Outcomes for April 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: 2018-04-01 Search Period End: 2018-04-30 Earliest Case: 2018-04-02 Latest Case: 2018-04-30 Total Cases: 3214 Total Transfers: 84 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 36.1% Of those, percentage pro se: 57.1% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Humarock Least stable with 10+ filings: Cheshire Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Berkshire Cases per day: 110 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 eastern 510 15.9% northeast 491 15.3% southeast 480 14.9% central 449 14.0% western 426 13.3% quincy district 112 3.5% malden district 59 1.8% cambridge district 42 1.3% stoughton district 37 1.2% barnstable district 34 1.1% chelsea district 34 1.1% pittsfield district 30 0.9% somerville district 29 0.9% dedham district 27 0.8% lowell district 24 0.7% lynn district 24 0.7% northern berkshire district 23 0.7% waltham district 23 0.7% wrentham district 22 0.7% fall river district 20 0.6% springfield district 20 0.6% attleboro district 18 0.6% salem district 17 0.5% bmc east boston 15 0.5% bmc west roxbury 15 0.5% haverhill district 15 0.5% woburn district 14 0.4% framingham district 13 0.4% lawrence district 13 0.4% fallmouth district 12 0.4% orleans district 12 0.4% brockton district 10 0.3% newburyport district 8 0.2% bmc dorchester 7 0.2% natick district 7 0.2% newton district 7 0.2% westfield district 7 0.2% chelsea_district 6 0.2% southern berkshire district 6 0.2% wareham district 6 0.2% brookline district 5 0.2% holyoke district 5 0.2% orange district 5 0.2% palmer district 5 0.2% peabody district 5 0.2% cambridge_district 4 0.1% eastern hampshire district 4 0.1% fall_river_district 4 0.1% framingham_district 4 0.1% greenfield district 4 0.1% northampton district 4 0.1% taunton district 4 0.1% milford district 3 0.1% new bedford district 3 0.1% attleboro_district 2 0.1% barnstable_district 2 0.1% brockton_district 2 0.1% dedham_district 2 0.1% eastern_hampshire_district 2 0.1% hingham district 2 0.1% nantucket district 2 0.1% plymouth district 2 0.1% worcester district 2 0.1% ayer district 1 0.0% ayer_district 1 0.0% bmc brighton 1 0.0% bmc roxbury 1 0.0% bmc south boston 1 0.0% brookline_district 1 0.0% chicopee district 1 0.0% clinton district 1 0.0% concord_district 1 0.0% edgartown district 1 0.0% fallmouth_district 1 0.0% gloucester district 1 0.0% westborough district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2055 9 Natural Person 1159 3205 Total 3214 3214 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 63.9% 0.3% Natural Person 36.1% 99.7% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 1903 152 2055 Optional 497 662 1159 Total 2400 814 3214 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 59.2% 4.7% 63.9% Optional 15.5% 20.6% 36.1% Total 74.7% 25.3% 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 2 7 9 Optional 228 2977 3205 Total 230 2984 3214 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.2% 0.3% Optional 7.1% 92.6% 99.7% Total 7.2% 92.8% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 230 7.2% 1 2154 67.0% 2 653 20.3% 3 107 3.3% 4 42 1.3% 5 17 0.5% 6 6 0.2% 7 3 0.1% 8 1 0.0% 9 1 0.0% Total 3214 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 1628 50.7% Cause 1190 37.0% No Fault 277 8.6% Foreclosure 117 3.6% Unknown/Other 2 0.1% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Humarock 555 1 Cheshire 340 11 Florence 316 3 West Yarmouth 208 11 Southfield 202 1 Chestnut Hill 188 4 Washington 185 1 Erving 166 3 Hyannis 163 23 Thorndike 144 1 Holyoke 132 53 Springfield 128 196 Dorchester 127 117 Dennis Port 126 4 Greenfield 126 22 New Bedford 125 119 East Falmouth 121 7 Lawrence 120 92 Williamsburg 120 3 Adams 117 10 Buzzards Bay 116 4 North Adams 116 16 Ashfield 115 2 Harwich Port 115 2 Fall River 113 101 Bondsville 106 2 Fitchburg 106 43 Pittsfield 105 47 Hyde Park 104 35 Monterey 104 1 Athol 103 12 Middleborough 103 24 New Braintree 100 1 Salem 99 41 Winchendon 97 10 Everett 95 40 Ware 91 9 Worcester 90 163 Canton 88 19 Gilbertville 86 1 Roslindale 86 25 Worthington 86 1 Salisbury 84 7 Malden 80 48 Indian Orchard 79 8 Lowell 79 85 Charlemont 78 1 West Chatham 78 1 Randolph 77 25 Orange 76 6 Chester 74 1 Framingham 74 51 Brockton 73 69 Dorchester Center 73 68 Taunton 73 41 Wellfleet 72 2 Saugus 71 19 Chicopee 70 39 Haverhill 70 43 Gardner 69 14 Mattapan 68 25 Roxbury 68 41 Spencer 68 8 Centerville 66 9 Leominster 66 27 Stoughton 66 18 Palmer 65 8 Granville 63 1 West Springfield 63 18 Whitman 62 9 Sheffield 61 2 Cotuit 60 2 Chelsea 59 21 Colrain 59 1 Warren 58 3 Lynn 57 52 Abington 56 9 Becket 56 1 Quincy 56 52 Revere 56 29 South Boston 56 19 Peabody 54 28 Waltham 54 33 Southbridge 53 9 Webster 53 9 Vineyard Haven 52 1 Rockland 51 9 Stockbridge 51 1 Attleboro Falls 50 1 Danvers 49 13 Hinsdale 49 1 North Andover 49 14 Hull 48 5 North Attleborough 48 14 Bernardston 46 1 Attleborough 45 20 Brighton 45 20 Cambridge 45 48 East Brookfield 45 1 West Dennis 45 1 Woburn 44 17 Beverly 43 17 Dudley 43 5 Jamaica Plain 42 16 North Brookfield 42 2 Charlestown 41 7 Marstons Mills 41 2 Belchertown 40 6 East Boston 39 16 Halifax 39 3 Lunenburg 39 4 Milford 39 11 Charlton 38 5 Allston 37 11 Medford 37 21 Westford 36 8 Mashpee 35 5 West Barnstable 35 1 Feeding Hills 34 4 Norwood 34 10 Pepperell 34 4 Tewksbury 34 10 Three Rivers 34 1 Westwood 34 5 Blackstone 33 3 Bridgewater 33 9 Dracut 33 10 Natick 33 11 Provincetown 33 1 Newton Upper Falls 32 2 Hudson 31 6 Methuen 31 15 Swansea 31 5 Bedford 30 4 Millbury 30 4 Hanson 29 3 Nantucket 29 3 Raynham 29 4 Westfield 29 12 Great Barrington 28 2 Jefferson 28 1 Pembroke 28 5 Rockport 28 2 Brimfield 27 1 E. Boston 27 11 Holbrook 27 3 Scituate 27 5 Shirley 27 2 Wareham 27 6 Westminster 27 2 Ayer 26 2 Duxbury 26 4 Franklin 25 8 Rutland 25 2 Watertown 25 8 Ashland 24 4 Easthampton 24 4 Gloucester 24 7 Lancaster 24 2 South Attleboro 24 2 Chelmsford 23 8 Medway 23 3 Monson 23 2 North Easton 23 3 Roxbury Crossing 23 14 Clinton 22 3 Shrewsbury 22 8 South Hadley 22 4 Townsend 22 2 Winthrop 22 4 North Chelmsford 21 2 Northampton 21 6 Northborough 21 3 Plymouth 21 12 Seekonk 21 3 Somerville 21 16 Southwick 21 2 Brewster 20 2 Brookline 20 12 Eastham 20 1 North Reading 20 3 Braintree 19 7 Hadley 19 1 Manchester 19 1 Newtonville 19 1 South Easton 19 2 Amesbury 18 3 East Wareham 18 4 Leicester 18 2 Melrose 18 5 South Barre 18 1 Stoneham 18 4 Weymouth 18 10 Winchester 18 4 Agawam 17 5 Carver 17 2 Foxborough 17 3 Newburyport 17 3 Rowley 17 1 South Yarmouth 17 2 Tyngsborough 17 2 Wilmington 17 4 Burlington 16 4 Granby 16 1 Mattapoisett 16 1 Medfield 16 2 Somerset 16 3 Walpole 16 4 Amherst 15 6 East Taunton 15 1 Ipswich 15 2 Kingston 15 2 Bradford 14 2 Dennis 14 2 East Bridgewater 14 2 Oxford 14 2 Swampscott 14 2 Uxbridge 14 2 Acton 13 3 Cohasset 13 1 East Weymouth 13 7 Hingham 13 3 Upton 13 1 Auburn 12 2 Boston 12 79 Dedham 12 3 East Longmeadow 12 2 Georgetown 12 1 Millis 12 1 Plainville 12 1 Williamstown 12 1 Arlington 11 5 Assonet 11 1 Littleton 11 1 Marshfield 11 3 Middleton 11 1 Montague 11 1 South Weymouth 11 6 Sudbury 11 2 Sutton 11 1 Norton 10 2 Southborough 10 1 Wellesley 10 3 Westborough 10 2 Acushnet 9 1 Billerica 9 4 Lakeville 9 1 North Billerica 9 1 Sandwich 9 2 West Roxbury 9 3 Mansfield 8 2 Rehoboth 8 1 Wakefield 8 2 East Walpole 7 2 West Newton 7 1 Wilbraham 7 1 Andover 6 2 Bellingham 6 1 Fairhaven 6 1 Hopkinton 6 1 Longmeadow 6 1 Northbridge 6 1 Westport 6 1 Bourne 5 1 Concord 5 1 Holden 5 1 Marblehead 5 1 Ludlow 4 1 Newton 4 4 North Dartmouth 4 1 Onset 4 1 Reading 4 1 Lexington 3 1 Needham 3 1 Barnstable 2 1 Dartmouth 2 1 Marlborough 2 1 North Weymouth 1 1 (not given) 0 18 Brant Rock 0 1 Eau Claire 0 1 New Castle 0 1 span 0 8 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 Berkshire 588 95 Hampden 505 359 Barnstable 445 86 Plymouth 444 192 Bristol 401 330 Franklin 350 37 Essex 335 369 Worcester 334 372 Suffolk 284 561 Norfolk 248 212 Hampshire 238 44 Middlesex 224 524 Nantucket 85 3 Dukes 24 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 2743 85.3% Ongoing/Error 471 14.7% 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 1330 48.5% Defaulted 654 23.8% Dismissed 593 21.6% Heard 140 5.1% Other 26 0.9% Total 2743 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 154 165 294 87 26 Foreclosure 18 47 45 7 0 No Fault 43 44 181 9 0 Non-payment 378 398 810 37 0 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 5.6% 6.0% 10.7% 3.2% 0.9% Foreclosure 0.7% 1.7% 1.6% 0.3% 0.0% No Fault 1.6% 1.6% 6.6% 0.3% 0.0% Non-payment 13.8% 14.5% 29.5% 1.3% 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 1458 53.2% 45.4% Judgment inferred 548 20.0% 17.1% No judgment 737 26.9% 22.9% Total 2743 100.0% 62.4% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 395 14.4% 0 26,563 2,402 3,250 949,000 Foreclosure 62 2.3% 0 7,672 837 1,948 51,936 No fault 125 4.6% 0 33,132 2,023 3,944 252,949 Non-payment 876 31.9% 0 45,236 3,753 4,459 3,287,896 Subtotal 1458 53.2% 0 45,236 3,115 4,124 4,541,782 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 67 2.4% 0 8,021 2,048 2,069 137,220 Defaulted 621 22.6% 0 36,370 2,923 3,750 1,815,755 Mediated 678 24.7% 0 45,236 3,262 4,271 2,211,640 Heard 66 2.4% 0 33,132 4,938 6,673 325,958 Other 26 0.9% 240 9,296 1,969 1,968 51,207 Subtotal 1458 53.2% 0 45,236 3,115 4,124 4,541,782 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 3 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% plaintiff 1548 77.2% 56.4% 48.2% unknown 455 22.7% 16.6% 14.2% Total 2006 100.0% 73.1% 62.4% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1458 Range: 0.000 - 45236.990; Mean: 3115.077; Median: 1974.490; Stddev: 4125.864 Percentiles: 90th: 7105.200; 95th: 9507.930; 99th: 19875.290 0.000 - 54.362: 2 | 54.362 - 115.627: 5 # 115.627 - 244.691: 187 ########################### 244.691 - 516.579: 87 ############# 516.579 - 1089.346: 152 ###################### 1089.346 - 2295.953: 312 ############################################# 2295.953 - 4837.825: 365 ##################################################### 4837.825 - 10192.603: 221 ################################ 10192.603 - 21473.126: 51 ####### 21473.126 - 45236.990: 13 ## Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 395 Range: 0.000 - 26563.940; Mean: 2402.533; Median: 1412.910; Stddev: 3254.204 Percentiles: 90th: 5722.420; 95th: 7988.800; 99th: 18443.910 0.000 - 77.331: 2 # 77.331 - 148.654: 6 #### 148.654 - 284.918: 68 ############################################ 284.918 - 545.253: 22 ############## 545.253 - 1042.630: 41 ########################### 1042.630 - 1992.879: 56 ##################################### 1992.879 - 3808.354: 81 ##################################################### 3808.354 - 7276.862: 51 ################################# 7276.862 - 13903.531: 22 ############## 13903.531 - 26563.940: 6 #### Foreclosure: Count: 62 Range: 0.000 - 7672.590; Mean: 837.681; Median: 205.740; Stddev: 1963.982 Percentiles: 90th: 469.590; 95th: 7661.820; 99th: 7672.590 0.000 - 269.178: 46 ##################################################### 269.178 - 390.862: 7 ######## 390.862 - 567.350: 2 ## 567.350 - 3646.809: 1 # 3646.809 - 7672.590: 5 ###### No Fault: Count: 125 Range: 0.000 - 33132.730; Mean: 2023.595; Median: 883.540; Stddev: 3960.861 Percentiles: 90th: 4490.000; 95th: 8000.000; 99th: 15937.090 0.000 - 182.541: 13 ########################## 182.541 - 325.933: 27 ##################################################### 325.933 - 581.351: 4 ######## 581.351 - 1036.317: 11 ###################### 1036.317 - 1846.728: 24 ############################################### 1846.728 - 3290.278: 15 ############################# 3290.278 - 5861.610: 10 #################### 5861.610 - 10441.811: 4 ######## 10441.811 - 18600.325: 4 ######## 18600.325 - 33132.730: 1 ## Non-payment: Count: 876 Range: 0.000 - 45236.990; Mean: 3753.306; Median: 2542.935; Stddev: 4462.062 Percentiles: 90th: 7538.980; 95th: 10353.440; 99th: 25620.270 0.000 - 54.362: 1 | 54.362 - 244.691: 43 ######### 244.691 - 516.579: 42 ######## 516.579 - 1089.346: 96 ################### 1089.346 - 2295.953: 205 ######################################### 2295.953 - 4837.825: 268 ##################################################### 4837.825 - 10192.603: 163 ################################ 10192.603 - 21473.126: 37 ####### 21473.126 - 45236.990: 11 ## Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 67 Range: 0.000 - 8021.040; Mean: 2048.064; Median: 1554.440; Stddev: 2085.359 Percentiles: 90th: 5210.620; 95th: 6766.980; 99th: 8021.040 0.000 - 236.997: 11 ################################################# 236.997 - 350.818: 5 ###################### 350.818 - 519.072: 3 ############# 519.072 - 767.793: 4 ################## 767.793 - 1135.463: 5 ###################### 1135.463 - 1678.969: 5 ###################### 1678.969 - 2482.403: 12 ##################################################### 2482.403 - 3670.073: 7 ############################### 3670.073 - 5425.739: 7 ############################### 5425.739 - 8021.040: 6 ########################### Defaulted: Count: 621 Range: 0.000 - 36370.000; Mean: 2923.922; Median: 1832.570; Stddev: 3753.645 Percentiles: 90th: 7194.420; 95th: 9179.390; 99th: 18207.610 0.000 - 123.475: 1 | 123.475 - 232.909: 94 ####################################### 232.909 - 438.553: 35 ############## 438.553 - 824.989: 44 ################## 824.989 - 1551.165: 89 ##################################### 1551.165 - 2915.764: 128 ##################################################### 2915.764 - 5480.063: 119 ################################################# 5480.063 - 10298.787: 73 ############################## 10298.787 - 19353.936: 18 ####### 19353.936 - 36370.000: 4 ## Mediated: Count: 678 Range: 0.000 - 45236.990; Mean: 3262.007; Median: 2127.990; Stddev: 4274.893 Percentiles: 90th: 6944.380; 95th: 9507.930; 99th: 25620.270 0.000 - 54.362: 2 # 54.362 - 115.627: 4 # 115.627 - 244.691: 67 #################### 244.691 - 516.579: 30 ######### 516.579 - 1089.346: 71 ##################### 1089.346 - 2295.953: 147 ############################################ 2295.953 - 4837.825: 179 ##################################################### 4837.825 - 10192.603: 112 ################################# 10192.603 - 21473.126: 22 ####### 21473.126 - 45236.990: 8 ## Heard: Count: 66 Range: 0.000 - 33132.730; Mean: 4938.758; Median: 3273.195; Stddev: 6724.800 Percentiles: 90th: 12754.550; 95th: 15759.620; 99th: 33132.730 0.000 - 304.534: 9 ##################################### 304.534 - 513.273: 1 #### 513.273 - 864.622: 2 ######## 864.622 - 1456.011: 4 ################ 1456.011 - 2451.434: 5 #################### 2451.434 - 4126.927: 10 ######################################### 4126.927 - 6947.108: 13 ##################################################### 6947.108 - 11694.025: 5 #################### 11694.025 - 19684.015: 5 #################### 19684.015 - 33132.730: 3 ############ Other Outcome: Count: 26 Range: 240.000 - 9296.350; Mean: 1969.513; Median: 1560.660; Stddev: 2007.280 Percentiles: 90th: 4257.280; 95th: 4997.000; 99th: 9296.350 240.000 - 346.257: 4 ########################################## 346.257 - 499.363: 1 ########### 499.363 - 719.974: 5 ##################################################### 719.974 - 1037.853: 1 ########### 1037.853 - 1495.884: 1 ########### 1495.884 - 2155.862: 5 ##################################################### 2155.862 - 3106.825: 5 ##################################################### 3106.825 - 4477.069: 2 ##################### 4477.069 - 6451.455: 1 ########### 6451.455 - 9296.350: 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 1421 70.8% 51.8% 44.2% Issued 1278 63.7% 46.6% 39.8% Levied 281 14.0% 10.2% 8.7% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 44 15.7% 2.2% 1.6% 1.4% Foreclosure 30 10.7% 1.5% 1.1% 0.9% No Fault 23 8.2% 1.1% 0.8% 0.7% Non-payment 184 65.5% 9.2% 6.7% 5.7% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 281 100.0% 14.0% 10.2% 8.7% 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 18 6.4% 0.9% 0.7% 0.6% Defaulted 118 42.0% 5.9% 4.3% 3.7% Mediated 137 48.8% 6.8% 5.0% 4.3% Heard 8 2.8% 0.4% 0.3% 0.2% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 281 100.0% 14.0% 10.2% 8.7% 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 30 117 25.6% Non-payment 184 1628 11.3% No Fault 23 277 8.3% Cause 44 1190 3.7% Unknown/Other 0 2 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 118 654 18.0% Mediated 137 1330 10.3% Heard 8 140 5.7% Dismissed 18 593 3.0% Other 0 26 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 2304 101 281 Non-payment 0 1127 30 70 No Fault 0 461 33 55 Foreclosure 9 595 59 108 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 2304 50 160 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 1 2304 52 147 Defaulted 8 2028 34 105 Mediated 0 1954 46 132 Heard 1 2218 163 424 Other 0 304 42 60 All Outcomes 0 2304 50 160 All Cases: Count: 2743 Range: 0.000 - 2304.000; Mean: 50.772; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 160.410 Percentiles: 90th: 77.000; 95th: 192.000; 99th: 590.000 0.000 - 3.048: 17 # 3.048 - 7.191: 23 # 7.191 - 15.578: 1259 ##################################################### 15.578 - 32.550: 874 ##################################### 32.550 - 66.897: 258 ########### 66.897 - 136.409: 120 ##### 136.409 - 277.086: 81 ### 277.086 - 561.785: 76 ### 561.785 - 1137.956: 14 # 1137.956 - 2304.000: 16 # By Reason Cause: Count: 726 Range: 0.000 - 2304.000; Mean: 101.868; Median: 22.000; Stddev: 281.922 Percentiles: 90th: 206.000; 95th: 398.000; 99th: 1954.000 0.000 - 3.048: 12 ### 3.048 - 7.191: 10 ## 7.191 - 15.578: 252 ##################################################### 15.578 - 32.550: 171 #################################### 32.550 - 66.897: 105 ###################### 66.897 - 136.409: 72 ############### 136.409 - 277.086: 44 ######### 277.086 - 561.785: 33 ####### 561.785 - 1137.956: 8 ## 1137.956 - 2304.000: 16 ### Non-payment: Count: 1623 Range: 0.000 - 1127.000; Mean: 30.283; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 70.495 Percentiles: 90th: 38.000; 95th: 79.000; 99th: 392.000 0.000 - 4.428: 5 | 4.428 - 8.821: 38 ## 8.821 - 16.770: 943 ##################################################### 16.770 - 31.151: 427 ######################## 31.151 - 57.172: 106 ###### 57.172 - 104.253: 35 ## 104.253 - 189.438: 24 # 189.438 - 343.565: 15 # 343.565 - 622.434: 25 # 622.434 - 1127.000: 4 | No Fault: Count: 277 Range: 0.000 - 461.000; Mean: 33.350; Median: 17.000; Stddev: 55.427 Percentiles: 90th: 51.000; 95th: 140.000; 99th: 342.000 0.000 - 12.344: 52 ############################ 12.344 - 18.784: 99 ##################################################### 18.784 - 28.333: 60 ################################ 28.333 - 42.491: 28 ############### 42.491 - 63.483: 14 ####### 63.483 - 94.605: 5 ### 94.605 - 140.750: 5 ### 140.750 - 209.166: 8 #### 209.166 - 310.603: 2 # 310.603 - 461.000: 3 ## Foreclosure: Count: 117 Range: 9.000 - 595.000; Mean: 59.188; Median: 17.000; Stddev: 108.077 Percentiles: 90th: 181.000; 95th: 335.000; 99th: 466.000 9.000 - 14.050: 38 ##################################################### 14.050 - 21.649: 36 ################################################## 21.649 - 33.086: 12 ################# 33.086 - 50.298: 8 ########### 50.298 - 76.201: 4 ###### 76.201 - 115.184: 4 ###### 115.184 - 173.853: 2 ### 173.853 - 262.146: 5 ####### 262.146 - 395.024: 4 ###### 395.024 - 595.000: 4 ###### By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 593 Range: 1.000 - 2304.000; Mean: 52.786; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 147.488 Percentiles: 90th: 92.000; 95th: 285.000; 99th: 654.000 1.000 - 3.048: 5 # 3.048 - 7.191: 9 ## 7.191 - 15.578: 289 ##################################################### 15.578 - 32.550: 158 ############################# 32.550 - 66.897: 61 ########### 66.897 - 136.409: 24 #### 136.409 - 277.086: 15 ### 277.086 - 561.785: 25 ##### 561.785 - 1137.956: 5 # 1137.956 - 2304.000: 2 | Defaulted: Count: 654 Range: 8.000 - 2028.000; Mean: 34.280; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 105.244 Percentiles: 90th: 49.000; 95th: 91.000; 99th: 395.000 8.000 - 14.472: 267 ##################################################### 14.472 - 25.598: 250 ################################################## 25.598 - 44.725: 66 ############# 44.725 - 77.606: 30 ###### 77.606 - 134.133: 21 #### 134.133 - 231.309: 6 # 231.309 - 398.365: 8 ## 398.365 - 685.553: 4 # 685.553 - 2028.000: 2 | Mediated: Count: 1330 Range: 0.000 - 1954.000; Mean: 46.322; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 132.393 Percentiles: 90th: 70.000; 95th: 186.000; 99th: 570.000 0.000 - 6.430: 5 | 6.430 - 12.800: 369 ################################# 12.800 - 24.632: 596 ##################################################### 24.632 - 46.610: 169 ############### 46.610 - 87.431: 70 ###### 87.431 - 163.253: 43 #### 163.253 - 304.085: 36 ### 304.085 - 565.669: 25 ## 565.669 - 1051.539: 8 # 1051.539 - 1954.000: 6 # Heard: Count: 140 Range: 1.000 - 2218.000; Mean: 163.157; Median: 26.500; Stddev: 424.779 Percentiles: 90th: 371.000; 95th: 469.000; 99th: 2213.000 1.000 - 3.032: 8 ########### 3.032 - 7.129: 3 #### 7.129 - 15.390: 38 ##################################################### 15.390 - 32.043: 25 ################################### 32.043 - 65.618: 22 ############################### 65.618 - 133.309: 13 ################## 133.309 - 269.782: 13 ################## 269.782 - 544.924: 11 ############### 544.924 - 1099.638: 1 # 1099.638 - 2218.000: 6 ######## Other Outcome: Count: 26 Range: 0.000 - 304.000; Mean: 42.192; Median: 20.000; Stddev: 60.935 Percentiles: 90th: 85.000; 95th: 102.000; 99th: 304.000 0.000 - 5.170: 1 ####### 5.170 - 13.680: 8 ##################################################### 13.680 - 21.644: 2 ############# 21.644 - 33.928: 3 #################### 33.928 - 52.877: 3 #################### 52.877 - 82.105: 4 ########################### 82.105 - 127.189: 2 ############# 127.189 - 304.000: 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/.