84 AD3d 806 [2011]). Dillon, J.P., Sgroi, Cohen and LaSalle, JJ., concur.