| Whatcom County Multiple Listing Association Brings Federal Trade Charges Media Release 11/1/04 The Bellingham-Whatcom County Multiple Listing Service has charged the Northwest Multiple Listing Service, based in King County Washington, with attempting to create a listing monopoly throughout the State of Washington. In allegations filed with the Federal Trade Commission, the Bellingham-Whatcom County Multiple Listing Service has alleged that the larger Northwest Multiple Listing Service has deliberately denied Whatcom County real estate agents and their clients access to real estate listings and sales throughout the State of Washington. The Northwest Multiple Listing Service earlier signed a Consent Order with the Federal Trade Commission agreeing to cease and desist from: “Adopting or maintaining any policy, or taking any other action that has the purpose, tendency, or effect of restricting or interfering with the solicitation of a listing agreement for any property.” The Bellingham based listing service states that it believes that decree is being violated. A copy of the Consent Order is attached. Bill Van Zonneveld, the long-time manager of the Bellingham based Multiple Listing stated: “Until July 2004 home buyers could walk into almost any real estate office in Western Washington and obtain information on property listed for sale by a variety of multiple listing services. At that time the larger and more powerful Northwest Multiple Listing Service unilaterally terminated a longstanding regional listing reciprocity agreement, thereby denying real estate agents and their clients in much of Western Washington equal access to real estate listings for sale.” Attorney Tom Resick, representing the Whatcom County based group, stated: “Northwest Multiple Listing Service has taken over ten local multiple listing services during the past number of years. Our client is charging Northwest with a deliberate attempt to control the listing market throughout the entire state.” Attorney Phil Buri, formerly with the antitrust division of the US Justice Department, explained that “Northwest’s violation of an FTC Consent Order can have severe consequences. The order has the force of law and a Federal Court may impose penalties of up to $11,000.00 per day. Our intent is that the FTC reopen its earlier investigation and take immediate action to curb Northwest’s anticompetitive activity.” A copy of the filing with the Federal Trade Commission is attached. Contact: T. Resick (360) 671-9212
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