(a) Except as agreed by the parties, the arbitration tribunal shall terminate the arbitration if the claimant without showing sufficient cause fails to communicate the statement of claim required under Section 172.109.
(b) Except as agreed by the parties, if the respondent without showing sufficient cause fails to communicate the statement of defense as provided by Section 172.109, the arbitration tribunal shall continue the arbitration without treating that failure as an admission of the claimant's allegations.