D
odgers ace Shohei Ohtani and his agent, Nez Balelo, have filed to dismiss a lawsuit that surfaced last month. The suit, lodged on Aug. 8 in Hawaii’s First Circuit Court, accuses the pair of causing a real‑estate investor and broker to lose a stake in a $240 million luxury project on the Big Island’s Hapuna Coast. The plaintiffs—developer Kevin J. Hayes Sr., broker Tomoko Matsumoto, West Point Investment Corp., and Hapuna Estates Property Owners—claim Ohtani and Balelo abused their influence, leading to tortious interference and unjust enrichment. They were removed from the deal by Kingsbarn Realty Capital, the majority owner of the joint venture.
In court filings, Ohtani’s lawyers argue that in 2023 Hayes and Matsumoto secured a minority interest in a venture that allowed them to use Ohtani’s name, image, and likeness under an endorsement agreement to promote a Mauna Kea Resort development. They contend Ohtani was a victim of NIL violations. The attorneys allege the plaintiffs exploited Ohtani’s likeness to drive traffic to a website advertising their own side project, doing so without permission or payment. Balelo reportedly warned the parties and threatened legal action to protect Ohtani’s rights, actions the lawyers describe as “protected speech.”
Kingsbarn dismissed the allegations as frivolous. Ohtani, a three‑time MVP and current World Series champion, has maintained that the lawsuit is a diversion from the plaintiffs’ own misconduct. No comment has yet come from Hayes or Matsumoto.
