In a rare public allusion to the Court’s jurisdictional complexities, the Court of Appeals, in a recent decision this week, referenced an exeception to the New York Constitution’s finality rule. The New York Constitution (article VI, 3[1] and [2]) mandates only final orders are appealable to the Court of Appeals except in very limited circumstances. However, one of the exceptions to the finality rule is party finality. Party finality exists in any order that fully disposes of that party’s claims and all claims, including cross claims and third-party claims against that party, without resolving the entire litigation. Footnote 1 in the case explains that even though claims remained pending as to the other defendants in the action, all claims and cross claims asserted by or against the defendant insurer Royal Insurance Company had been dismissed. This footnote is a direct reference to the party-finality exception.