The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., on Friday rejected the court’s request National Association of Realtors (NAR) Reexamination of the Court’s previous ruling, Department of Justice (DOJ) The trade organization can be reinvestigated.
Legal arguments over reopening the Justice Department investigation have been playing out in court since the Trump administration took office. In November 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice agreed to end its investigation of NAR and reached a settlement agreement in its antitrust investigation into NAR’s role in buyer agent compensation.
But in July 2021, the Biden administration withdrew the settlement agreement and reopened the investigation. After NAR filed legal objections, a three-judge panel in Washington, D.C., ruled in April 2024 that the Justice Department could reopen the investigation. NAR requested a rehearing in May, but it was formally denied on Friday.
“This ruling violates years of precedent in interpreting government contracts and violates the fundamental principle that governments must keep their promises,” a NAR spokesman said. house line in an email. “We are evaluating all remaining legal options and are committed to exploring all avenues to ensure the Department of Justice complies with the terms of our 2020 agreement.”
Amid legal proceedings related to the DOJ investigation, NAR settled a class-action lawsuit filed in Missouri in March, agreeing to pay $418 million over four years to home sellers. NAR also agreed to change or adjust some rules, most notably eliminating the requirement that multiple listing services provide buyer agent compensation. The new rules take effect on August 17.
Since the Missouri case was settled, numerous copycat lawsuits have been filed across the country and remain in various stages of legal proceedings. The lawsuits have ensnared some of the country’s largest real estate brokerages, including keller williams anywhere and re/max.
The denial of NAR’s reconsideration request wasn’t the only news Friday related to the Department of Justice and the Association of Realtors.
California Association of Realtors announced that a new form will be released for its members on July 24th. Effective month.
