what are the recent cases and what do they say?

Question

Accepted Answer

The recent cases discussed in the podcast include the Sitzer-Burnett case and a potential national damages case. Here are the key points:

1. **Sitzer-Burnett Case**:
   - This is a civil lawsuit that found the National Association of Realtors, along with two large brokerages (Keller Williams and Home Services of America), conspired to keep commission costs artificially high. 
   - The jury awarded Missouri home sellers approximately $1.8 billion, but a judge could potentially increase the damages to as much as $5.3 billion ([[00:03:30]] - [[00:03:56]]).
   - This ruling sets a precedent that could lead to more lawsuits in other states ([[00:37:00]] - [[00:37:21]]).

2. **Potential National Damages Case**:
   - There is mention of a case that could result in up to $200 billion in national damages. This case would build on the precedent set by the Sitzer-Burnett case ([[00:37:30]] - [[00:37:44]]).

3. **Gibson Case**:
   - Another related lawsuit has been filed in Missouri, similar to the Sitzer-Burnett case ([[00:37:24]] - [[00:37:30]]).

4. **Other Lawsuits and Ongoing Legal Actions**:
   - The Department of Justice (DOJ) had some sort of settlement with the National Association of Realtors a few years ago ([[00:08:07]] - [[00:08:12]]).
   - There is also mention of lawsuits involving RealPage and rental housing software, which suggests landlords might be colluding by using the same software to maximize rents ([[00:09:08]] - [[00:09:20]]).

These cases collectively suggest a trend towards challenging potentially anti-competitive practices in the real estate and rental markets, with significant financial implications and legal precedents being established.