S
hohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers' World Series champion and three-time MLB MVP, and his agent Nez Balelo have been accused of sabotaging a $240 million luxury housing development project in Hawaii. A lawsuit filed in Hawaii Circuit Court claims that Ohtani and Balelo used their celebrity influence to undermine the project's developers, Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and Tomoko Matsumoto.

    The lawsuit alleges that Ohtani and Balelo exploited their leverage to destabilize the project and ultimately forced Matsumoto and Hayes out of the venture. The suit claims that Balelo became a "disruptive force" after signing an endorsement agreement with Ohtani in 2023, and that he and Ohtani demanded concessions from Matsumoto and Hayes before firing them from their partnership.

    The lawsuit also accuses Ohtani and Balelo of attempting to interfere in another business venture. The plaintiffs claim that the defendants used threats and baseless legal claims to force a business partner to betray its contractual obligations and strip them of the project they conceived and built.

    "This case is about abuse of power," the lawsuit states. "Defendants must be held accountable for their actions, not shielded by fame or behind-the-scenes agents acting with impunity." The lawsuit seeks to expose Ohtani and Balelo's alleged misconduct and ensure that they are held to the same standards as everyone else.

    Ohtani, 31, is a highly decorated player who has won numerous awards, including two AL MVP awards and an American League Rookie of the Year award. He signed a $700 million contract with the Dodgers in December 2023 and helped lead the team to win the 2024 World Series over the New York Yankees.