Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates LLC Sues Briggs Freeman Real Estate Brokerage DBA Briggs Freeman Sotheby's Over Fort Worth Dirt

As I know only too well, just because you see it in a petition doesn’t make it Trew true, but it seems Fort Worth is really worth fighting for. Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC filed a lawsuit August 1 against one of it’s own franchisees right here in Dallas. What in the world are they suing over? Selling dirt in Fort Worth and Meridian. Seems that the Williams Trew brokerage in Fort Worth inked a deal with  Sotheby’s last May, 2012, to be the official Sotheby’s franchise office over there yonder. Now that firm is mad as hornets that Briggs is still working in Cow Town.

Briggs, the suit alleges, has an office in Fort Worth at 4904 Camp Bowie Boulevard, though they have taken the Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s sign down. They also recently set up an office in Meridian, southwest of Fort Worth near Hico, this according to the petition.

Apparently the two brokers have been sparring over Fort Worth turf but could not reach a settlement.  So the lawyers got called in.

I contacted Robbie Briggs for more info, which is forthcoming; Marshall Boyd at Williams Trew said he could not comment on the case.

So probably the best thing is just let you read it all for yourself. I had the entire lawsuit posted earlier today, but took it down out of respect. It’s public record anyhow, and the lawsuit is in the United States District Court Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division.

Up next: Briggs-Freeman’s response.