As amended through June 7, 2024
(a)Actions Designated and Time Schedules. In all actions subject to arbitration the court shall designate such actions for arbitration sixty (60) days after the filing of the arbitration certificate required by Rule 1(e) provided the provisions of Arbitration Rules 7.1(a)(1) and (c) have been fulfilled. The designation date may coincide with the date of selection/appointment of the arbitrator. The court shall set a date of not more than 240 days after selection/appointment, by which time the arbitration hearing must be concluded.(b)Notice. Notice that a case has been assigned to arbitration shall be served on the selected arbitrator and all parties within five (5) days of such selection. Within five (5) days of receiving such notice, the selected arbitrator shall notify the Arbitration Office and all parties to the matter in accordance with Super.R.Civ.P. 5(b), that the arbitrator has received and accepted the designation. (c)Date of Hearing Advanced by Agreement. A hearing may be held earlier than the date set by the arbitrator by agreement of the parties with arbitrator approval.(d)Forms. Forms for use in these arbitration proceedings must be approved by the Superior Court. The most current versions of the forms are located on the Judiciary's website at www.courts.ri.gov under the heading of Public Resources, Forms. (e)Delegation of Nonjudicial Functions. To conserve judicial resources and facilitate the effectiveness of these Arbitration Rules, the court may delegate nonjudicial administrative duties and functions to supporting court personnel and authorize them to require compliance with approved procedures.(f)Definitions. "Court" as used in these Arbitration Rules means, depending upon the context in which it is used, the presiding justice or a designee of the presiding justice.