Broward Yachts, Inc. v. Denison

Petitioner seeks a writ of mandamus to compel the trial court to enter a final judgment for damages awarded in nonbinding arbitration. Because respondents did not request a trial, the trial court was required by statute to enter a judgment, and we accordingly grant the petition. We reject the respondents’ argument that a judgment is premature because a trial was requested after arbitration on a claim contained in a separate count in the complaint.

Section 44.103, Florida Statutes (2003), entitled “Court-ordered, nonbinding arbitration,” authorizes trial courts to refer civil actions to…