Homeowners Sue LA Mayor Over Marilyn Monroe Property

The new owners of the Los Angeles home where Marilyn Monroe passed away have initiated legal action against Mayor Karen Bass and the City of Los Angeles.

Brina Milstein and Roy Bank bought the well-known Brentwood residence in 2023 for slightly more than $8 million. Soon after, they received city approval to tear down the house and build a new one, as noted in a lawsuit referenced by the California Post.

However, complications arose shortly afterward. The homeowners allege that the city quickly designated the property as a “Historical and Cultural Monument” in 2024, despite having already approved their demolition permits.

The lawsuit claims this move transformed the site into a tourist destination, leading to increased traffic on the narrow dead-end street nearby. It notes that many individuals began trying to trespass, climbing over walls to access the property, which is obscured from public view due to landscaping.

Since the house gained this newfound attention, the homeowners state they were compelled to hire private security to protect the property. In November, they reported that thieves attempted to break in, searching for memorabilia.

The Spanish-style bungalow, complete with a pool, is situated on a small dead-end street in a high-value neighborhood and has drawn tourists since Monroe’s body was taken from the home on a stretcher in August 1962.

According to the lawsuit, Monroe owned the property for around six months in 1962. During that brief ownership, she mostly stayed elsewhere, frequently traveling to New York City and other places. Tragically, she died in the house in August 1962.

Monroe’s body was discovered in the master bedroom, surrounded by prescription medications, leading to a conclusion of a barbiturate overdose, which is considered a possible suicide.

Milstein and Bank argue that for 60 years after Monroe’s death, the city showed no interest in the property. They assert that the house underwent significant renovations and exchanged multiple owners during that time. The historic designation, they claim, has rendered the property effectively useless, making it impossible to recoup their $8.3 million investment.

The couple is seeking a court decision that would either allow them to move forward with their demolition plans or require the city to compensate them for the home’s value.