I was told this lawyer was one of the toughest around. I hired him for my divorce. Biggest mistake of my life! Even bigger mistake than the marriage that I was seeking to get out of. This man was nothing short of verbally, mentally, and emotionally abusive.
My interactions with him, prior to paying his retainer fee, were nothing more than him over exaggerating his record in the court room, and relationships with the judges. Once he got his money, he was very hard to get ahold of, and refused to help in an emergency situation, which involved an order that affected me and my children horribly. I was out thousands of dollars, and had no legal assistance in a matter that was causing irreversible damage each day.
He belittled me, and told me I'd be on "government aid" for the rest of my life. He bullied me into agreeing to things that my ex wanted, that made me very uncomfortable. Once during a $900 mediation session (in which he wasted half the time I was paying for, making fun of past clients with the lawyer he's chosen to mediate), he actually asked the "mediator" to step out of the room. He then used that privacy to tell me to get off my "high horse" and realize that this was my life now. So, after being a stay at home mother for 14 years, to five beautiful children, I was pressured into agreeing to 50/50 custody with a man that was abusive and mostly absentee throughout our marriage. John Schwalb even laughed about how he felt my ex was only seeking this 50/50 arrangement to lower his child support obligation. He told me that I didn't have the money to "make" him fight any harder for me! I was devastated. He threatened that I would take the deal, or "probably lose the kids", even though I had an exemplary history with my children, their teachers, schools, pediatricians, neighbor's kids, etc.
My children do not get bathed over at their dads house. They watch Walking Dead and play Grand Theft Auto over there. They eat candy, donuts, chips, and the occasional Papa John's pizza for all their meals over there. He has never trimmed their nails, helped with homework, or cleaned up anything.
Oh well, doesn't matter, right?! John Schwalb got his money for doing NOTHING for me, and my ex only has to pay $600/month for FIVE children. That's the important part. No one gave one damn about doing what was right for children. It was all about money and greed the entire time.
If you are stuck on the fence with choosing a lawyer, I'd recommend hiring your left shoe, before I'd pick this narcissist. read more