Morgan v. Grzesik

287 A.D.2d 150, 732 N.Y.S.2d 773, 2001 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 10780
CourtAppellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
DecidedNovember 9, 2001
StatusPublished
Cited by22 cases

This text of 287 A.D.2d 150 (Morgan v. Grzesik) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Morgan v. Grzesik, 287 A.D.2d 150, 732 N.Y.S.2d 773, 2001 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 10780 (N.Y. Ct. App. 2001).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE.COURT

WlSNER, J.

Family Court granted petitioner visitation with her grandchildren pursuant to Domestic Relations Law § 72 despite the opposition of respondent parents. On this appeal, we are asked to determine the constitutionality of Domestic Relations Law § 72 in light of the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Troxel v Granville (530 US 57). Troxel held that, under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution, there is a presumption that a fit parent’s determination regarding visitation is in the best interests of the child and that, if that decision becomes subject to judicial review, “the court must accord at least some special weight to the parent’s own determination” (supra, 530 US, at 70 [plurality opn]). Contrary to respondents’ contentions, we conclude that Troxel does not call into question the facial validity of Domestic Relations Law § 72 and that the application of Domestic Relations Law § 72 to this case does not violate respondents’ rights under the Due Process Clause.

[152]*152I

Petitioner is the maternal grandmother of respondents’ five children. The children reside with respondents and are all under the age of 11. Petitioner’s close relationship with the children is undisputed. The relationship between petitioner and respondents, however, began deteriorating in the summer of 1999, and in October 1999 petitioner reported respondent father twice for child abuse. In the first of those reports, petitioner told child protective services that the father had beaten the two oldest children with a belt before putting them on the school bus. Petitioner then followed up that report by contacting a school social worker and neighbors to alert them of the situation. She also reported to the State Police that the father had threatened her on the telephone. Angered by petitioner’s actions, respondents refused to allow petitioner any further contact with the children. Petitioner then commenced this proceeding seeking visitation pursuant to Domestic Relations Law § 72.

At the hearing on the petition, petitioner testified that she made the child abuse reports because she was concerned about the children’s safety. Petitioner failed to call any witnesses from child protective services, however, and failed to establish the basis for the child abuse reports. Although respondents denied the accusations, they admitted that the children were physically punished and that the report concerning the school bus incident was investigated by child protective services and determined to be “indicated.” Respondents opposed visitation because they feared what petitioner would say to the children about respondents. The Law Guardian recommended that petitioner have visitation with the children.

After an unsuccessful attempt to mediate a settlement, the court rendered its decision. The court first determined that petitioner has standing to seek visitation with her grandchildren, based on the existence of equitable circumstances. In making that determination, the court considered factors that included petitioner’s close relationship with the children and the nature and basis of respondents’ opposition to visitation. The court found that respondents’ opposition was rooted in issues personal to the parties and not based upon concerns for the welfare of the children while the children are in petitioner’s care. The court further found that, although petitioner has expressed negative feelings about respondents to others in the past, one of the two child abuse reports was indicated.

After determining that petitioner has standing to seek visitation, the court determined that such visitation is in the best [153]*153interests of the children. The court established a visitation schedule and ordered the parties not to make disparaging remarks about each other in the children’s presence.

II

Domestic Relations Law § 72 provides in relevant part: “Where either or both of the parents of a minor child, residing within this state, is or are deceased, or where circumstances show that conditions exist which equity would see fit to intervene, a grandparent or the grandparents of such child may apply * * * to the family court * * * and * * * the court, by order, after due notice to the parent or any other person or party having the care, custody, and control of such child * * * may make such directions as the best interest of the child may require, for visitation rights for such grandparent or grandparents in respect to such child.” Respondents contend that, in light of Troxel (530 US 57, supra), the statute is unconstitutional on its face. We disagree.

In Troxel, paternal grandparents petitioned for visitation with their grandchildren under a statute permitting “any person [to] petition the court for visitation rights at any time” and authorizing visitation rights whenever “visitation may serve the best interest of the child” (Wash Rev Code § 26.10.160 [3]). The Superior Court of the State of Washington awarded more visitation than the mother had permitted voluntarily, and the mother appealed. The Court of Appeals of the State of Washington reversed and dismissed the petition (87 Wash App 131, 940 P2d 698). The Supreme Court of the State of Washington affirmed (137 Wash 2d 1, 969 P2d 21), holding that the statute unconstitutionally infringes on the fundamental right of parents under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to rear their children. Although the United States Supreme Court affirmed, only Justice Souter in a concurring opinion agreed with the Supreme Court of the State of Washington that the statute was unconstitutional on its face. In Justice Souter’s view, the Washington statute “sweeps too broadly” in authorizing “any person at any time to request (and a judge to award) visitation rights, subject only to the State’s particular best-interests standard” (supra, 530 US, at 76-77). In the plurality opinion joined in by Chief Justice Rehnquist and Justices Breyer and Ginsburg, Justice O’Connor found the statute unconstitutional as applied (supra, 530 US, at 67) and wrote that, “[b]ecause much state-court adjudication in this context occurs on a case-by-case basis, we would be hes[154]*154itant to hold that specific nonparental visitation statutes violate the Due Process Clause as a per se matter” (supra, 530 US, at 73). Justice Thomas, concurring in the judgment, agreed with Justice O’Connor that the statute was unconstitutional as applied, albeit for a different reason (supra, 530 US, at 80).

Domestic Relations Law § 72 is more narrowly drawn than the Washington statute. In contrast to the Washington statute, Domestic Relations Law § 72 is limited to grandparents. Additionally, the standing of grandparents is not automatic unless either or both of the parents of the grandchild have died. “In all other circumstances, grandparents will have standing only if they can establish circumstances in which equity would see fit to intervene” (Matter of Emanuel S. v Joseph E., 78 NY2d 178, 181). In deciding that threshold question, the court is required to examine all the relevant facts, including “the nature and basis of the parents’ objection to visitation” and “the nature and extent of the grandparent-grandchild relationship” (Matter of Emanuel S. v Joseph E., supra, at 182). We thus determine that Domestic Relations Law § 72 is not unconstitutional on its face.

Ill

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Bluebook (online)
287 A.D.2d 150, 732 N.Y.S.2d 773, 2001 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 10780, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/morgan-v-grzesik-nyappdiv-2001.