Douglas Elliman’s Ex-Orange County Manager Settles Suit

A legal row brought by Douglas Elliman’s former Newport Beach sales manager against the brokerage and one of its former executives is coming to a close.

An attorney for former Newport Beach office Executive Manager of Sales Christina Carrillo asked a Los Angeles Superior Court judge last week to dismiss her lawsuit against Elliman of California and Elliman of California Financial, along with the brokerage’s former Western region CEO Stephen Kotler, after they reached a settlement.

Carrillo brought her lawsuit against the brokerage and Kotler last October, alleging sexual harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination, among other complaints. She filed her suit after resigning that same month.

The request for dismissal with prejudice closes the door on any possibility of the same claim being filed again.

Wrapped up in Carrillo’s lawsuit were allegations against Elliman’s Altman Brothers Team, led by brothers Josh and Matt Altman, that accused the agents of soliciting clients from other agents’ and brokers’ active listings. The Altmans were never named as defendants in the lawsuit.

Carrillo’s allegations against the high-producing team were tied to a claim in her lawsuit that Kotler was dismissive of her concerns, while also accusing the executive of repeatedly telling her to use her “sex appeal” to gain more brokerage clients.

Court documents for a post-mediation conference on Dec. 1 refer to the case as settled, voiding the jury trial originally scheduled to begin in May. Details of the settlement were not made public.

Carrillo and an Elliman spokesperson declined to comment.

“I made no admission of wrongdoing as part of the settlement and I made no personal settlement payment to Ms. Carrillo as part of the settlement,” Kotler said in a statement provided to The Real Deal.

Kotler stepped down as Elliman’s Western region CEO in February to join his son, Max Kotler and brother Michael Kotler on the New York City-based Kotler Team. He left the firm in May, ending a 34-year career at Elliman.

Legal woes

Carrillo’s lawsuit followed a complaint also filed in October 2024 by former Portfolio Escrow President William Grasska against Elliman and other escrow officers and brokerage executives.

Portfolio Escrow is the firm Grasska founded and sold to Elliman in 2020. He sued for retaliation, breach of contract, negligence and defamation.

Elliman shot back at Grasska that same month, accusing him of breach of contract, embezzlement, misappropriation of trade secrets and other complaints in a lawsuit of its own. The brokerage alleged Grasska had been working with what was described as a “high-profile Los Angeles real estate broker” on reality TV in a kickbacks scheme. The unnamed broker reportedly turned out to be “Selling Sunset” star Jason Oppenheim.

Grasska and the brokerage settled in December 2024 on undisclosed terms.

“Any differences between Douglas Elliman, Portfolio Escrow and I have been resolved,” Grasska told TRD at the time.