Sandra Ortega Celebrates Legal Victory Against Banks Over Room Mate's Bankruptcy
Sandra Ortega, daughter of Amancio Ortega, founder of Inditex, is currently celebrating a significant legal victory in her battle against several banks following the bankruptcy of the Room Mate hotel chain. As reported by Nuria Morcillo (2025) in CincoDías, a Madrid court has recently ruled in favor of Ortega, determining that she did not consent to her former manager, José Leyte, guaranteeing the hotel chain's €150 million debt.
The Court's Decision: A Blow to EBN Banco de Negocios
The ruling specifically addresses a lawsuit filed by EBN Banco de Negocios, which sought over €1.5 million from Rosp Corunna, Ortega's patrimonial society. The bank claimed that Rosp Corunna had provided comfort letters in June 2020 as a guarantee for the Room Mate hotel chain, founded by Kike Sarasola. These letters became contentious when Room Mate declared bankruptcy due to the COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdowns and closures. According to the court's decision on February 19, there is sufficient evidence to prove that Ortega did not authorize Leyte to issue the guarantee, a point Ortega has consistently maintained. The ruling marks the first successful defense against the lawsuits presented by multiple financial institutions against Rosp Corunna.
The Role of Comfort Letters in the Dispute
Comfort letters, as explained by CincoDías (Morcillo, 2025), function as a guarantee where one company supports another, ensuring the payment of debts with its own assets. Several banks, including Deutsche Bank, Banca March, Société Générale, Bankinter, and Abanca, have reportedly filed similar lawsuits against Ortega's investment firm. The total claims from these banks are estimated to reach approximately €150 million, although Rosp Corunna has not provisioned for this amount, citing a lack of guarantee from the company's administrators. Ortega has consistently argued that Leyte acted without her consent, even filing a lawsuit against him for falsifying her signature on the comfort letters.
Legal Battles and Allegations of Forgery
Ortega's initial lawsuit against Leyte for forgery was dismissed in May 2022 by a court in A Coruña, a decision upheld by the Provincial Court the following year. This dismissal prompted the banks to pursue civil actions against Ortega and her firm, seeking to enforce the commitments outlined in the guarantees. Despite the criminal case's dismissal, the recent ruling in the EBN Banco de Negocios case concludes that Ortega did not authorize the guarantees related to Room Mate. «In this case, it has been proven that the sole administrator of Rosp did not sign or in any way consent to the signing of the letter of patronage that is the subject of litigation,» the sentence states (Morcillo, 2025).
Key Factors in the Court's Decision
Judge José María Ortiz Aguirre, after analyzing handwriting samples provided by both parties, determined that Ortega's signature on the guarantee presented to EBN Banco de Negocios contained «opposing movements not typical of the same signature». The judge also emphasized that Ortega did not acknowledge her signature before a notary, failing to meet the legal requirement of consent from the contracting parties. «Doctrine and jurisprudence are unanimous in the sense that if there is no consent, there is no contract and that such a contract could never be valid,» the sentence indicates (Morcillo, 2025).
The Aftermath and Ongoing Legal Disputes
The breakdown of Ortega's trust in José Leyte in November 2020 led to his dismissal and several ongoing legal battles. One of these is a labor dispute that has reached the Supreme Court, where Leyte is seeking a larger severance payment, arguing that his employment relationship was common rather than that of senior management. Additionally, he is claiming compensation for the lack of notice of his termination and a bonus of €650,000 received in 2020. This matter is currently pending resolution by the Supreme Court. According to Ediciones EL PAÍS S.L. (2025), the publisher of CincoDías, EBN Banco de Negocios retains the option to appeal the ruling before the Provincial Court of Madrid.
Implications and Future Prospects
This initial victory is currently bolstering Sandra Ortega's defense against the remaining claims. It underscores the importance of consent and proper authorization in financial agreements. The ruling is now setting a precedent for the ongoing legal challenges which are presented by the banks, potentially impacting the overall outcome of the Room Mate bankruptcy case. Furthermore, the case is highlighting the complexities involved in corporate guarantees and the legal responsibilities of company administrators.
