HOW LOW CAN THEY GO?
STATE CIVIL, TORT, MEDICAL MALPRACTICE AND
PRODUCT LIABILITY CASELOADS AND JURY TRIALS
Many states (but not all) compile annual civil case filing and jury trial statistics and provide their data to the National Center for State Courts (NCSC). Together, these data present the most accurate overview of our nation’s state-based civil justice system. According to NCSC’s data for 2024, the most recent released by NCSC:
CIVIL CASES
· Civil cases represented 24% of incoming cases in state trial courts in 2024.[1]
· Over a six-year period (2019 to 2024), civil caseloads in state trial courts fell by 4.4%.[2]
· Civil caseloads in state trial courts fell by 6% from 2012-2024.[3]
TORT vs. CONTRACT CASES
· Tort cases accounted for only 6% of incoming state trial court civil caseloads in 2024.[4] This rate has remained low for the past 13 years for which data are available (i.e., 2012-2024).[5]
· Contract cases, which are mostly consumer debt collection, landlord tenant and mortgage foreclosure cases,[6] represented 50% of incoming state trial court civil caseloads in 2024.[7] This rate has remained high for the past 13 years for which data are available (i.e., 2012-2024).[8]
· Over a five-year period (2020 to 2024), tort caseloads in state trial courts rose by 4.1%.[9] In sharp contrast, contract caseloads in state trial courts rose by 62.7% over the same five-year timeframe.[10]
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CASES
· Medical malpractice cases represented a tiny percentage of state trial court civil caseloads in 2024, ranging from 0.02% to 0.58% (with the exception of one outlier at 1.82%).[11] This range is consistent with NCSC data from the previous 12 years.[12]
· Medical malpractice cases accounted for a low percentage of state trial court tort caseloads in 2024, ranging from 1.28% to 7.69% (with the exception of four outliers at 9.72%, 10%, 10.45% and 67.66%).[13] This range is consistent with NCSC data from the previous 12 years.[14]
PRODUCT LIABILITY CASES
· Product liability cases represented a tiny percentage of state trial court civil caseloads in 2024, ranging from 0.0% to 0.37% (with the exception of two outliers at 1.45% and 4.43%).[15]This range is consistent with NCSC data from the previous 12 years.[16]
· Product liability cases accounted for an extremely low percentage of state trial court tort caseloads in 2024, ranging from 0.0% to 2.57% (with the exception of five outliers at 7%, 9.31%, 15%, 26.83% and 52.87%).[17] This range is consistent with NCSC data from the previous 12 years.[18]
JURY TRIALS
· Juries resolved a tiny percentage of state civil cases in 2024, with rates ranging from 0.0% to 0.28%.[19] This rate has remained tiny for the past 13 years.[20]
· Juries resolved an extremely low percentage of state tort cases in 2024, with rates ranging from 0.0% to 2.3%.[21] This rate has remained extremely low for the past 13 years.[22]
· Juries resolved a low percentage of state medical malpractice cases in 2024, with rates ranging from 0.0% to 8.7% (with the exception of four outliers).[23] This rate has remained low for the 13 years for which data are available (i.e., 2012-2024).[24]
· Juries resolved a very low percentage of state product liability cases in 2024, with rates ranging from 0.0% to 2.27% (with the exception of three outliers).[25] This rate has remained low for the 13 years for which data are available (i.e., 2012-2024).[26]
NOTES
[1] National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Incoming Caseload Composition – Overview,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Overview (viewed November 16, 2025). Incoming civil caseload data comes from examination of tort, contract, real property, small claims, probate/estate, mental health, civil appeals and “misc. civil” cases in state trial courts. National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Incoming Caseload Composition – Civil,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (viewed November 16, 2025).
[2] National Center for State Courts, “2024 Snapshot: Civil | Percentage Change,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Overview (viewed November 16, 2025).
[3] National Center for State Courts, “2024 Snapshot: Civil | Percentage Change,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Overview (viewed November 16, 2025).
[4] National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Incoming Caseload Composition – Civil,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (viewed November 16, 2025).
[5] 6% (2024), 6% (2023), 6% (2022), 7% (2021), 7% (2020), 5% (2019), 6% (2018), 5% (2017), 5% (2016), 5% (2015), 7% (2014), 5% (2013) and 5% (2012). National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Incoming Caseload Composition – Civil,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (viewed November 16, 2025).
[6] National Center for State Courts, Reimagining Civil Case Management (November 2021), https://www.ncsc.org/sites/default/files/media/document/NCSC-Reimagining-Civil-Case-Management.pdf
[7]National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Incoming Caseload Composition – Civil,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil(viewed November 16, 2025). According to a June 2025 NCSC report (which examined the relationship between civil court case filings and generative AI tools), “[W]e are seeing increases particularly in contract cases but not in real estate, tort, or other civil case types.” Court Statistics Project and TRI/NCSC AI Policy Consortium for Law & Courts, “Is GenAI revolutionizing court filings?” June 24, 2025, https://www.ncsc.org/resources-courts/genai-revolutionizing-court-filings
[8] 50% (2024), 48% (2023), 46% (2022), 41% (2021), 41% (2020), 47% (2019), 47% (2018), 47% (2017), 46% (2016), 46% (2015), 45% (2014), 50% (2013) and 50% (2012). National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Incoming Caseload Composition – Civil,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (viewed November 16, 2025).
[9] This percentage comes from NCSC’s examination of incoming tort caseload data from state trial courts in 31 states that were able to provide publishable data across 2020-2024. National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Caseload Detail – Tort, Incoming Five-Year Trend, 2020-2024,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (viewed November 16, 2025).
[10] This percentage comes from NCSC’s examination of incoming contract caseload data from state trial courts in 29 states that were able to provide publishable data across 2020-2024. National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Caseload Detail – Contract, Incoming Five-Year Trend, 2020-2024” (viewed November 16, 2025),https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil
[11] Thirty states plus the District of Columbia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico reported data for total incoming civil and medical malpractice cases in 2024. Their rates were as follows: Alabama (0.1%), Alaska (0.13%), Arizona (0.12%), Arkansas (0.26%), Connecticut (0.14%), Delaware (0.11%), District of Columbia (0.34%), Florida (0.1%), Georgia (0.09%), Guam (0.14%), Idaho (1.82%), Iowa (0.14%), Kentucky (0.14%), Maine (0.45%), Maryland (0.07%), Massachusetts (0.16%), Michigan (0.11%), Minnesota (0.02%), Nebraska (0.08%), Nevada (0.09%), New Hampshire (0.14%), New Jersey (0.11%), New York (0.52%), Northern Mariana Islands (0.25%), Oregon (0.11%), Pennsylvania (0.36%), Puerto Rico (0.13%), Rhode Island (0.15%), South Carolina (0.29%), Tennessee (0.58%), Texas (0.07%), Utah (0.16%), Vermont (0.21%) and Wisconsin (0.04%). National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Civil, Incoming Cases, 2024,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025); National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Malpractice Medical, Incoming Cases, 2024,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025).
[12] See reported data for total incoming civil and medical malpractice cases from 2012 through 2024. National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Civil, Incoming Cases,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025); National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Malpractice Medical, Incoming Cases,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025).
[13]Thirty states plus the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico reported data for total incoming tort and medical malpractice cases in 2024. Their rates were as follows: Alabama (2.11%), Alaska (3.42%), Arizona (3.6%), Arkansas (4.82%), Connecticut (1.85%), Delaware (2.24%), District of Columbia (4.91%), Florida (1.87%), Georgia (2.18%), Guam (2.56%), Idaho (67.66%), Iowa (6.31%), Kentucky (4.48%), Maine (9.72%), Maryland (2.61%), Massachusetts (7.22%), Michigan (2.77%), Minnesota (1.28%), Nebraska (5.91%), Nevada (1.75%), New Hampshire (5.76%), New Jersey (2.24%), New York (6.46%), Northern Mariana Islands (10%), Oregon (2.5%), Pennsylvania (4.79%), Puerto Rico (10.45%), Rhode Island (2.81%), South Carolina (3.68%), Tennessee (3.16%), Texas (1.68%), Utah (6.46%), Vermont (7.69%) and Wisconsin (1.78%). National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Incoming Cases, 2024,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil(data as of November 15, 2025); National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Malpractice Medical, Incoming Cases, 2024,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil(data as of November 15, 2025).
[14] See reported data fortotal incoming tort and medical malpractice cases from 2012 through 2024. National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Incoming Cases,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025); National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Medical Malpractice, Incoming Cases,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025).
[15] Twenty-eight states plus the District of Columbia, Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico reported data for total incoming civil and product liability cases in 2024. Their rates were as follows: Alabama (0.05%), Alaska (0.02%), Arizona (0.01%), Arkansas (0.05%), Connecticut (0.06%), Delaware (0.35%), District of Columbia (0.04%), Florida (0.07%), Georgia (0.09%), Iowa (0.01%), Maine (0.06%), Maryland (0.02%), Massachusetts (0.21%), Michigan (0.03%), Minnesota (0.04%), Missouri (4.43%), Nevada (0.04%), New Hampshire (0.01%), New Jersey (0.05%), New York (0.15%), Northern Mariana Islands (0.37%), Ohio (0.02%), Oregon (0.03%), Pennsylvania (0.07%), Puerto Rico (0.0%), Rhode Island (1.45%), South Carolina (0.04%), Texas (0.01%), Utah (0.02%), Vermont (0.02%) and Wisconsin (0.02%). National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Civil, Incoming Cases, 2024,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025); National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Product Liability, Incoming Cases, 2024” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025).
[16] See reported data fortotal incoming civil and product liability cases from 2012 through 2024. National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Civil, Incoming Cases,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025); National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Product Liability, Incoming Cases,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025).
[17] Twenty-eight states plus the District of Columbia, Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico reported data for total incoming tort and product liability cases in 2024. Their rates were as follows: Alabama (1.07%), Alaska (0.53%), Arizona (0.29%), Arkansas (0.88%), Connecticut (0.8%), Delaware (7%), District of Columbia (0.62%), Florida (1.33%), Georgia (2.3%), Iowa (0.28%), Maine (1.41%), Maryland (0.96%), Massachusetts (9.31%), Michigan (0.85%), Minnesota (2.57%), Missouri (52.87%), Nevada (0.79%), New Hampshire (0.56%), New Jersey (0.94%), New York (1.86%), Northern Mariana Islands (15%), Ohio (0.7%), Oregon (0.67%), Pennsylvania (0.98%), Puerto Rico (0.0%), Rhode Island (26.83%), South Carolina (0.48%), Texas (0.33%), Utah (0.83%), Vermont (0.77%) and Wisconsin (0.78%). National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Incoming Cases, 2024,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025); National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Product Liability, Incoming Cases, 2024,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025).
[18] See reported data fortotal incoming tort and product liability cases from 2012 through 2024. National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Incoming Cases,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025); National Center for State Courts, Court Statistic Project, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Product Liability, Incoming Cases,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025).
[19] Fifteen states plus Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands reported publishable data for total civil dispositions and jury trials in 2024. Their rates were as follows: Alaska (0.21%), California (0.28%), Florida (0.07%), Georgia (0.09%), Guam (0.0%), Indiana (0.02%), Michigan (0.03%), Minnesota (0.07%), Missouri (0.11%), Nevada (0.08%), New Jersey (0.06%), Northern Mariana Islands (0.2%), Ohio (0.06%), Texas (0.09%), Utah (0.04%), Vermont (0.12%) and Wisconsin (0.07%). National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Caseload Detail – Total Civil, Single Year Data, State Court Caseloads, Caseload Details, 2024,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (viewed November 16, 2025).
[20] For publishable data on total civil dispositions, jury trials and jury trial rates from 2012 through 2024, see National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Caseload Detail – Total Civil, Single Year Data, State Court Caseloads,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (viewed November 16, 2025).
[21] Sixteen states plus Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands reported publishable data for total tort dispositions and jury trials in 2024. Their rates were as follows: Alaska (0.98%), Connecticut (0.94%), Georgia (0.89%), Guam (0.0%), Indiana (0.52%), Minnesota (2.3%), Missouri (1.01%), Nevada (1.2%), New Jersey (0.9%), New York (1.1%), Northern Mariana Islands (0.0%), Ohio (0.4%), Oregon (1.34%), Rhode Island (0.14%), Texas (0.75%), Utah (1.2%), Vermont (1.78%) and Wisconsin (1.33%). National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Caseload Detail – Tort, Single Year Data, State Court Caseloads, Caseload Details, 2024,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (viewed November 16, 2025).
[22] For publishable data on total tort dispositions, jury trials and jury trial rates from 2012 through 2024, see National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Caseload Detail – Tort, Single Year Data, State Court Caseloads,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (viewed November 16, 2025).
[23] Eighteen states plus Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands reported data for total medical malpractice dispositions and jury trials in 2024. Their rates were as follows: Alaska (3.85% in general jurisdiction courts; 100% in limited jurisdiction courts), Arkansas (42.97%), Connecticut (3.76%), Florida (2.66%), Georgia (8.11% in general jurisdiction courts; 4.27% in limited jurisdiction courts), Guam (0.0%), Michigan (4.2%), Minnesota (12.9%), Nebraska (0.9%), Nevada (1.41%), New Jersey (4.2%), New York (4.37 percent), Northern Mariana Islands (0.0%), Oregon (5.95%), Rhode Island (1.3%), Tennessee (3.32%), Texas (2.18% in general jurisdiction courts; 2.27% in limited jurisdiction courts), Utah (4.32%), Vermont (8.7%) and Wisconsin (12.94%). National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Malpractice Medical, Dispositions,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025); National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Malpractice Medical, Jury Trial Rate,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025); National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Malpractice Medical, Jury Trials,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025). The four states with outlier percentages resolved the following number of medical malpractice cases by jury trial in 2024: Alaska (1 in limited jurisdiction courts), Arkansas (55), Minnesota (4) and Wisconsin (11). National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Malpractice Medical, Jury Trials,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025).
[24] See reported total medical malpractice dispositions, jury trials and jury trial rates from 2012 through 2024. National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Malpractice Medical, Dispositions,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025); National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Malpractice Medical, Jury Trial Rate,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025); National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Malpractice Medical, Jury Trials,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025).
[25] Eighteen states plus the Northern Mariana Islands reported data for total product liability dispositions and jury trials in 2024. Their rates were as follows: Alaska (0.0%), Arkansas (28.57%), Connecticut (1.94%), Florida (0.18%), Georgia (1.55%), Michigan (0.0%), Minnesota (0.0%), Missouri (0.11%), Nevada (4.35%), New Jersey (0.43%), New York (0.31%), Northern Mariana Islands (0.0%), Ohio (0.0%), Oregon (9.76%), Rhode Island (0.03%), Texas (0.82% in general jurisdiction courts; 0.0% in limited jurisdiction courts), Utah (0.0%), Vermont (0.0%) and Wisconsin (2.27%). National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Product Liability, Dispositions,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025); National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Product Liability, Jury Trial Rate,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025); National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Product Liability, Jury Trials,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025). The three states with outlier percentages resolved the following number of product liability cases by jury trial in 2024: Arkansas (8), Nevada (3) and Oregon (4). National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Product Liability, Jury Trials,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025).
[26] See reported total product liability dispositions, jury trials and jury trial rates from 2012 through 2024. National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Product Liability, Dispositions,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025); National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Product Liability, Jury Trial Rate,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025); National Center for State Courts, “Trial Court Caseload Overview, Data Table – Civil, Total Tort, Product Liability, Jury Trials,” https://www.ncsctableauserver.org/t/Research/views/TrialDashboards/Civil (data as of November 15, 2025).
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