5-437. Arbitration process. (a) An arbitrator may conduct an arbitration in such manner as the arbitrator considers appropriate for a fair and expeditious disposition of the proceeding. The authority conferred upon the arbitrator includes the power to hold conferences with the parties to the arbitration proceeding before the hearing and, among other matters, determine the admissibility, relevance, materiality and weight of any evidence.
(b) An arbitrator may decide a request for summary disposition of a claim or particular issue:
(1) If all interested parties agree; or
(2) upon request of one party to the arbitration proceeding, if that party gives notice to all other parties to the proceeding and the other parties have a reasonable opportunity to respond.
(c) If an arbitrator orders a hearing, the arbitrator shall set a time and place and give notice of the hearing not less than five days before the hearing begins. Unless a party to the arbitration proceeding makes an objection to lack or insufficiency of notice not later than the beginning of the hearing, the party's appearance at the hearing waives the objection. Upon request of a party to the arbitration proceeding and for good cause shown, or upon the arbitrator's own initiative, the arbitrator may adjourn the hearing from time to time as necessary but may not postpone the hearing to a time later than that fixed by the agreement to arbitrate for making the award unless the parties to the arbitration proceeding consent to a later date. The arbitrator may hear and decide the controversy upon the evidence produced, although a party who was duly notified of the arbitration proceeding did not appear. The court, on request, may direct the arbitrator to conduct the hearing promptly and render a timely decision.
(d) At a hearing under subsection (c), a party to the arbitration proceeding has a right to be heard, to present evidence material to the controversy, and to cross-examine witnesses appearing at the hearing.
(e) If an arbitrator ceases or is unable to act during the arbitration proceeding, a replacement arbitrator must be appointed in accordance with K.S.A. 2021 Supp. 5-433, and amendments thereto, to continue the proceeding and to resolve the controversy.
History: L. 2018, ch. 90, ยง 15; July 1.
Structure Kansas Statutes
Chapter 5 - Arbitration And Award
Article 4 - Uniform Arbitration Act
5-426 Effect of agreement to arbitrate; nonwaivable provisions.
5-427 Application for judicial relief.
5-428 Validity of agreement to arbitrate.
5-429 Motion to compel or stay arbitration.
5-431 Initiation of arbitration.
5-432 Consolidation of separate arbitration proceedings.
5-433 Appointment of arbitrator; service as a neutral arbitrator.
5-434 Disclosure by arbitrator.
5-436 Arbitrator immunity; competency to testify; attorney fees and costs.
5-438 Representation by lawyer.
5-439 Witnesses; subpoenas; depositions; discovery.
5-440 Judicial enforcement of pre-award ruling by arbitrator.
5-442 Change of award by arbitrator.
5-443 Remedies; fees and expenses of arbitration proceeding.
5-446 Modification or correction of award.
5-447 Judgment on award; attorney fees and litigation expenses.
5-451 Uniformity of application and construction.
5-452 Relationship to electronic signatures in global and national commerce act.