SoCal billionaire to sue ‘hero’ firefighter after automotive hits mansion

A billionaire AI boss sued a beloved California firefighter after claiming he broken his $40 million Malibu seashore mansion whereas putting in a system designed to guard the house from wildfires.

Daniel Nadler, 42, the CEO of OpenEvidence — a Google-backed synthetic intelligence firm described as “ChatGPT” for docs — filed the lawsuit Tuesday morning earlier than it was mysteriously withdrawn hours later.

The lawsuit, which The Put up understands will likely be refiled, accused firefighter Robert Milstein of smashing his “heavy automobile” into the outside wall of the sprawling oceanfront property, which Nadler claims slashed the house’s worth by “hundreds of thousands.”

The architect-designed beachfront residence options uncommon rammed-earth partitions meant to resemble weathered coastal stone.

Milstein, who runs SoCal Hearth Provide, had been organising a fireproofing system on the mansion on October 9, 2025.

The veteran firefighter is a part of the LA County Hearth Neighborhood Brigade, which assists the LAFD throughout emergencies, and has spent 20 years constructing a status as a firefighting hero in Santa Monica.

He helped save the famed Calamigos Ranch throughout the devastating 2018 Woolsey Hearth and is credited by locals with defending Massive Rock throughout January’s Palisades Hearth, serving to evacuate lots of of residents whereas saving hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in property.

The lawsuit alleges Milstein broken “a number of rammed earth panels, compromising the panels’ exterior façade.”

Nadler claims the wall’s uncommon composition means “partial repairs will solely additional the harm and create a patchwork-like blight to a wall that was meant to look as one steady, weathered stone.”

However Milstein insists the billionaire is overstating the harm.

Talking solely to The Put up, the firefighter mentioned he took “full duty” for the accident, explaining he had been dashing to maneuver his truck after “a panicked property supervisor” warned that Nadler was approaching and wanted the driveway cleared.

Milstein mentioned he failed to note a cupboard door on the truck had been left open, inflicting it to strike the stone wall as he reversed.

Photographs taken afterward seem to point out harm to 2 exterior panels.

“I took full duty. I attempt to not trigger any issues for my purchasers,” Milstein mentioned.

Nadler’s lawsuit additionally contains an e-mail during which Milstein admitted fault.

“I’m 100% at fault and take full duty,” Milstein wrote, including that he had been in a “rush” and had insurance coverage protection.

Milstein claims his insurer provided $158,000 to restore the harm due to the distinctive supplies used on the house — however says Nadler demanded at the very least 20 further panels get replaced at a price exceeding $600,000.

“He wished me to exchange panels that had been beforehand broken,” Milstein claimed.

Now, Milstein says, the billionaire is threatening him with not solely the complete substitute value but in addition the alleged diminished worth of the property, which might allegedly run into the “multi-millions.”

Nadler bought the Malibu property for $27.1 million in July 2025, although the lawsuit suggests the property might now be value as a lot as $40 million.

The authorized submitting claims the affect “opened an precise hole within the constructing envelope, creating a direct and ongoing threat of water intrusion, moisture penetration, mould formation, structural compromise, and accelerated coastal weathering,” allegedly creating security dangers for Nadler and his household.

Milstein, whose purchasers embody Star Wars actor Mark Hamill, mentioned he employed a structural engineer to examine the harm.

A letter from the engineering agency acknowledged it “appeared extremely unlikely that there was any harm to the supporting structural wall or the muse of the home.”

The beachfront mansion was beforehand praised by California Dwelling and Design journal for its “architectural distinction,” notably the rammed-earth panels that “carry the variegated colours of the sand” into the house’s inside.

The roughly 4,000-square-foot property encompasses a pool, cabana and sweeping ocean views.

Based on Forbes, Nadler has an estimated web value of $7.6 billion.

The Canadian-born entrepreneur beforehand based Kensho Applied sciences, which was acquired by S&P World in 2018.

In July 2025, Nadler additionally paid $38.2 million money for a furnished 6,000-square-foot triplex penthouse on the 4 Seasons Residences in Surfside, Florida.

Regardless of Nadler’s immense wealth, Milstein mentioned he was not intimidated.

“He thinks he’s going to scare me. It’s not legit,” Milstein mentioned.

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