It's odd that the judge would proceed without the attorney or party present. Find another attorney ASAP!
Then call the Judge's clerk, explain the situation and find out if the attorney had actually filed an appearance (statement saying she is representing your friend) and ask if a request for continuance had been filed. The legal community is pretty small and word has probably gotten around that this attorney isn't doing her job.
Skip the Bar Association, they are not in charge of attorney discipline. File a complaint with the Attorney Discipline Board here:
http://www.mochiefcounsel.org/index.htm
edit: Be sure that he provides a detailed account of what he paid, when he paid, unreturned correspondence, etc. Did she ever appear in court for your friend?