Opinion ID: 749924
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: jurisdiction

Text: 20 BMI contends that this court does not have jurisdiction to hear this appeal because the district court has not entered a final order in this case. Upon BMI's motion for summary judgment, the district court entered an order granting BMI's motion for summary judgment and dismissing the action in all respects WITHOUT PREJUDICE to the right of any party to reopen the action following completion of the grievance and arbitration proceedings, should there remain any issues unresolved by arbitration. (emphasis in original). BMI argues the language of the district court order makes clear that this order is not a final order, but merely a transfer order referring the case to arbitration. We disagree. 21 As plaintiffs have pointed out, in Kobleur v. Group Hospitalization and Med. Serv., Inc., 954 F.2d 705, 708 (11th Cir.1992), we unequivocally held that a district court's dismissal of a case without prejudice for failure to exhaust administrative remedies is a final order, giving an appellate court jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. As in Kobleur, the practical effect of the district court's order here is to deny the plaintiffs judicial relief until they have exhausted their administrative remedies. The district court's order is even more final here and plaintiffs' argument is all the more compelling in that plaintiffs would be denied access to the grievance and arbitration procedure since the CBA requires that grievances be filed within ten days of the occurrence. Therefore, the district court entered a final order giving this court jurisdiction to hear the appeal under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. 22