Federal Court Cases: Civil Terminations Database, 1970-2004



Federal Court Cases: Civil Terminations Database, 1970-2004

Codebook

year (Statistical Year)

The statistical year used in the federal courts runs from July through June (for example, SY84 covers the period July 1, 1983 through June 30, 1984). Due to reporting time lags, there is often a slight skew to the correspondence between calendar date and statistical year at the borders of the statistical year.

1970 80,436

1971 86,564

1972 95,182

1973 98,260

1974 97,634

1975 104,784

1976 110,176

1977 117,151

1978 125,914

1979 143,324

1980 160,482

1981 177,975

1982 189,473

1983 215,356

1984 243,113

1985 269,848

1986 266,765

1987 238,000

1988 238,753

1989 235,219

1990 213,922

1991 211,713

1992 303,207

1993 227,595

1994 228,361

1995 229,820

1996 250,387

1997 249,641

1998 262,301

1999 272,526

2000 259,637

2001 248,174

2002 259,537

2003 253,015

2004 252,761

circuit (Circuit)

Circuit in which the case was filed. Adjusted for Eleventh Circuit creation.

0 - District of Columbia 112497

1 - First Circuit 259827

2 - Second Circuit 645243

3 - Third Circuit 626418

4 - Fourth Circuit 595752

5 - Fifth Circuit 895634

6 - Sixth Circuit 752220

7 - Seventh Circuit 544620

8 - Eighth Circuit 443868

9 - Ninth Circuit 1027168

10 - Tenth Circuit 355351

11 - Eleventh Circuit (before and after 1982) 758408

-8 = Missing 0

office (Office) The code that designates the office within the district where the case is filed. Must conform with format established in Volume XI, Guide to Judiciary Policies and Procedures, Appendix A.

- 13

0 75626

1 2224738

2 1882957

3 1215496

4 653648

5 419952

6 260145

7 100167

8 124184

9 58202

A 1422

B 1

C 455

docket (Docket) The number assigned by the Clerks’ office; consists of 2 digit Docket Year (usually calendar year in which the case was filed) and 5 digit sequence number.

jurisd (Jurisdiction) The code which provides the basis for the U.S. district court jurisdiction in the case. This code is used in conjunction with appropriate nature of suit code.

1 - US government plaintiff 1004273

2 - US government defendant 975199

3 - federal question 3352217

4 - diversity of citizenship 1645517

5 - local question 39789

nos (Nature of Suit) A 3 digit statistical code representing the nature of the action filed. 110 INSURANCE

120 MARINE CONTRACT ACTIONS

130 MILLER ACT

140 NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS

150 OVERPAYMENTS & ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS

151 OVERPAYMENTS UNDER THE MEDICARE ACT

152 RECOVERY OF DEFAULTED STUDENT LOANS

153 RECOVERY OF OVERPAYMENTS OF VET BENEFITS

160 STOCKHOLDER’S SUITS

190 OTHER CONTRACT ACTIONS

195 CONTRACT PRODUCT LIABILITY

210 LAND CONDEMNATION

220 FORECLOSURE

230 RENT, LEASE, EJECTMENT

240 TORTS TO LAND

245 TORT PRODUCT LIABILITY

290 OTHER REAL PROPERTY ACTIONS

310 AIRPLANE PERSONAL INJURY

315 AIRPLANE PRODUCT LIABILITY

320 ASSAULT, LIBEL, AND SLANDER

330 FEDERAL EMPLOYERS’ LIABILITY

340 MARINE PERSONAL INJURY

345 MARINE - PRODUCT LIABILITY

350 MOTOR VEHICLE PERSONAL INJURY

355 MOTOR VEHICLE PRODUCT LIABILITY

360 OTHER PERSONAL INJURY

362 MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

365 PERSONAL INJURY -PRODUCT LIABILITY

368 ASBESTOS PERSONAL INJURY - PROD.LIAB.

370 OTHER FRAUD

371 TRUTH IN LENDING

380 OTHER PERSONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE

385 PROPERTY DAMAGE -PRODUCT LIABILTY

400 STATE RE-APPORTIONMENT

410 ANTITRUST

422 BANKRUPTCY APPEALS RULE 28 USC 158

423 BANKRUPTCY WITHDRAWAL 28 USC 157

430 BANKS AND BANKING

440 OTHER CIVIL RIGHTS

441 CIVIL RIGHTS VOTING

442 CIVIL RIGHTS JOBS

443 CIVIL RIGHTS ACCOMMODATIONS

444 CIVIL RIGHTS WELFARE

450 INTERSTATE COMMERCE

460 DEPORTATION

470 CIVIL (RICO)

510 PRISONER PETITIONS -VACATE SENTENCE

530 PRISONER PETITIONS -HABEAS CORPUS

535 HABEAS CORPUS: DEATH PENALTY

540 PRISONER PETITIONS -MANDAMUS AND OTHER

550 PRISONER -CIVIL RIGHTS

555 PRISONER - PRISON CONDITION

610 AGRICULTURAL ACTS

620 FOOD AND DRUG ACTS

625 DRUG RELATED SEIZURE OF PROPERTY

630 LIQUOR LAWS

640 RAILROAD AND TRUCKS

650 AIRLINE REGULATIONS

660 OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY/HEALTH

690 OTHER FORFEITURE AND PENALTY SUITS

710 FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT

720 LABOR/MANAGEMENT RELATIONS ACT

730 LABOR/MANAGEMENT REPORT & DISCLOSURE

740 RAILWAY LABOR ACT

790 OTHER LABOR LITIGATION

791 EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT

810 SELECTIVE SERVICE

820 COPYRIGHT

830 PATENT

840 TRADEMARK

850 SECURITIES, COMMODITIES, EXCHANGE

860 SOCIAL SECURITY

861 MEDICARE

862 BLACK LUNG

863 D.I.W.C./D.I.W.W.

864 S.S.I.D.

865 R.S.I.

870 TAX SUITS

871 IRS 3RD PARTY SUITS 26 USC 7609

875 CUSTOMER CHALLENGE 12 USC 3410

890 OTHER STATUTORY ACTIONS

891 AGRICULTURAL ACTS

892 ECONOMIC STABILIZATION ACT

893 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

894 ENERGY ALLOCATION ACT

895 FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT OF 1974

900 APPEAL OF FEE -EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE

910 DOMESTIC RELATIONS

920 INSANITY

930 PROBATE

940 SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE

950 CONSTITUTIONALITY OF STATE STATUTES

990 OTHER

992 LOCAL JURISDICTIONAL APPEAL

999 MISCELLANEOUS

-8 MISSING

source (Source) The source of the case filing. Referred to as origin in some codebooks.

1 Original proceeding 5870338

2 Removed from state court 697445

3 Remanded from appellate court 32524

4 Reinstated or reopened 230655

5 Transferred from another district 108304

6 Multi-district Litigation (Transfer by order of Panel for Multi-district Litigation)

68571

7 Appeal of Magistrate judgment to a district judge (since 1981) 2312

8 2nd reopening (since 1983) 5881

9 3rd reopening (since 1983) 467

10 4th reopening (since 1983) 53

11 5th reopening (since 1983) 7

12 6th reopening (since 1983) 1 -8 Missing or Out of Range

99 Out of universe

classfi (Class Action)

Involves an allegation by the plaintiff that the complaint meets the prerequisites of a "Class Action" as provided in Rule 23 - F.R.Civ.P.

0 No allegation of class action made (Not reliable-not used for all years) 640226

1 Allegation of class action 27587

2 Allegation dismissed (Not reliable-not used for all years) 26

3 Allegation affirmed (Not reliable-not used for all years) 17

99 Out of universe

-8 missing

demand (Monetary Amount Demanded)

The monetary amount sought by plaintiff (in thousands).

Money amounts less than $500 appear as 1. Money amounts over $10,000,000 appear as 9999. Dollar figure is rounded to the nearest thousand. (eg.$1,234.56 would appear as a single digit (1). In the past, courts have not always reported this field in thousands of dollars, therefore data may not be accurate.

county (County of Residence)

The code for the county of residence of the first listed plaintiff. If the US Government is the plaintiff, the county listed is that of the first listed defendant. If a land condemnation case, the code is associated with the tract of land. If the location is within the U.S. but, outside the home state, the code is 88888. If the location is outside the U.S. the code is 99999.

NOTE: For County Codes refer to the manual - "City and Town Locations and County Statistical Codes" or ICPSR Codebooks

termyr (Termination Date: Year)

The year the district court received the final judgment or the order disposing of the case.

termmo (Termination Date: Month)

The month the district court received the final judgment or the order disposing of the case.

termdy (Termination Date: Day)

The day the district court received the final judgment or the order disposing of the case.

disp70 (Disposition of Case 1970-1978)

The method by which the case was disposed by the district court. Only for 1970-1978.

0 transferred to another district 71,224

1 default judgment 5,474

2 consent judgment 6,208

3 dismissed for want of prosecution 1,986

4 dismissed by action of parties 44,055

5 remanded to state court 994

6 judgment for plaintiff 9,889

7 judgment for defendant 27,082

8 judgment for both or other party 81

9 outcome unknown 7

disp79 (Disposition of Case 1979-1986)

The method by which the case was disposed by the district court. Only for 1979-1986.

0 transferred to another district 31,368

1 remanded 53,983

2 dismissed for want of prosecution 57,754

3 dismissed discont settld w/drawn 801,913

4 judgment on default 202,330

5 judgment on consent 105,446

6 judgment on motion before trial 270,982

7 judgment on jury verdict 26,995

8 judgment on directed verdict 4,136

9 judgment on court trial 47,363

10 judgment on other 42,780

11 statistical closing 116

disp87 (Disposition of Case 1987-2004)

The method by which the case was disposed by the district court. Only for 1987-2004.

0 transferred to another district 104,810

1 remanded to state court 141,709

2 dismissed for want of prosecution 146,317

3 dismissed for lack of jurisdiction 286,475

4 judgment on default 280,995

5 judgment on consent 110,066

6 judgment on motion before trial 633,212

7 judgment on jury verdict 61,747

8 judgment on directed verdict 5,735

9 judgment on court trial 46,839

10 multi-district litigation transfer 140,746

11 remanded to us agency 86,209

12 dismissed: voluntarily 414,772

13 dismissed: settled 936,092

14 dismissed: other 755,955

15 judgment on award of arbitrator 5,609

16 judgement on trial de novo after arbtrt 78

17 judgment on other 175,237

18 statistical closing 70,150

19 [maj] appeal: decision affirmed 34,686

20 [maj] appeal: decision reversed 13,863

21 stayed pending bankruptcy 4,432

proced70 (Procedural Progress 1970-1975)

The point to which the case had progressed when it was disposed of.

1. No issue - no action 109594

2. No issue - action 124880

3. Issue, no pretrial - no action 104810

4. Issue, no pretrial - action 88710

5. Pretrial but no trial 79403

6. Terminated during court trial 4663

7. Terminated during jury trial 6143

8. Judgment after court trial 24711

9. Judgment after jury trial 14290

0. Land condemnation cases 5656

proced76 (Procedural Progress 1976-1986)

The point to which the case had progressed when it was disposed of.

1. Before issue joined 576437

2. After motion decided but before issue joined 364795

3. Issue joined, no other court action 283998

4. Issue joined, and after judgment of court on motion 353855 5. Issue joined, and after pretrial conference but before trial 268094 6. During court trial 7846

7. During jury trial 12781

8. After court trial 63991

9. After jury trial 37397 0. Other 29213

proced87 (Procedural Progress 1987-present)

The point to which the case had progressed when it was disposed of.

1. Before issue joined, no court action 468340

2. Before issue joined, order entered 1146166

3. After issue joined, no court action 441269

4. After issue joined, judgment on motion 801397

5. After issue joined, pretrial conference held 415920

6. After issue joined, during court trial 10759

7. After issue joined, during jury trial 17590

8. After issue joined, after court trial 50284

9. After issue joined, after jury trial 61425

10. After issue joined, other 612379

11. Before issue joined, hearing held 23851

12. Before issue joined, motion decided 401752

13. Request for trial de novo after arbitration 4600

-8. Missing 2

noj (Nature of the Judgment)

Cases disposed of by an entry of a final judgment.

0 - no monetary award 1236143

1 - monetary award only 517573

2 - monetary award and other 131621

3 - injunction 25609

4 - forfeiture/foreclosure/condemnation, etc. 166085

5 - costs only (Not included in 1970-1971) 88449

6 - costs and attorney fees (Not included in 1970-1971) 7005

These cases should only be present for disposition involving a judgment.

award (Monetary Judgment Amount Awarded)

Dollar amount received (in thousands). Coded 9999 for amounts greater than $9,999,000.

judgefor (Judgment For)

Cases disposed of by entry of a final judgment in favor of:

1 - plaintiff 922177

2 - defendant 930760

3 - both 58040

4 - unknown 1632659

maginv (Magistrate Involvement)

Level of involvement of the U.S. magistrate.

1. Consent of parties to magistrate judgment with appeal directly to U.S. Court of Appeals 2474

2. Consent of parties to magistrate judgment with appeal to U.S. District Court

908

3. Special master reference 13940

4. All pretrial matters, including dispositive motions 11570 5. Report and recommendation on dispositive motions 25505 6. All pretrial matters, except dispositive motions 10699 7. Full pretrial/settlement conferences 3642

8. Non-dispositive motions 9259

9. No involvement of magistrate 1017768 99. Out of universe

Only used 1981-1985

otherinv (Other involvement)

Involvement in the case of persons other than judge or magistrate.

1. Arbitrator 121

2. Land commissioner 74

3. Special master (other than magistrate) 54

4. Other 4434

5. No involvement other than judge or magistrate 1091079 99. Out of universe Only used 1981-1985

classter (Termination Class Action)

A code that indicates a case involving allegations of class action.

1 – allegation of class action but no result 3750135

2 - denied 2

3 - granted 39446

-8 – missing 11917

A zero or no value appears to be no allegation made 1979-1995. Not collected 1970-1978.

prose (Pro Se)

0 - no Pro Se plaintiffs or defendants 1442686

1 - Pro Se plaintiffs, but no Pro Se defendants 533076

2 - Pro Se defendants, but no Pro Se plaintiffs 42950

3 - both Pro Se plaintiffs & defendants 6953

-8 -missing 282314

Pro Se field is blank in records posted before October 1995.

title (Title)

Title of the code considered in the case.

section (Section)

Section of the code considered in the case.

subsect (Subsection)

Subsection of the code considered in the case.

distnum (District Number)

Recoding of disnum_old variable.

0 - Maine 470 - Ohio - Northern

10 - Massachusetts 480 - Ohio - Southern

20 - New Hampshire 490 - Tennessee - Eastern

30 - Rhode Island 500 - Tennessee - Middle

40 - Puerto Rico 510 - Tennessee - Western

50 - Connecticut 520 - Illinois - Northern

60 - New York - Northern 530 - Illinois - Central

70 - New York - Eastern 540 - Illinois - Southern

80 - New York - Southern 550 - Indiana - Northern

90 - New York - Western 560 - Indiana - Southern

100 - Vermont 570 - Wisconsin - Eastern

110 - Delaware 580 - Wisconsin - Western

120 - New Jersey 600 - Arkansas - Eastern

130 - Pennsylvania - Eastern 610 - Arkansas - Western

140 - Pennsylvania - Middle 620 - Iowa - Northern

150 - Pennsylvania - Western 630 - Iowa - Southern

160 - Maryland 640 - Minnesota

170 - North Carolina - Eastern 650 - Missouri - Eastern

180 - North Carolina - Middle 660 - Missouri - Western

190 - North Carolina - Western 670 - Nebraska

200 - South Carolina 680 - North Dakota

220 - Virginia - Eastern 690 - South Dakota

230 - Virginia - Western 700 - Arizona

240 - West Virginia - Northern 710 - California - Northern

250 - West Virginia - Southern 720 - California - Eastern

260 - Alabama - Northern 730 - California - Central

270 - Alabama - Middle 740 - California - Southern

280 - Alabama - Southern 750 - Hawaii

290 - Florida - Northern 760 - Idaho

300 - Florida - Middle 770 - Montana

310 - Florida - Southern 780 - Nevada

320 - Georgia - Northern 785 - Alaska

330 - Georgia - Middle 790 - Oregon

340 - Georgia - Southern 800 - Washington - Eastern

350 - Louisiana - Eastern 810 - Washington - Western

355 - Louisiana - Middle 820 - Colorado

360 - Louisiana - Western 830 - Kansas

370 - Mississippi - Northern 840 - New Mexico

380 - Mississippi - Southern 850 - Oklahoma - Northern

390 - Texas - Northern 860 - Oklahoma - Eastern

400 - Texas - Eastern 870 - Oklahoma - Western

410 - Texas - Southern 880 - Utah

420 - Texas - Western 890 - Wyoming

430 - Kentucky - Eastern 900 - District of Columbia

440 - Kentucky - Western 910 - Virgin Islands

450 - Michigan - Eastern 930 - Guam

460 - Michigan - Western 940 - Northern Mariana Islands

-8 = Missing

distnum_old (District Number – old version)

Recoding of district variable. All non-numeric values changed to numeric.

All codes are the same as district unless noted below.

00 - Maine 47 - Ohio - Northern

01 - Massachusetts 48 - Ohio - Southern

02 - New Hampshire 49 - Tennessee - Eastern

03 - Rhode Island 50 - Tennessee - Middle

04 - Puerto Rico 51 - Tennessee - Western

05 - Connecticut 52 - Illinois - Northern

06 - New York - Northern 53 - Illinois - Central

07 - New York - Eastern 54 - Illinois - Southern

08 - New York - Southern 55 - Indiana - Northern

09 - New York - Western 56 - Indiana - Southern

10 - Vermont 57 - Wisconsin - Eastern

11 - Delaware 58 - Wisconsin - Western

12 - New Jersey 60 - Arkansas - Eastern

13 - Pennsylvania - Eastern 61 - Arkansas - Western

14 - Pennsylvania - Middle 62 - Iowa - Northern

15 - Pennsylvania - Western 63 - Iowa - Southern

16 - Maryland 64 - Minnesota

17 - North Carolina - Eastern 65 - Missouri - Eastern

18 - North Carolina - Middle 66 - Missouri - Western

19 - North Carolina - Western 67 - Nebraska

20 - South Carolina 68 - North Dakota

22 - Virginia – Eastern 69 - South Dakota

23 - Virginia - Western 7.8 - Alaska

24 - West Virginia - Northern 70 - Arizona

25 - West Virginia - Southern 71 - California - Northern

26 - Alabama - Northern 72 - California - Eastern

27 - Alabama - Middle 73 - California - Central

28 - Alabama - Southern 74 - California - Southern

29 - Florida - Northern 75 - Hawaii

3.1 - Florida - Middle 76 - Idaho

3.2 - Florida - Southern 77 - Montana

3.3 - Georgia - Northern 78 - Nevada

3.4 - Georgia - Middle 79 - Oregon

3.5 - Georgia - Southern 80 - Washington - Eastern

3.6 - Louisiana - Eastern 81 - Washington - Western

3.7 - Louisiana - Middle 82 - Colorado

36 - Louisiana - Western 83 - Kansas

37 - Mississippi - Northern 84 - New Mexico

38 - Mississippi - Southern 85 - Oklahoma - Northern

39 - Texas - Northern 86 - Oklahoma - Eastern

40 - Texas - Eastern 87 - Oklahoma - Western

41 - Texas - Southern 88 - Utah

42 - Texas - Western 89 - Wyoming

43 - Kentucky - Eastern 90 - District of Columbia

44 - Kentucky - Western 91 - Virgin Islands

45 - Michigan - Eastern 93 - Guam

46 - Michigan - Western 94 - Northern Mariana Islands

-8 = Missing

fileday (Filing Day)

The day on which the case was filed in the district court. Corrections made from original data.

filemo (Filing Month)

The month in which the case was filed in the district court.

fileyr (Filing Year)

The year in which the case was filed in the district court.

filedate (Filing Date)

Date the case was filed in the district court (in Date/Month/Year format). Corrections made from original data.

trfiscal (Fiscal Year of Termination)

Fiscal Year in which a case was terminated.

fifiscal (Fiscal Year of Filing)

Fiscal year in which the case was filed.

pilot (Pilot)

Dichotomous variable noting cases involved in 1986 pilot for statistical reporting.

1 Yes 21170

0 No 6995836

state (State)

State case was filed in

1 Alabama

2 Alaska

3 Arizona

4 Arkansas

5 California

6 Colorado

7 Connecticut

8 Delaware

9 District of Columbia

10 Florida

11 Georgia

12 Hawaii

13 Idaho

14 Illinois

15 Indiana

16 Iowa

17 Kansas

18 Kentucky

19 Louisiana

20 Maine

21 Maryland

22 Massachusetts

23 Michigan

24 Minnesota

25 Mississippi

26 Missouri

27 Montana

28 Nebraska

29 Nevada

30 New Hampshire

31 New Jersey

32 New Mexico

33 New York

34 North Carolina

35 North Dakota

36 Ohio

37 Oklahoma

38 Oregon

39 Pennsylvania

40 Rhode Island

41 South Carolina

42 South Dakota

43 Tennessee

44 Texas

45 Utah

46 Vermont

47 Virginia

48 Washington

49 West Virginia

50 Wisconsin

51 Wyoming

52 Territories (PR, VI, CZ, Guam, NMI)

0 Missing

region (Region)

Census region in which case was filed.

1 New England 278845

2 Middle Atlantic 1132546

3 South Atlantic 1290832

4 East North Central 1049085

5 West North Central 414517

6 East South Central 552284

7 West South Central 999925

8 Mountain 351976

9 Pacific 841029

10 Territories (PR, VI, CZ, Guam, NMI) 105957

0 Missing

nojudsum (No Judgment Summary)

Dichotomous variable reporting if case proceeded to final judgment

0 Does not proceed to final judgment 633523

1 Proceeds to final judgment 5467382

-8 Data not collected 916101

Collected since 1979

jforsum (Judgment For Summary)

Reports who the judgment in the case is for.

1 Plantiff or both 979000

2 Defendant 930216

4 Unknown or unapplicable 4191689

-9 Data not collected 916101

Collected since 1979

id (Identification Number)

Unique identifier that combines docket number, district number, and office number in one variable.

docketyr (Docket Year)

Docket year stored numerically.

jurisum (Jurisdiction Summary)

AO-coded jurisdiction summary.

1 Federal defendant or plaintiff 1979472

0 Non-federal parties 5037534

obsnum (Identification Number)

Unique identification number for each case. Starts with 1 in 1970 and goes over 7,000,000 in 2004.

trialsum (Trial Summary)

Indicates whether there was likely a trial or not. Variable calculated from disp and proced variables. Each case was coded as having a trial if there was a judgment for the plaintiff, defendant, or both (from disp variables), or if case was disposed after or during a trial (for proced variables).

0 No Trial

1 Trial

-8 Missing

summary (Summary of Case Outcome)

Summarizes how the outcomes each case. Variable was calculated from the disp variable.

1 Withdrawn/Default (disp70=1,3 disp79=2,3,4 disp87=2,3,4)

2 Trial (disp70=6,7,8 disp79=7,8,9 disp87=7,8,9,16,17,19,20)

3 Settle (disp70=2,4 disp79=5 disp87=5,13)

4 Non Trial (disp79=6,10 disp87=6,15)

5 Other (disp70=0,5 disp79=0,1,11 disp87=0,1,10,11,18,21)

-8 Missing

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