• Shohei Ohtani and his agent face a lawsuit over a $240 million real estate project in Hawaii.
• The lawsuit claims they interfered with the removal of two business partners from the development.
• Ohtani is accused of using his celebrity influence for self-interest in the venture.
• The plaintiffs seek accountability for alleged abuse of power and misconduct.
• Ohtani is a three-time MVP and an influential figure in baseball and marketing.

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani and his agent, Nez Balelo, are being sued for allegedly causing a Hawaii real estate investor and broker to be removed from their roles in a $240 million luxury housing development on the Big Island. The lawsuit was filed in Hawaii Circuit Court, which accuses Ohtani and Balelo of tortious interference and unjust enrichment, claiming that their actions significantly harmed the plaintiffs’ business interests, including a second development project, according to LATimes, CBS News, SFGate, and Reuters.

According to the plaintiffs, real estate developer Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and broker Tomoko Matsumoto, Balelo demanded significant concessions before ultimately requesting their removal from the project. The lawsuit states that Balelo "inserted himself into every aspect of the relationship" and even threatened to pull Ohtani from endorsing the project if his demands were not met, which pressured their business partner Kingsbarn Realty Capital to comply, as detailed in the filings from LATimes, CBS News, and Reuters.

The lawsuit emphasizes that both Ohtani and Balelo exploited their celebrity leverage for personal gain, destabilizing the project to benefit their interests. "This case is about abuse of power," the lawsuit claims, alleging that the defendants utilized "threats and baseless legal claims" to undermine contractual obligations and business relationships, according to LATimes, CBS News, and SFGate.

Ohtani, a notable figure in baseball with a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers, was originally brought into the project for his promotional value, which included a commitment to purchase a residence at The Vista at Mauna Kea Resort. The lawsuit suggests that Balelo has acted in a manner that jeopardized the project and influenced Kingsbarn to prioritize retaining Ohtani over honoring agreements with the plaintiffs. This prompted Kingsbarn to fire Hayes and Matsumoto amid claims that their terminations were made to "placate" Balelo, exacerbating the issue further, per CBS News, Reuters, and SFGate.