Howard Hanna Wins Partial Dismissal in Buyer Lawsuit — RISMedia

Following lengthy oral arguments earlier this month, Judge Wendy Beetlestone of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania today dismissed claims by buyer plaintiffs that Howard Hanna conspired with other brokerages to fix commissions, also affirming the company’s arguments regarding the appropriate antitrust analysis—at least for now.

The ruling represents another win for the independent brokerage, as it appears willing to fight the commission lawsuits after most of its peers have tapped out.

“We are pleased that the Court recognized that the complaint failed to plausibly allege that Howard Hanna entered into an unlawful agreement with its competitors,” a Howard Hanna spokesperson told RISMedia in a statement. “This is the second court to so hold,…