Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) — Issue of First Impression Is Not Enough

The district court may certify an otherwise non-final order to permit an interlocutory appeal under 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) when its decision (1) involves a controlling question of law, (2) there is a substantial ground for difference of opinion about the controlling question, and (3) an immediate appeal would materially advance the ultimate termination of the litigation. Satisfying prong (2) can be a challenge. Specifically, the fact that the question decided may have been one of first impression is not necessarily enough to warrant a 1292(b) certification, as pointed out by District Judge Gregory L. Frost in Baden-Winterwood v. Life Time Fitness, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 58753 (S.D. Ohio Aug. 10, 2007): ‛The fact that this Court addressed an issue of first impression in its July 10, 2007 Opinion and Order ... does nothing to demonstrate a substantial ground for a difference of opinion as to the correctness of that ruling. [Citations omitted.] ... Here, the Court found that the issue ... was not difficult.... In light of these considerations, there is no basis for this Court to find that there is a substantial ground for a difference of opinion and thus expect that the Sixth Circuit would reach a different conclusion.“

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