Opinion
No. 2D08-267.
November 25, 2009.
Appeal from the Circuit Court, Lee County, Sherra Winesett, J.
Sylvia H. Walbolt, Matthew J. Conigliaro, Edward W. Collins, and Annette Marie Lang of Carlton Fields, P.A., St. Petersburg, for Appellants.
Isaac R. Ruiz-Carus of Wilkes McHugh, P.A., Tampa, and Susan B. Morrison of Law Offices of Susan B. Morrison, P.A., Tampa, for Appellee.
Manor Care, Inc., and related entities and employees appeal a nonfinal order denying their motion to compel arbitration in this suit by the Estate of Mary Lynn Kuhn. The circuit court concluded that the arbitration agreement was unenforceable because its limits of liability violated public policy. However, this court has directed that arbitrators should, in the first instance, decide whether an arbitration agreement violates public policy. See Rollins, Inc. v. Lighthouse Bay Holdings, Ltd., 898 So.2d 86 (Fla. 2d DCA 2005); see also Jaylene, Inc. v. Steuer, 22 So.3d 711 (Fla. 2d DCA 2009). Accordingly, we reverse the order denying the motion to compel arbitration.
Reversed and remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
VILLANTI and CRENSHAW, JJ., Concur.