That Briggs Freeman Lawsuit With Williams Trew Settled: CowTown is Now THEIR Town

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Fort Worth

If there is another report of an earthquake today in Dallas, have no fear: it will be the cheers coming from Lovers Lane just west of the Tollway, at the main office of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty.

At twelve noon today, Robbie Briggs announced his firm has ended the lawsuit with Fort-Worth based Williams Trew Real Estate Services of Fort Worth. Which means Briggs may now open an office or two in Fort Worth — and they will. Williams Trew will no longer belong to the Sotheby’s International Realty Network. They will be announcing re-branding today at noon — so stay tuned.

For brokers, the Dallas Fort-Worth connection is very valuable stuff. I would imagine everyone would be interested in this golden opportunity to go west.

The Dallas-Fort Worth real estate market continues to be one of the hottest in the nation, as brokers, particularly luxury brokers, literally fight for the right to sell dirt in a tight market. Since January, more than 1057 homes priced at more than a million dollars have changed ownership in the 60 NTREIS counties. This is dirt worth fighting for!

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Robbie bought the Sotheby’s franchise rights for all of Tarrant County, Parker County, Possum Kingdom Lake, Denton County, and Rockwall. He already owns Dallas County, Collin County and half of Tarrant County to Westlake.
Briggs’ current Tarrant County offices are the Southlake office and a location at the Ballpark where major sports star agent Jamie Adams offices.
“We served over a hundred families in Ft. Worth this year, and have several agents who are very active in Ft. Worth, including Jamie Adams and John Zimmerman, who may break selling $100,000,000 for 2014,” says Robbie.
By the way, John Zimmerman is doing that solo, as a single agent. 
Briggs also has several ranch brokers active in Palo Pinto and lands west, south and north of Ft. Worth.
Last August, 2013, Sotheby’s International Realty filed a lawsuit against one of it’s own franchisees, Briggs Freeman, trying to stop them from opening up offices in Fort Worth and Meridian. Seems that the Williams Trew brokerage in Fort Worth inked a deal with  Sotheby’s in May, 2012, to be the official Sotheby’s franchise office in Cow Town. The two luxury real estate brokers sparred over Fort Worth turf, but could not reach a settlement.

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But then, the court did not grant Sotheby’s their desired injunction: Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater threw out Sotheby’s request for a TRO.

Then Williams Trew filed a suit against Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty of Dallas and Robbie Briggs on September 13, 2013, claiming tortious interference.

Well, all that legal stuff is now finished because all parties have reached a confidential settlement. Robbie Briggs tells me Briggs Freeman-Sotheby’s  will soon have a Fort Worth office on 7th Avenue or Camp Bowie Road, and Linda Carruthers will become the manager of the Briggs Freeman Tarrant County division which will include Southlake and Fort Worth.

They may begin recruiting agents as of noon today.

Robbie Briggs says he is thrilled to be moving forward with the company’s plans for expansion.

“I plan to think very little about the past,” he says, “and just put my “boots” on and head west!!”

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

5 Comments

  1. Natalie on December 16, 2014 at 9:18 am

    *Camp Bowie BLVD.
    *7th Street

    #lifestooshorttoliveindallas

  2. fortworthnative on December 16, 2014 at 9:26 am

    Robbie Briggs (or you, Candy) better brush up on Fort Worth geography (Camp Bowie is a Boulevard, not a road) and I seriously doubt he plans to open an office on the south side near Rosedale, which is where 7th Avenue is located. West 7th Street, however, is located downtown and expands west of downtown into the cultural district. And if y’all think I’m just being picky, just try it around here and see how well you’re received. I personally think Briggs Freeman is in for a rude awakening if they think they can just “put their boots on and head west” and be instantly successful. We proud to not be Dallas.

    • NotFromDallas on December 16, 2014 at 10:55 pm

      Cheers to Fortworthnative! I think you got it right for sure! You can’t pretend to be from somewhere if you’re not actually from there. Fort Worth is not Dallas. Know your market! Live your market! You can’t fake it!

    • Candy Evans on December 17, 2014 at 10:04 am

      This brushing up will be one of my most delightful pleasures! I have loved Fort Worth from the moment I stepped my Yankee toes in the stockyards. My son still recalls those saddle bar seats. My daughter-in-law ordered her wedding cake from Fort Worth. Your downtown is the best! I would move to Fort Worth in a heartbeat. But to tell the truth, you are right and we are seeking a Fort Worth-based blogger! So call me!

  3. Pastfw on December 17, 2014 at 4:07 pm

    I’m certain that Williams Trew, now owned by Ebby Halliday, will still claim the top spot in Fort Worth real estate. Trust me, if anyone can claim Fort Worth, it’s not Briggs Freeman.

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