In a pivotal shift in the battle over real estate commissions, Bkeller Williams batton commission lawsuit settlement headlines a first-of-its-kind deal in the homebuyer antitrust fight known as Batton.
Keller Williams has become the first brokerage to strike a settlement in the buyer-led commissions lawsuit, filing a proposed $20 million agreement on Feb. 2 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The accord, described by plaintiffs’ attorneys as an “ice-breaker settlement,” signals a potential thaw in a case that could carry billions in exposure.
$20 Million Deal and Cooperation Pledge
Beyond the monetary payment, Keller Williams, often known as KW, agreed to provide what plaintiffs called “highly valuable cooperation,” including deposition testimony, trial testimony and the production of documents. In high-stakes litigation, such cooperation can function like a master key — unlocking strategies and internal practices for use against remaining defendants.
In an email to agents and company leaders, KW President and CEO Chris Czarnecki said the decision followed “careful consideration for the immediate and long-term well-being of our franchisees and agents and the business model they depend on.”
The settlement, Czarnecki wrote, “allows us all to turn our attention back to what we do best: delivering unparalleled value in an ever-evolving real estate market.”
