Opinion ID: 77098
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Final and Appealable Decision

Text: 7 The Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) allows an immediate appeal from any final decision with respect to arbitration. 9 U.S.C. § 16(a)(3). A decision is final within the meaning of § 16(a)(3) where the court dispose[s] of the entire case on the merits and [leaves] no part of it pending before the court. Green Tree Financial Corp.-Ala. v. Randolph, 531 U.S. 79, 86, 121 S.Ct. 513, 520, 148 L.Ed.2d 373 (2000) (alterations added). When it compelled arbitration, dismissed the complaint, and entered a judgment, the district court disposed of this case on the merits; no issues remained before the court. 8 Although the district court retained jurisdiction to decide a motion for sanctions under Rule 11, that motion raised a collateral issue. A question remaining to be decided after an order ending litigation on the merits does not prevent finality if its resolution will not alter the order or moot or revise decisions embodied in the order. Budinich v. Becton Dickinson & Co., 486 U.S. 196, 199-200, 108 S.Ct. 1717, 1720, 100 L.Ed.2d 178 (1988) (citing Brown Shoe Co. v. United States, 370 U.S. 294, 308-09, 82 S.Ct. 1502, 1514-15, 8 L.Ed.2d 510 (1962); Dickinson v. Petroleum Conversion Corp., 338 U.S. 507, 513-16, 70 S.Ct. 322, 325-26, 94 L.Ed. 299 (1950)). We have consistently held that motions for sanctions raise issues that are collateral to the merits of an appeal. See Mahone v. Ray, 326 F.3d 1176, 1180-81 (11th Cir.2003) (citing Cooter & Gell v. Hartmarx Corp., 496 U.S. 384, 395-96, 110 S.Ct. 2447, 2455-56, 110 L.Ed.2d 359 (1990); Baker v. Alderman, 158 F.3d 516, 523 (11th Cir.1998); Didie v. Howes, 988 F.2d 1097, 1103 (11th Cir.1993)). In addition, every circuit that has considered this issue has held that the pendency of a motion for sanctions after a dismissal on the merits does not bar appellate jurisdiction. See In re Dyer, 322 F.3d 1178, 1186 (9th Cir.2003); Brown v. Francis, 75 F.3d 860, 864 n. 3 (3d Cir.1996); Turnbull v. Wilcken, 893 F.2d 256, 257 (10th Cir.1990); Cleveland v. Berkson, 878 F.2d 1034, 1036 (7th Cir.1989). 9 Although none of these precedents involved a dismissal accompanied by an order compelling arbitration, that distinction is immaterial. The district court entered a judgment and dismissed the entire case on the merits. That judgment was a final decision, even though the district court retained jurisdiction to decide a motion for sanctions. We, therefore, have jurisdiction to decide the merits of this appeal. 10