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Dispute Resolution Statistics

Virtual Arbitration Hearing Statistics Through October

Contested Motions for Virtual HearingsGrantedDeniedOpenTotal
Customer300 (63%)178 (37%)7485
Intra-Industry167 (76%)53 (24%)1221
Total Customer and Intra-Industry467 (67%)231 (33%)8706

Since the postponement of in-person hearings, and as of October 31, 2,553 arbitration cases have conducted one or more hearings via Zoom (832 customer cases and 1,721 industry cases).

There are 831 total joint motions for virtual hearings. (363 in customer cases and 468 in industry cases).

Arbitration Statistics Through October

YearNew Case FilingsCases ClosedOpen CasesTurnaround Time (in months)
2024Total: 2,147
Customer: 1,406 (65%)
Intra-Industry: 741 (35%)
2,6392,938Overall*: 12.3
Regular Hearing Decisions: 16.1
Special Proceeding Decisions: 7.3
Paper Decisions: 5.4
2023Total: 2,929
Customer: 1,547 (53%)
Intra-Industry: 1,382 (47%)
2,4663,494Overall*: 15.1
Regular Hearing Decisions: 18.1
Special Proceeding Decisions: 8.1
Paper Decisions: 5.0
2022Total: 2,179
Customer: 1,377 (63%)
Intra-Industry: 802 (37%)
3,0093,149Overall*: 18.3
Regular Hearing Decisions: 19.8
Special Proceeding Decisions: 7.7
Paper Decisions: 5.1
2024 vs 2023Total: -27%
Customer: -9%
Intra-Industry: -46%
+7%-16% Overall*: -19%
Regular Hearing Decisions: -11%
Special Proceeding Decisions: -10%
Paper Decisions: +8%

* Includes cases closed for any reason.

Historical Statistics for Cases Filed and Closed 

YearCases FiledCases Closed
20242,1472,639
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 October1,1241,2411,0871,2591,414
Year-End--1,5181,3401,4451,714
NegligenceThrough October1,0041,1501,0191,1951,307
Year-End--1,4081,2611,3711,592
Failure to SuperviseThrough October9409428891,0561,181
Year-End--1,1291,0751,2181,433
MisrepresentationThrough October9298967991,0491,123
Year-End--1,0789901,1811,384
Breach of ContractThrough October8919128429651,071
Year-End--1,0951,0481,1101,292
SuitabilityThrough October7707617569221,024
Year-End--9318991,0711,220
Omission of FactsThrough October761734661851989
Year-End--8818259581,215
FraudThrough October610575577653787
Year-End--687699744918
Breach of Regulation BI*Through October38534815534--
Year-End--408216----
Violation of Blue Sky LawsThrough October309343318314253
Year-End--414402355338
ManipulationThrough October290233315257273
Year-End--273266285316
Elder AbuseThrough October150179160134146
Year-End--212188162172
Unauthorized TradingThrough October102144124136153
Year-End--175149160190
Errors-chargesThrough October721168511376
Year-End--13299127102
TransferThrough October6131374232
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 October263328259380324
Year-End--393349433385
Corporate BondsThrough October1492091964469
Year-End--2362395779
Real Estate Investment TrustThrough October148158184383316
Year-End--197211429421
Mutual FundsThrough October101217121148152
Year-End--294159161177
Private EquitiesThrough October8392123138200
Year-End--120146161213
OptionsThrough October79106109134147
Year-End--121153157180
Structured ProductsThrough October7940252933
Year-End--47383335
AnnuitiesThrough October7760458682
Year-End--78579893
401(k)Through October6442323063
Year-End--50354173
Exchange-Traded FundsThrough October5973416376
Year-End--95607695
Limited PartnershipsThrough October5152102119132
Year-End--68122134146
Variable AnnuitiesThrough October5168386780
Year-End--81487595
Municipal Bond FundsThrough October43654149114
Year-End--755057136
Preferred StockThrough October3564332136
Year-End--73423137
Business Development Company (BDCs)Through October243778161132
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 October242248184224268
Year-End--294225268309
Promissory NotesThrough October14413273107206
Year-End--15484126229
CompensationThrough October136676970118
Year-End--747784135
Libel or Slander on Form U-5Through October81907578125
Year-End--1048489148
Libel, Slander, or DefamationThrough October65796249144
Year-End--916959152
CommissionsThrough October5833324661
Year-End--36375572
Wrongful TerminationThrough October5661475388
Year-End--665062101
Discrimination or Harassment*Through October2623223036
Year-End--25253638
Breach of Fiduciary DutyThrough October2412181829
Year-End--14212331
Raiding DisputesThrough October1219201323
Year-End--24241328
FraudThrough October9711614
Year-End--613816
NegligenceThrough October9612716
Year-End--514817
WhistleblowerThrough October8114----
Year-End--125----
MisrepresentationThrough October789954
Year-End--7121257
IndemnificationThrough October6124410
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 ArbitratorsOct-2024 (% of Cases)2023202220212020
After Regular Hearing351 (13%)436 (15%)533 (15%)497 (12%)335 (9%)
After Special Proceeding Hearing20 (1%)17 (1%)24 (1%)34 (1%)13 (0%)
After Review of Documents (Paper Cases)53 (2%)77 (3%)78 (2%)102 (2%)101 (3%)
Total424 (16%)530 (18%)635 (18%)633 (15%)449 (13%)
Cases Resolved by Other MeansOct-2024 (% of Cases)2023202220212020
Direct Settlement by Parties1,498 (57%)1,496 (50%)1,752 (49%)2,418 (59%)2,060 (58%)
Settled via Mediation304 (12%)489 (16%)700 (20%)458 (11%)477 (13%)
Withdrawn249 (10%)265 (9%)290 (8%)384 (9%)329 (9%)
All Others139 (5%)213 (7%)175 (5%)216 (5%)243 (7%)
Total2,190 (84%)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 YTD18912%25% (48 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 YTD129399030%
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
202422101245%
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
202463253840%
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 YTD1741324%
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 YTD4353812%
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 YTD8330% (25 cases)2119% (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
Public4,035
Non-Public4,052
Total8,087

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

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

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 October

YearCases in AgreementCases Closed (Percent Settled)Turnaround Time (in days)
2024417426 (87%)130
2023544488 (85%)124
2022679665 (91%)122
2024 vs 2023-23%-13% +5% 

Pre-Arbitration Requests for Mediation Through October

Year to DateNumber of Requests*Parties Agreed (%)
202414228 (20%)
202319573 (37%)
202215232 (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.