Brault v. Smugorzewski

68 A.D.3d 1819, 890 N.Y.2d 866

Opinion

Memorandum: Petitioner, the child’s paternal grandmother, commenced this proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act article 6 seeking custody of her grandson. Respondent mother appeals from an order that, inter alia, awarded custody of the child to the grandmother. We reject the mother’s sole contention on appeal that the Referee erred in determining that there were extraordinary circumstances, thus warranting a hearing to determine whether the best interests of the child would be served by an award of custody to a nonparent. Contrary to the contention of the mother, “there was sufficient evidence before the [Referee] to support [the] finding of extraordinary circumstances, including evidence of her chronic mental illness, unstable living situation, and a failure on her part to address the special needs of the subject child” (Matter of Donohue v Donohue, 44 AD3d 1042, 1043 [2007]; see Matter of Katherine D. v Lawrence D., 32 AD3d 1350, 1351 [2006], lv denied 7 NY3d 717 [2006]; cf. Matter of Gale v Gray, 39 AD3d 903 [2007]). Present — Smith, J.P, Fahey, Garni and Green, JJ.