Short answer. You lose your objections to the faithfulness, genuineness, and due execution of the evidence marked at that pre-trial, and if you were required to bring evidence but didn't, that failure is separately deemed a waiver of presenting it — because pre-trial is mandatory and meant to be terminated promptly.

What the law says

The failure without just cause of a party and counsel to appear during pre-trial, despite notice, shall result in a waiver of any objections to the faithfulness of the reproductions marked, or their genuineness and due execution. The failure without just cause of a party and/or counsel to bring the evidence required shall be deemed a waiver of the presentation of such evidence.

Rule 18, Section 2 — Nature and [p]urpose. Read the full provision →

Pre-trial's mandatory character

The pre-trial stage under this Rule is expressly mandatory and should be terminated promptly once it begins. That underlying framing helps explain why non-appearance at pre-trial is treated so seriously rather than as some minor, easily forgiven scheduling lapse — pre-trial exists specifically to accomplish real, substantive purposes for moving the case forward, and a party's simple absence directly undermines that entire process.

The waiver for failing to appear

Where a party and counsel together fail, without any just cause, to appear during pre-trial despite having received proper notice of it, the resulting consequence is a waiver of any objections to the faithfulness of the reproductions marked at that pre-trial session, or to their genuineness and due execution. Simply not showing up costs the absent party the later ability to contest those specific evidentiary points at all.

A separate waiver for evidence not brought

The rule also separately addresses a party who does appear at pre-trial but nonetheless fails, without just cause, to bring the evidence that was actually required to be presented there. That distinct kind of failure is itself deemed a waiver of the presentation of such evidence — a consequence that is meaningfully distinct from the waiver that attaches specifically to non-appearance itself under the first part of this same rule.

Why filing judicial affidavits beforehand doesn't cure a non-appearance

Filing judicial affidavits ahead of time addresses the separate requirement to have evidence genuinely ready and properly marked before pre-trial begins, but doing so does not substitute for the party's actual, physical appearance at the pre-trial proceeding itself. Because the waiver tied to non-appearance attaches specifically to the act of failing to appear despite notice, simply having already-filed affidavits sitting on record does not prevent that particular consequence from applying if the party and counsel are, in fact, absent without just cause.

Related provisions

Note. Statute text quoted on this page is reproduced from the official enactment and is linked to the full provision. The explanation around it is general legal information from Vivas & Nobles Law Office, not legal advice. Whether it applies to your situation depends on facts only a lawyer reviewing them can assess.