COLLATERAL-ORDER DOCTRINE

collateral-order doctrine.A doctrine allowing appeal from an interlocutory order that conclusively determines an issue wholly separate from the merits of the action and effectively unreviewable on appeal from a final judgment. — Also termed Cohen doctrine (fr. Cohen v. Beneficial Indus. Loan Corp., 337 U.S. 541, 69 S.Ct. 1221 (1949)). See appealable decision under DECISION. [Cases: Appeal and Error  72; Federal Courts  572.1. C.J.S. Appeal and Error §§ 89, 109, 113.] [Blacks Law 8th]