Superior Court Mandatory Arbitration Rules

		
		
                                                                                 
                          RULE 7.2                                               
         PROCEDURE AFTER REQUEST FOR TRIAL DE NOVO                               
                                                                                 
    (a) Sealing. The clerk shall seal any award if a trial de novo is            
requested.                                                                       
    (b) No Reference to Arbitration; Use of Testimony.                           
    (1) The trial de novo shall be conducted as though no arbitration            
proceeding had occurred. No reference shall be made to the arbitration           
award, in any pleading, brief, or other written or oral statement to the         
trial court or jury either before or during the trial, nor, in a jury            
trial, shall the jury be informed that there has been an arbitration             
proceeding.                                                                      
    (2) Testimony given during the arbitration proceeding is admissible in       
subsequent proceedings to the extent allowed by the Rules of Evidence,           
except that the testimony shall not be identified as having been given in        
an arbitration proceeding.                                                       
    (c) Relief Sought. The relief sought at a trial de novo shall not be         
restricted by RCW 7.06, local arbitration rule, or any prior waiver or           
stipulation made for purposes of arbitration.                                    
    (d) Arbitrator as Witness. The arbitrator shall not be called as a           
witness at the trial de novo.