This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.
Here's what this rule means in plain terms.
If you or your attorney don't follow the mini-trial rules on purpose, the other side can ask the court to step in. They do this by filing a motion and asking for a hearing. At that hearing, the judge will look at what happened and decide if punishment is needed.
If the judge decides sanctions are fair, the punishment is limited. The judge can only make you pay costs or attorney fees connected to the mini-trial process. The judge cannot punish you in other ways, like dismissing your case or holding you in contempt, under this specific rule.
This rule exists to keep people honest during mini-trials. It gives the other side a way to hold you accountable if you deliberately ignore the process, but it also protects you from harsh penalties. The punishment stays focused on covering the money the other side lost because of your actions.
