Jury Finds Realtors Conspired to Preserve Commissions Excessive, Awards Practically $1.8 Billion in Damages

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—A federal jury on Tuesday discovered the Nationwide Affiliation of Realtors and enormous residential brokerages responsible for about $1.8 billion in damages after figuring out they conspired to maintain commissions for residence gross sales artificially excessive. 

The decision comes within the first of two main antitrust lawsuits that focus on decades-old trade practices and search to drive down commissions and alter the best way brokers are compensated. The 2-week trial concerned claims by residence sellers in a number of Midwestern states. The jury issued its verdict after simply hours of deliberations.