Lawyer 11 92 web by Alabama State Bar Association

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TIlE ALABAMA ~WYER

PRESIDENT'S PAGE

Iltl

~nd

looks for communilits where tilt qmlity of lire is good. • Judge John Pattuson told me ilfI inttrnting ThoM who ~Iiow thallho peopit ofl sute an be poor md igoorant. and at Ih. same time prosperous, beliow story. tie !.aid that when h. wH governor. from Ijlm 10 time h. "''OI1ld gtt a handwrit· in lomdhing that never has been and never will be. Alabama laW)'t>"l mUlt become in""lvtd in the restora· Itn nole from Alabama's then Chid )ullic. ~:d Livtion of Our state's economic develop"",nl bast from the in"'ton. II SIIid something like. "John. nnt time)'Oll ar. grus root.! 01 our l'tlpedivt communitits to tt.. halls of Ihil Wi}' drOll by, 1 1Ia~ a linl. $Omdhing to diK"U with you,- Judge Patte...,., ... id whon III iOl sueh I not. gowrnnw:nt in Montgomery. he did no! go see the chid justiu "nul limt hr wu thai What c.an "'" do about il1 At thit moment. I am oot Wly" _ he. wtnl then! No "",ttt< IIIaI he ~ 10 drw sure. I ;am ctTU.in. howt-vt •• tNt "'" an do much more some malin of !ltwtrnmtn\ in Ihan we art doing. Selfishly. lawytrs stand to 1O$t mightily if whkh he "'lIS involwd. He ...~nt on 10 dtK';be tM rU$On for his condillons continue 10 dderio· pl'Offll)t mponH. AI. that time, tht "It. If tlltre is no industry heR. tlltre will be no woflc for ~f$ Ilwytr! of Alahima dom;""I.d sial., county Ind municiPi-1 govto do. There must be change. tmmenl5. Whtn the chid justice To INot end. I 1m <rnting the "AI&bI.ma First" Tuk Forte which spoke, ht represenled I pow<>rful will be hud~d by past Pruident conni!" .ne},. Regrettably, Ihis is no long.r Iru •. And the Iiale of Waitt> R~art of Montgomery. It will begin immedialely 10 evaluate Alwnu is WOrK nil for it Over the put ",,,,,.al month., problem arus and. by url~ ",rina, de~1op an<.! support proIht .dilon of nt"Wspapers acron gram(l) INot I"wyers tin particitilt Wolf ha .... dK.iN u... lack of ladtrship in our II'M'mmenL Our patt in Ioc:ally 10 hrlp Alahlo"" ~ fOTWnd. W. ne nOI only Khools Ir~ in desperate Med of fundJ. T~nns an. ~;ng lhortentd, t.alkin,a aboul the r~commendll· Clio ........ M . ........ .Jr. oul-of·date tutbooks are being lion cI kgilbtion or lobbying our local repmmt.alivu to revise our shall'd by too IIW"Il' Jiudtnu. and taJ Itructur •• Theu Ir. oth.r tquipmtnt and f..cililies an. in disrepair. Our ilmor,ey "te is pushing 2$ percent and things lNot could be done which amount 10 nothing mon tNon community stlf·help. We 00 Ioo~r t3Jl com· climbing. Lawsuit.! are being filed btcaust ltate couru are underfunded an~ the pri5<)n ~y't.m·s security staff pletely rtly on government to do these things for ul. mUlt be reduced 10 a poinl Ihat remaining guuJI are Adoption progr~rm a~ an .!</Impl•. In $(Ime dtie •• law W(lrking in extrenw:ly dangerous conditions. Stale trOOl)firms Or a group of la~e>"l have "adopted" a dt~ or . >"1 ha~ insufficient guo];n. to guard and proUd our county school. ~ If.Orch out ustd equipment .till Str· ".;cable bul lying idl. in a waRhoust and make it :MIiIhighwliys. The li'l could go on md 011. At our Cnnok ConVOClltion during tht Annml Mutabl. to a t.acher ...·00 Medi it. Fad1iliu and grounds ing. a paMl hudotd by ronner ~mor AI~rt BKW!r can be upgraded thl'OUj[tl ""Iunt«r pTOgT/llns ...ithin tJw, and compowd of Th. University 01 Alaba"" System communi ly. But. mOre importantly. ~ must search out pooicll and ""'lIbb1. MJ-Iulions and llir thr public C~tllor Philip AUSlin, Auburn UnWo>"lity Prtsidmt to ;oct on thtm. If you wanl to ~ invotved. I urge you Willilm Must. and lietiremrnt Systems of AIIblma CEO 10 ..ct now. Call slale b.or headq~rttrs al 1-800·354lInd invulmenl "guru' David Bronner, ch"lIenged 6154 md ""Iunl«'. As a proftuion. "'" an no longt. ~ b~rs 10 ruumr their ludtrship role in tilt crisis lilmtions thaI now fa« our staU. They cittd rviignore the «onomic problfrm of our Ilatt. To do 5<) de~ lhat lho lOrry state of public: education in AIaba· would be a great disservice. not only to OUr profession ma il driving indust.y elsewhere. As technology but 10 the peopl. of thil Ilat. 10 whom our primary advancn. indultry requires an tduc.at.d workforc. and R'por1llibility is. • t I 'Ken! metting of lawyers

388 1Novrmbtr 1992

iudgu.

TIlE AL.ARAMA L\WYEIi

POLL Here is another ext remeiy unscientific. but thought-provoking poll from the editors of The Alabama iAuyer. Just like the one appearing in the September issue of the Lawyer, this one is painless, anonymous and even less time-consuming. Take a moment to complete the follow ing questionnaire and then fax it to the state bar headquarters, do fotargarel r.lurphy, at (205) 261-6310. The results arthis one will be published in tht January 1993 issue. (The results of the September poll follow this questionnaire.)

SELECTION / ELECTION OF JUDGES I. Trial -'lIppelLltt court judges in AlKt.ima should continue to be dKI«! under the prurnt forrn.1l\: I. _

1~T«

b. _

I dit.ajlr«

Z. If tlK\ion of. judgu is .wined, I fi\'Ol" lhe (0110\0; l1li tlfCtion pr0cn5 (t~k one); I, _

continut with lilt: )XIrtiSlln election of judgel

adopt"

proctdu~

3. In judicial racu. [ would li ...,.,r tht: following practict with rUl)tCl to cam~lgn coolributions: ~t.1Iining tilt present systtm which allows unlim ited cootributions lind vcpmditum

placing somt type 01 limitation on lhe cootribut ionlltxp"nd itu rn

c. _

plxing II limit or on lIbsoIutt prohibition on oontributions by ~n to judicial ~idIota

4. In filling vacandts in ajudicial poSition. I f• ...,.,r: •. _

~ppointmtnt

•. _

lIPP(Iintmmt by tht: GoYtmor from II list SUbmitted by lI1on1 commin~

.prointmtnt by i 10Ci1 commin~

by tht: G<Mmor

S. We mould follow the Itdtral system of appointingjUilges lor hft:

or thOI< who ftSpOnded: I. 70'N0 work OWr 50 hours ptr wuk I~ worIc less ttAn ~O hours MId 21110 btt_n 40-5(1

"".,

2. 5[ " take a full wuk o(vacation ~ry rur (I 6'" n~r do and 33,. do so infftquently) 3. 76" 'ftqumt!y work on _ktnds IMII IIM" do and 16li1o do 50 ImftqUmliy) ~. ~ " frtqutnt!y work

it night 1[4" ne.·.. do and 32% do SO infftquently)

54,. ha~:lftn an ir>Cft_ in tht:irworkloood in tht: palt fM )'ears I II " ha\'t stm II dtcru.K and ~ ha~ SttIl no change)

6. 5~ coosider the practice of law IoOmtt;mtS strwful 140" comid.. it ~ry tlrt~ful and 3'" consider it almost IIM'r uftwul) 7. ~ worIc with a firm offM membnsor less 138'" W(lrk as solt pnditiontrs. 8" work with l firm of six- IS. and IS" work with .. firm 0( oYer 15) 8. 57'" aft partrn:rs in a firm ( II ,. Ire ~iatu. 3'" are of counsel and ~ I1ad no lIruwt.)

9. 65" practice in II metropolitan lIre1 13'" work in a ruril aru. 29liIo work in i I rnall·I"",."

• nIEAI.ARtl~1A

In the Septembtr issue 0( the Lt1t&ger. the editon uked for your participation in a ~ry Info,.,...,! pOn. The nine questions PO$ed Wlrt aimtd at lI<>ininQ IoOmt insight into how hard do Alabama lnOmtyl roily work. ThirtY'OMin atlorm)'$. out of 9.982 membtrs. mpondtd to tht pOll. t ither by fning or mIOi!ing in their lIOSIO'trL Ilt~ a~ tht: mults.

for nonpartisan tlection

after the inltill tltction of Judgel, ;my subHqurnt election would be on the bulS ol their record l!ld not lPlNt on oppontnt.

FaclsIFax Poll: RESULTS

~,u •

and 3'16 had 'lOansWlr)

LAWYER

N<wtmbt. 1992 1389

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT JUSTICE FOR SALE?

IIII

he Wall 51_1 ./QumoJ recently

print~d a

slory =ming "The sundal 01' 'TcU$ jU!llicc'".", the possibility that the end was in sight.

~ article chronicled a court "t.1kt 0\Itr" attitude in tilt arty '80s which noted thlIt an KliYiSi in the effort was nported to ~ commtT1tfd althe time. ,,\\'e'w ~ dw!nat-d Ihe su~ court. We AnIOlly dtcidfd ~'II just IxIy the SO&. • It Is troubling to me to hur with Incrusing frequency the wmpWnu 01' both ~ oIlhr bmch and tilt bar tNt our elfctions for judicial office IU too COSIly. Some of the commmls indiat. \!'U( doubt that jll$tia an be RIVld wmn Ihe QII.

w:"

More medii outlell afford e~pel1!iVf: uenu for Mgative campaignini while the sitting judge Iw 00 way to defend false and misleading charges without respond· ing at ~uaJly ireat cosll. It is time for the bench Ind bar to b.ke muningful steps to limit the costs 0( Judiciil eltctions. This could include limitini ClImpalgn expenditures while holding the candidates responsible to illlUn OJIl1)Iianoe. lIS well lIS pI;w;ing ~ute limita on the I~ of iltorntY contri· butions. either by In individWllLa~r, thei r f.mily

membenorafinn.

didllu must nise obseene amounll 0( money. whilt most of it is coming from the lawyers who

mult prac t ice in t he court lo r which the judicial .1oelion ;,; being Iltld. I 1m old enough 10 remembu when a sitting judge rarely had ClPIlOSition. Wt did 001 ~ • Mis-IOUn plan, bul, in rulity. 1I judgt; mI on "hiJ" record. lnttlligmce. hard work and intqfrity _ ~I • judidal andidate wuId IU5I)nObIy offtT. Most citiunsofan uu knew if their judge "'IS p05Suud of theM: qu.lolitles. A andjdate woold

" .......... T. Ita _ _

ippear It " !>Otitic,1 gathering, h<lnd out. ClImpaign ClIrd with the county Ilcen!.e tag numt ...b on the rtVIll'Se side, or buy a cake It the spon· soTs cake sale. This wu the Hlent of the ClImpaign, In ill or rllOIt irut.vlCel, theR wu 001)' the one·party pri. ma" to win. This simple election proas$ wu rtlatiYel)' ironpmsiYe. Todq. with multi.puty primaria;and IlfneTll elec· tion to Iotlow. one can asily spend _ tIwI the cntirt AIuy of the judicW tum of otIia just to win the elec· tion. Somebody mUil ~ thew coHs. I am lObo troubled by the perceived nmI to rJiK an "incumberq war chHt" to san: off ~tion two )'Un before the cumntttnn opires, IS is pmfntly evidenced by invillltioN to a S5OO-per·pmOIl (ISh fry or binlsupper_with followup calls {rom the ClImpaign fundrai!.er.

390 1 NOWmber 1992

Nonparti.an elections would Rduce the «1St by reducing the "number" 0( "e lections" i andi· date mll5l. r.~n«. It hu b«n lugauttd to me iha.t "the bar make it unothical" for a lawyer to contribute mOre than 5100 in any ClIlendar year to any or ill judicii! electioo campaigns. If every lawyer cont ributed the Sloo maximum, ill judici.al candi· dates would be able to raise i total 0( $1,000,000. Indeed, the state bars T»k Foret on Judici.al ~Iec· tion. chaired by Bob Denniston of Mobile. is cumntly studying this ilMlt with the hopr of offering I pl.n that wil1 addrus this prob· .~

Justice ClInoot-and will notbe sel"Vf:d when thoM sworn to "do justice" must be bouiht and paid for. It is ir.d«d sad to !.et a judge be forctd to seek campaign contributions. and then do 50 wini an official Idterhud, Likewise, a pratticing Lawyer rould not be preuured to contribut. $2..500 to ajudicial candidate', campaign and thm try to convince most people tho contribution is free from dums and gi\Ien with 00 n;pedalion other than KIlling the CIlUSI' <J justict. We. in ~ haw wor.td too hard to achinoe I judicii! system for our cilium that is the envy of most jurUdictioN in the Unitfd SllItes. We u-. the public confiden« in III judicial systems rontinutS 10 falter. I 1m concerned when our own members begin to lost faith in the sysltm ;and npms I perceiwd bias, real or imagined. •

TIl E ALJ.BAMA lAWYER

RULE VII Rules Governing Admission to the Alabama State Bar Amended May 1, 1992 Admission 01 Nonresident Attorneys Pro Hac Vice EFFECTIVE October 1, 1992 -My aGorney Of ccunselol'·aHaw who is 001 ic:ensed in good standing to practice law in Alabama, bu1 who is currenfly a member in good standing 01 the bar 01 another stale. the District 01 Columbia, or other Un~ed States jurisdiction and who is of good moral character and who is lamilia< wijh the IIthics, pOncipjes , practices, aJstoms. and usages olllle legal profassion in the Slate at Alabama, may appear as c:ouns&I pro hac va in a particular case before any alUn Of administrative II\J&I"'CY in tho State 01 Alabama uporI COIT1)Iiance wiIt1lhis rule," PROCEDURES FOR COMPLIANCE

ThI. I. applicable to each appllunt lOt each case. 1. A~ieant associates with an anorney (local COUrlS(llj who is a member in good standing 01 11>8 Alabama State Bar and maintains his or her prlneipallaw office in this slate. The local counsel shall accept joint and several responsibility with the 1or191 attorney in aI manef!l arising "om !he particular cause. ~e any application is gramed. local counsel must appear as artomey of rICOI'd in !he particular cause or consent in writing to the assoeiatior1:

"In the 91'f1flt local counsel In a particular caS6 is sus-

peJ1ded 01 disbarred lrom the practice 01 law in the Siale of Alabama. the foreign anorney shall, before proc&edlng furthQr in the pending cause. associate new IoeaI counsel who is irI good standing 10 praclice law in the State of Alabama and file a verified notice thl<9of with the coon Of administrative aoency of this state before ..mom the foreign anorney is appearing.-

2. local counsel (or appIicanl) obIains hearing dale on tile appHcation lor admission Irom the coun or admin"trative body where the cause is to be heard. This step Is a MUSTI "The nolice of hearing shall be givef1 at least 21 days belore the lime designated lor tile Ilearing. unless the court Of agency has pHCribed a Ihortar pariod: 3. VIIrified application is pepated. APPLICATIONS WILL BE RETURNED IF ALL ITEMS ARE NOT COMPLETE. Social Security number of applicant and a CIII'tilicale of good standing trom the bar \Yhe(e applicant regu lafly practices have b&en add&d 10 the require· THE ALAIlAMA LAWYER

ments 01 the origInal appendix 10 the SUPfeme court ordIK of May 1, 1992. APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE OBTAINED FROM THE ALABAMA STATE BAR.

4. Applicant sends oripinalol compl&led verified appI!calion 10 the coun or agency with prool 01 sarvice by mail on the Alabama State Bar in ac:cordarIce with the Alabama Rules 01 eMl Proc:eduI'e. 5. Applicant sends copy 01 ~ed verified application and the $100 filing fee 10 the Alabama State Bar. lithe COUI'Vageocy granted a motion to $hO(ten the ~me lor hearing. a COpy of the motion shoold be anached.

6. The Alabama State Bar will send a STATEMENT to Ihe coun, coun~ 01 record (or upon any p.an~ not reportsanled by counsel) and the appIican1 within 21 dayl (or shOfter ~ granted by COUn) before the scheduled hear· ing date indica1Wlg: Number of limes In the preoedillilltWee (3) yors applicant or any anomey members 04 appIieant"s firm have previously made application lor admission. including: a. name of applicant b. dale 01 application c. ~lle of courtlagency d . cause e. whether granted or denied -NO APPLICATION SHALL BE GRANTED BEFOftE TH IS STATEMENT Of THE ALABAMA STATE BAR HAS BEEN f iLED WITH THE COURT OR AGENCY .~ 7. Courtr~ Issues an OfdIK granting or denying the application and 64nds order to local counsel. 8. Local coun~ sends copy of order to Alabama Slate Bar.

PLEASE NOTE: foreign attorneyS now appearing po hac vice in causes shall conlorm to these rules in pending prooee<fongs within thiI'ty (30) days following the efleetive date of October 1, 1992.

Arrt quesIions should be d;'eeted to Alice Jo Hendrix, PHV Admissions. Alabama State Bar. P.O. Box 671. Monlgomery, Alabama 36'01. Phone (205) 269,'515 or 1·800·392·5660 (In·state WATS) . Novo:mbtr 1992139]

LEGISLATIVE

WRAP-Up

By ROBERT L. McCURLEY. JR. UMlt" IMoWIIty- e ornpaonilo* A limited liibility company is ~ hybrid ~ntit~ that combines tilt bener.cial tax sl.lt \U 01 a plIrt .... l1hip with tilt limited liability iffordtd b)' C:OrpOrate structures.

I'or 1M paJl IW(I yu~. a committee of the lI.w Inltitute hal betn .eviewing this entity. Brad Skll1r of the firm of Sirott. Permutl hu been " rvinl[ U drafllman for this Act. In his .. port at \h( annual mHting of ~ AIab.uN Law Institute in July 1992. he compared 1I limited liabil ity comlW'Y (LlC) wilh subchapter S COfllOr'lIli(lllS and limited partnenhip$. He noted th"t although this mtity mrttd in I\')'omi"ll in 19n and In I'Iorida In 1982, in tho WI. COIJp~ oJ. ynl'$ this businw form tw become avaiW,1e in Cokmdo, Kvw.s, Utah, Vi,· gini .. , Nevada, Tellis. Maryland, West Vi rginia. Oklahoma. Iowa. Louisiana,

Minnesota, AriroNl, and Rhode Island. b. inging the loUl to 16 statu. Gwrgia and looWv. uch ~ statut.. rteOgnizing and .ffording prottction 1(1 fortign limited lIibili!, companies. Bills wtre introductd in four man sutts. with 16 additional statts curnnt/y studying limittd liability \lOIT1C*lia. This Inltf'tSt M)/wd in raponse to I 1988 ruling by the Intern&! RlMIlut Strviet wtli<:h m:ogniud the p.artntrs/tips status of a W)I1lming limited IiIbility

cornPM!)'. implying ~ if proporly org..niud. the u.c QII lit tmted lIS a part· ntrlhip "thtr thin a corporltion for fedtral income tax purpo$Ol'S. II!. a result. "doubl. taut/on" of the mtmbtrll of limited liability companits is avoided. This "'PI'ct of \,I-Cs hu bolsltrW their popu-

8". ln ••• Corpot". tlon Ac t larity. particularly whtn fedtral corponott Income til notts wtre ma.de high« than the mlllimum rat. appl iaoble to individlWl. Mttr lOpprolirmtdy two lOnd a half ytan 01 dnoru~ and study. thr: Imtitult is uptd.i~ to haw rudy for the 1993 RtgUlar Sosion 01 the I.tgim;ture a limited liability company bill for Alabama.. One ini of Intertst is tht question of

Members of the Limited Liability drafting committee were: Rk hlrd Cohn ..............8inningham

Loul. Brllwell ......................... .Mobilt

Boll l)elUlliton .....................Mobile

Jim BI')'CI ..•....•..•.•..•.•...... _..1'usaloosa

Ted Ja.;bon •••••••••••••• .Montgomery

R. ""'1 H",IIN ... _........ _...... Gadsden

Tbonw JlbnalMI ___ .Montgomcry

Jim B. C"",t .. _. __ .__ ._..Montgomtry

Ceorle ~ ..•.•.•.Birmingham

Mlrk MaIoMy _. __ .____ .__ ._.Dta.tur

Mich»l Redibr ...•.•.... BinningJwn Howard I'lalthll1 ......... Birmingham

Bruce E~ ............•.........•..... Tusal00sa

Robert "'·a1Iha1I... ...•..•. Binningham

Brad Sldar ....................... Birmingham

3921NOYtmber 1992

whUher limi ted liabili ty compiny st»utes Pl'nnit profusioNls to pno.ctict their proiwiom using this form. 11 apPI'l1"lI that most ltate. allow profusionals to conouct thtir professional practicn as an LLC similarly as they allow pnoctict in a professional corpora· lion. Ntithtr the LLC entity nor u.. PC entity aI"ftcl$ 0<\1:'1 profu.ioNl liability 10 tMir tiimL IkrwtWr. Iht u.c would anow for the indlvidu.l.l 10 tsao~ tM double IM:I of taution. The committee'S fona1 dnft should bt rudy for miN in Novnnbtr 1992. Arr,one wishing i copy miY obtiin it by writi", the ~rTIl ~ Instilutt. It is u~cled thit Bnd Skin will have I mor( ddliled uticle in In upcoming edition of this mag,uine.

Aflu lour years 0( study. the Business Corporation Committ ee. chaired by Ctorge Maynard of Maynud. Coo~r. frierson & Cile. is tl~cting to complett tlttir uvision 01 the Business Corpontion law btlore th( (nd 01 1992. Prokuor 1I.,....."rd Wilithill of Cumberw.t ~ School.,..,J Or. Richinll"hitpen oItM Uniwrsity 01 Alabama School 01 law lire completing tltt final draft.

""I•• of Evldenc. The committtt of the Imtitute and tm supremt toUrt I rt completing thtir dult of ~vidtnce Rules lor considention by the Alabama Suprtme Court. The committu. chaired by Pal Craves of Bnodley. AflI11 in Uunllville. has Profe.· _ Ch.trltl Camble u the ~tr. The lrutitute has undt~n u.. following new pn)jKts:

Artk le 8. uec ~ ln '1:lllMnl Staori_ The NotioNl model rtYiKd in 1977 wil pused in 48 statts but hllS ntvu bun presenled fo r rni(w in Alabama . In HiY 1992. tht Nati onill I)nofting Board 01 the Uniform Commercial Cock btQln I S«Ond m;sion of Articlt 8. The Institute hu formed a com· mlttee 10 review this 1992 revision. It is chaired by ~.Il. Peebles of Armbrecht. Ueo~

TI lE ALABAMA ~WYER

Juhon. while Profeuor Howard W~llhalili C"m/xr"'nd is Ihe reporter. Artie'" 1. ~eom .... rciaI ""pn'~ ;and Articlt 4. uee M&nk DtpooitJ &ltd eollectlon.~. u well u ~Jol nl Bank A(nunl. lIIe being reviewed by a rommiUtt cm.lmI by urry Vinson Ii Brldley. Annt. with Profeuor Cene Maf$h the UnlvtrJlly of Alabama School Ii ~ .5erving ;as proiusor. Admlnl.traU,·e Prou du... A< I_ Alabama's AdminiJlrllivt Procedures Act became tlfeelive o<tober I. 1982. Now thai It Is len )'tars old. I oommillH II reviewing this law for needed revi · sions. Th. com mittee il chaired by Alvin PreHwood of C~poulno. WampOld. Prestwood. &. Sansone. with Profcssor Tim Hoff Ii I'" Uniwl'$lty', School Ii law .5erving;as "'POrI.r. Criminal CoeM - The rommml.lory 10 the C.iminal Cod •. Tltl. llA of the Code of AIa6rama. is now ~lmleiy 15)'Un old. Retired J~ Jot CoI""itt. rumnliy a proI'wor III I'" Uni~rsity'J Sd>(lOl ol YW, il rtviting I'" commen· tal'}' in lighl of Jllltulory llmendments and case law .ince Ihe criminal code was enacted. This com"",ntal'}' i. ",h«l. \lltd to be Included In a revistd volume of Ihe Code 01AitJ/JumQ that will be put>lishtd In lhe l\'Irln, Ii 1993. Alabama R..",. of Civil I"roadu .. _ Champ Lyon, of Coni •. Ilelms ing. Lyons. Sims &. Luch tw undtrWIm II rtYitw ol Alabama Rules 0( Civil Proa· du .. which ...... adopttd 20 )'Urs ago. iii: is eom~ri", our rumnt civil rules wilh the rederal Rulel of Procedure. Any recommmdtd clwo~ will ~ p.... unted to the Civ il lIules Committ •• belor. prnentation to t he supreme

CORRECTION

uee

•

~".

for further information. rontact Bob McCurley, Alabama Lilw Institute. P.O. Box 1425, TusnlOQN, Alabama 35486 or calH2051 348·74 11. •

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• J<.

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...._-__.. ......... .... _<11 ...

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In the September 1992 issuu 01 The Alabama Lawyer, the title 01 Judge Ene Bruggink's legal article i'leo<rectly appeared a$ ~Commere"l Lnlgalion In 11M United Stales SI.Ipreme COurt~ instead 01 ~Commere"l Lnt· gallon In tIM Unlled States Claims COurt ". Llnlorttmatety, IW$IlIhoug/l S8YiIfaJ members of the editorial staff and state bar staff proofed the maga. l ine belor, n went to press. the error OCOJIf9d , Tht 9ditorial board apolo_ gizes to Judge Brugglnk for any Inc:onveni&nce or embarrassment this may have caused.

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ill illll iHonbbIe pria! As )OUI'UW)'M COOpeflIt~ l'Ibfishintl ~ WI! Ire the'IiUI llnk bt!'hUh our pooduas ard you. We will -..ort< with you 110 _ your ~!tir;ular tw:eek lind ~uirernenG ard s/qre C\lf tI-oughts on .....tIit /eSOU1'CeS will be of the 8Jeil~ value 110 \'OIl" pt;IctH:t. Togriler. WI! WIll find ~ilWe, eIIect~. and O)sHlving a~ to the ilf\olitgal research. Let us Jhow you the products that can he Ip JOUr Ala ~ ml pt;IC1ke ~ from ALR 10 Am lur 0< uses to US LEd. We'lI demonslr.ue how OUr ('QSHef'eJeOlClng system will ~ roo time and money. and we'll gi~ rou the faeu about our mort,

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NooemNr 1992 1393

BAR BRIEFS F,. nel s H . H • •• • Jr . , with Iht

Birmingham finn of Hare, Wynn. Newell & Newton, and Michael ,,"Ik• • , with the Birmingham firm of Richie & R~ik. tr, wert recently appOinted by Judge

Sam Pointer 10 serve as oo-liaison coun· sel to the Plaintiffs Stet-ring C<>mmitt ••

in connection with the silicone b' .all! implant multi-dWrict litigation ~ntly transferred by the Multi-District Litiga· tion Panel to the federal district court in Birmingham. Ails_II E. Hind., a partner in the

Columbus. Georgia firm of Page, Scrantom, Harr is 6< Chapman, recently was elected chair of the Taxation Section of the Stat. Bar of Georgia for 1992·93,

and will also

ma State Rar and of the AI~bama Law Foundation. He ha5 served as chair of the state bar's Dis· ciplinary Commi.· sion and vice·chai r of the state bar's Disciplinary Board. and served five terms on the Eucutive Committee of the state bar. H. also is a past member of Ih. Executive Committee of tht Mobile Bar Association. He is a 1962 graduate of the UniVl'rsi. Iy of Alabama School of Law. SlIm C. Point.., .I ••. chief judge of

a member of the

the Unitw States Dutrict Court for the

Board of Tru.te •• of the [n,titute (If Continuing Legal Education in Georgia.

Northern District of Alabama, was r.· elected to Iht American Judicature Sod · ety's Board of Directors at the Sociely's Annual Meeting August 8 in San Fran· ci5co. California. Pointer is a graduate of the UniVl'rsity of AIaOOma School of Law and N~ York UniVl'rsity Graduate School of Law. He is the curren t chai r of the Advilory Committ.., on Civil Rul.. of the Judicial Conference. He is a 1990 recipient of the Samuel Gates American College of Trial ~rs Award and a 19S8 recipi· ent of the francis Rawle American Law Institute·American Bar Association Award. Foomled in 1913, the American Judi· cature Society is a national organi~tion of concerned citi~ens working to imprwe the nation'l justice l)'Stem.

se~

ll$

Hind. was ldmitted to the Alabama State Bar in 1981.

Mer)' L,n Plk. , a member of Ihe Alabama State Bar ,ince 1982 and an employ« of the state bar from NO\Itm· ber 1981 unlil March 1988. recently became """"utiVI' di rector of the Ameri· can Me ntal Health Counselors Associa· tion in AleQndria, Virgini~. &fore join· ing AMHCA, .he worked wilh the ks<.><;i. alion of Tr ial Lawye rs of America in Washington. DC. She is a native of T~OOM and a graduale of the UniVl'r· sily of Alabama School of Law. .... K. "-orr!., .I•. , a partner in the Mobile firm of Johnstone, Adams, Bai. ley. Cordon &: Harris, r«<nll)' became a member of the Board of Covernors of the American Ra r ...... o<;ial ion. Harris will serve two years, representing the Fifth District. including South Carolina. Alabama. Mississippi and North Caroli. na. The 33--member board meets period· ically during the year to oversee man· agement and administration of the ABA. a 370,OOO·membe r organiution and among the largest voluntary profession. alassoo;; ialioru; in the world. Harris is a past prt$ident of the AIaba·

394 1 NOVI'mbtr ]992

The finn of a •• dl. y, ...... nl. RO M .. Whit. has established an endowed scholarship with the University of Alaba· ma Law Schoot Foundation. The Khol. arship will pl'iNide fi nancial OMi,tance to dese",ing students who may not oth· erwise be able 10 pursue a legal educa· tion. The first student ~ignattd 10 re""iVl' money from the Kholarship is Li", Joy Wathey of Milton. Florida. Wathey is a second·year student at the UniVl'rsity of

Alabama School of Law. She was the lop Arts and Scien"" ~udenl from the Uni· versity of Alabama entering law school in 1991. Bradley. Arant has omcu in Birmingham and lIunt!Vi lle. Alabam;!.. The fi rm also ~nnounces that two attorneys haVl' been electoo to selW ,i~· ytar terms with the Alabama Law Institute. Loo ... - -. D. Vi ......, .It. of Birmingham was elected to represent t he si ~th dis t rict. and P.t.lck " . a •• "....... of Huntsville was elected to represent the seventh dutrict. Law firm listings in _ • • I I.. d . I.· Kubb . 1I law directory can now be updated throughout the y<'ar by uling a newly established 800 telephone num· ""r: 1·800·MARTlNO(ALE). 1·800·627· 8463. The directory is available in print. on CO·ROM and online through the LEX IS/N EXI S se",ict •. Each annual edition will include all update changes. Ro •• Fo.m ....

m of the Bi rming· ham finn of Burr &: For man has bun appointed to Ihe Legal AdviIOI')I Com. mittee of the A1aba· ma Department 01 Industrial Relationa. He will guide and advise the director of the department on the rulu and regulations relating to the Ombud5rnan Program which was passed recently under the Alabama Workers' Compensation Refonn Act. Forman i, a graduate of Washington &: Lee Uniwrsity and the UniVl'rsity of Alabama School of Law. More than four Wffks after Hurricane Andrew. the area of south .'Iorida u still worKing on basic relief efforts for ITIO:it of the population. Many of the individu· als harmed are law firm employees. Some of these individuals (prima rily staff positions) did nol haVl' any insur· ance COVl'rage or the cOVl'1'age il i!\/lde· quate. THE AU\BAMA LAWYER

A diwtlr nlief effort has bten established to assist IlIw firm tmployttS wl10 suffertd IossH from the hurricane. ",. South Flo.id. Chapl •• 01 Ih. boocol.lion 01 Latal Admin/atra· I .... Nod prMousl)' forTm'd ~ IRS des· ignated stction 509(.HIJ or (21 organi· ution for purpoRt of a loc.l charity thty suppOrt. This vthielt allows contributions 10 bt tn.deduc:tible. If you an in a position to help a ftl· low law firm tmplO}'«, !.end)'OOr check in any amounl to: Soulh Florida ALA Charity Fund, Int. P,O,Bo~1121)31

Miami. Florida 33111·2001. A commitl~ 01 AU. law firm lIdmin· istnton will rtcti", applk.lions for assifbna.nd intcrwb 10 distribute.1I funds by l1w\ksgivina. You will reaM a ktlt. which advises you d tht reap;· m~

Any qutstions nprding this disaster nlid fund may be di rected to Bttsy Colhen i~.esidenl 01 tht Soulh florit\lo Chapler) it (305)8s.t·S900 or Carolyn Shafn (chair, florida Council of ALA) at

(407) 689·8180.

n IEAI ....BAMA LAWVER

RIDING THE CIRCUITS Dale Counl1 Bar I\uotlallon Pictured Illhot right In the offiurs lor 1992·93: p."iden\! ~ 11, Tfliwiclt, Ariton \'ce·pruldtnl :

David Robinson, Daleville Tnu urtr: Ken Sh«lI. Daleville Secrtta.,., Sun (;.I.mtr, Oz.a.rk Hanu"m,.!Mad/.toil Counl1 Bar l\uotiaUoo The following ....." momtly elected oIfl«1'11or 1992·93: Prtlldotal: Pitrick H. Craws. Jr .. HWltsvillt \ "I«.I",idftlland Prt$ldml-eiect: John ~~, lIuntsvilit SccrtUIy. Denise

rtrguson. Huntsville

Trtu urer: Eliubdh W. ~I, Huntsville Appointed Extallivt CGmmitt« Mtmben: Wamt S. Htllth. Huntsville Emtst Potter. Huntsville MilO Puckett. Huntsville

•

Nowmbt.I992 / 395

BUILDING ALABAMA's

COURTHOUSES SHELBY COUNTY COURTHOUSE BII SAMUEL A RUMORE, JR.

The following cOl1linuts 0 hislorll

of Alahama's cl)"n/y courlhousestheir origins 0,,11 sOme of Ihe people U'M conlribul"" /0 Iheir growth. Tho AI.6 .. ma L.UJII.~ plans 10 TUn one cOI.mI!l:' slary in each isslM of Ihe magolirJl!. If Vou have anll pholographs of early or present courl~, p/00l0! rorward them 10: Samuel A. Rumon:. Jr., Migiio>1;cQ & Ruml)re, 1230 Brown

Marx Tower, Birmingham. Alaboma

""" he first Shelby County sel· tiers we .. Kentuckians and

Tennesseans who

had

fought with Andrew Jack· son in Alabama during the Creek Indian

War. Aftu the Battle of Horseshot. Bend in 1814, Jackwll's loren wtnt home. but many returned later with tIlti' lami-

lin to settle in this beautiful and promising place. Shelby County was named f()T I.... c Shelby, a <UTWyO' who became a Revolutionuy War hero because of his IJqlloits as I.ad~r of a colonial ",giment at lIing's Mountain, North Carolina. He was born in Maryland, lived for a time in bOlh Virginia and Norlh Carolina. and Ih~n settl~d in K~ntud;y. He was th~ first governor of Kentucky, Sfrving from 1792 to 1796. He seMd as governor a second time from 1812 to 1816, and led Kenlucky troops in the \liar of 1812 al Ihe Baltle of the Thames . He died in K~ntucky in 1826. Counties in nine stat.s, plu. Ih. cily of Shelby. Norlh Carolina near King's Mountain. h.",. b«n named in his honor. Shelby County was establishtd by act of Ihe Alabama Territorial IAogislalure on February 7, 181S. This act also creal396 1 November 1992

Hwonc "",,1m _

.... 1WIMg of SMI!)v C«m.

I¥~

18S4 «>""houu. ",hid> UfJI«N. , ...11 _build..,

ell a Superior Court of Law and Equily with ""mi--annual se.. ions and" county court with quarterly sessions. each ses· sion to lUi no more than si~ days. Courts we«' to be held lemporarily at the home of William S. Wallac~. The finl county court was organized April 7. ISI8.

The first counlY seat .... as localed al ShelbY\'ille, appro~imalely 12 miles north"",t of Montevallo. Shelbyville no longer tJlists, but this first courthouse site is within the town limits of presenl· day Pelham. On January 4. IS20 the county paid Thomas Amis Rogen S53 for the erec· tion of a permanent courthouse build· ing at Shelbyllille. It was • chinked log cabin, reported to be 24 feet long, 20 feet wide. 8 reet high. with a clapboard roof and benches. Courts were held in Ihis little log courthou$e until 1826. In 1821. ""ven commi .. ion~ ......~re appOinted to select a permanent county ""at location. Apparently they failed in this mission because, in 1822. seven n..... comminionns were appointtd to undertake the sam. wk. Two communities vitd for the COWlty seat honor-Montevallo and Columbia. Montevallo had the support of cili~ens in the Cahabo Valley. Columbia, named in honor of ChristOpher Columbus. was supported by the «,sidents of Wilson· THE ALABAMA t.\WYER

villt, HiU'prrsvill~ ~nd. tM surrounding communitin. It ....u i clOH tlection , but d~ to il$ c~ntral lou,tion in tM county. CoIwMia won. A ftw yun lator. whtn Columbii applied for a pmt offict. city luden lurned that Alabama alrud~ hid a Columbia. with a post off,ce. located in H~nry County. now in present·day flouston County. on tht Chlln~hoochee Rivu. Theufort , when il$ po:!It offin wu tstlblishod in 1826. CoIumbY in Shdby CQunty was nlmed Columbiana. tht new nllme continuing tht tit 10 ChrislOpMr Columbus. A frame iChool building was ac~uired by the county for th. first counl'oolm in ColumbiaN. This littl e slructure wu nol inl.ndt<llor k:or'I!·ttnn lISt. but it serw:d u the county court building fo r 28 yurs, until

tho City of Columbilnl acquirod tht structUI"C for ill city luill. [t served in this capacity until 1976. The building I\liS bHn rffIO\Iat«l n. in nunt years. I\liS housed county mtlHUm. It was Nm«l to tM Nlltional Rtgister of flis· toric Plactund is now one at tM slate's

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Tilt,; AlABAMA LAWYER

u...

,SS<. The first prl'lTlillmt JlJUCture built 11111 coonhoust wu II twostory frame building uect«llt a COlt of 52,SOO. It had two larg. rooms and two smaller onu on tM ground I~I lOd I 1I.rg.r: coonroom on wtond. floor. In 1881. building _ npandtd. A grand jury room _ built in tM un n a ytJIibult in front. The Jlruv tuu took tM shlpr of i Crttk "on with inter$KIinagabkd and hipped roof sections. It was given a ntw .. terior of red brick. Th. architectural styl. of 1M rcflO'll~ted counhw$e Wil$ It.alimatt. This building I-I'rvtd as the Shelby County Counhoust from 1854 to 1908. In subHquent ~ars. it Will UHd U I booording houl-l' Ind a hotel. It again btWno: I public buildinj! in 1955 whtn

whttt they Illegally vottd ogail\. Anoth· 'r Tf1lOTI cllimed that a master m«hin· ic frum nearby too.Ti of SMlby was .mpl~ to rtmow tM bottom of a number of billol: bo:o:es so thIt votu for ~ltTi eould be eluinged Or rtmOl'.d. Aft.r the air deared, Columbianll WaS d.cla red the winne r Ind remained the counly sut. The citiullS of Caltra did root .i~ UP. though. In ]901. Shel. by County wu upr~nttd in tM state ItgisLaturt by I Mr. Owl in tM House of I!tpmtn· tJ,tivts lOd a Mr. Ol;~r in lilt Stnatt. Il<lth m.n ..·.r. from Caltra. It appears that a loul bill Wil$ I"'sscd by the IAgisla· ·ture thai yea r 10 iller the boundary lin.. of Ihe town of Cal.ra. Howo~r. 1M bill tluit the Gowmor actually lig!ltd into bow"'U ""'ially difrtrmt fr om tht bill pilltd on tho Iloof of Ltgisbtuu. Someorot somehow midt a subJtitu· t ion, and the bill which Iht Governor signod did nOl l lt e< the boundary lin .. of the town of Calera. bul. instead. trans· ferr~d the courthouJC from ColumbiliU to Cal.ra. II provided for issIw1tt of $30.000 in bonds by ttlt county for construction. n ;t furthtT made it I mis<kmunor lor 1Ifl]/ public off'oeilIto to I/O to Cllcra to prr· fonn duties of his offoct. What a turn of e~nlsl What I sur· pristl What a fraud! The two Shtlby leg· isluors w.r. condemned for th.i r stealth. and for failing to p,.rly rePOrt tht bill. Ntws~per editors cried tluit

...

oldest courthouse: buildings still stand· Tht singlt grntut chillengt to CoIumbi.1na·s poIition III Shelby County sat r.amt from ill ntighbor. Cakra. in 1894. Caltra had hffi1 seltl«l as early U 1815 by Joon R. ~mbel, one of Andrew htllson's soldi.rs. "C,lera" means "Ii~" in Sl"'nilh. and it K~uirtd this desigoution dUO! to lilt lime works Iocat· ed tMrt. A railroad tltended to Clltra as ta,ly as 1853, and 1M s",,"11 10000'n prospt,..,d. Caltra would btu brwme irropOftmt IS a stoP on tM railroid lint betwttn MontllOmCry n Binninghlm. and the highw,y bttwe. n thtst two ,iii.. pass<d through the tawn. Mean· while. <Allumbiana rtmaintd \WII off the beaten I"'lh. In 1894. an eltdion took plact to det.rmin. wh.th.r the courthous. would umain in Columbianll or be movtd to Caltl'l. Alltgatioru of voter m.ud $Unoonded the .Iection. Suppo.stdly. a rool mint (lptralOr who 1M<! in CoIumbiani cut«l 200 worktrs to vote in the tlection at Monttv.illio and tiltn tnnsported th. men to Columbiana

u...

mw.

tM legislation _ I "dur-cut, out-ard·

u...

OIIt Jltal". "~thout I vott at people. the courthouse _uld be rnowd to a town without a courthoul-l' building, and ttlt pt<»Ic at Shelby Counly WO\lld ha~ to )'noy a debt of $30.000. Calera wan led thai courthouse.

The

tOnll"Ol'llf5Y

Ixcamc mort

M~t~d

tach wtek. The Shelby County Otmo· Critic t:ucuti~ Committ •• plSHd a resolut ion cililing the romovil "an infringemtnt upon rights and libfr· lit, of the citium of Shtlby County." L.ttul pourtd into Montgomery rtqutsting tluit the law providing for the ttltll:)W.l at rounhouu be nulli. fi«l. TM Nonteval/o Sentinllf td itorial·

u...

NOI'tmbe r 1992 / 397

ized that the pwple of Calera could not justify this action. "v"n il they had be<n wronged in the prinr election by the people ()f Columbiana. Two wrong5 did not make a right. The contr<wersy was rnolved Quile dramalicall~. The Constilutional Con. venlion of 1901 was coincidentally m"eling during Ihe period of Ihe cnnlroversy and il .erolved Ihe mIIlter in the bodl' of the conslitution il adopted. Se<:lion 41 of the Alabama Constitution slill provides that Ihe cnunly seal nf Shelby County wm remain at Columbi·

",;hen the resulll; were in, Columbiana W()n again. Ironically. shortly afler Ihe el.ction viclOry. Shelby Cnunly leaders made plans for a new courthouse in Columbiana. They justified Iheir plans on Ih e basis that the new building would be funded b~ a bond issue ralher than new ia:<eS. The cornerstone fnr the new building WM laid in 1905 and the building w""' completed in 1908. This structure contains elements from several architectural styl~ It has a modified classic portiCO contain ing fnur

rompan~, was the ron nf E.C. Costnn. contractor lor the 1954 addition. The design enntract fDr the structure was a...arded to Al Oampier of Oampier and A>sociates. Architects and Planners. of Alabast er. The 20.000 · square-foot expansion was exp«ted to be rompleted by No,.. mber 1990. when the groundbreaking ceremnny took place May L 19S9. This project brought on nearly as much contrnversy as the cnurthouse rerooval fight. There were many delays and changes of plans. The project was stopped in order to test the strength of concrete in the existing building. There were weather delays. Judges ord . .. d W()rk to stop when the ooise interfered with lhe C(Hlduct of thei r business. The design was changed , There ...ere argu menll; O\'er and the rounly commissinn changed membership four times during tho project. Architect AI Dampier pointed out tn this author that the project also had U\I. eral inherent problems. The n .... structure was tn ....ap around port;oos of the existing building. The old courthouse and ill; annex had six. non·aligning Hoo .. which had tn be linked and then cnnnected tn the new structure. Alro. there was a need for new heating and cooling equipment for the entire building. and lhe structur. had tn be handicapped accessible as wen as brtKlght up to code standards. rinally. nver $40.000 was .pent to remme asbes!()$. The new add ition was not completed untillNcember 199L No fnrmal dedication has l'<'t taken place. No h'lal figures on the total coot have been released. but the published newspaper reports indicate that mOrt than $4.8 million waS borrowed by the rounty fnr the project. The design of the new building WM intended to blend with the style nf Ihe old. The original marble stnnewnrk earTH: from a quarry near Talladega. Th. stone this time was obtained lrom the Georgia Marble Company and installed by the Gamer Stone Company. The for· mer thocolate--colored dome and cupo· las " .... painted a new "eam·cnlored shade. The interior design provides nnn - publ ic hallways for the use of judges. lawyers , court personnel and prisoners. and there is room for tlCpansion. This cnurthouse should serve Shelby Cnunty well for many years. •

=15.

ana unless it is authorized to be rem<wed by a vote of the peopl • . Thus. Shelby County il the nnly cnunty in Alabama to have a constilutional sectinn mandating the location nf its cnunty seat. Extranrdinary grievances require e~traordinary rolu\ions! Th. Constitution was voted on in a statewide reftrernlum nn NO\-~mber II. 1901. It was ratified by a statewide majority exceeding 25.000 \/Ot .... Imnically. thnugh. Shelby Cnunly voted against ratificatinn by a majority of 1.706 vot .... The controversy lingered until rebruary I. 1904. when another election took place between Calera and Cnlumbiana as the rounty seat choice. This time. the election WaS decided on the merits. avoiding the chargu of fraud that had surrounded the first election. Calua argued il5 ronvenienct. being located nn a highway as well as a railroad . Columbiana boasle<i ill; central location. existing building. pure wat.r and. best of all. no new taxes to payoff a heaVy debt for a new cnurthouse and jail.

398 1 N",.. mber

Rnman order Cnrinthian rolumns. TM marble stone...ork could be das.sihed as Cnthic. An octagonal dc>me has Re'laissance Revival windnws. And the basic plan Df the original building could be considered Greek RevivaL The builder for this structure ...as B.C. Bynum Con struction Company. The last bonds for this building"~re paid off in 19~. Il-uring 1954 and 1955. a thr«-story annex was added to this courthouse. This bui lding cost $355.000 and the contractor was E.C. Coston. Martin Lide ... as tho archit.ct By the 19&)s an e~parnled facility "'as needed. Il-uring the interwning Y"a ... many dramatic changes had taken place in Shelby County. The northern part of the rounty had become the fast ... t growing area in the state of Alabama and the p(}pulation had mushroomed. Therefore. in 19S9 bids " .. re let lor the renovation and e'p.,"sion of the Shelby County Courthouse , Originally. a $3.5 millinn cDntract was awarded to Coston Con. struction Company. Inc. 01 Birmingham. Kenneth C. Coston. head of the

Delinquent Notice Licensing/Special Membership Dues 1992-93 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 . It you have nol 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 of law in Alabama is required to purchase the occupalionallicens&. 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路12路49, Code of Alabama, 1975, effective October 1, 1992.) Occupational licen se..... S230 (includes automatic 15 percent late penalty)

NOT IN ACTIVE PRIVATE PRACTICE:

An attorney not engaged in the active private practice al law in Alabama may pay the special membership lee to be a member in good standing. Judges, attorneys general, United Siaies attorneys, district attorneys, elc., who are exempt from licensing by virtue of a position held. qualify tor special membership. (Section 34-3-17 & 18. Code of Alabama, 1975. as amended) Special Membership Dues ..... $I00 (penalty not appl icable)

Direct any questions to : Alice Jo Hendrix, membership services director. al 1-800-354-6154 (in-slale WATS) or (205) 269-1 515 immediately l

Now~r

]9921 399

ENTERTAINM~NT LAW: Is There Such An Animal and Could There Be One In Alabama? by GAIL CRUMMIE WASHINCTON Ijl~ ~nd glamour. high-powered lunche. and car.ers made and broken! These are a few of the many connotati(m~ Ihat milY

com. to mind when one thinks 0( America', entertai""",,,! industry. Whether it bt music. motion picture. 1,1."';,;011 or 11l•• le •• Ia,,]'ers have b«n and will continue to be intricately involved in the "''frail evolution of the ."tutai"me"t industry. Serving in a ,'ariety of roles, frnm that of in·house counst! to outside ad"';w,", entertainment law;,'"

neve. go unnoticed since they are often Ihe industry's true 11lO\'er. and shakers. HCM'€\'tr. an often-asked question in the legal profession i5 eJ<actly what i, "entertainment law." In his article "Dtfining Entertainment Law: 4/3 The £,,/eriaimmmi c"d Sports wuyer (l9S6). Melvin Sjme~ky. a noted Ntw Yo.k- bas.d enter· lainment attorn.y .• cknowl.dg<s the notion within lh. legal profusion that entertain· ment law i5 incapable of being o;kfin~. Vet. h. and a colleague attempt to pro· 'ide a def,nition; Entertainment law. as practiced in the United States. is that bod)' of prindples go-oem· ing activities within the ent.rtainm~nt indU5try in this country. This indus-try has five branches.: movies. televi· sion. live theater. music and print publishing. Among these branches are common ;nues. such as the structUl"( of llO"-oer relationships within th< branch •• ; the impOrtanco of credit or billing; the methods of structuring compenl.a· lion and related issues: creat;w control and the interest'l at stake in ... king to obtain or l"(.trict meh control; the dill... n! method, by which rights and " .. tiw products may be trans· ferred: and representations. warrantie •. and indemnities relating to risks particularly charac· teristic of the entertainment world.

400 I November 1992

THE ALABAMA lAWYER

n ~dduninll Ihue inun, entertainment att orneys must dr,w upon general ITUS 01 the law such is contracts, businus o rganizat ions, rul f;$(.Ite, tort. COj))'Tiaht, trade~rIt, tHation, - ' labor uLations. ti<Jwtwr, what diltinguishu entertainment lawyers from other r'I1embers of the bolr is found In the tW(l advantagn they offer their clients - "a thorough knowledge of the intenW worltinp of the mterbinmtnt industry - ' an abundana ol.:ootxts In tilt business." SH Commmi. RtgUlotion 01 Allom/!/Is Under (A1ihmit1~ TIJI-

ent Agencies AC/: .... ToulQlogica/ Approach 10 Protecting Artisls. 80 Calif. t.. Rev. 471. 411' 0992). As Sinaosky notn, "in the world 01 entertain""'nt

law. business. not Law, domifllltU." Though AlaMma is not frequently thought of is having an entertainment indwtry, is more major entertainmenl artists reloate 10 the Southeut. il will not lit long bdore the inti"", of industry heav)"..,eiahts to the region will be felt fYtn in this wit. See Solto, /IfajoT Concrr1 Promol.". Mo<-O!S IQ

M=.

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Enlmum-

ment Atlmta IJwiness Chronicle. July 8. 1991. III IA. The outlook looks brillht whm one ~(ln$i<kl'$ the number of eontributions AlaMma hu al rudy made to the mtertainmmt industry with lhe likes of country music stars Hank Williams. Jr. ,md Alabama. and Eddie Ktndriclt. formerly of The Templolictu. and Liontl Ritchie. Mortovtr. A~ is full of buddina. undisc",,,rtd talent. If tilt IqjaI prokss.ion in thil wle hopa. to avoid furth.. uporUtion of what could be an interuting and worthwhile legal pradice. /I commitr'l1enl mwt lit ~ 10 usilt un<liscoYtrtd IIrtists duri!\ll the urly stag.:s of their areas. It is durilllil thtst urly staau that compttent legal adviee is 50 vital. for it is during the ini ·

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TIlE AU.BAMA LAWYER

tiltl Itlgts: when kt:y ,roN! o;ontrxtIW relationships 1ft Ionntd. Legal misW:es during those uri), }'urs h.ave pro...ed costly In Ilttr years for a number of noteworthy entertainers. Prime evidence of tile flld t~t tile state holds pOtenti~1 in 1M enterbin. ment lrea is the nurmer of indtpmdent record production comPllnies that haw liready 1mn launchtd in Alabama. Typi· any hulled by either recordi!\ll studio owner} 0<' individuab with cloM CI,lllnfI;. tion s with New Yo rk ·or L.A.·blud

Though Alabama is not frequently thought ofas having an entertainment industry, as more major entertainment artists relocate to the Southeast, it will not be long before the influx of industry heavyweights to the region will be felt even in this state. record comp'ln;es. thf sec companies I re scouring tht stlte for undiscoveud musk artists. Once found. l ptriod of tilM &meRIIy rangina from m months to.l )'eIIr is investtd in "devdopi"ll" their skills . fIlIr'I1ely choosing drfining a stage look. and recordlnQ a "demo' tapt that IfIlIl' include is little is three song,; to l whole album. An owrall survty of the potmtililor entertainment le8ll1 work in AI.ab.anu. within.all five branches of the entertain""nt industry ;" btyond the $COpe of this IIrtick. Chancu are gruter that a musi· ciltn will ~k the wvices of .... Abb.lrna atton'lfy before any otMr I}'pt of artist. This is tsptCially trut whm one consid· ers the loKI that the mwic business is no lonser centrali~td in New York or Los Angeles as Ire the other bWKhos of the mterbinmmt induslry. TherefOR. this article will brieny uplort the ..",iou, \tglI secMces that an lit oIftml \0 those ,",king aRtI'$ in the mU$i( business. ' AdvancinQ technology hI! made it

sonas.

pouiblt for a 16-)'eIIr-old in Anytown. U.S.A to product a collection of aonss that. if \)'pially worthwhile. could Coljr ture tile attention of I record company uecutive. Such initialive. II10ng with trut talent, is likely \0 lead to an ofkr of lin utlusivt "cording deal. Thut "dells" lire often memorialized in «>nIncts of up to .l 100 pages or more. It iI generally at this pOint that tile "undls · covered talent" will uek, lnd should ~k. the advice olm iltorney. However. before .addres.si!\ll the \Qrious contractu,I provisions that lIIe l)'pially encom· passed in i recording .:ootoo, counsel to II mwic artit! mwt .address i number of other ~ut$. Assuming the artist is a group eom· priwd 01 st'o1',il members. the initial wk is to ~ an ~ arT>OnII ils members. Btaome of conflict of interest rules in this slate. is well is In othe r jurisdictions. tllis inilill sltp mal' involve sevenllUomeys. A group lirtt· ment, is they we oIIm ailed, Nmtillly Ids forth the fonn of business the Qroup will USUmt in carryi!\ll out ils alfi!rs in the music indwtry.1')'pically, this will be either. I.... n·ou t corporation or as a partnership. Key iuuu to bt.addrewd in a poortnership or shareholder lirtt· ment art division of p<ofits. alloottion of duties. "",,",rship of the group fIlIme ;and leaving r'I1embtr provisions. A trade~rk search mwt be conducted to determine whether the IIIr'11e the group is usi!\ll 0<' Iw decidtd to me iI ICtUlll1y iViilabk. If 50. an lPpliation for ftdtrallradmllork protection should be filed to protect not only the lllme but lny logos the group mal' ha~ adopted. Obtaining thesec exclusive riQhts may prt)Yt i wile ~ in Later)'UfJ of their arttr.1be mm:handising poImtiai that lits in i group n.ame is demorutrattd by the phenomfnlll markding dollars al1\ilSl;td by the Qroup "New Kids on the

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Onee theK initial IfIlIUers ~ bun pn)pt:rIy iddrustd. the iU~ for the group an tum IIi, Or her attenlion 10 the reeording contract .....'hile it Is tNe that entertainment contractJ generally have clauses or provisions unlike any DlMr typo of ~ontract. they ~re not as insunnountlble .u they may Hem. A number of Irtatisu or draftilllil ..ides ire ~ilable to the Itll>l profession WCh is I:.'rtlerlainmentlnduslrg Conl rac/J by NOYt1TIber 1992 1 401

Ooniold C. r irbtr IMlolthtw IImd..lNrw York). The prjmt ireu of r>qI<.ltiilion in I uco.ding contri'l an IWlully Iht Itrms 01 tht ajlm'mtnt ind how It will be measured. ro~ahy pe"enlagu and c.aiculallons. alloc.atl()l1 of crealive conIrol bet ..... een the ncord com PlIny lnd Ihe groop. mtrc~ndlsing rights, Ind ownership of Ihe copyrights in the group·uongs. N. the loame time,. music group may be considerinQ sl Qning In uduslvt managemenl conlract !kfor. addr~ing tIN! terms In such I cootracl, tht altorOf)' should wtSS lhe reputalion of lhe proposed ~r (K managtmml comPlIIlY. Whilt tht arouJ> may be quilt rond 01. ~rtilin individual btauK he (K she i$ I family m."nber or pUSONI <lCquain· tanct. prudenl aUornt)'l often C<)u",el their ditnlS nOI 10 al low such alllch· mtnts to dicblt who should manage tht group. II Pfrsono.l managtr should ~vt HptrKnee in andlor knowltdgt 01 the business in addition to COOtlctl and a pli\fl. If thest q .....1itio irt presenl. lhe conlracl wilh Iho porsonal managu should addrus such a rUS as lum.

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01 ~r nptJI$tS.

Tht nUl conlracl ..... lamngtmenl 10 lac. I new music group is thaI ..... ilh a booking ajlency. Tht booking or talent agtnl will be charged with II>< lask of procuril1ll tmploymtnl for lhe group. He or ,h. may be i solo Optritor or In agtnt within a I"ge agtncy such is Willilm Morri. (Ntw York) or Triid MIllIS (Los Angeln). La rge agencies often ha,.. branch office. in other cilies l uch as Naslwillt or Allanta. With i booking ajltncy COfllrKI. Iht key nas 01 r>qI<.ltiiolion ire the I)"PI' 01 tngagfmtnts prod~ on behalf 01 tht grwp. ~nl commi$S~ and ITMWtr of urnings 10 Ihe group. Ai wilh Iht personal maoa~., Ilowtvtr. lilt booking agent should be reputable. hav¢ eithtr 'Irong COOl.1cts In or l<no"d.dge of the music business.. On~ i group i, mod)' 10 under live ptrfonnanct dolel, .. nu~r 01 people will hlve 10 be hired. weh If wcrdariH. roid managm. Sl.1gt ~nds. and wardrobe and rnak~up If$islants. As ..... ith tilt.

CARE AUDI TORS . I N C. _ _ __

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ado <U III o.s..n mat )'0\1" <i ",iaI ~ isOllM'llllSlnll";1h """ , '. shill be ~Ily l2nIIId If C25f ...~ no IM"iI. ~ ~ OUIItion is poor

• GRA11S aJNK:Al RD'RESENfA11VES TO YOUR 0fJlCE:

• HCAlBuIc FEE I. t275. YIN inaI" no_until ~ ~ III pillMlht.,;pl.fl.· '" b- his .....1"i!. No mnd tlpenJ. no bftKJI t>pn. and no C\1II'I W\WtI QII01!I. HCAlIl DIll llimplt mm wnb II .... 1I1\'t pt<JI'iQol litlptlon IIIPF"'I br "'"' 700 Ilnrd ~ .... u.s. ,'. 111" -..d our I"If'Wlion prudtfldy. for both plamJll" .!c ~

I STAT STAT AfllDAVTf SERVlCE AVAIlABLE I "..,. s.d c.,or. c-. z Cotp<noo c-. B"M, _ !M 002twaI0r. r-..tIcIa}l62l

402 f NO\'tI11be. 1992

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other key figures in lhe artist·s lif~ it is wise 10 hire such ItIII' JIJIlPOI1 pursuant 10 written employmtnt jjlm'menls. Mtumingl"" strvias of Ihtst individuals ire regulaled by a unioo. of ..... hich thert lOrt stv¢I"lI1 in tho ent.rtainment indus· Iry. IheM' emplo)mfnt jjll"«TTII'nls must Iddrw a number of bbor-...,blod Wuts.. Ai w;lh most ptople. If$uminlllht group incurs SOIM dtg.u of fioarocial success in UK busineu. matt.rs in II>< anas of LUalioo. consumer lransactions. rul utate. tslat. planning, domeslic relations. and lort ITt lur. 10 1011ow. Such malltrs. whllt somelimes rtquiril1ll knowledgo 01 enltrtilinmmt Wutl, a.e genel"lllly no TTI(lf"t ontrotl$ for i\fl tnlertainer thiUllor lIlY other individual. Trtading the enltflll;nmenllaw walers may be a new .. perltne. for many members of the lelli'll prorwioo in this stale. HOWf"VI'r. in addition to the pr""iously menlioned draftinQ trealises. a nUmMr oIlndUSlry iSSOCiiolioN 1ft ~1ab1t 10 IISisl. Th"", i$SOCiiotiOlll, such as 1M RewrdinQ IndUSl.ry Auociiotion of AmerIe.!. (New York) ind the llmerl(.lJl Society of Composers, AulhoTf and Publishers (Ntw York). offer a wealth 01 informa_ lion. From loampl. tonlrael, 10 ..,mi· nars. !hey (.lJl be VilWibIe "i\o!n buildil1ll In (nltflllinmenl law prxtiCle. LaW)'ll'rs in tl>< Atbnll iUId Nashville artas are ~aril1ll up 10 add,""" thr Itg;II ntedl f~cing Ihou mtmbers o/Ihe enlertainmenl induslry ,,·ho are choosing to re\oalte 10 lilt Soulhe.ul. Cl .... ly. they rmJiIli.., !hal theu is such i\fl ani· mailS "enle rtainmenl I.w." Similar (/bts by Alabarnio i!lOrroeys could mull in rewanli"ll m~ of thrir currenl

pIfad III - . . >"'" cal~.

Richard Wilson & Associates Reg istered Profess io nal Court Repo rters 17 Mildred $I ...... Montgome<y.Ala~

36104

264-6433 TIlE AlAWIA LAWYER

BREWER AND COLE: ALABAMA CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

Pl"Ofeuo. Cbart~ D. CoI~ Ch.rlQ 0 , Cole, Profesoo< 01 L:tw II the Cumbttland School or 1>w of s....runl Unlve .. i,y, p..,..,n,ly .=h..

CQfud'u,lon2l l>w, eMI Procedun::and !.q.1 Procno. He "" oavro "" tile f.CUIIY .. Cu"....,'l.nd lot o.tt ........ y jftl> :and Iw ~Y'C'<I..,....,..,I o..mandl .... 'ndoinI nnrdo. 1'tOfQI(W Cok II .... ~ ,"" s..u, or Alabama .. 0 1 _ Of the AL>b1l1U JL>(\khl eonfermct Crimln'"

J" "lce Survey. Oi...ao< of the ""rm.nent Study Com· mlo.1o<I "" AI:tb""""'Judlc1.1 51'S«"" .Ad ltlceC'l" lrr

So:<:..-ury 01 '''''JudldJl CommWlorl 01 Alabama. He lui ""ritleR DUmet'O<IO law 1W...w :attlcl<:l, """""S""J'h$ :and «>u" , , _ Prof....,.. Cole II.. I«IUtN """",.

Brewer and Cole: Alabama Constitutional Law 8y Albert P. Brewer and Charles D. Cole Quano:il)' 0nItt<d

Dacription

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NOYI'mbu 1992 / 403

NEGOTIATING AND LITIGATING r'- c-' L 0 0

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SELECTED

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ISSUES

By S. REVELLE GWYN and AlAN r. ROCERS INTRODUCTION from Charles Babbage', design of his analytical machine in 1840 through

Maurice Wilkes' first .lurod prosram <akubln, in 1949 \0 present-day per-

sonal computers. computer networking and customiud sof!wa,.." the compul..

industry's history has been short while its gt()l<.1h has been tremendous. Word process ing. technical dat. analysis,

spread-sheets, ;n~nto'l' control, pmduclion and sales reports, communications. invoices. and purchase ordersall contain inlormalion thai involves compu ters. whdher lap -top. mainframe Or something in bet"'Een. few lawyer! in aClive practice can esc.ape the impact of computer technology on their own practices and on thei r dient>' bus ;n...... Pailure of a comput· er sysum can damage a businus. With increased commercial reliance on com· puter systems has come growth in involvement of laW)", .. in negotiating and litigating cont racts for computer hardware Or software. The phrase "computer contracts" is broad - covering everything from a consu mer' s purchase 01 over· the· counter. canned soltware/hardware packages to large. commtrdal purchase. of complete computer hardware and software systems and licenses to access third party data bases - that th is sum· mal'}' cannot be all·inclusive. This arti· cle 1001<.1 al.\el""ted ;$Sues in the negoli. alion and litigation of agreements to 404 / NO\"'mber 1m

acqui .. computer technology with an emphaSis on acquiS ition 01 a computer system from hardware and software ven· dors'! More often than not, software ;5 the ;$.5ue. - and it is hue that lawyErs must alw be prepa..d to adapt e.isting legal principles or create new ones to k".,p pace with the changing technology and indust')' practice.. 2 GENERAL CONSIDEiATIONS

The parties' "(>nomic and business goods should determine the type of con· tract that binds them and, as a conse· quence. the law governing the interpre· tation 01 the agreement. Generally, computer cont racts fan within three areaS: the sal. Or lease 01 goods (e.g.. computer hardware). the allocation or ownership of in tellectual property rights (e.g., wftwar. ","nsing agre.ments or software development contracts). and the maintenance or service of hardware or wftware (t ,g .. programming updates, equ ipment servicingl. An agreement often includes several of these future.. ;." in other contract neSOtiations. the pa rties can .. press thei r commercial •• pectatiom and protect (to the e.tenL the law allows) against the failure of those eX]lectations b}' careful drafting. Parties who disregard this a.;om of con· tract practice may find that they must rely on a body of law th at they nevtr intended land which may be unsatisfy· ing) to interpret their agr«menl. Con· tram to acquire computtr hardware or

wftwan' are ofttn like other commercial agreements to purchase equipment lin the case of hardware and wme t}'pes Df wft"'are) or agreements to obtain the a5sistan~ or se",ias Df third partie:. (in the case of maintenance Or customiU\! wft"'are products). Not surprisingly.• computer contract m.y contain provisions .ddres.sing the goods or services covered by the agree· ment. comid..ation. express warranli.. andlor disclaimers of e.press or implied w.rranties. the term or period lor per· formance. limitations on remedies. a$.5ignment rights, chokes of law and/or forum, fort;(' mojeure. indemnification. liquidated and other damages. severabil· ity. the buyer's absolute requiremtnt to pay. and arbitration or other alternati\'e dl5pute rewlution procroures. From the vi""",,;nl of both negotiation and litiga· tion. documents such as requests for proposals. vendors' bids and proposals .nd vendors' standard contracti may form the ba.lis ofa wr;Uen agreement in a computer systtm transaction. tn these contrac ts. certain issues must be addressed by the attorney involved in the drafting or the anorne,. called upon in the e-,,,,nt of a dispute. The following discussion will focus on fiv~ of these areas: tho t ... tment of soflwa ..... a "good" under Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code (" UCC"): cho ices of law and forum: contractual lim itation of damages; availab le causes o( action; and alternative dispute rewlution. THt: AIABA.'"IA u\IVYt:R

SOnwAIlE AS A "GOOO" IWdw.o .. systnnl mtd the dermition of"flOO<h" under Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code nhe "lICC"). Similarly. mass-produced or mus·marketed sollware programs often ire treated as goods because of the W1.'J in which they a .. rT\I.rkdt<l and distributtd. H~r. whe .. portia negotiate for I Sptcial softwut design or lor specific hudwa .. and customiud softwue, their apecutioru lOfe Ins nsily identified. Is the bu~r bIIrgaining for a sp«ific ruult or is "" ueking an assurance that the product will .met a specific lertl or quality of pel'forlNn«? Is IOIl"Iethlng so in\.lnjlible. computer loftwln _ I set of mathemaUcal instructions - • "good" for purposes 0( Article 21 Should compute r contracts that include not only hl.nlwart, hut also customiud softwart.nd rtlated training and documtntation Krvkes. fall ...~thin unifonn rules such. 1m UCC? TheK qutstions Iu.." not lIten .ddruwd by the AlabarT\l. Suprtme Court. but courts in other states ha>I! held I .... t compoter soft.... al"l' is . "good" under Article 2 and that mixtd se",ice$lgoods contracts in the oomputer Kiting can lit considered owrall IS II tnrlSllction in t!oods for pur· posa; 01 the ucc.3

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Article 2 of the UCC appIlts to 'trans.ctions in goods. " The UCC drfinu goods iI5 "lall! thi. . (irv::luding spec~1y mwufactured goods) whic:h are movable at the time of identific,lIion to the contract." Software, if viNed strictly in 1M form of a disc Or u.pe , il • movuble thing within Article 2, bul lhe physiColI form 01 tht soft.,....... is not the function· inl pUt oi the product since "soft.,.-a.." Incorporates intangible, inteliectulli qualities thai oooid fIn out.!ide the SCQI)t 0( Article 2. The decil!ion in Adwnl f5¥$Ieml. Ud. U. lJnU,5 Corp.. 92S F.2d 670 (3d Cir. 1991 ) is illustrllive o f the trend in COUTU that face this "inlina;ibility" issue. MlYfnt Systems productd 5Qftwarr fO'f computers. UniJys. l computer mwufacturer. ilgretd with Advent to jointly market one Df Am"!!n!"s systems, bul 1M .. la· tiOnlhip ended .... ilh Ad~nt ·s suit for breac h of contrllct. fraud and oth .. ~ry. An issue .roM iI5 10 whether the rd.. tionship bttwten Advenl and Unisys was ono: for the .. Ie oi goods .ubject to the lenTIS oi the ltatute of frauds iii announced in the UCC. B«auK the aglumenl lacked an expreu provision on QUlonti ty. UniSYI inlilted that the statute of frauds b.vmed enforammt. Advent ugutd that the agreemenfs rtQui.. nwnt for servicel kept il out oi Artide 2, i.e., tht prtdomiNnt fntul"l' 01 the IlIretment .... iIi one inV'Olving "Kr. vicu " Ind not "goods. " Advent also arsued that the soft....are referred to in tht ~mmt;os • "product" __ not II "good." but intelledual PTOIItr\y within the lImbil of Article 2• The Third Circu il concluded th .. t "oomputer software Is • good within the Uniform Commudal Code." The Court held that the intelleclual property char· l1deristia of I compoter pl"Ofram <.10 not .ller the fact that. on« in the form 0( disc. tape or othn- mtdium. tht progmn is tlIngible. 1l1OMlIbIe and Mlilable in tht rNrl<elpLi«. The Court wenl on 10 note:

~- .. ~_ Bo!

The fact thai some programs rna}' be tailo red for Ipecific purpons need not .Itu their SUtus IS "goods" because the Code definition indudes "speci .. lly manufactured The tOpic has lIimullottd laden>-

Ie commentary with the majority espousing the view that software fits

within the dt/inilion oi I "good" in

'" ucc. Applying Ihe UCC to computer software transactions offers substantill bener.h to lillgantJ and the courU. The Code offers a uniform body 01 ~ on • wide rante 01 questions likely 10 arise in compu l .. loftw",e disputu: implied ranlies, COTIJfqUtfl!W darna8es. disclaimers of lillbility. tht Itltute of limitations. 10 namea few.

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The importanCe of software to the com.mrcill w<lrld and the advantages 10 ~ gained by lhe uniformity inhmnl in the UCC 1ft ilTOOIt poli" cy .. rlument, flV'Ol inl inclusion. The contrary argumtn\.llre not per· luasi~. and we hold that softwa .. is • "good" within the definition in the

C<>d<. 92S F.2d .. t 615-76.

As r>Oted in Adanl, KhoilTly arli·

des ufll<: tht inclusion 01 sott-....... ;os I good within the OCC. Both scholars and courts have wrestled wllh comparison! betwml the intangible qualities oi soft· ware .and the intangible characteristics 01 music t.apes. albums or discs. books, Iyrie sheets, .and tvttI automobiles {i.e., the transformation oi III inlMlgibie idea inlo physical forml.~ The di fficulty rtrT\l.in! in the f"lllut commercially· used soft ....are i. ollen cruttd or cus· tomlud for the customer. meaning t.... t the ph)'1ical form of the soft....are CoIn mask III eom--<.hanging, inlln&iblt quali. ty of lhe "'product." and that software as IOId, !used O'f licensed 1lIIY be difficult 10 define and quantify. Although Ihe UCC WII not at issue . the AI.barTli Supreme Court addressed the question 01 whether tomJlllter soft" ...,.re il "tangible penonal property" for porpOi$eS 01 tht Al;oIwnl t.u in Slate II. CAnlral Compuln- Sms.. 349 So.. 2d 1160 (All. 19n). In. s.3 opin;on. with one recusal, th~ court noted only "an Incidental physical commingling of the inlan!lible information ... and the tangible lnIIl"elic tapes lind JIlInchtd cards themseMS: .and held that "the wmce oIlhis transaction was lhe purchase of nonIuIbIe in\anllible infonnation." The court concluded thai 'computer 10ft· .... are does not constitute u.ngible per· soflil property for purposes of IIhe use

Nowmber 1992 / 405

ta~l:

Between July 25 and September 25,1992 the following attorneys, firms and contributors made pledges to the Alabama Slate Bar Building Fund, Their names win be included on a wall in the portion of the building listing all contributors, Their pledges are acknowledged with grateful appreciation. For a list of those making pledges prior to July 25. please see pre\lious issues of The Alabama Lawyer. ALTON R. BROWN. JR. SCOTI EDWARD LUDWIG FRED WHIT E TISON A1ABA~lA

COUNCIL OF SCHOOL BOARD ATIORNEYS

406 ' NQ'II'ember 1992

/d. at 1162·1I63. The Alabama IHparlment of Rewnue has adopted a regulalion Ihat recogn i ~es the Central Comrwter Seroicl'$ holding md impOSeS sale:; andlor LI>t tax on IhI: "cost of tapes. card.!. disks and any OIMr tangible per· sonal property u~d in providing soft. Ware to 1M customer." AI •. ikpt. of Rev. R.g. 8H).o.I-.37(3). Related ;s.sues include tM often-pres· ent ~rvice characteristic of compuler contracts, such 11,\ that pr.Si'ntM in the Advent case. and the prevalence of lease or license transactions as opposed to sales. Services can indude the creation Or customi.ation of software programs, installation and de·bugging, emplOl'ee training, and authoring "documentation" (i.~" training or OP"ration) manual •• nd ch.rts. 1>0 the~ elemenu of a computer project mean the contract is really one for Si'rvices 11,\ op])O'td to the sale of goo;b? The hardlo.·ar .... ndor Trn)I be inVQI ... d in the sal. of goo;b, and yet the software vendor may be providing a design and installation Si'rvice 11,\ much as a "good" for sale. Shou ld the UCC apply to only a portion of the transac· tion? With an apparenl eye toward uniformity and percei ... d eaSi' of application. courts and scholars t}"ically LI>t a "predomin~nt purpo.se" lesllo classify the transaction as one for the salt of goods. Th~ Adt'tnt dtcision is a good example: in .n agreement that included services such 11,\ tM dewlOpment of field publi· cations. diagnostic and lesl procedUres. installation manuals and consultation, the Court ne ... rtheless found that the contract's main pul"J'OSl' w•• ta trarnfer "producl5" (which the Courl equated with "goods"] and held that Article 2 applied to the whole Iransaction. The Court noted that the predominance lut h1l,\ been criticized, but chose to follow it as opposed to making the cont ract divi.ible. The Court also noted that the services in this case were not substantially different from those generally accompanying package sales of computer system. consisting of hardw.re and software. s I'or an interesting comparison with Alabama precedent. consider Skelton v. Druid City Hospital Boord, 459 So. 2d 818 (Ala. ]934) in which the Alabama Supreme Court W1l,\ faced with an argu· ment that ... ntral hernia repair surgery

in which a suturing needle broke and injured the plaintiff W3$ a "Iransaction in goods" within Article 2 of the UCC. Recognizing lhat lhere W3$ no "sale" of the needle to the plaintiff, ar.d agreeing thai the transaction was "rnare akin to a lea.e or rental of equipment than a sale: the court concluded that Article 2 applied. because the use of the term "transactions" ;s broader than the term "sales." No for the fact that the needle W3$ only a small part of the servict of surgery being rendered, the court cited .. venl cas.. in which services/goods transactions were held subject to the UCC and summarily concluded that "Druid City [was l a ·,elle r· of good. with in Ithe UCCI." For a number of reasons. including high equipment cosls, technological change (and resulling har""·.r. andlor software ob.solescence) and the inMrent natu re of the subject the computer induslry often relies on hybrid arrangements in which title to the property cwertd by a contract does not paM to the buyer. Whether these transaction. are known a. lea.es (frequently used for hardware) or licenses (frequently used for software). neithtr technically meets tM requiremenl of Section 2-106liJ lhat tille pass as part of a sale transaction. Courts have split on the issue. with some applying Article 2 to lease arrangements

(see, e,g. /Jnilm Slatts ~felding v. Bur. roughs Cmp.. 587 F. Supp. 49 (D. Colo. 1934); SUpply Co. II. 8a.$idFour Corp .. 538 1'. Supp. 776 (E. D. Wise. 1982)) and olhers declining to uke that .pproach (see, e.g.. W. R. 11-"".....,. Co. v. Burroughs Corp .. 580 S.W.2d 76 (Tu . Civ. App. 1979): In rt' CommUtlity Medicol CRnter. 623 F.2d 864 (3d Cir. 1980)).

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With tM adoption by some states of UCC Article 2A. focusing 00 lea.ltli, the is.o;ues posed by Section 2.I06(illrequi ring the passing of title for a sale to occur) may become less im portant. 6 Article 2A applies to the transfer of a right to the posses.sion or LI>t of "goods" and estab· li.he. criteria for what constitutes a "Ie ... e." It is not clear what impact. if any. the adoption of Ihis artide may haw: on agreements in which software is licensed. as opposed to lea~d or sold, Although Alabama has not yet adopted Article 2A. il is expected thai our Ltgislatull' soon will .nact its prO\'isioru;.7 The limittd ulility of trade secret law

THE A~BAMA

~WYER

~nd the ease with which soltware can bot copied have lead to reliance on patent and copyright law5 to protect soltware. Se", e.g.. Computer A>soc. 'n/ 'I, Inc_ v. Altai, Inc .. 61 U.S.L ,W. 2003. 23 u.S.r.O.2d 1241 (2d eir .. June 22. 1992): Whelan Assoc_ Inc. v. Jaslow /)<mtal Lab .. Inc.. 797 F.2d 1222 (3d eir. 1986). In the context of acquiring soft· ware. bu~ers and sellers should ,"cagni.e that neither the uce nor the com· mon law .. Iating to .ervice contract, protec!5 the economic value that the creator of softw~re may have under fed· • ral copyright and patent laws_ These separate slatutes may gOVl'rn righu that the parties relain (in the case oflhe sell. er) Or recei,-e (in the case of the bu)'..) to reproduce. distribute. mod ify. adapt. further license. or trarufer the software or combine it with other software progral115.8 The question of wheth .. Or not software is a "good" i, distinct from the question of how the software creator protects the intellectual value of Ih. program. Whelher Or nol Ihe software performs on the buyer's exi5ling hard· ware or new hardware provided by someone else is a Question of perfor. mance and Ihe parti .s· expectations of the quality and quantity of such performance. nol a Question of ownership or control of the intellectual property rights. It is also important to di,tin· guish bet".. en questions of the performance of goods (Le .. a disc or tape) and the information or dala thaI. disc or tape contains. fn the latIn case , the content (i ,e .. the data Or information) of Ihe disc or lape may be of paramount imPOrtanct 10 Ih. bUY"r, and applying Mticle 2 or product liability standard. of liability may bI' inappropri~te.9 Courts generally will inlerpret hard· ware cont racts against Article 2 of the uce and its full array of commtrciallyacceptt<! warranties. remtdies and other provisions. In Iht case of cu5lomited software. reliance on Article 2 may b. I.ss certain. and tht body of c"-'" 1lw (or common law) Ihat has evolved around s..vic~ con t racts may b. determin •• tive.10 To the extenl that such cus· tomized software agreements also may ~ddress the ownership of softwa ... design or hardwa ... de.o;;gn f.~ture.o;. the federal law, relating to copyrights and patents and the common law relating to trade .. c ...1s may bI' ... Ievan\.

TH£ AIAIiAMA lAWYER

CHOICE OF tAW! CHOICE O F FO RUM

Alabama law allows for the parti.s to choose the law of another stale to gov. em their ri ghts under a contr~ct, th ...by allowing choice of law provisions. AI~. Code ~ 7·].105(1) (1975). One must b. mindfu l. howe",r. th~t choice of forum clauses will not b. honored by Alabama cou rts. Keel~on v. Centrol Btmlr of the Sou/h. 544 So. 2d 153 (ALl. 1939). although federal courts in Alaba· ma will honor both choice of law and choice of forum dauses. Se". e.g .. Slewart u. Dean Mich(1('/s Corp.• 7161'. Supp . 1400 (N. D. Ala. 1989), for tort cLli"'" such as fraud. Alabama law follows the lex lOCi delicti rule. An Alabama court will detennine the subs\anlive rights of an injured party according to the law of the stale where the injury occurred. Norris v. Taylor, 4&0 So. 2d 151 (Ala. 19841. Where an injul)' occurs in a jurisdiction other than where the wrongful act or omission took place, the law of the jurisdiction whe .. the injul)' was su,tained controls. Se" Norris, id. In contract .ction., Alabama follows tht lex loci controctus rule. which to resol\-e substantiw contract iMues by the law of the place where the contract is made. unltss the contracl is executed with a choice of law provision or view toward its performance in • diff... nt state. Se". ~,g.. Ex parl~ Ou-.m. 437 So. 2d 476 (Ala , 1983): Camble, Alabama L<1w of Damages § 1-6 at p.6. The practi. tioner should be mindful. lJo.....ver. that the rule of lex fori 1'03)' operate to con· trol tht remedy for the enforcement of a contract. $«<, e.g .. Flemi'lg v. Pan Americon Fire & Casual/y Co .. 495 1'.2d 53S (5th eir. 1974): Ex parte Ou-.m, 437 So. 2d 476 (Ala. 1983) ,

""rk$

CONTRACTUAL UMITAnON O f DAMAGES

BuY"" who apprOllch the acquisition of computer systel115 with a clear uoo ..· ,tanding of what they want and the Itvtl at which the •• Iler should perfonn en· hana their chances of r.aching an acceptable contract. Stllers who understand the consequences of allowing the contract to be charact.rized M one for goods Or .. rvice. or ewn om in which Iht goods and J.ervice elements are comingled can more rulistically define

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their performalKe npectatioru. Courl.\ gi..e commercial conlracU (lfId the parties' inlentions that thos<t )QrH_ ments embody) substantial deference. particularly those involving 5OPhIilia.t· .d busimSsts. ll For ulmple, AII~nu law ~rmits contrlct .... 1 uclusions of ~ ... ntial and s.pecial damagu. 5«, e.g., Kllnn.a!! Eleclr;c Co. ~. ,",oor•. HomJlq. Inc.. 431 So. 2d 76. 81 lA]l. 1983). Limitlltion d liability p~slons llso ~Il' roullmly tnforced by COUTU in data procusmg-rellttd contlClI. 5«, Il.g.. Farris £ngUwring Corp.... .sm.... BuIWU Corp.. 276 f. Sut!P. 643 (D.NJ. 11167). affirmed ~06 F.2d 519 Od eir. 19691. It his bun artued u.,t .nythi~ bt)'OOII the ~nll paid or uchanl/fd undtr the contract irt consequentiAl danuges.. In Libmv FirKmdaI Managemml Corp. v. fJerld"/CiQ/ /)Qla Procts.sing CO'1/ .. 670 S.W.2d 40 (Mo. CI. App. ]98-1). the court noted as follolo."5 in the contm 011 data processing conlnct Relativlly minor errors Ib}o the data processorl al any stase in the process could h,~e m~or conse· Qutncu ... IPlaintiff] could and did

og~

to the txoneration clause and Iplaintiff) cannot now be hurd to uy lhal its , grumen! "'.. >gairu;! public poiit)'. Id. al48. Th<! court in UberIJl Firllmciol "."nl on to discuss tlwc \I;Ilut 0/ 1M ptrlorrnanc. 01 the ronll'Kt .. I tofTe,! musure 0( dlrNg~s ... oppoKd 10 con~UI'ntial daJmgu. 1M

court's lPProach i ... in-

foretd by UCC t 2_1 15 and I 2-i19. whICh rtf•• to c_qutnl;,' damagtS. wlt,l. f 719(3) .11ows the limiL>tion or uellls,on of conuqutntial dam.,.." Section 719'111 also ptnnits limitations on the rtmedies sougIIt - for uunpl., limiting tht bu~r'1 rt ...... diQ to .. pair .md rtpba:ment. Although the distinction bet\o'ttn lim;. !.Ilion 01 liability prOYisions;and nrulpotOl)' CboUKS ITIi)' not be cw. 1M basic rult in AII~ma il that exculpatory clauUll afftctinQ the public interest art irw~lid. The Alabama Supreme Dlurt his idlntified si. cri teria that must be "",t in orde r for an uculpatory clause to he declared invalid as conlrary to public policy: the clause must concern or invo l..e:

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~ busine" 01, typt gene rally thouShl suitable for public regulation: I party steking Vlcul~tion u.,t is engaged in porrlorrning a service 0(

gll'lt importance to lhe public: such, p.o.rty that holds itself out as willi~ to perfonn Ihis servico lor any member 01 [he publk who $Hks

it; sIKh i party tmt

i~,

pOI"• • <I

decl·

advan ta,. of blT,,;n,"",

.tmlglh:

such <I party Ih,t conf.O<1!1 tho public with <I iWIf.bordiud rontrKt of Idhuion or tlculplllOn which don not allow purclwtr 10 pay an ~itionlll fee \0 obtain prol«tion against ntgligeoct: and

as i .nult of the t~ion. the ptrson Of ~rty d U>f purdwtr ;s pl~ced undtr the cont rol of the Hiler and thueby is subject to the risk of caroleuntu by the Hiler or its agent. Morgan v. Soul" ~llrollk/l Tel. Co..

466 So. 2d 107 (liability to of telephone com(Ala. pany19&5) was limited amount of chugu for its )dvt rl ising ""here the plaintiff claimtd thai its li!l ' ing in lhe: Y.I\ow Pages had bun mgli· I/I'ntly omittedl. The crittri) set forth In the ,",orgqrI UH limit tht sco~ of the traditiorul rule in Alabanu mllOUlKed by the Alaba· ma Supreme Dlurt in 1978: Our conclusion is I»std on the genrrool rolf in this stale lhal ) party IN)' not wntract the tonM'. qutnus or his own IltIIlil/l'lKf: ... Stilted diUer.ntly. as bttween the wntractina parties. the IIfO"isions or the cont rKt whkh ""Ould ••• mpt on. of the parti" from the C(N\stquencell 01 ill own negligelKf: is void as ag&ilUt the publk policy lor the rusons thai such a ]lI'O'o'is.ion would fosler neglil/l'llCt in the ~fformlrIu of a wntf3Ctlond not IIttt r it.

.,nst

Alabama Creal Soulhem R.R. CO. I'. Sumler Pfvwood, 359 So. U 1140. ]145 (Ali. ]978). Limitation of li ability considerllions are olien directed at the stller's obl igations. A bU}'t. di$$a.tisfi.d with its com· TI(~:

AI.ABAMA lAWYER

1991-92 BAR DIRECTORIES Extra Copies $15.00 Each Send check or money order to:

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the form below OSLY if lh«e ire MIl' chanl!eS to )'OUr listl'" in ttw: nlrrtnl AJa/>tJmQ &r Di~org.

Out to chinges in the statute

~ming

elKtion of NT commiu ioners, ....,. now art ft<luired to U$t membtn' office

addreues. Unltlo5 none is av~nlblt or ~ rtWmbtr is proh ibited from receiving nile bar mail at the office. Additionally. tho AJa/xmIa &r DirnctOTJl is compiled from our mailing list ;mil it is important \0 \IH businQS olddmsu for that ruson. NOTE: If ~ do not know ol j chan~ in iaIkIrtU, "'" r.annot nWcf tht ntcnY.ry cJwlles on our rKords. SO piUS!: notify us....mn )'OU r addrtss changH.

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Stat~

____ 2IPCode

COlInty _________________

IL _______________________________________________ THE AUI.BAMA (..\WYF:R

Nowmb.. 1992 1 409

puter system may cliim subst~ntial impact on ill ~inm, It) that the ""IUt of the computer system - from the buy(r's standpoint - becomes more than the "",too..,1 m'IOUnI paid to the seller. l.imillltlOll of liability mel ex.culp;o.· tory cbuses thorelore Ire ill important mnns of ruching urly 19rttmenl belwftn ~r ~ seller as to tho l.gal effect of performance problems.. CAUSES OF ACTION E~n though the UCC m.y apply to tile sale, lease 0. license of software. the provision of lICe 11·203 (u a($opted in Al.1lwno.). whkh provide. thlot III con· ITKU Cifl')l with thom m obligation of IIOOd fallh. does not crute, .ubstanlM co"",,, ol.ction in tort ,nd does not support I cllim in contr.tt. In Alab.olnlO, uee • 1-203 il directive rather thin rtmnlial. CoI>tm.mn1 SI. Lurnlwr Co. ", AmSoulh &mk N.A. 553 So. 2d 68, \.All. 1989). ~1t\II rourts ~ fOIl· tinely limited the "b.od bith" cause of ilCtion to the insurance cantU!., so that b~ilCh of a computer contract does not gi\lt rise to an action for bad faith. Lolce

419.1 (July 19921. [n InIOny computer contract disputes. obomt ptl'WlY[ injury or property dIom. age, product li~ility thwrits ~Jso win ~il. The AlWnv ElItended ManubcturU ' I llibility tkKtrine does not ~pply to product defects that result in dIomage to th( product u opposed to injury or damage to ptrsons or other things.~. UOlid Wood Coal Co. ". Clark Equip. Co.• 543 So. 2d 671 ~AI~ . 1989): Well· crah Mudm II. Za=ur, 511 So. Zd 414 ~AI •. 1990), BeC<lUn product liability theories art intended 10' other contexts, the (ontrictu,1 or warranty theorin, such aJ warnntin of mtTch.ntability (UCe I 2·31 4) ~ fitneu/or j particu. liT PUI'P(lM (lICe f 2·315j, may be con· sideml by somr IS I11IIU ~ropriate for tho computer conlrKt setting. One tort tMory OW does I,u" in this selling is f..ud Ind misreprtsenilltion. oftentimes cenlering on the initial negotiations. The Aliblma fraud sllltuttS foond at AJabom<> Code t 6-5100, II $efJ.. 11975) setm to havt had a ~ivil In ucent ~us •• nd SOmt hlow viewed tht debate ~r the "justifiable

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Extra Copies $15.00 Each Send chfi:k or money order to

Alabama State Bar Directory P.O. Box 4156 Montgomery, Alabama 36101 410 /Novtmbtr 1992

distinctions bet'.o.'fen fraud in l commer· cial Htting u compared to individual consumer tnnsactions. When fraud Illegat ions Ire mind wi th breath of conlract theories. Ilown'fr. the practi· tioner should also consider the r«enl decision in Libmll Nal1 hu. Co. IJ. Jack· SOlI. 1992 ",tslla", 192755 (All. July 1992) in which tile Court IIddresKd the in terplay betwttn th~le theo ri~. of

,«O\ItI')l. PRACTlCAlCONSIOUATlONS IN NEGOTIATION The KIJI)t or sin of the contract 0. project can determine the degree 10 whid! eithor tho ~r or seller is con· ~med about cl'lftingm I;[Ifftmrnl that ren«u their true obj«tivoes. Off-the· .Jhrlf purd>ases of prt·~\Q#d soitWllrt Or individull hlo rdw"e or in tegnted hardwlTe syllems mly be subject to Article 2 ol tho lICe, The ~r is purchaJing in item (or good) Ihit metts ttrtlin ptrlormlnce crittrll: the Kll~r may not be responsible fo r tr~i ning emplfJyHs, pro..iding up·grad .. or se. · vking or auurins compatibility with

softwa~.

u is!ing equipmtnt this context, il is usy fororI "battle of In fo"",," to occur. II the parties do not read tile fine prinl lnd undersund whal hlos b«n ... id or wrillen I i ~ditional terms or counteroffers. tlCh is likely to find that some crueiil part of ill form is not in lhe final ;tiTffllltlll In bI'ltr projtcts. a buytr may ~I· \lII ils own loptCificotions or ""'" l con· sullllnt to prfpan I request lor IIfOI'O'I.l or adopt ptrlormance criteria to assurt Ihat ils commercial needs art met by the se ll er m d the proposed exptnditurt Justified. Th e grtater the expertise dtmonwaled by the bu~r (or its con· sullllnt). tile leu (iktly tht selle' ...ill be to &C«pt resJlOll$ibility for th< KI«tion of equipment or the softwart design fea· lUrfl. Simillrly, sellen may be rtluct.mt to lUume thall ~r will ~ if! ;Ide. quately tnined work lo rce or Ihit a buytr'. intemil procedu..,. (which mlIy be cruciillo the wc«u of the equipment or program opel'lt ion) wi\( be implemrnttd or obse~. These issues m~y be magnified ...·hen hudwlre il being pur(\'lUtd from "Se(ler A" and softwart is being purd\lsed from "Seller B." The buyer Il\ly txpect tach sell~r to provide a ddecI·frtt product that can be

fully inttllJOlttd with tm other. u wen U I solution to iu busintss problem. !:Ieh Stllo., ~" may be c;onumtd only in meeting iu limited obligation to provide hardware Or softwa re and may not be willin8 to usumt nsponsibllity lor the conStqUt!lCU of tm mti~ opu· idion of tht compute' $}'SI:em, In addition to <kKribing tm .... bjtct of the contract, the ag reement may sp«ify tht standard or quality of ptrior· mara (•. /1., fitnns for a ~rticulu pur· post, mtrclwl~ility, ilRIOUnl 01 lrunina. typt 01 dotummtoolion. or IlWlmlJ 10 be ""pPlitd) I~t 1M partin tlIptCl. If sptcifications or I request for propos.al describe the software, hardware or Str· vices 10 be providtd ur>dtr Iht COIlt~I, I~ should be indudrd in the .,ree· monl If they Ife drvtloptd prior to or aPiTt from tht conlrlci. one or mou b..,ieT$ rmy Jl'Mnt their ~ U I sUndard for ptrformance (t.9.. an Integra· lion dauu in the contract, the Pirol evidence rule or tht .talu~ 01 frauds). In addition, thae coIla~ral or ~dition· II writings fN)I not m«t the ATticlo 2 tUl for trtatmtnt U I "coosistent ~di· tional term." Equally important is an ~reemtnt on how dtftcts will be eurtd or olhtrwUt handled. Th. method for handlin, dtftcts is directly ulattd to how the PiTties vitw lhei r iulrgain or, pul iltIOIh. t r w.y, their exp«tatioru.1fthe bu~ r is mer.ly acquiring IIOOds Or tools to 10M II problem, the ufu,1 Art iclt 2 rul .. rellnding l((tptanet, payment and ujection fN)I be adtqWOie. On the othtr hand. the buyer mill' be Icqui rinll II complele p.lCjQ,1It of goods and activitiu n«dtd to SOM a problem. In thil rvtnt, hardwut Ihll is not comPitibl. with uisting equipmtnt, softw.lrt thit does not perfo"" within the dtsiilll sptCiflQ.. tions or othn Jimilar problems nul' l.a"" the buyu with worth! • ., e~uip· m.nt (at ItaSt In terms of the contrKt), In unfinilhtd projoct and ,ubltanti.! business loMe$. If /I sellor iI to hi"" an OppOrtunity \0 cuu a dtfttt, tm ""rtits should hall! I tloa r und .. Jllnding of how t hue adjustmtnb will affect the bu~r'J cost and righb \0 ptJnue othn umediu, ill ability 10 revokt any prior KCCptlnc. and ib opportunities to dtrmnd uci· Jion. A contTiCt lhal requim JubsUon. tiallnting prior to aec.p\ancc may bo

TH£AU.8AMAUlWYER

construed IS 11M... shlfttd tht burdm to tm buy!r of assuring thit tm equ~ mont or software il without dtfoct.12

How much ttsting is "sub$Uontial t~,t · ing" rmy bost be dttermined in light 01 tm Plrtits O'\'tnll commorcial goab U Mdmct<l by tht tonIoo. If tht buy!r iI K~uirinlll tool (whether ~rdw;lrt or J1\US·rmrkettd softwa ... ~, minimal test · in8 may be appropriate. On the other hand, an integrattd hudwart and sol\· Wife J)'Stem thi.t is sp«i.IIlly drvtloptd to handle 1M buytT'J tub may ~qui~ phasos of wting. Th. computer industry h.u 8rown KcuStomtd to limitin8 II Klltr's liability for porformanc•. especially the porfor· mance 01 software. Unlus In lir~ment apmsly pnlYidts thi.1 $peCif..: _ times tthil ii, the timo! required to tu· cutt • !Uk} or othtr activities or fta· tu~' are tht tSstnc. of the bugoln, il can be IOmewhat diffICult to establish later thlt tht software (or hardwlr.} mllli function lhIM! • minimum ,Un· dud. II buy!r may be ilquirtd to ICapt and PlY for sott....-are or tqUipmmt thi.1 dotl not perform (for the buyer's pur· ]lOSu) in th. timt. with lht degr •• of

1ICCUrK)' lor tm number or typt 01 tub needed. with Ih. amount of uur or employee tnining or ;n somt otilu way that tho bu~r t~pedtd. tJ While di,dlimtu of wil"ilntitJ for performance may be iPJIropriatt with rtspect to uninttntionil or ordinary dtfoclJ, Juch discl,im." Jhoul d not apply to intentioNl drltds that Irt not Instrted for the purpOse of pr(WidinQ security against Infringement or IIbu .. of intelitclUiI property rights (Iuch u prohibited copyinQ or modifiation l, The buy<'r rmy not be in a pOJition to identify oo-caJltd "compute. virustS" or to know lhe history or "chain oflltlo- of a softwart program. The ..lIer may ha"" Kcess to info~tion that illOWJ it 10 repr ..tnl Ind warrant thlt tht KU" Icnows 01 no intentioNl dtftds or virus· u thi.t could mult In I malfunction of the sofu,,'art or other pari.! of the com· pute r system.1I In somt instancn, it may be appropriate to e;<pand the scope 01 JUCh I ~pratnUotion and WIlmont)' to include It.. computer systems of third PiTtits from or 10 which 1M vi .... may foreseeably be trnumitted. Tht .. 1I.r's familiarity with the soft·

fur more than seventy years Levy's

has served the Southeast as a purchaser and broker of estate jewelry. We provide evaluation, appraisal and liquidation of fine

j~lry

estates.

Please call our estate jewelry specialists Charles L Denaburg or Jared Nadler for a confidential consul tation,

205·251·3381

,t~EJEWEI.RY'INC. 2U6 2nd Aw. North· BIrmingham , Alabama ~ "' .... s.n..,. ~ "' ..... v-w:, s-... I9U

NIMmbtr 1992 { 4 11

w~re and hardware alsQ may make it respansible for aoy third·party claim that the buyer's IUt' or operation af the ha"""~re Or .oftware in the fQrm deliv. ered II}' the seiler infdngou; QO the rights of othus. The seiler may bt in the btst positiQn to know (Qr find out) wheth~r infringement claims are likely. \'\-"hilt a buyer may require a sell.r to defend and save the buyer harmle!.S from any dama,ges mel ""penstS incurred in the litigatiQn or settlement Qf an infringement claim. the seller abo may require the right tQ obtain a licen .. tOl IUt' the soft· ware Qr harm.... re that is alieged tQ have bten infringed Olr tQ pr(fVide the buyer with a suitable replacement in order tOl limit the 5OlIer·s tOltal expenditure fQr the claim.

PIlACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN UnGAnON Whe re hardware and SQftwa re have been partially Qr tQtally installed. both custQmer and ""Mor mw;t quickly isolate the problem areas if a dispute has arisen. Ceneral dissatisfactiQn Qn the part af either side is a poor hasis far

pushing along the dispute. An QngQing. evolving project can lea"" problem area:! poorly documented Qr researched frOlm the standpoint fIf the litigants who later jOlin issue. The following is a bri.t Qut· line of usefulstepl' I. 1I.1 tne•• u - Identify and. a:! soon a:! pOSSible. inte!View vendQr and custQmer project managers. ""ndQr prQgrammers. cw;tomer end· users and Qutsid e consultants involved. 2. Document • . Identify and. where POlssible. secu . e vendQr·s initial and revised s\l«ifications and any propoud specifIcations Or Tl'quirt· ments authored by custQmer; con· tract and all related addenda and correspondence; vendor's <ood cus· tOlmer's project Qutlines: vendQr and custQmer project logs; wodor .ource code: vendQr-, custQmerQr consultant-authored n""""harts and user instructiOlns; and user

,,,,.

3. Expertl - There are man}' academ. ic and industl)' exJ)\'rts, including

LANDTECH86 Real Estate Settlement System For Laser or Matrix Printers • HUD 1 Automatic Calculations • Checks & Escrow Accounting • Word Processor - Spell Check Policies & Commitments Deeds & Mortgages • Data Base Reporting (SQL) • On Site Training Available

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CQmputer cQnsulting firms. Also, COIlsid..r whether an industry s",,· cific expert is needed, that is. om whQ is technically familiar with the cOlmputer issues involved. as well a:! the industl)' applicatiQn in )lOUr particular caM. At.o consider any individuals Or companies that perform CQmputer Qut -sourcing responsibilities in that particular iodustl)'.

INSUIlANCE COVEIlAGE Typical general liability POllici es of insurance may nQt be triggered in con· tractual/warranty disputes Q~r a CQm· puter CQntract. With claim. nowing between the wndOlr and the custQmer, all parties neve rtheleu shQuld place appropriate carriers on notice. particu· larly if mQre customized errQrs and QmissiQns ]>Otices are involved. If tQrt claims are included. general liability policies may be triggered under certain circums!;,nce, . See. e.g.> Universal Underwriters Ins. v. Youngblood. 549 So. 2d 16 (Ala. 19891 (claims Qf negli · gent Qr reckless fraud may fall within insurance CQYerag.). ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION Disputes invQlving 'Qmputer CQntracts. btcause of the pOSSible complex;· tyofthe issues. lend themselves tQ .Iternative fo rms Qf resQlutiQn. AI~bama courts cannot specifically enforte agreements tQ arbitrate unless those agreements involw interstate COmmerCe. n... public policy of this stat. enCQurages arbitratiQn, but Alabama Code § 8 -1-41 states that an agreement tOl submit a controwrsy tOl arbitratiQn "cannot be s\l«ificaily enforted." !f the contract is one invQlving interstate CQmmerce. ho~ .... r, and the CQntract CQntains an arbitratiOln agreement voluntarily entered into II}' the parties. the Pederal Arbilration Act may preempt the Alabama statutoI)' prQhibitiQn. H. L Fuller Qms/r. 1J. Indus/rial [)ev . &1. ofVincm/. 590 So. 2d 218 (Ala. 1991) (olso see 26 A.B.R. 321). Alabama's approach ta arbitration is one that prOlmotes amicabl e sell Ie· ments, but avoids agreements made in advance tQ defeat the jUrisdiction of Qur local courts. Until recently. there Wall a questiQn fIf the amount Qr le",,1 of interTHE AI.o\BAMA ~WYER

that must be inyol~d in I COlltDet btfou 1Ilirbitrltion provilion could be t1Uorool. The prttmplion of tht r fClrril Arbitrltion Act is dtprn. dent on wIIether the conlQCI inyo"," iniersillte c:ommrr«. MUJI tilt eoIlrwc· tion bttw«n the COIItDet and intentate commerce be ,ub,tantill, moderale or slightl In 1989. the Ala~ma Supreme Courl required thai Ihe partiel 10 the C()Iltrxt ha~ "conlemplated sub$tanl~1 interl lUe lctivity" bdwe a pre " u;1 arbitrllion 19rttmellt could be enforced. £X porit Warm!. s.t8 So. 2d 157, 160 VdiI. 1989). Thm)'Urs urlier. ill 1986. lhe Allb,a.ma Su~ reme Court had dtKTibed the ~ui~ment of ;lIler. stale commerce 0l.S Olle that should be construed "very broadly: 50 that the slightu t nnus of Ihe agreement with intenlate COmme rce would fuffiee 10 elllore. the arbilrltion clause. €.x porit CosIa .. lkod (A/rium). Ud.• 486 So. 2d ItlIt~ commr~c~

illdtptlldtnt ttthni<:.al expert. The

lor computer hardwlre lnd softWire diJ·

adapt.d from t~ regul" mtd~· tion ruin of the Amtria.1I Arbitrltion Associ"tioll. At pr~lIt, Alabillll dots not h.lvt an tqIliv.!.lent to fIorida's com· puter mediltion proiK\. Informat ion Ihout the Florida .ffort can be obtained from the authors of thiJ artide. •

TUE ALABAMA ~WYER

_..,_tIOI_ . ..

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Consider also the TKent dteilion of the Alabama Sul'Teme Court in A 1. Toll Coo/ Co., Inc. v. Rando/ph. 26 A.!:l.R. 4616 Puly 31. 1992) in which the court llIreed with th e slight IIUUS stlndard . but disall~d enforcement of albitralion in spite of lhe fact lhal the IIIrH' mC1I1 had in p;lrt bun sigllcd oul of SLII!. certain plrtits to tht IIIrHIMnt lived out 01 slit. and paymenu under the agmmcnl Wfn' lI\IIiled throull"- the Ullited SUIH Mail. In whit may be the fint progt'llm of its kind in the country. The Florida Bar

WfTt

putes.. The computer mtd~tion proj«l ofiers sptC~lIy tt",ned IMdialon with INckground5 in comput.r litigation. along with" set o f medi"tion ruin adapted for computer· rfl"t.d dilputu. The mediator is luthoriltd to hire an

1272.1275 tAb.. 1986). E1dier this yu r. the Alabam" Supume COUTt resolved the inu. by limitin,Q 1I'Ormt 10;14 pecuTiir fiClIlnd "dopling the Cosla ' ,lightut nuul" .tandud. In Ex parle Bric¥ Building C..... 26 A.B.R. 4250 (1992). Ih . cou rt allowttl ilPPlication of the Federal Arbi · trllion Act in" ase in which 111 AIabi· IIIl ~inl;ff contrxted wilh III A~ma lrchittct nd an Alabama builder t ... construct a buildi"", in Ala.blIlTI.I. The cont.ltt wu negoti"ted in AllbllTl.l. Because the cont ract provided f... r On< party', use of certain building materials from out 01 the state and the use 01 • ~liforn~ subcontractor. the court held thatthe~ was I toMtdion bttw«n the contract IIld intentlte commerce _ I toMtdion that the court a.lled '"tenuous.• but sufficient to provide" slight

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fRAUD LITIGATION IN ALABA.'IA Mobilr N~t;on,.1 Bwintsslrutitute. Inc. Cudits: 6.0 Cost: $[28 (715) 835-79(19 WORKERS' COMPENSATION INAUBAMA Binningllam N~tiOfll,I BIaiIlW Institute. Inc. Cudits: 6.0 Co.t: $128 (7IS)8J5.79()9

CRIMINAL LAW PRACTICE IN ALABA."IA Birminglwn, eMe Cmlt<

AlabmIlo BIIT Institute for CI.E Credits: 6.0 (800) 627·6514

BUSINf:$S TORTS A."IO M'TITRUST Birmingham. Tutwiler Hotel Cumberland Institute for eLE Credits: 6.0 (8001 88s.7454

COMPLYING WlTIl TIlE A!"ER1CANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (VIDEO)

"""""

Cumbfrlind Institute for elf

Cmiits; 3.0 (800)888-1454 Al1T'QMQBILE LmCATION (VIDEO) Gadsden Cumberland Institute for e l E CrWit5: 3,0 (8001888-7454

414 / N(M'mbtr 1992

ARCUINC DA.'lACES Montgomery. Civic Center Ati'bl.nIi Sir [Mtitute lor CLf Cudits: 6.0 (800) 627.6,514 BANKRUPTCY Binningllam, Civic Ctnter Alabanli liar Institute for CLE Crtdits: 6.0 (800) 627-65]4

BAS[C BANKRUPTCY IN AlABAMA Mobile NatiOllJ.1 Busintsslnstitut•. [nco Credits: 6.0 Cost: $128 (715) 835·79(19

BASIC Il,.\.\,KRUPTCY IN AlABAMA

Moo_ NlIlional8w.inw Institute. Inc. Credits.: 6.0 Cost: SI28 (715/ 835-7909 CURRENT ISSUES IN GOVERNMENT CO"'1'RACTlNC INAUIlAMA Ilunl!ville N~tiOfll,I BU5intss Institute. Inc. Credits: 6.0 Cost: $[28 (715) 835·7909

WRITINC ..oR IJI\\'YERS Binningtwn. Hooitr CompIu Cumberlind Institute lor CLf Credits: 6.0 (800) 883-7454

ALAM.\\A UPDATE Hunl$ville. Civi~ ~nttr AW>Inv.llar Institute lor ClL Cudits: 6.0 (800) 621-65]4

COMPLYINC Wlm THE AMERICANS Wlnt DISABILITIES ACT (VIDEO)

PRACTICAL PROBLfMS IN PROFESS[ONAL RESPONSIBILITY Montgonvry. Clanon Riwrlront Inn Cumberland Institute for CLE Credits: ]2.0 (800) 888·7454

"'"""

Cumberllflllinstitute for CtE Credits: 3.0 (800) 888·7454

TItle: AlABAMA lAWYER

CURRENT ISSUES IN COVl-:RNMENT CONTRACTINC IN Al.o\8AMA Birminghim NatioN18usirow Institute, Inc. Cmli\$: 6.0 Cott: SIt8 1715) 835·79(19 MALPRACTICE AVOIOANCE FOR THE"90s

8irminghim, 8ou~1I Auditorium Attorneys Insuran«> Mulual of AI,luorna CmIi\$: 5.5 COlt: SISO (21)5) 980.(10(19

PEDERAL TAX INSTlnrTE TUK.IIoosi. Bryant Confum« Cmttr UniV!rsity of Abbloma Cmlits: 13.3 (205) :M8-6224

AlADAMA UPDATE Birmingham, Civic Center A~ B.o.r Institute for CLF: Cmlits:6.0 (800) 627·651 ~

PRACTICAl, PROBL~:MS IN PROFESSIONAJ.. RESroNSIBILlTY Mobile. Admir.ll Semmes CumbeNnd InJtitute lor cu: Cmllts: 12.0 (800) 888-7454

TAX STRATEC IES FOR TIlE 1990S MontjlOme!Y

T/UC Re~uction Institute StminarJ, Inc:. Cmli\$: 6.5 Cost: S295 (206) n6-7262

I'I.ANNINC OPPORTUNlm:S WITH LlVlNC TRUSTS IN AIABA.'1A Birminatwn Noolioml BUJiAU$ l...titute. Inc. CmliU: 6.0 Co5t: $128 (715) 835-79(19 THE Al..Al:lAMA lAWYER

AU8AMA l1f'I)ATE Monlllome l")'. Civic Center AlaIwN B.o.r Institute. Inc. Cmliu:6.0 (800) 627-6514

Ruu:5 OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT Montgoml:T)'. M.ldi$on Hotel Alah.unlI Bar Institute for CLE CmliU: ]2.0 (800)627·65] 4

EVIDENCE BirmingN.m, Civic: Centu Al.Jbooma B.o.r InJtitu\t, Inc. Cmliu:6.0 (800) 627_65 14

ESTATE PUNNINC BirmingJwn. Pickwick Co.mrence Cmtt> A1aba1N B.o.r Institute for CLE Credits: 6.0 (800) 627·651 4

ANATOMY Of A DIVORCE Birmingtwn. Tutwiler Hott:l Amtriclln Aadtmy of Matrimonial Lawyers IAlaluorna Chapter) CmliU:6.8 C<:Gt;$]t5 (205)25]-<000

PER50~NELIAW UPDATE Birmin&hlom, Wynf.ey Hott:I Council in EdUClllion ~rntnt CmliU: 5.5 Co5t: $295 (415)934-8333

TRYINC TIlE AUTOMOBILE INJURY CASE IN Al.o\8AMA Blrminghl.m Naliol"W BU5irow lrutitute, Inc:. Cmliu:6.0 Co5t:SI28 (7 ]5) 83$-7909 WORKERS COMPEN SATION IN Al.o\BA."tA MonlQomt!Y Lorrn.n llusirow Center, Inc. Cr~its:

6.0 Cost: $115

(715) 833·3940

RULES OF PROFESSIONA1. CONDUCT Mobile. R"."",i",,· PIau Alaluorna B.o.r lnstilule for CtE Cred;U: 12.0 (800)627-65" TRYINC THE AUTOMOBILE INJURY CASE IN ALABA.'iA Huntsville Natioolo] 8..."iAU$ Institute, Inc. CmliU: 6.0 Co5t: SI28 (715) 835·7909

EVIDENCE MD£O) Birm;fl3ham. Plckwick Conference Center AlabalN Bar Inllitutt for CLE Credits: 6.0 (800) 621-6514 INSURANCE LAWUPOATE Mobile Lorm&l1 BU5inu.s Cenler. Inc. Crediu: 3.8 t 715)833~0

MOTION PRACTICE (VIDEO) TUK.lIooA. Law Center Abballll B.o.r Institute for CtE emliU: 6.0 1800) 627·65 14

DAMACES MD£O) TUK.IIooA. Law Ctnter AI~b'lN B~r InsliMe for CLE Cmliu:6.0 (800)627·6514 BASIC PROBATE IN Al..I.BAMA Mobile N~tiOllllI BU5iness Institute, Inc. Cmlits:6.0 Cost:$I28 (715) 83$-7909 EVIDENCE (VIDEO) T\lSQIOOA. Law Center Alabooll\l B.o.r Institult lor CtE CmlilS: 6.0 (800) 62 7-6514

...._"

BASIC PROBATE IN ALABA.'1A

NillioNl B..."irwu Institute, Inc. CrediU: 6.0 CoIl: SI28 (715)835·7909 NO'o"tmber 1992 1 US

17 'TlIuraday RULES or PROfESSIONAl. CONDUCT Hunuville, Civic Center Alabama &r InstilUlt (or CLE Crwiu, 12.0 (800)627-6514

CLE REMINDER 1992 CLE TranWlpts will b9 mailed 01'1 or about ~ber I , 1992

AI ClE crediIs must b9 !lamed by Oeeember 31, 1i92

All CLE transcripts must b9 rfJCf1iWld by January 31, 1i93

23 Wedn. .dlly COMPLYINC Wlm mE AMERICANS WITlI OISA6IUTIES ACT (VIDEO) Birmingham Cumbtrlarnllnstitut. (or CLE Cmli($: 3.0 (800) 888·7454

TORTS (VI DEO)

Tusa.Ioo:I.o. I2W Ctnter Alabamll Rar Institute for CI.E C,wi($: 6.0 (800) &27·6514

18 F,ld. , ALoI.8AMA UPDATE Mobile. RiverMw Plau AlabamII Bar Instilut. for CLf e,tdi($: 6.0 (800) 627·6514

AlmmOBl1.E LmCATION (VIDEO) Birmingham. Samford University Cumbtrland Ill5titute for CLE Crt~it" 3.0 (8001888·7454

RUU:S OF PROFESSIONAL COSOUCT Birmingham, CMe Ctnttr ~ Ba, Ill5titutt for e l E Crteli($: 12.0 (800) 627·6514

29 T_..s., MASn:RINC mE 1993 TAX SEASONAN A.'JNUAl UPDATE

Mobil •. Ramada In n Alabama Soci.ty of C.rlifitll Publi, Accountant! CTtdiu: 8.0 Cast: SI55 (205183-4·7650 •

MOTION PRACTICE (Vl O£O) Birmingham. Civic Cent.r ~ Bar Institut. for CLf Crteli($: 6.0 (800) 627·6514

r------- - ---------------------------------------,

ADDRESS CHANGES Complet. !hot Ionn btlow ONLY if theu an ..,y change> to YOU' listing in tho eurrtnl AJa/:Iam<J Bor [)irmoq. Du. to clwigts in tilt ,\;Ilut. gowming fI.ction of ~r commissioners. "''t now lOU uquirtd to \1St nwmbtrs' ollie. iJddr.Slts. unless none is available or I member is prohibittd from m:eiving .Utt ba, mltil at the office. Additionally. tilt Alat>ama Bor Di=I01J/ il compiled from our mailing list and it Is impOrtant to use busillHS addreSlt5 for that reason. NOTE, If ~ cio not Know of a change in add,tn . "''t cannot make the ntc~F)' changes on our records, 5(\ pie,... notify U$ when your addren dl~ngts.

I I 1

I : I I

I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Member Idtntifltation {Social Security) Number O<h,, _ __ ChooM 011": lion. Min Ms. FullNalTll' _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 8U$inus Phone Numbtr _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ 8irthdate, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

""-- --""---YtirofAdmls$~

Firm _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ om"" Nailin,gAdd,us, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ City _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ S t i t . _ ZIPCOOt _ _ _ _ _ _ ""'"' _ _ _ _ _ _ __

Off," SIred Address (if difl'trtnt from mailing Iddrw) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ City _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ S\;Ilt _ _ ZIPCOOt _ _ __

County _ _ __ _ _ _ _ __

L ________________ _ ______________________________ J 416 / NCMmbtr 1992

THE A1AIIA/>IA LAWYER

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THE AL.o\BAMA LAWYER

NOYtmberl992/ 417

When Is A Bankruptcy Lurking In The Shadows Of A Divorce Case? By HERNDON INeE, /1/

he "advanced" family law practitioner is the target of this article. A more fundamental discussion of the relationship between divorce and bankruptcy can be found in my previous Alabama Lawyer article,l Even the advanced famil y law practitioner does not customarily plan fo r

the conse·

STATUTORV EXEMPTIONS Whilo! il iulo!mrrlU.ry for the diV(ll« p~tilion.. to Ii$! .nc! pramt de~iltd Mdence on _h of thr HStU md lillbilities for tquitable di$!ribution by the divorce j~. did you know Ihll fNIW of tho~ Slme UKts Ire simply ignored lnd ~t aside for the dtbtor. by category. by a hanhuptC)' judge? So do not auume thot sinet tilt otMr .lP<)USt wHi be goUing sub· stlntilli ustts in the divorct. e.g. tqUity in his midtnce. tqUiIy in his a.1. IWf l howt offumitu~. clOStIs full of clothing.

DIVO CE

Quences of his client's judgment of divorce just in case the other spouse should file for relief under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Act. It is understandable for the divorce practitioner to concentrate his primary efforts toward obtaining advantageous divorce terms, whether by settlement or trial, to obtain custody, more periodic support and more property settlement, and to pay less of the marital debts. Just as it is easier to forget to plan on how you can actually collect your d ient's divorce awards after the divorce, and to forget to plan the income tax consequences of certain divorce transactions, it is easy to forge t to plan how a bankruptcy judge might review the same judgment of divorce which you have worked so hard to obtain. 4 18 / NCM'mbu 1992

.. n Inteust in partntnllip imtitmtnu. or wllides. tools or equipmfnl in his busintu. tNt lit has not Ilrelldy plilllntd 10 file hankruplC)' to Iry to escape lIis financilll ~sporuibilitlts to lIis former wife ~d from the divorce. Evuy divorce puclilioner must undenllOnd Ihll in a biUlkruptcy c.ue. the dtbtor an claim as Wimpt from li4uidlo. tion many oIlhos<t _ _ Is which hr won througl:l ntllOti.. lion in the divorc. stulement. or won in tho divorce lrill. arul many of lhose UMIs wHi simply Ix stl vide for Iht debtor by the bankruPIC)' courl. by category. Ind not liquidated by the b.nkruptcy trustH 10 pay his crtdilol'i. And then. wilh III of his wets Wimpltcl by the biUlkruplC)' iu.dgt. hr a.n pro. ct'td to M't all of his r.ltbls dischlrgtd. includi"lt al 10ast ..1lY OOli"lion oo..'td 10 your client which rtKmblts property SI:!. II, men! frQrn II>< divorce. ilIld theftfoTt. lie will r«five only the Ixnefil5 from botll l.,,1 proceedings. So as long IS Iht biUlkruptC)' dtblor an keep «rtoin wets (.SH T<1bI~ 1, page ~19) within the otmplion ""IWOlion Ilmit.'ltiom, thtK ustts an be =Iudtd from the bankruptcy f~lf md Ix kfPt by an Alabama dtbtor inslud of being.old 10 ~ to lIis biUlkruptcy credilors.

So it "'-Id not k;o§MllJ'ofd t""'t)'OO. eli",!,. divor« tnli· tltmtnu a~ We jlUl. b«.aUM' tht otlw:. $pouw is to rm'Wt substantial_ts from 1M divorce. e.g. ho.lf d the furnitull', furnishings, a~pliance., and perronal ""longing.! acquirrd during tilt marriage, a IItt equity In his resilknct of approxi· mateljl $5,000, or tools and motor vthic1ts used In his busi· ~. po.rtnt.,hip inttrutl, ...uring appoorel. burial lou. life inlluranct proo:«ds, crops, be-nefits of on annuity cont.~t and certain bank Ikposits. lit ~ still file for bankruptcy and try to dischlrge tilt alimony, child suppOrt, prQperty stttle· ment and attorney fets awarded to your dient in the divorce. And, if tilt OIl1tr party to tilt divorce should lilt bankruptcy, do not think for om minute t""'t an his assets will become po.rt of the bankruptcy esute. to be ~. and tilt net ""Its prO)Cftd$ to be divilkd amonll hit c. «Iito". including)'OOr client, his fon1'lt. wife. Th is will not hlppen! Some addltlonal SltpS tho divorce pract itioner can take wlltn lit wspects 1""'1 tilt other iJ)OUst'S divorc. propti'tY stl· tlement may fill within thae exemptions. and his Jtw., of 1M marital debts txatds 110,000, an be found in my tIJaiJomd U!wJJw articlt!', You should no.... "" alerted ~t I .killed bankruptcy l'racti. tione. can st rategically orchtst rate the divorce settlement negotiations so under tilt fi.vl divorce terms, hit climt can rm'1Yt only thow iWds which will be utmpt in bankruptcy, pbnning lllliong to file for I C""'pttr 7 bankruptcy after 1M divora: is completed.. II also "'-Id be not«l 1""'1 ...ilh cielltr bankll.lptcy counstiing b)i I skilled ban kruplcy practitioner, with no unethical conduct on thtlaW}"'r'. part and no fraudu· lent transfen on lilt bankll.lptcy Ikbtor's part, oYer 90 ~. cent of all bankruptcy Ikblorl can survivt the bankruptcy proudurt. without l<ning a111 uull al III, So. through bankruptcy. he can liktljl kefJll11 his _ , and wipe OUI all of his debts. including property HWtment obligalions ",,~d to hi. forme r wilt ~nd child ren. if )'OIl do not lllIIrtui~ly do

)'OOr iob.

BANKRUPTCY WARNINC SICNS TO A DIVORCE PRACTITIONER There is gerMIrally no predictable profilt of a person likely to file for C~pter 7 bankruptcy reHef. other than tht profile of;a middlt·cI&$S or upper middle·du. Amtrkan. U.lIIoUy. o~ rau of Ikbtor it no! mort likeljllo filt for bankruplcy .. lid than mother, though thtrt I .. urtain natioollities and reli· gion5 I""'t ITt less likely to file. There iltt I...... r Middle East· .rn and Far F.utern debtors filing for bankruplcy retief, There are not many Latin debtors. And the work tthies of certain ..ligiOlll ~re less li~1jI to fil. for relief under tilt Ilankruptcy Code than othen. Cent ... IIy, tht activo memb.-rs d mort fundamental relillions ITt less likeljl to file lor bankruptcy relid bec.a1lH of the J)«' pr6!ure or the leachings of tlltir f,,;th. Also, upper~1u.I debto"' ....ith" high w lurne income tan usu· ally find other ways out of their fi.vncial prtdicament without filing for bankruptcy. while debtorJ .... ho art hourly wOllle tame", Or hI.vt ~r incomes find f...... r oppOrtunities to incur substantial dtbts, rrquiri.,. bankruptcy .. Iitf, The . e Ut, howtw., nWrll facto", that should..,1 off bankruptcy ;alarms to the diwrct practitioner t""'t the other SpOtlst may Ix I candid3te for bankruptcy gamn:

TtIE AUBAMA LAWYER

TABLE 1: ASSET EXEMPTION VALUATION LIMITATIONS Homestead of debtor ............................................ $5.0002 (includn mobile home) Burial plot.l ____ ......... ____ ..... _.... ____ ...... loo perctnt 3 Misctl1antl,llJ$ pel'$OflaJ property ................ ......... S3.000 4 of debtor Nect.uary ...uring app;> ..1of debtor ........... 100 percentS .imily portraitsor pictures ...... _.. ____ ...... 100 pelUnt 6 and all books uwj by debtor Proceeds Irom lif. insurance pOlicies ......... 100 perctnt 7 (ir.dudts cash surrender value. loan val ... and divilknds) Crowing or unpIMm:I crops ........... __ ...... 100 pelUnt!

Worker Compnu.otion be-nefits .................. 100 per«nl' Partnership prOptrty ................................... .. .. .. ....... .AIIIO (uup! partntrship debts)

Veterans Adminiitration benefits ... ~ ......... Ioo percmt II (includilllllije insunn«) Federal Civil Service death btntfits .......... 100 ~rcent 12 Veterans' Croup Life Insuranct ................. loo percent 13 benefits and Servicemen', Croup (jfe Insunn« bmtfits ~its UHd in US. Hn.i«rnen·, .......... 100 percent" saving.! institution. by Hrvicrmrn while on permanent duty wignment out.ide U.S.

ERISA. btnefib. ........................................... IOO percmt IS

Tools UHd pmoNlly by and ................... 100 percent 16 e....,tial to debtor', business Vehide ultd b)i and essential .................... 100 percent 17 to debtor's businus CooItinll utensils. cooking Slovn. .__ .. __ .100 percmt II table, tabkwlll', c""'i", in ~tual use b)i debtor

NoI.~mbtr

1m , 419

a. Tht otMr ~ has incumd durina the 1Nniagf:, ¥\II larul 10 a.. umt in Iht d,voru. many ou t-of-.latt -"tdit" c.uds. e.&- Wel15 Fargo IoWterCard. CiliBank YiN. de.. nth ..ilh I ~rge iICCOUnt boo~n«. -Charge" accounu It Iocol de""rtmo:nl 'toru or ck>lhing .tOUI do nol nectssarily a<ti~.tt a boonkruptcy warnina. MI Iona as the accounu ha~ been hiJlorically Mpt currtnt. l inee this may only indicate that the other IPOUse bu)'S the family's nwb on a cha. ae ac<:ounl. S<:>.'eral out-of. rute "crWit" accounts. Ind upeci.llly if thty ha~ not always bun kept current, should be considerW differ· ently. hO'A'evtr. as tho olher SPOUH may h.," be_n inlentioru.liy "kitina" Ihue accounts by borrowina money on onoe "<rtdd" lCcount 10 INM minimum payments on others, plilnning thil bankruptcy for a long limo:. b. lIlhe ntt equity in Ill< house the other If'OUIt il to get in th. divo.ce and use as his residtnce i. I... than S7.SOO or if the houK to be his actual .tsidence has a large oquity. which I-.. could elJily pltdge against a ""'" post· divorce hom. eQuily l(I,In to limit hi. oquily 10 under S5.000. "'atch out! In this WlY. if he files for bankruptcy. I-.. Q/I ktq> his; homrpllu t\'tfl after the banlcTlqltcy as il would be within his homr.JI.~ lUmp-

tjonZO. c. If you kflO\<l/ that the other JPOUH'I diYOTce attorney has tJpe.ience in ~nkruptcy litiption. it is lihly he will allo be advising hi. di~o.c. elienl on hil options of bl.nkruptcy relief. If the other spoust's lawyt. il • gen...

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il practitionoer. or concent.jtes on domutic re~tion, only. h( rru.y not be SO fllm,liu wilh tl>t hln.rupt~ jltemlti\'e5 as 10 ».-ist tl>t divorce clienl accordingly. do If)'OUr diVOT« dient is to get tl>t mirilil r"i.;knee, but ti>t oth.. 'POUK is to miintllin the ""ymo:nt. on tl>t mort~. and tilt Olher JPOUH tw a hi.tory 01 bein8 delinquent in p3ying the mortgage payments on the house during the 1l'IIIrriage. he 1l'IIIy be a candidate for diJCharg~ oItl-.. obligation to pay your client'. mort~e through bankruptcy. Also. if lhe othe. SpOOK Iw I hil' tory 01 dtlinqumc:y on his consumer accounts. or Iw too many consumo:r KCOUnu. he may 100 be <I candi · date lor d,.c1.. rge in hlnkrupt~. Aft •• )'OU diswwrtd tht otI>tr spouse's .egula. monlhly lid income in lhe divorce. and if Ihe lum of the minimum or rtaul .. monthly paymtnU of tht maritil debts which he ;1 agreeing to aMUmo: in the di~e settlement tl<Cteds 60 percenl of hi. awr"llt monthly nel income. ban k,uptcy llarms should ti!l off. as il is 8en..ally accepted that i person n«ds at Itast 40 percent 01 his aW!llgt monthly ntt incQlTlt 10 pTOYide lor his 0\00'0 homina. food. iUtomobile mortgage. clothing. and otIK. nteessities Ind I1IPf"$U. If the other JPOUH is lIIIreting 10 I'"Y rru.rital debts wi th minimum o. regullf monthly ""ymtnts uc«ding 60 percent. then il is liuly that M does not intend 10 ply the mlr,tll debls bul intends to Hek boonkruptc:y relid. or. though he actually intends to ""y the Trl/lrital debts. aft .. he disc(l\'f." that he cannot ""y his 11"'0 basic oxpt~s to li,,~ aft .. ""ying tht minimum ""y_nts on tOOK mirital debt •. h. will be forced to I«k firu.ncial relief Ihrough bl.nkruptcy. or througll hil mo:re disippe.aT¥l«. e. If the SpOUSt is .... lIi"' ...... fYtn ~r to lSIUmo: mort than half tht nv.rilil do!bU. in considtnlion for p.lyina Ius periodic ilimony or child supfJOr! 10)'OUr clienl. or in tonsidention for mort =h. l-avings. life insurance polki.l. equity in tIw: homtplace. or otht ...... ts within tht stalutOI)' bankruptcy exemption. diJCu .. ed abow. then the bankruptcy alarms shou ld go off that ht may be intending to seek bl.nkruptcy relief 10 di.w:harge hi, obli8iltioo to l'Iy!hl: Pl'Olltrty KIIloment 10)'OUr ~Iimt. "illlt dlimina his divorce property settlement rr..'inll 15 tmtlpt and PlYing Itsa alimony or child suwort. f. If iny dow frimd, fellow worIcer or family 1TItIIIbe, 01 the otlwr JPOUH has fYtr filed for boonkruptcy relief. it is likely they .... 11 diKulI with the otlwr JPOUH tl-.. finan· cial"good .;kals" ~ffo.ded through bankruptcy.

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--_.._._ ""-~ ...... --.~

Though KYl'nl offtll$i~ Jlnttgies w;1I be disaustd bd".." )'OUr ~Iimt', be:.1 ~honc:t 10 protect htr dirorct·re~ttd mlitk· mo:nts (rom discharge in bankruptcy is titht. 10 fik In applica · tion for relief from the IlItomlllic boonkruptcy stay. undtr 11 U.S.C. t 3621b){2}. t~t the debtor', obtigllions to)'OUr clitnt Ire for "miint.nilnce and lupport" ilnd th ..tlore not disc~.lItable in bankruptcy. 0'. if thf ",plkation for ,.Iit! from the automatic stay i. denied in bl.nk,uptcy o. if you. client', specific "aims are Qutltionable under bankruptcy . tvitw. thtn

to filt a complaint to <kt~nnint the non·di$Chorgnbility of your client's claims. under R.onbuptey Rulu 4007 ~nd tOO·t Uno!.r bolh 0( tMse bankruptey proceedings. )'Ou an ~lIempt· ing to persuade tilt bankruptey coun to find tNt your client's individual claims in 001 dischorged by lit. former hw.bllncfs bankruptcy proceeding sinct it lean 50Illt 01 her claims lI'e specifically excluded from discharge un der II U.S.C. ~ 523(a)(5).... alimony ...... intenan«' and suppOrt oItht debtor', >P(IU$I! or child. This is your ditnt', br..t c~ of gelti"ll pilid IItr diYortt entltlelTlffllS !.ince only her claims ..ill JU~ her former huwnd's bankruptey discharge. and the claims of all the other creditors havt' now been disch.ug.d. In this w~Y. your clitnt nn pursue roIltdion 01 her dlvora·rtlated claims agoirut her fonnc. hUJband', posI·b.lnltruptcy _15 and cur· rent iTlC(ll1'le ...... ile atl 0( hi, other debts will ha,,,, betn dis· charged. Hence.)'OUr client will be the only cndilor starnling in lone to roll«!. her claims. Anotht. offmsiYt altellllOl!V! is for)'OUr client to filt in the bank.uptcy proceeding a compl"lnt to determine non .dis· chargeability under Rankruplcy /lule 4007 alleging thai her former h~d', discharge in bankruptcy ,hoold not IWly to her lIS the debtor obUined ITI(Irlty or property in the divorce settlement "b}> false pretenses. false representation or actual fraud" In negotiating or structuring the divorce settlement, and lherdon your eliont's claims should be tltCluo;ied from lillY dischargetounder II U.s.C. I 523(&)(2). Thi$ allq.1.tion i. often difficult Pf'I"''t and tilt bankruptcy hurdlt is 1 high onto Tho divorce practitioner should also consider this aggrusivt "bankruptq" st rategy in conjunction wilh the OlJIgrusive "divorce" strategits 01 IWlying (or I new trill under Rule 59(lI) or lor ulitffrom the diYortt judgment undtr Rult 6OIb)(3) 01 tht Al1.b.Ima Rults of Civil Proceduu. Remember thai under the "(nsh $Ian" principles of bankruptey. thi,llralegy should only be l:On!idered in the "ceptional caIt. 1/ the divora 1lI'Ktitiontr Iusp«ts thltt the other spoust !NY file for bankruptcy nlitf or if tht diYortt prxtitiontr is ....ilIing to add adliitionalltepsto his C\IItom;r.ry divorce proceduru. he can add additional proof in the divora action .... hieh could obstruct the OIher >P(IU$I!'I claim 01 tJltf'l1lll:ions in the t\'tIlt 01 bankruptcy. This ClIn be done by the divoru practi" tioner', coruistently establishing high valuations 01 III _IS in the di''Orce. by ,dditional ,nd sp<.'cific /,,1' ~I out in the .... itnn.s depOsition if the divorce lclion wu sellled. 0' by dtt.ailtd and specifIC proof through the .... itow ttstimony if tht diYortt action is hliptro. This proof should tslablish high l1li1" uatlons of tach auet to fix the valu e o( nch .,.et in the divorce. laying the foundation to P"""'" that the vaJue of nch ~uet which tM debtor mlIy laler cl;.im on his boinkruptcy schtdults ... ue"'l'l, i$ JUbstlnt",11y 1_ lhan tht ,,,tualion of that !lime _ t already .. tablished by >WOn1testimony ~ral monlhs earlier in the divorce. In this way. those assets which tilt debtor claims .... umpt in bankru;ltcy ..... ieh NV! Vlluts """ieh tuff<! hi$ statutory uelfllllionl and .~ tIltnlort objt<:tiOn.1blt under the Bankruptcy Rule 4003(b~. !hall be sold for ulti1T\llte dillribution to Ihe creditors. Then Ire th.u other available thtQrin of .. lief. lhough thnt should only be used in tilt ~tod ase: 1I. II U.S.C. f 127(1) . The debtor will be denied his TeQue!led bankruptcy relid al Iht court .... iIl refust to

THE A1.A8A."tA LAWVER

d,scNrgt his listed debit if it can be IIfO"tn that he has sold. concelled or dutroyed alstl. with the inlenl 10 defraud h" crt<!itors within one )'tar before the filing o( his bankruptcy petition. or if he has rommilled a (raud on the bankruptcy coun. or if he his failtd to eooptrate ""Ill the bankruptcy trust~ by producing rKo.d, arnl explaining transactions, or if he has understated his income. This offensiv! stralegy is root Sj)tCifiCliIIy adVIn· lIgtoos to)'OU. diYortt client !.in«', i( weh lIlitgitioos lire proven and Iht bankrulltcy court denies the bankruptcy discharge. all of the cred ito" wHi be sand. ing in the Ime. along with)'OUr divorce client. to collrct their claims (rom tht debtor. Though this is ~ntnJIy e",ier to proYt than OIhe. oifensiV! strategies. e.(J. actu· al fraud on creditors or Klual fraud on Ihe bankruplcy cou . t. i( the debtor Cln defensively convince the bankruptcy court thltl this wu mtrely lin oversight. thtn he wililibly bot aJ1oIo'td to amtnd his bankruptcy IChodulq and it is likely that his dIscharge WIll not be den ied. ArId. rtmember that your client mu~t prCWt that this bankruptcy misconduct was "intentional". b. II U.s.C. II 105 or 701(bl - Yoor dIvorce client. IS a creditor. can also nquut that tht debtor', entire bankruptC)' petition be dismissed for "substantial abuu" 01 lhe bankruptey procw.. Jt should liso be urnlmtood

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T IME.,.

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No'" Iril"t n:,;earch '''''I.OCt is aVlllabk .. hen you nct<lll. ",,!boo! tbe 1'01'<:<'$>;1)' of odd,n, • futl·tin .. associ.l", CJ( elrr ~ .

Wi,h ~ to !be S"'''' La", Library ond w ..,t.... ...... ,,",vide fa.1 and .rroelCnt ~llIoa. F.. deadt, ...... on:. "'e can delo ... Infonn.lion.o yoo vi. C<lnl"'on carrier. Fodelll E.o.pn<s.. .. FAX F~tI Lqat R....arch n .... ,.... !be "j.IItS ,r.o.ou.hty IJorough quality rc",.rch. britf ...... ,nl .nd analy . i,.

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Our In SH.OO por hour. "·,,h. three hour mIni .........

For Research Assistance conta ct: Sarah Kathry n Farnell 112 Moore Building Montgomery, AL 36104 C. II (20S) 27""137 1e14'_"" . _"'''~d''''''''' ''' OI(»Jbll"", .~"'''~d''

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Nowml>tr 1992 / 42t

thJ,t this f~dtrJJ slatutt 'l'«ifi(.lUy Qbblish. . . "pu. IUmplion in fm>< of grantilllillM . elitf uquesttd by \tit Ikbtor" iInd thurlou a huvy burden of proof is plxtd UpOl'l any objecting cffiiitor. It should also be rtn1em. beftd that if \tit mtiu bankruptcy petition is dismitoKd, little rmoy be gained by you. dient. This "off~lUIivt" stntegy may be awmp.iate in th~ ' ingle u.et c.ue. the single debt case. 0 . the case wheu the debtor fails to attend bankruptcy proceedings or meetings s«king to meuly de~ \tit bankruptcy procw or to simply "buy ti!Tlt", newr intending to complete his binluuptcy pro-

ceeding.

c. Bankruptcy Rule 10171el . If you r diYOm' ditnt an convince the tnut« or the blnkruptq court ibtlf to jlUrwe this rtmedy, the bankruptcy court an dismiss the debtor's bankruptcy petition also for ·subslanti~1 abuse". This offensM stntegy is ,Iso difficult to prow, especially since the debtor il now p.eferred in bankrupt. cy and the bu.a.n of pJ'()Of is, thuefou, on your client. TIli, offensivt strategy is ~rJJly utilitW if tilt a.bto. is willi the bankruptcy pro«ss ofIensivtly to gain iUl a\lvan tille ow • • creditor, your client, ... ther than ddtnsivtly. it should also be rt!Tltmbertd that I dil' miSSllI ollhe mtiu bankruptcy pl'OCftding may not tliYt you . divorce client ;tny prderffd llatus at ,U in the bankruptcy pTOCl'tding. but this pl'\Xf.SS is ~vailable in the appropriate c.ue.

NOTICE The Public Defender Commission is presently taking applications for the position of TUSCALOOSA COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER. For additional information please contact: Dan Gibson , President Tuscaloosa County Bar Association P.O. Box 031522 Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35403

422 1 Nowmbt. 1992

CONCWSION lroc:rus«i blInkruptcy fi]inas will fora: diYora: pflditioncra to bKonM: llert to 1C1llak bankruptcy lborrns, mil to pupm; acoon:Iilllilly. As Congras md crutiYr: bmkruptcy prxtitlonm expand the "good dtau" .",ilable throutlh bankruptcy, roo.e IpOils won on tht divorce battlefield wi ll be 10lt th rough blInkruptcy. Only alert diwrce p.ilCtiao ~n limit the"", l~ . • ~ndnol ••

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Drug Condemnations and Forfeitures Under Alabama Law (A Treatise for Criminal and Civil Litigation) All tile Current Law on Poin t Order from

JOHNE.MAYS P,O. Box 6SS Decatur, Alabama 35602 Cost: $25.00

THE ALABAMA I'-\WYER

RULE VII Rules Governing Admission to the Alabama State Bar Amended May 1, 1992 Admission of Nonresident Attorneys Pro Hac Vice EFFECTIVE October 1, 1992 ~Any attorney or counselor-at-law who is 001 licensed in good standing to practice law in Alabama. but who is cur· len~y a member in good standing allhe bar of aoothe. statB. the District 01 Columbia. or other Un~ed Siaies jurisdic1ion and who is of good moral character and who is famil iar w~h the ethics. principles. practices. customs. and usages 01 the legal profession in the State 01 Alabama, may appear as counsel pro hac vice in a particular case belola any coun or adm i nistra~ve agency in the State 01 Alabama upon compl iance with Ih;s rule,"

menlS of the original appoodix to the supreme court order of May 1, 1992. APPUCATIONS SHOULD BE OBTAINED FROM THE ALABAMA STATE BAR. 4 . Applicanl sends originalol completed verified applica· lion to the court Or agency w~h proof of service by mail on the Alabama State Bar in accordance with the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedu re.

PROCEDURES FOR COMPLIANCE Thi s is applicable to each applleant lor aactl case.

5. Applk:ant sends copy 01 complated verified application and tlla $100 filing lee to lhe Alabama State Bar. lIthe court/agency granted a motion 10 shorten the time for hearing. a copy of the motion should be attached.

1. Applicant associates w~h an a1tomey (local counsel) who ls a member in good standing 01 the Alabama Siale Bar and malmains his or her principal law office in this state. The local counSflI Shall aocept joint and slM!ral responsibility w~h the fore~n anorney in al l maners arising from the particu lar cause. "Before any appl ication is granted. local counsel must appear as anorney 01 record in the particular cause I)( consent in wr~ing to the association." "tn the event local coonsel in a particu lar case is sus· pended or disbarred from the practice of law In the State of A~ma, the foreign anorney shall. before po-oceeding lurther in the pending cause. associate new Iocaf counsel who is in good standing to po-actice law in the State of Alabama and ma a vefified notice thereol wrth the caun or administrative agency of this state bell)(e whom the fore~n anorney is appearing."

6. The Alabama Stale Ba r will send a STATEMENT to the court. counsel of record (or upon any parties not rep<esented by counsal) and the applicant within 21 days (or shoner if granted by cou rt) before the scheduled hearing date indicating: Number of times in the preceding three (3) yaars applicanl or any anomey members 01 applicant's firm hava previously made applica~on for admission. irlCluding: a. name 01 applicanl b, dale of application c. title of court/agency d,cause e. whethar granted or denied "NO APPLICATION SHALL BE GRANTED BEFORE THI S STATEMENT OF THE ALABAMA STATE BAR HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE COURT OR AGENCY."

2. Local counsel

7 Court/ageocy issues an order granting or danying the application and sends order 10 local counsel

applicant) obtains haaring date on the application lor admission from the court Of adminis· trative body where the cause is to be heard. This step is a MUSTI "TIla notice of hearing shall be givan at teast 21 days belore the time des~nated for the hearing. unless the coon or agency has po-escribed a shorter period.' (Of

3. Verified application is prepared. APPLICATIONS WILL BE RETURNED IF ALL ITEMS ARE NOT COMPLETE. Social Security number of applk:ant and a eertiticata of good standing Irom the bar where appIicanl regularly po-actices have been added to the raquira·

THE AlABAMA LAWYER

8. Local counsel sends copy 01 order to Alabama Stale Bar. PLEASE NOTE: Foreign attorneys now appearing pro hac vice in causas shall conform to these rules in pending proceedings within thirty (30) days following the alloctiva date of Oc!aOer I, 1992. Any questions should be directed to Alice Jo Hendrix, PHV Admissions, Alabama State Bar. P.O. Box 671, Montgomery, Alabama 36101. Phone (205) 269-1515 Of 1·800-392·5660 (in-Slale WATS) . Nowmber 1992 / 423

DISCIPLINARY REPORT

............

• Mobile attorney Ctc ll Ba r10 .. Monrw was disbarred from the practice

of law by or<ler of the Supreme Court of Alabama. effective February 7, 1992. A

total of ZO charges was brought against ~Ionroe by tllte Office of General Counsel of the Alabama St.te Bar. The Disci-

plinary Iloo.rd of the Alabama State B.u found ~lonroe gui lty on 17 of the 20 charges and imposed public discipline in Hi of lhe chargu. ~ charge< are as 1011010...: AS8 88-140: Mooroe was employed to file a claim against the emte of his client'. dl'ceas\'d brother. Monroe failed Or refustd \0 ftle Ihe claim Or correspond

with his client When the clienl discharJltd Monroe and employed another .ttorney. Monroe refwtd to refund the fee he had bun paid for f,ting the claim. The Disciplinary Board determined that Monroe should reee;.... a public reprj. mand with general publication.

ASB 88-711: In May 1986. Monr"" was retained to represent a client in a personal injury case. Thereafter. Monroe agreed to pay the client 's chiropractor oot 01 any settlermnt or judgment proceed$. However, when the $elUement proceeds "",re obtaimd. Monroe refused to pay the doctor. The doctor thereafter $ued the client and in re$pondent tlwreto, the client paid the ou!>\,}nding doc· tor's bill. Thereafter, Monroe eMcuted a prominory note to the cl ient for the amount of the doctor', bill, plus int .... t and attorn¥' fu s. but tlwn subsequent1y defaulted on payment of the note. The Disciplinary Board imposed discipline on Monroe in the form of a public reprimand with general publication. ASH 89-146: Monroe was employed to colieci past due loan payments fo r a ban k. Monroe misappropr iated the money he collected rather than $end it to the bank to be creditw to the debtor'$ account. The debtors sued Monroe and the hank and obtained a $000,000 judgment. The Discip li nary Iloord suspendw Monroe from the practice of law for 45

"".

ASB 89-541: Monroe was retained b}' a

424 /NOVEmber 1992

client to appeal a ruling from the county school board. Monroe failed or refured to file the appeal Or to perform any other service for his client. After the client discharged Monroe, Monro e refund to rdund any portion of the lee he had been paid. After the client flied a complaint with the Mobile Coonty Grievance Committee. Monroe refused to respond to the complaint. The Disciplinary Board suspended Monroe lrom the practice of law for 91 days.

ASH 89-692: Monroe was employed b}' adient 10 rol e certiorari to the United States Supreme Court from an ad,"'rse ruling of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. At the time Monroe accepted emptoyment and charged the client a fet, the deadline for filing a petition for certiorari had run some six weeks earli· er. Monr"" continued to charge and rece ive money from t he client with promi .. s and .. presentations that he would obtain relief for her. The Disci plinary Commiuion determined that MonrOI' shoutd be $uSl"'nded from the practico of law for a period of 45 days. Mar~h 1988. Monroe a client SI.500 to file an appeal in a paternity sui \. Monroe's brief on appeal consisted 01 two paragraphs of argument. The appeal "'as di$mi .. ed

ASB 89-711: In

char~

NOTICE EDWARD LEWIS HOHN , attorney at 18W, whose whereabouts 3ft> unknown, must answer the A"'bama Slate Bars Rule 25(a)

Podlion No. 92·03 within 28 dayS 01 November IS, 1992 or, lhereatwr, Ihe Ru le 25(8) Petition conta in&d the,ein shatl be deem&d admiM&d arid appropriate discipline sha ll be Imposed against him in this matler t>elore too Di~inary Boar<:l 01 the Alabama Slate Ba,_ Disciplinary Board

Alabama Srate Bat

becauso: it Iud been taken before there "'as a final order as to child support M 'm~nts. Monroe ctlarged the client another S1.500 to ro le a ,"cond appeal, but failed or .. Iused to file the appeal Or relund any portion of the fee he was paid. The Oisciplinary Board suspended Monroe for a period of 45 da;'$,

ASB 9Q-093: In January 1989, Monroe was retained to represent a dient before the Board of Pardon and Parole. Thereafter. Monroe failed to repruent Ih e client before the board and failed or refused 10 tah any othe r action on betlallol his client Or to refund any portion 01 the fee he was paid. The Disciplinary Board ddermined that Monroe should receive a puhlic reprimand "'ittl gemraJ publication. ASB 90·203: Monroe was given an insurance proceed$ check from a burial insurance policy by a chent to hold , pending an im'estigati"n into whether the check was for the correct amount. Mom"" failed or refu$td to take any action to determi"" if the check was in Ihe correct amount and subsequently lost or misplacw the ch«k. The Disciplinary Commission determined that Monroe should receive a public reprimand with general publication. ASB 9().272: A client of Moorot's med a complaint with the Mobile County Grievance Committee alleging that Mon_ roe would charge an exce .. i", fee in a criminal case. Monroe failed or rtfused to respond to the complaint or communicate in any way with the Grievance Committee of the Mobile Bar Association. despite repeated requests by certi· fied mail to do so. The Disciplinary Commission determined that ~lonroe $hoold be suspended from the practice of law for a period of 90 days. ASB 9().J(J2: Monroe charged a client to probate her mother's estate when the only asset of the estate was a house which was O'I<1led by the deceased mother and her surviving brother under a joint dew with right of survi\lOrship. ~ Disciplinary Board d~termined that Monroe should be suspended from th~ practice of law for a period of 120 days. THE ALABAMA u\\VYER

AS8 go.jjJ9: MonrOI' npruent~<i a

dim!. who was atttmpU"i to purchase I Pirtner's intemt in I biil bonding busj. rw:u. The dimt pot 535.000 in Monroe', trust iKtOOnt to dfmuate lilt purtha5t. Monrot ~onverte<i the $35,000 to hi' 0'1<0'11 Ust and failed or rdustd to repay the dient any portion thereof, The DiKi · plinary Commi$5ion determined that Monrot should be <ii.barred from the prxticeofliw.

ASS 90-.394: Monroe was e~ by • dient to nprn~nl Mr <1auiht~r in C(ltInrrtion .... ith a ~. M0nroe flIiltd or rtfustd to IaIu: my action to represtnt th~ daughter and rtfustd to refund Iny portion of tM mont)' M hid been paid. The Disciplinary Commi$,lion determined lhat Monroe Jhould be s~· ptnd~d from the practic~ of II .... for I period of 180~ ASS !J().4!U: Monroe was ~m~ by a elimt to rtprnent h.. interm in ton· nection w,lh I petition which had bH-n tiled 10 Ippoint I guardi.n for the ~lienl"l si.ter. Monroe f,iled or nfw.td to perfurm any stMen on behil{ of hil client and refustd to rtfund any portion 0( the (ff lhit had been paid. TIlt Dis.:i. plinu)' Commission hid determined tNt ~'onroe ohould be JWl)tnded from lhe pl'Klice oIliW for I period of 0Ilf ynr.

mu'*'

AS8 !J().499: Monroe was tm~ by clitnlto ~nt the client', son on I criminal chlrg •. Monroe f.iled or refustd 10 prcMdt any .. Men on behalf 0( th~ iOn and refused to refund any POr' tion of the lu he had been paid. Antr a complaint .... u fil.d wilh Ihe Mobile County Gritvanc~ Committff. Monroe ~md with lilt committn 10 rtfund tilt fn he had been paid. but suilHqumlly f.iled Or refused to do 50. Th~ Dilei. phn",), Commilln suspended Monroe from the jmCtice 0( law for II period 01 15 months. ASH 9().79(): Monroe wa.I employtd by , dient to hive certain per30Nl property of .n ulille apprllised. but failed or rtt'ustd to ~ the lJ)pniyl done or 10 refund any pOrtion of Ihe ftt he WlJ piid. The Disciplinary Commission dtt~rmintd lhoal Monroe Ib:JuId be IUS· pended from the practice of law for I prriod of 30 d.l.yo.

ASH 9().791: Monroe w.... employtd to repruent I husband and wife in ronnec· TltE AlABAMA lAWYER

lion .... ith II prOpOHd idopIion. Monroe collected $1.000 from lhe roupt~ for. Dtpartmmt IX Human ReSlllJI"CU horne study. but nevtr Plio! tilt monty 10 DI-IR and rtfustd 10 refund any portion IX it to his clients. TIlt l>isciplinary lAlmmission de\ermintll that Monroe should be sus· pended from the practice of law for a period 0( two jlellTS.

• Coa_ " Itcuil c - t _ S.~ioOI C18"'.PC". , ~

SuJTencier of Llcen. .

•

)o\t<Ibt "

By order of the Supreme Court of Atllbllma. Mobile IItorney Wllila • Edwin /Ib:t'.licmK to pooice Iiw was cancelled and annulled. dfective September 14. 1992. The order of the supreme court wu bued upon Mais su rrend~ring of hil licenu 10 practice law in the Statt of Alabama. May surren· dered his licenu dut 10' disciplinary invtSlig,ltion IX him concerning IIlIeged miKonduct. lASS No. 9'2·3011

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• Effecti"f July 25. 1992. attorney Hullh HudM' n S... II" wal SUlpended from the prxlice IX law for nonoompli. iII"ICe with the MCU: Rulu. Smith is now living in Washington. D.C. ICU: No. 92-

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Su.pen.ions • Effec\i« July 25. 1992. attorney David No .... an Blallde hal been sus· ~ndtd from Ih~ prxlice of law for non· compliance "l'ilh the Mandatory Contino uing Legal Education Rules. Blaikie il now li",ng in Richmond. Virginia. ICU: No. 9'2.(141 • Eff«livt July IS. 1992, Binningham attorney HOllii on L Brown was sus· pended from the practice IX Iiw for non· compliance ""Ih lilt MelE Ruin. and on AlllIwt 13, 1992 wu rtinstated. ICU: No. 92-061 • Effective July IS. 1992. Phenix City Illornt}' Rlchnd C. Hamllion was luspended from the prllclice 01 IIw for noncompli.nc~ with Ihe MClE Rules. ICLENol.92.191 • Eff«livt July 15. 1992. Binnin&twn niamey Jamtl 8 . ,",Oo1on, II was sus· pended from 1M jmCtice IX Ia.... for non· compliance with the MCU: Rulf$. ICU: No. 92·351

_1'mKI 5.1

JS T«hnolot/kJ. Inc.

• , " • SOO I West Broad St. ...... Richmond. VA 23230

Penny Parlker F"""",ry On",,,,, of PL."""", 0{ W v"" ...., 0{ Alabo.rrw SdlOOi 0{ t.. I'rnolda ",....,. """,,~....-.c .. 10

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199·J611

"I Public Roprim.ncls • Gadsden attomt)' John Cunni nil· halll was publicly reprimanded on July IS. 1992 in connect ion .... ith hi. han.

NOI'tmbtr 1992 / 425

dling of a personal injury matter. He fa iled to cooperate in the bar's in~stiga tion of the grievance that en5ued from the case. On May 30, 1990, Cunningham was retain~d to r~preSl:nt a min<lr who was injured in an accident. The case was ultimately settled in October 1991. The min<lr's moth .. filed a grievance against Cunningham after the settlement of the ca.e . She alleged that he convinced them to accept the •• tt lement On incomplete informoUon, failed to com· municate and keep her informed, and WaS not truthful about cutain matters a5SQCiated with the case. Cunningham ne""r re'fHlnded to Ihe allegations of the complaint. in spit. of se,·.ral wrilten requuls that h. do so. Rul e 8.lIb) of the Rule. of Professional Conduct provides that • I~r shall no! f.il to rtspond to a lawful demand for information from a disciplinary authori· ty.lASB No. 91.n71 • Bessemer attorney Jo hn Howa rd Mc Enlry, III was publicly reprimanded for violating DR 6·101(AI which pro· hibit. an attorney from willfully negled· ing a legal matt .. enlrusted to him. On Ap r il 22. 1992, McEniry was found

C·L·E

REMINDER 1992 CLE Transcripts will be mailed on or about December 1, 1992 All CLE credits must be earned by December 31, 1992 All CLE transcripts must be received by January 31 , 1993

426 1 November 1992

guilty of neglecting a legal matter entrusted to him and given a public rep· rimand with general publication. He was the aHorney for. sol .. ent •• Iate. but between 1987·90 he did nothing to bring the utate to a close. despite the urgings of other attorneys involved. McEniry made promises but ne""r fol_ lowed through. He wa, ul t imately replacod by a court·appOinted administrator. Meteniry had been pre>iously disciplined for neglecting client m~lters. lASB No. 89-5761 • Mobil e attorney Thorn .. Jeffrey GlId. _1I was given a public reprimand without general publication. On September 11. 1992, Clidewell repre· sented a plaintiff in a Jones Act case. The plaintiffs case ""as ultimately di.mi ... d by the United States Dist rict Court for the Southern Di5trict of Alabama due to Glidewell'. egregious p~.trial discovery violations. He failed to respond to crili· cal defense interrogatories. When finally ordered to do so ""ithin three days of the pre_trial conf..ence, many of Glide"".I!"s answers were incomplete Or stated ........ ill supplemeni"·. Four days before the scheduled trial, Glidewell tried to amend the pre·trial order by adding issues. doc· ument5 and fou r expe rt witnesses. In dismissing the case . the U.S. District Court found thai there had be"" ~ "clear record of delay or willful contempt and that lesser sanctions would n<lt suffice". Clide ...,,11 was accordingly disciplined by the bar for willfully neglecting a legal matter, failing to seek the la""ul objec· ti"e. of hi. client, failing to carry out a contract of employment. and damaging a client during the course of the profe.· sional relationship. IASB No. 91-7511 • Bi rmingham attorney Da ~ l d B, Norris was publidy reprimanded by the Alabama State Bar on September II, 1992 for making a misleading commu· nication concerning service. he ""as to perform on behalf of a client. The repri· mand ""as admini5lered to Norris upon his conditional plea of guilty to a viola· tion of Disciplinary Rule 2·10I(B), In lRcember 1987, Norri. ""as retained to handle a personal injury action on behalf of. client. The client had been injured ""hile working on a loading dock in Atlanta, Ceorgia, Norris and t h client entered into a contract whereby Norri. W31; to 'prosecute all claims for

injuries and damages a. a result of client's injury." The pe ..onal injury claim could not be setlled prior to the 1wO·}'ear .tatuto of limitations so Norris associated an Atlanta firm which filed 5uit and retained a recovery for the client. HO""evIlr, the pOtenlial "'"(Irker's compensation claim was never filed within the statutory period . [ASB No. 9O·705(B)1 • On September ll, ]992 Birmingham attorney J a meo Edmund Odum, Jr . was publicly reprimanded by the Alabama State Bar for willfully neglecting a legal matter entrusted to him, and for failing to keep a client rea.onably informed about the status of a matter andlor promptly complying with reason· able requests for information. Odum agreed to handle an eviction matter for a cHent. The dient promptly paid, upon reque.t. Odum·s f« for rep· resentation in the matter. HD""<M'r, the client did n<lt hear anything from Odum fo r quite 50me time and contacted Odum concerning the status of the iI\·k· tion proceeding., Odum informed the client that Ihe matter ""as proceeding on schedule and that he would contact the client within a week as follow·up 10 inform him about the statUI alth. case. The client .till heard nothing from Odum. Having other bu.iness in Birmingham, tht dient arranged to meet with Odum to discus5 the matter. At this meeting. Odum admitted to the client that he had done nothing to commence the eviction procudings. and further adm itted that he did not even open a me in the case. The dient filed a formal grievance against Odum with the state bar which was investigated by the Birmingt\am Bar Anoelation Grievance Committee. Odum failed to re.pond 10 several nquesls by that body for a writlen re.pOnse to the client's grievance. The client did eventually receive a full refund of the f« from Odum. Odum·! conduct was found to have violated Rule 1.3. Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct (willful neglect of a legal matter entrusted to an attorney), and Rule 1.4(al (require. attorney to u.,p a dient reasonably informed about the 5tatus of a matter and promptly complying with rearonable requests for information). (ASB No. 91·6591 • THE AlABAMA LAWYER

1992

BAR LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

ilt fourth Mln ... l Abbamo St.at~ Bar I.tldtnhip Confnmce wu held Sepltmbu 9, 1992 in tht new. but not quite finished. lIddition UId rdurbishtd IICiliti" of the SUllt bar

hudqUirte'f in MOfltgorm.". The ron· fu~n« pl'OYidu bar luders from acl'OM tht .tate wilh information on the opera· tion of Ihe Slalt bar and allows them 10 ron! other \eadel'J of the Alabama Statt B;>. ~ wtll. Approximately 70 local "'-.

officen. KClion officen and m ,tt bar commiltH lind tHk fo". (!woin 5p"nl Ihe mornin, IjsitninQ \0 .puk ... dtsc.ibe mtt bar optnlions lind programs. Following lunch. It'flirale brnok· out sessions wen htld for tach of thoese groups. The Imu.:.ul -'on for SKtion

Alabama Slall &tr Prtsidenl Clanmct M. Small. Jr. WlI/coming attendees 10 the 1992 Bur lAaders/rip ClmferrnCf! !reId !kptembv 9 in the ""'" slale bar f<H:ililiel ~n RI'Yu , cllair of the Environmtntal uw SKti(lfl. and Olnia Jenlrin ., clliir-el«t of th. Admin;sl'''live uw SUlion, dull wilh ways to inn.~ and relain >Klion mtm"" ... Tom 8 ryan l , thair of tht Lonl Bar Ac!;"';tia ~d ~Mca Committee. ;lInd 8am.. Rhodu, ElfcutM Director of 1m Mobile Boor Association, ltd a breal<· oot Stsfion lor Ioao] bar oKlee.. dtaling .... ith how to lit a more organized Ioal bar leader. Melinda Wale .., director of Ihe Alabama Volunlt.. Lawyer, P.o· gram and BIll 8an, president of lnsu.·

LcaH bqr prl:!idt>ntl and rnmmillN and Sft:Iion chDirr t:D_ ""'" arovnd the .slat. ta allerni lhe general session.

Rob.rl l.ulk, chair of Ih. UJIIJ Dall Qnnmillu, spooking allhe morning

""""

anCe Specialists. Inc., diJcu ...d pro· Qram ideas for IncrnsinQ ~r participation in loal ba r allQCiation. Lynne Kitchen ., thai. of lhe Adult tilt racy Task 1'01"(:, and Ltwll Page. chair of lhe Task Forct on Lawyer Mentoring, .... ilt_ ed b)o ltale bar President C!art"ce SmaU ltd the HUion lor committee and task loree ~hai .. and dis.cuSHd .... hal they need to know in order to plan .. succCUluI ~lIr, Local bar prnidenlJ, Hction otron.. and committe. and tuk fore. chairs who >«u UnKIlt to attend !hoe conference!NY obtain I COllY dtlle Boor Lead· erlhip Handbook by writing Ilate bar hadquarterJ. •

leaden l.d by

TH~:

ALABAMA u\WYER

Karen 8TJ1on (left), chair oflhe E:n.·ircmmenlall.tlU! Set:tian, tmd Olivia imkilU. chair-tlI«1 of Ih. Mminislraliw Low Set:lian. /rodirt{/ lhe afternoon bnwlroul_sion f{Jr #(;Iion INih!'!

Navembe.I992/ 42T

ABOUT MEMBERS, AMONG FIRMS ABOUT MEMBERS

AMONG FIRMS

Pahlda W. Cob b Stew • • t announce. the relocation nf her office to

I.ynn W. Jlnb, III and L. Bern.rd Smlthart of Jinks &. Smithart and I.ynn Robe.uon Jac ..... n announce the lor· mation of Jinb, Smith.rt "J.c.....n. Office. will be located at 219 N. Prairie Street. Union Springs. Alabama (ma iling address is P,O. Box 350. Union Springs 36089). and A.B. Robertson Building, 1 Court Square. Clayton. Alabama lmailing add res. i. P.O. Box 10. Clayton 36016. Phon. (205) 738-4225 in Union Springs and (205) 775·3508 in Clayton.

III Soulh Broad Street. Scomboro. Alabama 357&8. Phone 12051 259·3582. Kuru. R. Smith, Jr •. formerly ",ith Farmu, Price, Smith. Hornsby &. Weatherford. "nnoun'"," the opening of

his firm. with offices at 103 S. SI. Andrews Street. Dothan. Alabama 36302. The mai ling add'en is P.O. Drawer 6(;29. Phone (205) 671-7959.

WlIfonl J.

u. ... announces 1M relo-

cation of his oUiets to 1500 Wilme r Avenue, Anlli.ton, Alabama 36'201. Phonet205) 238·8353. Everette A. Priu, Jr. annOunce. Ihat he has returned to Ihe practice of law, effective October 19. 1992. with offi,.. tocat~ .t 109 Blac"'her Street,

Bre..1on. Alab.una 36426. Ch.lolol'her H. G.lfnth , formerly with 1'/;15OIl &. Day. announce. the opening of his office. located at 247 S. E:ighth Street. Gadsden. Alabama 35901. Phone (W5) 546-6977. D. William Roon announces that he has completed the LL.M. degree in environmental law at Tuiane University and is opening offices at 2026 2nd Avenue. North. City federal Building. Suite 900. Birmingham. Alabama 352«1. Phone (205) 251 -6972.

Kath.,.n McC. Ua .... ood, formerl~ associaled with Rosen, Cook. Stedge. Dav;s, Carroll '" Jon ... announces Ihe opening of her offices at 1020 Lurleen \\Iallace Boulevard. North, Tuscaloosa. Alabama 35401. Phone (205) 759·2516. C.lvln M. Whitesell , Jr. announc .. the opening of his offic ... elfer.tiv. September l. 1m. The flrm's add~ is 428 S. PeTT}' Street. Montgomery. Alaba· ma 36104. Phone (205) 834·5999. L. Byron Reid anOOunCes the open· ing of his officu at 223 N. Midway Street. Clayton. Alabama 36016. The mailing addr ... is P.O. Box 356. Claylon, Alabama 36016. Phone (205) 775-3443.

428 1 November 1992

IIIlth.el E. Riddle , formerly slale counsel for Chicago and Ticor Tille insurance companies. announces that he has joined L.",ye .. , Till. Inlunnce Corpontion a5 Alabama area counsel. His new mailing address is 2200 Wood · crnt Place, Suite 330. Birmingham. Alabama 352(19 , The mailing addrus is P.O. Box 10766. Birmingham. 35202. Phone (2051 S68·IOO9 Of S68·IOOO. RI~h .. rd

Aln .. nder announc~s that Fnnk L. Thiemon,e, III. formefly with Shinbaum. Thiemonge &. Howell 01 Montgomery. has become usociated with Ihe firm of Aleonder '" Auocl. a l ... Offic.s afe localed al Suile 2500. First National Bank Building. Mobi le. Alabama 36602. Phone (205)438·9002. London. Vaocty, Elliott &: 80"-':." announce. the relocation of its offic.' to 2001 Park Place. North. Suite 1000. Park Place Tower. Birmingham. Alabama 35203. WiIIl .. m F. Ad dhon, Elizabeth Vlcken Addllon and Shirley D.rby Ho",.11 annOunCe the formation of AlIdu.on, AlIdllOn " Ho",. II. and lhe relocation of thei r offlcn to 1201 fkll Building, 207 ~\ontgomel')' Street. Mont· gomery. Alabama 36104. Phone (205) 269--0700. M. Dou,l.. Ghee announces that 8ud Turnn i, no longer associalfd wilh Ihe firm. and Ihat Rod Cldd en. has joined as a partner. Also joining the firm as an associate is Stanton GI. ... COli. Offices are located al 500 AmSo-uth

Bank Building. Anniston. Alabama. The mailing addfess is P.O. Box 848. Anni.· ton. 36202. Phone [205) 236·2543. JohlUllon, B.rton, Procotor, S,",d· I.", <Ii: N.rr announces the relocation of ih offices to AmSOUlhlHa rbert Plaza. The new mailing address is 2900 AmSouth/Harbert Plaza. 1901 Sixth AVenue. North, Birmingham. Alabama 35203·2618. Phone (205) 322·0616. Simplon, Robln l on <Ii: $om .....lII. announce. thai WIIII.m A. Major, Jr•. formerly ",nior vice-pr.sidenl and general counsel of SONAT. has joiooi the firm al its Birmingham office. located at 1700 First Alabama Bank Building, Birmingham. Alabama 35203. M,ert S. Atrieola, J ... and Jean M. s..,. announce the formalion of Atrieo1. " S• .,.. wilh omcn located at III Washington Avenue. Montgomery. Alabama 36104. Phone (205) S32·9900.

L.n,.,

B.,..n t. MO"-': .. n. former executive director of the Office of Prosecution Ser· "';ce. in Montgomery. i, r.ow a full. time as.sistanl di.lricl atlom")lfor Joel M. Fol· mar. dislrict atlom")l. 12th Judicial Ci r· cu it. The mailing address is P.O. 80>' 1102. Enterprise. Alabama 36331. Pho"" (205) 347-1142.

The AI.b . m. St. l e Employ... ' Msocl.tion announc .. that Mark J. WiIll.ms has become its chief counsel. He Wa5 formerly with the firm of Beasley. \\Iibon. All.n . Mendelsohn. Jemison & JalTl<'O. Ch _rlu R. III_lone. former ly with the TUKaloosa firm of Wooldridge & Malone. and Herbe rt III. Ne"'e ll, III. for merl~ with Ihe Tuscaloosa firm of Tann« '" Cuin, have formed Malone" N.",. IJ . Robert V. Wooldrid" will be of rounsello the fIrm. Officts are located at Suite 300, Secor Bank 8uilding. 550 Gre.n<OOro A.... nu •. TuscalQ<Ma. Alabama 35401 , Phon. (205) 349-3449. Joaeph L. De.n. Jy . and J . Tutt B.rret! announeo Ih. formation of a parlnership under the IlIIme of D•• o " 8 .. m:tt . wilh offices at 457 S, 10th Street. Opelika. Alabama 36801. The THE AI..A8AMA LAMER

mailing w.Jrus is P,O. 8w< 23 1, ~Iikl. 36/103·0231. Phone (205)749·

A1~baIN

L~wh,

B • • ckh• •

Flowul

announces the rdoation of Ihtir o/flCts to 209 W. Main Stl'ftt. Dothan. AWwni 36301.1"hone (2051792·5157. Monll, fh)'ntl 4; "nnounen that i i of August I. 1992 E.C. Homllly, Jr. h.u bttome a memo IItr of the firm and John F. DlIIon, IV and J ennl, Let Kelley have jointd as of counsel. Offices are localed al 100 S. Ma in Street, Aleunde. City. Alabama. ThemailinQ.dUrts.s i. P.O. Box t449. Aki<andt. Cily.l5O](1. Phone (205)329·

I",•••

'000.

P.,,"O "" • Elluh.rdl announces u...1 Cl;)'de Ala .. Bla........I', Iormtr tOty auomry lOr lhe Cily of HunlMllt. his btcomt I ITOembtt of lilt firm. .-. known IS Pauo .. " Ellerh •• dt • BI ... hnlhl, . Omen Ife loclI!ed ~t AmSouth Center. 200 W. Clinton AvenlK. Suite 703. HuntMlle. Alabama 35&11. Phone t205) 533·2172. Ben Rlchard,on announeu that Joh .. J. Ca llaha .. , Jr. and Mlch.tl E. IAt have become members of the firm. eapOu.no, W....'old, I"rut ...... d • S .... ont announen that B.n A.... uw Fun.... former law cluk to Judge Sun nylor of lilt AWwni Court of Criminal Appeals and former staff lIUomcy to JUlti« Henry B. Stu,gall. II of Ihe AJlbamll Supreme Court. Ind R.W. Ruuell haw btcolTOe o.uocultd with the finn. Offices art localtd at 350 Adims Avenue, Montgomery. AllbalN 3611).t: thf mailing ~ddrns is P.O. Box 1910. Montgomery, 36102. I'honIo (20S) 264·6401. WllJl11' P. Tumerand Ttrry P. WII· MIn. formerly of Tur~r & Wilson. and WlIlIa .. P. S.wyt •. formtrly of WtiloS & Sawyer. announce tht Mrmation of Turon, WIlIlO" • Sawytr. The INil· ing Iddress is P.O. BOI 98. 428 S. ~t StMt. Mon\l(Knrry. Ahbama 36101-0098.1'hont (205) 2tj2.2756. Cully L. K.rrtr Ind Harry S. Po .. d. IV lInnounce the formation of K.rfu II Po .... wilh offien It ISO Gowmmtnt Sireet. Suile 300J. Mobile. Alabama 36602. Phone (205) 438·1308.

",ith Spain. Cillon. Crooms. Rian & Net· tits, hu jolntd tht firm. The mailing lIddnn is P.O. BOI 16046. Mobilt. AlWma 36616.1'hont (205) 344-5151.

IU"tt 4; PelerlOn lInnounctS lhat Abrl." 0..,1, T,lu. formerly a judi· cial clerk (0' the lIono r~blt Shlron Low~. Blar;kbum of the U.S. District Court. Northt.n Dislricl of Alabaml.. h.u becomt an associatt. She is a 1990 summa cum laudll Qr~uatt of Cumber· I~nd School of Law. Office$ are locattd al 1700 Finandal Center. 505 N, 20th Street, BirminQh~m. Alabama 35203. Phont (205)328-8141. Seh"l. D,lo, a.lllo .. II C.III.no announces Ihal P.ul A. A.roll h~s bKomt woeuttd wilh tht firm. lie is ~ graduate of Florida Atlantic University and Cumbf.Ww.I School 01 Law. Officu Ir. louttd at S05 N. 2(Hh SIr«\' 600 Fil'W"lCul Cmlt •. Birminttwn. Alabama

35203. I"hone (20S) 52] ·7000. BUII.tt, Bu" " Let announces

that Linda T. TlmPllln hall become anociattd with the firm. Offices art locattd at Monrof County Bank Build· ing. Suite 200, Mon roeville. Alabaml

,..".

Com.... 4; w.ld ..., lnl1OlUl«S u...t J ...... A. Hoo-nr his bKomt an_ ciate of lilt firm. Officu Ire \oc.;oltd 01 2101 6th Avenue. North. Suitt 700. Bi rm;nllham, AI~baml 35203. Phone (205) 254·3216. Ceo... K, F. lbAchl announce$ that Robert C. Klnlf h.u b«orm an ;u.soci. lte of the firm. Offices • •• located at Monroe County Bank Building. Suitt 205, Monroev ili t. Allbaml 36460. I'hont (205) 575·2451.

H ...... , e•••• u • Shan'" Innouneu thll J , Notl Kill, has becomt woeuttd with the firm. OIflCes Ire \oc.;ottd at 214 Johnston Str«t. S.F." Ouitur, Alabimi. Tho milling ~d~loS is P.O.1IoJ 2688. Ouitur 35602. !'hoot (205) 340-8000. •

AUGUST 1992 Ernest William Ball ...................................... 1>ladison. Alabama David Hall Carter .................................... .... Rockford, 1\labama Sharon Anne Donaldson ...................... Birminllham. Alabama Anthony Nicholas I.awrence.l ll... ....... Pascagoula, Mississippi Scbrena

Reton~'a

Moten ........................ Montgomery, Alabama

Thmmy Denire 1>tountain ..................... Birmingham. Alabama Ray Charles Thomason ............................ 1Uscaloosa, Alabama

PI • ...,e. Carr II Alfor" announces thai John Cha.l.. S. Pi • ...,e , formtrl~ TH~:

ALABAMA LAWVER

NOvtffiM.I992 / 429

YOUNG LAWYERS' SECTION By SlONE)' W. JACKSON, III, President

illi

aulOmlltieally. TIM: Ex«uti,.. Commit· Itt will OOmiRale two young llov.~1"1 for the position of trusurer. Any }'oung lawyer an bt pl~ctd on tilt: ballol by a

n order to lontOng 11m greaur involvement young Il.~u locross Iht m .te. Ihe by-laws Qf this !!C t ion

being reviRd. II meeting of tht ExecuIi"" Committee ollhe Young La\"~'U$' S«tion wu held ~pt.mbo:r 25. 1992 \0 discllu lilt propoRt! dnft. Once Iht d~ i. awrovtd by the EJ«\Iti"" Com. miltn. it will be pramt~ \0 the board of bu commiuionu. wmdime thi. ~Ir. OUT Immediate past p.tsident. Keith NOI'TTIiIl 01 MonljcHmry. ;tppOinttd Robert B.lugh of Bir mingham to htad up an implt.....nt;ltion rommittn to p.oyidt I fint d.aft of lht by-laws. Auis linl Robert 1ft HII Albritton

of Andahui •. Denise Fuguson of Huntsville. Nhonda Pitts of Birmingham, Judwn W.II. of Mobile. and No.-

sioRaI districl and lIulomatic appoint· mtnu 01 ~n officer 01 tho loal ur,!i.ltu, including Huntsvillt, Tuscaloosa. Birm· inghJm. Montgomtry. Mobile, and the Wire Grass area. All 'tmaining slOll will be appointed by the president. Thor. no nve ' lIl new restrictions applying to members of the Eueuti"" Committtt. TIM: most radial CNn# is that an ;owojnttd mtmbtcr ClI1 stOW for only one thru·)ur ttrm. If /I member hAs to dr(lp out or b«onw:o 36 )'U-I"I old du,ing his or hor t.nu~, /I substitute an be ~nttd. Currently, thut is no timt limit on tIM: length oIstrvic. on tht Ex«utivt Commilttt. TIM: draft 01 tho amtndtd byllows to be prtunttd to the board of commis· sione .. wHl be: printed in its entirety in upcoming issues of The Alabama

bert Williams of Montgomery. Jf

/Au,,.,...

approtW. ~rJ.1 strik ing change. will

finally. tlltu is II lot 10 be dom duro ing tilt upcoming yor. We will put on Ihe bar admissions ct r.mon), for th. summu and winte, IIdmittets, stagt mock Iriill COfflI)tt,lions for various high schoohi throughout tIM: stil •• put on .ltYl'nl.ltminal"l, including tIM: popullor SanllHtin SemiRar in M:ay. pI'O\ide del· t'ptts \0 tht Amtric:an Rill' As5ocwion annual and stmi·annual rIlfttings. coor· dinat. pl'O\Inms with tilt Ioalllffilialts who provide Yar~ loal "Mc". and many, many mort activiti ... Anyont ",ho woold likt to get inYOlwd can con· tact rm it (205) 433·3131. •

occur. One prominent chinge will b. th. ~r in ,,'hieh the off"Ktrs Ire el«t· td. A $Ultwidt "",il-(JIJI !)oHoting Ind tl«tion of 1M Irusurer's poI'ilion will hkt plloce In 11M: Ioamt mlInnu H Iht tl«lion of lilt silit !)or's officfrs. This ""'1 bt .n tJptnli~ undtrUking but will pn:wi<.\e ,rnler Kens 10 lilt el«. lion proctu by Ih. $tvtul Ihouloand young llowyel"l shttwide. l'r... nl1y. only lilt \ru,suru's position will be conttst· ed. U Iht other omen (.ltc"'tary. prelli. dent·e lect and prnidenlJ will Slt p up

pttitlon accomPllnitd by 25 RaIMS supporting nominatoon lor lilt post.. Tradi. tion;llly, tilt oIilCffS IwIv! bttn el«ted it tilt annual metti.., 01 tilt ilit. boor in July 01 och )'Or. Aootlltr major change is lilt maktUJl and t~nure of tilt Executivt Commit\«. CurTtnlly. tht tommiUtt COI'I$ists 0124 mtmbers, which imlude lho foor .l.ct· td offictrJ and the immediate !WI presi· don\. Th. proposed chJngt mandates ~t lust on. memb( r from oath cong''',

Traffic Accident Reconstruction ANNA LEE CtAmNA

A"""""-r . --.."".............. -"'_ " - U. 00.0.-. P.e.

ALBERT MEDINA

n.. ""'" ............ "'->lit- 0IIi00 .....

- .........-.....--.......... -...-.-. . . .............. ---.--. _lll · llll~"'

. . .1 - ..... _~}05 --~ ~

434) 1 NowmMr

P.O. IIIIX,.,*"

1oION'00WHn'. ~

311,,. (205)11M9211

....

THE AlABAMA LAWYER

YLS COMMITIEE ApPOINTMENTS One very important function of the YLS is 10 provide a liaison for the various committees of the Alabama Stale Bar to the section. The committee memocrs fo r 1992·93 and the committees they will serve on are: hed D.

c....,. Jr.

WIllIa. O. W. ltoa. III

Steff" A. M.arl1 ....

P.O. Box 2069 Optlilca, AIabarni 36803

Tusktgft. ~ 36083 ~ to UgoI Serle

NililOfJI U1w

P.O.1kU 66705 Mobile. Abbamo 36660 Lorcvn Mvmirmg

Lee Copeland P.O. Box 347 MontgCImtry, Alwrl\a 36101 Iknch <Iud Bar fMulions

LIou.. Crum 1',0. Box 116 MonlgOl1'Wry. AlabalTlll 36101 I'I!rmarwII C«k Commission

Willi . .. lAwI. C.m-. Jr. 2100 South Bridllt' Parkway Suit.65() Birmingham. Alabama lS...">09

c....rI,.. L "".,>ua

"..,..., J. Mel ....la

P.O. Boll 2189 Montgomery. Alahamll 36102·2189 Cllilenship fA/uro/ioli

MontgOmel)'. AlabalTlll 36103 Pr~id Legal $om'ires Comrni.<sian

J . TI_thy Smith

Dune WilMa

2140 11th A,-wue. South Suite 300

P.O.1:IoJ. 032206

ChrbCoamaDil

TuscalQO$ol, ~ 35ot03

Binninglwn, ~mo. 35205

f'roIi:lSional Economia

P.O. Box 2841 Mobilt. Alabama 36652

P.O. Box Z39

~N;mloring

P.O. BoIC4160

Pdtr S. Mub7 P.O. Box 1583 Mobile . Alabama 36633 /Aga/ t,/ucalion

I~islotitoe

DiwII!T RespOru<' ~rltNnrell

a..ny a· ....·k

1'.0. Box 2987 Mobile. Alabama 36601

1'.0. Box 55727

-,.......

Ilirmingham, Alabama l5255

AJlemolive Dispute NesoIulion

t:lhics F.4uaJtioo

LI .... S. Ptny 166 (;QwmlTll!nt Strut, SUite 100 Mobile, Alabama 36602 Minorily PariidpoliQn

lIoiom J . HH;fe 1'.0.1ku894

407 Franklin Strut

Bunl.iVilit. Alabama 35801 Mult LiteraC/I

J._

IIIrl lUt J. H.... tlc1 1'.0.Orawtr S50249

Mobilt. Alabama 36601 ~lIa1e Colirls

Mobil •. Alabama 36685 l'ro/eS!;ionalism

John..., Bnotlde..!.,.

E<hnnI Smith 50S N. 20th Street

~·i"t

National funk Building Mobilt. AIabamIO 36601

wuna.. O. Wall... III

Suile 1100 Birmingham. Aiabaml3S203 /ndi!JDItlNf.",..,

C:!rn!ctionall",'ilul;.o,~

P.O. Box 2069 ()ptlika. Alabama flrloulhorUtd Proclict 01 Low

1'.0. !Iox 780 t:nterprise. Alabama 36331 /nmrrmce

W.nnLaI....

lSOI CuronaA""nut J,uper, AIabamIO 3S5()1

Judicial Building Jullld ... N. Bfl'IOn

1'.0. Sox213001 Montgomery. Alabama 36121 l.AJrcger Public Rdoti<ms Enut F. WoM.a.

J~.

1'.0. Box 2821 Mobile. Alabama 36652 /.QC(1/ &r Aclidlks

JMC.C~,J~.

Ja_ H. Sao .... III P.O. Box 241 Cr«nsboro. Alabama 36744 Judidol Selection

""h..r T. P_II 1'.0.1\0:1. 844 ~Iobil •. Alabama 36601 Committee Or! SubsI/tJ'ICWI ~ inSocieIJl H......... W. Nt""""'" 1'.0. Box (}3221)6 Tu~I(IOSa.

ArchlMld T. R _a. P.O. Iku 123

Mobilt. Alabama 36601

"'" "'"

Alabama 35403 Task Force Or! Speda1t"talion SlqiNa R. COIIt..... I'.O.1ku 290 Mobile. AIabamIO 36601 Task f'orce 00 Ihe Qualilll of /.ire

NOYfmblr 1992 1431

1992 ALABAMA STATE BAR ANNUAL MEETING

THURSDAY

Margaret S. Chillkrs. chair of the Administrative Low Sedion. oprned °k/minislroli"", Law Update: Recml Decisions and Discovery in Admin· islraliw Agim<:g f'roceedings. •

Phillip E. Admns. Jr.• 51ale bar pTltSirkmt for /99/-92, inlro<iuw; Gil/Jerl n. Campbell, Jr.. ul!CUlive director of/he T~ Slo/e Bar. "flo. in lum. introduces . ..

•• • . RoIJert L 5tH(/, Allanta lau'l/"'" rolumtlisl. humorisl and the ]992 &mch & &r l.unchron

-'"

The 1992 Membership Re<:epllanwas UJf'1I..:lIrm*d ,,~

and Ihrir """,,,'

wurif1 eli"" 1M the Thunda" ami Friday afternoon LEX/S' Training ~ for

aI/ameli',

432 I NOVI'mber 1992

THE ,\l.ABAMA LAWYER

1992 ALABAMA STATE BAR ANNUAL MEETING

FRIDAY

Whit, ollar_

~ P.

1Iq/S (II/end·

munialtiotu I.tlI6 $«lion

E/JI. spftlIring 10 the Corn·

«I different

. "'""""'"'"

"""",,

bus /0 lour

hams ,..,.,

- ... -

Kirklin Clinic(1tl(/ had lunch a/

11w Club.

numlJers .Tom lhe Summ,rfal

BroodJJ.wlI sma

' Xisnwt",

"Annir" 01d, ttl righi, .~

andllwAnku· ing T«hnk:olor D>W"K'OIlI ",

hldiaJohnson. oftheAmtriam Arbitration A.ssocIolion. and a Sprow of th, the aflemwn Pill1'I<l~

Session, "Introduction IQ Cit.;/

M«Jiation"

NtI"mlbtr 1992 / 433

1992 ALABAMA STATE BAR ANNUAL MEETING

SATURDAY

Gowmor AiJJm P. I1nlt«r motkrola "AiobamG Ikr Fbtenlial and Possibilities' ,

F~ No6o:mra

f«Jfuring • •.

PmidenI Adams. during/IN Grande

Corwoo>tion. prf'$i!I1lS the

A/obamQ S/al. Bar A;mrd of Meril /0 Sleum W. ForrJofTWCQ/oosa •..

.• RoIIerl Iv. lM. Jr. of Birmingham and . ..

!'MiIlenl Adams passes IIw gawl to incoming &/11(' bar president Clorma M. Small, Jr.

434 1 N~mbtr 1992

. . . ThomaJ 8rod Bilhop 01 Birmingham.

Pidurwl abcu! a/1M condwion of /992 ArmUQ/ N«ting '"'' 1992·93 I'residenl-flltct James R. Seal, 01/lfcnl· gornerg. pcul President Phillip E. Mams,)r. of()pf>lilw.

currer!ll'Mitkn/ CloM1af M. Snwl!, Jr. oIBlrmingham.

THE ALABAMA L\WYER

Delinquent Notice Licensing/Special Membership Dues 1992-93 ALL AlABAMA AnORNEYS The dual invoice 100licenses or special memberships was mailed in mid-September and was to be paid between October 1 and October 31. I! you have not purchased an occupational license or paid special membership dues, you are now delinquent!

IN ACTNE PRIVATE PRACTICE: Any attorney who engages in the active private practice allaw in Alabama is required to purchase the occupational license. The practice of law is defined in Section 34·3·6, Code of Alabama, 1975, as amended. (Act #92·600 was passed by the Alabama Legislature and amended Section 40-12-49, Code of Alabama, 1975, effective October " 1992.) Occupational Llcense ..... $230 (includes automatic 15 percenllale penally)

NOT IN ACTIVE PRIVATE PRACTICE:

An attorney nol engaged in the active private practice allaw 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 vinue of a position held, qualify for special membership. (Section 34-3· t 7 & t 8, Gode of Alabama, 1975, as amended) Special Membership Dues .....$100 (penalty not applicable)

Direct any questions to; Alice Jo Hendrix, membership services director, at 1·800·354·6154 (in·state WATS) or (205) 269· 1S1Slmmediatelyl

TIlE AU6AMA LAWYER

NO'.'tmbtr 1992 / 435

IN THE OF

SPIRIT PUBLIC SERVICE by KEITH B. NORMAN

embers of th~ legal profe.sion have been decrying a diminution of mutual respecl, civility and COUT· ."Y among lawyers acro ... the nation

for .om.time now, t:ven within the rank. of our own bar. a sense of need to rekindle the spi rit of professionalism has caused the state bar to .""mine a role for it 10 play in restoring a pride of • ervice. In 1990. "Iabama State Bu msid.llt Harold Albrinon tstablished a

task force on professionalism and appointed former state bar President Bill Scrugg. of Fort Payne as its chair.

1. A DEFINITION OF PROFESSIONALISM The task force's first recommendation waS the adoption of a definition of prof.ssionalism, During our profe..ion·s self-examination of its professional ,·al. un in Alabama and .lse\O.·here. discussion has tvOlw<! as to what do ,,~ mean by ·profe ssionalism. " The task force suggested the following definition: The pursuit of the l.arned art of the law as a COmmOn calling, with. spirit of selVice \0 the public and the client, undertaken with confidence, integrity and civility.

The r ... k Fnrce on Professionalism

examined the efloTU undeJW<l}' by other .tales, particularly the two-day manda· toJ)' course for new lawyers in Virginia and the inclusion of prof.s.ionalism in CLE coursts as rtquired by G.:o,gia and sewral other states. Representati'"i:s of the task force travelled to Virginia and observed thf Vi.gini. State Bar's course On professionalism and talked with bar leaders. as _II as course facult~ mem· bers, about their progr.m'. operation. In addition. task force members met with staff members from Georgi. and discussed their Commission on Profes· sionalism's plan to raise the professional aspirational 1.""1 of Grorgi. lawyer> by using MCLE prof.ssionalism cours· ts. Studying these and other efforts convinced the task force that Alilbama law~ers would benefit from a similar pTOllram. Consequently. on April 10. 1992. the task force presented its report to the board of bar commissioners for consideration. The report contained 5i. rec· ommendations to bolster professional· ism in Alabama. They are set out below. 436 1 Nowmber 1992

2. A LAWYER'S CREED In addition to thf Oath of Anomeys as pre5Cribed by the Alabama Code, the task force's second recommmdlotion "..-as the adoption of the following creed: To my client..,! offer truthfulness. competence. diligence and good judgment. J will strive to r.present you as [would want to be represented and to be worthy of your trust.

To the opposing parties and thei, counse!. [ offer fairness, integrit~ and civili!)'. I will Sftk reconciliation and, if "'" fail, I will strive 10 make our dispute a dignified One. To the courts , and other tri bunals. and to Ihose who assist them. I offer respect. c~ndor and courtesy. l"...iIl ~tri,.., to 00 oo..or to the search for jrnlice, To my colleagues in the practice of law. I offer concern for your ',..... 1. fare. I will strive to make our associ. ation a professional friendship. To the profession, I offe r assistance. I will striw to keep the law a

profession and ou r profession a calling in Ihe spirit of public service To the public and our syslems of jrntice, I offe, selViee , I witt slrive to improve the law and our Itgal system. to make the law and our legal system available 10 all. and 10 seek the cOmmOn good through the representation of my cli ents . 3 . CODE OF PROFESSIONAL COURTESY The task force's third recommenda· tion was the adoption of a code of pr0feSSional courtesy. othe ....ise rderred to as rules of engagermnl: l. A lawyer shou ld never knowlingly deceive another lawyer, 2. A laW)'er must honor I'romises and commitments made to another lawyi!'. J. A lawyi!' should make an rusonable tlforts to schedu le matters with opposing counsel by agre.ment. 4. A lawyer shou ld maintain a cordia l and respectful relationship with OPpOSing counsel. 5, A lawyer should see l< sanctions against Opposing counsel onl~ where requir.d for the protection of Ihe cli.nl and not for mere tactical advan~.

6. A lawyi!r should not make unfounded accuutions of une thical conduct about oppOSing counsel. 7. A lawyer should never intentionally embalTa5$ another law~"I'r and should avoid perwnal criticism of anoth.r lawyer. 8. A laW).. r should ah.·ays be punctua!. 9. A laW)... should ... k informal agree THE ALABAMA w\\VYER

me 'll on proudura! a nd prelimi rIIOry rrwoUcrs.

10. Whcn t~h advt r$.J.ry procuding ends, I lawye r should >hab hands with the fellow lawyt r who represenU the 1dvtrury, 1nd if t he Ia"")'tl' Io$t$., thf ~i~ Iawyor ~II «,foin from enNinll in any WH· dud which e!l#ndtn disrespect for tht court, the ~rsary or thf par· ties. II. A 11wye r should re,ogn in that .dveUlIriu should communicate to avoid liti gation and remember their ob ligation to be courteoul to each

""".

lawytrs s hould not pllce them sel_ inside the bar in the court· room unlus permission to do so is gfilnled by Itw judge Itwn prtsid· inll16. A laW)"f ' ihould stand to add «,u tilt court, bt rourt«>US and not en· gage in recrimination with the

-".

17. During I n y court proceeding, whether in lhe court room or cham· tltrs, I lawytr ihould dress in proper aUire 10 I how rupec t fo r t he cou rt and lilt law. 18. II lawyer should no t become 100 closely usociated with the cl ienl's

A LAWYER'S CREED To mJl clien/s. I oRer trolhfu/nes.s. compe/t.'fIa, diligenu and goodjudg· t1l0l1. f /&ill strive to represenl JIOU as I would uvnllo be repre;5erlfed and to be worthyofgour trusJ. To the opposing parties and lhei, cwnsel, I oRer foirness, irllegritg and dr.'ililg, I u'ill seek reronciliolirm and. ifuoe fail, , u'ill strive to make

our dispule 0 dignified one. To the rour/s, and olher tribunals, ond 10 /~ u'ho aS5i.sI/hem, I offer reJpocl, candor oM courtesy. I will strive /0 do honor /0 the search for jUltice. To mil colleagues irllhe practice of lou'. I offer roncem for /JOUr welfare.

I will strive to make our association a p~iotlOl friendship. 7b the profession, loRer assistana. I will strive to keep the Iowa fJffr fession and our profession 0 calling in lhe spiril ofpublic seT/!ice. To the public and our sgstems of justice, I offer serda. I wiU slrive to impfOl-VI: lhe low and our fegol syslem, fa moke the (ow and our legaf system ollOilable to all, and to 5a'k the rommon good through

12. II lawyer I hou ld reco gniz e t hat advocacy dot! not include harass· ment. 13. A la~r lhould recognize thai ad· voncy do-tJ not include nttd less

"'",. I~ .

A liwytr should M tWO r min~fu l thlt any motion, INI. court appear· ance, depOOlion, pleading or legal luhnicality costl someont t imt and monty. 15. A la~r 'hould btliewo Ihat only 1ttOl'lleYl, and not SfCrelloriu. par· 1OleplJ, illyuligators or other non· lawye r" should communicate with I jud ~ or appear before the judge on Jubstantive mail ers. Thfse non· THE ALAIlAMII UlWYER

1c\ ;viIiU , or emot ionally involwd with the dlent. 19, A lawyer ihoul d .. Iway, remem M' tllal the purpOSt 01 t .... practice of law I, ntlther In oppOrt un ity 10 make out rageous demands upOn vulne rable oppOnen l, nor bli nd rnistance 10 I jUII cla im; being slubbornly litigious lor a plaintiff or a defendanl is not profusiooal.

... PROFESSIONALISM TRAINING IN LAW SCHOOLS The WI< force', fourth . tcOI1UTlI'cndi· tion was thai elhies education in the law sc hoolJ !Weive grutfr emphuis and thai tilt Alabarm Stale BIIr should pro-

vide stmiNors at tht Liow KhootS located in thi' statt on Ihe Jubj.ct of prof". siollililm. In addi l;on, the task foree ncognind Ihil cooperation wilh tht law schoolJ is ne«wry 10 implcmtnl thii PfOII'iIIl and that Iddilional educa· lion in Itw law schools on lilt subject cI profu.sionilism and ethiOi mlY nects$.J.rily Vlry imong lilt bw KhooIs_

5 . COOPERATION WITH ALABAMA TRIAL JUDGES The Ink fOTce', fi fth recommenda· t ion wu that Ir iil judgu be mOrt duply involwd in both eSlabl;"hing and moniloring tht professional conduct of Lio~rs in litigation, • • MANDATORY PROFESSION· AlISM TRAINING FOR NEW LAWYERS the task lora" fin.al I'KIlITIrTIfn<ltion wu the adoption of III addilional rule to Itw 1>Ia.ndalOry Continuing Ltgal Educa· l ion Ruin and Regulationi req ui rin g I.... complet ion of an eil/hl-hou r cou~ of profwionalism by all newly admitted members oIthe bar within 12 month. of thei r admission,

the board 01 commissioners accI'pted lhe task fortt's report and approved the aspinoliooal pis of the plan for ~~r profeuiorlili,m IS wtll as m.arwiatory proftuiOllilism l o in;ng. Presenl ly. a rule is bti~ dnAed lor c;msidention by the Alabioml Suprtmt Court «,quiring ITWIdaIOry profts.sionaJism lnoini"ll for all ONly licensed Ia~n. The Elhics Education Committu, a!llOllll othe r bar commi tt eu, il cu rrently ....-ork ing on plans to dtvt lop a cu rriculum for the man dato ry prof.n iona l; s m training cou ne fo r new lawye rs and idea. IQ ~n lw1ce professionali$m training in lhe >Ule's law schools. The sucau of the ThJIc Fora: on ProfUiion~l i$m lin wi lh th~ indiv idual members of Iht ba r. &loc h of us mwt mlk~ I ConStructM effort 10 >top lhe decline 01 prolasionllism No amount 01 ;n$lruction, pleading 0 ' cajoling ... i\l work unIt:M uch of \.Ii is willing to make a pet1Ol'\ll o;ommitmtnt to abide by eIdo clement of A laWyer', Creed and lhe Code of f'ro(wional Cou n t$)'. I.d w I II miediult OUrstlvtl lO t},. 5!'iri! <:I publi c se .... ice which I, the u sence of Ihis profusion and make thi, commitment .•

N<Mmbtr 1992 1 437

RECENT DECISIONS 8g DAVID 8. BYR/t.'£, JR. and JV1UJUR C. SILBERMIW

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES CIMoln of c .. ,tody_ mi ..I"IIlInk Carrell v. S/alil. 26 ABR 4024 (June 26, ]992). In Carrell, the supmm court Qrlnted cutiO!,.; to determine if the SUIt est&blishtd an unbroken d,.in of rostody of ~ miriju,wo introduced into noidr~. In ~rsillll Ihr court 01 crimiru.llllpeals, the supre"", cou rt .uf· firmed the tlmt -honorrd rule that demomtrative nidence will not be ~miuld in "crimirwol lrial if tM State dots nOI prove an unb.ok.n chain of custody 01 the tvidtra. David 11Iomt, a fortnsk scientist and tile supervisor of druQ chemi.try at the

Alabama Deparlment of Fortnsic ScienCtl Labo ratory lutifitd that he rectivtd the tvidtnu from Mark enlist, lInother employee of tht dfl',,,t menl. Cruise did not testify and Carrell objtct.d that the chlli n of custody "'as not

proved. The trial court

~rruled

the

obj.dion. In rrvming. tht $UprnT"C c:ourt ",lltd upon Its 1991 decision in Ex part~

,__ _, holdS.

Sr-,

~,.

00w0 B 1Irmo. Jt

;0.

!I'_al .... u->;or.. *'\' .. _ -

... .......... -~~ ...... ..... ...... .... aI .... " " . , . ,

Holton, 590 So.2d 918 tAil. 1991). "'htrtin the court ",ill: Tht cllain of tustody i. compOsed of 'links', A ' link' il Inyont who Ilandltd the item. The Siale must idenlify each link from Ihe limt lhe ilem was seized. In order 10 show a proper chain 01 cu.· l!>dy. Ihe record mu51 show tach link and a/so Ihe (ollowing wilh regard 10 uch link'l pouusion of the item: (II [Ihe l rtetipt oIlhe ilem: \21 [Iho:! ultimate dispol.ilion 01 the item. i.t., trIllS' fe r, dnlruclion. or rtltnt;on: lind (31 [Ihr] we' ..... rding Ind twldling 01 the ilem bttwftn rtalpt and d~;tion_. If lhe SUle. or Ill)' other proponent 01 dernor'ollr;otlVt MIlen«, fails to idmtify a link Or flils 10 !how for the .. cord any one oIlhe Ihm "ileril H 10 each link. tht rnull i... 'missing' linK. and the item is ;nadmi$.Siblll. If, howev.r, Ihe Stalt Iw shown tath link and Iw shown all Ihm aileri.l H to ~h link. bul Iw 00nc 50 wilh circurmtanli.il Mdenctc. as opllO$td to Ihe direct lulimony of tht ·Iink·. U 10 one or mo .. criteria or as to one or Il"IOrt links, the result is a 'wuk' link. When lilt link is 'weaI!'. ' qutStion o( crtd,bilily and ,,~ighl is presenled. not ore oIi>dmwibility, Garntl is eltuly" (105e 011 miuing link In lhe chlln of cust!>dy. Btc.ause the .. wu no tvi<knct .. t lil 01 the i<kntiIy of tht penon 10 whom Officor Williamson had given Iht marijuana Or tht penon from whom Cruise received lhe tvid.",e, Ihe Ihru (actors NSi'rdins pos5euion art imlevan\. TheN WII$ not even circumstanli.il MIlen« of the illen· tily or idenliliu of lhal person Or per· sons. ~, Ihcrofort. lilt court could not tJw: quntion 01 circumsWltiaJ M' den« 10 $UPII1y a "mi$$infllink.·

.am

Chef::k .... !I' be worthl.... but pl'(lse<; ution I. not debt

collection " n-lc. Pifl9t¥ Wifl9l¥ /0'0. 208. Inc.

~. Melba Dulton. clerk of Ihe District Courl 01 M01"fl(ln Com,IN, and Bob 8urrell. Dis· Iricl Atlonw¥ oOfargan Counl/l. 26 AIlR 3921 (June 19, 19921. Piggl~ Wiggly No.

438 / Nowmbe.

208. 1",. and 81 olher Morgan County nwrchanu JOUlIht 1I writ or mandamus from lilt Circuit Court 01 Morgan Coun· ty, compelling 1M dinr;et a!tome» and cluK of Iht Morgan COUnl~ Oislricl Court 10 prosecule or allow lhe prosecu· lion of worthleu t heel, ea~. wilhout roquirinQ.. H a condition precellent. th.l.1 the mtrwnu tlItcute affi~~iu .t.'Itin, th.l.t they hld not prtViowiy turned Oller tht bad ~htckt to. check collection

..."".

In In opi nion ,ulhortd by Juslice Houston, the IUpmne court'l anliysis 01 the problem bepn the p~ 01 Article I, Section 20 of the Constitution of AlabmIir 011901, which mlts: Thai no PtfJOll $hall be impri9Jned for

",til

...

Justice Houston's opinion relied in part upon tilt "HOlling 01 Judge Tyron of Ihe Al abama Court of Cr im in.1 Appeals in Bullen u. Slale, 518 So.2d 227,233 (AllI.C rim.App. 1987). Bullen hoIdIlhat: The crimi",,1 law wu not designed to tnforce the p&ymml 011 Ilebt or to <!judiute ~ivil disputtl bt lwun parties._The mtrt lailu .. to pay "Ilebt. whilt (umlshing I burs for, civil suil. is not sufflCitnt to COfIII.itute 1I crinw. The improper employmtnt of I statute to enror« payment oIl1llebt is an un.:onst;· lution;ll appliUolion of th.l.1 stalute. The Alabama Suprt .... Court has conIlemned lhe use oIlhrul of prostaJlion as a means 0/ collecling a debl by '11t-..:rM1 who suk only PiYIlltnt of Ilebts ;and have no intert.st in crimi""t J1TOl«u· lion atilt. lhan.u II mtans of collecting mont)' ,lIegedly due them.' ToIlwrl u. Siole. 321 So.2d It 232. Thus. if _ is pros«ultd undtT a millte, Ilt must be pr(lK(uttd for lilt crime which he has oommitted, not for I'" debt th.l.1 Ilt .,....,. or 10 malet him pay it Colloort:eder "Stat" 389 So,2d 1169 (AI".Crim. API>. 19801. Tho differenct btlw«n the improper use 01, 1I'lule H l mean. of punish. ment for debt and Iht proptr use of a statule H a means of punishmtnt for a TIlE ~BAMA LAWYER

c,imilllllloCt is int~nl. HarriJ o. Sialt, 378 So.2d 257 IAla.C,im.App.), uri. dmitd. 378 So.2d 2631A1L 1979). Justi~ lIowton's opinion condu"u with ~ brillht Ii,.. nn.: [n condusion. wt ooIt thai UflOII one's conviction of writing a worthlw check. th~ law authorius th~ requi rement of '""titulion 10 Ih. victim. So« Ala. Cod<! 1975. f lS,18·65.t seq. 1M51' $IllutOry provisions "ulhoriu the nquin!menl of restitulion as an incident to criminal prosKulion: Ihry do not make district lltOrorys 'de f:aclo' dtbl con~do"" as the me'CNnts sugge5L As previOUJly stlttd. it would M an uncorutitutional e~ercite of power for district attomeys to und~rtI~~ the pros«ution of check .... ril· eu for lh. purpo.. of debt COlitClion .... S.cause subjeClirt intent. which is the polestar by which the con·

$Iituliooality of i IIfOiIKlItion under the Worthless Check Act must be dd.r. mi,..d. is o.hn d,frltuit to lIKtrWn. it .W1ds to TU$OTI tNt the pr ....... in the but position to the meri~ of a crimilllli prOHcution unde, that act i. the district attomey.

lS.,,"

Crlmi .... l dl..::overy-right to Inapect documents carries with It right to cop, documents 5/alt II. [)ag. eI aI. 26 ABR 4581 (July 31. 1m). TIlt dtfmdvlt -"" IhTH «he .. wen! inditlfd on chargu of SKUri_ tits fraud. The ejrcuit court. u: mtro motu. ordered th~ district attorney to produce to the dden~anll materials txp, •• sly discov.nble under Alabama TempOUry Rules ofCrimillll1 Procfdure.

18.

hi.r....

following a number of discuuions involving ddendllnts' llI~n lInd the disl,ic:t Illomry. lhe PlrtiH ..refd to mftt fo, document insc>«lion. AI tht m«ting. the district attorney produad a lUSt numbtr of documents including (II virtually the tntire file of the di$lrict attorney; (2) numerous charll and dia. gr.mlS preparw by the Alab.lama Stcuri· tiu Commwion: and (3) various other mattrill$ cont.l.intd in the inYQti~tOry files of the CommissKWL During the coune of 1M medina. the II~", (0' the dtfend"nli txamined, inde~d and Kparated thost matulal, Ihry w.lJ1ted to CO!>I'. The ....... l'lIted umenll iocluded ,,"large stack" of mate· rial' containing various charts and dia· grartlS too 1lI'lI' to be reproduct<.! at any facUlty in Oneon ti. Counltl for the defendant offered 10 take the materials

ooc·

WI..n)'U""~ ... ~~JW'~_

""'""

n..t...I-:rIob. ..... J"UIosaI __ .. ..:rs .... t...I. II)' ....,....... ........ boa...c..<a.d t..p.-....-(~ !lor 16

,....a.A ... ~ .... ~......, .... ~ .. _~_.

" 'i n

"e.·

b-r-¥.

tlol.p ........

11oo<V. ............ -.dIr .... .......,;.g .... Ii.. ~,,!.w_~,....

.a,~

..... .dm...d-..do. ........ """-ido"- .... •y.-. 1~pn4Iy~yur~ .......... !le~....... t-.aA OA~c.....·Moo.IoIO'lll'l'l3

FlP_T..... OAT.... O'./.W:lfik27.I'l'J.l

/1' fS

All the best.

F , , _ . - . . . ( IA _ _ _ _ fiIMI __ •

_ TH~:

AI.ABAMA LAWYER

•

......, _ _

..w.MIUI,...,.-.04"'~Aw..oI_"u,.I~

"»I1..m. F,lJmIlD.f771

NO'I-emi>tr 1992 / 439

to lIinningham, copy it over the weell · end. and return the documents the fol · lowing Mond~y. The district attorney refused. After succtuive unsuccessful at · tempts to obtain copies of the 5egregat· ed documents . the ddendanls filed a jOinl motion tD compel the State to produce copies of the documents or to allow their reproductiQn by the defen· dants. After a hearing on the motion and an in camera review of the documents. the Irial court denied the motion where· upon the defendants SQught a writ of mandamus to the .upreme court. In an opinion authored by Justice Adams. the supreme court granled the defendants· petitiQn for wril of man · damus. In reversing the trial court. Justice Manu rnso~d; The right to im;pect documtnts con· templated. as a matter of course. the attendant right to copy the documents. See Di.ron v. Club, I",., 408 So. 2d 76. 81 (Ala. 1981). This rule merely recog· nizes that. as a practical mailer. the ·right tQ inspect wilhout the cQncQmi · tant right to copy would lbe1 a meaning. I• .., gesture." !d. Thus. having \'(Iluntari-

Iy and intentionally expanded the scope of discovery by Qpening its files tOl the defwdants. the Stat. cannQt rd reat with in the narrow perimeter Qf the cQuri's discovery Qrder. Qr Qf Rule 18, on which the Olrder was ~, in order tQ pr ..... nt reproduction. To do SO would be fundamentally unfair in a case such as this Qne, in which the ddendanlS can demorutrate th.ir reasonable and detrimental reliance on the quasi openn • .., of the State.

Gender-based strikeshint of things to corne Ex parle Murphy. 26 ABR 2370 (March 20. 1992). Murphy's petition fQr writ Olf certiQrari presen ted a single issue : wheth. r the CQurt of criminal appeals emd in holding that the princi · pie of &Iwn v_ Kentuckv, 476 U.s. 79 (1986) doe. not apply to the use of gen· der · based peremptory strihs. The supreme court . in a per curiam opinion. denied the writ by a six-to-three m.ugin. J",tict Hugh Maddox. who was joined by J"'tices Adams and Ingram, sharply dissented and suggested that the princi· pie Oll Balson dOles extend tOl genderbased strikes. Justice Maddox reasoned thaI: Baserl upon my ruding 01 Balson and th e cases of the United States Supreme CQUrt ex· tend ing BlllsQn. I .Admini $ t r ator ' s/ Execu ~or 's / Personal RepreseMati ve's llonds conclude that &Ison . Guard i an(Conserva tors/Co_it tee Bonds does apply to gender· . Test~n ary Trustees llond$ . Receive rs Bonda based strikes. It ap· • Tr u stee in Liquidation Bonds pears tD me. based Qn . Trustee in ReQrganlzation llonds the ,·..ious holdings . Attachment /Gar nishmen t Bonds of the United States • Replevin Bonds .InjunctiQn Bonds 'Indel:1llity to Sher iff Supreme COlurt. that .Appeal , Supe r se deas , Stay or when the issue of Execu tion Bonds gender-based strikes Whe n you need a bond JUII Co il is squarely pre5ented tQ il. that Court will hQld that the State. in a criminal cas •. cannot use its pre · emptory challenges For Professional Service tQ nclude e ither men Or ..."Omen. as a 2&1·4062 FAX: 328·0247 cognizable group. Realty Insuiance Agency. Inc from jury snvice j, po sox ~175 solely because of Ililfllll">g"harn. ~ 35255 _ (205) 251-401>2 fAX. 328-m41 thei r suo Although I realize

PROBATE BONDS COURT BONDS

Jack Mc Cam Mickie Mc Garn Edwards

440 I NO'>"ember 1992

that mOlst jurisdictiDns rdu5e tQ hQld that the &Ison pr inciple is applicable tQ gender· based strikes, and althOlugh I reali.e that there is appartnt disagree· ment among the United States courts of appeals on the question. l. nevenhele..,. believe that my dissenting views in Ex {!I1rle Dllwrl. 581 So.2d 545 (Ala. 1991). are sound. and that when the issue is squarely pre5ented t(> the United Stat.. Supreme COlurt that CDurt will expand the &1.IDt! principle to apply to gender· based strikes in instances where men Qr women. as a CQgniuble grOlUp. ar ~ excluded frQm jury .ervice .ol.ly becaU5e Oll their suo J",ti"" Maddox ends his opinion with an interesting twist that shQuld guide the criminal practitiQner, as IQllows: Alabama·. policy regarding the right Df a person not to be e"luded from jury selVice is plain: 'A citi~en shall I>Ot be excluded IrOlm jury 5elVice in this .tate on account 01 ract. color. religion. SUo national origin Qr economic status. Ala. eode 1975.§t2.16·56. Defendant's right to Interview State's witnes_s Nichols v_ Slale. 26 ABR 3470 (May 22, 1991). Thi. case pre5enls the i..,ue 01 .... hether the defendant was denied a fair tria l by wh~t he claims effective ly amounted tQ a denial of the right tQ di.· CUi~ th. Cait o prior to trial. with the State·, .... itnt ...... Defendant was indicted fQr the Qffense of murder during a robbeT}' in the /irst degree made capital by §13A·5·40(2) . Code 01 Alabamll (1975) . Prior tQ trial. the district attQrney'. QIf". sent Qut tQ all prospecti .... State witne..,e. a leU.. stating in peninent part: B.t .... een now and the time of trial. you may be contacted by an attQrney representing the defendant He may ask )IOU IQr an Olral statemrnt. writt.n .tate· ment., Or tape-recorded statem ent . Should thi~ occur. you may refuse to discu.., the Ca5e with him il you wi.h. ShQuld }·OlU decide tQ discu$ the cas •. you may re<juire that someone from the District Attorney's Office be present or that any discu..,ion t~ke place in the District AIIQrney·s Office. If you decide tQ discuss th. case, we request that you dOl SOl with a member QI the ~istrict Attomey·s staff pre5ent. THE ALABAMA LAWYER

On tilt day 01 trilli. defendant filed ~ motion for MI order requiring willlWU to discuss !he QK wilh defense counsel Ind for ~ continwonce. The trill court overruled tilt moUoo is bting untill"ll'ly. The ju')' returned a Quilty ... rdict Tilt court of crimiTlcaI appeils rtwrud th. conviction. holdin& thit the district Itt orney's letter prevented Nichols' Iltornoy from altefTlllling to question .. witneu prior to trilli. The supreme court. in in opinion authortd by JUltice Kenntdy. r.ver~d tilt court of crimiTlcaI appeals and htld tNt !he idter on its f~ce did 001 inttrfue wilh !he ddtndanfs righl to ~ lair tn,]. Sea.:nI. JUJlice Ktnnedy .......rwd thit dtfendant I~iled to prow MI}' specific d.monstr~ble prejuditt rnulting from hilla~r'1 not utkinQ with a wilnus prior to trial. Th. sup reme courfs d.cision bt~n with thr black Idt.. prineiplo: A pn:!K<Utor ""'y not prevenl i "~I nus from QivinQ a nittmtnt to i dtftnse iUorney. Any dtftndllnt may ilttmpl to quntion 11 wltnen prior to trial, absent any intimidating forces. Howevu, a witnen hu the righl to rdu~ to bt ;ntuvitwl!d. [Su UnitM SluleJ a_ Riel, 550 F.2d 1364, 13H (5th Cir.), urt. dcri,d. 434 U.S. 9S4 (1977)11A def.....w.t's riQht to KCCU to .. witnen exists co-.qually wilh Iht w;Inon's righ t to rdun to say any· thinQ.1 In United SlollI v. Pepe. 741 F.2d 632.654-55 ( 11 th Cir, 1984). the f.kvtnlh Circuit htld tNI "appellanu sttki"ll a m>l'rwl bu.td on .....-rutoriIlly impaired accus to witntSSH must alltge specific demonstrablt prtjudice in order to set forth .. constitutional claim." M..t hypothetical or gen.ul prtjudico w;1I noI suffict. SH also United Slotes~. ClemorrtJ, 577 F.2d 1247 (SIh Cir. t9781. In rtversing th. court of criminal IWUIs. Justice Kennedy's decision ruts on two prongs, First, lit did not bo:lieve thaltht I.uu. on ilS fac., inl ..f. r.d with Nichols' riQht to a fai r trial and amounled simply to I request thlt I mtmbtr of his oiftCt bo: ~Mcnt during lIny interYi...... S.cooo, the dtftndont fiiled to P«M <lily specific demorulTllbit prejudice rtsulttd from his la~r's inability to talk with the wilntss prior to trial. TItE ALABA."IA

~WYER

Doubt. jeoplrdy_ Blockbust.. revIsited Smilh u. Slot~, U ABR Z106 (April 17, ]9'921. Tht Supreme Court 01 Alabama granted certiorari to re.iew the court 01 crimtnal appeats' decision whien held Ihat a dt/endanl who had previously brtn convicted of crimiTlcaI mischid, 113A.7·22. for dtstroying IChooi prqltr· ty. could substqumtly bo: tried and con· victed 01 burglary in the third degru. 113A-7-7. for unlawfully entering or remaining in a school building with inlent 10 deslTf)fl Khool rm)/Xlrlv. Th. suprell"ll' court. in an opinion authored by Justice Maddox , revffitd on Ihe IIfOllnd that !he ddtnd.Int's right agoimt bo:inQ twice pt..rN in itoPIrdy ...... vi0lated. Tht undispulW tvidtnct dtrnonstrJIed that the conduct QivinQ rise to both offenses arose out olin incldtnt at lilt t:ast Thl'ft Notch [Iementa')' School in Andalusia. The conducl that made the buil of tht criminal mischid (N~, .xonIing to !he ITIijority Opinion, ........ It lit defendant's[ ,neQtd dtslruction of the Qlass panels in th. main tntranc., the principal's door, a secretary's door, and , c~room door lOnd (ddendant's1 IlItg.d usc of. concrel. block on the school PlO\'It.ly." TIlt conductlhat made Iht buis 01 tho burgta')' cha~ ..... u [the dtftndlnt's111l1t8td lOCtion in unl .....futly mttring 01' mnaining in the school with the intent to dtstroy school prOPerty." TIlt luprtll"ll' court's decision adopts Judges s.:-n liI1d T"loy\or's disstnt ....hich Wli baud upon the supreme court's decision in GrodJj II. Cor/Jin, 495 U.s.

508 (19901. In Gradv, supra, tht supreme court held, To dttermine whelh., a subuqutnl prosecution i. barrtd by the Double hopardy Ciaust, a court must first apply the traditiOTlcaI BlockIJurgn I~. United Stol6, 284 U.s, 2'99 (1932}[ ttl!. If lIppli· cation 01 that ttst rtIItalJ lhat the offens.t$ ha...., idtntical slaluto')' elements Or that one il a tuser included offenu of !he other. liltn thr inquiry must ctlOst, and the subnquent proltcution il barred. Brou:n lu. ()low, .. 32 U.S. 161 (1977)1. [H~r1, a subsequmt pTOStCUIion must do mor. than mertly survi''t tho BiCl(kburger lesl. AI wt sugQe.ttd ;n

{Illinois a.J Vilole, (447 U.s, .. 10 \1980)[, the Double Jeopardy Clause bus lIJ1y subKqutnt prOUCulion in which tht go ... rnment. 10 establish In essenti,1 elemtnt of an offense chuged in that prosecution, will prove conduct that constitutu an offenH lor which Ihe deftnd&nt has al«~dy bo:tn PTOStCUted, This iI not MI 'XIwol tvidmu' o r _ evidence' test. The critical inquiry is .... hat lilt SUtt will prove, not tilt tvidtnce tht Stote will use 10 prove that conduct . In his di ... nt, JudSt ~n crilically noted: Th. inqui,), mandated by Grodg is whtthtr thr S...Ie. in onkr '\0 r5lJ.blWI In tlItntial element of In offense charged in [!he steondl prosmot;on. will provt conduct that ~onsti t ulrs .n offtnsl for which the defendant ha5 /ilrndy botn pf05tCuted ... : Il.«, Ih. first proHcution was for "iminal mis~hirl-linlentioniIIYI destroying school prOptrty. Tht omond prosecution _ klr bufi!.ary--unla....ful. !y entering Or remaining wilh 110£ intml 10 destrog school propertV. Thus, to utablish the intent to destroy school property, an t_nti,1 .1.lI"II'nt of burgLi')' and !he oIrense charged in thr 1tCand pt05tcUtion, !he State pi'O\ltd conduct ([in tentiOTlcally1 dtstroying the P1O\'Ifrty) which corutituttd tilt offense of crimi~1 mischief klr .... hich Iht dtfendIont had al re.dy bttn praucutfd. In IgrttinQ with Judge ~n's dil' Knt. the tupremt court simply conclud· ed tNt Ihe defendant WiS twice put in jeOpardy, thrreby mandIoting re\O'~L

, BANKRUPTCY

....t.nti_ ...,....1

c:_~lcIati_ of part.....-sh. end twa part_ FM~ral Deposit/mu ranc, Corp, <I. Colonial Reallv Co., %6 F.2d 57 (2nd Cir, June I. 19921, In a CUt of fint impression. tilt Stcond Circuil htld that thrre was nothing fundamentally wrong in combining ;w.rts mel liabilitits 0I1h£ I!fntral partntrs with that 01 tilt partnership, nch of the nlatn being in Chapter 7 b.nkruptcy. The courl ..,id tn.t Bankruptey Rule 1015 (b) autho-

genet'.'

NO'o'Ombtr 1992 f .... t

rius JU(h adion-thit lhe propriel}' of such dtptr.d$ on .... t.riot o;ons;.s. ....lions aflocting the iUbsuntM: rights of credi· to>$ 01 lho KPUlLlt tSlitH. Tho court ",jtdtd the lflIUmmt of tht I'DtC wt subsun tiw con~lid.l.tion is tqu~ttd with the tquiliblt docirint 01 pitrcing tht o;orpon.tt \Ptit, iIfId, thus. should not be irrvolctel to nlll.tn 01 ir.dividu· Ill. It concluded its opinion by stating that the solt lim is faimw to 1111 credi· tors, and that uch cut must be deter· mined on itsown facts.

1M,.

F.llu.. to II.t.1I ....t ••• basi. for "",-I of disc"'''' I" Iht ma/lt~ 01 flo"ald fl. Beau· bounf. 966 r.2d IR (5th Cir. luly 16, 1m), Tht dtbtor f,iltd 10 list ""'Tltr-

lohip oIlhlrf:5 oIstodi: in a businw corpontion in which he owntd apprOllimlldy SO ptr.. nt of the stock. The CO/TIiIWnt (filed by debtor's brothtr) to deny discharge did not alle~ lhe con· ~almtnl, lind the debtor claimtcl "surpriM: Tho court, titing F.R.C.P. 15(b), rej.ctt~ Ihis argu mtnt, holding no prej_ udice resu lted to the d~blor. elpt,ially J inc. no con l inuanc. wai requelled. Insofar <15 the denial 01 discharge is con· ~""d. tht court said lhal the plaintiff hid met tho burd.n of 1727(11)(4)(11) sinct the schedules omitted all rdertrocu 10 tilt debtor's owntrship iIfId participation in t ho corporuion. lind IIlth ough II disch.rgo should not b. dmitel btc.iust 01 an honest mi>tili in omitlintl itoms from the schedules, the fllclS hut indiattd - ucklns indiff.rtnct to tht truth and. th. rofort. tho .. quisite inttnt to dectiw: Tht court aoo said it mldo no diff..tnct that tht stock may have be.n worthltu, quoting the Eltventh Ci rcui t cue of I" re Cltalilr. 748 .'.2d 6]6. 617U9S4 ) for its lIulorilyon this point. Comnmll.. This ClISe should acl <15 II wlrning 10 Ilwyon in preparing the schtdule:$ lI'III slittmtnt 01 ilfbirs. WI tilt cliont should be int~rvi ...-aI cntfulIy 10 lISCuliin that tM information is rorrKl. Con«ivably. mIOlpl'l.ctkt could be Invo]vtd by not acquain t ing tho ... btOl' fully with the impOrt.a""" 01 fu.· nilohi"ll {ulliind correcl inlormition.

Bank' . . . . .Inl.lrtoll...

.....z. of _count Goodrich fimplOf/U's fede ral Credil

Urriof1l'. Fred Palln'SOll. 23 B.C.O. 407. _ F.2" - {11th Ci r. July 29. 1992). This t&K held that II cudil union had violated 1362 autOtmtic St.l.y ... htn it ptactd an ~ministrali\Pt (retu on tM drbton' lttOUnt when the debtors filed (or hankruptty. Tht debtors ~u cu.· ront on their Iccounl when they filtel but lhe cmlil union. upon TfCOiving tht information. dosed the accoun t and would not allllW withdrawals nor would it honor checks du.",n upon the account. The E:ltvenlh Circuit began its opinion by stating this w<15 an i5sue af first impnwiof1as to ... hether the (roeting of a hank Itcount. the filing of II proof of claim showing I looon balance ",dutfll by lilt savings KCOUnt balante. ,md tM sUlf)fnsion of HrvKes may be violations of tht lIutomllic StllY of 1362(1), and 01 tht If1ti-<iiscriminalion prtMsions d f525. Thf .ppdlatt court Iffirmtcl dtciiions d the Bankruptq Court and the OUtricl Court in holding lheH comtituttel vi0lations. Tht deferost of tht cmlit union Will that il had no othtr adtquate protection to prtHI"( ils secured inte~sl in Ihe deblors' accounl and that Ihe deblors had no equity in the accounts b.ised upon common Ia .... contractual. and suMoI')" litlll. In its opinion con· er rnin, Iho crtdit unioo's claim 10 II right of stt off, Ihe cou .1 stattd the credit union did not haw II valid right d H t off whtn it frolf tht accounts lIS lhere WiQ no mutuality of obligations under Aillb.irna law. Tht debtors ~re not delinquent on tht looon whtn the ,rodit union froze the IItcounl. The court ~nt furthf •. slll.ting It-..II if the .. had been I valid right of Sd-<>ff. fr •• zing the accounl WllS contrary to the policy of lhe IIankruptcy Code which dots not pr""ide (0' Ihe self·htlp. 11 staled lhat tilt oorrtct procNU " would h"... b.... not to (reeu the account but file an ex· PIIrte motion undtr 1362(0 Or 1362(e) and PIIY tilt mont}' into tilt ugistry 01 the Bankruptcy Court. Tht Eleyenth Circuit lhen dttennintd Wt tho dWrici court was COrTKI in findintl violations 01 wl»tctions 3. 4 and 7 011362(11) of tilt IIankruptcy Code, Ihllt the Icls of the credit union eonsHtul.d If1 ad 10 obtain po$Stuion of property of utat • . an ad to atttmpt to enforct a li.n againsl property of the u tate. an d an act to recover a claim against Ih. debtor that

befou the commtn«mtnt of tht ,,110 ..,.etel with Ihe IIankruptcy Court lhit th.re had betn _ ~Iion of .ubxdion (7) d 1362(al because lilt tredit union hid filtel I proof of claim ilSerting" sd-af, Finally. lhe court. in hoIdi"llll viooLltion 011525, hfld that the debtors " .... t considered ill employtts of tilt credil union and. t hus. there wu disc riminat ion agalmt them IOlely on tile basis of thtir bankruplcy filing. Comment; This case i. p. ob;obly going to cause .. great deal of ftstraint upon lending irutitutions. At this writing, il is not known whether e(fortl will M made to llIict the cut 10 the U.S. SuPUITK Court, Probably. con· nict in lilt circuits CIf1 be ihoI<"I1.

"fOK

cut, Tho Elewntll Circuit

In.,,_th Circuit . Ifow. ....1"I.t... I_ priority thN-.hold c ..1m .galn.t .s.btor for PlOy......, of cl ..11 pettaltl•• Imposed •• punl.......,.t for

. n"lror_ntlol ..101.tlon. Alabama s"rflK"t Mi"ing Commission v. N.P. Minillg QI .. Il1c.. 963 r.2d 1449 (11th ei •• JUnt 23, 1!f92). In a lengthy opinion ... hich revi~... d U.S. Supreme Court law. both pu·1978 Cod. and pOSt· Code. it was htld that ptNlties incurred by Ihe debtor whilt optnting unde f Chapt.. II, for ilS first)'U.. ill debtor, in·poswuion lind IIItn with a trust... constituted In Idm;nistratiw txpense. Tho idminmr.ltM: uptnse priority for fi .... to\l.lItei O'>"tr 12.000.000 and. thus. if "lIowed. would prownt If1)' d~tribu lion to unsecured creditors, Tht EIOV!nth Circuit moi......d tilt /llIItttr <15 purely Ont of law. not faclual. slating that this was a threshold question which never had been decidtd in any circuit previously. It found Ihll jlunitiw civil peNllios IIoSUStd for pOSl·petition min, inQ l(liviliu do qualify iQ Idminist .... , tiw UIl'nse undu Titl e 11, 1503(b} (l)(A), basing its dtcWon on federal pol· icy found in 28 U.S.C. f959(b) requiring truslfU to optr.lte lin tItIItt in compli· "net with stille law. It did limit the administr.ltr.... priority to tilt poNlties incurred I I l conHqutnce of mining ~ntiom substquont to the roting of the potition and whilt the busintSS was still optr" in,. but not to lny MHS$td, for violation$ ... hkh occurred prior to tht fil inQ 01 the pelition. • THE Al.ABA."1A l.I\lWER

• M·E·M·O·R·I·A·L·S • FRA.'l:K

MARTIN

t'.ank J. Marlin . 87. a G~d.d.n atlomty and font'l<. chairman 0( UK Cadsdrn City Do.Ird of t:dualion. d,tdApril30.1992.

Martin was the ullio. partner with tho firm of In"., Martin. Sullit & Inu •. now In.tr. Sl io.nder. Illrot)' & Joonsoo. ",nil ,(tiret! from

full·time prxti~ in 1971). Martin ..rvtd '" • mtmbrr of llor

JK!uonviIi. Stat. Univrrsity. Martin was a member oflhr Kr..'3nos Club. the ~n Country Club ind the First United Methodist Church. ~'artin attended the University of

Alabama and the University of Alabama School of Law. H. ""Iullt'trod for milit...y st.viet during World \\'ar II and "';as

AI.lbaI1\ll State Bar and the Ameria.n Bar Auociation and W/IS elected a fellow of Ihe Amencan Conege of TrilllLaW}'(rs;n 1956. Martin is ,urv;"ed by his wife. Clara Jackson Martin; his dlughtu. Ann Rutland. of Birmingham; his son. FnnJ< J. Martin. Jr .. 01 Aluandria. Villlinia; oewn g~hild .. n; and /I great,grandwn. The famIly suggesu that memori· /lIs may bo ..,nllo the Frank Jackson Marlin Scholarship t'und althe Uni, wrsity of Alabama School oIl.a ....

Board 0( EdlJC.ltion from 1947·1962 and was chairman from 1959· ]962. H. was a m.mbu of tl>< board of directors of the American National Bank (~AmSoulhlllld oltt>t Life lnsur'''''t Company of Abbloma. H.,,~ abo a \f\I$\H of 1M lnterNtiooal Endowmrnl F"oundaotion of

commissioned a clpnin in the

WtLUA.'1 Wllm BEDFORD

STf.PIIF,N BEASLEY COLEMA." Moun/am 8rooIt Admillftl: 1927 DifNJ: Stptember 7. ]992

Wl~IA.'1 CIlRISTtAN ~I INE:S

JOSEPII MATIlE:S StOTI DAWSON Srollsboro

GRHR MARECIiAI. r.1 URI~tY

Birmn>gham Admitted: 1966 Died: JUM 14. 1992

JA.'1ES l...EDRE1TI;R Bf-F.CH. J~.

Judg. AdvQCalt C.nnal·$ Department o( the U.S. Army. He served in the I'acific. attainin~ the rank of lieutenant colonel. In<.! earned the Army Cornmrn<iatiQn Ribbon. ,' 1utin was a member of the Etowah Counly Bar AssociatiQn. lhe

IItprinltd in p.IIrt from T1N! Codidm Times April 30. 1992 tdition

8""'1011

NlmillN: ]938 Died: July 21. 1991

Died: May 19. 1992

Mobile Admilled: 1939 DiItrJ: December3!. ]99 ]

RtCHARD VAIDEN EvA.'1S, JR.

F RA..... K B lA....CltARD PARSONS

Birmmlliwm Mmil/ed: ]941 Died: July 2. 1992

Fairfield Admilled: 1942 Died: August 3. 1992 JCUDS Smt SII'A."S. I N.

Mooile

~lAR\1N W tlJ.lA.'1S GOOOWYN. SR. Nl!U.1iOrl 8Nch. Ctllifomia

Admilltd: 1935 Died: July I. 1992

Admille<i: 1940 Died: Decernbor 23. 199]

Mmilled: 1967 Died: $eplernbor 4. ]992

JOliN Eo C ....'1I'6F,~ A/uandria. "irgmi<l

ROBERT B. HAAWOOD. SR,

r_ _

Admilled: I!IotS DifNJ: Cklobtr 14. 1991

Admillftl: 1926 Died:October n.I991

JULIA.'1 LEOS TOURO "..,Im Beach. fforida Nlmilll!d: ]933 1Md: Augusl28. 1991

J""",, Admilltd: 1948 Died: Stptember ]3. 1992 ROII'AN

I~Nr.

""""'"1950 Admille<i: Died: s..plernbor 17. 1992

Alll.'1 ROIT CA.'1~1!O

Admilled: 1933

NCMmber 19921 4<13

CLASSIFIED NOTICES .:.a_'

RATES, ...... ~ 2 , _ ..toogs per bar "....,..,... per 1"" EXCEPT lor "pooJ\IOI1 wanled" .,. 'poo¢>On -..r !isIng. - S35 per ins9f\JOO 0150 words or _. $ .50 per word; f'o _ _ .., S35 per.--..on <JI50..."... or ..... 5.50 per additional word. CIasodi8<l t:<I!>Y ana p3j'ITIIIflI.,.....,.,~ ar;<Xl<d;"g 10 tho ~ puI;>IioIw1g oche<IuIo No ...... t.. . .. 2 , . .... _ i I n r I l:l. 1992; ~ . ..... ry '93 1_ _ - . 0 _ _ 30, tW2. i'Io <Iea<&lo exIenU>ns wiI be made

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, .......... no-obIivootlon ","01. . . 1·800·279·7799. Nollonol Lew Resource. • fOl' SoI' e: Model Rules of ProIessional Conduct. Pe<'IOI'IaI copies available lot

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requo-ed. • F.... SIoI.: Willt.m S. He ln .. Co., Inc •. """""9 the IeIl"I <:<>mn>..<1ity tor o""r 60 years. We buy. sal. app<ai$e aU Iawbooks. Send want lists to: I •• (7161883-8100 .... ph_ll-800. 8:z8.7511). • For 5.1., Corpus Juris Secundum. inc l~d,ng 1992 pocket parts and recompi led vol~mes All boo ks in e xce llent condition Phon. 1205) 35S-9350 • Fo. 5.1., Complete Code 0/ Aiaba· rna. Updated through presenl dale Good cond ilion. Good price. $350. Phone 12051 99S-2393 (otlice ntn\o

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• F.... Sal. : Alabama Law 8,bftOgfaphy for 56 (includes IU and poslage) M.II " h eck 10 ....i.l. r P ...., 7743 H. le,o n Fo • •• 1 T . .. lI, Monillom.,." AI.b.m. 36111 Pre-payment r&qured .

444 {November 1992

• Fo. SIoI.: Ant'que Alat)ama maps1S20s-IB60s Great as ollice deco<a· I,on or Ch"Slmas g,1I Guaranteed autl1en1lC Write. cetI or tax lot ,SI and photos. Sol Miller, P.O. Box 1201, Hun Uvill., AI.b. m. 35807. Phon . 12051 536·1521 . F . . 120515:J4.0533. • F.... S.1e: 1979 16-voII.rne set ol Bende,.s Forms oj Discovery Best olfer Sand Inqul.I •• 10 P.O. Bo .. 453, 1:1.,.,., AI ........... 38530. Ph_ 12051 968 8e33. • F.... S.I.: CompIele. virtually new set 01 U.S.CA. with complete. up-IC>-date supplemeflts. Must pocI\ up ... Mobile Phon. (205)433-0418. POSITIONS OFFERED • PO lllio n Off. r.d, Auorney jobs. Nalional and Federal Employmenl Repo!! Highly ,egarded monlhly dalalled listIng of al10rney and law· relate<:! jobs with the U.S. Government. other pubhc/provale employers in Washir>glOO. D.C. throughOut the U.S. and abroad. 500-600 new jobs each issue. S34 lot ttv&e months; S58 tor six months. F.d . ... 1 A.po.h , 1010 V....... nl Av. n ..., HW, .408.AB, W•• hlnglon, D.C. 20005. Phon. (202) 393·3311 . VISA elld Master· Card~t&d .

• Po.ilion on. red, Claim anornay 51.1. F..... In.ur.ne e Comp • • nl •• is seeking c~ndidales lor Ihe pos,bon 0/ claim attorney. This posito::>n Wl il be Iocaled al the Alabama Regooniii Office in Bmnir.gIlam. Responsobililies incl~de leg a l research, ~8HWIg and prQvKjing covn· sal to cla, m management. diVIsion managemenl alld the executive oIIice. This ""';vidual wih alse maIntaIn a c0ntinuous snAy and review 01 leg,sialoOn and co~rt decisions allecl,ng Ihe insurance/clarms arena. Experoooce .., InSur a~Ce dele~s e and ciV il proce ·

d~res and a work,ng knowledge 01 Alabama government andJor leg,sla· IN" process is prelened. Adminance and good standing Wllh the Alabama State Bar is II requrrement. Salary is conmens",ale Wllh experi. ence. Stala h,m provodel; a comprehensive benefits package which includes pro/it sharing. compan)I-fUfldad retoremenl p~n and cost 01 hv,ng salary adlustments. Ple ase respond only in w"tong 10' 51.1. F.rm In. u •• n ... Comp •• ni •• , AUn: Pe • • onn . ' O.pl., P.O. Box 2681, 8Irmlnllh.m , AI.a..,... 35297.

• Po.illon Off...d: A Mobile altor· nay with a substant,al plaml ,lfs practice in employmenIIaW. includ ing fed"rei eM! righ1$ lit'gal""'. is S661<mg a yo~ngef assoCIate 10 assIst in Ihat area aOO also handle a variety 01 other matters 01 (lerleral pract,ce. e . cluding crimInal wcrI<. Ooo-three years' experience is prele" ed Send ••• u .... 10 HI.lnll Allo.n. " 1321 D.uphln 51 ...1, Mobil., AI.u ..... 36604. • POllllon Off• • ed: The PublIC Qe.. fender Convrossoon is presenlly taking application lor the pos ,t,on of Ihe T~scalOOsa Covr1ty Public Oe1ender The Public Defender 0I11ee currenUy Mas lour atlorMys. Fo •• ddilion· .1 inlo ..... llon, pl •••• "onl.. ,,1 D.n Gib. on, p ••• ld. nl, Tu .... · 100... Counl, 8 ... Au o"I.llon , P.O. Box 031522, Tu.... loo •• , AI.u ..... 35403. • Po.llion Olf ••• d: Legal SerVICes Corporation oj Alabama, Inc. has a slSff an"'MY POSUIOO opening in the Gadsden and Amiston oII""'s . Pawi· oos adm'58"'" to the Alaoema State Bar req~ired or m~st take Febr~ary 1993 bar exam. O"entalo::>n loward!he problems 01 low-income clients Is ciesor&d Sa~ Level; S2Q,388+DOE. Please submit letter of application with resume' end writ Ing sample by

Til E AlABAMA lAWYER

December 1. 1992 to: L. g.' S. r_ vic • • Corpor.tlon of ... ,.b..... , Inc., 802 Ch ••1n .. t Str • • t, O.d......, AI.a.. .... 3S901, Altn: R..lh S. EzolI, ....... gi .. g .tto._ ... ,. Lega l Se"'lces CO/porallon 01 Atabama. I"" is an equal ~ ~,

SERVICES • S.rvlc. : Tralllc engIneer. consul· tant/expert wltne$$. G,aduale. '89 's, tered o p'o!eSSional engmeer. Forty 1"18'S' experience HIghway and CIty roadwa y zoning Wl<!e Or cal l !or rewme. !OO$ , J.ek W. Ch.mbllss, 421 B. II. h .... t Orl"., Mo .. t· gom. r" AI.b.m. 36109. _nei20SI 212-23S3. • Senrico' Legal research help. E>cpe. rienced altorney. member 01 Alabama State ea, $ince 1977 Access to S1<1to law Ilb,a,y WESTLAWavaliab le Prompt de ad l,ne searc~e$ . S. r.h K.thr, .. F •• n ell, 112 Moor. Building, Mon1gom.r" ... ,. b.· m. 36104. Phon. 1205J 211· 7931. No reptesentatior> is made rllal /he quality oIlhe /ega! SBMCeS ro be perforrood is g,earer rllan Ihe quality allegal servt<;:es perfotmed by other

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• S• • vlc. , Exnminatoon of QVelIHoned do<;""'enl$ Hand",""..g, typowrillng and reialed examinabo,,,, Int",,,,,IIOn· ally court-qu al Ified expert wllne$$ DIplomate. Ame1'1Can Soard 01 F<:<en· sic Documenl EJ<8,runer. Member: American Society 01 Quesrioned Docu-nent Examlflllrs. the Inter""I.:on· ., Assoe,atOO<'l for Identl!,cauon. 1m. B"tlSh Fo rensic Science Soclery , and the Nalional Association d Ctimlnal Defense Lawyers Ret lled Chiel Document E.amine<. USA CI labora tories H.na M.,e r Oldlo .., 218 M e rrymonl Driv e , Augu ala, Oe o.gl. 30901. Phone 12051

NOTICE EDWARD LEWIS HOHN, atto rne y at law. whose whe reabouts are unknown. mu st answe r the Alabama Slate Bar's Rule 25(a) Petiti on No. 92 ·03 within 28 days of November t5 , t992 or. thereafter. the Rule 25{a) Petition contained therein shall be deemed admrtled alld appropr~te discipline shall be impose<! againSt him in th is maner before the Disciplinary Board of the Alabama Slate Bar.

Disciplinary Board Alabama Srale Bar

WHERE THERE'S A WILL THERE'S A WAY As a lawyer, I know the trad itiona l reasons for urg ing Clients to d raw up a wiU - ensure thai their wishes are ca rried out, p rotect survivon; from unnecessary headaches and reduce or eliminate tax burdens. But as a person with a neuromuscula r d isease. I know a will is also an effect ive way to leave a lasUng legacy of hope for those in need of special help, A bequest to MDA cou ld h(! lp piovide Ihe g ift of life to the more than 1 million Americans aHected by neuromuscu la r d iseases. II you or a c lienl are Iook"'g for a way to help others ihrough a bequest or gift , please contact David Schaeffer , Director of Planned Giving,

860-4261.

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