Susanna Van Gelder Coxe

I hardly respond to these things or have a bad opinion about anyone, but this is truly sad. Now she said I had a clear cut case of abuse and stalking and it was horrible and she had more than ample evidence. She hardly responded, changed her story several times, integrity questionable. Had me waiting... for over 4 months from the time we met and she said she would file on a protection order telling me she would have to draft a motion then shoved a petition in front of me 4 months later after numerous phone messages that weren't returned and basically said here you go fill it out and call me when you get a date. At one point she basically told me the reason for no return calls and canceled meetings and the delay in filing was because she had cases come up that were more important and that these things happen in domestic violence situations. I've been in therapy for over 2 years for abuse mind you. The least she could have done was advise me to try and find another lawyer or tell me she couldn't take the case anymore or tell me to fill out the form 4 months prior instead of putting me at risk. she hardly let you ask questions or respond and hardly if at all provided advisement. Horrible people skills. I was informed by a sitting Judge that has had dealings with her there is a chance I may not get a protection order because she waited so long and delayed the filing. I was also told this is a constant theme with she and her clients and she puts them in bad positions. I am not the only client that's had to end up getting another lawyer and risk debt to stay safe. I feel truly bad for the DV victims that have no choice but to use her service or those that have and failed to be protected because of her actions. I would hope someone provides a better attorney for victims so they have a better chance at protecting themselves and not exposing themselves to worse situations then they found themselves. Very sad and disappointed

Obtained her services through Safehome so I guess you get what you pay for - nothing. Very slow to respond to requests and often did not return phone calls. Some tangible evidence was lost because she did not react quickly enough and didn't even follow up on it until the 3rd time I told her about i...t. I realize most nonprofits are understaffed, but when it's time sensitive information there should be more urgency. By the time she followed up it was 2 weeks later and the evidence had already been disposed of. She claimed that she never heard back on a number of issues, but didn't seem to be concerned about following up on them either. Didn't provide copies of some evidence as I requested for another matter in another state. Ethically she told me some information that should probably not have been shared with me and should have only been shared among attorneys. After interviewing other attorneys I discovered what little she really knew about domestic violence issues and how unqualified she was. Several times she made derogatory comments to me that proved to me that she did not believe me and made it clear that she was not on my side. Then one week before my court date she suddenly withdrew without any warning. Probably for the best. I would never have paid for her services. As it was the case was drawn out 6 months where it should have been resolved much quicker.