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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 657. Arbitration award and judgment
(a) Filing and Effect of Arbitration Award. - An arbitration
award made by an arbitrator under this chapter, along with proof of
service of such award on the other party by the prevailing party or
by the plaintiff, shall be filed promptly after the arbitration
hearing is concluded with the clerk of the district court that
referred the case to arbitration. Such award shall be entered as
the judgment of the court after the time has expired for requesting
a trial de novo. The judgment so entered shall be subject to the
same provisions of law and shall have the same force and effect as
a judgment of the court in a civil action, except that the judgment
shall not be subject to review in any other court by appeal or
otherwise.
(b) Sealing of Arbitration Award. - The district court shall
provide, by local rule adopted under section 2071(a), that the
contents of any arbitration award made under this chapter shall not
be made known to any judge who might be assigned to the case until
the district court has entered final judgment in the action or the
action has otherwise terminated.
(c) Trial de Novo of Arbitration Awards. -
(1) Time for filing demand. - Within 30 days after the filing
of an arbitration award with a district court under subsection
(a), any party may file a written demand for a trial de novo in
the district court.
(2) Action restored to court docket. - Upon a demand for a
trial de novo, the action shall be restored to the docket of the
court and treated for all purposes as if it had not been referred
to arbitration.
(3) Exclusion of evidence of arbitration. - The court shall not
admit at the trial de novo any evidence that there has been an
arbitration proceeding, the nature or amount of any award, or any
other matter concerning the conduct of the arbitration
proceeding, unless -
(A) the evidence would otherwise be admissible in the court
under the Federal Rules of Evidence; or
(B) the parties have otherwise stipulated.
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