NJ Supreme Court Says Orders Compelling Arbitration Are Considered Final Orders Which Are Appealable As Of Right
"All orders compelling and denying arbitration shall be deemed final for purposes of appeal, regardless of whether such orders dispose of all issues and all parties, the time for appeal therefrom starts from the date of the entry of that order," said the New Jersey Supreme Court in a recent ruling issued in the case of G MAC v. Rosanna Pittella v. Pine Belt Enterprises, Inc. (March 23, 2011, A-15-10) . The relevant facts of the case are as follows: On February 27, 2003, Pittella entered into a “retail installment sale contract” with Pine Belt to finance the purchase of a car she bought at the Pine Belt auto dealership. Pittella simultaneously signed an arbitration agreement entitled “Option to Arbitrate Disputes,” which obligated Pitella to submit to binding arbitration any dispute arising out her financing, leasing or acquisition of the vehicle. In addition, the arbitration provision of the retail installment contract s...