Dispute Resolution Statistics
- Virtual Arbitration Hearing Statistics
- Arbitration Statistics Through September
- Historical Statistics for Cases Filed and Closed
- Top 15 Controversy Types in Customer Arbitrations
- Top 15 Security Types in Customer Arbitrations
- Top 15 Controversy Types in Intra-Industry Arbitrations
- How Arbitration Cases Close
- Results of Customer Claimant Arbitration Award Cases
- Result of Customer Claimant Arbitration Award Cases (Regular Hearing Only)
- Result of Customer Claimant Arbitration Award Cases (Special Proceeding Hearing Only)
- Result of Customer Claimant Arbitration Award Cases (Paper Only)
- Results of All-Public Panels and Majority Public Panels in Customer Cases
- Arbitrators by Type and Location
- Mediation Statistics Through September
- Pre-Arbitration Requests for Mediation Through September
View Previous Year-End Statistics
- Statistics on Expungement of Customer Dispute Information in the FINRA Arbitration Forum
Virtual Arbitration Hearing Statistics Through September
| Contested Motions for Virtual Hearings | Granted | Denied | Open | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customer | 299 (63%) | 177 (37%) | 3 | 479 |
| Intra-Industry | 166 (76%) | 51 (24%) | 0 | 217 |
| Total Customer and Intra-Industry | 465 (67%) | 228 (33%) | 3 | 696 |
Since the postponement of in-person hearings, and as of September 30, 2,508 arbitration cases have conducted one or more hearings via Zoom (816 customer cases and 1,692 industry cases).
There are 826 total joint motions for virtual hearings. (362 in customer cases and 464 in industry cases).
Arbitration Statistics Through September
| Year | New Case Filings | Cases Closed | Open Cases | Turnaround Time (in months) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Total: 1,909 Customer: 1,275 (67%) Intra-Industry: 634 (33%) | 2,442 | 2,910 | Overall*: 12.2 Regular Hearing Decisions: 16.0 Special Proceeding Decisions: 7.4 Paper Decisions: 5.2 |
| 2023 | Total: 2,443 Customer: 1,404 (57%) Intra-Industry: 1,039 (43%) | 2,139 | 3,532 | Overall*: 15.2 Regular Hearing Decisions: 18.2 Special Proceeding Decisions: 8.6 Paper Decisions: 5.0 |
| 2022 | Total: 1,957 Customer: 1,230 (63%) Intra-Industry: 727 (37%) | 2,744 | 3,157 | Overall*: 18.3 Regular Hearing Decisions: 20.0 Special Proceeding Decisions: 7.9 Paper Decisions: 5.2 |
| 2024 vs 2023 | Total: -22% Customer: -9% Intra-Industry: -39% | +14% | -18% | Overall*: -20% Regular Hearing Decisions: -12% Special Proceeding Decisions: -14% Paper Decisions: +4% |
* Includes cases closed for any reason.
Historical Statistics for Cases Filed and Closed
| Year | Cases Filed | Cases Closed |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,909 | 2,422 |
| 2023 | 3,382 | 3,027 |
| 2022 | 2,671 | 3,564 |
| 2021 | 2,893 | 4,029 |
| 2020 | 3,902 | 3,564 |
| 2019 | 3,757 | 4,011 |
| Year | Cases Filed | Cases Closed |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 4,325 | 3,756 |
| 2017 | 3,456 | 3,735 |
| 2016 | 3,681 | 3,635 |
| 2015 | 3,435 | 3,489 |
| 2014 | 3,822 | 3,838 |
| 2013 | 3,714 | 4,498 |
| Year | Cases Filed | Cases Closed |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 4,299 | 4,877 |
| 2011 | 4,729 | 6,099 |
| 2010 | 5,680 | 6,241 |
| 2009 | 7,137 | 4,571 |
| 2008 | 4,982 | 3,757 |
| 2007 | 3,238 | 5,345 |
Top 15 Controversy Types in Customer Arbitrations
A single arbitration case may include multiple controversy types.
| Controversy | Time Period | 2024 Cases served | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breach of Fiduciary Duty | Through September | 1,008 | 1,127 | 967 | 1,163 | 1,280 |
| Year-End | -- | 1,518 | 1,340 | 1,445 | 1,714 | |
| Negligence | Through September | 912 | 1,044 | 904 | 1,097 | 1,174 |
| Year-End | -- | 1,408 | 1,261 | 1,371 | 1,592 | |
| Failure to Supervise | Through September | 848 | 862 | 790 | 977 | 1,069 |
| Year-End | -- | 1,129 | 1,075 | 1,218 | 1,433 | |
| Misrepresentation | Through September | 832 | 810 | 702 | 970 | 1,007 |
| Year-End | -- | 1,078 | 990 | 1,181 | 1,384 | |
| Breach of Contract | Through September | 792 | 832 | 754 | 893 | 964 |
| Year-End | -- | 1,095 | 1,048 | 1,110 | 1,292 | |
| Suitability | Through September | 702 | 687 | 680 | 846 | 937 |
| Year-End | -- | 931 | 899 | 1,071 | 1,220 | |
| Omission of Facts | Through September | 691 | 665 | 579 | 787 | 894 |
| Year-End | -- | 881 | 825 | 958 | 1,215 | |
| Fraud | Through September | 541 | 522 | 520 | 604 | 723 |
| Year-End | -- | 687 | 699 | 744 | 918 | |
| Breach of Regulation BI* | Through September | 339 | 320 | 130 | -- | -- |
| Year-End | -- | 408 | 216 | -- | -- | |
| Violation of Blue Sky Laws | Through September | 288 | 314 | 279 | 292 | 221 |
| Year-End | -- | 414 | 402 | 355 | 338 | |
| Manipulation | Through September | 257 | 201 | 196 | 237 | 248 |
| Year-End | -- | 273 | 266 | 285 | 316 | |
| Elder Abuse | Through September | 136 | 163 | 140 | 119 | 136 |
| Year-End | -- | 212 | 188 | 162 | 172 | |
| Unauthorized Trading | Through September | 93 | 128 | 115 | 123 | 134 |
| Year-End | -- | 175 | 149 | 160 | 190 | |
| Errors-charges | Through September | 64 | 111 | 80 | 106 | 69 |
| Year-End | -- | 132 | 99 | 127 | 102 | |
| Transfer | Through September | 57 | 29 | 37 | 36 | 26 |
| Year-End | -- | 38 | 52 | 46 | 41 |
*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.
| SECURITY | Time Period | 2024 Cases Served | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common Stock | Through September | 235 | 302 | 241 | 350 | 292 |
| Year-End | -- | 393 | 349 | 433 | 385 | |
| Real Estate Investment Trust | Through September | 141 | 143 | 165 | 357 | 272 |
| Year-End | -- | 197 | 211 | 429 | 421 | |
| Corporate Bonds | Through September | 128 | 192 | 174 | 43 | 62 |
| Year-End | -- | 236 | 239 | 57 | 79 | |
| Mutual Funds | Through September | 88 | 184 | 110 | 137 | 140 |
| Year-End | -- | 294 | 159 | 161 | 177 | |
| Private Equities | Through September | 76 | 82 | 113 | 122 | 185 |
| Year-End | -- | 120 | 146 | 161 | 213 | |
| Options | Through September | 73 | 100 | 102 | 126 | 136 |
| Year-End | -- | 121 | 153 | 157 | 180 | |
| Structured Products | Through September | 71 | 34 | 18 | 27 | 31 |
| Year-End | -- | 47 | 38 | 33 | 35 | |
| Annuities | Through September | 65 | 52 | 39 | 69 | 67 |
| Year-End | -- | 78 | 57 | 98 | 93 | |
| 401(k) | Through September | 57 | 37 | 27 | 28 | 59 |
| Year-End | -- | 50 | 35 | 41 | 73 | |
| Exchange-Traded Funds | Through September | 52 | 70 | 39 | 54 | 71 |
| Year-End | -- | 95 | 60 | 76 | 95 | |
| Limited Partnerships | Through September | 48 | 47 | 90 | 107 | 119 |
| Year-End | -- | 68 | 122 | 134 | 146 | |
| Variable Annuities | Through September | 45 | 58 | 31 | 61 | 74 |
| Year-End | -- | 81 | 48 | 75 | 95 | |
| Municipal Bond Funds | Through September | 40 | 60 | 34 | 45 | 108 |
| Year-End | -- | 75 | 50 | 57 | 136 | |
| Preferred Stock | Through September | 33 | 60 | 30 | 20 | 31 |
| Year-End | -- | 73 | 42 | 31 | 37 | |
| Business Development Company (BDCs) | Through September | 23 | 35 | 67 | 152 | 97 |
| Year-End | -- | 45 | 88 | 177 | 218 |
Top 15 Controversy Types in Intra-Industry Arbitrations
A single arbitration case may include multiple controversy types.
| CONTROVERSY | Time Period | 2024 Cases Served | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breach of Contract | Through September | 211 | 201 | 162 | 210 | 242 |
| Year-End | -- | 294 | 225 | 268 | 309 | |
| Promissory Notes | Through September | 124 | 114 | 69 | 96 | 184 |
| Year-End | -- | 154 | 84 | 126 | 229 | |
| Compensation | Through September | 117 | 59 | 63 | 63 | 106 |
| Year-End | -- | 74 | 77 | 84 | 135 | |
| Libel or Slander on Form U-5 | Through September | 70 | 80 | 70 | 67 | 115 |
| Year-End | -- | 104 | 84 | 89 | 148 | |
| Libel, Slander, or Defamation | Through September | 55 | 62 | 53 | 43 | 137 |
| Year-End | -- | 91 | 69 | 59 | 152 | |
| Commissions | Through September | 48 | 28 | 30 | 42 | 54 |
| Year-End | -- | 36 | 37 | 55 | 72 | |
| Wrongful Termination | Through September | 45 | 54 | 41 | 47 | 78 |
| Year-End | -- | 66 | 50 | 62 | 101 | |
| Breach of Fiduciary Duty | Through September | 19 | 11 | 15 | 15 | 28 |
| Year-End | -- | 14 | 21 | 23 | 31 | |
| Discrimination or Harassment** | Through September | 17 | 23 | 22 | 28 | 32 |
| Year-End | -- | 25 | 25 | 36 | 38 | |
| Raiding Disputes | Through September | 10 | 16 | 18 | 13 | 21 |
| Year-End | -- | 24 | 24 | 13 | 28 | |
| Misrepresentation | Through September | 7 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 54 |
| Year-End | -- | 7 | 12 | 12 | 57 | |
| Negligence | Through September | 7 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 15 |
| Year-End | -- | 5 | 14 | 8 | 17 | |
| Fraud | Through September | 7 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 14 |
| Year-End | -- | 6 | 13 | 8 | 16 | |
| Whistleblower | Through September | 6 | 10 | 4 | -- | -- |
| Year-End | -- | 12 | 5 | -- | -- | |
| Indemnification | Through September | 5 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 10 |
| Year-End | -- | 12 | 7 | 6 | 14 |
* 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 Arbitrators | Sep-2024 (% of Cases) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| After Regular Hearing | 318 (13%) | 436 (15%) | 533 (15%) | 497 (12%) | 335 (9%) |
| After Special Proceeding Hearing | 16 (1%) | 17 (1%) | 24 (1%) | 34 (1%) | 13 (0%) |
| After Review of Documents (Paper Cases) | 48 (2%) | 77 (3%) | 78 (2%) | 102 (2%) | 101 (3%) |
| Total | 382 (16%) | 530 (18%) | 635 (18%) | 633 (15%) | 449 (13%) |
| Cases Resolved by Other Means | Sep-2024 (% of Cases) | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Settlement by Parties | 1,380 (57%) | 1,496 (50%) | 1,752 (49%) | 2,418 (59%) | 2,060 (58%) |
| Settled via Mediation | 289 (12%) | 489 (16%) | 700 (20%) | 458 (11%) | 477 (13%) |
| Withdrawn | 230 (10%) | 265 (9%) | 290 (8%) | 384 (9%) | 329 (9%) |
| All Others | 121 (5%) | 213 (7%) | 175 (5%) | 216 (5%) | 243 (7%) |
| Total | 2,020 (84%) | 2,463 (82%) | 2,917 (82%) | 3,476 (85%) | 3,109 (87%) |
Results of Customer Claimant Arbitration Award Cases
| Year Decided | All Customer Claimant Cases Decided (Hearings, Special Procedures & Paper) | Percentage Decided of All Customer Claimant Cases Closed | Percentage (and Number) of Cases where Customer Awarded Damages |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 YTD | 168 | 12% | 26% (43 cases) |
| 2023 | 274 | 14% | 24% (67 cases) |
| 2022 | 311 | 13% | 36% (111 cases) |
| 2021 | 328 | 13% | 31% (103 cases) |
| 2020 | 193 | 9% | 32% (62 cases) |
| 2019 | 313 | 13% | 45% (141 cases) |
Result of Customer Claimant Arbitration Award Cases (Regular Hearing Only)*
| Year Decided | Customer Claimant Cases Decided (Hearing Only) | Hearing Customer Claimant Cases Where Customer Awarded Damages | Hearing Customer Claimant Not Awarded Damages | Percentage of Customer Award Hearing Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 YTD | 116 | 36 | 80 | 31% |
| 2023 | 200 | 59 | 141 | 30% |
| 2022 | 237 | 92 | 145 | 39% |
| 2021 | 231 | 86 | 145 | 37% |
| 2020 | 120 | 41 | 79 | 34% |
| 2019 | 241 | 109 | 132 | 45% |
*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 Decided | Customer Claimant Cases Decided | Customer Claimant Cases Where Customer Awarded Damages | Customer Claimant Not Awarded Damages | Percentage of Customer Claimant Cases Where Customer Awarded Damages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 20 | 9 | 11 | 45% |
| 2023 | 53 | 21 | 32 | 40% |
| 2022 | 116 | 51 | 65 | 44% |
| 2021 | 136 | 60 | 76 | 44% |
| 2020 | 30 | 12 | 18 | 40% |
*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 Decided | Customer Claimant Cases Decided | Customer Claimant Cases Where Customer Awarded Damages | Customer Claimant Not Awarded Damages | Percentage of Customer Claimant Cases Where Customer Awarded Damages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 59 | 23 | 36 | 39% |
| 2023 | 91 | 34 | 57 | 37% |
| 2022 | 74 | 34 | 40 | 46% |
| 2021 | 46 | 22 | 24 | 48% |
| 2020 | 34 | 17 | 17 | 50% |
*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 Decided | Customer Claimant Cases Decided (Special Proceeding Only) | Special Proceeding Customer Claimant Cases Where Customer Awarded Damages | Special Proceeding Customer Claimant Not Awarded Damages | Percentage of Customer Award Special Proceeding Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 YTD | 13 | 2 | 11 | 15% |
| 2023 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 0% |
| 2022 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 37% |
| 2021 | 16 | 2 | 14 | 13% |
| 2020 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% |
| 2019 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 13% |
Result of Customer Claimant Arbitration Award Cases (Paper Only)
| Year Decided | Customer Claimant Cases Decided (Paper Only) | Paper Customer Claimant Cases Where Customer Awarded Damages | Customer Claimant Not Awarded Damages | Percentage of Customer Award Paper Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 YTD | 39 | 5 | 34 | 13% |
| 2023 | 59 | 8 | 51 | 14% |
| 2022 | 55 | 12 | 43 | 22% |
| 2021 | 81 | 15 | 66 | 19% |
| 2020 | 68 | 20 | 48 | 29% |
| 2019 | 64 | 31 | 33 | 48% |
Results of All-Public Panels and Majority Public Panels in Customer Cases
| Year Decided | Cases Decided by All-Public Panels | Percentage (and Number) of Cases Decided by 3 Public Arbitrators where Customer Awarded Damages | Cases Decided by Majority-Public Panels | Percentage (and Number) of Cases Decided by 2 Public Arbitrators and 1 Non-Public Arbitrator where Customer Awarded Damages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 YTD | 73 | 30% (22 cases) | 17 | 24% (4 cases) |
| 2023 | 122 | 32% (39 cases) | 46 | 26% (12 cases) |
| 2022 | 141 | 42% (59 cases) | 51 | 37% (19 cases) |
| 2021 | 139 | 39% (54 cases) | 46 | 30% (14 cases) |
| 2020 | 76 | 33% (25 cases) | 26 | 23% (6 cases) |
| 2019 | 149 | 53% (79 cases) | 47 | 28% (13 cases) |
Arbitrators by Type and Location
| Arbitrator Type | Total |
|---|---|
| Public | 4,031 |
| Non-Public | 4,039 |
| Total | 8,070 |
Number of Cases and Arbitrators* per Hearing Location Through September.
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 September
| Year | Cases in Agreement | Cases Closed (Percent Settled) | Turnaround Time (in days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 377 | 399 (87%) | 133 |
| 2023 | 498 | 455 (85%) | 124 |
| 2022 | 641 | 611 (91%) | 118 |
| 2024 vs 2023 | -24% | -12% | +7% |
Pre-Arbitration Requests for Mediation Through September
| Year to Date | Number of Requests* | Parties Agreed (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 131 | 25 (19%) |
| 2023 | 182 | 68 (37%) |
| 2022 | 142 | 32 (23%) |
* 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.