Kramer Levin Successfully Petitions Removal of Client from the NY State Central Register

Litigation associates Anna Boltyanskiy and Reyhan Watson, and law clerk Daniela C. Manzi, successfully represented our client in appealing her placement on New York’s Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). An administrative proceeding to place someone on the SCR automatically begins whenever the NYC Administration for Children’s Services starts a family court proceeding against a parent. Although placement on the SCR has serious collateral consequences, SCR proceedings continue even when the family court case is dismissed—and sometimes without the party’s knowledge. Our client, who was referred to us by Brooklyn Defender Services, faced placement on the SCR even after the family court case against her was dismissed. ACS alleged that our client maltreated her 1.5-year-old son when, after drinking alcohol one night, she had an unexpected seizure and fell unconscious the next morning while caring for him—even though she had an effective safety plan that led to her prompt medical treatment and her child never being at risk of any harm. The Kramer Levin team conducted a full-day trial, with direct examination, cross-examination and closing arguments. After trial, the administrative judge issued a ruling not only accepting our arguments but going the step further of dismissing the entire case against our client. This victory was critical for our client because of her desire to adopt a child and pursue a career in childcare, both of which would have been impossible if her name had remained on the SCR.