1 hour ago
2
Superstar DJ Calvin Harris is taking his former financial adviser to court, accusing him of siphoning $22.5 million into what his attorneys call a failed real-estate development scheme.
In an arbitration demand filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Sept. 12 and obtained by The Post, Harris — whose legal name is Adam Richard Wiles — alleged the adviser Thomas St. John, who managed his finances from 2012 until April 2025, “systematically” took advantage of their relationship to secure millions for a project dubbed CMNTY Culture Campus in Hollywood.
The venture, envisioned as a 460,000-square-foot complex with recording studios, artists’ lounges and office space, was launched in the early 2020s, and began seeking investment from entertainers and financiers by 2021.
Harris’s lawyers claim that when the project ran short of cash in 2023, St. John turned to Harris, providing only DocuSign forms to execute the deal.
Through a vehicle called Lewis LLC, Harris ultimately put in a $10 million loan and a $12.5 million equity stake in Hollywood LLC, the entity behind the project.
Attorneys allege the paperwork was “materially misleading” and that Harris received “no context or information whatsoever” about where his funds were going.
Soon after, they claim, $11.7 million was transferred to Dun & Dun LLC, a managing entity controlled by St. John.
“Mr. Wiles has not received a single penny in return for that investment, and, indeed, Respondents have not even started developing or building the project,” the filing states.
His lawyers further described the deal as “at best, a complete boondoggle, and, at worst, a complete fraud.”
They add that Harris’s requests for updates were met with “scant (and sometimes contradictory) information.”
The project has since pivoted.
In 2024, its purpose shifted to residential housing, now marketed as two towers with 750 apartments, including 90 low-income units along with retail and creative spaces.
Harris “actively pursued this development opportunity,” St. John’s attorney, Sasha Frid, said in a statement to Variety, which first reported on the lawsuit.
“Unhappy with the pace of the project, he chose to pursue private arbitration to assert his discontent. It’s no secret that due to interest rates and other market factors real estate projects are taking longer to build. But the development is very much viable and expected to have a $900+ million valuation when completed. Mr. St. John denies any wrongdoing.”
Harris’s lawyers contend the $10 million loan, which was due to be repaid with interest by Jan. 31, 2025, remains outstanding.
They also allege the financial health of the venture is deteriorating.
Through arbitration, Harris secured an agreement preventing project funds from being dissipated while the proceedings continue.
English (US)