(a) A person accepting an appointment as an arbitrator is deemed to have: (1) Consented to the terms of this chapter; and (2) Accepted the consequences set forth in subsection (b) of this section for failing to comply with the provisions of § 5808(b) of this title. An arbitrator is immune from civil liability for or resulting from any act or omission done or made in connection with an arbitration, unless the arbitrator's act or omission was made or done in bad faith, with malicious intent, or in a manner exhibiting a wilful, wanton disregard of the rights, safety, or property of another. (b) Unless otherwise provided in an agreement, an arbitrator's fees and expenses, together with other expenses incurred in the conduct of an arbitration, but not including counsel fees of parties to the arbitration, shall be borne as provided in a final award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an arbitrator that fails to issue a final award in compliance with § 5808(b) of this title is not entitled to full payment of the arbitrator's fees. The arbitrator's fees must be reduced by 25% if the final award is less than 30 days late; the arbitrator's fees must be reduced by 75% if the final award is between 30 and 60 days late; and the arbitrator's fees must be reduced by 100% if the final award is more than 60 days late. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, upon petition by an arbitrator, the Court of Chancery may summarily determine, on clear and convincing evidence, that exceptional circumstances exist such that the reductions in the foregoing sentence should be modified or eliminated. (c) An arbitrator may retain appropriate counsel, in consultation with the parties. The arbitrator's counsel may make rulings on issues of law, to the extent requested to do so by the arbitrator, which shall have the same effect as a ruling by the arbitrator, if the arbitrator so determines. The fees and expenses incurred by the arbitrator's counsel must be included in the arbitrator's expenses described in subsection (b) of this section. (d) An arbitrator that fails to issue a final award in compliance with § 5808(b) of this title shall, within 90 days of the failure, report that failure to the Register in Chancery, indicating: (1) The date on which the arbitrator accepted appointment as an arbitrator; and (2) The date on which the final award was issued.
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