Outcomes for December 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: 2018-12-01 Search Period End: 2018-12-31 Earliest Case: 2018-12-03 Latest Case: 2018-12-31 Total Cases: 3373 Total Transfers: 89 -- High-level take-aways: Percentage of landlords for whom attorney is optional: 33.2% Of those, percentage pro se: 58.1% Most common cause: Non-payment Least stable municipality/neighborhood: Humarock Least stable with 10+ filings: Holyoke Least stable with 100+ filings: Springfield Least stable county: Berkshire Cases per day: 112 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 544 16.1% eastern 519 15.4% central 500 14.8% western 500 14.8% southeast 393 11.7% metro south 239 7.1% quincy district 62 1.8% pittsfield district 46 1.4% malden district 45 1.3% cambridge district 38 1.1% lynn district 37 1.1% chelsea district 35 1.0% barnstable district 29 0.9% fall river district 25 0.7% lowell district 25 0.7% framingham district 21 0.6% somerville district 20 0.6% springfield district 19 0.6% bmc west roxbury 18 0.5% northern berkshire district 17 0.5% holyoke district 14 0.4% attleboro district 13 0.4% bmc dorchester 13 0.4% plymouth district 13 0.4% woburn district 13 0.4% lawrence district 12 0.4% peabody district 12 0.4% haverhill district 11 0.3% orleans district 11 0.3% stoughton district 11 0.3% bmc east boston 9 0.3% westfield district 9 0.3% fallmouth district 8 0.2% salem district 8 0.2% wrentham district 8 0.2% waltham district 7 0.2% chicopee district 6 0.2% eastern hampshire district 6 0.2% newton district 6 0.2% dedham district 5 0.1% gloucester district 5 0.1% hingham district 5 0.1% brookline district 4 0.1% palmer district 4 0.1% concord district 3 0.1% milford district 3 0.1% northampton district 3 0.1% taunton district 3 0.1% wareham district 3 0.1% brockton district 2 0.1% edgartown district 2 0.1% greenfield district 2 0.1% new bedford district 2 0.1% newburyport district 2 0.1% ayer district 1 0.0% nantucket district 1 0.0% natick district 1 0.0% Party Type (n) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 2254 8 Natural Person 1119 3365 Total 3373 3373 (%) Plaintiffs Defendants Corporate Entity 66.8% 0.2% Natural Person 33.2% 99.8% Total 100.0% 100.0% Plaintiff Representation (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 2183 71 2254 Optional 469 650 1119 Total 2652 721 3373 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 64.7% 2.1% 66.8% Optional 13.9% 19.3% 33.2% Total 78.6% 21.4% 100.0% Defendant Representation Note: Limited Assistance Representation should be reflected here. Tenancy preservation or other social services may not be reflected. (n) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 1 7 8 Optional 197 3168 3365 Total 198 3175 3373 (%) Has Attorney Pro Se Total Required 0.0% 0.2% 0.2% Optional 5.8% 93.9% 99.8% Total 5.9% 94.1% 100.0% Number of Adults in Households Count Percent 0 208 6.2% 1 2229 66.1% 2 763 22.6% 3 124 3.7% 4 31 0.9% 5 10 0.3% 6 4 0.1% 8 3 0.1% 10 1 0.0% Total 3373 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 2029 60.2% Cause 993 29.4% No Fault 246 7.3% Foreclosure 104 3.1% Unknown/Other 1 0.0% Rate per 100,000 Municipality Residents Count Humarock 555 1 Florence 210 2 Turners Falls 195 8 Holyoke 168 67 Pittsfield 163 73 Indian Orchard 158 16 Springfield 155 238 North Adams 153 21 Buzzards Bay 145 5 New Bedford 143 136 Housatonic 132 1 Mattapan 126 46 Fitchburg 121 49 Lowell 119 127 Montgomery 119 1 Fall River 113 101 Dorchester 109 101 Worcester 106 192 Randolph 105 34 Roxbury 103 62 Three Rivers 102 3 Haverhill 100 61 Winchendon 97 10 Lynn 96 87 Southbridge 95 16 South Yarmouth 94 11 West Yarmouth 94 5 Chicopee 92 51 West Wareham 92 2 Lawrence 91 70 Brockton 90 85 Webster 89 15 Athol 86 10 East Falmouth 86 5 Revere 86 45 Greenfield 85 15 Framingham 84 58 Peabody 81 42 South Dennis 81 3 Sunderland 81 3 West Brookfield 81 3 Marlborough 80 31 Bridgewater 79 21 Orange 76 6 Chester 74 1 Salem 74 31 Roslindale 72 21 Adams 70 6 Ware 70 7 West Barnstable 70 2 Gardner 69 14 Maynard 69 7 Taunton 69 39 Hull 68 7 Hyde Park 68 23 Pembroke 67 12 Danvers 64 17 Everett 64 27 Fiskdale 64 2 Dennis Port 63 2 Hyannis 63 9 Malden 62 37 Belchertown 61 9 Canton 60 13 Dorchester Center 60 56 Westfield 60 25 Foxborough 59 10 West Springfield 59 17 Clarksburg 58 1 Leominster 58 24 Jefferson 57 2 Becket 56 1 Osterville 56 2 Russell 56 1 Erving 55 1 Medway 54 7 Bondsville 53 1 Cambridge 52 55 North Andover 52 15 Oakham 52 1 Chelsea 51 18 Methuen 50 24 Edgartown 49 2 South Deerfield 48 1 Chestnut Hill 47 1 Groveland 46 3 North Attleborough 45 13 Allston 44 13 Hanover 43 6 Quincy 43 40 Gloucester 41 12 Hudson 41 8 Ayer 40 3 Eastham 40 2 Braintree 39 14 Marshfield 39 10 Upton 39 3 Woburn 39 15 Yarmouth Port 39 2 Mansfield 38 9 Middleborough 38 9 Warren 38 2 Lakeville 37 4 Ashland 36 6 Georgetown 36 3 Plainville 36 3 Seekonk 36 5 Wellfleet 36 1 Byfield 35 1 Brighton 34 15 Rockland 34 6 Waltham 34 21 Hopedale 33 2 Ludlow 33 7 Stoughton 33 9 Beverly 32 13 Dedham 32 8 Milford 32 9 Palmer 32 4 West Roxbury 32 10 Westborough 32 6 Berkley 31 2 Merrimac 31 2 Millville 31 1 Watertown 31 10 Amesbury 30 5 Brewster 30 3 Brookfield 29 1 Nahant 29 1 South Easton 29 3 Essex 28 1 Brimfield 27 1 East Wareham 27 6 Holbrook 27 3 Sagamore 27 1 Shirley 27 2 Stoneham 27 6 Wareham 27 6 Carver 26 3 Dudley 26 3 North Reading 26 4 Plymouth 26 15 Weymouth 26 14 Feeding Hills 25 3 Marblehead 25 5 Newton Center 25 1 East Boston 24 10 Jamaica Plain 24 9 Norwood 24 7 Salisbury 24 2 Walpole 24 6 Dracut 23 7 Attleborough 22 10 Avon 22 1 Clinton 22 3 East Weymouth 22 12 Wilmington 22 5 Winthrop 22 4 Amherst 21 8 Andover 21 7 Auburndale 21 2 Mashpee 21 3 North Brookfield 21 1 Oxford 21 3 Somerville 21 16 Southwick 21 2 Wilbraham 21 3 East Freetown 20 1 Marion 20 1 Marstons Mills 20 1 Paxton 20 1 Wakefield 20 5 Whitman 20 3 East Longmeadow 19 3 Hanson 19 2 Lunenburg 19 2 Manchester 19 1 Nantucket 19 2 Newtonville 19 1 Bellingham 18 3 Cherry Valley 18 2 Easthampton 18 3 Fairhaven 18 3 Natick 18 6 Rochdale 18 2 Westford 18 4 Wrentham 18 2 Boston 17 107 Medford 17 10 Northampton 17 5 Rowley 17 1 South Boston 17 6 Tyngsborough 17 2 Ashburnham 16 1 Belmont 16 4 Grafton 16 3 Granby 16 1 Newton Upper Falls 16 1 North Dartmouth 16 4 Charlton 15 2 Ipswich 15 2 Lincoln 15 1 Millbury 15 2 Norton 15 3 Stow 15 1 Chelmsford 14 5 Dalton 14 1 East Bridgewater 14 2 Great Barrington 14 1 Melrose 14 4 Northborough 14 2 Raynham 14 2 Uxbridge 14 2 West Bridgewater 14 1 Cohasset 13 1 Hingham 13 3 Hopkinton 13 2 Needham 13 4 West Boylston 13 1 Westminster 13 1 Abington 12 2 Auburn 12 2 Billerica 12 5 Burlington 12 3 Lancaster 12 1 Longmeadow 12 2 Millis 12 1 Rutland 12 1 Sterling 12 1 Templeton 12 1 Westport 12 2 Williamstown 12 1 Blackstone 11 1 Milton 11 3 Monson 11 1 Newburyport 11 2 Sudbury 11 2 North Chelmsford 10 1 Southborough 10 1 Acton 9 2 E. Boston 9 4 Leicester 9 1 Norwell 9 1 Onset 9 2 Brookline 8 5 Harwich 8 1 Lynnfield 8 1 Medfield 8 1 Pepperell 8 1 Roxbury Crossing 8 5 Spencer 8 1 West Harwich 8 1 Agawam 7 2 Bedford 7 1 Dennis 7 1 Kingston 7 1 Saugus 7 2 South Weymouth 7 4 West Newton 7 1 Franklin 6 2 Swansea 6 1 Tewksbury 6 2 Westwood 6 1 Charlestown 5 1 Holden 5 1 North Weymouth 5 3 Scituate 5 1 Sharon 5 1 Reading 4 1 Sandwich 4 1 East Walpole 3 1 Needham Heights 3 1 Wellesley 3 1 Wellesley Hills 3 1 Arlington 2 1 Newton Highlands 2 2 Shrewsbury 2 1 Newton 1 1 Newton Lower Falls 1 1 (not given) 0 26 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 Berkshire 656 106 Hampden 631 449 Plymouth 491 212 Bristol 406 334 Essex 373 411 Worcester 363 405 Franklin 322 34 Barnstable 316 61 Suffolk 281 556 Norfolk 254 217 Middlesex 222 518 Hampshire 190 35 Nantucket 56 2 Dukes 48 2 Rate per 100,000 renter households based on 2019 ACS. Counties appear even if no evictions filed. OUTCOMES Concluded cases are 'disposed'. Not all cases were disposed at time of reading. Cases are read approximately 18 months after filing. Court Record Reads This Report Reads Stipulation of Dismissal Dismissed Voluntary Dismissal Dismissed Dismissal Dismissed Agreement for Judgment Mediated Agreement Mediated Judgment by Default Defaulted Findings Heard Order Heard Disposed Heard (unrecognized) Other Dismissals: Stipulations of dismissal are not legally the same as voluntary dismissals, but both are treated here as scenarios in which either money has been paid or cause cured. Mediation: Agreements are not legally the same as agreements for judgment, but both are treated here as mediations in which a tenancy may be preserved; judgment or execution may enter thereafter, looked at separately. Tenancy preservation program is generally not visible, may influence either mediation or dismissal. Some disposed cases may have a judgment entered. Judgments may be for money only, money and possession, or possession only. Some judgments for possession may result in an execution. Dispositions Count Percentage Disposed 2972 88.1% Ongoing/Error 401 11.9% 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 1480 49.8% Dismissed 696 23.4% Defaulted 668 22.5% Heard 116 3.9% Other 12 0.4% Total 2972 100.0% Outcome by reason: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 130 131 270 72 12 Foreclosure 21 38 40 4 0 No Fault 44 29 162 8 0 Non-payment 501 470 1008 32 0 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 0 Outcome by reason, as a percent of disposed cases: Dismissed Defaulted Mediated Heard Other Cause 4.4% 4.4% 9.1% 2.4% 0.4% Foreclosure 0.7% 1.3% 1.3% 0.1% 0.0% No Fault 1.5% 1.0% 5.5% 0.3% 0.0% Non-payment 16.9% 15.8% 33.9% 1.1% 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 1548 52.1% 45.9% Judgment inferred 615 20.7% 18.2% No judgment 809 27.2% 24.0% Total 2972 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 330 11.1% 0 131,241 2,910 7,826 960,465 Foreclosure 55 1.9% 0 40,661 1,495 5,815 82,241 No fault 102 3.4% 0 22,898 1,865 2,702 190,232 Non-payment 1061 35.7% 0 51,776 3,351 3,553 3,556,057 Subtotal 1548 52.1% 0 131,241 3,093 4,861 4,788,997 Judgments by outcome, where dollar figures are known, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage Min Max Average Std dev Total Dismissed 86 2.9% 140 22,898 2,290 3,262 196,972 Defaulted 641 21.6% 0 40,661 2,890 3,707 1,852,548 Mediated 756 25.4% 0 131,241 3,319 5,620 2,509,694 Heard 53 1.8% 0 51,776 3,892 7,252 206,280 Other 12 0.4% 100 4,989 1,958 1,386 23,500 Subtotal 1548 52.1% 0 131,241 3,093 4,861 4,788,997 By prevailing party, as a percent of disposed cases: Count Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed defendant 4 0.2% 0.1% 0.1% plaintiff 1616 74.7% 54.4% 47.9% unknown 543 25.1% 18.3% 16.1% Total 2163 100.0% 72.8% 64.1% Judgments All Cases: Count: 1548 Range: 0.000 - 131241.230; Mean: 3093.667; Median: 2078.160; Stddev: 4863.325 Percentiles: 90th: 6315.240; 95th: 9032.570; 99th: 16423.130 0.000 - 59.993: 3 | 59.993 - 142.085: 5 # 142.085 - 334.663: 202 ##################### 334.663 - 786.433: 118 ############ 786.433 - 1846.241: 336 ################################### 1846.241 - 4332.447: 515 ##################################################### 4332.447 - 10164.846: 270 ############################ 10164.846 - 23847.087: 55 ###### 23847.087 - 55944.296: 6 # 55944.296 - 131241.230: 1 | Judgments By Reason Cause: Count: 330 Range: 0.000 - 131241.230; Mean: 2910.502; Median: 1510.725; Stddev: 7838.193 Percentiles: 90th: 6021.710; 95th: 9244.420; 99th: 17223.170 0.000 - 59.993: 1 # 59.993 - 142.085: 3 ## 142.085 - 334.663: 68 ####################################### 334.663 - 786.433: 21 ############ 786.433 - 1846.241: 65 ##################################### 1846.241 - 4332.447: 93 ##################################################### 4332.447 - 10164.846: 39 ###################### 10164.846 - 23847.087: 13 ####### 23847.087 - 55944.296: 1 # 55944.296 - 131241.230: 1 # Foreclosure: Count: 55 Range: 0.000 - 40661.970; Mean: 1495.309; Median: 205.000; Stddev: 5868.729 Percentiles: 90th: 867.360; 95th: 5617.110; 99th: 40661.970 0.000 - 247.437: 40 ##################################################### 247.437 - 436.739: 4 ##### 436.739 - 770.282: 3 #### 770.282 - 1357.974: 1 # 1357.974 - 2393.468: 1 # 2393.468 - 7432.701: 2 ### 7432.701 - 23077.156: 1 # 23077.156 - 40661.970: 1 # No Fault: Count: 102 Range: 0.000 - 22898.300; Mean: 1865.025; Median: 1222.350; Stddev: 2715.772 Percentiles: 90th: 4062.440; 95th: 5052.390; 99th: 8172.600 0.000 - 117.460: 1 ## 117.460 - 211.618: 29 ##################################################### 211.618 - 380.617: 6 ########### 380.617 - 683.944: 2 #### 683.944 - 1228.371: 11 #################### 1228.371 - 2205.535: 20 ##################################### 2205.535 - 3959.397: 19 ################################### 3959.397 - 7107.313: 10 ################## 7107.313 - 12757.346: 1 ## 12757.346 - 22898.300: 1 ## Non-payment: Count: 1061 Range: 0.000 - 51776.240; Mean: 3351.609; Median: 2517.290; Stddev: 3554.925 Percentiles: 90th: 6637.960; 95th: 9076.150; 99th: 14967.000 0.000 - 55.249: 2 | 55.249 - 255.323: 44 ###### 255.323 - 546.172: 52 ######## 546.172 - 1167.045: 130 ################### 1167.045 - 2492.421: 288 ########################################## 2492.421 - 5321.693: 366 ##################################################### 5321.693 - 11361.326: 142 ##################### 11361.326 - 24254.100: 25 #### 24254.100 - 51776.240: 4 # Judgments By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 86 Range: 140.000 - 22898.300; Mean: 2290.382; Median: 1478.310; Stddev: 3281.344 Percentiles: 90th: 4178.950; 95th: 6067.340; 99th: 22898.300 140.000 - 233.574: 10 ############################ 233.574 - 389.247: 4 ########### 389.247 - 648.232: 10 ############################ 648.232 - 1079.091: 8 ###################### 1079.091 - 1795.887: 19 ##################################################### 1795.887 - 2988.379: 14 ####################################### 2988.379 - 4972.261: 16 ############################################# 4972.261 - 8272.735: 2 ###### 8272.735 - 13763.546: 1 ### 13763.546 - 22898.300: 2 ###### Defaulted: Count: 641 Range: 0.000 - 40661.970; Mean: 2890.092; Median: 1926.240; Stddev: 3710.489 Percentiles: 90th: 6117.700; 95th: 8750.870; 99th: 17223.170 0.000 - 258.511: 93 ##################################### 258.511 - 454.040: 26 ########## 454.040 - 796.890: 34 ############# 796.890 - 1398.061: 83 ################################# 1398.061 - 2452.186: 132 #################################################### 2452.186 - 4300.542: 134 ##################################################### 4300.542 - 7541.545: 84 ################################# 7541.545 - 13224.485: 33 ############# 13224.485 - 23189.246: 7 ### 23189.246 - 40661.970: 4 ## Mediated: Count: 756 Range: 0.000 - 131241.230; Mean: 3319.702; Median: 2439.940; Stddev: 5624.233 Percentiles: 90th: 6637.370; 95th: 9184.180; 99th: 14381.990 0.000 - 97.611: 2 | 97.611 - 218.306: 64 ############# 218.306 - 486.730: 31 ###### 486.730 - 1083.693: 72 ############## 1083.693 - 2411.318: 182 #################################### 2411.318 - 5363.910: 271 ##################################################### 5363.910 - 11930.368: 97 ################### 11930.368 - 26533.934: 16 ### 26533.934 - 59011.744: 1 | 59011.744 - 131241.230: 1 | Heard: Count: 53 Range: 0.000 - 51776.240; Mean: 3892.085; Median: 2320.000; Stddev: 7322.019 Percentiles: 90th: 7583.600; 95th: 11742.340; 99th: 51776.240 0.000 - 54.576: 2 ######## 54.576 - 252.935: 5 #################### 252.935 - 541.800: 1 #### 541.800 - 1159.262: 4 ################ 1159.262 - 2479.120: 10 ######################################### 2479.120 - 5300.384: 13 ##################################################### 5300.384 - 11330.980: 8 ################################# 11330.980 - 24221.688: 2 ######## 24221.688 - 51776.240: 1 #### Other Outcome: Count: 12 Range: 100.000 - 4989.840; Mean: 1958.375; Median: 1435.975; Stddev: 1448.060 Percentiles: 90th: 3222.360; 95th: 4989.840; 99th: 4989.840 100.000 - 148.179: 1 ############# 148.179 - 708.982: 2 ########################### 708.982 - 1047.655: 1 ############# 1047.655 - 1547.881: 3 ######################################## 1547.881 - 3378.002: 4 ##################################################### 3378.002 - 4989.840: 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 1512 69.9% 50.9% 44.8% Issued 1291 59.7% 43.4% 38.3% Levied 301 13.9% 10.1% 8.9% Levied by reason: Count Percentage of Levied Percentage of Judgments Percentage of Disposed Percentage of Filed Cause 32 10.6% 1.5% 1.1% 0.9% Foreclosure 20 6.6% 0.9% 0.7% 0.6% No Fault 21 7.0% 1.0% 0.7% 0.6% Non-payment 228 75.7% 10.5% 7.7% 6.8% Unknown/Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Reasons 301 100.0% 13.9% 10.1% 8.9% 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 32 10.6% 1.5% 1.1% 0.9% Defaulted 97 32.2% 4.5% 3.3% 2.9% Mediated 167 55.5% 7.7% 5.6% 5.0% Heard 5 1.7% 0.2% 0.2% 0.1% Other 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% All Outcomes 301 100.0% 13.9% 10.1% 8.9% 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 20 104 19.2% Non-payment 228 2029 11.2% No Fault 21 246 8.5% Cause 32 993 3.2% Unknown/Other 0 1 0.0% Percentage chance is not intended to be summed across reasons. Conditional probabilities: 'Given a case ends with X, what are the odds of a forced move-out?' Levies Filings Percentage Chance Defaulted 97 668 14.5% Mediated 167 1480 11.3% Dismissed 32 696 4.6% Heard 5 116 4.3% Other 0 12 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 3 2195 82 227 Non-payment 0 2194 43 181 No Fault 0 1605 38 111 Foreclosure 2 1628 70 171 Unknown/Other 0 0 0 0 All Reasons 0 2195 52 187 (days) Shortest Longest Average Std Dev Dismissed 0 1632 51 159 Defaulted 3 2194 52 200 Mediated 0 2195 47 182 Heard 3 2079 118 295 Other 10 205 67 76 All Outcomes 0 2195 52 187 All Cases: Count: 2972 Range: 0.000 - 2195.000; Mean: 52.370; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 187.706 Percentiles: 90th: 64.000; 95th: 159.000; 99th: 1605.000 0.000 - 3.028: 14 # 3.028 - 7.112: 33 # 7.112 - 15.338: 1369 ##################################################### 15.338 - 31.906: 959 ##################################### 31.906 - 65.272: 294 ########### 65.272 - 132.472: 123 ##### 132.472 - 267.814: 86 ### 267.814 - 540.392: 38 # 540.392 - 1089.366: 11 | 1089.366 - 2195.000: 34 # By Reason Cause: Count: 615 Range: 3.000 - 2195.000; Mean: 82.753; Median: 24.000; Stddev: 227.327 Percentiles: 90th: 161.000; 95th: 318.000; 99th: 1608.000 3.000 - 6.517: 4 # 6.517 - 13.125: 150 ########################################## 13.125 - 25.542: 189 ##################################################### 25.542 - 48.876: 102 ############################# 48.876 - 92.723: 70 #################### 92.723 - 175.118: 41 ########### 175.118 - 329.949: 30 ######## 329.949 - 620.896: 17 ##### 620.896 - 1167.625: 3 # 1167.625 - 2195.000: 9 ### Non-payment: Count: 2011 Range: 0.000 - 2194.000; Mean: 43.839; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 181.426 Percentiles: 90th: 39.000; 95th: 78.000; 99th: 1608.000 0.000 - 3.028: 12 # 3.028 - 7.112: 20 # 7.112 - 15.336: 1058 ##################################################### 15.336 - 31.900: 646 ################################ 31.900 - 65.257: 152 ######## 65.257 - 132.436: 44 ## 132.436 - 267.728: 32 ## 267.728 - 540.195: 10 # 540.195 - 1088.919: 5 | 1088.919 - 2194.000: 23 # No Fault: Count: 243 Range: 0.000 - 1605.000; Mean: 38.432; Median: 19.000; Stddev: 111.195 Percentiles: 90th: 52.000; 95th: 114.000; 99th: 288.000 0.000 - 14.114: 78 #################################################### 14.114 - 24.383: 80 ##################################################### 24.383 - 41.628: 50 ################################# 41.628 - 70.589: 16 ########### 70.589 - 119.225: 6 #### 119.225 - 200.904: 1 # 200.904 - 338.074: 8 ##### 338.074 - 568.436: 1 # 568.436 - 1605.000: 1 # Foreclosure: Count: 103 Range: 2.000 - 1628.000; Mean: 70.398; Median: 20.000; Stddev: 171.548 Percentiles: 90th: 172.000; 95th: 230.000; 99th: 366.000 2.000 - 4.631: 1 ## 4.631 - 9.570: 4 ###### 9.570 - 18.841: 35 ##################################################### 18.841 - 36.243: 31 ############################################### 36.243 - 68.907: 7 ########### 68.907 - 130.220: 10 ############### 130.220 - 245.309: 10 ############### 245.309 - 461.340: 4 ###### 461.340 - 1628.000: 1 ## By Outcome Dismissed: Count: 696 Range: 0.000 - 1632.000; Mean: 51.226; Median: 15.000; Stddev: 159.511 Percentiles: 90th: 84.000; 95th: 179.000; 99th: 847.000 0.000 - 4.633: 15 ## 4.633 - 9.575: 52 ####### 9.575 - 18.855: 381 ##################################################### 18.855 - 36.279: 119 ################# 36.279 - 68.993: 46 ###### 68.993 - 130.414: 38 ##### 130.414 - 245.733: 16 ## 245.733 - 462.248: 12 ## 462.248 - 868.761: 10 # 868.761 - 1632.000: 6 # Defaulted: Count: 668 Range: 3.000 - 2194.000; Mean: 52.283; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 200.765 Percentiles: 90th: 57.000; 95th: 161.000; 99th: 1616.000 3.000 - 6.516: 7 # 6.516 - 13.123: 177 ############################ 13.123 - 25.538: 339 ##################################################### 25.538 - 48.867: 66 ########## 48.867 - 92.702: 31 ##### 92.702 - 175.070: 16 ### 175.070 - 329.843: 21 ### 329.843 - 620.670: 2 | 620.670 - 2194.000: 9 # Mediated: Count: 1480 Range: 0.000 - 2195.000; Mean: 47.630; Median: 16.000; Stddev: 182.888 Percentiles: 90th: 49.000; 95th: 106.000; 99th: 1605.000 0.000 - 3.028: 1 | 3.028 - 7.112: 2 | 7.112 - 15.338: 694 ##################################################### 15.338 - 31.906: 498 ###################################### 31.906 - 65.272: 173 ############# 65.272 - 132.472: 42 ### 132.472 - 267.814: 26 ## 267.814 - 540.392: 16 # 540.392 - 1089.366: 1 | 1089.366 - 2195.000: 17 # Heard: Count: 116 Range: 3.000 - 2079.000; Mean: 118.612; Median: 28.000; Stddev: 295.337 Percentiles: 90th: 218.000; 95th: 423.000; 99th: 1632.000 3.000 - 6.476: 2 #### 6.476 - 12.972: 25 ############################################### 12.972 - 25.113: 28 ##################################################### 25.113 - 47.805: 16 ############################## 47.805 - 90.214: 19 #################################### 90.214 - 169.476: 8 ############### 169.476 - 317.612: 9 ################# 317.612 - 594.474: 5 ######### 594.474 - 1111.918: 1 ## 1111.918 - 2079.000: 3 ###### Other Outcome: Count: 12 Range: 10.000 - 205.000; Mean: 67.917; Median: 26.500; Stddev: 76.461 Percentiles: 90th: 191.000; 95th: 205.000; 99th: 205.000 10.000 - 13.745: 3 ##################################################### 13.745 - 18.765: 1 ################## 18.765 - 25.493: 2 ################################### 25.493 - 34.513: 1 ################## 34.513 - 62.808: 2 ################################### 62.808 - 205.000: 3 ##################################################### -- 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/.