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LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network. For the latest national news from NPR and our live radio broadcast, visitChildcare providers received stipends from federal relief funds. Now that those funds are gone, some are worried about the long-term impact on the industry.in federal relief money to help childcares from having to shut their doors during the pandemic, but that funding expired Sept. 30.
“To the credit of the Newsom administration, they were very prudent about, as much as possible, treating those dollars as one-time resources,” said Donna Sneeringer, chief strategy officer at the Child Care Resource Center, an organization that helps families with childcare resources in Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties.
“It’s important to remember that even though it's a good example of what we can achieve if we organize… I want to be careful not to say, ‘Hey, we're OK.’ Because we're not OK. Our members are still struggling,” he said.Cristian Corona opened up her home childcare business, Little Sprouts Language Immersion Preschool, in Mid-City Los Angeles just a month and a half before the pandemic. She had enrolled about 10 students, but then COVID hit.
Corona, a member of Child Care Providers United, said the contract, which included higher reimbursement rates, was a big win. “To be honest, if we wouldn't have that contract coming, maybe a lot of more providers will have already quit,” she said. In interviews with three former clients and a review of 12 malpractice or negligence lawsuits filed against Block or his firm, LAist found
“This was an entire body of law that was fabricated,” Fusselman said during the sanction hearing. “It's difficult to understand how that happened.” “I think it's virtually certain that the lawyer involved used some kind of artificial intelligence program to draft the brief,” said Russell Korobkin, aEviction court cases center on a high-stakes question: Who gets to stay in their home, and who has to leave.
Block’s firm cited Cole v. Stevenson and 51 Scott Street, LLC v. Sheehan in a recent court filing. Neither case is real.Hallucinations are a known problem in which programs like ChatGPT “tend to produce things that look convincing, but actually have no basis in reality,” he said. “Any time you cite a case and a holding to the court, it has to be accurate,” said Deborah Wolfe, a San Diego malpractice attorney. “That's your obligation. I don't care how busy you are.”
Block’s firm submitted the filing that cited fake court cases in April 2023 as part of a seemingly routine eviction case. His firm’s client said their tenant should be evicted over non-payment of rent. The tenant said their rent had been raised illegally. The court was left to sort it all out.commissioned by the L.A. Right To Counsel Coalition, 97% of L.A. County renters lacked an attorney in unsealed eviction proceedings, while 88% of landlords had legal representation.
Greenwood said the attorney at Block’s firm responsible for drafting the filing relied on “online research.” He said “she didn't check it,” and that she had since left the firm. “I agree with you that by signing the pleading, Dennis Block, the buck stops with him,” said Fusselman, the judge. “But I'm satisfied that Mr. Greenwood was the person who was actually responsible for reviewing the document.”appeared “to be frivolous,” Fusselman threw out the landlord’s lawsuit, allowing the tenant to remain in their home. The underlying eviction case is now sealed, a common practice in California when tenants prevail in court.
“The process itself is very oriented to this almost fast and furious style of case processing,” said Kyle Nelson, a policy analyst and researcher with the tenant rights group But even under those pressures, Rosing said, lawyers have a duty to tell the truth in court. And attorneys have a duty to supervise their staff.Block was admitted to practice law in California in 1976. His profile on the state bar’s website shows no record of disciplinary action., Block said that despite assumptions that all landlords are wealthy, many of his clients are “mom and pops” relying on a small number of units for their income.
Block’s championing of landlord rights has won him a reputation as “a very aggressive attorney,” according to Daniel Yukelson, executive director of theYukelson said Block is known for helping protect landlords from tenant advocates, who Yukelson said can at times use underhanded tactics. In multiple cases, landlords alleged Block’s firm served their tenants notices to pay or quit — the first step toward an eviction — that failed to comply with legal requirements. Others alleged his firm made significant mistakes in routine court filings.
“They should have known the rules had changed,” said Khan, who was unsuccessful in court and ultimately paid the tenant to leave. “They were just taking me along for a ride so they could just continue to rack up the bill.”Other former clients of Block’s firm echoed Khan’s complaint about poor communication.
But, Adlai said, Block’s firm only sent that letter in an email attachment to her. She was in communication with the firm as part of her brother’s lawsuit. She told LAist she didn’t notice the email until months later. No one from Block’s firm ever followed up or called about it, she said — and no one sent it to her brother, the firm’s actual client.
“We had to sell it to pay our legal fees,” said Adlai, who is currently renting a unit in the same building. “I always wanted this property. It was where my dad taught me about life.” After seeking for more than six months to evict a non-paying tenant, the homeowners were hoping for resolution. Their trial was scheduled in May 2021. But on their day in court, Frazier said their attorney from Block’s firm, Marat Antonyan, wasn’t ready.
Antonyan did not respond to an email from LAist asking for comment. Former clients and tenant attorneys told LAist that Block’s firm tends to route messages through one central email address, which they believe worsens communication. “I don't think they did much work on it,” she said. “I don't understand why they just don't give up with the billing.”for legal help. The service, funded by the city and county of L.A., can offer free attorneys in certain cases. ’s eviction assistance center in Downtown L.A.’s Stanley Mosk courthouse can offer low-income landlords legal aid in certain cases. helped make this project possible. Ron Olson is an honorary trustee of Southern California Public Radio.
“A tenant doesn't need to call eight different nonprofit law firms to try to find one that has capacity for their case,” Jager said. “They can just call StayHousedLA.” “Everyone who signs up should be getting some sort of communication back from the legal services provider they are paired with, even if it is to say, ‘We do not have capacity to take this case on,’” said, another Public Counsel attorney. “They might be able to provide a vetted list of referrals to private attorneys who may be able to assist.”on the first floor of Downtown L.A.’s Stanley Mosk courthouse. Tannenbaum recommends showing up early to maximize your chances of getting legal help.
As we know, these early years are a really critical time in a child’s life. Their brains are exploding with new things and experiences. Researchers have shown just how much a child’sBut it’s also at this age where inequities can start. I’ll be looking at policies affecting childcare, children’s health and development, the expansion of transitional kindergarten, maternal health — and basically anything that has to do with children under 5 and their caregivers.
Barger said the project has been a priority for years, but Measure R was a game changer. L.A. County voters approved the measure in 2008, which added a half-cent sales tax to fund new transportation projects and programs. Barger said it was a big ask for voters to tax themselves for transportation, but the Measure R funds are what’s getting this bridge across the finish line.Barger said this project has been in the making for at least 15 years.
Baker’s lead attorney and a spokesperson for the company did not respond to a request for comment. AQMD told LAist it cannot comment on pending litigation. “The public has a right to monitor and oversee and verify. And it can't do that without access to the evidence,” he said.Read our full guide for more tips.
The two-day trip was captured by some lucky motorists on the highways. The California Highway Patrol showed the caravan in an Instagram Reel, advising drivers to give the engines space.According to the California Science Center, the two motors will be installed in the Shuttle Gallery of the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center. Once stacked,"these elements will complete the Solid Rocket Boosters .
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