John R. v. State of New York Office of Children and Family Services

Mercure, J.P.

In 2008, petitioner Patricia R. was informed by her brother (hereinafter the uncle) that he had sexually abused her oldest daughter, who was born in 1997. Although the uncle owned and resided in the same duplex as petitioners’ family, Patricia R. and her husband, petitioner John R., did not immediately call police; rather, they contacted their medical provider for advice on how to approach the child, who is autistic. Petitioners were instructed to work with the child’s social worker when school resumed a couple weeks later, at which point they notified the school psychologist of…