REMAX settles in Batton commissions case 

RE/MAX, LLC is the latest brokerage company to reach a settlement in the five-year-old commissions case known as Batton.

The company announced today via an SEC filing that it had entered into a settlement agreement with the plaintiffs on March 19. The deal releases all REMAX affiliates, franchisees and subsidiaries from litigation in the case. 

What this case is about: Similar to the Sitzer/Burnett and Gibson cases, the plaintiffs allege a conspiracy among NAR and major brokerages to keep agent commissions inflated — but unlike those cases, the complaint was initiated by homebuyers rather than sellers. Brokerages that had settled in one of the commissions lawsuits brought by sellers — including REMAX, which agreed to pay $55 million to settle claims in Sitzer/Burnett in September 2023 — were not exempt from litigation in Batton.

The National Association of Realtors, Anywhere Real Estate and Keller Williams were also named in the original Batton complaint, with additional brokerages added two years later in a case known as Batton 2.

Keller Williams was the first brokerage to settle in Batton. That agreement was announced in February, with KW on the hook for $20 million in damages.  

REMAX to pay significantly less than KW: It appears that REMAX was able to secure a better deal, paying just $8.5 million into the settlement fund. The first $1.5 million will be paid once the agreement receives preliminary approval, with the remainder to be paid upon final approval of the deal, including any appeals, the SEC filing noted. 

The filing also stated that the settlement was not "an admission or concession of liability, or of the validity of any claim," and the company "continues to deny the material allegations of the complaints."

What REMAX had to say: "REMAX is pleased to have reached an agreement that will release the company, as well as REMAX sub-franchisors, franchisees and agents, from the remaining claims in the Batton antitrust litigation," a REMAX spokesperson said in a statement.

"Entering into this settlement is a business decision that brings certainty to what has been a long and uncertain situation. Moving forward, REMAX affiliates are able to continue putting buyers and sellers first — without distraction — as they deliver the best experience in real estate."

Where the case stands: Anywhere, the remaining brokerage defendant in Batton, recently agreed to settle claims in a separate lawsuit — known as Tuccori — which was also filed by a homebuyer and involved similar claims. Several smaller firms settled in Tuccori in October 2025, and that settlement included an opt-in provision allowing defendants in related cases to resolve claims via Tuccori. Anywhere did just that — but the Batton plaintiffs objected, accusing Anywhere of settling "on the cheap at the expense of [Batton] class members" in a motion to intervene. 

Despite that attempt to stall the deal, the judge in Tuccori granted preliminary approval to Anywhere's settlement earlier this month.

NAR is the only defendant yet to reach a deal with the Batton plaintiffs.

What NAR had to say: An NAR spokesperson said in a statement that the organization "respects RE/MAX's right to settle."

"NAR will continue to defend its rules where challenged and pursue all potential resolutions, both non-litigation and litigation, to reach a result that is in the best interest of our members, the industry, and consumers," the statement added.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include statements from REMAX and NAR spokespeople.