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Practice Of Real EstateLicense LawMEDIUM

Salesperson Tom in Great Falls, Montana negotiates a listing agreement on behalf of his supervising broker. The seller agrees to pay a 5% commission. After the property sells, the seller refuses to pay, claiming the commission rate was too high. Tom wants to sue the seller directly in his own name to recover the commission. Under Montana law, which of the following is most accurate?

Correct Answer

D) Tom cannot sue the seller directly; only the employing broker has the legal right to sue for commission under a listing agreement.

Under Montana law, a salesperson is licensed to perform real estate activities only under the supervision and authority of their employing broker. The listing agreement is a contract between the seller and the broker (not the salesperson), so the legal right to enforce the commission agreement and sue for payment belongs to the employing broker. The salesperson has no independent contractual relationship with the seller that would support a direct lawsuit for commission.

Answer Options
A
Tom may sue the seller directly because he negotiated the listing agreement and performed the services.
B
Tom cannot sue the seller directly, but he may file a complaint with the MBRR to compel payment of the commission.
C
Tom may sue the seller directly only if he holds a broker license, not a salesperson license.
D
Tom cannot sue the seller directly; only the employing broker has the legal right to sue for commission under a listing agreement.

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

commission_enforcementsalesperson_authoritybroker_supervisionlisting_agreementmca_37_51

Related Concepts

Florida brokers are required to maintain transaction records and escrow records for a minimum of five years.

A tie-in arrangement is an illegal antitrust practice in which a seller conditions the purchase of one product or service on the buyer's agreement to purchase a separate product or service.

A trust account, also called an escrow account, is a separate bank account maintained by a broker to hold funds belonging to others, such as earnest money deposits, security deposits, or other client funds.

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