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Dispute Resolution Services Statistics

Virtual Arbitration Hearing Statistics Through November

Contested Motions for Virtual HearingsGrantedDeniedOpenTotal
Customer301 (63%)180 (37%)5486
Intra-Industry167 (76%)53 (24%)1221
Total Customer and Intra-Industry468 (67%)233 (33%)6707

Since the postponement of in-person hearings, and as of November 30, 2,596 arbitration cases have conducted one or more hearings via Zoom (846 customer cases and 1,750 industry cases).

There are 833 total joint motions for virtual hearings. (364 in customer cases and 469 in industry cases).

Arbitration Statistics Through November

YearNew Case FilingsCases ClosedOpen CasesTurnaround Time (in months)
2024Total: 2,312
Customer: 1,493 (65%)
Intra-Industry: 819 (35%)
2,8552,871Overall*: 12.4
Regular Hearing Decisions: 16.2
Special Proceeding Decisions: 7.3
Paper Decisions: 5.3
2023Total: 3,149
Customer: 1,720 (55%)
Intra-Industry: 1,429 (45%)
2,7523,457Overall*: 14.8
Regular Hearing Decisions: 17.8
Special Proceeding Decisions: 7.8
Paper Decisions: 5.0
2022Total: 2,423
Customer: 1,539 (64%)
Intra-Industry: 884 (36%)
3,2573,084Overall*: 18.2
Regular Hearing Decisions: 19.8
Special Proceeding Decisions: 7.6
Paper Decisions: 5.2
2024 vs 2023Total: -27%
Customer: -13%
Intra-Industry: -43%
+4%-17% Overall*: -16%
Regular Hearing Decisions: -9%
Special Proceeding Decisions: -6%
Paper Decisions: +6%

* Includes cases closed for any reason.

Historical Statistics for Cases Filed and Closed 

YearCases FiledCases Closed
20242,3122,855
20233,3823,027
20222,6713,564
20212,8934,029
20203,9023,564
20193,7574,011
YearCases FiledCases Closed
20184,3253,756
20173,4563,735
20163,6813,635
20153,4353,489
20143,8223,838
20133,7144,498
YearCases FiledCases Closed
20124,2994,877
20114,7296,099
20105,6806,241
20097,1374,571
20084,9823,757
20073,2385,345

Top 15 Controversy Types in Customer Arbitrations

A single arbitration case may include multiple controversy types.

ControversyTime Period2024 Cases served2023202220212020
Breach of Fiduciary DutyThrough November1,1731,3821,2181,3561,551
Year-End--1,5181,3401,4451,714
NegligenceThrough November1,0521,2791,1531,2871,435
Year-End--1,4081,2611,3711,592
Failure to SuperviseThrough November9781,0429781,1411,291
Year-End--1,1291,0751,2181,433
MisrepresentationThrough November9669928971,1191,235
Year-End--1,0789901,1811,384
Breach of ContractThrough November9331,0019461,0361,166
Year-End--1,0951,0481,1101,292
SuitabilityThrough November7958518289981,111
Year-End--9318991,0711,220
Omission of FactsThrough November7908127529041,091
Year-End--8818259581,215
FraudThrough November627635631693840
Year-End--687699744918
Breach of Regulation BI*Through November41237219440--
Year-End--408216----
Violation of Blue Sky LawsThrough November321380366330296
Year-End--414402355338
ManipulationThrough November296254246269295
Year-End--273266285316
Elder AbuseThrough November155201175152157
Year-End--212188162172
Unauthorized TradingThrough November108160134147168
Year-End--175149160190
Errors-chargesThrough November741269012386
Year-End--13299127102
TransferThrough November6533414536
Year-End--38524641

*These categories were not tracked for the years in which no data appears.

Top 15 Security Types in Customer Arbitrations

A single arbitration case may include multiple security types.

SECURITYTime Period2024 Cases Served2023202220212020
Common StockThrough November279329316403348
Year-End--393349433385
Corporate BondsThrough November1592092214972
Year-End--2362395779
Real Estate Investment TrustThrough November154158194407357
Year-End--197211429421
Mutual FundsThrough November105217140155164
Year-End--294159161177
Private EquitiesThrough November8792133152206
Year-End--120146161213
AnnuitiesThrough November8260499288
Year-End--78579893
OptionsThrough November80106139144164
Year-End--121153157180
Structured ProductsThrough November8040313036
Year-End--47383335
401(k)Through November6542343668
Year-End--50354173
Exchange-Traded FundsThrough November6273546886
Year-End--95607695
Variable AnnuitiesThrough November5268427286
Year-End--81487595
Limited PartnershipsThrough November5252108123140
Year-End--68122134146
Municipal Bond FundsThrough November44654753124
Year-End--755057136
Preferred StockThrough November3764382537
Year-End--73423137
Business Development Company (BDCs)Through November243779171176
Year-End--4588177218

 

Top 15 Controversy Types in Intra-Industry Arbitrations

A single arbitration case may include multiple controversy types.

CONTROVERSYTime Period2024 Cases Served2023202220212020
Breach of ContractThrough November264268203246287
Year-End--294225268309
Promissory NotesThrough November16114678111219
Year-End--15484126229
CompensationThrough November143697179128
Year-End--747784135
Libel or Slander on Form U-5Through November84957882137
Year-End--1048489148
Libel, Slander, or DefamationThrough November69816554148
Year-End--916959152
CommissionsThrough November6433335167
Year-End--36375572
Wrongful TerminationThrough November5962506094
Year-End--665062101
Discrimination or Harassment**Through November2723233536
Year-End--25253638
Breach of Fiduciary DutyThrough November2410212231
Year-End--14212331
Raiding DisputesThrough November1521231326
Year-End--24241328
WhistleblowerThrough November10115----
Year-End--125----
FraudThrough November9513816
Year-End--613816
NegligenceThrough November8514917
Year-End--514817
MisrepresentationThrough November77111257
Year-End--7121257
IndemnificationThrough November6126511
Year-End--127614

* This category combines the following discrimination controversy types: disability, age, gender, race, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, employment discrimination, and sexual harassment. This number does not represent the number of cases served, as one case may have multiple discrimination claims.

How Arbitration Cases Close

Cases Decided by ArbitratorsNov-2024 (% of Cases)2023202220212020
After Regular Hearing389 (14%)436 (15%)533 (15%)497 (12%)335 (9%)
After Special Proceeding Hearing23 (1%)17 (1%)24 (1%)34 (1%)13 (0%)
After Review of Documents (Paper Cases)58 (2%)77 (3%)78 (2%)102 (2%)101 (3%)
Total470 (17%)530 (18%)635 (18%)633 (15%)449 (13%)
Cases Resolved by Other MeansNov-2024 (% of Cases)2023202220212020
Direct Settlement by Parties1,599 (57%)1,496 (50%)1,752 (49%)2,418 (59%)2,060 (58%)
Settled via Mediation326 (12%)489 (16%)700 (20%)458 (11%)477 (13%)
Withdrawn277 (10%)265 (9%)290 (8%)384 (9%)329 (9%)
All Others155 (5%)213 (7%)175 (5%)216 (5%)243 (7%)
Total2,357 (83%)2,463 (82%)2,917 (82%)3,476 (85%)3,109 (87%)

Results of Customer Claimant Arbitration Award Cases

Year DecidedAll Customer Claimant Cases Decided (Hearings, Special Procedures & Paper)Percentage Decided of All Customer Claimant Cases ClosedPercentage (and Number) of Cases where Customer Awarded Damages
2024 YTD21012%26% (54 cases)
2023 27414%24% (67 cases)
202231113%36% (111 cases)
202132813%31% (103 cases)
20201939%32% (62 cases)
201931313%45% (141 cases)

Result of Customer Claimant Arbitration Award Cases (Regular Hearing Only)*

Year DecidedCustomer Claimant Cases Decided (Hearing Only)Hearing Customer Claimant Cases Where Customer Awarded DamagesHearing Customer Claimant Not Awarded DamagesPercentage of Customer Award Hearing Cases
2024 YTD1444310130%
2023 2005914130%
20222379214539%
20212318614537%
2020120417934%
201924110913245%

*The data in this chart includes cases dismissed prior to the hearing on the merits, and are counted as cases in which the customer claimant was not awarded damages.

Awards on the Merits of the Case with One or More Zoom Evidentiary Hearings*

Year DecidedCustomer Claimant Cases DecidedCustomer Claimant Cases Where Customer Awarded DamagesCustomer Claimant Not Awarded DamagesPercentage of Customer Claimant Cases Where Customer Awarded Damages
202427121544%
202353213240%
2022116516544%
2021136607644%
202030121840%

*The data in this chart excludes cases dismissed prior to the hearing on the merits.

Awards on the Merits of the Case with In-Person Evidentiary Hearings*

Year DecidedCustomer Claimant Cases DecidedCustomer Claimant Cases Where Customer Awarded DamagesCustomer Claimant Not Awarded DamagesPercentage of Customer Claimant Cases Where Customer Awarded Damages
202469264338%
202391345737%
202274344046%
202146222448%
202034171750%

*The data in this chart excludes cases dismissed prior to the hearing on the merits.

 

Result of Customer Claimant Arbitration Award Cases (Special Proceeding Hearing Only)

Year DecidedCustomer Claimant Cases Decided (Special Proceeding Only)Special Proceeding Customer Claimant Cases Where Customer Awarded DamagesSpecial Proceeding Customer Claimant Not Awarded DamagesPercentage of Customer Award Special Proceeding Cases
2024 YTD1941521%
2023150150%
20221971237%
20211621413%
202051420%
201981713%

 

Result of Customer Claimant Arbitration Award Cases (Paper Only)

Year DecidedCustomer Claimant Cases Decided (Paper Only)Paper Customer Claimant Cases Where Customer Awarded DamagesCustomer Claimant Not Awarded DamagesPercentage of Customer Award Paper Cases
2024 YTD4774015%
20235985114%
202255124322%
202181156619%
202068204829%
201964313348%

Results of All-Public Panels and Majority Public Panels in Customer Cases

Year DecidedCases Decided by All-Public PanelsPercentage (and Number) of Cases Decided by 3 Public Arbitrators where Customer Awarded DamagesCases Decided by Majority-Public PanelsPercentage (and Number) of Cases Decided by 2 Public Arbitrators and 1 Non-Public Arbitrator where Customer Awarded Damages
2024 YTD9230% (28 cases)2417% (4 cases)
202312232% (39 cases)4626% (12 cases)
202214142% (59 cases)5137% (19 cases)
202113939% (54 cases)4630% (14 cases)
20207633% (25 cases)2623% (6 cases)
201914953% (79 cases)4728% (13 cases)

Arbitrators by Type and Location

Arbitrator TypeTotal
Public4,026
Non-Public4,060
Total8,086

Number of Cases and Arbitrators* per Hearing Location Through November.

Click on each hearing location below to view the number of cases and a breakdown of available arbitrators by type. View in table format.

FINRA DRS surveys its arbitrators and mediators on a voluntary and anonymous basis every year. Click here for the survey results.

We expand arbitrator pools in select hearing locations as case demand requires.

* Arbitrators can serve in multiple hearing locations, thus, these figures cannot be totaled to produce the overall number of arbitrators on the roster.
** These figures include the arbitrators designated on the Local Public Chair list.
*** These figures include the arbitrators designated on the Non-Local Public Chair list.

Mediation Statistics Through November

YearCases in AgreementCases Closed (Percent Settled)Turnaround Time (in days)
2024450455 (86%)131
2023596547 (85%)122
2022716719 (91%)124
2024 vs 2023-24%-17% +7% 

Pre-Arbitration Requests for Mediation Through November

Year to DateNumber of Requests*Parties Agreed (%)
202415932 (20%)
202321178 (37%)
202215733 (21%)

* As of January 1, 2020, Number of Requests only includes cases subject to FINRA’s jurisdiction. Previously, these statistics included all requests to mediate, including those not subject to FINRA’s jurisdiction.