Peacock Tales

Volume 18, Number 3 · July 2008

Recent Changes: Arbitration Cases

Effective June 2008, the local rules of Court governing arbitration cases where the damages sought are $50,000 or less will change. Now, if one of the parties does not show up for the arbitration hearing, the case may be heard that same day by a judge of the Court of Common Pleas and a judgment will be entered, even without the absent party.

Previously, the parties always got another chance to try their case or defense if they did not like the result of the arbitration hearing, even if they did not show up at the hearing. Now, if a party fails to show up for the arbitration hearing, and files an appeal from a judgment entered by a judge, the requirements of filing that appeal are much more stringent and an appeal is often not successful. To avoid such an outcome and the risk of an uncertain appeal, all parties should take the arbitration process seriously and show up ready to participate in the hearing on the day that it is scheduled.