Shumsha Hanif-Cruz

She did a great job of helping me achieve a ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ time split with my son’s mother. I wanted to ensure, that the best interests of our child were upheld, by giving him significant time with a both parents.
I found her to be practical and realistic, about how to proceed, even in my messy case. She has a pleasant personality and is easy to work with. She kept me up to date about the progress and worked with my ex-wife’s attorney to achieve an out of court settlement. She also seemed to take a personal interest in my case and was, as pleased as me, at the positive outcome.
She was conscientious, thorough and delivered good value. She negotiated assertively to get me most of what I wanted. I would definitely recommend her as a good attorney.

At $ 250/​hr, how often would you tolerate your attorney say she «forgot» to do something you asked her to do, something she told you she’d do, or something she told the judge she’d do? How many court filing deadlines that adversely impacted your case would you allow her to miss? Would it matter to you if she allowed your civil rights to be trampled by the mediators or courts without raising even a peep on your behalf? If she violated attorney client privledge? Would you care if she did not keep you informed about the case? Would it be important to you that she didn’t send you copies of court paperwork you’d been asking her for for nearly 10 months? That she would secretly file court documents behind your back that screwed your case further? That she doesn’t return your phone calls or respond to e-​mails from you or the other side? I don’t know how this «attorney» Cruz sleeps at night, knowing that my kids are being held hostage by a violent, abusive, manipulative spouse who is wanted by law enforcement in two states including a four count no bail felony bench warrant from a neighboring state. We’re talking about an attorney who is so new and inexperienced she doesn’t even know the procedure to challenge a family court mediator’s recommendation even though it was based on gross negligence and willful misconduct on the part of the mediator, to the point of the mediator LYING to the judge. Yes, lying. Cruz’s response? Crickets. Total deer in the headlights. Don’t hire this attorney if you want your rights protected. When you speak with her she seems amiable and capable, but in reality is totally inept and will do incredible damage to your case. Then she will abandon you. Worse yet, she will be dishonest in court filings as to the reasons she wants to abandon you. Avoid!