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Alabama

The

Vol. 58. NfJ. J On

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CfIl'tf

Waterfall ~ Chewaclll SUlle Park. near Auburn. Abbama. Chewacli Stale Park is <:OmI', i$(d (l/' 696 '""1l'I lying on tht ~ia1 bult lint 5tJli'Itaiing Ihe Pirdmonl l'\ate~ from the u-r Coastal Plain. Unique nxk /onnation$ and J varitt)' 01 Ina, Ilowm Mld wildlife can « foon:Ilhroughout the ~ - Pholo btl l'IIul Cruwford. JD. CW

IN THIS ISSUE STA1l: BAR MEMBERS LABoR AT SUM~I ER OJ.YMPICS

lJy Susan Cullen Anderson ................................22

FALL 1996 rummtES .................................25 CouRTs 0cr08£R 7. 1996 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Op['>;Il';G 01'

TIlE Enucs Of TIME- BASED BILLISG By ATiORNEYS By William C. Ross ......................................40 PROBLf.MS ApPI.YlNC TIn: L IFE OF GEORGIA V. i OIl,VSON CASt: IN TIlE PRoDUCT L lABlUlY SETTINC:

Do WE Go WITH PuNmvE DAI>1ACES AmI! BMW V. CORE ? WHERE

By Andrew C. CIIUKn and MMUe M. Carwie ......•..•..••..•46

RESPECnNC n lE RULES; TI-lE LmfE-£DGAR ABERRATION ENDANGERS mE

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Alabama Bar Institute

far Continuing Legal Education ALABAMA LA WYERS SER VING ALABAMA LAWYERS

always have been impressed

with the tremendous qu~lity of th e bar in our State.

Th e

quality of ou r lawyers is evicknt in their (ommilment to continuing Iq;al education. As technology brings about greater changes in our profeMion, I am confident that ou r (ont in ued commitment in that rq;ard \\'ilI ketp us at the forefroot of our profus ion and enable us to maint~in our high standards of

quality."

llivid G. H I'lMr Br.ldley, Ar.lnt, Rose & Whi te Birmingham, Alabama

Call ABICLE at 1路8Q0.6Z1-65 14 or 205路3 4S-6ZJO for program information,

PRESIDENT'S PAGE

hiS is my third ~idmt'. Page miS~ and my wo:.nd om on selection c;I judges. ' ...Tilf this in !hot aftermath of tIM: ITIO$t bitterly tontated j~ 111« any c;I us an rernembo1-. And 1YITi!( this to in1lkn all at us. pQiOOlF;and dtfenK.

~ ~ o:INU/1'Itf. 10 join ~r \0

ToWhom Much Is Given ...

w...... • . LI,h1IOO1

institut( a ...... system 10 pmml g,m. ~ Ii. tNt ont. All 01 US hM "..,m rl'I(ft in COI1'IITOOll INn......, do thai oepr I3Ia us. rod all d US ~ I beUtr Ala/wn;I/or our chiklrtn and our gntKI.

chiklrm TogdhtT._=WOI'kto~a difftrerJa; lor this btl.aguertd~. <I oors. We owe II 10 OU1SeIvts. 10 the public and to our prot'wion to try. Tht mtlhod of self(ting jud~ I 00\' lined in my LuI ~ IN)' not be ~r1m. but ......, ihould ;tdopt it and If}' it, if for no ot/Ie1' 1'U5OI\. thin silT\Pl}> btc.luK lind.. this mtthod, atDOTdinarily UptrWvt.low-kvd wnpigns liR""'" IIIYt just suffmd through wi[1 not occur. Our Judiciary must bo: ;aboye rtpoWCh ;and IbcM the kind of ampoigns tmt IIIYt btcomr illl too common in other POIitial a)Illnts. Simply p<lL lor lOOK of)'OlJ who did not IUd my lui ~. 1O statewide judicial commission (rompriJing ptrsoru designated by tsubli.htd entil;,•. U$uring ~ politiC/illy OICCeptable and diw.rse groupl would nominate Ihr&t ptrsons 10 fill any oppel· bole "IIWIC)'. Tht go.'tmor would oppoint from thoM. thTft nomin«S mel tht rww i",* would ...IVt I short tmn. ~Y. two )'W$} at lhot oondusion. d ..tIich lit or she W(lU1d otand lor a men· tion election: "should Judge hno Dox be rmined?" Tht public would thus retain its right to IIOIt and if electtd. Judge Dot woukl5t~ I fuJi !ix.yea. 1mn.1f dff~atw, the proeus would bfgin lonew. with Judge !)ox , Iigible lor renomination by the <;()I1lmiSSion. The timetable ~ ar, hQping to

implement is as follows. The board or bar commilllioners ....wld vote on 1M """"pt on D«tmber 6. 1!1%. Ind if it is loP\'lrowd.louthoriu tho: loppoinlmrnl of lo commitl~ of plloinliffs' lond deftnst ~rs to work out tho: dttails of the oon«pl. ThM cornm;UH would mab its I'KOIllmtnditions to tho: boord of hor commWiontrs liOI11dimt during 1991 lof'od i( tho: boord lIP\'Ir<MS the PfOIlOSlII. il WQlJld be wbmillfd 10 tho: gtne",1 KIllion of the It!IilIlatuN' in January 1998. Sor'rx public r.lations work woold be conductw wilh roSptcl to infonning the public. ~nd lhe constituliooal ~m.ndme nt ......ould be on the ballot in

NowmMr 1998. 1 elChort lIli of)'Oll 10 keep an """n mind ill ...... JnO\It lolong thill n»d to a different method. I lOSk. rtllly. for mort than ~t; I .uk lor)'OUr support. II', 11m! II wonderful_e, richly bk:w<I in lenni of nalural rtfO'lUl'CD. nalur.ol t....u\y. J combination of .. >o»d and the Ioothills of the ~ Mounlains. We ~ good ptOpIt. who look 10 I.G lor l&dership in the no of the judiciary. and who o.PfC\ lhe ~rs 10 find a $Olulion to problnns lib this. Then is a paWgt in tho: "8001< 0( Lul<." that cuts <Kross all creed$; il S1oy! that to ..... hom much II given. much i! required. We. the memlxrs of this bar. ha~ been giwn much in tmns 0( ilbilit~ olnd OIlIlOI"tuni· \y. and r btl~ thlot ...... ~ lo 0)I"ft. SpOOding obligation to ..rw tho: public in working OUr ~ out of tho: prtWfIt sys\m1. By the limt )'OU rod this. r hopt tNt lhe bcwd of bu commissionm ...ill hIo~ ~1'tI"fd l raolution saling that the conttpI is worthy of further study and authori~ina: the lIppoinlmmt of l dral\i"ll «mmilln. I think that ...... will rond lo Qround ,....,,11 0( support from the memlxrs of lilt public. I urge)'OU to help us In this important effort . •

DID YOU KNOW!!! The Alabam a Court Reporters Association bas allopled the Code of Ethics of the National Court Reporters Association as follows:

CODE OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS A Mcn'bf:r SbaLL, L.

Be fai, afId ;mp:lnLalao..an! each pIInicipaol in all asp:cu of rcpoocd proooodinp..

Be l ien to iil ..:llioos ,!>;II ~'" conflicts or iMCrcst 01 lha1 may giw .he Ippcar1IlIC1e of a conflict of inlercs!. If. rolllliel or • potCn(w conflict anteS. .be McnltlCf

1I13U disclose thai coonict or potential conflict. l.

G....'rd ~pillSlllOl only the fact ""I.he: awcarance of ;mp. opriCly.

...

Presc" "C the coofidenlialily and CIlSll", die 5C(u.ily Of infomlalion. oral Of ",rillen, cntru.tcd to thc Member by any of 1he parties in • pro<;ttding.

Bc lrulhful and ICCUr.lle "hen mokinA public: SlalCn",nlS or " ...... ado,'CftU:i.Dg Ihc "'c...bcI'J qualifoc:aliorls Of the scnicu pnMdt:d. Rtf...i .. as an olIk;"1 rqx>IIe<. from fottLancc lqIOI'1in, lIa';";,a [hal interfere "I!h oIrlCial chWcI

and obligations. 7.

tbe f_to ally usc •. Rdrain from J,iving, dircaly or indira:tly.

Jill. inccnli.-.:.

~11fd or

2. A ooun rqx>ncr shall a1wayl offer 10 I"""'ido companblt seniccs LO III ~ in a QIC.. Howc\-er. ~ in lIIil policy is illlCnCk:d 10 allow court rtpOf1erS to direaly Of indircai)' c.:clIIinge iluormation "'Ill OOtUpd.;1af11bout IN: priocs dOC)'

cllarg<=. or to di$I;ouqgc in Iny OIlier way competition in the scrvi<:cs offered or priocs ~lIargcd by COOl! roponen.

lUI)'

3. A COOrt roponcr shal l llOl. in IICI or appearance, indicate thai the COOl! reponer is panic;ipaling as part or an ad\~ iUpport learn for any ooe of the

......

an)11tin&: ohalue. to

8I"N'ncys. cJ~nLS. ,,·ilflCOOa, i..... rancc COII'IlIIoies Of any other ~/'IOIlS Of ~ilies associalcd with tbl: liliption. Of 10 the reprcsctllati,u Of ItrnIS of a..,. of tbl: rocecoi .... CJ<CqlI ror items thaI do DOt c:ccccd S100 in tbl: lUf'tPIe per recipient cadi year.

I. A CWIllqlOl1er sIIaIl a1WZ)'$ di$:1oR 10 all parties prCKtlt II a deposition IbI: c.:O- of • ..,. dim;! Of io:lirca COO\I1Ioeti"l rdatian$hip willi any "1Omcy Of partjllO tbI: case., lID thaltbl: 0I1ler parUellIII)' CXlc .... lhcir ri&hU Wldcr RIIlI:$ 21(~). 29 and }l(d) 0) ofUlOI FedctaI RWcs of Cr.il ~ and oompanblc: ~ and local La,,"&, \0 CIbjact 10 !he taki ng of the deposition beoltSC of the possibk d~uaIirlQtion of the coon repOrter. This disclllSll'" shall include !be identily of all principals ar.cl agenl.5 invot-oed in !he oonulICIin, lrooP as ..ell as a descriplion of all sm·1oes bclng ~rfOflno:d by such court lqIOI1cr. his Of her cmpl~, or any principal or agent 0I'!he OIlf\tJaI;ti"lI1OllP. II is lhe CWIl repor1CI"'s obIiption 10 male lU$OfIabIc illqllirics and ascertaia Lhis infomwioo bd"ett acupU"I any _punent.

DclcnniJIC fees independcmly, excepI "hen eslabli,hcd by Slalul. or \DIn order, cnlo. in, inlO no unlawful a,«<mc nl! with otllt. n:pDIIcrs Oil

NCRA CONTRACTING DISCLOSURE POLICY

Mainlain Ihe Intcgrily of!be rcponin& protc:asion.

A 0IlUrt rqx>ncr shall a1"1Iy1 oomply .,.illl federal. $Ute and local .......00 rules thatlO"CfQ the CODdua 01' ooun JqIOrIm (...ch • tlQc that deal "lib W1ificalion, confodentiaJily alld CUS10cIy 01' transcripts. and OIlf\tJaI;tiBl).

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT By Keith B. NQrman

I am su rt you are wondering whal has to do with ou r I MAO

profu!)ion,

MAD:

I am writing this only days .fter .ever· al judicial campaigns .elched a new low in C3rnP/lign conduct. On an emotionall.""l. J am mad lIfea".. they lacked the dignity that judicial cam· PIIig". are supposed 10 possus_On a

Mutual

profeSl;ional balis, I am concerned ,,",cause the campaign tactics that we

have experienced in this year's elee-

lion and th. 1994 election are endan -

Assured Destruction

gering the public's "II1fC! fOf the judiciary. If Ihe type of campaign conduct that we have witnessed in the last two .Ieclio,," continu •• in future judi cial . Iectino!. we may experience the mulua/ ossured des/ruction of our

judicial branch of government. For many the acronym MAD i. a hauntingly familiar reminder of the Cold War or.!. Coin~d by defense strattgists in the 1960s. mulU{l1 as.suml de$lroclirm r.,rers to the policy of nuc1tar dotu rence that guided poliC}'makers untilth. adOption 01 strategic arms limitation agr«ment.s between the United Slates and the USSR and the sub$i"luent rollapu of the USSR. Simpl~ stated. the doctrine 01 mutual .... ured destruction mad. the fir.t launch 01 nuclear wtapons by either the U.s, or the USSR a ~ero sum outcome. This policy maintained stabilit)' between the two su~r powers during the Cold War. but it touched off an arms race between the U.S. and USSR as a <on$i"lu.n.,.,. In order to maintain the stability oIthis nuclear deterrence. defense planners lor both sides continued to .w:ocate the buildup of each side's nuclear arsenal. This expansion of nuclear arsenal< continued out of fear that the other side might gain a stnt .... gic edge. despite the recognition by

~- -

both sides that each po~swIsumcient nuckar weapons to d.stTO)' the entire world many times ow •. Recent judicial elections and the MAO doctrine seem to be strikingly similar. For example. one candidate 51art.s by slightly cros.sing the line of appropriate tampaign ronduct hoping to gain a small edge in the race. 'The other candidate, fearing that the opponent might gain the advantage. responds in kind. but more negaliwly. This ronduct is repeated with each siM ntch.ting up the negative campaign rheloric tach time untilth. campaign becomes embarr .... ingly undignified. ~ntially, the candidates have destrOjled one another_ mutual assured de$truction. In the process. the candidates have lost sight 01 the harm that is inflicted on the judicial system as a whole. Theirs and Iheir campaign advisers' prima'}' roncern is the strat.gic outrome-winning al all)' cos\. An astute and candid assessment 01 the situation with which I happen to agree is by Birmingham Bar Aswcialion Pr.sident Clay Alspaugh. In hi' "Pre.i<!ents M~e" appearing in lhe Summer 1996 issue of the Ilirmingnam Bar Aswciation Bulle/in. he writes: "The .... d ..alit)' in my mind i. thai

we as lawyers have let politics eal its way into OUr system of justice. While laws obvioU$ly are a direct product of 'politic,', the administration oI .... me shou ld not be. We as lawyers should have Ihe total right 01 advocacy wilh;n the law$ wilhoul unjustified <rilieism 01 the resull of that advocacy 50 long as that advocacy i. within the bounds of the law.nd Our Code of Professional Conduct. "Likewise. the judicia,}, should be

¥lIe to interpnt tlloM ~W$ mil all baiLs and )lrikts without preuo~ from tho: poIitw;al right or Idt and wilhoul rqard I(l a ~ru\'llion by iOfI'OI: Ihlol. due to partiun polltklol lffmatioa. that p;)ftOC\l~r INorty IItU the alb on the CO/T"IeTl. I'LUH unrkrsUnd that I do not inlu. arv,\ wUinly do not Mliew th;' to lit ~ ~ in prxtke. But. thot perc.ption to ttloM outlidt the s)'Stem

p ist:IEmptiui$ in 1M uriginall Judidal a.rnpaigns $houkl not M run lik<! ordin;,ry poIitit.lol Qmpai~ Cmon 7 ollhe Cuoons ol Judiciil Ethia uquiru aondidolp 10 -"",inwn tho: dignity """,ropNte to judicial offw;~.· 1':. $hould not only tI<ped Ihlot judiciil andid.l.tts ~~ to these higto· er .und.l.rds. but uquire tNt they ~wlly lit 101l0'0'.~. Whether this will ~

-+WE H 1 997

roqui~ a chang.. in the mtthod ol . Ircling OIlr judiciiry Mao ..... these sbndords au no longer perliMnl. is not tho: subjrct olthis article. N~r· t1w1us. we ml.lSt either change ~ pre. !tnt i)'SIem or dt-nWId tNl the conduc:t ol judiciil ancIid.l.tts M dignified and not dutructM. II we Itl the 1Ndnus continue. we hal't no one .Ise to blame but OIlrstll'tS . •

..I-. r

ANNUA L MEETING J ULY 1 6-19 , 199 7

ABOUT MEMBE RS, AMONG F IRMS Abo\Jt Memb.,.

310, Birmingham. 35203. rhont (205) 322·3444. J. 'nmothy Smith announces the r.1o",lion 0( his office to 1678 H;gm..<lY 31. South. Suite AA. H<lO'\Itr. 35216. Phone

Robort G. Sloundm iII100unw the .. klcation of hi.< offICe to 1700 16'" A.... South Irondale, 35210. Phone

"ue.

(205)592-0505. Julie A. I'llmer announces a change of

{2(5)823-1650. Ann M. Kon ulh announces her relocation to the Fodera! Public Defender's Offltt, W..tem District of M;...;.uri, Sulle

add.os. to 2Q68 llalle)<\llie Road, Su ile C. HO<'JVer.3524.4. Ji l1lU E. ~ Jr. anllOUras the "''''

3·104. CoJponte Centre. 1949 East Sunshine, Springfield, Missouri 65804 . MIone (417} 881-4090. C. Midwlo AncIen annoonces a change of address to 4284 Barkley Bridge ROolii Harueile. 35640. Jama E. Bridgu. III announces the opening of his offire; in Auburn and Tuskegee. Phone (334) 881·3434 and

catioo of his offICe to 209 N. Joochim Strm, Mobil., 366(13-6402. Phone (334) 432-3100. Joan·Mane Ken.n announce> the opming of her office at 108 South Side SQuare, Hunl.\\iU •. 35801. !'hone (205) 5344557. Jonathan S. Weuon announces the opming of his office at the frank Nebon Building. 205 2fl'Slmt. North. Soil.

(3J4) m·3430.

Rkhan] G. I'off. Jr. annoul"oCtS !he OIltning 0( his off"", al 2{)5 N. 2<1' Street. Suite 310. Hinningham. 3S203.Phone (2{I5)322-705(l.

C)."lhi> Cargile Mc.\ ltanS announces !he relocalion 0( her off"", to 132 CoYe A,-en~. Gulf Shorts. 36542. l'hone (334) 968-5816. The mailing address is 1'.0. Box 1322. Gulf Shores. 36547. L. J. SI";n, III announces !he opming 0( his offICe at !he o.-.uphin [.}w Cent..... ISO Go.-emment Street. Suite lOOt. Mobile, 3(i6(l2. The mailing address is 1'0. Box 1281. 36633. Phone (334) 432·2629. lie>.in K. I~ announces thr opming 0( his office at 200 Canyon Park Drive. Suite lOS. Pelham. 35124. Phone (2Q5) 620-5670. 8m C. Hand announces the relocation 0( his office to 2006 Executive Park Drive. Opelika. 36801 . !'hone (334) 741-4077. Among Finn.

B LUMBE R G

EX CE L SIOR'S

'1'UZ,2ed54&<uuv,Y' Sj.ec«bl"

S275

(334) 2\3 -5600.

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500 Pla in Sec:o nd Sheets a proof 24 lb. , 25% Conon. laser Finish, Whileor Bamboo. Recycled Bond $275

24 lb .. 50% Couon law Bond. While. Bamboo and Laser White $285

Jo. eph T. Ca rpe nte r announces Ihal Nalhan C. PRier ha.. M<.(Ime an a..S(>ciale. Offices are localed al 303 Sterling Cenlre. 4121 Cannichael Road. Monlgomery. 361{)6. Phone

C"II for sampl.s ,,,,d I,gol s upply "'''alog, (800) 22/·1971. Uf. 503.

Blumberg l0cel~o.,r

1)ougIu J. Feu annouoctS thol SIxe)o L. Lemley and Richard .... Collins have

become "'~.ldal"'_ Oftk", are Iocaled .11 401-403 Madison Strett Hun\.>Ville . 35801. !'hone (205) 536-1199. Corley. Moneu l & W..d announces thaI J. Thom u King. Jr.• fonner COr· porale counsel for Collateral Mortgage and New Soulh F.d.ra] Savings Bank. has joined the firm as a parln.r and that Annette Talley Phebus has ~orn. an ",soda Ie. Offices are located al 400 Shad~s Crr.k Parkway, Suite 100. Hinningharn. 352()9. Phone (205) 879·5959. Rldwd f . & A$.wciat .. announce that Amanda S. lI unkr. former staff attorney to Judge Roger M. /otonro.. Alabama Court 0( Civil,\ppeaIs. has become an associate. Offices art locate<! .11 56-58 S. Conctption Street. ~ ]obile.

""Ie

l6633. I'llone (l34~ 4J3.{)JOO. RMa" !'ttmon ~ tNt M~ r_ I~ II. C. Andtrw \\~ p i Julio M. Collin- hoM; bm:Imt ~eJ. 0fIicu an knkd II. 1700 F"wnciaI Clnkr. 505 N. 20" Strm. Binni~ l'i2Oll'honr (2(l5) J23..8 .. 1.

Emond" \;nu annourooes that Rtx 1'1'...... Slatt p i I)r,;d Edwin Raim have joined the ill iWodates. otfoces

r.rm

located At 420 N. 20" SlrttI, 2200 SoothTrust "f(M"tI"J. tlirmingharn. 352()3. I'hont; (205) 324-4000. C~Iiun, 8rvo1a " Ibm"" ~ a chartge in the firm name to 8roob " IbnIby. otrlCtS an loc:Med It 618 AWu Ro.I. Mobilt. 36609. The mailing~ is P.O. 161629.36616-2629. Phont (334)661-.4118. Sigkr. Mooft. ~ " Wolk ..-.ounces that AIo W.1..othbY hilS joirwd the firm. The new firm namr is SigIrr, ~ CltmtnIS, Wolfe 41 ZoghIJr. otroc:es an Ioated at 2S25 first NalioN! &ok Building, 107 Saint r taneil Strm. Mobil~. 36602. ~re

3S203. Phone (205) 324~. &II. IWL ~u-t " NO'>">k iIIII"IOlItICtS that Mid>MI L. ""him ... become.., ~. (lIIia$;oft toc.mI M 60 Stmt. Suilt 1100. Montgomtry. 36102.214 The m;ajlirt!; ~11:51 is P.O. nr-r2148.1'hont (334) 8J4..76M. CabIn;... JoIIn.toll. CIord'ltr. Du1llU "O'Ntal anoouncts lllal JOHph V. MUUG.ll:ebtcCII 1>. I' ..b. lad D. ROHnlhal. ~nd Lip M. Shannon have become l»Ot;altJ. Office! ~re. localed al l'ark PIKt Tower. 20011'ark Place. North. Suile 700. Hinningham. 35203. Phone (205)252-8800. N~r Otnabuf1 ..,nouncts tNt Josq>Io L. Cowan. II and hffny 1>. Dyeu. fIlnntr clerk \41 1111: honorable l'IillWn M. Acker. Jr.. Uniled States District J~ (or the Northem District 01 AWwna. 11M! b«omr »>ocioirs. OIlkn 1m Ioated al 2125 Moms A.... nut. Binningllam. 35203. Phone (205) 250-&400. lIanis. Cleckle •• H.... " Rogers anllOUncn lhat Jdfi"O)' K. lIollis has

Coo,_,.,et

b«omr i member. Sitpho n J. B umga....... iIId BIaQ D. ADdftWf havt

b«omr _iotes and tNt the new finn I\amt ;, lIania, CIodckr, 1Ic-TJ. R..... ,Q Ihillis. OIfoen ~'" Ioc;oted at IliJtoric 2007 BuildinQ. 2007 Third North. Birmingham. 35203. Phone (205) J28.~. Robtrt P. ReynoidJ announces that JKIu.on E. Duncall. III has b«omr.., associate. Offices ~re.localfd atlJOS Gm mboro " .... nue. Tlucaloow. 35-t03. Phor>t (205) 39] ·0073. Mun:hllOn <I"< Sulley anoouoces tNl Uta C. Cunlt. hilS ~ an »>oci· ate. OfflCtllIre Ioaled K ]600 N. McKtrU:it St' " I, r oley,3653S. Phonr

"""nut.

(334) 943-]579. RoOiJon " 801_ III1I"1O'lUnUS that Man ha Ann Mil .... has become II part·

nu. and Cha ....s 8. IIIJ,.. •. III has b«omr.., l»Otiat~ and Ju]io J. \\".11n has;o;ned tho firm as .. w.tholde •. OfflCts Irt located al 210 Commertt St.H\' Second f loor. Monlgomery. 3611)t. Phor>t (J3.I) 8J.t·1000. Walbe •• Jomn. Ratliff" Brandl

f'hotlt; (334) 433·n66.

elw"" l'mn "

l.ocItett thai A. c-y Jonu hilS joined the firm. otrlCa~ knttd at 163 W. CherTy.

;umou1lW

Main Stmt. Dothan. 36301. Phonr (334)

793- 1555. T.... Ibolnt, .. Auocialu annoura tNt 1"homu A. IUdney hilS bm:Imt ~ putnl1". The new form namr is Radnry. 1ladnt)I,Q II.--... otras ~ Ioakd M 56 Court Ale City. 15010. I'honr (205) 234·2!H7. Spaill ,Q Cillon annourooes tNl Cary Parb. has be<;omt a parInt •• and that Kam! Joh .... I'dn Wright, Stlay L. McI>ufTa, rrtderk I~ Smith. Jr•. and Kt-ny t.al>ty haOJe btcorrw: iISIOCiat<'$. otflCtI are. klC.ated in The ZiNU. Building, 21 17 Second AVUIUt. North. 6i~m. 35208.1'honr

ARE YOU PAYING TOO MUCH FOR LIFE INSURANCE? Through 1M"", " AMociates, }'OU can pun:hAoe _fTord.ble lenn life ;n... ~ f ....... h;ghly noled ;nwnoncc """"panics. 10 .,"Oid o,..,rpayiog. e&ll for. free quote on poIicics ranginc f....... S100.000 up 10 525.000.000 10 compare"';!h your .... rrenllife insunonee.

s..um.

$250,000 uwel Tenn eo....,rage: Male Preft:rTed NonSmoker Ag. to y"," tS y"," 20 , ..,...

1195 s.tM

1202.50 S27S.oo

$297.50 S4(1S-O(I

S4l2 .so S6OO.oo

S690.oo 11.070.00 l u m.5O S9 , ~.so 11..\95.00 S2.~.12.so

$100,000 Level Tenn eo"crage Male l'referred NonSmokcr

(205)328-4]00.

I\inC. I"" .. Junlcin iII"OOOUI1OtS that 1l~1mIn. KIotI\Y I..tppfI' n Alli&od

\\lncb

SIwtlcy Ili\'t become iIIISOciaIa ()/f;cn

•• . , _ ..... will ... """"'" ........

an koItd II. 315 W. ]9"Strm.~. 35501.1'honr (205}22]~ Ken Ibinton hilS become 1111 assoclm in the Birmingham oIfice.l'hone (205) 327-5223.

C _ annourx:a the ",\or.alion of il.$ otrICU 10 2015 Second [)U....anl ..

A~ut.

I>r-oo.e "

Aaoo;;.,...

Cane. tI . Drane

1-800-554-4599 Lir. I .. "",.""" • Group llet>er. .. . F... ,.", \·I ..... i.... . H.o<:u'i .... U"""r."

NOfIh. Suitt 100, Blnningham,

~--

About Member_, Among Firm_ (Ccnlinuedfrom _331))

announces Ih<ol Thomas M. tAlen. III t.a.. jo;n~ Ih~ firm. Officts are local~ at 2000A SouthBrid~ Parlo..·ay. Suite 525. Birmingllam. 35209. Pnom (205) 870·0555. Boardman" T)In announctS th<ol Ja.on P. Tortorici t.a.. b«ome an ass0ciate. Offices are located al 104 InvemeM Center Place. Suite 325. Birmingllam, 35242-4870. Phone (2051 900-6000. Pittman. Pittm' n" c.. ....ie announce!) th<ot Kathy Parden SIIfe""an t.a.. become an ;wociate and TAItarding r endley has joined of ct)Il,U<!I. omces are local~ at 1111 Oauphin Strrtt, Mobile. 36640·0278. I'ho..e (334) 433·8383. Itartman. Springr... ld &. 6«kham announces that Ch.a"i. M. Sh&h t.a.. joined lhe r.rm as an associate. Offict, are locatw at 2700 Higm.-ay 280 South. Suite 360 East, Mountain Brook Cenler. ll irmingham. 35223. 1'horOf' (2051879·0500. Michael P. \11ndom and o.;,.mond V. Tobia, announce. the formation of \I;nllom &: Tobia •• Office. are located at 1203l)auphin Sirttl. Mobile. 36604.

Phone (334) 432·5001. Richard 11'. Peclol &: Anodal.. announc •• that Clinton C. c..rter t.a.. join~ the firm. Offiu. are located at 202 K Unaka Avenue, Johnson City. Thnrlf'loSel' 37601. P~ (423) 928-6106. Ro .... ld W. llin and I1l l1i;un ,"I. ~n. Jr.. former presiding judge of the A1lbama Court of Criminal Appeals. announc. the formation of \I'i •• " ~n . Omces are located at 2000 Int ... tal. Park Drive. Suile \05. Montgorrwry. 36109. Phone (334) 260·0003. Dillard. Gooz«" King announctS that Richard F. Ho ... ley t.a.. become a partner and th<ot Todd A. IHlc.ambre t.a..join~ the firm as an ;wociat •. Offices are located at the Massey Building. Suite 600. 290 21 ' SlrEet. North, Birmingham, 35203. Phone (205) 251-2823. Ralph D. Clin ... Ill . I)ani.t S.

Wolter and K)'le L Kinne)' annouroct the formation of Cain ... Woller &: Klnlle)'. Office. are located al 22 \twemeM Center Parkw~y. Suite 300, Binningllam . 35242. Phone (2051 900-;888. Pills. Pitts &; Thompson announce.o; Ih<ot Rkkman Edgar llillioms. III has

b«ome an as&>Ciate. Offices are Iocaled at AmSouth Bank Building. 9 Broad Str~tt. Suite 201. Selma. The mailing addrEM is P. O. Drawer 537. 36702-0537. CloIT. Alford. ClauKn "McDonald announces that Pamela A. Moore. A. Edwin Stuard;. III and W. Renj.omin BTOMl"",tor have been"", as&>Ciates. Offices are located at Suitt 5000. On. SI. Louis Centr •. Mooile, 36602. The mailing addreM is P.O. Draw.r C, 36801. Pho"" (334) 432·1600. Pruett. 8rowtl. Turner &: 110... ley announces that Dianna Smith. formerly of Coo~ .. iii Lybrand, has become an ;wociate. Offices are located in Binningham and Gadsden Alabama. Phone (2051871 -1714 and (205) 546-9666. W.I. t"n. Stabler. 11'. 11 •• An<lerson &: Bain. announctS that Elizabeth llo1land lIukh;n . has join~ the firm. and that Barry A. Brodt. Elizabelh Mohaffey Davis and Lel.nd L Price ha'~ becorm as&>Ciate,. Offic •• are located.t 500 Financial Center. 505 20'" Str •• t. North. Birmingllam. 35203. Phone (205) 251-%00. llradley P. Ryder and Toren N. R~.t.r announce the formation of Ryder" Ryder. Oifices Ire located.t 100 Jefferson Str..!. Suile 300, Huntsville. 35801. Phone (205) 5.14·3288. The mailing add .. M i. 1"0. Box 18095.

""'. I "Court surety service 110 ordillary agelll call match "

CIVIL COURT BONDS BY PHONE... BY TOMORROW

CURATORS. INJUNCTION. APPEAL. ATTACHMENT . DETINUE ADMINISTRATORS. GARNI SHMENT. LANDLORD·TENANT CONSERVATORS. ALL OTHE R FEDERAL & STATE COURT BONOS

1-800-274-2663

Hand ,\ ""oda1l announces Ih<ot C",gory R. Jonn hasjoined the firm. r Nd.rick C. 1I.lm.ing, Jr. t.a.. joined Ihe firm as an as&>Ciat. in the Mobile omce and J my J. Crook. II is an associat. in Birmingham. Phone (205) 3244400 and (334) m·SSII. Adam. &; R.. .., announ«. that W. Oa~id W.unns has joine<l as a partner with the form. Offices are located at the Motel Centre. Suite 900. 200 S. Lamar Sireel. 1'.0. Box 24297, Jackson. MiMissippi 39225-4297. Phone (601)

353"' ' M. Hammond. l>Oni. l lI. \\1l1iom

r eldman and Dan~1 P. LeHane announce the formation oi Hammond. feldman &: J.eHJne. OffictS are loc~t~ at 205 20'" Street. North. Suile 615. Birmingham, 35203. Phon. (205) 322·2260. •

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Ii'

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With The Alalxun:a Slate Bar,

The Guarantees Are Yours. puts t-."ef)Vllng on one bill

The AI.1wOIa Si:.olc liar hd"" you find !:Ife ,nd

jIlL'IllO nl:Ikt ~ OS)'

eur "":I)'S 0'I'eT lhoe 1Inct:rulnlics <:i busirocss. Now lhe:)· Iu'·e lonled lip wilh mTlo offef I"ou an c:lsy ,,":ly 10 gain I:Xlr3 s:lvings on long diSlan~ service Iha!", smmmleed'. AT&T ProfH II)" M.'Iociuion g;\"('5)"01l a iIflC.'CbI ~ diIoounl 01\ lOp <:i qualified AT;tT ~ ~'.ing5 pbm. The progr.>m includes ..n ~"U.iI" dome:!Iic, nl"fTWlOfI2l. 1QIl..fnx and local lOll' C1llmg, at all ~'OUr ootions. And ~

K1M[ luthe lifcof ~Oll r busifl($·

AllIn ~ """ the IIDiI ~"C

in the

Rlustry. GIIII'''',/iWI reIi:I_

hiliIf'. C,u,mll/iWI dome:;tic and in1omutional fax ddi'....-ry '. And SUiI,tmlml tompcI~i'~

prn:s'.

Cross 1hoe bridge. Cau I &:Xl 7Z2.71'A txt 1235. 10 put the disoounlS and 8""'r.ln~ <:i AniT Profit 6y A5soci:Ition to for)"Ollr oosil>e:<S. And ,·isit lIS al bll~J/u.TI TI'.IIII.rom/

bm/"esJ/pbt.

AT&T

._ ... _---_. ,,_... -_ __ ...... _""""-,---"".-.. _._-_ . _..... __ _.._...._---_._ ..__...•._-...

BAR BRIEFS

• Alioon Alfonl •

• lnAugust, Kendill W. Maddnx of Bi rmi~ "'.. .warded the LL.M. in 1UaIion by the UnMrsity of AIabam.l Sd>ooI 011 ..... He in 1988 admittee t<.> the Alabama Slale liar.

• Bibb AlIto. a .wnior partner in the Birmingham form rJ RiYes 6i Pelerwn, m;eT1\Jy had publiwoo his ~nsiw i!OUrn' on liability iruuran<:t Law,AJniJama LiaIJilil!lin>uraTlo:l! fianIJbooI<. Allen is a graduate of the University of Alabama School rJ taw and is a ~ at tho Birmingham Sd>ooI 01 Law. H. is. member rJ the f ederation of Insuran<:t Counsel, the International Asstxiation of Defmse Counsel, the International Academy dTrial t.:w.,..rs. the Alabama Dtferue Lav.yers Association. and the American EIoo.rrl of Trial A<Mxates. H. isi'bo. Fellow d the American Bar Foundation and the

American College dTriid Lw.')n'o. • Eianor 1.

Brooks. district attorney lOr Montgomtry Coonty. "'lIS netnil)' .~ro third via-presi· dent o(tl>. Nationallloard

of Directors of Girl Scoots of the ll&\ during

<Ill associate 'oIi!h

• 8rua P. Ely . a member rJ the

Ball. Ball , Malu....'S&

Guin.1IM betn

",,,k.

Mon\gofnt1)'. has been selecttd as 0IIf of two 1997

.....

..api.ntl of the

Scholarship Thlsi fOr Young laIo.Yel'$. This trust, ...'hose Pill.on is HR/I n.. Prince Philip, D\lkf of Edinburgh of Creal Britain. ..I<:ru the recipients CIt this sdloIar· lohip. Awarded annUIIIIy. the I'egluo..G toabIes Arneric.an$1o stu:.\;' "'ith Englistl barri>tm in the Courts" London for the IOOlths" Februar)'. Marth and April. !lased on Ile. ~ication through the MontgOmery Inn" Court and Ile. strong Ittt.... "recunmmdation, Alfurd ,.,.. chooen <IIong ",ith Jan Mirileism Ii lndianapoli>.. Alford "'ill be an in various 00UJts, including the House Ii Lords,I'rny CrunOI and the I.onl Chancellor. tile Commercial Judges and Quetns Bmc:h Masters at the Royal Courts" JlI$lict: the Old Bailty: M.ary\dxln Magi>trales Court the Inns" Court SctOO Ii Law: the ~'aculty 01 At.MxaIes in Edinburgll. Scdland; and the I.onl Chief Justice. High Court and Crown Court in BeUast. treland. She may..oo taM. part in" resi(\ential weekend at l'.'rohor Great Parle and a ITI.l1$halling on cir· cuit "'ith" high court judge.

o!t;e.v,,,

week·,

the Girl Soou!>' National Cruocil~.

Octobo. II ·14. Brook> is the fint woman elected as district auorney and reuntly became a fellow of lhe American College of

Proseculing Attorneys. She lias seovOO the national Girt Scoot organization >II • member of it. board ri di. rctor:! oira 1990. SII...l.Io;sa ncipirnt of the Thanks Badge, Girl Scouting's highest adult noognilion.

• Mithael CNmbm. i partner in the Mobile firm "McRight. Jacboo. Donnan. Myrick '" Moore. LLC.. ,.,.. rectIltly "","al'\I. ttl "doctOTlItt from the lntemalional t... section d the GrnduaI. !...titutt" lnkmational Studies at the University" Gmtw. in s",ilzerbnil.lhe doctor· ate was awarded by ~ Lucius Caflisch and Philippe Cahitr" the University and I'rofnsor Midwl Reisman 01 the YoleUniversity School "t.Iw.

em.w..

"em.w..

firm

"'Thnne. '"

~leded"Fellowli

the Amorican College 01 Thx Counsel. CritWi lor membmhip include at Imt IS yws in tl>e pr.>ctict d Law "'ith the priocipal part 01 the time devoted to tax and tax·",lat· ttl mattm. oommitrne:nt to the pr.>cti« Ii Law through acti\oe ifM>lwmtnt in the worI< "the Thx S«tion" the Amorican fur Aooociation. by planning and Speaking in tax seminars and programs IICl"O$$ tl>e country. by holding offICe in tax oommittfe:l or str· regional. stat. or local boT associa· tiom, through significant legal writing or teaching in the r~ld "taxation. or by hold· ing" high Ie\otl tax adminUiration position ",ith the federal ~mment. H~ is past chai. " the Thx Section and Communication1.i.1IW S«tion d the Ala/:Iama Stat. Bar and presmtly5O""", .. ,"k~-chai." the Thx '" Fiscal Policy Committee "the Business Council" Ala/:Iama and as Alaboma editor" State Thx Notes and So;oJlhe.lsItm Thx Alert H. is a1S<'> • member of the advisory board liVandeTbilt UniversitYs Paul J.llartman State '" LQcaI Thx Fon.un and the Board d Directors" the Publk A/fairs Re5earch Council 01 Alabama. Ely is one Ii the principal autllon of the r'fCef1tjy-fllactttl Alaboma Umilttl Liability Partnership Act " 1996 and w-aulhortd the ARI\·s Model S Corporation I""""", Thx Act (l9&S1. the 1992 ~rs· lIil1 "Right>. and the Alabama Limited Liability Company Ad of 1993. He reOOvtd his undergraduate and Law degrees from the UnMrsity Ii Alabama and his U.M. in Thxation from New York UnMrsity SctOO d Low. •

lions"

a Jl ce-. 1nc< . ' r 1 U6 IU ' 'I'n"rMillJ wLL,abi '~.,rd,";""

cAI -

....,.~i$ e~tendjng

• specia

invitation to le~ .. in

llao, be£l" "aJJl . '6/YaWr fllY dldHUHl Oif .A/a/uti"'" tii"SUlte- '.A,walltaiJ" "1J'.A 'UlYI,ey'"

Alabama. Simply (:(lfltact

Protessional LJabiIity Insl.lrance,lne. 10 r«:eiYe yow no-abIigalion quataIion. PM you" receiwl. compliment eopy 01 The Oue"#( Hour. our poIicyhokIer risk management newslet!er.

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t-800-44t-i3S5 · Fa. 1-800-7t6-3411

INSURANCE.

BUILDING ALABAMA's COURTHOUSES By 5.:Imuel A. Ruil"lOre, Jr.

owndes County !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

• owr.des County, in south ctn\ra1

.IJ,\labama. is the sjte oh well·known story invo/l.ing one ul Alabama', most

famous MId colorful Indian chiefs. Red £agle. Red Eagle was a hIlII·breed. hal.iog a &ottish father and a Creek Indian 1fIIIthn. He " ... known as William Weatherford 10 the ",hite settl... who knew his fatho:r. Hi> lead<ooip role in the massacre 0( "'hite settlers at fort M;rru; in Ilaklwin County on Aug~t 30. 1813 ",as the preru""" of the military encounter in Ln.vndes County from "'hich the story arost. The encounter took at uit. ('.1l1ed the Holy Croond, or Ik.lnatchak.. in the Crttk Indian language. Mer fOrt ~lims. Red Eagle', w.lrriofs gathered at the Holy Ground. a high bluff

p"""

Lowndes County Established: 1830

The following continues I) history

of Aio/)amos county courlhousestheir origim and soml! of the people who contributed 10 their grow/h.ff you have any photographs of early

or present courthouses, please (orward them to: Samuel A Rumore, Jr.. Miglionico & Rumo.-e. 123()

Brown Marx Tower, Birmingham. Alabama 3S203.

---

on the Alabama River "tlich the lr.JWis

believed wa> impn-gnable because it " ... surrounded by cr«ks. S><<lmps, Ihickru and u... river. They"..,,.. folkM'ed the ... by I"""", orol /rom St, Slephens uro<r the ltadmIliv of Brigadier emeral Ferdinand L. Claibome. Ihe brother of Looisiana G<:tvemor William Claiborne, One of !he ",ppIy poinl5 Ceneral Claiborne tsIablished during this campaign was fort Deposit. the name of a thriving l.owndes County w.,Tl to this day. On ~r 23, 1813, Ciaiborne'l troops and lndiom allies altacked the Holy Cround, They complete· 1y rouled the Cr«l!s and burned !he ,il· !age the Crttks h3d established !here. Claiborne's men d,..".., the C...,lIs oul of ctntnJ AIalwna. f:!ed Eagle's escape from the Hol~ Ground is the basis ofthellory, part leg· end and part fact. which is ,till told about him. \Yhen the baulewas lost and the fndians began es.:aping <Kross the river in

1mb or by "";nwnUlQ. Red Eagi( on his hoov. AIrrIoJ. M.aotly ~ Claibomt's forC(!. SH ing that his OIlly ~ from captUI"( ~ dLuh _ a leap into tIw: riYtr, tIw: story goes. ttw. he Dad his hoov to tIw: cdgto of tIw: bluff ;mel ~ OIl ~k into tIw: ALlbama Riwr, Some accounts say tIw: biuff_ 20 I«l higll. othmSO, and othm higJlrr miL SuMving tIw: diY!:, R...! E.g1e esaped in a hail of bullets to nght ~in at Iionelhot Bend. Following tIw: ultimate \kkat oftlw: CMIa in 1814. many Kltlen from SOuth Carolina rTIO'>~ into tIw: terri· tOl)' that wotIld becomt. J..q,..'TIde$ Coonty. McGill's Hill, a viUag< named for urly .uioknts aOli bttr ulled l.orwni.ksboro. _ ~ltled around 181S. In 1818, tIw: A!.Nma CmIplny 01. SOuth CaroliN ~im:l bdwttn 60.000 and 70,000:.eres of land in Abbama at tIw: CalJI,,,ba Umd Offi«. The telTitol)' purcha$td was then in MOIltgomel)' County. MOll of tIw: land _ $Ollth ;md ..mt 01., pIiu all...! Big ~ IiIllIY named btc3ltw 01. tIw: ~. dIImp natUI"( 01. the IUrroundings throu,gh which Bill Swlomp Creek mundertd. In l820a"~ train ofsettlen from South Carolina orriYtd at Big s..~ They amped nw I".,.,. ofhidolry. olk and ,,-alnut trta. Until they built horroI$, these w1y setllm lMd in ttnts. They kq>I the name Big Swamp for their .ettle· mtnt Wan \alt. this tlacrip1M name would IW on signifteanct whm mhiItCU working on a o;(IUrthouse mlCMfion lhm 1wned~ tht IlJuCtI.ft·s ~ IlIl"( problem called "'rising lWnp." tn.mdcs County was the only new counly created in Alabama in 1830. The IegimIUI"( took land from BuIItr.IRlLll. MoJnlitmny. Pi~. and WikxJat counties to form this new ~ unit in tht tooIh a:n1r3l portion of tht sbk. Since fTI(t[Il of thr .arty ruodtnts """" from South Carolina. tIw: Ifltislallll"( chose I r\iIllt to honor I pOpUlir South Carolin"" of the diy, \\'iDiam Jones 1.DoI'!Ida. 1.DoI~ _ born in CoIIeton C<:u1ty. Sooth Carolina. on Febouary II. 1782. lit was educated in t:nglml and in Jlri'.'ale

5Chooh in SOluth CaroIino. In 18()2 he

married Elizabeth Pindcnry. I dIIughttr of Thomas l'inclmry. tht f<mntr tIO"emor of Sooth Carolina. Lowndes pr:.cti«d law for a H:w)'WS md thtn deYoted his mn\tf to his pbnwjon. In 1806. Lowndes bqjan his public life. H< StrVed in the$late _mb/y from 1806 to 18]0. He se.....w 12 ytlln in CongresI.. from 1810 to 11122.. The key is6ues that inltraled him wring his tmns in ~ _ tht Missouri Co .......... and the Seo:cnd BW; of tIw: United SUIts. Lowndes. even though Ilt was ow. six feel six inchu tall, had been in poor health"flU Ilt Io\IaS /I child.lI~ ruignrd from Congress on lob)' 8. 1822. SH\Iing to iiilfJi'O"t his hr;alth hr Idl on l~. but died and _ buritd II sea on Octobtr 27.1822. The most rotting opilaj>h 10 ~ was pmntd by h~ Coogm&ional col· league. Htm)' Cloy. who Qid. "I think the wisest ...., 1ever knew ",» Williom 1.DoI'ndo$."The A1abam.J \q!isbiu .. hlnom! ~ by ertaling 1.DoI'01dts County on JiUll.l.ll)' 2(). 1830. In tht ~laIion ~ishing 1.DoI.u. County. tht sherif d. MonIQOmrTY County _ dincttd to 00Id In da:lion ... the first Moncby in MardlI8JO kw tht sdoction of o;(IUnty ClJi"M"liuionm IIJld other otrlCm. Then 1M .-iy dKled officials ""'I"( dirtdtd 10 00Id an ~lection to choose the ptm'olI"OtIlI .eat of jo.$ice lor the munty.•Iowe\oer. until/l pmroantnI choia could be rnadt. "F"oshr(t sto«"_ ~ted • the temporary o;(IUrthwse. II is interesting 10 nett lhat the w...;ff d.

Montgomny County ",» paid S25 from Montgoml>Ty County's lreaslIl)' to rondud

the Lowndes County ~IKlion. In Volulll( I of lilt I.owro<k> Coonly Comm;S5ion minutu. it is reconltd that WiIIWri P. Fisher and John P. Nilil "",I"( IIppoinl...! commissiooers 10 lU~rin tend lilt !.lying 0111 ofl 10'0<"" III th( tilt ~1t<:ltd for the coonly ~3t. ThO)' "",I"( luthoriztd 10 ~mplo)' the county lu.~ or any other ~rson duty Qwolifitd 10 boy out the town. Also. Ihty ""'.. 10 met. o;(IUithouH. jli! and other public strueturn. In the ensuing county sellt elrclioo. Big s..."iU\"IP "VOL An tarly pOSt office !lUick. dating from October 1. 1830. l;,ts , new ownt lor the "11lIar. Somo:lime in 1830. il beame knownIO$I.oomoies Coon House. In I IUPIlI~menl 10 the pOSt offiee direclory. II tiitirlg$ in ~ had name ehanges \:IrlIo.'Hn October 1. 1830 lOll April I, 1831. One of lhe II ~ _ J..q,..TOdts Court House 10 Ih)'!W$'ilit. All later dIIlt the "so wu dl"Olll'td and lhe ownt Ilea..... I1l1yneville. 1\ is ItlPropriat~ that lilt eoonl~ seat of I counly named for • f;amous South carolinian should be named for an evm ""'"' famous Soulh c.roIinian--aobm Yoonc H:ayne. Ub J.oo.mcIos. llayne _ bom in the COlitton District of Sooth CarolinOl. His dalt of birth was N<Mmber 10. 1791. Ib.yne _ bom on II ria plantation, !tw· ild in a I&w ofIU. md_ ~ted 10 ~ "'111 tht age 01.21. Abo. he iNI". ritd into tIw: IiITC prominmt pol~ical f~mibi 1.DoI'01dts had ffilered. His first ....ife

was F~ Henrietta Pindmey. wOodied at an early ~.

Hayne was elected to the Sooth CaroliN legisl.llu ... in 1814 and 00:am. speaker in 1818.l1e served as Sooth CaroliN Attorney General for two)'t.<lrs. In December 1822. he was elected to the United States SeNte and ... ~Iected in 1!128. FoIkJ,.,;ng his servi« in the Senale. Ha)'IJt becamr I/O"iI'mor of Sooth Carolina. then mayor of the city of Charleston for one )'t.<Ir. After his g.:mmment servi« ended, he became presidmt of. railroad in 1836. 11a)'IJt died on Septemb.r 24.I839. Hayne is n:membertd in American politiall histO<)' for his O(>IXI5ition to. protodi"" tariff and for being a champion of states' rights. He had a.wries of fam<,>.iil debates ,,;th Daniel Webster on these 500jects lrom Januat)' 19 to Januat)' 27.1830. M an Mid<:. it is int .... ting to nott' that Lowndes County was Credttd during the same wttk as the fam<,>.iil do:bat •. Hayne's po:tIilion "'as thata state had the right to nullify a fedoral """. The argu · ment for this "doctrine of nuJHlkation" was thaI since the states had creattd the Constitution. they couk! there(o ... limil the powers given to their oution. the fed· eral gowmmenl Web$ler argued that the Union was suptrior 10 ""l' individual state'. interests. In 1831. Hayne. along with several other Sooth Carolinians. purchased. large portion of land in AIab.lma_ Shortly thereafter. the county seat of I"""Tldes County v.\\S named for Sen;,tor Hayne. The first l<:M11des County Courthouse

was built on the t~'fI :;qua", in Ha}'fIrnUe. the .ite of the present memorial to the Conftderate dead. The build· ing was 50 red long. 40 feet ,,;de and two stories tall. It was rorutructed of llandmad<: brick ",ilh two-feet thid ",.11. on the first stot)' and 20·inch thick waUs on the second stOI'}'. The UPf)er slot)' containtd six rOOms. The cost of this first courthouse ",as $500. This courthouse served the county for QWr 20 yelIrs, but in 1854 the buikling ",as declared uru;a/e. Courus "~fI' again hekl at fisher', Store. then calltd the W. & J. Fisher Geoe-ral Stofl' and later fl'named J. P: Strttty & Co. This store was located west of the teMTI "lll"re. Construction on the new and p",-",nt 1"""'fIdes County Courthouse began in 1S55 and was completed in 1858. This building i. one of only four ant~bellum Wuctures built as courthouses ",hich ~fI' still being used to.:\a}'. The others art fouOO in Sl Clair County ~l Mhville. Perry Counl)' at Marion .•00 COO$a Countyat Rockford. Antebellum t.a....r-.do:s Counl)' "'as a rich and pn:I6prnlUS plantation land. Befitting the wealth of the county ~t this time. its courthouse ..... built in the Gm-k Rwi\-'~I style. The building ..", 56 f""t by 67 feet with a raised portico on the front approximattly29 feet wid<: and projecting from the buikling 13 feel. The second floor was reached by a pair of (Ilr'l.;ng ,ta,rwa;~ on each side 0( the pOdium base. Four fluted Doric colum<lS fronted the portico and sUP!'Orte<,l the triangular pediment. Cast iron railings .nclooed the porch. The

rai5ed portico and CUl\;ng steps on this building were palleme<! all.. Ille 1854 courthouse in Montgomet)'. The courthouse faces west O\-erlooking the court sqUllfl'. It i, a lwo)-SIOt)' struc· lure built of load-bearing brick. It is buill on grade. "'ith no stepS up to the first level. "'ith brick footings used for the foundation. The upper floor and roof are of ",ood fra"", corutruction. Th. exterior ....alls are made of st",,,, and the intum. walls and ceilings are plastered. ",ith the elI«ption of the ceiling in the main courtroom. which is made of st.:lmptd metal til .., The courtroom «iling is 19 feet high. The Ha)llW'ilie courthouse served Lo....ndes County during tho tumultuous period of the Civi!lVar and the ensuing Reconstruction .ra.While the residents of """'fides County ....oold never regain the ptr capita wealth of the antebellum years. the pOpUlation of the county reachtd its historical .. nith in \9()(} ....hw O\-'\!r 35.000 ]>tOIlle called """TIlles County home , By IlIat time the court· houst needed significant ...-pairs. In 1905 the county entered into contract. for the repair and . nlarlltment of the 1S58 structure. The front portico .... ith colVing staircases ",as repla.ced. Th. stair....ay"'as now placfd inside the build· ing. Ivt..n the front and rear doors .... efl' Opened. the cenlral llall formed a breeze. way ... miniseent of the old "dog trot" architecture used in early ",biN. I'or addilional spaa-, two flanking (wo.stot)' office "'ings ......e attached to the original building. AI the c",",Tling touch. the

bui1lkn ~ I ~ ruPQlo. on tht CQUI'lhouM: roof. T1w work compItttd in 1906addtd 2li fm by 44 [HI 01 offICe spKe on two Ie¥els on uch silk 01 t~ old building. T1w new mtnonce Sln.octu", ~ I rod ",ith I stHP'" pitch Ihion I~ mlin building and pi!ultn f;Ont.loinin,Q Ionic apilais. Both tho mllVlCe Itruc:lure lnd .ide wings had 5mllltr wioo.o..'S than lhe origiNI building. The ~ oIthe COlIrthDltK dome i5 approximalely len rut squa~. At each con>tr are double di.lt~td roIumru; p\lctd on d~lli ..... A CQmice divides the ~ fromlhe cIomt. On uch 01 tho Jour sides.. tho buildm mtrvtd spKe lor cloc:ks 10 bot lIldtd, bul no cloeb haw tvtr bH-n installtd. T1w ribbfd domt is lopped by llinial and sUnds CMI" 2(1 fm IIIxM tho roof. Tht I.owndt!; County Courtmuso tmriwd n»iona!lUtntion klIJo..;ng the 1965 ~ death of I ciYil rights.....:wk. tr. VIOla l.iuzzo. during tho SelIN to ~1ontg<lmtrY Marth.I;uzzo diet! in tn.."Odes County and tho trial of tho alleged Klansmen dti"tndants took p~ in tho 1906 vtrOOo of the coortltouM. In recOilnition of ill historical signifi· c.-.nco. tht Lowndu Coonly Courthoust was ...amtd to lho National Rtgisltr of Historic: PIKes on Ju .... 24, 1971. This ~ I-..d bH-n tho scene 01 ~ ioding up 101 the CMI War in the 1860us ...0011 ill tfilb im.oo/Ying tht d\.il righlllTl(Mmmt in tho 1960s.. Aho. I ~Ik from the put iutill in pQce II tho coorthDltK. Tho lNin coortroom contairu; a smlIlilriangular holding cdl in the rur iOOlhwut co",". Tht~ a~ no othtr celli vi$ible in ~y other court· room in 1M $Ult of AlaoolN. Th is cell;, 00 longer used bea.lIK of ill prejudicial tffKI on a jury. Over tho )'Uo1'1 tho oourthoust /til into diI.r dot to a Lad! of money lor mainlenance. The rooflaktd and lho floors I'tI4kd. In 1978court ~ no Iongn br hokl in tho building. ItwirCl_11'IOWd to tho bisanmI: of I building lOtI$$ tho 1oImt. In I 1981 ~idt in """ Birmin{}/Iilm Poll.11eraJd, Hl)'....'"il~ aUomry Jnry Thornton told 01 the primitive condilioNaI lho old cou~ Ilea.. ...."i5jlS and birds fmruently attacked the jurors in the OlUrtroom. Ht 5tlItd thlll he would rathor try r;>St!l ootdoors on

I'"

the \XIOrt SqUIfC under the tm:s than in thocou~.

F"inaliy. the CI(Ul\y Ieund ~ for I nredod rftlO\Qllon project It rtaMd I grant from the Economic Otvtlopmmt MministrJtion - ' II Qn from the Fanntr's IIomtAikninistntion. lht ....... projod. ondtr!he dirtetion of MonIljOO>try ardlitect Bill \'roble. brought the oourthoosol: clow to ill original ]85(1.$ appearance. The two side ....ings ....+lich had been complettd in ]906 were rtITIO'o'ed. Thnt wen ~td by a two-slory:anneJC built bthind the rourtltouM. The fronl mlr.ma mumed to a c!o:le rtitrnbl.:or-a of its 185(1·s~ratawith a r.ljsed p:lf. liro - ' pairtd a,."ngllain. Yocoblt I-..d _ diffICUlty in erffing his pYns~ by the ~ Rcgiotn ~counal. The the ....... - . The o:uv;lt I-..d I ~l'" whirt. sUltd tNt m addition 10 I historic building 5hou1d rtf\.ect tho time when it was buih. In other words. il shoukI bt 11 prodoct d its own time. ~·ortunat.ely. Wibltlater found anothtr IlUkkline ....+lith 5oaYIIhlIlJII' addition 5hou1d be harm0nious ....ith tho IUrrounding a~hitmun. lht annex. iU <;On$truc:ttd, .. fltcttd tradi· tional ~tthellum lIyIing. Whi~ COIl"IIlItting tho rmoYaIions, Yo"obIt diswoot~ many intm:sting felt. turn in the cou~ lht wood .....J in ill COl"dIruc:tian ~ of hand-........ trus6eS COI"I"IK\fd with P$. Tht bricks WOrt Iw>drnidr. Tht 61'$1 floor ctilings WOrt oI ..... ttd bride. lht SlJt!p)rting brick Wliis WOrt 30 indies thick. Wible Ibo mcounkrtd ~rsisttnt pr0blems ....;th moisture in the ....·,,11... lht cour· \I"IooAt WlI oonstJUdtd ....;!h I brick iQun. dation on gn,und Itvtl in a ~ thai had been I big s.....amp. Brid. and particularly hand·made brick. b {juite porous. ~Ioistu~ in the gn,und tmds 10 spre>d UJM;mIIh~ po)r(lUI building moleri· a And. with modtm improo.-mlents in ,,"altr-9>oofi,18. ilnY moistUrt in the W31b would tnwl higher in ordor 10 escape.. lht oonditxon encounlmd in the 0JIItI hI:ouK is t:aW "risillll.damp". The ~ and ~utW hid dl/IicuoIty in dr);ng. Walls hid 10 bt rtpoIinttd. Thm IIlI been a <XlnIIaflt b;otl~ in tho building with moisI~ rtlaltd problems., and the bMt~ oontinon loxiay. Thm is lillk 00ubt thot tho site rA the \XIOO"!hoI.oM ....-as approprioolrly named .....hm originally calltd "Big ~".

,.obIt",_

~ courlhouM rtn(:M\lion oIt ... 1981b «0$\ approxilNlely SI million. T1w buildin, Wil$ nwlo handiapprd ~iblt. 0Hdtd rtSIroom bcilili.. wert ;odcIod. and mort w.ab~ worIc ~ for lilt county "-as pfO'lided. liOlO'tYO:r. mlinlmlnu ",mains tho

mljor probkm now. MoUtu~ and

mildew haw aused ytllow·green IoItrn·

,shes on the uteriDr wans. And. in

1993. a ntWSpa .... ' article reported Ihllt COl.lrl procudings had to be halted and tht main cOI.lrtroom closed b«auu of bats hanging from 1m ceiling. Such problems can bt oljltCltd in a historic slruclu", locatod in I rural Itlling. I.owndt!; County is not as poospo,oos;os in the ..tthellum days.. Men PfOPk liwd in I..owndn County in l840th;on loday. Still. tho citizml 01 the county " - a oniqtw: building in thrir courthoo.tIt. Thry 5houkl t>ko all sttpS nta:Mar)' 10 pmtrYt tho third oIdt.t OlUrthoosoI: in tho SWt 01 AIabimi. •

\lOW".,,,,n!

Sourttt: /..ou..-.des Court 1/ousI!. A Chronicle ofl/aV'oe>';//P, 011 AJabomo RIock Bell ~'illage. 1820-1900. Mi ldred B"""""r HUSltI1. 1951; "'Tho Coo~" w....In Coonty. AlWrrla.. """Alabama Lwytr. Januuy1971. pages 74-n; Histaric Assw--I..ou.-.des CovnJIl. ~. South Ctnlr.lI AIaI:o;wna Droorloprntni <:oo.nWlon. 1975; McInIotsh and H'ealherfotrd. Cra* Indian I..-Itn, ~ w. Criffllh. Jr" 1988; In .......... with an:hilrd Bill W.... 01 I'ma1S. \\ibk. Brurromal. AIkin: An:hi\rdS, ~lmtgOmtoy, Alabama; Midt.

Birmirwham PbsI·IIetu/d, Tue5d.ly.,\pri1

ze. 1981. ~A9: National Regist.. " Historic.l'la.r;n.-Nomin.ation Form. tn.."Odes Counl)' CourtltouM. 1971.

-,.

II.......... ,~ •.

_4 " "a-... . . ) .. _ _

---.... . . .0-_. . . .--_. --__ M

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d . . . . . ' .....

\10" .... . "

_"''''''d~ & _

"""-_

.... !Ior_II' ....... D1CO<>.c....,. . -.......... _ d l h o _

LEGISLATIVE WRAP-Ur The Alabama Law Institute is opeded to fQU. major revioioru. These are: Multiple Party Account>; Uniform Family Support Ad (see November 1996A1aooma w..yer): Revisal t;miltd Partnmhip Act: and Legal Sepa""tion.

The m'isions to the Limited PartneMip law ~~ ~I\ tedmical in fI,llu~, The Committee ;" chaired by attome)' Bob Denniston from ~'obile, and Prof.,...". Bowan! Walthall of Cumberland School of Urw 9:'1'\~ as reporte1",

RevlHd Limited Partnership Act Alabama passed ill current Umikd Partr>eMip Act in 1983 but 1011.-.:1 the

Lep! Separation This bill ;" designed 10 allow cooples "00 are facing marital discord 10 Ilave II viable altemath.. I<> immOOl.ltely obtaining a divorce. It has bto>n drafted to pl'Ullide fle.ibility so that it can be utilized by cooples who hope for a brief period of legal 9:'\lOration whil. they a1t~mpt I<> '",oneile 01" it can be usod by coopies who anticipat. a long, pefhaps eo... n permanent separation but do not want to obtain a divot'« for r~lig\ou!! or othf1" !1'.lSOI'I5. Under subsooction (a). coort shall enter a legal...".ration if UqUtited by one or both of parties. proyided that jurisdictional requiremenu for a dissolution of a marriage haw been mel. In SO doing, the coort mll$\ comply "ith Rule 3Z relating to rnan<i.ltory child support guidtlines, if the coopl. has children. Subswion (bl reiterat.s that a dttree of legal $O'p.1.ration doel; not terminate the marital .tatll$ of the parti ••. Subsection (c) specifies that the tel1Tl5 of a legal sepa· ralion can be mooir.ed or dissolved only by written comen! by both parties and ,atification by the court or by court order upon proof of. material chang. of cir· cu~s. Moroover. the existence of a legal separation does not bar a party from lat.r instituting an action lor dil&Olution 01 a m,,,Tlag•. Subsection (d) contempl.tes that the tmns relating I<> alimony Or a prOperty 9:'ttlement in the legal9:'paralion "ill nol gelll'rally be incorporated into a final divoIU d..,ree absent agreement by the parties. This section recognizes that in mall)' instances the parties hope to recon· cile and therefore ha", not attempled to ~quitably divide their property during what is hoped will be only a brief I"'riod

introdllC~

1976 Unilonn Limited Partnership Act. In 1985. amendments ~rt made to the Uniform Act but Alabama ha$ not addr=ed ~ changes. Ilhas further been pointed out by rractitiorott'! that the I~mited Partnership Act as ""'" in effect. """'" il difficu lt 10 lI$e lim_ ited partnmhips to maximum advantage for esLate planning purpOSeS. This is because the Inlernal RlMllue Code and the Treasury Regulations prwide that restrictions in the limited par!nel'lhip agreement regard i"llliquidalion wHi be ~isregi'lrded if the trnn.>feror (or family members) wntrol the limited partnership before the traruf••. In that situation. the right to ",ithdraw will be detennined under the general ",Ies of state law, he,.., Ala. Code § lIi-9A.l02. ,,-hidl ,,""ides that a limited pa.rtner ""'Y ...ithdraw upoo six months notice. Furthermore. the prwisions of merger of limitrd p.lrtnen; ",ith other legal entiti"" neN to be rl:IIised due to the ~ 01 the Umited Liability Companyand Limit..d Liability Partnership laws and the revisions <I. the Business Corporation Act and Partnership Act Aobe<t ~. lIIeC.,<tey, Jr,

- ...

_L-~,

"' ..... a..c""'" ~-~

"'--My"'-"

.....

~~~

...

"'-11'--~-.

u..

of separation. However. this 9:'ction does provide the ne~i bili ty of alk....·ing the cou· pie to agree that if. reconciliation dot. no! OCcur that the di\ision of pr"""rt~ and the alimon~ provision will be continued in a final decree. Su/l!.ection (e) provides that "the best int.rest of the child" .tandard .hall apply if the parties to the legal separation !;otu file for d>ssolution of their marriage. SuWdion (t) ~ that if both par· tits consent. Prol"'rty acquired by each par!)' :subsequent to the legal ~paration will be deemed the sole party 01 the persoo acquiring the proper!)'. Uke..i .., il both parti.. consent. each spouse may wail... all rights of inheritar.ce subsequent I<> the legal separation. This S«tion has bto>n included to proyide flexibiHI)' to thooe par· ties who desire more economic ",rtainl)' when • legal separation ;. anticipated 10 extend for a long period of time or when the parties pref~r I<> ha"e tho5e matters set· tied hi' consent prior I<> the entl)' 01 the legal separalion. Subofftion (g) proYides that the cost for ItgoI $O'p.1.ratOO i. the same as if. di",,'ution of the marriage was requested. ~ JO..2·3() and -31 relating 10 di\'Ot'« from bed and board Ilave been

The Act has a delayed effedive date I<> January 1. 1998 to enable the bench and bar I<> be infonned of the new Ia\o.'. In addition I<> tt..... four laws it is expected that during the .... ioo. Institute oommittees "ill complete the rai.ion of uee Article 5 "Wters of Credit"'. Uniform Principal and locome Act and Uniform Custodial Trust Act. If II>ese revi.ions are completed and appWl.-ed hi' the Institute e.>rIy in the swOO. they. 100. will be pre· sented to the t..gislature, New Laws Effective .January 1, 1997 The l.egislature passed the follCMing new Ia\o.~

which bfcame effect .... January 1. 1997.

Unif...... l'artnrnhip with Umital I.iabilit;y I'vtMnhip ...... iI r....nd ;" Ihr 1996 CumulitM: Suwk"'OIiOt Pocb1 ~T1w: Partn!:.wp Act brgW in AWwnI Code 110-&\.-101,.00 the Limited Liability f'n':>.iMons begin in fl O-

SA·IOOI. Uniform Commercial Codt Artidt 8 M\",., \mtrIt SerorffiHM . .....1 ...... ftpta\oll/CCAtticIo6 B.... 1'ransIno - 'TlDe, fA CIJi.IfW, :m found in Titk 1 ,,'hido is the l/nikInn C<Jmrror~ CocIr. FN\y. Joint c..tod, or Childmo is bind in AlWrN Code f 31).3.150. Anyone wishing ..1i}' other or furthtr inforrTilltiO<i cooc~mi ng Ih~ Institute (Or any 01 itJ prOject! may contact \lob McCuriey, director, AlaharTill Law Institute, P.O. 1ku18614Z5, TusaIooN, A1a1Mmi JS.t~OO I 3. fax (~I348841 1. phone (205) 34S-84 11. no. Institute's I>orIw ~ QTi lit found O<i

M embe rs-

the Intmotllt htl~:I/Ior.o.....law.ua.edul.. li.

Order Your ... 9 9 6 Directories! $25 each

Non- M embe r s-S60 each M ail chec k or m oney orde r t o:

A labama B ar Directories P. O .

B o x

M on r "orn e ry,

4 1 56 AL 367 0 1

Include name. s tree t address an d street ZIP

•

W e ship by U PS

Orders rnwst be prepaid I

ALABAMA DIVORCE, ALIMONY AND CHII .D CUSTODY HORNBOOK THIRD EDITION

b, Penny A. DlviJ

CONVENIENT QmCK REFERENCE Alabama OiYOl'Cc. Alimooy ... d Child CooSlOdy Hornback. Third Editioa. is

!he m~ comprcben>;"" book 00 Alabamio divan:e law available. It Iud 42 dIapIUf and ovn 17~ pal" of forms wbicb an: """,ytnimtly OTJIII1ized willi !he busy la~r in mind.

,,'

NE W LAW

Rober1 1.. McCurley. Jr.

1997 Pocket Part

Thc 1997 Pocl;et pvI OOIItaW importllll DeW _1Ofy and USC law iIoctud.ic, c:hans.. iD rmr-~

o;:oolilo,-otr perioch. and mcdllrioro:l:. Abo iIoc1ucled are sevaaI new fa!aal laws rcll!in& to dliid cuswdy IIId child

----~~~--~~~==~====~~ LAWV£RS £DUCATIONAL PRLSS Allo AVlllablt: LAW OFFICE PRACTICE DE:SKBOOK. Soveot/l PenoOrJke 80. 861287 Editioa II $73 .00 (S6' ,OO plus U .OO.1al<. poIU&e lad (haocIIin&). T_,.IIocna, AL 35486-0013 ......... ~ _ topics 0( AU.8AMA DIVORCE. AWtONY AND CHlU) CUSTODY HORHBOOK. Tblni EdiIioa wid! Pocket Pan. II $19,0(0 ncb (S7O.00 plus $9.40 WI. pos&qe IIiCIlwIdlio&). PlclK amd me _ copies ofllle 1997 Pockcl; J>.n for ALABAMA DIVORCE, AUMONV ANI) CHILD CUSTODY HORNBOOK II S23.oo tach (S20.oo plus Sl.oow. posta&e IIId haodliaa). • AU ordm must be PREP AlD. MW .bed,. ~Ie to LAWYERS EDUCA110NAL PRLSS. If IlOl salis6ed you 1M)' mum the book wMia 10 days for II\IJlrc!\ood.

State Ba~ Members Lahor at SUMMER OLYMPICS WO members of I"" A/oooma S!jJt~ HoT /qpIc lea.O! from practicing law 1as.1 summu 10 ICOI"k for the 1996

Summer Ofllmpia in Allim/a. 111m/wille litigator Slaw ShotD WI his in$urrma tkkrut fN«licr for a men/h 10 rrK1IlQ(1t /mIn pdo C1)nIJ1eIitioo -..111. and BTgtm MotrJ;m kIIthe E"I~ .rulricl QI/omqj offla for an eighl'm()n/h /QUr of dUllllrilh 111ft Nalionu/ Guard Ofgrnpic T<ISk f'oru.

Steve Shaw For the 43-)'eIIr.old Shaw, j life· long wattT POlo C(lrTlpdi\or and ~thusiasl the Gamr:. mt.aIIlt 18hour days III the pool rn;aruging 3Opeqlk~lo~

1m c!ul\.~YS teams from club. in other Soothem citi~s, For the uninitiated. water polo i. much like IOCttr or hock· 0)'. "ith 5OI1'Ie eltmenu 01 basketbo.llth"",,,, in. Show uid. Eidl ttam has l pl~ and six field ~rs. and the game is ~ in deep Wiltr. Thry run pLooys similar to pOWtf plays in hodry. Shaw said. f'b)'l:n annot touch lhe ball with two IwIds. "lI"s "t1'Y ~Ilydtmanding," ht $aid. lIK.iuse wal .. polo dots 1101 eDCtIy rank up then wilh college football as a 50ulhtm lport. officials wtrt scram· bling when Atlanta was cl\o$en as the lile for t~ 1996 Summer Olympics. '"Thert was no one in I~ Sooth who kMW anything about water polo: Shaw ..id.11lry nttdtd SOfIl«K>t close: C~unllij. Shaw found hil'lUtif rtSpOn. sible forcompilinQ lhe rt:Iulls (or the sport at tilt Cunu. With lilI galMS pLooyed &eh ~ lor tight days of competi.

tion. his hIInds wtft full. "Tht first !lay __ horrible: SI>aw confessed. ~ scon·

swions and monitorirC lour ~ himsd. With 56,000 ~ of ~ p:iIo <,\aQ produced

each day 01 tho compd.ition, Shaw I.lW little of h<s "I'OrI. "[ I.lW 1M minutes worth of water pOlo in 48 games. • he said Shaw $Iept at the pooI5Ome nights bfause he Nod onJy j Irw hc.lo.m until he hid ID br back 10 ...-ork. "'t "'";IS ddinitely no! a -..tion. • he said. ShMo,i 1989 gnduate afthe UrWmityd AIabarnII SchloI of "-. is no.JInnge< 10 hanI..ooc. A fonnu~. lit "lIS i full-limo: wananI mag\stJ1IIIe in TlW3kx>u during .... !<hooI. ~ng his wile Cindy MId 100. chiklrm in Huntsvillr only on ~ wtekmds. They rrtumtd to his nII\M California briefly after .... school and he pa5Sfd the California bar o:am, but the family returned to Alabama alte. a ftw months. JIe is I partner with Cnu and Shaw in Huntsvillt.. Shaw took upwaler polo io California a$ j child 10 ~ _ hfe \0 his _imrs monotonous oompditiw ""im. minllQrttr. "You get really borld foIlowmg tl'latlittle blxk lim at the bottom 01 the pOOl: S~ NJcllle ~nt throuah coIle~ on l " ... ter polo Kholarship. continued to pLooy tm sport ~n in AIWma. when WittT polo is 1Il odd;· ty. to ~ tm ltut. He stumbled upOn U~ ~Iadison Wittr Polo Club in IJunto,ille after M bfg:on practicing law tMrt.

and'"

b<.».rd. which was ~rt ofhis mporuibility. t"ltd 1m wrong turns. and he found il impossible 10 m«t the row.minutt deadlines for producing Ilau to tht mtdia and other inter· .sltd parties. "Aller thllt. it got much. much smoother," he $aid. Still. he would no! take on the job again. - I would he a ball boy: Show SIIid. One bright 1101. was the lupport and eoopo .... tion Shaw rfU;"'t<! from Huntsville ~n and judgu in rumnti"ll hi$ Kht<.lult lor Julj. lit SIIid. -or COUflt. thry Iloommed me in August and So-pt.mber: M Iddtd.

art." E. Mo."."

Morgan. 42. helped to coo"li ... lo Nati"",,1 Guard KCurity support for the Games. beginning h" tour in February 1996. The Luk fore. was i 12·member group bastd in Washington. D.C •• ind their rolt was to be "addit~1 f)'U ind eus" for law nllornmenlit the Camts.. A 1981 CurnbMlIld law School Qraduatt. Morgan had worIIed brief!)' in prio.-ate prKtiQ: ~ ~il1l kIur yean M M1 ~ iqIaI ~ to Abbamo Gov. Goorgt: Walba n iIllidditional IM)tiIl all tItCUIfw dirtdOr {)( tho: OtrIQ' ()( Prosecution Strv;ces in Montiomt1)'. He had bml an wistant dUtrict a110mty in Enterpriu for more than thrft yean whtn

hr httded thr call from thr OI)mpic 1¥k Fon:e.

Morgan $plnt about half of his timt in Atlanta and half in Wou.hington , D.C. during tilt ~ight· month tour of duty. h. said. Ht htlped to coordinate the work of gu:lrd mtmlxrs f,onI 42 m in who aWsttd in SKUrity at the G.omn. C....rd mrmbm trained in thtir home Shtft first. then re«iwd addi · tional training onu they al'T'Md in Atlant.l. Morgan said. ~ sarchell 1Iehkln and furnished perimder .wrorily and QbwrvaHon. ht said. Aller the Ctntennial Park bombing. guard mtmbers providtd crowd control. emergency first aid and additional security 10 the aru. hr said. Most of tht guard rrotmbm in thr llru at 1M lime -..ert Air Cuard. and Il1O$l "'ert civili.>n poIi<:f: offi· ten. Morgan ~ N....e .......... hurt in thr boorbing. hr said. One lI .... rdsrrw. was kil1td lit the OI)'n'IpM:s. ~r. ...... il. WIlking with anothrr gw,rdstnan bitk to tilt Dom';l1e. Georgia high school.r. they "'tr"e houstd. Both 1mn ...'t'" shot /IS Ihrywllktd throogh on unlit aru tarly one morning. Morgan said. Tht young man who di.d

was shot in tht hurt. whil. tht other ...~ shot in lilt hud, ht said. That rrw. has , ina rtwYrR<I. Morgan said. Tht ""ir"'"110 schtdultd to go homt La.ttr that day. "IlIa1 was lhe only unfortunate inddtnt.· ht lIIid. Afttr his lour with lilt lask force was oompleltd. ~lorgan WaS offered a posilion with lilt Office of Judge Advocale General in Wou.hinglon. D.C. t;uenlially. Ilt is in ·howe coullSf:l for the National C.... rd, Morgan said. H. Im"tls home to Abbamo /.;oirly oII.n. thou&h, and may mum wlltn !lis turnnt tour of duty il compltttd in tht Sllring. he IIIMI. Motpn gid he ttljoytd ...x1r.ing with law m~mml at tilt Summer OlympM:s. Tht Guard pl'OYidtd IIrlllddilional .wrority II'esm« for tilt G.o/Ta which mad. II rflll diff.r· ence, Ilt gid. ""The C .... rd was th.,1dded .", .. that mad. tilt Gamts 111ft." Morgan said. •

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Thursday, January 23, 1997 Embassy Suites Hotel-Montgomery, Alabama Sponsored by'

Alabama Judicial College Circuit & District Judges Association Alabama State Bar 8:00-8:45 a.m.

.Registration

8:45-9:15 a.m.

, ...Welcoming Remarks . ....... , .The Living Constitution

9:15-10:45 a.m.

10:45-11:00 a.m ....... , .......... , ...... , ............. Break 11 :OQ..Noon , ..... .. , .... Ethics and the Judicial Inquiry Commission Noon-1 :30 p,m.

. .Lunch

1:30-3:00 p.m ..................... Track I-Class Action Lawsuits .. , .. , ....... , .. Track II-Family Law Issues and Acts 3:00-3:15 p.m.

. ....... , ..........................Break

3:15-5:00 p.m. ...... Common Problems with New Rules of Evidence . ... , ............................... Reception

6:00 p.m.

Registration Fee: $45 (Includes written materials, luncheon and reception) Conference is approved for 5.8 hours CLE credit

~----- --- -- - - - -------------------------------------------------------------------~

Bench & Bar Mid-Winter Conference Registration Form Program is limited to first 200 attorneys to register

Name:~~========;;~===========:=============:~============

Address: Telephone:

Enclosed is my Registration fee of $45.00 ====~ I will have a guestls) at $15.00 each I Total amount of chec~' enclosed D I wi ll attend the 6 pm reception D I will not attend the reception

[

'" Make check payable to AJCFA

L _______________________________________________________________________________ _

Mail this form and check by January 15, 1997 to: The Alabama Judicial College, 300 Dexter Avenue. Montgomery, AL 36104

Fall 1996 Admittees

Numbo. J;tt;~ for £lW1l •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Number «rt;r~ 10 Supreme Court 0( ,o\laIwna •.••..•••.•..•..•..••.....•..•...•..•...•..•..•......•.. 378 Certification I7Itt. _...•...•.••..•..........................................••.••............ 66 ptranl C..-tlflcatlon Percentag ••: 1Jnj',",l'Jity of Alab.uno School of Law ...............•..••..••..............•.................... 90 prlUlll Cumberland School of Uw ...•..•..•.........••..•..•........................................ 87 pttUnl i~;;:~=~::::" I~~ ..•..•..........................................•..•......... ..... 34 ptrttnt J. of La"" ....•......•..•..•...•..•..•.•••••••••••••• _ .•••••••.•..••..•.... 37 ptrtent

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MEMORIALS

The Honorable Joseph D. Phelps: Judge, Peacemaker And Friend

INpJte Re.oIulion. Mwiation and conciliation ..... '" just two ri tho judge's many inttrtSU and projorcts. Ask arJ)Ule in ~Iontgomtry. and !hey ,,;11 tell you >IOIurntllIbout his ITW1y )'W'$ ri oonvnunilY Ktviox.

Junt, AbIwni loll ont d. its ITIOIl staundt 5I.JIIIlOI1tn d .hr. I'IlItiw di$pute If:5OIution {Al)RJ whm J",,* kJseph Phrlps, rectntly retired after 2(} years ... a cirruit court judge in Montgomery Cwnty. ""'" killed in M1 .....uomobilt IICcidmt. \\'hiluliU on the bmdI, JucIilt PhtIPi btamo. promOttT of ~

tion. ".ggesting 10 poUties ~ him thai I/It)' get togMtr 10 work it out win_win .<\)'1 . "ith thtiT aUOrnt)'> and a mediator. He kamtd the value d. mediMion to the courts ;II the NalioNI ~um on Coon ~ M~tion.lIld murned 10 work ..;th the dnt(s oIfitt 10 rTIIke sure attornoys..- ~"'rt 0( a1terNtMs prior \0 trW. The judge also ltamed to be a mediator, aUending IlaMord taw School to puticip;lte in their SG-hoor mtdiation ~ .-xl ~ at many xminan on ADR aroonl the JQle 01 Abbama. 01 porticulH inkrat to him was Chrisliin OlfI<ili<otion and ~making. an approach to oon/lict raoiUlion using Biblical pril'£lpal$. J~ btame thr catalyst for a small group d. Christian dioput. rrsoIution ~ in Montgomny. a:... dud~ ~ and hn:tl meetings for lIS on the irnpooUnClt d this type aI. ronmCl resolution. 1\ _this srrWlgroop thol SUJIIlOfIN Chri$tW1 «W"JIicI raoIulion training in Moo!4Or'J1eOY through the

\I'lltn I CMntto Mon\iomt.)'. AlaIwm from the W;uhington. D.C.

ara. Judgt Phelps,,~ on< ri the

Institute (or Christian Conciliation. Shortly aller he retired from !he bench. Ju<Jgo PhoIjlS.wI: up his o/I'lCl' on CarmicI\itI Road in MontgomHy.IIld ",iddybtamt. sought~ mediitof.1 IhouId kno.., as [ __ M.<l)'$ -.ding hi:! SUit Court Mediator RoiItn application 10 anornfYS /or ft\ii",,\}o( molly enjoyed mtdialion. and "'as Q'Ilick to be a mentor to ntwI)' trailll:'d mediator$. Itttil"41 them obKM: his mediations and shiring Uch-

II. snwd 00 !hot AIabimII Supmr.e Court Commission on ~ Rewlution, .. its .-ty ,kdtd ~ tmsurff. and on tho AIab.vn.l SUte Bar's Committee on Alternative Me1hoxis 0( niques.

first persons in tho ~ communiI)' I me\. Shortly thmatIer.1 had ;nero. durtions 10 loa! atlomeys he TI!IpOdod and tho ~ State Bar. Bmre I knew it. I ,,'is dirtdirog tho _ AIaI:lamlI Cmter for Dispute ReooIulion. The judge Wit! always ~ pmtnce at tho etnle •• tallirql In 5<'1' IKM> Il"Iirlg. wm: goine if he had not hean:I from nit in ~ \Oftk. And his pram« rtIl1Ms: ADR INkrials from his oI'I'iac ~ raiIIt in tho Ctniff's libruy, ~ gift from his family Through tho hard woric ri many lllDl'Tle)'S and iuo:l#s. tho use ri alternative dispute resnlulion in AIab.vn.l is cootinuirog to ~ and flourish. ~ probltm se/vingDitn ~ ~ with tho ~ ~;ol ~ men posiIiw i..... Ior~~rog ..... ..u ..wit. J• .kIseph Pht\p5. ~ ~nd fritnd. will be chtffil1ll us on. -JlICIll h M. Kotp~. fOCI .. "'Lobo... Ct-n1t1 lor ObII'll' R• ...t~1ioa 100000000jy appumI in tho 1111 0( ,,' ..... A£W. apubl~ritho MtdiMion Cor,ontionl

w...

Roger Carlisle Suttle

RaJph Bolen

tl fhtruJ,1IoiItT ~isIe SuUlt. I distm~.Iishtd nlt"lbel vi the WI' Etowah County Bar A$.wciotion. dif'II on Octdotr I I. 1996. lit the. vi 86. and WI",rus, this o\ssociltion o.\ts.im; to honor his IWI>t lAIJ to ~i1c hiHOfltributi0n5 to thr legal proI'lMion It"od to his community. Now. thertfon. be il I't'iTItmbtrtd. ROI/t. Carliste &ollte "'all born in &OWl'. Pm)' County. Alab>ma in 1910. UpOn his~ualion from the Uniw"ityci Alabama School ci Uw in 193(). hr ....as admitted to the AIWnv. SUtt Bar at the Iij/e vlZO. Known II "Dick· 10 his family md fritnds. he 0'i0'.'td 10 Cid9;kn ii>d mtmd the prxIa vi law. Dick iOOO 1M and mil.· ri<d ~ SUlliroSuttlt. "t.o ~ him in death bythrft

He is wl'lo'iwd by his t....:o JOOI. Dr. Roger C. Suttle. Jr. ci Cad:sdm.1Ild W. CMy Sullie. vi f'toocr*. ArUoora. lk i s . WI'· viIIf'II by IIwft: ~m. MerrilL Suttle McCutlole1 vi Bimoi~ Elizabtth Suttlt ci Iiomtr. AIWIa. and Emily Suttlt vi Seattle. \\'ashinstoo.lI1II by his gmt.granddaUli!tlttr and roarneWIt. Carli&It McCulloullh. Dick rtrTWnaI in prM.k practia thl'Ollghool his c::mt •• pri""... Iy in liliQ.l.tion. llewaslcm.on ard =POCled by his frllow ~"U$ I skilLful ard determined adI>ocatt, vigofoos ~nd tough 00 behalf of his clienlJ, but ~tv.·ays with in the frame'WOl'k d ethics and propI'iI'IJ'. HI' loved the ~. At the lime ci his death he _ 01 CW1I$Id to lnur. StiYmo.kr. Ibnty &: JoIvwJn. tho SlO'"N$<QI' to his origi~ firm. Though frail. Dick mnainN;octM untillw<.> wrd<s prior to his dealh.lA'Wiiltl it the law firm ~ lOr short period$ ci Ii"", 00 an.lllrnost-dail)l blIif. He .......... Mdgolkr. He_dNotN to his church and to his comrtu\ity but rnost vI.IIIl to his 1lmi1)l. tie will be mwed IIld te.. *,IIbertd. Now, thtrdon. be it rao/Iled lh>t the f:tu,Qh County 8,v o\ssociItion acIcnowIedga the many ~i.t.nmb vi Roetr Carli&It Suttlt 1Iu~ his long life and mourns his PlIIiiltl-

tl Jhrna$. H. Ralph Bolen. a OOIe"lbe. vi the 6i~ BiT

" " o\ssociation ....... ~tted to pr;ooo:t,tt Ilw in tht State ci Abbinwo 00 Fdoruary 2. 1952 and 00 July 7. 1996. aIItr a long and diotingu;.hed caRtT. MI'.1loItn passed away. and. \\'herw. H. Ralph IloItn w.IS born and r.l~ in hck:son. Alabama. HI' 5e0'lled in the United &ala Army ....herein he dOOn. llUiUItd hiOl'l5elf b)' 5e.ving "" c..""raJ Omu Bra,H,),:' ai"" in cto.arge ofUSO enterUinment in Europe during WorK! Wa. II; ard , Whereas. on his dUcharge fn:m 0", milital)', he onoved to TI'K~\oxQ. ~ whell' he 0f'I'/Ied • raburwtt which he oponted "ttiltatterodinll ~le ~.and~.

Ilw tdIooI. at the Ilniwr>ily vi ~ and. WI.....,.., upon gra.Wtion from 1M school. he and his ..;re. \'m. T11OI'td 10 8iomii\1ham whm he qlmed his 1M pnc:tia and he prxtittd -..ith the UOOlOlable Ctorge R. RtynoIds and WL I.ongshore. J r~ and, \\'hrn:lI, his t....:o JOOI. ~ J. IloItn and I!andlill H. Bolen.

now ~ 1M in Bimoirewn • "I\'"Ibe" vi the 6i~ &r o\ssociation: and. \\~ to !how who borw It. Ralph Bolen. he ....... a !!mt\t.. man who COlIId be trusted in all things, wrblll and "Titten. while allhe same time being a loyal adIIoc:ite (j)[' his cli(nts. II. Ralph IIoIl'n po:lS5I.'S5I!d tho ability to g.,t to the ht.a 11 ci "",lien practical. Iy /or hi$ client:;' benefit His dim;\nt$$ illl~ ""lien and his "it in a1llhings will be miwd; and. Whereas. H. Ralph IloItn pnctked law and lived his lift in an hono.abIe ard ~t "7/Y. Now. Oonekoo •• be it hereby raoMd.lh>t the members vi the 6irm~ &r Asfoci.1Iion Ill' ~ by tht ~ vi H. RlIII*o lIoIto mJ this Rmuooo is oIfmd • i men1OO'I.III to his family.

-""-

- . 8inooin(b>" !lor Au , :" ,

Horace Ralph 8 0ltn

Willi. K lI.ot

IJirmingham

MOl1tgomen;

Thorn.. t;. Skinn ... Tl'qllcsta. f70rida

Mmitted: 1952 Dkd: July 7. 1996

Mmllled: 1978 Died: N~mber 8. 1996

Mmitted: 1931 Died: October 19. 1996

\\111iam Cray Ell')'

David [ute"" LK

lIardy Bolton Smith

-'''''''

MOfll(lOOleTr

Admitted: 1938 Di«J: Augmt S. 1996

AlImitttd: 1926 1Md: Odober 13. 1996

AlImitled: 1958 Died: Augml 1. 1996

MichMlAnthony F;gu~. Mobile Admitted: 1972 Died: ~ptember 13, 1996

John Tony Rtynoldl. Jr. Mobile Admitted: 1936

Mallhtw O. Thomuon, III /luntA'il/,

~--

Died: J~ly 4: 1996

Allmitted; 1975 lMJ: August 4. 1996

James R. Cooley, Jr.

Paul W. Brock hereas. Paul W. llrock "''a$ bom on Ftbruary 23. 1928 in ~lobilt. ~ lhr ~ ul Cltnn Porter Brocl<. ST. and ~:athtT C<Jo<.t.,.in Brod<. H. __ rduattd it UnMrsity Military Sd>ooI, gnduatq in 1944 ani a:aUirCasastudentanl.an ithkk and ~~ eI'eTI thrn the qualities of pmonvn. an«. dr:d;c;otioo and leadership tI\at would m.lIt his mllrt lit(. lie auended !he UnMrsity 01 Alabama, whtrt he received ~ II.S. degree in 1948 and a J.~. dtgree in 1950. H......... ~ltdod to Of)K and Jasons. and ~ !he BaUoor Award as It.. OllUUndiog ~. i1 .."ibtl 01 SiOno Chi fnlnnoty in It.. nation. lie . - admiueel 10 the ~ SbI. &t in 1950. H• .IO"IVOd in the US Air For« in 1952 and 1953, and thrn relurritd 10 Mobilo ani fIIItnd thr pradia: olIN with the Hand. ArtndaII 1M finn. whert he lWUld pnoc. tier ~43 years. H. ~ a hillhly dislinguWitd I~ ClOTttr. He ........ a Fdlow of the Amtrican College olTN! ~ and a MtrnboI' of the

the Mobilo liar

InlHnMionaI~oonat Dd~ CounsorI. LIlt As5ociation Ddmso IN.I Altorntys. the AIab;,ma Defense I~rs Association (which he selVtd iiS prai. dent), the [)dense Raw"th Institute Iwhich he abo} .. lVtd as

praldmI),tho Fedr:ntion of I....... ranco and Corporat. Counstl. tho SMionaI Aooocillion of RailrOid TN! CounstI. LIlt I'rodoct Liability Moisooy Council. the AIabimII su.. Bar CriMIrn Committee (which he setvtd as chili,), the JudkialllVIUiry Commwion at the SI.:>I. of Alabama. LIlt Mobil~ Americ.vl hwof Court (...tlich lit WII$ iralrummtal in Iounding and t",;ce .. tvtd as ~,and the American Bar Foundation. 11• . - an ~ ]a.,.')'ef ...m I3otN\.oIIy and JIJIy rtprQmteel Imdimu. To SiYINI he __ ~ng. woIl ~ inttnsely competitive, and the worthit$t ul ~ is an under· stlttmtnl il ......u at LIlt same limo a man of the highest integrity, whoso word was lid bond. ",ho!"IMr JaCTirJad his integrity at the ~ter of apedimcy Of for personal lIMn 01' lr4ir aa.~ In pmonaI deai,rcs. he _kind and ~ He __ a gtrlI~ man in the limdea and wry bat mt.anI~ of !hoi word. \\'he ...... Paul W. Brock died on Apoil14, 1996. H. is sutviwd by a large and kMng fam ily, consisting at his wife, Louise SMartr I1rocl<. his childrtn. lwl Brock. J'.. lIttte Rutln, Valtrie Can». Sherry ~;", ani Ridwd Brocl<.lix gnndchiklrtn, and "" bnlIher and p.Vtner,1'Iwr Brod<. Now, Lhtodoi., br it IU(I/ved by the Mobilr Bar ~ that Paul W. Brock', unlqUO and irreplarul:)le prtSitI"IeX. cNrxur and ~pIe ...ill br missed by his fritnds and col1~ in the woci· ation. tI\at LIlt members of the Awociation celebrate hiS lif( and moum his death. and that the memlitrs at the aMOcialion bltnd their ~"..xIthy and a:nIoIrnm to hi$ funily.

_"iGam Klonhi . . . Jr. li<lrnt Mobile ...... AII..d.Uon A.

t....

aommunity:

,dl .. mbe..d:

James fblph Cooley, Jr~ J.roo.." \0 ~I lIS "James.' was born in Binninglwn. Alabama and altfi1lled tk:mmtllry and high schoob in the Mobile area, pIayW football ~t o.w;\bon lIillh Schox> and _ an ~ Alabama IoothiJI fMt. James ~ from tht l.InMrsity of South .o.IatiioN in 1975 and Cumberland Sd>ooI ofLawofSarnKlrd Uniwrsity in 1978. ...tom he entmd the PfIVll' pnctlce at ~. Jil/TItII was a momber rJ tM BanknoptC)' and Commtrcial Law Srction of the AIab;una SUit liar and LIlt Mobik liar Bankruptcy Commit~

James' IN ~ _ kIcused in the IJomatic rtlations _ and in ~ pmons ...m hid ~ difficulties and ...m wen 1Iitwed lIS belOlI"dQo.,,, on their Iud<.'

James rtprQmtrd his ditnts in an rnrnpIary ITIMlIlf1' and treated his clients and fellow laY.yers ...i!h digni!» and COlIrttsy. James was known lIS an ewn·lernj:Itrrd person ...m "'~ I strorC and ~ ldIootat.1or hi$ dimu. hfna dNoteei falhtr II1Il funily man. ~ su ........... him "" ...;i'e. Palrici;o "- Cooley of DopIw, AIWrn;a; two stepdaughters. Mrs. Kim Ibmiltonand Mrs. KeIIy!XJI ofMobiIo: two grandchildrtn. 'JYIer and MIlley Hamilton at Mobile; mother. Mrs. To!"iwiN. Werner at])aphnt; t.thtr, Or, J,It Cooley. Sr. at

Seno'lQlI1Il other rt\atiw,..

Now, Uotldoi. br it itiCiIYeoi loy the Mobilr B.v Awociabon 00 thiS 20th o:by of Stptember 1996.1N1 tht MIOCiabon mourm tho J'W6'~ of James Ralph Cooley. Jr. _ William A. K;~ Jr. I'fttIoIrnI. Mobil< ........

·,'0·...

Honorable Robert Edward Hodnette, Jr. herus. thr ...... oooliblt

Robert Edward Hodnette. W Jr.. a Iong-lime dist,nguished

and momller of the Mobil. liar Association. died on A;lri130, 1996. and the Mobile 8ar AsitolNtioo h" name II1Il rtCOI!I1iu his c0ntributions.. both to our pon:ieMion and to this community,

desire to;,e;".,.,,"'' ',

\\'hmas. tht 1100Il0l..... Robrrt!:dl.'Md H<mdk.Jr~ __ born on May 13. 1913. in f'ort Deposit. Alabama; \\'hm:M., Jud# lloolntIu lltended Aubum I..InMrsity from 1930 II) 1932. and ~ his i¥N drgm: from tht l!niYmity Ii ~;n

1935; \\'hm:M., J ~ Iblntlu _

admitted II) ~ i¥N in the 1935..... ~ lawinAlmortfrom 1935 \hrouj/tll938. thtmfItI' practicing law in Mobile; Whel'Ul, Judge Hodnette'J pr;lctiu of law ,,'aJ inurrupttd II» Work! \\'<Ir It, whe~ he KI'\'td as a Captain in the Unittd States Infant ry, as the I't:IUlt of which seTVice he received roth the Bronu Star and the l'urpl. Heart; \\'herw, after his honorable dischargt from the Unittd States Army, JudtI:e Ilodnttle __ ",,'aTdtd .. Master of '--s degm from the U.wersity d CI\iagQ; \\'hm:M., Judge nodntttt themIIer rdumtd II) the poMte P!Xlioe i¥N in Mobile. 1uYi~ the pfflate prxboe II) Im'It • ~ United StIles Allomty for the Southern District d Abbama, from 195(l1ll1952; \\'hm:M., alter \elO>.;~ !hi' Lmkd StIles A1ll:lmty'1 ClfIV;t. JudtI:e H<mdl~ mumtd the priyatt prKtioe of law in Mobile. ultimatdy be<:orni~ 1 partnrr in the firm of HoIbe1g. TUlly" IloolntItt; \\'htnA Judgt Hodn.U. _ritrtod to the Cimtit Coort d Mobile Coonty in 1970. alter which timo: he KI'\'td apabIy and StaI~d~in

hon<:nbIy as a circuit jucIge. ... til he _ ~I«ud pmiding judge of the Circuit Court of Mobile County in 1981: \\'herQs. Judgt IJockvtt. __ ritrtod pradtnt d the Abbama ~dCircuitJudgesin 1983: \\'herQs. Judgt: Hodntttt KI'\'td as ~;..tge 01 the CifOlit Court 01 Mobile County 1Iu~ i partioJlao'Iy C!\ItQI timt for ~ institution. and will lit ~ 'Ci'ltnobtl'fll for his ~ to hilliuty. ~ 01 chaD;ter ard honor: \\'her&s., Judge Hodnette wau man with st!'Oi'lll de>oJiiOl'lll) his /anl;Iy. and is $lIrvi\'ed II» his wil•• Agnu NO'I'>'ling Hodnt1.te. his daughter. Martha Hodnttte McNeil. hil ll'illiam Me";n Haas. Ill . of Maoon. Gtorgil; row grandchildren; and numerous other ITbtille$: and Now. therdort. be it raoIwd. by the mmobtrsdthe Hoblle Bar Alsociation. in this mming -.sembkd on the 20th day of ~ 1996. that theAlsociltion i'i'ii)UrRS the p.Wi~oIthe 1100Il0l..... Robrrt Ed\o.anl Hodnett •• Jr~ and does ~ Ilonor the lTItiTiO<)' of our fritnd and fdlow "It"obt,. who utrfIIlIiIitd throo.og/>out hi$ ~ ~ Iht higtIest ~ pri~ 10 whidl the " ... d Ihl> ~iOI'I Ml'i1T.

"tfiOOn.

,bt,_

_ 1\_A.~Jr.

1"rotioIoo>~

.!'oIoiIo g.,. ·11",;,· ....

Oliver Wiley Brantley liver Wilfy ' Pi~ llran~f)', ouUtanding triallaw)otr.1Wtr in tht AIWnv. 5tatt Bar. and p.ut prtSidtnt of the UnMrsity of AlaI:wna ~ School f'0Uldati0n. died on July 15.I996at the. d80. Tht f'otnlation. II ils 1996~ mming, i10Ies his r-. if1I....uh ICfUI adness ind respect. He _ oIesc:tndtd from Thomas Klrwn BrnIty. pionm d JIilUIhast ~ lor whom tht "-' 01 Brantlry _ i'IilITItIl and from JiIilltS Mt<:aItb \\"olty. ",ho came into~ in 1818. Iier'.'ing as ~ ~ I ma"or gmmI 01 the Abobam<o Militil, ind iIOl tminmt amlit judgt in Pike Coonty. Jan>r:J \\Tolty abo "111 tledtd to Congrw in 1866. but oot _ltd. Pi ,,'aJ born in Troy on October 30. 1915. the son 01 James 1homas and Juli3 Wilf)' Brantley, His Iiother l\;\d i ha"","'IT store and otoo Miness inter· t.iIs in '!'roy. One brother, Dr. Jack BnmUt}·. a moel'fll'!'roy phyli. ciano _ ont )'tar okl!:r. A )'Olinger I;";ng brother. Robert M, Brantley. rt:f;i 1iYt$ in 'I\tscalooI.a. Pi attrndtd Tn))' sdv:ools.

dtcided to return to Troy. practiclngli!one until he _ calltd into tht Us. Novy durinol World Wu II. Jk Itrwd on 1xwd the dt5troyer Da/y in the Sruth ~roc. participating in tht Battle of l..eyt. Cull. tht batlle ...toich bro:oU Ille back oIthe ~ /'Q.,),. Pi left the Novy at the tnd 01 tilt __ is i litutenarot tJ.c.~ us,\'R. Retumo~ to ~ in Tn:oy. Pi Itrwd • PR eo...ty Solicitor from 1947.1974.11 part-lilTlt poUtion which ~kowed him IQ main-til" i IIIw practjcoe. Pi _ awo:iIItN mIy in his c:arerr with

Staunton Military AcUmy. RMrsidt Military Academy. tht Uniwrsity 01 A1abaoN. and Ille U~ty'l ~ School. gOOuati~ in 1939. M the lkIiwFlity. he "'aJ1l member of tht DK£ f'mernity ind bu!iras ......, d Ille 1&"'6>16 ...I:Imrnrr.1ht coIltte humor ~ AI tht IawKhool. he _ I nit""" dille Phi DrIll Phi IIIw fraternity .... tht I'VnhOrdtrd J~. iroli<:Iiting that he WIll in tht upper 1M: perant 01 his class ~"liaIty. Afte' gr;oWiIion. Pi jointd the Binningham firm of ~. Si"""""",, Ilrant1ey " RobiOl!lOll. which indudnl h .. oIdtr 0JU&in. William H. llnmtlty. Jr.• Ii promiilt1lt Binningham attorney and historian who innuenced his IrgaI care.'. Aft.r Ii britf period. he

",,""L

Brantley Wilt)' ind bottl' with RichanI ~houn. For 2O)GtS begi". ninol in 19S5. he pr;octiml ....... ItI'Vi"ll is lltorney for Pike County. the citio:s <ll'roy and ~. ard tht aty and <XlUFl1}' booords 01 tducation. He abo serwd is local OOIJrosel for moo-. than 20 insurance companies. thrte railroods, the Creyhound Comp.my. ",nd Southern Bell Thlephont co. He WM ~ Fellow of the American CoI~d TrW .......yorsand the American CoIkgt ofProbat. CQurosel and a mo:mbtr of tho Nalional AIsociation of Railroad Trial

f'<lmltf Probate Judge and doK Irifnd.kohn W. (Bill}» Cibwn ,e",.. ,obt,s him is being Olitstandio"C in -no phase 01 law poxta iIOld a pmon 01 urobItmishofd dIior.rockr, Jk SIioOd that Pi '''is onr d 12 mm in Troy 00't0' 1 .......,.,. d)'ears"'M qo.ooidJy .... g,nm:oo.. Dfts III o-.Iy inI;r......... in Iht 0JRl0 munity. Aft .. 1ht Iouil<i"II in which he prIidltrd bramr ~ he mad!: Ii gift. ofllle buildi"ll iIOld conttnls to Pike Coonty in honor 01 Judge Gibson. Pi WIll ""Y a.rtM in tho ~ Statt BIIr. StrVing on its 1xwd of cornrnisoiooer.o from 19S2 to 1979. Ii 27.)'ear period d continuous ltadtrship. k:cooling 10 Reggie H.lmoer.longtimo: ba, 1Wtr.

~ mad!:

thi.! tenure has never been surpassed and only equaled by lB. Hill. lr. of Mootgomo')'. He .erved on the AWwna Judicial Commission from 1912-74. se,,;"I! the ~ year as chairrn;m. and the foIlov.ing year he se."..,.j as for>! chairrn;m 0( the ludiciallnquiry Coounission. Hi.! clawnate. l'rank l . TIpler 01' ArII.blusia. ~ /orrner state bar presKlenl, lalllled his close friend. Pi Brantie;'. whom he faced in court on numerous occasioru. "" "the best trial .....yer I

have ewr $£\'1'1." Pi was a k¥l1 a1umr",. o(his law school. serving as a member of the law school Foundation from 1966 to 1980. and as the ~'OUndation'5 president during 1972·73. liis ImdeNohip "'iI15 irMllu· able during the Foondation's wIy yem as the law ..:hool", support from the Foondatioo ",.. grutl)o strengthened IJl' his service. I~ ",.. married in 1937. wh ile in law school. to &ttylane Caston of Birmingham. "t.o predeceased him. The IIi>d four chil· dren; Michael. "00 has two degrte$ from the Urn....."i!), and is ........' "ith the North Caroli .... M1,1'le\Jm of Art in Raleigh; Bruy 01' Birmingham. whc> has a ~ in sociology and is married to Willillm M. CrtSham; and Ti ..... whc> is married to William C.

Anderson. pre$ident of AndeniOO Oil and Gas Co. 01' Shrewport. Louisiana. The An<.\erson$, both UA alumni. r.we a son. W. llranUey AnJerson. a 1992 graduate of the school of law. Pi Brantley's other $011, I'lll died in 1974 from a tragic hunting 1I<ri. (\omt aft.r his seoond year of law school. For all of the a/x:Ne. the UnMmi!)' of Alabama Lly,. School Foundation. during it. 1996 annual mteting, expresses it. Joadness at the passing of toor fri.nd and colleague. Ol;"'t]" Wiley Brantley. and takes this occasion to recogni~ and pay tribute to his lile and carw "" ~ talfllted and forWul ""'yer. dtwted Ieade, in bar activ-ibes.IQ)-a1 alumnus of the school of I.w. I"""", of this I'oondation. and a private person in many respectS but a responsible and caring person in his community and among his many clit-nts and friend$. The Foundation extends it. condoIencl' to his family members IIOlrrlfd herrin and dirrcts that copies of this lribut. to sent 10 each of them.

Judicial Award of Merit Nominations Due The Soard of Bar Commissioners of the Alabama Stale Bar WIIIIE!Ceive nomiroatfons for the state bar's Jud>cial Awa rd of Menllhrough Mav 15. 1997. NommattOlls should be plepaloo and maIled to: Keith B. Nonnan. Seeretary eo~ rd

ea. Commissione...

Afabama State ea.

P.O. Box 671 Montgomery. Alabama 36101 The JudiCial Award of Men! was establIshed In 1987. The 1996 recipient was the Hono<abitl Ralph Cook. associate jUSlice. Supreme Court of Alabama. The award IS nOI necessarily an annual awa rd. It may be presented 10 a judge who IS not relired. whethel state or lede ral court. Ilial 0< appelfate. who IS determined to have contnbuted slgnlficant1v to the adm inistration of juslice In Alabama. The reClplent;s presented wllh a cry-stal gavel bearing the state bal s8a l and the yea r of prese", tallOO, Nominations are considered by a Ihree-membel commrttee appoInted by the plesldent of Ihe state bal. wh>ch then makes a recommendation to the board 01 bar commissoonels with lespect to a nommee or whethel the award should be presented In any given year, Nomlnahons shouk1 include a detaIled bIog raph ical profile of the nommee and a narrawe outl ining the

slg",f ~

cant cont'ibU\IOnlsl the nominee has made 10 the adminisiraloon oIIUSIK:e. NominallOns may be supported With leiters of endorsen"H!nt.

DISCIPLI NARY NOTICE A.ln.l.t ..... nl . [lIfCti,'II Au,gl& 5. ]996. Birmingham attomq James N. B..-.., 1\1 was ~inswrd to the prxtice olliw. Brown was suspmIltd July 2'9. 1996 from 1M !,ooiu olliw 10, 11011(0"', plian« with 11K Mandotory ConlinuirlC ~ Educotlon Rulu olthl: AbbaINl SWe Bar. leu: No. 96-06) ' ElfKlive ~p1.mber 25. 1996, Mobi1£ .UO~ CharKl T. Koth was reins!.)ttd In Ihe practice 0( law. Koch was su.ptnd· til on July 26. 1996 from Iht practice or law for noncompli· iIllCt with 1m Mandatory Continuing LrgaJ Education Rules ol the Abb;. .... Stat. B.... leu: No. %-32) Diabllrments

.on August ]5. 1996. the Disciplilliry Commission disba. rW Jxkson .Uomey franldin De lano Lft under Rule 22 olthr Rules of Di5cipHIlI!)' Prooo,Iur •. l«!wI prtviously plt~ Quilty in BIIldw;" County to the crime ofpoM005iQn of a (()fgtd Instrument. which is a felon~. L« tIad prtpared a counterf.it will for a ....'(Iman who had ..dually died inle.Llt •. II. tIad her ,ignatu,"" fOfilN 10 the do<;ulTII'nl. Ln'. ·cHent" then inhrrittd.1I the prop<rty, MId paid LH $15,000 for his work in rttrroe1ntin,g the fDUd. Suspension or disbarmtnt is mIIndilOfll wlwn .Iaoo.-ye(i cooMction of I fdony b«orna firwol.lRu~ 22(al: Pet. No. 96-0061 oMobik altorr'q l'iil1iam Grow_ .kinll, III "'.. dW»1TflI from tm pratti« O(bw in the SUtt 0( Alabama by or<!tr 0( tht Suprtme c.:.urt of Alabama efftdi~ August 23. 1996. Jont! failed to rtspond to formal chargts which had b«n mtd ~irut him by the Alilbama Slalt liar. A dtlaulljudgmmt w.. tnlutd on u... ct"Illts. with u... fiKU alltgtd in u... chargu having betn dttmed admitttd. llwrnll.tr. Jones failed to ~pPtcar M a hearing which was .dwdultd lor tilt issue of disci· plim alone. llw Disciplirwol'l' BoiIrd !hotrwpon dincted and tnlered an ordrr tl>lot Jones be dOOloITfll from u... pOOia of ' - in lhe $t.:ol. of Abh.>nu... llw formal charges allflled that Jones undertook to repruent an individual to pursue a tOIiKtions case. Jl.Idgrnent was obtaiOfd by Jones on behalf ofhil ditnt in lhe amounl of $1.400 plus $66 in <:0$1$. JontllOlmqutntly filed a gotmi!h. mtnt action ag.>iAA tilt jU<l:gmtnt 1Itbtor. lhtruikr. foor Rpa· ral. dweb 1«" Iorwardrd to Jones as o;()UrUtllor u... jt4. rntnt credilor which monic h;od twn re«iwd by !hot d.rIc·s 0/1'1« pul"SlWlt 10 !hot gunisIunmI action. Howrva-. Jonts failed to PfOIItrl)' p~ thtst mooies on behalf 0( I1is dimt. ~ alto biltd to protrlllllY mnit that mooiQ to hi$ d~nt. lht clitnl filt<! a complaint against lones. H"",,-ewr. I",," failt<! 10 Nbmit any wriUtn rtspooR to the complaint even

thouih requestt<! to do SO on numerous occasions. Jones was Jound to ha~ violaled Rule 1.15. A.R.P.C .• for failing to p1'()puly pre..,,,,,, cli.nt fund$. ~ lor biling 10 promptly <!tIMr !IIid funds to hi> client Jones was also round guilty of viobt· ing Ru~ 8.1(bl. A.RP.C .. for faili"ll tn rtSp(N1d In a '-I'ul dtnu.nd for informalion from a disciplinary ;wthority. lht ~rd further fwoo 11>101 Jones ...;obit<! Rult 8.4(t). A.It.P.C .. in lhal h.t engagtd in conduct irwolving di!hontlly. fraud. dKtil nr milr.p,....,nlaiion. [ASH No. 95·178]

' On NO\'embtr 13. 1996 th.t Alabama Supreme Coort enttrtd an nrder disbarring Andalusia aUomt}' \\iUiam IhrUeU ....yIor from !hot further pDcti« 01 bw tffKlM 12:(11 A.M .. ~mbtr 13. 1996..... )'ior had pm.iously pladtd guilty to ~ f.1ony in u... U.s. IMllicl Court for the Middlt DUtric:t 01 Abh.>nu... ~r then tI)tIWIlttd In disbal1Tltnt ,,;th tilt AIablIma SUit Su. lASS No. 96·241 tAll SuspensIons ° l':ffocti~ ~pt~mbtr 9. 1996.l'rattvillt allOffie» Karla AM Shiw n was sWpended from Ihe rOOice of law in Ihe Slat. of AlabamIo for fooilure to comply with tilt AlabamIo Sute &r Ct~nt S«urity Fund Rulet lor tJ.lmdar Y"~r 1996.1CSF No. 96-141 o !':/JKln... Octobtr 16. 1996. TIIsciloosa altomt}' ROCtT Shayne Roland ''''is swptndtd {rom the pn.cti« 0( ' - for noncompli~nc. with the Mlndotol'l' Continuing Legal ~;duc:ation Rul~~ 0I1h.t Alabama Statt Bar. ElfKti\'e October 25. 1996. Roland was reiO$uted In the practice of law. lCl.E

No. ~S31 000 NcMmbtr 13. 1996. !hot AlabamIo Supr,me Court mttred an order swptndina; Abbast.r ~u""'"l' Nicby J. Rudd. Jr. from the pDcti« 0Ila-w for a period 0(91 days. This I<U\'lfnsion was mitred in accordan« "ilh a plea ~f1l(111 Il>Iot Rudd ~ with Ih.t A\al».ma SUtt &r rl'Jlllrdi"llllrieY+ anca pending ~insl him. IASB No. 94·147 tAl. ef of.l

Pvbllc Reprimand, ' On ~ptembtr 27. 1996. Birmingham allOrnty Michael Stt phen Herrin, m:ti,'td II public reprimand wilhout IItn. trill publitJ.linn. The reprimand was th.t relult 0111 rondi. tiorwol guilty plea lhat Herri"llentertd into with the Abbitma Sule &r. lIerri", _ oot .... ib!y handling /I rMd. itJ,1 malprxtice CIIW for a dH.nl oIlhe finn whor. he worktd .. an associitt. lht dient w.. &$Sured by olh.tr employee! 0( the finn that He .. ing "'·.. !/Cling 10 be repre· $tnting h... After several mnnthl. 1I0.. ing wrote Ihe clitnl

and adviKd that he would not be represenling her btause she had w~iltd 100 long 10 iniliale legaildion. Tht ditnl obuintd her lilt. and il wu nottd th."ol oothi ... in the w~ 0( investiplion had bttn doni: on hu ast. Herri... wu found 10 have violaltd Rule 1.3 0( the Rules 0( Profess~1 Conduct·IASB No. 95·2341 ' 1lunUville allOlTlql Clemenl J. Cart",n, III rtceived a public reprimand wilhoul gent ...1 publicalion on Stptember 27. 1996. In hnuary 011993 Camon obtointd a copy 01 a pu. nuptiallllrttment tXtcuttd by his ex·wife in anlicipation 01 remarrillle.11te pr~nuptiallllre.m.nl had been senl by fae· sim il e Iransmission 10 an allorney who represenled Mr. Carlron·1 el-wife and wilh whom Carlron shaftd a fax OTIKhint. Although the prenuptialagreemenl lOllS obviously not int.r>d.td to be rm'ived by Cartron he m.>dt a copy 0( it and rd.aintd • ~opy in hi, pouI'Won. Carlron r.prnenttd hi, parents u ~udilors of hi. n· ..ift in a Chapter 13 8.vIkruptcy procteding filtd by his u-wife. Cartron used the punuptilll ill!rtmlmt to challt,* 01" coolest ~ert.lin financial represtn· blions made: by hu wife in her bankruptcy petilion. Cartron·, lIdions violated tho: following Rula of ProfessioNl Condlltl of the ~IN Stat. Bar. Rule <4.4. Rule 8.4It) and Rule 8.41g). IASB No. 93-1491

' Montgomery allomty Keilh AUlllom rm'iwd a public reprimand withoul ~ntrlll publication for violating Rul." 1.5{b) and SAid). ALlbama Rules of Prd~1 Conduct, in COOT>«tion with a dispute with his diml regarding the scupt 0( hu representation of the cI~nt and the ~lWIlion 10 _ rec:tived in uchinge for that rtpTtHIl!atlOfl.. Ausbom and a eli..,t .nttud into an .... Uomey-climt ill!rmntnl". "itich Ausbom romplettd. The ittjIrttmtnt. U romplded by Au5bom. contained numerous illegible and uninlelligible handwrill.... notations and ~orrtctions. 11te ajlrttmenl wu misleading ind ambiguous and failed 10 rommunicate with reMOOahl. clarity Ih. basi. or rat. of lhe fee 10 be ctl.llrlifd and the scope of the repment.llion. IASB No. 95·2Z21

°On September 27. 1996. Birmingham allomey Su a Edw~rd

Mda"ghlil\ rm'ivtd a public reprimand withoul gen· ....1 pubtialion. During the COUnt 01 IIligation. Mclaughlin 5tl\t KWr;r.] int.mptrat. and off01l$ive Ittlm to opposillll 00II_1. In two of tho: Itlltrs. the Di$Ciplin:ary Commission ileltrmined lhal Mclaughlin had violited Rule 3.10 of the Rulu of Professlonat Conduct by Ihroltning crimin:al prose~ulion iQI.1y 10 gain an advant.>ge in a ~ivil procteding. Md..aughlin·. reprimand wu the mull ofa tonditioml guilty plea he made wilh lhe two IASB No. 96-0061 •

Notice of Election NotJce IS gMIf1 tle!"9Wlth pursuanl to the Alabama Stale &t Rules Govemong EIec!JOn of Pre$dant-E18ct and ~

Prtiident.£1ec:I The ~ State &t ..... elect a presdenl-elect on 1997 10 tI5Slme the p'esadencv of the bIf on ~ 1999.fvr.,cendidele must be a member on good star"dng on March 1. 1997. PeIllJonS non..-.aung 8 candodate must bMr the IIgN"tUr8 0125 ",",I bws on good stardng 01 the Alabama Stale &t and be receowd by the secretaty of the state ber con Of before Match I. 1997 fvr., caoodd,ue for thos oIfice must abo so.bnt WIth the nomoniI\lOg pelibon a black and whne photogaph and ~ data 10 be ~ on lhe May Alabama 1..awyef SaIotlI ~ be maded be!lNeen May 15 and June 1 and musl be rec:eNed 81 state bai" headQo itIfIers by 5 p m. on July 15. 1997 Com missiOOitrS Bar commissioners Wli be elocted by those ~....""erS Wl\h their principal oIficas fl the fotlowong CIrCUits: 2nd; 4th; 6th. pIooe 00 2. 9th; 10th. pIooes 00. 1.2.5.8. and 9; 121h; 13th. pIooe 00. 2; 15th. pIooe 00. 2. 16th; 20th; 23m. pIooe 00. 2; 24th; 27th; 29th; 3Bth; and 39th. Addi!JOMl oonYt""IISSIOf"S Will be elected on these CIfCUIIs for eacto 300 mernbe<s of the state bet With principal offices hereon. The new COI"fIr"fIIS$IO JXISItlOI1$ wi be detem"lined by a census on March 1. 1997 and vac:ao ICiti$ oortofied by the secre!&iY on March 15. 1997

The tenTl$ ot any ~1 ~ are re\al!"led. AI 51 obseQo $\1 rerms wi be for tn-ee .,.e.n. ~uons may be ff"IiJde by pelibon boonIg the SIQTI8tU<85 of frIIe merrbers on good stardong With po.oopaI offices on the orcul on wnch !he election wi be held or by the ClIO Odate·s wntIen dedaoratlOfl of caoododac:y EI\heI" must be r-..ed by !he secretary 00 later than 5 p.rn.. on the last on ApnI tApn/25. 199n. BaOots wi be P'epered and mailed 10 "~Fobers belWMn May 15 and June 1. 1997. BaIots musl be VOled and relurned by 5 p.m. on the second Tuesday on June Wu'le 10. 199n to state bar headQuarters

Frmv

Delinquent Notice Licensing/Special Membership Dues 1996-97 All Alabama Attorneys: The dual invoice for licenses or special memberships was mailed in mid-September and was to be paid between October 1 and October 31. If you have not purchased an occupational license or paid special membership dues, you are now delinquent!

In Active Private Practice: Any attorney who engages in the active private practice 01 law in Alabama is required to purchase an occupational license. The practice of law is defined in Section 34-3-6, Gode of Alabama, 1975,

as amended. (Act #92路600 was passed by the Alabama

Legislature and amended Section 40-12-49, Code of Alabama, 1975. effective October 1, 1992.)

Occupational License: $287.50 (includes automatic 15 percent tate penalty)

Not In Active Private Practice: An attorney nol engaged in the active private practice of law in Alabama may pay the special membership fee to be a member in good standing. Judges, attorneys general, United States attorneys, district attorneys, etc., who are exempt from licensing by virtue of a position held, qualify for special membership. (Sections 34-3-17 & 18, Code 01 Alaoama, 1975, as amended)

Special Membership Dues: $125 (penalty nol applicable)

Direct any questions to: Diane Weldon, membership services direclor, al 1-800-354-6154 (in-sla le WATS), (334) 269-15 IS, or e-mail: mS@afabar.org immediately!

Opening of Cou May 1\ please tOO courts, Mr. Choef Justice HOOj'le(, justices 01 the SUIlffllTlll

~:::;::::~:~:~:~~~~~:~';iii~

1\ is my honor and piMlega thaI yQI.J ~1I(lw me 10 address you today. Thil first memOOlS of the cle<gv. membe<s of traditional day for the formal Opemr.g of the appellate courts in Alabama. At another courts from their S~ recess \0 begin a new teml. Today the t the huge castlload of most of the coorts in Alabama However. in "opening of coorts" (0 revie'w the pa51 ar>d to anocipate the new It IS alsq a and honor the memory of 001 67 coIIeagves who departed this ifa since On October 2, 1 since departed this life I was not there, but I was in attendance 10 hear "Red's· remarks. And, Bolling and Judge Robert E. Hodnett. Jr.• have passed iNmoI- These f whom was $ooatct Michael A. Figures, have served their profession honorard diSlloctoor'll11 am sure are now in a much higl:le< C(lO.l(I, but they 1111 will be soreft missed, Socrates once s.ald, "The only gOOd os kno'wtedge and!he I, detractors pta<.:<J me, but being t01<lIly honest with you and myse«. II:n6N that IdO not or eIoq~ of the tale Jusl~ Jones, so I ...... ~ 1101 bY-

mev

f.""

I have asked, tIow do we aOOQw\ely remember arid ""~~ 00"" thinK by always ,ememberirlg what they stood for ar>d worted so hard

'''th equa1lustice for 8'1. These are mere words, bU11hls is the ",""" Therefore, we shoold rJeVef forget or let others forgel th!!t our forefathers, arid almost all the framers of our fe6efal Constitution, were endowed with coary

new government. with ttuee separate arid dlStoncI bra"_:::::~':';::'~~,l~ aod dlllies of each, staggers the ,magulatlOJ1, And. d or QlJiclJy see the ralllicatlOJ1 of the ConStllllllOJ1 and new govenY'I)8J"It was (jay phrase, "Just do rt", well, they just dOd .\

membefs"::;:,:,;;;:';

Now, I would as~ you, did 00\ most of our fallen sacnflce tor the resl of us? And dOd they oot leave a bI resounding ' YH" A Wlse man whose Mmewss Carnegie once said, "As I grow oIdef, I,.J watdl what they do, " Since I have gfO'>\oTl older arid I have watched, I can report to 'tOO I Wed nO!

I._

0Uf~ "{."'~.J'cd~'~_~ b<; ~'~'E~:~~~~~~~~~f;,

IJ,ictlOnlifYhao:i pictures next \0 each word, words s<.JCh as exceUent hUSband, arod see many of The three branches same, arid that is to serve tile cil!zeJ'lS of this great state aod

",,"""'.""'''' ro",~",~, "",.

'M'"'' "" ,=""

"',

~,.~ the JUStices. place In the counhouse, and, yes, 10/ ! relatively short period of time, and we by

resolving disputes. because we are a ""too of I.m!:. not men

bOO 8"" I woukl c.lutlOIl you justices arld our1egal !lyS1\!ffi. one ww or the other It IS our duty to QuestIOn and ev'ffi-haoded manner, malnta.ntng our SYS1M1 have 8 "bundle of rights· guaranteed to us under the United States aod

.., my ~inion. is 1'J1()ffi precious than the right 10 a trial by a JUry of your peers, if r.. wmtev. rll'Ou have ears 10 heM. then hsten, There are those in these ·Cr.anglrlg WIth this fundamental nght of ~ mal by jury, That IS, lal:e It awa:y from you happen. for the public IS the consc;e!l(:e of our legal system We Ill\Jst always men who would

"~e

10 uS In QUr constitutions. we wnl continIe) d,ctate ,,,nat roghts lnay think we c~,l<jns

our only hope fOf a C(!lltPOUed free soc;el'/ ThIs qoosllOO of an independent judiciary should havI> b&en laid MarJ-SOIl, but vet there af<'l those 10day who mink by

'~t"~:,~,;":"":":;red with; 1\ cannot Ovr departed

brothers aoo

of the surely

sosters law did rIOt we Mmes oj those who have depjmed that I have IlOt mentiaoed, and though! about whall might I

with the tremeodous k>ss we have suffered 'n )\1St one year Of thOs 67 we ~now their perthe~ ndlvido)all3S1es were dJffertlnt, wkes and dISlIkes of different subjects were dJfferenl

love of the ~I profession And. 10 have a klve 01 the law... that in all those times when they what thu late Edward R. Morrow said. addfessing a group of To be bellWabIe, we ITklSI be credoble. lobe credible, we must

. t>ut in every JlJry !nai l r..rw. c:omr.al 0/ CI'IIII. I tell the julY: like your daily I~e. and lMt IS a search fOI the truth.·

trulh fO/ n is one of God's grfts to each of us and we insunc-

I,w for us 10 learn from lhe~ successes. as well as

, .. ".uo•• ,.. ,

~--

Dean Farrah. once !he tiean of the UniverSll'/ lavuyer"s ambitiorl can be reached OI"lty by work. hard .....::d. Oralory II can be reached by mellt and by mern alone.· femm you to _eep twerythtng Irllts proper pe;<;peClIIte. 'Nhat I • 001 I will s/1."lffl it "'th you. One night. long after O1h6<s In lhe colleague and lnowl departed mend. Judge Mochael E He sad. "Ferrill. go home and be WIth you. lam", lor

This IS a leswn we can all apprec'<ite aoo follow I also know that O18I1y of our ..""" lell you to look at a dollar btll, for il says, -10 God We Trust", make!l)~ a reality. honor our departed For the immediate family and dose persooal fr.ends of our departed, I

::~:;::

selves dally. and that IS lila! alm>ghty God, '" ;:::::: am conw>eed that SItlCe(e pleas of repernaoce and for g<AClance

!:::~~

Go(fs mercy I would asl eadl 01 VOU

VWlo is '''58? The man who can ~m scmething from f!Vefy man. WOO IS srrong? The man who overcomes his passion. ~Islich?

The man who IS content wittl his fate L'IIhom do 11'8 /)000(1 The man who honors his fellow man. These ques\lOllS and answers come from "SaVIng of the Father " eod SLSlers wale. accordtng to these defilll!oos....... sa. strong. rich a(!d I sta rted by saYIng I could nevlII' express In words as easily and d,d, so ,n cles'"g I wdl allOle from hIS remarks last yea r about OIJr

honorabIe-arld we stIould an

eloque~tIy a'5

can be sald better: "Their lives WIll continue to ,nfltJence the living /0( generations yet t elude by offe<lng this summary 01 who the>! overe. I posite of sewrallegal classics: "I had rather eat VIIIIh !hem, and play With Ir.em. win with them and as pubhc officials, and as law tead!efs, they left !her marks. As ",st ~U1IQnS. corporate arid UI'!.ncorporeted bvsJnesses; they govemmems and pub/Ic olfrcials They represented the rid!. less. the inlamoos, the hated, the homel9SS, VIIith m~wl respec1 "Thev a<:cepled and absorbed the w,ath 01 the comm(mity made secure lor alt 01 us_ Th.s was their viclory. tlltll' unashamed and sys1em, to 1he rute 01 taw, 10 Ihe CIVility ol lheir COInf1lun'ty, and 10 For lhe sa ke 01 OOr lives, may we long perpetuate Judge ~I O. McRae

Thi-m ..hKiciaI Cimlit Mobile, A.Iebame

SlICe

RI~dd ;::'~

dePa.rt~ f~because

i<r1e'W hem all, 1

Tlhe E;thics of Time~Bilsed

Billing ByAttomeys

oncealed for too long as a IlIboo subject. unethical and illegal billing by attomoys has .ecently emerged a.. a subject of wide.pread diKUUion among lawyers. clients. judges and CO!n-

"",ntators. Or iginally hailed for its objectivity and

efficier\Cl', hourly billing i. now widely assailed for encouraging wastdu l work and fraud. Virtually non-existent a decade ago. disbannents and criminal pro:I«utioll$ for fraudulent billing ha~ become almost commonplace. TM billing procedures used by most law ftTTl\ll practically invile attorneyS to pad bill •. As Prof'soo' Ceoffrry Hazard has observed, "The notion of padding un<k>ubtedly CMSn the mind of almost anyone who has kepi a Ii"", sheet."' Since bill padding i. 50 hard to prove, dishon ..t billing might be called "the perftct crime." Both empirical and a~<.\oUIl nidence suggests thai il is not uncommon. In reviewing bill. in statuto!), fee casu, some courts na,-e un<:<':IWr.d oddities such as time billed to a dient before a file i. Opfned. ugal audit firlm "port similarly bi;:ar.. occurnnus. such as billing by phantom attorneys ofwhom 1m firm lias no ..cord of employment, and a surprising incidence ofbillings far in tlCcess of 24 hours per day. And th. reeent spale of criminal prosecutions of attorneys for fraudulent billing suggests that illegal billing

p.. ctk~1 may be more common than even pessimists ha,.. feared. 'JWo.lhinls of the attorne),s that I polled in a SUI\'e!' in 1991 " .... peroonally awa .. of at kast some irut.1ncfS of billi"ll fraud. although relatiwll' f~ believed that it was a i'requtnt practico:,> In a surwy thai I conducted duri"llI994·95, more than half 0( the attom<')'! said that they believe that at least f..... pen:ent 0( th. bmt billtd by attorneys in this country is padded~ This r,gure is consisttnt with the experi· ence of audit fimu. which report that fiw to ten [1«' co:nt of the bills that they examine are fraudultnt.' If this figure is aoctJrat., then Lawyers are bHki"ll ditnts out of literally billions 0( dollars .:>..ery }""r. But while billing fraud is all toowide.\pread. it is probably the exception rather than the rule. A much ITIQ" troubling-and cO$Uy-problem is thai many customary billing practice. art legal but ulWthiColI and that many oouidt attorneys are 50 bliOOe<l by self·interest that they do oot perceivt any ethical dif· ficulty. The mQiSt common bimng abust is e.cessi .... zeal in representing dienU. n ..... baiet! billing cre· ates an inherent oonflict of inler..,! bel\o,... n the client's interest in the efficient disposition or its business and the attome)"s interest in racking up hours. Spurred on by a fervent de>ire to prow their okill and dedication and to avoid malpractict suits by

luving roo stone unlUrmd in\hoeir rt;>raoI'nulion 0( ,Iitlll$.. all 100 IIWlY 1I1orrwyl1 ha\'t ddudtd thr~I\'t$ inlo btl~1IQ tm.1 roo ol/TIOUIIt 0( work io 100 much. Willfully ignorwIt 01 thr ' - 0( diminishing rttums. countless allOmryS will milk a filt 10 death. billing lime long after any marginal utility 10 lhe dient ~ vanished. In ill ironic ""ist.. other illorrwyll .,.",rbill \he1. ditoll in onlt. 10 -..ill f:lq>:.lSUrt lor ..wprx. tiu daim$ for rIOt <i()ing mough won. Tho: pro/IItm 01 \lYtI'biliing is ~ b)' thr tmdmty 0( IfWly firms 10 fIIaluate alt~ Plrticuiarly ~les. in terms ol the quantity r.ltlwr !han the quality ri their work .-.d 10 pLxe Il'IOI"t an<! more prl:WJrt 011 attome)\l 10 bill htrrulun hours. Thlliel 0(3,(100 hours. whkh """, in tithe. iron stamina or unethiaol billing prxIk:t:s. art oot IlIIOOmITO:'lr\ During my ywt in pnctiu. I rIortly heanl .. r.11ow Lr..)'O' boost about the quality ri their woOc or ill wrvicl: 10 the dim! or 10 JOcitty. I"".ad. all too many lItOl'lltYS sttmed 10 ev;oluate their iIICCOmP/ishmmll almost IOIrIy in tmn5 rJ ....... hour1. Tho: cmIibi~· ty ol billirC in """'" rJ2.ooo hours is particuIor1y ""fXCI if .... asaurnrs tNt ~ itlClmty normally must sprnd thlft hoots in thr o/Iio:e lor tvtrY two bilboblt hour1. U:ling this Ionnula.. ~")'tT "no bills 2200 hoon WOIlId Iftd 10 spmd J.JOO houn in thr rJf~ ~ 01 mort than nine hours per day lor a.-ery day 01 thr}Ur. In my 199-1·95 "'MY, mort I/wl one-third 0( ou1.M toun· wi JdmittitiJ tNt the JlfOiIIItCl. rJ billing additional hours hls at lrut sometimts iruluerad their decisions 10 prIltml "ith woOc that they oIhel"Wiw WOtlld not have I"'ri<>nned.' And half the oul$i<lt «l\lru.rl.-.d two>-think of thr insido: couru.rl ostimated thai at Ita.u ttn J"ltTttnt of the woOc that is door b)' attorneys iI motivalitiJ mort b)' a (jesjre 10 inflate hours INn by a (jesjre to JoeM the raJ needs Ii the client.· When quationell ilboul >pt<:iflC Wb. attomrys are twll mort pundi«d about tht utility 01 specifM: billing actMlits. for aamplt. _third d outside counsel and hilf rJ insidr coontoel who mpond(d to my 199-1·95 "'MY thought thai 1I1uit 151"'rcmt ohlllinlt billrd lor RSarch is um'ltasNry.' RapOndtnll to my IUMYWfre likewise highly wptlcol ilbout the utility 01 much 01 the time billed for such wkI ;u attending dtpositions and ;nlernal confertro«S.' Imilk counsel wert mOre indinIt/J lhan outsidt COUNtl in both 01 my SUM)/S 10 bttirve that u~thicol bill ing;. widespread. The di.lPlrity is not grt al. howewr. Inside counsel can't ~ too SOlLritiJ on hourly bill ing or elw they would repl"". it with another system. More than 90 l"'1"«nt 01 tlor outside counsel who resJ)Olllkil to my 1994_95 ,",rvey indic.l.lrd that hourly billing rtmainrd their prirocipollorm 01 billing.' In..t.lition \(I churTlil1l files. many attOl'lltYS I\;M i.O(. t3!td their houn by eng g' III in two tnI.ldKritldad ~I tiplt billirC ot ditnb lor W(ltIc: ,...fo", ..td at the _ tirrM: {"doubIr bining") and lione-basrd billirC lor reqded WOi"k. Tho: American liar Association strongly condtnIntd both pnrti«:I in its 1993 opnion on billi,. rIhia. • ,,-Itich the DisciplinlIry ConmiUef: rJ \hoe Al.:ob;ama 1lar Awociation co/Iiciall}' acIopttd in 199-1." 5ira ~ atton"lty..no bills for hours tNt he. 11M not actually uprrKItd i.I engaging in blatantly iliqlal oonWct. billing on .. hourly rathrr than a-a1UHdded basis for work p....-vioully performed is blatantly fraudulent I)oublt billing is

mort rthicaIIy ambiguoul.:lira lIt"I altorrot)' who bills C1itnt A lor writing I brid" at the _ timt that he. bills Clim! Blor tRI'tI has actually tlptiocltd tirrM: lor both ditnllltld provided vahoe to both. Although doubIr billong iI thus not fn"..tulenl it iI ~ in50br • most ditnts wwId rIOt """""" oi it. 0nIy .......1alIh ri the outsiclr counstI who mponcIed 10 my IlI!t }Ur indiaotrd that doubIr billiog ilill ethical practice when the dim! is not informtd Ii il. ~ 1Wo-thirds oi thr imille ootonsd said that outsidt o:ouNd ~ by thrir companie< 5QmI'time:s mgagr in double billir;t "'thwgh most said that the practice was ~btiVl'Iy tart. .. This is consistent with the SUMY 01 outside counsel; thrtt-quart ers 0( whom Nid in my 1994-95 survey that lhey tWl'tr engage in double billing." Th is I"'rctnt.age was down significantly from Ill}' 1991 '"'MY. when only half !/lid thai they hid ne"Vl'r engagrd in oJouble billing," Theft Wa!I a corrnponding ;rocru.se in thr I"'rcen\.1lgc 0( outsidt COIl"",1 who rontfflded thai double billing is untthiaL ~ Billiog lor uo:yded wOOl abo Jft1TIS to bt W3IIing.. Although mort than ....... third 01 the outsidt counstIPnittitiJ to ha\.~ door thiI. the prrtmIagt who btlirwd that it is ~ tthiGlI prao::tia fWt\ if the diaot was not iotfoo •• 1Itd d it r.n from onHifth in thr 199151.llVt)'" \(lieu than one-Imth in my 199-1-95 ,",'""y.- Although mort than th~trs Ii the outside COIH"I5d knrw rJ imlana:s in which outsl<M ootonsd IW bitltd thtir ~ by tho: hour for """' that _ originally gmtraltd for another d ient. only six I"'rcmt ~rtled this as an ethical prao:ti« in the ~ ol diml COtistnL~

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Some attorne),s blame tile codes of professional ~bility for failing to pl'lJ\Jidt guidance as to "'hat constitules ethical billing practi=. The Alabama Ruks of Professional Conduct. lor trample. offer on!» ve!)' geoeral guidance on billing issues.. enjoining "dedr!» e:tCt.SSiVI'"I=." requiring attorneys to communicate tile basis d f_ to oew d i~nts.~ and suggesting lile nMI for informed consent d the d~nt to worIc perfonned b)' tile attorney." No rules. heM·ever. can adequate!» anticip.'lte tile myriad ethical situatioN; in which an allorney might Ilerself in billing time. ~I och be~r than codesaoo rules are co",mon sense and a good ~~ But even the most honest la",),ers can fioo ..... ;'$ to jll$lify ethical!» dubious practices and reasonabltattorneys can cliff.. >boot constitutes tlhical behavior. Inshle counsel therefore JleO!d 10 \;giIanUy monitor the billing practices d out.!ide counsel. The best "'lI;' to start monitoring ftt practices >s up fmnt"ith bi lling guidtlir.e'! that spell out tile boundaries d proper bil ling practices and squash opportunities for outside counsel 10 claim after tile fad that questionable billing practices ",ere in the dien!'s interm. Since almost an~ billing pQCtice >s dhK:aI if the client consent.! to it. a fee agrttrnent Ilelps to choke off IroIIY d tile inevitable ethical ambiguities that inevitab!» arise in the conlext d time-based billi"lJ, M~ companies that have bill ing guhlelir.e'! prohibit the practices d double billing and billing for nH.;ocled worIc. In-~counsel can also insist lhat attorneys bill their time in six-minute incrtmmts. The use d tm·minute or 1S-",inute unit.! pn:Mdes attorneys with an opportunity 10 rouoo up Ille time d insigniflCanl tas4 The

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ABA Opinion seems to allow aUomeys to rouoo up time periOOs to the minimum billing increment-in other an a1torroe)' oooid bill 15 minules for a one·minute phone call if Iler firm used tS-",inute increment.!. The coonbination d large billing inrnment.! and lib.ral rounding lechnique,; cr.>:sts climt.! untold millioN; d dolLus wry year. If. for rxample. an attorney who bills at the rale d $180 per hour records 1m one-minute phone calls in IS-minute i",,,,mmts.1le has billed the client $450 in billings for $30 worth d work. The use d six·minute increment.! reduces tile li kelihood d such mischief. CorporalioN; also might ",'ish to insist that paralegal. who bill b)' the hour have bona r>de paraprofessional credentials and are not merel)' glorified cI~ rb. Although there a", no offICially defined credentials for p.'Iralegals. tile major paralegal organiz.ations and the ABA define a p.'Irakgal as someone who has for· mal parnlegal tralning or significant experiern In a recenl audit d a major firm, the l.egillgarcl group found that 0fI!» 13 d tile 22 per>OflS "no.. "wi< had been billed at paralegal rates over 3 period d years fell wilhin thi> definilion. .. The most outst.nding cmlential done "paralegal" who was billed at SI35 per hour was her job as ..... mmer assistant ~r al • cook", .store- Since firms ha,.. also been known 10 bill stcreum.. ~rs and other clerical personnel at hourly rates, a fee agreemenl .tx>ulcl also nuke d .... r that onl)' attorneys and sm· uine paralegals should be billed at hour!» rale$. LikeY.ise. inside counsel should make clrar in the fee agree· menl and through tile moniloring d bills that allorneys cannot normaIil' bill lime for clericaJ tasks. Although tIlere an: .\Om< i.... lanrei. d course. in ",hich it may be more effi6ent for an ailorTIe)' to periorm an essmtial!» clerical task, all too many associates in large firms spend the bulk d thdr lime .."gaged in tasks thai could be performed b)' paralegals or non-legal staff. Ooe legal auditor. for example, recent!» found an entry for six and a half hours. at a rate d $245. for "preparing closing room: Upon irJQUiry. sho found that the attorney had billed the lime for placing document.! on tile table , cllecking the ""';lability d pencils and coffee, and other similar tasks.- In my most recent SU""'l', more than half d the inside counsel and more than a third d ou\1;ide counsel said that at least ten percent d the """' that i. pmenUy periormed by attomtys wgl>1 to be de,,· galed to p.'Iralegal. or derical staff. Some corporatioN; have established guidtli"", regarding the number d allorneys that a firm can seoo 10 00011 Or to depoo.i· tioN; without prior client app!"O'>'al. Others have i.... isted thallhe firm obtain client appnwal befort undertaking any staffing change. And all COrj'lOJations should ins>st that attomt)~ refrain from undertaking any major project-for example, a TOOtion to rornpel cli""""ry_ wiIOOut obtaining prior client approval. On!» half d the out.!ide counsel who responded to ITIY !991 ...... W)' reported lhat they <oosilit !h.ir dient bdo'" undertaking a project that will take more lhan ten hours d billable Ii"",. Although the "",1..,,1 to which attorne)~ ....ill JleO!d prior awro..'" will depeoo upon tile .ize and culture d the company and tile trustworthiness d the out.!ide counsel. cI~nt.! should fllCOUr· age frequenl communications. Corporations also are insisling on mort detailed bills. Gone lorewr are Ihe days of summary bills demanding paymenl> "lor selVi«,s ~ndered: In particular, inside <Duns.1

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mate victims 01. tltcessive attnmey billing. It would be unfortunate. hO'ww>!r. if stricter monitoring of attome)' billing di$CO\lraged altorneys from perlonning work that actually IlI'ffiN to bt dont and lhereby ~ncooraged a shOOdy quality oI.work product. \\'~ should n..... r lose 'ighl of tile fact that qualit» legal "''(Irk does t.1ke ti",.,..... Int of time. The tremendous care with which legal documen\5.--ron· tract$. briefs. motion papers and the like--a. .. prepared in the United Stale$ contributes t""'an:! ITIolKing the American legal ~ysttm the envy of the wo,lo. Surel}l there is a correlation bet....... n carrfu l and thoughtful legal "'(Irk and a high qualit~ of justi"". Attomt)'S nttd In continue to produce a highly burnished work prcxluct. The challenge is to distinguish the grain from the chaff. •

discourage "block billing" ~nd dem~nd spttific delail for ~ach di",rete act ivity by an attorne)'. Client.'! also need 10 demand thai their out.'!id. cou"..,1 take rna.imum advantage of lhe late.t limt· ...ving lechoolo~ie5. The use of such "''(Inde", as W<lrd procwing and docu· ment retrieval programs already has done much to reduce the labor lntensi\l('ne'SS of law fi rm senllees. Various studies ha"" d~rnonslrated. however. thai Ih"e i. a big gap between having Il'oOdtm tochoology and using il effectively. Many associates are inept in us ing electronic research and actually lTIoly be wasting more time on tn. computer than fnnnerly was wasted in the library.- lnside oounselshoutd insist that law firms ofkr training programs for new-and old-tech· nologies and should ",rutinize bills to make sure that they are rea lly using it to the be.t advantage. l.awyers also might foster great.r integri!» in billing if they were more wil ling to ""blow the whistle" on outside counsel wlln have e~ in iII<$1 or unethical bi lling practices. Weare all naturnlly relocbnl to impugn the int.gri!» of oor brothers and sisters at the bar and we ought be afraid 01. making hasty or unfoonded accusations that "'ill damage a I.lwyer"s reputation. And many inside counsel are understan<.bbly inclined to tlter· dwity and to try to avoid litigation when they catch 01.11· .ide couflStl engaging in imp",!",r billing practien But Rule 8.3 01. the Alabama Rules 01. J>ro(ts.\iona! Conduct requi .... a tawyer to repOrt a vi<>l.l.tion 01. the rules a tribunal or nther authority empuwered to imoestigate Or act upOn such violation."" Notwithstanding this rule. many inside counsel have prefem>d I<> "'WI' uIlI'thical or illegal billing under the rug. A few more disciplinary procHdings. criminal pr-=tions and civil suits iTlYOl>ing the more flagrant cases should encour· age grelter integrity by attOr"tlC)'$. o....pite their m;,;givings aboul the costs of tiny..ba.wd billing, inside counsel do not tmd to bel~ thai altemativelorms 01. billing would imprwe the quali!» 0I.1ega1 services. Three·fifths 01. the respondents to my tatest su ..~ s.:\id that alternative 10""" woukl have no imp;>ct. and mort than one-f.l\h believed thai il would tend to de<;rease the quality of legal services. The Opinion 01. oot.'!ide counsel was substantially the 5affit.D Althoogh an increasing number 01. attor"tlC)'$ are experi· menting with alternative f« mangement5, most agree that other tYl'l'S 01 bitting ~ cre.tt the ir """ abuses. Contingent lets. for example. c..ate conIlict> 01. inteust betwem an attnr· ne)' and a dient by giving the atl<>JTIe)' a dirK! financial st.1ke in the oolcome. while Hat fee$ for project.'! or cases creattan incentive for an attoJTle)' to do too little work rather than too much. "If JIOIl can thi nk 01.. better system. pi"..., lei me know! ," a partner in a florida taw finn scrawled 00 the 5U!Wy that he returnW to me. II'hat."",. bilHng system they may choooe. in·house counsel nttd to provide ootsidt counsel "'ith incent;"" to abandon their delusion that their busy-beaver menl<lli!» is designed to serve the real nttds 01. the client rather than to boo6t their """ hoors and tn beromi: more occoontable to their climb. The abandonment of billing bacchanalia in favnr of more sober prac· tices would help to restore faith in the 1<$1 profts.\ion. 3'SSist OOI"l'Orntions in their oo·going efforts to makt tiletmtlve$ more competitive. and reduce coo.ts for CIIIISUlTIers. wt.:.> are the ulti·

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United $t.t•• Supreme

Court-Crlmln.1 Sen l.ntlng Guldonn.. IDd Downward Oopl rluUI f'lelemhz v. UnitM SIDles. _U.S.~

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(1996). Dots I ftdUl1 prOlKulo"s r.quesl 11\;.\ a ~uling d.f.r><bnt 1M: 8i""" 1M minimum oIlh. applicabl. guideline ..."ttndng ' ling. pte.mit I r.dtul jud~ 10 dtporl klow I low.. $lalu tory minimum sont.nct, i ...... downwlfd deportu •• ? Th. Sup'tmt Cou rt, split .... von·to·two.

a"lwe"d no. In an opin ion autho red by Justice

Thomas. th. Cou rt held th.t II prison HnttnCt cannot go belaw Iht stltulory minimum withuu! I sptcific rtquut by gowrnmtnt prOHculoTS. JUltkn Soul... nd Siown... rott con<:urring Opinion •. Juslice Brryt.,

;oint<! Justice O·Conoor.

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st rong dissent from tht judgment. Pn dice Pol nl : It i. imporbnt for ddtmt counKI. who '.prt..,"t coop· .rating ro.deftndants. to incorpOntt in tht tum, oflny pita .grtomfnt not only tht ~pplicabl. guidolint un· ttn';ng .~ng•. but II commitmtnt on the part of tho U.S. to permi t the un·

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tendng judge to dep"t t>e low the stalulory minimum bued UpOn ' all the attendant fact, and ci rcum· stancn." This eliH clurly undtrscor .. the rol. of lin ANis"'-nt U.S. At tor""y in the HntencinQ procus to tho uttnl lhat downward deP/lrlu rU under Ru lt 5.] II~ Itn lo tile diKretion and Inttgrity 01 tht prOHcutor.

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Clock II Ru n ni~ g C/uli&l,v. United Slllln. _ U.5._ . 64 U.S.L.II'. 4293 (I9!Hif. Dol ftderal trial judgn have the iuthority or diKretion. after con· viction. to grant a motion for judg· mtnt 01 ilcqui lt al if tho motion i. lil,d Inyond the H''tn.d.i.y dudl in. provided for in tht Ftderil Rults of Criminil Procedu r•• Rul. 29Ic)? The Court. igllin split by /I K"tn· Io-two mugin. IIns....u.d no. Juslin Saolill. wriling for tlw: Court. held tl>;ll judgt' .... y not It rtteh Ih. dud lint for Iht filing of a motion for judgment of Kquitt."ll by ."tn on. diy. "The'. is simply no room ... ror tlw: g. ant inl/ of an unlimt· Iy pOS!·"trdict mOl ion fo, judgment of acquittal. r.gard]e" of whtther tht motion is accompanitd by. clai m of octual innounc.: J ... l tict St~ns. Join.d by Justice Kenn.dy in dilUnl. strongly dis· lJIreed. Justiet Sttvtns uid. • ... Congrus would not likely 1>;I,·t intend.d 10 ~qui~ I district court to ent.r I judgment of conviction ~inst i def.ndint whom it knows to be innoetnt." Tht disHn t strongly MlUUU tl>;lt justice i. l u"'·. rted by the rul., wh.n an unl imdy filing of .. pOst·judgment motion mults in an innocent pe,son's conviction.

Can In ,<llIon of Al coh ol 8 e UlOd 10 N~gat e SptcU'k IlIlen l? MrmllJ"Q v. Egelhoff. __ U.S.~ 64 U.S.L.W. 4500 (1996). C~n tht S"'-te of Montana bar a crimil1ill dtf.ndant from using drunktnnus a.s mdence lhillhey did not K t dtlilnr· at.ly~ The Suprtme Court. in ~ sharply dividtd fi"t.to·four vol •• ~ns~red )"n.

Justice Saoli....... riting for tlw: mi,iotlty. held thilt "ddtn<bnts do not ha"t I consti tutional ril/llt to 1Ia"t alL ,.l'\"IInt .... id.nc. int roduc.d in court. Tile rule compOrt' willl socie tis moral ptrctption Ihat one who lias volunlarily impair.d hi. own f.cu lt i~s should In •• sponsibl e for the conH· quencu: Juslice &lndr. DIlY O'Connor wrote ... tinging dinenlinll opinion that ....... jointd by Justicu Stevens. Souter iUId Breyer. Justice O'Connor oImrved that tho Monti", Law.t i~. violat.d dut proct" beCiuK "il fr ••• tlw: pros«ution ... from hiving to P'''''' beyond i rtllsonabl. doubt lhat the ddendant ... pO'HSKd tho r.quir.d m.nul stal.: I'nclin Point: Not .... ith.tanding tht mi,iority opinion in /110,,10110 u. Egelhoff. coun •• 1 need. to continuo to a"trt significant alcohol ingestion u i I»..i. to negate speciroc Intent. \\'hethtr .. ])trson with the requisite mens feu can only In adjudicated in light of the totality of tho circumslaneH lurroundinQ tht purpOrted crimi",1 conduct.

Standard of Appellale Rtvi.w an fourth Amendmenl Quutionl On~/Ql v. United Siaies. _U.S.~ 64 U.S.! •. \\'. 4373 (1996). In rtviewing .. lrial ju dge·s

rondings ltuo!" pollet uarch condUdtd wi thoul a wlrrlnl was butd upon probable cau~. ~t.ould an a~lIal. courl UK Ith not'" stanw.rd ? Chitf Justice R.hn.quisi. wrilinQ for Iht majority. "id yu. The ellitt Justice ffiUOnW llial tho leu slringtnl "df,r Uro!'" stanw.rd 01 rC'Yitw should bt confint<llo It.oH URi in "'lIieh a judicially 'ulh(lri.t<I .. ucll ....·arranl wu oblaint<l btfor. III. polic. cOnducled, stlrch. "The Fourth Amendmenl demonsl",,!u, strong prtter· .nCt for Huchn conducled pursuant 10 i "'irranl ... W.re

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we to .limin.att tllis distinction. w. would .1imin.at. the inc.ntive for ooliining" "'im,nt," Justic. Scalia dtutnl.d ind suggested Ihillaw .nforcemenl offic.rs would still llave Im~l. incentive to procttd by Winint ~n if ippell.at. couru showN greater def•• t" t,iill judges' rulings in ...u.inllus Karch URS.

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In ,Cu l tody Ddenninatiod I n,'i)I~u I ." 'ud Question df ..... I nd r i el Thompwn~. Keo/ra,re. __ U.S.~ ~ U.S. L.W. 4027 (1996). Is Iht questi"n of whelhn a criminal IUSpect was "in cuS1od~" when interrogaled by the police a Quution of f~ct so that ~ state court's determinalion of such is .nlilled 10 lI .. at deferenct by a federal judge? The Supreme Courl. in iI HYen·tO·lw" d.cision. ans.... r.d no. Justic. Ginsburg. writing for the majorily. held IlIat wheth.. ~ suspect ... u in custody is a "miud qUOit ion al IIW and faeL.and til. presumption of corr«tnus th ...• 'or. don not ilWIy." The Court's opinion instrnctt<l ft<le r~1 judg.s In un""r. take an ";n""pend.nt rtview" 01 the "in custody" question. Judice TI>om&s wrott a disHnt in wllielith. Clliff Justic. jOint<l. •

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Problems Applying the Life of Georgia v. Johnson Case in the Product Liability Setting: WHERE Do WE Go WITH PuNITIVE DAMAGES AFrER BMW v. GORE?

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the c;w, of I.ile 1>>Sld(1J>Ce CQ. of Georgia IJ. f)(}iky Jo/mS<W!. 1996 \\l. 202543 (Ala.I, which significantly changed both ",;denliary rul .. and trial procedure for MSe$Sing punitive damages in Alab.lma. While Life of GI!oryia wa. on aJll)ellI to the U.s. Supreme Court. that Court issued an Opinion identifying rorutitulional guideli ..... for tho> asseosmenl of punili,-e dlm.:.ges in a case ent itlro BNIY 01 North America. h!C. v. Cort!. 1996 WI. 262429 (U.S.). The Supreme Court then remar.ded life ofGrorgia for re<;<Jru;ideralion in light of its Ql)inion in BMW. Although these <:ases

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involve<! fraud cl1lirru. the ir rulings h,a,.. a direct impact on product liabil_ ity cases as wt1l. This article will discuss both cases as they WQtJld apply in product cases. point out problrms that may result and 'ugge.i >ami: altemat;.... approaches to reducing the risk of unconstitutional punitive da.mge wrdicts.

DiKUHIon of Johnson If. ute of CO-V.. and BAfW ... O_ ~ Jo/wI$on ..,.d Uk 01 c-gia alleging fnud in tM oaIc 01 ~ Mtdic.lolf; ~ ... insurm(t policy tNt was 01 00 bmdit to'rltr becu.1K sho woo nig\ble for MtdiWd. It. jury ,'tTdict ''''is returned in f.wor 01 Ms. Johnson in the amount 01 S250.ooo in romprosato:wy and SIS million in P'Jnitflit d.1nlage$. The 1m.1 court reminro the punitive a'WJrd to SU.5 mjIJion. Lif. of ~ia ~1tII. JuWc~ S/>I:>Iu\kliwl'td the opnion /or tho: court which affirmtd the ~tory IWOItd and further mIuctd the punitive ;w,-ard to $5 million. Lilt 01 Ctcrgia ~ in the ~ Sup'trne Court thai. the punitiw ;w,.. rd ..... groosIy ~ and viobtiYo: 01 due pnx:ao.. The AW>vnI oourt orizuI the OJIIlOr'lunity to ~ the trial ~If; in punitiYo: damage QStS in 1111 dfort to brit.r ~isfy the due process rf;qUiremmts oIthe I~th AmmdmenL The <wrt h.ad pm'iously adopIed a procedun ",tw:rtby the trial judge must oonduct a I'04Hrial rt:Yie'o'>' in punitive da~. QStS and analyu the .-erdid wi"ll several r..cton sot forth In Cn'<'>! Oil Co. v. Honubjf. S39 So.2d 218 (Ala. 19891;moJ lillmmond <'. CilV 01 GtIdsden. 493 So.2d 1374 (Ala. 19861. lkoowo:r, tho Cl.Qrt con. eluded in Uk 0I~ thai. this proaduft 1wI...-d inDo quak, ~"II tho! "in""'" ascs. it <wid be ~ tNt the jury tw irocoo'opIett infonnaotion from "''hich to dtWrnine with ctTU,nty the amount tNt is ~( 10 -..e the mdlior "''hid! puniliYo: (!amoges ....~n inkndtd..· Uk 01 Gwrgia at 7. To resoM \hac ~ the court introo.luctd some dramatic dlIOnl/ts. The first i, a bilurcatro trial ~rocedulf; .... h.rein the jury <kt,nnintS whether then is punitiYe liability in the first pIuso. lf they do. the triall'tSWTlU for dttmniNtion of an appropriale punitM award. The Ra:III<.I ~ is OW in dd.nnining the amount 01 p.onit .... danlagr$. the jury wilt ..,.,. hear f\Iidtnu rqJ>n.ling all 01 the IKton prMousIy ~ only by the judgIe during post·trial m.iew 01 the puni!iYo:.-erdicL SMnJ 01 these fitton will be discusso:d belolo\ The oourt WU abo cor>amtd thlot punitM damage , .. rdicts llf; ptmMd "" an unfair ",indfall to I'~ntiffl. To remedy this probkm. the ule 01 Gwrgia <kdsion held that part 01 lilt punitive damagf awa.ds should be paid into the ,tat. general full<i After post·.-erdict and appollal( ~. the amount 01 tho: judg. ment pertaining to punitive ~ will be paid into the trial court. All COIU and atlomey> 1_ will be paid. The clmt 01 oourt will thtn divido the mnainirII;!lIIl'OOUIlt ~ brtwom the pbln. tifrand the iUI~. Ukol~ at 10-14. The much publiciud B..,\I' ... c.n aso: i......:.Md a jury ,'mticI oI~.OOO in ~ ~ and ~ million in punitiYe ~ returned against I car manubctul'tT ((If" f",ud in not di.IC!osing ~re·"' le damage rep/lin to C()t\I;umm thai amounted to Ins tnan th.n pe.renl rJI the car's suggested retail pri«. Afttr rtVitwi"ll the .-erdid according to the CI'Iim Oil and IkmImontJ /act~ !he AlaI:tami SuprtJ11e Ccurt rrmitted the SA million punitivt damage -..d to S2 million. aI$o notintl that ....u...c. 01 Silts 01 othrr rdlniihrd vrhida $Old "" new in othrr SUUS ...'is i"""wop ;"tlly cumidtml by the jury. The case,,~ lIflPQitd to the U.s. s...,mne Ccurt ,,'hid! m'fntd and mmnded. The 11..,11' opinion idmtiflfd thrtt "guidtposts" /or dttenninil1ll bulTIW 01. punitivt ...... rd: If rtpr't'/lonsibility 01 defmdant's conduct; 2f lilt "'tio of actual hann to the punitive ""''IIrd: and 3f

tho dlfftrtntl: brtwom tho punitive award and other criminil that ITIIOY hi\'! bra> in..,oso:d. The ~ Court tonthe "'~ oonduct 01 R."IW in light of these critrrill ...... found the irnp:lllition 01 S2 miUion in punitM d.IImages was grouIy ~ and. thw. \'ioIItivt 01 the Out Procts.s CLawe 01

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lilt 14th AmmdmenL Regarding the first guidqlost. the U.S. Sup.eme COurt 0011· eluded that UMW's conduct was not 50 reprehensible iU 10 justify the punitNe judgmtnl mw.ItrtIl The Coort agreed \<lith tho ~ court thai the jury h.ad ,~rly computro the amount 01 puni!iYe doINges by multiplying COC' II't'6lI1Ory damlilts by the I1UIllber 01 irlTlilu ~ in othrr jurisdictions. B,I/W ~ 4. Sin« an '""'-'" jury rN)' only punioh rondud IhII ~ Alabama ~ the ·~ 01 the intr=t in punishmtnt and ddemnot must necw.uily be limited.· 8.\f\VIl1. Further. Jince B~\l"s conduct inflicted punly «OOOIl'Iic. hinn, tvinced 00 indifference 10 or r«kIm disregard for the l>a.llh and safely 01 other$. and BMW rlIIO/Je 00 dtlibmt~ laJ...talfrnrnts. its conduct could oot M saki IQ ' atablish the high degree 01 culpability \hat ....arrants a subslantial punitive damage 1I<IIlrd."

8.\f\l'at 10. n. S2 million aw:ord ..... ~ not j ....ibrd.rtn considmtion 01 the -...d ~ the ratIO 01 the IrTKlWJt 01 the award to xtUil hIorm. The IXIUrt ~ thelf; is 00 maloolllOhcai iormullIlo alculau the mnshtutionllity 01 damages, but. in \his case.• 500-to- l rntio wu unr~. All" co<u;<kring the third ~uidtpOSl, a comparison to c.imi • ....1",netions lor comparable oonduct, the Court drci<k<l tlial BMW did not receive fair notiu that it may be subject to a mul · timillion OOIlar pe .... lty for conduct that under the DtupliYe 'TIlde I"r.lcticts Act would merit. mini .....1penalty. ~ BMW is a Ia~ corpoo;.Iion ... ther than III imptcunious ind~ "dots not diminish its mtitltmmt to fair notico 0I1ht dtmands that the -.al SUla illlj)OK on !hi: conduct 01 ils buJintSS. " 8.lnl'~t 12. The concurring opinion by Jwtiu Brq.'t"I" in ....hid! Jwtica O'Connor ;moJ Sout" ,ioillt'd, lUll/If$Ied that oot only ....as the a....a.d in Con! rn:n5i ..... but lilt C""'" Oil and fiummomJ fxtol'J offer 00 significant mrutninlJ IX protedion against arbitrary mulu. Justice Breyer wrot. thai a1t~ the vaguoness 01 theM /acton; does not. by i\wlf. \'ioIItt dut prt)Ca4. citingl'ucifit: NUl. Ins.. Co. to. HtWip. 499 U.s. I 0991). the factors an 50 qlmmded they risIc ~trary mulls. That lu$tias brI~ thIt it the Abbama court IwI offtmilOmt other standard. "tNt tither dirttlly. or indirrctly as bad!gn)und. might haY!: supplied the

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corutraining legal force that the statute and C,.".", Oil $Undar& (as int~rpr"".d IIlrellac:k" their decision might ha"" "cour\Sflrd more lkferenlial review b.,.this Court: H.'fW at I~ 16.

Applying the GI'INHt Oil Factors In Product liability Cases tn light 0( the U.S. Supre.m tour!"s decision in B.'nV.thi. artide ....i ll oow e:<amine !low the decision in Life of Georgia to give juries e\ideOCl' regarding the Crem Oil facton; may h.avt an impact on the determination 0( punitiv< damagts in prodocl> liability cases. I. Dol'S the puniti-... lbnugu award bur a _~Ie reL>tion.hip to the harm likely to oc<ur from the lkfendanr. conduct? The problem arises when a jury considers !low '11lt harm li~ely to occur from till defendant"s conduct- should be defined. Unlike the Core case ......h..e the wrongful conduct inwl\'ed on!» a 5mall p"r""n~ 0( all BMW's sold. the typical product> liability ca>t ",;Il inc lude allegations 0( defective design and defeciNe .....arn· ings ........ ich implicate (Wry unit 0( the subject product the manu· factur.. has"""r produc.d. In an imperfect ...."'rld no product i. perfec~ sale. ~wn if a product is extrtrTlO'ly sale ......hen a manu· facturer mass produ.<:es millions 0( them. tilt product ....ill be associat<!d ....ith some accidents and injums. ALlbama clearly recognizes that a manufacturer is not ""Iuirr<! to prod\« a product that is accident-proof. but only one that i. reasonably sal. for its normal uses. SeeAlabama Pattern Jury Instruction 32.01. In a products ca>t. the plaintiff ..... ill focus on the knov,'ledge 0( the manufacturer that a number 0( accidents and injuries 1m.. mppened and "'IIue the manufacturer .....antonly continued to ..11 the product despite this knowIedg<. The plaintiff will emplwize !low serious tilt resulting injuries are. The problem ",i!h this Crem Oil factor is that seve",1 dozen .. rious injuries ",;11 often p"r.;ualk juries that a manufacturer is wanton regardless 0( uocontrowrtrd evidence that millions 0( people h.avt saltly ~ it for years. A typical example of this problem arose in Harrill v. General M%rs Corp .. which was recently tried in Lov.l1des County. In an illustration 0( exc~lI.nt ad\IQCacy. Jere Ikasley introduced evidence 0( 211 side-<loor .jection accidenl> at trial and then argued CM management knowingly sold dangerous door latches. 110000"e\l'tr, C~l had sold some 3{) million cars with th .... latch~ ......·hieh repre... nl> an infinitesimal failure rate of .0007 percent. One might ask ....... ether a manu/actur.. could reasonably believe that a product which functions properly 99.9993 percent of the time is saf•. but thejul)' in lIarrly

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found liability and awarded $2.5 million in ecQnomic damages, $47.5 million for mental anguish and 10M of consortium and $100 million in punitive damages .•'>1~ Boot. II! the Umd 01 IAU·sui/s. Wall 51.].,0<:1. 30. 1996. The Core decision'sadmonition that punitiw damages muot be det~rmintd .....ith respect to harm that occurred sol.1y ....ithin Alabama gives suppOrt for a motion to excll>lie aidence 0( all <lCCidents except those occurring ....ithin tilt stat• . ItO'OlOl\"<'r. a $kill/ul plaintiff attorney will argue that "'i!ltr.ce 01 acciarnts nation ....ide is n'levant to the issue 0( the deftct as ",..II as notice thereol to the defendant. Citing the Uk of CA!wgia ca>t. he or she can further argue that a limiting instNction to the jury ....i ll pr"""nt improptr roruideration 01 non-Alabama injuries in determining the amount 0( punitive damages because. as Justice Shores states in that opinion: "'Then' is no reason to assume that a jury would disregard \he trial court's instructions. -ilk 01 Georgia at 1. 2. The degree of repn:hensibilil» of defenda"\"1 coodud The challenge fa.rnl b.,. the product manufactur.r under this factor is creali'd b.,. ....;drnc. " ...kh is p....,(/ered in virtually """ry ca>t that the a1legtd de/tct could ha"" been _Iiminat<!d by some design change which would ha,~ inc:rtaStd the cost 0( the prod· uct. The argument follows that the decision not to make the "salety design" dwlg<' is e\idenc. 0( \he manufacturtr'. repre· hensibility in choosing great.. profil> instead. The manufacturer . dil~mma i. that """'n attempting to make a product increasingly saler. eventually \he point 0( diminishing returns is reached. Ultimately. """ry manufacturer mUSl wrestle .....ith the queslion o(!low sale is sale enough. knov,ing. again . that no product will ewT be perfectly sale. Regardless 0( how high the manufacturer sets the design safety standard. when an accident does occur. the plaintii'f"slawy.r ....ill ha"" an expert to tl'$tify the product could have been made saler. and \he injury prl'\'tnt.d. if \he manufacturer had just been "'illing to spend """'" additional money. At. a result. an argument for reprehensibility can be suppOrted in virtually every case. The LJNW majOIity clearly validates the use 0( !his factor. describing it as "Ipl~rhaps the ITIO$I important indicium" 0( ....-helher a punitive ""'"aN i. uasonable. HOI'o"""r. \he concurring opinion b.,. JU5lices O·Connor. Sooter and Bn')'fr obse""" that this. aioog ....ith the other Cram Oil factors. has "»TO\ided no sigoifrcant const",inl> or protection against ~rbit"'ry results." LWW at 14. The basic problem is that. " ...it. consideration 0( this foetor is appropriate. no guidance is pTO\id.d 10 a jury as to !low il should be applied. Analysis suggests this may be particularly true in the context 0( product liabil ity cases. Consider the su!).parts 0( this foetor as .. t forth on page 9 0( the Ufe of Georgia opinion: (Ij tho duration of the cooouct Product manufactun'r.; typically build \he same 1}1leS 0( prod· uct> for a long tim<. The product is uswlly imprtl\led and n'fined as ti.m goes by. but the basic concept for it does not change. At. noted above. virtually an product liability suits allege design and .....arning defects which are applicable to all products 0( the same t}'pe tilt manufacturer has previously sold. At. a result. almost all products claims ....i ll invo/vt conduct ..... hich is of long dUr.>lioo. (b) the degree of def.ndanfs ..... re ..... of Iny Iw.ard ... hich this colKllKl Iw cauHd IH" is likely to ",u.. Under Alabama strict liabilil» products Ia..... the manufactur~r is

cooclusive~ presumed 10 have knoY,'ledgt of any hazardo; .....,.,;. aled wilh his or her products. !kyond this. moM manufacturer.; are aware of the design aspect alleged 10 be deftcti ....; OO"'..".,r. !hey belil">l< lheir product is rea.\O!"lably safe and defend the product on !he basis lhal the design aspect at iUIIe does no! toruli· tule a deftct. Thus. the manufaclurer's awareness of lhe alleged defed can seldom b. clfedivt~ challengtd. Ie) any COI>tIealment or ",,_up of !he hazard A hazard which is open and obvious does not ronstilute • defect und<r Alabama law. Therdore. by definition. any lime a JUTY condudesa product is defediw, the .. is a risk the jury "";1) also oonclude lhe hazard al issue was <:<lnOO.led. This is btcall.\e of the inherent diffICu llY in dislin,guiYling belv>-een a latent defed and a conc.. led def<:ct where il is undispuled thaI the manufacturer made !he product and thus. is deemed to ha .... superior knoo.,'ledgt thereof. (d) exi8ltnot and f..... uency of similar put conduct As noted aOO\'e. in the typical case. the product at iss"" has been mass produced for years. If lhe jury is instructed that punit;".. damages shou ld be increased ba$ro on the f'equency of similar past cooduct. the verdict will be increased in virtually tVI' ry case_ Ci""n the unique context of products liability design defeci cases. n.one of these sub-factnr.; g;", the ju,.,. real guidance about how to judge ",ilether a manufacturds conduct was repreheru;ible . and will simply tend In increase the puniti", verdict ,n l">'fry case. 3. Ponit;"" damage, ,hould rem"", !he profitabilil» nf tho wrongful conduct Again. the diflku ll)' in appl;ing this facto, is most cie'" in the defective design case. As noIed ahoYe. the typical case il'lY(l/ve$ opinion evidence introduced through the plaintiffs expert that. fo' on~ a small addilional cost. say SIS per unit, the manufacturer rould tm.. added a saftt;' guard or made a design change which would have p,,,,.. nted the accident as ....11 as the plaintiff, Ilttdless suffering. The plaintiffs attorney will then introduce lVidonee that during the lasl decade the defendant has sold rove million un its of the defedivt product during the las! ten years in Alabama. Under this G""", Oil factor. the minimum appl"<l!'riate punitive award in this scenario would be S75 million. Such an appr'Q.Xh completely ignom the reality that profits from a manufacturing operation do no! accumulate in the company', bank account for l''''''' on end. 1lwy get reinvested in new technology, plant and equipment. get used to .. tir. debt and ulti· maleiy are dislributed as emplOj'te salaries. bonuses and d;,,; -

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dends to the shiord>Older.;. The result is that a punil;".. verdict calculated to re"""", a manuf.xturer's profits from yean past ",ill i""'itab~ 'esult in excess;\;~ punishment. and can drasticaJ~ affect a company's fi""",ial ability to survive, 4. Defendant'. fmanci.al o,mdition This may be the roost complex and intemting of lhe G1W!! Oil factors. In his dissent. Chief Jrnti"" HO(l!If' not.. that: "Evidomct of a defendant's w~alth or r,,,,,,,,ia1 standing has =l<r been admissible in a jury t,iaL" Life ofGrorgw, at p.19. for 140 year.;, prior juri'prudenc~ was ....11 oettled that lVidenee of the ",ealth or !X"vtrty of tile parties \(} litigation should not be admissible because of the ri$k the jul)' ",ill be improperly influenced by the relat;.... economic po$itions of the parties. The chief justice correctly not .. in the 19S7"Tort Refonn Act: Ala. Code ~ 6-11 23(b), the legislature rodifird this o::ommon law, thrn evidencing its p<»ition 00 the iswe.ld. In the products liabilil)' setting. having the jury toruider the defendant'. financial condition "'ill almost at.r..ys serve to increase an award. This is because in a typical case. ewn if a com· pany is struggling to survive fi""",ial~ and has po$trd IOMe$ in re<;t1lt years, on cross examination the plaintiffs attorney "'ill introduce gross sal.. numbers into lVidence. many time< in mil · lions or lens of millions of dollar.! ",hen accumulated <:Ner """,ral yea"'_Couple this "";th the jury's preui.lting determination that the <lcI'.ndant nttds to be punWletl, along ",;th the jury charge admonishing that a punitivt award u.ould "sting.· and it is submitted that the jUl)"s consideration of this factor "ill seldom Optratt to con.Itrain improper pauion or prejudice. Another interesting dilemma ari><'$ in the common situa·

FIRST ANNUAL ALABAMA .

CONFERENCE ON MEDIATION

JONES SCHOOL OF U" FtlIdlmn Uniwrsity

DO AtUnwt HigbuJay

Montgomery. A1aJHmut 36109

Wednesday, Fcbrwry I'. 1997

I ~Sp<obr. 0... L.

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tion wht~ I m,mufa.r;lure. tw I high Stlf-iruu . ed retention or, less commonly, iJ totally Klf-ill>U . ed. In order to Klf-iluu.e. whtlhe. ~rliiolly or Iwlly, ~ rornp.vly will ~ to dQ¥.· I.IP wnlin~nl racTVU wtlich K ..... 1M ~ £DCt PU'l"* U a pri ..... ry inw.-e pOlicy. Undn this Cn:m 0;/ (actor, the Hlute pliint,fr iltornt)l willargu.t lhot UK""" moniu Hlite 10 1M fiOll'lCiiol condition of Iht dtfmdull ;md should be di .. dosed to the jury u t\iden« wpporting a~. punitive ....·.nI. On the OIhe. hand, 1M dtfendant will a'1['" the ",.. rveJ lot""" the WTIt PUf\'lO)St as insurn'lCt inti should be inadmissible. It iJ Jubmined loot it is imliooalto subject. dtfendant to differing puniti", damage oxposuru ba5<d solely on whether tilt company cho<.>ots to structure its insuran« """,rage with a large Or s ..... 11 deductible amount. S. 'J"he toll of the litigation \I) the plaintiff lrutructi!lll the jury to adiJ the plaintiffs Ieg.lI fees to their puni . 1M .... nlict may ~It in plaintiffs .gre.ting to con\ingnlcy fees which art unfair. Ow. the }GTS, the ~"tTagI: rontingmcy let ag,H"'tI~ INs inc~ from the Indilioni'l onNhinllo<lO prrcmI. <I any ru(Mry. In rmot product IiDlity cua Iaw)oers now charge lets of 50 peromt 01' higher, adusivt <I ~tigMion 1UlL]( the jury will be iNtI\Octed to add iIltomeys lets to the punitive ~ .... nlict, 1M plaintill' may be ....iIIing Io.gre.t 10 60 prrnnt 01' ~ ~ 70 pommI fH rat.. fa puniliYo darno!gt award$, thinki!lll tlw il they kIIf, oothing is owed. mel il they win. the dtftnehnt is IJOing lei ~ to pay their altorney', 1_ lnY"'ay, 6. CrimiruJ 1olI>ction. lhould bt "'IIlJidf'rtd in mitigation The Uk ofGrolyia opinion instl1lCb thaI thejury should be

informed il a defwdant hal btm c:oovictttl of a crimt rtla\l'd lei the beh;o.ior wf1idl is the suIl;fct d the civil ..... l This is so the jury an oonoidtr the criminal c:ooviction in miligofioo ot tht punitive d;unagts tlw will be _nled. In pI1IICti«, il is dillkult 10 uncImund how the app[ication d this factor will KrW to conJlrain a jury or mluct the riIk <I ~ ~ or arbitr.lry a..-anl. Tht polAlltm is simply !hot lor many juron. ha\.;ng a1rudy decidttl a defendanrs behMor was s..:h that civil punitive d;unagts should be a..-ardttl. bring told that the deftndant was oho the U>jed of I rtlakd criminal COI1\'iction IR;l)' Wl!11inspirt III incrtascd .... nlict insUad 7, Other m;1 KIion. butt! on the .. me conduo:t lhould bt taRn inlo IICCOUnt in mitigation of ""nitM darnagt5 !'rom the product manufacturtr's ptfllltCtM. this laclor may be tho ~ troubling d aU. ~:"idtnce 01 other verdicts is !olIppOSed 10 be considered by the jury as ~ mitigatlng filetOl'. but as with prior criminal corMctions, many jul'Ol'1lR;l)' 5H thU as J ~ 10 increue tho'mid in5IuoJ. Thit will be partinJlorty Inx whort a $ltillfullawyrr ~ !hot rnaNgnnrnt knew the allt#d deled mel ........ ;oboot tht in.iuriu.1M concludtd it would bo d>uper 10 kftpltllingtheproWct"""thoughitcoot rnillionllel

""1

~ 0« tht ~itf,.

Moroowr, the pt..inliff Qrlargue tNt, ~n alter ~;ng millions in damages, the dtfmdant iii undeltrrnl,;md ...;U ~til1 ketp itlling the defK]M product to thousoonch d unsuspKling consumers unlus the punilive ~ward in thit case i. big eOOl.lgh 10 itnd them the tlW5S<Igt they ~ven't ltlmed from lilihe prior damag"" combined. Again. it il difficult to fHI oonr.dent

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thatlelling the julY consider such evi~nce will haw lhe conslraining effecI on puniliw awards contemplaled in the Core v. BMW dteision _ LNe 01 Georgfa" Provision Allocating Damages to the Stat. Will Not Wort. as Intet1ded Coosi~ring the foregoing analysis, it is submitted that having the julY ccmider the GI'W1 Oil factors in detennining a punitive damage ",,'aJ"d is not likely to ml"'" the risk of arbilrary or = i v t wrdiru in product li.>bility ca.se:s. In fact, the result may be increasing numbers of ever larger punitive wrdict>. pOiSSibly infl~nced by the juries' belief that half of tM punitive da~ ,,;11110 to the stak lronicall~. h<;M.......,r. it is virtuall~ guarantttd that. reglordless of the jury', ;nlent as to allocation of a pun iti,.. ""'ard. the State will ~r rteei"" any of;1. This is because Life 01 G«!rgia is quite explicit thatth. State has no ffi;ted interest in any punitive award. and has "no right to intervene or participate in such cases." The parties "C(l(ltinue to ha"", full authority to ..... Ue cases without the participat ion or consent of lhe State: and -Ii In the case of stltlemenl. the parties need not designate any part of the .setUtment prOC«ds as puniti"", damages and no part of the settlemenl ,hall be paid inlo tM general fund. - Life 01 Georgia at p. 30. Given this context. after a punili"", "",rdiet is rendered. the p13intilf has an incentive to settl. for any amounl ~ than the tobl jl.ldgment that would mluce the share which would otherwise go to the ,tal •. lhereby increasing the tobl money l10ing to

the plaintiff. This also elimiNtes the income \.ax liability that would have otherwist exisled as to the punili"", portion of the "",rdicl. Of course. the dollars are all the same to the defendant Unl<$S completely confrdenl of re\ll:rsal on a[lfJeal. the defendant "ill Ott 5ritl..... nt as an opportunity to reduce the puniti"", judgment by up to one-half. and maybe """", depending on the tax implications to the p13intiff. BecaIAe There I. No Double .Jeopardy Protection In Civil Suit.. PunlUve Damag•• Inevitably R•• ult Perhaps the most frustraling aspect of loying to defend punilive damage claims from a manufadurer s perspective is thatlawytrs can file multiple. identicallaw>ui\s. until a puniIi"e award is eventually obtained. The fact that a prior jury fonds ~ defendant inno«nt of puniti"", conduct in one ca.se crtates no double jeopardy prottetion in a civil setting. allhough, Ihis rule might change if a portion of the punitive ~rdict is paid to the stale. Life of Georgia at 20·21. (Maddox. J.• concurring in part; dissenting in part). Ironically. ju51 a few months before the Gore case "..,nl to Irial, anOlher CUI' "'as tritd against BMW based on an identical claim. till... v. B,'nv of North America. Inc .. 642 So.2d 937 (Ala. 1993). was tried by the same plaintiff. lawy<>rs against the $lime defense lawyers in lhe $lime venue involving the same fac\s. The Yale< jury awarded a comparable amount of compen-"ltory damages bul refused to award punitiw damages. !)uring diSCO\leIY. however. the plaintiff, lawyers obtained the names and addresses of other BMW ",,-ners who had purchased

B ECAUSE A VOIDING THE B IG PROBLEM

Is A

TALENT

Au.. ITS OWN_ ,7ill< q...1ioM h:t.. ,

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. MISSISSIPPI WJ.u;ynn.~ " . . .. lNSUIlNICE OOlolPA.'iV w.'~JI",,,_

IlII.tIiIUtt! · 0-"7.11" _ - . . - . _ _

similarly r.finished cars, and filed ... il> 00 beNlf of ~ of them. too. Rather than ~idotillll;all

01 ItIt QOft ro. trial, the

plaintiffs .-.gniud thty could ~ multiple biles lit lilt punilM damigu awIe by trying f.IICh QH H~rakly. 11K bw)orn ""nt fTtt to .... B."lW 0'0'1" and

until thty im~f'OYed their INt pre.. smtalion or perhoapl jwIl1O( lucky, oYtf

COLl.ECT-MAX"" _ST(I" . . . NAO. . . .NT sCWTWA ... UN,QUSLV

_ S, GN.O 1'0.. C .... L.CTIOH . ATTORN."" _IC •• STA" .. AT "U.T • noo.

1.800 .. 8171457 . .

NEW WINOOWS VERSION fWlt/.OktIinJ>

ToI_ c.-

$lI/If1IJ'f-.

Mol, lI"'o-tll] r",....7~.

71i ll M"'NJ6 ,I<fm~

6iJ/Jttf.-,.1lid C....."" OOS ....... tII.oo~

c.u J;oo U-onuo Tor. IIml

1.800.492.8037

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Conclusion In conclusion. jury lfIo.'3rW of ,,,mitM damages in Alabama have dram.,tically iocreMW in the puliS years. It is hard 10 Oft hoIo' the d~ngu $1'1 forth in the LikQfCl!orvia OPinion will ml~ tho risk of arbitrary. inoonsistent. grossly =-Nt Of oIhtrwiK unoonstilutioo;ol punitiw ........ venlicU. Maybo it is time to go ~k 10 basics and reaxui<kT the ~ and msons fof ~ IlUnitM: ~ in the lillt lib«: 'Ymdgtign of tho public inttrut and dtttn'ftlCle 10 tht dtfmdanl and othm ....m might coounit similar "'JO!l3i in the Mure," Lik of c-u;o lit 10. The method kif lIete!lllin· i"ll well punWunrnt should be designed solely 10 a.chitw thtie _irtal pu~ 'I"Ile locus in puniti~ damage ~t should bt 00 detenninlng what is the mini .....1~nt thlot wil1l~; .1y but effec· tively punw, ~ ~er the particular tonduct in question. lI'ilslln /I. DulraItJ Corp~N.v." S47 So.2d 7O(Aia. 1989). Tho: AIatroov Supmnr Court is mrnct that then ill no inlJMdwl ClIfIStihllionai right to haYt ~ jury ~fnnine punitive dam.ges in a cMI aM.Likol(;ro,gia at II; Armstrong ... Roger; Outdoor Sports. 1nc~581 So.2H I4 . •l:U (Ala. 19911 [Howtoo. J.. dbwntingj. Trial iudgu routinely dtt.nni .... crimi· NI punishrnmt. C;"'ffi tM lact that. .. a p!'llcticaIItlllU••, punitiw awards in ~ art tu~ntil' bting detennined b-t trial ~ ~Ilat' judga. omyway, I!\I)'M 'oW 5ho\I1d <;(IrUidtr having ~ roW tilt det.rminacion in the first place. Evidm« ~ing the Crwn Oil mel IIammtind IKton _ Ill\'\"!" intended to bt I!Of"4idtrtd by juries. Uk 01 Croifyio at 19111oopn, CJ" coocuning in lilt ItiUIt in Pl'ri xlii disKntlog in Pl'ri). Trmil'\l! xlii ~ helps ~ jodgt to lI'-'Oid lilt prejudkt tlllII <;O\lld irltd a jury"$ verdict as I rt:5Ult of <:ONidtrillll such Mdmce. Moreo:r./ff, the judgt Iw the btnofll Ii knoy;ledge regardillll other punitive

,"r-

dict.o prt\ioWly rmdtml in ';milar ~ Tho: judge <;O\lld still considtr lilt I'tfl«. htnsibility 01 lilt Ikfmdanr. conduct. BMW It 8. xlii fO'ln'IpoW the punitive ~ -.-d with ill)' civil Of aiminil penalties that oould bt impostd by tilt ~urtlor oOfTlJ'."abIo miso;nnduct.

This would 100 addrtSS the U.s. Supreme Coori) cona lt' that I Ikfmdant reoeiYe fair notice 01 the SM'rity 01 lilt penalty thai may bt i~. Stoe BMI' It 10-14. k an allt .....tiw, the legi.laturo might consider enacting a statute which limits the TtCO'.'I'ry ol any punltiw ;!\;\lrd to ""ia \he ~nt 01 the COInptnSatOry ""'''rd or S250,(IOO, whichewr is g. rat ..... This is the rtcOmmtndation ol the American CoIltg.t Ii Triallawym in \heir IWporl on PunililJe ~ 0I1he CumniJI~ on $p«iaI fhiNtJJjJ in 1m AdminiSlrotion 01~ Marth 3. 1989. "'This ~ pnJIIidts lor flnibilil)'_ Tho: plaintifl' that $UAtn moooanl5 ol com· ptruatory hlrrm bt~ $125,000 as a mull ol outrageous conduct by the Ikfmdant would bt ptnnitltd to rOCO\ltr a substantial punitiw ",,'ard, butlhe limit ol525O.000 would prtWllt an VlCW;".. award. On the othtr ha".j. wh.,.., the comporuatOry hlrrm tuted5 $125,000 the ceilillll on any puniliw award would rise rommmsur.ltely with the compensatory honn. Then! WOUld bt no Ilmil in the smous il\iury cas<:$ acept lor the ~ bling eff«t pn:Mdtd by lilt Ionnula." Id. at 15. fOf rTWl}I)'QI'S trtble darrragoes hi'-'! btm comidmd "IlIlfOJIriaIe punish· mml undtr ~ "'" lor vioIWons ol ••'It;·trust Laws and illtpl conduct under RICO. s.. 15 U.s.CA 115 and 18 U.S.CA 11964 (996). If a filed multiplitr is not iIoC«1lIable.• ranllt ol multipliers (".QUId he JII"O"<led III .:odJilioll, Or pem.:.ps altematiwly, a hybrid approach is possible whmin tilt jUf)' <;O\lld proyidt a recommendation which the iu<Jge <;O\lkl ronPdtr in rmlcillll his Of her own indtptndtnt ~l This proceduu _1'IfWOStd by tho: g.:,... mor wtlm Ilt ailed J speciillegislatM: session in 1966 to con5ifJtr tort rdonn. The5t ""IlidIrd appn:racIw:s -..:ruld dr..ny c0mply ...ith the ail.IV Jd Iooth by tho: u.s. ~ Court in the J.WIY decision, mlua \he risk 01 e:rccasM \Oerdicts yet and stilll'f"O"idt ne«Wf)' nexibility in dttennining Jlullitiw ~ •

OPINIONS OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL 8g J. An/hong MclAin. gmeroI (."()(I1ISd

Di~t

Mall Soll cit.Uon

Que.llon One:

Rule 7.3(b)(2fM of Iht Rulu of

Profeuional Conduct rtquirt$ a

Advertising

la~r who is Rnding oul a direct nuoi l l.Uer to /I ~ro'ptdi~ dient to put lhot word ·~rliK .... nt· in 14· point red ink illihe lower I.ft hoond corrot. 0( tilt envelope. If this lSptct of thot rule is coml'\litd wilh. is it ptrmiuiblt 10 pul other wurw or terms

on Iht tn""IOpt as Wtm

7.J(b)(2)(i). Tht COmmission interprets the term "list" as used in Ihis rule 10 mun a writttn or pri nted seriu of namu. The acctptance of compul.. disk, crults storagt prob· Itms. and mort importantly. tho ri sk of inftCling tilt statt!»r', compute r system willi a virus. The only ..... y 10 iKCtsS Iht informoohOO from a disk is to run il on a computer. Th. inform>._ tion on a printed list is immediately self·evidtnt. IRO-96.05)

Question Two: Rule 7.3(b)(2)(i1 requires II lawyer

\0 Rnd to the Gene ral CounStrS Office I list 01 namn and addresses of Ihou persons to wllom .. di.,,1 mail $Olki\al;(1n ItIIt< 1'115 betn Rill. Can

this requirement I>t $OItidi.d by Rnd ing in I computer disk on which Ihat

information is conlilined? An .. wer. Qu ell llan On", Ac(:ording \0 tM Com_lit of nno

Rule 7.3, lilt purposo: of .tquiring the

J . Anthon, MeLIIln

word • ....dv..tiKm.n'· On the enVl_ lo~ of a direct mooil solicitation lttter i, to avoid tile ~rception tlli! tilt Itt. t .. must be o~ned rmuly beCiuse it is frnm" I"wy ... wll.n it onl~ can· t~lns a solidtation for legal bmintu. It is tile Commiuion's opinion that the add ition of otller W(Jrds or te rms on tht .nvelo,," Ire nothins but attempts to subvtrt the recipitnt's option of dlsr.garding a legalid"..,rtisemtnt. Oiud mooil tnvtlopQ; that conuin ItXt ran«l\l' ttons .... not ~r· missible ind would be in yioilltion of Rult 7.3(b)(2}M of tht Ruin of f'roItuio",1 Conduct. An l wtr, QU.lllon Two! The submission 01 computer di.b containing til. ",mu and addresses of penons to wllom di rtct mail r.t· ttTS lIavt betn sent dou not comply with the fil ing r~quir.ment of Rule

Ou ... I1",", Do tile Ala!»ma Ruin of Proftssion.al Conduct iWly to b~r ad"..,rtising on tile Internet Or priv.te on-Ii ... M'rvicu? An l wer: The numbtr 01 options lIyailable for dilHmi"'ting b~r ~rtising has grown r"pidly and ...iII continut to grow owr time. How", ... Ihe adwrtising and Jalicitation rults found wilhin the Ruin of Profn.ional Conduct focus on cont.nt of advertis_ ing and not on the means used to ad".."tise. II is lht Disciplinary Commiuion's opinion that any infor· m.tion mad. iyailabl. 10 the public .. bout Il.~r or a laW)lu's se!Vicu on lhe Inttrnet or private on_lint ser· yicu il wbject 10 reguilitioo unde r tlte rultl on ~rtising .nd solici ta · tion. It .... ku no differ.lKt ""'dhu it is done through I ~b .... g~. a bulIttin board. or via unsolicited tl~c Ironic mail. Any a ...... rtiling or promOlio",1 activity transmitted througll til. use of .. comput.r is subject to regulalion 1ikt any otller form 01 la~r ad "trtising . IRO·96·071 •

RESPECTING THE RULES: The Lowe-Edgar Aberration Endangers the Integrity of Rules 18(c), 20, 21, and 42(b) Uy J.rom • •\. IM/m • •

ReS98Cting Each other J am about to say some critical things about three opinions by II>< Alabama Supreme Court. ;llCluding an opinioo "Titlen by one of my all-time fallOrites on the court. That makes this

And yet. when judges solve procedure problems. I review their solutions as if they had nothing to do but think about civil

an appropriate occasion 10 reslate somdhing [""id to lhe

as if judges had (01» that opecialty to Ihink about. If it " .. re a game, it would be mightily unfai ., But neither judge., COm' mentato .. ,I~.s, no. onlookers ought to view it as 'lOme gaming e""'ciso: in one' upmanship, 11"$ not a game " .. 're engaged in, bul a coliecti ... enterpri.. which .Iri"... toward making Alabama juri.prudence the kiml of nationallTl<Xlel that the Alabama tour! system bealme with the .eforms of lhe '70s, In that spirit. as in the Jl'I.'t and future, I o/fe. the suggestions that aWed. here,

~ars

ago about the partnt.. hil' of judge and comlm"tator. J Hoffrron. TheScinlilia Rule and Olher T'opicj. 43 AlA LAW. 259. 259 (April 1982). 1 ~njoy the great lUlU/)' (as w~1I as the w;poruibility} 01 earning my kup by thinking about civil procedure for many of my waking hours, Judge.. on the other hand. are among the great sUlVi\'ing generalists in a society of

court

""'row

incrrasingly 'pecialists. We .'J)f<'t \mm to render informed docisions..., ..... g. eat expanse. oflt... rorpusjuris.

proc.du~,

And $Orne other tomm.ntato. lurlu in virtually

"''''1' .pocialty of the law, .-tcond-gue..ing judicial d.ci.ion.

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iS1el and Others Undet' SIege Mule 18(e) does not pmoenl a plaintiff from joini~ under Rule 20. ~ oonditional daim ~nst his 001'11 un- or un<krimuml motorist inJum with lUI; daim ~n5I a motoriiHort.......... Ruk l8(c) only forbids "ljurv trial of ~ liability il'dOJRnCt CXI\IeI'. age question jointly with the /rial of ~ ",tated damage claim aglIimt an insumL" AlA M, elv. P. ISle) (emplwisad.led). II does not rtQUiR.evnara. "'" does it Iorbidjoint ~ofthecbi ... wr· ioC the ~ <VId cIiKIMry ~ lhr trial coort ......t. howrIorr. upOfIlIjij.OjwiiIlf motion. onIer ~ trWs of the ~ eWITl$ ur.cIor Rule 42(b). In a seria of cws. the Alab."lma Supmnt Court has ignortd these $\.-..ightforward I'f"OIIO"itions ind ~ra drMly conttrr.,bted by the Abbomo Rule of eM! Proatlurt. in

fowor of lin I:ltraordinary "0\11-001" ptI:I«dun:. iIIlI\lrently adminl5l;fred outsidt the

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Altllough othtrs might. 1do not he", suggn.I that a cwrt excetds il.! autllority by ",,"trt.aini~ motions for pn:ICfdural ~ not apmsIy ilUlhoriud by fotmIolly ~ed ind ~ Rules. AI

Ie»t lor praml purpootS. 1suggest only that a ((IUrt does not ld j,lCIicicMosIy by Mlpplanti~ il.! ""''II f<lnTIally adopted .)nd published Rilles with othtr rultS ol.riwd in SOIllf less public way. At the '''ry least. it dots not do III) without ac~ the ~ of the gmmI rules it Ilonoos in the brud> ond without e:xpIaining",tyy it d"Iooses not 10 follow them. lhr oourt inlroduced itH:>:.tra·Rule "01)1-001" rationale in IAWI" Nalioouw ImlJ~ ClJlllpang. 521 So. 2d 13(J!I (Ala. 1988). "A plaintitl: the cwrt began. iJ iIllowed f'ith!r Ia jQin H i party dtltndinl \lis own liability iNurn in a suit aeainsI the undtriNun:d n"<lll.lri>t or Il"OfI'dy 10 givt it notn oflhf filing of the ldion against the motorisI and of the p!.>Mibility of a claim under lhe underinoured motorist ~ al tht t(IflClusiofI of tht 1n.1. /d. III 13]0 (tm~ in ori~nal). lhrn:in. tho court JUled nothing r>fW. bul mtftly restaled the dffCt of wptr· irnpol.ing modern Rulf 20 upOn c0mmon law joinder practi«.lncluding the <ioctrinf of voucher to wamnly, "II: the

court continued. the Insurer is namtd ill i party, it would h.we tht right, withiru reasoniIbIe tirnt iIl'I... servict of ~ Ia dfCt film to participalf in the triiIl (in whim <:He its identity and tht r&$011 lor its being inIoMd an: PftIIl('I" iriormalion for tht jury), or not to parlicipalf in tht triiIl (in whidl we 00 mtnlion of it or its pOIentiill illYOlve· mtlll is ponnilled by the lrial court). Id. iitaliciltd fn"II)NsiJ in original; b0ldfaced ~ added). The: key wools 'in the In./" "'I/2tSI thr ~ ~ lor sepmtt triab proyidtd by Rule 42(b), The: court did not. ~. titf Rule <i2(b) lit this point 00', inoJffil. an)whm in il.! opinion. Un his ~ t(ln<;Unma. Justic~ Mol<ldo< did <itf Rules ]8(e) ind 42./d. at 131(}.1I.) '1lrdrr tither flec· tion." tht ccurt wtnl on. "the iNun:r would tit bound by thr !'act I'indtr'$ dodsions 011 the isaIQ of liability and dam· *,," /d. II would not tit bound. I"Iowtver. on iMua ..,ltvant to oow.... lly this pas~. the court mt..,1y T«.OiJ'iml that tht implications of tht old common law \OOCher to ~ty doctmt lIl"IllY 10 sepiUiIlo trillll undrr tht mocItm rules of proadun: just H they awlild to xplrloIf actions undtr common law pnxNun:. Nat, Itit court WII, "If the ;1l$Un:r is not joined but rnt ... 1y is given notiu 0( the fil· ing of the action, it Qrl dtddt f'i/her to inttrWflf or to stIy out of the QISf." Id. (mcNsis in origi.w). 11m IIho, tht cwrt stated nothing ...... but merriy mtattd without rxpIicit .dmlla; thr tft'KI of wperifllllO'injJ modtm Rule 24 (the intervention role) upon oommon law joinder pr.>ctict, includillj! the doctrine 0( "wel,..r to warranty. "'\'he raolls 0( tither choiot: the coort ooncIWed, "par:oI1t1 those set out~.....tvn: thr insum- is joined as l party dHmdant." /d. i~ in originill). Once again. this Italed not!.-

ingnew. In relrospecl, the cwrt's mistAke, and • mistake it now _ 10 hIvt btm,lay in "'Yine 0Il)'thing at iIll in l QISf in ",iIid1 tht pUtia hld iIlrudy ruoMd thr iput they hld brougIo( b6m the ((lUll. Thol issut ..... ..m.tIvr R.... l8(el hld to tit rue! 10 b.-lly as to restrict tht $iIlubry (lJleTalion of Rule 20, Thlt if, did Rule HI/c) p""-,,nt the p"-inliff /rom joini~ tht

ON YOUR STATIONERY

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inw"""", company il.\ a ro-def.ndant in her complaint:! In their brief 00 appeal, counsel for the inwru COIlCtdtd that Rule 18(c) did not r«luire $0 much. Notwith· ~tanding counsel', invitation to .Iaborate, the court should have let it go at that. Or, if no(, the court should. at Iwt, have cited the general, fQ1'n'lally promulgated authority, that is. Ru~ l8(c), 20, 21,and 42(b), supporting il$ dictum, n w,," counsel for the inwrer in the next case, Ex ptJrIe Edgar, 543 So. 2d 682 (Ala. 1989). who look whal could have remilined just another harmless t rror of incl usion (saying more !han the disposi. tion of the appeal mjuired~ or exclusion (failing 10 cil' controlling Rules) and gave the court the opportunity to tum it intoa mistake of ~nct'. Insleld of going back \(I basia. that is. to the text of the Rules. counsel took what thty perceived \(I be the cou rt's new gospel according \(I Lw., and invent.d a non-Rules "Notice of Election Not to Participate in Plaintiff's Action." Precisely because it has no expressed roo\$ in any Rule , the stylt of

this motion leaVl'$lhf reader in doubt. and mllSt have left the trial court in doubt. "" \(I what counsel really wanted it to do. If coollSl'l wanled merely ....... rate trial. they should have inwked Rule 42(b). If the)' wanted the action against the inwrer ...... red. the)' should have invoked Rule 21. ~ntence 3, which provides that '!a!ny claim against a party may be ....."rtd and pr<:><:ttded with wpa. raltly: If they """ted the inwred di .. mi>5ed from the plainliffs action, the Lowe decision stood there. in il$ convoluted way, to rerniod them they were not entitled to dismissal unokr the Rules. In the body of their "Notice of Election Not \(I Participate in P1ainbff'. Action: counsel became more SpeCific. although Jlf'l'haps not .nlirely consatmt. about what thty wanted. First. "Defendant ALl'A elect. 00110 participate in the trial of this

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action. " b parte Edgar, 543 So. 2cl at 683. n.1. Ewn standing aior.f , this first..,quW dramatius the unfortunate confllSioo Colused by the Lwoe dictum. The mjuest fell easily "ithin the ptJ",iew of Rule 42(br. motion for a separate trial. So far. counsel had asked neither for dismissal nor for separate rnar\al!<'mmt of the claims during the plelding and discoYeJy stages. Second, "Defendant ALFA re5('rva the righllOp' this action and ... rest"",!.! the right tojoin the liligaliw of this action." fd. (tmphasis added). Oops. Dots this mean that counsel really wanted dismissal or .....,,"""" coupled "ith prospoctive permission to change their minds? Probably not. considering the request in the cootext of the ~e motion. Third. 'An order ..."ithout preju· dice 10 ALI'A returning (1$ 0 party {Iojlhis oclion and participating it. lhe Mol of this case: Id. (emphasis added). The first part of this req_t Wj/geS1$ that counsel wanted the claim against their inwrt1" di .. missed or severed: the se<X:JrId that thty asked ooly for wparate trials, fourth. An order staying the prosecution of tha action against Defendant M.FAand prohibiting execulion upon the pOlicy of insu"""", of Plaintiff,.. and Defmdant...until such time as an evi· dential'}' hearing is conducted to demonstrate Plainliff has received a judgmentagains\ Defendant ... in truM of all bodily injul'}' liablHl}' inwrance limits prwiding inwraJlCO Protection for Defendanl M.FA. Id. This rOQUe$! "'lIS clearly consistent "ith a motion JQr ...... ranct unokr Rult 21 and possibly consistenl with a motion for separate trials under Rule 42(b). l'iflh. 'An order apprwing Def.ndanl ALFA partic. ipabng in disrovery of this action .. .' Id. This request was consistent "ith a motion for separate trials unokr Rule 42(b). Inc.Ieed, reading the insurer's motion "" a whok it seems the insurer asked only for separate trial. under Rule 42(b). although it rtlied. for .ught thai appears in the rer>:>rt, solely 00 the authorit)' of the Lowe dictum and did not cite Rule 42(b) or. for that maUer. any Rule at all. ' Ordinarily implicit in an onler granting ...".ratt trials is an unokrsUnding that the court ,,;11, unles.s otherwise specifically stated, con·

tinue to manage the claims jointly during the pleading and disrowry stage$. Thus, had the insurer dearly InCI'JI'd for a sep.l' ",te trial under Rule 42(b), il could tl.m> participated in d;.ro.""ry "i!hout as.king. The Alabama Supreme Court should tl.m> SO held and should have made dear tht simple bit <J Rules reasoning support· ing this OOIding. Perl\ap:l it WO\lld have 000t so had counsel stuck to the Rules. instead <J iO\'Olcing the Lou.'fi dictum Unfortunately. howover. the court now fol· ~'f:d the lead ,,( counsel, who thwght they..vere following the court's lead. That is. the court decided the case not upon the authority <:i the AIab.1ma Rules <:i Civil Procedure I'.Of'ICtming pnder <:i partia and claims. <:i which they eited """". "but upOn the authority ,,( the Lowe dic· tum. For the insurer. the resull was not a happy <JfIe, By denying the insurer's peti. tion for a writ <:i mandamus, the court confirmed the circuit court', denial ,,( the insurers "request to wilhdraw: Id. at 684 ("requct to withdraw"): Id. at 685 (denial 01 mandamus). reasoning as follO\'o'5: Alfa had the right WIder Lowe to ,,;th· draw from the present case at the ~me that it filed its motion on May 2. 1985. However. Alia sought permission in that rootion to continue to participate in diocc',ery and. in addition, """'l!ht in its ... amended motioo to r""'rve the righl to inlerwne. if it determined that it WO\lId be in itsbest inlerest to later reenter the case. This isjust 111£ 0!lJ'0si/~ oIlhepro(.'l'durr! Ihill m:l$ sane·

liar"'" in 1.oo.'f!... The dear import d Alfa's motion. as amended, is that Alfa wantN oot <J the case. but only if il could monitor the ~ion d the case through the di.\OO'o'ery process and then inlerwne if it d«med it necessary in onIer to protect its interesl Cornlruing All,,:. motion in /his mun'Ier. lhe trial court fwd .1O au/honl!l/O !/Ml1 iI. Therefore. having failed 10 PM" that il made a proper etedion to withdraw from the ase. Alia has ~Tl no error on the trial oourt', part. Id. at 685 (emphasis added). The oourt c.ompounded its error in reaching the wrong result by misreading its dictum in Lowe to affont an insurer the option ",,( being dismissed as a party to the case: Id.

at 684. This is just tht opposite of the actual hQlding in 1.00.", Thert'. the appellee.insurer <:<>rocNed on appeal that it ~ not mtillN to di>rrIi.>MI from the case. /.r;we '" Nalionuide 1m. Co .. 521 So. 2d at 1309-10, and the oourt "acceptiNI cou"""I', confession 01 mOT: Id. at 1310. So what ~ the practicing bar to make r:J Ex parte Edgar? Woold the oourt. if propI'rly aprroac:htd limillAJW(! and Edgar to their facts. as courts tl.m>, Ii ..... out r:J mind. euphemistically repudialN their former mistakes? Or had the court reilly meant 10 establish a new non·Rules ground for dismWal to the detriment r:J the salutary OI'O",tion r:J Rule 201 The ghost r:J I.ctre-Edgar appeared again in Driver v. Nalionai Securily Fire & Olsuaf/JI CompanIJ. &58 So. 2d 390 (Ala. 1995). Onct again, the Lowe dictum had as littl/: 10 do with the proper d;.po.ition

dthe appeal /1$ it had had in Edgar and in Lowe itstlf. Driwr presented the queslion whether an uninsored motorist i....unr could properly proWIe legal ro.lIIsellOr the uninsured motorist in the underlying action. That question oould arise whether the plaintiff had not pned the insurer at all. or 'oIIhether the insortr had been di$. missed under Lou.~.Edgar (if. indeed, that i$ what l.cwe-£dgar stand$lOrl. severN under Rule 21. or SfPiIl"lIN under Rule 42(b) . The answer to the question should not. it WO\lld seem. tum upon the ques· tion'$ <>MOCiation with one or another of the:se p<.>Mible ProcNU>al jXl5\ures. N..... rthel .... on appeal. the plaintiff. awellant stated. and the $Upreme court iICCtPIN. the folla.;ing characterization ,,( the question presented: ])0 Lowe and Edgar ,WId "for the prop:»ition that if an insu"""", c.ompany opts out r:J the trial in an unil'l$Urt\! motorist ca..e it cannot 'par. ticipate' in the trial by hiriflll an attorney for the unil'l$UrN defendant motorist [,P Id. at 394. No. h£ld the court, "on« the carrier opts oot of the trial under Lowe, it

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may. in its dism lion, hire an ~Itomty 10 represenl lhe uni"""red motoriot defen_ dant" Id. ~I 395 (bokIf<>ced emphasi> added). Justice Maddo~ again ooncurred SpKially. .-.ying: ·This ..... graphialll}> points OUI why I did not f~ tho .opt ouI' procedures adoJIIed by this Court in

aweal. ~ do not kno7w "'*"=ther the insur. er 3ctually obt.ined a Lou.,·Edgar dis· missal. or ooly a Rule 21 ..".r.moe Or a Rule 42(h) sep"I1Ilion. We must a.....ait fur· ther appeal. to leam whether there ...ally is such a thing as a Lou..,.Edgar dismissal. And. if so, "it)' there should be. •

oo.."WeT. lhe court relied solely on Lou'tl in suptX>rt of its decisioo.

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igatioo-" muck's lAW Dictionmll (6th ed. 1990). II depends not at all upOn Lowe. fAlgar. Rul. 18Ic). or any other of lhe modern joinder rul ... 1'he court twice said thai the insurer h<>d opted out. 1'he words "optrd out" are not offICial Rules words. The <!OUrt did not speak in the ollkial Rules >«abulary of dismi....l. stVerance and :stpal1lte trial Thus. ,,;!houl going to the m:ord on

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Elder Law Section

\1 \LPR \CTICE HP}:RTS To battar serve the needs 01 Alabama attorneys praCticing in the area of alder law. the state bar has formed the Elder law Tas k Force . The task force will ,dent,fy if there is sullie,ent Interest to support th,s new saction. If interested, ~easa fax a statemant expressing inlerest in the seclion. Your expressed Interest does not obhgate you to join the section when formed nor era you oblogated to commit to any work

Please mail or fax your statamant by Febfuary IS, 19'97 to lynn Campisi, chair, Alabama Elder law Task Forca, 3008 Pump Hou sa Road, Birmingham, Alabama 35243; laK (205) 967-9724; phone (205 ) 961-1010.

~UNG

L AWYERS' SECTION

BJI Andg D. Birr:hfield. Jr.

ONA MISSION

What I. OW mission? TWo key objedives of the Young LM.'l"''''' Section of the Alabama State Bar are: (1 ~ "To provide a program of activity designed to be altracti,,~ to the memo bership and helpful to the legal profession"; .n<! (2) "To er.oourage and (ostor the organi.alion of local Young ta"i}'e!S' Sections and 10 promote a closer ret.ationship be!\>ttn said local organizat ion and thib 5tction."

In GIlle. words, the YlS should be about l;elping young i:ruy<>1"$ in their pror....ionaIlives and. ,00. htlping local groupS with their prOjeru. TQI\,ml the fi...t goal. our section sponso'" • nlllM<. 01 acti\ities, such <IS the Young ~..",' Seminar in Sandestin each May (go ahead and maric your calendar for the Sandestin &minar-/l\a)l23-25. 19971. the Youth Judicial Program, the Admission!; Ceremony and l.uncheon. and lilt Minori~ Iligh School Pn·Llw Conf....oce. Th" year we are undertaking two <odditional projoects in this regard. First. Executive Committee ~lember Cbrk Cooper is spearheading 00' effort to implement a Menlortng ProgRm for Second, Executive Committee Member and District Representative M~I ~'lWman is directing 00' effom 10 Sf! up Children', Waiting Rooms in our .state cour'lhouses. This is a program str<lrllSi)' promoted by theAlWYW and has been successful ;>C1"I.l$.S the nation. l\w.-ard the secood goal 0( helping local affiliates. we. as a section. have not devoted an organized effort in the past. Thai is char!glng this year. We .rt spomorir>g an Affiliat. Outruch Progr.>m Conferen« in Uinningham on March 14 and IS. 1997. £xeculil... Commill ... Member Cole Porfu is organizing this conr.rtnc. aimed al !lfO'iding assistar« to local affiliate lead · <'T$. This conference ,,;Ii prwide imtrue-

lion for organizing and inc ........ ing memo ber.ship involvomrnt lor local )'OUIIg lawyer organiuliom. ideas for service projects., and nuts and bolts infonnation for carrying 01.11 projects. If your "rea. does not haw a local YOl1IIg t..wye ... &ction. or if you would like add itiona.l information . please call c.:.I. Portis. Our profes.sion is ooe 0( service. The mission of the Y1.S is to seM its membe.. and \0 help membe .. seM others. I encoot"age each of you to be iJ1\lOlved in the activities 0( your local affiliate. Worlting together " .. can be "->CCtssful "Young t..wyers" in OOr mission 0( servi~. •

Order Your 1996 Directories! Members--S25 each Non-Members--$60 e<K:h

)'OUIll! !;n.,)'er.s.

~nd )'

D. Birchfield, Jr.

M~i l

ched

money order 10:

Alabama Bar D i rlJcro r ies P. O . Box 4156 Mo n tgomery. AL 36101

Include name. Sireet address

and street ZIP

-We ship by UPS Ordef"$ must be prepa id l

Notice and Opportunity for Comment Pursuant 10 28 U.S.C.!i2071(eJ. notICe "hereby grveo It.atlhe U.S. Court of Appeals lor the Eleventh C,reull hils lImended Eleventh C"CUII Rule 22-3, -H.J/;J6as Corpus D6am PttnaI!y Cases, -by odd;"" II new SUbsectlOl1 whoch prOVIdes

MallOn for Order Aurhotrzlflt} Second Of SucceS5Nfl Habeas Cotpus AppbcaIIOfl. A mo1l(lf1 on the 00U<1 01 appHIs for an order authon2lf1g the rnstnct court to COI'ISIder II se<:ond or 5UCCess ..... hilbeas corpus apphcalKln shall be 8$,ogned 10 the Pllnei consl!lUled Urdel sectKIn IaK4) of thos Rule to cons.o:lef habeas corpus app&&\s. petlllOl'lS 01 0Ihe< relilted matlBfS WIth respect 10 the same pelltlOn8<

Comments concernIng Ih,s amendment may be subml1t",;l in """Ung \0 the clerk by Jaouary 31. 1997. at

OttICa of the C\e(\(. US Court of AWe3ls lor the Eleventh ClfCUIt. 56 Forsyth Street, NW. Atlanta. Georg" 30303

r.=

CLE

NEW IOLTA PARTICIPANTS

REMINDER

~I. mbf.

All CLE credits must have been earned by December 31, 1996

Charles Petty fl uol ••. Jr.. Birmingham

K. Anderson NeI""" Mon!gQrntry t.. ~1 ;ch.;oel Barret. Birmingham Philip E. Gabl •. Birmingham Jamr.s C. B...... r.dd. J~r C~ryl ~liddlelNS

D. Eubanks.

rai~

« ",hal.~. Birmingtwn

D.r.yne Ryals, Monlgomtry

H. J.TI)ITII' Tho<np$ofl. Moo1100 I.ft I< R........,~u. ~

0,,,,,, Li la V. CI~laod. Mobil. Charles SaJo...g;o. \·estavilI

All CLE transcripts must be received by January 31, 1997

Roger 14 ~, Binnirtglwn Michael Patrick Hanlt. Birminglwn RoIxtt E.1.ong. Jr.. D«4olur

Stuart J. Roth. Mobil. Fin" A. Royal, Scottsboro Ktn"",th W. Quattltb;oum. Ozark Cu"",ra & IQlph. Tr<l)' Thomas R.ll<.llltr, Mobi l.

CLE

OPPORTUN ITIES

1'h<r foIlou.';1IfI1,.,-slale prt'JfPOms "'me /x!er! opprwed fur cmIi1 bv the AlalNlmll MIl"dal()T!J Cl£ (;Qmmisskin. liDwIN<>r. infomralion is /J1'(1i!abI~ """ of chorgo! an "''111" 4.500 appt'OIW progrums naliol1u'ide irkmlified b,llocalirm dolt or sp«iallil OTea. em,IM/ the Mel.£ CQmmi$Sion office 0/ (334) 269·1515. or /·800-354-6154. and If romp/ele CLE colerwor will be mailed 10 gW.

JANUARY

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BEfOS O Til E H,\SlCS Birmingham

Holiday Inn Redmont National BU5inus Institute

CLE credits: g.O Cost: $149 (715) !l35·8525 22· 24 W.,;In.,cl.ay. Frida, CIRCUIT '\''110 DISTRICT JUDGE S MID ·WI"'T!::R CO.'WERENCE Montgomery

Alab.la1Nl Judiciool CoIlt~ CLE emli\$: 11.6 Intl242-ll300 23 Thursday JQl!1o'T MEETIXC O f TilE BE"CH

ANUUAII Moo\gOrmry

Alabama Judic:al College CLE credits: 5,8 (334) 242·0300 23-25 Thursday-Saturday MED IATIOS rRO($SS Mom TilE S KIL LS Of CQS-..LICT

RESOWrtOS MontgOmery Mtd~hon Corpor;olion

CU: cl'fdilS: 21.0 coo.: $700 (800) 231-3476 24 Frioy "" 111.'111 Al"NUAL NURSINC

110." ''' lAW S ~:M INAR Birmingham Cumbe,l,nd Institute for CLE

TR\lNC TilE AI1TD)lDB ILE INJURY CASE IN AlARA."IA Birminahim National Bwiness lrulilute CI.[ emliu: 6.0 Cost: $149 (715) 835-3525

FEBRUARY 7 Frio),

NEGDTlATIDS: Rt:ACIII NC ACR.;.;"E"'''' DS YOUR TEIt....S B;rmi~

Curnbmuld Institult for CLE CLE cmliU: 6,0 (800) 888·7(54 12 Wedn •• d.y

,' "'''ACED CARE: THE FIn"URE 1.11' Il IiALTIl CARE Ilirmingll.l.m LorlNn BwintU Ctnter. In-c. CI.E , rediu: 3.8 Cost: SI35 (715) 833-3940

8irmingham Medial Forum 8uilding ~mIO ~r Institute for Cl£ CLE emlilJ: 6.0 (;($: $165 (205) 3.4S-6230 2OThu~d.y

DEFE",'DINC WRDSCFUL DISC HARGED C1-'1.... S U",'OER ALARA.'IA lAW Montgo,mry National Swintss Inll itut~ CLF; creditJ: 6.0 C05t: St49 (715) 835·8525 21 Frld.y

WDRKERS' CD)lPENSATIDS IN AIABA.'L\ Birmingham I..orrnan llusiness CmlU, Inc. CLE cmliu: 6.0 Cott: IISS (7 1 5)~O

21 Frld.y

AOVANCEI.l F"... IU' LAW Ilirmingll.l.m Cumberl~nd Institute for CLE CLE credit!: 6.0 (800) 888·7454 2& W..t ........,

13·15 Thu..a,.S.tutd.y

MEDIATIDS PROCESS ""0 THE S)( Iu.s 1.11' CDS.'UCT RESOLI1TIDS Birminglwn Medwion Corpor.\tion CLE cmlitJ: 21.0 Cost: $700 (800) 237.3.476 '4 Frld.y

CDMI'UTERS Mm n ;C IINDLOGY IN TIl E LECAL I'RDfESS ION

DEFENDI NG "lIDSGFUL Dl SCUARGEI.l ClA IMS UN DER AIABA.\lA lAW Mobile NlIliooW llusiness Institutt CI.[ emI.tJ: 6.0 C,*,

(715) 8l5-3525

sag

CLASSIFIED NOTICES RATES , ..~..: 2 Iree ~SlIOQS 0150 words CIt less pel' bar member per calendar year EXCEPT lor "pOi!I'tlOfl wanted" Of ·pOSilIOl'l o/Iered" fis1OOOs- S35 per onserbon Q/ 50 words Of less. $.50 per a.ddltlonal word, Nonmember.: S35 pel" insertoon of 50 words Of leu, $,50 per additiona l WOfd Classified copy and payment must be

received according 10 the ~ publishng schedule; Novembe. '96 ,•• _ _ deadline September 15, 1996; ....n ... ry '97 I.sue - deadline November 15, 1996 No deadline exlerlSlOOS will be made send classrtied copy and payment. payable 10 The Alabams La...yer, to: Alabama LB..yttr Classllieds, c/o Rila Gray, PO Sox 4156. MonIgomery. Alabama 36101

SERVICES FORENSIC AUDIO: Audio!apo!

,estoralion and cla,jlK:a!ion audio

eng,,,..., W ~hout alt.nog Of damaging JOW origonaI \ape ... can: reduoI tape noose; incr_ I"~lY : maolmi18 speecII~: lowe< bad<,. ground noOse to ' _al voice ; digitally enhance recording darity. Chetry Ord'IIord Studios, 113 Qliwe, Ro.d. MDnIgomery, Alabama 36117. Phone (8001 US·.3S5.

FORENSIC [)()Q.-NT E"'INEA: Hamwrrllng, ~illngLalhl<..:I documems, mIId;ca1 reooros, wins, con. tract •• cI&eds; ehed<I, ar'K>n)'lIIOVIlet.

Coun-qoUfied. E~ ,...... "1*"0:.. Ceflified. Al,,,,ica, eo.d iIIfS.

01 FOfenso: Docume .... E.ami...... Membe<; American Society 01

Gaotg ... 30519. I'!>one (770) 61 4· 4440. Fax (770) 271·4357

EXPERTW.TNESS, P'C' .iona! engi ...... and al10rney WI1/I a practoCe

01 • • petl/"~mony In conS1'uction . talely. higllwly" and .ltUCIufai design. "Owly.".. yNi,' ~ In toogh. way. railroad. commert;:iaI ~ and ~' plant COtIlII,uetlOll. CaH Of

'HUmI. fees: Lamal T. HIwkint. 950 22nd Street. North. write lor

SuiI. 632. Birl!W>Qham. Alabama 35203. PIIooe (205) 4 511019485. No rllP'f/5tK!,a/lotl is maiM IIlaI /fie qual/. IyDiIhlJ. ~ 10 be~· kKmed is (TNt« thin IhIJ QUUIy Di ~ servicn perlo",!«l by _

..,.,..

LATENT PRI,,"" EXAMINER : Examona""" oIlalem fingelpnnl.

DRIYER' S LICENSE REINSTATEO, Let ~I do 1116 WO/l< gettino YOU' dianr, AIaba .... ~ IioInM ..... SIaIId. Cal WIth yo..- client', 1IIImfI. borlhdly" and dfivoIr', license number. Wa will find 001 whal too stale requitlmerolS .r. for reinsla ......... 01 /he license. W, C8tI usuaIy ' - lINt Iicer .11 lIigiIM lor reinstalllmlnl wit~ln 24 houll. Tlmet""""fS. 1':0. 90. 1431. Columbia. TlI1nessee 38402. 1431 . Phone (BOO) 809-Cl5IIi. ESTATE lIOUIDATION & APPRAISALS : Jewelry. all end anI"",". Let INt prolotssiorlalJ "-Ip

you 10M! )'OU' etlate """""""" Of ~ ";";'Iion probIam . Levy's jewelry, .,1 and antiquet. 2 " 8 Non~.

Second Avenue .

8ilmingh.lm. Alabama 35203.

Phone (20Sj 251 ·3331.

palmprint. toolprinl. tootwea,. lUI

LEGAL RESEARCH: Expetie~

Ou8stiooed 00a.Ime0I Examin8f1.

treed. lip and la, imprlQlont. and

AmericIIn Academy 01 FOferWc SoenceI, Southeaster" ~tion 01 Foranllic Foraroeis Documsln

aima scenes. Coun ac:ces:M1d "'1*1 witoIss In IIderaIIIIlCI ,tale courts.

allOiney. member 011"- Alabama StaWr since '977. Ac:cess ICI Stale Uw library. WESTLAW available. Prornp! deadli... S.,,~

Exam/<lII<$. Crill'lll'lal and civil ma~ ~ & HIwnmond Fofensi<: Docuo'nn! Laboratory, 4078 BiIrmore Woods Coon, Bubtd (AdaNa),

Eig~l"" yea,,' "pe<iInof. Crim;"al 01 civil C3set. Sidney C. Varbroog~. 10 Counly Road 1423. CI.oIman. AIaba .... 3505!i. Phone (2051 739. 0192.

a.r

"',cIIe-s.

1("t~'yn FI'neU. , 12 Moore Buildino ,

MontgOmery. Alabama 36104. Phone (331 ) 277·7937. No ,.".e-.ta/N1flif IMde mal Jhe QUt/!ity Dillie . ' . , _ ms to !>e {J6rlormed is gttmle' than

Dr,.,...

Merrymonl Allgt.tsla. Georgia 30907. Phone (706) 860-4267.

sheMng al dIscounl pree.. Free qIICIIft. '·800-27$-o779S1. Nationlll

taw

RHOUn».

CONSUlTATlOH-RECORO REVIEW, El<pet~ RNJJ.D . _ kit COMUIIalio1'1. r1ICOId ......... case IIVaIualion. lltigalion tuppOfI. Expeo1lft:1er M<YioeI .110 fIIIIIiWN. Prompl and rNIiOr'IItIIe. PhorIe (205) 62 1.(1301. N<! ~~/JQn II madoI rhar IhtJ QrNlUty of IN . ' UMeeS 10 be pM' form«! Is fYN'(I' l/lan I~ QrNI"'Y of if1{/IJ' urvic<Is perlorm«J Dy other

''''~ DOCUMENT EXAMINER: CtonJfMld Forensic: Ooc:umenl Exa ............ Chie! doc:u......" ........ _ . AIabarNI OeperlmerU 01 Forensic: Sdences. "'lINd. ArMrIcIon BoItd 01 Forens.oc ~I~. Amo<Ican Ac-..y 01 ForeNIc sa. ...... ArnerIcen Sodely 01 0\les1i0r MId Documenl E - .. o.er 20 yelrs' ~n.nc. In IIBI. and ledrHaI """"S In Alabama. Lamar Mille<. I I 420 N. K6ndaR Drive. Sulle 206· .... Miami. Fk>rlda 33176. In Blrmlr>gham. phone (205) 988·4 158. In Miami. phone (305) 274·446~. Fax (305) 596-2618. HANDWRITING EXPERT/FORENSIC DOCUMENT EXAMINER : ABFDE Clflilied: pell president. SoutIINoslem Assoc:ialion 01 Forensic: Doc:r..onenI ~; Arne<Ir;an

For1INic

~~baMdllll_

ToU. REf'OAT£R: U.s. Tuea-. To

Spaed . . _lIS, K&led _ _ dqw.

eo..c M.",orilndum DaciIior ... U.s.

ngs. IImI dis,...... _

-"'"II willi .... ,1C11'1S IIYri-

recoMlruCtion _

etiI. Company .... H<ved major ........,.... carrie ... and ""'" JO Alabama Ia., ~rMl Ilnce 1986. Bacl<ground Incl1Ide1 25 years' Ia., ento<Cemenl experience. M.S. deg, ..... an adjunc1 taculry membe, al Jacl<son S181" UrWersi1y. Conl/ld Mi~e Finche •• P.O. Bo>. 1m . AnnIston. AWwna 36202 . PhorIe (20$) 237 ... " ' . Fu (2O$j237·2118.

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT RECDttSTRVCTlONI$T: Cue ........1ion peI" lorrned wi1I'I JftPlClIO-"-. LI\JIII 1ftIImDfIy. IncII.w:ting daposition and trill . AC:cioMnI....."..... scene scale "'a wing. _...-kIance ........ Iion. Registered proIeMiooal Ingineer. Technbl eoxI<t1y member. 19 yeB ... · 'r>gI""'lnQ T,ame actidenl lnveSlIgalk>r1 IrlIlning. Background 1no:iouoCIe' technical and communk:alion tkiI'-, IdIttIrsariai ,,-"""'. _ . . prflOlM lamiia,· 1Iy. Con1ac1 John E. ~ . P.O. eo. S3ol3. HutlIaviDl. AlabIma 3582'. PhorIe (20$) 837-60341 .

av.,

"'1"''"'''''''.

"""dem'I' III

sa._ /eIIooow. Federal

cour1~.

ACCIDENT RECotIS TRUCTlON :

s-n.- '1'"'$'

CMI_ criminIl .

Wandw~1itIg

oomperision.lorgery CletKlion ot _"&fed medical r&COfds and Olhe, doc:umenlS. L Keith Slone MOunl.ln. Georg ... Phone (770) 879·7224.

""'I1dion. ""'$On.

DOCUMENT EXAI,UNER : Exarninlllion 01 au.~ 00cutn&f'III.. C&ftitilo6 For....c Hllrotwriar'll_ DocumenI E"" .......... T1*1y yea .... e>$)IrIencIln aI kltensic: <IrIcurnenI praI:IIernL ForrMrly. ChIef 0u<tsti0nId Oocurnent Ana/y:s1. USA Criminal .".,....lion ~kIries. Diploma,. {ce<IiIied)·BriIish FSS. D.plam.". {ce<1rfi1od)·ABFDE. Member. "'SODE: ''''' : SAFDE; NACOl. R... ume and 1M Id'tedIJIe upon request Han. Ma~" GkU"". 218

SKIPTRACING·l OC.aTOR: Need!O lind .ornaoo .. ? W .. lind !toe I"'rson or no ,.. kit buIc -was. Natiotr.vide confidotn1oa1 M<YIoe WI1h 87 I""oanl WDCfISI "'11. 0tIIIJ needed searches. '8OOfo. end ffIPOI'lIln many a.""s horn ou, .. t,nll"" dala blsel. Tell us """1 you need. v.';1y US.... Call 1OI~ tree (888) 2·VERIFV.

eo.n:t 01 T.. ~ Soard;vd FedetaI Tu AllX>IIi With CiIaIcn M .., MoZ and Act4ncto ~ AlIbarne Slate Tu ~. $ ~1iont Go.Ie, ~I Estate IIJ1d Gilt Tax Reporter. tour MIl updated C<xIe 01 Alabama IRS Currullltil'll Bulie1U\l. $2 per book. Phone (205) 349-4328. ext. 239 l ...weOOKS: William S. Hotm '" Co.. Inc .• IIrvIng lhe ~I ~nity lor DYII' 70 V-a ... W. buy. .... _DIS<! ell IawbooQ. Send want fists 10' Fa. (7 Ulj883-559S or phoM 1·1I00-<I96-

POSITIONS OFFERED; UTIGATlON : Smal.• W"" ...... 1>Iaintiff·or\erI1ed Iitm In Alabama ~ IiDglIion .". ·...1 "",111 • mn......... 01 ..... yellS·experIence. ~ 1DcaIion. _ and support.

""""on.

~ ..... ogernaoots _ I '

I'''''

pao~ .. ~

statui. Oired .. inqUries 10 Managrog Penn.r. 1506 ~ A.......... SuIIe B. AmisIon. AIabamI 36201 . Phone (205) 231,., 119. UTlGATION : Bitmlngham labor and law Nrm _ks a$SOCial" .,i1l1 2·5 yea .. 01 uperiencl. lJti9atk>rl backgroond 11rongljl p'<t1erred. Top 20 pe~nl at gradCIIIliJ\g class. , . cei l.,,1 oornmunlcallon and org.anlZBliDnBl lIkilll requi,ed. Sand r.sume!O Hiring "'lIOrflll'. P.O. Bo>. 7503611. ""'"

Orleans. louiIia"". 70175-0368.

FOR SALE LAweOOK S: S - 50 ~rceru l1li your Lawboob. Cd Nalional Law Rnouroa. Am&fIcI"a1afgHl1awtlooks dealer. ~ ~!O<iH. Lowest prioK. E-nenl quality. Satisfaction 1IU"...",1Id. Cd VII!O wI)'OU' ""~ 1lOOks. NIId shelving? We .."t fI(IW. bta nd "" ...... 51..' and wood

ALABAMA STATE BAR SECTION MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION To join one Or more sections, complete this f(>nn and attach

~p.l.rate

checks

pal'able to each section you wish to join. ,~

Office Addres. Office Location

Office Telephone Number Sect ion

o o

o o o o

o o o o o o

o o o o

Ann uall}ut$

Administrative Law ...........................................................................â&#x20AC;˘,............................ ,$20 Bankruptcy and Commercial Law........................................... ,,, .................... .................... $20

Business Torts and Antitrust Law ......................... ............................................................. $15 Communications Law ........................................................................................................ $15 Corporate Counsel .................................... .......................................................................... S30 Corporation. Banking and Business Law ......................................... ...... ........................... SIO Criminal Law ..................................... ................................................................................. $10 Disabilities Law .................................................................................................................. $20 Environmental Law ............................................................................................ ............ .... $20 Family Law .................................................................................................... ...................... $30 Health Law ........... ............................................................................................................... $15 International Law .............................................................................................................. $30 Labo r and Employment Law ............................................if practicing less than 5 years-$IO if practicing 5 or more years-$30 Li tigation ...... .......................................................................................................... ............$15 Oil. Gas and Mineral Law ............... ....................................................................... ............ $15 Professional Economics and Technology Law .................................................................. $25 Real Property, Probate and Trust Law ...... ...................... ..................................... $10 Taxation .............................................................................. ...............................................$15 Worke rs' Compensation Law ... ........................ .................................................................S20 Young Lawyers' .......................................... ........................................................................... 0 TOTAL

Remember. Attach a separate check for each section.

Korur clients didn't retain "'.i

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to represent their legal interests. Don't retAiu "'

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JUS. any vaJuaU(}!Ill mrm

to establish their business valuations, w"..u....s. T~\l.()lt & ASSOCIATES. [' ,C .• IS A ~TIO~.LY RANKID NXQC,VnNG "'' lJ CONSt:LHM; !-111)1 "Till fiVE CI'.II11Fllll BlJSIJ<fSS \'AU1\TKIN AN.l.USrs ON PF.... I>l\.W.,'T STAt.....

E\1JI 1'lGllMITo!< 801L\Lf Of lOUR culm'S" 1~"I1'.RESTS. wrNs ~OFESSJON.Wl OtH:R Sl\U'T, AoCOJR\TE IlUSINF.SS , . ... .uATIO:'<s, "111GB ARl!

W IILl-\MS. T A'I'LOM

CIlfT1G,\(.

TOOl.! 0:<

~111.'"

tllONrs IN TOI»."S II"()l(Ul.

& ASSOClATf.'l • Sf.lUOI:S AJ!()IfJ'YOOI CUfSrs' !lJSlJ<F.SS.

' ~

, •

CPA.CVA

1\m... 1i.1\'uo::!i It CP,\,C\',\

M LLlAMS. TAYLOR & ASSOCIATES ~ I~O ~1.~''f.~1'11 '\\":l<U~

(.?OS)

OOUTII. SUIT~ _00 • TilE 1'.lkK HUI.!lIJ<G • BlII.\IIJ<(;IL\~I, .\I.\H.\~L\ .1~1()S ~')o'911 1

• (lj(I()) 8N-lISS2 . f.\O>IMII£ (105) '1.W-9 111

Unlimited Westlaw research for Alabama as low as $125' per month! i"'" IllOIIIh lOr 00. ~ Ill! ., :DIiIionai S.IOrw ~ fllrl'Od! od:IitionaIlIkm!y ••

E>to Mot. no.-1IIfIim I'l1O pbo you ~ you will . . ""';"'oIh!r _~ ~ tqs....t.l ..... ond lilt I:ry HIrrbof IOf'iar. _oddod In Ijlq.:!..t Ia:td:I bj' ...........,.,.. (1}:mAI' ~ N>O,nI") pbin-fl"(lli5h...tq nI aJ ................ NI . . . cIIoioodlfP.......tI po r [ . . . n-~ 110 IniIioI "" :nI ....... I'I(I~ . .

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