URGENT UPDATE: Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani and his agent Nez Balelo have just filed a motion to dismiss a significant lawsuit accusing them of sabotaging a $240 million luxury housing project in Hawaii. The suit, initiated on August 8, 2023, claims Ohtani’s involvement led to the firing of key developers in the high-profile venture on the stunning Hapuna Coast.
According to court documents, the plaintiffs, including developer Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and real estate broker Tomoko Matsumoto, allege that Ohtani and Balelo engaged in “abuse of power,” resulting in tortious interference with their business dealings. The lawsuit was filed in the Hawaii Circuit Court for the First Circuit, and its implications could be far-reaching for Ohtani, a three-time MVP and current champion with the Dodgers.
In their legal response, filed Sunday, Ohtani’s attorneys assert that Hayes and Matsumoto exploited the baseball star’s name for their own gain without proper authorization. They stated, “Unbeknownst to Ohtani and his agent, plaintiffs exploited Ohtani’s name and photograph to drum up traffic to a website that marketed plaintiffs’ own side project development.”
The lawsuit follows their removal from the development deal by Kingsbarn Realty Capital, the project’s majority owner. Ohtani’s legal team argues that the lawsuit is a retaliatory move for Balelo’s efforts to protect Ohtani’s rights against unauthorized use of his likeness, branding it as “self-dealing” by the plaintiffs.
In a statement, attorneys for Ohtani emphasized that Balelo has consistently prioritized Ohtani’s best interests, saying, “This frivolous lawsuit is a desperate attempt by plaintiffs to distract from their myriad of failures and blatant misappropriation of Mr. Ohtani’s rights.”
Kingsbarn Realty has also labeled the allegations as “completely frivolous and without merit,” indicating strong support for Ohtani and Balelo. The outcome of this legal battle could have significant implications not only for the involved parties but also for how celebrity endorsements are managed in real estate developments.
As developments unfold, all eyes will remain on this case, with potential ramifications extending beyond the courtroom. Stakeholders in the luxury housing market and sports endorsement industry are closely monitoring the situation, as it raises critical questions about the usage of athlete likenesses in business ventures.
Stay tuned for more updates as this case progresses.
