Outcomes for March 2019

Residential summary process: Outcomes Report This report examines cases filed at least one year before reading, for which outcomes were largely known. Search Period Start: 2019-03-01 Search Period End: 2019-03-31 Earliest Case: 2019-03-01 Latest Case: 2019-03-29 Total Cases: 2902 Total Transfers: 90 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 32.7% Of those, percentage pro se: 52.1% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Florence Least stable with 10+ filings: Millis Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 96 Housing crisis baseline max cases per day (UCL): 130 Housing crisis baseline min cases per day (LCL): 44 The number of filings this period is not statistically different from the pre-pandemic housing crisis baseline. -- Courts (n) Count Percent northeast 485 16.7% western 418 14.4% central 394 13.6% eastern 394 13.6% southeast 376 13.0% metro south 232 8.0% quincy district 64 2.2% lynn district 43 1.5% chelsea district 37 1.3% malden district 37 1.3% cambridge district 29 1.0% pittsfield district 25 0.9% somerville district 23 0.8% barnstable district 22 0.8% springfield district 20 0.7% framingham district 18 0.6% lowell district 18 0.6% wrentham district 16 0.6% attleboro district 15 0.5% bmc west roxbury 15 0.5% northern berkshire district 15 0.5% lawrence district 14 0.5% brockton district 13 0.4% waltham district 13 0.4% woburn district 12 0.4% fall river district 11 0.4% plymouth district 9 0.3% stoughton district 9 0.3% bmc east boston 8 0.3% haverhill district 8 0.3% peabody district 8 0.3% new bedford district 7 0.2% orleans district 7 0.2% dedham district 6 0.2% northampton district 6 0.2% salem district 5 0.2% southern berkshire district 5 0.2% bmc brighton 4 0.1% bmc roxbury 4 0.1% bmc south boston 4 0.1% eastern hampshire district 4 0.1% fallmouth district 4 0.1% taunton district 4 0.1% wareham district 4 0.1% ayer district 3 0.1% bmc dorchester 3 0.1% brookline district 3 0.1% milford district 3 0.1% chicopee district 2 0.1% clinton district 2 0.1% concord district 2 0.1% greenfield district 2 0.1% hingham district 2 0.1% holyoke district 2 0.1% newburyport district 2 0.1% newton district 2 0.1% orange district 2 0.1% westborough district 2 0.1% edgartown district 1 0.0% marlborough district 1 0.0% palmer district 1 0.0% uxbridge district 1 0.0% westfield district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 1953 11 Natural Person 949 2891 Total 2902 2902 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 67.3% 0.4% Natural Person 32.7% 99.6% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 1882 71 1953 Optional 455 494 949 Total 2337 565 2902 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 64.9% 2.4% 67.3% Optional 15.7% 17.0% 32.7% Total 80.5% 19.5% 100.0% Defendant Representation Note: Limited Assistance Representation should be reflected here. Tenancy preservation or other social services may not be reflected. (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 4 7 11 Optional 169 2722 2891 Total 173 2729 2902 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.2% 0.4% Optional 5.8% 93.8% 99.6% Total 6.0% 94.0% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 170 5.9% 1 1899 65.4% 2 665 22.9% 3 108 3.7% 4 34 1.2% 5 12 0.4% 6 8 0.3% 7 2 0.1% 8 3 0.1% 13 1 0.0% Total 2902 100.0% Note: Households may appear with zero adults due to clerical delay entering known defendants, identity protection obscuring known defendants (e.g., 42 USC Sections 13701 through 1404 Violence Against Women Act), or no adult defendants (e.g., abandonment of minors). Initiating Action Count Percent Non-payment 1690 58.2% Cause 852 29.4% No Fault 231 8.0% Foreclosure 121 4.2% Unknown/Other 8 0.3% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 421 4 Thorndike 289 2 Housatonic 265 2 Rowe 254 1 Millis 177 14 Pocasset 172 5 Indian Orchard 168 17 Springfield 145 223 North Adams 131 18 Turners Falls 121 5 Fall River 120 107 Wendell 117 1 Chilmark 115 1 Fitchburg 114 46 Lawrence 111 85 Ware 111 11 Baldwinville 105 2 New Bedford 104 99 Stockbridge 102 2 Randolph 96 31 Chestnut Hill 94 2 Dennis Port 94 3 South Yarmouth 94 11 Brockton 93 88 Rockland 91 16 West Dennis 91 2 North Oxford 88 2 Pittsfield 87 39 Framingham 86 59 Gilbertville 86 1 Lynn 86 78 Worthington 86 1 Worcester 83 151 Lowell 82 88 Dorchester 81 75 Seekonk 80 11 Charlemont 78 1 Hyannis 78 11 Roxbury 78 47 Holyoke 75 30 Revere 75 39 Taunton 71 40 Haverhill 70 43 East Falmouth 69 4 Chelsea 68 24 Mattapan 65 24 Salem 65 27 Woburn 65 25 North Brookfield 64 3 Granville 63 1 West Springfield 63 18 Millville 62 2 Otis 62 1 Brewster 61 6 Marstons Mills 61 3 Athol 60 7 Canton 60 13 Salisbury 60 5 Southbridge 59 10 Spencer 59 7 Stoughton 59 16 Buzzards Bay 58 2 Winchendon 58 6 Erving 55 1 Everett 55 23 Sunderland 54 2 Wales 54 1 Vineyard Haven 52 1 Feeding Hills 51 6 Roslindale 51 15 Abington 50 8 Peabody 50 26 Ashburnham 49 3 Hinsdale 49 1 Bridgewater 48 13 Plainville 48 4 South Deerfield 48 1 Adams 47 4 Chicopee 47 26 Douglas 47 4 East Taunton 46 3 Monson 46 4 Avon 45 2 Greenfield 45 8 Dracut 44 13 Beverly 43 17 Great Barrington 42 3 Foxborough 41 7 Gloucester 41 12 Marlborough 41 16 Shirley 41 3 Westwood 41 6 Dedham 40 10 Braintree 39 14 Dorchester Center 39 36 Waltham 39 24 Yarmouth Port 39 2 Cambridge 38 41 Hull 38 4 Methuen 38 18 Middleborough 38 9 Norwood 38 11 Orange 38 3 Rochester 38 2 Warren 38 2 Williamstown 38 3 Barre 37 2 Easthampton 37 6 North Falmouth 37 1 West Yarmouth 37 2 Brighton 36 16 Quincy 36 34 Roxbury Crossing 36 22 Marblehead 35 7 Marshfield 35 9 Northborough 35 5 Webster 35 6 West Barnstable 35 1 Gardner 34 7 Newburyport 34 6 North Attleborough 34 10 Rehoboth 34 4 Tewksbury 34 10 Whitman 34 5 Danvers 33 9 Malden 33 20 Middleton 33 3 Saugus 33 9 Hyde Park 32 11 Milford 32 9 Westborough 32 6 Agawam 31 9 Southwick 31 3 Ashland 30 5 Ipswich 30 4 Mansfield 30 7 Charlestown 29 5 Chelmsford 29 10 Hanson 29 3 Lunenburg 29 3 Weymouth 29 16 East Sandwich 28 1 West Bridgewater 28 2 Whitinsville 28 2 Attleborough 27 12 East Weymouth 27 15 Holbrook 27 3 Somerville 27 21 South Dennis 27 1 Amherst 26 10 Hopkinton 26 4 Leominster 26 11 West Roxbury 26 8 Newton Center 25 1 Amesbury 24 4 East Boston 24 10 Northampton 24 7 Plymouth 24 14 Wakefield 24 6 North Dighton 23 1 South Boston 23 8 Bedford 22 3 Clinton 22 3 Hubbardston 22 1 Littleton 22 2 Melrose 22 6 Millbury 22 3 Wilmington 22 5 Hanover 21 3 Mashpee 21 3 Medford 21 12 Swampscott 21 3 Allston 20 6 Belchertown 20 3 East Freetown 20 1 Marion 20 1 Needham 20 6 Paxton 20 1 Billerica 19 8 Hadley 19 1 Hampden 19 1 Manchester 19 1 Nantucket 19 2 Newtonville 19 1 Auburn 18 3 Cherry Valley 18 2 Fairhaven 18 3 Jamaica Plain 18 7 Lakeville 18 2 North Billerica 18 2 Dudley 17 2 Lynnfield 17 2 Mendon 17 1 Pepperell 17 2 Southampton 17 1 Winthrop 17 3 Chatham 16 1 Granby 16 1 Lee 16 1 Mattapoisett 16 1 Medfield 16 2 Orleans 16 1 Pembroke 16 3 Sudbury 16 3 Charlton 15 2 Franklin 15 5 Hudson 15 3 Merrimac 15 1 Newbury 15 1 Stow 15 1 Centerville 14 2 Ludlow 14 3 North Andover 14 4 Raynham 14 2 Westfield 14 6 Ayer 13 1 Duxbury 13 2 East Wareham 13 3 Stoneham 13 3 Wareham 13 3 West Boylston 13 1 Belmont 12 3 East Longmeadow 12 2 Georgetown 12 1 Lancaster 12 1 Natick 12 4 South Attleboro 12 1 Walpole 12 3 Watertown 12 4 Blackstone 11 1 Boston 11 71 Scituate 11 2 Shrewsbury 11 4 South Hadley 11 2 Townsend 11 1 Auburndale 10 1 Brookline 10 6 North Chelmsford 10 1 Norton 10 2 Southborough 10 1 Acton 9 2 E. Boston 9 4 Leicester 9 1 Norwell 9 1 South Easton 9 1 Burlington 8 2 Palmer 8 1 Reading 8 2 Tyngsborough 8 1 West Harwich 8 1 Weston 8 1 Bradford 7 1 Dennis 7 1 East Bridgewater 7 1 Medway 7 1 Milton 7 2 North Easton 7 1 North Uxbridge 7 1 Oxford 7 1 South Weymouth 7 4 Uxbridge 7 1 Wilbraham 7 1 Andover 6 2 Bellingham 6 1 Lexington 6 2 Longmeadow 6 1 Swansea 6 1 Bourne 5 1 Holden 5 1 Sharon 5 1 Somerset 5 1 Easton 4 1 Onset 4 1 Falmouth 3 1 Wellesley 3 1 Arlington 2 1 South Dartmouth 2 1 Newton 1 1 Newton Highlands 1 1 North Weymouth 1 1 (not given) 0 18 Beverly Farms 0 1 span 0 2 Rate per 100,000 residents based on 2010 census. Municipalities do not appear if no evictions filed. Where neighborhoods are commonly recognized as municipalities, data appears under the neighborhood rather than the legal entity (e.g., "Roxbury" is separate from "Boston".) Where municipalities have alternate spellings (e.g., Marlboro for Marlborough), totals appear under the long form. Efforts are made to correct clerical errors in the court database, but clerical errors may appear. Rate per 100,000 County Renter Households Count Hampden 499 355 Berkshire 458 74 Plymouth 453 196 Bristol 375 309 Barnstable 341 66 Essex 335 369 Worcester 294 328 Norfolk 271 231 Hampshire 255 47 Franklin 218 23 Suffolk 218 431 Middlesex 192 448 Nantucket 56 2 Dukes 48 2 Rate per 100,000 renter households based on 2019 ACS. Counties appear even if no evictions filed. OUTCOMES Concluded cases are 'disposed'. Not all cases were disposed at time of reading. Cases are read approximately 18 months after filing. Court Record Reads This Report Reads Stipulation of Dismissal Dismissed Voluntary Dismissal Dismissed Dismissal Dismissed Agreement for Judgment Mediated Agreement Mediated Judgment by Default Defaulted Findings Heard Order Heard Disposed Heard (unrecognized) Other Dismissals: Stipulations of dismissal are not legally the same as voluntary dismissals, but both are treated here as scenarios in which either money has been paid or cause cured. Mediation: Agreements are not legally the same as agreements for judgment, but both are treated here as mediations in which a tenancy may be preserved; judgment or execution may enter thereafter, looked at separately. Tenancy preservation program is generally not visible, may influence either mediation or dismissal. Some disposed cases may have a judgment entered. Judgments may be for money only, money and possession, or possession only. Some judgments for possession may result in an execution. Dispositions Count Percentage Disposed 2544 87.7% Ongoing/Error 358 12.3% Cases not yet disposed were either ongoing at time of reading or left open due to clerical error only. Note that agreements for judgment may not all be filed properly, and that mediations may be undercounted. By outcome, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Mediated 1179 46.3% Dismissed 681 26.8% Defaulted 584 23.0% Heard 95 3.7% Other 5 0.2% Total 2544 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 112 128 206 55 5 Foreclosure 23 54 38 3 0 No Fault 44 36 140 11 0 Non-payment 498 365 795 25 0 Unknown/Other 4 1 0 1 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 4.4% 5.0% 8.1% 2.2% 0.2% Foreclosure 0.9% 2.1% 1.5% 0.1% 0.0% No Fault 1.7% 1.4% 5.5% 0.4% 0.0% Non-payment 19.6% 14.3% 31.2% 1.0% 0.0% Unknown/Other 0.2% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Judgments The financial obligation of one party to another, net of counterclaims. Judgments recorded for the plaintiff may be lower than total eviction costs (e.g., moving and storage often not included). Judgments may not be ordered paid if the debtor receives any form of public assistance. Otherwise, judgments are enforceable any time in the 20 years after issuance. Judgments of small amounts typically reflect court filing fees rather than rent arrears. Mediated agreements for judgment are judgments; otherwise mediated agreements are not recorded. Amounts in excess of 100% of cases disposed indicate a judgment was inferred from the docket history but no dollar amount was entered and the case was not yet disposed. Count Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Judgment entered 1256 49.4% 43.3% Judgment inferred 504 19.8% 17.4% No judgment 784 30.8% 27.0% Total 2544 100.0% 60.6% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 268 10.5% 0 101,733 2,784 7,196 746,113 Foreclosure 65 2.6% 0 63,722 1,573 8,016 102,259 No fault 89 3.5% 0 11,602 1,661 2,104 147,835 Non-payment 832 32.7% 0 34,465 3,646 3,816 3,034,178 Unknown/Other 2 0.1% 0 0 0 0 0 Subtotal 1256 49.4% 0 101,733 3,208 4,982 4,030,386 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 71 2.8% 165 34,465 3,602 5,550 255,779 Defaulted 567 22.3% 0 63,722 3,033 4,615 1,719,825 Mediated 570 22.4% 0 30,806 3,169 3,406 1,806,436 Heard 43 1.7% 0 101,733 5,469 15,284 235,191 Other 5 0.2% 903 3,964 2,630 1,115 13,153 Subtotal 1256 49.4% 0 101,733 3,208 4,982 4,030,386 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% plaintiff 1353 76.9% 53.2% 46.6% unknown 407 23.1% 16.0% 14.0% Total 1760 100.0% 69.2% 60.6% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1256 Range: 0.000 - 101733.110; Mean: 3208.906; Median: 2154.200; Stddev: 4984.903 Percentiles: 90th: 6875.000; 95th: 9846.000; 99th: 19679.130 0.000 - 96.729: 3 | 96.729 - 210.493: 137 ################### 210.493 - 456.686: 96 ############# 456.686 - 989.465: 114 ################ 989.465 - 2142.435: 239 ################################# 2142.435 - 4637.542: 388 ##################################################### 4637.542 - 10037.129: 184 ######################### 10037.129 - 21722.213: 49 ####### 21722.213 - 47009.549: 9 # 47009.549 - 101733.110: 2 | Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 268 Range: 0.000 - 101733.110; Mean: 2784.006; Median: 999.895; Stddev: 7209.788 Percentiles: 90th: 5805.110; 95th: 8674.450; 99th: 30294.430 0.000 - 271.298: 62 ##################################################### 271.298 - 524.858: 16 ############## 524.858 - 1014.531: 28 ######################## 1014.531 - 1960.183: 32 ########################### 1960.183 - 3786.415: 43 ##################################### 3786.415 - 7313.213: 43 ##################################### 7313.213 - 14124.127: 9 ######## 14124.127 - 27277.287: 4 ### 27277.287 - 52678.524: 2 ## 52678.524 - 101733.110: 1 # Foreclosure: Count: 65 Range: 0.000 - 63722.960; Mean: 1573.217; Median: 205.000; Stddev: 8079.184 Percentiles: 90th: 336.430; 95th: 3355.340; 99th: 63722.960 0.000 - 271.392: 53 ##################################################### 271.392 - 498.377: 7 ####### 498.377 - 5640.126: 1 # 5640.126 - 10340.893: 1 # 10340.893 - 18958.823: 1 # 18958.823 - 63722.960: 1 # No Fault: Count: 89 Range: 0.000 - 11602.150; Mean: 1661.069; Median: 908.220; Stddev: 2116.055 Percentiles: 90th: 4139.020; 95th: 5598.770; 99th: 11602.150 0.000 - 77.657: 1 ## 77.657 - 237.617: 27 ##################################################### 237.617 - 414.607: 5 ########## 414.607 - 722.877: 6 ############ 722.877 - 1259.803: 10 #################### 1259.803 - 2194.985: 10 #################### 2194.985 - 3823.824: 18 ################################### 3823.824 - 6660.833: 7 ############## 6660.833 - 11602.150: 2 #### Non-payment: Count: 832 Range: 0.000 - 34465.640; Mean: 3646.849; Median: 2702.240; Stddev: 3818.959 Percentiles: 90th: 7409.480; 95th: 10439.010; 99th: 19679.130 0.000 - 120.535: 3 # 120.535 - 226.626: 37 ######## 226.626 - 425.328: 22 ##### 425.328 - 797.484: 50 ########### 797.484 - 1494.507: 113 ######################## 1494.507 - 2799.983: 209 ############################################# 2799.983 - 5245.052: 245 ##################################################### 5245.052 - 9824.501: 104 ###################### 9824.501 - 18401.500: 39 ######## 18401.500 - 34465.640: 9 ## Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 71 Range: 165.000 - 34465.640; Mean: 3602.523; Median: 2015.000; Stddev: 5590.490 Percentiles: 90th: 7834.330; 95th: 13219.750; 99th: 34465.640 165.000 - 282.033: 13 ##################################################### 282.033 - 481.577: 3 ############ 481.577 - 821.802: 6 ######################## 821.802 - 1401.893: 8 ################################# 1401.893 - 2390.958: 11 ############################################# 2390.958 - 4077.332: 10 ######################################### 4077.332 - 6952.632: 12 ################################################# 6952.632 - 11855.071: 4 ################ 11855.071 - 20213.819: 2 ######## 20213.819 - 34465.640: 2 ######## Defaulted: Count: 567 Range: 0.000 - 63722.960; Mean: 3033.202; Median: 2097.240; Stddev: 4619.638 Percentiles: 90th: 6195.000; 95th: 9346.030; 99th: 25959.600 0.000 - 92.263: 1 | 92.263 - 191.603: 37 ############ 191.603 - 396.758: 83 ########################### 396.758 - 820.435: 32 ########### 820.435 - 1695.400: 89 ############################# 1695.400 - 3502.348: 161 ##################################################### 3502.348 - 7233.993: 112 ##################################### 7233.993 - 14940.458: 32 ########### 14940.458 - 30855.586: 9 ### 30855.586 - 63722.960: 2 # Mediated: Count: 570 Range: 0.000 - 30806.510; Mean: 3169.188; Median: 2204.935; Stddev: 3409.879 Percentiles: 90th: 6935.000; 95th: 10097.200; 99th: 15917.340 0.000 - 119.178: 3 # 119.178 - 221.574: 55 ##################### 221.574 - 411.213: 24 ######### 411.213 - 762.430: 37 ############## 762.430 - 1412.895: 67 ########################## 1412.895 - 2617.575: 110 ########################################## 2617.575 - 4848.679: 138 ##################################################### 4848.679 - 8980.747: 84 ################################ 8980.747 - 16633.460: 29 ########### 16633.460 - 30806.510: 4 ## Heard: Count: 43 Range: 0.000 - 101733.110; Mean: 5469.568; Median: 2536.640; Stddev: 15465.830 Percentiles: 90th: 8861.170; 95th: 10772.550; 99th: 101733.110 0.000 - 356.408: 5 ########################### 356.408 - 668.676: 5 ########################### 668.676 - 1253.773: 3 ################ 1253.773 - 2350.069: 1 ##### 2350.069 - 4404.199: 10 ##################################################### 4404.199 - 8253.025: 7 ##################################### 8253.025 - 15464.572: 3 ################ 15464.572 - 28976.851: 1 ##### 28976.851 - 101733.110: 1 ##### Other Outcome: Count: 5 Range: 903.010 - 3964.300; Mean: 2630.644; Median: 2822.940; Stddev: 1247.005 Percentiles: 90th: 3964.300; 95th: 3964.300; 99th: 3964.300 903.010 - 1047.054: 1 ########################### 1047.054 - 2194.002: 1 ########################### 2194.002 - 2949.227: 1 ########################### 2949.227 - 3964.300: 2 ##################################################### Executions A levy of execution is a forced (court ordered) move-out, what is commonly meant by "eviction". If an execution is requested but not issued, the court has denied the landlord's request. If an execution is issued but not levied, the renters have left on their own. If an execution is levied, the renters and their belongings were removed per the move-and-store laws. Possession of the housing was returned to the owner. It is not possible to know from court records whether belongings were stored in a licensed and bonded warehouse (renter has not yet obtained new housing) or delivered per the renter's instructions (renter has obtained new housing). The landlord customarily pays for the cost of moving and storage. Executions are considered levied if a return of service appears in the record. Executions for possession only must be returned to the court even if not actually served. Executions for money may be kept (not returned) for attempts to collect. Percentages of judgments in excess of 100% indicate that the judgment for one or more cases was not officially recorded when the record was examined, or was recorded ambiguously. Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Requested 1226 69.7% 48.2% 42.2% Issued 1066 60.6% 41.9% 36.7% Levied 250 14.2% 9.8% 8.6% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 26 10.4% 1.5% 1.0% 0.9% Foreclosure 30 12.0% 1.7% 1.2% 1.0% No Fault 19 7.6% 1.1% 0.7% 0.7% Non-payment 175 70.0% 9.9% 6.9% 6.0% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 250 100.0% 14.2% 9.8% 8.6% Read as X% of cases filed are levied for nonpayment, for example. Levied by outcome: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Dismissed 23 9.2% 1.3% 0.9% 0.8% Defaulted 101 40.4% 5.7% 4.0% 3.5% Mediated 124 49.6% 7.0% 4.9% 4.3% Heard 2 0.8% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 250 100.0% 14.2% 9.8% 8.6% Read as X% of cases filed are levied following default, for example. Conditional probabilities: 'Given a case is about X, what are the odds of a forced move-out?' Levies Filings Percentage Chance Foreclosure 30 121 24.8% Non-payment 175 1690 10.4% No Fault 19 231 8.2% Cause 26 852 3.1% Unknown/Other 0 8 0.0% Percentage chance is not intended to be summed across reasons. Conditional probabilities: 'Given a case ends with X, what are the odds of a forced move-out?' Levies Filings Percentage Chance Defaulted 101 584 17.3% Mediated 124 1179 10.5% Dismissed 23 681 3.4% Heard 2 95 2.1% Other 0 5 0.0% Percentage chance is not intended to be summed across outcomes. Causality cannot be inferred from this data (e.g., did mediation prevent a levy? or was mediation avoided because one party assumed a levy was inevitable?). Court Duration for Disposed Cases (days) Nothing leading up to the filing of the summary process case is considered. Nothing following the summary process case is considered. Excludes grace period, notice period, and entry delays. Excludes execution and appeal period, if any. Actual eviction duration will be at least 40 days longer than indicated for a 30 day notice to quit and 10 day appeal period. Zero may indicate either 0 or no data, see histogram below. (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Cause 1 1878 70 192 Non-payment 0 1870 33 141 No Fault 0 1877 49 163 Foreclosure 9 357 47 70 Unknown/Other 9 2166 505 847 All Reasons 0 2166 44 159 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 2166 51 191 Defaulted 8 1535 33 103 Mediated 0 1877 36 127 Heard 1 1542 152 370 Other 21 354 109 140 All Outcomes 0 2166 44 159 All Cases: Count: 2544 Range: 0.000 - 2166.000; Mean: 44.132; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 159.398 Percentiles: 90th: 52.000; 95th: 109.000; 99th: 632.000 0.000 - 3.023: 8 | 3.023 - 7.091: 23 # 7.091 - 15.273: 1227 ##################################################### 15.273 - 31.731: 797 ################################## 31.731 - 64.833: 264 ########### 64.833 - 131.412: 110 ##### 131.412 - 265.324: 53 ## 265.324 - 534.665: 25 # 534.665 - 1076.398: 8 | 1076.398 - 2166.000: 21 # By Reason Cause: Count: 506 Range: 1.000 - 1878.000; Mean: 70.298; Median: 23.000; Stddev: 192.215 Percentiles: 90th: 129.000; 95th: 247.000; 99th: 1526.000 1.000 - 2.966: 3 # 2.966 - 6.863: 6 ## 6.863 - 14.592: 130 ######################################## 14.592 - 29.916: 171 ##################################################### 29.916 - 60.303: 93 ############################# 60.303 - 120.554: 51 ################ 120.554 - 240.023: 26 ######## 240.023 - 476.911: 13 #### 476.911 - 946.626: 7 ## 946.626 - 1878.000: 6 ## Non-payment: Count: 1683 Range: 0.000 - 1870.000; Mean: 33.725; Median: 14.000; Stddev: 141.872 Percentiles: 90th: 35.000; 95th: 52.000; 99th: 294.000 0.000 - 4.710: 5 | 4.710 - 9.867: 55 ### 9.867 - 19.683: 1150 ##################################################### 19.683 - 38.364: 321 ############### 38.364 - 73.920: 83 #### 73.920 - 141.591: 31 # 141.591 - 270.386: 11 # 270.386 - 515.515: 6 | 515.515 - 982.057: 1 | 982.057 - 1870.000: 13 # No Fault: Count: 231 Range: 0.000 - 1877.000; Mean: 49.117; Median: 19.000; Stddev: 163.030 Percentiles: 90th: 67.000; 95th: 138.000; 99th: 361.000 0.000 - 9.659: 2 # 9.659 - 17.935: 101 ##################################################### 17.935 - 32.637: 65 ################################## 32.637 - 58.754: 35 ################## 58.754 - 105.151: 11 ###### 105.151 - 187.572: 8 #### 187.572 - 333.990: 5 ### 333.990 - 594.096: 1 # 594.096 - 1877.000: 2 # Foreclosure: Count: 118 Range: 9.000 - 357.000; Mean: 47.136; Median: 20.000; Stddev: 70.628 Percentiles: 90th: 135.000; 95th: 249.000; 99th: 312.000 9.000 - 13.302: 18 ######################### 13.302 - 19.454: 38 ##################################################### 19.454 - 28.253: 29 ######################################## 28.253 - 40.836: 6 ######## 40.836 - 58.833: 6 ######## 58.833 - 84.572: 5 ####### 84.572 - 121.382: 4 ###### 121.382 - 174.028: 2 ### 174.028 - 249.320: 5 ####### 249.320 - 357.000: 5 ####### Unknown/Other reason: Count: 6 Range: 9.000 - 2166.000; Mean: 505.667; Median: 93.000; Stddev: 847.243 Percentiles: 90th: 2166.000; 95th: 2166.000; 99th: 2166.000 9.000 - 16.123: 1 ########################### 16.123 - 49.206: 1 ########################### 49.206 - 146.207: 2 ##################################################### 146.207 - 738.073: 1 ########################### 738.073 - 2166.000: 1 ########################### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 681 Range: 0.000 - 2166.000; Mean: 51.253; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 191.558 Percentiles: 90th: 55.000; 95th: 133.000; 99th: 1514.000 0.000 - 4.794: 5 # 4.794 - 10.191: 159 ############################ 10.191 - 20.614: 302 ##################################################### 20.614 - 40.746: 117 ##################### 40.746 - 79.629: 41 ####### 79.629 - 154.727: 27 ##### 154.727 - 299.772: 12 ## 299.772 - 579.913: 5 # 579.913 - 1120.980: 5 # 1120.980 - 2166.000: 7 # Defaulted: Count: 584 Range: 8.000 - 1535.000; Mean: 33.019; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 103.729 Percentiles: 90th: 43.000; 95th: 79.000; 99th: 365.000 8.000 - 14.047: 238 ##################################################### 14.047 - 24.158: 225 ################################################## 24.158 - 41.062: 61 ############## 41.062 - 69.324: 23 ##### 69.324 - 116.576: 18 #### 116.576 - 195.577: 7 ## 195.577 - 327.660: 6 # 327.660 - 548.492: 2 | 548.492 - 917.706: 2 | 917.706 - 1535.000: 2 | Mediated: Count: 1179 Range: 0.000 - 1877.000; Mean: 36.535; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 127.336 Percentiles: 90th: 50.000; 95th: 93.000; 99th: 312.000 0.000 - 2.965: 1 | 2.965 - 6.863: 3 | 6.863 - 14.589: 478 ##################################################### 14.589 - 29.910: 434 ################################################ 29.910 - 60.286: 164 ################## 60.286 - 120.515: 51 ###### 120.515 - 239.933: 22 ## 239.933 - 476.708: 13 # 476.708 - 1877.000: 6 # Heard: Count: 95 Range: 1.000 - 1542.000; Mean: 152.263; Median: 30.000; Stddev: 370.459 Percentiles: 90th: 264.000; 95th: 1527.000; 99th: 1542.000 1.000 - 2.888: 2 #### 2.888 - 6.560: 2 #### 6.560 - 13.697: 15 ############################### 13.697 - 27.574: 26 ##################################################### 27.574 - 54.552: 23 ############################################### 54.552 - 107.002: 8 ################ 107.002 - 208.974: 7 ############## 208.974 - 407.224: 5 ########## 407.224 - 792.656: 1 ## 792.656 - 1542.000: 6 ############ Other Outcome: Count: 5 Range: 21.000 - 354.000; Mean: 109.200; Median: 45.000; Stddev: 140.521 Percentiles: 90th: 354.000; 95th: 354.000; 99th: 354.000 21.000 - 28.054: 2 ##################################################### 28.054 - 49.672: 1 ########################### 49.672 - 115.709: 1 ########################### 115.709 - 354.000: 1 ########################### -- Data Sources (report errors to hello@masslandlords.net): County Data Households Percent Renters Barnstable 96,509 20.0% Berkshire 53,792 30.0% Bristol 220,528 37.3% Dukes 18,146 22.6% Essex 297,898 36.9% Franklin 30,927 34.1% Hampden 179,970 39.5% Hampshire 60,002 30.7% Middlesex 612,366 38.1% Nantucket 11,399 30.8% Norfolk 269,717 31.6% Plymouth 191,041 22.6% Suffolk 309,945 63.7% Worcester 316,162 35.2% County Households: 2019 ACS TableID S1101 County Households and Renters, Dukes and Nantucket: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/dukescountymassachusetts County Households and Renters, Large Counties: https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=S11&g=0400000US25.050000&d=ACS%201-Year%20Estimates%20Subject%20Tables&tid=ACSST1Y2019.S1101&hidePreview=true Dukes County Renters: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/dukescountymassachusetts Nantucket County Renters: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/nantucketcountymassachusetts -- Methodology Publicly available records at MassCourts.org are read fully manually at two intervals: 1.) For a filings report, once within approximately one week of filing; 2.) For an outcomes report, once again approximately 12 to 18 months after filing. Cases are searched by 'case type' = 'summary process', party type = 'plaintiff' within date ranges, typically weekly. MassCourts.org displays matches, not cases. X plaintiffs on a single case result in X separate matches. Cases are manually de-duplicated. Where the number of matches exceeds the number displayed (e.g., 'Displaying 100 of 257 total matches.'), date ranges are reduced until all cases may be viewed. If the date range cannot be reduced (i.e., is one day) but matches still exceed the display limit of 100, then two additional passes are taken. First, municipalities are filtered in stages. Second, to capture cases with no municipality entered, the search switches from 'case type' to 'case number', guessing the missing numbers assuming serialized entry. This method results in 'matches' reconciled to case counts. This effort costs more than 1 FTE. Summary spreadsheets are produced by copying exactly what is read. The spreadsheets are processed using proprietary software. Repeated analyses of local spreadsheets does not burden the MassCourts servers. The software is developed using best practices for revision control and regression testing. Limitations: Data are snapshots. As such, we cannot track individual cases over time or produce real-time reports. MassLandlords does not have access to court databases beyond what is published in human readable form at MassCourts.org. As of this report, MassLandlords staff were not considering information available to attorneys (e.g., the contents of notices, discovery, evidence, etc.) but not available to the general public. All data presented here are readily verifiable at MassCourts.org without special permission. Information is not independently verified outside of the court record. For instance, clerical errors in address, omissions of a defendant, etc. are not readily verifiable. As this process matures, reporting algorithms may change. Transfers are counted as new cases. Clerical differences between original case and transfer (e.g., middle initial included then dropped; defendant dropped on transfer; street address spelling changed) as well as the potential for indefinite circular transferring (e.g., foreclosure cases moving between housing, land, and/or superior courts) make it very difficult to programmatically identify continuing matters. Methodology changes: 2022-03: Where docket history shows judgment and/or execution, but case has not been disposed, infer judgment and/or execution. 2022-05: Correct counting error in 'By prevailing party' section where agreement for judgment renders prevailing party unknown. Rows now sum to total. 2023-01: We now report dispositions on the basis of the last disposition found in a docket. Previously we were using a prioritized keyword match, which produced inaccurate results for complex cases. -- When Citing This Work, Please Credit: MassLandlords, Inc. Available online at https://masslandlords.net/policy/eviction-data/.