Syn. Cnty. Pa. 17CV1301.1

As amended through May 7, 2024

Rule 17CV1301.1 - Cases for Submission

A. Compulsory arbitration of matters as authorized by Section 7361 of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa.C.S. Sec 101, et seq. shall apply to all cases at issue where the amount in controversy shall be Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) or less. The amount in controversy shall be determined from the pleadings or by an agreement of reference filed by the attorneys. The amount in controversy, when determined from the pleadings, shall be the largest amount claimed by any one party. In the event that a case within arbitration limits is consolidated with a case involving more than arbitration limits after the former has been referred to a board of arbitrators, the order of consolidation will remove the same from the jurisdiction of the board of arbitrators.

B. A civil action will be referred to arbitration (20) days after the filing with the Prothonotary and the Court Administrator of a Praecipe signed by either party or its counsel indicating the matter is ready for arbitration. If the other party objects to the filing, that party shall, within the (20) days, file a motion requesting delay in the appointment of arbitrators pending completion of the pre-trial discovery and filings. The objection shall specifically indicate the matters that must be preliminarily resolved and shall propose a timetable for their completion.

C. Cases subject to arbitration shall be subject to the status and calendar orders then prevailing with regard to the civil docket. Such cases shall not be scheduled for a pretrial conference if the status as an arbitration case can readily be determined from examination of the docket entries. If the discovery deadline has expired at the time of the pretrial conference for contemporaneously filed cases, the matter shall be scheduled by the Court Administrator for disposition by arbitration.

D. All cases heard under these rules shall be governed in all other respects by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania enacted regarding arbitration proceedings.

Syn. Cnty. Pa. 17CV1301.1

Amended effective 5/7/2024.