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Esteva v. New York State Central Register of Child Abuse & Maltreatment

82 A.D.3d 978 Court N.Y. App. Div. Decision date 2011-03-15 English

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p. 978
In the Matter of Kimberly Esteva, Petitioner, v New York State Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment et al., Respondents.
[919 NYS2d 93]
p. 979
At an administrative expungement hearing to determine whether a report of child abuse or maltreatment is substantiated, the allegations in the report must be established by a preponderance of the evidence (see Matter of Lee TT. v Dowling, 87 NY2d 699 , 703 [1996]; Matter of Blythe v Carrion, 63 AD3d 1059 [2009]). “It is the function of the administrative agency, not the reviewing court, to weigh the evidence or assess the credibility of the witnesses” (Matter of Bullock v State of N.Y. Dept. of Social Servs., 248 AD2d 380 , 382 [1998]).

Judicial review of a determination that a report of maltreatment has been substantiated is limited to whether the determination is supported by substantial evidence in the record (see Matter of Valentine v New York State Cent. Register of Child Abusers & Maltreatment, 37 AD3d 249 , 249-250 [2007]). Substantial evidence “means such relevant proof as a reasonable mind may accept as adequate to support a conclusion or ultimate fact” (300 Gramatan Ave. Assoc. v State Div. of Human Rights, 45 NY2d 176 , 180 [1978]; see Matter of Lynnann P. v Suffolk County Dept. of Social Servs., 28 AD3d 484 , 485 [2006]).

Here, the New York State Office of Children and Family Services determined that it was established by a preponderance of the evidence that the subject child’s physical, mental, or emotional condition has been impaired, or is in imminent danger of becoming impaired, as a result of the petitioner’s failure to exercise a minimum degree of care in providing proper supervision or guardianship (see Social Services Law § 412 [2] [a] [i]; Family Ct Act § 1012 [f] [i] [B]; 18 NYCRR 432.1 [b] [1]; Matter of Benjamin v Carrion, 79 AD3d 744 [2010]; Matter of Barnes v New York State Off. of Children & Family Servs., 67 AD3d 787 , 788 [2009]). That determination is supported by substantial evidence. Accordingly, this CPLR article 78 proceeding must be dismissed on the merits. Mastro, J.E, Skelos, Leventhal and Roman, JJ., concur.

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