Domingo

Appellant Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority appeals from denial of its request for trial de novo *552 following court-ordered judicial arbitration. After review, we reverse and remand.

Procedural and Factual Background

In July 1996 respondent Hermin Domingo sued appellant Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority for personal injuries she allegedly suffered while riding one of appellant’s buses. In March 1998, the court ordered the case to judicial arbitration. As the parties awaited their arbitration date, appellant’s attorneys moved their offices from 221 North Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, to 865 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles.

The arbitration hearing took place on June 17, 1998, and on June 24, 1998, the arbitrator awarded respondent $50,000. The arbitrator served his award that day and filed it with the court the following day, but due to a typographical error, the arbitrator mailed appellant’s copy of the award to 8655 South Figueroa, Los Angeles, instead of the correct address at 865 South Figueroa, Los Angeles. The post office returned the misaddressed envelope to the arbitrator, who, instead of correcting his…