National federal civil docket · FY2024 · AOUSC Judicial Business C-3

Contract

Breach-of-contract and commercial disputes — debt, insurance, business deals.

28,392 such civil cases were commenced in the U.S. district courts in fiscal year 2024 — 11% of the entire federal civil docket, the #4 largest of 15 case categories.

28,392

cases commenced

11%

of the civil docket

districts with filings

Who is a party?

How these cases divide between matters where the U.S. government is a party and matters between private parties. The U.S.-vs-private split is AOUSC Judicial Business Table C-3's own party classification — whether the United States is a party to the case (as plaintiff or defendant).

U.S. government — 506 (2%) Private parties — 27,886 (98%)

Where these cases concentrate

The U.S. district courts with the most contract filings. Some categories cluster heavily (intellectual property, for instance) while others track population.

Central District of California 1,899

Southern District of Texas 1,563

Middle District of Florida 1,356

Southern District of New York 1,072

Eastern District of Pennsylvania 1,057

Southern District of Florida 1,053

Northern District of Texas 1,022

District of New Jersey 1,018

Northern District of Illinois 943

District of Colorado 783

Western District of Texas 732

Eastern District of Louisiana 629

Other case types on the docket

Prisoner petitions 24% Civil rights 17% Personal injury (other) 16% Labor & employment 8% All other civil 6% Social Security appeals 5% Intellectual property 5% Motor-vehicle injury 2% Real property 2% Tort actions (other) 2% Tort actions 1% Maritime injury <1% Forfeitures & penalties <1% Railroad worker injury (FELA) <1%

RECORDED — the case counts are cases commenced in FY2024, published in the AOUSC Judicial Business Table C-3. DERIVED — the national share, the government-vs-private split, and the per-district ranking.

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What this is — and is not

These are counts of contract cases filed in FY2024, not outcomes — they do not measure who won, the merit of any claim, or how your own case would fare, and they are not legal advice. For your matter, consult an attorney; for free civil legal aid, see the providers in your state. Source: Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts — Judicial Business, Table C-3.