Tulsa Eviction Filings (2022)
About this data
There were 12,530 eviction cases filed in Tulsa County in 2022. I used a Python script to download the docket for each one. I then searched within each docket for keywords like "Defendant appeared" or "Defendant appeared not" to determine the characteristics of each case. The result is the above map of eviction cases in Tulsa County. Think of it as a pipeline which shows where cases begin, where they go, and how they end.
This data is subject to change. I ran the script in late January 2023, so not all 2022 cases had been resolved. It is also subject to typographical errors. Spot checks suggest the error rate is less than 1% for any given category.
Who files evictions?
Larger apartment complexes may be expected to file more evictions because they have more residents. Many of the "frequent filers," however, are smaller complexes.
Most landlords have an attorney. Around 16% file pro se. Conversely, attorneys for Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma (LASO) represented around 26% of tenants who appeared.
Why are evictions filed?
Most eviction filings allege that the tenant failed to pay some amount of rent. For evictions filed in small claims in 2022, that amount ranged from $10 to the statutory maximum of $10,000.
The filing fee increases if a plaintiff alleges more than $5,000 is owed. Many plaintiffs will allege a lower amount to avoid the higher filing fee.