NAR Chief Legal Officer Katie Johnson is ‘stepping down’

After a decade leading the trade group’s legal team — including through sexual harassment scandals and numerous anti-trust commission lawsuits — Johnson is leaving. Continue reading

Attorneys request $226M from NAR and HomeServices deals

Law professor estimates the plaintiffs’ law firms are asking for only 3 percent of the total value of the deals when ‘historic’ business practice changes are taken into account. Continue reading

Judge in Moehrl, Batton recused after revealing conflict of interest

Judge Andrea Wood, who oversaw the cases for years, said she discovered a relative’s spouse was a partner at a law firm in a case known as Moehrl. She recused herself in a surprise filing on Wednesday. Continue reading

A brave new world awaits the real estate industry. Are you prepared?

Beginning Saturday, new rules around commissions take effect, paving the way for the biggest shift in real estate in at least a generation. It’s a brave new world, and it begins this weekend. Continue reading

HomeServices commission settlement gets prelim approval

HomeServices previously agreed to pay $250 million to settle various commission suits. A final approval hearing is set for November. Continue reading

Buyer appeals Keller Williams, Anywhere, RE/MAX settlements

The franchisors are not required to implement the business practice changes they agreed to until after the appeals process. Continue reading

At NAR midyear, ‘the media’ was cast as the villain — repeatedly

NAR’s legal team, president and chief economist defended the group’s cooperative compensation rule and used journalists as a scapegoat repeatedly during midyear panels earlier this month. Continue reading

Buyers seek surprise injunction to halt commission suit settlements

The plaintiffs in a suit known as Batton 1 have filed for a temporary restraining order preventing the final approval of the Keller Williams, Anywhere and RE/MAX settlements. Continue reading

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

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