Opinion ID: 217617
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: This Court Otherwise Lacks Jurisdiction Over Accenture's Merits-Based Claims.

Text: Accenture also claims that this Court has jurisdiction over two merits-based claims: (1) that Spreng's withdrawal from the first arbitration waived his right to a second arbitration; and (2) that the October Order (denying Spreng leave to amend) was an enforceable arbitration award. But Accenture presents us with no final order for review. Thus, Accenture's merits-based claims are beyond our reach unless the claims themselves provide a jurisdictional hook. Of the two, only the second presents a conceivable jurisdictional premise. [4] Accenture correctly argues that we may review an order confirming or denying confirmation of an award or partial award. 9 U.S.C. § 16(a)(1)(D). The October Order, however, was not an award. An arbitration award is a final adjudication of a claim on the merits. See Lynne Carol Fashions, Inc. v. Cranston Print Works Co., 453 F.2d 1177, 1184 (3d Cir.1972). While an arbitrator may grant interim relief as an interim award, the interim award must finally and definitely dispose[] of a separate independent claim. Metallgesellschaft A.G. v. M/V Capitan Constante, 790 F.2d 280, 283 (2d Cir.1986). The October Order does not qualify as an arbitration award because it does not finally and definitely dispose of Spreng's fraud claim. In the October Order, the arbitrator explained that [i]t is one thing to add alternative theories of relief arguably arising from the same set of facts; it is quite another to try to add a mutually exclusive theory of relief on a `new' set of facts on the eve of the hearing. The arbitrator did not rule on the substance of Spreng's proposed amended claims. Rather, he made a procedural ruling that denied Spreng leave to amend. For purposes of our review, the October Order was an interim procedural ruling, not an arbitration award. [5] Thus, FAA § 16(a)(1)(D) does not grant us jurisdiction to review the arbitrator's ruling.