Dennis Paul Block

My experience with Dennis Block & Associates involved specific issues that potential clients should be aware of: In February 2025, I retained Dennis Block & Associates for an Ellis Act filing for my property, paying a $17,000 retainer via two ACH transfers ($10,000 and $7,000). After two months, n...o substantive work was completed on my case - only a few emails requesting basic documents were exchanged. When I needed to pause the process to address a REAP issue with my building and requested a refund, I encountered several concerning issues: The retainer agreement was never countersigned by the firm, which appears to violate California Business & Professions Code § 6148 requiring mutual execution of fee agreements over $1,000. The agreement contained contradictory language: one section stated "Client has the right to a refund of any amount of the fee that has not been earned in the event the representation is terminated," while another claimed the fee was "not refundable." When I requested a refund, Block's office refused to return the unearned portion of my retainer, offering only $1,000 for costs. When I cited the legal requirement for signed agreements, I received an email stating my request was "in bad faith" and suggesting legal action against me if I pursued the matter. Despite my requests, I never received an itemized accounting showing how $16,000 worth of services could have been performed when no actual work was completed on my Ellis Act filing. I have since filed a complaint with the California State Bar regarding these issues. I recommend that potential clients carefully review and retain copies of all agreements, ensure they are properly executed, and clarify refund policies in writing before making payments.

Worst, most detrimental Attorney, and most dishonest Attorney representation we have ever experienced. I am an attorney, but I do not practice Eviction / Unlawful Detainer law. So my partner and I retained Dennis Block’s office to handle an Eviction Trial to evict a non-paying Tenant. Huge mista...ke, unfortunately. Attorney Block charged a high retainer, we received very little representation services, and they were largely useless. Especially considering that Block’s Office charged us many thousands of dollars and then promised us a partial refund which we never received. Despite many requests fir the refund, all we received were broken promises and lies. Their Office clearly and repeatedly breached their agreement to refund us the promised funds. Our complaints to the State Bar, requests for Arbitration, and requests for our promised refund have so far been fruitless. So we now have no choice but to sue the Block Office for Breach of their Agreements and to get our refund. The Block Office and the State Bar oversight have let us down for months.

Horrible experience. Don’t hire this group. Paid him $7500 and all I needed was a lawyer to represent me the day of court everything else I did. Two lawyers showed up late with a long list of people to represent, not the lawyer that they said would show up. They were unprepared. I had to ask who’s wi...th Dennis Block in the court hallway over and over again. Random person pointed to a man. They never asked for me personally. One was rude telling a man to not speak or he wouldn’t represent him. They didn’t do anything and knew nothing about my case after charging me prep time, traveling time and court time. A court appointed a mediator, she helped me and the tenant come to an agreement. One lawyer wrote the agreement and presented it to the judge. He spent 45 minutes on my case. I could have just used the Mediator. I was never sent an Itemized Statement and when I called they sent me an inflated bill of services I never recieved, such as reading about my case, lawyer prep time, 4 hours court time, travel time, sheriff paperwork, etc. All BS. The Itemized Statement said I had a $1600. Refund due to me, BUT when I requested that refund my phone calls were never answered and I have yet to receive my Refund. My emails and phone calls are ignored or never answered.

That was my mistake. I did not. I had an extremely unique eviction and wanted to discuss options but was treated like a complete nuisance. I even paid the $500 "concierge fee" to wait on hold for almost an hour EVERY PHONE CALL. I tried to tell Dennis Block who told me I was being unreasonable with m...y contant emails (I was responding to him telling me to vall the office - providing updates on the wait time). At another time, I mentioned that I myself wanted this expedited and he LITERALLY YELLED at me saying to "not put words in his mouth and he never said he would expedite" to which I attempted to respond that I WAS TALKING ABOUT MYSELF, but couldnt get in a word edgewise before he hung up on me . Just HORRIFIC customer service all around, just not worth it. Do yourself a favor and go elsewhere!

This office treated me like garbage and refused to answer simple questions. The attorney sent to cover Block walked away from me and wouldn't talk to me in a court. The office is besieged with calls. I once spent two hours listening to music. After the eviction was arranged, Block couldn't read email...s indicating that the tenant left on her own accord and proceeded to arrange an eviction of paying tenants because he doesn't get phone messages or emails and then he writes emails saying he does. When told of the problems in dealing with what should be the simplest case ever, he SCREAMED at the top of his lungs as if he's lost his marbles. He told me to never use his law firm again. As if I needed to pay to be treated as he chose to treat me.