A judge dismissed a class-action lawsuit against Zillow and a real estate brokerage, saying that lawyers representing homebuyers who used Zillow’s mortgage services or were referred to agents through the portal’s lead-selling service did not meet the legal standard to move forward. Plaintiffs had alleged that Zillow’s practices were deceptive, violating RESPA, racketeering and consumer…

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Editor’s note: The COURT REPORT is RISMedia’s weekly look at current and upcoming lawsuits, investigations and other legal developments around real estate. Federal lawmakers investigate MRED-Compass partnership A federal congressional committee sent letters to Compass CEO Robert Reffkin and MRED CEO Rebecca Jensen in relation to their partnership, scrutinizing the relationship between the nation’s largest…

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The battle over private listings is playing out nearly everywhere—from statehouses and courthouses to brokerage offices and Wall Street boardrooms. As opponents and supporters of the practice make their cases, the debate looks vastly different depending on the venue. But one tool that is nearly always effective is data. And as the practice draws more…

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Compass targets Zillow with consumer ethics complaints in dozens of states Compass filed state-level ethics complaints on July 14 through 30 Realtor® associations, at least 50 MLSs and multiple real estate regulators across 26 states, targeting Zillow and focusing on allegedly misleading property designations on listings. A source with direct knowledge of the effort told…

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In yet another major escalation in its effort to re-shape the foundations of real estate, Compass filed a cascade of state-level ethics complaints Tuesday through 30 Realtor associations, at least 50 MLSs and real estate regulators across 26 states, targeting Zillow and focusing on allegedly misleading property designations on listings. A source with direct knowledge…

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In a supplemental post-hearing brief filed by defendants Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) and Compass, the defendants argue that Zillow is not entitled to relief because “any harm, if it exists at all, is self-inflicted.” “If Zillow wants MRED’s feed, the ‘lifeblood’ of its business that it receives virtually for free, all Zillow has to…

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Editor’s note: The COURT REPORT is RISMedia’s weekly look at current and upcoming lawsuits, investigations and other legal developments around real estate. Judge denies FTC in Zillow-Redfin suit A federal judge denied the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) and states’ motion for partial summary judgment, sending disputes over market definition and the deal’s alleged illegality to…

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A federal judge has denied a joint bid by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a coalition of states to win early rulings on core questions in their antitrust case against Zillow and Redfin—leaving disputes over how the market is defined and whether the companies’ $100 million deal is illegal to be resolved at trial.…

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CHICAGO—The CEOs of Compass and Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) each testified Thursday, July 2 that Zillow executives threatened them directly over their companies’ resistance to its listing access standards, with MRED CEO Rebecca Jensen recounting a Zillow executive’s warning that she could expect her “phone to be dumped” and all of her “text messages…

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Above, the Everett McKinley Dirksen Courthouse in Chicago where the hearing is taking place. Photo by Clarissa Garza.  CHICAGO—Zillow, Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) and Compass squared off in a Chicago courtroom Wednesday in a preliminary injunction hearing, kicking off two days of testimony, where a federal judge will decide whether Zillow can continue banning…

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