Dallas County Attorney

My family members were in a crash so severe that the victim's vehicle was pushed into the intersection. My mother who was hit spent three weeks in the ICU with life-altering injuries that may reduce her life expectancy. We all continue to suffer from PTSD after nearly losing a loved one.
The driver who caused the crash had no car insurance, ran into my mom's car hoing 60+ at a stoplight and left us to face the overwhelming medical, emotional, and financial consequences. Despite the catastrophic damage and injuries, the Dallas Co DA decided to lessen the charges to two citations: one for not wearing a seatbelt and one for following too closely.
A family's life was changed forever, yet the outcome amounted to little more than a traffic ticket. When an uninsured driver can cause this level of destruction and walk away with minimal accountability, it raises serious concerns about how victims and public safety are being valued by the justice system.

I leave this review here as the handling attorney was Steven L. Cooper. I hope this review is followed up thoroughly as there seems to be a lack of management between the attorney's and GAL. I would hope that Matt Schultz takes this seriously, the lack of foster parents across the country let alone the state is felt considerably due to the lack of management between County Attorney's and GAL's.

To Whom It May Concern,

I would like to express serious concerns regarding Donna Schauer’s performance as a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL).

In my experience, there appears to be a significant lack of direct involvement and communication regarding the welfare of the children under her supervision. Home visits to foster placements are reportedly not conducted consistently, with virtual check-ins being used in place of in-person assessments. Given the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of children, this level of oversight is concerning.

Communication has also been extremely difficult. Phone calls often go unanswered, emails receive delayed or minimal responses, and concerns brought forward are frequently acknowledged without meaningful follow up or investigation. A simple “thank you for letting me know” response is often provided without additional questions or action regarding the matter being reported.

At the same time, when allegations are made, even those believed to be unsubstantiated, immediate action is reportedly taken to involve the County Attorney and pursue removal of children from placements. This inconsistency raises concerns about fairness, thoroughness, and the overall decision making process.

The role of a Guardian Ad Litem is critically important and requires responsiveness, accountability, and consistent advocacy for the best interests of the children involved. Based on these experiences, I believe these concerns deserve serious review and consideration.

Sincerely,
Luis Payan

The state of Iowa hires a company to test the security of the court house and a Dallas County attorney from Iowa decides to lose $600,000 in a case prosecuting the innocent for doing what the state hired them to do.