Matter of Suarez v. Suarez
This case concerns an appeal by the mother, Paula Suarez, from an order of the Family Court, Suffolk County, which granted the father's petition to modify their divorce judgment, awarding him temporary legal and physical custody and mandating the children's participation in a therapy program with a social worker, Linda J. Gottlieb, while prohibiting the mother's contact. The Appellate Division, Second Department, reversed the Family Court's order, finding it lacked a sound and substantial basis in the record. The Appellate Court determined that the Family Court improperly relied on a psychologist's testimony and a social worker's report without due process, and unlawfully delegated its decision-making authority. Consequently, the branches of the father's petition related to custody modification and program participation were denied.