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Report: #1167971

Complaint Review: Phil Chiles - Springfield Illinois

  • Submitted:
  • Updated:
  • Reported By: Latresha C — Maywood Illinois
  • Author Not Confirmed What's this?
  • Why?
  • Phil Chiles 522 South Fifth Street Springfield, Illinois USA

Phil Chiles Illinois Association of Realtors IAR monopoly defrauding the public and independent real estate brokers Springfield Illinois

*Author of original report: Illinois Association of Realtors Ripoff continues

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Phil Chiles and Illinois Association of Realtors aka IAR are defrauding the public and independent real estate brokers.

 Phil Chiles and Illinois Association of Realtors are protecting the interest of Realogy monopoly and their members (Century 21, Coldwell Banker, Better Homes and Gardens, ERA Realty, Sotheby’s, NRT, Cartus, Title Resource Group, Citi Habitats, etc). Realogy and above referenced entities effectively own and control the National Association of Realtors, over 1400  real estate associations, real estate boards, and over 1000 MLS services. The conflict of interest is obvious. As Al Gore said "It's difficult to get a person to understand something if his salary depends upon his not understanding it."

 If you have been ripped off, misled or lied to by any members of the above listed monopoly you will get more justice by contacting the US Department of Justice, the FTC and the HUD. As you can see from the DOJ and FTC websites, the above referenced companies are drowning in monopolistic violations. They have been under radar for over 50 years. Sooner or later, their fraud will be fully exposed and they will be gone with great relief to the public. Antitrust violations are serious crimes that can cost a company hundreds of millions of dollars in fines and can send an executive to jail for up to ten years. These conspiracies are by their nature secret and difficult to detect. The Antitrust Division needs your help in uncovering them and bringing them to their attention. If you think you have a possible violation or just want more information about what we do, contact the Citizen Complaint Center of the Antitrust Division: http://www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.html  AskDOJ@usdoj.gov, antitrust.complaints@usdoj.gov, RealEstateCompetition@usdoj.gov, 202-307-2040

 

It is absurd for an average homeowner to pay 5-7% commissions or more than $10,000 to above listed monopoly for just adding your home listing to the MLS. MLS is itself a conspiracy and restraint of trade because they do not let the public list homes directly. If you tried selling a home by using Century 21 or Coldwell Banker, you know that they will not take a listing below 5% commission. Such agreement among these companies is illegal and defined as price fixing. You might go to an independent company to list your home and that is usually a good idea that will save you some money, but then the problem is that no real estate agent will show you a home unless they are making at least 2.5% commission on it. By law, they are supposed to show you all homes, yet their profit motive usually wins. Price fixing should be reported to US Department of Justice Criminal Division http://www.justice.gov/criminal/about/contact.html, Criminal.Division@usdoj.gov, 202-353-4641. 

 All of the above are not just monopolistic practices of realtors, their associations and MLS’s. They are serious antitrust violations. Monopolizing trade is a felony (15 U.S. Code § 2) punishable by fine up to $100,000,000 for corporations, $1,000,000 for individuals in addition to imprisonment up to 10 years. Restraining trade or commerce is also a felony (15 U.S. Code § 1) ) punishable by fine up to $100,000,000 for corporations, $1,000,000 for individuals in addition to imprisonment up to 10 years. Report these violations to FTC at http://www.ftc.gov/faq/competition/report-antitrust-violation

 In addition, be careful what association you are a member of, because you can be charged with above crimes along with them.

 Phil Chiles

pchiles@thegroup.com

Illinois Association of Realtors
E-mail: IARaccess@iar.org
Phone: 217-529-2600
Fax: 217-529-3904

522 South Fifth Street
Springfield, Illinois 62701

 2014 IAR Leadership Team

       

President 

President-elect

Treasurer 

Immediate Past President 

Phil Chiles
ABR, CRS, GRI, SRES
Real Estate Group
3701 West Wabash
Springfield, IL 62711
Phone: 217-787-7000

James M. Kinney,
ABR, CRB, CRS, GRI
Baird & Warner
737 N. Michigan Ave #1800,
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312-640-7010

Mike Drews
Charles B. Doss & Co.
2111 W. Plum St
Ste 129
Aurora, IL 60506
Phone: 630-898-8008

Michael D. Oldenettel, 
CRS, GRI
RE/MAX Professionals. 
2475 West Monroe
Springfield, IL 62704
Phone: 217-787-7215

Full bio>

Full bio >

Full bio >

Full bio>

MEMBERS: Click here to contact an IAR staff member by e-mail.

Executive

Gary L. Clayton, CAE, RCE, Chief Executive Officer (bio)

Rebecca Carraher, Executive Secretary


Member and Association Engagement

Ann Londrigan, CAE, Director of Member and Association Engagement

Lindsay Lippa, Member Care Specialist

Kim Buscher, RPAC Fundraising Coordinator

Carie Cycholl, RPAC Fundraising Coordinator

Jim Clayton, Market Research

Jenny Rich, Part-Time Marketing Associate


Communications

Jon Broadbooks, Director of Communications (bio)

Stephanie Sievers, Senior Editor, Illinois REALTOR® magazine

Katie Grant, Graphic Designer

Bill Kozar, Content Marketing Specialist


Governmental Affairs

Greg St. Aubin, Director of Governmental Affairs (bio)

Julie Sullivan, Assistant Director - Legislative and Political Affairs

Mike Scobey, Assistant Director - RVOICE and Local Advocacy

Aimee Bick, Program Coordinator - RVOICE and Local Advocacy

Sharon Gorrell, Housing Policy Advisor

Local Governmental Affairs Directors/Local Associations covered


Information Technology

Matthew Brewer, Director of Information Technology

Ralph Carbonell, Help Desk Technician


Legal Hotline

Betsy Urbance, Legal Hotline Attorney (bio)


Professional Development

Kristen Butcher, CMP, Director of Professional Development (bio)

Carrie Elliott, Education Manager

Becky Clayton, Continuing Education Process Coordinator

Stacy Mahinda, Assistant Education Program Manager

Lyndee Fein, Meeting and Exhibit Manager

Dana Gurnsey, Administrative Assistant


Operations

Len Taylor, Director of Operations

Bethany Barnes, IAR Registrar

Chris Barnes, Accounting/Operations Associate

Dalton Cordier, Student Intern 

Chelsea Domescik, Operations Assistant

Randy Domescik, Business Manager

Debbie Harper, Membership Records Coordinator

Cathy Madaus, Accounting Manager

Roger Oxby, Assistant Membership Coordinator

Scott Sacco, Senior Accountant


Foundations

Laurie Clayton, Foundation Manager of the Illinois Real Estate Educational Foundation (REEF) - www.ilreef.org

Local Government Affairs Directors "GADs"

 

home › governmental affairs

Quickly find your political district, learn about local advocacy issues and get involved in calls to action.Login with your nine-digit NRDS number. | Lookup your NRDS ID

The REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC)is active in many local communities leading up to election day. You might hear about RPAC supporting a campaign or receive a postcard in the mail for candidates supported by our REALTOR® PAC. Four things you need to know about RPAC campaign support.

 Download the GAD cards (pdf) and read about some battles won.

To order your GAD battle cards emailABick@iar.org.

 RVOICE
Regional reports and updates from IAR's Local Government Affairs Directors (GADS)

RPAC Forms

INTERACTIVE MAP: Local Boards/ Associations

Inspection Requirements

Real Estate Transfer Taxes

Local Issues, Local Victories

Thanks to the efforts of local Government Affairs Directors and theRVOICE Program IAR has been able to:

SAVE you and your clients money

STOP red tape and fees on real esate transations

PROTECT private property rights

See what battles have taken place in Illinois.

Government Affairs Directors (GAD) Contacts

The following are IAR governmental affairs employees who provide governmental affairs services to local associations through a partnership between IAR and the local association.

Kyle Anderson - Egyptian Board of REALTORS®, Greater Gateway Association of REALTORS® and REALTOR® Association of Southwestern Illinois

 

Brian Bernardoni - Chicago Association of REALTORS®

 

Conor Brown - Belvidere Board of REALTORS®, Heartland REALTOR® Organization, Rockford Area Association of REALTORS® and REALTOR®Association of Northwestern Illinois

Kristie Engerman - Bloomington-Normal Association of REALTORS®, Lamoine Valley Board of REALTORS®, Livingston County Board of REALTORS®, Mid Valley Association of REALTORS®, Peoria Area Association of REALTORS®, Quad City Area REALTOR® Association, Quincy Association of REALTORS®, Pekin Area Board of REALTORS®and West Central Illinois Association of REALTORS®

Howard Handler (bio) - North Shore/Barrington Association of REALTORS® and Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS® (Lake County)

 

Tom Joseph - Kankakee-Iroquois Ford Association of REALTORS®, Three Rivers Association of REALTORS® and Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS® (South Suburban Cook County)

 

Kristen Jungles - HomeTown Association of REALTORS®, Illini Valley Association of REALTORS®, REALTOR® Association of the Fox Valley, Sauk Valley Association of REALTORS®and Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS®(DuPage County)

Neil Malone - Capital Area Association of REALTORS®, Central Illinois Board of REALTORS®, Champaign County Association of REALTORS®, Danville Area Board of REALTORS®, Decatur Association of REALTORS®, Jacksonville Association of REALTORS® and Logan County Board of REALTORS®

Jeff Merrinette  - Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS® (DuPage County, Northwest Suburban Cook County)

 Local Boards/Associations

INTERACTIVE MAP: Local Boards/Associations


Belvidere Board 

MLS VENDOR: MRED

President
Dawn Butcher
American Dwellings
10602 Franklin Street, #1
Roscoe  61073  
815/544-8149

 Association Executive

Cathy Cornelius

Belvidere Board of REALTORS®

215 North State Street

Belvidere  61008

815/544-2719  

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Bloomington-Normal Association

www.bnrealtors.com | MLS Vendor: Paragon/LPS

President

Chuck Montgomerie

Coldwell Banker/Heart of America

802 South Eldorado Road, Suite 1

Bloomington   61704

309/662-9333    

 

Association Executive

John Collins

Bloomington-Normal Association of REALTORS®

407 Detroit Avenue

Bloomington, IL  61704

309/664-5092  

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Capital Area Association 

www.SeeHouses.com | MLS VENDOR: Corelogic Marketlinx

President

Steve Myers
Myers Commercial Real Estate
1 West Old State Capitol Plaza
Springfield  62701
217/747-0019

 

Association Executive

Daniel Sale

Capital Area Association of REALTORS®

3149 Robbins Road

Springfield  62704

217/698-7000

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Central Illinois Board

www.mycibr.com | MLS VENDOR: Innovia

President

Rick Hunt
Coldwell Banker Classic Real Estate
1515 University Drive, Suite 14
Charleston   61920
217/348-0191

 

Association Executive

Norm Willoughby

Central Illinois Board of REALTORS®

719 West Lincoln Avenue

Charleston  61920

217/348-7070

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Champaign County Association

www.ccaor.info | MLS VENDOR: Corelogic Innovia

President

Phil Trautman

Champaign County Realty

2108 West John

Champaign   61821

217/351-8200  

 

Association Executive

Linda Green

Champaign County Association of REALTORS®

305 Burwash

Savoy  61874

217/356-1389

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Chicago Association

www.chicagorealtor.com | MLS VENDOR:  MRED

President

Matt Farrell

Urban Real Estate

400 East Randolph, Suite 500

Chicago    60601

312/528-9200  

 

Association Executive

Ginger Downs

Chicago Association of REALTORS®

200 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 400

Chicago  60604

312/214-5516 

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Danville Area Board

www.danvilleilrealestate.net | MLS VENDOR: Navica Systems Engineering

President
Shannon Farnsworth

Re/Max 2000 - Danner 2000 Inc.

917 North Walnut

Danville   61832

217/431-7000 

 

Association Executive

Debbie Borgwald

Danville Area Board of REALTORS®

15 Ridgeview

Danville  61832

217/443-2170

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Decatur Association

www.decaturrealtors.com | MLS VENDOR: Corelogic Innovia

President

Terri Booker
Brinkoetter & Associates
1610 E. Pershing Road
Decatur 62526
217/ 875-0555

 

Association Executive

Norm Willoughby

371 W. North St.

Decatur, IL  62522

(217) 428-4321

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Egyptian Board

www.egyptianboard.com | MLS VENDOR: ProMatch

President

Jan Mandis
Realty Central, Inc.
1825 West Main Street
Carbondale  62901
618/457-4663

 

Association Executive

Charay Brewer

Egyptian Board of REALTORS®

1306 North Atchison, Suite A

Marion  62959

618/364-0046

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Greater Gateway Association 

www.gatewayrealtors.com | MLS VENDOR:  SIRMLS

Chairman of the Board

Chris Seniker
Coldwell Banker Brown
2205 South State Route 157
Edwardsville  62025
618/656-2278

 

Association Executive

Albert Suguitan

Greater Gateway Association of REALTORS®

10 Ginger Creek Parkway

Glen Carbon  62034

618/692-8300 

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Heartland REALTOR® Organization

www.HeartlandRO.com | MLS VENDOR: MRED

President

Scott Beilfuss

OK and Associates, Realty Plus

10325 North Main Street

Richmond   60071

815/315-0203  

 

Association Executive

Jim Haisler

Heartland REALTOR® Organization

405 East Congress Parkway, Suite A

Crystal Lake  60014

815/459-0600 

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Hometown Association 

www.nirealtor.com | MLS VENDOR: MRED

President
Laura Boyer

Coldwell Banker Honig-Bell

1957 DeKalb Avenue

Sycamore   60178

815/756-2557 

 

Association Executive

Heather Weidrich

Hometown Association of REALTORS®

1430 DeKalb Avenue

Sycamore  60178

815/899-3301

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Illini Valley Association

www.illinoisvalleyhomes.com | MLS VENDOR: MRED

President
Crystal Lilley

Landmark Realty of Illinois

1221 North Main Street

Princeton  61356

815/875-1221  

 

Association Executive

Marcia Ellis

Illini Valley Association of REALTORS®

1125 Peoria Street

Peru  61354

815/224-1868 

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Jacksonville Area Association

jacksonvilleilrealtors.com | MLS VENDOR: Corelogic Marketlinx

President

Luke Worrell

Worrell-Leka & Associates

2240 West Morton Avenue

Jacksonville  62650

217/245-1618 

 

Association Executive

Shelle Allen

Jacksonville Area Association of REALTORS®

211 West State, Suite 201

Jacksonville  62650

217/243-2611 

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Kankakee-Iroquois-Ford Association

www.kifarealtors.com | MLS VENDOR: MRED

President

Dondi Maricle

Speckman Realty Real Living

612 West Armour Road

Bourbonnais  60914

815/937-4370  

 

Association Executive

Connie Legris

Kankakee-Iroquois-Ford Association of REALTORS®

256 South Washington

Kankakee  60901

815/937-5551 

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Lamoine Valley Board 

MLS VENDOR:LPS

President

Jan Smith
Key, REALTORS
402 West Jackson
Macomb  61455
309/837-6464

 

Association Executive

Nan Wollbrink

Lamoine Valley Board of REALTORS®

1336 East Pierce

Macomb  61455

309/837-2546 

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Livingston County Board

www.livingstonrealtors.com | MLS VENDOR: ProMatch

President

Donna Sartoris

Keeley Real Estate

706 East Oak Street

Fairbury  61739

815/692-4388  

 

Association Executive

Shelly Durham

Livingston County Board of REALTORS®

502 West Howard, Unit #3

Pontiac  61764

815/842-4123 

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Logan County Board

MLS VENDOR: LPS

President

Dana Hudson

Hometown Realty

#9 Elizabeth Court

Elkhart   62634

217/947-2971  

 

Association Executive

Bob Kidd

Logan County Board of REALTORS®

1411 North Kickapoo Street

Lincoln  62656

217/732-8172 

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS®

www.succeedwithmore.com | MLS VENDOR: MRED

President

Michael Parent

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

623 South Naperville Road

Wheaton  60187

630/752-2900  

 

Association Executive

Pam Krieter

Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS®

6655 Main Street

Downers Grove  60516

630/324-8400 

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Mid Valley Association 

www.midvalleymls.com | MLS: Realtor.com

President

Melodee Yaklich

Kewanee Real Estate

701 Morton Avenue

Kewanee  61443

309/854-3396 

 

Association Executive

Bunne Baum

Mid Valley Association of REALTORS®

305 North Main Street

Kewanee  61443

309/852-5002 

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Northern Illinois Commercial Association 

www.nicar.com | MLS: MRED

President

Bill Caton

Caton Commercial Real Estate

16106 South Route 59, Suite 100

Plainfield   60586

815/436-5700  

 

Association Executive

Terry Stevenson

Northern Illinois Commercial Association of REALTORS®

214 North Hale Street

Wheaton  60187

630/510-4566

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


North Shore-Barrington Association

www.nsbar.org | MLS VENDOR: MRED

Chairman of the Board

James Votanek

Baird & Warner

754 West Northwest Highway

Barrington   60010

847/381-1855  

 

Association Executive

Steve Volkodav

North Shore-Barrington Association of REALTORS®

450 Skokie Blvd.

Northbrook  60062

847/480-7177 

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Oak Park Area Association 

www.oakparkrealtors.org | MLS VENDOR: MRED

President

Andy Gagliardo
Gagliardo Realty Associates
7375 West North Avenue
River Forest   60305
708/771-8040

 

Association Executive

Michelle Kelly

Oak Park Area Association of REALTORS®

212 South Marion Street

Oak Park  60302

708/386-0150

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Pekin Area Board 

www.pekinrealtors.net | MLS VENDOR:          

President

Karl Kaebel

Karl E. Kaebel, REALTOR®

511 Elizabeth Street    

Pekin   61554

309/347-6677 

 

Association Executive

Brad Barnard

511 Elizabeth

Pekin  61554

309/346-4020

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Peoria Area Association 

www.paarealtors.com | MLS VENDOR: LPS

President

Tonya Burris

Traders Realty

821 West Camp Street

East Peoria  61611

309/698-5600 

 

Association Executive

Dallas Hancock

Peoria Area Association of REALTORS®

7303 North Willowlake Court

Peoria  61614

309/688-8591

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Quad City Area REALTOR® Association

www.qcarealtors.com | MLS VENDOR: LPS

President

Dennis Stolk

Ruhl & Ruhl REALTORS®

4545 Welcome Way

Davenport,  IA  52806

563/441-5100  

 

Association Executive

Sharon Carlson

Quad City Area REALTOR® Association

1900 State Street

Bettendorf,  IA  52722

563/355-6655 

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Quincy Association

www.quincyrealtors.com | MLS VENDOR: LPS

President

Glenn Swick
Swick Realty
812 Hampshire, Suite D
Quincy   62301
217/653-9910

 

Association Executive

Jay Walton

Quincy Association of REALTORS®

1535 Broadway

Quincy  62301

217/228-0652 

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


REALTOR® Association of the Fox Valley

www.rafv.com | MLS VENDOR: MRED

President

Dave Richert

Re/Max Town & Country

1128 Prairie Street

Aurora   60506

630/844-2100  

 

Association Executive

Ann Hammerstad

REALTOR® Association of the Fox Valley

433 Williamsburg Avenue

Geneva  60134

630/232-2360 

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


REALTOR® Association of Northwestern Illinois 

www.ranwil.com | MLS VENDOR: LPS

President

Patricia Kloepping

Re/Max Town Lake & Country

21-78 Lake Carroll Blvd,  #1

Lake Carroll   61046

815/493-7653 

 

Association Executive

Pam Borowski

REALTOR® Association of Northwestern Illinois

24 West Stephenson Street

Freeport  61032

815/235-3068 

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


REALTOR® Association of Southwestern Illinois

www.myRASI.com | MLS VENDOR: SIRMLS

President

Tricia Tialdo
Tialdo Realty
511 Sherman Street
Belleville  62221
618/235-9000

 

Association Executive

Deb Frazier

REALTOR® Association of Southwestern Illinois

3515 North Belt West

Belleville  62226

618/277-1980

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Rockford Area Association

www.rockfordarearealtors.org | MLS VENDOR: Paragon (residential) ICEx (commercial)

President

Jim Barbagallo

Gambino REALTORS®

3815 North Mulford Road      

Rockford   61114

815/282-2222  

 

Association Executive

Steve Bois

Rockford Area Association of REALTORS®

6776 East State Street

Rockford   61108

815/395-6776 

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Sauk Valley Association

www.SVARhomes.com | MLS VENDOR: LPS

President

Chris King

United Country Sauk Valley Realty

104 1/2 East 3rd Street

Rock Falls  61071

815/626-1771    

 

Association Executive

Heather Weidrich

Hometown Association of REALTORS®

2605 Woodlawn Road, Suite 4

Sterling   61081

815/626-8148 

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


Three Rivers Association

www.trarealtors.net | MLS VENDOR: MRED

President

Karen Robertson
Coldwell Banker Honig-Bell
5700 West Canton Farm Road
Plainfield    60586
815/609-4360

 

Association Executive

David McClintock

Three Rivers Association of REALTORS®

303 Springfield Avenue

Joliet   60435

815/744-4520

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only


West Central Illinois Association

MLS VENDOR: FBS Data Systems

President

Jacquelyne Turner
Mel Foster Company
816 North Henderson Street
Galesburg   61401
309/343-6168   

 

Association Executive

Janet Baker

975 North Henderson Street

Galesburg   61401

309/342-6225

Additional board/association contacts, e-mails for IAR members only

 

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 08/06/2014 06:50 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/phil-chiles/springfield-illinois-62701/phil-chiles-illinois-association-of-realtors-iar-monopoly-defrauding-the-public-and-inde-1167971. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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#1 Author of original report

Illinois Association of Realtors Ripoff continues

AUTHOR: Latresha C - ()

POSTED: Thursday, August 07, 2014

 

An antitrust lawsuit filed against Illinois real estate companies, Realtor associations and individuals has been revamped in an effort to meet new standards that relate to a U.S. Supreme Court decision.

The lawsuit, originally filed by Illinois broker Gregory Hackman in November 2006 and amended in October 2007, charges that other industry participants retaliated against Hackman when he offered a reduced commission rate for real estate services.

The amended complaint alleges that the parties named in the lawsuit “entered into an agreement where they would … retaliate against Hackman in every facet of his business,” specifically refusing to show Hackman’s listings to their own clients and refusing to present offers on their listings from potential buyers represented by Hackman.

The complaint alleges occurrences in which parties named in the lawsuit “stole” a client from Hackman by convincing a client to break a contract, and in another instance made “derogatory” statements to a home seller about Hackman, among other incidents.

U.S. District Court Judge Elaine E. Bucklo dismissed portions of the original lawsuit last year but allowed Hackman’s legal team to amend the original complaint and to provide more detailed evidence supporting allegations that an agreement was made among competitors. The judge cited Bell Atlantic Corp. vs. Twombly, a U.S. Supreme Court case decided in May 2007, in requesting more detailed evidence.

Hackman’s amended complaint names Dickerson-Nieman Realtors, Whitehead Realtors, Coldwell Banker Premier, Prudential Crosby Realtors, Tom McKiski realtors, 10 individuals, the Rockford Area Association of Realtors and Illinois Association of Realtors.

Some of the respondents to the lawsuit filed motions to request that the judge dismiss the amended complaint while others issued responses to the complaint. Century 21 Country North and Diane Parvin, a Century 21 Realtor, have been dismissed from the case for settlement, said David Sigale, a lawyer for Hackman.

Sigale said, “There is a lot of confusion over what exactly this new … standard is” in antitrust law as it relates to the Bell Atlantic Corp. vs. Twombly case, with some courts interpreting that case as a major change to U.S. Sherman Act antitrust law and others finding more minor changes. “We amended the complaint to add more detail,” he said. “I think had this Bell Atlantic case not come down the pike right during the middle of all of this, I think the first complaint probably would have been fine.”

While ethics proceedings against Hackman were pending with the Rockford Area Association of Realtors, a local real estate trade group of which Hackman is a member, Sigale said those proceedings are on hold pending the outcome of the lawsuit.

Tyler A. Moore, a lawyer who represents Tom McKiski Realtors and Realtor Larry Petry in the lawsuit, said he believes the allegations in the lawsuit represent “a baseless claim,” and he filed a response to the lawsuit on behalf of his clients. Moore also said that the allegations in the complain “are nearly identical regardless of the defendant,” and he expects a ruling from the judge on all of the motions to dismiss the complaint within the next 30-45 days.

David M. Schultz, a lawyer whose firm is representing the Rockford Area Association of Realtors and Illinois Association of Realtors, said in a statement that he has recommended, on behalf of his clients that the judge dismiss the amended complaint. “I do not think the amended complaint is significantly different, and I do not believe it is sufficiently different to fix the problems in the original complaint … the court granted our motion to dismiss the original complaint.”

The motion by the Realtor groups states that the judge did not grant any leave for Hackman to file an amended complaint against the two Realtors groups after it dismissed those groups from the original complaint. “This case is primarily a dispute between Hackman and other real estate brokerage firms and their individual Realtor agents,” the motion states, and adds that the court lacks jurisdiction over the subject matter of Hackman’s complaint.

Also, the motion states that the complaint does not show that the Rockford association and its CEO Terrie Hall “engaged in any anticompetitive conduct violative of the Sherman Act,” and states that “Hackman improperly seeks to have this court intervene in an ethics complaint” hearing that has not been held.

Hackman’s amended complaint charges that he lost real estate commissions and other income as a result of “intentional interference” with his client and agent relationships, and claims damages over $500,000.

 

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