Outcomes for August 2018

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: 2018-08-01 Search Period End: 2018-08-31 Earliest Case: 2018-08-01 Latest Case: 2018-08-31 Total Cases: 3526 Total Transfers: 108 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 37.9% Of those, percentage pro se: 54.6% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Florence Least stable with 10+ filings: Springfield Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 117 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 581 16.5% eastern 535 15.2% central 519 14.7% western 515 14.6% southeast 502 14.2% metro south 125 3.5% quincy district 117 3.3% chelsea district 51 1.4% malden district 49 1.4% cambridge district 33 0.9% springfield district 33 0.9% lynn district 27 0.8% pittsfield district 27 0.8% stoughton district 24 0.7% bmc west roxbury 23 0.7% somerville district 22 0.6% barnstable district 20 0.6% lowell district 20 0.6% dedham district 19 0.5% woburn district 19 0.5% framingham district 14 0.4% northern berkshire district 14 0.4% fallmouth district 13 0.4% orleans district 13 0.4% attleboro district 12 0.3% fall river district 12 0.3% haverhill district 11 0.3% newton district 11 0.3% waltham district 11 0.3% salem district 10 0.3% bmc east boston 9 0.3% brookline district 9 0.3% holyoke district 9 0.3% taunton district 9 0.3% lawrence district 8 0.2% bmc dorchester 7 0.2% brockton district 7 0.2% wrentham district 7 0.2% new bedford district 6 0.2% palmer district 6 0.2% bmc south boston 5 0.1% peabody district 5 0.1% plymouth district 5 0.1% bmc brighton 4 0.1% chicopee district 4 0.1% milford district 4 0.1% westfield district 4 0.1% worcester district 4 0.1% ayer district 3 0.1% eastern hampshire district 3 0.1% edgartown district 3 0.1% gloucester district 3 0.1% hingham district 3 0.1% wareham district 3 0.1% clinton district 2 0.1% greenfield district 2 0.1% natick district 2 0.1% newburyport district 2 0.1% northampton district 2 0.1% bmc roxbury 1 0.0% concord district 1 0.0% nantucket district 1 0.0% southern berkshire district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2190 6 Natural Person 1336 3520 Total 3526 3526 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 62.1% 0.2% Natural Person 37.9% 99.8% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2107 83 2190 Optional 606 730 1336 Total 2713 813 3526 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 59.8% 2.4% 62.1% Optional 17.2% 20.7% 37.9% Total 76.9% 23.1% 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 1 5 6 Optional 238 3282 3520 Total 239 3287 3526 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.0% 0.1% 0.2% Optional 6.7% 93.1% 99.8% Total 6.8% 93.2% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 205 5.8% 1 2369 67.2% 2 750 21.3% 3 141 4.0% 4 45 1.3% 5 9 0.3% 6 5 0.1% 7 1 0.0% 8 1 0.0% Total 3526 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 1997 56.6% Cause 1125 31.9% No Fault 282 8.0% Foreclosure 121 3.4% Unknown/Other 1 0.0% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Florence 738 7 Sandisfield 218 2 Chestnut Hill 188 4 Cummaquid 182 1 Springfield 177 272 New Bedford 169 161 Indian Orchard 168 17 Holyoke 152 61 Leyden 140 1 Dorchester 135 125 Pittsfield 125 56 Fitchburg 124 50 East Falmouth 121 7 Turners Falls 121 5 Salem 120 50 Worcester 120 219 Chelsea 119 42 Lowell 118 126 Adams 117 10 Fall River 117 104 Buzzards Bay 116 4 Chilmark 115 1 Harwich Port 115 2 Southbridge 113 19 Brockton 108 102 Bondsville 106 2 Baldwinville 105 2 Charlestown 101 17 Leeds 98 1 Lawrence 96 74 Dennis Port 94 3 North Adams 94 13 Gardner 93 19 West Dennis 91 2 Lynn 88 80 West Warren 88 1 Bridgewater 86 23 Chicopee 86 48 Roslindale 86 25 Chesterfield 81 1 Petersham 81 1 Revere 81 42 South Dennis 81 3 Stoughton 81 22 Ware 81 8 Amesbury 79 13 Mattapan 79 29 Haverhill 78 48 West Boylston 78 6 Millers Falls 77 1 Danvers 75 20 West Yarmouth 75 4 Taunton 73 41 South Boston 71 24 Athol 69 8 Forestdale 68 3 Roxbury 68 41 South Yarmouth 68 8 Malden 67 40 Winchendon 67 7 Mattapoisett 66 4 Northfield 65 2 Webster 65 11 Holbrook 64 7 Milford 64 18 Hyannis 63 9 Orange 63 5 West Springfield 63 18 Hyde Park 62 21 Otis 62 1 Braintree 61 22 Dorchester Center 60 56 Randolph 59 19 Allston 58 17 Monson 58 5 South Easton 58 6 Framingham 57 39 Rockland 57 10 Becket 56 1 Shelburne Falls 56 1 Wales 54 1 Westborough 54 10 Jamaica Plain 53 20 Belmont 52 13 Everett 52 22 Wakefield 52 13 Woburn 52 20 Newton Center 51 2 Spencer 51 6 Stockbridge 51 1 Westfield 51 21 Winthrop 51 9 Attleboro Falls 50 1 Orleans 50 3 Truro 49 1 Bellingham 48 8 Gloucester 48 14 Hull 48 5 West Townsend 47 1 Leominster 46 19 West Wareham 46 1 Beverly 45 18 Greenfield 45 8 East Boston 44 18 Marlborough 44 17 Peabody 44 23 Tewksbury 44 13 Townsend 44 4 Dudley 43 5 Middleborough 43 10 Great Barrington 42 3 Mashpee 42 6 Plymouth 42 24 Marstons Mills 41 2 Roxbury Crossing 41 25 Shirley 41 3 Ayer 40 3 Dracut 40 12 Eastham 40 2 Weymouth 39 21 Sterling 38 3 Barre 37 2 Fairhaven 37 6 Ipswich 37 5 Millbury 37 5 Byfield 35 1 Cambridge 35 37 Methuen 35 17 Quincy 35 33 Wilmington 35 8 Berlin 34 1 North Attleborough 34 10 Norwood 34 10 Pocasset 34 1 Three Rivers 34 1 Blackstone 33 3 Provincetown 33 1 Wareham 32 7 Westport 32 5 Marshfield 31 8 North Andover 31 9 Southwick 31 3 Auburn 30 5 North Easton 30 4 Saugus 30 8 Acushnet 29 3 Attleborough 29 13 Foxborough 29 5 Hanson 29 3 Lunenburg 29 3 Nahant 29 1 West Hatfield 29 1 Lakeville 28 3 Waltham 28 17 Watertown 28 9 Whitinsville 28 2 Brimfield 27 1 Canton 27 6 East Wareham 27 6 Scituate 27 5 Somerville 27 21 Stoneham 27 6 Sunderland 27 1 Chelmsford 26 9 Medford 26 15 Pepperell 26 3 West Roxbury 26 8 Feeding Hills 25 3 Lynnfield 25 3 Marblehead 25 5 Williamstown 25 2 Edgartown 24 1 Harwich 24 3 Needham 24 7 Kingston 23 3 West Newbury 23 1 Avon 22 1 Bedford 22 3 Brookline 22 13 Clinton 22 3 East Weymouth 22 12 Oak Bluffs 22 1 Shrewsbury 22 8 Amherst 21 8 North Brookfield 21 1 Northborough 21 3 Norton 21 4 Sturbridge 21 2 Brewster 20 2 East Freetown 20 1 Marion 20 1 North Reading 20 3 Whitman 20 3 Duxbury 19 3 Hadley 19 1 Yarmouth Port 19 1 Andover 18 6 Ashland 18 3 Brighton 18 8 Leicester 18 2 Ludlow 18 4 Natick 18 6 Carver 17 2 Mansfield 17 4 Northampton 17 5 Rowley 17 1 South Hadley 17 3 Tyngsborough 17 2 Chatham 16 1 Dedham 16 4 Lee 16 1 Newton Upper Falls 16 1 Palmer 16 2 Pembroke 16 3 Sudbury 16 3 West Harwich 16 2 Berkley 15 1 Charlton 15 2 Hudson 15 3 Billerica 14 6 Centerville 14 2 Dalton 14 1 East Bridgewater 14 2 Hanover 14 2 Melrose 14 4 Raynham 14 2 Rockport 14 1 Seekonk 14 2 Swampscott 14 2 Uxbridge 14 2 West Bridgewater 14 1 Cohasset 13 1 Halifax 13 1 Hopkinton 13 2 Westminster 13 1 Westwood 13 2 Abington 12 2 Burlington 12 3 Franklin 12 4 Georgetown 12 1 Hamilton 12 1 Millis 12 1 North Grafton 12 1 Plainville 12 1 Salisbury 12 1 Templeton 12 1 Assonet 11 1 Douglas 11 1 Littleton 11 1 Middleton 11 1 Newburyport 11 2 Sutton 11 1 Southborough 10 1 Acton 9 2 Boston 9 60 Cherry Valley 9 1 Falmouth 9 3 Nantucket 9 1 North Billerica 9 1 Westford 9 2 Winchester 9 2 Wrentham 9 1 Reading 8 2 Agawam 7 2 Dennis 7 1 E. Boston 7 3 Medway 7 1 Milton 7 2 Oxford 7 1 South Weymouth 7 4 Wayland 7 1 West Newton 7 1 Wilbraham 7 1 Belchertown 6 1 East Longmeadow 6 1 Easthampton 6 1 Longmeadow 6 1 Concord 5 1 Dartmouth 5 2 North Weymouth 5 3 Sharon 5 1 Somerset 5 1 Barnstable 4 2 Hingham 4 1 North Dartmouth 4 1 Onset 4 1 Walpole 4 1 Lexington 3 1 Arlington 2 1 Newton 2 2 South Dartmouth 2 1 Newton Lower Falls 1 1 (not given) 0 28 Linwood 0 1 span 0 9 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 652 464 Berkshire 563 91 Plymouth 546 236 Bristol 454 374 Barnstable 409 79 Worcester 409 456 Essex 369 406 Suffolk 298 590 Norfolk 254 217 Franklin 227 24 Middlesex 218 510 Hampshire 200 37 Dukes 73 3 Nantucket 28 1 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 3110 88.2% Ongoing/Error 416 11.8% 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 1559 50.1% Dismissed 713 22.9% Defaulted 709 22.8% Heard 116 3.7% Other 13 0.4% Total 3110 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 158 133 347 67 13 Foreclosure 26 44 41 9 0 No Fault 55 45 170 11 0 Non-payment 474 487 1001 29 0 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 5.1% 4.3% 11.2% 2.2% 0.4% Foreclosure 0.8% 1.4% 1.3% 0.3% 0.0% No Fault 1.8% 1.4% 5.5% 0.4% 0.0% Non-payment 15.2% 15.7% 32.2% 0.9% 0.0% Unknown/Other 0.0% 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 1613 51.9% 45.7% Judgment inferred 652 21.0% 18.5% No judgment 845 27.2% 24.0% Total 3110 100.0% 64.2% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 357 11.5% 0 61,278 2,669 4,882 952,902 Foreclosure 67 2.2% 0 24,466 1,090 3,581 73,054 No fault 127 4.1% 0 8,493 1,690 1,992 214,741 Non-payment 1062 34.1% 0 28,350 3,263 3,073 3,465,348 Subtotal 1613 51.9% 0 61,278 2,917 3,562 4,706,046 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 90 2.9% 0 12,449 2,022 2,276 182,066 Defaulted 681 21.9% 0 61,278 2,978 3,951 2,028,142 Mediated 784 25.2% 0 32,483 2,907 3,201 2,279,146 Heard 46 1.5% 0 24,466 4,017 5,044 184,796 Other 12 0.4% 878 6,958 2,657 1,648 31,893 Subtotal 1613 51.9% 0 61,278 2,917 3,562 4,706,046 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 8 0.4% 0.3% 0.2% plaintiff 1699 75.0% 54.6% 48.2% unknown 558 24.6% 17.9% 15.8% Total 2265 100.0% 72.8% 64.2% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1613 Range: 0.000 - 61278.310; Mean: 2917.574; Median: 2044.840; Stddev: 3563.532 Percentiles: 90th: 6296.000; 95th: 8550.150; 99th: 14800.000 0.000 - 4.644: 1 | 4.644 - 14.850: 2 | 14.850 - 123.981: 6 # 123.981 - 349.958: 227 ###################### 349.958 - 984.523: 182 ################## 984.523 - 2766.442: 542 ##################################################### 2766.442 - 7770.240: 508 ################################################## 7770.240 - 21821.379: 94 ######### 21821.379 - 61278.310: 8 # Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 357 Range: 0.000 - 61278.310; Mean: 2669.195; Median: 1459.000; Stddev: 4889.303 Percentiles: 90th: 6198.160; 95th: 7800.000; 99th: 21451.240 0.000 - 4.644: 1 # 4.644 - 14.850: 1 # 14.850 - 123.981: 1 # 123.981 - 349.958: 79 ######################################### 349.958 - 984.523: 36 ################### 984.523 - 2766.442: 103 ##################################################### 2766.442 - 7770.240: 92 ############################################### 7770.240 - 21821.379: 15 ######## 21821.379 - 61278.310: 3 ## Foreclosure: Count: 67 Range: 0.000 - 24466.810; Mean: 1090.360; Median: 206.890; Stddev: 3609.004 Percentiles: 90th: 592.350; 95th: 5727.890; 99th: 24466.810 0.000 - 285.426: 55 ##################################################### 285.426 - 468.497: 2 ## 468.497 - 768.579: 1 # 768.579 - 3388.331: 1 # 3388.331 - 5554.642: 1 # 5554.642 - 9105.564: 2 ## 9105.564 - 14926.079: 1 # 14926.079 - 24466.810: 1 # No Fault: Count: 127 Range: 0.000 - 8493.610; Mean: 1690.877; Median: 845.650; Stddev: 2000.199 Percentiles: 90th: 4843.110; 95th: 5751.110; 99th: 8453.250 0.000 - 119.847: 1 ## 119.847 - 192.843: 32 ##################################################### 192.843 - 309.929: 16 ########################### 309.929 - 497.738: 1 ## 497.738 - 798.990: 5 ######## 798.990 - 1282.206: 9 ############### 1282.206 - 2057.297: 16 ########################### 2057.297 - 3300.565: 17 ############################ 3300.565 - 5294.801: 14 ####################### 5294.801 - 8493.610: 9 ############### Non-payment: Count: 1062 Range: 0.000 - 28350.000; Mean: 3263.040; Median: 2451.965; Stddev: 3075.059 Percentiles: 90th: 6975.000; 95th: 9080.710; 99th: 13475.000 0.000 - 23.955: 1 | 23.955 - 118.162: 4 # 118.162 - 259.392: 32 ##### 259.392 - 568.007: 58 ######### 568.007 - 1242.390: 164 ########################## 1242.390 - 2716.050: 318 ################################################## 2716.050 - 5936.285: 336 ##################################################### 5936.285 - 12973.127: 127 #################### 12973.127 - 28350.000: 15 ## Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 90 Range: 0.000 - 12449.010; Mean: 2022.964; Median: 1299.155; Stddev: 2289.089 Percentiles: 90th: 4287.800; 95th: 6391.370; 99th: 12449.010 0.000 - 261.551: 18 ########################################### 261.551 - 402.117: 3 ####### 402.117 - 617.939: 6 ############## 617.939 - 949.311: 7 ################# 949.311 - 1458.093: 10 ######################## 1458.093 - 2239.269: 8 ################### 2239.269 - 3438.677: 22 ##################################################### 3438.677 - 5280.229: 7 ################# 5280.229 - 8107.721: 3 ####### 8107.721 - 12449.010: 3 ####### Defaulted: Count: 681 Range: 0.000 - 61278.310; Mean: 2978.182; Median: 2147.220; Stddev: 3954.283 Percentiles: 90th: 6263.710; 95th: 8279.870; 99th: 17288.440 0.000 - 251.452: 105 ################################## 251.452 - 463.723: 21 ####### 463.723 - 854.478: 40 ############# 854.478 - 1573.795: 93 ############################## 1573.795 - 2897.939: 158 ################################################### 2897.939 - 5335.469: 163 ##################################################### 5335.469 - 9822.561: 73 ######################## 9822.561 - 18082.560: 16 ##### 18082.560 - 33287.858: 3 # 33287.858 - 61278.310: 2 # Mediated: Count: 784 Range: 0.000 - 32483.940; Mean: 2907.075; Median: 2011.725; Stddev: 3203.779 Percentiles: 90th: 6436.650; 95th: 8493.610; 99th: 14318.680 0.000 - 4.297: 1 | 4.297 - 12.960: 1 | 12.960 - 35.791: 1 | 35.791 - 95.960: 4 # 95.960 - 254.528: 72 ############## 254.528 - 672.423: 61 ############ 672.423 - 1773.746: 194 ###################################### 1773.746 - 4676.188: 271 ##################################################### 4676.188 - 12325.321: 138 ########################### 12325.321 - 32483.940: 12 ## Heard: Count: 46 Range: 0.000 - 24466.810; Mean: 4017.322; Median: 2586.595; Stddev: 5100.704 Percentiles: 90th: 10246.640; 95th: 14700.000; 99th: 24466.810 0.000 - 216.602: 8 ##################################################### 216.602 - 366.742: 1 ####### 366.742 - 620.477: 1 ####### 620.477 - 1049.284: 2 ############# 1049.284 - 1773.958: 2 ############# 1773.958 - 2998.642: 7 ############################################## 2998.642 - 5068.333: 8 ##################################################### 5068.333 - 8566.069: 8 ##################################################### 8566.069 - 14477.170: 2 ############# 14477.170 - 24466.810: 3 #################### Other Outcome: Count: 12 Range: 878.000 - 6958.050; Mean: 2657.817; Median: 2011.245; Stddev: 1722.134 Percentiles: 90th: 3929.390; 95th: 6958.050; 99th: 6958.050 878.000 - 1080.048: 1 ################## 1080.048 - 1328.539: 1 ################## 1328.539 - 1634.148: 3 ##################################################### 1634.148 - 2010.006: 1 ################## 2010.006 - 2472.258: 1 ################## 2472.258 - 3040.764: 1 ################## 3040.764 - 3739.948: 1 ################## 3739.948 - 4599.846: 2 ################################### 4599.846 - 6958.050: 1 ################## 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 1620 71.5% 52.1% 45.9% Issued 1408 62.2% 45.3% 39.9% Levied 323 14.3% 10.4% 9.2% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 46 14.2% 2.0% 1.5% 1.3% Foreclosure 31 9.6% 1.4% 1.0% 0.9% No Fault 33 10.2% 1.5% 1.1% 0.9% Non-payment 213 65.9% 9.4% 6.8% 6.0% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 323 100.0% 14.3% 10.4% 9.2% 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 29 9.0% 1.3% 0.9% 0.8% Defaulted 120 37.2% 5.3% 3.9% 3.4% Mediated 164 50.8% 7.2% 5.3% 4.7% Heard 10 3.1% 0.4% 0.3% 0.3% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 323 100.0% 14.3% 10.4% 9.2% 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 31 121 25.6% No Fault 33 282 11.7% Non-payment 213 1997 10.7% Cause 46 1125 4.1% Unknown/Other 0 1 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 120 709 16.9% Mediated 164 1559 10.5% Heard 10 116 8.6% Dismissed 29 713 4.1% Other 0 13 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 0 2095 87 223 Non-payment 0 2075 33 110 No Fault 1 2089 44 137 Foreclosure 0 531 54 85 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 2095 47 147 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 2075 57 156 Defaulted 1 2089 36 128 Mediated 0 2089 41 126 Heard 0 2095 128 334 Other 10 315 94 88 All Outcomes 0 2095 47 147 All Cases: Count: 3110 Range: 0.000 - 2095.000; Mean: 47.497; Median: 17.000; Stddev: 147.833 Percentiles: 90th: 74.000; 95th: 171.000; 99th: 507.000 0.000 - 3.009: 7 | 3.009 - 7.037: 15 # 7.037 - 15.112: 1323 ##################################################### 15.112 - 31.298: 1090 ############################################ 31.298 - 63.746: 314 ############# 63.746 - 128.792: 150 ###### 128.792 - 259.185: 114 ##### 259.185 - 520.578: 61 ## 520.578 - 1044.575: 9 | 1044.575 - 2095.000: 20 # By Reason Cause: Count: 718 Range: 0.000 - 2095.000; Mean: 87.019; Median: 24.000; Stddev: 223.927 Percentiles: 90th: 192.000; 95th: 315.000; 99th: 1480.000 0.000 - 4.775: 4 # 4.775 - 10.117: 80 ##################### 10.117 - 20.399: 206 ##################################################### 20.399 - 40.194: 174 ############################################# 40.194 - 78.297: 91 ####################### 78.297 - 151.645: 69 ################## 151.645 - 292.840: 54 ############## 292.840 - 564.636: 25 ###### 564.636 - 1087.841: 2 # 1087.841 - 2095.000: 11 ### Non-payment: Count: 1991 Range: 0.000 - 2075.000; Mean: 33.249; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 110.527 Percentiles: 90th: 38.000; 95th: 76.000; 99th: 430.000 0.000 - 3.005: 2 | 3.005 - 7.022: 4 | 7.022 - 15.065: 982 ##################################################### 15.065 - 31.174: 717 ####################################### 31.174 - 63.436: 167 ######### 63.436 - 128.047: 53 ### 128.047 - 257.445: 30 ## 257.445 - 516.592: 18 # 516.592 - 1035.591: 7 | 1035.591 - 2075.000: 7 | No Fault: Count: 281 Range: 1.000 - 2089.000; Mean: 44.587; Median: 18.000; Stddev: 137.314 Percentiles: 90th: 66.000; 95th: 142.000; 99th: 366.000 1.000 - 3.008: 1 | 3.008 - 7.033: 1 | 7.033 - 15.098: 100 ############################################ 15.098 - 31.261: 121 ##################################################### 31.261 - 63.653: 28 ############ 63.653 - 128.569: 11 ##### 128.569 - 258.664: 10 #### 258.664 - 519.383: 8 #### 519.383 - 2089.000: 1 | Foreclosure: Count: 120 Range: 0.000 - 531.000; Mean: 54.242; Median: 20.000; Stddev: 85.507 Percentiles: 90th: 171.000; 95th: 250.000; 99th: 345.000 0.000 - 5.523: 1 # 5.523 - 9.637: 2 ### 9.637 - 16.347: 39 ##################################################### 16.347 - 27.288: 37 ################################################## 27.288 - 45.130: 14 ################### 45.130 - 74.227: 5 ####### 74.227 - 121.675: 5 ####### 121.675 - 199.051: 6 ######## 199.051 - 325.232: 7 ########## 325.232 - 531.000: 3 #### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 713 Range: 0.000 - 2075.000; Mean: 57.701; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 156.705 Percentiles: 90th: 119.000; 95th: 252.000; 99th: 584.000 0.000 - 4.769: 3 # 4.769 - 10.095: 137 ######################### 10.095 - 20.338: 286 ##################################################### 20.338 - 40.036: 137 ######################### 40.036 - 77.918: 51 ######### 77.918 - 150.770: 39 ####### 150.770 - 290.874: 27 ##### 290.874 - 560.314: 24 #### 560.314 - 1078.485: 2 | 1078.485 - 2075.000: 6 # Defaulted: Count: 709 Range: 1.000 - 2089.000; Mean: 36.643; Median: 17.000; Stddev: 128.479 Percentiles: 90th: 49.000; 95th: 105.000; 99th: 321.000 1.000 - 3.008: 1 | 3.008 - 7.033: 2 | 7.033 - 15.098: 312 ##################################################### 15.098 - 31.261: 284 ################################################ 31.261 - 63.653: 57 ########## 63.653 - 128.569: 25 #### 128.569 - 258.664: 16 ### 258.664 - 519.383: 9 ## 519.383 - 2089.000: 3 # Mediated: Count: 1559 Range: 0.000 - 2089.000; Mean: 41.365; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 126.241 Percentiles: 90th: 64.000; 95th: 134.000; 99th: 434.000 0.000 - 12.957: 324 ####################### 12.957 - 23.350: 746 ##################################################### 23.350 - 41.482: 259 ################## 41.482 - 73.116: 92 ####### 73.116 - 128.306: 51 #### 128.306 - 224.592: 43 ### 224.592 - 392.577: 21 # 392.577 - 685.649: 8 # 685.649 - 1196.955: 4 | 1196.955 - 2089.000: 6 | Heard: Count: 116 Range: 0.000 - 2095.000; Mean: 128.259; Median: 27.500; Stddev: 334.281 Percentiles: 90th: 333.000; 95th: 474.000; 99th: 2068.000 0.000 - 3.009: 3 ##### 3.009 - 7.037: 4 ###### 7.037 - 15.112: 24 ##################################### 15.112 - 31.298: 34 ##################################################### 31.298 - 63.746: 19 ############################## 63.746 - 128.792: 10 ################ 128.792 - 259.185: 8 ############ 259.185 - 520.578: 9 ############## 520.578 - 2095.000: 4 ###### Other Outcome: Count: 13 Range: 10.000 - 315.000; Mean: 94.615; Median: 47.000; Stddev: 88.022 Percentiles: 90th: 168.000; 95th: 315.000; 99th: 315.000 10.000 - 14.389: 2 ################################### 14.389 - 29.122: 1 ################## 29.122 - 41.142: 1 ################## 41.142 - 57.958: 3 ##################################################### 57.958 - 81.484: 1 ################## 81.484 - 160.446: 3 ##################################################### 160.446 - 224.870: 1 ################## 224.870 - 315.000: 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/.