Douglas Elliman pushes out chairman and CEO amid rape allegations against star realtors: report

The CEO of Douglas Elliman near nan elephantine existent property brokerage an investigation commissioned by nan company’s board unearthed a sexually charged activity culture, according to a report.

Howard Lorber, president and CEO of genitor institution Vector Group, resigned connected Monday arsenic Douglas Elliman’s executive chairman, ending a tenure that spanned much than 2 decades astatine nan helm of nan $170 cardinal realtor patient that has built important footprints successful New York, Florida and Southern California.

Douglas Elliman issued a property merchandise indicating that Lorber, 76, decided to retire. But The Wall Street Journal reported connected Sunday that nan committee pushed Lorber to quit.

Douglas Elliman besides announced that Scott Durkin, president and CEO of nan company’s brokerage business, was relieved of his duties connected Friday.

No logic for nan termination was stated successful nan company’s SEC filings. Shares of Douglas Elliman were up by much than 3.5% aft nan commencement of trading connected Wall Street connected Monday.

Douglas Elliman’s workplace civilization came nether scrutiny earlier this twelvemonth aft it was alleged that 2 of its erstwhile prima brokers, the brothers Tal and Oren Alexander, sexually assaulted more than 30 women making love backmost to their commencement astatine nan patient successful 2008.

In nan aftermath of nan allegations against nan Alexander brothers, Elliman’s committee formed a committee to probe nan company’s workplace. An first reappraisal conducted by Manhattan-based lawyer Marc Kasowitz was deemed insufficient owed to his adjacent narration pinch Lorber, according to The Journal.

The Post has sought remark from Kasowitz.

“As longtime litigation counsel to Douglas Elliman, our patient was preparing to take sides nan institution against imaginable claims,” Kasowitz said successful a connection to The Journal.

“Any proposal that successful doing truthful we would beryllium little fierce aliases effective successful uncovering retired nan existent facts because of our longtime business and individual narration pinch Mr. Lorber makes nary consciousness and is nan nonstop other of nan truth.”

The 2nd probe is reported to person unearthed allegations that went beyond those against nan Alexander brothers, The Journal reported.

Another facet that nan committee took into relationship erstwhile deciding it was clip for Lorber to spell was Elliman’s mediocre financial results, according to nan report.

In precocious 2021, Elliman’s marketplace capitalization was $900 million. As of Monday, it was conscionable $170 cardinal — an 81% drop.

The Alexander brothers, who near Douglas Elliman successful 2022 to commencement their ain company, Official Partners, person denied nan claims. At slightest three lawsuits person been revenge against them and nan FBI has launched an investigation into nan matter.

Oren and his copy relative Alon — some 37 — arsenic good arsenic their older brother, Tal, are alleged to person committed respective acts of intersexual misconduct including rape, battle and harassment. Oren was ne'er employed by Elliman. He later headed information for his brothers’ firm.

In June, 2 women — Kate Whiteman and Rebecca Mandel — revenge civilian lawsuits against Oren and Tal Alexander, accusing them of taking turns raping them successful 2 abstracted incidents successful 2010 and 2012. The news of nan lawsuits was first reported by The Real Deal.

Just days aft The Real Deal report, different woman, Angelica Parker, revenge a suit accusing Alon and Tal Alexander of raping her successful their Soho flat successful 2012 while Oren Alexander stood by and watched.

In July, a 4th woman, character and comedian Renée Willett, revenge a suit successful which she alleged that Oren Alexander drugged and raped her successful his Soho flat successful 2015.

Two apical Elliman agents, reality tv agent Tracy Tutor and Manhattan-based realtor Jessica Cohen, said they believed nan Alexander brothers spiked their drinks while they worked astatine nan agency.

Tutor told The Journal that nan alleged incident happened astatine a edifice successful 2014. Oren Alexander is alleged to person slipped thing successful her drink. He past took her into nan bathroom, wherever different Elliman supplier wandered successful and pulled him distant from her, according to The Journal.

The Post has sought remark from an lawyer for nan Alexander brothers. A Douglas Elliman typical was not instantly disposable for comment.

“Their employer has besides said, unequivocally, that nary complaints were ever revenge to quality resources astir nan brothers,” Deanna Paul, an lawyer for Tal Alexander, told The Journal.

Jim Ferraro, an lawyer who represents nan Alexander brothers, told The Real Deal successful June that his clients were victims of a “total shakedown.”