I reached out to Douglas Walter Drazen regarding appellate representation. While Doug is personally polite and informative to speak with, my overall experience was disappointing.
The hourly rate is steep, and the level of engagement felt detached--like dealing with an attorney more focused on maintaining a lifestyle than actively fighting for a client's specific legal needs. It is a sharp contrast to the dedicated, client-first approach you used to see from attorneys in past years.
Ultimately, I ended up taking matters into my own hands. With guidance from Binghamton Legal Assistance, focused study of prior case law, and my own background in business law, I drafted and filed my own 460.10 appeal and my 440.10 motion to vacate judgment based on new evidence following an Article 78 service--all originating from an unwarranted uniform traffic ticket after a state trooper repeatedly brake-checked me and triggered a potential medical incident.
If you are looking for a surface-level consultation, Doug is polite enough. But if you need an aggressive, highly invested advocate who prioritizes client outcomes over billable hours, you may need to look elsewhere or be prepared to do the heavy lifting yourself. read more