Now they came to live with you
in 2016,
you and your new husband, right?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: And in 2016
because some genius judge
in the state of Connecticut
gave you custody,
Child Protective Services
was going to take the children
away from you and your husband
because of drugs.
That what I'm hearing?
>> Yeah.
>> Judge Judy: Yeah.
And in 2013, '14,
and half of 2015,
were the children ever removed
from your custody
by Child Protective Services?
>> No, they were not.
>> Judge Judy: So let me see
what I'm getting from this
story.
What I'm getting from this story
is you got married to him when?
>> September 2016.
>> Judge Judy: And all of a
sudden, from somebody who had no
custody of her children
for at least 2 1/2 years,
and there were no problems,
zero problems
with Child Protective Services
and their father --
Don't shake your head.
There were zero problems
with Child Protective Services.
In September of 2016,
your daughter-in-law
marries your son.
And in October of 2016,
Child Protective Services is
going to remove all the children
because both of them are
drug-involved.
When was the baby born?
>> July 2015.
>> Judge Judy: Were you living
with him at the time?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Was the child
born drug-addicted?
>> No.
>> Judge Judy: Who do you live
with now?
>> I live with my husband.
>> Judge Judy: Who else?
>> And a roommate.
>> Judge Judy: Now, Mr. Mendez,
I just have a couple of more
questions before I throw them
both out.
>> Okay.
>> Judge Judy: Do you
understand?
>> Yes.
>> Judge Judy: Did you
voluntarily relinquish
your two sons to their mother?
>> Didn't want to do it, but due
to being homeless at the time
and not actually having a place
to stay,
I thought it was a good idea,
which was my stupidity,
thinking that the kids can stay
with their mother until then,
not knowing that the
Child Services involvement was
going to be called by herself.
She called on her own self,
and she had them removed from
her care.
Like, if I had a place to stay,
I would take them.
And I would have had a...
>> Judge Judy: Who are you
living with now?
>> Currently, I'm living with my
girlfriend.
>> Judge Judy: It became too
much of a burden for you to take
care of the boys if you're
living with your girlfriend?
>> Due to Child Services and all
the allegations that are going
on, I have to go through
their process.
>> Judge Judy: Allegations with
regard to whom?
>> What Ms. Minacci is saying
about me, like, Carmela.
>> Judge Judy: She wasn't saying
anything about you
in 2014 and 2015.
>> Or 2011, back to then.
>> Judge Judy: Or 2011 when the
kids were living with you.
>> Yeah.
>> Judge Judy: All of a sudden
now.
Well, somebody in Connecticut
should take a real close look at
this case.
As an old family court judge,
there's a lot more here
than meets the eye.
And I certainly believe
your 10-year-old would do better
with a non-drug-involved parent
than would do in a therapeutic
foster care situation,
in the state of Connecticut.
Now, Mr. Mendez, have you
visited your 8-year-old boy?
>> I have seen him last month.
He actually came to my job,
and I went bowling with both my
kids.
>> Judge Judy: Who brought him
to your job?
>> Child Services.
And also, from my understanding,
I got a call from Child Services
last week which stated
that Ms. Nancy Minacci can no
longer care for my 8-year-old,
that he was to be picked up
yesterday.
>> I still have him.
>> Judge Judy: Your case is
dismissed.
You have no claim against him.
Zero, nothing, nada.
Very sad.
Very, very sad.
Did the courts in Connecticut
assign a lawyer to you?
>> I haven't had one yet, no.
>> Your Honor?
>> Judge Judy: What?
>> The facts of the case are
wrong.
We --
>> Judge Judy: Listen to me.
These are the basic facts
of the case, Ms. Minacci, basic,
that at least going as far back
as 2014, he says before,
these two children lived
with their father and an aunt.
>> They only lived with the
father and the aunt for a couple
of months.
>> Judge Judy: No.
That's not what she said.
She said that they lived
with their father.
>> They lived with him.
But he just moved to Connecticut
and stayed with his aunt.
>> Judge Judy: Oh, well, I don't
care.
But they lived with their
father, not with their mother.
And --
>> And they came to our house
in 2015, not '16.
So they lived with us
for over a year.
Carmela and Steven and me,
my husband, and the kids.
>> Judge Judy: They lived with
you for over a year
while they were drug-involved?
>> No, they were not
drug-involved at that time.
I would not have that in my
house.
>> That was 2016, Your Honor.
>> They had moved out April
of last year.
>> Judge Judy: Listen to me.
Your case is dismissed.
We're done.
This is a family court matter.
And somebody should take very,
very close look
at who is going to be
the most appropriate parent
to raise these two little boys,
who are 8 and 10 years old,
and probably shouldn't
be separated.
Sounds to me as if most of their
lives they lived with their
father, who I see visually
actually no evidence
of drug involvement.
I can't say the same on this
side.
>> Well, we --
>> Judge Judy: We're done!