Choose denies Zillow’s movement for abstract judgement within the REX go well with

Issues are persevering with to warmth up in Zillow Group’s authorized battle with low cost brokerage REX Houses, because the September 18, 2023, trial date looms ever nearer.

On Friday, Choose Thomas Zilly, the U.S. District Courtroom decide in Seattle overseeing the lawsuit, issued a minute order denying partially and deferring partially Zillow’s movement for abstract judgement within the case.

In mid-June, the three events concerned within the go well with, Zillow, REX and the Nationwide Affiliation of Realtors (NAR), all filed motions for summary judgment on at the very least some points, if not your entire lawsuit.

Three of REX’s claims Zillow filed motions for abstract judgement on had been denied by Zilly, whereas Zillow’s movement for abstract judgement on REX’s antitrust declare was deferred.

Initially filed by REX in March 2021, the lawsuit alleges that modifications made to Zillow’s web site “unfairly hides sure listings, shrinking their publicity and diminishing competitors amongst actual property brokers.”

Two months prior, in January 2021, Zillow started shifting properties out of its preliminary search outcomes for sellers who selected to not use brokers adhering to the NAR and native a number of itemizing service (MLS) practices.

In January 2022, NAR filed a countersuit claiming that REX makes use of false promoting and deceptive claims to deceive shoppers in violation of the Lanham Act, however the countersuit was dismissed in late April 2022.

In mid-Could 2022, REX ceased its brokerage operations

Since then, REX, Zillow and NAR have gone backwards and forwards with submitting numerous motions to compel through the discovery part of the trial.

In his minute order filed on Friday, Zilly denied Zillow’s movement for abstract judgement on REX’s Lanham Act declare, REX’s declare for unfair and misleading commerce practices and REX’s defamation declare.

With regard to REX’s Lanham Act declare, Zillow contended that REX can’t show that the allegedly false statements in query had been made in “business promoting or promotion,” and that REX can’t set up harm or damages. Nonetheless, Zilly felt that Zillow had not demonstrated that REX is unable to fulfill the check for business promoting or promotion.

In its movement for abstract judgement, Zillow additionally claimed that REX’s unfair or misleading commerce practices declare ought to fail if the Lanham Act declare fails. Nonetheless, in keeping with Zilly’s order, REX has pleaded “each the “unfair” and “misleading” prongs” of a client safety act (CPA) violation.

“Zillow has not demonstrated that it’s entitled to judgment as a matter of regulation with respect to REX’s CPA declare,” Zilly wrote.

Lastly, Zillow’s movement for abstract judgement on REX’s defamation declare additionally was additionally denied. Within the movement, Zillow argued that REX’s defamation declare fails as a matter of regulation as REX can’t show damages, nevertheless, throughout oral arguments REX famous that it solely seeks nominal damages. Zilly denied the movement as he felt that given the report on this declare, “the Courtroom can’t decide as a matter of regulation whether or not REX can show the precise malice essential to be entitled to nominal or presumed damages.”

NAR and REX additionally filed motions for abstract judgement on the case in June, however rulings haven’t but been issued. 

“We proceed to take care of the claims made in REX’s lawsuit are with out benefit. REX selected to make use of Zillow’s companies to promote their for-sale properties on Zillow – without cost. Zillow has persistently advocated for outdated guidelines to be modified to permit the broader show of all listings on all platforms, together with For Sale By Proprietor and listings from different corporations like REX.  Zillow’s enterprise selections had been squarely centered on enhancing the information on our website and the expertise for patrons,” Will Lemke, Zillow’s company communications supervisor, wrote in an e mail. “We hope the courtroom sees this go well with for what it’s: REX seized upon Zillow’s web site design change to cover its personal enterprise failings.”

NAR additionally believes its facet will succeed within the lawsuit.

“Whereas NAR was not a celebration in Zillow’s submitting, we nonetheless imagine the regulation is on our facet and we stay assured we’ll in the end prevail,” Mantill Williams, NAR’s vp of communications, wrote in an e mail. “NAR tips and native dealer marketplaces create extremely aggressive markets, empower small companies and guarantee equitable house possession alternatives, superior customer support and better price choices for all consumers and sellers”

Legal professionals for REX didn’t provide touch upon the ruling presently.