I am giving an update of my case. 18 years later, I am still fighting to get my life back and undue this nightmare after getting played in Monroe County Family Court by Support Magistrate Linda Lohner Pilato. Mr. Michael Schmitt was my attorney when I first was served papers. This is a long played out drama. I want my story told to this community. I cannot stop the harassment from the Title IV-D agency (child support agency) I have been alienated from the child since his birth 23 years ago, but supported him from birth up until he was 18 when he ended his mother's control over him and moved out of her home, his departure was extreme, he dropped his birth names. He disowned his mother because she was not going along with his life decisions, which are bad,... but I do not know him and cannot help him, nor do I trust the DNA testing that was controlled by the support unit. I don't believe for the life of me that this is my child. The mother told me from day one when she informed me of her pregnancy (January 15, 2002) that she had set me up to shake me down for money. I offered marriage, so the child would have two parents,... she told me that I was f-cking dumb to think she had interest in me. I gave her what felt like ransom payments. Supervising Judge Stacy M. Romeo can stop this, but she won't, she refuses to engage but is watching it play out. Stacy is Mr. Schmitt's spouse. I am sure Stacy is reviewing every filing that I am making at the moment, and the judge that I am running into right now is Judge Maria Cubillos Reed, who is tossing my motions into the trash based on that I sent a copy by certified mail to the mother,, she claims I am violating CPLR 2103, she is wrong, Ms. Cubullus Reed is playing this game with me because my last motion, addressed that Mrs. Pilato reclassified the Paternity Petition as a Support Petition, The mother's paternity petition controls jurisdiction and she indicated that she DID NOT WANT THE SUPPORT UNIT INVOLVED. Mike, you should have brought this up at the hearing on December 6, 2007, when Linda Pilato said, that the mother filed a Support petition (Article 4) She never filed a support petition. Mike, you needed to object, you allowed Linda Pilato to frame me as noncompliant. Judge Cubillus Reed is hiding behind CPLR 2103, regarding mailing of service, because my last Motion filed that was tossed by Support Magistrate Mary Teator, addressed a forged document from the Support unit. In October 2012, the support unit sent a Request form to the mother, asking her if she wanted to increase support under a Cost- of Living-Adjustment (Family Court Act 413a) the mother never mailed the request form in. CSEU was supposed to drop this matter. They increased it anyway and justified it by sending me a fake unsigned order that they drafted, it never came from a court of competent jurisdiction. You cannot make this story up. The legal process on a private case is that a request must be made by the parties. The mother never made the request, she told Ms. Pilato 8 times in a hearing on January 23, 2013, that this had nothing to do with her. Further, the mother advised me on January 20, 2012, when I mentioned the alienation.... "I don't need your f-cking money, go to the court and stop it but you will never see him" That was my last communication with her. Ms. Pilato stated later in a decision on October 26, 2018, that the January 23, 2013, hearing that she presided over never existed and that there was no proof of my objecting to the COLA, though Ms. Pilato stated at the hearing that I filed a timely objection. Really? Mike, we had a meeting at your office on the COLA? you advised me to withdraw my objection and that I could not beat Ms. Pilato at this, you said you could call her for me, I said, don't bother, I have another hearing on March 11, 2013, I'll do it. When I learned of the rules, motioned for closure. The support unit sent me a copy of a request form with the mother's signature on it, dated November 1, 2012, I found it odd that Ms. Pilato never made mention of it. I sent the document to a Forensic lab at the price of $1000. It came back that the request form is a forgery committed by the support unit... the federal funds attached to these cases is driving this madness. Stacy, you addressed me in a letter on September 12, 2012, you made mention of the March 11, 2013.....you could not have possibly know of it, Pilato demanded it on January 23, 2013. Mike, why did you not challenge the Title IV-D application filed on September 17, 2007, that falsely charged me with deserting the child in February 2002? he was not born yet,.. desertion is not a legal charge in a nonmarital case. The game now, is that the other party is not noticed of hearings to keep her off record; that forgery is damming evidence. The last two virtual meetings were disabled, forcing a phone-conference only. Stacy, terminate this case so I can live out the rest of my days in peace. read more

Mr. Michael Schmitt assisted my daughter in her custody and child support and family court issues.. Mr. Schmitt is professional, attentive, cordial, responsive, focused on needs with detail. I am impressed and satisfied with his ability to communicate with the courts and with others in the courtroom. read more

When I met Mike I had just been shocked to find that my marriage was over and everything I had ever worked for was in jeopardy. I felt completely lost and overwhelmed with fear of the unknown. As soon as the meeting was over I felt the first sense of hope that I had felt in a few months. Mike explained to me what was really going to take place. He also advised me on how to conduct myself and prepare to generate the best possible outcome which is extremely important. He was responsive via phone, email and text whenever I needed him...even when I interrupted his family vacation (sorry Mike!). Mike knows the law and he's not afraid to stand up on behalf of his client to protect their rights even when he's standing before the judge on your behalf. Thanks to Mike Schmitt I came out of this divorce in so much better shape than I could have ever allow myself to think possible when I walked into his office for the first time feeling all defeated. He is the only Divorce Attorney that I have and will continue to recommend to friends facing the same life changing experience. "MONEY"... For everyone that is the first concern when hiring a lawyer. Mike listened to my situation and his first priority was giving me the help I needed. When it came to money he worked within my means and was extremely affordable especially considering the level of representation that he provides. To be fair, the results he delivered outweighed anything he charged me by a long margin. Mike's a no BS attorney and a no BS business man. You can go elsewhere and pay 4 times as much but you're not going to get 4 times the representation... you're just paying for another law firms billboards and radio commercials! If you're reading this, you're probably in a tough spot and I remember that feeling. Do yourself a favor and set an appointment with Mike. For me it was literally the moment that I started the process of taking back the control over my life and future. For me to take the time to write this long of a review I hope you'll recognize it's because I'm just so thankful and I hope he can help others the way he has helped me. read more

Michael has represented me four times and he's always gone above and beyond to ensure I get the results we discussed on day one. The most recent representation has lasted almost two years and he's still going to bat for me as if it was his own life being affected by the outcome. I recommend him to anyone I come in contact with in need of an attorney. Michael is extremely knowledgeable. I've learned to just trust in him and relax knowing I'm in good hands. He's the only choice if you want results. read more

I hired Michael without doing some research on my end. After doing my research, I realized Michael was not the best fit to handle my case. He is clearly a divorce attorney and should stick with that. I figured since I already retained him, I would see what he could do for me. After finding out he put in very little (if any) work and did not have much knowledge in the area my case revolved around, I sought representation elsewhere. After explaining to Michael why I decided to go with another attorney, he would not refund me anything and would not provide me proof of the work he put in. I am happy I decided to seek another attorney, but was very upset Michael was not honest and upfront from the beginning. He should have never agreed to take on my case. read more