2 ms·
What happened in the 2019 action?
by jncfhnb 3y ago
What happened in the 2019 action?
- ethbr1 3y agoLooked into it, and as near as I could tell, DoJ negotiated a consent decree with the NAR and both parties were ready to agree (~2020). Then DoJ and NAR got into an argument about whether or not the consent decree prevented DoJ from bringing future actions. As a result of NAR wanting a guarantee they'd be covered, DoJ decided to request dismissal of the case. https://www.justice.gov/atr/case/us-v-national-association-realtors-0 https://www.justice.gov/atr/case/us-v-national-association-r... Reading between the lines, I'd guess either (a) ongoing investigation or (b) chickenshit prosecutor.
- runako 3y agoSo essentially it sounds like the court and NAR agreed that NAR is engaging in anti-competitive behavior, but NAR wanted to push for a future get-out-of-jail-free card? Given that, it seems facile for anyone else to argue that NAR isn't engaging in behavior prohibited by our antitrust laws. If/when we resume robust enforcement of our antitrust laws, NAR would appear to be a prime target. Certainly, their behavior and marketshare are at least as anticompetitive than most of the primary Big Tech targets of antitrust discussion. And NAR hits the biggest transactions most consumers ever engage in, where e.g. folks spend vastly less at Amazon.
- ethbr1 3y agoTo be fair, in the 2019 case, the courts didn't have a chance to weigh in. It is kind of curious the DoJ didn't pursue, but I assume most USAs are looking for a flawless record, so maybe didn't want to pursue it at this time.