Originally from Journal of American Arbitration (JAA)

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I. OVERVIEW 

II. THE COURT’S DECISION 

A. The Florida Supreme Court Erred by Holding that the Contract  Was Not Severable as a Matter of Florida

             Law Because § 2 of the  FAA Applied 

B. Prima Paint Corp. v. Flood & Conklin Mfg. Co. Rule of  Severability Is Applicable in State Courts Regardless

             of a State’s Severability Rules 

C. Prima Paint and Southland Provide the Basis for the

             Court’s Decision that Challenges to the Validity of

             Contracts as a Whole Is a  Matter for the Arbitrator 

D. The Court’s Interpretation of the Word “Contract”

             Results in a Broader Definition, Permitting Application

             of § 2 to Putative Contracts 

III. THE DISSENT