California nursing homes affiliated with Shlomo Rechnitz are facing lawsuits alleging that patients were raped, ignored and unnecessarily exposed to COVID-19. His companies deny the allegations. This story was originally published by CalMatters. In February 2024, a Los Angeles County jury awarded $2.34 million to an 84-year-old nursing home resident named Betsy Jentz, finding that the […]
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COVID and Churches: U.S. Supreme Court Lifts State Ban on Indoor Services, Other Lawsuits Continue
Among the beach-goers denied, the indignant gun shop owners and frustrated parents who want schools reopened, one set of plaintiffs against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s pandemic shutdown restrictions have scored a big win: churches. A 6-3 U.S. Supreme Court ruling issued late Friday sided with house-bound pastors and their congregants in their claim Newsom’s bans on […]
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Eureka Council Passes New Camping Ordinance
After nearly two hours of discussion, the Eureka City Council voted Tuesday to pass an ordinance repealing and replacing the city’s camping ordinance, with Councilmember Leslie Castellano dissenting. The ordinance was altered to reflect public concern over perceived criminalization of homelessness, changing the recommended criminal charges for involuntary camping from a misdemeanor to an infraction. […]
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County Settles with Counsel for $600K
The county of Humboldt and its long-on-leave counsel have parted ways but Jeff Blanck is not leaving empty-handed after the two parties agreed to a $600,000 settlement, according to reports by the Lost Coast Outpost and the Times-Standard. Read those stories here and here. Blanck was placed on administrative leave by the board of supervisors […]
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Churches, Gun Shops and Irate Brides: Explaining All the Shutdown Lawsuits Against Newsom
Alongside the beach-goers denied, the indignant gun shop owners and the house-bound pastors, Gov. Gavin Newsom now has yet another ticked off challenger to face in court: an extremely disappointed bride-to-be. In the latest filing to challenge the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, Monica Six, an Orange County resident, is suing California’s Democratic governor […]
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Eureka Will Cease Prayer Breakfasts, Pay For Lawsuit
Eureka will discontinue prayer breakfasts as part of a settlement stemming from a 2013 lawsuit seeking the separation of church and local government. The Times-Standard reports that, in addition to no longer sponsoring or endorsing the prayer breakfasts (which Mayor Frank Jager conducted specifically in his capacity as mayor), the city will pay $16,500 to […]
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Injunction in Alderpoint Water Lawsuit Denied
Water tank construction will continue in Alderpoint after a judge today denied an injunction against the state’s payments for the project. Eureka-based contractor Mercer-Fraser is suing the Alderpoint Water District over its bidding process from last year. The company said the lowest bidder was unfairly awarded the project. Read about the lawsuit in this week’s cover […]
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Jason Singleton Responds
The most hated man in Humboldt, whose recent threat of an American Disabilities Act lawsuit was blamed for the closure of Porter Street Barbecue in Arcata, reached out to the Journal with a rebuttal this morning. Jason K. Singleton, who practices law in Eureka, was the subject this week of a viral wanted poster. Calls for vengeance circulating […]
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Arkley Lawyers Threaten Journal With Restraining Order
The letter arrived late last week, printed on the letterhead of Mitchell, Brisso, Delaney & Vrieze, LLP, attorneys at law, and its warning was dire. “The North Coast Journal‘s continued attempts to contact Mr. [Rob] Arkley … border on civil harassment.” Signed by attorney Russell S. Gans, the letter was addressed to Journal Publisher Judy […]