Rule 1303.Hearing. Notice.

Last amended July 30, 1998 · Last verified June 30, 2026

In one sentenceRule 1303 leaves the scheduling of the arbitration hearing to local rule but requires at least thirty days' written notice to the parties, and provides that when a party is unprepared or absent the case proceeds and the arbitrators make an award, unless the court orders a continuance or hears the matter itself.

Full Text of Rule 1303

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

(a)

(1) The procedure for fixing the date, time and place of hearing before a board of arbitrators shall be prescribed by local rule, provided that not less than thirty days’ notice in writing shall be given to the parties or their attorneys of record.

(2) The local rule may provide that the written notice required by subdivision (a)(1) 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.’’

(b) When the board is convened for hearing, if one or more parties is not ready the case shall proceed and the arbitrators shall make an award unless the court

(1) orders a continuance, or

(2) hears the matter if the notice of hearing contains the statement required by subdivision (a)(2) and all parties present consent.

End

Plain-English Summary

This rule sets the ground rules for scheduling. The date, time, and place of the arbitration hearing are fixed by local rule, but the parties or their attorneys must get at least thirty days' written notice. The rule itself says what happens when a party is not ready: the case proceeds and the arbitrators must make an award, unless the court orders a continuance or, where the notice carried the statement the rule permits and all parties present consent, hears the matter itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much notice of the arbitration hearing is required?

At least thirty days' written notice to the parties or their attorneys of record.

Official Note

Official Note: See Rule 248 as to shortening or extending the time for the giving of notice.

Official Note: A party is present if the party or an attorney who has entered an appearance on behalf of the party attends the hearing.

Official Note: It is within the discretion of the court whether it should hear the matter or whether the matter should proceed in arbitration. If the court is to hear the matter, it should be heard on the same date as the scheduled arbitration hearing. In hearing the matter, the trial court may take action not available to the arbitrators, including the entry of a nonsuit if the plaintiff is not ready or a non pros if neither party is ready. If the defendant is not ready, it may hear the matter and enter a decision. For relief from a nonsuit, see Rule 227.1 governing post-trial practice. See also Rule 3051 governing relief from a judgment of non pros. Following an adverse decision, a defendant who has failed to appear may file a motion for post-trial relief which may include a request for a new trial on the ground of a satisfactory excuse for the defendant’s failure to appear.

Amendment History

The provisions of this Rule 1303 amended July 30, 1998, effective January 1, 1999, 28 Pa.B. 3930. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (227308).

Source & verification. Rule text, the Official Note, and the amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Pennsylvania Code, Title 231, the official compilation of rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Last verified June 30, 2026. · Official text

Also known as: arbitration hearing noticethirty days noticescheduling arbitration