Titanic movie star Leonardo DiCaprio has been sued by his neighbors for allegedly activating a landslide on the neighbor’s property through negligently excavating for a basketball court at his home in the hills above Sunset Boulevard. So far some plants and hedges have been damaged and their deck and pool is "in danger of collapse". The neighbor is seeking $250,000 in compensation. A DiCaprio spokesman, Ken Sunshine, said the lawsuit "is totally without merit." Source: AP by way of LA Daily News.
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USGS Landslide Documentary Video
The USGS has a documentary on landslide video on landslide danger in the San Francisco Bay area entitled “Riding the Storm”. I think the target audience is more general than geologist or engineer, but it is still interesting. The bullet points from the USGS site:
- A catastrophic 1982 rainstorm triggered 18,000 landslides in the Bay Area, claiming 25 lives and causing $66 million in property damage
- The combination of steep slopes, weak rocks, and intense winter storms make Bay Area uplands an ideal setting for landslides
- Landslides include both swift, potentially deadly debris flows and slower, but destructive deepseated slides
- Learn what USGS scientists have discovered about landslide dynamics and which slopes are most susceptible to sliding
- Hear the devastating stories of Bay Area residents affected by landslides and learn to recognize the danger signs
Click through to view the trailer and for links to download the full video. (Image credit: USGS)
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