Los Angeles – Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani faces a new lawsuit from Hawaii real estate professionals who claim he and his agent used their celebrity status to force them out of a luxury development project.
Real estate developer Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and broker Tomoko Matsumoto filed the suit Friday in Hawaii Circuit Court. They allege Ohtani and agent Nez Balelo sabotaged their roles in a $240 million housing project on Hawaii’s Big Island.
The lawsuit adds to Ohtani’s off-field legal troubles. Earlier this year, his former interpreter was sentenced to prison for stealing millions from the baseball star’s bank account.
Hawaii developers claim celebrity power play
Hayes and Matsumoto say they spent 11 years developing The Vista at Mauna Kea Resort before bringing Ohtani on board as a celebrity endorser in 2023. The project features 14 luxury homes averaging $17.3 million each on the prestigious Hapuna Coast.
The developers claim they were fired from their own project after Balelo made increasing demands and threatened to pull Ohtani from the deal.
“This case is about abuse of power,” the lawsuit states. “Defendants used threats and baseless legal claims to force a business partner to betray its contractual obligations and strip Plaintiffs of the very project they conceived and built.”
The suit accuses Ohtani and Balelo of tortious interference and unjust enrichment.
Marketing pitched Ohtani as key selling point
Investment materials for the project prominently featured Ohtani’s involvement. The brochure called him “Japan’s Babe Ruth” and listed him as the development’s first resident.
Developers believed Ohtani’s star power would attract wealthy Japanese buyers to the luxury vacation home market.
“This partnership with Ohtani will elevate the demand and create buzz within the Japanese luxury vacation home market, which is a primary target audience for the project,” the investment brochure stated.
The materials said Ohtani would serve as celebrity spokesperson and purchase one of the residences. He also planned to build a small hitting and pitching facility for off-season training.
Agent allegedly made excessive demands
According to court documents, problems started after Ohtani signed his endorsement agreement. The lawsuit claims Balelo became increasingly demanding with project partners.
“Balelo quickly became a disruptive force,” the suit alleges. The agent reportedly threatened to remove Ohtani from the project unless his demands were met.
Business partner Kingsbarn Realty Capital eventually fired Hayes and Matsumoto in what the lawsuit calls “a coordinated ambush.”
“Kingsbarn openly admitted during the call that Balelo had demanded the terminations and that they were being done solely to placate him,” court papers state.
Legal teams respond to allegations
CAA Baseball, Balelo’s agency, declined to comment on the lawsuit. Kingsbarn Realty Capital called the allegations “completely frivolous and without merit” in a statement to the Associated Press.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages. Hayes and Matsumoto claim they stand to lose millions in construction management fees, homebuilding profits and broker commissions.
“Defendants must be held accountable for their actions, not shielded by fame or behind-the-scenes agents acting with impunity,” the suit states.
Previous interpreter gambling scandal
This lawsuit comes months after Ohtani’s former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was sentenced to nearly five years in federal prison. Mizuhara pleaded guilty to stealing almost $17 million from the bank account of the Dodgers star to cover gambling losses.
Federal prosecutors said Mizuhara made approximately 19,000 bets between December 2021 and January 2024, losing more than $40 million total. The interpreter had access to Ohtani’s bank account and changed security protocols to prevent the baseball star from detecting the theft.
Ohtani addressed that scandal in March 2024, saying through an interpreter: “I am very saddened and shocked that someone who I trusted has done this.”
Federal authorities treated Ohtani as a victim in the gambling case. Prosecutors found no evidence he knew about the betting or authorized the money transfers.
In contrast to Ohtani’s legal troubles, Yankees superstar Aaron Judge has never been accused of any out-field controversy.
High stakes for baseball’s biggest star
Ohtani signed a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers before the 2024 season. He led the team to its first World Series championship since 1988.
The Hawaii real estate dispute represents another legal challenge for baseball’s most recognizable international star. Both cases involve allegations of people in Ohtani’s inner circle taking advantage of his wealth and celebrity status.
The lawsuit highlights the complex business relationships that surround high-profile athletes and the potential for conflicts when celebrity endorsements go wrong.
What do you think?
Does it really matter? Ohtani will skate even if he is 20000% guilty. After what went down with his interpreter, I am convinced his protection comes from the highest level of both (U.S. & Japan) Governments.