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Aurora James, the designer behind Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's "Tax the Rich" Met Gala dress, faces a civil lawsuit accusing her nonprofit of leaving event planner The Gathery Inc.
The suit, filed in New York Supreme Court, alleges that James, the 15 Percent Pledge, and fiscal sponsor Philanthropic Ventures Foundation failed to pay for the "15 Percent Pledge Gala 2026" held at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles in February.
The Gathery is seeking at least $1,082,965.28 in damages, plus contractually owed interest and additional financial damages.
According to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital, the 15 Percent Pledge made two initial deposits toward a $1.5 million total but ceased all payments in November 2025.
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