ver the years commercial malpractice insurers have come and gone from the Alabama marketplace. End the worry about prior acts coverage. Insure with AIM. We're here when you need us: Continuously! AIM: For the Difference (We're here to stay !)
o
Anomeys Insurance Mutual of Alabama, Inc.22 'nvern""" Cen' .. , P arkway S"ll" S2S 6irmlrog .... m, AI"l>8rna 35242路4889
Teleptlone (205) 980-0009 Toll F..ee (800) 526-1246 FAX (205) 980-9009
路 CHARTER MEMBER, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BAR.fIELATEO INSURAttCE COMPANIES.
A Spec:ial Offer From The EmployeeoOwners Of AYis Exdusively FOr Members Of Alabama Slale Bar
Avis is proud to offer tile legal oommUJlily tile r\('\O~. mOS! compl1!hensive rerll-a-<:ar benefit program, bar nonl!.
We've worW hard 10 make Ihis program lhe best ever by addressing all you r car rental needs and concerns. Case in point:
The Best Case For Renting From Avis: Great Member Benefits.
our rates. Avis rates arc amons the besl in the induSlI)( Whether you're renting for business, leisure or vacation, our rates lra ll$lale 10 excellent savings
and value. Anothe r calle In point: our service. AI Avis, Ihe -We ny harder' commitment of our emplO)'eC"OWners means you'll
re<:eive the quality service and attention
that has made Avis Ihe choice of travelers worldwide. Plus. lhe convenience 01 our
timesav ing ~rvices -
the Avis Preferred
Renle" program, Avis Express" and Avis
Roving Rapid Return ' -
Ihal can make
renting and returning )'Our car las! and ca5)! Plus. ....-e've expanded our Frequent Flyer pannerships. So. in addition 10 ou r existing
parmerships with American Airlines, America We5I: , Delta Air UJlC5, Midwest Express, and lWA, ),011 can now re<:en-e airline miles from Continental Ai rlines, Nort hwest Ai .lint'S, Uni ted Ai rlines, and USAi., with every qualilyins Avis rental. Call Avis now at 1-800.331-12:12: to compare ou r savinss and value_ And ~am why so mall)' bar members across the country swear by Avis. Don' !orgel to mention)'QU r Avis Woridwide Discount (AWD) number wIlen)'QU call: A530IOO
IN
BRIEF Volurm 56, Numbtr J
Ja.nwory 1995
ON THE COVER:
"N. ........... _
~.O. 1Lo>o
Tho . - Sup ...... Court of AWIoma tOOt.>in$ ....." inttft$l.in, f... tu' et. Amon& thom or.: • Tho ~rbIt oupportint tho btnch and col",""" is from c.r~. 11*13'. whtre Mi<he~k> 1C.,..,rf<j .... <bIt for >Om< "his farnouo KUIpiUta. • Tho ..... _built from Indiono l i _ . " " ' " the ...... qulrry..-dlor tilt £mpin St.>t. Buildina. Pal~ and S.tiona! Cathcdrol. • Tho IoU! on tho ~ btnch _ hand corwd II\! a Iormo. , ".. t ...... II'.. !'OW. • II iowyr. opukin& 10 tilt "",,<I iI ltMdi". in tIIt ..1')I unitt of tho;..ticW buildin&, both .."ially and horizonllolly. f1roIo III fVuI Cr=fonJ. HcnlgOmtl1l. ,,~oiIM Ai""""'" Stau &r and Dislrict 01
)LI'O' ·"N
___ LL _.. _ -,..... -..... ..... ... ·_0_ _t_· _ " -. _L_ . . . . _.,·_t . ... .. _. . . ... _--·_0_ . "._-_ ...... . . . . _ --.----.... -..... _ .. -_._<>. .-,. _'-. - . ..-. -.--_
.... _
_1:130)_·5.5.
_ ____ .a.o:r l
_ _ Dol'.-
~
~.
.........::-.-
, -...._. ,._'--_. ,·J.w_ .. _·
r;::.:.~
____ I
C _ _ ._OA · _ C _ _
. _ .... _
..... _J
_ '_0 _ .......,._W h_.
CoI~mbilllklr
"
INSIDE THIS ISS UE: Plda.1I In EII. le Planalalll with IllY S, "~CnJkr_l'rm>NL. ,'IabM.___________ ~
O!>enlalll.r Court /:ItI R«UwlJus/ia o.a.,. W. Adomu, h. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _->V l.b.~11I1J'
___ ._('0>0 ...... _ ... .. --.-1 ...... - -...·
or .. Mun lcl ....UIll U.. oIu AI . ...... La..
flit Ala I. JI<JJIsht'd. Jr. I11!d 51«.,., /lnlhorly Hij/fIinJ _____________ ~
----------_.__......__. ..
PoychO lhtnop)' a nd the La.. S, Shirk, Dum, _ 1 .. ____ .. _..
""-
-.""","~-"
...
_Ole
~
".
~-
,
~
.. _.-A 6
Pm_nt'o,,"," Euo;utlw DuUIM. Roport
LoaisIM ... W~p ._
_._9 III Buildil'lli~'. CGurthou$n ____ ._12 Bor 8';.1.......... _..... ............... 17
About 14embers. Amon& Fi.......
I..>wyol$ in Iht hrnily _
cu: Owonunitoa
27
__---30 Diod"linlry Ittport .52 Rtant D<cioions .__ •. _ _ _ _ .. _....53 Y""!'III~' SOCtion ___ ... _ ........... .59 1>10 ......... 11 ... ___ .... _.... _.. _. ___ ._._ .. __ ... 60 C~if!td l'oti«f. ......... ,.............................. 63 _ ... ___
....-- ..- .u_ _.'J. _ ..... . ---........""'___ -
-_
..
__ ~-
' I",",
_,n
,
. . . . ._ . . .
4_ 11 ... _ _'$ __ _ ._
....... _
'~oIi_
_ole
_
........
- -
~15
_
00>1<._. ST"T~
-,_000*0 m .. _ ..... ,.. _ - '.... .c._ _ _ ...... _ __ M"'_ c.c-w.
J.
J ... _
'J
_
n
.."Il_ 50:=
'"
"ttM-_
AtJ.lI.A.\IJI
PAXl~)~I-6JIO
!
•
.. _
",. ...... ... -
'''''''.-
...
I
~__
_
LlAR CESTER roM PMOfU Slo...:.u.
--.,..AL:liS1G4
"
~_L.ooon
R£S"(I.~ S IBIUIT
l~)_1515 .
STAff
PAX C33412lil-i311
__ __ -__ ,._. ,__ ............. --_ .........._. _ ' - A _ _ _ ._ ..... ......_ .......... .......... .... ...
,.-
_"" _,
, - . ~.o.lLo>o
2 I JANUARY 1995
,.,,'-
I I , _ _ <f>W'I)UU 10 "'" _
"N.......,....... :MI.O''',N. TIlE AtABANA LAWYER
PRESIDENT'S PAGE
ALABAMA STATE BAR SUPPORTS THIRD CITIZENS CONFERENCE
I fIIIIl
;II ~ rtd kttu ~y in lilt history of OUr bar. On tNt Qt., the AbbamI SLit. Bu. b\I unanimous resolution d lilt board of ~r convniMionel'l, ailed lor n IUthorizIrd 1M lor_lion of a Third CiliuIIS Conftrtl>« on ~rnI S~t. CourU to $tUlly the ~ltction fA judgu in A1WmII. julli(il] Glmpaign fiNnc:ing. m;I oth« irTl(lOrtant issues lff«ting the idminiMllItion of justi« in AIaI).um. The full lui of tilt mo/u. lion is $1:1 out ;II an ~i1: to this pagI'. The moiulion is. bilanad. thoughtful approa.ch to II.lIrting a proteu \0 ~d,""" the g.... at CQfICtm 01 the public lOd the bl.r about judicial ,loCI ions in Alabama. Th. ruolu t iQn "'at approved unanimously by your bar com-
•
Spud Sule set out very clarly the woriI 0( the WI< fortt and issuts tNt rwded to be: ;lddrt$Sld, In Oeambtr 1990. the boiord of blOr c:ommissionm adopted 1I moIution calling lor oon-putiwn election of judges "'ith a rKornrn.-ndation ~ the legisIIture pw .. KI ~ the rotCu~ry changes in the eleclinn llOWS. SubKQuently. II bill ]'Ir(Mding for nonputiwJ elodiool olll'PtllMe. cirOJit and dislrict court jodgu "''<'II introdllCtd in the ltiIisblure. Unlortu · ""ttly. the bill did not~. The rt\(I'Itment recoounended by the Dtctmbe. 9 resolution ii abo oonsistent ",;th lhe role o(the Alab.11f1l1 Slite Bar in ful. filling ilS obligatiom as OUtl ined in tht bar'1 kmg .. ~ plan ado!lttd last SePlember: (1) To p' ovide lmltnhip in enlwK:ing the qualily of justice and aceeM 10 legal sel'Yku; and (2) To support 0Ul indepmcltnt and Quality juclicilll S)'SIem.
ut down Dtttmbtr 9, 1994
miniono" who r.prt unt Iht vulous vifwpoints of AJab;,ma IaW)'l"1o. J particu· larly ttl.lnk Rktlard eill of Monlgorn..y
for lIis nctll.nt draftsml.nship on this -~,
In rteml months.1Od particularly sina
the Nowmber tlections. an OYtfWhdming number of Judaes. ~rs and Io.y peopit IY\'t urged the bu 10 00 iOI'I'Ot'Ihinil ~I the "..., wo:.wltd judau and anluct judi· cial elections. No doubt you NYc rud thr INn)' editoriloll XfOIIS tilt. iIIIt. ca.lling for IoCtion. ~:d;torn.1 jillu $Utll as "Somrthing is Turibly Wrong!" lOd "Tht Court Mns' "" .... bandied about; whil. SOme of theH columns lacked complete candor. they did rlin inuel thlt we .. II know must be ....... ;lddrtSHd.lOd;lddrtSHd now. Historially the AbblIm;a Sliti' Bar ~ lIktn !he Itlld in rt\(I'ItmtnlS tn imprvw CIUr judicill $)'Stem. The blOr was ill5lrumH1!.11 in ~inC the fin!. Ci!iunl JudicW ConIermce held in 1966l11ld the second such conk'en« held in 1973. both ofwhich led \0 the dnAmg lOd ~ of the judiciallOflklt of the AIlIblIrnI Comtitution lOd the emotion of AIlIblIrnI's Wlified judicilll $)'Stem. The blOr'i bsk fOll'tt 00 Judicilll Selection spent the WI /Ou, yun studying i5Wel irwolving the el«ted judicilll'Y. including II lI.udy of lhe noop;ortiwn .1«Iion of jud~s. nthe, "lie"",!"", mran5 of Judicill selectioo. and ClImpaign finandng for judicill el«tinns. In the MIY 1994 Alabama /.au·ver then.President 4 f JANUARV 1995
Crution 01 the Cit inns' Conference mrMI ~ the uk... iw woriI 0( the TlsIc fCHU 00 Judicial Selection ""II be: ...·nted. As ooted in the 'elOlulion, the report o(the WIc Ioru. in iOmt fonn, will be: OMilable to se.w as I resoura for the citiuns conferen« and lhe WIc fora "'ill let as " Iilison to the ciliuns conference on behalf 01 the blr to rend., a.»istanre as tht: work 0( the conference progressu. Rooion \0 the resolution calling for the Hal ..... citiltns' conferen« ~ been tremendous lOd widtsprucl An editorilol proc];,imrd"A Citiwls l'ulel \0 Ion!< lit rdorming the WlPJ .... Hlod ~ is;an acrlltnt jdu" and fW'n staled ~ the ~ State Bar dtRMS .. stmding CMtion lor its rTICI'.ti to giw the citiwls .. better system. The ~ of r.o.otrnof Bnwu;rnt JtIitia: h;t;,rns \0 had the diztnJ ... "', .. ..., Mel nuMd....ode kdlIim. II ......".Jd Ix Yn)' difficult to find tIw if1(ft .... U·~ed peqK in AlabarN. CoMmor Brewe, and Justa Adams hi>'t entIui.I.stically t!I1Inced the cit .. WIS ....rOil'!'« conctpt and thejob they hi>'t undtrtakm. At this point ....e do not know .... hit Chllnge5 o. reoommtnda· tions will be "",de by the conftrtnct and .... do not presupdoer; not
Q.
Tl U; ALABAMA LAWVER
pOM: any p.l.rticullr ()IJttOmt. We do know with 1M effectM guidan« of C".<.Mmor Bm.~r and Justice Adams and with tilt input of this bar. the diverse iTOOP of citium will conscientiously i0oi< for musuru and methods to imp~ oor judicial s)'$tem. We hal't asKed thallhe Conference make I reporl 10 Ihe OOIrd of boor commissione r, ",nd the Ju<.Iicill Confue""" by April 10, 1995. It is hoped from this rq>Orl appropri.llt Itgisb-
lion
WI
be prtpaml lor submission
10
tilt
Itgisbl u~
" tlich
goes into fU$iofl in lilt April 1995. Now il is lime lor III of Uf 10 pul aside differmca ,,~ !mY haIIt lind gel behind this effort. Now is the lime whrn "~ mwl riH abcIYt special ;ntf resls and do what il righl for oor profession and lor the public \Of HM. I btliel't when \Of look back to 1994·95 \Of will be proud th.i.1 lhe Abboorna 5111t lb. took I 1tadtJ1hq, ... MKl did the right thing. •
RESOLUTION OF THE ALABAMA STATE BAR CALLING FOR THE THIRD CITIZENS' CONFERENCE ON THE ALABAMA STATE COURTS \\1tf.Rf.AS Iheff is ,,;despre~d public concern. which is shared 11)' Iht Alabama State Bar. about Judicial elections In Alabama. and Ihe Alabama State Bar. through ils Task Force on Judi,i.1 Selection. hal; I'r.,;ou,I;· !pent much lime extens i,.. ly 'tud;ing il$uU On invol\";ng Ihe elected judidaf)'. inrtudin~ a Ilud,' of tht nonp.lrti2n electi on of judgts. Olh.. altemati,~ mtam of judicial selection . • nd campaign financing for judicial electionl: and WH~:REAS the Alabooma Judicial ConfererlCe tw allO eXJ>resse-d an interut in :u1 ex.amination of tilt rntaIU and melhods of judicial selection. and cNnges in the organizalion and operatiom of Ihe Alab.:lma Unififtl JudICial S)"stem; ami
WHEREAS the Alabama Slate Bar "'"/1.5 imlrumental in organizing the first Citiuns' Ju<.Iicial Conference.lltld in 1966. and the s«ond such confertnrt. htld in 1913. both of .... hich Itll to the drafting and ~ of the Judicial Artide of th~ Alaba· tro Constitution and the cr~ation of Alabatro's Unified Judicial Sl"'t~m:
NOW. TlIr:Rr:POR~:, liE IT RESOL \'ED \h.1t Iht Alabama State Bar. through it. Board of Conlmi..ioners. hereb;-<:':'lIs for authorizes the formation of a Third Citizens' Confuence On the Alabama Stat~ CouTU. to be modeltll generally on the t966 and 1973 conferences. to stud}' the ..Iect,on of judges in AIab.:lm3. judicial campaign financing and olher important i.. ues affecting the adminutration of just"e ,n Alab.imlo:
an~
Bt: IT FUR1rIER RESOLn:D that fonner eo.~mor Albert F. Bre.... r and r.tirftl Jr. seek nominations fur and select th~ I'IIrticipants in such conftrenet.
Sup~me ((>Ufl
Justice Oscar W. Adams.
BE IT t'UllTftER IU:SOLVW: III That tne persons ~esignated abo...\, to IOlicil nominalions and to sel.ct the participant. ar~ urgtd to ensu ... to the extenl pO!$ibl •. that the di'.... ily of the sme·. population is rtp~nted at such cOlnference. together ""th aPllropmte gtographical. professional and political di,.. rsit}"
121 That the Alabama Stalt Bar. TMk Forct on Judicial ~Iection report to the Citiuns' Conftrence on its ....ork and stu<l)· in the am of selection of judgu and campaign finarlCing guidelines. and se".. as a resource for the conference. as "'t'li as ""'ing as a liailOn to Ihe Citj~ens' Conle.. nce on behalf of the Alabama State Bar. and rendering any other assistance to the ConferenCf and repOrt ing to the Board of B~. Commissionerl on the work of the Conference as matte .. progress: (31 That former eo... rnor Albert P. B'e..~r and r.tired SUprtme Court Justice Oocar W. Ad.loms. Jr. retain ,·ital. acti,~ and direct rolt>with the ConftrtrICt; (4) That l tv Cllinns' Coni...""e is requt>tftl to mak. an initial report to the Board of 8<or CommiSSioners and to the Judicial Conference by April 10. 1995 on the issues of judiCial selection and judicial campaign financing prior to the 1995 .session of the Alabama Legislature. ANt) BE IT FURTHt:R nESOLVt:D that the Alabama State B.l.r and its staff cooperate with the Mministrati,.. Office of Courts to coordinate staff IUPpOrt and facihties. and to seek funding for the Third Citizens' Conference 0fI11>e Al.bama Stale COUTU.
OOSf. this 9th <hI' of Oecembe. 1m. Keith II. Norman. SecrtUl)' Alabama State Bar
JANUARY 1995 15
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT
WELCOME SUSAN ANDRES AND ED PATTERSON
II Ii
n th~ fJII of 1993. the Committee on Lawyer Put>Ii( Relations and Advertising r~rommtnded to the board of bar commis.sioners that an audit of the bar's communications program be oonducted. The board approved the audit which was conducted through the auspices of the Public Relations Stclion of the National Ass0ciation of Bar EJ<ecutives as • ..,,,,ice to local and itate bars.
w. _ •• fortunate to have David Anderron . director nf Public Affairs for the Illinois State Bar Associat ion. spend two da~s
at tht state
bar headquarters
in March
analy~·
ing the bar's oommunica!ion function. In hi.
wrillen report.
Ke lt" •. No..... "
Dave recommended the """Uon 01 the full-time pOSition of director of communicat ions and public infor-
mation. This past s.ptember, at the recommendation of the bar'sl'ublic Relatiorn Committee, thiSl"»ition was creat~d, The timing of the boord's action creating this new JIO.'itiO<l was fortuitous because ~ ~re able to bring on boord the ideal person for this po$ition-Susan Andres. Susan. and her husband, Hoyt. had recently llIO\'I!d from Chattanooga. Ten· neme.1 say that Susan i. the ideal p"rson to..,TV\' as director of oommunications because she has the four key qualitiel for which "'I! Wert looking: vision. enthusiasm. txp"rience. and commilrmnL A nali,.. of Oklahoma, Susan graduated from the University of Oklahoma. Having worked in the radio medium for 16 years. she possesses utensive marketing uperienee and media . kills. Prior to coming to Montgome!),. Susan spent the last two }.. ars as oxecutive di rector of the Chattanooga Bar Anociation. In this position. Susan won wide praise and acclaim for her leadership in helping transform that
assoc"'-
6 1 JANUARY 1995
tion into one of the most dynamic small bars in the caunt!)'. During Susan's tenure, Chaltanooga bar mtmben wltnemd increased rmm· bership benefits. while the CClmmu· nityat large benefited from new and innovative public ..,rvice prOilrams. As one of her past boo,d members described: "Susan has demonstrated a highly wphilticated ability to tie 1000ether Su u n And • •• community need. and perctptioru of lawyers in the practice of law wilh creati,... po$i!ive ways in which CBA membus individually may address those needs and pe"ep· tians. .. "In summa!)" Susan can be ,red· it ed with moving the CBA from being an intangible annual expel\$\' in an attorney's budget to a vibrant, productive professional organiza· tion which provides ungible reSOUrce. for the multifaceted n«di Ed P. tt. non of its diver.., membership." Coupled with this background is Susan's commitment to public seovice and her past invol,'ement wilh many profes· .ional and civic organizations. II'. are ve!)' fortunate 10 have a person of Susan's ability to serve as communications director. Susan and Hoyt have two children. a married daughter. Clai re. who;s with Prudent ial Securities in Jacksonville. florida. and a son, Hoyt Hud~on. who ;$ a studenl at the Cincinnati Con..,,,,ato!)' of ~ 1U5ic. The new director of prOilrams is Ed Pauerson . If Ed's name is familiar. il is becau.., he joined the bar staff in 1976 follow· ing hi, clerkship with JU5tice Hugh Maddox. Ed entered pri· vate practi" in 1981 after serving as the bar's ISsi$tan! general CClul\$\'l for four l'tars and a brief stint as an aMistanl in the Attorney General's Office, Over the last 14 \'I!ars. Ed has practiced in a til'" firm environment and as a sole praclitioner. I think Ed posse55es many outstanding characteriSli" which make him wetl·suited for this po$ihon. including orga· nizational abilily. leadership and. most importantly. a high "'1\$\' of professionalism. In addition. Ed has a keen apprecia· THE AUIJlAMA LAWYER
tion lor the riliOJS of. private pratti(',t. A tIlItivt of. Montgomrry, Ed rt«ivtd both h~ unde'1lrad~t, and Law dfg~ from lhe Univtr,ily of Alab.omo. H~ and his .. if~, Ikv!rly, h.i~ lwo daughttrs. Elliot. I fmhlIWl at Auburn. and Erin, ajunior II Trinity f'rHbyttriln School. 8n.idtt hit p.LIt and continuing invoivtment In many local community x tivitiH, in 1980 Ed
rtt~ivtd the Alabama Su.lt 8I.r A..~".1 of. M"il for hit oul· standing HTVict \0 the Itpl profession. We m' pkased 10 ~~ Susan to the bat staff and to wd· tOmt Ed on hit retum. Tht biT il U1rtmely Ior!un.att 10 h1~ Ihue two I",ly oul.!u.nding PfOplt 10 compliment our font staff. •
Caution! Attorneys in Active Practice in Alabama Be sure that you have the required occupational licen se in your possession ! If you are actively practicing or anticipate practicing law in Alabama between October 1, 1994 and September 30, 1995, PLEASE BE SURE THAT YOU HAVE TH E REQUIRED OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE.
The dual invoice which was mailed in mid·September provided you with the option of paying special membership dues (if you were not in active practice in Alabama) or buying the required occupational license to practice (if you were in active practice in Alabama) on this one invoice.
Olrect any questions to : Christie Tarantino, Membership Services Director, at 1-800-354-6154 (instate WATS) or (334) 269-1515 immediately!
THEAUJIAMA lAWYER
JA.\'UARY 1995 { 7
NOTICE OF ELECTION Notice is given herewith pursuant to the Alabama State Bar Rules Governing Election of President-elect and Commissioner.
PRESIDENT-ELECT The Alabama Slate Bar will elect a president-elect in 1995 to assume the presidency of the bar in July 1996. Any candidate must be a member in good standing on I>larch I. 1995. Petiti ons nominating a candidate must bear the signature of 25 members in good standing of the Alabama State Bar and be received by the secretary of the state bar on or before 1>1arch 1. 1995. Any candidate for this office also must submit with the nominating petition a black and white photograph and biographical data to be published in the May Alabama lAwyer. Ballots
will be mailed between l>1a)' 15 and June 1 and must be received at state bar head-
quarters by 5 p.m. on Ju ly 18, 1995.
COMMISSIONERS Bar commissioners will be ele(:ted by those lawyers with thei r principal offices in the following circuits: lst: 3rd: 5th; 6th. place no. I: 7th; 10th. places no. 3 and 6: 13th. places no. 3 and 4: 14th: 15th. places no. 1.3 and 4; 25th: 26th; 28th: 32nd: and 37th. Additional commissioners will be elected in these circuits for each 300 members of the state b.J.r with principal offices therein. The new commis路 sioners positions will be determined by a census on March I. 1995 and vacancies certified by the secre路 tary on ~1arch 15. 1995. The terms of any incumbent commissioners are retained. All subsequent terms will be for three ~ars. Nominations may be made by petition bearing the signatures of five members in good standing with principal offices in the circuit in which the election will be held or by the candidate路s written declaration of c,mdidacy. Either must be received by the secretaljl no later than 5 p.m. on the last Friday in April (ApriIZ8, 1995). Ballots will be prepared and mailed to members between
~lay
15 and June I, 1995. Ballots must be
voted and returned 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday in June (June 13. 1995) to state bar headquarters.
8 1JANUARY 1995
THE Au\HAMA u\WYER
LEGISLATIVE
WRAP-Up
By ROBERT L. McCURLEY. JR.
The new Leglslatur. When all the vote. h."" finally been counted. tRe Legislature will find itself with 39 new House members and 14 new Senators: six 01 Ihe Senato'" are f",I.time" in the legi,laliw process. Th e.., 45 brand new legislators mel at the Law Center in Tuscaloou f(lr an ori. ental;"" December 7-9. 1994. They were joined by Ihe returning l_s ;.lal ors to hear about the legi,latiw, process. the
orientalion susion January 10. 1995 with the inaugu ration he ld Monday. January 16. 1995. Some of the fint items of business will be to develop leg· islative rules. elect Qfficus and recei,.. committee appointments. The Legi.la· tUl'l' will aloo reee;".. the dedaration of results of lilt elections for constitution·
.tate", financial condition. litigation inwlving the State of Aiabamll. and federal mandatu which I..",., ~n imposed on state, due to the cutling back of federally f"",new programs, as well a.< lhe challen~5 for the next four )'t'ars. The}' wer •• ddru,.d by Go ..... rnor·.lttt fob lame •. Lieutenant GO''Emor·elect /)Qn Siegelman and Speaker of the lloos<: 0/ Represent.;l\iw. Jimmy Clark. This orientation. the . ixth held since 1974. ",as attended by <Wer 130 Itgisla· tors. La~rs comprise 13 or tilt 3S senator rial positions. but only 12 Qf the 105 seats in th~ Hou ... of Represe ntatives. The.. I.", graduates come from eight law Sd100b. Nine lawyers attended th~ Uni .... rsity of Alabama; six. Cumberl and School of La",; and five. Birmingham S<:hool of I..",. The", i$ one each from JQnes La", School. Mil es Law School. Harvard Law School. Catholic Uni .... rsi· ty. and Iloston Uni''ersity, The l..egislature "'ill convene for an
'_L ...,e.. rt.,.
J r.
_l-~.Jt
_-..... 10 ... dO .."'."' ....
al officers. In Ihe event of. contest. the Legislature in joint assembl y mu.t determine an}' contest for th~ offices. In addition to the annual budgets. the Legislature "'ill have to solve the p<.>nd·
"""""",
FACSlMtLE lIMlll6-lJt6
II~lJl&9ttt
ANNA LEE GIATTINA ... TTOI<J-,'EY • M!"M6E11 ( J -'I.AlAMA IIAI! ~.'Cr •""
AON- t... GOo" ..... P.C.
Tho
ing la",suit involving eQuity funding of schools. Covemor-<!Iec\ James promi... d the l..egislatul'l' that IIwy 'WOUld be p~. ... nted ",ith ethics rdQrm legislatiQn and also a revamping of the ... Iect;on proc... Qf judges. Attorney Ceneral·elect Jeff Sessions promised legislation that 'WOUld shorten the time from arrest to trial to 90 day$, similar tQ the federal .)'Stem. He stated that he recognized there ",ould be a phase·in period. Currently. time stan· dards sho\ol that a felQny is dispou<l of on tho average of 270 days after indictment. Lt. Governor·elect Siegelman promi$ed that the Senale would be mQr. acc .. sibl. tQ the public. and promised major reforms to make the ltgislative process work better. For further information ",rite Rob McCurl ey. Alabama Law Institute. P.O. Ilox 1425. Tuscaloosa. Alabama 35486. or call (21)5) 348·7411. fax (205) 348· 8411. •
Plm-s....\J,"" .. M..,t.. oor... ~
5o,,,II! 'lItl EIt..,.,hA ....... s....h B<"",ocho ... AI*" ... Jl1M
• .......cH . .......-..rmo;; • _......." ........."'" '" ""\( """ ..."""
-~ ...... u.w.~"'
...
-~~ Itw_~""'
...
Richard Wilson & Associates Registered Profess iona l Cou rt Reporters 804 S. Perry Street Montsomery. Alahoma 36104
264-6433
'-'--'-'~"-"-.-"'~-'''--'-'''-
HIE ALABAI>tA Ul.WYER
JANUARY 1995/ 9
ABOUT MEMBERS, AMONG FIRMS ABOUT MEMBERS E. Kenneth Aycock, formerly with
Hubbard. Smith. Mcilwain & Brakefield, anoounct5 the opening of his office at 21)3·6 Uniwr5ity Boulevard. P.O. Box 21134 , Tuscaloosa. Alabama 35402. Phone I2iJS) 752.7788. Elizabeth Potter Craham. formerly
managing aUorney of Legal Aid Society of Birmingham. Inc., annOunCe, the opening of her office located at 3600 Clairmont Avenue, Binningllam. Alaba ma 35222. Th. mailing addre.s ill P.O. Box 12422. Birmingham 352(12·2422. Phone (205) 323·5%1.
Stf]lhen H. Jonu announces the relor cation of his office to 2205 Morri, AYenue. Birmingham. Alabama 35203. Phone (205125\ -6666. Mil., Logan Brandon , formerly with
Lammons
&
Bell, announces th. open·
1995 BAR
DIRECTORY Please check your address and telephone number in the current (99 4) edition of the Alabama Bar Directory. If anything is in correct mail or fax change$ by ~'ebruary 15. 1995 to:
Alabama State Sar Altn: Membership Senices P.O. Box 67 1 Montgomery. AL 36101
FAX (334) 261-63 10
Anything received after that date will not be rel1ected in the 1995 directory. Please check your infonnation today! 10 I JANUARY 1995
;ng of his office at 101 Bob Wallace Avenue, Sui te C. Huntsville. Alabama 35801. Phone (205) 533·9991. E. Wray Smith. formerly of Webb & Elty.
announces the opening his offICe located at 312 Montgome')' Street. Suite 2\0. Montgomery. Alabama. The maiting address is P.O. Box 4386. Montgomel)', Alabama 3611J3.4386, Phone (334) 263-5611. Mich.el C. Strickland announce. the opening of his office at 420 S. Lawrena SI"'et, P,O.Box 563. Mon~ry. AIaba· ma 36101·0563. !'hone (334) 2W-3230, Leigh A. Bradl ey. formerly Special i\s:;islant U.S. Auomey in the Middle Dis· trict 01 Alabama. was appOinted by the President and sworn in by the Secretary of the Na~ as the Principal Deputy ~n· eral Counsel of the Department of the Na\l)'. Bradley is a 1982 admiue. to the Alabama State Bar. Ch.arlel C. Elliott announces the .. l0cation of his office to 956 Montclair Road, Suite 108. Birmingham, Alabama 35213. The mailing add ..ss relllilins P,O. Box 530893, Birmingham 35253·0893. Phone (2051595-9400, JoAlison Taylor announce. the reloca· tion of her offices to 215 N, 21st Str«t. Suite 903. Binningham, Alabama 35203 , Phone (205) 328-2606. Richanl C. B.nlley is an administra. tive law judge with the Social Security Administration. Office 01 Hearings and Appeals. His office is located at 770 S. McDonough St ... t. Room 109. Mont gom~ry. Alabama 36104. Phone (334) 223-7769. E. Ray Large announces the relocation of his office to New South Pederal Savings Bank Building. 4th Floor. 215 N. 21st Str.et. Birmingham. Alabama 35203·3776. Phone (205) 328-9650.
AMONG FIRMS Ran dolph B. Moore. Ill, Michael R. While and Brue. B. Stone announce the formation of Moore. Whit. Ii Stone. Offices are located at 22 Scott Street.
Montgome,)" ,\Iabama 3610t and 41 61 Carmichael Road. Montgomery 36106. Phone (334) 262-7200, 271 · 1819. Darla T. funmn and .'rI. Bruu Pit($ annOunce the formation of furman & PiUs. Omces are locat.d at 200 W. Court Square. Suite 748, Huntsville. Alabama 35801. Phone (205) 534·6410. Jack B. !linton. Jr.. formerly of Rw;h. ton. Stakel~. Johnston &. GIOmt!. i. now with Carpen ter <Ii Gidie... Omce! are located at 904 Union Bank Tower. 60 Commerce Street. Montgomery. Alaba· ma36I04. Phone (334)834·9950. O.rrell I.. Cartwright and AII .n l. ArmJtrong announ~ the formation of Cartwright & Armltrong. Offices are located at 3800 Colonnade Parkway, P.O. So> 43446. Birmingham. Alabama 35243. Phone (205) 969-5900. Thomu TTO)' Zieman. Jr.. Jerome E. Speegle. Thom.... P. 0 14" .. il ... Rol>ert Cerald Jac kl on, Jr .. and Ant hony M. Hoffman announce the formation of Zie. man . Spngl., Oldw,iler <Ii Jack,on. Offices are located at 3200 First National Bank Building. !O7 SI. Prancis Street. Mobile, Alabama 36602. The mailing .ddre" is P.O. Box ll. Mobil e 36601. Phone (334) 694·1700. L. Sharon Egl>erl announces that Lo.. lea Johnson has joined the fi rm as an associate. OffiC1!S are located at fiouston Place. 119 S. Fost.. Street, Suite 103. Dothan. Alabama 36301. Phone (334) 702·0502. J. Calion Sparrow and Patrick M. I.I'''U•• formerly of Hare. Wynn, Nt><..11 & Newton. anMunce Ihe formation of Sparrow Ii I.I,.. U•. Offices are located at Brown Mar~ Tower. 2000 1st A"enue. North. Suite 940, Birmingham, Alabama 35203. Phone (2OS) 252411 !. Randolph B. Wa lt on and Allen A. Ritchie announce the forllliltion of Walton & Ritchie . Offices are located at SO Saint Michael Str«t. Staple, Pake Building. Suite 304, ~looile. Alabama 36602. The mailing address is P.O. Box 470. Mobile 36601 -0470. Phone (334) 4331737.
THE Al.'.BAMA LAIWF.R
W. Lowis Garrison. J r. and Kalhryn H. Sumroll. both formerly of Corley, Moncus & Ward, annOUnC~ they have mnged with K. S lephen Jukson and wilt practice as J ochon, Garri s on &: S umr. ll. Offices are located al 2420 Arlington A"enue. Birmingham, Alaba· ma 35205. Phone (2()5) 933·2900. H. Jerome Thomplon announc •• Ihe anocialion of Su n O. Mu ter lon. Office. au located.t 15086 Court Street, Moulton. Alaba""," The mailing addreij; is P.O. !lox 593. Moulton 35650. Phone (205) 974·3007.
Gerlfd J. Ourw.rd and Terry M. Cromer anoourICe the formation of Our· ward &: Cromer. omces are located al IISO Pinancial Center. S05 20th Street. North, Birmingham. Alabama 35203. Poone (205) 324·66'-4.
11011. Coo]><,r &: Upsh.w announces Ihal Ken i Hogue·Ma uro has joined Ihe firm as an associate. Offices are located in the Frank Nelson Building al 205 N. 20th SI~t, Suite 1020. Birm· ingham. Alabama 35203. Phone (205) 322-4551. Leitman. Sieg.l. P~ne &: Campbell announce. thai Clwiu ;.\. [ Imer. John JOI.ph Kubi szyn. David .'rI. Lo]><,r and Thom .. A. E de nbl um have become associated with the firm, Offices are located at 600 N. 20th Stffft. Suite 400. Birmingham. Alabama 35203. Phone (205) 251·5900. Dom inick. Fletcher. \·.ildlng. Wood &: Lloyd announces that Jim .'rId .. ugl in and Hunter Com,ton. J r. have become associated with the firm . Offices ar. located at 2121 Highland A""nu •. Birm· ingham, Alabama 35205. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1387. Birmingham 3520 I. Phone (205) 939·0033. T.nn.r &: Guin annourlCes the iISSOCi· ation of Blake A• •'rIadi ..... and Joseph "Reach. Offices are located at Capitol Park Center. 2711 University Boulevard. Tuscaloosa. Alabama 35401. Phone (205) :l494300. Clark &: Scolt announce! that Albert A!hley Aye.... Michael B. OIIom ••'rIieh.le C. O'Brien and Keith S . •'rIiIleT have N~ome iISSOCiate •. Offices are located in Mobil. and Birmingham. Alabama. W~tson. Gammons &: Feu announces that Samuel H. G;vh~n ha. bocome
THE AL\BAMA LAWYER
associated with the firm. OffiCfS are located at 200 Clinton A~enue. West. Suite 800. Hunt.~ille, Alabama 3580 1. Phone (205) 534·3463, Mom • . Cloud <Ii Conchin announces that Clinton C. Cart.. has become an associate. Offices are Incated at 521 Madison Street. 2nd floor. Huntsville. Alabama 35801. The mailing address is P.O. Bn. 248. Hunt.svill~ 35804. Ph<;Ine )205) 534·0065. C.b ... in, J ohnlton, G.rdner, Ou~ "O'NuJ mnounct5that u... J. Wathey, David C. S kinn.. and J amn T. Pugh have become associates of the firm. Office. are locatw at Park Place T....~r, 2001 Park Place North, Suite 700. Birm· ingham. Alabama 35203. Tht 'mailing address is P.O. Bo. 830612. Birmingham 35283--0612. Phone (205) 252-8800, •~ errill. Po rch , Dillon &: Fit . announces tnat Robert .'rI. Field. fn ..... r district aUoroey for Calhoun and Cle· burne counti ••. and William J. Miller have joined a. associate •. Offkes are located at SnuthTrust Bank Building, 1000 Ouintard Avenue. Anniston. A1aba · ma 36201. Phone (205) 237·2871. Gobel"'l<n &: Love announces that O. Mark Z.mo .... formerly of Rumrell &: Jnhnson. has joined as a .. nior iISSOCiate. Offices are located at SunBank Build ing. 200 W. Forsyth Street. _]700. Jack· .onville. Florida 32202. Phone (904) 359·0007. limnra is a 1988 admiUee to the Alabama State Bar. Ford" lI"ntu announces thai Christl I.. Ib yes has bt<.x>me an iISSOCi. ate. Offices are located at 645 Walnut Street. Suite 5. Cadsden. Alabama 35902. Th. mailing address is P.O. Box 388. Galhden. Ph<;Ine (205) 546·5432. CI.rk. Sco tt &: Sullh·.n announce. that Mich.le C. O'Brien and Keilh S. Mill .. have becnme associates. Office. are located at First Alabama Bank Build· inS. 10th Floor. P.O. Bo. 1034. Mobile, Alabama 36633. ROlOn . Cook. S ledge, Oao;l. Com>1I &: Jone. annourICes that Pligt M. Corpen. ter has become iISSOCiated with the firm. Office. are located at 1020 Lurleen WaI· lace Boule va rd. North. Tuscaloosa. Alabama l5401. Phone (205) 345-5440. Cain ... Cai n .. &: Rllco announce. that Thomll M. Littl. has become an as.ociate. Offices are locat.d at 127
North Street. Talladega. A1abam.l35160. The mailing address is P.O. Box 275. Tal. ladega 35160. Phone (205) 362·2386. [ ngel. Hairston &: JohaMon announc:es thai SatIAn R. i'Oonil has become an assodate. Offices are located at ]09 N. 20th Street. 4th Floor. Birmingham. Alabama
35203. Phone (2()5) 328--4600. McRight, Jacbon. OO ..... n, Myrick &: Moo re announces that William T. .'rIri:owin. IV and R.lnd~1I Scott Hetrick have become aSSOCiated with Ihe firm. Offices are located at 1100 First Alabama Bank Building. P.O. Bo. 2846, Mobile. Alabama 36652. Phone (334) 432·3444. Wainwright &: Pope annnunce. that George .'rI. \'~ughn has bt<.x>me iISSOCiat· ed with the finn. Offic($ have been relocated to 2 Metroplex Dri"", Suite 305. Birmingham. Alabama 35209. Phnne (205) 802·7455 . Lohr ••~iddl . b rook& &: Procto r announce. that J ulie S. Scharfenberg has become an associate. Offices ..e located at Z021 3rd A'~nue. NOr1h, Suite 300. Birmingham, Alabama 35203. Phone (205) 3215-3002. •
=~
;'" ;;;;;;; TED OASIIER & ~ ASSOCIATES
HEWLETT-PACKARD I REFURBISHED HP EQUIPMENT TO Fill ALL OF YOUR I
SERVICE NCEDS.
4117 2ND AVENUE SOUTH BIRMINGHAM. AL 35222
B00-638-4B33 2 03-39I-4'74'7 FA.X 391-~OB JA:'IUARY 1995 / 11
BUILDING ALABAMA'S COURTHOUSES DALLAS COUNTY COURTHOUSE
8JJ SAMUEL A RU.'10Rf.', JR.
The follQwlng conllnues
Alabama', count"
Q
his/orll of
courlhQu~$-lhtir
origins und some of 1M ptQpie who rontribul..a to r/tnr growth. ~ """"'''''' ~ plans to nm _ rounJlI~ slOtJI in t«h i:ssw of 1M magruint. If JIt1U ' tm1/ pholographs 01 wrl/l Or pnunl
courthouses. plHU fOfll!(1rt/ them /0: Samuel ..t. Rumor<!. Jr., Mig/ion/co of RItmqn, 123f) Brotm Marx Tower. fJirm.. ingItam. .4Ia/)omD 3S:?i:ll
1 I I1
DALLAS COUNTY h' {i'fl contact C>f Euro-
puns Wilh prestnt·daj> Oal· In County prob~bly took pl~" in til, 5um mrr and
f~1I
of tS-40 whtn Htrll~ndo D~Solo through on hil ..-ay to the Indian (000<,1\ of MiubilL ~ ~SoIo chronicles ulatt lhit DtSolo ~rrivtd~! ~ WIOIi ,il· I'llf n,mf<,l ·Cuisl.", which mlny Mlitw was the original silt of CaI\.V:la, located wheft Iht Clhab<o Ri"tr joins the AJlbama. During lilt nut (tntu,), and a half. thtre was only limittd C<lnlaC\ Mn.'etn ~
Europunl and the
nati~
plact was located on the Alabama River upst~am from Caha, bi, 80th of thut location., Cahaba lrn!th. Bluff, subK' qutntly KrvW as county_15 01. o..llu County, On MJ~h 3.1817, Conim.o c:ruttd t~ AIWml T.rritory, nw Territory con~intd _n count,u that "~n previously part 01. the MiloSiuippi Territory. Within OM )'tar, d"" to the arri"",1 01. mon KlI~rs, 13 new count i•• Wert created. Dallas County was utabli.hed on F.brwory 9. 1818 as on. 01 the 13, ~ county was namfd for Altxandtr Jamu Dallas. DlIllu 'OllIS born on the i.land of Jamaia on June 21, 1759, lit studied in Edinburgh, Scotland wd Loodoo, En,lind. In 1783. ~ ClIme to l'hil*lptull ~ prxlictd law tlwn. He ~Id publk olflCt in Prnruyl\'ania and wllS named
_ _ c-.t,~
population.
H~~r.
lin early map by Ihe French artogr~phu l)'ArMllt in 1732 marked ~not~r impOrtanl Silt in what is now I)~nu County, fnnch Governor Bimvillt from Mobi~ hid tncounlerfd t~ Alibimo Ind~ Jt J bluff IMriook· ing the AlabamJ River, This local. bloom. known as "Ecor Bienville" on l)'Anville's mJp, This place 'OllIS later alltd the "Iligh SoIIp Stone Bluff" by the few white stWe" in the Uta, In 1815 i pioottr from TtnneSK., Thomas Moor., Killed at the site and the arn btcimt known I i ~Ioor.'s Bluff. This 12 IJANUARY 1995
TilE AL.o\UAMA L.o\WYER
Secretuy of Ihe Trusury by President bmes ~~iiOll, se ....· ing in 1m.1 Q~ity from 1814 10 1816. Ht recommended Ihe incorpOration of a new Uniled Stalu Hank. and when he lefl office, lhe Unitw Stllu TreiSUry h~~ a surpluo of $20 million. DalIiS died on January 14. 1817. One ~ar IaltT lhe Al:abalN Ter· nlorial Leliolnure named a county in Alabama for him. A. a .i~"nole 10 hillory. his IOn. CtorQe M. [}alias. followed his father in to public u .... ice. GtorQt was ,ice-president 01 the Umtni $Utes from 1845 10 1849 und .. Pruidenl JiUTltl K. Polk. 'Tht Mniean War look place duro ing Ihis adminimalion , Ilallas, Tun wu named for the vice· president Thus. Dall:as Counly. A!ab.1IT\11, and o..lLu. TelW wtft n,....ed ",optcli,.. ly for. f.ther
.... -
\\'hen the Alaharnll Territory was cruled by Congrell. St. Stephens became the terfitorial capital. It WM a IINII but ~our. ilhing town in Wuhington County. Hown-.r, AlabalT\ll ha.cI 10 tsliblWl a pmlWImt tapital as it mowd toward stalehood. On Ftbru.l.ry 13. 1818, the legislature appointed a commission to Itltcl the most "nlral and eligible location for Iht ual ot government. This committee reporttd block 10 lhe legisl.luft tN.I the capilli Jhould be local· od It Ih. mouth otlh. ClhaN Ri~r where il joins th. AlaN ' IN. Thelegislatur. appT<Md Ihis report on November 21, 1818, Thi. Itlection was ~ victory fQr the promoter. otsoulh A!ab.1rm. A 50tCilnCI rtrommend.ilion. to placale represtnlati'ti from the Ten · nus« Valley, rwnI'd Hunl$,·m. is the lemporary capilli unlillhe new capilli city cou ld be established. Thus, when Alabama attained slatehood ;n !Helm· be. 1819. In. firslslIte legislali~ sts· sion took pIKe in HunuVlne, Covnnor Will iam lI'yilU Bibb .... n aulhoriud by lhe legislature to ~r~ the M1l1Httd land for a capilli fn)m the Un ited SIII~. Qov.,rnment, to have a town 10 b. called · Cahaba " surveytd inlO lots, and to ad~r list ~nd !-ell Ihe
nu, ALABAMA UWYER
..ith 12";ncbws on uch front 0( lhe structure. 'Tht conlract ...·is 10 be compltttd 00 or before the firsl MOfIIia}' in June 1820. [}avid and NkholaJ5 Crocheron were low bid de .. and received lhe conlract for 59.000. 'Tht time for completion was utended until Augwt I. I8%(). Tht stwnd $lit. Irgi>IaIM _ion ot Alab;orna. Ihe fim h.ld In Cahaba. convened on NO'IIfmMr 6, 1820. When Dalln Count~ WM crealed in f'ebruary 1818, no lown at Cillaln uisled, The legislati .... let sptCified lN.t ~ou rls would be htld at tht moulh of Ihe Cihab.i River or due 10 lhe lad of nectlury buildings. Ihe courts migi'll adjourn 10 "somt convenienl plact con tiguous thereto". 'Tht first eOllrt in [}alw County..-as held II lhe Ilor'M 0( Capllin John HO><'ard in Junt 1818. o... r the )'tlln other pri· VIII., dtiuns ... paid for the Ust ot rooms in tlltir homes for holding court, On December J. 1819. the lown ot CahaN Wis incorponlw. On , Otcember 13. 1819, C~ ...'II$ officially niUTlO'd tht oounty seal at OllUIlS Counly. Thus, Iht new town .... as III Ihe lime time tht state capital and lhe capital at ita counly. Cahaba rapIdly ga ined in promin.,nce, In April ]825. for rumple. tht town I'Io$ttd a t..ish ba ....... t for the visiting Cent ...1 ~ttt during his lour otlhe United SlIta.. Howe~r. Cahaba's rapid rilt soon faltered. Cahaba's ~Qraphi c.aJ .ig. nificanet WM ita location al the conflu. onet of lwo ri ....... The Cahaba Ri .... r encircled lhe to..T1 on two licIu. MId tht AlllbalT\ll bordered it on j Ihird. Soon ~fI .. its creation , flooding and high ..... It .. btaome a frequenl problem. And. d .... to all lhe standing .... aler, lhere ....as a fur of yellow fever and simila r dis· easel during Ihe summer -sic kly stl' son". II was repo rud thaI mllny mtmMn of tht lnr ~nd t~n ctrllin justkH refwtd 10 attond Mlprtmt court Ituions dut to Ihtir apprehensions IIbout sickntss. PerN.p$ tht legislature tllat !-elected CahaN as the "ptrmanent" ClIpital fore·
·H.,
.,(
1015. Tht public sale took place during
Ihe fourth week of May in 1819. One hundred eighly·t....o loU wtrt .old for $]23.856. On..rou rlh of Ih isllmounl ...... collected in CIIsh. The proceeds from the lilt ....... t/lrlT\llrktd for lhe ertction ri ntCnsary public buildings. The governor proceeded wilh II request for bids for the fi ..1 "permanent" statehouse 0( ALlbam;a. No conltmponry descriplion lofln conSlruction and no pictures nisi ot this building. Tht a<tvtr. tiJemtnt for bids c:alled for a bride struc· lure. IWO SlOrits high. 58 fHt long, 43 feet wide. wilh nch Slory ]2 fttl in height. Two chimne~1 ~nd tight win· dows ...... e 10 M included al tach end,
JANllAAY 1995 / 13
saw these problems. Perhaps that legislatur~ knew that the Ind ian wo rd "Cahaba" meant "waltr abo~" referring to the rive r', penchant for frequent nODding, In an~ e,'ent, the Act naming Cahaba the capital con, tained an U,ape clause, It stated that legislati~ ses.iom would be held in Cahaba beginning from 1820 through the first 5(5,ion of the legi,lature in 1825, After that time the capital could be r,l11()I,~d, Ther e was much polHical maneu~ring to rIlOYe the capital during the legi,lali,,,, session of 1825. Several sites for the capital had supporters induding Selma, MontgOfmI1'. Wetumpka. Centreville. and Tuscaloosa. On ~londay. ~ember 12, a propo$lll in the Hous< to locate the capital in Autauga Count~ (Wetumpka was part of Autauga at that time) lost by vote of31 to 30. The next day a vote waS taken to remove t he capital to Tuscaloosa. This lime the vote was 38 to 26 in favor of relllO'>'al. All state offices would be mQ\",d to T=loooa by June 1. 1826. The legislature gave the Sen· at~ doorkeep</r the duty of col. lecting and storing all IllO'>mle state property in the senatt chamber, and giving the key to that room to the state treasurer. The treasurer w&5 to sell all items not moved to Tuscaloosa and was specifically authorized to sell the statehouse itsl'lI for not I.., than $3,000. Although Cahaba wa, nO longer the State capital. the town refused to die. It became the leading cotton shipping port On the Alabama River. Large warehouses and mercantile enterprises "'ere established. Old homes we .. repaired and new residencu of fine architectural design wore erected. And Cahaba remained the count~ s.at town of Dallas County. After the capital relocated to Tus· caloosa, the State d Alabama was not able to 5tll its former statel>ou5t building. On JanU1lry 13. 1830, the ,tate donated the old capital building and the lot on which it 14 / JANUARYl995
stood to Dalla$ County for use as a court· house. Then a fiood on March 26, 1S33 seve rely damaged the structure. The courthouse could 00 longer be used, and so once again the courts were howed in temporary quarters in Cahal>a. On Ikcember 7. 1S33, thelegi,lature app""",d an ~Iection to be held on the first Monda~ in February 1834 for the purpOse of determining public >tnti·
ment On f~moving th~ count~ seat. The election relult did not favor removal, so Dallas Count~ leveled the damaged former statehoun at Cahaba and use<l th~ brick> and other materials for a new courthouse structure. Unfortunately, the builder could not complete the job qui<:kly and a new courthouse was not finilhed until late summer or early fan of 1838. The new cGurthouse was two storie, in height. It was located within the enclosure of Arch Str~t at the corner of Vine and First North streets. Hetween 1840 and 1860. Clhaba reached the height of its prosperity, attaining a population of approximatel~ 5.000. After 1860. Cahaba began to decline, ultimately b<>coming a ghost town. The reasom that Clhaba became a ghost town are numerous. The to,",'n was by· passed by new rail roads. River traffic declined. The Civil War depleted the male population. many of whom left to join the "Cahaba Rifles". a local regi. ment. The cotton trade ended and a cotton warehouse was converted into the second largelt prison in the South, known as "Ca, t l. Morgan ". Final1~. another devastating flood inundated the town in Morch 1865. Following this fiood the federal prisoners were paroled. and the end of the Civil War, with the fre ein g of the sla~s. left the aroa without its us ...l source of labor. An Act of the legi,latur' On De.:ember 14. 1865 called for an election on relTKl\'al of the CDUnty seat from Cahaba to Selma. The vote. taken On the first M onda~ in May 1866. approved the mo~, Hy the 1870s. most of the citi.ens in Cahaba had moved away al 50. Hy 1900 most of the structures had deteriorated, burned, or been mowd. Few buildings survived past 1930. Today plans are being made for a state historkal park at the site of Alabama's first state (apital. but the area remaim only a ghost to"'n with dirt roads and a THE: ALABAMA LAWVER
."I.U) __
a.....II.tLoo,'· ~ lint _ 0IIIiI0I" 000I0oo ('lru;/)' eo...-
•.
.........,
I I - . J•.
-~ ... _,,a l ...
_.-_ .... .....
~.
--~ ~"'aI_
sa-al ......
",.......,aI ...
''"'"''~ "-" """_9 __ "'_'""", _ _ ........... "",....,,-. ."'''''01'1
eo ...... ""'" __ """
TIlE ALIJIA"IA lAWYER
ffW signs 1(1 .... rk 1M signifianet of this p~e in 1M past. A p.rt of Iht past .1 Cih.b,a dating b~ck 1(1 1821) still u;su lodll~. The crown of tilt (lrig;n;ol sbtd'O\I$t. Rood dll .... gtd in 1833. WIIS ~ved. Mlljor William Robinson 41799·1882). II ~lIllh~ plant.r. purchutd 1M thrl'e· stag.d cupoll from D.lln COllnt~. It consisted of in ocugonlll belfr~. lanlern. ind COPl't'r·plllled doml'. Ht remo~d this work to the Methodist Chll«:h built ",I Lowndrsboro in 1833. This building is one of Ihe oldest chll«:h 5tII.1CtUrl'S stitt st.nding in the Slack Bell area of Alabam/l. In lattr )'t.rs the church .... uken over by .. bbck ronQrtglItion. 11 cused to be ustd in 1983. but lilt dome from ,o\W)arn;o's first ~iUI building still ris« ~ tilt Alabama !.tndsca"". 11 isl\or>td this fea· til" will be I't'rmanenll~ p. tstrwd . II w;U p.tviously mentioned thll a high bluff eMrlooking tin AIl.NfTU Ri\Tr had betn ~iwly CIIttfd Ecor Bienville IBienville's 8luffi. tM lIigh Soap Stone Bluff, and ~Ioorfs Bluff. In 1819. I.nd de"dopment compa n~ , which included William Rufus King among its lilI membefl. pun:hunl tilt sitt to dtwlO!lll new town. lie suggest· ed the rwnt "Sehm: ille •• ellding the -Song of Sel.... -. from hmu McPher· son's The l't.>ems ofOssi<m. In Caelic.
Selma means" -high th..,....-, ...... tM PlIrticul .. potm consid ..od by Kine rtftrrt<! to Selma;u I royal fortTUS. William RIlfu5 King, before bocoming one of Selma'5 foun4ing f~thHS, h~d 1I«n a Congmsmln from North c.roIi. nil, lit rl'pratntt<! [).allis County in 1M first Alal)o.fTIlI Con5t itutional Con,,~n· li(ln. H. was elected Alabama's fi.st Unitt<! Siaies Sen;otor. and M hel~ thai position from 18191018«•• nd from 1848 to 1853. He __ el«tfd vi«·prui· dmt of tht Unltfd SUlr:s in N<Mmhtr 1852. but. d.... to dtclining ..... llh from lubtrculo,;s, he wtnt to Cuba for the winltT prior {O assuming hi, office. 110 Is tilt only major o\mtriQn !IO'>Tmmenl figu~ to bogin his ttnn of oIT.er on f(lf. tit" soil ,,1lon he look his oath of offier in Cub.i on March~. 1853_ Ho rl'tumfd to Solma whrre he di.d on April 18. 1853 al the age of 67. He is buried at Li~ Oak Cemelery In Selma. In its ti.ly )'tars. Sdm~ Wit ovtr · s~Td by ill "'ighbo!", CaNhI., the .taU capital. Once tho c",pital WllS rtm(l~d from Cahllba. howevtr. Ihe 1W(llowns beeamo .ivals for domin.nce in [).all;u County. Selma bocamt promi. nentllt II colton shipping pori. The L.adiu· EdUClltion;o1 Societ~ (lfganized tM building of Khools tlltrr. A numbo. of ill ludtrs W(lrkt<! 10 mako Selma .. railroad conter. and to introduce indul' tries to tilt lawn. Ou.inJI the Ci";l WlIr, the Conftdt .... \e !IO'>Tmment !oCIIltd an ""''1.1 )'lIrd, UId n;ova.) ordn;onct W(lrb al Selma. Confedt .... te iron dad ships for dtfonst of Mobile ~.e built Ihere. During the war Selma was lur· p.o$$td onl~ by Richmon~ in tM manu· f/l~turt of war malt.ia!. The cIty ,,';U upturt'd by the l'edt.lIls on April 2, 1865. IU i ..... ustry 1000 L;oy in IIlht$. Within a ~ry short time Selma _ rebuilt. In 1866 the ~ount~ $tal moYed to Selma. and its domiNlnce in D.tt;u County btame MCu r•. TIot r. ..1 courthouse in Selma _ a building eon5truet.d in Ihe 18401. II _ built by the Selma I'raterTIIl Lodge No. 27 of I'ree and Accepted Masons all COSI of $15.000. The Masons and the Wits' EducatioNl Society opt,"lod • school in this building which wn kn.o)o,."T1 as tilt Cmt~ Masonic Inst,lule. The Institute was incorpora ted on robruary 19. 1St8. and optn~ for .Ilu· dont. in Oet(lber of thai ~U •. The
.fJt1IIl.
JAA'UARY 1995 / 15
put'J>OS" of the ill$lil~te wa. to .d~<:3te orphans and the children of indigent Mason,. Tht ~nture "'as ullimalely a fonandal failur•. Ihough, and Iho build· ing was foreclosed. During Ihe Ci~il War. Ihe former sdIool was converted into a hospital and serwd s ick and wounded Confederate soldiers. Perhaps it was Ihis hu=nitarian pul'J'O" that penuaded Union Gener_ al JalTltS Wilson. who captured Selma. to sp;ore the building. Shortly after the War. the City of Selma p~rchased the building and offered it 10 Dallas County for a courlhouse if tho county ..at wo~ld be moved. ~. previously describtd. the move t()()\( place in 1S66. Thi. courthow;e is a three-story red brick Greek Revival struclure. It i. ,,",I· angular with four Ionic columns rising lhl'ff stories to support a pedillll'nt abow a central pOrtico. The fronl facade has both a second- and third-story balcony. The fi rsl Hoor of the .tructure housci the probate judge'. olftc<. an offi .. lor the ta~ coll«lor. and one for the sheriff. The second floor contained the register in chancer;' office. the drcuit derk's
\fEDIe \I./ OE\TAL \I .\I.PRACTICE EXPERTS
16 1JANUARY 1995
office. and an office for the d .. k 01 the city court. One-hall of Ihe third floor ",as used for a courtroom. The other half was used for jury rooms with one room si'! aside for a law library used by Ihe Dalla. County bu. Thi. building ,er"ed as Ihe courlho~se unlil the .pring of 1902 "'hen a new coorthoose ",as completed and occupiod. In later years the building ~\~rted 10 it. former use •. In 19(1.4 it again housed ~ school, th~ Selma Mintory Instilule. In 1911 Ihe trustees of the Henry II'. Vaughan estate con"£l1ed the building inlo tht Vaughan .~lemorial HospilaL It remained a ho.pitol until 1960 when a new Vaughan Hospital was buill. The building stood v~cant for almosl len years and hocame a target for ,·andal. and vagrants. In 1%91he Cily of Selma repurchased the property Ihat il own~d over 100 yean p~'';OIJsly. With the assistance of Dalla. Co~nly. Ihe Selma I!o~sing Aulhorily. and. f~d~ral grant. the building ",as renovated and r~ nam~ d "The Hisloric and Civic Building". It ",<15 li.led on Ihe National Register of Ilisloric Ptaces on June 20. 1975. Today the struc t u .. is known u the Joseph T. Smitherman Historic Building. It ",as named for the long-lime mayor of Selma. lot Smithuman. who played a major role in pr~serving and rutoring the building. It now serves as a mUl'um and civic meeting place. The City of Selma must be commended for saving this historic strudure. According to the censuS of 1870, Dallas Co~nty ",as third in population in Alabama following Mobile and ~lont gomery. By ISSO. Selma ""as the fou'th largesl city in the stole. Befolling its .toIus and its wealth. and due to the g!"Ol'>1h of the county. a new courthoul' was needed. AI>o. it was felt thai the old Masonic building was too far away from Ihe business cenler of Selma. A new cou'thouse was then planned for the northwest cornu of Alabama Av~nu. and Lauderdale Street. The cornerstone was laid at 11 a.m . on October 9. 1900, The conlract price was approximately $38.()()(). Thi. building was bui ll in the RomaneSque .tyle and contained a massi,.. dock tmo... r. It was completed in the spring of 1902. In 1926. an anne~ was addtd 10 the structure on the Lauderdale Streel side.
On Sunday. July 7. 1957. the dock to\<.. r of the Dallas CO\Jnty Courthouse collap.ed into the building. cau.ing txtensi,'e damage. Luckily no one ,,'as hurt because the disasler took place on a Sunda)'. Fi"e day, pre\'iously. lightning had struck the courthou.e. The coonly contended in a lawsuit thallhi, act of naturo cau..d the cra.h. Insur_ ance companies believed thaI faulty con.t,uction and Ihe add ition of air conditioning unit.\ weakened the Slrueture and caused Ih. damage. Regardless of Ihe true Colu" . Da llas County decided \0 rebui ld Ihe cou'lhouse on the .arne site. A modern de. ign was choun and lI'ar~n. Knight 0; Davis from Birmingham were arehi· lecl. for the project. Coope' Brothen Conslruction Co .. Inc. of Selma ,.., .. d as conlraclor. Thi, new courlhouse i. th,ee stories in height with a bastment and a modern clock lo"~r. The 1926 ann .. was retained but modernized. The projeci was completed and the building occupied in April 1%0. and cosl mor~ than one million dollars. It was On the step.! of this courthouse whe~ demonstrators led by Dr. Martin 1.uther King. Jr. confronted law enfo ru m.nt officiats in 1965 in an attempt 10 register to ,-ote. Tht demonstrations and protests in Selma led to the passage 01 the 1965 Voting Rights Act. In 19;9, Dallas County added anolher ann .. 10 the co~rthouse bu ild ing. At this time the archit.ct was Wiall. Wilson. I< Cole. Inc. and Ihe general conIractor was Andrew 0; Da,,'son. The cost of the annU was approximately $360.000. This anntx is brick and of modem dnign. It hoose. Ih e commissioner,' cou rl. circuit judges' offic.. and courts. and olher omces. • The aulhor gratefu lly acknowl~dg.. assi.tance given 10 him in the prepara· lion of this arlicie b)' attome~ William J. Bryant of Birmingham. formerly of Sdma; attorney Ralph N. Hobbs of Selma; and aulhor Kathryn Tucker Windham of Selma. Addilional >oure •• ' Three CUpiIU/5. William H. Brantl.y, Jr .. Selma. Queen CilJl of Ihe Bluclc &/1. Alslon Fitt •. III; Se/mu; !fer "~Iilulions and Her Men. John Hardy; The Slon; of Selma, Walter M. Jackson. THE AIAIiA.' 1A
IAWY~R
BAR BRIEFS • The Inotilut. of St.t. and '-"W of tho Rus.1an AoHmy or $dtn<", offers a om-year "",",Ie(. prQgram in RUMian law in M()$C(l'I<,' to Qu.a!ifif<l U.S. students. The nwter's in RlWian law, rornprise<i
of 1.100 Ilours of instruction during two
academk semesters. is designed to be an inte"" and practical program to prQViIlt stu<!tnts with the ability to w<lrk dfec-
tively in the RUMi.n legal and administrative s)'Stem. Admission is limited to 25 students who have received a degree f'QIll anABA-accredited law school. A student will study all areas of Russian law with the professionals of the
Institute, If utudenl does not speak Russian, an int.rni .... Russian language pnr
gram is .t<lu;rN. ~
Institute of State and taw is Rus-
sil"s olde..t legal "think tank" and a unit
of the prtsligious Russian Academy of
Sciences. Por more information. ronlxt: Prof. A.M. Quia, Registrar 5718 Westheimer. Suite ISIS
Houston. TX 77057 (713) 971-9693
• M. CII), Alspau gh and W.A. Kim -
brough. Jr. recently btcame fellows of the American Coliege of Trial LaW)~rs. Membtr5hip. which is a posilion of honor. ;s by invitation of the Boord of Regent... Alspaugh is a partner in the Binning· holm firm of Hogan. Smith &. AlSpaugh. MId " a graduate of Cumberland School of Law. Kimbrough" a partner with tho firm of Turner. Onderdonk. Kimbrough and Howell. wilh offices in Chalom and Mobile. He is a graduate of the Uni~ rsity of Alabama School of Law. • engOl")' S. Cusimano w.ll; w:ently designated a Dipkllnat of Trial Advocacy by the National Colkge of Trial Advocacy. He is the fLrstlawytr in Alabama and one of only nine lawyers in the U.S. to holVl' received this distinction. He practices in Gadsden with the firm of Floyd. Keener. Cusimano &. Robert... In addition. he and Mich.Hll.. R..... rb. of the same (irm. have recently co· authored 1m, 1994 Cumulalillfl Supplemenl a{ the Alabama Tori Law
Hlmdbook. released for publication by
the Michie Publishing Company. • Maco n Counly Distrid Judg e Aubrey Ford. Jr. w.ll; recently appointed to be the 1994-95 co-cha irperson of the Committ.. on Rural Courts of the ABA National Confe .. nce of Sp.ci~1 Court Judges. The Nation. 1 Conference of Special Court Judges is compru.ed of hundrro. of judges from ac rOS.l the nation and is part of the ABA Judicial Administra· tion Division. The miS!ion of the can· ferenee is to repr ..""t spedal court judges to the legal profes.sion and the public: to promote a representative. educaled and s.eru iti"" judiciaL')' pfQ\lid . ing equal justice under the law; 'lIld to .... isl judges in meet ing cholilenges fac· ing the judiCiary. Judge Ford has be.n on the bench since 1m and i.I a graduate of H(I\O.·ard University School of Law in Washington. DC. Judge Ford is also a member of the Alabama St."Ite Bar CommiU.. on Alter. rot"'" Disputt Resolution. •
Family Law Section Alabama State Bar
Divorce OIl/lie Beach IX June 2 & 3, 1995 Perdido Beach Resort
THE Al.I'JlM\A L\\VYER
JANUARY 1995 / 17
OPINIONS OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL By ROBERT W. NORRIS, general counsel
It II I
"
"This leite, concerns a business enterprise I am UE en ON, cu ... ntly;n the procw of forming and my n«d
for ~ lonnaL (lpinion from lilt bar ","",",lion o;on«ming my soIicit.llion lor clients of said businrss. "E;,rlier thiJ ru'. I _ conlKttd by ~r.OI pUSOlll in liM: rmdicaVdtntal firld (provi~r$1 to handle Ihtir collect ion xcounu.. II occurred 10 me thlot thfv persons might &ri~ grut bentfits from a dioll. bonk "",jell would in tum prwille them with infomnation concerning any put d~ accounts Ihtir prOlpect ive poti.llt. ",,'ed to pf(wi\!us in the general geographical area. as well as th. statt. "The bUJlnus would Optutt \'ell similarly 10 an ordin.u l' emlll bu~iOU. nnpt it would lit limitt<! 10 infcmnalion 8Mn to me by the pro.idon. not any Olhtr businnon. Tho proYidrr would COIllKt me prior 10 OIInpl,ng liM: ptrson as 10 pal;'nllO itt if tIwy ~ ~ outstanding xcounts with 0100 pn:Mden in tilt geogn.phical IrU. J would d\arif tho pl'OYi;kr I ~..rIy fee for thili wMce. Absolutely no «Ilit(lions would bt gi""" to my law IS \hiJ new business would not OPerat. as a 'Ieeder' lor
[!lJ More Chapter 13 Trustees Want PLAN13! [!lJ More Bankruptcy Lawyers Submit PLAN13! DEMO OISK • REfERENCtS · MONEY BACK GUARANTE E
CALL 800 BES1-7-13
&CHAP7**13
the firm lor coll.ctio", wor~. M~ questions are thue: I. May I inform the providen I wish to solicit on my lellerheid, iInd if so, do I nttd to provide I diJ<:Lioimer purswont to RuLe 72 ci.the CQde 01 Proks$iorW R.. ponsibilityl 2. II 11m urWLe to solicit thiJ buJillHS on TIll' Letterheid Ind do it on the Lettnheid 01 the new tnlerpriK (ttnLiot"~1y cII~ The o.nt.al ~ Inc.) will [how to put the d~bimer on said soIicit.ation punuantto Rule 72. sirT\i>!Y bK.iuK 11m In I\tOroey? "Your <JI)inion would be greatly lI'pr~datw as 11m getting geared up with Ihil projecl and do not want to violate any pOJ. libl. rules con<:eming solidt.ation. [do need an official opinion lor my files as quickly as time would ptrmil.~S\liER.
QUESTI OS OSE: You .... y inform the providers you wiJh to solicit on your Itlterheid.. Pursuant to RuLe 72(e). Rulu
of ProrenioNl Conduct, )'OIlT soIicit,tion letter TTIU$I in<:lude the -disdlimtr."
m
ISCllSSION: The Ruin of Prolusional Conduct allow )'Ou to uK the proposed form 01 targeted mail solicitation to tontid providers alx>ut )'OUr credil information "network.- Your ~rtici~tion must be mttic:t~ to Itw.t IX ITI .mployte 01 the "nttwork." Thr l>iJ<:iplinaJ)l CommilSion tw prmouJly held in RO-35-05 u...t: -As I stockholdtr or pHlntr in the <:OmpJter otrvicu tOm· Pif"ly),"", could not .thially x t as manager IX its debt ooI1Ktion 100 if the debts Ire not ooIlKtw by the mtlhods .thlally employl'd by a typial coliKtion agtncy (See Slolt~. Dunn ami Bradst""'l. !nc.. 352 .'. Supp. 1226. affi rmed 472 Fed. 2d 1049 iooSlole v. Alabama Associolicm oICredii Execulitw. 338 So. 2d 8 [2}. as an i ttorflf)' file suit ~inst the debtor for the cbim sin« you would be using another business or proksaion ItS I cloik lor solicitiction IX Lepl work Of ItS a fwkr 10 your """ pooia.Thr CommWion thtrein rtasOnlCI u...t as pari """lVr 01 $.lid busintss, the b-..ytr h;od a "feeder" for hi5 Iiw practia ",-hidl activity indlor arrangement was prohibitw by OiJ<:iplinaJ)l Ru les 2-i03(AHIJ and (4J. The Disciplinary Comminion has consistently he ld th.t ~irecl targeted mail solicitation by' Liowyer is ptrmi!$ible pro· vided th,t the mailed solidtltion leuer compliu with the appliable Rules IX Professional Conduct. including the -di .. clloi .....- ~ IX Rule 7.2(c}.
1 '1 •
SptOdr Softwlrt • IIII ~ WoodwGrd • loyti GGk. Milh. 48061
SSWER. QUESTIOS TWO: One. Illowing ust 0( The .ns~r to Question your Llwyer Id\erheid, pretermits COIISidenolion 01 Ihil question.
IRO·9[-14) TIlE ALABAMA LAWYER
Major Medical. Provides personalized comprehensive coverage to Lawyers, employees, and eligible family members. The Southem Prolessional Trust is totally underwritten by Continental Casualty Company, a CNA Insurance Company.
Life .'amily Term Lire. Provides benefits for Lawyers, spouses, children and employees. Coverage through Northwestern National Life Insurance Company.
Security Disability Income. Features "Your Own Specialty" definition of disability with renewal guarantee and benefits available up to 75% of your income for most insureds. Coverage through Commercial Ufe, a subsidiary of UNUM.
Business O.-crhead Expense Insurance. A financial aid to keep your office running if you become disabled. Coverage through Commercial Ufe, a subsidiary of UNUM.
from lSI If you're a Lawyer practicing in the State of Alabama, Insurance Specialists, Inc. offers the finest insurance coverage anywhere. We're here to help with all your insurance needs.
33lenc. Poin1e NE Atlanta. GA 30324路3172 fSr_l~
INSURANCE SPECIALISTS, INC. THEALABA.\ \A LAWY ER
~1"-<1:n2
1IOQ.241路nS3 FAX: 404-81"-<1782
JANUARY 1995 1 19
IN ESTATE PlANNING WITH IRAS By Wendell Cauley and Pamtla L. Mablt
T
his Irtic'" diKus5es 1M minimum distribution .ula lIpplicllbl~ to
individ,,"1 retiument nunge-
rrlfllU
Iht
or IRA.. lind focusts on.some of
~nffiu
ind problems which un arise wlltn an IRA is part oh dtcedent'. tiLt! •.
O".,...le w of IRA. An IRA is I gmmc term "'~mng \0 tithtr an indMdu.tl rttirnntnl KCOOnt or In individu.ll ntirtfTltnl annuity. An individual relir."",,,! iICCOUnl is • trwt Gr custodial account utsblbhed fOlr the uclusivt bendit of In individual and the individ",,]', bentfid.uia' whilt m individu .. 1 retirement Innllily is an Innuily conine! or t!>dowment con. 'noel Issued by In insurlIr\tt tomp.ill)' llul ","15 ~rtain ~uinrnomts 51'1 00\ in 1M Internal Relltnuc Cod. and pro.
mulgated by the Treasury DtP/lrtmenl' Bnicilily. an IRA is the perSGnl1 equivllenl of" moduauly funded nli","","! plan that.ollows tmp~ Hlf·tm,,~d
individulls Ind cerUin
otlltr individuals (whether or no! they Pl'rlicipatt in qualifitd tmp\o)'tr reI in-
mtnt plans such itS profit shloring plans. Keogh plans. simplifoed employu pen. lions (SEPs). !ax·shtltrr(d annuitits. or gowmmmi plans) to ~Iish IRk and rmk ... nnuII contributions to tMm. Individulls an contributt an lIIditionaJ ».000 01 tlltir tomptrlNtion or tamed Incomt for iltl individual lIlA or. if mar. ritd. can al so cont ribut e In ldditional 20 I JANUARY 1995
S250 for i spouSiI IRA. Contributions mid. to in individuir, IRA may be ",,,ibbl. as dtductioou l&iinst incomr to the OWntr of th. IRA bul ctrtlin dedur;tion limits 0\IlIl1y if tilt individ .... l's adjusttd 81'0$$ income uc«ds specifitd "mounts and tht IfIOUK panici· pattd in I qualif.. d tmplo)otr rdirnnrnt pIan.' Abo. ctrIain 5pt(;,liml 1!!As can be used to rtaiYt lump sum distribu· tions from an individual's tmployt •. 5pOIUOftd qualifitd •• tiremtnt plln. ~caust IRA. art readily aVlilable to individuals for dtductibl. contributions and. und., other circumstlncr •• for nondtductibl. contributioou as ...'tll IS dtposjtori .. for lump I-Um distributions from In .mploytr·sponsored qualified rttiremmt plan.II1IRAroukl pottntW!y 0( tilt individu· roostitut, a ma}or _ al's utate. Although many of tilt ruin appliclbl. to lRAs apply to qualified rdiremtfll pbns; such as pension. profil wring, stock bonus and lr'O'1uity plans. as ....tli. ...'Ilert 111 IRA comp~ 111 _ 0(111 individual's tWot. m ataIf plmnrr lhould not ovtrloolc tilt ,ppliation of tilt minimum distribution rules applica· bl. to an IRA. The minimum distribu. tion rul .. may hove II subslllnt;,1 impact not only upon 111 IRA owntr's retirement pllnning I-Uch as withd ..... from m IlIA by tho 0""'" during his or lin lik· time, but ~ upon tilt ulHma\t: distri· bution of lilt IRA owntr's tsIlIlt at <lath and upon any btnefocillry of Ih. IRA. Also. failur. to Silisly the minimum dis.
owot,',
·'ls
I,ibution rtquir'lTW'nll m.ly ,uult in CtrLloin ontrous toonOmic burdms lind r'o'tn ptrllltia.· Ove.,.le w of tlte Minimum DI. trlbvtion Rule.
Once distributions from an IRA are rt<juiml to bltgin. tht IRA owntr must wilhdnw. ttrLloin .mount duri~ tach )'tiT or bit subjKI: to a ptl'llOlty for insuf· fl(:ifnl ...;\hdr;lwab;. Tht minimum dis· t.ibution ruIn uquirt theat the IRA owntr's ;ntertSl in the IRA bit distribut · ed in its entirety (II no later Ihan the r,qui Ted beginninJl dltt (generally. April I follQ...,ing Iht <:lltndlr yea.r in which the IRA "".... TmcllfUge 701. or (b) btginning no Iller tllm tho required begInning date dun", ont of the JoIIcJw. i"lllou. tirnt poriod$: (I I lhe loCl ... lli!. 01 the IRA 0'1'01\1'0': (2] the combined OIet .... llile of the IRA
owntr and the lif, tlq)fCbIncy of I "design.oted bmtflc;,oy"; (31 ,poriod no! ....tfflding beyond the lift upeCtInCy of the IRA owner. or (4] II period not tlClendi"ll beyond the lilt oxpeotancy of tht IRA owner and his "designated bltnefoci"ry: Thus. if the IRA OWner I1h named a tltnfficillry thlt. for purPOstl of the minImum distribution fUlts. Qualif... '" II "design.ot(d btntficiary: the designat. ed b,ntficilry'S life Uptctllncy Can lff,ct (il the time period during whioh the IRA own.r'l inteuS! i, distributed
THE ALABAMA lAWYER
In.d tht Amo ... nt of tach dist.ib ... tion d... ring the IRA owntr's lifetime,.nd (ii) tilt period after the IRA o\<'I1er's doth durin, .... hich the ands rem~ininQ in tilt IRA must ~ di3tributN to the des, ienattd brMflCilory.
Who Is.
~slll_ted
8_flcla'Y~
for
purposes of the Minimum Dis tribution Aules? II "designatN ~neficilory" is any indio LWuoI designated as I ~nd'icilory urmr the Imns 0( the lit'.. or, if the IRA pr0vides, by the IRA owne.'s ~m.""tivt election specifyin, the beneficiary, lJld who is, upon the IRA owner', dtalh or Olhe r specified ennt, entil led 10 the .e""inin, portion of the IRA ownn', in terest or benefi l , According to Ihe minimum di.t . ibulion rules, only In individual may ~ a "dtsi,nated ~ntfi· ciary." Om uc~too to the ·individ .....1 only" .... Ie is applied 10 culain l'usl1 ruulting in the lru:il btntroci.lrits ~ing I~lltd is "designalN ~ner!Ci.lrits" 0( the IRA. While an estalt may be ~med It I ~neficlary 0/ an IRA. tilt tstate .... iII n()i ~ I "designattd ~neficilori' 10. PUTpofn of the minimum distribution rula.' Scme;uWysis here ITIiY br helpful. It is not unwmmon fo.1 <i«tdmtto desi,· natt hi' o. he. tSl.lte &51 brndiciary on such items &5 a IIle Insurance policy or other ptl'$Or\lll ef/Kli. H~r. naming an ntale as an IRA bmt/'lCi.lry will not llin the period over which Ihe IRA btntfits ITIiY br Pl'id; lhat is. the livel of the ~nffici"iu of the u tale will not affect Ihe pe.iod over which the IRA is dislribulN, The reason for this Is quitt obvious: If the IRA owner', able remains lhe namtd ~n,fici.lry 01 the IRA, distributions f,om the IRA com· mencing du.ing the o.... ne.'s lifetime wililtave to ~ entirely paid out over m the owner', Ictual life, o. (ii) over I period thot oIors not UCftd the owner'1 life UptctIncy, The potenlial efftct 01 naming one', nl.ltt as brnefici.lry of the IRA i, to accelerate Ihe payment of income \axes on distributions from the owner's IRA over con,iderably shorter time periods than would ~ required il diltribulions from the IRA could be Jlretched out _ the IRA ~ ..s and. "dtsignated btner!Cilory'," joint IMa, or joint life expectlncifS,' Likt;m ~te, llrust mil' lolso ~ an
IRA owner', named beneficilry, Ind upon the IRA ",,'nt1"s dtl.th, tt.. moipi. ent 01 ~ny ~maining intt~$.I in ;mIRA. Por p~rpo$u 01 the minimum distribu· tion ruin, ~., the lrust itself will 001. ~ lhe "dtsignattd btntrlCilory." Nevertheltss. if the followi!\ll requiremenl$ ~~ met in regord to a trust nlmrd as I "desigN-ltd btlll'ficil ry." the ben.fici~· , ;tS of the trmt wilt. for PUrpo$f5 oIlhe minimum distribution rults. ~ treatN as "dt$.ignattd btneficilorin": (I ) the trust is I ''''lid lrust undtr sUtt I~w, or ...'OUld be valid if it .... H e fundtd; (2) the trmt i, irrevocable; (3) lhe ~neflCilonfJ 01 the trust ~ ~ idtntirotd; and (.) a copy 01 thoe trust instrument is prwidtd to the IRA custodi.an (e.g., lhe 'JIOMOr 01 tho IRA), For I'Urpo$fS 0/ lhe minimum distri· bUlion ruin. where tht~ ITt m ... lliple beneroc:iloriu 01'1 trust. the ~ner!Ciary whose lile apectancy is the shortest is truled as the "dtsigN-led benefici.lry" and that beneficiary's lift expectancy is utili.rd in determining the period of
""'11«
Overview of dlstrlbutJona atter death Undtr the minimum distribution where distribution to an IRA owner begin during the owner'l lift· lime, but Ire 001. complettd prior to the owner's dtilh. the .emaining inlerf5t m\IJI conlin ... to ~ distributod It least as rapidly as it would have ~en under the method 01 distribution lhal ....15 in dftct at the date of the IRA owne " s dtath.' When an IRA """." diu befort
.1,11".
E XC EL S I OR · LEG A L 'S
~"'.d.~huUlj'~
5239
""TIeT',
TI tE ALABA."IA U.WYER
distribution. dtsignatfJ lirust as I If;m IRA benefiCiary and the four criteria listed ab!M are TIOI met, then the IRA owner is t~lttd IS if he or "" don not have I "df5ignattd ~ntficilry." and tM IRA disl,ib ... tion, thlol commtnud during tilt ",,'IltT'1 lift "ill have to br paid out entirely tither (i) during Ihe I~A owntr's actual lifetime, or (ii) during a period thit is no longer than the IRA owner's Ic\uuillly · dtlermined lift txptCtIrICy, We "ill discuss ~1ow how the four trust requiumenls !istN ab!M mi,ht be mel wilh r"peel 10 a typical IRA and estate plan,
Ideal for Laser Printers 1,000 u-t1erheads and Envelopes 500 Business Cards. 500 Plain Second Sheelll Also includes dies lind II proof.
24 lb" 25% COllon, Laser Finish, Whitt or Bamboo, 24 1b"
m
......
Recycled Bond $2J9 Cotton Law Bond, Whitt, Bamboo and Laser White $149 ,,,
...
,,.,
..
"".
itfttr(",i"t pkmn In: Arllnllton, TX; ItllxmJ, NY; Orkmda, FL C"II/or """pia ~IUI UII~1 .upply U1~~, (SOOJ l l J. l'J11, UI. SO),
~lslof'-LegoI.lnc: JA.":lJARY 1995 121
~nb bl:gin or bl:fore tho required "bl:ginning dot~" !iA.• April I oi the )'far following the calend~r year when the IRA owner reache, age 70). the di,tribu· tions are ntYII'rtheltsS treated <lJ hiving <;(IIT)mmctd during the IRA owntT', lilt IOd the ......... , IRA must hi: distributed in one oilollowi", methods: (I) The entire IRA must be distributtd within 1M years aft..r the IRA owne'" duth {this provision is referred to bdow 01I5"tht 1Ne-)'W rule");
(2) Distributions may bt I1\Idt to (or fOT the benefit of} I "dni,fWlled btrl(ficiary" under an exception to the flve·year ru1t. if u... benefot. or tho pOrtion ~able to lho "dui,· fWlted bt ... fociary," is diJt.ibuted. """ tho tilt of the "desiiNled ben. dkiary" beginning within one)'!ar after the IRA "",ntr's duth . or i, distributed over a period which do-e, not extend beyond tht life GpfCtancy oithe "desigNted ben· eficiary"; or
(3)
Oinributions mly be rrl/lde 10 the IRA O'I'om"s,urviving.~ uOOtr an tlIctption 10 the five·year rule. if tho portion to which tho surviving $pOI.IK is tho "dt$igm,ted bmdicQ. ry" is distributed IMr the lift oililt SUrviving spouse. Or IMr a ~riod not longer than the Me .. ~ctancy of Ihe survivin, spouse. beginning no later than wlttn the employft .......,Id Mvt rudwd age 70.'
,,"11e.llon of It.. f~lng nll.a to .n IRA ow"'''a .at.t. pl.n The dtJignation of an IRA ownu', ntaltU lilt IRA btntfki.uy. if not mod· iford. will mtan ~. for purposes oililt minimum diJtribution rult' disclWtd abo:Jve. the lRA ....... r will have no "des· ignated beneficiary: and any distribu· tion of benefiu whkh begins during the IRA owner', life will ha\tfc to be dis· tributed tither (j) over the.,mod ollilt ........., lift. or (ii) 1M. I ~riod that it not longer than tht own .. ', tift upecl/lncy. If the distribution of bent· fiU dot:l not commence until ~lter the owm"s death. the (roe·year rulf would apply. mUnin, that the owner', IRA would ha\tfc to be tntinly dist.ibuttd within froe ~arJlfler tho ........., death. UndH thtse circumstances. income t.axts which could ha.-e b«n deferred for
22 1JANUARY 1995
wvt",1 yurs would have to be pUI Qr· lieT thin would Mvt ~n the aK. Thot i~. incomt tuu on tho ownu's entirt tRA would have to IK paid within fi\tfc years 0( the IRA \leath. Thus. in SOmt iruunces. ;1 mlY ~ desirable to modify tht btntflCiiry designation in an IRA to name 11 bentficiuy that will. for purpows of the minimum dislribution ruIn. be 11 "desi gnaled beneficiary" so thalli rusonable deftTTal 0( the income \.Uts on the distnlmlion oilhe _ ... IRA rrI/I)' be tff«ltd Or IUOmplWwd.
O'I'om",
Applle.Uon of It.. fo ..... olng rul • • with tIM! ua. of tru.la As was uplained lbovt. wht~ 1I1rust is n.vntd u an IRA _ ... be.... f"'iiry. if lhe four nquirflntnu outlined lIboYr lIrt met (i.l: .• (I) the truM is II valid trust under s\.at. law. or would be valid if it ~re funded; (2) the trust is irrtvOCAblt: (3) the beMfiria.ies of the trust can be idtntifitd; and (41l1 copy tho trust instrument is pf"O\licled to tho plm) the bentficiar iU of tho trust Ire. with rnprct to the trusfs inttnst in the IRA. I~ated u "designal.d benefi,iaries: If these four ~uil"l'mentl art not met as of the dill. of tho IRA ownu', death. ho....,\tfcr. th. IRA ownt. i, trutfil u ha,i", no "designated beneticiuy: ~ distribution mU.1 be INd. undtr tho (M·~ar rule (i.e. the IRA <Mmr', int.r· ut must be ent irel~ distributed within five ~ars IIfltr the <M....... , <.\tllthl.
or
Im~t
of ... "oc.bI. lruat a In somt ~ pWl$.l ""family \rust" is U$td and Nrned as tht designated benefi· ciary 01 the owner's IRA. HOWtVtr. Ctr· tain problt .... c.m arise bec.I_ the trust bits to mttI.oll ol the lou. ~i~ .... nt.s undtr tht minimum distribution rults. \\-"hen . for example. tht family trust is not irrtvOUbl •. the fllmily trust would not mott all of th. four reQuirement. qualifying the be""ficiaries ol the family trust as "desianattd btntfic:iirits." If tho family trust is not imvoable or if the family trust will b«omt i~ upon the IRA owne ... death IIfIC! tilt IRA ""","r had .urvi.-ed to tho required beginning dote (i.t .• April I ofth. caltndllT year fol· Iowi", tht u.ltndar ~lIr in whkh the OWneT ruch •• ago 10) and had betn rtnMflII distributions from the IRA. lilt family trult will not IIltn have become irrtvocablt within the statutory time limit beta_ arguably tht owner COUld.
prior to duth m;[ JUbstqumt to the dott the distributions bepn. modify 00' ~ his or IItr ..ill including the Wnily trusl
provision .. In this litu~tion. the ben.fl · clari" of tht fllmily tm.t would not. thortfort. qmHfy u "desigru.ted be ... fi · ciirits" undtr the minimum distribution rula. This would bi.r the _ 0( lilt li~ txptrtlncy oi one 0( tht tru.rs berl(flCla· riu. in ronjunction with the IRA OWrI(r's lif. t"lptcuncy. and obfuscate the lime period to be tWn into lI«OUnl in dtttr· mining th. ptriod Over wh ic h tht OWI"Itr's IRA would be p.aid out. Und .. these circummntu. in deltrm;ning the period over which the <Mmr·. IRA bentfiU would be diltribultd. only the IRA owntrs life tx~cW1C}' could be I.I.ko:n into KCOUnL whk h IIIWIS tNt dunng the lilt. the owne • .......,1<1 be pqing taxos on I/Irg« annual distributions than would be rtquirtd if an indivi~UlI. such as ~ child. was the owner', "desig· ~ttd btneficiary." Based upon thrK pos. sible contingfnc;u. ~ "family trust " CTuied undtr ~ tRA owne"s ...iII lind dt!ign.tltd <lJ the bentficiary 01 the IRA mIIy not be a good choico.
O'I'om",
Imp.el of I...."oc.bl. tNat. Allhough hIvinlI an IRA u 11 submn· till &Sst! 0( an tSUlt portends poItntill pilf.ol!s. somt option!; rtrrlllin available to IY(lid tho various disadvantages dis· tus,sed above In rtlation to the mini · mum dist ribution require menU. One option a,... ilablt to ~ alate planner m;[ the IlIA own.. would be to crute In W_ICau~
W..-.o.II c.u.y .. " 1 1 - 01 Ed<o«I
CoIIego.,.; .... ~01_ Sct"OOI oILaw-''''' _ _ '''JD _
"''''101 nT_ .... I_n ...
lob -.... . , '"" 01 n .......... & ~
P _ L .... W.
PamN L Matiio 10 • 0 ' _ oISom1otd ~_"'~01
Sct"OOI 0It.. SIlo. on _
n ........ & ~
__ _.
trust ,imila. in form • ...., and other respects to the f~mily trust trattd under the provisions ~ ..ill. An irrevocable trust of this t)'JI! would bt tilt dt5ignat~d btn~fidary of tilt IRA (or. by formullo. tilt irrt\lOCablt trost ~ould bt nam.d as btntfi,ilry of that fraction of tho IRA tMt could be shitldod from ut~te tuos pa.y~hl. by the IRA ~(, tsUU and gift w uniflOd cred· it). Prior to tilt death cI tho lRA~. Ih. irrevocable trust coul d bt funded nom inally to gi"" it 1tg,1 dfect and via· bility. Thtrufler. in ordor to shitld Uly IKIdiliomlamount of th. IRA int.rul from ts(.>te \D<$ by tho unlimit..! nwi· ul d.duction at tilt dUlh of the IRA owner. lho IRA own.r could desigNle hi' or her spouse as lho btnefidary of the ~mainin8 fra<:tion of the IRA (I.e .• thlt portioo in of tho owner's uni· fltd endit equiv.liml ~rTIOWlU. As upl~;ned above. for purpo~s of tho minimum distribution rulos. wher. there are multiple bt:ndiciariu of .. trus!, tho bendiciary ... host lift upeetancy is tilt shorte.t is t~attd is tht "designated btnenei,ry" and that btnendary's txptctaney I, utiliztd in dotermining lilt period of distribution. ThUf, if in nntl"ll UI irrtYOQbl. tTU$t, an income interest WiIS prOYided Mr the SPOUit of Ihe IRA owner under the terms « a fllllily trust. all 01 tm btnefi· ciarits of tlw: irrtVOCllble trusl. includ· ing the nam ed .pouu .... ould b. "designated beneficiliries" for purposes of Ihe minimum distribut ion ruin; ~r. for purpo»u of determining tho distribution prriod. the "dtiigNtnl beneficiary· ... ith the sho rust life upeetlncy would be the "designated
irTf'VO(Q/JI~
0'0<",(,
''''''''.$S
btn~ficiary:
A iteond opt ion or alternative that may bt availablt to the tsll.t. planner and lRA....."..r incilldes .Jbblishi"ll"" irm.:JQbl. trust substantially tho same as tilt irrt\'OQble trust diKtwtd.,.,. =tpt for the SpouK·, income inte~sl. Undtr this alttmativt. the IRA owner's child or ehildrtn. u tht ease nuy be. would be tilt desigNt..! beneficiary or beneficiarin.. This alttmatM allows for In Uhnded payollt period fo r tht owner's IRA (Lt .. ~ on tho owntr's chik!', life upectancy). bul would not. givt the spou.e the income interest a,-aiTab le under tho: fint altemativt di.· cussed abow.
THt: A1.A8A11A LAWYER
COftelu . 1on Btcauw of the widt 11M of IRAJ in rdirtmHlt planni"ll md ullimottly in an individu.al·s estatt pbn. it il impOrUnt to understand and rtcognize tne effect of tho minimum distribution ~ui remHlts to the owner o4'the IRA md lilt inlerpliy of thne rules dllri"ll and after the life· tirrc« the IRA owner. 8millsoe of tilt pOtential COTI5f1IUf"TICU 10 not only the IRA owner bul to Ihe o ... nu· . utat. plan. any fir.meilil and estate planning conducted .... ith i liv;ng client and any problte and .. \.lte soeNi«S ~ndtred 00 behalf of .. decustd client should be undtrtalttn wilh u.lltion .nd with lho ~ of an attorney whoit pl'<llCtiu rOutlntly ineorpout., ntatt and tal pianni"ll advice. • ENDNOTES , I fI C I 008(.~ T,_ "-II 11 __ 2 2 I RC f oOOI(I>k 1. . . 3 l AC " _' 2111
"-II f 1 0(I8.3J3)
• """"'cI _
_ ................ 50 ""'*"'_on..._..--on .. _ .... _ _ . . ",..,.,."" - - " ' <IoSIl'C>.aIon
lrom on ftA ..-.:! lI"4 ...,...,. .:w.tty dil· ~_
n.. _ _ ....... _ '" w
I.AC §4!ll'
s.v.c.. _
~
' " """".. _ _ fn;m. r I 1 _ onr:j . . _ _ •
IIrIr..,.;t _
""'" Ie c:crnoct
. . ....."" I.AC fOltl1"'1<;1)
•i""~:~...?;'~·~'~·;':·~_;..~o1ce:~:._~,,=
• III J.:m NG ll r'H
c. "'"" c-
5171Jroo1.....,d
\'.a.
I205l $m.3155
II U1\'T 5 VI Ll." .\J..S-W~C-
7500 M.....m..II\.y.• S.W. (a'I5) 88 ]-8133
JA."UARY 1995 / 23
~
~
~ ~
Q'\ ~
Iiiiiil i=iiI
~
~ ~
~ t;;
:;] < == :i -<
fALL 1994 AO"ITTEES \"lIItn. UShrwnkdf
I.mes Tomliruon C.rr I,ff~ 8)T(M'I carr
I....... Eo;'nut f1tt"",I,. Juli/:( Su2anJ>oo fl<min;
lolln lI"osIty Adorno, I"~ IbdIord M,l.,M Adorr4 I.oura! ew.y ~r
Clinton C"""""'II Cartn ~odIMl.I.nIhorti Catobno Robttt PtUr CoU,n. III
105<9h lhomos Flood Ct«ge DruO')' fIawon
~>chMl
Richord Lot c~
o.v.d AI><Ionon
s.-. R._ Cullon Andtnon
Sholli< RobIn Cho"''''
Oonold Ii .. lh Andreu
Lot Ei<btlbt,*, Childs
"",llop Scott Arnston MoO')' """,,goret K.ndall Boilty EI,.. btth llruruon Boird
Edword R.,..mond Chrilh.n
Donald llou il>kor.i •. C~,l<t St""n llall Rml Robtruon &tO$ ~
Iiyit 8<ach
oa...id l.ffrfY IIuonl Paul Ltl'>ll< 1IKl<rnm. I" AmI<> Ltfll$t I'I:I!>< 8<11.,*, l'inc.nt And,ow 8<lIum
l.orUto Chfton LtRoy Alan Cobb John ""illip Cobi< I....... Dan .. 1Coch,.., John Chart.. CoI ...... n htncilAnn York C<Imtr Louis lIunt •• COIT"4'ton. Ir, Da>id p"w Condon
"" """ ""'
EorI thorrw rom.. Tho"'!' .'Wi< Ford
.... 'choel R..... rt f........u, EmilF I>iMIrI< V.uglrn fTOOC 1 _ Erik Contry ~I"rk
Monroe GiMon Sam ... lllou>lon GivtwI F.Ii...to.1h Carol GoctI,.. •'laurico AI<:<a.ndc, GoId>mith lI"i""" frankin C... n lAo Dion<lI"ill ...... C...... Anno Ch.",ion C...u..m Kyla lortitJ (rolf Trocy Lynn Srnng CUICt
Ivan Bruct Coo!><.
EG..">rd A!.hlty I-l<>dlty
1'ItN)"IILooli. lItm'I<,n
Plotri<k Cha,t.. Coo\l<,
C~r\O$
Kimbt,1y An", lit"", ..
PlUllip Dal, Corlt». Ir.
M,chM:18oj1 .. 8.I I,ntUl.,.
Di."" Eh.moth lIuh. Cmol.,. Rir~rd Elde, Crum Cregory AugUllw !>.>t!il.n
\1"100'" Ptrry Iioll Chorlu Ktlth lIamihoo ~.id lI.milton lI"fbi" Chorl.. AndeI">OllIt.,din
l.fI"l' Patrick Ilo)Id r .. nk C.nnack lIou.,.n. III Eli.moth KatiO<,;", Br>n",n kosoph TroCt.r
BnIht,
Mario<! R01 8""",,11
DoroIhy Carol Daill,
Angelo Lti,. Danitl l'iilliml Jonathan Dan,,1 Ktlly Lriah G.>llopo o.v.do.on Patrick Cbrl>IOIIhn o.v.do.on
\1",11""" IltIlJoOffl"l 8r~.r John Cordon Br«k Moehotl Dt.. k Br«k f.licil. Marshu BI"IXII<l Dwayno Lomo, BfO'O"n IA .. I.",iaan II"",,, MaO')'.F.. nk BfO'O"n
Artur c.n..t ... Da>... Johnny BIUCt om. Ang<1o Umillo IIo<Imood
1'1.1.... Ilion"" Iluteho"", BfO'O"n
Di .... Lt. Do.huo
Scott Alton Browni"" C~rl .. 0an;,18ryant Loleo Clifton Rurlot Don"" Mi<btilt c....., Bur\ooon Robtrt Onto Burton SuI lOO<ph C<lIIoharo M.hnda Iio)I< ~ Dan;,1 Scott Campbrll Sarah )..., Carlucci Carhsl. r.igo McCO\f Carpont" ColI«n Klonari. Ca"
TIlE AlABAMA U\\VY"ER
""'"
Scott Eug.", 0.""", Raymond Todd Do,rirk Wi lHam Daniol Di ll ("goO')' Low"n,,, Doody Shoron Kay Dowi.>t Tirrothy ~ Drummond John T"""""'" Dulca litginia Lt,gI! MattOJ o...Lonty Dor\aId Edw>nl ~ B.."", eo ... Ety
KMen ALu", [",ntl R..... 11 Curry f">.jreioth K,rby Dtt f."" DaVId 1.0"",,,,,. Faulk", •• Ir.
Bri,.tman Ho.gIo •• III
( .... ndolyn o.n, .. lIo"i. Su.cy Lyn Pill ... n Il<>rrio I,nni'" Anno IIort \I'ad< I.tM ~ Sotl '-'" iWunon lI,mo ~ fJ»-.llIartman Owtn Dun It.rIZO!I Will""" Tod<lli>rwl' \R." Ilopki .... Hayden Chri ... I... ,g!> II>yeo KMn Krn""th l!a)~ r.M)' Ih>n", 1Iay> C~.I ..
Port.. 1l.1ms.lr. EII,n Eh..o.th Ilondonon
Shoilo 10 Ikn<lri<ks I!>n4aII Scott lI.trick I'TO$ton Lot II id<> lamu Raymond lI.gdon Kum Lrn lIill","" \\'indy Ang<b lIillman n.o.r... _ HirSch Ed.... rd Cory 1Iw.. DaVId I...... Ilol:><ly. I,.
K.IH.lo 1l0ll""
Ploul.'I>ou lIol<t'in Bony Rood lIoh
Em,1y Elon IIomsby JolIn thorrw lIMon \I,ll...., lIonry lluffrIWI. III
Dav>d AIoto II""'" I...... Wt<loyll~ Tod<l Elbrrt II~ II~. Tumo.
11"11 Trent N",hoison Caddi. lIuli R,to Ltoo.a Ilullttt .'1olody L1nn lIurrll• I.ff~
Lot lngrom
.....1 SolIt 1.$<""''11 "'rry But.. I;w:i<oon. III "'MIi<, Ruth I...... \'iruon \I,1oon hyt Chnotop/lt, Raymond IIt,kuJohr4on Chri.lor/>tr ScoIt lohruon Edw>nl MrF>.rl>nd Johmon l<rrl' Chadwick lohruon Lon IoU I,rki ... lohnson Stu.ort v.t .. lohruon lI0b0rt fook' lohnston. Ir. Ronald AI.und", lohnsroo. 1,_ Da"'" A!.hlty JOn<> \"oeki Sm,th I""",rs K>thtyn Blrm I"",,,,",, loIary I(oy Ktllty foot .. Dou;Iw lit)' Ang<1o Lool ... W.lko, K,n'b1"O<lllll Spooc., Alan K",d."""" J_ph Donald King Troy II ... " King Conley W~I"'n Knott lack wO')' KO<oI>hI<i R..... n 105<9h Landry. III Luc'UI Mlrt.11t I.ayf.oW. III SUfWn Paul Wr> .' 1_IA..u...r1..<bnul [Ii.abrth [",!)on IAndlty 0an ..11.oYon Undoty. "I...... AIoto Lopscomb Ztbulon Ptyton Litll. Jonathon Sbkt l.owe I,/.\'ott, II ...... Ly ... Br""",
JANUARI' 19951 2S
BLok. ALon .'Iad ...... GuWn 1Wi'lU<1)lld,n
""""'""
MId,.,.
",I<)- Tun...n
Frn>< .. R.bta.o Chompion
G.. gory 1.<. Schock Jouph T.. n. Sco(,.1d
"""ph R.... Tu ..... n
Anna C.thryn Northingt<>n
"".
E",1yn R..... Moibon Jam.. Do, ..... ~ Rrid So""", ... Monloy
!Utbtri". CLu .. O'_n
Timothy John Stgt.. J....... An"",, Shonds
iI<l(t' W_ \"m<,
loh""..1 Bruc. Odom Kim IIoniti. 01;"'"
~ Ann SIlo","1
Undo ShtwonIllorabon
DavMI Alan Moann J.rroIyn 1.uvom< Morlm
Mory Elizobtth OI .. n All;"'" I.Qw Q·N ... ,
J....... lb.lph Muon. Jr_
DoVld Moutw-.' o......... t Jonan ... Lt< o..,ng.
SUn l),al, ~"rSOn i'>ull).avid Mothtny R.ndall Gary Mothtws J.lf~
Poul 101'"10 BndlryCuni. MortCngory SnUM i'kCam 0".,. wit McColl, III Piltnck SO .... n .'o\<C.lmon KUnbtrly Ann /okCor'In<lI K.,ty Ashton M<Cnfl Amy
s.u..n I'orttnbtrry
M<lnl)"'t Ii"th .'1,ehaol McK.t"1l1
Jamu Doro<rn.n McLaughlin J,mmy Cont McLaughlin Chri.ty Ruth MtCH: ILonJ ,'1,100;. Ann M.ad> AngoLo Ornut Mtddt .. \!irgin" P",ktr M.ilU
DdIr>. Suan M,IIt. MUIr< Robtrl Conlon .'Itlh.,n. Jr. Iltid> Floth :.Irytr 0...,. Lawson M>ddltnw II ....... \\Ilion .'01,11.. Ktith 51 ..... " M,lIor ThonIas ~ttIlewM'II .. William J. ,'I,ll.. Rrooi<> I%".n M,lIing Roborll..a'" .'1,nor J>cq"'li .... Lt< l.yon M,xon lIttsy Lou .'I.onljlOmtry Mlou .... n ELo, .... Dav.$ MOO<t Lori ~ Btyant .~
Let Thonw Ozmin' A1lyson La"dt. NooliU Ptrkinoon 0.. An ... PhiIIL~ 11'01... Dorr,II PhjllLPI John Charles Piouo
:.I_,I< Hoi"" SIlorli DavMI ThonIas Show
O;r,m
Karla Ann Shiwrs ChrUt\' o.ann< Andt""" S,mpson I.>l)on", N;col< Sippiol And, ..... M3rk Ski..
Dov'.d Chn'on Ski""'r Sunny ila>Il1 Srn.IIIwood I>ilnn>. Smith
John Scott Pitru Brion Scott PIon, loIochotl AIon Pol,
Jotl Pitre. Smith. Jr. Lis> M"""11t Smith Morey t.vnn Smith RuoN Chri>l, ... Smith
MId .... S}-'Ma Pimnlh Popt
DavMI J.\orn< Sobell
EliDbtth Morlln 1'ort.r John Robon
Alltn Or~ SO ..... rI Jouph Gordoo SO.,.,.rI. Jr.
Roborl A1Lon Pric. S,ocry DIll. l'I'ict
Roborl
~
Pot,.,
David Thoma. f\o<~"1 Jo".,.. Thomas Pugh Karm J", Pugh Frtdtric Albtrl l'tlnoom Morn; AImt Ittagort Shilp> Sun10 Roddy
EI,ubtth Rmty Dubo; Rehm
Brion AIltn Itido Mor<il Ctnt Jones R,tch Ashley AM 11.01. Ilivt. WHI .. m Bradford Roo",. I •. J.",.. H.,,-old Robtrll. Jr. E<tvo~n!
t.uckttt Robi""",. II
/.."'. St ..... n Rob,noon Ricll.>n! I'>ul R.....o Br<t E...... Rudest.1 Sdt f.bI:>odlll'tiJt( RuIhr
B)~rs
St ...art
To"", .. ~n ... tt. Stid""m
liiltTmruonTum..
\',,l'I0I'I
I.. u.. n EI'uboth II""", George TfO')' I'nnklin Wolk",Jr. John 101.11 W.'k" S!>tn.:.. U.. nt 1V""'r RO<QoI~ C"",I'$ \" '11, Jr. I~ .. )", 1I'.,r,q. Robon Al.hl<)- lI'.bb .'o\ ;"hoel Lt< W,,,nons Ruben L<oo>n! " '.i.... r F.hubt,h Dolt Wtlch \\111"", Snl lI"hotloy MoulIro< lI-otIt WIlli. Jonotlwl 50th Cho .... \\"""",n Horold CLork 1I""m"., Jr. ~:II.n I,', ..",.
Lou,,,
J",I Pittman lIillio"" ~ry Eliubtth Will i.""
St.phen Chri.toph" Stili M.rita II,,,,." SO"",'I .-\loysI ... Edwin SO ....n! i.111 Joson Ashton Stuckry Don,,! Jouph SUIl ..... n
11.. 100 f'.."kW,nn,1I1
Ibthon! C...,-.on SulIiv;ln
Cho ..... Porke, 1I'on! " 'ooIry
Ann Eliubtth Stirn..... RondoII Scott Suo.!kind
T.n n.... l'anot)'
K.n .... th Jot "0I1On. Jr. Rollin Lt< lI~nd""m · lone,
Thomas Ro}' WWqncrM .'r;ronk Doniol Wood, Jr.
J,."., Ednrd YtiUlis
lennifer Fwc ~n Ruth AnntII< Tolley !.tonic! John T....... iko lohn Lance Tat. K.I I, Taylo. Clint Chri,tQphe.lb;Hnos So ... Th<o PhillipoThom;uon Ashloy N.1son Thotnpuon
n,,,,,,
John Km",th Thompoon T........ t.t. Thompoon
Sltrh<n Doui! .. Apol,n.ky
"l't\omld J~y Ilue""""" Ald.i.n", 1',1,,,,, .. Z.na C.ll i.... C... ,g [)wid o.hlt IIntht. Coroillom"", R",honl Rudolph Kltmm ChorlnAn#1o S...,,,,. II
Rodnry Lane Mou
,'Iork 11'.,.... SobtI.J" J...,.. lnnutl Sondt .... 11 Stephtn Scott Sargent
J,rr<n)' K<vin Moulton
Itorry 'imn, SOU .....tlll.
C&nit Jun CoIdoby ToIbtrl Chriolophtr It'ra}-' Toml,n DavMI Alitn TornIL""",
,""'" flynn Maz,!\QO
B"",k Grody Mu'l'l'ry
Julio Suunnt Schorl......'lI SIK<)' Lt< Schtroc:k
TI"O<)I """"'the. Tow.s:o,nt _rty Lynn Gain.. T"",.. ry
Cha .... F...nklln Ibpt.~J.I.orkR ..... 1I ~ Lynn SlOYtnoon [ltborah Orn;" Tillmon
T" ... I,)'11" N;choIIOn
1.>"... MQrrioon Schi.1t
11.,.... Franc.. Toui
I"'i l'i!' Ma>;wtll I\'hi(tht,)d
.Iootph Anthony Moms Mlorpm M.hlN Morton
2& / JANUARY 1995
..... rIhoAdritmltT..mry
DowJ Com<l"" Point>. Jr.
nu: Al.ABANA lAWYER
lAWYERS -IN THEReid Hamilton Harbin 11994) and Robin H, Harbin (1967) (adm iuce and
FAMILY
JOhn W. Low" (1970) and)ollathan Blake Lowe ( 1994) (lilthe!' md .ldmin..,)
f~ll,.r)
])a"ld II. Hal'den ( 1994), Walt .. Hay· den, Ul (1987) and )011 ItaJ'den ( 1990) (o<Imln.., and brothel'S)
Kelly A. McGriff (1994) and Chari", M. T. s.awyer, II (1954) (.dmin.., and romln)
Dougla, Key ( 1994) and ])ou · gla, L. Key (1974) (.dmlnce and fa,her)
Rolwort II. St ewart ( 1994) and )osel'h G, S' .....'an (1966) (admllt..,and fa,her )
Mary M arga "'t t.:cndall !laBey (1994) and Judge Rolwort G. Kendall ( 1963) (admin.., and falher)
John C, !'ia7.l3 (1994 ) and Linwood IIragdn ( 1991 ) (.dmine. and rou,ln)
Rick David",n (1m) and Kelly Davld,on (1994) (husband and wlf. .dmlttee<)
H. Hale, ' •. (1 978) (.dmln"" .nd
Lile> C. lIurk" (1994) and Claud Burke (1968) (admlnce and fa,her)
.'o<t.,
THE AlABAMA lAWYER
A'hley lIale Rh'cs (1994) and Oscar
falher)
JA1,UARY 1995 / 21
J
LAWYERS -IN THESunny Smallwood ( 1994) and Ju<lge T. M. Small,..<XKl.Jr. ( 1%3) (.<lmlne.. and father)
FAMILY
"elli Ilogu". Mauro ( 1994) an d Jeff... )' I'. Mauro ( 1994) (wife and hll\l)and
~
1I"'"el1 G. Ely ( 1994) and Kathryn Jun e","n ELy ( 1994) (hu,l)and and wife .dml<l=)
Jocl S. I>cnbeq: ( 1994 ). Barl (i. MIlIN ( 1987) ""d Chad,-, I'. Mille, (1960) (admltt('(', mOlher and >lepfa'he')
John W. "dam.'. J r. (1994) and Tori l. "damHlurk, ( 1990) (adm in.., and (ou,in)
admiuees)
[),,,"k1./clfrry llealrd (1 99-1). -'"""'" Ilo/:ler1 Ilcaird ( 1979). lIugh Ile"dlrd ( 1959) and Sam L SuU;"·:m.J,. ( 1990) (admith'O.cous1n. uncIo;md ('OI,,;n)
oa"k"lJ""'JlI' S.dUvan ( 199-1). \\"l UlamJ. Sulli .... " .)r. (i 9-t9) and \\"dl;',,,, J. Sullj· ,,,,n, ILl (197.'» (a<lmlne<. r.the, and brothe,)
l.. Mo"t~ortt"ry ( 1994) a n<l Robert MOIlI~omcry (1911.2) (admit'.., and broIhe.)
" are" J. Pugh ( 1994) and Gaile Pugh
Ilrooks I~tman Milling (1994) and Judgellert W. Milling.Jr. (1971) (admlll('(' and fath<'f)
Frroerk Ransom ( 1994) and J udge Ralph I). Cook ( 1%8) (admi!!('\' and father·ln·lawl
Gmno n ( 19M) (admltt.., ."d slsterl
28 1JANUAHY 1995
Ile" r
TIlE AI.AIlAMA IJ\WYER
LAWYERS -IN THEJ""I 1'. ~11lUh, J r. ( 1994) an d Mallrr D, S", Uh ( 19S2) (adrnln"" and ulld~)
FAMILY
" ".,,,..111 1)~lc Wel ch (1994) and
Jud!(c Sam W"kh ( 11176) (admltl"" and
t>,orh~')
I£lgh \1. nul. n or (1994) and Xo1I ])ul"""y ( 1993) (.dmlnet' .nd hu,wnd)
Jorrolyn I" M" "I,, (1994) and Gerald
Jaml . M . " "''''lOn ( 1994) ~nd James
M. Martin ( \991) (.<I'n1" .... "d b'othe')
K. Hr.l"ron ( 1993) (.dml" ..... "d huw.,,,d)
l.IoaJ . llrown ( 1m) and
Janl,- II" ~'-r C I~rk. (19851. ](ob(,rt
M"r~ Sabel (1994) ~"d M, Wayne Sat.. 1( I %II) (admU t"" .nd faU,er)
r",,,~u,, I. Brow" 119118) (Id rnlllo.'e and hUsWnd)
'-o,ler J"hn' IO"_ J r. ( 1 99~ ) .Ild John
Unk"r ( I% 7)(moth~ •. admluee ~nd ,,,,d ~)
FA LL 1994 HAR EXAM STATISTICS OF INTE REST
C h id Ju"k~ Sonn y Hom,"y ( 1?60). fn,l1y It. Nd",n ( 1994) and Ern""
Oay'on Hon""y. J r. (l11l1a) (falher. .dmjltO!e ."d I>rott""1
THE ALABAMA LAIWU!
Kumber sitting for CXJm .................... , , ,. , •.. 502 Number ~fllfled \0 Strprem~ Coul! of Alabama ......... 357 Ccrtilk.,ion rJr •...................... _.. " ....... 71 percem Ccrtiflcatlon percentages: Unlver~lty of Alabama School of taw ................94 percen! Cumberland School of Law .. . . . . .. . .....•.•... 87 pef(ent JUrndngh.m School of La ....· ............. _. . .... 33 percen t Jones School of Law .... _. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. .4 2 percent )l.1iI..., CoUegl- of Law ..,' , ........... ,',." ....... .4percenl
JANUARY 1995 / 29
OPPORTUNITIES The fallowing in-slate programs hove been opprot'f!d for credit by the Alabama Mondatory CLE Commission. Howwu. infQnnotion is ovoilable free of charge on over 4,500 opprf)t'l!d programs lIotjoT/wide
identified by locution, date, or speciality area. COI/tuct the MetE Commission offlce at (334) 269-1515,
or 1-800-354-6154. and a complete CLE calendar wilf be mailed to you. JANUARY 10 Tuesday
ACCOUNTINC I' RACTICE Bi rmingham
20 FriO., SOCIAL SECURITY LAW Birmingham. ~Itdieal Forum Building National Busine.. lnstitute. 1m;. Credits: 6.0 CO$I: $138 (715) &35-8525
Lonnan Business Center,lnc. Credits, 3.8 COSI: $120 (715) 833-3940 12 Thursday
OSHA CO.\lPLlA.\'CE UPDATE I N ALABA."lA
Binningham, Ramada Inn Airport National BU$iness Institute. Inc. Credits: 6.0 Cost: $138
27 Frida, I'.'UIt SII'.'G HO.I1E LAW Birmingham. ~l edical Forum lIuilding Cumberland Institute lor CLE Credits: 6.0 (800) 88S-7454
OSIIA CO.\lPLIfu\,C E UPDATE IN AIABA.'IIA Huntsvi lle. ~'arri(}(t
National Business InstitUle.lnc. Credits: 6.0
FEBRUARY 3 Frida, SOLO AI" !) S.IIALL FIIt,ll SUCCESS Birmingham. Pickwick Centtt Cumberland In~titute lorCLE Credits: 3.1 (800) 88S-7454
Cost $138
(7151835·8525 19 Thursday jOI~'T
CONFEREI'CE OF ALA BAI'IA STATE BAR AI'O CIRCUIT A.>;O tlISTRICT JUDGE S ASSOCIATION Montgomery Alabama Judicial Collt~. Alabama State liar Credits: 6.0 13341242·0300 IIOWTO PROTE CT SECURED 11'o'TER t;STS IN M S KIt UPTCV Birmingham. Ramada Inn AirpOrt National Bli'lin... Institute. Inc. Credits: 6.0 Cost: $138 ( 1 15~ &35·8525
30 I JANUARY 1995
INJURIE S IN TilE WORKPLACE 1:\' ALABA.'IA Mobile, Adam's Mark HOlel National Business Institute. Inc . Cost: $138 Crroits: 6,0 (715) 835-8525 10 Friday INJURIES IN TIlE WORKPLACE IN ALARA.'IA Montgomery. ~\adison Ilotel I'.'ational Bli'lin. .. In.titule, Inc. Credits : 6.0 Cost: $138
1715) &35·8525
(715) 835·8525
13 Frida,
9 Thursday
7 Tuesda, " ....\BI\.'IA ELDER LAW Mobil., Ramada R..ort & Coni_renee Center National Bli'line.. lnstitute. Inc. Credits: 6.0 CO$t; $138 1715) &35-8525
8 Wednesda, ALA8AMA ELD ER LAW MOlltgomuy, Madison Hotel Notional 8usin_.. Institute. Inc . Credits: 6.0 Cost SI38
(715) 835-8525
17 Frida, OBJECTIONS I\T TRIAI/IIOW TO !)EAl \\'tTlI TIl E DlH' JCULT LAWYER Birmingham. M_dical Forum Building Cumberland Institute for CLE (800)888·7454
23 Thursds, WORKER S' Cml PEI'SA1I0 N IN ALARM",A Birmingham Lorman Business Ct nter. Inc. Credits: 6.0
(115) 833·394(l 24 Frida, 1tA."DLlXG DUI CAS ES 8irmingham, \\'ynhy HOlel Cumberland tnstiMe lor CLE (800)888·1454
CPAs are ri t on the money
ach year, the tar. laws become
!l'lOI'e
complex. And the penalties for
mistakes become more costly. ThaI's why it's essential 10 have a member of the Alabama Society of Cer1ified Public Accountants ;;;;:;;,. all your bu siness and individual 1M needs. To belong to the Alabama Society of CPAs, our members have 10 maintain a high level of education \0 Slay knowledgeable in the lITeas of corpo::>r.lte and individual lax planning and preparation. as well as virtually all other aspects of accounting. We provide: our members wilh Ille resources to slay informed about the latcst tax laws and regulations.
Our membership is limited 10 ePAs who meet high standards for qual it)' practice. education and professional ethics. So when you hire a CPA who is a member of lhoe Alabama Society of CPAs, you can be sure: )'oo're geHing someone woo is right on tlie money. Anyone else could end up costing you
more than just frustration.
nlE ALABA.'IA LAWYER
JA."IlARY 1995 / 31
Remarks By Retired Justice Oscar W. Adams, Jr. OPENING OF COURT CEREMONY 1994-95 TERM OCTOBER 3, 1994
MAY IT PLEASE THE COURTS . Chief JU$lic~. Justices of the
~lr.
Sup~me
Court. Judge. of the Courts of Ap~~ls, members of the clergy. members of the Alabama State !:Iar. members of the
staffs of the courts. honored guests. [am oxlremely honored In haw been
invited to give the opening of court and
memorial address after only II months off the bench. At the QlK'ning of ,(>Urt eN,mollY last yea r. ! sal right there ",hue Justice Houston sits today.! wish
I could truthfu lly say that I do not miss the courl. but r do-the stimulating
.rguments of general conIne" ••. ye'. even the heated arguments nf general conference- the court's junkets 10 rar flung place. in Alabama. ,iti", large and small-bringing the court to the people. Bull did nol retire in the f,rst place because I disliked the wurk that I was doing. I r<1ired be<au.., after 33 yea .. of private practice and 13 years On the bench. 1 thought il was lime to Surren· der Ihe mantle to a younger person. Evel')' good soldier kll(M·s lher. CQIl"Ie$ a lime to withdraw from Ihe foring line. I have watched Justice Cook·. work On Ihe court and in my opinion Governor Folsom mad~ an outslanding appoint_ m~nt.
Oclober 3ht of lasl
~ar
was my lime
10 retire from Ihe firing line- to give
myself a chance to reneet- maybe to consider a Ihird career_lo wrile a book and perhaps to trace !tl)l ancestl'}' as far back as Haley did in Roots .
32 1 JANUARY 1995
I mention my 47 ·~ar love affair with the law betau.., what I am going to say today is ntr."",ly per5Onal-as per$On· .1 as the deaths of the 75 lives "'~ cele· brate today were to their families. In the I I montlu; that I ha,.. been off the bench. I have had lime for renedion on our profeuion and the judicial'}' rel'live to other institutions in this countl'}'. I see storm clouds On the horizon and th ey have been gathering for some time. Having lived as long as I haw. I per_ sonally knew more than half of those whose lives we celebra t e today. Although the list of deceased· attorneys is diverse- Ihe old. the young. the black. the white. the male. the femal e. th, rich. the poor- there are two things they had in common with lhe rest of US-il lo'~ for the law and a love for this country that all"".. d a judicial system such as ours to exist-ilnd we all resent any encroachment by other branches government on the judicial branch. lVe also haw another thing in eommon. We all took a solemn oath to demean ourselves as attorneys accord· ing to the best of OI.lr learning and abili · ty. and wi t h all g(}Qd fidelity. to the courts as well as to the client. swore that we would use no falsehood or delay any person·, cause for lucre or malice. and that "''' wOl.lld support the Consti· tution of the State of Alabama and of the United Stat.. SO long as " .. eontin· lied al; citizens thereof. SO help uS God.
or
or
I wish I CQIlld say a wurd about all our dec~as.ed brothe.. and sisters. but time will nolpermit. Some stand out so indelibly in my mind that I pause to .. member thorn. JM Ikrnard Wal;. cir· cuit judge in Birmingham handling divorce matten. He promised Anne· Marie that if she brought her divorce ease to him. he wuuld put mt in jail. Don·\ worry. Joe. Anne · Marie won ·t have to bring me to court. Anne tte Clark Dodd. Annette. Janie·s and my friend. taught at Cumberland wilh Janie and Wal; one of the s",~etest people I had ever met. I remember her for wanting e\"t'1'}' ticket that I could get for her for lhe Alabam. f(}Qtball gamts. Harry Camhle. Harry Camble was one of my bar examine .. and was always known to give a fair exam . He. along with Sam Hobbs. paved the way for me \0 be the forst black to speak to a Rotal'}' Club in Selma. Alabama. James Russell HcElrOl'. As a t«nager. I wuuld run up to his courtroom and listen to him tl'}' ca..,s. Sometimes he wuuld try a eas, with hi. hat on. He said lit did this to keep his bald head warm. He was a friend of my father·s. He "·as Mr. Evi. dence in Alabama. Conn ie lI'alter Par· son. a black la~r and member of my church. He had justly earned the repu· tation of being an astute criminal lawyer when he was cut down at the )'Qung age of 48 . miu)'<lu Connie. Willard Livingston. son of a chief justice of this court. J. Ed Li,·ingston.
w,·n
THE .lli\BAMA LAWYER
Willard's !<In is married to Our deputy clerk, Louise Livingston. Ben A. tngel. The last time I saw Ben he was in one boat and I was in another. fishing in the Gu lf of Me~ico a few miles from Nassau. Don·t let th~ big ones get away. Ben. \I'h~n I was 12 ~'ears old, after first going through the cowboy and Indian stage. I knew for Sure that I wanted to be lawyer. It had always been my fath~r·s ambition and he probably cle-.o· erly instilled it in me. Every chance J got. I would go dO\'o·n to the Jefferson County Courthouse and sit in Judg~ Mc!::lroy's court and o ther judgu' courts and listen to the la~rs trying c.,e., and particu larly th~ir cl o,ing arguments to the jury. Some lawyers had d«p. powerful voice, and 1 would h... those voi"" ringing <k:tv>.., the cor· ridors of the courthou~. I visualized myself doing the same thing and you know I really did 00 that on rrony occasions after I pa$Sf'd the bar. n was pretty hard for a black kid in 1936 to believe that he could be a lawyer in the State of Alabama. ~ly grandmoth · er, whom I admired. discouraged me and said. "lfyou ever got to be a la~~r, you couldn·t make any money because la~ring was a whit. man·s business. You should study to b. a doctor. " I worked in steel plant and my gang told me that. "Ain't no Negro gonna be no lawyer." And they u,ed to call me a "lawyer" os a job. Sut I had a ,ecrot weapon, the Constitution of the Unit.d Slates and I waS banking on that sec· tion that said that "no person shall be denied the right to life. liberty, or property without due process of law. no' be denied the equal protection of the laws ." Well, you know I got to be a la~.. r, but I did even more. I nNt' in my wildest dream> ever thoUght thai I would take a seat on the highest court of this 'tate, but tholt is what Armrica is all about. The American dr~am is that if you work hard and study hard. you should be able to go os far as your talent will carry yml. My life is a statement of that fact. Sut 50 much fo r the past. We all know what I did and wholt the men and wOmen whose liv ....... cel~bra!o did. but what about Our profession and OUr independent judiciary in the future? In order to am..... r tholt qu ..tion, ..... have to come to grips wilh several fundaTHE ALASAMA LAWYER
mental principl~s. I'irstly. America·s success is inextricably tied up in a properly per/onning judiciary os envi,ioned by the founding fathers when they wrote our Constitution. Secondly, the judicial branch of government is the country's most fragile branch and has vitality only if respected by the people. It w....cognized OS such al th~ time of the framing of the Constitution and this condilion has not changed even to thi5 day. One reason this is!<l is because we have no army or navy to enforce Our orden. Thirdly, lhe judiciary frequently comes under aUark bocaust in per/onning its historic role of protecting the weak, the minorities, and the defenseless, it collid.s with the interests of the rich and powerful. fourthly. the media. all too frequently. fails to eotol the virtues of courts and in on their perce;\'td shortcomings. Fifthly , it was true at the tirm of the founding of this country, and it is true today. that many people distrust power in the hands of the people, and particularly the JIO"o·U oflhe people siuing on ajury. Although this pOwer has survived intact since it w...... on in !2!5 at Runnymede. ~:ng· land. many still distrust it. It takes courage for a judge to perform his or her duties under the Consti . tution. However. we have had many Alabama judges who ha,-e had that kind of courage. Many do not know that an Alabama judge in 1933. Judge James E""·ard Horton, Sr .. invalidated a con· viction in the first Scottsboro trial on the basis of insufficient evidence, This was the case where nine black boys .....,r. arrosted for the rape of two .... hite women in a gondola ca r nur Painl Rock. Alabama, One prosecuting wil · nos:! later admitted she had lied about the boys. Judge Horton ...... told by the attorney general 's office that h. would be defeated at the polls if he did so and hi. rrspan.., w... "What h.. tholt got to do with lhe case?" At f,rst he got prai.., from the Alabama press and then in the face of mass community criticism, the press !<lur.d on Judg. Horton. n tool< a decade bolore the appeals courts could come to the same conclusion that Judge Horton did- all that time the Scottsboro boys Imgui.hed in jail for a crime tiltl' did not commit. As predict· ed, Judge Horton was dduted at the poll •. It took courage for him 10 do
""roe'
'""hat he did. but he performed a judicial respolI$ibility_ In 1963, a petition was fi led with another Alabama judge. Judge Walter C.win. right after h. was appointed to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, to stay .. desegregalion of the schoo l. because of the bombings and violence that erupted in the ....ake of the desegre· gation order. He wrote: "The howling winds of hat. and p,"judice alway, make it difficult to he.r th~ '"\IietS of the humble. the just. the fair. the .... i..,. the reasonable. and the prudent. We must not permit their voices to be silenced by tho.., who incite mob via· lence. The best guarantee of civil peace is adherenc e to, and respect for. the law.'" II took courage for Judge Gewin to 00 ",hat he did. bul he performed a judicial responsibility. \I'hile I was on the court .....e struck dmo..., a provision of th~ Tort Reform Act thai limited punitive darna#! 10 $250. 000 in every care. no matter how egregious the conduct. as offensive to Alabamians· constitutional right to trial by jury. In other ""\Ird!, if the wrong to one plaintiff justifi.d a punitiw damage ~ward of S250.000 and the wrong to another plaintiff in another case justi· fied an award of one million dOllars. each must get no more than S25O.000. A just ification for thi s i, that it will bring busine.. to Alabama. Thi' was clearl~ a violation of the right to a trial by jury because traditionally courts. as os juries, decide cases on a case ·byca.. methO<l. This i. what equal and e,,"CI justice is all about. Sut ..... have been e~coriated by the rmdia and otherwi .. for our decision. It took courage lor uS to do this. COlI$t itulional principles should not be sacrificed becaure they may be unpopular at a particular time. We hol,.. the great.. t court system in this country. The men and wornen who so,.,,·. il ar" m"n and women of both intellect and integrity. I can mak~ this statement because during the last thr« ~aT$ that I ""as on the court. I reT\-.. d on th~ American Bar Association·s molt important commission. Our job wallo hold publiC hearings in most 01 the major cities in American to detennine what , if anything. i. wrong with our legal system and the I'gll profession. Sut ",e cannot e ~pect these men and
"""II
JA.,",UARY 1995 133
wom>l'n to ~kt t~ hut. ,nd pul Ih~ir livu in ~rdy for righl. whtn ~ <.10 not sus~in and nurturt them in timts of crisis. How 100& Qn ~ conlinue to >t ..... lor I(M of tilt pn,lI'_ion whtn aU ~ get is I slllp in tlw bet from tho... wh o have tht mos t to gl;n from I strong Amrric.a? And it ttrb.inly is not lor tho monty. lltlt I firm in 1980 in which I ...·n making over 5100.000 a y~ar to a tah a job making 549.000 beQuse J knew lhal if I did nol W<e lilt Governor's offer. no black woul d ha,"~ been appOinted. At tach of our ABA nrarings we ~rt confronted by an organiution that QII~d itself H.A.t.T.. whkh stamis for lleip AboIislllAgoI TJ!rrmrI/I. Their staff wu wetl .du<ll.d and ~tI pr~~red. Their otgffIda was lhat lilt Itgal pn,lI'ess;on ...·u the only profusion Or Ir.~ that rqjulaln i(M11 and. therd_. tilt ~ CUlnot gel justitt. I uktd them whm <.10 lhey Ihink I. and i whole ~. monl 01 pWplt likt mo. would be if our Irtedom dt~ndtd on Ihe Legislalur. and Coogrus? They could not satisf.e· torHy .nl.... ~ r . I ptrsonally know that
whtn ~ /ail 10 aPllJy Iht principle. as "'as obYiously done in thr Rodney KillS c.lOH ill Los Angeles. Forlun~ttly. tht courts will not illow this. and " .. h.!.,'t
thtrt lift many other orgin;utions throughout Ihis county that suk to undtrmint the judidal sySlem. I <.10 not koow whert lhey tome from. but they Irt Illtrt. Arlolhor Ihing. The ABA and IfWIY 01 us haw bouil\l Inlo the !"rtmise ,hal tht public don nOl likt II .... yUS. I bel~ this is p~. If this " ... rt so ....'11}> illhert such a grtal fascinalioo wilh lawytrs and judgu in the O. J. Simp:SOfllrial? ~"urthermor.....'t ar. the only proftssion that has a whole teleyi · lion ch.!.nn.1 ~,"ot.d to it. I firmly believe that Americ. is Ih. gruttst nallon on urth b«iUH of the magic: of our Constitulion. Our grtalnl ttnsion Clmt in Iht 18601 .... h.n wt tngaged in the Ci";l War beaust our 10urM!in, flt~rl would not dul with tht iuuts of tht in.r.litnablt riil\li of slavtl in Ih. Constitution . tincoln thought that lilt Itnsions _re so \IUIt lhal. indted. I gowmmonl of tht peopit might I.il. Now. _ haw fix«l that. Whtre we get in trouble is ....hen ,,'t allow a w.lluing down of Coostitulion.}l prirn:iplel in 1M name 01 t~ ptdieocy. Or
btm abk to aVOId the violtnct that "'t ""'.. 5ftn in OIhtr countrits. We irt doilljj]lO ....11 in this country tNt "'t hiw ~trno,t Wttn oor liberties lor s~ttd-tM righl to a trial by jury. fmdom of $flteCh. ~rMltgt against sol/· incrimination. jop«dl' trill1. and 00 arM! on. TIlt prict of liberty i. ettrna l vigi lanct. Wt setm to forget that alttlough ...'t ar~ the ol~ul conltitutional d.moc· racy in the world. wt are still )'Ollng by old world sundards. We must not .11",,· OM JOI or tllli. to be taken from OUr Constitution. u~n ind courli SOt that doa not hlpprn. and this is why".. an und .. &tUc"k. Go>... rnm.Ilt by tht ptOplf is still Ml experiment. 11 is not jIt\ too IlIlt for it to f,i1. ThtrtfOl"l'. Itt us. from this <by forward. in th. rwnt of those ..... honor loday. dediQle Ou r· soMi to the proposition that oor consti. tutional govtmment of the peal'll •• by the pea~l r. ,nd for the pWple ..·iIl not ptrish from tht urth. •
UNTIL J\O\« Trill CTh1l¥.N1ES WERE ABOVf tS EASY 10 ffiVlI1\RE. llae drys. • lot of IitIe """'...... doim 10 be
r.........uy """"'" 0.. lOOoItm. wha!hey pnxIIOIt"'" . . . . nrioln!UlUltic:s"."", "'" a lr\II'_of finanoiaI-", ld r.:t.1hty"'" om ~ AI M~ v.u.yr.... ~ .. wthenecd for srandonized cbOms-poyirc... ~ . . . . ro. PIIo;~ ThaI's "fly .... asI:td 10 b< '*<I by $\andIrd ok Poor' .. w• ...... Ih~ an A+ - the t-qh:oIl1IIu., fro," S&P in the tille ;,wsoy IOdalc - aIonJ ..illl OU" affiliale ard <0uMero.-ri ...... Old Rep.dljic NotionaI 1ilie I"""""", Company. ,,"1>0 tttti,~ an A+ IIIIi"I for the strond 'jUt inl row. "'"" IIIOIher titleampony ro. their 1111 .... from $\andIrd & PIlor".. lflhty dorI', hiII"' ..... 1III; why. Then..,..1
M;w..wVlIloyr....
• • •
• ••
•
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TITLE •• INSURANCE COMPANY • 31S TOIfIbiaboe SI=t. p.o. IIw< 2428 Jadson.. />IS :19225·2428 (60I ) 969.m12
34 / JANUAHY 1995
(800)647·211~
(AllM SIfN)
THE ALABAMA LAwy}:R
L BILITY f
UND By Alex L. lIolllfoni. J r. and S I"'1'n Anthony Higgln,
.,,1.oductlon The numbrr of ~ujll ..Iltging IWlilit1 against munlci~li tin hlf lubsllnlialty inc.t<Ued ow. 1m IYSI sewnl )'tlln. A1t/1oulh VInous fKtors an be lIttributed 10 this rise in num· bus. it is appannt IIIiI li\illints. w..')'ItfS "lid jurors 11ft no Ionitr timid ...... plKi"llliMJility upon IoalllOWmmtnt. Gfntnlly. II penon pursuing I claim against" municipality hu two primary ~hidH of .tcowry. The first would be 10 pursue /I clvil rights claim based upon Tilk 42 01 thf Unittd SUits Codr, I ]983. and ill ,..,l>ttd .tatut~s. This article will not O>ddrt" tliat whid. of .tcowry. as fedenl cMI ,ighu law would require II lengthy artide for itself, Rlt~r, this article will address rWMry und .. tho Sf'Cond vehid •. that being liability agairut /I municipality based upon Alabama state law. Prior 10 1975. municipalities in Alabama tnjoytd 5(lV(reilln immunity from certain torts. Th. law placed a distinction upon whether or not tilt munkipality \al!.rtga#<I in I "govem_nLlI" ..-tivity It.Q .. nWnt.lininQ public "'Iu.uu. parks. pbygrounds. etc.1 Of whetMr it was ~ in a "propritt.l'Y" IdMty (t.g.. tngaging in the busi~ of furnishing tlKtricl. ty. lilllts. watt. 0' gu 10 tM public). Undt. this KMmt. munici~ilits we~ not liable for injum aoustd by wronaful or 1lt81igmt prrfomwlct of its lI<Mrnmrn\.ll functions. Ilow· eYt •• a municipality rould bo hold liable in ntrclsing proem. ttuy functions. Althoulh Ihis distinction tliminattd , multitu<k of possiblt lawsuits 19ainst municipal it its. it also c.tatw confusing "nd SO/TItWhat amitral)' law. ror tumplt. rt pair and ~intenanct of strttts was held to tit proprida'Y. Citll of Bin w'nghum v. Whitworth. 218 All. 603. 119 So. 841
TIiE: ALABA."IA LAWVER
(1929). Hcw.~r . optrating I SIr«t _eprr to lIup tho sll"ffts clUll wu hold 10 tit !IOV'trnmrnul.llmsrnon1 ". Cifg of Birm·
inghom. 223 ALo. 210. Il5 So. 320 (1931). In Jarlaon ". Cif!l of FIrNmcI. 2'94 Ab. 592. 320 So.2d 68 (1975). tho AIab.unII Supnmt Court tlimi",\w tho di$tinctio;Jn bttw«n govtrnmtnlllind prOpritta'Y functions. "".ing municip.o.litift liablt for rvgligent prrlonnloro« 01"1 numb« of activilits for .....him tl!ty Ilid pmiously btm immunt . For tht most part. Ilwsuits allinst municipaliti •• ar. prt~ntly lI<Mmtd by slltule. W wch lawsuit! au subjKt to uniqut characttristics Ind rtquirtmtnlJ. II is IN:>K unique characteristics and rtqui.tmtnts which will bt di5Cussed in detail btlow.
Notlc. of cl.lm r.qul •• ment To pursue a claim against I municipality. tho daiman! mlUl ;ulhort strictly to tho lpplioolt timt rtquirtmrnts. 11 is trut tlv.t I normallWlryUr mtutt of limil.itions awliH to lho fil· ing of a lawsuit against I municipality butd upon lortioltl conduct. HowtYtr. t 11-47·23. ALI.CocIe 1975. I sworn claim "for <brnagn growing out of torts" must be filed ...ith lilt municipality within six montm of..-crual. This smion is in tht n,iIIUrt of 1I statutt of r>Or>Cllim. A uun of action K(rutSI$ $OOn IS 1M ~rty in ...-hose favor il uisu is tnlitlfil 10 maint.lin In ..-lion IM~. Buck II. Cifg 01 Roi1lS<!illt. So.Zd 419 (Ala. 1990). In C<)nneclion. I 11 .47·192. Ala.Code 1975. statts that a 5worn statement bastd on a claim "for penona l injury fecti''ed" mwt tit filtd with the municipal dorll Itlting sub·
u'"
sn
JANUARY 1995 / 35
Help us help them.
LqpI
~~ation (or P<'OpJ<, without l'<3OurcCl; is (unded in p,Jn by 1.a"'}'a1 who know Ih>.!
~
COU~J. 1l)0~,
Abb~,,\,;1
Ah~rrt;;t
Ahb::mU5 poor ronlpercn! Suppon lcg:d Scrvic" wirh you r ax. Ikductlblc conrriburion o( S 100 or Send )'OUr checl:, p,Jy.Ibk fO Lcg:aI s..n.,ccs. 10<Uy.
_bama Legal Services uo .......,. .............
"''''--
1111 101"' .... "'" s...., M<w, w.~"lJ6IOo1
~2M-I.J71
U,., FI",,,fo' lit, Peo.
IUnlilily tm ITIilIImr in whidl tm injury"W rtCtiwd. tm day md Iimt md ~ p~ whtrt lho acc:idtnt ooxurrtd md It.. dllNlIU cla.imt<l. Ilowtv!r. tho filing 01 ~n klion within It.. ,i.·month period i, sufficitnt pr~s.entment of the claim to (omply with th •••• "(tion$. Hill v. CiI!! uf f/ullisville. 590 So.2d 816 (Ala. 1991 ).•'urthumor•. both tm Eleventh Circuil md tt.. AI.lbamOI Suprtmt Court have held that lho tort cla.im rIOtir.ation rtqui rtmen" Nt Iorth in f 11-41·23 md f 11_·11. 192 do rIOt apply 10 42 U.s.C.I I983lCtioni. Aco/fD. Ab.<Ion. 762 F.2d 1543 (1 1th Cir. 19851:,IIQm::u 1'. Tou:n of Lillkvilk. 576 So.2d 210 {Ala. 1991 ). II'hil. complianct with 111 4 7·23 and f1147-192 nud not be alleged in the complaint. the plaintiff has a burdtn 10 pr(M' such romplianc. if the dtftndant rais.es the ddtRSl: lhat tho: plaintiff did not comply wit h tht statutory '.Quirtments. M<;Corroil u. Cit!! of &smMr. 289 AL1. «9. 268 So.2d 731 ( 19721. At tho same time. noncomplianc. w,th the notice ~uirtmtnu isan iffiTlTllltive dtf~. and jf it is rIOt .... ~ by Ihe municipalily. nCO\lery i. nol ba rr.d. f j p<lrte Cit!! uf f/m'lsuill~. 456 50.2d 12 (Ala. 19~). Ollflfruled on other vrou,uls. Diemert v. Cil!! of Mooil~. 474 So.2d 663 (Ala. 1985).
V.n .... 01 .clion. Stction 6-3· \ 1. All.Codt 1975. S\llts clnrly thit i civil K iion againsl i municipality for persoNll injury. dtath or property damag. must be filed only in tht county when tho municipality islocattd. or whert the act Or omission occurred. Of course . an allegedly tortious act by a municipalily will most likely have occurred in lhe county where lilt municipality il k\u.ted. TIlt only .~ption to this rult is wher. the K tion is llso brought ~in$larlOthtr ddtnd.ant for whom venue is appropriate in iOOthe. county. In that circummn«. Rule 82 0( tilt Alibima Rules 0( Civill'roctdurt dKtites thlt lhe venue lIllY be ippropriale (Of lhe entir. cast in lhe county 0( tho: co\ltf.ndan\. :md the municipality's 101. rtCQUrM for transft r of venu' would be under tho doctrint of forum non convenitns. Set. f j Ptlrll! Cil!! of Hunlscille. 541 So.2d 1094 IAli. 1989).
i$ ,..nclrred agai~ a municipality md SOITlf othor pa,rty. "W" rution wll issue aeai ... t the othotr defendanl or ddtndanll in tm oniil>lOry form ;mel wll not be rltmandiblt oIlhe city Of to..'11 unless tilt other defendants art insolvent and lilt sam< CIInnol be made out of their property. and Ihe city or town shall pay only SO much 0( the said judgment ilS canrlOt be collected from lhe OI:her defendants.-11 1-47-191 (b). Ab.Code 1975.. Tho~ are rtWivdy few eases inttrprd.inQ part "(bl" 0( that .l>.lut. ill quoted atx:M. II gf;ntn lly applies only if tho injury is CIIustd by a deftel in a public way. which ,,'U c.aus.e<l by SOmt OI:her party such U I C(lrutruction company. It dots not apply to r"'luirt tho joinder of individual omplO}l«s or agen ts of the dtfendlnt municipality.
M ... nlcl~1 tort lI.blllly ........ r 111-47_190, AI •• Cod. 1975
Tho primary ground lor tort liability aeai~ a municipality «lints from fiI47·190. Ab.Codt 1975. Thai statute. indud· ing in amendmtnt effecI""" April 26. 1994. st.1.tu ill follows.: "No city or town shall be liable for dama,gtl for injury <.loot to or ....ong suffered by any per3Or1 0. corporalion. unless such injury 0 . w.ong wllS done 0' l ulftr.d through tht neglect. c,r.leW'"" or unskil1fulrvu of SO"" ,gent. offkt r or .mplo~~ of tho municipality fl'Iil#d in worIr thtftforf, lind whilt kli", in the lint 0(
WE SAVE YOUR TIME ...
I~
amell
No'"
k-~at ",~a",h
i. aVlil.bk- .. hrn
LEG A L Re se a rc h
" " ,... ncr
~ou nt~d
". ",,,houllhr II«~"'''Y of lIdd,ng ' fu ll' II"", IS!oO<:iOl< or clerk.
s.conary li.bility A municipality abo tnjoys tilt privilege 0( be.", secondIrily 1~le in a cast in ..-hich thert iI any othtr I'Q$-.iblt rltf.ndont. PUrluant to ill -41-191. AII.Cod. 1975. an Inju.ed person "shall ,Iso join" any other person or corporation liable as a ddendan t to him in a civil action. Th is s«tion i. O!><ratiw in am ""he~ the injury ,"ults f""" tho: wrongful KI 0( a third person lor whom tho: municipa,lity i. not ~sponsible und« tho: dodrint 0( mpondut superior. In such cases. Uly municipal liability arises from ntiligmt failu~ to rtmtdy the condition c!'fated by lho third pel1oO!l. 5«. 8rOIm u. Cit!! of Fair~. 265 A~. 596. 93 So.2d 419 (1957). Iftflt, claimant fa ils to make such a person a defendant in that act ion. "tht aClion shall be dismilStd." This harsh directi~ CUI be avoided if 11>0 notice of claim rtQu"ts tht 1>I01rlt. 0( any othtr partiu who might be iWlIt 10 the plaintiff. otl>o. than Ihe municipality. ;ur.d 11>0 municipality flOil. to furnilh iny Olher nl"". St •. Cil!! of Birmirtghtnn u. &.tom. 254 Ala.. 4 1. 47 So.2d 174 (19501. \I..... n any othtr party I. I>IOmed ill I defendanl. the muni<;i. pality furthe. t njoys ttl( protection of being stCoodarily liable to pay. judgment which mighl be rtndmd. When a judgmtnt
With KCes.slo tho 51<&1< La,.. Li\:rr2ry and W.~ll"' . ...~ pnwldt fa~.nd "I(",;'n • ..",,,,e. For deadt,nt ... or\< . ..... <an deliv., rnform,"on '0 ~Oto vi. commorr camN. Ftdcnol E'pre". or FA X.
""If,
F.rnell \.egat R.~ .., h ... mints Ihr t~0t08hty ,lImugh Q",t"y rt .... n:h. bnd ,."unland ..... Iys".. Our "'I<"S OK S3j .OO per hoIIr. "',111. ,hret hoII. m,n,mum. For Research Assis tance co nta c l: Sarah Ka thry n Farnell 112 M oo re Building M onlgomery, AL 36104
..
.
C.II IU4I271.71I31
1C.... ___ ' . _ , . . ... ~d . . . . . _l>tao ...:b"Oii .~ ,.,
~d._
b"6Jlly_~
JANUARY 1995 / 37
his or her duty, or unltss the said injul)' or wrong was done or .uffu~ through the ntglect or cude-W\eSS or failure to rermdy some defect in the .treets. all~ , public wa;'s or bu ildings after the same had bun calltd to the attention of the councilor other governing body or alier the same had existtd for such an unre..onable length 0( time as to rai .. a presumption of knowledge of such defect on the part of the councilor olher governing body and whenever the city Or t""'n .hall be made hable for damages by relSOll of the unauthorized Or wrongful acts or negligence, carelusness or unskililuinw of any person Or oorpOration, then such person or corpOration $hall be liable to an action on the same account by the party SO injured. fl",,·ever. no recovt'1)' may be had under any judgment Or combination of judgments, whether dire<;1 or by way of indemnity under Se<.:tion 11-47·24, Or otherwise, arising out of a single occurrence, against a municipality, andlor any officer or officers. or employee or em ployees, Or age nts thereof, in uce.s of a total S100.000 per injured person up to a mui mum 01 S3OO,OOO per single occurrence, Ihelimits set out [inl the provi.ions of Section 11 -93-2 notwithsUmding. This se<.:lion limits municipal liabil ity 10 two distinct dassiflcations.ln the forst class, the municipality may be liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior for injuries .esulting lrom the wrongful conduct of ito officers Or agents in the lin. of duty. In the 5I:cond dass. a municipality may be liable for injuri.s r.sulting from its failure to ",m~y conditions created or allowed to uist on the st reets, alleys, public ways, etc .. by a person or oorporalion not related in service to the municipali· ty. Etlisoll V. T""", of B~id~. 481 So.2d 890 (Ala. 1985). £ach 0( these 11<"0 classifications will be discuSM<! below. I. Liabilily (or NegligenCf1 of Ag;mIS Or Emp/O!jef1S - First, under f 11-47· 190, liability may be aS5l:ssed if an injul)' Or wrong is done or suffered "through the Mglect. carelessness or unskillfu lness of some ag~nt, officer or employee of the municipality engaged in ",wk thue/ore and while acting in the line of his duty." Basically, this statule allows a calJ>.t 01 aclion lor negligence when an agent acts as such during his work for the municipalit~ and causes an injury. As in any other ntgligence action. the plaintiff must establish a breach of a legal dut~ owed by the municipality to the plaintifl in order to ,upport an actionable negligence claim. Shearer <I. T",,-.,. ofCul(Slwres. 454 So.2d 978 (Ala. 1984). Negligence sums to be the only viable theory unde r this categol)'. There is no cause of action against a municipal ity for wantonness. Hilliard v. Gily of Hunlsdl/e. S85 So.2d 889 (Ala. 1991 ). Likewise, there is 1\(1 action again,t a municipality for intentional torts. See, Airmail" v. Cily of Daphne, 613 So.2d 366 (Ala. 1993) (claims against a city for the city manager's alleged misrepre5l:ntation and promiuol)' lraud pre'vt'nttd by § 11-47-90): Scali <I. Citll of Moonlain Brook. 60Z So.2d S93 (Ala. 1992) (holding that claim. of maliciou. prosecution, intenti onal interierence with bu.ine.. relatiomhip and civil conspiracy are not encompassed by § 11·47·190): Brooks v. Cily of Birmingham , S84 So.2d 451 (A la. 1991) (hold ing that, pursuant 10 § 11--47.190, a municipality has immunit~ from actions alleging unla,,{ul arrest and fal51: imprisonment basM 38 1 JANUARY 1995
on Mgligence on the part of the city employees while acting within the ilCO!'" of their employment). It io clear that the inte",retation of this first categol)' primariiy relates to affirmative acts by an agent 0( the municipality. No amrmath", duly i, imposed on a municipality to seek out delective conditioru to rectify them. For example. in Slade v. Cily of MrmlflO"W'y, 577 So.2d 887 (Ata. 1991), the court held thllt a municipal it~ was unde r no ./fi rmati". duty to ...,k out dile<;tivt' storm .. wer grates and could only be; held liable to plaintiff, ",ho was injured when his root was placed through a broken grate. ilthe municipality had actual notice of the defect or if the defect hIId exi,ted for such an unreasonablt length of time that the municipality could have obtained notice or kllOl<>'ledge of the probtem by use of ordinal)' dil;g~nce. It is also clear thllt the a/firmativt' act of ""gligenee must be mOre than mere "wrongful decision·making ." See. 011 v. t'uerell, 420 So.2d 258, 260 (Ala, 1982), Similarly, municipal omciats are absolutely immune from luil, attacking their legislati". judgment. Ex parle Cily of Birmingham, 624 So.2d i018, 1021 (Ala . 1993). The courts ha,'e recognized lhat in certain situations, public policy considerations take precedence ov" the gen ..al rule that municipalities can be held liable for the negligence of thti r employfts. In Rich v. Cily of Mooile, 4 10 So.2d 385 (lila. 1982), the court created a narrow exception to the general rule in situations in which the public policy considerations 01 • municipality's paramount rrspomibility to provide for the public safety, health. and general wellan outweigh the re..ons for the im~ition 01 liability on the municipality. This exception, oommonly knO'ol'll as the oub>lantivt' im munity ruie, is applied only in "those narrow areas of govemmentalactivities usential to the "",II·being olthe governed, where the im~i tion of liability can b~ reasonably calculated to materially thwart the City's legitimate efforts 10 provide such public services." 410 So.2d at 387. This exception has been applied in only a few narrow circumstances. $«, t.g., !lil/iard v. Cilyof
-
,
,IUe. L- Ifoltl l _ , J •. L f-IoItstoo-d. ,It. is. 1961 ",adualfl 01 "'" IJrwetsoty 01 _ onct. 1965 \IfO<lUale 01 Ct.mI>etIonct School oIlkw iii .. _ thoMOo.ll0"'''~ firm 01 N" . t1OItstoo-d '" V.. """,
1\10,
"
1~ Ste • .., AnthOn, Hl,gln. SI..- ArIthony HigQq .. a l\l69l1'aduate 01 ..... ~"'Y 01 Gearl/" and a 1992l1'iduate 01 "'" IJrwets''Y 01 AlaI>amo School oIlkw Iie;.an asaoclale "'; lIl ~ _ d & VOl-
-
TI-It: ALAIIA.\1A LAWYt:R
lIunt£l,'illl. S85 So.2d 889 (Ala, 19911 (~P\'IlyinQ emption to alltgedly deflCitnt city el«triclllnsptction); ClJIogrida u. CifJl 01 MolNk. 415 So.2d 560 (All. 1985lllPIIlyinQ nctptioo to a cliim butd on tilt f~ilu~ to provide ~tt polia protKtion); Rich It. Citg 01 Mobile. 410 So.2d 258 (All. 1982) 1~P\'IIy ing tJception to allegedly defICient city ptumbing irupection of oewcr drain). But ..... Zi"fJ1n I'. Cilg 01 Millbrook. 514 So.2d 1215 (Ala . 1987) (holding that city not immune from liability for negllg.nc. in lailing to provide ad.quate fire prottetioo). II . Liobililg fl)J' Deftels in Simlis. Alttgs. Public Wags I)J' Build;"flS • The Sot<:ond C<ltqory of lilbility within f 11.41.I!IO cornu from tilt nut put of tilt SUtut •. whidl statu that then il liability for an injury or wrong "don. or lullutd through tilt nq;ltel. cmtlu",u$ or flilu~ to ~ .... dy tome delect in tilt stne~. alleys. p"blic WIYS or buildings: ,,~th knowledge or notice b}' tilt municipality of the ddtet. Such knowltdge or OOIic. can be upress.lmplied or constructive. This category of liability comes from the impositi(1n of II Itpl duty on tilt municipality to kup its Itruts and lidtwalks in II Ruonably yf. condition for tilt us.t of the public. Tht courts have IUttd that persons using I public Slnet haw a right 10 prnu .... that the way is ruJONbly salt lor ordinary tf3Vfl. whetiltr b}' <by or night. CilJl 01 FItJrma u. SttKA:. Z75 AI •. 367. ISS So.2d 324 (1963\. Under Abbatna Ia>o<. g<Mm· .... ntlll enlllits have tilt "cluiM right of control OIItr md ruponsibility for tht mainttnllnct of public highways. and thus. lhose entities are subj.ct to a common law duty 10 lIIlIin· tain roam..'ays in a reasonably yfe cond it ion for Ihei r int.nded use. JfnerS01! COU1!Iv u. Suhbv. 468 So. 2d 112. 114 (Ali. t9&5). Thil duly lIIlIy also nttnd to city alleys and <,Iirt~, Set. Moo;p. eou,.lg Cummwion v. SmrIkn. SS5 So.2d 1054 \Ala. 1990) (ru l'lll dirt rood); Cit, 01 TIJII_ ". 1hJrris. 431 So.2d 11 (All. 1983)(narrow Illty). The te&! (or delermining whetllt, II municipa.lit)l has. duty 10 ..wntain a ro.!.."l' is whnher it has a right III conlrol, or participale in the control. of the roadway. This duty docs not aP\'lly for thIIK roads wilhin a municipality which are within the eltClulive '{lnI..,1 or anotlltr tntity. luch "Illate higtw.'ays whiCh run th rough the municipality. See. e.g .. Harris u. Maron COU,I/g. 579 So.2d 1295 (All. 1991). In addition. in l otts v. Tou... of Vi" coml. 611 So.2d 11)40 \AlII. 1992). the court Iltld thIot a city iUId II county annot a)nCUrnntiy otr· cis!: control over 1M ymot roadway. As CiUI be IUd from lilt ItIlutory blll!Wllt. IIltIT must be "somt ddect" prO"on by the pll1lntiff before r.covery ;1 allowN. Such i "ddtet" i. defined to bt= iJlything that may rusonably be txp«ted to inttrftrt with tht safe use of tilt right·or·way. mil of Bimu'rrghum u. Wood. 240 Ala. 138. 191 So. 88.~ 119-10). Liability IIIlIY be pRmis.td on a deled created by an lIItnt or tilt municipality or by i third-party. Ho"....... r. before I municipality can be Iltld liIb~ for culpablt ""gltet to rtmtdy II condilion ""gl~ntly CRittd b}' ~r. tilt munic· ipality must haw noti« of the deftel or lilt <kftel mUit haw nisttd for JUth an unre-..nabl. Itngth of timt ... 1\1 .... is!: I prnumption 01 knoo:ledae. Cilg 01 BlfJ'tlirlghom ". NOI'UlOOd. 22(1 Ali. 497. 126 So. 619 (19301. In addition, such knowI~ may be imputed to the municipality through tilt Irnowl~ of its alltnts. On tilt othtr hand. il the plaintiffltraveltr knew of the defect prior to entering the ar.a in qu .. tion, contributory
""iliaenct should be found. Set. Cilg 01 Birminghom u. ,Ifon.. tilt. 241 AlOiL 1(19. 1 So.2d I 119-11); Cilg 01 BirmingJunn u. Edu:anJs. 201 Alo. 251, So. 841 (1918). With Rg.u d 1\1 t .... lflC signs. $UoCh is stop .igru. tilt bw is clear that a city is not under iJlllffirmative duty to piau a stOl> sign al ilfI)' particulir ioC<Ilion. Set ••. g.. Davis II. CoIfIlW Coon· Ig CommissiOTl, 505 So.2d 32'9 (Ala. 1987). Failure to do 5(J will not r.lult in liability. Howeve r, whe.., a municipality choous to plac. i stOl> sign Or traffic $ignal in a ctrtain loution. and thtn faill to lIIlIintain it properly. !iibility C<ln be imposed upon tho municipality. As ItIttd in Cilg 01 PridrorrJ v, Ktlltg. 386 So.2d 403 (All. 1930). when a city trec:ts I stop >ian at iJI int.rstction. it has wlunlHud 10 act iUId is tiltrultu chiorgtd "ilh It.. rQflOI'ISibilityor lIIlIinuini"ll the sign with due C<lK. 111. bdusit:illl . 11 iI cifar that tho categories Crtllttd by I l i·,n· I90 limit liobility oi munkipaliliu to these two distinct classes of negligtnl misconduct or omission. which ntcu$.Irily means to exclude liability of a municipality On an~ other IoCcoun\. CUg 01 &ssemrr to, Chambers. 242 Ala. 666. 8 So.2d 163 (t942). In fact. unless a complaint ill Inmotd under OM of tilt two thtorits conttlTlfll.lltd by this a«tioo. it $hould be dismislotd for failurt 10 mle. C<IUIt of action lor which i r _ try can lor ~ Hiltis~. CilJl oIHunlsri//(', 214 MI. 663. lSI So.2d240(l963I.
n
D .....II •• While thert art strict standardl for obt~in;ng a liability judgment aga in.t a muniCipality. there art evtn more Itricl standards with reprd to the amount which can be recovered
n
TIlE ALARAMA LAWYER
Plnse check )'OUr address and telephone num· ber in the curnnt (1994) edition of theA/ab<:mw Bar Directory. II anything is incorrect. mail or fax chang~ by FtbrullTY 15. 199510;
Alabama Slate Bar Attn: ,'oIt mbeTShip Services P.O. Box 61 1 ~lonlgomeTY. AI. 36 101 FAX (334) 261-6310 Anything rtceived after that dal. will no l be refltctw in the 1995 directory. Please check your information today!
JANUARY 1995 / 39
from a municip,llity. H~1'r. this has betn tht s.ubjw of rontrOYtrsy in lUenl )'tars. ,md very recent legislation hu allempttel to soIvt !hf,t problem. Prior to 19!M. the _ n t of damogr:o which could be ren· IItrtel ~inst I munieiPility ..-as ~mtd aciusMIy by f II · 93-2. Ab..c:.odt 1975. ThJ,t stltutt::lUtes thM any I'fCO"fry for injury or delIth shill be ]imittd to SlOO.OOO lor (Int PfI"$On, Ind SJOO,OOO for more than two people injurtel in a single OCC\lr~nce, apinsla municip,ilily. Thai statute directs that 00 Ii"Mmmentall!ttnq tl\;lll Si!ttle lfll' claim for more tl\;ln thai amount Furtller. the liability 0( a municip.l.l insurer i. limittd by theSi! urm ~slricti<lns on recovery. See. Ku/p Il. U.,il~d SlalU Fid. d! Goor. Co.. S29 So.2d 966 (Ala. 19M). MOlt plaintiff laW)'trs have attempted to arlfut thlt the ,tatule only applied to recovery against I municip.itity. The argument "705 made tl\;ll !"fCllYery againsl individual em~ioy. ea of lhe municiPilily could be in lfll' unrm.ricttd amoun\. Pursuanllo f 11-47·24. Ab..c:.odt 1975. I municip,llity musl inIItmni/y 111 t~ for liability assessed against him iris· ing out 01 the Oprr1otion d a motor ""hicir. Thtrriort, in a aH in which the liability is prtdic.attd upon an automobilt acci· dent caUKd by I city empioyft, IlK crc.otj"" plaintiff Ia~r -..ould argue thM ]~Iity ~nst the municipality "'IS limiled to $tOO,OOO: but thlll he could recover any unrn!'licted amount against the employn. Thm. it -..ould be Irgutd thai, by statute. such _ r y could comt from lhe municip.l.lity lI\d it1Y insurance polit)' th.l.1 it t..:.d in existence al thai time. The Alabaffi/l Supreme Court has nwer directly addressed whether or not lilt statutory cap rould be bypawd by I tarlft judgment againsl 5uch an employn, At leul om other state had ~rU5ed thai lsi"", ~ t..:.d held that the motutory cap could no( be byrwsed 10 cuily. no\\o,;!hst.mdi", IanQ~ vir. tually idmlicalto thai d the Alabirna stalulory scheme. MGt· son ll. CilgofK0lSQsCitll. 680 Pold sn (KIll. 1984), On April 26. 199-i, language "'as addtd 10 f II -H·I90. ALi.Code 1975. which limited darnIgu; 10 SIOO,OOO agJinst J munid""lily "MIdIor it1y o/f"w;:tr or o/f"w;:ers, or emp!oyn or empioyfu. or l!ttnu themrf.- Therefon. it is ~ dUI"!hf,1 lor JUits ~inst I munici]l.J,lity and il5 agent. for the negli. genc. of lhal agent, the reC<Mry is limited to Sloo.OOO Pfr injurtd pel"$On. whether il be rK(M'red from 1M municiPiti. ty or from the employu him5elf. The amendment to the .lllute i•• ilent on whether it has any retroactive effecl. It will be up to the courl.110 determine what C~I are encom· passed by thl, new language. The ltalutory cap on dltmages d ALl. Code f 11·93·2 "'IS recenl ly chltl1tngtd in G(1m~r u. CQlJinglrm Counlg, 624 Soold 13461AL1. 1993). I cast in which both Ihf <;Ounty.nd the city were sued for {ailure to m.l.intain 111 inlu~ion. The tmlknJlf: to tM ,talutory cap on darnIgu; ,,-as based prinv.ri· \y on Article I, Section II, d the Alabanv. Constitution d 1901, which proYillt, "thltl the right of tri."ll by jury lhall ~nv.in inviobte.- N ~ Iowyt .. ~ IIWolre ..... riot.q motutory apt on danv.gu I\;Iw \>Hn slruck down in «<tnt yurs bastd upon a cl\;lllenge from that constilulional_lion. 5«. e.g .. lIe.uJersoo v. Alabama Power Co.. 627 So.2d 878 \.Ala. t993) (declaring unconstitutional the S250.000 t.l.p on puni. ti"" damagOl). Ouring the pendent)' of Gamer v. C«'''''glrm Com,/v. al Ihe Alab<oml Sup.eme Court. many Judges and 40 IJANUARY 1995
)I~" aJl;umed Ihat this ,l.Ilulory np would likewise by struck 00..... by the court as uroc:onstitulioNl. Surprisingly. inslead d "Tiki", down the statutory cap on dvniJIts. the AIabamo SUPmTW' Court ilffirmed tm IIpplica, tio)n lI\d constitulioNlity d the montUry Up. In I kflilhy opinion by Justice Almon. the court discussed II ImJlth lhe debitle on the i$wo of munici"",lliabilily I I thr 1901 AIabanu constitution;!.l coovtntion. The transcript d 1M debittt: al tho constitutional convention ltd the Alabama Supreme Court to opine in Gamer v. CcJfJinglOOl Counlg II fol1aws: - It wu clurly tho dtlrllatu' undeutanding that, absent the incorporation into the Conltitulion of Ihe propoSi!d section. the Legillature would have ~r to re gulate aclionl againlt mu nicipalities. The delegale. obviously viewed ""-ions ~inst municipal corporalions is being different from iCIions against privltt corpora· lions or individUllJ. This view is Iwt.J,ined by iI ruding 01 the ~ Oft lhe subject. both before and aft .. u.. Conwntion. lkause the oonstitutiona] framm dtliber· itely and spttirolly dtclintd to Ide! lilY constitutioN! prtStMtion of the then-nistiOlllim,ted statUlory provi,ion lor aclion. ag..;nst municiPiliti.,. such IIction. we~ (mdlre lsub;ed to ltgillalM control." 624 So.2d al IJ54. Therefore, based upon thaI rationltle, 1M AliIbiItN Sup~me Court held thai becaUSi! 0I-1n. competing _d.s 01 conserv, ing pUblic fund, and of compenUling injured parties .nd with deference 10 tile l.egislature In regulating and bitlancing theSi! malten,- the .tatulory cap on dltlT\illts mwt be upheld. It iJ allO impOrtant 10 note that punitivt damage. are nwer r~rable against i municiPilily under Alabitnv. law. Such punitive dltJnllgel. a~ dtlrly lI\d urlltmbiguously prohibited by f 6-11-26. Ala.c:.odt 1975. which prohibil5 punili"" da .... ages ag..inst virtually Illy II<Mmmental tntity in AIabam;a. There is OfIe other very new Itatute in Alabim.l "'hich ckSi!1'\ti I mention in this article. As 01 April2fi. 1994. police o/rKtTS employed by I county or muniCt]l.J,lity enjoy ibsolute immunity "from tort liability arisiOil out of his or h.. tonduct in I"'rfomwJC£ 0( any dis<:nlioNry funclion within the line and SCOpe of his or Mr law enforcement duliu.- That new statute, which il codifitd It Kction 6·5·338, Ala. Code 1975, awail, fulur~ intorprelat ion u to the scope of thaI immunity. and the .ffecl that it mayor may not have on a municip,ilit~.
ConClusion In conclusion. liability ~jnst a municip,llity in Alabitnv. rmy be allegci adwiwly through civil Tighl5law. aciUliwIy through law d the Stale of AliIbiItruo. or unlltr a combi ...lion of Iho •• t heories. Numtrou. flctors go into the oonsioleration d which ""hiele I particular daimml choo:\e§ to tra""l. with the ftdtral court/SIlttt: court choict being the most pr~lenl, If a Slalt law tlltory is chostn ... ci,inv.nt mu.t IIdhere to the strict requirements to rminuin IUCh a suit. For the claimanf, attorney. f,Hure 10 rtilliu tholt rtqui~rmn!J will ••,ull in pOOr rtprntnt.J,tion 01 that per_ son. LikewiSi!. it1 aUOrmy reprtSi!nting .. municipality mu,t have a good knowledge of Ihole unique characteri.tic. 10 full~ represent the city Or ta..·n. _
THE AUi3AMA lAWYER
Mobile's Pro Bono Program
Legal Services and the Mobile Bar Association Join Hands to Help Poor People he Mobile Blo. AssotiIatioo is a pm bono \&dn' in Abbami. Since 1985. when it ~ its first pro bono propoHl. it Iw W1Jrk~d lund.in.lund with Ltg;al SeI'Vic:a in I oontinuing effort to upaoo ICCUS \0 frtt iegll assi~ to Mobilt', Low-illCOlfW citiuns. ""rtic;. pation by loul b.2o, membt .. II .. lIten t:<emplar;. Sin« Its I~ion rIVe years ago, private la")'tl1 working through ~ Mobile RIo. A5$0Cilotiofl's Pro Bono Pr0gram Iw.ot cloltil mort than 4.000 rues. Thnt are about 1.000 licensed lawyers in Mobile, including judges and ~mmmt aUOTTIfYS, Ol thew, roughly 800 iIfl' tlo,ible to ~ port in thr bar's pro bono project. and about 330 iIfl' CUrrently ';'Iled up to take usn. TlleK ~ hivt a8rm1 to Iwldlt fitMr two casu each ytar or spend al leut 20 hours in diTKt ,eprutntalion of a 000· paying client. Coord inated by Tonny Algood, the Mobile Bar Association's Pro Rooo Proaram WDP) is hOIlKd ont HOOT above \.till SuvictJ CO'1"mtion of Alabama I t SCA) offien in tht Van Antwtrp 8ui lding in downtown Mobile. LSCA provides 1II11·time KCI'flaNI SfrYicts to 1M PI'OII~ Purw,ling for Algood, ...fIo Ixpn in 1989 on Iutf'lime S!.lotl.. and Iw worked full'limt Iince June 1990, is mllinly provided by in IOLTA gunl from the AIlI~1N llIw FOIlnWolion. In 1994, 1M Mobik Ibr Associ.l.lion instilulN in ilOnual S 10 dues ch«k-otf urmarktd for pro bono to furthrr Mlpport th~ PHP, and 756 lawyers conlributed this way.
T
THE AIABA.'1A lJIWYt::R
"II wli lInolhtr dtmonstr.iotion or lhe supporl .... e hllve from OIlr local b.ar: said Algood. Locli law firms supporl prQ bono p,articip,ation. Iland, Arendall, Bedsole, C1"Q\ieS 6< Johnslon, Mobi~'11ugest firm. has ilO o/focill policy entoll""in, ils members 10 like put, ilOd iIboul hlIlf or it!; 55 ~ hlIw sitntd up. Nearly all tht 15 IlIwyen in lIelrru inl, L)'OnS, Sims 6< Luch p,aTlidp,ale, lnd many membm Miller, ",millon, Snider 6< Odom lIbo takt ~ The Mobile Bar Associa t ion', Pro Bono C<lmmitlee OYtrJeeJ the PBP. The group mods the ncond Wednuday tach monlh 0Yt. IUT\c:h at Michael',. a pOpUlar Mobile mtlur.r.n\. ChlIir or the commilltt Is .'. Luke Coley, Ir" who lbo hudJ the AilIb>IN St>~ &r's Committee on A«e$S 10 LtQ.lI Strvias. ViaChl i. il loltph E. ClIT •• nnio. stiff atlOrney in LSCA's Mobile o/flCt. Other members iIft IImry BrtWJtn-: lIenry A. ClILa-.....y, 1I~ C. MI..it Iloni.lJ; Gilbert 1.. Fonlenol; ThtodoR GreenspilO; Irvin Grodsky: Chrislopher Knight; Gilbert 8. llId.n; Daniell.. McClra"",; Matthew C. McDonald; Frankie Fields Smith; ~lichael A. Smith; Judson W, Wells; and
or
Mich.vl A. YOIlllgtltter. Daniels is ilio a LSCA senior slaff altomoy, and Knight il LSCA's Mobile ReQiQTl.lI OffICe ma"'ll_ allomt)'. In ~dition to selling pOlicy for Ihe I'DP and dealing with any problems that ",ist, the Pro Bono Committee abo holds QCasional CLE semi-
ina
~".
WNt 11M made ptO bono so sucassful in Mobi l.r "First lInd fort ...... l," s.aid ~, "the I.aw)o!:rs on tht convnittet and the Itadm In our bar :In ml30fdinarily committed 10 thiL E\On)'Ont in the Itidmhip Ii the bar hN IIlJftd ]00 pnw>t thi, il sonwthina to do. ~nd il rom.. KI"OI5 ail political &nd fCOIKlj,oic lines." Coloy s.p«iflully tit~d Groohky, for_ me. chllir of the Pro Bono Committe.., fOT his effort' 10 make ,ure the program worked, ~nd H~.ndon Ing~ I r .. who JANUARY]995 141
helped get the prOliram lUrttd."And all of our bar pruidtnu have been t~mm dousIy supportive," he said Another fJdor {ontributinl to the P8P's succus ;1 coordinltor Tonny AIIOO<I , " Ilis ~rKlnJlity, dedicltion Ind ~iIIJ--it's IIftn J ~rlect marrilat: J.IIid Colry. "The pr o bono project is .. vision he's rully tlught, and hr's worked like II slave gttting it ~e." Another ingredient for P8P', accomplishments Ilas been the suppOrt and comm it men t of the loc~1 Ltgal Se!Vicu staff. Colry added. On April IS, l~, thr Mobile Bar Associ· alion pined" ruolution t.onoring LSc.n Mobile RtJioNl OffICI: for ill ladtrship lind contributions 10 the pro IJooo project, "SOmehow iI's 111 kind of clicked togothtr'- J.IIid Colty. ThM: is mon: ttwl ont wq Mobile IlIwyerl un putidplle In the PBP. Son... ('.(IfTIt into tht VIfI Anlwt:'l' Build· ing office 10 in terview clienu Ihtrt. Others ","pt tllU that are referrtd to their offices. Some lawyers don't accept case. themselves but Ire will ing to st~ "s menlors to othtr Ins ex~rienctd lawyers who iIIIrtf. to rfpru.nt the poor. "We still hart IIttomeys who likt to comt to our offiee to interview clienu." Algood nid. " We try to mitch the client's cast with tht IItomey. We usu· ally schtdule "bout eight clienu. but Klmetimu there ue no-.h""". Th. IIltomty will take tht tISU he or she is comforlllble with lind that need IIddi· tional work. Some cast. are just.>dvitt II10d counsel. If they don't Wlflt to take a cue. Ihey'll get the Information and ~Ium il to me for referraL" Algood m.:.intains a computerized list of lawyers by afeu In Which they will represent pro I>ono tUU, such u child suppOrt. wills. adoption. and housing. Most ~rtici~tina lawyers Iw1dle;lbout thrtf. tISU uch yor. Although lhor PSP will hlndle postdivara relief Wues. it is lOglI;nst iu pol. icy to \.llIe stra.ight dr..:..-a CNt$. eli.nU Ire rtftrrtd from I Volrltty of sources -the private bar. 50CiIl ...!Vier progra.ms. Legal Servicu. mil the publie at larllt. Applianlll afl' iOCffl:ned for eligibility befo« their cast is r""i",,~ for acceptance. Some ~ople call with problems that are not legal in nature.
42 { JANUARY 1995
and Algood refers thue to the appropriat. ~S'rlC)'. Each rear, tM PBp recogniuJ its pa, . ticipating lawyers at IfI awards cefl'1llOny held be/ore .. regular monthly Mobilt Bar Au«-iltion mt.ling. Mobile't pro IJooo pro;«! has sef\ltd lIS I model lor the rut 01 tht Slate. said ~'elindi Wilen.. director of the A.Iabama SUit Bar's VoIunt«r I...iwyers Program. She is working 10 HI up simi"'r pro· jtdI in urbln mil ruruaruJ throughout Alabama ind is findine that there Ifl' enthusiutie lilwytn In III puts of the sllte. "Evel)'bol\)o has thei r own r.3JOn why they do this," uld Coley. "Mi ne 1Ifl' reli· gious u wtllu civic." further e ~plaln· ing. Colty pfflYi~ hit f~vorile quok, a ~ Ittributed 10Andrtw Jackson:
' 1 did believe , ilnd ever will beHove, that just 1.0101$ can make no dittinction of privil.ge btlwttn lhor rich ilnd pOOr. and that whorn mm of hiah sllonding Itumpt to Irlmple upon Ihe rights of the weak, they Ire thor littut objects for .umple ilnd punishment. In ~ra1. the grut un prottet themnl~ •. but the poor Ind humblt fl'quire tho arm and shield 01 the law.-
8 1)'Ond the all of du ty:
The IloT)' of 1m Dee was des~rate. lIaving once been homeless, she lollS afrlid she would lOglIin bo out on the strftt because horr landlord 10111 ""Ieting her. With e~ry huyY Tilinfili. her tiny hou ... -set at Ihe bottom 01 .. downhilislope_aJ flooded with inches 01 walu. All 01 horr po5sessiool Slayed dimp II10d dirty. Hrr exptrimce wilh homelessnw made her foirlullO lei~ Ihis home. but her com· plainu lIbout iu intolerable conditions went ulllf\Jwued. Out 01 fm.tulion. 0«: withheld horr rent ind sought help when eviction proceedings bogan. Hu help time from Henry Callaway. a partner in Hand. Arendall. Bedsole. Grea~s " Johnston who took the cast pro booo when il WllS relUTed to him by the Mobile Bar Auoc:iltion's Pro Bono ProgTilm. llis trlorts ~nl beyond the call 01 duty. "My lim thought WlI to look lit thor problem ill lhor house md to _ if could get thor l.. ndLord to make some ""]11;11.. I had iI contractor look Jt the houn with mt. Jnd thl: probl.m wu that the houtt' l slib was at ground lovel Tither than boing elevated as Is required by code. I contact.d the city ini!,<,ction depllrtment. which turned up se~ral other violations lIS well. The
",t
THI:; ALABA.\\A u\\VYER
• W«o COf9y, .1t. o::I'>Oh"", MOOM b AsscdJJb ,', Pro 80'10 COfM1IITge and",.,
E,-en with priority status. it took several months to obtain ~ction 8 hQlls· ing for Ike. "Th. immediate problem was that Dee nuded to move right away: Callaway related. "I talked to sev· eral potential landlords, both with and without o.e, but could not f,nd anyone who would take her. given her low income. until the Section 8 approval came through." finally, Tonny Algood. who coordi· nates the Pro 6ono Program, got Ike into a local apartment complex. Just before Chrislmas 1993, Algood bor· rowed a pickup truck. and he and Call· away moved Dee into her new apartment. Algood look a s~ial inter. est in o..'s case partly becau", nf hi. volunteer work with a ~lobi1e homeless group, which had referred her to him for help, But Dee', slory didn't end t here. "After she got moved in, the nut problem was keeping Dee afloat for the three montiu; or 50 until ~r Section 8 sub· sidy kicked in. Her renl was $275 a month. plus utilities: Callaway S/lid. "\ collected 50me money from attorneys at my finn. and my minister also gaw her monty from his discrNionary fund. Her Section 8 rent finally ~nt into effeci on March 24, 1994, reducing her por· tion of lhe monthly rent to SS6,
"Thus, a year ago Dee was paying $]1)0 a month for a wet, dirty and depressing house. and now she pays less for a ni," clean apartment which has more room than hOt old place: Call· away S/lid. Callaway helped her through the Sec. tion S application process by making sure ,he was treated as a priority appli· cant. by taking her to the housing office sevenl times, and by sitting with h.r during Ihe initial application proce.. and interview to help her fill out the required forlTl$. The slory of Ike is atypical in that most of the Pro Bono Program cases are much ,impler and do not require as much time. "I don't want lawye" to Ihink that Ihey are going to end up moving every pro bono cl ient. Mosi involve something like drafting a will Or handling an adoption: Cal laway S/lid. However, D•• ·s cast is an uc ellen t t>:ample of the spirit of commilmenllo pro bono service that .. ists in the Mobil. Bar Association, "I have enjoyed working with D•• because she has a consistently upl>eal attitude despite having suffered some hard knoc~ in life. She is ..... ry appre· ciative of the help she received and comu by to see Tonny and me when she is downtown." Callaway S/lid. •
AI:>Ix>"nO SIal" b', ~ "" Acce<1
ro l.6QOI ~
contractor told me there was 00 practi· cal way to fi~ this problem.! then start· ffi making efforts to get her out 01 the house. and got her landlord to agree to hold off on eviction in the meantime." Callaway said in a November 1994 interview. Ott's rent was 5100 a month. but her only income was an SSI disability chec k of S422, leaving her with lew housing options, Having no e"",rience with fed· eral low-income hOUSing programs. Callaway sought assistance from the ~lobi1e office of the Legal ~rvicu Corp. of Alabama, whore h. got information aoout Section 8 housing . "I was told there was a waiting list ror Section 8 housing in Mobile of about 2,000 people, but Dee qualified for priorit y because of the large percenlage of her income spent on housing and because of the substandard nature of her Cur· rent housing." he S/lid, THE AUl.BAMA LAWYER
LANDTECH86 Real Estate Settlement System For U/ser or Millrix Printers • H UD 1 Automatic Calculations • Checks &: Escrow Accounting • Word Processor" Spell Check Polides &: Commitments Deeds &: Mortgages
• Data Base Reporting • On site Training Available
• l009S Reporting $1,495,00
LANDTECH
DATA CORPORATION
.... ....... - .......••.•••....•.•.•. ---
(800) 937-2938
:lQ3 Guaron1)' Building . 120 South OIi"" A""" .... . W..., Palm Ileodt, FL:lJ401
JANUARY 1995 143
A
s the 20th Centu-
ry Caretns tn its elnse. mnre and more Amer;uns art eXj>lnring counseling as an aid to surviving ilIld overcoming their pt'rsonal dark nigh t s of the snul. Because of lhe public's inneastd employment of tht counseling seMces of psychiatrists. pSychnlogists. $CICial wnrkers. and ministers. the legislatu res and judiciari.s nat ionwide have had tn add ress Ihe n""ly emerging field of pSychotherap;,t liability. Some ralher ciear lines of demarcation have been drawn regarding the rnalpradice liability nf pSychiatrists and psychologists who engage in certain acts nf malf..... nce. Unfol1Ul\lltely. the lines are considerably mnr. blurred regarding the potential malpractice liability nf $CICial workers who engage in counseling. On the nther eJlt~me. Ihe courts have found themselves largely withnut power to impose malpractice liabil ity upon pa:;toral COunselors without running afoul of the minister's First Amendm en t freedom of reli gious expression. The term pS/lchotherapist. as it is used in the scopt' of this artide. will denote only psychiatrists. licensed pSychologists. $CICia! wnrkers. and clergymen who engage in pastoral counseling. The following i. an overview of the evolving spheres of pSychotherapist liability. 44 1JANUARY l !i9S
Th. Pri~i lege The legislature of Alabama has placed the imprimatur of soci.l .nd lega l acceptability upon the field of psychotheraP>' by granting a privileged status to the psychotherapist-patient rl'latiomsl\ip: "The cnnfidential relations and communications betwffn licenst<l psychologists and licensed psychiatrists and clients ar. placed upon Ihe same basis as those providt<l by law between attorney and client. and nothing in thi, chapter shall be ronstrued to require such privileged communication tn be disclosed. "(sÂŤtion 34-26-2. Code o! Alabama, 1975.) In ex parle Rudder. 507 So.2d 411 (A la.19871. the cnurt further ~ntr.nched the privilege by announcing "that tht public policy upon which the pSychotherapist- patient privilege rests will not easily be outweighed by cOm po:ting interests" and wenl on to state lhe fnllowing: "Statutes such as 134-26-2 are intended to inspire confidence in tht patient and .ncou~ him in making a full disclnsure to the phjlSician as tn his symptoms and condition. by preventing the physician from making public informal ion Ihal wnuld result in humiliation, embarrassment. Or disgrace to the patient. and are thw d..igned to promote the efficaey of the physicians advice or Irealment. The exclusion oj the ~vidence rests in the publi c pOlicy and il for Ihe general interest of THE AlABAMA L\\VYER
tht community" (EI Rudrkr, supn. "I '13.)
I'~rl(
Exception, 10 the vrMltge Clearly. Ih. AlaNna legisliture envi· ,ioned few uUI'l lons to the psy· choIherapist-i'lltitnt privilegt. and fN ha~ t\OOl~d judi(ilily. In Harb;n c. IIl1rbin. 495 So.2d 72 (All. 1986) the court did recognize "n toIception whe~, in a child custody nalln, Ihe rmnt.al statt of one oIlhe plrenU is al issue Ind l proprr rnoIution 0( child custody re(jui res disclosure of OIlmwise privi. leged pS)"Chiatric records. A second judicilily cruled exct plion applies in ctrt"in criminal asts. The Plycholhenpilt-p"lienl priYilege i. yl\Mlilible in 1 criminal trial ...m~ lilt defendant ~ists tilt deftNe 01 irwnity. Magwood v. Slal~, 426 So.2d 918 (Ala. Crim. App.), afrd, 426 So.2d 929 (Ala. 19$21, (trl. denied, 462 U.S. 1124, 103 SoCI. 3097, 77 L, Ed. 2d 1355 (1983). In f>kIgu.wtI, the delendlnl ob;ected 10 the introduction 01 lilt testimony 01 " licensed dinit.ll psychologist who hid examintd him prior 10 trial. The dden . dint's objection wu based upon eqUlI protection and the conf,dentiality of the communiution. The objtdion ..... owrruled. The Ippellat. courtl uni· formly held 1"'1 by pursuin,g in irWIni· ly dden , . to a murder c ha rge the defendanl had wlived iny potential psy. choIherapiSl- pllitnt privilege or privi. leit 19iinst s.elf_incrimillltion 19iinst lhe l~imony of .. pS)ChoIogist ...ilo hid eIGmintd him uo«r ilate order. Chid Juslice Hornsby in 1993 opined thai Ihe t.gisl1lure did no/ intend In unplion to the psychotherlpi.l pllienl priyileQe to ui.t .. her. the issue 0(" plrty'. ment,,! condilion is raiKd in a ciyil procttding. Ez. porle United &mice Sia/ions, Inc. (Re Loon NHAM Y. Unit.d Service Stations, Inc., 628 So.2d 501 (Ala. 1993). Thus, Ihe privilege nay be Ipplied to prOl«t " ""Iifnl's plychologiul r«ordJ from disclosure in I personal injury claim even though the complaint s.eeks dim· ~eJ for mental pl in and anguish. A lLatutOry fxception to the privileit Iw bHn crealtd in the contut 0( the WOf~nan'. ComptTWItion cl1im. Sec· tion 25-5-77 of the Code of Alablona, 1975, oontains the following lang~e: "A physician ",hose Krvices afe
furnished or paid for by t he employer, or a physician of tht injured employee .. ho truts or malees or is presenla! al1)' fllmi. nltion of an injured em ployet may ~ required to testify u to any knowledge obuintd by him or her In the course 01 tht tmt· menl or ellmi .... \ion is the treat· ment or tUminalion rtlated to the injury Of diSibility a rising
C hild SUPIJO rt Softwa re
therefrom.~
The lLatute \I(ti on add tNt lhe term phy,lcians shall include mtdiul doc· tors, surgeons, and chiropnlCtoTS, Sin~ psychialrisll are rmdit.ll doctors, plain· ly. pl"inti!r. tulimonial privilege 10 protect 'taltmenU made to I pSychia· tri5l is lost if I workman '. comptll$l· lion claim i. based upon " pS)Chiatric injury, An additional SlItulory uceptioo to the pSychotherJpist-pitient privilege hu been created lor the protection 01 neglect. aI or ibu5td childrm. Code 0( ~ 1975, 126-14-10 states u IoIIowl: "The doctrine of privileged com· munication. with lhe exception of the Jltomey_client prMltit. shall not be I ground for ucluding InY evidence regarding I child'. injuries or the caUJt thereof in any judicial procuding resulting from I report pursuant to this cllapter." PS)'Cbothtnpbl Il.obili~ I. In,-uion of privacy
Theft lTe a number of "'"ys in which l psychotherapist may tngage in mal· practice. not the least of .. hich is by bruc:hing lhe conIidmct 01 the pltimL (The tatimonill privilege set (lUt aboYf is ptr5Of\l1 to the patitnt and only the patient may ",aive the privilege.) Psychothtrapisl$ are Cilnslrlined by both ethial and l.-gal duties 10 preserve invioloott tht confodrna:s 01 the pltimt inviolate. A f"ilu re to protect confi. dences of the patient may subject the psychothe~pilt to liability for i!WUion of the patient's privacy. Alabama recognius i!WUion 01 pri"". cy in four distinct cirtU~ man intru'ion upon Ihe plaintifrs ph)'Sicalsolilude or sedusion: (2)publki ty .. hich ~ iolaltl ordinary d«encies:
'W
c_ won"...... can ~ .....4 .t.
...
retn..·. d Gcncnt",CS·22,CS-4 1,CS·42 &. CS·43 form.
.w
Supponscompl' .... .t. .......
...
<:tIIIIpI .... dIIld tuppOfI Cornpbanl ""h ALoNma Supmno Coo.o1 order ofSq>lember 2&, 199] Compotoble "'''h 011 IBM &. comp.~blc COInrut .... runnin8
...
MS-nos 3 I or Iller
Suppon3 HI' .........IeI1l (or IM..-) compMible Iutr pnnI<:rO.t. EJ-on COInpaIihle 1loI'na!nx ,,"Rton
'..
'"---.--...
- -----"--"""""""""""-~
I tI.~ thi, rorm 10 ph•• • r .... ' u,der: i j'd liu 10 ~ _ copies of : CS 'AL &cxn r.n. Tcch~ •i Inc. ... 1hc: low pncc ofS8<.l. 95 per
'
<lCIJIY. rm cnelo'lon8 an addmonal $lI. 95 per
""''1' to co~ $h'l'I'ln8
...J h.andlin8 chargeo I wanl my ........ am !hat 0( my rlfIlllO be placed ... 1hc: fonnf ~al by
CS 'AL .. foIlo\>.. ' Nanlt._ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Finn
---------;•
[)uI.: SOZIO.
) 1/2
S I/~
Subn111 payment "'I chock or "!OlleY order to
• 1:ri5 Technologiel>. Inc. 3928 Momd.,r Ro.d Suue 114 Binn,nslwn. Ai. 35213
,•
;•
!
,,; ,• •
: Or """ ...... "'" .... more 1IIf...........
=___=___=_ :::___:::___c:::___:::___ _
___
L~~_c:::
Jk"UARV 1995 / 45
(3)pulling the plaint iff in a false. but not necessarily defamatory position in th~ ey<' of tl\;> public: or (41th. appropriation of >orne element of the plaintiffs personality for comme"ial use . Phillips v. Smalley Main /mime<! Sen:iC<lS. fm:.. 435 So. 2d 705 (Ala. 1983). Any unauthorized disclosure of the patienfs confideru:e:s would tend to fall within the category of publicity which violate.. ordinary decencies in view of the strong public policy faV<)ring the protection of the patienf, stcrets and confidences. In Crippen v. Charter Southland Hospital. 534 So.2d 286 (Al a. 19881. the defendant hospital . without authoriution from Crippen. released recoros relating to Crippen's treatment for psychological and emotional problems to a physician employed by Crippen's employer. the U.S. Postal Suvict. Cri ppe n sued Chartu for invasion of privaty. breach of contract. breach of fiduciary relationship and abuse of privileged and confidential relalionship, claiming mental anguish and aggravation of a pre·existing physi· cal condition as well as humiliation damage.o;. The Irial court granttd summary judgment for the hospi tal. The Supreme Court of Alabama reversed. finding that the patient had in fact stattd a cau.., of action for in ....... ion of privacy. 2. ~"ual e~plo;lation of the patient A second area of potential psychotherapist liability involve5 the sexual exploi tation of the psychothorapistpatient re lationship. Annette M. Brodsky. in a well researched article concerning sexual exploitiltion in profe~ional relationships. statts that S<'xual contact is the second leading cause of p.\ychi.trist malpractice in the United Stiltes. (Anndte M. Brodsky, Sex Be/ween Patient and Therapist: PSllchology's Do/a Imd Resporue, in Sauol Exp/oi/alion in ProfeSSional Rela/ionships 11 (G len O. Gabbard ed. (989). Nationwide. claims of ..,xual misconduct have been made against psychologists. social workers, clergymen who attempt to counsel pariJ;hione .... and family tMTa_ pists. The repOrted cases have yielded disparate results. 46 1 JANUARY 1995
Ono of th e most infamous Cases ;n,"<)I"ing sexlJal rontlet between a psych iatrist and patient is Zipkin v. Freeman. 436 S.W.2d 753 (Mo. 1968) (en bane). In this case a fernale patient wa. rderred to a psychiatrist when her
"The legislature of Alabama has placed the imprimatu r of social and legal acceptability upon the field of psychotherapy .... "
--physical complaints did not app.ar to be physical in origin. At the iru;istence of the rnale psychiatrist. the patient participated in nude swimming parties with other patients. ",.. nt on overnight trips with the psychiat rist. and waS urged to 5UO both her husband and her brother. The court awarded Ms. Zipk in damage.o; for the emotional injurie.o; she sustained as a result of her psychiatrisCs malpractice. In Alabama. engaging in ..,xual intercourse or other sexual contilct with a patient is grounds lor m.'OC/Ition or suspension 01 a psychologist's lice nse. (Code of Alabama, 1975, 134-26-46. ) It is also grounds for denial of an initial
certification to practice psychology in this state.ld. B)' codifying this section. the legislature has left little doubt that sexual relatiom betwun psychologists and their patients is an act of malpr;lctice in this state. Wh.t is sQmewhat Ius certain is whether the proscription against sexual conlact with a patient equally applies to social ","<)rke" who are often looked to for .dvice by their dients or patients. In 1990. Justice Janie Shores addressed the issue of social worker ma lpr;lctice in Pr>rkins u. Dean. 570 So. 2d 1217 (Ala. 1990}. Dean. a social W<lrker at Northwest Alabama Regional Mental Health Center. was providing counseling services to Porkins and his wife. John Perkins was experiencing grief ove, the suicide of his daughter. drinking alcohol excessively. and experi encing marital difficulties when he sought treatment from Dean and Northwest. John's wife. Roberta Pukins . also began coun..,ling "'ssions with Dean for similar reason •. During a particular counseling session. Mrs_ Perkins advised the social worker that 51\;> wanted to ha,... n affair with him. Ikan responded by explaining the psycho logica l construct of transfe rence of emotion to Mrs. Perkins. H(lI<.·wor. he also told h~r "to check back with me later and we'lI see how it is between my wife and me and you and your husband." No sexual relations took place betwttn Mrs. Perkins and Dean during the 30 counse ling sessions that were conducted. Approximately rive months .fte r counseling w.. concluded. Mrs. Perkins and Dean began having an affair. During the interim period, Oe.n had resigned from North",.. ,t. The suprem~ court. in considering the malpr;lctice claim. held .. follows: "Assuming. without deciding. that a claim for social worker malpractice W<luld be recognized in this State, the facts of this.,..., do not support such a claim ...." The appellants cittd Collon v. KambIll. 101 Mic h. App. 537 (198S~, 300 N.W.2d 627 (l980~ and Zipkin. supra. in support of their claims. The appellants argued that the time that the sexu.1 relations took place is irrelevant. The THE: AlABAMA LAWVER
8rll~lImtn
of thtir lIT8umtni iii thit lind Northwut did not proptrly trut them lind that IS a proximate ruult they were injured. The supre~ COlIrt distinguw.w the bclUlOI JitUlOtion in ~lriru from tNt of Zip/rin. notinC tNt in the littn the xu 01 the psychill!risl Wf~ lIli committed ur.der the gUiK 01 therapy;rnd coonstl. in8 while the plaintiff was still under the cm 01 ~ defendant. The court lIddilionllly hdd thlt Northwest was notlilble under the doc· trine of rtspondutsuperior, findin, that whfn ~lIn had KX with R~rt.I. Perkins. h. was not employed by North· west . ..or did the intercourse take place within the line or leope of Dun's employmtnt with Northwnt. &adq .. Sdtuasln. 519 So. 2d 551. 553 (AllI. Civ. App. 1987). Thw. whil. arguably there is no clear prectdent for IOCl.'Il worker malpractict ;IS • result of KxullI nploitation of II plltient or other milfu ... nu by the iOtl.'ll worktr. neithtr is the .. ;ony pub. lie policy which calls for the txdusion of soc; . l work.1'$ f!'(lm malpractice lia· bility. Perkins appelrs. OIl the contrary. to suggest the lI~iilibility of II re~dy for IOCW worker rTIllp~ ....tlm $6. ual (lYtruachinC occurs durine therapy and under tht 8uiK oItreatment. It is ootable that the PerkinKs had to resort to caKS from Michill/ln ,nd Mis · J<luri to support their contentions. There is i paucity 01 caselaw in AllIbItrTll to date regardilllll Psychothe'Tltpist Ii~il . ily, which is somewhat .urprising in view of nationwide statistics rell/lrding pat ient abun. Reporttdly lOme 13.7 percent of male therapisu havt .~d in H:XJ.W contacts with ""timll. ..d 3.1 perc.nt of femile thtrllpisU hll~e eng.Jged 1I patient in suuil acti~ity. ISee K. Pope. "Therapist-Patient Sexual Inyol~ment, a Review of the Lite"" ture: 10 Clin. Psychol. Rtv. 477 (1990). The e. .1'1« oIlhe $6Ui1 np!oiwion rTIllprXtice claim is tht mishandli!lll of the psychologiclll phenommOll known lIS transl... nee. which was mentioned in Pllrkinl. suprlJ. Transference il a term used by psychiJotrisU ~OO psychol08ists 10 <.IeKribe II Pititn!"••motioNl re~clion to it therapist ind gmuatly rtfers to the Pitien!'. pro;ectioo 0( feel. ;ngs ind emotions onto the therapist. who may ha..." ,arm to represtnt II kt)' ~In
TIlE AI.AIIAMA lAWYER
figurr in tht p;ttienl's Pist. Positiw tramfennce is oflen tlptrienced U trOIic atlrxtion to I therapist, md it is not unusual for it th."pill to experi. .nee a coun tu- transftrence towu d the ""tienl When used in a proftslionil rTIlnner. tnn&le~nct is often thenpeu· tic. When transferener is mishandled. the patient Is inevitably hlTmed. (K. Pope.supra). In order to prOW: psycholherapisl lilIbility for;on uploitM lid. the p\;lintiff must show that tht psychotherapW: was negligmt. II is axiomatic thlot in ardn to state i ,\;lim for Mgligence in Alaba· mao the pl",intiff must show that the defendint owed the pilient , duty of tan. tllllthe duly was brud>td. and an injury WlS pror.irTlltrly uUKd br the bruch 01 duty. The duty of i psychologist not to havt se~ with I patient is plll;n beco.use such an act constitute. groundl for rtvOClt· tion of his professional liernK. (S.. Code of Ala. 1975. t:W-Z6-oI6.) Proof that tht IOUlOi act o«urnd and proof of the resultant harm to the patient will create it prima facie C:lSt of InlOlpractice.
An ~nt can be rTIldt tNt H:XJ.W rebtions or $lxual contact with I Pfotitnt subjecu the therapist to negli· ~ence per.1l liabllitr in Alabami. The ekments neclWit!'1 for II cause 01 action involving statutory negli gence ,re lIS foll(lo.." (I)that the COlIrt must determine. iii a matter of law. that the statute WllS eruoet.d to prot.ct I clus of pe rsons which includes Iht p;1rty Keking to owrrt the statute; (2)that the pirty charged with negligence must have violated the statute: and (3)that the jury must lind that the IIlItutory violiltion proxirTlltely coustd the injury compillintd of. Fox u. Harlhoff, 37~ So.2d Z94 {Ala. 1979). "If amtute crelttll minimum $lin. dard of ClIrt, in unexcused violition. that is. an act done with less than mini· mum cart, mwt be neg1igence.l.o<cc u. General Motors Corp .• 624 F. 2d 1373 (5th Cir. 19SO) (applying Alabama Llw).
Look:in.g F o r
"/?
Fraud • LOS I Pro fit s
- Business value - U1igation suppon . Flnandal lnveStlgalion
W e ca n h e lpl C all th e foren s ic acco unt a nt s and fraud exam in e r s .
1530 ArnSoutII.tiabert Plaza 6iminghan. Alabana
205-716-7000 JANUARY 1995 1 47
W"flher SUlW conUct with thr ther· apist e~u~d hoorm to tIN: ."ati~nt if a quution of fact. and th ~ burden of proof ruts upon the plaintiff. PtrNpS the most d/!un\lng burden of proo( placed upon the p~inliff is tNI 01 proving thool the H~ual contact look plaeo ~I ~II. Unlike in lipkin. JUPrQ, where th~ pati.nl was induced 10 swim in Iht nude in Ihe presence of othtr pa l ienh, mon sellu1!y uploitod palitnl.l will Nvt nowilntSHS who ~ ~rify INI ~Itgtd _ual xis o«umd. In weh QHS. thr ability oIlhe ."alitnl 10 ,.collect details will conlTlbute grtatly 10 hi. or hor credibility. AttorntYf r.p rutnling plaintiffs 11It,in, .nual uploilUion should iUllicipal. INI tho P'Ytholherapift will deny lho e .... IlI. and may aU.mpl to OM the ."ati.nf s "tmotional instability'" 10 upt~in away the plaintiff. miLl! il Ihe tXjlloitive <mntill health ProfUfiooal's lrump cud, iUId il is tho unkindu! cui of illi for Ihe ."alienl_plainliff. Agam. Ih. cmlibitily oilhe partit .....iII j)( of pilramounl impo rune. in such instances. 3. Failu", 10 ,,",,"I f Uicldo I'syo:hotherllpistl m\Ul1CI IUSOOIbIy 10 idenlify ilnd proltcl thow ."alienI. who art sukid .. 1 or ilt high rilk for becoming so. Negligence on tht."art 01 the pSycholherapiSI may occur upon a failu,"" to TtOJIVIiu common indicators 01 suicide; by i~te Itslillil or IMI, uation 01 tho !Witn!; or from lailur. 10 rntrllin a ,ulcidal ."alitnl. Th. duty of psychiat r~1.I ~nd lictnHd psycholOll~I' to identify p.tcur5Qf1 01 suicide is plain. More problematic i, the scenario in which a cltf'lYrlW\ atttmpts 10 counstl 1 ."arilihiontr. In Nolllll). CTtJa Co",· ",unilll Church of/he Val/eg. 157 Cal. API'. 3d 912. 2()4 Cal. Rpl •. 303 (1984), Ih. Su preme Cou.t of Cilifornla WiI$ confronltd with tilt qutslion 01 clergy malpnctice llrising from COlInxlin, by pulon. A minor "ro was rtCtivi"ll pulOTI! (oumtlin, (Ommilled suidde. lnd his pannls sought relit! based upOn a theo!), of clergyman malp",clice fo r neglig. nt cou nseling. Th. trial court .ntuN judCmtnl for lhe dofen· danl pulors upon lhe dOH of tho p' •• ,enlalion of ovidenc. on Ih. ,.ound Ihal 10 autho. iu tho cau,e of a((ion would violate th. Fir,t Amendment of
48 1JA,....1JARV 1995
the Constitution oIlhe United Suits. This UK .tmain. cont~nill1. (Se. Buktr. "Clergy Negligenct: Art Juri" Ready to Sit in Judgmentl; T.ial (July
1986). Al&Nma', Supreme Court ~dd~ cltrgy malpnoctice lI.ism, from coun· solillil in Htmdleglt. Ilichorrh 518 So.
';Psycholherapists are constrained by both ethical and
legal duties to preserve inviolate the confide nces of the patient inviolate .... "
--2d 682 (ALI. 1981). TIlt
INI IIob/:Iy Handley. lilt dtctdtnt. ;and his wif•. Brend/! Handlt)'. Wert btinQ counseled regarding thei. marili! diffi· culti•• by the def.nd/!nt ministe •. Du.· ing the ptriod of counseling. t he minister 1I11e,.dly had SOnLll reliOlioru with lho wil. and failed 10 disclose tilt IIffai r 10 Mr. Hlndlty. When Hindlty lumed of Iht lIIili r. h. look his own life. TIlt Hlmdlq ase """ t. iN and judg· mtnl was tnler.d for tht dtftndiOnl clt'i)'man. TIlt fuprome courl. in I uNnimous Opinion. held thai no uuse of ilclion for cI ..gy ma lp.llctict had been made and died fi rst amtndmtnt fmdonl of religion as the buis 01 tht opinion. Tht qutstion Wi! lofl OPtn is to whether ~ tIUH 01 :action ... iSlS al 1111 in Alabama for mini,t.r~1 malpl'Klict. On Iht other hand . tilt court did allow lhat tht inlenlionoitorts of a cleric are ilCtionablt. tYfn though lhey Ue lnci, dents 01 religious pnoctict and belid. ... Fail,,", 10 oblal n Informtd COn· Itnt Thtlegislalure of AL"lbama hu aOOp(· ed tht Irlldil10nll view that a doclor must obtlin the informed (onstnl of Ihe patitnt btfore procttding wilh trutmtnl. Fuin ~. Smith. 479 So, 2d 115II 1Ala . 1985). Since psychial.ists· art medical doclO fli . thty clnrly art bound 10 obtain the informed eonHnl of lhei. clients, In NoID! IJ. l'ettTJOn, 544 So. 2d 86J (Ali. 1989), Noltn was involu ntarily committed 10 i menla! health facility. Nolen b.ought ~ medical m~lpractic. lIelion ag~ i",1 two ph~si· cians fo r ldminlsl .. ing poltntillily humfullnl iptychol ic drugs 10 him without firsl obt.ining hif informed conHnt. Tht lrial court 2",nltd lUm· m~f)' judgmenl for bolh docto", Th. supro<m court "versed ,taling lhe fol·
Iowina::
-~nl CUtS hlIw addrtSHd tilt issue: and. withoul exctption. ~f)' ase has reptllttd the proposition that a ptTliOll inl'Olunlari!y tom miued to. menl/ll hospilal i!
irNOh>td II .... ron'ful dOllh clilim u ising Irom a suicide. alltgedly caUHd by 1 ministtr's malpl'Klic. orout ragww conduct duro ing counseling, The plaintiffs allegt QH
THE Al.o\8AMA l.o\WVER
not ipso facio ba rr ed from the invocation of the informed consent doctrine_ Federa l Couru of Appea ls have held unequ ivocally tll.lt a mental patient confined to a mental facility maintains a con stitutionally protected right to reject potentially Il.lrmful antipsy. ch<.ltic medications."
Ii a p-')'Chiat rist i. compe lled to honor the wi,he, of an involuntarily committed patient regarding treatment. there can be no doubt that the informed constnt of voluntary patients must always be sought. Problem. ari.e for ply<:hiatrim and other mental health profe.. ionals when the mental incapacity of the pati ent is so ""'.. ,.., as to render inform<,>d constnt a practical impOMibility. Constnt ;. not deemed to be informed canst"'! unless the pat ient has the mental capacity to understand available atternatives for trutment. make a reasoned decision. and sel&t the desired treatment. If a patient has been adjudicated irn;ompdent. tlw guardian of the patient is empowered to consent to psy<:hiatric treatment for the patienl. When there is na guardian. psychiatrists Il.lve histori· cally re lied upon the consent of the patient". family. a practice which may subj&! the psychiatrist to liabil ity. Informed consent for minors has historic:,lIy been obtained through the parents of the child. The malin was reviewed in Parham u. J. R. 442 U.S. 5S4 (1979). The ,upr."", court held in Parhum that pa rents have the right and may voluntarily commit thei r minor child to a mental hospital or institution ""tt the .tated objection of the ch il d so long as tile decision i, ,ubjrct to review by a disinterested party. B~ analogy. it is interesting to review the U. S. Supreme Court d~cisioo in Ohio " . ,!kron C£nler for Reproductit'e Health . ]]0 S.Ct. 2972{l990). The Supreme Court there granted minor females the right to obtain an abortion. desp ite her parents· objection. if she can demonst rate th.t sht poueues sufficiently mature judgment to moke the dec ision. In view of th is decision .• rath., persuasive a rgument can be mad. for a "mature minor's" right to be irn;luded in the informed co ..... nt d&i_ sioo-ma king proceu as it reltes to hi' mental health. THE ALABAMA l..t\WYER
5 . failure to prated third partie. from dangeroul p;otitntl The seminal deci.ion announcing a duty to protect third persons from dan· gerous patients is Tarasolf u. Regents of the Un'-'"Ilrsitg of California. 17 Cal. 3d 425.55] P. 2d 334. 13] Cal. Rpt r. 14 (1976). In Tarasoff. mental health professionals at Berkeley·s mental health clink 'uspected that ,\l r. I'oddar had formtd the intent to kill Talia .... Tarasoff. rodder was t~mpOrarily detained by campus police at th~ instruelion of the psych<.llogiSl$. but was ,ubsequ~ntly released. Approximately two months later, Poddar killed Tarasoff. and her parents .ued the Uni"..,,,ity for failurt to lake reasonable stepS to protect the ir daughter from POOdar. The Califom ia Supreme Court held that . cause of action had betn stated for failure to warn and to take reasonable steps to protect the patient"s intended victim. The more compelling argumen t, against imposing such liabil ily upon pSych<.ltherapists include the foIlOl<·ing: A) The psychotherapist-pat ient relationship is predicated upon the therapis!"s duty to preserve the secrets of the patient. II) If a patient kn(lw, that his aggress ive mentation may be revuled. he will not confide such thought. to a therapist. thus frustrating the therapi,f. ability to httpthepatient. C) Th. abili ty of a therapi$! to predict dangerous beha~ior on the part of ~ client is Question.bk and over-reporting is encouraged by placing .uch potential liabillty at the door of the therapist. Nevertheless. despi t e th~ forceful arguments against the Tatuoff doc· trine. the ",ling has now become a ~n e rally accept ed theory of thorapist liabil ity.
6. Failure to adhere to reporting nquinment. All states now have .tatut.. ffiluiring reporting of suspected child abust or neglect, and Alabama is no exception. Alabama·. mondatory reporting statute is found at Code of AI~bama. 1975. ~26-14-3. and rtads as follow" (a All hospitals. clinics. sanil<\ri-
um!. doctors. physicians. SUf geoos. medical examiners. coroners. dentists, O$teopatN. opto""'trists. chirop ractors, podiatrists. nursts. school teach." and officials. peace omcer. law enforcement officiab. pharmacists. social wo rkers, day care workers or employees. "",ntal h..,lth proftssionals or any other person called upon to render aid or mtdical assistance to any ch ild, wheo such child is known Or suspeded to be ~ ~ictim r:i child abust or neglect. shall be requirtd to report. or cause. r.port to be made of the ",me. orally. ~ither by telephont or direct communication immediately. followed by a "Titlen report, to a duly constituted authority. Plainly. thost mental hea lth profes· who I>rovide care for chil dren are requi red by statute to r~port incidents of neglect Or abuse of a ch ild to the auth<.lrities. A failure to report abuse that can be shown to Il.l .... proximately led to the child·s having received addi· tional inju ry i. actionable as psy" chotherapi,t malp",elice. .ion~l.
Conclu.lon As psychothe",P)' becomes more and more acctptable to Americans of ~I I economic dassts. the pradices of therapi,ts will be scrutinized more clostly by the public and by the judicial system . Despite the dif(,cultits of proof ,,·hich face potential plaintiffs . suits are begin ning to prolifer,M throughout the Unit_ ed Statu on nume rous theories of liability. In conclusion, though many mental health professionals are not med ical doctors and do not take th~ Hippocratic Oath. its f,rst constraint appears . newrtheless. to be appropriate.
"First. do no harm.· Hippocrales
•
The author acknowledges the invalu_ able anistance of Judy Hughes. law librarian at Jones School of I.aw. and her supe rb professional staff. Janie S. Gilliland and Chris Thigpen. They compiled 3.000 pages of documentation for ust in writing this article. and they di d so on wry .hort notice . JANUARY 1995/ 49
JANUARY 1994-DECEMBER 1994 ATTORNEYS fU.rd~. Willillm fl. "Liabmty of P'rofts· ~,for Ntalj~nt Ctrtiflt/ltion"
55,226
NornwI, I«ith 8. "The Abbuna SU\( flu Quality of Lift SuMy Rtsulu' 55:152 Bm.er. Albert P. "AlWIN Stalt B.II and ~tions" 55:344 Buff11ow. CrtI/O!')' C. "I+. Practitioners Guick to &ttingAside Default Judgtmtnll" 55:297
Byrne. David II. Jr. & Silberman, Wilbur C. "Il e<:tnl Dttilions" 55:51. 55: 120.55:247.55:3 15
CimpbelJ. Gilbert R. Jr. "" Tribute 10 Reggie H"",,", ,-A Ctntltman From AlWIN" 55:274
f.mrrging i.t ow in Stxual HatM$· !TWnt" 55:33
Early, But fl .. "A Tribute 10 Reggie Hamner-A St.'ItWNll, II facilitator. A \"",ionlry" 55:275
EDUCATIOS "Equitable F"undinQ for Alabama's Schools" 11lI W. HaNtY 55:354 EMPLOYMENT LAW
"The Tort ofOutrase in Alabama: Eme'lling Trends in Se~ual HariWImnt" Christine Whit'5l'1I UwU, JM"II: R. Goodson & Rtnee DMIitl Cuiwrhouso 55:33 E~"VI ROX~ E!tIT
CML PROCEDURE
"A Prxtitiontrl C",idc to Sdtinghilk
Dmult Judgemtnu" CrfiOrY C. Buff,,1ow 55:297 "l'hc Ablwn.l ClU5 Action" AIm T.
Rogers SS; IOS "l'hc AlabarTl.l Clus Action-Part 1'w<J" Alan T. Rog!:fl &i CrtlZOry C, Cook
55:\58 Cook, Gregory C. & ~rs, Alan T. '1'he AlWrmCIw Action" Part Two 55:158
Cu, WilIWn S. m "An Introduction to the ~ Watu RtsOUrteS Act" 55:176
C"Ivt"rtIoIoK. Re"", Daniel, lAwis, ChristiM WhiltSfIl &. Goodwn, Jane R."The Tort of Outrage in Alabama: 50 IJANUAAY 1995
"An Introduction to 1lw: Alabama IVat" RQO\irea Act" WiIIWn S. eo.. [I[ 55: 176 "WNt Is This Thi"i c,llt<! UST?" Ja",u C. Stt\'el\$ 55:22(1
GOVE RN~ E~'T
"AlJ.Mma Statelludgtls I nd Appropr~. tions" Albtrt P. B~r 55:344 " alntoll. \\i lliun II. Jr. -A Tribute to Rcait Itunrvr_ 1lw:·25-Yur Low A(fil;r"' 55:27(1
l-Limntr. Reginald T. "Exrct.lti"" DirtClor"S RtPOrt- 55:8, 55:70. 55:142,55:207.55:267 H,rd.le. Willi~m H. "Liability of Prof,. tionals for Nti/.lii/.tnt C.rtification" 55:2 26 Hart. 1. Ma.rIc "Wrongful Supervisior\: NrwAlttntion on ~OId Tort" 55:96 " """". till W. "Equ itable Funding for AlWma', Schools· SS:3S4 " ayotl. La III "Young uwyers' Section"
55:1 0.55:72,55: 183 55:245 EVIDENCE
"Pa.tttm lind P~tkt: DiWNtry a.nd U5l' of Evidenclt-A Otftndanr. p.r· s;>«tiw" CNrlu D. Stewart. Edward M. Weed" Philip C. Piggot 55:233 Codl>oW. Judie John C. ·R......I1t$October II. 1993 55:43 (Correction 55:.S9) CoodfOn. JM"II: R., Cuiwrhouse. Rtllft lW1itl, & Ltwis, Christine White5t1l '"The Tort of Oulrl# in Alabama: Elmrging Trends in St~ual Har.tS,5. Imnt" 55:33
lIolm es.ll roox C., "Pretidtnt"5 Page" 55:264,55:328 INDEX Cumullltiv! Irda J~ ..... ry 1993NoYt~r 1993 55:55 Kimble. BeHndI L ' Wrongful Birth: A Pn.ctiliootr's Cuide 10 ' Nrw ArrMI" 55:84
Kitchen., Lynne B. "1993: The Ytarof the KD,"l-CD RO.'-t for Alabama uwyers" 55:46 THE AIAIIA."IA U.WYER
LAW OFFIC E MA.'iACE,'II E1\'T
"1993: Tht Vur ofthr RO.'oI-CD RQM for Alabimi Llw)'tl'$" Lynnt B. Kitchrnl5S:46 LEGAL SERVICES "Who Reprtstnts 1M Poor?" Pen!ljl Wuver 55:382 I.ewl •. Christine Whitesoll . Goodson . Jane R.. &. Culverhouse. Renee [)aniel '""The Tort of Ouln$ in Alab,aI11.i: Emersing Trends in Saual Harassment" 55:3.3 LlTICATIOS "Thr AIabMnI Clus Action" Alan T. R,*I'$ 55: 105 "Thr Alabimi Clus Action" Poort Two Alan T. ~I'$ &. Crego<y C. Cook 55:158 Lyonl . Cilamp Jr. "A Tribute to Reggie flamner---Cililing iI Spadt iI Spade" 55:2 73 MeCum,. Robert L Jr. "ugislaliw Wr.lp-Up" 55:.9. 55:11 7. 55: M. 55:2 10. 55:276. 55:3.32 MEMORIALS Binlwter. Cb.... E. 5.5:255 &fTll.rd. Joe CWwn 55:386 CaIWwn.l.inds.ly Cb.y Jr. 55:321 Dodd. Annent Cb.rk 55:12. Engel. 8m A. 55:25. Garrett. Milton Cuy 55:256 G.lrth. Horact ~:. 111 55:258 Groom, Winston F. Sr. 55:321 Hardl. Juliiln 55,38. Harril. Norman W. Jr. 55:254 Harrison. George Mortimer 55:60 Hobbs. Samuel ~ rlt Clftnt 55:257 flopn, Rosc:oe B. 55:256 f1~II. T. O. 55:384 Johnston. Gilbert E. Sr. 55:321 .Iones. Gillxrt Ernul Jr. 55: 125 Kftli"'ll.1'ranIt Marion Jr. 55:61 Long. Grady Jxkson 55:258 Maocon. Joe A. Jr. 55,255 MaTSloI. M. A. 55: I 9' .'11",,101'$. JoKph JtTOlTlt Jr. 55:60 McElroy. Judge bmes RlUItIl 55,386 Mimi. Wil lter L. 55:59 PaT$Oll. Conni. Walter 55:254 TI lE Al.ARA.'IA LAWYE R
Pikt. Oa;nitl A. 55:385 Salmon. Louis 55,61 Sirote, Morris K. 55:256 StQCkIuom. DougIu W.II155:322 WrIll. Gabmllt U. 55:322 ....'ildtmirt. Milltr Arrington 55:12. Winto. Douilass P. 55, 126 Nonniln. Ktith B."Tht Alabama Stal. &r ~lily of lift Survty Ruull$" 55: 152 "Executive Dirtcto, '. Report" 55:330 Norri•. Ro«rI W. "Opinions of Ihe Gene'ill CouNtI" 55,20
o r lSIOSS OF Til E CES ERAL COUNSEL Allomty/WilllH$ 5.5:289 ContrxtJ 10 Act "" SubJtitule Couruirl lor Indigent OrimdultJ 55:342 finilncing ArnngementJ for Legal FftS 55:20 Ptrctnlloge feu in FORcI(l!;ure Sal., 55:2 1. ProfeSSional ~'ftl. Disbursements and Othtr ExpeNts 55:190
Piggot. Philip G.. Stewart. Cha..1es D., &. Wftd, Edw.trd M. · Patt.rn IDd i'rKti«, DiSCO¥try IDd UK U Evidmc:e-A Defendint'l Ptrsptctivt" 55:233 PROFILES John Arthur Owtns 55: 150 R~giN\d T. lu,mMr 55:269 Rogen . Alan T."TiIt Alabama Clus Action· 55:105. "The Alab,ama CI ..... Aclion" PJrt 11 55, 158 Rum,,", Samml A. Jr. "Building Ab.bamn Courthouses" Chilton 55:1 7. Perry 55:79. Crftflt 55: 146. Hak 55,21 1, Sumtu 55:285, Marengo 55:3.37
Scruw, "~IIWn D. Jr. "A Tributt to R..ggi. Hamner- The Constanl Profwional" 55,272 Seal • . James R. (Spud) "Pruid ~nt"s PJg~" 55,4. 55:68, 55: 132, 55:200
Side., Terry A. "Rt<;tnl Decisions" 55: 185
Silbmnan. Wilbur C. &. Bymt, ~id B. Jr. "Recent Dtcisionl" 55:51. 55,120, 55: ISS, 55:24 7. 55:315 S....II. CLarenct M. Jr. '"Opening of Court" 55:57 Smith. Ro«rt Sentl'$ "Overview of Alabama "ruts" 55:369 Strwal, limes C. "Wha.lls This Th ing ~lItd USn" SS,220 St.... rt. Cha.rlu 0 .. Wffil. Edward .'II.. &. PiIllOlI, Philip C. "PooUtTO and Pnctite: ~ry and Use of £vi dtnu-.\ Oritndinl'l Ptrsptctivt" 55:233
"" "Overview of Alabama TiIlIu" Ro«rt Stllm Smilh 55,369
TORTS "i.WIility of Profwion.r.ls for Negligent CtrtirlCiltion" "~IIWn H. Hard~ SS,Z26 "Thr Tort U Outr.lgt in ALabama: ElTItrting Trmds in SuwI H~r.lWntnt" Chrisline Whitesotll Ltwil. JIM R. Goodson &; Renet Daniel Culverhouse 55,33 "Wrongful Bi rth , A Practitioner's Guide to, New Arrival" Belinda L. Ki mble 55:S. ' Wrongful Supervi.ion: New AUt nti<>n on an Old Tort" J. Ma rk lI. rt 5S:96 "'_ . Penny "Who ReprtstntJ the Poor?" 55:383 Weft, EoMord .'II.. Piggatt.l't1i!ip G.. &. S_rt. Chirks D. "Pattern itfld Prildite: OiSCOVtry and Use of
Evidtnce-A Oo!fenclilnt". PmfltC\.ive" 55:2 33 " '011. Ilerlxrt Harold Jr. "Young La~I'$'
Stctlon" 55:3 1. JANUARV 1995/ 51
DISCIPLINARY REPORT Di5barment s • Binningham la~r J ohn lIa1'\'O)' Wiloy. III was disbarred by order ol the Discipl in3r» Board for failing to CQrnply with an order of I~ Di..,iplinal')' Commission in violation of Rule 2(d) of the Rules of Disciplinary Procedure: for kn()\O.ingl)o failing to rl'$po!ld to a lawful demand for information fl'QlTl a discip iinar')' authority in violation of Rule 8.1 (bl. Rules of Profession<ll Con· duct (ROI'C); for failing to promptly deliver to a client propert}l
that the client ;s entilled to rectiye in violation of Rut. LIS. ROre; ;md for engaging in conduct that adversely •• neds on his fitness to practj~ law in violation of Rule 8.4. ROPC. On s.,ptember 29. 1993. WiltjI was notified by certified leuer that the Disciplinary Commission had dete rmined thai he should be publicly reprimanded. without gt".,ral publication, and that h. should mall. restitution in the amount of $2.500 to clients A and B. On Februal)' 2. t994. Witey wos reQuesud
by certified tttter to inform the Discipiinal)' Commission whether he intended to make restitution to his clients. A and B. Wiley did not respond to this Idter nor did he make rtotitution to his clients. Formal charges....,re med against Wiley for the above violations on March 25. 1994. and Wiley filed an anSwer to the chorge. on May 10. 1994. On May 18. 1994. the state bar med its fI"t .. t of interrogatorits. The Disciplinal)' Boord. on July 19. 1994. issued an ordu compelling Wiley to an,wer the ab<.>w interrogatories. Wiley did not comply with this order and an application for ddault judgment was med on August 12. 1994. The Disdpllnal)' Boord, on August 29. 1994. issued a default judgmenl against Wiley and .el a hearing to determi ne discipline on September 23 , 1994. Wiley did oot respOnd further nor did he attend tht hearing of the Disciplill/ll)' Boord on ~ptember 23. 1994. At the conclusion of this h.. ring. lhe Disciplil"lal)' Board delmnined lhat WHey should be disbarred and lhat he should make restilution 10 his clients. Aand B. in the amount of $5.250. The Supreme Court by order dated N","'mber 22. 1994 dis· ba rred Wiley effecti,,,, November 10. 1994. and struck hil name from lhe roll of attorneys oflhe State of Alabama.IASB No. 94-
0931
Pi ..... cMck your a<kirtloHnd "l.pho"" numbor in tho CUr_ rent (1994) .d iti"" 0/ the AJalJama Bar Dir«lory. II anything i. incormt. mail or far chang.. by F.b""., 15. 1995 to:
AI ......... Stott lIu.AUn, '' '.mbonhip s.m.... p.o. R<>:c 671. ' 'ontg<lmo." AL 36 to t FAX (334126 1-63 10 Anyth ing rece;v.,d .ft" that date will r>OI bo ",fl«:l.d in lhe 1995 di,ectoll'. Pleu. <.... 'k your information todayl
52 /JANUARY 1995
• On October 26. 1994. Anniston attorney and former Circuit Judge lIarold C. Quattlebaum was d"l!arred from the practice of law in the State 0( Alabama b)' order of the Alabama Supreme Cou rt. Quattlebaum was found guilty of violating Rulto 1.3: 1.4(a); 8.1(a); 8.4(b); 8.4(e); 8.4(d); 8.4(g); DR 1.102(A)(4); DR 1·102(A}(6). Quattlebaum was found guilty b}' default of filing fraudulent homeowners insuranCfc claims wilh various insurance companies. filing fraudulent attorney·! fee dedarations with the State of Alabama. and willful noglect of legal matters enlrusted 10 him. Quattlebaum did not appear at the hearing on the.., charges and did oot frle an appeal from the Discipl inal)' Board·, actions. IASB No. 93·1&01 Suspens Ion
• l>othan attorney Grtgory P. Thorn .. has been suspended from the practice of law for a period of 91 days by order of the DiSCiplinary Board of Ih~ Alabama Stat. Bar. In May 1992. Thomas was placed on probation for a period of two }",ars in connection with disciplina ry matt ... that we .. pending agairut him at that time. The order suspending Thomas for 91 days wos enlered in re5pom1' to Thomas' plea or guilty to having violated Ihe lenns and conditions of his two-year probation. (ASB No. 89-3131 Public Re prim .. nd • On Nowmber 4. 1994. Montgomel)' attorney Donald C.
l'tad iMln was giwn a public reprimand without general publication rtoulting from his being found guilty of willful neglect and misrepresentation b}' the Discipiil"lary Board of the Alabama State Bar. ~ladison agreed to represent a w<lman from Sacramenlo, California in. matter involving fraud and breach of contract claims. The client had purchased a restaurant building and had il moved toa lOll in w..'Ildu County. where it was to be remo<kled. On ~larch 18. 1991. Ihe dient paid Madi· >on $647 to pr""",,d with Ihe case. He told her he would get it fried in the nexl week as the client was leaving for Saudi Ar•. bia. By August 3. 1991, Madison had .till not filed the action and h. was ttrmill/lted by leller on that date. Madison rtopOnded to the lennil"lation 10Uer and enclosed. copy of a draft com· plaint. which he said he would file . AI lhat pOint. Madi>on had been paid O'Ier 52.000. The dienl called Madison and gave him Ihe authority to continue with the represenlation. Madison .till failed to file the action. On or about So!ptomber IS. 1991. tho client checked with the court in l,(Mlldto Count~ and upon l.. ming that nothing had been filed in her case. she had noth· ing further 10 do with ~'adison. She filed a grievance in lHeemller 1991. On March 4. 1992. Madison wrote to an investigator from the Monlgomery Counly Bar and stated that he had mailed the complaint to w..'Ildes Counly Circuit Court for filing. H. had not done 50. and did not actually fit< the action unti! May 6. 1992. or one da~ before his appearance before the Monlgomery Counly Grievance Commillee. IASB No. 93-0851 • THE ALAfW.1A lAWYER
RECENT DECISIONS B!I DAVID B. BI'RNE, JR. and WILBUR G. S/LI1ERNAN
SUPREME COUAT OF THE UNITED STATES r .d.....1drug conl piTV)' .blul. dou not ""quire gowm .... nt to pn:n.~ o>-ert ael committed in furthtran« of con. plTV)' Shabo,,; v. linilea Slalts, Cue No. 93·981 (Nowm~r I. 19941. In one of ib first criminal asts of tho new ttrm. till: Sup...... Court w~ uktd to consider whtillef 21 U.S.C. Sution 846 ffiluiru the I/O"trruntnt to """" thalli conspi .... tor COtnm,tltd lin owrt Kt in furthtn.n« of an ailtgtd drug COfUpir.o. .:y. In I ",,,,nimow <k<:ision. the Court
ronclulkd that it does not. Shabani wal charged under the Itatu!t wilh conlpincy to diot ribule cocllint. AI trial. h. moved to di.mi~ the indictrmnt btc.Iuse it did no! alieg.> the tommill<on olin Wltrt K t in fur_ tht ....n« 01 1M oon$lli .... cy. which Kt, M cbimtd, ...·u lin tutnUaI dement of til. charged offenH. In .. ddition, h. ~d tM district tOIIrt \0 instruct the jury thll proof of an CM:.t KI was 1I
nquinmmt /or oonviC1ion. The distrIct court dotni.d both Shoo· bani's motion <lnd his rtquuted jury instruct ion nOlinll thit prior circuit cou rt oIlp~alJ' cuu had tJublish~d the "Iotally illogical" proc t dent of requiring proof of an O'Jtri acl at trial but not ITWlwtlng 1m, allegation of an overt act in the ind ict ment. Findin g nothing in the I.mg~ of Section 846 to support the Ip~lIate courfs prior asu. the diJtrict court all"",~ the case to go to tht ju ry wilhoul nqui ring proof by the toYtmmtnt of" C(lR!Ipifll' cy furthtrtd by M\ ow:rt let. On appn', the Ninth Circuit followed its own prtadtnt lind rm.~ the district court. holding thl! proof of <In ow:rt ICt was requirtd at tml. Howevor, tht ci rcuit court did ..:knowltdge thai its prior cutS 'sund on ~ak ground." In an opinion au t hOrt~ by Justice O'Conno r, the Su pn me Court con-
TH£ AL\BAMA I,,-\WY£II
ri rmtd the circuit cou rfs suspidons when it reversed the I~r court and held that tht plain I"nguage of t he statute did not require proof 01 an OYert acl. T he Court rejected Shahan ;'s requut that i\ infer luch a requirement from tOngrwiOl1.l.I siltnce, noting that it N.d declintd to do SO ...ith other con5pifllC)' sliMU in the PiJI. Nosh v. linilM SI(1les, 229 US 373 (19131, ind S~r v. l/r>iled S/(1ID. 323 U.S. 338 (1945). Momwtr, linct w gmen.! con· SJliI¥)' mtute MId the ronspifllC}' Pn;JI.;· sian Ii OrpniRd Cri_ Control Act of 197(1 both requi .. an overt act, it lIppund clnr to Iht Court that CongnlS' choke to omit the ..quirt· men! in Section 846 was quite dtl ibefllte.
s...
w
UNfTED STATES COURT OF APPEALS., lint CIRCUIT
u"'"
Uu of thmnal I~in, IIMct dots ""'amount 10 " OUil'h M Fourth Amtadmtllt Ford v. United SlOlts. CA II. No. 925181 (September 21. 1994). In , case Ii rint imprelSion. the Eltftnlh Circuit considered whetlltr the IIOWmmtnt's use li<lthel"lNl ilNgor in tilt dtttction of I mirijua~'lIrowing optflltion con· stituted an unrnsooable starch unckr t he Fourth Amendment. The ci rcuit court cancludtd thai il did not, Baud on thei r belief thai Ford was growinll muljuana inside his mobile oome, IIw enforcemenl offictn used a Ihumlll Imaller to IUn Ihe mobilt home in starch of unUJUil infnrtd heal p;ouerns. TIlt offictn determined that w home ..... indt«l givi"ll off m inordi~tt iIl"I(lUnl 01 hm. which is ronsistml with in indoor marijUl~ growing Operation which gtnn"alu heat beaust of w _ Ii artl(lCial lights. Using this info rmlltion, and thll! from othu sources, tilt offictn obUintd I w,mant to starch Ihe mobil. hornt. Tht subsequent snrch of Ford's mobile home uncovered II ratlltr Jubsuntill marij",,·
~'I/JOWi"ll
openlion.. AI hOI trial. Ford JOUSht to suppress the rlidence uiud as a resu lt of the ....arrantltlS use of the tllt rmil image r. Tht district court denied his motion and he was subKljuently corwitttd for pas. JtSSion of mirij\lll~ "";Ih intent to distribute, In his a,,~al, f ord u r~d Iht circuit court to find Ihlt the starch viaI"ttd his rusonablt Upt(:ution of "ri' VKY in the hut emlnlling from his mobile home. On appal, lhe ~llIte court nokd that tilt prOCaI of tslibtWling a legitimate txpeCtation 01 privxy is "/I twofold requirement, first thai i person ha'" exhibittd m itt"",1 lsubjective) txptcta • lion of privacy and, second, thai Ihe upecu.tion Ix ant thlt KlCiety is prepared to rtcognitt as 'rtasonable~ Kalz v. Uniled S/(1I.$, 389 U.S. 347 , 361 (1967). The court found ample rvidt""" in the rtcOrU 10 indicate lhal Ford made no atttmpt to conual the heat ~rated ins;dt hiJ mobile home by the growinl/ limps. In fxt. Ford was Irying to ~I the =as heat from his mohilt home by UJinC an rltctric bower to fora: the air throuth some holts lit had punched ill the floor. The court concluded that FcmI did not exhibit I subjective opecution of privxy in tilt hr.t relastd from hiJ mobil. home. In addition, the Court held lhal a subjtcli~ upectation 0( privacy in tilt heat .malllting from a ~ ;s not an eJCptCta!ion thai society is pre· pared to recoenitt lIS being nasonablt. Th. thermal imagery at issue .... as 01 such low ruoIution u 10 render il i"",,· pabIt of revtaliOi lhe intimacy of detail lind lIclivity protected by tht Fourth
_M.
Solice 01 prior NcI KlI evldtJOft
Peru· Tl)Jta v, United SIales. CA U, No. 92 .... 781 (N~mbt r 8, 1994). In another tlse of firsl impression, Ihe F.ltvtnth Circuit conside red whethe r the governmenl ga....: reasonable pretrial notice of an Intent 10 offer teslimony of a druQ <;(Inlpiracy deft ndanfs prior
JANUAIIY 19951 53
"•
Wi!h Ww', F.dera! R.porI..... ,..nos ,... hot.. to buy all 13 cim<i ...
MICHIE'S' FEDERAL LAW ON DISC: FOR LAWVERS WHO WANTTO 00 FEDERAL RESEARCH WITHOUTTAKING ON ""'''''~,,{'''1~.,.. need THE NATIONAL DEBT• """_.'LEXI5''''''._ Disc.
khOW .",,,,,dv ... hieh circuilS you reoearch. Yoo wan. cal<: law on
,ha,
<0
Mich..,'. F.d. .... l law On
y<>W' de.\:;
without
the ncedl ... expo1\SO <X owning. nationa/library. ",'lIy Mich.., "rc"M tho, (.den! CD.ROM libn!)' ,hat k", you choose just whal you use-and eniov sub.iantial speed and saving> over W<$'" FeJ",-a/ Rtj><ln<n. Each Michie (rdt",! disc con",ins ,h. full·Iex. decisions of 00. fedo",[ circuit. We .1.,0 publW>. c<>mpkte U.s. Supt."", Court libmry on CD-ROM. Our Fol;oe search .ystem is the best in the busineo>. giving you. clea, pa,h to law 00 point in elthe, DOS Of Windowo'" v ...io<u. And M,chie'.option.1 Onli ... Con n«lion '" giv .. you ,he l.to, circuit court upd.,,,,,
TIta,',
fi",
u.s. Su!>«,,,,,, Court and one circuit for ... [i"l, .. $~9 •
month~
Ea.th additional circu;, jus, $0650 • month!
The op«d aM convenience \'00 wan, without 13'<;1\11 on the national debt.
800/356-6548 .. _ ,_ _ .LDmU><..... _"""'_ .. _ ........ ....._ """"'._.n. ... .--'-.~"'--""'-"'--"-"""-
druQ·nll.ttd work for I co-conspiTlltor whut notiu wu Qiwn only minutes befon 'o'Oir diu. The issut required the ~ppea ls court to eXolmlne the corutruc· toon of FW.R.f.";d , 41)4(b)'s 'uSOnlIble notice rtquirement. In 1991. the Rule wu Imended to requirt the g<.l\'f:mment 10 eivt rf.UOltI.ble notice in advance of t rial of III intention to present -prior bad actJ" evi· dence. If 1M Kcwtd lias reQuuted 1M notice, The poIiC)' behind the amendment is "to redl>« lUr'\'Irlsoe and promote arly moIution on the iswt of Idmwi. bility: r ed. R.E";d. 41).i (bl Commitlee't Judiciary note. No specific time limit is imposed by the Rule beyond the gtnml requirement of reuo~ble notiu. and wh.1 is re'50Rabl •. IccordinQ to the Commitl~ notes. depends borgely on the drcumslanct5 d lhe Indi,idUil case. In this CU\' , the district court found that tM def,,~ ~ six daY" not~ (bi'aUK the "ilna.!l ..... a.11td dunnQ the litter part oftM C"AMmmmf' casel. The circuit court KI out \hrt. factors that should be considered in determin. ing the rt;uonablenel.! of pretrial notice under 404 (b):
19941. Stonf ..... convicted of driving under the innuenc~ of alcohol. On appeal. he ~rgued that the trial court ~rm1 whtn it deniN his motion to sup-p.~ .. evidence of th road,ide field 50briely tUI$ tNt he was required to perform by the urestinrl offker, Specifitilly. Stone argutd that he wu entitltd to Miranda warnings during thi 'WdliM stop, Ind, that the omissio n of \ho:W waminas rendered the field sobn· tty ttsts, or II lust 1M 'ltrbiil upecU of 1!>oK Inll. I~miuiblt, The rourt of rnminallppt.lu ~.Iectrd this IrQumtnt. To Mllin wilh. the court d~clined 10 hold. ill Stone urged. that Article l. Sec· tion 6, of the Alabama Const itu t ion, which prwides that an indiviO.W "shall not be compelled 10 (I;'~ e,,;denCf! against himseV." is brwdoer In scope and providn !lrnt.r prot.et ion, than the Fifth Amtndment to the fedenll Constitution which St.llles that no person "shall be CDrl1jltUtd in III)' criminal tilSf to I>e" Idtness IJIII.lins/ hinuell." In doil'lll so. the court ~affirmtd the AiabarNI Supreme Court', statement that ·despit~ the difference in IangUIIgt, the Alabama privilege against stlf·incrimination offe" the WIll'
gw,rant.., ill th.It (:(Ifl\.lintd in the ftdtraI Corutitution: Ex pDTle Hift. 366 So.2d 318,322 (Ala. 1979). Secondly, the court thoroughly elWll· intd the traffic stop in iuue 10 determine WhelM r tM itop constituted a "custodial inlerfOCition: which would require /l/if"(1rll/<J w.minj/$. In il$ _Iy. sis, the court difftrtntllt~d bttwun tN: "custody" that would trigger the right to Mirando warnings lind II "seizure" thllt triggers Fourth Amtndment con· ~mi. Custody ariRs only if an individ· ual" frffilom is rutraintd \0 the dtgrH associat~d with II formal, ' re,t. While the . top of II motorist who ;, 'UlIptcled of driving under the influence 11 unquestionllbly ""iud" wilhin t he meaning d the Fourth Amtndmmt. it is tqually dur that the motorilt is not "in cuslody" under Miranda wN:n he il !lopped and brieny ~uestioned, Thus, lib II -Ten}I"'op: a motorist IUlIpedtd of drunk drivin!l mly be briefly dtt.lintd.1Sked qutllions. ~ be ilIked to perform simple roadside lests. If the officer's suspicions t UTn out to be unfounded then he mUlt relUlt the motorist immedilltely.
"0 I \\'lH:n the Covernmenl. throuQh tinvly prq'lllTlltion for trilil. could hlYI' learronl of the Iv:oibtbihty of tM wit"" ..: "(21 The extent of prejudice to the opponent of the evidenc. from a iKk of time to prep;lrt: and "(3)11ow signiftant the tWltnro: is to the ProoKUlion'I~: In applying t~ factOr> to the cut befo.e them. the £Iewnth Circuit held that reasonable Irial prq'lllration would not hIv! revultd the t.... imony to the pn)$lCUIor ~ arlitr. and defmse COUll· al did not india.te Ill)' fldditionlll mu· su.es thlt he could ha,'f: ttken to rtbut the testimony if more nOlice had bun IliYl'n. The tutimony INtnt directly \0 tM issue of the driendant', ........1'nIQ$ of and p;irtic;.,ation in the Illrgt<i conspincy.
ALABAMA COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
- ) Judicial Building Tours The Supreme Court of Alabama invites ~·OU to tou r the Judicial Building located at 300 t()Y,'n
~Iontgome!)',
lR~ter
Al'enue in down·
Tours are available Monday through Fri-
day. 8:30untiI4:30 p.m. To schedule a tOUT, call (334) 242-4347 or 1-800-236-4069.
mll,u,ptcu nol enlilltd 10 flfitGnd. _ m in" 510"" v. Cil, Dlllun/SlIi/le, CI.Crim. Apps .. CR No. 93-617 (Sept~mbu 30. JANUARY t9951 55
U.S. m l trlcl Jud ,e hGLd l tha t IR S let hnlal ,ioll1ionl of au lomatic I LlY do IIGI Ju.ttify contempt boldin, In ~.Iow DIg,;..." ;"9. 171 B.R. 387 (N.D. Ala. 1~4 .J . PrOPltj. Jove Engi,...,ring filed " Chapter II petition on October 20. 1992. Thuuftu. tM IRS. although btinglisted il5 a cmlitor. sent Vinous delinquency naticrs tG tM debtor. rtqUfsling ~nt oftuts. On Man:h 4. ]993. il filed a proof of claim of 13(1.4.239.08. Even so. Ihe IRS con· tinu.~ wi t h ill nOlieu. and on on. ocealion. an agent called upon the debtor. Jove filed iI motion to hold ttK IRS in contempt. and tMn on motion of Jove. the CI$f: was wilhdrawn to tlv dis· t ric l tourl for consider"tion 01 t he bankruptcy court's lUthorily to rult 00 thf: motion for contempt. In his opin. ion. Judlt' Propst dtlioiled lhe ~oct. lhowinglhe num..o"s letten written by Jove',,,ItOfTO!ll 10 the IRS rtquesting that it cUM its efforts to coll.d from the debtor. and the actions blcen by the 1115. H. di$linguished the 1115 aclions os bting "I~~ly mil~ in contrut 10 .gregious action delineat.d in In re l.iIe. 103 ILII, 830 IBankr. S. D. Tu . \989). Judge l' rOpII determined that no malice. arrogant dtfiance. Or reckln. disregard WilS shown. Ht held il iNp· prop riat. to "ward at torney fees for contempt. bul did ""'ard 1500. 5tlIting tmt this unount --..Id haVf bttn luffi· titnt 10 rffOIw: any purported disput •.
me.•
Chapt.. 12 modif..:ationlOhi,ghto of Heum Itndt-r. UntO of vaiultion of UNt•. and Mbtsl lnteruts t•• t "~ dthlor nol . ntilled to S5.OOO l urviving "pou .. homul ..d eu mption "'Gller of O'N~(}/ RiC<!. debtor. 171 n .lI. 399. Ilkrtcy N.D. Ala .. August 19. 1994. J. Citdlkl1. In this Chapter 12 CI$f: prt·petition. debtor had oblioined "loon in order 10 (ONtrucl p:)Uttry howes. In 1993. debtor filed ~ (hapltr 12 petition. ~nd in 1994 I pl1n suppl~m~n l~d by later "mtnd.mnts was tiled. The w.lu~ of thf: rul proptrty was tmblished by the court on April 18. 19941ft.tr which further pl1n ~~ndmtnt' ..... re filtd. The Itneltr bank ob;«ttd to plan confir. JTI.Ilion bec.luse of dtblor'. prDJll>'.Ol to POOY OVfr 1 1S.)'tu period at 8.5 perant. Tht court held that all hough fl222(bH2) allows mo~ification of rights of I .ecured c .. ditor. and that
56 1JANUAIIY 1995
Ihe ttrmS and (Gndition. of loans to <'lthtr tU$lomtl'$ do nat bind the court. the risk flCton in such modifiClllion should be minim"l. lInd the rat. of int.... t ~d lerm lhould be that of I commtn:ialltndtr c:onsideri"ll risk MId IomIrity. lie.. Ciddtll Ivkl both lhe rate ~ dunotion 10 be unrt-.n· ablt. H. did confirm Ille value eslab· lished in ""rillO be lhe sa~ OS that of the dfediVf diM of the plan (approxi· mal.ly Ihree months lal.r). bul IItld Ihat the plan failtd to meet tht "but interests of the tred ito" lest" btcaust it provided for a $5.000 exemption for deblOr', decnstd wift. The courl. in dti"ll AtablolTl.l Code U6-IO-6 MId 6-]0· I] Wottd that the proptr d;ite for dettrminint blonkruptey atmplions is the d;itt of lhe order for .. Iitf. MId thaltlv Ikct.utd wift'l homesteild extmplion was not 1Viiliblt 10 him on that d;ile. The..fore. to claim such unlit. a Chap. I.r 12 plan when it would nOI be .11o.... d under a Chapter 7 liquidation violattd 1122S1a)(4).
J_
Comment: Thi. ruh e r shori CUt is a good r.... iew of Chapter 12 law. but da you Ihink tht debtor would haVf been enti· !ltd to the two 15.000 u.mptions had the wife died pre· petit ion~ r ootnote 2 SIU" thai the wife wu nol a joinl dtbtor. but dots not indicat~ ptrant· ~ of o...ntBhip of the howe.
Look out for exemption claiml in III "tor. nQ)' IN: to.t In rt! w.'s I~ CrNI1. J I r .3d
CUla-lf IIGI.
1098. Illh Cin:uit (Ata.). September 13. 1994. Debtor med a Chapltr 7 cut in ~'tbruary ]991. She claim.d a. an exempt uset ~ personal injury I",,-.uil ,'alutd at (II\f dollar. Neithtr the trustee nor lflll creditor objected.. UowtVI' •• the Irusttt foliGwed the maUn, being instrumental in obtaining" $15.000 seUlf!TIenl The bankruptcy court judge denied deblor'l motioo to disburw all but 00f dollar 10 debtor. On "ppa!. Dis· trict Judge Virgil PiUm"n reverstd holding thaI the f"'lu .. 10 obj«1 pre· cludtd tht \rulln from challenging debtor's claim tot the $lltltmmt funds. Tht lruslee appealed. claiming that all but one doUar belong.d to Ihe tstalt. The EI.venth Cin:u;t held that under TIlII/or v. Fn./(md & /(roll1: . 112 S.CI. 1&44 (I!192). failure to object with Ihe
3O~ limilltioo of Rult 400J(b) from ttK cooclwion of the creditor:.' met!ing Ivld pursuant to lIult 2003{aJ is fatal. The COlIrt vitwtd this CI$f::as king no different from the T<t¥I()T Cnt. tv.n though the trustee cootended vigorously that only 0IIf dollar could be sel Midi: M uempt. ,u thlol _ all claimed.
Comment: If hoed i, hlltn of thil cue, it behoovt. tru steu and c redilors 10 eumiM schtdules cartfully in small or l\O<iJ.S$I't cuts. I'e-haps a tr",tee could tontinue the meeting gen~rally "'i\hout concluding il. and. thus. teehniClllly $lill haVf 30 days from Iht d;ite of I for· mil conclUlion. but I question Ih~ legality of $0 doing without I valid ru~.
S ubstant .... eoaJOlIdati"" in hpsblond and wlf. CUI not allowftl R"i/kr p. FDIC. 31 F.Jd 1102 (11th Cir. Sept. 13. 1994). This is a ease of ('''1 imprellion in the Elrvtnth Circuil. Tht Reide", hrnband and wift .• ncoun· tered financial difficulties Qusing Ihem to filt a joint Chapt et II. In an ordtr of Ooctmbt r 15. ]986. the ban kruptcy court Mid that ctrlain real estate wilS tilled 101.ly in Iht wif•. thus dtnying lny u.mplion right in tht husband. and holding lhat Ilt had not t1.luitabll inle rut in the properly. Th. FDIC. which "',u 1 credilor only of tht hLllband. ITIOI'fd for suMtantiVf coruolid;i· lion MId lilt blonkruptcy court granted
.,.... .... Il0l_ •.
,
o...oe _
1>'M/<t _ _
.. ..
<t,. __ _ -
-_.,.. ---"'-_..0i;J0".'..... no 'OOO'o'OlJ ..,.,,..
... <t ,. ...
-
..-.
~<t_ . _
"'00000<I" .......... -~ II•• ,,_
----. ......----. _.""',. ---_O_.<t ....... _ ~ _<t
"'Y ...... .-...y<t
....-...y. ..... Uw ...
S<n>::I <t
00000<I '"
Tm; AIABA.\IA LAWYER
the motion. The dist rict court iflirrned the ruling but. on Ippul. !he Eleventh Circuit reverHd. II bonomed i~ dtei· sion on its historiaJ tquilable ~TS. t08e1her with 1302 (joint cues) ind FRBP IOIS(b) (consolidation or ;Oint ;w,\minmT1tionl. II rMtwed!he history of comminlllin8 of u!.ds by COrpoT1· lions. wilh special atlenlion to t he injustice to creditors under particular facts of eOKh tiK. Tht court disc~ the emergtnet of t",.., cenl ral Ihtmu. (I) diuejfard of corpOrale formali h .. and comminglln8 of asKts may indicate ipproprillitntu of con5Olicbtion. and (2) coruidultion 01 hum to creditor$ dttermint$ the propritt)' 0150 ordtring. but conversely II creditor nv.y show tho: injll!litt beallSt of its relWltt on !he credit lind asKts 01 one 01 !he entitifS. The court rtiterattd its holdi", in~. group Properties. 935 F.2d 245 (llIh Cir. 1991) as 10 $ubstintiOJt consolida· tion of corpol1.tioru. tmt pUTSuo.nllo f<lUitablt ~rs 811.nttd in flO5. con· solidation mllY be ordered upOn the !"Valuation of ""whdhtr tht economic prejudice of conlinued d.btor separate·
Commonl: The opinion con$isttd of ten pagu. A. this is a stmlnal case. il is must ruding for lillY tiK irwolving wbslin· lilll consolicbtion. whelhu Ihe repre· stntat ion of Ihe attorney be for the ITICMIlt or lor the objtctor. New &onkruptC)' U tl.IoU"" The new bankruptcy ItgisLation passed Octolxr 7.1994 and WllS signed by lhe Pr.. idtnt on October 22. 1994. Wilh a few uctptions. il btcomt. irnrnrdiately tffectiw for casH therul'ltr filtd. There iTt appro~imattly 100 page. containing
15OoJ<s 1'1
Grover S. MCleod Civil Actionl I. liS J>Itn
MANCHESTER PRESS PU BLIS HERS I>0 80. SSOIIJ~ ' 8 ....
uw
a
S7500
U"" In Alibi"". t99J po:;l.<, ~n.
a
Sll50
a
Sss 00
a
,~ OO
0
"'00 '........"10,
In A.. bo ..... Second Edilion nnr. 616...,.. (...dud..... 199) podol porto}
Civil AClioI'Il il
ippro~imlt.ly 60 subsllnli~ amendments. plus somt Itchnial comdions. In boo. somt of lilt chJ.ngeJ lIrt: ChipItT 13 limillllrt T1i1ed to on. million doIliolJ; in Chiptn II ClI5tJ of S2' million or Itu there is II pTOYiSIon for II fut· Irxk pnxeu; ~iltd pnxtdUrt. on aulOnllllic ~ incrused ~Iion for trustees: authorily for hankruptcy judges to ronduct a jul)' trial "'ith con· sent of partits: m't1"$.>1 of the De/'lU;io decision: increue of ptrlection of pur· c!we money security interests: and sell· fr'S riaht to rtclaim 1IOOds. from len to 20 daY': allowan«: 01 ..... Iid security inler. eSIS in nnlS (inciudillll hotel rooms) to Imdtrs; in lingle _ t rtil tslate cases. plKill(l burdens on debtors 10 file plan within 90 \by$; incrused prottetion to I....". of ptTJONI P"lII'Tty; clarification 01 riahts of mortgagors on homt mort· IIlIIIU under tim: proltetion 01 child IUPpOrt lind .Iimony; and prottction agains! discrimir"litOT)' t_tment lor Mu· dent 10llnl. Finally. il uUblishu i hanitruplcy rtIIiew commi .. ion to sub· mit a repOrt within two years aftu its first meeting. •
..... oulwtighs the W)OOI1IiC prejudice of tonSOIidition." The cou rt auliO!ltd IPinst confla· ing joinl administl1.tion with ... ~lan I..... COfISOlidation. as !he formtr "",rely is i proceduul tool. In Ihe use sub judice. the court htld thilt btaust 01 weik tvidtlKt on Jubstant~1 identity. lind. strong fVidtntc of the sepanottnHS of!he ,..,<1.1 esult in fXI and conc.ption oIthe public. the record did not suppOrt suintan I i~ consoli dal ion.
Equitablo Ren,.dlcs and E~'"ordi"ary Writ. in Abbi"". Stcond edition """'. 636 ""'" (NEW EOITlON)
T.ul Pracli« Ind I'roctdu,t In A.. ha"". Scoond Edition .,., 716 __
Worker's Comptft$ll.ioI'I 10< Q...•t>e-job Injuricf In A.....""
~St·S6S~
,-
--
'"' -,.
r.... _E.dori
• •
•
Il -.c..l IlVISA 'l AAD.
.... no...,.. ('",1uoIn 1~ p<>dn"....l W""'.r'1 Comptnutiol'l 10< On.the·job Injuries hI A"ha"" 1994 po:;u. ~"'. 120 ~K«
,"8""'" AL JS10S ' (lOS)
a
511 50
.
~~ .
~
JANUARY 1995/ 57
ALABAMA STATE BAR SECTION MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION To join one or more sections, cornple1e this form ~nd "Mach separate check, payable 10 each ~ion you wish 10 ioin.
N'm< __________________________________________________________ Firm
Of
!.genq ____ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Office Address _____________________________________ Office location _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Office Teleplmr.e Numbe' ___ _ _ _ _ _______________________ _ __
SKlion
Annual D.....
A(!ministraHve Law.............
. _______ ____ ". _..
.. ,SlO ..$20 ", $ 15 ....... .. $ 15 _______ SJO
Bankrupl<:y and Commercial Law ............ ........ ....... ...... . Business Torn and Antitrust law Communications Law .............. . Corporate Counwl.... .. ______ ... Corporat ion. Banking and Business Law
.... $ 10 __ ..................... $10 .... SlO ... SlO ......... ___ $ 15
Criminal law ..... . Environmental law ................. . Fam ily law. Health Law ............................. .
labor and Employment Law Lit igation ......................... .
. .. S 10 if practicing les~ than 5 years, $30 if practicing 5 or more yea"
.. .......... ___ ___ ____ __ .. _.
..................................
O il, Cas and Mineral L~w ProfesSional Economic~ and Technology Law Real Property. Probate and Trust L.w ..... Taxation .................... ..... . Worker's Compensatioo Law .. Young Lawyers'
_oS 15
....S 15 _..S25 ....S I0 .... __ . __ .................. $15 ...... 520 ......... 0
TOTAL Remembet, Allach a separate check for e.Ch 5eCti on. Mai l [0: Sections, Alabama State Bar, P.O. Box 671, Montgomery, AL 36101
58 /JANUARY 1995
THE: AL\IlAMA LAWYER
YOUNG LAWYERS' SECTION YLS
Ii .1
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ~." Eu,""~
hi. of t he AlabamaComm" let Young
Lawytrs' Section held itl first muting Octobu 17. 19'94 ill Iht slale ~r htadQuarlus;n Monlllomuy. Alabilml. Among the iterm dlKUloHd wue preparl.lions for ~ral 01 1M S«lion's upcoming pro-
j«ts and Ihe ruulu of p'o~cl.t com· p'ded in Iht pan ytl •. Although il would be impcwible \0 describe all 0( Ihe s«tioo's projettl in dd",iI, I will Wee .. momt1lt 10 mtntion 50ITK 01 1M
better. TIlt semlru.r again will be held al the Sandestin neath Resort on the third weekend in ~IIY IMay 19·21J and you may now make ...",,,ations at the ...wrt by calling ]-8QO-2n.osoo. The seminar is an ncellent opportunily for young laW)'frs to further lheir ccntinuingltg,il eduation iIfId mttt «her )'OUng laW)'frs from "rou the ,tUe. Registration materi.lols for the s.emin.r.r will be Itnt oul in flrly February lind Iglin in ~rch,
highlighu..
Annuel b.r .dmlnlon. ceremony The Executive Committee discussed preparations for the tMn-upcoming bar admissions ceremony which was held October 25. 1994. TlunkJ to the hard WQl'k 01 Tom Albritton and 8 1)'ilo HonIcy. I an ~port that tM cenmony ...-as a hugt sueetSi. OVtr I,O(f(l people ilUtndtd Iht ttrtmony in which all of the "IWIIII lj)ptILlolt courU COIlWIltd at once \0 admit 357 ilppliants to the pooic. 01 bw in till tOUru of thr State 01 AIabarnL J~ H",roId Albrilton "as also prestn! and atlmiuw most of these same lIppli"nts to pndi~ in tht feder. ,I district coort of the Middle District of Ala/)anu. This ntw feature. which allows admitteu to be admitted to both state ~nd fttlenl courts ,\ the same lime, Iw bttn well m:rivtd. Aftu Iht ~ ... mony, Ih~ n~w admiuus and their guuIs 1ttrndtd lIluncheon in t!wir honor. "'n_1 SIIn".tln .....1.... Abo diKusM<! we ... the mull!; of 1;001 yur's ~tjn Semiru.r which ~ lin ~n biggtr succus 11wl1!w )'fllr btforr Ind far ucetded everyone's u~cla l ions. Lut year approximately 280 laW)'f<S registered for tht seminar. Plans for this yea r's seminar a re al ready underway and it Is up«lrd to be even
THE ALABAMA lAWYER
HALWUT
Youth ",udic:I•• Prog •• m The Elecutl"e Committee also di.cUlnd pre~ntion. for the upcoming Youth Juditi.lol ProQnm. In cQOprntion with the YMCA. the Section oo-sponson "mock tml oompelilion lor high school sludents. ChIorl~ Mdtoon Iw chaired thi! committft for a number of )'t'ars iIfId is to be commended lOr his li ...1ess dJorts in organiling this prognm. Last yur 0Y01' 350 hil/tl school studml$ par. tici~ted. and own more ~rtici~nts IIr. expectrd this )'fir, Young la"'l"" can ~rtkiplte by Itr"ing U coo.che. and organltingteams to participate in Ihe compelition, The program gi"e,
high Khool students an tlIc.llent O!>I>Ortunity to learn more about our judicial syst.m Ind how it operates.
Mino.hy P.rtic:lp.tion Con'."nc;:. The Section began the Minority Par· ticipation Conf.rrnce lui )'far. The conferen~ providts , forum for minority high school students to mut with minority judges and I'~rs to Iellrn more about the opportunities of I 1tga1 talffr. I'ftd en)' worktd hard to organize th. conf.r.n~ and approximately 75 high Ichool stude nts participated. The Eltcut ive Commit tee concluded that the conference was I resounding success and should be continued on an annual b.uiJ. Several ways of eapanding the conferencr to reach more minority students and incrt:m p.lrticip.ltion "'''' ... ilio disawed. These lire highlights of I frw projects in which )'QUAIl lawyers , ... inYOlved and I ... IDmpIes d p,..,;tcts in which )'OUng IlIwyers lIr. s.ervlng their community and lheir prdw.1on. I !lice this opportunity to encourage young lawyers to become ~n mou in'lOl~d in se",ing their communities and their profession. L.aW)'tTJ h.wt ilCquired , bad reputation with the genenl public and One way to improve our reputation is through community semce, In order to incrt:m participation by youn8 I,wyeu, the Executivt Committee il considering underUking I number of new projecl!; in the upcoming yellr. If you an KIea lOr I good prOject or would likt to po.rticipat. in thelt or Olher proi<'cl!;, plust eontilCt someone on the £.Jeculive ComminH, Although t!w nw:I for )"lU"i ~'Y"rs to become more inYOlved in community se rvice is 8ru l , before becoming in'lOl""d, we as )'(lung lawyers should ....aluat. the time and rtsourc.s that will ~ ne~Jsary to fulfill the commitment.
ha,,,,
JANUARY 1995 / 59
Needles. to say. the community service of lawyer> often go.. overlooked: how· e""r. unfulfilled commitments only' furt hn th~ poor public perception of lawyers in general. Oth .. people are often relying on Our commitmeni.o; and Can be Ie .. than sympathetic to the pressures of work and family. H""''e'o'\'r. once becoming inV<ll ~d you will find the ex""rienee of community service to be as rewarding as any in your practice. The member> of the 1994 EKeeuti~ Committee and the firms at which they practice art' as foll"",'s: lIerbert IIlJ'1)ld Wut. Jr. President Cabaniss, Johnston. Cardner. Dumas &. O'Neal Alfnd f. S mith. J r. President-elect M.;nard, Cooper. Frierson &. Cale Azlthony I). Birchfield. Jr. Secrdary Brannan. Cuy &. Birchfield RoIH:rt J. lIuge Treasurer Jack50n. Taylor &. Martino
Gene
Roberts Caton
!lunls..·ille Admitted: 1979 Died: Ju ly 31. 199.l
Robert Clifford Fulfonl Birmingham Admit/ed: 1942 Died: October 29. 1994
Le. 110.1'0' 1/1 Immediate past pre. ident ~telton. Espy. Williams &. Hayes Thomas B. Albritton Albr ittons. Givhan. Clifton &. Alverson Cynlhi. Le. Almond Uni~rsity of Alabama School of Law Ch.nn L. And.non Parnell. Crum 0:; Anderson Gordon G. Ann,trong. lEI M.lani. Mortd. Basi Cabaniss. Johnston. Cardner. Dumas &: O'Neal
O..id A. Elliott Burr 0:; Forman Oenin A. F.rgu .... n Bell &: Richardson
Candis A....t cCow.on C~r. Mitch. Cra",{ord. Kuykendall &. Whatley John II. Noth.an J. Cole Porti, Beasley. Wil 5On. Allen. Main &. C~
Archibald T. R_· ... IV Hand. A,rendall . Bedsole. Greaw, ", Johnston Raclle' O. San de" Pierce. Carr &. Alford
Eliubeth C. Smith. rt Jinks. Smithart &. Jackson
,'1icho.l O. Freemon Balch & Bingham
Jacob A. W.lm. 1/1 Walker. Hill. Adams. Umbach. Meadows 0:; Walton
Fm! D. Gny. J r. Gray. langford. SaPP. Mceo-.,·an &: Gray
Judson W. lI'eli . Buker &. Janecky
Alfred George Hecht
Earl Davis "leNeal
CollirlSlliiie Admit/ed: 1951 Died: October 24. 1994
Hunlsuille Admilled: 1976 Died: October 12. 1994
Knox "lcGee Anllislall
Ide
Admilled: 1926 Died:July4.199-I
John Bartley Loftin
Tuscaloosa Admitted: 1965
Gatisdlm
6(1 / JAAUARY 1995
Christopher J. lIughu Beer>. And ..5On. Jackson &. Smith
Ch ristoph .. A. S mith Smith", Smith
Claude Hanis, Jr. Died: Octobe.r 2. 1994
Br)"ln K. lIonley Steiner. Crum &. Jl.aker
Admilled: 1!M8 Died, August 23. 1994
•
Thomas Gillespie Steele Alhlms
Admit/ed: 1938 Died; July 31. 1994
Kenneth
Wayne Tumey
Ballimore. ND Mmilled: 1916 Dwd; October 9. 1994
TH E ALASAMA LAWYER
• M·E·M·O·R·I·A·L·S • Charles L. Howard, Jr.
.nd aUdUl, .d th,,,from In )onu.'}' 1949, "ith. dtjtrf' of 1b< .... lo. of 1...>,,-., ",,",,' Ju,", [Joc'o,. aOO dU'""II,1It ptnod
IIEHEAS. eharks L. 1"""~t<J, )•.• who w. . . ngog.~ In Ih' .cti ... ~'>CI'" of I.,.. 1n B"m,nglu.m lor"..,.. lhon 45)'QB, din! at thr >II< ct71 on ~ 12. 199-1:""'.
01 hi. ma"icuialion d,,'ingu",h," hi",· ..1/ acaJ.""",l ly, ll.nd,ng .. lilt lop 0/ hIS cl>s.s >nil bo"'IIol •• ,OII mlo momhor.h,p in Fa".h O,d.. 01 Juri.pmd.nct .00 Phi Alpbo O<lt.I Ifpj I,.. .. mil)'. II. ".... _'n,OII ..soc.... od,'O' of volumo I. i..... I. iIla/iG"", Uzrr R... ,w. ,,'hOch "'.... publoWd ,n 194& .... lilt 10", school, ht u,nod an ..........1. "put.ltlon omong 11k> 11«,,10' hi> oademi( odli ..... mont>. inl<lI.ctUll >l>lIluil< .00 ha,d "'(101<: and. WHEREAS. Ch.rI.. L 110..... d. J,. .nl...d ,h. pri"" pra<:li« olla ...... ,th c.o,g. R"I1'" I,om 1949 until lilt 10'· m:U,on 01 ,h. form uh,,,,,, ..1y known .. ROll'TO. How .. d. lI.dd.n & M,II •. in 1951, ,,;lh ..f",h lit pyx",td .. 0 pori ntr unul 1979." ...t",h limo lit and hi> son. Cbarko L It"""',d. III. lonntd tht firm of U"".. rd & 1I.... 'd. ""h ,"",lCh lit p,a<lic.d@lil 198{i, F,om Ih., lim. unUI tht timo 01 hi. cltlln. Mr. U"",.. rd
W
1I1IERt:AS. Chari<> L ttq".. rd. / •. ",., born In ft. Sm,th. Arkaruoas, lht son 0/ Chorlt. L U",,".rd.nd BouLoh :o1on!>nr I./Irfy It""...d.:and ... MI<d ' ...... 11 •• In Rog.... Arkaru.as. ",lit.. ht r...,.,wd hIS ""ondory '~,",,11"", foll",,;ng ...1"," lit commtn«~ um!<'g.....Juat. work .t ,,'hat il now M,mphis St,t. Unio."ily in ~'mjlh". and. WHF.RF.AS, Ho,,·>rd'. und.,~ .. du.t.
r.n ........:
rduc:.>hon was ,nt •• rup!<d II)' h" 'nl"l·
monl in tho I"Mod Sat...... my dunnl II'orld War II. wh ... h. . . "",d In Ih,
Arm)' Inl.lloll<1><o COi'f'S .. nlil hlS ..1uM from .w •• duty, follo""n~ ,,'h,~h h. <CM'IIlnu«! ...,th hi> uncltrg~t. tdUG>· lion.l the Un~.."'ty of ALoh>...,.: .nd. II'IH:RF.AS. Ch>rl .. L lto,"'Ofd. )" ,nroll.d In tht School of!.llw .11'" Un;
v.roily of AI.bom. in S,pt.mM,
19~6
Earl Davis f\lcNeal IEREAS.
W
£0,1 !)a",. :-I eNe.1
has .udd.nly aOO 1"Sic"H~ b.. n t.ken I,om our mu1sI,.,,"
\I'IIEREAS, Ea<ll),o",. :-IeN ••1 " .... 11>< son oI.'1f_ >nd ~ ... Rochard :-10:.....01 >nil ..... " iiI.· lon8 , .. ,d.nl olllunuoill •. M"d",," Counly. and • Sr>d ... t. from l<. Ihth School,ond II'IlERF,AS. h. "' •• g,.duol.d f,om Auburn Uni",,,,'y.,,d th< Un",.",ty of Alab.mo School 01 1...>"" .nd 'h .... ft .. "lurn.d 10 Ilun".ill. to •• l.bh.h hi. prac,;« of low. ond Wm:REAS, E.,I w•• Ih. l""in~ nu.hand of ~ry c.thtri ... MeS ••1 and ..... tho d."ol.d f.. h" of [)"'i •.'1,ln.. MeS .. I. R.",,,, Connolly "-.11. ond M>ty l$>boll< W.IIs, >nd
""ERF.AS. Earl " ........ mhor oIlho lIuntJII,II.,Ma.:ii"", County 110, """'.... t,on. Alobom. Sta.. 8.0" ,h. AI.b.o.mo Tnol I.. wy<" """'''';on. and p".;il<nl
THE ALAIlAMA lAWYER
11. ",.d
.."'. >Olo practil,"""'. a>tO in bo,h ,he ,1.01"00 lode,..1 court., ond in ",.ny eounl ... olh .. Ihan Jotl'UM,
01 lilt Moduon Counl)' Cnm,no[ Drf..... .wo.:ialion. >nil
\11IEllEAS. lit ..... adm,nod
to pyx.
'>« in tht cour\> 01 th< Stat. oI.IJobomo. .Il Unittd Sta, .. [)(sIn<! Cour\J "1""1011 ,n th< S.." 01 Alabamo. 1M f,~h Un'ttd SI>'" CircUlI Court of Ar'I't"Is,'OO lilt !01 .... nth Unit,d S..... Circui, Court of AW..I•.• 00 \\~IER£AS.
Ea,1 _ . momho, 0/ Phi
r....
ror-
Alpha Del .. ~iI>l mlly.nd lho uh I.;ow Sod.ty 01 th, Uni •• ""y 01 Alab.o.ma. had .. ,,-«I .. p..."ltnt 0/ Ci,·
do
"'I)'.......
Aubum l"n ..... mtmbo, of tho C<>llre< of YOUnll O<""",,\>, had b«r1 , .... mho' of ,lit Aubum Uni· I( at
"''''I)' Alumm """"""011. lilt Un ..... "i· Iy 01 AI.hama Alumn, AJro<; . lion. aOO had .. ,,'t([ on tht !\oo,d of I), ..""". 0/ tho r".nd. 01 tho Public R.dio ,n Ilun"0;1I0, Alob.o.mo, Add,tionolly. £0,1 wa. 0 o<l ... n 01 u ..". in tho Uniltd Sta,.. Army. >nil \\lIEREAS. Earl ..... Iowd by hi.lorni· !y. bo\oo.'td by hIS f'II"".... lho II<nch .nd th. 11>.,,00 ..,,,,,,.d Ih.ou,houl
,ho commun"y for hIS prof... ioNl "nd <Me """"""!'IUh .... nU, and
not,bly 810un!. SI. CI,i, ond Shtlby. p~,« , he ,amed a "puta' I10n 01 ,h. ba, .. an .>bIt, 1.. ,1 ... and ",dtla"pbl, ad"""..., Wah hi. eli."" . no cou" w'" ,m.1l 10 m .. il hi, . 11.ntion .00 bo" .fforl: lit dNi",.. d h" hmo 10 IMm .. In ....Iy. ''''oY' .ubord, hk> pof$()l\.>l inl",,1 to h" pr<>l... .ion.1 .. "'". fo, Ihom. II. n.... W>d<rwoIr 10 jO>dge ,bom Of oth.... ,"""I. hi. ,nlro.pteh,,, .... 'u .. modo h'm hIS """ harshtst Judi< and niti<: >nil. WIlEREAS, Ch .. l.. How .. d ".••• n .. ti., .~d .upportl•• ",.mbr, of ,h. AI.b.o. ..... $I.t. 1Ia, and tl>< Birm.nghom Ba, """'Ia"on through""t tl>< 1'<"" of hi. procl;c....",ng ",her. ask.d ond Duroni h,.
'M
"'''ng
.,.,,~, ... kj~ ..1I·.AArandi...... n!. I...., ,ng. I.g.,cy of d.d''''''"n of .. """ 10 OIho" of which,,~ .. 1.11_ .tto""Y'. and hI> childun .. hi> Jml8<"l', InO)' .... 11
"'-
"rIIirmlngharn ..ldtnl Ba. M . od a'ion
.00 • Roo.! and compo''''' """)"" and WHEREAS. h, .ccompli.hod "II 01
11'0.....>lh .uch ~rac. >nd humo' .. 10 mol« h,m " d .. ,1Shtd fri.nd 10 us 011 >nd lit bo 1Or'1y miUtd. NOW TIlt:REI'ORE, BE IT BESOLI'ED by Ih. l!un ..",II,-M.di.on Coun,y II.. """,.. ,Ion IN' "", b;r, .nd OU' corn"," nily N'" .. 'fr.... d a ~rut I,... in 'M puling of ou' b,Olh .. la"'Y'" E.,I MeS •• I, ond ,ha,,,~ synIpalhtlocally jorn ",uh hIS partn ... M" and Mrs. Ridlllr.j
",II
fl." ..
Md••oI; hIS ",f•. ~ry c.thtri"" Mc.'itol: Ih.. , ch,ld .. n. Do.i. M,ln.. M,S.. I, R««<I Connolly \\'.11 ••• n~ M",y loabtllt 11.11" hIS 1xO!ht. Terry R>(hard Mo:." ... I; ond OIbo, .... mbt .. of hi. 1...,,1y and I"",d """. in mourning hIS pulin8
whil. hono,ing hi. nam., and by lh,. R.."luI<OO. "" '" somt .moll "'.y .... nd 10 hi. f.m,ly ou, . in«,. and h.. ,lf.ll
.ympa,hy. """passion and condcoI.",<. IItnjamln R...
...... Ido. 1 lI "n'.';IIt-.~
Coernl)' 80. "-->al.....
\11IERE:AS. Ea,1 Dlvi. M,s ..1 ..... 0
,,,.1... odvoat•.• "lPtCltd c<>un.. Io,.
JA1,IUARY 1995 /6 1
Joseph Charles Sullivan. Sr. ItERt:AS.
W
J 0 ,e p h
Charle. Sullio.n . 5, ... d i.tlngui,hed m<mb .. of thi s ....".,lation (WSt<l away on May 5. 1994 ; .nd. WHEREAS. the Mobil, Bar k>o<i· .. io" dui ... to .. membo, hi> namo.nd r«agni .. h i, contributio,," both to OIlr prolwion .nd to thi. oommu"ity; NOli'. THEREFORE. BE IT RESOLVED THAT. "Mr. J.,.." .. he "'.. aff«tionot<ly kn<MTlto many mtmbers of the ba,. "'... born in Mobile wh u e he .Uended porQ<hi.1 "hool•• nd re«i'ltd d.g" • • from both Springhill Collego and UI)'01a
James C. CanD, Jr. tEREAS. 'am.. C. C.nn. Jr. mrmbo, of tho Birmilll!' h.m Bar A»o<iaiion "ntil the tim. 01 hi. de.th on Seplemb<, 14. 1994:
W:
101., •
'M, IIIHF.Rf.AS. James C. Cann. Jr . ....... mrmbt, 01 the Am"ican Bar As.ocia· lion. Ih. Alabama Slat. Sa, and numrr· OW (>th.r organi ... tiO!1' throughoul lhe city .nd 'Iat<: and, mIEREAS. Jamr. C. Cann, Jr. gradu. .tod hom the Unio,,'ity oj AI.b.ma S<hool of Engin • .,ing .nd Schoo l of La",~ .nd. WHERt:AS. h. "'.. In fr.l.mal kin.h,p with brothen.nd .ist... of the fra,.",i· h...rod organi .. tio", of Alpha Pi Mu, Pi T.u Chi, and Pl!ILOS ",hil. matriculat·
ing; .rod. WIIEREAS. h. hono .. bly "Ned hIS
University. He pr.oticed la,. in Mobile "'ith SuliMn & C.mtl'Ol1 .nd later "'. porl""r with the firm 0/ flAmilliln. Bul· I... Riddick . Th,ltoo & Sulli"". He "'... Iected to lhe flow< of R.pr< · ""ntat""'. Slatt of Alabama in 19-\2, ro· oltcud in 1946 . nd 'Ho.d in th.1 e>.p.city until 1950. H. abo ....... d on the War Emergency COIlocit c,uttd in 19-\3 . H. o>-.u,r.o .. d a poll Ia< .... ml'" tion bill for WOlld W.r II .... I...n•• nd intr'Oduc<d tilt first bilt fo, "pon.ion for the Alabama Slate Docks in tho 19-\5 .... ,ion. Hi. cioic.nd p,ofe"ional activiti .. .nd acoompli.h"",nts includ.d ..... ing .. p, .. ident of the Mobil, Bar Auooia· lion in 1951. and a,. member of 'he board. of the FIf,t N.tion.1 B.nk of Mobile, tho Mobil. Ar .. Ch.mb.. of Commerce and the United fund. l1e.1>o 101", co·found .. of Citi,.n. B.nk in Mobil. in 1957. H. praoti«d law in Mobil. mort than 60 yurs and ........ c· ogni,ed by the .I.>te and local bar ....".,;.
.tion for hi' long .nd "",rito,iou, .. r· ,i« to our prof... iO!1. .'1t. Jot tended to . p,dali.. in . ..1 property low .nd wa> recogni •• d and odmired by hi. f,lIow law}""" being vel)' 'kill,d .nd abl. in this .nd olh .. ...... 1)/ ,h. praclice 01 bw. H. had lhat mi",hit\lOUS twinkl. in hi. 'YO: he .Iw..... had a good ",'O,d for ..... l)'<In • • nd " ... 100'ed and 'espected by 0 ..... nd .11. H. devotod f>thor and famil\' INn. I..,illl! .urviving him l'o'O dough. I"., Ruth Au.till and .. ..IIi. Connell. both 01 Mobil" th ... ><Ins. Jo .. ph C. Sullio,n J ... RIChard C, Sulli"n a nd rat rick M. Sullivan. all 01 .' 1obil.; one .i.ler. loaMI SulHo.n: and nUmerOUS gn.ndchildrtn. Joe. Jr. i,. port .... , in the 1l3milton, But l.. firm.
counll)' in World 11'.. II .. a m.mb<, of tho United Statts Na..,.. and faithful to hi. <omtau.. h.lped org.nize the 50th Annivt ...1)' of the VIZ Sa..,. p1O\1",m of Samfo,d Uni,·."ity held in 1m; .nd, "'IEREAS. J.me. C. Conn. Jr. w-. . . d.dic."d and o.lu.d member of tho Highl.nd Unittd Methodi .. Church. .. rvilijJ os tNtir",," of the boord. He "'... o k»<al and octi", mrmbtr of the Down· ",,,.-n Binningham YMCA. being in po,. litul., an avid ptactiliolltr of tht .port of handbal l. H. proudly promoted the ."iviti.. of V.. ta,·i. High School by membership in I ... Iloo><ter Club.nd by providing com mental)' on the .. minol Mm. football gam ... II ••1", partieipot· .d In <i,'k org,ni .. tion, "'ilh di.tinc· tion. induding the viee.pre.id.n'-j' of tho Birmingh.m Young R.publie>.n. Club;
""". James C. Cann. Ill. M. K.ilh Cann. Timothy C. Cann, and David W. Cann; .nd .1", by bel",-ed grandchild"". Mal)' PaiS' C.nn. Mic,,",1 K. G:tnn, Sttph.n r. G:tnn •• rod w.lk" J. Can,,;.nd WHEREAS. Jam .. C. C.nn .erved OWr 3O)ItO" with distiottion os <ou",,1 10. Sooth C.n,,,,IIItIl.nd AT&T belo •• . nte,ing upon 12 y.... in the p,i,·.t. practice of communi ... ! ..... I"" and, WHEREAS. ht " ... distinguished '" • d.d,cated, "igorow and lenacious ><1\"0cat. 0!1 behalf of.1I citi ..,," .nli.ting hi. rtp,"""ntation: and. WflERF.AS. w. d .. ire 10 "pre.. our doep reg"l and ""n.. of I"" .t tho __ illl! of our <01l03llue from OUr honorabl. prof... ion. r,om the world of bu"n .... .nd from ,he cong"'" of $OCi.ty.
""
IIlIERt:AS, he i, ,u1\'iv«! by hi' ,,;f. 01 OOtt 43 Mary S. C.nn: four
f"".
w" •
Nieb.rd Bound.
Pre,id'nt
.'I obU. 11.>. A.. oclatlon
111lllam S. ct.rIr Pre, lIkn! Binnlnlham Bar A...,.latlo"
Please Help Us 7'Iw ~ /.iJuJytl< "M.IT>OI'iah· >«lion .. dts;gne.I to JII'O"id< mrmbtrs 01 the bar with inlonnation abouI the death oIthe~ 001...,..,... Tho .......",. Stale lW >rid the Editoriol _ ~ M W>l' oI kMwint! ",torn .... 01 our mombtrs iI d<a..... ..-.Ia.:t _ ... ooIifiod. PIa>< W<o the time to l>"O"ide .... with thot inIonn>tion. If)OO wioI1 to writ. OOO>tIhiog:tboul the <nd~'iduaI', lift >rid prokosiorW O<COn'IfIli>hmtnI< tior pubIi. <>lion in lIIr .....,...,.. ]>Itue lin'l~)OUt' ~ iii Z50 -.I> >rId .. rod us • ;Octu" a..,...'bIe. W. ....... the ri;tl' ' 0 tdit all irMrmotion JUbmitt.d loT the "1oIt1T>Ol'iah' >«lion. PIoase otnd Mliliation infonNlion to the IoI ktwi"il odd"",.'Ihrpttt l.. ;>Iuw. TI>t Alobo_ ~.
P,O.lI<u 4156. ._
62 / JANUARY 1995
\lOmtfy.AL 36 101,
THE AU\BAMA u\\VYER
CLASSIFIED NOTICES RATES: M emb<t •• : 2 free IisIngs oJ 50 words CIt less per bar membef per caIencI8r year EXCEPT klI"po&Ition wan!. ed' 01 'posilKlll ollered' ',sill1gs - S3S per insenlon of 50 words Of less. $ .50 per add~ional word: Non ....mber. : S35 per insertk:>n 01 50 words or less, $.50 per additlOl'\lll word. Classified copy and payment must be received acc()(ding t o the folloYMg publi~irIQ schedule .J.nuary '95 I••ue - deadUne Novemb&r XI. 1994; no deadline extensions wi(
"'Send classified copy and payment , payable to me Alabama Lawyer. to: Alabama Ls\O)'8f Clasdieds. c/o Margaret Murphy, P,Q Box 4156, Montgomery. Alabama 36101.
PAINTlN<l : 0rig0naI Mu I-Wman painI.
FOR SALE
ng 01 II-.. Jetlerson Coo..o-4y Cov<\house
• UWBOOKS: Willla", S. He in & Ca, lne .. serving the 1"9lI1 community lor _ SO y...,.. W. buy, HI. awllH .. lawbooks. Sand want ~st. 10: Fl.
(716) 883·5595 D. phone 1·800·828·
ffom 1874· 1887. Thto courthouse boAj. ..... wi1h ~. clod< to ...... dominllling !he ci1y. was lhe pride ot Blrml"llh.m In 1874. F.iIImId me........ 3,.1- • 27 112'". 5950. W. HfId phoIogt." W1n\tIr8$1. ed. Phone (904) 737·6270.
7571.
LAWBOOI(S:
s.v. 50 patC8Il1 on \'OUf
IlAtolb. cal NaIionaIlaw ResouIoI.
America's larglll lawbook, d •• lar. HoQe inve<1t.,.,.., l.ow9$l prioK. e.-.lIlnl qual ity. Satlsl&C1ion guaranteed. C.II us 10 ...,1 your unn_1Id boOk •. Need ,halving? W, •• 11 naw, b"n<;I _ . IIIIlI8I and wood sheM'lg a1 citCOU~ poiots, F... quoin. HIOO.. 279· 7799. National law A~_
I.... WBOO KS' Compr.re upda!1KI .nd .upplem "nl ~ Sll. ot lhe toltowl"ll : UMed Sta. . SeMce; AmioIcM ~ 2d: Fede'~ P<oc.du'~ Form.; Federal Procedu<e; Am Ju, Ta.: Sr.epaf(:!,s bound .nd Adllanco ~: Alabama Law ot evidence (Colquht): Ton law Handbook: 8tashfieId'. AuIomot:>iIe PrlOClic;e; DRInk Driving Uti;Io1iotI: Search and s.;n.e. Phone Oevd c.utllen. Doocaluf. (205) 353-1691 .
eoo.
lAWBOOI(S ; Complete sel Alabama Rtpons (1 S~an 1hrcugh 617 So. 2d) end AIaI»ma. .o.pp.bltl Report!! (WIa. l ·Sn. Contad I.tn F. Gas1On. P .O. 12S3, Mobile. AI.b.... 3&633. Phone (334) 433-5535.
eo.
THE AlA8I\.-'\A I.AII'YER
LAWBOOI(S : CompIII" set. at AIaba · ma Reports Amo\ated (reprints) (books 1-49) and Souct.m Reponer. volumes 1·200; SouIhem Reponer 2nd. volumes ' .34<1; Alabama Repor\ef. volumes 3,.12 50.211·631 5o.2d (w"em to date). Con· tact Ralph lovelu •. 28 N. Flo.id a Slr. .l. Motlile. Alabama. Phone (33A) 476-7857. -
- LEGA L RES EARCH: le-gal " ..arch help. Experieoced metntle' 01 AIMIama Stal. B." ainC11l9n. Aocna 10 I~e law libfll)'. WESTlAW e~eil· . . . Prompt dMdIW'I& I n cIleI. Sat... Kathryn F.,"e~. 112 Mao.e Building. Monlgomary. ""Iabama 361()(. Phone
.ttorney.
(33. ) 277·7937. No fllpreSenletion" made rhal /he ~ oI/he ~ Hr· ""'" ro be 1*101~ .. 'JIHter /han IN ~ 01 ~ ____ f*/01~ II)' 0"'" 1I..,....-s.
SERVICES • PROFES$/ONAL LEGAL INVESTIGA· TOR ; I.icMMd ard bonded. Spe6lliz. Ing In II,..ndal and MCUf~;'" ,.I.led caSH . E'lenlly. e . ~rlenc. In white ooIIar invllt~lions and caM prepara· tiOll tor !.lal. For OOIItidentlal t;OI\5Utla· tk>r11 or cop, at C.V. and reterence •• con!acl W,men O . H1IX/ini at (334 ) 260-8M2 or P .O. 211071 . MomCIOI'I*Y. Alebame 361 2' .
eo.
- DOCUMENT EXAMINER; E"""ination ot ClYntloned Docum.ntl. Carli tied Fo.enlle H,lI(Iwriting and Doeumenl Examiner. Twenly~ , " " •• peri. torensic dca.menl pooblMna. Formerly. Ch>el OuastionlKl Docurn<lm Anal,SI, USA Crimln.1 Investigation
. . .,. in"
Labor-.lorie • . Diplomal. (cenillad)British FSS. Diplomate (cerl,ned )ABFDE . Member: ASCDE: IAI ; SAFOE : NA CDl. Rnume and f"e .chedule IIC)Ot\ te(JMlst ~ ~ GidiofI. 218 Me.rymant D.ive. AI/gusla . a.o'gil 30i07. Phone (106)860--4~7 .
- DOCU MENT EK AMINER : Ca.lIt1ld Fo"ns;,; Dowm..,! E"",mln" . ChilI dca.menl lxa"""'. Alabama Depart· ment o t Fa.enlH: SCienc... "li.ed . B.S .. M.S. Gradyale, un"'ersily-balid ,"0de1l1 &ei1o<> In dOCument examina· lion. PubIist!ed "'!i<:naII1 and int..".~. Eighteen , .... 1f1.1 upe.lence, Ilale/fede •• ' courtl or AI.b.ma . Fo.gery .• 1,. ", lonl and document au!herllici!y examlnatr:>ns. CrimlneIlnd non-oiminal m8"&lI. Americ:an AcaOe· my ot Fo.enllc Scllnc85 . Amlficln Soard of ForlillH: Dowmenl Ex...... .... Am" ric:an Societ, 01 o...Slioned Documen! Examin•••. La ma. Mille •• 3325 Lo,n. Road. 12·316. P .O. 80. 360999. Birmingham. AIal)ama 35236· 0999. Phone (205) 988·4158.
JASUARY 1995 / 63
DEPOSITIDN SUMMARIES : Pa,ale' gals trained in an """"" 01 law WO!k on computerlted prog ram i~ ou' oHice saving you valuable review lime and paperwo,k. cost efleeti"". strict confi· de ntial ily. Guarantee<! case conllict check with each summary. m...... ts your scl1edule. e",,~ ovemight. Customized to your r.eeds. linished ~oduct is user' lriendtv. CO'We<lS 10 your compuler sY$tem. One hundred pages S<Jmmarized I'ee with lirsl order. Phone 1·800· DEPO-786 (1-&00-337·6786). PROPERTY SETTLEMENTS: Dissolu· tion 01 marriage. Retired pay analysis.
Membe' In service or 'etired. Mililary. civil servOce. Stale and municlpat. All olhe, Iypes el ,el irements . $2'0. Retired Pay Analysis. Phone 1·800· 704·7529 or (719) 4 7S-7529. FORE NSIC DOCUMENT EX AMINA· TION: Handwriting. ry_~ing. alte<ed dooJmenlS. medical reco<ds. wins. contreCls. deeds, checks. anonymous kII· ters. CoIln qualified. $event ...... n yea,s e'Jl&rienee. ~rtilied: American Board 01 Forensic Documenl Examiners . Member: American Sociely of Ques· tioned Dowment Exami~, American Academy of Forensic Scienc&s, South· eastern Associat>on of F ore~sic Docu· ment Exa miners. Criminal and CIvil mauer'S. Carney & Hammond Forensic Document Labor ato ry. 5855 Jimmy Carte, Boo levard . Noremss (All anta). Georg>a 30071. Phone (404) 416·7690. Fax (.c04) 4,6·7689. INSURANCE EXPERT WITNESS : BOO laitMnsuranee cove rage/claims mat· 'arslma,kalirlg issues. Fo,mer daims atto,ney with p,lor Insura nce sales expe-rience avaJlal)le to conw~ and 18$· tily in cases with insurance dispules . Excellenl credenllals. A.C. Jones. Jr.• 2148 Bailey Brook Drive. Birmingham. Alabam a 35244. Phone (205) 988· 32 10. No represenlalkm is made lIral I"" qualily 0/ lire legal setYic6$ 10 /)6 p«fomrad is greater /Iran lila quaJily 0/ legal services p9tlorm9d by 0lh9t
"-
64 / JANUARY 1995
ARBI TRATION AN D MEDI ATION : Assistance In case prepa ralion. Mem· be, 01 Ihe New Mexico and Washing· ton. DC bar associa1ions with extens;"'e personal InjuryfonsYrar>ee experience and limited criminal/Medicaid Iraud experience, For consullal>ons or copy 01 tuume and ,elerencas, contact Lynda M. Paul at 110t5 Louis Q,ive. Huntsville. Alabama 35803, Phone (205) 881·2947, No teptesenlalion;$ made /lrat /Irs qualify ollegel sarvice$ /0 be {J6tlOrmed is grealer Ihan Ihe quality 01 legal setYic6s p«form&d by other 1a""l"'fSEXPERT CONSULTANT : T,affic acci· dent 'aconstfUC1ionlst. Leoal1es1imooy. ;,-.ctuding de$X>S~ion and !liaI. Accidenl ana lysi •• scene scala draw rng. evi· dence eva luation-seeM. ,oadway . physical a~d vehicles. Reasonab le ,alos. Initial conwltatfon is If....... Con· tacl John E. Reinhar<fl, P.O. Box 6343, Huntsville. Alabama 35824. Phone (205) 637-6341.
POSITIONS OFFERED ATTORNEY J OBS : Indispensable mOtlIh/y job-hunting bulletin listing 500600 evr,.nl jobs (oovemmenl. pr;"'ata seClor. public intete ll). RFPs. and legal sea,ch "!'!'OOunities for "nor, neys at al l le vels 01 experience in Wash ln glon . ~C. nationwide and abroad. Orde' troe National and Fede,al Legal Emproyment R&po~ trom: Fede,· al Reports. 1010 Ve""""t Avanue. NW. Suile 4M·AB. WashingiOtl. DC 20005. $39-3 months: $6~ months, pr.one (800) 296·96t I. VisalMC. LI TI GATI ON ATTORNEY, Cily of Huntsville seeking anornay 10< pos~ion 01 senfor IHi(lation attorney. Require · ments Include Sllong civil litlgalion experience (minimum live yea rs ). supervisory skills, and membersi1ip in Alabama State Bar. Salary commensu· rate wilh education and backgreund. $end resume 10 Peter S. Joffrion. City Attorney, P.O. Box 308. Hunlsvil le. Alabama 35804. THE AlABAMA LAWYER
POLL FACTS/FAX POLL: Talk About Good News! 11Iafs just what we want to do-but ~ need a little help from you. The Alabaffill State Bar'. Committe. on LaWl"" Public Rela-
tions. Information and ~Iedia Relations wants to let the public know all the good things thai lawyers ;lIfe doing in their communiti ••. And we want to make it ea,y for)'Qu to tell us what projects you are w'Orking on- just fill oullni. brief fax memo and we"1I do the rutl Help us I.t the public know just who y<.lu ... _ Ihoi, neighbor __ .their {'iond ___ lhti. la"'j'e'!
TO:
Susan H. Andres or MJrga rel L. Murphy
A<
(205) 261 -6310
FRO.' I: (You r Name)
orlhe _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _--'County Bar Association DATE:
RE : (Public Service Activity/Evenlj
Drief description of .,'e nl:
Were there any news(}aJ)l!r articles or photographs publicizing Ihe e,'ents?
Who should "'. contact for more infonnation?
I'hone"
BEST
RCE FOR CD·ROM
ALABAMA IS WEST CD·ROM Es'"
0nIt'- (l).RO)I UI:nrWs oller"", • .......... AWtona_~_) nilpooomrr lalcnliloar-oo _ _ (l).ROloI! ""*,,,,,, 1IIfKntr" """ fat)" AIIJIIu_
adr" '"' Q).ROM irdudes ropon!I' ~ rnn I~IIO daIr. AlJblJtll Allonooy GmmI opnl<Wli r.om 1m 1Ow.;1he .......... 1<U Ii 1he~ ... a.d_~(IlUI\
_~.parld)'lllll"'e5I
(]).IIOM abaljtUoi'IO . . . .
F«1rmI1"rrJcha<md!'WJotlJurt" 0II1'eI W-kOM 1.i1:nr'4
,.......w..
OI.IIhotiIy.chod; dw:II1In rMoot ~ nlllltrt:ais 10 fOIlIII:I ...... )OUt ft!OW<iL P1yonl)r
,cut...)OO "",'
ruIor; . . ..-. ...............
ro. .......... IaIcnI-.,OO' IaIcnI <N \JII t<lQ • .-I1'ndd rod NiIor)
---
_ •• 1:'11"'_
)np 'o"oUnIIy
_.ea _
in ..
..... 10'" lull 1m d dulca >lid bod :op!n With • SinP ~ I'wll ",,!he (11'1. poiI1llIi<:1rnw.on lOO tlftd ond o:o~!OOI
-,-
i i iGtiClJ.ROMptududI_ 0nIt' 'lib! (lI.1IOlt IAr:oric rr "'" "'<II~
"", ... ttI _tmd jtJMI,.,-.
o:rdusnoo: ...... "M(lIUl'liI:S Jo. fu<uIe:I .....tll1IId f2IIr< MnIdl 11th Wr>!'.In:I.
~
r<*S:nl t;ey
tWtUrdtjJJ~ /Mi>tfI<trI• •
1Iu-ro.,.,... c:on....m br ~
0lI"0I:q;t:u>d ~ d
1_
1\$ !:IeI <it....
liorl s,ron,mcu 1tpI ...... 1n Iho led .... ... ""'" ~llOpII5 rtJ'IU
......
- .........__ b __ hIIJ ond bf:cIer....n
""",,"*-1""''''''
.......find .... qw/IIJ rflqpl
J /;a!hI >rid T. ~
-,,,.
/.A1I'0FRaI OJMF(tn.\IG
~
€--, • •
Alabamfl Reporter~ mill In'sf ~A Aln/xll1lfl Code '