In an unpublished opinion, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals declined to exercise jurisdiction over an appeal of an order allowing discovery in connection with a motion to vacate an arbitration award. The Federal Arbitration Act provides for appeals from orders “modifying, correcting, or vacating an [arbitration] award.” The trial court’s decision to permit discovery into whether the award should be vacated might be a prelude to a final order vacating or modifying the award, but it is not a final order for purposes of the Act. Guyden v. Prudential Life Ins. Co. of Am., No. 08-3108 (3d Cir. June 5, 2009).
This post written by Brian Perryman.