Appealing Confirmation of an Arbitration Award? No Rule, No Jurisdiction

The Third District Court of Appeal held (.pdf) it has no jurisdiction to review a trial court order confirming an arbitration award. What makes the case slightly interesting is that there is a provision of the Arbitration Code, Section 682.20, Fla. Stat., that purports to specifically allow such appeals. The Court joined its sister District, however, in holding that the statute doesn’t meet the jurisdictional requirements of the Florida Constitution, which holds that review of non final orders can be made only ‘the extent provided by rules adopted by the supreme court.’ Without a Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure, there is no jurisdiction.