Gamble House Conservancy Suing USC

A conservancy group created earlier this year to maintain Gamble House is suing USC, claiming the university failed to turn over all of the funds meant to support operations at the historic structure.

The newly formed nonprofit organization assumed management control to oversee daily operations in April. The change of administration was the result of an agreement between the city and USC – which had been running the house since 1966 – following more than 18 months of discussions, officials said.

The house – a premier example of the Arts & Crafts architectural movement of the early 20th century – was home to Procter & Gamble Co. scion David Berry Gamble and his family before their heirs donated it, and its contents, to the city and USC in 1966.

Since then, it’s been a destination to tens of thousands of architectural students and researchers, as well as the site of public tours, lectures, and exhibitions.

“April 1st was the last day that USC was in control of the house,” said conservancy attorney Claire Collins. “They handed over the keys. April 2nd was the first day that the conservancy was operating at the house. All of the staff came over from USC and immediately was rehired as conservancy staff. There was a transfer of a significant amount of money in March and then there was an outstanding amount of money and accounting that’s due. That is what has not been delivered. So, under the terms of the agreement, all of the transition list must occur within 30 days after the court’s approval. The court’s approval happened in February. I believe it was February 12th. And so by our calculation, everything should have been completed by March 13th or 14th.”

USC has denied any wrongdoing “The allegations in the lawsuit are without merit,” according to a university statement. “The university plans to vigorously defend itself from these allegations.”

According to Collins, USC held back charitable funds subject to accounting reconciliation. But six months later, despite the 30-day transition agreement, the conservancy has not received a full accounting and does not know what amount of charitable funds were retained by USC.

Collins said it’s not just about when the money is turned over, but the accounting explaining how the funds have been handled.

“The Gamble House is asking for the funds to be accounted for so that we know how they have been spent, or and if there’s anything remaining that needs to be turned over to the conservancy, because as charitable funds that are dedicated to the Gamble House, those funds either needed to have been spent on expenses relating to the Gamble House, or they need to come back to the conservancy for their further safekeeping and use again in connection with the Gamble House.”

USC came under fire in 2000 when the college failed to report the theft of several pieces of furniture while it was managing the Freeman House, a 1924 Frank Lloyd Wright home perched on a hillside in Hollywood, according to the LA Times.

In August 2018, the Gamble House’s longtime director Ted Bosley resigned over differences of approach between himself and USC School of Architecture leaders over the future of the iconic Craftsman home.