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.

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!

While no other Landlord Lawyers during Covid were willing to take my case because legitimate fears of losing, Dennis P Block was the only one willing to take my money. I asked him about the chances of winning my illegal Sub-Tenancy case and that day hungry Dennis Block himself answered and told me "...People do not pay me for my good looks" so I thought I was going to win. He typed up everything about my case over the phone, and collected my money without sending me a complete engagement agreement to sign. He wrote a up a letter/notice to the tenant and sent it that same day, while I had not yet signed his engagement agreement. I did not know he was that desperate for money. The tenant received his notice the Feb 8 the same day after he had paid me and went crazy on me. The tenant then got California State Sponsored Attorney Basta firm to represent him. The case I thought was going ok, but they kept charging me frivolous court appearances while the tenants attorney was appearing remotely Dennis P Blocks attorney were going in to court to rack up the bill. Fast forward, I was at the mandatory settlement conference in June 2021, the tenant offered to pay all back rent and asked to stay, I asked Dennis Blocks attorney what do do, all he said was "Whichever path you take, you cannot turn back" what kind of answer is that? So I refuse the settlement, and I regret it now, we were set for what I thought was a trial which was set for 08/26/2021. On 08/25/2021 I flew from Maryland where I live currently for trial, but guess what there was no trail and I did not need to be there because the tenant asked for Jury Trail and Dennis Block knew this information before hand and did not tell me that It was a Non-Jury Trail and chances are tenant will ask for Jury trail, or that I could have appeared remotely. In fact the day before 08/26 Melinda (whatever her name is) who sounded like an attorney but knows how to get you to pay, called me, asking for more money "so that Dennis Block could be ready for trial" she said "we need to be ready for trail so we need a minimum of $3000." She was lying. A trial which they knew was not going to happen. I mean are they naive? Do they not know the games tenants will play? I kept asking her on the phone, if I needed to fly down or not, but she had no idea. In fact no one replied back to my emails, so I took an emergency flight that night for $500 to LA for the trial next day. I was looking forward to getting justice the next day, but the next day when I went to court for the so called trial lol there was an young attorney there with a 2 page file in his hand who tells me there is no trial today, huh?? Why did I come down? Why did they not simply reply back to my email telling me I did not need to come? The attorney at this point asked me about Evidence against the tenant? Now, all these thoughts in my mind were going crazy, I started to cry, I hardly ever cry, I said you are barely asking me for evidence now after 7 months? I came ready for trial and now the tenant wanted Jury Trial? Per the attorney, cost of Jury trail $2500 a day and could last 5 days. That's $12500 I no longer had plus the jury trial date for sometimes in February 2022 6 months later. So he asked me about settling. There is so much more to this.. Due to character limitation, I cannot write and tell you the entire agony this firm has put me through. They need to be reported. Call me if you need more info on them 3108972699 check out my review on google and yelp also...

So much bad advice. They don't strategize with you. You are just a number! The number to you rental. Seriously. I have received horrible advice on several issues. Prior to filing eviction I wanted to address the challenges and they ignored Neville I didn't know what I was taking about. Well it all ...came up in court. The first time in court had an atty that I wanted to check his IF to confirm he was an atty that's how bad he was. The second time in court more Miney and greater losses from tenant i spoke with another atty and he got it and he said we had to settle. Had we had a strategy in the beginning that would not have happened. They are not about the client. They are about pushing as many client through the door as possible and collecting money. if you get disconnected while talking to an atty. Don't wait for them to call you back..,,, they won't. I spoke with another atty to get advise for small claims and come to find out she was wrong. The judge said I was out of my mind and who told me that. When I said Dennis Block..... oh no wonder. I learned my lesson. Don't waste your money. Hire a local atty. It's worth it.