MOTIONS TO DISMISS
INFORMATION ON COLLECTION OF DATA
The following tables and graphs on motions to dismiss before and after
Twombly and Iqbal are based on data collected electronically from the 94 district
courts’ docket entries. This information is not routinely included in the
Administrative Office statistical reports for the courts. Though the data was
reviewed for accuracy, some quality control steps that are part of the
Administrative Office's reports were not applied. The electronically collected
information is from the courts' docket entries, and the underlying docketed motions
and orders were not read. As a result, if there are errors in the docket entry, those
errors are in the data. The Federal Judicial Center is engaged in a study that will
include reviewing underlying motions to dismiss and orders in a large number of
randomly sampled cases, providing more information and an additional check on
accuracy.
Certain information could not be collected electronically from the docket
entries and is not reflected in the data. The data does not distinguish among the
different types of motions to dismiss under Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure. Though most motions to dismiss are filed under Rule 12(b)(6) for
failure to state a claim on which relief can be granted, motions to dismiss filed
under Rule 12(b)(1-5) and (7) are included in the data. The assumption is that the
rate of motions to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(1-5) and (7) has remained stable
during the period. The Federal Judicial Center study will include this information.
The data does not reveal whether motions to dismiss were granted with or
without leave to amend, and, if with leave to amend, whether the case continued
with an amended complaint. The Federal Judicial Center study will also include
this information.
The courts do not rule on a significant number of motions to dismiss, often
because the case settles without court intervention. Although the data includes
the filing of these motions, the data does not include the disposition of these
motions.
Finally, the data excludes Multi-District Litigation (MDL) cases.

Cases and Motions to Dismiss Filed From January 2007 through December 2009

 CASES FILED 
category
 Personal Injury 
 Prisoner Petitions 
 Civil Rights Employment 
 Civil Rights Other 
 Civil Rights ADA 
 Antitrust 
 Patent 
 Labor Laws 
 Contracts 
 All Others 

2007
2008
2009
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
      18,103     16,385     19,171     18,240     19,441     18,592     18,297     20,721     17,666    21,100    19,073    16,098    19,084    21,945    17,829    19,900    18,752    19,935    19,010    17,470    18,246     18,960     15,774    18,733    19,727       17,101       19,883       19,480       18,169       20,983       22,546       20,490       20,496    20,525    18,356     18,898 
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
1,936 
1,931 
2,089 
1,669 
2,672 
1,732 
1,786 
2,465 
1,675 
2,177 
2,295 
1,539 
2,005
6,096
1,636
1,715
2,237
3,765
2,139
1,706
2,003
1,663
1,515
2,348
1,482
1,599
2,218
1,984
1,843
3,053
4,163
3,145
3,418
3,310
3,186
2,565
4,665 
3,928 
4,734 
4,576 
4,593 
4,787 
4,877 
4,746 
4,191 
5,020 
4,293 
3,969 
5,188
4,531
4,796
4,964
4,308
4,430
4,664
4,230
4,185
4,470
3,599
4,421
4,298
4,072
4,602
4,603
4,172
4,661
4,695
4,283
4,216
4,212
3,693
4,192
1,114 
967 
1,049 
974 
1,132 
1,177 
1,098 
1,181 
1,146 
1,185 
1,047 
1,083 
1,041
999
957
1,088
1,108
1,183
1,196
1,107
1,245
1,250
1,014
1,220
966
1,014
1,135
1,243
1,094
1,299
1,261
1,224
1,312
1,201
1,101
1,263
1,211 
1,187 
1,456 
1,309 
1,483 
1,337 
1,318 
1,483 
1,274 
1,517 
1,240 
1,275 
1,403
1,334
1,303
1,342
1,339
1,320
1,384
1,378
1,399
1,488
1,217
1,385
1,177
1,349
1,433
1,364
1,269
1,459
1,595
1,311
1,439
1,419
1,275
1,321
148 
164 
205 
183 
188 
214 
184 
214 
228 
209 
202 
180 
220
219
232
197
202
250
294
222
252
295
203
308
245
251
292
232
246
275
323
281
295
275
259
283
38 
63 
82 
40 
28 
39 
26 
31 
57 
42 
29 
34 
58
76
115
70
126
43
48
48
53
37
52
30
36
59
75
49
41
60
63
48
47
58
50
29
212 
192 
266 
218 
274 
285 
214 
230 
221 
302 
247 
201 
225
250
236
265
237
244
233
213
196
237
174
246
217
214
285
267
234
213
249
221
233
222
213
228
1,374 
1,284 
1,490 
1,295 
1,397 
1,390 
1,403 
1,449 
1,174 
1,475 
1,250 
1,235 
1,425
1,400
1,406
1,505
1,370
1,426
1,517
1,274
1,397
1,473
1,236
1,323
1,549
1,338
1,687
1,530
1,346
1,458
1,566
1,695
1,476
1,585
1,354
1,430
2,538 
2,143 
2,654 
3,338 
2,602 
2,614 
2,541 
3,366 
2,728 
3,672 
3,654 
2,470 
2,751
2,360
2,368
3,725
2,683
2,524
2,506
2,594
2,786
2,962
2,374
2,802
5,182
2,679
2,939
2,846
2,674
2,852
2,878
2,728
2,677
2,811
2,339
2,474
4,867 
4,526 
5,146 
4,638 
5,072 
5,017 
4,850 
5,556 
4,972 
5,501 
4,816 
4,112 
4,768
4,680
4,780
5,029
5,142
4,750
5,029
4,698
4,730
5,085
4,390
4,650
4,575
4,526
5,217
5,362
5,250
5,653
5,753
5,554
5,383
5,432
4,886
5,113

 MOT. DISMISS 
category
 Personal Injury 
 Prisoner Petitions 
 Civil Rights Employment 
Civil Rights Other
Civil Rights ADA
Antitrust/Patent
 Labor Laws 
 Contracts 
 All Others 

Jan
6,103
Jan
571 
963 
582 
839 
79 
141 
351 
1,128 
1,449 

Feb
5,529
Feb
610 
884 
474 
809 
69 
126 
297 
912 
1,348 

Mar
6,564
Mar
738 
1,032 
528 
941 
67 
154 
311 
1,222 
1,571 

Apr
6,508
Apr
630 
1,214 
517 
909 
64 
128 
319 
1,183 
1,544 

May
6,688
May
667 
1,163 
503 
925 
76 
114 
317 
1,210 
1,713 

Jun
6,413
Jun
731 
1,018 
482 
895 
77 
187 
380 
1,101 
1,542 

Jul
6,240
Jul
609 
1,021 
500 
834 
62 
170 
326 
1,153 
1,565 

Aug
6,879
Aug
694 
1,058 
544 
845 
82 
162 
364 
1,249 
1,881 

Sep
5,781
Sep
523 
883 
410 
866 
72 
155 
315 
1,069 
1,488 

Oct
6,759
Oct
631 
1,043 
521 
854 
78 
160 
360 
1,394 
1,718 

Nov
6,295
Nov
625 
918 
496 
911 
63 
146 
343 
1,217 
1,576 

Dec
5,663
Dec
466 
939 
415 
745 
60 
173 
281 
1,146 
1,438 

Jan
6,663
Jan
615
1,028
502
946
81
164
363
1,358
1,606

Feb
6,736
Feb
653
916
455
862
71
150
302
1,194
2,133

Mar
6,636
Mar
560
956
493
954
59
153
367
1,265
1,829

Apr
6,827
Apr
707
963
479
1,002
89
164
358
1,303
1,762

May
6,623
May
557
961
478
964
101
185
372
1,309
1,696

Jun
7,062
Jun
648
974
483
904
102
158
325
1,374
2,094

Jul
6,831
Jul
678
984
482
1,011
89
172
363
1,291
1,761

Aug
6,399
Aug
571
997
468
932
66
187
372
1,138
1,668

Sep
6,322
Sep
598
971
484
984
92
193
320
1,140
1,540

Oct
7,029
Oct
621
1,097
541
956
95
164
352
1,338
1,865

Nov
6,144
Nov
647
808
462
809
74
168
314
1,144
1,718

Dec
6,648
Dec
623
902
535
879
98
167
349
1,188
1,907

Jan
6,631
Jan
554
929
470
909
82
169
315
1,167
2,036

Feb
6,200
Feb
545
846
471
845
78
181
345
1,144
1,745

Mar
7,121
Mar
621
919
515
962
93
186
351
1,443
2,031

Apr
7,118
Apr
631
940
534
901
88
206
337
1,452
2,029

May
7,689
May
1,484
945
493
892
72
173
329
1,383
1,918

Jun
7,620
Jun
699
985
581
976
85
192
365
1,489
2,248

Jul
8,105
Jul
973
1,027
573
1,028
105
210
402
1,692
2,095

Aug
7,344
Aug
749
968
524
897
106
182
374
1,379
2,165

Sep
7,378
Sep
727
955
579
921
109
168
378
1,412
2,129

Oct
7,539
Oct
694
945
542
910
99
175
479
1,494
2,201

Nov
7,016
Nov
693
862
465
831
92
169
342
1,549
2,013

Dec
7,274
Dec
650
920
532
1,000
102
195
429
1,326
2,120

 GRANTED 
category
 Personal Injury 
 Prisoner Petitions 
 Civil Rights Employment 
 Civil Rights Other 
 Civil Rights ADA 
 Antitrust 
 Patent 
 Labor Laws 
 Contracts 
 All Others 

Jan
2,316
Jan
330
299
207
294
30
8
45
118
394
591

Feb
2,132
Feb
281
367
167
303
20
9
55
89
330
511

Mar
2,871
Mar
334
475
251
426
33
7
28
120
545
652

Apr
2,122
Apr
267
271
208
308
30
14
52
107
385
480

May
2,341
May
284
325
200
354
36
11
39
112
452
528

Jun
2,301
Jun
309
258
155
358
26
8
46
104
414
623

Jul
2,295
Jul
282
329
183
274
24
18
72
91
436
586

Aug
2,405
Aug
269
354
184
310
26
17
52
97
478
618

Sep
2,394
Sep
257
411
161
332
28
17
42
114
401
631

Oct
2,392
Oct
293
297
180
265
36
14
61
122
483
641

Nov
2,224
Nov
256
265
154
293
16
3
44
105
457
631

Dec
1,891
Dec
219
243
129
202
16
5
46
88
401
542

Jan
2,496
Jan
274
319
160
331
29
5
61
128
549
640

Feb
2,415
Feb
259
355
164
282
28
6
44
113
523
641

Mar
3,049
Mar
258
529
189
420
22
3
44
139
581
864

Apr
2,530
Apr
307
273
160
289
28
5
58
139
534
737

May
2,315
May
249
289
162
300
37
9
43
101
518
607

Jun
2,461
Jun
276
289
187
347
39
7
57
124
530
605

Jul
2,732
Jul
290
344
183
332
30
15
57
126
671
684

Aug
2,531
Aug
249
364
164
342
26
5
141
121
504
615

Sep
2,535
Sep
266
406
177
402
27
4
61
121
438
633

Oct
2,380
Oct
327
287
161
296
35
9
49
113
497
606

Nov
1,976
Nov
233
242
144
281
23
2
59
87
426
479

Dec
2,265
Dec
250
248
177
307
29
9
64
124
497
560

Jan
2,422
Jan
287
345
161
318
29
8
63
118
502
591

Feb
2,290
Feb
253
346
160
335
24
2
70
123
413
564

Mar
3,309
Mar
327
499
195
443
39
21
87
137
668
893

Apr
2,520
Apr
298
265
166
287
39
6
96
101
528
734

May
2,363
May
225
275
163
301
35
6
78
102
481
697

Jun
2,871
Jun
333
287
230
336
38
5
74
112
605
851

Jul
2,926
Jul
282
322
199
358
51
13
74
119
673
835

Aug
2,824
Aug
257
379
198
382
29
16
79
99
587
798

Sep
3,054
Sep
298
497
195
373
30
9
67
118
524
943

Oct
2,788
Oct
277
267
204
316
37
15
77
126
632
837

Nov
2,444
Nov
313
256
153
323
38
6
69
125
428
733

Dec
2,585
Dec
314
300
151
281
43
7
70
183
501
735

Jan
853
Jan
64
108
99
119
8
6
20
40
167
222

Feb
819
Feb
71
128
73
101
10
4
18
53
166
195

Mar
1,229
Mar
107
177
95
190
10
6
31
68
227
318

Apr
746
Apr
85
83
60
119
10
1
10
57
142
179

May
914
May
79
105
96
113
8
10
19
66
218
200

Jun
800
Jun
75
101
73
109
10
3
13
54
165
197

Jul
844
Jul
56
118
89
93
9
1
16
42
217
203

Aug
952
Aug
76
120
91
112
9
7
23
46
210
258

Sep
1,071
Sep
70
170
95
134
8
4
44
42
226
278

Oct
784
Oct
43
94
68
115
4
5
27
62
167
199

Nov
753
Nov
58
76
65
78
8
3
18
38
188
221

Dec
701
Dec
58
79
54
112
7

Jan
952
Jan
79
131
77
128
7
27
66
200
237

Feb
888
Feb
81
115
72
132
5
4
20
53
171
235

Mar
1,680
Mar
116
188
75
155
11
7
29
73
255
771

Apr
844
Apr
77
81
83
128
6
11
20
47
167
224

May
807
May
68
62
74
129
10
3
19
53
183
206

Jun
811
Jun
73
95
71
104
13
8
14
57
156
220

Jul
959
Jul
84
144
87
122
14
2
17
55
215
219

Aug
919
Aug
73
132
73
123
12
5
20
61
195
225

Sep
1,148
Sep
103
160
86
135
17
4
34
73
224
312

Oct
821
Oct
79
92
66
83
20
18
57
198
208

Nov
653
Nov
46
80
62
62
8
4
7
48
148
188

Dec
823
Dec
61
96
70
120
6
1
28
40
172
229

Jan
890
Jan
70
111
73
141
7
5
20
56
199
208

Feb
920
Feb
79
107
72
122
21
3
20
52
194
250

Mar
1,276
Mar
94
183
93
169
12
28
29
73
244
351

Apr
889
Apr
85
99
71
95
17
2
11
53
182
274

May
856
May
88
115
71
103
18
6
10
46
171
228

Jun
1,011
Jun
73
127
89
130
9
5
17
55
227
279

Jul
1,033
Jul
81
135
90
134
12
13
23
59
238
248

Aug
1,019
Aug
74
114
75
113
5
6
28
66
219
319

Sep
1,310
Sep
97
258
86
124
19
5
40
57
273
351

Oct
882
Oct
86
88
76
123
14
4
12
62
190
227

Nov
914
Nov
65
96
92
88
14
4
10
61
221
263

Dec
927
Dec
65
100
72
74
21
2
12
72
237
272

 DENIED 
category
 Personal Injury 
 Prisoner Petitions 
 Civil Rights Employment 
 Civil Rights Other 
 Civil Rights ADA 
 Antitrust 
 Patent 
Patent
 Labor Laws 
 Contracts 
 All Others 

16
41
142
192

1. Data includes motions to dismiss filed under Rule 12(b)(1)‐(7) in cases filed from January 2007 through December 2009.  Rule 12(b)(6) motions to dismiss cannot be broken out in this data.
2. Does not include data on whether motions to dismiss were granted with or without leave to amend.
3. Data does not include MDL cases in either the total number of cases filed or the motions to dismiss. 
4. The data were extracted directly from the text of 94 district court docket entries, rather than the official statistics system, and they did not pass through all the quality controls of the statistics system.

Revised: February 12, 2010

Prepared by Statistics Division, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. 

Cases and Motions to Dismiss Filed From January 2007 through December 2009

 MOOT 
category
 Personal Injury 
 Prisoner Petitions 
 Civil Rights Employment 
 Civil Rights Other 
 Civil Rights ADA 
 Antitrust 
 Patent 
 Labor Laws 
 Contracts 
 All Others 

 GRANTED IN PART AND 
DENIED IN PART 
category
 Personal Injury 
 Prisoner Petitions 
 Civil Rights Employment 
 Civil Rights Other 
 Civil Rights ADA 
 Antitrust 
 Patent 
 Labor Laws 
 Contracts 
 All Others 

Jan
252
Jan
25
24
27
43
3
2
13
12
47
56

Feb
236
Feb
17
36
28
33
3
6
11
45
57

Mar
349
Mar
24
29
38
62
10
2
23
62
99

Apr
249
Apr
21
22
27
41
2
1
17
48
70

2007
May
Jun
Jul
266
218
260
May
Jun
Jul
21
37
33
16
15
23
33
21
21
44
35
47
2
2
7
8
45
21
13
9
40
50
39
85
45
68

Aug
333
Aug
28
35
20
46
6
8
14
17
68
91

Sep
259
Sep
15
33
22
47
4
3
4
18
34
79

Oct
260
Oct
19
35
23
43
2
2
3
11
53
69

Nov
214
Nov
27
23
21
36
3
1
3
9
36
55

Dec
204
Dec
12
14
20
43
1
4
12
45
53

Jan
314
Jan
38
36
39
56
1
1
2
9
60
72

Feb
285
Feb
23
35
23
47
3
2
21
55
76

Mar
298
Mar
19
41
27
64
4
4
16
48
75

Apr
368
Apr
33
26
35
51
2
7
18
121
75

May
315
May
29
32
14
61
7
1
17
66
88

2008
Jun
Jul
267
293
Jun
Jul
32
31
37
32
21
25
48
49
4
1
2
7
11
14
42
63
70
71

Aug
257
Aug
21
28
17
53
6
1
1
18
39
73

Sep
334
Sep
27
35
23
67
3
20
11
13
47
88

Oct
268
Oct
27
26
23
58
3
2
5
22
42
60

Nov
213
Nov
13
18
17
33
3
3
5
27
33
61

Dec
278
Dec
24
21
26
57
2
2
6
16
52
72

Jan
275
Jan
32
27
32
50
7
‐
6
23
48
50

Feb
306
Feb
29
19
35
51
4
‐
11
20
45
92

Mar
390
Mar
36
32
39
72
1
‐
4
17
84
105

Apr
333
Apr
23
32
23
55
8
2
3
31
62
94

2009
May
322
May
39
38
36
64
1
2
2
14
59
67

Jun
357
Jun
38
28
26
71
2
2
3
20
72
95

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

371
Jan
22
42
58
73
6
3
5
25
69
68
Jan

263
Feb
26
32
46
50
6
3
3
11
45
41
Feb

586
Mar
30
65
71
153
6
3
2
26
103
127
Mar

250
Apr
17
14
49
55
1
2
5
15
37
55
Apr

319
May
18
21
40
97
2
3
21
51
66
May

295
Jun
9
27
43
74
5
3
3
7
53
71
Jun

299
Jul
19
27
39
65
2
3
19
54
71
Jul

356
Aug
23
31
44
72
8
5
4
15
66
88
Aug

390
Sep
15
64
38
77
5
3
6
21
60
101
Sep

285
Oct
21
20
48
60
3
1
5
20
49
58
Oct

286
Nov
11
22
26
74
3
3
6
19
51
71
Nov

226
Dec
22
17
28
52
4
1
12
47
43
Dec

299
Jan
16
42
45
54
9
3
14
44
72
Jan

335
Feb
21
32
52
69
3
1
5
19
67
66
Feb

545
Mar
28
73
69
122
12
3
5
20
74
139
Mar

296
Apr
20
20
44
58
7
3
12
54
78
Apr

325
May
16
45
43
52
5
1
5
17
50
91
May

315
Jun
29
29
44
65
3
1
4
19
57
64
Jun

342
Jul
19
33
49
58
6
2
6
19
80
70
Jul

390
Aug
32
64
48
63
2
11
20
13
52
85
Aug

470
Sep
30
58
50
91
7
2
7
18
74
133
Sep

330
Oct
25
17
35
72
9
2
9
14
76
71
Oct

271
Nov
10
28
29
55
5
3
5
17
44
75
Nov

358
Dec
19
17
40
59
5
11
17
49
141
Dec

303
Jan
16
27
43
70
9
5
5
17
45
66
Jan

371
Feb
20
50
44
77
3
3
6
16
52
100
Feb

586
Mar
28
81
63
152
20
4
5
30
87
116
Mar

287
Apr
9
24
46
58
9
3
6
16
58
58
Apr

377
May
13
34
32
62
7
2
3
11
103
110
May

428
Jun
18
36
56
100
3
3
5
15
86
106
Jun

Jul
410
Jul
21
40
32
67
3
‐
14
25
81
127
Jul
435
Jul
22
51
40
84
8
3
31
79
117
Jul

Aug
356
Aug
27
28
37
53
2
‐
16
29
52
112

Sep
467
Sep
19
49
43
81
6
6
3
29
95
136

Oct
347
Oct
15
37
29
56
9
10
8
20
69
94

Nov
309
Nov
33
24
30
38
8
4
8
11
60
93

Dec
328
Dec
17
29
31
68
5
6
1
23
55
93

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

438
Aug
20
39
56
77
5
3
8
25
73
132
Aug

563
Sep
22
103
51
91
8
1
10
32
88
157
Sep

405
Oct
24
36
36
89
4
1
5
16
83
111
Oct

400
Nov
24
35
44
64
7
5
4
22
64
131
Nov

346
Dec
21
21
40
67
4
10
16
68
99
Dec

1. Data includes motions to dismiss filed under Rule 12(b)(1)‐(7) in cases filed from January 2007 through December 2009.  Rule 12(b)(6) motions to dismiss cannot be broken out in this data.
2. Does not include data on whether motions to dismiss were granted with or without leave to amend.
3. Data does not include MDL cases in either the total number of cases filed or the motions to dismiss. 
4. The data were extracted directly from the text of 94 district court docket entries, rather than the official statistics system, and they did not pass through all the quality controls of the statistics system.

Revised: February 12, 2010

Prepared by Statistics Division, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. 

Motions to Dismiss by Nature of Suit
Personal Injury

Prisoner Petitions

Civil Rights Employment

Civil Rights ADA

Civil Rights Other

Antitrust/Patent

9,000

Labor Laws

Contracts

All Others

Ashcroft v. Iqbal, May 2009

Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly , May 2007

8,000

7,000

6,000

5,000

4,000

3,000

2,000

1,000

Dec

Nov

Oct

Sep

Aug

Jul

Jun

May

Apr

Mar

Feb

Jan

Dec

Nov

Oct

Sep

Aug

Jul

Jun

May

Apr

Mar

Feb

Jan

Dec

Nov

Oct

Sep

Aug

Jul

Jun

May

Apr

Mar

Feb

Jan

0

1. Data includes motions to dismiss filed under Rule 12(b)(1)-(7) in cases filed from January 2007 through December 2009. Rule 12(b)(6) motions to dismiss cannot be broken out in this data.
2. Does not include data on whether motions to dismiss were granted with or without leave to amend.
3. Data does not include MDL cases in the number of motions to dismiss.
4. The data were extracted directly from the text of 94 district court docket entries, rather than the official statistics system, and they did not pass through all the quality controls of the statistics
system.

Revised: February 12, 2010

Prepared by Statistics Division, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

Rate of Motions to Dismiss Granted as Percentage of Total Cases Filed
18.0

Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly , May 2007

Ashcroft v. Iqbal, May 2009

16.0

14.0

12.0

Percent

10.0

8.0

6.0

4.0

2.0

Dec

Nov

Oct

Sep

Aug

Jul

Jun

May

Apr

Mar

Feb

Jan

Dec

Nov

Oct

Sep

Aug

Jul

Jun

May

Apr

Mar

Feb

Jan

Dec

Nov

Oct

Sep

Aug

Jul

Jun

May

Apr

Mar

Feb

Jan

0.0

1. Data includes motions to dismiss filed under Rule 12(b)(1)‐(7) in cases filed from January 2007 through December 2009.  Rule 12(b)(6) motions to dismiss cannot be broken out in this data.
2. Data does not include motions to dismiss that were granted in part and denied in part.
3. Does not include data on whether motions to dismiss were granted with or without leave to amend.
4. Data does not include MDL cases in either the total number of cases filed or the motions to dismiss.                                                                                                                                                                                                             
5. The data were extracted directly from the text of 94 district court docket entries, rather than the official statistics system, and they did not pass through all the quality controls of the statistics system.

Revised: February 12, 2010

Prepared by Statistics Division, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

Rate of Motions to Dismiss Granted as Percentage of Total Cases Filed
18.0

Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly , May 2007

Ashcroft v. Iqbal, May 2009

16.0

14.0

12.0

Percent

10.0

8.0

6.0

4.0

2.0

Dec

Nov

Oct

Sep

Aug

Jul

Jun

May

Apr

Mar

Feb

Jan

Dec

Nov

Oct

Sep

Aug

Jul

Jun

May

Apr

Mar

Feb

Jan

Dec

Nov

Oct

Sep

Aug

Jul

Jun

May

Apr

Mar

Feb

Jan

0.0

1. Data includes motions to dismiss filed under Rule 12(b)(1)‐(7) in cases filed from January 2007 through December 2009.  Rule 12(b)(6) motions to dismiss cannot be broken out in this data.
2. Data does not include motions to dismiss that were granted in part and denied in part.
3. Does not include data on whether motions to dismiss were granted with or without leave to amend.
4. Data does not include MDL cases in either the total number of cases filed or the motions to dismiss.                                                                                                                                                                                                             
5. The data were extracted directly from the text of 94 district court docket entries, rather than the official statistics system, and they did not pass through all the quality controls of the statistics system.

Revised: February 12, 2010

Prepared by Statistics Division, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

Motions to Dismiss Granted as Percentage of Total Motions to Dismiss
50.0

Ashcroft v. Iqbal, May 2009

Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly , May 2007

45.0

40.0

35.0

Percent
ercent

30.0

25.0

20.0

15 0
15.0

10.0

50
5.0

2007

2008

Dec

Nov

Oct

Sep

Aug

Jul

Jun

May

Apr

Mar

Feb

Jan

Dec

Nov

Oct

Sep

Aug

Jul

Jun

May

Apr

Mar

Feb

Jan

Dec

Nov

Oct

Sep

Aug

Jul

Jun

May

Apr

Mar

Feb

Jan

0.0

2009

1. Data includes motions to dismiss filed under Rule 12(b)(1)‐(7) in cases filed from January 2007 through December 2009.  Rule 12(b)(6) motions to dismiss cannot be broken out in this data.
2. Data does not include motions to dismiss that were granted in part and denied in part.
3. Does not include data on whether motions to dismiss were granted with or without leave to amend.
4. Data does not include MDL cases in the number of motions to dismiss.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
5. The data were extracted directly from the text of 94 district court docket entries, rather than the official statistics system, and they did not pass through all the quality controls of the statistics system.

Revised: February 12, 2010

Prepared by Statistics Division, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

Motions to Dismiss Denied as Percentage of Total Motions to Dismiss
28.0

Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly , May 2007

Ashcroft v. Iqbal, May 2009

24.0

20.0

Percent
ercent

16.0

12.0

8.0

4.0

2007

2008

Dec

Nov

Oct

Sep

Aug

Jul

Jun

May

Apr

Mar

Feb

Jan

Dec

Nov

Oct

Sep

Aug

Jul

Jun

May

Apr

Mar

Feb

Jan

Dec

Nov

Oct

Sep

Aug

Jul

Jun

May

Apr

Mar

Feb

Jan

0.0

2009

1. Data includes motions to dismiss filed under Rule 12(b)(1)‐(7) in cases filed from January 2007 through December 2009.  Rule 12(b)(6) motions to dismiss cannot be broken out in this data.
2. Data does not include motions to dismiss that were granted in part and denied in part.
3. Does not include data on whether motions to dismiss were granted with or without leave to amend.
4. Data does not include MDL cases in the number of motions to dismiss.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
5. The data were extracted directly from the text of 94 district court docket entries, rather than the official statistics system, and they did not pass through all the quality controls of the statistics system.

Revised: February 12, 2010

Prepared by Statistics Division, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts

Ratio of Motions to Dismiss Granted in Relation to Motions to Dismiss Denied 
3.5

Ashcroft v. Iqbal, May 2009

Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly , May 2007

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

2007

2008

Dec

Nov

Oct

Sep

Aug

Jul

Jun

May

Apr

Mar

Feb

Jan

Dec

Nov

Oct

Sep

Aug

Jul

Jun

May

Apr

Mar

Feb

Jan

Dec

Nov

Oct

Sep

Aug

Jul

Jun

May

Apr

Mar

Feb

Jan

0.0

2009

1. Data includes motions to dismiss filed under Rule 12(b)(1)‐(7) in cases filed from January 2007 through December 2009.  Rule 12(b)(6) motions to dismiss cannot be broken out in this data.
2. Data does not include motions to dismiss that were granted in part and denied in part.
3. Does not include data on whether motions to dismiss were granted with or without leave to amend.
4. Data does not include MDL cases in the number of motions to dismiss.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
5. The data were extracted directly from the text of 94 district court docket entries, rather than the official statistics system, and they did not pass through all the quality controls of the statistics system.

Revised: February 12, 2010

Prepared by Statistics Division, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts

MOTIONS TO DISMISS IN “CIVIL RIGHTS EMPLOYMENT CASES” AND “CIVIL RIGHTS OTHER CASES”
PRE-TWOMBLY (OCTOBER 2006 - APRIL 2007) AND POST-IQBAL (JUNE - DECEMBER 2009)*
Civil Rights Employment Cases
Monthly Average for Seven Months before Twombly
1,101 cases
523 motions to dismiss (48% of cases)
190 motions granted (17% of cases)
77 motions denied (7% of cases)

Monthly Average for Seven Months after Iqbal
1,237 cases
542 motions to dismiss (44% of cases)
190 motions granted (15% of cases)
83 motions denied (7% of cases)

Civil Rights Other Cases
Monthly Average for Seven Months before Twombly
1,314 cases
878 motions to dismiss (67% of cases)
304 motions granted (23% of cases)
131 motions denied (10% of cases)

*

Monthly Average for Seven Months after Iqbal
1,403 cases
938 motions to dismiss (67% of cases)
338 motions granted (24% of cases)
112 motions denied (8% of cases)

1. Data includes motions to dismiss filed under Rule 12(b)(1)-(7) in cases filed seven months before Twombly and seven months after Iqbal.
2. Does not include data on whether motions to dismiss were granted with or without leave to amend.
3. Data does not include motions to dismiss that were granted in part and denied in part.
4. Data does not include MDL cases in the number of motions to dismiss.
5. The data were extracted directly from the text of 94 district court docket entries, rather than the official statistical system, and they did not pass
through all the quality controls of the statistics system.