Sammartino & Berg LLP

Andrew Berg was court-appointed for my Superior Court criminal appeal arising from a 2021 arrest. Although I did not privately retain him, he was my attorney, and the charges and physical evidence were serious. My experience was deeply disappointing. Communication was difficult. I repeatedly raised questions about discovery, the school video, and the knife evidence. When I asked about a manufacturer’s response concerning the knife and speaking with an investigator, Berg wrote that he had not received discovery and, “frankly, I don’t want to begin my review of your case until I receive everything from the state.” Complete discovery was important, but physical evidence also needed preservation and investigation before it disappeared. The knife was not a side issue. A criminal charge depended on whether its blade exceeded the legal measurement. I repeatedly asked Berg to have it inspected and properly remeasured and supplied information concerning its dimensions. On May 9, 2023, Berg wrote: “Duly noted. I agree the knife charge should’ve been dismissed. I don’t think it’s gonna be a problem at this level.” He never gave me a clear account of any independent inspection, remeasurement, preservation request, or other concrete action concerning the knife. I later learned from evidence records produced in my federal civil-rights litigation that the knife had been destroyed while the criminal appeal remained pending. I am not claiming Berg destroyed it or authorized its destruction. My criticism is that I repeatedly identified inspection, measurement, and preservation as critical, yet those requests remained unresolved during his representation. Once the knife was destroyed, independent examination became impossible. Saying the charge should have been dismissed was not a substitute for addressing the evidence while it existed. There were also serious problems concerning the State’s proposed resolution. During a recorded office meeting, Berg explained that a Frye hearing protects against a lawyer failing to tell a defendant about an offer. He said the offer is placed on the record so the defendant can confirm it was communicated and decide whether to accept it. That explanation made what happened in my case especially troubling. Berg orally discussed part of the proposal with me, but I was not told in advance that it also included a permanent no-trespass condition. I learned of that condition in connection with the July 10, 2023 Frye hearing. I declined the proposal, as I had told Berg I would not accept a deal. My complaint is not that he caused my decision. It is that I was expected to confirm my understanding and rejection on the record without advance notice of a permanent condition, time to examine its scope and factual basis, or a complete explanation from counsel. The no-trespass issue mattered because I maintained that I had not previously been properly notified of such a restriction. I attempted to place that lack of notice on the record but was not permitted to explain it. I had already told Berg that I wanted him to withdraw because our attorney-client relationship had broken down. In my view, inadequate preparation and untimely communication left me unable to address an important, lasting condition in an informed way. I was not asking Berg to guarantee an acquittal or agree with every argument. I expected appointed counsel to investigate and protect material evidence, explain what had been done, communicate every material term in time for an informed decision, and take documented concerns seriously. I did not receive that level of service. This review reflects my firsthand experience, Berg’s written communications, the recorded meeting, and the court proceeding. I did not receive the investigation, preparation, communication, or advocacy I reasonably expected. I would never recommend Andrew Berg for any type of representation.

I had an excellent experience working with Andy Berg at Sammartino & Berg LLP.  Andy represented me in an employment case and I was extremely pleased with the outcome. From day one, he was professional, strategic, and exceptionally thorough in navigating a complex situation. Andy made sure I was well-prepared every step of the way, kept communication clear and prompt, and fought hard to ensure a fair resolution. His deep expertise and calm, reassuring approach made a potentially stressful process seamless. If you are looking for top-tier legal representation for employment matters, I highly recommend Andy Berg and the law firm of Sammartino & Berg LLP, in Providence, RI.

In a situation where nobody else act like they cared this man took the time to help me out and steer me in the right direction in a situation where he didn't even deal with the type of case that I'm dealing with. He should empathy and compassion while me not even being a client and help me feel better about my situation and steering me in the right direction. I would recommend him highly to anyone who needs legal help