Case Name: ALPHAGRAPHICS FRANCHISING, INC., a foreign corporation, Alphagraphics, Inc., a foreign corporation, Rodger G. Ford, individually, and Michael Coffee, individually, Appellants, v. John G. STEBBINS, individually, John G. Stebbins, Inc., a Florida corporation, and George J. O'Rourke, individually, and Andrea O'Rourke, individually, Appellees
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1993-05-05
Citations: 617 So. 2d 463
Docket Number: No. 92-2874
Parties: ALPHAGRAPHICS FRANCHISING, INC., a foreign corporation, Alphagraphics, Inc., a foreign corporation, Rodger G. Ford, individually, and Michael Coffee, individually, Appellants, v. John G. STEBBINS, individually, John G. Stebbins, Inc., a Florida corporation, and George J. O’Rourke, individually, and Andrea O’Rourke, individually, Appellees.
Judges: STONE and WARNER, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 617
Pages: 463–468

Head Matter:
ALPHAGRAPHICS FRANCHISING, INC., a foreign corporation, Alphagraphics, Inc., a foreign corporation, Rodger G. Ford, individually, and Michael Coffee, individually, Appellants, v. John G. STEBBINS, individually, John G. Stebbins, Inc., a Florida corporation, and George J. O’Rourke, individually, and Andrea O’Rourke, individually, Appellees.
No. 92-2874.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
May 5, 1993.
Marc P. Seidler, John F. Yerhey, and Peter G. Hallam, Rudnick & Wolfe, Chicago, IL, and Karen M. Buesing of Rudnick & Wolfe, Tampa, for appellants.
David S. Bowman, Taylor, Brion, Buker & Greene, Fort Lauderdale, for appellees John G. Stebbins and John G. Stebbins, Inc.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
We affirm the order of the trial court staying arbitration. We believe an order staying arbitration is an order determining the entitlement of a party to arbitration.
As to the merits, the appellee had challenged the arbitration clause itself, claiming it was void or voidable under Flor-ida law. That issue is not subject to arbitration but must be heard by the trial court before arbitration can proceed. See Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith, Inc. v. Melamed, 425 So.2d 127 (Fla. 4th DCA 1982), petition for review denied, 433 So.2d 519 (Fla.1983); Wick v. Atlantic Marine, Inc., 605 F.2d 166 (5th Cir.1979). Therefore, there was no error in staying arbitration until this preliminary matter is resolved.
STONE and WARNER, JJ., concur.
FARMER, J., dissenting with opinion.