“Billionaire Accused of Stealing Sand from Malibu Beach: What You Need to Know”
Billionaire Mark Attanasio, the owner of the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team, is facing accusations of stealing sand from Broad Beach in Malibu, California. The lawsuit was filed by James Kohlberg, Attanasio’s neighbor, who alleges that the billionaire businessman has been excavating sand from the public beach to use for a construction project at his home.
According to court documents, Attanasio’s construction team, Jilk Heavy Construction, has been using gigantic excavators that leaked oil into tidal zones, potentially harming marine life and restricting public access to the beach. The lawsuit also claims that Attanasio’s actions violate the California Coastal Act, a state law governing the preservation, development, and public access of the coastline.
In response to the allegations, Attanasio’s attorney, Kenneth A. Ehrlich, stated that his client’s company, 2XMD Partners, is in the midst of a fully-permitted emergency repair of the property to protect it from ocean forces. Attanasio purchased his home in 2007 for $23 million and later acquired the empty lot next door for $6.6 million.
The lawsuit calls for construction to cease, the replacement of the sand that was removed, and the issuance of fines for the alleged violations. The Broad Beach Restoration Project, initiated by a local homeowners’ association in 2011 and supported by celebrity residents like Dustin Hoffman and Pierce Brosnan, aims to address erosion and replenish sand along the beach.
As the legal battle unfolds, the community in Malibu is closely watching the outcome of this case, which raises important questions about environmental stewardship, public access to beaches, and the preservation of natural resources in the face of climate change. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.