§1‑567.55.  Default of a party.

Unless otherwise agreed by theparties, where, without showing sufficient cause:

(1) The claimant failsto submit a statement of claim in accordance with G.S. 1‑567.53(a), thearbitral tribunal shall terminate the proceedings;

(2) The respondent failsto submit a statement of defense in accordance with G.S. 1‑567.53(c), thearbitral tribunal shall continue to conduct the proceedings without treatingsuch failure in itself as an admission of the claimant's allegations;

(3) Any party fails toappear at a hearing or to produce documentary evidence as directed by thearbitral tribunal, the arbitral tribunal may continue to conduct theproceedings and make the award on the evidence before it. (1991,c. 292.)