More Broker Cat-Fighting Over Fort Worth Dirt: Now Williams Trew (Sotheby's) Is Suing Briggs Freeman (Sotheby's)

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briggs freeman logoI told you a few weeks ago that Sotheby’s International sued Briggs Freeman, one of it’s own franchisees, due to the beefs of another one of it’s franchisees, Williams Trew Real Estate Services of Fort Worth. Turns out the judge did not grant Sotheby’s a temporary restraining order last month.

Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater threw out Sotheby’s request for a TRO “Because plaintiff has not shown that it faces a substantial threat of irreparable harm between the time its TRO application was filed and when the court can address its preliminary injunction application, the court denies the application. The denial of the TRO application does not suggest a view on the merits of plaintiff’s pending preliminary injunction application.”

Anyhow, I guess Williams Trew decided to take matters into their own hands: On Friday, the 13th of September, Williams Trew Sotheby’s International Realty of Fort Worth filed suit against Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty of Dallas and Robbie Briggs. The beef is tortious interference — WT says Briggs has interfered with Williams Trew’s contract with Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC.

williams true

The lawsuit, filed in 348th Tarrant County State District Court, seeks actual and punitive damages and a permanent injunction barring certain business activity. Here’s what WT founding partner Martha Williams told the Fort Worth Business Press:

“Competition in the marketplace is fine so long as it is conducted lawfully,” said Martha Williams, a founder of Williams Trew in a news release. “We were forced to file this lawsuit due to Briggs Freeman’s refusal to acknowledge Williams Trew’s contractual rights with Sotheby’s International Realty.”

Here is Robbie Briggs response:

Robbie Briggs Statement Re: Williams Trew SIR v. Briggs Freeman SIR Tortious Interference suit

Candy Evans, founder and publisher of CandysDirt.com, is one of the nation’s leading real estate reporters.

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