Townhomes line a street in Fairfax, on the morning the National Association of Realtors issues its Pending Home Sales for February report, in Virginia March 27, 2014.
The verdict followed a two-week trial in the Kansas City, Missouri, federal court, where the case had drawn widespread attention for challenging widely used real estate industry practices.
A spokesperson for the National Association of Realtors, Mantill Williams, also said it would appeal and ask the court to reduce the damages amount.
The plaintiffs claimed the association and corporate defendants drove up the commission, upwards of 6%, that home sellers pay to brokers representing buyers.
Two other defendants, Re/Max (RMAX.N) and Anywhere Real Estate (HOUS.N), agreed to respective $55 million and $83.5 million settlements before trial, without admitting liability.
Persons:
Larry Downing, Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, Michael Ketchmark, Ketchmark, Keller Williams, HomeServices, Darryl Frost, Frost, Mantill Williams, Sellers, Mike Scarcella, David Bario, Chizu Nomiyama, Jonathan Oatis
Organizations:
National Association of Realtors, REUTERS, U.S . Justice Department, Thomson
Locations:
Fairfax, Virginia, U.S, Warren, Kansas City , Missouri, Berkshire, America, Missouri , Kansas, Illinois, Washington, Maryland