For civil actions where claims do not exceed $15,000, this statute authorizes the court to refer the parties to nonbinding arbitration. The statute also sets arbitrator fees and grants arbitrators immunity from civil liability, but otherwise instructs the Supreme Court to develop further rules governing arbitrations.
North Carolina General Statute 7A-37.1: Statewide court-ordered, nonbinding arbitration in certain civil actions
General Assembly of North Carolina. Enacted 1989; revised August 1, 2003http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_7A/GS_7A-37.1.pdf