(a) Arbitrations shall be held on the date and at the time and place prescribed by the Court Administrator.(b) The Court Administrator shall notify all attorneys of record of the date, time, and place of the hearing by mail. If a party is not represented by counsel, that party shall be given notice of the arbitration in accordance with Pa.R.C.P. 440. The Court Administrator shall file of record proof of notice as aforesaid. Notice shall be given to the parties or their attorneys of record at leastthirty (30) days prior to the scheduled hearing.(1) The Court Administrator shall notify all arbitrators assigned to an arbitration panel of the dates on which the arbitration panel is assigned to hear arbitration cases and the location of the arbitration hearings.(2) Prior to the scheduled arbitration date, the Court Administrator shall send all of the arbitrators assigned to the arbitration panel a list containing the names of the cases to be heard, the names of the parties, and the names of all counsel for the parties. In the event any of the arbitrators believes that he/she has a conflict of interest in connection with hearing any particular case, the arbitrator shall immediately notify the Court Administrator in writing that the arbitrator believes that there is a conflict of interest and the reason for the conflict. The Court Administrator shall assign a substitute arbitrator to the case.(c) On the date of the arbitration hearing, all counsel should check in with the representative of the Court Administrator located at the site of the arbitration. Cases in which all parties have checked in and have indicated they are ready to proceed will be assigned to a panel for hearing by the representative of the Court Administrator after consultation with the panel chairperson. All cases on the list are intended to be reached, and all counsel should be prepared to commence their case at the time they are directed to report for the arbitration.(d) In the event that the panels of arbitrators are unable to reach all of the cases scheduled for arbitration on a particular day, the arbitration hearing for those cases that are not reached shall be continued by the Court Administrator to the next available date. In the event that an arbitration hearing has been commenced but is not concluded on the day scheduled for the arbitration hearing, the arbitration hearing shall be continued to a date convenient to the arbitration panel and parties.(e) The written notice provided for in subsection (b) above shall include the following statement: "This matter will be heard by a board of arbitrators at the time, date, and place specified but, if one or more of the parties is not present at the hearing, the matter may be heard at the same time and date before a judge of the court without the absent party or parties. There is no right to a trial de novo on appeal from a decision entered by a judge."
(f) The representative of the Court Administrator shall administer the oath required by Pa.R.C.P. 1302(f) to each arbitrator.Amended effective 1/1/2022