United Teachers Los Angeles urged to sue to stop schools handover

Oct. 16, 2009 | Adolfo Guzman-Lopez | KPCC

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A law firm hired by the the union that represents Los Angeles Unified School District teachers advised the union to file suit to a policy that would allow outside groups to take over governance of more than 200 school district campuses.

The far-reaching policy, approved by the district's school board two months ago and endorsed by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, would allow charter school operators and other nonprofits to take over newly built and chronically low-performing schools.

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After the motion passed, teachers’ union president A.J. Duffy said that the policy violated the California constitution, and that his union would go to court to stop the change. The Los Angeles Times reports that in a confidential memo written two weeks ago, the firm Trygstad, Schwab & Trygstad urged union leaders to take swift legal action on the grounds that the policy violates the teachers’ labor contract and breaks rules related to the administration of newly-built schools.

A UTLA spokeswoman said union officials were not available for comment. If a suit moves forward, it would be the second time an L.A. Unified policy endorsed by Villaraigosa would end up in court.

In 2006, through state legislation, Villaraigosa gained a decision-making role at the independently- governed school district. Months later, an L.A. County Superior Court judge ruled that the changes violated the state constitution and overturned the law.

Mary
3 months, 2 weeks ago

UTLA better get ready to lose and be ripped off!!! UTLA has chosen an unethical and incompetent firm. I had to file a complaint with the Los Angeles Bar, and they notified me that they have assigned a case number to my complaint.

I hired this firm in 2006. After paying this firm $80K, in 2009, they abandoned me as a client by withdrawing from my cases just before the defense's Motion for Summary Judgment and Motion to Dismiss. The complaints were so procedurally flawed and violated statutue of limitations, no other attorney would handle my cases. The Court dismissed both cases for "failing to respond in a timely manner" due my inability to retain competent counsel. In addition,while being represented by this firm, they failed to respond to a court ruling to amend one of my complaints. The case was dismissed. They could never get it right!!!

An ethical and competent attorney would have never abandoned a cleint before such a crucial hearing. Not only did he damage the merit of my cases, but he was totally aware that by withdrawing from my cases before Summary Judgment, 1. I would be unable to retain new counsel, and 2. the Court would order that I pay defense legal fees.

Their work ethic is nonexistent; their work product was substandard, poorly crafted and seriously procedurally flawed; they failed miserable in knowledge of applying applicable laws and statute of limitations; the complaints wreaked of fabrications, serious misstatement and errors; I was charged for services that were not rendered; doubled billed for services and Mr. Trygstad refused to provided bills for "other services."

When I began to demand this firm correct all of their procedural flaws; serious errors and fabrications in my complaints, justify unnecessary, long delays for scheduling a court trial and refunds for suspicious billing practices, Mr. Trygstad submitted an application to withdraw from my cases by providing false information to the Court.

I was told by Mr. Trygstad, "Have your new attorney correct the errors;" "Why don't you answer the Motion for Summary Judgment yourself."

This firm exploited me as a client through unscrupulous and unethical practices
for their own personal financial gain. When serious representation was imminent, this firm "took off" with my money; is directly responsible for dismissal of my cases and a judgment against me to pay defense attorney fees.

I would seriously advise UTLA to immediately run away from this firm as fast as they can and find another attorney.

Barbara
3 months, 1 week ago

check this out

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