The ongoing battle between franchisor Keller Williams Realty and HomeServices of America subsidiary Iowa Realty is back in court.
Last year, a Keller Williams franchise in the Des Moines market sued Iowa Realty over the brokerage’s refusal to split commissions with its agents. A judge dismissed several of the lawsuit’s claims, and the Keller Williams franchise ended up dropping the suit.
Now Iowa Realty — the state’s largest brokerage — has sued Keller Williams International, its Des Moines franchise, and former Iowa Realty agents who left to work for Keller Williams, alleging malicious prosecution, breach of contract, and defamation, among other things, the Des Moines Register reports.
Iowa Realty claims that Keller Williams filed its lawsuit to “harass and embarrass the company” and did not expect courts would resolve the commission dispute, which Keller Williams says has cost its agents $600,000. Source: desmoinesregister.com