The applicant failed to attend a scheduled pre-hearing conference for her statutory accident benefits dispute.
Her counsel advised she would not participate and he had no authority to settle.
The insurer objected and sought an award of expenses for the non-attendance.
The arbitrator held that parties are obliged to actively participate in pre-hearings unless excused.
The arbitrator awarded $85 in expenses to the insurer for the unnecessary attendance of its representative, but suspended payment until the conclusion of the arbitration.
