Class Action Litigation Notices Mailed to Consumers
Louisiana REALTORS® • February 21, 2024
An Update from Katie Johnson, NAR Chief Legal Officer and Chief Member Experience Officer
I understand that [your] members may have questions about a notice of a proposed settlement in certain antitrust commission cases that has been sent nationwide this month.
While NAR is not a party to the settlement agreements mentioned in the notice, we wanted to provide some factual information about what the notice means. Please share this information with your members, who can use it as guidance to answer questions from clients:
- On February 1, 2024, a notice was sent to consumers related to settlement agreements reached between RE/MAX, Keller Williams, or Anywhere and the class action plaintiffs in the Burnett, Moehrl, and Nosalek cases. NAR is not involved in the proposed settlements.
- The notice gives members of the settlement class information about how to, e.g., make a claim or opt-out of the settlements if, for example, they want to bring their own lawsuits against one or more of the defendants.
- The proposed settlements between these parties are scheduled to be considered for final approval by the US District Court for the Western District of Missouri on May 9, 2024.
- If someone asks for more details about the RE/MAX, Keller Williams, or Anywhere settlements or whether they should make a claim or opt out of the settlements, you could suggest that they consult an attorney. You can also refer them to the website listed on the notice for further information.
As always, updated information about NAR’s position in these and other cases can be found on competition.realtor. Please reach out directly to me or my team with any questions.
Louisiana’s 2026 Regular Session opened this week with several developments that matter directly to REALTORS ®, property managers and housing providers, alongside some broader political shifts worth watching. HB 292: Security Deposit Return Timelines Rep. Delisha Boyd’s HB 292, which addresses procedures for returning residential security deposits, was deferred to next week. This provides additional time for stakeholders to engage with members on practical impacts for lease administration, move out inspections and documentation standards. We’ll continue working to ensure any changes to deposit law are clear, workable and do not expose housing providers to unreasonable liability. Land Use and Development: St. James Parish Decision The Louisiana Supreme Court’s recent St. James Parish decision significantly tightens the standards for overturning local land use decisions, reinforcing that zoning and permitting authority rests with parish and municipal governments as long as their decisions are not arbitrary or capricious. For real estate and development, that means more predictability if projects are aligned with adopted plans and ordinances, but also higher stakes in local elections, planning processes and parish-level negotiations. Governor’s State of the State In his State of the State address, Governor Jeff Landry reiterated his push to phase out the state income tax, expand the LA GATOR and MJ Foster scholarship and workforce programs, and replace vehicle inspection stickers with a QR code system. These programs frame a debate around long-term competitiveness, workforce readiness and household cost of living which are all key drivers of housing demand and migration patterns. Business & Market Trends The business community is focusing the session on insurance, workforce and energy. Commercial and property insurance costs remain a top concern for employers and property owners, and we are monitoring civil justice and insurance reform proposals that could affect market stability and availability. At the same time, Louisiana is seeing more than $100 billion in announced industrial and data center projects, which could reshape local markets, labor conditions and housing needs in multiple regions of the state. Please view the weekly bill tracking report at the link below provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.
Learn how Louisiana real estate regulations, disclosure laws, and licensing standards help protect homebuyers and create safer, more transparent transactions.
Nominations are open now through April 24, 2026, for the Louisiana REALTORS® 2025 REALTOR® of the Year & the 2025 Lawrence R. DeMarcay, Jr. Distinguished Service Award. Both awards are aimed to showcase an individual who has volunteered their time in service to the real estate industry. Recipients of the awards will be recognized during the Spring Legislative Conference. (Registration coming soon!) Please see the below links with the selection criteria and consider submitting a nomination today. Contact Donna Teekel at (225) 224-0704 or dteekel@larealtors.org with any questions.
