Small Claims Tribunals Act 1984 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 2 · Establishment and Jurisdiction of Tribunals
29. When party fails to appear
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2018.
If a party to the proceedings on a claim before a tribunal fails, without reasonable excuse, to attend (personally or by a representative permitted under section 23(2)) those proceedings, the tribunal may —
party
“party” means a claimant or respondent and any person joined as a third party;
in the case where the absent party is the claimant —
claimant
“claimant” means a person who lodges a claim with a tribunal and includes any person who becomes a party to the proceedings on any claim in the capacity of a claimant;
dismiss the claim; or
where the proceedings include a counterclaim by the respondent, hear, and make an order under section 35 on, the counterclaim; or
respondent
“respondent” means any person against whom a claim is made and any person who becomes a party to the proceedings on any claim in the capacity of a respondent;
in the case where the absent party is the respondent — hear, and make an order under section 35 on, the claim and (where the proceedings include a counterclaim by the respondent) the counterclaim.