Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 7361 (2026)

  Compulsory arbitration.

✓ current as of May 2026
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SUBCHAPTER C

JUDICIAL ARBITRATION

 

Sec.

7361.  Compulsory arbitration.

7362.  Voluntary arbitration of pending judicial matters.

 

Cross References.  Subchapter C is referred to in section 8854 of Title 53 (Municipalities Generally).

§ 7361.  Compulsory arbitration.

(a)  General rule.--Except as provided in subsection (b), when prescribed by general rule or rule of court such civil matters or issues therein as shall be specified by rule shall first be submitted to and heard by a board of three members of the bar of the court.

(b)  Limitations.--No matter shall be referred under subsection (a):

(1)  which involves title to real property; or

(2)  where the amount in controversy, exclusive of interest and costs, exceeds $50,000.

(c)  Procedure.--The arbitrators appointed pursuant to this section shall have such powers and shall proceed in such manner as shall be prescribed by general rules.

(d)  Appeal for trial de novo.--Any party to a matter shall have the right to appeal for trial de novo in the court. The party who takes the appeal shall pay such amount or proportion of fees and costs and shall comply with such other procedures as shall be prescribed by general rules. In the absence of appeal the judgment entered on the award of the arbitrators shall be enforced as any other judgment of the court. For the purposes of this section and section 5571 (relating to appeals generally) an award of arbitrators constitutes an order of a tribunal.

(Apr. 6, 1980, P.L.100, No.38; Apr. 16, 1992, P.L.146, No.25, eff. 60 days; Nov. 30, 2004, P.L.1703, No.217, eff. imd.; May 11, 2006, P.L.166, No.41, eff. 60 days)

 

2006 Amendment.  Act 41 amended subsec. (b).

1980 Amendment.  Act 38 amended subsec. (d), effective immediately and retroactive to June 27, 1978, and amended the remainder of section 7361, effective in 60 days and applicable to actions filed on and after that date.

1984 Partial Repeal.  Section 8 of the act of February 12, 1984, P.L.26, No.11, relating to motor vehicle financial responsibility, repealed section 7361(b)(2)(i) insofar as it is inconsistent with Act 11.

Cross References.  Section 7361 is referred to in section 1794 of Title 75 (Vehicles).

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 98 cases (15 in the last 5 years), 1978–2026 · leading case: Robert Half Int'l Inc. v. Marlton Tech., Inc., 902 A.2d 519 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2006).
Robert Half Int'l Inc. v. Marlton Tech., Inc., 902 A.2d 519 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2006). · cites it 6× “[5] First, 42 Pa.C.S. § 7361 indicates that "where the amount in controversy, exclusive of interest and costs" is $50,000 or less, the matter "shall first be submitted to and heard by a board of three members of the bar of the court.”
Krebs v. United Refining Co. of Pennsylvania, 893 A.2d 776 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2006). “monetary relief for bodily injury, death or property damage, damages for delay shall be added to the amount of compensatory damages awarded against each defendant or additional defendant found to be liable to the plaintiff in the verdict of a jury, in the decision of the court…”
Ins. Fed'n of Pa v. Dept. of Ins., 889 A.2d 550 (Pa. 2005). · cites it 2× “See 42 Pa.C.S. § 7361 (dealing with compulsory arbitration, stating "[a]ny party to a matter shall have the right to appeal for trial de novo in the court.”
Touloumes v. E.S.C. Inc., 899 A.2d 343 (Pa. 2006). · cites it 2× “In relevant part, Rule 238 states: Damages for Delay in Actions for Bodily Injury, Death or Property Damage (a)(1) At the request of the plaintiff in a civil action seeking monetary relief for bodily injury, death or property damage, damages for delay shall be added to the…”
Allen v. Mellinger, 784 A.2d 762 (Pa. 2001). · cites it 2× “the award of arbitrators appointed under section 7361 of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa.C.S. § 7361, and shall become part of the verdict, decision or award.”
Hammons, P. v. Ethicon, Inc., 190 A.3d 1248 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018). “monetary relief for bodily injury, death or property damage, damages for delay shall be added to the amount of compensatory damages awarded against each defendant or additional defendant found to be liable to the plaintiff in the verdict of a jury, in the decision of the court…”
Ginther v. United States Fid. & Guar. Co., 632 A.2d 333 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1993). · cites it 5× “tary relief for bodily injury, death or property damage, *258 damages for delay shall be added to the amount of compensatory damages awarded against each defendant or additional defendant found to be liable to the plaintiff in the verdict of a jury, in the decision of the court…”
Pugar v. Greco, 394 A.2d 542 (Pa. 1978). “1978), since superseded by Section 7361 of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa. C.S. § 7361 (effectively June 27, 1978).”
McGratton v. Burke, 674 A.2d 1095 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1996). · cites it 3× “The arbitration panel which heard the case on October 19, 1993, pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 7361(a), restricted its award in favor of appellee to an economic loss in the amount of $2,893.”
Potochnick v. Perry, 861 A.2d 277 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2004). “monetary relief for bodily injury, death or property damage, damages for delay shall be added to the amount of compensatory damages awarded against each defendant or additional defendant found to be liable to the plaintiff in the verdict of a jury, in the decision of the court…”
Grimm v. Universal Med. Servs., Inc., 156 A.3d 1282 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017). “Rule 238 provides, in relevant part, the following: (a)(1) At the request of the plaintiff in a civil action seeking monetary relief for bodily injury, death or property damage, damages for delay shall be added to the amount of compensatory damages awarded against each defendant…”
Hall v. Reeb, 555 A.2d 926 (Pa. 1989). · cites it 3× “We begin our analysis with a review of the statute pertaining to compulsory arbitration, 42 Pa.C.S. § 7361. There, certain civil matters are required to “first be submitted to and heard by a board of three members of the bar of the court.”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 7361(a) — 10 cases
Robert Half Int'l Inc. v. Marlton Tech., Inc., 902 A.2d 519 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2006). “[5] First, 42 Pa.C.S. § 7361 indicates that "where the amount in controversy, exclusive of interest and costs" is $50,000 or less, the matter "shall first be submitted to and heard by a board of three members of the bar of the court.”
Blucas, M. v. Agiovlasitis, P., 179 A.3d 520 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2018).
McGratton v. Burke, 674 A.2d 1095 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1996). “The arbitration panel which heard the case on October 19, 1993, pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 7361(a), restricted its award in favor of appellee to an economic loss in the amount of $2,893.”
Hall v. Reeb, 555 A.2d 926 (Pa. 1989). “We begin our analysis with a review of the statute pertaining to compulsory arbitration, 42 Pa.C.S. § 7361. There, certain civil matters are required to “first be submitted to and heard by a board of three members of the bar of the court.”
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 7361(b) — 2 cases
Richardson, A. v. Parks, V. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2026).
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 7361(b)(1) — 4 cases
Barnes v. McKellar, 644 A.2d 770 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1994).
Thoma, J. v. Interstate Builders (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019).
South High Dev. v. Est. of Morgan, J. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2015).
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 7361(b)(2) — 2 cases
Sullivan, L. v. Holy Redeemer Hosp., 2021 Pa. Super. 191 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2021).
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 7361(b)(2)(i) — 2 cases
Corestates Bank of Delaware, N.A. v. Richter, 721 A.2d 805 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1998).
— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 7361(d) — 23 cases
Sharp, C. v. McQuiller, S., 206 A.3d 1179 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2019).
McGratton v. Burke, 674 A.2d 1095 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1996). “The arbitration panel which heard the case on October 19, 1993, pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. § 7361(a), restricted its award in favor of appellee to an economic loss in the amount of $2,893.”
Lough v. Spring, 556 A.2d 441 (Pa. 1989).
Hall v. Reeb, 555 A.2d 926 (Pa. 1989). “We begin our analysis with a review of the statute pertaining to compulsory arbitration, 42 Pa.C.S. § 7361. There, certain civil matters are required to “first be submitted to and heard by a board of three members of the bar of the court.”
Coyne v. Cnty. of Allegheny, 566 A.2d 378 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1989).
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