Gustavo Reyez Gonazlez, who was diagnosed with silicosis after having worked with engineered slabs used in kitchen and bathroom countertops for nearly two decades at local shops across Southern California, won his case against several companies that manufacture artificial stone slabs. 

“I am grateful to the judge and the jury,” Wendy Torres, Gonzalez’s wife, said. 

Gonzalez, 34, received a live-saving lung transplant in 2023. He sued several manufactures of the engineered stone. 

In what is believed to be a landmark trial and verdict, the jury last month found in his favor, awarding him more than $52 million in damages.

“I’m hoping that other workers won’t have to face the same illness and possible death during this time,” Torres said. “It’s something that is killing other human beings, and hopefully it will stop, so that these workers will actually have a future with their families, and a future to live and be with their loved ones.  

“Hopefully verdicts — consumers hearing about this, and workers hearing about this – can send a message to these companies to stop selling these products,” said James Nevin, Gonzalez’s attorney, said. 

Increasing number of silicosis cases

Health experts say cutting, sawing and crushing stone slabs can lead to the exposure of silica dust that goes into the air and into a person’s lungs, causing silicosis.

And engineering stone, which sometimes can be cheaper and more durable than natural stone, can contain a much higher percentage of silica. 

As the NBC4 I-Team and Telemundo 52 Investiga have been following the increasing number of silicosis cases stemming from the stone cutting industry, there are now calls to ban some popular products a lot of people have in their kitchens and baths.

A complete ban of artificial stone is not something on the table right now, according to local lawmakers the I-Team and Telemundo 52 Investiga have spoken with.

While there are new temporary standards to more safely work with engineered products, a proposal intended to strengthen regulations and license manufactures and sellers of artificial stone in the state was pulled by the author in July.

“My final meeting with state agencies and the administration, there was a lot of pushback because of the cost of this system,” said Luz Rivas, State Assemblymember for 43rd District. 

Cal Osha said new standards on how to work with the engineered stone slabs are expected to be made permanent by the end of the year. 

Majority of U.S. silicosis cases are from LA County

As of Sep. 3, 2024, there were 178 confirmed cases of silicosis related to engineered stone in California with at least 13 deaths and 19 lung transplants, according to the state’s Department of Public Health. 105 of the total cases are in Los Angeles County. 

Health experts say silicosis mostly affects Latino men who work in fabrication shops.

Investigation Aug 26

They were diagnosed with silicosis, then denied worker's comp

I-Team Jul 17

California bill on silicosis safety measures abandoned as cases rise

What happens when a country bans engineered slabs?

So far, only one country in the world has banned the use of artificial stone slabs.

“Australia’s banned it. The U.S. has got to do it, too,” said Jeremy Buckingham, a member of parliament from New South Wales, Australia, explaining that the new ban of engineered stone in Australia went into effect this summer. 

“The expectation is that we could lose tens of thousands of people to silicosis over the next decades,” said Buckingham, who was a stonemason before entering politics. “I’m one of those people. I have to go and have a lung screening every year because of the high-risk exposure I experienced.”

The Australian lawmaker said the legislation followed a rise in popularity of the manufactured stone as an inexpensive alternative. Subsequently, there was a rise in silicosis cases in the country.

“The numbers of people getting sick and dying were horrendous,” he said. 

Buckingham admitted that there remains pushback from manufacturers of the engineered products.

“They remained very concerned about the ongoing liability to register this material and then have it ultimately removed by licensed professionals in a safe way,” Buckingham explained. 

He said in Australia, mostly immigrant workers were the most impacted as well. 

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Gustavo Reyez Gonazlez, who was diagnosed with silicosis after having worked with engineered slabs used in kitchen and bathroom countertops for nearly two decades at local shops across Southern California, won his case against several companies that manufacture artificial stone slabs. 

“I am grateful to the judge and the jury,” Wendy Torres, Gonzalez’s wife, said. 

Gonzalez, 34, received a live-saving lung transplant in 2023. He sued several manufactures of the engineered stone. 

In what is believed to be a landmark trial and verdict, the jury last month found in his favor, awarding him more than $52 million in damages.

“I’m hoping that other workers won’t have to face the same illness and possible death during this time,” Torres said. “It’s something that is killing other human beings, and hopefully it will stop, so that these workers will actually have a future with their families, and a future to live and be with their loved ones.  

“Hopefully verdicts — consumers hearing about this, and workers hearing about this – can send a message to these companies to stop selling these products,” said James Nevin, Gonzalez’s attorney, said. 

Increasing number of silicosis cases

Health experts say cutting, sawing and crushing stone slabs can lead to the exposure of silica dust that goes into the air and into a person’s lungs, causing silicosis.

And engineering stone, which sometimes can be cheaper and more durable than natural stone, can contain a much higher percentage of silica. 

As the NBC4 I-Team and Telemundo 52 Investiga have been following the increasing number of silicosis cases stemming from the stone cutting industry, there are now calls to ban some popular products a lot of people have in their kitchens and baths.

A complete ban of artificial stone is not something on the table right now, according to local lawmakers the I-Team and Telemundo 52 Investiga have spoken with.

While there are new temporary standards to more safely work with engineered products, a proposal intended to strengthen regulations and license manufactures and sellers of artificial stone in the state was pulled by the author in July.

“My final meeting with state agencies and the administration, there was a lot of pushback because of the cost of this system,” said Luz Rivas, State Assemblymember for 43rd District. 

Cal Osha said new standards on how to work with the engineered stone slabs are expected to be made permanent by the end of the year. 

Majority of U.S. silicosis cases are from LA County

As of Sep. 3, 2024, there were 178 confirmed cases of silicosis related to engineered stone in California with at least 13 deaths and 19 lung transplants, according to the state’s Department of Public Health. 105 of the total cases are in Los Angeles County. 

Health experts say silicosis mostly affects Latino men who work in fabrication shops.

Investigation Aug 26

They were diagnosed with silicosis, then denied worker's comp

I-Team Jul 17

California bill on silicosis safety measures abandoned as cases rise

What happens when a country bans engineered slabs?

So far, only one country in the world has banned the use of artificial stone slabs.

“Australia’s banned it. The U.S. has got to do it, too,” said Jeremy Buckingham, a member of parliament from New South Wales, Australia, explaining that the new ban of engineered stone in Australia went into effect this summer. 

“The expectation is that we could lose tens of thousands of people to silicosis over the next decades,” said Buckingham, who was a stonemason before entering politics. “I’m one of those people. I have to go and have a lung screening every year because of the high-risk exposure I experienced.”

The Australian lawmaker said the legislation followed a rise in popularity of the manufactured stone as an inexpensive alternative. Subsequently, there was a rise in silicosis cases in the country.

“The numbers of people getting sick and dying were horrendous,” he said. 

Buckingham admitted that there remains pushback from manufacturers of the engineered products.

“They remained very concerned about the ongoing liability to register this material and then have it ultimately removed by licensed professionals in a safe way,” Buckingham explained. 

He said in Australia, mostly immigrant workers were the most impacted as well. 

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Tires

Drivers are recommended to check the pressure of their tires as hot temperatures can cause the air in the tires to expand. Experts urge people to find the vehicle’s manufactured recommendation in the owner’s manual.

Also as extreme weather can lead to wear and tear, AAA recommends inspecting all four tires by putting a quarter into the grooves to check the tire tread. If you see the top of George Washington’s head, it’s time for new tires.

Air conditioner

If there’s a noticeable decrease in the cool air coming out, experts recommend getting the AC checked.

The cabin filter that cleans the air and helps it flow through the system may deserve a second look during a heat wave.

Car fluids and battery

Fluids like the coolant are essential for helping prevent the car engine from overheating.

Drivers should also check engine oil as well as brake, transmission and power steering fluids to make sure they are all at the correct levels, according to AAA. The evaluations should be done by professionals.

Some auto parts stores offer battery checks for free.

Brakes

If brakes are making a grinding sound or creating a vibration when applying the brakes, a brake inspection should be done at an auto repair show, said AAA.

EXTREME HEAT Sep 5

Think it's hot? Wait until you step into food trucks in Santa Ana

Los Angeles Sep 2

Cooling centers open in LA as escape from scorching heat

Other tips to protect your car

• Park in a shaded area
• Use a sunshade
• Keep a well-stocked emergency kit, which should include drinking water, flashlight with fresh batteries, paper towels and snacks, in the car.

Reyes is caring for her 88-year-old mother, and her family needed more space. 

“I don’t have to worry about the stairs in her room, whether she falls or she doesn’t,” said Reyes.

But her mother is now sleeping in the family’s living room because Next Generation Builders ditched the job. 

Reyes paid the company $84,000 — just $20,000 short of the total contracted amount — and she got a skeleton of a home.

She said workers framed the unit, poured the concrete floor, installed rough plumbing and then never came back. She said the workers told her Next Generation Builders stopped paying them. 

“It was my family’s savings. My account is zero. I have nothing. They took all of it,” said Reyes.

Real Estate May 8

Bellflower couple awarded $12,000 in arbitration against Lowe's, but company didn't pay up

INVESTIGATIVE Jan 3

Tree contractor takes thousands of dollars from South Pasadena family but doesn't do the job

Twenty miles away in East Los Angeles, there’s a similar story.

Lily Rodriguez paid Next Generation Builders $200,000 — nearly the entire price of her project — for a two-story ADU. But workers abandoned the project long before it was complete. 

“I think these people are in it for money. They’re doing it just to see how far they can go and how many people they can get money from,” said Rodriguez. 

The I-Team talked to other homeowners throughout Southern California who are also out thousands of dollars. 

We tracked down two people tied to the company: Angelina Gorbaseva, CEO and a 2018 graduate of the University of Southern California, according to her Linkedin page; and Esteban Araya, who also once claimed to be the CEO on social media, but his recent posts show him traveling the world. 

Gorbaseva didn’t return our phone calls and texts.

In a phone call with Araya, he told us to “be careful of putting out wrong information.” Later, in a text message, he accused us of defamation. 

The company’s website is now down although a new one has popped up that links back to the company’s Instagram page. 

“What was supposed to be a great experience is definitely not a great experience. It’s been a nightmare. Very stressful,” said Rodriguez. 

The I-Team also had questions for the Contractors State License Board.

Many homeowners we talked to had filed complaints with the board although none of them showed up on the board’s website.

After the I-Team asked the board about this, it posted the complaints. It also suspended the company’s license because its bond has expired. 

But those actions by the board are too late to help many homeowners. They’re now trying to scrape together money to finish their projects. 

“I’m going to have to use my credit cards. There’s no other way. Those people took my savings,” said Reyes. 

Here are tips for hiring a contractor

• Check the contractors license online.

• The contractor is only allowed to collect upfront either $1,000 or 10% of the cost of the project, whichever is less.
• Your payments should not exceed the cost of the materials used and the work performed. 

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

The men were stopped after a short pursuit along Coldwater Canyon Avenue south of Mulholland Drive, and investigators told NBCLA items believed to have been stolen from the home were found inside an Audi sedan the pair was driving.

The LAPD has been increasing patrols and focusing investigative efforts on residential burglary cases, which Department data shows have been on the rise.

Crime reports filed over the last four years show the number of burglaries in homes and apartments rose by nearly 40% from 5,173 in 2020 to 7,219 in 2023, according to the data.

Residential burglaries continued to rise in 2024, according to Chief Dominic Choi, but at a much lower rate, around 4%, as of August.

The overall burglary rate, which includes business and commercial burglaries, began to drop at the end of August, the LAPD said.

Los Angeles County Aug 28

George Gascón discusses Sherman Oaks break-in, stance on handling crime

Sherman Oaks Aug 27

Robbers tied to Sherman Oaks home invasion are arrested in Compton

The nature of the investigation that led to Wednesday’s detainments were not immediately available.

The operation involved officers and detectives from other law enforcement agencies, officials said.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

“We have no other choice. It’s terrible,” longtime Villa Espana Townhomes resident Julie Ditchik told the I-Team of the price hike, adding her and her neighbors’ monthly fees for trash collection will go from $92 to more than $600 per unit.

“What are these people going to say when you raise the rate 574%?” asked homeowners association president Roz Ross, who said she unsuccessfully appealed to the company and the city for relief.

The city of Los Angeles requires most multi-unit residential buildings, like apartments, condos and townhomes, to contract for waste and recycling collection through a specific private waste firm, depending on the neighborhood, through the RecycLA program.

The city caps the fees for bin and dumpster collection but allows the private firms to tack-on additional fees for opening electric gates or the distance between the street and the locations of the trash bin.

The RecycLA program only allows the use of the city-designated trash company, so residents at Villa Espana say they’re unable to find an alternative waste hauler that might charge less.

The HOA received notice of the increases earlier this year after Waste Management determined that the complex should incur more distance fees, according to collection quotes sent by the company, meaning the distance between the street and the location where each bin has to be picked-up.

The complex doesn’t have room for centralized dumpsters, and large trash trucks cannot access the driveways inside, so each resident puts individual bins outside of their garages Thursday mornings for pickup.

“Our fees would be going up from approximately $5,300 a month to $37,000 a month,” said Ross, explaining about $24,000 of the new charges are made up of those distance fees.

Service quotes sent to the HOA and shared with the I-Team showed the new charges for one side of the complex on Newcastle Avenue would be $22,726 each month, and the other side on Lindley Avenue would be $15,081.08 each month, totaling $37,807.08.

Waste Management agreed to postpone the increase for three months, meaning the new fees would take effect September 1 unless the company reduced the amount or the city intervened, she said.

In email statements to the I-Team, Waste Management initially denied it quoted an amount topping $30,000 and said it had proposed an alternative service agreement for much less money.

“We have held several constructive meetings with the property owners of the complex about their service options and charges consistent with the recycLA program,” Waste Management’s media office said.

“In May 2024, [we] found a solution for the customer that involves no access or distance fees, while remaining in full compliance with the RecycLA program,” the company said.

Villa Espana residents explained that proposal, which would cost $6,457.84 each month, would no longer include trash and recycling collection inside the complex, meaning residents would have to pull their bins, more than 100 of them, outside the complex gates and on to the surrounding streets, which are jammed daily with parked cars.

Ross said that wasn’t realistic, and in order to continue with the door-to-door collection the residents have received since 2019, they would have to pay the new distance fees, which she said few of the residents could afford.

“I mean, we complain about gas or something going up a few pennies, what about something like this? This is terrible, and we have no choice,” she said.

A spokesperson for City Councilwoman Nithya Raman said her office offered to assist with negotiating a reduced bill in May and said her office remained willing to intervene if the Villa Espana residents couldn’t resolve the situation with Waste Management directly.

LA Sanitation, which manages the RecycLA program, did not respond to repeated requests for information on the distance fee assessment or its management of the trash collection contractors, including Waste Management.

RecycLA was started around 2018 in order to require multi-unit residential buildings to begin sorting trash into separate solid waste and recycling bins, rather than allowing residents to toss all waste into one large dumpster. State laws will also require separate green waste bins.

The United States Attorney’s Office of the Central District of California tells the NBC4 I-Team the Vulnerable Communities Task Force began last October.  

“The victims are very often vulnerable communities. What I mean by that is groups that historically have had less access to legal resources. So, for instance, older adults, immigrants and indigent individuals who are using public benefits,” E. Martin Estrada, United States Attorney for the Central District of California, said.  

He told the I-Team one of the main reasons for creating the group is to assist with the difficult process of reporting what people have experienced. 

It’s now a click away.  

A new link has been added to the Department of Justice website that gets people to a form where they can submit their complaint. 

“We will then work with federal law enforcement authorities to look into investigating the case. I will say we cannot investigate every case, but those cases that truly affect victims in a profound way, we will open and investigate,” Estrada said.   

Scams Jan 30

Grandmother loses life savings and sues bank 

Marijuana Dec 27, 2023

New California law targets colorful packaging to curb illegal marijuana sales  

As for those who perpetrating the crime, Estrada said many of them are overseas.

“We have these criminal networks operate overseas that reach into this country to commit fraud,” he said. 

“That’s because they use things like the internet, mail, phones and text messages, and that means it can be a federal case. Now we look for the cases that have the biggest impact on the community. So where we see repeat conduct, we investigate those cases,” Estrada added.  

Several cases have been filed or sentenced since the announcement of the task force in October 2023. 

A Department spokesperson told the I-Team most recently the team has opened at least five new investigations. 

“To me, the difference between a civil case and a criminal case is the presence of lying, cheating and stealing,” Monica Tait, Assistant U.S. Attorney in charge of the Vulnerable Communities Task Force, said. 

She urged people to be as specific as possible when reporting potential fraud. 

“The first thing I want to hear is that you’re a potential victim of something. And I want to hear who did it to you, when did it happen, how much money did you lose and how did it affect you? And if you can crystallize the part about how you’re a victim of fraud and put that as your top sentence, that will get people’s attention,” Tait said. 

Estrada said no one should feel fear or embarrassment to report their experiences. 

“My very clear message is to not have shame, not be embarrassed. We know that anyone can be a victim of fraud. In fact, just a month ago, we learned that one of the most famous and the most successful baseball players ever, Shohei Ohtani, was a victim himself of fraud. If Mr. Ohtani can be a victim of fraud, anyone can be a victim of fraud,” Estrada said. 

The Vulnerable Communities Task Force reporting claims form can be found here. 

Connecting with this task force does not mean that what may have happened to you will rise to the level of a federal crime but the group believes it is a step in seeing if there is possible legal action 

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Those in favor of the state bill said it was a way to hold shops accountable and keep workers safe.

But the assemblyperson who authored the bill tells the I-Team some state regulators were not “receptive” to the idea.

Health experts say cutting, sawing and crushing stone countertops can expose workers to silica dust, which can cause silicosis. In engineered stone, experts say the concentration of silica can be as high as 99%, compared to natural stones which contain as little as 3% silica.

Last December, Cal OSHA created emergency “temporary” rules for shops cutting engineered stone slabs. The rules require the use of water during the cutting process to prevent silica dust from becoming airborne and mandate specific air-purifying respirators for employees.

Assemblywoman Luz Rivas, who represents California’s 43rd District, explained to the I-Team why she withdrew the bill focused on engineered stone workers and the shops they work in across California.

“The solution that this bill proposed was to create a licensing system where product manufacturers could only sell engineered stone to licensed fabrication shops,” said Rivas. “Licensing would ensure that workers are properly trained and work in a safe environment without a risk of contracting silicosis.”

Rivas said state agencies previously involved in contributing to the bill were not supportive, leading her to withdraw it with only weeks left in the current legislative session.

“In my final meeting with state agencies and the administration, there was a lot of pushback due to the cost of this system,” Rivas told the I-Team. “They seemed to think it was too complex, but when I asked for feedback, they did not offer any specific solutions.”

Health Jul 9

‘Emerging health concern.' Potentially deadly lung disease linked to engineered countertops

I-Team Jun 14

New insurance options for California home and business owners 

The NBC4 I-Team and Telemundo 52 Investiga introduced viewers to workers diagnosed with silicosis, including former shop worker Gustavo Reyes-Gonzalez, who was diagnosed with the disease at age 30 and received a lung transplant last year.

As of July 10, 2024, the California Department of Public Health confirmed 167 cases of silicosis related to engineered stone, including at least 13 deaths. Of these cases, 100 are among Los Angeles County residents.

We contacted state regulators who Rivas said opposed moving forward with the bill.

Cal/OSHA and the State Public Health Department told the I-Team and Telemundo 52 Investiga that they do not comment on pending legislation.

The Department of Industrial Relations said it is taking strong action to protect workers from these hazards and will get back to us on their efforts.

As we reported last week, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has allocated funds this year to help educate workers and the public about silicosis, but Rivas says that’s not enough because this is a statewide problem.

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

This as California is poised to stop selling new gas-powered vehicles by 2035. 

Drivers across Southern California tell the NBC4 I-Team they are constantly negotiating for a place in line or attempting to charge their vehicles away from home and coming across non-working chargers. 

“Even early in the morning often, I’ll encounter between one to five people waiting in line, and often there will be you know two or three, two to three stations working out of four,” Emily Hampton, who bought her electric vehicle in 2022, said.   

Hampson said, while she appreciates the significant drop in her gas and monthly spending, she wishes electric vehicle chargers were more reliable. Hampton, who rents and works from home, does not have access to an at-home charger. 

“It seems like they all operate differently and have different levels of reliability,” Hampton added. 

Her concerns are shared by other electric vehicle drivers. 

“I love the way it drives. There’s everything I love about it, but the charging stations are terrible,” Allison Norris Austin said.   

“At least here, we’re kind of in one line. The other place that I go to — it’s just a hodgepodge in the parking lot. People get into fights sometimes,” Jennifer Kwon, another electric vehicle owner, said. 

The state of California tells the NBC4 I-Team the demand for more electric vehicle chargers is high in part because right now about one in four new vehicles sold in California are zero emission vehicles.

Meanwhile, currently there are little more than 105,000 public and shared private electric vehicle chargers.   

“We want to get more infrastructure out,” Hannon Rasool, Director of the Fields and Transportation Division, California Energy Commission, said.   

news Jun 27

Tesla loses its EV quality edge as repair problems continue to plague the market

Autos Jun 12

Thefts of charging cables pose yet another obstacle to appeal of electric vehicles

Rasool was part of the latest state report, which looked at the infrastructure and other details regarding electric vehicle chargers in California.   

“Our modeling and analysis shows we need approximately one million chargers by 2030,” Rasool said.  

More than two million chargers will be needed by 2035, according to the report which also notes, “California cannot meet its transportation electrification goals without ensuring there is a sufficient supply of reliable charging infrastructure.”  

Rasool said current steps are being taken not only to add more chargers but also to track the performance of existing ones. Right now, it’s mostly a voluntary process. 

“This is one reason why we’re proposing a regulation. We’re currently in that proposal right now to ensure at least 97% uptime of any charger that we fund or is publicly funded,” he said.  

Rasool said, once finalized at the end of this year, the new rule will begin mandating performance reports from certain electric chargers — some 40% of the existing system.  

“We do think even if we’re capturing 40 with our direct regulations that should have a spillover effect and really encourage other market participants to step up,” he added.   

Health Jul 9

‘Emerging health concern.' Potentially deadly lung disease linked to engineered countertops

Downtown LA Apr 18

Why they do it: Members of Los Angeles' graffiti scene speak out

The charging station where we met Hampton is managed by Electrify America, one of the most common electric vehicle service providers in the state. 

When NBCLA reached out to the company about its plans to increase reliability, a spokesperson said some of the company’s chargers are five years old.

“Getting replacement parts is getting harder as more of them age, or worse, as vandalism (cutting cables for the copper) is increasing and taking away available replacement parts,” the spokesperson for Electrify America said. “In the last two years, we replaced over 680 chargers, and this year, we are aiming to accelerate replacements to an additional 800+.”  

Electrify America said it’s also looking to create larger locations with more chargers. 

At this point, the state said it is on track to get to 250,000 public and shared private chargers by next year using already allocated funds, according to the report. 

In the meantime, drivers like Hampton are making decisions today about how they will commute. 

Hampton said she is sticking with her EV for shorter distances, but she may have to turn to gas-powered cars for long distance trips.

“If I was going to do a road trip for more than a couple of hours, I would probably just rent a gas car because it’s too stressful to one plan it all out,” Hampton said. 

The state said that information on the performance of electric chargers is expected to be publicly available in 2025, for state and ratepayer funded public chargers installed this year and beyond.  

The condition, characterized by irreversible lung damage, primarily affects workers who cut engineered stone, a joint investigation by the NBC4 I-Team and Telemundo 52 Investiga revealed. 

Gustavo Reyes-Gonzalez, who was diagnosed with silicosis, recalled his symptoms.

“My first sign was a dry cough,” he described.

Reyes-Gonzalez said he was initially diagnosed with pneumonia and later discovered the true cause during multiple hospitalizations amidst the COVID pandemic. 

“It was devastating,” his wife, Wendy Torres, said.  

At only 30, Gustavo needed a lung transplant to survive. 

Silicosis results from exposure to silica dust generated when cutting, sawing or crushing stone countertops, especially engineered stone, which can contain up to 99% silica, health experts said. 

According to the California Department of Public Health, there have been 154 confirmed cases related to engineered stone, including at least 13 deaths, as of June 10, with Los Angeles County reporting 92 cases. 

Dr. Jane Fazio, a pulmonary specialist at Olive View Medical Center UCLA in the San Fernando Valley, conducted a study on silicosis and describes the rise in cases coinciding with the popularity of engineered countertops over the past decade. 

“It’s become an emerging health crisis,” she said. 

The disease disproportionately affects Latino men, who are more likely to work with synthetic stone in kitchen remodels. 

Dr. Fazio warned cases are expected to rise, prompting local authorities to act. 

Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath spearheaded efforts to allocate funds for education and regulatory enforcement to protect workers. 

I-Team Jun 14

New insurance options for California home and business owners 

Downtown LA Apr 18

Why they do it: Members of Los Angeles' graffiti scene speak out

Today, there are new temporary emergency standards from Cal OSHA that now require water use and certain respirators for employees at countertop cutting businesses in California, though permanent rules are pending. 

Gustavo, now reliant on 15 daily medications post lung transplant, and his wife, Wendy, cherish their time together. 

Gustavo is currently involved in a legal battle against over 40 artificial stone manufacturers, alleging negligence and product liability. In court documents, the companies dispute the claims. 

“She needed care that only I can provide since I’m her only child. And she needed my help,” she said.

Luna was approved for family medical leave benefits through the state’s Employment Development Department (EDD). The agency recently started distributing its benefits on debit cards issued by Money Network.

Luna said she activated the card when she received it, but before she could spend the money, it vanished – all $3,400. 

“I was devastated. I logged in several times when I noticed it said my account balance was zero. I didn’t even know what to think,” she said.

Luna filed a claim with Money Network, but the company denied it.

In the meantime, Money Network issued her a new card for her next payment. But most of that money was also gone. 

“It was devastating. It was really devastating. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to pay my bills,” she said.

Luna said she called both the state and Money Network about the problem, but no one would help. 

“They would leave me on hold for two-plus hours each time. I would spend my whole morning just waiting on hold and arguing with them,” she said.

INVESTIGATIVE Jun 6

EDD took $24,000 from LA woman's bank account, accusing her of filing fake unemployment claims

Fraud and false statements Oct 18, 2022

EDD is Warning About Text ‘Smishing' Scams. Here's What That is

This is a story the I-Team has heard again and again. Scammers hack cards loaded with benefits and steal the money. Recipients said their cries for help are often ignored. 

The state and Money Network were recently under fire by the state auditor for how they handled the Middle Class Tax Refund. But they both told the I-Team that EDD recipients would have a better experience. For Luna, that hasn’t been the case.

“I was just thinking, worst case scenario, I’m never going to see this money. I’m never going to see it,” she said.

The I-Team reached out to EDD about Luna’s case, and they sent her a check for the stolen money, roughly $4,300. EDD told the I-Team it continues to fight fraud, as “criminals continue to evolve their fraud schemes.” It said Luna’s story is “rare” and “does not indicate a widespread issue.”

Money Network agreed, and said “only a small percentage of EDD recipients have reported suspected fraud.” It said it’s also committed to fighting fraud and improving its customer service.

Luna hopes that’s the case.

“It was just very traumatizing. It was just a very traumatizing experience,” she said.

EDD is rolling out a direct deposit program. But until you’re signed up, don’t activate your Money Network card until you’re ready to use it, to help keep your money safe. More tips can be found here.

The mitigation steps soon to be considered by insurance companies writing policies in areas deemed “high risk” for wildfires, according to a new plan announced this week by the California Department of Insurance. 

An insurance expert tells the NBC4 I-Team that could mean more discounts for the work to harden residential and commercial properties against wildfires.   

As the I-Team has been documenting for months, homeowners have found themselves being dropped from their insurance policies for various reasons and forced to turn to the California FAIR Plan as their only option, instead of the option of last resort as was intended, according to the Department of Insurance.    

“Californians in every corner of our state are frustrated with outdated regulations and desperate for change,” Commissioner Ricardo Lara said in a press statement this week. 

“Whether you live in the Sierra or the foothills, along the coast or in a city, California is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ place, and we need to be inclusive. We are enacting a major reform that will result in insurance companies writing more policies, so if you are stuck on the FAIR Plan because of your unique wildfire risk, there will be help for you,” he added. 

The state has also created a first-ever wildfire risk map to show where insurance companies need to increase coverage, areas including parts of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties. 

INVESTIGATIVE Apr 26

Southern California residents say car insurance company is unfairly denying claims

California Legislature Apr 17

New California bill would boost homeowners insurance protections

These areas represent zip codes where more than 15% of policies are written by the FAIR plan as well as neighborhoods, where incomes are low, yet insurance premiums are high.

A map and list of zip codes of affected residential and commercial areas can be found here: 

• View the map and presentation 

• List of Counties – Residential 

• List of ZIP Codes – Residential 

• List of ZIP Codes – Commercial 

Under the new guidelines, insurers will have to increase the policies they provide in these areas. Implementing these changes are expected to happen by the end of the year  

“Similarly, there is a trailer bill that’s being attached to the California budget that the governor is looking to sign, which would actually put part of these plans in effect immediately,” Karl Susman, Susman Insurance Agency, said. 

Susman is an insurance agent with decades in the industry and tells the NBC4 I-Team insurance companies will also be allowed to use what’s called “catastrophe models” to determine rates for individual owners so there is no blanket “one size fits all” cost.  

“It’s a good thing because it’s going to enable consumers to know if they’re in a higher risk area than they thought. And they’ll also be required, they meaning the insurance industry, to provide steps that the consumer can take to make their home less likely to burn,” Susman said.  

The Department of Insurance release states: “Under this regulatory package, insurance companies must detail where they are writing policies in submitted rate filings and the Department will use its existing enforcement authority to hold them accountable. Insurance companies using catastrophe models also will be required to take into account the steps taken by policyholders to mitigate wildfire risk.” 

Susman also says there is an enforcement component with these new expected changes. 

“It’s actually in the regulations, which I don’t think I’ve seen in the past. They’re going as far as saying what type of documentation needs to be maintained in what format and for how long,” he added. 

The Department of Insurance also points to state law which sets a one- year moratorium on insurance companies cancelling or non-renewing residential insurance policies in certain areas near a fire perimeter after a declared state of emergency issued by Governor Gavin Newson.  

According to the Department’s website: “the Department of Insurance partners with CAL-FIRE and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to identify wildfire perimeters and adjacent ZIP codes within the mandatory moratorium areas. The protection from cancellation or non-renewal lasts for one year from the date of the Governor’s emergency declaration. 

This one-year protection applies to all residential policyholders within the affected areas who suffer less than a total loss, including those who suffer no loss. Those who suffer a total loss have additional protections under the law.” 

Gustavo Reyez Gonazlez, who was diagnosed with silicosis after having worked with engineered slabs used in kitchen and bathroom countertops for nearly two decades at local shops across Southern California, won his case against several companies that manufacture artificial stone slabs. 

“I am grateful to the judge and the jury,” Wendy Torres, Gonzalez’s wife, said. 

Gonzalez, 34, received a live-saving lung transplant in 2023. He sued several manufactures of the engineered stone. 

In what is believed to be a landmark trial and verdict, the jury last month found in his favor, awarding him more than $52 million in damages.

“I’m hoping that other workers won’t have to face the same illness and possible death during this time,” Torres said. “It’s something that is killing other human beings, and hopefully it will stop, so that these workers will actually have a future with their families, and a future to live and be with their loved ones.  

“Hopefully verdicts — consumers hearing about this, and workers hearing about this – can send a message to these companies to stop selling these products,” said James Nevin, Gonzalez’s attorney, said. 

Increasing number of silicosis cases

Health experts say cutting, sawing and crushing stone slabs can lead to the exposure of silica dust that goes into the air and into a person’s lungs, causing silicosis.

And engineering stone, which sometimes can be cheaper and more durable than natural stone, can contain a much higher percentage of silica. 

As the NBC4 I-Team and Telemundo 52 Investiga have been following the increasing number of silicosis cases stemming from the stone cutting industry, there are now calls to ban some popular products a lot of people have in their kitchens and baths.

A complete ban of artificial stone is not something on the table right now, according to local lawmakers the I-Team and Telemundo 52 Investiga have spoken with.

While there are new temporary standards to more safely work with engineered products, a proposal intended to strengthen regulations and license manufactures and sellers of artificial stone in the state was pulled by the author in July.

“My final meeting with state agencies and the administration, there was a lot of pushback because of the cost of this system,” said Luz Rivas, State Assemblymember for 43rd District. 

Cal Osha said new standards on how to work with the engineered stone slabs are expected to be made permanent by the end of the year. 

Majority of U.S. silicosis cases are from LA County

As of Sep. 3, 2024, there were 178 confirmed cases of silicosis related to engineered stone in California with at least 13 deaths and 19 lung transplants, according to the state’s Department of Public Health. 105 of the total cases are in Los Angeles County. 

Health experts say silicosis mostly affects Latino men who work in fabrication shops.

Investigation Aug 26

They were diagnosed with silicosis, then denied worker's comp

I-Team Jul 17

California bill on silicosis safety measures abandoned as cases rise

What happens when a country bans engineered slabs?

So far, only one country in the world has banned the use of artificial stone slabs.

“Australia’s banned it. The U.S. has got to do it, too,” said Jeremy Buckingham, a member of parliament from New South Wales, Australia, explaining that the new ban of engineered stone in Australia went into effect this summer. 

“The expectation is that we could lose tens of thousands of people to silicosis over the next decades,” said Buckingham, who was a stonemason before entering politics. “I’m one of those people. I have to go and have a lung screening every year because of the high-risk exposure I experienced.”

The Australian lawmaker said the legislation followed a rise in popularity of the manufactured stone as an inexpensive alternative. Subsequently, there was a rise in silicosis cases in the country.

“The numbers of people getting sick and dying were horrendous,” he said. 

Buckingham admitted that there remains pushback from manufacturers of the engineered products.

“They remained very concerned about the ongoing liability to register this material and then have it ultimately removed by licensed professionals in a safe way,” Buckingham explained. 

He said in Australia, mostly immigrant workers were the most impacted as well. 

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Gustavo Reyez Gonazlez, who was diagnosed with silicosis after having worked with engineered slabs used in kitchen and bathroom countertops for nearly two decades at local shops across Southern California, won his case against several companies that manufacture artificial stone slabs. 

“I am grateful to the judge and the jury,” Wendy Torres, Gonzalez’s wife, said. 

Gonzalez, 34, received a live-saving lung transplant in 2023. He sued several manufactures of the engineered stone. 

In what is believed to be a landmark trial and verdict, the jury last month found in his favor, awarding him more than $52 million in damages.

“I’m hoping that other workers won’t have to face the same illness and possible death during this time,” Torres said. “It’s something that is killing other human beings, and hopefully it will stop, so that these workers will actually have a future with their families, and a future to live and be with their loved ones.  

“Hopefully verdicts — consumers hearing about this, and workers hearing about this – can send a message to these companies to stop selling these products,” said James Nevin, Gonzalez’s attorney, said. 

Increasing number of silicosis cases

Health experts say cutting, sawing and crushing stone slabs can lead to the exposure of silica dust that goes into the air and into a person’s lungs, causing silicosis.

And engineering stone, which sometimes can be cheaper and more durable than natural stone, can contain a much higher percentage of silica. 

As the NBC4 I-Team and Telemundo 52 Investiga have been following the increasing number of silicosis cases stemming from the stone cutting industry, there are now calls to ban some popular products a lot of people have in their kitchens and baths.

A complete ban of artificial stone is not something on the table right now, according to local lawmakers the I-Team and Telemundo 52 Investiga have spoken with.

While there are new temporary standards to more safely work with engineered products, a proposal intended to strengthen regulations and license manufactures and sellers of artificial stone in the state was pulled by the author in July.

“My final meeting with state agencies and the administration, there was a lot of pushback because of the cost of this system,” said Luz Rivas, State Assemblymember for 43rd District. 

Cal Osha said new standards on how to work with the engineered stone slabs are expected to be made permanent by the end of the year. 

Majority of U.S. silicosis cases are from LA County

As of Sep. 3, 2024, there were 178 confirmed cases of silicosis related to engineered stone in California with at least 13 deaths and 19 lung transplants, according to the state’s Department of Public Health. 105 of the total cases are in Los Angeles County. 

Health experts say silicosis mostly affects Latino men who work in fabrication shops.

Investigation Aug 26

They were diagnosed with silicosis, then denied worker's comp

I-Team Jul 17

California bill on silicosis safety measures abandoned as cases rise

What happens when a country bans engineered slabs?

So far, only one country in the world has banned the use of artificial stone slabs.

“Australia’s banned it. The U.S. has got to do it, too,” said Jeremy Buckingham, a member of parliament from New South Wales, Australia, explaining that the new ban of engineered stone in Australia went into effect this summer. 

“The expectation is that we could lose tens of thousands of people to silicosis over the next decades,” said Buckingham, who was a stonemason before entering politics. “I’m one of those people. I have to go and have a lung screening every year because of the high-risk exposure I experienced.”

The Australian lawmaker said the legislation followed a rise in popularity of the manufactured stone as an inexpensive alternative. Subsequently, there was a rise in silicosis cases in the country.

“The numbers of people getting sick and dying were horrendous,” he said. 

Buckingham admitted that there remains pushback from manufacturers of the engineered products.

“They remained very concerned about the ongoing liability to register this material and then have it ultimately removed by licensed professionals in a safe way,” Buckingham explained. 

He said in Australia, mostly immigrant workers were the most impacted as well. 

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

According to a report filed with the LA County Sheriff’s Department, Motykie received an extortion threat in May. The crooks allegedly demanded he pay two and half million dollars to prevent the patient data, and his own, from going public.

By early June, someone posted data of 36 patients online. Now, personal details and pictures of more than 70 patients are on the site, and there’s concern among patients that more could be posted at any moment.

“I mean, this is just heinous,” said patient Elaina Shaffy as she looked at the website.

 Shaffy first learned her private information was made very public from another patient of Dr. Motykie’s. 

“One of the women that had their information compromised on the website contacted me and said, ‘My god, my god, how much did you pay to have your stuff removed?’’’ said Shaffy, unaware of what the woman was talking about. “I had absolutely no idea.”

Shaffy logged onto the website and found her picture, taken at the doctor’s office, along with her name, phone number and email address. Since she had nasal surgery, the picture posted is of her face, but many of the other images include patients’ breasts along with their names, birthdates, phone numbers, email addresses, and links to their medical records and financial information.

I-Team Nov 19, 2022

Fitness Guru Turned Podcaster Takes on OC Plastic Surgeon

Jan 6, 2023

Orange County Plastic Surgeon Accused of Botching Procedures

Some are known social media influencers, and each week the hacker has added more patients to the site. There are now more than 70 women exposed.

“Not only have they compromised your financial, your personal, and then they’re seeing you in these vulnerable, horrible pictures. Who wants anyone to see those photos?” said Shaffy.

Shaffy has now filed a lawsuit claiming negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The suit  alleges the doctor was careless in “storing extremely private patient information” in a way that “third parties were able to access it, post it on the internet and then seek to extort money from Motykie and Motykie’s patients,” and notes, “if all this were not enough, defendants also stored extremely disturbing pornographic homemade videos filmed of Dr. Motykie pleasuring himself.”

Videos and images of what appear to be the doctor are posted at the top of the hacker’s website, right above all the patients’ data.

“Wow it’s shocking, it’s shocking,” said Shaffy.

After learning of the site’s existence, Shaffy searched her junk mail and found the hacker had reached out to her and other patients on June 8, 2023 about the breach and ransom demand. 

She says she immediately emailed the hacker, and what she learned surprised her. “Somebody had paid a great deal of money to have my profile removed,” said Shaffy

Her picture was also the only one not linked to her medical record and financial information. It is unclear who paid.

Shaffy says she emailed the hacker, offering to also pay for her medical record. But the hacker told Shaffy her data was purged and instead offered her the chance to purchase all the other records on the site for $800,000 dollars, to which she declined.

When asked what this tells her about her doctor’s cybersecurity, Shaffy responded, “It just tells me that he was so reckless and that he just did not care about anyone.”

That’s what she claims in her lawsuit: “…the failure to take adequate steps to secure such highly sensitive patient material was more than negligent, it was reckless…”

Jan 12, 2023

Laguna Beach Police Serve Search Warrant at Orange County Plastic Surgeon's Office

I-Team Jan 28, 2022

Another Patient Comes Forward After Plastic Surgery Nightmare

“There is a trend toward criminals going down market, towards clinics and smaller organizations that are known to be less protected,” said Michael Hamilton, co-founder of Critical Insight.

Hamilton is an information security specialist and consultant with expertise in health care cybersecurity. The I-Team reached out for his assessment of this case.

“This one is a little different,” said Hamilton.

He says the data dump of patient records combined with what appears to be very private pictures and videos of Dr. Motykie is unusual. 

“The first question that comes to mind is why these things were mixed up,” said Hamilton. “There are multiple regulators that get involved now.”

The I-Team reached out to Dr. Motykie for an on-camera interview, but he declined. Instead he sent a statement saying he cannot comment on pending litigation, but he did confirm the data breach, stating in part: “the third-party responsible for this situation has made demands for money in exchange for information to be deleted.  We and law enforcement cannot guarantee that any payment will result in information being deleted or used in any way in the future. … we continue to work very closely with law enforcement.” 

Michael Hamilton offered advice for patients whose data was breached.

“A lot of weirdos are out there and your information is now public. If you start getting advances from people that seem weird, you should report that sooner rather than later.” 

Shaffy says she and other patients she’s spoken with are haunted by this breach.

“Who else has our information? Did they sell it to somebody else? Is it going to be on some other website we don’t even know about? “

The LA County Sheriff’s Department is investigating, along with the FBI. The detective assigned to the case emailed patients whose data was breached, explaining he was unsuccessful in taking down the website. He told patients, “It is being operated out of Russia.”   

The detective also said Dr. Motykie would be offering patients a two-year subscription for identity theft protection. The patients who spoke with the I-Team say that is not nearly enough.

Full statement of Gary Motykie:

Any alleged data security incidents are investigated, and appropriate steps are taken. We do not provide any public information about any alleged incidents until we have what we believe to be accurate and complete information, and we cannot speak to any pending litigation and ongoing law enforcement involvement. 

We can confirm, however, that the third-party responsible for this situation has made demands for money in exchange for information to be deleted.  We and law enforcement cannot guarantee that any payment will result in information being deleted or used in any way in the future. We have no control over what the third party is doing or other persons who are attempting to spread misinformation concerning this matter or taking steps to put the investigation and individuals in difficult situations. However, we are working with the investigation team and are taking recommended steps. We continue to be in communication with individuals who may be impacted. 

We are committed to addressing this situation and we continue to work very closely with law enforcement, as law enforcement is also investigating other incidents similar to this matter.  

But the motel room they got at the Los Angeles Inn in South LA has mold on the ceiling, bathroom pipes that leak and an air conditioning unit falling off the wall.

“I can promise you we had better accommodations on 3rd Street in a tent than they’re making for us here,” Plant told the NBC4 I-Team.

Homelessness May 8, 2023

Stuck in Limbo: LA's Homeless, Promised Apartments and Help for a New Life, Remain in Motels

venice Apr 6, 2023

Homeless Encampments Are Gone and Crime is Way Down, So Far, in Venice

Plant and Schacht are among the 1,200 unhoused people the city has temporarily moved into motels as part of LA Mayor Karen Bass’ “Inside Safe” program, an effort to dismantle encampments across the city and help the homeless build lives off the streets.

“Our toilet got clogged, our sink is clogged, the ceiling is molding,” Plant said.

The I-Team contacted the manager of the Los Angeles Inn to discuss the costs and conditions of the rooms. He said he didn’t want to comment.

The city of LA is paying millions of dollars each week to house the homeless in motels. 

Plant and Schacht say they have to sign invoices every month showing the city is paying $3,600 a month for their motel room.

At the Sahara Motel, the city is paying $4,100 a month for a room in good condition for Faith Stephens, who was moved there from an encampment on Culver Boulevard. The monthly amount for her motel room is costlier than many one-bedroom apartments in places like West LA or Studio City.

“I could be in a real apartment for that kind of money. A real one-bedroom apartment in Santa Monica, a deluxe apartment,” said Faith Stephens.

Mayor Karen Bass admitted in an interview to the I-Team that the motel costs are high.

“This is not financially sustainable,” Bass said.

Bass explained that the city agreed to pay the hefty motel rates to get the homeless off the streets quickly after she took office.

“We are doing it this way because from the point of view of most Angelenos, we have an emergency on our streets and people need to get off the streets and into housing ASAP,” Bass told NBC4.

Bass is budgeting $250 million next year to fund Inside Safe, but hopes to trim the high cost of renting motels.

“So we’re coming up with another way to provide housing, which is for us to enter into purchasing, essentially, motels and hotels. And needless to say that takes a while,” Bass said.

As for the conditions at the Los Angeles Inn, like moldy ceilings and leaking pipes, Plant and Schacht would like the mayor to come visit.

“I think she might even need to stay the night in one of these so she can see what we’re staying in right now,” Plant told NBC4.

Bass told NBC4 she will visit the motel to see those conditions.

“The fact of the matter is when we find out the conditions are so poor, we will move the individuals. We will look for other motels,” Bass said.

Most of the 1,200 homeless people moved off LA’s streets since January by the Inside Safe program remain in motels because, they say, no one is helping them find permanent apartments.

Those unhoused say when they were asked to leave their encampments, they were promised a case manager would be assigned to help them find an apartment and get needed services, but that hasn’t happened for many.

“I’ve had three different people come up to me and tell me they’re my case manager, and I haven’t really met with any of them,” Schacht said.

But he remains hopeful that the kinks will be worked out of the Inside Safe program and he’ll eventually get an apartment and a new life off the streets.

“I think it’s an amazing idea and an amazing program that they have. I want to see it through. And they have my full cooperation,” he said

“I just want to get housed and get a new life rolling,” Thomas Shacht told the NBC4 I-Team. He and other unhoused people said they haven’t been offered permanent apartments or any services they were promised to build a life off the streets.

Shacht and his girlfriend, Kittie Plant, had been living in a tent at an encampment on 3rd Street in Venice until Jan. 10, when caseworkers from the nonprofit St. Joseph’s Center asked them to leave, promising to find them an apartment and get them critical services.

They were shuttled to the Los Angeles Inn motel in South LA, where they remain four months later, along with about 70 other homeless people from the 3rd Street encampment.

Thomas and Kittie say a caseworker has only showed them one apartment. They filled out the paperwork to move in, and never heard back.

“I want to be in an apartment and eventually find a job, that’s definitely a goal of mine,” Shacht said.

Long Beach May 2, 2023

More Than 500 Homeless People Kicked Off Trains Each Night in LA County, New Metro Study Shows

California Apr 26, 2023

‘One-Woman Solution' to Homelessness in Long Beach Has Personally Helped Hundreds Find Housing

And that was the goal of LA Mayor Karen Bass when she announced her “Inside Safe” program on December 21, 2022.

Bass said the program, which could cost taxpayers $250 million in the next fiscal year, aimed to “bring people inside from tents and encampments for good.” 

The mayor said the Inside Safe program would also provide services for addiction and mental health issues that so many living on LA’s sidewalks suffer from.

The I-Team has followed the journey of numerous homeless people for the last four months, starting from the day they were asked to leave their encampments in January.

“They asked for my permission to throw away my tent, and they promised to find me permanent housing,” said Robert Lyons, who also lived at the 3rd Street encampment. 

He said he’s been shown two apartments over the last four months, then later was told by a caseworker that they weren’t available.

“They actually broke my heart because I had my hopes up,” Lyons said. “I want to have my own place so I can get a job and get back on my feet, which would be a blessing.”

The I-Team also discovered the mayor’s Inside Safe program has yet to offer critical addiction and mental health services to many of the homeless who say they need that help to stay off the streets.

“I suffer from manic depression, since my mother passed away in my arms seven years ago,” said Faith Stephens, who was moved from an encampment to the Sahara Motel earlier this year.

“No one has offered me mental health services since I left the streets,” Stephens told the I-Team.

The I-Team Monday asked Bass why it’s taking so long to get mental health and addiction services to those who were asked to leave the streets and are living in motels.

“The volume of people who need the services is so high that it outpaces the capacity of the community-based organizations to provide the services,” Mayor Bass told NBC4.

And the mayor acknowledged that most of the 1,200 homeless people moved into motels by the Inside Safe program have not yet been offered permanent housing, as promised.

“I think that is awful. We have to move people much quicker,” Bass said. 

Bass added, “It was certainly my hope that we would be moving people into permanent supportive housing much quicker.”

The mayor said she’s working to remove some of the bureaucratic hurdles that are slowing down the process of getting the homeless housing and services.

The mayor is now seeking to set aside $250 million dollars in the next city budget to keep the Inside Safe program running.