(1) Except as provided in ORS § 30.136, in a civil action in a circuit court where all parties have appeared, the court shall refer the action to arbitration under ORS § 36.400 to 36.425 if either of the following applies:

(a) The only relief claimed is recovery of money or damages, and no party asserts a claim for money or general and special damages in an amount exceeding $50,000, exclusive of attorney fees, costs and disbursements and interest on judgment.

(b) The action is a domestic relations suit, as defined in ORS § 107.510, in which the only contested issue is the division or other disposition of property between the parties.

(2) The presiding judge for a judicial district may do either of the following:

(a) Exempt from arbitration under ORS § 36.400 to 36.425 a civil action that otherwise would be referred to arbitration under this section.

(b) Remove from further arbitration proceedings a civil action that has been referred to arbitration under this section, when, in the opinion of the judge, good cause exists for that exemption or removal.

(3) If a court has established a mediation program that is available for a civil action that would otherwise be subject to arbitration under ORS § 36.400 to 36.425, the court shall not assign the proceeding to arbitration if the proceeding is assigned to mediation pursuant to the agreement of the parties. Notwithstanding any other provision of ORS § 36.400 to 36.425, a party who completes a mediation program offered by a court shall not be required to participate in arbitration under ORS § 36.400 to 36.425. [Formerly 33.360; 1995 c.455 § 2a; 1995 c.618 § 11; 1995 c.658 § 31a; 1995 c.781 § 32; 2005 c.274 § 2; 2009 c.83 § 3]