Order Confirming Arbitration Award is NOT a Final Judgment
Florida Arbitration Law . com:
Don’t you hate it when you find out that your friends have been out having fun without you? Such is the case with this local West Palm Beach appeal involving colleagues Bard Rockenbach and Robert Saylor before Judge Diana Lewis dealing with procedural arbitration questions. (we kid, of course)
In Sheila Paige v. American Security Insurance Company, the parties went to arbitration and the plaintiff won. She then move the circuit court to confirm the award and enter an award granting fees and costs. The defendant moved to strike plaintiff’s motion for fees as untimely. Specifically, in April 2007, the circuit court entered an order confirming the award and reserving on fees and costs. Two months later, the plaintiff filed a motion for fees. Defendant claimed it was too late and that the confirmation of the arbitration award was tantamount to a final judgment.
Not so fast.…