Following seven months of legal proceedings, a class-action lawsuit filed by Ya Mon Expeditions LLC against the California Yacht Brokers Association (CYBA) and other defendants has been dismissed by U.S. District Court Judge K. Michael Moore. The lawsuit, which alleged that yacht brokerage firms conspired to inflate commission fees by fixing the standard rate at 10%, was dismissed without prejudice on January 21, 2025, after the court found insufficient evidence to support claims of antitrust violations.
Ya Mon Expeditions had argued that the yacht brokerage industry operated as an anti-competitive system, enforcing a fixed commission rate and preventing sellers from negotiating lower fees. The lawsuit also claimed that these practices effectively barred “For Sale by Owner” listings from major platforms, further limiting competition in the used yacht market. The primary defendant, CYBA — likely referring to the International Yacht Brokers Association — was accused of violating antitrust laws by allegedly coordinating commission structures among brokers.
In his ruling, Judge Moore determined that the plaintiffs had failed to provide compelling evidence of a coordinated conspiracy among yacht brokers. He stated, “In considering the allegations set forth in the Complaint, the Court cannot conclude that Defendants’ actions amounted to anything more than their unilateral and reasonable decision to conduct business with licensed professionals, rather than individuals who may be unexperienced or unfamiliar with the process of selling a used yacht.”
Despite this favorable outcome for CYBA, legal defense counsel Christopher Brainard acknowledged that the plaintiffs have a 21-day window to file an amended complaint but expressed confidence in the strength of their case. “We feel very confident at this point,” Brainard stated.
CYBA President Mark P. White commended the brokerage community for standing firm during the legal battle and expressed gratitude for the financial support received from industry members. “I am proud of the California Yacht Brokers Association and our members for keeping their faith and resolve during these past several months as we took the initiative to defend ourselves and the brokerage community of California against these unjustified claims,” White said. “Under the budgetary restraints that the association operates daily, we are extremely grateful for the donations gathered for the CYBA Legacy Fund and the contributors to the GoFundMe page that assisted in this defense.”
White further emphasized CYBA’s commitment to maintaining high ethical standards in the yacht brokerage industry, stating, “Our efforts to set standards for the industry, which go beyond what is required by law, will continue to be in focus as we strive to protect the consumer. This lawsuit proved to be a weight on our shoulders, but in the end, common respect and adherence to our code of ethics prevailed.”
With the dismissal of the lawsuit, CYBA and its members can move forward without the looming uncertainty of legal challenges. However, the possibility of an amended complaint in the coming weeks means that the case may not be entirely over. For now, the ruling reinforces the court’s stance that the brokerage industry’s standard commission structures do not inherently violate antitrust laws.
