Sitzer | Burnett judge consolidates 2 nationwide commission suits

The Gibson and Umpa cases allege Berkshire Hathaway Energy, eXp, Redfin, Weichert, United Real Estate, Douglas Elliman, HomeSmart and others conspired against homesellers nationwide. Continue reading

Decades of NAR membership data has vanished amid enrollment dip

Each month, the trade group publicly reports the size of its ranks and other data on its official website. But as recently as this month, state-by-state and national data is nowhere to be found. Continue reading

60-day clock begins for brokerages seeking to opt into $418M NAR deal

Sitzer | Burnett plaintiffs on Friday asked the court to preliminarily approve the proposed deal. Brokerages and MLSs that were left out initially will have to take action by June 18 to be covered. Continue reading

Defendants fight to get homebuyer commission suits tossed

The National Association of Realtors, Keller Williams, Anywhere, RE/MAX, Compass, eXp and others offered a slew of arguments for why the Batton 1 and Batton 2 cases should be thrown out. Continue reading

Pulte objects to Sitzer | Burnett settlements: What’s in it for me?

U.S. homebuilder PulteGroup said it should have been provided with a plan to distribute claims so that it can estimate its recovery amount. But that document doesn’t appear to exist. Continue reading

Federal courts hand HomeServices a win (and a loss) in Sitzer | Burnett

The U.S. Supreme Court denied the real estate franchisor’s request for consideration on Monday, but the plaintiffs won’t be able to lay $4.7 billion in damages at HomeServices’ feet — at least not yet. Continue reading

HomeServices tells court it’s too early for $4.7B Sitzer ruling

The Berkshire Hathaway affiliate says final judgment in the case shouldn’t come before settlements are finalized, a process the franchisor does not expect to be “uncontroversial.” Continue reading

New commission lawsuit in New York may draw FTC attention

The antitrust case from homebuyer and homeseller Hao Zhe Wang alleges MLS and broker services are illegally tied. Continue reading

Association of more than 200 MLSs blasts DOJ ‘flaws’ in Nosalek case

The Council of Multiple Listing Services, a trade group of about 225 MLSs, united with Northwest MLS on Wednesday to pen amicus briefs exposing alleged flaws in the DOJ’s statement of interest. Continue reading