Suzan Rutz, Attorney Helmke Beams LLP Became vindictive when her report was questioned. Fort Wayne Indiana
I would not recommend using Suzan Rutz as a GAL . She didn't complete her task in a timely manner and then asked the court to delay the scheduled hearing. She requested the parties be ordered into mediation when one party wouldn't agree with her recommendation. The issue had been mediated twice before with no settlement. She did not listen to the wishes of the children, nor did she contact references that would have been pertinent to the case. , nor did she even take the time to interview the step-parent.
When flaws were pointed out to her in her recommendation, she became very vindictive, and came back with a new recommendation that provided for even less parenting time. It appeared to me that Ms. Rutz was not interested in looking out for what was best for the children, but was more interested in running up excessive legal fees. If she was truly interested in what was best for the children, she would have drafted a recommendation designed to lessen the conflict between the parties, rather than create more conflict, and she would have drafted a document respecting the children's wishes instead of one that puts them in the position to have to choose on a weekly basis between parents. Instead she manipulated the children into agreeing to a plan devised by her and the opposing counsel, that places the children in a situation where weekly they have to choose where they want to spend time, with the custodial parent forcefully discouraging them from spending time with the non-custodial parent.
I would recommend avoiding the legal system if at all possible. We have been told by more than one attorney that the facts don't matter. This has been proven out more than a few times. The legal system is a game for the attorneys, and it is at your expense. In any event I would not recommend Ms. Rutz as a GAL. It is obvious to me that she only works for herself and not the children she is hired to represent. Unfortunately most people do not have a choice on a GAL. The court just appoints one. If you do have a choice I would not use Suzan Rutz, because if you disagree with her, she becomes vindictive and will use the children and the courts to get back at you.