Malibu Beach in California, known for its ultra-luxurious properties and as the home of billionaires, has become a battleground for the ultra-rich over the scarce sand the beach has to offer.
James Kohlberg, the son of KKR cofounder Jerome Kohlberg Jr., sued the Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio for allegedly stealing sand of the beach to use in a personal construction project.
Videos have been circulating on the internet showing an excavator digging up the beach to collect sand, which the plaintiff suggests is a blatant display of theft for personal gains.
The lawsuit stated that Attanasio has made the Malibu beach his “personal sandbox” as he keeps on gathering the scarce public sand of the beach to use in the construction of his private property.
According to the lawsuit, the billionaire businessman dug the beach sand to an extent that contaminated the attractive water bodies of the region with gasoline.
The lawsuit maintained that Attanasio’s ongoing digging operations at the beach have also restricted other people from accessing the beach, which otherwise attracts a number of wealthy and influential people, including TV celebrities.
While the lawsuit acknowledged that Attanasio has the permits to collect sand, it also claimed that the billionaire is violating the permits as the excavators are operating in tidal zones, which are public property according to California laws.
Now, Kohlberg wants the court to impose a fine of up to $30,000 upfront and $15,000 per day until Attanasio stops the violation.
However, Attanasio’s legal team believes that their client did not violate any rule and “100%” complied with all the existing California and federal laws while collecting sand.
His lawyer, Kenneth A. Ehrlich, noted that Attanasio owns a property near a beach that needs to be repaired immediately, adding that his client is dedicated to restoring the integrity of the beach and preserving every natural resource in the process.
The lawyer added that they have also gathered all the necessary permits from Malibu City and LA County, alongside completing other required legal procedures.
After Kohlberg’s allegations, the California Coastal Commission started the investigation, although their spokesperson did not provide any specific information about the investigation.
Broad Beach is historically known for attracting such controversies. Since 1974, the Broad Beach high-tide line has reportedly moved almost 65 feet inward, which has dramatically reduced the area of the beach. This situation has also urged residents to take immediate action to safeguard their expensive homes from the ocean, which often forces them to breach the laws as well.