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Cases settled prior to original hearing date (%)
Protect and advocate for consumers and ensure businesses comply with applicable laws and regulations — Promptly negotiate settlements on violations issued to businesses.
The share of cases settled before their original hearing date jumped from the low 40s-50s percent range to 58% in fiscal 2025 and 68% in the first four months of fiscal 2026. DCWP attributes the increase to improvements to its web-based business portal, which now lets businesses enter settlement and pleading agreements online instead of only in person or by mail.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DCWP, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, DCWP, Fiscal 2026 Preliminary Mayor's Management Report
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 48% |
| FY23 | 42% |
| FY24 | 47% |
| FY25 | 58% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 68% |
Why this is tracked
The Department of Consumer Affairs, DCWP's predecessor, was created on April 29, 1969 when the City Council passed the landmark Consumer Protection Law, merging the Department of Markets (including Weights and Measures) with the Department of Licensing into one unified agency. It was the country's first municipal consumer protection agency. Today DCWP continues that mandate by licensing businesses, inspecting scales and pricing practices, and enforcing rules like the ban on price gouging during emergencies, which can carry penalties up to $25,000 per violation.
The Country's First Municipal Consumer Protection Agency Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary, New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection - Wikipedia
Source: General Counsel Division — via NYC Open Data: Mayor's Management Report, Agency Performance Indicators
Coverage shown: FY22–FY26, reported monthly.
Definition: The percentage of scheduled hearings during the reporting period where the respondent entered into a settlement or pleading agreement prior to their original hearing date. A case is considered settled if the respondent entered into a settlement agreement, pled guilty to the charges, or submitted a cure certification, on or before the date of the original hearing. This count is divided by the total number of summonses whose original hearing date occurred during the reporting period. Excluded from the denominator are withdrawn summonses and cases where settlement and pleading offers were not available to the respondent.