Key facts
- Kenneth and Cindy Bass, brother and sister-in-law of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, have joined a lawsuit over the 2025 Palisades fire.
- The couple claims injuries from smoke inhalation and distress due to the destruction of their Malibu home.
- The lawsuit blames the city of Los Angeles and other entities for "cascading failures" and alleged misinformation.
- The Palisades fire burned 23,448 acres, resulted in 12 deaths, and destroyed over 6,800 structures.
- Thousands of lawsuits have been filed by home and business owners affected by the fire.
Kenneth Bass and his wife, Cindy, have joined a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles and other entities, alleging they suffered injuries and distress due to the destruction of their Malibu home in the 2025 Palisades fire. The couple's complaint, reviewed by L.A. Material, claims smoke inhalation and anguish as a result of the fire that rapidly spread toward coastal communities.
This legal action is one of thousands filed in connection with the blaze, which originated near Skull Rock Trail and ultimately burned 23,448 acres, leading to 12 deaths and the loss of over 6,800 structures. A master lawsuit filed last year alleged that the fire's devastating impact was caused by "a series of cascading failures" by multiple state and local agencies, including the city of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). The plaintiffs' lawyers accused these public agencies of engaging in a "campaign of misinformation and misrepresentations" to conceal their responsibility, stating that the LADWP and the City were "more worried about protecting their image and economic interests than on protecting the residents."
Mayor Karen Bass's office stated that her brother's involvement in the lawsuit was "nothing new," noting that thousands of people are plaintiffs and the City Attorney's Office is responsible for the defense. Bass herself has previously spoken about her brother losing his home of 40 years in Malibu, expressing shared loss during a meeting with the Pacific Palisades Community Council in January 2025. The City of Malibu has also initiated legal action against Los Angeles and the state to recoup emergency response and recovery costs, citing alleged failures related to fire conditions, inspection, and preparedness.
A federal arson trial for the 29-year-old man accused of starting the deadly Palisades fire commenced on Monday.