IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS

SHERMAN DIVISION

QJ TEAM, LLC, AND FIVE POINTS 

HOLDINGS, LLC, individually, and on behalf 

of all others similarly situated, 

 Plaintiffs, 

v. 

TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, 

INC., et al.,

 Defendants.

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Case No. 4:23-cv-01013-SDJ

(Consolidated with 4:23-cv-01104-SDJ)

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DEFENDANT J.P. PICCININI REAL ESTATE SERVICES, LLC’S

MOTION TO DISMISS THE CONSOLIDATED AMENDED COMPLAINT PURSUANT

TO FED. R. CIV. P. RULE 12(b)(6)

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Defendant J.P. Piccinini Real Estate Services, LLC a/k/a Cairn Real Estate (“JPAR”) 

moves the Court for an order dismissing the Consolidated Amended Complaint in this matter with 

prejudice. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). The grounds for this motion are that:

1. The Consolidated Amended Complaint fails to allege facts sufficient that, if proved, 

show JPAR joined the conspiracy or furthered an anti-competitive conspiracy.

2. The Consolidated Amended Complaint relies solely upon membership in a trade 

association and compliance with its rules as a basis for JPAR’s antitrust liability and thus fails to 

state a claim.

3. The Consolidated Amended Complaint does not allege facts sufficient that, if 

proved, establish a horizontal conspiracy among real estate brokers.

Case 4:23-cv-01013-SDJ Document 232 Filed 10/11/24 Page 1 of 4 PageID #: 943
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4. The sole alleged illegal action resulting from the alleged conspiracy (the NAR MLS 

Compensation Rule) does not require a specific price or percentage a listing broker must offer to 

a buyer’s broker in a concrete or ascertainable term and, therefore, cannot support a claim of price 

fixing.

5. The allegations of the Consolidated Amended Complaint do not support a per se 

rule violation nor a rule-of-reason antitrust violation.

This motion is supported by the allegations of the Consolidated Amended Complaint, the 

documents referenced in the Consolidated Amended Complaint, the applicable law, and the 

memorandum of authorities in support of this motion simultaneously filed and served.

Respectfully submitted,

By: /s/Marcus Angelo Manos

Marcus Angelo Manos (pro hac vice) Fed Id. 4828

mmanos@maynardnexsen.com

MAYNARD NEXSEN PC

1230 Main Street, Suite 700

Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Telephone: (803) 771-8900

Facsimile: (803) 253-8277

Carlos R. Soltero

Texas State Bar No. 0791702

csoltero@maynarnexsen.com

Gregory P. Sapire

Texas State Bar No. 00791601

gsapire@maynardnexsen.com

MAYNARD NEXSEN PC

2500 Bee Caves Road

Building 1, Suite 150

Austin, TX 78746

(512) 969-640 (telephone)

(512) 359-5774 (facsimile)

Case 4:23-cv-01013-SDJ Document 232 Filed 10/11/24 Page 2 of 4 PageID #: 944
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Carl S. Burkhalter (pro hac vice)

cburkhalter@maynardnexsen.com

MAYNARD NEXSEN PC

1901 Sixth Avenue N, Suite 1700

Birmingham, AL 35203

Telephone: 205.254.1081

Facsimile: 205.254.1991

Alexandra H. Austin (pro hac vice)

aaustin@maynardnexsen.com

MAYNARD NEXSEN PC

205 King Street, Suite 400

Charleston, South Carolina 29401

Telephone: (843) 579-7827

Facsimile: (843) 414-8227

ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANT J.P. PICCININI

REAL ESTATE SERVICES, LLC (A/K/A JPAR REAL ESTATE)

October 11, 2024

Case 4:23-cv-01013-SDJ Document 232 Filed 10/11/24 Page 3 of 4 PageID #: 945
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing has been served upon all counsel of 

record below via the Court’s electronic filing system on October 11, 2024.

/s/ Marcus Anglo Manos

Marcus Angelo Manos (pro hac vice) Fed Id. 4828

Case 4:23-cv-01013-SDJ Document 232 Filed 10/11/24 Page 4 of 4 PageID #: 946