(a) The Chief Administrator may establish in any trial court in any county the arbitration program authorized by this Part.

(b) In each county where an arbitration program is established, and to the extent directed by the Chief Administrator, civil actions for a sum of money only, except those commenced in small claims parts and not subsequently transferred to a regular part of court, that are noticed for trial or commenced in the Supreme Court, County Court, the Civil Court of the City of New York, a District Court or a City Court, on or after the effective date of the order where recovery sought for each cause of action is $6,000 or less, or $10,000 or less in the Civil Court of the City of New York, or such other sum as may be authorized by law, exclusive of costs and interest, shall be heard and decided by a panel of arbitrators. The Chief Administrator may also, at any time, upon the establishment of the program in any particular court or county or thereafter, provide for the submission to arbitration of actions, seeking recovery of such sums, that are pending for trial in those courts on the effective date of the order.

(c) In addition, upon stipulation filed with the clerk of the court where the action was commenced or, if the case was transferred, the clerk of the court to which it has been transferred, any civil action for a sum of money only, pending or thereafter commenced in such courts, including actions removed to a court of limited jurisdiction from the Supreme Court pursuant to CPLR 325(d), regardless of the amount in controversy, shall be arbitrated, and in any such action the arbitration award shall not be limited to the amounts provided in subdivision (b) of this section, or to the monetary jurisdiction of the court. Any stipulation pursuant to this section may set forth agreed facts, defenses waived or similar terms, and to that extent shall replace the pleadings.

(d) In any action subject to arbitration under these rules or submitted to arbitration by stipulation, the arbitration panel shall have jurisdiction of any counter-claim or cross-claim for a sum of money only that has been interposed, without regard to amount.

(e) All actions subject to arbitration shall be placed on a separate calendar known as the arbitration calendar, in the order of filing of the note of issue, notice of trial or stipulation of submission, except that where a defendant is in default, the plaintiff may seek a default judgment pursuant to the provisions of CPLR 3215.

(f) The appropriate administrative judge, with the approval of the Deputy Chief Administrator, may direct a pretrial calendar hearing by the court of actions pending on the arbitration calendar. If an action is not settled or dismissed, or judgment by default is not directed upon the hearing, it shall be processed thereafter in accordance with the provisions of this Part.