Wash. Super. Ct. Civ. Arb. R. 7.2

(a) Sealing. The clerk shall seal any arbitration award if a trial de novo is requested. Such

sealing shall prohibit judicial officers’ access to the award until the trial de novo is completed or

the case is otherwise completed, at which time the clerk shall unseal the award.

(b) No Reference to Arbitration; Use of Testimony.

(1) The trial de novo shall be conducted as though no arbitration proceeding had occurred.

No reference shall be made to the arbitration award, in any pleading, brief, or other written or

oral statement to the trial court or jury either before or during the trial, nor, in a jury trial, shall

the jury be informed that there has been an arbitration proceeding.

(2) Testimony given during the arbitration proceeding is admissible in subsequent

proceedings to the extent allowed by the Rules of Evidence, except that the testimony shall not

be identified as having been given in an arbitration proceeding.

(c) Relief Sought. The relief sought at a trial de novo shall not be restricted by

RCW 7.06, local arbitration rule, or any prior waiver or stipulation made for purposes of

arbitration.

(d) Arbitrator as Witness. The arbitrator shall not be called as a witness at the trial de

novo.