Consumer Harm Map - Chapter 13 Bankruptcy by District | 1328f.org Explained

Methodology: Dismissal rates from court-observed data where N≥20 resolved cases, FJC-estimated otherwise. Consumer harm estimate = dismissed cases × $7,500 (conservative composite: attorney fees ~$3,500 + forfeited plan payments ~$2,800 + credit damage opportunity cost ~$1,200; does not include wage garnishment losses, re-filing costs, or non-economic impacts). Data: FJC Integrated Database 2008-2024.

Recency-bias caveat: Chapter 13 plans run 3-5 years. Cases filed 2020-2024 are still active if succeeding; only their early dismissals are currently visible in the dataset. The national 48% dismissal rate therefore reflects an upper-bound estimate. Restricting analysis to mature cohorts (2008-2019, where most cases have reached final outcomes) produces a somewhat lower dismissal rate. Total estimated harm should be read as the high end of a defensible range.
| Full methodology | District report cards | Open source

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