After 10 weeks in a U.S. District Court in Akron, Ohio, a sudden mistrial was declared on Wednesday, June 21, 2000 in antitrust suit of RE/MAX International and some of its current and former franchisees against Realty One, Inc. and Smythe, Cramer.

It was a sudden end to the second phase of the trial, after the jury had already accepted the RE/MAX argument that the two other real estate companies agreed to limit the commissions they would share with their competitors at RE/MAX.

RE/MAX immediately filed a motion for a new trial.

"The motion has been accepted and a new trial date of August 7, 2000 has been set in Akron Federal Court," according to Stephen J. Squeri, attorney for RE/MAX International. "The case has also been reassigned to Judge James S. Gwin."

Previous proceedings occurred in the Akron court of U.S. District Judge David D. Dowd, who declared the mistrial last Wednesday.

"We are pleased that we will be able to see this case re-tried," said Squeri. "We believe we will be able to present to this jury, evidence which will show what Realty One and Smythe, Cramer did was unlawful. And, we believe we will obtain an appropriate remedy from the court."

RE/MAX filed its complaint against Realty One and Smythe, Cramer in 1994.

Published: June 28, 2000

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.