(a) Where a party fails to appear at the hearing, the arbitrator shall nonetheless proceed with the hearing and shall render a decision, which shall be rendered as a judgment by the court. Such judgment may not be opened or set aside unless a motion to open or set aside is filed within four months succeeding the date on which notice was sent. If the judicial authority opens or sets aside the judgment, it may resubmit the action to the arbitrator. Any order opening or setting aside the judgment may be upon condition that the moving party pay to the court an amount not greater than the total fees then payable to the arbitrator for services in the case.
Section 23-65.—Failure To Appear at Hearing before Arbitrator
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceCovers what happens when a party or all parties fail to appear at an arbitration hearing, including how a resulting judgment can be reopened and what happens if everyone is absent.
Full Text of Section 23-65
(b) If all parties fail to appear at the hearing, the arbitrator shall file a request with the court to dismiss the action. If the judicial authority does not dismiss the action, it may be heard by the arbitrator upon further order of the judicial authority. Such order may provide for the payment by any party to the court of an amount not greater than $100.
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 546R.) (Amended June 29, 1998, to take effect Jan. 1, 1999.)
Plain-English Summary
If one party fails to appear at the arbitration hearing, the arbitrator proceeds anyway and renders a decision, which the court then enters as a judgment. That judgment cannot be opened or set aside unless a motion to do so is filed within four months of the date the notice was sent. If the judicial authority does open or set aside the judgment, it may resubmit the action to the arbitrator, and it may condition that relief on the moving party paying the court an amount no greater than the total fees payable to the arbitrator for the case.
If all parties fail to appear, the arbitrator instead files a request with the court to dismiss the action. If the judicial authority declines to dismiss, the case may go back to the arbitrator upon further order, and that order may require any party to pay the court up to $100.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I miss my arbitration hearing?
The arbitrator will still proceed with the hearing and render a decision, which the court enters as a judgment against you.
Can I get that judgment reopened?
Yes, but you must file a motion to open or set aside the judgment within four months of the date the arbitrator's decision notice was sent.
What if both sides miss the hearing?
The arbitrator files a request asking the court to dismiss the action; if the court declines to dismiss it, the case may return to the arbitrator by further court order.
Can the court charge a fee for reopening a default judgment from arbitration?
Yes. The order opening or setting aside the judgment may require the moving party to pay the court an amount not greater than the total fees payable to the arbitrator for the case.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 23-65). Prescribed by the Judges of the Superior Court of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 51-14). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: missed arbitration hearing CTdefault judgment arbitration Connecticutreopen arbitration judgment deadlinefailure to appear arbitration hearing