Downtown Experience, Right Next Door.

I started practicing law in downtown San Francisco eight years ago. During that time, I found that I felt most personally connected to cases involving local small businesses families and individuals, rather than large corporations. To align my beliefs with my work, I moved my practice out to the more centrally located Castro neighborhood. I haven’t looked back since.

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Michael Blacksburg
315 Noe Street
San Francisco, CA 94114
(Tel) 415.861.9900
(Fax) 415.861.9908

Yelp! Lawsuits

If you’re a business having problems with inappropriate reviews, Michael has had success in having them removed if they violate Yelp’s terms of service.

If you’re a reviewer having a conflict with a small business over a review that you believe is fair and accurate, Michael can help protect your rights.

Listen to Michael talk about YELP! in a radio interview

Testimonials

"Count us as among Mr. Blacksburg's pleased and satisfied clients. We couldn't have been in better hands. On our first day as clients, Mr. Blacksburg gave us an easily understandable written guide spelling out our responsibilities in administering our specific trust. He took us through the list and answered all our questions in layman's language. This was instantly comforting. Not only could we follow what we were being told, but also we saw we were in empathetic and experienced hands."

Bernie Guild and Frank Swilling San Francisco

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Pet Owners and Animal Guardians Contact Us to request your FREE report on how to provide for your pet's care after you're gone.

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Straight Answers Blog

Michael answers pressing legal questions for small business, families, and individuals

Breaking a lease
Written by Michael   
Tuesday, 09 June 2009 00:00

Question:

If I break my lease early, is it legal for my landlord to collect rent from me until he finds a new tenant?


Hello Mr. Blacksburg,

I need to terminate my lease in the middle of its term because I am relocating to another state for my job. My landlord is telling me that I need to pay for the rent until he finds a new tenant. Is there any code/law that will get me out of this?

We’ve also had problems with mice in the house since we moved in. This has been reported to the landlord with no response from him.  We’ve been paying for the pest control services ourselves, but the problem still exists.

What are my rights in this situation?
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Rent Control and new tenants
Written by Michael   
Tuesday, 09 June 2009 00:00

Question:

Is there any way for a new tenant keep rent control once all original tenants move out?


Dear Mr. Blacksburg,

I live in a rent-controlled apartment and have lived here for 12 years. About a year ago, one tenant moved out, and the landlord said she'd only accept checks from the three remaining tenants on the original lease.  Now another's moving out, and I have a friend who wants to move in, but she's very concerned about the situation of the landlord stating she won't accept checks from new tenants.

Basically, it seems to us that if/when I and the other original tenant move out, my remaining friend won't have any rights to rent-control, and the landlord will either raise the rent to market value (a huge jump) and/or force her to move out.

Is it legal for the landlord to say she'll only accept checks from the "original" tenants? Is there anything we can do to have her accept checks from my friend? Is there any way my friend can move in and be protected?
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Michael in the News

Michael has  a saying: If you can get yourself into it, he can get you out of it. This attitude gets him onvolved in some interesting cases.

Michael on the radio about YELP!


Click the PLAY button to hear it.