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Owners of Marilyn Monroe’s Brentwood House Sue Los Angeles Over Landmark Designation

They claim the designation imposed after their purchase blocked a permitted teardown, constituting an uncompensated taking.

Overview

  • The homeowners filed a federal lawsuit on Jan. 23 naming the City of Los Angeles and Mayor Karen Bass as defendants.
  • They bought the Brentwood property in 2023 for about $8.35 million and say demolition permits were secured before the landmark push.
  • The suit argues the home's link to Marilyn Monroe is weak because the structure has been extensively remodeled through dozens of city-approved permits over decades.
  • The complaint says landmark status has turned the site into a nuisance, citing traffic, trespassing and a November break-in by burglars seeking memorabilia.
  • The couple seeks a court order allowing demolition and compensation for lost use, noting a prior lawsuit was tossed in 2025, while Councilmember Traci Park led the designation effort and the city has not issued a substantive response.