A group of real estate professionals in Louisiana recently filed a lawsuit against the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and other defendants, alleging anticompetitive practices. The plaintiffs, including brokers Carla DeYoung and Carlos Alvarez, as well as agents Tammy Jo Williams and Darlene Currie, claim that the defendants’ restrictions on data usage and mandatory membership in multiple Realtor associations are unfair and violate their rights. The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, seeks restitution and an end to rules that the plaintiffs do not support.
The lawsuit is part of a growing trend of legal challenges against mandatory membership in NAR and other Realtor associations. Similar suits have been filed in California, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and other states. The plaintiffs in the Louisiana case argue that the defendants’ actions violate the Fair Housing Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, the Sherman Antitrust Act, and other laws.
NAR responded to the lawsuit by stating that MLS access is not limited to NAR members and that individual MLSs determine participation requirements at the local level. The organization plans to address the specific claims made by the plaintiffs in court.
The plaintiffs are seeking to prevent the defendants from enforcing mandatory membership rules and to stop them from using MLS data to maintain anticompetitive tying arrangements. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for the real estate industry and the future of NAR’s membership policies.