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Dispute Resolution Services Statistics

Arbitration Statistics Through March

YearNew Case FilingsCases ClosedOpen CasesTurnaround Time (in months)
2025Total: 603
Customer: 387 (64%)
Intra-Industry: 216 (36%)
6832,731Overall*: 13.6
Regular Hearing Decisions: 15.7
Special Proceeding Decisions: 6.2
Paper Decisions: 5.0
2024Total: 638
Customer: 422 (66%)
Intra-Industry: 216 (34%)
8583,202Overall*: 11.9
Regular Hearing Decisions: 16.8
Special Proceeding Decisions: 6.5
Paper Decisions: 5.4
2023Total: 711
Customer: 443 (62%)
Intra-Industry: 268 (38%)
6993,135Overall*: 17.2
Regular Hearing Decisions: 18.2
Special Proceeding Decisions: 8.1
Paper Decisions: 5.0
2025 vs 2024Total: -5%
Customer: -8%
Intra-Industry: 0%
-20%-15% Overall*: +14%
Regular Hearing Decisions: -7%
Special Proceeding Decisions: -5%
Paper Decisions: -7%

* Includes cases closed for any reason.

Historical Statistics for Cases Filed and Closed 

YearCases FiledCases Closed
2025603683
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 March269342364273415
Year-End--1,2521,5181,3401,445
NegligenceThrough March248308335256391
Year-End--1,1261,4081,2611,371
MisrepresentationThrough March233280247200348
Year-End--1,0321,0789901,181
Failure to SuperviseThrough March214286267222324
Year-End--1,0501,1291,0751,218
Omission of FactsThrough March202230216166308
Year-End--851881825958
Breach of ContractThrough March195257271205297
Year-End--9931,0951,0481,110
SuitabilityThrough March179227227184271
Year-End--8539318991,071
FraudThrough March155173178149200
Year-End--679687699744
Breach of Regulation BIThrough March108100101130
Year-End--44840821640
ManipulationThrough March8273664885
Year-End--325273266285
Violation of Blue Sky LawsThrough March669511757109
Year-End--342414402355
Elder AbuseThrough March4148553644
Year-End--170212188162
Unauthorized TradingThrough March3942465353
Year-End--119175149160
Errors-chargesThrough March3025372650
Year-End--7913299127
TransferThrough March212441213
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 March818111688136
Year-End--304393349433
Real Estate Investment TrustThrough March36595752125
Year-End--164197211429
Private EquitiesThrough March3128223744
Year-End--94120146161
OptionsThrough March3023433562
Year-End--87121153157
Mutual FundsThrough March2742553553
Year-End--113294159161
Corporate BondsThrough March2653531421
Year-End--16923623957
Exchange-Traded FundsThrough March2319181322
Year-End--68956076
AnnuitiesThrough March2125191221
Year-End--87785798
Variable AnnuitiesThrough March2014131124
Year-End--56814875
401(k)Through March193410107
Year-End--69503541
Limited PartnershipsThrough March1717172141
Year-End--5768122134
Municipal Bond FundsThrough March1413141519
Year-End--51755057
Structured ProductsThrough March132210310
Year-End--83473833
Preferred StockThrough March101521106
Year-End--39734231
Municipal BondsThrough March7106917
Year-End--29353051

 

Top 15 Controversy Types in Intra-Industry Arbitrations

A single arbitration case may include multiple controversy types.

CONTROVERSYTime Period2025 Cases Served2024202320222021
Breach of ContractThrough March7474605179
Year-End--283294225268
Promissory NotesThrough March3355322037
Year-End--17115484126
CompensationThrough March2326181524
Year-End--156747784
Breach of Fiduciary DutyThrough March197216
Year-End--27142123
Libel or Slander on Form U-5Through March1431281825
Year-End--901048489
Wrongful TerminationThrough March1415181022
Year-End--65665062
CommissionsThrough March1310101014
Year-End--74363755
Raiding DisputesThrough March136573
Year-End--16242413
Libel, Slander, or DefamationThrough March1124142014
Year-End--74916959
Discrimination or Harassment*Through March457310
Year-End--28252536
FraudThrough March43112
Year-End--116138
MisrepresentationThrough March33013
Year-End--771212
NegligenceThrough March32222
Year-End--85149
IndemnificationThrough March22311
Year-End--61276
WhistleblowerThrough March22400
Year-End--121250

* 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 ArbitratorsMar-2025 (% of Cases)2024202320222021
After Regular Hearing123 (18%)431 (14%)436 (15%)533 (15%)497 (12%)
After Special Proceeding Hearing6 (1%)24 (1%)17 (1%)24 (1%)34 (1%)
After Review of Documents (Paper Cases)16 (2%)64 (2%)77 (3%)78 (2%)102 (2%)
Total145 (21%)519 (17%)530 (18%)635 (18%)633 (15%)
Cases Resolved by Other MeansMar-2025 (% of Cases)20242023202220212020
Direct Settlement by Parties287 (42%)1,724 (56%)1,496 (50%)1,752 (49%)2,418 (59%)2,060 (58%)
Settled via Mediation93 (14%)362 (12%)489 (16%)700 (20%)458 (11%)477 (13%)
Withdrawn102 (15%)304 (10%)265 (9%)290 (8%)384 (9%)329 (9%)
All Others53 (8%)169 (5%)213 (7%)175 (5%)216 (5%)243 (7%)
Total535 (79%)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 YTD6314%32% (20 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 YTD47163134%
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
2025107370%
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
20252071335%
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 YTD5050%
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 YTD114736%
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 YTD3139% (12 cases)540% (2 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
Public4,037
Non-Public4,112
Total8,149

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

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 March

YearCases in AgreementCases Closed (Percent Settled)Turnaround Time (in days)
2025142116 (83%)129
2024130119 (86%)91
2023229157 (82%)125
2025 vs 2024+9%-3% +42% 

Pre-Arbitration Requests for Mediation Through March

Year to DateNumber of Requests*Parties Agreed (%)
2025448 (18%)
20245213 (25%)
2023457 (16%)

* 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.