[Photo: PhotoAlto/Sandro Di Carlo Darsa / Brand X Pictures]
A ruling last Wednesday from the state Appellate Division found that the spanking “was a reasonable use of force,” despite a family court judge determining last year that the father had abused his son “by inflicting excessive corporal punishment.”
The alleged open-handed spanking was punishment for cursing at a party at a friend’s home in 2012.
Though the dad, who remained anonymous, admitted spanking his son for cursing, he denied using a belt to punish him, which was also alleged in the complaint.
The Appellate Division said there was insufficient evidence to uphold the original charge, and let the spanking pass.
“The father’s open-handed spanking of the child as a form of discipline after he heard the child curse at an adult was a reasonable use of force and, under the circumstances presented here, did not constitute excessive corporal punishment,” the panel of four ruled unanimously.
[For more from Rachel Zarrell, go to http://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelzarrell/new-york-court-rules-spanking-children-is-a-reasonable-use-o]
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