Cases & News
Family’s Baldwin Hills home completely destroyed by mudslide*
Location: Baldwin Hills, CA
Article published in: KTLA5 News
Written by: Josh DuBose
After torrential rains drenched Southern California, causing widespread damage across the region, two families in the Baldwin Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles have been displaced because a hillside collapse destroyed their homes.
The back bathroom wall of Matt Jewett’s home on Don Diablo Drive punched through the hallway Sunday night when the hill behind his family’s house came crashing down.
Fortunately, the Jewett family, including 4-year-old Jack and 2-year-old Cully, were out of state when the mudslide occurred.
*Steven A. Blum and Gary Ho represent a party in this case.
Courtesy: KTLA5 News
Wall Street Journal Article about the Peartree Landslide in Rolling Hills Estates*
Location: Rolling Hills Estates, CA
Excerpted from article published in the Wall Street Journal.
Written by: Nancy Keates
Wei Yen, 74, a retired finance officer, and his wife, Leesa Yen, 66, a teacher, owned one of eight homes that, in July 2023, slid off a cliff into a canyon in Rolling Hills Estates, in an area that had never had a landslide before. It is completely separate from the Portuguese Bend slide complex. The city has a mixture of townhomes and single-family homes that sell for anywhere from $1 million to $4 million. Five other homes were badly damaged.
In early July 2023, Leesa noticed a skinny, 7-foot-long crack on the tiled patio outside the front door. A few days later, one of their neighbors called the fire department over similar cracks. The department advised all the homeowners in the surrounding block to pack up essentials just in case. By 9 a.m. the next day, the house, and the land on which it sat, started sliding into the adjacent canyon. “I was lucky to get out of there in time,” says Wei.
Please click on this link to read the entire article in the Wall Street Journal.
*Steve Blum and Gary Ho represent Wei and Leesa Yen, who are featured in this article.
Wei and Leesa Yen owned one of eight homes that, in July 2023, slid off a cliff into a canyon in Rolling Hills Estates.
The Yens bought their 2,000-square-foot, three-bedroom, three-bathroom townhome, shown here before the slide, on Peartree Lane in Rolling Hills Estates in 2010.
PHOTO: WEI YEN
Courtesy: The Wall Street Journal
Sinkholes threaten Bonsall family's home after county stormwater destroys underground pipes*
Location: San Diego, CA
Article published in: NBC 7 News San Diego
Written by: Alexis Rivas, Mike Dorfman and Mark Sackett
Imagine nearly 50 basketballs rolling past your front door, per second, every second. That’s how many cubic feet of county stormwater flowed through underground pipes directly beneath the Stavinohas’ driveway. The Bonsall family said they had no idea those 30-in diameter underground pipes ran right through their front yard until it was impossible not to see them through gaping holes in their driveway.
Two sinkholes in less than two years have chewed away at the Stavinohas’ concrete driveway. What once was a flat front yard, now resembles a shallow bowl; a bowl that sinks lower and lower into the earth after every rain.
*Steven A. Blum and Gary Ho represent the plaintiff in this case.
Courtesy: NBC 7 News
Mudslide in Pacific Palisades displaces family of eight*
Location: Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, CA
Article published in: CBS News & KCAL News
Written by: Danielle Radin
A small mudslide hit a house in Pacific Palisades Sunday night, displacing a family of eight - four adults and four children - said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Nicholas Prange.
The mudslide happened around 7:50 p.m. Sunday in the 900 block of N. Las Lomas Avenue. An approximately 100-foot by 200-foot area of the hillside sloughed off and made contact with a house downhill. The sloughing involved only the top layer of soil, investigators said.
*Steven A. Blum and Gary Ho represent the plaintiff in this case.
Courtesy: CBS News & KCAL News
Devastating landslide in Rolling Hills Estates appears to have stalled but more homes evacuated*
Location: Rolling Hills Estates, Los Angeles County, CA
Article published in: ABC 7 Eyewitness News
Written by: Ashley Mackey
A landslide that has destroyed homes in Rolling Hills Estates appeared to have slowed but more residences were evacuated. Over the weekend, 12 homes along Peartree Lane were red-tagged - deemed unsuitable for habitation - due to the landslide that heavily damaged at least 10 of those buildings.
Five additional homes were ordered evacuated Tuesday because earth movement broke a sewer line, although those homes had not moved, the city of Rolling Hills Estates said in a statement. In total, 17 homes have now been evacuated since the landslide Saturday.
*Steven A. Blum and Gary Ho represent the plaintiffs in this case.
Courtesy: ABC 7 News
Their neighbors lost everything in a massive landslide. Now they fear for their homes*
Location: Rolling Hills Estates, Los Angeles County, CA
Article published in: Los Angeles Times
Written by: Grace Toohey
Sepideh Razipour and her husband never thought they could afford to be homeowners, but when their Rolling Hills Estates rental went up for sale, they scrambled to make the townhouse their own, pulling together savings and borrowing from extended family.
But before they made their first mortgage payment, a massive landslide upended life on Peartree Lane, pulling eight neighbors’ homes down a nearby canyon and pushing others into different levels of structural purgatory. Razipour’s home survived unscathed, but the land movement damaged crucial sewer lines, which left her unit unlivable.
*Steven A. Blum and Gary Ho represent the plaintiffs in this case.
Courtesy: Los Angeles Times
Homeowners insurance typically won't cover rain flooding damage
Location: San Diego, CA
Article published in: CBS 8 News
Written by: David Gotfredson
Separate flooding policy needed to insure home is covered, max is $250,000
San Diego County saw widespread damage from flooding and mud flows on Monday. You might think homeowners insurance or renters insurance will cover damage from rainstorm flooding, but it will not.
“The most important thing that people need to recognize is that their home insurance policy will not cover damage done by a flood. Across the United States flood insurance is covered separately from our home insurance policy and is actually excluded from the home insurance," Heller said.
Courtesy: CBS 8 News
Several San Diego County roads, schools closed after heavy rain, flash floods
Location: San Diego, CA
Article published in: FOX 5 News
Written by: Anna Ashcraft
Several San Diego roads and schools are closed after heavy rain and flash flooding was reported across the county Monday. First responders have been urging people to stay off the streets as there have already been several rescues.
The County of San Diego on Monday issued a local emergency on behalf of the Board of Supervisors.
The announcement comes “in anticipation that resources and assistance from the state and federal government may be needed because of damage caused by flooding from the storm January 22, 2024,” the county said in a news release.
Courtesy: FOX 5 News
Peter Thiel Sued Over Landslide That Damaged Neighbor's Home*
Location: West Hollywood, CA
Article written by and published in: TMZ
Paypal cofounder Peter Thiel is pissing off a neighbor who claims Peter's new mansion caused a landslide that buried the dude's home ... according to a new lawsuit.
Peter is being sued by his neighbor, who claims the City of Los Angeles won't let him live in his own house after it was damaged by a landslide emanating from Peter's hillside property.
*Steven A. Blum and Gary Ho represent the plaintiff in this case.
Courtesy: TMZ, Getty Images
More homes in Rolling Hills Estates could be threatened as landslide prompts evacuation of 12 homes*
Location: Rolling Hills Estates, Los Angeles County, CA
Article published in: KTLA 5 News
Written by: Will Conybeare, Annie Rose Ramos, Vivian Chow
A massive landslide forced the evacuation of a dozen homes in a Los Angeles County neighborhood late Saturday night, and police, fire and utility company officials were on scene as early as 6 a.m. Sunday morning with the area completely closed off.
At least 12 homes were evacuated in Rolling Hills Estates along Peartree Lane next to the canyon area, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said. A total of 16 residents were forced to leave their residences.
*Steven A. Blum and Gary Ho represent the plaintiffs in this case.
Courtesy: KTLA 5
8 homes evacuated after retaining wall collapse in Corona*
Location: Corona, Riverside County, CA
Article published in: KTLA 5 News
Written by: Josh DuBose, Chris Wolfe
A retaining wall collapse in Corona prompted the evacuation of eight homes, officials with the Corona Fire Department announced Monday. The incident happened during the morning hours in the 2100 block of San Diego Drive, authorities said.
The expansive concrete block retaining wall beneath several homes crumbled, cascading down onto adjacent properties, burying backyards and patios and, reportedly, smashing through glass doors.
*Steven A. Blum and Gary Ho represent the plaintiffs in this case.
Courtesy: KTLA 5
‘Unusually heavy’ rains caused Rolling Hills Estates landslide, city report finds*
Location: Rolling Hills Estates, Los Angeles County, CA
Article published in: LA Times
Written by: Grace Toohey
Excessive rainfall last winter from a string of atmospheric river storms caused a landslide in Rolling Hills Estates in July that destroyed eight homes and deemed several others unsafe, according to a city report released this week.
The report, prepared by an outside geotechnical engineering firm, found “the primary factor that caused the Peartree Lane slope failure was the unusually heavy rainfall that occurred during the winter of 2022-2023.” The 277-page analysis, conducted by Irvine-based GeoKinetics and reviewed Friday by The Times, is considered a preliminary assessment.
*Steven A. Blum and Gary Ho represent the plaintiffs in this case.
Courtesy: KTLA 5
Valencia Park neighbors impacted by 2022 mudslide sue city of San Diego*
Location: Valencia Park, San Diego County, CA
Article published in: NBC 7 San Diego
Written by: Jeanette Quezada
You may remember a mudslide that evacuated several neighbors on Trinidad Way in the Valencia Park neighborhood back in 2022. Now, some neighbors are taking the city of San Diego to court.
The neighbors who filed the lawsuit said the city has done nothing to make repairs, and that’s why they decided to take matters into their own hands.
Joe Reyna still remembers watching the ground cave in from his neighbor’s backyard into his own in September of 2022.
*Steven A. Blum and Gary Ho represent the plaintiff in this case.
Courtesy: ABC 10 News
California landslide halts rail service, homes evacuated
Location: San Clemente, Orange County, CA
Article written by and published in: AP News
A landslide in Southern California has closed a historic cultural center, shut down rail service in the area and forced the evacuation of nearby residences, officials said.
The slope below the ocean-view terrace at Casa Romantica and Cultural Center and Gardens in San Clemente dropped about 20 feet (about 6 meters) on Thursday after several days of minor earth movement, city officials said in a news release. Casa Romantica announced that it was temporarily closed and all events were canceled.
Courtesy: Associated Press
Landslides, sinkholes, floodwaters plague soggy California*
Location: West Hollywood, CA
Article published in: CTV News
Written by: John Antczak, Stefanie Dazio, Janie Har, Olga R. Rodriguez, Kathleen Ronayne, Noah Berger, Seth Borenstein
Sinkholes swallowed cars and floodwaters swamped towns and swept away a small boy as California was wracked by more wild winter while the next in a powerful string of storms loomed on the horizon Tuesday.
Millions of residents faced flood warnings, nearly 50,000 people were under evacuation orders, and more than 110,000 homes and businesses were without power because of heavy rains, lightning, hail and landslides.
*Steven A. Blum and Gary Ho represent the plaintiffs in this case.
Courtesy: NBC News
The curious case of San Francisco's leaning tower: 'There is nothing like this'
Location: San Francisco, CA
Article published in: The Guardian
Written by: Julia Carrie Wong
The Millennium Tower in San Francisco, California, has sunk 16 inches and tilted two inches since completion.
The city’s tallest residential building is sinking, and has been compared to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Now the blame game is coming swift and furious.
The luxury condominiums at the Millennium Tower in San Francisco include every conceivable perk – from a wine cellar and screening room to the opportunity to attend “fireside chats with local and international thoughts leaders” – but for Frank Jernigan, one of the best features is the “engineering” button on the house phone.
Courtesy: Beck Diefenbach/Reuters
Hillside collapses near singer Johnny Mathis’ Hollywood Hills home
Location: Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, CA
Article published in: KTLA 5 News
Written by: Josh DuBose
With heavy rains from recent storms soaking Los Angeles, yet another hillside has collapsed, with this one near the Hollywood Hills mansion of Grammy Hall of Fame singer Johnny Mathis.
Aerial footage from Sky5 on Tuesday showed the aftermath. The hill fell toward the 1400 block of Sunset Plaza Drive, below the singer’s home, exposing what appears to be a walkway to the house and drainage pipes.
Courtesy: KTLA 5
Debris Removal Underway At Site Of Sausalito Mudslide*
Location: Sausalito, San Francisco, CA
Article written by and published in: CBS News
Work crews from San Rafael-based engineering contractors Maggiora & Ghilotti, Inc. on Friday morning began clearing debris from the area of a destructive mudslide in Sausalito.
The mudslide on Sausalito Boulevard early Thursday morning destroyed two homes, damaged four other homes and five vehicles, according to City of Sausalito officials. Six structures were red tagged as being unsafe.
*Steven A. Blum and Gary Ho represent the plaintiffs in this case.
Courtesy: CBS News & KPIX 5
Family displaced, hundreds of homes damaged after massive dirt flow in Orcutt*
Location: Orcutt, CA
Article published in: KSBY News
Written by: Jacob Dizon
On Tuesday, maintenance crews were in an Orcutt neighborhood clearing tons of dirt that flowed through nearby homes and piled up on the cul-de-sac of Hibiscus Court.
Officials say hundreds of homes have been impacted.
One family came back to their house after evacuating Monday evening and received the unfortunate news that they had been displaced, and would have to leave home again.
*Steven A. Blum and Gary Ho represent the plaintiffs in this case.
Courtesy: KSBY News
Massive slide near Ben Lomond leaves home teetering on cliff's edge*
Location: Ben Lomond, Bay Area, CA
Article written by and published in: CBS News
Nowhere in the San Francisco Bay Area have rains been more fierce and unrelenting than in and around the Santa Cruz Mountain community of Ben Lomond.
Since the parade of 11 atmospheric rivers and other storms began pelting the region beginning on Dec. 26 more than four feet of rain has fallen.
The deluge has left the soil saturated, rivulets of water can be seen leaking out of the hillsides, and local creeks are swollen with runoff.
*Steven A. Blum and Gary Ho represent the plaintiff in this case.
Courtesy: CBS News
Preschool and neighbors in San Francisco's Mission facing major storm damage repairs*
Location: San Francisco, CA
Article published in: CBS News
Written by: Jose Martinez
One of the biggest impacts from the pouring rain is now showing up as damage to private property.
For a preschool in a residential neighborhood in San Francisco's Mission District, damage to a retaining wall has left young students without a playground and neighbors without back patio space.
*Steven A. Blum and Gary Ho represent the plaintiffs in this case.
Courtesy: CBS News & KPIX 5
San Franciscans affected by rain prepare for another atmospheric river*
Location: San Francisco, CA
Article written by and published in: CBS News
The playground of a preschool in the Mission was destroyed two months ago after a retaining wall collapsed on New Year's Eve. Now, they're getting ready for more heavy rain.
"It's still a mess. We've not received any support from the city, state, or FEMA," said Bethica Quinn, executive director at Centro Las Olas preschool.
*Steven A. Blum and Gary Ho represent the plaintiff in this case.
Courtesy: CBS News & KPIX 5
Landslide shifts Orinda home off base, several feet down hillside after storms
Location: Orinda, San Francisco, CA
Article written by and published in: ABC 7 News
A home along Cedar Lane in Orinda is completely condemned after it slid off its base and several feet down a hillside.
The family left that home Wednesday after the county building official deemed it unsafe to stay.
One home next door to that residence has been yellow-tagged and other homeowners say they are staying alert.
Courtesy: ABC 7 News