Dispute Resolution Statistics
On This Page
- Virtual Arbitration Hearing Statistics
- Arbitration Statistics Through May
- Historical Statistics for Cases Filed and Closed
- Top 15 Controversy Types in Customer Arbitrations
- Top 15 Security Types in Customer Arbitrations
- Top 15 Controversy Types in Intra-Industry Arbitrations
- How Arbitration Cases Close
- Results of Customer Claimant Arbitration Award Cases
- Result of Customer Claimant Arbitration Award Cases (Regular Hearing Only)
- Result of Customer Claimant Arbitration Award Cases (Special Proceeding Hearing Only)
- Result of Customer Claimant Arbitration Award Cases (Paper Only)
- Results of All-Public Panels and Majority Public Panels in Customer Cases
- Arbitrators by Type and Location
- Mediation Statistics Through May
- Pre-Arbitration Requests for Mediation Through May
- View Previous Year-End Statistics
Virtual Arbitration Hearing Statistics Through May
| Contested Motions for Virtual Hearings | Granted | Denied | Open | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customer | 189 (62%) | 117 (38%) | 15 | 321 |
| Intra-Industry | 78 (73%) | 29 (27%) | 7 | 114 |
| Total Customer and Intra-Industry | 267 (65%) | 146 (35%) | 22 | 435 |
Since the postponement of in-person hearings, and as of May 31, 337 arbitration cases have conducted one or more hearings via Zoom (123 customer cases and 214 industry cases).
There are 298 total joint motions for virtual hearings. (107 in customer cases and 191 in industry cases).
Arbitration Statistics Through May
| Year | New Case Filings | Cases Closed | Open Cases | Turnaround Time (in months) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Total: 1,258 Customer: 826 (66%) Intra-Industry: 432 (34%) |
1,711 | 4,688 | Overall*: 13.5 Regular Hearing Decisions: 15.4 Special Proceeding Decisions: 8.0 Paper Decisions: 5.6 |
| 2020 | Total: 1,547 Customer: 843 (54%) Intra-Industry: 704 (46%) |
1,488 | 4,897 | Overall*: 15.3 Regular Hearing Decisions: 15.4 Special Proceeding Decisions: 7.0 Paper Decisions: 5.2 |
| 2019 | Total: 1,486 Customer: 1,009 (68%) Intra-Industry: 477 (32%) |
1,709 | 4,824 | Overall*: 14.0 Regular Hearing Decisions: 17.0 Special Proceeding Decisions: N/A Paper Decisions: 5.8 |
| 2021 vs 2020 | Total: -19% Customer: -2% Intra-Industry: -39% |
+15% | -4% | Overall*: -12% Regular Hearing Decisions: 0% Special Proceeding Decisions: +14% Paper Decisions: +8% |
* Includes cases closed for any reason.
Historical Statistics for Cases Filed and Closed
| Year | Cases Filed | Cases Closed |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,258 | 1,711 |
| 2020 | 3,902 | 3,564 |
| 2019 | 3,757 | 4,011 |
| 2018 | 4,325 | 3,756 |
| 2017 | 3,456 | 3,735 |
| 2016 | 3,681 | 3,635 |
| Year | Cases Filed | Cases Closed |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 3,435 | 3,489 |
| 2014 | 3,822 | 3,838 |
| 2013 | 3,714 | 4,498 |
| 2012 | 4,299 | 4,877 |
| 2011 | 4,729 | 6,099 |
| 2010 | 5,680 | 6,241 |
| Year | Cases Filed | Cases Closed |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 7,137 | 4,571 |
| 2008 | 4,982 | 3,757 |
| 2007 | 3,238 | 5,345 |
| 2006 | 4,614 | 7,212 |
| 2005 | 6,074 | 9,043 |
| 2004 | 8,201 | 9,209 |
Top 15 Controversy Types in Customer Arbitrations
A single arbitration case may include multiple controversy types.
| Controversy | 2021 Cases served | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breach of Fiduciary Duty | Through May | 661 | 701 | 796 | 997 | 714 |
| Year-End | -- | 1,714 | 2,053 | 2,290 | 1,899 | |
| Negligence | Through May | 623 | 633 | 728 | 820 | 647 |
| Year-End | -- | 1,592 | 1,826 | 1,974 | 1,662 | |
| Misrepresentation | Through May | 537 | 563 | 601 | 844 | 593 |
| Year-End | -- | 1,384 | 1,688 | 1,775 | 1,663 | |
| Failure to Supervise | Through May | 516 | 593 | 674 | 798 | 628 |
| Year-End | -- | 1,433 | 1,731 | 1,935 | 1,621 | |
| Breach of Contract | Through May | 485 | 515 | 580 | 711 | 502 |
| Year-End | -- | 1,292 | 1,563 | 1,711 | 1,318 | |
| Omission of Facts | Through May | 457 | 492 | 535 | 731 | 521 |
| Year-End | -- | 1,215 | 1,468 | 1,547 | 1,493 | |
| Suitability | Through May | 433 | 524 | 579 | 870 | 606 |
| Year-End | -- | 1,220 | 1,580 | 1,779 | 1,606 | |
| Fraud | Through May | 325 | 426 | 567 | 716 | 496 |
| Year-End | -- | 918 | 1,499 | 1,707 | 1,389 | |
| Violation of Blue Sky Laws | Through May | 165 | 124 | 218 | 328 | 180 |
| Year-End | -- | 338 | 657 | 810 | 547 | |
| Manipulation | Through May | 146 | 144 | 145 | 106 | 103 |
| Year-End | -- | 316 | 384 | 302 | 299 | |
| Unauthorized Trading | Through May | 80 | 78 | 96 | 112 | 118 |
| Year-End | -- | 190 | 197 | 245 | 263 | |
| Errors-charges | Through May | 75 | 31 | 27 | 37 | 20 |
| Year-End | -- | 102 | 98 | 81 | 66 | |
| Elder Abuse | Through May | 73 | 71 | 89 | 99 | 0 |
| Year-End | -- | 172 | 207 | 216 | 61 | |
| Churning | Through May | 44 | 64 | 87 | 87 | 111 |
| Year-End | -- | 115 | 167 | 205 | 219 | |
| Margin Calls | Through May | 41 | 25 | 46 | 30 | 22 |
| Year-End | -- | 68 | 88 | 85 | 62 |
Top 15 Security Types in Customer Arbitrations
A single arbitration case may include multiple security types.
| Security | 2021 Cases served | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common Stock | Through May | 212 | 160 | 211 | 294 | 239 |
| Year-End | -- | 385 | 436 | 579 | 604 | |
| Real Estate Investment Trust | Through May | 182 | 109 | 94 | 76 | 86 |
| Year-End | -- | 421 | 236 | 205 | 177 | |
| Business Development Company | Through May | 94 | 21 | 11 | 6 | 3 |
| Year-End | -- | 218 | 26 | 20 | 14 | |
| Mutual Funds | Through May | 79 | 82 | 208 | 278 | 155 |
| Year-End | -- | 177 | 526 | 731 | 447 | |
| Options | Through May | 79 | 78 | 101 | 90 | 48 |
| Year-End | -- | 180 | 204 | 150 | 127 | |
| Limited Partnerships | Through May | 70 | 71 | 49 | 69 | 77 |
| Year-End | -- | 146 | 128 | 144 | 183 | |
| Private Equities | Through May | 69 | 120 | 55 | 45 | 49 |
| Year-End | -- | 213 | 149 | 111 | 111 | |
| Variable Annuities | Through May | 37 | 41 | 42 | 41 | 62 |
| Year-End | -- | 95 | 109 | 105 | 129 | |
| Annuities | Through May | 37 | 31 | 42 | 46 | 47 |
| Year-End | -- | 93 | 97 | 101 | 115 | |
| Municipal Bond Funds | Through May | 31 | 73 | 253 | 353 | 131 |
| Year-End | -- | 136 | 717 | 959 | 558 | |
| Exchange-Traded Funds | Through May | 30 | 42 | 47 | 83 | 61 |
| Year-End | -- | 95 | 138 | 167 | 131 | |
| Municipal Bonds | Through May | 28 | 86 | 257 | 376 | 141 |
| Year-End | -- | 148 | 702 | 971 | 565 | |
| Corporate Bonds | Through May | 26 | 29 | 37 | 56 | 44 |
| Year-End | -- | 79 | 74 | 135 | 119 | |
| 401(k) | Through May | 17 | 39 | 24 | 40 | 33 |
| Year-End | -- | 73 | 58 | 94 | 69 | |
| Structured Products | Through May | 14 | 17 | 21 | 30 | 17 |
| Year-End | -- | 35 | 60 | 78 | 45 |
Top 15 Controversy Types in Intra-Industry Arbitrations
A single arbitration case may include multiple controversy types.
| CONTROVERSY | 2021 Cases Served | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breach of Contract | Through May | 121 | 130 | 150 | 141 | 175 |
| Year-End | -- | 309 | 345 | 413 | 403 | |
| Promissory Notes | Through May | 59 | 109 | 96 | 107 | 116 |
| Year-End | -- | 229 | 240 | 261 | 296 | |
| Libel or Slander on Form U-5 | Through May | 44 | 58 | 51 | 70 | 51 |
| Year-End | -- | 148 | 119 | 135 | 136 | |
| Compensation | Through May | 38 | 61 | 61 | 65 | 63 |
| Year-End | -- | 135 | 135 | 168 | 161 | |
| Wrongful Termination | Through May | 30 | 43 | 47 | 57 | 48 |
| Year-End | -- | 101 | 102 | 122 | 116 | |
| Commissions | Through May | 21 | 32 | 35 | 34 | 44 |
| Year-End | -- | 72 | 82 | 95 | 103 | |
| Libel, Slander, or Defamation | Through May | 20 | 58 | 64 | 78 | 44 |
| Year-End | -- | 152 | 135 | 166 | 117 | |
| Discrimination or Harassment* | Through May | 17 | 15 | 23 | 19 | 13 |
| Year-End | -- | 38 | 46 | 38 | 37 | |
| Breach of Fiduciary Duty | Through May | 10 | 11 | 19 | 23 | 13 |
| Year-End | -- | 31 | 30 | 39 | 52 | |
| Raiding Disputes | Through May | 7 | 10 | 9 | 15 | 13 |
| Year-End | -- | 28 | 21 | 37 | 33 | |
| Misrepresentation | Through May | 4 | 25 | 24 | 41 | 10 |
| Year-End | -- | 57 | 29 | 68 | 54 | |
| Suitability | Through May | 3 | 38 | 12 | 50 | 6 |
| Year-End | -- | 82 | 17 | 63 | 59 | |
| Fraud | Through May | 3 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 6 |
| Year-End | -- | 16 | 11 | 24 | 26 | |
| Omission of Facts | Through May | 3 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year-End | -- | 11 | 14 | 18 | 16 | |
| Failure to Supervise | Through May | 3 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year-End | -- | 10 | 7 | 11 | 13 |
* 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 Arbitrators | 2021 (% of Cases) | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| After Regular Hearing | 160 (9%) | 335 (9%) | 527 (13 %) | 517 (14%) | 512 (14%) |
| After Special Proceeding Hearing | 19 (1%) | 13 (0%) | 12 (0%) | n/a | n/a |
| After Review of Documents (Paper Cases) | 48 (3%) | 101 (3%) | 96 (2%) | 130 (4%) | 135 (4%) |
| Total | 227 (13%) | 449 (13%) | 635 (16%) | 647 (17%) | 647 (18%) |
| Cases Resolved by Other Means | 2021 (% of Cases) | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Settlement by Parties | 1,066 (63%) | 2,060 (58%) | 2,269 (57%) | 2,005 (54%) | 1,964 (53%) |
| Settled via Mediation | 160 (9%) | 477 (13%) | 513 (13%) | 493 (13%) | 493 (13%) |
| Withdrawn | 154 (9%) | 329 (9%) | 343 (9%) | 333 (9%) | 348 (9%) |
| All Others | 90 (5%) | 243 (7%) | 203 (5%) | 233 (6%) | 240 (7%) |
| Total | 1,470 (87%) | 3,109 (87%) | 3,328 (84 %) | 3,064 (83%) | 3,045 (82%) |
Results of Customer Claimant Arbitration Award Cases
| Year Decided | All Customer Claimant Cases Decided (Hearings, Special Procedures & Paper) | Percentage Decided of All Customer Claimant Cases Closed | Percentage (and Number) of Cases where Customer Awarded Damages |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 108 | 11% | 32% (35 cases) |
| 2020 | 193 | 9% | 32% (62 cases) |
| 2019 | 313 | 13% | 45% (141 cases) |
| 2018 | 359 | 15% | 40% (145 cases) |
| 2017 | 352 | 14% | 43% (151 cases) |
| 2016 | 389 | 16% | 41% (158 cases) |
Result of Customer Claimant Arbitration Award Cases (Regular Hearing Only)*
| Year Decided | Customer Claimant Cases Decided (Hearing Only) | Hearing Customer Claimant Cases Where Customer Awarded Damages | Hearing Customer Claimant Not Awarded Damages | Percentage of Customer Award Hearing Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 65 | 27 | 38 | 42% |
| 2020 | 120 | 41 | 79 | 34% |
| 2019 | 241 | 109 | 132 | 45% |
| 2018 | 274 | 115 | 159 | 42% |
| 2017 | 272 | 122 | 150 | 45% |
| 2016 | 272 | 114 | 158 | 42% |
*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 Decided | Customer Claimant Cases Decided | Customer Claimant Cases Where Customer Awarded Damages | Customer Claimant Not Awarded Damages | Percentage of Customer Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 42 | 23 | 19 | 55% |
| 2020 | 30 | 12 | 18 | 40% |
*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 Decided | Customer Claimant Cases Decided | Customer Claimant Cases Where Customer Awarded Damages | Customer Claimant Not Awarded Damages | Percentage of Customer Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| 2020 | 34 | 17 | 17 | 50% |
*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 Decided | Customer Claimant Cases Decided (Special Proceeding Only) | Special Proceeding Customer Claimant Cases Where Customer Awarded Damages | Special Proceeding Customer Claimant Not Awarded Damages | Percentage of Customer Award Special Proceeding Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 11% |
| 2020 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 20% |
| 2019 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 13% |
Result of Customer Claimant Arbitration Award Cases (Paper Only)
| Year Decided | Customer Claimant Cases Decided (Paper Only) | Paper Customer Claimant Cases Where Customer Awarded Damages | Customer Claimant Not Awarded Damages | Percentage of Customer Award Paper Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 34 | 7 | 27 | 21% |
| 2020 | 68 | 20 | 48 | 29% |
| 2019 | 64 | 31 | 33 | 48% |
| 2018 | 85 | 30 | 55 | 35% |
| 2017 | 80 | 29 | 51 | 36% |
| 2016 | 117 | 44 | 73 | 38% |
Results of All-Public Panels and Majority Public Panels in Customer Cases
| Year Decided | Cases Decided by All-Public Panels | Percentage (and Number) of Cases Decided by 3 Public Arbitrators where Customer Awarded Damages | Cases Decided by Majority-Public Panels | Percentage (and Number) of Cases Decided by 2 Public Arbitrators and 1 Non-Public Arbitrator where Customer Awarded Damages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 37 | 46% (13 cases) | 15 | 27% (4 cases) |
| 2020 | 76 | 33% (25 cases) | 26 | 23% (6 cases) |
| 2019 | 149 | 53% (79 cases) | 47 | 28% (13 cases) |
| 2018 | 158 | 42% (67 cases) | 58 | 47% (27 cases) |
| 2017 | 137 | 48% (66 cases) | 71 | 37% (26 cases) |
| 2016 | 145 | 43% (63 cases) | 72 | 36% (26 cases) |
Arbitrators by Type and Location
| Arbitrator Type | Total |
|---|---|
| Public | 3,989 |
| Non-Public | 4,401 |
| Total | 8,390 |
Number of Cases and Arbitrators* per Hearing Location Through May
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.
Special Arbitrator Roster
| Arbitrator Pool Name | Public Chairpersons | Public Arbitrators | Non-Public Arbitrators |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico Bond Fund | 225 | 778 | 712 |
Mediation Statistics Through May
| Year | Cases in Agreement | Cases Closed (Percent Settled) | Turnaround Time (in days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 164 | 204 (84%) | 122 |
| 2020 | 195 | 258 (87%) | 121 |
| 2019 | 241 | 242 (89%) | 94 |
| 2021 vs 2020 | -16% | -21% | +1% |
Pre-Arbitration Requests for Mediation Through May
| Year to Date | Number of Requests* | Parties Agreed (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 109 | 21 (19%) |
| 2020 | 62 | 12 (19%) |
| 2019 | 55 | 16 (29%) |
* 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.