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Massachusetts judge has granted preliminary approval to a settlement between MLS PIN and home sellers in the state, nearly two years after a proposed agreement drew scrutiny from the Justice Department. The Nosalek case, which began five years ago, has undergone several revisions due to objections and concerns raised by the DOJ.

    The initial settlement was reached in June 2023, but it faced hurdles, including Judge Patti Saris's questions about its monetary terms and a subsequent amended agreement. The DOJ became involved early on, expressing concerns that led to delays and back-and-forth negotiations between the defendants and the federal agency.

    To address these issues, MLS PIN made concessions in a fourth amended settlement filed on May 29. The company agreed to remove compensation offers from its platform and limit eligible class members to residential real estate sellers. These changes satisfied both Judge Saris and the DOJ, which had previously expressed concerns.

    The monetary award remains at $3.95 million, with the plaintiffs noting that MLS PIN would have paid this amount if it had opted into a National Association of Realtors agreement. The DOJ has withdrawn its objection to the settlement but retains the right to bring a separate enforcement action in the future.

    A hearing is scheduled for September 29 to grant final approval for the settlement.