Swinson v. Dobson

Dec 21, 2012
Versions:101 A.D.3d 1686
956 N.Y.2d 765

In the Matter of SCOTT T. SWINSON, Respondent, v STAR DOBSON, Appellant. [956 NYS2d 765]—

Memorandum: Respondent mother appeals from an order that, following a hearing, granted the petition seeking to modify the custody provisions of a stipulated order and awarded primary physical custody of the parties’ child to petitioner father and visitation to the mother. Contrary to the mother’s contention, we conclude that Family Court’s best interests determination is supported by a sound and substantial basis in the record and that the court did not abuse its discretion in awarding primary physical custody to the father (see generally Eschbach v Eschbach, 56 NY2d 167, 173-174 [1982]; Matter of Misty D.B. v David M.S., 38 AD3d 1317, 1317 [2007]; Matter of Green v Mitchell, 266 AD2d 884, 884 [1999]). Although the court noted some concern about the mother’s unstable work schedule and its resultant effect on the child, the court was not thereby giving the mother “a Hobson’s choice between livelihood and parenthood” (Linda R. v Richard E., 162 AD2d 48, 55 [1990]). Rather, the court paid particular attention to the express wishes of the child and the realities of each parent’s home environment. The court addressed all of the appropriate factors before determining that the father should be awarded primary physical custody (see Fox v Fox, 177 AD2d 209, 210 [1992]), and we afford the court’s determination “great deference” (Green, 266 AD2d at 884).

The mother further contends that the Attorney for the Child (AFC) should have substituted his own judgment for that of the child. The mother failed to preserve for our review that contention concerning the AFC’s representation inasmuch as she made no motion to remove the AFC (see Matter of Juliet M., 16 AD3d 211, 212 [2005]). In any event, the mother’s contention lacks merit. “An [AFC] must ‘zealously advocate the child’s position’ . . . and, if the child is ‘capable of knowing, voluntary and considered judgment,’ must follow the child’s wishes ‘even if the attorney for the child believes that what the child wants is not in the child’s best interests’ ” (Matter of Gloria DD. [Brenda DD.], 99 AD3d 1044, 1046 [2012], quoting 22 NYCRR 7.2 [d] [2]; see Matter of Mark T. v Joyanna U., 64 AD3d 1092, 1093-1094 [2009]). There are only two circumstances in which an AFC is authorized to substitute his or her own judgment for that of the child: “[w]hen the [AFC] is convinced either that the child lacks the capacity for knowing, voluntary and considered judgment, or that following the child’s wishes is likely to result in a substantial risk of imminent, serious harm to the child” (22 NYCRR 7.2 [d] [3]; see Mark T., 64 AD3d at 1094). Neither exception is implicated in this matter (cf. Matter of Alyson J. [Laurie J.], 88 AD3d 1201, 1203 [2011], lv denied 18 NY3d 803 [2011]). We thus conclude that the AFC properly advocated for the wishes of his client. Present—Scudder, P.J., Centra, Fahey, Carni and Valentino, JJ.