ALLENTOWN, PA — In a bold move against the establishment, Maurice Muhammad, a real estate broker from Allentown, has filed a $5.6 million lawsuit against the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors (PAR), and the Greater Lehigh Valley Multiple Listing Service (GLVMLS). This suit, lodged on October 16, accuses these organizations of enforcing a “forced membership” requirement that he claims infringes on civil rights and violates federal antitrust laws.
Representing himself in the U.S. District Court for Eastern Pennsylvania, Muhammad asserts that the mandatory membership stipulations create a coercive environment, particularly impacting minority professionals who often struggle with the financial burdens associated with these fees. His complaint states, “The forced membership requirement imposed by NAR, PAR, and GLVMLS creates a coercive environment that disproportionately affects minority professionals who lack the financial resources to afford mandatory membership fees.”