Versuchen GOLD - Frei

Ohtani, agent sued over resort project

Los Angeles Times

|

August 13, 2025

Dodgers star accused of helping disrupt a $240-million luxury venture in Hawaii.

- By Jimmy GOLEN

Ohtani, agent sued over resort project

RYAN SUN Associated Press

THE AGENCY FOR Nez Balelo, right, with Shohei Ohtani, declined to comment about the lawsuit.

A Hawaii real estate investor and broker are suing Shohei Ohtani, claiming the Dodgers’ star and his agent got them fired from a $240-million luxury housing development on the Big Island’s coveted Hapuna Coast that they brought him into endorse.

According to the lawsuit filed in Hawaii Circuit Court on Friday, Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo, increasingly demanded concessions from developer Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and real estate broker Tomoko Matsumoto before demanding that their business partner, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, drop them from the deal.

“Balelo and [Ohtani], who were brought into the venture solely for [Ohtani’]s promotional and branding value, exploited their celebrity leverage to destabilize and ultimately dismantle Plaintiffs’ role in the project — for no reason other than their own financial self-interest,” the lawsuit claims.

WEITERE GESCHICHTEN VON Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

Real-life hostage tale doesn't delve deep

‘Wire,’ from Et]

time to read

4 mins

January 08, 2026

Los Angeles Times

Iconic blimp is worth the ride

Re \"Inflated? Absolutely. Overhyped? Not a chance,\" Dec. 29

time to read

1 min

January 08, 2026

Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

Ole Miss, Miami to battle in game like no other

Fiesta Bowl to feature teams whose viability, deservedness fueled controversy in circles.

time to read

2 mins

January 08, 2026

Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

Another severe flu season already is upon us

U.S. infections are still surging in a repeat of last winter’s epidemic, and health officials say the situation is likely to get worse

time to read

3 mins

January 08, 2026

Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

A striking pivot to 'outward imperialism'

[Trump, from A1]Court has only facilitated Trump's expansion of unitary executive power.

time to read

4 mins

January 08, 2026

Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

Musk’s AI floods X with sexualized images, study finds

Elon Musk’s X has become a top site for images of people who have been non-consensually undressed by artificial intelligence, according to a third-party analysis, with thousands of instances each hour throughout a day earlier this week.

time to read

4 mins

January 08, 2026

Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley discuss making 'Train Dreams' and their inspirational trip to the Idaho panhandle

WITH DIRECTOR CLINT BENTLEY ON THE road promoting “Train Dreams” and his co-writer Greg Kwedar on set shooting his next film, the pair decided to pass reflections on writing the script back and forth.

time to read

3 mins

January 08, 2026

Los Angeles Times

EPA to reluctantly restrict a chemical in drinking water

The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday said it would propose a drinking water limit for perchlorate, a harmful chemical in rockets and other explosives, but also said that doing so wouldn't significantly benefit public health and that it was acting only because a court ordered it.

time to read

3 mins

January 08, 2026

Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

Getting back in rhythm of life

Musicians affected by last year's fires found some relief from the MusiCares charity.

time to read

6 mins

January 08, 2026

Los Angeles Times

Hybrids won't move the needle

Re \"Hybrid sales surge in a recalibrated market,\" Dec. 30

time to read

1 min

January 08, 2026

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size