Jeffrey D. Cohen

My name is Nicholas Litle. My parents and I retained Jeffrey D. Cohen based on his proclaimed AVVO rating in experience and skills. And, his ability to unravel child hearsay in Washington state
We started this journey firmly believing that this gross misunderstanding would be resolved by Cohen advocating for the truth. However, Cohen appeared unable to navigate extreme procedural errors and malicious prosecution. Cohen seemed disinterested in the truth. Instead, he appeared to avoid evidence. As the case continued, Cohen’s bias became profoundly noticeable, and I feel, unjust.
In fact, Cohen announced to his peers that he believed that I was guilty even before trial began. I feel that he based his opinion on contagion. Compelling, forensic evidence provided by Prosecutors, Benjamin Gauen and Celia Lee.
Imminently, Cohen’s bias contributed to Judge Timothy Bradshaw suppressing a majority of the defense in pretrial while allowing the child hearsay. In addition, instead of re-​focusing on Ryan”s 9 points of child hearsay, as a majority of his defense was not admitted, Cohen focused on his arguments. Arguments aren’t evidence.
I tried to reason with Cohen. Instead of respecting my opinion and experience of the event, he screamed at me. I came to despise him. Cohen wouldn’t listen to me. Cohen then began to avoid me, and spoke to my mother and father about the case instead, which is an ethical violation.
While I had many conversations about retaining new counsel, especially after Cohen’s near-​death-​10-​day-​ICU hospitalization, followed with other serious health issue, starting over seemed insurmountable. Our family didn’t understand the legal process. And, we were so invested in Cohen at this point that we fell even further under his spell of submission and subjugation. The outcome was that Cohen’s bias and poor health, in my opinion, was the root cause of my conviction.
Cohen simply was not effective. Cohen did little to advocate for me in the face of CPS misconduct, over-​zealous police officers, and apathetic prosecutors. Cohen appeared to accept the prosecution’s willingness to believe three at-​risk children’s contaminated stories. Cohen seemed to accept and believe these stories though they changed by leaps and bounds. Cohen appeared to refuse to investigate their history, and that of their family, which reportedly includes prior CPS investigations and incarcerations, rape, assault and battery, fraud, and extreme drug use, etc.
All in all, while Cohen loudly boosted, «I’m Nick’s advocator.» I feel that Cohen rested on his laurels, took $ 88,000.00 of parents’ retirement money, and was the core reason for my conviction.