Los Angeles City Attorney

CITY ATTORNEY ENFORCES ORDINANCE ON ILLEGAL SUPERGRAPHICS

2010-03-23T09:17:00.001-07:00

Residents and community groups throughout Los Angeles have demanded stricter enforcement of a citywide ordinance prohibiting the installation of new digital billboards and supergraphics. The vinyl images are stretched across the sides of buildings by sign companies that make millions of dollars flouting the law.

In response to such violations, the City Attorney charged a commercial landlord with allowing workers to use bolts and wire to wrap an eight story movie advertisement around the face of a 1929 office building on the northeast corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue. The corner is a major tourist destination along Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

The landlord had been warned via letter and e-mail not to post unpermitted supergraphics on the buildings. As a result of the repeated defiance to the City, a warrant was issued and the landlord was arrested at his Pacific Palisades home and ordered held on $1-million bail. The defendant’s bail was later reduced to $100,000 after he agreed to reduce the risk to public safety by immediately removing the illegal sign from his building.

The arrests came less than a week after the City Attorney’s Office filed a separate civil lawsuit involving more than a dozen other unlawful supergraphics scattered throughout the City.

Since the filing, five landlords from a pair of buildings on Hollywood Boulevard have also been charged with allowing illegal supergraphic signs to be erected. According to Deputy City Atty. Spencer Hart, the defendants removed the signs immediately.

Jane Usher and Michael Bostrom are handling ongoing billboard and supergraphic litigation and other matters for the Civil Branch. Chuck Goldenberg, Richard Kraft, David Shepherd, Jose Egurbide, Greg Parham, and Spencer Hart are investigating and prosecuting cases for the Criminal Branch.

CITY ATTORNEY TACKLES L.A. BUDGET ISSUES

2010-03-23T09:11:00.000-07:00

EXCERPTS OF THE COMMENTS OF WILLIAM W. CARTER, CHIEF DEPUTY,
SUBMITTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 9, 2010

The Office of the City Attorney and its employees clearly recognize and understand the serious and unprecedented financial challenges facing the City. As such, this Office and its employees have worked hard and sacrificed much over the past year to reduce costs and do increasingly more with fewer resources. These are not platitudes or hollow words. Our success to date in bearing our share of the burden and reducing the City’s deficit is proven and easy to measure. We have successfully done our job, while at the same time dramatically cutting costs and reducing staff from the General Fund.

It is without question and beyond dispute that, as required under the City Charter, the Office of the City Attorney performs vital and essential public safety services and provides financial protection to the City and its citizens.

Our attorneys also protect the City Treasury by fighting in court against frivolous lawsuits. In the past six months alone, our attorneys and their support staff have saved the City almost $100 million in potential damages. Without these victories that were hard-fought and won by attorneys within our Office, the City would be at least $100 million more in debt.

Each month, approximately 30 to 40 claims are submitted to the City for payment, the majority of which are thereafter denied and filed as civil lawsuits. This Office suffered an 18% budget reduction from the 2008/09 budget to the current year budget (2009/10). Our employees have worked hard to meet our budget – as you can clearly see by the cases they have won.

This Office has done its part in reducing costs while protecting public safety and the treasury during these very challenging times. In fact, by June 30, we will meet or surpass the goals set for our Office.

NEIGHBORHOOD PROSECUTOR GOES THE EXTRA MILE

2010-03-12T10:03:00.000-08:00

  On Monday February 22, 2010, Neighborhood Prosecutor Raffy Astvasadoorian was traveling from the Van Nuys Courthouse to LAPD West Valley Station when he observed an SUV weaving badly from the number one lane into the painted median.

Astvasadoorian pulled up next to the SUV at a red light and looked over to see what could have been causing the driver to weave so badly. Expecting to see the driver eating or talking on a cell phone, he Instead observed the male driver holding a 9mm pistol in his right hand, laid across his chest pointing towards the driver's side door. The driver was having difficulty holding his head up and appeared to be trying to cock the gun.

Astvasadoorian immediately called 911 from his cell phone to report a possible DUI driver holding a hand gun. He followed the vehicle while relaying information about the car to the 911 operator. Within one minute of the 911 call, five LAPD West Valley Division squad cars pulled the driver over.

The suspect admitted to drinking vodka and the gun that was recovered was a loaded 9mm gun. The District Attorney's Office filed one felony count of Penal Code 12031(a)(1) and the case is set for arraignment.

CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS AGAINST ACCIDENT LAWSUIT DEMANDING $22 MILLION

2010-03-11T16:50:00.000-08:00

Deputy City Attorney Victor Schulte and Assistant City Attorney Wilberta Breedy-Richardson

LOS ANGELES –
A Los Angeles Superior Court jury returned a defense verdict in a $22 million lawsuit against the City involving the allegedly dangerous condition at the intersection of 11th Avenue and Slausen, where two students were involved in an accident. The case was successfully defended by Deputy City Attorney Victor Schulte and Assistant City Attorney Wilberta Breedy-Richardson of the City Attorney’s Civil Litigation Branch.

On March 5, 2010, after a two week trial involving approximately eighteen witnesses, the jury, after deliberating for half a day, returned a verdict in favor of the City of Los Angeles.
The City of Los Angeles was sued for approximately $22 million in damages, the plaintiffs alleging that the crosswalk where the accident occurred was maintained in a dangerous condition.

The jury concluded the City had acted reasonably and that the Department of Transportation and traffic engineers had responded to the needs of the community and could not have prevented the accident. The City was found not liable for the accident.

AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

2010-03-11T16:25:00.000-08:00

Pictured: Kimberly Willis, President of the Association of Black City Attorneys with
Earl Thomas, Chief of Criminal & Special Litigation Branch.

In celebration of African American Heritage Month, the Office of the City Attorney, and the Association of Black City Attorneys held a reception on the 8th floor of City Hall East to recognize the appointment of Earl Thomas in recognition of his recent promotion to Chief of the Criminal Branch. Also honored with Earl was Alois Phillips, the Supervising Attorney, San Pedro Branch; James Bell, Bureau of Investigation; Vivian Lackey, Support Staff Supervisor, Metro Branch; Vanessa White, Support Staff Supervisor, Reyes Branch; and Lillian Reed, Legal Secretary III.
The Association presented Mr. Thomas, a founding member of the organization, with a plaque memorializing his achievements in the Office. Over 100 attorneys and staff from the office participated in this tribute to African American heritage and history.

Deputy City Attorney John Carvalho Delivers Huge Win for L.A

2010-03-11T16:22:00.000-08:00

Deputy City Attorney John Carvalho Delivers Huge Win for L.A.

Congratulations to Deputy City Attorney John Carvalho of the Business and Complex Litigation Division, for winning a case which resulted in a $4.8 Million payment to the City of Los Angeles.

The case centered around recovering a $2.1 Million grant that the City made in 2001 to the non-profit group, Concerned Citizens of South Los Angeles (CCSCLA).

CCSCLA used the grant money to purchase a three-acre plot of land at Slauson and Main in South Los Angeles for the purpose of building a community center and soccer field sports complex. However, the land remained largely undeveloped through 2008 when LAUSD used eminent domain to purchase the land for $5.4 million in order to build a new elementary school.

Deputy City Attorney Carvalho successfully argued against CCSCLA’s claim for the proceeds from the sale and advocated that the current market value of the land should be paid to the City of Los Angeles, as CCSCLA had breached its contract with the City when it failed to develop the property per the 2001 agreement.
Following a three-day trial, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Coleman A. Swart ruled in favor of the City and awarded a check for $4.8 million to the City of Los Angeles, as well as $132,092 in attorney fees.

Another Big Win!

2010-01-06T11:47:00.001-08:00

A Los Angeles Superior Court Jury this week returned a defense verdict in a case involving a City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation worker suing the City for $2 million alleging retaliation and discrimination. The case was successfully defended by Deputy City Attorneys Adena Hadar and Casey Chon of the City Attorney’s Civil Litigation Branch.

On December 30, 2009, after a trial involving approximately twenty witnesses spanning over a four-week period, the jury deliberated for less than two hours before returning a unanimous verdict in favor of the City of Los Angeles and Bureau of Sanitation division manager Richard Myles.

In this case, Plaintiff Joel Zuniga sued the City of Los Angeles for approximately $2 million in damages alleging that he was a victim of race discrimination, race harassment, retaliation, and for failure to prevent race discrimination and/or race harassment in the workplace. The complaint was filed following Zuniga’s termination from the Bureau of Sanitation. The jury concluded the City had acted appropriately in the handling of Zungia’s termination and subsequent appeal through the Civil Service process.

Photo: Nigel Skeet

Trutanich "Man of the Year"

2009-12-30T12:22:00.000-08:00

December 30, 2009

Ron Kaye and the folks at OurLA.org voted Carmen 'Nuch' Trutanich is the Man of the Year!

Please take a moment to view the excellent video that OurLA.org have put together:

Read the full article explaining why OurLA.org selected Nuch for this honor by clicking here.

Santa Nuch and Helpers Give Toys and Joy

2009-12-22T16:28:00.000-08:00

On Friday, December 18, City Attorney Trutanich and his “Santa’s Helpers” spearheaded a toy and gift collection within the City Attorney’s office to benefit the children of Para Los Niños.

Unique dolls were donated by the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department and were handcrafted by female inmates at the Century Regional Detention Center. The other toys were purchased in the Toy District downtown, thanks to donations by the City Attorney and his staff.

Para Los Niños was established in 1980 in response to the plight of children living in Skid Row hotels. Today, in its 29th year of operation, Para Los Niños provides integrated educational and family support services to nearly 9,000 economically challenged children, youth and families throughout Southern California.

LACA Roundtable Discussion on Child Abuse

2009-12-08T15:32:00.000-08:00

City Attorney Carmen Trutanich hosted a Meet and Greet/Roundtable Discussion with more than 40 representatives from City and County Child Abuse Agencies.

The City Attorney, along with Tracy Webb, Managing Attorney for the Crime Prevention and Youth Protection Division and Director of Child Abuse Policy, Earl Thomas, Chief of the Criminal and Special Operations Branch and Maureen Siegel, Deputy Chief, Criminal and Special Litigation met with a wide variety of city and county child abuse experts to discuss prosecution and prevention issues important to the community and to examine how we can focus more resources on collaborative and partnership efforts to protect children. In attendance for the event were:

Deanne Tilton-Durfee, Edie Schulman and Cathy Walsh from the Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect;

Eric Marts, Xiomara Flores-Holguin and Emilio Mendoza from DCFS;

Nancy Hayes and Erin Kelley - UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital;

Vince Neglia and Moses Castillo from LAPD's Abused Child Unit;

Marge Graf, General Counsel from the Los Angeles Archdiocese
and Suzanne Healy, Los Angeles Archdiocese Victim Assistance

Monika McCoy, PhD - Los Angeles Community Child Abuse Councils;

Assistant US Attorney Sally Meloch;

James Owens from the County Counsel's Office;

Bill Dworin, Retired LAPD Detective and coordinator of "It's Not a Secret;"

Sue Spears from LAUSD

Carol Baker, Ruel Nolledo and Mayra Gomez from First 5 LA, Laura Romero and Maria Velez from LA Universal Preschool;

Victoria Adams and Pam Booth from the LA County District Attorney's Office;

Rosemarie Belda, Lead Attorney of the LA County Children's Special Investigation Unit, Attorney Richard Schwab, Michael Pines, PhD, Marie Russell, MD - LAC+USC Hospital and Debi Biederman from the LA City Domestic Violence Council and Mara Abrams from the Remedee Foundation.

Carmen Trutanich, the Grand Marshall

2009-12-07T14:30:00.000-08:00

Our Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich was this year's Community Grand Marshall in the 29th Annual Spirit of San Pedro Holiday Parade.

This year's theme was "Celebrating Holidays Around the World".

Carmen and Noreen Trutanich rode in a 1958 Cadillac belonging to Dr. Denis Paglianno.

Cindy Shin Represents LACA in Korea

2009-12-07T12:20:00.000-08:00

City Attorney's Office Public Information Officer Cindy Shin recently visited Korea where she visited Sung-Kyun-Kwan University (Seoul) and Catholic University of Daegu (Daegu) to speak to students about the structure and functions of the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office.

Cindy's presentations were made to a class called, Understanding English Speaking Countries and which is taught at both universities (led by Professor Hyun-Gook Shin, Ph.D.).

Cindy presented an overview of the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office which included information regarding how it serves the City of Los Angeles, and the efforts of the City Attorney to improve the quality of life and public safety for its citizenry.

Students also learned about the Office's Public Information Office and its daily tasks and functions as well as efforts in the Asian American Community.

Professor Shin said the students were delighted with the presentation and gained a new perspective and insight into this government entity. He added that they were very happy to learn not only about the City Attorney's Office and working for the government but also the lifestyle in Los Angeles and studying abroad in the US.

Cindy also visited the Supreme Prosecutors' Office of Korea (SPO), which is, as the headquarters for a multitude of prosecutorial activities, responsible for directing, supervising and supporting all prosecutors' offices around the nation. During her visit, she toured the facility and met with the leading spokesperson, supervising prosecutors and city beat news reporters.

Dress-A-Bear/Dog for the Holidays!

2009-12-07T11:35:00.000-08:00

The Los Angeles City Attorney Police Litigation Unit is once again participating in the Dress-A-Bear/Dog holiday program for the Salvation Army. The bears/pups come "naked" and are lovingly named and dressed by our generous City Attorney employees (PLU). The bears/dogs are dressed to accommodate both boy and girls preferences. Our bears/dogs come in many varieties from precious ice princesses, cheerleader, Ursula and surfer for a girl to Jedi, fireman, pirate and Viking for a boy!

The program benefits families in need who are registered with the Salvation Army in Whittier, CA. The families receive food baskets for the holidays and parents are allowed to pick a bear/dog for their children.

This is the second year the Police Litigation Unit has participated in this worthwhile program.

- Sonia L. Garcia

Wilmington Play Ground Dedication

2009-10-29T17:27:00.000-07:00

Wilmington Vest Park Play Ground - Dedication

October 26, Wilmington, corner of Watson and "O" Street.

The Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney participated alongside Councilwoman Janice Hahn and other public officials from the Department of Recreation and Parks, the Mayor’s Office, LAPD, LAFD, and others, in the dedication of the new Wilmington Vest Park play ground.

The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office was represented by City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, Senior Assistant City Attorney, Deputy Chief, Mary Clare Molidor, Neighborhood Prosecutor, South Bureau Assistant Supervisor, Sonja Dawson, Neighborhood Prosecutor, Harbor Area, Justin Houterman, Deputy City Attorney, Gang Unit, Harbor Area, Panagiotis Panagiotou, and Gang Specialist, CNAP, Jule Bishop.

Carmen Trutanich introduced the team to the attendees and spoke on the importance of taking back our neighborhoods from gangs and highlighted the great accomplishment achieved with the completion of this particular play ground.

This neighborhood was the target of a July, 2007 “takedown” by 500 LAPD officers and ATF agents, resulting in the arrest of 40 gang members and drug dealers, and the filing of 10 lawsuits against property owners by our Office and U.S. Attorney for narcotic and gang offences.

Since that time, the City Attorney’s Neighborhood Prosecutor program has worked with the Cruces (name of the local neighborhood) community (formerly referred to as Ghost Town) to create a viable community group and improve the area. One of the neighborhood goals was to improve the local park (the Wilmington Vest Park) and this event is the celebration of the community successfully obtaining brand new play ground equipment.

Carmen Trutanich participated in the ribbon-cutting with Janice Hahn and then tested the playground himself with the help of a couple dozen children from the neighborhood, who were obviously the happiest of all who were there.

ICAN NEXUS XIV Training Conference

2009-10-29T09:49:00.000-07:00

ICAN NEXUS XIV Training Conference

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - Sheraton Universal Hotel

ICAN NEXUS recently held its 14th annual conference at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office has been an active participant all 14 years including presenting workshops for the past 5 years. The focus of the conference this year was Violence within the home and its effects on children. This is of the utmost importance to us as prosecutors as Child abuse, neglect, cyber crime and child exploitation continue to be an epidemic throughout Los Angeles with the potential for dangerous threats against children growing every day. For those children who survive, the personal and societal effects are staggering. It is our duty as prosecutors to intervene at the earliest possible stage with awareness and prevention programs and partnerships so that we can stem the tide of violence against our children.

Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich joined District Attorney Steve Cooley, Sheriff Lee Baca, Supervisor Michael Antonovich and a host of other Public Officials at the commencement of this conference.

Executive Director of ICAN, Deanne Tilton Durfee, welcomed Carmen Trutanich as the “new kid on the block” within the group of public officials who make fighting and preventing child abuse within Los Angeles a priority.

Carmen Trutanich spoke on the devastating life-long effects that violence in the home has on children, and that the single most important thing to remember is to call the police at the onset of any violence on a child.

The Inter Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect was established in 1977 by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors as the official county agency to coordinate the development of services for the prevention, identification and treatment of child abuse and neglect. The Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office has been actively involved in every aspect of the Council since its inception.

Tracy Webb, Managing Attorney of the Crime Prevention & Youth Protection Division in the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, has contributed to all 14 Training Conferences and is responsible for building the bridge between ICAN and the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office.

The specific ICAN committees that the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office are involved with include their Operations and Policy committee and others that address a host of critical issues such as: review of child fatalities, including child and adolescent suicides; children and families exposed to family violence; Cyber Crime, development of systems designed to promote better communication and collaboration among agencies; prenatally substance affected infants; pregnant and parenting adolescents; abducted children; and grief and loss issues for children in foster care and siblings of children who are victims of fatal child abuse.

City Attorney Explains Medical Marijuana Issue on NBC

2009-10-13T09:24:00.000-07:00

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich was invited on NBC’s “Today in LA” show on Saturday morning to give his side of the hot-button Medical Marijuana issue. The show was live at 7:00 at the NBC studios in Burbank and reporter Ted Chen did the questioning.

In the couple minutes allotted, Mr. Trutanich made it very clear that from the Los Angeles City Attorney’s point of view, this is a public health and safety issue, and that the Los Angeles City Attorney will NOT prevent the legitimate and legal cultivation, distribution and use of Medical Marijuana within the city of Los Angeles.

Mr. Trutanich made the case that the users of Medical Marijuana don’t really know what is in the medicine that they are using, and that if this truly is medicine, it should be tested and examined with the same FDA scrutiny as for example Tylenol. They have a right to know what they are ingesting.

As City Attorney Trutanich explained, this position follows on the heels of three M.M. samples purchased covertly by the City Attorney’s office in CD 9 and 14, being screened for their contents by the FDA in Irvine. Two of the samples that came back had extraordinarily high levels of the insecticide Bifenthrin. One sample was found to have 1600 times the legal digestible limit of Bifenthrin, the other just over 85 times. The City Attorney used the analogy of spraying the ant-killing Raid on your salad and then eating it and that if this is indeed medicine, that these kind of ingredients pose a real health and safety risk to those patients taking the medical marijuana.

This automatically led to the on-air discussion of not really knowing the origin of the Marijuana being ingested, as Bifenthrin in those quantities would definitely NOT be used anywhere NEAR California. Prop 215 on which the cultivation, distribution and use of Medical Marijuana within the city of Los Angeles is based, clearly states that the Marijuana is to be cultivated in a collective.

Reporter Ted Chen was fair and to the point.

The issue marches on.

Posted by: Nigel Skeet
Photos by: Nigel Skeet

City Attorney's Office Hosts Domestic Violence Meet 'n Greet

2009-10-12T11:22:00.000-07:00

October 7, 2009

City Attorney Carmen Trutanich hosted a Meet and Greet/Roundtable Discussion with more than 30 representatives from Domestic Violence Agencies throughout the area.

The City Attorney, along with Eve Sheedy, Director of Domestic Violence Policy, Earl Thomas, Chief of the Criminal and Special Operations Branch and Maureen Siegel, Deputy Chief, Criminal and Special Litigation met with Executive Directors;
Patti Giggans, from Peace Over Violence,
Sara Berdine, from Haven Hills,
Karen Rosenthal from Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles,
TuLynn Smylie, from WomenShelter of Long Beach,
Bernita Walker from Project Peacemakers and
Judith Gordon, from Women’s and Children’s Crisis Shelter.

Also present were;
Marci Fukuroda from Rainbow Services,
Gerrie Rosen from the African Community Resource Center,
LaDawn Best from the LA Gay and Lesbian Center,
Gail Pincus from the Domestic Abuse Center,
TC Kim from the Asian Pacific Women’s Center,
Adriana Molina from Children’s Institute,
Ana Storey from Los Angeles Legal Aid,
Sandra Schooley from Seraphim Manor,
Ellen Sanchez from the Violence Intervention Program,
Kim Goldberg-Roth from Valley Trauma Center,
Kathy Adams from the Child Abuse Trauma Center,
Hamid Khan from South Asian Network,
Michelle Wall from Angel Step Inn and
representatives from Village Family Services.

The City Attorney shared his experience as a Prosecutor of Domestic Violence crimes and his plans to address this serious problem as City Attorney, including introduction of a Bureau of Investigators to provide both trial and victim support and Mentorship programs to prevent and guide youth away from violence.

Participants asked questions covering areas from Restraining Order enforcement to School based programs. The City Attorney confirmed both his personal commitment and the commitment of the City Attorney’s Office to address Domestic Violence both in the courtroom and in the community. The City Attorney clearly recognizes the contribution that Domestic Violence Agencies make to public safety and thanks them for their continued hard work, particularly in these economically challenging times.

Above (left to right) Maureen Siegel, Carmen Trutanich, Eve Sheedy, and Earl Thomas

Posted by: Eve Sheedy
Photos by: David Berger

Trutanich Takes Community Advice

2009-10-02T08:44:00.000-07:00

Thursday, October 1, 2009

The newly formed City Attorney Community Advisory Group held its inaugural meeting on Thursday night organized by Marcia Selz, one of the group's founders and ardent campaigner for transparency in local government.

The group is comprised of representatives from Los Angeles' Neighborhood Councils and Home Owners Associations who not only have a wealth of information and advice for the City Attorney, but who also will provide vital feedback to the City Attorney on how the Office is responding to their needs.

Carmen "Nuch" Trutanich arrived at the meeting keen to hear from the group and received a warm welcome before fielding questions on hot button issues including; Medical Marijuana, Graffiti, Billboard Blight, Ethics and Crime.

There were hard questions for the City Attorney, and hard answers for the Group, many of whom were frustrated by the often overly obscured machinations of lobbyists, developers and planners.

Trutanich's Senior Assistant Jane Usher was on hand to assist the City Attorney some of the questions, along with West LA Neighborhood Prosecutors Dena Carreyn and Gita O'Neill and Sheryl Smith, Director of Public Affiairs.

Promising rapid and responsive solutions to issues in the community, Trutanich urged the group to contact their Neighborhood Prosecutors at the earliest stage to make sure the community gets the service it deserves from the City Attorney's Office. Click here to find out more about the Neighborhood Prosecutor Program.

The first meeting of the City Attorney Community Advisory Group wrapped up its business at around 10:30pm with a promise to meet again in 3 months at the City Attorney's Office, and with a commitment from Trutanich that any 'hot button' issues don't have to wait "Call your Neighborhood Prosecutor, call Jane Usher, call David Berger, or call me." said Trutanich.

Posted By: David Berger
Photos By: David Berger

Thanks to Sheryl Smith, Director of Public Affairs and Chief Public Information Officer John Franklin for logistical support.

City Attorney's Workers' Compensation Program Saves City $6.5M

2009-10-01T16:52:00.000-07:00

October 1, 2009

The City of Los Angeles said a big "Thank You!" to the City Attorney's Office Personnel Department today;

Thank you for saving the City of Los Angeles $6.5M last year, with

Workers' Compensation Claims down by 36%, and

IOD (Injured On Duty) payments down by 32%.

That's the biggest saving of any City Department and it earned the City Attorney's Office Personnel Department an engraved crystal award for their hard work in running an effective program for the 1,000 plus City Attorney employees.

City Attorney Carmen "Nuch" Trutanich congratulated Personnel Director Rosemary Fisher-Anaya and her staff of Christina Sarabia, Kristina De La Vega, Wanda Hudson, Kelly Tran, Irene Quan, Alma Zavaleta and John DiGrazia for their hard work in saving the City more money than any other City Department in these difficult times.

When asked how the Personnel Department was able to achieve such dramatic savings, Director Rosemary Fisher-Anaya said that she believed it was due the their policy of having a more personal "Hands on" approach to handling claims. Giving claimants quick answers to their questions, finding solutions for them and most important of all, "keeping in touch and making it personal."

Posted by: David Berger
Photos by: David Berger

Edgemont Grabber Convicted By Deputy City Attorney Dikran Sassounian

2009-09-29T01:41:00.000-07:00

September 29, 2009

On September 21, 2009, defendant Moises Nunogomez (above) was convicted after a four day Jury Trial in case number 9CA04601.

22 year-old Nunogomez (DOB 11/30/1986) was found guilty of committing four counts of Sexual Battery in violation of Penal Code Section 243.4(e)(1).

The prosecution was handled by Deputy City Attorney Dikran Sassounian of the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office Special Trials Unit and was tried in Department 55 of the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center before Judge Terry Bork and a jury of eight women and four men.

Evidence presented during trial showed that, for a six month period between September 2008 and February 2009, the man who was only known as the "Edgemont Grabber," approached women from behind and grabbed their buttocks and genital area.

The crimes all occurred in the area of Edgemont and Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. Four women who testified at the trial had reported the attacks to the police. The "Edgemont Grabber" was finally identified and arrested on February 13, 2009 by Detectives
Johneen Jones and Hovenessian and Officers Tojong and Lear of the Northeast Division of the Los Angeles Police Department.

The break in the case leading to the Defendant’s arrest came when officers Tojong and Lear responded to the last attack on February 13, 2009. The victim reported the crime from her child’s pre-school. While the officers were showing her a photograph of the suspect, the school handyman recognized him and told officers where he lived. The officers responded to the Defendant’s apartment, where he was taken into custody without incident.

The trial itself was not without problems; three of the victims were unable to identify the defendant, his attacks being sudden, from behind, and momentary. Additionally, although defendant had made admissions to the police regarding his identity, those admissions were not recorded and the defense claimed the admissions could not be trusted.

The defendant also called Antonio Manzo, his live-in boyfriend, as a witness to testify that Nunogomez was gay. The defense used that fact to argue that the defendant's grabbing of the victims' buttocks and genital area could not have been motivated by a "sexual motivation or purpose" (an element of the crime).

Thanks to DCA Sassounian's careful preparation and skillful presentation of evidence, video tape evidence proved the defendant to be the attacker on one occasion, and the defendant's Modus Operandi was sufficiently unique to convince the jury that he was the attacker on the other occasions, with the Jury returning "Guilty" verdicts on all four counts of Sexual Battery.

The still images from the surveillance camera (below) are chilling. They capture Nonogomez's last attack in broad daylight against an innocent and defenseless victim.. His actions, the expression on his face, and his aggressive behavior towards the victim leave no doubt in anyone's mind as to the intentions of the defendant.

After the verdict, DCA Sassounian thanked the Jury for their deliberations and especially thanked LAPD Detectives Jones and Hovhanessian for conducting a thorough and extensive investigation leading to the identification and arrest of the defendant. Sassounian noted that although only four women reported their attacks to the police, the number of victims is likely to be much higher.

Nunogomez remained in custody after the verdict, and he will be back in Department 55 on October 5, 2009 for sentencing. He faces a maximum sentence of Four Years in County Jail and Compulsory Lifetime Registration as a Sex Offender under Penal Code Section 290, popularly known as 'Megan's Law.'

Posted by: David Berger

Deputy City Attorney Jerry Baik Fights To Change The Law

2009-09-24T23:53:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Jerry Baik (pictured above), Supervising Assistant City Attorney of the Identity Theft and Fraud Unit, prosecutes cases where counterfeit (fake) goods are seized. When the case is over and the defendant is convicted, the counterfeit goods are destroyed - that's the law according to Penal Code Section 350, and Jerry wants to change it.

Counterfeit goods come in all shapes and sizes, from the infamous fake Rolex watches through fake Louis Vuitton purses, fake Ralph Lauren Polo shirts, fake Nike trainers, and fake Mattel brand toys. You name it, they fake it; it's multi million dollar a year criminal enterprise.

While Jerry Baik and his Unit was busy prosecuting counterfeiters, he received a call from Ruth Schwartz who runs the Mark Taper Foundation Shelter Resource Bank.

The Shelter Resource Bank is a non-profit agency that distributes donated goods to the thousands of homeless people living in shelters in Los Angeles; people so poor they cannot afford a pair of shoes or T-Shirt.

The Shelter Resource Bank's warehouse is an impressive facility, but there's never enough of the basic needs for Los Angeles' most needy; clothes and shoes and maybe a present for a little holiday cheer. So Ruth had an idea; instead of destroying seized counterfeit merchandise, like clothes and trainers, why not donate them to the Shelter Resource Bank where they can be given to those who need them the most?

Ruth contacted Jerry Baik and asked him if it would be possible to use counterfeit goods in that way. Jerry had bad news for Ruth; the law commands destruction of counterfeit merchandise. "Can't anything be done?" asked Ruth, "it's such a waste." Jerry's answer was "Yes. Change the law!"

Ruth and Jerry worked together on the project; Ruth had to find someone in Sacramento who could propose a change in the law, and Jerry had to write the amendment. Ruth found a sympathetic ear in the form of State Senator Gilbert "Gil" Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) who succeeded in getting Jerry's amendment to Penal Code Section 350 passed in both Houses. The Bill awaits the signature of Governor Schwarzenegger, and anxious to move the process along, Ruth and Sen. Cedillo's staff arranged a Press Release on the roof of Skid Row's Union Rescue Mission for Sen. Cedillo and City Attorney Carmen Trutanich.

And so it was that on Wednesday morning, Los Angeles City Attorney's Office Public Information Officer, Frank Mateljan paced Skid Row apprehensively outside the Mission, waiting for the Senator and the City Attorney to arrive.

It wasn't long before they arrived and were soon engaged in deep discussions as to how to make the most of the proposed change in the law.

Above (left to right), Ruth Schwartz, from the Shelter Resource Bank), Deputy City Attorney Jerry Baik, City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, and Senator Gil Cedillo.

In the uncharacteristically blistering heat of a September morning, Sen. Cedillo spoke of how this change in the law could change the lives of so many needy people.

City Attorney Carmen Trutanich spoke passionately about his childhood. As one of five children of a cannery worker, he knew how precious a gift could be, and if there were counterfeit and donated toys and clothes that could safely be given to our most needy families, he urged Governor Schwarzenegger to sign the Bill to make that happen.

After the speeches were over, the City Attorney met with another one of his deputies; Songhai Miguda-Armstead, Assistant Supervising City Attorney of the Safe Neighborhood Division's Skid Row Project, and LAPD Officer McCain.

Before leaving for his next engagement, the City Attorney paused to greet a young boy, one of the many homeless children at the Union Rescue Mission. Nuch couldn't resist a 'High Five'....

Pity this one didn't make the front page of the LA Times.

The City Attorney didn't have to go far for his next engagement. Frank Mateljan had arranged with the Mission's Carrie Gatlin to use her office for a radio interview with Larry Mantel on his show, AirTalk on KPCC 89.3FM.

Frank got Larry on the line, and we left Nuch to debate Larry over recent events at the City Attorney's Office.

You can hear the City Attorney's interview by clicking here.

Posted by: David Berger
Photos by: David Berger

Special Trials Unit Convicts City's Biggest Tax Cheat

2009-08-27T22:37:00.000-07:00

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Deputy City Attorney Richard Kraft, (pictured above with Investigator Brian Young from the Office of the Controller) successfully concluded the prosecution of the man who holds the dubious distinction of being at the top of the Office of Finance's "Top Debtors List." Kraft is the Supervising Attorney of the City Attorney's Special Trials Unit

After a three week trial, a jury unanimously convicted 47 year old Sohrab Sahab and his company, Prestige Parking, of a total of 295 counts comprising of:
135 counts of failing to remit parking occupancy taxes to the City;
149 counts of failing to file parking occupancy tax reporting forms; and
11 counts of operating parking lots in the City without a permit.

The convictions come in the wake of a 2006 investigation conducted by the City Attorney’s Office and City Controller's Waste, Fraud and Abuse Unit, working in close partnership with the Los Angeles Police Department, following a referral from the Mayor’s Office. The investigation uncovered evidence that Prestige Parking had for years collected, but failed to pay, hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in parking occupancy taxes for 29 parking lots.

“In these times of fiscal hardship for our City and our community, this should send a clear message that financial crimes against the City and taxpayers will not be tolerated,” said Kraft. Investigator Young worked with Kraft throughout the three years that this case has wended its way through the court's criminal and civil courts. The City Attorney’s Office is also currently pursuing a parallel civil action against Prestige Parking for additional unpaid taxes.

Despite City Controller Wendy Greuel's comment that "This conviction sends the message to all tax scofflaws, that cheating on your business taxes may seem appealing in the short-term, but we will do everything in our power to come after you and save taxpayer dollars," the Honorable Judge Edmund Clarke seemed less inclined to sentence Sahab to a lengthy jail sentence.

At the sentencing hearing on August 14, Judge Clarke dismissed the prosecution's suggested sentence of 4 years in jail as "too long," and expressed concerns as to whether the defendant was "too ill to go to jail."

Judge Clarke had patiently listened to defense attorney Roger Diamond's arguments that defendant suffered numerous health issues, especially a sleeping disorder (sleep apnea) requiring the use of a "CPAP device." Diamond asserted that the CPAP device would not be available to the defendant in County Jail, and in his sentencing memorandum, Diamond stated that "the court would be risking the imposition of a de facto death sentence on him by sentencing him to any stay in a lock up facility."

Judge Clarke seemed troubled by the issues raised by the defense and related a personal experience from his practice as a private attorney; he had represented a client whose husband had died as a result the lack of a CPAP device. The judge expressed doubts that the Jail would be able to take adequate care of the defendant due to his "many health issues." Accordingly, sentencing was continued to Thursday, August 20, at 1:30PM.

After the hearing Kraft immediately made arrangements to visit the Jail's medical facilities at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles, pictured below.

Kraft's strategy was to be fully prepared, with evidence as well as argument, to refute any doubt that the defendant could not receive adequate care in custody.

Kraft used the pictures below to prove that the County Jail had adequate, indeed, exceptional medical care facilities.

Scrupulously clean conditions in the Jail's medical ward

A single occupant cell in the medical ward

And a CPAP Device, one of several available to inmates in need

In addition to obtaining pictorial evidence, Kraft also interviewed key members of the Jail's medical staff, and had them subpoenaed, in court and ready to testify when the sentencing hearing took place.

Kraft's preparation paid off. Judge Clarke indicated that he was satisfied that the defendant would receive adequate medical care in the County Jail, and sentenced the defendant to 525 days in Jail, 10 years of probation and $295,000 in fines. Restitution to the City of Los Angeles was ordered, and will be the subject of further litigation.

The case attracted print and broadcast media attention, and the Fox 11 News report can be seen here:

Deputy City Attorney Richard Kraft deserves the thanks of all Los Angelenos, and in City Attorney Carmen Trutainch's words "I want to extend my congratulations to Richard and the Special Trials Unit for their outstanding efforts in this case, and on behalf of the City’s taxpayers."

Documents of interest:

Prosecution Sentencing Recommendation

Defense Sentencing Memorandum

Posted By: David Berger
Main Photo By: Nigel Skeet
Other Credits: Fox 11 News

Civil Litigation Team Saves City Millions

2009-08-17T22:15:00.000-07:00

Monday, August 3, 2009

Deputy City Attorney Christian Bojorquez, together with DCAs Todd Hayward and Kelly Kades, successfully defended the City from a multi-million dollar lawsuit brought by the mother of a 19 month old child who died because the child was used as a human shield by her father during a 2.5 hour shootout with LAPD's Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) officers.

During the two week trial Bojorquez presented evidence to counter the plaintiff's contention that SWAT should not have returned fire as the child's father fired on Officers while holding his child in one hand, and a semi automatic firearm in the other. Exactly what the plaintiff expected SWAT to do was never entirely clear and it seemed as though the plaintiff expected a payout based on emotion rather than law.

The thrust of the case presented by Bojorquez on behalf of the City established that SWAT had acted appropriately in all the circumstances. The Honorable Judge Rolf Treu agreed, ruling that there was no way a reasonable jury could find that the Officers' attempts to rescue the child from her father were unreasonable or inappropriate. Judge Treu thus granted Bojorquez's motion to dismiss the case before the jury had completed their deliberations.

Bojorquez's skillful and persuasive advocacy saved the City of Los Angeles from a multi-million dollar verdict that, in the words of City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, "could have bankrupted the City."

A full account of the facts surrounding this case can be found by clicking here.

We all owe Christian, Todd, Kelly and their support staffers, Sonia and Kelly, a huge vote of thanks for defending the City so ably and for upholding the finest traditions of the Office.

Posted By: David Berger
Photo By: Nigel Skeet

New Neighborhood Prosecutor for Korea Town

2009-08-12T15:39:00.000-07:00

Monday, July 20th, 2009
Olympic Station, Korea Town

City Attorney Carmen Trutanich introduced his new Korea Town neighborhood prosecutor (NP), Minah Park, to leaders in L.A.’s Korean American community at the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles’ (KAFLA) annual board meeting.

NP Park, who is based at the Los Angeles Police Department’s new Olympic Station, served as a neighborhood prosecutor for the LAPD’s Newton Division prior to assuming her current position on July 8th. As the Olympic Station Neighborhood Prosecutor, Minah focuses on the day-to-day quality of life crimes and issues through vertical prosecution and other project-based work.

The KAFLA board meeting - which was held at the Dragon Restaurant in the heart of Korea Town - was filled with elected officials, KAFLA board members, community leaders, and Korean American legislative staff members.

The City Attorney - who was introduced by his Asian American Community Liaison Cindy Shin - also spoke to the 150 attendees about his goals for the office, his commitment to building the most diverse public law office in the nation, and his focus on building a solid partnership with the Asian American Community.

Posted By: Cindy Shin

The Annual City Attorney Family BBQ

2009-08-06T00:49:00.000-07:00

Saturday, August 1, 2009

The flyer flew around the offices, announcing the first Annual City Attorney's Office Family BBQ Picnic of City Attorney Carmen Trutanich's administration.

And so it was that at around 11am on Saturday morning the families of the City Attorney's Office started arriving at the Los Angeles Police Academy near Dodger Stadium and climbed the steps to the picnic grounds.

A 'warm' welcome a the top of the steps - the flaming grill from the BBQ filled the air with the mouthwatering promise of tasty treats to come as hamburgers and hotdogs crackled while our Chefs de Jour, Richard Wright, Larry Budzinski, and Fred Barry tended the BBQ. (Click on any of the photos for more detail, and don't miss the link at the end of the page for more photos).

It's hard to estimate how many people attended as throughout the 5 hour event, as many people were coming as were going, but 900 hamburgers and a similar number of hotdogs were served. So how many hamburgers and hotdogs did you eat?

The air was filled with the scent of good food and great music, provided by our DJ Frankie Dominguez.

Los Angeles City Attorney Mugs were on sale at a bargain price, and were snapped up.

The LACA Baker to Vegas Team was the fundraising the focus of the event, and thanks to your generosity $1,700 was raised to help the Team's expenses next year.

There was a simply amazing cake baked, donated by Tropicana Bakery, commemerating the Annual LACA BBQ proudly displayed at the Baker to Vegas Team's stand.

It was an event of 'firsts'! Certainly the first time a City Attorney event had a Dunk Tank. So when Nuch climbed the steps of the Dunk Tank, it wasn't long before a lucky shot dumped the City Attorney in the water.

The Annual LACA Family BBQ Picnic was made possible by donations - no public money was spent. But most of all it was made possible by the hard work of the many good people of the Office, some of whom are pictured here:

(Left to right) Leti, Stephanie, Ashley, Sheryl, Robbie, Maria and Francisco

Last and by no means least, thanks to our very own Bureau of Investigation Chief Gary Schram for making this even the success that it undoubtedly was.

Plans for next year's event are already underway, so if you have any comments or suggestions, please email Sheryl Smith at Sheryl.Smith@lacity.org.

Posted by: David Berger

Meet Our New City Attorney

2009-07-22T22:21:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, July 11, 2009, newly elected City Attorney Carmen 'Nuch' Trutanich held a "Meet and Greet" for City Attorney employees at the Department of Water and Power's Auditorium.

(you can click on the images for a more detailed view).

Mr. Trutanich's enthusiasm and elation for the gathering of support staff and attorneys was obvious from the spring in his step as he approached the podium, after being introduced by Chief Deputy, Bill Carter.

Mr. Trutanich started his speech by crumbling up his carefully prepared remarks and throwing them away! For about the next two hours the crowded audience got to hear of his plans for the Office and his appreciation of the hard work from all who help to make the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office a premier law office.

If two hours seems like a lot of time, part of the reason was due to Mr. Trutanich taking that time to announce the names of 71 recipients of "Certificates of Appreciation" for their hard work and creditable achievements.

The full list of recipients (in alphabetical order) was:

Greg Adams - General Counsel to the Department of Water & Power
Daniel Aguilera - Civil Liability Management
Diana Aizman - Metropolitan Criminal Branch
Lance Allice - Central Trials Criminal Branch
Kevin Anderson - Family Violence Criminal Branch
Aleen Avanesian - Van Nuys Criminal Branch
Melissa Biederman - Metropolitan Criminal Branch
Lara Bloomquist - Family Violence Criminal Branch
Dirk Broersma - General Counsel to the Department of Water & Power
Amy Brothers - Land Use Division
Niklas Buckingham - Central Trials Criminal Branch
Lee Caldwell - Family Violence Criminal Branch
Quin Calvin - Central Trials Criminal Branch
Mei Mei Cheng - Housing Division – Real Property & Economic Development
Angie Cho - Workers’ Compensation Division
Eric Cioffi - Criminal Appellate
Malaika Cole - Metropolitan Criminal Branch
Leticia Cotti - Civil Liability Management
Rick Curcio - Criminal Appellate
Michelle DeCasas - Metropolitan Criminal Branch
Greg Dorfman - Gang Division
Anat Ehrlich - General Counsel to the Department of Water & Power
Yoneet Eilat - Metropolitan Criminal Branch
Kimberly Erickson - Gang Division
Diego Edber - Van Nuys Criminal Branch
Giselle Fernandez - Pacific Criminal Branch
Valerie Flores - General Counsel Practice Group
Howard Fuchs - Van Nuys Criminal Branch
Jeff Gallagher - Metropolitan Criminal Branch
Nicole Gougis - Metropolitan Criminal Branch
Adena Hadar - Complex and Business Litigation
Matthew Hogan - Volunteer City Attorney – 3 cases w/ guilty verdicts
Shaun Jacobs - Central Trials Criminal Branch
Ben Karabian - Central Trials Criminal Branch
Adrienne Khorasanee - Land Use Division
Richard Kraft - Special Trials Unit
Voltaire Lazaro - Hollywood Criminal Branch
Todd Leung - Complex and Business Litigation
Debbie Lew - Criminal Appellate
Terry Kaufmann Macias - Land Use Division
Katharine Mackenzie - Criminal Appellate
Capri Maddox - Central Trials Criminal Branch
Gloria Dabbs Mann - Pacific Criminal Branch
Heidi Matz - Van Nuys Criminal Branch
Oscar Medellin - Central Trials Criminal Branch
Kristine Moon - Civil Liability Management
Felton Newell - Neighborhood Prosecutor Program
Beth Orellana - Civil Liability Management
Frank Orozco - San Pedro Criminal Branch
Paul Paquette - General Counsel to the Department of Water & Power
Pat Penner - Hollywood Criminal Branch
Francine Ricks - Metropolitan Criminal Branch
Hugo Rossitter - Labor Relations Division
Brad Rothenberg - Central Trials Criminal Branch
Erika Sandoval - Central Trials Criminal Branch
Gerald Sato - Municipal Counsel Appeals
Matthew Schonbrun - Metropolitan Criminal Branch
Michael Schwartz - Metropolitan Criminal Branch
Eric Shannon - Criminal Appellate
Casey Shim - Civil Liability Management
Debra Siedorf - Van Nuys Criminal Branch
Helen Sok - Central Trials Criminal Branch
Veronica Soto - Safe Neighborhoods Division
Johnna Stone - San Pedro Criminal Branch
Vivienne Swanigan - Labor Relations Division
Craig Takenaka - Housing Division-Real Property & Economic Development
Taleen Tertzakian - Metropolitan Criminal Branch
George Turner - Workers’ Compensation
Robert Unruh - Workers’ Compensation
Valerie Valadez - Metropolitan Criminal Branch
Kim Westhoff - Land Use Division

Congratulations and "Thank you" to all of you for what you do for the residents of the City of Los Angeles.

The speech ended with a cntinued commitment to "do the right thing" and a standing ovation from the audience.

Many lingered to chat with Mr. Trutanich and members of his executive staff. It was impossible to photograph everyone, but here are a few shots (and please accept my apologies if we've made any mistakes with your names. it will take us a little time to get to know you all).

Beth Orellana, Gary Guess and Bill Carter

Kim Westhoff

Jeff Isaacs and Steve Gold

Maureen Siegel

Adrienne Khorasanee

Vartan Ter-Ghevondian and Frank Cordero

Harit Trivedi

The Honorable Judge Leslie E. Brown

Mark Lambert and Francisco Figueroa

Irene Martin Del Campo

Earl Thomas, Carmen Hawkins and Jessalyn Pinder

Oh, and one last thing.

Mr. Trutanich also swore-in Nic Danna, the latest hire for the Office. Nic starts as a Deputy City Attorney I and that's the way Mr. Trutanich said all new attorney hires will start. They will work their way up through the ranks to be the finest attorneys doing the work of the people of the City of Los Angeles.

Posted by: David Berger

Congratulations to DCA Susan Strick

2009-06-11T11:36:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to Deputy City Attorney (DCA) Susan Strick for receiving the Susan Bursk Founder's Award from the South Robertson (SoRo) Neighborhoods Council. The Susan Bursk Founder's Award is presented to an individual in recognition of his or her dedication and service to the South Robertson Neighborhoods Community.

DCA Strick was presented with this award on Sunday, June 7, at the 12th Annual SoRo Community Festival.

The goal of the SoRo Community Festival is to build bridges between neighbors, local businesses and public service organizations and to celebrate the cultural diversity of the community.

We congratulate Susan for being honored for her service to the community.

Third Annual Northeast Area Job Fair

2009-06-03T13:16:00.000-07:00

A little over three years ago, the City Attorney's Office partnered with Jewish Vocational Service to create First Chance, a program designed to provide at-risk youth with educational opportunities, job skills training, mentoring, and assistance with employment placement.

As a part of its mission, each year First Chance has facilitated community access to local employment opportunities through the Northeast Area Job Fair.

Now in its third year, the Northeast Area Job Fair focused on securing employers able to provide training and employment opportunities to youth, and individuals with little work experience.

On May 30, motivated job seekers mingled with employers at Rio de Los Angeles State Park. Among the twenty-five employers and training agencies in attendance were: Apple One, Target, Vons, LAUSD, California Highway Patrol, Southwest Carpenter Training Fund, and El Super, a new supermarket soon to open in Highland Park.

Information about juvenile record sealing and expungement was provided on-site courtesy of attorneys from Public Counsel and The Alliance for Children's Rights.

To prepare area residents, the City Attorney's Office also scheduled four work readiness workshops over the month of May, where counselors from Jewish Vocational Service offered their advice about being a successful job applicant.

The Northeast Area Job Fair and related work readiness workshops were planned in partnership with Jewish Vocational Service, the Office of Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Councilmember Ed. P. Reyes, Councilmember Tom LaBonge, Council President Eric Garcetti, Councilmember Jose Huizar, and with the support of The Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council and the Greater Cypress Park Neighborhood Council.

Our thanks to these partners and everyone who worked so hard to make this event a success.

LMU Community Recognizes NPP Martin

2009-05-12T15:15:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago, Loyola Marymount University (LMU) hosted a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)/ Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD)/ Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Appreciation Luncheon at LMU’s Collins Center.

This luncheon recognized emergency personnel who support the LMU and Westchester community.

Special recognition was given to members of LAPD’s Pacific Division, LAFD Station 67 and the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office.

Deputy City Attorney Claudia Martin was among those recognized at the luncheon for her work in the community as a Neighborhood Prosecutor. The recognition came from both LMU and Councilman Bill Rosendahl’s office.

The first photo is Claudia with a plaque presented by David W. Burcham, the Executive Vice President and Provost of Loyola Marymount University. The second photo is Claudia with Mark Grant, Special Assistant to Councilman Rosendahl.

Congratulations Claudia.

Tamales de la Paz (Peace) Event

2009-05-01T12:25:00.000-07:00

Last night, community leaders gathered in Los Angeles’ MacArthur Park neighborhood for Tamales de la Paz (Peace), an event designed to underscore the neighborhood’s deep commitment to peace.

Tamales de la Paz (Peace) also serves to further the existing Rediscover MacArthur Park Campaign which is dedicated to revitalizing the neighborhood and surrounding areas through community partnerships that provide local health, safety, business, festive, educational, recreational, and social service activities.

The campaign has played a key role in transforming the community from a crime-filled "point of destination" into a thriving business and social/cultural "point of destination." The event also highlighted past and future community reinvestment activities.

Certificates of Appreciation were presented by Councilmember Ed P. Reyes to various organizations for helping reverse decades of disinvestment into neighborhood reinvestment within the MacArthur Park/Westlake District.

Sandi “Mama” Romero of Mama’s Hot Tamales, on behalf of the Rediscover MacArthur Park Alliance, presented awards to the “10 Top Hot Tamales of Los Angeles” - 10 community builders whose efforts have had a significant impact on the MacArthur Park neighborhood. Councilmember Ed P. Reyes and Police Chief William J. Bratton were among the award recipients.

A special note of recognition to Arturo Martinez, Deputy City Attorney here in the City Attorney’s Office, who received a “10 Top Hot Tamales” award for his work in the City Attorney’s Safe Neighborhoods Division focused on the MacArthur Park neighborhood.

The event closed with participants dining on a gigantic, 12 foot long “peace tamale” created by Mama’s Hot Tamales.

Valley Bureau Sponsors Forum

2009-04-30T12:35:00.000-07:00

Last week, the City Attorney’s Office Valley Bureau sponsored an Apartment Owners and Managers Forum at the Sepulveda Recreational Center. Other sponsors of the event included Councilman Richard Alarcon’s Office (CD 7) and the LAPD’s Mission Area.

The event was a great success with close to 80 members of the community in attendance.

The City Attorney believes that each neighborhood has its own rhythm, its own sources of pride and its own concerns; which is why our attorneys go out into the community to engage in a dialogue with local residents.

The primary goal of the Office of the City Attorney is to make the neighborhoods of Los Angeles safer – to improve the quality of life for the City’s residents at home, at work and at play. The list of topics discussed at this particular forum included: crime, bulky items and sanitation, the City’s nuisance abatement efforts, eviction, housing inspection, the Neighborhood Prosecutor Program, graffiti, gangs, narcotics and other issues of concern to the Valley community.

There was very positive feedback from both the presenters and participants. One of the requests was that we have a follow-up to the presentation. The Los Angeles Police Department has agreed to host the forum in July.

If you would like to be informed of the when and where of the next forum, please email us at Gloria.Prado@lacity.org

Kids Day at City Hall Recap

2009-04-27T13:13:00.000-07:00

The City Attorney's Office Child Abuse Policy Division, partnered with the Office of Councilmember José Huizar, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), Prevent Child Abuse America, ICAN, Los Angeles Community Child Abuse Councils, I-SAFE, First 5 LA, Jarritos Kids and Los Angeles Universal Preschool to introduce the first “Kids Day at City Hall” event in Los Angeles. The event was last Wednesday, April 22.

More than 200 students from Los Angeles area middle schools as well as from First 5 LA and LA Universal Preschools participated in the event on the City Hall lawn. Activities included fingerprinting of each child, safety awareness games, a visit from the Los Angeles Fire Department and McGruff the Crime Dog.

Representatives from iSafe demonstrated the safe use of the Internet and First 5 had activities to teach the children healthy eating habits. Students were able to explore the Safe City exhibit and were treated to lunch and games throughout the day.

Community Clean Up Recap

2009-04-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, April 18, 2009, the "Don't Dump on LA" illegal dumping prevention campaign, spearheaded by the South LA Neighborhood Prosecutor Program (Acting ASDCA Sonja Dawson and CRS Irene Del Campo), held their most successful community clean up day to date.

The purpose of the community clean up day is to promote education and awareness of the legal consequences of illegal dumping, to instill community pride in their community, and to foster collaborative relationships among governmental and non-governmental agencies engaged in this effort.

The Los Angeles Department of Sanitation reports that the nearly 200 volunteers cleaned a total of 13.53 tons of trash and Lot Cleaning removed a total of 146 cubic yards of trash and debris.

Our special thanks to the 99th Street Elementary School and Principal Sherrie Williams for this important community program to use the school grounds as a staging area.

Denim Day in LA 2009

2009-04-23T12:07:00.000-07:00

We want to thank everyone throughout Los Angeles who wore jeans yesterday to unite against the sexual assault of girls, women, boys and men.

Peace Over Violence’s annual Denim Day in LA & USA is a campaign to raise awareness and educate the public about rape and sexual assault. This year it was Wednesday April 22.

Here in the City Attorney’s Office, jeans were visible throughout the office as a sign of protest against the myths that still surround sexual assault, a show of support for survivors, and a clear commitment to breaking the silence and ending sexual violence, once and for all.

For more information on the work the City Attorney’s Family Violence Unit does supporting survivors of domestic violence, please click here.

Our thanks to everyone for joining together in their support of this important cause!

"Don't Dump on L.A." Community Clean-Up at 99th Street Elementary School

2009-04-17T14:14:00.000-07:00

South Bureau Neighborhood Prosecutor Sonja Dawson, has planned a community clean-up to take place tomorrow, Saturday, April 18, 2009 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM at 99th Street Elementary School.

Details are as follows:

CLEAN-UP STAGING AREA/REGISTRATION
99th Street Elementary School at 9900 S.Wadsworth Avenue, L.A., CA 90002
Meet us at this staging area to registers and pick up your supplies!

CLEAN-UP LOCATIONS

Streets:
* 92nd to 103rd Street from Avalon Boulevard to Clovis Avenue

Alleys:
* Wadsworth Ave. (between 97th & 98th Street)

* Wadsworth Avenue (between 97th & Colden Avenue)

Gated Alleys:

* 92nd to 103rd Street from Avalon Boulevard to Clovis Avenue

Sponsored by the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office Neighborhood Prosecutor Program, Southeast Division in association with:

Office of the Mayor
Council District 8
99th Street Elementary School
L.A. County Sheriff’s Department
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Board of Public Works, Bureau of Sanitation
(CRA) Community Redevelopment Agency
Children’s Institute, Inc.
Board of Public Works, Office of Community Beautification
Board of Public Works, Bureau of Street Services – Lot Cleaning Division
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles
Ameri Corps Youth Policy Institute
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater L.A. & the Inland Empire
People Who Care
Los Angeles Conservations Corps
Los Angeles Conservations Corps, Clean & Green
Southeast Area LAPD
LAPD Explorers
Kids IV Life, Inc. & the Duchess Inc.

Visit our booths and receive information!
• LAPD Explorers
• Sheriff’s Department
• Legal Aid Foundation
• Kids IV Life, Inc. & the Duchess Inc.
• L.A. Corps, Clean & Green (Recycling Program)
• Ameri Corps Youth Policy Institute
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater L.A. & the Inland Empire

Refreshments will be provided! Join us in this important community service project that directly impacts Los Angeles' communities.

Kids Day at City Hall!

2009-04-09T12:57:00.000-07:00

April is "The Month of the Child" in Los Angeles and to celebrate this declaration, the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office Child Abuse Policy Division has partnered with the Office of Councilmember José Huizar, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), Prevent Child Abuse America, ICAN, Los Angeles Community Child Abuse Councils, I-SAFE, First 5 LA, Jarritos Kids and Los Angeles Universal Preschool to introduce the first “Kids Day at City Hall” event in Los Angeles.

The goal of this event is to provide age appropriate and fun-filled activities that promote safety and awareness for children. We expect elementary-aged students from Council Districts 9, 14 and 7. Students will learn how to be safe in their home, community and online.

Kid’s Day at City Hall will be held on:

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Los Angeles City Hall (South Lawn)

200 N. Spring St. Los Angeles, 90012

We look forward to seeing everyone on April 22 for “Kids Day at City Hall!”

Lead Toy Testing Recap

2009-03-16T12:38:00.000-07:00

Since December, the City Attorney’s Office has sponsored eight successful lead toy exchanges at sites across the City of Los Angeles. Because there are no safe levels of lead, City Attorney prosecutors have worked tirelessly to protect Angelenos from the dangers of lead in the home, and in consumer products.

Toys that were found to contain lead were exchanged for a $25.00 American Express gift card. At the testing in February, over 250 cards were handed out in exchange for dangerous toys.

Lead has been listed since 1987 on the Governor's list of chemicals that can cause reproductive harm and birth defects, and since 1992 has been on the list of chemicals known to cause cancer. Exposure to lead occurs chiefly from ingestion, such as eating or putting objects into the mouth, putting young children particularly at risk.

Impacts include birth defects, learning disabilities, hearing loss, reduced attention span, and behavioral abnormalities. Teenagers also can suffer adverse effects, which include brain damage, kidney damage, hearing loss, and impaired growth.

Again, our thanks to our partners in this effort -the Healthy Homes Collaborative, the Center for Environmental Health and other community-based environmental advocacy organizations.

Reporting Child Abuse

2009-03-10T16:27:00.000-07:00

FOX 11 recently did an exclusive story profiling the bravery of two 17-year olds who reported witnessing the abuse and molestation of an 11-year old victim – who also reported the crimes. The witnesses and victim all courageously testified in court, helping prosecutors from the City Attorney’s Office secure a conviction on multiple counts of child molestation.

The Defendant was sentenced to 48 months of probation and 60 days in the County jail. He must also enroll in 25 sessions of counseling for compulsive sexual behavior, register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, pay a $300 fine, and stay away from the location of arrest. A protective order was issued for the victim.

The Defendant lived at the same apartment complex as the victim in the South LA area. He was known to offer the neighborhood kids candy, chips and soda, and as the only tenant with cable TV, often attracted children to his apartment who wanted to watch television.

On August 22, 2008, the victim was walking by the Defendant's apartment when she was lured inside with candy. The Defendant grabbed the victim by the arm, sat her on his lap, and molested her until she broke free.

Two female witnesses who also live in the building saw the molestation through the apartment window and notified their older sister, their parents and the apartment manager. They subsequently spoke with the victim and encouraged her to tell her parents who then notified the police.

It is well established that child abuse greatly increases the likelihood of adult criminal behavior. Abuse and neglect often leave our children with long-term emotional, psychological, and physical damage. These kids join gangs, turn to drugs and alcohol, and then, more often than not, abuse their own kids when they become parents.

In Los Angeles County, the number of child abuse reports has soared to more than 160,000 annually.

• Children who experience abuse and neglect are 59% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile.

• Childhood abuse and neglect increase the likelihood of adult criminal behavior by 28% and violent crime by 30%.

• More than 68% of adult male felons were victims of child abuse and neglect before the age of 12, with 64.5% experiencing physical abuse.

To report any suspected molestation or child abuse, please call LA County DCFS Child Abuse Hotline, toll free within California: (800) 540-4000.

Lead Toy Testing Event Tomorrow

2009-02-20T16:40:00.000-08:00

Since 1987, lead has been listed on the Governor's list of chemicals that can cause reproductive harm and birth defects, and since 1992 has been on the list of chemicals known to cause cancer. Exposure to lead occurs chiefly from ingestion, such as eating or putting objects into the mouth, putting young children particularly at risk.

There are no safe levels of lead. Impacts include birth defects, learning disabilities, hearing loss, reduced attention span, and behavioral abnormalities. Teenagers also can suffer adverse effects, which include brain damage, kidney damage, hearing loss, and impaired growth.

On Saturday, February 21, the City Attorney's Office will hold a Lead Toy Exchange at four locations throughout the city. From 12:00 to 4:00 pm, each of these sites will have testers on-site to test toys for lead content. Please visit www.lacity.org/toys to learn about the locations and RSVP.

In addition to toys, the following items will be accepted for testing: childrens costume jewelry, ceramic tea playsets, childrens backpacks and lunch boxes, childrens Halloween costumes and pajamas. For further information on items with which children frequently interact, please visit: http://www.healthytoys.org/product.searchtype.php

Highlight on Community Policing

2009-01-27T11:31:00.000-08:00

Deputy City Attorney Anne Tremblay recently authored a paper on the important role of community prosecution for the Local Initiatives Support Coalition (LISC)/ Metlife Community Safety Paper Series entitled, “Beyond Community Policing: Engaging Prosecutors in Community Safety Partnerships.”

A copy of the paper can be found here.

Our thanks to Anne and the members of the City Attorney’s Gang Unit and Safe Neighborhood Division for their collaborative work on the piece. Their commitment to educating others on successes and best practices helps engage a broader audience of prosecutors committed to securing our neighborhoods.

Child Abuse Summit

2009-01-12T15:53:00.000-08:00

This past Thursday, in partnership with the Los Angeles Catholic Archdiocese, the City Attorney’s Office hosted a Child Abuse Summit, focused on bringing together members of the religious community and professionals with a role in protecting children and sharing best practices for reducing the incidents and effects of child abuse.

More than 180 attendees representing a diverse group of religions attended the summit, which was held at the headquarters of the California Endowment, in Downtown Los Angeles.

The summit was the third in a series of events hosted by the City Attorney’s office that focus on child abuse recognition, identification, classification, reporting and investigation. Our thanks to the members of the City Attorney’s Child Abuse Prosecution and Policy Unit for bringing these summits together, other members of the City Attorney’s Office involved in the planning, our steadfast partners, and members of the community for their attendance at this important educational event.

Holiday Lead Toy Exchange Program

2008-12-22T12:22:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday, December 20, the City Attorney’s Office sponsored four successful lead toy exchanges at sites across the City of Los Angeles. Because there are no safe levels of lead, City Attorney Office's has worked tirelessly to protect Angelenos from the dangers of lead in the home, and in consumer products.

Dozens of families brought toys to be tested at each of the four sites across the city: Ritchie Valens Park in Pacoima, Stoner Recreation Center in Mar Vista, Hollenbeck Recreation Center in Boyle Heights and Green Meadows Recreation Center in South Los Angeles.

Toys that were found to contain lead were exchanged for a $25.00 American Express gift card.

Our thanks to our partners in this effort -the Healthy Homes Collaborative, the Center for Environmental Health and other community-based environmental advocacy organizations.

Graffiti-Free Zone wins National Award

2008-12-15T12:49:00.000-08:00

The Met-Life Foundation bestowed its annual “Met-Life Foundation Community-Police Partnership Award” to a team of dedicated neighborhood stakeholders consisting of the City Attorney’s Safe Neighborhoods Division prosecutors, the Newton Community Division officers of the Los Angeles Police Department, and the team at the Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD) on Friday, December 5, 2008.

The award was in recognition for the “Graffiti-Free Zone” project. This award, administered by Local Initiatives Support Coalition (LISC) and the Met-Life Foundation, is a prestigious one, handed out only after a nationwide search to find those singular projects that truly embody the concept of ‘‘community.” The ceremony took place at Newton Station, located on historic Central Avenue. Council Member Jan Perry and representatives of the Mayor’s office were also on hand to congratulate the CRCD, the LAPD and the City Attorney’s Office.

The “Graffiti-Free Zone” project was a team effort that targeted a one-mile square area in Los Angeles’ Central Avenue neighborhood where, for years, heavy graffiti plagued the buildings and served as a daily visual reminder to the community of its struggles with gangs, violence, vandalism and crime. This partnership to eliminate graffiti brings together a diverse group of youth and adults committed to a comprehensive graffiti and gang abatement strategy designed to increase neighborhood safety and beauty.

Today, in no small part due to the efforts of the organizations like the CRCD, stakeholders in the community, and, of course, the prosecutors and staff of the City Attorney’s Safe Neighborhoods Division, Central Avenue is flourishing under this community policing project –The Graffiti-Free Zone. Special recognition is due to Newton Neighborhood Prosecutor Minah Park, Anne Tremblay, Rita Venegas, and the entire Safe Neighborhoods Division. Additional thanks, for their continued partnership and assistance, to the CRCD, the LISC and the Met Life Foundation for their continued dedication to the communities of Los Angeles.

Internet Safety Awareness Campaign

2008-12-09T13:24:00.000-08:00

The City Attorney Office announced earlier today with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the Salesian Boys and Girls Club, the kick off the City of Los Angeles’ Child Abuse and Internet Safety Awareness PSA Campaign. The campaign is designed to raise awareness, prevent child sexual exploitation, and promote Internet safety.

In Los Angeles County alone, the number of child abuse reports has soared to more than 160,000 annually. Studies show that children who experience abuse and neglect are 59% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, and childhood abuse and neglect increase the likelihood of adult criminal behavior by 28% and violent crime by 30%. More than 68% of adult male felons were victims of child abuse and neglect before the age of 12, with 64.5% experiencing physical abuse.

Research indicates that 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys will be sexually victimized before they reach adulthood. Also, according to the latest online victimization research, about 1 in 7 youth online (10 to 17 years-old) received a sexual solicitation or approach over the Internet.

The new PSA campaign hopes to combat these often unrecognized and underreported issues, by increasing the visibility of available resources. The City Attorney’s Office will begin distributing five posters created by NCMEC and city prosecutors will distribute these poster-size flyers to various community organizations, libraries, community centers and schools so that they can be seen by parents and members of the community throughout LA County.

Through this campaign, the City Attorney’s Office hopes to convey three main messages:

Child sexual exploitation is a major problem.
If you suspect child abuse or child sexual exploitation, report it to law enforcement.
After you have reported the exploitation to law enforcement, it is very important to notify the NCMEC.

The NCMEC encourages the public to access prevention information and report these crimes against children through NCMEC's Hotline (1-800-843-5678) or online at www.cybertipline.com.

You can also visit the City Attorney's Child Abuse Policy Division for information and updates on the work of the City Attorney's Office on behalf of children.

San Fernando Valley Children's Day, a Salute to Kids

2008-12-03T13:33:00.000-08:00

On November 22nd the San Fernando Valley Coalition on Gangs hosted Children’s Day – a Salute to Kids, at Woodley Park in Van Nuys.

While celebrating children, the event also served to make children and their parents aware of various programs that can keep children out of gangs.

The event – which surpassed everyone’s expectations, with nearly 50,000 people in attendance – began with a parade of 1,000 children and three high school bands, in addition to the carnival rides, petting zoo and food vendors.

A resource fair of 60 organizations offered recreational and educational activities for kids. Other features were Radio Disney, the David Beckham Soccer Academy, the Lakers, the Avengers and a space museum. Teen idol Aaron Carter appeared on the main stage while pre-school idol Elmo gave hugs and posed for pictures with more than 3,000 tots and their parents.

Proceeds from the event will be used to fund gang prevention and intervention activities.

A special thanks to Community Resource Specialist Sandy Kievman for her work on the organizing committee for the event and contributing to its success!

Asian Pacific Islander (API) Workshop: Counterfeit Currency Crime

2008-11-25T17:34:00.000-08:00

The fight against counterfeit currency is critical to protecting the residents of Los Angeles. Counterfeit currency is linked to street gangs and other criminal organizations. The fake money enables these organizations to engage in other crimes like drug trafficking, identity theft and terrorism.

In addition, widespread use of counterfeit currency can devastate the small businesses that power our local economy. Unfortunately, in the midst of economic crises, such as the one currently facing our economy, local businesses often see a spike in the circulation of counterfeit currency.

For these reasons, it is vital that members of the community educate themselves on how to identify counterfeit dollars, whom to contact to report counterfeit currency crime and how to be protected, so they are not victimized.

Last week, the City Attorney’s Office hosted its first workshop for members of the API community on counterfeit currency crime.

The event was held at Wilshire United Methodist Church on Wednesday, November 19^th with members from the API community and outside the community in attendance, as well as members of the media.

Officials from the United States Secret Service’s Counterfeit Currency Section were on hand with a presentation entitled, “How to Detect Counterfeit Currency.”

The United States Secret Service (USSS) presentation included practical tips on how to protect oneself from counterfeit money, information on physical tools to assist in spotting counterfeit currency, and a discussion of counterfeiting “myths.”

To round out the event, the City Attorney’s Identity Theft and Fraud Unit provided an overview on how law enforcement conducts their investigations and prosecutions as well as an explanation of the court process in identity theft and fraud crimes.

The circulation of counterfeit currency affects every level of commerce from neighborhood Mom & Pop stores, to banks and large retail stores, which is why the City Attorney’s Office, alongside attorneys from the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office and the US Attorney’s Office work diligently to prosecute those who are involved in manufacturing and distributing counterfeit currency.

In 2006, the City Attorney’s Office charged three men for passing counterfeit currency at LAX. One of the defendants admitted to knowing how and where to buy the counterfeits. He told authorities that for $400, he was able buy $1,000 worth of counterfeit currency in $100 bills.

He conspired with 2 additional defendants, one who worked at an LAX vending food store, to buy food using the fake $100 bills and thus, laundering the money. Secret Service agents arrested one defendant and used an undercover operation to capture the other two.

Working collaboratively with the LAPD and USSS on another case that same year, the City Attorney was able to charge a man for illegally manufacturing and selling counterfeit currency.

A suspect, who was arrested by LAPD at Universal City-City Walk for passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a cell phone store, was used in an undercover operation to target at the creator of the counterfeit currency.

As a result of the sting operation, Secret Service agents were able to follow the seller to his residence and, upon execution of a search warrant, discover the computer equipment used to produce the counterfeit currency.

The City Attorney’s Office would like to again thank the Asian American Chamber Association, GSD Partners, Inc., LA County Sheriff’s Department - Youth Foundation, Korean American Federation, the volunteer interpreters and the Asian Professional Exchange for their efforts in partnering to make this a success.

Watts Clean Up Day

2008-10-15T11:00:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, October 18th, the City Attorney’s Office, along with other partners in the Watts community and in law enforcement, will be participating in a “Community Clean Up” Day.

From 8:00 am until 12:00 pm, members of the community and organizations throughout Watts will be concentrating on community clean up efforts in three locations: Grape Street to include 107th and Santa Ana, the 110 and Dillon Avenue, and San Miguel to include 103rd and Santa Ana.

Clean-up efforts will include graffiti removal, tree planting, and trash pick-up.

Partners in the clean-up effort include the Watts Gang Task Force, the Watts Neighborhood Council, Council District 15, Lighthouse Community Church, the Housing Authority of Los Angeles (HACLA),LA County Sheriff ’s Department, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), the Watts/ Century Latino Organization (WCLO), San Miguel Church, St. Lawrence Church, Weigand Avenue Elementary School, Children’s Institute, Los Angeles Conservation Corps, LAPD – Southeast Ar ea, Southeast Weed and Seed, Neighborhood Youth Achievers, LA DWP, the Gang Alternative Program (GAP), the Board of Public Works, and Heal the Bay.

The City Attorney’s Office would like to thank these partners for their contributions and efforts toward the Clean Up Day. In addition, our special thanks to Neighborhood Prosecutor Sonja Dawson and Community Resource Specialist Irene Del Campo, both of the South Bureau, for their hard work in organizing the event.

Sign-in and supply pick-up begins at 8:00 am. The event will conclude with a lunch at 12:30 pm at both staging areas -107th and Grape Street and San Miguel Church. These sites will be the location that volunteers should go to for sign-in and supply pick-up. All supplies needed for the clean-up efforts will be provided on site. Please join us in making a difference in the community.

Congratulations to ASDCA Kevin Gilligan

2008-09-30T12:27:00.000-07:00

Last week, Assistant Supervising Deputy City Attorney (ASDCA) Kevin Gilligan was recognized for his work improving South Los Angeles. St. Michael’s Church bestowed the First “Guardian Angel Award” to ASDCA Gilligan at a ceremony in South Los Angeles.

The neighborhood around the church has a crime rate that is 10 times the national average. Over the past several years, ASDCA Gilligan has created and coordinated a joint City-County task force with LAPD and the LA County Sheriff’s Department and code enforcement agencies that has significantly reduced blight and crime along the LA City and LA County border next to St. Michael’s Church.

Former Mayor Richard Riordan, LAPD Commander Patrick Gannon, LAFD Captain Cook and several community members also received awards.

Our congratulations and thanks to Kevin for his continued work on behalf of the residents of South Los Angeles.

Restitution Checks to be Handed out Tomorrow in "28-Day Shuffle" Case

2008-09-24T17:02:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, Thursday, September 25th, between 1:30 to 5:30 pm, restitution checks will be passed out at the James M. Wood Community Center to identified victims of the Skid Row residential hotel owner Rob Frontiera's unscrupulous business tactics. The restitution checks are the result of the City Attorney’s lawsuit, which alleged that some tenants at the Frontier and Rosslyn Hotels (Frontiera's properties) were evicted without being paid legally required relocation assistance while others were unlawfully moved every 28 days or so in order to deny them legal rights - a practice known as the “28-Day Shuffle”.

The Special Litigation Unit of the City Attorney’s Office reached a settlement for the victims that includes a restitution fund that will be used to pay full relocation restitution owed to former tenants of the Frontier Hotel who had been in occupancy for more than thirty days and were required or persuaded to terminate their residency as part of a partially implemented renovation of the property.

Approximately 30 of the 60-plus people who applied for money under the settlement will be coming in to pick up their checks at the James M. Wood Community Center tomorrow while the remaining victims have asked for their checks to be mailed to them.

Following through with the City Attorney’s commitment to set things right for the Frontier and Rosslyn victims, a claims administrator from the case will be on hand to ensure the smooth delivery of the restitution checks.

Gangs and Prostitution

2008-09-23T12:59:00.000-07:00

Since 2002, more than 1,000 prostitutes have been arrested in the Figueroa Corridor and prosecuted by City Attorney Delgadillo’s Neighborhood Prosecutors.

Recognizing the “revolving door” of recidivism couldn’t be stopped with mere suppression, the Neighborhood Prosecutors knew that something more needed to be done to stem the tide of prostitution along the Corridor. First, the City Attorney’s Office targeted 20 nuisance properties for narcotics abatement. Because drug activity is directly linked to many prostitution cases, the nuisance abatement actions resulted in the reduction of prostitution-related crimes at these locations by 65%.

Continuing on this success, in May, the Office announced the filing of a groundbreaking lawsuit seeking to prevent five pimps and 36 chronic prostitutes from operating in the Figueroa Corridor. Known as the Pimp and Prostitute injunction, these nuisance abatement actions are used throughout Los Angeles to target specific pimps and prostitutes who have repeatedly returned to neighborhood corners despite law enforcement efforts to stop them.

Pimps who are also gang members use their gang profits to finance other illegal and often violent criminal activities. When involved in prostitution, they are also more violent toward the prostitutes they control.

They are more likely to punch, to assault or to kidnap these women and they impose arbitrary rules on the prostitutes in order to maintain dominance. Some even go so far as to brand the women with pieces of searing hot metal.

This Office’s work with LAPD on the Figueroa Corridor injunction has led other Neighborhood Prosecutor’s around the City to investigate the connection between gangs and prostitution.

In August, LAPD officers observed three women exit a vehicle driven by a male and attack a woman and her child. When law enforcement officers arrived on the scene, the victim advised the officers that the male in the vehicle was a pimp and that she had previously refused to work as a prostitute for him.

In retaliation, he had the three women assist him in attacking the woman and her child. In fact, the three women kicked the child of the victim hard enough to knock the child to the ground.

During the attack, the women referenced the Rolling 40’s, a notorious criminal street gang featured in the LAPD’s 2007 list of the top ten most dangerous gangs in the City. The reference by these women to the gang during the attack was an indication of gang membership.

The City Attorney’s Gangs Division determined that all defendants, including the male driver, were Rolling 40’s gang members and that the male had previously been served with a Rolling 40’s gang injunction.

Because the male defendant had been discretely directing activities behind the scenes with both his pimping operation and gang activities, he had, to date, no significant record other than being a known pimp.

Despite a witness who gave a statement to the police on the scene later refusing to appear in court, the gang prosecutor proceeded with the case – which ultimately resulted in both the male and the female attackers pleading to several different counts, including Child Endangerment, Pimping, Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and violation of a gang injunction.

Child Abuse Policy Division Update

2008-09-15T10:37:00.000-07:00

The City Attorney's Director of Child Abuse Policy has been invited to join the UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) review team as a permanent member.

The SCAN team, created by statute in the California Penal Code, is a multi-disciplinary panel of experts established by a hospital and consisting of health care professionals and representatives of law enforcement and child protective services. Essentially, the team is composed of community members actively engaged in the proper identification and documentation of child abuse cases. The team meets weekly at the hospital to review the child abuse and neglect cases processed by any of the UCLA hospitals during the proceeding week.

The UCLA team is led by UCLA Pediatric Medical Director and Professor Claudia Wang, MD and is made up of representatives from the UCLA Clinical Social Work department, pediatric nurses and doctors, Child Life development staff, Los Angeles County Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS), UCLA emergency room staff, University Police, LAPD and consulting physicians from Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and Orange County.

The SCAN team serves as a systematic way of examining the strengths and weaknesses of the hospital response to child abuse and neglect cases and drives policy, protocol and research agendas. In addition, the purpose of personnel disclosing child abuse reports to SCAN teams is to prevent child abusers from attempting to hide the pattern of abuse by taking a child to different hospitals for treatment.

In addition, the City Attorney's Child Abuse Policy Division has created and distributed child abuse screening cards for medical and health care personnel to use when child abuse and neglect cases present in a medical setting.

The 4 x 7 laminated cards were distributed to attendees of the City Attorney's Health Care Summit in May and have been given to pediatric doctors and nurses during training at the Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA as well as the UCLA Emergency Room staff to aid in the identification and screening of child abuse and neglect cases.

Upcoming Community Meeting

2008-08-13T15:06:00.000-07:00

Neighborhood Prosecutor Rubin Harsoyo will partner with the Harbor Gateway Weed & Seed group, the Harbor LAPD and the Harbor Gateway South Neighborhood Council to conduct another "Tenants Rights and Empowerment Training" for residents of the 204th Street area on August 25th, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the outdoor venue located at Del Amo Boulevard and Denker Avenue in the Harbor Gateway.

Tenants and stakeholders will receive training on dealing with rental issues, improving communications with LAPD and enhancing the quality of life in their neighborhoods. Representatives from the City Attorney’s Office, the Harbor LAPD, the Los Angeles Housing Department and Inquilinos Unidos, a tenant resource group, will provide information on tenant rights and responsibilities under the law, gang prevention, public safety, apartment watch block groups and city services.

Since the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old African American girl, Cheryl Green, by a 204th gang member nearly two years ago, residents, community groups and city agencies are working together to bring positive changes in the neighborhood through apartment owner and tenant training, neighborhood clean up projects and youth activities.

The City Attorney’s “SAUSA Project”

2008-08-05T15:27:00.000-07:00

Last year, the City Attorney's Office and United States Attorney Tom O’Brien established a partnership between the prosecutors in the City Attorney’s Gang Division and the gang prosecutors in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California (the “USAO”) to prosecute dangerous and violent gang members in the City of Los Angeles by cross-designating and deputizing a number of experienced city prosecutors as Special Assistant United States Attorneys (“SAUSAs”).

These cross-designated SAUSAs work full time in the Criminal Division of the USAO and prosecute cases involving gang members from the City of Los Angeles who qualify for federal felony prosecution. Currently, the City Attorney’s Office has five prosecutors deputized as SAUSAs; two work for the federal Project Safe Neighborhoods Program and prosecute federal felony cases involving gang members with firearms, a third SAUSA prosecutes cases involving gang members who have committed violations of federal immigration law, and the two other SAUSAs prosecute federal cases involving forfeiture of gang members’ illegally obtained assets. All five existing SAUSAs work exclusively on felony cases arising in the City of Los Angeles. This unique partnership significantly increases the resources of the federal government dedicated to safety and security and brings them to bear on behalf of the residents of Los Angeles.

The project is directed by the USAO’s Gang Coordinator and Project Safe Neighborhoods Coordinator, as well as the City Attorney’s Director of Gang Operations, to ensure that the most serious gang offenders are targeted for prosecution. In every case prosecuted successfully by these SAUSAs, the convicted gang members will receive significantly longer sentences than they would receive in the state system and they will be incarcerated in federal prisons under federal supervision where they will not be eligible for parole. The result is that the truly hard-core gang offenders are removed from the local communities they terrorize and, where appropriate, the illegal proceeds of their criminal activities are seized.

Some of you no doubt saw coverage of this office’s recent filing of four gang and narcotics abatement lawsuits seeking restrictions, evictions and physical improvements on five South Los Angeles properties known to be hubs of drug activity for the Black P Stone and Rolling 20s criminal street gangs. This coordinated action was the direct result of the City Attorney’s partnership with federal authorities.

In this joint federal and local action, it was a Deputy City Attorney - acting as a SAUSA - who charged the persons responsible for the sale of the illegal firearms with federal firearms violations that could result, if convicted, in lengthy federal prison sentences.

According to federal authorities, many of the illegal guns seized in the Black P Stones and Rolling 20s sweep were purchased in Arizona and transported to LA in as little as two days time. Overall, this seizure resulted in 119 illegal firearms being removed from the South LA community. The two day sweep also resulted in the arrest of 38 gang members and associates.

The gang takedown was a collaborative effort conducted by the Baldwin Village Task Force, which consists of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, LAPD’s Southwest Division, the United States Attorney’s Office, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office. Our thanks go out to these agencies for their on-going efforts to make Los Angeles safer.

Letters from the Community

2008-08-01T12:33:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles’ West Adams neighborhood has endured crime and visual blight in the form of illegal drug use and sales, illegal vending, prostitution, graffiti, dumping, and gang activity for more than twenty-five years. After attending community meetings, the West Adams community members learned about the Neighborhood Prosecutor Program and asked Neighborhood Prosecutor Jan DeAndrade to assist them in abating these problems.

In working to resolve the community’s concerns, she coordinated and collaborated with LAPD, Council Member Herb Wesson’s Office, the Department of Public Works, and local community members to begin restoring hope, law, and order to their neighborhood. The situation is “improving day by day and is evident to everyone who lives here, and is a topic of conversation between neighbors. Everyone notices that it is no longer the chronic, anarchic, lawless, chaotic situation that it once was.”

One member of the community commented, “We still have a way to go, but I'm confident that this territory will…belong to the community and not those who want to exploit it.”

To that effect, the West Adams Quality of Life Committee – part of the West Adams Neighborhood Association – sent this letter to the City Attorney:

Dear Mr. Delgadillo,

I just wanted to let you all know how pleased our committee has been with the help we had from our neighborhood prosecutor, Jan DeAndrade, in our efforts to remedy the blighted and dangerous conditions at the intersection of Crenshaw and Adams Blvds. in West Adams. The day-by- day reclaiming of this intersection has, in no small part, been attributable to the tireless efforts of Ms. DeAndrade.

When our West Adams Quality of Life Committee took on the issue of drug dealing and crime at this intersection, there was a pervasive sense in our community that this situation…had been entrenched for the better part of three decades. It was with an exhausted and bitter resignation that our residents saw this as a lost battle, of no consequence to any but ourselves. The blight at this intersection had caused such community anger that much of it was burned to the ground in the LA riots of 1992. In spite of rebuilding, the grim and corrosive circumstances persisted, created in large measure by the blatant and overt drug dealing of a cartel that swaggered about at all hours with no fear of legal consequence. They claimed our bus shelters, our sidewalks, and large swaths of business property. The intersection was known locally as "Crack Central", and you spent time there at your peril. The drug trade came with its usual fellow travelers: prostitution, burglary, and devastated families.

Our West Adams Quality of Life Committee decided that improving this gateway to our community was imperative. We wanted this intersection back in the hands of residents, rather than under the control of those who sought to exploit and intimidate us. So, we enlisted the support of our neighborhood prosecutor, Jan DeAndrade.

The co-operation we have received from her has been consistent and transformative. She has been the ideal coordinator, pulling together city officials, law enforcement officers, and private business owners needed to work together to turn this situation around. She has encouraged when possible, insisted when necessary, and has not made idle and unfulfilled promises to our community.

Without grandstanding, she has held businesses accountable for eradicating criminal activity on their premises. She has sat through interminable meetings, patiently listening to and addressing a litany of community concerns, and reported progress to our local organizations. She has issued injunctions to prevent criminals from returning to the area upon their release. She has been charming, approachable, reliable, and, above all, relentless in her efforts to help us.

This is how it is supposed to work. This is a real success story of how the neighborhood prosecutor system can take on a daunting and intractable community problem, and make rapid and sustainable progress. The members of our committee wanted to express our gratitude to this particular prosecutor, and to the City Attorney’s Office for initiating this program.

Sincerely,

Linda Marais
Writing on behalf of the West Adams Quality of Life Committee

Upcoming Community Meeting

2008-07-16T16:01:00.000-07:00

On July 17, Neighborhood Prosecutor Capri Maddox from the Wilshire Police Area will speak at LAPD's Community Advisory Board meeting about updates from the City Attorney's Office, such as progress on nuisance property demolitions and criminal complaints stemming from arrests within the Wilshire Police Area.

In addition, NP Maddox has invited General Manager James Featherstone of the City's Emergency Preparedness Department to be the guest speaker on how residents can prepare residents for emergencies, such as earthquakes.

The meeting will be held on Thursday, July 17, 2008 in the Wilshire Police Station Roll Call Room located at 4861 West Venice Boulevard, LA, CA. 90019 from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm.

School Safety Prosecutor Veronica De Alba Cracks Down on Inhalant Abuse at East Los Angeles High School

2008-07-11T07:54:00.000-07:00

In September of 2007, Deputy City Attorney Veronica De Alba was appointed as the School Safety Prosecutor (SSP) for East Los Angeles’ Roosevelt High School.

Her mission is to prevent crime at, and in the area around, Roosevelt High School through the aggressive prosecution of crimes occurring on and around the campus, as well as developing programs to keep kids safe, out of trouble, and on a path to success.

A few months ago, local parents told Veronica that the parks near Roosevelt were full of air freshener cans and other inhalant products.

Both the LAPD and school police have also confirmed that Roosevelt students and students at other local high schools and middle schools have been found in possession of inhalants while on the school’s campus.

Inhalant use refers to the intentional breathing of gas or vapors in an effort to reach a “high.” Products commonly abused in this fashion include spray paint, air freshener, glue, shoe polish, gasoline or lighter fluid, nitrous oxide, and typewriter correction fluid.

Recognizing that there is a serious problem here, Veronica set about working with the local parents, students, and retailers to develop an Inhalants Prevention Seminar.

As part of this effort, she’s meeting with the students to discuss the health risk of, and laws relating to the possession of, inhalants for the purpose of becoming intoxicated or under the influence.

She’s also working with local retailers to educate them regarding rules and regulations against wrongfully selling to minors products containing certain toxic ingredients.

Retailers in the area who continue to sell dangerous products to minors could face criminal prosecution, including fines and jail time. Interestingly, California is one of the few states that has laws that may be applied to the improper use of certain products that contain toxic ingredients for the purpose of inhaling.

For more information on how you can help to prevent inhalant abuse among our kids, please visit the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition’s (NIPC). The NIPC is the leading national organization dedicated to the prevention of substance abuse through inhalants.