Important: There is no standard, fixed, or required commission rate in real estate. All commission rates are fully negotiable — by law and in practice. Any commission figures referenced on this site are for illustrative purposes only and should not be interpreted as typical, customary, or recommended rates.

Lawsuit Timeline

Track the progression of real estate commission litigation from initial filings to landmark settlements and industry-changing reforms.

Total Settlements
$1.87B+
Years of Litigation
2019-2026
Major Milestones
16 Events

Complete Litigation History

From the initial Moehrl filing in 2019 to the groundbreaking Veterans United mortgage case in 2026, explore every major development in the fight to reform real estate commissions.

March 6, 2019Filing
Moehrl v. NAR Filed
Landmark antitrust class action filed against NAR and major brokerages alleging conspiracy to inflate buyer broker commissions.
October 10, 2019Milestone
DOJ Files Statement of Interest
Department of Justice files statement supporting plaintiffs' antitrust claims against NAR commission rules.
October 20, 2020Court Ruling
Motion to Dismiss Denied
Federal court denies defendants' motion to dismiss, allowing case to proceed to discovery.
March 29, 2023Court Ruling
Class Certification Granted
Court grants class certification for home sellers nationwide, expanding potential impact.
October 31, 2023Court Ruling$1.8 billion
Sitzer/Burnett Jury Verdict
Jury awards $1.8 billion in damages, finding NAR and brokerages conspired to inflate commissions.
March 15, 2024Settlement$418 million
NAR Announces $418M Settlement
NAR agrees to $418 million settlement and sweeping industry reforms to resolve antitrust claims.
August 17, 2024Milestone
NAR New Rules Take Effect
Historic industry reforms implemented: no mandatory buyer broker compensation on MLS, full negotiability required.
November 26, 2024Settlement$668 million
NAR & HomeServices Settlements Approved
Federal court grants final approval for $418M NAR and $250M HomeServices settlements.
February 3, 2026Settlement$20 million
Keller Williams $20M Homebuyer Settlement
First homebuyer commission case settlement. Keller Williams agrees to cooperate against remaining defendants.
February 5, 2026Settlement$42 million
Moehrl $42M Settlement Final Approval
Court approves $42M settlement with six brokerages: William Raveis, Hanna Holdings, Windermere, Exit Realty, William L. Lyon.
February 19, 2026Filing
Veterans United RESPA Lawsuit Filed
Hagens Berman files first mortgage industry case, alleging illegal referral fees and predatory lending targeting veterans.
March 4, 2026Settlement$10.8 million
Tuccori $10.8M Settlement Preliminary Approval
Court grants preliminary approval for $10.8M settlement with Anywhere Real Estate, Real Brokerage, Keyes/Illustrated Properties, and Vanguard Properties. Batton objectors' bid to intervene denied.
March 5, 2026Court Ruling
Gibson Five-Brokerage Settlements Appealed
Spring Way Center LLC files appeal of final approval orders for five brokerage settlements (William Raveis, Hanna Holdings, Windermere, Exit Realty, Lyon) in the Moehrl/Gibson litigation.
March 17, 2026Milestone
Compass Drops Zillow Antitrust Lawsuit
Compass voluntarily dismisses its June 2025 antitrust lawsuit against Zillow after Zillow updated its Listing Access Standards and launched 'Zillow Preview' for pre-market listings.
March 19, 2026Court Ruling
Compass v. NWMLS: Motion to Dismiss Denied
Judge Jamal Whitehead denies NWMLS's motion to dismiss Compass's antitrust lawsuit, finding 'plausible claims' of competitive harm under the Sherman Act. First major antitrust challenge to a non-NAR MLS survives pleading stage. Trial set for February 2027.
Industry Impact
These lawsuits have fundamentally transformed how real estate commissions work in America, delivering billions in settlements and implementing sweeping reforms.

Key Reforms Implemented

  • Eliminated mandatory buyer broker compensation offers on MLS
  • Prohibited displaying buyer broker compensation on MLS
  • Required disclosure that all commissions are fully negotiable
  • Required seller approval for any payment to buyer brokers
  • Increased transparency in commission negotiations

Ongoing Litigation

While major settlements have been reached, litigation continues on multiple fronts. Compass v. NWMLS heads to trial in February 2027, testing whether non-NAR MLSs can enforce listing exclusivity rules. The Veterans United RESPA case expands scrutiny into mortgage industry practices. The Tuccori settlement ($10.8M) awaits final approval, and the Gibson appeal of five brokerage settlements adds further uncertainty.