R
yan Serhant's brokerage has secured a significant victory in its East Coast expansion. A judge dismissed a $10 million lawsuit filed by Keller Williams Black Label and its parent company, the Condo Shop, which accused Serhant of poaching clients, intellectual property, and personnel from the franchise. The plaintiffs claimed that Serhant's firm was "looting" their business, but Judge Paula Patrick ruled that they failed to provide evidence of damages or a causal link between Serhant's actions and any harm.

    The lawsuit was filed in April 2023, shortly after former managing partner Andrea Desy Edrei left Black Label to join Serhant's team in Pennsylvania. The judge also dismissed claims against Edrei, marketing director Michael Skokowski, and marketing coordinator Kailey Bondiskey, who were named as defendants alongside Serhant.

    Black Label had initially sought a preliminary injunction to block Serhant's firm from operating in the state, but the judge rejected this bid. The company plans to appeal the decision. Serhant's expansion into new markets has been met with lawsuits in several states, including South Florida and Connecticut, which make similar claims of poaching agents and stealing trade secrets.

    Despite these challenges, Serhant's firm continues to grow, with 700 agents nationwide and a presence in eight East Coast states. The company recently added teams in the Hudson Valley and New Jersey, further expanding its footprint along the seaboard.