Latest news with #Plaintiffs'
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers star sued in real estate deal
Ohtani is referred to in the lawsuit, in which some portions are redacted, as "Otani." The developers say in the lawsuit that they spent more than a decade trying to work on the deal before signing Ohtani to an endorsement deal in 2023. "This case is about abuse of power. 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. Defendants must be held accountable for their actions, not shielded by fame or behind-the-scenes agents acting with impunity," the lawsuit says. "Defendants must be held accountable for their actions, not shielded by fame or behind-the-scenes agents acting with impunity. Plaintiffs bring this suit to expose Defendants' misconduct and to ensure that the rules of contract, fair dealing, and accountability apply equally to all -- celebrity or not." Ohtani and Balelo are accused in the lawsuit of "tortious interference and unjust enrichment, who used their "celebrity leverage to destabilize and ultimately dismantle Plaintiffs' role in the project" and attempted to sabotage a second business venture. Ohtani is listed in a 2024 press release for the Vista at Mauna Kea Resort project, aimed at appealing to Japanese and U.S. high-end buyers, that says he will be the first resident on the property. "To me, Hawaii is a beautiful blend of Pacific Ocean cultures," Ohtani says in the release. "Here, I found my own paradise at Mauna Kea Resort: Two perfect beaches, two amazing golf courses, and so much more. I selected my homesite and am building my winter home here. This is a special place - a place I will soon call home." Ohtani is in his second season with the Dodgers, after signing a 10-year, $700-million contract, helping Los Angeles win the World Series last year. He is a five-time All-Star and three-time Most Valuable Player, who is hitting .284 with 42 home runs and 78 RBI for the NL West leaders in 2025.
NBC Sports
3 days ago
- Business
- NBC Sports
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and agent accused of sabotaging $240M Hawaii real estate project
A Hawaii real estate investor and broker are suing Shohei Ohtani, claiming the Los Angeles Dodgers star and his agent got them fired from a $240 million luxury housing development on the Big Island's coveted Hapuna Coast that they brought him in to endorse. According to the lawsuit filed in Hawaii Circuit Court, Ohtani's agent, Nez Balelo, increasingly demanded concessions from developer Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and real estate broker Tomoko Matsumoto before demanding that their business partner, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, drop them from the deal. 'Balelo and (Ohtani), who were brought into the venture solely for (Ohtani's) promotional and branding value, exploited their celebrity leverage to destabilize and ultimately dismantle Plaintiffs' role in the project — for no reason other than their own financial self-interest,' the lawsuit 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 be the listing agent for the houses averaging $17.3 million each, say that Ohtani and Balelo also tried to undermine their interests in a second, neighboring venture. A spokesman for Balelo's agency, CAA Baseball, declined comment. Attempts to reach Kingsbarn officials for comment were not immediately successful. 'This case is about abuse of power,' the lawsuit says. '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. 'Defendants must be held accountable for their actions, not shielded by fame or behind-the-scenes agents acting with impunity. Plaintiffs bring this suit to expose Defendants' misconduct and to ensure that the rules of contract, fair dealing, and accountability apply equally to all — celebrity or not.' Ohtani, 31, arrived from Japan in 2018 as perhaps the most heralded international star in baseball history, with an ability to both pitch and hit that made him doubly valuable to his team. A five-time All-Star and three-time Most Valuable Player, he signed a record 10-year, $700-million contract with the Dodgers before last season and helped the team win the 2024 World Series. Investment materials for The Vista at Mauna Kea Resort, which remained online, listed Hayes and Matsumoto as part of the management team, along with Kingsbarn. It called Ohtani 'Japan's Babe Ruth' and the '1st Resident,' giving him top billing ahead of the iconic Mauna Kea Resort, 'one of the most celebrated hotels in Hawaii,' Hapuna Beach, 'rated the #1 beach in America by Conde Nast Traveler' and two golf courses – one designed by Arnold Palmer, the other by Robert Trent Jones Sr. 'Ohtani will act as the celebrity spokesperson for the project and has committed to purchasing one of the 14 residences within the project,' the brochure says. 'He also intends to spend significant time at The Vista in the off-season and will construct a small hitting and pitching facility for preseason training.' The suit says the developers spent 11 years working on the deal and 'as part of a bold marketing strategy' signed an endorsement deal in 2023 with Ohtani, 'one of the most high-profile endorsements imaginable.' '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 said. 'We see Shohei Ohtani's homeownership as having a significant impact on the global exposure of the project and expect to accelerate the pace of sales, thereby helping us achieve our pricing objectives.' The suit said Balelo 'quickly became a disruptive force,' threatening to pull Ohtani from the deal if concessions weren't made. 'Kingsbarn began capitulating to Balelo's every whim,' the suit said. 'Over time, it became increasingly obvious that Kingsbarn was more concerned about preserving its relationship with (Ohtani) than honoring its obligations to its business partners.' Last month, in what the suit called 'a coordinated ambush,' Kingsbarn fired Hayes and Matsumoto. 'Kingsbarn openly admitted during the call that Balelo had demanded the terminations and that they were being done solely to placate him,' the suit said. 'Plaintiffs stand to lose millions of dollars in compensation tied to projected homebuilding profit, construction management fees, and broker commissions.'
Fox News
3 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
Shohei Ohtani, agent accused of exploiting celebrity status to force partners out of $240 million realty deal
Shohei Ohtani and his agent were hit with a lawsuit by a real estate investor and broker in Hawaii, claiming they got them fired from a $240 million luxury housing development by using their celebrity status. The Los Angeles Dodgers' two-way superstar's agent is accused of increasingly demanding concessions from developer Kevin J. Hayes and real estate broker Tomoko Matsumoto and then demanding that their own business partner, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, drop them from the deal. "[Nez] Balelo and Otani, who were brought into the venture solely for Otani's promotional and branding value, exploited their celebrity leverage to destabilize and ultimately dismantle Plaintiffs' role in the project – for no reason other than their own financial self-interest," the lawsuit said, via the Associated Press. "This case is about abuse of power," the lawsuit continued. "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. "Defendants must be held accountable for their actions, not shielded by fame or behind-the-scenes agents acting with impunity. Plaintiffs bring this suit to expose Defendants' misconduct and to ensure that the rules of contract, fair dealing, and accountability apply equally to all – celebrity or not." Ohtani and Balelo are accused of tortious interference and unjust enrichment, while also undermining their interests in another venture. Balelo's agency, CAA, declined to comment on the suit, according to the AP. Balelo threatened to pull Ohtani from the deal if their own demands weren't met, the suit said. "Kingsbarn began capitulating to Balelo's every whim," the suit said. "Over time, it became increasingly obvious that Kingsbarn was more concerned about preserving its relationship with Otani than honoring its obligations to its business partners." Ohtani signed his endorsement deal with the developers in 2023. This is not the first time Ohtani has had off-field drama involving large sums of money. His former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, is serving a prison sentence for theft and fraud after stealing money from Ohtani to pay off gambling debts. The money delivered to bookies was from Ohtani's bank account. Ohtani just became the first person since 2018 to hit 40-plus home runs in three consecutive seasons, as he vies for a fourth MVP in the last five years for the NL West-leading Dodgers.
Mint
3 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and agent accused of sabotaging $240M Hawaii real estate project
A Hawaii real estate investor and broker are suing Shohei Ohtani, claiming the Los Angeles Dodgers star and his agent got them fired from a $240 million luxury housing development on the Big Island's coveted Hapuna Coast that they brought him in to endorse. According to the lawsuit filed in Hawaii Circuit Court on Friday, Ohtani's agent, Nez Balelo, increasingly demanded concessions from developer Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and real estate broker Tomoko Matsumoto before demanding that their business partner, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, drop them from the deal. 'Balelo and (Ohtani), who were brought into the venture solely for (Ohtani's) promotional and branding value, exploited their celebrity leverage to destabilize and ultimately dismantle Plaintiffs' role in the project — for no reason other than their own financial self-interest,' the lawsuit 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 be the listing agent for the houses averaging $17.3 million each, say that Ohtani and Balelo also tried to undermine their interests in a second, neighboring venture. A spokesman for Balelo's agency, CAA Baseball, declined comment. Attempts to reach Kingsbarn officials for comment were not immediately successful. 'This case is about abuse of power,' the lawsuit says. '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. 'Defendants must be held accountable for their actions, not shielded by fame or behind-the-scenes agents acting with impunity. Plaintiffs bring this suit to expose Defendants' misconduct and to ensure that the rules of contract, fair dealing, and accountability apply equally to all — celebrity or not.' Ohtani, 31, arrived from Japan in 2018 as perhaps the most heralded international star in baseball history, with an ability to both pitch and hit that made him doubly valuable to his team. A five-time All-Star and three-time Most Valuable Player, he signed a record 10-year, $700-million contract with the Dodgers before last season and helped the team win the 2024 World Series. Investment materials for The Vista at Mauna Kea Resort, which remained online on Monday night, listed Hayes and Matsumoto as part of the management team, along with Kingsbarn. It called Ohtani 'Japan's Babe Ruth' and the '1st Resident,' giving him top billing ahead of the iconic Mauna Kea Resort, 'one of the most celebrated hotels in Hawaii,' Hapuna Beach, 'rated the #1 beach in America by Conde Nast Traveler' and two golf courses – one designed by Arnold Palmer, the other by Robert Trent Jones Sr. 'Ohtani will act as the celebrity spokesperson for the project and has committed to purchasing one of the 14 residences within the project,' the brochure says. 'He also intends to spend significant time at The Vista in the off-season and will construct a small hitting and pitching facility for preseason training." The suit says the developers spent 11 years working on the deal and 'as part of a bold marketing strategy' signed an endorsement deal in 2023 with Ohtani, 'one of the most high-profile endorsements imaginable." '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 said. 'We see Shohei Ohtani's homeownership as having a significant impact on the global exposure of the project and expect to accelerate the pace of sales, thereby helping us achieve our pricing objectives.' The suit said Balelo 'quickly became a disruptive force,' threatening to pull Ohtani from the deal if concessions weren't made. 'Kingsbarn began capitulating to Balelo's every whim,' the suit said. 'Over time, it became increasingly obvious that Kingsbarn was more concerned about preserving its relationship with (Ohtani) than honoring its obligations to its business partners.' Last month, in what the suit called 'a coordinated ambush,' Kingsbarn fired Hayes and Matsumoto. 'Kingsbarn openly admitted during the call that Balelo had demanded the terminations and that they were being done solely to placate him,' the suit said. 'Plaintiffs stand to lose millions of dollars in compensation tied to projected homebuilding profit, construction management fees, and broker commissions.'
New York Post
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
Shohei Ohtani, agent accused of sabotaging $240 million Hawaii real estate deal in shocking lawsuit
A Hawaii real estate investor and broker are suing Shohei Ohtani, claiming the Los Angeles Dodgers star and his agent got them fired from a $240 million luxury housing development on the Big Island's coveted Hapuna Coast that they brought him in to endorse. According to the lawsuit filed in Hawaii Circuit Court on Friday, Ohtani's agent, Nez Balelo, increasingly demanded concessions from developer Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and real estate broker Tomoko Matsumoto before demanding that their business partner, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, drop them from the deal. 'Balelo and Otani, who were brought into the venture solely for Otani's promotional and branding value, exploited their celebrity leverage to destabilize and ultimately dismantle Plaintiffs' role in the project — for no reason other than their own financial self-interest,' the lawsuit claims. 4 Shohei Ohtani looks on after striking out during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 11, 2025. AP 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 be the listing agent for the houses averaging $17.3 million each, say that Ohtani and Balelo also tried to undermine their interests in a second, neighboring venture. A spokesman for Balelo's agency, CAA Baseball, declined comment. Attempts to reach Kingsbarn officials for comment were not immediately successful. 'This case is about abuse of power,' the lawsuit says. '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. 'Defendants must be held accountable for their actions, not shielded by fame or behind-the-scenes agents acting with impunity. Plaintiffs bring this suit to expose Defendants' misconduct and to ensure that the rules of contract, fair dealing, and accountability apply equally to all — celebrity or not.' 4 Shohei Ohtani (middle) with Nez Balelo (left) and former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara during Ohtani's introductory Dodgers press conference in 2023. MLB Photos via Getty Images Ohtani, 31, arrived from Japan in 2018 as perhaps the most heralded international star in baseball history, with an ability to both pitch and hit that made him doubly valuable to his team. A five-time All-Star and three-time Most Valuable Player, he signed a record 10-year, $700-million contract with the Dodgers before last season and helped the team win the 2024 World Series. 4 Nez Balelo at Sportico Invest West held at the Intuit Dome on May 08, 2025. Sportico via Getty Images Investment materials for The Vista at Mauna Kea Resort, which remained online on Monday night, listed Hayes and Matsumoto as part of the management team, along with Kingsbarn. It called Ohtani 'Japan's Babe Ruth' and the '1st Resident,' giving him top billing ahead of the iconic Mauna Kea Resort, 'one of the most celebrated hotels in Hawaii,' Hapuna Beach, 'rated the #1 beach in America by Conde Nast Traveler' and two golf courses – one designed by Arnold Palmer, the other by Robert Trent Jones Sr. 'Ohtani will act as the celebrity spokesperson for the project and has committed to purchasing one of the 14 residences within the project,' the brochure says. 'He also intends to spend significant time at The Vista in the off-season and will construct a small hitting and pitching facility for preseason training.' The suit says the developers spent 11 years working on the deal and 'as part of a bold marketing strategy' signed an endorsement deal in 2023 with Ohtani, 'one of the most high-profile endorsements imaginable.' 4 Shohei Ohtani playing against the Blue Jays on Aug. 10, 2025. AP '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 said. 'We see Shohei Ohtani's homeownership as having a significant impact on the global exposure of the project and expect to accelerate the pace of sales, thereby helping us achieve our pricing objectives.' The suit said Balelo 'quickly became a disruptive force,' threatening to pull Ohtani from the deal if concessions weren't made. 'Kingsbarn began capitulating to Balelo's every whim,' the suit said. 'Over time, it became increasingly obvious that Kingsbarn was more concerned about preserving its relationship with Otani than honoring its obligations to its business partners.' Last month, in what the suit called 'a coordinated ambush,' Kingsbarn fired Hayes and Matsumoto. 'Kingsbarn openly admitted during the call that Balelo had demanded the terminations and that they were being done solely to placate him,' the suit said. 'Plaintiffs stand to lose millions of dollars in compensation tied to projected homebuilding profit, construction management fees, and broker commissions.'
