When, upon the meeting of the arbitrators, either party is not ready for trial, the referee may postpone the hearing of the case to a future day, which day shall be as early as may be consistent with the ends of justice, considering all the circumstances of the case. If one party is not ready for trial at the time appointed for the hearing of the case and the party has previously required two or more postponements of the trial, the referee shall determine whether the arbitration panel shall nonetheless hear the case or whether another postponement shall be granted, the determination to be consistent with the ends of justice, considering all the circumstances of the case.
(Code 1933, § 7-411, enacted by Ga. L. 1978, p. 2270, § 2; Code 1981, §9-9-120; Code 1981, §9-9-70, as redesignated by Ga. L. 1988, p. 903, § 3.)