Karen Bass dodges questions after brother sues Los Angeles over Palisades Fire losses

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass found herself facing uncomfortable questions on Thursday, June 11, after it emerged that her older brother is among thousands of people suing the city over losses suffered during the devastating Palisades Fire.

The awkward moment unfolded at a World Cup-themed event at Echo Park Lake, where Bass was promoting live public screenings of soccer matches as part of her "Kick it in the Park" initiative.

Karen Bass repeatedly declines questions about brother's lawsuit

Bass, who is seeking re-election, was asked three times about the lawsuit involving her brother and the City of Los Angeles. Each time, she declined to respond.

As questions continued, an aide stepped in and attempted to shut down the conversation.

"We're not talking about that!" a visibly frustrated assistant said while trying to steer the mayor away from the topic. "We're focusing on this event."

Moments later, Bass headed toward a blacked-out chauffeur-driven SUV and left without addressing the matter.

The lawsuit was filed in May and shows Kenneth Bass, 78, and his wife, Cindy, 70, joining a class-action case connected to the deadly Palisades Fire.

According to the complaint, the couple lost their longtime Malibu property and suffered smoke inhalation, severe emotional distress, mental anguish, and other damages as a result of the disaster.

Kenneth Bass claims family suffered major losses in Palisades Fire

The property at the center of the lawsuit sat on 1.5 acres in Rambla Pacifico, Malibu, overlooking Malibu Pier and Surfrider Beach.

While parts of the property survived, including a guest house, a putting green, and a swimming pool, the main residence was destroyed in the fire.

Court documents state that Kenneth and Cindy Bass later sold the damaged lot for $2 million. 

The couple subsequently purchased a five-bedroom, five-bathroom home near Culver City for $6.1 million, taking out a $1.1 million mortgage.

The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and argues that victims of the Palisades Fire suffered life-changing losses through no fault of their own.

"The Palisades Fire has been a traumatic event for its victims, who, through no fault of their own, went from homeowners to homeless in a matter of hours," the complaint states.

A key argument in the case centers on the Santa Ynez Reservoir. According to the lawsuit, the reservoir had been left empty, reducing the amount of water available to firefighters battling the blaze.

Attorneys say Kenneth Bass is one of nearly 40,000 victims

Lawyers representing Kenneth and Cindy Bass pushed back against suggestions that their family connection to the mayor should be a focus of the case.

"Along with tens of thousands of victims in the Palisades Fire, Kenneth and Cindy Bass retained legal representation for counsel and advice a year ago in June 2025," attorneys said in a statement.

The lawyers added that the couple's names were included as part of a larger legal effort involving nearly 40,000 people affected by the disaster.

"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," the statement continued.

The lawsuit names the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, along with several other entities, as defendants.

Karen Bass previously revealed her family was affected by the fire

The legal action comes months after Bass publicly acknowledged that the wildfire had directly impacted her own family.

Speaking two weeks after the disaster, the mayor told residents that she understood some of what the victims were experiencing because her brother and sister-in-law had lost their home.

"The loss that you're going through, I share indirectly. It's hit my family too," Bass said at the time.

The lawsuit now places that personal connection under renewed scrutiny as criticism surrounding the city's wildfire response continues.

Despite the claims made in court, attorneys representing Los Angeles have denied wrongdoing.

"Our office remains confident in the City's overall position that it is not liable for these disastrous wildfires," City Attorney's Office spokesperson Ivor Pine said.