(a) Pursuant to § 7361 of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa.C.S. § 7361 and Pa.R.C.P. 1301, et seq., all civil suits and actions in the Court of Common Pleas where the amount in controversy, exclusive of interest and costs, is fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or less per plaintiff, excepting those involving title to real estate and equity cases, shall first be tried and decided by a Board of Arbitrators consisting of three members of the Bar of this Court who are in the active practice of law maintaining their principal office within Montgomery County. (b) Cases, other than those described in (a), may be referred to a Board of Arbitrators by agreement of reference signed by all parties or their counsel.(c) The determination of the amount in controversy shall be made at the time of the filing of a praecipe for arbitration or a praecipe for civil trial.