Collins, Buckley, Sauntry & Haugh, PLLP - Saint Paul, MN

This was a post-divorce case with a child. This went all the way to a trial. Guardian-Ad-Liden recommended that I continue with Sole Physical custody but also now include Sole Legal Custody. I already had two Parenting Consultants and they both resigned. One said he had to keep writing many Court Orders. I did not want another Parenting Consultant, although the opposing party’s lawyer was trying to trick me, saying I had to get another PC. There were already many Court Orders and my ex was not always following them. I didn’t want to pay for another PC, as I would instead just go to Court if my ex continued not to follow the Court Orders already written. I had to pay at least $2,500.00 just to have the Parenting Consultant testify in trial. Toward the end of Trial, the Judge spoke to my attorney and the opposing attorney alone. Then my attorney spoke to me about what the Judge told them. Ms. Maxim made a point to say I only have TWO options. She then explained that the Judge said if my ex and I don’t agree, we can then bring it to each other's lawyer & if they can’t work it out, then right away the lawyer can bring it straight to the Judge and he will make the final decision. Then Ms. Maxim said my only other choice would be the expensive appeal route. She emphasized that I had to pick between those TWO and pick right away (as we needed to inform the Judge then!). During her explanation I interrupted saying that if the Judge keeps the legal custody at Joint, then if I needed a Decision, I want to just bring it back to Court but no PC. There were already so many Court Orders written that now my ex would need to follow them. I told Ms Maxim many times that I didn’t want another PC as there already are many Court Orders that my ex has to follow and I wanted to stop paying for PCs. That I did not want another PC is written in Court Documents and elsewhere and I have the proof. Having the lawyers decide is the same as having another PC and Ms Maxim knew that but she wanted the continued revenue. She knew I wouldn't take my lawyer as PC & that is why she didn’t give me my third option, which was let the trial finish and the Judge would have to make the Decision if I would have SOLE Legal or Joint Legal.If the Judge ruled I only had joint legal custody, I was fine with that because my ex would still have to follow all the previous Court Orders & Ms Maxim knew that. But either way in the Judge’s ruling, I would not have to keep paying for a Parenting Consultant. I didn’t realize until 2-3 days later that Ms. Maxim didn’t even give me my 3rd option of NOT picking either of those two, but just let the trial finish and take my chances with the Judge’s decision of granting me Sole LEGAL custody (as this was the Guardian’s recommendation) or Joint Legal C. I would’ve been fine with either. Ms. Maxim knew she was not telling me about my option to just let the trial finish and then I would accept the Judge making the Decision. The Judge was only giving a settlement, but it was my choice if I took it or not. Ms. Maxim hid this from me and that is malpractice, unethical! Ms. Maxim had my whole banker’s box of my Divorce records and when I went to go pick them up from her, she had to get them out of her car trunk. She had been hauling them home with her and she could see that my ex created many legal activities just so I had to keep paying and she wanted this revenue to continue with her business. Why did she have to take all my records home with her? I have proof that I did not want another Parenting Consultant as Ms. Maxim even wrote that in legal documents to the Court and I will be able to provide that proof. There is more proof. After 2 or 3 days when I realized that Ms, Maxim didn’t give me the one option that she knew I would take, I then wrote a letter to Judge Braaten, exacting explaining what happened, that I was not advised of the option that I would have taken. The letter should be in my Court file.