SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department
650
CAF 12-01372
PRESENT: CENTRA, J.P., FAHEY, CARNI, AND SCONIERS, JJ.
IN THE MATTER OF MELISSA A. FERRUSI,
PETITIONER-RESPONDENT,
V MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
SHARIFF K. JAMES, RESPONDENT-APPELLANT.
EMILY A. VELLA, SPRINGVILLE, FOR RESPONDENT-APPELLANT.
LEGAL ASSISTANCE OF WESTERN NEW YORK, INC., OLEAN (JESSICA L. ANDERSON
OF COUNSEL), FOR PETITIONER-RESPONDENT.
Appeal from an order of the Family Court, Cattaraugus County
(Michael L. Nenno, J.), entered June 22, 2012 in a proceeding pursuant
to Family Court Act article 8. The order, among other things, granted
the petition.
It is hereby ORDERED that said appeal from the order insofar as
it concerns commitment to jail is unanimously dismissed and the order
is otherwise affirmed without costs.
Memorandum: In this proceeding pursuant to Family Court Act
article 8, respondent father appeals from an order, inter alia,
finding that he willfully violated an order of protection and
committing him to a jail term of six months. The commitment was
stayed for a period of six months on the condition that the father not
violate the order of protection. Contrary to the father’s contention,
petitioner mother established by clear and convincing evidence that
the father willfully violated the terms of the order of protection
(see Matter of Mary Ann YY. v Edward YY., 100 AD3d 1253, 1254). We
also conclude that the father’s challenge to the commitment is moot
because that part of the order has expired by its own terms (see
Matter of Alex A.C. [Maria A.P.], 83 AD3d 1537, 1538; see generally
Matter of Julie A.C. v Michael F.C., 15 AD3d 1007, 1007). Finally, we
conclude that the father was not denied effective assistance of
counsel. The father failed to meet his burden of demonstrating that
the alleged failures of his counsel resulted in actual prejudice (see
Matter of Michael C., 82 AD3d 1651, 1652, lv denied 17 NY3d 704).
Entered: July 5, 2013 Frances E. Cafarell
Clerk of the Court