Legal filings filed last week request numerous communications between Zillow and Redfin employees related to the companies’ rental syndication agreements.
It appears that portal sites Zillow and Redfin will have to submit more documents in an antitrust lawsuit brought by the Federal Trade Commission.
According to a filing filed last Thursday, U.S. Magistrate Judge William B. Porter ordered Zillow and Redfin to provide numerous documents and data at the request of the FTC and the attorneys general of Virginia, Arizona, New York, Connecticut, and Washington.
The complaint alleges that a $100 million agreement between the companies eliminates competition in the rental property space, with Zillow syndicating multifamily rentals on Redfin and acting as the exclusive source, while Redfin sends leads to Zillow.
But Zillow and Redfin argue that the agreement between the companies is pro-consumer because, among other things, it gives potential renters access to more rental properties.
Zillow and Redfin asked a judge to throw out the lawsuit in mid-January. A hearing on their motion to dismiss the case is scheduled for later this month. Meanwhile, the discovery of the case continued. As of late January, Zillow and Redfin said they had submitted more than 500 documents.
In a legal filing dated February 5, 2026, Judge Porter specifically asked the two portals to provide communications between Zillow Group CEO Jeremy Wacksman and Redfin’s (now former CEO) Glenn Kelman related to the rental syndication agreement. The judge also asked for relevant communications between Waxman and the Zillow board.
The filing also sought communications between Zillow co-founders Rich Barton and Lloyd Frink and Redfin representatives, and communications between Zillow general counsel Brad Owens and Redfin’s attorneys. The court also asked for communications between Owens and “other Internet listing services” from which Zillow was not copied.
Other Zillow employees, including Steve Lake, Emily Eustis, Matt Smith and Arnaud Berube, were also asked in the judge’s filing to submit tax returns explaining their roles at Zillow and their involvement in syndication agreements.
Zillow and Redfin did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
This lawsuit is one of several that Zillow is currently working on. Other cases include the Compass Inc. case, which addresses allegations of antitrust violations. A judge recently denied Compass’ request to suspend Zillow’s listing access policy in this case.
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