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Dispute Resolution Services Statistics

Arbitration Statistics Through April

YearNew Case FilingsCases ClosedOpen CasesTurnaround Time (in months)
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: 563 (67%)
Intra-Industry: 277 (33%)
1,1493,126Overall*: 11.8
Regular Hearing Decisions: 16.8
Special Proceeding Decisions: 6.1
Paper Decisions: 5.7
2023Total: 1,042
Customer: 597 (57%)
Intra-Industry: 445 (43%)
9073,220Overall*: 16.6
Regular Hearing Decisions: 19.0
Special Proceeding Decisions: 4.8
Paper Decisions: 4.8
2025 vs 2024Total: -4%
Customer: -10%
Intra-Industry: +7%
-22%-14% Overall*: +14%
Regular Hearing Decisions: -5%
Special Proceeding Decisions: +5%
Paper Decisions: -12%

* Includes cases closed for any reason.

Historical Statistics for Cases Filed and Closed 

YearCases FiledCases Closed
2025804900
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 April346451481375562
Year-End--1,2521,5181,3401,445
NegligenceThrough April318413448349524
Year-End--1,1261,4081,2611,371
MisrepresentationThrough April297374336272463
Year-End--1,0321,0789901,181
Failure to SuperviseThrough April277385361301439
Year-End--1,0501,1291,0751,218
Omission of FactsThrough April257314282224398
Year-End--851881825958
Breach of ContractThrough April249348367283411
Year-End--9931,0951,0481,110
SuitabilityThrough April235312295251369
Year-End--8539318991,071
FraudThrough April197243223210282
Year-End--679687699744
Breach of Regulation BI*Through April141144131200
Year-End--44840821640
ManipulationThrough April1051138667128
Year-End--325273266285
Violation of Blue Sky LawsThrough April8313115184139
Year-End--342414402355
Elder AbuseThrough April5565734662
Year-End--170212188162
Unauthorized TradingThrough April4857615867
Year-End--119175149160
Errors-chargesThrough April3933542965
Year-End--7913299127
TransferThrough April252941318
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 April98110138161180
Year-End--304393349433
Real Estate Investment TrustThrough April48807376168
Year-End--164197211429
OptionsThrough April4029534370
Year-End--87121153157
Mutual FundsThrough April3946714366
Year-End--113294159161
Private EquitiesThrough April3840314460
Year-End--94120146161
Corporate BondsThrough April3570802426
Year-End--16923623957
Exchange-Traded FundsThrough April3023231726
Year-End--68956076
AnnuitiesThrough April2534362030
Year-End--87785798
Variable AnnuitiesThrough April2321181933
Year-End--56814875
401(k)Through April2239171414
Year-End--69503541
Limited PartnershipsThrough April2220213762
Year-End--5768122134
Municipal Bond FundsThrough April2216191726
Year-End--51755057
Structured ProductsThrough April182914611
Year-End--83473833
Preferred StockThrough April1216291311
Year-End--39734231
Municipal BondsThrough April101271125
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 April10490737898
Year-End--283294225268
Promissory NotesThrough April5768382651
Year-End--17115484126
CompensationThrough April2840243033
Year-End--156747784
Libel or Slander on Form U-5Through April2635322430
Year-End--901048489
Wrongful TerminationThrough April2121201726
Year-End--65665062
Breach of Fiduciary DutyThrough April219358
Year-End--27142123
Libel, Slander, or DefamationThrough April1931192716
Year-End--74916959
CommissionsThrough April1514131520
Year-End--74363755
Raiding DisputesThrough April1366114
Year-End--16242413
Discrimination or Harassment*Through April859813
Year-End--28252536
FraudThrough April43142
Year-End--116138
WhitsleblowerThrough April42430
Year-End--121250
NegligenceThrough April33152
Year-End--85149
MisrepresentationThrough April33114
Year-End--771212
IndemnificationThrough April22511
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 ArbitratorsApr-2025 (% of Cases)2024202320222021
After Regular Hearing155 (17%)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)26 (2%)64 (2%)77 (3%)78 (2%)102 (2%)
Total187 (21%)519 (17%)530 (18%)635 (18%)633 (15%)
Cases Resolved by Other MeansApr-2025 (% of Cases)20242023202220212020
Direct Settlement by Parties395 (44%)1,724 (56%)1,496 (50%)1,752 (49%)2,418 (59%)2,060 (58%)
Settled via Mediation123 (14%)362 (12%)489 (16%)700 (20%)458 (11%)477 (13%)
Withdrawn125 (14%)304 (10%)265 (9%)290 (8%)384 (9%)329 (9%)
All Others64 (7%)169 (5%)213 (7%)175 (5%)216 (5%)243 (7%)
Total707 (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 YTD8414%32% (27 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 YTD59203934%
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
2025128467%
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
202526101638%
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 YTD2071335%
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 YTD4139% (16 cases)729% (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
Public4,046
Non-Public4,130
Total8,176

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)
2025186166 (84%)120
2024180205 (89%)149
2023272201 (83%)127
2025 vs 2024+3%-19% -19% 

Pre-Arbitration Requests for Mediation Through April

Year to DateNumber of Requests*Parties Agreed (%)
20256120 (33%)
20246715 (22%)
202310759 (55%)

* 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.