NAR: Settlement Doesn’t Change Its Defense
Keller Williams’ proposed deal “does not directly affect NAR’s position in the Batton litigation,” a spokesperson for the trade group said in a statement to Real Estate News.
“We respect Keller Williams’ right to settle these claims and anticipated the possibility they would do so,” the spokesperson said. “NAR remains actively engaged in the Batton joint defense group, and we continue to defend our rules where questioned. Given recent history and the dynamics of this case, NAR continues to pursue all potential resolutions, both non-litigation and litigation, to reach a result that is in the best interest of our members, the industry and consumers.”
A Pattern of Commission Settlements
This is not Keller Williams’ first commission-related settlement. Two years ago, the brokerage resolved claims in the Sitzer/Burnett case with a $70 million agreement announced four months after the October 2023 verdict. That settlement also included changes to how the company handles commissions.
The latest agreement arrives as other brokerages begin to chart similar paths. In January, Real Brokerage settled the Cwynar case, contributing an undisclosed sum to a “global settlement fund” alongside nearly a dozen other defendants.
As the Batton case advances, Keller Williams’ decision may prove to be more than an isolated resolution. It could serve as a domino — the first to fall in a legal battle that continues to test the foundations of how homes are bought and sold in America.
