Skip to main content

Dispute Resolution Services Statistics

Arbitration Statistics Through November

YearNew Case FilingsCases ClosedOpen CasesTurnaround Time (in months)
2025Total: 2,403
Customer: 1,512 (63%)
Intra-Industry: 891 (37%)
2,3242,892Overall*: 13.4
Regular Hearing Decisions: 15.8
Special Proceeding Decisions: 7.0
Paper Decisions: 5.0
2024Total: 2,312
Customer: 1,490 (64%)
Intra-Industry: 822 (36%)
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
2025 vs 2024Total: +4%
Customer: +1%
Intra-Industry: +8%
-19%+1% Overall*: +8%
Regular Hearing Decisions: -2%
Special Proceeding Decisions: -4%
Paper Decisions: -6%

* Includes cases closed for any reason.

Historical Statistics for Cases Filed and Closed 

YearCases FiledCases Closed
20252,4032,324
20242,4693,108
20233,3823,027
20222,6713,564
20212,8934,029
20203,9023,564
YearCases FiledCases Closed
20193,7574,011
20184,3253,756
20173,4563,735
20163,6813,635
20153,4353,489
20143,8223,838
YearCases FiledCases Closed
20133,7144,498
20124,2994,877
20114,7296,099
20105,6806,241
20097,1374,571
20084,9823,757

Top 15 Controversy Types in Customer Arbitrations

A single arbitration case may include multiple controversy types.

ControversyTime Period2025 Cases served2024202320222021
Breach of Fiduciary DutyThrough November1,0691,1731,3821,2181,356
Year-End--1,2521,5181,3401,445
NegligenceThrough November1,0211,0521,2791,1531,287
Year-End--1,1261,4081,2611,371
MisrepresentationThrough November9359669928971,119
Year-End--1,0321,0789901,181
Failure to SuperviseThrough November9299781,0429781,141
Year-End--1,0501,1291,0751,218
Breach of ContractThrough November8369331,0019461,036
Year-End--9931,0951,0481,110
Omission of FactsThrough November797790812752904
Year-End--851881825958
SuitabilityThrough November729795851828998
Year-End--8539318991,071
FraudThrough November585627635631693
Year-End--679687699744
Breach of Regulation BI**Through November48841237219440
Year-End--44840821640
ManipulationThrough November323296254246269
Year-End--325273266285
Violation of Blue Sky LawsThrough November293321380366330
Year-End--342414402355
Elder AbuseThrough November186155201175152
Year-End--170212188162
Unauthorized TradingThrough November146108160134147
Year-End--119175149160
Errors-chargesThrough November1157412690123
Year-End--7913299127
TransferThrough November7065334145
Year-End--70385246

*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 Period2025 Cases Served2024202320222021
Common StockThrough November289279329316403
Year-End--304393349433
Real Estate Investment TrustThrough November156154158194407
Year-End--164197211429
OptionsThrough November12280106139144
Year-End--87121153157
Mutual FundsThrough November115105217140155
Year-End--113294159161
Private EquitiesThrough November1148792133152
Year-End--94120146161
Corporate BondsThrough November9515920922149
Year-End--16923623957
Exchange-Traded FundsThrough November8162735468
Year-End--68956076
AnnuitiesThrough November6482604992
Year-End--87785798
Limited PartnershipsThrough November635252108123
Year-End--5768122134
Structured ProductsThrough November5980403130
Year-End--83473833
401(k)Through November5865423436
Year-End--69503541
Variable AnnuitiesThrough November5252684272
Year-End--56814875
Municipal Bond FundsThrough November4744654753
Year-End--51755057
Cryptocurrency*Through November30--------
Year-End----------
Preferred StockThrough November2737643825
Year-End--39734231

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

Top 15 Controversy Types in Intra-Industry Arbitrations

A single arbitration case may include multiple controversy types.

CONTROVERSYTime Period2025 Cases Served2024202320222021
Breach of ContractThrough November237264268203246
Year-End--283294225268
Promissory NotesThrough November14816114678111
Year-End--17115484126
Libel or Slander on Form U-5Through November7884957882
Year-End--901048489
CompensationThrough November70143697179
Year-End--156747784
Libel, Slander, or DefamationThrough November5969816554
Year-End--74916959
Wrongful TerminationThrough November5759625060
Year-End--65665062
CommissionsThrough November3364333351
Year-End--74363755
Breach of Fiduciary DutyThrough November3124102122
Year-End--27142123
Raiding DisputesThrough November2215212313
Year-End--16242413
Discrimination or Harassment**Through November1927232335
Year-End--28252536
MisrepresentationThrough November14771112
Year-End--771212
FraudThrough November1295138
Year-End--116138
WhistleblowerThrough November9101150
Year-End--121250
NegligenceThrough November885149
Year-End--85149
IndemnificationThrough November561265
Year-End--61276

* 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-2025 (% of Cases)2024202320222021
After Regular Hearing375 (16%)431 (14%)436 (15%)533 (15%)497 (12%)
After Special Proceeding Hearing16 (1%)24 (1%)17 (1%)24 (1%)34 (1%)
After Review of Documents (Paper Cases)74 (3%)64 (2%)77 (3%)78 (2%)102 (2%)
Total465 (20%)519 (17%)530 (18%)635 (18%)633 (15%)
Cases Resolved by Other MeansNov-2025 (% of Cases)20242023202220212020
Direct Settlement by Parties1,017 (44%)1,724 (56%)1,496 (50%)1,752 (49%)2,418 (59%)2,060 (58%)
Settled via Mediation333 (14%)362 (12%)489 (16%)700 (20%)458 (11%)477 (13%)
Withdrawn281 (12%)304 (10%)265 (9%)290 (8%)384 (9%)329 (9%)
All Others203 (9%)169 (5%)213 (7%)175 (5%)216 (5%)243 (7%)
Total1,834 (80%)2,559 (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
2025 YTD22415%28% (63 cases)
202423213%26% (61 cases)
2023 27414%24% (67 cases)
202231113%36% (111 cases)
202132813%31% (103 cases)
20201939%32% (62 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
2025 YTD1525110134%
20241604911131%
2023 2005914130%
20222379214539%
20212318614537%
2020120417934%

*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
202542241857%
202431141745%
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
202561223936%
202475294639%
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
2025 YTD150150%
20242041620%
2023150150%
20221971237%
20211621413%
202051420%

 

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
2025 YTD57124521%
20245284415%
20235985114%
202255124322%
202181156619%
202068204829%

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
2025 YTD10037% (37 cases)3030% (9 cases)
202410231% (32 cases)2818% (5 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
Public4,043
Non-Public4,064
Total8,107

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.

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)
2025445445 (83%)123
2024450455 (86%)131
2023596547 (85%)122
2025 vs 2024-1%-2% -6% 

Pre-Arbitration Requests for Mediation Through November

Year to DateNumber of Requests*Parties Agreed (%)
202517541 (24%)
202415735 (23%)
202321178 (37%)

* 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.