eXp named in explosive sexual assault lawsuit

Four women have filed a civil lawsuit in California, accusing two eXp Realty real estate agents of drugging and assaulting or attempting to assault them between 2018 and 2020.

In addition to the male agents, the complaint names eXp Realty and its parent company, eXp World Holdings, the Seattle Times reported. The Washington-based brokerage was allegedly made aware of allegations against the agents, but did not take action against them.

The incidents allegedly occurred at networking and recruiting events in California and Nevada. The brokerage declined to comment due to pending litigation, while the two unnamed male agents did not answer the publication’s requests for comment.

One of them, however, was allegedly arrested and charged with two counts of sexual assault from similar allegations, a case that was later dismissed. The agent, who is no longer with eXp, and his male colleague have not been charged with a crime in connection to the latest allegations.

The plaintiffs allege the male agents enticed the women “with the promise of career advancement and coaching.” The brokerage’s model incentivizes the recruitment of other agents, creating a need for networking and recruiting events.

One of the agents who filed the complaint, who now works in Florida, alleged one of the male agents encouraged her to go to a networking event in Southern California in July 2018. When she arrived, the agent learned there was no room reserved or available for her, according to the complaint.

The accuser said she had a cocktail at night and remembered nothing until the following morning, when a male agent allegedly exposed himself and attempted to engage in sexual contact.

Another accuser claims she blacked out and was sexually assaulted at a networking event in Beverly Hills in April 2019. She didn’t report the incident because she feared she would not be believed, according to the complaint. The other allegations stem from alleged incidents in Las Vegas in August 2020.

Several women told eXp, including executives of the company, about the alleged incidents, according to the complaint. The brokerage didn’t appear to take any action, though and “elected to continue to ignore pleas from other eXp agents who’d been assaulted,” the complaint stated.

The women are seeking damages in a jury trial.

— Holden Walter-Warner