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Dispute Resolution Services Statistics

Arbitration Statistics Through September

YearNew Case FilingsCases ClosedOpen CasesTurnaround Time (in months)
2025Total: 1,881
Customer: 1,202 (64%)
Intra-Industry: 679 (36%)
1,9262,756Overall*: 13.4
Regular Hearing Decisions: 15.8
Special Proceeding Decisions: 7.3
Paper Decisions: 4.9
2024Total: 1,909
Customer: 1,276 (67%)
Intra-Industry: 633 (33%)
2,4212,910Overall*: 12.2
Regular Hearing Decisions: 16.0
Special Proceeding Decisions: 7.4
Paper Decisions: 5.0
2023Total: 2,443
Customer: 1,404 (57%)
Intra-Industry: 1,039 (43%)
2,1393,523Overall*: 15.2
Regular Hearing Decisions: 18.2
Special Proceeding Decisions: 8.6
Paper Decisions: 5.0
2025 vs 2024Total: -1%
Customer: -6%
Intra-Industry: +7%
-20%-5% Overall*: +10%
Regular Hearing Decisions: -1%
Special Proceeding Decisions: -1%
Paper Decisions: -2%

* Includes cases closed for any reason.

Historical Statistics for Cases Filed and Closed 

YearCases FiledCases Closed
20251,8811,926
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 September8381,0081,1279671,163
Year-End--1,2521,5181,3401,445
NegligenceThrough September7979121,0449041,097
Year-End--1,1261,4081,2611,371
MisrepresentationThrough September731832810702970
Year-End--1,0321,0789901,181
Failure to SuperviseThrough September722848862790977
Year-End--1,0501,1291,0751,218
Breach of ContractThrough September640792832754893
Year-End--9931,0951,0481,110
Omission of FactsThrough September625691665579787
Year-End--851881825958
SuitabilityThrough September572702687680846
Year-End--8539318991,071
FraudThrough September472541522520604
Year-End--679687699744
Breach of Regulation BI*Through September38633932013027
Year-End--44840821640
ManipulationThrough September258257201196237
Year-End--325273266285
Violation of Blue Sky LawsThrough September214288314279292
Year-End--342414402355
Elder AbuseThrough September150136163140119
Year-End--170212188162
Unauthorized TradingThrough September12093128115123
Year-End--119175149160
Errors-chargesThrough September1016411180106
Year-End--7913299127
TransferThrough September5757293736
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 September243235302241350
Year-End--304393349433
Real Estate Investment TrustThrough September124141143165357
Year-End--164197211429
OptionsThrough September9673100102126
Year-End--87121153157
Mutual FundsThrough September9188184110137
Year-End--113294159161
Private EquitiesThrough September887682113122
Year-End--94120146161
Corporate BondsThrough September8012819217443
Year-End--16923623957
Exchange-Traded FundsThrough September6552703954
Year-End--68956076
AnnuitiesThrough September5265523969
Year-End--87785798
Limited PartnershipsThrough September50484790107
Year-End--5768122134
401(k)Through September4957372728
Year-End--69503541
Structured ProductsThrough September4571341827
Year-End--83473833
Variable AnnuitiesThrough September4445583161
Year-End--56814875
Municipal Bond FundsThrough September3840603445
Year-End--51755057
Cryptocurrency*Through September25--------
Year-End----------
Preferred StockThrough September2233603020
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 September206211201162210
Year-End--283294225268
Promissory NotesThrough September1271241146996
Year-End--17115484126
Libel or Slander on Form U-5Through September5670807067
Year-End--901048489
CompensationThrough September53117596363
Year-End--156747784
Libel, Slander, or DefamationThrough September4655625343
Year-End--74916959
Wrongful TerminationThrough September4345544147
Year-End--65665062
CommissionsThrough September2848283042
Year-End--74363755
Breach of Fiduciary DutyThrough September2719111515
Year-End--27142123
Raiding DisputesThrough September1910161813
Year-End--16242413
Discrimination or Harassment*Through September1817232228
Year-End--28252536
MisrepresentationThrough September137878
Year-End--771212
FraudThrough September117595
Year-End--116138
NegligenceThrough September775106
Year-End--85149
WhistleblowerThrough September761040
Year-End--121250
IndemnificationThrough September551143
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 ArbitratorsSep-2025 (% of Cases)2024202320222021
After Regular Hearing315 (17%)431 (14%)436 (15%)533 (15%)497 (12%)
After Special Proceeding Hearing11 (1%)24 (1%)17 (1%)24 (1%)34 (1%)
After Review of Documents (Paper Cases)55 (3%)64 (2%)77 (3%)78 (2%)102 (2%)
Total381 (20%)519 (17%)530 (18%)635 (18%)633 (15%)
Cases Resolved by Other MeansSep-2025 (% of Cases)20242023202220212020
Direct Settlement by Parties850 (45%)1,724 (56%)1,496 (50%)1,752 (49%)2,418 (59%)2,060 (58%)
Settled via Mediation288 (15%)362 (12%)489 (16%)700 (20%)458 (11%)477 (13%)
Withdrawn232 (12%)304 (10%)265 (9%)290 (8%)384 (9%)329 (9%)
All Others158 (8%)169 (5%)213 (7%)175 (5%)216 (5%)243 (7%)
Total1,528 (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 YTD18815%30% (57 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 YTD136478935%
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
202539231659%
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
202556203636%
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 YTD100100%
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 YTD42103224%
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 YTD9039% (35 cases)2532% (8 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
Public4,013
Non-Public4,027
Total8,040

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

YearCases in AgreementCases Closed (Percent Settled)Turnaround Time (in days)
2025375377 (82%)129
2024380399 (87%)133
2023500455 (85%)124
2025 vs 2024-1%-6% -3% 

Pre-Arbitration Requests for Mediation Through September

Year to DateNumber of Requests*Parties Agreed (%)
202512933 (26%)
202413030 (23%)
202318268 (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.