Matter of A. J.
The Administration for Children's Services (ACS) filed a petition alleging that four-year-old T.J. sustained multiple injuries, including a second-degree burn, while in the care of her biological parents, Toni N. and Tyrell J. The parents had previously been found to have abused T.J. The court found the parents' explanations for the injuries incredible and inconsistent with medical testimony from Dr. Philip Hyden, an expert in pediatrics and child abuse. The court entered findings of abuse against both parents for T.J. under Family Court Act § 1012 (e) (i) and derivative abuse findings for her siblings, J.W., J.N., A.J., A.N., and T.S., under Family Court Act § 1012 (e) (ii). Furthermore, the court determined that T.J. was "repeatedly abused" as defined by Social Services Law § 384-b (8) (b) due to the prior abuse findings and the unsuccessful efforts to rehabilitate the parents. However, derivative findings of repeated abuse were not made for the siblings.