They’re fighting for every last grain of sand.
Two billionaires are duking it out in court after one accused the other of stealing piles of sand from a public California beach.
Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio has been gussying up his Malibu mansion with sand he has dug up and transported from Broad Beach, a public shore near the homes of the rich and famous, according to the lawsuit.
“This case is about a private property owner using a public beach as their own personal sandbox and the disturbing conversion of a public natural resource (i.e., sand from Broad Beach) for a nearby homeowner’s personal, private use,” states the lawsuit, obtained by the Los Angeles Times.
The suit was filed by Attanasio’s next-door neighbor James Kohlberg, whose father founded the global investment company Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
The drama began in March when Attanasio obtained permits to fix the damaged seawall on his nearly $30 million property, the documents state.
The permits specifically prohibit the use of heavy machinery in the tidal zone and the removal of sand from the beach — both of which Kohlberg claims his neighbor has blatantly ignored.
The hefty lawsuit is rife with photographs of excavators roving along the wet shoreline and dredging up piles of sand, leaving behind gaping holes along the narrow beach.
Attanasio’s construction crew allegedly also left gasoline residue in its wake, according to Kohlberg.
The lawsuit, which accuses Attanasio of public nuisance, private nuisance and violation of the California Coastal Act, has sparked an investigation by the California Coastal Commission, but no work stoppage order has been handed down to Attanasio’s crew.
The Brewer’s owner claims he and his company, 2XMD Partners LLC, have acted in 100% compliance with all of its permits.
“2XMD is in the midst of a fully-permitted emergency repair of the property to protect it from ocean forces. It has secured all permits necessary for the repairs from the City of Malibu and LA County as well as thoroughly vetted all contractors and sub-contractors involved in the project,” his attorney, Kenneth Ehrlich, told the LA Times.
Kohlberg is seeking a fine against Attanasio, as well as a court order for Attanasio to replace the sand he’s already taken.