Owners of Marilyn Monroe's Former Home Sue L.A. Over Demolition Block

Brentwood couple claims their constitutional rights were violated when city officials prevented them from tearing down the famous property.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 3:31pm

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Brinah Milstein and Roy Bank, the owners of the Brentwood home where Marilyn Monroe died in 1962, are suing the city of Los Angeles and Mayor Bass. The couple claims their constitutional rights were violated when the city blocked their plans to demolish the famous property, which they purchased in 2023 for $8.35 million with the intention of expanding their estate next door.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tension in Los Angeles between preserving historic properties associated with Hollywood legends and the property rights of homeowners who want to redevelop those sites. It also raises questions about the criteria used to designate historic landmarks and the impact such designations can have on private property owners.

The details

Milstein and Bank quickly obtained demolition permits from the Department of Building and Safety after purchasing the home, but an outcry from historians, Angelenos, and Monroe fans led the city to initiate the landmark application process, barring the owners from destroying the house. The Los Angeles City Council later unanimously voted to designate the property as a historic cultural monument, officially saving it from demolition. In their lawsuit, Milstein and Bank claim the city's actions 'deprived Plaintiffs of their intended demolition of the house and the use and enjoyment of their Property without any actual benefit to the public.'

  • In 2023, Milstein and Bank purchased the home for $8.35 million.
  • In September 2023, Councilmember Traci Park held a press conference urging the City Council to declare the home a landmark.
  • In January 2024, the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission started the landmark application process.
  • A few months later, the L.A. City Council unanimously voted to designate the home as a historic cultural monument.
  • In September 2025, an L.A. Superior Court Judge threw out a previous lawsuit filed by Milstein and Bank.

The players

Brinah Milstein

A wealthy real estate heiress who, along with her partner Roy Bank, purchased Marilyn Monroe's former home in Brentwood in 2023 with the intention of demolishing it.

Roy Bank

A reality TV producer with credits including 'The Apprentice' and 'Survivor' who, along with his partner Brinah Milstein, purchased Marilyn Monroe's former home in Brentwood in 2023 with the intention of demolishing it.

Traci Park

The Los Angeles City Councilmember who represents the 11th council district where Marilyn Monroe's former home is located. She held a press conference urging the City Council to declare the home a landmark.

Eric Garcetti

The Mayor of Los Angeles who is named as a defendant in the lawsuit filed by Milstein and Bank.

Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission

The city agency that initiated the landmark application process for Marilyn Monroe's former home in 2024, barring the owners from demolishing the property.

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What they’re saying

“There is not a single piece of the house that includes any physical evidence that Ms. Monroe ever spent a day at the house, not a piece of furniture, not a paint chip, not a carpet, nothing.”

— Brinah Milstein and Roy Bank, Homeowners (Los Angeles Times)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, Grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The lawsuit filed by Milstein and Bank is seeking a court order allowing them to demolish the house and compensation for the decline in property value following the city's decision to declare it a monument.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate in Los Angeles over preserving historic properties associated with Hollywood legends versus the property rights of homeowners who want to redevelop those sites. It raises questions about the criteria used to designate historic landmarks and the impact such designations can have on private property owners.