Brooklyn

Published on: June 11, 2016

Court Decides if it is Appropriate to Remove Child from Non-Kinship Care

by Stephen Bilkis

A New York Family Lawyer said the question presented by the instant case is whether the evidence adduced on NYCCS’s direct case at the combined Family Court Act § 1027 hearing, for the child DD, and Family Court Act § 1028 hearing, for the children JJ and BB, establishes imminent risk sufficient to warrant the children remaining in non-kinship foster care during the pendency of these proceedings. In the Court’s view, that question must be answered in the negative since any possible risk to the children from the father can be mitigated by the issuance of a temporary order of protection and an order that the mother re-enter a domestic violence shelter and resume domestic violence counseling, as well as her participation in other recommended services.

This proceeding was initially commenced on June 3, 2010, when NYCCS filed petitions against respondent mother and respondent father pursuant to Article 10 of the Family Court Act. The petitions alleged that the mother and father failed to provide a minimum degree of care to their three children since the father committed acts of domestic violence against the mother in the presence of the children and both parents failed to ensure that the school-aged children attended school regularly.

Upon the filing of the petition, the court granted NYCCS’s request for a removal of the children and directed that they be restrictively placed with the maternal grandmother. In addition, the court entered a temporary order of protection against the father. That order directed the father to refrain from committing any family offenses against the children or the maternal grandmother and stay away from them except for visitation supervised by the grandmother or the agency.

Published on: February 10, 2016

Petitioner Claims State Action Unlawful Regarding Public Assistance Benefits

by Stephen Bilkis

On early December 1971, JR was the grantee of public assistance for the benefit of her four children in the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) category. All five lived in a home in Levittown, New York, which was then owned by Mrs. JR and her former husband as tenants in common.

On December 21, 1971, Mr. JR sold his interest in the home to Mrs. JR’s parents for $9,700. Representatives of the Nassau County Department of Social Services, present at the sale, took $2,600 of the proceeds to satisfy a debt for prior public assistance issued to the family. Mrs. JR then, as part of the whole transaction, conveyed her own one-half interest in the home to her parents for no proven consideration, and she continued to live in the home with the children.

Published on: February 5, 2016

Infant Based Plaintiff Sues for Exposure to Lead Paint

by Stephen Bilkis

The motion of defendant the City of New York (hereinafter the “City”) for summary judgment and dismissal of the complaint and cross claims against it is denied.

This is an action to recover damages for personal injuries allegedly sustained by the infant plaintiff, JP, due to exposure to lead-based paint between March 1992 and May 1994, while in foster care with defendants at their residence located at 22 Winter Avenue, Staten Island, New York.

Published on: January 17, 2016

Court Rules on Issue Related to Private Placement Adoption

by Stephen Bilkis

This private placement adoption action presents a number of intertwined legal issues that highlight the shortcomings of the private placement adoption statutes in New York State. The infant who is the subject of the case has now been in the home of the petitioners since February 21, 1998 without the benefit of a valid adoption consent from the parents or a currently valid pre-adoption certification order. The adoption agency that originally accepted custody of the child is no longer supervising this placement because it was not licensed in the state where the child was born. Additionally, the fees charges by the principals involved may not be entirely allowable under New York State law.

There is little statutory or caselaw guidance available to assist the court in unraveling these dilemmas, and few satisfactory remedies available for the obvious failures of those charged with caring for this child to follow the statutory requirements contained in the Domestic Relations Law. What seems apparent, however, is that along the way many purportedly well-intended people ignored the law, creating a situation that puts this adoption in jeopardy.

Published on: January 6, 2016

Court Decides How Certain Taxes Should Be Paid

by Stephen Bilkis

On December 28, 1992, executed a will that made specific bequests to his wife, son and other family members. The will also left $16,500 to three charities and created a trust for the benefit of his wife and son. On December 17, 1997, the testator executed a trust that, at the time of his death, made pre-residuary distributions to family members and left $16,500 to the same three charities. The residuary went into a marital trust for Ruth. It is claimed that at this time the testator had assets of approximately $10,000,000.

On April 6, 2001, the testator created a second trust that included pre-residuary dispositions to his son and a marital trust for his wife. Upon her death, the greater of $15,000,000 or 25% of the trust principal would go to his son, with the remainder to two charitable lead trusts (CLTs) for the benefit of WCA Hospital, Jamestown Community College, and five public libraries. At that time, the testator was worth approximately $19,000,000.

Published on: January 4, 2016

Plaintiff Brings Motion to Dismiss Initial Complaint

by Stephen Bilkis

The motion of the defendants, RM and KM, by counsel, to dismiss the Summons & Information before the Court is determined as hereinafter provided.

The defendants, RM and KM, are the owners in fee of a residential home located at 88 Liberty Boulevard, within the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, also known on the tax map of the County of Nassau as Section 37, Block 400, Lots 39 and 40. They are charged with failure to provide permits or certificates for a kitchen situated on the second floor of the premises, to wit: No Certificate of Occupancy for the two-family dwelling, violation of Sections 3211 and 3206 of the Village Zoning Code. The area is zoned for one-family dwellings or “R-1 Zone.”

Published on: January 2, 2016

Court Hears Case Regarding Domestic Relations Law

by Stephen Bilkis

This court has before it objections to the decision and order of Hearing Examiner Miklitsch dated April 4, 1994. The petitioner, represented by the County Attorney of Rockland County, objects to the dismissal of her petition brought under Article 3-A of the Domestic Relations Law which sought enforcement of a Kings County Family Court order of support and collection of arrears.

On January 24, 1994 the petitioner, Marsha Dow, filed with this court a petition under Article 3-A of the Domestic Relations Law of the State of New York (Uniform Support of Dependents Law [USDL]. Petitioner was a resident of Queens County, New York. Consequently, the clerk of the Queens County Family Court forwarded the petition, along with a certificate signed by a judge of that county, to the Rockland County Family Court wherein the respondent resides. On March 8, 1994 the matter appeared on the calendar of the hearing examiner of this court. Petitioner was represented by the office of the Rockland County Attorney and the respondent was represented by private counsel. The hearing examiner dismissed the petition on that date and a formal order was signed on April 4, 1994. In said order, the hearing examiner stated as the reason for the dismissal, a New York order is not a foreign order under statute. The petitioner has objected to this determination. Respondent has not interposed a rebuttal.

The issue to be decided is whether a petitioner who is a resident or domiciliary of one county of the State of New York can maintain a proceeding under Article 3-A of the Domestic Relations Law to enforce the terms of a New York State order of child support against a respondent who is a resident or domiciliary of another county of the State of New York.

Published on: December 14, 2015

Petitioner Contends that Nassau County Police Violated Freedom Information Laws

by Stephen Bilkis

This is a hybrid proceeding for relief under the Freedom of Information Law (“FOIL”), set forth in Article 6 of the Public Officers Law,§§ 84-90, and for related declaratory and mandamus relief. Petitioner/plaintiff asserts that the respondent/defendant Nassau County Police Department (“NCPD” or “respondent”) has violated FOIL by consistently failing to respond properly to legitimate requests for information and documents.

This case seeks not only a vacatur of denials for certain information, but also a declaration by the Court that NCPD has engaged in a pattern and practice of refusing to obey the law, and a judgment in mandamus directing the NCPD to do what it is bound to do under FOIL. It also seeks a related direction ordering respondent, in effect, to certify to the Court annually that it is in compliance with the statute. Finally, petitioner seeks to recoup its costs, including legal fees, expended in its efforts to obtain the information sought.

Published on: December 8, 2015

Petitioner Files for Divorce Based on Cruel and Inhumane Treatment

by Stephen Bilkis

The Plaintiff (“Husband “) commenced this action for divorce on November 24, 2008, by filing the Summons with Notice with the Nassau County Clerk. Plaintiff’s Verified Complaint sets forth causes of action for cruel and inhuman treatment, abandonment, and adultery. Defendant (“Wife”) interposed a Verified Answer denying certain allegations, demanding certain relief, and setting forth Affirmative Defenses for, inter alia, violation of the relevant statute of limitations; lack of specificity; failure to state a cause of action; forgiveness of the acts of adultery; and recrimination.

The parties were married on May 22, 1979 in Jerusalem, Israel. There are two emancipated children of the marriage. Husband filed a prior action for divorce in the Supreme Court, Suffolk County, which was discontinued on June 25, 2008. A second action was commenced by Husband in Nassau County Supreme Court on July 1, 2008 by the filing of a Summons with Notice with the Nassau County Clerk. The second action was discontinued on consent of both parties. The instant action is the third action for divorce commenced by Husband.

Published on: November 20, 2015

Plaintiff Asks Court for Order for Protection for her Three Children

by Stephen Bilkis

On October 15, 1993, this Court issued a permanent order of protection directing the defendant to stay away from the complainant and to refrain from attempting to contact her. The People now move for an order amending the order of protection to include the complainant’s three children, two of whom are the defendant’s biological children.

The defendant was charged with Aggravated Harassment in violation of Penal Law 240.30(1) and Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree in violation of Penal Law 215.50(3) in an information bearing index number 19402/93. The complainant alleged in her supporting deposition annexed to the information that the defendant had made approximately twelve telephone calls threatening to kill her and to kill her children during the period from August 13, 1993 to September 3, 1993.