Karen Bass’ Own Brother Suing Her After His Home Burned Down In Palisades Fire

Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ own brother is suing the city after he lost his Malibu home in the Palisades fires in 2025, according to reports.

Kenneth Bass and his wife Cindy Bass filed the lawsuit in May, claiming they suffered severe injuries from smoke inhalation, emotional distress, mental anguish, and annoyance, the New York Post reported. The couple are among a long list of local defendants victimized by the fires who are seeking compensation. (RELATED: ‘They’re Crooked’: Spencer Pratt’s Bruising Mayoral Loss Raises Election Integrity Concerns)

The lawsuit was first reported by L.A. Material.

The home was listed as a “total burn down” in court documents, and the couple eventually sold the oceanfront property a few months after the fire for $2 million, the New York Post reported.

“There’s nothing new here,” Bass’ office told TMZ. “Mayor Bass has spoken of her brother’s loss publicly since January of 2025. Thousands of people are plaintiffs in this action, which names 18 public and private sector defendants. The City Attorney’s Office is responsible for defending the City and DWP in this lawsuit.”

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 8: California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass tour the downtown business district of Pacific Palisades as the Palisades Fire continues to burn on January 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds, the Palisades Fire has grown to over 2,900 acres and 30,000 people have been ordered to evacuate while a second major fire continues to burn near Eaton Canyon in Altadena. (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images)

Bass repeatedly faced massive scrutiny for her handling of the fires. Bass was not even in the city when the fires broke out; she was attending the presidential inauguration in Ghana instead.

Bass sailed through the Los Angeles mayoral primary, securing 34.3% and advancing to the November runoff, according to NBC News. Progressive councilwoman Nithya Raman was initially several points behind reality TV star Spencer Pratt on election night but surged to second place after a trove of mail-in ballots were counted, finishing with 29%.

Pratt came in third place with 25.5% and was eliminated from the runoff. Raman and Bass will face off Nov. 3.