eXp and Sanford cleared of some claims

Madison Stewart • 22/08/2026 • 2 min read

eXp and Sanford cleared of some liability claims related to sex trafficking and assault allegations, court ruling decides exp case.

eXp and Sanford cleared of some claims - exp lawsuit — eXp and Sanford cleared of some claims

eXp World Holdings and its CEO, Glenn Sanford, will not face liability claims tied to former agents accused of sex trafficking and assault, according to a court ruling. The trial, now scheduled for October, stems from a lawsuit filed by Anya Roberts, an eXp agent who alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted at an eXp recruiting event.

The judge, Andre Birotte, Jr., of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, ruled on motions for summary judgment, granting some and denying others. eXp World Holdings was released from claims under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), as the judge found insufficient evidence to support the claim that the holding company knowingly benefitted from the alleged sex trafficking.

The judge also granted eXp World Holdings and Sanford summary judgment on vicarious liability claims, ruling that there was insufficient evidence that the company and its CEO had the necessary control over the former agents to be legally responsible for their actions. They were released from these claims due to lack of evidence.

Claims of negligence in the hiring, supervision, and retention of the former agents were also dropped due to lack of evidence. Bjorkman and Golden, the former agents, will be tried separately from eXp corporate entities, but their cases will be tried together.

Roberts’ sexual battery, civil battery, and emotional distress claims against Bjorkman and Golden will move forward at trial. The two former agents also face sex trafficking claims in connection with recruitment events they attended with Roberts. While eXp World Holdings was released from TVPRA claims, Sanford and eXp Realty were not and will have to address the claims at trial.

The case was originally scheduled to go to trial on August 31, but it has been pushed to October 19. A status conference is set for September 18 to discuss the trial.

eXp Realty remains on the hook for vicarious liability and claims regarding negligent hiring, retention, and supervision of Bjorkman and Golden.

The company’s revenue-share plan, which incentivizes agents to recruit other agents, will also be scrutinized at trial. This plan may be relevant to the claims against eXp Realty.