(December 20, 2016, 12:15 PM EST) -- SANTA ANA, Calif. — A California appeals panel on Dec. 15 affirmed a trial court judge’s decision to deny without prejudice a motion to compel arbitration filed by homeowners accusing Froehlich Signature Homes Inc. of construction defects, finding that the consolidation of the plaintiffs’ suit with similar actions did not cause judicial reference to become legally unavailable (Ebony Freeman, et al. v. Froehlich Signature Homes Inc., No. F073374, Calif. App., 5th Dist.; 2016 Calif. App. Unpub. LEXIS 9017)....