Lawyer 5 86 web

Page 1

The Alabama

awyer

Hugo l. Black 1886-1971

1986 LAW DAY "Foundations of Freedom"


'~t Union Bank, Ire rrork

hard to earn your trust. " - Henry A. Leslie

~I and Chief Execuli'~ OffICer

Unioll BalIk 11'0........ r:lo~lv w ill I mall\' ,\lal 1;11 I m allOIlU..''''S ill Iht: ad lllilli:.l l;tli(;n orlru~ls ;tlld 1'~lalt o:.. Ollr in\ 'c sll11l'lIl (';rp"lJil il ies hal'l' i IIcn'aS(!( I dl; lmalicall,v ill Iht' l);Is l ,I'I:;II ' Ir.v Ilw ;tdelilioll uf a Slate路of路1 I IIh ll1 COil IpUII'1 1%1:( I sYSlt '11 I. I \ S ;\Ial Kill r;t 's lalgcsl intiepelldcl It 1);lI lk, I\'(: umll u l ,til 0111' in vestment pn_H.;tlSSiI1~ lI'il11 il I II re "1"1 tIS I 1)( 'I ),u1 n 11'111 10 a SStlI'C con sl.nll alit 'I II i011 ; Ul( I t.:IJlllplete CUl ln( It 'I II ial il,v for vour eli(' llIs. , \ \'C invi te .1'0111' (It It ~'" iOl1s ,II lOut l I, liu, I Bank's In I~I scl\iccs. Ou rc.~ pcriell{;t'(l '''I~I u nicels w ill hi' J.;latllo diseuss any busil lt~... Ii, 1m Idal 01 ' a( It I I ini:.lml il'l ' a~1 j(!('1 or,he sel"ict~ \\~ , plUddr路.

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Edward

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Send add ress Challges 10 The Ala b.:im~ l.awyo;-r, P.O. Box pO§t nM\l ~r:

4156, Montgomery. AL 36101.

The State Acti on Immu nity Doclrine: a Reassessment .. . 136 Governmenlal agencies gener~lIy h~w. enioyed immunity from federal anTiuuS! law,. III recem deci,ion\ lhe Uniled SIJII'S Supreme Court engrafted lOme e~cept;on\ 10 Ihe Iraditional immunity rule .

Expert ... . 1 5 0 The Ule vocalional e ' pert leslimony ha, become incre~>ingly common in JlI'f' \OI1a l injury lamuits. How can" vocalional e'pe!1 be u\l'<l a\ an ef/ooi'e litigalion tooll

IN SID E TH IS ISSUE

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PresidenT', hecutive Director's Rl'f>Ort B~r Brief, ....... Riding lhe Circuits .. . COnTmineeo; .. , Young Lawyers' Sec1ion de opportunities Aboul Members. Among Fi rm s Legislal ive Wrap-up

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Recefll Oed,ioo, Disciplinary Report

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Opinions of the Gencr~1 Counsel . Midyear Meeting ... Memor ial s. Et Cetera MCLE News Classified Notices

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President's Page 2. t....... r.hoold be fig0<0U5 ""fo<\:,"""",1 0/ Tort reform pro/ession<Il discipi irwy <:<:de ~i""" proneproblem wriling this message ..:" bing ~ lrom filing fri><>k>oo wn. ~nd 10)00 is Ihal I mull do it well delenses •• nd .. neti"", r.hoold be imposed in advance of publicaMn, and ",!>en I ..... prooii'ion' .... ,000ated; by the time \'OU ~ei~)OOr cop{ of Tlte l. Ir.. ... r.hoold be more ef\oa i.... """,ed~res .nd Inc .... sed f<.onding to O1"",gthen medic.1 Alabama I.awyet events will h;r..oe oclken,ing.nd dilCipli""ry boord,., 1M ""Ie curred I could r.oI foresee. Like a ll ci \'OU """I; d'Iom should be inc ...a<ed to """bli", I h""" given a greal deal of thoughllO lhe el/ecti", ri", m."""""",,1 program, in the 'iO-Calied "tort reform" bills con.idered deli .... ry 0/ ""alth c.... """ic"; during lhe t986 Regular Session ci the 4. no j~'tiroc' lion ""iSIS /or """",,,,ins medica l malpoxticeactions from the ru ... o/ Alabama Legi,lature. As I wrile Ihis, I punili .... damages applied in 10<1 lilill<'l i"" 10 hiM! 1>0 w~ 01 knowing whether thai del ... 8"'" miscDn<lOO; package 01 bills passed or failed. My 5. ,..,.ices 0/ inWlI to we. ..:reening po""l, g...ess is lhey probably will fai l during this and .ffid....i" 0/ """"''''''' .... ment • .., u.... §eSsion. and in Tr'I opinion, mat package necessary in medical malp<octlce action" clearly .lIoold h;r..oe failed. f.,. no ju01iroca1i"" ""i,1S /or • special ru le g<M'ming malic""" pmseculioo """ions Those proposals represented a radical b.ooShl by health c.", pmy;der.; against petrestructuring of OUr tort syslem. One bill .Or" .uing them /or malprocti~ NORTH v.oold have required a ""beyond a re.asoo7. Iri.1 Coons r.hoold careful 11 <crutin ize lhe able doubt" standard of proof in certain qu.alifocalion. ol """"'" """",ted a< """"'" to "'''''''IM! on ly those penon •• re permined 10 testify wl>o. civil Ca>es. Thi. sort 0/ legi.lalion i. 'imply irresJXlnsible. by knowledse. "' ill. ""perien<:e. ,,"iningot educa1ion. qualify The Olher bills were 1'101 q~ite as bad, Oultheir Pilssage •• ""perts; i. 1>01 ju.tified !:Iy the fact~ a I.... roIl.I ....1""m:e rule r.hoold be letai"<!d; third portln It is "-'lll documented that insurance have not come w"'" " - lumi.t>ed """"".ry benefi". 10 pI.' ntiffs r.hoold be down in Slates 3dopting "lOrt reform." The crisis, If there pet"mined to seek ..,imOO..........,t out 0/ the rec<MfY; be one, is an insorance crisi~ It arises from the praclice, 9. contingent lees Pftl"1de ><c .... to t.... cOlm... nd no justifICation .... i."./or imposing Sj>I!<i.1 restriction. on these in p.;tS! years. ci insor<ll"lte companies competing franlically in medical malptactice action,;.rId lees fo r premium dollars when im"""t rales were al hiSloric 10. the use 0/ "IUOU"'" ~Iemenu l-hould be encoufilged. high~ The insurers tod~ are reaping Ihe results of these I do r"I()\ agree wilh all lnese pr<>p05llion. of lhe improvidenl p<actir:es. Ne-erthetess,. during 1985, property Bar Associalion and merely include them for American and casualty insorance >locks <me by Iwice as much as your informalion. Incidenlally. your board of commi .. the """rail Standard & Poo(s.\Od: index. M<lreOYer, il is siooers, at its last meeting. endorsed legislalion 10 impnM! undisputed thedoc1ors' mulual insurance company in AI .. doctor discipl ine, an ABA proposal. bama has been exlremely profitable. The American Ba r Association has studied Ihis matter Nonethe les., notwith>land ing Ihe ABA position and in greal detail . Three ~parate commis.ions were appoint· what I said abr::Ml, I believe there i. a public pe rceplion ed 10 imesligate lhe a rea. The latesl, the Amefican Bar ~ change in OUr IO<t system is needed. The preso;ures Association Special Committee on Medical Professional 'imply 100 great. When lhe President of lhe United are Liability, concluded, among other Ihings. lhe Ioll"",ing: Stales weigh, in on the side 01 an exlremiS! lask foKe I. The regulation d medical ~ liabil il'/ is. "",ncr report, TIme magazine makes il a C<Ner SIOry, e>e<y olher lor Mate con!.ld.ration, ....J Ieder<ol i"""""""" in thoIa .... i, inaP!>'OPt,.~, major publication wrileS about the "Iiabiliry crisis: the air.

O

fiI""

May 1986


w~ ~re

filled Wiln progr~ms on Ine "liability crhis," ~nd w many and ,och varil'd conSTituencies--nOi juST doelors, but OOmebuilder5, small busin~' men and women, munic ipill and county officials-are calling for modification, in OUr >ystem, ine'\lit.,bly there is going to be poblic pressure for change. Therefore. I bel ieve we will cominue to 5t'e legislative dlon. relating 10 our liability system. Many Iriends in tbe plaimilfs' b.lr say nOi . They say, as noll'd above, the lacts do n01 suppon change; the lault lies nol wilh our legal system but wilh the insurar>ee industry, and with appropri~te pobl ic edUC<ltion, lhe cur.enl cia""" simply wi ll go -i'r'/. Pemap' o;a t cert~in l y agree the lacts do not support the rad ical changes re<:enlly urg«l on our legislalure or the propos.als reconr mended bv Ifle President's task /orce. Whal if I am right, lhough? What illhe pob lic outcry /or change continues? Shouldn't il be our respoosibility as 13Wyen to be in Ifle forefront of shaping any changel Can'1 OUr present system be im· p""",", 10 "Iiminale abU§eS11 believe il can be, and that we have a respon,ibili. ty to lhe people of Alabama to pilnicipille in fashioning any im~1S eliminat· ing ""i"ing prob lem" whil" protecling the ch"rished fund.memal righ" 01 access to our coons and a trial bv jury. No rec"m legislative hear ings. il became apparenl some groops ino.olved have become hysterical and pilranoid. Likewise, both 'ides have drawn a line in the dusI, unwilling to make any public concession . tn wch circum,rances. no reasonable compromise can be achieved in a public /orum . Cenainly, more heal tban light was sned in tr.ese hearings. In my leslimony on the ton reform flackage, I recommended to Ihe l"8islalure that e ither i1 Or lhe goyernm should appo<nI a comminee or task lorce re-preseming all the con"iluenl groups in",Ived to perform an in-depth study 01 the who le liability area. tl th is study produces data ca lling /or legislati ve 1>(lion. let the study group recommend rea§Ollab le wlutions. Normally. I do not favor these study groups. However. here. where the STakes are >0 high_nol only for OUr profession but for the publicsuch an eflon is justilil'd. AlxNe all, as lawyers, let uS nolloneil OUr dutylo lead in Ibi s situation. Weare especia lly qualifoed 10 do Ihis.

Judge Wrighl The lee County Bar Associalion honored Circuit Judge George "SI'UIl" Wrighl in ceremonies April 4, featuring the chief JUSl ice ali principal spea~er. Chieflustice Tmben's remarks aboul his long~ime close friend ""'" both humor· ous and dignifol'd, perfect for the occasion. There were many lawyen lrom aroond the stale, along with a number 01 3ppellate and circu it judges. Jim Haygood, presidenr oIlhe lee County Bar, p<esented JudgeWrighl with a hand>Ome I'OfIrail, to be hung in Judge Wrighrs courtroom.ll'ditor's notE." Judge Wright dil'd April 21, 1986.) Anbur G o ldlwrs On March 15. B'nai B'rith presented i~ Great Americ~ns Award to former ASSOciate lustice of the United Stales Supreme Court Amb.:tssador 10 the United Na· tions and Secretary 01 Labor, Anhur J. Goldberg. Al; your president. I served as Slate chairman lor lhe dinner. Many I;rw. ~rsattended, including former Alabama State IJ.ar President Sonny Hornsby and wile Judy. Hugo Black March 16th, we al1endl'd a recePlion in honor oIA>sociate Ju"ice Wi ll iam J. Brennan, neld in con.--rion wiln the Univenity 01 Alabama's Hugo Black Centennial Celebration. Thecelebration continued Man:h l11h and lBth. Tne progr.Im incltJded A>weiate Justice 8renrl<ln; former Asweiate Justice Goldberg; Chief Judge John C. GOObold and Judge Frank M. Johnson. Jr.. of lhe 11th Circu it; Judge J. Skel ly Wright and Judge Harry T. Ed· wards 01 the Distrid of Columbia Cifl;Uil; and Chief Judge Truman Hobbs oIlhe Middle Districl 01 Alabama. Ther" alw we", prominent memben of Ifle press, among lhem Max Lerner 01 Ihe New Ibrk Ib>t and syndicated columnist and author Anthony Lewis from Ifle New York TIme •. The /ollowing s.cholan presenled P"P"'" Irving Di llard. emeritus pro(esSOl; Princeton Un iversity; Gerald T. Dunne. professor 01 1_, S1. louis University School 01 Law; Paul R. Ba ier, profes>or of 1_, Louisiana S1<Ite Univers ily Law Cenler; A.£. Dick Howard. White Burkert Miller Pro/eswr 01 Law and PUllic Affairs, University of Vi<gini~ Law School; Guido Ca lablesi. dean and SterlinS Professor 01

Law, Yale Law School; and Dan iel J. Meador. Monroe Professor of Lavv, Un i. versity 01 Virginia Lavv Schoo l Jl.IStice Black', 1_ derks pilnicipilted in the program. and Ihe highlight of the two-day program was lhe presence of Mrs. Elizabeth Black and lhe rest oIlhe Judge's family. From a ll reports it was 3 splendid evenl. The Universily of Alabama, Presi. dent Thomas, Dean Gambleand Professor Tony F"*, are to becom~ for Iheir etIons. It was truly appropriate thai Alabama bono< one 01 its giants Midyear Meet ing The Midl"'ar Mee1ing oIlhe bar waS held in Montgomery March 19 300 ro. Jim Sasserol Monlgomery was thechair. man 01 lhe comminee planning the meeting. and hedid a splend id job. Reg. gie and lhe S1;ili performl'd in lheir usual OUlSlanding manner. Commissionert meeting N. your boom 01 bar commissioners meeting. your commissioners made ..... eral importanl decisions. First they agreed to petilion the Alabama SUflreme Coun fo r the eslablishm<>nl 01 an IOLTA (In lerest on !.awyen' Trust AccounlsJ lund. The fund "'IUld be mlunlary, lhe porp0se5 for which mor>eyS used ",""u ld be precisely defined and il would be administered bv your elected representa· tives. Rowena Crocker of Birminglum and he.- comminee memben "'lMk1'd ex. lremely ham On thi., and lhey deserve our thanks. Ralph Knowles 01 Tuscaloosa, chair· man of lhe Task Force on Judicial Evaluation. Se lection and Qualificalions, presentl'd IWO subcommittee chairmen. Gene Stutts and Donald S_ney, both 01 Birmingham. STUns discussed a fllan for the confidential evalualion of Slate judges. Tn.. oo..rd approved Ihe plan in principle and requestl'd the comm inee submil details regarding the (051 and adm iniSiration of il. The commi1l"" hopes 10 have a ","pon for final ad ion bv Ihe oo..rd before the annual me<.1ing in Ju ly. FoIICM"inS S_ney's repon, tfle boom app""",", the lollowing m inimal standard, lor judici al office. A judge should be: (1) nOt less than 30 years old; licensed to practice law in Alabama; and (ll a law school graduate with at least rove Continued on P"se 127

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Executive Director's Report Reflections on a Drunk Driver

"I

tried to _keep him off the SlIfttS. ..

Thi. phr.o.e will .emain embedded in my memory lor yea", These ¥oOOd'! _ utlel'ed to """ bv a wom;In

.os

I "';tiled at MonIII"fI""'I)I'S jaci<son Ho!.pital, where ...16 W. "AI" In,,,,,, Jr •• ~ ~\'W'-oId son of one 01 the b.or's a»i~ms ~",I oou~. W;1S be-

ing JNintained by lile wppon equip. nlCf\t in the Intensive care unit

AI was a gifted youngster arxl wise beyond hi Syea". HI! posse.se<J. winwme pmsonality and a leSt for life causing

anyone meelinS him lor the fom ti me to reoogniu him <>s weo::1al. .0.1'1 ~,tnrs~., told his critical he.xI injury had ,~ltM in tw.in dearh, appro,ilNrely 15 minuteS befon> !his grief-

M"cket1 wom;In!.POke 10 """. She !dIked

about !he 24-yN,-ok! INn whose ca. !.IlU(k AI the lW<eYious <>fIemoon as he rode his bicycle home lor suppet. The driver had been drinkingaod, upon 1eSI·

ins. his alcohol level waS .16-1eg;.lly intoxicated.

The IlrOblem of the drunk driver 00 the highways 0/ America, on the roads of Alabam. and on the st~1 of MOnt-

son-v hal been brOOghlllome to me

in the mosI uagic way I un imagine, sho<t olooeol my~' Ming been Ihe vicTim.

If.

Thil driYe' had ~ coovioed "DUI il5 • ~II iIoCdderlt in Augusi 1965 wuh Ihis WOIl'IilI'I, The s.lme wee!< in which lhis ~ 0C0Jf1I!d, r.he IW gone 10 circuil court, wt-e the young ..,.., appe.led the cOI'tViClioo wilh ito fine ~nd j.il ~!ence. The appeallW been con!i~, aoo thedri_ remairled

"ilI'I

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free 00 bond bec.....se lhe city's ~ppel"'!e Wil5 involved !I>iI1 diIy in <WIOd>er ~ in ~ COIJrt room. There t..d beotn ~00!her prio< ",rei and conviction. As woo:! " the driver's previoos iOlcohoI·rela!<'d ~ beCiII'TIe known !lwwghout the cily, m.. quelorion, "How could he ..III have been permiNed 10 drivel", was ,~ed by I,w. yet and layman ,like. The Inm 1000 ange. fel!.nd expt""'sed caused me 10 pull.my o riginal column about commi llee work and AS'-' mernbet"!hip.nd ask you !O 'enee, with me on our p<Ofession's need 10 examine' system ililowing a multiple offunder 10 ,em:oon behioo II wheel, II threat 10 all who uavel OIJf I>lghw~ lind "reelS. A~ has the fo""", coon system in the .... Iion, but Wymen do not iully ..... detsund OIJ. ly$ll!m " j""ke or OIJ. roles il5 advoc.l!eS. I an tell you from the COIr.""'~s I he<lrd IoIlowing this tr3gedy, lhe public is corwr~ SOfI"Ie(hing is wrong in lhe way DUI ca"" a,e handled. A .ecenl ju.or expressed dissuS! with the melhods used!o defend. OUI cha.ge and declared too delen!" !o be "an insul! 10 100 jurors' intelligence." '-'11 are aware of 100 more e.l~ critics 0( OIJ. courts' handling 0( OUI cases and the unJu" aUiIoCks Uporl judges who mu". .>CI in <>coord with "..tulory 1_. likewi~, 1 bel ........ lhere are ~ that ~ unduly dPlayed in fNChing the coun lor judiei~ detenninalOon. 1would defmd for-.1he COJ>IliMiooaI gua,antees of our 6ill" Righls il5 I know you WOUId:~, this u3gedyconvinced me justice Ihould be not ooly fai., bol swift and certain . ~

HAMNER

The 1fNJ!e 0( '-Yt'ts and OIJ' role in

m.. justice ~em !ohould COflCI.'tn \IS .11. I formly believe ...., can t.1ke a giant step wward grNle. public ;occeptance and lII'odet"!unding if OUr bench, court lOdminist""00 and bar wrll war!< with legisla. tors in comminnem to a (.itinl review and revlsioo 0( the laws on alcohol-n,· laled vchlculM accidents. Tht.'f/l has to be a midd le gmuoo.1 (~n think 0( no 8rea!e. memori~1 to AI

JoKkKWl ~nd OIher victims 01 drunk drivthan commininS ouneIves to fonding it. We an m~1te ~ diHe.eroce, and we

el"!

must.

M~y

1986


President's Page

is no doubring his sinceriry no< rhe deplh 01 hi5 con'\licrion~

Conrjnued (rom I"S" 125 lega l exper ience. The commil1ee plans to prepare implementing legisl;,.. tion shortly.

Philip Gidiere, Jr.. 01 Mootgomery and A. Dan ....... fr;lzer, J<, 01 /l.lobile represent· ed the point 01 view 01 defense counsel in n,edical malpr.lctice cases and M. Clay Alspaugh and Lanny S. Vine5ofB ir. minKham spoke for the plaimiffs side.

At a luncheon meet ing, we "",re h0nored 10 hearfrom the chief justice reg<lrd-

It was an inte<e>ting and p'<M>Cati"", discuS5ion of a com""",~ial issue.

ing proposed legislalion prm iding fi· nancing for a new judicial office bu ild· ing. No one can dispute rhe crying need 10, fleW quane~ lOr our appellate courts. The chiefs proposal \mu ld p,,,,,ide for Alabama courts fo' rhe next century. I nope that by the date oIlhis article this legislation will have paswd.

\~ also were nono,ed by grWings from two candidate510r g<M'ffi<>I', Lieutenam """'rnor Bill Baxley and Attorney G<!oeral Cha, le5 G,addic~. Fo,mereo.",no, Fob James and IOrmer Lieulenant G<:Nemor George l\.'ocMilian Md ro.,ma· ing schedules. ~appreciated lhe presence of Bill and Charlie and enjoyed thei' remali<s. I hope thal "'" w ill be aMe to emenain Ihe next go.erno, al Our annual meeting in July. We also heam f,om the lou' con· I"~ fo, the office 01 atto,ney general: Di5u ict Attorney Jimmy Evans 01 MOnl· gomery, Secretary of State Don Siegel.

~ars'

We had an excellent lOrum on mediC1lI malp''''lice. Dr. Julius Michaelson, presi. dent 011"'" Medica l Association 01 AI;,.. bam. and a family practil ioner in Foley lOr (M:, 40 ~JrS. spoke fi~1. Michaelson ""pres~ his views ably. and while I d iS<lgree w ith himon some po inls. there

97u& ,A-,sU& if; dtxhCated UJ-

.rim-

tA& menw{!I/

e/Ak. "/III.;IIM, Ak.v «(Jallu' .,7fl..A.-., J!f{"'{9(HIl~'Y'

The Alabama Lawyer

ef

AI"PaNlll,


m~n.

HOUSIOn Counry Oistricl NIomey 10m So<relk ~nd Go.erno< ...."IIaoct's Iorme< ~I ~ Km \Valli!.. No!:_p<isinaly. they III W~1l! to de.:on up Ioxic ~es ;ond lei criminals off !he Slreetslumly the SlUff of CDrlt..,.,.,.;y. The dis(ussion re~lIy boiled da.Yn 10 who could do the bes! I~ring job. They are i~ pressi"" c.,,,hdat~~. If>5ur.nce ~I malp<Klice infoUrance continues 10 bun(M!friding problem. Alii can ~ is tlut ~ in! ~ing on this matte, as ham as _ C'ln. 1 WOIS told IOCby }<IlIr i".. )lnfI(e comminee pbrn 10 NlCOMmend !he f....tina of • ~I ~00y of !he IHsibiliry 01 .:teali'" a 'ipli-e COtnpiltlY. Ad~isi ...

The AI.ab;tma Su~ Coon rE'Cerltly ruled a l.......,er muSl be permined 10 ad",niM! the fact he is cenified by the N ... lionilllooord of T,jil Ad>OCKV The coort g.:M! the ba, six month, 10 draft p<OpO§ed ad"llrtising ,ule changei. There are ba,i_ ci lly IWO appt'O.)Cr.es. One is to 5e1 up oor own c... lilying meclwlism. The 0I1ler it 10 t!Slibiish critefi. which i.... depeool'll! cenifyin8 bo.;itds or organ',1tions must meet in oodet 10 satisfy All~ ~rds. I ~ the tnl< Foro!! on 5pe(ialil!ation. chaired by Carolyn O""""n 01 8irmtnglum, to SlOOy this prOblo!m ;ond come up with recomt'l'Oe't'>dations for your bo.;ird of bar cornmiWonetS. Obituaries IctIeoon County loS! two d;>lin8Uilhed joo~ re<:etlily. Ci rcu il Jooge William Thompson;ond ,,-~Ired Orcuit Judge WaI-

It.

HUGO LA FAYETTE BLACK 1886-1971

The Unl~ 01 AIab..na School 01 ........ ~ one 01 its~ .... in foobruory witha~c~~m.s

cen4enni.1 ceIeOOouon 01 HUSO Llr f...,..ue 8IKk'S bhlh was t10I the firSl. In April 1984, during ~ \\ftI; activi. lies. awards were given in honor 01 the Uniled Stales SUll<eme Coun Justice. In addition, di,plays 01 Justice Black me .... orabllii WOlf(! unveiled.

The ne>;t yrar, a one-day cOlifetE.ooe _ held, Iocusing on 81.Kk's yr.:.1 01 publiC """ice in A...... prior 10 his ~ppoint· men' in 1931 10 the Supreme Coun. Among tho!oe maIe;na presentations """'" Virginia Van det-I.ft< Hilmillon, pr0fessor ~nd unl"""ry >dIOIar in hiSlOly. Uni"""ity 01 Alabama at Birmingl\.lm; O""id Shannon, comm"""",alth profe...,. 01 hislory. Un i...ersity of Virginia; J. Mills Tholllton, III. proIes>or 01 history, Uni",,lity of Michi8"n; and Sheldon HKkney, p,esident of Ihl' UniversiTy of ~nsylvanl;o.

Thi, yrar', eYents included "" ~ilina ~ stJmp honorina JtJSlice Blade ~nd the ronal portion 01 the C...... lenn;.I. a 1...xI;oy conference in March.

01 ~ U.s.

During the 1986 conference, distin· guM>ed Ju,I'I1. joumalists atld scholars explon:d BI>ek', contribution to ron'li. lul iona l law wh ile As"",;ale Justice oI,he U.s. Supreme Cou.1, 1937-71.

l"", Gib5on.

Ali I write 10 }<Ill, I am ~ by lhe ~alh 01 ~-oId AI lMhon. lhe ~ 01 our own AI"" and Mary JKk. son. AI's needlN doeath al the lunds 01 • d.unken dri_ is profoundly dis.luf'b. ins. Remember Ale: ..... Mary in }<Ill'

.

~...

- James

L. North

Justice William l. BtetIn.)n. Jt.. U.s. S<J. preme COUrt, tI.-li...etftl the keynote address, Ind 0Ihets (.-red 81~ wpporI 01 fn!E<lom 01 apmssion in Alneria; hit irnp.acl on labor s-; his decisions per. .. inins to deb!or< rEditor rights; his i.... fIuence upon the tr;>dilion 01 judicial self.. rest",in'; hi, anil~ toward cot>Stiw. lion.:olism; and his contribution 10 Amer· iean Fedetalism.

M~y

1986


Among tho!.e ~t dwing ~ ulb wen.' Uni~uy of Alab.m.o f'fesident jo,lb l. Thom~s, Uni'A'f'Sity of AI~bam.o Sd>ooI of L.,w De~o Charles W. Gami*, 100 Hooor.IlJle F'ank M. ,,*,OIOfl and the Hooof~ble John C. Godbotd, ch ief iooge of tr.e Uth CifCuit, u.s. C<>un of App"als.

M",

Eliz~

Blu signed copies of M~

/uWa Irld M", BI.N:l= The

Memoj" 01

Hugo L ,rid Wubeth BI.odc.

The proceedings from !he 1911S and 1986 oonfereoces are to be publi!hed in ~ book, editW and Iww.",joo ~ Tony A. F,,¥,r, a professor at the Uni...,rslty'i School 01 law and director 01 the centeoni.1 honoring l...rke Black. BegInnIng in the !f)fing of 198). approxi""'tely S5Q.OOO was~ed ~ the AI.lIlam.o H""""",ties fQundation, Natronal Endowment lor the Humanities, J...rice Blade'S I...... clerks, Alaharna State Bar, A",er ican Ba, foundation and Harvard law SCOOOt. The Uni~ity of AI.b.l",. law School Foundation contributoo neA'1y an eq .... 1 amount. for""" I...... c lerks 01 BlacIr's, pankulowly Buddy COOJlI!f, lim Nonh, Trum.on Hobbs. o...-.J v..on - ' Mel ae.etand, pooo;rded the iOltiall"" lor !he com..-.-.tion.

Hugo l. Black Wil5 bom in Harlan (CI;oy County). Alab.lma, Febtuary 27. 1886. He grad .... ted (IQII'I the Uni~ity of A~ bam.o School of law in 1906, PfiKtkillg first ill Ashland - ' in 8irmingh;lm.

"'Ie<

He was eIKted to the Uoi\ed SUte5 Sendte in 1926.fIII pi¥<! signifiCilnt roles in lhe ~ablishmen1 of the lennes_ Va lley Authotity and federal wage and houl laws.

Bl;ock WilS selearo in 1937 bv P~t fr.o"hll Q ~t to the U.s. Su~ Coun. While an associ.1e iuRice, he ad..oc.ted Sl'JWation of chun:h MId j,fd~. the enfotcemerot of .",itruM laws. .;ocial ~ion and protOOion 01 First AmendrrM!fl! fights.

u.s. Suprt!me Coon IUstice Hugo Lo Bladr ;s ......iwd

bv

his

wj~,

Eliz..beth

S. 8I.Kk; chiklreo HUIO l. Black. J~; Ster· ling F. Black; josephIne Bl;ock Pesaresi; and M", Black', ..... , fn!d I. DIoMeritte; ,,00 many grandchiklrefl.

F.yeIle Blad<

IThe AI~Nrn.l Uwyet 11\,)01<5 Gloria Purnell MId 10ny A. f...,..,oft .... Unlvenity of AI.m.m~ School of law lor their OK~SI3nCe in ptepOI,ing I.... inlorffilllion on Justice Black.)

'"


Bar Briefs f ourt h a nnu al announced

Dev itt

The HOIlO<~ble William

a fede<al looge fo,

~,

J.

45

Awa rd

Campbell, ~ars.

has

been named recipient of the Devitt Oillinguished Service 10 luslice A"""d. The .nnwl award is given 10 a federa l judge nominated by members oirhe legal profession and deemed by the award com-

mitt"" 10 hiM! contributed mo.t to ad· varn:e the cau§e 01 justice. Judge Camp--

bell will f't'Olive a S10,ooo honorarium and a spe<:ially engr~ C'Y$lal obelisk ~I a presentation c.. ~mony late, this year, The """I'd comm iuee also anoounced

fdward A. Tamm. recenlly deceased Judge of the Un ited St'l1es Cout! 01 Ar>peals in w"shington, D.c., will beawarded POSlhumously a speocial Devin Award for hi. 37 years dleadersh ip in the OP'eralion and improvements in the p rocedures of the Ci rCUit and Dimicl Couns in Washington, D.C. The Devin Award. (!<;tJbli§/1ed in 1982, is presented yearly 10 a federal judge, chosen by a panel of peers, on the basi s of his Of he, outstanding service to Ihe cause of justice. The awaJd created in ...cognition of EdwaJd J. Devitt longrime Ch ief Unired SrMes Oi,rriC! Judge for rhe Oisrricr of Min""",ra who, in 36 I"'a~ aI judicial service, made many sub. s\antial contributions to rhe uuse aI jusrice. l'rI.-vious ....:ipients alrhe Devin AwaJd are United Slares Cir<:u ir Judge Albert IJ. Maris al Philadelphia, Unired S!<Ites Oi l;tricr Judge 1Mllter E. Hoffman aI \!irginia and United States Cir<:uir Judge Fr.lIlk M. Johnson, Jr., aI Alabama. Chief Jusrice 1Mlrren gurger honored by a Special AwaJd in 1983 for 'trong adminiwative abil ities and inspirin glead""hip of tile federal and state court systems.

u.s.

wa,

wa,

'"

24ASO Legal

Ser\lices cases dosed in

1985 Legal Services casehandlers in Alabama and private lawl"'~ representing legal Services clients dosed a total of 24,450 cases laSI yea r, caseload figu res indicate. Of tha~ 18.855 cases ~re handled by legal Services staft and tl>e resl were dosed by Pfivate attorneys. The numbers by program are as follows: Birmingham Area legal Services Corporalion: 2,4 62 closed by staff aoo 541J closed by private attomeys; legal Services Corpo<ation of Alab.ama: 13,690 cases closed by s!<lff and 2,721 cases dosed by private attom<!ys; legal Servkes of North Central Alab.oma: 2,703 cases dosed by 'taff and 2,326 cases closed by private attOrneys. LSNCA's private atlorney caseload appea~ proportionally high .... than the O1h", program, because LSNCA repom all cases referred to Pfivale liI\'IIy\'lS, including fee..generating Cises, criminal cases and oon~ [igible dients, as p.:" t of its Pfivate bar i"""lvernent ca", load. - !.egal Services Bul/eljn, january 1986

D ickens oilers new ~rsp«I ;~ "If you compare prosecutors' arguments in lodav'5 death penalty cases with arguments u5ed in the fiC!ional 19th cenIUry English trials aI Charles Dickens' n"""is, )OU'II find thaI Dickens was u~ by lhe same things that tend to upset us loday; says Norman Stein, assistanl professor of law al tile University of Alabama. Stein believes Dicken,' works are appropriate reading fo' " D ickens and the law; a course he is teaching to some 20 rh ird-;ea, law students at the University's School of Law. Aite, almost th ree I"'a~ 01 intense study of law, a chance to took at law from a broad.,.- perspecti"" is espec ially importanl, I>e says. Dick."" .tudied to be a lawyer, and Iegaltl>emes and tl>e image of liI\'IIy\'rs are central 10 manydhis books: hisdescription of trials let students look .Itne system 01 ju,rice from a different angle. Among Dick.",s' legal themes are the

nann. g"""ming weial interaction; now weiely views c rime aoo treats criminal.; and now society di stributes wealth and privilege among classes. Texts for the course include Dickens' r\CIYels "A Tale of T..., Cilje.,y "Creal ExpectarionsY and ' lJIeak House.Y

Ma y 1986


New bar section attempting establ is hme nt T"""'IY-three Alabama anorneys are at_ tempt ing the fotmation ol a new bar se<;tion dealing with ani"",1 cruelty maUers ~s seen Ihmugh Ihe ~ oIlhe law. In order to establish. new se<:tion. at least 100 members are needed. O b jKli>es include drafting and sponsoring legislation .ffecting cruelty and abuse to animals. fundi ng Ihe use of the coun system to fight this crime and usins the law to promote a more humane society through elimination ol urmecess;IIy sulfering of animals. For more infO/mation. contact Mar'< l. Rowe. 10th HOOf, City N>de r.ll Buildin ", Birmingham, Alabama 35203-3758 or James R. foley, 223 east Side Square, Su ite-C, Huntsville, Alabama 35801.

Position avai lab le fo r full- time United States Magi stra te There will be a vacancy fot the posi_ tion ol full·time United States Magi"'ate in the United Sta les DistriC1 Court /or the Nonhern DistriC1 of Alabama. The per_ son appointed wil l ~ an eight.year lerm commencing in February 1987. Duties of the office a re both demanding arod wide-r.lnging and include: (lJ the conduct of all initial proceedings includins acceptance of complaints. issuance of arrest ''''lfranl1 Or summonses, issuance ol search warrant>, ConduC1 of ini_ lial appearance proceeding, for defendants info rming them of their righlli, im_ posing conditions of re lease a nd admitting defendants to bail, appointmenl 01 attorneys for indigent defendants and conduct of pre liminary examination pr0ceedings; (21 the trial and disposition 01 fed"",1 mi~anor cases with 0/ without a jury where the defendant is will_ ing to consent to trial before the magi... Ira le; and (31 accepl<lnce of grand jury return., condlKt of arraignments and hearing 01 all pretrial "",!lers and motions. In civil c ...... theduties include: (IJ the service as a special maStef in appropriate civil cases; (2J the review of appeals from final de terminations I7y administrat ive agencies SIKh as those undcr the Social

The AJaba"", Lawyer

Se<:urity Act and similar S1atutes and submillinga report ~nd recommeodation as to disposition crI the case to tr.e Uniled States District Jud ge; (3) cQOduct near. ings and submit recommendations in ha_ beas corpus actions and prisoner peti· tions challenging the condilions crlthei , confinemem; and (4) the conduct 01 pretria l and discowry proceedings in any civil case on reference fmm a United Sta te> DistriC1 jud ge . The basic jurisdic, tion 01 the United Stales Magi>!rate is SpeCified in 28 U.S.c. §636. To be qualified for appointment an .11>" plican t must · (1) be a member in good sta nding of the highest court 01 a state /or at least Ii"" years; m have been engaged in the active practice ol taw lor a period of at leaS1 r."" years; (3) be compelent to perform all the dutiesof the office; of good moral cha ,acter; emotionally s!able and mature; comm iued to equal justice under the law; in good health; patient and courteous; and capable of deliberation and decisiveness; (41 be less than 70 years old; and (51 noI be rela!ed to a jud ge of the distriC1 court. A merit se lection panel com flOSed 01 attorneys and other members of the Community will review a ll applicants and recommend to the jooges 01 the distriC1 court. in confidence. the five persons it cons iders best qua lified . The court will make the appointment. fo ll.,.... ing an FBI and IRS ilT"i:Sti g;uion of the appointee. An .!firmati"" effort will be made to Si ve due consideration to all qualified cand idates, including women and members 01 minority SIOUps. The salary 01 the position is \68,400 per annum. Appjication forms and furthe r infoonalion on the magistrate posit ion m<>y be obtained fmm; Cler'<, United State> OiSlriC1 Coun Northern Disl,ict ol Alabama 104 N>dera l Coorthouse Birmingham, Alaba"", 35203 Applications must be submitted only I7y potential nominees personally and must be received no later than July I, 1986. •

Top Medical Experts Free Case Evaluation "Tho odd> ag;oi""

)OJ winni",)'OII' m«Ii<>t .... tp!"ll<"<'.ct ""'''''' unaided ,

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JI).MI) PI CKS UP THE F.NTlRt: ",t:D1CAL SIDE OF \'OUR CAS E AND L F..AV FS YOU m WH AT \O U no HFSI'- T HE L AW, THAT' S TilE WI NNING CO:'IBINATI ON.

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Riding the Circuits C~ll>oun

Cou nty 8ar ",."d.tion

The Calhoun County Ba r ele<:1t'<l the follow ing officers to serve in 1986; Pre$I<ie<1!: And,...,.. W. Boh . II Vic ~ ~ t : Chari", S. DoI!<', s.-c""'ry: Ma"'UO Reid T",.",,,,r. P.I ,;ck Bumh:om

s.

In add ition, the foll(JW;"g w ill >e"'" on the "xe<;uti"" commi"",,: I• .,.,. A.. ""'in M. Ooogl • • G ...... Jerry S, Osae.bv

-'-

Geo<se A. ","", k Gran' Pa ris

In October John Fit~water, chairma rl of the Co lbert·l.!uderdale Economic Msociati on, spoke on economic change. Oe<;ember 4, the bar held its Chrillm., parly and in late February card iologist Joel Rainer ,poke, The Humana Shoal, Ho>pitai g.....e a d inner and lou r in laic /I.'-:m:h for bJ r me mbers, Finally a mock Irial on a murderOUI case was presented February 11 and continued April 16.

Escambi. County Bar "»oci.l ion (iIC ui! Jooge 1<J5ePh B. Brogden w•• in,la lle<l January 3 .5 judge for the 21.1 Judicial Circuit. The ceremony Wil' he ld in 11K> [ Kambia Cou nty Courthouse in Brewton and was h/.><ted by the Escam bi. County Sa r. Brogden waS awoinle<l by G<;..oernor

In addition , the ba r ",';OCiati on c reated a """ial award, the Judge G.H . "Spud" Wright Ir.. lurisprudenli~1 Award. A plaque wi ll be pl",ed wilh the pOmail of Jooge Wright, and the award will be presented on occa· sions, when 51.1Ch an honor is merited. toa membero(the bench or bar woo ha, performed outstanding and n'('ritoriou s service to lhe legal pr0fession and judiciary. Wrighl waS a 1955 graduale of the Uni1.Cr1ity of Alabama Sc hool of LJw. While in the Un ited Stales Army Reserve, he rece i.....d a Bronze Sta,. Purple He~rt, Meritorious Service r..-\edal. Army Reserve Ach i"""menl Meda l and Republic of Korea Pres i d~"'t i al Unil Citalion. In 1958, Wright wa. e lected lee County solic itor: in 1970, Gov. Albert B"""",r a ppointed him d ist rkt al· forney. Th r.... ,.ear; laler, Gov. George C. Wallace named him to his circuit jud geship.

Wallace to roll the v;w:an<;y created by the re1i remenl of P""idi ng Ci rcuit

looge Dougt." 5. Webb. Brogden serwd.s ••• iSlant anorner gl'l1eral of Alabama and a. part_rime city judgeof Atmore Wore becoming • •,i,t,lnt diWiC! anomey. A native ri Andalusia, Brogden ;5 a Navy velera n .r.d • graduate of

..... OO rn Uni""rsiry. He graduated hom the Cumberland School of LJw in 1%9.

G. H. "Spud" Wright Jr. wirh hjs dog. Phineas Finnegan 0700le

Brogden becomes the Sl'Cond circuit judge appointed by W~lIace in the p.1lt yea r. Eadie r, Wallace appointed EJr~t White to a newlY' created judgeship.

l .... County Bar A,wcid tion Shortly befom hi. death AJXillI , the lee County Sil r Assoc iMion honored ludge G,H. "Spud" W right, Ir.. lor his ,.ear1 of di"ingui,hed seNke to the 1eg<>1 profession and the judrciary. Joose Wrighl was Prelented an oil portrait 10 hang at lhe lee County luslice Center. lion , James K. Haygood, presidenl of the county bar, presided Oller the >pedal mee!ing held in JoogeWright's

Llulk>rdale County Bar Mwciation The September meet ing inc luded tal ks from reprelematives of three north Alai).)ma alcohol and drug rehabililJlion units.

c.c.

courtroom, and Chief Justice "lid' lOrbM, Jr., remarked on his ~ar1 of law pr"'ti", and service w ith Wright. Marry circuit jooges, personal friend, and county d ign itaries were present.

Wright i, 'iU",i\'l'd IY,- wife laura and lheir Ih ree c hild ren: Patrick, a filii lieutenant in the A"'"I and slationed in Germarry; Mark, a n ernp lO',ft with Aubu rn Federal Savings & loan; and LaurJ Ann, an Aubu rn Univer1ity graduate.

Mar1hall County Bar Aw>ciation The Milrshall County BM ek'Ct~>d ill 198& officers as follows: P.... ;denl' D.... id lee jones Vice pre-sidenl: George M. Sornetl s«"".'\'i'I",asu",,": II. Cames

Mav 1986


Mooile Count y 8a r Alsod.tion AI.bam. Supreme Coun Chiei JU ltice "So" ",rbert ,hared the guest speak«s table with Mooile County P~iding Judge Ferrill McRae at the February monthly mee! ing of the Mobile Bar A,soci.t ion. ""arch 21, tne bar OOnored three 01 its own for """ing practiced liM' for 50 years: Albert 5. Gastoo, 100000ph N. l..1ng;on amlj.1erry Reynoldl.lr. Each """ pre>enled wilh a fr.",ed (erlir.cate ",arl<,ngthe occallon. and Mr. Ga>1on ca lled it hil "certificate oI,urviva l." Welcomed . , guest ,peaker wa, James l. Nonh, p~ident of the AI~bama State Bar. In hi' ,peech he touched 011 the topics 01 malpr<lCtice insurance and "tOft" legisl~t i on.

Montgomery County Bar Association The Montgome ry County Bar Association Pro Bono Proj e ct re-cognized lawyers bestexemplif)'ing the ,pir it 01 pro bono J.erv ice dur ing 1985 at an awardl banquet February

"1he Pro Bono Project is a joint ven-

Torbett and McRae

W5ton, MBA Presidern !.alto/. !.ang<ln dnd Rf!ynold5

POOl, John Cameron of Cam<'lOn ami Cameron, Thompson. Keith Norman

0I8aleh.nd 8jngham and fuel Screws 01 Copeland, Franco, Screws ,{ GiIIpholo by Penny I'kdvet, t50.

ture 01 the Legal 5e<vice5 Corporation of Alabama and the """"tgomery County Bar Association. 1he project re/ers indigent clients to private praclice lawyers woo handle the ca~, u,ua lly <Iorr'Ie5tic relatioos matters, for no fee. In I'MIS, 422 ca5('S were dosed by liM'yers p.Jrticipating in the pro. ject. l.SCA entirely funds the project as pan 01 ils private bar i""<)lvement program. Project director Rob Reyno ld, presented plaques to lawyers contributing the mol! to the pro bono's success. Honored "'''e the liM' fi rms 01 Cameron and Cameron. 8alch and Bingham, and for the second conSKutive yea r. Copeland, Franco, ScrtM'S '" G ill. The individual anomey """,rd went to Jimmy Pool. Shelby Coullt y Bar Assoc;~tion The Shelby County Bar he ld election, fo< 1986 officers and the following were elecled; P"",ident: Wil liam R. Justice. CoImnbia"" Vice prelidefl1: Coorad M. Fowler, Ir.. CoIu",!>a"" Bruce M. C_n. Alabast .. T"",u"", P.Uici. fuhrme;' tet. Columbiana Tn.. bar pa,sed a unan irno<Js resolu. tioo 10 wIlPOn Jooge Kenneth Ingram, 18th Jud icial Circuit, Woo a"....,uneed plilIlS to ""'" .er iringjudge Charle5 M. Wright's ~irion on the Alabama Court of Civil Appeal s.

Sec"".,.,.:

TaU.r:Ieg;o County B•• Associa tion 1he following officers were ell'Cled by the Ta ll adega County Bar: President: Bi ll Thomp<on V",e ~t: Willi.", J. Wi lting-

Nm

Sec""'r}'iI", ••w"" )ut ian M.

~ in8

m


Committees

Mid}'ear

m~t i"g

recap

The b.~5 1986 midyear ..-ing was prodllC1i-e arid enjoyable for those participati ng in it NinetC<':n (ommitt~. fou, ~tions. the board d commissioners,

1m.

Disciplinary CommiSSion

and the MCLE Comm ission meT,

Gubernatoria l ,."didJ!es Ba.ley. Grnklick aoo Camp spoke w.dnesday. Thursday, Chief Justice Torbert and a1·

IOmey ge neral candidates Evans, Siege lman, Sorrells and Wallis spoke. Med ical malpractice WitS the subje<;l 01 a three-noor seminJr featuring Medical Associati on of AlabamJ pres ident Dr.

Ju lius Michaelson and a1l0rneys Danner Frazer, Clay AI>paugh, Ph ilipGidiereaoo lanny Vines. Amoog the Wiclly socia l !!Wms were

Ihe Sha kespeare Feslival cockta il sUpPer Wedoosday night and the eye-opener breakfast Thursday morning. Than ks 10 Midyear MC<':ting Commit· tet' chairman

James T. Sasser, vice cnair·

man Cl iff Heard and members Billy Hill, Joe Borg. leny Childe~ Gum", Guy,lim Ippol ito, Ed Raymon, Caro l Jean Smith, J~ck Paden , Dayle Fuller, George Panta~is, Samrnye Ray, andy Cochrane, Laura Calloway, Richard Ga rrett, Marda Sj(!nor, Charlone Clayton, Clarl< Watson, Laura Crum and Rick Meadows for a job 'M!I I done. Than ks al,., to the Mont_ gomery liM' firms prOo'id ing mce1ing room, for 22 committee and section meetings.

Board lakes reports

acl ion on commiu ee

During its March 21 midyear meeling. the board of bar commissio""" ""ard

'"

",port. from 11 committees and task

forces and acted on five, Montgomery attorney OiJllid R, Boyd was elec1ed cha irman of the board of hor """miners, succeeding Robert l. Pons, wf>ose foyril"ar tefm after t"" July 1986 """m, Birmingham attorney Kir· ~ Se.ie. was elected """miner in wills, trusts and estates, a lso a lou •..,..,ar term. Tf>ose elec1ionsloll~ the recommendations of the Advisory Committee to the Boa.d of B• • h amine", Commissioner John B, ScOtt, Montgomery, chairman, After t\<Q Ie",,' study, the Task Force 00 IOlTA recommended and the board apprcM!<J t"" adoption of an inte re>t on l;rwye,,' trust accounts program for the Alabama ba r, Subjec1 to the approval of t"" AlaIMm. Supreme Court, the f><O' gram wi ll be""luntary, and funds wi ll be d istributed ~ the Alahoma law Foundation, for such cha ritab~ and educational law-related purposes as leg.;ol aid to the poo., liM' student loans, admini stration of justice, pub lic educat ion about t"" liM', rublic law libraries and a client s.ecuri1'l fund, tf the program is app«M'd ~ the court Alabama will become the 40th IOlTA state. Bar membets inteoested in learning more aboutlOLT/\ are referred to the in_ formative articles ~ task force chairman Rowena Crocker and sec retary Stanley YI<eissman, pub lished at 46 Alaruma lawyer 264 and 267 (19B5). The Task Force 00 ludkiat Evaluation, Election and Selection, ,haired ~ Tuscaloosa attorney Ralph l. Knowles, made two recommendati"", adopted ~ the board,

""p;""

The first is for dC\eIOI)r11ent of 3 method 01 non_publ ic evaluation of judges. With the board's approval of its initial pr~1. th" task force now will develop its plan in detail, ~':I1imate its Cost and return it for fina l appr<Mll, 5e<ond, th" task force recommended and the board apprcM!<J the drafting of legislation 10 specify minimum res iden· cy, age and ""perience requirement, for .11 Alabama judicial cand idates and appo intees. The recommended minimum quatifications are a 12-month residency in the state, c ircuit or county of the judicial office, age nor le>s than 30 years and five years' I~gal e'perience preceding election o. appointment. /\ law office management consu llant waS endorsed by the board, on the recommendation 01 the Professional Economics Commit1re, David Arendall, Birmingham, c hairman. E/fec1i>e imml'diate ly lhe lollowing S<'",ices are av.lilable: adm inist"'tive audit, .......ro f><O' cessing needs analysis and data processing needs analysis. Forms for requesting consulting S<'",ice> may be obtained Irom law Office Management Project, Alabama State 6<>r, P.O, fIox 6n. Mont· gomery, AL 36101. Finally. the board authori,l'd add i_ tional funds lor processing and evaluat· ing responses to the bar's indigent cJe. fen,., survey. conducted during Ma rch, More than twice the number of expected responses were received; the anticipatl'd cost was ""ceeded ~ several hundred dollars. The .... ults of the survey will be published in this journal in the near MLP. lulure,

MJy 1986


1986 Annual Meeting July 17-19 Wynfrey Hotel, Riverchase Galleria Birmingham, Alabama

This ye~r" meeting indudes a new (armat Thursday. July 17, section mooting, will be r.eld 10-12 a.m. and 2.) :3M:30-5 p.m. The bench and bar Iun<;heon. 12:30-2 Thursday, is 10 be preceded to, a complimenLilry hospitality hour from 12.12:311 Thursday nigh!'S cocktail receplion runs from 6-7:30 at the Wynfrey Hotel. This year', 'Kepti"" will IlOl be a tOOit'""a) cockTa il supper as in years p.m. 11 is hoped the local bar members will utili~e Thursday evening for such private pan;", arld emertaining., they choose. Majo' emphas is will be placed on attendance at a Friday evening dinner Ina head table, no tu.) w ith a nationally prominent 'peak"r or "nt",'Llin",. Friday, Ju ly 18. the COnlinuing legal Educ,l1K>n program, SO popular since its inst itution, wi ll be held all day. Too alumni luncheon, and breakfasts still will be Friday, ~nd the $pO\Il.eS' acliv iti", being planned by lroe Birm ingham B~r Au xiliary will be al noon this day.

s"wrday, July 19, lhe bar will nave ilS Grande Convocation. featuring an interesting array of speakers discussing issues of imporlance to Alan.ma lawyers and lheir families. The Annua l Business "\ceting will be hetd prior 10 a noon adjournment. The bar will

allem~

10 .rrange a joinl appearaoce of 1M Democratic and Republican nominees for the U.S. Senate.

The conveo1ion adjoum, noon s"turday, and all activit ;... will be held at the Wynfrey Hote l in the Riverchase Galleria.


The State Action Immunity by John F. M.lndr

In e"e,d,ing their IlOlke ~ st,l(e5

frequ"nlly encourage, regulate and par· ticipate in V3rying degretl'S in itCIiviti... which, in the absence 01 the s!ates' inVOI"""""I, \',QUId violate the federal ..... litru'l laws. For example, Slat", regulate electric, gas and telephone monopo lies and imP'>'" ooocompe1iti>e pricing loChemes in these and other area. cJ bus;"".. activi· ty. AWmugh federal amitru!t I;)WS do r.ot ""pressly e»:lude such ;\Ctiv;!;es lfO/'I1 the prohib itions of ant iuu,t I~ the Un ited States Supreme Coun recognized CE'rtain reslraim, on competition arc impl iedly oulside the prosoiplioos of antittuSllaws because they are imposed bv Of othe,· wise attributable to Ihe 'l<Iles' a<:1ing in their ~reign capacities. Thi' form of amitru,t immunity generally i. refe,re.j to a. ',rale action immunity.M In addition to its omiou5 'pplications 10 traditional >Ia~ulatcd rtlO!lOIX>Iies, rhe ,late aCl ion immunily doctrine has been applied in a variety at 01n.., se[· lings. Recenl Cilses con.idcr<:d the """ilJbil ity 01 stJle aetien immunity in antiuust action, ilM)lving n10tor common carrie", liquor deale", ,eal estale develope .. , litle insuf3nce companies, bar e><.1miners and hospilal ~ Additional_ ly, a numbe, of cases consider<:d tn.. ap. pl ication of tn.. doctrine to municipal regulation of ta.icabs, ambul"oce ""vice, cab le tc le-ision and wrecker service, and the pruvision of SC'Mlge, ga r_ bage and other ut ility services by COUllt..... municip;,lil .... and private firm~ The doelri"" also has COme into play in cases

activities, which in the involvement, would violate • • •

M"y 1986


Doctrine: a Reassessment challenging alleged ly "nricompetitive covenants agreed to in connection with bond lin'nciIlS!. In recent months. the State's action i".. munity dOCTrine has been alfecl«! I:o!

three significalll d"""lopmems; the wprerne (oliff! decisioos in Southem Mow Carti"" Rate Conference, Inc. v. United SIOte!', 85 lEd .2d If> 0985) arid

row" of Hallie

v. Ow of fau Claire, 85

Ud.2d 24 (19851. and the paS\.iIge I:o! Congre» in October 1984 of Ihe Local

GoYemments AmitnJSI ,"£I 0/1984. Taken together, these developments wi ll h<M:' a dramatic effect On the application of the federal antitrust laws, in general .• oo

the 'tale a<;t ion doctrine_ in particular, to each 0/ Ine areas mentioned alJo..oe, Bilckground Beginning w ith it' 1943 decision in

Parke, v. Br(M'n, 317 US. 341 (19431. the U.S. Supreme Court has conSistent ly relied on principles of federalism and Slate SOYereignty 10 conclude the She'· man Act was no1 intended to prohibJtanticompeli!i"" adions 0/ a state acti ng through its legislature. 317 U.s. at 350-51 lpu'pose 0/ the Sherman Act was not to rest",in states 0, their O/fice" from 30:ti.itiesdi~ by the Slates' legislature.) Under the reasoning of Palle" conduct a"ribulable to a Slate's aaing as ~gn is impliedly immune from antitrust scrutiny. Subseqvent to its Parker deci, ion, the supreme coun made it clea r that, at least under appropriate circum. stances, state a<:tion immunity also may be available for anticompet iti"" <tCts wh ich. though attributable to a stJte. are in fad adions 01 pri""te pani .... See. e.g.• N~ MOfor \t>hide Boord v. Orrin W. fo>:

Co., 439 U.s. 96 (1979); Cantor v. Deltoit Edison Co.. 428 U.s. 579 (1976); Goldfarb v. VilEinia S!<I1e 8;1" 421 U.s. 77], 790 (1975) . In California ~il LiQUO! DealerJ A>sociation v. Mieleal Aluminum. In<;., 445 U.s. 97 (1980I, the supreme mun revie">'l'ed its prior decisions unde< P"rk(>f and mncluded those decisions established a lv>O-j).l.rt standard for ,t.>te adion immunity: laJ the challenged restraim on competition must be clearly articu lated and alfirmati""ly expressed as state policy; and Ib) the policy must be a<:ti-.eIy supeni ised by the st.>te itself. Id. at lOS. Although the meaning 0/ each part 0/ the Milkal s!<lndard and the applications 01 that standard !>Kame tOe subject 01 c0nsiderable judicial uncertainty, the Midcal decision has figured prom inent ly in nearly all subsequent state action immunity cases. Ano!he< 'ignifICantde.elopment in the state action doctrine occurred in 1978 when tOe supreme coun ""knowledged municipalit ies are not beyond the reach of the antitrust I')ws under the state a<:tion doctrine solely by vinl.le of their status as municipaliti es. See City of LlF~te v. /Duisia"" fl:Moel &. Ughl Co.. 4JS U.s. 389. 408. 412 (1978). Several years later. in Community Co. v. City ofBou/del. 455 Us. 40 11982). thecoun elaborated on the holding 0/ City of LaFayette and concluded that a >tate constitutional ""home rule"" provision granl ing munidpalll'-"""'nmenli gene",1authority to go:Mlrn local affairs d id not clO1 Oe the anticompetili-e condoct of municipali. t; ~ w ith st~te action immunity. Communk~lions

absence of the states' the federal antitrust laws. The Alabama Lawyer

These two decisions"""" prem ised on the nolion thai. "(q ities themselves a re nol SlM'reign; they do not rece''''' all the federal dekrence of the Slates that create them;' and that accordingly. municipa l· ities eojOl' Slate action immunity for their anlicompetit;"" acts on ly to the ""tent that they a<:t pursuant to a dearly articulated state policy. 455 US. at 50-51, 54 The Boulder coun expressly declined 10 decide whether municipal conduct al§() must be a<:ti-ely supervised by the slate under the 5econd pan of the Midcal Slandard in order 10 be immune under the stale action doctrine. See id. at 51·52 n. 14. Slale action immunit y o f private defendants In its March 27. 1965, dec ision in Soulhern Motor Carriers Rale Con(e",nce. Inc. v. United St.otes, 85 L. Ed. 2d 36 (19851. rev"g 702 F.2d 532 (51 h (i r. Unit B 1983) (en ban<;), the supreme court reversed the en ban<; decision 01 Unit B of Ihe Filth Circuil Court 01 Appeals and held that pri""te panies need not be compelled to aa anticompetili""ly by a Slate in order to enjOl' antitrust immunity under the stJte a<:tion doctr ine. tn §() doing. tOe ",un n;sol>ed considerable uncertainty that had arisen concerning the meaning 01 the Mielea! decision and the slate adion immunity standard a pplicable 10 pri""te pani",The defendants in ~hem Mo«x ear· ,ierJ were pri""te a.""iations known as moto, carrier ",te bu",aus which had engaged in co lleeli"" ,atemaking "". tiviti~ in four soulf\eastern stal .... Each 0/ tf\e lou r stat~, like the federa l geNe'nment (see 85l.Ed.2d at47 n. 22 (federal Interstate Commerce Act, 49 Us.c. § 10206. expressly aUlhori:res collecti"" ralemakingll, had ""Pf'!'sly authori~ed motor ca"ie" to agree on ,ate propos.als pr ior to joint submission o/the mllecti"" ,ates to the appropriate regulatory agenc ies, but none of the states com-


pelled motor c~rrierl 10 engage in coll edi~ 'atemaking, Ahl>ough the s.(~tc public service com· miS5ion. argued that collecti"" r.uemak· ing betIC' enabled lhem to function as r.temaking bodies. mOlor carriers in each ,tate remained free to elect not to panicipate in col l...:ti"" ,atemak ing and inSlead 10 .ubm it individual rale proposiIl .. 85 l.Ed. 2d al 41 The panies allO agreed t""t each S!<lte actiwly SlJpe'· vised lhe molor carr ier)' collecti"" ratemaking activ ities. 702 F,2d at 539 to n. 12 None!heless, the United Stales con· tended thaI the motor carrie,.;' col l...:t i"" r.uemakin g activit i... constituted price tixing. and the practice of coll"':ti"" ralema " ing was not immune unde< Ihe 5tate action docuine because the defen· dants' amicomfl"titi"" CondUCI was not compe lled by the various states. The coo,t of appeal5 agreed with Ihe g"""rnmellt and held that the rale blueau.' conduct W<'5 not immune under lhe . IJle action doctr ine because none of Ihe sta les comfl"lIed collecli"" ralemaking. In reaching thi 5 conclUSion, lhe court declared that the two-part MjdCd! 5tanda ~ waS applicable on ly in ac· tions against public defenifam, and not to those dg<linst Plivate defendant!; such as the rate bureaus. See 7()2 F.2d at 539-40. The court al", rea>OOed, OOIoiewr, that fMln if the MjcJcal standard were ap.plicable to private defendants. the fou r Slates had no clearly articu lated Slate policy in f.....,r of collecli~ 'atema king because molOr carrier) in each stale could h1l\'e chosen not to participate in collecli"" ralema king. 7()2 F.2d al 539 (1WJe do not "'" how a pril,,!!e party can carry out a clearly articulated and amr· mati\lely expressed stale policy when il is left 10 the privale party to carty oullhal policy or nol a, he sees fit:' According to lhe COU rt of appeal,. unless private anlicompetit i ~ condUCI is compelled by a Slale. lhe stale's pol icy is rne<ely neulra l with ~t to lhe c0nduct in question and, thu" w ill not be IrUWaled bv application of the antitrusl I........ Under sueh circumSlances. the court reasoned, the ,tale hilS not clearly art iculaled ilS intent ion to displace compel ili on. The ,upreme court §Qua rely rejected Ihe court of appeals' view Ihatthe Mjd-

cal standa~ is applicable only in cases against public def<>ndants and not in c~ses against private defendants, 85 L.Ed.2d at 46. The court a lso dis.Jgreed with lhe "",-" murt's holding that pri""le conduct i, only attr ibulable to a state if il is compelled bv the state. The court acknow ledged Ihat ,tate compul,ion may prcwide mongevidence Ihat a sta tc has adO!'led a clearly articul~ted policy 10 di,place competition, bot concluded "the absence of compulsion should not pfO'>'!' falal to a claim of Parker immuni· ty." 85 LEd.2d at 48 The sup reme cou rt's holding in $(willern M~o' Carriers clea rl y reIIects the court'5 recognition lhat stales often deliberately emplov private in itiati"" as an integral part of 3 mgu lalOry scheme designed 10 replace competilion w ilh regulation. The coort staled, Th"" thr<J<JSh It... <elf·inlert'Sted ac· tions d priv."., common corr""" the SL1tes ~ the doosir..d balance b<t"""" roIl<>ct,,,, ra_, ing and the <Ompelilion IosIered bo,. irdi.idw l out>-

acI1_

missions, Con"ruins the Sherman -,<;t 10 prohibil colie<li",

"'e f>'OIlO'SiIl,

elimin:oles the I"", choi<e ne<eow>y 10 en",re tholl'- ~ic"" funoion in the manner intended i>y the SL11es. The /ederal ,r>[itru" I;ow> do ~ fO.rbid li>e $1<01.. to ~ poIic .... Ihdt pr>mIr~ toul do ~ com",," ~mi<Om"",i li "" coo· duel bo,. resul."'<! pri"",. ",lIies. 85 LEd,2d at 47 lemphas i5 in origina l) Acco~ing to the supreme court. Ihe premise of the lower courts' holding - unless a state compel s particula r anli. compet ili~ conducl the state has tlO inte rest in thaI conduct-ignores the man· ner in which States often implement their mgulatory policies. If a SIale'. intention to replace competition wilh a regulatory st ructure is dearly "rticula led, state ac· lion immun ily shou ld not be denied 5imply because lhe 5tate emplO)led some measure of privale initial i.... in its ,egu latory scheme. Slate action immunil y of publi c defendartt§ On the day lhe Southern Motor Carrierl decision was rendered, In.. supreme court also decided Town of Hallie v. City of fau C1ai,... 85 l.Ed.2d 24 (1985), aff'S 700 f.2d 376 (7th Cir. 19811. A, a resull of that decision, it now is clear that mun icipalities are su bject to a less st ringenl Mate action immunity standa~ than are priva te defendanls. because

their coOOvct need not be acti~ly SlJper· vised bv Ihe Slate 10 be immune under Parker, The plaintiffs in Town of Hallie were lownshi~ located adjacent to the defendant City of fau Claire. The plaintiffs contend,'<l lhe defendan t violaled the Sherman Acl by acquiring a ITIOflO!X'ly <l"" the p<O'I'ision of sew;tge treatment ser· vices and illegally tying tm. provision of those services to the prQ\lision of sewage COliedion and lfanSportalion services. The applicab1e stale law authorized cit ies 10 construo and operate sewage syslems and delineate the area within which sewage service wou ld be prcwided. The relCV<lnl Slate 5k11Utes did nol specifi cally authorize the cit ies 10 tie lhe prO'llision of sewage treatment services to other set· vices or to otherwise use their JlO"I"'f to del ineate Ihe area to be served in an anticom petiti"" manner, The court of appeals held the municipal defendanl was immune from ant itrust liabi lity under the state acli on doclrine. Because the applicable stJle Slatules autho,i~ed cities to refuse 10 p,..,. vide """age service to un incorporaled area .. the court reasoned the State muSt h""" contemplated thM anticompctiti~ effects mighl result from a refu~1 10 serve. Acco~ingl y< the court concluded the city's conduct wa, engaged in pur· suant to state autoor ization within the meaning of PaTh... 700 F.2d al 183 The court 01 appeals a lso held the acti"" .tate su pervision requiremenl of Mjocal was nol applicab le to mun icipalilies. !d. al 384. The . upreme court agreed wilh lhe court of appeal5' conclusion that the state of Wiscon5in must h""" contemplaled a c ity's refUs.J1 10 serve unanne. ed areas could ha.e anti compctiti"" effect.. g5 LEd. 2d at 46 The court held Ihe W'5COOlin Sta tutes evidenced a clearly a ,ticulated, affirmatiwly ""pressed state po licy 10 displace competition with mgulati on in the area of mun icipal provi,ion of sewage services and plainly 5howed the Wiscons in ·' Iegislawre COf>templated the kind of action complained of:" 85 LEd.2d at 32·33 (quoting Gty of LitF,,),e"e v. Wuj,jana Power & Light Co., 435 U.s. 389, 415 [197811 The court also answered Ihe question reserved in footnote 14 01 the goulder decision by oolding that municipal con· duo, unlike private conduct. need not be May 1986


oro.....

acti~ly wpet\li~ by Ill<! ' IiIt" in 10 be immoot ..... 1he !.!iI1!!.KIion doc.

because the ~ate', posilion i. netJrr. 1 with te5peC1 10 Ill<! city's ronducr"l; Gl3son l'«1Iie Co. ~. »cwnenro Munlc~1 Ur,bry Diwrd. no F.ld 813 19th 0.. 1985); I~t 1Ixicab Dlivoo' C~ V. ~t Hou$lOO liall$pOfUlJOtl Co., 760 F.2d 6CJ7 ('ilh 0 •. 1985); Runl fleeltic Co. " C~ tight fuel & /tM'et Co., 762 f.ld 347 (1Orh CiJ, t%5). The availability oIllate action immunity for municip.al ilies on be dete.mined only afle' a .eview 0/ the applicable !.!iItc slatutory prcNi,ions arK! an <!\Ialualion al whether the lIate has contemplarl!O;i the kind al anticompeliti~ action complained 01 by lhe plaintiff. As a rewlt al lhe Soou"..,n MOOJ( Cattiers and Town 01 fUII;,- decisions, privale anriuw dekndanlS are subjecllO a more Itring.ent 51<11(' Xlion inwnunity stantbn:I Ih;ln are public deiendonu. IUCh as muni(ip.alilies.. In an ..ffon 10 e><plain lhe d'!.p;I.ity ber.. ee" the 1eg.J! r.land.Jrollot public and privale deiend· ;>n1S, the coun obsen.ed, '1W)here the a.c_ 10. II a municip;l!ity lhere is lilll" or no danget that il is involved in a private p.ice.fl.lng arrangement. The only real

lriroe. 85 LEd.2d ar)4 The court hinil'd bur declined to decide rlwr ao:ti~ SUt" wpeMsion ~Iw would not be I"\'quired in c~ <l8ol,,* SUII' allE""Cies. 85 LEd.2d OIl 14 n. 10 The Jawn 01 ;'~II~ decision by no means providH blankft anril~ immunIty 10 municip.ali ries and othet polilinl wbdivi~ rJ a ,liIte merely beciluse 01 thei. Stilllll as luch. Such entities are immur"le urK!er the Sla'" action doctrir"le 0nly when they acl illmuant to a clearly ar· ticulall!O;i 'egi"ali>e policy 10 di5PI~ competition in a p.ankular area 01 busi· ness activity. St>t>, e.g., Fiihet v. City of Be.keley, S4 U.s.lW. 4222, 025 IU.S. 26, 19801 (~II, J.. concurr· ing) (sure Xlion immunity depends on

rm.u...,.

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foreseeably woukllNd to 1he ilIltia)m.. petjli~ efiKrs'" b!;ng ch.J11mged}; i\uIon v. Dade City. Ilip Of). al 2291. 2292 (11th Ci •. 198611"gener.a l g.ant o/aUlhoI"ity to go.ern local affairs is inouffidenllO coostitule a cle;! . articulation 0/ stilte policy

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The COlIn', ~le<'nenI !.land. in 5I<Itk Cont'II§11O ilS elltHer ll!'C08"ition in Ci(y 01 laF~le lkat C,lie .KIinB in the

ttldrktpt<OCe as prov~ 01 ~ices ITI"f produce competiti-..! dange<'l sim il~r 10 those taised by private a.cton. s.... Fi5her v. City of 81'1kell')', 54 U.S.loW. 4222, 4227 (U.s. FebtU3", 26. 1986) (Brennan, L disscmingJ: City oIlaF"I"'IIe v. /l>tJI. Ila .... ~ '" U/lht Co., OS U.s. 389, 408 (1978). In any e.oent lhe COUll evi · dently be!i~ thill any dllngers oIanlicompemi..e m...,iclp.al conduct althe kind iderotifoed in CJfy oIuFarmo>....,.,kI be min'mi.led by tho. requirement lhal Ill<! munic'p.ality XI pum>ant 10 II cleat· Iy ~iculah!d and affirmoti\ely f:l<Pf"'sed r.lllte policy. Xc 85 lo£d.2d al14; /d. OIl 33 n. 9, SiglifiCllntly, lhe I.GA does not prohibil O(lions ur.de< the IInliltu~ laws for injunclive reliti'. criminal enlOll:tmenl pr0cedures by lhe Justice Dep;lnment Of;,c-

Four Allbaml and Flder. ' Tril l Pr.ctlce Form Books AVlillble lOt Immlell." Shipment ... C ALABAMA AND FEDERAL PLAINTIFF DISCDVERY FORMS C ALABAMA AND FEDERAL MOTION

FORMS C ALABAMA AND FEDERAL ORDER AND JUDGMENT FORMS Cl ALABAMA AND FEDERAL COMPLAINT

FORMS p,n of IllrllS ol l rlal Pflc tlce form book. by Robert Sellen Smith and Ja.n Melntyre.

Thl prlc, 01 e.ch ollheM boob I. $5i.e! plul polllg' and hind ling .

.... ""

2910 COTTAG E HILL ROAO . SUITE 201

MADISON PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC. 223 EAST SlOE SQUARE HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA 35801

MO BI LE. I'.lAB#.M#. 36606

(2(15) 533-5040

COOK & ASSOCIATES

'"


tions t.,o th@ ~al Tr.tde Commission. Nor Is th@ ptQ!edion j)I'OIIided t.,o !he I.GA applicable 10 C _ com~ brJote October 24. 1984. unleu »11 would be I~itable ~ CO apply (!he !GAl !(l a pendl,. QIOI'c 15 §15(b) The e<isle<oCe 0( a luoy -erdict or diwkt COO" judsment il pli .... !.cie .... idence thaI the I.GA Is In~ppllcab~. See !d. In general. CUl!\ <1ddresslng whe1her the IGA should be applied ....uoact;..""y hiM! found relroKII..e appllnllon 10 be apprap" ale unde, the circumstances. See. e.g.• \o\.bolen \( Surtfiln Taxkabs. Inc.. 615 f. Supp. 144. 350-53 (N.D. Te:>:. 1985) I!GA applied rel103CIl..e1y to ~.r-old Iltlptlon}; C/wi,' Wfl>cl<er Service. Inc. ~. li;Jwn offairf~. 198~2 Tr.tde Ds.. (CCHI , 66,762 (D. Conn. 19M); S~ ~. COCIIIIy oI6uc~ I\w>,yMni.1. 613 FSupp. KIll (OC P.o. t98S) (wil filed 11 ~ before teA effKti..e date; teA .pplied retl'OKli>e/yl.

u.s.c.

The lOCa l governmffil anlilruSI aCl of 1984 Concern 0Ye ' the effect of t~le damage ant llru!1 lullS On lhe ability of municipa lities and other unil1 of local

51. Louis Law Prinling Co., Inc.

Str.i", Th~ UIl'I Projf'SSioll SmC"t' 1906 EXPER T QUA LITY I' RO~IPT

SER VtCE

CO M 1'L.ETE TYPESET OJ( FINE QUALITY O FFSET REPRODUCT tON ROOKS

SUprffllC COUll. federal and statc briefs; Offering Ci r· culars; Pri.ate p lacemem Memorandums; Prospectuses; Comracu; L.eases; etc.

411 Norlh 10lh 51reel 51. Louis. Missouri 63 101 (314) 231-4411 "f~'MN boot "Latln Words ond Phl'(1sn"

As" about "'''

'"

8O""fn"""'t to pro.oidf! essential services and an,act quah~ per\OM to public of. fie<:' led 10 !he ~In L11f! 1984o( the local Go.emment AnliuUS! Act 0( 1984. P.l.98-S-<l4 (codif~ .. 15 u.s.c. §l4-J.6 (StIpp.. 1989U 1the"tCA1. In general. the lGA ~ects local "",""nmenlS .and 01fld.1s ~ a(:b"ll,n .., o/IicUI c:apocity "im! suilS .eekinlll.eb~ da"",8es. cost! Of .nOfney's lees under the federal antilrUloIl-s. IS U.5.C. §3S{a] The I.GA also protects other pt'fWI"IS ",+>0 3<:1anti. competitively becauSl! they are "" P""sIv ~uired 10 do SO ~ a local SO"E'm· mem 0, ils officl.ls. 15 U.s.c. § 36(a) The letm "local govemmenr is broadIV ~ned in the !.GA 10 ",dude cities, co.."'t~ Of other gene",,1 function ~menlal unll1 c.-eat«! t.,o stale law M ¥>ell H school di§l'icts. ",nitaoy di\ollicls Of ache< spKial function """'"'" mental unllS created t.,o state 15 U.s.c. § 3. Couney Of dey bar associations and medical Of dental <05sociations .re nor included WIthin the LGA:s deflni. tion of local ~nmen!S. H.R. Rep. No. 98-965. 981h ConI. 2d Sen. al 2Q (1984) Significantlv. Ihe tGA does nor prohibit Klion! unde, the amluu>l I"""'S for In· juncti.... relief. crimirnll <!fli'on:""""'t pr0cedures t.,o the JustIce [)epanment Of ac· nons ~ lhe ~al Trade Commission. Not is !he prot«lion j)I'OIIided t.,o the teA olppiicabie 10 nsecon;lIIe"ced belore Octobef 24. 1984. unless "it v.ould be inequitible not 10 """"" 11he lGAjto iI pendIng c-." 15 u.s.c. § lSn» The e<i~ oIa jury 'otfdict ot dlstric:t COlIn judgment is pt, .... facie ....1dtoce lhat the LGA is inapplic.1lble. See w. In genet.l. Ca§l'S ;w:Idress-ing whethet tfle teA should be applied flluooai..elv h"'" four-.d relroacti..e appl ication to be atlPropri.te ur-.de. the circumstances. See. e.8 .. Chf/J' Wf"t'(ker ~rvice. Inc. v. IOwn 01 F.lrfield. 1985-2 Trade Cas. (CCH) 66,762 (0. Conn. 1985); S~ ton v. County 01 Bocks. I~nlljylvania, 613 f. Supp.. KIt) IOC I'a. 1965) lsui t filed 11 ~ before teA effooi .... date; !.GA olppiied !el1OitC1f.... ly).

actlYely supervt~. bul not compelled. t.,o !he 51ate. Under Town 01 Hall .... municip;rrl conduct Is immune undeo- the stall! action doctrine if the ........ icipalrty" actions _ taken pursuant 10 a clearly;or· tlCUL1ted ;ond affimull...!y expressed §late policy. whelher such actions ~re supervised t.,o the §lat~ It is ImportanllO r>Ote ~ neither he ..... ;Ir-regulated private panies nor publ ic bodi ~ soch al municipalities are exempt hom tfle fede ral .ntitnrst laws merely becau§e 01" lhelr !\iItu\. They each muSl be ab le 10 demonStrate their ami· com peliliw conduct """S contemplated t.,o and. thus. ~"ribut~bte to a 51ale's act· ing in il1 S<M:~gn upac,ty. Although munlCIp;rrlities iIOd other unil1 0( local ~ment are no ionll'H subject 10 lreb1e tbm;ose actions. their ¥oCicompetlt~ conduct. if not otherwi§e Immune. !NY be en;O;ne<i. Siml!arly. private p;rrr1ies apresslv directed 10 act lI,.,ticompel,tl .... ly t.,o local g.;:Mmrnenls mao; enio\l some measure of antitrust proteclion urode< the !.GA. The Slale action doctrine applies in a ",, ' iety of different factual !E1I ings. These recent changes In the state action im· munity doct,lne h""" oIwiou, signifl. unce io< pendln8 antitrust litigation i.... yolving cL1imsof state ;rctlon immunity. Additionally. lhe ... d""",lopmenrs !-hould be ~ ~ auOf"'¥' nlled upon to ~ ptJ.>Iic ;ond privaleenlltie! wllh respect 10 me leg;ility of contemplat«! ;rc~lons which. in the absence of S1-/Ite action immunlly. mi&h\ viaLlte

Concluliion By vlnue the supreme COO"" decision in SoufhE-tn MoIot c.rriers. il now is dellr !hat CO be Immune under the !\iIle 3<:tion doelll ...... lhe conduct of private defendantsmusl be engaged in pursuant to a clearly ,,"iculated Slate po licy alld

John f.

a.-.

-as-

or

me ~nll!ntSI

I;JWS.

Finally. altOfr>ey5 called upon to draf1 srate !e8islation ot resulations that mighl ha .... anticompetit lw cons-equences should carefully conSider whetn..r tn.. legislation makes It clur 1h.)1 lhe stJte contemplated ony possible anticompet· itiYe effects If st~te intend. to confer • ant,t,ust immunity.

tn..

M~ndI

lKeived his

IJndetll'~duale deg~ from the

UnjV('l1lry 01 Alabama and law dell~ from 1M Unj ...... ily" School of taw. He js ,n associa te wjrh Balch & Bjngham jn Birmingham.

May 1986


Young Lawyers' Section

I

IJ~ few monlh~ the Alabilm. Legisl.tu,e was in regula,

n the

~Iion during an election year, .nd it great deal 0/ ,helOt;.:: and con· Ifoversy existed. NO! much has been il(complis!>ed !<)Ward opening

-.

t""

linf!S of communication between individ",,1 ~ ollhe bar ~ od>ef

The orpnlled bot has made ~~ r.I,ides !<)Ward solving po,*","m, and

developing open communiation with 0Ihe< pn:Ie5si0n5, as has the YOU"ll LI~' ~ion thfOtlgh ilS

Mln",,1 Coofefence on !he ~ held ApI'il 18.nd 19 in Gulf Shores, Alaboma. There, 1>0, "",mber. cQU I<J be of ielVke to II ,,;HI number of othe< professionals, Including the areas of

medicine, nurs'ng.. e<1gineering. pha r~Y. psychol08Y, dentistry and 0Iher$. The (on~1! funt- provid. ed open CO)mmunka,ion among all professions reprewnted. Topics provided bv the YLS wefe the ~ of iOdmin.isu;IIive law, discoYI!fy in odminiSlr~i ..... proceedings. Ihe ~ Wspomion, of Ii· CeIl!.eS, InlonToool set1lemerot of COfItested c.. ses and orhets. giving an QYerView of the Io>gal.~t"'" .. it par· ticui."ly IIpplied 10 con trolled

p<o/essions. The YLS cQmpliments Randy Reaves fOl the excel lent program and the smooIh nature In which the over· ~II conference r~n, lines oIcommun. k~tion between the profeniOl>5 are ~ linle more .... thank. to tIIi, fi~

...-

ICeilh Nom\;In needs 10 be congral· \llated fo< the wonderl\lL job he did in C~rm;ln of rile VOIIth legislative looklal Program. Lndi,,;ooaL !e.1mS ~kip;lting tlllOUghout rile swe Wf!re bener pr~red thil ye~r than ever before, They received assist3nce from YLS members ;n a result 01

Keith·, effo<ts. TNnk. \0 tIIilCommit· tce, hundredl of young iX'OPle have had ~ har.r:fs.on e~perience with the leg.al syStem. acting as juroll, wit· nesses, OOiliffs. lawyers, jooses and IYpreme court I\lstices. Within the ~~t year Of so these youns people will actu.llly be eligible 10 _ al jurors in litig.ation. and Keith', comminee .."" rIIem "" OJ" pO'''>r'Iily 10 participate in and uode.· ~nd the system moch bener lhan many adu!" do, olChlaily ~ns on j\lries. Young lawyet1 IhrougllOlll the Slate PfO"iding guidance and ",lisUlnce 10 the StlldfontS were Trip Walton. Auburn; Lew;1 Colley. MOnlgomery; Cleo Thomas. Anniston; Geo<ge Day. Gadsden; Robe<tCIII Ider's. Montgomery; Percy Badham. Birmingham; Lynne Riddle-Thrower. Wetumpka; John Hay. Hunt$viHe; Lex. Dowling. Dothan; Randy Haynes. AIe""ode. City; J,lke Walker. OpeIilQ; Bess Cox, rbeoa. Cedi;" CoIL,,,,, Mobile; and Tommy Nenles. Tuscaloos.J. Ew.y..wmber of the YLS and the INr is iodebted 10 lhem fa, advtsina and providina a Ane public service project. These effom make a u""""" doul conlribution toward inlYring 3 positive Image In It.., community fo, the ba,. James H. Miller, III. ~in hasdooe a gre31 job al chairman of lhe CL[ commiuee fa, the VLS. On April 18 tt.., Annual Bridge tt.., Gap seminar. offering "nut§ and boh'l" in/ormation 10 new OOr adminees. was held in Bir· mrngham. The program was well-at· tended. and "" ent ...... i~c f~lty """'" ",,1uabIe inform;,tion lot the Irmlilion from law school 10 the practice of law. Thanks to Jim fa< a job "",II

"""'.

AI Ihis OOr

effon! mUll

comes to a close. made toptOperly pI~n

y~ar

~

I. Be rnard B r~n nan. It. YLS Ptesident for our future. Section membe<l will ~lIend Amefi(an Ba, ....lOCiation .f· foliate outreach m<!(!lingl in Ch.rl ..... Ion, Soulh C~ro lina. se.:uring new ideas lor ",rvlce 10 the publ ic and lhe ba,. C;;'lre Black ~nd her long·range Planning Committee worked tirelessly 10 prepare a pI~n lot adop(ion to be presenled at the ~nn\lal July meetA Coorse will be set c,eating additiONlI in""*"""""l in the section. enthuSIasm lind a ~I good lee!ing about what the VLS an do. Withlhe e~tenlive mrmbef of pr0jects in which the seclion is presenl· Iy inwlve:!. and the poten!ial for addilional future projects being impl.,. mented with lhe help of the VlS of tile "me,i( an Bar "5sociat ion. we en· courage yOU to become more active in the VLS. Now you mou ld make planllO 1e119B6-37 be II year to par· tkipate in the actiVIties of the section. To be "" ar;tive member in a vibrant professional associalion, Contact Claire BLack rJ Tuscaloosa. president. elect of me YLS. and let her know you W""t 10 help. She will be awaiting you. call. The h/lf(! wod; by ead1 rr""robe< of the VLS e>:ectJtive commit_ t~ makes it a pIf."su.e for me 10 be involved. and I think YOU. too. will find it ' ewardlng. •

ina.

'"


The Work Product Doctrine by lee H. Zfll (The first half of til;' .fllet" appeared in 1M March \986 isSUf1 of 'M LlwY"'.J

Development of Ihe doo r'ne The I'oOtk prodUCt d<><:lrine. fi~ aonounced by the United Stat.,. Supreme Coo" 10 Hickman v. IIy/ol; 129 U.s. 495 (947), ;llfords protection in ~ppropriale circumj.L)n(ft kif documents and infor_ mation I'lOl odIerwile proW!CIed by !he M· lome.,.,dierll Pl'ivilqe. In Hick"",n, the

COOJn ",\ended • qualified imm....,ity loom di5(bu~ 10 written $LUetnenlS 0( wj~ ~ with """" made by "" al\Otney du.i"ll interviews, under d r· (UrmIalCeS

In which the materi.1 _

~ In tile cou~ ol prep;l'ilion

Iorpooibte li~galion. The court held the materials were pro(ect«i f.om diso:;losure because of Ihe public policy "agai nst ir>"3din8 the privacy of an attorney's COOtle

of preparation," ) 29 U.S. at 512 The COO" In Hickman noted tile "'Ofl<. prodUCI docIrine ~ only .. qualir.ed Immunity from diKiosure, than a privilese: ~ ~I and nonpri .... i!esed facts ~n hio:klen in !he a\tQf· MY'J file and when! pnxIuction cI ~ facts ;, HS!Tlli.1 10 !he ~liIlion 01 one'$ case, discCM!fy -V properly bo!

iii'......

~ .•

329

u.s. a' 511

The work pnxillC1 doctrine now is c0dified in Rule 26(b)lll 01 the Fede",1 and Alabama Rules 01 Civil Procedure. Tile ."Ie plOo'ides in perti.-.ern part: " P" rty moy obIain diK~ry 01 doc ... ~1I .nd tonaible thi"" OIhetwl.., d~ uondet M>dMoion (bill) 01 thi~ ",Ie .nd _m:l i" .antici"",,,," oIlitiprior> Of lot trial by.,.. lot onothet p;otty 01 by 0< 10< NI """" PMt(s 'W--..e tn:1ud.... hit aomey. con-

... IIM'II. 1<Hfty. indomnilO\. i..... ....; .,.. •....,u oNy upon a ""-i... NI the

I»'IY~"'~""'~'" r-=loIthe"-""in the~ 01 (ale and NI he "unobIo will>0lIl undue '''''''o/lIP 10 otui" the wi>IUnll,,1 equo",1«11 01 the .... te<iok by 01"'" _ .... In Otde<i"5 diKooe.y 01 MlCh rn.oreri.l. "''''''' .he ~i rM .........i....... t-. m..:Ir. the coun ..... 11 II/OIK! ~in .. diKIow~ 01 !he men-

h"

phol<) by David St.ank,

'"


....

~

corel""""" opon .......

01 ~ hOlies ortornq' 01 0Ihet ~oI.potIy<OI ... ,,,iol8lhe

01..,

I~ ... t;..".

Ele~ ls

of lhe doctrine

Ooc_~

MId t~nsilM Ihing'! 01,,"·

" 'i§e diK_.obIe

The doctrine 'Pillit's ooly to documM\"§.nd ~ngible things. fo«I v. PIoi/· ,,,. fl«.UOOH:s IlI>Irum"nU Co.. 82 f.R.D. 359. 360 IE.o. P,. 1979) ("l8Iy Its OWn le,ms, IRu ie 26(bJllll penainl to docu· """'~ ~nd ... ngible th ings; SO that an al· tOfooy'S unfe«lId~ dlKulsions wilh a witO'eSs coroceming the altorooy's ar31 ..... .Iion 01. use do 001 come wilhin the ,uleJ NOIWitMLondlng its apress limitolion5,. the policy considefaliom undeflymglhe doclline ~ led courts 10 ~ .... • norney"5 urn«onJed men~I Impre»ioos and conclu!.ions. 1'.... In II! Cr.nd /ury PooceeOings, 473 f.ld 840. 848 18th Cit 1m) (a1tOl"lleV coukJ 001 bit compelled to diKtose his recollections 01 <:onvers;o1ions wilh wil· nesses). ford v. PIli/ips £leClronia ImtrumelilS Co., 82 F.R.D. JS9, 360 (E.O. Pa. t979) fAn aMomey shoukJ bit able 10 pre"",I the diKI~u'" 01 his mental impressoons .lthough 001 embodied in a doc ... men!.) E"!I'I if .LI el_1S 01 the docuine are ...,iifoed, ITi.Jteti.1s ire 001 di~ if O!herwi§e ~ieIded ftcm diSClMry (e.g., by villue 01 an .pplic.oobIe priYilegto). ABA, Seclion 01 Lilig.llion. The.-'\notnerC/H'fI( P"vi/ere .nd the \\brk·Product DoclmK'" 68 (1963)

no..-..

.x-...

Prep.lred in 6nt icip.otion of liti&A tion 01" lo t l, i. 1

Gene,ally. to bit prOll'<:led by the work produet dowine. documen~ 0/ tangible ""'te,ials must hao.oe 00en pre-p;ored or developed with a view I(J,YaKi proce-edin8' which 'n!;Jd~rial in natu .... The Special M.s",,,' •...,Idel,fll'! kN !he ~

preserot.Jtion 01 proo/IO equiV3tent d isputallon.) Upjohn Co. v. United SUIei, 449 U.s. 383119{UJ (doclf;ne .pplies to lTi.J~i.1s prep.lred for IRS Lox summons ... oooed,~ NMU " Zliu, ~18 f.ld 633, 616 [l'ttl Cir. 19691 (doc",ne aifoodo; pr0tection IOdoaunents Prt'I»'ed for patenl inloo..~ ~ings)

Materials may bit found to h.J..e been "prepaoed In anticip.otion oIlitigalior(" even though the preparation occurred before an aclion wal fiI~. The teo;l i5 whether, in light allhe nature 01 the doc. umerol!, tf\ey "caro fairly toe s.>id 10 h~ been prepared or obtained becal/"loe 01 the prospect oIlitiJllilion." HeKulei, Inc. Y f.uon Corp.. 424 f. Supp. 116. 1511D. Oe-I. 19m ~ Sylgato Sieel & lVo~ Coop." Imoco--GI-..yCorp... 62 F.R.O ~ S4, 457 (N.O III. 1914), a/rd, S34 F.ld no (llh GL 197f>). rlf the ~ 01 litigation is identifiable because 01 SpeC' ific clailm th.lt ~ at~;Jdy "';sen. the fact that.. at the time the docu"",", is pret,"red. litlgalion Is 11111 a contingency has not been held to rendCO' ldoctrinel in.~ plicable.1 Fon~jne v. Sunflower Beef Carrier, Inc., 87 F.R.D. 89 (W.O. Me. 1980) (s~temen~ t~ken brt' defendant immediately .Iter an accident we ... obt~ined "In preparation for litigation; since they __ ob\.Jined only;iter il __ de..... who lhe plaintiff .......d be ......d whal ctailm -..ouId bit ~sened)

vso

mUS! h.Y.e been "likelY;" "nd 001 merely a "possibilily:"" Bu" .... 8101l II'IduSlries" fuon Corp.. 65 F.R.D. 26, 42, 43 (D. Md. 1942) Acco!di"gly, if the possib,lily 01 IIlig.llion i5 remote, protection u",*" the work product doclrine may not toe available. See C~lloll Sloltes G.IS Corp. v. Doe. 617 F.2d lJli~ion

~

854. 863 (OC. G •. 1980). (Memoranda hom "'1Iional counsel to auditor.; work· ing In field ollkes,. Issued in nespc:>rKe to rt!qUeSIS for Intefpfe\at;""5 01 certain "'11uloMions. wen! heLd 10 h;r.oe 001 00en prepared in ~i(ipatoon oIliti~ion, ~ when iUdllT"'iiiOiMlOia _ i.sued after io:Ierltlfiotion 01 .. SpeCifoc claim by or agalnll a SpeCific fi,m being audited.) c..rfink~ v. "'tCo1~ NatioNl COtp.. 64 F.R.O 688IS.0.N.Y. 1914} (In an action by 5hareholde" alleging a defendant COII)()/ation'5 fa ilure 10 register ill shares with the SEC. docUmenlS ... Iating 10 an attorney's opiroion letter advi!-ing that "'S' ;st,ation was unnecessary ~re 001 pr0tected bv lhe work product doct/ine. DocumentS required to toe produced included int.Nfke mernoroonda berv.Cb I ~ttomeyS tl'\li'UC<lllng the COiPO/iltlon. a mernor....clum out!!";ng legal authority lor lhe opinion .nd .n attorney's notes oIle1ep11one COfM!fSaIioos wilh sha ..... holden' atlOfney.) Documoots routinely prepaoed in the ordinary COl.lI5e 01 bu5iness senerally will 001 satisfy the "PIt'j»red in anticipation 01 litigation" etemenl oIlhe lule. See I-*$l/oconece lid. v. N/!W HamplM ... Ins. Co.. 82 F.R.O 702 (S. ON.Y. 1979) Iprivilege did 001 .pply to docurnerols prepared by inSUla"", compa....,. du,ing .. routine ci.im irwcstigationj. ~11n­ veltmerol Co. "Uniled Sl.ates, 53 f.R.D. 465 10 Nev. 19n} HRS documents rouIlneIy prepared prior 1(1 Institution 01 ail)' action wet<!! not ~ in .nticipation oIli"gatIOO. The documents we<e not Prt'I»'ed al the instruction 01 .... attorney. did not conl.;n legall~i'" oIlhe c_ .nd _re nonadW!fS,),;al , conlilining mallm submitted by the !~~I")-e' as """II as by the ~rnment.> But see Heide-

.x-...

oIutooro 01 PriVl/efjf! CWOIm. United Stares " Alrietoe.n ~ '" Te/egf;oph Co.. GL No. 74·1698 (OD.c. ft!b. 28, 1979) (c.ted in All.\, Section 01 Liligation. The NlOIne)..Ooenr Pr;vi~~ .nd the l'.twk· Product Docll;ne 68-69 1l981JI. ("The COUll defined liligation for purposes 01 the ,ule, ~"" p<O(ftdirog in. coull 0/ -K!min,l-lrative lfibunal in which the pa,. lies hove the "ght to c ,oss-..mine w it· nesses Or to subjecl ~n opposing panys

u.e H. Zell recetved llis undel(lraduale do:yee from CoIumbi.IllM-MiIy and his low do:yee fiom Ne>v 'lbrk Unio.eMy. He is • partnet in the 6;,mmgium film 01 6erkDwitz, 1.t/ko:w;11, lsom '" Kushner.

,n


brink v. MOIiwaki, (iv, No. 51017·2 IWa,h. S. O. $Eplember 5, 1985), 1,0, st~ tcment made to the in,ur.ln(e c~"ie, wbsequent to the accident was pro!ected lrom d isc lo>ure unde' Ihe ""'" product doct'ine where the statement wa, made b>,t the insured . The court r\01ed that thc in,u,ed has a (ontra<;tual oblig<ltion to (oope 'ate with the insurer and that to reluse protection for such statements """Id IruSl.ate the i'U'pose of the doc· !rine b>,t discouraging full d isc losure.) 8 y Or fo r anolher party o r by 01 for that parly's repres<'fllalive The doctrine extends 10 agents 01 an a!lomey. United Swes v. Nobl"f, 422 U.s. 225. 238-39 (197 5) 10 be protected from disclo>ure, r.owe.er, documenl1 gellerated by an ageot must h...., been prep.>red al the 1e<1ueSi of the anOlney.

Sterling Drug, Inc. v. Ha"i~ 488 F. Supp. 1019, 1026 (S.D,N.Y. 1%0) Discm -ery of work p roduct "",'erials In order to obtain materia ls fIIOtected b>,t the ""rk product docl ri"". the p.>rty s.eeking discCM'ry must demon'trate: tal a substantia l n<>ed for the mate rials and Ib) an inabilily, without urKIue hardship, to o bl3in lhe mJle,i ~ls (or Iheir substantial equiVillenO from mher ""'re.... An enhanced showing generally is ~ quired in order to ob1ain "opinioo;' as opposed to "ordi""ry" ""'" prodU<:t. See Upiohn Co. v. United St.l!e5, 449 U.S. 383, 401.{l2 (1981). (Production of documents repre:leOting coun>e)'s mental im~ions, conclusions, opin ioos or legal theo, ies cannOI be compe lled merely upon a """"ing 01 "substantial need and

COLUMBUS CLAIM ED THE NEW WORLD

ANDTU THAT WAS ENOUGH! "*""'"'"Sooin. a a ..,.,.."., """,,.ailed . ....." """""-... ~

1<Inded, .... 1IC>g, n>O<l<t 00'00nd, t>oeIc II> Ji!Ie ""'-"Or>C<>, ...." 011 De """"'""" Sponbh now. " _ """'" I""..-.ougfl Wdt1_ ""'-"Or>C<> Ir<lm MiSoissIppi VotIev I .... -,.out c:IieoY> ouured CIO<:rr ~ and !1M _ _

c..

«

8

POOlKi\oo, 1""'. _ _ 0II ....... 1I'Ie1DnCl~1OoI""""'"' MI ...... OQI~rdle""1NWIiM........"..,._ li11e...........,.~..." MissO .. ipoi_li11e.

•.,.,., ""'** a """"<I '" " i.............

--_...._--.-

..

'"

in~b il ily to obtain the equiv~lent with· out ur>due hard,hip."l Some cou rtS h...., """" wggestoo that such inform~t ion can be obta ined by an adversary, il at all, only in the mO>t namM'ly defined ci rcumstanCe .. S...., e.g., United Stilles v. Exxon Co'p., 87 F.R.D. 624 (D.D.C. 19801. (if ""rk product coo,i'ting of an auomey's mental impressions ar>d legal theori es is diSCO'>'erable at all , il is on ly when the activ iti"f of the auomey him>ell are d i· rect ly at issue.l See also Sprock v. Feil. 759 F,2d 312 13rd (i r 1965). (Prep.>ration lor diS(O'I<'ry is protecled by the ""rk product doctrine; an adverre p"rty was nOt permiUed to inqui re about documents used by the deponent to refresh his recollecl ion whe,e aisclosure of the >elected documents .s • group reflected "couns.e l·s legal opinion as to lhe evi. den.::e re levant both to the allegatioo, in the case and the p:>SSible!.ega1 defenses."l

Court, have not establ ished prec;>e guidelines for determining what constitutes "subslantial need." Such determinations generally are made on a ca>e-bruse basi .. See ABA, Section 01 litigation, The Auomey·Clienl Privilege and the Work.ProduCI DOClrine 77 (1981). "Substantial need" m"l' be lound. hemever, where information contained in the documenlS sought CannOt be obta ined through any mhel means or where the ooly means iIViI ilable is Ihrough a host ile wilness who refuses to prov ide the infor. mation, S...., e.g" Xerox Corp. v.ln!erna· tional Busines. Machi"". Corp" 64 F. R.D, 367, 389 (S,D.N,Y. 1974J. [The p.>'Iy seeking documents demonstrated a substantial need upon a showing thai wiTnesses provid ing informatioo con· tained in Ifle requested documents had poor or insufficient recoliectiOfl 01 twnlS.) Copperweld Stee! Co. v. DemagMan""smln-Bohler, 578 F.2d 953, 963 N.1 4 (3d (ir. 1978) Isubstantial need shown where person providing the info,_ mation contained in the 1e<1uested doc· umenl1 was dead) The COSI Or inconven· ience 0/ obtaining the wbslantial equi .... alent of the 1e<1uested materia ls is "nol in itself a sufficient ,howing to meet Ihe 'undue hardsh ip" requiremem." Arvey v. HOlme! 8. Co., 53 F,R .D. 179, 181 (D. Minn, 1971)

~-..,1lt\e_Comi><>"'I'

_ - . . _ ... :moo

As is lhe Ca>e wilh the "substantial need" 1e<1uirement, the "undue hard· ship"' element is not met whe,e lhe in·

May 1986


Ioomacion COI'IC<lined in me matef~ls KlUgh! .......,. ~ obtlined chrough _~nf,. MI~ " Ikill-lelta>plet Co., 165 f. Supp. 1029, 1032 (N.1l Go. "J7.4)(ptQduclion noc compelled where party fa iled 1<) show lhal a W~I~n!ial equi .... alen! oIlhe documenlscould 001 beobI~i"ed Ihrough deposilionsl Tfle burden 01 e:>lpen~ 01 ob1aining ~ SU~IJnllal ~ui",len! oIlhe ~ed documents ~Iy oo..s no! 'ilifffa' 10 ~liIIe ~undue ~nHhip. ~ ArVl'y ~. &. Co., 53 F.R.1l 179 (D. Minn. 197UBur ~ J,1,..i! Inc. ~. Alnerian Tt>kphoM &. M·

ome.

HoI_'

Gl3}iyer BAR DIRECTORY EDITION

Supp. 1146 (05.C. 1974); Sm Pn:oducts. Inc. ~. United Men:t..oo & M.nul.w:· IUterl,. Inc~ 47 F.ltD. 1).4 (s..oN.Y. 1969).

ew"IA Inc.. &4 F.II: .1l 286. :m III Colo. 1979). !'"Undue .... rdship" "'" w.own

where me p;lny -"ina cIocument~ ..ouk\ hiM! befn requioed todepose CM'1 1.000 wilnes~ in Otdet !O obtlin me subs"'nli.1 equi",lem 01 It..! documenlS

Oisciowre 10 ;octwl or poCenIial ».e..

saries Itl<f:ly will be deemed 10 conf>(itute ~ Wiliver. See e.,. l"",rarlCe Co. aI NoIth Jlmerka v. Union C~,bide COIP., 35 f.R.D. 520 (D. Co lo. 1964). 8uI see Bur/· ,'nglon Indusu;e, " fUlJ(! COIP-. 65 F.R.D. 26 (D. Md. 1974). lllhe aclwiliesal cou~ are .. ;,~, prOOut:lion aI worIr. product tNtlerial. 1.1<f:1y WIll be on:Ieoed. See, e.JI., Bud" PMn Cem,~1 Co., 61 F.R.1l41 (E-a P~ .

SOUghl.)

Waive, of Ihe doctrine A Wiliver 01 til<! anO<ney<lienl privilege does no! .....:essarily affect the iMlllability

aI proIeCIion from d'Klosun! undo-r It..! worIr. produt:! docl,ine. See. e.JI._ i-Undgatds. Inc. ~. JohnKln & /Ohmon, 413 F. SupP. 926 (N.D. DI. 1976). COl"" hiM! no! reached con.i'dent results wi!" respect to the dfCumstiinces under whi<:h It..! qualified immun ity pmvided by lhe ,ule m~ be Willwd. A n!-

19131. If poITions 01 otherwise proIectecI m~

lerial are sough! 10 be u~ 31 I,ial, al l IlOlenli ally ru lf!liitm port ions allhe ma· teri~1 uwally must be made 3v;Iil~ble. See, e.JI., UniraJ Stoles ~. Noble!, 422 U.s.. 225 0975). As is ,/"Ie case with til<! altOlney.<;:lienl privilese, a wai_ will be found in c~~ 01 fraoud (with the ~§ible ""eption 01 tNt'eti~J qualifying lor prote(lion n "opi nion" ...... Ii< product). See In re Special 5epIember 1978 Grand Jury /I, 640 F.2d 49 (7lh (ir. 1980). •

view aI Ifle caleS, ~r, .... ggesl~ genetal .weement on lhe IoIl"",,in8 principles: Since t/"le doclfine is designed 10 pmtecI "&lime d,~clowre aI inlormalion to actual or prXmIYI ~ diKiosure 10 Ihird paRies, p;lrticularly ~ who ~re common inlerest!, will 001 be viewed ~s ~ Wili_. See, e.,., Duplan Corp. v. Deetin, Milliken, Inc., 397 F.

I. . .eking s ubscribe.... nd IIdvertIH ... 'o, its 19861_ 10 be published In Au..,ull . The dlrec:lory C:Onlllnl In elphlbeUeal Ind "'&O'i/, Iphlc:el IIlIln.., 01 I II membe,. 01 lhe AI.blm. Stile Sir, wllh their 1Idd.... te. Ind telephone num· berl, c:omprehenllv. lI.lln..,. 01 stile Ind lederal 01llc:1.11, • tll. ba, Inl()fTnaI/on, lhe Code 0 1 ProiIUJOn.' R.sponslblllry . nd mllC:ell.neoul c:h.rtl Ind lee • . SublC:rJpUone ere 1V.llable II In IIIv.nee oosl 01 $7.50 eec:h. Advert" ' n.., rllel .... Iv.U.ble upon requell.

PLEASE WRITE OR CALL: Margaret Lacey or Ruth Strickland A labama State Bar P.O. Box 4156 Montgomery, AL 36 101 205/269·1515

Emooy Law School is !\OW ace'p"ng '1'PIk;ll~ from full and par,·""", "uJenu for lhe Gr.odu ... (LLM) Tn i'rotImln for the a<ademic ye ..

1986·87. Dotr.., and oon-<kgr"" <.ndiwICf .I,ke In>,! ."end d .......

c:o...... offen"" lor 1M fall indu.k: Monday c,.... i"ll, To_ion 01 ~ Rcoopn",,'ion>

Ton"",n oIln' ....... ional T..

Na<''''''''

Tuesday .... ninp: Uta,,' • .-..1 G,f, Tu."on St~l. and Mul"".,. Tax."o"

Wednctdoy .... nings: I...,.,.... rtom D.spoo.,,,,,,,, of !'roperly J...,.,.... T.....lIon 0I~. Tnom.. and e..nof",_ Thur;.d. y.,.. ning.;: Tn Accoon"1\8 Methodo Tn Procedure:

For """,e information.nd.n """I;c.,ion. coli 01" WIi.", Off",. of Admisoion> Unory Uni-..ly S<hooI 01 Law A,bnl" Ge<qoI J0311 (~)

127-6801

EMORY '"


Office Automation Consulting Program The Professional E<:onomio Commit. tee 01 the Alallama State Bar has n?C<'i....d

aw ..... ' of its rerommendetJ consult.,,! to serve the lawye~ of Alabama in eval. uating their office /un<:lion, and equipment ne<!d •. The committee first S3ir>ed boord 3?plVoIll in 1965 <:J a recommendation that the ,tate ba r offer the service to lawyers and law firms. David Arendall, chair of

the Profess",,,., Economics Committee,

compasses the procedures present, to a g reater or lesser degree, in all firms, large or small, gen",. 1or specia li~ed practice. It includes lelephony, copying.. dictating.. filing.. typing (or word processing), 3(OO\Jmins. docketing and billing and collectionslman".1 0 ' ~utomatedL Equipmenl, procedures and the sup. pan staff periorming them are examined . Recommendations are oriented toward simplification. consistency and elflCien-

and Timolhy Corley 0/ Birmingham served .5 the ad hoc 5uocomminee bringing thi S nlM' service to fruition.

Prospe<:1i"" consulunts were interviewed with the idea that with proper financi al suppof1 a consultant might be added to

the headquar1ers staff;

~r.

lhe al.

temar;ve of endorsing a consultant woo ,"",u ld work through state ba r headqua r.

I"" p~ more pr.x1;cal , The person loI'lecled is Pau l Bornw~i n of Office Techno logy A5so<;iat~. Inc., in Allanta.

and the local juri§(!ictions in wh ich lhe firm may practice. It either can be an assessment 01 the suitability 01 existing word processing ""u ipmeot or an opinion 01 lhe ~t su itable type 01 ,",u ipmen! to acqui re. The term """uipmenr" is ta ken to be the sum 01 a mico>-processor-ba>ed pi""e 01 hardware ,,!.ed in conjunct ion w ith aPl>ropri~te word processing soft· w~re. INore that the great rr.~jority of word processing vendors h;r.., absolutely no idea what a floating footnote Or tJble 01 citations is, much less the soh· w~re to de~1 with these requirement .. ) An action plan recommending 31>pr(>priate hardw..re and sohware Iii appl ica· ble). a-; well as ancillary applications that can be supported in a word processing l!flVironment (such as docke! control and calender ing), will be presenled ;erhally on lhe occasion of the end 01 the on-site visit .nd sU.b sequently in writing.

Bomstein hold, b.achelo(s and mas1,,(, degrees in physio and operations research. as well a5 Ifle (Me (Certified M~n~gemem Consultant) ~ppe l l~tion hom the Institute 01 Management Consulta nts. He is one 01 on ly two office automation consultanlS admil1ed 10 membership in thaI organization. f:IomSlein has 17 years- experieoce as a managemenl consultant, ioc luding three as lhe admin iSlrati;e direclor 01 an inler· nation.1l consulling organiUlion and IV>O as MIS di rector 01 a major manulacturer. In 1980, he bunded his OWn pr.odice and special izes in oIfice automation, with a major emphasis in lhe legal field. The bar's consu ltam i, an indepef,deot pract ilioner, e ngaged exclusi;ely in lhe office automation Held, and has no financial interests in any "I!ndors 0 ' suppliers. He does nO! accept I...... gratu ities or consideralions 110m them. The Ihree ;N1 ilable in ilial services and a brief description of each follow :

The Admini~trative Audit This i, an oYerview 01 the existing administrative praCTices in the firm, wherhe< or nor they are automated. It e-n-

'"

Pau! BOlnstein c:y. Particular emflhasi, is placed on lime and disbursements accounting and bi lling. An action plan is presented to lhe firm, IXlln ;erba ll y on lhe occasion 01 complet ing the on-sile vis it and subsequent· Iy in wr iting.

The Word Processing Needs A ..... lysis This is ~ look allhe problem 01 gening words on paper. in an efficient manne r and in Ihe formal required by the fi rm

The Data Processing Needs Ana lysis This e><amines funerions thaI can .• nd in some cases should , be ~utomated_ Conversely. nOI e.erything that can be automated should, particu lJrly if the funerion is not ""II structured, Ot is per_ formed SO infrequently as to be cost ineffective (litigation wpport, for e><ample). Particular emph~sis is placed on lime and d isilursemenrs accounti ng and bill ing and co llect ions, where the return on inwstmeot is genera lly most favorable. Combining one's data and te><t J)IOCI!5Siog needs on a single processor is conside red. Interface with One 01 the legal research ",,,,ices ILexis, ~Iawl will be ew lored il the firm current ly utiliZes such a service. The ancil lary ta>1<s 01 ronfllct 01 interesl reso lu tion. general ledger a<;Count ing, docketing and calendering wil l be e><amined. An action plan will be presented delai ling the sugg... ted configuration Ihard ware and software) a, well as SUggesled vendors, estimated COSts and anticipated benefilS. A schedule of fees and expenses has been agreed upon and is effecti"" Ihrough june 30, 1987.

May 19B6


hpenses SCHEDULE OF FEES, Thoo ronsult.lnl is reirnbursoed lew Iodg-

co""'.

ina and mNl

ec~ while engaged xcounl.;tS well ~ the least expensive t"'~ be! .. ee.. Allan!.1 ~ lhe al1Ofn.ey's office. T"'~lion gener~lIy will be by ;outomobile (at.)] per mile). When the consu hanl uno;ler. takes conseculi"", engagcmen~ within lhe !ame ~ he will prorate lhe transportillion cost between lhe firms

with

en~t at any lime w ithout with the uodermnding all undisputed fees and eI<pen~ will be p.oid 10 !he ~te bor within fi"", IS) d.¥. Scheduling will be coordillilted by !he ...Iobama State 8ar. and "II billing and reminaoce will be handled thJOOgh the

~n

1fM)1~.

The consultant wilitreat all inform;!tion and documents of the firm in con-

........ ...

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

fJtlence. and a firm rrYY termi""", !he

.•• ...,,

,-~

O"'oIj ......

''' '

~

0-.

,",.

·N_

lawyers In AI .. bom .. have been asking for thl s assl)\an<:e. and the board oi oom-

..... <loti ... .i... """' t".. til< In hi'I ""'" oIfIce ...... ~ ... documo!'I1,",,,,,,

minioners Is pleased to make it """il ...

bO.

d ........... ..".,. l*>o<W .. d~ !he pIonnod ~ tl ...

MD<>r...,., . . . . '"

1_

""""'001

~-

REQUEST FOR CONSUlTINC SERVICES o FFIa

AVTOMATION CONSUlTINC PROGRAM ~ br Al .. b.im;a St.ite Iar

THE FI RM

ITS PRACTICE l'I'ac!i(e Are;tS 1'101 M.u itime Coo4"",,",

••

c;:======

Number of clients handled annuallv Number of maners handled annually

Corporalt El,ulf! Piannin, INnkln,

Numbe< of "",11m p.esen,",'~'Y:,,:_::,:=====

How often do )00 billl _

EQUIPMENT

Adm in. Audit Prefetfed lime (I) WIf. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

"'""'" ...... I~is

(2) WIf. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

Mal l this requesc for seNice to the Alai:>.lma State 8ar lOt scheduling. Send to the attention of Margare1 Boone, E>:«uti ve Assistant. Alabama State liar, 1'.0. Box 6n, Montgomery, Alabam .. 36101 .

'"


de opportunities 20

tuesday

ALABAMA POSTIUDGMEN T COlU C· TION tAW MOntgome ry f'rofelsior, ~1

Credits: 6.3

Educal ion S~tem i COSI S85

1·8~26-7lSS

16

21

fri day

29-30 AN ...TOMY OF A RATE CASE Wa!h,ngton, D. C. fina nc ial Account,ng Institute

Credit!, 15,6 12011 568.0246

Cmt: S950

wed nesday

H eM.' TO SfRVE CLIEN TS THROUCH

ALABAMA P05TI UOGM ENT COlL(C·

TH EEffECTIVE US£OF PARALEGALS 8"mmgham 8"mingham 6a. As"""aBon Co>t: S10 (205) 251·8006

Burningham Pro(ession.ll Educallon Systems Cred'tl: 6.J C05t: SB5

nON lAW

1..600.826-nS5

17 saturday

23

MUN ICIPAL LAIV CONFER ENCE

DOMEsn c RELATIONS LAW

CONST RUCTION CONTRi\CTS

a"''''",gham

San F'ancir.co Pr.oc1,sing I..Jw

R,wJVlcw pja~~, MobIle

Alabdma league of C,ed,,~-

&.6

Municipahti~

C~,:

$40

(2051 814·)('56

friday

BurnIngham 8,a, AI!<>C'allon Creojus: 3.2 0»1: S2OImembeo; S251nonmembeo

5-6 (212)

In~1Itute

76~5700

(lOS) 251-&006

11-21

19-25

27-28

LABOR LAW AND LABOR ARHITRATION

UTILITY FI NANCE AN D ACCOUNT· I NG FOR AnORNEVS \VJ,h,ngton, D. C.

Hlllon In". Dallas Soutl'twestem Legal Foundation Co,,, Sl)25 (21 41 690-2377

F,nandal ""countlnB Institule

C.ed ill' 15.6 (201) 568-0249

Cred'i" 85,0 16121 644·0323

29-30

13

lA'-ID USE LAW \ 'ksIw.ud H,llon, ... ncllot~8" American Inst,tU10! of Cel1 ,fied PI~n"""

.... \Ob,le

Credits: 125 (312) 95~9tOO

'"

COlt: S950

SOUT HER N REG IONAL TIIIAL A[)' VOCACY PIIOGIIAM SMU School 01 L:rw, Dallas Natiotlal InM,lUte fo r Trial Ad\oOCacy

Cmt: SB5

Co.t: n2SO

friday

ALABAMA LEMON LAW LITIGATION

Nat,onal BusH'les. InStllute Credit!: 6.1> Cmi; S% 17151 83~8525

May 1986


16-20

23-27

11-12

Am'ANe w 1.I<801t AND EMPLOY·

ENVllTONM ENIAl LITIGATION

f i NANCE AND ACCOUNTI NG FOR LAWVE RS

MENT I.A\.\I Unlocrslty or Colo,<I(lo, Boulde, AU .... 8A (2151 243·160(1

Uno"",,,;I.,. 01 Colorado. Boulder ALI .... BA (2151 243-160(1

M~,k

IlOpklns Internationa l, Fr.nciSC:o

S~n

Soulm.rn Method,st Un;",,[Jity

CredItS: 9.9

Co,"" S360

(214) 692-3J36

18-20

23-27

AMERICAN INSTITUTE O N FEDERAL

fEDERAL SECURITI ES lAW SCanlord Uw School, Palo All0

TAK" TION Aml'fican Inlt,tute on Fede<.1 T.",,(Ooo Wynfrey HOI"', Sum,ngh.am

Cred,ls, 2U6

C~!:

S300

(205) 251·1000

20

friday

PRACTI CE B,mllnllham Birmingham Bar ASloOCiat'on

Cred,'S 1.0 120S) 251-8006

C~t

AlI ..... 8A (215) 24)·1600

HOW TO REAO AND INTERPRET

27

Cred itS: 115 16161 99S-71fJ9

friday

S10

20-21

PROCmURE Slfm lngham B"m ,nghdm Ba, As>ociaiion C,,~dltl:

3.2

(20S) 2SI-MQ6

27-29 ProfesSIonal Educalion Systems, Inc. COS1: $345 Cred,ts: 14,4 1·800-B2().71S5

Co~:

17-19 ANNUAL MEETI NG \Vynfrey HOlel, S"m,,,,sham

Alab.lma S'a,e Bar

19-26 IN SURAN CE COUNSE L TR IAL

ACADEMY College Inn Conleferlte Cenler, Boulder Inlcm.llion~1 Alwci~ti on of Insurance Coun~1

SoulMorn Melluxjm Un iV\',>Oty

C,ed,t.: 9.9

CO>I' HOO

\205) 269·1515

PROOUCTS LIABI LITY Four Sea!.On~ HOI"'), Toronto

fi NANCE AND ACCOUNT ING fOR LAWYERS Embassy Row Hotel, W.,hmgton

MEDICAL REPORTS Marona t\e;o.ch "Ioret, Los Angeles Med'·leg.ll 'nl!Uuu.'

PROBATE PRACTICE AND

POST·TR IAL MOTION S IN CRIMINAL

12-13

,3(2) 366·1494

BOO

(2 14) 692-1)36

21-22

29-4

ANATO \i\' fOR LAWYERS

AD\I'INCED TR I.... l Ao\'OCACY

(,echlS: 135 (BI8) 99s-7189

Un,verJtty 01 CoIOfaOO, Boulder Nallon.Jl Insn!llte fOf Trial Ad""".cy Cred,tS: no COSI: SI.1SO 16121 644..())23

Sherawn, ~.nl ... Med,·legal (nsmut"

CoSt; $400

25

friday

CHE(I(UST fOR SHARE HOLDER

ACR EUIENTS B"rnlngham

B"rnlngham 8.!, MsocjanO<l C,ed"s: 1.0 Cost: SIO 12051 251·8006

• T~

Alabama Lawyer

'"


Coping with Vocational Expert by P.ut R. l.f:e§-Haley ~ Nndti"3 P"f'OO'II injury.....:l wor1<e,,' compensation c.ues are con-

IrONed w ith a growing OOdyof slipshod te$timooy by ..ocat iona l e.pem. professional groups (such as the Ame<ion

Soord of Voca1ional bpe"~ headqvar. tered in Nast..lillel are RYki"ll e><cellent eIfot~ to i""""", r.landard. in this field, but umol they a.e successful in doing SO; aUOIroeys need InsuUC1ion 10 cope with

...,c:.r,on;ol test,,,,,,,,,,,. Use 01 a ~1U1 wi ....... is no! It.! 0nly iOIuIion. One aI1em;oti~ is 10 h.J,oe !hoe neconk e<.>mlned by a sophi~<!d eo<pe<I. 10 ~am oi oeIr<n and """"""" and obtain an outline lor the deposition. Allother Is to mo<e knowled~ble ;>boo! \oQCarional "",1lJ.ltions a.nd '''''''is Oil· tor~ overlook opponuniries to . "u re

becoo""

lust decisions. FoII""'ing is an outline 01 the correct procedure lor performing \"0c~tion. 1 ~aluations

irMllving 1051 ear,," ings and an ideotifiutioo of rommon ..... rotS made by attoo'neys lor each step in the '-OC.tional e'\Iah.... tion procedure.

Woo PHforrm .oution.ol imp.oinMnt ,,,,i,,,,, and • comment on ,t.e;, st~I'" .nd limits

Mo»I "lQlional experl opinions are reooo:lerOO either by p>yc:hoIogir.ls 0< grad-

01 -ocationa l rehabiliL1lion and

uates

counicllng p!Q8r;)ffis. A few are rendenld by ~

pho;sicl~ns,

especia ll y ps\dl ial,ists. As

gene,al ,ule o/lhumb, vocalional

Ie-

h.obllilation counseloR h""" I"" edUCil-tion and mot(! job pI~t e.perieoce th.on physicians and psychologiSlS. Ps~ CholoslMS ~ mot(! in-r:leplh ........ ~ ~nt IeSIlng pn.><.:edUI'e$, and they

cI

~

_

offer dill!

t(iontiflC tr.oining.

Physic~s

widely used e<pt>rlise on physoal imp.ililmenl and no ~ know~ cI Kienlif~ \OCational testing ot job marl<et. In _ ul>I'!dUGIted c0mmunities. ,estimorry by a physician "ill calfie'S a feudal aura 0/ corre<:lness, reo gard l('JS of i'l rTIO!oI

"""i,..

>5,

Mdy 1986


Testimony How lossof ea rningCdp.>Ci'y should be calculated, and where aUorneys ignore 1.... (aclS

To allSwer the lundamental que>tion, ·What is lhe life!ime earnings 1"'5 oIlhis individualr' certilin data must be collect-

ed and correc1 Thew Sle~ are:

procedu~

followed.

la) """"'nnS!he physIcal or mental inlury;

(bl defining p ..... dnd pO<'.inj u"l ..."pJoyabOlil}'; lei c"",,,,,,ing •• m ings impair""""'; Idl raiculdl ing li~ime ea rning< Il>$~ Each step poses unique problems fot at· torneys, as outlined below. Meawring the mental or J>hyskal i ... ju,..,.....T"" foundalion oIlhe earnings im_ p;lirmenl evaluation is Ihe opinion of either a physician or a licen5<'d psychol-

ogist (or l"ychi.1<;,O, depending on whC1her the injury is pflysical Or psyc/K)logical. The physkian or !"ychologi" should sr.:l1e as dear ly as possible what

the plaintiff can no IonS'" do, as a result 01 the injury, Ihal .... could do before Ifle injury, and nc..... IOOglhe pl~ i ntilf will no! be able to do these lhing~ ~ici~n~ a~ bt far !he ,"",I common

of opinion~ aboul a person's impairmem. Ps)Chologiul claims a~ less

!oOUn:e

familiar 10 mosl attorneys and a mo~ rapidly grCM"ins field of liligalion. h· amples of such include lX'SJ.1raumalk stress disorder. neufOJ>')Chological defic il5, ps\-Chological injury, ps)Chk nauma, anxiety rea<;tion" phobias and depres' ion. A p'\-Chologis!"s impairmt'r'lt opinions are usually firsl encounlered in a ~port discussing psychological tt'$ting. imer· views and lhe medka l and "",rk hiSloril'S. A physkian'. opinion m<ry appear in the form of a letter expressing a genera l disability opinion or a che<:ldi~1 of opi. nion, about liftifl& lIending. etC. la phy..ical capacilit'$ evaluationl. A >Oealional rehabilitation counselor's <epot1 rypical. Iy refers 10 the physidan's or ps\-Coologisr~ opinion, relalt'$ Ihat op4nion to thO! plaint iffs viabiliry in Ihe labor marke1 and concludes w ith a Slalcmenl of the per<:enlage of >Oeal iona] impairmen1. A ca reful ~ading of lheir ~por15 and statement, in delX'Sitions could fe\'eal maflll of lhe:se experts lespecially M.o.sl consisten tly galher only mO!ager evidence aboul lhe plaintiffs prior func· tioning and priordisabil ilies. They rarely obtain ourside corroboration of thO! plainlifrs self.~port, and when they do. il i, from interested panies-usually the immediate family. II is a rare expert who realistica lly aSsesses cau§C-and-e(Ie<:1 issues in litigalion; lhe norm is 10 make a Ihinly disguised ",sumption that the lit· igaled event did or did no1 cause the in· juries, and no1 10 furthe r probe.

On deposilion, anomeys roolinely as\;, "Doctor, could that injury hiM! been caused by XI" but they seldom pu~e in detail queslions such as: la) "What peret'lllag<' of palienls of the same age, r;>ce and sex. al~ady hiM! similar conditions/" Ibl "HCM" many ~ymplOmS unrelated to Ihis rype injury did \QU as\; abDul, to see il the pla inliff was ju,t endorsing most of the symptoms j(>u "",mioned, without regard 10 realityr' Icl "How cenain a re you that this 3(. elden! cau sed this injuryf' (dl 'What other CdUses "",uld be equally \';IIi<! ahemati"., ""planations for the origin of such an injury or illness/" lei "Te ll u. in detail the ev idence you used as the basis for concluding Ihatlhis accidenl caused Ihis inju ry." III 'Whal training Or continu ing edu· calion hiM! you had on de1<!<.:ting mal· ingeringl" The blanket Slat"men! freque ntly seen in ~poriS by physici~ns, >Oeational experts and ps\-Coologist" Ihallhe "Pollit'r'll is 10lal ly disab led; usually is incorrect and irrelevant. Surprisingly few >OCalion-al ""pem and ps\-ChologiSlS, Jnd almosl no physiCians, h""" studied Ihe earnings impai rment literatu~ in detail_not that this inhibilS theexp~sion of such opinion~ Their lestirnony quic kly crumb les under a c,..,.,..."...mination prepared w ith lhe assistance of an ""perl who acluJlly knows how these procedures "",rI<. On deposition, if expert opinions a~ 10 be used to establish earnings loss, rhey

Terms to Know Earnings impairment lalso ca lle.:i redU(ed earn ing, capacity, impaired earn· inss capacily, I"" of earning capacity): An earning' impa irment evaluation determines Ihe loss of earning capacity re.ult ing from an injury or illnes~ This raling must be cakulaled in order to 0btain a valid lifetime eJrnings l05s, including Ih05C offered by e<:onomi!l~

li shed by the American ';"led ical Associ. ation Commin~.., on Rilting of Mental and f'hysicallmpa irmenO, or Ihe Manua l for Orthopaedic Surgeons in Evalualing Permanent Physicallmpa i rmen~ published by the American Academy of Orlhopaedic Surgeon~ This Iype of raling is lhe source of phrases like "15 pereenl 10 lhe body as a whole."

Medical impa irment: A medical impa ir. ment rating i. a pereentage produced in accordance with procedures oull ines in references such as the Gu ides 10 the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment lpub-

Vocational impai, menl lemplO(il bilily, ~idual emplO(ilbililyl: The numbe r of jobs a person Can perform aiter an injury Of illness div ided by the number he

The Alawma Lawyer

could perform befo~, times 100 II is e>;.p~sed a5 a pereenlag<'. Disability; This is a genera l lerm, in this cont""t most con'monly applie.:i to "",k activilies which p""'iou,ly could be performed, but Can no long<'r be handled as a result of an injury Or il lness. "Di ... abiliry" is a "",rd wilh many f"ces, often confused with Ihe lerms aboYe. It ranges from inability to perform a spe<:ific profes,ion lin cenain insurance casesltO inability to perform aflll gainful employ.ment at all [statulO<y use in socia l security cases).

'"


mu§! be Ir.msl~tcd 01 ph,Moe<! in ",levan! _ The e..ienl of mftlic.l....:I ~ IosiaoI i"'l»rmI'nII ~ with an injury does not xcu,... ~y ""led lhe "". IE'IlI of lou of ~in" c~~ilY. In ~, \he ",Ienl of psrcholotlical and ~.I impa.nnenl .and !he Nmifl8S impairment m;Jy be ."!ic~11y differenl. For e<lIm~, in one recenl ""'" a pt,.,.. okian sooid!he pl~inlifl h"! a 2S peKeol mftliQl imp;lifTTll!n~ ~OO a "Xal;O'ldl "'pM said he nad a 65 percent >ocationa l impalrmen l. On analyzing the data. it was diKq,oetcd (and demon§!rated to the coun) that his percent earning' impai.meot wn at ~t fi", perceo~ aoo very IX"sib(y zl!fO peKer>l depending on hIM- one con§lrl.led the pI;oinliffs evidenc~ In anocher (~, the pI;ointiff hood a 10m of earning capacity e..en ~ he (W1f!l"lll1y _ _ Icing as II"IUdl as he hood prior to his injury. I../sual and CUlolOINory practice in the COfIte<t of hllg;lllon Ii 10 include.m ev;ol. uallon for malin~ng. ~, a ..... ~if!w 0/ "Xational e..pefl "'pons will demonstrate the ""'t m~iori ty of efforts 10 deleet ma lingering are conducted su· perfi cia ll y. Molt e>:pens fail to use the ;N.Iilable leehnology, and some do not ~ ;tddress the is~. There is no rl!~f(h evidence whalKle\'ef demons!.at· ins that "Xil""",l coumelot"'i and ps\," rniatfi§lS can ~i.>bIy ~ malil\(ll""ing. The only group with demons!.atcd Kienl,f" techniques for deIecling malingering is psrctIo!osislS, and a srudy of

se-no...s

their "'POf!$ confirms thou in general they, do a clearly I~ale;ob.. pO"",.ily beollSl! ITIO$I do not - . . bother 10 try. They appear at depositions with no JTI(IIe lOoIfer tb;on .."...r\oi lil:e, ., did not th.nk!he ph"n .. ff _ malingering.· ·In my oprnion, he ....... not ...... l!8"'ating.· or "'The pI.in.. " ~ like a';"""", pe<_ !On 10 "",,-. Oeuiled f'>Olmination of !he pn::oadures be/lioo such stalements will quickly ~al most e>:pMs do not even know hIM- 10 ev;oluale lor malinge.ing. Medical. psy<:hologica l aoo '-'OCatiOfial maling£'fing can be detected and Pf'M'd. De li n lnl p . e- an d post-i nju.y l~iduall employ;lbili' r-Using the finding. lrom ~".p ~, .IM! evaluator analyzes the rebtiomhip between t..... indi~tdu~I's restd~1 GI[»Cjt;es lor work and .IM! dem;lnds of .IM! jobs ;o.ai'abl~ Mer COfI"derinl tIM! work hislory of.1M! indi~id .... l. tho! psy<:hologic.;ll (X mediCAl impainnent opirooons ;and dM. ~'" of "",. in!l. ~ determines the jobs for which •..... lndivid ..... 1continues 10 be q .... lified. There ~fI! numerous jobs in t..... U.s. economy. ~oo ~t loca l eo:onomies. which can be per/orme<l !Iv individu.ls with serlOU$ impa i.ments. Many require li" le Of no Ir.lnin!l. no lI<i ll $ and average 01 low iI\'e'~ge intelligence. It is ra",. than most people SUPP"5l! 10 ~ s0meone who is ..... ui~ totally....:l permanently disabled. The majority of dis.abled people 80 b.ick 10 work after soenlement upercs often U!e the pht~se -1Ol~11y dis~ when they ITINfI the pl~in.iff can100,

~

work ~t ~ specific previous job Of do IM! ....... work.

cUSlOm~ry

Disabihl'( i, ~ ,.,1 ... ", condition, per· talning lO.he Individual's abilil'( 10 rompete in tIM! ",rren. I.tx. marb:t in ~ delined ...... Usually a "Xation<ll e..perc WIll use !he~. county Of a SO-mile .;I(i,us of the pl.intrffs louIe as !he reie..... nt labor mar1<et. 1\ bet ne..er men.ioned is ;(!he «OIOf''I'cNnge!.. !he di .. .br/;fy cNnses. for Cl<Jmpie, if the job m~"'''' tightens, the Indi~ idUi!1 is more d isabled. If a local industry "rises with numef()IJS sedentary positions, the d,soobil iry is lessened. If lhe plaintiff ~ ~ hi§!ory of lYJOIo'inS af()IJoo the country 10 seek work or lor lifestyle .... _ It is ,.,~.bIe 10 use the nation;ll «anomy as the labor mari<el-.ImQSt ;"""ri~bly muninl ~ jobs ..,.. ..... ilable ;and Iowerins dM. e..... ings impairmen~

Molt \OC~ ~ moat okIer per. wns as in/le.ib!e ;and rap;dly assign total disoobihty .alings on tIM! In:>UooS .ha. (.1 "old dot' do ~ lum new uid..- and (bl empl~do not want them . Histo.· ica ll y, Ihis, pe.hal)5. '''IS reasonable. In the mode.n economy. cond itions ~ch.nged d r~stTe~ lly. Thenumber 01 older people i$ greale. than atarry time in hislory. They ~R! Influencing who is hired, ;000 they wan' 10 continue....".,· ing beyond u.,!inorul n!"ti"'"'"""t agfl (.ges which, incidem~lly. _ defined by 8iwn;lrck ~ Cfll1ury IgO, when hardly 'f¥X1'! h-.!d 10 ret",,). Now COMp.;on,es

, UNITEO COMMM:S FlfrINIClAlCORPORATlON

REALLY GOOD NEWS Here', a lend,," making 20 year loan s w ilt! FIXED Int,,"est rates. Not variable. FIXED FOR 20 YEARS COmmen:ial -

Investment loans. first moogages.

P'opertlet: Office build ings. shopping centef1.light Ind ustrial. New construction. rehab. properties. o r e~ lsti ng

buildings..

8 . nk....: We can prOYide Forward COmmllmenlS, u p 10 one year in advance. lor pel"manenl loans 10 coyer your construC1iofl loans.

Unltto<! Companln 18 a on.. bliion doll.., ftn .ncla l company IItlto<! on AMEX.

And._ T. G..y'*,

PhOfM: (205) 171-0387

'"

CCI M

SoutI>c.", 8Id9., Suite 201

1025 Montgomery High way IIInnIng hlm , Al 35216

M~y

1986


~re

>POO",ring programs to al1rac1 §eniOl dti ~.ms to work Help.-wanled ads spedfieally sol icil relired Or older empl"""",s.. The lestimony 0( a nonp>j'thological '-OCationa l t'l<pert al most inva riably is based upon a review of medica l r«ords and an inteNicw, with minimal , inadequately performed tes1 ing. F\j'thologis&. as a resu lt of the;r Kientific training. do a far superior job of t">ting (in compar,>OIl to p>\Chiatnsts, who do almost none, and nonpsj'thologist '-OCational expef1'l, wr.o do simpler telts with inadequate training in the rationale of the tests they .xlministCfi. H~r. a remar1<ablenumber of P5j'thological \OCational reports contai n e rrors in test adm inimation and interpretation. Test ing errors are '" Irequem one should ~r accept a report witr.out having it reviewed by an independent expert. Ca lculating ",ming. impairm""tThis is the moment one computes the anS--er to the quest ion, "H(7W much was the earn ing ~r of this individual reduced!" Looking at the job. the individ_ ual could perform pre- and post_injury, Ihe ea rnings impairment rating is de\oel· oped. In eslenee, it is a ratio of the """rage wage. of the jobs ...... ilableto the in· dividual afte< the inju ry and beIore. This pJOCedure i. not as simple as it "",nds.. USing the latest and hest methods, surprising outCOtrles result. Sometimes an iooividual's eaming capacity appears to be greater aile< an injury Ihan before. beaUIe the inlury redrxes the capacity 10 perform I"""paying jobs withoul affecting higher·paying performance. Many judgmenl calls enter into these ca lculations.. On the surface, this procedure sounds like mere arilhmetic; in lact, conclUSions are colored by semanti c issues. Real earning. los. is never purely tn.. ~uct of the accident; it is also what the plaintiff makes of it. For e.ample, a penon'. moIivation to work can control a surpri,ing percentage of the loss.. A man waS evaluated wr.o sa id he could not work at .11 bec.lUIe he hurt constan lly, I!'>\eIl at home when trying to ",,1. Lilter the same day a woman, who had Ihe same injury !Jut was worlcing. was tested. When discu.sing her ea"" she said. "I hUrl all the time, whetner I'm at home o r at worlc, 50 t might as well worlc." The

Alab~ma l~wyt"

Using current medica l terminology and procedures, as defined in tne American Medical Association's Guides to/he fvalu.1tion of Permanent Impai,menl. 2nd Edition, a l. rSe percentage of tn.. U.s. working population could ,ustain a substamial medical impa irment rating without aflecti ng their capacity to earn money. Thi. fact is not widely known. but il is easy to demonstrate and direcT. Iy addresses a key issue in litigati on wn..re eamings lass is important. A common e rl'O/' is being buffaloed by "\OCationa l impairment" percentages as ilThey were percentages 01 reduction of earning ~r. which they most celt.l i".. Iy are not. \lxational e><per1'lare testilyingabout 70 percent, 80 percent and 90 percent vocat iona l impai rment ratings and ,gidual empl,¥,bility figures. wilhout being challenged . de.pile the fact that lhese I,gu,g are close to meaning_ less," a measurement of dollar damages. Calculating liIelim~ earnings lou-N th is poim, and ~ before, an economisrs opinion becomes meaningful. Theeconomist can extfapolate the pre- and po~. injury earnings capacity and the differ_ ence be~n tOe IWO, build in various a,sump/ion. and cakulate the liletime earning. 10>, and The net presenT value of that loss.. Lazy or uninformed economists will render opinions On nimsy data, ....eh as W2s.. Many legal m.ga~ines contain ad""nisemen!> giving good examp les of «onomists offering budgel~1 opinions on lifetime ea rnings loss. based on earnings history alone, without considering psj'tho logical and '-OCational lactors. One example is the Ph.D. «onomist who used W·2s as the basis for asserling th.tthe bos,s non compos >OIl had a life. time earn ings lass (net present value!) of four million dollars.

E;ery economist'S report is diflerent. They use dine rent discount me!, includ ing ~ero. They make different assumptions about futu re growth in rea l earnings.. They do not all Ule the same life or worklife expectancy tables..-They =ke different claims about hislorical interest r~tes ~nd inn at ion rates. They u"" computer programs contain ing formula. theoy cannot explain. Not uncommon ly, they ma ke programming and computalion errors. The bottom line is that Ihe correct approach to """Iuating earnings impairment is a SCientific one which Can be..,.· plained cle.r ly to Ihe eourl. Instead of meeting this STandard, attorneys are pe<. milting seriou, technical errors. These OCCur most often in one of I'M) lorms: (11 admitt ing the test imony of sell-.ty led "Xational experts using procedures which do not p.a.s the Frye test IFrye v. United States. 1923) 01 gener.1 acceptance in the lield, or wh ich are simply erroneous"howlers" from a technical point 01 vi""" and {2) failing 10 soliciT the appropriate testimony to confi rm 01 discon lirm the alleged loss.. These errors are '" easil y avoidable Ihey will be considered laughable mistakes. if not malpractice, as SOOn a. theoy become more genera lly recogn ized. The <;olution, are 10 become aware 01 these ernlrS, hiM! \()cation"1 "",perl reportS critiqued by ;JIl independent e><perl. obtain suggeied dep. os ition gu idelines from an experienced witness and, when necessary and reason• able, use a rebu ttal wilness.. ......NelS

''''' • lMoo<f s-., nl' "iJ (OC 0. Jt1JJ

""'0..1."' ' ' ' .... ~ ... . "" ~ .. ~.............. ,.~

............ r... ........... J... ~

ibJ _ " _ ......... ,,,.

C- ."<I """"'""" ~ J " V

Paul R. l.ees-Haley is • board<eJ1ified V(}o c.>lionaf expen ~nd li<:ensed psychologill witl> offices in Hun/svil/e, Alabama. He has selVed as an exper1 wilnes. ~nd lili_ galion consultam in perwnal iniury and workers' compens.olion CaSeS ~nd authored numerous ar1i<:/es for psycholasial and legal iournals.


About Members, Among Firms A80ur MEMBERS Je rry I.t<!' Hicb , a Humsvilli> at-

torney. rece.uly WaS named "Boss 04 the Yed~' ~ the Hunlwille legJ.1 Secre1a,ies Auociatloo al1heir fourth Annual Bosse>' Night Celeb' olion.

J~ W. A.d.oms announ(es his wllhd,,,,,,,,lirom the law fonn 01 Steil-

g.111 & Adams and the ft't\'"II:>I,"31 of his office 10 %0 Edst Andrews .....ellue, P:Il8o:>c 1487, O.olIk, Alabama. Phone 2051774·5533.

C . 8.lnJoon. Jr .• js pIe.-d I<) anno.me" the opening ol his l_ ome.. al 404 Sn<1w Swet StIile 8, 0 .. ford, Alabdma. Phooe 205.'831·1422. ~nnon

terry M . VA~, Tuscumbia attorn~"y and J,;"me' d iwkl court judge and associate justice of the High Courl of American Sam<>il, has been

aPPOinted <>dm,niwahve law judge wlln the O/f!(Ce of Hearings and Appeal\ Soci~1 ~'if\l Admin'$lrallon, FI'f'SRO,

California.

Itol:wrt F. Smith AnOOoUl>(es the IeIoanon ofh,sollke WSu,l(> 1400, 114 \~I Dr It,,:ks Boulevard, PD. Bo. 17n7, Flmence, Alab<lma 35631. Phone 205/766-3663.

Ch.lrles E. Sharp Will a featured 5\ll'akc< at the lOrt anclln~,allCe Pm<:lice ~'Clion (TIPS) 01 Ihe American Bar "'SSoci~lion's conierence on "'r~nsporl~lion F,lCihty Negligence" in 5.ln [);ego March 20 and 21. SlIMp, a graduale oi rhe Uni~rsity 01 AI~b.Jma So::hooI 01 Lrw, is a brmer president oi lhe Nation"l Associ~11QIl 01 Rolllro<>d Trial Counsel, South--

And.-- Gentry 01 Auburn, Alabama, waS el/!Cted vice<halrman of the State of Alabama Personnel Soord

'"

al the oo.rd's Fmruary meeting. He is a gradua!e oilhe Uni~rsityoi Alab.Jma, where he also mcei"m hi,law degree. Genlry was appoinled 10 the perwnnd OOirrd by lieutenant Cr:»ernor Dil l B,"ley for Ihe term expiring february t, 198& M~ry

Anne Thon!pso ... a graduate d Aubum Unl~ty and Cumberland So::hool oi ~, is n<:1>" rhe assiSlanl sener.1 counsel for ~miniwation in !he e>.ecutl>e offrc:e 01 rhe po-esidmt in \"\I,)~ington. O.c. 8eio<e joining Reagan', ~. she M.'M'd as a politiC<lI ap.pornt\'Oll for Tranwortalion Secre\ary

Elizabeth Dole. M icha~

E. ""'"' formerlydTumer and lone<. P,A., announces I"" open. ing 01 his nl"" office at JOO Glelll'oOCJd Al.enuc, Luwrne. AI,wama 36049. Phone 205IJ1S-6S3416535. AMONG FIRMS A rmbr~hl, Jukson, DeMouy, e..,.,.,,,, HoIrMS & R...-s t.ll:e pleaWit' in anr'lOUocing Mary K.olhl~ M;I~ has beeome • member d rhe firm, and R..,. M, Thompson has become associated wllh the firm. with offiC@! at l)()(l AmSoulh Center. P.O. Box 290. Mobile, Alabama 36601.

l he law firm of Lyons, Pi pes and e oolr la~e5 plealure in annouocing Odiorah L. Alley n,lI become a,S(). dated with the Arm, with ollices at 2 NOfth Roy-al Slf('eI, Mobile, Alab.Jma 36602_ Phone 205/412-1481.

The law firm d Odin, feldm.>n & Pill~n is pleased to announce F. H..-d, )r.. ha. bee""", a prj ... Cip.:ll 01 the rllm. wllh offices in fa,,· i.~. t.\anaIS<lS and Hemdon, VilSinia.

""rneJ

Judy 0. Thom.tt and Iohn R. HlfI'" ""oce Illeasure in announcing

1.1'"

the form~t<on of a parlnersnip under the firm name of Thom.Il; and Hut'" n.oce. with offices al 1410 Se<:ond """nue f~>I. p.o, Box 1056, Oneonla, AI~bama 35121. Phon .. 205/625-3973. e h~rles

N. Mc Knight and Euge ....

A. Seidel .re plea~ to announce they h_ joined in the formalion 01 • pallnership under the firm name 01 MCKniJht &~, 501 ~ment SWet, P.D. 8o>t 210). Mobile. Alab10ma 36652.210), Phone 2(lS/43HOO9.

The law fi,m of Fr~nson. 0.."'1>& and Aldridge, P.A " is pleased to a ... flOUnce J. Keith M . s"nds ha, become a member 01 !he firm, which will COl>tinue the practice of law under the name Fran§l)n, Dedring. Aldridgeand 5.!nds,. P,A .• w ith office al 1506 p'u· den' i ~1 Drr..." p.o. Box 10840, )adoor.. ville. Flo"da 322 4 7. Phone 9O-II399-QS5S,

The liM' firm 01 Clark & x ott, PA, _14 Offrc:e Pdr~ Cin:le. Birmingham. AI~ma. il ple.lsed to announce Timothy P. I)on..ohue IS n<:1>" a member 01 the firm and G. St..."" Henry ~n

assoc.ate.

The law firm of T~ylo<, Day, Rio & MeKi ... t.'~ pleawre In annouocing John MeE. Miller has become asS(). dal~-d With the flm •. with offices at 121 ,w,$t forsYlh Stree1. 10th Floor, Jackso"",ille. florida 32202. Phone 904f356-{)700.

w.-n....irner

.nd feId, P.A., takes p/e.lsure in anOOUf'lCing Nancy C. ~ borne has become as.soci.ted with the firm. ~ It 11M reIocaled its offices to 600 Bank 10< SaYings Building. B"mlnJham, Aldb.Jma )S2(ll Phone 205I328-JJSS.

May 1986


The IdW firm

ot

MeOaniPi. H. II,

r.n.ons, CO<>e'rly & I.u!.k, P.c., lakes ple.w ..... ,n announcIng IOIIn M. Fr.·

I~, I.c:k I. H.II , Ir., and o..' jd L Me· AI;'I.,.. hoM! bKome a,socia.ed wi.h lhe firm . Oitices~ ..... loaled al 1400 Fmancial Center, Birmingham. Ala_ b.lma J 5203. Phon~ 205/.!SI-81H.

G. ! Corpora lion is plea~ 10 a""ou"~e I. O""id \\;)od. ruff. Ir., has joined iI' legal deparl. ITI£"Ot Oifkes~ ..... \oc;Iled al 2101 Si~th .-..enue North. Blrmingt.am, Alab.lma 3520). Phone 2051326-2629. A ld b~m.

1.lph G. HoI~ I... Albm I. Tully, 1.lph G. HoI~ III , and Iod F. D.nIey aNlOUnce lhe d,oooliOO of

the law firm

ot

HoIbnJ.. Tully, Hoi-

hers & D.nley. 1. lph C . tfoIber&. l•. , will conlinlit' hIS I"" p<aCllce. a5 a sole praCIII IOON. al 701 Conlmerce BOIlding. P.o. Box 47, /\.\OO il e. Alab.lma 36601. Phone 2051431-6863.

AI'-I J. Tolly will continue hi' liIW praC\lCt. as a sole pracllllO<>e'r, al 701 Comme<a 8U1kllng. P.o. 80>: 47. Mo· bole. Alab.lmo 36601. I'ttooe 20514328863. 1. lph C. HoI~ III, and loP! F. Danlty announ«: lhe Ion'natioo 01 a pallfltrship under Ihe name ot HoI-.nd Danley, 70 1 Commerce Build",8. P.O. 80~ 47. Mobilt'". Ala· bam,1 36601. Phone 2051432-8863.

""'lI

01

Griffin, Allison & ~,

wah oIfices ~I B,adlood BUIld ing. 2025 Second A,,-,,,ue NOrth, Bi ,mingham.

Thomas E. 1..,.4nl, I•., and I. Cor· don HOIlse, I'.. a ..... plea>ed 10 an· nounce lhe cOllilOu.lion rJ!he" prac· lIce of law as I..,.anl & HOIlse, and lhe continued aSsoci~lion 01 Mark II. Ul·

~"Y

SII!"phen I . Griffin and lino:lsey I. Allison art plN>ed 10 announce lhe association of WlWiun I.iIndail ~ in the form

Suite Nine, 4509 Valk¥lale Road, Bi,mlngh<rm. Alamma 35243. Phone 2051991-6361_

mer ~nd S. lIosertl.1rY dfo lua" wn h lhe fi,m. Off,ce-; ~ ..... localed al 212 first Soulhern F,-oder.a ' Building. P.o. O''''''e, 1465, Mobile, Alabdma 36633. P!>ooe 2O~4)2....j6n.

The I""" firm 0/ COfley, Moncus, Bynum & Dd,,)$, p.c., is plea>ed 10ar>nounce W.ltt. C. Andrews, lit, and C""' W. C r~, I' " h,l..~ bKome members 01 the firm. and lobert L B.orMit Ius bK()ITl@ an ",soc;iate 0/ the firm.

Alamma 3520), 205l32f>.(l591, and

lid",rd f. ~ .nd LH I . Bmton Jnoouoce!he lor· ma~on of a p.utnE"rlohip under the firm name 01 Sc:hotI, Oslt" and Bmton, and OousI.os I. Cenleno hilS bKome assoclaled wnh lhe firm, wilh offices al Thi,d Floo, \V,III, fluild ing. 2008 Thiod -""'cnl.H.· NOllh, 8lrmingham. AI· abilm~ 35203. Phor.e 2051324·4893. W.

Sd.o~'I,

Where there's a will ... Now there's an easier way. AmSouIh Bank', reN W. 1W1d Trust Form Sock DIO'IIdssa canpIele IW1d

up-tO-dIIa o:rnpiatlon d wllW1d 1rus11oons 10 maI<a )'CUI job _ ard 1asIaf. In ackIiba .. exa ISO'!! c:orml8I1IafeI are heIpU on the design and

i ' ~oIvrcu; eslale pians. n-bmsreled ERTA. TEFRA. and reoenI ... 40 1$ in !he ~ P,obaIe Code and wi be ~

paliodicaly 10 instxe cortonuin!I accuracy. To OIder)'CUI seI 01 W. ancflrust Form Books. WId)'CUI ehed< for S95.00 payable 10 AmSooItl Bank NA 10 1he Trust DiviSion a l 8IY-f 0I1he adej,esses below. 01 c:ontad!he AmSou!h Elilate and Tns P1arring Represenlative in yOIJr area. AmSooJ;h

Bank N.A.

P. O. Bo~ 1128

AinsIG-l. AI. 35201 " . . ,,,

ArllSoAl Bank NA P. O. SOle 11426

~oom AI..lS202

--""SoIAI Bank NA

AmSouh Bank NA P. O. Box 389 Gadsden. AI. 35902

s=ro

-"""""...... "-AmSoo.Ah Bank NA

P. O. Box 507

PO. Box 1628

0ecaIIJ". AI. 3S601

McJbIa. AI. 36629 8*1575 AmSoo.Ah Bank NA

AmSoo.Ah NA P. O. SOle 1150 00Ihan. AL 36302 793-2121

MOl 1IQO'T1a\( Al. 361 01

P. O. 6ox 1"

"""" Bank

P. O. Ot-awer 431

""."""


Legislative Wrap-up by Robert l. M cCurle y, Jr.

UwyetS ~od

the legal profession were ufl(\e( heavy

3t-

tack during the 1966 Regular ~sk>n that adjourned Aptil 1966.

A coalition 0( S4 me<!ica l and business groups sough!

changes in Alabama's civil damage laws bv jlIJshing for pas.. ge of a p;!ckage of ",or1 rdorrr{' ar.d "medical malpractice" bills. It is unlikely major revisions w ill ~ome law this ~. r. 001 i1 appears this i5 only the beginning 01

"ton reform: Present ly, the House 01 Representlllives has 11 I ~rs;

if the trend cominues there will be eventes. anorne'YS in the legislalure ;>Iter the election ~m.ry June J, 1986, and gener.1 election November 4, 1966. Although 600 bills were inlrodoced in the House arod 600 in Ihe Senate, relati....,ly few bills oi statewide contern wi ll become law. 100, bills"""" Jl«'P'Ired bv the Ala.bama Law Institute_

Administ rative Procedure

A~ndmenl~The

Ad·

min istrahve Procedures Act amendments (H. 316, sponSOl: Rep~tatj...., Jim Campbe ll) repreo;.ent a "dean-up" bill to the 1981 Act effecti>O!: since October 1. 1983. Thi' bill darifiesexi,t;ng law and ~1"> 26 changes soughl by 11 agencies enabling them 10 beuer comply with the klministrati-e Proce.:lu re ,o,c1Unifonn Transfers to Mir>O<S-(5. 514, sponsoc Senat~ Ted liule and Ryan deGrallenrie.:l; H. 539. SJXlr1sor: Representali"" Michael Ondmdonk) This bill expands the present Uniform GillS 10 Minors ,o,ct, rur~ntly allowing gifts to minors of cash. stock and insurance proceeds, to i~ dude gifts of ~al and pooonal property. (See January 1986,

The Alabama Li....-yer.) Redemption of Real Propertr-(5. 438, spoo.ot: Seoato< Frank Elli,; H. 493, SJXlr1sor, ~tati>O!: Jim umpbellJ The present law Can be d""iphered only by 'eading the >!alutes, Ala. CcxJe § &-5-230 through &-5-24), and cases inlerp~ting them. Th is revi sion darifies the order and priority 01 rOOemption and allowable charges. and prmides that commercial ventures may be 10r""losed through a judicial foreclosure and therebty not be subject to the one~ar redemption period. (See January 1986. Tile Alabama L<owyer.J

Regi stration of foreign Judgmet1\HS. 429. spoosor: Senato< Steve Cooley; H. 494. sponsoc Representati"" Jim Campbell) Thirty Slales h""" adopled the "Uniform En_ forcemet11 of Foreign Judgments AcI," inc luding OUr r>eigh-bors, Tennessee, Mississippi and florida. Th is hill permits the r,ling of a foreign judgment with the circuil court. Thir_ ty days after notice. the judgment is enforceable as any orher Alabama judgment. The Ixoard of IxIr commissioners appra.ed and presented to lhe legislature a bill increasing lhe size of the board. This bill gives one add itional commissioner for e-.ery 300 a!tOJ~ in any circuit It further prrNides thaI el""tion of the Slale ba r presidenl wil l be by mail rather Ihan by popu l~r VOle of those in attendance al the An nual 8ar Meeting. (H. 742. spoowr: Representative Jim Campbe ll) The appellate court system asked the legi,lalure 10 "PO P«"M! a bond issue to build a new judici al building. This facil ity w ill be on the town side of the Capitol and house the Alabama Supreme Court, Courts of Civil and Criminal Appeals. the law library and the Adm ini"rati"", Office of Coo~

Robert 1. McCutley. It., is rhe director of rile Alab"ma Law Institute at rhe Unlve"ily of AlaOOma. He rec~ived his undergraduate and Jaw degrees (rom ttr~ University.

May 1986


Recent Decisions bt'

Recent Decisions of the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals Wriuen expert finding~ inadmissible and may not be used to impea ch live expert testimony Crosslin ". S!a~e, 8 Di". 245C.."slin w~s convkled twk eof c~pi­ la l murder, despite ~ defense of insan ity. He had been ex<omined 31 Bryce Hospilal shortly ailer his inili~ 1 ar~t, and a #Iunacy commi"ion" surn.e. quent ly found him capable of stand· ing trial aoo understanding right lrom wrong ~I the time of the offense During his second tri~l, a defense expert testifiOO the defendant wa, psychotic and suffering from post traumat ic st~s syndrome rel~ted to his !ervke in Vietnam. The lunacy commission report was neve r introouced, nor did any of the psychi· atric expert, who found the delendant to be sane testify. On cross-examination of the defense expert, the diWict attorney """,atedly anempted to impeach him, USing the written findings of the lunacy commi"ion During summation, the distr ict anorney argued

The A!ab.lma LaWj-""

that the defer.dant was four'l(i 10 be sane when e><aminOO at Bryce. This was improper COllduct ~ the prosecutor rNjuiring a third trial because questions may not a,sume lacts not in evidence. The written fordings 01 the lunacy commission were nol in e"I'idence, nor could they h~ been placed in e"I'idence; they were hearsory. The prosecution waS not permitted 10 P"O"" ~ way of impeacf>. ment what it could not pro..oe direct· Iy, that is, the COllten15 of the written expert report. Since the contel11S 01 the report were not in e"I'ideoce, it also was improper lor lhe prosecution to argue Ihose facts in closing argument.

Recent Decisions of the Supreme Court of AlabamaCivil Civil procedure • . • Rule 60(b)(S) "pr io r iudgment"

requirement explained Ex palte: Southem Roof Deck Ap. pljcators, Inc. lin re: Sho-M~ /.101m lodges. Inc. of Alabama v. Jeh le-Sfau$On ConS11lJ{;tion Co.), 20 A6R 1253 (February 7, 1986i---Sho-Me, a motel owner, sued Jehle-SI~uson, tfle 81'''' el~1 contractor. for breach of contract

john M. Milling, Ir., ~nd Rick E. Harri~

~lIeginS thaI SoUlhe", Roof, the sub. contractor, improper ly app lied sheetrock and damaged its motel. JehleSlauwn IiIOO ~ third·party complainl again$t Southe'" Roof claiming indemnity il il were determinOOto h~ bre.-.ched iii conltaCt with SOO--Me because of work actually performed ~ $outflern Roof. Bolh fehle-Slauson and Sho-me fo led motion$ for sum· mary judgment, and both motion$ were e-wtualiy gra ntOO ~ separate orders on the lame day. Sf1o.Me ap. pealed and Ifle supreme coun re.....-sed the summary judgment in liMIt oIfehle-Slauson arxl dismissed the 31>peal a$ to Southern Roof for lack of ,tanding to appeal. Sul>sequently, Jehle-Slauson fi lOO a Ru le 6O(b)(5) motion to 5t!1 aside lhe $Umma ry iudgment in f3'o<)r of Soulh· e", Roof, ar.d the trial court sranted the motion. Soulhern RooI filed a peti. tion for wlj~ of mandtmUi and alleged that since both sum mary judgmenli we", entered on the same day, the iudgments ....,'" enterOO contem· poraneously and neither iudgment can be chataClerized a, "prior" to the other within tfle purview of Rule 6O(b)(5). Rule 6O(b)lS) pwvides that the COOrt may ",Iieve a patty lrom final judg. ment where "a pr ior judgment upon

'"


whiCh it is based has been ~ Ot vacllted ... ." In lin IIpp;1rent Qse of imp<e»ion in Al.bama, the

othetwi ~

r.rst

~premf' COUr1 d;~ qlJlMing from •

Fourth Cirwil Court oj Appt'i1k case. The

.....,..erne COUrt noted tNt .'prior' in Rule 6OIb)t5) refers not only to prior in lime but 11150 10 po-ior as • maner of legal iig· nif~·

The ~mm.ry tudgmenT ;n fil\Ol" of Jehle-5lauson rendered ~mmary judgment in liM)< 01 Southern Roof IIJl111OPfi. ate sin<:e, lit Ihal point. lhere was no lanse' an IICtion with resJII'CI to which Jehle-Slauson could ~ indemnity. Reo~I 01 the grantoj summary judgment in fil\Ol" of Jehle-Silluson is legally sign if· kanl to IIw SU""""IY judgment in f;M)t oj Soulhern Roof, .nd the trial {OOr1 did not IIbute itS ditc~ion in panling the moIion. E.\e(uton and administrators. .•

sections 26-2·22 lind 26-2·23 lire not in conltict Smith v. Tribble. 20 ABR lOB (jarn.>itry 24. 1986J- 6ama Smith died as II result

01 an x cldent and left a w ill appointing he. p;l rents, lhe SmiThs, executors 01 her esillte and al50 iIPPOinted them as gua.-

dians of lhe peoon and property oj her ~" ,-OId child. rnni~. Tlle5miths JII'IitioMd 10 hM! lhe will idmined 10 proINtt' lI~er lhei. ;ljIp<lintmefll as teStamenlary -':U!OrS. rnniel. by lind thlOUgh his /aI~ Ronald Tribble. opJX>!oe:ithe petITion and ;Hbd the CCUllO 3oP" point the lather adm;ni~,"1(W ad litem to pursue the leS\.iItrix'S wrongful death claim. The testatrix and Ronald Tribble wt.'fe di>(>f(e:i allhe lime 01 her death. and the lather had been awarde:l cU5lOdy of their child. The trial coortlssued letters testamentary appointing the Smilhs e>.ec\Jtors under tlw will pursuant to §26-2·23, AI.o. Code !975. buT appointed the father gu.rd' an of the es&;I.te oj the minor son pursuant 10 §26-2.22. AI.I. Code 1975TIw l,i..1 COUrt held thai tlw lather WoOS entitIfd 10 the potierul(e undet §26-2-22 ii nce he had cu~oo:Iy rAlhe minor.nd ~ two te:riom wt.'fe in conflict. The supreme COUr1 di1llgreed. The ~poeme <:OIl" S\.iIIed m.. §26-2·21 lestator.pa rertT 10 appoinl wl-.ort>ewr he Ot she chooses as the guardian of lhe estate of a minor ch ild . Section 26-2-22 aJllllies in tho5e inlIulho,i~es II

Introduce Your Clients to a Valuable Service. &fcr t hem 10 Business Valu~tion $en-ices tOr CXiXtl dcrermin:l.tion of fuir mm:.~""l ,"J.lue of businesses, :m d fin;mrial :uulysis and oonsulnOOn in cases of; o Esu.te pbnning 0 &nkrupiCY o F..stlI.texttkmmt proceedings o Marit.u dissolutions 0 ~1 trga'S or acquisitions

o R«apitalizarions

0 Buy-scll agt'CCme:nh

o Emplo,.~ stock ownership plans

0 Diss>dcnt stockholder suits O)fl.lact 0... J ohn H . tn.·is, 111 4-OfflCe Parit:Cin:1c: • Suite: 304 • Binrungham, Alabama 35223 1'. 0. 8m 7633 A • Bim'ingh:lm, (205) 870-1026

'"

AlJb~m3

35253

S\.iIncl'S when no gu~rdian is mentioned in the will Ot whetl the deceMed dies inThetebe, thef~ i,entitled to Jt"L>in cu~oo:Iy of his son but the estale of tho! child, including Mfj' ~ms reai-..ed from hi, 1TIQIhe(, Ht.Jtt', is 10 be maintained and supeo-ised by his grand~~ts, the Smiths.

_eo

Executo", .md administrators. .. circuit court has jurisdiction to hear will c ontl'St until probate c ourt rende~ fina l judgment admillinll will to probate Steele v. Sullivan, 20 ... S R 1211 (February 7, 198f:>/-wlli .... n filed a pelilion with lhe 1'fOb;Itt' court to probate a will. A he.J,ring Wi"ubsequently held, MId the petillone< c.lled wit"""'" 10 pn:.o.oe the WIll.

While ~imony _beins ~ to writing and • wrinen orde< admirting tho! will 10 proOOte was ~ng Jl<ePiIred, the judge ~~'o'IId a moIion to tr;lnsie< the Conll'S! to ci rcuit court 1Oge!her wilh a proposed orde< 1I.nw..ring the con~t. The probate judge , igned the JlfOI)OS<!d order Iran§fcn-ing the conteSt before signing an ordc. admillinS the will 10 probale. The pelitione< med a morion in ci.· cuil court to di"."i» the conlesl based upon §4J..8.190. AI.o . (ode 1975. This section ptO'IIio:Iei: .... will , befo<e the pr0bate thereof. tmy be contesled by any penon..• ." The petilione< ~rgued that since !he ~tt' of !he will had begun, !he circuiT t;OUrt laded jurisdiClion 10 IoNr the " " * I ( . The cirocuil COUll agrft!d MId di"."lS5ed lhe contl'St. The ~preme COUll dlsaalftd and~ . The su~ coort rf:lliewed The Air bama case law In an allempl 10 deleo-mine when Ifle p<ebate of a will occurs insofar as §4).jJ.190 i, concerned. The supreme cou rt concluded that the lerm · probaIC· includes no! on ly the evidence pA'Sl'nled to lhe court but al50 the judic· ial derermlrt.ltloo by the court on that ewidence Ih.ot the inwume'" is what it purpOrtS 10 be The bet the ~ judge Il'Stifoed lhat !he will had been ~ .and Iw ;1.le oded to enter an order admitling il 10 prob;>te is not sufficient to pre\en! • conll'St. Tlwrelore, a will ronll'Sl I. timely Until l~ is . final judgment admining the will 10 probate. Insurance•. • a wholly-owned su bsidiary of II named insured who is also insured

M~ y

1986


does not effect a 5eIIerance of interests to tJlclude coverage under t he compl eted ope rat ion s ~I usion ~;can

Ca51 /,.,., Pipe Co. " Comand Induwy Inw'~nce Co.. 20 .... BR 751 (Oecembe< 2Q. ~S}-.-Ameri·

mtICt

C~

C.sI Iron Pipe Compony (ACIPCol by Commen:e and lnduS11)'

wlls iniUred

(C&11 under a general liability poli<:y. .... merican VaIVf, i1I01<1I1y.<JWned ~ub.id­ iary 01 A(IPCO, also WiIS an in",red. .... m"ri Ca n VloI..e·~ empl<¥!e WiIS in· jured on .... merican Vdlve's property as a resott 01 a m,)Uuroctjoning COl'M¥>'" S'(5tern m;onufKtured by N::IPCo. The empIO\ft sued N::IPCo itnd C&I deni«J CO\oefage ~M!d upon the Mcompleled operations ~ ..rd(' erd~ which ..... eludes CCM!fagelor injury wIlich occurs

Olhet oper~tions ~ bftn completed .1Id which occurs ~ I""" fhe ~

i~ _~ by lhe inwred. C&I relied on lhe _ability clause and milintained lhal sioce N::IPCo and American v..1..e """" sep':lr~re corporal>ons. the injury oc· currl!d " ;!toN""! IfOO'I Ihe premises owned by. ,. the naAled insured." The supreme court di501greed. The $uprMI<! coon reasoned the seve<ability cI~~ was inlended 10 broaden Of ertend CO\oef,,# 'ather than limit il. .... Ithough AmetiCMl 'hIve i~ a ~ c~fion. N::IPCo _n~ 100 pen:enI 01 ilS S10d iIOd has the ulti ...... te >OIing ~'V - ' (ON'ol. In AI.obarN. W~ hokIe<$ an! the equit.>bloi. ownefS of the cOfPOfate _ and, ao:con:Iingly. N::IPCds pofChase oIlhis policy n~ming ils ",INd'ary lIS ",n 'n",red tIoes not effect a ...... ,an(e 01 the in", red', imeresL The premises upon which ,he accident hap. perted ~re the premises of ACIPCo. and so the exclusion 10, "completed opera· tlon~ h<uan:l" does not apply.

Everybody Wants To Be Creative . When you think about it, time is the most valuable commodity my company has to sell. So the more time I have, the more business [ can do. That's why [ chose the professionals at Creative Leasing to handle my transportation problems. They're trained, highly·skilled go·getters who designed the perfect plan to meet my company's needs. Their program lets me maximize cash flow, save valuable administrative time, even includes maintenance for my entire fleet! For me, it's just a matter of creative management and good business. Everybody wants to be creative. Creative Leasing.

Ii:!1!LI

25HlI37 264·8421 345-6494 880-0115

creative leasing

Torts. . . defamation... SKlion IlA·1I-161 conditiona l p,iyilqe !t.. tute conslrued Wi/so.-.~. B"ming#>Mn ~ Contpi~ 20 .... 8R 967 U"rouary 17, 1986J-1,ViI"", brought iI delamiotion ~ion apiOSI the Bi,minflham A:lst and ilS reponers becil~ of an anid" which reponed stalements concemins him made by two Cu~n rel"ul""S 10 the' Birmingham pot. ice dep;lnml'l1 l du,in8 police questioning. The 1ri~ 1 coo n d"'e,mined Ihat the an iel" WiIS conditionally p,ivileged be--

'"


ClUs.e 01 §1l'.-11-161, Ala. Coo.. 1975. and granted summary judgments in r"",r of the defendants. The sup",me court

affirmed. Sec1ion 131'0-11-161 proYides that "the publication of a fair and impartial report... 01 ar;; charge 01 crime made to any... pub lic body or officer. . .shall be Icond itionally] privileged ...." The supreme <;OI)rt nored that although !his >tat· ult! had no! 00en C(l(I~rved t;,,- !his <;OI)rt, it was me",ly a codification of the COm· mon law as ...tlected in Re,wement (Se<:ond) 01 Tort', §611 (19m. The supreme court stated the policy behind the privilege is that the public has a ~rong interest in rece ivinS information in order to "monitor the conduct of i15 go;Netnmenr' and i15 per>OIInel. weh as law enforcement offic<n. The supreme coort found that since the news "'pon at is"", was a fair and acCurate repor1 01 statem<.w, made to the pol_ ice in the course of an itM1tigalion, the report was. therefo"" conditiona lly privileged under SllA-11-161 unless it was

Richard Wilson & Associates Regi stered Professional Court Reporters 132 Adams Av enue Mo ntgomery, Alaba ma 36104

264-6433

SAVE 30-600/0

• • • • • •

J}I(:Mld the repan waS publime<! with ac· tual malice. Venue. " • agent's plly$ical prewnc:e no t nec es!kIry 10 find that a corpora lion is d oing busi ness fx parte; Reliance In,urance Co. (In re; AJ. Morris v. Reliance Insurance Co.). 20 ABR 1072 ijanuary 31. 1986)- Rel iance filed a pe! ition for writ 01 mandamus to require the tria l c<>un to tram.fer the cas.e from lawrence County to }elierwn Or R.1ndolph County. Rel iance wrote a ~mcfll and performance bond for a COfltritCtor who per· formed 'MJr\: in R.1ndolph County. Reli. anCe and the contrac!or'princip;ll were sued on tf", bond in lawrence County. Reliance is a foreign corpot;ltion qualified 10 do business in Alabama. and it argued "",,,ue was not proper in lawrence County becaU!.e Reliance waS nOl doing business t;,,- agent in lawrence County when sui! was filed. (Arlicle XII, §232, Ala. Constiwtion 19011 Respondent maintained §2J2 does no! require the t*rYsical presence of an agent in the county where suit is b rought. tn other words, a foreign corporation m<>y be doing busi~ in a county even though there waS nO age<lt in the coun· ty. The SU llteme court agre-e.J with tfle respondent. The SUI""fOO COl," >tated a Ioreign cor· poralion may be doing business In a county within the meaning 01 a venue statute"""" though no! present t;,,- agents and notw ith>1anding thai .uch business may be entirely interstate in character. Funhermore, the term "ageot" is exp",,~ Iy mentioned O<1ly with ""pee! to service 01 proc..". He ",. Reliance had wrinen bonds for other principals who per· formed 'MJr\: in lawrence County, and this was more than minimally sufficient to enable the trial COU" to fond that Reliance was do ing business in Lawrence County.

USED LAW BOOKS • West . Lo wye<' Coop . Harri, on • Matlhew _ _ • Ca/tagtlln _ 0tI>ers WE BUY - SEll _ TRADE

Recent [)e(;isions of the Supreme Court of A labamaCnminal Failure 10 (ompl y wi th rule 39(1.;)

'"

Law Book Exchange

~Iways fa tal to the further apPl!a l of

P . O. Bo" 17073 Jackson,·il l."" F l 322 16 1·800. 325·60 12

a '"no opinion" a ffirmance E. Parte: Alben Gre;Jt. 20 ABR 651 (December O. 19851- Ru le 39(1<J 01 tf", Alabama Rules of Appel late Procedure

provides that rev iew of a pe! itiO<1 for certior;on t;,,- the Alabama Supreme Court or· dinarily will be COilfoned to the facts stated in the opinion 01 the intermediate appellate court. If a petitioner is d isSJt· islied with the statement of facts in thai opinion, he must file a req""ll/or rehearing spe<:ifica lly a>i<ing the coo" 10 adopr a d iffe"'nt statement of faCls. If the intermediate appellate cou rt simply affirms the trial court without an opinion. 1000 the ~u preme Court will hiM! no factS upon which to rev iew a c""iora ri pet i. tion, and the petiti on will be aUlomati· cally den ied. This was G",a(s fale. While the court merely reiterated thi s long-slanding rule in thiS opinion. recent ABRs are full 01 summary affirmances In crimi",,1cases in which Grwt is lheonly cited author ity. Apparetll ly. many al1orneys remain unaware of the consequences 01 ignoring Rule 39(k). Th is could result in Iragic and disastrous ~"~

The COO" of Criminal Appeals is. in a word, oo.erburdened. Ilcannal possibly issue a Wrillen opin ion in """ry cas.e it is requ ired 10 handle and, Iflerefore, frequently resorts to is,uing "Affirmed-No Opinion" decisions. When thiS happens. it is mandatory for appellJte <;OI)ns.e 1 wishing 10 further appeal 10 file a request for rehear ing accompanied t;,,- a Rule 39(k) mot ion. Failure to do SO will be fa· tal to ~ later pe!ihon for writ at certior~ri.

All'( conversation with a SUSped w hic h might lead to incrimina ting statements is an interrogation . . . evidence o f a ffi rm.ltive wail't"r of Mirand.J rights required before incriminating s ta tement may be pla ced in (!Vidence Ex Patte: Coy Pdttkk Crowe. 20 AB R 667 IDecember 13, 1985)---{:rowe was corrviaed 01 murdering a deputy sheriff. Evidena was intlOduced at tri~ 1 01 a con""~Iion occurring between an FBI age<lt .nd the delendant while the defendant was being tranSpOrted from the sceoe of the arrest to headquarters in Nasrrv ille, Tennessee. During 11Ie d ri"" downtown, Ifle defendant asked the agent whether he would be retumed to Alabama. The agent indicaled Ihat he probab ly would. and the defendant "",lied he was afraid to return 10 lhe State. The agenl ",id.

May 1986


'What abool Ihat deputy )00 wasted therer: and Ihe defendant respor>Oed, "I can't bring him back or do anything aoout that now; hung hi' head in remorse and said he e.pected 10 gel lik! in connection with the killing. C"""""s COO'\Iicrion was ~ on lhe ground, that introduction of evidence of thi' ~ .... tion violated the de/endant, Miranda rights. The conversation clearly occu rred while the defendanl was in cu!;tody. raising the issueof whelher Mi. randa was Wictly ob!.e"'O!d. The C~r· §ation wa, also an iml'frogation within the meaning of Miranda. becau~ it con· Si'ted of "word, Or aclion, on the p<lrt d the 1)(Ilice that the police should know are reasonably likely I<) elicit an incriminating ""pon~ from the ,u'pe<:t." When lhe agent saie , 'What about that deputy;ou ""sledr, he eng<lsed in an inlerrogation just as if he had asked the question, "Die )00 kill the deputyr' Since the defendant had been subject· ed 10 a cuslO<lial interrogat ion. hi' statements to lhe FBI agent were not aemissible at his tr ial unl."s the state pr<:M."d he had waived his Miranda rights. The fact that the eefeneant initialed the con· >.ersalion waS not a ,howing of wah",r nor was the lact that the defendant ulti· ma lely made an itl(riminating stalement. Off-!lul y police officer tlOt a private citizen when he eiscovers ane! seizes inuimina!ing "",cencI' ..• Fourth Arnenemen!

,,","'"

mus t be

Ex (J<lrte: Mary Alice Kennedy. 20 AoR 1382 (February 14, 1986I--An off-duty police offic ...., ",,",ing as a (J<lf1-!ime pest extenninator. waS admitted 10 Kennedy, a(J<lrtmenll:ot her landlord. There "'" no evidence that she consented 10 Ihi' ad· mission. While Ihere, the police offrcer ooticed what appeared to be three mar· ijuana plan ts. He pulled a leaf from one of the plants and took it to the police Iahmario oratO<)' for a M lysis The leaf luana. The issue ior "",iew was whether lhe ofI.duty off,cer waS acling in his ca pacity as a law e nforcemenl officer or as a private c itizen when he ~ the leat Irom l(ennedys ap<lrtment. As a pol ice office<, hi' action, are Circumscribed I:ot the Fourth Amendment . As a private dt. izen, he is not limited I:ot warrant or pr0bable cau", requirements

wa,

The Supreme Cour1 held Ihat "'izing the leaf an(! la~;ng it to police headquar. ters ""'S the act 01 a law enlorceml'Ot officer an(! not a private cit izen. Since there """ no wa"an~ probable cau~ or con· sent, evidence of the planli growing in Kennedys ap;ntmeot should h~ been suppressed. (Note: Perhal'S the outcome of this ca~ would h~ been eifferent had the po lice officer ""t seized the marijuana leal but inslead gone I<) palice headquarters and made out an alfi. d3'o'it in suppo<! 01 a search warrant.)

according to lhe court of criminal ap-peal" rendered Cherry's corrviction ""id. 100 supreme court """,rwd. holding a court may take jU<licial noIice of the of· fice Ot capacity of the Signer of a Docu· ment. even if Ihe tit le eoes nO! appear on the face 0/ tl", document.

R«ent D«isions of the Supreme Court of the United States

More Dison

Ex Pdtle: Stale of Ala,"",ma (Re: Cherry v, StaleJ-ln Cherry v. Stale, (reported in this column in January (986) the Alabama Court of Crim inal Appeals held that a uniform lraffic ticket muSI conlain: the signalure of the dflcer; lhe si gnalure of the person aeministe<ing Ihe oath to lhe officer; aoo the title, age ncy or capacity of the person administering the oalh. In thiS case, the magistrate aemini ster· ing the oath to lhe .rrest ing officer lailed 10 affix her title to the tralftc tickel, which,

What to co when a client WantS to commit perjury

Nix v. WhiteSide. S4 U,S-loW. 4194 IFebruary 26. 1986)-The defendam was convicted of se<;ond degree mUrCer de, pite a plea 01 self.defense. While preparing fa< trial. tOO eefendanl had con· ,i'lently lold his l3W)er Ihat he had not aclua lly 5e('n a gun in the victim·, hand. A week lJe(ore trial, 00 told hi s l3W)er, for 100 first lime, that he had seen someIhing meta llic in lhe victim·, har.:.l. When questioned fmthe<1:ot the l""'0"'r, the de-

T H INK

STRUCTURE When you have a personal injury case. THINK STR UCTURE. That's right. Think strucl ured settlement as an alternative to a lump sum sel1lemenl and ma ximize the cash available lor Ihe claimant at the lowest possible cost to the delendant. Call now l or ideas on what creat ive use of U.S. Treasury securities and annuities can do for your settlement needs.

Lam ar Newton

Southern Structured Settlements, Inc. 1200 Bank for Savings Building Birmingham. Alabama 35203 205·328- 2666

'"


feod;ont s.ilid he r>eeded to teslify he had ~ sun in the victim', hand to but· ~ his ~kIeien§e co§e. ~ tNt point. his ~ told him: he could no! ~11ow the ~t to testify f~I~: if the de6endoru tried 10 testify f~lselv it v.ould be the ~. duty 10 inlonn the iudse 01 m..t fact; the defense I~ v.ouid JlfI,IbmIVbe~11o..oed 10 1m~ the /,)I§e leSIimony if the <ielendanl allcmpled to Sive it and the I~ would see!< to withdraw from the co§e if the clientlnsistoo on the r\t!W ""r,;ion of the fitets. AI tria l. the de/endant stuck to his origi",,1 .to<)'-tNoI he had no! seen a gun-ilnd WOK convicted. The conviction WOK ilffirmed on appeal. and he filed a Iieder.II pe\Ib()n for ",.it 01 h.lbeas eotpUS which evenulillly fourd ilS w.JIf to the supreme court. The iswe lot 1eY0ew _ whethet the defense ,~ provided ineffedi~

seen

a ssi Stan(~ of counsel when he thONtened his client with ""1""'-'''' if the client anempted to commit pe<jUf)'. In a 1.1'" unanimous decision (the opinion was no! ul\3r'limousl the coun held that the ~ '-'oe<'s conduct did not violale the Sil<lh Amendment. ~nlS do no/t.a.e a constiUJlional rigllllO t.a.e theil 1;tW)ef$ as";!.! them in commining P"'jul)'. or~ 10 howe thei. lawyer,; "'" main siTent In the fitee of pet'jury. This Ie""", unlllSQl""'<I whether il '""'. necess,,,y.feg.:t liy ethic:ol or morally ethical for the lJW>,ef to tell his client he v.ouid promull' ~tify ag;tinst him if he tried to ,""nse hiS story. It also le;o.e open the more common and diiflCUlt problem fac· ing the L1w)e< who belieo<es a client il>tends 10 convnit petl"'Y but wt.o.e diem doe no! ;>(Imit the intended testimony

is fal~

Co<otl'>piralon need not testify to be<:ome witne51'eS

us.

BIRMINGHAM in JULY... Alabama State Bar 1986 Annual Meeting July 17-19 Wynlrey Hotel Riverchase Galleria

v. In<odi, S4 U.S.LW 4258 lMatrl! 1(\ 19861-The Introduction in a criminal trial 01 out-oi<ourt statements by wit· Jll'Sses must p;!ss two hurd les: the hea" evidentiaf)' rules of lhe '()Urt trying the c_ and lhe Si.th Amendmen~ guar· M1teerng every /laused the rigllt to coofron' the W,VleSses ~gains' him. In ~i5 /edero.1 ptO§eCUlion. t>ped stalemenlS ~ by unindi<.1ed eo<onspjr... IOfS ~ pI~ 10 the ;Uf)'o """'" W3S JIO showing rNde tN! these wiu.e..se. weN! no! av;Iilabie for tri~1. The Supmne Coon held tN! this violated neither lhe fOOer.ll Rull'1 of Evidence nor !he Con· frontalton ClauS@.. This was a signiflednt revers.al In di<ec1ion from the court's hQld ing in Ohio~. Robert$, 446 U.S 56 (1960). loJy

SMITH-ALSOBROOK & ASSOC. EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES

KDA

Accordrng to Robe<t$, the Confront... .ion Cbuw tequire a shoNing that ~ wi'· ness' li~ testimony is un.MIilable befon, the pri(w S"M)ffi testirl'lOl¥ of that witne.s ...... be intnxloced in a Criminal IrioII. Now. ~, a pros«ulor ...... ill\lOduce evideoce 01 I",rim;""ting '>Ia~ menlS ~ bv absent wimesses ~nd need make no ~s to poodoce those Wltnf!Uf!S for cooss-exarnina.ion by the deleodant as long .IS .hose witnesses claim to tie co<on5pi,ators in the C:O§e. Deceptive police prac t ices •.• lawYi'r gu ll ibi lity no defe nse Moran ~. Burbi~. !;4 U.s.LW 426S !March 10. 1966) - The deiendant_ convicte<I 01 mttrdel' am.. waiving his MJf"nd.i nshlS and making a confession ~ police. Prior 10 .he coniession, his ~. k>mI"y telephoned the police SIiIlion and was a»<.lred the defendant v.ould no! be questioned un'ilthe following morning. In fact lhe defendant _ interfOgated that ~ l">'erIing, when he made II>cri",ina'ins ~atl'nleflts. The Supreme Coo., found it did not violate the constitution for the po lice to dece;~ the defen§e lawyer in .his f;,~ion. ThiS isa di<ec1 messase from the supreme coort to all criminal deIerne ~ tf a client i5 arrested, SO di<ecl· IV 10 iail and demand to see the clie." immediately. M.ll;e il clear the delenclant wai ...... JIO rishts w....1SONef ard inlel'· lOgaIion mustce__ Do not ...sf until !he client Nos been seen and instructEd to aO'>Wf!I' no questions by the police withOUil>is or I\ef altor'ne'{S presence. Do not belie'>'\! anything .he police report about .he progress of the clienfs interrogation. The dient may be pcnali~ed for his '" her artorney's gullibility. •

_.....-

_

••

AN~.

KRAMER DETECTIV E AG ENCY, INC. """"'."" • c ••~_· ''''''' ........ II08IV O. S MITH. II.S.. J.O.. " •• td .. t P.O. 110>: :10M

'"

OpeU.... AL JUo3

t205) 14t-t54'

M<ly 1986


Disciplinary Report Disbarment

Suspension

• Dothan lawyer H~rold E. HiI)'len wa, oroored disbarred ~ Ifte SUI)reme Court of Alabama, effe.:li-e Marl:h 4, 1986, ""sed upon October 4, 1985, find ings 01 the Oil(iplinary Board ollhe Alabama State 11<1" H¥Ieo m s /ound guilty d mi!.1pp<Oprjating lurxls belonging to adient , ;>su ing a worthless negotiable inWumenl to the eli""" forging the signature oi a OOlary rublic on a power of al10mey from the client and, final ly, lying 10 lhe Grievance Cammillee of the Houston County Bar Assoei.riOl1 during its i ~ligalioooflhe maUe<. (ASS 84·6801

• Mobile I""""" Charles J. Fleming Wil5 5Us.pended from the practice of I"", for ~ period 0/ two yea~ effl'Cl ive Augusl 22. 1984. t., order of the Supreme Coun of Alabama. dated February 19, 1986. The "'preme court's order waS entered pur-

c::)Feedback

LITIGATI ON SECTION MEET ING Thursd ilY, luly 17, 1986 10 ~ . m .- noon Wynlr ey H o te l, Riven:h.-.se G~ lIeriil, Bir minghilm

Se.:urity Di",bi lil y A£t Walford v. Heckler

Alaw"", Uwyer diKUSses the N"""",ber 1985 article entitled '·Re.:ent Dewlap-ments Concerning Eligibil ity fo, Social S«urity Di.. bility; Although Jenny L. Smith provides useful information Ihat WilS IX>t present in tn.. Nov..mbe, article, she ma k", one very s igni~canl .. ,ror. Ms. Smilh Slales. ·'No attorney may be ........ rded an amount leA attornei, fees) in exces' of twenl)/"five ." eA the claiman!", paSI-due benefits. 42 U.S-c. §406(bl The,efo'e, the que>l ion becomes whethe, the cla imant pays tn.. al10rney", fe.e hom his withheld benW1> 01 whethe, the government pay> the fee pursu3nl to EAjA." Although the Social Security iI£im inistration will Benerally not appr""" a fee pet ition for more than 25 ':1. 01 a claimant·, withheld benefits. a ",\.,,1 has no such conSI,.inIS. In Wilford v, ~je.:kle" 765 F.2d 1562 (11 th Cir, 19851. In.. Elevenlh Circuil e><p,essly held thai there wa, IX> 25'10 , e iling lees """"d· ed pursuanllO fN>\. This hold ing in W~t· ford i, pallicularly significant in certain cessalion cases whe,e the amount of back benefits is small. The court explained that the 25'10 lim it cou ld "thwart the very ptJrp:>Se d the EAjA-TO elimin':lte economic dete,,,,,,,, 10 cha llenging un· justified 8OY1'rnment action and to co'· '~"CI inequities a,i , ing I,om the 8",.1 di,parity in ,esources bel'Mlen lhe government and pr ivate lil igilnt'," .... w"'nc~ f. Cardella

Association, charging him with eighl c~ses of m iSolppropri;>. lion eA fund, and one c~", eA iliegill drug 1"»5eSlion. (ASB 84-490 & 84·5011

A new feature of the AI.b.oma State Bar Annu~1 Meeting!

Soci ~1

"~bad" in IheMarch 1986 imJf~oi

,uanl to fleming's gu ilty plea to di§(ipTinary CM'8"" fikod against him by the Grie'\lance Committee of the Mobile Bar

All ha r """"be<s ale U'1!ed 10 ."end.

"""",i""

A CLE program and of offic.... a,e "" 'hoe"'3'--nd.o for th i, ~<>t mooting of lhe Alaham.J S.. ", Ba~, litigal i"" Section. Approv.l1 of ,hoe se<:tion by thoe boatd

i, e'Pl"Cted rh os mon,h. You do not ha.~ to be a mcmbe< to a,,""" lhe mootins: how"""" mote Ih.ln \00 AI"""n", lawy"" h.lye ;o.ned ond """" . ,e eagerly ""'8ht. Qu, _I, a", to; (11 provide . forum whe'e al l Ifi.1 .t")tne"Y" may moot and drsw .. common problem" (21 und<ona ke an e>lenl i"" educal i""al r>r<>I!,.m to improye the comJ>CIcncy of the u ..1 Do,; .'" (1) ;n,ptOV" tt-., .·I/k"""'l' . ...mformil'/ ond eronomy of and worl; to curb ,00"" of lhe ludic;.,1 1""".... Ann",, 1due< . re SI S. ,0,\11 • ...-,- in""""ed in ImprOVing ,hei, ,1,,11• • • I,tigal"" . '" .odvoc. 'e'J . re urged to ;o.n. Pic. ", fi ll oul lhe Applk .""" below . nd send it wirh you, ched f<>r SI S p;oyable to the s.at. Bal li"ga' ion S<!<li"", do en.,1es M. Crook. f re" ..... "" , P.O. So, 671 . MOOtgomery, ... laDo",", 361 0 1.

'"'11-''"' '

""ob.>m.

Mcmbe"hip Ap pli(al ion liTI GATION SECTI ON/ALABAMA STAn

HAR

Name: _____________________________ 8u~iness

Address: ____________________.

Busin"" Telephone: __________________. Cn mmillee Prelerence: «(twose o ne) o Me mbe .... hip ALABAMA STATE BAR

D elE

0 Annual meeting

o ldw s<: hool~ li.i",n

0 Fin.nce

LITIGATION SECTION

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Opinions of the General Counsel b.,- W illi"m H. Mo rrow, I',

QUESTION: "II, alte, a law firm underlak... empl.,.,. ..... nt in conlemplat("(/ or pendinS litigalion, it becom ... obvi .... s one mentber oughl 10 be called as a wit ness On be ... lf o f th .. dient, 001 al lhe 1Ime o f the lrial this member ha~ wilhd.awn from Ihe firnt and is no longe. assoc iated therewith, a", Ihe remaining members ethica lly precluded front condUC:l ing the lrial l" ANSWER : The attorney who has wiln.Jrawn from the firm and will testify cannot try lhe Gls.e, but remaining members a re oot precluded from the I,ial of the case. T.....:> formal and """,,,,I inlonnal requests lor opinions posed the fo,egoing queslions. DISCUSSION: Elhical Consideration 5·9 p«;Nides; "O<asionally" ,.......,.,. i. called UpOO to de<:ide in. """leul.. Cit ... wheiher he will be • wilnes. Of an ad_ate. II" I....,... i, both coon ... 1 and witnes., he bec~ more e.,ily impe",hable lor Inle_ and thus ""'Y be. Ie.. d>e<:t i"" wit· nes~ C""""""'v. the opposing <:oon\<:1 moy be handic"pped in ch.,lenging the Credibility 01 the 1_ when the I~r "I", n.m.xare in the co ... , An oo"",.!<! who becOll'lM. wiln<'» is in the un""",,'y "nd ir>elfe<:ti"" poo~ lioo oI.rgu ing hi' own credibility. The roles 01 an oo""'ote and 01. witness .'" i"""",,"enl; the fl.WlClion d an i.to -'""e Of ''S'''' the c.use oI."",he" while lIt.t 01. witnes, h to ... te fac!> <>bjec1i...ty:" Ethical Consideration 5-10 in pan prmides: "Problem, i""idenl to Ihe I~'-witnes. ",Iation..nip .,i\<: at di/len,nt~: !hey relate";""" to whei"..,.. ~ should accept empl"""",nl nr!hould withd'..... from employ""",t. Regardless 01 when the p<oblem .,;..... hi. deci,ion i. to be ~ "" the ... me ba>ic wnsidc'ations."

_ppe." •••

.></me.,,,

...

Oi')Ciplinary Rule 50102W p rovides: 'tAl If, aiIet ...,..Jen.B ing ~ in coo"""p/al<'d or pen. din8 litigati"". a 1 _ Ie.m, or;' i, ""' iOllS th.t he or. I~, in hi, fiml ought to be cal ''''' <>0. wit""" on beh.o ll 01 hi, client, he 'h311 wllhd ,...... from the coodoo 01 the " i.1 ond hi, firm if '''Y, shall not continue represemation in the t,i.l. 00<c0pt fhal he may coolin"" the R"pI1$(:n"tion .nd he 0< ~ I......,.... in hi. ~,m may teslify in the eireu"""""", en .... """3Ied in D~ !>-101(6)11) Ihrough (.l. Seclion under HOe/i nitions" provid ...: ·'Un ..... the coote><t orherwi", """i<e, ~ in these ",Ies the condoo 01. I.....,." i, prohibil"" .• 1".......,..... """,iated

m

'"

with him ~'" ~Iso prohibiled." Canon 19 of the old Canons of Professional Elhics of lhe American Bar Associalion prmided: "When a ~, i, • witneYI lor hi' dient. except <>0'0 merely formal maKe", ,ueh <>0 lhe . ,teSla'ioo nr cu,tody ofon i". Slrument and ,he li~e. he !hould Ie...., the t,i.1 d the GI!e to OIhe, """"lei. beep! when es<ential,o the end< d i""ice. • 1 _ ......1d ....,;d testifying in c ",,~ in Wlalf d hi' client" \f\Ie arri"" ."he conclusions e:><presed in lhe amwer he .... inalx:ro;e for al least IV>O reasons. Firsl. lhere is nO rule of law or evidence di!.qua lifying an allomey as a witnes~ on behalf of his dient because Ihe at· lorney is conducting lhe uial of Ihe case. McElroy~ AlaIMma Evidence, Ihim edil ion, conlains lhe following Slatement."A counse l in ,he case being Iried is nOI di!.qualilied. on Ihal accounl, 10 be a wi'ness," ci,ing Q",,,,,15 v. O'4ldron, 20 Ala, 217 (1652), Morrow v. Parkman, 14 Ala. 769 (1648) and McGehee v. Hansell, 13 Ala. 17 (1948). Arr; di squalificalion of an a~orney 10 act in the dua l rules of ad...:>CJle.nd wilness is found only in lhe Code of Profe»jonal Relpoll5ibili!y of (he Alabama SI.1I<l Bar. Numerous opinions of courts e luded the lact Ihal an al' 10rney Irying a Case fo, a clienl is 001 incompelenl as a wil· nesSon ber.aif of hisdient. In thecaseof \\.blk v, \\.bIle, 313 N.Y. Supp. 2d 942 (1972) lhe court observed:

•• •

"A ,,,,1 comse! l">lilyi,,!! "" beh.olf 01 hi, own client i,. compel~nt w"nes~ He is "'" dilqu. lifled <>0 a wi' ...... bot "'."'" 01 the 1..;1 that he i, the tri.1 a!lOn'o!.'y." In lhe Case of Bennett v. Comm""""",lth, 234 Ky. 133, 28 S.w. 2d 24 (1930) Ihe court staled: "As to hi, te$fifying in the ~~"', it m>y be ... id in !!""C,.I tltol. in the ab,e"", 01 ~ di"l""ilying intcrest. on .nnr""Y Ito, I>e<on "'g.>rded as a C(lmpe<e<lt wit"" .. 10< hi, cI"",t" See also Propl.. v. C""rrero, 47 CA 3m 441, 120 Cal. Rptr. 732 (1975l. Sheldon Eleclric Co., Inc. " Blackhawk and Plumbing Co, Inc" 423 F, Supp. 486 (1976). Second. although OR 50102(A) speak, of the withd,awal of "his firm" when ~ lawyer must test ify on behalf of his clienl. some (ourts in COfIsidering motions requiring wilhdrawal h""" refused to require the withdrawal of an entire fi,m because one member of firm oughlto test ify on behalf ofhis client. In refusing 10 disqualify an entire firm because one membe , ouShl to testify on beha lf of the firm's client, the court in Gteenbaum-Mounlain MOJt8<I8" Compac"Y v. Pione<'I National Title Insurance Compa"Y- 421 F. Supp. 1348 (1976) Slated:

.'' ' 'Y'

,n..

May 1986


Opinions of the General Counsel ••• • ~ POI'" I(> ..... I~ reodi", 01 011: S.1Ol ..:I .>II< INt ccr.M11<1 dioqIwIiIy MI. Robins ond hi<_ ~ 'nn, RmIn INn ~ 11>;" 0IIgI!SIi0n. we belieYe ~ bcIItf IO~· ""'"' ..... ,,,......Ie 01 ..... disciplinMy rule ond .pply "" ",,,= in a mMII>eI whkh would """" ..... i~ ol' ..... ice. In Knplinllt"s ~ w~ are bLcI~..d by ..... pool. lion d ..... Commitreot: 01 P~k>nal Elh k$ 0/, .... Arne<k.... ~ """,,"ion. In !hI;r in/oomol QIlinion No. )]9 (N~ 16, 1914) ,"" Comm i....., p:>inted 001 that DR 5-10 118) Ind OR 6-102(.'11 . ,., I'KI! Pft '" rules which ~I"'. li!fl') rodi"J, but II..., thei r .PIlIai.., """ ..... ';Iy ~ '~pOfO lho _,tdio,,~' In Ndla!e. Thec...OK1icuIIIor_ioIion IY! .. ktfO • !imilM .iew 01 Unon 5. In II< ..... "' ... btie/ in E,,",,'- ' C_. """... (527 f . 2d 12M), r"" B.Ior A»ociolion coo •• ,.... ,If!d:

..... 'n"......'-..)

h ~ Ihi< COUfI, """.~ . ........ mindful d!he ~~IUi'" CcIodr. 10 _ _ ~ the .. obIan. ""'lIN 10 be mel by 111M CodoP.. 10 -;zh lot itself ...... " ' ....... ". _. how "'.. in ..... p...-.K'" world _ in Uct. and ........... mect..niaI om dkloctic .-ppIie. ,,,,.. 01 ..... Cod! 10 . 11 ';I\l01l''''' OI.IIOtn.lIic.lly mi'" ..... be pn:ductn.e of mote h;wm ...... 1IOOd. by ~i,. ins the cI~ ....t ..... judie .... 'yslem 10 woiflCe mote lh.on ......... )"" of ..... presumed benefit<,

...

AL.ABAMA BAR INSTITUTE FOR CONTINUING LEGAL EDU CATION 25th ANNUAL TAX INSTITUTE June 5, 6, 7, 1986 T,* Ina,.u ...... DMg 1OgitfhII" ....,~n toQ,lty 01 111Omey1...., "",,-"10'" who wi. add_I thl IollOwinR

,opic" h. C.... I_.'1oft1 In $1N<.urt"ll Ru' EoI .... l,"nl' IC ~Oftl '

_ , lot. Fink, T""'''''"n. S-.a; Loekt<mln"

Ashmo" ....".,,1.. Georgi •.

Roc.n , 0 .......... "" '. 'n ... ,. b. ml h .. ,,,," • RObe" W. llhl ", 8 r10 .. ,. "',on!, _ & ""'lie. 81,m'nghom,

.....""m"

Ponolon Llw lor thO N... ·P... oIon Lowyoor.11ICorno T• • C01 P"" ...... DIo ... bullon.· L.u"- L IoI "mon. Pro","ao,. NOw Yo'" Un ...., .. ty School 01 Low. hl.l. _""'" · C. Douglol lot" .... PIo_. U....., .. ty 01 norlcl., Sc:1IOOI 01 Low. Recenl o ... top,_oto _ C_togIoIOIIor> In T... _ • Dr. JoNph E. ~ PIoII_ Emom... Un-.lt,ol ... lIbM1O Sd>oot 01 .o.c"""'Uency. ..."....,- lor 12.3 _ on<! to.<!!i IoII.si.sIPpI MCLE _~I

J'.

"""'10<1

c,"",M .......... a.E "1«11 kif In Fiorillo .,<1 Goo<oll. , .... 1nI"M... II til ...... al thO MorrIott·. G, _ _ It, Poln' CIa .. , ........ mo. For mor. 1n~'1I0n """".," Ih* ... lab..,,1 SII InIIiM. !o! Con,InUInO lOO"' Edueol"". P.O. Be. ct, Un ......II,. IL _ . (i'QI5I )<U230.

f.otmes> to "" p;onoes. ord 10 .... jl.6Nl ~ ~ beI~ 1hoI In th;. a... .... triol wlQ not be toointed by.ollowq Mf. RoI>on>' fonn. ...chet thon Mf. Robino himtell. 10 «tndutl the future COUIW 01 this 1~lpion. Tho ,MiOnM behind Urton S.... oppI;.d 10 .... f.octs 01 thIS ~,;p:ion. do not penuode the c- """ juslice M>d common _ _ ;~ """",if",.."", 01 the «ori~ fifm." tpo ..... me.ic... c;""ioII odded) In

.. .

m

of the I~ng...age of Section under "[)ef;nitions," we adhere to OU' forme< opinionl holding ......, if one """"" be, of. I~w /jrm i, ~ohibi,ed from eondOC1ing ,he trial of a case. a lll3wyers alsOciated wl1h him .re .Iso prohibiled. In "iew

We merely d te the ~ of ~um_MOOnl.1in Mortg.Ig<e (omp.ilny v. Piooe<>t N~.iona! Tille In$u,.na Comp.ilny. wP<~, to indicate lhal some coorts ,eflHof!d 10 give a ~'ialy

literal inlerpretat;on to a Oisclplinaty Rule such as DR S-- IQ2(AJ. In conclusion, we believe th;o •• he fact .h..t a bmer """"" be- Of associate 01. firm ougNlO be called as a witne§' on behotlf 01 the firm's client doe! fIOI prevent lhe ,emaining "'e",beu Of associales 01 tfle firm [rom conducting lhe trial

01 tfle ca!oe. We express no opinion as to the wisdom oI lhe remaining rnemt-s Of ~~ales oIlhe firm condOC1ing rhe lrial 01 the case. Thi' p<I§l't a q~;on oIui.l1aClics ra.he< than ethics.

NOTICE The Alabama Supreme Cou rt has before it (or its consideration a proposed Temporary Rule or Criminal Procedure, styled ~ Rule 20, Post Cooviction Remedies.~ Th is proposal is a greatly modified ~rsion tile rule originally recommended to the court in 1977 as ~ Rule 32, Post Conviction Remedies," by the court's Advisory Committee on Rules of Criminal Procedure. This proposed Teml)()ra ry Rule 20 is being published in the Southern Reporter, Second Series, Mvance Sheets, and tile court, by order dated February 18, 1986, has given all in· terested pe rsons until May 30, 1986, to sub-mit to the cieri< the supreme COUrt any comments or suggeslions Il!giIrding that proposed ru le. The court's Februa ry 18 order and the pro-posed rule were sched uled for publica lion in the advance sheets dated March 6, March 13 and March 20, 1986.

or

or

'"


1986 Midyear Meeting

I Alaooma Siale BdT lJoo,d of

Commjs5~

meeb Wooncsda:y a.m.

1 Comm,"ionet H(JC1,wy ,-epom on

~f

comm;lIion

fWppottJQn-

men! II'j'Jlalion.

1 GubNnalQlial fowm- Alaoom.t StJle Bat !'res,den, Nonn opem lum:heon

(, A'

adm'''' tfH. Kulpwre al We(/n('uily p,m. 's S~a~f'Spea,e feslival cocllail IU""",.

'"

5 /,m 5.5~. MUitOCdl Meetmg chamnan, tela,,~, will! John Robettwn.

Vrf'oelaoo, 1.50\ board m<>mbe<, and Cia.", 8lack. p<ewkm~1ea of !he Y()IJng LawyE'tS'SecrlOt>, W('IC among Tuscaloosa lawyell' al!cndong !he Midyear Mefling arid eye-opener btcaHaSI TIIutsday a.m.

May 1986


8 /,,/,u, MKh.lelson. MD., p«'Sidenl 011"" Medical As5oC'~11O<1 01 Alaba""" d~~ IhI." mt'I'.'I"'8 with f/."5P«1 10 physic,an!'

""lCe.n!.

7 CI,ff H",rd of MOfllSOOJ"fY irn,O<iJa..s t"" Pf'08,dm Jt "1"" tJwy<"f JOO t"" Mroic~/ Malp,actic" C,isis" fo,,,m.

10 tawyef5' "jews "" Ih ... medica! mdlpr~'lOce

11 Phll,p G,d/('",

C,i5i, as pfCSI!nlro by tan,

ny V",cs ...

OJ Da.id Boyd of M~, chai,ma<H'1ea of boo.d of bar "'dm",...", PilrliCiPil11."S in tllf.> Ctc '1tK'stion ... nd."In,,,,,,, se.,jon.

t""

12 D.Jnne, ('dIC'.

11 and CIJy .... ,sp.IUgh ConlOmred

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1986 Midyear Meeting

1~ Alabama Supreme COOl'! Chif>{ Justice Torbet! addre';l!s Midyear Meeting Thuljday luncheon On >laws of ;udicial building

new 15 President Nonh m_, wirh afwmey genet.' cand,dar.,., le(( 10 "8I1r, [vans, Walli"

SieBelman, North and Sorrells

16 P,."idem North adjourns Monr_ gomery portio<> of Midyrut Meeting following Jl!orney general,' forum

1m Alabama lawyers, al rhe speilkefl ' luncheon

17 Brian Smedky, Q,C., discu"", rhe Bermuda cour! system with those 73 In aHenriancear rite Bermuda ... lI1nsion of rhe '86 mÂŤ'lin8_

, v isil Cranl Jnd rhe WOI. Granville Cox, ,eniDl magimare in Bermuda (la, righl foreground).

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16

Charles U.B. Vaucrosron (lop cenrer), who arranged 1m, Comparalive 1..1", semind'

1':1 (leir (0 right b.lckgtoundJ Alron R. Brown,

lete5~

May 1986


/OlIn COOf)('< (Iish!) viSlU ""Ith Don Reynolds 01 Monrgomety (/fflJ ~nd Bob D/iion 01 I\t!niSlon "",n8 ~ bIe~l of

20

Cooper's pn-sent.mon on Ieg.ll lid in

2 1 COfflmission<>r:s ~ CUs,)dy ~nd eor"",n~. ~1on8 wIlli MIle BooS<e<, LB. Fehi and CJ'ney 00:>I:>I», on the 1.... '~Ce of lhe P"ncess HOtel, uverlool<mg HIm/lion Harbot

Be'muda.

I

I ~I/e Marsh, a"i".nI d"KfOt of the A-Ilb.o"", Bar Inslilule lot CLl. ~nd Mrs. /t'rry ((",Ime) WooxI of Monigomet)' viSII/he M."rl""-' Mu:setJm In Ikrmu<U.

22

21 ArCllle ReEoO't'S and Edgar Sf....... n, lwo of/he /;J,g(' comingenl of Selm•• nomeys ""'kIng the 8etmuo:11 /lip, woll on ,he hoIei re,,",':,, du"ng a confetencl' bte.lk. •

'"


Memorials Ames,. Mortimer

PM~eo-,

Jr.- Selma

Admitted: 1956 Died: "'brllary 5, 1986 BMnen, George Elbert, ,r.- Florence

Admitted: 1951

Died: De<:embe, 7,

1965 BoundS, Russell Hampton-Mobi le

Adm iued: 1984

Died: Mar(h 16,

1986 Conway, Timothy Mi<:hitd, , •.- Bi,ming·

h.m Admiued: \949 Died : February 20. 1986 Embry, frank B.-Pell Cilf

Admiued: 1913 Died: January 31,

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Ca,""I, Theodo",

Walrous-G~

Hill

Admitted: 1939 D'ed: March n. 1986 w ok, Marion Fearn-Gunlerwille Admined: 1918 Died: January 2, 1986

Martin, 'ame. Floyd- Dothan Nlmilled: 1948 Died: January 2. 1986

Presh ..-ood, Roser Austir>-And.llu, i. Admil1ed' 1940 Died: lanuary 15, 1986 Raymon, HMry O<l\lid- Tu>kegee Admitted: 1936 Died: February 11. 1986

R"""., Claude Pernell, J.,-SI. Inuis,

Mi ssouri Admitte<J: 1976 1986

Oie<J: January 30,

Stambdugh, George Micl\ael- Monl' go ..... ry Admill<-"II: 1973 1986

Died: February 13,

These no1ice. are published immediately after repom 01 death a re recei~ , Biogr"phical inform31ion not appea ring in Ihis issue w ill be published at a later date if information is accessib le. 1M! ask you promPlly report the death 01 an Alabama attorney to the Alabama State Bar. and _ would appreciate \'OUr assiS!ance in prmiding biographical inlormation for rhe .... labama Lalvyer.

'"

MERRILL W ILMOR E DOSS Merri ll W. Dos>, deo.ooted father and husband, lawyer, civic le..de. and work_ e r, d ied Seplember 30. 1985. Merrill was a nati-c 01 Hartselle, Morgan County. Alabama, born AuguSI 6, 1914. He graduated from the Univerl ity of Alabama in 1940. then served his coun· try in the United Slates Air Force, from which he retired in Ihe mid-t960s with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He commenced Ifle pra"ice of liIW in Hartselle in 1946, and for many ye.rJ hi s life was synonymous w ilh lhe pra"ice 01 liIW in Ihat city. Merrill was imtrumemal in forming the Hartselle Indu>1nallloard, being a cha rI.. r membe r oIlhe same. and served it ~II as il1 secrelary for many yearl. He also served the boord as attorney until the time of his death. He flelped to organize the Hartselle Chamber of Commerce and seJVl>d it as il1 president. He served as presidenl of the Morg<In County aM Assodation. Merrill was a member 01 the Hartselle Rotary Club from 1946 unlll the time 01 his dealh and was president in the late '50s. In Augu>11985 he was named a P.ul Harri, Fel '""" the highest honor bestOMro upon a ""->mber of the Rotary Club. Such has been .....arded to only four members of the Hartsel le ROlary Club. Merrill wa, a devoted member of lhe First United Methodist Church of Hartselle. >e<ving it in J}I<lCIically ~ capacily. includ ing being chairman of lhe board of tfu,Iee>, on the admini'''.ti ..... boord and lhe building committee and comtamly on ca ll for any service needed bv lhe church. He was a de'l'Oted father and his ch;;dren , Robert M. Doss, Diana O. Spark· man and Jean D. Kerr. su rviw. his w ife h""ing died seve-ral years ago. He was a de'\'Oled, able and conscientious l"""Y"r. He was constantly cor>cerned wilh his clients' problems and a loyal servant to (he practice of liIW The Morgan Coun(y Bar A5§ociation ex!ends 10 his fam il y it; deepest sympa(hy in lheir greal loss.

Marion F. lus. of Guntersvil le, AlaIJama. died January 2, 1986, at Ifle .ge of 89. He began the practice of liIW in 1918 with !he liIW firm 01 Lus' (., lusk. He was a graduale of M.a rion Institute. Marion. Alab<lma. and anended the Un iversi(yof Alab.ma and the Universi· ty 01 Vi'8inia. M.arion was ..dmitted to lhe bar in Alabama in 1918 and New York in 1927, Mar ion enjoyed lhe intellectual cha llenge of the practi ce 01 liIW. He w. s leamed in the liIW and possesseoj ofhigh ethical 51andards, a dynamic personali. Iy and a I"", for his f.mily, his friends and his state .nd nation. He 10'0'ed his profession and its memo ber .. Despite lhe g reat demand for his liIW praaice, he served his profession wel l. On many occasions, he was cor>suited bv \'OUng lawyers with """"I and difficult problems, who Came to him lor his he lp. He w;l S never too busy to listen and provide constrUCTive advice. Marion waS paSI presidenl 01 lhe Marshall County lhr Associalion (1936193n and 5eM'd as a member oflheedilorial staff of liIwyers Cooperative Publishing Company, Rochester. New Vork, in 1923-1925. He was mayor of tfle City of Gunterlville, Alabama, from 1920-

May 1986


1922, being lhe )OUngelollTYl"'" in lhe hlSlOty aI the I_n. The A1~~ SI<Ile Sar hoIs I~ one d n. ~~I membeos, and .11 who knew him leel deeply OUr Iot.s ~I his <lealh. \~ ~. lend our symp.>thv ro Marion's wile. Anit~. and sons. R,c""'" and Louis. lAMES flOYD MARTI N james FIOId Martin. a Dothan al1omey. died Thuooay. January 2. 1986, at his home in Doth~n.lo l lowingan extended illne». He il Survi.-ed ~ his wife. two dirughtom and fiw gr.mdchikJren. james was a lifelong residenl d D0than. and was fduc~led In the Dot""" Ory SdlOOIs. He ~ from Marion Insti1u~ Ma<ion, AI~ and am'!fld. ed the UruWtSiry d AI~ w~ he e.rned his u~Uo1te and law

""'-

Dunng v.trrkJ \'hr II.

~mes ~

in

II", Third Ar",.,. in the European Theatre. He also _ II _an d the KorNn eon.

mel and remained in too Army Nal ional Guard and too Uniled Slates Air force Reserve until his retiremenl 3S a lieuten· ani colonel. During his m,l,.ary ~ice. james met and married tOO former Marpret ~ sen 01 s..1t I..lke Ciry. U~h. He returned 10 his home in Dothan OVId pr~M:ed IaN with 1M 1aII"ler, lob...,. K. ~n •• iormer probate iudge d Hoosron County. In Lr Ie< \ON'S. 'lfle< the de<llh d his latt...r. James formed the ,_ firm d Manin and Br~.,n in wflich 00 con.inued 10 praclice un.,1 the lime 01 his dea.h. His civic ac.lvitles include distinguished ~iCfl1tl president 01 the D0than Kiwanis Club and the Houlton County 8ar Associalion. He a lso waS • member aI Phi Alpha Delta law Fraterniry, Woodmen oIlhe W:1r1d and.he Fr .... .... n.1 Ordet of Policfl. james was II longtime member of lhe Firs! 8apliSl Church. where 00 l<Iughl a Sunday school eLm wll bearing his IliInlI!. In ;oddition 10 lhe PfXIice 0Ii.Jw. he ieM!d as II U.s. Magislr;)le in the Mid. die o.S1riC1 01 A1.>bamor. PR IME rRANCIS OSBORN , III Prime fr..,.;il Osborn. III, was botn in GroenWoro, Alabamll, July IS, 1915, the wn 01 Prime Francis and AlIIle IVwlkes

Osborn. He was edUCllted in 1oc.1 schools lind The Universiry 01 Alabama. ...ceivlna II J.D. dfIgree in 1939. As ~ studen!, he SfIfWd as S«rfIIitty In "'" rqis. Ir~ •• m~nase< 0I1tre ()eb,)~ Tum and preio:lenl 01 the EpiKOl)aI Student Union: r«ei'ofld a oomminion through .he Re5eM! OfflcfIf$ Tr.lining Corps: ~nd was a meonber of Omicron Oella Kapp.> Horro<ary Fr~.emiry. Sigma Alpha Epsilon social fr~lerolry. J~sons, Dluids, Inlerfraternity Coullcil. Honor Commi.tee. Y.M.C.A. CabirICI. PI1ilonmhic lilera ry Society and 8li1Ckfrlars. Osborn was admitted ro the Alabama Sta~ B.r in 1939. s.er'o'!d ~ ~siS!ani /11"'""'Y ~I 01 At..Iwn~ from 1939 ro 1941:!efYed In tOO Uniled Sta1es Armed Fon:es from 1941 ro 194& hom S«ond lieu ....... nt to Iiflulenanl colonel 01 At· Illle<y iIr1d was decOr.lled with the B"",u: SI<Ir Medal; sen.ed <OS allOfIleV br ..... CUIf. t.\obole and Ohio Railroad from 194& to 1951; General Solicilor of the Louisville and NJs...... ille Railroad from 1951 10 1957: vice president. general counsel and di...c.or <i the Nlanlic COOSl Line Roil~ from 1957 to 1967; and vice presidenl, law, and di_lOr of too Seaoo..rd Co.rn Line Roilroad from 1967 10 1969. Hewasi>dmined IOprao:tice ,_ in Alabama, iCeolucky, Nonh Caroli .... .and before the Inlenure Commerce CommlWoo and lhe Supreme Court of the UllIIed Sutes. In 1969 he _ ....med ~I of the Seaoo..rd CoaSI lIne Railroad; in 1970 was lidded the presidency of SCllooustries, Inc .• and in 1972 the presidency of the LouilVille and Nashville Railroad Co.. becoming chief e.eculi ...... officer of.he Ihree corpor.llions. In 1978, Osborn became cha irman 01 eilCh, and in 1980 on the creation 01 the CSX Corporation, he bec....... ilS C.... irman. ~ngunlil his retnemenl in 1982. AI .he lime 01 hi' remement, lhe CSX Corporation was lhe ""'lion's lal"jleSl rllil s~"'" in ~ (~SA bilhon).and assetS {S8.1 billion}. Osborn I'Ilpg<!'d in ma....,. civic, soci,)I and ~hgious ;W:livilies. holding many >QiUnlee< posolions 01 ""'Iional promi· .-.ce. p.a"lcuiaolv in lhe Episcopal Church and .he Boy ScoulS 01 ........ ric.. He receIved many honors and aw~m" Including being nallIed Man 01

the Year in OtrVIII Counry. Florida; ...co. pierrl of Freedom Foundalion', \v..shin8lOll MedIII 01 Honor; lhe 80jI Scouts 01 Americ.1n 5<1_ Buffalo; lhe SaIVIIlion AfmV'1; William Booth ......... rd;

c..orse

induclion inlOlhe Alabama Acadernv of Honor; and,llI' this Uni'oOlfSiry, an Honor· ary DoclOtale 01 Law and induction in.o the AI.bama 8~ness Hall of Fame. He married hiS college sweetheart, G riICe Hambrick. a graduale of too 1939 Clns in lhe ScOOoI of Home Erooomic~ and they II.:Ive a wn, U.s. Navy Comm:;rnder Prime Flancis Osborn, IV•• nd a dirughler, M.lrry Anne Osborn, a C3ndid.:.. e for Holy Orders.t the fpisc:opal DIVinIty School In CIImbridge.

CI.ude P. Ros!6. Jr., died;n 51. lDui~ Missouri , january 30, 19B6, a. age 36Claude was born j.nuary 17. 19so. the son d Mary lat:y I!osser and Claude P. Ros§er. Sr, He received his prep.>ratory educ~lIon in S<lnford, North C~roli ..... laIC! altending 100 UnivetSiry of North Cirol,,,,,, at Chapel Hill. Claude anended Cumbed.....:! School 01 LAw from which he rKfIO..ed hi' ).D. dfIgree ;n 1978. Cia" was lin olCCOr'fltlIished and (\edi(aled \-ludeol. He was lhe ~rch ed"o< oIlhe Uw ~oew; ..... ~sociale justice lor ..... MOo! Coull Board and • fi""'iS! in the Jessup Intemalional MOo! Coun Compe1llion in \'hmington, D.C. Clilude was a memOO of Ph; Dell<l Phi and Who's Who Among SlUden.s In

'"


American Colleges (19n78) and d",i&naled OUlstanding YOung M.:ln of America in 1980. After law school Claude clerked for AI.hama Supreme COU'I JUllice Reneau Almon, I"ter pr1Idicing with the law finn of P~ and Rosser in Montgomery, Alabama, N. the time of his death r.e had joined the law lirm of \Neier, Sherby, Hockensmith & Schoene in 51. Louis. Claude was secretary.treasure. 01 lhe Admin i strilt i ~ Law Section of the AI ... bam. Stale 8•• (1979·19841, chainnan of the Commi!!"" on Sections of the AI •. bama State Ba. (1984), co-<:hairman of the Clf Commi!!"" of the Montgomery County Ba, 11984) and director of the Cumberland Law Rl"lliew Foundation (1984). tn 1985, he re<;eio.ed lhe pro bono award from the Montgomery County Bar lor most s<:rvice from a ,mal l law firm. In addition to Claude's accompl ish· ments, r.e was a unique indiv idua l, a genuinely wonderful human being p0ssessing unlimited de.otion to his w ife, children and friends, M we ll .s an ur>b.id led enthusiasm for life. Those who knew him cannot he lp but remembe, with fondness his seeminglyendles, er>e rgy, whether channeled toward pulling 10. his Tar Heels a"d his Yankees, pleadins his dient's Case or showing the I""" he had for RandIC, Blake and Courtney. Claude !ruly nl'\lef mel an enemy Or left a person untouefle<! by his character, his kindness ar'ld his imense willingness to share hi, time and his talents, Claude is wrv ived by his wife, RandIC Rosser, a member of lhe Alabama St"le Bar. and tr.ei. 1m> children, Blake and Courtney Rosse •. A memo.ia l fund has been establ ished at Cumberland Schoo l of Law in hi' memory. NO BLE JEffE RSO N RUSSEL L Noble J. Russell. a member and forme. p res ident of tOe Morgan County Bar A5sociation, died Septembe r 12, 1985, in Decatur, Alabama. His prac1 ice of law, la51ing 5-0 ICars, was e><cmplifoed by his integrity and his dedication to and gifted advocacy of the causes 01 his clients. He was greatly admired and respected a, a man and lawICr by his fel low lawyers.

Russel l served a, an Msislant Womey gene.a l fo r the State of Alahama from 1939 10. 1943, and represented Morgan County in the Stale Senate from 194610 t950, and in the House 01 Representa· tIl'''' from 1950 10 1954 where he was chairman of the W¥ and Means Cornmiltre and Administr~ti on Floor leader. Hi, early leadership and influence in tOe establishment of tOO Tennessee Val ley T«hnical School wh ich has oMllved in_ to John C. Ca lhoun Con,mun ily College is recognized by the naming of one of the campus buildings in his honor. Russell served his counlry in W" ld WJr II as a N"""llmelligence Officer, par· lidpaling in combat landings on isl~nds in the Pacific Ocean. He w3 , "deo.<.>ted and 10000ing husband and falher, married to the forme,- Ann Tillery of Decalu r, and le.... ing at his death two daughters, M.:lry Ann Banks and Elizabeth Gikh.i5~ and a son, Noble J. Russell, Jr. He was a Ch.istian genlleman, faithful and loyal to hi, God and to hi. church of which he waS an of· fice. and leade. for many ~Jrs.

John Jackson Sparkman beealll<! a member of Ihe Huntwille-Madison County Bar A,sociation in 1924 after his graduation from the Uni..,rsity of Alahama wilh lhe degrees of Bache lor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws and Master of Arts. He en~ a successful 5010 pracrice before joining the partnership of Taylor, RiChardson and Sparkman. Sparkman proYed himSl! lf an able tria l ad.....::ate and office counselor, while laking a leading ro le in tOe civic affairs of this commu ni· ty until 1936. when he was elected to Congress, Sparkman served fi", le.ms in the House of Represrolati"", making an outstanding contribut ion through his service on lhe House Military Alfairs Committee and as Majority Whip to the vicrory of OUr a.med forces in VW>rld \\Ia. II. In 1946 00 achieved the unique distinction of being simultaneously .... elected to lhe House and the Senate, to jill the expired lerm of Senalor John Bankhead. Senator Spar kman served 32 ~rs in the Sen.te, longer than any other A labamian, until hi s re<iren'enl in 197';1. The senalor achfe..oed great p~ige in the Senate, serving a. chairman of bolh the Bankin&. HouSing and Urban Affairs and lhe Foreign Affairs commin~"" and was instrumenlal in the enactment of legi5lal ion broadening home ownership. cham pioning sma ll bu,iness and aiding agriculture. NotWithstanding acclaim that he earned th roughout Ihis Slate, nation and the e-nti re world, includ ing nomination by the Oemocr"tic party in 1952 for Ihe Vice Presidency of the Un ited States. and his acknowledged intellectua l b rillia",e and his great politica l .uec",., Sen.to. Sparkman . Iways remained a man of the people, compassiona te and caring.,."m;· ing limel""ly in beha lf of his district, st,l1e and nat ion. Upon his retirement from the Senate, Spa rkman ren.",.,w his Ill<!mbersh ip in the bar and resumed the practice of law, in pMlnersh ip w ith hi s grandson, Taze""II T. Shepard. III, and his for"",. firm, nOW Bell, Richardson, Herringlon, Sparkman 8. Shepard, PA John Jackson Spark"",n died N"""mbe. 16, 1985.

May

1~86



Et Cetera Public interest

I~w

Contrary 10 reporn of public inl""'" I,.,.,.., dec line, ;1 is Hourishing, according

to an unpublished sur.ey by the Al lian<:e lor Justice•• washington . D.C public in· terest I...... research organization. Although Reagan administ rat ion budget cut! and ge nera l economic Slagnalion ha..., taken their lol l, s..:rys the poll , pobl;c int... legal groupS hiM! ""Pi'00ed boIh in number Jr>d.tlor~ emplO'lees and in the i,soes they <>ddress and clients they serve. In 1969, only IS nor>profit pub lk interest I"", 'I'mel'S add~ ing civil rights and heahh and S<lfety conce rns exiSIe<J, emplO'(ing I",s than 50 lawyers. By Ine end 0( 1975, 92 centers hir('(l nearly 600 worneys. By Ihe erld 0/1985, th~ figures had gr<mn 10 159 and 900, respe<:liYely. With the increase in Center activiTies, public financial support 11M COITl I)eIlS<lt· ed for the de<:~se In federal funding. In 1983, SlOSA million Wit> contributed 10

,,,,!

publ ic jmerest legal Org.1n iZalions-a SUm equal 10 3 percent ofille rno<ethan $35.5 bi llion spent lor private legal §'(!rvkes that ~a r. O-e<all income lor public imerest law lrom 1975 to 198) rose 8S pe..:ent aIIer innation.~, since the number 01 groups also e.p.:mded, the .... erage income per group increased only twO pe..:ent since 1979 and actually dropped 33 percent per group afler inflation since 1975

Fi l"§t Amendment hJndboo~ Speakin/! 8. Writing Truth: Commumty Forums on the fjfS! Amendment is an American Bar Association handbook in· tended for u§,(! in public education pn:>grams on cons1itutional SUa"'"t".,. of freedom of expression. The handbook is designed to coincide ..... ith the 250.h an· nioer5ary of colonial primer John ~er Zenger's tria l and ",quittal on charges of seditiou, libel. Published by the AE!A", Commi>sion on Public Undemanding Aboot the l1tw, the

'"

book conlai ns 5i , fiaion.llired script1 on Fil"'>t II.mendment topics such "' libel, ob. scenity, group libel, the selection and fI'!ention of school lib rary books. the rela· tionship ber~n national !-e<:ur ity and free expres,ion and the confidential ity of news reporters· SOUrces. E",h SCri l)! is fo llowed by a lega l memorandum, a m ini..coo"" on rek...am case law and IIIe history behind e",h iS$Ue. Copie, are available lor S4.9~. plus S2 handling lor mult iple copies. from the ASA Orde, F... lfillment-468, 750 North Llke Shore Driw, Chicago, Illioois 60611. Vi( tims' rig hts book The American Civil Liberties Union released a new wl ... me in irs handbook series, titled The Rights of Crime Vra;m$. Written by two New Yorl< ACLU lawyer volunteers, the 441).page book is called the first comprehen,iw guide to ,tate and federal laws aiding the victims oi crime. Using a quest i on-,'nd-ans~r for· mal and written in lay language, the book c",",,, all imponan! legal conside<ations of crime victims, from panicipating in trials to re5lilU1 ion lor damages $Uffered during the crime. The book is available lrom local ACLU chapt~

Client's perjury Whal shoukl 3 criminal defense I~ do when a clie nt intend, locommit per· jury/ The United Stales Supreme COurt heard argumenl on th is issue on N~m· her 5, 1985, in the case of Nix v. Whiteside. In a recenl lawPo11surwy, ~ major ity 01 I"""",rs (71 percenl) >aid a lawyer should withdraw, 17 percEflt sa id a lawyer shou ld tell the clientlhat any perju ry will be revealed 10 the court, seo;en per· cenl thought Ihe 1a'W~r should inform the coun only alter perjury has been commi"ed arxlloor perrent5.lid tOO lawyer should not do anything. According to Michael Franck, chair· man of 100 ABA Spe<:ia l Comm il1ee on Implementalion olthe Model Rules and principal author of lhe ABA:s amicus curiae bfief in Whit",ide, the Si.rh Amendment does OOt obligate a law'tCr

to assist a cl ient in perjuring himsell. According to thi s surwy, mosl 1,"\Wyet'! agree. More than three--Qual1e" do fIOt th;n~ Whiteside w<lS denied effectioe as,istance of counse l (78 percerll). Complete wrwy results ",""re put>lisnt.'(! in the February issue of the ABA /<lUrnal.

Post mortem Do 'tOu al ways remember """rything needing to be done immed iately alter a client has died/ Listen to this aud iocasselle, and be con~dent \'OIl h~ taken lhe necessary init ial post mortem estale planning st~ N~'W York City attorn..,. Edward S. Sch lesinge< pro;ides ~cp instructions on he;...- and when to: assist in mak_ ing funeral arrangements; meet with decedents relati.,.,. to diSCuss the administration of a decedent's estale; handle and "",u re a decedent', ",set, prior to prob;ote; and take pre-prOOate stopS to insure the orderly administration 01 an estate. AI"" p"",ided is guid"",,,, explaining to family members the dur.rlion and COSlS 01 the estJte's administration and recommending 3 PS)Chotheral1e1.lIic con,ultation 10 here.....,(! individuals.

Th is 9Q.m inule audiocassette (order number M651) is available fo r $15, plu, S2AO postage and handling. 10 orner plcase call 1--800-CLE-NE\NS (OOliide of Pennsylvania). In Pennsyl. vania call 2151243.1650 or wr ite to AU· ABA at 4025 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvan ia 19104.

AIDS Th.....e critical individual rights COncerning persons with Acquired Immune Defideocy Syndrome (AIDS) were ined in the f ebruary i,sue of the Mental and Physical Disability Llw Reponer. In Pa rt II of ':.o.tOS As a HandicaPl,;ng Condit ion; the foeu, is on federa l and stale discrimination stat utes, publ icly funded emitlements a r>d possible limits on decisionma~ing lhat """"rely disabled AIDS patients may f",c. P.n I of Inc anicle, published in De-

"""m-

May 1986


(ember, focused on disability related (OOCernS reg<>rd ing pub lic health questions. Too Repone, will act as a clea r. inghouse for key 1eg.11 de--e lopmenlS in this eme'ging field 01 disab ility law to help service pro'Viders. lawmake". the couru; and the public deal with these cootrove"ial issues.

Fo, more infonnalion cooceming the AIDS cootroYef'lY, ple~se contact the Menul and PflysiC<lI Disability Lilw Reporter, 1800 M Street. NW. INashing· lOn, D.C. 20036, (202) 331_2240. •

Etc.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Professional liability Insureds with American Home Assurance Company lawyers' professional liability insurance for errors and omissions underwritten by the American Home Assurance Company is now administered by Insurance Spedali sts, Inc. Insurance Specialists, Inc. has offices in Birmingham and Atlan ta, and information, service and renewal applications are available statewide by telephoning 1-800-241-7753. Although rates have risen subs tantially, the American Home Assurance Company has p1'(Nided dependable coverage in Alabama and nationwide for many years.

ABA STATE DELEGATE

Election Results May 2, 1986 N. Lee Cooper

1,305 Maury D. Smith

694 Ballots Mailed 3,864 Ballots Returned 2PS4

MCLE News by Mary Lyn Pike Assi.tant ExO'Cutj..., Directo r

Proposed MCLE rule and regulation c hanges adopted Mar<:h 21. the board 01 commissioners appru..-ed change-; in the MetE rules and regu lations. Changes in lbe regulalions went into eIfO'Ct immediately; tbe rule change-; were forwarded to the Supreme Court otA I.bama fa< ilS consideration. See 47 Alaooma I.awyt'r 114 (1986) for details March Commission meeting The MCLE Commission me! March 21 in fo..\ontgome<y and look lbe follOWing anions: 1. Gr.ml<'d a wai_ 01 tbe 1985 Cl~ requiremenl 10 a sighl-imp;aired, retired attorney; 2_ Discussed and "'Iified 31IProvai 01 tWO seminars, .he, giving tbe apptO'\la l by mail ballot and telephone poll; 1 App,~ half credit fo, a sem in a, on systematizing and automaling estate planning being oI'feted by the /<.-\obile 6", Association; 4. Appro.-ed. with sewral condition" a ban" n.rptcy seminar offered to a"omeys and """ing, and loan pe<Wllnel by Ihe Alabama lI'~gue 01 Saving, InstilUtions; 5. Declined 10 waive the ..... lu.lion requirement fa< the American eankers Associat ion; 6. Declined to waive tbe ..... lualion requirement io< Ifle Federalion ollnlUraoce Counsel; 7. Received tbe "'pon lhat mo", lhan 99 per<:ent of those subjO'C1 10 Ihe 1985 Clf requi",ment had complied; and 8. Heard it ",poned that 66 al10rneys _'" certified 10 Ihe Disciplinary Commission for noncompliance wilh 1985 requirements. Tw..t...,,,...,,.. individuals with sufficiem ca r""""" credits from 1984 who had 001 submitted tbe 1985 form. Seven "...,re al10rneys ce,tifled fo, 0011compl iance in one or more preceding

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The Alabama Lawy<'f

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Classified Notices --,." ............. '---..._...._. ." . _ .......... F

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UAMINATION 0' QUESTIONED Docomen1s: Handwritin g. typewriting and relaled """min .liom. Imemalionally oourt-<lu~l ir.ed expert witness. Di~ lomate, American Board of Forerwic Document ExamirJelS. Member. Amer-

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WANTED TO BUY

...

ALA8AMA REPORTS volume lhrouBh current volume. Contae! Bel· ly B~<d, librarian, Hand, Arend.all, e1. af. 432·5511. WANTED TO BUY: Alabama legislarioe maleria ls, induding a<n, House and ~nare journals, attorney general's reports. Coni",. Erin Kellfn, P.o. Box 306, Birmingham, AL1bama 15201, Phone (lOS) 251-6100.

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TRIA L NOTEBOOk: ~ time. money.

frustration_in more lawsuits \'\bod. grain plallic l-ringbinder with 14 pl.... tic coded ind"" pages and 104 pages 0/ workshee1s by category. Complete n01ebooi< S49.95; Of lend for free brochure. Wr ite: American I.egIII TKh, Inc. , P.O. 229, Independence, Missouri 64051, (8 1(,) 836-1915.

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yer 1&r BAR DIRECTORY EDITION Is seekIng subscribers and advel1isen lor Its 1986 Issue to be published In AU9ust.

,0

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directory contains alphabetical and geographical li , Ung of ali members 01 Ihe Alabama Slate Bar, with their addresses a nd telephone num· ben , comprehensive Ii$tlngs 01 Slate and lederal ollicla!s, slale bar Inlormatlon , the Code of Pro/ess/onal Responslbiliry and mlse ellaneous chal1s and lees. Subscriptions are available at an advance cost 01 $7.50 each. Advel1lslng rales are a vailable upon request .

PL.EASE WRITE OR CAL.L.: Margaret L.acey or Ruth Strickland Alabama State Bar P.O. Box 4156 Montgomery, AL 36101

205/269·1515

FOR SALE: Southern Reporters 1 . 00 2. C.II or ... rile lohn F. 1'To<:1O<, P.O. Sox 267, So:ottsboro, AI~bama 35763, (205)

57"·J444

MISCELLANEOUS ATTORNEY J08 S: Nation a l .od rnJe",1 leg<>1 Employment Report: A

monthly (!eMiled listingoihund...d, 01 anorney and law-re lated jobs with the U.s. Government and othe< poblicJpri· vate cmpl"l"lrs in \h\l,hington. D.C.. Ihrougr.ootlr.e U.s. ~nd abroad. S30-3 months; S50-6 months; S9().12 months.. ~nd c~. to Fede,al Report!, 1010 Vermont Ave., N.w., 1408, Washingtoo,. DC 10005.Altn; AB. (102) 39],,3311 V.w MC

Don't let your Alabama Lawyers

get worn, torn or thrown away. Order a binder (or two!) at $6.50 each from: The Alabama Lawyer

P.O. Box 4156

Montgomery, Al 36101 or call (205) 269·1515 May 1986


UNDERSTANDING THE LEGAL MIND It is a special mind, one that: • Must be precise • Must be able to adapt to each new case • Must be ready for change We u nderstand the legaJ mind. We are precise , we are adaptable a nd geared for those last-minute changes. We've gotten this way in 75 years of working with attorneys. You 'll like working with us.

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