Karen Bass didn’t make a hasty exit when approached about her brother’s lawsuit against Los Angeles, especially after their upscale Malibu home was lost in the Palisades fire.
The mayor, who’s eyeing re-election, avoided discussions about the lawsuit while seated in a black Suburban at a World Cup soccer event on Thursday.
Bass was asked multiple times about her brother Kenneth Bass, who’s 78 and pursuing legal action against the city, but she sidestepped each inquiry.
“We’re not talking about that!” her assistant exclaimed, attempting to shield her from further questions regarding the lawsuit filed by Kenneth and his wife, Cindy, aged 70.
Bass, at 72, was attending the “Kick It in the Park” event, aimed at promoting live screenings of World Cup matches at Echo Park Lake in Los Angeles.
Her brother’s lawsuit, which was filed in May, indicates that both he and Cindy are joining a class action suit against the city related to the destructive fire.
They allege not just the loss of their home but also issues like smoke inhalation, emotional distress, and mental anguish.
Their property covered 1.5 acres in Malibu’s Rambla Pacifico, with views of the famed Malibu Pier and Surfrider Beach.
The couple sold the land without the main house for $2 million on May 1 of the previous year, while features like the swimming pool, putting green, and guest house remained intact after the fire.
Then, in June, they purchased a modern luxury home with five bedrooms and five bathrooms near Culver City for $6.1 million, financing it with a $1.1 million mortgage.
The complaint, lodged on May 18 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, is seeking a jury trial.
“The Palisades fire was a traumatic event for victims, who became homeless in mere hours, through no fault of their own,” the report noted.
Part of the complaint points to the Santa Ynez Reservoir being left empty, which allegedly hindered firefighters’ water supply.
According to the couple’s attorney, “Along with the tens of thousands of victims of the Palisades fire, Kenneth and Cindy Bass served as legal representatives for counsel and advice one year ago in June 2025.” Their names were added to a roster of about 40,000 victims suffering losses, and the attorney emphasized that their familial ties shouldn’t affect their privacy rights as they seek legal recourse.
The lawsuit names the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), among others. The initial complaint also included Southern California Edison and several related entities.
Mayor Bass has faced substantial criticism regarding her response to the wildfires and mentioned her brother and sister-in-law’s loss of their longtime home in Malibu.
“I indirectly share in the loss you are experiencing. My family has also been impacted,” she stated two weeks post-fire.
Representatives for the city and DWP denied any fault. “Our office remains confident that the City is not responsible for these devastating wildfires,” said Ivor Pine, spokesperson for the City Attorney’s Office.
