Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and agent accused of sabotaging $240M Hawaii real estate project

A Hawaii existent property capitalist and broker are suing Shohei Ohtani, claiming the Los Angeles Dodgers prima and his cause got them fired from a $240 cardinal luxury lodging improvement connected the Big Island's coveted Hapuna Coast that they brought him successful to endorse.

According to the suit filed successful Hawaii Circuit Court connected Friday, Ohtani's agent, Nez Balelo, progressively demanded concessions from developer Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and existent property broker Tomoko Matsumoto earlier demanding that their concern partner, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, driblet them from the deal.

"Balelo and (Ohtani), who were brought into the task solely for (Ohtani's) promotional and branding value, exploited their personage leverage to destabilize and yet dismantle Plaintiffs' relation successful the task - for nary crushed different than their ain fiscal self-interest," the suit claims.

The suit accuses Ohtani and Balelo of tortious interference and unjust enrichment. Hayes, a developer with 40 years of experience, and Matsumoto, who was to beryllium the listing cause for the houses averaging $17.3 cardinal each, accidental that Ohtani and Balelo besides tried to undermine their interests successful a second, neighboring venture.

A spokesperson for Balelo's agency, CAA Baseball, declined comment. Attempts to scope Kingsbarn officials for remark were not instantly successful.

"This lawsuit is astir maltreatment of power," the suit says. "Defendants utilized threats and baseless ineligible claims to unit a concern spouse to betray its contractual obligations and portion Plaintiffs of the precise task they conceived and built.

"Defendants indispensable beryllium held accountable for their actions, not shielded by fame oregon behind-the-scenes agents acting with impunity. Plaintiffs bring this suit to exposure Defendants' misconduct and to guarantee that the rules of contract, just dealing, and accountability use arsenic to each - personage oregon not."

Ohtani, 31, arrived from Japan successful 2018 arsenic possibly the astir heralded planetary prima successful shot history, with an quality to some transportation and deed that made him doubly invaluable to his team. A five-time All-Star and three-time Most Valuable Player, helium signed a grounds 10-year, $700-million declaration with the Dodgers earlier past play and helped the squad triumph the 2024 World Series.

Investment materials for The Vista astatine Mauna Kea Resort, which remained online connected Monday night, listed Hayes and Matsumoto arsenic portion of the absorption team, on with Kingsbarn. It called Ohtani "Japan's Babe Ruth" and the "1st Resident," giving him apical billing up of the iconic Mauna Kea Resort, "one of the astir celebrated hotels successful Hawaii," Hapuna Beach, "rated the #1 formation successful America by Conde Nast Traveler" and 2 play courses - 1 designed by Arnold Palmer, the different by Robert Trent Jones Sr.

"Ohtani volition enactment arsenic the personage spokesperson for the task and has committed to purchasing 1 of the 14 residences wrong the project," the brochure says. "He besides intends to walk important clip astatine The Vista successful the off-season and volition conception a tiny hitting and pitching installation for preseason training."

The suit says the developers spent 11 years moving connected the woody and "as portion of a bold selling strategy" signed an endorsement woody successful 2023 with Ohtani, "one of the astir high-profile endorsements imaginable."

"This concern with Ohtani volition elevate the request and make buzz wrong the Japanese luxury abrogation location market, which is simply a superior people assemblage for the project," the concern brochure said. "We spot Shohei Ohtani's homeownership arsenic having a important interaction connected the planetary vulnerability of the task and expect to accelerate the gait of sales, thereby helping america execute our pricing objectives."

The suit said Balelo "quickly became a disruptive force," threatening to propulsion Ohtani from the woody if concessions weren't made.

"Kingsbarn began capitulating to Balelo's each whim," the suit said. "Over time, it became progressively evident that Kingsbarn was much acrophobic astir preserving its narration with (Ohtani) than honoring its obligations to its concern partners."

Last month, successful what the suit called "a coordinated ambush," Kingsbarn fired Hayes and Matsumoto.

"Kingsbarn openly admitted during the telephone that Balelo had demanded the terminations and that they were being done solely to placate him," the suit said. "Plaintiffs basal to suffer millions of dollars successful compensation tied to projected homebuilding profit, operation absorption fees, and broker commissions."