Appellate Insights

Most trial court orders are not immediately appealable—review is available only on appeal from a final judgment or via a writ petition.  But some types of orders are immediately appealable.  It’s important to identify those orders, because failing to timely appeal them forever forfeits appellate review.  Here are a few categories of appealable orders to look out for:

• Orders granting or denying an anti-SLAPP motion, even if they leave the issue of attorney fees to be determined later

• Orders denying a petition to compel arbitration

• Orders granting or dissolving an injunction, or refusing to grant or dissolve an injunction

• Orders appealable under the Probate Code or Family Code (there are many)

►  The practical message:  The list above is not exhaustive.  If you are aggrieved by an adverse ruling, hit the books to determine whether it is appealable—or, when in doubt, consult an appellate lawyer.