Outcomes for May 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: 2018-05-01 Search Period End: 2018-05-31 Earliest Case: 2018-05-01 Latest Case: 2018-05-31 Total Cases: 3017 Total Transfers: 80 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 37.6% Of those, percentage pro se: 60.3% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Leeds Least stable with 10+ filings: Springfield Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 100 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 501 16.6% central 487 16.1% eastern 473 15.7% southeast 434 14.4% western 389 12.9% quincy district 110 3.6% chelsea district 42 1.4% cambridge district 32 1.1% springfield district 32 1.1% pittsfield district 30 1.0% malden district 29 1.0% barnstable district 27 0.9% somerville district 26 0.9% lowell district 25 0.8% lynn district 23 0.8% brockton district 20 0.7% dedham district 19 0.6% fall river district 19 0.6% attleboro district 18 0.6% stoughton district 18 0.6% salem district 15 0.5% northern berkshire district 14 0.5% waltham district 14 0.5% wrentham district 14 0.5% bmc east boston 13 0.4% bmc west roxbury 12 0.4% fallmouth district 11 0.4% bmc dorchester 9 0.3% brookline district 9 0.3% lawrence district 9 0.3% peabody district 9 0.3% concord district 8 0.3% holyoke district 8 0.3% haverhill district 7 0.2% orleans district 7 0.2% westfield district 7 0.2% woburn district 7 0.2% hingham district 6 0.2% plymouth district 6 0.2% framingham district 5 0.2% greenfield district 5 0.2% new bedford district 5 0.2% newton district 5 0.2% northampton district 5 0.2% ayer district 4 0.1% edgartown district 4 0.1% nantucket district 4 0.1% southern berkshire district 4 0.1% taunton district 4 0.1% wareham district 4 0.1% bmc brighton 3 0.1% bmc south boston 3 0.1% eastern hampshire district 3 0.1% gloucester district 3 0.1% natick district 3 0.1% newburyport district 3 0.1% palmer district 3 0.1% bmc roxbury 2 0.1% chicopee district 2 0.1% milford district 2 0.1% bmc central 1 0.0% worcester district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 1883 7 Natural Person 1134 3010 Total 3017 3017 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 62.4% 0.2% Natural Person 37.6% 99.8% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 1755 128 1883 Optional 450 684 1134 Total 2205 812 3017 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 58.2% 4.2% 62.4% Optional 14.9% 22.7% 37.6% Total 73.1% 26.9% 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 5 7 Optional 215 2795 3010 Total 217 2800 3017 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.2% 0.2% Optional 7.1% 92.6% 99.8% Total 7.2% 92.8% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 212 7.0% 1 1958 64.9% 2 655 21.7% 3 127 4.2% 4 40 1.3% 5 13 0.4% 6 8 0.3% 7 1 0.0% 10 2 0.1% 12 1 0.0% Total 3017 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 1564 51.8% Cause 1036 34.3% No Fault 290 9.6% Foreclosure 127 4.2% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Leeds 294 3 Chestnut Hill 235 5 Millers Falls 233 3 Lenox Dale 214 1 Florence 210 2 Springfield 141 217 East Falmouth 138 8 Indian Orchard 138 14 North Adams 138 19 Gill 133 2 Dennis Port 126 4 Fitchburg 119 48 Fall River 113 101 Hyannis 113 16 Southbridge 113 19 Ware 111 11 Dorchester 108 100 Worcester 108 197 Lowell 107 114 Webster 107 18 Bondsville 106 2 Vineyard Haven 105 2 Pittsfield 100 45 South Easton 97 10 Lawrence 95 73 New Bedford 95 91 Athol 94 11 West Yarmouth 94 5 West Wareham 92 2 Avon 91 4 Forestdale 90 4 Holyoke 90 36 Mattapan 90 33 Randolph 90 29 West Warren 88 1 Gilbertville 86 1 Hyde Park 86 29 South Boston 86 29 Brockton 85 80 Chicopee 84 47 Chelsea 82 29 Salem 82 34 Sunderland 81 3 Ayer 80 6 Seekonk 80 11 Gardner 79 16 Lynn 77 70 Revere 75 39 Turners Falls 73 3 Roxbury 72 43 South Egremont 72 1 Whitinsville 72 5 Provincetown 67 2 Winchendon 67 7 Malden 63 38 Danvers 60 16 South Yarmouth 60 7 Phillipston 59 1 Taunton 59 33 Braintree 58 21 Hull 58 6 Nantucket 58 6 Swampscott 58 8 Westfield 58 24 East Sandwich 57 2 Haverhill 57 35 Methuen 57 27 Winthrop 57 10 Leominster 56 23 West Springfield 56 16 Peabody 54 28 Millbury 52 7 Norwood 52 15 Hinsdale 49 1 Mashpee 49 7 Whitman 48 7 Mansfield 47 11 Berkley 46 3 Holbrook 46 5 Marlborough 46 18 Attleborough 45 20 Gloucester 45 13 Rockland 45 8 Clinton 44 6 Dalton 44 3 Townsend 44 4 Woburn 44 17 Abington 43 7 Dudley 43 5 Rockport 43 3 Milford 42 12 Dorchester Center 41 38 Roslindale 41 12 Beverly 40 16 Eastham 40 2 Everett 40 17 Lenox 39 2 Yarmouth Port 39 2 Cambridge 38 41 Roxbury Crossing 38 23 Auburn 37 6 Raynham 37 5 Stoughton 37 10 Framingham 36 25 Salisbury 36 3 Wellfleet 36 1 West Tisbury 36 1 Adams 35 3 Charlestown 35 6 Foxborough 35 6 West Barnstable 35 1 Brighton 34 15 Greenfield 34 6 Jamaica Plain 34 13 Newburyport 34 6 Pocasset 34 1 Blackstone 33 3 Chelmsford 32 11 Fiskdale 32 1 Easthampton 31 5 Allston 30 9 Ashland 30 5 Cheshire 30 1 Dracut 30 9 Groveland 30 2 Plymouth 30 17 Sheffield 30 1 Nahant 29 1 North Hatfield 29 1 Dedham 28 7 Dighton 28 2 Essex 28 1 Jefferson 28 1 Quincy 27 25 Sagamore 27 1 Somerset 27 5 Somerville 27 21 Westminster 27 2 Medford 26 15 Norton 26 5 Feeding Hills 25 3 Melrose 25 7 Middleborough 25 6 Millis 25 2 North Grafton 25 2 Edgartown 24 1 Lancaster 24 2 Charlton 23 3 Kingston 23 3 Ludlow 23 5 Monson 23 2 North Easton 23 3 Waltham 23 14 West Newbury 23 1 Boylston 22 1 Saugus 22 6 Uxbridge 22 3 Wareham 22 5 North Andover 21 6 North Brookfield 21 1 North Chelmsford 21 2 Burlington 20 5 East Weymouth 20 11 Hudson 20 4 Paxton 20 1 Southborough 20 2 Newtonville 19 1 Sandwich 19 4 Warren 19 1 Amesbury 18 3 Barre 18 1 Cherry Valley 18 2 Lakeville 18 2 Leicester 18 2 Milton 18 5 South Barre 18 1 Swansea 18 3 Billerica 17 7 Lynnfield 17 2 Pepperell 17 2 Rowley 17 1 South Hadley 17 3 Weston 17 2 Ashburnham 16 1 Granby 16 1 Hopedale 16 1 Lee 16 1 Mattapoisett 16 1 Palmer 16 2 Pembroke 16 3 Scituate 16 3 Weymouth 16 9 Bedford 15 2 East Taunton 15 1 Lexington 15 5 Marshfield 15 4 Natick 15 5 Agawam 14 4 Arlington 14 6 Centerville 14 2 Great Barrington 14 1 Acton 13 3 Boston 13 84 Brookline 13 8 Canton 13 3 Cohasset 13 1 Hingham 13 3 Hopkinton 13 2 Stoneham 13 3 Tewksbury 13 4 West Boylston 13 1 Bellingham 12 2 Boxford 12 1 E. Boston 12 5 Northbridge 12 2 Orange 12 1 Plainville 12 1 Rutland 12 1 Wakefield 12 3 Williamstown 12 1 Bridgewater 11 3 Douglas 11 1 Marblehead 10 2 Southwick 10 1 Sturbridge 10 1 Westborough 10 2 Andover 9 3 East Wareham 9 2 Hanson 9 1 Maynard 9 1 Watertown 9 3 West Roxbury 9 3 Westford 9 2 Wrentham 9 1 Carver 8 1 Easton 8 2 Rehoboth 8 1 Shrewsbury 8 3 Tyngsborough 8 1 Walpole 8 2 Bradford 7 1 East Boston 7 3 East Bridgewater 7 1 Hanover 7 1 Ipswich 7 1 Medway 7 1 Northborough 7 1 Oxford 7 1 South Harwich 7 1 Belchertown 6 1 Duxbury 6 1 Fairhaven 6 1 Falmouth 6 2 North Attleborough 6 2 Bourne 5 1 Concord 5 1 Grafton 5 1 Holden 5 1 Sharon 5 1 South Weymouth 5 3 Sudbury 5 1 Belmont 4 1 North Dartmouth 4 1 Wilmington 4 1 Franklin 3 1 Newton 3 3 North Weymouth 3 2 Northampton 3 1 Wellesley 3 1 (not given) 0 24 span 0 5 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 524 373 Berkshire 495 80 Plymouth 386 167 Worcester 385 429 Barnstable 378 73 Bristol 378 311 Essex 330 363 Suffolk 264 523 Norfolk 212 181 Middlesex 185 432 Franklin 170 18 Nantucket 170 6 Hampshire 152 28 Dukes 97 4 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 2579 85.5% Ongoing/Error 438 14.5% 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 1317 51.1% Defaulted 588 22.8% Dismissed 539 20.9% Heard 119 4.6% Other 16 0.6% Total 2579 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 107 140 271 70 16 Foreclosure 25 36 60 6 0 No Fault 57 54 172 6 0 Non-payment 350 358 814 37 0 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 4.1% 5.4% 10.5% 2.7% 0.6% Foreclosure 1.0% 1.4% 2.3% 0.2% 0.0% No Fault 2.2% 2.1% 6.7% 0.2% 0.0% Non-payment 13.6% 13.9% 31.6% 1.4% 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 1358 52.7% 45.0% Judgment inferred 532 20.6% 17.6% No judgment 689 26.7% 22.8% Total 2579 100.0% 62.6% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 328 12.7% 0 88,408 2,689 6,335 882,044 Foreclosure 61 2.4% 0 10,854 1,033 2,408 63,046 No fault 120 4.7% 0 11,557 1,741 2,258 208,963 Non-payment 849 32.9% 0 68,056 3,505 4,347 2,976,004 Subtotal 1358 52.7% 0 88,408 3,041 4,766 4,130,058 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 59 2.3% 0 11,682 1,684 2,158 99,407 Defaulted 552 21.4% 0 88,408 3,122 5,416 1,723,602 Mediated 683 26.5% 0 68,056 3,028 4,361 2,068,393 Heard 48 1.9% 0 19,994 3,819 4,578 183,343 Other 16 0.6% 272 16,842 3,457 3,831 55,312 Subtotal 1358 52.7% 0 88,408 3,041 4,766 4,130,058 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 6 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% plaintiff 1449 76.7% 56.2% 48.0% unknown 435 23.0% 16.9% 14.4% Total 1890 100.0% 73.3% 62.6% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1358 Range: 0.000 - 88408.850; Mean: 3041.280; Median: 1960.595; Stddev: 4767.940 Percentiles: 90th: 6507.440; 95th: 9500.000; 99th: 18304.270 0.000 - 181.799: 54 ######## 181.799 - 362.291: 175 ########################### 362.291 - 720.997: 80 ############ 720.997 - 1433.882: 187 ############################ 1433.882 - 2850.655: 348 ##################################################### 2850.655 - 5666.320: 289 ############################################ 5666.320 - 11262.114: 143 ###################### 11262.114 - 22383.078: 35 ##### 22383.078 - 44484.649: 3 | 44484.649 - 88408.850: 3 | Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 328 Range: 0.000 - 88408.850; Mean: 2689.161; Median: 1276.220; Stddev: 6344.976 Percentiles: 90th: 6174.080; 95th: 7919.500; 99th: 18304.270 0.000 - 181.799: 24 ################### 181.799 - 362.291: 68 ##################################################### 362.291 - 720.997: 17 ############# 720.997 - 1433.882: 38 ############################## 1433.882 - 2850.655: 66 ################################################### 2850.655 - 5666.320: 51 ######################################## 5666.320 - 11262.114: 27 ##################### 11262.114 - 22383.078: 7 ##### 22383.078 - 44484.649: 2 ## 44484.649 - 88408.850: 1 # Foreclosure: Count: 61 Range: 0.000 - 10854.680; Mean: 1033.547; Median: 206.080; Stddev: 2428.720 Percentiles: 90th: 3230.770; 95th: 7809.010; 99th: 10854.680 0.000 - 268.531: 45 ##################################################### 268.531 - 405.394: 5 ###### 405.394 - 611.754: 1 # 611.754 - 4774.069: 1 # 4774.069 - 7198.766: 1 # 7198.766 - 10854.680: 5 ###### No Fault: Count: 120 Range: 0.000 - 11557.110; Mean: 1741.362; Median: 868.765; Stddev: 2268.448 Percentiles: 90th: 4271.590; 95th: 5157.700; 99th: 10549.460 0.000 - 218.072: 38 ##################################################### 218.072 - 339.371: 5 ####### 339.371 - 527.834: 2 ### 527.834 - 820.649: 5 ####### 820.649 - 1275.594: 14 #################### 1275.594 - 1982.443: 9 ############# 1982.443 - 3080.673: 16 ###################### 3080.673 - 4786.991: 16 ###################### 4786.991 - 7438.094: 3 #### 7438.094 - 11557.110: 5 ####### Non-payment: Count: 849 Range: 0.000 - 68056.550; Mean: 3505.305; Median: 2411.370; Stddev: 4349.963 Percentiles: 90th: 6965.450; 95th: 10208.300; 99th: 18854.560 0.000 - 261.336: 34 ######## 261.336 - 485.499: 30 ####### 485.499 - 901.208: 76 ################# 901.208 - 1672.134: 142 ################################ 1672.134 - 3101.809: 238 ##################################################### 3101.809 - 5753.124: 195 ########################################### 5753.124 - 10669.961: 93 ##################### 10669.961 - 19788.179: 30 ####### 19788.179 - 36697.815: 5 # 36697.815 - 68056.550: 2 | Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 59 Range: 0.000 - 11682.540; Mean: 1684.875; Median: 1140.060; Stddev: 2177.357 Percentiles: 90th: 3896.460; 95th: 4909.000; 99th: 11682.540 0.000 - 273.580: 16 ##################################################### 273.580 - 415.541: 2 ####### 415.541 - 630.899: 3 ########## 630.899 - 957.599: 6 #################### 957.599 - 1453.208: 7 ####################### 1453.208 - 2205.054: 10 ################################# 2205.054 - 3345.614: 7 ####################### 3345.614 - 5075.861: 5 ################# 5075.861 - 11682.540: 2 ####### Defaulted: Count: 552 Range: 0.000 - 88408.850; Mean: 3122.467; Median: 1951.195; Stddev: 5421.824 Percentiles: 90th: 6174.080; 95th: 10208.300; 99th: 21824.490 0.000 - 252.286: 96 ###################################### 252.286 - 484.460: 24 ######### 484.460 - 929.459: 49 ################### 929.459 - 1782.366: 88 ################################### 1782.366 - 3417.093: 134 ##################################################### 3417.093 - 6550.297: 107 ########################################## 6550.297 - 12555.558: 34 ############# 12555.558 - 24065.557: 13 ##### 24065.557 - 46126.223: 2 # 46126.223 - 88408.850: 1 | Mediated: Count: 683 Range: 0.000 - 68056.550; Mean: 3028.394; Median: 2055.780; Stddev: 4364.552 Percentiles: 90th: 6746.000; 95th: 8500.000; 99th: 16590.490 0.000 - 177.079: 17 ##### 177.079 - 343.770: 78 ######################## 343.770 - 666.495: 29 ######### 666.495 - 1291.310: 86 ########################## 1291.310 - 2500.986: 145 ############################################ 2500.986 - 4842.989: 173 ##################################################### 4842.989 - 9377.242: 96 ############################# 9377.242 - 18155.818: 23 ####### 18155.818 - 35151.646: 3 # 35151.646 - 68056.550: 2 # Heard: Count: 48 Range: 0.000 - 19994.450; Mean: 3819.652; Median: 2639.950; Stddev: 4626.668 Percentiles: 90th: 11250.990; 95th: 15373.960; 99th: 19994.450 0.000 - 259.757: 7 ######################################### 259.757 - 421.325: 2 ############ 421.325 - 1106.817: 1 ###### 1106.817 - 1793.232: 5 ############################# 1793.232 - 2904.956: 7 ######################################### 2904.956 - 4705.517: 9 ##################################################### 4705.517 - 7621.723: 5 ############################# 7621.723 - 12344.840: 4 ######################## 12344.840 - 19994.450: 3 ################## Other Outcome: Count: 16 Range: 272.290 - 16842.970; Mean: 3457.024; Median: 2323.790; Stddev: 3957.234 Percentiles: 90th: 6392.300; 95th: 16842.970; 99th: 16842.970 272.290 - 411.673: 1 ############# 411.673 - 939.957: 1 ############# 939.957 - 1419.862: 2 ########################### 1419.862 - 2144.528: 3 ######################################## 2144.528 - 3238.785: 4 ##################################################### 3238.785 - 4891.133: 2 ########################### 4891.133 - 7386.208: 2 ########################### 7386.208 - 16842.970: 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 1359 71.9% 52.7% 45.0% Issued 1235 65.3% 47.9% 40.9% Levied 290 15.3% 11.2% 9.6% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 39 13.4% 2.1% 1.5% 1.3% Foreclosure 24 8.3% 1.3% 0.9% 0.8% No Fault 25 8.6% 1.3% 1.0% 0.8% Non-payment 202 69.7% 10.7% 7.8% 6.7% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 290 100.0% 15.3% 11.2% 9.6% 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 21 7.2% 1.1% 0.8% 0.7% Defaulted 88 30.3% 4.7% 3.4% 2.9% Mediated 179 61.7% 9.5% 6.9% 5.9% Heard 2 0.7% 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 290 100.0% 15.3% 11.2% 9.6% 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 24 127 18.9% Non-payment 202 1564 12.9% No Fault 25 290 8.6% Cause 39 1036 3.8% Unknown/Other 0 0 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 88 588 15.0% Mediated 179 1317 13.6% Dismissed 21 539 3.9% Heard 2 119 1.7% Other 0 16 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 2256 94 257 Non-payment 0 2235 35 122 No Fault 0 430 38 66 Foreclosure 9 1956 81 250 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 2256 51 169 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 1 2183 53 167 Defaulted 7 2256 49 178 Mediated 0 2190 44 142 Heard 3 2179 131 318 Other 0 897 141 228 All Outcomes 0 2256 51 169 All Cases: Count: 2579 Range: 0.000 - 2256.000; Mean: 51.843; Median: 17.000; Stddev: 169.663 Percentiles: 90th: 88.000; 95th: 198.000; 99th: 486.000 0.000 - 3.039: 5 | 3.039 - 7.157: 20 # 7.157 - 15.473: 1084 ##################################################### 15.473 - 32.268: 956 ############################################### 32.268 - 66.186: 218 ########### 66.186 - 134.685: 110 ##### 134.685 - 273.019: 88 #### 273.019 - 552.390: 71 ### 552.390 - 1116.587: 7 | 1116.587 - 2256.000: 16 # By Reason Cause: Count: 604 Range: 0.000 - 2256.000; Mean: 94.421; Median: 23.000; Stddev: 257.279 Percentiles: 90th: 221.000; 95th: 342.000; 99th: 1835.000 0.000 - 3.039: 3 # 3.039 - 7.157: 7 ## 7.157 - 15.473: 173 ############################################### 15.473 - 32.268: 195 ##################################################### 32.268 - 66.186: 84 ####################### 66.186 - 134.685: 55 ############### 134.685 - 273.019: 39 ########### 273.019 - 552.390: 33 ######### 552.390 - 1116.587: 5 # 1116.587 - 2256.000: 9 ## Non-payment: Count: 1559 Range: 0.000 - 2235.000; Mean: 35.440; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 122.551 Percentiles: 90th: 38.000; 95th: 106.000; 99th: 392.000 0.000 - 3.035: 2 | 3.035 - 7.142: 10 # 7.142 - 15.427: 773 ##################################################### 15.427 - 32.144: 579 ######################################## 32.144 - 65.873: 99 ####### 65.873 - 133.926: 30 ## 133.926 - 271.232: 28 ## 271.232 - 548.267: 30 ## 548.267 - 1107.224: 1 | 1107.224 - 2235.000: 5 | No Fault: Count: 289 Range: 0.000 - 430.000; Mean: 38.388; Median: 19.000; Stddev: 66.734 Percentiles: 90th: 73.000; 95th: 150.000; 99th: 424.000 0.000 - 6.808: 1 # 6.808 - 11.192: 45 ######################### 11.192 - 18.038: 96 ##################################################### 18.038 - 28.728: 76 ########################################## 28.728 - 45.422: 33 ################## 45.422 - 71.489: 8 #### 71.489 - 112.194: 6 ### 112.194 - 175.757: 11 ###### 175.757 - 275.011: 4 ## 275.011 - 430.000: 8 #### Foreclosure: Count: 127 Range: 9.000 - 1956.000; Mean: 81.315; Median: 20.000; Stddev: 250.965 Percentiles: 90th: 178.000; 95th: 243.000; 99th: 1935.000 9.000 - 15.950: 35 ##################################### 15.950 - 27.729: 50 ##################################################### 27.729 - 47.694: 12 ############# 47.694 - 81.535: 10 ########### 81.535 - 138.893: 4 #### 138.893 - 236.113: 9 ########## 236.113 - 400.896: 4 #### 400.896 - 1153.601: 1 # 1153.601 - 1956.000: 2 ## By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 539 Range: 1.000 - 2183.000; Mean: 53.096; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 167.581 Percentiles: 90th: 74.000; 95th: 258.000; 99th: 675.000 1.000 - 3.026: 1 | 3.026 - 7.104: 15 #### 7.104 - 15.312: 221 ##################################################### 15.312 - 31.834: 189 ############################################# 31.834 - 65.091: 53 ############# 65.091 - 132.034: 24 ###### 132.034 - 266.785: 10 ## 266.785 - 538.024: 20 ##### 538.024 - 1084.002: 3 # 1084.002 - 2183.000: 3 # Defaulted: Count: 588 Range: 7.000 - 2256.000; Mean: 49.446; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 178.206 Percentiles: 90th: 57.000; 95th: 195.000; 99th: 455.000 7.000 - 13.065: 157 ############################ 13.065 - 23.727: 297 ##################################################### 23.727 - 42.473: 61 ########### 42.473 - 75.430: 22 #### 75.430 - 133.373: 13 ## 133.373 - 235.241: 12 ## 235.241 - 414.336: 15 ### 414.336 - 729.202: 7 # 729.202 - 2256.000: 4 # Mediated: Count: 1317 Range: 0.000 - 2190.000; Mean: 44.091; Median: 17.000; Stddev: 142.572 Percentiles: 90th: 73.000; 95th: 157.000; 99th: 350.000 0.000 - 3.027: 3 | 3.027 - 7.109: 2 | 7.109 - 15.327: 550 ##################################################### 15.327 - 31.876: 496 ################################################ 31.876 - 65.197: 128 ############ 65.197 - 132.290: 58 ###### 132.290 - 267.385: 48 ##### 267.385 - 539.406: 21 ## 539.406 - 1087.131: 1 | 1087.131 - 2190.000: 7 # Heard: Count: 119 Range: 3.000 - 2179.000; Mean: 131.681; Median: 25.000; Stddev: 318.313 Percentiles: 90th: 348.000; 95th: 364.000; 99th: 2017.000 3.000 - 6.511: 3 #### 6.511 - 13.104: 20 ############################# 13.104 - 25.484: 37 ##################################################### 25.484 - 48.730: 10 ############## 48.730 - 92.381: 15 ##################### 92.381 - 174.347: 12 ################# 174.347 - 328.259: 9 ############# 328.259 - 617.269: 9 ############# 617.269 - 1159.959: 1 # 1159.959 - 2179.000: 3 #### Other Outcome: Count: 16 Range: 0.000 - 897.000; Mean: 141.938; Median: 47.000; Stddev: 228.122 Percentiles: 90th: 409.000; 95th: 897.000; 99th: 897.000 0.000 - 20.225: 1 ############# 20.225 - 31.178: 4 ##################################################### 31.178 - 47.783: 2 ########################### 47.783 - 72.958: 2 ########################### 72.958 - 111.125: 1 ############# 111.125 - 168.988: 1 ############# 168.988 - 256.710: 2 ########################### 256.710 - 591.327: 1 ############# 591.327 - 897.000: 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/.