Outcomes for July 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: 2018-07-01 Search Period End: 2018-07-31 Earliest Case: 2018-07-01 Latest Case: 2018-07-31 Total Cases: 3799 Total Transfers: 97 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 36.5% Of those, percentage pro se: 56.3% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Linwood Least stable with 10+ filings: North Adams Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Hampden Cases per day: 126 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 611 16.1% western 592 15.6% northeast 578 15.2% southeast 558 14.7% central 530 14.0% quincy district 132 3.5% cambridge district 47 1.2% malden district 43 1.1% lynn district 40 1.1% stoughton district 35 0.9% northern berkshire district 34 0.9% barnstable district 32 0.8% springfield district 32 0.8% pittsfield district 31 0.8% brockton district 30 0.8% somerville district 30 0.8% fall river district 28 0.7% wrentham district 25 0.7% fallmouth district 24 0.6% chelsea district 23 0.6% dedham district 21 0.6% lowell district 21 0.6% waltham district 20 0.5% framingham district 19 0.5% orleans district 19 0.5% new bedford district 18 0.5% woburn district 16 0.4% salem district 15 0.4% attleboro district 14 0.4% bmc west roxbury 13 0.3% haverhill district 12 0.3% bmc south boston 11 0.3% bmc dorchester 10 0.3% lawrence district 10 0.3% milford district 9 0.2% bmc brighton 8 0.2% bmc east boston 8 0.2% westfield district 8 0.2% edgartown district 7 0.2% holyoke district 7 0.2% peabody district 7 0.2% ayer district 6 0.2% gloucester district 6 0.2% newton district 6 0.2% concord district 5 0.1% hingham district 5 0.1% taunton district 5 0.1% brookline district 4 0.1% chicopee district 4 0.1% eastern hampshire district 4 0.1% newburyport district 4 0.1% palmer district 3 0.1% southern berkshire district 3 0.1% wareham district 3 0.1% greenfield district 2 0.1% nantucket district 2 0.1% plymouth district 2 0.1% westborough district 2 0.1% bmc charlestown 1 0.0% bmc roxbury 1 0.0% natick district 1 0.0% northampton district 1 0.0% orange district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2411 5 Natural Person 1388 3794 Total 3799 3799 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 63.5% 0.1% Natural Person 36.5% 99.9% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2298 113 2411 Optional 607 781 1388 Total 2905 894 3799 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 60.5% 3.0% 63.5% Optional 16.0% 20.6% 36.5% Total 76.5% 23.5% 100.0% Defendant Representation Note: Limited Assistance Representation should be reflected here. Tenancy preservation or other social services may not be reflected. (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2 3 5 Optional 235 3559 3794 Total 237 3562 3799 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.1% 0.1% 0.1% Optional 6.2% 93.7% 99.9% Total 6.2% 93.8% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 233 6.1% 1 2578 67.9% 2 801 21.1% 3 128 3.4% 4 34 0.9% 5 17 0.4% 6 5 0.1% 7 3 0.1% Total 3799 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 2082 54.8% Cause 1305 34.4% No Fault 306 8.1% Foreclosure 104 2.7% Unknown/Other 2 0.1% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Linwood 694 1 Plainfield 308 2 Dennis Port 284 9 North Adams 255 35 West Wareham 230 5 East Falmouth 224 13 Vineyard Haven 211 4 Buzzards Bay 204 7 Springfield 197 303 Leeds 196 2 Turners Falls 195 8 Brockton 167 157 Holyoke 160 64 Dorchester 158 146 Adams 153 13 West Yarmouth 151 8 Southbridge 149 25 Webster 149 25 Fall River 146 130 Chestnut Hill 141 3 Housatonic 132 1 Lawrence 132 101 Chicopee 130 72 New Bedford 130 124 Indian Orchard 129 13 Pittsfield 125 56 Worcester 119 216 Wendell 117 1 Fitchburg 116 47 Chilmark 115 1 Mattapan 115 42 Roxbury 115 69 Athol 112 13 Lynn 110 100 Lowell 109 117 Greenfield 108 19 Bondsville 106 2 Florence 105 1 Orange 102 8 New Braintree 100 1 Whitinsville 100 7 Hyannis 99 14 Randolph 96 31 Haverhill 91 56 Salem 87 36 Dorchester Center 86 80 Framingham 86 59 Chesterfield 81 1 Sunderland 81 3 Ayer 80 6 Gardner 79 16 Hyde Park 77 26 North Andover 74 21 Roslindale 72 21 Stoughton 70 19 Ware 70 7 Woburn 70 27 Braintree 69 25 Everett 69 29 Abington 68 11 Feeding Hills 68 8 South Boston 68 23 South Easton 68 7 Danvers 67 18 Provincetown 67 2 Richmond 67 1 Ashland 66 11 Taunton 66 37 Canton 64 14 Millis 63 5 Westfield 63 26 East Taunton 62 4 Marstons Mills 61 3 Milford 60 17 Spencer 59 7 Leominster 58 24 Chelsea 56 20 Great Barrington 56 4 Osterville 56 2 Amesbury 55 9 Whitman 55 8 Peabody 54 28 Sagamore 54 2 West Falmouth 54 1 Foxborough 53 9 Bridgewater 52 14 Buckland 52 1 Attleboro Falls 50 1 Malden 50 30 Orleans 50 3 Revere 50 26 Ashburnham 49 3 Easthampton 49 8 Truro 49 1 Hull 48 5 Brighton 47 21 Cambridge 47 50 Dracut 47 14 Avon 45 2 East Brookfield 45 1 Forestdale 45 2 Huntington 45 1 Rockland 45 8 West Dennis 45 1 West Springfield 45 13 Allston 44 13 Marlborough 44 17 North Oxford 44 1 Oak Bluffs 44 2 Mansfield 43 10 Rockport 43 3 Westborough 43 8 East Boston 41 17 Gloucester 41 12 Quincy 41 38 Jamaica Plain 40 15 Marion 40 2 West Boylston 39 3 Newtonville 38 2 Warren 38 2 Holbrook 37 4 Medford 37 21 Rutland 37 3 Saugus 37 10 Salisbury 36 3 Wellfleet 36 1 Tyngsborough 35 4 Attleborough 34 15 Lynnfield 34 4 Norwood 34 10 Three Rivers 34 1 Duxbury 33 5 Ashby 32 1 Beverly 32 13 Chatham 32 2 Lanesborough 32 1 Berkley 31 2 Merrimac 31 2 Waltham 31 19 Andover 30 10 Bedford 30 4 Cheshire 30 1 Stow 30 2 Acushnet 29 3 Charlestown 29 5 Lunenburg 29 3 Methuen 29 14 Raynham 29 4 Somerville 29 22 East Sandwich 28 1 Lakeville 28 3 Ludlow 28 6 Mashpee 28 4 West Bridgewater 28 2 East Wareham 27 6 Leicester 27 3 Shirley 27 2 Cohasset 26 2 Pepperell 26 3 Wilmington 26 6 East Longmeadow 25 4 Middleborough 25 6 South Yarmouth 25 3 Swansea 25 4 East Weymouth 24 13 Edgartown 24 1 Harwich 24 3 Palmer 24 3 Plymouth 23 13 Roxbury Crossing 23 14 Newburyport 22 4 Uxbridge 22 3 Wareham 22 5 West Roxbury 22 7 North Chelmsford 21 2 Oxford 21 3 Southwick 21 2 Watertown 21 7 Boxborough 20 1 Burlington 20 5 Dedham 20 5 North Attleborough 20 6 North Reading 20 3 Tewksbury 20 6 Hampden 19 1 Nantucket 19 2 Shrewsbury 19 7 Westport 19 3 Acton 18 4 Arlington 18 8 Auburn 18 3 Bellingham 18 3 Melrose 18 5 Milton 18 5 North Billerica 18 2 South Barre 18 1 Stoneham 18 4 Wrentham 18 2 Agawam 17 5 Rehoboth 17 2 Rowley 17 1 Winthrop 17 3 Lee 16 1 Walpole 16 4 Amherst 15 6 Boston 15 94 Kingston 15 2 Lexington 15 5 Marblehead 15 3 Marshfield 15 4 Millbury 15 2 North Easton 15 2 Norton 15 3 Chelmsford 14 5 Dalton 14 1 East Bridgewater 14 2 Hanover 14 2 Northampton 14 4 Northborough 14 2 Sandwich 14 3 Seekonk 14 2 Wilbraham 14 2 Belchertown 13 2 Onset 13 3 Weymouth 13 7 Boxford 12 1 Franklin 12 4 Lancaster 12 1 North Grafton 12 1 Northbridge 12 2 Sterling 12 1 Templeton 12 1 Wakefield 12 3 Williamstown 12 1 Blackstone 11 1 Douglas 11 1 Grafton 11 2 Littleton 11 1 Pembroke 11 2 Somerset 11 2 South Hadley 11 2 Auburndale 10 1 Bourne 10 2 Brewster 10 1 Brookline 10 6 Southborough 10 1 E. Boston 9 4 Falmouth 9 3 Hanson 9 1 Maynard 9 1 Rochdale 9 1 Winchendon 9 1 Belmont 8 2 Dartmouth 8 3 Dudley 8 1 Groton 8 1 Medfield 8 1 North Weymouth 8 5 Billerica 7 3 Centerville 7 1 Charlton 7 1 Ipswich 7 1 Medway 7 1 Swampscott 7 1 Barnstable 6 3 Hopkinton 6 1 Natick 6 2 Needham 6 2 Westwood 6 1 Concord 5 1 Holden 5 1 Hudson 5 1 Scituate 5 1 North Dartmouth 4 1 Reading 4 1 Westford 4 1 Winchester 4 1 Newton 3 3 South Weymouth 3 2 Wellesley 3 1 South Dartmouth 2 1 (not given) 0 30 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 738 525 Berkshire 712 115 Plymouth 618 267 Barnstable 492 95 Bristol 444 366 Worcester 416 463 Essex 410 451 Franklin 379 40 Suffolk 327 646 Norfolk 262 224 Middlesex 225 526 Dukes 195 8 Hampshire 195 36 Nantucket 56 2 Rate per 100,000 renter households based on 2019 ACS. Counties appear even if no evictions filed. OUTCOMES Concluded cases are 'disposed'. Not all cases were disposed at time of reading. Cases are read approximately 18 months after filing. Court Record Reads This Report Reads Stipulation of Dismissal Dismissed Voluntary Dismissal Dismissed Dismissal Dismissed Agreement for Judgment Mediated Agreement Mediated Judgment by Default Defaulted Findings Heard Order Heard Disposed Heard (unrecognized) Other Dismissals: Stipulations of dismissal are not legally the same as voluntary dismissals, but both are treated here as scenarios in which either money has been paid or cause cured. Mediation: Agreements are not legally the same as agreements for judgment, but both are treated here as mediations in which a tenancy may be preserved; judgment or execution may enter thereafter, looked at separately. Tenancy preservation program is generally not visible, may influence either mediation or dismissal. Some disposed cases may have a judgment entered. Judgments may be for money only, money and possession, or possession only. Some judgments for possession may result in an execution. Dispositions Count Percentage Disposed 3295 86.7% Ongoing/Error 504 13.3% Cases not yet disposed were either ongoing at time of reading or left open due to clerical error only. Note that agreements for judgment may not all be filed properly, and that mediations may be undercounted. By outcome, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Mediated 1659 50.3% Defaulted 782 23.7% Dismissed 682 20.7% Heard 154 4.7% Other 18 0.5% Total 3295 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 163 193 339 95 18 Foreclosure 20 35 42 7 0 No Fault 45 50 205 5 0 Non-payment 453 504 1073 46 0 Unknown/Other 1 0 0 1 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 4.9% 5.9% 10.3% 2.9% 0.5% Foreclosure 0.6% 1.1% 1.3% 0.2% 0.0% No Fault 1.4% 1.5% 6.2% 0.2% 0.0% Non-payment 13.7% 15.3% 32.6% 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 1783 54.1% 46.9% Judgment inferred 652 19.8% 17.2% No judgment 860 26.1% 22.6% Total 3295 100.0% 64.1% Judgments by reason, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std Dev Total Cause 449 13.6% 0 23,186 2,195 2,989 985,944 Foreclosure 58 1.8% 0 17,438 989 3,042 57,387 No fault 127 3.9% 0 23,526 2,032 3,321 258,153 Non-payment 1148 34.8% 0 56,068 3,306 3,665 3,795,370 Unknown/Other 1 0.0% 240 240 240 0 240 Subtotal 1783 54.1% 0 56,068 2,858 3,520 5,097,095 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 91 2.8% 0 6,855 1,770 1,791 161,115 Defaulted 743 22.5% 0 35,891 2,635 3,081 1,958,085 Mediated 864 26.2% 0 56,068 3,026 3,514 2,614,759 Heard 67 2.0% 0 39,473 4,603 7,319 308,416 Other 18 0.5% 256 10,032 3,039 2,548 54,718 Subtotal 1783 54.1% 0 56,068 2,858 3,520 5,097,095 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 9 0.4% 0.3% 0.2% plaintiff 1863 76.5% 56.5% 49.0% unknown 563 23.1% 17.1% 14.8% Total 2435 100.0% 73.9% 64.1% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1783 Range: 0.000 - 56068.900; Mean: 2858.719; Median: 1985.660; Stddev: 3521.828 Percentiles: 90th: 6298.530; 95th: 8063.760; 99th: 16196.010 0.000 - 102.271: 5 # 102.271 - 206.893: 171 ################### 206.893 - 417.505: 107 ############ 417.505 - 841.485: 130 ############### 841.485 - 1694.991: 304 ################################## 1694.991 - 3413.167: 473 ##################################################### 3413.167 - 6871.995: 382 ########################################### 6871.995 - 13834.896: 119 ############# 13834.896 - 27851.779: 17 ## 27851.779 - 56068.900: 5 # Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 449 Range: 0.000 - 23186.530; Mean: 2195.868; Median: 1169.450; Stddev: 2993.034 Percentiles: 90th: 5807.640; 95th: 6987.090; 99th: 13475.000 0.000 - 119.224: 1 # 119.224 - 214.730: 63 ############################################## 214.730 - 386.105: 38 ############################ 386.105 - 693.619: 28 #################### 693.619 - 1245.421: 48 ################################### 1245.421 - 2235.571: 66 ################################################ 2235.571 - 4012.290: 73 ##################################################### 4012.290 - 7200.427: 60 ############################################ 7200.427 - 12921.202: 16 ############ 12921.202 - 23186.530: 5 #### Foreclosure: Count: 58 Range: 0.000 - 17438.230; Mean: 989.435; Median: 205.000; Stddev: 3069.171 Percentiles: 90th: 309.700; 95th: 9871.880; 99th: 17438.230 0.000 - 274.834: 47 ##################################################### 274.834 - 436.265: 4 ##### 436.265 - 692.175: 1 # 692.175 - 6938.556: 1 # 6938.556 - 10999.932: 1 # 10999.932 - 17438.230: 2 ## No Fault: Count: 127 Range: 0.000 - 23526.980; Mean: 2032.708; Median: 1044.190; Stddev: 3334.193 Percentiles: 90th: 5625.000; 95th: 7329.120; 99th: 18155.240 0.000 - 234.210: 34 ##################################################### 234.210 - 391.367: 7 ########### 391.367 - 653.529: 2 ### 653.529 - 1090.856: 10 ################ 1090.856 - 1820.386: 20 ############################### 1820.386 - 3037.354: 23 #################################### 3037.354 - 5067.448: 5 ######## 5067.448 - 8453.960: 10 ################ 8453.960 - 14103.188: 3 ##### 14103.188 - 23526.980: 2 ### Non-payment: Count: 1148 Range: 0.000 - 56068.900; Mean: 3306.071; Median: 2482.780; Stddev: 3667.583 Percentiles: 90th: 6460.000; 95th: 8278.030; 99th: 15951.840 0.000 - 102.271: 4 # 102.271 - 206.893: 47 ####### 206.893 - 417.505: 34 ##### 417.505 - 841.485: 88 ############# 841.485 - 1694.991: 207 ############################## 1694.991 - 3413.167: 360 ##################################################### 3413.167 - 6871.995: 298 ############################################ 6871.995 - 13834.896: 89 ############# 13834.896 - 27851.779: 10 # 27851.779 - 56068.900: 5 # Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 91 Range: 0.000 - 6855.030; Mean: 1770.496; Median: 1073.460; Stddev: 1801.452 Percentiles: 90th: 4879.420; 95th: 5537.240; 99th: 6855.030 0.000 - 233.288: 15 ##################################################### 233.288 - 339.938: 7 ######################### 339.938 - 495.135: 1 #### 495.135 - 720.979: 7 ######################### 720.979 - 1049.629: 11 ####################################### 1049.629 - 1527.882: 12 ########################################## 1527.882 - 2223.839: 7 ######################### 2223.839 - 3236.601: 9 ################################ 3236.601 - 4710.379: 8 ############################ 4710.379 - 6855.030: 11 ####################################### Defaulted: Count: 743 Range: 0.000 - 35891.020; Mean: 2635.378; Median: 1838.750; Stddev: 3083.912 Percentiles: 90th: 5861.180; 95th: 7650.000; 99th: 14701.120 0.000 - 124.593: 1 | 124.593 - 234.429: 108 ################################ 234.429 - 440.318: 40 ############ 440.318 - 826.264: 50 ############### 826.264 - 1549.731: 112 ################################# 1549.731 - 2905.890: 181 ##################################################### 2905.890 - 5448.052: 151 ############################################ 5448.052 - 10213.410: 75 ###################### 10213.410 - 19146.214: 10 ### 19146.214 - 35891.020: 5 # Mediated: Count: 864 Range: 0.000 - 56068.900; Mean: 3026.342; Median: 2236.555; Stddev: 3516.791 Percentiles: 90th: 6643.280; 95th: 8241.320; 99th: 15951.840 0.000 - 102.271: 4 # 102.271 - 206.893: 51 ############ 206.893 - 417.505: 48 ########### 417.505 - 841.485: 61 ############## 841.485 - 1694.991: 132 ############################## 1694.991 - 3413.167: 234 ##################################################### 3413.167 - 6871.995: 207 ############################################### 6871.995 - 13834.896: 68 ############### 13834.896 - 27851.779: 10 ## 27851.779 - 56068.900: 1 | Heard: Count: 67 Range: 0.000 - 39473.440; Mean: 4603.236; Median: 1997.420; Stddev: 7375.058 Percentiles: 90th: 11724.160; 95th: 12737.660; 99th: 39473.440 0.000 - 312.981: 11 ############################################# 312.981 - 536.245: 1 #### 536.245 - 918.264: 1 #### 918.264 - 1571.925: 8 ################################# 1571.925 - 2690.386: 7 ############################# 2690.386 - 4604.152: 7 ############################# 4604.152 - 7878.742: 13 ##################################################### 7878.742 - 13481.797: 7 ############################# 13481.797 - 39473.440: 3 ############ Other Outcome: Count: 18 Range: 256.000 - 10032.900; Mean: 3039.931; Median: 2336.755; Stddev: 2622.264 Percentiles: 90th: 6742.390; 95th: 10032.900; 99th: 10032.900 256.000 - 369.755: 1 ########### 369.755 - 1112.135: 5 ##################################################### 1112.135 - 1604.837: 1 ########### 1604.837 - 2315.622: 2 ##################### 2315.622 - 3341.018: 4 ########################################## 3341.018 - 4820.281: 1 ########### 4820.281 - 6954.304: 3 ################################ 6954.304 - 10032.900: 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 1768 72.6% 53.7% 46.5% Issued 1555 63.9% 47.2% 40.9% Levied 332 13.6% 10.1% 8.7% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 53 16.0% 2.2% 1.6% 1.4% Foreclosure 27 8.1% 1.1% 0.8% 0.7% No Fault 24 7.2% 1.0% 0.7% 0.6% Non-payment 228 68.7% 9.4% 6.9% 6.0% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 332 100.0% 13.6% 10.1% 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 33 9.9% 1.4% 1.0% 0.9% Defaulted 96 28.9% 3.9% 2.9% 2.5% Mediated 193 58.1% 7.9% 5.9% 5.1% Heard 10 3.0% 0.4% 0.3% 0.3% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 332 100.0% 13.6% 10.1% 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 27 104 26.0% Non-payment 228 2082 11.0% No Fault 24 306 7.8% Cause 53 1305 4.1% 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 96 782 12.3% Mediated 193 1659 11.6% Heard 10 154 6.5% Dismissed 33 682 4.8% Other 0 18 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 2081 84 201 Non-payment 0 1906 31 91 No Fault 8 379 28 39 Foreclosure 0 1936 66 199 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 2081 45 131 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 3 1936 52 143 Defaulted 7 891 35 73 Mediated 0 1906 40 124 Heard 0 2081 101 249 Other 10 1564 137 360 All Outcomes 0 2081 45 131 All Cases: Count: 3295 Range: 0.000 - 2081.000; Mean: 45.199; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 131.096 Percentiles: 90th: 76.000; 95th: 192.000; 99th: 450.000 0.000 - 3.007: 5 | 3.007 - 7.026: 59 ## 7.026 - 15.079: 1516 ##################################################### 15.079 - 31.211: 1033 #################################### 31.211 - 63.529: 296 ########## 63.529 - 128.271: 163 ###### 128.271 - 257.968: 89 ### 257.968 - 517.789: 105 #### 517.789 - 1038.287: 7 | 1038.287 - 2081.000: 14 | By Reason Cause: Count: 808 Range: 0.000 - 2081.000; Mean: 84.304; Median: 24.000; Stddev: 201.656 Percentiles: 90th: 212.000; 95th: 354.000; 99th: 1166.000 0.000 - 3.007: 4 # 3.007 - 7.026: 14 ### 7.026 - 15.079: 230 ################################################### 15.079 - 31.211: 239 ##################################################### 31.211 - 63.529: 127 ############################ 63.529 - 128.271: 71 ################ 128.271 - 257.968: 54 ############ 257.968 - 517.789: 53 ############ 517.789 - 1038.287: 4 # 1038.287 - 2081.000: 10 ## Non-payment: Count: 2076 Range: 0.000 - 1906.000; Mean: 31.116; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 91.452 Percentiles: 90th: 43.000; 95th: 86.000; 99th: 358.000 0.000 - 6.411: 23 # 6.411 - 12.732: 711 ####################################### 12.732 - 24.442: 963 ##################################################### 24.442 - 46.139: 192 ########### 46.139 - 86.338: 83 ##### 86.338 - 160.821: 37 ## 160.821 - 298.822: 26 # 298.822 - 554.511: 33 ## 554.511 - 1028.252: 2 | 1028.252 - 1906.000: 3 | No Fault: Count: 305 Range: 8.000 - 379.000; Mean: 28.548; Median: 18.000; Stddev: 39.025 Percentiles: 90th: 48.000; 95th: 77.000; 99th: 195.000 8.000 - 12.086: 54 ########################### 12.086 - 18.026: 105 ##################################################### 18.026 - 26.663: 57 ############################# 26.663 - 39.222: 53 ########################### 39.222 - 57.481: 15 ######## 57.481 - 84.029: 6 ### 84.029 - 122.629: 7 #### 122.629 - 178.753: 3 ## 178.753 - 260.354: 3 ## 260.354 - 379.000: 2 # Foreclosure: Count: 104 Range: 0.000 - 1936.000; Mean: 66.904; Median: 18.000; Stddev: 199.137 Percentiles: 90th: 137.000; 95th: 260.000; 99th: 445.000 0.000 - 17.449: 47 ##################################################### 17.449 - 29.941: 20 ####################### 29.941 - 50.894: 9 ########## 50.894 - 86.034: 8 ######### 86.034 - 144.969: 8 ######### 144.969 - 243.813: 2 ## 243.813 - 409.590: 5 ###### 409.590 - 687.624: 1 # 687.624 - 1936.000: 1 # By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 682 Range: 3.000 - 1936.000; Mean: 52.192; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 143.518 Percentiles: 90th: 90.000; 95th: 294.000; 99th: 511.000 3.000 - 6.423: 19 #### 6.423 - 12.774: 213 ############################################# 12.774 - 24.561: 251 ##################################################### 24.561 - 46.434: 87 ################## 46.434 - 87.023: 40 ######## 87.023 - 162.343: 26 ##### 162.343 - 302.116: 13 ### 302.116 - 561.491: 28 ###### 561.491 - 1042.813: 2 | 1042.813 - 1936.000: 3 # Defaulted: Count: 782 Range: 7.000 - 891.000; Mean: 35.944; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 73.186 Percentiles: 90th: 53.000; 95th: 151.000; 99th: 381.000 7.000 - 11.818: 228 ########################################## 11.818 - 19.537: 287 ##################################################### 19.537 - 31.906: 140 ########################## 31.906 - 51.723: 47 ######### 51.723 - 83.475: 21 #### 83.475 - 134.349: 15 ### 134.349 - 215.861: 11 ## 215.861 - 346.464: 21 #### 346.464 - 555.721: 11 ## 555.721 - 891.000: 1 | Mediated: Count: 1659 Range: 0.000 - 1906.000; Mean: 40.485; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 124.956 Percentiles: 90th: 66.000; 95th: 132.000; 99th: 400.000 0.000 - 8.060: 28 ## 8.060 - 15.415: 776 ##################################################### 15.415 - 28.743: 468 ################################ 28.743 - 52.892: 188 ############# 52.892 - 96.647: 76 ##### 96.647 - 175.929: 51 ### 175.929 - 319.580: 36 ## 319.580 - 579.864: 23 ## 579.864 - 1906.000: 7 | Heard: Count: 154 Range: 0.000 - 2081.000; Mean: 101.188; Median: 25.000; Stddev: 249.519 Percentiles: 90th: 275.000; 95th: 304.000; 99th: 1779.000 0.000 - 3.007: 2 ### 3.007 - 7.026: 7 ######### 7.026 - 15.079: 31 ####################################### 15.079 - 31.211: 42 ##################################################### 31.211 - 63.529: 28 ################################### 63.529 - 128.271: 15 ################### 128.271 - 257.968: 9 ########### 257.968 - 517.789: 15 ################### 517.789 - 2081.000: 3 #### Other Outcome: Count: 18 Range: 10.000 - 1564.000; Mean: 137.778; Median: 39.500; Stddev: 360.835 Percentiles: 90th: 228.000; 95th: 1564.000; 99th: 1564.000 10.000 - 17.059: 7 ##################################################### 17.059 - 47.678: 4 ############################## 47.678 - 78.917: 3 ####################### 78.917 - 130.206: 1 ######## 130.206 - 214.410: 1 ######## 214.410 - 352.653: 1 ######## 352.653 - 1564.000: 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/.