Kenneth Bass, the brother of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, has filed a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles after his home was destroyed in the Palisades fire in 2025. The lawsuit, reported on June 10, 2026, claims damages for smoke inhalation and emotional distress related to the loss of their Malibu residence. Kenneth and his wife filed the lawsuit on May 18, 2026.
Mayor Bass's office stated that her brother's loss has been publicly acknowledged since January 2025 and noted that many others are also plaintiffs in this case, which includes 18 public and private sector defendants. The City Attorney's Office is tasked with defending the city and the Department of Water and Power in this lawsuit.
During a community council meeting in January 2025, Mayor Bass expressed empathy for those affected by the fires, stating, "The loss that you’re going through, I share indirectly. It’s hit my family too. It’s a type of shock and grief that is trauma that will be with us for a long time."
Kenneth Bass's lawsuit adds to the numerous claims against the city related to the Palisades fires. Mayor Bass faced scrutiny for her response during the fires, as she was attending an event in Africa at the time when homes were lost and fatalities occurred. She later described her decision to be away as a "mistake" in an interview.
Karen Bass has advanced to the general election following the mayoral primary on June 2, 2026, and will compete against City Councilwoman Nithya Raman in the runoff election scheduled for November 3, 2026.