Keller Williams has agreed to pay $70 million to settle one of the landmark antitrust lawsuits over broker commissions.
The brokerage, which announced the agreement on Thursday, was one of three remaining defendants in the Missouri-based lawsuit known as Sitzer/Burnett.
A spokesperson for Keller Williams said the settlement would not “impact our operations or our ability to support our franchisees and agents.”
In an email sent to Keller Williams agents on Thursday, executive chairman Gary Keller said the settlement, if approved, would release the firm from liability in copycat lawsuits.
“We had full confidence in the strength of our appeal,” Keller wrote. “But we also knew the appellate process could be long and unpredictable – and that our franchisees and agents would have no protection and complete uncertainty while that process played out over time.”
The move comes three months after the jury said in a verdict Keller Williams, the National Association of Realtors and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices liable in the case, awarding the plaintiffs $1.8 billion in damages. The verdict is awaiting final approval from the judge, which could rule to treble the damages, bringing the total up to more than $5 billion.
Anywhere Real Estate and RE/MAX were also named in the lawsuit, but the brokerages agreed to settle for $83 million and $55 million, respectively, shortly before it went to trial. The judge on Monday preliminary approved their settlement offers, which also apply to one of the Chicago-based cases, known as Moehrl.
The jury’s verdict sparked a wave of copycat lawsuits filed in markets across the country, targeting the Sitzer defendants along with national and local brokerages.
Hyolyn: I think branching out to do more of our individual work has brought us closer together this time around. Because of that, we were able to become more genuine with the conversations we had together. But at the same time, we never stopped talking or hanging out, so it also feels like no time has passed. Of course, there will always be obstacles, but we’re overcoming them together day by day.
Bora: We haven’t had any obstacles in communicating with each other individually, but because we are working with different agencies, it’s between them to make it work for this comeback. We’re looking forward to having a lot of fun working together again — especially working with Hyolyn. I’m very excited!
José Huizar, who represented Los Angeles’ 14th District in the City Council for over 19 years, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for accepting bribes from real estate developers.
It’s a moment of reckoning for the former L.A. councilman, who pleaded guilty a year ago to federal counts of racketeering and tax evasion, and marks the end to one of the most high-profile, wide-ranging corruption cases in modern L.A. city history.
Huizar appeared in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in L.A. on Jan. 26 for a scheduled hearing, where the judge ordered Huizar face the maximum sentence. Huizar’s attorneys had been willing to settle for nine years, according to the Los Angeles Daily News.
Huizar led a pay-to-play enterprise, in which he exploited his government position to seek out at least $1.5 million in bribes, which includes cash, hotel stays, gambling chips, luxury trips, prostitutes and favorable loans.
“If anyone dared rebuff his call to pay bribes, he punished them and their city projects, threatening developers with indefinitely delayed projects and financial peril,” the U.S. government wrote in a sentencing memorandum.
A number of developers were implicated in the corruption scandal, though two — Dae Yong Lee and Downtown L.A.-based Shen Zhen New World — have been formally charged and found guilty.
Dae Yong Lee, also known as David Lee, and one of his limited liability companies, 940 Hill, were found guilty of handing out $500,000 in cash bribes to Huizar and George Esparza, one of Huizar’s former assistants. In exchange, the two helped resolve an appeal of Lee’s development project in Downtown L.A.
Shen Zhen New World, run by Wei Huang, was found guilty in November 2022 of paying more than $1 million — in the form of casino gambling chips and luxury trip expenses — to Huizar. Huizar helped push the city to approve Shen Zhen New World’s plans to build a 77-story skyscraper.
Lee was sentenced to six years in federal prison last May. The U.S. government considers Huang a fugitive and believes he is still in China.
In 2021, Carmel Partners agreed to pay a $1 million fine in connection with Huizar’s scandal and admitted it contributed $75,000 to his political action committee to score approval for a tower project in Downtown L.A.
This is a developing story, please check back for updates.
Chris and Andy discuss the second episode of True Detective: Night Country. They talk about some of the callbacks to True Detective Season 1 in this episode (1:00), the horror and paranormal elements that are becoming more prominent this season so far (17:49), and the way the environment plays a role in the plot (26:12).
Hosts: Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald Producer: Kaya McMullen
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West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus scored with a sublime strike for Ghana to give the Black Stars the lead against Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
Former President Donald Trump has won the Iowa caucuses, CNN, the Associated Press, and Fox News have projected.
The Associated Press reported that Trump has “far more than half” of the votes counted as of 8:31 p.m. EST. Results from eight Iowa counties are in.
Trump defeated Republican challengers former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy in the Iowa caucuses held Monday, per CNN projections.
The news comes as Iowans braved sub-freezing temperatures to vote in the caucuses.
Former president Donald Trump visits a caucus site at the Horizon Event Center on January 15, 2024, in Clive, Iowa. CNN is projecting that Trump to win the state’s GOP caucus, the first Republican primary contest in the 2024 Republican presidential nominating process. Kevin Dietsch/Getty
Newsweek reached out via email on Monday night to Trump’s representatives for comment.
This story is breaking, and updates will follow.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Graeme Swann reflects on his early England days on the revamped Sky Sports Cricket podcast and describes Nasser Hussain as ‘being something from a comic’ when he was England captain!
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Anton Toloui delivers his verdict on Man Utd’s 2-0 win against Wigan in the FA Cup. Erik ten Hag was positive in his post-match press conference and played down any worries that his players are not scoring enough goals.
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Sky Sports’ Gary Cotterill and Ben Grounds analyse Arsenal’s worrying form under Mikel Arteta as they crashed out of the FA Cup in the third round to Liverpool after a 2-0 defeat.
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Ange Postecoglou insists Eric Dier’s absence from the Tottenham squad was due to injury and not related to reports of a possible move to Bayern Munich.
Luke Littler defeated 7-4 by world No 1 Luke Humphries in final; Premier League Darts returns to Sky Sports on Thursday February 1 as Cardiff kicks off the 17-week extravaganza all the way through to the Play-Offs on Thursday May 23 at London’s O2
By Raz Mirza at Alexandra Palace, London
Last Updated: 04/01/24 2:31am
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Check out the best moments from the 2024 World Darts Championship
Check out the best moments from the 2024 World Darts Championship
Luke Littler’s World Darts Championship dreams were finally ended by world No 1 Luke Humphries in a sensational final at Alexandra Palace on Wednesday night.
Humphries fought back from 4-2 down to win five consecutive sets and claim his maiden world title 7-4 to make it four major victories in a row following his success at the World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts, and Players Championship Finals in recent months.
“I’ll draw a lot from this and this will be a moment that will never be forgotten,” Humphries told Sky Sports. “I don’t want to say that I’ve completed darts but everything that you want on the resume I’ve done now, so now it’s now about motivating yourself to do more and more.
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Humphries said he couldn’t ask for more after claiming the World Darts Championship title
Humphries said he couldn’t ask for more after claiming the World Darts Championship title
World Darts Championship Final
Luke Humphries
7-4
Luke Littler
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Luke Humphries hits the winning darts to defeat Luke Littler 7-4 in the World Darts Championship final
Luke Humphries hits the winning darts to defeat Luke Littler 7-4 in the World Darts Championship final
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Littler was pleased with his incredible run to the final, despite defeat to Humphries
Littler was pleased with his incredible run to the final, despite defeat to Humphries
Humphries may have been the champion, but Littler received a hero’s reception at the end of the match and he is the story of the tournament.
Life will never be the same for Littler, who now has a global profile, as his exploits have transcended the world of darts.
He may have fallen just short of achieving sporting immortality, but this is just the beginning for Littler and his time will surely come, with many tipping him to become a multiple world champion
The 16-year-old from Warrington said: “It has been unbelievable. The one negative was I lost too many legs with my throw so Luke could break me.
“That was the only negative, I just couldn’t hold my own throw and I didn’t win. Every game has been good but that one has just really annoyed me, especially the three missed to keep it going.
“That’s what the crowd wanted but fair play to Luke, he deserves it.”
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Humphries started the better by capitalising on a slow start from Littler to take the opening set 3-1 with a 99.2 average despite eight missed darts at doubles.
It didn’t take ‘The Nuke’ long to discover his best in the second set, coming from 2-1 down by producing two 12-dart legs with the aid of a spectacular 142 checkout and a ‘Shanghai’ 120 finish.
2011-12 – Luke Humphries wins £225 from 16 Development Tour events and soon after stops playing darts.
18 months later, a friend was a player short in his Super League team and Luke steps in to help out.
Wednesday night: Humphries wins the PDC World Championship and is world No 1.
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Littler hit checkouts of 142 and 120 checkouts to win the second set
Littler hit checkouts of 142 and 120 checkouts to win the second set
The third set also went the distance with ‘Cool Hand’ edging it from 2-0 down to regain the upper hand with a 116 checkout to take it, but the Warrington teenage sensation struck back to secure the fourth set 3-1 and restore parity with a 99 average and an impressive 47 per cent on the doubles.
It was 2-2 in sets and 9-9 in legs with nothing to separate the two players.
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Littler took out this amazing 122 checkout to the despair of Humphries
Littler took out this amazing 122 checkout to the despair of Humphries
For the first time in the match, the player who started the set won it after nine break of throws in 22 legs, with World Youth Champion Littler going ahead for the first time in the match before wrapping up the fifth set, averaging a ton.
The new world No 1 found himself under pressure here as Littler made it nine legs from the last 11 to open up a two-set advantage at 4-2.
Humphries reeled in his second 170 finish in a matter of days in a seventh set which was full of carnage.
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Humphries took out ‘The Big Fish’ in the final
Humphries took out ‘The Big Fish’ in the final
Littler responded with a third ton-plus finish of the final – a 122 checkout – which Wayne Mardle described as “spiteful, dirty, nasty!” in the commentary box, before Humphries survived a set dart with Littler missing a crucial double 2 for a 5-2 lead.
The three-time major winner immediately capitalised on double 14 to reduce the deficit.
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Could this have been the moment that Littler’s grip on the World Championship title slipped away?
Could this have been the moment that Littler’s grip on the World Championship title slipped away?
And Humphries piled in a classy 121 checkout on the bull to make it back-to-back sets to get back on level terms with a 114.17 set average, but it also coincided with Littler dropping off.
The 28-year-old Newbury thrower threw back-to-back 108 checkouts to lead 2-0 in the ninth set and although the teenager battled back to level up, a 180 to start the set and a 36 checkout enabled Humphries to win the leg and set in 11 darts.
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Humphries also sunk this 121 checkout in a sensational final
Humphries also sunk this 121 checkout in a sensational final
A relentless Humphries made it four sets on the spin as he took full control of the final to go within a set of the title, despite Littler reeling in a ‘Big Fish’ of his own.
However, it was ‘Cool Hand’ who got his hands on the Sid Waddell Trophy to become the 12th different PDC World Champion after pinning double 8 for the match and then sinking to his knees in pure joy.
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Humphries pinned back-to-back 108 checkouts
Humphries pinned back-to-back 108 checkouts
Talking about Littler, Humphries said: “I’m not just saying this because it will please everyone, but Luke has been an unbelievable talent.
“Not just about the dartboard, he has been fantastic with all the media that has come about with him and he took the defeat so well.
“He said go on and celebrate. You will never see another down-to-earth 16-year-old kid like him who is just something else.
“I really hope he’s in the Premier League because, if he don’t want to play in it fair enough, but I think he’d be a pleasure to play alongside this year.
“He’s one of the best players in the world, there is no doubt about that.”
Humphries’ 103.67 average is the highest ever recorded in a match of 45+ legs
His win included 23 180s and five 100+ checkouts
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Littler nailed his own 170 checkout in an incredible final
Littler nailed his own 170 checkout in an incredible final
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Watch highlights of Humphries’ thrilling win over Littler in the World Championship final
Watch highlights of Humphries’ thrilling win over Littler in the World Championship final
How the world of social media reacted to Humphries win…
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Premier League Darts returns to Sky Sports on Thursday February 1 as Cardiff kicks off the 17-week extravaganza all the way through to the Play-Offs on Thursday May 23. Stream Sky Sports Darts without a contract through NOW
