Overview

• Kevin J. Hayes Sr. and Tomoko Matsumoto allege in an Aug. 8 filing that Ohtani and agent Nez Balelo exploited celebrity influence to trigger their removal from The Vista at Mauna Kea Resort
• The complaint claims Balelo pressured Kingsbarn Realty Capital to fire the plaintiffs under threat that Ohtani would withdraw his role as the project’s first resident and spokesperson
• Plaintiffs say they face millions in lost fees, commissions and homebuilding profits because of what they describe as tortious interference and unjust enrichment
• Kingsbarn Realty Capital has publicly dismissed the claims as completely frivolous and asserted it alone decided to remove Hayes and Matsumoto from the development
• CAA Baseball declined to comment and plaintiffs’ counsel has stressed uncertainty over whether Ohtani was aware of his agent’s actions as the case proceeds