David Lew v. The City of Los Angeles

I. BACKGROUND

7 David Lew (“Plaintiff”) is “an internationally known professional artist and 8 muralist of worldwide repute and reputation” also known as “Shark Toof.” (Dkt. 1, 9 Compl. ¶ 11.) Plaintiff’s “paintings as well as his outdoor murals have been featured around the world and his original artwork has been sought by a diverse range of clients, as well as displayed at art shows in museums across the country.” (Id.) Defendants are the City of Los Angeles (“City”), El Pueblo de Los Angeles (“El Pueblo”), the Chinese American Museum (“CAM”), and the Friends of the Chinese American Museum (“FCAM”) (collective, “Defendants”). (Id. ¶¶ 4, 5, 6, 7.) “In 2018, CAM began a multi- month exhibition called ‘Don’t Believe the Hype: LA Asian Americans in Hip Hop.’” (Id. ¶ 13.) Plaintiff alleges that the exhibition “examined resistance, refuge, and reinvention for Asian Americans living in the Los Angeles region through art and had site-specific immersive spaces created by graffiti artists and muralists.” (Id.) CAM invited Plaintiff to showcase his original art at the exhibition along with other renowned artists. (Id. ¶ 14.) At…