Shohei Ohtani, Agent Accused of 'Abuse of Power' in Lawsuit Over $240 Million Real Estate Project

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and sports agent Nez Balelo are both named in a recent lawsuit spurred by allegations of a “calculated and unlawful scheme” that plaintiffs say resulted in them being unfairly pushed out of a multimillion-dollar Hawaii real estate project.

In court docs viewed by Complex, Ohtani and Balelo are accused of tortious interference with contractual and business relations, as well as unjust enrichment. Plaintiffs—including Kevin J. Hayes, Tomoko Matsumoto, West Point Investment Corporation, and Hapuna Estates Property Owner LLC—argue that Balelo “wrongfully” interfered in the project, ultimately leading to Hayes and Matsumoto allegedly being pushed out after Balelo threatened their business partner, Kingsbarn Realty Capital.

“For nearly two years, Balelo acted like the rules did not apply to him,” attorneys for the plaintiffs wrote in the complaint, filed last Friday, Aug. 8. “He threatened defaults, extracted unjustified amendments, and bullied his way through negotiations. Kingsbarn, far from resisting, enabled the behavior.”

As for what, exactly, transpired, plaintiffs say they first secured an Ohtani endorsement in 2023 with the aim of attracting “other high-net-worth individuals” to buy properties. This, they say, was part of a larger “bold marketing strategy” for the project, which centered on a real estate development in the Mauna Kea Resort area.

Hayes and Matsumoto, described in the suit as “experienced and well-respected” professionals with decades of experience in the real estate space, allege that Balelo’s hostile behavior eventually led to a “coordinated ambush” in July of this year. During a Zoom in which they were informed of their termination, Hayes and Matsumoto claim that Kingsbarn “openly admitted” that these moves were made “solely to placate [Balelo],” who had allegedly threatened legal action unless they were both removed from the project.

“This case is about abuse of power,” lawyers for Hayes and Matsumoto said in the complaint. “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 lawyers continued, “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.”

The plaintiffs are suing for damages. The value of the real estate development itself, per a report from the Associated Press, is estimated to be $240 million.

This isn’t the first time Ohtani’s name has been embroiled in legal controversy. In May of last year, Ippei Mizuhara, who previously worked as an interpreter for Ohtani, agreed to plead guilty federal charges in connection with what prosecutors said was an illegal transfer of millions of dollars from the Dodgers player’s account. This, prosecutors said at the time, was done “without [Ohtani’s] knowledge or permission” to pay off Mizuhara ’s gambling debts.