My review concerns my firsthand experience with Carl Hurvich while he practiced through Moretti, Perlow & Bonin, as well as my later attempt to address those concerns directly with the firm.
Hurvich represented me in two related Rhode Island criminal matters. In the first, he represented me through trial following an incident at my daughter's school. I repeatedly raised issues involving the knives and their measurements, discrepancies in the police account, surveillance evidence, and the police use of force against me.
The force was captured on video. Two cell-phone videos were supplied by me, and another relevant video was actually contained in the defense file. That additional video was never shown to me during the representation, was not presented in court, and, to my knowledge, was never meaningfully argued. I did not even know it existed until after I terminated Hurvich, requested my client file, and found it there. I later raised the handling and nonuse of that evidence in post-conviction proceedings, including claims involving ineffective assistance of counsel, prosecutorial misconduct, and suppression of evidence.
I repeatedly asked Hurvich to address the police use of force as part of my defense. In my experience, it was never meaningfully developed or brought to the criminal court's attention despite being captured on video. This was particularly troubling because Hurvich had experience litigating police excessive-force matters, including representing another client in a federal civil-rights case involving the Cranston Police Department.
My concerns continued into a second matter involving trespass and obstruction charges. I repeatedly disputed whether I had ever actually been notified of the alleged no-trespass restriction and asked Hurvich to investigate records, warrants, officer communications, video/audio, witnesses and outstanding discovery. Both trespass charges were ultimately dismissed, but I was advised to plead nolo contendere to obstruction.
I specifically recall Hurvich calling the judge "Six-Month Bucci" and telling me, in substance, that because I was considered a bail violator, I would receive at least six months at the ACI if I did not resolve the case. I experienced that as substantial pressure to take the plea. I am describing what Hurvich told me--not attributing that statement or policy to the judge herself.
I had also suffered a concussion shortly before that court date and had been medically advised not to make significant or legal decisions. I informed Hurvich. My recollection is that he told me it would have no bearing on the matter.
What also influences my review of the firm itself is what happened when I later tried to address these concerns directly. I personally met with a senior owner/partner of Moretti, Perlow & Bonin. I went there seeking help and some accountability for what had occurred while Hurvich was associated with the firm. In my experience, the meeting was extremely dismissive, rude and unprofessional. Rather than meaningfully discussing my concerns or attempting to determine what had happened, I recall being essentially told that Hurvich was simply renting space there. I left with the clear impression that the priority was distancing the firm from the situation rather than trying to understand or address it.
I'm not only reviewing the other stand ins through the firm, I am reviewing the Owner and the representation I received through his firm and my personal experience when I later brought serious concerns to leadership.
For me, the combination of unresolved evidence issues, lack of meaningful follow-up, trial and plea concerns, and the dismissive response when I sought help afterward resulted in a very poor experience. I would not use nor recommend this firm. read more
