If you have just been through a trial and believe the decision was in error, you may be wondering if you can appeal that decision.

Final Decisions can be Appealed
As a rule, only the final decisions of a trial court can be appealed.

If the trial court makes a ruling during your case, but the decision does not end your case completely, you generally have to wait until the case is completely finished before you can appeal that decision.

Exceptions to the Rule
There are some situations where you may be able to ask the appellate court to accept “discretionary review” of a decision before the case is finished, but in those situations, you must demonstrate to the court of appeals why the appeal must be heard now instead of at the end of the case.

In almost all cases though, only final decisions can be appealed.

Douglas Kiger, Attorney at law
Blado Kiger Bolan, Tacoma, Wash.