David N. Schaffer

David Schaffer

I do not recognize this reviewer as a client. Further, I wonder their motivation(s) for posting what is also an illogical "hit piece" against me: One does not file a Hague "petition" with the U.S. Department of State. One files an "application" to the Dept. of State - the Central Authority for the U.S. to be forwarded to the Central Authority of the country to where the children have been abducted or are being wrongfully withheld. It is the "left-behind" parent that files and signs the application. I help organize the facts and documents necessary for same. Further, if the application country-specific "checklist" obtained from the US Department of State country officer for where the abducted child(ren) are at, includes that the application also be submitted in another language besides English, I assist the client in finding a professional translator for this purpose. I have never had a client's application to the Dept of State "rejected." In addition, the United States' Central Authority (the US Dept of State) does not make a decision on the adequacy of evidence for habitual residence. That is for the court where the actual Hague petition will be filed - another reason why this person's "review" is quite a bit "off" - or as Dr. Spock from Star Trek would say - "quite illogical." I also have never had a case requiring "other attorneys and additional international travel" to fix things. The only "other attorneys" would be the ones who filed the actual Hague petition in the country where the children are located. That said, I always refer my clients to equally qualified "local" overseas counsel in the country where the children have been wrongfully retained or abducted to for filing of the Hague "petition" in their court system. If this person still thinks I ever represented him or her, I ask that they at least have the decency to call me directly rather than remain "anonymous." I have devoted and continue to devote a good part of my practice and time to help my clients go through what I consider a parent's "second" worst nightmare. I also have and continue to publish scholarly articles and teach on international child custody law. As such I please ask that anyone reading the Anonymous review focus instead on my experience and qualifications and my other real reviews.