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Dispute Resolution Statistics

Virtual Arbitration Hearing Statistics Through June

Contested Motions for Virtual HearingsGrantedDeniedOpenTotal
Customer299 (63%)175 (37%)4478
Intra-Industry159 (76%)51 (24%)1211
Total Customer and Intra-Industry458 (67%)226 (33%)5689

Since the postponement of in-person hearings, and as of June 30, 2,347 arbitration cases have conducted one or more hearings via Zoom (774 customer cases and 1,573 industry cases).

There are 817 total joint motions for virtual hearings. (357 in customer cases and 460 in industry cases).

Arbitration Statistics Through June

YearNew Case FilingsCases ClosedOpen CasesTurnaround Time (in months)
2024Total: 1,297
Customer: 860 (66%)
Intra-Industry: 437 (34%)
1,6943,007Overall*: 11.8
Regular Hearing Decisions: 16.4
Special Proceeding Decisions: 6.8
Paper Decisions: 5.5
2023Total: 1,708
Customer: 950 (56%)
Intra-Industry: 758 (44%)
1,4483,322Overall*: 16.0
Regular Hearing Decisions: 17.9
Special Proceeding Decisions: 6.8
Paper Decisions: 5.0
2022Total: 1,261
Customer: 781 (62%)
Intra-Industry: 480 (38%)
1,8163,344Overall*: 17.7
Regular Hearing Decisions: 19.6
Special Proceeding Decisions: 7.9
Paper Decisions: 5.3
2024 vs 2023Total: -24%
Customer: -9%
Intra-Industry: -42%
+17%-9% Overall*: -26%
Regular Hearing Decisions: -8%
Special Proceeding Decisions: 0%
Paper Decisions: +10%

* Includes cases closed for any reason.

Historical Statistics for Cases Filed and Closed 

YearCases FiledCases Closed
20241,2971,694
20233,3823,027
20222,6713,564
20212,8934,029
20203,9023,564
20193,7574,011
YearCases FiledCases Closed
20184,3253,756
20173,4563,735
20163,6813,635
20153,4353,489
20143,8223,838
20133,7144,498
YearCases FiledCases Closed
20124,2994,877
20114,7296,099
20105,6806,241
20097,1374,571
20084,9823,757
20073,2385,345

Top 15 Controversy Types in Customer Arbitrations

A single arbitration case may include multiple controversy types.

ControversyTime Period2024 Cases served2023202220212020
Breach of Fiduciary DutyThrough June676769594786842
Year-End--1,5181,3401,4451,714
NegligenceThrough June629703540735763
Year-End--1,4081,2611,3711,592
Failure to SuperviseThrough June574588472627713
Year-End--1,1291,0751,2181,433
MisrepresentationThrough June556548436644679
Year-End--1,0789901,1811,384
Breach of ContractThrough June533581444597623
Year-End--1,0951,0481,1101,292
Omission of FactsThrough June466449344529593
Year-End--8818259581,215
SuitabilityThrough June464466416530626
Year-End--9318991,0711,220
FraudThrough June362366310390506
Year-End--687699744918
Breach of Regulation BI*Through June22921854----
Year-End--408216----
Violation of Blue Sky LawsThrough June189220155192153
Year-End--414402355338
ManipulationThrough June179136109165170
Year-End--273266285316
Elder AbuseThrough June90107778091
Year-End--212188162172
Unauthorized TradingThrough June7192759091
Year-End--175149160190
Errors-chargesThrough June4986497942
Year-End--13299127102
TransferThrough June4114182218
Year-End--38524641

*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 Period2024 Cases Served2023202220212020
Common StockThrough June165212160244196
Year-End--393349433385
Real Estate Investment TrustThrough June103102111228136
Year-End--197211429421
Corporate BondsThrough June94135823238
Year-End--2362395779
Mutual FundsThrough June62116619495
Year-End--294159161177
Private EquitiesThrough June52526984145
Year-End--120146161213
Structured ProductsThrough June5122101624
Year-End--47383335
OptionsThrough June4974598797
Year-End--121153157180
AnnuitiesThrough June4733364438
Year-End--78579893
401(k)Through June4324191841
Year-End--50354173
Exchange-Traded FundsThrough June3242253651
Year-End--95607695
Variable AnnuitiesThrough June2937254148
Year-End--81487595
Municipal Bond FundsThrough June2438243381
Year-End--755057136
Preferred StockThrough June2341181621
Year-End--73423137
Limited PartnershipsThrough June2329567684
Year-End--68122134146
Business Development Company (BDCs)Through June1745011524
Year-End--4588177218

 

Top 15 Controversy Types in Intra-Industry Arbitrations

A single arbitration case may include multiple controversy types.

CONTROVERSYTime Period2024 Cases Served2023202220212020
Breach of ContractThrough June140130106142157
Year-End--294225268309
Promissory NotesThrough June98644272127
Year-End--15484126229
CompensationThrough June7041444672
Year-End--747784135
Libel or Slander on Form U-5Through June5453434673
Year-End--1048489148
Libel, Slander, or DefamationThrough June4236372473
Year-End--916959152
Wrongful TerminationThrough June3532283354
Year-End--665062101
CommissionsThrough June2718232738
Year-End--36375572
Breach of Fiduciary DutyThrough June15481313
Year-End--14212331
Discrimination or Harassment*Through June1114141820
Year-End--25253638
Raiding DisputesThrough June10812813
Year-End--24241328
NegligenceThrough June62627
Year-End--514817
MisrepresentationThrough June624427
Year-End--7121257
IndemnificationThrough June572210
Year-End--127614
FraudThrough June516311
Year-End--613816
WhistleblowerThrough June452----
Year-End--125----

* 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 ArbitratorsJune-2024 (% of Cases)2023202220212020
After Regular Hearing213 (13%)436 (15%)533 (15%)497 (12%)335 (9%)
After Special Proceeding Hearing14 (1%)17 (1%)24 (1%)34 (1%)13 (0%)
After Review of Documents (Paper Cases)38 (2%)77 (3%)78 (2%)102 (2%)101 (3%)
Total265 (16%)530 (18%)635 (18%)633 (15%)449 (13%)
Cases Resolved by Other MeansJune-2024 (% of Cases)2023202220212020
Direct Settlement by Parties964 (57%)1,496 (50%)1,752 (49%)2,418 (59%)2,060 (58%)
Settled via Mediation200 (12%)489 (16%)700 (20%)458 (11%)477 (13%)
Withdrawn169 (10%)265 (9%)290 (8%)384 (9%)329 (9%)
All Others81 (5%)213 (7%)175 (5%)216 (5%)243 (7%)
Total1,414 (84%)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
2024 YTD12012%28% (33 cases)
2023 27414%24% (67 cases)
202231113%36% (111 cases)
202132813%31% (103 cases)
20201939%32% (62 cases)
201931313%45% (141 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
2024 YTD80275334%
2023 2005914130%
20222379214539%
20212318614537%
2020120417934%
201924110913245%

*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
2024137654%
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
202446182839%
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
2024 YTD112918%
2023150150%
20221971237%
20211621413%
202051420%
201981713%

 

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
2024 YTD2942514%
20235985114%
202255124322%
202181156619%
202068204829%
201964313348%

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
2024 YTD5030% (15 cases)1429% (4 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
Public4,079
Non-Public4,154
Total8,233

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

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 June

YearCases in AgreementCases Closed (Percent Settled)Turnaround Time (in days)
2024268281 (87%)148
2023365319 (85%)122
2022465339 (89%)112
2024 vs 2023-27%-12% +21% 

Pre-Arbitration Requests for Mediation Through June

Year to DateNumber of Requests*Parties Agreed (%)
20249718 (19%)
202314064 (46%)
202210326 (25%)

* 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.