Matter of Rueben D.R. (Rueben D.R.)

2003 NYSlipOp 11022

 

Decided on February 11, 2003

 

Appellate Division, First Department

 

This opinion is uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the Official Reports.

 

Mazzarelli, J.P., Andrias, Saxe, Buckley, Friedman, JJ.

148- 148A

 

[*1]In re Guardianship, etc., Rueben D.R., A Child Under the Age of Eighteen Years, etc.,

 

and

 

Rueben D.R., Respondent-Appellant, The Catholic Home Bureau for Dependent Children, etc., Petitioner-Respondent.

 

Dodd R. Terry

George E. Reed, Jr.

David A. Lore

 

Appeal from order, Family Court, Bronx County (Allen Alpert, J.), entered on or about September 19, 2001, which, in a proceeding to permanently terminate respondent's parental rights to the subject child, denied respondent's motion for visitation with the child in prison, unanimously dismissed as moot, without costs. Order, same court and Justice, entered on or about January 22, 2002, which, after respondent's release from prison, denied his motion for visitation with the child, unanimously affirmed, without costs.

 

Respondent's motion for visitation with the child in prison was rendered moot upon his release from prison. The denial of visitation after respondent's release from prison was properly based on compelling evidence, adduced at the still ongoing fact-finding hearing, that respondent's inappropriate behavior during the rare occasions he visited the child while not in prison was detrimental to the child's welfare (see Matter of Williams v Tillman, 289 AD2d 885; Matter of Tanya T., 252 AD2d 677, 679). We have considered and rejected respondent's other contentions.

 

THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER

OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.

 

ENTERED: FEBRUARY 11, 2003

CLERK

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