Ohtani faces serious legal problems, as he and his agent, Nez Balelo, have been sued by two Hawaiian real estate developers, who accuse him of undue interference in a $240 million luxury housing project.Ohtani was not directly involved in the decisions that triggered the legal dispute, however, he is legally responsible, as his agent acted on his behalf, so he will also have to answer to the courts for these acts.
Why was Shohei Ohtani sued?
The development, called The Vista at Mauna Kea Resort, includes 14 oceanfront properties, each priced at approximately $17.3 million.Ohtani was incorporated in 2023 as the face of the project, in an attempt to attract greater media attention and high-profile investors. However, according to the lawsuit filed in Hawaii Circuit Court, Ohtani’s agent allegedly demanded the removal of the original developers, Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and Tomoko Matsumoto, from the project.
The development partner, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, was reportedly given an ultimatum: remove the plaintiffs or face legal action for the misuse of Ohtani’s name and likeness.
This pressure led to the dismissal of Hayes and Matsumoto, who are now suing for unjust enrichment and economic interference.
What would the punishment be for Shohei Ohtani?
Although Ohtani did not make decisions directly, the law provides that a person can be held legally liable for the actions of their representative.
Attorney Arash Sadat of the law firm Mills Sadat Dowlat LLP explained that if an agent acts on behalf of a public figure, the public figure can be held legally liable for those acts, even if he or she was not fully aware of them.
It is worth noting that Ohtani is not alleged to have committed any legal wrongdoing on his own. His involvement in the conflict lies in his contractual relationship and the figure of his agent. In fact, project documents present him as the first planned resident in the development, although his involvement was primarily symbolic.
This has sparked several criticisms, including from sports commentator Colin Cowherd, who came to Ohtani‘s defense, calling the accusations “absurd” as in his opinion it is illogical to link the player to an alleged scam in a project in which he had barely entered. Now it only remains to be seen how the case will proceed, while the Dodgers pray that this does not affect the performance of their star on the field.
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