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Dispute Resolution Services Statistics

Arbitration Statistics Through April

YearNew Case FilingsCases ClosedOpen CasesTurnaround Time (in months)
2026Total: 906
Customer: 629 (69%)
Intra-Industry: 277 (31%)
8212,926Overall*: 13.6
Regular Hearing Decisions: 17.0
Special Proceeding Decisions: 7.5
Paper Decisions: 5.4
2025Total: 804
Customer: 508 (63%)
Intra-Industry: 296 (37%)
9002,690Overall*: 13.5
Regular Hearing Decisions: 15.9
Special Proceeding Decisions: 6.4
Paper Decisions: 5.0
2024Total: 840
Customer: 562 (67%)
Intra-Industry: 278 (33%)
1,1493,126Overall*: 11.8
Regular Hearing Decisions: 16.8
Special Proceeding Decisions: 6.1
Paper Decisions: 5.7
2026 vs 2025Total: +13%
Customer: +24%
Intra-Industry: -6%
-9%+9% Overall*: +1%
Regular Hearing Decisions: +4%
Special Proceeding Decisions: +6%
Paper Decisions: 0%

* Includes cases closed for any reason.

Historical Statistics for Cases Filed and Closed 

YearCases FiledCases Closed
2026906821
20252,5972,567
20242,4693,108
20233,3823,027
20222,6713,564
20212,8934,029
YearCases FiledCases Closed
20203,9023,564
20193,7574,011
20184,3253,756
20173,4563,735
20163,6813,635
20153,4353,489
YearCases FiledCases Closed
20143,8223,838
20133,7144,498
20124,2994,877
20114,7296,099
20105,6806,241
20097,1374,571

Top 15 Controversy Types in Customer Arbitrations

A single arbitration case may include multiple controversy types.

ControversyTime Period2026 Cases served2025202420232022
NegligenceThrough April461318413448349
Year-End--1,1131,1261,4081,261
Breach of Fiduciary DutyThrough April437346451481375
Year-End--1,1621,2521,5181,340
Failure to SuperviseThrough April423277385361301
Year-End--1,0221,0501,1291,075
MisrepresentationThrough April377297374336272
Year-End--1,0151,0321,078990
Breach of ContractThrough April352249348367283
Year-End--8999931,0951,048
Omission of FactsThrough April334257314282224
Year-End--867851881825
SuitabilityThrough April227235312295251
Year-End--786853931899
FraudThrough April261197243223210
Year-End--632679687699
Breach of Regulation BIThrough April21514114413120
Year-End--528448408216
Violation of Blue Sky LawsThrough April1368313115184
Year-End--318342414402
ManipulationThrough April1051051138667
Year-End--343325273266
Elder AbuseThrough April8855657346
Year-End--207170212188
Unauthorized TradingThrough April7248576158
Year-End--159119175149
Third Party Fraud*Through April5215------
Year-End--84151--
Errors-chargesThrough April5039335429
Year-End--1257913299

*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 Period2026 Cases Served2025202420232022
Common StockThrough April12398110138161
Year-End--318304393349
Private EquitiesThrough April5838403144
Year-End--12894120146
Real Estate Investment TrustThrough April5148807376
Year-End--166164197211
OptionsThrough April4340295343
Year-End--13187121153
Mutual FundsThrough April4239467143
Year-End--125113294159
Exchange-Traded FundsThrough April3730232317
Year-End--86689560
Structured ProductsThrough April341829146
Year-End--64834738
Limited PartnershipsThrough April2922202137
Year-End--665768122
Corporate BondsThrough April2435708024
Year-End--101169236239
Cryptocurrency*Through April226------
Year-End--343----
AnnuitiesThrough April2025342620
Year-End--65877857
Variable AnnuitiesThrough April1923211819
Year-End--53568148
401(k)Through April1922391714
Year-End--61695035
Municipal Bond FundsThrough April1322161917
Year-End--51517550
Preferred StockThrough April1112162913
Year-End--27397342

*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 Period2026 Cases Served2025202420232022
Breach of ContractThrough April82104907378
Year-End--257283294225
Promissory NotesThrough April5457683826
Year-End--16717115484
Wrongful TerminationThrough April4321212017
Year-End--64656650
CompensationThrough April4128402430
Year-End--751567477
Libel, Slander, or DefamationThrough April3419311927
Year-End--61749169
Libel or Slander on Form U-5Through April3026353224
Year-End--829010484
Discrimination or Harassment*Through April248598
Year-End--21282525
CommissionsThrough April1715141315
Year-End--36743637
WhistleblowerThrough April74243
Year-End--1012125
Breach of Fiduciary DutyThrough April621935
Year-End--31271421
MisrepresentationThrough April63311
Year-End--157712
Raiding DisputesThrough April4136611
Year-End--23162424
FraudThrough April44314
Year-End--1211613
Failure to SuperviseThrough April41--2
Year-End--4337
PartnershipsThrough April42221
Year-End--5643

* 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 ArbitratorsApr-2026 (% of Cases)2025202420232022
After Regular Hearing113 (14%)412 (16%)431 (14%)436 (15%)533 (15%)
After Special Proceeding Hearing9 (1%)17 (1%)24 (1%)17 (1%)24 (1%)
After Review of Documents (Paper Cases)35 (4%)79 (3%)64 (2%)77 (3%)78 (2%)
Total157 (19%)508 (20%)519 (17%)530 (18%)635 (18%)
Cases Resolved by Other MeansApr-2026 (% of Cases)2025202420232022
Direct Settlement by Parties375 (46%)1,118 (44%)1,724 (56%)1,496 (50%)1,752 (49%)
Settled via Mediation106 (13%)371 (15%)362 (12%)489 (16%)700 (20%)
Withdrawn116 (14%)310 (12%)304 (10%)265 (9%)290 (8%)
All Others60 (7%)232 (9%)169 (5%)213 (7%)175 (5%)
Total657 (81%)2,031 (80%)2,559 (83%)2,463 (82%)2,917 (82%)

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
2026 YTD9318%29% (27 cases)
202524014%28% (67 cases)
202423213%26% (61 cases)
2023 27414%24% (67 cases)
202231113%36% (111 cases)
202132813%31% (103 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
2026 YTD57193833%
20251635410933%
20241604911131%
2023 2005914130%
20222379214539%
20212318614537%

*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 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
2026157847%
202544251957%
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
202621101148%
202568234534%
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
2026 YTD93633%
2025150150%
20242041620%
2023150150%
20221971237%
20211621413%

 

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
2026 YTD2752219%
202562134921%
20245284415%
20235985114%
202255124322%
202181156619%

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
2026 YTD3642% (15 cases)138% (1 case)
202510935% (38 cases)3129% (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)

Arbitrators by Type and Location

Arbitrator TypeTotal
Public4,080
Non-Public4,097
Total8,177

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

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 April

YearCases in AgreementCases Closed (Percent Settled)Turnaround Time (in days)
2026164145 (81%)101
2025186166 (84%)120
2024180205 (89%)149
2026 vs 2025-12%-13% -16% 

Pre-Arbitration Requests for Mediation Through April

Year to DateNumber of Requests*Parties Agreed (%)
20267921 (27%)
20256120 (33%)
20246715 (22%)

* 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.