A Former District Attorney Now Fighting For Your Rights
In my office the other day, I met with a person who, following a series of events that took place in downtown Buffalo the night before, had been charged with possession of cocaine. When asked about the possible penalties and whether or not they needed to hire an...
The other night, as I was having dinner with a friend in Buffalo, he asked me what he should do if, God forbid, he was ever pulled over for DWI. I told him, “It's important to be calm and cooperative with the officer.” I have seen much better results for individuals...
Individuals charged with driving with a suspended license are among the most common cases I defend in justice courts and other city courts. Aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle is a criminal offense in the state of New York, and it does not matter...
In the state of New York, criminal mischief is the term used to describe vandalism and the penalties vary based on the amount of damage the individual caused. Damage of $250 or less is considered an A misdemeanor and the crime is punishable by up to one year in jail....
Most of the goods and services we use on a daily basis arrive in stores because of the work of commercial drivers. Obtaining a commercial driver's license in New York State takes a while and, once obtained, it's a valuable asset that allows people to work and earn a...
I recently had someone in my office who had been charged with possession of a firearm. New York State has very strict laws with regard to possession and utilization of firearms, with crimes ranging from A misdemeanors all the way up to B felonies. The charge depends...
An old legal maxim says, “An attorney who represents himself has a fool for a client.” People sometimes ask me if they can just defend themselves from a DWI charge, rather than spending the money to hire an attorney, and my answer is an unequivocal, “No!” An attorney...
A couple of weeks ago, an individual who was ultimately charged with leaving the scene of an accident with property damage called me. He had bumped another car while in a parking lot and did not think there had been any damage to his vehicle or the other vehicle....
Throughout my career in Buffalo, I have met with many different types of clients, some of whom had good dealings with police, and some who may not have acted appropriately as they were dealing with police. I am often asked, “How should I deal with a police officer?”...
When I consult with individuals charged with DWI, we obviously review the possible resolutions to their case – whether it be taking the case to trial, working out a plea agreement, or possibly having the charge reduced to driving while ability impaired, which is a...
