Introduction The author of this article is a seasoned writer with a keen interest in human rights, feminism, and workplace safety. With years of experience in investigative journalism, they have a knack for delving into complex issues and presenting them in an engaging and accessible manner. NY State Comptroller’s Intervention The New York State comptroller,
Introduction
The author of this article is a seasoned writer with a keen interest in human rights, feminism, and workplace safety. With years of experience in investigative journalism, they have a knack for delving into complex issues and presenting them in an engaging and accessible manner.
NY State Comptroller’s Intervention
The New York State comptroller, who also serves as the trustee of the New York State Common Retirement Fund, has expressed concern over the allegations of sexual harassment and assault at eXp Realty events. The fund owns approximately 27,000 shares of eXp World Holdings, the parent company of eXp Realty. The comptroller, Thomas DiNapoli, has urged eXp Realty to investigate these allegations. He has also requested the establishment of an independent committee to examine not only the allegations but also the company policies that may have allowed such conduct to occur.
The Pending Lawsuits Against eXp Realty
Currently, eXp Realty is facing two lawsuits filed by five women who were employed as agents by the company. These lawsuits have brought to light allegations of a culture within the company that enabled these women to be drugged and assaulted. A separate lawsuit filed in February 2023 accuses two eXp agents, Michael Bjorkman and David Golden, of drugging and sexually assaulting women during eXp recruiting events.
eXp Realty’s Response to the Allegations
In response to these allegations, eXp Realty has stated that it has a “zero tolerance” policy for such behavior. However, the company did not immediately respond to Bisnow on Tuesday morning for a comment on the comptroller’s action.
The Growing Sexual Assault Scandal at eXp Realty
The sexual assault scandal at eXp Realty continues to grow. A woman named Anya Roberts has filed the second lawsuit against the brokerage, accusing two prominent agents of the company of drugging and sexually assaulting her. The same two agents, Michael Bjorkman and David Golden, were also accused of sexual misconduct in a previous lawsuit filed earlier this year.
Anya Roberts’ Allegations and Lawsuit
According to her complaint, Anya Roberts met David Golden at a real estate event in February 2020 and began what she believed to be a romantic relationship. However, Golden allegedly offered her a drug on multiple occasions that caused her to lose her memory. In another instance involving Michael Bjorkman, she was allegedly offered a performance-enhancing drug for her workouts. Roberts claims that both men sexually assaulted her while she was unconscious.
The Role of eXp Realty’s Leadership
Roberts’ lawsuit also targets the leadership of eXp Realty, alleging that they were aware of these assaults at the time they occurred. She claims that a prominent company recruiter, Michael Sherrard, also behaved inappropriately towards her. Sherrard continues to work for eXp, unlike Golden and Bjorkman.
CEO Glenn Sanford’s Alleged Violation of Federal Law
The lawsuit further alleges that eXp Realty’s CEO, Glenn Sanford, and other executives violated a federal sex trafficking law by failing to take action following the assault allegations made against David Golden and Michael Bjorkman. The lawsuit claims that Sanford and others were aware of the two agents’ alleged drugging of female agents and sexual assault, and that the assaults were either recorded or photographed. Sanford is accused of ignoring these allegations to protect the substantial income generated by Golden and Bjorkman’s agent recruiting. When asked about his plans to address the alleged assaults, Sanford reportedly responded that it was “only going to be in the news cycle for 3-5 days, and nothing will happen.” He is also accused of rejecting requests that would’ve helped the victims of the alleged assaults.
Key Points Table
| Key Point | Details |
|---|---|
| NY State Comptroller’s Intervention | The NY State Comptroller, trustee of the NY State Common Retirement Fund, has asked eXp Realty to investigate the allegations¹. |
| Pending Lawsuits | Two lawsuits are currently pending against eXp Realty by five women who worked as agents for the company¹. |
| eXp Realty’s Response | eXp Realty stated that it has “zero tolerance” for such behavior¹. |
| Anya Roberts’ Allegations | Anya Roberts filed a lawsuit alleging she was drugged and sexually assaulted by two eXp agents². |
| eXp Realty’s Leadership | The lawsuit claims that eXp Realty’s leadership was aware of these alleged assaults at the time². |
| CEO Glenn Sanford’s Alleged Violation | The lawsuit alleges that CEO Glenn Sanford violated a federal sex trafficking law³. |
Conclusion
The allegations of sexual assault against eXp Realty have raised serious concerns about workplace safety and the company’s response to such incidents. As the lawsuits progress, it remains to be seen how the company will address these issues and what changes will be implemented to prevent such incidents in the future.
