Compass, Redfin, eXp, Weichert & United Real Estate Must Face Buyers' Commission Lawsuit

U.S. District Judge LaShonda Hunt issued a significant ruling on March 25, 2026, denying motions to dismiss filed by five major real estate brokerages in the Batton 2 homebuyer commission antitrust lawsuit. Compass Inc., Redfin Corp., eXp World Holdings, Weichert Realtors, and United Real Estate Group must now face claims that they participated in a conspiracy to inflate home prices through NAR's commission-sharing rules.

What the Court Decided

The defendants had argued that the buyers' claims should be dismissed on various grounds, including lack of standing and failure to adequately allege antitrust injury. Judge Hunt rejected these arguments, finding that the plaintiffs had adequately stated claims under the Sherman Antitrust Act. The court did trim some state antitrust claims — dismissing certain claims under Florida, Missouri, and Tennessee state law — but the core federal antitrust allegations survive and will proceed to discovery.

How Batton 2 Differs from Batton 1

The Batton case is divided into two tracks. Batton 1 named NAR, Anywhere Real Estate, RE/MAX, and Keller Williams as defendants — KW and RE/MAX have now settled for a combined $28.5 million. Batton 2 names Compass, eXp, Redfin, Weichert, and United Real Estate. Both tracks allege that the defendants' participation in NAR's MLS commission-sharing rules caused homebuyers to pay artificially inflated prices.

What This Means for Homebuyers

If you purchased a home through a Compass, Redfin, eXp, Weichert, or United Real Estate agent during the relevant period, you may eventually be eligible for compensation if these defendants settle or are found liable at trial. No claim form is available yet. To understand which existing settlements you may already be eligible for, take our Settlement Eligibility Quiz or review the Settlement Comparison Table.

The Bigger Picture

The ruling adds significant pressure on the Batton 2 defendants to consider settlement. With Keller Williams and RE/MAX already settling in Batton 1, and the court now refusing to dismiss Batton 2, the litigation landscape for real estate brokerages continues to shift. Industry observers expect additional settlement announcements in the coming months.