Ohtani's Legal Team Seeks Dismissal of Hawaii Real Estate Lawsuit
Shohei Ohtani and his agent, Nez Balelo, have filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit accusing them of causing a Hawaii real estate investor and broker to be fired from a luxury housing development project.
Shohei OhtaniNez BaleloReal EstateLawsuitHawaiiReal EstateSep 15, 2025
Ohtani and Balelo were sued on August 8 in Hawaii Circuit Court for the First Circuit by developer Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and real estate broker Tomoko Matsumoto, along with West Point Investment Corp. and Hapuna Estates Property Owners. The plaintiffs accused them of 'abuse of power' that allegedly resulted in tortious interference and unjust enrichment.
Hayes and Matsumoto had been dropped from the development deal by Kingsbarn Realty Capital, the joint venture's majority owner. In papers filed on Sunday, lawyers for Ohtani and Balelo stated that Hayes and Matsumoto acquired rights for a joint venture in 2023, where they owned a minority percentage to use Ohtani's name, image, and likeness under an endorsement agreement to market the venture's real estate development at the Mauna Kea Resort. The lawyers claimed that Ohtani was a 'victim of NIL violations.'
'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 lawyers wrote. 'They engaged in this self-dealing without authorization, and without paying Ohtani for that use, in a selfish and wrongful effort to take advantage of their proximity to the most famous baseball player in the world.'
The lawyers further claimed that Hayes and Matsumoto sued after Balelo did his job and protected his client by expressing justifiable concern about this misuse and threatening to take legal action against this clear misappropriation. They called Balelo's actions 'clearly protected speech.'
In a statement issued after the suit was filed last month, Kingsbarn called the allegations 'completely frivolous and without merit.'
Ohtani is a three-time MVP on the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. 'Nez Balelo has always prioritized Shohei Ohtani's best interests, including protecting his name, image, and likeness from unauthorized use,' a lawyer for Ohtani and Balelo said in a statement. '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 did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Shohei Ohtani?
Shohei Ohtani is a professional baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is a three-time MVP and is known for his exceptional skills as both a pitcher and a hitter.
What is the lawsuit about?
The lawsuit filed by Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and Tomoko Matsumoto accuses Shohei Ohtani and his agent Nez Balelo of causing them to be fired from a $240 million luxury housing development project in Hawaii.
Why did Ohtani and Balelo file a motion to dismiss the lawsuit?
Ohtani and Balelo claim that Hayes and Matsumoto misused Ohtani's name, image, and likeness without authorization and without paying for it, which they argue is a clear violation of Ohtani's rights.
What is the role of Kingsbarn Realty Capital in this lawsuit?
Kingsbarn Realty Capital is the majority owner of the joint venture and had dropped Hayes and Matsumoto from the development deal. They called the allegations in the lawsuit 'completely frivolous and without merit.'
What is the current status of the lawsuit?
Ohtani and Balelo have filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. Lawyers for Hayes and Matsumoto have not yet responded to the request for comment.
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