California Code of Civil Procedure > Code Civ. Proc. §116.795. Dismissal for Failure to Appear or Lack of Timely Prosecution
(a) The superior court may dismiss the appeal if the appealing party does not appear at the hearing or if the appeal is not heard within one year from the date of filing the notice of appeal with the clerk of the small claims court.
(b) Upon dismissal of an appeal by the superior court, the small claims court shall thereafter have the same jurisdiction as if no appeal had been filed. [1990]