Despite Los Angeles voters recently advancing progressive Mayor Karen Bass in the mayoral race, criticism of her leadership continues, particularly regarding the city’s response to the devastating Palisades Fire that destroyed thousands of homes. Now, one of the people seeking accountability from the city is Bass’s own brother.
Legal documents indicate that Kenneth D. Bass has joined a large-scale lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles, the State of California, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and several other defendants, reports abc 7.
Many homeowners affected by the fire contend that government agencies bear responsibility for the losses they suffered; many expressed surprise upon learning that Mayor Bass’s brother is among those making similar allegations in court.
Driven by powerful winds, the wildfire spread from Pacific Palisades into Malibu, causing extensive damage across the region. According to the lawsuit, first reported by L.A. Material, Kenneth Bass owned property in Malibu. Footage captured from the air shows that the primary residence on the property was destroyed.
Court filings characterize the property loss as a “Total Burn Down” and state that Kenneth Bass experienced “Smoke Inhalation” and “Emotional Distress.”
Abe Roy, a Malibu resident who also lost a home in the fire and now operates a business that assists families with rebuilding efforts, said the circumstances are unusual but not unreasonable.
“The politics of it is very strange,” Roy said. “He’s another resident who’s endured significant loss and significant damage and he has every right to go after and make this right.”
Mayor Bass declined a request for an interview. However, her press secretary, Paige Sterling, released a statement that said in part:
“There’s nothing new here – Mayor Bass has spoken of her brother’s loss publicly since January of 2025. Thousands of people are plaintiffs in this action…”
The Frantz Law Group, which represents Bass and numerous other plaintiffs, issued a statement saying:
“Their family connections are irrelevant, and as non-public citizens they are entitled to respectful privacy as they pursue their legal rights along with all represented victims.”
