Lawsuit Filed Against Shohei Ohtani Over Alleged Interference in Hawaii Real Estate Project

A lawsuit has been initiated by a Hawaii-based real estate investor and broker against Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball player, along with his agent, Nez Balelo. They allege that Ohtani and Balelo coerced their removal from a significant luxury housing development on the Big Island’s desirable Hapuna Coast, a project valued at $240 million that they had originally brought Ohtani in to endorse.

Filed in Hawaii Circuit Court, the complaint outlines how Balelo raised several demands from developer Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and broker Tomoko Matsumoto, eventually insisting that their business partner, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, terminate their involvement in the project. The lawsuit claims that Balelo and Ohtani exploited their prominence to destabilize and effectively dismantle the plaintiffs' role, acting purely out of self-interest.

The legal action accuses Ohtani and Balelo of both tortious interference and unjust enrichment. With Hayes being an experienced developer and Matsumoto designated as the listing agent for luxury residences priced around $17.3 million, they assert that these actions also endangered their interests in a further neighboring venture. A spokesperson for Balelo’s agency, CAA Baseball, chose not to comment, while attempts to get a response from Kingsbarn’s officials were unreturned.

The lawsuit emphasizes that it is fundamentally about the misuse of power, contending that the defendants employed threats and unfounded legal claims to induce a business partner to compromise their contractual responsibilities, which led to the plaintiffs losing control of the project they had initially developed. The plaintiffs seek accountability for Ohtani and Balelo's actions, arguing that fame should not exempt individuals from consequences for their misconduct.

Ohtani, who made his arrival from Japan in 2018, is regarded as one of baseball’s most significant international figures. He has established himself as an exceptional player, earning multiple accolades and signing a record contract with the Dodgers. The project's investment materials still prominently feature Hayes and Matsumoto as management team members, and describe Ohtani as a critical brand ambassador, furthering the resort's appeal with potential buyers, particularly targeting the Japanese luxury market.

The lawsuit asserts that Balelo quickly became a source of disruption, threatening to withdraw Ohtani from the project if his demands were not met, leading Kingsbarn to prioritize its relationship with Ohtani over its commitments to the other business partners. The suit describes a sudden move last month where Kingsbarn terminated Hayes and Matsumoto's contracts, citing Balelo’s demands for these actions. As a result, the plaintiffs risk losing millions in expected earnings from homebuilding profits, construction management fees, and broker commissions.