Brentwood Heiress and Producer Sue Los Angeles Over Marilyn Monroe Home Demolition Dispute
Real estate heiress Brinah Milstein and her producer husband Roy Bank have initiated legal action against the city of Los Angeles and its mayor, following repeated city interventions that prevented them from demolishing their mansion, which was once owned by Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe. The couple filed an updated complaint last month, asserting that the city violated their constitutional rights by obstructing the demolition of their $8.35 million property.
Historical Significance and Legal Battle
Monroe owned the Los Angeles home for a mere six months before her tragic death at age 36 from a drug overdose in 1962. In their legal filing, Milstein and Bank argue that the city halted their demolition plans without any public purpose or just compensation paid, claiming they possess the right to demolish the former residence of the legendary actress. According to reports from The Los Angeles Times, the couple is seeking a court order to permit the leveling of the home and to secure compensation from the city for the subsequent decline in property value.
Property Details and Ownership Background
Milstein and Bank purchased the Spanish-style home in 2023 for $8.35 million, with the intention of tearing it down to expand their adjacent Brentwood property. Milstein hails from a wealthy real estate family, while Bank's production credits include the 2022 martial arts documentary The Cave of Adullam and the reality shopping show Flea Market Flip. The couple initially obtained permits from the LA Department of Building and Safety to commence demolition, but public outcry led the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission to designate the site as a landmark starting in January 2024.
This designation, according to the filing, has turned the property into a tourist attraction, despite it not being visible from the street. The couple alleges that this has deprived them of the use and enjoyment of their property without any actual benefit to the public.
Legal Proceedings and City Response
The couple filed their first lawsuit in May 2024 in an attempt to prevent the city from imposing landmark status on the single-family home. In their most recent suit, they claim they were regularly not given the legally required notice and an opportunity to be heard. Despite these legal challenges, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously in June 2024 to preserve the property.
Monroe's final home, originally built in the 1920s and believed to have been first erected in 1929, has undergone numerous alterations over the decades. It was purchased by Monroe for $75,000 in the early 1960s and has changed hands among at least 14 owners since her death. The suit notes that not a trace of Ms. Monroe’s short tenure at the house remains at the Property or in the house.
Compromise Attempts and Ongoing Issues
As a potential compromise, the couple attempted to collaborate with the city to relocate the mansion to a more accessible location, but the city declined. A judge dismissed the couple's initial lawsuit in September 2025, describing it as an ill-disguised motion to win so they can demolish the home.
Since the landmark designation, the property has attracted a surge of Monroe's fans, leading to traffic congestion, numerous trespassers, and even a burglary in November 2025, where intruders scaled the wall and broke into the house in search of memorabilia. The filing criticizes the city for failing to compensate Plaintiffs for their lost use and enjoyment of their Property since it became a historical cultural site and for not preserving the home in the 60 years prior to the demolition plans.
The Los Angeles Planning Commission, responsible for managing historical landmarks, has declined to comment on the pending litigation. Legal representatives for Milstein and Bank, as well as the city of Los Angeles, have been contacted for further comment.
