AMA's inverse condemnation case against the City of Los Angeles will be heard by a jury on March 21, 2028 — after the City's repeated attempts to dismiss the claim were rejected by the court. In a second milestone victory, Judge Thomas D. Long has set a jury trial date of February 7, 2028 in AMA's case against Shen Zhen New World I, LLC, the ownership entity of the LA Grand Hotel. Two separate Los Angeles juries will now hear the evidence of what happened to AMA's scholars and their school.
Academy of Media Arts leased space in what had been a four-star downtown hotel, relying on the property continuing to operate as one. The complaint alleges that the City converted and operated large portions of the LA Grand Hotel as a homeless-housing site — first under the pandemic-era Project Roomkey program and later under the City's "Inside Safe" initiative — and that the City paid the hotel's ownership in excess of $54 million over the life of the arrangement.
On January 15, 2024, AMA was permanently forced to close. Violent incidents, documented biohazard conditions, and a campus breach requiring eight police officers made it impossible for AMA's scholars from Watts, South Central, Crenshaw, and Inglewood to safely attend school.
AMA's scholars — predominantly Black and Brown children from some of Los Angeles's most underserved communities — lost access to an institution that had secured college scholarships for its graduates and was building a charter management organization projected to include four additional schools. A campus previously occupied by American University Preparatory School, which served wealthy international students, was taken from the children of Watts and South Central.
The Honorable Nicholas F. Daum overruled the City's demurrer — the City's second attempt to dismiss the claim — allowing AMA's claim under Article I, Section 19 of the California Constitution to proceed. That provision prohibits the government from taking or damaging private property for public use without paying just compensation.
The City disputes the claims. No court has decided liability. The ruling allows AMA to present its case and the evidence behind it to a jury. Final Status Conference: March 6, 2028. ADR Settlement Window: January 6, 2028.
Judge Thomas D. Long has set a jury trial date in AMA's separate case against Shen Zhen New World I, LLC — the ownership entity of the LA Grand Hotel. As reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office, a federal jury in November 2022 convicted Shen Zhen New World of paying more than $1 million in bribes to former Los Angeles City Councilmember José Huizar. The company was fined $4 million. Owner Wei Huang remains a fugitive believed to be in China.
The hotel ownership disputes AMA's claims. No court has decided liability in this case. The trial date allows AMA to present its case to a jury. Hearing on pending motion: July 14, 2026.
Academy of Media Arts calls on the City of Los Angeles to engage in good faith settlement negotiations that reflect the full scope of the harm caused to AMA's scholars, community, and institutional mission — and to cease spending taxpayer dollars defending conduct that a jury will now have the opportunity to evaluate.
According to documents in AMA's litigation file, the hotel's management directed the City of Los Angeles General Services Department to arrange biohazard cleaning for nine specific rooms during AMA's active tenancy. Those same documents indicate that a City of Los Angeles Property Manager was receiving room-by-room biohazard notifications about conditions inside the building — while AMA's scholars were present on the campus below — and that the shelter continued to operate.
AMA contends this evidence demonstrates that the City had documented, specific knowledge of dangerous conditions in the building and continued to maintain its presence there.
"We built this school brick by brick over 17 years to serve our scholars. The City didn't just take our building — they took our children's future. Our scholars from Watts, South Central, Crenshaw, and Inglewood deserved better. Two juries will now hear what happened to them. We are going to trial and we intend to present every document, every email, and every biohazard notification."
The City of Los Angeles placed a homeless shelter on our campus without notice, forcing Academy of Media Arts to abruptly shut down operations. Our scholars from Watts, South Central, Crenshaw, and Inglewood were displaced from a world-class facility in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Litigation is actively underway.
Academy of Media Arts is a New Media Arts charter high school dedicated to underserved inner-city scholars in Los Angeles — merging STEAM education with professional media arts, project-based learning, and civic leadership.
Academy of Media Arts is committed to creating an environment that merges science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) into a cultivating bridge for career development opportunities within the digital age.
Since launching in 2019, AMA grew to a highest enrollment of 200 scholars. An overwhelming 98% of our scholars graduated and are attending four-year universities — each aligned to their gifts and talents.
AMA scholars develop professional-grade skills in fashion design and garment construction using industry-standard equipment, building career portfolios aligned to the fashion and apparel industry.
Using Los Angeles as our landscape, scholars survey and photograph the city through their own lenses. Classes are led by creative industry leaders and provide scholars with professional equipment, education, and multiple off-campus trips.
Equipped with a fully outfitted state-of-the-art commercial kitchen, the AMA campus is an incubator for the next Michelin-rated chef. Scholars receive training in food handling, safety, and culinary craft.
Our virtual medical program uses VR technology for a deeper visual understanding of human systems. AMA partners with leading Los Angeles hospitals including Cedars-Sinai and UCLA Medical.
AMA's Innovation Lab bridges classroom to industry. Scholars turn project-based learning into real businesses — creating Amazon Storefronts, mastering financial literacy, and earning profits that fund individual retirement accounts.
The Choice Talk Speaker Series holds space for shared experiences and community in the footprint of TED Talk. The Innovator X Speaker Series engages industry titans including Boeing and Otis College of Art and Design.
Scholars shared the history of Academy of Media Arts by presenting artifacts from Founder Dana Hammond's afterschool programming design and early fundraiser campaign — generously supported by Greg & Jodi Perlman.
Scholars lead donors through the founding vision and evolution of Academy of Media Arts
Afterschool programming design and fundraiser campaign artifacts — supported by Greg & Jodi Perlman
Every scholar demonstrates mastery through real-world project exhibition
AMA scholars welcome and engage with community partners and supporters
Every piece in this gallery was created by an Academy of Media Arts scholar. This is what happens when you give underserved young people access, tools, and the freedom to create.
AMA scholars speak directly to city leadership about the devastating impact of the Inside Safe Program on their education and safety.
One scholar transformed AMA's final PBL unit into a documentary examining the impact of Mayor Bass's Inside Safe Program on Black and Brown scholars.
When the City took away our school, our scholars didn't fold. They turned their displacement into their final exam — and showed the world what real education looks like.
When AMA was abruptly forced to close, our academic leadership turned the crisis into the curriculum. Every scholar. Every class. One final, real-world project.
Scholars documented and analyzed the impact of the City of Los Angeles's Inside Safe Program and its consequences for Black and Brown students — then presented their findings to the world.
"How has Mayor Bass's Inside Safe Program and the City of Los Angeles's decision to place a homeless shelter on AMA's campus negatively impacted the safety, wellbeing, and educational outcomes of Black and Brown scholars?"
Academy of Media Arts is fighting to reopen and return to serving the scholars who need us most. A new campus location is being determined — but our commitment to our scholars never moved.