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llustration by Real Estate News/ShutterstockPlus – Nosalek attorneys receive fees, and former SDAR CEO edges toward settlement in wrongful‑termination case.

    The FTC’s antitrust suit against Zillow and Redfin has been put on hold while Congress works to end the federal shutdown. U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga granted the FTC a stay on the case, citing a lack of funding and the inability of FTC staff to work during the lapse. Once normal operations resume, the parties will reconvene to set new deadlines.

    CoStar has fired back at Zillow’s latest defense in the copyright dispute it filed last summer. In an October 3 letter, CoStar reiterated that its claim targets Zillow’s own actions—specifically the copying and display of CoStar images on “unclaimed” property pages that invite owners to purchase listing ads. The letter also accuses Zillow of using CoStar photos to power key features such as Zestimates and recommendation engines.

    In the Nosalek matter, Judge Patti B. Saris approved the plaintiffs’ motion to award attorneys’ fees of $1,315,350, one‑third of the $3.95 million settlement with MLS PIN. The award reflects the more than $5 million in fees paid for nearly 7,900 hours of work by Izard Kindall & Raabe LLP and Hausfeld LLP, and aligns with comparable class‑action payouts.

    Michael Mercurio, the former CEO of the San Diego Association of Realtors (SDAR), is close to resolving a wrongful‑termination lawsuit he filed in April. Mercurio claims he was fired after accusations of embezzling over $1 million, allegations that are now being countered by former SDAR executives who are suing him and the association. The court has vacated future hearings, and the parties must file a dismissal within 120 days. The SDAR has seen rapid leadership changes since Mercurio’s removal in July 2023, with Cory Shepard and later Tessa Hultz taking the helm.