Attorney Deanna L. Siegel's Legal Cases

Appeals

Matter of Stephen C

Apr 05, 2007

OUTCOME: The Court denied the father's Art. 78 Application

Father appealed through an Article 78 proceeding, the decision of the ALJ denying his application to have his indicated hotline report unfounded. The Court sustained the ALJ's decision. The court fo ... und that the evidence established that two caseworkers had arrived at the home of the Father to investiggate a report of children left alone. Upon their arrival they testified that they found the two children, ages six and five, alone in the unlocked house. The caseworkers testified that they had parked in the driveway, rung the doorbell,and had spoken with the children through a closed window. The workers further testified that they were at the home for 30 minutes before the father noticed them. The Court found that the record contained sufficient evidence to support the determination of the ALJ.

Child abuse

Matter of Tanajhia "A"

May 03, 2001

OUTCOME: The Court overturned the decision to return child.

The Court ruled that the Department had established that the burns sustained by the one year old child was not an injury that ordinarily occur absent an act or omission of the parent. Once this was e ... stablished the burden shifted to the Respondent to explain the injuries. Here the Respondent failed to testify or to provide sufficent explanation for the injury. The Court found that the Department had met its burden to establish that the children were in imminent danger and the Court continued the children in foster care pending the completition of the fact finding hearing.

Adoption

Matter of the Adoption of Sergio "LL"

Feb 24, 2000

OUTCOME: The Court sustained the lower Court's ruling

The lower Court dispensed with the biological father's consent to adoption. The father had been incarcerated since September 1988 and his earliest date for parole would be Septmber 2003. The Court fo ... und that the father had had no contact with the child for at least six years, had received no information about the child for two years and that he had failed to take any steps to maintain a relationship with the child.

Adoption

Matter of Micah "HH"

May 13, 1999

OUTCOME: The Court sustained the lower Court's finding.

Child was born in 1993, shortly thereafter he was placed in the custody of the foster parents. In 1997 the foster parents filed for adoption of the child. In the course of the adoption proceedings th ... e Court directed that the alleged biological father be put on notice of the adoption proceeding. The alleged father appeared at the return date and the court scheduled a hearing to determine his status. In the hearing the alleged father and the mother testified that they were involved in a relationship at the time of conception, that they were not married, and that the alleged father failed to provide any support for the child although he believed the child to be his son. The alleged father admitted that the DSS caseworker advised him at the hospital what steps he needed to take to establish paternity and the mother testified to a further time when the DSS caseworker advised the alleged father what he needed to do to establish paternity. The Appellate Court found that the alleged father's acts were insufficent to satisfy the requirements of Domestic Relations Law Section 111 and affirmed the lower court order ruling that the alleged father's consent was needed for the adoption.

Child abuse

Matter of Veronica "T"

Nov 13, 1997

OUTCOME: The Court sustained the lower court ruling.

The Court ruled that the evidence supported the lower Court ruling that the Department had made diligent efforts to encourage and strengthen the parental relationship. The Court further found that the ... mother failed to plan for her child by her failure to follow the treatment recommendations of mental health providers. The Court therefore found that the Respondent's conduct demonstrated her failure to plan for the child.

Child abuse

The Matter of Edward "QQ"

Oct 09, 1997

OUTCOME: Appeal dismissed

The Court ruled that the mother's default could not be appealed that her remedy was a motion to vacate default and possible appeal therefrom.

Child abuse

The Matter of Jessee "DD"

Jan 25, 1996

OUTCOME: The Court sustained the lower court ruling.

The Court found that the evidence of the Respondent's mental illness and her failure to follow the treatment recommendations for her illness constituted a clear threat to the welfare of the children an ... d could be considered neglect.

Child abuse

Matter of Christopher "O"

Jan 26, 1995

OUTCOME: Court sustained most of the lower Court's ruling

The Court found that the determination that the father had abused 3 of his daughter's was sufficient to sustain a finding as to the fourth daughter. The Court did find that the proof was insufficient ... to sustain a finding of abuse in regard to his sons, but did support a finding of neglect relative to the boys. The Court remanded the case for further proceedings regarding the terms of the protective order on the boys.

Child abuse

Matter of Tami "G"

Nov 23, 1994

OUTCOME: Court sustained lower court's ruling of neglect

The appellate court found that the Respondent's act of engaging in violent behavior with his wife in the presence of the children, resulting in the seven year old child's intervention on behalf of her ... mother was sufficent to sustain a finding of neglect. The Court further ruled that there was no need for a showing of actual injuries.

Child abuse

In the Matter of Anthony "T"

Oct 13, 1994

OUTCOME: Court sustained lower court decision.

The proceeding was a abandonement proceeding against the mother of the children. The mother's explanation for her failure to communicate with her children was due to the fact that she was a fugitive, ... having left her halfway house, and that she believed if she communicated with her children or the Department of Social Services that she would be located by the US Marshalls and apprehended. The court did not accept this explanation. The court found that the parent had failed to communicate with her children and that it was in their best interest to be freed for adoption.

Deanna L. Siegel's Legal Cases (15)

Matter of Stephen C

Matter of Tanajhia "A"

Matter of the Adoption of Sergio "LL"

Matter of Micah "HH"

Matter of Veronica "T"

The Matter of Edward "QQ"

The Matter of Jessee "DD"

Matter of Christopher "O"

Matter of Tami "G"

In the Matter of Anthony "T"