Williams Trew Sotheby’s International Realty of Fort Worth filed suit against Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty of Dallas and Robbie Briggs on Sept. 13 saying that Briggs has interfered with Williams Trew’s contract with Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC.
The lawsuit, filed in 348th Tarrant County State District Court, seeks actual and punitive damages and seeks a permanent injunction barring certain business activity.
“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.”
Both firms are a franchisee of Sotheby’s International Realty. Sotheby’s signed a franchise agreement with Briggs Freeman in 2010 and with Williams Trew in 2012. According to the lawsuit, there is an agreement that limits each firm’s market area with Briggs Freeman primarily limited to Dallas County and certain parts of eastern Tarrant County and Williams Trew to Tarrant County and west. Officials with Williams Trew or Briggs Freeman could not be reached at press time. – Robert Francis rfrancis@bizpress.net