Shohei Ohtani’s lawyers claim he was victim of ‘NIL violations’ in move to dismiss Hawaii real estate lawsuit

Shohei Ohtani and Agent Nez Balelo Fight Back Against Hawaii Lawsuit Over Real Estate Deal

Baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani and his agent Nez Balelo have taken swift action to shut down a lawsuit that claims they sabotaged a massive Hawaii real estate project. The Los Angeles Dodgers star, fresh off leading his team to a World Series win, wants the case tossed out of court.

The drama started on August 8 when Hawaii real estate developer Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and broker Tomoko Matsumoto filed the suit in Hawaii Circuit Court. They represent West Point Investment Corp. and Hapuna Estates Property Owners. The group accuses Ohtani and Balelo of “abuse of power,” saying it led to tortious interference and unjust enrichment. At the heart of it? A whopping $240 million luxury housing development on the Big Island’s stunning Hapuna Coast.

Here’s what went down: Hayes and Matsumoto got kicked out of the deal by Kingsbarn Realty Capital, the project’s main backer. They blame Ohtani and Balelo for pushing Kingsbarn to drop them.

But Ohtani’s side tells a different story. In court papers filed on Sunday, their lawyers argue that Hayes and Matsumoto crossed the line back in 2023. The duo had a small stake in a joint venture tied to Mauna Kea Resort. Under an endorsement deal, they could use Ohtani’s name, image, and likeness (NIL) to promote the official project. Instead, lawyers say, they sneaked Ohtani’s photo and fame onto a website for their own side hustle—without permission or payment.

“Unbeknownst to Ohtani and his agent Nez Balelo, plaintiffs exploited Ohtani’s name and photograph to drum up traffic to a website that marketed plaintiffs’ own side project development,” the filing states. It calls Ohtani a “victim of NIL violations” and accuses the plaintiffs of “self-dealing” to cash in on the world’s most famous baseball player.

When Balelo stepped in to protect Ohtani by raising concerns and threatening legal action, that’s what sparked the lawsuit, according to the defense. They describe Balelo’s moves as “clearly protected speech” and say the suit is just sour grapes over getting caught.

Kingsbarn Realty Capital fired back last month, calling the whole thing “completely frivolous and without merit.” Ohtani’s lawyer echoed that in a statement: “Nez Balelo has always prioritized Shohei Ohtani’s best interests, including protecting his name, image, and likeness from unauthorized use. This frivolous lawsuit is a desperate attempt by plaintiffs to distract from their myriad of failures and blatant misappropriation of Mr. Ohtani’s rights.”

Lawyers for Hayes and Matsumoto haven’t commented yet.

For fans keeping score, Ohtani is no stranger to the spotlight. The three-time MVP just helped the Dodgers clinch the 2024 World Series title. Now, this Hawaii real estate lawsuit adds another twist to his off-field adventures. Stay tuned as the case unfolds—could this NIL drama change how celebs protect their brand in big-money deals?

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