New Lawsuit Accuses eXp Of Ignoring Agent Sexual Assault
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A brand new lawsuit — which echoes an present case from earlier this 12 months — accuses two now-former eXp Realty brokers of drugging and sexually assaulting a lady, and claims the corporate didn’t put a cease to the “abhorrent conduct.”
Anya Roberts filed the federal swimsuit Thursday in California. Roberts is an actual property agent who joined eXp in 2018. The swimsuit stems from Roberts’ experiences as an agent on the firm, experiences which, in accordance with the criticism within the case, embrace being repeatedly drugged at company occasions after which sexually assaulted by a number of individuals.
These claims intently mirror the accusations raised in a lawsuit from February. That case accused now-former eXp brokers Michael Bjorkman and David Golden of repeatedly drugging and assaulting a number of girls.
Roberts’ case additionally targets Golden and Bjorkman. In line with the brand new criticism, Roberts met David Golden, then a prime eXp agent, whereas on a ship throughout an expert occasion in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. At one level, the criticism states, Golden’s girlfriend, Emily Keenan, gave Roberts a capsule, and she or he quickly blacked out.
Roberts doesn’t keep in mind what occurred afterward, in accordance with the criticism, however was advised by pals that she thereafter disappeared for “an prolonged time frame.”
“Ms. Roberts believes she was sexually assaulted” that night, the criticism provides.
The criticism additional states that the subsequent day, Roberts went to retrieve her issues from Golden and Keenan’s room, accepted a drink, and “misplaced a good portion of her reminiscence.” Nonetheless, the criticism states that Roberts does keep in mind being sexually assaulted by Keenan as Golden seemed on. The criticism provides that, moments later, Golden advised Roberts he may “make her a vastly profitable prime agent at eXp Realty, similar to him.”
The criticism goes on to recount numerous encounters with Golden, in addition to an incident in Daytona Seaside, Florida, throughout which Roberts believes she was drugged and assaulted by each him and Bjorkman.
Golden, Bjorkman, and Keenan are all listed as defendants within the case. Extra defendants embrace eXp Realty, father or mother firm eXp World Holdings, eXp World Holdings founder and CEO Glenn Sanford, recruiter Michael Sherrard, who, in accordance with the criticism, groped Roberts, and the agent who recruited Roberts to the corporate.
The criticism finally accuses eXp of not stopping the misbehavior.
“This can be a case of drugging and sexual assault, ‘unhealthy actors,’ and an organization, eXp, who at worst knew of, inspired, and permitted abhorrent conduct or in any case recklessly disregarded and willfully turned a blind eye to the actions of its prime agent influencers for the advantage of its backside line,” the criticism states.
The New York Instances first reported on the brand new case Friday in a prolonged exposé on eXp. The Instances piece contains interviews with Roberts and different girls who say they had been sexually assaulted and describes eXp’s tradition as one in every of “work arduous, play more durable.”
Roberts’ criticism argues that Sanford and eXp “knew or ought to have identified concerning the complaints” in opposition to Golden, Bjorkman and others. The earlier swimsuit, from February, goes additional, stating that one of many different alleged victims approached each eXp founder Glenn Sanford and then-CEO Jason Gesing concerning the scenario.
In an emailed response, eXp Realty advised Inman that the corporate takes its “duty to foster a protected and inclusive atmosphere very critically. eXp Realty has zero tolerance for abuse, harassment, or misconduct of any sort — together with by the impartial actual property brokers who use our providers.
“We are actually studying of latest allegations of alleged assaults that had been introduced forth by one other feminine agent and have begun an investigation into the claims. Nonetheless, the claims in opposition to eXp and its management don’t have any foundation in reality or legislation … eXp has requested the courtroom to dismiss these claims and is ready to current and defend its place if mandatory.”
The earlier criticism from February additionally notes that Bjorkman was finally arrested in March 2021. Together with the arrest, police on the time reportedly ready a 27-page report “describing a number of events of a number of girls being drugged and assaulted by defendant Bjorkman whereas attending eXp Realty recruiting occasions,” the criticism states. Prosecutors in Las Vegas charged him with two counts of sexual assault however later dropped the case.
Amongst different issues, the brand new criticism finally accuses Golden, Bjorkman, Keenan and Sherrard of sexual battery, civil battery and intentional infliction of emotional misery. It accuses eXp and Sanford of negligent hiring, retention and supervision. It asks for undetermined damages and for a jury trial.
Learn the total criticism within the case right here:
