In re Riley II.

Following a lengthy hearing, Family Court rendered a detailed decision in which it found that respondent, the 17-year-old mother of a son (born in 2007), had neglected and abused the child. However, the court was not persuaded that petitioner established its allegation of severe abuse under the higher standard of proof necessary to establish such conduct (see Family Ct Act § 1046 [b] [ii]). Petitioner appeals from so much of the order as found that the child was not severely abused.

During the time this appeal was pending, respondent voluntarily surrendered her parental rights freeing the…