Ohtani and Agent Seek Dismissal of Hawaii Real Estate Lawsuit

Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball star, and his agent, Nez Balelo, have moved to dismiss a lawsuit filed last month. The lawsuit, brought by a Hawaii real estate investor and broker, alleges that Ohtani and Balelo caused the plaintiffs to be removed from a $240 million luxury housing development on the Big Island's Hapuna Coast.

The lawsuit, filed in Hawaii Circuit Court, accused Ohtani and Balelo of "abuse of power," leading to tortious interference and unjust enrichment. The plaintiffs, developer Kevin J. Hayes Sr., real estate broker Tomoko Matsumoto, West Point Investment Corp., and Hapuna Estates Property Owners, were dropped from the development deal by Kingsbarn Realty Capital, the joint venture's majority owner.

In legal filings, Ohtani and Balelo's lawyers stated that Hayes and Matsumoto had acquired rights in 2023 to use Ohtani's name, image, and likeness for marketing the real estate development at the Mauna Kea Resort. They claimed Ohtani was a "victim of NIL violations." The lawyers asserted that Hayes and Matsumoto used Ohtani's name and image without authorization or compensation to promote their own project.

The lawyers for Ohtani and Balelo argued that the lawsuit was filed after Balelo expressed concern about the misuse of Ohtani's likeness and threatened legal action. They characterized Balelo's actions as "clearly protected speech." Kingsbarn, in a statement released after the initial suit, described the allegations as "completely frivolous and without merit."

A lawyer for Ohtani and Balelo stated that Balelo has always prioritized Ohtani's best interests, including protecting his name, image, and likeness. The lawyer described the lawsuit as a desperate attempt by the plaintiffs to distract from their failures and misappropriation of Ohtani's rights.