Case Name: Adam BERGER, Appellant, v. FIREMAN'S FUND INSURANCE COMPANY, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1987-09-08
Citations: 515 So. 2d 997
Docket Number: No. 86-582
Parties: Adam BERGER, Appellant, v. FIREMAN’S FUND INSURANCE COMPANY, Appellee.
Judges: Before HUBBART, BASKIN and FERGUSON, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 515
Pages: 997–998

Head Matter:
Adam BERGER, Appellant, v. FIREMAN’S FUND INSURANCE COMPANY, Appellee.
No. 86-582.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.
Sept. 8, 1987.
Rehearing Denied Nov. 24, 1987.
Keyfetz, Poses & Halpern and Andrea R. Baron, Miami, for appellant.
Corlett, Killian, Hardeman, McIntosh & Levi and Leanne J. Frank, Miami, for ap-pellee.
Before HUBBART, BASKIN and FERGUSON, JJ.

Opinion:
REVISED OPINION
PER CURIAM.
Plaintiff/insured Adam Berger appeals from a final order entering summary judgment in favor of his insurer, Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, and denying Berger's motion for summary judgment.
Fireman's Fund insured Berger under an automobile policy which included uninsured motorist coverage in the amount of $100,-000 per person and $300,000 per accident. The policy also contained an arbitration escape clause which provided that an uninsured motorist award in excess of $10,000 is not binding and that either party, in such a case, could demand a trial. After Berger was injured in an automobile accident he made a claim for damages and arbitration, notwithstanding the amount, which Fire man's Fund denied. Berger brought this declaratory action and moved for summary judgment seeking a determination that the arbitration escape provision is invalid and unenforceable. Fireman's Fund filed a cross motion for summary judgment requesting enforcement of the provision as written. The circuit court determined that the nonbinding arbitration provision did not contravene the Florida Arbitration Code, sections 682.01-22, Florida Statutes (1985). We reverse.
An agreement to arbitrate is an agreement to accept the arbitrator's decision as final and binding. Bankers & Shippers Ins. Co. v. Gonzalez, 234 So.2d 693, 695 (Fla. 3d DCA 1970) ("very essence of an arbitration is an agreement to be bound by the factual determination of the arbitrator and thus end the factual controversy"); Travelers Ins. Co. v. Luckett, 279 So.2d 885 (Fla. 3d DCA 1973) (same). The instant arbitration provision which permits either party to repudiate the agreement if dissatisfied with an arbitration award in excess of $10,000, contravenes the Arbitration Code and public policy as expressed in judicial opinions and is therefore null and void. Claims brought under the policy must, therefore, be pursued in a court of law.
Reversed and remanded with instructions to grant Berger's motion for summary judgment.
Before SCHWARTZ, C.J., and BARKDULL, HENDRY, HUBBART, NESBITT, BASKIN, DANIEL S. PEARSON, FERGUSON and JORGENSON, JJ.