In Matter of Christie A.M. v. Herbert M ., the Bronx County Family Court terminated a dad's parental rights to his kids -- a son and daughter -- because he failed to maintain regular contact with them.
Apparently, the father was serving a lengthy prison sentence and, in the six month period before the abandonment application was filed, had no contact with his son.
Although he telephoned his daughter 5-10 times during the first five weeks he was incarcerated, after the daughter's foster parents stopped accepting his calls, the father failed to maintain any additional contact with that child.
On appeal, the Appellate Division, First Department, characterized the father's efforts as "sporadic and insubstantial" and affirmed the outcome.
Not very fatherly!
To download a copy of the Appellate Division's decision, please use this link: Matter of Christie A.M. v. Herbert M