'~t Union &mil, Ire UXJrk hard to
earn your tnJSt. " -Henry A Leslie
President and Chief Executive Officer
Union B,mk works closely \\~ f h lllany Ai'ab'Lma ,lUomeys in Ihe adrninislmlion oflnJsts (mel estates. OUI' invcstment w p abilitics 11,1\ÂŤ: in!;l"cased dmmal ically in the p.151yea!' by Ihe addition o f a state-of-thc-m1 (;omputclized system. As Alabama 's largL"St indep e ndent b,mk, we contro l ,I,ll ollr inveslmenl pl1:'lCcssing I vithin the Tlusl Ocp.u1me nl 10 assure consl;mt allenlion and 1..'Oll1plete confide ntiality fOI' YOU I' clients. We ill\~te YOUI' queslions about Union ISank's trust sel'~Ces . Ou r cx pe lienood flus! otliCCI'S Ivill be g lad 10 discu ss any b w;iness. financial o r ildministmlive a spect urlhe seJ\Ij(."eS we p lU\ljd e.
60 Commerce Street
i\'lon tgomcI Y, t\ labiullH :16104 1205 ) 265-8201
Tools of the trade for the Alabama attorney Treatises ..
• • •
Monographs ..
•
•
-C"m,nal OI'i<nk'1 .nJ 0.1,-.,.,... in AI;'Nn>O, Ch'.rb~ CI,,~rb,.So
I ~.,I'~_' en ... ,,,.1 Tn.1
-Alaborn. Chu,t",
SH.9S
P,:oe''''t.
US.9S --A llborno La.. ,,' D.m.,<f.. G:>mN.- ,s" Cod«,- "",. .... ___ "" ,..,"_.,"_.. _______ ..... _ _ .___ $ ;\',9S --Allborn. D"" ••·•. Aitm"", &. Ch,IJ CUll"'!\,. .If.c,,,ltl .& 0. .., S6I.l.9S --ALabo.... en",,".1 TTl.! P'K'oa F",ml. Ch .. ,kn _ _ n9.9S - -"'I.bom o Llm""'on. of A",o". &. ~""« P,o,-,-
';0"'. H"'I ___..______ _., __________
$29.95 --AI.bo .... '«'e,k ....,,', Coml'C''''''''''n.II..J..>J. J/.rJ, &. s-I SJ99S
-O<m",,,.
Ii< I.l('n., H."""", ____Ex""""on. . ___... _... _. _.___ . __M"d"'nl"'" ......_____ SH.95
-
En{o..,.,,",n. of Socu.i.y In«r"". in Penon.1 ('ro""ny.jel/flN 5H_9S - -Landlord &. T~n.m Bre",h &. Ikrncd,.,.. J/u.l~y &. Erhm.,J/I<· _ _ 514_95 - -W.ongful o..,h A«iono.jd(",," ._.. ____ SH,95
_
N ational
_
• • •
--Adlustmr ... of o.b... Ind' \'IdUII "'nh R~ul .. I"",,,mt, Ch. ll. f<dc •• 1 flankrupl<y Aet. PhI/lip" S399S --E~I&n't In T ,,"ll
und.. Banko"""y Act. NOrTOn &.
Ru_11 ___ ._ _ .__ _______ 529.9S --liquld."on und .. Ch. 7 of ,h. flanktup!Cy A«. Ph,/hPl ,,_ S37.9S --RN.",,,,:>,,,,n. ,,"<Iu Ch. II of , .... Bank."PCCT Codo, Dobbs 5199S -----Con""",, Con.empora,y P.obl~m..
~".
c-...
Commen" and
Pcrlmu"~,
~nd
If' mcnlxlll _ ._ _ Sll.OO - -o..t.mIRIRK O...boll,y &. Penonalln!u.y o.ma~. Med.caI E,~lua ..o" for Trw La ... ~ .... M<Qoatk S89.9~ --o.n •• 1 Practice fo. Tri.1 L.",ye ... P~hm.y
M.d,nl Info. matron N"""k".! MrQuw"
"_
_
SS4.95
- -The Insan"y o.f~n~ A IIobi'''lraphIC R"".. ",h Ouidt.l'icq"n ...<1 Ilnr $lS.9S -_Preparat1On 01 MedIcal ea.e. for St.dem.n•• nd TII.I , HolI~r .____.. ___ .______ $79.95
Med'ClI Prac,,« for Trial La .. , ..... M;Qu;.dc ~.95 _ Analy:.nl MedIcal R«oro, A M ••hod for T ....I La"·ye .... MnJu~ __.. __._ 579.00 --Nu."n~ Home, and .he La .... 5<a.e Rel ul""on and p",.".. Li"lIa.;';m. johnson. Il'u/ff &. TWJ' S36.9S Qu •..,...S<: ••• p,-",,,« of La... 10.101,,01,... and Pro H... VICe. KHn~n _ __ _ _ _ S;2,95 - -Ph .. mxy P....,icc for Td.1 L.",y ..... H•• kmo.. _. S'H.95 - -P"""ronvJCt.on. F.de.al .nd So",. Ikmcd.... nd R.cl,ef. IJ',li..s S>-t.9S - -AmerICan Real Eo •••• La .., PlRd., __ .___ $99.95 _ RESPA , Twth·ln·L.ndin. &. ECOA (in R".I F..... c T .. nsac.ion.~ Pad"d 519.9) -Seamen', O' .... jtn for o. •• h.n.d lnJUrY,l/ood and fUrdr 554.95 -Soc,,,1 SKu"" o.",blll.y Ct,"m.. Practl« .nd Procedu.." KHnan. A shm.n &. L«<a< .......... $64.95 _ federal Tax Plonnonlj fOr V"",."", Hom.,. &. Con.dorninlum.. ld Ed, Bri$tow &. IAhon S19.9S __W,II .. Th. Tru.h Abou. r,ubo.~, M.con~U/l~y .. Softbound , .. 514.95 Ibrdbuund ... $19.95
THEJ~IHA RRISON COMHI NY. PUBLISHERS L _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
moC""'ml P••• • r a
T".I Lawycn. .. _.. _._ .. _ $89.95
{Of
1». noo · NOf<'o", GA J(Xl91·7J,OO
THE MAY 1985 Ed;, .. OI......... Smi'h
"' ....." " _.... , Mo ....... E<O ...
"""""" f.:!;""
_It.
Ph~,;p~ . _"""J'
.. 0pe6,, ,
_
P. ~
S.... s. PtP..... """' ___ . ..,"'" H. en .... J' .. Ho"' ....... . fn _ H.II.>",.!,.. _ ...
8._. "'",,-..
-'R.-.I\;r",,,,,hom 0
...., 0
Cho ... ~"",,"
j, .. M<Ibd< • G""", So M<l.dJd. BitM;""",m • Kti,h
_LIUIO.T_
S._,
.. . LIlmo-_~ . R ........ "' . 1II0t0i1t . !ol;' S....... 8;,";,...," , j. M"k I'll'"""",,, ' SI<v<n L W;". T""",,,- . R...... G. Etdolt. b"",,_ 111 ..., - .
.,"'1<.
Hunts ville - Heritage and High Tech - pg. 120 Head ing: for Huntsville inJuly? Then
be sure to find out what·s going on and where (l}gQ in the Rocket City. Details
are insill<!.
On the cover
_,_ ..... -......... _ -_ _...............__ _ .._...........M_ .. _ _ _-_ ......._ ...... _ ... _--_... ...... _w"_. _ . , . _ . . _ ....- . ............... ,_ . .. ..
_ _ l.ow,_.... _ _ .... , .. _
SuI, .....
....,... ,-.
"'1 ......... ... , . , . . . , . _ ... _
_
......... ..
'
.......
.. e
... ,.................. .
... ......
.... _ _ • ... ... _ ..... _ ... w" •.
_,"'~
....... ..... ""' ... ..,. ............. "
_..-.,,"'.................
Th~ co,·cr photograph. of the recently 1l'Store::i LowndesCounty Court · house. was taken by Montgomery at· torney and amateur phowgrapherTom McG regor of Webb. Crumpton & McGregur.
Income Taxation of Wrongful Death Proceeds in Alabama - pg. 127 A recent ruling by the IRS has changed the long·standing: rule on the taxabllil y of. wrongful death proceeds. Under the new standards beneficiaries of wrongful death judgments or set· tlements will iJICursignificant tax con·
sequences.
ISSUE IN BRIEF Special Recognition S{l«iaIIIwH/ts for IIdp M"'III Ihis WWgrJlo T"",
McCrrgor, RiclotmJ
Gill. I"', GTl"a ...d AlUJiK~ fqr II is plnHogmplt it ro" Irib"lit#u.
Midyear Confe re nce Highlights - pg. 140
In side This Issue !'r~ident's Page ............ . 112 Executivt Director', Report ........•••......... 113 Hook Review •............... 114
For lhoee who miSsed thiS y~r's conference. ;1 was quile a success. IhghlighlS. in pictures. a~ inside.
AboutMemben, Among Firm •.. ........... liS Riding the Circuit •.......... 117
Bar Briefs .......... ... ...... liB Young l.awyus· Section
.123
CI.E News .................. 124 ~sbtive
A Look a l Ala ba ma State Bar Headquarte rs -llg. 146 Personnel of tile state bar headquar-
Re vie w of Unins ured nnd Unde.-insured Motoris t Law in Alabama - pg. 142 Umnsurtd III(lIQrI~1 OO'-er.Ige had c~td
a numbcor 0( appellate decIsions ""hieh ha'-c carved many spe-
cial roles in this area. R.-cent amt1Jd· menu 10 Ihe unin,urro rnOlOris\ SIal· Ules h.weadded a newcal('j!Oryof OO\'e~
- "underinsured motoris!.'-
lei'll perform a myriad of services for Alabama prnclillOllCrs. These services may beof benefit (0)'011 In (he pratt"'"
of law.
R~t
Wrap-up ......... Doorisions ••••••..•... Cl t: Opportunities ......•. . . Committ~ Report ...... Opinions of lhe
125 131
cn:
136 139
General Counsel ........ .. 152 Disciplinary Re(X)rt .•........ 157 In Memoriam ................ 159 Classiflt'ds ........••........ 162
Etc. ....................•.... 164
O\·AHS
Participation
E
very LaW)'ff lictnsed topractice
in Alabama h.as anopportunity
1« an act;.'" rolf in the bar. Tho;ee wl>opiillrticip;1lle the IIIOSlgellhe most OUt oIlhe barorganizalion. Likewise, the ~ participants. the Il"IOI"e rt1<ponsi,'c t/w: bar. Theannual ~tingof the Alabama Siale Bar is cloR al hand. I personally invite tach of you to be in Huntsville at the Hillon ar.d Von IIraun Civic Cenler July 25·21. 1985. There is an outstand· ing program lI\anned wilh some porlion devoted \0 the interests of eao;h ~mberol
tile bar. As in 1"" pasl ..... e
will hl"c PfflIIrams dtsigned for t~
who wish e!'«lil lor continuing legal In ilddition 10 lhe nonn.al busine5$oll he bar. oourse, we h.a,~ gala enlerlainmenl scheduled for your pleasurt. We look forwan.l \0 5eeing you in ll unlsvillt!
education.
When you
or
r~eive
you r annual
Ill(eling p~am wilhin the next few
days, please immediately pre-register. We are hopeful this will be lhe largest meet ing of lhe Alabama Stale Bar,
'"
and,~ainly. it will beoneof the most outstanding. 8y now.)'OII s~1d hl'-c I'I!CI!ived a commiH~
preferenu questionnaiT1' from PrnKlmt-ei«t Jim North. The bar needs your help, and ....e .... ish to accommodate your preferenctS. Pleasoe take a fe .... momerns \0 consider and respond on the q~tionn.aire. Wher· ever possible, your preference will be honored . The Alabama St a te &l r is undertak· ing your program with the prim.ary empiulsison the bett~nt of our profession. Your contribution is wanted. rlf«Ied and I"IO!CeSS;Iry 10 make your bar a truly rt'J)I"tsoffilati'~ body. During I he paSt 18 months. theGov· emanct Commiu~ hilS been han! at work Rdes.gnins the ~thod of repmenlation on Ihe bar lIO"eming body and the method of electing offlCt'!"S. All of this is aim«l al maki ng the bar more T1'!IpoIlsi'·e 10 the nteds of each of its membl'l"$.llowC'o'cr ..... ithout your help as an individual practitioner. your bar trul y cannot be representatj"e and re.
sponsi"e tOllle needs of our profession. I urge you toparticipale in thecommit · tft: program of lhe Alabama Stale Bar. Yoorstate bar is in'·oI.'«I in st:>~ral inll(W;1lll\-e programs which will assiSI you 15 a lawyer to k~ pace with the times.llowever. as ""C adapt toeha• • we lawyers mUSI not compromisoe our professionalis m. Despite llOIIIC of t he criticism of our profession, we can look with priM to the fact the so:rvices of lawyers are more .,·ailable today 10 more people than t'·er before in our history. Let uS stri"e to ma.ke cerla;n those services IT1' Il"I(II"C competenlly and ethically performed loday than C\"Cf befen. Each ~tion of IaW)"trS faces il5 own pressUT1'5. dilem ..... s and chal· lenges. With your participation. the Alaba"", Slate Bar can poinl the way 10 meet those prmurn, dilcrnmasand challenges - now and in the futu re. I urgeeach law)"er to5eize the opportunity and dUly to participate "in the upbuilding of the proiesslOO:' 0 - Walter R. Byars
GExecutive GJ)irector's ~port
IIAM NE It
Procrastination A1Id, Noo"", ,.,iglrl wll tlJIt. "lI"h-, fhJ jJt:opk /JrrxlWlill/1/r? Do YO" l1li6.., fxoIJh ...00 pnx:n15/;NlJlt.' A", laM,....'" Iht iJNl proc"li/ina/ar'S IJf all? Do yo ..
prorrot;/itl,,'e? .. The past six months ha"e convinced me of l~ answel'1l 10 tile last 111",-"", questions.. T~ all " 'ould be YES. If 1 knew the answer to the first. [could soI"e many of problems "anoos membc<"s and would·be members I\i\\'e crtaled for Ihcmseh·eg within (llIr as!lQCialion.
t""
An-as of Procras tination Uu n ~ing f( e'luirc merus The number of Ia",'~ whodelaytd - and some still are dt-la)'mg- purchasing their 1984-1985 licenR (due no laler Ihan OcloOO 31. 19&1.) i, alanning.
M061licensing aut horities send notice!; on OT before October 1 of each )'ear, ~,,,,,·er. the number of IaW)ffS who calltd tOCOOlplain a boollhe lale fees .nd PI'""l1y provisions ind icates the
put as~ and fQriOllen . DeCOStS can be substantial, Failure (0 purchase the license raises l~ possibility of a client', action for practicing ",i(hoot a license aft .... Oppoi.ngc:ounSl'I ~aill on a moIion to dismiss. Mark your 1985calencbr now: your 19lj5.l986 license i! d~ October L 1985. Do oot "'lyon the firm's book· kCC'per to remind 1'00. ~ tCL." Hc qu;r"",,,ll1 li This area noIlCeSg.'1
linquency
of procras tination ;5 tqually disturbUlg. While the "ast majority ol our members comply with tht 12·lIoor rtqUlrement, many ha"c complained to me about the courst offerings in late November and o...'Umber. Com plaint s ",late to the timing and stlft:tion duro 'IIi t~ months. In\lIriably I "'as told, "It's mI' fault. I JUSt put oif~ · "na In my hours."' We had received less than onc-half the required ",portS as late as t heend of Nuvember {only 30 percent ). Compliance "'as at 70 per· cent by theend ol Ooectmber, thecom· pliance deadline. We received anothe!'" 21 pem'fll ol the forms during January. Interest· ingly . ~ high percentage oi these late compliers was in the same group las t year. It ,"'as a mailer of concern to m>te further how many olthem also had client complaint$ fil1'd against them. Many complaints " 'e,,, ,generated by OOfltlnuingfailuretommmunicalewith the chen,. Uar J\dmission Ocad lin es Far l00many applicant s wait unt il the last hours to file an examination appli. cation. and this creates problems for the applic;o nts. Many ol our members strve a5 afflants. and the ~uired affi· davits in SIIPJ(lrt oi character and fit· ness f~uefltly ano laid aside 11)' ...·ell· meJ nt"i attorney friends.nd then not s ubmitted bl' the romplcu~d applica· tion filing deadlille. The lawyer who
n
delayed !iC'nding the afficbvil always is remorstful; however, the applicant 15 the part y penaliu(] by not qualifying to s it for lile next bar e xamination due to an ir.complete application . If you agree to send an affidavit. !;/.'nd it Ihat day. P r ofess ion al Liab ili t y In s u r· n.Ke The s piraling rat" in profes· sional liability insurance have gener. ated many telephone call$ to me in ",. cent weeks. Rates for prof.-ssionallia· bilit y insur.mc~ fluctuat e in cycles. and. unfortunately. nationwide we are in the phase ...'here the market is $f!o \~II'limited and t~ few ""ritersof thi!! OO\'erage are raising rates to st a)' in the market . Man y 01 oor insured s a", delaying action. when renewal nDtices a", received. until the end olille pOlicy period. The relt rlCted market has; cauSftl most carriers to require 1"Oe". applications ...·;th renewals. and the dtlays in rfttwlng rene"'al con· firmation piusa significantly increased premium a",cau sing concern. r s trongly suggest you ha" e yuur agent review the market for you the day you recei"e yooT ",newal notice. For t~ r>OI present ly insured with the bar's endorsed nrrier. you ,,·ill find in most instances the best coverage all .... most comJlctilive rates. The rate iocr<"aSHarejustilied baSftl (c.m l'·~"'" o. f/i1g< I JS)
'"
Reminiscences of Men and Things in Alabama by lknjam; n F. P orte r researched a nd e d it e d b y Sa ... W.lls
U
ndOUbt~IY. every Alabama 1awft. has had occasion to citt as precedent a case reported by Benjamin Faneuil Porter, leadill/llhal cile with the pllras.e. "It has been the law in this jurisdiction for ~ t h.an 100 >'rars...... I~.
many a modern decision oflen draws upon those "".Iy rl'porlcod cases which remain l(lday only becauSO' of Porter's sustained allcnlion \0 his appointment
by Ihe
~uprtmt
court as report .... of
d« isions. a potIilion Purter held at Lhe age of Zti. while he was actively pracIking law in T uscaloosa and laler while he was a circuil judge in the 10th
Judicial Circuit in Mobile. IVhal t\~ Alabama law~ may 001 know. ho-,o.~. is this man Ileil~ bqp.n nor ~ his ClIrffr in his ca· pacity wilh the supreme court, but
was, and remailll, _ oIllle most. if not the nlOIIl. noteworthy figure in the development 01 Alabama law. Poner
was a man of extreme versatility: a phy sician; lawyer; circuil judge: news· paperman: poet: reporler and editor of
the decisions of the Alabama Supreme Court; railroad president; region~1 and national politician; colonel in chargeof planning and b\"lding a Confederate governmental hospital in G~ville. Alabama; and translator of histarial documents. It was:u a C(lntem(Xlnry and COI'TtItpondent of Alabama historian AJ. Pickett Poner penned his hiS' loryof thestate of Alabama in Rmti"is· ttllUf of itt", alfd Tlri..g. ilf AIa/lo:!ma. Fortunately for the modem reader . thf, diligence of Sara Walls u!\CO'.'ered the original manuscript d Re",i~is CW!nctS. and through hercarelul research· ing and edit ing. the prin ted version of
'"
Ihi. manuscript is availabk today. Thi~ intnguirc autobioography d Por· ler ~nlilife in Alabama from the early daysof the 19th oentury through the Civ,1 War years. citing many historic e>,'ents, including I he founding of the law Khool althe Univer.lityd Ala· bama. Porler. incidenlally. was offered the first ~hair of law at the Uni,'ersity of Alabama School of Law. Porter's at· tention to his contemporaries is unequal«! by any hiSlarial work of his day. He speak, of circuit judgeS arwl other officet'$ d the In•. mililary per. sonnel and prominent citiu-ns IhroughOUt Alallam:a. This "''OI'k contains a map of ~rly Alallama showi", various cilies and counties in which Porte!" lived and worked during a 39-y~r period; photograph s ar>d drawings representing dwelling places of Poner's in Clai· borne, Tuscalooa.a. Mobile. Porterville (in [)eKalb County). Sydney (in Mar·
sha II Cou nl y) ar>d Gree,wille, Alabama: photographs of uenic locations Ihroughout Alabama: and an early etching of I'orlel" by Alexander Hay Ritchieol New York. Within thete.ct of I~ very aecuralf and faithful relkelion of thoe original R~",i"isu_ a~ interspersed a ffw cloi;tly rtlated paS' sages Sl::lected from Porter's writings previously published in &lu/herlf Qua,terly Rc"ieM'. vo1um~ XVI. October 1849, and inJohn Belton O'Neall 's Hiq· graphical Slulcires qf &Hch ond 110 . of &',,/h (Aro/inll. volumf II. 1859. As Walls e~plains in her forward. ''Thest passagti. amplifying Porter's literary intention. art tel in a distinctive type face 10 diffeTtnliate tlltm from the Rtmi"iJ«_ per w." Rufus Beane, II. prominent Tusc:il'
(Co.".WIII ... ,.., 139)
Origi""U, from G-..bri;" i" Ume· U/MIf!y. Ala!»ma. ,.~ I"nImu
JIOM
tmdltO/td fro m 1M U.iwrJi/y IJ/ AIa!»'HI' &irf)()/ qf fAW Ilf 1984. I(\ilJ ad· m,lItd 10 /Ju bar tiro/ y«I'(1Ird HOW prtU· /ire3 Ii'illt Ihe fi .... of lI"bbord. 11'0/' droP. H",noldJ. l)auis & Mel/wa'lf in T"Ka/oofd .
&\.bout ~Iembers, &\.mong Firms
Abou 'I'oIcm bc rs Laird R. Jones hnjoined Union Camp Corporation as (OUn~1 al I~ oornpa.ny's Mon~ mill. Jone is a na,ive 01 And3luli~ and re.Jeive:l hi, law degrff from I ~ Uniwrsily cJ Alabama School of Law January 1979. l'rio. lojoi ning Union Camp. he J)l"aClictd with lhe MGrllgGmery law
finn of Argo & Ensltn. S tc ,'" R. Forehand has been named din'CIor of lUes and C'IJI'llOf"ate counsel for Russ.ell CQr)lOI'3lioo in Ale xander Cit y, Alahama.
Among Firms Robert S. RMnsc ~' , Ste phe n J . l'1 yn" and S.C. Middle brooks are
pleased 10 announce the formation of llleir new practice u Ramsey ,
F1 y"" a nd Middle brooks, I' .C. Tlleir oWees arc located in Suite
1806. First Nalwl !lank Building, Mobole. Alabama 36602. Phone 4338100.
The law firm of Ii olli ~ & lcalh. crs is pkasro to announce Lee B. Os born. focmerly in practice in Sheffield. Alabam~ . is now associated with lhem in IIw: practice d law. Of· f~ ~re Ioc:atoo at 28 East 1st A"cntle North. P.O. I\Q~ 708. Win· field. Alabama 3559-t; 109 First Street S.E., Fayette. Alabama 35555 and 212 South Vernon Stl'('et. P.O. Bo~ 599. Sulligent. Alabama 35586. W iginton &, Haile y take pleasure anoouncing G. On,,;.,1 Hec\'cs ha s become associated with the firm. and tlw: firm name I"ill be W igi"to n . nnil ey &, Hee ,"e ... They have rt'tocated to tlw: Stattsman Building. 100 Vulcan Hu;od, Suite 401 . Birmingham. Alabama 35200. Phone9-l2·9233. In
TIw: law firm of Goines & Cleckler, I'.C., t~kl'!l p\casu rt' in announcing C harle~ I'. Gaine" is !'lOW a member of tlw: firm. and Ro. bert D. Barnett. Jr.. has become an a5SOdateof IIw: finn. Off~ are tocalC.·d at 127 East North St~t. Tal· Iadega., Alabama :l.5160. l'hone
362·2386. CliflOn S. Price , II , Rnd Herbert II . S parks. J r" are pleased to announce ,"" fQl'TTlalion of IlIeir part· rltf'lihip for the genn-al practice 01 law wilh offICe in lhe Highland Professional Building, 22'lO Il ighland Avenue, Birmingham, Alabama. phone 939-3999.
Halch and IJingham .loc:atoo in Birmingham and Montgomery. takes pleasure in anoounCHl4!; Miehoel L Ed ward s has joinro the firm as a part1l('r. and R a lph F. M ac Don:dd, III . has become a partner in the firm.
Arthur T . Po well. III . annou nces the Opening of his law office at 120-1 First National Il.ank lIuilding. 31 N. !loyal Street. Mobile. Alabama 36602. 1'hont433-&IO.
II:Im ld E. Wo lden . Sr .. and JolIe l,h E. Wald e n arc plcased to II '" nounce thoe focmation of a firm for the genmll practice of bw under the narrlt of W a lde n &, Wa lde n with offas kaled al Suite 201. l240j"5sup Building. 1'.0. Bo~ 1610. Alabaster. Alabama 35007. l'hone 663.(l9 1 ~. John 1'. F "O"lI n , allorn.ey at law. announct'S tlw:opening u his brar>eh uflCe for lhoegenmll pncIia: of law in Orang!! Beach. Alabama. T he coos· tal offICe is located on Alabama Il iihwa y 180. C"ILaway Company, Ir>e. Building. 1'.0 . Bo~ 275. Orange Beach, Alabama 36561. l'hone 981· 9100. The Mobile office is ka(ed al 161 Conti Sirfd. Mobile. Alabama
36602. Phone432·5700or432-5701. J a nteS R. 13o ... le" and Joh n I . Colllc . 11 1. are pleased to announce the formalion of a parln.ership for llw: general practice of law under I~ name of 130,,'1.,. &, Cot tle. Nanc)' I. Cotl lc also will be .ssocialed with thoe firm . T emporary offooes ".. ill be localed at t~ Tallassee Shopping Center. Gilmer Av~nue. Tallassee, Ala bama . Phone 283·65-18.
'"
anoounce t I1cIr association for the The ofrlCt!l of O' Uannon and O' U,m" oll a~ pleaS<.'d 10 annou~ lhe mnov.l of lho.~. oIficn 10 402 Soulh Pi~ SIree! Allbama.
In F1or~nre.
I)onald II . I"me ....." and Gar)' L J., ... .,. are pleas....:Ilo announce Ihe formalioo 01 a partnc.~hil' for tnc general vract~ of law under Ihe name 1':. II<:rson & J es te r . Offices are local~xI at 117 Mob,le Pta"". f lor· ence. Alabama. I'hone 764·39-1 I.
The taw firm 01 deGraffe nried a nd lIawkin s IS pleased 10 an· nounce lhe as!;(I(.alion of Scull Don· aldsun with 1M finn fOf" 1M IK""" lice 01 Law. Ofr~ are 1oc'lIed al 2620 &h SUlc'Ct. P.O. ~ tl63. TuscaIoooia. Alabama 35403. phon.: 7'".f.j·Il'Ai.
"nu"
J. A rgo . Frederick T. Ensl.,n.J"h" M. Hollow"y. Jr .• alld M. W"y llt: StllIel are plca,.",J III
gel1l'rnl praclice of law under , .... fi.m nameof Argo. E n slen. 110110' """Y & s"bcl, I'.C. OffICe> are 10Oiled al:lOO South Hull Street. Mon~. 8J.I ·2~60.
J a"'c~
uel
Richard Wilson & Associates
Alabama 361M. phoow:
Reg istered Professiona l Cou rt Reporters 132 Adams Avenue Mon tgomery . Alabama 36104
M. Monon, 11. alld s"",.
M" I,le~
264-6433
are plca>ied to an·
I1(JOnce t he,r parllll-rship. wil h offict.':I al 1716 l'lll! A.'cnue Sooth. Biro mmgham. Alal.l:ama J5lOS.
SAVE30·6~
• • • • • •
USED LAW BOOKS
"",,ncy 1>a .. is. J"",,es 1-:. Cox and Willi",,, A. etc"dand are pleased 10 announce lhe fonnalion of a ..... rt· nersl!ip fOf" the pracllCC of law under the firm nal1~ ol DlOvi s. Co" & Clen·l" n d. Offict.-s are located at JJ7'11 East Magnolia. Au!>urn. Ala· bama 36830, phone &1·1908.
Four AJ.b.m •• nd Federal Trial PraCllca Form Book. Av,ll,ble for Immediate Sh ipment •..
C ALA8AMA AND FEDERAL PLAINTIFF DISCOVEA Y FORMS
• Wn' •
•
~""I"'I
~ 1ItnOer .
CooP • H.If......
c.a.gr.an . 011...-.
WE BUY _ SELL _ TRADE
L.aw Book Exchall gc I'. O. nu" I 7073 J aek.;o,wme. I'L 322 16 1·800·325·6012
Often First Investigations Don't Do Your Case
Justice
Cl ALA8AMA AND FEDERAL MOTION FORMS C ALA8AMA AND FEDERAL OADEA AND JUDGMENT FORMS C ALABAMA AND FEDERAL COMPLAINT FOAMS
P.rI of ,,,tiel of tril l practice form booka by
Aobttl Sal.... Smith and Jo ....
M~lnl)',...
fM" ~
"ig/l' """'r3igto' In Inltliol ..<ld<M' ,eport><an
""''''' a _1<11"11 d,/I<..,,,,,, I~ pOU< ax. r"" ~ 101_ '-'P Inw:: .. ~"'" ..... __ , ..1al>I1<
.... .. .... bM<\ v.p<n. ~
The prlca 01 IIch 01 these books Is SliUI5 plu. POltl~ and h.ndllng.
~
"" •
ALBERT MEDINA
...
l"[f~~"","",, MADISON PU8LISHING COMPANY, INC. 223 EAST SIDE SQUARE HUNTSVILLE, ALA8AMA 35801 (205) 533-5040
A<dOo:nI
'.'''''.''1000
-~
I.-ouoop ~ln~11ooo CoI'_~ ~.o.
110> 173.)1 .
C- , 10<l_7
_~ I ~"""
"--"""~ """\lIO<'ICO)'. _
..... ;lo6"7
(lO~l l77 '7929
H'
.11., 1985
"Iljding the • • C treuds
C"ffee COUll! ) Ba r
As~hll ;on
In a reo.'f1t m«Itngof ,ts mf'm~, the Coff"" Coumy tlar ek'CIed Mernll Shirlc)'. preidl"" ; B~ Md.ean, "icepresKil'flt; and I'aul Young, Jr .. $«:retary·t n.'a.urer. The association also hOl1ored its immed,ate past president, In.I" Marsh, and immediate past $«:retary·treasu~r,John Do,,'I· lng, for their loyal and dedicated service to the Coff« Coomy tlar,
1I0 USlo n Cn unt)' Har }\ ,."ociation The Houston Coumy Bar Association n."<:emly partid· paled with lhe l>OChan school system to promote an a"'arcness of the Jaw and the " 'ay the Itatc's legal sYltem w(ll'k$. As part of that PTIlKram.the Alabama SuprcmtCOUrt was '">' uoo to I>ochan \0 hearontl arguments May 3; '" addnion, a reception in honor of the court w~s held the n'ght hefore.
Alhert J. Tully has practiced II'" with the sall'lt law parlner for 47 of those 50 years. Janella J. Wood holds the dis!lflCIlOO of bting the /irst female in ~Iobilr to reach the;,o.)~r milesul'''' and pQiS5,bly the fiTSt in Alabama. Gl'OI'ge E Stone, JT.. and Bart II. Chamberl ain,Jr .. "'~~re unahk to alteoo the meeting, but also w~ hOi1oroo for tho,'u contributlOOS to the legal profession. Eigh\ of the .'hor!on!d ni",," are i"3duales utile Unwer· l ily of Alabama Law School Class of 1935(MJ'$. WOOd was the only female). III fact. the~ ,,'l-re 14 Mobilian! who graduatoo with the class 01':15, ~:a.;h honOl'~ was gi"en a framed certif;':ate, sigllCd by MilA President ~n II. Kilborn, 10 COIRrm'monitt tM oocasoon.
Mob ile IlIIT A ""OI.';II1 ;OI1 The Mobile tlar Association I!orioRd nine of ill members for serving 50 ycooJ'$ in the legal prof~. Sc-.'tn of thost "me "'ere pl't!/eflt at the regular MBA monthly ~ing held March \"at T he Admiral Semmes. These individuals represent a wide range of 1l'lP1 nperience. Ga~1 Van Amwerp Aldridgt was in the banking busi· ness for appro~,malely 40 )1'al'$ and nO\\' is m the pri>·~te pr.ICIa of law. lUI. "Pele" Alltn was a COI'por;Ite offICer wuh Imerna· t'OI1al Paper Company fOl' O" l-r 30 years. Judge Allan I/, Cameron was all1lOintoo the finn /ulH ime Unitoo Statel magistrate of the U. S. District Court . Judge ROOm E. lIod""lIe, Jr .. is the lITesoding circuit judge of the l3Ih judicial distrICt , Ralph KC'Ilnamcr s pent a numher of yraTll as U.S. allor· ncr for the !I(lUt hem district of Alabama and city 11Ior""y for t he cities of Mobile and Prichard.
Se ven of the nine ",,,,,,1><1 ... of th~ Mobile Bar A."""illion honored for 50 yul'!! of service in the Lega l profcniotl
'"
TUllIon is as follows:
<OJIar <OJIriefs
\\' ilIinm s IUlllled d ean of CUlllbc rlllnd I'arl,"m 11. Williams.Jr .. direc· tor of Ihc Un"'crsity of Mississippi Law Cemer and Dean of the Uni"crsity of Mt .siss,pp, Law School. has been named !lean of Cumberland School of l.aw of Samfon! Uni"et"$ity. Theappoontmfnt of Wilhams culminates a l3-month search to select a sU<XtSSor to former [lean Donald E, C(O'"\e}. wlto resigned in February 1984 to ~turn 10 full"me tcao;h'ng in the l~w schooL Brad Bi.hop, a "et~ran of 14 )'ears 011 the Cumberland faculty. has s.erv<'(\:lS interim dean, William s hasocoen director 01 the Mi ssissippi l.aw Center ~ince it s establishment in 1973_ The center broadens the legal education concept ot the La,,· School and combtnes the resources of the School of Law. Law Library. Law Rtseard lnSlllule, Court Educauon Program. Inst,tute of Coollnu, iog lA'jJ31 EducatIOn and Court lieport.ng Program_ Wilbams was dean oftht M,s· ,i~siwi School oI1.aw lor two years prior to the establi shment of the bow Cenlcr concept. Pre"iously. he St''''O)(\ as a.soci3le d~an. assis· tanl dean and admi";,, ral iw as-
".
sistant of the School of Law, beginnillKin 1965. ACli,'e in Stale. r('j(ional and na· tional auocialions. Williams has ..erved in such roles as commis· sioner of lhe Law Enf{}l"U'menl Assistanu Comn.iSSion (19n·16J. con.missioner oi the :\"ational Con· ferenu of CommissIOners on Uni· fcnn SI3tt Laws (si~ 19711. 3 member of the ABA Commitla' on ProsmnoriaJ Standards(l981-821 and chairman of the ~hssissiwi Governor's milt Ribbon Committte on Criminal PT06«utions (1981·82), lie has been chainnan of the Missi$S'IlIl' Sup ... me Court Advisory Cornmiltee on IIules since 1983. William s holds Bachelor of Arts and Juri s Doctor degrees from Ihc Un,..er~'ty of Mi~5i$Siwi and a Master of l.aws from Yale Uni"er' sity. lle was rec'Plent of a Sterling Fellowsh,p for study al Yale in 19&1 and a Fellowship 1(0'" Ad,.. nced SU'I!} in Law School Ad· minIStration at :\"ew York UniversIty m 1968.
I"LM _in t8","lionM ontgomer y 1985-87 The lini'et"$ily of Alabama School of Law again is sponsoring a wadll3te prowam in tax. This program is designed 10 serve practicing Alabama law)'crs imeresled in obtaining. on a part'lime basis. the LLM. on taxation degree. The Ilrogr.<m consisls of six semeslf'rs spanmng Iwo academic )'ears. wnh Iwoclasses)ll'f semes· ter. Two.hour classes begtn Au· gust 24. 19i:G. and lhe first!Ol'fTleS' ter concludes De«mber ]4 The program wIll CO<lllnue through summer semester 19!!7. Location of this qdc of I he program is Montgomery ht previously has been held,n Birmingham and Mo. bile), "'ith thl' exact s ite to be an· nouncro later.
''''''''', """ ..... idc-nl
Resl(lenl audu
T,,·o C....,.,..,s
""
Son· ..... odtnl audu
'" "" m
The abo,c charl(eS do not CO\l'l" books and matcrials. For more mformallon or applica' lion m~terlals. contact: Admissions Office School of Law Bo~
\.135
Unt>'ers,')'. AI. 3:>436-1435
(205) 348-5-1·10
Litigatio n Sect ion Organization to be con ",i d er ed Tenll('nl Lee. chairman of lhe Task Fomo 10 Organi~ a Liligalion Seclion. announced plans for a m~ling open 10 all mterested al· 10000tys 10 be conducl<!d dunng Ihe bar's annual meeting illlluntsville. July 2:;'21. Said l.{'e. "'There is presentl)' no section which ad· dresses the needs and problems of all ht tJr.Ilors no nlatter in which foromlhey practice or on which side of the COUr1room lhey sit. The Jln)JlO!led litigation section will take an InlcroiSClpiinary approach to IhoosI' problems facmg the trial bar. as distingui~hed from the existing S('ctions sueh as Labor La ...•. Prncta and I·rocedu~. Criminal. Antitrust. FamIly. Bankruptcy and Adminlsu'3u,'C Law, wh.d a~ devoted to sub!;lantt>'e and pro ceduralllroblems peculiar to those ar~'as:' I'oo;.sible goals a ... : III prm,d •• forum wh.,,-eall lrial anorntyl may "K'tt and diocu~s COITlJl\O!1 problems: (2) undtnakt an eOl.nS,,-. edura'ional prorram 10 Iml'f\l'-e ,lie CO<I'PCtfflC)' (Ii tile Ina! bar: and
(3) 'mpn:r.'. the eflic>ency. un.· formlty and to:M>Omr (Ii In;IIItlOfl and ...1)<\ to curb abuses (Ii lheJudlClllt ~
J.Higators intere;led in allene!.ng Ihe m~lIng should wnte to Mr. Lee 811'.0. Bo~ 68, Hunt s,ille, Alabama 3S804. Those 'nteresttd. but unable 10 attend. should let him know of their inleresl so their names can be add~>d to the lisl of ~tcn"al $('O;"on memoc-rs_
"The Cfirst ~JCal/.
§ JPlll 1l'1l~
A Part of the Legal Community SINCE 1889
nearly a century First Amencan Company mas been I n impor13111 pan of the kgal ~ommunily. The spiri t ofcOOJ"'nl1ion, the e~pcrience Ind auiludc of mUlUal assiMaocc in working with tile legal
FTitle lnsunncc: Of
profession has made this independenl title company the: mation '5 .hiod I~ .
From the old HarrisCounlyCounOOuse in Houston. Texas 10 the Pacifk and Allnnlic ~alx>.:lrd . First Anlerican and the spirit is n:;>dy!
'The First American
First American Title Insurance Company STATE OfFICE: 1529 FOURTH 51. NEWORlEAHS, LA 70115 '(504) 895-9911 NATIONAl MUOOUUTERI " •• '''T .. $' ' Aka ANA, C • • 270' • (" ' ) iM·n"
SERVING TITLE INSURAN CE NEEDS THR OUGHOUT THE UNITED STAT ES
AjJiJiQled wi/It T10t F~ AIrII'Tiwn FwmdiIi COI1JOf"Niotr
HUNTSVILLE Heritage and High Tech '"
Helen C. Smith Ediro<.~,
H........ ",. Roc:Ut CIrv. ' - been.".,..." "" ",. _
of ohc 1985 I\w-.a
SIoIe Ib 11-...1 101M .... .
HuntSYillo: is a oubIle bIHId 01 dMrH elements. a 51udyincontrlJ6lt. Uponlll' .;..",I, one l$C<lpllvaied by the: mounIaonI "".h ,"'" panorama below 011" COlton
fin!sandSprawlingc~v.Theoldilju~I"" pOSed _h lhit new, antcbdum man· sions;>n>siJhooetted . . . .tRoc:keICi'y skyocrapen.. The c~y " a panoply 01 culIurn and
""''oonahlia. HuntsWlol has beo:n ,he mountain homI! 01 the iIIusawl Ger· milO scientist. We ....... Von Braun. and the seiling for James Michener', novel, Space. On the other tide 01 lown .. 00 Ii",.,. Leroy PopI! Walker,
$l!cr~ .. r,r
of
war for the ConIe<kracy. lived in the TwO::kenham area (MOO hlsg,eal-grand· children locLly). This 9"fltle ",, ~,ng 01 hill and <WeI, old and new, conhrwnlai and country, offbeat and ,. /ldiliona1, makn II city where the tempO is lase. but .he am· biance II ......... One Can IffI,Iw electric· ~y oIlht liloSI-9JOW1119 hogh t«hnok>gIcai indus.tty and yet Sftk ~ on genteel JI"riours on Adams Strffl. wIwI"t tlfM otandsSlil 'The chlorm 01 our till/Sa in hfr con· Ifadictions, The conIrastS mwrge when exploring HumsYillo!. Sht ill grlCOOUl' Ii>dy who. WI!h one loot pI/Inted firmy on !he pasl. 5t~ coool1dtnlly inlo lhe,.. tut". 0... can ....sil Const~ulion ~ Park, the bcrthplace 01 AIMNomao III!'" hxKI - ands.tep blIck inlothe 19thcenIUf}'. From I........ one can lakt a ohorl JOUrney to the Marshall Space Flight Cent"., ",he launc:t.ng pad" 01 our mod· ern spiOCe ftight prOgram - and lIepinlo tho! 215t century. EKpel the eswnc:e 01 HuntlPo.lille. Alabama - Rocket City. USA.
;e",,,
Old ilnd New Old Stan with the old. the tried and Ifue. Hunt""';l,," Heritage Tours. owned
,.
t¥ lftII Crowson and
.layne lowry, ~I pnIIale and _1~ For II
det<JiIed look aI HunuW\e'$ r..... down10Nn ""ton:: areas, lhese ladies lead both driving and walking tours. n...y may bot conta.cled aI ~-6218. II you WISh to di.5covo:r doum'.....,,·s MilO" SIghtS on I/OUI" own, Slop by the M<><kon County Tr_1 and Tounsm Bo.1Ird oIfic~ and pick up II ropy o/ "A Walkin9 Tour 01 H untsville, Alabioma" The Too""" Board is located in the Central Bank Building on W~l Side $quare; phone S3ol-0638. Hillo,k al S it .... not to be Mi",;ed • Constitution Hall Park (309 M;xIison
Olher 20th C"nt .. ry J'tKu 10 Go: • Von Braun C;"';': Center - lor \"JUr mtertaonment needs • MadIson County Courthou .... mc:osait ~ms H .. n"......·• iwtory
""'-,
• Huntsvil,," AtlVelic Club ,~~
• Huntsville Country Club - goU Hill!> an d Oaln liill s The Monte 5""" Mount lln SceniC o,.,rIook located on Covei'roor'l Drive olfers the bnt b1rd's eye view ~ H untsville.
St,eet. S32.7!;.51)
• Twickenham Histone Preservation District • Leroy Pope Walker House (403 Ecl-.::ols
A_I • R;Wroad Museum • HowardWeedenHouseandMuseum (300 Gales AWI"IlII!. 5J6. 7718) • MapW H. Cenwt"""
• MooreWolit, Alabama (H~ 20 ~ Decatur and HUMsviIle)
New Togetanout-ol·' .... woride~· perience, ..... tors to Hun!~ shedd not ...... t"'" Alabama 5p<o« and Rocket Cmtitf. n.esp;lCeprogram .. ~'wd In this Ur"iIQUI' .....,....,m. It hao ....:Mes. dooi.pIays and rideo ilIustr3long the 19"«' tec:h ......... that has evolved 11\ the 20th ""tury.It ti l "'""dow to the 21$1 century. Do not n"OS5 thost Located on High· way
20 West. Phone: 837.J400.
For .... ",-deplh look at the spiOCe pr0gram. Ma.s!Wl Spa.ce Flight Cent." is a muf.t . ThiI waswhere WernerVon Braun desogned the forsl rocket. that would blast our /lSlrr.onauts into spiOCe and cata· pult Huntsville into the space ag<l . TIle tours origi .... te from the Alabama SPlICe and Rocket Center. Pho"'" 837.J400.
1I~1t" C. S",ilh "lItllikd Mi$llw,pp. 5111lt (Aitq, /01" LI 'QJNt" "",I gnulultd cum Laude lilt V"i, ...,.jl], '" Alo boo ...... SM is ..... ,rim 10 C. I.YIl ..YJt,Jt/ S",jlh, }r.. rirr.. il j ..d, for I," 23rrl j "dic",f tirr.. il. alld is .. 1"",,0/ (Q,.frr ~roordj"",..,. .. ·jlh T"'t'ti I \#NQ' j"II .."Is,·illt.
f"''''
c-r.
Other Mountain-Top E~poi!';"nces:
• B.lnkhead Parkw/III Scenio; 0m\00I< • Bumt! MU5ol'um.locattd atop Monte
s..
• Green Mo..ontalfl Nature Tr'" • Space Walk - a nature walk IICrOSI the mountain • The Cross on Monte Sa""
T"" rilh!: OC"'~nL Comc r Clay _ ch.l red ........ mi"ee '" I ~ dnltinl Lhe ~t.t~ ' ~ constitution _ hi~ ..... olT",e h.~ been .....,"'al~"<I as part '" Ihc hi._ loric. 1 inle'pretali<>n of Con~tit nli<>n li nn I'arl<. Top Icll: T,,-o ,-iewo 01 Vo" IIru,,,, Ci"k Ce"ler _ Ihe . il e 01 Ihe 1985 """,, .. al Co",-c"lio"
1m.'.
Iktlll)ll1 le11: Cons lil .. l;"'" lI all _ l !j 19 mc",. inll . i.r lor4<1 delega.u from 22 c ...."."'. ,,-ri'ing . he Alabama Con~.i· ;.....
....
Iktuum rill"" For nlO'-""", di~I"')' • • IId ride_ mus'ra.inll 20th ccnlUry "I'"'''' lechnology, do nOl mi". Ihe AIRb""'R S .... cr and Rockel u,nlcr.
'"
Dales Big Sprire International Park iuoomed with gilts to Huntsville from all <Ml1" the work!. Thi. is a beautiful place for a romantic stroD or reedi~ the ducks _ a lavorite with the children.
• Jones Valt..y and Farm • ThNe Cavel _ an old quarry off
...
a p;cturesque
Country and Continental (Cui sine) Country n.e mecca of Huntsville politics is Eunice"s Country Kitchen. It is a "down·home" breakfast at its boIst. speciaJty 01 the house is country ham. biscuits and either red-eye or sawmill gravy. What really makes the place special is Eunice MerriU _ a warm. charming lady who makes.,.,...,..,.,., feel at home.
n.e
More Country Cook'n' and Local C olor: • Gibson·, - Barbecue. ribs • MuRin·s _ Hamburgers, hot chili doss
• Oakwood Biokery -
"""-
tored early 1'XXlo hardware and gen·
• TGI Friday'. - Sunday Brunch • Roy GonlaieZ Me';""" Restaurant • TwickenhamSlation
eral slore Mmosphere) OU·Seat The Kaffeeklatsch and Books as Seeds are estabfis/1ments ap.,.almg to ecl«tic tastes. Books as Seeds hM juSI a hint 01 counlerculture abool it, which keeps il from having aSlufiy book· store feeling. If caffeine is what you are after, lhe Ka.!leeklatsch has it. It is Iocaled down· lown and is o.,.n during .he day. serving pastries and numerous colfee blends.
Off · Beal and Tradi.iona l (Shopping)
Other U nique Ex .... riences in the Vall"Y'
Hermitage Avenue • Paint Rock Valley -
• The FOgCUuer _ Steaks
T r""'itiona.! Lawren·s is a favorile of Hunlsvill",ns for r.nding lhat pet"lect gilt. To their dismay. many people st.:>p out 01 town '0 6nd somerhing unique only to corne home and fond il tucked in a Corner ofLaw"m·s. Do not visit lawren'sunless you have plenty of tune. It has the added lOdvant"9'l of being within walkire dis· lance of lhe Conwntion Headquart~.
on·bea. Places .o Go: • Finnesan's - authentic Irish pub • Tony M""",·s - Do not go if you cannot take a joke
T radilio",,1 Shol>ping N"ar .he C o n ve ntion S ite: • Randolph & Swan (Fine jewelry, gifts) • The Elf Shelf (Dolls, doIlhou_. miniatures)
• Juliann·sITradit""'" women's clothing)
.0
• Kay·s Cupboard (AnliQl>e5) • W iIla'slT r<>ditional and haule CCMJlure) • Papp<!91lQo (Shoes. clothing)
doss.
Nutrition·~
• CornedySpOI _ 'opnameentMainer.; • Cheers _ wailerS in costume • Bowties - COI1I"",porary dancing • Monte Sano Mill _ bakery and eatery • Ike·. _ 1950s hot rod at"""""""e
• Harrison Brolhers store and museum on the COUrThouse $quare (crafts. gifts and museum in a perfectly res-
When you corne Huntsville bring pi<!nly of shoes: Walking snoes for step.,; ~ back in time; dancing shoes for kick. ire Ul> your heels; and tennis shoes for keep;re up with.he pace of this rapidy growing city. 0
• Greombriar (Highway 20 betweETl De· catur and Hunlsville) - Catfish. bar· ... L ... B... M ... B... R t~STITlITE!"OR
becued chicken • Boots _
• T wickenham Slation - Steaks. fresh
"'"
Con t inental Two unique places serving cuisine from nations hemispheres. and palates, apart immediately come to mind. The or Heidelberg hM a T)'I"Okan atmosphere and authentic Bavarian cooking. A specialty of the house is a delicate Weiner Schnitzel. The other. The House of Mandarin, has a comlortable Far Eastern atmosphere and delicious hot and spicy Chinese food. Jack· son Yuan. the owner. is a Chinese coun· terpart to Eunice Merrill. He knows hi. guests by name and has a smileand a hug for all . Additional Continenl ..1 Cuis ine 10' [)jscri"'i ...... ing Palales:
• lhe Rib Cdlar al the J et Port • S"ogun Japanese Steak House • Lofton', at the H~ton • The Hmlage Club - A privale dub. bu1 a member may take you
'"
C O"'TI "'·UI ~G
FOOIbail al"""""""e; steaks
LEG ... L t:OUCA no."
Oil, Gas, and Mineral Law Institute Friday,
May 24, 1985,
8:.10·4:15
LowC.ftt.. '\\001 Court Roo.. Tu .... loo ... "'Iabam. ABIClE is pleased '0 h,,·e .. . r""u'.y member CH... RLES J. MEYERS of Gib",n. Dunn & Crutch.r in D<nv<r. Color.dQ . Mr . M er'" i. an aUlhority in Ih. field of 011 . nd JU . nd i. best known for hi, r,..."iu QJI OJ[ und GIlS .nd Cosn QJI Oil and GIlS Lo "ol " ril' te" with II . R. Williams. He will .~k on •• 11K: La .. of Covenants Implied in Oil and Ga. L...... ·· Otb~rOu 's .a ndinK
.-..,ull y Members Indudr:
Co."od P. A,ml>r«hl. II ArnIl>roch,. J><k"",. DoM""y. C,"",. Hoi"", &r R«>"<>
John 0.......,. lIn>nW. O'''lhln"l. 0.-0 .... '"
M obile. A1o_
J.", ..... Mi ..;"'i"";
N""on W. Brook.. , h.
lyen,. Pip<> &r Cook
Edv."*!d Ii . H"i>bo.d H.w k"", 0; 1" Gu. loc.
M obil<. Ala_
T"",.t_ . ",t.bam.
R>< M . 00",,'
"'""broch'. Joe'lOn. DoMooy.
"f"IIoo'Ia> L. Krebs Th~Toliar... o. r",m'n. 8u",t
Hoi ..... '" R=... M OO; 1<. AI.,," ...
M u".j Bll"IhinVt.. .. ~ ",t. _
Ptl~:
r .... fUrlhot- InfOlm.don:
C;""".
S7S.00
Ii...·..
I'.O.Ilo. Ct Uniy...i.y .... t 33486 2OSl148 .... 210
GtOung
GLawy:ers' ~eetion
b, Robert T. Meadows. III YLS Pns~nl
W:
lh the rt'quest from thl' har for I hi~ nrt iele lOT
~lal c
publicatlOn,;( (lCCUI'$Io me the 1984-115 ) .....1, ofl he Alabama Young
l/O\'ernT'll(-'nl. james Anderson s pear· hcad~-d thi $ effort on behalf of the Y()\Ing LawyeT!! and, as usual, ha~ dune a very Ii,.,., job.
La",')~I'$' &'C1 ion rapidly is dl1l""ng \0 a c~. Much ha~ bo..."., acoompl,~hed
IhrooJth the outstanding efforts of a numbo.>T of d(~Ii ~all'(l )'OUTij( law)'ers
H ,'id gc I h e G all SC llIi"'t.
throullhout the Male. As of this wru· ing. how""-cr. much ,..,main. to be ac· cumplishl.'d pnor III Ih ... end of Ihis
Friday, Aprill(;. and Saturday, Apnl 21, thl: Young u,,,'ye ... SI'O'l$Ored ~ ~ Bndge lhe Gap Semmar" for,.,..,.' and ,nexptrocnn-'d b"'jl:f"S in Utrmingham al t hi: Ci,·jc Ce nter. jaTl'le§ Miller was in charge of thi s and arrangro an out · s tanding array of speakers Imparling tOOr WIsdom 10 law j~T$on "nuIS<lnd boilS" Iopics.
adm I"' SI routOn.
Confe rcn C"c Un the Prufe!!s;" " >! Kandolph I'.
~ea,'es
spear"-kd lilt
of Montgomery on the
Conf~nce
Professions lIt'ld in Gulf Shores March l"l and 23. A "t"nbe.- of professlOl1a! d,sclpli",-", wt"re represented. MOlil of the indi"ldu"l~ ;lll~ndlng were memo bcrsof profesr;ionallic<>nsing booms in Alaooma . The thrust of Iheoonfcn'flCe ,,'as !O ach,se lh~ ",di"iduals on the cummt Slalt of the Ia,... on 1<'1'1115 of adminiSlr.l\i"c proct.'Cdings ~rd;ng
licensing. The ""m;na, was.;n my es· timation, "","y " 'ell ''''-'e;,"ed by 1hQ.Io, in auendance. As al .... ays. ~andy Itca\'es dod an t"xcdknl job, and he IS 10 be commffidtod, i\ lah",,,~, Y"ul h Lcgi s h'lllre
The fir.t ",,'t:kend in Aprillhe Alabama Youlh Ll.'gislalureljudw;I3I I'rogQm con,med in Montgontl.'l'y. This JIr(lgr3m is Ikslg~ to eduatle young IIj'upIe around lhe stateCOl'lCl:rning the lo:gislat ive and judicial ixanc hcli 04 I he
IUtA tUfilia l e Oulrc lI e h M e e t in g May
to and
II, 198:;, Ihe American
taw We e k As I am sun: you all know,l.aw Day has ~ int(l a ,,·eck·1ong ttlcbrat"",. T h,s j'ear l.aw Wttk ,,',II be ttlebrated dunng the first " 'M 01 May. T he lhem~ for l..a'" Week '1:15 is "Libert y ~nd Ju~tie<: for All." The Young l.. w)'cr{ Seetion of lhe Ala · bama State liar, in conjunclion wilh lhe American Bar ASSOCIation and the state bar itstlr. has a number 01 materials a,'a llable rOO" Ioc:.tl young la wycrs' ~tioos and local bar aSSQCiallu,n to use in formulaling thdr vian s. lly the time I his andc I/Ol'S \(1 prt'SII. the rna· jur,ty (If you ",II ha,'C n:cei"ed rtOIa 01. the a"~ilabolny of the!e programs and, [~, lhe materials ... hich j'OU need lrom Lynn McCain, "h(l is in charge of the I.. w Day/ I..aw Wl'O;'k I'rogram s lor the Younj! I.. wyers" 5«tion.
Bar A!Wriauon WIll hold liS Bar I~d· ershlp InS!1lUle. T ht s is sponsored by the Young Lawyers' Divi sion 04 the Ame rican liar A'sociallon and will be hl:1d thIS j'ear at SI . I'~tersbu rg !leach. The Young Lawyen! "'lL send !l<'\"er.'II It'l*esent ali,-o::s lothat pani<;ubr 1fIoCII!t. Ing til discuss s uch IhlllgS as fund· ral.ing and projecting of the YOUf1j! lawytr$, orJ;llni.ing the s tate younj! Iawy\.'N· s«tions. media and II<e!IS ~ IatlOlU. ~slati"eac\ioo, publicatiool. m'$Smg chlldn:n pn:Ij«l5. disaster legal aSliislance, Law Week and other 10\lIClI 04 ;nterest t(l your Y()\Ing Law. )'eri Sectioo .
S.tnd cs lin Semina. The "l't:kend of ~l ay 11 ~nd ill, 1985, the Annual Sandeilin Seminar sponsored by t tit: You ng l..a "'")'efi again will take pIacle at Sandeslln. ~lurida . This year pnKIIlse!i to be. as in years IXIs t. a very enjoyable occas lOl'l bot h socially and intellectually. The com· mittee c haIred by Charles Miwn and Ca;ne O'Kear has put together an OUt · ~Iand ing llfIIlIr3m for this panicular "",-""'end. By now yoo shoold ha"e received brochures r;:ganling Ihi s par· ticula r weekcnd and I hope j'OU will
make your plans to bI, wilh us, If }'OU ha I'e any SuggeSI ion, as 10 how We can ' mprove this pari ",utar ,;"""nar 10 th~ future, rontacl me, Charlie or Cam<'.
CLEGNews
Bar Adn.is s ious Cc rC lllOll Y Somel1mc this momh Ihe Young Lawyers' St.'CI;on will hllSl a st'Ctlnd bar ad missions ceremony for ne,,' ad· miul't'!lil> the bar. Thi s ct'remOllj' will officially induci inl"""r n"ml;o;r Ih~ indi"iduals who have taken and pas,;,.-d Iht bar examinal;on administered in February of Ihis year. Myra flakcr WIl l be in charge of Ihis and. based on the SUlX:e-ss of the fall admissions cere· monj·. f am sure this prO!!ram wiH be excellent .
"
Mary Ly n Pike Assista lU Ex e c ut ive Di rector
Annual Ba,' C"',,"c lltioll The 198-1·1:\:,i year will culminate with the Annual Bar Com'ention to bI, held in lIuntsviHe. Th is me",ing will be held at the Von lIraun Civic Cenler the last weekend in July. The Young l.awyers' Se..:tion will sponsor anOIher " Bridge Ihe Gap Seminar"' to be held immediatdy prior 10 that particular con"enlion, a nd we encou rage all "young law\'ers" to attend. N c w Comm itt ees
Al the end of Ihe bar conwntion in Hunls,·ilk. Ikr"'e Bralman. IlI"e5ident· ,,\toe!, WIll aSsume the reigns of the Young Lawyers' Seclion. I am sure tx,rnie will ha,'C a numbcr of commit· We a",ignmentsopening upduring the year a"ailabk 10 any who are in'l'T' cst.-d. If you would like to bI....:omc an a~III"e participant in the Young 1~lw · yers' Si...:tion of the Alabam" Stale Har, piN';" wnta" Ik'fIlic Brannan at his offi\:e in ~lonlj(l)llll'TY. 0
NOTICE ALL ADS AN !) ARTICLES FOR TilE
JU LY ISS UE OF "till;." AL' IRA.lf,1 fA WY£N ~II ' ST BE SUB~IITTED BY ~IA \'
'"
3 1. 1!l85
ils from 1983 10 m('('1 lhe 19&1 fl' quiremem, but had not fi led the reI\pproximaldy 63'X0of Alabama's bar Quired report. membcrs (4$33) were subje.:t 10 the CI.E rt."luiremCnl in 1!J8.1. Others were Summ e r alld CLE exempt fr(>lll Ihe r('(luiremenl: L14~ nonpraclicing membl,rs: 625 attorneys Summer is a good lime lowmbinca ",'er Iht age of 65: and 400 attorneys l'acat;11II wilh a CI.E ,;"minar. The admitt<"IIlo the bar du ring 1984, All cn: cakndar ci,;"wherc in thi, i.suc except attorncYSOl"cr65 however, were wnlains a sampli ng of the many 01>required 10 file Ihe 1984 CLE rejXll1ing portunities available. Among them are form provided by Ihe MandaIOJ)' CLE .eminars on Irial practio;>. labor law, con~truction law, family law and ta, Commission. As of the lA'O!mher 31 filing and law being (}ffcred insuch diverse compliance dcadline, 76% of bar places as Dallas. Chapel Hill. Boslon. members had filed CLE rejXll1s. By licno. Torollto and San FranCISCO. Ad· February 28, all but 2.}() of t hose re· dilionally. the ,\ ICLE Com mission has Qui ....'tIlo submit reports had done so. appron-d many ot her p",wallls being "' inety·1h ....~· of those nOi submilling ronclm:l<-d this Summ~r alld can prorcports setout valid reasons for fai lure "id~ assistance in locat ing ,;,.,minus 00 to cumply On time and were grdnt<-d IOpio; of inlefl";\ 1" yuu. eXira lime by the MCLE Commiss;oo , A. always, (<iucalional programs Forty ·m ne attornC)'S engaged in ac· apprO"ed for C I.E cr~"IIit wi ll bcoffert-d tivc practice in Alabama during 198-1 during Ihe Alatl;lma State Bar's an· faik"ll to submit reports of romptianre nual llleeting.llunts"il lc·s Von Braun or set oul "ahd reasons for their failure Ch'ic Center is Ihe silC for Ihis pear's 10 do so, lk'Cause reminders from Iheir m<..,ting. "'hich beKin< with an all-day bar com",i",ione," and the MCLE stminJr Thursday. Jul)' 23. Bar sec· Commission went unanswered. il WaS tions will present intcrl";t;ng and edu· necessary 10 cerlifj' Ihem 10 Ihe Disci· cational progTamS Friday, July 26. It plinary Cnmmission for p<:<Ssiblc sus' should be pouibl~ toearn up to IOCLE j>Cnsion from the practice of 101"'. Fif· credits during the meeting. We look 0 Il",n pe ....... nl of thl'Se had eno~h ~red· f","Ward to seeing you there. 198<1 cuml)lia llo.:c
.110, /!kJ5
"
Robel1 I.. McCur le)" J r .
Law Institute Bills Pending in Legislature Thl'
AI~bama
Law InS1;lu!e has preso'med one majOr
...,"ISIIffi. the Alabama Eminent Domain Code, and some nlHlor am~,\(hnenls to the l'rofc'$~ional CorllO",!ion Act. Nonprofit torponlioo Act and Administrali"e I'r<ndure
Act. In addl1ion. Ihe inSI itute lias prt'pared amendments 10 Alabama's mromc tax law afft'Cung dinll'O' arxl an amend · ment 10 the Sdllemenl and rekase Slalu11:'-.
Institute- I'rCllarcd Legislation £ ", j''''111 1>OO113 in The Eminem Imam Code 1'C'\'ISiOfI is sponsored in the Sl'llHlc{S.lS7) b\' Senator Frank Ellisor Columbiana and in the Hous<: of I'(Cpn:!iCnlat;n'!l (It. 113) by Ilcprt"'£nlati\"eJim t:ampbdl pI Anmston. TIM.: n"'ision will not be effeclI\'e unt,l January 1. 1986. For a r;:,,~w of thIS bin ser thf, l.l'gl slal"'e W"'I'-uj:> in the March 1985 edition 0( Tiu' Ala· b.tnUlIA..,..'.
Alabama law to bring 11 imo rooformity wilh the federal law. T he bills are s jJOnson-d by Senator Ted Littlc(S. 152) alld Repre;;(!ntat;velI Hcth Marietta. Michael Onderdonk. ,\1tchael Box. JIm Campbell. John T anne •. !Jill Fuller and Lloyd Coleman (It. 406). Ad miniSlrat " -..
I'r~dll rc
The Administrative l'Ttadllre Act be<:ameeff«t ..~,md fully oper.uiv", October I. 1983. During the past )~ar and a tutl'. as agencies ha.~ bef:on working "';lh the admlnlstra· t,,·c procedure law. the need for ~veral clarifying amendnJ(:nts became apparent. Th,s bill is the Tf'Sult ol n..:ommellded ~hal\gl'S from lawye~. stale agcncit'S and the;o;nt romnllllee on Admini sl l1ll;"e Regulation ReVIew. It darifie>! pro.·;.ions for the pardon aod parole board. iodustrial rdatlOlls aod apPenate courts. as "'ell as the eff«tive datc provlsions_ The bill is spon&ore<i by Reprew:ntali'~ JIm Campbell (H_ 116). a
I'ro TaniO Sculc mcnl s For )'('ar1l. judges and tnallaw)"C1"$ ha,'" hoen COllC".ned ,,·,th the "alidil)' of pro lanlO settlements under Seclion 1;l·21 ·109. Ox/~ Qj Ala/lamo 191!'•. ThI S bill adds 10 Ihe !il'tl" II<)n "~nd all judgments cntcr~'O;I pursu:lnt to pro tanto !!ct. lIcmcnts." This bill is sponsored by Senator Jim Smith (S. ·16) :md Rrprl'SCntati"eg Mike lktx and /:leth Marietta (II .
220). Din.r.,., _ Tax Eff<'Cll\'eJanuary I. 1985.1 he fl'deral ruks ......,..., chango.-d <.'<ll'n'fn Ing t he deli n;t ion of a II mon y a lid rec.Jgoit ion of gaIn on transfe" of propert)· tncidcm to a di.·on:t'_ Ilo...."·cr . o;;urrellt Alabama laws recogntze the rules in effect OIlJanllMy I. IllIfl. The legislature is taking stC!/S to modify the
Il.,btrl L McC,.,Ie:!. J'.. d;m:/6, o/Ik Alllba_ u. .. /oulil.lt. " . criml lois fl.S. 11M LLIJ. d'T"fYI f_ lite U.i/Xnity 0/ A/QIJa_. I" l/ris O'fgII.ihrC()ilm.,.. Mr. MeC",. ~ .. ill k«p M 5 "pdlllld 1m /(1(1',111. lio~ Qf i"l~rnl Q~d imporlllH(I. /Q AId/la ,na aI/om",•.
,.
CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN LAW MONTHLY DIGEST SERVICE CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN LAW DIGEST i. a
comprehe nsive and informative analysis of the ]5O).plus construction and design cases reporte<! each year in the U.S. Each case discussed is dearly summarized under specific topic headings for practical, "a.y·to-use reference. Expert critical comm{'n]ary, practice tips and useful ad vice are indudl.'d for important an d u nusual cases. COLD is written by the NalioR.] lns]ilu]e of Construction Law. Inc. Editorial Board . COLD is org.'Inized under such topiCS as:
• contract formation • rightsand remedies • s ulxOnlraelual • tennio.l;on relations • lenders and financing - claimsanddarnages • tests and inspections • arbitration 11 Monthly I. ...,"" Including BindM an d Cumulative Hardbou nd Volume Ann",,] Sub5<:ript;on $395.00'
This treatise is based on research of every reported case in the U.S. dealing with construction a nd design since 1940. Volume 0 " of CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN LAW is now available. lis contents indude lenders and construction financing, contract d oruments, inspections and tesls, in· terest, insurance, and governing law. Volume One $85.00·
TO SUBSCRIBE TO THESE IMPORTANT NEW PUBLICATIONS, CONTACT YOUR SALES REPRESENTATIVE OR CALL TOLL- FREE 1-800-446-3410.
THE
MICHIE COMPANY
~~-~ For customer se rvice contact: JAMES R. SHROYER
MULTI-VOLUME TREATISE
P.O. Box 717 Pelham. Alabama 35124 (2OS) 326-9899
CONSTRUCTION AND O[SIGN LAW i. the first comprehensiv~, in·depth discussion of th~ law related to the con· struction and design industry. Wh~n complete, this esti· mated 6-volumc treatise will COver every aspect of construction and design law.
C 1!J84
·ph,.
ohip"", ~
.... ndlin.o;.nd ....... ""
w~ ...
' ppl;;'bIo
Income Taxation of Wrongful Death Proceeds in Alabama b, Da" id M. Woold rid ge
The [nternal ~evenl.le Service re. ctnlly ruk<J In 1!t\~l.Ie Ru1iflj; &I·II»! damages for Ii.. rongful death in Ala· bama are fully t3ublc to Ihe recipient for federal income tax purlX"i'!S. The ruling wasi;,-en only prospective cl· feci and will apply \0 ~s r«el"ed ~fi!uam
to ~1ta5eS or judgments txe. ClUed after July 15. 1984. In $0 filling. IIx> IRS singled out bereaw.'<I families in Alabama for Ihis harsh treatment alone among all otMr states. It al~ rl:"ersed its dKadeMlld. publi shed p0-
sition such damages are
lax~xempl .
Wrongful death proc~s in every other stale in the nalioo are slill uempt
from fedcral income taxes, The reason for this sudden change of position is 15 unclear as the change ilself is unjustified. If ultimately sus·
lainro. 1"" fam.ly 01 a dt-oedenl k,lI('d in Alabama will rere\'j' radically di!· fcrenllrealmCf11 than families of decedents killed anywheretlsein the United Sla1 ts. In gcrw.ral, the amoun! of the ."'ard such families in Alabama " ' ill r~"e .... ill becu~ in half by ~he federa.l ~ax ~y ..... hole families
dse.... ~ " ,ill
receive the full a.... ard. And ....en thi s harsh resuh .... m not be applit'tl uni. formly throughout Alabam ... T hefam· ily of a deu:dent killed in Alabama by a federa.l emplo)'ee .... ill ~" e damages tax·free. becau~ tlley ",ill be rtf:O\~ ;ng under the federa.l Tort Claim s Act. If the $ame decedem had been killed in
Ala bama b)" _
,,"OU1d be taxable
el~.
the f.. mily
uOOtf the IRS rull'""
a",\ .... ould ~alll.llflly arotH half of he proi:ffd~ aft('T" taXe!!. The "-'ling th us I"('P~ t s an intolerable a nd unjuf ti. fied burden PlacedE,n 1M citi2enl of Ala bama and falls ~ t hea,ily on ~~i\labamares; ll .... ho areleast pre~red to sllouldn s uch I burden. the surviving family of the deceased. Since t he 1920s under section 1M or its pred«essors. the Imernal Re"enue Code Ius provided gro5l income dors oot Include thot amount of any dam · ages receh·ed(,,·hether by l uil or agreemenl) on accwm of personal injuries orsickneSH. Coogrelsobviously rea>g· niled the inequity of adding the addi · tional burden of taxation 00 persons alrt'ad)" l uffffing from l uch injuries. Damages received under .... rongful death slatutes ha"e long ~n rfOlK' nized as included within the ~errn "any damages received ... on account of personal injuries" and have been uni· formly excluded from groa income. Prior \0 19S-1. the IRS also r«X!K' niM pun;t;"e damages in death ac· tions. such as those received under Ala· bilma's wrongful death $tatutc!!.....ere
included .... ithin the term "any dam· agtS" and ....ne ~ax exempt. As rremtly as 1975, the IRS revie"'ed the tuationofwrongful death ~s tn
made u .... the " 'rongful citalh act "'ere puniti" e in nature:' In I short and strlligh.for.... ard analysis. Rt'I~~ Ruling 75-15 concluded:
Scc.ion 11).1 of.M Cod. is a ' po<ifk
""U'orr e>((to,uoon front groIS in·
oome ...·i'hin , he ..~ as OIlier ...·IW fn'odecI" cIIo_ 01 0CCl ion 61 ta~ Scct.oon 10000.X2lf>((t"""" front IPQiI i _ ",he lmoun! o/.lQ'damaaes recei,'ed (.... Ml~ by Iuil or aar<emen.) 0" (lffl»O.1 II{ ~t injurIH or sidr."<M·· [tmphas;s in orW",l~ ThtffiOl'l'. "neW $fdi<ln 100I(1) ttl Inydam...,s. .. hoIhtrcomprnoatory or punlll'.... rtai,"1'd on accoun' of ~lln)unel or oickntSl .." u ctudable from ar- ir.com.. I~.
I.:ut.
75-i5~
Re"enue Ruli"ll 7~ reaffirmed a uniform poIicyof !oni:·standing. whICh
IN/'id M. 1I'ooId~. a _",bu u/ I~ Ilinnit.pu. ... fir". of Sirol~. f'ri~ouI. f'ritrlma", 1f~1d & 11poJi/Ulry. al$6 ,'s an adj,,~cI professor "',"th Ih~ Ullit'usily OI I IMIIIII!« SchooiJ '" lAW alld AcrounliNf(. If~ nrtitwf hi, / .Il l rom Ih~ Ullit'('r$ily', School u/ lAw in
,,,,.,,.,,11.
1975 a"g his
"'t..
IJ~ M.
ill /aulio" I N'"
lilt Yon U"i""'ilySChool u/I.... 111'1141 pr.
a state .... here "" series of court deci· sions had established that payments
'"
has
~n r~hed
upon for decades by
ta~payeB. ~rif~dth,~poIicy'n$ to t.-.:at all wrongful death dam~
r«eh'ed by bereaved families through· out the United Slates as tax exempt. 1l'1lllrdless of the formulation of any particular statl', wrongful dt'ath stat· utes. The result ...·as similar to the t.-.:atmem 3COOI'dtd li(~ msuraoce pro. cetdl unde1' S«Iioo 101 01 the Internal Rt;:vcnue Code. Shortly after 1975. internal IR S documents began to circulate s u&gt-'$t· ing a CM ngeof the IR S's positioo with respect to wrongful death damages ...'hen lhe dam~ ""eft punili"e on naIUn'. i.e .• primarily wilh respect 10 Alabama. In Spitl ollhe f<>et wrongful dealh damages ser"~ Ihe same tID nomic purpose for all bereaved fami · lies. the IRS saw an opportunity to raise rewnue by reversing i\s po$ilion. In Raehing its t'arlieY conclusion in Re>'ef1ut Ruling 75-45. the IRS had considered lbe punil;"e ver.sus oom· pensatory dislinctlOl1 in an internal memorandum. G,C.M. 35967. This memorandum concluded:
We"" IKIt Ihink lha' lhe (Ie1'OffiI1 ru~ <lilookin& at lhe .... ture <li d : I _ .nd the nat ure<lilhe ilt1ll. for .... hich lhed:l..... are I $Ut.lllut~ Inordor 10 do'Itmlint ",Iott ..... tiamagt:!l are
includ:lblt in i'WI ilKOl!ll' IS appli· ablt UnMl' Cod< 511).1(1) (2~
The memorandum focused on thc ex· clusion under S«lioo ]04 d. "an,." damages in concluding puniti"e dam· ag<e$ w~ tax exempt. I \cr.o.~er. by 1918.l he
IRS had begun 10 n'lhink its po$ilion in anotheT mem· orandum. G.C,M. 37398. llcre lhe IRS l1OIed: Allhoogil I.... conclusion reacl>ed In N,.,... Rut. 1$.45 II balf:d on. plaUSI' bit inter-prd.ition <lilhe IlltUIOl1' .............. _~thecal· I....,. conelllSlO!l" men Ippropriatt. Although lhe word ~ln1" is broad t!'lOO.lgh 10 001'''' pun""... as wdlao oon'pensator y d:I mlllM .... e I hI nk t be b!'t1t r vie .... i. Ihlt 104(11(2) dots not apply 10 punlu,'. d:lmagtl ... nee such d:I~ Ire IKIt """;ve<! "on ar:munl <li _ I illjurin or IICknoss" but ralM on account <li lho cltfmdant'. cul""biltIT.
nal memorandum G.C.M. 39278 s up' paning Re\'t'!l U( Rubng !!4·1re folto...·ed the rlliona]., oflllc 1978 memorandum In conc luding punith'e dam~ awards should be laxabk, 1I~·e'·t1'. the rat ion· ale ...·as premised on a fact situation qUIlt differenl than thaI presented undtt' I]u, ...·rongful dealh ~talutes d. Alabama. The facts contemplated an ind Ividual who r«eI"ed both compen· satory and jlUnili"e damages in a libel action. The compensatory damages wert sa id to "full)'. fairly and adequatel)' compensate" the taxpayer for the injury suffered 10 him , On these facts. the ]RS con.cluded t~ was no basis upon which to exclude lhe puni· ""e damages from the Income of the laxpayer in qlM'Slion. It is eXlraordi· nary Ihe fact pallern of G.C.M. 39'178
was used a. lhe baSI' for ~"ersing Rc'o'tnU( Ruling 7!H5. "'hleh dealt withqu;tedirr~nl fact s. II should be emphasIzed Re\'en ~ Ruling SHQ8 dOC!< not dt~ any ncw 311thorit y for the chan"c in posilion by IRS. Rather. it dtes twoca~ in ~ ,st· tna! prior 10 the 1975 roling. cues ,,'hoc:h ...·ere d,scuS$<'d In the internal memoranda su pportoni! the 1975 rul· IIlJi' T he cited ca'lt of S/(lm:is D. versus punitive dam~ is!!uc with!l.' case coo si· den'll 31llO\1nts reech'ed by a taxpal'~r on return for her coosent 10 lhe par' 1T3)'al d. her lalher. herself and DlheT members of her famil)' in a proposed mo,·ic.ln passing , theoourt considered
SPfC\ 10 section 10-1. The
"" ...
SubKriptlon$ Available ALABAMA BAR DIRECTOR V AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ALABAMA STATE BAR Ad"lIl\C4t l ubscriptions only $7.50 which inc ludn postage An official dlreclory 01 the Alabama State Sar is plannad lor publ ica· tion in late July 1985. The directoty will contain a lphabetical and geo. ' - ' graphtcat ~SlII\Q$ 01 Momeys WIth addresses and telephone numbers, plus vatllllble inlormation 01 daity use by a!lOm<.!y5. A COPY WIn be rur· nished Wllhoul cost to each member 01 the bar ~
no
ii .= C
AddltionaJ $ub$(:riptions 10< your oIIice staff life available al an ad· ~ance COSI 01 $7.50 pet cOpy. A hmltad numbe< 01 extra COpIes wtl l be printed,
Ivly QuestionS concerning subse~p!Ions. content Or advertlsing may be made to c:omm,ttee chalrman OofOltly Norwood. p.e Bo~ 15 7,
Mo!llg<>lTNlfy. At. 36101. phone 261·4609
The commitlH nMds your I Upport now. Please order your copiel In advance. Desk Book Committee Alabama Stale Sar PO Box 671 Montgomery. AL 361 01
Please ,esatV9
:-:::c::-:-;::.,---
copoes 01 the Ttllt Alabama Bar OireclOlYlor rna. My check. in paymenl 01 $7.50 per cOpy, is ItnC10sed. 0 a.n rna.
_,ion
The IR S finally concluded in 1984 10 rev~ its position. after Ihis long ad , ministrative review proc~. Its inter·
w... ·
F.2d 57.1 (9t h Cir. 1962) did not c,'en address the compensatory missio,,~r. 3().j
..
,
NOTE TO POTENTIAl AOVEA. n SEAS Ivlyontl desiring 10 ad · Var\lse In the dlrec~ory should contact the commlnee.
, --------------
AOORESS ____________ CITY _ _ _ _ __
STATE
'"
whrtllt\'" damagl'S for in"3S1Ofl of pri. ,'aq could be uc1~ under section I().J. In broad dicta . the court stated "damages paid for pm;onal injuries aTe excluded from gl'05S Income be<:ause they make the taxpaycr whole from a previous Io&s 01 personal rights -1Je. caust'. in effect. they restore a loss to capital." u,mmWw.." fl. GJ.,lUlM. G/as;, Co.. 348 U.S. 426 (1955). 0011 wilh taxation 01 pumtlvedamages hav. ing nothing to do with IieCtion 104 or wrongful death actions. Therecan be no question Alabama's wl'Qllgful deat h statutes are unique in the st'nse that Ibmagl'S ~~bIe under them are punitl\'t in nature. and the amount of damages rtialr5 10 the culpabilit y 01 the dfofendanl. Although t he statu tr5 then,selve!! do not ex jll'eSSly provide these attribute!!. sections 6-a. 391 and 6-5-410 Code oj AlRbtrma. 1975. the case Ill...• 01 this state has ronsist· enlly T\I~ lhem 10 be ~ StIt Merml~.
AlRbtrma I'In,n ComfIQ1I,. 382 So. 2d 494 (Ala. 1980). How~er. although t he statutc's "great purposoe" is "to pre"ent homi· cides." the Alabama Supreme Court has ~iud "thedamages, 'tis troe. go to the estate oIthe party slain. and. in effect, lITe compensalOC)' .... " S. aNd
N. AkliHlma Nail""'" Co"'fIQ"y', 5..//i· , ...... 59Ala. 272( 1877). Wrongful death proceeds are not a fine, payable 10 the stale, but are in fact damages payable to the heirs of the d<ua!ii'd. The widow and orphansolthed«edent recei~ no otllt\'" compensation .risilJi from the acts 01 the deftndant himself. As the court has~;ud, theeffect of $UCh dam.1gtS is compens.:atOC)' in al least a general sense. Revenue Huling 84·1(18 is not a CQII' clusive interpretation of tilt law. It is. in a st'nse. simply the published jI05i· tion of an adVff5Iry party. the IRS. 1kJ.",'C'·er. the IRS', interpretations of the Internal Rt--enueCode are aocorded special weight and lIatus under the law, Intentional disregllrd of its rulings can lead to civil penallit1J. unless such action is based on a studied conclusion there is a re3son~bIe basis the ruling is
,""Iid. The IRS's positIOn in Re>.-enue Rul. ing 84·1 08 presently is being challenged on at leaSt three fron ts. First, heil'S dj. r«tly affected by th~ IRS ruling in Ala·
bama ha"e challenged the IRS's posi. lion. by dis~rding the ruling and fil· Ing their rffums without including the dama.ges in income or by claiming refunds oItaxeI; paid in compliance with the ruling. A judicial determination event ually can beexpected.ln an effort to achieve a Quicker result, other ef, forts to try to ha~e the IRS's posilion ~ ha,'C commtnCl'd ",.ith the trtaSlJrydtpartrncnt and ...·ith members 01 mngress. The oor should bt alen to any opportunity to suPport these ef· fort. hI obtain a re'o'~rsal of Re"enue Ruling 84·108 and to restore Alabama to parity wilh respect to taxation 01 berea'~ families.
"There can be no question Alabama's wrongful death statutes are unique in the sense that damages recoverable under them are punitive in nature, and the amount of damages relates to the culpability of the defendant." TheiRS ruling worksan unjustified and inequitable di3Crimination UJlOfl the State of Alabama and its TeSidents and represents misguided federal in· come tax policy. It is important to reIl'Ol'IlIber a bereaved family is likely to ~~ only soch IbI'l\a#S 1$ may bII' awarded u1'lderthe wrongfulooth stat· utes, This is likely t(l bII' the family 's only "compensation." in a very re31 sense, If these proceeds are fully tax' able, then the family will net as little as ont-h.alf of the grou amount 01 these peOCftda.llecipienllof wrongful oolh proc«ds in otllt\'" states and Rcipients under lhe Federal Tort Claims Act thul will be awarded amounts. after taxes. substantially in excess oIthe at' dinary Alabama citiun. The IRS's po-
sition ignores the troe compensatOl')l nature of ...·rongful clNth procftds and focuses too narrowly and too fonnalts, tically on the measurement of lhose damages. In view 01 the Quite arguable construction of section I().J, which would conclude all wrongful oolh I'ffl' c:reds are nontaxable. the [RS's dis· criminatory and ovefly legalistic oorI' elusion is unjustirled. In reaching ;1$ conclusion. the IRS ignores the anal0l/0U5tax exemption of life insurance pr<X('C(Is under ""'tion 101.lntema.IRt-'cnue C~. Under this ltClion. all peoctfds of life insurance !'«rived by a bend"tciary are exempl from federal income taution. Thil!; is 110. ~rdle$$01 whdllt\'" soch PHIOl'flis compensate the beneficiary for any measurable damages and without regard 10 the amount of those damages. In fact, il can beassumed theamount 01 life insurance poOCftda bears no rela· tionship to any measurable amount which lhe benerlCiuy oould prm'e compensated him for the Io&s 01 the dtcedenl. Certainly section 101 establis hes a pallernof congressional int~nt when laken t<Jgether with section 104. 1$ previously construed. that results in t he ta~ exem ption 01 pI"OC:Wds pa \'1b1e to benerlCiaries in the event of death. Such ~ statUlOl')l framework is tntirely justirled as a matter 01 congressional policy and s hould bII' respected by the Internal Revenue Servict in its con· IItruction of s«tion I().J regarding wrongful <ieath J)fOCftds. The [RS position imJllits all punit;~ Ibmages are the sa~. and they all differ in kind from compensalOl')l dam·
ages.1t
impl;.,scompensatorylbm~
are "good." restorative receipts, and all pu nit iveda mages a re wind fa lis <:Ieser\'. ing of taxation. Alabama wrongful clNth dal'll<lgel are "puniti" e" in the sense the amount oItheaward isdetermined by lhejury by measuring the culpability oIlhe defendant, Such a measurement reaJg' niws the futility and artificialit y of measuring monetarily the valu~ 01 a human life. Alabama', wrongful ooth d:&~ lITe awarded on lhe basil!; of simple negligmn'. just as the ~com· pensatOl')l" damages of otllt\'" states are awarded. T hey are not "additional" damages a warded ()\Ier and a bove "just" compensation be<:ause 01 willful and
,.
wanton misconduct, a. arc puniti,'C damages for wrongful death in some other states. T hey are the only dam ages ,-ereived due to the injuries in· flicted on the decedent by thedefendant. In Alabama any tort claim of the decedent for his personal injuries (in· cluding his I"'in and suffering) ceases tocxist upon his death. It merges into the wrongful death claim brought by his e xecutor. Thus , damages recover· able by the decedent of a clearly compensatory nature are displaced byoperation of law in Alabama by damages under the wrongful death stat utes that are "punitive." J).;.,s this render the award lesscompensatory? Is the family now supported by these damages un· justly enriched or made more than whole by the nature of Alabama's wrongful death statutes? The author wou ld Ct:rt~inly hope nOl o Alabama p!<Ict itioners should be cog. nizant of two ]IOSsible means of avoid· ing taxation of wrongful death damages in Alabama, even if the IRS posi· tion is upheld. In each instance the basis of the taxpayer's claim is the damages ""ere nOi awarded under the
AIIORNEY COLLECTION System:
Uses IBM SrSteffi 36 or IBM Dalalll:otSler, sends 3
differen t collection Icuers. Rles s null ci:l.inl5, dn::uit . district coun su ilS . m ultiple suits and b:lnkroplCy. TOCll fees intCre$(:rnd more . Wc tailor to s uit your needs . lnexpcnsh"C and easy to operate. Contact Beth Snlilhemlan at Smith, Burton and~tes. lBOO Hackberry Lanc , Suile
A, Thsc:IJOOS2, AL 35401. (20 5) 752-1325.
[;11c:l SMITH.
f:I~P."I-B-URTO!<.N "-
d iu
.
.. n •. ' .. " . -""""""....o~' .-,...... & ....
~IOC~"'"
• ...--_
wrongful death statute. first, if the tax pa ytr" s deceden t SU TVi ves the deat hcausing injury for any length of time, the taxpayer may argue the monetary award WaS recei"ed prim arily for the decedent's pain and suffering endured prior todeath. In that e"e nl, the award would be deemed compensatory and not punitive. Th~ recent Alahama Supreme Court decision of &lICfwM v, AqulJSJide 'N' Dil'" Q,rp .. 406 So,2d 873 (Ala. 1981), makes it possible to reem'er for the decedent's pain and suffering when {he plaintiff's claim is based in contrac\' Because it is unlikely there will exist an express COIlt ract between the decedent and the tort feasor, the plaintiff will have to proceed in most instances under a theory of implied
contract. The addition of such a throry torompiaiIl( s and demand Ie( ters would be aPi><OPriate to preserve the argu' men( for tax purposes (hat a particular award is r/.'rei.'ed for the decedent's pain and suffering, Second, although the law is rearonably well-developed in Alabama, a taxpa)'er also might argue under ~ x traordinary circumstances there exists a common law action for wrongful death. T he taxpayer could argue. under the common law, awards 101" wrongfUl death are compen,,;ttory and therefore excluded under Section 104(a)(2) r:J the Tax Codc_See MlJrog>lt o. Siaies Ma";"" I.i_, 1m:.. 398 U,S. 375(1970);Gaudfllt.v. Webb, 362 Mass. 60,284 K!::, 2d (1972). 0
m.
ATMVT WE DO ONLY ONE THINGAND WE DO IT WELL. At Mississippi valley TItle we admit we're singleminded. That's because the only thing we deal in is title insura nce. And si nce that's the only kind of insurance we sell, we're the best in the south at meeting your title insurance needs. In fact we're the industry leader in title insurance. We've got a staff of profeSSionals with years of experience and are fully computerized to serve you fast and effiCiently. Come to Mississippi Valley TItle. Even though we only do one th ing-we do it better than anyone else_ MlssIsllppl \lalley 1ltle IMUranc8 Compony
~ "om.""~,
~ )ockson, MS 39205
~cent
<Decisions ",
J ohn M. Milling, Jr. lind Dll vid 11, Byrne. Jr.
Recent Decisions of the S upre m e Court of
Alabama-Civil Contracts ... e"culpa tory clauses affecting the public interes t are inval id Mllrga .. ~. Sollih (L.. /ml Be« Td. Co.. 19 ABR 964 (F~bruary 22, 1985). Morgan, a Yellow I'ages subscriber, suoo South Central Bel! claiming neg· ligence, lraud and brt'ach of contract because South Central Belf omitted Morgan's name from a YelLow Pages' adverti&ement . The advertising order containfd an exculpatory clause which limited its liability for errors to the "amount at cllarges fOf' the advertistment which was omitted," The trial court held the exculpatory clause was valid and enforeeable. The supreme coun disagRed and Mid thedause af· fected the public interest and was in· valid. T IM! suprt'~ COUrt qUOIoo s; ~ criteria to use to detennir>e lhe Iype at agreement in which an exculpatory clause il invalid as contrary to public policy. The crileria are:
_ . decili..., advanlililt 01 blrpinirw"l'fr1II1 h IlPinst any ........brr of lilt public who _ 4 his.n ices. ~) In ~Iiroi. superior blrpi ... i"ll _ ' ... lhe party ronf....,ls lilt public woth. Ilanda.nlioed adhesion aonlraet ... oculpolion and makes no prOVilion whtnby a purchaser 1liiY po, additional f_ and obtain l""<JUClion 'Pinsl ntgIigmce.(6) Fin· • lly. IS. result oIt"" lransaction. lilt perton or property oIt"" pur· chaser is piactd und ... lhe coolroi 01 Ihe KU .... l ullject 10 the risk of ca~ leunelS by lhe .eller or hi' agent ....
Evi de nce .. , mo tion ill limille di scussed Libvty NlllwtUJl Uje l .u. Co. ~. &rD. ky, 19 A8R IQ73 (MaKh I. 1985). In Ihis OSl!. the: $uprtmtcoon discussed lhe motion j" /i",iltt and ils application to proffered evidern.. TM coon stated In Ippellanl who suffers an ad· verse ruling on a motion made i" li... i~ preserves I hi s adverse ruling for
poIIt·j udgmtnt and appellate rv-iew
1111/1 if he: " , 1 to the introduction of lhe proffered evidenct and assigns s peciiicerounds t~fOf' althe limeof trial. unles$ he has obtainfd express laluiHctnor: of the trial judge lbat subsequent objection toevidena: prof. fer('(! at trial and 1M assignment of groundJ tMrdor arc not 1lt'CeSury. T he office of a motion in li ... iIU is not to obtain a final ruling upon the ulli· mate admissibility of evidence, bul rather il is to prevent Ih~ proponent from displaying potentially prejudicial matter to thtjury before 1M lrial judge has ruled upon its admissibility in the mntat of the lrial iUelf.
Ins urance ... a u to m ob il e und e r going m ainte na nce is not in "dead storage" BrTXIdlf'lll ~. Grrol AllUm" IIU.
Co .• fNC.. l9ABR9l8(Marclll,I985).
"(I) It COI>Cf1r11 • butiness of. type ~lly thouiht luilable lor public ~lalion. (2) The Plrty ~ing <:xcuIPltion iI~ in Pf'I'funnina;
• ......n 011'"1
imporUn<\" 10 lhe publlc, wlrich is oflm a l1l.I11 ... of pncIial !lfC8lily f... .me ........ bor 01 1M public. (3) The PIny holds himldf OUI U willina; IOprrium thil ~ f.... ny membor oIthe public who teeb il .... tle.St .ny membor corni"ll within om.in csublishtd l1andard .. (4) AI. ~ult d lhe ... $tnt;'1 nalure d the sen'~. in the e<XNIM'Iic 5tlling ot lhe transaclion, the party invoking uculpation 1105-
D,...id 8. Bynu.Jr., of Ille I••
II ... ~ . . kr
.•
. d<
rove,.,
I
,
significillf/ nn,,/ d« ..iQ ....
'"
In a case of first impression in Ala· bama. the s upreme court held an au· tomobile tem~rily put away for the purpose of undergoing maintenance cannO! be considered in "dead stor· age." Con"equtntly. the vehide is still a "moIor "ehicle" as defined in the homoowner's policy. and any injury arising out of the ··ownership. maintenance. use. loading or unloading" is excluded from coverage. The policy alsopro-;ided a "ehicle in "dead storage is nO! a motor vehicle:' T he ins ured vehicle had been stored in the insured' s shed for over three months without being driven. How · ever. when the accident occurred. the insured had just removed its engine and was attempting to prime the car· buretor to start the engine when it backfired and injured a bystandcr. Re· lying on f10rida authorities. the suo premerourt reasoned the term '·main· tenance" utilized in the liability exclu , sion and the term "dead storage" util · ized in thedefinition of a motor vehide are mutually exc lusi '·e.l n 01 her words. a mOlor vehide in "dead storagc" is one which is nOl undergoing "maintenance:' The supreme court also stated the accident occurred as the result of maintenance even though the injury occurred while the insured was at · templing to st art the engine and no work was being performed on the en· gine when the injury occurred. formed on the engine when the injury occurred. In s urance ..• homeowners, re pl aceme n t va lue ve r s u s actual cas h v alu e
Slllle farm Fi,.,.and CM. Co .. flU. V. Pander. 19 ABR 899 (February 15. 1985). State Farm issued a homoowners policy covering a dwelling and obhg;lt· ing it to pay the lessor of t wo amounts: either the co.<;t of repair or replacement or the actual cash value 01 the damage. The policy also pro-;ided in paragraph 3c(3) the insured could dis' regard the replacement cost. make claim on the actual cash valuc basis and then within 180 days after loss makec1aim for an additional loss on a replacement cost basis. State Farm maintained O!"lCe the insured elects to rebuild he is "locked into a ""place-
'"
ment cost basis" and Joses the option under paragraph 3c(3). Thc insured and the supreme court disagreed. After the loss, the insured and State Farm obtained ~stimates on a cost of ""placement basis. State Farm's esti· mate was $.58,4,14.801. and State Farm paid the insured this amount. The in· sured actually began repair work him· self and estimated it would cost 545.000 to replace the dwelling. The jury returned a "erdict in fa~orof the insured for an additional $2$.000. The supreme court noted replacement cost is a rela· tively ncw addition to homeowners policies. If the house is destroyed. the insured has the option to rebuild it. within the limits of coveragc, even though the cost may exceed the actual cash value of the dwelling. The policy does nOl requi"" the insured 10 forfeit the actual cash value COVCTage if he elects the optional replacement costs. Muni c ipal corporation s • . • sectio n 11-47-192 s late n,e nt is not required in cont rac t actions S"",'i~ CoH.$In«;lion Co.. Inc. o. Cily of I'richard, 19 ABR 779 (February 8.
1985). In 1930, the City sued Sumlin for breach of contract. In 1982. Sumlin filed a counterclaim alleging brtach 01 the same contract. On motion 01 the City. the trial court dismissed the counterclaim for failure to file a claim with the City as required by Section 1147·23. Cod£ of Ala. 1975. The City argued ncither a statement 01 claim nor a complaint WaS filed within the two-year period. The suprcme court disagreed. not· ing first the counterclaim relates back to t he time the original plaintiffsdaim arose under Rule l3(c), ARCP. in that the City filed suit within the two-year \X'rioo. T he counterclaim is timely. The s upreme court also noted this courthasstatedaromplaint may serve as a claim for payment in tort action. Section I 147·23. Moreo"er. since Sec· tion 1147·192. Cod. of Ala. 1975. does nO! apply to contract actions. the prac· tice 01 allowing a complaint to se"'C as a statement 01 claim in such <;a5eS is even more reasonable. Title ins urance .. • duties of a litl e ins urance company o utl ined
Uplon v. Mississippi Volley Tl"1/$ I"'!.
INTO A
$PROFIT$ CENTER WITH THE
86 REAL ESTATE CLOSING (COMPUTER SOFTWARE FOR USE BY ATTORNEYS)
* *
*
*
PREPARES ALL CLOSING DOCUMENTS HANDLES ALL TYPES OF CLOSINGS CALCULATES APRR AND AMORTIZATION SCHEI)UI_E AUTOMATICALLY (EVEN ARM AND GPARM LOANS) PRINTS ALL DISBURSEMENT CHECKS
·RU~
I
ON MOST POPUlAII MICROCOMPUTERS
CONTACT: RICHARO GOEPEl BIRMINGHAM: 670-0746 MONTGOMERY: 264-6202 821-0999 AUBURN:
M", 1985
Q." 19 AHR 984 (February 22. 1985). Upwn sued Missi$ippi Val~ al~11JJ lnach of CClfllract and n.egligenoe because Mississippi failtd (0 $t;In;h cir· CUll court r«:Ords to di!lCO~~ an un~ corded and undisclosed easemen t. Mississippi V~IIe}' issued a lille policy to Upton ~ nd contended Ihe policy u · eluded fl"l)l1l CQVerag<! any "casement not shown by the " " b/je r«tJroJ . •• The tffm "public records'· isddined in the policy as "those recmls " 'hich by law Impillrt constructive 1I(J(K:e 01 mallen relal,ng to said land." Mississippi Val· Ier. therri"ore.coottn<IM the poIicyobligated it to search (1)11, the r«:Ords of the probate court because tOOse are the only public record s which by law im· part constructi"e notice of casements. Mississippi Valley also contendfd a ti· tie insurer has nocommon law duty to starch the r~sof circuit derkund ~sten.
T he supreme coort 1I£Iftd. stating t he only itJ", they could find which dedared crrta in rocords shaH impart constructive notice of matters relaling to land are Sections 35-4·51 and 63. Cotif 0/ JI/n. 1975. These sections refer ~nly to the probateCOllrt. The s upreme COlI't also found no authority in Ala· bama tmlXlSinga common Ia,,'dutyon title insu""rICe companies to stilrch drcuit court r«:Ords. The l upreme court has stated title insu""lKe com· panies in Alabama are not requirfd by law to maintain tra<;1 indeJt('$ in a counly in which il does business.
Rece nt Decis ions of th e Supreme Court of Ala bama-Crilllillal
Justice Beatty, writing fl7 a un~ni· mous 00II", htId I ptnOn charged witha fdonYOOIIld not becon,ictooon circums~anti~l ""'ldenoe unless the ev· idence ""clud~ to a menl o:"~inty e"ery other reasonable hYpoI h<'Sis bu t that 0;>1 Ihe guilt of the accused. No;> mailer how 5t rllIli Ihe drcy ms tar\Cl.'!l. if they can be llnIOCiled with the Iheory some other ptrson may ha"e<ione the act. then the defendant is II(J( shovo'n to begui1ty by that full n1t3$ure 01 proof which the law reqYires in cir· cumSlantial evidence cases. J uve nile proce e dings ... more i s re qu i r e d th an /Ujnmda Darrtll D. lI'ltj",,,,,nl. 19 AS H 654 (January 25. 1985). T he su prem(' court held in Whistnant thai prior to the state's admiuton of • juvenile" con· fession. tilher at trial 17 at a tr1lnsfff hearing. the Slate must prll'le comp1iaoce "'it h ARJP II(A) (4). which
provide$:
Ex /Xm t Clh·jn Lynn WiIIilllltJ V. 51011, 19 ABIt 874 (Febroary IS, 1985). Williams was indicted on cha~ of burxlary in the third degree and theft in the seoond de:gr«. A jury trial ~ ,ul~ed in his being found iUihyof both charges. and the 00II" of criminal appeals affirmed. The s upreme court revtfSfd. holding the st ate's ""'idenoe did not mec~ ~he legal standa rd in dr· cymstantial evidence ca~.
"A cltftndan' .... ho is attusNI d the ..... lffolf~ is ent,tled tOha"~I"" coun chi"" an the Io:stcr oIfe-nH$ ,nclucItd in ,he indict_ if IM<t is .~1 _I>k IMtny I",,,. 11ft tri· M,," trloklo _Id , . "",rl 1101 ,.,'. I~~ .•. (Emphasis ou.,.)
"(A) Whe n the child il ta~n int o ht mullt bt informed of the
cu~tod~.
followine r",htl by the pe""", taking h,m in'OCUllody, (\) M hit. tM rlllhl t~coun·
""
(2) if he .. unalW 10 pay a b",Yft" and 'f hOI pa~nl' or gwtnhan hit,... not prIIIIidtd a Ia~. """ can be providtd al nochalVt: (l l he i. not ffljuirNi 10 soy anythinil.lnd .nylhi"" hesays may bt usNI against him;.nd (4) if hi. coutUel. parent or gu:.onli.n;' not prtstnt. he hi_ I nchl to communic.a«: with Ihtm.and.if,oto 'Iry.n'Il!OlD• bit meant w,ll be "",,'l<Ied for Iuml(ldollO.~
T h e lega l s tandard in circums tantial e v iden c e ca ses
(trafrlCking in marijuana),. The supn:me court'lgrant of crrtiorari was baW upon the ddendanfl claim the trial OOIIrt ffre:i in refusing hi5 requestfd jury inSlructions on lesser illCluded of· lenses. A divided su prffi1e OOIIrt reverso:,;! and remandoo. In Kerr. the evidertCf: at trial would s upport a finding of either 520-2·10 or 520-2·80(~ralrlCking). T he fact the in· dictment was returned under §20-HIO (t ""frlCking) and the further fad the evidenoe " 'as sufrlcienl to s upport a guilty verdict pursuant 10 thaI higher offenR do not prech.KIe the giving 01 a Iesllef" ;ndtK\td offense charge. In reversi ng. the s upreme court reftffi rmoo its ruling in FlIlghum v. 5lale. 291 Ala. 1I,m So.2.d 886(1913). wherein the coun held:
In this CltR. Whisenanl was not ad· vised he had a right to com muniCltte with his parent or gua rdian as ~ quired by t he j U" eni le rol/!$. Accord· ingly. his statffilent was inadmissible. Traffic ki n g in m a rijua na . _ • lesser includ e d offe n se /(ur ~. 5kJl' 11/ AlllbII ...... 19 AHR 1142 (March 8. 1985). The supreme coun in a 1M' ( ."ja", opinion granted the defendant's request to review the rourt of criminal appeals' affi rmance of his conviction for violating §2()'2·80
Coe rcion 01 a "c rd ict ••. thc dll n gl' r o f II m od inl'd A /lell c ha rge t."~ /IiI,/e &IIJ Marm g. 514l/e 11/"'101· ......... t9 ABR 615 (lanuary 11. 1985). Betty Morris wa~ indictoo. in separate indictments.oo se-.·eral chargeS of em· be%~lement. Alter a trial on the first indictment. she was acquitted. Follow· ing a ju ry trial on the serond indi<:t· ment. she was found guilty . That judgment was affirmed by the court of criminal appeals which found. specifi· cally. the trial coon had not eoe.ced a ,"tnIicl from the jury. Aflff de!ibernt; "II apprOlt imately lour hours. thej yry asked to meet with the COUrt, and the following I""nspired'
"Tln : COURT: Lad;" Ind .ll"nt(e. men, t ha,... got a rIOCe laY'", thai yo<o can 't 1&'«. I want to lay th .. to you .nd t don'l .... nt to come arntU ,n the W","" .... y. but you nftd to Ifl'I down to bulit>tu ;n IhOl th'rllI: becallse I"m not about to decIa~. mistrial III thOl ease today. A JUROR:Joogo K.,.. rm the holdup and if t hoi,... 10 IUY down here ~nlil 5:00 o'clock, ["II have IDttll. he ... TIlE COUl!T: W. au not tllki f\il
about 5:00 o'clock this afternoon. J ",...n 5:00 0'clock Frid.o y afternoon, BKa,,~ I "",an busi_ about this thing," Under Alabama law, a trial judge may urge a jury to resume delibera, tions and cultivate a spirit of harmony so as to reach a verdict as long as the court does nOi S\lggCSt whi<;h way the verdict should be returned and nodu, ress or coercion is used . In /lforrU, the trial judge's knowledge of the serious misgivings of one of the jurors in ac, quiescing in the gui lty "erdict, coupled with the judge's expressed determina· tion to get a unanimous verdict from the 12 jurors, made his final words of "el\CO\lragement" coen:;"e. justice jones, writing for the rnajoT-· ity, held when examined in the fu ll umtext of the judge's instructions to the jury, the cumulative effe<;! of his admonitions 10 Ihe jury were, indeed, coercive and went beyond the "spirit of harmony" SOUght to be accomplished by the giving of an acceptable Allen charge, For that reason, it was error for the Irial judge 10 deny the defend· ant's motion for miSlriaL
Recent Decisio ns of the Su pre me Cour t of the United Slates
and requested a pS\'Chiatric evalua tion at state expense 10 determine the defendant's mental state at the time 01 the offense, claiming lhe defendant was entitled to such an evaluation by the Constitulion, The trial COUrt denied the defend· ant's motion for a psychiatric evalua· lion . At trial. the jury reje.::ted the in, sanity defense, and the defendant was convicted on all counts. At the sentencing phase, the stale asked for thedeath penalty on the murder counts, relying on the examining ps}'chialrist's teslimony to establish the likelihOCld of the ddendant's future dangerous behavior, The defendant had no expert witness to rebut his testimony Or to give evidence in mitigation of his pun, ishment. and he was sentenced to deat h, The Oklahoma AppeUale Court s affirmed. The sUJlT"mecourt, speaking-through
justice Marshall, held an indigent state defendant who makes a preliminary showing that his sanity at the time of the offense is likely to be a signilicant factor at trial, is entitled under the fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause, to a state.provided psychia· trist to examine him and assist in eval· uation, preparation and present ation of his defense, The court added Ihe defendant is entitled to similar psychi, atric assistance lor the sentencing phase of a capital case if the state in' troduces psychiat ric evidence as to the defendant's future danger to society, Because the case invoh'ed a man's sentence to death, the supreme court could have resolved the matte.-, as many expected. by saying due process requires access to a psychiatrist because "death cases are different." What is significant about the Ake de.::ision is the supreme court's holding appears to
WE WANT YO U TO JOIN OU R SPEAKERS BUREA U! The Committee on Media
for a Speaker ' Alabama State
Due process req u ire s u n in. d ige n t d e fe n d a n t be fur· ni s he d w it.h s tate·provid e d ps yc h ia tric e valu a tion
~"" and re'
,,
Ake ~, Okldho»lo, No, 83-5424; 53 U,S, L.W, 4179 (February 26. 1985),
Ake, an indigent. was charged with first-degree murder and rape. At his arraignment. in an Oklahoma trial court , his behavior was so bizarre the trial judge, sua s{!Q~I'. ordered him to beexamined by a psychiatrist, Shonly theffafter. the examining psychiatrist found the defendant to be incompetent to stand trial and suggested he be committed, After commitment for six weeks to the s tate mental hospital, the defendant was found to be competent on the rondition he continued to be sedated with an anti,psychotic drug, During- a pretrial conference, the defendant's attorney advised the court he would raise insanity as a defense
SPEAKER'S BUREAU APPU CAllQN
I N... _________________________________ ,, II' ,i Finn Name (il applkablej - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Address ___________________________
,I Telephone'_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ __
I City _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ S tat"._ _ _ _ _ _ _ Zip,__________
I
Plea .... list .... bject. o n whk h you a ... willing to s peak
,i, """
_
I,, ,,, ,,
L ______ __ __ ____ ___ _ --------------------------------------------------J M"lI985
sweep beyond capital case'S: the nine pages in ,,·hich Justice M ~rshall re· cites the court's holdings and its legal underpinnings do nOl . even once. men· tion the words "capital punishment" Instead Justice Marshall went to Gi. deon~. II'ailtwrighl. 3n U.S , 335. and the cases following it and distilled a general principle "a criminal trial is fundamentally unfair if the state proceeds ag<Iinst an individual defendant withoot making certain he has acces>; to the raw materials integra l to the building of an dfecrive defense," That language eventually may prove tOOO"er far more than psychiatrists.
Th e Fourth A m e nd men t a nd Si u de nt s e arc hes
New Jm.,,~. TLO.. No. 83-712: 53 U.S.L.W. 1109 (fanuary IS. 1985). A teacher at Piscataway High School in New Jersey observed Terry l.eeOwens (the "T.L.O. ") and another girl smok ing cigarettes in the girls' restroom March 7.1980. School ru les prohibited smoking in the restroom. The students were taken before the
assistant principal. The students denied they had been smoking. Based upon the observations of the teacher. the vice principal ordered Owens to give him her purse. lie dumped the contentsontoa desk and found a metal pipe, empty plastic bags. a plastic bag with marijuana in it and an inde x card reading "people who owe me money." fonowed by a list of names and $40 cash. Justice White. writing for a fivemember majority. indicated the Fourth Amendment applied to public school officials and the "en loco """,nlis" doc· trine does not alter the application of the Fourth Amcndment.llowe~er. the supreme cuurt concluded a search warrnnt or even probable cause is not required for a school search. Weighing the students' legitimate private privacy interest against the substantial interest of tcachers and administra· tors in maintaining discipline. Just ice White cuncluded the "legality of a starch of a student shoold depend simply upOn the reasonableness under all the circumstances O}f the search."
lienee, the Fourth Amendment's pfOo hibilioo ag<Iinst unreasonable searches and seizures as appl ied to} searches of students by a public school official requires only the "search be reasonable under all the circumstances ,"
Th e ex te ns ion of Ross
u.s. V. Johns. No_ 83·1625: 53 U_S.!, W. 4126(fanuary21, 1985). Under United Slotes V. Ross, 456 U,S. 798 (1982), law enforcement officials who ha~e
probable cause to search a law, POLV GR APH EX AMI NA TIO NS
fO R A TI'ORI<HS, JU [)(;~s . .0."0 GOVERN"f.NT.o.L "'G£NCI~S
GA lIV D . COOP ER
as .. " .S.. A,c.r. FII)El.In· POI. VG RAI'II CONSU I,T ANTS 1216 lonl COU RT SOUTH 8IR " 'NGIIA,", AL JI20S
322-3069
Where The World Is Your Oyster You're l8sales up Inthesky. You con see brmlles, Nt
explosion of coIoo InlarmirOe daily b creole the most breoIhloking sunrises and sunsets on earth. EYooings are wrapped In gentle breezes and bathedln moonlight.
You're 01 the Grond Mofquis. Nt exclusive community- of only 48 ~Ied U"lils. Grond Marquis Is on excellent Inws1ment superior b similar properties In leading resorts like Desfin. w1tt1 1ox and depreclollon cXM:mloges ~ you buy In 1985. For brochure delolling Grand MarquiS' many amenities. coli collect (205)948,7263OfWTiIe 6ox346. Gulf Shores. Al36542.
cle opportunities ,.
17 friday SEMINAR ON TliEGULf Sandestin Destin $p:lr6ored by: AI3b.lma State ear YOU'lg ~ . Seo:tb1 aM
AlatlOma Bar Instrtllte
9-10
WC~
WORKER"S COMPENSATION MlrIi<iPilI AudiWo1um, MObile S\X> ... <d by: Oep3rtmer1t ()f
_mil
For Infonnatim: (205) 34B-62JO
.""""
er.tllts: 45.9 foc 1[1/(JrrmtIOO: H I00-4242725
InWstrial Relatiorls
Credits: 11.\
2-7 BASIC COUfISE IN TRIAL ADVOCAr.Y WiIsIlir>gtOO.O.C. 5p<>1S<>!id by: M;omt\OO 01 TrW La~
Cost: 575
For InfOlTll3tloo: (205) 26h~S68 INSTmITE ON WIUS AND PROBATE
The Registry. DaUas ~ by Soothwe<to'm ~
'00_
crmits: 32.1 Cost: 5595 Fa" Informillioro: (214) &i»23n
23-24
9-14
CONSTR\ICTION CONTRACTS The WarwId< Post oak. Houston 5pYlsoold by. Prn<ti!;ing Law IMiM e Credits: 13.2 Cost: 5390 Far InIOrmi!tIoo: (2 12) 765-5700
FAMILY LAW ANO DO MESTIC RElATKlNS ISSUES JUClidaJ CoI1<>ge BuIld,,"}. Rm> Sp:mored by: Nali<ll\lll CoIIe9f! Of Juvenile Jostke Cred<lS: 25.8 eon, S22S F...- lnformatioo: (702) 784$ 12
9-11 TAX SEM INAR Gnmd Hotel. Point Clear SponSOlYd by: iUabama Bar IMitute kY CL.E Far InfCllTllOtl<n (205) 34EH523O
10-14 ADVANCED BUSl NESS TAX PlANN ING Vi I""""" Univefmy 5<h>oI 0/ L.lw. Vil~ Spoooored by: A1J.ASA Credits: 33.8 eon, SSSO F...-lnformatioo: (215) 24). \ 600
9-19 SOIJTHEAST REGIONAL TRIAL ADVOCAC'f INS'nnm: UNC ~ of law. C/upel Kill Spcn$<'r'e(I tly: NatlooaI lrlStitut . fa Tri3I AtJvo<acy CredJts: 84.5 Cost: 51 2S0
13-14 TflIA ~
TACTICS
TIle Westin. TCf'Q!1to Spcx'lsore(l by: De!ertse Research I_
F,.. Infonnalioro: (6 12) 644-0323
to,
'"
For Irrt...-mation: (3 12) 944{)S75
24 friday
13-17 lABOR LAW AND LABOR ARBITRATION The RegISt!y. 00IIM SponsOred by Southwestern l2gaI
ClI'dItS: 32.1
,-
OIl. GAS AND MINERAL LAW Law Center. TuscaIOOS3 Sponsored by: Alabama Bar Institute for CLE For InfOllJ\il~<n (205) 3' 8 6230
Cost: 5595
F..- InIcrmi!t ioo: (21 4)690-Z3T1
may 3D-june 1
16-17 CRIMINAL TlIIALADVOCACY -.,
.""""
SporIwed by. A<:5o(jatIon 01 TrlaI
APPELLATE ArJVOCN::V Hym~.
Soston
Sponson!d lly: Arr..rotaf1 Bar AssocIatIon La~
For In/omIation; t -800-42.:1-2727
0Wits: lag Cost: 54 7 5J~ S500/~
For Inf<m'latlolt (312) 966-621 5 ,1/ •• /!kJ5
17-21
21 -22
SUhl"'EII PAOC.fIAM FOR \JlWVERS I Estal* T _ iIIld ~
,-
,-
AAmNSL f\ectf1! er..elopc'oents at>;l
--
ADMIRALTY LAW
Spooosooro by ICl.E d
~
For Intorm.nIQn, (404) 54,2-1121
Re.lI Propeny Securea TransactIcns
""""""""
Recent Devf\opme<1IS krI Admlrislmlve ~
~
ADVANCED LABOR AND EMPUlYMEXT LAW
Theo<:v iIIld Pr;ocb:;e
~
ReseataI ~e Hn IIe1IeIey Spoo05Qf<J by ~I)' d ca!ornia ~
24-28
Sc!Ic:d d Low FormdlUlnII,obll.Wt(4 1Sj642·ssao
ENVIRONMENTAL LITKiATlON I.WwnIty at Coamo. Spa .... td I¥ All />I!,A
~~Schoal
atL1w. PaloMo
Spo .... .., by ALI~ CmIotlt 34.8 Cost! 5550 For InIom\a!Io::t\: (215) i'AJ-1600
aa..-
ODD: 36.6 Cost; $550 For 11110110100. (21 51 i'AJ-1600
19-21 FEDERAL TAMTlO/l Hy.In, BI.rmIog!lam Spa .... td by Amencan Instllute m
4-11
F~ Tax.o t'"
ANNUAL MEETING
CredJtt 20.0 Coste $3(1() Fer IrrIo'mauort (20S) 251 1000
SIlnton. Wdtngton. D,C. Spoo ..... "" by .AmenQn Bar AsocaaIiOO (Jlll9tl&5000
20 thursday
zs thursday
THE SECURED CREOITOA IN COURT Tho WfSUn 51. Francis. Sao FranciSco Spcmorf(IIIy ~ng Law lrlS\itute Cro<I<u: 6.6 Co:!t 5185 r ... Informatlon: (212) 765-$700
voneraun CMe Cfnter, HuntslOlJe Spon5ore<:I II',> AIiIll.lma State Bar YCIU:'Ig
UPOATESS
"",,". -
Credots; 6.0 Cost; Irl(JUCIe<l kn COI1~ reglS!l3\l(Wl fee Fer IntorrNbof> (205) 269-1515
SUMMER PROGRAM fOR LAWYERS II
£!ute TamIM"., P\aMing: _ Antltndt; R«em (leo I' ",,'otI'lS ¥I(I
,-
...... '" """" -.......-ANI Propeny5eo.nd
21 friday TAX CONSIDERATIONS IN REAL ESTATE TRANSAC110NS
-.....,oy
Sp;i .... td NaI10naI &JSiness IrlStiMe. Inc. Crf<I.u: 7A Con, S96 FOf Informa!lcn (71 S) 835-8525
r""_,,
~ I.M.' R!nm eo..
,""'''''
LtgoIIWarth Up4ate Boa/t HIll 8eI1<eIe)' ~ Dy lIr'I1>e'sIlY 01 California Sc!Ic:d 01 law Foc aeo:Ilts and inIorm1Itlon (4 I 5) 64.2-5800
26 friday
"""" """''''
VOfIIQoo CiIO( ca.1,,", HuntmDe ~ by AIHwnI SI3t\' Bar SectionI. Crf<I.u: \.5 eacI1 Cost; rocluded in conventIOn regtSU3t1oo f..
r ... Inlormn lon: (205) 269· 1515
fully 5tQPPO!d automobile may conduct a warran tm &ea rch of an y contai r>ef"S fOllnd inside concealing tiM: object of tiM: &earch. Now. tiM: United Statn Supmne Coon rules. 5e\~ to two. Ross luthorixes a warnntless search of packages IoeVffaI da)'$ aftn- Ihry we~ ~rnoved from tTIICks fedual agents had probable ClIUse 10 believe contained marijuana. In JOh1U. the warnntinl 5ei'lrch of tiM: pack~ was conducted thl'« days after they we~ taken from vehicles by govern· ment agents and S\~ in a gQvern· ment warehollse. Ju stict O'Connor. writing 101" the majority. dedarn neitiM:r HI)$$, nor any other case, estaJ>. lis.hes any I'tquirtmtnt a vehicle search occur "immediately" IS pan of tiM: "ehide inspeaion 01" "soon thereafter," TiM: coun critially noted a rtquirement of contef!lporaneity was specifi· cally rt;«\ed in Teus., IVllilt. 423 U.S, 67(1975)and in C"'m~ .. ~. Ma· 399 U.S. 42 (1970).
"'' ' Y.
W hen docs t h c rulc in Edtt'fuds UPI)I),? Shetl u. l.olliJiaOUl. No. 82·592\}: 53 U.S.L.W. 4173 (february 20, 197!».ln &iw'tJrW v. A riZl)ft{I. 451 U.S. 477 (19BI), tiM: 5UPll'me coun ruled a crimi",,1 defendant's rights under tiM: Fifth and Fwneenth Amendmml5 "'ere "io!ated by tiM:uwof hil oonfession obtained by po/ice-in$tigated intermg,lIion - wilh· out counsel presffit.after iM: rtquested an auOl'Tlt)'. TiM: SIu'tJ Clse presented tiM: issue of whether tIM: ruling in £d. "'tJrd5 isapplicable toa case pending on direct appeal in I he state courts at the time Ed"'lJrdJ was decided, JUSti« 6 1ackmoo delivered the opinion of the COIIrt which held the ru le ntablished in Edll'tJMJ~. ATI"",,,,,. 511pra. applin to case Ptl/dlng QN dirtt:l af1PetJ/ al tht Ii_ Ed~'tJrW lOllS dlridrd. In vCli tiga t i,'c d c t e ntion UNiitd SIa/tl~. SJiarpt. No.lIJ.!>29; 53U.S.L.W.4346(Mareh20.1965). lna
far·reaching decision. thf: $u pr~rne COUrt ~Itd liM:mnlenlion a t"'f:nty· minut~ stop was I,Inreuonable when the police acted diligtntly. and the ltC· cu5l!d's ilClio<llcoolributed tOlheadded delay abolll which iM: contpjained. A DEA agent. while Piltrolling a highway in an are~ under surveillance
f(>r suspected drua: trafficking. noticed an app.l~ntly overloaded pickup truck wilh an .ttaehed Clmper tra"ding in tandem " 'illI a Pontiac. TiM: defend· ant. Sa..... wu driving the truck and tiM:ddencbnt. Sharpe. was driving Ihf: Pontiac. After following liM: t",·o ''f:hi· drs for about 20 miles. the agent decided to make an "in"estigativ~ stop" and radioed the Soutll Carolina High· way Palrol for usislance. When they attempted tO$IOP the t wo vehicles. the Pontiac pl,ll1ed o,'er to the s ide of the road. but the truck continued on. pur· sued by the highway Piltrol. After identifying himself as a DEA agent and obtaini ng identific~tion from Sharpe. the DEA . n t was unable to contact liM: llaleoffiCff t05eeif he had $lopped the Pontiac 10 iM: radioed tiM: lenl po/ict for help. In tiM: meantime. thf: highway palrol had stopped tiM: truck . questioned Savage and loki him he would be held until the DEA agent arrivtd. The agent. who had left the local pollee with the I'ontiac. a rrived at the scene approximately I!> minutes afler the trllCk had been StOpped. The officers confirmed their suspicion the truck was overloaded and smelled of marijuana. TiM: offittrs Opened the rear of liM: Clm~r without Savage's permillion and observed a number of bu rLlt p"wra pptd billies resembling billies of marijua"". TiM: agtnt then placed Sa,'. under arrest and retumt'd to liM: Pontiac and aiM! arrested Sharpe. In evaluating tIM: renonablenessol an in"elt igat h'e stop. 1he supremecoun used a 1,rry P. OIrio. 392 U.S. 1.20. approach to examine "whelher the of· ficer's actions ,,~rt jl,lstified at its in· ception and whether it was reasonably related in ICO~ to tiM: circumstances which justified the interference in the first pl act." Chief Justice Burger, who deli"end the opinion of tIM: cwrt. held in assessing "'hether detention is too
NOTICE Al.L ADS AND ARTICI.£S FOR TilE JULV ISSUE OF Tiff: Al.tlI.lAMtlLA II'YER MUST liE SUB~llTTED 6Y MA V 3 1. 1985
long in dl,lralion to be justified as an
investigali"t slop. it is appropriate to eumine whether the poIict diligently pursu«l. mnnl 01 invetigation likely to confirm or dis pel their suslJicions quickly. during " 'hich time it was ~ rssary 10 del.in tiM: defendant. Here. tiM: OEA ~I diligtntly pu"lued his invt'ltiption. and c~arly no delay, unnt(tspry to the invntigation. was invol"ed. 0
"Executive "Director's "I~port
/tfl<li_wr/ I",,,, /Iq< 113}
upon our insurance contmittee's recent ev~luation of liM: bilr's former en· dorsed carrier'sexptrience in Abbilma. Onec1aim has been paid fOl" 51.000.000 with le&al upense tOlalling another $160.000. "'hi~ 540.000 in post·judg· ment intere>t remains at issue. Twenty· six other claims have been paid. and tOlal premium dollars for the year we~ approximately 51.360.000. This il only one carrier's experience . Real est ate matters and missed statutes of limitations are problem areas. COIl\'cntion Regis trations We ~nllyconcludtd the pre-registnttion prooess for the midyearcooferenceand " 'ill be enlfflng lhe annual meeting rtgillration period shortly after )'OU rnd Ihi •. f'tt<m ~It~ tarly! This eJ\3b1es us to make ~ ade<jua!e meeting arrangmlenlS. including adequate food .nd beYfiagt'S, meeting s~ and printed materials. HOle! ~servalion5 must be made by way of your convention rtgistnttion form. If you wait until the week before tiM: Hunt sville meeting, July 2!)·27. 1985. you will not ha"e accommoda· lion$ at tIM: Huntsvil~ Hilton and probably will not be able to get a ticket fOl" Saturday afternoon's "isit to tIM: Jack Oaniel Distilln-)' in I.ynchburg, T~nneuee. Well""arsha'~ follovo'eda liberal cancelLltlion. with full refl,lnd. policy. ~a!it do not wait. Final P rocrasl ination I resoh~ to meet my mumn dHdline for the July issue as this is being written on my very lut day for Sl,lbmission for the May issl,le, I plead guilty , too. 0 - Keginald T. Hamner
Mo,l985
Committees Continue Pursuit of Excellence Mid )'cllr meeting '«)u, caull(' I tan$O;ends !lei f oint eresc.·· Judge- Simon R,f1r.in's ~l comment on lawyer ,>roi'essiOl1ali!irn seemed .,-s. pccially ".. lid as 36 commiuees and task force'! mel President Byars' charge that progrt.'$l reports be given during the 1985 midyear meelin"of 1M bar. Members interested in k!arning the rang(' of aclivuie$ constituting the bar', "pursuit of tllC1'llen«" may ~ cei"e a booklet of the reports by wrilina: \0 Diane Weldon. Comm;ll« Sec-
retaI")'. Alabama Slale Bar. P.O. Box 671, MontgOmery, Alabama 36101 or br calling C.!(5) 269-1:'15.
Governance
h~ari ng
he ld
In a hearing open loall Alabama at· torneys, membcf$ d lar~ and small
local bar associations. ot her interested bar member. and $evera! barwmmis· sioners mel wi t h the Co""m it! ell on
Go\'cr" " ncc of the At,.ham" Siule 1J'lr during lhemid~rmeeting. ts!;ues considertd wert the $lrucml'e of the !loan! of Commissioners of the Alabama Stale naTand melhodsof nomi. naling and v~ing (or presidenalecl. llw Birmingham B.ar$ ddegalioo. led by praidenl J. MallOn Davis. preseru«l a resolulion callina for "propor. Iiona Ie reprt'SCn lal ion of I he altorneys practicing in JefferilOfl County and OIher Urboltl areas 10 more realistically reflect th~ proportion of those al1or· tlcy~ to the to\al number of attorneys practicing in the state." This sent;· meru was echoed by severnl Mobile. MontgOn\Cr)' and 'I' usea Ioosa au omt'ys prrsmt. Currently. each judicial cir· cuit elects one repl"eWntati"e to the
..".
Addressing COI"I[ffns of young law· )·ers. a representat;"e of the Birming· ham B.ar You1\ll LaW)W5' Sooion state:! IlOO rnrolbers(44S)of I he Birmingham B.ar Assoc:iatioo are 35 years of age or younger and should be represented on the b;)ard. A young lawyt'r from Montgomery stated being out of Ihe (lflice and in·
CIIrring hold . tra''eI and 0lMr" COSts. in addition to p3ying the required reg. iSlrati(>fl fet. in order to vOle 1(11" presi· dent-elect is 1'S1)I!Cially difficult if not impossible for many young attorneys stru&l!1ing in today', economy. Another attorney likened the regis· tratioo f~"I! to a poIltu and the trn"d requirements \(> obstacles historically plaCl.'d before blacks in their efforts t(l vOle. It was pointed (lUt member.;hipin the ALabama State B.ar is mandatory. yet vOIinllt(l elect its Jcader is limited \(> lho;>se who are able to attend the annual ~ing.
A samilli n g of n.id )'ear re ports Computerization of bar records and the o;>per.l1ion of bar headquaners is the primary goal set by the e mllmit _ ICC un l'ruJ,lra ",s. Pri orities and Lonll' I{''''t/c 1'1"""i" lI. "Effective Iong·rnn~ planning C(MTImences with ready access to a database:' acrording to chairman Harold Speake. The rom· mitt~ is preparine recom~tions 00 type of equipment lII'O'ded and a "a ila ~. plus ...·het her 10 lea se or pur· chase II. "The I'(ttnl f(lClls of the Indigent Ddense: CommiH ce lias Ileoen 00 implementation of a program t(l recruit voluntr.:r cou.nstl 10 represent indio ~nt capi tal defendants."' reponed chairman Otnni. Balske. Douglas Arnnt ischairinga recruitment C(MTImit· tee. and private funding lor trnining of voluntetrs is being sought. An advi· sory board of criminal defense Law)'ers with npertise in this area will be es· tablis""":!. According 10 B.als ke. "We mu!it move quickly. because there are a number of inmates on Alabama's ootll rvw who do IlOI "'Wt coum;e\.'· "Liberty andJuSlw for AU" was tm, theme for Ln ... DIl),.Ma), 1.1985. Tm, state bar commiLtee reponed ;IS deciIPoo 10 act as a support and resource serva for \(Ical Law Day chairmen. encouragi ng each local bar president \(> appoint s uch a person and providing resource materials for publicity and
activities locused on tm, theme. Said cllairman Carol Wolfe. "MO$I of the C(MTImittet mtmbers have Ileoen active in Law [)ay planning and activilies in the p3st and therefore could offer per· S()nal s u&l!cstion s and idras for local bitT activit irs." Each local chairman recei'·l..:! pre·recorded public service announcements. came ...·rl:'ady adver· tisemmtl and a calalcw of OIlier Law Day materials a"ailable from the American !!.ar A:;sociation. The Un~.u t"urized Practice of Law Co"'miLt ce reported handling ·43 cases .inet ;IS appoint~n\ July 19801.1)a~ Marsh.chairman.staled 12 ;nstal\cell of unauthorired practice had been resolved without formal legal ac· tion. where l he oflending l'i\rty had per/(lrmed an i$Olated act and there WaS 110 tvidence (If repet ition. Two formal qUQ u'<lrro"l~ suits are pending. and four matters have been turned over to district attorneys. In thret in· SllnctS. the committee found n(l e,·j· denet of unauthorizt<i pr.ICIice: three cases rt"quire further in~tsligalion. 0 MLP
"8001 ~view """Iintd / ..... ,..",. I 14)
100IIa aLlorney and former secretary of the b;)ard of trustees of the Uni,·er.;ity
of Alabitma. has written a preface t(l the Rt m;n;wnCtl relating some pre-viously unknown material about Por· ter', years with the University of Ala· bama. Porter served for 16 years as land commissioner of the universily, for a period lithe universi ty attorney and twice 15 a member of its b;)ard of truStees. [t was through Porter's carelui IegisLati~t alfilialian, Illt Univer· sityof Alabama. even today. recei,·~ funds from Alabamastatebanks. This work. published through arrangements with Portal$ Pr\'$!, is available from the editor Ihrough "[nstam HeirlQom Books," 1616 Second Avenue. Tusca· loosa. Alabama. l5401 for 511.50. in· cluding poStage and handling.
'he
E"~n lI ..... gI. Ih~ ..-.~<h", w.sd...,.,y • .wI no,nj', P""~'.'" fo r ,h. ·· ~ k ~ ·orr· 0/ 'h~ I ~ Mid)'ea,Confcroocc "",,,,;..,d t .. be e"lifll"''''inK a nd " nl <" .. inin~.
1
,\'ab..n,. S.al. lIa, P re.ide,,' Wah, 11_ II)·.... I~ ... ".d ,I'e ..,rood loo:a l I>or lead"", <"", 'e,..,,,,, ~ '" hi. a dmini., ,",,,iun. ~il'een pre.ide",. ,ooIc ad'·on'o"" '" 'h~ ",~_uni'y '0 "'" ,I'e >!.'e bar he.r ,h"jr ,·je"·• .,.. • ""mber '" j" uc • .
2
1985 Midyear Conference Highlights
4 ""
'he hoad ,.bl. rOO" Friday', I~ncl,"o" ..'ere, leU lu dl/l".
Midyear
\\'mi~n ,
~ I C<l inK
C. Nkho/",
ConK" ••
Ch.innan Willi".., I . Jl ill;
C. "'~ "' ... nan
SI.'. Ua r Vice_p,..,.i<le " , Joe C. Cassady;
",an Wilham L
5
....,,,,'ary '"
TI>e d o len,.. ""'. ;,..,d • C"I'Y "" he """" ,' "'loa"", ' ru", """.ide", II)· ........ a ,,",,o n '" ,,,,, ba r·, a l~ >r...ci.a,jun.
UK-kin".,,,; S, .,. II,,, ",.siMn, 11'. h ,
11 . 11)'."" U.S. ""««.Tl' oIlk f... "" Ca • .,.. W. We j"l><,,,,,.-,Chiel J u"kc C. C. T.... I>c ... . k: 1.1. c.e n. T hum~. C. lIid",,,;I>. Cum. mand,>,. Air U ni '-0"';11. ,I I ax ,,'ell A F1I: St. ,,, II. r "...,s iden,·, ,"", Jam"" [_ Nonh: U.S. s.-n~'o.- J<",mjah Mon'~"'n.r')' Ma )'or Rmor')' Puh".".ntI S,a te lIa, C..mmi .. i"".c( 1501, d«ui l) Joon B.
1)""",.,;
SwI,., •.
,\/,, 1985
'\I~ .....~h""'~ly:t5Q ,\I."bam. !.o WI'e.o .... " k; ... " ... in Frl<Loy 6 .f'~ .........·. ..,... ~ na" ... ,"" clefu"" .... UUI u"".1cd by J ohn T. liin. •• M""''''''''''ry . .... Charti< Wold .... , ..... ' \i,...,;n ........
l.."~<. a PO"'" 0/ dist;,,~~i,',,'<1 judll"~.1td .....·yu . . . "~ an
7 "" d h.., ....-uy in ... and 1<...'"" .... " •• "ie,"red. kh t" ri&h ••• u .".......,y 1,.)"""" Jr.: Sot.,..., .... c.... .. Jus,"'" J ..... I.. ."....... yWooi. t: lIno...·.1I; "" ... i....,_ni..,. T«ry K. ChiIdrno: . u.......,. T"'--. S. ..... ,\I ..... _oy u,..... , ~
I).
,~
,~
[I........
~
·_Jr~
Circuil Jud# Wi" ..", II. Gonk>n: . .... U.s. I);., rid J 0011< T no .... "
11-. "....".",.....
,1_ _ 5.1." lJ.r.
f·~ .. ,., ... i_r ... _"..~/"' .. ~
""........ 9 ........burr., hurty
,ped , ....... """ ."" 10. b.ukl . ., "" ... ,day
.......... inll-
u .s. c.~, ,, ,~ '\l~",al . (1 I 'h eireu;" Chid J OOII< J ohn C.
11 l.. nd,,,,,,,
(;, .JI~~d ~."~ an <" '<n.in in~ iRI...,.J"<,;',,,,~ "", .. 'doy'. , ,"'.~~ r .
J",'"" !'."",ek
U.s.!.:..... " ,,( A,>,... ,•.
~;. Uill!!i"' ~ ~h. ,,, .
filii, ";"''';'.
12
So,"nla,-'. , .. ,,<h<oo ",,·ak<r. Jurluc UiJll(i,,"'" ha", • ••• na';,-, of ,11.bam... .. c"I,',;l I>OI h "I. "'wlc . ..... dua ' ¢ ~ nd lIow do~ .. u fruno 'h" U" h ·... h r .of ,\'.h. m•• "d ;. ~ ,"omb.·."f 'he '\laha ..... II" ••
So.,"
'"
Review of Uninsured and U nderinsured Motorist Law in Alabama b, James W . Garrett . J~ .. and F. Chadwick Morris
on unsatisfied judgments. By 19'".>4, several insurance companies were of· fering unsatisfied judgment endorsements. The endorsements required proof the judgment waS uncollectible and usually excluded default judg· ments. These endorsements were a faltering s tep toward providing some compensation to the innocent highway vict im. These financial responsibilities and compuloory ;nsura!\((' laws are com· mon throughout theSOstates. The Ala· bama version of th""" statutCS is rc· nected in Oxk 0/ AI4. §32·7·1 through §32·7·22. T he purpose of enacting the Alabama Uninsured Motorist Act was to dose the gap between financial responsibility and compulsory insurance legislation. Siale Farm A" lo Cas. Q.. v. G>1lli~, 51 Ala. App. 4Z6. 286 So.2d 302
(1973). T he Fi r s t ,\l a l)." lllm U nin sured Motoris t Aet and Significant Ca s e Interpreta Cio n s
W
ith the development of the automobile as a necessary
element in mooern society.
there came the unavoidable consequence of injury. The injuries often "l;Iuld be to innocent parties left with the difficult task of recovering from the wrongdoer. If the responsible party
financially was unable to compensate for the injuries, the victim often would bear the burden of the ](l:'j$. This problem of assuring compensation \0 traf· fie accident victims triggered seveTal statutory compensation systems even· tually evolving into the present day uninsured m(llons! statutes. 45 eouch. on Ins.. nmCl! 2d, 620 (1981) The firsl financial responsibility law was passed by the staleof Connecticu t in 1925. This statu te. and OIl>ers like it .
forced motorists to proouceevidcnce of financial TeSjXlnsibilily after an acci· dent occurred. The statutes also required a satisfaction of any future judgment which was a result of the automobile injury. Long. Tht lAW of Li~bilily Ins"r~nu. 24.01. The pitfalls of this legislation readily became apparent. The determination of financial responsibility occu rred after the acd· t42
dent. and there was no assurance to the innocent victim he would be com· pensated. The only ad"antage result· ing from the statutes was the requirement if the responsible party was able financially to satisfy a judgment. that judgment would be salisfied. The problems with th""" initial sta· tutes resulted in the passingof the fi,-st compulsory motor "ehicle liability in· Surance legislation. These statutes reo quired proof of financial responsibility or liability insurance before a motor vehicle could be registered. This solved the problems of the earlier financial responsibility laws, but still did not assure recovery for innocent victims. The lAw of Li~bilil)' I"""ranct. s upra . §24.02: Keaton .ill5ura"ct lAw, §8.6(e) (1916). The injured part~' sti ll would be unable to recover for his inju ries if the accident oocurred with an unregiStered car or if the financial position of the owner changed subsequent to registra· tion. In order to meet these new problems, many states developed unsatisfied judg. ment funds . These funds were an at· tempt to provide limited payment to accident victims who could nOi Ulliect
From this h istorical background developed the modern day uninsured motorist statutes. In 1965, the Ala· bama Legislat ure passed its version of uninsured motorist protection with §32·7·23 Vx1e of Ala \975. The act states ; "No automobile liability", mot'" vehide liability policy in.uring against loss resulting from liability im.,.,..,! by law for lxxIily injury 0< death .uffered by any perSO<l arising 01.11 of the owneTShip, m.intenance or use 01 " mOlO< vebid. $hall to. delivered 0< i""u..:i for <l<.liv ... y in this stale with r.. peel toany motor veMde Ttgistered or prir.cipaliy gar· aged in Ihis . tate unless co,-.rage is provided therein Or supptemental thereto. in timit$ for lxxIily injury or
I~m~
IV. Ga rYI'll. Ir., is a ~a li,., of Montgomery altd a member "1'lh 1M fi rm of Rushton, Sl~kel)', lok""l"n & Ga rYI'll. lit grodualed from the Ulthoer. silyo/ AI~l!ama School of LAw i" /97/. F. Chadwick Morris oblahled bolh his " ndcr-gr~dual.and lawdegrm fram Ihe Ult i""rsi/), of Al4l!amtl. He ~ .... adm il·
ted 10 Ihe AI4!>a ma Siale Ba r in /984 oltd prac/irts wilh Ihefirm of RlUhlon, Slakely. johns/on & Garrel/.
forlh in IUb6tchorl Ie) of u ..... PfO\'INonI .~ by It... Ccmmiwiontr 01 In.u,..""" lor It... pro«alOrl 01 _ _ I... urod
dolh
~I
132·7~
I~"'" whoa~
Itplly ~11l1rd
IQ I"f(O"o'tr dalNCl"l from ow ...... or 0Pff"I10I"$ oIun,",und moIor ~i· bfeou~ of bodIly injury. sict· . - or di_~. indudirc dolh. ~ sulll"C II-..t"dmm; PfO\'~.I""IIt... narno:d In1urod wll ha .... It... righl
des
10 ~lluch em......; Ind PfO\'~
furtllN. lhal unksl IN: named In · lured r~uull l uch e<>.erogc in "'ritl"8. l uch ~ ... ge need not be provided in or lupplemenlal 10 a ...:<.ewaliJOlicy "'N:rc the named in· aured I\ad ~Ied lhe em~ in toontCl ion with I he iJOIicy poniously ' ''....citO him by the .. ~ insurn".
lAc" 1966 No. 866. P. 1614.)"
The Alabilma Uninsured Motorist Act w~Umtn&d dfeeli,·tJanuary]. ]985. but for lhe mosl part caw law inl~ing the ]965 act is valid slill. The int~ations rdled the Ala· Irom. Supreme Court', willingness to libtrally conslrue the st~tute to pr0vide CO\.eragt for uninsured motoriSI events. This broad interpretation o! the uninsurt-d motorist Statute may be traced to the lack Of dctai1ed language about spociflC .pplication of the acl. Initially. the ' talute puts the burden of providing protection on the. insu· rance carne... This is done by Tt<jui.· ing the c:;urier 10 provide uninsured motoris t CO\"tI'agf: unless such CO\.~' age is rejected spmfically by the in· sural. The Il'jection of coverage by lhe insured must be evidenced by writing. and • verbal rt;eclion prior 10 the execution ollhe policy will be invalid. In· $MrtllI« Co. Nortlt A ...eri", v. Tlto· ........ 337 So.2d 365 (Ala. Civ. App. 1976). In the corporate &etling. rejec· lion of uninsured motor C(Iverage in writing by a predecessor corporation ",ill not bind the subsequent corpora· lion.Xq,. RoIMrl M. ~"'Y. 340 So.2d 78] (A]a. 1976) {)ncf, an injury has occurred. the plaintiff has two essential elements which must be provtd . First.tM plain· liff must show he legally is entitled 10 m:ovrt" damageL This has been inl~· !nled to mean tM insured muSI be able toestablish fault on the part of lhe uninsured motoris t. which gives rise to the damilg(:$. and the plaintiff must be able to prove t he eKtetll of those dam· agt.'II. Slul~ P" r ... IIfwlklll A Mlo I"". w.
at
Dwu"".
P. Griffin, ~I Ala. App. 426. 286 So.2d :JJZ (1983). Seeond. ltlt pany making claim for uninsured motorist 00\"ernge mUSI prove ttlt vehic~ which injured him wn uninsured. uFnt. ~. SIDle Fim.. M..11UI1 AMIII IllS. w.. 527 F. Supp. 492 (N.D. Ala. 1981). The deter· mination 01 who is an uninsured motor· i5t mus t be based on the fact 01 ttlt particular xcident and the existing law in Il'gIrd to insuranoe contracts. but the inSulll1'loe policy must be con· s ulted. USF&G o. Ptroy. 361 So.2d 594 (A la . 1978); IIflJlh4 o. A ulQ-o..·/IN3" Ins. Co.. 381So.2d 166 (Ala . 1980). There is s ubstantial law on the dclinilion of an uninsured motorist. bul ttlt a~· menl tOlhe act makes some changes in this definition. WiU/IoM", P. Albl4lt flu. (D., mAla. 466. 305 So.2d 3n
(1974); Criterion Ins. Co. II. Andnsmo. 347 So.2d 384 (Ala. 1977); O'HIlTl P. SlDit Fim.. M.. /MIII AMla Ins. Co.. 432
So.2d 1300(Ala.I983) When the insured makes a claim under his uninsured motoriSI provi· sions, il is not necessary to obtain a judgment agaimit the uninsured motor· ist. Slal~ Farm IllS. C:o. v. Griffin. 51 Ala. App. 426, 286 So. 2d 302 (1973). The unil1$ull'd Status may be proved by the insuTe1"'s im·estigation. Testi· mony by the defendant '5 insurarn ad· juster he inveslleated the collision in· vdving the plaintiffs ,-chicle and did not find a poIicyoiliability insuraIlOl:' in force on the other automobile is suffi· cient to provide a scinlilla 01 evideooe on which tosubmitlolhejury tbeissue 01 whether lbe driver was an unins ured motorist. The tendency of the C(lUn in unin· s ured s iluatlons. as in general insur· allC1l law. has been 10 conSlrue ambi· guities against the uninsured motorist carrier who is the drafter of the con· tract. While theact has been amended. il would appear r\"lO&t prior interpll'ta· tions are applicable under the new amendment . Oneexampleof themuns' policy inltrprCtalion deals with "phan· tom drivers." After the pa~ 01 the origillill Uninsured Motorist Act. insur· anoeoompaniesoltffi found themsehu with claims bil~ on Ihe insured's al· kgalions an unidentified driver forced him off the road causing the accident. In response to these problems. the car· riers alltmpted to rtqulre physical COIl·
tact before tbe uninsured motorist pr0visions would take effect. The coun held this ph)'$ical contact rtquiremenl wa~ in deroption ollbe statute and
cas.
was void. SIDle Fllr", firr: & Co. v. [",,,,lItrl. 291 Ala. 645. 285 So.2d 917 (1973). The A]abama Coun 01 Civil AI'" peal$. hov.'C'·er. has upheld a policy condition rl!quiring tile insured file ~ st atement under oath Il'gIrding IIle facuol theaccidcnt in,'Olving the phan· tom dri'·er. Alii. }am. Bureau Mul",,1 Co •. I~$. Co. v. Coin, 421 So.2d 1281 (Ala . Civ. App. 1962). AnothereJUlmpleoilbecounS· broad interprttation cI tM act CQnCerns goy. emment ....... ned vehicles. Btcauw 01 lhe fact these vehicles areowned by lbe glWemment , they ~llydonot have liability insur.aoceC(IV~_ Theinsur· .nce carrier. to protect itself from lia· bilit y. attempted toexclude go>"emmftlt· owned vehicles from the definition at uninlured vehic~_ T he Alabama Suo preme Coun held the pu~ 01 Iht Uninsured Motorist Act is 10 Pl"O\'ide coverag<:: for the protection of persons insurt-d againsl injury. The Uninsured Motorist Act does not authorize tbe exclusion 01 government ....... ned vehicles. and no such exclusion may be cr~ted under the policy. In Rt.· GII'tJI HiggillS. 291 Ala. 462. 282 5o.2d301 (Ala. ]973). The mun appears to be saying if lhe uninsured motorist definition is to VI· elude glWemment vehicles. then thaI exclusion must be adoJIted by the state legis lature. Themurt halO not invalidaled .....try policy eKClusion. One common policy provi sion ddirll$ "uninsured mOior vehicle" as a "ehicleother Ihan a motor vehicle owned by or furnished for the regular uwof the named insured. Thi~ provision would eXelude eoverag<:: for an accidenl bet "'~ Iwo,-dtic1esowned or oper.iIted by the llilmed iTl$ured or • mt'Il\btr 01 his houwhold. Such pnyoi· sima have been upheld by tile Alabama couns. ["' ... ...".,~. SUItt Fa .... MIlIIUII A ..lonwbik Ins. Co.. 48 Ala. 36. 261 So.2d ta7 (CW. App. 1972) Btcauseolthe large OOdyof caw law dealing with policy Pffl"isions and ex· clusion •• the practitioner is well ad· vised to review clol;cly the uninsured motorist provilPons of the policy and apply those pl"O\'isions to the panicular fa~t$ of each caw. The above-.;iled pro-
'"
VISIonS and exclusions are merely a sampling of the available case law in Alabama. This is one area of the law an allorney may find a number of caS/!!; similar to his own fact situation. While Alabama courts have liberally construed the Uninsured Motorist Act with regard to p:llicy exclusion. the courts have strictly enforced notice requirements. An insurer clearly is en· titled to notice of the suit against an uninsured motorist by the insured. AI"",;da v. Siale Farm Mutual hIS. 53 Ala . 175, 298 So.2d 260 (Civ. App. 1974). The basis for this rule isaiudg· ment against the uninsured motorist may be condusi"e, or at least admissi· ble evidence. against the insurer in a subs.'Quent action und~r the uninsured motorist provisions of the insurance policy . Procedural due process requires the insurer have notice of the action and he be given the right to intet"\'ene. tll"",ida. supra As a practical mallcr. the insumnce carrier should intervene in the action against the uninsured motorist and file a cross-claim against the negligent dri,'cr. iJau;, v. Harlforri Ins. 456 So.2d 302(Ala. 1984). Thisentitles the insurance company to a jury charge that even if a judgment is rendeTed againstthecarrier the bunkn of satisfying that jUdgmt111 e"entually will rest with the negligent dri,'Cf _J)(wu. supra . Int ervention ordinarily is not an issue bocause the insurance carrier usu.lly is made a party to the original action. This se ...:es the dual purpose of forcing the uninsured motori st issue and providing the carrier with notice. If an in· sured fails towmply with the notice of legal action provision of his automobile liability policy. he will not beentitled to rt'CO"eT under the uninsured motorist provisions. Almdda. supra One issue which COIltinually has at· tracted the interest of practitioners is ··stacking."' An insured. and usually an insured's household member. is per. mitted to stack benefits under uninsured motorist provisions of his insurance contract wh~re he has paid separate premiums for each vehide in· sured under one multi·vehicle policy, IAmberl fl , l.iberly lI1uluallll$ Co.. 331 So.2d 260(Ala. 1976). The insured has paid for such coverages. and the courts have held recovery should not be limit ·
c....
c....
14.1
ed to t he CO\'emge availablc to the ,·ehi· de involved in the accident. The rationale upon which stacking of insurance coverage has been justi· fied for the named insured is inapplica' ble to a person who is insured only by virtue of his occupancy in the vehicle. Such a person is CO\'cred under uninsured motorist provisions only if the panicular "chide he occupico! is specifically included under the co"crage of some policy.1Am/tert. supra . The rea· SQrI for such a holding results from the abuse which could occur if such limita· tions were not imlQed. In Fuqua ~. T r(""iI",, {liS. Co.. 734 F.2d 616 (11th Cir. 1984). an employee of an automobile dealer attenlpted to stack co,'cr' ages on 27 automobiles on which the dealer had insurance policies containing uninsured motorist provisions. The court held the employee was a permis· sive user. not a named insured under the politI'. so he was not entitled to stack the policies. He could not stack the 27 policies because hi. co"crage was a result of occupancy and not a resuh of paying premiums. While the Alabama COIlrts ha,'e liberally allo"'ed stacking of an insured's coverages they ha"e refused to expand the r«ently developed tort of bad faith to uninsured motorist claims. Quick".
ties limiting its liability to one unin· sured motorist co,'erage when the Ala· bama courts had made such a clause invalid. St1/l'CO Ins, Co. 0/ Amfri(fl " jones. 286Ala. 49.243 So.2d 935(1970), The court held if this scheme could be proved. the carrier would be guilty of fraud.
Sialt Farm Mulual AulomQl/i/t 111$. c.." 429 So.2d 1033 (Ala. 1983). In
This allows for a negligent dri"er to be oonsideTed an uninsured motorist to the extent there is !lOt enough insur· ance to fully cover the injUred partics' damages, Assume "A'" has liability insurance with uninsured motorist co'·erage. "B" has liability insurance with limits of $50.000. If "B'" neglig~mly causes an accident with '-A" and .. A" is emitled to recover SIOO.OOO. "B" would be considered an uninsured motorist for the excess of his own liability coverage. The~d major change effected by this statute i, a limitation on stacking, The act states:
Qui,k. the court held there could beno bad faith claim based upon the failure to pay an uninsured motorist claim because there is no obligation to pay the daim until the insured proves the nec· essaryelements of reco,·cry. The basis of this decision can be found from the following language: "'Thus. untiitile liability of tile uninsufl'd motorist has been <lctcrmincd. th. insurer and the imurro occupy an ad,'orsary position tow,rd .ac:h other." Quirk. at 1035. Srealso Bau",rs v. Stale Farm Mulual AulomQl/i/e ( II$ , 460 So.2d 1288(Ala. 1984). Theinsurancecarrier. however. may be subje<:t to a claim for fraud in handling claims. In Ex /JIJrle Siale Farm :I1ul. Aulo {ns. Co .. ·182 So.2d 861 (Ala. 1984). the insured charged State Farm fraudulent ly engaged in a scheme to deny benefits. The plaintiff alleged State Farm had retained a clause in its poIi·
c....
Th~ N~w
Act u gc
Uni n s ure d M ot oris t Undc rin Sllre d CO\'e r -
January 1. 1985. the Alabama Legislature's Amendment to the Uninsured Motori st Act became effective. The most significant change of this amend· ment is the adoption of underinsured motorist co,'Cragt. The legislature did this by changing the definit ion of ··un· insured motor "chide."' The act describes an uninsured motor "chicle as fol lows: '"(6)
The term uninsufl'd motO< 'ch·
ic" shall i"dude. bul i$l\OIlimit ed to.
moto< "e~icles wilh re5pe<:1t(>whi<;h:
(4) tM 5urn of the limi,. of liability undrr.1I bodily injury liability bond,
insura"", poilCl"u"ailabie lOan insurod pcrson alter an accident is Ies!; than the damages which the in· jurod pc'I''''''' i. k'galty <1ltitled to and
reco'...,.'"
"(e): The ,,,,,,,"cry byan injurod I"'r' SOIl uodtr the uninsufl'd lII'<>"islOOS 01 anyone rontract of .utom","" in· SUrlioce shalt be limited to the lII"im' ary C''''.rngc plus sud additional """,,,rngc a. may be p""idod fo< add I' tional ,·.hides. but not toexctro two additional covuagcs "'ithin SUch contract:' Thi, section changes the old act by
pulling a limit on the amount of stack· ill8. Hdore this amendment , an insured could ~tack <:<J,'cred "chides under an,' one insurance contract where the in· sured was considered a primary in· sured. Under the next act. the primar,' insured is limih.'<l to a total of th"", "ehides jlt'r insurance contract. th~ primary CU,'traj{<' plus two additional vehicles. The insured could not stack 10 ,'chid~s under on~ policy. The in· terpretations umkr the old act determining primar,' and secon<!aCl' insureds would 3P1'C"r to be applicable to thc amendment. One other change dfectt'<l by this amendment ~rns the limilS of lia· bility. Prior to the chang~. umnsu red motorist pro"isions were required to provide COH'1"ag<> of S10.00> per peroon and S2Q.OOO per acridml. Under the rl<'w la"·. the cuv~ragt' must pro" ide S2Q,00> per pt1"SOn and StO,OOO per =ident. This neW aet could ~resent Sj.>wral interesting problems_A~sume .. A" and "1'." ha"" an automobile a<:t;ident. "1\" is at fault and indicates to the police he has li ability insuranceco"erage , Under ARCI' 26(B)Cl), t he amount of cu"crage undl'r an,' insurance agr....,ment i~ not subject to diSCQ,'cry. Under the aoo,·.. fact situation, if "A" is injured se"erel,', "If' could become an uninsul"t'd motorist if his policy limns are not suf· ficlent to romjlt'nsate '"A" for his dam· ages , In orMr for there to be a determi· nation of t he uninsul"t'd motorist claim , the policy limits of '"B'" would Ix-com~ a main i;;sucofthecase. but ma,' or may not be subject to discoVCCl'. A set:ond intcrt'Sting problem mal' dc,'d<lp from similar facts. Assume ··B'" negligentl,' causes an accident in· juring'" A.'"'" B'" has insurance, but "A" is unsure of the policy limits. Umkr Alabama law , an injurt-d part}' must notify his tarri~r 01 a poo;sible unin sured nmlorisl claim. If "A" is mjurt'<l severely. a poo;sible uninsured motorist claim arises. fs '"A'" ""Wired to put his carrier on notice of a poo;sible claim be· cause he d~'S not kno,,"' the limits of "B''-' polic~> Asa practical mallcr. the injUred party should prOk'Ct his intfT' ests by not ifying the carrier of th~ ao;i. dent and possible claim. Notification of the accident alone, without specific mention of the possible uninsured 1llO"
torist claim. probabl,' woold be enough because t h~ risk of such a daim always would c~ist. It might be wise for t he m;;ured to name his own carrier in any lXlSSiWeaction becauSo'this woold serve the dua l purpost: of notilication and namtng an Insurance oomjl<1ny as a defendant. Unt il the Alabama courts haw in· terpreted the duties and responsibili· ties ~~isting belw""n carrier and in· SUrt'<l undcr the new underinsurt-d motorist amendment to Ihc act, all plain· tiff attorneys would be wdl advis<'<l to notify 1m, plaintiff 's own carri~r of a lXlSSible claim befor~ filing any automobile aCCKknt litigation , Since defendant's insurance limits may be un·
discoH-rahic. the plaintiffs carrier and the plaintiff himself may be un"w"reof potential u!l<k-ri!l,un-d mot..-t,t claims. Such nottce should p",,'ent a later defense by plainlif/"s larrier it had no noti~ or opportunity to defend by in· lCf"cntion or oth<,r",ise. Additionally. \! can be assumL-d plainliff, carrier. upon notice of litigation. will make de· mand upon the dekndant ca rrier to "'1I1e within ddtndant carriers li mits. The dUlies betwl'en carricr and insured. as well as the rl'Sj>;>Ilsibilities hetween primary and excess carriers, are uncl'-"df at prt'Sent and can be defined only through future decisions of the Ataoomaappcllmccouns , 0
Ever~bo~~ ~l1ts To Be CreatIve.
IEllll creative
leasing
A Look at Alabama State Bar Headquarters '"
Susan Shirock DePaola aMI Keith 8 . Norm~n
F
10 $100 .,
and our ~ largeljl is UMWa.~ oil"" I>"OPk! who make up the staff r:/. lhe headq...artersand the efforts they are
~h;p
or""""" au"""'YS, lhe Alab.vM Slale Bar headq"..ners _ _
~ of 11 rnySlety. hwol .... ' ,he opportlll"tyl01llSl! the headq..... teB.
maKII>g<>n our behalf.
TM ..nde
10 Il"oIIke the bar hndq,'arterl come /lIiIIe WIth the people ;oj .....
;md [""a ~ it going. 11 .. our hope 0\0111 by 9"111119 10 know 11... people behnd I.... walb.. Alabama bwyers wi fftI mQfe ccmfOO1I>b1e in COIlIIOCIIOg them and mak"'9 ~ 01 the services l~ pro-
II>de to our membership. I n any article 0/ I his type, .. ?e'fP« I Ml on the It&tUI oIthe Alabama Slale BIIr it morder. When lhe AOO<omaBar Associ· allon_fir&! formed in 1819. ~ had less than 100 an(lfTleyS.ln 1923. "",-"" becarM a Sl,Me agency. there _ about SOl) allorney5 who were ~ In 1984, lhe "",rnbOTSNP had grown 10 5.816 regular members; '" addilo>, there weT" 1.7S2 lp«iaI member.. n.e bar 's .. slale IIgimqI whoM lunds are controlled by the \egi$latur<l, although lheydo IlOl comeoul otlhe slllie gmeral lund. Rathe.. ,he booT is funded by the Il'ICIIlIeY fKeoJed from ken!a pure I>ased by allorneyl in !he Slate. Thac-=1ft. are: placed 11\ a speoaIlund lor uw by II", bar. The budge! oilhe bar has grown: on 1969.lhe budget _less than$200,COO; in 1984.1he regular budge1 wasapprox;. malely $753,()XI .
••
A1thoo.o,il rnemben.hop lea increased 1m, t'- C05t cI ~
many~ntonwm~clthebarhM
risen dramatICally. lar outSlnppng the amount cI revenue generated by memo
fees. For e .... mple. ,n 1984. al
though the bar had rlMlm",sol $707.686. disbursements amouOtaito more tn..n $753,429. II II "lunate<! l he rev</T'IUe$ kw 19& wiI amount 10$72$,715, while ... bu""""""ts arc ..,tIC"",11'<I to b. morIi' tl>anSnI,2ti1.
We hear to """h .bou1 the growing number 01 ~ al'd the StallStia compiled by the bar b.ar out thai news. In 1964. there were only 92 new admit· lees 10 rhe bar. By 1982, til .. number had
new adrJllllen per year Alonswilh thegrowth in number$o/ new Idn,llees to the oor, it """"ars lhe bar IS 9"1!ing _ . CUfJflltiy. morIi' than O(Wohaif cI tile ,,!Cube'l 0/ the ALabama Stale Bar arc under 35 yean 0/ age. As bar IllI'mI>o!rshp grew, to!J"l" rhe number 01 ~uarlef5 empIoytts_ In 1969. lhe <I$$OCOillion had flVOl fun-I,me grown 10487
employen. In 1984, lhere were 15 lull· tome employees al lhe Iiale bar head· quarters. Ofcourw, .... ill have seen tl'll!growth cI thos p!.IbkallOn, The AIaboma ~ yeT, to'" curr<mI Ionnat Tho! old IonnIIt was designed to WTVt! 11111 kind of "law review publication" II II IIrre when lhe
Um....ni.... of ALabarrl/llU'ld Cumberlal'd LawSchooi did nol "".... law rew:ow put>Ikal",,,,,. With the .dvenr oIlaw reviews
at both ...... schools, it W/lll no longer necnwry lor n... Alabama ~ to IiefVe this fuoctlOn. Thus, a decision WIll made 10 ""frio a Ionnat wlllcllihe edi· tori befieve IS more eas.ily readllble al'd ;nleratlng 10 practicing membe-r$ of lhe bar. The "'ill 10 the new lormllt wat II bold MOlle in a p.-oIessoon where IradlllOn oIrt1\alta"'. aIrno6t r~dimens00n5. Memba-sol the bar also have seen the grOWllloi cont.. uing IegaoI educlillOn .-.to being ;an .. tegral part 01 eKh IIIe"o.r', ... 01 wona! fije. Alabama was one 01 the leaders ,n the COUntry ,n adopill19 man· da.lory CL.E, being 1he e1ewntll state 10 unde-rtake IhIs program. There also ..... been a geometric growth in ,,,,nm,ne<!
membership.as well asan ,OCrl!ilW in Ille number cI 1opeC01 inlern! are31 <>d. draMd by tl'll! bar. Wilh tNl growth, we beWve the bar headquanef5 prOYides incmMed 1ISSISl· ance to ~I .membership. We hope thtti look irISde 1'- ALabamo. State Bar sreacll memher a glimpse of t'- staff al'd the IlelVlCes prl>llided to ils member. in the Siale. ,I,., 1!!115
R.. ,inald T . ttamne. buu.;..-.. DirK'o. /Soec ..... ary
Reggoe has bHro ...ecu....... direc.or 01 .t. bar...-.ce June 1969. He has 5e«n .he growIh 01_..."" from lour IIIl'I,obo!' $ on 1969 to IS in 19811. Regg,e liho has teen a. "legal .. ~pb sion" dul"Wl9 his '('NIre .....uh the bar. Amore tt. _ not..bie changes M .. •he change in .he iystemol pleading .• he ..... ablishll"ll'n . oIthe unifoed roort sys.em and too growth ill't. me... lIumbers 01 lawyers practicing in.he state. The oor now pr~ services virtu· aIy unhe",d 01 prior to 1969. Included among .hew • the I.w.oyo-r ref...... '" seT· vice, which now has a luI·.ome person reaponsibIe lor its lunclior.ng. Regg.e _ ....... hfre.aninc.....sed_eness '''9''.ding e1Na among.he ~ popula.hOrl and a.nomeys.. The b;ggesr compiaom he he. . from .he general public is lhey often Mve no idea 01 what a.lOO"l"ltY • doing on a partiCular case and t:linnot get in .ouo;h wuh.he a.nomey in order 10 s«u. t ,nfor"",I""" about a case. Reggie is p.ouc\eit ohhe annc;a] ~ •. ifl9S pul on by lhe ba •. The Alabama S'ale 8.:>r has one oIlhe highest attendance .aln for ~I rneonber$hip a' annual mee1"'9' ,n It. C(lIJnlry, genera.lly ;wer· "9rog about IS percenl 01 ~$ """"bon a.l1ending Nth a.nnuaI meeting. The ..... ....." mee1'i"I!JI inck>de .. oIusionaI OJ>" porIU"'15 for contll"lUirog educa.ion, ... \WI ... convnol1ee mee1'ngs and social
.hei.
t:".....,u. ,,· ~ l)i,.....,.or / Mcre•• ry M.,!tItit Ihll"...,' ,,·i.1o .\dmi niSlra.i ..... and t' in .. ,,";al s"cre ' a,y "'arga .~. To,,,
.........
C,,"1<"r:
Adllli~.ioo'~s.,...I"<".ai")·
Mob',;,,~
Norma
Bottom: ,\ssi~".." ExecII' i,'~ n;""" or Mary I,y" )'ike (rilll" l Member. ~hi"
.11"
Secrc''''y [)inn" Wdd"n
•
..........
Regg,e, on lhene~. fio,oeyean.. is Iookirog
low.vd ,ncre-.:l ~tmzation and mechanization oIlhe b.M he...:lquaners. Currently. lhey are "drowning in paper. work," Pilrticularly in lhe Mea 01 admi$. SiOnI ~nd conlonuirogleg.a\ education. He
also would tike to let! an inc.ease in the amounl oI_'a.nc:e the bar can provide '0 small ~ forms or toIo pracl"iI:>ner$ in • he area. 01 .echnology for ~ ollie,. rnar.oogoemenI . In addi.iOf1, he s.ates the
boardolba.rcoll., 15 :oooersisbegoo:.oug '0 focul on ....,...Iong-. ange pla.nniroglor bar. and he belic_ ... will be 01 tr.. nllndQus importance in.he 1"'ar5'0
t""
-
Reggoe recen.1y served as pruodenl 01 lhe Alabama Council cI. ASS<:Icii>tion E~· ecu.ives and as Pfaidenl oI.he Na'ionaI AUOCili'iOf1 01 8.:>r E.ecu.""", in 11J78..79. He also ea.""; C... tofoed Association E~·
!!CulM! (CAE) cerlifal"", in 1975 and has been .ecertifoed thrOUgh 1967. Marg.;>r..1 Boone Admi .. ;..~ a nd Fmandal
"'t ....
Sec""aI)I Mil<9!'.e1 has bHro ",.h .he ba.r lor oevomyears.1ier main responsibity is to """"Iaon alllinoociaI records lor .he Ala· bama S.a.e B<or and Ala.bama Sea.te Bar
Foo.ond..1tion. She aIoo pt"OCessn aI invoic· es for payment and the payroll for .he bar. A5 lecreta. y '0 lhe e" ecul ..... di.ec· lor. her ,esponsibilitoll' iroclLKle ,,"'slire
in .he Pfe-pilralion cI. all annua.l meetingS. IMintMurog PIII"$OIU"oI.'l (lies and harding lhe .. "eculM! direclor"lcorr~. Mar91>ret is anal ...... 01 PratMior. ..... and her h~ have three sons. Prior toworkong lor the ba.r.""" worked in the I'IIonnong and P\'Ogr3rronirog Depamnenl cI. lho: CM! Alit Pa.roI at Maxwell Aor Force Base on MontgOmeTy, Mary Lyn Pike Anis'an, E"KU li~.., DirK,or Ma<y Lyn M$umed the new role 01 assistant exlCulove direc.or Jan""", 1 01 this year. Her responsibili.ies include cIi·
'"
reeting the mandatory continuing Ie9aI education program of the bar and coordinating the work of the bar 's commit· tees. In the three years she has bem Wlth the loar, Mary Lyn, along with Diane Weldon, has helped to implement the mandatoryCLE program and make sure it functOooed smoothly. Although g<!!ting attOl"J1('yS to ke"P their <M" CLE r€Cords probably has ooen the most frustrating aspect of her job, Mary Lyn lays she enjoys getting to meet attorneys from all """r the .tate. Mary Lyn makes a strong pitch for cOf'll>'.Jterization, particulilrly with respec t to lhe CLE program. "In order to ade· quately 5eTveOUr memoorship, OUr whole operation """ds to be computerized. If we were to computerize, we would send CLE transcripts at tfle end of the yea'. n", transcript would indicate an a ttor· ney attended this course or thai course. II accurate. the altorneywould then sign it and send il bac k, or ifil was not acCurate, the auomey could correet it and send ~ back oorT€Cted. The Georgia Bar Association presently is doing this." A native 01 T usc:aIoosa, Mary Lyn has three degrees from the Uni ...... rsity of Ala_ b3ma. She has an undergradUilte degree in psychology, a 1'l'\a!;ter's degree in c~ni cal psychology and a law degree.
commiltee """'tings. assisls commltlee chairmen ,n sending out m«\ing notICes and ma"' taillS all committ .... records. Nonna Robbins Adm;""ions Secr~tary Norma's job pul. her in conlact with
all prospective memoorsof the bar. Con· sequently, she is one 01 the mosl weDknown employees ther... Her primary reo sponsibility is processing all student and bar application malerials This begins al lhe time a person <'flter.law school and continues thTOUgo tflo! time he Or she is adrnined to the bar.
Dia ne Weldon Secretal)1 10 Director of MCLE Diane has dual n1$ponsibilrties. She is secretary to the assistant executive di· rector/ director 01 lhe continuing Ie9aI education program. and sfle is the com· mittee secretary. She has been wilh lhe loarsince 1978, when shetameasa Stu· denl as part of a business offICe educa· tion course. In 1982, she bec""", a iuD· time staff member and has been with lhe CLE program since ~s inception. She handles all corre.ponde'llce 'dating 10 continuing k!s31educat ion and maintains all CLE records and files She keepS up a running list of aD programs and $pOrtSOr$ and handles any lelephone inquiries reg<>rdi09 prOgrams available. Diane 1001<5 forward to the day the bar rr<M!S to compulerizalion 01 re<:ords. Currently, all eLE records are kepi by hand 00cause the bar d.cws not h""" compul .. r faci~ties available to deal with lhem . As committee secretary. she schedules
,.
Top: G~I1cral Coun.el 11m ;\I"rrow C<',,(~r: s..c~lary 10 (he Rencrnl CO.. II· sd Vi,·ial1 F~~nH'" iloilO"" ,h~is tan' Gellcr al Co.",s d Jot", ~ 'ulIlI
Norma. assists lhe board 01 bar examiners in a<lminislering the bar exam. She proc_ lhe results and ,e-rlif>es to the Alaloama Supreme Cou,1 tho6e canddates successfully compk!1ing all requi,,!menls for admission to lhe bar. Ac· cording to Norma. one of the more inter· esting aspects of fler job is the chance to become acquainl~ wilh so many dilfer· ent prople. She sIal"" the mosl irusl"'t· ing part of her job. though. is in dealing wit h bar applicanl. who fail t he ba, e ><am. Although she is a native of Kentucky, having been born in loyal, Kentucky, Norma's family movoed 10 Montgome-ry
while $he was very young. Prior to working with the bar, Norma worked for the Slate Rewnue !).,part"""'l. the Stale Highway !).,partment and First Baptisl Church of Montgomery. She has b«n with lhe bar since 1979. .\I~]
191>5
MargareT Dubberley P ublicat ions Dire c to . When Jen Nowell was stolen away f.om uS by the Louisiana Slate 8."0. Ass0ciation. we ret~l ;"ted against First Ala· bama 8."onk 0/ Montgome"" by capturing too. in·house employee publication edi· tOT. Ma'9<'.et DubbErley. Margaret joined the Alabama State 8."or headquarters as tlte pubicationsdirector In Oclobe. 1984. and al thio point says she is "stiD t",,'ngto become i>Cquainted with all 01 lite 1"0duction aspects 01 100 Aloboma Lawye •. as well as becoming i>CQualnted with tlte Alabama State 8."0. itself." H... focus as dir""tor 01 The Alabama Lawyer is on ediTing and artwork, as weUas tlte soIici· talion 0/ manuscripts arK! advertising_ Margaret works closely with tlte editor and editorial board 01 100 Alaboma Lawye. and is responsible lor tlte budget of the publicalion division. Margar'" is a graduate 01 Auburn Uni· VErsiTy at Montgomery and holds a bacltelor's degree in applied commu rueations: while at AUM, site ",fWd as an editor of lhe Aumnibus. the university's student nel','"""per.
Ru th S irickland P ublica lion' a nd Anistant
Top: LaW )'ce RcI~rral Sec r eta.y aOO Rec"plioni", Ga l" S ki""" . CCnlc d'ublica t io " " Uirc£lOe Mac · ga...,l [)ubberl,, )· (~t"nding) " -ilh Pub· lica,i<HlS Assi"la'" Rut h Strickland lIollo"' : G'a ph ic ,h, s SU1>e el· iso . II'a )'n e Sun""" . lin
Meml>er~hip
Ruth has beer! employed with tlte bar s,nce September 1982. She has obsefWd a change in the managing editor during this ti""'. as well as the advent 01 tlte ""w lormat 01 The Alaboma LaWll"r. Ruth manages the money lor TOO Alaboma Lawyer, ind<>di,'9 boIIings lor adverTising and bi ·monthly financial reports to the board 01 editOfs. In addition, Rulh IS especially busy from September through December with membership dutie •. handling busi""ss licenses and special "",mber.hip categotWs. As membership assistam. she is responsible IOf all "",mbership records and handles all membe. ship COfrespon' dence and inquitWs_ Like many others Dt the bar, RUlh is also busy during bar examination time. assisting in the administration 01 tlte e><am. Ruth i$ a native 01 Eufaula and at · tended Andrew College in Cuthbert. Georgia.
Gale Sk in"". _ Lawyer Referral Sec . eta ... and R" ceplionil;t Ga~ has been at the bar IOf three years, and her primary responsibility is harxlling the lawyer referral i<O:rVoce. This includes not only keeping records for lite program, but also the i>Ctual referral 01 clients to one of the more Ihan 300 allor· ""'fS slatewKle partlCipalrng ,n the 1"0gram . Each day. appro",mately 30 to 50 referrals are given 10 clients who either te~phone the bat or come by in person. Gale says. "Cooms call who ar~ referred by Legal SerVoces, kx e><am~, and don't reaUy know wh~ they are calling, and you JUSt have to take ti"'" WIth each 0"" and find OUt what their problem is" TIte client tells Gale tlte rounty or city in whk:h he needs an atto",~y and tn.. nature 01 the legal problem. ,_e .• divOfce. real estale. etc. She then refers the client to the altorTllly On the list from that area. specialiZIng in that particular area 01 law_ In ocIdition 10 her dutteS as tlte lawyer referral secretary. Gall.> rootH aoo sr:reens all telephone call. to the state bar headquarters. Gale also main",ins t he records tOf the Alabama 8."or Reporter. This includes handling lhe subscriptions and IndeX'ng and typing the headnotes lor each case.
,...."t
Wayne Summerlin _ G raphic Arts Sup....lli ...r Wa,me started with the bar in 1966as it. graphic aTls SUP<'rVi$Or under the di· recl ion 01 Judge John B. Scott, Jr. He left after approximately one year. but returned in 1982 to hIS curr~nt position. His dep<>n"",nt is responsible lor the production 01 the Aioboma Bar Reports on which "i>Ch Alabama lawyer depends SO heavily. He also does all 01 the mailings for the bar. including that 01 Tile Aiobomo Lou.,yer"•. Wa"",,', """pectiv<! 01 the bar is somewhat uniqlM< in that he oaw it in 1966 aoo has returned to see the changes that haVE taken plaee in the 1980s. He says the mo61 significant chan9"" relate m the growth of lhe bar; TIte staff has tripled. the headquart ..... has outgrown its buildings aod they still need more space and more people.
'"
gaged in the unauth01iz~ .".actice of law. Vivian likewise is responsible for typing all briefs which the general counSO!I mes in the state aoo federal appellate coorls. A ""live 01 Columbus. Georgia, Vivian attended bolh Aubum University ~nd T rO'.! S tale University. She has bi'efI em· pIooftd wilh the bar for four years. John A . Yun!!. IV _ As';slan t Ge neral Couns..1
TOI" Secr Cla r y 10 assis tant 1I"" c ral cou nse l. Candy Fraley ,..it h Tammy Ta •.,m. """r"' ar y Bollom: ' \ ssist anl Gene",l ( ",,,,. cJ ,\k" J acks"n
John is responsible for reviewing oom· plainlS filed a9/iinSI members 01 the bar and assigning the complaints for inVf!SI;. gation. For all complaints he undertakes to invesligate. he makes a recommenda· lion to the DisclpiinaryComrrussionas 10 dispO$-ition. He drafts admonition •. repri· mands. censur ... and formal charges fo< the commission. as Wi<ll as fo< various local grievance commitle ..... and repre· sents the bar at hearingS before the Dis· cipli""ry Board and on appe<>ls before the Supreme Court of Alabama. Jolm has been with the bar lor four and one· half yf!ars. John is a graduate 01 Auburn aoo 01 Ihe Unive,sityof Alabama &0001 01 Law and has a Ll.M. from tn.. Georgetown UniversitV Law Center. AI"" Jad<tiOn _ Ass;,;la n' Gf!neral C ounsel
William H. Mo rr.,...... Jr. Ge nf!r al Counse l
or aD currenl slaf( members. Bill has Men allhe bar lhe iongesl. assuming lhe position of general counsel for lhe bar in 1965. Prior to this. Bill Pfacticed k1w with his falher for a short lime in Lanelt and in Miami, Florida, for nine y""rs. BiU reo ceiwdhis college degree from Davidson College in NOTth Caroli"". afler his scOOoling was inlerrupl~ iniliaDy by a slinl in lhe Armed Servicesduring World War II. He receiW<d his law degree from Harvard Law &0001. As general coun ... l. Bill's responsibili· lies include i~tig.)Iing petitions for reimtat.,-nent, requests for IormaI writ· ten ethic opillions, informal requests reo ceived by lelephone and Ihe i~tigalion and pr<)6eCulion 01 individuals efl9'l!.l"d in the unauthori~ed PT/lelice oIlaw. Bill also has bw1 responsible for defending the Siale bar wilh respect lochallenges 10ilS
»dmissions policies. He concedes one 01 the mosl time-consuming responsibilities of tl><! office of general cou"",,1 is the ans....mng 01 huooreds 01 requesls for elhics opinions As general counsel, BiU /leIS as staff liaison 10 task fOlCes and commillees as directed by the president of II><! bar. This indU<ks IesaJ research. preparation 01 memoranda 01 law and t he general assist. ance oIlhe various committee. 01 the bar. as needed. Freem a n _ Secr etary 10 11M! Ge nf!ral Cou nl\."
Vi~ian
As secrelary to tl><! general counsel, Vivian has the responsibility of processing both request. for writ len formal opin. ions and all petitions fo r reinstalenwnt by allomeys who have bw1 disbarred or suspended from the PTactice oIlaw. She also processes aUcomplaints against at· tOT neys receiv~ by the bar, as Wi<11 as complaints concerning oon·lawyers en·
Ale~ began his I!11"tploymenl with the bar in 1980. Prior to joining as assiSlant general counsel. Ale~ IlIId been a .".actic. ing allorney in Clanton since 1974. He received his college education al the University 01 Nonh Carolina, Chapel Hill. and his law degree al lhe University of Alabama. AU!x's responSibilities include lho! in· vesligation 0/ grievar.ces med against attomeys aoo the pros.ecUtoon of discipli· nary charges brought "9/I'''"t allomeys. Ale x also SO!1Vl!S as counsel to various committees 01 lhe bar, including the Permar.ent Code Commission and the Commin"" on Lawyer Advertising. Alex spends a great deal of time traveling around the Slale sp"ai<ing 10 various bar associal ions aboul t he grievance ptQC<!SS 01 the state ba,. With respe<;t to hi. responsibilities. Alex says he hopes lhe lawye,s of the state understand self·policing is in the best inter..,;1 01 the profession. "If we
.II0.1 19;J.1
don't take care 01 pOlicing oursel~, and ~ arE no! thorOUgh in "•.If·pOIicing., i! could be takEn away from uS ~nd ~ would be responding to federal ~ies in Alt."nta or Washington." In the live ~aT$ Ale . has be<m assis· tant 9'I~raf coun~l . the nulTlbEr of grie. vaoces filed has doub~d_ Unfortunately. while the caselood doubled, the staff remained the same size. Ale . does find his job challenging, ~, becau~ of the sophisticated clientele with which he deals. "All my defendants are t.,,~. When you deal with lawyers, they seem to know aD the al1SWeTs."
Candy Fraf4!y s"aetary to A5si.",nt Ge .... r al COUfl5els An individual who feels he r.as a com· plaint regarding...,.".;ces provided by an attorney. and calls or visits t he Center for Prof<'5SionaI Responsib;filyof tfle har, ls likely to be refE1Ted to Candy. Candy talks to people with complaints and to anorneys and local grievance commit. tees wanting infol"mOtion regarding the complaint procedurE_ Candy works closely with John Yung and A~x Jack. son, investigators for the Disciplinary Commission, and types rEJ'OTts, pleadings and other numerous documents relating to pending inwstisotions. Candy says this is the first job she has had in the Iesol rl('ld. and it is "totally different" from anything she has ""'" do~, Each attorney in the bar Can ~c· and tMt thought!
Tammy Tatum - s..cr e"'t)I Tammy is the newest addition 10 the staff of the Alahama State Bar. A native of Dcat~ , Tammy graduated from Marbury High School and attended George Wallace Community Coflege 1l!'Id Auburn UnLwrsity at Montgomery. Her responsibilities with the bar arE handling the complaints and grievances filed with the bar and preparing riles on the compiaints for referral to the discipiinary committe<!. Having worked in a doctor's oIroce prior to joining the state bar office, Tammy states lhe rnediclII and legallidds arE quite different. 0
Susan Shirock Del'atk. an aS50Ciale k'ilh Iht lIIonl/{fJ",ery lim' 0/ Pappanas · 1<iS. Sam/ord & Bla~cha,,1. ois{) i$ a ",em!;", o/Ihe boord 0/ edilors alThe Alabama Lawyer. She hIlS a~ IInder. groduuledrgm! in biology1m", Ih. Uni· wrsily 0/ Michigan , a doclorol. in edk. calil)n lro'" A"b"r~ U"iversity and I) lV. lrom Ihe Univcrsity 0/ Alabama
School 0/ Law_
BEABUDDY
Activities and gram" to provide newer bar members a feDowlawyer lhey may e<>nSUlt il they confront a problem, need to ask a question. or simply wanl direclion!; to the cou"hou~_
If you are a lawyer who has recently begun B practice and would fike to moot a Ia........... in your area to call on occasionally for a hand, or if you are the more expe· rienced practitioner with valuable information and adv'ocE you're wiI~ng to share. please completE and retum the form below. Your partic· iPillion in Ihis program will cE11ainly benefit lhe bar as a whole.
- --- - ------------------- ------Local Bar Activities and Services Buddy Progra m Applicat ion N. . . ______________________________________________________
Firm Na me (if applicable) ________________________________________ Address City _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Stale _ _ __ _ _ Zip _ _ _ ___ Telephone _________________________________________________
o
New lawyer
o E~perie nced lawyer
Please ret urn to: Alabama Slate Bar. P.O. Boll 4156, MontgOmery, Alabama36 10 1.
'"
Opinions of the General Counsel Wi ll ia m II . :\lorrO\, '. J r.
Q UEST ION:
.. ,r"" 1OllOrnc)' rc p'"cs"ru j n!,::" I,"bl;" " nl i. )' w hid ,
COUl es wi . h in • he SCOI)\' of § I 3:\- 14 -2. Cudp 0/11 1" .
"""'''. l!)75 , (Stllls hin" La w) mak"," n
~ood
rni. h
l)role"";" ,, ,,1 jud I/m e n! I ha t 10 '-'tinier w il h hi,. di c n ~
co nc crninll l'c nd ing.,... forc s<'c;, bl,· Ii. igm iutl ,N" ... h.' r I'" rely Je w •• m "L1 HS in a ,,,ce l jn g 01><"11 t o . h e I. uhl ie . a nd in a ll l"o/" , I)i lil y. d irecl ly or ind ircctl )·. Itl Coun ","I ror all ~,d " c r""ry of t he publ k e n lity. wUtl ld I)e !>,cj ud icinl l<> the b<>SI in ie res ls of his cl ie nt . ",,,,, I Ih e " . lurn ,, ), in s i" l III""" c onferring ,,·jlll h i" c lie n l in c losed o r e x,-",u ,h'c sessio n ?"
ANS WER:
~ I ",nl h.. "'I ..... ,t'd b< b.·1d ,"\'LoI •• e or .M di.d' .. ur~ ,J "'h",h ""ould be cllloorra""'H or .... uuld be hkel)' '0 bo' do1""",",,I.o Il>c .-I",nl.
(K) EXCq)! .. ~rm'"l'" b)' 1)11 I lO1(C) ala,,·· , ..... <l1all "'" k"""',ng! r' (U Rt>t'aI'('I)IlrLdtnct-orttn'tt 01 hLSd.",,·$.
H
D,sciplinary Rule HOI(C ~ ~ ) pro'o"des:
-A 1a"'1......... ,. ",,'a t
.,141...
(~) (iHifuh""'.,_wl....... ..... irrw/ pro·.. ..s.d ,''''. a Ia",')"<,< !fttu,M! by a I"OOJI:I.I.o m.~ .uch a d,<d(o,u", may hffi 1,,,.1 h"...df of all awlla, .. mned",••,'.,,,,Il10: '0 h'm." (em
ph .. i> oddtd)
y~.
Rules of Disciplinary Enfon:<.,... 'cnt. "",,,,mblc. in pnrt
DISCUSSION:
pro"idl'S:
§34 ':!·~0(4 ), ('ollt ~f , 11(1/>(/"111.
1975. prol'ides:
"It .. I he dUly" allam",)'",
(I>To ""mla,n '""ooIal~ lhf' """r~ and al ....-ny po,nliO lhems<t.,~ '0 """""'''" III<' .... em. of ,""'. fI....,,:· ~:,hlClll
CQn51lk>ra,IOII H P"O"ides:
"lloIh Iht rodunary ",1:,,1KJn>hip ....... 11& bt-
'''..,n lawl..... and fI ...., and III<' pn>pM" fune· of I"" kpl S1""'" !fttU,'" I"" prntn a loon by ,"" 1:,,"')'0< of "",,(tdoncft and """"to of """ ..."" hu rm~'od h'm, A d""" muSI f..,1 f .... '0 d,,,,,·u •• wlL.al~'-o< "" ""h". ",," h,. lawy.. and a ""l'", mu., "" "lu.II,' Irtoe '0 o/)Ia.n ,nformauon boy<.>nd ,h.1 .'oIunl"""", by h,. ch.ml, A I."')"or ."-Id bo' fully inforn"'" ,If .111 b., f..ct! of I"" malle,"" is h.ndhn~ ",...-dc, for hI< chfnl loobta,n ,"" full .,ha"l<L;!<! of OIl' "'WlI 'l·lil~m. It .. for ,t.. 1:"",,),,, In ,t.. of hi. indc~1 pro{~1 judglTltnl '0 piIIl'Il~ III<' 'r,"'an, Ind ,m!'O!"an,lrom 111<',.. rn.-... nl and un.m!'O!"anL The obs<n.,~ 01 ,II<' .. hocal obhpllOll of a 1:,,",)'0< '0 ""'" In\"lO, Ia,r ,t..('I)Il(tdoncft.nd .«uuofh.. d ....1 not only far,lttal.,. ,t.. lull "'ok>po,.,n, of Iarli eutnual '0 I'"'OPe< .o'p ._,,,.,oon 01,110' d...." bu, .Ito rnrou....,. Ia)"mm 10 - " ... Il Iopl
''''''''11
."'' ' OjC
*
a"'~II~:'
l:hsciphnary IMe 4· IOI(A) and (B) (ll pro'oides: 1A) 'Conrodcncl!' ""on 10, nlonna, "'" 1IfOl~'.>d pn"'~ undc-r • PIlI "abll' I."" and '"",ret" ...1."., '0 other informauon gamed in In. "..0IO$'1QI\.1 ,,'a,ioo,h,p Ihal ,11& b)' ,Iw: ."or,",)'-<:
,.
''''0'
"'T!><' s"prCITlt C(Jun 01 Alabama h•• ,nh.,,,,n, !"l"IX>IISlbLl"~ I" .u~n'i", I "" <"<.><IIlUCI 01 .11 ....• nt'}., who .'" ,,. oIfKn" •• nd ,n luriher.>nrc ,l>c....". i, promU!goI .. III<' Ioikno'l"tlil:uieo of J),;;c,pI'Jl:l.ry En/iAetn" n, ... pen;t'd'ng.1I iAher rul<!< a"" ... Iul.,. pma.n.ng lod1!iClpl,nal)·en· lOI'<'emtn. he<"ttol'..... promuip,od II< .......,"" ... §13A-I~·l(a).
Cotk 0{ AIilbtmUl. 19i5. pro'o'ides:
"(al NOr""",,"WOI' II<'CI't1 -.."'" shall b<1w:\d by any 01' ,Iw: loIkr.l·,,, Jl:l.mrd booaTd •. comm,,· .ionoI or coun. of Alabama, Jl:l.rrw;ly: Alabama I"' Ill", ;.tn',"", rom m '''''''': .,houI turn m ,..""'" 01' AI.bama; board of adjU,ln",n,: .. a,~ or """nt)' tax ,,,mm'.,,,,,,.; any counly turnm'~· sioo, "n y cit Y com mi., "III or mu nidI'" t rou r.: il: or ~ny <lIhor bo.><iy. oo.rd or ron,n", .."" in ,l>c stair <hal'\l'''' with ,I><' dUI y " d,"bu ... in~ any
fund. bclOi1Jlin~ 10 lilt- .'al... """nty or n,umd· ""Ii'Y.or boan!. boldyorron,mi"""", 10,,'hlCh i. dtkvlM any ~""ll\'t or judLCialluncloon: txupt, Iha, t""",,,,·tOl'~ _ . maj' be II<'1d by anI' 0I,t.. .00>,," na~ boord.orrom· mi ........ " 'hen ,110' ch'r1I<:l ... or JOOLI .... rrw: 0( a "''Ofnan or man It "'''01.-..:1.'' A number 01. states has mac,", Sta,utes ''lInously de!iCnbtd as lhoe "Freedom 01 Information Act:' lhe "Sun· shine Law" or the "R'gl" Know I.aw:· w~ rei... to $uch 5talUlt'S herein as "publIC m~lI1l( s'alules. ~ stalu,es Ulntain specifIC tXctpllon$ 1hal meetings bet ,,"'fell a public emil)" and il$ counstl concerning pending or im· pending litigalion n~ not be open 10 the public. Olher statu It'S ". hieh ron Ia in no sllt..:i fic eXt'('pl ion concerning t he
.0
,., 11
allorncy..;IICnl ronfidenc~ and secret~. neverl hctcss. hav~ bo:en conSlrued 10 Pt'rmit closed or eXI.'CUI;ve meo:l;ng>; beI w~'Cn a public cnl ; t~· and ;tsewn",] concerning Pt'nd;ng or im pending 1;ligal;nn, The inherent and ul llmat~ power to d~tcrm;ne what c(lnslitules clhical conduct ml the part of an a!lorncy VCSI. ;n the judicial deparlmenl of state go,'crnmenl and a Stalute which d~,<:]ares conduct as ethical which Ihf judicial department (If sta te govern m ent has proscribed as unCI hical may be consider ed an unronSlilU' lional lcgi,]alivc invas;';'n into a judicial funClion. In I he caS<' of Sarra mcn/o Nc"'.' pa"", Guild I'. SO(rtW'Clllo eo""'Y IlQord of S"""",,'um;. 26:1 Cal. App. 2d .11 , 69 Cal. Rptr. ,!:Ill (1968) Ihe rourl was called upon 10 conStrue a "pu blic meeting" slat ute w hich prO\'ided in pari: " AII meetings of Ihe ]egis]ati,'" bod)' of a local agency sha ll be open and public __ , ," This Sial u le (Brown Act) allowed executive or ctooed st'SSions only lO consider (al mailers affect ing the nat ional seem; ! ~' and (b) empIO)'m enl and di~missal of personnel. The tria l COurt entered a preliminary injunction enjoining the Sacramento Boord of Supen'isors from holding any executive or cI <lSed sessions or meel ings. O n apP<'al Ihe apPt'liale COurt mod ified Ihe injunction to read as follows : "This prelo minar), injuncl"", ,hall not pr~"e"' ' he Sa<ramento County Boord of SU"",""Isors Ir"I)m consu tl ing pri ,. alrl)" ,,";t h t t.. cou nt y cou nsel or otl1..,. allornf)' relll"<'S'nl ing tt.. board und<r C"Cllm,'ancn in " 'hich lhe 1'''')"ef-doc"1 ",",,",I'1le conferred by S<'Ctioo. ~>O Ihrough 962 <>f ltocCalifo<",a E,'i<!ence Code may lawfully"" d.illlt'd ." 263 C.1. APII_ 2d.1 59_
d,e.p;;. A I"'noply of con""uIJonal . • ,atulo<)'. ""num"",,i," and fiscal arra ng<!lTI<nlS <XlWr'I\fl ",ale and toeal go,,·.rnmenl exprt'SSt'S a (»1;,;phat hligalin~ publk agrnci", Slrive "'ith ''',."'' Ieg.l adwrsan<'l! on fairl}' ""en terms. We rIft'd nOl I"'U"- for cilaltons to""nton.'rate lhe Th"", is a IJUblie enl,tlen",nt 10 lhe dr""li,·, aid of Legal coon",1 in ri\"illiligation. E1f''\.1 i'·e aid is iml"l"Sibie if ".,..,.-Iunily for confidenl,.1 kgal 00";"" i. hanllfd:
ob,'"""
Settlen"'nt and a,",,;dan<~ oll"iJl3'ton art' par' ,,<ularly ".,n.il i,.., acl i,·it,es. w,""", .;ondUCI would"" grossly conlOllndl'<l. oflen made ,m, (>'>I<Sibie. b}- u 'idis.:rim on", ing in.isIC""" "" Ope" l aw)"~r-chont ronrcreras. In setllemenl ad,·ic<'. the attorney'. (>I"ofesSlO11.l lask is 10 1",,.,.,,10 hi. dienl, frank aW'.i .. 1 <>f strel1t(lh and weak· ness. gai~ s and ris ks. hopes and feat'$. If ''''' ""bhc's ·.,ght to kno"" compelled admi.sion <>f an audiena. the ringsidt ~'" WOll~ "" 0«"\1PI"<1 bj' ltoc government's .d'·....... ry . dellghlcd to cap;lal. ... "" ",-er)" r~"~IOIion of "·oak ....... A la"·~· .. " 'orlh h,s sall would feel . ,..I/St of Il"tIUh",,· In disclol,ng- that k,nd <>f awa,sal. (8 \\' ,gmore "". cit. §2"'.!9L p, 553.) To him ito ron· duct m public w(MJld "" ~llQcki ng. un!"Of"", ,"",. 1. unth1nkable. II~ would pn:fer 10 fig hl tl>r la\\" u," 10 liS biller end. Frost,.,"", "'ould blunt the policy in la,"or of settlemenl. and financial iml"udence mighl "" 3 compelled I"'t h. 263 Cal . App. 2d a I :;.5-56. (~on phas,s added b~' court)
!a,,",
The apl""'lIale cou rt obser,'ed: "II chent and coun,.,1 mu>I ronf..- ,n publIC HOW and hearong. boIh pri,·i lege.nd pollCy.re .. "pped of '·alt.... c oo.idem:! m lsoI.lion lrom lhe llrown ACI. th" assurance is ..·. ilable 10 gO\-ernmental .. "'ell a. (>I";"a" chrnts and Ih£>ir a"orn'T._:.!6:1 C.l. App2d at 54. o:;.,,,,mmcn ' should hal" no .d,·.nt'g<! m 1<1Ial Sink n''' ' hershoold il bea secood-classdli>rn . 'I'\lblie agencies rare the ""me hard rea""'" as other ci"i l lili~anlS. A" atto<"'l' who cannol <Xlnfer with hi, chen, outside h .. <>(>jJM('nt"s vresence may be under inSU'Il1OIl"labie h'n-
ALA8AMA LAWYERS RESEARCH SERVICE Tho Univ'''i'y 01 Al~b.ma School 01 L> w Clinic,1 Pros.. m LEGAL Mf}.K>RANOA CONF1DENTtAU Y PREl'AR£I) AT RfASONA81.E RA ru l,Iy SU[CJ1l) LAW STUDENTS
UNDER ATTOR/'.'EY SUPERVISION, (20SI ~
'"
rna)' relate to privacy and ",-",'identiality in the h.ndling of pending or .nlicipated litigation.
In declaring the public', right to bt in/onne<!, they do not necessarily I'fOP"l the public legal ad " ..... ry '"to t he I. wyer..,1 ient confer.nce clad in the robes of goo:l cili .. nship," 263 CaL App. 2d at 57.
Thi. i. brought into focu,. lor e.ample. if "e con.id.,- the potem i. l eflect 01 extend,ng the 'open m.. tll181' concept to. wn$ult.tion btl w.. n a gt/'o'CTn""'ntal agency and its al10rney in"oiying ..,ttlement or adjustment of a matter in pending or wntemplated litigation,
The court cautioned altomeys and public bodies could not circumvent an "open meeling" SlalUle on Ihe pretexl the meetillR was solely for k'glll consultation con""rning pendingo.- impending litigation when. in lrulh and in faci. Ihe malters for discussion were such that the public should have access therelo
It i. our CQrIClusion. therelore. the Iegi,latu", i. fully ","are of it. wnstitutionallimitations.nd did not intend, by the enactment of ch.pter 67.J56 , to pl.acuttornej'$ in a pOsitioo 01 having no . Item.ti •• oot to violate the Ca"",," 01 Ethic$_ 222 So. 2d at 4754n.
In thecaseof TimfS f'uM;sh;ng UJmt""'y V. LVjI/,ams, 222
So. 2d 470(Fla. 1969) the COlIrt was called upon loconstruea "public meetmg"' statule which did not specifically permit dosed or execuli"e sessions where the public body con· s uited wilh ils attorney concerning pending or impending or contemplated litigalion. Howe"cr, the court held Ihat such "public meeting" stalute did not prohibil dosed or executive mCClings undercircumslances which to allow an open meeting would force Ihe altorney 10 "iolale the Canons of Ethics adopted by the Supn:me Court of ~lorida. The opi nion conlains the following: "First of all, a. has been noted, the act on it$ I"", provides I", no exception,; .nd un le$$ there c(""titutioo.1 impediment to 5uch. mand.,,;t is CQrIClu.i.e_ Neverthel ... " 'pp"ll~ t.kes the positi"" thai il m.y __ . SO into secret con.ultation wiln it$ auorney "" all legal mat· ters." m So, 2d at 474.
i,.
In the case of
V.
Minnesota held t he Minnesota "public meeting" sialutedid noI preclude the Housing and Redevelo[llllenl Authority from holding closed or execuli"e meelings toroosuh with ils allorney concerning pending orcolliemplaled litigation. The court poinled oullhe sep.1ralion of powers provision of Ihe Minnesota Constitution vested inherenl and exclusive power in Ihe Supreme Court 0( Minnesota to define what roosli· tuted ethical action on the pari of allorneys. A newspaper and ilsex<'CUI;veedilor sought an injunction prohibiting this public agency from hoIdingciosed meelings , Thecoun quoled Ethical Consideralion 4·1 and observed: "In t~is .r.a requiring a delicate balancing of public interest •. our conclusion wa .....ached onl)' aft.,-. thorough consi""'ation of the ~ cord. which disclose-s lhat the members of BRA ".,-e in "ohed i n act iVi: and i m rned i.te I it igat ion in their capacity a. members of a public agency .nd also. in one ""~. as an indi.idual, Tho! advisory m.. tings w it h t'" attorney 101"", noo>ssary to perMpos.ttain. sett lement ultimately btnefi· cia I to the "8"""Y, tbe ind i,·idual.• nd \ ho! ger.ernl public.
There is one aspeel of the attorney..,hent ",1.tionship.... in which there are obligation. which bind the attorney; and the .~pect in· ''01'0& his duties in the conduct of pmding or impending litigati"". m. prolessional rondoct in t~ matte .. i. so"erned by the Can"", of Ethics which are promulgated by the Supreme Court under the integrate<!llar .y.tem in this st.te. s..<tion 23 of Art . V of the FOOda Coo.ti· tuti"". F.S,A .. give$ 'exclu.ive' jurisdiction to the Suptl'me Coun in the disciplining of attor· ney.; and lhi. disciplinary pOwer ~rily i""ludes the .""lush', pro-oince to pr06Cribe rules of prof.... ional wnduct the breaching of which renders.n attorney a~nabie to such discipline.
The altOl"1ley<:lient ex~ion II; ,here/ore oper. able in thi. malter to fully implement the confidentiality of the relationship. A basic undt-r· 8tanding of the adversary s)'Stem indicat'" that cenain ph."", of litigation stratogy "",y be im· paired if every diiICUssion i. a.ail.bIe f'" the benefit of OJlIlO6ing pa.nies who may h3\'e a•• purpose a privale gain in "'-"'t""'Em;"" 10 the public neW a. construe<! by the age""y:' 246 N,W.2d at 454.
The legislature t"...-/""'. i ....ithout any au· Ihon t y 10 directly or ind i""'tly i n terl.,-. with or impair an .n"'''''j' in the ""erei.. of hi. rthical du ties a. an attorney .nd oflm of the court. [Tjhean",ney has Ih. right and duty to practice hi. proless,,,,, in lhe manner rl'<JuirNi by t he can"". u nl,nrm! by clearly conflicting I'll' i.l.t ion w"ic" renders the performance of hi. et"ical dut ies imp06Sibie. lie cannot be put in the untenabie pOsition of cOOioe belw.. n a.ioI.tion of a statule or • violation of a .peeific caoon insof.r as they durly ampicl. We can perttive of the p06Sibility of insta~ when there may be conflict btt ..... n the two 3$ they
Minnl!/Jpo/is Slar a"d Tribune Compo"y
Housing Il"d Reilewlopmcnl A uthor,ly '" and lor 1m City 01 M"",ropolis. 246 N.W. 2d 448 (1976) Ihe Supreme Courl of
In thecaseof Okliihoma Associoliun 0/ tlfu",dpal Altorney. 51al£ olOklnhoma. S77 l'ac. 2d 1310 (1978) the Supreme Court of Oklahonla was called upon 10 construe and inler' pre! two O klahoma Sialutes. O ne slat ute exlended the allorney-client privilege to both natural and artificial per. sons including public enlilies , AnoIhcr statute, a "public meeling" statute. required open meetings of p ublic bodies ~.
MOll9&;
''\In!ess otherwi~ specificaLly lWOI'idtod heren." An opinion 01 tilt attorney general held $I~ lilt "public mee!.lIlt" sla,uI~ comained tilt language "un~ otlltr..:i~ specifi· cany proI'KIed herein" a public body could not hold clo5ed sessions e\'en for tilt purpose 01 ~aining leg<ol ad\'neon' cem1ing a pending investig;uion, Ii,igalion or proo;:wlmg. The Supreme Court of Oklahoma held in construing the IWO statute;;. rxocutive sessions could be held for confiden· tial communications bel ween a public body and ils altorney if the communicalloo, COTICI:'I"ned a ptndm" in"~ligation. claim or action. and diSoCkl6u~ of the m~tter discussed " 'oold Kriously impair lhe ability 01. the public body to process ,he claim or IOconduct lhe pendm" in\"eillgation. lillgation or pn:I(Wding in tilt publIC intl'ffSt. and tilt public body. wilh the ad\'ice of its attorney, could determine whrther it would be proper 10 hold execul ive sessions for such purpoSeS. In II!<! opinion lhe COlIn Htated: '"The issue pr-esemed is w htt .... lilt l.egi.I., u re • nd I"" . .h, of publIC bOO ... ,oconl... pri\"aldy ...·iL h thttr au .... "'"Y'I a>nttm"'8 pm:Ilre .... ;mpero:!· 're IIIIEI''''''- sn Pac. 2d al Ill4
.!::o'tea ,I'd ,,.,. all\ll"rltY <\oenl conlidenl ...1i"
l'tot,' .......... asSef1,h:at ,{ ...... opm _'ng Io...·s are ("00101""'" ... as to """"lin publoc: bod ... lrom pn"aldy di..,. ... rc pmdirc or ,mpetodirc llllgalion. ,he>' OJmUlul •• 5U\U'0I)' ,m"""i·
men, 10 II><- ",1><-",';'" Uilllli rda\lOtllhip beI """'n an ."orney and hi. cloent thus r~ring n l ubiilan\lall)" """"difficult lor ,toem a~ polblic
bodiooos 10 WtteISfuUy ma,nta,n or d./fR<I (:1";1 lICIions on behalf ct lhe publoc: ""~. PeuuOtl· ~ ""nntaln lhal publoc bodieI ohoulcI not lit pbood al " di.",h·anlqe '" conducting.1It pul> bc busintSS. II ":f"1111 IMr ItpI ~ "nd .hal ,hoe publIC '" enmlod .0 dltcth"e ~I ooun,..1 ""hen il illnvol"<d ,n hugalion but such is impossible: If. publIC lx:dr m.oy "'" 00111... pr\""'ety wi,h ill a"omey, At lhe """' .... oIlhil
3rgumem '. lhe COtICq)I of allcwney<lienl conli . ~I",.h'y.
sn Pac. lid al 1313.
We ha>e II iii... lwocompellng policy commll· menlo. I . need 10 1uo~ ,he publics IN';..... oondtICted ,n ,hoe optn •• ro:! ,be principlr of Illorney-dicnl conlideo"Il'"Y. Px. 2d II
sn
13tJ.ll'~.
We lind a Lqi!llol"" deollPl wllm!by .XfCUU~ 1I/S4ioo, may be IItIel for ronlidenlial commUni' ca'ion. bet",..,n a public lx:dy and iii a'torney, bu, only il IMcommunicalionl a>nttm a pm:I. '1lJI i",·.. uga'ion. cla;m, or lClion, and dosclo~ure !IllOn~ doscussed ""QUid seriously ,mpoir ,he abil'ly of.1Io: publIC lx:dy pn>caI tllo: daJm or conduct 1110: pendire in\'OSlip'iOtI.
oi,.
'0
liu"",,on or ~Ire in ,!If publoc: m'e«$I. The publoc: body. ""lIh lho:"'oo:' 01 its anO<l"lq'. """"lei <101..."""" "'·htt ...... it W(OJId "" po'I1\Itr'O hold ~XfCUI"l' ....MOM for ,hoe pu".,..,. a""'" ItIlonh: ' 1'1C. 2d., IllS.
sn
,,.,
Cf.
/.(lmQM ••
MIC<>rd 43:.! S.W. 2d 7S3 (Ark.
Where there's a will ... Now there's an easier way. AmSou!t1 BanIt'a new W' and Trust Foon Book prowjes a canplal8 and up-to-OOte compiatoon (j ...... and trust Icwmt 10 make your job _ and lastef. In add~ion. extenSIVe ccrnmentaries ara help/LA in the design and inpl8nentalion (j vanous eslate plans. These forms roilecl ERTA. TEFRA and recent revisions in the Alabama Probate CoOe and wi be updaIed penodicaly 10 irwJre o.:rUu"o!:l 8CCUf1lC)( To~ you- tel d W'lV"Idlrust Form Books. ge01d)'OO.l" check lor $95.00 payable 10 AmSouIh Bank NA 10 !he Trust 0Ms00n aI any (j toe adli"esses below. 01 00IlIaCt toe An'I.SoIAh E.sIaIe 8I"d ~ P\arwWlg flepfesE!I'Wa/Ne WI your lIt1III. AInS<kJIl Bank NA AInS<kJIl Bank NA P.O.8ox389 PO. Bolt 1128 C'VId!den. -'l3SQ02 ArnsIon. -'l35201 "..,,,
AmSouth Bank NA P. 0, Box 11426
~"- ArrI.'lcaAI Bank NA P. O. Box 1488 DeatIa. AL 35EI01
,.,.,.,
ArrI.'lcaAI Bank N A
P. O,8oxllSO
""""' "- ""'" ",""
""'""
AmSorAt Bank NA P. 0, Box SOl H...uviIe. -'l35Ei04 ArrI.'lcaAI Bank NA
P. O. Box 1628 MoIl'e. -'l36629
1iJ94.1575
M'lSoIAl Bank NA , P. O. Drawer 431
Mo~V,-'lJ6101
83<9<00
In the ca~ 01. S"I/." SrHsibk l'lDuHiOJg. Ill(. P. Ilwrd of s.,..."i$(}n of S"/I,,, C-~I}'. 122 Cal. App. 3d 8]3; 116 (;al. I'Iptr. 342 (1981) the court "'as called upon to conr.lruc Calt· forma's "public ~Ing" statutdBfOYo'n Act). ~~l ,nd" vidual landowners who 0IJP(lIIed 11M: COOSlruction of a food proctSsing plant ~itkono.'I.Ilhe troal coun for a wrol of INn· da m us d iIl'CI ing Ihe cou nty boa rd of su per" ' SO<!! to \"aca te II ~ appro,'a l of an environ menia l impacl report. ft ,,'as al!lO claimed the coumy board of SUpeH ISO<!! had ,·io!atl'l.l tile llrown Act. Themun held theCOUnty boartlof $uperv;1SOr\I was entitled 10 confer vri "atdy WII h COUnt YCOlIn~L. sloct It rta$Ofl.lbly ,"ferre:! Ihat a ~Ialcment by cotIn~1 for the pbtnltffi Ihat theenvlroomental ImptlCt f"IKl" III'f"",;t had S1gnlroc;ont defects which precluded the board frun legally IPSlfO"tng it ,,'as a threat of a $Pt'Clfic la~u;!. ln 50 holdIng. the court lIOIed the Brown Ac1 dtd IlOl abrogate the t,·iden· tia ry privilege of allOfney<Lienl confidential communica· tion , T he cou n quotes al len,glh from Socrame1llo N'''"S/XJ/Nr
C" i/d V. Socra""'NloQ," ~1J &tIrd o/s.Ptr";$<)"- supra. The contention "'a s made t he county board of supen'i5Or1 CIlUId not oonfer in vrivate ,,·ith their all~ si""" t ~ ....,s fIOl In exi5tefll:ean actual pendll"lr(lla"·suit. ln responding to ch,s cmtentlOO. l he CI.XI rt oI.o5en"td:
"'''''.,Q .....
~Rt>lyi1"ll on our fitatemerot,n ....... ,,~ !»/It, C" ilJ that. btcaUit of liS dfect of 01,111" pressi ng public~. lite pnJI..:tiQrrs gi,..,." a public agency'. oonfidenlial wmmunicotions muSt be 'strictl~ ronstrued' Ud_. al Po 58). plaIn. liIfurguo, that in lite a~of actual p"ndlng \11 Ijpt ion. 1M boon! ..... not trllIt loci 10 - " IogaI adVICe in poi,·~te_ Tho Inn! had I:ftn told by an al KIr'I"It)" .-..p<eiOnt I1"11 Wo' .... pla,nt lffs("""", 01 ",hom had .utd tM counly MICCftOfully ~ bef~ In 00lUI<CI ... "'nh tM SOlnl' p",p.rtyl Ihal'M !StR bd~ II had a number oI.ugnlfi· Clnl ddccts "'hicb pr<dutltd lhe board from
Itptty aPPRl' '''' It or 1M pro;.a. In Ihrw COr cum$tancel. In 1M f_ 01 ,,·hat 11 ~ Inf..-nd "lI.a Ihrtotl 01 a QUI1. spt(Ific ""'1UI1. 1M boord .....s.d no PftlUt f<Ir ~I'" to CUlf... "'IIh 1M county coun...!.- 122 Cal. Apt>. 3d at 825.
W. hasten to ~r\"i! we a rt! wi thout juri'idiction 0<' au· thorily to decide lssut-s 0( law , Therefore. the conS! T'U(:tion and inter~ta!lon 0( § L3A· 14-2. Oxir 0/ /1/(100 "111. 1975. is the prerogati"eol an appropriate murt. Furthi!rmore, should thestat ute becoo$t1"Ul'd lilentlly aoo ~]udca publicenilly from oonferring 1M ckvd or HfCUti'-e Sl'5Sion WIth it$ C(IIJn· lie] CQf"OCI!ming legal matters. lhe ancillary queslion as to ,,·hethK or not the s tat u le itt an unrnnstitullonallegtsl.II'~ invasion d a judicial fUndion. is al!lO for the courts.. The liCQpe of Ihl5 holding is extrcnlelj' narrow, nan\ely. if an atlor~ for a publie entny makes a good fanh "mfr!<' siooal judgment that toconsu ll wi th his client concerning a t~ 1 ma tter and permit s uch consul tation to beopen to the public and thus. in ,II prob.abi lity. to coonsel for an adversary oIthe publIC i!ntuy. wwld violale ana in pr(I'.,sions 01 the Codeol Professional Rtsponsibility. $pecifoca]ly but not limIted to. Disciplinary Rule 1·I01(A)(3) which in pert,,·...... t pan provides "A lawyer shall IlOl inlmtionally ... prrjudit\or damage his clienl dUring the CO\l~ of lhe professional n:lalionship ...... he mU$l insist upon oo",;ulllng with his client in dosed or .~ecuti\"e Sl'SSion. []
NOTICE AI.I.
I\O~
ANI) ARTICLES FOI'I TIlE
J ULY ISS UE OF TIlE .-t LL RA.lIA I.A It YEN ~1l"ST BE Sl ' BMITTED BY :\11\\" 3 1, 1985
REALLY GOOD NEWS Here's a lender making 20year loans with FiXeD interest rales. Notvariabje, FiXeD FOR 20YEAR5. Commercial - Investment loans, first mortgages. Properties: Office buildings, shopping cenlers, IIghl industrial. New construction, rehab. properties, 01" existing buildings. United Companies is a one- billion dollar. fi nancial company listed on AMEX. Phone:
(205) 979·0367
,.
Andrew T. Graybar. CCIM Suite 106·A 100 Cenlury Park South Birm ingham, AL 35226
Trans ferred to Disabilit y Inacth'c • Do.ottmber 26.19114. auorney Kcnneth W . Gil· c hris t 0( Etowah County was transferred to disability inactive status due 10 his being inc;lp.1citated from ron· tinuing the practice 0( law by rca$Ort Q/ mental infir· mityor illrw:ss.
Pri"ate Rcprinmnds • II law)'t'I' was pr;"atcly ~manded for having falkod t<> carry ou\ a CI;.Intract of employment wit h a di~nl. in violation of OR 7·101 (A)(Z). by having failed to initiate coon ;lCtion to rtC\lVer pa st due child s upport and having a limony irocreasro on behalf Q/ his chent. after ha"inggh'rn assurances hoe would "file the papen tmmediately," The following I'l'primands took place Man:h 2. 1985. • An A]ahama lawyer ~ived a private reprimand for violation 0( Disciplinary Rules tj..1O!{A) a nd 1,10 1(A} (I). The Disciplinary Commission fwnd the allomey had willfully neglected a lq;al mailer entrusted to him and had faik<! to ~k the la",' ful objfcti"rs 0( his client by failing. for nearly t ...·o ~rs. to prt'IIal'l'.I 5eltlement agl"ft"fficnt in a marital dispute. to r>OI lfy his client 0( a scheduled CQUrt hearing a nd to keep his client advised as to the progrt'SS Q/ the matter he was condUCl ing for her, • A lawyer was privately reprimanOOcl for having
been guilty <Ji. "mlS~malillf1." m "lOIatlOO 0( DR 1· I02(A) (oil. b)' ha"ma signed hischent's name to what pu r ported to lIta "mfied ch'il complaint. ha"ing signed h,s O\\'n name as notary public theroon. having signed hIS client" s name to a Petition to Employ the Services of Auorney in the same matter . having s ign~od his name as a witness to the clicnt"s signature on that petition and having then filed both documents wllh tilt circuit ~n.
• A ta ...·yer .... as privately reprimanOO:! for having engaged in eoOOU\:1 ad"ersely reflectingon hu; fitness to practice la ..... in ,'iofation 01 DR 1·102(A} (6). by having fai led 10 provide hi s loca l grievance commit tee with a .... r;uen resjlOl1~ to a mmplaint filed against him by a client. despite three wrillen rft\I,IoC:!jU from the gr;e.... ~na commillee he respond to tM complaint. • An Alabama laW)'t'I' ....as privately I'l'primanded for making fal~ accusations against a circuit judge. knowing the statement s "'ere false and further kIlO""
ing the statements would lit publishtd In a lIe\''Spaper. Theeommission found tilt allorney'sconduct to be in violation 01 Disciplinary Rule 8-IOI(li).
• II lawyer was privately reprim andtod fOf" having falilod to prom ptl y pay o,'(r moncy col lected for aclient. in violation ol DR ! ·102(B} (4). by having d•.'d oct"'" as attorney feesont-third citlle amoum rnxwertd for 1M client In a rule nisi pot:e:«ding forpast d .... ch,1d support ,nd alimony. (after haVtng alrndy nni,·td a $400 .II· lorney fee awarded by the alUn in the matter againSI the client·sex·spou~). though Ihe client had not previously con~nttd to t he one-third deduction and had not been given prior llOIice thell' would be a ny deduc· tion made. • A lawyer ~"ed a private reprImand for vIOla· tion <Ji. DR 5-IOI{C)<Ji. tilt CoM 0( ProfesslOOal Respon· sibtllty. TM Disciplinary Commission found tlx> attor· ney had pericxlicall y coonsell'd .... ith a client in I'l'gard to various matters . irocludillj! domestic problems. o,'er a period ol 15 to 16 )·cars. only to later represent the cllerll's former wife in, OOmC!ilic proct.'Cding directly I'l'tated to lilt s ub;rct matter 01 the attorney', earlier torl\"C1"SatlonS ...·ilh the client . The Disciplinary Com· mtsslOO found the attorney', conduct cons htuted acon· fllct 01 mterest in "ioIation 01 Disciplinar)' Ru leS-IOI(C) in that t he attQrney represented a party loa ca u"", after ha"ing prC" iously rcprl'Sented an ad"crse pMty Of" in· Iere\lt in connection therewith. • An Alahama lawyer rtni"ed a pri"ale R1IfImand for \' ioIatlon of Disciplinary Rule 6-IOI(Al and 6- 1000A) ci the CoM Q/ Professional ResponslbililY. The Disci· pllnary Commission determined thisattorney aca-pted an accident case fOf" a client. failed to file the action within the period prOvid.od by the statute Q/ limitations and then issu.>d a check 10 his dient in sett lemenl of the ClUe from his own pe~al account. The commission fwnd tM attCln'll'Y willfully neglec:ted a legal mailer entrusted to him and anempoed 10 e XOIImltte hlm~1f from. or limit. his ability to his diem for his personal m,lpracttCe. in violation of the CoM 0( I'rofessiona l R~'Sponsibility.
• A lawyer was privately rcprima ndl.-d for having Wtn guilt y of willful neglect. in viofatlOl1 of DR 6101(A). by having undertaken to ~t a client in appealing a criminal conviction. but then hl"IIli failed to file a brief 011 IIthalf oitM clienl WIth the eoun" criminal appeal s. and haVIng failed to provide the Slate bar with a satisfactory explanation in the mallei'.
'"
P ubli c Cens ure ,. Th~
lullowing c."nsures took place
March~,
l!ll!5.
• Mobile lawyer Wall c r L. I)"" .s was publicly cen,;un-d for having ~ngagt"d in conduci adverocly rl~ fk'<:ling on his fitness 10 praclice law, w; lI fully n..-gIt."C!· ing a legal mal(crentrustt"d to him. failinglocarry OUI a cuntraci of employment cnten'(\ imo wilh a diem for professional services, aocepting a retainer from a clienl to handl~ Ihe legal adoption by the cliem of the client's granddaughter. lailing to pursue the maUer for the dient. promising the diem to refund t he retainer paid. but lailing to refund the .'Iame!o thedient .
• M ool~om~ry allorney Elllo ,\ . S milh. Jr" wa~ publiclyccnsur<<l by the Board of Commis.ioncrsof Ih~ Alabama Swt~ B;lr for ,'iulation uf Disciplinary Rul~~ I· HJl(AJ(4). l-l(u(A)(5). I· HJl(A)(6), &1OI(A), HU 1(A) (1) and 7·10 I(A) (~) of the Code of Professional Kespon · sibility. Mr. Smith earlier had bt:en retaint-d to handle a criminal appeal case and was found to ha,'c be.:n late in filing appropriate appellate papers; he further was found to ha"c misreprescntl<l the statusof the case to his client. The Disciplinary Commis.sion of t he Ala· llama Stale Bar delcrmin ..<l Mr. Smith should receive a public censure for these violations of the code.
• J e rome T ucker of Birmingham was publidy censured b<:fore the Board of Commissioners of the Alabama State Bar for violation of Disciplinary Hule 7·101(A) (l) of t he Code of I'rofessiona l Responsibilily. Mr. Tucker previously had bt.oen engaged to represent a cl ient in a civil action in the U.S . Districi Court for the northern district of Alabama and failt-d. on scveral dif· fer~nt ""casions. to submit pleadings and comply with cou rt orders rtgarding his client's casc. The commis· sion determined Mr. Tucker's ncgk'<:t of his dien!"s case repTl'Sented a failure to seo:k Ihe lawfu l objectives of his dient through reasonably available means per, mitted by law and the Disciplinary Rules and further determined a public ccnsure would be appropriate di~· cipline for the stal<<l violalion.
SMITH·ALSOBROOK & ASSOC,
-1.1_
EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES
· fir.~ ~ nduot rial
~-
oF... & arSOn irtvo-sIigation
Services fOr cxpcn dctCT-
mination of frir markt( value o( businesses, and financia1 analysis and consultation in cases of
o Estate planning o Estate settlcmc:nt o Marital dissolutions o R«.apitalizations o Employee stock ownership plans
0 Bankruptcy proceedings
0 Mergersor acquisitions 0 Buy-scU agreements 0 Dissident stockholder suits
m,
Contact Dr. Jo h n H . D avis 60 Commerce St. , Suite 1018, P.O. Box 23 10, M ontgomery, AL 36103
(205) 262-6751.
,.
BOBBY O. SMITH. B.S.• J.O.. PrHiden' OpetiltO. "L 3680t (205. U!l-t54-1
P .O. Boo 3(16.1
Valuable Service. [0 Busino::ss Valuat ion
aooi<Ient.
-SOlely and pt~ anotysio
Introduce Your Clients to a
&il:r them
glWdo'Ig
· f raHie acO!IenO """",",_
We do more
than print the lawwe put it into perspective.•. ... both In our law boob and oo r compuk r dal ......Ic,
_
.... _.o.ut.
Am ...... IJS(:$, L £4'" .... <0-0 .... "'" COft>OU\O< .,..""' ... _ " ' " .._ '" .... ""' .. .......... __ , . ,....,.;," co" ........ c.w;,. , .... ,_ mo<. ....
... _ _."" _'. OOI.'...."" . _... ," _ _
"" "'" """ to.."""'_ " "'••.,..,., ....... ,_",,,_. ,.,... CP _ _ ,... ""'" yr", 00<
"',.~,
_ . cot • ...,
rd> •
....... who' "" lCl' r.." CI'ont-Soo.-..<u ' iI>-
_.
•• .,.. Oft ... ' ... ""_"'" . " " ' _ LC~ _ _ ."''''''''''''' _ .... _ . "'" _ " , _ _ CMI
. . . ,. u._c_,L" ....._.. '-. . ._'-.... .. .........
,,-"".,......... ..'..C.,.,. ...... _ ...... ...... '-....... ...... _
. . . .h
~
...... , ..
_." -,,-,--., Cont.o, ,0"' LCP r, _ ,oH ..: ""
e-o I _
__
""" "'.....
C-'" 1 "" . ......
.. """0.."" .....,,,.
"""""" I...' ......,.,
-- -. .. _.......... -,---_... _
-.
IIII '''I'
,
, ...... ,,, . . . .""' •• ,"" ""USIM«: Co,
In Memoriam John Milton Coxwell John i\ hh 00 Cox well, of Moo roevi lie died Fdll'~ry 9. 1985, allhe.of69. J.«: was born al Monroeville in 19]5. the_of John M,tchell Cox .... ell. then c.....k of the CIl'I';\I;\ court. and lillit W. >
Cox ..."dl. He wauduClued In the public schools in Monrotvillt. Mobile and ~Iur. Georgia. lie r«eivHl his ur>dergraduale degree (rom Emory Unive.-sily in
Atlanta and .... as a member ollheclass of 1939 a1 the University 01 Alabama School of Law.
corned. He was especially awareof the problem' faced by young lawycl"!l and was Me,'er to(l busy to lend advice and assi5tanu to a young lawyer in need. John CQXwell i"",rvive<! by his wife. fraroocrs Hodge Coxwell: his son and law partner. J. Millon eox"·ell. Jr.: a siSler, Jewell M. Coxwell: and lWO grandchildren. Will and Stewart. The bench lind bar Ii Ihe35lh judi. cial circuit. joi ning many OlheU throughout tIM: lillte. deeply mOUrn tIM: passing 0( our fellow lawyer and friend. John COKwell,
lie served hi$ community professiona ll y, spiritually. publicly and <iviely lQo" OVe'r 45 years. John practiced civilla .... on a wide and va..;.;.! SOlie and served as county solicitor for Monror Coumy from 1942 10 1975, when he retired as I slipunumtr.lry district allor~, an office he ~ until his death. lie was l Mnon, a Shrin ..... and
an tI~ and deacon of the Monroeville Presbyterian Chureh. lle wasaffiliated wilh the Democratic Party for many years ~nd in \hal ~ard sen'ed as a
delegate 10 Democratic National Conventions in 1944 and 1952 and as chairman of the Mon roe County Oem()cratic ~;X«Utive Commill~ for sev· eralterms. John ', life wit~ many cllanges in lIi. hometown and county. inchid· Ing cI.... ~ in the membershipcl the practicing bar. lIil Slone. II whom f~uently entertained la,,·yen. and judga cI all qea. Asa law)'ff.John ....a' committed 10 professional tKcellenu and courtesy 10 all people. r~rdleu II their station in life. Ihs ofr....-e was considered by all la .... )'crs as a placeof respile. where one was con5istemly and cheerfully wei·
Jack Crenshaw WlM:n Jack Crenshaw died Janllary 17.1985. at 80 yearsclagr.tlieff "'ere i~itableromparisons to tIM: passing cI ~r Bryant. I.ike C(IOCh Bryant. Jack worked and "'00 at tIM: profession 1M: loYed until only a few monlhs bd~ his OOlh. and it temled imJlO6Sibie to Ihink of him as being "retired" for any extended lime, Tradilional mtmorial.contai n many of a man'l honen and accomplish· ments, and for Jack Crenshaw, Ihal
list wo",ld be both long and varied. While Jack was in some ways the most tradilional" laWYffiI.1M: was in othen the mc.1 innovative. un",slIal and. in· <ked. unique of lawyers and h",man beings: a tradilional listing somehow temll inadeqll3le, [I il liard for a "youngtr" pDClilloner. who knew and "."..ked .... ith Jack only (Wer lhe laSI 20 years cI his career. loappm:iate fully lhe span". carter longer Iltan many men', entire liv('$. Jack belonged in some ways to two different worlds. from a pract~in the years after World War J to the pace of the 198Qs , Despile handling so:ores of cases before the Alabama Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court and dozens of major lrial s. if asked to point outlheca~of which he W3$ proudesl over tMllonispan.hewould not M"e mninisctd alXlullong·agootriumphs 0( common·law plNdiOll:orbalt1r:sagainst railroads. bul "'ould ha"e pointed toa ca~ which he began al 11M: age cl75 -a long, mal$i~ and complex case action involving three appeals. SCOTeIi clhearings and a prolonged trial. At an alit when mQliI of us would expect to ha,.., ended our active professional lives. Jack wa~ relishing the novelty of the case. thecombat over important issues and lhe satisfaction" representing his clients fully and well. Amningly, Jack entered coll~ al the sophomore 1evri al the age of 15 and 1Iad betn admitted 10 lhe bar by 1926, full 01 acadtmic honors including "hi Beta Kappa; he was then the YOUngo'$!. person admitted 10tM! scholaslic lOciety, As a Inldilionalist, Jack ah"ays had a ",rong prefertMe for practicing law strictly by tIM: rul('$ of p~ure. He simply felt it was both proper and ea· sier 10 follow t he rules and formalities,
and he did w without any intent to cause difficulties. He was at the same time the soul of pen;onal and profes· sional courtesy in almost an old·world sense. jack was a fi~ professional antag· onist a nd readily CXpeck..:! his opponents to be the sa me. He would have had n(>lhing but contempt for an ad· versary who did nOl professionally represent his client. His fellow practitioners often have said the only task more professionally demandinglhan beingjack's oppooent was to be his associate counsel. His enerj/y. wil l. creat ivity and drive never falt ered. and he never hesitated to take on the most difficult tasks him""lf. It is not surprising he should have been honored by his profession . He served as president of the MontgOmery County Bar. as a proctor and bar ex· aminer for the State bar. as a special justiceof the Alabama Supreme Court: he was an au thor of numerOuS 1<1:31 articles. a member of the faculty of the Law Science Academ)' and a longt ime member of thcAmcrican and Alabama Trial Lawyers AJ;.SOCiations. Less well· known - and less traditional. 1 think - were his services to his profession. his church and his communit y in other ways. jack readily talked of his ov..·n earl)' difficulties with. and conquest of. alcohol. and he Quietly helped many of his fellov..' lawyers to deal wit h similar problems. He never was too busy to sre and counsel with someone in trouble. and there are many suc:cessful lives who have ~n reocued by him. fie was equally dedicated 10 his church. serving as a deacon. an cider , a Su nday ""hool teacher and a trustee of the Presbyterian H()!llc for Childrcn , He was a trustee of the local Shrine Templeand Masonic Home.as wcll as involved in such di"en;e activities as the American Lung Association (by whi<;h he was honored with the Hea· cock Award in 198!)and the Chamber of C()!llmerce. jack's great recreational love. golf. was characteristic of him. lJe won the Southern In tercollegia te Champion ship in 1923and continued to play unti l just months before his death. While he rt'Cogni~ed age kept him from hitting the hill l as far. he refused to concede he
could not cont inue to learn and improve. Although heenjO)'ed describing him· self as "arrogant. conceited and mean:' his friends. wife Vern. his son and his daughter and. in truth. his professional ad'·er<;aries. knew at the C<)re. he was none of those things_ He was something of a renaissance man - a scho-lar, a sJIQI"tsman. an author. a jurist. a brilliant and acoomtllished professional and a guide in his church. fa mily and community. He was uniqudydedicated, hardworking and tenacious. 1!cdid not rely on brilliance of intellect alone. but alw on thoroughness. de"OIion and hard work. jack Crenshaw was a "character" ' in the sense af a unique. special individual. and this profession will miss him. There are far too few among us of his stalUre as a lawyer and a man.
William Rudolph Favre, Jr. On Christmas Day 1984. William Rudolph "Ruddy" Fa'·re. jr_. a distin· guished member of the Alabama State Bar. died. Ruddy was born in I\lobile. Alahilma , February8. 1928. thesonof Wiliiam R. Favre. Sr .. and Nellie Ileroujon Fa"re. He graduated from Spring Ili ll College in 1950. having ~n enrolled in the ROTC program there. On his gradua· tion from collegt' he was rommissioncd as a second lieutenant in the United States Army and ser.. ed his country durinj/ the Korean War. He then en· tered the University of Alabama Law School and received his LL.B. do:gree in
1956.
Follow;ng his graduatian from law school. he was employ<..:! in the legal department of IVatcnnan Steamship Company. From 1961 until 1967 he was associated wit h and then a partner in the law firm of Tonsmdre. McFad· den and Favre. his practice being ronfined to rea l estat(· law. For the next two years he was a partner in t he firm of Diamond. Lat lOf and Favre. sjJ(."Cializing in admiralty law. Injuly 1969. he "'as appointed a~is tam Un ited States al10rney and from july 1969 unti l his death he handled criminal prosecutions for the U.S. at· torney' s off ice for t he sou t he rn district of Alahilma, Although he "irtually had no prior experience in the field of erim· inalla"'. he Quickly became an expert in trying criminal cases for the go" crnmcnt. lie successfully Ilro••_"CU1<":! some of the most important. c()!llpli · catl..:! criminal cases in t he history of the court under U,5. Attorneys Charles White-Spunner. Wil liam (Billy) Ki",· brough andJdf Sessions. He has ix-en reo.."ognized by his jX.'ers as one of the outstanding assistant U.S. at I!>rncys in the natian. a distir\C· tion which bill fe'" merit and an honor which but Ie", allain. Rudd)' part icipated in sllQTts activi· ties throuj/hout his life. At the time of his death he "'as and had bec!n for many yean; an a"id , low·handicap golfer. He was a star shortstop for the Murphy lIigh School and Spring Hill Coll<1:\' Va rsity J:lasehilll Teams and the American 1.egion Baseball Team. Wh il e at la'" school he was an out standing player on the Sigma Chi fra· ternity softball team. lie was the catcher on the Government Str~t Methodist Church soft hilllteam. cham. pions of the church league. There ",as a "good Catholic" helping the good Methodists. because Ruddy practiced his Catholic faith throughout his hfe and at the time of his death had been a lonb1imc member and 1"I.1Iular al1end· ant of St.l'ius X Catholic Church. In November 1952. Ruddy married Catherine Percy; they had t "'a daugh· ters_ Rudd}' always was a devoted fam · ily man and ad,·isor. fl is daughters !;aid. "He al"'3)·. taught uS to be fair and honest:' and that was tlK' way Ruddy ronducted his
enllrt 1Ife. Ilt\·tf ",·it h prilk. but a l. "" a)'s ""ith dlgTlily. 1115 &age ad,'ja, ""as sought by and gl,'en 10 (M her members or the U.S. at· tomt'y', starr aoo im'esllgati"e agI.'Il1S or t h~ federal government, n(M only 01'1 l.-gal mailers but peniOna ] matters as ""~ll.
Ruddy leavts surviving him his ""ife. Calherine I'ercy Fa",-e; his d3ughltfS. Ikborah Fa"n: Bendtf and Laura Fa· vn: IlIcks: t ""0 grandsons. Ilavid aoo Iltrtton ~ndtr"; all of MobI ...; and I sister. Nell Fa"n: Harris,o( I'ascagoula. The l,feo(William Kudolph "Kuddy" Fa'·r~.J r .. is r<!ClJgnized as OI>C of dCq) dedication w his chu rch, his family. Iht bar. his C(lmm unity. his slate a nd hiscoun try.and his death n:pr\~ntsa great lou 10cacll. The Mobik B.ar Association c xtends it5 ~t lympall1y to lhe famil)' 0( Mr. t"avn:.
George Mortimer Harrison, Jr. Georee
Mortimer (Tim) Hamson. jr.. of I~ Northside [>ri,·c. [loth3n. Alabama. died at the age of 43 in a l'en!laCOla. Florida hospital December 30. 1984. after a s hort ill ness. Tim was born a nd reared in Dothan. lie was a graduate of Dothan Ihgh School and anended ~I arion MtJiul)' Institute. II~ r«ri"ed an A.S. and a j uris Doctor degr.-e from the Unl\'tf· sit)· 0( Alabama. lie sen'rd III the Unnrd Stltts Army from 1965 until 1968 on the st aff of the judgo.> ad,'ocate and was separate<! from the sen'ice at Fort i'!U(:kcr. Alabama. wit h Ihe ,,\IIk of calltain, Tim had been a member of
the law firm of Mc..,ll & Ila rrison III Dothan si~ 1968. and ...·as an able Ia,,')"'" and a membtr of the Ilouston County Bar AssociatlOl'l. lhe Alabama B.ar AS'lOCial1on. the Am\'rioIn B.ar Association and the Dtfcnse l.a",·yers Association of Alabama. T im in"ariably was interested by. ~nd alwa)'s int~re-sting to. the people wilh whorn he "·orkro.livrd and played. III' was a s uperb s~tsman and fished and hunted ""Ilh COI1tag>DUS enthusl' asm and enjoyment . No rnan C\'CI" had betterumpany than ,n Tim Harrison. His qu ick ".. it ~nd ready smile made him delightful COI11lo'8ny. He will be sorely missed by his many friends. The member.!of lhe J[005ton Cou nt y Bar Association rt'gTtt the untimely death of T im Harrison and rKOni OOr appreciation for h,s higlliegal ability and sparkli ng pm!Onality. ll is ITICIDO" ry will be ehenshed. and his passing has been a grt'at 10M to this bar association.
Robert Browder Stewart January 27. 1985. Roben UTO\\'der Stewart diL.! suddenly at his home in Montgomcr)', f Ie was in til<. 70th year of his life a nd wa' vi/lOl'OOS and active for his ag;'o All who knew him feel a keen sense of loss and I13dnts5 at hIS passing. }k is $UI'\'I\'ed by hi~ ",·ife. june Ldgrcn SIr-.·an. and two daugh· ters. Mary Kay{Mrs. Adrian) Culebro of Mexico City. MexICO. and Carol ( Mrs. Douglas) Harper of Norfol ~. Virginia. In 1953, Hob Stewart was one of the
founders of the b,,' firm of jones. M ur· ray & Str-.'a n. III' still "'as actt"e in lhe firm of j Ol'1eS. Mumoy. Stewart & Yarbrougll al the time of his de.uh . From 1956 to 19&1 he sen'ed ascha ..· man of the ~lontgom .... y County Ilem'" cratic Committee. a nd in 1960 he was e]ected president of the Montgom· ery Count y Bar Association. He also was a member of the Alabama State and American B.ar Associations and thr Amencan judicature Society. For ten years he "'as deputy CII"l:\I1I soIici· tor of the l !)th Judicial Circuit. /Job .... as the best organized lawytf with whorn this writtf has dralt cloo;dy. lIi s mental organiUltio!} of legallJTOb. lems and facts was astoul1dinll. He Wa~ C3lo'8ble of quickl y switching from the trdious preparation of lhe most COI11p1icated legal documenttothe trial of a fast'm<Wing damage SUIt. lIi$ care and .IlWlIon to detail "'en: exempli· fled in many of his rrpre$entatlOl1s. including Ha nk Wi lliams and his 1'5' tile. 3$ well a~ many lall/C c:orpora. tionli.llobguided the merchandisingof lhc Willi ams music which. it il s.1 id . during at leas t 0"'" ycar sold more than lhe music of any perform ... or group (Miler than that of Glenn Miller. /Job puated from Sidney Lanier 11.gh School and r«rived his bachelor of arts degTff in economics and Eng· lis h from D~vidoon CoIkge in David· .'!(In. North Carolina. lIe earned hisla .... deg~ from 1he Uni,'ersil y of Alabama in 1940. Rob also did graduat e work at the University of Virginia 3nd at Stan· fO«l UniveT$ity. /Job !ltfVed in the Army Air Corps from 194Z 10 19-16. lie was a ~al of· fiaT wllh the Corps. 5eT"\'ing in Japan and Korea : he kft the mil nary WIth the rank of caplain. lie was a membtr of Trimty I'resb)·terian Church and nu · merous social and frat~mal organiza· tions. includ;ng Phi Beta Ka vpa . llob's law firm , his f~n(lW law)'crs and all who ~ne'" him long wil] miss this distinguished legal scholar, Alone of hIS longtlmeasscriattscxpreSSed it. he was "the cream oflhe crop - 10 smart . 10 busy. but JIC\'er too busy to t~k~ lime to be a friend:' Robert K Varner Un.ted Slalelll);Slric1 Judge Former pannl.'r i~ law li'nI d J<IMO. M urra\' &. Stewa't 1958·1971
'"
(!)lassified &\'"otices EXA;\1I NA nON OF QUE.'>,JON .: O DocumenlS: Handwriting. I ~ ,,"wriling and relaled exa minations, ln temationally ClMJ rt <l ualilitd ' ''pert wit ness. DiplQrna tc. America n Board oI.·orensic o.xumenl Ex.mi"" ..... Member: American Sociely of. Qu4tioned Documenl I::... miners. lhe In· t~rnationa l As_i.tion lor Idtnlilicalion. lhe British ~orensic Sd.,~ Societ y and lhe Nal ional Association 01 Criminal 0..fen.. La ... ~rs. Ret ired Chid o.xu ment Exami_. USA CI Laboratories. Han. May.. Gid ion. Zl8 Merrymont Dri,·•. Au· gu sta . Georgia 30907. (404) 800-4267. STRUCTU RAl. ENGl NEER/Con· . ult. nt/Failure Anal yst/Expe" Witness. PI1.0, in a{>PI ied mechanics. Alabama reg. islered prot...ion.lengi nttr. Experie~ in ~ & standard •. prodU<:1 liabil ity. lailu re analy.i. 01 industrial equipment and .Iruel u,.,.. coostruetion. marill< , po peline and press,,,. v~ls. Nalion · alll nt.".national experience. Dr. SamuelJ. Brown . r.E .. QED Corp .. P,O.Box Ill5. Crosby , '1' ..... n532. (713) 328-553B. LeG,\ L RESEARClI IIELI'. AttOl'~ with seven years' u perie"". in Itgal ' esun;Wwriling. Act:eu to Unh'ersity of Alaba ma and Cumberland libraries. West· law se.m:hes .v.ilable. Prompt deadli"" servi«. $35Ihou r. Sa",h Kal hryn nell. 1905 Wo:x\l.ne Place. Birmingham. Alabama 35l16. Phone 979-J64.8. No re p. resenlation i~ m.de about Ibe qual. ily of Ihe legol "c,,'ku 10 00 I",r. formed 01' the u l><:r tisc of 'he law· yer perform ing such . cr.·leu.
.".r·
I.EGAL RESfu\R CII and writing .... · via:, Licensoed altor ne~. B.A. in English. LtJ., 1I,.j,,,, us""iat. edilor. form..- led· e ... ) di. trict ClMJ,I ckrk, lormer Alabama Supreme COU'I cler• . Access to Cumber· Lond library. Rate $35Ihour. I'ene Gr ubbs. 98&8521 (1oc:a1ly call great" Birminghaml. No "'pre,.., "t alion i~
m"de a hoo. I he qualily "f the legal ""rvice~ to be {M'rforme d or the ex· " .,rt;sc 01 the Ln,.-yer perlonni"g such >'Cr vices, book" lor sa l.,
FOI( SALE: A complete set of Alabama Nej>Q<1ed Cases (mi . od vol umes of South· ern. Alabama and Alabam. Appellate 1'1 0porl~rsr. Alabama Digest; Shtpha"f5, Ca ll or wri te Da n Warnes. P.O. D... ", ... 906. Gun tersvil le. Alabama 3(;976. phon< ~.oo 14.
1'01'1 SALE: Alabarrno Digen: South<rn
Reporter I & 2; Fed ....1 Report..- I & 2: Fede ...1Supplement; " .11. 0 .; U.S. Led I & 2; AmJur 2d . Am Jur Legal Form. 211; ALR 2. 3, 4 & Fede1-al; Williston on Con· tracts 3d. complett tax library. F"" all your la ... book "",""s: The Lawbook Ex· change. Lid .. bu~ & .. II •• 135 W. 29th Street, New Yo..-k. New York 10001. rl l ~) 5944 3-t1. FOH SALE: Sou thern Re j>Q<1"" 2d vol .. 226--442. $1.500: Code 01 Alabama. $345: CJS. $1.000. Othtr stale and lederal pubIic>tklns available, Gtorgia Law !look Co .. P.O. Box 548. Sylv... G«>'lPa 31791 .
t"'.
THE ALABAMA LAWYER CLASSIFIEDS All requesLS for classified ad plocem~nt must be submitted typewritten and are subject to approval. Alabama State Bar members are not charged for classifltd nOlices up 10 I ..." in· sertions per calendar year. ex· cepl for "position wanted" or "JXlSition oIfered" listings. which are al (he regular rate. Nonmember ad"er!isers must pay in advance and will reo cei"e a complimenlary copy 01 Thf Ala/Ja'fia LAwyer in wbich their ad~ertisement is published. Additional copies are $3.00 plus postage,
RATES: Members; Nocharge Nonmembers : S3S per insertion 01 fifty (5(1) ","ords or less $.5(1 per additional word
DEADLINES:
FO H SALE: West Fed.•'orm •• Vol. 1· 16: Fed. Procedu",1 .·""m •. Lawy .... Edilion. Vol. 1·16; and T ... uma. all up to dote. Cmw"",,,,, & lilac • . P.O. Box 25l1l. Tu .. ClIoOi\.:I , Alabama 35403. phone: 349-1727.
Classified copy and payment must be received no late.- than the first day 01 the monlh prior to publi<;ation date. with no exceptions.
FOR St\LE: Criminal La ", Sffles: Am · ju, Proof of Facto; ArnJur Logal Form.; South<u t...-n Transaction Guide; Federal Pmcedu.-. .·""ms; ArnJur T ri.l.: P...-sonal Injury - Action., Defen""" & Dam~, COOtact Malone & TOIten. P.O, Bo. T19. Alhtns. Alabama 35611. phone 232·1287.
Send c1assif~ ad"er!ising copy and your check. made OUI
FOR St\LE: Soulh<oast~'n Tran$aCtion Guid~ (20 volumes) completel y update<!. $450. Ca n (lOS) 763-3502 or (7{Xl) 5607~7. or con lacl W.E. Rot.:rt. at P.O, Bo. 164. Lincoln. Alabama 35096.
MAILING: (0 The AiG/Ja",aLAwyt!T. to: Alabama Lawyer Cla ssifieds c/o Margl!ret Dubberley P.O. Bu. 4156 Montgomery. AL 36\1}1
puooiliun .. ul",r ed
MEDIUM s ln : u FlHM ..,,,11 .... !.IX ~~ ....... Iax "wyer "'111 IWOIOr.,.., ~~. UII<f;...,n, ,n fnngc
btneIil"
.:NISA and do.ri~ hdd bu,i.--. l.LM . pn.·I•.,.".... Afl1f~ui ....... k<pt """IO&nuol. keply 10 III,inK !'.'IIk'. Sirot~. I"',mult. ~'ol .. 1'.0 . Bo. ~1'17. lIi'm,n~h.m. Ala· bom. :I.';Z;5. M~;Dl U M
SIZED FIHM ""III"f'JIII: I..
AT I ENTION!
JI'XIa lIftIto.ax ...... yer !.,.-'II lIunl. vil"oIf~. T""lo r.,..,)'nl"S' Upenence ,n 1I\'....... I_ponl~ and 1..... "0... lLM. ~1n-m1. All inqu,.-- kqlt dtnl ..1. Ik"'~ 10 IlIn"1!i Pan ...... S.roI~. I'n-mull. tt .1 .. P.O. Box 55Tl7. 0 .. m'n~lIam. Alaboma:l.'t25!j.
"\II
wnr.
ATTENTJON ALL POETS
Onc:.--.
n.AIobama~ ."",,1OOt . . . . wric"'ll"""'eot
ellC~ ..... "oc"a' .01 theAlabam.Sr ... Bot ond ................
nw. ume ............... inoteod nI oubmit!"'III'OUI'""",1 ..on.:.._ baland ""'"' mernorablop(ld'Y. W."'ant io<>U lo"",ft! Specific.tm: en'<"tII19 .. I........... " bo ..........,.,.. in gOod ., onding 01 Ihe Alab;vno S'ate &r or .. udtnl • .,ten6ng. law oc""," wanll'OUI'
n.:-
-~Sob,.cl matl ... ;O oompIecdy 10 part>l'_', chooooin!!. Poem.
MISS ISSII' I'I .."" ........ oil and p~_ ponl~ .llomry
-,<,.. 10 reIoc:ol~ '0 """,II A"boma ara. L ............t. """
chllel. Toul >I. I......:..
"",,""'I1Y. ""'IIXI§. NASU ...... pI ..
80.
~I(li.
tot.......,..,.. 00\.....,"11
sn:. bI"",oky """
_ .1'Ituo
"'Illy 10 1'.0. Nalchez. M' ....;'''ppi 39120.
....., bo on 8\+" . II' _ . !wed ond doubIe-~
cnt..... ~ 30. 1985. n. in!he ~ 1'JII$_nlThoAlabana~. ~ . . limttedto"""(I) _ .... 'Y. but..., ........ ~e in Alabana~.
Tho ..............
rc<<Mng
......rq poem. ond ~
""hers. ... _
phoo~ """'aI.
n.
P.,,,,;p.,cl ore u'9O<llo ... bmit ....t .... carlt .... her lhan "' ...
""', ,Ioc cIooing dole.
Send 'wo copies 10:
Tho Abbama L""'Y<" P.O. 80. 4156
ANIM ,\ I, CKUEI.T,' IA \\', A"~ wln'td 10 '",m __ >1<0_ on ' .. lOlIIl .... Islcrwlly ..... _nd ~ .'00" ~
MonIgOrnety. ALl6IOl . ...... incLdo [ID<II' .......... ond • II\1II bo ........... <bing .... ~ .
I..,..,... ........en-
_~
_
'n'orm........ wnlaCI la ..... N. " aIry.:l.!1
.:a,;, Side Sq......,. Su,I.. :lA. lIunl ..·,II... Alabo .... J:iIIOI . I'IIonto 5J4-t.51!9.
ATTENTION AlL AJI1 ATEUII PtlOTOGHAPIIERS
FAHM FON SA!.E: G....."" Coonly.AI •.
"_encln p<intl 10 ....... ~ N . to. ,he iou'...... s-n:.,lono: Pho'ogr~ muse be N lI<IrIicillly.1o< ~<9<'
bam ... 1.29Ihc'et. fann.callit. hunllllJl Lond. '1'11_ m,b """til 01 l:::ulO .... Ala·
ba ..... on """ ..... ' II. ".nad. t_ hou_I"" ..-dI§. .....·.....II..'m buiklill(!ll.
Sc¥m pond. II"" .... "',Ih bass and tnam .•1............ tu.k<'y."ua,1 and small pme .... n""". by '''''''''' ~13 1 .
*
"1'1"""''''"'1.
WOKI) I 'KOCESS ING ""u'pmrn,: IBM d"I~"Y"""lono: Ihr<~ -rex'pack ~ (1"'0 101'111 N~""" packl. """ Texlpack 3. IWO T .. xlpack 2; lou. 5Z 1~ print"" wilh • ulomallC , , - lted. Iksl olIn-. ' IIIIU''''''' .ndnlltQd;~ IOP.O. Box 1109. Mo 1:11l1li :mn
Tho Alobarna l _ • aIwayo on the Iookoul .... cob slides. (II"
A"*""""
men' _ . Tho I.au.,.w;o ontna!ed in OtJ.doo< ALoborn. ........... ""-' ...... te!aled ...."..,,, (tueh ... wunh:ouoes. "'''') ond IIV\ lwIg"'loQU lui """'*llllll<c an •tyC-urclotna" cover. Tho A/cJboono l.au.yor ... "1er>'opI1o photogtapl. _ ....... 10. _ . l .«("""eeI. but ... _ be hold . - - - for ,............ eeI. Be "",,10 --'" an indn card IO'I\h you. .senond oub,tct _,'" 01 encbsedphooogr.p, to:
"",..n ..
" .-'"'P.O. 80.4156 MontgOrnety. AL 36101 .~
inc ......
io<>U' ........ and a ,~ numbef 101 ....... io<>U
........ bo JfllChcd 6Jrins tile day.
bi". "..
FOH SA l..:: Gull SIIon;s - I1oouot di r'1!Cl'yon lhe: Gulf• ....,.. 10, tull,
""u,ppod. C.UIlJ6..tl!k!.!. w.m:; ... w.ll. I", b<oc~u ... 10 SICY~ '!.artis. nll · LII
A,..,,,ue N",!II. S;,millJlham . AI.boma :l5<!O6.
,.
et cetera et cetera et cetera et cetera et cetera et cetera et cetera et cetera et cetera et cetera et cetera et cetera et cetera et cetera et cetera et cetera et cetera et cetera et cetera et cetera et cetera et cetera et cetera et cetera et cetera et cetera et cetera
,.
A statewide Sexual Assault Workshop will be held in Mobile fl lay 9 and 10. The workshop is s\Xlrlsorcd by the Ibpe Crisis Center of !'I'lobile. the Lighthouse of i\'lontgomcry. Chcrokcc·Etowah·[)C Kalb Counties 1\'lctllal I-Icahh Center and the Women's Clin ic in Binningham. For morc mfOTmation. please contact June Nichols. coordinator. at the C.E.D. Mental Health Center. (l05) 492·7800.
Tl!JU<lTOHIIIL SEA. a qua rterl y ])Ilblicalion on legal developments in the management of marine resources, is entering ils fifth year of publication. The newslelter e xamines the Ieg-dl principles behind such issues as fisheries conscrval ion and management. oil and gas development and stale VS. federal authority. For a complimentary mpy. con tact the J\ larine [..<IW Institute. Uni· versity of Southern Maine. 2,16 Deering Avenue. I'onland. Maine 0410'2 or phone (207) 78().4474.
I'residenHlect Jaml,,'s L North is in the process of makingcommil. tee aplXlintmcnts for the 1985·86 bar year. If you would like to serve your bar. please ret urn the commillce preference Questionnaire you recently received. listing your first. second and third choices. If your term on a committee has nOi yet run. but you would prefer not to be re·appointed. please inform him of that. also. Committees are central to our efforts to serve the profession . the public and the cause of justice. Get involved!
I~emember ... educational programs are the main feature of the
Alabama State Bar's Annual Meeting. Make plans now to be in Hunts· ville Thursda y through Saturday. July 25·27. 1985. and earn as many as I 1 CL E credits for your participation.
Have you moved recently' If the answer to thaI Question is ycs, double-check that you have submitted a change of address to the Alabama State Bar. If your address is nOi changed. you will not receive your Alabama ulwyer or other important mailings from your bar association. Send your change of address to the AI,lbama State Bar. P.O. Box 671. ~ ' ontgomery, AL36101.
News fla sh! Tile Alabama Lmvyer needs you to keep us informed of news in "your neck of the woods," Please send interesting news to Tile Alabama Lawyer. P.O. Box 4156. Montgomery, AL 36101. Phone (toll· free) 1·800·39'2·5660. or 269·1515 in Montgomery. M.,/9;i5
LEGAL PRINTING
....
Legal and Finan cia l Prin ters Since 1910 Ex perie n ced , De p e nd a bl e, Res po n sible, Co nfi de nti al
Prospectuses, Proxy Statements, Official Statements, Tender Offers, Indentures and Briefs
BIRMINGHAM PUBLISHING COMPANY 130 South 19th Street Birmingh am , Alaba ma 35233 Tele phone: 205/251-5113 Contact : Ha rold Fulton , Vice Presidenl
The Master's Tools Fine tools. In the h.. nds of ,I rn.lSler they ('.In sh.lpe.l qUJlity instrument, bring life to ,1 sl"b of slone or COd>: J new T~ from.l
hJndful of e,!r1h You find m.l~lers in every profession. They're th ... onC's .,\ the top Or on their W"}' , They'n mastered theiTer"ft ;md the tools they use.
For .111 "\torney, those loob Me on Ihe shelves of his libr.lry. Th.lt's when' you'll find ("Trl!· Juri:; 5«u,,,/,,,.,. The L'SI word Ul leg.,1 encyclopedl.,~. The first pl,Kl'
to look. Curpu.' Juri .. Sl(Imdum ('ont •• in. "II tlH' l~w. "II the I'xn'plio"" All th(" time. Corpu;Jun,Sn:uniium. mdsters.
forthe
You c.ln't m~sh'r your cr.. ft until
you mdster the
HON J L CAPELL P
a
tool~,
I! [
HO X 20b "
~ONTGUMER Y
Al 36L91
w.., rubll. hl"S Comp,"y P.O.
80. 6<>26, 5.,n, Pao', Mlno....'. -"',... .." ..