Andre Anderson v. Pennsylvania Financial

OPINION BY WIEAND, J.: This action was commenced by the filing of a complaint by Andre Anderson against Pennsylvania Financial Responsibility Assigned
Claims Plan and Randy Perrin to recover damages when Anderson was struck by an uninsured vehicle owned and operated by Perrin.
The case was submitted to compulsory arbitration and resulted in an award for defendants when plaintiff and his lawyer failed
to appear for hearing. Plaintiff thereupon filed an appeal, requesting a trial de novo before a jury. A mandatory settlement
conference was scheduled, and, for reasons not here relevant, a second settlement conference became necessary. When the second
settlement conference was scheduled, notice was sent to plaintiff's counsel and received. When plaintiff and his counsel failed
to appear at the second settlement conference and the trial court's efforts to find counsel were unsuccessful, an order was
entered which quashed the appeal and reinstated the award of arbitrators.