Leila and David Centner, from Miami, are in the middle of a legal battle that if won, will hold the mainstream and legacy media accountable for lies, defamation and leaving a city devoid of a true gift.
The Centners are entrepreneurs and philanthropists committed to creating lasting impact. Together, they have contributed millions to charitable initiatives locally and globally, with a strong focus on empowering underserved women and children through sustainable programs in education, housing and job training. Their philanthropic and business efforts are guided by a shared mission; to uplift communities and enhance lives. Today the Centners oversee a diverse portfolio of ventures across sectors including education, hospitality, technology, health and wellness, fitness and retreats.
In September of this year, the Centners filed a defamation lawsuit against The Miami Herald. Before 2020, the Centners had been a celebrated couple for their philanthropic and charitable efforts not only in Miami but abroad. In fact, they had been celebrated by the media as “Miami’s Most Philanthropic Power Couple.” So how did this lawsuit come to be, you might ask?
The Centners allege that The Miami Herald and several of their reporters intentionally misrepresented the facts of a proposed $10 Million donation to the City of Miami for a Sports Park that would benefit the residents and visitors of the city.
In 2018, shortly after Leila and David moved their family to Miami, they co-founded Centner Academy, a school dedicated to the cultivation of emotional development and the overall well-being of the children. With seasoned teachers and an innovative curriculum that provides a strengths-based approach, the pre-school through high school students are also sent on a learning journey of the arts, mindfulness, entrepreneurship, languages, artificial intelligence, public speaking, and they also offer a robust STEM program.
Leila has been working as the CEO of the Academy, which opened its doors in 2019. Since its opening, the Academy has given out millions of dollars in scholarships and has received numerous awards and accolades as well as being globally recognized for its innovative curriculum.
The Academy had been reserving a neglected city park across the street for recreational sports events during the school year called Biscayne Park due to the proximity to the school. For decades the community had been concerned about the safety of the park, and the Centners also shared those concerns for potential risks to the students and others.
The Centners saw an opportunity to help by offering to revitalize the land into a $10M state-of-the-art recreational facility that would benefit the entire community. This would be a gift of love for David as he wanted to give back to the city that he was raised in, loved and shaped him to the man he is today.
In November of 2022, after addressing all concerns of the community and city commissioners, two agreements were drafted and signed to move forward with the project. The Donation Agreement made clear that the Centners sought to “donate” a “state of the art recreational facility worth no less than ten million dollars” in Biscayne Park, “for the benefit of the city, it’s residents and visitors.” While the License Agreement ensured that the Centner Academy could continue to reserve the park during school hours, the school’s use should be staggered resulting in continuous public access and use of unreserved program areas.
Proposed Sports Complex for Miami
Going back nearly ten years in Miami, the mark of the Centner’s kindness and love for helping people and communities can be seen and felt. Through many articles in the Miami Herald alone, you can find the various times that Leila and David stepped in to help the people of Miami. In fact, it was up until 2021 when Leila began to question the Covid-19 vaccine, when the positive reporting turned into unfavorable articles against the Centners. (Although this has not been confirmed, there seem to be no other reasons for this.) It was then that the news outlet began bashing the couple, their opinions and political beliefs. In one article, they even reported their home address along with a picture of their home. This caused fear in this family, and to keep their young children safe, they sold their home and moved. The Herald eventually removed the address from the article, but the damage was already done.
While the planning had begun on the Biscayne Park Sports facility, the Centners were subpoenaed by State Police in 2023. This had to do with a corruption investigation into Attorney Bill Riley and City Commissioner Diaz De La Portilla. Although Riley was an Attorney that the Centners had used, they were not being accused of any wrongdoing.
The Miami Herald took it upon themselves to write salacious and false articles accusing the Centners of egregious acts such as a public land grab for their school, bribery and funneling money. In one article, they accused them of taking an immunity deal which never happened.
The case against Riley and De La Portillo was eventually dropped; however. no retractions were made by the Miami Herald, and the Centner’s reputation was already damaged.
The Centner lawsuit against The Miami Herald and some of its reporters is a valid case showing how the lies and manipulation of the mainstream media can manifest harm to people when extreme bias is applied.
After The Herald continued to report false accusations against the Centners, they were constantly bombarded with hate and vitriol from people at every turn. They had no choice but to withdraw their $10M donation. They have lost not only business opportunities but also opportunities to better the community.
David and Leila Centner
David and Leila have lived a life of giving back and using the blessings they’ve been given to benefit the less fortunate.
The Centners, according to their court filing on September 12, 2025, are suing The Miami Herald and others for “Actual and presumed damages of no less than $885 million, 25% of which the Centners pledge to donate to charitable causes.”
In a September 16, 2025, article by PR Newswire, the Centners gave this statement…
“For Years, we have dedicated our time and resources to improving communities in Miami and beyond. We take no joy in suing the Miami Herald, the newspaper of my youth,” said Miami native David Centner. “But the Miami Herald’s repeated false reporting has damaged our reputation, diverted resources, and undermined our ability to serve. We will not allow this brazen and malicious takedown attempt to stand.”
“This lawsuit is not just about us; it’s about the little guys who don’t have the resources to stand up to media bullies.” said Leila Centner. “We bring this suit to defend the truth, our legacy, and our promise to the public.”
You can see the entire filing of the Centner lawsuit HERE that includes articles from The Miami Herald.
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