Section 9-9-48. Appointment of experts

   (a) Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the arbitration tribunal:

   (1) May appoint one or more experts to report to it on specific issues to be determined by the arbitration tribunal; and

   (2) May require a party to give the expert any relevant information or to produce, or to provide access to, any relevant documents, goods, or other property for the expert's inspection.

(b) Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, if a party requests or if the arbitration tribunal considers it necessary, the expert shall, after delivery of the expert's written or oral report, participate in a hearing where the parties have the opportunity to put questions to the expert and to present expert witnesses in order to testify on the points at issue.

Code 1981, § 9-9-48, enacted by Ga. L. 2012, p. 961, § 1/SB 383.