You’re correct, and this judge is a disgrace. Here in Texas, if a plaintiff doesn’t show up for trial, the case gets dismissed or, if the party’s counsel shows good cause, continued or reset. It DOES NOT go forward.
Colonel, USAFR
If the defendant subpoenaed the plaintiff as a witness (something we don’t know), the judge’s decision will promptly be reversed — not on confrontation clause grounds (since it doesn’t apply in non-criminal cases), but on due process grounds. In any event, this case would have been a slam-dunk verdict for the defendant if he’d merely hired any compentent lawyer to represent him.