Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani and his agent are the targets of a new lawsuit in Hawaii filed by a developer and real estate broker who allege they were removed from a major resort project after signing Ohtani as its celebrity endorser.

The complaint, lodged in Hawaii Circuit Court by developer Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and broker Tomoko Matsumoto, focuses on The Vista at Mauna Kea Resort, a planned community of 14 luxury homes along the Hapuna Coast with an average listing price of $17.3 million. The plaintiffs say they spent more than a decade developing the project and reached an endorsement agreement with Ohtani in 2023 to help attract high-end buyers, particularly in the Japanese luxury vacation home market.

According to court documents, Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo, began pushing for changes soon after joining the venture and later urged their business partner, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, to end the plaintiffs’ involvement. Hayes and Matsumoto allege Kingsbarn complied, prioritizing its relationship with Ohtani over existing contractual obligations.

The lawsuit accuses Ohtani and Balelo of tortious interference and unjust enrichment, and further claims they sought to weaken the plaintiffs’ position in another nearby development. Promotional materials for The Vista identified Ohtani as “celebrity spokesperson” and “1st Resident”. They stated he planned to buy one of the homes, spend time there during the off-season, and construct a small training facility on the property.

The plaintiffs say their removal has cost them millions in anticipated profits, construction management fees, and commissions.