The Milwaukee Brewers are hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers this week in Wisconsin, but for the Brewers’ owner, Mark Attanasio, attention may be focused elsewhere. A new filing in California Superior Court has accused Attanasio of stealing sand from Malibu’s Broad Beach in violation of the California Coastal Act. The lawsuit, filed by Attanasio’s neighbor, James Kohlberg, alleges that Attanasio hired a construction company to remove sand from the public beach for his personal use on his beachfront property in Malibu.
The suit, filed in Los Angeles County on Aug. 8, claims that Attanasio’s construction company has been removing sand from Broad Beach under the guise of repairing a damaged seawall on his property. According to the Los Angeles Times, Attanasio has obtained all necessary permits for the repairs and has vetted all contractors involved in the project. However, the lawsuit alleges that the excavation of sand within the tidal zone is in violation of the California Coastal Act and is harming the ocean water and marine life in the area. It also includes a private nuisance complaint that the activity is “indecent and offensive to the senses.”
The lawsuit provides insight into the conflicting priorities among ultra-rich residents along the California coastline, with attitudes towards environmental preservation clashing with personal property interests. Despite owning a professional sports franchise 2,000 miles away, Attanasio has become embroiled in a legal battle over his beachfront property in Malibu. The Broad Beach area has experienced sand depletion due to violent storms and high tides in recent years, prompting a $31 million restoration project in 2015 involving high-profile residents such as Dustin Hoffman, Ray Romano, and Pierce Brosnan.
Attanasio bought his Broad Beach home for $23 million in 2007 and later acquired a neighboring lot for $6.6 million. The lawsuit highlights the sensitive nature of California’s coastal resources and the tension that can arise between private property use and public conservation efforts. The allegations against Attanasio and his company, 2XMD, raise concerns about the impact of unauthorized construction activities on the environment and the community. The legal battle between Attanasio and Kohlberg underscores the complexities of balancing individual property rights with broader environmental protections along California’s prized coastline.
