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wo Hawaii-based real estate developers, Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and Tomoko Matsumoto, are suing Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his agent Nez Balelo over a luxury housing project at the Mauna Kea Resort. The lawsuit claims that Balelo, employed by Creative Arts Agency, engaged in a "calculated and unlawful scheme" to interfere with the development, which was a decade-long project.

    Ohtani had purchased a $17 million home in the development and was a public-facing sponsor of the project. The developers claim that Balelo demanded concessions from them and ultimately led to their firing. According to the lawsuit, Balelo issued an ultimatum to Kingsbarn Realty Capital LLC, threatening retaliatory litigation if they didn't remove Hayes and Matsumoto from the project.

    The plaintiffs' lawyers say Balelo exploited his celebrity leverage to destabilize the project for financial gain. They claim that Balelo was the only person they dealt with on behalf of Ohtani, but it's unclear whether Ohtani himself was aware of Balelo's actions. The lawsuit alleges that Balelo responded to business matters with hostility and threatened default if he didn't get his way.

    The developers had brought Ohtani onto the project for his promotional value, and they claim that Balelo became a "destructive force" by inserting himself into every aspect of their relationship. They allege that Kingsbarn began capitulating to Balelo's demands, ultimately leading to Hayes' removal as Managing Member and Matsumoto's firing as listing broker.

    The lawsuit claims that Balelo's threats to counter-sue or default on contractual agreements were empty, and the developers intend to investigate Ohtani's involvement in the matter. The case is ongoing in Hawaii Circuit Court.