Domitina Mendez holds photos of two of her children, Ever Mendez, left, age 5, and Debbi Mendez, age 3. She and her husband, Ovidio Mendez, are Guatemalan indigenous Mayans who lost custody of their five children when the Georgia Department of Child Protective Services took them in 2008. In June a Whitfield County judge permanently removed their parental rights in part because they don’t speak English and the judge felt the parrents couldn’t take care of the children’s special needs and dozens of monthly doctor’s visits. The court battle continues.DALTON, Ga. – A local attorney plans to appeal a judge’s decision to deny a motion for a new trial for a Guatemalan couple who lost custody of their children almost four years ago.
“We just have to hope for the best,” said Richard Murray, who is representing Ovidio and Domitina Mendez, who have five children ages 3 to 6. All of the children have severe physical disabilities.
Whitfield County Judge Connie Blaylock denied a motion to reconsider terminating the Mendezes’ parental rights.
“It’s just sad,” said Ovidio Mendez when reached by phone Thursday night. “But we will keep fighting.”
The Mendezes’ case is one of the most litigated cases in the county’s Juvenile Court, Bruce Kling, special assistant attorney general for Whitfield County Department of Family and Children Services, told the judge Thursday.