Overview

• Harris filed an arbitration demand on Sept. 12 in Los Angeles alleging his former adviser, Thomas St. John, diverted $22.5 million tied to the CMNTY Culture project.
• The filing says Harris put in a $10 million loan and $12.5 million in equity and received scant information before signing documents.
• Harris alleges $11.7 million was routed to an entity controlled by St. John, a claim St. John’s legal team denies.
• Through arbitration, Harris secured a stipulation preventing dissipation of project funds and petitioned L.A. Superior Court to confirm that protection.
• Developers pivoted the plan in 2024 to a 750-unit residential project; St. John’s attorney calls the venture viable with a projected $900 million-plus valuation and denies wrongdoing.