LA Pushes Back on Lawsuit to Demolish Marilyn Monroe's Death Home

Owners of $8M property claim historical designation 'rendered the property useless', but city says they were warned it was a tourist site.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 12:51am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The city of Los Angeles is seeking to dismiss a federal lawsuit from the owners of the Brentwood home where Marilyn Monroe died, arguing the owners were aware the property was a known tourist destination and candidate for historical landmark status before they purchased it for $8.35 million in 2023. The city says the owners' claims of the historical designation causing problems like increased trespassers and making the property 'unrentable' are unfounded, and that they have avenues to challenge the designation without demolishing the home.

Why it matters

This case highlights the tension between private property rights and the public interest in preserving historically significant sites, especially those tied to famous figures like Marilyn Monroe. The city's defense of the historical designation underscores its efforts to protect the cultural heritage of Los Angeles, even against the wishes of wealthy homeowners.

The details

Brinah Milstein and Roy Bank purchased the Brentwood property in 2023 and soon after applied for and received city approval to demolish the home. However, the city later designated the home a 'Historical-Cultural Monument' in 2024, which the owners claim 'rendered the property useless' and stopped their ability to capitalize on their $8 million investment. The city is now seeking to dismiss the owners' federal lawsuit, arguing they were explicitly warned the property was a known tourist destination and candidate for landmark status before they bought it. The city also says the designation is not technically final and the owners have not pursued all available avenues to challenge it, such as applying for a new demolition permit under the historical designation.

  • Milstein and Bank purchased the Brentwood property for $8.35 million in 2023.
  • The city designated the home a 'Historical-Cultural Monument' in 2024.
  • The owners filed a federal lawsuit challenging the designation in 2026.

The players

Brinah Milstein and Roy Bank

The owners of the Brentwood home where Marilyn Monroe died, who purchased the property for $8.35 million in 2023 and are now suing the city of Los Angeles over its historical designation of the home.

City of Los Angeles

The city government that designated Marilyn Monroe's former home a 'Historical-Cultural Monument' in 2024 and is now seeking to dismiss the owners' federal lawsuit challenging the designation.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The homeowners are currently challenging the lower state court's denial of their petition to force the city to allow demolition of the home in the state Court of Appeals.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tension between private property rights and public preservation of historically and culturally significant sites. The city's defense of the historical designation underscores its efforts to protect Los Angeles' heritage, even against wealthy homeowners' wishes to redevelop the property.