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On lhe Cover fAr/g morning sunlighl on La Coon/II Court!lOU5<', o,wIihl. Alabama. Ln Coonl~ was created {rom portions;J RU$SeIi. Macon, Chambers aoo ThllapO<)Oa counti.. by act 01 1M Alabama Legislatu," in 1866. The county's first election \O,\\S field January 21. 1867. Construction of the courthou... began in 1896. The courthoust .,.,as place<.! on the N.tional Register 0( Hutoric I'Iaoo in 1973. - Photo bgl'au/ Crawford. lD. CW
IN THIS ISSUE THE FACES OF PRO BoNO By Susan Culle" Anderwn ....
, .........
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WHY WAS YOUR h-rmON f'OR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI Dr;NIEO? THE IMPORTANCE OF PROCEDURAL COMl'LlANn:
WITH Ruu: 39, ALA.R.APP.P. By Michael Skolnick; , ...... • .........•.........•...... 348
DISCOVERY IN CR~"1INAl. CASES: OBTAINING EVIDENCE AND INFORMATION NE:CESSARY FOR AN EFFECTIVE D EfENSE By WuaM S. [}avis ..................... . ......... . ... .352 W HERE TO TuRN IN A POST-PuNITIVE DAMAGES WORill: l)IE aQUI TA\I~ PROVISIONS OF THE FALSE CLAIMS ACT
By Pamela It Ilucy ......................... , ...........356
CODE OF AI.AMMA 1975 By Jerry L B:wett . .
ALABAMA STATE BARONLINE www.alabar.org WI"" .
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PRESIDENT'S PAGE The (ai/owing remllritt we", giren IIllhe Cklober 30. 1997I1d",issio", r:er<mfII"lI in MtJnlgomNY by AloNm" Stole 80r ~itknt &9 Howe.
3m delighted to bring gr.etings from the all'l'lOOt 12.000 members of the Alabama State Rar. My delight in being here i. tinged with not a Iiltl e poigTla"'l' and sentimentalit)' because 25 years ago I sat where you now sit (gillt or take a city block or two). I can't help but note and welcome the Maming facts of SO m.}ny parent., who have s,}<!-
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.Weed mUCh. both financially and elTH>Honally. to get you he .. t<.><L>y.
President Rowe's Challenge to New Lawyers
HE
I rermmber ",.11 the mixt<l rulings you ha,-e loo..)'-'<lehght in having romplded law sdlool- relief in having passed the bar e.... m-<oncem about how you'n pay your student 10ll1\S (the average law school grad lasl year owed $35.000 in studtnt 1000nsHpprehen,ion about )/<Jur practical t.gal skillsfear as to your car•• r opportunities giwn the apparent glut of I.wy ........... nd pride in today becoming a I ~r. The pride)/<Ju feel in joining OUr hon· orable profession is justified. Jim North. one of my predec~rs at the state bar, u>ed to say that in the ,mall Alabama tOl<lI where he was reared. there was a saying about someone who entered the Itgal prof.ssion that she or he "made a I"wyor." That was an honor accorded to only one other profession. medicine. It simply renected a tacit rttognition of the ract that it took ..,mething special to make a lawyer. What I'd like to talk to you about today are those professional goals and ideals which undl.'rgird the strength and value of the Irgal prof~ssion. Becoming a la>.ytr i, more than just anning you .... lf with. technic<ol understanding of procedural and sub..t.lntiw laws; iI', .Iso about the fonnulation of. personal code of professional values. Georgia Chid Justice Robert Benham recently !.lid thaI proftlSiona!;'m (or lawyors iJ; not about learning rules; irs about aspirations. I would ask you to consider including in )/<Jur professional.rmor and in your unique persona the follcr..'ing aspira-
lions: Th<: r,,,\ i. a basic commitment to ;nl~ilg and elhio, tn simple terms this means telling the truth, doing wh3\ }I<lU loay you'", goillJ/ to do "'hen you say you're going 10 do it. and complete and unwavering hone.ty in dealing with Ihe money and property of others. In your professional lif. when you ar.
confronted with an ethical i!.Sue, I "!>Courage you to dewlop from the start the habit of r1111ection. Stop and think' Is it right? Is it fair? II may be "hokey" and it may be nld· fashioned. but I'll wager you that the number of disdplinary cam handkd by the Alabama SllIt. Bar "'<luld diminish to a trickle if each ofus would simply slop and ask before acting, Is what I'm contemplating doing something t "'<lutd be comfortable with my mother ..,.ing or knowing? Can it stand the light of day' Wootd I want it done to me? The smmd aspirntion that I'd urge you to adopt i, independence. This includes the ability to say "no" toa client. Lawyers are often too anxiou. to please a ·\.,in·al.... lJ.cost- climt. We're tooafrnid to lose a cli.nt. Elihu Root 0Ile<': said. "About hair the practice ora decent lawyor consists of telling would· be clients that th£)' are damned fools and should stop." You know, true profession. als lead their clients; toadies get in trou· ble and embarrass their coJlugues by shuffiing along followingwhllt are orten base machinations of reg,..,ttable clients. Independence .lso il\\'OI,'" e~p;ng the trap of defiCit personal spending. A friend of mine is fond of saying. -If you really want to >ee time fly set a 9O·day note: As John Capoui recently wrote. "too many Ilal'o'Y"rs] are spending mont')' they don't have. to buy things th£)' don't need. to impress people th£)' don't e"",n like: Independence also involves escaping the trap of alcohol or other sub..tance abUS<:'. This is lru~ an occupational h,u. ard for ""'1"''' that can't be W\'rstated.
¥Er-'.." ..",,::.'..::,.: ----------------------------------------------------------------.
Statistics show that as much ... 50 percent of disciplinary charge. agairu;! lawyer5 stem in part from alcohol or other suj). st.lrl«~.
Independence abo in"ol\'..; the rea/iUltion of how easy it is for laWyers to beoomt prisoners of the ffflCienl and produclive use of their lime. You already know, and [netd not rfmind)lOll, that WC«'~ in the [ega[ profession requir"; hard work and long hours. [n this regard, l"m ,..,minded of an elCperience of Bill Paul when he was presidont of the Oklahoma Bar. Bill was aske<.l b}> a senior at the University of Oklahoma Law School if the .. WiI$ "[ife aft .. 13\0 school: Bill said the answer;' one of those good 11t\'t"Slb;,d """"" things. The good IW\<'$ is the anSl<--er is ')Ies: The bad ne..'S;' that '"life" starts ten jo-ears after)lOll graduate. When time beoomes mo .. than jill! • commodity or unit of merchandise. but increasingly the coin of our J>TQf~ realm. then it is utremely imporUnl that we use our disc ..· tionary time ",i5"!y-Y.·ith our families. with our hobbies. and with the cause. that impire us and, ioo.ro . define us. Your d/lughter will soon forget whdher you won a particular case. but MIl' may remember all her life that you missed her dance recital. 111. third "alue or profmional attribute I would like)lOll to consider is a commilmenl todvilily. which has suffered in recent }'ears. Some ha,-e said that t"" I"", of civilily by I."'l'f'rs is simply an inescapable reflection of a general decline of civil· ill' in """iely. ""1lile there is undeniably less civility in 5OI:iely. that is no excu5" in our profession in which the Iradition of courtesy and gent ility IOrere founding, bedrock principles. As )lOll start your career, realiore that ualous advocacy and suc· cess do not require Rambo-tactics lhat are characterized by inlim idiltion, hostility, and the rough·shod abust of nsi· bi/ities of oppo$ing coonsel or parties. 111. break<kr;.'n of civility is just one aspect of the broader deterioration of profe.. ionalism. Professionalism is more than ethics. which is a minimum standilrd required of all la"'l'f'rs. As Justice Harold Clarke of the Gtorgia Supre"", Coort said, profe~ionalism "is a higher standard expected of all laWyers ... This is the kind of standard ",hich leads to a satisfac· tion for a job well done and a life ",.ll sp<nl." Civility, though. i. more than courtesy and courtliness to olh~r lawytrs. [n this month's ABA Journal. President JerT}' Shestack said, '111t i. an approach that $ttks to diminish ran· cor. to reconcile. and to be Open to nonlitigiou. resolution: In short. ir. the abili ty and will ingness to conwrt cont~nlion inlo CO/ISi'nsu •. to be a problem sol""r, and not jusl a merrenaT}' warrior. Each of us is trouble<! by Iht public perception of the legal profession. The proper reSllOflS" 10 that concern lead, uS to the ["'t "'piratioml commitment I would ask you to make, ",hich i. "Sen';e<!," A[bert Einstein said. "The value of a person should be seen in what that person gi""s and not in what he lor she] is able to recei",,: You are loday receiving a great empowerment. a's yours to use as you dum fIt. Yoo can use it only for yourself or you can use it for others. As myoid law prof~S50r, Martin Lipton. said at a recent N.Y.U. graduation. "/t"S;t ",atchword of the [ega[ profu.ion that if you do gotX/ I'm sure you'll do uoell. and if you do well. il'. your obligation to do gotX/: Too many of Our professioruol colieagut,.llO'wevtr, are putting very liUl. bread back on the "'ater. their thoughts and
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hour. are dtdicatt<! 10 either thtir income or their ent.rUinment. Too often the community activities which are undertaken are choSO'n to maximi~e visibility and social pmtig." whil. minimizing real commitment and hands-on service. Like the kamikau piiOI who flew 18 mi .. iom, we are involved but not commiUt<!. I urge you to make commitments, "'hether iI's a civic club, your church. the Unitt<! Way, Littl. ""ague, the communily chorus, or the Alabamlliegislature. Unless you take lhosi: same talents thal)'O\.l will use in your legal carttr and employ them to makelif. belter for others. then you',... not only del\}ing )IOIlrself a lot 01 pure joy. you',... not pulling)'OUr ",eight. Yoo'l'\' a taker and not a giver, Irs one thing to be a good law).-er, bul it takes more to be a good citiun. These are the aspiration>, commitments. and goals that I would ask you to embrace as you start on your le!!>1caTtt" Integrity Independence Civility
..,
Service Best wishes and God,peed!
_
Richard Wilson & Associates Registered Profess iona l Court Reporters 804 S. rerT}' Street MOntgomery, Alabama 36104
264-6433
Notice The Alabama S Upr'eI\It Court Comm ission on D,"""I. Reso[ution. established in 1994 by the Supreme Court 01 Alabama 10 promote medialion and other a[temati"" ways to settle disput", in the state (ourt s"stem. commu· niti"" adminislrative agencies and schools ",iI/ be award· ing mini·grants for ADR programs. Grants applications must be recei,-t<l by the Commi..ion by October 1 of each year, Curren tly. the Commi..ion is accepting applications until October I. 1998 for the grant cyo:le 1998-99, For grant eligibility crileria and grant applications. please call t"" Alabama C~nter for Dispute Resolution at (334) 269·0409.
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT Btl Krill! B. NomHm
T
ht~ ~"'
.to bar commiu«s ~
luIr forces that U~ currmUy carrying outl number ofwonhy and importanl projecu. Ther( may bt those w!lo doubt the utility and the Jll(:Ce.<s of thf.se committttS lOll wI< fore ... For
thorn. I nw:I only cali 10 thoi. attention past worI<s III m i11ustnHon of tho good INt 11M bttn ;occomplisMd. The 1aW)'f' ,...f... al stMC •. the YOlunlu r law)'"" program. the law office rnoRagement program and tho dispute ruoiulion
Committees and Task Forces Serve the Public and Profession
«nler i'e but a low 01 tilt muoy pn:o. gn,ms be ... fiting the publk ~ our prol'wion. Each of thew programs began as ideu al the committe.lowl. r c.l111o your attention one new rom·
miltH and two new task forca. ThO)' a.e the CommitlH on lI ittOl')l and Ardliwl.lhe TUk Fomt on l.awytr m.clpline and tJw: Tn lr Foltt to Study the Alabam. Stlt. BI'" RuIn and f'rocedur.. eowmln8 Admin l.. n. TheM three groups of bwytrs a;>IlOinltd by P,uioknl 0 ;>1 R_ Ut rtpftSCllt.'ltiw of illlht ~ who "Nt on lilt other 37 rommiUttS .nd wk forces. ThfY ltoo highlight the lignifiCllnce of the rni"ions of thu. bodies. CqmmillH (IOf HisIoq anti ArdIoioes This oornmitltt iI; ctWml !Iv Sam
Ku_ of BimtingNm with RtUio Ibmnet' of Montgomery. tho vice-cllair. The commitl~'5 priro:ipll charge is 10 promou an "I'JIN<"iatlon of the lnoditions of the Alabama SUtt 8u ~ 10 c.... t. an
.-dIMs collection lor the sWt two Some of the committee's functionI will be:
K.-Hh • •
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• owrsight of the newly crealed his· toric miltstont program; • «>ordination of lho newly ~lished nwmoria.l raoI",li(In book for dKt3SOd mrmbon:: • miew lho pouibility of publishiflll ~ histol)' 011'" A/;Ibama Stat. Bar.
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• wort<!-ard comptding tho !pllery of IWI prUidmlJ' p\aqlJ<:o in the board room of the J\att bar headqt.oarttrs; and
• cons.ider ~l'PrOPriate display$ C(Irlam' ifllltht history and archi,..,. of 1M stau bar ~I stat. bar htadcruarters.
Au 119'yPr-oid instit ..... ion. 011' bu'. hiSlOl')' i:II ~~t to thot de\otlopmtnt of tht logal profession in A~ il.\I«Il. \hi administration 01 justice in this .tatt . Likewise, the hiSlOl')' oi tht stale bar is signiroant to national dewlopments irod ...... i'" the first code of tthics for the ~ prok5sion and the bar Wlifi(:ltioo """... ment in this OOI.Inlry. Task fbrce on 1,utJ.~ Discip/ioo This tltsk I\:lrc. is headed !Iv !'Ita Adams d ~ib. Bin Smaa- d I'l ~ will seM: as vic:e<hair, Both "'" former ibt.e bar presidents. The purpOSl: d ~r dis. cipline is to I'f'IlItcI lhe public and it is important thai. our disciplil\llry I'fOtU$ root on/y aa:on1IlIish thai. purpOlst bill. tha it abo be peruMd !Iv tho JdIlic as brill( fair ;ond ~ The 5}'Slml muSI aw;.:t the critici$m d 100 slow, too SKrd., too s.olt ~ too regulating, l'lainly, 1M system must be fair to ""'yors ~ to lhe public ~ be petttiwd to be so.. The tltsk foo:e members ~IT dwged with Sltlilying the mtiIT prtttH d t..yer discipline iro Alabama and makt 1'tO)f11mendotions for impl'O'lltmtn!. Among the ara! 10 be tlWllined aft: • the compbints process-inlJk., 5Crttn;fIII and iowesligatioro; • the discipl''''ry 1\10( til ItrudUIT, control, fQm1 01 discip)ir>e, confiden· tia lity and funding; • poss.ibk ",tiliution oi an lIdministnlivl: g.. ~ in diKiIlIi ... ry pnxndifles; • :lliow auusrnent d costs d disci",i· IW)' prOCft'Ilings ~inst LoIN)'H ...-110 has betn disciplined, <k<;laring wch
cost a judgment for whkh ex~uli()ll wuld issue , and allow judgment intere~t thertQn: ~nd • specifica lly define, by rule, the partidpati()ll of tM disciplinal)' aUlhorit~ in character and fitness matters. Recommendations of a similar task force in 1991 ruulted in s"veral chang •• in the disciplinary process by Ihe Alabama Supreme Court , with Ihe mosl notable ofthese being the inclusion of 1<1;' penoIU on tm;, fiw di«;iplinal)' panels that h.ar the evidenco against attomty> accused of violating the Rules of Professional Conduct.
force is compOSed of former bar "Ilaminer5 a$ Wi!lI individuals who haw been involved wilh bar examinalion issues on a national level. They art sure 10 have recommendations Ihal will help improw the admissions proce.s. The lawyt'rs .. Mng on th ... Ihree task force. and commilte •• will gi,.. hundr..ds of hours ofth.ir tim<. These hours will be bul a pOrtion 01 the many lhousands of hours of public service lhat Alabama lawyt'rs will render Ihis ~ear. Public :ll'r· vice has long been ~ tr~dition of lhe legal profession. Tho legal profession i. a noble calling and public 5eMce has always been the SIliril of Our profession's oiling. •
Task fbn:e 10 Stud!lthe Alulxlf/UI Siale Bar's Rules ami
Procedures Gooeming Admission This task force will be chaimi b}' Itobert Pollll of FIorrnce. Oeloru 1\0:,'<1 of MOfIISQnWI)', who chairs the board of bar exam· iners. "ill .."'" a$ vice-chllir. The tlsk fora' "ill study the admission rul .. "ith particular emphas>s giwn to the bar examination. The tlsk force has been charged wilh consi<kring all aspects of the testing and grading II""""" in light of the bar's public ruporuibility 10 licmse attorneyS who are "minimally competenl: The tlsk force will review lhe experiences of jurUdictiOl\1i "ilkh haw uliliud the written w ... ion of lhe multi-state examif\illion, performance tesling and other testing mechanisms. Nearly a decade has passed .ince the bar', admission pro<:ess was .Iudied. Many chang", haw occurred . ince Ihen, not the 1...1 of ",'hich i.5 Iho large incrmse in Ih. number of exami· n.... , itting for Iho bOlT exam each July and february. This task
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ALABAMA RULES OF EVIDENCE ApPLIED: A
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More than 90 fact situations to analyze. You will receive the hypotheti cals, answers and an extensive appendix along with the 1997 Pocket part Supplement to: Gamble's Alabama Rules of Evidence.
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ABOUT MEMBERS, AMONG FIRMS About M e mbe ..
Laurie M. llrock, fOrm<rly an Msi.tan! Attor~ General for the
Department of Human Resources. announces the Opening of her office at Wildwood PIa«. Suite t03-D. 40SS Cottage Hill R~. Mobile. 36609. Phone (334) 661-3595. N. P. CaILohan. J r. anflOUnces the relocation of hi. offict to 813 Shad •• Creek Parkway. Suile 208.l:Jinning!lam. 35209. Phone (2llS) 871 . 1SOO. RobfTl S. Thomas announces a
change of address to 402 Bria''''ood Road. Sc{ltb/xlro, 357&8. Phon. (205) 514-3210. JOJeph C. 5 1_art, J r. announce ••
change of addre.s to 200 S. Lawrence
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Strut. MontgolTll'l)'. 361(14, Hi. new mailing address i. P.O. Bo~ 911. 36101· (l9 11. Phone (334) 263-3552. \'.lma D, CalT announ.,", the •• loealion 01..." office to 2121 8'" A,,,nue. North. Suite 1623. Birmingham. 35203. Phone (205) 322·7217. J. Siophtn Sfolter announces a chan!/" 0( addres> to 100 Age Herald Building. 2107 s<' Avenue. North. Birmingham. 35203. Phone (205) 252·9751. B}'I'On Todd Fon! announces. change ofhis mailing address to P.O. Box 407. Eutaw. 35462. Phone (205) 372·9635.
Among Firma
Todd Rus""U announces his departure as executive dirI'C\or of the Alabama House Republican Caucus and that he is the newly·appOinted ex..,u· live as.i,tant 10 the Commiuionor of Ins un ne<: for the Stat. of Alaln-ma. His new !lkIiling addr. .. is 1',0 . Box 303351. M'>I1lgomery. 36130-3551. Phon. (334) 269·3550. Jo Alloo.. b}ior. formerly in private pract~ al New Sooth FWeral Bu ilding in Birmingham. armounct$ tilalw has aocepled ~ positioo of attorntYldiroctor of Legal CounHl for tho Elderly. Unr....... ity of Alabama. P.O. Box 870392. 1Uscaloo.a. 35481. Phor.t (205) 348-4960. Joel P. " "dli.ml announces. chang. 0( address 10 lhe Office of Congre.. man Terry E' ..... II. 100 W, Troy Slre.1. Suit_ 101. Oothan. 36303. Phone (334) 794-9680. Jerry A. McDowt:l1. "'1icha..1 D. Knight. mlliam C. Roedd.r. Jr.• Edward S. Sledg •• III . Vomit C. " "lson. Ill. P. Ru. nl Nylu . Brian 1'. McCarthy. W,lter T. Gilm.r. Jr•• and Ardlibald T. Reeves. IV. former memo bers 0( Hand Arendall l...I...C., announce the formation of McDowt:II. Knight. R<W<lMr & Sledge L.L.C. Frederick G.
He lmsing. Jr.• Kathryn W. Pete..en and Bndley S. Copenl\a,.. , are associales. Offices are located at Riverview Plaza , Suite 500, 63 5. Roy.l. Mobile. 36602. Themailingaddre.. i5P.0.Bo~ 350.36601. Phon. (334) 432·5JOO. 'Ihe Uw orr..... of Beth Stiller announces that Lori A. lruid. fOTll)tr law cltrk to the Honor.lble U.W. Cle""", of the U.S. ifutrict Court for the Northern District of Alabama, has become an IISS()date. Offl«$ are locatod at 22S S. Decatur StJetl. P.O. \lox 1071. MonIJ/Orne'Y. 36101. Phor.t (800) 843-5542. Battaglia Law orr."., announces that lee .'1. Ru...,n. Jr. ),.,; become an associ· ate. Offices an located .t S950 Carmichael ~. Soit. 102. Montgome'Y, 36117. I'hono> (334) 244·2983. S..... r & Wf~t he .. annOunce, the relocati'>l1 of its office, to lOOS 6~ A'.. nue. 51':. Oec.:otur. 3s.601. The mail· ing addre .. is P.O. \lox 3043. 35602· 3043. Phone (205) 351·1184. Feld. Hyd •• Lyle" Wertheimer announce, thaI William J. Bly.lnl hal; joined the firm aJ5' shareholder. The new firm ... me i. Feld. Hyde. Lyle. W.rth.imer & Br),ant. Offic"ll are located at lOOO SouthBridge Parkw.y. Suit. 500. Birmingham. 35209. O,ni.1 E. Boan. announces that Scott C. Shimer has join.d the finn aJ5 an associate. Offices .r. locatw at 300 W. T.nn • ...,. 5tr •• I. Florenc •. 35630. Phon. (205) 760·1002 Ande .. on " ColT announces that J_ny M. Twigg •. fonnerly general man. ager of Oi~ie EI.clric. has joined ~ firm as an associate. Offices ar.locatw al the Sterling C.nlre. Suite 304. 4121 Carmichael Road. Montg<.>mery. 36106. Phone (334) 272·9S80. Thom • • O. Kolouc. P.C •• nnounce, that Sick Y. Shimoda hasjoined the firm aJ5 01 cQlH/sel. Offices arelocatw at 4142 Carmichael Road, N'>I1tgom.'Y. 3611)6-2802. Phone (334) 409--0088 .
.'rIeVuitl. 11111 " Conerly announces lhalth. firm name has changed 10 lIali. Conerly. !'\udd" BoMg. Offices are localed al 1400 Finandal Cenler. 505 N. 20" Sired. Birmingham. 352032626. Phone (205) 251·8143. e,.,gory D. Cro •• lin . Clifton E. Slalen and Michael II. O'Co nner. former shareholders of SasSi'r & I.itlletoo. announce lhe formal ion of Cro..lin . SI. len «O'Connor. and lhal J.mes D. McLaughli n and Jam .. "illi. m '-"ague are aMOCiales. Offices are Io<aled at 207 Monlgomery SI'UI. Suile 900. Monlgomery. 36104. Phone (334) 262·8882. ili um, Gtr&en« \\'0001 annouroces that D""id R. Il.abr. form<>rlya p;trtner of Afridi & An!/<I1. has become a p;trtner. The finn name tw bun ch.an~ 10 Cttwn. Raker" Wood UP. OfficO!$ .r. located al 270 Madison o'."roue. New Yorl<. New Yorl< lOO11Hl601. and Iloc.1 Ralon. Florida. I'hooe (2 12) &83-6383. Lulher Slnnge and Jacl< Selden annourn:e Ihe formation of SIr>ng." S. ldon. Offices are Io<ated at 2101 llighlarxl A.""' .... Suile 420. Ilinningham. 35205. Phone (205) 939·(}4SO. e",gory S. Cuimano, LaTTY H. KUner. Mkhatl L. Robert. and I)a,·id A. Kimberlry announce the formation of C". im.no. K•• nor. Robert. « Kimberley. Offices are locattd al 153 S, 9'" Street. Gadsden. 35901. Phone (205) 543·0400. Albritton •• Cli fton" AM-rwn announce. that Ilcnjam in M. Bowden has jointd Ihe finn ... an as.ociato!. Offices a",loc.lttd at 109 ()ppMenue. Andalusia. 36420. I'hooe (334) 222·3177. D. Robert SI.nImki. Jr. and J. Clark Slanlroski announce the Qfli'ning of Slanlroski « Slanlroski. Offices are Ioc.lted at 314 ~lagnoJia Menue , Su ile C. fairhope. 36533.1'he mailing addres5 is 1'.0.80.521. I'hooe (334) 928--3776. Ilb it •• Dunn & Boob r announces a chan~e of address to 2'90 N. 21 " Sireet Mass-ey Building. Suite 600. Birmingham, 35203, Floyd Minor and John Ol.uw.ki announce 1M formation of Minor & Olszewski. Offices are located al 458 S. l.awrence SlTut. P.O. 80. 160\ , ~Iontgomery. 36101.0160\. Phone (334) 265-6200.
I:lem. Anderson. Jaduool « Smith announcn ~ name change to Bttrs.
Goldberg« Simpson announces that SI~""nio L. .'rIorgan tw become an aMOCiate. Offic~. are Ioc.lled al 101 S. S· Street. Suite 3()()(}. Louisville. Kentucky 40202-3118. S.... r" Liltl.ton announces thai Reb«u Wrighl prilchen and Thmara A. Stidham ha"e become \hareholde". Office> are localed at OllonialFinancial C~nter. One Commerce St reet. Suite 100. 1'.0. Iiox 388. Montgomery. 36HlI· 0388. Phone (334) 834·1800. Ben L. Zaruur and In.,·id Schwartz announce Ihe formation of Zar-zaur & Schw>.rt •. and lhat Thomas W. SI. John has become an aMOCiate. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1\366. Binningham.35202-1366. Friedman & Pennington announce lhat lleal".r O. Ca mel has become an aMOCiate. Offices are located at 2000_0'. SouthBridge Parlo.o.·ay, Suit. 2Hl. Birmingham. 35ZOO. Phone (205) 819·3033 , •
Anderson. Jocbon. lI ughts« Polty and that \'tin.ton II'. EdIo.-.nl •• eonsta""" T. Burbiow and JOM/y B. I'an lIe..I I"",,, beoome as.ociales. OfficO!$ are located in Montgomery and Binningh.am. II..-ring, Oick. lI'i.".. •• Adams " \I'alIM announces that Eric F. Adams has joined the finn. Offi= are Ioc.lted al 100 Washington Street. Suite 200. Huntwille, 35801. Phone (2(5) 533·1445. 1o..,n I', McCartha and C. Fnnklin SnO)\Oo·de n. III announce the formation of MCC.rt.... & Snowden. Omce! are located al 1 IV. Jeff Davis A.... nue. ~Ionlgomery. 36104. Phone (3J.1) 26999()8 and (334) 265-3()()(}. Scott 101, Robel1. and ,'rIichaoll. Fi. h announce the formalion of Roberts & Filh. OfficO!$ are Ioc.lted al 3125 Indepen. dmce Drive. Suite 301. Binningham, 35209. I'hooe (205) 870-Ull.
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By s.vnu.I A. RuIJlOf'l', Jr.
1IW _ ~ _ « _/Iii/. ""'" _ _ IIt<_Olu>II, o - t _
----.~ onruo County
T Monroe County Established 1815
The /QIlou:ing Cf)Illinllf'S Q history ofAlabomo:S crJ(Jnlll cour/housesl/wir origirss WId some of the prople whQ contributed /0 lheir grow/h. If JIOU hat'f? anll photographs of (>{]TIll or present courthouses, pll'Q!il! forlL'ord them tQ: Stlmutl A Rumore,
Jr., MigfionicQ& Rumore, 1230 Brou-71 Marx 1bu'l?r; Birmingham. Alabama 3S203.
Hi
ilt nn tJw is pmmt-<!oy Mon...,. County hu ~ historical ruots.
From 1519 to 1700 tilt ~m _ claimed by Spain U pilrt of Florida. From 1700 to 1763 it was claimed by F~ ;os part of LouisiiN.. From 1763 to 1780 Englalld claimtd lilt tuntory ilII pilrt of ",'eSt florida. And from 1780 10 1795 Spain claimed it again. In 1795 the land beQmt a part of lilt United States. "TWo more <,Itgdes pasud bdo~ this wildemtlS in Ille ·Old South......t " became a C()Unly. Stlt~rnml of tho am uqui!'td reliable Inmportation. The A~IN RiYtr Oaws through the county, 50 "'";Ilu tl"ilUflOl'btion ITIiIde ~ porI;';" d the tuntOl)' .asil)' ~bIf. HCJoftYH. land IJU\SpOfI.Ition to othH ~ru of tilt irn provtd to be ~ problem. Until 1805, tlltre Wfre onl~ InoJ~ tnils and footpillhi through thr territory. On N<Mmber ]4 of th.I.t year. Secretary 01 War Htnry Darhom. rtpramting tilt: United States. and Willi.un Mcintosh. as head of a del,ga·
tioo of C_k Indian (liiffs. ligned a truly ..'htnby the Uniled Statts pur~ lilt righllo _ a pool",",,,,>, througll the Indian country. AJltw.>ugh the ~ was only a oorw path. by
the Imns oIt1>e ,.(aly 1M lndi.m chim bpt boioll at rivtl'J and 1a'1f' .trums for the US< of mtn aNI 00,... •. They also maintained Koommodalions for travtlers. The prien charg~d for the I.. ry ~rvice and for the inru ",'Ore regulated by an agent for Indian AlTair .. In 1811 .. subsequenllreaty tIM: United Stalts 10 miuge the pat.tr..'3y so 1IW vthicl&--;.~ carts and the like---<ookl pw along the pat/l. 1\ "'<11$111 this timr tNt thr roocIwa)' ....... drsignakd ;as the ftilml~. This ftdor.al Rood almded from MilltdgeviUe. tilt aP~ 01 ~ to MOOiSt. It mttml ~ ;M Fort Milchtll. IWr poftmt-&y Phenix City. and cool,OlIfd 10 New Phibdtlphia, pmml4i)1 Montgomery.•'1'00\ 1hm the ro,1oIj pnxmkd iOOlhwnltrly 10 Fort Dtpo.sil and Huml Com. Humt Com is in
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pmmt4.ly Monroe County. AI Humt Com, the road dMdtd Intn two br.Inchu. One proc«dW dut _ to SL Strphms and Imn dut JolUth to Mobilt. The ()Ihor cootinutd soothwesterly to Mims Fury IIrKl thtn \0 I'l. StodcItrt on iu IiQ1 to Mobilt. Thus. an j~junction altwobrand>adtht r.dtr.tlllo1od met in and traYmed through the futln Monroe County.
Tht lWI1ing 01 Rumt Com is an ,ntnesting bit. The rNoin path from I'ms.Icob to the Upper Crttk Nation puxd by .. SIlring. A group of Indw.s t~ljng on thr p&lh _"' fOfttd to k;!"" an ailing companion thert. They """i<!td him "i\h .. $uwIY 01 «1m. \\'Mn he .fC(I\IOI'rN, ... had no Willy to CUT)' 11M: Idtow. tom iO it sU~ on tho ifflIJnd and t'>'enlually bumtd in his ClOmp fir•. Otllt. t ....~ltrs came along \... t",it and noted that they tamped at a spring whe~ the ·~om had burnt," The name Burnt Com has ~lllIIin.d there ...... ,inCl:. With tl>e coming of mort Sl'ttI... into the ter. itory. friction between Slltl... and the Creek lndilons naturally lroM. Sc.aUt,W sltirmi$hH g~ually ltd to tho C... k Indian War of 181 3-181 4. The cluhu ullirmotdy culmi .....trd in lilt rNSS/ICrt at Fort Mims on AugUlt 30, 1813, whe.., <M, 500 KIllen wnt killtd. This I);,Ul. _ the single bIooditst 6tftal ofwhitt
settlers by lnomns in Arneriaon history. Ouring thf WlOr. Ctntnl Fudimnd L Cblbomo csublished i fortifie.>tion on thf AIabaIN Riwr ill thf (utun: Monroe County as I but for hi, sllPl'li .... n.. site chosen IOIUOII ~ high bluff ~ as ,Ibbo ..... Heights. This fOft btwnt kllown as Fort Ciloibornt. It was 10000ted nur Johll Wea\htrford', Ferry 011 the Federllol ROi!Id. A fa/TlOU$ incident of the wau CM'oCIO light involving Sam Oalt, took poo withill the future Monroe Counl)'. "mg Sam" was a scout. tr<>der and Indian fighter. At this time he ........ aOO a captain in the militia. On N(),'embtr 12. 1813, he and his small detach· romt ....C(Kmttn:d .. war 1"'1'1}' alii Indians in a aooe. Captain Dale MId thm ~ p><ldIed out into the AW:ramo Riwr to fight tilt Indians. Amtriaos on both sldrs aI tilt rMr WlOtchtd tilt mc:ountu. Sinoe their pnrI"Itn bI eotttll wet. [);ole and his mm could not fire their rifles. So ....ith one aI his ((IIT\j'laIlions hoIdif1ll tilt anoa $i<It by side with " firm grip. Dale ~ tilt two othcn undtT his o:.:mmmd fourght the Indians ill hand.to-hand combat using their WUI)OII$ as clubs. TWo aI tilt Indians jumped fr(llll the canoe. The othtr lIi .......... n: killed In the dO.. Although a wry brief mcounter. the rerocil)' aI the
hand·to-hand fighting ....-as witnmfd Vi IlIUmber 01 soId;eT'J on the riYtrbanIc iI1d assun:d Sam [);ok', rtputation as a hero. 0aIt County. Abbarni is IIIITItd b" him. The CTftk Indian War tnded ....it/> the lnaty 01 FOft JilCkson on August 9. ]814. As i ~rt altNt truty. the CrHb «tied their clloims tOll wbsUntiai amount oftemtory tNt ultndtd fr(llllthe comtr aI prosmt-day FrlIonklin Coull\y t/>rou&h emIr.ll AWwna, all tilt ""'l' to 1m Spanish territory ill PIorida. Thi,,,rea COO<Iwed of awroli ..... tely 21.500 5QUlre mil .... 8y procli ..... tion dated June 29. 1815, (;oo.-emor ~ Holmu 01 the Mississippi Territory cruted Monroe County from IheK Creek lands. It was IIIImed lor lhen Secrttary of Stale James Monroe. Holmts' proclamation was as 1011QWS; "Whereas. by ~ treaty entered into by Major Ctnt"ra.1 Andrcw Jackoon, on the part of the United S\.>te•• with tht Chirls. Tkputies ind Warriors of thf CTftk Nation on the 9th day of August. 1814. thf title oflhe aid Creek Nation h.as bten t~tinguishtd to " cer\.>in tract of Country lying within this TerrilOf)'. And Wheu.u it is t$Kntw to the preservation at good order. and to prevmt tilt Ilows 01 the Territory from Mint! infracttd wilh impullity. tNt the Jurisdiction of the cMI ollkeT'J thfre01 should be \':I.ttnded OYtr the aid tract of Country. ~refou, Know Ye. That b!> virtllt oflhe powers ;11 me Vf:OIed ~ Coo.emor 01 the Mississipp; Territory. I do hereby erect ..II that tr.tlCt of Country to .....hich the Indian title W;lS extinguishc<.! by the treaty afOTfSlOid into I County. and do he,...by order MId declare thai the said County shall be called and known b!> the N.me of Monnll:. ind I do further dtcllore. tilt Uws at the Mississippi Territory. and tilt Onli"""",," iI1d Acts 01 Congress ,...10.liw thtmo, Ml' in 10m: ....ithin the aid County. -And Mo,.....,.,..r I do enjoin the lnNbi\.>nU of lilt aid Coullty 01 Mooroe. to be obtditllt to lilt Ilows, and to rtsptct thf rights thlt hlVI' betll t«urtd to the Creek N~ion of lndiam ~ thf treaty MOTtsIid. "In Tt5Iirnony Whereof. I hM: e.>ustd thf Itil of the Milo$w.;ppi TmiiOry to be hereunlo ~lmI. and .. ~ tilt oamt with III}I hind. "Done at the Ttrwn alWa$hington, the Iwtnty-ninth day of June A.D. om thousand eight hu,>dn:d and fifo teen, and in the thirty·ninth year 0( the. IndtJlfncltnct of the United States of Amtrie.>. - Da,id Holmu ' In the yeaT'J prtCtding the C"rtation of Mon roe County, James Monroe hid Jlfrformtd great sr,.".;u lot his country in maJI)' <lifre ....... ClJlilCities. During the lWoIulionary Wlr he KMCi loS ..
liwknant and /ought pliantly in i numbtrdbilUlu.ln ]782 hr btg;ln his political arm' by winning tltdim to the \irginQ AsottmIy. In 1783 hr ... oltdtd to tho eongra.,dtho Conftdmtion. In 1786 hr retumtd to the Virginia Assembly. And in 1790 he looic IIltlt in the Uniltd Stalts Stnlott. l'millent Washington appojntN Monroe Minilt •• to Pr.mc~ in 1794. In 1799 t.. ... eiecttd Co.otmor o(v,rginia. In 1803 t.. holptd negotiale the purcNst d lho touisiani TerritOI)'. And in 1806 Prtsident JdI"el"lOO ~ IUm ~hnWOT toGmot 8rilllin. In 1811 hr ... tIocttd Co.otmor d \~rginia.n. In 18121're$idont MMliIoo IWntd Monroe 10 b< hi> ~retary 0( Statt. Warwilh Great Britain could not b< iIIIOidtII. and $0 Monroe hrMd AmeriWI fortign polity durinll tho WII' d 18]2. UnfortuNto!y. in 1814 tho 8nI00.......adtd;and bumod the capital Clly d l'."ashiogtOn. Pmidml Madison ~ntl» di>miss..d tti, ~rtt>I). 0( War for intpliloo. and namtd Monroe 10 be Sec.. tary 01 W"r as well as Secrtbry d Statt for tho duration d tho oonI!ict "'hich tndnI in 1815. It """ durina" thi!; limo \h;Il Govm1or Holmes of tho Mwislippi TmilOl)' QlabliI.hcd Monrue County. choosina" tho namt 10 honor i uniqut public IOMnt who htId two moJo. abind positionJ s;multanrowJy. In 1816 Monror,,~ .ltcttd p...identdtho UnilN Stattsand he Krved from 1817 10 1825. During his administration. MissiWppi beI:amoi SIatt In 1817 and AlWma mt.rtd thr Union in 1819. Monrotwasthe firS! pttir1g prtsiIImt tovi$il ~ "ftm t.. madr II ""...... Jlop in Hunl$\-illr on Juno I, 1819. Monroe i. moot rnnombored for hi> "",mine to European Ntions agail15l inttrftrinQ in the affairs of countries in the I\'estem Hemisphtrt . fl il-Monror Ooctrino" _ designed to llrtltM the f.«oom 01 nt"\'lly independent ulin Ame.ican .tatu. Monror diN on Ju ly'. 1831. fi .... )'tars to Ihe day fol· lowin~ lho d...tlu of John Ad/Imoand Thomas Jdf.non. It i. an inltrUling lido nott of hislOI)' lhal Ihm: of thr lirsl C,.,.. pruidents dial on July '.tho birthday of tho Ntion. On DKnnbt19, 1815, tilt Mississil'Jli TtmtomllAgisbture IWntd Fort Cbioo ..... on tho Alabama Ri ..... as tilt county_I for lhe brgo counly of Monroe. Becaust many stllltrs began moYillg into the fort hckson arfa in the northern part 01 the county, th.legislature caM~ Mont~ry Counly out of Monroe Counly on Docember 6. 1816. kaving Monroe County with approximately 10.600 square milo:. oIttmlOl)'. The.ooItQUtflt crution of 0aJ1as County on Ptbruiry 9. 18181100 Controh County on ~·tbruary 13. 1818 kfl Monroe with a more rrun.JtQblt 2.100 squa~ miles.. Further reduction in territory took place the nut year whtn Butler llliJ WilcOJ countiu we~ create~ on D«emlJ.tr 13. 1819. leavin~ approxi· mattly 1,300 square milt! in tht county. The origi ....1county Kat town of. Cbibomo ~rew up ,round t.ht fort of Ihr SlIIlW name. In lilt ea.l» ibys of the county it ""'" thr ~ stUltmeot. By 1819 thr town was pWted ioto ~mII had ~1"O""Il to lpproxi ..... ttly 2.000 citiUflS. n..: .. are no Iltscriptioos ...... Hablt of. courthoust building in lhe earli· tSI day! 01 Monro<: County.
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Cbibornt bKallW " brge cottoo a.ipping port. B.tc...... it was kottd on I high bluff ,,~th I st.... ' • . oDllon biles wtrt Knt oo.."Ill ,lido to lilt river wharf for ~ing onto steamboats.l'loralltling tilt Jlille Wt~ trxks "nd sttpS. 00 lhe t~ks ran a car which was Iitd to a ropt mil OPeraled by a mule.J'O"· ••ed pulley. The car carried good! and baggag~. Passengtrs had to climb 365 wooden steps from tilt ri'"e' td~o to lilt top 01 1m bluff, A Iltscription of Cbibomt in 1825 listed a hott!. i jewtlry store. four lli· lor Jhop$. thm: ClrptOten. mil §I'Wfl principal mtrchantl. Thore ~re iii allomeys, fO\.l. doctors." CO\.lnty judg~, and a fod.ral juJ~t. In April Ii 1825. Gentrallafa}"eUt Wited the town during his bTtWtIl tour of the Unikd SIIItes. A Tt«ption """ hold in IMJ honor III t.ht homo Ii J........ Odlrt, u.. first Speaker 01 tho Ablwno Ilouse 01 R'1'resmllltNes. Acconling 10 accounts Ii tht affair. thr attendees feasted 00 iii hams. tight roast lurkoys. ~ roast pigs, 24 Iowts. 12 Web. W: dishes of ........ brd". and ~ ~ for the gat.htrillt WiytIU ;&]so visited lilt newly cmstructed 1>Wooic ~ Number 3. completed io 182-&. The de9: from wtlich hr op.>Ito still coolllins I .ilver pbtt c:onvnrrrlOrllling lilt visit. The lodge is lignificant in Monroe County courthouse hislory btcaust one room was used as a courtroom for a number ofj'tars. Today it i. the oldest building in Monroe County. It was relOCIIIN to the town Ii Perd ... IIHl in 18801. This building is one Ii twostructurts in AlaIwna. thr other being al N..... St. Sltpl1tns in Walhington County. wtlich are lIill stand."" Iada» and "i\ich wt~ used for Masonic: II ""ell as court purposu. II numbe. oIfamous citiuns resi<led in ifill llround Cillioome. Rtsidu Jamt, ~lId ",ho ItMd in Cong"$$ from 1825 to 1829. two gO'vtrnor$ 01 Alabama called C!aioomt homo: John Murphy.lIOvtmor from 1825 to 1829. and Arthur Ptndleton Ragby.lIOvtmor from 183710 IMI. Murphy bier Itr\'tIl in tho U.s. HooK of R...,.--ntatiYts and Ragby bter btamt II U.s. SeNtor. Abo. Charles Tllit. thr lint Uniltd Statu District Judge of Allbama. lio.'tO:!;n Cbioo ...... And. William 8. Travis. one oIlhe heroes of the Allmo. ,,~ticN !IIw in Monroe County allllli,""" nearb;' fo. /I pe.iod of time. lIy 1831. an o(fort began for Ih. movement oftht county stat to a more c<:nlraliR\l Iocalion. An tlection authorized Ih. ~1l1OI'I1 of t.ht _t of jUJIi<:<: 10 t.ht moot ""itable Pit within lour milts of tho geographical emltr of the county. A thr«· man rommw.ion Itt out to dtt ......i.... tilt ,ilt. 1.0001 histomns maintain that the ~ic: emt..... the counly i> no<\hIo.'tst 0( p....... t Mon"",,;lk in u.. vicinity d UmW0I10 C... k and t.....1 the commi$$ioners localed this .ite. ln lravtling back to makt thtir rtpor\. u.. commissioners Slopped at ~ ....... Ik ...·s IIIvtm to rdrtsh thtmstlvts. Aft .. ItMning the Ntu~ of thrir tui_1w: oIftrtd thtm drinks on the house.. ~ lpOI\Itho night with him. SO u.. stor)' gou.lfId alter many ~ free round! tht commissiontn detennintd that the !leOgr"3Ilhic emler d u.. county was ac\uall» IoCIltd prtCisel»,)\ ~bjor W"lker'l Mill and St~,
Walker had setlled in the area in 1815. In 1S22 he erected his rorst gristmi ll on Wal ker Cree k. He later built. small store and tavern. The place had become kt1Ol'>'ll as Wal ker's ~l i ll aod Store. Mer it was thosen for the county seat due to its "central" location. il was atiled CentelVi li e. HCM·"v.". sira a C""lelVilie alre.ady existed in Alabama. the ""me was per· ma'lently established in 1832 as ~lonroeville_ Th. t<M'll of ClaiborM continued a.$ a promi. nenl cotton shipping port and com,""rciai center Ihroughout the antebellum period. However, its fortunes deteriorated as the COlton economy was destroyed by the Civil War. By 1872, the ICM'll had only 35(} resident •. Today onlya few homes mark Ihe area where _C<><m1vl/#rl,,.,.,_ once stood a fort. a county seat. and Iheloca· tion of the state'slargest cotton shipping port. In 1&32. Joose Henry Taylor ",Iected a sit. for the first of the four courthouses thai would be built in Monroeville. This site is beliewd to be bet",.en the location of the two preseot courthouses. It ,",'as bui ll of log, and burned in Ihe 1&30s. Nany e.arly record. w..elos!. A new brick courthouse Wa.$ soon built. The actual construc· tion date is unkt1Ol'>'ll. Aphoto taken years later shows a twostory building with "TOUght iron sbirways on both sidesl~adi ng up to an iron porch. The windows appear to haw wooden shut· ters. It Wa5 from this courthouse in Apri l 1865 that Probate Judge T. M. Mct.lrvey rode out to meet northern sotdiers on the outskirts of tCM'll and persuaded tbem not to bum ~lonroeville. Mler a new courthouse Wa.$ built following the turn of the JcIm _ , """ MI{Jt 50Im II'*'" """'" ...........t. 1.t1W'Da!! 19!17. Aia century. the older 'truclure continued to ser"e the counly a.$ F&rJt '-* - . '" IfaT .;gIrI1, the localion of county archives , II al.., contained law offices and businuses. including a drug store. Unfortu""lely. like its predecessor. this building burned. The year was 1928, ~bny M. T. Lewman and t.lmpany. contractor. of Loui.ville. more of the early ~\onroe County records lay in ""hes. K~ ntucky. built the tan brick structure. Bricks ami building By 1900 Monroevil le""" incorporaled, had """""nger train .uPllli.. had to lJ<, shipped to Mon1W\lill~ by train. When the service. daily mail and a thriving business community, Probate courthouse w.. completed. the Monroe Joumlll boasted. "The Judge Nicholas Stallworth dre.amed of a new. larger and grandly new courthouse is one of the handsom .. t and most con"edesigned counhouse . Andrew J. Bryan of New O,Ie.ans. a promi . nienlly appointed in the state. and one that would do credit to nenl 50Ulhern architec!. Wa.$ hired for the projoct. a county far uceroing Monroe in _alth and population." Bryan designed a three·story domed courthouse of NeoOver the years. the buildi ng h.. undergone .. mQdelingand renoo.·ations.llecords show that the first such projl'Cts took Classical and Edectic styles. It was built in three sedion, ""th each W:lion ha" ing a diffe".nt .hape. The eastern portion i, place in the lat. 1920. and early 1930.. In the late 1940s, Iwo_,lori.s high. conslrucled in the fonn of a malt..., cros.. other impro"ement. wtre made and a vault imblled to .to.. and lOpped by an octagonal doc k t<M'I'r with four dock faces. county rtcOrds , Still. as the county gr ...... the building became Entrances are located at the comers which create triangular· inadequate to med its needs. shaped offices around the lobbies. The central section is a Probate Judge Eugene T. Millsap. a staunch fiscal conser"a· three-story oval struclure. The l"""'r le"el housed the probate Ii..... took on the construction of a new courthouse "" his I'd office ~anked by curved . ro.'I'red walk>o.·ays on the outside. The project. The fulfillment of his plans took so,"" time, bocau.. re.t of this seclion contains liu! two·story oval courtroom. The they called for the courthouse to be paid for with cash in hand western seclion i,. Ih ..e-.lory rectangular unit with addileaving no debt for the county. II. accomplished this bsk in tional office space as "",II .. witness and jury rOOms. 1963. the year he died while in office. le."ing more than one Bryan designed other courthouses in Georgia. Mississippi million dollars in the county coffers aRer the build ing debt aod Louisiana. Several of these had fe.atures similar to the was paid. MonTOe'Jilie Courthouse. ! Ie designed an almost identical Fortunat.ly for Mon"", County and the Sbte of AlaIJ.lma. the ,Iruclure in 1904 for Troup County al laGrange , Georgia. 1903 courthouse had been built on only about one·third of the Unfortunately. Monroe County's sister courthouse building large ta....n square. Two-thirds had been leR as a park. When burned in 1936. plans "'". made for a new courthoo.Ik. there Wa5 no neW to NO . . . . . . . 'OI'
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dtmoIish the old courthouse to the courthoust tKh yor duro ITAkr room lor j new structure. ing the fin!: two Wftlwlds in This patlom of !&ring""""" In 1997 the Alabim:io Statt the old to ITAkr room tOr the II..v initiated a LtgaI Miltstono new ~ b«n a common /lI'3CI'nlgnm to focus the public'l Ii« in AWwna..~, Monroe Counly w.. obit 10 A>... attention on the bw and iu ils archilecluraljewel, which pia« in America's lift. Two could not be cml-dfectiwly mamrs were detliuttd on May roprooJU«d to<L1y. l. Llw Day, 1997. Ontol thest two ma","rs was ullVtiled ill the Tht 1963 Moo..,. County County Court/lol.l$e in a M on.oo Courthouse vQli doscribed by iu iU"thit«b as rnnlllining '~ ~''''iOioyatttndod by~ dtmtnts rtminiscml of uri)' ~ Court Juslitt J. IOUIhem buiklingl.· This building ~ I Comwo lkouston. Jr~ ",ho "'rott the nwk· long <II'f" II(>rdl with rocking thai", II ~r \tXt, Cimlit J~ Samud It \\'ddo. bar ((lI1\ITIwiontr John B;omett, Ill. ;and Alice wcond Aoor balcony, and <yp1T.$S "i!1dow shunt'" It;s 0I1l'1Odml design, constructFinch Ltt-, iI Monroeville la....>'"r and t~ ed 01 roinlorad concrolt, and coYtrod suttr 01 author llarper !.\'t. The mario.. wilh ~mon pink brick. Tht two court· pay$ trib!M to flctionollawyor Atticu5 hou$H on the town sql1ilrt pn:Mdt I strik, Finch, who repnstnu <In idtal and JOlt ing oontrast 01 iU"thittdu~ styIu. rnotltl ~ ilil Ji.,.~ Nott the source 01 Tht new courthouse cost IIpprt11ilNttly his list rwrot. ono·MlI million <bIlars and ..... oJtbt· lrtt Otspil~ the ~I .tI'ort to 1M' the c . . - _ ..... _IoioI ••• whrn the buildingopmtd. Tho JrchitecMonroe County Courthowt, mum n'IOR lui'll firm wtlich designed the PfOJlClu.. • worIc nted5 to be done. Tht iniiW phase Shtrlock, Smith &: AdIIms,lnc. of 01 prestMtion focused on the building', Montgomrry. The projotct designu ....... v:.t~rior. the roof, the bricks. tho "indow$, Eugent T. Millsap, Jr., son oIl'n)/);,lt Judgt Mill"'!'. Tht g• .,.,rlll and the t<>l'ller clock. Othtr fuOld! werellM<l to rd"'nish lhe contractor was S. J. CUn» &: Compaoyof Albany. CeorgiII. courtroom floor, instaliitructural tits on the third floor. and iillllTOYt ~I«trical JtMCt to the building. Now ~ must be No story about Monroe County and its courthoust..oukl be o;ompJ.tc "i!hoot dQcribing the building as /I promintnt done to cornpI~1f1y .tpiKe the 193(b wiring in the building. to i~1 a new hating;and air conditioning sysI~m. _It 1M ~ litmry w.Imark. Monroevillt is the hometown 01 HlI!JItT ~. wthor Q(1o KiliA Moditltllbitd. Tht fittiotW plumbing for mtrooms. instilll an elewtor, refinish the fIooB. !obycomb. Alabama __ patkmed altu Monl'Ot\'illt. Tht courtrtpiIir pbsttr.1Ind PiI,n' 1M interior. Tho Monroe County I!fri~ Ml1Jtum stm _lis /illlincilol houN pIaytd a piYoW part in the Pulita:r ...m""inning 1lO'\.'O"l. A.ctor CI"fiOrl> f'u:k visited the kMI and iu courthouse in ~_ ~istana from individuals, (OI"JIOralions and foundatioru to ralion for his Oscar·"inning portrayal 01 atlonJty Attiru.o; finch. o,:omplttt the filllil phast of courthouse .",'oration. The mail · Also. famous author Truman Capote frequently visited Ing address of tht muJtum is P.O. Bo~ 1637, Monnxvillt, Alabama 36461. Tht ml1Jtum il open Monday through Monnxvill. and spent summers with rtlalivu in the to'l<"". In his lutobk>graphical mort story. A Christl1llU MmJQ1JI. he Sotunby. The ,iliullS 01 Monroe Counly haw nioibitt<J grut made rdtrenct to the courthouse when he wroto thot "tho vislon by pustMng the,r trouurtd courthouJt I.londmuk. courthoust bell sounded so cold and clea •." Tht lIuthor ~ the mistlln« of .lint Ellen Cason. Monroe County Htritat! MUstUm; Monl'Of:\;lI~ iltlomt)'S Mu the new courthouse "'II built, the old courthouse WIllI ..-I lor bw offica, othtr bu!lirlt$$e$..,d the Ownber of ~odIoIoo s. ~, J. Mitt.:on Corwtll. Jr~ and John B. 8..vnttt, Ill; CorMltrce. II __ plaad on the NlItioNl RtlIWu Q( HWoric Montaomery iII\IJfMy .hJ/'on R. lI"bIt; Mobile attomty Liontl C. PlKts on April 16, 1973. A I'nCMmenl began in the 1980s 10 lI'illiilms; &old the AlWmiIllistorical Commission tOr usiltlli"iOt in obtaining iilfonnalion or photos UJtd in this article. ratOrt and prese".. the old courthoust and to tum it into II mUltum. A play ba..sW on 10 Kil/ A NrxkingJ)irrl is performed in SOURCES:
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LEGISLATIVE WRAP-Ur By IIoberI L McCurity. Jr.
Special Se •• ion The I~gislatur. met in a Special SeMioo in Stptt mber to p.w an wllClllion and gent",1 fund budget. In addition to these fundill4 billl.!lIt LegISlature pas.wd two ~ ~ drJftw by !lit lnotitult. Amend .... nt . to thlt Revl.ed Umited P.rtnerWIip Act
Ad 91-92 1 Spont;o.W bg /kpot:llil.lalQ M01c c....... alld SmaIof'J Ted Utile IlItd /iJogw BaIford Background
In 1983. theJ\bb.lmio l.tgislaturHnact. rd oor present limitw p;t.t1nership Iotatute. l upersedill4 an urlier 1916 $\atute based on the Uniform Umitw l'at1nershilll\ct. '1'....0 )'to"I"lI'Ier the enactmml of Alabam;o's 198J Act, tht National Unifomt Ad ....'aS upd;oted in 1985. After I two-~u lIudy, the Alabama Uw InslitU1e I'«Otnmtndrd bringing CUrmtt the Abbotll"lll Act, now 14)'W'S old. to brillQ it Into line wIth tht ... IionII model. This will rewlt in tilt IoIIowillQ w'*->nt~ ctl.vlgn. A. Tht New Short·fomt Cortifitllte IItld
the Rok oI tllt: I'artntrship Agreement The present Alab;onll Act requires thaI the limitw partnership te.(ifitllte ~ forth. substantial amount 01 information <:(WJCtmina; the capItal MIll financn 01 the partnership, the ifJernity of tht limitw
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~·, ....-nt Act...,:Mdr:l; thIot <I limilN partnH mq ...,thdraw from .. limiltd putntrslllp OI'lIy.t the !mit or """" the happtning of IMIlts sprcirltd in tht ~r1jroal. of limilt\! partnmhip aro:I in ocrordancI: wilh the plu'!neooip agrttmenl obut if the certifiat. fails 10 Sptcify • Ii"", or the e.'tnts that woolJ trigger a limited partner's right 10 withdraw, upon six months' w,iUtn OOIiu. Ur><kr current Internal Rewn~ $(rvi« ruling.. Ihis $ix. months rult Iw bml. problerTL
C. Mtrgtr and COfMrsion f'roo.Uions TIlt 1!I83Ac:t did 001 cont.lin..,y pro..woo dulil\ll wilh IIItrgnsof limitrci partntnhips ";tll otIv. timiltd partntrshipS, rnuth irA otlltr busirlU'll t ntitiu. T:okillll ill cue from lilt prcMsivns of "" ........I/tmral partnership act ~ in 1996, thi, act cont~ins ~n:Msioos t!\at permit mtrgtr. oIlimiltd par1nl:r$h ipS with otlltr "busine$> tnlities. " O. Clarifying l\lhat Ac1ivities Do Not Constitute I'articil'lliion in Coolrol
Our presenl Act ~lI lorth a catalog of actions (frequently rtftrrtd to as i "safe hlIoon thllt ~ limited parIMr can take ....'thout bt"illll d«mtd to haw partie;. pated in control, ....·,th ION 01 limited Iability. ~ proposed Ad I<kb Sl'\'t"ral acln'itlltS to !hoM: thllt ....ill k proIKlW by tht ~ harbor. MIll introdl.lCl:S dari-. lying Ian8~ as to sorm cur.. nt J)l'0YI.ions.
~:. Mlscella~1
A numbt"r 01 miscellaneow changes
Iotatute to conform the Umitw Partnership Act ....i th recent rtVisions to the Partnership atld Limitw Uabil ity P~rtnership Acl 011996, Bwine.. Corporalion Ad 01 1m. ~nd the Umitw l.iahility Company Act 011993. It furthtr ~ other darilyillll ~ in !lit Nationll Uniform Act 01 1985. limited
L~bmty
Companll
Amend .... nt.
Ad 97-920 ~ bg Ikpraffllali~v Mark Cainn a,td Senalor Slft'fl Windom
The Alabama I,imittd Liability Comrany Acl h:.s bun armnded 10 develO\'lmtnu in this uea of tilt law Alabama ~.d ill Ii\<o' in 1993. Whtn AW»1TIlI pu.std u.c law Wf Wfrt thr 1~lh sUit 10 tNd. weh. ' -. Now .11 SO sUla haw p;wN OAt. Two proYisions thllt are addmstd in thHr mwndmmllallow I _ 'Il<<500 U.c "t.tu now it uquira two or mou. Furth«, mtrgn provisions ~u ~ to ~llow otlltr businw tntitiu 10 btoomc I;mited Liabilily Compani...
r.n.el
.j"".
,Is
A. Cht<:k tilt Bolt
Another impOrtant deYeloprnent is the adoption by the Un itw States1'msury of the "check-tilt-box" rtgulations urnlrr ....ilieh an mtl\y can eltd to bt" trutw as a partntrship 011 as ~ <X>f!lOntion ....ilhout salisfyillll COIIIjIiu; ttsU. Thcsr regulations make it posaibk to JoUbibnliall)' simt>lify tht Act without mdM!gm1lll the Iotatus of limited liability «If["[~iu as partnerships ktr ftdIt1iIll"IIXIITIt We PJrpostS. B. Fiduciary St~nd.ttrds
Tht ;urttndmtnll adopt fiduciary Iotanduds 10 ~m tilt ..Iltion. bt"tW'Hn the COnlIWlY and ill tmmbt"rs and among tilt membt"rs, These standard5 art b.>~d on the TfCfnUy promulgated
=============~_"':"~":"~"",,:::~':"~'~'~';:~:~:::;"~"~~.,"~""~_-.:"~"~ifO;~~'~;m~";'d~liability wmpany
act b)'
the National Confe ... nce of Commiss ione.. on Uniform Stat. Law •. Theu 5tandard5 are similar to Ihe Sian· dud.< for p.:ortne .. undn the Al. bam:l Uniform Partnership Acl (1996). The propostd amendments are more specifIC than Ihe olher laws in gCNeming access and = of information.
C. Definitions Many minor additions and modificalions haw bun made in light olexperi. enee with the existing law. A definition of "business entity" has been added. The amendments provide for an "organizer" to form thelimittd liab il ity comp.:ony. The requirement for an inilial report has bun d.l.ted as unnK .... ry. The term "dissociation" has been eliminated entirely. The concept has no function new that "continuity of life"-as wed in the Trea.ury RegulatiOf\S--i. not a con· ,em. The term "disso<i.tion" has been repiactd with "ce... tion of member· ship" wh . .. n",~ry.
D. Wilhdra"-al of Member The rule. gowrning purchase of a member's interest after withdrawal are delettd . HO'><'ever, the buyout provist<ons of the professional coyt>Oration ltatute haw bun added to the rulu gowming professional limited liability comp.:onies in the e\1:nl interests in a limittd liabil· ity comp.:ony are tran5ferrtd to pe!"$OlIS .... ho are not eligible to o.... n interests in professional organizations. This does not "present a substanti.1 change a.to prof..sional limited liability companies,
E. Members A number of provisions haw bun modified to provide for single m.mber limittd liability cOmpanie5. Such com· p.:oni"" will be igno..d for income tax purpOses. Rules h."" bun addtd allow· ing the heirs to continue. single memo ber limited liabilily company after the member di"" or becomes incompelent. Rulu haw bun addtd to make explicit the authority 10 crtate dasses of memo
be .. and managers. These 5ubsections are deri,'.d from Delaware law.
F. Transition After December 31, 2000, it will be effecti"" for alilimittd liability companies, Before January I, 2001. limited lia· bHity companies fonntd under prior law m:ly elect to be subject to the new Act. During the Special Session there >Orere 379 bills introduced. The January 1998 Mllwmll wu;yer ",ill ,"vi"", any bills affoctingl.wy .... Anyone wishing further information concerning the Institute or any of its projects may contact Bob McCurley, Director, Alabama Law Institute, P.O. Bo. 861 425, TlIlCaloosa, Alabama
35486-0013, FAX (2{)5) 348· 8411. Phone (205) 348-7411. Institute Home Page· u!wu'./aw.ua.edu/a/i
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MEMORIALS
Judge Donald H. Patterson
The I..ludndale
County Bar Association has butowci on me the
distinct honor of writing a tTibut~ and
drafting a resolution honoring my former law partntr and Our late Circuit
Court Judge Donald H.Pane.son. This tas~ is personally daunting, for my ini· tial ",action is unworthiness to undutako such a r.spOnsibility.1 find it vuy dimeul! to write objeclively about a pe.$(In for whom my ' '''peel has no limit: it is even harder \0 wrile about a person 11000'ed. There is just so much about
Judge Patter""" that I would want \0
include in a memoriam. 50 many per_ sonal anecdote, Ihllt ""~ribe hi' uni que Pl'rsonali ly and paint his por-
trail more ciearly than mere redbls of his considerable accomplishments. The limits of time and space preclude this and r am left. fOTthe most part, with my personal recollections of a true friend and mentor woo, by his wi~
counsel, uncanny common "flU, for· midabl~ intelligence and uruhakeabl, faith provided me ~nd many others with a compau for living. It i. the .. toought. I wi.h to ,hare with fellow members at Our b<or. With Judge OMald H. Patterson's untimely death on May 28, 1997, the Lauderdale Cwnt)' Bar Inst. judiS' of the highest rank- He was simply the embodiment of. circuit CWrl judge. The daily diocharge of his judicial responsibil ities evidenced an iruigllt and understanding ofhis role that should be an e""mple to hi. peers and all who are entrusted to follow in his fOOl5teps. Judge Patterson relished his role. not becau.. of the pOSition. but beause of the opportunity he had to constructively affect the lives of 5\l may people. As much as his 1= will be felt by hi. fel· low judges and thela"'l'l'rs who appeared before him. it is the people of Lauderdale Cwnty. those whom he directly se,,·ed. who will be ITI{ISt affect_ ed. From the perso",,1 interest he showed in Criminal defendants through his stem I'et wise admonitions. to the attempt. to croft the ITI{ISt .quitable of divor"" settlement.. to his conci.. yet infallible ajlj1lic.ation of the law to facts in comple>: litigation. Judge PatterS\lIl aMptly ~dmini.t ..ed the responsibilities of his offj"". H. pO ....sud the rare gin of drawing on a limitless rest",oir of everyday uamplu to illustrate legal pOints. In analyzing a difficult cast. he could ajlj1ly hi, unique ,tyl. of wit and wisdom and make . young lawyer (and older ones too) better appreciate the true iuue. in their cases and the potential "",akness and deficiency of their arguments. There has seldom been a judge or lawyer who could more quickly grasp the gist of a cast. But it was more than the easy competence of a person born to his role as a judge which distingui.hed Judge Pattenon. It was his keen undersl.1nd-
ing of poople, of human ""ture. of the human cond ition that set him apart from the rest of us. He was ,imultane· ously a philOSOpher and theologian. a humorist and an academician . Judge Patterson was simply an uncommon man among us commoners, not because of birth or pOSition, but .imply bec:.use of the wealth ofr,sped he earned . He was comforl.1ble in any company and mad. everyone comfortabl•• round him. from his fishing buddies, to the members of the Sunday school class he taught ~t Floren« First Methodi,t, to hi. lifelong friends. He was completely unaffected and unpretentious; he was the real article-.a genuine individual. Th. words of Antony to Crassus describing Brutus apply to JudiS' Patterson, "Hislif......as gentle and the el~ments 5\l mind in him that ""ture might sl.lnd up and say to ail the world, 'This was a man ." And 5\l he WiI$. totally dedicattd to hi' wife, 0.., and to hi. three children, Ben. OMald an<! Eli .. beth. He con · stantly provided uS an with dail~ eMmpi", of per5\l,,"1 se",k. and propriety. HllWtVer. as admirable as ~re all of the foregoing char<ICteristics. there was one aspect of Judge Patterson', lif. that und.rgirded and ""nooated all other.. and that WiI$ .imply his faith in and rela· tionship to Cod. Don Patterson did not simply practice Christianity. he lived it. He understood that he was a mere trost« of the gifts Cod had giVEn to him and that hi' gr.at",t ..,,,,ice WiI$ being able to share them with oth... in the context of hi, profeMion and calling, not nece ... rily by public witness Or VErb<ol profession. but simply through his lif.,t)'l. and the thoughtful .pp..... ch to the matt . .. he was asked to reso~. Judge Patterson's life was a livinS wit· neu to the beliefs he held 5\l dear. This fact could not be better epitomized than the manner in which he (<ICed his final challenge . Rea li . ing that
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his ill ...... was t.oW. he did not giw in 10} not'll'Iil hUlTWl mctions of ~ m:I Kif-pity. 1Whtr. he ronlmool 10 _ '" I1'Wl)' of his frimds as pOSSible, m;my IOOre than his doclors would Illow, constantly talking and jc)kUlg with all of them IS if nothing ~re wrong. as if he w"tlld bt ~k on thr bench nul ~ek. putling twl}Ule M UK ;!)though knowillllthal his end "'as nar. • pel'1OO1llly ha\'t ntW1' $«n ~ Iii« death "ilh mort di~ity and rnoJluttntSS than Judge Oonald H. Patterson. Upon being asked by om of his asso(iat~$ how be l1liIin~ined such (>ptimism given his circumstances, 1M: pre. dictably had tilt answer. "I ffmtIllbtr "That reading. • Judge Patterson the l'I(lIed nr..-spaptr ITW'Ilnd athl"ist. H. L. ~Iencken. 00tt obselWd thai if Christianity is ail ihat irs cr;w:ked up to bo. why ~5 every Chrisliln go kicking and screaming to his dealhll resoiwd then m:I there tllat if twr I got tht opportunity. ' was going to pfO\'t Mr.
Ohioand .. Iiltlong resident of Mobi ...
James E. Moore I\I,..,as. tho Mobile Bu "'"""lotion
W
wishes to honor the memory of James ~:. Moo.., ... distinguished mml· ber of Ihis As.<ocialion. who died on Friday. Apri12S. 1997 and th. Association. desiring to ..,member his Nme 'lnd T«ogmu hil contributions to our profnsion and to \hil communi_ ty: now. ~fo"', be it rfn\tmbtrcd.. James E. Moo..,. known to III IS "Jimmy: was" nati~ ofCltwland.
""id.
Menck.., ".....,..g." Judgt I'lottenon did just that. By hi. death. 11\1, S~t. of Alabllmlll051 more than its lintSt circuil court judge. it losl a unique individual who.st life and :servict WM truly the epi tome of hi' profnsion. fit is ,rtcatly missotd. - Cary L Ju t ••
.... ullmb .. CoUdty ll.ar An ociatiod
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AIIbimI. fit grad .... ted from McGill Institute. Sprillllhill CoIlfgt and the Uni~nity of AI~bllmlI School of Law. Jimmy had been in the pr;w:tic' of l_ in Mobil, County for over 50 )'<'an and was Mobile County AttOrney for 16 of those)'tan whilt stillmllinlaining lIis priv.tt~ pndic~_
At the time of his death Ilt,,~ I mcmbtr .,.. Christ tho: King C.thoIic Church. a mcmMr oItl\l, Knights of Columl>us Council!l666. a Charter Member of the Friendly Soll$ of SL Patrick and a former bQard member of tht I'rovidenct Itmpital. Jimmy pnoctittd gmtT:lllIw during lIiJ Ind'''''' He foruof'II on administ..,tiw and municipal law alonfI."ith .. pnctia in tho fitld of ml property. He rtprtSentfd his clients in an eltnlplary man .... r ,u,d treated hi> cli.nl.S,u,d fellow practi· tioners witll dignity and OJUrtuy. 1I~ WilS rot\~r too busy to toke lime to O«.r _iSWI« to \host ""'" .....,.., in fIftd ....... thtr dil'nts or ;otq.... inbncn. It ...... tvident in t;oth day .,.. hisl;f. that court esy and consideration were his DUtstanding traits alld for which he will be mimd ~ most by those with "f>o}m 1\1, associated. JimlTl)' ...... l devoted f"tl\l,r and fami· Iy ..... n.!eI\illll wrvivlng him lI.is "if•. /lbrg.>rd ~t Moore. two doughten .
Otis R. Hurton
J olin L1",n llCe Godbold
Bury Reed Tuggle
Talladega Admitled: 1957 Died: Julg 23, 1997
Camdcn Admitled: 1938 DiM: Julg 5. 1997
Birmingham Admitled: 1995 Died.- JuneJO. 1997
James 1I0\\'ud C. ldwell UII W/l
Jam es E. J'lJ OOfli
Albert J. Tu lly
Mobile Admitled: 1948 Died: April2S. J997
Mobile Admitled: 1935 Died: Mal/ZI. 1997
Admitled: 1948 Died.- Ma1/4. 1997 Houston Thomu
Edd~ns
\\i lliam Alfrtd
S t t\~nllOn
Robn1 T. \\1ll1On
J_,
BirmitllJham Admitled: 1947 Died: July 2. 1997
BirmiTII/ham Admitted: 1950 Died: April 8. 1997
Admitled: 1950 Died: July .16. 1997
Midu_e l Carlisle Fl m)w
Billie Anne Tueker
George W. Wit cher. Sr.
Houston. TU(l5 Admitted: 1972 Died: Augwt ZI. 1997
LalQ}fetle Admitled: 1959 Died: July l3. 1997
Garckmlale Admitled: 1947 Died: August 10. 1997
Mrs. Terry (Peggy) Thunton and Mr •. Cregory (Mary) Funk. and on. son. Mr. Jimmie ~1. ~Ioore. 11. i, ,u,,·iv.d by his brolhers. C~rge J. Moore, a Io.::al attom.y, and Broth.r Micha.1 Moo ... SJ .. and Broth.r John Moore. S.C .. two religiou. broth .... Jimmy se...w in the European Theater in World War 11. He fought in and .urvi""d the Battle of the Bulge. He ..... a tenacious advocate who Wal; r.rm and efficient in hi' representation of clients but. al; with all great m<:n. he Wal; constantly aware of the iml'Ortance of courtesy. Now. th ...fore. be it r.sol""d. by tht ~Iobile fur Association on this 20" day of June 1997. that the Association mourns the passing 01 James E. Moore and acknowledge, hi. long and honor. able service to tlw A>socialion. hi. pro-lession and the community and that this resolution be offered as a memorial to hi' lamily. - Cooper C. Thurber PTe.ident. Mohile 8&r ASlociation
Ralph Cans Holberg, Jr. he ..... Ralph Cans Holberg died on Apni7. 1997. closing a remarkable caree, of service spanning 88 l"I'ars 01 life. 64 ~a .. al; a law~r 101· 10000'ing graduation from the Uni'"I'rsity 01 Alabama School of Law. acti"" duty as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy during World War II. all the ~a .. of his
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aduillif. as a volunleer civic I.ader in his community and counlry, and S9 \"eirs as a dewted husband and fath .., and. more rectntly. al; an equally d"""ted grandfather. Those wOO pra<:liced law with him as partners or associates i"""d. r"ll"cted and learned from him how to be better lawye .. and better pe0pl e. His clients and hi. contemporaries at the bar S/IV(1red r".thand his intel· lect. wisdom. integrity and hi. mastery 01 each legal matter undertaken--so thoroughly and thoughtfully prepared, so candidly and pe.. uasi",,1)0 p.e.. nted. Only his wife. Mimi. and those persons d~.t to him can know the per· sonal sacrifices he and they shared together in tenn, 01 the time and mate_ rial good. which Iw gladly bore in strving his lellow man al; a priVate cititen. The li.t is so extroordinary that only ~ pOrtion will ~ here r.corded. As a member 01 the Junior Chamber 01 Commerce IItw..s instrumental in lorcing the irutallation and use Ii. voting machi"'" in Mobil. County, and ",as among the founders 01 the Mobile Azal", fuil. A IOfmer president 01 the Mobile and Alabama Jaycees lit received the J.N. CIIrmicmel Memorial Award in 1984. AI ""riou> ti"""! he served as chairman or presidtnt of the Mobil~ County Board 0/ Perui0n5 and Security. the Mohile Exchange Club, 01 ",hich lit "'as a char. t.. member. and the Mobile Public Libra>}" Board. He also strved as an active member 01 the boards of the ~Iohile YWCA. the Mobile Community Chest and Council. the Cordon Smith Center. the Council of the National Multiple SdeTOilCl Society. and lilt Mobile Historical DeveIO!l"'tnt Commissioo. I'or all 01 this and much more than can be TtCOrded his fellow ciliuru r«Ognized him as Mobilian 01 tilt Ymr in 1963. ~ charitable organiU\lion particular~ ahwrbtd his multip le talents for CNer 60 )"ears-The American Red Cr=;. After .. rving in every leadership capacity in the local chapter lit became and remained until hi' death an active emer· itus director. regularly attending meet· ings where hisloage advice -.'as constant· Iy sought and hi. delightful wil was atv.·ays enjoyed. ~d the chapt.. he Wal; a chairman of the Soulheastern Area Mo.·isory Council. and later served \WQ terms as on. 01 the 30 elected ,""mbers 01 the boiIrd 01 governors of the
American Red CTOS$. a singular honor and a position 01 g..... t responsibility. His faith combined with his other qualities drew him into tht affairs of the Spring Hill Avenue Temple. which he ..rwd lor a time al; its pre.ident. and also to service on the American Council for Judaism. A Imder in hi. chosen profession, he ",al; a past pres ident of the Mabile Bar A>socialion. a past president of Ih. Mobile Estate Planoing Council. and ~ Fellow. American College 01 Tru.t and Estate Caun.. !. Now. the ..fore. be it resolved, by the Mobile Bar A>sociation. in meeting assembledlhi, ZOO' day of June 1997. that the A>sociation commemorates the life of Ralph earu Holberg. Jr., and with it. the peerless example ht has set as a l<IW)"('r. citizen. patriot. SpOUst. and par· ent, Ihe hallmark of hi, life having been unselfish .. rviee to olh..s, tendered with faith. wisdom. integrity, wit. and kindness, enriching the li\"l'o of an ",ho have known him; Resol""d lurther. that Ihis resolution be spread upon the minutes 01 hi. meeling; and COPie. hereof, suitably inscribed. be presented to Mimi Holberg. to the members of his family, to his secretary 01 57 ~ars. Certrude 'Mi.. Mac" McCorquodale. and the Alabama 5tate Bar. - Cooper C. Thurber President. Mobile Bar AUo<:iation
Forrest Lamar Adams hereas. Forrest Lamar Adams ",al; bom and reared in Th.asville. the >00 01 the late Samuel Ki ncey Adams and Pearl Butts Adams. He attended school in Th.asville bullater trarulerred to DQIhan where lit graduated from Dothan High School in 1939. In tlw fall of 1939. 1w entered the Uni"".. ity 01 Alabama. enrolling in the school 01 com · mertt and business administration. I-I'hil. at tlw Un;""I' .. ity. 1w was induct· ed into Alpha Kappa Psi. later becoming p...ident 0/ tht National Honorary CommefCe Fraternity. He rettive<l a bachelor's degree from the Uniwrsity 01 Alabama in March 19-t3 and a commis· .ion asa second lieutenant in tlw Coast Artillery Corps in July 1943. He served in the ArTIl;' Irom 1943 until 19-t6...fVing thl"ff yea ... in the Pacific 1heater. H. wal;
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MO ..... . . , . . ,
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Alabama upon the death of Judge Keener Baxley. a po;sition he retaint<! until 1979. al ",hich time he rdired. Surviving are his wife. Ann Kooppel Adam.: two daughters and sons·in·law, Julia and R.ndy Roark and Margaret and Wayne Thornton; a son and daugh . ter·in·law. Samuel L Adam. and Mary f:arl. Adam>; S&'en grandchildren; and other dose relatiw,. - John Emory WadoWlI Dolluon
John Lawrence Godbold
W dischargOO from the service in 1946 as a captain in the U.S. Army Reserw.later .. tiring as a major. Upon being di$chargtd from the military he .nrolltd in the Uniw~ity of Alabama School of law ar>d received hi. LLB degree in 1948. In 1949. forrest lamar Adams "'as admitted to the practice of I.w in Abbeville. He later was associ.ted with L.H. Adams. Jr. in the law firm of Adams &. Adams. In 1952. he was appointed county solicitor (dislricl attorney) for Henry County. and held th.t position unlil 1957 when he "'as appointtd circuil solicitor 01 the 20'" Judicial Circuit of Alabama. composed of Henry and Houston counties. He ",as later elected president of the Alabama Circuit SolicitoT1 Association. During the time he pr.cticed law in Abbe\oill •. h. was wry active in ci\'ic .nd church affairs. having bun elected president of Abbeville Lions Club and serving as a steward on Ihe offici.1 board of the Abbeville Unittd Methodist Church. .uperintenMnl of Sunda» School. Master of the Henry Masonic Lodg. No. 91 lor two term •. member of the Eastern Slar. a Shriner.nd. 32" degrH Mason. and lay speaker for the Methodist Church. In 1966. Adams was appoint ed a ci rcuit judge in the 20'" Judicial Circuit of Alabama. In 1977. he was . [ecttd pr..i· dent of Ihe Alabama Circuit Judg •• Association. He became the presiding judse of Ihe 20" Judicial Circuit 01 . . . NOV .... . . , . . ,
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Mreas the Honorable John Lawrence Godbold departed this life on Saturday. July 5. 1997 at the age of 84 year •. John L. Godbold "'as born Dtt;:mbtr 4. 1912 in Wilcox Counly, Alabama to Stanl"!' Clifford Godbold and Mildred Mcc...k,,!, Godbold; and John L. Godbold was a descendant of prominent lamili.. in Ihe Alabama Black twll; and attendtd public ~hools
in Wilcox Cout)I~. Alabama .• ttend"" M.rion Military Inslitule. and graduated from Erskine College in 1934 and Tffei"ed his Bachelor of Law deg ..e from the Uni .... rsily of Alabama on May 23.1938: and. Whereas John L. Godbold .. rwd his country in World War II in the Pacific Theater in Ihe Unittd State Air Force from 1943 to 1946: and practiced law in Camden. Alabama. e~ceptins his mili-
tary service. from June 13, 1938 until hi' retirement in 1995; and. Whe ..... John!.. Godbold .....ho as a lawyer in an age of 'reeiali.b......s.n .c<ompli5~ generalisl. being highly admired and ... pecttd among Ihe btnch and bar and in hi. community; and ....as a highly QUIIlifitd attorney. rep..",nting an extensiw clienlele including individual •. the Bank of Camden. the Bank of Pine Hill . the Town of Camden. b",ine..... corporations. and timber companie>; and. Whereas John L. Godbold """"sse<! the high ethic.a15landards and POli.hed manners of a southern gentleman and through his life and work ..1 an e""m · pie of whi"" the btneh and bar lakes great pride and hold. gr•• t re'pecl: and was. man of great integrily and ref' sonal character; and was acti'"e in serving hi. community in many ways. including membtrship in the Camden Exchange Club and the Almrican ugion and bting in.lrumental in the formation ofWil col Academy and in .. rv ing on its fiT1t board of dirt<:tors; md. '.\"hereas John!.. Godbold was a life· long aClive member of the Camden United Methodi.t Church. ,,'here he ..oved as trustee and sleward; and married the former Mal'\' Scott !.«kie. Left surviving him are hi. wife: hi. son. John Lawrence Godbold. Jr.: and his grandchildren. franc .. Ann Godbold and John I"''''rence Godbold. Ill; and. Whereas John I.. Godbold .... as always loyal 10 his f.ith, hi' family. his ideals and high character. and 10 his clienlele; and the passing from Ihi. mortal life of John L. Godbold repr... nts a greal los> 10 the bench and bar and to the com· munity: and the friendshi!>, wi,. coun· sel and good humor of Our departtd brolher will bt greatly mi ...d. - Don.ld M. ,~ckod "'jlco~ County Bar A..oci.tion
ae
La
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By Su..san Cullen Anderson
Sisttr ",ilh Sacred Hmt MooasIe!),. took 1M pro boro> GISI: without htsilJlion. nx
ad in ]994. Sisler LInn
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~rie
McKtn!it got a phone tall from an IUOrMjl, iLlking tM nun and ~11ow attorney lor hor htll'. II young iIIrg,ol ~laiQn woman r1oi/11Otd Mam.. ..too SpOke no English and ~ no mont)'. had all~d a Blount County roupl. to care for he. baby boy for a tirnt. and now the}> wen trying to adopt
him.
Mam nHIIf<J iUl act.'OaIe.
SisW Mc~, a partner with Knight &. Griffith in Cullman and a Bmedictint
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B\otroI C(,unty 1XIUfIk. ~ 10 haw childrm oIlhrir 0I0'Il. hid II\)nr ~ shopping in Ttlw, ",t..n MuilIIMd. "I don't know that she knew ll\fy wert baby >hopping,' Sister MclUmie~. Tho coop!. otrcml Maria a job in AUbama with thtir business. and iIJo oIftnd 10 take the babf lin« silt would haw hr. hands lull with othrr childtm 00 the long trip. Mam. wam1 obit 10 follow immtdi· atdy. and the coopl. begin tile proem to obtain custody 01 the ~. S~.r McKtmi. folt\! a pttilion in Blount County 10 mum the child \0 his motile., and thr coupl. told MaN they would tum lit. in to the Immigration and Naturalization Service if she pur_ suod it. which "I'm 1<1 •• thty did: Sister McKnui. s.Jys.l)a.pil. the Ibn· gtrl, M.a ... was drtrrmined to get her wn bKk, md Sisler MeKenzie spmt /I good bil of time working with lho Muican CQ",ulale's office Qeuing permiloSion for ~lan.;, 10 IrlI~1 from Texas lor the IriII!. lin friend who tIN "'~I'ftd the cue to hor xtw lO$ Man.;,', inlt rprtler III the day·long In.;,!. In the tnd, lho judge returnw Maria"..,n 10 hor, SiSler McKenzie says. Afterward, tM SiSler bought Man.;, /I car _t lor tM retum trip 10 Teus.. knowing thai the couple .....,..,Id be looking for rlWOllS 10 ~ cuslod» rttnerved from Man.;, ,.M returned to them . />bn.;,', is one of many pr(I bono tII5tS sum McKenzie hu hllndkd. She f~b slronttY thallawym 11M: ~ obIigati(1n 10 00 pro bono WO<1I. and not for the thanks !My might m:t~, which some· times iM'! forthroming. "You don't do
this work bteaUK you're going to be pat· tw on the b;ock and thanked by II grlIU. rut client: Sister McKtnzior sa)'l. "You do it bfaust if' the rigJlt thing to do.' ~ W'lly would ha\~ lost her 00by boy without Sister McK=~'5 fftC help. A penniless illtg/ll ~itn who.<pUks 00 EngIWI would haw 00 options if not lor pro bonD rtpmmt;otion. With priv,lIe pr.Id.itiontrs dwilini $100 per hour or more, many Wnilies WOll<Ier if the legal systf1ll offers them any relief. With the assistaoct 01 1M prmtt ~r. ~.
some poor.l.labarnian$ an get.
ting the Itg/Il help they need. Through the VoIunlftr Lawyotrs ProgrlIm (VU'I, members of the Alabama SIlote Bar wi , unl ... their time 10 aid poor Allbami:lll$ with their legal problems....'hich an range from consumer rT\IItUrs kI prOI:Ia.lt difficultia.. Attomrys in _.,. county in the $IAlt ha\~,iointd the VIl' to offer ~ 10 midtnl$, S<I)'S Kim Ol".. r. head 01 lhe progrllm for the Alabanlll State Bar. Thrtt are.u.-Mobilt, Birmingham and Huntsvillt--optrlltt their own pr(I bono progr.1mI which work closely with the VIl'...... sa)'l. C.wed in 1991 by the AbbarnII SIlote liar Board of Bar Commissioom. the Vll' ..ks ......,. member of the ~r to iIC«Pt two pro bono CIISC per )'W'. To make Wft that rteip;mu of thew Sl'Mca an truly in nttd. l40l Servias md the vtP haw ~ 125 pffUrlt of the ~ It\Id tsublished annually by the ItderlOl ~partment of Health and Human Strvkts as the maximum i.-.:ome teo...l,
nm moans II single person tIII\ make no mort then S9,86t perytM.md II lour· person household tIII\ ....... "" inc::ornt of no more than S23.()64 to bo: tliglblt for free Itg/II assillance through the program.
"WHE HI G HEST QUALITY IN REP O RTIN G
Until not Iona: iIIO. 1111 usn ,d"rtd to the Volunt~r ProtIrlom h,.J btm procn.wd through. Ltaol SoMas offt<;t. Now. It.. progrnn rK~ivu rtftrrlllJ from socilol Hrvict agendu. churches and attorneys as ~II. loa)" Ms. Oliver. Most castS still originate from Legal Servicts. though. -I probably talk to 15 people I day J can't help," loa)" Rebecca Brooks...... naging atto,ney fo' the ru..c~100$.I La~1'$
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."." .. The 1998 .......................... .
Bench-Bar Meeting Thursday, January 22, 1998 . Embassy Suites Hotel ' M o ntgomery, Alabama
T hiS yea(s program, "The J\.d;je's Role as Gatekeeper: Res!xwtsibililies and Powen," features nalionally blown Harvald law f"Jlessor Atttu R. Miner, CI!'I'OYJ others. ProfeSSOf Mille.- will serve as moderalor 10 12 Alabama Ju:Iges and attorneys examining !he lelationship 01 judge to Wltness and it-Y. Ircluded in the discussion will be !he expioratlOO of the judge's responsibil iry for tNefseelf9 the flJiIliry and sufflCiercy 0( ciramstantJal ;nI scien-11f..:: 1!Yiderce, as well as the use of COt/It·awomted Clq)eIt$.
The reglSlrauan fee of S50 will incluDe Im;nl several afternoon discussions. AreceptJan will be hekl thai ni!tll allhe Embassy Sones at 6 p,m. for lTIOfe information, call Callie Dieu. administrator, Alabama Jodicial College. al (3341 242.(l3OO.
rtgiorW offiu of 1Ag,J1 &r.icts Corporation of Alabama. "We anllwldlt ~Il of tilt Mmand: she AYS, ~illllt""-t IItr office refers 01.11 QUI which dQn'ltak~ a ,ignificant amount of hIM and "aren't too mtssy." The VoIunlHT ~....ym Prognom is tsptC~lIy sU«eSSfu1 in Mobile. uys Luke Coley. a Mobile ~ practitiot\H who is lilt immediate pd cha.irman of the ,late bar's CommiuH on Acctu to Ugal SeIVices. The Mobile pro bono program, with moT. than 350 of its 800 eligible 13"')1<'1"1 participating. i."a gipntic succ:~~ rar tht but in the stat.: lit Slays. Nlotiomlly. ~I 17 ptrcmt of aUomeys cIo pro bono Slays Ms. Oliver. In AWwn>. 20 ptrcmt ollicmMd allonwys are mtmMrs ol the VLP. she Slays. and many Ia"')l<"s do pro 0000 wo.k outside the VI,P. Coley's participation in the VLI' Qn bt aUributtd 10-' combi"'lion 01 'fliJious, pn.itui<N1 and philo$ophical.-n· sons." he Slays. "I think _ an btun off ;as • country ..-hen more fltOPlf fHllih 1m legalsyslem is open 10 them: Coley Slays. He .treated lIllory about And ....... hckron as military tiO"trnor of Floriw., .... ho intfMTlfd ..-hen a Land IpKulato, ttitd to take advan~ oltwo 0<JI/WItd liirl.. In mponse to the .ihwion, Jadson Slaid. "In ~ntnol. the glUt and lhe rich an protect thelTlSflvtl, but the poor and the humble require tilt arm and ,hi.ld of the "'w." Jad<lon', comment .Iums up CoIt)'·. philosot*ly on pro bono work. Coley Slays. Tht ultimate toil is for _h Ioal bar association to l"1li,,, iu own mtehinWn for ref.rrillll out pro bono ~ Colt)' MYS. While Mobil. il a .ucc:ts.IllOry. Coley Slays with some diplomacy that other areas l"1li,,, work 10 do.
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Alabama Bar Institute for Cootinulng L.egal Education The University of Alabama School of L.aw Alabama State Bar
A Best Selling ABICLE Publication! Newly revised by Editor
Patrick H. Graves, Jr. Bradley Arant Rose & White, LLP Huntsville, Alabama
Alabama Divorce Systems Manual _ Checklists & Work Orders _ Procedures & Practice Tips _ Forms & Clause Choices _ Forms on Diskette Book and Dis kette $85, ABICL.E, 800-627-6514, 205-348-6230, or _
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.abicle.org
In rural areas , many attornq.'5 do pro bono work oul.li(Je of an organized program, sa.)-'S Ms. Oliver, $0 it is liard to mea>ure the real 1"",,1 of suCCt$$."1 think we llave pretty committed poopl. and a prrtty good intere,t: M$. Oliwr says, 'The program is growing and the number of.ttorTW)'S is increasing: Agood relationship between the private bar .md Legal ~rviCl'S helps a local program 10 succeed, ,ina! the "vast majority" of the tome from Legal ~"ices, Coley says. Ideally, casn are .... igned based on ""pert~ and ~rimce, he says. Volunteer attorTle)'S designate the ~rus of law in which they are "ill ing to acctpI. referred cases, but """n where the ilS5igned attorney is unfamiliar with the relevant area of the law, ,he has plenty ofhelp, The VLP aOO the Ac<:ess 10 Legal ~MCes Committee ~ed the crealion of a manual on nine "bread aOO butter" areas of law, including d;"<orce, coIlections.md mort~ forf(:l05u,es, which guide lhe volunleer attorn"), through unfamiliar le.rilol)', More seasoned lawyers can oct as mentors or co-colm..lto !eM experienced attorneys, as well. In lhe long term, the plan is to build a upa",te pro bono program in each area of the state, Col")' .says, Even though SOme areas llave proven to be more of a chllileng. than others. there are lawyers willing to .. 1V\' and O«ds that need to be met all Q\.1!r Alabama, he .says, Ms. Brooks. wl>o works full -lime for Legal SeM""".says Ihe rtwards are plenty, 1here have b«n as many gratifying siluations as h.,'e been.sad one,." ,he says. One of her most satisfying results carm with a client .... med Glenda HalLin 1995, destitute from her son', lost battle with leukemia and u.... ble to work bKause of a disability, Ms. Hall. of Tuscaloo.sa,
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was overwhelmed by her $On's unpaid medical bill" She had tried Q\.1!Tthe previous 20~" to collect the longO\'I'rdue child support owed by her ex-husband for thei' two sons, but "he nl'Ver paid a dime, never," Ms, Hall says. "He wouldn't twn help me bul)' my $On: In 1984, after their .oon, John Hall, Jr.. died. she hired a lawy\:r, ",ithout results. Because John's treatment w;u e~perimental and he liwd with leukemia for thru year•. his mroical bills "1!re monumental, and ,he had barely made a dent by 1995. It "'as then that her "iee< told her about Rebecca Brook>, Ms. Brooks went to court for M" Hall to collect her child support_ "She '~.IIJI fought for me: M.. Hall says. "I don't know .... hat I would have dQn<, if she had r.oI come along: Ms, Brooks col· lected 533,000 from M.. Hair. ex-husband, .... hich .... hile onlya portion of what he awed, wa5 a godsend for Ms, Hall. For people like Maria and M" Hal!, pro bono ilS5istance and ugal SeMces lIa"e opened the door to the logal system, a door which othe""ise would haw been locked tight. If Alabama attorneys continue to answer the can of the VLP, more Marias .... ill have thei r day in court. • If you ha"e comments Or would like to join the VLP, ple.ut contact the 1997 Committee on to 1."11"1 Services chairman, Pl'Qfessor Pamela H, BUC)'. University of Alabama School of l.l>o.', or Kim Olive" director of the VLP, at the Alabama State Bar, Visit our website .t u'Uw,a/aoor,org or e-mail us at vlp@a/ooor,org,
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NEW EDITION ALABAMA LAW OFFICE PRACTI CE DESKBOOK, EIGHTH EDITION 1997 by Robert l. McCu rley, Jr. Thi. book has bee<1 a ~dar lawyers' haOObook w ~h alt<>meys since 1982. The new e<!ition includes update<! chapters on child ,upport,
CorporatOons , Pa rtne<ships, lLCs. l LPs, the New WeIID'" Relorm Act,
and the New Health Care Oirec\illes lorm, LAWYERS EDUCATIONAL PRESS Post Office Bo.. 861287
Tu.calooS<l, Al 350486 NAME
This ~dbouOO edition 01610 pages i. COI1Vimientty o<g.anized in 43 chapters 10< quick ... fere nce. Chapters on Real Estate, Adoption , Conservators, Commerci1I I Tmn$8Clions .00 E'1a!e. ootline the general ~w and are accomJ>llnied
Include<! . 1$0 8re
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wilt! the lale.t loons, _ An orders must be PREPAID, Make cI>eck. J>lIyable to LAWYERS EDUCATIONAL PRESS, II r.ot s.atisfied yoo may retum!he book with;'" 10 days lor a fu~ ... fund, ADDRESS·
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Please send me __ copies of ALABAMA LAW OFFIC E PRACTICE DESKBooK , Eig~th Edition, 1997 at $83,00 ead! (575,00 piuS SS,OO \a>I;, po$tage aOO haoor.fIQ). Please send me __ copies of ALABAMA DIVORCE, ALIMONY AND CHI LO CUSTODY HORNBOOK, Third Edition with current Pocke1 Part. at 589.00 ($80,00 plus S9,OO la ~ , po$lage aOO handli"9),
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t.U'J/W's C>wd """ '" impr"tultlf-ll ,."..11HktI ,." Dr!dull • I.<rgn ;, 6yptJUfI to H . .. •
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t.\WYERS·
COMM~NTS
ON THE VIDEO
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; n /lOur fHlrhrership pl'Of/J'flm?"
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TIlE PU1ILICS Ccm.'I£NTS ON TIlE \1DEO
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TO Se RVl,: Till>' I'flBLfC is a complele publk Hrvice vidto preKnlation lhal includes an eight· minul e video, a handbook of speech poin\$ and detailtd infolTl'l<ltional brochu~5 {Or the audience. \Xsigned (0. UK in speakin~ 10 civic and communily g.oups. including schools, tve1)llocal b,a. ~ialion in the ,lale •• coiwd lileasl one free COpy of lhe video prestnlalion and 300 b.ochu.es. Highlighltd p.ograms induok Lawyer Rdeml Sel'Yice. Allernalive Oi$p\.lle Resolution Cenler. Law Wttk. Drug AwaRIltSS Projects imd School Partnenhip Programs. Using gui\kHneJ and iruo.· milion prO\idtd to t1wm. ~ Ticheli Productions of Birmingham W01'~ wilh a sulKommillee of the ~r Public IIdatioN Commilltt on Ihooting, tditing 11011 fiml production 01 the vide<). The ASB Own! of 8.:1. CommiHion... enthUJiUliuol1y fur><ltd mil supported the enti~ pn),im. Five doys of ohooti"ll in cmlr;ollocalions eBlbItd divusity in JUnt:S mil ".,.,....... n' li .. fur ow. 60 Intytfl andIor forms 10 pa.rliciplot~. Dtsigncd lor use dunn,g the upcoming IhRe 10 CM: )'Of"I.. the "ideDllIso Ollla..-s editing of )0. and tjO.$KOI"Id stgments for radio mil lelevision llInout1CeITlm\$ as pari of iI Iong· .... nge public ~lalions plan. Ob;mi\U of the ~r PuI:>lic Relalions CommitlH pro;m 10 : I) highlight publi, HfVi« proframs and I'U)U.«,IJ the ~I. bu, focusing on the public is the I"", btnotficiary of our Iqo.l .!)'Stem: 21ftaluR rtal Alabama lawyers invo\vtd in lhei. communilies 10 p.tsenl a pQJili,~ message oilioullhe legal profession in Allbama. and 3) rna!;. it easy for individual attorneys 10 take Ihis mewge OUllo lheir communilies. The key to Ihe SUCCeSS of tht program lies with nch individual bar membe., II the vidtO is not .ften by Ihe public. our .(forts will haw been for naught! The dl<1f1er~ now is fOr Alabama ali_liS 10 UMllhis pre5l!rllalion i" e<lCh of lheir rommurlilies 10 ~Ip creole thai positive i~ ... "omlau:ger al Q lime ".
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FOil n jllTlI ER INH)R.\lATIOS. CO:o.'TACT CO.~ .It US ICATI ONS. Al..AIIA.\IA STATE BAli AT 1334) 269.15 15. 1.800-354-6154. 011 romm ...I.,..~.otp. __YES. I wilL wlunlH' 10 _;'1 in rornmun,ly 8I'OUPJ in my ar&. """ ~
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_ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ BARASSOClAT10N_ _ _ _ _ __
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Thanks to all the Volunteer Lawyers Program members who give their time to those who could not otherwise afford legal services. Because of volunteers like you. needy Alabama citizens get the help they need. If you hove not joined. please join us In this worthwhile program. Get on the list of very important people. Please join today.
To find out mole obout the Alabama state Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program. coU the Alabama state Bar at (33A) 269-1515 or visit the Alabama state Bar's web site at http://www .olobar.org.
Why Was Your Petition far a Writ of Certiarari Denied!
The Impm,ance of Compliance With Rule 39, AIA.RAPP.P. By t-1 ichad Skolnicki ' ~ RULE
39. REVIEW
or OECISIOSS Of' COURTS OF
Apr~::A1.S
M(I' Method .....
" In , II other a.IU. <i«ilionl of the court. of appeal may be !'e>'lewtd \10)1 the Suprtmt Court upon petition for writ of
«rtiorart cmly .rt••• <our( of apptlll hu ow .... ' " an Ipplklotion for rel",.ring di1'ftl.M to 1M point. Ia..... or
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"141 from deci5ionl i.. ~nnkl .... lth prior deei,iOlls of the United Sblts SU\lRmt CO)IIrt, 1M Aiab.o.ml S.. prtmt Court, or tbt AWnom. courts of IppUII: """'ided thll .... htn 1411, Iho basi' of the ~lit1on, II mu. 1 quole thll part of the opln . Ion of I'" Ipp""";'l. court of '""flls, Ind Ibt put of Ibt IIrior d«:lsion .. ith .. hich the conflid i. lileged: or It .hall .,al. with SllKificlty IIId p.1.rticubtity ........ i.. lUeh dtcli lorl iI in ~nnict: and. " IS) Whe ... petilio ...... _ ... 10 "".. ~nlrolling Sopftmt
RIo) emund •. The petition
Ito the Abbaml Suprtmt c..urtl
for writ of (tRiorari ... in I crimi .... ' CION In whkh the death ptnllt~ WU Impoud aI punilhmenl ..... U be filt<! \10)1 counH' rtprtunlln. Iht petitioner on IP!'tli of th. c.... and will bt ,raoltd .. I matter of right ....• In.1I otMr coni, cr.il or criminal. pttilionl for writ. of «rtlonrl will be con,idem!
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~io.Il initially hold.... valid or in,... licl. city onlinan«, Ilule ltalule Or I ftOtnlltalut. or treaty. or ',,;Ilalb> conl lruin, I con(rolUn, ",..,..;.100 of tho AIabom.a
or Ftdt ....1COfIllitulion;
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.fftel I 0111. of ~n'lilulion,I, sllte or ~unly offie"'" "(31 .'rom dedllo ....... hert I material quulio .. ""quiring dedslon I, Ont of finl impl'u sion In Alibi ......: "(2 ) from decl,ions
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Court tllts........,,1ed whkh _ ... foilolo'Od in the dtcllion of lhe court of appull, "(k) Scope of Reo.'iew, Tht .,,\'It.. Ihlll ~ Ih.1 employed by urtlm1lrilnd .. ill ordinlrily he IImild 10 tho facti Ilaled In
lhe ""inion of I'" particular ~urt of Ippeall. If I cou rt of """Iii i...... In opinion conlaln,,,, a ,1.lo .... nl of fldl .nd if a party appIyin, fo. ",btui.., II not Ati.flt<! wilh thai Iblo."..,,1 of fld .. the party apply;.., for ",hearing in thaI ~urt may P"'Mllt to the court of ~11 • ......,.:>Md addilional or cornettil ltalomont of facta Or the Ipplielnt's ...... llatemtnl of fld .. Ind """.. lhal court 10 s..""lemont 01' eOrRd il$ Iblemen' of fact, o. to adopllhe . pplica nt's p""",..,d Ibtem.nl: or If. cou rt of . ppnl. i.. uu I 'no opinion' deci.ion p .. nulnllo Rule 53 o. 54 or illuo. In ""in ion not conllining I , 1.1..... nl of foda. the Ipplicant may """.. the court 10 adOpllhe IPPlkant'llblement of f",l$. If the court dotl not .... nl lhe motion. the petitlo ... r may ~ lhe Ilale .......1 i. the petition to 1M SUpft_ Court, with ",f..... nt'tl lhe",in 10 the perti .....1 portions of tM CIe""1 RCOn! and lhe ",porter'1 t"'nKripl, ODd, if fouDd to 1M: CDm!d. il will be ~"lkIertd along with III)' 1111...... "1 of fad. in the opinio" of lhe ~urt of Ippell.,"
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Introduction omplilln« with tilt J)TOUdunl uqui~mmb of Rult 39, Ala,R.AI'\'I,P., is of critical impomnc' to the suceess of a ~t ition for I writ of cutiomi. Such p;!lilio>u am be denkd bg the SuPrrnNl Court ofAJaIJoma ",;Ihool MJN!w
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0011"" mnit~ MaUM of 0 (oi/urwlo romp/JJ with RuI,39. Tho ~ILat. ~r mll!t undmW>d thIot ctrtiQr;ori .mew if 001 gnnttd by the JUprtrnl' «>urt ill I maotttr of right in lillY civil c.uo lnd it i, only grantoN! iLl a matt •• of right in crimi",,1 cntl QfIly if th~ ddendant Iw b«n Kntenetd to duth. Tho fact thol I1W1)' lawyers ~ hid diffICUlt)' compIyil'4/ with tilt 1(Iptl1lltt rule fMming ttrlionri moitw Iw bom Wt"1I.nottd by tilt IUpmnt court iIIId by ItgaI ~ Sn £X part. Itlndlesl..... 544 So.2d 967 (.o\b. 1989); £X pmtll ScII>t lM Streams. 541 So2d 549 (Ala. 1989): Ex par/III4oore, 493 So2tl 988 (Ala. 1986): £X purle Croor.4S4 So2d 382 (Ala. 1986): HAlit_I, Cqmp/!li"l1 wilh !rule 39(k). ARAP. (ilow IrJ SucaW~, 'Qn "). 45 Ala. Llw. 270 (SeplI984): 8. M<:~,A/abo:Imu Sr.q:wmt CQur/ I'mdia _ ~ tm:n and ~tJ, 44 Ala. lIw. 32(1 (Nooo. 1983).1I<auK tilt jurisdiction 01 tilt court 01 eMl iIIJIPUl.< Iw bm'r quilt limiled until rtWlt }'tars, ITIO$I cr.il c.uu wen directl)o appulable to lhe suprffile court and many l.l",~rs pr<lClicing 0Il1y dyillaw ~ betn Wlfamilillr with lhe Pf'X(dur:ol ~imntnts lor IedciI'4/ a writ 01 ttrlionri, Ignonnc., ~, if no Ioog ... blip. Tho AIaI:wno Legisl.llUn incnolKd tilt «>urt of civil ~Is' juriSiliclion by amending Ala. COde 1975, f 12.3.10,' 10 raiK thIot court', juriwictiOl'l/ll limit from c.uo. in\/(llving claims for S10,000 to thoK irwolving claims of up 10 S50,OOO. E~en rnon important if the fad that All. Code 1975. f 12·2·1(6). now allQW1 the JUprmM: court to transftr-"ddltct"-a.I""'" ""l' civilllf'llOl _ ",flich illw Ijlptlllllt jurisdiction to tho court 01 civil appuls lor an inilw decision by that court.' BecaUK 01 tilt amendment to t 12·3,10 and tho ~nactmenl of t ]2·2-1(6), the ~up ..me court now rtceivu fewer direct awe~ls from tho cirruit courts, but lu e_loOO Iw 5hown a corruponding incn_ in the number 01 crrtiorari ptlilions _king .mew 01 n.dingo by tho court of civilllf'llOls. A$ notrd prCYiouJIy. many eertiorari ~titions do not <;()mpiy with the procedural reqoiromeou of Rule 39lnd Irt dtnitd on that !»sis. without ~ .""iew QfI the merits. The PU1']lOK of this arlklt is to~ist lawyers in mteting the most c.itiell uquirtmmll of Rule 39.
Procedural Stumbling .Ioeb So what an Rule 39's proc.dural slumbling blocks to obtaining certiorari rtviewllht fint is lhe requirement that the ~tition t~W,IWlI proper ground for rmew undtr Rolf 39\C]. Rule 39(c) lists (Me poMibic ground. on which I peti. lioner may _k ctrtionri ............. Prob;abIy tho ....,.. common· Iy lISKrttd ground$ for I wril of ctrtiorari ue thoK proW.ltd by Rult 39(c){4). oonniet wilh I prior d.d.ion of 1M United Slates Supnme Court, tho Alabama Supreme Court o. an Alabama «>urt of ~pptals, and that provided by Rule 39(c](3), I maottrial ~ion of first impnssion, The seoond stumblif1ll bIod< lor "' tilt """imnmt that ont 0JIIlf'Iy with Rule 39(k). A5 mrd in Ex purl, 50'-'1 (M SIrr<mrs, $lJprll, noncompliance with this rule QIl mun thot tho $UpUme court has properly before it few facu or no f.:oct.! from which II
tJIl dtttrn'lino ~
tilt pttition lor lilt ....rit of CIIrtionori IN)' be meri\oriou$. Tho I(Iptlbt. b\.,)'n muot I't"rlltrl'btr that tho wprtme court doeo not I\;wt tht trial court record before i\ whm it ~rs a petition lor the wril of ctrtiorari, The onl)o facts properly bdort tht court whm it is dttenniniIli whttMr to gnonll CIIrtknri ptlition art too... bets stated ",i!hin lilt qlInion 01 tht court of..,.,ealf iIIId thoK stated in the Rult 39(k.l $laltmtnt d aclditionil facts that "''35 submittrd to tho court 01 aweais OIl appliaotion for r.hearing _ if such a stattmtnt WiLl prtsel1ted. ThU$. if the court 01 appeab affil'JTl..d the lrial coort', judgmtnt by an unpubIUhtd me~m selling out no facts iIIId tht Q!:rtiorari pttition dots 001 Q'ln1lIy wilh tilt TtqUinmenu 01 Rule 39(k). tilt ptlitian ",iU he dmird beoust lilt IUprtme court ",ill haw 110 facts properly btkn it to moitw. 11M txaptian to tht necessIty 01 compIianct with Rule 39(k) if ..t.tn the memorandum or OIlinion iloWed by tho court of """""Is i~l f KlS WI soiflCitnt facts for tho 5Uprtme tOUrt to ....b a judg. mmt ~ tht petition has suffirimt merit to he grantrd.
A. no. First St~: around. for Cel1lorarl Aevlew under Aule 39(c) l. Conflict u'ith PriorCtmllJUl- N!lI~39(c/(4) Many ptlitioners haw; difficulty establishing .. ground for ctr· tiomi moitw under Role 39(c)(4), try '" Ihty migIlt. Tho difficul· ty lits in ~ bilun to hml tilt nthtr unarmiguous Ianguagtc of tht rule. Tho ptIition must dtmonstratt that tho court 01 ~ ruli~ lXMlfIicts ",ith prior decisions 01 tho United States Supnrot Court, the Alabami. Suprtme Court. or 0I1t of tho Ahb.1ma. courl$ 01 awal. II is I1Q( moullh for tho prlitiootr to $imply allqje that tho court of appeals tmd in ",ling api~ tilt petitionor, or that published opinions cist that a.nlict ,,'ith tilt court 01 ipI:IUIs' ",ling. For~, the IOIIowing sIaItn'ItrlU tlarptrd from ttrlionri pttitiom do not comply with tilt Rult 39(c~4) rtqUinrotnt ot allegil'4/ a connict ....ilh prior Ca.!etaw: Example I .".. b<>Jif for thif petition for a wril 01 certiorari is that tho Opinion oItht court Mlow was....rongly decided." Ewnplt 2 .".. ~titiomr nquesti thaI the CQfltroliing Sup~me Court cnes be uviov.'ed under the lacu of this c.uo and either be distinguifht<l by ac.ption 0' CMrruted '" 10 tho Ixu pramltd iwrein." [umplt3 .".. b<>Jis dlhis ~lliion lor the Writ i. that tho deci · sion of lhe AlWIN Court of Civil flppnls is in a,mnict with prior decisions of th~ Sup.eme Court of Alabama on tho $lime point of IIw."
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"Petitioner Illtges '" grounds for the iuwn« 01 tilt wrillM loIlCP¥o'ing: '!lit holding in the irutanl Q K lnd lhe holding in Ex parle Thomas, 625 So.2d 1156 (Ala. 1993), an in conniet and the issue hen is which hold· ing should be foilowN on this principlt 01 Law." Euflll)le 5 .".. Pditionn Mtks to 11M: this HonorabIt Court .....itw tiw il1SUn\ caK. as tho decision below if in OlfII1ict ",ith the loI"""ing decisiotu of 1M Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals: 1'0 u. Stal«. 612 So2d 1323IAl.l.Cr.AolP. 1992),
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Gou.",,, SllIle. 540 So.Zd 99 {Ala.CrApp. 1988). and Ixw;,; ". Sllilt. 467 So.2d 265 (Ala.CrApp. 1985)." A1ltheu: abo:N\> e:<amllles are ifUufficient because Rul e 39(c)(4) Tf'qu ires ~ither that the conmct be .oown by quoting "that part 0( the opinion of the appropriate court of appeal>, and the part 0( the prior decision with which the conOid is alleged." or that the petition "state sp<>d(1C(J1/1l and with pt1rlicu/oritll wherein such decision i, in confiict" (Emphasis added.) Thus. if the petitioner does not show connict by using direcl quotes (such as when there is no court of appeals opinion to quote from, (Le ......'hen the CQUrt of appeals lias affirmed without opinion"), the petition must allege connict through a drtailed discussion of the opin· ions which the petilioner alleges are in ronfiiet "ith lhe holding of the CQUrt ohppeals. and it musl <kscribi: how the holding at that court ronnicts "ith the .arlier opinions. In other "md., the petition itself, and oot its sUP\Klrting brief, must dearly demon· strate that a conflict exists, and it must describi: the roture of that connict. The pu~ 0( the supporting brief is to fully establish the petitiontr', legal arguments for a reve .....1. ~ the petitioner lias demonstrated that lhe petition lias some merit The following sbtements excerpte<.! from certiorari petitions adequately allege ronmd as a ground for certiorari r.vi ...... under Rule 39(c)(4): Example I "The Court of Criminal Appeals has here ruled that when the accused admits to dri nking two beers and there is even testimony from a ....itness at the sam of the homieidt that she fears for the safei)' of others becallSl' the <lefendant had been drinking, as a matter of law the evidence is ifUUffi· cient 10 raise a reasonable doubt as 10 the Pdiliootr's intent at the time of the homicide The ruling of the Court of Criminal Appeals in this case is in conflict ....ith the opin. ion of that court in F1etcher" Stille, 621 So.2d 1010, 1011 (Ala,CrimApp. 19931, in which that court stated that where there is evidence of intoxication, the extent to ....'hich the iOCO.lSed is intoxicated in jul)' question. The Fletcher·court "",nt on to hold that the trial court invades the province of the jul)' when it <letenn ines the 3OCUSed's degret of intoxication. Hue, the Court O(Criminal Appeals has im.OOed the province of the juT)' land the province oil the trilll court. "Petitioner's requested charge 29 asked the trial court to inslruct the juT)' that it could consider the fact that the ddendant may ha,,, bttn ur.d~r the innu~na of alcohol in detennining the defendant'S int~ntio", at the time of the oomicide. The trial court denied this charge. from which a timely exception was made, and Ihe Court of Criminal Appeals .ffinnl'd that dtcision. The affirmance oflhe .knial 01 that in,truction is in «mfiiet with the Court of Criminal Appeals' opinion in 0u01~. Siole, 611 So.2d 1126, 1128 (Ala.C,im.App. 1992), whe~in the court ... id that when the~ is ""i&nc. of intoxication and the crime requires a specifIC intent. an instruction on the effects of intoxication and how il relates to any lesser includw oIlerose should be given. E~n where the evidence of intoxication is w.a~. lhe Court of Criminal Appeals has held that an instruction on intoxication should bi: gi~n. Si/,'I'V v. Slole, 485 So2d i'9O (Ala.Crim.App. 1986)."
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ElWTlple 2 "In its opinion. the appellate court held that ""idence relating to specific acts 01 incompetency 01 an employee were not admissible to pr"''' that the empl~r was on nolice o(the empl~'s incompetence in making su",,"Quent collection calls. notwithstanding the Petitione(s presentation of substantial ""idEnce of tortious acts of the empl~ ino;olving collection calls on the Petitioner's .ccount. The Petitioner offerw evidence of It he d~f~ndant bank'sl internal memorandum which indicated that Ithe defendant bankl was on notice of the employee', incompetence in handling the Petitioner's account. The Petitioner also offered testimon)l of the retitioner's moth .. who was subjecte<.! to the employee's lack of training and incompelena in rollecting accounts. "In Big B, 1m:. u. Cottingham, fi34 So.2d 999 (Ala. 1993). the Supreme Court held that an employer may be held responsible for its empl"Y"e', incompetence when that empl~r has nOlice Or knowledge, whether presumed or actual, of such incompetence. Evidence of specific acls 01 allegw incompetency is not admissible to P""'" that the empl"Y"e was negligent in doing the act complained of, but is admiSSible to prove that the employer had notice of the employee's incompetency. "These statements 0( the law and the substana of the appellate court opinion are in connie!. and the appellale court erred in failiilg t~ follow the decision of the Supreme Court on the Mm. point of law. 2. Material Queslion ofFirsllmpression -
RI.II~39(c)(3)
Numerous petitions attempt 10 raise the grounds set out in Rule 39(c)l3) - a material question 0( first impr""ion of A!abama Iaw.- as a basis for crrtiornri .."i....... H"",,,,,,,,, few petitions truly allege material questions of first im",,,,,ion. M.ln» petitions simply allege that it is a question of first impression as to ,,'hether SUmmaI)' judgment entered under Rule 56, Ala.R.Civ.P.. was proper uOOel3 set facts not identical to the facts of any prior case. lI""''eV\'r. that is not the type of question Rule 39(,)(3) wntemplates. If a petitioner could claim a material que!-tion 0( first impr""ion based on a slight ,.. riation in the fw of his or her case from those 0( published cases. then that ground would exist for ..... T)' case becallSl' """'h fact situation i, different in some degree from all others. Rather, Rule 39« )(3) anticipates true mat ....1Questions at first impression, issues not yet addressed by the United States Supreme Court Or an Alabama appelbte court. The foll"",;ng a~ examples 0( lrue. mat.rial QUI'$-lions of first impression rnised in YI'C~nt ","lornri petitions: Example 1 "Whether Rule 3.8. Ala.R.Crim ,r, authorizes the issuantt of an 'anticipal0T)' search warrant: (a warrant based on a law enforcement offke(s affidavit that probable ca~ will exisl at a future timt, but does not presently)?Example 2 "Whether the death of an alleged tortfeasor tolls the running of the statute of limitations on the tort aclion while the alleged tortleasor's estate is established and a personal representati". is namtd, so that the tsbt. can be named as a party in interes\?"
".ample 3 "Whewr a writing purported to be a will may be probated twtll/lough it does noIlully fI1I'('t the $latutory reQuirement.<; of Ala. Code 1975, § 4J.8.-131 , if it wbsbntially oomplies "ith tllost requirement.<;?" B. Rule 391kJ and the Statement of Additional Facts
As noIed pr",iow;ly. it is critic1lllor an appeltatel""'l"'r to understand that the only f<lct.<; before the .uprerr,o, coort during it.<; review of a petitioo for a writ of «rtiorari an:: (I) those f<ICt.<; $tI out in the opinion Or memorandum of the court of appeals. and (2) tllost facts set out in the petitioners oopy of the Rule 39(kl "motion to adopt additiofllli facts" that was included in the application for retlearilll/ in W coort of appeal.. and lil<n subsequently att.xhed to the «rtiorari petition as an exhibit One mU$t remember two important point.<;_First. the record on appeal i, noIlorwarde<i to the supreme wurt from the coort of appeal, until. writ of «rtiorari;" issued.1hU$, the appellate record i, not before the supreme OOlJrt for review when thai court i, deciding whether to grant the petition. S«ond. although a petition.. may bind together his petition and it.<; supporting brief wtltn tIJe)' ar~ filed with Ill< supreme rourt. unless the petition i, found to be in procedural compliance with Rule 39 the 5l.Lpreme court will not review any diKUSSion of facts or legal argument presented in the brief. ThU$, to comply with the procedures 0( Rule 39(kl. the petitioner must (1) upon receiving an a(tverse judgment in the court of appeal" m. with that wurt an application for rehear_ ing and attach tn the applicatioo a Rule 39(k) motion a.king that court to adopt a statement 0( additional facts not already set out in the court's opinion or memorandum; and (21 if the application for rehearing in the I"".. r appellate court i, denied, the petiliofltr must indude with his certiorari petition a copy of the Rule 39(~1 motion lor adoption of additional fact.<; that was fLIed in the court of appeals on application for r.he.ri ng and must requut the ,uprerr,o, COIlrt to consider thnse additional facts when detennining whether to grant the petition for « rtiorni review. The Rule 39(kl motion and slatement of addit;ooal facts to be filed with the application lor r~h~aring in the court of appeals may be combined in one document. or the state"",nt 01 addit ional fact.<; may be an .xhibit attached to the motion to adopt those laclS. Thertaflu. if the application for rehearing is overruled by the court o(appeals and a petition for a writ of certiorari i, filed with the supreme wurt, the petitioner should photocOJl» the Rule 391k) motion and statement of additional faclS and attach the copi« to the certiorari petilion. Remember, it i, the petition that mlL't aver that there was compliance with Rule 391kl in the court of appeals and it is in the petition. and noI the supporting brit!. that the statement 0/ additional fact.<; must be set out. Further. by attaching to the petition photoeopie, of the original Rule 39(k) motion and • tatement of additional lactl, the petitioner demonstrates to the supreme court that he or ,he i, s«king review of the wurt of appeals ruling based on the same fact.<; that were ""fore the court 01 appeal. on applicatioo for rehuring; the supreme court will not put a court of appeals in error based on (actl that _re not presented to that court.
One', understanding oflhi, process may be assisted by the following =mple of a petition for "'Tit 0( certiorari and an attached Rule 39(kl motion, Example -To lhe flonorob/eJwlices oflhe Suprerrw Ccurl of Alabama: Pelition for a Ifrit of Certiorari to the Ccurl af Criminal Ap!X'o[, "Comes now your Petitioner.IJohn Doel. and petitions thi' 1I0n0rable Court for a writ 01 certiorari to issue to the Court of Criminal Ajlpeals of Alabama in thi< cause pur· suant to Rule 39. A1a.RApp.P. As grounds lor iSSll.lrla 01 the writ of certiorari. the petition.. submit.<; the 10lkMing: • ""6.1he petitioner rtSpt<:tfully request.<; that this Honorable Court consider as fact.<; in support of this petition. those facts set out in the Court of Criminal Appeals opinion and those lacts set out in petitioner', Rule 39(kl, Ala.R.App.P., motion filed along with the .pplic1ltion Iilr rehearing on SeptelTlbtr 15. 1995. a COf1)' olthat Rule 39(k) motion being attached herdo as petitioner', Exhibit No.2.
-EXHIBIT 2 -IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF ALABA."1A -John 000:. Appellant v. Court of Criminal Appeals No. CR_95_XXX "Slate of Alabama. Appellee "Appel/onl S Request for Additional Stollrmenl of Focls Und",A/a.R.App.P., RuIe39(k)
"Pursuant to Ala.RApp.P., Rule 39(k). the Appellant respectfully requests that thi. Honorable Court add the following additional facts. and corr«t any lacts in its opinion of September 8. 1995. which are incoruistenl with these fact.<;. to any revised opinion. as foll"""$: • • Cono;:luslon
With the expanded jurisdiction of the court of civil appeals. the Alabama Supreme Court;s reviev,ing many more petitions for writ.<; of ""rtiorari to that court. as ",.. II as petitioru for writ.<; to iii< court of criminal appeals. However. many petitions do not comply with the procedural rt<juiremenlS of Rule 39. AIa.R.App.f'. and are therefort" denied by the AlabaITlll Supreme Court on pn> cWurai grounds. Thus. !hi' ability of an appellate lawyer to com· ply with Rule 39 is more critical now than ever. The examples set out here indicating how 10 comply with rules 39(,1(3). 39(cll~l. and 39(k) .<hould be us.eful to the lawyer petitioning the Alabama Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari. • Endnotes
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~~~~E~V~ iden~ce~~~~~;~NeCeSSary for An Ef~fe~ct~iv~e~~~ ilt attorneys nprt-
T
KIlhng Wallef /okM;II~
who had
bun ~da c:ap;. wmunXTin Monroeville. AlWma. m.lI/Je IlUrlli"ll di5O:Mry during flO'ICl:lll\'ictioo pnx<tdings whilt listen· inS to a tape pr(l'.idttl through di5C(Nfry
Tho QUdt. tape wall rtCOnltd.utt. menl oIlhe My PfOII«Ulion wilnl$$ at trial Tho fiB! $ide oIlhe asodI. tape contained I vmioo mjurW.
01 tilt witness' statement \0 the poilu, oonsistenl with his trial tutirnooy, implic.ating Mr, McMillian in the robbt')"munltr oh derk in a dry ,tWl;ng -"Oft. Tho first portion of the ~ st.'Ilemml tndtd. MId ddtnM ~I. ClCrupi(d with other IIIIOI'k. a1bo'td \hot _ to continut pIayin&. II __ thm IhIIt 1fIOlhrr. prtYiousIy undiKIwd, intmogation of tho ktywitna.JappelImlon tilt ~ In tlwsitlllemmt. the - ,'s ITIlin witnell o;omc>Iainrd tNt tht poIitt wtrt cotrtillll him into fal!otly i~iating Walter McMillian. In I CQt 01 many loose ends and unresol\oed questions. this SUlemmt prow:d to be a turning point. To obI<oin !he wrongful oonviction of Mr. McM illian , local oftkiais rod 10 wpprus 5M'l'lIt excuipatOJ)' pio«s 01 infonTllltion. Tho moot $hoo;king w;>pra6ion W3$ this J.talemmt. ""'kh had ~r bem turned 0Yt. 10 tilt dofm.,e III !rial.llta_ d this MId other diK:cMfy ~ions, the Alabama Court of Criminal AppWs m'mld hIS cooviction and cIuth senIrra. Idling in rmtion !he proca:s tNt would MfIlwOy rtItaK In ilVlOOffil man from AIabaml'I dt.Ith row. StY ~Iillitm ... Sla/e. 616 So.2d 933 !Al&.Cr.App. 19931. Defense counsel's tas~ during a carIta] trial is to obtain tht information and fV,dence nectui!)' to challenge the slale's evidenct lIld 10 suwort the dd(nu's Iheori~•. Much of this critical in(ormalion is in tho: hands of lhe stalt. DiscCMI)' motioN ~ requem ;m Ihus pnlTllll)' tools in lhe defenu's
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Jlockpile of resouTCH. This artick adcIrnsn the drfmdanfs impOr_ tant right to disclMry. In CiIIliW cues. AIabamlI has rKOgniud lhat the stale has l heighlmod duty to provide di$COV'tr. able materials. Ex (!Qf le /IIonk. 557 So.2d 8J2 {Ala. 1989). This height. mod duty is dis.:uwd in the second section 0( this l rtick. The "nick .. ~ uaminn the SUlfs rontirwi"ll duty al trial to disclost fawnbk ITIIIterial, Included u ",,,11 ar. I\l«ial lopics thai the defense lTIIIy fa<e during the disoovery process: dis· (CMI)' about state witness«. preso .... ation of pOtentially favor~le evidence, and ~rt ",itness discOYtry. Princlpl•• of Discove-ry Cnmil'llli defendanture entitled to lIIl}I infonnation lhe stlte has thai is uculpalOf)l or favonbk 10 the defense when the evider>a!' is malt'rial to guill or puni~ment In BradJj v. /IIar,lamJ. 372 U.S. 83 (1963). the Uniled StattS Sup",n. Court held that the prosecution;s required 10 provide nculPliOI)' and fa""lQble tvid.",. tOlaleguard defenllants' due Pr<l«1S righls under Iht Fifth Arntndmenl and ."ourt«nlh Arntndmenls to \he U.S. Corutilution. The Supreme Court 11M abo speeirltally obligated the pl'OHCUtion to provide 8rudJJ infOl'Tl'llllion lhat is mitigating lit the ptl'lllity phiK 01" ~iW lrial. Gmm It~, 442 U.s. 95119791. LWItna: is ~ undtr lJrotJg ........ it is lI'IIIleri.al. Material Mdence is that c.-idtnce whm ilion: is Oil ~ probabilil}> that. if it had been discloKd to \he defense. the mult 01 tlw: proceeding would have b«n difffrt'flt. U.s. 1\ Iklg/I!]I, 473 U.S. 667 09S5l. This ITIIIleriaJily IHI is met wi..... ~ 1~lt tvideru could rwonabIy be takm to put the ...-hoIe cw in J.UCh II differtn\light /1$ to unde~ ~ in the vtrdict."1(gIa Il lt1lithy. 514 US 419. 115 1555, 1566. 131 L ED.2d 490. 506 11995l. This tat does not rtq.aire .. .-onabk ~Iity fA xqu,tl3l: it requires only that COI.~den"t in the outtoolt_ Lnkrmined by the failure 10 disdoIoe the evidence. KgIG ibo holds thai ~ity QI1 be determined by the a.llOOiatM: dl'fd Ii all 0( the ",'illVle1d evidmct. Infuomation does not hM to be written to oonstitute 8rodg il1l'onmtion. ~ KirlJg v. Stale. 581 So.2d 1136 tAIa.Cr.App. 1991) Iprosecutor's failure 10 disclose O~I
s.n
inIormalion obWnrd from Yidim:.~. llrist in ~ion mtitlts dHmdant to a new trial). In addition to tM corutitutiOOllI duti" to disclow f:wonblt f:Vidtn«. ~
Law also prOttCts ddendants'
diSC(lW:ry righu. Under Rul~ 1601 1M A.bbamlI Rules 01 CrimiNli Procedure. tM prosteution must disclost ill exculpatOry information and all statemenu made by the ddendant. coddendanu or any :tCcomplicn. The $blf: Us the bunIm d producing ;all e.culpotory or ~ Mdtna: in 115 po6SWion. -l'o!..Iwion"1'llU5t be interpreted broMly. OOen. proseculOrt will a'llue that other county or state agencies I'K\IStSS the infOOl'lllion JOOght ~ the ~ I~. """ whrTt the district olt.)mey's offia doeJ not itwlf physiaUy possw Brody ITIIterial. the state has • dut~ to ltam of an~ faVOl1lble tvidtn« known to other statnctors, including Law enkIrtmImt ~ ""'Iton a Stalt. 5JO So.2d 886 jAb.Cr. 1988) I~ 01 an aculpo1ory phone call to !tot police imputed to !tot statd. The prosrcution', faith" in failing to discl~ this
) Icool1 state is irrtlev.mt when the ... 8rrxJg violation): DutK'rm" Slall!. So.2d 1198 IAla.Cr.App. 1990) (state's belid tNt i Itg.1l p;Id 00 which police ~ rrccrdtd c:oIlm;' information diI.I not Ollllain UOlipatory ni<lrnct ..-as imltv.vlt to wIwthrr the destruction of the pad violated Brodvl. Although the prosecution's burdtn to produce Ia'.'Or.rIbIe ni<lrnct arises ..t.rther or not dd'endanU ~~ the fYidtnoe, thr sI3tt:' obIig;otion to pnMcIe dilcomy is heightened when Iht ddeNe makes l specifIC dtmaoo. U.s. v. .!gun, 421 U.s. 97, 107 (1976): DunCtm, 575 So.2d all203. Therdort-, it is crilic:ol that dd....., alIornty$ fil. ~ and $ptCif. it diso:Mry TI'qUtSts in criminal ClSeIi. 81'Oedenecl Discovery in Cepltel Ce_e In capital casH, tho AlWma Suprtme Court has held that apanded disaMry iii 'oQffiIIlted. FoilowiI1t the 1iJw: of"du\h is lIifL(rmt- ast:l. in F.x parle "kink, $Upru, the state supmne court held that -(t]he hoIItring dtath ponalty ;., the lfltCial cir.
wmsIMlOI: justifying bro;oder IIi.ooMry in QJlital ast:l." Mook. 557 So.2d 01 837.
/IIonJr emphuiw that evidm:e in capital casH in the poMWion of the $lat. that is fawnbIc to guilt or punishmtnt must be pnxIuctd to the ddmst. Beause 01 conoem that the pro6tCUIion may be UNIbIe to decennine ... liaIJIy ...'httheT tIIiderI« is mitigating. many circuit coorts T-..tve orderfd "open disc<M1)': ....!>erf the deftnse is ponnitted to TI'Vitw tho mti... I'f'I*CIItion ~It. The Monk court noted thai it iii ~ kw pnW'Ol''''S to scmn filei lor potmtial m.t,gJllon beaoUlit ·(.... Jhat one pH$OIl ma~ w:w as miligating.lU1OIlwr may not." /lbllt, 557 So.2J at 837 (citatioN omitted). The ~ Vlt",ed the broad
m.
ire heard early in tIv tna! prOCUS before the stat. his hid tnne to u~r all of the mateml inforlTlltion. Al~ITII's 'ppelt,,!e COlIrts have ... peat_ edly rn.. r~ com;ctionl ....... n lhe pTOSKIltion did not timely ~I disaMnble informlltlort that should hal't been produced before trial. In ex parle 8mI'>, 548 So.2d 993 (ALL 1989). tt-.. Alabam. Sup...me Court m-.rvd • criminal convictioo when the SliIt failed to mal<t & tm,"1y disdow... d tIv deftndant·s doll'llng and a birth cer· IIrlCJte wI!;ch _ IIlIrodoctd against hIm at trial. The Court noted that the dtferue had been granted diSC(l'lleI)l which pl&o:fd • Ollltinuing burdtn on the prosrcution to ~d~ inlOnnation. 5« oIJo I'DdgrtIIl. Sta~, 668 So. 2d 18 IAli-CrArl!>- 1995) (coort m-.rsOO the ddmdant's capital conviction brcause the , ... te de~ four o.Iays in discklsing excul. patOry blood type f>idtllCl' to the ~, """ though the ....;dtrn """Id hwo btm critio;aI to the aoss billildNItion of the SliIt'S DNA Wltnwu~ Ex parlt Italkins. 509 So.2d 1064 (Ala. 1984) . dela~
. 1985) Istate's failu ... todis• tape.1'tC'OT\led coofwion
violated Iht Olllhnolflll duty to di:KIow ileged lTIIuer, when liberty iut stake. t""~f"~' 0; to be initially oII"ered onl~ ~ fooion of the a\~ibbL. information. ~ rffort hal to M mado to disco.-tr "",ttrial I:tets beaoUK crimin.a! disoMry rules allow the prIlMCUtion to drcide ...... t is ...1.....,.,1. material and favorable to the dderue, It is equally iffij)Ol'bnt that these TftjUf:$tS art filed as tarly in the capital trial prOo:UIi as pOSSible btaUlit lOhi\e thr stale's duty to dISClose OlllIlnOU throughout trial, tardy disciolO ... 01 favorable evidtnce;" not rtwrtible error unlHS tilt dtfendant can show that the dtlay denied him or her & fiir trill. ~ Rote of CnmlNlI Pro«dur. 16.3 TI'qIIlrti tIv ,tale to contin .... to discloH d'lCOWmle inlOnnation 10 the deleOK, This continuing duly is critical beau.. ~ ... tTial discove1)' motions often
wdrr Rule 16.3). BmlUIit tIv pn)StClltion may obtain f:wonble evidentt throughout the p!'()ceedings, defens.ellttorneys must spttlf· icalt~ demand that information be p!'()vl.Jtd undtr a (()nIinuill{l obligation throughout tIv IrI&1. When ....... dis. COOJnY is rtaMd. dderue cooOKI then mmt silt through tho ""'t. rial ....hich .... ,11 in,... ri.bly Iud to other evidence that needs to be produced. DiKO'o'01)' should be Yino'td by def...... cool\$Ol;aS • Ollltinoow prOCtsii.
Impeechment of Stet. Wltn ••••• The stat. must di.sclose infonnation thai cookl be wed to irnpuch WlInwa.. Giglio c. U.s., 405 US ISO, 154 (1m); 11omiI1oo ... Sta~, 6n So.2d 1254 !Ali.CrApp. 19951 (McItra that kty witneu .......iwd ~ Imttment in exchange for his testilTlOO)' .gairut the
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defendant was Brady material. and thU$ !he state's suppMoiion 01 it WiIS ",,'ersible error).lMeru oounsel must be provided wilh all}' e-idence 01 a promise of lenience I(JY.. ~rd or benel1t to a 5!.1te witnes.< (>r somtOnI: known to the witness (for IOOOmpie, a ~I. This is legitimate impt.lCh_ "",nl information that can undonn;"" a stale "itr>e>s' credibility. See IHlliams v. Siole, No. 92-03Z8. slipop.. at 18 (Ala.Cr.App. Aug. 23, 1996) (pro...cutioo
must disclose ; m~ment evidence). The failure to disclow information thllt testifying codefendimt>. informanl$ or otht • • tat. ,,;!ntsses have receiwd deals violates a defendant's rights to due process and to confront witnesses. See fr parle 1Ii>m<td:. 541 Sold 47 (Ala.. 1988J (due process vioIatro when the Pn:tSOCUlion did not disclose tnat a state v.;tne» negotiated a plea bargain). Evidence that .....itness has made statement> contrary to trial testimony are aho d;.ro"erabl •. See Jarobs v. Singletary. 952 ~'.2d 1282. 1287·98 (lilt. eir. 1m) (due procw; m. Iated when .tate failed 10 disc\oMo ..itness', statements 10 a pOlygraph e:<amilWr reganling doubt about defendant's rot. in J.hooting because the "itness' stlotemenlS "''''' contrary to trial testimony); Ex parle KimlJerill. 463 Sold 1109 (Ala. 1984) 1__ "".... std whm state did !lOt
produa codefendant's swement who said the defendant was !lOt in the area of the robberyl.ln their motioN for discmel)' of ",itr.ess information, de~1Ue attorneys should at.o coru;ider asking the court to irutru<t the state and police to refrain from telling witowes !lOt to <.:OOPeI\ltI' "'ith the def~lUe. . ~
exculpatory value before it> destruction and the defer>dant mrnt be unable to obtain comparable evidence by other re>· sonably available """",". 7lvtnbellll. 467 U.s. at 489. AIab.1mo •• courts have long held that forensic tvidenct mllSt be made available upon request. In Curley v. Sllll~, 639 So2d 557 (Aia.Cr.App. 1993). the Court of Crimir.al Appeal< rewrsN a CiIj)i. tal conviction I:><callSt the >late destroyed evidence it used against the defendanl Gurley held that a court must revi ..... a claim of loss or destructioo of oYidtnce '"by ","!cighing the rulpability of the state for the loss of the evidencl=. the materiality of the lost evidence. and the prejudice to the ~ . .. ." Curley. 639 So.2dat 567-68. SH u/sQ lfurmw Slllle. 288 So.2d 826 Wa. 19731 (failure 10 p",,;de a Jaffiple of the prohibiled substance was ,ioIat;,;,n of due procw): Molon v. SJale. 524 So2d 381 (Ala.Cr.App. 1988) (trial coort'. denial of the defendant's motion to obtIIin a sam· pie of conlraband substance "'"all reversible em)r); &0 parle l)kk<!rs(WI. 517 So2d 628
(Ala. 1!l87) (>late failed to preseM a potentially UCU lpatory videotape). If defense 000"",1 has
r
I t
denee. that question slloutd not be i expert ",ill be able t court lhe i
_Au..CooE§
legislaimpeachment is I to the outcome of. must. upon the prior convictions 0( trial. r to informatioo about
The Right to Have Evidence Preserved A f~t i..... in criminal case:s is the pre.ervation of fon:nsic evidence. Sometimes the stM. im-e5tigatOfS and
forerujc uaminers "'ill test critical evj. dellCe and destroy or diSQIrd that evidenee in the proceM. Or. f:Vi<kr« may not be able to be t.. ted I:><callSt it was not prop-erly pre>erved. To counter thu. defense COUMtI should J"I"K1oie to Ila>"!c critical for<mSk evider« preserved for t.,.ting if needed by the defendanfs txptrts. The prosecutioo U required to prtSeM evider« "that might be expected to play a l-igniHcant role in the sw.pect.• defense." Dllifomin" Trombetill. 467 U.s. 479. 4&'! (1984). This ....-idmce mllSt have apparmt ,'"' MO ..... . . , . . ,
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ITIIItioo maintained by the FBI in National Crime Information Center (NCIC) rrports I:><callSt of a confidentiality agreement "i\h the provider. Ho..wer. the true coo· r1l.lentilliity ~ in NCIC reports are the FBr. computer access codes aM symbols which identify .uthoriw.illStrs and contidentiallOl.lrcn of the information in it> rep<lf!S. ~ Pul>wm v. 001. 873 t: Supp.705. 710 ID.D.C. 1995). Although these symbols and codes are protected. the prosecutioo cannot credibly argue that all 0( the information conl/!ined in these rocords-'....hich contain arm.! and con.iction data that are ITIIIU~rs of public record--are shielded from discovel)'. Nor >hoold the prosecutioo be allowed to retreat from it> obligation to provi<le impeachment evidence by placing the burden back on the defen.>e 10 starch out "'''1)' crimiool record of the stale·s wil· nesses when the state has the informatiOll at its fingertip$. DefelUe ooon.>el should argue that sira the state already has the information. it wouKi be infinitely more cost-dfect,,"!c aM lair to require that it lum the information over to the defense. Defense counsel must conteM that this type of impeachment evide",e is fully within Brady"s rule. ~ BIlgley, 473 U.S. at 676. The Alabama legislature. by pro'iding for impeachment of wi~ by
provide i
on these jurors· conthe district att<>me)l·s office may be met "ith resistance by trial ooorts. Deferue ooorlSel should nevertheless pur· sue thu informatiOll. The AJab.1ma Supreme Court has rflX'oltedly stated that "(nlo right of an !ICOI$ed felon is more ba.>ic than the right to ·strike· a ""tit jury from a panel of fa ir-minded. imp.lrtial prospective jurors." &0 parle Beam. 512 So.2d 723, 724 (Ala. 1987): _1100 HUrller" Sill/e. S85 So2d 220 (Ala.CrApp. 1991 ). Courts in other jurisdiclioru have taken an i",reasingly e~pansive view of the ooture 0( the inlerests requiring dis-
I/Ict "ith
"~
daily in
courtrooms. I >hook! be .specially prepared for a battle when requesting crimiool rtwrd informa· tion about state "i\nesSeS or potential juror>. One common excuse that the prostCUtion offers for not disclosing crim. iool record in!ormation is that the reports that law enforcement offICers ha\.oe access to are protected under a conHdrntiality agrfflTltllL Commonly. prosecutors refure to disclose criminal record infor·
closure about pottntial jurors, ranging from .. otnirtprflOll's contributions to the district Ittorrwy'S fftlKlion ClIl'Ip;>ign to irv.tirert rtbtionshlps with the law nUorttmtnt oommunity, Set, t.g., R<mdaIph It. ~I"', 716 S,W.2d 253 (Ky, ]986) (corMctKlll ~rsed for failure to dlSdose ~rior jUrof'P!'05eClltor relltioruhi~): " Ordv. Com_lth, 695 S,W.2d -w-t (Ky, 1985) (~ny relation· ship ~t»'Wl prOllptdive jurors and prosecutor justifies challtngt): Fu/.,.,lIa "Slale, 280 S,I:,2d 4\ \ (Ca. App. 198]) (reversed 011 groondui non-disclowre 01 juror ~I;"tion with bow truorwn.nl "Ilt1'oC)l). Odtruot C(lUruotl should maint.iin thai Ihislnlormation Iboot polen· ~ jurors is criti<::al to the drf.n&nt', rights to In impl.rlial jury MId to the turcis-t 01 ~"'mptorjl strikes. ~'s disoJro.ony notes Ibo I'I"O"ide kif disa,o.ony 01;>11 rtpOTU 01 ~ tnmi· ""tlonf. testll and tlpfrimmlo ""rfomwd by the SIaIt'. tlpfrU. SN Rule 16.I(d), AJa.R.O.P. (\991). In addition to ...Tittm Te\XlI'U. tilt drfmse must also ~ atI)I oral rtpOrts pt'l:Nidtd to the Wile by l'Sptrt wi l~. n.. txptru may have
ruchN now conclusions by the time 01 trial or had 5OO"Il" COIams Iboot thtir conclusions. It is only by d~ng the subst.irn 01 ~ the $bit .... bHn loid by its pPff\$ that the ~ CMl ~ obIy usess the ICimtifoc QSot.rl5t it rli\u", to discioK expert inIonTIation can also mull in the ddtnK ~ing imbushed at trW by testimony that ~red expert rdJo.llt.i1 tvi<.Sm«. Thw. it .. critic:>l thai the drftrw rt«iYe di$C(lYtry to gain a drar picturt oIlhe SUtt'S forensic Q>t. II is important (or attorneys handling crimi",,1 cues to ~ fu lly (~miliar wilh Iht diJC<.>Wry rults and C&Stbw u!\der SUit and ftdUlIllaw. Counsel should rtvitw Rule 16 oI lhe.-\.lal»ma Rules 01 Crim;",,1 Pnxtdure ~for. pr.paring diK""",ry plradines and rtvitw the caM:I tmt provide for diSCOl'try in specifIC sit· Uitiom. By the time .. apit.il QSot ~ 1';'1. mount.i;1\J 01 inforn"tion compiltd by the SUIt', invntigalivt forces hM: bHn lmus-td. Orit1\Sot COIJruotl mUSI l'flIuesi all 01 this infor· mation to tRSurt I fai r trilil. and, poss;. bly,l succwful ddtllH. •
Tells the whole story about U.S. District judge Frank M. johnson, Jr. aud his rears on the bench. fiNed lI'Uh trlle (Illealoles, slories of bis grollil/g lip ill /lorlb Alabml/(l,
the (/fly.ill (llId dIlY-DI/( (/eti/illg l!'ifb Col/stilliliOlltli issUes- lI/flllY
from his OiI'II riel/poilll. lbld as il has 1I1!1'f!r breI/lolt! before, ~ftwlk Sikora's book admirabl )' te lls the J udge Johosoo's courageous da:isioQs.~
~Iory
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Where To
... A Post-Paaltk,
The "Qui Tam " Provisions of the False Claims Act' by Pamela IL Buey
I
n 1996, pm...tt citiull5 "flo brought ~il.5 undtr tht raise Claim.! Act' won ~rdicts 0( S9 million, $2.86 million, Sl.5 million, SI.53 million, $1.5 million, $1.45 mHlion, a.nd SI
million, imong OIhen,' By CQrnpari$Qll, the Ia.-gut ponit;""t damage awa.ro. affirmed by appellate court.s in Alabama in 1!196 ...."trt S3 million,' S I million.' $2l{1,OOO,' 579,598.' 575,000,' $30,000,' and $10.000,· t.arge ~rdicts are oot the on ly .irtut for plaintiffs suing under the f')1~ Clainu Act WCA) for this statute pr("'i~s ~ m«hanism to help rid tM fedn~1 \I<I'"tmment of fraud and abu~. To win an rcA t.aS(. tht plaintiff must pr'O\lt that the Ikltndant knowingly filed f"lse clainu with tht ffdf",J gw. tTllmenlln this rtspKt tht rcA mobi· liltS the private bn to sm>t ;as "priv.lt~ lttomrys 1/ffIffiI1" who pursue "public inttrtll. klr pro/lL ." The rcA also is i t)']liaJ whitt coIbr st.aotut~ in that it bit. . crimifWIllind c;";llaw, To pr...... il on this eMI ('.II\lK 01 xtion, the pbintiff must prow " eri....., th.at tht ddtndant koowingly submitted. or """"'Pired to submit.lil~ cbinu to tht frdenl gw. tmmtnl.· This bltnding 01 e;";1 and crimin.ollaw ~u rcA cases CQrnplex lind pro«durally uniqul'.
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Background and distutd mulu led 10 tht rllLK Cbims Act In 1863. Union sOOIitn dilC(Mrtd that c",ttl 01 arms purclwtd by tilt Union Army ~rt lull oIloIIWdust. 001 mwktls." Al1egwly fit mult$ purclustd by tilt Army wt~ Ikli~red diH...cd, blir><l, IMrpriced or 1-00 alrtady bttn purclustd (stYeral times)." The~ was 00 federal law enforcement machin.r)' to stop corrupt war profitun: no r~",1 Bureau of Inl'estigation Or Inspectors Ctntral: a .... r)'!lI'Ia1l Department of Justice: and 00 i"'~tigaton in the War Dep/lrlmtnt to monitor cootn.ctors..· Thus, ffdf",1 I"",maktn turmd to In <w"ilable rtso.m:e- privat. citizens, F'or I \Iaritty 0( rtaSOnI. tho I'CA .... not particular!)' ttrKlM until 1986.· II)' 1986, t.aw.wr. Congrw """ ready to in>igo!'lltt tho F'CA as" major Inl"Uoght· Lng ....~ High profi~ fr:Ioud!IlwI «1ftvinml min)' in Congrw thit new l!nd ir'nMltivr trob wm' nttdotllo ~ fraud. Originally nQ\ rcA QSQ filed (:o.lCe"oed fraud by defnuo: contndor1. In ~t)'Qrs.~. tho ~o( FCA raoa I\;wf: ifl'OMd ll7Iud by health can pnMcIrn. In 1996, lor tumpio . .to petm1t 0( pendi", flU; tam QSQ illoged health art fraud. whilt 38 per«nt oJlogtd ~~ f",ud. ~ s-d~
p.W.agt 0( tht
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Qui Tam Provisions .........w The I'CA jl1'O'Jide$ that the federal /JONmUlIent or any "penon" may bring an
;\c\ion under the Act.· In thiJ ""y, the rcA empowen "private alt~ I/tnt11l1" to supplement the ftde11l1 government's
effom against fraud upon the gwemmenL During the 1986 revision 0( the FCA one l~gisLllor summed up the ratio> nale for this d..... l prosecuting authority: "[i [n the lace 0( sophisticated and ",ide· spread fraud. the Committe<: bo:lio:ves only a coordinated effort 0( both the Gwemment and the cih....."y "'ill decreue this """""' 0( defrauding public funds."" Interestingly. unlike other pri· vate attorney gmeral pTOYisions. such as RICO.'" the rcA does not ,..quire the private pLlintiff to show any injury to the plaintiff from the defmdant's oooducl n When an FeA ...... is brought by ~n individual (0, entity) other than the Unit~d States Attorney eern:ral. the c"'" is knl.>''''n .. a "Qui 10m" action and the party bringing the action is koown as the qui tom "relalor." Qui 10m comes from Iholatin phrase "qui lam pro domino reg. q ..... m pro si ipso in hac parte ~uitur " ",hich mearu; "l wll1o sues on behalf of the King as "",II .. for himself. "" B. Right. of the Parti•• EIabor<lte procedures exist to protect the federal gwernment's role in qui lam FeA lawsuits. Upon f,]ing a qui lam action. the TI'/ator must pTOYide the goy. emmtnt with • ~ 0( the complaint and "substantially all material evidence and inforn"'tion the penon pOSSeSSeS. ... The C(KI1plaint is sealed for at least 60 days to allow the government ti"", to detenni"" whet~r it "'ill join as. pLlintiff in the suit." EWfI if the go-wmment choo6es not to j.oin the lawsuit at the time the com· plaint is filed. it may;o;n later for "good cause" Sho>o.l1.B and is entitled to COpies 0( pkadings med throughout the ...... even if it dot. not j.oin." History has shown that relaton; fare better when the go-wm""'nt j.oins the FCA action as co-plaintiff. A study 0( all qui 10m actions filed belw."n 1986 and July 1996 revtaled that "the ~ry for Qui 10m cases where the goy. .",ment interwned Iwas1 approximately $6.0 million. In stali< contrast. the aver· age recovery for qui 10m case. ",lI<:r. the governmmt declined to interwoe lwasl awroximat~ry $33.000 .... Or.e reason it is difficult for qui 10m rela\or$to be successful without the goy. ~mment as co-plaintiff i$ that rela\ot$ have fewer resource. (or investigating and
""""*
preparing the complain!. The go-wm. ""'nt.1l')' rompari5Qll. may use civil investigative dernar.d.. ",hich penn;t broad dis. covery prior to filing ~ complain!.'" E.... n if relaton are current employees 0( the oIf~nder and thus possess inside informa· tion about lhe f"'ud. these employees ma~ bo: barn:d b)' ~mployment COIltracts from .."u!ing the information or,...,..,... ing copies 0( docu""'nti. even regarding acts 0( fraud· Another C(KI1mon source 0( relaton;. attorneys who obtain informa_
Qui tam comell from the Latin phrue "qui tam pro domino rege quam pro ,I Ipso in hac parte sequitur" which means "Iwlho ~eII on beha1f of the King .. _II .. for h1m.seJr,''''
tion .....hile r.-presenting clients in unreLlt· ed matte ... "'ill ha.... to O\'tm.>me the jurisdictional bar hurdle (discussftl inri-o) as "",II as the additional hurdle posed b)' the Code of ElhiC$ preventing disclosure of confidential information about a client obtained during representation 0( the ditnL" This ethica.l duty does not apply if a reasonable atlomt» in the ...".,. circums\lIrIce$ would find convincing evidence of alleged fraudulent activities. HOWI"-'I'r. the attorney seeking to make the di.d",ure bears a ~ burden" 0( pTOYing this test." S@other relators may obtain information from on-going lawsuits. Vr!, gaining access to information in these Ll...... uits is difficult. While the public has acre« to judicial m;ords.'" material ~n. e",ted thoogh disco\oeT)l may not bo: publicly available. especialry if protective orders have bten obtained" Furthermore. even if thi' qui lam relator gain< ,uch access. the jurisdictional bar pro\i$ion ultimately may disqualify the relator. ThU$. it is good ,...,... for a relator ",hen the gGwmment decides to join the qui /om action. Howtl... r. ~ that happens. the dyoomks of action can become com· plex. Often the go-wmmenl, after inter_ vening as a plaintiff. aggress;""ly .-ks disqualification of the relator. There are reasons for this. By filing the FCA action
the qui 10m relator may have pre<:mpled or inlerkred ",ith ongoing civil or criminal government investigations or CI>Sf:S. Abo. I:>ecaust the relator is allowed to .. main active in the case after the gq.... m· ment has intervened. theII' is the polen · tial for conAicl.i over 'trategy. Lastly. if the suit i. victorious the relator pOCkets proceeds that would otherwise go to the gowmmen!. Interestingly. sometimes the .. lator and <leferoiant team up .,gainst the go-wmment. In United Slales ex rd. KiIIil1fl$U.'Orlh v. Norlhrop." (or example. the I/O'-emment accuKd the relator and the do/cndant of ,tructuring a Kt· lIement..., as to d.pri"e th. govern· ment of funds it would otherwi,e re<:ei"t= under the FeA.· !lm>~ of the potential lor conflicl.i over strategy, the go-wrn. ment" or in an unusual.,...,. the defendant," has the fight to setk limits on the .. lator's participation in the lawsuiL Even if the goo.>o>rnment or defendant obtains restrictions on the relator', involvement, however. the rela(or enjoys unusual fights as a litigant. rim. the relator may bring an FCA action ",;th a minimal showing of ,tlnding. Second. tven if the go-wrnment interwnes. the .. lator retains KN'I\e ability 10 participate as co-plalntiff,· including the potential ability to block a .<.ettJement or dismissal." Third. and most significantly. the r~lator shares in the judgmenl If the fCA action i, succtsMul and the government does not inttrwoe. the qui tom reLltor is enti. lied to 25-30 percent 0( the proc.."a 0( th<: t'tCOYIery or Kttlemffit" with the court detennining the ultimate aJl'>OUnl !f the FCA action is >UCCeSSfu1 and the govern"",nt intervenes. the relator is mtilled to 15-25 percent of the proc.."a 0( the re<:oVtry or .. tll<ment, with the amoun( depending upon "the extent to which lhe person substantially con· tributed to the pTOKCUtion of the action .... ' If a """"""ful rcA iaw5uit is based primafily on publicly di.ICio:Ied aile· gations or transactions other than infor· mation from the relator but the qui 10m relator qualified as an original SOUre<. the qui lam plaintiff is entitled to no more than 10 percent 0( the award." In KIting the award in thi..it .....tion the rourt is to consideT "the signirKanc< 0( the informa· tion and the Tole 0( til<: person bringing the action in advancing the .,..., to litiga. tion."" If the reLltor participated in sub-
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mitting tilt !me CWIn$ thr court may mIlxY thr ... 111(0)1", ~ 01 thr I'tOJWI)' "to the attnl the court ronsidm IIPProprial •. - If the roilolor is QnIickd "01 criminal conduct lrising from tIis or twr ... in lho vioblion. " the rdatof is dismiw<d from the bwJuil and roaMs nont oltllt l"tCOWf)I.- ln every sucussful fCA suit the qui 111m ...1aIor is m1itled 10 rettivo ;If1 amount fOIl' rusonabIt expenses ....ilidl tilt court f1nd$lo ........, boen nee· warily incurred. plus rnsonabk: attor~' f«s and COiItS, all ohilich shall be ",,·.rded aj/IIinst the dtfmdant.C. a_lItylnQ ••• Qui Tam Rel.tor To Cp..Ii!i!)l os 1I qui lam rtlator 1I party must <MTCOIl"It the "jurisdictional 00r'" prtMsion 01 U. I'CA which ~ "No IXIUrt $hlII1 '"""'" jurUdiction 0...". ;If1 action ... bwd upon the public: disc\o. SUrt 01 alltglIlions or transKtions in 1I criminal. civil. or adminislRlM htaring. in 1I ~, lidministr.llivt. or CowfTUTltllt !w;<;oonting OfIk. rtpOrt. htllri ng. audit or investigation. or from lho news mtdii. unlw tho action is brought by tho Atto. nty ~""ral 0' the ptoon bringing tho action is an original 500ret 01 the information. ... Tht rtlitor bell'S the burdtn 01 proYing thol a court I\H ju~ictiQn .,...,. U. QSt." nw, ... art two ~ <p:Ilio.:m 10 raoM in ~ IN jurisdictional bar proyision: (11v."htthtr IN lII~tions or tJ3l1SK"lions In tho FCA action pm-iousIy ........, btm disclo6ed publicly. and (2) if 50....-hrthtr lho qui lam plaintiff is on "origi. naI.lQUroe" 0I1l1e public: infonnotlon. -If the IIIltgl1tions in the bwsuil hM btm publicly di~lostd. lilt rtlator is jurisdic· tionally barred from bringing tho lawsuit unle.\.1 tht plaintiff ....";l5 an "o.iginal 5OO.ce" of tilt public information. If the rtlator dots not qualify as an original 5OOra. tilt FCA lawsuit OJ(ltinues onl)' if tilt Attomty Gtntral coo\i...,.. os plain.. 00; othtrwis.t when !he qui lam rtlalor is dismiwd.!he QSt is dismissed. 1 . Public OIKlosu,.: H.s It Occu.....ct .rKI Is the Complaint Based Upon the Public OIKlo.u,.? nw, fCA lislS a numbtr ol sources .....hid. oomtitult public di~IOlIu""; criminal. cMI 0' lIdmin; .lral i~ htMings; congrenional. admi ni.t 'illiw 0. ...
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G<mmmtnt Accounting Offic. ~rts, hurin". audiu or in~otigalioru; ...... tho news mtd~. two ~ questioN hr... lIriHn r,ganling tht public disdo· su ... issue (I) whtn is lho qui lam complainl basN upon lho public disclolU~. and (21 mU$l tht all~lionI or IransKti(lns «Iuall, lit publicly disclosed or is it swflcimt if they aro only poIen/iolf, iVailable to lho public? •• I. U•• QuI T.m Complaint MB.sed Upon~ th. Public Disclosu,.? Tho question has lri$tn as to ..-hether tho qui lam action is ~ ~ tilt public disclosuro when ,.".... or all 01 tht infonn»ion in tilt ... Iator"s FCA compLlint. was publicly IVliIablt prior 10 filing IN ClJI1lt)Iainl bot IN roilotor c.Llirns to hM obtairttd !he irIorrnatJon in twr ~ ..... ptlld..1IIy 01 !he pubIidy ~ inI'I:InNtion.. nw, ... is 00 durWI iII'ISWer. As one court noud. INro is no "rnathtrllllticallOrmulat ... Ifor1 quMl' tum or c....ITlIli!)l 01 ooopublic infor"rn1l· lion thol must be in tht hand!; of the qui lum rtlalor in order for lUilS to procw.l.~ Tht courts ha~ handlN this situ · ation in $tVtrll ~ Tho: District 01 Columbia ..... tilt .'irst. fourth. Eighth and E1eYmth circuits hM iIIdopted iilC'P'WChes IavonobIt to tht rotator.- nw, District 01 CoiuntKl Circuit. fOII'~. llrictly «If\StnIt$ tht "",utory ~. "IMsftI upOn IlIe pWJic: disdoou" 01 o/kgolions or lrrl1U«tions" hoIdirc that only iii qui lam ~it is bastd upon publicty disclostd ..... ltglItions or tr.wlClions.: not .iust publicly discIo6ed "information," ....ill it fit ....ithin the first prong of tht jurisdictional bar proYision." Tht f irst Circuit has Indicated that il ....ill loolc to tho underlying purpost rl tht FCA in applying the "basN upOn" IanlIlJaI!<' to determine wl>etlltr lilt qui lam action "sotks ftCO'itry from al~ dtfTlO1.HJo:>'S 01 the goynnmtnl fOIl' fraud that has not ytI. btm tht sub;tct of a claim by U. goMm........ t.. and """"'ttwr it "1Iios tilt pottntiaI to mton monry to tht pubtic. fisc th:at would not and could not hM btm restoml in II rtbtlldl (350.... nw, fourth Circuit has lIdQpttd anothrr appn)aCh. abo ~ 10 tht qui 10m .. lator. ]rutud of distinguishing bttwetn "alltgalions 01" transaction" and "inform.l· tion: tilt Fourth Circuit f~on .....Ilttllt. tilt rolator ;octually IlI'rivtd
knowItdgt from tht public disclow .... of tht facto underlying tht action." /lrUlm SlaIn ex rei. SlIJt,- /.\ &r:lon" <krntw>WaIa IhiI; appn:r;och. nw, court found that U. ...1aIor was not jurisdKtionally barred from bringing his qui 10m ~"SUit ..." thouiIJ> mil»' 01 the bets aIkgal in the ~,t had btm publicly discIostd during ~ and Kttlement of related litigation. Finding it "artainly possible thot. as Sill.. coot~ Siller act....11y k:~rned oIlthe dtftndant"sl alltQtd fraud enti..1y indepondently oIlhe Iprior law· suitl. and ....riwtl his allegations from that independent ~Itdgt: the Fourth Circuit mnandtd lilt cast for further fondilllll by the Joo,...,. o;ourt on tht i$sot." Inax"..-" lJIUtt Cnxs & lJIUtt ShiffiJ (8CBS) of florida." tho Eleventh Circuit ~ an appn:r;och similar to tht Fourth Circuit·, loculi on ....-hrthtr U. "Ialor /IdIII.1lI6 bastd his ~it on IN public disclosurt, but IN £Iewnth CirOJit Nyud !he issue as whethtr the rolalor IXIUkI qualify ill"" "original 5OlIret" rI tht in/omlotion th:al had btm disc\Q6ed. While rettiving mtdicaJ Irtalmtnt. tlemert CQofttr learned that Blue Cross Ill Ut Shitld (OCHS} w", ~ngaged in "$KOnda')' ~ytr'" fraud ..... had filed fuhe claims ""th MNica .. multing from this fraud." SKoodaty payer fraud occurs whtn MnJic:art is billed ,.. tht primary insurtr whm anothtr ;nsurtr is ~. bit lor prima,), ~ and MnJhrt is only rapOnJibit. M'CI'IRIary pa)'tT.Cooptr IXItIducttd his (JWrl irrYestig;otion and madt ~ted oompIainu to !he BeSS and IJO"tllVTltnt lIl!t"Cia prior to foIing II FCA lUit By tht timt CQoftt. filtd his suit $KOndary poyor fraud had r«t"ivtd uttmivt publicity in Cmetal Arolunling OtIkt (CAO) reportS. Congrwional heari ngs, OIG reports and ......-.paptr articles.~ ~'ind; ng that ~r's li'wsuil ...-;U!:wed upon publicly disclostd lIlIfiJtions 01" transactions. tht court addl"t$Sttl the .,..estion whtthtr Coopt. Cp..Ii!ified as ~ "original5Ollra:" 01 IN inlortnittion." finding that Cooptr otuintd tIis inlortnittion "dirtetly and irwJq)mdtnt1y" 01 IN publk inIofma.. lion... tht court found that Cooptr Cp..Ii!ifttd iii an "original 5OUrct: nw, Court I"IitdIld tldtndant·.1'l/Umml thai ~s krtowIedge is no! subslantNt information that $trious/y contributes to the di5CloIIU~ 01 fraud ..... Instead. it found that Cooper'1 "information is more than
background infom\;olion which tnabIts him to uncIerswwl the $igniflWla d a IT"O,R gHltr:ll public di:$do5urt.... Unliu the ~ COUrU.the Stcond. Third and Tmth cirruiU " - ;M)opted ~ las ~ 10 the rtliolor." Aca:IrIlini to the St<:ond Cirruit. the rtb. lor is jurUdictiQnllly b:orml from bring. ing the rcA whtn lhe qui/am plaintiffs al\eglliions lIrt "Ihe same as I~ Iml mlwl bml publkly ~ac'-<J ... regard· I,," of whm lilt relator obtained hi, information .... In /Jm'IOO SlaiN ex rei. 0.:. V. )oII11IJoo Corp. ... the Second Circuil was f.xtd ...ilh a qui lam ilClion instiluled by ;an allornt)' pOlly to hud, diKo\lered wring the COlIill' 0I~. Ia\ion. The attornq"s clitnt Nod bmlSlJb. jod 10 imti\igMion _mine a dtfmse IXII1lRCt scam lIlIegdy undtrlllkm by his ~. In ~
for _ immunil)·.
rwgotioled by the atlomry.the dim! pro. ..;dtd sworn tetilTlOll)' i~icatinflthe CXJI1'O<3\ion, S"bseq"ently, the ;IItome)' oI:Qined a "'~""r 01 the allomry.diml priI.;~ from the diml and brought a qui lam a.ction under the F'(A· 'n bilrring the attomey~lator', claim. the court adopted 1I b!Ui>d intetpretation d lhe jun.dictioNol bar pt(lYi$ion. • Quoting the Stcond Circuit. the Fourth Cirruit held: ' [lif the inlormalion on which II qui lam suit is ~ is in the public domain, ;and the qui lam plainlill' was not • 5OUI'Ct d that irionnMion. thm the ~I is
........ The Third
CircuifuAln:~:h is similar for it holds tNt qui lam suilJ iIft jurisdictiorWly buftd if t..fd ~ inf<>nnillion tNt would 11M: bml ;wailabie 10 othm if IhtF ~ looked for it" Similarly. lhe Ttnth Circuit holds thot the reLalor', suit i, bilrred if il is "sub$llInlially ido>nlical to 11M: allegalions (()fItained in the public daclosurt: reg;lrdlw d whtlher the rtlator x1ually got the iII\eg11tions in her suit from the public diKlosurt."
b. Act ..al ,,_ Pot_tlal Public
OIsclo...... Another ..... whidllw msen is whtthtr.,..blil: diidosure lOr purpOSeS d the rcA occurs only whtn the llleg;a(ions or lr.lnsxlions art l1duall/l diKlosed to the publk or abo occurs whtn the lllegalions or lransactions artpotenliall/l aocmible to lhe public. In lJnilf'd Stali!S ex rei. R~~. C~"lury Hrollhcare Cmp..h the Tenth Circuil addressed Ihis
iso.ut and concluded that in order to be
publicly disdoilN. "Ihe llleg;.tions or lr.lnsxlions upOn which the suil is t..fd must haw bem lIffirrnalMly disclosed to
the 1'dIIic.... In~, the District Court <Ii$mit.std the ~ 1_ action brouaJ!l by Ramoqorr. I consultlnt and thm dinicad ~irtCtor d II mmtal heallh 1iti1lT\' operatN by Ctntu~ Ilullhc:m Corpontion f""tuf)').l)uring hl< tight month. of employmtnt with (tntuf)', ~r ~rvtd widespread norocomplia~ with Medicaid rt<juirtmmt&. Although Ramseytr communicaled this oonoompli;ara to the dt(~~ the <.\d~ did nothing to rornd the pn::.bItms and rontinued to serd 'iOIiCOI.wne claim. to Mediaid. Dtfmdants tmllinattd 1Wnst)'tr'. ~ 1IItl< tight monlhl of xrvn... l)urin8 this timt ptriod and ~Iy ioidtpt.Ide.1I of Ramstytr'. dforts to lIlm IItfendanU of the probItms. I rootine audit and impedion by the Okbhorno Dtpartrnenl of Human Sel\ias (DHS) ui1OOYt1td lhe SIImt probk"". A OilS program IOpuvi~, Roy Hughes. pr~_ pared a I'tf'O'\ lum~ri1ing tho:w firod· ;ng,.. ThrH eopits 01 the rewrt wtre madr. oot copy w.u gMnto the <.\dendan!!.; oot mnaintd in OilS files; and oot was gMnlO I OIts aOOlinistralor. The only way II m~nlbe. d the public could obIlIin I copy d this rtpOrt was to !pfci6cally nqutSl it in writing and obWn ~ for its relelK from OHS ~ counsd.~ This "''lIS not done.The Ttnth Circuit ~ the iSSIK as "whether tlltorelkll or poImli.. lliCCtSsibility--as 0I)I)0Kd 10 .!d\llll discloJurt-4 all.g.tiQn$ or lransaclions ;. .uffici.nt 10 bilr a qui lam luit lhal i. bilsed upon such information."" following th~ approach .. dopted bl' lhe Ninth Circuit" Ind Di.tricl of Columbia Circuit" ami re;tctinQ the vi<w d the Third Cirruil." the court hekl tNllIctu· II disclosure 10 the public was I"«tsS/lf)' 10 fond "public: o,Ii$I;losure" under the I'tA. a The court rusontd thai the COR>mon usage and uncltrslllnding of the lum 'publiI: disclosurt" imPIies.!dual disclosure. Tht court ll~ found tml finding public disclosure to exi51 mtrely upon the po5$ibilily lhalthe public might gain ICcu.slo lhe inlormotion woul~ frustrate the goal of lhe FCA of 'encouraglinal private citizell.l with
first·hand knowledge 10 tlj'JOoSe fraud .... Applying its rusonina 10 the Qse btfore il. the courtiound thai 'OIlS did not iffirmatiwly discloM eilher the aillena: d the ronlmts d the Hughes IItport; instud OIlS limply plarnl the rtpOrt in its i~g.tiYoe file and rcstriclN IC«SS to those persons clair· voyanl enough to JptCifocally ask for it." As weh. the allegations and transxtions in ~r'1 ~"CAI/uilam suit had not been publicly disclOKd . The Tenth Circuit reversed lhe DiSlrict Court', ~ilmissal 01 RaltlKyer'. suit."
2. "Original Source" E~n if tM fi,,! pronl/ of the juri•• diclional bar prowilion i. mel ond lilt qui lam complaint ;. lound 10 be 1wtd upon " publicly disclosW .. lIeg.· lions or transactions, the rdalO' i. not juriodicti(lNlly barrtd iflhe rtl~tor is 'an oril/inal sourct" of Ihe ~ublicly disclOKd informalion.- The .-CA dtflnu "origi ...l sou rce':as "an indio vid\llli who has direci and in~eptn~enl knowltdge of Ihe informal ion on which tht alltgati on, are based an~ ha$ \I(Iluntllril~ provi ded tht informil_ tion 10 Ihe Covernment btlor. filing an ;selion undtr this Hction which i. b:ascd on Iht infol'llUlion.- The mijor controvtrsiu concerning the ·oril/i ...1 source' requirement lire the ;nl~rpre" tllion of 'dirtct and ind .... nd.nt· and .....mIMr Ihe I/ui tam ,elalor mu,t tw..., disclosed informallon 10 Iht SOUrCt which publicly disclOKd lilt IJlt~· lion. or IrulSlCtion,. in order to qual. ily as an ·o, lgi ...l sourct." a . " Dfrect .nd Indep.nd.nt" The specificily ~~ uniquentSS of the
Volunteer Opportunites The ~ Statt Uw Libmy is in nmI 01 docents 10 help gfI.ot tours of the Judicill Building, Monday through Friday, 8:30 - 4:30. If )'OIl Ire interested, plene phone 13341242-4958.
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cqm"laintand 11K manntr;mll timing in which the qui lam relator obtaintd the 'rorormation in 11K rnmpla'rot awur to be the !tty fadors in dttmnining whetlltr the qui 111m rtlator obtaointd the iroformlotion "d,rKliy and i"""""rodo:rotly" 50 as to qualify as an original SOU1U. In Unittd Slales u rd. ~ a. Koch ,· for uamplt, tht Court found thlot tilt ",blor·, informa· lion _ r>Ot obtaintd dirtctly and iOOt· pernitnlly but was ·'wuk.lnformal and strikingly rWunw.nt" of all~gationl p"'. viou$ly disdoud in dvillaw>uilS. a cOn· gressional hurlng;mll news ",leastS" Thu$. tilt court rulfd, tilt plaintiff did r>Ot qualify as lro origilUl SOU1U.In contrast is C"ocJ,!fT II. BJIre Cross. 8114 Shield of F/oridQ." Ao in Prw;ision, thert _ ~r>lW prior publicity 01 the a1lrplions contained in tht ",lators rcA action prior to tht filing 01 tht rcA complaint. The t:1eYtnth Circuit. how· ~r, held IhR the ",btor'. infonnation qualififd Iht plaintiff as an "origilUl source: The court noIfd lhaltht ",b· lor had Condudfd a thorough inveslig,alion on his OWl) prior 10 Iht publicity. and lhoot hi. information ",as "pote ntial. Iy specific' and ",,," "more than back-
ground in/ormation which tnablu him to undenland lilt lii"ifiCMICe 01. mort gnM'ral public disclosu"' .... The courts ~ prtMded al Ita$! 0fII' clur-alt Il:$tlor j""-int this issue. A rtlator"s knowltdge is detmed to be "dirtct" if the ",blor learNd of the falM claims through the relator's own .fforts nlhe. IhIn fT(ln1 11K labors 01 othtr$. Ao the Ninth Circuit tlPbined. relators must -su the fraud ..ilh tlltir own ern or obtain lheir kll(ll<.ifdge of" through their own labor unmediat...! by anything elst ........
b. Disc losure Then isa diYgI•••"••~,umoog the Cwrts 01 Appeal as 10 wtw is nmIed to 6nd aoIequIotr diodolu", by 0In "original SOUrtol." The Soeo:ond and Ninth circuits haw ~ a ralOOM imnpmation." The Fourth IIr'od t:~ cirruits how »opted I mon' ~ inltrprdation... In /.JniterJ Slales u TIll.. Didc 10. Long h/anIJ Ughltrw, Co. ... the Soeo:ond Circuit held thitthe rtlator""must how directly or indirtctly bttn a SOUret 10 tht mlil)' thIol publicly di$C1Wd tho aIltgations 011 whkh uuit is tw& ..... The Second Circuit forustd 011 statulOl)' Iang~ in
reachi"'ll this C(lrlt"iusion."The Kinth Circuit rtadled ~ simibr rewll but with different rutaning. In IIlDlg 10. FMC- the Ninth Circuit found tilt aatu\ooy Jan. go.o;.g.e 10 bI: ~ but foruwd 011 tht ~tM hislDry: "qui lam jurUdiclion _ meant 10 attnd only 10 !host ....too hid pla)'fd lO part in p.obIicty disc!oJ. i"'llthe a1lep1ion1 ~ infonnotion 011 whidl thti. loUib ""'''' baord.- The Ninth Circuil ~]j(I o:'ln!Iidereol policy ugumrniS. rta$CIIll"'ll that tilt -oomcimtiouJ Or rnterprislng person" br.we enough to bring lilt f... ud to tilt public·, attentioo should bI: rtWarded with the bounty pr0vided in tilt fCA ... tlv:r IIwIthe person ....too "Nt QUietly in the >hadows and bruthtd IlOIlO wonl" ~ the fraud.... The fourth and EI~nlh circuits disagree." The Fourth Circuit has chooracItrim! lilt S«oncI Circuirs aw~ lOS '"wholly indtfmsiblt" and constituting "misrOlling 0( the ItgisllitiYe history ... to CffiOte an loITIbiguity in lilt sbtult ,..Ilt", IlOOlt aists .•.. - lhur courts hold that: "In addition 10 havi"'ll direct and indt· pendtnt Jma,o,'leol~ of tilt ;nform/ltion 011 which tilt ~lItg1otions in the public dilCloIoUrt i. blOSt\I, he """ OI1ly provide his
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informatiorl to the gc>.-errunrnt Wore instituting his qui /mn i'ction.•..-The tatter view se<>ms pr~ftrabt •. ttolding that. qui lam ..lator Qualifoes a. an original SOurce ()!ll~ if the relator disclosed the information in the FCA lawsuit to the entity that publicly disclosed the allegations or tr"n.actions. would seem to lurn on fortuities that havt nothing to do with. rel.tor·s eligi. biHty to bring a lawsuit. Such a holding ..."<.>Uld also sum 10 discourage individu· als from fully invt.ligatillJl the facto; .urrounding possible false claims before they file a qui lam acti'ln, for kar lhat they may lose the "race to publici""."
Whistleblowers The most oornmon qui 10m relaton a.. disgruntled CUlTffit or fonner employ· ..,.... T'l protect mlPioyees and encourage them to come fo",.. rd . Congress included § 313O(1l) in the 1986 Arnmdments to the FCA Thi. section provi<i<'. a ClIUse of aclion for whi.tlebl""",rs: "[a[1l)' empklyee who is discharged, <i<'lII(l\td, SUSpended. threatened. harassed or in any other manner discriminated against in the terms and conditions of employment by Ili. 'lr her .mployer beca..,.., of Ia""ut a<:to; done by the employee ... in furtherance of an action under this section.... [The Employee] i. entitled to reinstaternent ...ith the same seniority status IlXh emp\Qyel' """Id I\itvo had bul for the discrimination. 2 times the amount of back pay. interest on the ba<:k pay, and compenMlion for any special damage!; .ustained as a result of the discrimimlion, inc:luding litigatiorl costs and reasonable at\omej1' fees. . ... To prellail 00 a ,..hi.tlebkM-eT retaliation claim. an empklyee must demonstrate. causollink between whistleblQwer acti,;ties and the discriminatory employment a<:tion. X Cotp. " Doe'" demonstrates this requirement. Former in·~coonsel (~) coonterelaimed und<r § 373O(h) in a suit brought by X Corp. against Doe for brea<:h of a confidential ity agreement. In his coonterclaim ~ alleged that he had bem fired as in·1"Iousoe ....... nsel in retaliation for ~·s filing a qui 111m action against XCorp.'" The ....... rt dismiw:d the ....... nt.rclaim. finding that Doe failed to demonstrate a causal connection between hi. firillJl and the filing of tne qui tam action.'· The court explained that in
order 10 prevail ."~ must pTCl'o'O (i) he look acts in furtherance of a qui tom suit: (iiJ XCorp. knew of these acts; and (iii) X Corp. discharged him beca..,.., of these acts."'" The court found that all but one of the acts Doe identified as u.o... he took in furtherance of a qui lam action wtre. in fact. an ~rcise of his responsibilities as in·houw cou ..... l. PurtherTTlO"'. Doe ""-I unable to I'M" that the ~ment Committee of X Corp. was a..... re of the one act that he took in fm1heraru of the qui lam action fsecretly copyillJl and removing documents) much less retaliat· ed against him beca..,.., of this act.'m To Qualify as a ....hiMlebkM'er under the f'CA. the ",histleblowtr must demonstrate status as an mlployee, not as an indepen. dent contractor. Codldn v. V"t.sjling Nurse Ass'n'" provides gu>danct as to ....hat coorU wililook at to detmnine FC\ ...i1istltbkM.... status. In COOu."in. the coort looked I'l the relation:;hip "und<r the fa<:ts and applicable rules of la.... and not [at] the .....y in ...i1idl the p.lrti.. regarded Ihis .. lationship .... " Focusing on factors such as how much the worIcer controlled the results of ner worIc and who neld the authority to direct how the work would be done. the coort held that C;OO"";n. a OOokk.. per·accounlaot. was an emp\Qyel' of the def~ndant. a Vi5iting Nurse 4weiation. '~ Other MO"lIO consider are '"the skill required. the sooret of the instrumentalities and tools: the Ioca· tion of the work: the duration of the .. Ia· liOll$hip between the p.lrties: whetI>1r the hiring p.lrty nos the right to assign addi· tional projecU to the hirtd p.lrty; the exl.nt of the hired I'/Irt)"~ discretion owr when and how long to...-.ork; the method of payment; the hired p.lrt)'·s roI. in hir· ing and paying assistants; whethtr the work is p.lrt of the regular busineso of the hirillJl party; whether the hirillJl p.lrt)' is in business; the provision of .mployee benefits; and the tax treatment of the hired p.lrty:'~ Another issuf which t.... arisen in .... hi.tl.blower FCA suilS is whether the whistleblOl'o.. r must fiI. a qui lam action under tho FCA in order to Qualify il5 a plaintiff in a retaliat'lry action suit under § 373O(h). Thus far the courts ha~ rul.d in the employees' f• .,or. holding lhat il is nol n.cossary for the whistleblower to SO r.lt.'" AsIother common issue in FCA whistle· bl",,-er cases is whethtr federal employees
suing the federal gowmment qualify as whistlebkM-eT"S. Courts havt cited two r.... · sons for holding that federal employees cannot invoke the ....histltbl""'" provi· sions of tN: I'Ck 50Wreign immunity and pretmpt;on. Noting that """,reign immu· nity'~ protects the federal government from Lw."SUits "if judgment sought """Id expend itself on the public lreasury Or domain. ........ the courts havt permitted rcA whistieblawer actions only when tN: federalllOvtmment has unequivocally waived 50Wreign immunity. " The ....... 115 have rmwned that because § 313O(h) dots not address the 50Wrtign immunity issue. mlXh less unequivocally waive il. the tU does not waive this immunity.'" Secondly. the coorts note thai Congress ;ntmded th. Civil $elVict Reform Act'" to provide the exclusive remedy lor federal employees who suffer retaliation for whisUeblowing and thus preempts a<:1ions WIder the FCA. ...
Conclusion Although a potentially locrative cause of action. the qui tom pMi.ions of the F'alse Claims Act.re complex. This is for """"raJ rta.lOllS. First. both the hybrid civiVcriminai nature of the Act (establish· ing civil liability by jlIt1I.'ing the commission of a crimel and the dual plaintiff system (the gc>.-emment and/or a privale
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RECENT DECISIONS n, [)a.:id B. Bgrrw. Jr. and II./bur C. Silbmnan
BANKRUPTCY Fifth Circuit .ttempts to
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.-cured cNdltorw po.t~titlon In the mailer ofT-II N_ Orlf'mlj Umitl.'ri PfS, 116 .:3<1790; 1991 U.s.A PI). l.EXlS 17]80; 31 Rankr. Ct. Dec. 114 !July 9. 1991). This QSt irNoIwd tho time worn question of post petition illlm:s! to), KCUred creditQl". Financial Security AMuraoo: W SM IrguW that btause the .alue of iu coI~ (a hotel) ,,-as i~ l"J'I.pdition, while lit Iho _ tim< tht obIiglltion to it .... da:rusing from ad! coIlatenl ~ at some point ixtwftn the date of its val · uation ¥Id the ""It (11' confirmation. t'SA brovne 0W1' sm,Irtd. It u-gued lh:iot lOI FSA .............-o:lILKtllIliKd on tht ~,. motion dm, under 1506(bJ it _ due ;ntortS! sino::e the inctptlon dlhl: QK. The fifth Circuil p.1rtially~. but not MIG the inception wt •. !! first d~ Iho dttmnin.U.ion d the \IlII .... tion datt. It ~ lhatallho huringon Ihoconlirmation of the pIon,\ht original cLmn II. 518,424.000 bI, through post·petition paymo'flts. bten rtdt.Icfd 10 SI3.748.055, which was greatu than tho fair value of the hokl of S\3.7 million. The bankrupt· r:t court hrkl FSA 10 bt an Ul'ldm«urtd o;mIitor .00 not mtitltd to intmsl due 10
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reo.;ew qooIld the portion ollSCl6(b}"to the aim! thol an al~ cbim is $t(U'N by property. lhe \\lh.Mi of ",h>eh ..• iI; greater than the amount c;I such caim. theft WJI be ~~ 10 the hoIdtr 01 su.:h t~m intera!. on JUth tbirn.. It hrid ~t Ifdion 506(b) an ~ only from the dm 01 filing throogto the confirmalion ..I.:Ile. bul thai in lhe application. il is rnosI impOfUnt 10 e:subIi$h a valUlition date.. 11 concluded ~I in wei 01 this I)l'MI ..'hen- valut is i....-sing. or the dd:>t ~'"4I througll ash c:oIWmoI paymml$. at _ point in time, the creditor will become oversecurtll: lhool it is the dut» 01 the $t(Urw creditor 10 p!"OIo'e by I p,tpotoderwa d the m.Itntt thot its claim _ O\ItrstCUmi to ..'hat ex\tnL and ..'htn it btamo: CM:!'KClII'!d. This H~ app-m ",-as adopttd by the court. but with lhe admonition that the interat could not be paid until confirma· lion. even though it woukl be lCCnIing intem!. fn:om the time the dMl beame OWTRCUmi but not bekn. Abo. do not CM:r\ooIo: tNt the Qlurt hekl that the amount of interest when added to the amoont 01 the alloo.<"fd cli.im """,ot r:xceed the val ... of the «)IlMtral. Com ......" The Fifth Circuit hu. s<mi· li.r to its holding in Ralh (btu O\IOCfT1,I\(d by the U.S. Suprcmt Qlurt) (A.<soc Cam. Cwp. u. Rush. 1997 ....,. 321231. 616-97). ..tfected I COOlpromise. The Opinion nliY mm the WYII' fate '"" Ra1h . It~'"' it does not Nn>m 100 ottm lhat vaIur 01 toIliIerai incr&StS durina; the pmdmcy 01 a caK. Rcgardles.s. the question in oor jurisdiction i$ ",hether the Eleventh Circuit will fQllow the Fifth. In the caK sub~. the Qlurt mentioned In '" lkila Raourres. s.t F.3d (ll a C; •. ) but distinguished it on the bets ;105 00'"41 · i~ropriately ..... rrow:
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DI.crimin.Uon I.wy." Mould ....d Uti.: e.nknJt)tcy Court, without jury, •• tinuot •••111. el.lm .t $353,804 Muller of Int~, BtkCl' E.O. Mo. Uul» 22. 1997. Chief Judge llarta). 31lJ.C.I). 2Z6. The lawwit was filed pn-pe\ition in 1988. In JIUlt 1991. proo( 01 cl;ooim wu filed by Witlles. ln Drambc. 1991. the bMJkrllfl\CY court dtnied li motion lor n-lief from say. Wittta' I;oo,.,.suil cli.imed ";Qlation oI..g.e distrimi ..... tioo under both the federal an<.! $\.ate !a,,"S. The \wIItruptty «lUrt denied the clain~nf. A'qIMISl> ol ..ithdfllW<ll oilhi' mtrtnCt. tnruft. to the ~usetts bankruplcy court.. and aj)pOintment 01 ~ sptCial m.>lteT. F; ..... lIy, the case was tried befol1 the \wIItruptCl' «lUrt which found thot the claimanl had b«n an nedlffit m'IPIoyH from the tiiTlt he ....... him! in 1966. NYi'"41 pt.fo",oed many ~ func· tions. until he ..~ diocharged in ]986. The court . aft~r ~ '~i')' lengthy opinion in ..tlich the f.l.ct.! wtrt Iott oot in <kf>\h. found lor the c~mant "" fotlaws: bock pay 589.398; lo$t bmefiu $14.384: lo$t ptfIlion brncfiu $16.885: liQuillated dam· ~ $120.677.70: rn--judgmmt inttA'S! SI ]2.469. all for, total 01 $353.8ll4.6O. Com .... nt: I have ~ this caK to ~
that lilthoueh the cli.imanfs tritd everything possible to
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to $50 ca. .
m/hl mo/lf!' 01Jutw M.I/e;llh. 115
F.3d 52!. Junt 10. 1997 (7" Cir.J. In this chapin 13 c.w. tilt US. PosW Strva deductN $50 on i one.time Rrvi« dwge on a withholding order under a five·year plan of the debtor 10 pay $32 .-kly. The bankruptcy coort onIrr of conIinn;olion I»flbintd tho ~(ltl'lary wonlin(! "the debtor's income and othtr _ including lIoCWJflts ~ mmin alai. propl'lty to tho aim! ... ..ry It! fulfill tho pIon." The chapt ... 13 tnJI.tH sued to rrw.oer lOr tho ~ tho \IIlIIllIhoriad $50~. tion ..,. \hi' ~ StrWt. Cirrui! Judge PDonrr in rrvr,.;rli the WI: on ~ (tho district court hMl rems.ed the bankruptey court's holding for the trustHl. discussed I.... pocslb;lil}' in a chapter 13 CMt of t.... court controlling all of the debtor's incol1lf and MSfts, and construed sedi<ln$ 1306(aH21 and t327(bl to mean that "while the filing ••• places all the pro"",I)' of t.... debtor in the control of the bank· ruptcy court. the plan upon oonfinnoilion mums 00 much 1)/ that propl'lty to the debtor"s c:ontrd _ is not Ie fary to the fulfillmmi 1)/ thr plan.• He then !let.... nW>td that the $50 ..... ..,. tiw: PutaI Snvi<:t _ not prOptrty I)/tiw: aI*. that this Willi not a rti.lUd pn:aedirli_the outcome Willi unlikely to <lll'fd the debtor's esbk. and thus the ~ruptcy court Nd 00 jurisdiction. CornlJ\l"ot; I doubt if the", is 1 sufficient amount involve<.! to take this .....It.. fur· ther. but it dor:upptar tho! if tho: actions 1)/ the trus.tH brought about tho siMiion. the bankruptcy court would h.tve jurisdic· tion to detcnnine tho Nut '00 is it not i danatrous PflU(Imt to allow an ~ It! dIarlI't a '"' to tho ~ on a withholding ~) onIrr?
CRIMINAL "Knock .net Announc.- rul. survl". . . ."I.w Richardf IJ. Wisconsin. No. 96·5955. __ U.S,-, 1997 WL 202(107 (April
28. 1997). May polict with court war· rants 10 Hirch fOf drugs enler some· oot's home without knocking and ~nound"ll lheir pratnte? The Supft .... Court ~rtd no. In dKiding the ClJot. thr Justices had to rM11 thtir 1995 ruling in tlilson rI. ..trkonsozs. 514 U.s. (1995). in "tlich they Aid tNt polic4' "'ith RITCh wu· rants gffltrlolly must knock &nd anOOurl(4' thel'lUt!vtS btfore entering a home. The Wisconsin Supreme Court said 5uth an emergency always uists when police RUCheS are linked to "felonious drug delive..,.'The SupmTlt Court. through J...tia: Stevens. rtjoctN I all to adopIa blanket ~ to the knock and anrooo.tnCl' fftjIlimnml lOr thr IWCUtion 1)/ a -rm wamnt in I klony drug irr.titigation. The lad tNt klony drug: imutiglotionf rM)' fmrutntIy prtS4'nt cil'tUrTUlancts ""ronting a "fIo.knock tntry" 00.. l1(li: rtmcM the w.-w relSOOIbImess 1)/ the police decision not to knock lfId inoouna: in 1 particular c.ue-from the Ilt\Jtral scrutiny 1)/ a Il'Viewing court Of magistrate. loottd. in ta.ch cast it is the duty 1)/ I court confronted .... ith I qu('$' lion to determine whether the facts lfId c;monutancts 1)/ the I"Irticular ent..,. justir!td dis{ltn&illll with I knock IfId anroouncr fftjIlirtmmlln onIrr to jwti. fy I no-knock tnlry.the poIa must t i I&SOfIIbIt suspicion that knocking aI'KI iIIIOOUIIdne thtir pU:sfnct, under the particular circurnS\lrlCltl, would bt dan. gerous or futile. or th:at it would inhibit the rfftctiYt investigation of the crime b». for txiII1plt. Il""';ng the destruction 1)/ the tvidmce. H""'f\'tr, the SuI>"'.... Court ultimate· Iy determined that the police office..' noknock mtry intol hotel room did not violate the fourth Arntr.dmenl. Even though the magistrate who oignnl the ..an:h ""ront had deleted the portion of the pn:IIlOStd ""ront that would ~.. givm tho oIf~" ptrmission 10 4'UCUU a no-knock mtry. Ihr Supmnt Court IIdd that tht I'tl5OfIibIenw 01 the oIflCt'l'S' dn:ision to tnter without knocking Nod to bt n<all.lltN as 1)/ the ti .... the officmo tntmd the hotel room.
m
S..rch .nd _lzu../t"ouUn.
1•• Hle .top Ohio TI. ROOinell,. No. 95-891. __U.S.-o WI, 66246t (NO'>'tmiJ.rr
1996). Oou thr fourth Amendment require police to ttll moIorim stopped for routine tralnc .;alatioN tNI they Ire fret to go bt1"0f4' Sftking ptrmission to Hin:h their ""hides for drug.? The Court unanimously uid no. Chief Justa \\illiim H. R.hnquist wrote lor the Court th.M il would bt "un_lislie 10 Ttquirt police otfkm to at..-ays inform detainees that the\' art Ir... to go btft>re I ('A)I\$tJIt to ..arch may bt de.mtd voluntary." Voluntarintss must 1M: determined b» examining the totality 1)/ the ciTCumslal\ctS. Chirl J...tict Rthnquist's~nion om...v..I th:at "... the .'ourth Amtndmmt dots not rtqUi", th:at a la..fully Jotiztd deftnd,Vll 1M: IdviJotd that he is fret 10 go brkwt his COfIJotfII to starth will be rrcog.. niKd u wluntary: The amtndmmt IoudIstont is 1'&SOfIabItntss -..hictJ is measurtd in ob;tcIl\'f Imns ..,. tlIlITIifI. ing the toUIity 1)/ the cimomstJnta. In applying this kSI. tho Suprtmt Court has CClr6isttllll)' tsCht..'td brillt line ruks. (Ccot1i>wH on _366J
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y"" est.blish 20111 for wealth , We help you rIJI.'( ' ~""f ,,,,,Is. While protCClin, your famity'r.d csUOt4' throup iftSUraJ>Oe and ~ rtatio &
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Recenl Decisions (ConlirnMd from ~ 365)
instead tmp/;a>izing the lact-'l'fiifK: nature 0( the reason.lb leness inquiry. Ir><Ittd. in rej«ting a J'tr se rult \/try sim· ilar to the one adoptKl below, the Supreme Court has held that the voIun· tari ness 0( consent to seucil isa questioo 0( fact to be detenninrd from ilIl circum· StarletS. Sdlrncklolh u. BlMtamonle, 412 U.S. 218. 248-249. 93 S.C!. 2041. 36 L. Ed. 2d 854 (1973). The Ohio Supreme Court erred in holding otherwise. It would be "unrealistic to requi re the police to atwa).-s infonnlhe detainee. that they are frtt to go before a corutnt to starcil may be deemed volUntary." Police me~ onSer pessengers to exit during traffic stop MIlTJIIIJ1Id o. It:i6:on. No. 95-1268. _U.s~ 117 S.Ct 8S2 Webruary17, 1997). May police officers order passtn. ~rs. as " .. 11 as drivers. to get out 0( vehi-
dts stopped (or routlrll' halfk violations? The Court said )'OS by a St'JI'n·to-two \/Ole. During a traffic stOp. a palice offictr ardend Wilson to step oot 0( the car in which be was a pass<'nger. A.'! \\!illon got out. he dropped a quantity of crack cocaine which the o(ficer then seized. Wilson ~u lly mowd to 5upprw tile evide"",. The State of Maryland appealKl.losing at both the intermediate and highesl rourt 0( appeal$ in Maryland. The Supreme Court o(tlle UnitKl States granted certiorari. and held that a I"Jlice officer may. without probable cau"" to .tOp or detain the paw.>nger but merely to ensure the officd. own S/I(ety. order passengers in .Ia,,~ully .topped car to e~it the vehicle pending completion o( the slop. Sentancing guldatine_ Nduced fade rei senlancas cannot stand
Us. v. Lalkmte. No. 95-17l6.
_ U.S~(I-t.ay 1997). A United Statts Sentencing Commission policy that
shortened prison terms for repeat offend· ers in _-jolent or drug·related crime coo· nocts with federal law and cannot.tand, the United Stalts Supreme Court ruled />lay 27. 1997 in I/rliled S/a/I!S IILaBonte. "Congrt!S .u rely did not lish enhanced J'tN.lties for repeat off.nders only 10 ha\'t tile U.S. Sentencing Commission render th.m a virtual nulli. ty: Just;"" Clare"", Thomas wrote the majorit~ Opinion fOT a hadl~ Splil court (.ix to Ihrttl. JUltiee Stephen G. Breyer wroll: a dissent joined by Justice Slewns and Justi"" Gins.burg. Jusli"" Thomas observed that "federal law instructs the JliU)t"1 to require sen· t.nee. 'at or near the nwimum teon authorized' by law for carttT offenders convicted 0( violent Or drug· related felonies." Other federal I""" p.w de long", mo..imum sentences for thrtt· time off.nd .... Since 1994. the Commission had sought to avoid "unwar· ranled double-<oonting"" by telIingjudgts not 10 include the longer maximum $('n _ tenee provision in their calculations. •
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Letters to the Editor hri roo I" nw... L MeIhvWl', e.<celienl Mide in me July 1991 I,sue I-AJa~', I'overtv 1ndustr(\1n .",.,nanl....".. MO "",Id do a -"""'" 1r"Id putting h•• of-Alabama: ..... tM .~i· de woold rrt tile Lone Sl3r $"'1, ;m" ""II .. me fIe.orI of 0;"8. In both I......... Alobafm. _ I data st"Iowe<j 0. poyerty,.1& 10 be 17.4 J*OlfI1 of 0. ~t'llOn (Sr..wmcal AbsIl1lCl m /IIIJ Untr«J $11l/e$f!l95l. Since 1900. th~ r_Ied orr ~I tcr /IJIIbMia tmm 211 percent. 11M. _ ing lor Taxas!rom 15 7 pertem In both /IJIIbMia ....:I I..... tile IMjorilV 01 p:IOI per$II1S are ~ people Tho ma<Jrro.m c.Wt _istanco for ,mcrther and two d1ildren ...:leI the Ass<_ 00 ~ FiIm,I,..- _11M.)" SHill per mor"" .. Ie .... $I 0IlIl0$ed 10 $164 per month ., A1abarno. In .. ther mle. m ass<Slaoce helps re~I","1y lew. mean'ng I!Ia1 ""'" p:IOI _ m both Ataboma .... Ie ... are Mming It!eir tMl"ig. k is not 100 rnucIJ that wch per$(Ir1Ii be shielded I"", p-eillltory pmcIices. ~ .norney modo makes dear...... nocessarv shiell! i. benet I!CktcabOn. In 'ex.:r •. ' recent SIJrWj 01 adull Inerocy 10urd lIIal about """. lhirO of oDrIt.1ur"Icbone<l "' 0. Iowes1llleracy rl<V,leS Mr Methvin'. other ~ sI!lekI-rmp<<Mld r£l9.llallOn of pawn sIqos. chock casIir"ll out· "Ii.n other oIernenIs of the pcr.oerty ,~U .bo be neeled Mr MethvI1', onode "as COIfII" ........ "'" and focused a ~Iscussion •• can be foo.n:l COI'II:erI1'ng "" fringe 8C(nJn'IOC; prac\IteS ltial m,Hect. are orr added on worI.ing p:IOI people
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Mi"""Y.llsbI;o. Al!hcMlgllLTC ~1"tIar"d. who apparerttIy ~ nDI a certified ..k>:I;Je !IdYoca".e. "'W"lI!d 1I1e .... 01 the mrlitary defense iIltOmI!\';os a _ of irJIormatl<l1. I biMIew!hal the ben., Ilf3ttICe """Id be 00 refer tile COle to or n$OC~1& MO 01 the rnarrv fQ iIl&b8ma .nOlTlOY' who .... 0!!IItroed .. .ItIdgB A<Mocale:! tI\" me.woe ~ Genera! of MO of 1I1e mrhtary servoces. MiIrri of lhemll1tOrrleyO ..... M!go Ad!Iocates on actJve o:>Jtv as. u'-t cor.meIIPfDS8CUI<O"\ or as. <IeIense cor.meI. or h>Ye had. gem dtaI 01 wning ard...,..-'ence ",,111 1I1e UCMJ as,."....,;SIS. Milil$"! justice ;$. 100 for entorti"ll \100II """" ....:I d",,>PI... "' the
services. and .. mi. ~COI'I'In'Ian<lo$ prtr~1Y& hoddotioolobe .... 1I1Iamr1ia< WIllI the UCMJ. Mititary l\de:! 01 Evidence. ~ ... 0110 • orr attorney ""thou! ..."...oenc:e .. tho mll,1ary may not COd"(II"eheni:I the . Ib!Iet... ....:1 """"""' of deat.-.g ""th """""",,",. ;ertitularly .. off....... mal 311 pecu l ~, 10 110& rrul'lary Members of tile MII II$"!l1rw Corrwn,ttee $fIOuk! be AA 10 praclltloner \0 -v \IOOII.llI>rr"IeVS ""til experience On rnilila/y juttJc:e
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Jock W. Wl tt.C •. Jr. ""'Wont AAomo, Gen. r. t _ _ Dept ot E-.inets ot PubI~ " " -
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atrome,' Ihar "",ms 10 l~ almO$1 dkh~ m,,] Cpi.lC"'ic in Ihe '90;, They were nOI 3br"jj;:td I'e ..;o", ,,( !3,,-ycrs, Tlleir c"dl,'>s dT"n Ie> und~rs",,,d
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OPINIONS OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL By J. Anloo"y McLain. general roumel
Question: "I am seeking an ~thic$ opinion from the Alabama SI.le Bar Association "'garding ,lie rc!cntiOll, 'IOnlge. and dis_
posing ofd~ leg.1
r,les.
"My law finn is quickly depleting its in-house MoragC capacity_ I have boe" asked to review ,nelbOOs of data
"""'g.
and "",;",.1 w<b as microfilm. off-sile sionge. and d<,,'r<;>nic $Canning. Before exploong IIIese option•. I am "'qUOSling y<)\I' .... ;slanc. in formulaling a rrason·
Retention, Storage and Destruction of Client Files
able plan Ihlll complie. with all .pplicable rules and "alu10$. .. , om ."'-are of the rrqu ;n:rncnl 10 ""ain. cliem's llIe for .ix yean aft" ,be
case has ... ""hed il' rooclusion. flow may the file he SIO«<J? MuSilhe files rem.in in 'hard copy' fonn or may i, be ,ranscribed to .000her medium? PIca"
idcmify all "'I"le., ",Ies of ""ndoci rel.ting 10 this procc"".oo any other ethics opinions. "Once a file i$ .105<:<1. may cen.in ponions of the file be "'tlln'lCd '0 ,he dien'? WhO! is an a"orney's obligation ",g ...ding ,he ponion of lhe file ""urued ,he di~nt? Afl~r ,he si~·ye ... imorv.I, ,,-hat is ,he Ippropria,e n""hod of di.posing of. dien,', fileT'
'0
oJ,
Hi
Anlhon~
McLain
Discussion: A bwy<1" does noI. ha\lO a g..... ra1 du,y '0 Jl"'S"r'V< all hiS files pel1l1mOmly. H~, ~lienlS an:;! f""""r diems reas0nably upect from their lawy<1" th:u ...,Iuable an:;! useful infonnalion in the dietlt",/ile. an:;! noI. od>:-twise readily a...,ilable '0 ,he dietl" will noI. be jRlnalut<:ly an:;! """"" leWy desuoyed, ABA ilinminoe on Ethics and Profeosioml RespoosibHi'Y. in furmal Opinion 13384 (M=h 14. 1977). While there an: no specif'" rules in the Alabama Rule, of I'rofe.,ioo.1 CoodUC1 "'gan:iing !he leng,h of 'ime I law)"', i. required to retain a d=d file 0.- ,he disposition of thai file afler a l.pse of time.
the Di""iplinary Com<nission e".bli.hc<I ,he following guideline, in Fo"".l Opinion 84-91 _ The ""'w.... to ,he abo>'~ q..."ions depeOO on (he specifIC n:mll'l: of the iJlSlJUmems comained in the file. and the part;"ular cin::umSlances in a gi""" foctual .ilu",ion. For tha, "''"''''-. the file should be examined and lhe """,entS sell"'lI"tcd ;n the following calegori.., ( I) [)o(""",nlS ,1Ia! arc clearly the propeny of !he <1;"n, and may be of some inlrinsic valne, whelher deli>'ered (0 !hi: lawyer by the diem or prepared by the lawyer for "" dient_ . u<h as will" deed, .• (c.: (2) documen" which have been deli,-ered to the lawyer by !he client and which lhe client would nonnaUy e, pte. '" be ,",umed '" hi." (3) OOcumem, f",on w,y SOU""" which rnay be of some future value '" "" elic", b<ca...., of ,.,.". future development thai may 0.- may IlOl mm~ri· alize; and (4) docume"ts which fall in neither of lhe above categories. Do<:umentS ,",'hicll faJl into category I should be ", ... ined fo.- an ir>definite period of lime or prtfer.bly $hould be reconIed 0.- depos;ted with. coo". DocumentS falling ln'o "",.gories 2 and J $hould be retained fo.- a ",,,-lOna/:lIe period of I;",,, at Ille eOO of "'hkh ",asonable aurmjJIS .!-oJuld be ~Iadc to conlact the dienl ."d deli""r !lit docu,..."t$ '" hinl or Iler. With ",gard 10 lime, thc.-e is no specifIC period that coII>litu1eS MrelSOf'\3b1e" , ime_ It depend, 00 lhe nature of !he OOcu"lrnts in !he and lhe alleodant circums=. Since Inc fll" is the propeny of the eli",,, i, theore1kaUy m.y be immedialely "'tumed .0> !he CliefU wben Ille legol m.ller for which tile client i. being rt"",_ .<cnlo<! is con<luded. For a variety of reasons, law)"'" and law finn. usually mainlOin dient foles f'" """" period of'ime ranging from • few ye"", '" pem>ane"t rtlCmion_ The lcng.h of lime i, more. maneT of lbe l.wyer or fotm', policy
m"
IE,-,,.CC.,,,,'.'.',CC.',------------------------------------------------------------------
rMhrr man any e>.temaUy JmrnllCd rrqu.mnonl. In CSI3bIBh.,. !his policy. M """,Id not be ~ for !he bvo)'Cl" .. law linn 10 comider tho owu .. 0/' limi·
under tho Alabama Lepl Sc.vices Uabilily At! (, I"'" years ..-.I,ix yem for lhe: filing 0/' fOfTT\lll ehllrtlef in boor discipli"" m.tlc". ( In some eMe, lhe: I;n\¢ po:rio<! nlly be cXlendod.) AI Ihc npirollion oflhe: period 0/' lime: .".>bIMed b)ltho Lawyeror law f"", f.. f,le mo:ntion. !he following minim"'" pro".".."'" should be fol"""'UI ror lile dospolaIKIfIS
f;'ion. FIJ"Sl. tho chml s/IoI.Ild be infumed 0/' tho disposal pIam and sM-n !be oppot. ,unity o/'k;", """,ide<! !be lile or C(IO.
_'nil 'If
de!.tr\II:I..... If !be diaN ~ • not be ~ by O/r1,fllld mad or""""" paprr ""'~. Ihe file should be ..,lIined 10
for l..,asonabIc ,ime (.mo.nl unu, ...1dr· C"nlSlanoes. i, is the: Com",i"ioo', view Ihal ye .... is ..,,,,,,,,,,bIc) and lhen oolfOOyed wilh Ihe •• cq:.oioo 0/' ~ doc· .....,.... cla<$ifltd • raltl"f)' I ..oo.c. Prior 10 <buoy", any .hml filc. Ihe IiIc should be ..."",Itd 10 cm.urc ..... po-mII'
,i.
r.enlt)'pC (~ 1)00rummIs ~
and
on: not <Icsuuycd. Thinl ... intkx
should be mainlairotd olliks ~ WIIh qanJ 10 1OOI'ag<:. fib n>I)' be $Iorrd in any facilily in wrum ll>N C(IOfi· dcnIial inlcp;iy is mointaint:d. This ""'Y be in 1he: Iawyer'S .. 1:ow firm', off"", or "' .""I:!ICC\J", off·silc loouioo. Any medium dial pl\'SCr-.u thi. im<:y;,y of Ihe doc\J. r11<11lS in Ihe file. whtt:her micmfdm or b)I
.IcctrorucJanlinj.isapp.... ~ (R0-93· I OJ
Attomeys: Buy Extras for Your Staffl
areinl
1997
Members $25 each 1 TO 5 COPIES $20 each
6
OR MORE COPIES
Non-members-$60 each ORO£RS MUST BE PRE·PAIO
Mail d>ed< to, AI.b ...... Oar Oirech>ry • P.O. Box 4156 • MontBornery. AL 36101
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•
DISCIPLINARY NOTICE Disability • Florence altorne)' Mark Anthony Sand ...... n w... transf....d to dioability inactiw ,talUS pUI'Su.lnl to Rule 27(c). Alabam:l Rules of Discipl il\ilry ProcNU ... effec!i,.. August 1. 1997.I Rul. 27(,); Pet. 97-081
• On August 7. 1997, the Disciplinary Iloard oflhe Alabama SlIM Bar pl.crd Hunts\lHl. lawyer L.ann Kuykendall on disability ;nact;,,,, .talus pursuant II) Rule 27 ofthi' Rules of DiK;plinal'}' Procedure. IRule 27(c): Pet. No. 97.{)O71 Suspension • On Augw126. 1997. the Alabama Supreme Court smptr.ded Bulria E. Qlio.w from the practice of bw for a period of 91 days effective that sarno> date. Oliver 1'00 been previously fouoo gui lty of violating Rules 1.4(al, 1.l5ic), and 8Ale) of lilt Rules of Professionlll Conduct b}' the Discipti",,1"J' Board of the Alabama Stat. liar, Oliver currenliy resides in the State of Tew. Suspensions in """... 0190 days requiru ~yer to petition for reiostatement 10 active stalus. [ASB No. ~ 1811 •
Notice Nolic~
1$ hereby giv<:n to Ch.rI., timot hy Koch
who practiced law in Mobile. Alabamll and woo.., whereaboul.'l
ar~
unkl\O'l<·n. thaI pursuant to an order
10 $how cause of the O;sciplinaf)' Commission of Ihe
Alabama Slale Bar. daled June 25. 1997. he hu 60 daY$ from the date of Ihis publicalion (N"""mber 15. 1997) to come inlo compliance wilh the
~bndato!)'
Continuing Legal Education requiremenls for 1996. Noncompliance with Ihe MCl.E req uir~menl.'l $hall result in a $u$pension of hi5license. ICLE 97-081
Nolice is hereby gi'''m to Ch.rI., Raf Allen. Jr. who
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~--
pf1lCliced law in Alabaster. Alabama and whose whereabouts are unknown. lhat pursuant to an order to show cause of the Disciplina!)' Commission of the Alabama Slate Bar. d.:Itw June 25. 1997_ he has 60 daY$ from the date of this publiCltion (N",-ember 15. 1997) to come into compliance with the Mandato!), Continuing Legal Educalion r.quirement$ for 19%. Noncompliance wilh the MCLE requirements shall result in a suspension of his licenst. leLE 97-021
G~!)'
\\'ayne \\'el lon . woo.., whertabouts are
unknOwn. must answtr lhe Alabama State Bar·s for. mal disciplinaf)' charges within 28 day> 01 NO\.. mber 15. 1997 or. Ihereafter. Ihe ,ha rges contained therein shall be dffmed adm itted and appropriate disciplint
shall be imposed against him in ASS No. 97-029(A) belor. Iht Disciplinary Iloard of the Alabama State Bar. IASB No. 97·029(A)1
OF A
laboum L1~rs IIR now ruliting 1m ~.,..filJ d tompetition in tht
Itg;ol publishing busiMll. Tht benefits ha~ come at the cost of some darity. h~r, This artid~ is to clarify l ht confusion rtgar~ing the publiCJ.lion c;/ the
Code of Alabal1\ll 1975 and \0 infonn cod. lIStrs of the ramilialions of using different versioru of the code. n.. Michie Com~ publishffi Ike Codr 01 AI",:"'''II 1975 for lIWIy)tin under /I snits 01 conlrxts ..ith the sut •. In 199.1. put'StWIt to /I COIllJ)(tjtM bid ProctU. II cmtnd to publish the cock "..., ."tem! into with ~rs Coopt ....tiYo l'ubIishing Company. Tht cost uvings<M:' the prior contrKt d.... lTIlOtic, with II IItW sd of the code going from $638 to $295. il1ld each rep""."",n\ \/Olume dropping from S30 to $12. n.. (I"o'!rall effect of the cost rtduction i. that on. can 1\0'1>' •• ptct to spend IOO1twhue belwetn $1,250 and $1.500 leu for illCquiring aM ma intaining the code for ten ~ars lhan
1975 While both of thl: bids wert less than tho prior contrite!. tM l..J~rs CooperatM Publishing Coml"-ny bid Wi'S significantly I~r than tht bid (rom Michi •. Confusion ariKS because now two codes a~ being publishN. 1t "';\II beTlf\'ed thaI. due to moM ~ ..J othtr «>:>roomic foctors. if The Michie CompUly did not ~M tho CQr). tract. ;t would cQM publWtinQ Ml Alabama COOt. This did not tum OUIIO be tho QK. MkhR tw not only continlltd 10 publish ~ ~n'tnl m.I ~t vo/urTa lor its prior codo. il if; abo pub/WUnQ ~ nrw propri. dUy Codt 01 AIWma with tho ~ in their 1"IMl'Ot.
~r.
un<kr ttw. prior conln.ct.
ICIW_",,_37J}
Do You Need a Tree Expe rt? * Tree Valuation' * Pesticide DDm~ges • Tree Ca r e • Rtgi5lered FOl"i'!llen
QeO
• Tree Pr(lfecl ion • Timbn Trl'Spass • Trff Assess menlS • Ce r1ified Arbori$l$
Sollth ern Urba n Forqlry """,,iall'S
205-]]3-2477 P. o. 80s 14IU. Northporl. AI. 354 76
("..QNSUMER J!NANCE
l}:GAL
OR BUYING ON TIME
MPECfS of -DIVORCE
... ""dines imporrartl rupecr.s of />Irymg on credit rmd princiPCll kinds of CQlISUIJ1('T creW! plall.l and [erm5
_•.OffITS oPfioru and choices imdwd il\ divorce
Alabama State Bar Publications Order Form The Alabama State Sar is pleased 10 make ."'ailab le 10 indiv idual attorneys, fo rms and loca l bar associations, al ~OSI on ly, a series of brochu,e, "n a variety of lega l topic, of intcrestto the geneta l public . Below is a current list ing of public information brochures available from the Alaoonla Slate Bar for distribution by local bar associations. "nder ~lablishcd gu idelines.
Brochures Law As A Career
$ 10.00
~r
HHJ
Qry. _ _ • _ _ __
... opponun ities and challenges of a law Ca rC(lr today.
Lawyers and Legal Fees .. ,J
$ 10.00 pfr HHJ Qly. _ _ • _ _ __ summaI)' of basic i"formation On common lega l questions and pmceduf'e$ for Ihe gelleral (>ublie
Lasl Will & Tes/ament
.
$10.00 per 100 _. .covers 3SlleC(S of O'S(ale planning and (he imponance of having a wi ll
"". - - $ -
Legal A5pect5
"". - -
o(
Divorce
$10.00 per 100
... offers options and choices invol"w in divorce
-
-
---
$10.00 per 100 Q(y. _ _ , _~~__ considma(ions and provides adv ice on financial ma(lers affecling too individual or family
COtl5Umer Finance or "Buying on Time " . . .0Vllines
import~n(
Merii,ltion ... Another Method (or Rero/"ing Disputes
$In.on per
100
Qty. _ _ • _ __
... wovid~"S an o""",iew of the mediat ion process in question ·aM·answer form
Acrylic Brochure Stand $5 .00 uch ... individual stand imprintro wilh individual. firm or b.l r association name for One 'land ller brochure is recommeooro. Name 10 imp.inl on .-and: _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
u,;.c a(
Q(y. _ __ • "'_ _ __ dis(riootion points.
Sublola lS _ _ _ __
Mail ing Address
Sh ipping & Ha ndlingS 5.00 TOTAL$ _ _ __ Please remit CHECK OR MONEY ORDER MADE PAYABLE TO THE ALABAMA srArE BAR for the amount li sted on the TOTAL line and frnward il wilh th i, o rder form to: Sus"n H. Afl(iQ'S, Oifl'Cto< of Communk:alions, Alab.:lm,1 Stale Bar, P.O. Bo~ 671, Montgomery. Al 3610 1, (334) 269·1 SIS
---
Code Of AI. ba .... 1975 (C)nlillllM from PQ9<! 37/)
Announcing
"'-_ .. tho
The Legislature macts an annual codification bill that incor· porates and adopts the supplement and rt]lW:ement ooIumes publishOO by the cornpan;' holding the C(J(!e publishing cootrnct. Accordingly, the annual oodificatKm act will adopt and incorporate into the Code of Alabama 1915 the supplement and replacement \/Qlumes published by la")'ers Cooperati"" Publi,hing Company (See Act 97.216). While no statute de•• ignat", one version or the other ill tM "oftkia}" code, when tM" i, a disc .. p;mcy, tM """ ion ol the annual ,upplem,nt and replacement volumes the legislature hill declared ilIthe law i, the """ion published by I",wyers Cooperati"" Publishing Company. This issue is further confusro by the fact that Michie pub· lished an "interim ,upplement" for the 1991 Regular Session that was cnmpiled without the supervision of the Cod. Commissioner. As a result, Michie Will unable to make most olth. editorial change. the Code Commissioner mad. pursuant to Section 29·7-8(al, Code of Alabama 1975, as ~lIil1 many ""'tion designation, contained in the supplement and .. placement volumes publishtd by lawyers Cooperati"" Pub lishing Company, Accordingly, the code ..ctions .. t forth in Michie's interim supplement will be different from whal appears in the supplement and replacement volumes prepared by (",wyers COOptrati"" Pub lishing Company. Michie has made an appropriate disclaimer at the front of the 1997 ;nt.r. ;m ,upp lemen!. but the differen" in language and "",lion designations is yet another sou",e of confusion, Finally, shortly aft .. the current contract went inlO effect on O<:loWr I, 1995, lhe parent companll of I",wyers Cooperati"" Publishing Company ocquiI'N W.. t Publishing Company, The resulting merged company is e<Jled the west Croup, •
Child Support A rrearage Calculator
•
.... , ,.,..,
8-tJ-o ~ MJ. s;..,;. S'''PUli.OOIC,lNC. P.O. IlOx 110, A,.I.GO(;NJ, AL l5Cll 1'''00''' 1O)I\\l!-4117 f.u: lOv.'R~ 1 J3
Correction In 1M September issue of The Alabama iAu:ger, "What [wry Lawyer Should KnQ'W About Reaffirmation and Redemption in eMpter 7 Bankruptcy Casts" contained. typOgraphie<J error, On page 297, the last .. nlence in 1M third paraJjraph oflh. right'Mnd column should MW read as follows: "Sears has admiued IMt it did not file the reaffir· mation agreements in 2,733 cases, but the .. may have been instances ",here lhe debtors were repre.. nted by coun.. l during the reaffirmation process and 3 reaffirmation agrwmnt was signed without the d.hlor', counsel', koowlMge or approval."
CLE
OPPORTUNITI ES
TIN foIlotring in-J/II/r profIroffU have .!.rm appOir.,f!d for t:rnJil "v IItII! Alabama /I/tmdQIOt1I CL£ OImmiWo:>n. /hif1'f!Vtr. infor· mtJliQn is Ol'tlilabl, fret! of dwrgll (lfI ooer 4.5(J() apf)1OOed programs TIlIlionu'iIk ;rk>1lirHld bg IoaIlion dalt or sp«iollg /Ired. CooI«II~ !-leu Dwlmissioo oIfice a/ (334) 2f)9.J515, OT J.JJC(J.;J5.4.6154. ami II rompltle cu; r;aleml/lr will ~ mailed /0 yw.
"
NOVEMBER
"
Tilt: ART Qt'
TRllNG TIt~; WRONG f UL DEATIt CASE IN AlAll,UIA
ALAIlA.\lA'S N~:W PUBLIC WORKS
"'W
Binningham I.or1l"li/1 BushlUS Ctnler, Inc. CI.E creditJ: 4.5 (7 1 518J3·~O
Montgoolt"ry
llolidly Inn SuitH Notio:lno.l lI...,i","" Institute CI.E credits: 6.0 Cost: S 159 (115) 835-8525 DISABILITY SYI'IPOSI UYI 8,rmlllgNm
TR" XC TIl E \\1tOS'GFtlL DEATH CASE IN AIABA.'IA Mobile Radiuon Adminl Semmes Hottl
Nal;on.>1 Busine" Institute eu: crt~it.o: 6.0 Cost: $159
(715) 835·8525
f~1JW1 &; P~nn'ngton
CI.E credits: 5.5 (205) 879·3033 ilEAL ESTAT F. Birminsham Wynlrey lI ottl Alabama Bar Institute lor CLE CI.E credits: 6,0 (2()5)
Notice The Suprtn'll' Crort of A!ab;oma'i rult ttw.g. ronct1'T>illllla,,'Yt'rs' trust accounts rtqui," tholl.,,'Yt'1'$ in Alabama who mainta,n such a«ounli do 50 wilh bank$ .... hich art willing to aulO/11iltit.lll~ report overdrafts QIl
said O'ICCOOnll \0 Ih.
Oi$Ciplillol.ry Commwion 01 Ih. Alabama State Bar. Due \0 the ~10l)' ~
oJ the rule.
~rs
an mcoun,gcd to imrntdiatrly \.lk( Uw neussary steps \0 ~hsh Wi. trust or fiduciary ~ts "'111 b.mks consistent with the ~i ...mmtJ dille rult. The rule chang. ..."'" publiMled in fulllexl in the July 1997 edition of The "'IIOOmo /.a1CflU.
.
n.
.
NO . . . . . . . , . . ,
--~
"
I'RF. 59
TA.": I'RACTITI O:o,'ER Bmning/wlm Auburn Un",usily CI.E credits: 12.5 (334) 84'·5tOI
,
Vio;\to Pratnl4ollon
,.,
~Ita
18·19
TAX I'RACTITIOSER SE,"UNAII:
"""~.
Auburn Un,ytrs,ty CLE cred,": 12.5 I~) 844-5101
21 JURY Sf.Lf.CT10S Birmingham Mtdical Forum oltht CMe Center Alabama liar Institute lor CI.E CU: crtdits: 6.0 (2051348·6230
DECEMBER
Cumberland Institute lor CI.E (800) 888-7454
lIirmin~m
Lilt Q Annuity Company cmiits: 2.0 1901) 683·)222
S ~:''1INAR
CIVIL I'ROCEDURFJAI'PELlATE PRACTICE Cullman
In OISTRIII IJTIOSS
CL~:
n:CTI\":
......
348-6230
Utilltin. the CWI Action La... uit Birminghlom Cu~rWld Institute lor CI.E CI.E crtdits: 6.0 1800) 888-7454
~: ..
fOil lAWYERS fEATURING STEVEN D. STARt( Birminghlom Cumberland Institute lor CLE CI.E crNits: 6.0 (800) 388·7'54 SI'~;At( I SG
,
TAX I'RACT1Tl0SER SEI_UNAIt ""'~, Auburn Uni'~rslly CU: cmiits: 12.5 (33-11844.5101 AIAB"'''''\ RULES Of EVIDENCE, A D.n' WITIt CIIARL ES CA.I1BLE lIunts"';lIt Civic Ctntu Alabamo Bar I",titut. lor CI.E CI.E cudits: 6.0 {20S} 348-6230 SALES .. USE TAX UPDATE Montj/om(ry
Bwinus C~nltr 0( Alabama DYALL Publishing Company. 1m;. CLE crtilits: 6.0 CQ;!;t: SI60 (800) 252.5297
•
EME RGING TRENDS IN CIVIL UAl:UUTV
Montl/OlTlfTl'
AlAM."" UPDATE Mobile
Birmingl>am
Abbam, 1Ia, IMlilutt for CLE
RiYtrfront Confeftrl« Cmtu Bar Instil ute for cu: elf crtdiu: 6.0
Cumbullnd Instilute lor Cl.E e1£ ( ,edi1$: 6.0 1800)888.7454
Clf cn.lits: 6.0 1205) J43.623O
~
Emlmly Suitfl
{2051348-62JO A1Al\A."IA RULES OF E\1DE~CE: II IMY WITII Cn ANLES GA...,BLE
Birmingrn,m Civi( Ctnttr
Alabama flar In$(;tute for elE elE mdits: 6.0 (205)348-6230
...
TAX PRACTITIONER S~:."IINAR
'''m
Auburn Un~rsity CLE crt\lilf: 12.5 (334) 844·5101
•
BUYER AND SELLER BEWARE: A
GUm.; TO MUl'INe OR SELLING A.'i ALAlIA.'>!A UUStNESS
Rirmingham Lorman Ilulillfss Center. Inc. eLE credits: 6.0 (1]5)833·3940
ALARA.'IA UI'I),\TE
"
AIA8A.'lA lAHOR Al'\O EM r LQYME 1I.... lAW Mobile Ramada Resort &: eonfu~nce eent~r NaHonal llusiness Institute eLI: crediu: 6.0 Cost: $159 (715) 835·8525
"
AlA8A.'IlA LABO R "'''0 EMrLOVME1I.... lAW
"00_
eo.-tmor'l!\ou$e National B... innllMiltule eu: cn.li\!: 6.0 eo.t: $159 (715)8J5..8525 USISC TilE ~n: OICAL RECORDS AS A LlTICATION TOOL: TIl E IIASICS &. I.! EYOS I) Bi,mill,(h.am I'rofessiOOllI Eiluation Systems. Inc. ClE cretlita: 6.3 (7151836·9700
Monlgonwry
Aiab;onv. Bar Irl$tililte for CLf. CLE c!l'dilf: 6.0
A1A8A.\tA UPDATE
(205) :w3-62JO
lIulthSouth Confern'la ~Ie' Alatta.mlt Sir Institute lor CLE Clf credits: 6.0 (205) 348-6230
ESTATE " lA,,"SI/I'C Birmingham Pickwick Alwll1II Bar hutilute fw el E elE , •• diu: 6.0 (205)348·6230 SALES &\ US.: TAX lII' IlATE Il irmingtlam Pickwick OYALL f'ubti.!J>,ng ComlW'l)', Inc. elL credits: 6.0 Cost: S160 (800)252·5297
RECE"'T OEVELOP~IE 1ITS FOR Til E ClvtL LITIGATOR Mobile
CUf'l'lM.lar<! lrutltut. for elE CU: cr.ditl: 6.0 (8001888·7454
Birmi~
AIAIIA."L\ RULES Of E\~ QENCE: A IMV WITU CHARLE S GA"1 BLE ~lobil e
Ri,.. rfront Confermce Center AlWmlt 11.1., Institute fo' CLE CLE creditl: 6.0 (205) 348-6230 11 ·12 TAX PRACTITIONER SE.' UNAR
""''''''
Auburn Uniw.,ity
CLE credits: 12.5 (334) 8«·5101
"
AlAliA\I,\ It UU:S Of EVmENtE: A DAV WITII CIIARU:S GA."LlLE
AlAfIA"lA UPOATE lIuniMlit Civic Centt> A);Wama Bar Institute for CLE CLE ttWits: 6.0 (2051348-6230 15-16 TAX I'RACTITIOSE R SEMINAl!:
Montgomery Auburn Uni~rslty CLE cmiits: 12.5 (334) 844.5101
,.
-,-
VlOEO REI'lAVS
Alabama II.I.r Institute fo' CLE CI.E cudits: 6.0 )205) 348·6230
PRACTICAL m WENS E Of QUI ",.. 0 DUI Acc m E1I.'TS Flo,ence SBI I'l'okssionaJ 0eYe1opmmt Semirws CLE credits: 6.0 Cost: $ISO (800) 826-7681
,.
VIDEO RE I'LA\'S BirminiUwn Medical ~'orum Alabama 11.1., Institute fo' ClE CI.E cudiu: 6.0 (2{)5) 348·6230 Efft:CTM: Lt:GAI. NEGOTIATlO." S "'''0 St:TTU:ME1I.... "1T11 CIIARU:S CAR\'ER Birmingh.am Medial f orum of tm Civic ((nter AIabooma II.I.r Institute for CLE CLE credits: 6,0 (205) :ws.6230 SCIE~"'l f IC •.:VII)[XCE Birmill,(h.am Cumbe,bOO Il\$\itu\, fo, ClE ClE crtdiu: 6.0 (SIX)) 888·7454
---
(o",lmU<d on _ ~o.,
Jl&)
..... ' .. , ."
CLI!. Opport"nIU •• (CMIm-i
23 PMACTICAJ. OEFE~SE OF OUi A."-O OUi ACCIDEIo."I'S
m:.m ,...,. 375)
PIL\CTICAJ. OEFENSE Of' OUI A,"-O OUI ACCIDEIo."J'S lIunl5Yille 581~ ~Smlinors CLE credili: 6.0 Coot: $ [SO (8001826·7681
Monlgomtry
SBlI'I'OI'wionII DM:IDp",eill SmMnan CLE (mlill: 6.0 Cost; $]SO {SOO} 826-768]
26 PMACTICAJ. OEFENSE OF OUI A."-O nUl ACCIDEJ\.,.S
"",",
Sill l'rofe!4ional Developmenl
'" ANO nUl ACCIDENTS
1'lL\eT[CA!, m :n:NSE OF nUl
"",,",
S811'rofa4iona1 Dew~ Smlinars CLE cml.li: 6.0 Cost; SISO (800) 826-7681 22
PMACTICAl. OEf'EN"SI:: OF A."-O OUI ACCIOt:l\>"'S lIinninglwn S8I
~
om
Seminars
CI.E en:dil1: 6.0 Cosl: $ISO (BOO) 82&-7681
"
.
PIL\CT ICAL o.;n :NS.: OF OUi A."-O OUi ACCIOEIo."J'S
'"""m J>roIcuionM 58[
1>M1DI-.ltIg Seminors
CLF. (mlill: 6.0 COJt: 51SO {8OO1826-i68[ 30
PIL\CTICAL OE FENSE Of' OUi ANO !lUI ACCIDENTS Phtni~ City Sill 1'rokiI~ 1>M1oc>rnen1 Seminars
CLt: crediu: 6.0 Cost: $ISO (8001826·7681
30-3. I'MACTlCAL OEf'ENSE OF OUi ANO OUI ACCIDE/'I"'S
Mobllt 581 Pn:IasiDNJ DewIDl-, ... g Stminars CLE 'mlill: 6.0 Co5t: 51SO
eLI:: BV TilE ]J OUR lIinninglwn Cumbtrtand [oslilut! for CLE CLE emliu: 12.0 (8001888-7"54
18(0) 82H681
0r.00:1opmm1 Seminars
CLE cTWils: 6.0 Coot: SISO (8001826·7681
In-State Mediation Training (Approved lor CLE credit and Alabama Center for ();spute Resolution roster reglstrallOn)
o.c.,w 1-6
Moo'OOOO'' '
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l,.w..,. ~.,..~. P I-'00I13734151
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D'$PUt' R",oMoon ,,13341 269-0409.
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West Group Specialty Products 11m Best 7bpical Treatments of The Critical Areas oflaw YOU Pradice.
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LASSIF IED NOTICES
'rN
RATES: Mambe,..: TWO lislin9S 0150 words or less per bilr member per calendar year EXCEPT Ior"poisition wanted" or "position offered" lisIi tgS S3S per Insertion 01 50 words or less, $.SO per additional Nonmembef'8: S35 per Insertion 0150 words or less, $.SO pel' additional word. Classitied cop'J' and payment must be reoeiYed aeeordWIg 10 ttw IoIIoM'Ig p!.tIIisIung se/'IeduIe: November '97 i5$ue--deadline 5epCember 15. 1997; J . nuary '98 'ISUI :fea<'ine NoYember IS, 1997. t«) dea<*ne extensions wi! be made. Seod classified cop'J' and payment. payable 10 The Alabama LBw)w. 10: Alabama l.JIwyef Classifieds, c/o A~e Gray.
worn:
P.O. Box 4 156, MonIgomery. Alabama 36101 .
.,,*,
___ !rom I 1• . . . . , _ ....... J . ...,.,. 5MiIh hQ.,... l11JOO houri e>II*'..... Mig;aIIng such (lis. put-. lor _ agM.Ilhe InsuRrat
SERVICES WORKERS' COMPENS ATION PRUIIUM DISPUTES: CoracI J . ...,.,.
SniIh lof ~ bOn 01
and~·
~
In ~'oompen sa,"", pr-..n diIpu\eI ""'oIwIg PII'f' rob, dllssificalicrw, .......... ~, audita, ~ , KIepIo ideoll <XI!'\-
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• HANOWRmNG EXPERTIfORENSIC
DOCUMENT HAMINEfl; ABfDE cenilied: pas! presiderJl, SouIheastem
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• INSURANCE EXPERT WTTNESS: Douglas F. Millo, E" .......· RisIc " ntnnce ~ oodepeo"_ .... .....-..geI. r.. basal oriy. e>:pe<1 wiu ~ years in _ ...,..,.. &giM1 . . . . . . . . . . .
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cIIenIs. MetrtIer SAMe. &pel. o::e in o:l ,<:"';Ii"',". ... hIuranoe. ~. '" ideo1't:' '1/ COYOKagt. Cd 1·:z05.967· 1168, Sim"WIgtwn. Alaball'll or WATS 1~-5602.
• STRUCTURED S£TTl.EMEHTS: InIoon 'I'»' clier"al Top doIat paid tor insI.oance ____ iIlI. SbU:I\Imd ~ ~ am.>h ~ noIes ..,..; periodic pay. ment eootmc1I. . . <:IionIs 0KPk>m !heir
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find -...00 1fI? WII _ ,.. 1*U"I or no lee b" I>Uie _ . MIrl 87 percent aucoesslu1 rail. Nationw'de. COO"Ii(Ie(tW,I. O1her I"orney needed MilrdIH. repo<l:t, rec::otds In many 8rf14S lrom OUr e xlwo$'" dltabaIt. TeU US whal you need. Ve'ity USA. ca~
1OII·lree (888) 2·VERIFY. • TRAFFIC ACCIDENT RECONSTRUC-
TION: EYIIIuiIIion 01 ~ 0NIgn. Aeoonstr\.w;Ied 3.000 ..:x:>kIto lIS on
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pared. CMor 40 ~ -"",-:'9 ""'" riIr>ot. Fill ACTAR c:er1ilcMioo. JoIVI T. Ba1IIl. p.E. TOI-IrM 1-«lC).M-5950. TRAFfIC ENGINEER ~V._
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Alabama 3fil09. 1'flcIN (33-t)272·2353. • FORENSIC DOCUMENT EXAMINEJt
..... ""',. "" rype",Il.h\l • .a.r.d c:Iocu_ medical....",..,., will. oor ... ~
- - . d"rec:t<s. ~ 1efIers. Couol.quehlled. ~ .,...,.. e.petIera. Certified, ~ Board 01
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4078 BiItmofe WQods Court, 8uIon:I (Atianlal GeoIgio 30519. Phone {17(Il61.""'UO" fax (17(IJ 271..:157.
." ~Ea!' • •Lo.. ard IIdn1 ~ n Alabama. Umar 1oIiIIf. 11420 N. f(M!daI1 Driw. SI.01e 206-A.. Uian"i. FIaridI 33 ' 76. In Si!!! " Ijjham. phone (205) 988-<1 158. In Miarri. phone (305) 27.~. f&1I (305) 596-2618.
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and ~ It!1lon:emenL Con\ad Ron VIuM. I-800-728-0191 .
LEGAL RESEARCH Al-IOWRmHG:
DOCUMENT EXAMINER : ~ 01 Q! III)! 'lid <IocurnenIa. c.t&d IorenIi;: !wldw ,itill\l ard d!X:u"nIo"I1 ..amine<. TWr1y y8;n' •• per\eioc. In all Io<ensic documerlI protjems. formeny. Chiet 0uesIi0I'IId 000.rnen1 Ana/ysI.
~. brill ard 11.'100.0. ...... • ;"g. .-.nee wi1h ~, discoYII}'. and aI aspectS 01 ~ prepara· lion. E..."iono8d and Wfil ... Licensed AlabalN1 IHOfroty and rM!"!It»! 0I1he Alabama Sw. Bar
USA CrinWIaI ~ lIIboo"atoria. o;pomm. i~ .t.BfOE. 1.IIImber: I.SOOE; IAI. SAfOE; NACOL Resurn!t ard 1M .c:heduIe upon 18QU8SI. Hans Mare< Gidion. 218 Metrymom Drive. Augu$lf" Georgia 30907. Phone (706) 860·.287.
_
DOCUMENT EXAMINER: CertiIiId roo.iIic ~ EuminIr Chill do» ........ _ _. AI1!bemII o.p. "MI 01 roo ..... ...w.l. ...........an eo.tI aI roo.!Sic Doc:u:ni!Io"!I ExamIners, ~ Academy 01 fofensic ScioIi!CM, AmIri::an Soc:iefy DI
TOXICOLOGIST: ~ • . +. 25 ~ . .......... in irIduay; IP*"" ...... Ind ~ I d"llnd INCI>Itog. ~ Ind~" , OUt produCllabi1i1y, ~ ...... "1\1 .. SOT and ACT member. 0.. Rid1atd L LipMy. Phone (_)396-2168.
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SECURITY NEGLIGENCE : SpeoaI ....,... In premise &diy, -.ority b'IinIng and seo..r!Iy procedo.If9I. AuIhored lour secoriIy ptOQt(Iu,es. AuIhored lour serurity Thirly rt ...· combined 8'~ ;n I8CUIiIy
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ATTOfINEY J08S: Hr4nILM Sc:t!caI .. 1'lotIiII:!I) 1hIi n-.:osI COilopo. . . . ..e ooun::e 01 ~ ard In1ema1IonaI j:lb ~ io OS recef;ed 1:>J our oIfOI and should t..1hIi starling poW( 0I1WT)' j:lb S8afdl tot ~ k>ak. ing 10 ct.1QIf j:lbs: $0&5--3 iT!Oi"!I"oI. $75--6 iT!Oi"!I"oI. ConIaa: L8!jIIIt ~
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Bole 590'()(, 1IirrfIir9*n, ~ 35259. Phone (205) 901\ ·\ . 96. 110_ _WlJon IS . . - INI ",. qualiIy of ",. • UfYieII:s 10 I» perlom!ed is
AIpcw1.11l' 1l~""""'. NW. SIe.
4O&-AB. WasI.~ .. IX: 20005. (800J 296-96")' V~AMEX.
{JfHlltt lhan ",. quality 01 !6g81 S6fptlrlormed by _
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POSITION WANTED ATTORNEY POSmON : 0I0i0:> anomay (22) }'UI"S. r1ICtItIIIy palled Alabama
tI$ ..am. Available pa,IIIu11 1ime 10<
rc-U" wd",,_J80/
SERVICE. A FAMILIAR WORD W IT H FN .-IILlAR FACES. ~.''''' looking a. IlIrtt ptopk w'iq""I)' 1'"' I"'f"d 10 lIand'" )"''' b .... ill" ......1CC: Illodcn.,;UlIg. Unique in O:F"";"'Ke. Uniq"" ill ,blrd';o". Unique ill A1abalild. TIl.".·..., "tto.,,'-1" wi,h 1Il0re ,han 60 years
0/" colke,n" ,i,1e ind,owy k.oo>.-Iedgc and talcm. No ""III'I<In" tIM:n, ,hat ,hef..., ,.:our Mi~ppi V;lIIe)' lille Undc ......"ullg Conns<:L.
And III.".·..., I ·SI)().84~ 1688
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preferred bul not necessary. Salary based on percan""", 01 gross. Please send resume to P.O. eo. 2554. AMistoo. Alabama 36201.
(ConrmUM from (Jafl" 379) legal resoarch,!>fie! writing and OIlier legal worI< including civil rights, divorce, consumer and IxInkruplcy. Also available lor nuclaar/environmen· tal consulting. has acNallC8d pohysics degree with nuclear l)ackgroond. Contact Rage< E. Ale'ander. 1013 Cole Circle. 84rmingham, Alalxlma 35242. Phone (205) !'81)'{1773. Nf.J rep"""",/arion .. maOO rhSI/he q<1lIlity 01
of.,
/he . ' services 10 be performed is t;;rNler lllan ilia Quality ser· vices performed by OIMf Is~/$.
ATTORNEY POSI11ON: A putH:: ag<IIlC\I seeks assislanl general """"""" with three to fiw years of legal research. itigatiorI and trial experience. ue or JO dagoreo. LIcensed to pracIioo in the state of Alabama. Excellenl com· pensation and benefits package. Salary
ranga $38.396.80 to $48,630.40 , Send ....,"'" along with copy of Iicenso and education to HAeO, Human Resources, 1826 3" A _ . South. BirmingMam, Alabama 35233.
ATTORNE Y POSITION: liti;alion aUDnley rlOOded for established, busi· ness-orienled f~m in Tuscaloosa.
POSITIONS OFFERED
Alabama. Commercial clefense and geoo<al business I~igalion. Two to six
ATTORNEY POSmON: ",r"usloo solo needs assodate. Gene<allitigation. criminal, fam~y and estates. Strong ...rbal and commun"",1ive skins: musl be a people person. Some exper""""
1""',,;' e,per"""", required. Compensation nagoriabkt based on badlgroond and experience. Send inquiries and resumes 10 Legal AdminiSIrSlor, P.O. eo. 3206. Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35403,
FOR SALE LAWBOOKS : w;n;am S. Hoin & Co.. Ire.. serving tt-.e IeQaI 00II'IrI'k.IIiI1D< ""'" 70 )'W$. We ruy, sal. a;>praise aD 1awbooI<s, Send want lists to: la.< (716) 883-5595 or phone 1-800-496-4346.
LAWBOOKS:The Lawbook Exchange, ltd ruys. sets and iIjlpI'a.sas aU major lawbook sets. Call 1-<100-422·6686. or fax 1·9QS..686-3098. MasterCard. Visa and American E.press aoo&pted. Catalogues issued ;,., print and online at
_Is..-.:c.com. LAWBOOKS: Saw 50 poo:enI on your Gall National Law~, America's largest Iawbo::lks deaIer. 1-k.ge irlventories. Lowest price$. Excelent quality, Sa!is/action guaranle8d. Cal US 10 .... your IlIlIlOOdad books. NaM S/leMng? We .... new. brand name, steet and wood sheMng at <iscount prices. Free q..ooleS. l.aoo.27!H799, NaIionaI Law Resour<>.t, • ~
MEI>IATION
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