Ordered that the order is affirmed, without costs or disbursements.
The defendant was not entitled to demand a trial de novo following the arbitrators' entry of an award against him, because of his failure to appear at the arbitration hearing (see, 22 NYCRR 28.12 [a]).
We have considered the defendant's remaining contentions and find them to be without merit. Thompson, J.P., Harwood, Balletta, Rosenblatt and Eiber, JJ., concur.