Lawyer 5 01 web by Alabama State Bar Association

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www.lpecllllcounsl!l.tom

Alabama Bar Institute for Continuing Legal Education Adlllmcing the Legal l'rofession

!hrough Education Jl nd Service

ABICLE has been csscntitl l to the education of Alabama llttaTneys practicing in the area of bankruptcy law. T he annual Bankruptcy Law Semi nar, sched. uled [his year (o r November 16. 200 1, has become a mai nstay fo r disseminatio n of the latest infor-

mation nnd discussion of [he bcSl prflc tice n1cthods, Many indiViduals comtibure 1'0 [he success ofthisprogtam, buc speciai t1umks is owed lOO UT Bankruptcy Judges in Alab.:nnfl who generously give

of thelr time and

cxpc rt i ~c to

hel p the pmct ici ng h ilT. I m ll proud to serve as the C hairman o f t he pl a n ni ng com m it t ee charged with de ve lo ping this ongoing educatio na l program.

Claude Burns StintS & Wilson, LLC Tusc.alooHi. Alabama THE UN I V ERSITY OF

ALABAMA SC H OO L O F L AW

C"II ABlCLE " 1.800-627.65 14 or 205.348.6230 for program informalion. www.abicle.org

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ALA B AMA I_ AIVYE R Vol. 62. No.3 I May 2()() I

On the Cover A ~iew from the 13m floor oflhc 11111011 San<IWin ~h &; Golf ReJOIl. the "Jewel of the f.mconld Coast," In ~slin. Florida. The re!l()r1 l, lhe _iIG of this year'. AS I) Annual Meelin" Jill, 15路 ]9. (Sec the ;nJeIl In this IUtle of the

LlI'I,~r

for ITMlI'C informallon.)

159

Profile: Fred D. Gray

181

Local Bar Award of Achievement

182 The Volunteer Lawyers Program Student Award By M elissa 8 rlS8S /fUlclt,ms

184

Volunteer lawyers Program License Plate

185

Thanks l Pro Bono Mediators

186

What is M Fair Value" Under Alabama 's

-----

Disse nting Shareholder Statute? By Caroline Smllh Gld/ere

192

Insurance and Cyber-losses: Coverage for Downloading Disaster By S(HIICer M. TtlylQr (111(1 SemI IV. Shirley

200

Smith v. Atkinson:

The Supreme Court of Alabama Holds That liability Can Be Imposed On 8 Third Party For Negligent Spoliation of Evidence Hy I)dlJ/I

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An Interview With Sam Rumore Editor's NOlil: We conti nue the annulil Interview of Tile Alalxlllta 1.iH1')'U wil h Ihe Alabama Stme Bar Presitienl. Till!! A. labama lJlM'yr.r : Sam, you nre more

tt~~n

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way through your Icnn as president of the A lnlxlmn Stille Bar. Whlll have becn you r most, Mid you r lellst.

plcaSllnl cxpcricncc5 as slate bnr prc:5idcnl'l Rum ore: I suppose Ihe most plenSllUl exptriencc is the simple fllct or being stme bar presidcI\I . II WIIS n tremendous honor hc:stowcd on me by the lawyers of Alabama. And believe me, you don', forgel for (JIlt dny thill you arc president, l..iI wycrs who I pnlClicc ..... i' h at

Ihe counhouse. those I meet on lhe meet, and lhe ones [ sec on soci!!) occasions invurinbly greet me with. "Hello, Mr. President," or "How Is the Stille bilr, Mr. Prcsidentr'

II is trul y grmifying \0 be acknowledged thnt way. nIt only rc;Llllegm ivelh~1 J hllVe encourllcrcd is the juggli ni of timo. I hnve coun nppelll'nllCeS seveml times each week . It is a balancing net 10 lake cnre or the bar' ~ bu s inc.~~, my elienl's business, my own per50nnl nnd fam ily respon5 i bili1ic~, and also gel enough sleep, Out most Inw yer.; know \hnt to be SUCeCSJ(uJ they IUUSt nmnllgc their time wisely. OVemll, Ihe po!!ilives outweigh the neglltives nml l have thoroughly enjoyed my yeilr liS b,lr president. AI.: Were yo u ~ urp rised ot the omount of time it !lIkes 10 serve us the ~ t ute bar president'! Rumon: Not reall y, [ becllme a bar commissioner in 1990. 10 be a respon~ible bar commissioller, yO\l nrc going to spend time ill eommi uee work, or on di$Ciplinllt)' panels, I had budgeted Ihm time inlo my prllClice for nine yeiU'!l. When I dt:cidt:d to run for president, [ knew whm to expect, Also, during my Illst yenr ao; a bur comlll.issioner I served on "r('Sidtnt Vic Loti 's Executive Council. 111m was lin eye.opening CiJ( perience because I gOI to see the work thm Ihe leadership (If the bur puIS forth before each cOlllmission llleeting, And there is a continuity of lelldershi p bcclmse the immedime past pre.~ident, a5 wellll$ the presidcnt路clect, alS<J serve on the Executi ve Counci1. [ WIIS most impres!;(:d with Dug ROWC'N (;ontinucd involvcment ancr hi~ ycw II.~ p~i den t. Vic loti Lind Wilde 811xlcy also shlll't:d their experience lind counsel in their yelir as pIlSI president. Al.: Whal advice would you sive a lawyer who might olle day lispire tt'! be the bar president? RumOR!: l:'ir.o;t of all, they Should bccoole II staff writer for 7~'1! A/floo",fI iAwy,tr! Tlmt'~ just II joke, bulscriouS' Iy. 11 bar ptcsident IIC(':ds to be involved with the work of 158

M AY

2001

~utl! Bruley, !999-2000 ASB /If/!Sldtlll, I1fful"H Prtsldt" , S(lm H,lmOrt "",ontJ of flitI'll:' "

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the bur, I had scl'Ved on local oommil1ces of the Ilirmingtuun BM Associntion fr'(lnl my Clrlie.SI dnys H$ 8 lawyer, Doing bur-related won. is its own rewllru H$ fur lIS pc:r80mll and Jlrofessional SlItisfnction. l-1owever, there Is the added benefit of working with luwyen; yCl!.I would nOlllonn;lIly meet. My suggestion is 10 get involved with progl'luns thm you really cruoy, I Ser'Vcd On Ihe Law Day Committee in Oinningham for Illany years and when harles NaJJ ur bef;~me b.1f pl'CSident. he asked me to be the ovcmH ehainnan of 1,.,IlW DBY. l11is W/IS a grem opportlll1ity to show lcadcrship, Over the next few ycntS, olher opponunities OJX:n~d tip. Stme !Jar l)n'Sidclil 11111 l'i!lirstCIU knew that I practiced f!lIl1ily law and he appointed me chairman of a comminee to work on the cfCution of li Fllmil y Law Section, 11ml was most enjoyable and beeltuse of Ihut experience I hMI to l\p[~;lr before the bill' (;Ollllllj S~jIJI1 11.1 seek their npproval of the section, A fe\O,' yellJ'S Imer, the number of commissioners was expanded bnsed on lawyer population, Fonll~rly, cllch circu it hod oilly OIIC bur commissioner. Birrnins hnm, with iu thousnnds of luwycrs. had only one commissioncr, just like Ihe Slll~l1路 CSt circuil. This changcd in 1987 and .~o I mn for one of Ihe new positions, bul losl. "lfCe yenrs later I run again fot bar colnrrtiSSioner. lind won. I have thuroughly enjoyed my experiences wilh the bar, Fi ll(llly, I witS fortunate enoogh 10 hQIIC u iNlssiIJll fur history and some skill m Writing, My series in nit A /ll/XI/I/(/ U l lI'ytfr on Ihe counhouscs stancd ns 0 Bicentennial hobby to ViSit ellch COlillt y scat in 1976, Who would have thoughtth nl history could Inke you 50 fllrl Over die yell/li I received seOT芦 of iel1CI'J; fronl lawyers and judges who IIp[lreeinted my lIrticles. So, in any event, here I am loduy as stnte b~r p-csident, Fundnmentally. the recognition uS pre.~ide nt is given for your work over your entire career,

A I_' Wh~t h~ve been your goals liS president this year?

Rumore: lJusieoll y I wanted to improve the image of lawyers, enhunce lawycr collegiality and get lliwyerli involved in some imponarll iss ues, A /~: Ihe~e

Whllt have you done gools'/

reach

Ru more: Al'St, we ho ve cOnl in ued the bar's Imnnc rship with the Alllbnma OroodcllSlers' AssociRtion, The nadia and TV spots Ihm were produced have a~am1 all over Ihe state lind we hllve gOllen much favorable response from the.n. Also, this year It.e Board of Unr Commissioners approved a I' ledge of ProfessiOnlilism. This is II written dedurlltion thm a lowyc r willuSI)ire to sl>cci fic Stnndfmls of conduct. This pledge wps pmtcfllcd nfter Ihe l3irmi nghum Pledge: where signee:s prom ise to IIvoid mcism in their pt.rsollflllivCJ. Bllch luwyer who 5igns the pled,!: will rece ive a leiter from me, a cenificme ncknowlcdiini their commitment, lind an origin nl design lapel pin. l>rofes5iOfla li ~m hll.~ to stan wilh ench individual lawyer and how we Ircat each other. Another way I hope 10 improve collegiality is throuih Ihe contin ued work of che Bench und Uar Relations Committee chni red by Curol Ann SIIII II, of Oimlinghllm and the InlmBench lind tio.r ComUiunielllion Thsk Foree chaired by Tl!rry UroWIi of Monc gomery, Th rough these comm i llce~. Inwyerli of diffcfCm bnckgrour.ds lind judges shllre chcir l:uml1lon I:Ulll:e rns :lnd work on bar-relnted Illnl1e/'ll.

expnnsion as the need RrQ5e . W(, have now built OUI the Ihin! flOOf. If there is a need for further cxpauion, we will probllbly have 10 take in the parking o.rea undernellth the bar building. If that happens, we will need Ilhemllle p.1rking. The BOlin! of Bnr Commissioners au thori1.ed Keith Nnrnll\ n 10 inquire UOO lit the: "vnilability of the smull strip of land directly acros~ l'luli Street fro m our building. It was not actively on Ihe marlcel, bul. 118 i8 alwayathe ('asc. prices clln be negOlimed to pcrsullde a sule. Thm is whal we did Ind we will soon own Ihat prolleny, In my opin. ioo, th is was good siewardship sillce there is no other vaCll nl property on Dexter Avenue.

A.L: Do you have any other concerns Ihm you wish to shllre wi th our reade rs? RUIIIQI'e: Yes. I wrote In my "Prt:,~idcnl '5 I'IISe" tlmt we have a divel'!lC bar IIlId thllt llle leadership of the: bur l.oeds to rencet th:u divcl'liity, I mentioned {Ii;'!t OIlr lISS<X:imion has never hud a W01l\.1n as pn:.~ide11\ and hIlS TlCver hfld ;'! black lawyer IS president. Jam plea.'\Cd to say thacone of these historic firsts will 500n Uike place. ~'n-d (~ ",y of 'l\tskc:8« was the only lawyer to qualify fOf prc.ddenl-elcet by the: deadline dale of March I, f'rro IllS had II Iollg and fulfilling legal career which includes n:prcscqat ion of vet')'

AI.: In what isSuC!l hllvc you been interested?

Rumore: l>o!Isibly the greatesl need of lhe SCnte of Alaoonlll is a new COnstitucion. 11Ic prc.o:enl one is 100 yelUli old th is year. It h;tS been wnended huntln!d.o; and hundreds oftirnes. So many of the problenlJ in ollr Stm.: din be link('d to sOOncominp in our COIIstitUlion. !'erhallS the mosl ImpOrtilnl task fon:e toot I estllblishcd WIlS the one on eomtitut'onru revision. J udllc Slim 1'Glnler o.grced to $C'rve liS chair. Th! purpose of the task fOTt'C is to gct lhe Of};1Il1i7.(:d bar Involved in Ihe dialogue 01\ constitutional refofm cfforti. II TIIay luke ImulY m()fC yenrs before we get n new conSlltutlon, but we have to begin soTlle:where lind 1 hope this lask force corHribo.lt~ to the discussion. Another projecl .... e initiuted thi~ yeur is the l.IIwyer Cnmpl"tign for Legal ScrvICd. I menlioncd lhe problem of fundlna for Legal Services in one of Illy "PJtsident's Pages." I senl • lettcr to each member of the bar tiking thellilu plc:dge the equivalent of one billable hoI.lt in money to Alaooma Legal ScrviCd for II period of thfC'e yell/'8, TIle purpose of the crunlXlign is 10 get IlIwym involved In lhe ('ffom 10 see thm poor people hove atceSll lO legal rc~senlmion .

AL: Ha ve there been nny Other accomplishments thb yeur'! Ru more: I would say tlmt one Ihlle-pu blici1.cd bUI vcry lmpona nt fiction took place Ihis yeaf inVOlving the future of our bllr building. Our building wus construcled with room for

R..u ....... CoDsuIIiDa. kIe. la 11\ Indopladeat certified ptOf. .I....1 firm 'P'C',uztoa in btIIillCU appraI... Drirdfe Russell. owner. Iw the CJlperlenc:e and f'CCosui.lod induwy el"till:ntiall lhMl provide the higM~' quality. c.xpc:rt VftJullion~ for bu.incllSCli anti prufe,,~ional pl'llCt lces. ller ~ffi1il\. ion wi th th e: Am~ ri cnn lIu \i ncu - •.•Appral'ICfS N~tWUf~ . n nol1on~ 1 ~onhti on of indej)Cudem "lUine~~ nppraise"" c:o;. pmlt!s IIc:r resouR:e~ 10 offer a wide rallge of buBlrIC' ~pprRI~RJ needs.

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VALUATION 5U.VICl Usu. • LITIGATION SUPPORT SERVICES , £STATt PV.NNlNCo , MERG[RS &. ACQUtSlllONS

• tMl'LOvtE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLANS

, tNV£S'TMENT AND fINANCING DECISIONS

RUSSELL FINANCIA L CONSULTING, [NC . 8USINESS VALUATION SERVIC£S l'orot om« Iwx z..1671 . Monllomtf)', Al.~ma 361 2-4- 1612

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"Professionalism begins with each of us," This quote from ASS President Sam Rumore in his -President's Pago· sorwn as the beginning of tho bar's special efforts 10 have every member sign the Profossionallsm Pledge. 8S ~prov&d by the Board of Bar Commissioners, The pledge (s located below, or may be dD'Mllo&dlld from Ihe bar's Web sile 81 www'olobar.org. Apefsofllllletterfrom ~,,;O.m Au,,,,,. h,,"'" .eo'lO ,II bo, C8f1irlCates IIld original design lapel pifl$ will be $8nI to all partICipants ~

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All Alebaflllllawyers 819 encouraged to particip.uo In this POSitive program!

e • 'I&cJ

Rosa P:ttks lind Martin Luther King. Jr. I~ i~ now our pmidem-eICCl designate and will SCM: liS the 1261h Alabama State Ilnr Pn:5ident for the 2002·2003 teml. 1 nl50 cncoumgc more womcnlnwycrs 10 gel invoilled in bar IICtillilies. We now hlllle a Women's Sccdon lind mnny le!ldcrs nrnoog the female members of our bar. Our bar nssociatiort presemly is more thiln 25 percent female, II is hoped thllt next his· tone first of hailing II womnn IlI'CSitiel1i in our bar wi ll come nOOut soon. AI.: Wh:l1 Me your p l flll~ Itfter you lelllle office in Jul y?

A lAB A

M A

TAT E

BA A

PLEDGE OF PROFESSIONALISM I balieve th8t OUI jvdlClIIl sysu~n binds togeth8r the IflbIic 01 011" dIlmocracv. 1Ilellove thII~ ~ order to maiMein our Jooiclal system, iawfOts must IMlntaln, high dagloo 01Jnlfmi(ll'al courtesy and dec;o. rum. I baliM thIIl every I8w,oe( lias a prolessml duty to MaH11ain a COIWt9llllS and roHegiatG 8tmoS1MB WI the practice of lew t btliM ilia!' 00Itt80UI1nd coH9gIII1lI8~ begins with me.

Thertlore, I will • II8Y8f knowing", deceive another Iav.yef. • honor j:J'OIJiws tnd commitmeflls mado to ,noillef 1.W(8f. • maktl ellrDnOflllble offorts 10 achedu~ mal· lorl with l)ppOSing CMSeI by II!100m0nL • maintain I OOflIial and respactf~ lelationship with opposing!Xll.Nel • _ sanctlw against ~ c;wIS8l only v.tlafe requiled for !he protection of my dien1 IWld rOllar tnQr8 "",leal edv8otago • not mDktJlII\fO!A'lded eccusatlQf\l of rntthicDl conduclab:rut opposing CounUiI. • fl8VQf IntelWlonally embarrass anolher law,1ll andwili avoid pGfSOllaI criticism at tnather laWf'f. • attempt 10 Ilways be punctual. • _k infOfllilI llV'eemMl In procedural and pre1imin<WY ~ttOlI, • lha~a hands with the opposing eOlinsel at the Cl050 of edverurlal proceedings and will rllraln Irom engaging In allV cood~t .,..;rich tngl!ndars dlslospl!Ct for tOO court my advorslry 01 the partiN.

• reeooni18 IhiII iIdYoticy doel not Include harassment

• f$Cogni18 thai &C!Voe«V does no! Include r.eediesl da1il'/ • be IMlf mlOOlvl tMl DrlV molioo. Inal. court 8!JPIl<llllrC&. OOposilb'i. pl83dlng or Ie9aI ledvHcahty casts someone lime and rTIOIl8'/ • never have u pane c:llTllllUt1ications Wlih

"" "'"

• $land 10 8ddflU!he CW1, be COUlleoul and no! 8f'I9DII8 in reollT1lnallOll wlmlhll

"'"

• dmss In proper 811118 ~Ullng ally eOurt proeoedlrlQ. whether in the courtroom 01 Chambers. to;how pr}pGr rospect lor 100 court and the law • 1101 bettrrnflttltl elosett 8sIOCiaied with my client'. iICIMlieS. Of I»come emo1ronally Irwolved witll my dian!. • always remember that the po,Jrpose of lhe prllClice 01 IIIW is nQl\tIo! a~ oPPOIIunity 10 make OIIlrag800s dorrnnds ulXMll"JlMrllbla OJIpoflOnlS nor blind rlSlstance to a lu!! elaim, being Itubbomtt litigious for 8 plalntlll or 8 clelerdBrlls not professiMal

RUillort: Unlike (ic11C1U1 MncArthur. I do 1101 imcnd 10 jU!Il fllde away. 1lle immedime P.'ISI I~idcnt 5e1'V'CS on the Exectltille Council. lind I hope to gille my adllice and support to my successor. LRrry Mot,.is. There will be other pr(ljcctll. I would like 10 completc my courthouse 9Cnes IIllrl CQmpile the Itrticle.~ inlo II book. Al~. I mil)' help out on 1'1 pttIjcct 10 wri te II history of lhe Alabarn.1 SUIiC Dar in lime for our 125lh Annivers.1!')' in 2004. And I !Un ccrmin Ihal l will help out whenellCr cldlcd upon by flllUre presidents. Our bar fiSiIOCinlion l1ecd~ a new long-mille phili. We need 10 llClillcly delldop young Inwyer lendership. And we IleCd to ronllllue our effons 1\1 diversity in the profcs,~iOll. AI.: Any las\ IhooghlS7

Rum ore: Serving Il5 state oor Ilrc:sidc:llt is the highest hooor Ihlll elln be bestowed by OIlC'~ peers. I wil1111 w3Ys be gr.lle ftr] to the Inw)'el'li of AllIbullIa for this pr'illlle1le. We lire un honomhlc profession th:l\ oyer tile yclll'5 hILS l\elpcd 10 make our WlIlltry a kreat country. I sincerely appre· cillte the opportuni ties gi\ell to me in this Ilind because all four of my gnmdp:m:nls. lIS we ll liS illY fmher. were inll nikrants. '11i$ eoulI1 ry Illid Ihis profession hnve been lIery Good 10 my fllllll1y lind me. •

fThis pIIdgrr irr _III f!om l1li ........ Stall a. Coda 0I1'roItuIofttI CoI.wIhY "-Irr l1li1l0ii1i 01 SIr COmIniuiontrJ on ....1110. 19921

08te:

Signature;

Pl'lnt Name: Firm Name: Addless:

Ciry!S181IiZip: Sam Hllmo", (Jnd/<fInlly Uf 2oooAS8 A,rnlffl/ Mur/nK (f/ OraHg~ Btoc/!

158

M A Y 200 1

Fred D. Gray PurJualll 10 (he Alabamtl SUIte 8tl, 's roll! 8tJ\'f!rnlns the tlltletlon oj presldflll' .til!ct. the /ol/o"";ng biosrophlca/ sl" m:h Is providtd 0/ Ff't!d Dt'V/(J Omy. Gray Wl/S Ihe solt qualifyillg camlidDle/of llrt ,writlQlI (if fl'Y1sidflm-tltct oJthe Alabama SW/I!

2()() J·2{)()2 11m".

1/1:(/11'11/

Morugomcl) lind II civil nih,s lawyer. He ~U5 educated lit the Nashville C hrislian Inslilulc, Ahtbama

Stille University and else Western Ik'iCfVC University. An udmll1ec [0 the Alabama lind Ohio bmll, Gmy is ~ I SQ a(i milled 10 11rtlClice in S~lprerne

Cmu1 of

Ohio, Supreme Coun of Aillbllmu,

United Slute,~ DislrK:1 Cuun for the Middle Dimici of Aln lmma, Supreme

Coon of the U,S" U.S. Coun of Appeals (or the Firth Ci!'Cuit, U.S. Districl Conn

for the Nonhenl Dimicl of Alubanm, U.S. Coun of Appeals for the Sixt h Circuit, U.S. COnn of Appeals for Ihe Eleventh Circuil, and the '[)ax Coun. Gmy's legal CllfC(:r SJ>lIllBII period of 4.5 years. Out of law school less than 1\ year, he rtlpre5Cmoo Rosil l'arkB, who WIlS IUTCSled because she rtlfused \0 give ul' her senl 011 1I bus to a white mllrl, which ignited the MontHomery Bus Boycott. CIIY Of M ()fIlRoII!l!ry v. HOS(l

PhY~ltliJlI

m.llpf

-dICel,

,In

~;::;;i' th "'6 111(11,11" ~

Nur.,lnu h S("I('(tlon prepor I

rese"r,

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of .,Idlll! pert wltn

,;:::;::j"._.;'!'~:'

pI.' Envlronm(>rttal mptlltl"

(0 "'Tl

Ilrl!

/'arb. Ue was Dr. Mertin LUlher King, Jr:s fil'$t civil rights IIl\ol'lley. Gmy was IIlso one of the first BllIe k~ to :leNe in the Alabama Leglsillture $lnee Reconstruct ion (1970-1974). He received the Cltl'ilo1 Press Corps Award for Best Ol'lltor ;n the 1·lou50 of R cpre sc tllative~ in 1972. und WitS It lIlember of the Nntional Society of Stllte Legislntol'll frOIll 1970· 1974. ~I e servcd as the 43rd prtsidcnt of the Nationo l Bar Association lind WIIS inducted into the NOA Iiall of Fame in August 1995. Gmy i5 the senior partner in the firm of Gmy. l..nngford. Snpp, McGowan, GnlY& NQthQn~on , wilh offi ces ill Montgome ry and Tuskesec. In Octooor 1999. he became II Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, rand in MlU'Ch 2000. a Fellow of the Internlltional Society of Ollmslers. Gmy hnB been the recipient of nunlCffiU$ Itward~ and honors, including the Arnerictrn BAr Association 's Spiril of Exeellence AWllrd in 1996.

red David Gmy i~:L nmlve of

the following couru ~

8 (11 for

(!SSlmlt Ilrt: pnrsldlmcy i" July 2002.

A reeent uulhor. flu., Ride 10 Jus/ice was released in February 1995 and The 7'u.tulletl S),lllIilis SWII), in May 1998. 1·le also wrote Thtl S"lIimf1 Ca.rt': A Dlfffct

''IT)(lrlct of the eM/ RjghlS M ol't!lItt!f1I.

An elder or th~ Thskegce Churc h of hrist, Gro y ho ~ fou r children und ~i x amndehildre n, •

d medica

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,lilly liability ury IIllgnlion I

hl ...IIOIilY and

Ii SppcldJ

L:.-,-"i ,-_-, 1,lin "

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\.trlll,tIIH"tllth

and Allied t-te

i a b I It yin ur Inu hOI

Fre.1 D. Gm)'

ai' e

Mealc)1 y Work To I{ I It d t n In h I. ~ nh of drc Toxll tor

Medical Insights Consulting P/,ylitiUII 11I1t1/)'li. fQ~ the leKu/ proft"io/lul

(2 05) 492-0815 Inqulry@medicalln.ight.,net

www.rnedicalinsight s .n et 1111

II I"IUI

I I'IIIH

,..

K.ltb I. Nanllln

Professiona Iism: One Word That Says It All ur profession has taken scvernl positi ve steps to in~t ill in our newest membe rs, :md remind thme nlreudy in pmelke, what il meanJ 10 be a "professionuJ.""his year begins the :)«"olld year of mundnlory pr(Jfessiolllllisrn tm ining ror new bllrmembeni. The tmini ng progrn m eoveD such topks UI "An Allomey's Rcllllionship with the Pror(:!;sion," "Courtroom Decorum," "Building Your Pructice und Your Relationship with Your Cllenls." and '1'hc Joy of Being II Lilwycr," The tm ining sessions Me held rour times n ycar. Lu~t yellf, nearl y sao new me mbers [lilended lhe duy _long tmining sessions 10 he:lr from Il facult y of Alabllrna·s finest lind mOSI highly regarded judges and IlIwyers. 1.-1151 year's faculty mcmbc:n included: John I'UIIIIIUlOSI OS . Montgomery: Rullih (;oint'S, Tanadc:su; Jud~e Art Hnnes. Binninghum; "' ",(1 Grny, 'fuskegec: Sinn Starnes, Ilinninghum: Sle\'e Glnssrolh , Montgo mery: Jusllee KlIlllh Cook, MOntgomery: li nd Ski ll Anh's, Mobile, In udd illon to Judge 1·laues, Skip Ames, Stan Slanlcs lind Justice Cook. this year's faeulty illchldes former Go\'et·nol'

Do You Need a Tree Expert? • Tree Va lu ll lions • PeS licidc Damllgcll "" T,'ce C ure • negistel'cd Foreslers

• • "" ""

Trce Protect ion Timber TrCSIl!I~S Tree AsseSS lll cnlll Certified A rboriSIS

South ern U,'l)nn Forestry As.~ oclutcs

205-333-2477 1', 0 , lJox t403, Northport , AL 35476 1eo

MAV 10 01

Albe rt IJre"'·er. Binning hum: Jud~t Ilen ~'ulltr, Prntt ville; Ken Simon, Oinllingham: umrll I)ctro, Birminghllm: John lentine, Oinninghlnl: Carol Ann Smith, Birminghllm: and stille bu I'mldent SlIiII Rum ore,

Bimt i n gh~lII,

The Alabnma Bar instilllte for CLE (AO ICLE) orgnnized and ndministered the firsl year's tmining sessions, lim year's training sessions WCllt very smooth ly Ihunks 10 SIeve Emens, IIssocil1le dean, University of Alnbumu School of Lilw, lind AR tCLI! di rector, Hnd Anlln Hnmlett, ABlCLI:: Ilswciate director. This yeor'~ prorc.~si ona1i sm tmining will be ad ministerc:d by Cumberland Institute rOt CLB (CICLE) under the able direction of LaVone Wurn::n. D..~s i stQf1t dClln for CLf IU Cumberland Sc:hool or Lilw. Steve, Anita and LaVone, as well as the lawycl1 1111d judges scrving as facult y for the professionalism Iminlng progmms, deserve our pmise lind Ihanks, AnOlher positive StCp being considered is one hour of professionalism or ethics tmi ni ng for ulllicensed member~. 111e MCLE Commi ~s io l1 i5 1'roposing a change in lhe MCLI3 rules 10 hUlle one hour of the annlllli CLl! requi rement devQled to eth ics or prorClisionnlism with un t~ceompanying incrc:ase in the nnnuul minimum number orbours from 12to 15. The MCU! Commission ill pr0posing tW() lldditionai chlmges Uwl would hel p rocilitme the two changes mentioned above. One would be a "comity" Nle ihut would ullow • non-reJide nt bar member In COIl1I)li:1l1Ce with the ClE Nles in the jurisdiction where he or she resides to be in cOrlllllitmcc in Alabama. 'f11c OIher chunge would pennil mcrnbelll to ootnin up to $ i ~ hours CLE credit (or Intertletive in, lnLction received vin the Internet These proposed CLI! rule chongcs nlll po.'led on the bar's Web site, www.a/al1ar.org . Finany, I en<:ournge every lawyer to !"tlld und sign !he "Pledge of ProrcssionuliSm," QOOpted by lhe Board of

Educational Debt Continues to Inc..........

Commissioners Ihis past October. The pledge Wid occomp.1nying (ann are posted Qn the bar's Web she. (Also. see !)llge IS8 of this Issue.) You can print a COP)' of the 1)ltdge form , sign it lIod return it I() stille bar. Your nllfTle will be I)()StOO Oil the bar's Web site with the other hilI' mcmbcl'li who have signed the pledge. Abiding b)' the pledge will not onl y engcnder the public'S res pect and truSt, but will make us r~'(:1 better llbotn the fUlUre of our profession.

E.duc8tionai debt for those sitting for the Alabllma bar exami· "Olion hns increr.sed the lost two eJl: lIlllinlltion period,. The chnn below reneets the education debt 10lld of hilt e:u UlIi neeMover the PIISI live years. •

Educational Debt For Bar Examinees feb 01 E..mlne" With Educetional Debt Average Debt

137 139%1

hbOO July 00 122 136%1

317 157%1

$48,920 $44,865

$50, ~~ '

feb 99

July 99

feb 98

July 98

feb 97

July 91

197 1" %1

125 (44%)

310 160%1

105 153%1

168%1

(41%1

317

Feb 96 July 96

1<8 (51%1

327 (73%1

$46,500 $50.070 $41 ,885 $50,41 8 $35,308 $44,528 535,000 1<0,892 (10lIl DeOt S14.87O.1X1

Debt Service 7.5% For 10 Veers

$580

$533

$599

$59<

1<97

$599

1<20

$528

Po<

$552 p"

Po,

Month

Po,

Month

THE UN IVERSITY OF

ALABAMA SC HOOL OF L ..... W

S $:

1<"

ABICLE ALA.HAMA nAR INSTITUTIl FOR

CONTIN UiNG LEGAL EDUCATION

SHARPEN YOUR LEGAL SKILLS WITH ABICLE COURSES AND PUBLICATIONS 1IIIIII/'II/I/IIlIH

,.,

Williu ... C. Thumpsun. judge of the Aillburna Coun of Civil Appcills. hili; been appointed chief j udge of

the Coun of the Judiciary. Wlllinm J. Brynnl, a sh.u-eholder with the Binl1inghlUl1 finl1 of field. Hyde, Lyle. Wenheimer & Bryant, P.C., was reccr)tly nAmed ctmir1nan oflhe national bollrd of diI'CCtOfll of the American H~lIn Aswcirniorl. He will be involved in the ovcrlllllldministrtltion of the AI·IA·s public relutions. advocllcy und fund-rnising nctivities. Bryant is the finn Alaoomilln to chai r th is nutiOllll1 voluntary hClIlth agcncy. with four million voluntccrs and 3.000 employees. IJrYiUI S CCVC llSOll , [Ill attorney willI the Equal JuStiCe Initiative of Alabam3. recently was awarded Ille Olof Plilme Prize for outstanding achievement. TIle prize, nAmed for all Bssassinated Swedish prillle minister, is given IIl11mally by the Olof I~al m e Memori al Fund for IntenmtiOllol Understmuiing nnd Com mon Securit y, and comes with II $50.000 cash pri7.e and II diploma. The £quol Ju~ti cc Ini tiative origi nlllly Wll~ tht AillOOllla Cil.pitul Ikprescntlltion ReSource Center. In 1995. it WItS reorganized liS the Equul Justice Initiative, II non-profit orgBniZlJtion. Stevensol1 is 11 1987 otlmittee to the Alubama Stille Bar. 1'11111 Myrick, n punner in the Mobile firm of Adams & Recse LLP, WIIS recently "ppointed II fellow of the College of Labor und employment Lawyers. Myrick is a pll~t chuir of the AS!) LfII>Ot nnd Employment Law Section and is the co-mllhor of the A/a/)(IIIUI Employers Ilmrr//)QQk.

Recently elected officers of the Alabama chapter of the American Academy of Mli tri lllonial Lawyers lire $lImmyc Odell Kok, president, and I)cnlsc J. "omeroy_secrcmry. both of the firm of I:>ominick. 1:letcher, Ycilding, Wood & l..Ioyd. 1'.1\. Kundnll W_ NicholS of Massey & StOlliCr. P.C. was elected viecprcsidentllnd L. Stcllhcn Wright, Jr. of Nlljjllr. Oi:naburg, P.C. wml elcdcutn:flSurt:r.

l'aul Myrick

Cumberland School of Law lit Samford University rel:ently honored severnl AlnbonlU nttorneys iLl mnong its most loyalltlnmni lind friends. W. Siullcil

1 62

MAY 2001

Slnrncs of Birminghnm was nllmed Di.~tinguished Alumnus for 2001. ~;_ Mltrk f;zc!l of Butler WIIS nUllled 2001 Friend of Cumber lund lind Sieve BI'fIckln of Dothun was nalllcd Volunteer AlumnuS orlhe Year. Stltntes, who is a senior panner with the finn of Stllrnes & Atchison, gl'1lduat(..'(] srmrml' t'fllII fcmd~ in 1972 from Cumberland School of Law. where he WII5 a mcmber of Curia Honoris lind the Order of Barristel'!!. ILnd was editor-in-chief of the Cum/Hlr/ami U,W Rt!lIit!w. Starnes hilS ,;crved n,.. president of the Cumberlll nd Nnti"nlll Alumni Association. ond liS II member of the IlIw !iC hool'~ Advisory Ilollrd lind of two Ocun Search commillee.... Be hilS also I:hai red the Cllmb«rlllIIl/ Lt.,w R«I';lIW Foundmioll. One SOn, J.T. n tOlllpson. Is a first-year student at Cumberlond. Ezell, who pnMices in 3utler. grndll<lted in 1966 from the University of Alabama School of L.1W. He itmugllmtcd the PIIrham H. Williams Scholarship in hOllor of II fonner dean Wid hM helped to bllild the !iChOI~hip'5 corpus to more thon $170,000. He has two :;OilS who have attended law ~hool at Cumberland. Brnckin. R purtner ill the Dothan fiml of Lewis, 3rackin. Plowers & 1·11111. gmdu llted cum lalld~ in 1978 from Cumberlnnd S{:ho()l of Law. where he WII.! a member of Cuda Honoris. He is president of the Dothan Area Cumberland Club.

Shu J'Q 1l Byrd I'nllerson recently WIIS uwarded the Dcpanment of the Anny Su~rior eil'mnn Service Award for her outstandin g support in providillg legal advice to the United Stntes Anny. She is 0 member of the Office of the Chic( Counsel, Acqui~ition l.IIw Divi~ion . U.S. Anny Avialion lind Mi ~sile Commllnd. • Redstone Arsenal. Alublllllil.

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,.I.,td

Mlflindall .Hl.IbW!. lEXI S Ind NEXI S.,. IfflllOfl\lllll 01 RMd EIHYIer ",*IIWIM G 2000 M~· HutII>eII. All rIgIHI_.

~~ ..

lINd

MARTlNDALE-IIUnBELL·

IIIIIIIIIII/IIIIIIIH

183

D'HI II/ lh , IlUg, if/crem., i" /wlic,s/or " Abulll MfflllbtrS, A"'(lIIg f'irmS," '/'I,ll Ali lmllllil Ltl'll'ytlr >I,iII 110 10llg,r publish Ulldrtln'~ tlml 1'/1111/1011' IIIllIIberr IIIlltts I ll e (UIIIQllll e,mlml rd/ll'~' 10 11111 (l11' II /'1g Q/ II

11'14' firm or !.'OlD "mclice. l'feMiI CVIII/11I11/ lv swd ill /I1/11Q'IIICeltlell/~' 1IIIIIIor /It/t/ress ell/ll/gu (() tlie Alabama SIIllll liar MlIlllhersliill Deparlll/l1l1l, ,1 (J34) 261·63 10 (jax) or IW . Ilax 671, M Olltgoltlllry )6101.

About Members

RIIl'II, lJoyd & Rh ell Ilnnounces thOi C hili O. COlo:Io:in has become a mem ber of the firm. ll1e liml nllllle is 1I 0W Rhl!lI, Hoyd, Rhl'1I & C0l::lo:l n.

JOUles II . Rlc hnrdson nnd John J , Cnll nhlln, J r. announce the fornmtlon of Rlchurdson & CuUnlnm, L.L.I'. Offices are locflled fit 301 Washmgton Streel, Suite 450. l"l ul1Isvi lle, 3580 1. Phone (256) 533·2440. Hili. lilli, Carter, Frnnl:Q. CQle & Rhll: k, I'.C. Ihnt ))oy Llmle McCall, III has become a

ann ounce~

Koth lccn A, Brown, formerly of Robison & IJetser. P.A., fil~n Ou rr(;eS the opening of her offil:e ut 423 S. l'lull Su·eel. Suhe 2F, P.O. Box 1606. Momgomery 36 I 02· 16(16. Phone. (334) 954·4445,

member or the finll. lmtl Mlehllel J , Cohnll and Slmwu Junkins Cole have become as!jOCinles.

kllymontl C. IJryun announces lhe opening of his office at Suite 2e. Lyric Square, 1302 Noble Slrcet, Anniston. 36202. Phone (256) 237·50 18.

Clork & &011, P.C. lUmoullces the opening of their new offiCe ill 2450 Vul1eydlile Rood, I1imllngharn, 35244. 11le fimt ~I so announces tllll! J lifk Ilorrlson hilS Ix:~ome oj c(I.lI/sid to the fin n lind Unrry W. I-Iulr lind nrndtey J. Smith hove joined Ihe firm /Ill flSS()C ildes.

Unrry V. Snllerwhlte announces the opening of hi ~ office ~l 1203 Dou phin Slreet. Mobile, 36604. Phone (334) 432-8120. Sidnl!Y W. Jllcksc)n, HI announces the opening of new office. Sid Jllckson & Assodules, LL.C. OfficC$ are IOCnled 01 the AIIlSOIuh Bank Building, Suile 1704, 107 SI. Froncis Street, Mobile. 36602. Phone (334) 433·6699. lIi ~

Among Finns Michlld A. "'ritz, Sr. announces Ihlll he has become the b"nkrupley allomey for the United Sillies Dimkrupli:y Ad mlnllitrutJun. Middle Dhtrkt Alnlllllllll.

II'

Lee A. Mciver nnd Dcllrn Hnynts 1'001<: lInl\O unCt lhe formll! ion of Mc]ver & " oolc. I'.C. Offices are IOCllted III 32 1 N. Hul1 Street, Monlgomery, 36 104, l)lIone (334) 834·2135.

164

become a shareholder and 1'rnvls R. Wisdom has become associll!ed with Ille fi rm,

AlhrlllollS, CUl'ton. Alverson & Moody, I'.C. Ihlll lll'IJjllmln M. Bowden hilS bc~o me sharelloltler lind Ihe fim1 nllllle is now incorporated under the /lllme of Albrlttuns, Ctil'tun, Alvel"SClII, Moody & Bowden, P.C. unaounl:e.~

Munn ,i!; Cowun, I'.C. announces th ot Rohert I'oller hns bccOllle a shareholder in the finn nud the firm nllme hos bcen changcd 10 MAnn, COWAn & 1'oller.I'.C. J)nvld I'. Shellherd lind Murk S. (;(lber announce Ihe Cormolion of Shepherd & Go ber. Ollices are loclUed "I 9 13 Pluntution UOl1levurd. Jlnirllope. 36533. Phone (334) 928·4400. Hmchcr. Stubbs. Lund, Hollis & Rothschild annoullces Ihut Neill J. Clllluhlln hns become a partner in Ihe fi rm. Office! Are localed in COIUlllbus. Georgio.

Nndlcr & Assodntes, I'.C. announces thlll l' NlIlCcS W. Motch~ Iws become IIssoci.llcd with the firm .

Andrew T. Citrin Qnd Mlchncl S. McGlothrcn annOu nce the fomllllion of Citrin & McG luthrell, f'.C. Offices are IOCillCd at 1703 Mlli n Street. Daphne. 36526. Phone (334) 626·7766.

Ilubhllrd, SIlIlIh, Mdlwllln, nrukencld & Urowder, ".C. announces thaI Gllry E. 811111vlll1 hru;

Glnddcn & Sinor, I'.C. announces Ihlll Sheri J. Lowder h;ls become associated with Ihe firm .

M AY lOO!

McKt n"d e & Tllylor, P.A. annQunces

located in PenSlk:oIl1.

M. I\1l1ulI1 and Pnlrlchl A, Gill hove become ussocimcd with the firm. lind Quentin llrown, Jr. and .'"llles E. Clnrk have become of Ci)11IJ$eI IO lhe finn ,

Wallllce & WYIIII, I'. C, announces that C. Urlnn Ull't'ldMlII hIlS joined Ihe linn as partner lind Ihe firm nome is IIQW WYIIII & 1>ll't'ldson. I'.e.

WOlfe. Jam..'!; & lJas,,'cll un nounCC!l 'hili Joel R. Humller lind IJl'hnllll K. Rllhll1l1t1 have become purtners in the firm.

Corley. Moncus & Ward , P.C. IlnnQunces that Annelle T. Ruff has

Dominick. Flelcher, YleldhlK. Wood & Lloyd, )'.A. announces that Mllrc C. OIl"'SCY has become auocimed with the finn.

thllt Jostph A. ZlIrlllUr, J r. hM become auociated with the linn. OfficC5 art:

joined the linn as an as.'lociote. Oliver, Milner &: G rIlY, LL.I'. annou ncC$ thllt Robert 8. Gray has become associated with the linn. Rolte ... W. Lee R.: Assoclllles, I'.C. IInnounces Ihm Wendy N. Thornton tuu become 0 shareholder of the firm lind the finn nllllle hllH c h lln~ed 10 tee & T hornton, I'.C.

Smith, Spire! & I'OOdy, P.C. announces Ihllt Samuel Ray Holmes hM joi ned the finn liS ~n associme. IJuul. "' m nk & Collins announces Ihlll Lynda I~. M fUs hll1l has joined Ihe finn lIS counsel. Offices are locllled in Burlington. Vennonl. MlcllIIcI K. A I~ rlll\ lhy announces the formlllion of Ahen ullhy & ASS()Cluh!lI, L.LC. Offices nre locllled at One Chase Corpornte Drive, Suite 490, Bimlingh:lIll.

3.5244. Phooe (205) 982-98 10. LyOIU. l'lpcs & Cook arUlOUlK:eS Ihal S. Wl$ley 1>i1K'S. Jlmes 0 , Jerrrles, Jr. and Roger E_ Cole hlwe become pitrlners in the fi ml and S. TraI'U 8 a rlee. NlllhnlllcJ A. noslo and Urllnd y U. Oshorne have bccemc: aS$ocialed wilh the firm .

J. Myron Smllh

& AssocIates announces ,hM Jim T. No rmnn, ITI htlS become IIssoclnted with the firm .

Spllin & Gillon, LL.C. announces the formation of the SI.:dn C illon Moollilion Cenler. Mcdhtlm Ire Quentin IJmwn, Jr., Eugene II. SlullS. Snllluei H. "' m ..:ll'r and M)'1I1 CAlhoun Choy. 1bc: center is located Pt 2117 Second Avenue. Nonh. Binninghmn. 35203. Phone (205) 71.5· 6589. Splli n & Gillon, L,I.,.C. \11 $0 IInnOuliteS thlll Roderick K. Nc.lson IIml Murk W. Muc.'Oy have become members ef lhe linn. T homM A. Jonl'!'l, III . Adu m

Cnpcll & Hownrd, I'. C. announces that IIllrbnrll J. G ill,.. ... , J)llvld II. lI yrul.', Jr. und Rolte ....... Norlhcutt huve be<;ome mcmbers of Ihe finn . lIuskell, Slfl u].;hlcr & Youn ~ L.L C, (jnnounce~ Ihm J. Mlch'lcl Rediker. T homns 1." Krebs. I'ntrlcln C, Dhlk. Wllllll m K. tlolbrook. l\·lIchnel C. Skollllckl. and Andren C. Hurt have joined the fiml. and I'eylon I). \JIbb. Jr. ha.~ become (If coulisd \(l the finn , COI~~l llIIaY, Ih'lMlk$ &: Smll h. L.l..C. announces thm 'I'homns A. 1>11I·ls. 1\mllllY 1_ l>obbs lind ClllIrlC!JA. I'u"ell. IV huve become members of the fin n.

IIn ~, Wynn, Newell &: Newton (lnnounc:cs that Justice RlIlllh O. Cook has become 0/ cO'II.~t:Ilo tht finn .

Amtif'C!Chl, Jnckso n. De mou y. Crn"'c, Holnlcli & Rc.'e\'ts,I.., L,C. unnounccs tlmt the firm nllmc has b«.n changed 10 Aml m.'Cht Jllck...n n 1..1..1'. jllld thill Jud~e Edwllrd II. McOcrrnulI has become of t'lJ/wSffl to the firm. Llghtroot. Frllnkli ll &: While. L.I~.C. announce! thai Melody L. Ilu rdle And Knbin II . G rn\'CS huve become members of the finn. CaSSRdy. "'lIlier &: Mllrsh, L.L.II. allnOUIK:CS 'hut i\1 , Clmd 1'lIldol h1l..~ become a panner in Ihe firm . Ilulld An' ndnll, L.1..c.lln nounce.~ that F'nll1k C, (;ulluwny. Jl~ has joined thc firm ns a member. OClU~ItI..~ W. Fink. IJn:JO~ 1'. Mlllln~ und E. Luckett Robinson. II huve he<.'Onkl IlItl11be~ urtbe firm,lUId Andrew J. Cru ne. Christopher M . G ill. T'Nlcy R. I)Mis. U >;III)llnlity Cooper. and Luuis C. Non'ell have becolne IIssociatcd with the fiml . •

EYKler. Key, 'I'ullh. WClII'cr & R(lth ""nounces thut Cltrl A. Cule, III lind Ilenther L. N(:i;khul!I have become 1IS.~o ti nted with the fiml . Crillenden Mllrtln lMmounces that ulldllee ..~. Brunnen h.1s Joi ncd Ihe finn as an aS$OCin,e. lJums, Cumltll~hll lll .~ Mnckey, I'.C. unnounces thai Gury Fimlnghn hilS been made n pln1ner in the fiml. and Ihe linn nhllle hIlS chunged 10 lJu r ns, Cunnlnllhum. Muckey & Flllln jtlm. I'.C. The fiml also linnounces Ihnl Mellssll A, T'lOmlls hIlS become IUsoclmoo with the firm.

IIrndlcy ANI nI Rose &.; While LLI' announces lhat Jill' Bender. ":1\1. Haslon, Abdul KIIIIOll. KI III Murlill. Rodney Mos.~. J)omthy I). !'uk, and Rlehllrd ShliriT have become partners in the fiml, Ulme r, 11 1111111111, Bnllurd .'It Nlklllilkls, II.C. IinnouncCll Ihlll Ihe linn name has been changed 10 Ulmer. Hlllmnll &: Ollllllrd . I'.C.

""'~~~o.~,,,.~,,~,~.,, ';;Il CI.U

Yeu estublhh 1001lS for crenting wenlth. We hc p ),011 nlcet your go.1ls. whiie pl'Qlecling )'0111' fllmily and eSIUle Ihrough insurance and finalldlll ploducts.

The Comp.1ny'1&t Keep.1)11 IlllIlo/rlll(/ Artlmff SI)IIIII Slll.~ 100 Biml jllglwm. AL J5205 20~JJ·OJOl

1111

1/1/111/1/1111111

Otto Emesl SilllOIl Quo Ernesl Simon. UlIulive of Mobile. hud a distinguished carecr U~ 11 soldier. legisilltor and lawya". Aficr atll(hlllli ll8 from Mllrphy High School in 1936 and work ing brieOy for Ihe GM&O Ra ilroad, h!l enle-red the Army Air CQ~ du ring World War 11 and was honorably dischll'ied as a mllster sctgcalll. His IIndergmd. lIale studies were III Spring lIill College, and he obtained his law desree from lhe University of Alabama School of Law in 1949. Dllring the Korean W(U' he served ail II caplllin for the Judge Advocate (kt~ml fot the 26th Air Div;~;on Eastern Ai r D:fen.~ Forcc. ll1ereltfier, ulltil his rellrt:me nt in 1985. be pmcticed in Mobi le as n member orlhe firm of Shnl)n, Wood & Crane. In addition to his aCllve privme pmcllee he represenled Mobile County in the AI:t barn~ legisllllurc f!'(lm 1955 to 1959: served wit h the Alabama Insumnce Commi.ssion. liS a chainnlln to the Alabama EdllClllion Study Commiuion. lind u a city a!lomey for Prichard lind for the Prichard Wllterworullnd Sewer BOlrd: :md wu ~et i vc In Masonic lind other local organi7,.8.uQns. Always seeking new challenges. aner his reti rement he began II neW cW'CCr in mediation. A member of the Spring Hill Avenue Methodist Church. he is survived by his wife, Catherine Doyle Sim!)n: two ~o n$. 011 0 M, Si mon lind Eric [01 , Simon: fI daughter, Lee Simon Highcower: two gmrldehlldren , Cod)' and Hilley Hightower: stepsons James Gnesseu Hickman. Ill. Robert D. Hiekmun and Gregory ,\ , lIickmun; four sisters. Barbara Lewis, Vesta Simon Evans, Katherine Eli1.abclh Simon and Martha Simon lIenderson: and other reialiv(s.

0110 ":mlll Simon

1'he Mobik Bar Asrociation honol'5 Ihe life and mourns the death of Ouo Ernes! Si mon on Seplember 30, 1m. liner SO yean; offailhful service 10 his profession, who served his country in wnr, his conlmullity and 8tate throughout II distinguighed career, and brought honor and respect to his family. - Frtll IV. Killion, /Nul prtsid/!!/II Mobile Ollr Associmion

George Joseph Moore George Joseph Moore. II highly respected member of the Mobile Unr Associmion, depurted Ihis life on Thursday. Janu uf)' 20, 2000. This aSS(lCiation mCllloriulizes his accomplishme nts as II proficient prnctilioner of his profession und his beneficent innucnce on those who knew him. GcQ~c Joseph Moore WI\S born in Mobile on the 10th day of Scplembcr. 19 18, and wa~ a ,naduat( of McGili lnslitute. Springhill Collese 1100 the Unhersity of Alaballlu School of Utw. reccivi ng his LLB degree In 1948. lie was a member or the Mobile and American bar associutions, liS well us the Americml Trilll Lawyers As~ocimion . He began his legal eflreer In Mobile where he opcmted a private law pnLcliee for 5 I years. He was a member of St. ignatius r,.rish, St. Vincent DePaul Society. and KnlghL~ of Columbus lind was a 188

MAY

2001

pllSt president (lf the Friendl y Sons of St. Pac riek. He was a Navy Vcteran !)f WWI1 , George JO!ieph Moore is 6urvived by his wife. Roberta S. Moore or Mobile; duughter5 Cillherine M. McCorkle of Mobile and Elizabeth M. Leonard of North Pal m Beach. Florida; a son. Gcmrd J. Moore of MariettA, Georgia; a son路in路law, JllnleS Leonard of Nonh Palm Beach, Florida; a daughter.in.law. Bene<lcllc S. Moore of Marietta; Q &r1lndduughter, Erin A. Moore of Marietta; two brolher1, Brother Joh n Moore, SC (Urol her (If Sacred tieart ) and Brother Michnel Moore. SJ (Society of JeSUS) or Grand Coccau, Luuisinna: /I sister-in-law, Sister Anne Robenlt Schill ing. SL (Sisters of Loretto) of Nerinx , KenlUcky. - Afa f: l..tmJ;fonJ, I)(ISI prcsilltm

Mobilt 11ar Assoe/tlTlon

Sidlley Maxey Harrell Sidney M OJ{c), Bum:Il,

nnlive of Sunnower, Ilnd II

longlime

resident of Mobile, II graduate of the University of Alnbllnlll School of Law, a \tIerno, lind 8. retired major In the United SIllIes Army.

all(tln~

wide re nown liS In c)l:pcn in real property

low throughout South Alabama. where he prnc lkcd luw, lovori. ubly displayi ng Ull aum of quiet dignity. until hix dcmh on

survived by his wife, Anne Botldousquie ]'Inrrell; th ree

children, Cathy

~l lIrrell

Pe nnington of At lanta, Mollie Louis

IIllmll and Sidney MOxcy n orrell, Jr.,

M obile anorney: II

IrlInddllughlcr, Mill)' SILKle Penninston: n brother, Claude

Eugene I路Jnrrell. Jr.: unt! other reilltivc~. -Alex f umk/()f(/. I)lU'1f)/'esidc/ll /off/hlle Ilm AssQCillllo"

Novcll1ber20,1999.

JOllies Tyler Stricklalld On WcdncMlQy, April 2. 2000, Ja mes Tyler Sirickllmu, a distinguished jurist Ilnd member of the Mobile lind Anl(':rienn bar associations, dc pllrtcd thi~ life. lind Ihe Mobile Oar Associ/Ilion recognizes lind memorinliz.es his very colorful and outst;ll1ding CbI'CCf us nn ut tomey, judge nnd politienl nnulys!' ns well us a dcdicated supporter of hi$ comillunity. J U l\le ~ Tyler Strickland was born in Bastrop. Lou i ~ i n n a. on October 22. 1926. lie was a longtime resident of Mobile. livi ng in the Thulminville urea and West Mobile. Judge Strickland gl'lldLJated from Murphy High School, He served in the U.S. Amly from 1945 to 1947. lind Ihen enrolled l ithe Univenity of Alabama. grudLJating from the Univenity路. School of Uw in 1952. lie pmcliced luw in Mobile from the rnid路 1950s to 1965. He also $C:rved as a pUrl. time IIssistant district :lUomey, Ilnd his aggressive style tIS It prollCcutor gamcred him the nickn nnte of ''lIger.'' [n 1965, he W!lS appointed part-lime juvenile COUrI judge and was Inter oppointed liS cireui! judge, becoming thc first full -time juvc nlle courl judge. He wns recogni1.ed through. out the Stme of AI!It)lllllil as (\ lender in juvenile justice. In the lute '6Os, due to his political genius, he WJtJi uble to convince the local legislati ve de legulion from Mobile County ttl sponsor lind

pas~ 11 bond Issue of one million dollars to establish the fil'$t youth center in the Stale of Alabama, in Mobile County. In 1984. the (ellter was renamcd in his honor by the Mobile COllilty Commission and 15 IlOW known IlS the Strickland Yout h Center. Judge Strlcklllild wus known us II political power in Mobile County and wus elltremcly powerful and innucntial with SIRle leatlcrs as well for neurly ~O ye!lrll. Judge Strickl:md h:ld Ihe unique abililY10 rUlfllyze political manerll throuahout Mobile County, and due 10 his political acumen, he developed CIOllC frie mi$hips with man)' leade~ of all raees in Mobile COUllly. md WIl5 credited with helpillg mllllY politiculligutell with tough clImpaigns to win elections in Mobile County. u well as throughout the State or Alabama. Judge Strickland is ~ urvi vcd by his wife. Joan Keeler Sirickhmd: 11 son, Wayne Tyler Strieklllnd, II daughter. Mary Lowery: grnndwns James Donald Lowcry and DMiel Tyler Lowery, all of Mobile; nnd a sister, Oert ie Slrickl und Gnlbbs of Jacksonville. Florida. - A/v: /.(III/ifOI't/, past Jll'f'sltll1l!f

M obill1 1JlIr A.uoclnrlOIl

lJIuck, Wllllllnt Verbon Hunts ville Admilled: 1959 Died: December 3 I. 2000

Schmar key, Jo hn Cllrl Mountain Brook Admitted: 1957 Died: Mnrc h 8, 2001

nuke, Willinm Stephen Montgomery Admi tted: 1929 Died: Jlnuury 3. 2001

Sellle, A II~rt Jllckson Mobile Admilled: 195 1 Died: February 25, 200 1

Lurge, Enrnt!S1 Roy Il inninghbm Adntined: 195 1 Died: JlulUary 13.200 1

White, Willinm Uew, Jr.

LUl1lpkln, Wlllllll1l H. t 11011. Cherokee onnl y Adrnined: 1939 Died: March 9. 20(H

Hinninghalll Admillcd: 1946 Died: January 17. 20()] MctClllf, RIII1I~CY Nell Buy Minette Adrnillcd: 1948 Died: Janullry 18,2001

Whlleslde, Onvld Powe~ Oirminghrun Admincd: 197~ Died: JnJIIlnry 29, 200 1

l i t / I I 1/111/11111)/11

,.,

•

11111

RDb. rtL Mccu.t1v. J •.

ith one·third of Ihe legislmi vi: session Over,

no bills have been l)asset!. Nor were there any bills passed ill the first Special Session

thaI was held during Febmllry. The IiNlllhird or lhe

session did see 1,100 bills introduced. If experience of prior sc:.~s ion s holds true. most of the Icgislnlion will pass d llrin~ the linal two weeh of lhe ~ss ion, wi th the lust possible d ny th atille legislatu re can meet beillg

Monday. Mu)' 21. 2001. It Is hurd [0 give busy. pruclicing lawyers un Illert to IXlssible bills ]>trldirlS in lhe legislliture. TIle following bills hove been Identified and listed by clllegory. TIlis. by 1\0 means. infers there may 1101 be local bills uffcclillg a particular coullLy or cily and Olher pieces of gCDe!'",,] !egislmion or interest These, however, liTe the most probllble bills lhat would be of interest to I;lwyers. 1 am li~tin 8 the topic along with the bill numbers in the event that you wi~h 10 eont:let the Secret:lry of the Senute or Clerk of the House 10 obluin II copy of the bill or wish to review the emire bill on the LcgisllUure'S pul>Ii<: Web site which i~: wWIII/egisltllll rt ..fUlIe.(lI.IIs/.

Constitutional Revision One bill cillis for II con ~ti tlltionlll eonvcntion (HIl. 143. Hit 3), nnd another nUlhOrtlCS Ihe legislUl ure 10 reviSe Ihe constitu tion (S O. 2, HB. 66). Four bill$ nre a pnn of Ihe House of Represer1t utives' ~y s ternali e revision of the consllllulon. TIley are Aniele J revision (HO. 63), Article 11 (HB. 64), Anicl/: Xli (1'10 . 452) IlIld Aniclc XI[ [ (['113 . 451).

Courts There is the annual bill for nonpfU'lisan election of JudgeS (S8 . 280 lind H8. 4( 1), another requi ri ng interpreters for witnesses (58. 32), and another which cre· atcs an imcrn31ional civil notllry (58 . 403 lind HB. 440).

Estates A bill would allow the executor to file 1111 nffidnvit stating the re are no tllxes due !'IIlher Ihlln wait for Lhe Depllnmcnl of Revenue to send a notice (513. 388. 1-113 . 362). 188

MAY 2001

Business One bill elilis for Ihe Tevision of Aniele 9 nfthe 146. 1-111 . 134) (sec Jununry 200 1 Alabt.llltl1 Lt,w)'t'r). li nd another for the Electronic Trllnsactions Act (S8. 132, HB. 170) (~ec Junuu.ry 200 1 Alt,bt.",w Lawyer). " bi ll cllils for the reg i s t!'llti o~ of foreign LLl's lind LLCs; failu re 10 register would cause the entity 10 not 00 able to en force their CO~l rfletS the Silme us business corporntions (5 8. 377).

ute (S it

Real Estate Sevcr;,! bills call for the reduction of the statu tory ri ght of redemption. SOllIe bills limit the reduetioll to propcny sold for taxes. and others for all redemptions. SQmc of the bills reduce thc OIIC'year slIItulory·ofredemption period to 90 dnys, and others to J 80 days or nine months (S8 . 44, SB. 172, liB. 423, HB . 125). A new prov i ~ion is pending for the vucatio n of rOllds (Sll. 101 ). '11ere is a blil milking ehnnges to the mechanic'S lien IlIw (S I1. 268. HB. 97. ~lB . 408). 1'heTe nre twO diametrically opposite lt ppruuchcs 10 the land· loro and tenant Illw. one by the RealtoT1 ll11d another by lenams' groullS (li B. 433 lInd HB. 40). Introduced agai n this year is a bill thlll would require for deeds to be rccorded in uddition to the current requirements as to who prepares them, the mari tal StlllUJ. etc .. Ihm the deed must stUle the price paid and this must be ceni· fi ed by II party liS the true nnd correct price (Sa . 37 and HB. 1(4).

Family law A blH cleals with the Unifonll Interstate Enforcement of l)omestie Orders Act (Sa . 55, HB. 112) (see March 200 1 Aldbama 1~1W>'r.r). There is also a billthllt would creme n elluse of aclion against the custodial parent if they deny visitation (SO. 23 1). 'l'he mosiliclive bill is one thot would ef1'cct a ehlmge of custody if the euslodi· (Ii Pllrcllt1ll0Ve8 out of the stille or morc than 7S miles rrom the other p~tny (58. 177, SB. ISS, SB. 65. imd I-IB. 95). Another bill dea ling with custody is one concerning gTllndpnrcnt cu~tody in certnin instnnces (HI3. 158). 11u~rc is IIlso II bill thm will requ ire II permllllcncy hear·

ing wilhin 12 monihs from pilleing a child in a foster home (5 8 . 401).

Sports 1l1erc is a revision of AJabamll's Athlete Agent Act (SB. 153 and I-IB. lOS) (ke Mnrch 200 1 Aloballl(llAw~,). Another bill i~ aimed DI athletic boosters (1m. 641),00 a third bill is directed !lithe harossmcnt of spons officials (SB. 299).

Criminal lJIw Vnrious bills create the crime of Identi· ty thel't (S B. I S. SR. 23. 5B. 144, HO. 123). Several bilJsconcem the death penalty. One en:atu a moratorium on lhe death penalty (SB. 14.58.292). while another changel! the execution method to lethal injeellol1 (Silo 52. 5B. 229. HU. 12 1). The fo llowing bills affect II specific area of criminal law: redefi nition of vioIcnt offenses (58. 34): new crime for filing claim..~ agllinsl thc SIIIlC of Alabama (SO. 64):

lI~sisted ~uieide

(5 8 . 110, 5B .

95): counting nolo contendere pleas I\S gui lty plelu for habi tuo l offenders (S 8 . 130. 1-111 . 277): creation of II committee

to eompensatc penons rOf wrongful incarcenuion (58 . 166, I·IIl. 473. 582): IIlteration of boat identilies (S B. 252): rcKulmion of bail business (58 . 304, HI) . 459): creution of n higher offense for aggrnvnted child abuse (5B. 305. HI). 507); ollow juvenile proceedings to be condllCted by vide{) communication (58 . 390): crelltion of Ihe Indigent Defense Commission (58 . 433, 1m . 57); cxpa n ~ion of the defi nition of serloos, ]lhysical injury (S8. 422); II fcdistribl.l. lion of CU I fi ncs (~iB . 370. Hit 421 ); n ncw definition of IIggruvuted fllpe (1-113 . 159): and un udditional bill ullowing for chemical CIlStrotion for sell offenders (liD . 2(9).

no.

Other There are other bills ~roposing for II "Structured Settlement Act" hI civil CII§C5 (B B. 460, also HIJ . 258), ond service of proce.~s by publication on non· residents the Jll,lIIe as on re.~idcnn under Ru le 4.3 (I IIJ. 476). I)uring the linnl two-thirds of the se$sion it is ellpecled that the generul flllld

budgct and the education bu,Jget will consume much of the legislature's time. The officlul census figuft:s were deliv· ered April lSI which will CUUIIC the Joint COlllmittee on RCIlPllOrtionmellt lo ~pcnd a great delll of lime readyi ng thcmsdvCll for an cllpected Special Session to handle rcapponionmenl not only of the Aillbumo legi51aturc but the congression. al districts. To look up any of these billS, go to the legislmurc's Web site m II'lI'w.kgislft. 11Irt:.5WIl!.fI/.II.V.

•

Por more infomlation on the Institute or any of its projecl8, contllet Ilob McCurley. dircctOf. Alabama Law Institute. P.O. 80x 861425, 1\lscliloosa 35486·0013. fox (205) 348·8411. or phone (20S) 34H·741 I.

IIoh" L McCUI'tIY. JI. """'" L ~ ~ II ....... 11M .-.... ,""'--II/h1~I11~

HI,......

110. UIIdIfgr. . . . nf t... ..... ftDm /hi ~

TIMEL E SS WISDOM AewP'$

Fllbk~ \I~re Ill» Ivrinen

/Clr children Tlll:Y wen:: wtlucn 10 hclp leiKkrl Improve IlIclr livellind lhe livcJ ollhc people Il101C leaders KNC. ACIOp', fllblcJ coax Ic~1'1 to make cMlccJ belwce:n luch thlnll5 II IfI"CW ~nd 1I1vln", nrTOjl:ance prod hurtlllhy, gnd JC ln5h lndllT~rencc und compa5lllon. Pllpanlonlo', ncw ~lelUe, whh foreword by Robert F. Kennwy. Jr.. explora the dmllf of ,he Ilnle lb! wt.ldom lefl by ACIOp. lie Invhes lawyer) 10 Ih lnk nl)()\H chamcr.cr qunlhkllhpl we ihol!ld ooth revere mId r1i:~Hc In Ic;.ders. Pppanloni<l.hoWJ how AcJOP'l wtidom Clln bencflt lawyen In lhelr role III lcadell.

Order Today: 1·800·577·9499 Only $24.95 per book 1'1", U.OO 5&.1-1cKh hem (Add f.'ol"ld~ ... IQ tax If IIrpllQlble)

:::!C-="'Or by

check to: Seville PublishIng, P.O. Boll I Z04Z PcnSIKoia, FL 32590-2012

Ilfl

'11",11\

\\\\/11

Former CI ient Confl iet of Interest Question: "I wish to thank. you for your I"Csponse on TUesday when [ called you concerni ng II conni el of intcrcSI question. JlIdge Rite, ot my request when defense counsel did not wlthdnlw, has Rsked thllt [ wri te you \0 set; if I could ge\ a fonnal opinIon on Ihis issue to as \0

guide our ncXI steps. In case you doo', remember. I am involved in the case because 111m Slill working

pllrt

timo In the Dis tri ct Au om cfs Office trying felony

cases as [ am needed and

WIIS

assianed 10 Iry thiJ elise

[his week. '1110 issue is whether an attorney may ethically rep-

n::.'lCnt It dcfcndunl in 11 murder elise who i$ churged with killing the brother of a fanner criminal cllMl of

lhe Ill10nlCY when lhm romlor clienl was the only eyewhness \0 the incident giving ri se \0 the murder chflrgc lind will be the key wllness for the Stale Dnd the

Defense. '~I"c rIlC I~. liS J undcr~ t and thCIlI, nrc thm some ),Cltl'S ago lbelwecn 199 1 and 1993), prior 10 the incidtnt that gave nse 10 Ihis cha!,&c. Auome)' John represented Clicnt A in a DUI ease in municipal coun in Any-Iown. Thcre is u dispute whether he represe nted him in anyth ing else, but for the lake of this urgumc nt, I will assume thllt he did no(' Allhe prellminury helUir.g dockel of September 1S. 1994, Attorney John told Chief Assistant Pele thnt Ihe victim and his bl'Olber wcre Pllrt of 11 pili fu l situalion and he knew them rrom hn vi ng represcnted Client A in the past. He seemcd at Ihal lime 10 be famili ar wi th thcir silualion. He lold Mr. Pete thllt he might have a cqnnici and may need to withdruw from the casc, but he did not do it at thl time. When I begun my prepartllio n for the tn lll of Ihe CaSC, I clime Ui:rt)U the mcmo lind when I called Client A to come 10 my office 10 be interviewed. I u ked him whelhcr AUorney John had represenled him in lhe past, He said thaI he had, " I told him IhO t lll1),Ihing he lold Al\orney John in the course of thlll representation was privileged Ilnd nOI to

170

M AY 200t

tell me any detnils of Ihal comrnunlcation unlen he wlllued 10 waive the privilege. He lold me he did nOI wnnllO waive Ihe privilege and (01)' told me Ihlll thcre were things thm he lold Allorney John in Ihe course of his representation thut he did not WlLllIl o become known outside of the attorn cy-client privilege. '路1 do not know what, if an),. Infomlallon Clicnt A gave Allome), John in the course of his representation which muy amount to impcllchable matennl and hnve been cfiJ'eful nOllO breach the privilege to fi nd out. It i~ Ill)' opinion that an actual conflict exists and thut Allom!:y John will have to be removed ftom the CIlSC if he does nOI withdmw voluntarily. Anorae), John's posi. tlon is thm he did not learn Hnythlng In Ihe C1)urse or his rcprcselliution that would be sl.IilUble for ill1 l~och. ment nnd Ihnt he would ab$Olulcly keep any ,cnfi. dence~ he had wi th Client A private, He funher sa)'s thut he hilS I1s~inted another law),er, a AUOrne)' Bill from Digcil)'. AL. 10 be co-collnsel ill the case lind lh:11 he ha~ kept an)' infonn ution he knows about Client A confidential as regards Allomty Dill. Although Ihe Mmion 10 Remove was filed )'csterday, Anome), 8i1l has been in the case for two month il. " I have 1\01 enclosed Ihe Motion to Remove, the BUI). l)Ort ing affidavit or brief which was filed in Ihls Cllse, bul I can forward it 10 you if )'ou like. The preliminary hcaring infonnatlon I spoke of Is 11$0 documented in a file mcmQ thnt [ have not St nt , but will if )'ou wan t me to do!lO. The th illg we need n!)w is nn opini!)n frolll you discussing the ethieal ramIfications of this 5itualion. The Judge, M I undenlllll1d it, would like the following qucstion! answered: " I . Whether Allorney 10hn's continued represe ntalion of the Defendant COnstituteS l!n actual ConOIct or interest considering his former represen. Inlioo of Clienl A, Ihe ke)' proscc~tion witness?

"2, Can Clienl A be compelled \0 nlake known to the court WhBt part of the cOllJmunicatlons with Al1ome)' John he considers I)rivlleged lind wh),?

"3. If this is an lICtual conflict of interest, is there nny way

Attomey John clln remai n in the case: repre$c:nting the Defendant? "4 .

Whethcr Attontey Bill, under the fllClS of this CIIs(:, can uudenjlke the l'epl'l!Sentlllion of the Derendmtl on his own. with or wilhout Anomey John's lIS!;istlince or whether his involvcmc nt in the case so fnr has resulted in his bc:ing tainted by any ethical duties AnonlCY John OWCll to Client A1

" I apprecillte your attention in this mallcr. At this time, 1 believe Judge Rite is going to re!ICtll\e case for Seplembcr, SO the iWQllcr wc hove yo ur Iluswer the beUer."

Additionlll fll cl~ I)rovld cd by Attorney J ohn: '路 1 re presented Oient A on n churge of dri vi ng under the influ ence of alcohol in Any town Municipal Court. This Will before Ihe murder chnrge was mnde against Client B, my cum:nt elient_ I never met face 10 fuce with Client A; all of our discussions were over the telephone. At that poinl in time, he resided in Slindy Belich. Aorid!!. "7..c0IoU81y guarding the oonlidenliolit)' of his statcments 10 me I sllllil state only tn gcner"ll itenns thc subject of oureommuIlicnlions. I discussed the delails or the drivins under the influence offense and he communieated to me his criminal histQl)'. "I WM compelled to withdnlw IlS counscl for Client A when the CII'>C WIIS cnlled for trinl nnd he failed 10 appellr. I also listed another rell.wn to the court. Thill reason 'NIlS my rel'u~1l1 to move fot fI continu8nce upon represcntllIions from my client I knbW 10 be false (the cnse wn~ continued two ti mes previously). " I have never repre!le nted or ud vised CJielll A In allY mllller other than described o.bove. Abou t six months IIgo he hud o.nother driving- under-the-influence case and called up my office to repI"CSCnt him. Ilold him I would OOI tnke his cnse and the dis路 eussion lasted less than a minute, yielding no details of anything el1ceptthe fRCt he was chllf8ed with DUI. "[)urina the ehambers henring IlIquiry Lawycr told Judge Rite thut bccuuse I wns fa miliar wltll Client A'~ criminlll history 1 would be in a posilion to illll>cuch him if he denied under oalh parts of that history. I WIIS astounded 8t his Staternenl. If a di5tricl lmorney placcs n witnC$s on the sland Ilnd hu in hill file an NCIC Sheel showing Ihal history lind sIIch witness lies abou t his crimlmtl history I hope that thnl district attOfflC)' would infornl the court that the ~itness WIlS swearing fil isely. I hope no district nllOrney in this stille would allow whul he personally knew to be perjury 10 go to 0 court and j ury us fucl. "At the heaTing in ehambert I stilled on the record thlll 01 )' previous represe ntation of Client A yielded knowledae of onl y two things: (I) the dctails of the DUI. und (2) his criminlll histo-ry. The district attorney hM not alleged I possess IIny OIher knowledae."

AddiUonitl filets provided by Atlorncy Bill: "111m Attorney Bill nnd I have entered all apl>car(UlCe on behalf or Clielll 11 . in the ubove referenced ease. Inquiring Lawyer, 1\ deputy district littOl11ey for This Count)', Alabama, hilS re(IUested I fOrnlal opinion aboul Attorney 10hn', continued representlltion of Client B. I would like to . ddreS$ l\dditionai facts reaarding Ihis maner Imd correct some of the stalemenlS " f fuc ts thai Inquiry I..awyer hIlS made in his com:spondence dated June 28. 1995.

"I represented Client B. in a hearing before Judge Rile. eoncern ina Auorney John'l continued re presentation of him. Attontey Joh n gave a stntement in open court lind on Ihe record: l1e had in facl represented Client A in the pa~t on II D.U.I. chllrie und had received no eonlidentiol infornlution of un impenching nature from him. I-le had informed Clitnt B that he hnd represented Clienl A In Ihe pflSI. Clienl B confirmed Attorney John'5 5tlllcment. Client 8 made it clear he wants Attorney John tQ represent him in this case. "Approximately two months prior to Ihis heMing. Allomey John conlltCled me pertainlna 10 Ihis case. We discussed the possibility of tryi ng this elise logether. During the COIJf$C of our dis路 cussions. over Ihe nellt twO rnonth$, il was evident I was nOt lolna 10 be able to try the cusc. I hud a capitlll murder ca~ pending in Anolher County. which WB..\ scheduled 00 the Sllllle dille. Attorney John did not enter my nllme in the case. " It becnme npparent Monday I would be available to aid in the defense of Client B, after Ihe eapiud murder ellllC in Another Coullty was sellled. I ctInutcted Auomey John. He informed me he hnd received a motion frolll Ihe District Allorney's Office, Inq uiring Lawyer_ specilicaliy, IIsking that he be removed liS the lawye r for Client B. On 1cnrn il1g this. [ informed Anomey 10hn I would be alad to serve as co-counsel for Client 0 Imd Ilroceeded to Anylown, "On my atti val, I discussed my Pro Bono represettt3tion wi th Client 11_!-Ie requested I represent him wilh lhe objective of !cecping Anorney John 118 hi~ luwyer. Additionally. if Anome), John could not for some reason repre....ent him. he mjuestcd thtu 1 wQuld represent him in the murder case. "My Notice of Appcm'lUlce was entered to the Coart on the afternoon of The5da)" the 27th of June 199.'1 . A helldng WIl5 sct on the mmion to disqun tify Anomey John. TIle Court insisted on lin in-chambers heurina. Present were myself, Anomey 10hn. Inq uiring Lawyer. Client O. Judi e Ri te, and a court rellOf"ler. I re<luested Ihe Stille 10 make II proffer. of the confidentiallnfornmtlon which mighl be disciO!;ed by Attorney Johll. because of his representlltion ofCli cll1A. They were unable to do liD. I asked 10 conducl an Cllllll1imllion of Clienl A for the Coun 10 delermine whelher or not there W IIS in fllct lln)'thina Ihm would be discoverable or could be construed to be confidcntial, which Anomey John might use to in1l>cach the wilnC5s. 1'he Court denied Ihis motion. Further, the Court was informed I would exnmine Client A. Anomey John would not participate in the exllmination of Clicn1 A. "I hllve never represented Client A. nor had Auorney JOhn di vulged any informlltion which could be remotely thought to be confidentiul concerning Client A. "Inquiring Lawyer !" lIkes Ihe assenion thai Attorney John, by knowing something or possibly knowing somcthing. or specula. tively knowing something, there would be a taint to A\lonley John which would somehow flow 10 me. 1'11nt is absolutcl)' ludicrous. Once 1 agreed 10 do the ellnminlliion orClienl A, lIny cluim thm could Ilrise from ineffecti ve assisumce of counsel bltscd upon Attorncy 10hn's representation of Client A in the PIISI became moot. I have neve r represemed Client A: [ urn nol a Icgal pflrtner with Attomey John."

Answer. Question One: Yes, Anomey John hM II conflict of intcrest Ihllt disq,lalifies him. 1111'11/111/,

l,nllH

171

Answer, Question Two: No, Client A eunnot be compelled to revenl PIIS\II!\omey-cHent conununicatlons in fin e fTort to delCnnine whether Allomey John hItS Il present connic!.

Answer, Question Three: No, ifthcre i. n contlict of intercst, then Anomey John i~ disqulllificd from the enSe, He c()Uid nOt participote short of cross-examining his fomler client.

Answer, Question Four: Attorney Bill can conti nue on the case \mlcss CQnfidcntial informmion about Client A has, in fnct, been eOllllmmieoted to him by Anomey John. lie SllYS that nothing hlL~ been communicated.

Discussion: There is II presumption thilt during the course of his prior represellllllion of lhe victim's brothcr Allomey John obtained confidential infQrnmt ion.

"Confidential information" as iI is used in the context of the Rules of Pro fessiOl\lI1 Conduct is broader in scope thltn informmion subject to the Ultomey· dicm evident iary privi lege. It cl'lcmis 10 nil infonnalion about :I clicnt acquired by thc lawyer during the cour.,;c of Ihe repre!Otn tnlion. Rul e 1.9(b) precludes the adverse disclosure of u fonllcr client's CQnlidenliol infomJ(tioll. '11crefore. Anorney John eflllllOt di~losc fUIY infoI" nmtion abollt Client A if he learned or it frolll Client A Of during the priOf repre· senuuioll. Auomey John stll:es 1111 he knows llbout lient A is hi ~ efilllinni histol')' (111 Ihe time of the DUI). llnd fncts llbout Ihllt ofTense. If it i~ likely Ihnl there wQuld be II disclosure of this information, Ihm is enough. The rule is not violuted onl y when fllawyer lIetunlly U !iC~ eo nfidentinl infomlation to II former client', disud· vantage, Whenever Ihere is fl !'Cfll risk of disclosure. there should be n disq ultllficmion. III the selling of II II·ial.;1II IIdverse di~log(lre can be inadvcncnt (\.\ well M imcruionaJ.

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nItre is no qllt~lion Ihll being Impeached or havi ng your credibility Mllicked is a disfldvflillogeous use of Infonl1a1lon. I1S fM liSCHem A is con· ccrned. Allomey Johl1 hal II dllty 10 provide his prese nt client with an effcctive crim innl defense. However. he mlly be l illli t ~d in his uhilit)' II) cTIJ~~-~xall1ine nil eyewitness. Therein lies a true conflict. lind Attorney John must wit hdrnw liS defense counsel. Clienl A should nOI be compelled to mllke any disclosure regarding COlllntullicotiOnS with his lawyer in the prior elise. Legfill y. he cal1nOl be compelled, but he is in a difficult situation. Professor Wol f~1Jl\ pointS this 0111.

"As disc ussed ~orli cr, if a clien t required to ofTer evidence on the conlenls of confid~llt iu ! eOlllmunications in order 10 hllve the client's fomler lawyer disqun li· lied, Iht eOllfiden ti~lily of Ihe infonnltliol1 woul d be lost in lhe very process of attempting 10 pro1 ~1 il. That l)Oill1 hilS been ~ppre· cimed both by COutU. in the dcvelO[lmcm or,h e Cl)lIlmon 13W ru lcs that disqualify IDwyel1l beCIlUse of a fonner c:ienl conflict. nnd by the fmmers of Ihe 198:3 Model Rules." Wolfram. Modem l..egll/ £,IIie.f. Section 7.4.3. p. 369 ( 1986) WIL~

There i ~ nO limited wily that Attorney John cnn remain in Ihe Cllse if he Is sub· ject to disqulilificmion, His re lll ~inder in the elise, in any fashion, would olll y continue Ihe risk thm Ihere would be an .1I1~ulhori7.ed (iisclos(ITe of his former c lienl'~ confidences. Allorney Bill is co-counsel with Allorne), John. If he were It member of Anomey John's Illw liml. he. too. wo uld be disqualified bcclluse there is a preSUllllltion of shnn::d confidences among firm members. Thot l)reSUml)tion does not e:tist with respect to ro,coIlllscl arrangements between lawyers from sep· arate firms , In order for Attorney Bill to be d i squ~ Jifi cd , the re !)luS! be proof thot he hns acquired Ilc1lml knowledge of con· fidcminl infonnntion from Attorney John. Atlomey Bill cnn remnin in the elISe subjecI 10 Itlll!. He stutes thut nothing hns been rclmed to him. In view of nothing 10 rebut (hm. he can continue to represent the murder defendan t. •

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Escambia County

ESlablished: 1866

Escambia County

sCllm bin is another AI~bllmll counly whose

Indian name is open 10 ~p<:C ll[lIlion. Onc opinion is Ihnl the nnme is of Creek Indinn deriva-

ti On from the word "~c hull1b!L" I1mJ mClln ~ "clcllr wDler," Another source Sintes Ihllllhc IHIULe comes

from

IWO

Choctaw words, "oski" meaning "cline" lind

" aml>chll" meanin g "thereili," for IIlhcml tl'l1llSllltion of

"cane therein," 1111s theory is plausible because "oski

nrnbch3" could be contracted ilUo "oskllmbeh~" lind then slurred by pioneering Americans into Escllnlbin. Under either theory, the coutu)' was well-named bcCIILI.~C

rhB loI~ COIIrlllUllJ 4

history of AIslx!m8~ CW'II)' ~ - /hiIII(Vi.

g!nUflll_ DlIhII f!IKr pie \\.flo ctlfIflitJuuId 10 II'IIIt {}ffJWth If)llll MfI SIIY ~1I{i>S ~ Nt/v fit ptestlfJr ccmhoum. p/M$iI

frJrw8fd r/Iem 10: SImu8I A. RI.mafJ. Jr., Migliooiro & RIoOIkW. /lrrrMl M.wr

r-.~.

""""""'" 174

it hilS nbundonl cl enr wll ln and in ilS carl)'

dllYs grew de nse slllnds of cnne. 1'he CRlek Indilln Wllr WIIS fought in the land Ihlll would become Alnbo nm dnring 1813:.nd 1814. After the wur, severnl foniti elltions WCRl built throughout the territOry 10 protect SCllh:rs fr011l hu~l ilc Indian nctivity and!O monilor lhc S,)onish in Florida. Around 1816, Major General Andrew Jllckson ordered the construction of it fOl'l in the future Ese olllbi~ County. It was namcd Fon Cruwford in hOllor of a yOUllg Geol"Sia officer, Joel Crawford, who hnd fOllght gallnntly in lhe Creek Indion W:lr and then returned to his low practice in Ocorgill. Fort CMlwford WIIS locllted nCllr the COJJl;:euh River, between Bunn Com lind Murder creeks. A senl ~ mcnt soon grew up in the 1ll"C1l. The earliest name for Ihe ~et [Ierllcr\! WllS 'The Crossroad.~" becausc the Old Wolf Troll and the Spann Rond crossed in the area. Later it w~s c~lled Newpon bcc;"Juse it was II Illnding plxe for the tlVO large creeks neMby. 1Wo of tile earliest ~t1lel'S in the IIrca were brothers BClijllmilllllld Joseph Bnlloll. In the 1830s their Ilcphew, Emanllel, clime to the oren from Gcorgia. Although spellcd differentl y.theil fllm i. Iy nnme would ultimately become Ihe name of Ihe town which evolved from this enrly settlement, the town of Brewton. TIle futu re E~cllllrbiil County wns olll:e pnn of Washington, Buld win, Monroe and Coneeuh coumics. After Cone<:uh WIIS estllbllshed In 181 9, Ihe nren cxpc-

M A Y 200 1

Flr.rl a mrl/,,,u.rft ill IJ"' ...IOII , r:ltlII1' /clcd ,'"

188$

rienced 11period of swble oound~ry lines thm Insled almost a hnlr.cenlUry. Spana becnme Ihe county senl of Conecuh COILIllY in 1820. Ovcr Ihe I1C'"( \ dccadcs, the building of the railroads would help mnke possible the creation of Esenmbin County after the Civil Wnr. Chllrles T. Pollard, the mlln most I"C.') ponsible for bringing milronds to south Alnbmnu. Wll~ born in Virginia in 1805. Ai; n young mnn he clime wuth with his uncle 10 make his fOl1 une. He eve nt ulilly scllIL"il ln Montgo mery whe re he becllme a wenlthy plnnter and Ilweslor, lie soon h;-.d a visiOn noout Ihe f\lture of tmdc and ImnSllOnation inlhe stOle or Alabama which he helped bring to rea lity, He recognized tlmt commerce between nonh lind soulh Ala bnma would remain severely limited unless tmnsponation between the two ltrCas im proved. As ellrly liS the 18305 he wor~cd to build n mil rond ~yBte m th ll t would cOimect the two !>i!ction ~ of the stllte liS we ll us link the pon of Mobile th rough Montgomery with the eastern United Stmtes. Pollnrd·s Involvcmcm with milroad construction lasted more tlwn 30 yenrs, I-I ls fi rst venture wa.~ the Momgomery Rail rolld that linked MOlllsomery to Columbus and west Point. Georgia on the Chat tahoochee

River. 'OIC next venture WWi the Alabama and Florida Railway Coml)Uny thac sought a roil conIlCCtion to lhe Gulf. This elfOt1 wcntlhrough b.~nlmlptcics. !tOtglUlit.ntions ond iOvcfnment involvement before it Wit! completed. Another oomp.lny in which Pollard had an intel'l$t. the Florida find Alabama Railway Company, pu ~hed I\Qrthward (rom Pensacolfl. Finally, the milronds joillcd DI a spot JUSt inside Ihe Alnbum" stine IIIIC. 'On~ linkup was made in NOY<:mber 1861. IIl1d (or the fi\1i1 limc lhcre was a llistorlc marlt" Q/ 1'oI11II'f1 ~'OlltlnOOUJ railroad line frol1lthe Gulf Coast al l>cnsacoln 10 the piliced the citil'.ens of southern Conecuh Atluntie Ot.~1lII at Savannnh and CounlY farther away from their courtChlU'lcstOll. The jurelion point for the nlilhouse. On December 10. IM8, the I'Ollds in south Alab,lIna WIU called Alubnllla legislature erc.1lcd E!lCnmbi u Pollard, In houOI' of the nilirolid pre.~ idcUl Counl Y frolll southern Conccuh COIII1ty who never gave up on the suc~-e.\S o( hi$ and a IKlrtion of Baldwin CounlY. venture. One of Ihe Sirung supportcrs (or the During the Civil War. the town of cre~tion of Escambia County was Mark Po llard served as II Conredertlle military Lyon8. Lyons had settled In Pollard folOUtpo~t. It was the helldquarteflt for a Inwina the Civil War. lie IIC(luired pine detllchlllellt au igncd to guill infonnation lunds. expol1cd timber. mn 0 generlll 011 redernl activity ill Pensacolo. In Siore, Ilnd ultillln1cly became involved in JIIJllIIlry 186~, Confed erate General J. It polilies by ~erv ina as II. jUlie rellresenlaClallloli. for whom Clanton, Alnbarna live from &cambia CounlY in 1818 to WIIS named, fought off federul raiders 1819. Lyons was the IIIntern al grandfo. near Polliltd. In Murch 1865. Union ther of Senator Uster Hill . He was also Genernl Steele's 1ImlY, on its way to Ihe greill-gnmdfalher of Alllbnma IJlllkely, burned the public buildinss and Supreme Coun Justice Chump Lyons, the rnllway property at Poilui'd. The AllIbmnn legL~ I Hture IIppoi nled Fo llowing the war. un elTort begun in George r. Weaver, JoSt:ph J, Jackson and COllecuh Courn y 10 Illove thc counly sent Thomus J. Jernigan to hClld un eleetil)n to north frolll Sparta to EVergreen, The choose count y officials lnd 10 select a courthouse in Sparta burned on courthouse site. The town of Pollard November 10. 1866, and the county scat becllllle the fi rst county selll of Escumbill moved to Evergreen in 1861. This ACtion

Corm/must fI/Itr n,rGwulorl 111/11 ftlldt!ncd I'" C. II. COllol"

COI.r,huuJt "",Qdrltd

County. It was cholen primarily becnusc of the busi ness ~ntercd mlhe ruilroad junetion there, Besides a depot. l'oIlnrd hlld II roundhouse, turnlable IUld repair shops for the rhilroad. 111ree mil lines converged on Ihe town. The Alabama and Florida (;onnectcd Mont80mery to j)oIJard, the Florid.il and Alabama con路 nected Pensacola to Iionard, QIId lhe Grellt Nonhern connected 1路enslJ.w. ncar Mobil: , 10 Pollnrt!. The !irst commissioners' court was held February 22, 1869 to otgf1ni1.e the county. The commission rented a house from M. R, Mclellan for ten dollars a month 10 serve as tlte temporury euur1house. The Alabamllllnd Florida Rnil rolld donaled Block 17 i~ the lown 10 the count y for Ihe eOllslructiQn of a cour1houiIC nndjail. Ikcnuse the county had no newsp.lpc:r, bids were published in the Conecuh County paper, Thtl E\'l!'!rl!l'/r Obstn~r. The bids were opened on Marc h 22, 1869 arid John Gladden WIIS low biddcr for the courthouse while W.11. Amos WliS low bidder for the jail. TIle jail Will! completed !inn ulld :Icccpled by the coont y on November I, 1869. The COSI .... II~ $2.950. The first counliouse for Escallibill County remllined under CQnSlruction for opproxlmmcly three years. It WIlli acccpted on Jnlllillry 6. 1813 lind COSt $4,000. No picture exisllI of Ihi ~ fif$t CQunhouse but il was described as two stories

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1111

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17.

S~co"t1 ct)urrhOl.s~

8~wI0l', Ct)ll'III~I~1f

h, 1901

in height ilud construCted of pine lumber thm had beell milled ili lhe Mea. TIle county hnd 10 lev y II spcciltJ tax ill order to plly for the Co ut1hotlSC. Coum y records revenllhnt in 1877 the commissionel'll plJrchnsed lightning rods for thc CQurt路 house III 11 COSI of $50. payable $25 a year in IWO inSlaJJmel1ls. Perhllps Ihe lighlning rods were defectivc. Or. more likely. II disgruntled litigant dcx;ided to Yent his wnuh aguinstthe CO\lrthou:>c:. In ilny e\Cllt, in July 1879, thi: courthollsc WlIS destroyed by n fire. Many of thc records at the courthouse were lost. A grand jury indicloo an indi vidual. but he was nevcr Hied cille to lack of evidcnce. 1111: coullty thell renled 0 tu;mse from Joe Jemigon 10 usc as another tempomry courthouse. 11Je eiti7.ens of Polhlrd sought to rcbttHd their courthouse. but a rival town 178

MAY 200 t

clulilenged PoilUI'd fol' the COunty seul. [n 1868 the town of I3rewlOl1 hnd sought lhe CQllrthollS(l bUI lost 10 Pollnrd. Since 1868, the fortunes of Brewton hnd imp roved whilc those of 1'011ard Imd declined bccuuse. in the nlClilltinlC. the milrollds hod moved their jUllction from Pollul'(l 10 I~ommon, IJ rewto n was now a more thriving loculion thun Po ll urd und it wns ceutrllily located in the count y. Also. some lime during th,s period. un incidcnt OC<: urre{] Ihm raised the ire of tllallY I3 rewtonians. provoking them 10 vigori. ously purs ue rc localJon of the county seat. A specinl jIll')' had been sllillmoned 10 attend court in l'oIl:WlI. Unfortunlllcly. the date on the summon.'! was incorrect by two days. Approximlltely 70 men walked the 16 miles from Brewton to Pollllrd nlong the rnilrobd track onl y to be told

lhat a mistakc had becn made ll nd court wnuld nOl be held fnr two more dDy~. It wns repo ncd th~tlhe men were given no plly for Iheir time. lind they wen:: Yery up~et. Soon thereuf'ler the elTon re-surfltced to re]O(;me the cowlly scm. The Itgislmure called for lin election to determine the COUllty scm. The res idents of Pollard arg ued du ring the campaign Ihm Ihey nll'l:(ldy hlld Ihecounty sent Dnd if n new sitc WIlS chosen. Ihcn the counly would h:lVe to re lOCllle lind build n new jail a.~ well. The booslers for Brewton countered thm they were nearer 10 the geogruphical center of the COunty. tht old jail was worn out unyway and needed to be J'C phlced. lind most Mlhe business of Ihe eouilly look place 111 Brewlon. TIle clectioll was held on Apri l 12, 1881 . l'oll:lrd wa~ declared Ihc winner. Howevcr. il was discovered that there were at least 131 more VOICS ellst from I'ollurd th nn there were regi~tered voters there. Brewton "untested Ihe electinn and Judge J. I'. Hu bburd of Greenyille ordered II recount. 1nc recount uncovered 215 more votes from Pullaru than there WefC registered yO ters. When Judge Hubbard sough t all expla路 nntion froillthe PolIHrd officials, they were quick to l)Oint OUI th'lllhc l~gis lOli oll in cnlling for nn election did 1101 s[)Ccify thm "<ltlalified" votCnt nltl~t v芦e. bill il refcrred only to "inhobitBlltS." Sincc th~re were mlmy mil road WOl'kefli (rom Mobile. Montgomery lind PensHcolu in Pollard 011 election day. they were allowed to yote Illi i nhabitllnl ~ of I'ullurd. Upon hetlrin g this interllretlil kll'l of the I~w. 1'1 dli u n wrote 10 the firclI'/(m 8/adc neWSpaper liS fo llow$: "Gentlemen of Escllmbin Count )'. nro nOI sllch transac路 tions II stench in your 1I0mils: has honor. purity. m'ld justice fu llcll ~o low Ihat it is besmellred wilh nlllhc filth of'lhc Augelln s1l1bles lind 110 rcdre~5'! Will we be tllxed 10 build a courthouse m l'ollllrd where such II ring liS Ihm control~ it? Sir. Illy 11Inguuge fail s me to express my indignlllion al such doings. When the Put her of 1111 creuted the henvens lind the eiU'th il wtlS grtm! Whcn he plfleed the stnrry firmament on high and ordered the god of dllY in ils course. it was Ulngnifi. cent t When he cre/lled mall in his own imagc it was sublime: bllt when he made lin honcst mnn it WDS the noblest work of 011." Needless \0 say. Ihi5 readcr did nOI believe thm there were many honest men in Pollard.

A,wll!u

";n>' oll9()] COUrthllf/SM

Arter the fi rgt eltction WIIS ...oided. the leaislll1ure passed lI.nOlher nct siotini thm qualified "'olel'll only could ... ote in the new election. When the ... otel were coun1cd. Brewton l\ltd won by 54 ... otes. Still. this did not ~l\l e the contro ... eI'llY. Pollnrtl appealed ond cmployed Ihe best legal tltlent in the lItole to fight the I\$ult. Coullt y officials were not cel'lliin of the outcome. One reDder of Ihe IJ~'O\'I(}/t 81(uie Mu ted in II letter; '~rh e coun house issue has resolved in10 u Kilkenny c~t fight Brewton and Pollurd ho ve their tails tied together, nnd flte hung ncroS5 Ihe hemline of the pr«l ncls llud on that line they will h:lYe to fi ght," The next week, a respondent from Pollard n:plied thm if it wus a cat light Brewton wlinted. it was a cot fight they would get. Mysterlo usly. 11 boxcnr loaded with ClltS nnd kil1ens nppeared in Brewton one night Ilnd the llfIimalli were tumed loose on the town, Hundreds of frenzied feli nes rol\llled the streets. One IICCOUI1l called the eonditiolll "clII.ustrophy." Judge IIUbb.1rd issued Ilfl order to the county officials to show cu u~ why they should not remove the county offi ces to Brewton. Meanwhile some local citil.ens of Brewton took mallcr'5 into their own hmw, One night they slipped into Pollard, broke into the tempor.aty courthouse. lind lootkd twO WIlsons with COUn1y records. TIley ntpidly rntcd to Brewton but one of the wugons OW:rtumctl und some of Ihe books we re thrown into II ~m:lIl1l . Ilccause of the hurried effort Itnd the durknc.~s . SOIl1C fil es were fIC\I(J' found . Tolluy t~ re are gups in the Escambia Coont)' rttoni~ due to both the P(l1I:w'd courthouse fire IlfId this Brewton COtirthouse ''thefl.'' Finally, on JanulU) 23, 1882. Brewton was officinlly clcclnrcd the county seut of

Clry part Ilnno'/QI', i!'1Ir/yl9001

Ilscambl ACounty. Despite this '''ling the coullty conulIis§ion n:fu!!Cd 10 lellllC l'ol1urd /u)(l the contruvelliy conti nued into 1883. As lme as April 9, 1883, the conllnis· sioller'5 stilted that the Hliwkills 1·louse in Pollaro where they 1I'le1 was stillthc official COUnly counoouse, 11le commission nlso cnlled for Ilnother elcc;tion on counhouse location to be held April! 1. 1883, Tbis was dOlle because Iln Act passed by the legislature on Fchrullry 19. 1883 mandated thnt another election be held. Pollurd did not give up easi ly. When the fesidell~ of Pollnrti rc:lti1.ed th:1\ they would be out· ... oted, they joined wi th others to sUlmort Flomaton. then called Whiting, as the COunly ~ltl. TIle coun. house contro...ersy, which had lusted severnl yellr'5, was resolved when Orewton won Illig election. On May 14. 1883 1he coun ty received n n:port Ihm lhe election commission had rented II two· story frame building (rom W, W, Jernigan for otIC year beginning April 30. 1883 at 5275 per quaner. Brewton was now legall y und uctuully the cOLlnty scat. On May 29, 1883, the county bought a 200 by 300 fOOl 101 for n permanent !:(Iurt. house and jllil for 5100, The lot WIU pur· ehll.-~d from Eli711 Brewton, who Wll.-~ Mr'5 . Emanuell3n:wton, lllis purchase is note·

WOrthy becnuse Emanuel B reW/WI WII$ the SlIme Elmmuel H i'll/Oil who hoo come 10 the arell frolll Georgia liS n yOll ng nmn in tllC 18305. Bii;w and !3nmIHle1'8 SOrt, Edmund Troupe IlrutOIl, wns tlllployed by lhe mitro.1(] as the lirllt ~Iat ion ngell\ wh~1t the fllilrood arrived. That lirllt trai n can'le on Mlly 13, 1861 . The depot ww; spelled B·R·E-W·T·().N. How this spelling came: about is not clear, but il W/l$ II L"Ornmoo p11lctice to name t/lil ro3d towns for mil· mild ell1 ployces. Por ex311l plc, neorby Atll10re was lIamed for Charlei P. Atmore, the gcneml paS:lCnger agcnt for the ntil· rood. Atnny mle, all of the IJrutOtlS In the area changed the spelling Q( their nllme to Brewton and the former tOWIt of Newport bccanlC Brewton in honor of il~ Iil'5t station agent Ihere IiIld the Bn:wton flUnily. In JIIUC 1883, the county cmcred int(lll commcl with A. M. Williull1S\ln for the construct ion of a jail lit Brewton. The low bid was 52,248.75, The jlll was designed by U. C. KnOll. It was complet· ed tl.nd recei ...ed by the count y on November I, 1883. The construction of II COUI1ltOUSC in Brewton took longer nnd Wit S llIore expensive, On November 3. 1884, the COllllty petitioned the legislatLn: for per· mission to issue $8,000 in bonds,

1'h/rd CO/OfII,OIISt 1" 8'\!1I'10II, com/lie/eli il! /9d() 1111111111111

11111/11.

171

pljyahle ovcr five ycar.;, in order 10 ins n lIew courthouie, A cornrnillee visitfina nce the cuurthuuse constructiun. 'n,e cd recentl y-built courthouses in petition WIlS IIpproved and Ihe county Evergreen, Montgomery, Opelika and empluyed Rud(Jlph Iluudye to ilCl"ve M L"-tFllyelle to get ide:"!! for the new Escambia Cou rtho~se. Lockwood ond archilectllnd to supervise lIlI construC' tion, Chnrles Sneider of Mobile received Smith. Architects of Montgomcry. dcsign.;d the new bllilding. F. M. Dobson the conlr~'Cl to builcl the coul'thouse for $1.140. The commet wus signed Marc h scrvcd a~ COnlractor. The contmct price 14, 1885, the bQlJ(ls were ~u ld in May, WIIS $26,500. :md con ~truct ion soon besan. The new courthouse was n two-Slory brick bu ildln~ with woodcn nOON lind phlSlcr wall.~ , Cuunty offices were locllted Or. Ihe nl'Sl noor ,nld Il large cOlmroorn and O1her offices for the J ud~e, jury 1I11d willlesses were on the second noor. One inlerest ing poil\! is tlml Ihe !lImbe r for lhe cQnstruction o(lhc courthouse clime from Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Newspuper reports ut the timc expre.~St:d the unger 1Io'.I1orJc ulgll ('lila - 2001 of Itx:ullumbenllen who could 1I0t believe tllm their prOOtlct was 110\ n le new courthouse was accepted as USed to build their own courthouse, The complcte by Ihe co~nt y on June 9, 1902. building wa ~ received as complele by the It was bui lt of buff~ol ored jlrcsscd brick county on September 10, 1885. :lIld stonc. It was trimmed in terfll cottll lind hml multiCQlor~d gln.~s uoove the The town of Brewton pl'o~pcred Dfter it bcclltne the coutU y seal of E~alllbiQ doors and wi ndows. The building contlli ned n SQnri ng eelllrnltower nnd fou r County, Thc economy WIIS bnsed on timber, lumber, nu~al stores uml the rni lroud, smaller tum::t~. 111e structure hud Romnnesque und Gothic (eatures. II was creUling milch wealth in Urewton. In fnc t. IIceording to the 1890 census, a grund courthouse for the town of Brewton. AI~bam8 , togethcr with Brewton. In 1905. tile count y obtni ned ]>uslIdclllI, Culiforniu, had the highest per two CU l1non ~ from Port Barrancas l1enr eupitu wealth of IIny c:ities in the United PCrll>liCOlil inld h:id ~\c nl placed 011 the Stmes. nlercfore, Ihe count y comm ission courthouse lI.wn lOgether with a pyramid of c:mnon balls cOlHlruc ted beside e:tch decided IhOlt the COUIlly needed B newer, cunnon. bigger, more claOOl'llte. und more slylish structure for il! courthouse. The first cOtlrthousc lit Brewton WIIS In Jllly 1901, thecQumy ~Id II no longer needed by Ihe county, lind on SJO.OOO hond i~sue to be lIsed for buildJune 19. 1902. the pmbl.1lejudgeoffered

the old courthouse lind Iut for sale. It sUlyed on Ihe nHl.rket uJU11August 2.5, 1904. but there were no Interested b\l Yers. 11\ lhe IlIe.l11[ill1e, lhe building wus used by the Brewton Rifles lUlci it rernnit)l:d ~ N~tio[l:ll GUDrd Armory for seveml ye~ r$. After the :lnnory movcd out. the bui ldin~ was sometimes i nvud~'(] by curious neighborhood youths. However, they slayed "WilY ff()rn the upSl(ors because ora. huge, Sluffed I'I"Illlesnnke hOllging illlhe OIlic window, In 1909, the building W;tS $old to the president or lhe Escnmbin Tobacco Compnny who used the property lib II toblleco wllrehouse. On AuguSI I. 1910. lhe prtlpcrty was sold to businessman C. ~I . Conoley who reno~utcd the bui ldin}; und cOn~erted it intOu colunlal style home. On November 20, 1911. Mr, CorlOley deeded the property to his wife. And on AuguslS, 19 19. Mrs, COJoley sold Ihc home to Mnbel C. l.eigh, The '" I.eigh Plnce"' was ucquired by ThornllS E. McMillan und was complclely fCmod ded for offices in 1969. The structu re is stlll u~d as un office building tOOny :lIId is listed on the Al:lbllnlll Rcgistry of Lundm urks und Heritllge. Brewton is Ior;;med hctween the Conceuh River and Bunlt Com lUld Murder creeks. It has suffered 11111Jly noocil ove!' Ihe years, but in 1929 Brewton C1I pcrienced ol\e of the WOI'St noods in its histOIY. Mnny streets were completely covered O\lCr with willer. Sightsccrs nockcd to Brewton. In response. the town p-,sS(.'(1a fumous ordinance nmkins it illcl;nlto drive n IlIQlOr boat up lhe middle of II downlown stteet. hcCIlUSC it Willi believed thut the wllktlll"rl~U1ed by the

.". .I.

• II; • I CmVI!N!lrCIl f(HJI~

178

III

MAY 200t

ulglr ('111(:11 1I/fII "'11$ !um,rrly Ihll ihulfJ's ojJiCt

1.111 II U II~ , I. "" lilt . " I

III.

r'"

ItII6f;ur I';ew Q/ glllSs lloors /ifIll /1111 11';",1011' Utt srcoml floor

EJrflmbill COlmry C.'DI" thouJtI- ZOOI

boats cauo;ro slorefrolll glass windows 10 break. This law renllincd in pliICC for yC1~ lind WItS conullcmcd upon worldwide. Unle.~s onc knew Ihe hislOl')' of Brewloll . It did seem odd 10 O\uluw the drivi ng of ,. motor boot on lhe II1l1i n ~lrcct of town. l3 y 1938 the cO\l ~ty needed more room and a CourthOUse Annex lind County Activities l3 uitding wus construcled. Thi ~ work was completed l'I$ W PA Proje:e:1 No. 4169, This annex still stnnds todl1Y. OrewlOn and &;cambia County continued to grow. Since the: COUrlly owned the: propert y nonll of the courthouse. county umcial~ decided to build 1\ new C()urthou.'IC udjolning the uld one. Constl\lction begun in 1959 ilnd the building WIIS complelt'd in 1960. ThecQ~t Oflhe: third Brewton courthouse WI1.~ $613,000. The building WItS dcsigned by hurlcs Ii. McCnuley of Binnlngham and lhe: contractor wns Bear I1 rolhers Cunstructiun Comp.1ny. TIlt open house look place un Sunday. October 2, 1960. Congressman Goorge Grant delivered the speech. TIle newest Escambia CounlY Cuunhouse is buill uf steel and concrcte. Mllrble is used throughoulthe imerior. II was origllllllly buill wilh more thll n 40.000 squllre feet of ~paee Ilnd 126 rooms. II hils twu stories and a basement nnd i~ completely oir-eo ndit ion~d. Shonly after Ihe new counhouse was completed, Iln Ilrticle appeared in the Mobile " rtJS·Nt'giJ,r:r proclaiming Brewton n cllYof courthouses. It noted thm Ih~ citit.cns hnd built Ihree eoun· hou$CS in less thnn 75 years. nnd nil three were .~till stAnding .nd were locnted wi thin .. radius 0(250 feet. However, Ihe 1902 stmeture wus ~oo n sold for $650 to the U.S. Wrecki ng Compnny of Montgomery. The building was th~ n razed nnd the grounds IlInd~D pcd .

Cmmh(ltlu "'""u -

rompIl'l~d

In 1918

1wo additiOllnl counhouse projectS tOOk plnce ill the 19805. III 1985, 1111 ~I evillor nddition WIlS ~()mp l ~ted to make the (;ounhouse wheelchair a~ecss ible . Domllier. Harris & Associnte.•• Arehl tect.~. Engineers & PhmneB. designed the proj. ect. Lurry lIall Construction. Inc. Wll.~ the general comraetot. The other project wu It Veterans' Memorial on tIlt courthoosc grounds, It WllS dediciued November II . 1987 lind it lisled the: Escnntbln County native !lOllS who died in the World wurs. Korell nnd Vietnom. It olw listed Escmnbiu's two Mcdnl of Honor fC(,: lplents. Sidllcy E. Mnnnillg from World W:ut. And William W. Seay. who wns killed in IlClion in Vietnam. 111e au thor acknowledges with grateful oPllreciation the assistance of the late JudKtl or I'roba te MRrthu Klrklnnd for obtaining Ihe hi storic photos and ce rtain information used with this Miele, TIle author also thanks Atmcre attorney Berl Rice ror his help in obtaining resel1rch IIl11terinl ~, And Ihe nuthor th nnks Earl Coupt·r fur ollowing him to tour Ihe historic Leigh 1)lnce. O rewton '~ fi rst pemlunent COurthouse, IIlld to tuke photos or the Interior. •

Sources: Fmm C(I/}/IIS/() MIII!.~lou: Gk(!/li"gs from Somlrll'r.fI II Ialx,ma, Mnl)' E. Brantlcy. nu dme: 1111/01')' of £Scomb/(I COIIli/Y. Allllx''''I' . Annie C. Wllters. 1983: AnielC5, Mobllt Prrss· R~8isu!r. "Life in Pioneer Ese.ulIbia County Told Vividly by Old 1)«:\lInents," Ford CooIo;.. Suoday. lanullt)' II . 1959: Mobilf' Pf(!ss·Rf'gj5l~r. " Brew.oo is City of Cou rthousc.~." W. Emmell Ilrooks. Sund;IY, Augusl 28, 1960. puge 5-0 : (IIonIgome ry II til'" 1'/1SU. "I:.sclmbill Coullty's l'oll urd 1·lns Heritllgc," Sam Duvnll. 1\lcsdlIY, JaIl UOI)' 10. 1978.

Simnl A. H.mII" . Jr.

s.r..t 010. " ' - " ~ II. eo- III .. ~ .. Moll o.r. _ IN LW«IdyGl,....... SdIooI 01

"'*""

' - ............... " " " - .. IN St.- IIIf'o h,,'" I.tw IIII'ICIa ..

s.a.. _ •

........

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c.a-

/111

I f \ /1 111 1

I I II I IN

'7'

Coil P,nl,

cecllll),. I mel wilh the members Of Ihe

EXC(;ulivc Committee for 111C Alnbuma Young

Utwyers' Section. '['his group of young lawyers from around the stote hos been n rCllmrkubh: OUt. Elich

one of theSt luwyers is sciness with thdr time lind th ey c ~pcl1cl

gteM energy 011 wort hwhile

prujttt,~.

This world is strew n wilh half.completed proj ~C [S nnd people who do 110\ fini sh whm they Slftrt. The lawyers on the YLS ~xccu l jve BOMd are mode ls of ~ uccessful people becnuse they persevere, persel'ere onel pcn;cvcrc. In olher words. they follow lhe ad vice of WinsIon Churchill who forcefully proclnimed ill one

of his mOst famous

~pccc hcs,

"Never give upl Never.

never. never, never gille up!" Allow me \0 shnre the following wort hwhile projects Ih m IhWC begun und will be curn plctcd before my term ends in July. These projecls Include:

Disaster Assistance Along wilh the leadership of Ihe Alobl"lIIw SUile Bar. lIub IInlll.'y, Apple Mili5l'1)S nnd Sieve MHnih1l1l were

involved in helping eili1.eIlS of mlr Stnlc del.1 wilh ullexpc<;led problcms Cil used by Ihe devastating lornadoes in 1\JS<!alooslI lind Mnrshn ll CQumies. l-listoriclIUy, Ihe YLS has always responded to Msisl pt:ople in need dl.ring IhCllt: lill1c..~ uf nalurnl d isn~ le~. Obviously. resl>ondi tig 10 this nL-ed I'l.'quil'cll prepllrntion lind orgllni ~.lIt iQn. Along wilh KrUh NOrmlll1. thc ASO exccutive director. and FEMA, we (.re Ot'guui:r.cd illld iU't prtllllrcd to help others imlllcdimeJy. Lawyers from actos~ the stllte hllve agreed 10 be Ii patt of Ihe orguni1.fllionlll Struclure. I um o\'crwhelmed by their 1lC1$ of se,.,.ice.

Mentoring Lnu rll ClIllowny of the Alubam!! St!!le Bur hM developed n mel1lorins prosmtn. aud .Jlm IllIghty of the YLS Executive Committee is working with I.llllm to ensure thlll the progmlll is implemented. The ba~ ic idea of this progrum is 10 have IWO tmch: a stru ctured track with one·on·Orle mentoring for younger lawyers and a "call·as-needed" advice trac k for IIlI others. [n Ihe one-on-one tr;.ck. nu.:ntors arc asked 10 contmit to mell10r II minimum or one prolo:!go:! for six mOnlh5. In 180

M AY

200t

Ihc "Cl.I! - H~- necdcd" truck. mcntors ltre asked to com· mil 10 being availoble 10 memor a minimum of Ihree pfOlo:!gc!S by phone over II one-year period. Mentorin g phone conferences would be e~llIb li shed by apl>oimmen t at a time thm is lI1utulllly IIccepll,ble 10 all pDrti e~ and would nOllast grelller lhlln :30 minutes. We believe thm th is prugrnm will benefit our s1ILte bar. ·n lU S. we will wholeheart edly endorse the prugrulI1 and do whatcver is nccessary 10 ensure thllt it is II suc-

cess.

Minority Law Conference LuUllrrOIl lloone, wilh the help of a ,r lsty Crow, once IIgui n has developed H minority law confe rence for the benefi t of high SCh(lQlminority swdent8. This one-day conference was held May 4 ot A!al)flma Sime Unive r~ity's Acadome. 811ch ye~ r. rc ~ pce ted allOnlcyS ~peilk to minorit y high .~chool students, and lhi ~ yellr is no exception. Lee LOllder. city councilm:m and allor••ey frOnl l3irminghnm, und Judge Ilcrmun 'I'humus. circuit eourt judge for the "1,irtecnth Judi cial Cireuit. will be the featured speakers. In addition• .ludge Mnrv[ n Wiggins of the Fourth Judieiul Circuit will preside over a mock u;al which willlliso Involve I.l.'wls Gillis lind Wesley I'l11ers. I am grateful to ench of the.~e 1l1lOnleys for Ihcir commitment to helpi ng youn g people.

Admission Ceremony For many yeurs. U SII Vll n WlIl:n~ r has organi1.cd the hdmissions eeTClUony thut is a highlighl for our new admillecs. 11lis ceremony olwuys receives high pmise frol\lthose who have: uttellded und from member.; or lhe AlabamA Coun of Crhhinfil Appeills, the Alilbll rnu COM Or Civi l Appeals and the Alabnmo SUI)reme Court. Next yeu r. Kum ll" Shuu l alld Cllrls ty Crow wi ll eoordin nle the ceremony. nley will do nn Olltslllndi llgjoh.

Sandestin Seminar Todd Stro hmeyer lind the ol h ~ r lI110meys on lhe YLS Executive Comnlillet from Mobile hll ve done another' outstn nding job of planning conlinuing legnl

edUClilion ror Ah1!!IUlIa's young lawyer . The 5Cminur. 10 be held Moy 181h and 19th in Sandestln. will feamrc Judge U. W. CIl'IIIII11. Uryll n Sle\·cnSQn. Wurrt'n I..Il(htfO(ll, J c~ Ih!flsle)"llnd I..ee Coolwr. Each purticipunl will offcr insight 10 you ng Imwye~ and cncoumge young Inwye~ to develop n pIUS ion for lhe law. If you ha\e not llllt'lldy regi~. tered for lhls seminar. do 80 today by contacting Todd Strohmeyer fll Sims. (iraddick & Dodson In Mobile. Not only will ),ou enjoy lhese seminar spc:akcn, but you will o l ~ enjo)' lhe good fe llowship wilh other yatUl, Illwyers. the sunny bcIlChe.~ of Sandestin, nnd the fun p'u1i~ held eoch evening. We arc Snlleru1 10 the sponSONl of this S(minllr. especially Ihe 1;1'01' fi rm of Thylor. Murthm & Ih'dge. which spon)loNlthe Fridny night pany, nellsley. Allen. Crow. Meth vin. I'nrtls &: Miles. which spon~ofS our breakfllsts. and 1~lIc/ls. Wnsh &: I'ctwny. which SPO IlSOrs our golf toumnrncUl. In addition. Ha re, WYIl /l. Newell &:

Newlon. Foslll'e & 1\lmer Court Rel)(J rter1l lind lIendcflion Cllurt Rel)Orlers are SUpportCfS of our seminar.

Teen Court The Sandestin Seminar nllows our group 10 support special projccts tl1m are being impkmcnlcd across lhe SIRle by locol young lowyer groups. For Cltample. in Andalusia. Patrick McCHhnulI had It yision \0 implement It ICCn court in Covington Counly. No ..... over SO teen YOIUlUeers are certified to partidpale in t\o'Cn court. Teenagei'll howe tried lawsuil$ and been inVQlved us j~ ror'il on cases involving their peers. Teen Court works 10 deler leens rrom being involved in illeg!!1nCliYily. These CQtll1S ulso provide confidence und ~ki ll 8 t hltl will be used Inln in life by che teenagers. I hove only louc hed lin some of Ihe WOrthwhile pruSmms tlllll you nS luwyers oversee. We liTe fOr1u nulc III be livcn un opponunity to mnke n dilfcrcnt'e in ourt'Onlnlullities. We must couli'J.1t to pt:l'l!eycre. •

O~8TOR MANA6~M ~ NT

SOFTWAR~ UNIOU~LY O~SIGN~O

fOR COLLECTIONS ATTORNEYS. PRIC~S START AT JUSTS1700.

18008 171157 JS HCHNOt DCt[S. INC,

151 ' WILlOW lAWN DltV( RICHMOND. VA 23 m

•• w·illn.c••

111])lCII/ lln .. II. 11-11.1'11 ICrlU: nl'f:RTS The Alabama State Bnr Local Bill' Award of Achievcrncnl recognizes local bar associations for their out.s tandi ng contributions to their communities. AWllrd.~ wi ll be prcscnled duri ng the Alab:unll Stille l1ar's Annuul Meeting, Jill)' 1.5-19 in Snndcslin. Loclll bar nssochu ions compele for these awards based Oil their size. l11rge. Illcdi um or Slnll iJ . 11,e following criteria will be used to judge the contC... tlUll~ for each cutcgory: • The dC8 rcc of I>nn ici put ion b)' the individunl bar in advancing pro· grums 10 benefit the communi lY: • 11le (IUtlli t)' and ex tent of the impact of the bar's participation on the citizcns in thut communi ty: and • The dcgree of cnhn nccmcnt to the bar's image in the conllnunil)'. To be con~idcn:d for this nwnrd. local bru' associations must complete lind submil lUI award HI>plic;ltion by June I. 2001 . For an application. conlact Ed Pmte~. ASB dirt'(.'tor or programs. at (800) 354-6 154 or (334) 269· 1515. ext, 16 1. or P.O. Box 671. MOlllgomery 36 10 1.

I'L'Or_TI' ~rI'''''''''_'''' MI!-' LbIoOL~

TCI~

• t'Rf.E :

• FIlJ'Jl :

, t·.EE :

Mci1 k .!ITe:lnl Preview :lnd Written Findings Ci)nrcl't'ncc and ReP!' To rOllr om(e Written R~rts I(

elise lias

Merit

STAT AFPlDAVITS AVAII,ABI.f.I

WC h:t~·c successfu llylvmplclcd o~'e r 10,000 CllSCS for j ,OOO( +) law Orms. Our board tt:rliOcd eXI>erls work wilh you to maximize rcco\'cry, UealCh Care Auditors, Int, IS'" l'Ul lirr SoIIIIIl Or"~

Mid •. II.Swl1e t90 florid. JJ76l H22

Clu",'-. I~r.

To ll fres 1·877·390·IICAI Telt-phone (7 27) S79030H Tctccopter (7271S73· L]]3 ...~ .... pit,"" ........ h~ 1-

1111

11 1 /1 11/1

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11111 f H

,.,

The Volunteer Lawyers Program Student Award In 1/l1/\\\/II.:Ir,(,I/l1 /(11/\\

he Alabama Slate OW' Volunteer Lawyc:1'lI Program (V LP) Studem Awtll'd was in~tilUtc:d by the AIIlOOlllll Stale !Jar Boord or Dar COlllmissioncl"!I in 1999 to illlrOOlICC law Sludents lit Alnbmlll'S pccrOOiled low schools to 111'0 bono legal work. Th eam the ~tu(lcnt award, law students must work for SO hoon; ~11l Legal Services office during their law school eliteCr'. The work

connot be comllC'uslIlc:d lhrol.l8h COIJI"Se credit or remllnemlion. Swdenl8 lire nlliO cocOllmgc:d [0 uucne! the 11I111\Ini 8rM/J' tltt: (;(11' Contin uing Legal Bduclltion progmm offered by ABICLE since lhis CLE revicWi ~illi or IlIw provitkd by the VLI'. Additionally.

II/Imp 8o.dey, Nlt:oll! Goulll!r and Nobln Krill!)' 'tVoll1il! VU'rtUPrlOf! d"rl,,& Ihl! AS8 2000 Ammal Mutl/Ill.

tion ccremonieJ m Iheir law schools. In MIlY 2000, n llwn

Montgomcry, COfUpl(.'IOO his hours of scrvke for thc VLP Student program til Leglll Services Corporation of Alabama in Montgomery. Kcllcy '~ haOOs-()n expcri(.',ICC enlightened him as to the type of nsslstllllCC Legal Services provides. By volumeering wilh Lcgnl Services he "was IIble 10 meet Ihe lnwyers ond the pe0ple who work IIllhe courthoUse." His time 1Il Legul ServiCCll made him "realize thm Leglll Service.~ is lilling 11 void by pro~iding legal represenlUtion for those who (.':umol afford lin nuomey." JIm Smith. managing auomey at Leglll Service.~ Corporntion of Alab:1Il11l. Montgomery Regionltl Office. supervised Kelley Dnd is cnthusiastic about the student VLP prugrnm: " II i! II wonderful proarnm and an experience that allows law 5Iudent~ exposure 10 problems rclll people have and experience on a day to day ba.~i~." Smith feels the progrom allows students the opportunity to relllb.e th:l\ "lnw isn't jllst Iheorie~ in n ease book but renl people whose Jives nrc affe(.'ted." Nicole Guul le r. II thi rd-year sludent nlthe University of Al~bunlo School of Luw, complclcd hcr vol unteel houl'8 nt Legal Services Corporulion of Alboomll In her homctown Qf Mobile under !llIomey Joe Curr. GI1Utier snid, "Workina at Legal Scrvlces made me appreciate what It is like to be in legal need and not be able to affCll'd legal repre.scntlltion. Also. I really Ill'Jlffi=ltued the job thm the Legal Services IlllomCyll do and the srellt need ror pro bono work by anomeys wi thin the stllte." Gilutier added, " Work ing al Legal Services was II hUII'lbling c:xperience. It sets you out of the shell of privilege you hDve as a law st udent. By pnrtici pating, )'011 do 50methlng good for othCI"$ lind for the leg:tl profession." I'nmeln Ouey, member lind fomler chnlr of th c Access \0 Legol Scrvices Committee of the SIOIe B UT. profesSQr of I3w 01

O ll \'l~ r

lind Robin Kelley were recognlwd fll the Universi ty of Al~ban1l1 School ofLllw's gtfldufl1ion ItS the lirsttwo recipients of the VU' stud~nl aWl1rd. In Ilddilion 10 recogni ti on III gl'llUuation. recipients the VLI' student ownrd will be honoredtH the Alllbarnn Stnte Oar Admissions Ce~ mon y "nd rctoanized in Tile A!tI/)f.llII(/ ulwyer. II AIlII' Unxley, u third-yenr l"w ~t udenl IUld president of the Student Oar AS!locilltion at the University of AlaOOma, partici. pmt.:d in the VLP Student progJ1l,lIl Ihis pllst summer by worlcing I1t the Lc:gal Services CC!tp()11itioll of AllIl>llmll Reaionnl Offi(.'e in Dothan, which is Oadey'. hometown. BIIJtley said, 'Working al Legit! ScrvicC!l is like dl1y and night from 1IIy previous legl1l work experience!. Usually ut u linn you don' t deal dircttl y with clients but here III Legal Services I come fllce 10 fllce with c1iems. Volull1eering Ilt Legul Serv i(.'cs i~ II good wily to keep grou nded, and lets you realize thiit thett arc mlllly IIspe(.'I;Ii or the lllw." Llaxley said the VLP student progmm gllve him lin outlet to continue his ow n servicc \0 the (.'01ll1llu nity. "[n law school, you have to devote 50 much time to your clas!lCS. this progrnm is 11 good way to give back to the community." Islunlltl Jurrl't'e. mllnllging 1l1l0mey III Leaal Services Corponulon of Aillbama, Dothan Regionlll Office. feels the VU' student program "givei students an opportunity to get a view of law thatlhc), won't e)l:perienee in private pmctice." Jnft'rl:e said he is "vcry much in favor of the student VLP prognun, It has been wonderful havi ng Hllmp with us. l ie h08 moinulined II. sense of hUlllor dcspite austere surroundings and a less th an sophisticllled clientele." Robin Kelley. II 2000 grmlullte of the University of Alab.mm School of LAw and clerk for the lion. Chnrll'!l I'rice of

182

.--

the 8tudem IIlUSt indiclalc his or her intcmion to join 11 pro bono proarom 111100 graduation and paยงSllge of the bar exam. Students who cam the {Jwiln! /tIe recognized during gmdulI-

MAY 2001

(ColllilUlI!ti

0 11

pt/gll 184)

WE NEED YOUR HELP The promise of equal justice is one of the basic foundations of our democracy. Alabama attorneys continuously strive to make the promise of "justice for all" a reality for Alabama's poor. Alabama lawyers provide pro bono services through the Volunteer Lawyers Program, they support non-profits and work to increase resources for this important purpose. The public, however, knows little about this important work. Support the promise of "Justice tor All" and advertise the outstanding work pertomed by our profession by purchasing a specialty license plate. Please make your commitment to providing access to justice today. Just complete the attached form and send it with your check made payable to your county licensi ng official to:

•

at"l

Alabama Law Foundation P. O. Box 671 Montgomery, AL 36101

1·······························_··_···_···_·····_···-................................. ........................ ..................... LIMITED POWER OF ATIORNEY

orne

uesled Uoense Plate Volunteer Lawyers

odel of Vehicle

ailing Address

ear of Vehicle

ily

shlele Identification Number (VIN)

tate

. ci Co 1l11iImen1s

ees Remitted ($50 X Nos.

!com"...,.."" ) Zip

labama

I certify Ihallhe Information listed above Is true and correct and thai r own/lease the vehlcle(s) described above. I authorize the release of this information to the sponsoring organization. I hereby grant a limited power of attorney to for the purpose of executing a ·Commltment to Purchase" Application for the purchase of a ·Volunteer Lawyers Program" distinctive license plale and any other documents required for the Issuance of such plale to me. DATE

SIGNATURE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

111/1/1//1111

111\)/11

183

Volunteer Lawyers Program License Plate he li<)umc dunccrs hove one. The firefighters ho ve one. The Reallon have one. Even the SOilS of ConfcdcrllIC Veterans have one. But. until now, Alublmn Inwycr$ hlWC n'\ had o ne to cnllthci r ow n. What is i[1 A di~ linclive Iiccllsc: plnte,

•

of course. You probably have noticed lhnt II si znble pe«;clllngc of Alubllm n

mion wilh th eir fuvori\c school or orguni· z!l\ioll. Now, A~lb:l1nill nwycrs have their

Qwn worthy cn~se 10 snplX>fl with a tag: the Voltllliccr LIIwycrs Program.

...

motorists sport II di stin ctive license plate

011 their vchicles, proclaiming their aflili -

ALABAKA

VOLUNTEER ~: LAWYERS I.i!!J

) ~

Tug purchasel, which are not limited

10 volunt eer lnwycn;, will rni se mQu ey for lhe four V()]unltc r lawyer progmrn.~ in lhe ~ !Ulc (J effcl'lon County, Mudison

County, Mobile County und lhe Aillbllnlll Stille Bor program which cover~ the rest of the slllle). Of the tax-deductible $50 fee. $4 1.2S gOC! 10 Ihe sponsoring orgllnizmioll. which i! the Alabama L.,w Foundation. The foundmion Ihen will distribute Ihose funds to Ihe plLnicular Voluntecr Lawyers Program which scrv· ices the county where the Ing was purchllscd. Accord ing IQ U nd" Lu nd. director of the Alubnnn\ Slale Unr's VLI'. "This tllg will IUIVe severul bencflls. Most imporlililtly. it wllllncrcnse nwurcne.~s uf Ihe Volunteer L., wyers Progtflll\ Ili nong low-

T he Vulullit.oer Lllwycrs

I~ro

income citize ns who olhe,wlse don' t know where to I\Irn for help, Also, it will he:lp eX/Xlse: !he: progl'l1 l11 to members of lhe ge: neml pllblie. mOM of whom hallc no idell thnl lawycr$ mnke such II large orgu ni1.c:d effort to provide: free: leglll services to the indigcnl." '11e Mublle Bar Amx;iuti()I1'$ Pro Bono Committee worked wi th Tom M USO Jl of MfL'Kln COl\lillunications 011 II design Cor Ihe Ing. Perhaps becllll~Cl of the prolifemlioll ordistincti llc license t!lgs, in 1998 11le stote legislmure tightened the requireIllenl~ for .~l'ch IligS. A distt'IClivc Illmc CntmOl go illlo productiollllntil [II lellsi 250 nppl icllt ion~ nnd fces halle been received. nnd the tag design is limited 10 the left ~ ide oC the pbtc unlil ! ,000 t ag~

' ru m Stud cnt Awnrd

(CI}/J tjlllted/rom I){ISt 182)

the Uiliversity of Alarnlmn School oCLnw. and student V I~I' coordinmor ill Alubumn, scc.~ the VLP studcnt program ns n work in progrcs~ , She feels the program '"taps Inlo lhe tmdition of serv ice law students hbVe when they enter lnw ~c hool." Professor Bucy hopes the progrolll will enCOurlllle luw s tudent.~ )0 be involvcd in the VLP once they nre licensed llnd view their pl'O bono contributions itS 11 privilege, "You always get back more !hnn you 8ille:· she said. JHO Jun e~, us;i~\[Inl direclor of cnreer scrviccs nnd coordinmor of lhe VLI' studcnl progrnm al Cllmberland School Of I.nw, inititlted the pru~nun du ring the 2000-200 1 school yenr. "Our denn, f:ldrnl nl ~tn:ltiO n Md rllclIl! y wnnted to mise nwarencss of public service worle in lhe legal proCession. The VLP slndent progmm 184

M A'" 2001

hllve bc:c:n pUr\;ha~d . '111e YLP Ing dcsign has been apl)J'()ved under the lSO-plate c;l\egory fUld must ("Ct;cive IhM many llpplicmions before November t. 200 1 to go imo production. "We'lImnke it easy for you," expl nlns Trlley I):ml('l, director of the Alabama Lnw Poundation. "Ifyoll will fill out the fon n UIUI send it to the Aillbam~ Law I:oundmion with your check, wc'lIlnkc rc~ponsi bility for ge ning it turned in to Ihc upproprillte license office or prolmle court. We' ll lllso let you know whell the tug has ~One into pn:xJUCtlUIl and ~l1d you the material you m:ed 10 pick up your tag." For more infornmtion, conmct Lindll 1.1I11d, VLP dirt:ctor, !lI (334) 269- 1SIS, ext. 118. •

gets ~tlldclllS involved in service. leiS Ihem lenrn Hoout opportuni. ties ill publie serllice, ll nd gille baek to the community. TIle VLP shines II bri~hl lighl on the leglll profession:' said lones. Accordil1 ~ 10 Bue:y, the Aece~~ 10 Lcg~1 Servicc~ commitlee, relllL'.i ng Ihe prognnn is still in its infancy, looks fOlWord to clIpunding it. TIle committee invites nny kind of suggestions for lhe hllprovenlent ll nd dellelop ment of Ihe pm~mm. If you have questions or s ugge~ t ion s Cor Ihe Volunleer Lllwyel'$ Progr;U\1 Student Awnrd, please contnct Lindn Lund lit (334) 269· 1SIS, ext. I 18. •

M,litu Hutch,n,

Moll... HuIthon:t "<IIIrtnII\'. NCOnd'\'I1I 1... lwdenI .1 m. lJrWeIlllf ot AleI1eme Sd'ocIrN ot low Slot ......... ". NVSlC taIIaw WI'" "'" oIJibIrN St.tto 8Ir~.. 1 _ Progrtlll i" !!It 1 _ ot j'ID)

.A I , ~~ ..... . . ~A

-~"-~.w;,.-~'..(I

Han, Samuel AdMls Joy LA"'"",. esq Hon. Danlel~ . BankS, Jr JoM 8, Baugh, esq

Richard W Bell, esq William K. Bell, esq JoIvI T. BI:rlder, 8sq Maureen Kane Berg, esq Hon. Clyde AIM Blankenship Lee W Bo\Ion, osq. James E. Bridges, III, esq Richard 0 Brook$:,osq. Howard F, Bryan, III, esq. Henry fI, Caddell, osq, Marie B Campbell, esq. MalColm N Ctrmlchael, esq.

Phillip Ch<:W!OOV. esq James l Clerk. esq Stephen Erwin :Iements, esq Wilham 0 Coleman, osq loois C. Colley. esq

•

Han Roberl A. Cothren Samuel N, Crosby, esq Gregory S. CuSimano. 8$Q . esq.

"",,"W. _

JameS R. Davis, esq Hon John W Davis Kenneth F. Dunham, esq. MyIan R. EIlQ8I, esq. Howard Furman. esq. Edward M George.osq laura S Gibson, esq. GII'V K Grace. esq

James P. Green, esq. Hon. AO{IIlf Halcomb J, Patrick Harris, osq. Christopher J. HlIghes. esq Anne 8 Isbell Hon John Karrh Ooll\llas L Key, asq. Karl Kirkland, Ph D,

Thomas B Klioner, esq

rhe AIt,btlmll Ce1lter for Dispute ReSfJ/lllioll

tJ"",ks the jolluw;IIg mediators who per· formed Pro BOlio medialimls ill 2000.

s.-,eo ' ....... John R laYette, esq,

Hot """" HoIl,"'"" SlUatlL teach L Tennent lee, III., esq, Debra Black leo, esq Edwin K, livingston, esq David L McAlister, esQ, Dougles Mc:E!vy', esq. Thomas McPherson. Jr. Edward P. Mevorson. esq. Charles l. Miller. Jr. esq. Stephen Charles Moore. esq. Williem M. Moore. OSII. Amy K. Myers. esq Hon. Claud 0 Neilson Walter M Northcutt. esq Hon. John P. Oliver, II Chfton B Porry, esq Ell'll B Perry. Jr. esq Abner P Powell, III, nsq

Caf'(I P Pnven.!sq. MIChael C Ouilleft. esq Han Daniel J, Ae,mld J. Wesley RooJioe, Jr., esq. Sa"'" H. SogaIL LPC Han. KBfItlEIth 0 Simon Donna Wesson Smafley, esq JoIr1 Joseph Smith, Jr., IISQ. Hon. John O. Snodgrass A~ Manley Spruell, asq. Robetl T. TheUord. esq Hoo. H Aardall Thomas W O'jflfJ P Tumor. esq. GOOf!}!! M Von TaSSili, Jr.. esq Glonn G Wacldlll( Ilsq Michael B Walls osq Han. Goorgo 0 Warner, Jr., osq Palrjc~ 0 Warner,llsq. Alex W Zoghby. asq

The Alabama Stace Bar &wimnmcnral Law tion :mnouncenh:u this year; annualllCmina wlII h" the Orand HoleI in Point c...lc:ar. On Frida)' d"Cfl100n, June 8th, and Saturday morning, June 9th. Ietrn hoW toDiviptt' fetlU1arm1' ~Il(la l s In a new mil lcnnl\l1l\ rmd tinder thl' Bmh admlnlltrat lon. We have tnvtted dlsringul'ilu.'(1 ~pcakers and poHllcnl lcnders (rom Wa5hiugton and. Monraomery. u well as w i offiCials whC'l can lcllJ ls how to kec our.dicmmrt o( legal :lnd rc~ul'Mry difficulties. As ulways, , hcre will he n (nmily $OClo l evcnt Friday cveni ng. 9Cl lIP. rop of the Runset on Moblfe Bay _ • Save dnn lllte and pl~lrJ.9 ;lO.l;!!':'filmil yk.r n :' ,rll.l!l,.!lmc af f IC- mna 11~. or rC!lCr# v-oI l illn ~, phone (800~ 44 .9933-:II;d request the Envlr"ijnmellllil Law Sectfon rMc of $ 169 per nlldtt. -A b1ock--nf rooms has b..!en rcscrVe<! for Frld9Y fmd-Sftlul\!ny nlj:i11LS, bur they Wi ll ,,0 fa.\l!

1111

\/I\UI

11111111

I,) ( \1.11/1\/ \\/111/1,1/11/"'/

guess It has been since childhood thm I had II blnd-nnd·white SClise of Whlll is "fllir." ] was re minded of 111:11 on 1I recent oluing wi th Illy nephews. II $Cenu:d 10 me (Il$ they fought over the discrepancy in the number of French (rieli included in thei r kids' meals, the amOunt of time allotted on the shnred Game Boy, and any olbcr discrepllney real Or perceived) thm ..... hal ..... ns "fnir" was not only excruciallngly clear to each of them but that it WliS also II very high priorilY. As I have mlltured, I hllve learned, along with mcst other "grownups," Ihal "fair" falls somewhere in Ihe gray W'CII bttwUtl black lind white. and Ihllt whal is "fair," (or the mosl part, is inconsequential in the busi· neu world. Nevert heless, Alublll11!t'$ diuenllng shan: holder StlltUle entitles II qunlil'ying shllreholder to "fair" vllue for their shMes, StItI Alilbillll(a Code I IO·2B·I 3.02 ( 1994). To ma ke malleJ'5 worse, Ihere is 110 Cllse Illw in Ailibanu imerpretil1g Ihm SllIlUle. Whe ther the eQUrtll hlLve purposc· flilly eluded musing 0 11 whll! "fllir" (the form of which evcn Pllto feared to add ress) value is or whethcr the courts truly have not been confronlcd with the iuue yet is unclear. Wluat is clear is thm, given cen uin changes in other IltClI5 of the IIIII.', Alabama coutts li ke ly will have 10 address Ihis issue in the coming yean, lind you nlay be in the unfortunate posi. tion of having to argue or determine the iJ5ue of lir.;:t imJ1fCli5 io~ . One impetus li kely may be the Internal Revenue

Service's rceen! revision 0(16 U.S.C. 11361 to ellllble banks to (I Wllify for "S" Corporution stotus where there li re fewer than 7.5 shurcholdcl1I, Such It change ullOW$ Ihe corponulon to tlVold the double tWlotion incurred by regular ·'e" cor· porolions Ilnd thei r shilreholden. Many banks in other juri sdjcl ion~ bave undertllken reverse reorjani'l.ation~ in order to take advantage of § 1361, eliminating shnrcholdc.B in OrUcr to profit from the lucrative tax savings. Alahama banks are sure to follow. And with a rc~'Crse reor· gunization comcs the inevitable dissent. The Alllhuuin l1 usiness Corporfltions Act, II 10·21)· 1.0] tl sl!q. (1994) (the Alabama Ac t), penniu certai n reorgani1.lttions for legitimate business purposes. Those reorglluillltions inchlde, among olher things, merge..,. wilh another corI)()rmion: c.xchangcs of all shares with another, IIC(luiring corporation: liquidalion of ul1llUets other thon In the usuul course of huslness; Dnd rcd u~t ion of the number of shures to II fruelion. Su: Aluhumu Code II ()..2B· 13.02 (1994) (113.02). A quuHfying shureholder dis· ilgreeing ..... ith any of those eorpormc 3CtiollS may dissem and ohmin p;lymenl for shures (commonly referred to as "the appraisal remedy"), btu may nOI chal· lenlle the action, unles5 it is "unlawful or fl'lludulenl ." 11().2B. 13.02 (b) (1994): .Utl! (I/SO 110-211· ] 3.02 Drnfler's Commentllry al 3 ("'dillscut' por,;;ullnt to section 10·28-13.02 Iii) an ellclu~ive remedy for the Shareholder"), Further, the dissen ter is entitled to the "rair value" standard of value for his shares. II/I

" " l ' II I

I 1111 II.

187

S.".lItory .leRnltion of '''. ''ulr'' Under the At1, "fair vn!uc" In the conlext of dissc:ntCl1' st\lll'Cl, Illeuns Ihe v~lue of shures immedimcly befor.: the clTcclUmion of the corpornte action 10 whic h Ihe dis~elltcr object ~, e~cllld ing IIny IIpprccimion or dcpreciation in anticipntion the Corporuie IIction unlcs~ exdusion wonld be inequiulble.

Ala. Code §IO·lIl· 13,OI(4) (1994). Given its vagucncu, thm deOnition IInd.so cents (well, a dollar lind eenlS) will buy you II cup of coffee. Fortunately. 30 other jurisdictions hove IIdopted 0 deOni lion of "fnlr vnlue" identical 01' SUb$l:inliall)' identicnl 10 A llibailla 's, nil of which wcre hased lll>Oll lhe Model BlIsi nes~ Corporution ACI 1984 (the 1984 Model Ac t or Ihe 1984 Act). 'n le 1984 Act provides, in penincnt pun:

.so

"Fllir Volue" with rcspccttO fI diSSClllcr's shllres mcllllS the viiilie of the 5h:lres imll1cdi:uely btfore the effeCllIlI1ioll of the corpoMe action to which the di~ ~enter objects, excluding !lil y lIj)[)rtCialion or deprccilltion in flllticiplllion of the corpornte action unle~ ~ exclusion is Inequitllble.

Ulitierstnlldlllg tile 'tcrmlnolo"",, As nlwllYs, the mos! illll>onlint til'lil Mep in unrllveli nG II complicuted is.~ue me Ihis is hiring 11 good ex perl , pl'l:fcmbly II ch~r lel'l:d Onllllcial annlYSI with experience vlIl ull tlng eorpoflltion.~ in the relevllnt indll.m)'. Cicllcrully, there /lfC thl'l:e pl:Ksible le\lels or oosinC.\!l vllluution: (I) 'nle ClIlllroIfillK illll'ft-ff WII"t is Ihe vaillc of the enterprise 115 a whole; (2) The lI/(Jrf..tUlII/e lIIillQ~ily /lIItf'rSI I'lt/llt or jruly /r(1(I,,/)/e ;'11t'1'('51 1'I1111t represcnts Ihe hypothetical value of the cntcI'pri ~e derived from dbcounli llS the controlling intcrestto IIccount for minorilY ~hltuS: li nd (3) The IlIJIHllfl l'kf'w/)lt' mirlQrl· ty ilutl't'si rcpresents the vulue of the enterprise de rived Crom discounting lhe cont rolling interest to IICCOUlit for minori ty ~t a IUS tlnd for lllCk of Ilmrkclllbili!y lll1d is most commonly associIIted wilh closcly held corporations. SI!<! Rtlltmliy '1h Chri.~tophcr Mercer, QUlIIIll/ying MmWt/(lbifif)' DiSr(llllll$ 1-32 (1997). '11!e scc,:ond- und third·liMed di§COUnlS involve reducing the vllille of II dis!'Cnlilig shareholder's Shllre5 MAY

2001

lIe"'~VIIiI. elise LatW Of course. there j ~ room for the ullomey. TIll: Illomey must decide on the appropriate level of vulue upon which the expert opine. If you intend 10 IIfallC lhlll minority discol.IlIIs are inapplicable. 1\ good plate 10 SUitt I~ Ikillwa!"e elise luw, Altoough

IS 10

1)ct:IWIU'l'S SHIIU10fy defini tion of (nir value is nOC Idell1iclIl to Alurnunu's. it Is si mitar. Su Del. Code Ann. Iii , 8. 1262. 'n le body or 1111'.' Is well dcveJolM:d. liS iN suggested in Ihe droners' "Commelltary" to § I 3.0 I (4) of the Alnbmnu Act. Imd lhe mnjority of OIher court~ thul have adopted the 1984 Model Act's

dcnnition of "(nir VQluc" h(lve followed Dclnwllre's lead in addressing the iss lit', In Cm'alief 011 Cflf/'. \\ flamm. 564 A. 2d 11:'17 (Del. 1989). Ihe Dclnwnrc Supreme Court htltl thul, liS II muller of Inw, minorilY status was not a rdevant fac-

jIIo."""......;;:

1984 Act ot §[lOI(4).l'he 191'14 Modcl Act 1$ site.lI On nllw fui r vlllue i~ to be determined, and the Officiul Comment to the 1984 Act provides only thm Ihe illlcntioll is to lellve IlIlhe couflJ! "Ihe details by which 'fair value' is \0 be detennlned within the brood OUllines of the dcfini tion." Regardless of the wording of the Sllliute adopted, mO!it courts hllve held Ihal filiI' vlllue is lhe controlling illlereM vlllue. the markeillble minority interc.\ t vllille, or the non-marketable minority interest value, BecuuMl the two llilier vlllues employ discounts for minority SWillS III\(Vor llick or I1Il1rketability (collectively referred 10 :IS "minority discounts"), the typiclll bulliegroulld in illle'llreling "Cnir volue" is Ihe rlpplicllbilIty or tho~e discounts.

188

because of !heir minori ty status lind. when apl)li<:uble, bec-'oIUse of their lnck of lI1urkctubility.

tor in dctcrminl ng "Cair v~, lue," so (hut uPlllicmion of minority discounl~ W~IS innpproprlutt, hi. til 1144-1145. '11c c(lun explained that che "foir value" IIPllruisal is nOI intended 10 assume or rteon.\truet u. pro jOn/m ~alc. bmto assume the minority ~Iockholder WIWI willing 10 lllainHlin his position !tnd somcday $hare II 11m mill ponion of the tlllire corpo· rill ion lIS II going eoncem :lIld Ihm "to fail to accord to II minority ~ Iwreholder the full proponionllte vnlue or his shares impmes II penalty for IlICk of conlrol. unfairly enriches the majority ~hareholdcrs who Illay relit) a windfall (rol11the appruisal process by cashing out dis!'Cntlllg shllrehold· ers, a clcnrly undesirilble re~ull." fd. III S64 A.2d II 1145. Accordi ngly, lhe COUl't heh.lthul lhc corportllion InU~1 !irst be vlllued liS nn opermil1g enti ty. lIud the dissentinG iihareholdcr's proponionll1c inlcr.:st is determined without applicution of discoonlS for minority statuS or lock of mnrletuhilit). Id. at 1144. A number of slotcs considering Ihe issue huve adopted the Delllwure Supreme Court's I'CllSOIling in Ctll"llfiu Oil prohihiting the lI[lplicUlion of millooty di~JI1ts. 1\ 101lg, 001 uKful, string cite of Ihese CIlScli follows: lIMO,W fltr, I( SSM 11('illlll Cm'rl Sy.\ltlll, 598 N. W. 2d ~77. 583 (Wis. CI. App. 1999) (rccog llit.ing Ihllt, liS II maUer of lllW, mi norily discounts lire inlll>l»'O l)rime in di ~"CntCI'8' rights Cll.<.es): 1\ nlmllf I'. Sioc/q;rowtmr Slille Illlllk. 992 1'.2d 216, 220 (KWl, 1999) (holding thnt discounts 5IlQuid nal be IIpplied); U'I!,'${Jf' MattIOlI WhenuHI, fll(,. I'. Smilh, 7]4 A.ld 738. 749 (N.J. 1999) (recognil.ing lind adopting the majority view Ihal "hares should IlOI be discounted absent "eJllruordinury circulllStIlI1CC.~"): Foy I~ KG/Jlllcitr, 992 F,2d 774, 780-81 (&Ih Cir. 1993) (holding thm imposilion or tl minori ty discount WII~ erroneou~ under Minnt';.o;olnlllw lind noting m:\iorilY rule llgainSI dlscounti llg minority shnre valucs); f"iJher 1\ Flslwr, .568 N.W. 2d 728. 732 (N,D, 1997) (following Cm'flfiu. and OQIillg Ihal rninority dis· CQUnt$ should not be lIpphcd simply becausc il i ~ a [llinarity Inter· c-~t): millerS. ChU5111(111 Ht(Jff)' ell. I '. MOOf'r. 710 P.2d 1303 (Colo. ApI). 1988) (holding thul minority di!iCotlnts wel'l: improp. erly IIpplicd): III f'r Mcf.iJ(J11 Oil C'I" S6~ A.2d 1)I)7t Me. 19119)

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111111111

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'89

(rejecting minority aoo marketability or "illiquidity" discounts): torr I'ropt!rt;~s, f,IC, 1'. CMe R(,(l/ £SUite CQrp., 48 1 N. W. 2d 383. )81 (Minn. App. 1992) (prohibitin; minority discounts, and noting Ihm this is the lnajority view): H(III.ftm I'. 75 R(IIIch COIIIIH",Y. 97.5 P.2d 32 (Mom. 1998) (mi nority discuunts an: in:lppropri nlc); Rigel COil' , H Cmc//IIII, oS I J N,W, 2d ~ 19 (Ncb. 1994) (citing Cm'fllier nOO fi nding [hat neither minority nor murkclability discollnts nre IlPpropri:uc): Wooifl\ Ullil'l!fl'lIl flt/elity U/t: I,lS. Co.. 849 P.2d 1093, 1095 (Okla. App. 1992) (recognizing Ilild adopting the I)clawWl: rule <I OOIllllowing minority disoourlls): &curi/)' Stale 8mlle 1\ Zit'gtltlotj. 554 N,W. 2<1 884. 889·90 (Iowa 1996) (holding thflllllI1I'kcubility or minority diliCOOlllS prevern minority ShMCholders frol11 receiving fnir vulllCor thei r pro nita shares): MT l'IYIf}/ll'fics, hre, 1\ eMC Real £.~((jlt' Corp .. 48 1 NW 2d 383

(Minn. CI. App. 1992) (lindin!i; Ihlll mi norilYdiscounts destroyed legislation enllClCd to prQIttt minority's ri8hl l0 disscnt from fundllmentlll COIpomte ehunges): Ch(If/(lIId 1\ =::::::::~~ COlilUry \oft'W GOIfC/llb, hlc.. 58) A.2d ~ 609 (R.I . 1991) (~hares not to be discoom· ed becliUSC of minority status): C('/limbia /I1mwJ;('mem CO. I'. ~'.f.f. 165 1'.2d 201, 214 (Or. CI. App. 1988) (linding thllL minority diSOOllnlll :.crve 10 pennlil): the disselHcl'lI wllile allOWing the eorporation to cheaply purclulst. his sIW't:.!l); 8rown I~ Allied Corrug(lfed Box Co.. 1S4 Cal. Rptr. 110 (1919) (holding the majority commissionel'll erred by devaluing minority ShMeS): BNE M(I~·$. CO'7}' 1\ Sims. 588 N.E. 2d 141 (M.....' . API). Ct. 1992) (indicming II minorily discount would be inIlPlll'Opriate). Another Sood 50urce for nrguing ligllinstlhe Ililplicatiun of minority d iscount~ is the 1999 Reyised Model Act. which expressly prohibits the application of minority discounts. except under qualifying circUI11SlIlnces: "Pair Yal uc" fIlC/l n8 the Ylllue of the eor])ol1l' lion's ~ hnrcs detc rm incd: (i) immcdintely before the effcctuation of the cor· POl1ltf II(lion 10 which the shurcholdcr objecu : (ii) using cUSlOmary lind currc.nt valulltion concepts and technique.~ gcncrnUy employed for similar businesses in thc context of the tl1lMnClion requir. ing appraisal: nnd (Hi) without discounting for IHek of mllrketnbili ty

for IILnorit y stolUli except, if opproprillLe, for amendmcnts to the anicles to section 1].02(1)(.5). Model l1 usincss Corporotion Act Of 1999 (the 1999 Model Business Act or the 1999 Act). f 13.01 (4). While II few jurisdiCtions have IIdopted Ihe 1999nrncndments. Alabnlllli has nOi. The Official CommcJ1\to Ihe 1999 Act cxplulns IhllL subsection (iii) of S\:cti(m 13.0 I represen ts the modem Ylew thm dis· counts ore inappropriute because, alliong other things. "discounl5 ,iYe the nilijority the opponunity to tuke adyantage of minority sharcholtkn who have been forced against their will to IIccept the apprnt511.l-triSlerinij tNlllsattion." TIle Commcnt further proyldes thllt: 190

MAY lOOt

Subsection (iii), in conjunction with the lelld-in lanJllIlIgc to the definition. is /liso designed to adopt the more modem view thlltllppmi$1I1 should generally aWlud a shareholder his or her proponionu1 interest in the corporation afler yul ulng the corponlLion /IS a whole, ruther than the vlllue of the ~hatcholtler'8 5hllrcs whcn vll1ucd 1I10ne. Stt 1m Act at §13.0 1. Official Comment. The field is not Jlj plentiful if you choose 10 tlriue In fllYOf of discounts, but il i5 001 completcly devoid of promise. A nunlbet' of Cll!teli haYC. approved discounted YaJulition of minority shares. ,litt! Ut"'(lIId(} 8(lIIk 1\ Illiff, 609 P. Supp. 1124. 1126 (N.I>. M Is.~. 1985) (holding thm II mlnQ1'ity discount should be 1I11plicd whcn detcrmlnl ng Ihc yulue of thc minority shareholdcrf interests): Ptrlm(1II I'. !'t",lOlli/I! Mfs . Co .• 568 F. Supp. 222, 23 1·32 (N. D. Ind. 1983) (allowing trial coon expen wiu'1eS5 m npply minority fiild Il1lIl'kctabllity discounts): 1I/llIIt/lt· SW/tS COIWr. 1\ IJt(J\'t'rr, 314 S.E.2d 24S (Ga, App. 1984) (holding thai it is 001 againS\ public policy to allply II minority or nmrkeulbility (]lscount but Ihat II ~hotlld be done "with cUtuion"): King I'. P.?:J.. htc.. 765 S.W.2d 301,306 (Mo. App. 1 988)(holdin~ that it wa:lllppropriate for the lrial court to apply a 1 percent minority diSCQIJnt): and McCQIII~' v. Tom McCauley & Sotl, Inc.. 724 P.2d 232 (N.M. Ct. App. 1986) (holding thallhe trial COlIrt properly exercised itll di$Crction when It applicd a 2.5 pcrtcrH (!iscount). Most or IhuiiC elto;c.~ were decided before thc innuential1989 Odnwllrcdedsion in lhe CMQlier Oil case:. Iloweyer. twO Illinois CIl.'\C$ decided 5Ul>scqucntto C(II~IUtr Oil approved minority discounts in a fair Y11lue appraisal. Stt: \~~iS(l/ 8ff)(/(Jcl/:;tinS Co.• 1'. Smith, 682 N.E.2d 745, 608 (UI. App. 1996) (holdin8 that discount of fai r yalue of dissenters' ~hnn:s l).1scd on illiquidity nnd mi nority smlUJ WIlS ])roper in tletcnninmlon of " rnir Yahlc"), (IPIH!(l/ denied 689 N.E.2d 1147 (III. 1991). and SUI/ltOlI 1\ RtfJllbl/c IJmlle, 581 N.E.2d 618 (Ill, 199 1) (upholding the trial coon's opplicBtion of discounts for minority status nnd lack of lIUIr\(ctllbility). So. In the end, what's "fall'' ' in Lhc context of a dissenting sh:1teholder suil will prOO.1bly come down to which ~ide you're on. If you represcntlhc majority shareholder, you will be ttrgui ng Ihpl discounts should npply. which wlillenye more money In )'our client'S pocket FI11m the minority shM:holtlcr's pc~pec1iye. what's "fwr" eenalnl)' will 001 Inchlde discounts. And until Alabama courts weigh in on the issue. there will be room forboth sides to quc thlll Lhcir chosen YUiuatiOl1 is the onl)' ' 'fail''' one. •

C"olfnt Smlt~ Gldi". Citajlllt s""", GlcIitIt ... _

willi .... 10". or ~

W.u.r.~ ~L_U CIn"""""'" h~ . . J D ,.. tilt \.MeI~or kIIIII 01 Low

".....

Three statewide assoclalioos, the Alabama Siale Bar, the Medical Association of the State of Alabama and the Alabama Hospital Association, with support from the Alabama Public Health Department and the Alabama Organ Center, are participating In a program to deliver a vallJable public seNlee and give Alabama citizens the opportunJly to meet and work with attorneys and health professionals In 8 non-adversartal setting . It's called LlFEPLAN 2001 . Ills a unique opportunity for legal and medical professionalS to demonstrate their cooperation by providing a valuable service to their communities.

WHAT IS LlFEPLAN 2001 ? Ills a statewide PUBl.le eDUCATION campaign to promote future health care plamlng, encouraging families to dlscl,ISS health care wishes and to prepare advance directives now, rather than In a time of crisis.

HOW WIÂŁ.ÂŁ. IT WORK? Voluntear attorneys and health care professionals will attend advance care ptanning training (CLE credit will be given), then assist In presenting Llfep1an 2001 w041<shops. To help you In this public outreach effort, there will be a volunteer planning guide and free comprehensive consumer guides for dlstrlbutlon. WHERE? Service clubs, church groups, student organizaUons, community centers and even local businesses or libraries ell will be venues to help citizens better understand health care Issues. WHY? Working together, legal and medical professionals will help the public prepare for future health needs. llfeplan 2001 will help ensure that peoples' wishes are accurately documented , shared with families and ultimately eanied out correctly, WHEN? Kickoff dale for the campaign Is October 1, 2001 . Allorneys Interested In participating should con tact their local bar president, who has already received Information on the project. Initial training for volunteers Is scheduled for May. l ocal organizers begin work In June, with a statewide publicity campaign planned for September and OClober, Along with local speaking engagements, this campaign will help raise awareness about the Issues of advance care planning, Including powers of attorney for health care, declarations to physlclens and organ and tissue donation. The publicity campaign will Include a toll- free number for more Information.

For more Information, check Ihe Alabama State Bar Web site at WNW.sleber.org or contact Susan Andres, director of communications, Alabama StaIB Bar, aI334 .269.1515 or via e-mail at sandres@alabar,OI'g,

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/1/1

1/1/111/1/1111/11

,.,

INSURANCE AND CYBER-LoSSES:

Coverage "for Do""nloading Disaster /I} ~1'1

11 the world o f elec tronic comme rce (c-cummcr<;c) lml th e Interne t. busim:~Scii h:lY!! becO me more dependent

on technology in their dIlY-lo.tlny open!-

lions. With Ihis dependence comes a new lIuhicrflbility. In lhe lime illilkcs to slIy " I love you,'" n virus clln invade II com· paJ\Y '~

electron ic nmi1 (c-llI••il) system: ft

J)()wcr surge can cause :1server crJIsh: or defective software call crc:IIC II cornplilcr (n:c:r.c. Aft er the ~llllic 1)11 the rm;mito r

clcRflI. 11 question cmc rsc.~: Is lhis covered by ins urance?

An o"er"lew of' Elect:ronlc Technology To nppreciate the ri sks thnt nccompfilly

use of the Imt mCl Jlld computer equip. a brief overv iew of wh~1 is hllppcnin g in e lectro nic tec hno logy (c-Icc h-

tI1f;:tU .

Ilology) i~ pcnincnl. Electronic Olltll Interclllll11!e (EDI) is the electronic tmnsmission of informlliion between the computcl1l of (;oopernting partners, such as bu ~inesse~ or orgiini:tfllions, governmem agencies, and Indi vidu· ills, TIlis syslem wu~ developed 10 suve both lime und money by physicall y link· ing, through an iruegrnled line Of modem, two individuals in (I1[er to fncililn!e the fnst tr'Jnsm i.~s ion of informlllion. (n thc

\( IN 1/ ItHoN \\11\1 \\ II '.lflNIII

insurance business, ~O l ull ows claims adjusters 10 quick.ly delermine damages nnd liability, ellobles policy llndcrwriters to efficiently aS~C5S in ~ ul':lnee ri ~ ks in assigning policy valuc, expedites lhe COI11pilulion of I II ~ urnnec Service OrgnniZlltion (ISO) ~1Uli stic s. und reduces Ihc co~t und volume of paper documt nts. l!Ic:ctrunie Imaging is u Ilrocc..:S for electronically sioring and ITIlIlIuging docuIIIcnt~ by COmpuler, 1'li ~ pl'Q(;cs~ reduces the need for siorin g volumes of docu· ments in the office, allows businesses to nceess documents by punching n keYPf,d, nnd racilitates docurnelll managernem. While mOSI of us are awa re of e-Illoil, few of us utili1.c it to full capacity. Today. mllny courts allow c-liIing of pleadings. For exnlIlple. the Eleventh Circuil nllows c-filing of pleudings by Ihree methods: providing lBM-fomlUlIeU 3 112 Ooppy disk, iUl ISO CD-ROM , or Inll:1'l1el Uploading. Stu: !! til Cir. R, API'. P. 31·5. 111ese devices, despile Iheir benefit s, crellle potential problems tltm traditional insl1 rftnce tn~y not be du igned to oddrcss. Fl)r exnmph:. I>.hcn complllel'$ nrc ne lwor~ ed th rough en EDI system. usen; could unknowingly trnnsmit n virus 10 one nllolher. This Simple hypothetkol implicntcs a number of Ifls utunce issues: Is there 11 direct phys ic~ l loss? Does Ihe vims infiltration constitute physical da m-

nge? Is COmlHlter dow covcred proPCI1 Y? Does loss of system access conslilll!e II business imemlption? Alntmma courts will be fac~d with answeri ni Ihese llnd other qu ~sII Qn s. In devclopinllthis body of law. Alnl;mnm courts likely willll1m 10 other jurisdictions for guiduncc; Iherefore. ullunder~tllndin g of trends in olher jurisdicliollS will uid pl'1lclitioners in assessi ng their clients' susceptibility \0 cy ber- Ios~.

Flrst:-Part:y Losses: Propert:y Damage and Buslne..s Int:errupt:lon Although the exact lungullge Vllries wilh elleh policy, all risk COnlnlel'Ci!l1 l)rollCrty policies genernll y cover "di rect physical loss of or damuge 10 r;overcd propeny." In the world of e-commcree, it is difficult 10 delennine whe n property is physically lOSt or dmnn gcd. HlI$ lhcrc been n loss when sensitive le,1l1 theorie.~ vanish into cyberspace due to II computer l1ly~teri o us ly perfonninll "lin illeglll opemtionr' Has property been dll nmgcd when IleCeSS is denied due to II S yS le l1l.~ failure? There is some precedel1l add reu· ing loss of use thll\ I1lny be applied in the /1//1/1/111/,

/1111//1

'93

computer eonleJIl, See St:",int:1 M,//It. Co. v. Nt:I>o' Hmn/JShlre 11,:1. Co., 563 N.W.2d 296 (Minn. CI. App. 1991) (holding Ihalll di rect physical 'os~ results when asbestOS ha~ to be re moved from tl slnIClurc due to Ihe 1055 of usc of Ihill Slnlctufe): Fr.rrlUlrr.r Ins. Co. of Orr:goIlV. 7'WUllicll, 8S81).2d 1332 (Or. App. 1993) (holding thaI the coSI of removing odon froll1ntetholllphetamine plllnt causcd pbysical inj ury 10 home due to Ion of usc). In AmuiC{1II GUflrtlflfee &. UlIbiUt)' IrUlmmc~

COIII(lmr),

1'.

IlI,rwlI M icro,

l"cor/1Om/tlll, No. 99- 185 TUe ACM, 2000 WL 126789 (D. Ariz. Apr. 18, 2000), Ittll't! f(J (lpfIIIlrl sramell (I) . Ariz.

Jtmc 14,2000), [I United Stales District Coun of Arb.ona was fuced with lhc qucstion of wh~lher the tempOrury los5 of power resulling in the loss of computer duta constitutes II physical injury, Ingrum Micro .. Inc. (Ingrorn) operoted II worldwide computer network to track lis customel'll. products and daily tranSllClionj . All of I nlram'~ eustomer orden were InICked through its integnlled system: therefore. lngram·s busine.~s "perations depended on II functioning nelwork. On December 22. 1998, Ingra m's ~y~ lems OI)Crmio ns headq uftJ'u!r:s suffered a power oUIPge which resulted in lhe loss or pJI of the progrnmming InfQrm tltion stored in its tempornry memory. requirina inaram employees co reload tlte lost informo.tion. In;ram made II cillim under ilS commercial propeny damage policy with American Guarnntce &. Lillbility Company (Ameriean), which insured IIgainst "aU risks of direct physielli loss or dllmage from II ny couse." American dCllied lhe eillim lind tiled It dccluTlItory judgmenl IIctioll, lind Ingrum filcd u counterclaim for breach of COlltniCI. In IIwllrdinll lngrnm summary j udgmenc, the coun found th"t the loss of power for ncurly two houn constituted "physical damage," despi te the fact thm che computers recained !he ability to operate in their pre.<>utage eapacity. 100 coun coostnled lhe tenn '))hy~ical danwge" broadly and held thm "physical damage is not restricted 10 Ihe physical destruction or hann of computer circuitry bUI includC$ loss of IICCC:SS, loss of U~. li nd loss of functiollality."1 In suppan, the ~n rtlied on the federnl computer fmud statute ' lind S1mutes 194

MAY

l OOt

from Connecticut, Mi nnesota, Missouri WKI New York.' The coon found slgnifiClint IhatlawnwlCfll around the country delermincd that a oomputcr was dalllllged when services were intelTUpted or lIOnwllre or networks were Illtercd. Unlike IlIgm/!l, other (,.'OuI1S huvc tleclined to hold that ("'omputcr failure IImounts to a business Inlemlillion under comlHercilll propen)' coverage, &t, e.g., Amtrlt:<m Simes IrIS. Co. v. Crrtllil'f/ "hlkillg.llrc .. 16 F. Supp. 2d 1062 (E.D. Mo. 1998) (holding tlmt a sl()W(lown of operolions is not a busillCS~ intemlption): /(oY(l/ bllle,,~ IIiJi. Co. \\ M ikob Prvp~"'lts, !tre., 940 F. Supp. ISS (S.D. Tex. 1996) (finding Ihal ll decrease in income due. to loss of OCCUPIlf1CY of np:U\lIIenl complex cllused by fire is not 1\ businClls inlcmlplion): HOllie /11(/e1ll, Co. v, 1I}1}I(li/IJ !Jell! LC.. 893 P. Supp. 987 (D. Knn. 1995) (diJCUsscd below); Harry's Ctull/ltrePomi{lc-GflfC rrock Co. " MOlors IllS. Corp. , 486 S.E.2d 249 (N.C . App. 1997) (holding that II snowuorm eausin, I05S of profilS did not constitule a busi0C!l5 inlt'r· ruption): KUldl \! Mullllli of EmmrclflM' IllS, Co" 83 1 P.2d 784 (WllSh. App. 1992) (finding thlll dllll1~ge from ~ volcanic ex plosion cnnsing reduction in business is not II bl.lsiness inlt:lT\Jptlon): lIoltl PrtllHmlts. IIlc. " N~rlf(j8t IllS. Co. of AlllerlCll. 456 So. 2d 1249 (FlI\. Apt). 1984) (holding that lOSS "rbusiness at lhe hotel due to the elosina ortbe re5taurnnt because or II fin: Wll5 not a business imelTUptlon): ROi/rCIIWrx v. Libert'f 1.1111. Ins. Co.• 153 S.E.2d 447 (Ga. Apt). 1961) (holding that Ihe loss of inventory due to then was not a business imerruption). IJul Jltf! 1'(f!S.fllrtlll v. Mm(1 CtlS, &. Surely Co.• 574 A,2d 7S7 (R. !. 1990) (finding thfl t p l)()Wer outflge preventi ng II doctor from using his office due to the faihll'e of a computet chip Wllilll business intelTUptionl: ~"tlltll Ace, biJ. Co. V. 80 Mil/deli i.,tltle Assoc" 675 N.Y.S.ld 85 (N.Y. App. Oiv. 1998) (i nsur. LUKe company paid ito! insured pursualllto business intelTUption clllUse in in~rcd's conlnlCt'Cilli property policy fOf damnge to compulet' caused by power ftlilure). In Home Irultmllity v, 1I)'IIIf1iIlJl !Je./'j. I~ C. , 893 r. Supp. 981 (D. Dlln. 1995). II United Stutes District Court for KtlllSIlS entertu ined a qucstiQII similtlr to the one considered by the 11181'(1111 coun. tlypillins Beef (Hyptllins) operated II

beef pack.lng plant lind eattle feed lot in Dodge City, KaIlSll5. In 1993. Ji yplllinS installed a computer fabrication network des igned to collect elC(!lronic dnlollnd crcllte invenlory records of the beef. After inslallatio n, lI yplains becllme aware thut the com pUler lySteUl did not opel'llte properl y, but continued 10 0l>crIIle to the ~$t Qf it.!! abililY. Aflcr numerous IIttempL~ to eorrect the system, Uyplains submitted a claim fOf loss or busincss income 10 its insurance carrier. The Home Indemnity Company (Home). Il yplai ns' conullercial JroPCny coverase contained Il provision that stilted '" w\c will pay for the IlCtual los, or Bu ~lncg Income you sustain due to the 11CCCSS/1I')' suspension of your 'opcl'lIlloIIS'" Ilud ''the suspension mU$t be caused by direct physkalloss of or dnmage to propcny ~tthe premises." Horne SOUghtR cledarntion IMt lhe busiIIC.5:i interruplion clause did 001 cover a slowdown of opcmtioru duc to CQfIlputer inefficiency. In awarding Home summary judgmenl, the coun fou nd that decreased efficiency and production did not brnounlto a suspension of operations. [)cspite Hyplains' documcnted evidence of lost profits tl ild hu.~ine$S. the court reasolled Ihm coverRge was nottriggcrcd Ilbsent a complete ees~at ion of bl.lsilless. "The distinguishing reoture of the two ell.'lCS is that in 11I8mm the computer equipment completely shut down whereas in lIyplllinJilhe co mputer equi pment continued to function, albeit otan inefficient pace. The conclusion II\Rt can be drawn from these cases is thBt In lhe field of computers, as with other fonru of propeny, there 1l1llS\ be II comillete cessmion of operntions ill order to lrigger Ihe business intelTUplion clltuse, An l",cresting question renmins: How long must the computer s~stem be inop. eroble in order ror there to be a blisine" interruption'? Companies Ihat depend on the Internet for busincss could suffer substllntilll finnncial 1000scs in II mallcr of minu tes. See , t .g.. Ameriro O"line, /rIC. ... NfIIIQII(IIUMIIIIt:(m:, IlIc .. 121 F. Supp. 2d 1255 (N.D, lowl 2000) (holdin; thpt genuine issue of nlatcrial fact existed u~ 10 whether subnliuing numerous e-mails caused nil "impnlmlem to the integri ty or nvailability of datil, a program, II system. or infomlUtion" thereby

making the defendant liable under the Computer Praud and Abuse Act). Only time will tell if there is II dur.uional requiremcnt for btl,ines, imcmlptions.

Thlrd-Pllrty LO!lIlI!!I The stondard commerchtl genc:rnllitl.bility (CGL) policy coven losses Ihot "Ihe inSLlred becomes legally obligated to pay as dlul1uges bccnuse of 'bodily injury' or 'propc.nydBmage."· I Susan J. Miller & l'IImp LeFebvre, Miller's Siundard Insurance Policies An n. 409 (4th ed. 199.5). The policy define.. "property dmllllge" as "phy~ical injury to tangi ble ProlJerty, Il1cl~ding resu lting lou of usc of thllL property ..." or "loss of usc of tangible prOI)Crty Ihol Is not physicillly injured." Id. (II 439. The policy also provides protection for pcnonal and advertising injury liabili ty. 1tI. (II 424. A. I'lIy#co/ (1!JUry

1. COIllllllier I)ulu as Tunglble !'roperly There is a splilumong courts regarding whethe r computer-related tape and dllLu constitute "tllJtgible property" for commercial ge nen" lillbility purposes. Com(HI/'t higrolll, 1!XX) WL 726789. UI ·3; R(I/lIII Sys" Ilic. \.\ CNA IllS. CQ" 469 N. W.2d 735 (Minn. CI. App. 1991 ) (holding Ihm computer tape is tangible proper· Iy when integralcd wilh a tlmgible IllCdi· urn); SI(I/(I f um, f'/~ &: Cas. I"s. Co. V. IVhilt', 777 P. Supp. 952 (N. D. Ga. 1991) (finding that nrchitccturnl plans in 8 blueprint were uingible property). lI'illl l..ucbr MIs. \.\ /lomtJ IllS. Co.. 23 F.3d 808 (3d. Cir. 1994) (hOlding till'll los~ of use of system design was not loss of tangi ble property); Sc/uu1erlKMlif I)rodllctlolls 1'. CNA I llS. Co .. 76 Cal. Rptr. 2d 42 (Cal. CI. App. 1998) (hoitling that l'ideO(:ape is tangible property, however idea on tape Is not): SI. I'r1ll1 f/f't' d M arillt' I llS. Co. v. NatiOlwl COlllllllltr Syr.. 490 N.W.2d 626 (Minn a . App. 1992) (holding that theft of computer infomlltion was nO( theft or tfltlgible property where infonnOlion ond nOI medIum was siolen). Cotl ns fi nding thol computcr d;lIo is not tnngiblc property reason Ihnt the ilIlll' . n(lt Ihe IIIIl(/illlll, is the lroe source or vulue. Since lin iden carmot be louched. the loss is intangible and out-

side the scope of covernge. However. in todDy'. high-te<:h world, the value lies not in the tongible medium. but in the information conu\irted tnerei n. While it is tnle thotthe idea has the Intrinsic V(ll ue. technology and tho thoughl process hnve becorne 50 intcg['llted thm Ihe medium may be the only pillee where the idea is eontllined. In the futu re, eourts muy look to Ihe originulity of the data lost in detennining tangibility. If the dmil li mM~ produced lind cOlXlble of being duplicated. Ihe lou should be held \0 be inungible because the ideu still remai ns. U Ihe datil Is unillue and prototypiclIl. the dnm should be deemed to be tangible and wit hin the scope eovefllge. 2. hllcgrlliioll or II Dt·rccl.lve COlll pom.'111 As businesSCli upgrade Iheir computer Icchllology in order to oompete in 0 Chllilgillg ecOIK)IlIY. 100), become vulne r· able to fatllty installations or defective componelllS thnt are illtegrnted into their systems. In Seag(//t' Tedmology, flIC. 1'. St. Pimf Firt' &: M arint' 1t1$1Ir(IIICt. COIII/XIllY, II F. Supp. 2e1 11 50 (N.D. Cal. 1998), the Nort hern District of Californill addressed wt.ether the illtejrntion of defec tive components into n com· puler system constituted property damlaC. In St'flgOIIl, Amstrati integrnted Seagute disk drives into Amstrnd's "'-(jmpUlers which ~u1ted in hard drive fail ure and compuler daHl lou. Amstnld sued Seagatc allegi ng tll.'Il the. drives were defectiYe. When the initial suit was filed, Seagnle tendered i L~ in$urnnee coverage claim to SI. I'uul I:im & Murine Ins. Co. (St. Paul) buscd upon the suit filed by AllIstrnd. Seog~te'i1 ooillmercioi lilbility ulllbrell~

policy provided coverage for "bodily injury and property dnmage hnbility;" property damage means "physical damage to tilngible properly of otken;. including all resulting IO!IS of tlse or Ihm property; or loss or lise of tfillgible property of othcrs that isn' t physiclIlly dllllmged." Seag(l/e. II F. Supp. 2d nt 1!!i3. In findini that the integrution of the de.reetive disk drives did not constitute physical damage to Amstrnd·, computers, the court relied on previous CISC'5 holding thmtlle imcgmtion or u defective prodUCt does nO( consti tute property dJllulge unless the irllegroled product I! Inherelltly da ngerous.' The coun !'ensoned thm com· putcr driYes JU'e 1101 inherent!y dongcl'QIlS products; therefore. no physic!1 injury occurred. A~ R mllUer of risk a.~scs.~nlCnt. the pos~ibi1ily of rtplRCing II defective product is considered a commercial risk that is not passed OIl to lhe imurer. A. 771ft frll(lnltJt "lUI A(J~r'lsin8l' A!rso",,/ hVllry

1bc irltel'llCl lliso creates the possibility for losses Ihlll lrigger advertising 01' per. SOIIIl.l injlu'Y CQvcmge under a oonllnercinl gellCmlliability policy. While the coverage Qnnlysis gcnernlly is the s.1IllC.lmcmct relnted causcs of nelion for dcflUlllltion nnd trndcmark infringement present unique problems that should be considered. L OdHlIIlLlloll The Commun icatiol1ll Dc(:eocy Act of 1996 makes Internet Service Providers immune from defamation liability. St:t' 47 U.S.C. 1230 (West SLlpp. 1999): Stt: illso 8t'n Ezm, \Veinstt'ill. & Co. v. Amuic(I Olllllle Co .. 206 F.3d 980 ( 10th e ir. 2000) (holdin&thllt the COl1lm Ll l1iClllion~ [)ceeney Act barred plainliff', claim$ ugui nstlUl InlcrnelllCrvlce provider). CUI. dlmied, 121 S. CI. 69 (U.S. Oct. 2. 2000):

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1\ Aml!rica Olrltnr. lire., 129 P.3d 327 (4th Cir. 1997) (same). eerr. dl!lIll'li. 118 S.Ct. 2341 (U.S, June 22, 2(00): Cubby. Illc. I'. ConrpuJl!"''f! IIlc .• 776 P. SUPI). 135 (S.D.N. Y. 199 1) (finding thllt nn Inlcnlet service provider was n "distrib\nor." nOt II publisher. lind could not be held liuble for dcfarnntion). Under the Act. Imenlet providers such tlS AOL, Yahoo and Neucape are not publisheL'lL: therefore, they cllnnQt be held liable fot defnmlltory statements. Su 47 U.S.C. t23O(c)( l ) (" No provider or user of lin inleracti ve service shnll be trc:llted lIS the publisher or spellker of IIny infomlllLion provided by unother infonnillion conlcnt provlder'·). '11e Aet mukes 11 clear tlmt individuul Web site operators are Ihe pl'Ol)Cr PfInies tl) sue In ii defiinlmion IlCtion. Srr. t .g.. Blrll/ltm/Ill/il Orllt/gl!. 992 P. Supp. 44 (O.O.C, 1998) (dcfnma· lion suit ngainsl Web site operator). Consequently, ~u i ts againstlhese Web site opel"lltOl'5 for publishing dcfumlltOl')' nluteriuJ life likely to lead to clllims for advertising injll")'. 2. Trfldi'lIIfl ril lnfrinj:tmr.:nl A hOlly contesled teehnology issue !J whether trademark Infringement is nn ndvenising Injury subject to comrnerdul ae nerlll1iabililYcoverage. There b u split amon ~ Coul1s.' with the m:tiority holdi ng Ihut It trademark infringement claim aris· e~ out of an IKhc nising injury: thcrefore. it Iii covered under a commerd al genel"lll liubility policy. 'J1t.e Inlentel hIlS Ie:d to UI Ie:llst three dUTerent Iypes of Ir1Idemurk infringement Ihnt may trigger adveni5ing injury claims:' Unruuhorited use of a domllin nllme.' metaotRgging.' and unfair linking prllcticc8. II Creativc lawyers mny attempt 10 Ollhe:se claims within the scope of n COL policy.

Zilroll

Alabama Imlurance Ca5e Law-What I .. Tangible Prupertyi' Alabama courts have not yet hud Ihe opportunity to iluerllret eOliullerclli1 propeny or commcrciailiabllilY policies in Ihe COlILeXI of cyher.losses. Howevcr. 196

MAY 20 0 t

Ihere is case luw in Alabamu uddressfng whfll is and whlit is not tungible propeny. I' In Amulccm S/(l f,s 1,!$Immel! Compflll), 1\ Mfl tf;II." the AllIbllrtlll Supreme Coun hcld Ih3t economic losses are nOllllngible propeny for insurance losses. In Mflrlltr. Ihe coun defined IlIn· gi ble propc:rty as: propeny Ithitt ) muy be felt or touehed: such propeny as nlay be seen. weighed, measured, Wid esti· mated by the physical senses: Ih:11 which is visible l nd corporcal: huving substance and bod y as contrusted with incorporeal Prol)Cfty rig hts such us frnn c h i sc~, ehoses in uClion, copyri ghts. the circulluion of Ii newspape r. an nuities and the: like. Thngi ble property must nece.sfirily be corporeal. but it nlllY be either real or personal. Mflrlj,r. 662 So. 2d at 248 (qUOti ng Pr;/lCIII'. lliggills. 572 So. 2d 1217. 12 19 (Ala. 1990) (quotlns 73 C,J.S. I'ropc:rty t l5. al 184 (1983». Unlike tangible property, inulI1gible propeny " hos no intrimic and tIIurkeloble value, but is merely the represc ntllLlve or evide nce of vahle. such as cenilicllle8 of stock. bonds. promissory notes, and fran o chises." M(rrtln. 662 So. 2d Il t 248 (quotIng /Jdllct. !i72 So. 2d III 12(9) (quoting 73 C.J.S. Property t15. lit 184). Another distinctiOn i~ Ihal inlangible propel1y "Cllnllot be rc:lldily located. aod there 15 no method by which illl exi~t e nce or ownership can be ascertained in Ihe Siule of its silLls. excepl, perhaps, in the Cllse of 1ll0'1gnges or sh nn:~ of stock. TI,e vulue of intangible properl y Is not eMily asccrtained." Id. With rc~ pc:c t to claims involving dam· IIge 10 compulcr dati and infomllllion. perhaps the most important lllnguage in the case is "thllt tllngible property, unlike nn economic inlerest. is gllllually srlbjut IQ "hysic(l/ dllllrllgl! or dt5IrUCliml ." 1tI. III 249 (emphasis added). An argument CKn be made tlmt eQmputc r dntn ean be destroycd and physically da maged /IIld Is therefore IIIngible properly, In I#rl-Mart SlOrtS. IIrcorporattl/ II Cityof MobUt. 696 So. 2d 290. 29 1 (Ala. 1996) the Ahilmrna Supreme Coun held

Ihat computer 50ftwure is tllngible proper· Iy thaI is 5l1bje<:I IO the gross receiptS Ill.'<. 'l1le court reversed Mflbtmlfl 1\ CI!ItItYlI Comrmtllr $lIn'icIlS. Illcorpomttd. 349 So. 2d 1160 (AlII. 1977), which origitlHlly held thnt computer 50ftwnre was inumgible prol>t:n y and wns nOll ubject to the gross receipts 1M . TIle (;oort in Cllntro/ Compulffr SlIn';ets rcllSOlled thut the buyer of sofiwlU'e SOI.lght mfonlllltion rather than the medium in which it WIIS conveyed: therefore. there was only an incidental commingling of the intangi ble infonnation $OUght. In re\crsing ilS previ. ous IKIlding. the nhl·MIIN court hcld thm the sale of computcr j;()ftware has become more prevllienl, lind is like the snle of II book- purchuJ;ers desire the infonnniion inside and not the fonn containing the information. As such. computer IIOfiwll/'t is tangible propel1y, Ihe Hie of which is subjcct l!) iI'O" receipts stlts tax. The holdins in Wa/·Marl SlIJrtS could be applied in lhe context D r commercial property lind commercial sencl"llilillbility InSlllllnce. Since courts apply lhe definition or words th ut hll ve been eSlablished In thi'll pllnlculur jurisdiction. the Alabama SU]lrenle Coun rnighlllppl y ils defin ition of tangi ble property in the contex t of snlcs tllX 10 Insurance low. If the sille of computer software has b«:Qme: ~ prevalcnt that it should be IIiXed. it may be protected under all risk commercial propeny and eommercial geocrulUability policies.

Preventing Cyber-LuIIII1!5: Addltlun ..1 I:overilge'l O e~i dcs tnkl ng steps 10 prevent eybcrlosses, Ihere ate It numbel of ~pc.eill li7.e:d coverages Ihnt can be plirchrtiCd Ihat specifically protect losses experienced Ihrough the Intemet. Most of Ihese: policies are based upon tmdit:onal standard policies: however. due to the necessity of using spc:cillliled tcrolS, there Is very lit· tlejlldieilll eonSlrtielion. As II result, typi· cal disputCli m"y llri:;e over the cxtenl Qf covernge. the effcct of Ihe specillliled coverage 011 more traditio~1I1 coveruge. and whether there nre gllps in coverage. Somc of the new policies are lIS follows:

i~S' ~REtrILsl :writcs ~ T~chnOIOg'y Errors nnd Omissions Policy lhm protects IIgain5t thinl - p~rty claims for loss of dlllll, ucceS5 to c-rnail, or e-eonunerce Ihm Ilri se.~ out of the usc of 1he Internct, Lloyd's syndiclltc:s offers 11 Web site Ilnd Internet Security Progrnm thm cover~ lost Web site and Ildvenisiug revcnue due to Unlluthorized emry, viruses, employ~ error, theft of credit curd dmu, and fi rst· and third-party virus clcanUI), fill well as some inlellcctlllil property claims. A(iditilmal covernge may be p\lrchascd thut protect.~ ugninSl cloilll$ Of Internet libel, slunder. defllrnmion :md invnsion or priVIlCY, 'Ibe additional covemge alSQ expilnds covcnlge for tmdernark infringemenl and errors nnd omissions. CIQNA developoo Secure Syslemll [nsumnce, which protects Ihe insured from first 'PMY losses c;wsed by h;,ckcl'!l, '[1le policy specifically illsures flgaln st loss of dum imcgrity and system availabillIy (.~ystem failure nl' system crash), e IGNA's policy hao sevcrnl demanding

conditions pn.:cedenttO receiving' coverage, The policyholder rh ILSt record log-Ins, inst<lll surveillance and In trusion detoctlon equipment, frequent ly dlflilge PflsswOrdS, nnd provide complllcr lxlckups. AIO, like INSUREtrust, hns developed n Technology Errors 000 Ollli~sioll5 policy for Internet Service Providers, eompnnieS providing Internet access, consultams erthting Web sites, advertisers supplying COntent for Web sites, and orgunizlIIlQns rIlonitorirlg Web sites, such ~s Cyber Nanny, Chubb h~s created ft Ml!himedi<l !.lability policy Ihnl is designed specifically fQr ~oflware developers, 111e illsurance protectll uguinst publi~ hin g e l nim~, li nd tradcmnrk or copyri gh t infringement. 'Ibe most unique featurt: is thut the policy is ex plicitl y wrinen to protect uguinst nil possible exposures in cyberspace, which (applies to cI{airns worldwide, Stuckey & Company developed a program called SnfelyTek, which is a comprehensive first- nnd third-pany policy

Free Report Shows Lawyers How to Get More Clients tome nre unj)ledlctablc. You may gel new eliell!s Ihis month , ynu may ~truggle 10 pa), thcir bflls? nol ," hi: IIIIY5, Thc on ~"'er, IIccordlng III A refclTII) ~y~lcnl, Ward uUomc)" David M, Ward, hIlS SIt)'!, (an bring In ~ ~te~dy 1II)Ihina 10 do with t~lcnl, stream of new cBerllS. nlllnlh educ8 lioll. hnrd WOrk, or cven aner monlh , ycaT afler ytBJ'. luck. " It fccls VQDI 10 conIC tn Ihe "The IHlY)'ers who mHke 1M Omce e"ery d~y kllOwing thc big ntOlIC)' are 1101 IICceisaril)' phonc will rinL> lind new better IDW)'crs," he IiII)'S. "The)' bll ~;neli will ~ on IhI: line," have simply 1cBnlCd how 10 Ward ha~ lu\,¥ht his rcrelTlll CBllf. - Wh )'

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thut covers losses associated with the Internet, This policy is de~igncd for the speci fic purpose of eliminming gnps in covemge th{at could be. created by more tradi tional poliCies,

l:onclu!llon As new tre nds in technology emcrge, so willltends in insurance. Busi ness inlemlplion, prol>erl y dornage, advertising iuju l'y and Olher cinillls IV'e likely to lake ncw forms os businesses suITcr com· puler- nnl,! lmcrnel-relmcd Ic»ses, While it is uneert ui n how Aillballlll courts will trem these issues. understnnding the !!Cope of yOur client 's covernse ~ nd the I)()ssibility for these losses will help ~vojd a futu re ooveruge dispute. •

Endnot•• 1 The lim Bug WDII VBScnPl wotm l1li1 !.plead rap. idly thrtlOJlll1 COInpiII1y G-fIliIil sySlllllll 0'1 MiI'/ 4, 2IXKI andcau$llll an 8!tlll'llltod SI5JO bi li i)'l in ~ workM'\de, The -LM !lug 1IIlwnIMd. II\d me\3111 811

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2, /ngrllm, 2<XKl Wl726789. al ' Z: sell/so Dlm/ab. /IIC. ~ St. hlil F/rf & M4rilllllnl, Co.. 347 F Supp 36 !S,O.N V 191ZllroIdlno nl/I! IhIIIOrms "aecO"lg 111&11 prCl!*ty" stooid lIB Irbefalf'l eoostrLllld In Ofde!' to 'ilord COV9rll\ll ~ I~J gl UM! 01 COJnIlUIIlI. due 10 Iita clalTlllllllln bII$OmOJI1t Aluminum Co, 0/ AmfNIc8~. Accrdlttl NldCM, 1M, Co.. No, 92,2, 20065<5 (Wa"" SlIPIlI. CI. Ott. 17. 19951 (hoIdi"O thai 1"-larm ",IIr(st ' impllea llunlhlt policy p-oteel.! aoainll , lI prGPOrf'l Ion r'lwdl.u II 1"- tlam· age II phyakll III ~I, 3, The ledIlI8I eomp.ni!t Ir8uc1 ,1311110 ITIIIklH II a (rlfllt 10 alOM dIIJlI89IIlO a protected IXItIIpUtlr and dllfiJ'iClI tSI""Dllll ".".,. impairment 10 the IntllQl11V or avallabilitv 01dall,' progr'fI\. SVllom. \II Inll)" 11181100: laU.S.C,' 1000 lWB.I, S~pp, 19991 In 1994. tho statute was revised arid provides: 'Arry POrson who domage or 1011 bv r&llson 011 1'101.1101\ 01 11111 S:alull RIII'/ main!.in 0 eMI tclion rlgalnst the vktiaDr 10 obUlin COJnfIf!nsetory daR'lll\ltlS and miuncliva ralel 01' olhln OGUliabla rellel " 18 U.S,C, ' Ir;l3lXg) The 101m "dlmallll" 'I oo!lood by lhe ,llWte II 'I~V Impalrmom 10 the IntOj)/if'l or 8Vi111Bblli1'l 01 deU. I pr00l'4rlI.' s,1t&rl\ OII~IOrnl6' lian 11111 ., CIIIl8llols awr8gil~no 111&1111 SS,OOJ in ",I!III during III)' I ·~ar period 10 OIIR III more Indi· viduals, .,: 18 US,C t 10000fKeKA!

'ulfur.

mont 0/ inmnU I'dIan that 1*1011 wiUrujl'l.lrrDwi~'V

tII'II! wrlhout out/'Iorrnllkro "(Iostrm, usel. t!k8I.

Inlkll1lS, III' darnapIIs 1IQli;YlNlllt III II.WI~ ~* Of In1OnOOcf 10 be u3i!d In '~. COfI'IIXItef fr"1611\ I)' oorroutIJt J'iCltwort· Seroon 12A<80 ttablZlbl 0001 loollor to mak.t It a tins Bftknv ' illtrer, 11l1l'i inI«. ruption or i'npeirmenl 01 gGWInmenl$J operalion 01 po.irIi: COI'MUIIcelion, tmspJrUIlion, or aippIy aI WlIltr. ~ 01 Olhar IIIJbIk IIIllirv 8eIYice, ' "

5. SH Go/dtJfI EI9/# hlI. Co, ~. Tr.velm tA.. 103 f,ld 7SC (!Ith COl 1996llno1<J nu thai inleg'DliOl1 gl !,ulty canerOt. In tOI'IItn.cIIOO was not pl'r';sal inj"'Vl, I1IIf1mJIBd on oilier ~s 111' GOIIIIrm!tw

Co, V. 0Iwl. 133 F,ld 1220 19111 Ck I99tl): ~ l/4mpshltf ,'IIS. tAov VI~i", 930 F.2<l696 (9t~ Cit 19911. EiMI Prr.rm. Ret. Cotp, ~ Emp/qrttrslt!$. cI 6. I1f.M.!u. 144 F.Jd 1m (11th CI'. I!IOO( (holding 11\11 thO .,...,i&inli in;.n f)"OrIi5il;w1 00'0'911 injury ill'iling out (mpIrrt(IfJ$/n$

earv:-

of palll/llin!ri~tt tf!fO ~1 ~. ~ i/bttty Miliru. Co.. 114 f.3clII94!W1 Qr 199711~ III/11d opinion) (sama~ &y ElBc. ~ tic. ~ rr!Wllhlri tlu,lfb Ins Co..6t f SuRr. 2d 611 (N,O Ta._ 1999) (samat ArrIIIriun {1IIIJIorOt$1n$ Co. v. ~ 1tO''g Co.. 39 F StJpp. 2d 64 (0 Me 1999I1$Ornot C#MIy IrW8. ~ AlIOOctJ Gm bI. Co.. No. 3·98,cv· 001 4,80. 19911 WlIKl4698.'1 ' 3 (NO. Ta.. 1998) l$Orno~ ,frd200 F.ld 81& 15tI1 ei, 19991 Aw/ifJd Bo/tilw rlld!. 1"rtxJJ. ~ IkJIBd S16r.J F,de/i~ Ii GIJilI Co, &12 f Supp, 1029(E.O P• . (996). ,ff'd 118 F,3d 15741Jd, Cit 1991H_t ~J. NO)'6S Co. ~AmericINl MoIIlritI1/t1f, tA.. 856 f Supp. 49210, NH 19941 lsamat N/OU He8~h & ~~ Ott« .\'Ie. ~ Aot'" CIs, & SI.n!~ Co" 703 NVS.id 253IN.YAj:rp, 2tDlI I_t fim St~M Ins Cc v. ~ Delts PhI Fnitl!flli~. 39 U.$P,O,Zd lOO!!i!MI, r\pI:I, 19951/_1 with CalifS &11/11. .ftc. v rfttl'lMn /!ICiIIm Co. 01 ~ 193 F.3d 9SZ 18th Cit 19991 O'I:rIdtng lhal lrildematk In!r . mont il not IXlY8fI!d by lit! 1IIMIrt111rJ;t Ini'rl P"QYIsion 01 ~I 1/IIf*.11;m;lity poIic"!~ ~ WoJ/ti1 Co, v. KfIfriIIIf Ndt til Co., 9'3 f.3d 795IGth C~ (996) !MIIlet r,/KliJ8olt r6dl..14c. ~ F!t/fIklif! MiN, 1M. Co.. 746 A.2d 1078 IN.J. .ADp.ZOOOII_I, TVTry 1MId, rrlditioMl CavtltagB AlplHlHltlls lor InI911«1~11'IopeI~ CI,JIJl, IJId nt.il /ntfnlClion with ~~ VillI. Wine in • NtIW fIollI,. A,B A. Sec. 01lii.inl , Coverege. Mklyellf Meet,ng Mar H ZOOO. II 15.

4, 1he /tVMI court ~~e1ed !host .UlMOS toinclucla In\emIptIon 8rd oot Iw1 ~ aatnage to ttIt (I)m. pu\IIf c.m. 0... Stllt!i 5l.2S112IXIl1ISUll!~, par. .on is ijUOI1'I or , ~III crima I'dIan hit "diSOjpllIll degrades III cauiIN tiro ~iOI\ 01 drIgrtdiItiOl\ or COI'IIpUI8I' tBNiI:el't Moo. SUlI. 5 609,86 11999) kIiIlifI. 'no IlCIITIOOI8f dooIIoe toloclude 'tha ehetatJon 01 ~ CIJ11pUIar, CO'I'IWItf I'/Starn. CD:IIpjtlll J'iCltwort or com· ~er $(IIIw3rn Mo.Am Stet, Ii 569,00] (Wast 1!l!91 10011"'"11 damagIIll I ~Iar IS '...". ~tt"'~liOII. deletiOll. III deWt.alon 01 ...". pili! 01 e COIlpUtllf svs· 1.,;11 01' 1IQ1WO!~·t N.V f'Iogi Ii 156,2(} IMcKimev 19991

CLE Opportunities The Alabama Mondatory elf Commission continually evaluates and apprOl/es in-slalo. as wollas notion· wide, programi which ara maintained in a computer databasa. All are identi· fied by sponsor, locelion, date and special ty area. FOI a complete IIsling 01 currenl CLE opportunities or a calendar, contact the MCLE Commission office at (334) 269,1515, extensiDn 117, 156 Dr 158. or yDu may view a complaia lisl" ing of current programs at the stale bar's Web site, www.a/abar.org.

SIN. o, ~" iIIllIrJlSlltr Slmhip. s.m" LID. v. EpIx, Inc" 1&4 f.3d I 10JI9th elr 19991, Wi d6nied. 120

S.Cl I161(rell 22, lIQl.

9 S6f. ~,/I.. M/Oft C«p v 1/a(I"t!«I M«ri1Ol'1ng DM:es. Inc" Z7 f Supp 2d 102(0 Masl, 19981: PlDyfNy En/on.. Inc. v. Ali.illXUs Inf'~ I",.. No. CI~ A. 91· 73H, t99B 'M.1l400D. II 'J, ' ~ ' 71E 0 Vu Apr 10,19961 10, S8«. ~.g.. TIcU/III8JIIlf ~ MitlrdCfr. lnc.. No 91. m OI'P!C.O Cal liledApril28. 19971 Weshin9ran I'll$! ~ rpl~1 NI1W$Int: . 91 Civ 1100 (Ptil) IS 0 N Y ~1811

198

M A Y 2001

feb, 20, I!l97)),

I I AI~ courtJ. ~ 1IXIIIIlCIkr. hive ralernid 10 a til' !I\tI1 ~ boon involvOd "" wrl!;k" Q/ryI:~ I 'V ir1jured IWOPBtI'/ $16. ~.g. $po(JIIf v S/I" F6Im Mrli. Au/a, 1M, Co.. 709 So 2~ 1151. 1558!A11. (991). f",,\hor, Alilbarroa courtl i0oi: to the plain am ortIrnary tnrIIIrnnu of • ~ in t9nStruing iosul'lllu tontrKIl. S. CInnorr v SlIle Flllm Mlit ltlJIomolII/f In$. Co., 590 SrI. 2<1191. 194-95IAi1, 19911.

12. SeeAmMIc8n SII/IM 1M. Co. v. Milflll!. 662 SrI Zd 245. 2481A1. 1995lllro1ding ihltlhe 11m ol lnYBIt· mtlnt potollltl.1WIIS an intongiblll KOnOmic lonlleit· 'no OxflJld IIHIIbef Co. • l.m'WJIJIIII) Mlil. 111$, Co.. 471 SrI 2d 973lA1a 19951(llnilng tIIItll1e lallolG lO proYido mOOi,,1berlelilS WlIlartir1tangibie IOOflOIJlic tosl1 K/MlinQ ~ MlliOnll UniorrFilfw. Co. 01 PlIIs/xJtgI!. 99S F.2d IS. 19th eir (993) (holding IluII economic 108111 nol rSa~ III inJury to tangrble property W'OIed by. ~uhinliva general 1~ 1 11'I poIltyt AlI$r~" 1M Co. ~ RIJ$U. B29 F Supp, 24 10, A.!. 19!I3111111d1ng thallo$t ItlVIlltmeillS anr:Ilo$l deposlll tKt nol tlnQlble propertyt Gtalw KSIBle FJHI1I r". 8 CIs. Co" 191 Pld 2141MonI. 1!I!II1 !hol~ Ing thai loll busiJ\OIS and iniury 10 lOPUl. tion am goocIYilti are not damage to IMISlbie pr~l'/ ~ a Mmoll owner~ pollcvl L I/aj'I'srtIIIg Co, v Comm. Uflit)(! Ins. Co" 469 A.Zd 832 1M! 1983lllinding thai antllll.l.ll action clb lmlng loSS gl prolits ond financ~1 1n11ll&111 ruulti~ Irom Inaor8d\ 'IIet,II!d pria..r"ing IIChBma nol COY8redl: rlll'lfl/flm Ildem. Co, V. AtllOflll. 6EKl r.2<lI'l55IAr'1 AQp 19841 [ItokUng tNtileSI of inYaIll!'oatIt rOprUOntCPd bv II\IIMIIUTIOnI ctlltllielll II nol 8 lou of tangIble jlIopeIlI), Il See Randy K. Paar, Cowl. frr I_I Arr$IrrQ Oul olUg 01 thtJ IIItarne/, A,U.·,UA 1095, 1113·14 (2<XKlI, ThiJ IISI il not Jn080ll0 be exlllultiYe. OOt IIIOIOIy lIiu'\rOl lvt 01 lilt typH 01 policllithar IflJ now available,

SPi nel' M. TIVIo.

s..ar M. Toyiar i• ., _III, .01/1 till lim III r.Ic!1 , IIIno1-.

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ALABAMA

S TAT

BAR

Publications ORDER FORM TIle Alabama Slate Bar is pleased to make available to individual attorneys, finns and local bar associations, at cost only, a series of brochures on a vmiety of legal topics of in terest to lhe general public. Below is a currenllisling of public info nnarion brochures available from the Alabama State Bar for di stributi on by local bar associations. under established guidelines.

BROCHURES To Serve the Public .................................................................... .$10.00 per 100 Qty. ". det811! of !}or public sliNks programs highlightod in the TO SERVE THE PUBLICvidoo presentation Law As A Csre" ...... ,,, ................................. ,..............,,, .............$10.00 per 100

Oty. _ _ _ 1 _

... opportunities and challonges of a law career today

Lawyers and Legsl Fees ............................................................$10.00 p. r 100 Dty. _ _ _ 1 _ ... 8 SlII'IlfMry of basic information on common legal questions aid procedures fOf the general public Last Will & TeslamBnt ................................................................$10.00 p. r 100 ... covers aspects 01 estate planning and the importance 01having a will

Diy.

LBga' Aspects of Divorce ......................................................... .$10.00 p. r 100

Dty.

... olters options 80d choices illYOlved in divorce

ConsumBr FinancB or "Buying on TimB " .... " ..." ............." ....,.$10.00 per 100 Dty. ... outlines Important considerations and provides advice on finarcial mailers affecting the individual Of family Mediation ... Another MBthod .................................................. .$10.00 p. r 100 Diy, _ for RBsolvlng Disputes

S_ S_

... provldes an overview 01 the mediation process in question'end-enswer form

Arbitrlllion Ag",Bments .............................................................$10,00 per 100

Diy.

AcryliC Brochur. Stend ..................................................................................$5.00 e.ch Diy. ", individUIII stond imprinted with individual, firm or bar association name for use at diS1ribu tion poln1s One stand per brochure Is recommended.

",answers questions on arbitration Irom tho censumllr's perspoc1ivo

Neme to ImprInt on . tend: _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Malllr.g Address

Subtotel $ Shipping & Handlif)(! $ 5.00 TOTAL $

Please remit CHECK OR MONEY ORDER MADE PAYABlE TO THE ALABAM4 STATE BAR !Of the 81T1OOflt listed on the TOTAL lioe and fOfWard it with this Ofder fOfm 10: Susan Andres, Director 01 Comnmications. AJabama Stllte BIIr. P.O. Box 671. Montgomety, AI. 36101

11/11/1/11\11

1111)/11

S)II 'I'II

\7 .

l\'l'nINSON:

The Supreme Court of Alabama Holds That Liability Can Be Imposed On a Third Party For Negligent Spoliation of Evidence Persons accepting responsibiliry for evidence 10 be used in trial muSI be able to put up Ihe evidence, or pay up 0 11 the plaintiff's claims. II)

/IIU\\ II \\11\1\11 A

elien! wn lk~ ill1 0 your offi ce: (Iud clipll1ins thnt he hjL~ just been

relensed frOIll the hospital ti nCT

be ing invol ved in An ulIll)m obil c lII:cidc nl in which some pun on his newl y pur-

ChlliiCd sport-ut ilit y vehicle failed, cn using the occident, n.~ well us hi~ injuries. For the silke of argument. assume Ihm hi$ Slo ry pOints directl y to wh ill you be li~~e is A valid products liflbility claim

IIgainsllhe rnanufllC\lIrt r of the vehicle. You Icam lha! your clicru 's vehicle was IllkCIi from the scene of th e nccidcnt \0 the iJllIXHHld 101 owned by the insurance COlllp:my thnt insured

hi~

automobile.

client explnins Ihm he has nOIi11ed the insurer IIUlt the vehicle is 10 he used us evidence in a pOlenliallawsuit and that the insurer has agreed te preserve the vehicle. For good rneu ~ure, you Cull th e insure r 10 confirm thm it has vo lunwril y agreed to ]lreserv~ the vehicle for the foreseen ble fmure. Everythi ng seems to be in orde r. Aft er $everal wee ks \I f i nve~l i gm i Qn and numerous !lChedu ling conflicts. you and YQur PUIQlIlotive ell pert travel to the i ns ure r '~ im pound 101 to inspect the vehicle for the purpose of dete nni ning whul nmy hl....e c uu ~c d the acd denl. When you ll rrive, lhe IIIlendant grnciously directs YOllf

yo u 10 the "red one in Ihe bn~ k ." Upon re:lching Ihis vehicle, yOlI discover that. IIpart from being red, it does not even l'C$elll ble your client's vehicle. After scou ring th e lo\, the attendant, who hus joined you on your despc r~ te senTeh, ntlmi ts th ut "your guy's cllr must hnve been lIccidemull y sold for scmp " long with the oth ers we sent liboul twO weeks ago." lie makes a brief tClephone CII II wh ich confirms th m you r c li ~nt 's ve hicle WIIS, in foet, sold for SCl'llp a~ d hns been des troyed. " I'm real sorry," he says as you leavr:. Until recentl y, " I'm renl sorry," would have been the onl y solace you co uld have offered your client in suc h It ~ee足 nurio. bccllU!tC II products lia bility lletion Ilguinsl lhe J1IlUlufur turer would huve been futil e without the defcctive ve hicle. See TUII"ISt:IUII'. GCIJI:ml M awrs Curp .. 642 So, 2d 411 , 4 15 (AlII, 19(4), i'loweller, faced wi lh these fI~ct s today. your cliclII nllly have some recourse lifter nil. However, Ihe reeoul'l!e will not be aga inst th e manu facturer of the ve hicle und er a prod ucts li llbi lity theory b<.lt nsni n ~t th e th ird-purty i n ~urunce company for neglige nt ~poli ll t io n of evidence. On Pebnlllry 4, 2000, the Supre mc Court of Alabama recognized, for the 1111

I I

1/llllt I l tlIIH

201

first time, neghgence claims arising from third.pany 5polhldon of evidence. Smil" It Atkinson, 77 1 So, 2d 429(Ala. 2000). Althouih the coun previously held that a causc or It(:tion for spoliation of eyidcnce cannot be brought against I pnrty to the underl ying IICtion, the court recognized in AtkinsQn that spoliation by a third pany I,resems a very differcm ~hllmion . Atkillsoll InYolyed an insurance company thnt had mistake nl y destroyed Smilh's mini yon, ulons with his potential prodllcts liability claim ngainst Chrysler Corporntion, the mnnufaccurcr of the mlni YlllI. On four ocell5ions, Smith hlld infonned his insurnnce comp.l ny of his intent to sue Chry81er and of the importance of prescrving the minivan as evidence. However. lifter voluntarily assuming the dut y to preserve, the inSlll'ilncc company misllIkenly alll)Wed the minivan to be destroyed. Smith sued the inSllrnnce company, alleging, IImonl other things, neglige nt spollntion of evidence. The illsure r remoyed the CIL'IC to fedcrnl COlin on diyel1ity grounds, nnd the United Statell District Coun for the Middle District of Alobll!na certified two questions to the Alabama Supreme Coon. asking whether Alnbllma recognizes a cause of Retion for the independent tOl1 of spoliation of eyide~ ogginst a third pnny. and. if 50. whnt are the clements of thuttort? Wri tillg for the coun. Justice Champ Lyons. Jr. nnswered the district coun 's first qucstion affirmath'ely, and SCI Otltthe f()lIow· ing test:

tions for potential defendants. The coun, in e5.sc:nce. crt:ated a oegligence hybrid in the tort of negligcnt spolia. tion. 1lIe three-pan test 5p«ifiealJy affects only the dut y and proximate cause clements of negligence, and the burden shift operntes III II finnl ellutionary measure to proteCt defendants from liability, even if all OIher elemelltS hnye been estnbtished. At fi rs t gl~ r1ce, thiS ton rnlly look eorlYolutoo, butll close eXllminmion will reYenl thnt the proces5 of npplyIng the test it is IIclUally mthcr Simple.

nul'\' No genernl dUly to 1)Il:llCnC evidence uisls in Alabama. DOd the coort was careful nOl tO creatc such a dut y in AlkillSQII. To do so would ~nllinly place 100 heavy a burden on society by requiring oppre.~si ve retention policies. HoweYer. u mlljority of the coun obylously believe!l thlll. if o third party who is hi possession of important evidence ngl't:e8 or volunteers to preserve WI evidence, that party should be:rr the risk of I~ when the evidence is later foond to be unawilable. In order to proICCt our COU15yslo:'m frl,lm being oyelTUn with spoliation cases, the court Ildded two additional prong!! to the duty element of this negli. gence lICIion; the.~ (rddi· tional pronp are designed to nvoid frivolous spolin. tiOll claims, First, the pliny in the underl yi nll inwsuit seekiug to usc the evidence thlll Is no longer Ilyaillible muSt have Ilivcn the third pany IIctulll nOlice of the pending or potential liliglltion prior to the spoliation, '110 coun noted in Ark/nson that Smith had infonned the insurance compMy on numerous occasions thut hb miniwn should be pre5Crved for litiglltion pUlpoSCS. ' l1.e COUI'! speci fically held thllt the notice nlll~t be actual , rllther than conslrI.lctive. Although the coun did not indicate wllm form the notice 11\USI toke, the beSt notice would be in writing nnd would inchrde a SllCCilic dCJCriptkl11 of all relevant evidence 50ught to be preserved, Howeyer, notice to the third party or it~ lIient by tele· phone appears to be adequate under Atkinson, Requiring n()(ice to be given to the third pliny before the eyidence is lost or de~lIroyed eliminates the possibility of a not-soethiclll plai ntiff woiting to pounCe on /I spoliatioo claim the moment a third pany innocently destroys or loset p~ny pre· viously belonging to lhe plaintiff. Without a nOtice req uirement, a potential pluintiff. for example. could rctunl to the gbrnge where his broke shoes hod recently beell replaced nnd demnnd to have the old pulls ret urned, ~Ih::gi ng thnt tho5e pnds were goi ng to be the ba§is of a Iliw~lI it against the manufllCturcr. Without examining the pads. the gamge would fi1ld It difficult to

.. . by req uiring notice to be given befo re the sp oliation, the court virtually eliminated the number of manufactured spoliation law suits ...

"We announce today a three-pnn test for dettfmining when II third-pany elln be held linble for negligent spolintion of evidence. In addition to proving a dut)" n brellCh, proxllunte CIl USC, lind d~lIlolle. the plaintiff in n third.pany spolimioll case mustnlso show: ( I) thn! the defcndnnt SllDUator hnd nctulil knowledge of llending or polential1itigmion: (2) thm II duty was imposed upon the defendnnt through n vohmlary undert nking. lin !1greemelll, or It ~pecifie request; lind (3) that the mJui ng eyldeoce was vi tal to the plai ntiff's pending or potentinl action. Once all th ree of these elements are estnblished, there nnseJ Cr rebuttable ~umption Illal but for the fllCt of the spolia. tioll of cvidel'lCe Lhe plaintiff would ha ve recovered in the pending or po4ential litigntion; the defendant must overcome th ut rebuttoble presumption or else be liable for dnm· ogCll." 77 1 So. 2d lit 432·433.

Oy rorlllulming II "three.part lest" to be used in nddi tion to the elements of a traditional negligence elaim lind shifting the. burden of proof, the supreme C()lln oddcd some. sturdy protcc· 202

MA Y 1 0 01

disprove a spoliation claim. However. by mjuiring nOlice 10 be given befofC Ihe spoliluion, the coun vi nuall y eliminaled Ihe numbc:r of manufactured spoll~tion law~uitl\, because it would be scnsclcSli for one 10 elaim that a lawsuit is pending on the off chance Ihallhe third pan y wou ld eoincidentall), lose the evidence specified in the notice. This rtltiOnllle supports the coun 's pOSition that allowing recovery for negligent spoliat ion protects pan ies in pending or potentinl lawsuits from being undu ly pun路 ished through the negligen t aclS of a third pany. 11K: second prong the coun added to the dut), element i.5 desisned to proH:ct defendanl3 b)' specifyina the three wa)'5 a dut), to preserve can be cfCa,ed. 11K: eoon dclennim:d tha, II dLl')' to preserve can arise: ( I) b)' the third pany's volunmrily undcnaking to pfC!!Crve the evidence and the plaintiff fCaSOnIIbl), lind delrirncntull), fClying thereon to his or her detriment: (2) by all IIgrcemem betwccn the third Ilart)' llnd the pll1i ntiff to Ilrc.-.erve: or (3) b)' the Illui ntiff's specific requcst to the third pan )' to preserve II plltticular item. accompanied by an offer to PII)' any associnted costs or to otherwise bear the burdcn of preservi ng. AlkhlS()II, 77 1 So. 2d nt 433. (citing Joli/iso/l v. Unllell Sew. "mo. A.uor" 67 Cnl. App. 4th 626. 79 Cal. Rptr. 2d 234 (Dis" C.. App. 1998禄. In the opening hypothctical. the insurnncc compall)' vol untari ly agreed to preserve the vehicle after the insured gave notice lhllllhe vehicle would be needed in a poternlallawsuit against Ihe rnanufocturer. TIlis action by the insu rance cOUlpany constitutes a "volurniil')' undettllking" and, thus. created a du t), to pre路 serve. If Ihe insurance company had not voll,lnteered to keep Ihe vehicle oot had instead aareed to keep the ve hiele after ,he e1iem mjuested a storage arrangement. the resu lt would be the $.arne. Howevcr. the duty would arise because of the agreement rather than because of a volumary undenaking TIle more interesting and difficult question involves the third circumstanee in wh ich II duty to preserve can arise-when the third po,ny hItS oot ),et agreed or declined to keep the evidence. but simpi)' receives a specific requcstllccompanied by an offer co pay Ihe CO$I of storllie or otherwise bellr Ihe burden of preliCrving the evidence. Uecause these circu llIsulllcel were no' present in AlkilJsmr. the eoutt did not discuss in th nt elise Ihe sl)CClfies of when such II dUlY would ariu. 1t IIppen~ Ihat, If,he evidence WIIS alrendy in the third pany'S posse!l8ion when il rece ived notice Ihat the evidence would be needed In a potential hlw_ suit. it would have a limited duty nOt to dCSt lo), the evidence until it could be delivered to the plaintiff II his eost Of umil an agreement could be reached. However. the eoun

cmphasi7.cs in AlldllSlJn thaI "[iJf a thlrd party docs not wish to IDke re~po nsibi l ity for evidence, it clin decline ,he responsibility. mifting the risk of lou back to the plaintiff." A/kinson. 771 So. 2d at 433. The court then gives Il hYpolhctieli1 in which tile third party sells the evidence to the phtintlff. By analogy. I third plin y that provides COllies of written evidcnce ' 0 a plaintiff. or that sells cvidenee to the Illaintiff, 0( that simply tums evidence over 10 the plai ntiff cannot be held liable fO( neillgent spoliation. beclluse no dUly to pre!,erve can be establi~hcd unda' AliljnsOII. Aecordingl)'. partie,~ regularl)' in possession of evidence that miaht be uscd in litigation &hoold be inronntd of their potentilll liability if that evidence b lost or destro)'ed after thty hnve agreed to make It available for li tigatiOn purposes. Hos pitals, insurnnce companies. garages. etc., should inJtitUlc II proced ure rOf dellJing with evltkncc In order to I,rotect l\8ainst inadvenent路 Iy assuming such n dltty,O preserve. Fo r inSll1J1ce, adopting II policy of cop)'ing docume llt~ that IIUI)' Inter be used as evidence and sending them 10 thc plllill1iff at his C051 will place the evidence in the hHnd.~ of the Ilatty who nced, it lind lIlay nl50 prevcnt II substantilll burde n from being placed on the third pliny. Rcmember thllt such Il du ty clinnOI ru'i8e until Ihe pluil1liO' hus givell nctllulnotice lind has specificall y re(IUe ~ ted thUlt he third PlItty Ilreserve lhe evidence. Simply holding evidence relevant to SOUle JitigatiOIl. evcn wilh constructivc kn owledge of thnlliligation, does 110t erellle II dut y to pt'Cscrve.

Breach is by far the ellSiest elcment of ncglige nt spolia' ion to undef!lta nd. 1lte third pany breathe.! its dUlY to preserve if II duty has been eSlRblished aod lhe th ird patty cannot produce the twidcllce III issue.

... on]y

the loss

of 4;\rita1l~~

evidence is actiQnab]e.

I)UOXnl1rl'l~

(~AIJSI~ AlkinS()f1also tailOfli the element of proximllle callst to furthC'l' protcct defend:IHlll in third-party negligent spoliutlon CII.'ICli. Obviously. 110\ every piece 01' eviden(.l: that i$ 108t or destroyed th rough the negligenl act of a third part )' warmnts n claim for negligcnt spoliation. In AlkhUQn, Ihe coun held ,hat only the loss of "vita]" evidence is actionable. No other coun in the nation places such a protcctive fC5triction on spoliation claims. As a result, the questiOfI in Alabama becomcs what tvitkoce is considered "vitIlJ.~ In AlililuOfl. the court defined "vitlll evidence" as e'lidcrace without II/I

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which the plnimiif ennnOi survive II sumnmry judgment. 771 So. 2d lit 435. In ocher words. if a summary judgment is due to be enteml becnuse the plaimiif eamlOl prove one or mOte clements of the underlying elluse of ltC1iol1 lhnl WQtlld hnve been p!"O\'nble with the 1(»t evidence, that evidence is "vital" to the plaintiff '~ cll1il1l. 1'Or example, II products Ullbility claim ClinnOi survive a s Ul1l1nlU)' judgment withOlU the produclllllegcd 10 be defective. In lhe opening hYllOlhcticnl, when the insuntllce cOlUpllny misllIxenly destroyed lhe vehic le flllcged to be defective, the clienl's fate wit h regllrd to his potential claim :lgainst thc m:lllil' facturer was sclled. Without the opponunilY to in)pect the v~hicle. the plaintiff', products liability c lairn will not survive a summa ry judgment , See CUlli/al Chlll'roit'/i'. SmNllry, 614 So. 2d 439 (Alu. 1993). On the other h,Uld, suppose that the products IillbililYelaimi raised in the opening hypot hetical involves the defective dcslgll of the seat belt in tin: vehicle. Although lin exmninmion of the reslruinl 5yMem white that system Is stllllnslUlied In the vehicle is best, if the restruint system was removed from Inc vehicle before it was deStroyed, expens oould still testify as to the dcfe<:tive nature of the I"eStroim systenl bUI.ed on an examinmion of the system indepcndcllI of Ihe vehicle. nl ~5, the rel11uinde r of the vehicle would not be deemed vitBI to the plll.intiff'.i defective· sent· belt clbim, Although destro)'ing the ~ehlcle mlly hnve signirielll1ll), hampered Ihe plaintiff's ability to previlil on the mcrit~ of his claim, it docs not Illlpear to pre!ICnt a ellUse of llction for negligent spoliation under

aani nst the underlying lortfeaSO/". Ruther t!i:ln holdina the th ird party liable for diullagcs, the eoun In A/killson created II rebuttable presumption designed to slIfe;ullfd polemiallhird. pan)' defendunts from '~c h 5ituatiOO5. The reooullble presumption aSsumes that "the plaintiff would have prevailed in the underlying Dclion but for the 10 55 or destRietion of the evidence by lhe third'pllrty $poliotor:' AlkillJOl17 71 So,2d III 43S. In the opening hypothetical, the following pre~ um ption wuuld llrise-the client would hnve sueees!lfully litigated his products liubility eillim against the nlllnufll.cturer of the allegedly defec tive vehicle. In order for the third' party defendant to avoid liubilily, the third party mu~t reootthi! presumption. In t:S!lCI"ICC. if a third,p:lny spoliator can l how any Rlll· son why the plaintiff would not have prevai1c:d again$tlhe underlying lonrcasor, the third pliny cnn reOlltthc presumption lind therehy Qvoid liability. For inSl(mce. if!L third plmy d iseove~ thm the Stutulory lilnilUlion$ period hUil run On Ihe pluintiff's claim aga inst thc underlying defendant before the plllintiff alIVe notiCe the potentiallitigOition to the third pany, that fact could rebut the presumption and the third pun)' would Qvoid liability, ' "is would be tnlC evcn if the third pany was grossly negligent in 10~i n G or destroying lhe plliintifT'~ evidence. Other exnlllple$ may include ~ ituutiolls In which the undcrlying defendant could huve proven au umpt ion of the ri£k or contributory IlCgli,ence. The basis or the rebuulIble presumption is that the plnintiff must have had the possibility of pre~a iling againsl the underlying defelldant before the th ird pany .... iII be held liuble for negligently dcstroying evidence.

... upon recelvll1g noti ce that evidence in its possession may be us ed in potential or pending litigation , a third party has the option of refusing to accept re spons ibility for Stich evidence.

AlkillSOIl .

In addition. it should be nOled thm the plaintiff need not aetulIl· Iy have to suITer II summary jUdglllC11I in order to show thm the SllOlilitoo evidence was vit ul. ·Ille COlU1 In Alkll,.WIII detcnni ned thlll n showing by the plaintiff thm II summary judgment wOlild have been properly entered IIbscntthe llli$Sina evi(lenee will suf· fice. Jud icial resources would be wlIstcd by forcina :I plaintiff 10 file futile litigation simply to have IIjudgment entered against him in order 10 be able 10 preserve Il ~poUation claim.

IIIJIlmlN SUI(I'I' Once the plaintiff has csillblished u duty, u breach und proxi. mnte CAU se and has sntisfied the underlying three-pan teM, he hilS estublished • prima facie case of negligent ~polill t ion of evi· dence. However, it is eonccivllble thm (I plaintiff could estnblish a prinllt fucie cose b)' showing the noove criteria when, for one reMon or unothe r. the plaintiff could never prevail on the merits 204

MAV 10(1 1

Usually the dmnnges elell1ent or II negligent .~polillii on case gives pllusc to most eourlS. At firM glllnce, it seems inherently unfair to hold :I th ird pany liable for compcnSlltory dlllllages clluscd by another's wrollgful c;onduct when it i~ I10t cenain whether the plaintiff had a winning claim In the firM plDCC. In A/killS/III, the coun C)[prcssed the basis for such reluctance as follow.: '1'he upproprime measure of damages is difticuh to delermine in ~pol inti on e:l~cs beclUlse, without the mi ~sing evidence, the llkelihood Qfthe phiinliIT's IlrevolJing on the merit~ cannot be precisely detemljned,"

77 I So. 2e1 :1\ 436.

Retogn,,,-,ng that this fllCt weighs against the plaintiff as well as the defendllru. the coun refused to do as mher States have done and tie the pbintiff's rcwvery to the likeli hood of $ucces~ on the meri ts. Sec. e.; .• Petrik II. Monarch Prfmillg Corp.• jO I NJ:!.2d 131 2. 1320 (Ill . 1987). Instead. the court reasoned Ihat "courts hJtve long recognized the need to remedy a wrong despite the f~cllhut a proper uward of dllmllgeM is difficult \0 determine." 771 So. 2d lit 436. 11lUS, nfter lisling the addi tionnl protections prov id~d to third.pany SIXlllntors in Alabama through thcthree-purt test and the burden shifti ng. the CQlm determined th111 b successful plaintiff in II negligent spoliruion case is due damages equal to Ihe compensatory dnmuges that would have been reeovered in the underlyin; action. 771 So. 2d lit 438. In the opening hypothetical. the cliem would be eligible to recover for property damage. injuries. pain and suffering. lind IIny other compensatory dllmllgc..~ caused by tnc allegedly defettive vehicle. The eoun also specifically excluded the recovery of any punitive dn mages thnt nlighl hli~e been ilwnrded in the underlying lIC tion. 77 1 So. 2d ot428. Becousc punit ive dmnuges are intended to punish the wrotlgdoer lind nOt 10 rewa rd the vlctim. it stAnds to reuon that punitille damllges should not be lcvied 118ai l1S111 mere ly negligel11lhird-pany in a spoliation cllse.

(}IJJ(~I' ilNl-UYSIS The following analysis can be used to quickly delermine whether a claim for negligent spolialion exisls uooer

Atkinson.

A. Duty 1, aid Ihe defendant have actual knowledge 01pending or !>Otenliallit/galion prior to the spoilation? If Yes-f'lOceed to 12 II No-No spoliation claim

2. Was a duty imposed upoo the defendant in 0110 01 the following ways?

a. Voluntary undertaking; b. Agreement; c. Specific request accompanied by an offer 10 pay OOSIS; If Yes- Duty established. proceed to

If No-No spoliatioo claim A third party who BCCCptS responsibility for vilal evidence lind who ,ubscquenlly loses or destroys thllt evidence clln be hcld lillble for l111 thc compensatory d:lmages that would have been recovered by the plainliff agai nst the originlllionfeasor. In recoa ni7.i na CIIUse of action for spoliation under trnditionul neg· ligcllec. the Alnbamn Supreme Court Ilns I1ttel11]ltcd to provide sOllie proteelion to potclI111I1 thi rd- purlY dcfenda nts. while Bl lhe ~ame time providing II remedy to pl~irH iffs who hllvc lost 1\ villble CIIUse of action dll'ough Ihe negligent conduct of a third pilrly. Ilowever. third JXlf1ies do nOI have to bear the risks associ:ued with this Ion. To the contrary. upon receiving notice that evi· dence in its pos5Cssion may be used in potcntial or pendin, litigation, a third party hl1$ the option of refusing to nccept rc:.~pon sibilhy for such evidcnce. After all. 5uch a predou5 commodity is best piliced In the hands of the proponent of the e~ idence, Nevertheless. II third part y thai commits to keeping evidence had bellcr tllke II good. hurd look at the potentlnl dll lllllges for whic h it limy be hcld Ii(:wuntll ble. III other words. third ])lII'ties ~hOuld be prepared to pUl up, or pay up. in light of Alkl,ISO/I . •

B. Breach If the evidence at issue cannot be

produced. proceed to C.

C. Proximate Cause Was the missing evidence vital to the plaintiff's claim against the underlying lortfeasor. i.e., could the ptaintiff survive summary judgment in faYOr of the underlyng tonfeasor without the missing evidence? If Yes- No spolialioo claim If No-Proceed 10 O.

D. Burden Shifting Can the third·party defendant show that the plaintiff would not have prevailed against tho underlying tortfeasor even with the missing evidence? If Yes- No spolialion claim If No-Proceed to E

.... w

8rlln W. Wlrwiclo.

1YInoirl .. _ _

w_.

E. Damages lJII*.

c-.

LLC III BifIIIIfIO,'IIm Itt ...... ~ eeA. ""'" .. oj $MIl M • A. ""'" $om/Qfd ~I\'..... "'" J O. ""'" c.m..1Ind SdIIIOI oj lIN rollcw1lg grlCMl .... '" W*I '" 1tw cl4A \0 . . IIDnOIKIII ChIonp 1\'II1II• .It 01 "'" Su..-.". CcuI of "'......

fI...u. ""

The elements of third·party negligent spoliation have been eSlablished and Ihe third·party defendanl shall be liable for all compensatol)' damages that the pia miff would have recovered against the underlying tonfeasor if succBssful on the merits.

rill

1/1/11\11

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205

MArk I)wyer Mc Knight, whose whcrenbo~t.'l Brt un known, must answer the Alllbllmo Sinle Bor's fomml disciplirw)' ehnrges within 28 days of Mnrch 15, 2001, or, thercltner, the ehMges contQined therei n ~ hQII be deemed odmincd Bnd npproprilltc discipline sholl be imposed against him in I\S O nos. 00-23(1\), 00-24(A) Qnd 00-22 1(1\) before the Disciplinnry BOlml of the Alab;lma Suue Uar.

Reinstatements Effe<:!lve November 17. 2000. allorney Allie Vincent Clovace<> of Binninghnm. was suspended from Ihe pmc:lice of Irtw In Ihe Stille or Alabama for noncom路 pliance wilh the 1999 Mandatory Continuing Legal Eduealion requiremcnlS of the Aillbamu Stille Bar. On Februllry 6. 2001. Ciovaceo Climc intO compli. unee whh the MCLB rules and was rei nstated 10 the llruetiee: of Inw in the: Stnte of Aiubll1l14. [CLE No. 00路43]

Disability Inactive Mobile Illlomey Cl'Urge C uy lI uyes was trunsfcrrcd to d;~l!.bility inactive 5tlltU5 effective Mnrch I. 2001, by order of Ihe Disciplinary Hoard of the Alabama State DIU'. [Rule 27: AS8 Pcl. No. OI..()2)

Disbannents

The Disciplinary Board. Punc:1V. upon hearing the

petition for reinsunemenl of Uimlingham lawyer Robert William GndulIlI. ordel'tld thnt Grahllm be rei n ~t:ued to the j'lmCticc of law In the SiBle of Alnblamn. (Graham was disb.1lTCd by COnSClI1 011 Septcmber 28. 1993.) The board's ()((\er, dated Jan uary 30.2001. Wll.'i adopted by the Alabama Supreme Court eITcctiveJwlUary 16.2001. [ASI) Pel, No. ()().()8]

' 11e Discilllinary Board, Panel VI. uI'Qn reviewing the petition for relnst(rtement of Snrasota. Floridu lawyer Jelln Curleen Mnl'(lIl1tulllu. ~nd bn$C(! llpon thc Ccoraia State: Bar's relnstatelllcnt. ordered that Marcantonio be reinstated to the practiee of l UI in the State of Alabama. withoullhc necessity of a hearing. MllI'Cantonio was reciprocally suspended based upon her Georgia Siale O IlT suspension. [ASIl Pel. No. 00. 101 Z08

MAY 20CI

On March 9. 2001 the Alabamll Supreme Coun enlerW all order based upon the JanulIf)' 30, 200 1 decision of Ihe Disciplinary 8 ottrd. I'nnel V. wherein forme r Jackson nItol'ney Jll.llld Arthur 'lUcker, Jr. was disbam::d frolll the pructice of law In the State of Alabama effective January 16,200 1 pursUlllltlO Ru le 23 of the: Alabama Rules of Disciplinary Procedure. Tucker wa.. iiC......ed with charges in both com路 plaints. however, Tucker failed or refused to submit his answers. On April 26. 2000. Pllnel V luued 811 order grullling Ihe 11I0tion for default judglllelll In bolh matters, Thckcr entcred 0 consclll lO disbarment on the date SCI for his heuring, Janullry 16. 200 1, which he signed Bird dated Jilrlunry 12, 2001 . In ASo No. 95.3.5O(A), Tucker represented an eld路 crly client who died on February 13, 1994. Tucker had obtained power of attorney f()( her prior to her denth. Aficr the elicnl'5 dcath. il was discovered by Ihe heirs

of her estute thut Thcker h:ld wriuen checks for his personal usc In excess of $134,500 from the elient's checking accounl. On July 2, 1996 a henring WIlS held in CIW'k County Circuit Coun on charges brought against nICker as a result of his thef! from his client find her ~~tRte . Durill, the course or the hearing 011 July 2. 1996. coullsel for Tucker advised that 'l\Icker wished to repay the hc:iri> of the c:stllle ill lin dTon to avoid llnOIoor criminal trial . Between July 2. 1996aoo July 16. 1996. Thcker's aHomey contncted the invc.~ti gator of the Alabama Attorney Oenernl's office and ooviscd thm a ~t tlement had been reoched between the heiri> of the e$tBle lind Thcker. As II result. the Attorney Oeneml's onice closed their file agni!1~t ·l\lcker. On 1)e(,' ell1bcr 9. 1993. counsel for the: he:ill of the clienl's e.mte ndvised the bllf thnt he was unawurc of nny scttlement bein; reached between the heirs of the cstule: and n Icker. n Icker Wl~ scrved with ehargcli on December 10, 1999 ror violations of mles 1.1 5(a), 8.4(n). 8.4(b), 8.4(1:). Rnd 8.4(1) of the Alabllllln Rulcs of Prorc.'~ional Conduct. In ASS No. 91,323(A), Thckcr was hired in August 1992 to rcpre:!icnt the complainant with II divorce mallcr alld she sent him It chl:<:k In the amount of S121. In Mnreh 1993. the eompl:linant wrote Thcker stll1.llg Ihm he hnd not been in touCh witl! her nOf recumed her calls and to "spud up" her divorce. On August 19. 1993.lclal services of the State Department of Mentlll He:.hh wrote: Tucker on behalf of the compluillllnt. Thcker did not rc.~polld to either of these IClleN!. n Icker took no llction In the COl11p llLinfllll'~ divor'C(. 'Iucker was served with cllllrge5 on July 16. 1999 for violotlons of nll e~ 1.3, 1.4(a) aud 8.4(g) of the Alabumo RIlles of Prok~5ion u! ondUCI. nIcker was previously disbarred effective Moreh 28. 1996 b:lsed upon hi~ pleu Rgrecmcnt. pursuom to Rul e: 23(a)(2). of the Albbamn Rules of DiSCiplinary 111K."Cdurc. Tucke:f'~ prior distipline was IIbo a considemtion in Ihis mauer.

1'1'Ie Alabamn Supreme: Court nffinlled on order of the: Disciplinary BOIlrrl, Pancl ll. dilibani .. fonner Birmingham a!lomey [)ennis 1\1ichucl Dllrrtll from

the prnctice of law in Ihe State of Alabarna, effective NOv(;llIber 22, 2<XXJ. BlImlt was scrved with disciplinary chl1l'BCs I)fI l:>C:Cembc:r 27. 1999. nnd upon hi! failure to on~wer or otherwise plend to the charges. a motion for defoultjudgmt:nt was flied by the bur Ott r'tbruary 17. 2<XXJ. TIte motion for defllult was gtIlllled by otder of the chair of Disciplinary Board. Partel II. entered 011 March 2. 2000. An order Ielting the date oAd plnce of hearing fOf November 14. 2000 WlIs scnt to Barrett on October 10. 2(XlO. However. narrcu did not IIppear lit the t.cnrin". The Disciplinary Souni proceeded to !'tcelve evidence lind tendcr judgmcnt. Barren was round guilty by the entry of defmll! for repenled violmions of rules 8.4(b), 8,4(c) and 8.4(8) (rnisconducl], nnd the specifications of Count I inelude mnny itcms nlw ~pl"'!Itely sct out in Rule 1.15 Isnfcteepina of property of othen;l. of the Rules of Pn:lfessionul Conduct. Ilnrrctt hlls len the Sinte of Alabamn lnd now ~sides in Tennl:ssee, when: hi: hll.'! flied Imnk· RtptCY proceedings, the effect of which 1ll1lY be to thwan the rights or his clients against him, Prior discipline was considered. and the evidence csmbIi~hc:d that ij ll.rrcll ellg~ged in II. deliberate. eomplu, concealed scheme by which. oye:r a period of month5. 10l'le sums of lI1OOCy--as much as $400.000 or ~Iongillg to eliellL~ were miSllppropriated either in tnc form of expenditures for !he usc of Bafl't.lI or his law fimt , or cash. BllITCtt disployed 1\ p.~\Cem of misconduct lind multiple offenses: filed II false sworn affidavit intcndcd to mislelld :md emmlct the bur'~ invc.~t i8I1tion lind process: reCused to IIcknowledge: the: wronaful naturc of his conduct. but sought f!llse evidence to concenl und justify It: preyed on the: vulncrubility of his victim. being n srnlili company which relied upon BatTell: and showed indlffcrence to milking restitution. but look fictive Ste:ps to conceal asSCtS and avoid restitution. (ASB No. 99-3 12 (All

Huntsville attorney Carl l'r Alun Robinson surrendered his license 10 practice law and consented to disbar· ment In lhe StAle of Alabama, In so doing. Robinson acknowledged that the cOflscntto disbarment and surren-

ALABAMA LAWYER

Assistance Program Are you watching someone yOu care about self-destructing because of alcohol or drugs? Are they telling you they have it under control?

They don't. Are they telling you they can handle it?

They cen't. Maybe they're telling you it's none of your busi"ess.

It is, People entrenched in alcohol or drug dependencies can't see what it is doing to their lives.

You can, Don't be part of their delusion.

Be part of the solution, FOf 6'rory one persoo with alaJholism. lit least live 0I1tef lives are negatively

affected by the problem drinking, The Alabama Lawyer Assistance Program Is available 10 help members of the legal profossion who suffer from atco· hoi or drug dependencies. Information and nsslstance Is also avallablo lor the spousos. family mombers and office stoff of such membors. ALAP is commilled to devetoping 811reater aware' ness and understanding of Ih~ itlooss within the legal profeuion. If vou or someone you know needs help call JeaAOO Marie leslie tALAP di'ec!OI') at {334) 834-1576{0 conlidenliol diroct line) Of 24,hour page at {3341395-OlJ1. All catts are confidential.

1111

'/1111\1\

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207

der of his license was mmle: in onler 10 avoid I\Jnher prosecution in the above referenced mailers. which involve aile· gatiOfis thllt he willfully neglected legal manen; enlruSled 10 him. failed to rtnsonllbly commun icate: wilh clienl$. enguge:d in conduct involving fraud. deceit or m i$rtprt~entatjon. fllil e:d or refu sed 10 refund unenJ'lled relOi ncr fce$. fill led 10 respond 10 requests for informmion from a disci plillilfY author· ity. lind failed or refused to cOll1ply with terms alld oonditions of probluion ItS onlered by the Diseiplinary Hoard. The Disciplinary Board of lhe AlaballUl Stute Bar ordered thlll Ihe disbanne nl be effective February 5. 200 I.IRlile 20(a). Pet. 99-07; ASO nO!. 01 -03(A). 00· 122(A). 99-245(A). 99·255(A). 99.256(A). 99.285(A). lind 99-286(A»)

Suspensions On February 9. 200 1. the Disciplinary Boord of thc: Alabilllta Stille: 8fU', l>antl V, ordered Ihal Bessemer nllol1'lcy Rlcllllrd I.JIIT)' McClend on be 5\1 5, peoded from Ihe practice of law in the Simcof Alabama for a peood of 91 days eff~'CIive inmK:dintci y. In Jununry 2000, thc Disciplinuy Board Illlel onIcred Ihat McClendon be suspended fmlll the practice of law In the State: of Alabamll for a period of 91 days with the imposition or the 91-day su. pcnsiOntO be suspended nod held in abeyance pending Mt.'Clendon's successfu l oompletion of a two-yeM prOO.1tionary period. This disci. pline wn.~ ha~ upon McClendon's gllilty plel~~ i ~ two .'iCpamle caSts. In ASB No. 98·09(A). McClendon pled gUilt y to v;oluti ng mlc,~ I J und IA(A), A .lU~C. Mt;Clcnoon hlKl bc:cn retained to represent a client in a worker', compcnsmion/wrQllgfuJ discharge easc, Although there ~re questions regarding the: involvcmcnI of another attorney and the reremll oflhe mailer 10 McClendon, there was evidence that McClendon was the allomey for the cliem lind responsi. ble for her CMC:. Afier being retnincd, McClendon did lillie ur no work and fo iled 10 COllurlunicilll: with the client regarding her cm:e. TIle eomrtlunicutions thul he did ha'/C with the client were misleading. Eventually. tlte CI15C WI\lI dis208

M AV

1001

missed for fallurtlto prosecute. Tbe client subsequcntly sued McClendon for mnJprnctice nnd obwincd a , Iwble judgment. McClendon discharged the judsIl'ICm in bankruptcy. In AS B No. 99· 193(i\). McClendOfi WIlS relai ned to represent a client in lL bankruptcy maner. He did lillIe: or 110 work lind flliled to promptly rc.~pond 10 reasonable request'! for informmion regurding her caw. 1'he infomlntion lhat McClendon provided W!lS mislellding or h)C()ff'eC1. 'The client eventuall y retained the services of dilferent cou n~l to assist her in her Ixtnknl]ltey. Upon terminuting the reprtSentation. the client requC$ted Ihnt McClendon retunl her file. hut he did not honor Ihm request. B n~d upon M elldon's railure to comply with the tenllS nnd condilion.q of probmion. the Disciplin nry Uonrd revoked hi ~ prob(~i on tl11d ordered thm the 91 .day suspension be placed into effect immedilltely, IASB nO!. 98-09(A) and 99· 193(A)1

Birmingham attorney J.lIlIl11f Fnflldl II UIII, III Wa$ intcriml y suspended from the pmctice or law in the State of Alubama purs ultnt to Kul e 20(11), Alubrnn(1 Rul Cll of Di$Ci plinury Proced ure, b)' olXler of the Disci,Ili nury Corlllnissiort of the Alabmrm SUlle Bllr effec tive March 5, 200 I. TIlc order of lhc I)lsciplinnry Co mmission was based on a petition filed by the Office of General Counsel evidencing thut Hllm had served U Ihe closing IIttor· ney ;n more than one real t.~llue tmns· action Imd failed to promplly disburse runds held in trust liS represented in the I-IUD· I settlement stutcmentli. IRtlie 20(a), ASI3 Pet, No, 01-0 1)

Athens allQmey Cylllhill Jnue lJrldgl.'nlitn was interimly suspended from the praclice of law in the State of Alabama pur,;uanl to Rule 20(a). Alabama Ru les of Disciplinary Procedure. by order of the Disciplinary Commission of the Alll bmna St"te Bar effective Mllrch S. 200 1. The order of the Disciplinary COIl1I11 I~sio rt WltS based on II petition filed by the Office of Gc nernl Counsel evidencing Ihat Bridgcmnn hod knowingly failed to respond to repeated requ cst~ for Infor· motion from 11 di~i pl j nary nuthority in

violation of Rule 8, I(b), Alabama Rules of l>rofessional Conduct, lRule 20(a}. AS B I'cl. No. 01-02)

Birmingham utlome:y Joe Wilson Morxun, Jr. was suspended from the: practice of IIIW in the State of Alubulllu for HIICrio<! of 16 months ell'cctlve December 12, 2000 by order of Ihc Alaball\o Supreme Coon dated November 28. 2000. The supreme COlIn entered the order bascd upon the decision of l'Dnel l of l/Ml Disci plinary Boan!. In addi tion to the suspension. Morgnn received two ~h1ic repri. 1II11nds with general pUblication Ilnd tWO public reprirnunds without generill publicll1ion. lind was ordered to muke re~liluli on to various clients in the tOial amount of S 12.000. suspension lind reprimunds wert the result of for· mal charges bmuaill alillinsl Morgun on the basis of nine differtnl diseiplinary ~omplaint~. All the Cllses in'ffllvcd a similar pattern of conduct 00 the ptU1 of Morgan of KCepti n, employment from a client, rniH ng Of refusing 10 provide nny legal services 10 the client, failing or refUSing to cornlUunicll1e wi th the client , and failing or re fusing to OOlllmunicllle with the AlabHmn Stnte Bar In response to the complaints Iiled against him. Morglln was (ound 10 have viohrted the following Kul e.~ of Professionul Conduct: Rule 1.1 requiring a lawyer to provide competent repI'CStntlition: Rule 1.3. which prohibits willful neglect of n legal matter: Ru le 1.4(a), which requires tn mtomey to keep a client reasonably infomlCd ond to comply with reasonllble requests fOf infonnlltion: Rule 8. I(b). which provides thm lin attorney ahnll not knowingly filII to respond to II lawful dcmond for infommtion from /I disci· plhlltl')' uUlhooty: lind Rule 8.4(g), which prohibilS on attorney from engagin8 In oondllct thl t adversel)' renects on his fimus to practice law. (ASH nos. 97-300(A), 97- 13S(A), 98· 060(A). 97- 159(A). 98.()J2(A). 98· 230(A). 98·058(A). 98.()76(A). and 97· 238(A)).

"1=

TIlc Alobmna Supreme Coun adopted all order of the DisclpliBnry Board, Panel V, suspending Montgomery nnorney Kenneth 'Iill vl n Ilemphill from

the pmctice of law in the Stllte of Alabamll effective FebrulU')' 18,2001 for II pc'riod of ooc year. Hemphill entered Dguilt y plea to viol Qtin~ rules 1.I5{a) lind 1.IS(b) of lhe A.It.P.C. lsafekeeping property I. Hemphill represented an estate in conncctiOfl with a timber ,ole and received SIIJe proceeds of $220,500. which he deposited into hi$ truSl lICOOUlU 011 November 10. 1998. From November 10 until November 30, 1998 Hemphill drew a ilCrles of checks Of other debits lIgai nst the trusl lICcounllolaling in excess of $45.089, IlOIlC of which were ror limber j lli t expcnk$, heir distributions or Illlonley fees, On December 30, 1998 Hemph ill issued checks in pnrtinl dislribtllion to sonle oi the heirs. After being oonlllClcd by an ettonlcy regnrding the i$~ UlLIl Ce of the rcillaining heil'll' portions. Hemphill i ~9 ued live checks btn only delivered fO~T. In Febnuu')' 1999. the sUlne lLttomey contueted Hcmphi ll ugn in lind Hem phill hond-delivered a chC(;k to thut heh the !lame dllY.

On Oclober 23. 2000. Ihe DiSCiplinfiIY

however, according 10 the eillims man· !tger. Sellers had not conlacted Alfa.

BOIU'd of the Alabmna Stille Bill' IICCCpIcd Ca rl Hnmdon St-lIcrs's plelL in t\\IQ pending disci plinlU')' mailers. Sellers ~cived a 91-day 5uspcnsion. 10 be held in llbeyancc for /I two-year pn'.IbatiolUu)' period. Conditions of this probmion dtmlllld oornplillnCe with CCl'\Jlin requirements set for Sellers by lhe AIIlb.1n1a Luwyers AS$istance I~gmm . and lhe imposilion o flh is public reprimand with gencrnl pUblication. [n ASH No. 99- 14O(A). Alfa I n.~unlncc Comp:my hired Selle", to handle severnl ~ubroglilion claims. During the period from 199710 1999. th~ Alfli , ubrogation daims !luUlager wrote Sellers numerous lellers rcquC5ling Stl'WS updmes on the various cases referTed 10 him. Sellers did not respond to these !elle rs or otherwise COIl1r1lLmiClIlc with Al b . Alfa $Cnl II letter of complai nt to Ihe bill'. A copy of the complaint !eUcT was titlll iOSellel'1l on April 20. 1999. with II rcq lle.~1 for n response. Sellcrli did r.ot respond until Augu .. t 9. 1999. Seller$ Stilted thilt he hod since been in touch with Alfn about the mailers contai ned In the oomplnint.

::h/I'l e and again, the leaders

In AS B No. 00-059(A),

Selle~

hired to rc:pre!iCnt It client in a divorce, 1'hc client puid Sellers u 5700 attorney', fce. Scllm never flied a divorce fICtion for the d iem and milreprcscrned th is fllCt to him for llln'lOSt \\\IQ years. Afler the dielll learned of Sellers's fail ure 10 flIe the divorce, he filed Dbar complaint. Sellen (lliled 10 rc.~pood 10 requests for inronnation rrom the bar 1l00ul lhe malleT. On Janu wy 26. 2001. Sellers was liven a publie reprimand wilh Ilene nil publicllli<ln for violal ion of rules 1.3. l.4(a) and 8.I(b). oflhe Rules of Professional CondllCt. No prior discipline WIIS Involved or oonsitkred. IASB n~. 99-140(A) II l1d ASH OO·59{A)] Effeclive November 15. 2()OO, IIll0nley M Ur lt!I n!1 Ilclcn VUIlIlIt of Florence

hlts bt.'Cn suspended fmm the I,rnctice of law in the Stille of Al ubllnt Bfor non· L'O lIIplinncc wilh the 1999 MfUldatory Continuing Legnl Educlllio~ requirementS of the Alabama Slate 8M. leU! No. 00(40)

clecf,cah'on and ser ui ce. leJith more thall half a century under

our belt. you could $a)' we k.now allth er~ is 10 know ahout title Insura nce.

nut

it'!

bu!in~5S.

not jUlI about knQwing our

It·s about knowing our clicnt! and

e~ rning their trust. Our la"1'cfl h a\'~ done just

that. fly hilling the experience and insight to prol;dc lital uru lcr'wriling solluloru. WC're rated the numocr onc title

in'uranc~

coml"1ny in MiMi5Sippi and Alab.lma, receiling

·umul'J"med lin.:lncial smbilit)'" ratings. Th.. nk )'011 for putting )'O ur faith in us .

.. ',

: MISsISSII'PI VA I.I.EY 1'11'1.': •- . , •'INSURANCE COMPANY &1.. '",

/111

:Jf~ ....

1/ \/1\1/1/ \IIIIN

209

Public Reprimands On Murch 2, 2001 Montgomery attor· ney DA yid Martin (-olmar received a public reprint and without &cncnli !)\lb· liCation. Fo lmar lind an individuul named Mike Warren founded an investment COrtl l)!lIlY culled BM W, Irwc:slrncrus. LLC (I·IMW). Wnrrc n was rendered pumplegie in nn tlll10mobile nccldcJII, He received fI vcry turge scttlement from a trucking company llnd he used part of his ~ Ul cmcnl \0 fund the (:ompllny. Fohnar'lI role WIl5 to lIIunl\gc the company and seek OUI

lnveslmen! opportunities. Pmfil~ were 10 be spill equally. On or ubout January 2. 1997, Folmllt sold S0111e propeny that was owned jointly by him lind his wife \0 HMW, for

$ LS!I,OOO. Pol mar prcpnrcd a dced, Signed it nnd forged the sigll:Uurc of Joyce ~I illils notllry on bo.h Ihe deed Ilnd a mortgage. LIller, Folmllr and his wife sold the ir propc:ny III Lake Martin directly II) HMW, I~hnar agai n pn:pared the documents, forged his wife'. slgumure and thm of Joyce l'lillu notary. None of Ihe above documeuts wen: rttOrded by Folmar. In Folmar', re.~POll se to tbe CQlIlplnillt filed ngllillBt hIm by li n IIl1tlmey for Warren, Folmar slIlted tlmt he dealt with these legnl dOC urtlerllS fl~ he did bccousc he WII~ "n:p1IlclnS" origlnnls which had been lost by Warren, Wllrren hilS denied ever hliVill&them in hIs possc:ssi()n. The DillCiplinary Comntiuion acccptcd Folmllr'8 coodilionlJi guilty plea for violalion or Rule 8,4(g) of Ihe Alabmna Rules of Professional Condllcl No prior diSCipline WIIS involved or considered. [ASS No. 9827O(A)1

Birmlngharll allorney Mfrry Rlscllnlt Amos was p~bli c ly reprimanded by the Disciplinary Commission o f the Alabama State Bllr for willfully neglecting a leaal mailer. for fai ling to Ildequately communicate with II client, for making a fili se 51atementto a trlI>\lIIal, for making a fol sc statemenl to a third lle.r~on, for failing to make reasonable efforts to ensure that the conduct of her non-lAwyer S t~ff Wll~ com· potible with her professional obJigll' ti()n$, for violating the Rtlles of Professional Conduct Ihrough Ihe acu Z10

M AY

2001

of another. and for engaalng In COli· duct prejudicialt(l the administmtion of jllstice, violations of rules 1,3, 1,4(.), 3.3{.)(1). 4. I (a), S.3(b), and 8.4(.) and (d). te6pee\ively. AmOll met with P client at ao initial confe ~ncc regarding a divorce mllller. She did not meet with the client 8t any time therellftcr. The cliem And her husband we re lef't to consull only with nonluwyer stllff regardin g their divorce. Amos delayed filing the divorce for more than nve months and did not respond to the client', numero1l5 IlItemptS 10 obutin informlllion regarding the status of !he mauer dllring the course of the reptc.llentlltion. The client was finally able 10 lalk to Amos uboulthe ~11I111S 0( her divorce after she contllcted the bllr lind threalened to lite n grievance against Amos. At thaI litTle, Amos Ixlviscd the clienl lhllt the divorce hlld been ",cd whe ll , ill fac t, il had nOi and was not flied for another month. Whellthe div()rce WIlS finally filed, the client 's 51gnntllfC on the testimony filed in 5ul,port of the complllint for divorce W/lS notarized and dated Janual) S, 2000, even thou gh the client tI/ld signed it in June 1999.

Mobile lawyer Timothy Wlly n~ t-lcmlnll received /l public rcprillmnd without geneml publielltion for improper solic itmiOft of prospective clients. a violation of rules 7,3(a). 8. I(b) /lnd 8.4(a), Alabama Rules of Profcssionul Conduct. Both e llS« Involve faeu lind circumstances tlmt are substantially the ~lIme and, therefore, were eonsalidllted for purposcs of consideration by the Disciplin/lry Commission. The flletg upo n which th is disc ipline W/lS based al'e us follows: A yOllng femule was involved in II motor vehicle accident. bul susu\lned no significant injurict. A police repon of the aeddent Wit'> made. Several days after the accident, she melved u call from "Clinic Scheduling of New Orleans," who advised that they were awnre of her accident nnd refelTed her to [)auphin Health Clinic for II free examination. She .nd her pnrents were under the mistake n impression thnl their insumnee oontpllny had requested the examination.

At the clinic. she was firsl e:<amined by /l doctor lind then rderred to II chi· rop-aetCJr. The chiropractor referred her 10 Fleming 11\ The Mobile Law Center for possible legal representOlion. After conSulting wi th Fleming, she and her fllther chose nOt to punue Icgnl action. Later, they Itumed th Ui their insurance compnny hlld no connection with Clinic Sehedulin¥ of New Orleans. DOlll)hin Health Clinic or Fleming. Based upon th!! infonnRtion, a grievllllce WllJ filed with the Alabnma Stllte

.".

During the bllr's invcstigation. Fleming adrnilled consulting with the YOllng female nnd her father. !-l eming 1I 1 ~0 acknowledged that he knew the doctors at Dou phin Health Clinic Rnd thill, on ocellsi(m. Ihey recommended clients to him. However, Fleming did not ltddress whether or nOI the case wns a refel'l'lll from Dauphin "Ienlth Clinic lind denied nny reltltioni hip with Clinic SdlC(iuling of New Orlean.~. !-l eming /lIsa denied Ihat he had ever solicited busillCss from Dauphin Health Clinic or Clinic Scheduling ()f New Oricans lind denied thai he WbS involved in Bny solicitlilion scheme with I)nuphin Hellith Cli nic or Clinic Scheduling of New Orleons, In his response to lhe second grievance, Flemina denied pel'llonnll y soliciting prospc:ctive clienu and denied having aaent! or employees solicit elienlli. lie e;1lplained that when he went to work ror The Mobile Lnw CellIer he wos advl5Cd thllt a ehiropr'fICtor tlnd medical doctor had II Ii ~t of lawyers. including The Mobile Law Center, gnd Ihot Ihey wOllld often refer patients to lnwyers on thm lisi. Pieming nlso advised Ihm as il resllll of the grievances fil ed with the bar. he eonellldcd thnt Ihe chiropractor (lnd doct()r may ha ve reduced the nlllnbc.r of lawyel'll on the list D~d scnt most of Iheir plltienls to The Mubile Law Center, ilnd then:rore. tenninated his association with 111e Mobile Law Center on May 8, 1998. Later, when rtSI)()nding to the loclIl srievttnee commillee of the Mobile BM Association, Flemingllc knowledged thm he had not mnde II ftdlnnd com· plete dinclosll n: when he lniti/llly responded to the bur'n inqlliry. [ASa nos. 97.36 1(A) & 9g- ISJ(A)]

Albertville uuorney Roger Ollie CClltCr'$ received a public rc:primlllld without geneml publiclltion. Cemers WIlS hUlldling 0 criminalllPileul frorn the Cirouit Court of Mn rllhall COlinI)'. On November 3, 1999 CcnterKfiled a "no merit" brief. On February 4. 2000, the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals ordered Centers to file a supplemental brief atkIrc:ssing certflln issues. TIle court gave Centenl 14 days to file the snpplemental brief. Centers did not 1iIe 11 brief within the lime ordered. When thc court eontllcted Ceruen on February 25, 2000 he stated that his brief would be med within onc week. I" owe~er. no brief was filed. On March 13. 2000 the C()Urt of criminal appeals remanded the case to the circuit court and directed thm Cemenl be removed ns appelll1te counsel. I1I1d diSBllow his fces Dnd expenses. After being notified of the cOlllpluint from the court. CcntcD foiled to submit a response to the bar. On Jnnuary 26. 2001. the OisciplinlU')' Commission issued D public reprimllnd without gencnll publication, for viohl1lon of rulcs 1.3 lind 8, I (b) of lhe Ru les of I'rofcssional Comluet. No prior disci· pline WIt! involved or considered. IAS8 No_OO-064(A}1

Binllinghnlll fIItomey Lewis Ollnld 1\lrbcrvllle received II public reprimnnd wit hout geneml l)ublielltion for violnting rules 1.1 5(b), 8,4(c), (d) Rnd (a). A. R. P. C. Turberville subrniued 11 CQUrt-appointed indiSi:nt defi:nsc. fee decillmtion to Intcanty Cnpitlli. loc. Integrity purchascs fcc declarJtions from i:ourt-appointed attorneys ot 0 discounl, TIlis ullows the COllrt1I1l11Olrued II110rney to be plIid immcdimely ror his services. In exchllngc. the court-appointed onomey assigns the vOllcher to Integnty and Ilgred to deliver the toud Wllount received from the stute comptroller to Integrity, IntegrilY purchascd the fee declaration for 80 percent of its vuluc or 522.400. Turberville (1ssigncd the vOLlc her 10 Intearity nnd IIgrted to delivc r the check to Integrit)' as soon ail it WIlS received from the state comptroller. However. when lurherville recdved the eheck_he cashed it , Integrity was forced to file a civil aclion against 'Jurberville to recover the omount duc.

Integrity obtained a jUdgment in the amount of S34.370.82 . IAS B No. 0020(A)I. On November 22,2000. the Alnbnmn Supreme oun affirmcd un order of the Disciplinary Board imposing II public reprimnnd with geneml publiCI' lion on Mobile attorney "~ n,clit ": ugclle Warhurst. On Mllfth 2. 2001, Warhurst received the reprimund. On April 10, 1997, Ms, Oelphin WnshinglOn signed a 33 1/3 percent contingent fee contract with Mobile allomey Ronald Hcmnglon In connection with. serious nUlomobile acci· dent. Approximately two days Inter, WlIl'hullilllnd hi~ panner went to 5Ce Ms. WlIshinglon til di!CuSi her case. Although Ms. WlIshingtolltold WarhufStt hut she hod IIlrelldy rellli ned an allorncy, he eXI)lained his experience with auto ~ident cllS« a.nd urged her to give more thought to whom she wanted to represent her in hcr case. On April IS , 1997. Ms. Wushi llglon signed II 25 percent contingent fl:e commet with Wurhurst. und he notified Herrington thm Ms. WlIshlnglon had tcrminl1ted his services. n~ next day Ms. WllShington told WllrhllNit th~t she wanted l'lerrington to represent her. At Ms. Washlngton's requcst, Herrington had to lower his cQntlnaent fee to 25 perc:cnt. Shortly thercafter. Herrington fil ed II bur com· plnint "sninst Warhurst for solicitntion. Utter, Warhullit employed Herrinaton's former secretary. Warhul'Iillilcd D sexual harassnlcnl suil on bc:hnlf of this secretary against ~I eni ngton , While both mntt e~ were pending, Warhu nlt tried to hllve the bar complQlnt wlthdrown by Herrin gtOl1 in rClllrn for u dismissal or Ihc sexlIIII hnrllssmcnt suit. Ilcrrington refuscd twO scp.1rate overtures 10 do this. 'Ille 5Cltual hllmument elise WII~ oitimlllCly dismissed for failure to make discovery and lifter Warhurst {\lId his partner withdrew from the euse. The DiSCiplinary Commission found Worhurst's nctions constituted a violation of rules 7.3(a) [direl:t contact with prospective elic:nlli[lInd 8.4(d) [miseondul:t l of the Alnbamu Rules of Professionul COndueL No prior di5Cipline 10.'1\1 involved or considered. lASS Nos. 97· 188(1\) & 97-262(A)I_

'fl'Nrl'I~J): Historic Baldwin County Court Information In recognition of the I90th anniversary of I~aldwin COUllly'S firsl s uperior court temlOIl March 4, 18 11, 11 revised local court hislory contuining funny COurt SIOri CS will be published by the Alnbama Law Foundnlion. All Stiles proceeds will be paid 10 Kids' Chnnce, a scholnr· ship fu nd for children v.hose parent or parents huvc tx:en disubled or killed in an on.the·job accide nt. or to help ])t'O\'ide Icgul services 10 Ihe indigent in this stale. Send copies o f any court· related pho tographS, historical

notes or fun ny loe.. 1court stories 10 M a uro Dismuke, 7 133 S tOIlC Drive, Da phne 36526 or

e·mnilthcm to 1II1't/@ .~gclll\"'. COItl.

All items need to be received

011 or befOre July 1.2001 to be included in the book.

1111

\/1\\/1/1111111.

211

Rllt,,: Members: Two free listings of 50 words Of less P6' bar member per calender yeer EXCEPT for "positiOll wanted" or "position offered" lisllnos--$35 per insertion of 50 words or less, $ 50 per additional word, No nmjlmbflrll: $35 per Insertion of 50 words or less, $,50 1I0f additional word, Classified copy and payment must be recai~ed according to the following publishing schedule, May 2001 issu&-doodline March 15, 2001: July 20011s5ull-filJltdlln8 May 5. 20in. No deadline extenSIOnS will be made. Send classi fied copy and payment, payable to Tha Alabama lawyor, to: Alnbnmfll/lwyor Classlfleds, c/o Shannon Elliott, p,O, Box 4156, Montgomery, Alabama 36101.

Services • SECURITIES AND mUST INVESTMENT EXPER'r, T.... onty·Ilvo year,' investmenl OKperionce, Fom.or vice,presldfl/lt/ponlollo maNger, Clmse Manhattan. SunTruSI Banks, Unite<! Jersey Banks. Cha rt oroo liooncial Analyst. Cum lu!ld/l. Whorton School, Unlvorsity 01 Ponnsylvania. B.S. Economics, Dual major. econom· ics/linanco. Rogis19red invtlslmllnl advisor, StSvtln Slern, CFA, flO, Box 310157, MI3ml, Florida, 33231. Call (3051374·8493 lvoice). (305) 374-8494jlaxl. or a·rnaiL SlemlrlWJsOQo/.com. • DOCUMENT EXAMINER: Examination 01 Questioned docu· monti. CertifilKl forsnsic hand'Nfitill\l and Iiocument examiner Thirty·fau r yelllS' 9~perisrK:a in ilil forBflSic documonl ~oblem5. rorm&r ty, thief queslloned document analyst, USA CrimlllDl InVO$tiglllion laboratories. Diplomale IC6rlif1Qd~ABFOe , Momber: ASQDE; IAI, SADfE; NACDlResume alld 100 sclladulo upon rOQYllst, Hans Mayer Gidlan, 218 Morrymant Drive. Augl1ta, Goorgla, 3O!KI7, PIIone 17001 eoo,4Z67. • ENGINEERINGICONSTRUcnON EXPERTS; drainage, nUCllJal. mochM~I, foofing. alocl"cai, prooou c~1. EIFS/sIlK;(t)!, mold and mllOOw, HVAC; lor rosKlonlIDIIlou~ng, If'lduslrrai and ellomal foclhties, pipellroos. ~C$$OI' stotlons. commorclal bulldrngs, and IXlrI Stf\lCtlllOS. Provide oxpett consulK:t1on claims ood dispute III\8lysis, Provir:le COIIlIl'Jt\lt' lIl1imalkln 01 stn.t1l1fBI bcIl6vior uncIcf loads. Experienced tostifying oxjl6(1s with l ic~$(l$ ond crOOon· lials. Company sll\Iineering and contfllCtor liconses in Alooamll and louisiana. Coolact Hal K. Cain. Mobilo. Phonu 1334) Ilil-2SOS. E·mail: hkuirrOhkclJifl.clJm. Web Slta: www.hkc"in.COffl. • TRAFFIC ACCIDENT RECDNSTRUCTIONIST! eVlllu~l ion of highway design. This ell\liooer has reconstructed O'Ier 3,000 accl· dents In lO litatS$ on highwaya. slreets. railroads and highway construction l0t\8S InvolVing uucks. vans, carl, padestrians, and farm Implernants. CompoJlor anlmOliOl1 and CAD drawings pre· .Oil1Z

MAY

2001

pororl tOIIIusIJal8 his OlllniMS. CMtr 42 yII~rf Orlgmearing IIxpe· rronce, AOlIlstOfed professiooal orl\jrnool and lull ACTAR COflrllcD' lion, ConUlcl JOhn T Bales, PE TolI'lrllt! (81);)) 299·59S0, • INSURANCE EXPERT WITNESS: fllt!'OI1 ly c~pcrll'lllnaSS Twenty yeers' experlenco in fisk mer.agomon! Insurence consull' ing, Pro·fillng evaluation, deposltioo and tria l Policy CO'IeIBae, captive" excess. deduttibles. seliinsurence. tgency operations. direct 'Nfrtsr!. ~OjlIIrty loss preparation Merrtl.tr S.R, M,C, Conlect Douglas F. Miller. Employers' Risk Ma'lllgemenl. Phonu (205) 995-0002, Birmingham or WATS (8001462·~. • HIGHWAY SAFm AND TRAFFIC ENGINEERING: HighwaV SIIlotv lIr'1d Ir~lht ongill!lering in lhe roadway environment. con· strllClrOll work /0001. rO&dwav halBrds, r08dslC!~ hBlards, RR grlldo crossings. trallic controls. highway onginoOfing MtslY standards, IKCldenl r&Construction. driver rellCtlons III\(! e~ poclII' !Ions, GE LOOr. PE. Bo~ 12339. Charleston. Sollh Qtrolrna. 29422· 2339 I'hfll\e (8431795·7218 E· mOII lohrg(Pm;n,Cf)ffl, FORENSIC ~OCUMENT EXAMINATIONS: Sevenleen years' forrJrlljic r,lixvrrent e~minal ioos; 27 )'ears' tOlel forensic 8Kperiem. Retired sfI/lior documents examifll!( and disciplire coordinator, Atabama Depanllllllli 01 forensIC Scrences, Member, Ooostioned DocOOlllnt Ssclrtn-Amaricoo kOOemy of ForIll\$Ic Sci!!l1Cl!s, Soulhanstem Associotron of For8fISIC Documenl Examioors; SooJllIom Assotla~on of ForOOslc SclOnllSIS, Alabama State Auocllltion of ForensIC Sciorlces lpas\ Plosldon~, COl1lact Richard A, Roller. Ph,D" 7956 Vaughn Road. '141. Monlgomery JIl l 16, f'hono (334126().25S2, Fax 133-4) 26().7!n9 E-fllllII, (ichll}(JtJIOiICI Q!m. • REGISTERED FORESTER: forty·one yeers' e~pellence In prj. vate, Industrial and looer81 forest management and ptll(lices. Specialilrng in limber trespass lWalualions and ElCquisition appraisals. Elwyn A, Spence. Annrston Phone (2561237·4309.

_ HANDWRmNG EXPERT/FORENSIC DOCUMENT EXAMINER: ABfOE-cerllhed. formartt ()IIoI. C>..est1OMd ~II OMsIon, U.S Army CrimIrIIIIlnYestlQ&tion laboratory AmerIcan Socklty of C!uest;onoo Docuroof'll Examlool"S. Amoricao Ac.!IQemy 01 Forensic Sclerces. Civll8n:1 criminal cases ~ FIIITlIII ShJV8l'. ShNet 80 NeISCII 00cI.mEm IImstrgation latxn!OlY. 1003 UIIC RIdge 1lrM. WoodstoCk, Gtoroia. XIl89.

Phone !7701517.fm1 CONSULTING ENGINEER/EXPERT WiT· NESS: ProlesliQOilI.ngineer with 24 \'9l1rs' 01 Industrial. consUlJCtion. ulely. machlnery.lXllp and paper IIxpGrience Industrial 8ccKientl. OSHA. oollding codal. aulomobile accllienls. produttliabihty. and (letOrIIG Robof1 Tolbart. PE. Phone 12051 856·9922. - STATISnCS. DATA ANALYSIS. SOFTWARE EXPERT: Litioatioo SJpport on matlarllnvolvrrl{! analysi. olllrllO 611tS of data and Information syat&n'll prilClk:es. Custom progtDmming elso eveilabl. Wa USI!!hI SAS syatem and 01hBr prOduCts Consultants W1th years olllp8fionr.e In linance. ~tlClurlno. pllafl'rlllClUlrcalJ. nevel. aedn. tall Herdl Mar~OYIu . COP II (J051

965·0439 or viM 0'Jf Wob lllG wwwS,mpJr~Iems.com. Simply Systems. 16t Cl'tlndon Blvd. Sta 325. Kay BiJC(lyne, Florida. 331 49 - MINING ENGINEERING EXPERTS: ExtBnsMI IlXPGft WI\IlfIS$ tlP8Irenct in ,It arNI 01 min· Ing-surl1Cl end uncIf.rground mll'ItI. eoal, qU3f. rin. ete Accldanl ill'oo8sU08!Jon. lnjuriel. wrongtul doolh. mine construction. haula;elWcking. 8gruement. disputes. product liability. mirlllr~1 prQllBrtv manage ment. asset and mineral DppI'aisait for estate and lax purpose. Joyce AMoc:liIIBS (540) 989·5727

Positions Offered • AlTORN EY PosmON: GrOWing in$\lance delense!rrm 18ekslicllflud ettOlrl8yS With one to flvo yearl' OJpGrirmc:e: lend rl lumu i" conlidonee 10 IIlrlng Panner. AtJ5!r1l. Lewrl to Simms. PC. 2204 lakeshOre 0111'8 SUlta 215. Blrmlngnem. 35209, - AlTORNEY POSITION: .6ttorl\8V needed 101' astablrshed mtd'llllld dowItown Birmingham law Itrm AttOflllly mV51 have seven to len years' oxporleneo in empla,'lTlllnt/labor 19w end oSlablished proctlce Extellent bene!rtl and long,term ~ra81 opportunity AJi replies will be ~CPI strictly contldenlial Interested attorneys may eppfv by sending a resume 10 HOO'IIn Resources OlflClOl'. PO Ib 10581 . Blrml r9lam.35202. ASSOCIATE AlTORNEY: Small plalntill firm in Blrmlng~m i. aeeki"g attorney Wllh 1·3\'9l1r,· eXplflenca MuSI be licen9lld in AJabama (& MiSllulppi optional). ~I IIIYIUIIlY Bene!rts include h&:Ilth inSMance and 4011k) Fa. rasurna to (2051 B79·9E6J. Altn. R«ruiling

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ForRentJ\.ease • LAW OFFIC E AVAILABLE: Flvo Pointa. newly 18flllXIe1lld. Soulhsrde law o!lk:.ltYaJlabie lor

$010 Ittomey(S) Fast OSlInlOfnel aetlW. 1117 Z2nd Street. Sautt\. Blfmingham Naw phone system, elc "Virtual" oNIet or -COIpo!Ita image" ,Iso available for tllose needing Irml\8d conlorenee foom time Recaptionlst end OthO!" ancillary saMces provided One lIat lae includel phona, uti lities. at!: Call Tom Plouff. Isq II (205) 9JS.cmJ.

Attorney Positions Prominenlluw fimlS Itemss Alabama have immedilltc openings ror associates and plu1ner-Ievcl lawyers with experience in any of the (ollowin& areas: • labor and employment law • tllX

If you don' t have the time necessary to resca rch you r opponent's arguments or write your brief, th ell

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• inlellectual property • litiglttion All inQYiries 3t( strictl y confide ntial. Pltuse contllcl Richard G, Brock. Esq.

As an ollOmey with

ci&btc~n

years o f expcricnc:e In rCJclUtb and writin& I have 1M time nCCoInat)' fot the IUIllined. unintcnuptcd re kl lU'cb .0 otten nuded to win I 1;::"0. Wben your C:ISO i, fully relollJ"cbed you C llli I"Il prue nl yoW' die"1 with 1ll01"ll tO nn dencc IUld bl! better pl"l1pru-cd In court.. I am Ivlilablo for , batt rl!se;m:;b qucsdor.1 or lenatb ier briefs. My ~ b SJ.S.OO PCI' bour. Kll th"rln" S. W~d P. O. Box. 590104 Binnlni-l\lIITl. AL 352S?

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213

• VACAnON RENTALS: Gulf SllOIes/Fol\ MOfgan/Oauphn Island Houses on lhe Gulf Two. three and lour Dedtooms. sI8ell6·10. fully fumilhad. PhonJ 1205) 676·8319 FeJ (205) 618· 6142. Web lile: www.bdtycontlslh GUlf SHOR ES; TWO-loom Of he I (IOxI1 & 12x23 ~ 450 III 1&81) Mlletrilin I build ing With IflISllblls/led .ttorney. 1001 Ir'lCludea usa 01 the conferne room .nd reception IfN. ulilitial, 11&8 Pllkino, lI'eallocailon In town II

1538 GUll Shof6t Parmay ContilCt Tommy Klyr:e at )334) 968·1291 .

• LAW OFFICE AVAILA8U: located 8\ 100 Painter A~, Olart. one bled:: from COUll house Furnished. phone system. fax 8fld Inlamal 11118$. Wiled lor computer flQtworklng

GULf SHORES PLANTAnON: Two·bedroom, two-bath condo In a lemilv leSOfl \Il8t offen 2.000 f&El1of prrvat. beac:IraJ With sil outdoor pooIl, one indoor pool, punll'lQ IIrfMlfl and other amenhiel Nexl 10 Kiva 00081 gall (IUSii $tO) oer weet. tall (205) 811}.19116 •

1.101 III teel, 203 BltImIIy offices. OccUpiinty Mllable Irnmedialefoj Call Ken Ouattlebilum II (334) 114·3126 Of (J3.I) 174·9217

Notices - Positions Available Circuit Mediator Position Available The Circuit Mediation Office of the Uniled Stalos Court of Appeals. Eleventh Judlciel Circuit. has two openings lor tho position of circuil mediator, One position is locOied In Atlanta, and tho olher in Miami. Tho incumbents will p(eslde ot mediations in ciVil appeals. The primary pUrpoSE) of the mediation is to seUle appeals and any related cases. DUlies include loading discussions of tlla procedural811d substantive l&gallssues Involved, conduc ting analyses 01 an appeal's settlement ~alue, and probir.g for each party'S inlereslln an eltort 10 help the par· ties create or(! explore OPtions to continued litigation, A circuil medialor performs sensitive and sophistil;8led medlllIlon and must have eXCllptionallcgal skills and experience Job requirements include: • Graduation 110m an acc/edlted law school, practice before Ihe highest rourt of a state or te(litory of the Unitod States. and at least six year$ 01 pClSl'(lIadllllle exporrence, a substantial portion of wt1lch involved trial and appellate work in fedoral couns • Significant training 000 expellence in mediation. • KrKlWlndge 01 arM! oxperience WOfking With the F&der,1I Rules of Cirll Proctldure and the Federal Ru!es 01Appellate PrDCeduro • TlloroLlgh k"lOWledgo 01 all aspects 01 crvillaw arM!leyal procedures. • A comprehensive uooerstanding of the dynamics. casu. impacts an:! strat&gies of the litigation Pl'ocess

• Tho ability to analyze complex legal and Pl'lICtical!lspectS of an aPfiE!al • An aptitude 101 collaborative problem·solvlng arM! consensus·building processes

• the ability \0 deal polSuaslvely and tactfuliV With strong,willed arM! sophisticated counsel aoo parties, and to develop creati~e and practicel solutions rn appeals involving a widel8nge of disputes arM! pef5onalitlns. • Tho ability to work indopendently without supeNisiOn. exercising j\dgmenl and discretion to maintain party confidences, cormol diroction of negotiatIOns. and modify tile subsequent course of p(oc9adings. Send your I1sume arid 11 lollor Slating how you meet each 01 the abo'ro Qualifications and relate your It(:hievemall1s.skllis af'\d experlence in mediation to:

PIl'lonnl 1Speclllli l Unltld Siliel Coul1 01 Appellil for the Eleventh Judicial Circuil 56 Forl yth Street, NW Atllntl, Gl orgll 30303 The starting salary I1Ingo is $75,COO 10 $99.COO ~CL 311. depending upon experieoce. Applications will be accaptod until the position is filled.

Staff Anornev/Managing Anornav Position(s} Available legal SeNlces of MOira Brrmlngtram has positions aWlllable for a staff attorney and a managing atlOfney Botll positionS require a lic8f1se to practice law In the State 01 Alabama The salary I1Inge IS $27.316 or above, DOE, Legal SeNices of Metro Birmlllgham, Inc. is an equal opportunity proglam af'\d emoloyer. minoritIes, women, tho elde(1y anc pe(sons With dl$3blllties ere encouraged 10 apply If interested, send a Itrtlel of interest and e resume to Kenneth R. Cain. Jr., executive director, Legal SeNices 01 MelfOBrrmll)(lham, Inc, PO Box I t765, Blrmrngham 35202 POSitions are open until Irlled.

214

MAY] OOI

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