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C> 1982 Criminal Trial Practice 2nd Ed. by Chl8rkas " 1988

Criminal Trial Practice Forms 2nd Ed. by Chlarkas Cl1988 Divorce. Alimony & Child Custody w / Form s 2nd Ed. by McCurley & DaVIS

"1988 Evidence by Schroeder. Hoffman & Thigpen el l987 Equity 2nd Ed. Tilley 's by Hansford C> 1985

Law of Damages 2nd Ed. by Gamble C> 1988 Limitations of Actions & Notice Provision s by Hoff

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HARRISON COMPANY, PUBLISHERS c,,,,_ •.,. ·.oe•• J~ ' ........... .. A JOOg'.JSOO

THE ALAWIA LAWYER

Juiyl991 / 171

IN BRIEF Volume 52, Number~

JULY 1991

ON THE COVEa, AUtndtes of the 1991 Alib.1nv Stilt Bar Annw.1 Meeting expect infollTllOtive _ions, tnlubining ~nll and btaulifulw .... ts.

c.lll

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE,

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Mer it Awards ••••..•.........•.............•.•....206

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1991 Spr ing AdmittftS ......................211 OiKiplifllry RepOrt .wwwww.wwwww .•.•. .221 Reant DKisions .•.•. www .•.• w.wwwww .•..222

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TIlE Au\SAMA lAWYER

THE ALAHA.'1A (.AWYf:R

July 1991 1119

PRESIDENT'S PAGE

It11' ,

mytoyu. iI$ )'OUl" praidtnt dnws to ~ tnd, I Nk you indulll< "'" ",i!h oomr ~I rtntctionl. As Piul HloIWy puts it, "<Mr my shoulder. I back· ward glane.:

Whit I Y'lrI

Afle. I lil.time of being ujl<»ed to the law. 30

~UfS

practicing law Ind alongtilTll' inwlwment in ,'ariOlU l$po!cl$ of organized bar K livitiu, this brought il ail logtlher. I nave Ilaodlht opportunity to s« our profusion JPrud out in III of its many Iomu-from tho country \awyfr to tilt big city tit~r; bwytrt in.sole practice. mtmtlm of larat firms. cor· ponte tounstl. law profwon, judgu, and laW)'tfS IoIIOrkina for the CoM"mmenl: ~k iIJId ffmllk. b~ and white; lax

"rae:.

~n. civil IN! bwyt~ ProKCUtOrs, criminll ddtnn la"'1u., rul uta!. IIWfi'U. divorct IIwyi: rs. (ol1 • .:I;on IIwyen. buslMU counHlon.•md p.n bono \iwytfS makina Itgal Hf\;<;f:S a\,,1I. ilble 101M POOr. And 1M view has bftn

thrilling.

Th. yur fully beQan a\ the 1990 Annual Mttting In Mobile with th. Sat· ur<Uy momina brukfMt for committtts iIJId Wk for«$. For fooT days. a couple of months nTHer. 1 had worked at bar hudquarttrS with tilt sWI on tilt diffi· cult t»k of mUing Ipp.ol.ilTlJ.tely 400 IIppoinlJTlf1lU from /I list of 700 \'Olun1m$. Looking Old owr the ~Ia whr~ O'>'tr 40 irOUl'III«<re discussing pWts fur the comina)'W', I conntCltd licts with I"III/Ilts MId felt lI&rowina otmI' of txeilt~,

So much 0( the bar's work i.! cIont by our committta lind task (oren, In lale August. we hrld II training Kuion for commilttt and task force chairpersons. as «<II ill for Kdion chairpersons and f)('W commis.iontTS. The meeting was htld in TUKaIOOW. liISted a full day, WilS Ixautifully orga.ni~td b\' Keith Norman, director of programs, lind wu .eT)' well · attended. It has bun TtW/Irdina to "",,"' this commit\« work in iU ~rioous~

Some: ~ is just brginning, such as tNt 0( our ntW 1Uk force on Minority Opportunity and ParticiPiition. Buildina on the founcUlion laid this)'W', this Iisk Iorct will finnly aI.iblish in Ihr )'UTS IIhud that the AlabamII SUit BIIr 1«1<:$ and «<Icomts the IICIM PIIrticipation of III of iU rntmbm. Other proi«t.s art in the lnltrmtdiatf ibIgt. Por eumplt, Ihr Commilttt on AcCtsS to ugal Servius has organized the VoIunt«r Lawyers Program. has hired I statewidt coordiNl' tor and i.! rtady to launch thi.! new effort to providt pro bono leJIII KtviCti to the poor. Aliff three )'fars of work, the Task fo rct on Appellale ISO/July 1991

Court RHlructurir13 has obc.iIintd tndorKmenU from the ltIt.'s IIpptllatt courU MId thr boiIrd of bu commiuiontrs for iu legisiatM proposll" lind II bill will br inlrodoctd. llw board of wmmis.ionors hu a~ MId recommmdtd to the supr.me court a mediation systtm (\esigrwd b\' the Tuk fOt«' on Altemlltivt Mdhocb of m lP\lt. Resolulion. In addi· tion, the Impaired La~rs Committ« has obtailW.! apprO'Jal for iU new PALS program to wilt IaW)'l!I"I in IlWrcoming the .. vagrs of subsl.im« abu$o. llwn, we ha~ sem thr flourish· ine of compl.led projects, II .hinlne .:um~le of ",hich is Attorneys Insul'3l1Ct MUIIliI (AIM), our hiehly SUCtts.stu1 capliYt prottilSioniJ li/lbilily insul'3l1Ct rompany which was...pniztd two)Ul"'l/lllO thrwgh the t/furU 0( the Insur.lr'lCt Pr0grams Commill«. These are just " ftw t».mplu of Ihr importllnl work brine arTitd out ~ our ITWl)' «mmi\lus and

""'!)urine the )'Ur. unforuem okvtlOJ!· ments, such ~gislaturt

lIS

the introduction in tm

of /I bill to tOblly restructure

lind druliatiy change the state's work· ers' compensation la..... , ha"" created the nted 10 respond quickly through new volun!«rs. La",!,e" have unselfishly IIns"''trtd thr u.1I. A projtct which has bun 1lOir13 on the enlire)'Ur has bun our much·nt.ded building tlp,ansion. fund ..,sine hal liktn me throughout the SUtt. I wish lhat I could report " completed cllmp"illn, but I (IInnoi. Whik we havt ~ /I bi8 sI.IIrl ",'t >lill ha,.., a WilY 10 go 10 reach OUr g.».1 for n«d.d funds, 1 urge f\'ery membrr to makt II pltd~ 10 htlp with thil Q~. A ral hiehliehl oflht)'Ur for me hal bun my association with Ihr membrrs of tht boiInl of bar commis.ior.ers. Repre· senting evel'}' judicilll circuit lind every pos.ibl. opinion on every possible subject, this di~rs.t group 0( men and women seu policy and takts officill.ctioo on brhalf oflhr state bar. ill «<II iIS conducting hurings lIS membrrs of disciplinary panels.. Thty l1li,.., Krved lireltuly MId «<It The boiIrd's Eucuti~ Cooncilhas bun diligent in ~ing bttwttn boiIrd mutings, in comina to Montgomery the dIy before fIlCh boiIrd muting to dl$l;"USi /III molters requiring KIion, ~ in providina o;oul'IKl 10 the pmidtnL Tht mem· bers u~ j>U1 Pruidenl Alva Clinf. President·elul Phil Adoms, Vicf -presidont John Owen •• Jot Cusady. BrOOK Holmes, and Tim Oillud. We spent" pliinnin, ~ektnd togethrr. "long with staff. al Ihr br,innina 0( the bar)'Ul". and thfy IwJe continutd to give dtdicattd servia throughout the I-"'~r. A dawnsidc 01 thi.! work illhr bar'. disciplinary function. It (C<>nlmwdonpagel82)

TILE AJ.AIIAMA LAWYER

Cumberland Thanks You! AI~bama chai~ns,

The Cumbcrl.:lnd ll\li!itulc lor Continui ng Legal Edu OIlion is indebted to the many

attorneys and judges who contributed their time and expertise as speakers, prognom

pLaMing rommittoo members, a oo advhoty boord membcn during the 1990-1991 aademi( ~aT. We g .... ii!fuLly admowledge the ronlribulionl of the following individuaLs to the ~ of our Q.E

progr.!ms: c..d~,

_ H . Ad .....

A. H.

P. Ale:und .. J. Hod. AIvu. III K. Ri<~ Alvi. SOl_B. And ...... Douglas T. A-.dall Stephen It. Amoid D. !..e<>n "', h101'd

Thom.. R. CambJe W. L..twIo Jr. Ddh Ii. c..wlll Richard H. GOD

Jam.

/uw Joe

c.rn-.

G. &mard

s;.""" Boomn, IU 10_ c. Bonoro. , •. L

Wok ... W. Bo,.. L Beasley

Jere

a....,.... Jr.

Charla A. ,. t - R. Benton T. Brad B;.hop

Du_n IL IILoIr V1rs1nio _

!WOn O. Bowdre J. R"""ld Boyd Crqory 8. Broodlove Willl.om S. Bn:wbUe<. III Judn Arlltu. B. Brilkman ~

iIn>dun&n

Nonooo W. Btooker.

Otl, L Brown

Jr.

E. T~ Brown Couill.. L Bluwn

Williilm

J. Bryont

s. Cres Bu'll'"

Alv. C. Co ....

John C. Calho."" J•.

Andrew P. Compbtll Rid",rd P. Canriody DovLo Cur ChNIet F. C~hryn S. C'.arYor Tho"",. W. Ol'ls&n J.o. ..... S. Chrioli<. Jr.

Anita Leslie COCh .... ""

Wllliom D. Cok:man Co-r.&ld D. Cclvl ... Jr. )oM H. Cooper Roy J. Cn",,1ianI

81ane H. Crul<1t/\eId AI ... J. 0. .... Ch.rlco L D=abu'1l R<>oo M. Diamond. DI John w. Donald, / •. a. .... H. 0 s.._ D. j. o.vld Imober LInd. L Duk..

Dou,,,-,,,,

Carolyn L Du .... n Cenrd J. Durward Judy Wholen [v .... SanJo.d W. Fooull:ner

c.,_ nlE AL\fWoIA lAWYER

Jr.

Keil h Ci_ udgc John c. Godbold Dovld R. Godon.ky Harold H. CoI~l;I GoodIM, Jr. Crooms, Jr. s.ItewIloCwyn john E. HogeflOl .. llon, Jr. William H. Holbroob jama O. Haley CIa'" R. HaDuo>ond lulin Arthur J. tw-, Jr. A. 1M liudtpft, In Rkk Harris I. M,'" Hart Willl,m D. H... t}", Ir. Ed .... '" C. Ha ...l<bu C.rIeIo Roberts Hawley Kennelh W. Hoob Ju,,1Do Gonnan HoutlOO'o, Jr. 0... A. Howard M. A!"In Huckstep T1mothy C. Hutchlnoon OIM. H. Jenkin. Robcn C. joh ....... DovId Cmmwdl JoIuuoro JuotlDo Rkhard I.. Jon<s (ooet.) ja,per P. lulian<> Chrlollu M. King ja.... C. Kin3

h,:!'liun

~:."l'r.C~tby

ii::'..... I.. Kftboo

A",hlo C. lomb, Jr. Svdney Laven .... r Ii 1lIo~ t.o=.by

.-~

Ronald A. Lnill William R. Lew;" Curti. O. UJe., m Thad C. Long William L Long"""", II! R~ I.. l""". William R. luca .. Jr. c..o.p C. lynn )oc 1: Malup Tho"",. G. M,oncUIO Dovld H. ManlI Rodroey A. Max Brtlar I. Mckee Kennelh I. M....J.ftoohn KalIvyn Miteo C. M . Moncu.

J. R...Mu .....y, III Sand.. W . Munrlll Ben S. Nett1es DovId M. 0'Brim.

s...t...

F. Olodt ..... Lewl. W. P.ge, Jr. A. )oc Poddy ~~ PhlUlpo, III A. Pld:e...

Tho ..... Ie. ~ ..., m Scon A. Powell !'hUllp B. Price Willi, ... E. Prilc","n:I, III Moriooo A. QuIM. Jr. BruDl A. Rawl, I.. DHw Redden I. M"odIaotI llediUr Robert p. Reynold. E. Mabry Rog"'" ~:"m R_,Jr. B. Rub;" Thoma, S. R... S. Shay Sa",,,,", William H. ~tt..rf'"otId William A. Scon, Ir. A. )ng_ Solden, 111 Ch&rleo E. Sharp Wilbur C. 5;lberman Kennelh O. Simon Rkhard Smith Daniel B. Srn;lh Tomy R. Smyly Willlom AI"'" Smyly. Tho"",. S. ~ .... l. C .. _ 51,If, m

_.....

Ir.

Ben p, T"}'lor W. T""}' Travio Robcn j. lou",,,,,,, D. Vmoon, Jr. E. Clenn Waldrop. Jr. JoMlhon H. Woller Kennelh D. WII .... Ir. Robcn C. WoItt.oll M'!"Inilljl; G. W."...,. III Eu_WlllO>I Allion Wemot Char .... l. WhIW:.et

V.r!!r

..... F. Whibo. Jr.

Dovld P. WhibooId~. Jr. John P. Whittinp>n Robcn I.. WOW .... Jr.

Brion T.

Will ~Jn'

I....... C. Wibon. Jr.

n.:...... A.

Woodall l. 51cphft1 WrlAht.. Jr. l u . Wi]1iam J. Wynn

July ]991 / 181

The Investiture of the Honorable

William Harold Albritton, III as Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama

Hon. Myron H. Thompson. presiding judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of /Ulloomil. intro<!udng members of the Albril/on familll

Wife Jane Albritton holding the Billie and son Harold Alb,it-

Ion. IV administering the ooth of office

.lone Albritton assisting in the robing ceremony os sons Tom R~=tlllives

of the federal and stote judiciory

flor Commissioner At> /'ou-el/ 01 Andalusia. lifelong frier!d 01 Judge Allirittan s, rt!CQUnting highlights of Albritton路s illustri_ ow; legol career

182 1 July 1991

and Ben Albrillan u"<1tch

Smior Jud~ and former ASB Presider!t Trurmm Hobbs _tcomes Judfle Albritton to the bench. From lef! to righl. front row. Ort Judges Albrillon. Thompson and Frank M. Johnson, Jr. &ck row art Judges E.8. Hollom. Jr., HoM< and Roi>erl E. Vomer TH~:

ALABAMA LAII-YER

PRESIDENT'S PAGE

Cmlinwdlrtwr ~ Jao i, $ad 10 He dishonor brouthl on our mtirt prc(wion by the Klionsofl rtlltM ffW. 81,111his Nopptfli, and since il don. it hu Mtn good 10 Ht tilt highly compttent rTW1ntr ;n which our discipliTllf)' mil". directtd. by gtntru coulUtl Bob Norri', Ind our [)iscipliNf)' Commission ind pantls ""OTk. We police OUr own ~f)' w~11. Your president rtpruents you at vari· OUI mutingl ilround the COUnlf)', ilnd this has bun most rewarding. The Alahama State 8ar Is held in high re· jlrd in TIllioNl legal dreln. Through ilUendin, mulln" of the Nationll Council of Bar PmidmlS in Chicago mol ~Ulf, lilt Soothtrn CcnftrtflCt of 8iT Prt,idtnU il The ert.nbriar, lnd lilt ABA Annuli Pro Bono Conftrence in Philldelphii, I WiS lble 10 bring hack much information which hu betn helpful ;n numerous program •. For. tunately. the bar mlku family lif. euier for its prts ident by providing for the prn ident"s IPOUlt to also make such tripS. Jant and I both thank )'Oll for this.. It has bttn I pleiSure to visit with I ffW 01 the Ioal baTS lTound Ihe state. This included loPt~i"i to tilt Binoi"llham Rar Auocialion ind 1\I.nding its f40mous Christrrw I'Irty. malcil\ll a pnHIIl1otion on tilt building ~ and I plea lor funds to the Mobilf Bar Association. MId Illtndil\ll the annualliw Day luncheons of Ihe bloTS in Montgomef)' and TUSQI(l()SI. I only rtgrtl that [WlS uNblt to accept more such invitations. A speciallrul for me WlS speaking to the IWO clluU 01 admitten to the bar. Th. taglT fac.s of tilt 500r\·to.be la"')'eTJ Ind the proud flc .. of their familios ~re i purt tooie for me IS I shared with thtm my lhoughts OIl whlot it meil/lt to belb~r.

I an rt"port to)'Oll withoul rtSn\"lItion thai this bIor is HMd _II by iu Iliff of .mploy.... Ltd by .ucutiw director Rtagie Itamntr. lhey Irt highly compe. tenl. I'IIrdwortIina and dtdiQltd. 10 Illtir mission. Worki"i with tlltm hu bttnl pit.uure. " 'hen Pruident Bush nominated 1m for , I~deral judguhip nlar tilt en d 01 my ttno. 1 wu ple.ued and Hattertd for the board of bar comminiontrs \0 uk THE A[..\DAMA [..\WVER

me to KM oul my tum. This is ","hat I "''anltd. to do. ind, Iithough unllSUil. it is no! prohibilfd for I judge to se~ as boor prtSidml. so I rudily ~ RtglrdillC tilt judguhip, I must shut with III 01 you some feelin,. which I hive npreued recfntly to sfveTlI

tr..-y!n and iUodiu- I I'll"" rta'Md C(lfl graluLliti<lfl1 from a number 0( persons OIl my "eltvillion" 10 tilt bench . ....'hile I understand that our juditilllystt m dot! require II celUin dfgrtf of se""ration from and respect for the office of judge in order lor the system to func · lion properly. I mure)'Oll that I do not 1.. 1 personally "elevlled". A change from ~r toJudge is a Llitenltnnsfer. The ~r lind lilt judgt each performs rqually t»entia] funclions in our systern. We fiTJII~ li~rs. and. 0( that. I lIll deeply proud. As this is bei'" writt ..... _ art on tilt rvt of our 1991 annuallTlHting and the md of my Krvice to you. Wlltn I person has bten II deeply invulved in somethina IS ;1 ~Quired in serving a.o; state har presidtnt, it iJ hnd to think of tum· ing 100H and walking away. I am fortunate in that th lJ is made easier for me by tilt knowltd.Qe Il'IIt matteTJ will now be in the t.apable hand$ 01 Phil Adams. With Phil's tlleruM bir tlperitnu and

pTOYtn ;ability, wt will be in good hands.. It has bttn In interestirli ~ar, too. for my flithful s«retaf)'. Cindy Cook, whose juggling 0( tchtdules. soothing of imPllifnt clientl, IlIlking. changing and d>ang1nt""'n 01 rt.StrYiItioru, talc· inQ of diclltlon from various airpOrt. and hotels. IndtinQ me down I t rtmOte Ioations. handH", d ....... n full 01 files, and putting up with it all behind II big Imile will illwal'5 be remembtrtd.. I thank my partners. John Givhan, Rick Clifton and Hal Albritton, and our associ.l.te, Bill Alvtrson, for th.ir under. Ilionding. thei r filling in for me in my frequent ibHncu. ind Ihei r generous willingntss to lCcept my prnICCUpation with the bir in what tum td. out to bt my lui )'tir 01 PfX\ice with tlltm. Special lhanb , which ClnnOI be uprtlRd adequat.ly. to bne, my wife. IIdvisor ind trl~lIing buddy. who kept our bigs pa.cktd.. wtnl rvtrywlltrt ...ith mo, and would be .mbo.~ if I tried to len you III of the llWly thing. that Jht did 10 Iltlp me HM U your presi· dent. And, fiTllll y. for allowing me 10 se~ u president 0( th is bir whi ch I love, for tilt high honor and for tilt shH r fun of Ihis PiSt )'tir, I thank)'Oll. my brothtn and ,islfn lit tilt bir, •

CORRECTIONS! Please make these CQfTeclions IfI your COpy at the 1991).91 Alabama Ssr Otrecrory The lelephooe number at the MObile form 01 Mcllll.hl, "_ckaon, Dorm8n , M,rlck & Moo.. was hsted IlICorrOClty The cor roclnumber is (205) 432..,3444 Please note lhat EI ..... E. Whlt_, III , who was listed as an oot-ol· state al10rney with the Louisiana fi rm 01 KuUIn_n. Inm_n, •••, Downl"il & "nl_. aClual1y works in the firm's B"'mingham office HIS address should be hsted as 3125 Independenc e Olive, SUite 10 2 , Homewood. Alabama 35209 Phone (205) B7 1·5858 The BIbb County branch office 01 the Tuscakloaa Ilrm of McaJvy & Ford was OffiIned Offices are located al 117 Court Squale West. Ceo-[rEMUe. Alabama 35042_ and the malhrlg address IS PO Box 5 17. CentrevIlle. Alabama 35042 Phone (205) 926--9796

Thome. III. Ol •• n . 01 the Orlando 111m at 01.... & OI. .n . was omItted He is II 1989 admrttee to lhe bar. a nd hIS office IS kl(:atect at 2516 Edgewater Drive. Orlando. Florida 32604 Phone (407) 423·5561.

Julyl991 / 183

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT THE PLATE IS BEING PASSED

Ii ii

he fundrai.ing effort 10 pay for tne txpansion of state bar headquarters began in tamest si>: months ago. At this writing, ~ are near the one·third mark of our go;,l of S3.5 million. At the end of May (thi. C(llumn mwt be wrilten two months prior to publication). we had received St.l ]5.060 in pl~ and contributions. This figU~ is both encouraging and di"'PPOinting. The total pled~d i5 significant. but an analysis 01 the pledge sourc •• gives pause for concern. This bar ~ your bar _ now ha$ 9.400 acti~ members; howe,-er. only 1.519 of them have rna<k a pl«!ge Or contribution to Ihe building lund. This figure

includu 1.298 individuals and 59 fi rm pledges which encompass another 221 ind]"idual •. n.."" 1.5]9 1'I'1WIl5. \0 date.

Ilave pledged $<171.659. The remaining $643.400 pledged thus far "p,...""nU 28 gift.! to dedicate specific areas within the new building. These gifts range from $10,000 to. single pledge 01 $150,000 which allows dedic.ation of the new board of commissioner's meeting room. In most imtanc~., th~se donors haw made an add itional individual pledge 0/ $300 p~r lawyer when Ihe original pledge was in a firm name , When this c.ampa ign was underW!en, perhap$ too optimisti· c.ally. it was anticipated that a signific.ant majority in the bar wou ld pl~dg. the sugguted 5300 amount , payable OVer, three-year period. Not un reali,tic.ally. it was alw ..sumed some simply could not pledge this amount right now, but that .,vel)' .Jawyer would wish to ITIolke some contribution toward this effort at some time du ring the (undrailing. The roTSt return envelope ".., ro",iwd con\ain~ a 51.000 check from a longtime member and suppOrter of the bar. Another ,",..,lopt

in the same batch contained a pl~ge Irom a n""..,r member of the bar who. only a year before, had lost an entire practice (including the phl'Sic.a1 officel in a ""tural disaster, And, yet another 5tnt 520 with a note expres5ing a sincere willingness and desire to do mor •• but candidly admitt~ circUlru;tant.. simply made a larger gift impOSSibl. at the time. Each of those respOnses was thrilling. and for several weeks. each day's lTIolil was encouraging. Recently, th.re have been f""", r and f""..,r pledg". In the beginning. we determined to tT)' and raise theiSfc funds ill' appealing to the mernb ... of the bar _ as lawyeu and judges - who have benefited from Our profession and continue to do so. Our bar auociation. on any scale, can measure up to any in the other 50 juri.. dictions. This is a direct result of the wis· dom of those woo founded this auociation in 1879 and those who nu'turt<! it in the last 112 I...... We would n• ....,r ha...., achieved the suceo .. we enjoy today if tho51' who came before uS had not c.ar.d deeply for this prof... ion. It is our ti"", to

ha,..,

Please use lhe entlosed pledge card and gi,.., .something to this effort. If you can· not give. Or choost not to give. plu,. indicat e on the card and return it to bar headquarters. Volunt •• r.; are .ttempting to contact every member of the bar from whom no resporue is r.ceiwd. Pl.ase save a f.n ......' lawyer a phone call. visit or lettu in behalf of your needed resporue. Your bar neW. your h.lp - pl.ase do not ITIolke it 8n:>'V(1. The new building c.an serve this profession well into the noxt centu!)'. Let those who follow uS see that "'.., c.ared enough to "put in a little bit" when 1m plate was passed , •

HENDERSON PRIVATE INVESTIGATIONS .. ATRI"ONtAL./DOMItTIe

'UIIY~IU• .&Ne~

• IncIeptn Foeid Report,

• P!locograplli<; E....oonc. • Counroom

'''''''''''''V

CONFIHN"'&L·O'SCREET LICEN'ED· aONOEO P,Q BOX 55391 13$2$$J

0I911a'"- • IS4 IJuly 1991

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION

"'-

ALBERT MEDIN A ~,f"'""'-t e-., ..r.. ' /~

• 0 "'"

v.m

"""""""'""" ................,,, _IV""""

5 21·30211

THE ALABAMA LAWYER

You won the ~.M·

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And you deserve it. Your research was thorough. Your presentation compelling. Your closing argument, brilliant. And your binding, VeloBind. Because good work deserves good bind ing.

Can your Vela Bind representative today. NORCO DATA SERVICES 272 Snow Dri,.., Suit~ 103 • Birmingh. m, Alabama 35209 T ornm\, Belc her. VeloBir.d ,.,presffi""ive

(205) 942·0635 THE AI.a.BAMA LAWYE R

July 1991 I ISS

BAR BRIEFS Mobile

cacy during the

an assistant United Stat •• attorney for

_Homey.

May \991 term. Th. Institute al-

the Southern District of Alabama and is chier of the Organized Cr ime Drug En_

lows Emory In

forum.nt Task Force and the Financial Litigation Unit.

to t •• ch Mohile attorneys Willi e J. Huntley, Jr. and E.T. Roli5Qn. Jr.

invit o distin .

guished litig.-

tors to spend time in ruidence

were selected to leach trial advo"_10. ,acy a\ Em<>ry University Law School in Atlanta. They were I«ture .. in the NatiQnallnstitute for Trial Advo-

and int ..act wilh law students and

faculty. Huntl ey practices wilh the firm of Crosby. Said & Beeb. , P.C. Roli.on i.

First time ever in Binningham

EXPERTS & HEARSAY: WHtU' EVERY TRIAL LAWYER MUST KNOW

Com€ hear tire nation's most dynamic and entertaining eLE lecturer

Faust E Rossi Friday, September 6, 1991 Radisson Hotel Birmingham, Alabama

.~iIi' Register Now! CallSOO-888-7454

Call 205·870·2391 186 /July 1991

Hou_jolns W. , htngton finn Hogan 0; Hartwn, Washington, D,C:s oldest major law fi rm . announced ncently that W. Mike House joined the firm as a partner. in the firm's Washing· ton office. House came to Hogan 0; Haruon from the Washington firm of Shaw, Pittman. Potts 0; Trowbridge. Prior to moving to Washington in 19M. House was a member of the Montgomery firm of Odom. Argo 0; t:nslen from 1976·79, He also served as president of the Alabama Stat. Bar's Young Lawyers' Section, chai r person of the Alabama Citizens Conference for a New Constitution and dir«tor of the Citiuns Conf.rence on Alabama Stale Courts. He is a 1971 graduate of the Universi_ ty of Alabama', School of Law and a 1968 gTllduate of Auburn Uniwrsily.

Fe ld receive. Me.cIor Aw.rd I..B. Feld. of t~ Birmingham firm of McCord. Feld &. Hoffman. P.C .. was the 1991 recipient o f the Univers ity of Alabama School of t.aw's Bench and Bar Outstanding Alumnus Daniel Meador Award. feld was recogniud at the law school's annual Law Week Award, CerelTlOTl}' for his outstanding se,,"c. to the law school. for the past 15 years. he has served as a lecturer in taxation 11976-8]) and a v;'iting associate profeS$Or of law (1981 83). and currently S<'rves as an adjunct professor of law (l983-9t). Fe ld is a 1972 graduate of the UniverSity's School of Law and received his master's of law degree in ta:<ation from New York Uni · versity in 197J. He teach., in the juris doctor and master', of laws in ta:<ation programs . •

THE ALABAMA LAWYER

EIIm up to a filii )'Hr'. CLE

credit· III IllS! one weeki Meet ~s on Peachtree Sueet for the le&31 evenl of the yearthe ABA t99t Annual Meeting. "'"1 8·15 In Atlanta More than 2.000 ABA special e vents. educational pffillrams and meetings are planned In this city of sophistication and historic grande ur _1l1<li1111 ~"I Re'le~nd And~ YOUIII. former ma yor of Atlanta a nd former U,S. ambassador to Ihe United Nations. U.S. Supreme Collrllustlce SInd.. Dar O'Connor and NAACP Exeo;,dwe Dlreclor Ben"ml" L HooU are juSt SOme 01 the hundreds of dlstlnlulshed luests scheduled 10 speak during the 1991 Annual Meeting. Earn up 10 a full yea(s CLIO credit · In lust one week. keep up with the latest developmenl5 In your speciaHled fie ld. learn how to manale your oflice more eflee· Ii"ely and make new contacts! For an a dva nce replnliion 1 _ and details on Inwel a mJllle ments, contadllre ABA MeeII .... and T.. wel Department

.n,

«>day. 112l981e5S70.

Housing Deadline: July 11 • Advance Regi51ralion Deadline: July 18

-<.----~

TH E ALABAMA lAWYER

. .--.-July 1991 / 187

LEGISLATIVE

WRAP-Up

By ROBERT L McCURLEY. JR. 0 _ .." ... Lollis C. Crftnr, diT«lor of 1M Ltg. islui~

Rderence Sc .... kc since 1970,

retired April I, 1991 after over 20 yea'"

of IC1"'ice. Grune wu responsible for s«ing that between 2,OOO.nd 3.000 bills and molutlons wtre prtll"red for u.gi._ ~to", uch year. A 1950 graduate of the Un ivt . sily of Alli),ml &1\001 of Uw. ClftM will be honor~ this month al

T.JI N'Of'm The Alabama Commission on Tax and !'isao) Policy Rdorm has drafttd KIlen bill s and l packag. of comtitu t ional amendmenu to ca.ry out the commis· sion 'l .ecommendations. Professor Jim Hry«. Uni"l! rSity of Alabama School of Law. coordin.ated 1M d~ing oilegisla· tion lot the commission. T'hese bills will subst"nti"lIy imend or tot.Jlly rewrite

the AlibunlI St.Jte Bu Annual Med;"II

in Gulf Shoru. ~r""'-1"1 With the Ltgisllluu hllf ow •. 1.400 bilb ~ bHn intro4uctd but only \I of them haw: l>I"td both hOlIISU of th. Legislatur. and bun si8ntd inlo law. Majot' legislltion slill Wliling to be acted

"rThet.s1. "Uon A1ab/Ima St.Jt. Bar is vitlily interested in;!. bill to ;"" ...... the bar exami· nation lee $25 pe r y.ar. up to a maximum of $400 (H-492, 5-31 41. Another baroendorS«l prOpOS/lI would provide for oonpart i!ln tl«tion of judg•• (0tI: M>,~ 1991 AJaboma I.au~) .

on at the hal""~ point "~re the appropriation bills fOlr education and the g.,ntrlt fund. rulriction of abortions. revi· ,ion of the worleu's com~nsation law (H·$87), prison reform, and .duQtion

•

Re.pportloo_", The pennantnt LcgiJlativt Committte on R.appOrtionment held eight public hurings around the It"t •. ending on conQrusional rUpparlionment. Since Cong..ss must ~ .. appOrtiontd ~Io .. the 1992 elections. many legislators a.. urging quitk PMSi\if oil congreuional .eappOrtionment plln tither in tho Lut diYS of th. regullT Hssion Or for the Governor to calli sptcill Hssion for rupporlionrmnt. The Ltgisl"ture llso muSI rUPPOriion Hulf. but it i. not rtqUired 10 do so beMA: ill nut election in 1991.

_L •. - . L.. MI:CuoIor.,Jt ~, J

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1M uisti", $lItutt$ on: ad valORm

W:;

c.orporlIte franchiH UI; individual UId ~te incomt tu: iNunna premium W:; ult$. ... and I_ing t.Jxn; and tax incentivet for indu.t.i;!.1 develop· ment. A bill_ also dnll.ed to impOH I ID on int.Jnglble PfQl)tTty. The constitutional amendrmnll concern tho income WI. ad \lilorem t.u. cOrpOrate I..""hl.. tax. earmarking 01 .twnues, and f,scal pOlicy.

ASB Seetlon of Labor and Employment Law's

SEMINAR The Slati ba!"'s Section 01 labof and Employment Law will hold its annueI GuH Shores Seminaf September 27 and 28 at the Surrmerchase Coodom,nlums in Gulf ShOl"es. Room reservations should be made Oifectty woth Surnn&rchase at (8C(l) 722.(3ULF Of (205) 981-9731

FOI" more information, contact Joseph W Spransyal P.O. Box 10406. Birmingham. Alabama 35202. or phone (205) 254-7252

ISS I Julyl991

h...-I N9f9..m.tiv. po......nd'M. The AWllma I.iw [~itute. u" part oi ill probatt proaduu rMsion. his draft.· nI st.JtutOf)' poIO'tri Mr personal up«.. nl.ltivt.... That po<o.'trl lre in i<ttping with 1M policy 01 pTt*.ibed po<o.'''' of COIIHMlton in Ala. Code f 26·2A-152. In dettnnining personal repruentativts' f.... tilt court rillY consider factors similar to IhoH prosc.ibed by CQlJrt rult in the deeming of ittOTnr)"S leu. Tht Leg· isl'ture mwt adjoum by July 31. 1991. With so mlny potentiilly unre.olved issues. it is liktly thr.t the Legi.laturt will bt QUed into one or two special sessions during 1991. Pocket parts for the 1991 Rttulu Sa.sion thould be .....,.ilablt from the Michie Comp.oy in urly

"""",,,.

for ad<jitionl! information contKt; Bob McCurlry Director. Alabama Law Institut. P.O. Box 1425 Tuscaloosa. Alabarlll35486 (205) 348·7411 •

Tm: AIABA."IA L.-\WYER

IIII

By e.e. TORBERT. JR.

tm plfMU~ ~ K~ ~~ ~~hairpeTlQn of the

ing U

All.bamlo Commission on Tn ind Fiiut Policy Reform,

::,,:=t~\~=~ mle'llU and fiKlt policy stnKture',

Mombt" of the commiuion' uN.d witho ... ' co mpfl1$.lotion.

w.....1 often,

almost _kly. mel Mid public huringo Kross lilt 11.'11 •. Exh .... mber came to lilt llbl. with varia!;rnd uttnSive expe-

rienct in gove rnment. law, education,

tions who file their corponle thifltrs in lire \.llIed dif~rently from thoK ..... 110 file their orpniutiorul pa~rs in othtr statel. People wl10 own _I estate in tiled differently from those who 01<011 stockJ ind bond •. Our In buo is too NlI"nM. which mulu in high tu mel. This irticle Is munt to educate AIabarn;o prxtilioners on the propowls 5d forth in the repo rt of the commiuion. to npuin their undtrlying rationale and. it is ho~d. to engender support for the c"'n~s outlined in our report. ~

laoor. agribwinus. large Ind Sffillil busi-

nns. fornll')'.

~nd

academia. The com·

mission did nOlt rnch it. conclusion

without debllt or discussion. But beyond 111 o thtr considerllt ions, fIT nmowd from pOlities or o;:(lnRTVoltiw or libtnl philosophi", we rtrogniud that AIIbImi ~ 1I tu syskm that is !.imply and fundimml.'lily unf40ir. Oacribillll Ab/wna', tum'nt Khrrne

Ii tnllion U l

"$)'Stem" is almost a ron· I",diction in terms. bec.iust a ' system"

implies that there il orde •. consistency and harmony. Tlwotion in Alabama doe$ not currently POmH any of thtsoe quail· tits. Our ovenli lysltrn or taxation lacks

coord ination. II is r.g,.sliVl.', complu. diffkult to eom~ly .... ith . and hard to administer lind enforce. Our salts w

imPOSU i tu on food for babies but does not tu food for

o;(r.4

8winrM oorpon.-

r_T-.. . . . .

e..c:.

J r.

-CC:

_ _ j;-.d ...

eo...."._ .....

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c-._'GoIo

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THE ALABAMA LAWVER

RATIONALES FOR CHANCE At lhe oul$f:t, tilt rommiMion decided on a fra~k for iU l/lIl~h to fun· damenw change 01 Alabama's tu policy. First, the commiulon decided to INIke il.l decWOns and rW)mTTlf:nr.btionl with· out rtgllrd to the fist Or difficulty of enicting them into llw. Second. the ccmmission decided to make remmmen· datiORI I"'t would be ~nue·ntulral, thereby luvinQ decisions about inclUSi11lil or decrusing m.-enut 10 !host elect· ed to rmoke such decisions. Third. Ihe C(lmmislion adopted _ral \>.uic principles on which to b<ost its recommenda· tions: faimtM. simplicity. neutralit)o and dftctivtnus. FairAt" requires that tupaye .. in similar situations be trtated similarly and tmI tup.)'fTJ ....""" are Ins fortUNIte bear leu oftlw: I.l:I burden tlun thoR who Ife more fortunue. Simplicity milia it usy lor tup.ym 10 uncIersbnd - ' comply with the tu .,...... Simplicity also makes it fI.ier for bu.in.sst. to incorponte the tn system into their long·term bUJinus plln ind makes it euiu for the sUle to ;WminiJter. A system that il neutral allows t.lxpilYl''' 10 d«ide how to conduct business. what to invut in. what to eoruume and where 10

locate wilhout w consideritionl being the domiNlnt factor. Fimlly. l system Ihat is tflKtivt will rai$r luffkient rev· en~ to pnwidt _till public ",mel. The ccmmission disoc:oYertd U1d~til i emlRI thtmt whidl underlies &11 of our recornrnend.ttioru.: brooden the t.u bast: - ' lower the tu rate.

PERSONAL AND CORPORATE Tile Alabimi tax on individual and co rporale Income . hould paralltl as closely lIS possible the federal iocornt t.lx law using federal ac!jkJ$ted grO$S income and the slanr.brd federal deduction! and peFSONlI fUmptions.. The~ would be 00 deduction for federal income t.l.xt$ ~id. Whilt tupI)"trs 00 longer will he abl. 10 itemin their deducl;ons on the stale ~I 01" dtduct the federo income tu lIS is rurrtntly done, the rww l)'Slem is wlJ.. mIllillly mon: wmplifitd than the old. The tu would be It I t1at nle ,,-hereby the preHnl rmorgil\lll rate of 5 percent would be lowered to a t1a1 rate between 3.8 percenl to 4.2 percent to be nvtnut· neutral. The Itale return would be simplified and could be filed on a single sheet. In computing both Ihe individual ind corponte 11"ICOIl"Ie !ales. it would be necessary 10 IUbtQC\ interest on fNenl obIil1oJotionl; lbtca_ ~ is prohibit · ed from IUing such interest) and 10 .00. tract refunds of Alibimllncome wes (which in eumntly inclUodftl in fedeT31 idjusted QTOM income). Liktwist. mtu· est on oblig.ations from other mte-' local ~rnmml.l would be iIddtd 10 the fnk",1 ~usted QTOM income. Cumntly.1 family of. foor is ,ubjtct to Alabima income tax if it make. over $.01.400 /I year. A family of four owes 00 fedual income tax until il urns over SI5.000 a year. The commission would July 1991 / 189

redi!» thi~ disparity. Undor Our recommendations, appro ~imalely 115.000 11)\o.~ income families will be removed from the !ale rolls. thereby increasing lilt p. ogr.~.ivily of income taxes _ With the greater Simplicity comts a general lowering of administratiw co.ts by the .tate and a decruse in taxpayers' COSI of und~rstanding and complying with the ta. code (taxpaye •• currently must understand and adhere to two separate .,..temsl.

e . T •• n....,tion I•••• Although they account lor 27 percent of Slate .ewnues. sales !ale.~. ust !alee. and lodging and lease taxes a.e .egresSNe, unfair and complex under the cu. · ,...nt system. Today. those families who necossarily .pend a large pari of their income. for food and other necessities art hit particularly hard. Because the pr.",nl income !ale base is $0 narrow. all consumers muSI pay a h igh .ate. BecIIuse of the number of exemptions in Alabama, an increase in """,nue requim an even greater inc.ease in the tax rate than would occur if the lax base were more broadly defined. As rewnue n«<is inc .....,. an even greater increase in !ale rates will be needed under the current system to achiew the revenue required; Ihis a8llravales an already inequitable ~ystem .

We recommend thai the sales !ale ba>e b. broadened 10 include service •. in addition to the sale of tangible goods. and that the sales ta~ rate be reduced from 4 to 3 percent. The new system would subject all services to the sates !ale. This would include repair services. personal care sorvice •. construction. compuler programming. and profession'

Richard Wilson & Associates Registered Profess ional Cou rt Reporters 17 Mildred Street Montgomery, Alabama 36104

264-6433 190 1 July 1991

al serviCOll. E~emptio!\.\ now allO'o>-ro on an ad hoc basis for «rUin entities and types of property would be rutated in terms of objtetivt categ<>ri... Excluded from the transactions taxes wou ld be purchases by federal. state and local g"". e",ments. and items that ultimately will be subject to the sales lax. Machinery purchased for productive use in industry would be eump! from th~ !alees. As with the individual and corporate income tax revisions. this reform of the .. Ies tax broaden. the tax base and avoids the regressivity present in the current system. Furthermore. the reform would simplify the ta~ system. thneby inc reasing compliance by laxpayers and redUCing admin istrative co.ts since it would be dear WMt entities and properties are subject to Ihe tax. While the political debate promises to b. heightened. it is necessary for Alabama to implement these chang.. if it wishes to have a truly lair and simple tax syslem.

C. Property t.xes In 1988. the average property !ale paid per person in the United States was

$538. In Florida. it was 5537. In Georgia. it w"' $3%. In T~nnessee. it was $272. In Mississippi. it was $266. In Alabama. it was 5]32. Alabama 's property tax is the lowest in the nation and is complex in its structure and its administration. Th ..e is a lower tax rate for homes. farms and forest lands. and a higher rate for utilities and commercial property. but tlltre is no rational jwtification for the disparity. Utility property is assessed at 30 per· cent. but the higher taxes art simply passed on to the consumers in the fonn of higher utility bills. The classification system makes the property tax base exceedingly narrow. Homes make up 50 percent 01 the total value. farms another 10 percent and timberland 6 percent. The..fore. 66 percent of the value is in the lowest assessment classification. We recnmmend that all property be .....$sed at 100 perc~nl of ito; value . All value should be treated alike. That i~ fair and simpl e. Because the assessment rati.,. will be changed, the millag~ rate will be rolled back to be revenue neutral. For the state property tax. this would mean a new millage rat. of only 1.1 mills rather than 6.S mills. Local rates

wou ld also be adjwted to maintain rev-<flue neutrality and the current home · stnd exemption would bt raised to $40.000 to provide an equivalent ta~ exemption as before the change. "Current use" valuat ion of property also needs changing. The commission recommends a system of - actual use" valuation for all prope rty, including homes. farms an d timberlands. In each case the "actual use" value would be determined not by a formula. but by evaluating market sale. of similar property used fo r those purposes . We also recommend that any property using the actual use valuation be subject to recap· tu,... of taxes lor the previous fivt years when the use chang... Under the cumnt s)'!item. tan""""ers are !.axed on land. but property such as stoclcs and bonds goes virtually un!aleed. The rommission recommends a property !ale on such intangibles held by individuals. This would be taxed at a low rate. with pe. haps a $100.000 exemption to allow avt'rage persons reasonable savings. With the a.sses.sment at 100 percent of the value of th e prope rty. and its application to all property. regardless of whether it is owned Or rented, business or residential. fann land or land used in bwiness. the property !ale syslem would achiew equal stalus among all property owners and simplicity for the system as a whole. Homes. farms and fnrest land would be subject to an increase in the property !ale while the !alees on commercial prope .ty will remain substantially unchanged. Any decrease in ta~es on utility property could be translated into I""",r utility rates.

D. Busl ... s, I.x •• Our current !ale system does not treat similar businesses alike and is far too comple x. The state should rely more heavily on corporat. earnings and profits. rather than the franchise ta~ . the sha res tax. the financial inst itu t ion ..cise ta • . Or the insu . ance premium tax. to generate rivtnue from corpora · tions and other bwiness entities. We recommend that the cor porate franchise !ale remain in place, but with a dramaticall~ different structure and a much lower rate. All corporations and limited partnerships would pay on the basis of capital employed in the state. which indudes the par value of stock.

api~ and un>fd wrplus and corporiI~ debl (wi th approprilte provi~ions for r.nancill institution <lfposiu). A corpo. ",Ie laxplI~r would bf ilble to combine the corponte f",nchise tax rtlurn with the incom. tax rolurn. and tho mini· mum franchise tax would bf inc-rtaSed to $250 for III cOrpGrlt;ons lnd lim;ud

PIIrtrvrships. Asi<lf from tM rfStn.N:lurinl of tM corporiIte franchiK In. both 1M annual ponnit fee ind 1M shares tax would bf eliminated. The shun In would no Ioogu bf neciN with the mtructuring 01 the fnnchise In m;l the pf'OllOKd In on intlllg;bles lhat would include I WI

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Since fjn.oncial instilutions Ir. currentl» Pllying nciK In ",ther lhan corpo",te income tax. the commiuion propoRS to repeal such e",iK tax and tn fin.r.ncill institutions under the (orpo. rate income tax structUTt. They requiTe uclwion 01 int.rut on fedemobliga· tions from the w IHK. ~ the ct\f1)O' ",Ie income structure would bf brgtly OffKt by lhe disallowance 01 intemt and other expenses alloo:.1ble 10 tax·exempt intuut. Consistency Ind simplicity would bf Khirvtd by the integntion 01 fillillCW institutions into the corporate incomo tu.~. While insurance premium taxtS a .. Ih. best means fOT tuinS insurance companies. uniformity imong foreign and domestic comJ}anin can only be lchie~ed by I uniform rllt st ructure amonl Ihtse CompaniH. RatH 0( tn.otion would vary dtptndillJl on the ~ of illiUm. but the pmnium tu. ",It will bf red"'"" "" the ptrunU# of lhe comp.o.. ny', assets in~sttd in the state incTUSH lind the percentage of its op. rations louted in tho state al$(l incrusts. This is neceSSiry to end the same gtollraphi( disP<lrity thllt currently uists among COfP(WJlions in the hnchiH tu. uu..

t mmtnl; (2) rq>Oiall UI1'I\Irting; m;l (3) requi .. that ill ippropriatioru for st.Itt functions be equally wbjtct to proration. The constitutiOflllI amendment provid. illJl kJr budg.t iloO[;,t1on simply has not woTktd. We recommend ill repeal .nd the implemenlition of I provision Ttquirinl tM governor to submit his ~ rtCOmrTM:ndationllO the Legis[;,. ture 30 days btfon the bfglnning of the regular stSSion of the Legislature. F. Locel ftOw.mlne"t Issues finally. the commWion st.ItH that .11 IocIIg<Mrnmtnts should lit allO\<l'td to impOK .... It.> taxQ. To retain simplicity and reduce complian« problems. how· ever. the commiuioo recommends that local govemrnenu not bf 1l1owtd to v~ry from the stale In but. TIlt broadtr w ~ pf'OllOKd in the commission's TKommendations would allow 100:.11 goyemmmts to deTiv! gruter mot1l\It. but lonl lo~rnm,nls would also be required to share salu tu information with the 5tate.

Counti .. Ind municipJIliti .. Iiso lit iblt 10 QI1 ..ferenda to ~U5I. property millise Titts. Thli will illow the ciliuns to apprO\le or disappr()'\lf 0( the particu~r .. ferendum. furtMr.1oca1 gO~trnmenh would be limit.d to propoJing additional mil[;'se only ona: tvotry thTft)'el1'S. would

no.

e ....... t hGd,e ,ud,. Today...., have a hodatpOdge systml r:J tiUlion. lhore Ire too many irrational exemptions; the tu ba.se Is exCfuively narrow and tax ",tH ITt too regrfSSM. In sho rt . Al.bima·s tu Iysttm hIlS b«omt obsolm m;l unfair. Tht ~m lhat ...., T«OOlmtnd will malle a tmntrldous difference in impnMng our system 01 tn.olion in AWwna. • Q.

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Phoenix Preschool Education Centers, Inc. G.-boo<>, _

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Forrester Day Care, Inc_ ~-~

1M ~1tdn.itJMd iniluJlM IIW 1"'lWICliat GM ",,1M u {UwI":",,...m.or I" F~ o.y CGTf, fife. ;" 1M "'f"'u"iDIu lHt/iItg It) ,IIU Mqudilioft.

IE. h ......ldng end edueetlon Alabama earmarks nearly 90 percent

•

of its tax ....... nu •. This unduly rrstricts the Ltgi5[;,tU.. in dtciding how to mtet the changing netd5 of the state. f'roohd. ing adequatt r~nue for tdUCllion is clearly ..[;,ttd to the isiUe 0( fll1'l\lrkins. TIlt commiuion recommends the fo!iowing interdependent Iclions; (I) amend the constitution 10 de,l.re that education i. an ewntial function of sow-

TtIE Ai..IJl.AMA LAW'o'ER

SouthTrust Bank Invastment Banking 8O,,010";_n, .-.-.. (205) ",,-5. ....... l1PS11

July 1991 / 19 1

ABOUT MEMBERS, AMONG FIRMS ABOUT MEMBERS Aller more Il\;In 56 )'U.s, J ..... ,h J. Lnl" has ~lirW from tile active pra.c. lice of law. !kg;nning in October 1934. he practiced taw continuously in Moot· gomer')' until retiring April 30, 199 L Hi$ .miling ~rnl i. P.O. Box 1492. Mont· gomrry,~ma36]()2.

lila.,.

l,yoIlI Clark his rdoc.ottd Iv. office 10 ""fk Central EurutiYo <:tiltH. 610 Thimble Shof,l. llaulrvud. Suilt

303·8, NNPOrt News. Vir1!inia; Z3606. I'hI:lne (SO-l 873-3201. L. 5coll Job.Jon JnnOuncu th. reloc.ition of hi. MonlfOrmry offlCt \0 25 Washington Avenue. Montgomery.

Slrut. P.O. IIoJ; 9 16. Mobile. Alib.1ma 36601. Phone (2051432 .... 21. Robert It Lon,. fonnt rly assi.Wlt dislri,t Iltorney lo r Morgan County. announces the optning 01 his office at Ihe Old Ban~ Building, 6 16 Lawrence Stred . P.O. Box 356. Moulton. AlabalTlil 3565Q·0356.. Phone 1205) 974-5800. J. Ed",und O.um, Jr. announces Ihe . elocillion of his officn to 2911 Cahaba R(),Id. Birminghim, Alabama 35223. Phone (205}879·lm. O.nnl. """ou, formerly with Ihe finn of Brocbt.'Ski &: Abbott, ilFVIOltnCf:I the relocation of his oIflCQ 10 908 Mer· cn.nlt W~k, Suite A. Huntsville.~· ma 35301. Phone (:!OS) 534-4585.

Alabama. ~ INHi"ll ~rns is r.o IkIJI 1547. Montl/Omtl)' 36\02. Pttone (205)

AMONG FIRMS

834· 11 00. Michael S. McN.'r announces Iht rtlou.tion of his offict to 2152 AirpOrt BouI~inJ, Suitt 105, Mobil., AJibama 36606. !'hone (2051 450-0111.

Sutl L. Speake l"nOUlleu til. 01 II;" offICe to 700 Camp 81rtt1. Nrw OrluM, Loui.illlll. 70130. Phon. (SIM) 528-9500. "'1m•• 1. C... bIio, II announces ttw: rtloalion cI his office to 120 North Ibn· dolph AYnl\>e, [ uf.. uLl. Alabamll 36027. I'hone (205) 681-9007. ~

KoIIel'1 P. B.... llft ......;'tant United SLltu attorney. announces his transfer within t he De,.rlment of JIlI Uee . from tilt Nortlltm Distrkt 01 Atabama to the Middle Dilt ri,1 01 Florida. in the crimiNI diYiJion in Fort Myers. His new add reM is the United SLltu Atlorney's Oflke.1"h.t Barnell Centre. Suite 701. 2000 Main StrHt. Fort Myen. Flori<b 33901. Phone (2115) 337-7700. en,o.., J . Mdl..y innouncu II chinge of IIddrell 10350 Park Plite T~ r . Bi rminglum. Alibama 35203. Phone (2051124·1400. Rkhlrd O. Ho ..... fonnerly a part· ntr in Hess. Atchiwn &: Home. is now practicing u Rleh.ud O. Horn e , "Uorn.'·.t·L.... One Sout h Roya l

192 1 July 1991

Vo ..ell oi M"lh,I"" p.e. an· nouncn that D. Bruce P.t...,. for· merly with Emond 6; Vines. became woo;ialed with the firm May I. Officu lire Ioattd at 1900 SouthTn,ut T",."r. Bi rminghim, Alabama 35203 -3200. Phont (205) 252·2500. BII,n. oi "' , c"" announces tlut Willi •• "'. Cnnnl ..,h."" Jr. , for_ merly of SinO!, CiompMlI. Duke. Taylor " Cunnif1i\um, has joiMd t.ht finn. ind Ihe nlme of the fi rm will be Burnl, e.. nnln,h.m <I: Offices are louled II 50 St. Emanuel Street. P.O. BO I 1583. Mobile. Alabam~ 36633. Phone (205) 432·0612.

M.c"'"

Rohrl H .. Xlr ....' a nd John Eul Palu..1 Jnnounce the formation 01 J(lrbe, <I: P.lunl. with officu it P.O. Box 166. 222 TUSCiloosa A~n ..... , Ciorrol1ton. Alib.1rm ~7. I'hont (2(l5) 367.2126.. H.rrli <I: H.rrI., P.C. announce5 Ihe relocllion of ita olfices to 507 Columbus StrHt. Monteornery. Alabama 36104. Phont (205) 265-0251. B..... er <I: J.nn"" announces th~t Ch"l" J. Poll. and l.)In.n Elhert.,. H.n Nove become members oIthe fi nn.

Offica

located in Mobile iIIId Binn-

inghlm. AIab.11T1i1 ind Ptll$llrola. Florida.

The firm of RDlhten, 51 .... 1'. Joh,..ton <I: CUfttt. P A. announcu that J.ff"" W. Bill. ha$ joi ned as a member. Omcet are located at 184 Com· merce Stru t. Mont gomery, Alabama 3ti lOot. Phone (205) 8)4 ·8480 . The fir m of Lu <Ii SullinD &IU"IOIITICes lilt relocation 01 its office to 500 Park PIKe T",."r. 2001 Park Place North, Birmin.him. ALabama 35203, ind t.ht change 01 ilt Nmf to Lee, SulU..... <Ii Malbb. Phont £2OS)323--I06I. The finn 0( Lo..,.hon. N"'un <Ii Quinn Jnnoun'u the reLocation of ilt offica to New South Federal Building, 2100 FirstAvenut. North. Suitt 300. Birmin gham. Al abama 35203. Phone (205) 323·8504. The firm alwannouna. llut C~e N, D.wl.l . formerly coun· .. 110 lilt United Mi ne Workus of Ameri· ClI. hu become woo;iated with lilt fi nn. PIII_n. Heo .... Ma ...., Dutton <I: HolllJ. p.e, annourocu that jeffRY C. XI"" has been made a pa rtner in tilt fi rm. with loclled at 800 Park Plic. T~ r , 200 1 Puk Plice Nort h, Birminllhlm. Allbama 35203. Phone (205) 322-8880. 1110_ A. Woodall ind MlcbMl B. MI(hlo. Jnnoun,. the opening of Woodall <I: Mad ..... P.C •• with offICes located at Chast Commerce Park. 3821 Lorna Road, Su itt 101. Birmi ngham. Alabama 35244. l'hone (205) 733·9455. V.I, .. oi Coa announcu that L. Sh.ron EtMrI has becomt woo;iated with tilt finn, with off.aslocattd at 125 West MiI'n Sl rut. Suite 300. Dotlun, Alabima 36301. Phone (205)671-0289. The finn of Johlllton , Jolifuton <Ii Meore announces tlut D.w'" V.llce l.ucaJ \\Is become a partner in the firm and CYllthl. X. Tho.p.oll hiS become an usociate of the firm. The fi rm of Carptn"r <Ii Cld! ... announces that H. AI Scott hu beromt in associate of the fi rm. with offices located al 555 S. Pw), StruI, Sui te 320, Montgomery, Alabama 36104.

offi,,,

TH E AI.oI.6AMA ~WYER

The firm of Miller . HamiltGn. Snldu " Odom announces that M. Kath1')lll Knlllht has become a member of the firm and Marlo J. Tt nhundfeld and Chri l lopher Kern have become associated with Iht finn. The finn al$o announces that Jamu B. Ne_lI. Jr. and Hullh H. Smith have become of couruel to the finn. om," are located in Mobile and .'1ontgomuy. Alabama and Washington, D.C. Donna Weuon Smalley announces that Man. D. Mo ....... has relocated his practice to her office a\ Courthouse Plaza. 600 Lu rleen Wallace Boulevard, South. Suite ISO. Tuscalt>O.\.a. Alabama 35401. Phone (205) 758-5576. Moni • • SlDilh. Slnl ..d, Cloud" Fea, P.C. announus the change of the finn name to MOnil, Smith, Siniard, Cloud. Feel " Conchln. P .C. and that Cuy V. Conchln h.. rolocated his offiu and b«ome a partner of th.": linn. Offices are located at 521 Madison Street. Stcond Floor. Hunl$ville. Alaba· mao Phone (205)534·0065. Tht finn of Bradley, Annt. ROH " White announces that John D. Wa t · IOn. III. Jay O. St. Cla ir. Pa tricia Troll Mat!.dl, and Ralph H. Yelldl ... h.ve become partneu in the lirm. Offices are located in Birmingham and Huntsville. Alabama.

Berkowitz. Lefkovltl, hom" KlUhner announces the relocation of its office!; to 1600 SouthTrust Tower. Birm· ingham. Alabama 35203. Phone (205) 328·0480. The firm of Sherwlnltr " To .... n , P.C. announces that J. Cl t nn McElroy has become a partner in the firm. Offices are locat"d in Atlanta and Dunwoody. Ceorgia. Redl tone Federal Cndll Union an· nounce. tha t Elen a A. Lovoy has become associated with the cred it union as a compliance specialist at the main office located at 220 Wynn Drive. Huntsville. Alabama 35893. Phone (205) 837·61 \0 or 722·3748. The firm of Emond" Vlneo an· nounces that Archie C. Lam. , Jr., Cary D. H ooper and SU .. a rt C. Sp-rinller ha,.. become assoc:iates of the TilE ALABAMA LAWYER

finn . Offim are located at 1900 Daniel Building. P.O. Box 1{)()()8. Binningham. Alabama 35202·0008, Phone (205) 324·

Nobile. Alabama 36609. Phone (205) 344·8181. Blancha nl, Callo.. ay Ii Campbell, P.C. announces that A.Iu W. Jackson. former assistant gm"ral counsel for the Alabama State Bar. has become a memo ber of the firm. and that the finn name has been changed to Blanchanl, Ca l. 10""" Ca mpbe ll" J a cklon, P.C. Oflicos are located at 505 South Perry Street. P.O. Box 746. Nontgomery. Alabama 36101·0746. Phone (205) 269·

4000. Smllh , Splrel " Pt<ldy announces the removal of thei r offias to 505 North 20th Street. Su ite 6SO financial Center. Bi rmingham. Alabama 35203·2662 . Phone (205) 251 ·5885.

The firm of Cherry. CI",I1.I. Ta~r. Pet e ro , Locket! " Diu , P.C. an· nounces that JOHph D. Lane, J. F.... rut T.,.lor and Teny C. Key have joined the firm as associates in the firm's Dothan offiu. located at 125 West Main Street. 36301. Phone (205) 793· 1555.

9691. 265·8671.

RobllOn " BtIH', P.A.. announas that Robert F. Northcutt has joined the firm. Offices are located al 210 Com· merce Street. Nontgomery. Alabama 36104. Phone (205) 834·7000.

John J. Smith and John J ou ph Smith, Jr. of the Birmingham finn of Smith" Smith announu the reloca · tion of thtir offices to 618 South 38th St ree t. Bi rmingham. Alabama 35222. Phone (205)251·08 18.

Ma nley" Tneller annOunce. that Taylor T. Perry. Jr" formerly an ass0ciate of the finn. has become a member of the finn. and that the finn name has been changed to Ma nley. Trul tr " Perry. Qffkos are located at III South Wa lnut Avenue. Oemopolis. Alabama. The mailing addus. is P.O. Box 590. Demopolis. 36732·0590. Phone (205) 289·1384. •

The firm of Rlc hlrd l on. Da niell. Spear" Upton, P.C. announces that J. Flint LIddon, III has b«ome associ· ated with the firm. Offias are located at 111 0 Montlimar Ori~e. Suite 400.

The Alabama Wills Library Expert SYstems ToMSemble Docl\lllents

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

Bv E. MlAY SMITH and SHIRLEY DARBYHOWEU elual harusmenl b drivina MilS Inlly crny, and she wantI >"OUf help. MIss DIlly II _ 01 an iht;, 1m, ntIinlIet of Amerir:an WOiiItn In the ~ who find that they art inIIetd cIandn& with "",floes. SlIt Is . nwI as Dolly in "9 110 58. and.she It not IIOina to lake it anymore. You-*. oouId it be IhIt her boN is just 1ilOOI1drLM:k? Tbl$ is not, I11fMt.lt is reallik. What do you del? For plaintlll'1 co.aei, • -..I harassment case often poIeIi • dlunt!nIl difficulty not aenaaIIY pRSmt In more toditional causes of ICllon. Many courts wratle on iIIl UIICODtCioIM level with the feelinlllhlt sma! hii .....,..nt is, re1atively ;I1/IQ(lIlOliS manileotatio.l 01 "Nlu",I .sel\IlI1 attnc:tion ••• " Tomkins II. PSE" G Co.. 568 F.U 10« (3rd Cir. 1977). the cQn$Cienliolis p],in Ufr . counsel will bAr the burden fA edur;ati!\ll the COlI" as to the true nature 01 smW harusmenl and its debilitatina thill,

efhct upon lIS vieUms, as wtll as !be burdm 01 owrcontIng any Initial irUItectual relllCl.Ulte 01 the court to grant relief. H _ v. Cilr 01 DuntIH. 682

F.2d 891, tl1th Clr. 1982). 194 1July 1991

Tfth VII of the CMI RIllbta Act of 1964,.t2 u.s.c. l2000Cel ft M/.. . . . . ~ to alford rdIet but only to certUI victims of se:r.1IIi hanwnent In the

workpIKe. for TItle VII to be appIIcaWe, the pWntiB InUIt allele and ptOI'tlhlt lilt ~r is an OiPdiwtiul employ-

iJlI15 or more eI,~ iJr&cl\ workina day for a minimum of 20 caleadu wteks of the Ytlf. 142 U.S.C. 20001_1 1701.) The common law defInItiGn 01 anplIJIIH Is retained by tilt act; thus, nort-WOTkIng dlredorJ of a COipol'dlon and indqltndelli. mntracton ~ not. be counted ..men determinInIl lilt nwnber of persons employed by tilt defendant employer. The act 6dInes'4 ' q'l'I' as a ny

ptT$OD

In '" "lndult'Y affectin,

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ina ~ &om Its pnMtions: 1. the United StIIcc 2. a (IOrporation wholly owne4 by Ihe Covtmment Qf the United

.....

3. an Indian tribe:

... any 6eputJnent or IIlUItY of lilt DiItrid. 01 Columbia .ubjed to the

procedwes 01 the compditive ser-

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6. III employer with rapect to the anpkJJmtM 01 a1_ oubiOe Ill)'

1•• relitiOUl institute or IOCjet)! with raped; to the ~ 01 IndIviduIb 01 .. partil;ular relljkln. to patOl'" won: c:GIII'IICIed with the eanyln&on oIlb actiYItIa. "'lulIlin, that the plaintiff onl

entployed by III Imp~r that eomu within the pIIIYi&w 01 Title VII. sedion 103(a) Qf the act will re,ubte the eI~1 conduct. nIIkinIl it unIIwful:

I. to ran or refuse to hire or to dis-

cIw1e 'lIY individllll, or other·

wise to dlsalminlte aaalnst any IndIYlduel with Japed to his CCI'Itpe1I$Il/Ion, t""", CfPIditlotu, or IRIulhtIa of ~ ........... of such Indlvi4I11l', net, colQr, rellllon. sa. or natioN! or;,m. or 2. limit, ~. or classify hit employ«. lOr ,pplic,nll for

THE AlABAMr\ lAWYER

employment in any way which would deprivt or tend to deprivt iOny individual of employment oppOrtunitiu or othe .... ise ad· venely .fftct his 'tItus IS iOn empkr,o«, ~ of such indMdwor, rICt, color, rdigion, ~ or niOtiorul origin. lemphni •• upplied.l

Doe. the pl. Inti" ,..lty he",• • c._T

Who I. tIM _ c...tul pl. Inti" Ilk.l, to H7 b thtre. profHe of t ht lu(cenful pllintiff in Title Vll action.? Sexual hara»lmnt is alons·standing sociologi· cil Ilhenomenon. ind it. victims ire ltVuywhut. Most often. howevtr. Iht victim is /I ~n. The woman may be young Or Old, beiutiful Or nOl. hiihly tducated or imtuut, muried or unfTlllrritd.. TIlt itICCU$l'u] plJ,intiff may haw gritifltd the desires of her tonnentor. or she rnlY h&vt refused. ReKllrch of Title VII tI5H dotl moeal, h<roo."tVI'r, that it is a ~nt di'o'OrCH or II woman who is in the proctSS of divorce who is the recipient 0( such K~ua' harassment. lind pillintiff'. counnl would be well· advised to take seriously complaints lrom a client so s ;twted. Whilt such complaints have bttn comP<lulively r/lre IImong mtn, tht plaintiff may. in fld, ht. man who has IIftn KlUitly inopportuntd by • ~fTIIIlt supervisor. (S« lluefncJwn ". Depqrt. .--.1 ofllN/ln I11Id Social S47 1'". Supp. \l68ID.C. Wis. \9821.) Tht plaintiff may abo be • man who wiS

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subjtcttd to unwtkomed homoKxwol lrdvancn by a fTIIIlt supervisor. District Judgt Hobhs of Iht Middlt District of AlabmIi Ileld unequlVOCllly thai. homoK_wol harusmcnt s~ttl i violation of Titlt VlI..lo/tr>n ". AM c:o"pe,.. Transportalion. 597 F. Supp. 537 (N.D. Ali., 1983) Ml""d 7..9 F.2d 73211984).

Title Vll now recognize. two di.tinct forms of sexu~l haussment Quid Pro Quo.,d fI<»/itt Environment. I. Quid ~ QUfI dlHTiml""tlon In this form of SotlCwllurassmt11t, W employtr or II supuvi.inS employu pndicJln job bentfits or continued tmployment upOn KQuit~nct by the tmploytt to his KlUiI defTlllnds. When ttnniNtion. tither Klwol Of construc· tiw, follows. the EEOC guidoli""s 129 CRF 11604.11} state Iht employer is strictly liillie .....i1t1her lhe 5ptCific xis complained of ~re authoriu-d or tvtn forbidde-n by the employer and whethu tht employer knew or should have known of Ihtir occurrenCt." To t.I~blilh Quid Pro Quo discrimiru· tion. the succeuful plaintiff mlLlt show that: I. the plJ,intiff belong. to iO protect· ed group: 2. tht plJintiff WiS ,ubjtcted to unwdoomed Kl£ual haJaSSJTlt11t; 3. the harassment was btc.iuK of ~

4. the harusment a/ftded langible ilSp«IJ of plaintilr$ comptns.ation or other terms, conditions Or privilegu of tmployment; and 5. Nupond~QI Supilrior : the tmployer il slricliV liable for its supervisor·, Kxually discrimiruting or harusi~ conduct which ~sulls in the 10» of a langib/;. joI) benefit. 1.mphasis supplied.) Cummings D. Walsh Cons/ruelion Co .. 56] F. Supp. 872 IS.D. ~1'8ii, 1983); and 6.. jurisdictional rtQui .. mrnts haw IIftn mtI.

Quid Pro Quo is the most usily rte· ogniubtt manifutation of suual harusmenl. Most of tht successful stX\l. al haruslmnt tiKi invoM this form of harll$lmtnt. Suull haraloSmtnt 01 this sort is disc rimination becau.e of noI necessarily because the demands are

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Inuil. but btCllun tht demand. lire made of only Ont In, ind continutd tmployment or id\lllncemtnt is predi· c~ttd upon the tmployee·, iCQuitl'

Plaintiff's coun •• l will prtftr t ilt client to haw • Quid Pro Quo scmario bee,uK the linn of dtfTlllrcation art more dtmonstrablt lind enct. For elWTlple, ~ OIhetwist qwliflfll emplO)'· u was demoted. or was not promoted 11$ expected, or was discharged because of su. Th. benchmark of t he Quid Pro Quo is the 10» of a langible benefit In lIutbschen. SUPri. tht plaintiff. II fTIIIle. had a coruensual Kxual relation· ship wilh hi. Itllliit suptIVisor. Tht plaintiff ttrmiruted the rtlalionship OOo'tr the objtction of the ~malt .upttvi. 101". Shortly tllereafttr. tile n·pan.mour superviso, demoted Huebschen. Tht court held that Huebschtn had bomt his burden of proIIing that his refusal to continue tht Sflwol relationship moti· vated tht decision t o demot e him. flutbsehe-n is • clusic Quid Pro Quo. (Hutbschen was rewrsed based upon a claim prtdi catt~ upon 42 U.S.C. 1983. Considerations wit h rtg,lrd to f\983 are beyond the scope of thIs article.) An interesting tiK that departs from tht Quid Pro Ow IW)rm is Toscano u. Himmo. 570 F. Supp. ] 197 (D.C. Ott. 1983). TOKa/lO maintained that she was not considered lor a promotion because thl! pOSition had botn wrongfully IWinltd to i woman who was having m affair with tile supervisor of that departmont. TOSCiOno ,,"Vt. tlaimtd to have bttn troubled by JU.wl dtmands by the supervisor. The court found i violation of Titlt Vll. citinS19 C.F.R. t 1604.1Ilg): Where employment opportunities or benefits are granted because of any individuil"s lubmiloSion to tht employer's advJ.nces or rtijutslJ for Sfxual la>'O ... th e omployer miOY be hetd li"ble for unlawful itl discriminilion "g.inst other pe1"$Olll who ..... re qualifltd for but denied thlt OppOrtunity or btneliL For OIher traditional Quid Pro Ow CHU, s« 110m u. Dub 1I0mtJ. DiviSion of 117nd.<or Mobil. f I - . Inc., 7S5 F.2d 60-1 119851. and Craig u. Y& I'Snacks. /nc., 721 F.2d771l983). b. lIoltlit Envim nmtnt DIKrlmlnltlon Women·s polillcal groullS claim that the a<loption by the court 0/ the hostile July 1991 / 195

envi ronment theory of seJI discrimina· tion constituted the fi rst t ime that women have identif,ed. established and defined a legal wrong. MacKinnon. Introduction. Sgmposium: Sexual Ha=mml. 10 Cap. U.L Re.. i (19SI}. In Mentor Soo'ings Bank v. VillSOfl. 4n U.S. 57. 91 L.Ed 2d 49 . tOO S.C\. 239 (1986). tht first hostile environment cue to reach the United States Supreme Court. the plaintiff. a bank teller. testified in an lI·day bench trial that htr branch managu invited her to dinne r. then suggested that they go to a motel to have st.wl r. lations. She maintained that she at first refused. but out of what she described as fear of losing her job. later acquiesced to his demands. The branch manager thereafter made repeat· ed demands for suual favors. usually at the branch. She estimated that she had intercourse with him On 40 Or 50 occa· sions over the next several years. The manager aliegedly fondled her in the prnence of oth.. employees. followed h.. into th. women's restroom and •• pOSed himself. and forcibly raped her

more than once. The branch manager. however. did Mt condition her contino ued employment or advancement upon her acquiescence to his demands. Justice Rdmquist. in delivering the opinion of the Court, opined: "Title VII il violated where sexual advances. remarks. and oth.. verbal and non·verbal conduct created a substantially disc riminatory work environment. regardle .. of whrth .. the complaining employee lost any tangible job benefits as a resull." To establish a prima facie case. the plaintiff must aUege and prove: l. the plaintiff il a member of a pro· tected class: 2. the plaintiff was subjected to unwekomed ... ual harassment. which she (or he~ did not solicit or incite; 3 . the harassment wa. "bocau.e of seJI";

4. the harassment affected a term . condition, or privilege of employment, crnting an abuli"e W<)rking environ· ment. which affected her pSyChological well·being:

5. the employer had actual or con· .tructive notice. and f~iled to take prompt remedial action. The offen..s most often complained of by WOmen in hostile environment cases include wlgar and seJlually •• plicitlan. guage and unwelcomed touching of th.ir breasts and buttocks by male employees. Proof of incidents of such behavior goes to the weight of the evi, dence, but is not conclusive of the iosue. The plaintiff must prove that the harass· ment is so pervasive as to render the workplace discriminatory. In RoiJ.ron o. €1lQ's Su~rmQr"et. tnc.. 538 f.Supp. 857 (N D. Ohio, 1982). the p l~intiff testifi ed in deposition that her superviSOr requested that she wear tight jeans to wo rk so that he cou ld · watch her walk." She further testified Ihat he lured at her body. felt the back of her blouse to see if she wore a bra. squuzed her arm, and told her that he wanted her 10 be afraid of him. The Court denied the defendant's motion for summary judgment holding that such aile· gations were sufficient to state a hostile

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THE AlABAMA u\WYER

ulI'ironment cause of action pursuant to Title VII. In Morgan u. Hertz Corporation, 542 F. Supp. 123 (W.O. Tenn .. 1981). Dis· trict Judge M cR~e went so far as to enjoin the speech of the agenh and emplo~u of Hertz. r~straining them from making further "sexually indecent" comments to female employees. Judge McRae opines. "By this the Court mea", remarks such as 'Did you get any this weekend?' " (But see contra Scott v. Sears, R()('buck and Co., 60S P.Supp. 1047 (D .C. 111 .• 198 5~ citing Kantz v. Dole. 709 F.2d 251. 254 (4th Cir. 1983~ "... Title VlI is not a dean language act and it does not require employers to extirpate all sigm of centuries-old preju· dic.es.."1 It should be notw that strict liabilily for the employu i. not mandated in hostil e envi ronment cases. The burden is placed upon the plaintiff to prove actual or constructive notic e by the emplO]ltr. For provocative perspec· tives on this issue. see & Iuff>lthe 8055 and a liard Plaet: A Consideration of />lui/or Sauings Bant, FS8 v. Vinson and the ww of Sexual Harassrrn'I1t. 67 B.u.l•. Rev. 445 (1987) and The Supreme Courl - UiJding COsts. 100 Ha",. t. R('II. 1, 2SO (1986),

appropriate federal district court within 90 days after ,"ceipl of the Right to Sue noti",.

true reason. but me rel y a pretext. McDonald Douglas Corpora/ion u.

Green. 411 U.S . 792. 36 L.Ed 2d 668, 93 S.Ct. IS17 (l973). In a typical sHual harassment case. def• ...., cou....,l is not without an arsenal of potential defen.., •. all of which should be considered. The following is a "laundry list- of common defense!' I. the sexual demands Or ad vance. newr happen.d; 2. the sexual .dvan ce. or demands were without employm en t con •• _ quences;

BUreMn of proof .nd defen. . . In a prima facie case. if emplO]lment discrimination is proven, the burden .hift. to the do/end .nt to articul.te some legitimate. non-discriminatory ronon fo r the employu's rejection . Should the defendant carry thi. burden. the plaintiff then must prove b~ a pro· ponderance of the widence that the rea· $On offett<! b)' the defendant was not the

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Jurl.dictiOIUlI ... qul ... ment. In a Title VII case. a charge must be with the EEOC within ISO days of the alleged discrim inatoT)' conduct. In th e CaSf of .n ongoing violation. an individual may file a charg., at any time whi le the discriminatory conduct is con· tinuing. bul must rote no l.ter than 180 days aft., the last all.ged act of discrim_ ination-usually when a woman has b«n fired or has left the job as a result of the harassment. A Right to Sue noti" will be is-sued b)' EEOC at one of three juncture. ;71 the admin istrative process: I. at the request of the charging party after 180 days have el. p.sed but before tilt completion b)' EEOC of its administrative proc~,; 2. after a finding of no probable cause;

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3. the emplorer l.ck~ notice or di.ocri",iNtory cooduct (Hostile Erwiroo·

""'nil: ~. the Hxual"dv"nces or deITlllnds were not un .... eicomed (The Wom"n 5cornfd .fer>Jd: 5. the employer tooir prompt, umedi.01 Ktioo; 6. tilt "ctions t"lten with rn~ct to pl.intifl ...-trt IlIken for leQitirnate pur_ poses nQt related to H oual discrimination.

Av.U.bl. ,.lI.f Title VII il remedi,,1 I I opposed to punitive. Rtliel is limited to injunctive relief. job reinstllement. promotion, back wagu. lind rusonable attomtyS' ~ AI one miQht quid,ly dtduct, it is entirfl)' pLausible for plaintiffs counsel to rtaM. r"r"IOU In littOl'1'\tY'S fttl than W pl.l.intifl' is _rdtd. Title VI I is '';Il0l"' O\l$ly crili(iud f~ offerinti 50 littt.. to pl.l.intiff who ofttn subjects htrself to Itpl pnxttdings u humilialinQ u those involved in I nope prosecution. (In V"m· son, supra. tht court held tl1.at the plain. tifrs mode of drus. her lifestyle and ·uprused 5exual fantasiu" wtrt all

lIdmiuible ",irit"rw:e in a Hxual h.lraurTltnt cawe oIldion.)

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The pl.intitr enhinca the OJII)OI1unily to - . . I man subslllntial ....m for his or her litilllOtioo ~ns when .01"" allqting " pen&mt state claim. Depending upon the Nluu 01 tilt harusment luff.red, th! pl.l.intitr ITIIY also a1~ ..... ult, bat· tef)'. IntentioNlI infliction of emotional distre" and lor Innslon of privacy. Somewhat lu rpri.inQ is the bet that invuian of privacy has pr<Mn to be 50 llrong a claim for relief Nltionwidt for I1.ariWll"lrnt victims. Invuion 01 pm7q is diKuucd in <klllil in !'frill;'" II. Smalleg f'/ointmtmCf!>nl-ica. Inc.. 71l F.2d

1m (1Itheir. 1983). Tho Q)I.Irt held thot in ~ i"'... · sion 01 prMcy consisu 01 lour d~

WI'OfIi'! (I) the intrwion upon w plain· tiff, physical $OIitU<!e or otel",ion, (2) publicity whieh violllfS the ordin~ry dtctnciu. (3) putting tht plaintiff in a ("IH. but nol nteunrity defaITllltory polition in the public eye ~nd (4) the appropriation of lome element of ~ plaintifr, personali ty for comm ..cial

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198 1Julyl991

THE Al.I.BAMA LAWYER

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provides ~ dup pocket for the plaintiff IDd I source 10 pay the de~nse uperu.e for the defendant. The typiuo! comp~hmsivt liability policy 'Pttifouol· Iy m:ludes diKrimil\ition. The inquiry is not OW. M this pOint. M(IJt businc:>SQ with the ruourcu to employ 15 or mo~ emplO)'ttS will 1150 ebbin lin u«ss lia· bi lity po1i~y 0' whllt the inlu ranco in dUltry lomttimn rders to as an "umbrell;o" poliq>. While it i,true that the l'lI~uS liability poliq> will often fo//ow from the primary <:<Mrillle and therffo~ «elud. this wo· fr"l/f or will pf(lYide a specific m:lusioo for SfJIwol harassment or diKrimil\ition. the <:<Mr"l/f is lO\... ;L-ob~ in the insurance industry and i, often purch.utd. If il WIIS in the ntlW liability policy. the <:<MAit will "drop down" ind pick up this elPO$ure on a primary bui. with perhaps a Jrnill MI/·insured ~Iion.

Conctu.kHI How wide I, the diw:rlitnce between E.... ryman·' view (If apprOprilie >ewol conduct and that 0( Ew:I}'WOIl"IiIl? f'rob.. lilly it is grutH than ~ like to think. Thli probkm is ore 01 fao:twol inl~. "'lion. The 1;0'01 has provided .cmediu that haw allowed ~litf in many casu. Whclhu an cmployu i, IflUilly h.11'lUfd i. generally an objttl:iw: deter· mination focusing upon the conduct of the defendant rather than the plaintiffs rnc t ion to it. Could It be that the "objectiw: l\v>IJard" is ~~lIy I male stan· dud. linn mOlt federal judge" arf males? 15« the diwnt. RafJi<Jwv. Qsce. o/a Rermlng Co.. 805 f.2d 6]] 16th Cir. 19861.) But .....,...Id a fenWt standard lot difitr· .nt. or if so. 0IIl1 Il'OOm tqUitib~? II is a problem with which lhoe courts ",II em· tin~ to ....-t$I1e. •

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I'Ttsident.. ......................................................... l'lrktr C. Johnston. II'i!tumpka Secre"'ry/lrnsurer ..................................................... ,Paui llitbit. II'i!tumpka u:~ COUNTY ."R ..SSOC ... nOH T11e foilou-Ing aUomt1IS ""'"' elected to $t7W for 1991: I'rtsldent ................................................................ Ctcil M, Tipton, Jr., ~lita Vice·prUident ....................................................... ,.C. Mid'llltllll'mon.Aubum Secrmryltreasuru ...................................... ,......... H. Kenneth Wilku. ~lika

M..CON COUNTY .AR .. SSOCI.. TION The new president of the Macon Cou nty Bar ASJociation is Robe rt S. Thompson or Tuskegee. MONTQOM~RY

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AI.t._m.

L."" . ~ plan. 10 rUII Olle

COUn/lI :S s/f»7I in eoeh issue of the mag· a:zine. If !IOU how anll pho/(){lropns of earlll or P"'''''''/ rourlhauses, p/<!QSe for_ u'tlrd them /0: Samuel A. RumoN!, Jr.. Mig/ionicQ & Rumore, ]230 Brown

Marx Tower, Birmingham. Alabama

""'.

[I J[ •

•

aldwin County is the largest

county in "rea in Iht State

of Alabama. It is also one 01

the largen counties in the

. . _In Counly Court ........

United Slat .. east of the Miui.. ippi

River. In fact. it is larger than the entire stat. of Rhode Island. The county was eslablished December 21. ]809 as a part of the Mi>si5,<ippi Territory. Only two other counti.. in pre>ent·day Alabama are olde r. These are Wa,hington County, created in 1800, and Madi.on County, created in 1803. Baldwin County was named for Abra· ham Baldwin (1754·1807). a nat i ~ of Connecticut who graduat~ from Yale in 1772. Baldwin ~came a minister and served as a chaplain in the Continental Arm;' with the rank of colonel. After the Revolutionary War, he moved to Savan· nah. Ceorgia and Wi< admitted to the

bu. In 1785, Baldwin bel!/ln an actiot and illust rious political ca ree r when he became a member of the Ceorgia Assembly. and also the Congress of the Conf~eration, He helped found the col· lege that bttame the University of Ge<lr. gia , In 1787. he wa. a member of the Constitutional Convention and a signer of the United States Constitution. He 200 / July 1991

serwd in Congress from 1789 to 1799, and in the Senate from 1799 until hi. death in 1807. Sintt many of the early settlers in Baldwin County came from ~rgia , it was fitting that the county be named for the recently deceased Ge<lrgia senator and public servant. Early records show that the first court in Baldwin County was held at Mci ntosh Bluff on March 4. 1811. Thi. place On Ihe Tombigbee Riotr had serwd as the county seat of Washington County from 1800 to 1805. When the 5QlJthem part of Washington County was included in the new Baldwi n County. il bttame a coun· ty Ilat once again. Alabama was admiued 10 the Union on lNcember 14. 1819. The nexl year. on December 16. 1820, the boundary lines of Baldwin County were changed by the Alabama Legislature. and the town of Bla kely was designated as the new CO\.lnty seat. This legislation estab· lished a commission which was autho· rized to secUrl' land and erect a court· house and jail. The total cost could not

exceed $2 ,000. The legislation further provided that the courthoull and jail at Mcl ntosh Bluff should be .old and that the proceed. derived from the sale should be equally divi ded among Mobile. Monroe and Baldwin counti es to be appli ed to county purposes. The town of Blakely was founded in 1813 by Josiah Blakely and oth er entrepreneu .. from New England, and was • thriving !Xlrt and trad ing crnter. It was located on the Tensaw River. It is report, d that the first triab in Blakely took pl~c< before a courthouse was e,'er constructed. Court was held O\.Itdoors under the trees. The presiding judge sat in the fork of a large live oalc called the "Jury Oak". This setting was an interl'sting forum for a trial. Howev· or, a short distance away was another large I;". oak. It was call~ tho "Hanging Tree". It is not known how many times sentences ,,-ere carried out at the site. but both trees are prominently marked today at the lIistoric Blakely State Park. In its heyday. Blakely rivaled

THE A~1lAMA ~WYER

well u the new county Hit. It Hrwd Baldwin Counly In that capacily lor 33

Mobile IS ~ JignlrlWlt city. At om lilllf. ow . 5.0()(l I"'opl. liwd ~nd work.d thtu. II~ •. ~1Iw.· f~. tflidtmics in 1822. 182ti and 1828 madt Bluely I Ius than dtslrotbte loc.atlon In I. ..hich to live. By tho mld. 1830s. BI~kety no longu poKd a thuat to Mobile's domi. nant pIKe In the ira. The lit. of BIa«1y Is still signiftcant lor another rtason. It __ htrt th.It the luI grtll CMI War infantry billie took plln on Ap.il 9. 1865. This bittl. is Intemlint btcaust It is om th.It should newr hi~ betn fought It ill. Gmeral Lu hid surrendertd by 2 p.m. on AprH 9. but communication linu hid been disrupted and word of tht su rrendtr could not immtdiat.ly rtach Alahama. TIlt grnt ilSAUlt It Blakely btgan ibout ~A5 p.m. eM. 40.000 rntn took part in Ihis billie. Tht iCtion is not cQnSidtrtd ~rtlcularly noteworthy 10 historilm u irt othtr bottks of $lmllar $lu btcallJl' it took pllCf SO lilt in tht wa •. The sll. 0( tho bottle and the town were plactd on the National Register of Historic PlaCfl on Jun. 25. 1974. The county Hal officially remained at Blaktly until 1868. ToWIY the tr«5 and brick foun<la· lions iU all thaI rtmain of tnt now \kad town. Th. only nmnanU of tho old courthouH in Bliktly are 0IIl outli .... 0( brid" iUld I dfprfS,Jlon In the ground wlltu the buildlnt one. stood. HOWfYer. tilt ITIfITlOTY of Blakely is preHMd Ihrough t .... Historic Blakely Stat. Park. The arta around pr.~nt.<liy Daphn. Tm: AUoHA."IA ~WY£R

__ Sfnltd as nfly as 1817. By 1838. lhe community hid llrown qUlle pros· perous U a ' flori. Captain Wiltlam Hw.'1rd buill a bayt'ront hotel thit YO' which soon became lhe ante. for social Ille in the community. His wife decided that this beauti ful aru n«ded • name

befittinll ill nalural beiuly. Sinc. tho town was full oIlau.el Irees. she sug· gested tho fIlIme 0( Daphn •. Daphne was the nymph who was transformed inlO a laurel tru by the Grttk lungod. Apollo. Mkr the decli .... 01 Blak.ly. tht logislatuu mow<! tho county Sfit down tho IWlem shore 01 Mobil. &y 10 Daph ..... A courthouH and ;ail wert COf\SInu:ted in 1868. An urly photo shows the buildint to ha~ b«n I two-story brick 51ruc· turf with a pOrtico lopptd by iUl obw· vatlon balcony. Dliphn. be~n lo sludy 1l""'1h as ~ timber llld lumber town as

•.

On F.bruary 5. ]901. the Alabama LtSillitur. pass.d anoth .. bill. Ihis tim. moving tho county seat from Daphne to Bay Minett •. It was felt that Bay Mln.tt. "''IS more centr~lIy 100001t~ to Ih. pOpu lation centert In Baldwin County. IJld Ih. new railrOOlJ thit was built through Bay Mi .... tt. would make thil town mort accflsible. A corner· Jtont __ laid July 4. 1901 for tnt new courthouH amid a great ulebntion in Bay Minttte. Thr informalion marhr II the Batd· win County courthollJl' flOt.S thit r.M. DobJ<>n was tilt contractor lor the new building. and Lockwood &; Smith wert the uchltects. B)' October. tho new courthouse __ compleltd. E~rythlng was ~ady lor the tnnskr 01 the CO\II'Ity stal 10 Bay Mi.... tt. ncept tho county r.cordl. The rtsid.nts of Oaphn. refuHd to gl~ up their courthouH and would not uluse the county recorlb. S.nral sto ries survive concuning how tho records were I11OI'ed to lhe new courthouse. In on. story. i group 0( citl· 'ifni from Bay Minette hid fib.icllted I fictitious c.im. lnd thil clUnd the lIltriff and his deputy 10 I."", lown to punut an imaginary kille • . The recordJ 01 tht CO\II'Ity ...~re then takm. Another 510ry ulilts lhatlh. group from &y Mi.... tt. requelted the sl>t. l/f to lock up cerUin prisoners. They were actually slul workers who weu abl. to dismantle tho bars of tho jail (rom Ih. Inside. Ind then tht)' ciTrled 01,11 the county ucords to walling wagons. Another ~rsion >tot.. th.It tho lIltriff .aw tho d.leption from Bay Mi.... tte. and h. immtdiately left lor Mobile to obtain in injunc ti on t o stop their Iction. H. rflu.ned in tho aft.rnoon wilh i wril just as tho last wliOfll~ with •• cords. furniture and the Great Sui of Bl ldwln County topped I hill Iltlld.d for the new county lUI. A mural on Ih. wall of tho Bay Mln.tt. post oiflCf. painled in 1939 by I Wl'A Irtist. dtpicted the rtl'llOVlll sa ..... Efforts wer. mad. by the citiu", 0( Daph .... to repin thoi. courthouH. and i cue e"en w.nt to the AllOblmli Supreme Court. BUI Bay Minett. won lhe I.gal bailie and tilt counly lut hu .emalned theu ever sinet. July 1991 / 201

ABA comml ••ion glv•• a ••oclatlon mixed rating on advancing women in I.ad.rshlp Wh,le women's membership ,n \he Amencan Bar Associabon and ,ts componef1ts ,s keepmg pace WIth women as a proportoon 01 \he professoon, women cont,r.HI to lag in leaderstup pos'IKJnS Women have made gains In the h'ghest levels 01 leadership 01 the assoclatoo as a whole, though in aSSOClatron·Wlde levels the ga,ns have nol caught up WIth the relative populal ion 01 women among lawyers. When analySis focused on leadership at the level 01 A6A sections and d ivisKJns, membersh ip by women aga in rel lected the ,ncreased number of women lawyers. bul tl!e<e was no measurab le tncrease 01 women In leadership slOts Sections and divisions are sem-aulOOOfTlOUs membership components lorlned around areas of ~al practICe . age or occupatronal sellJllg These assessments _e distributed m MarCh to aSSOCMlIKln leaders by \he ABA Comrniss!on on Womerr in the Pl'oless.on in the cormussron's second Goal IX R6pcTt Card It compares current statIStICS WIth those lor

August t988 Goal IX. adopted by the ABA In 1986, direcl$ the ABA 10 ·promote IvII and equal partICipal>On in the proleSSlOfl by m,norltres and women' and to "develop and encourage initiativf!s thaI WIll ensure lull and equal par" t;c ipatoo lor m,norlhes and women in bar assoclatkltl activities :

LANDTECH86 Real Estate Settlement System

The Oaphne Courthoust tlte< was und u an tdutational ttnltr. Prom 1910 to 1937. Iht Ihphne Normll School opfrlled in the abandoned courtllous.t and)loil buildi.... rot""""" Ihi5 UNict. Iht old courthouse ",loS uotd H a dormitory f:adlity for dtftmt worktn employed in Mobile during World War 11. finally. the 9O"l't'ar-old SlructUrt was rued in 1958. The courthouH at Bay Ninette con.Irut t ed in 1901 Waf built in Ihe Richudson~n Romant5Qut .tylt. It was a tWO"IIO[), brick llruclu rt dominat.d by a 5Nring central dock tower. This buk buil~ina hu HTIIW Hthe Baldwin County Courtllous.t ;n Bay Minette .;net the time of its construction. In 1955. the buildi"" WH substant~11y ..,modI!lfd and ppanded. The roof lint WH lowertd. and Iht outer wall. we .. enLarged to Ionn I modem rectangulu structurt. Martin J, Udr W;\$ the archi" ttel for the 1955 conwr$ion and C.W. Ibllmark &; Sonswt .. contr..ctors. In 1988, another .igniriant ..slora" tion and addition wa![ compltled for the Baldwin County CourthouH. Tht inltr;· or Waf Iub$tanlially alttred and addi" lioru wert made on bolh .idu. Pridge Construction Company_ 1f\C. of Ocnn Spring5. Miuiuifllli was the contr..ctor for thi5 latt51 renovation of the 1901 courthouH. Rtnis O. Jora. Jr. of Pear" son. Humpllria. Jona ,\rthilte\S. Inc. of Montgomery ...as the archilrct. The rmal contJ7Kl pric:e was SI.825.000. •

For Laser or Msltrix PrintD'S Tht outhor thanks Pro/xlt<l: Judg<r H""II D'O/i~. Circuit Judgr< Thomas B. Norton. Jr. (1ffl/ Baldwm Cwntv allornlJl $<Jmu<l:1 N. Cro$bJ/. author of TbJ:. Baldutln CQWII« 8ench and Bar for tfwir O$Sul(1l1C't.

• HUD I Automatic Calculations • Checks & Escrow Accounti ng • Word Processor - Spell Check Policies & Commitments Deeds & Mortgages • Data Base Reporting (SC!L) • On Site Training Available

--_ ..._,,_ "... --.......... -~ _h.

LANDTECH

CORPORATtON

...........

_-f_ . .-. . . _

$1,495.00

.. _0-0

..-...

... --~ .......... "'..- . """"""'" ,- ,e..co.:u.. - . ____ _......... ... ..... u ..""_, .....

(407) 833-0454

""'"

r: .......

202 /)u/), 1991

Tm; A1.AJWo\A LAWYER

HONOR ROLL

&IOLWTl Aprilt6 ""d 140/128. 1991. lhe foilouling allomtllJ II1II<k pledg<>s II) 1M AJu/Icma $IIJ/¥ &tr

Building Fund. Their f>t1I1Ief l&ill ~ incIudtd or! a wall in 1M porlion of /"" ooilding listing 01/ conlribCl· /irJns. Thrir pledges ' " rKImw/. ffigftJ ",iln flnJ1fflJ/ upp.t(i<lfion. {For Q list of IhOSt! making pltdges prior 10 April 16.

please WI' previous iuues of The Nqbqmp 'lW'1ICC.1

Cltnn Allan Parkn

Philip A. Ctddu

John

~kCrHn

J~mu

ThomasM.HilaI

Lawrt nct William Pilltnon

hul Moms Hlrdm WiIli.am C. H.I~ limes Gordon HOOK, Jr.

JKClb ~lvin Pudut. Jr. Tloyior Thornos Ptrry, Jr. Fnoncis PIoyI'It R.ilph

Cto~

Many J. Rob<rIJ

Houston liowlrd. II

Ilarllld 110Wt1l

John Room Hutson

Sidnfjl o..'tRS Roebuck. Jr. Stanlty OagnaJ Rowe

John 1'. Jan«k)o Pilric~ AMur Anckraon

CIyokE~J_

Cordon Criffin Sikes ChiM A. Stak.ly. Jr. Rk hird Edward Waldrop

Thomas E. Kina.id Jos,eph N. Langan

Boll. 11

Crady Oliytr unit •. III

Michael E. Brodowski RUIMIl l. Burdett

Wil1ml W. Livingston

Will~

Wayne 8uJh

Savag.

Lwn Murill Shirlfl/

Ktnneth E. 8eUOI'l, Jr.

Fiuhugh A. Burltt\lm

~y W.bb

Roy MlIrvin Joh~. III

Jerry Ikwin IIaloH Andr~ ,,",'y atl

lIi ram PatUI'lO$. Jr.

Frar.cis Patrick Loftin Don.>.ld Dtwilt Lwk J~A.

Mxoo

Natl~n

C",ydon Watkins. Jr.

8eiU'WI1 April 16 and M1J128, 199J, 1'- fdll)t&ing firms made pIerIgn /0 1M building fund. Their ntnrIft leill abo ". included OFI Q w/l in Iht

John And ..... c.d<.kll, Jr.

Anne LoILlr Maddox

Mark SIq:ilffl Cirter

rmkrick Ibll MlItthews

Randall McAnd ..... Chtshlu John EutU Cochnn. Jr.

rrIDk It. Mrfidden

Hewitt L. Conwill

John Hm;, Morrow

Barrt C. Dumas

James Mark Murphy

Dan Dumont

A/lron Will;"m Ntlson

Rayford L Elhrrlon. Jr.

Craydon L. Nt\Oo'l'l"lin. Jr.

Copeland «Copeland

Ralph A. Fugu$OO, Jr.

JomtS Blair NNnWl

Ey5kr, Kty, Tubb, W.-.r« Roth

CI'flIOI'Y Marcus Fritdl&nder

Marvin Thotnu Ormond

Kfnnelh L. Funderburk

FA.... in C. !'Jat. Jr.

THE Al.I.BAMA lAWYER

W. Morgan, J••

/)u.ilding, listing 1111 r;onl.wu· tors. TMi, pkdges tin! odmoID/. edged u'ilh {/I'flleful appr«ialiotl, (F(N' thou ctJIIlri/wling ""ion April 16. plMSt 5tt previous issflf!J of The d/qbqmq I,,"'m I tJfttI

P~I'$ORS

« Elxrhart

Schmitt 6< lIarptr

July 1991 1203

OPPORTUNITIES The following programs haw beIm 11PP_~d bv the Alabama Mrmdalory Continuing Ufjo/ Education Q,mmission for CtE credit. For information regarding Q/lwr owi/able approoed programs, contact Diam Weldor!, odminislralive (J$$isl(1tl/ (or progrtm15.

0/ (2(5) 269-1515. and" compiete CLE Ctllrndar ",·HI be mailed /0 fI'JU. ,JULY 31 _ AUQUST 3

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13 FRIDAY

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Putne.. hl.,. Wynhy Hotel, Birmingham Cumberland Institute for ClF. (205) 8;1)..2391

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MONTGOMERY, Al","",-Wl I :!IJ5.24O>226I; I MEMBER rotC

July 1991 / 205

Alabama State Bar

1991 AWARD OF MERIT The Board of Commissioners of the Alabama State Bar voted unanimously to name

Joe C. Cassady of Enterprise and

Lewis W. Page, Jr. of Birmingham the recipients of its 1991 Award ofMerit.

The award is given to those individuals who render Outstanding and Constructive Service to the legal profession in Alabama Cassady was recognized for 12 years of service as a bar commissioner from the 12th Judicial Ci rcuit (1979-91), vice-president of the Alabama State Bar (\984-85), chairperson of the Disciplinary Commission (1982-94) and a charter trustee of the Alabama Law Foundation (1987-91). Page was originally appointed a member of the Permanent Code Commission in 1984 and served as vice-chairperson during the term of Wilbur Silbcnnan as chairperson. Page was named chairperson of the commission in 1988 and has served in that capacity ever since. He is recognized fo r his diligence in sheparding the Rules of Professional Conduct that we re adopted January I. Iggl by the Supreme Court of Alabama.

206 1 July 1991

THE AIMIAMA U1.WYER

Alabama State Bar

AWARD OF MERIT RECIPIENTS 1973 Camillt W. Cook

Uni,'!:rsity. Alabama

Prime Osborn. III Jacksonville, Florida (Mcea.s.ed) 1977

Timothy M. Conw~y Birmingham, Alabama (deceased)

hlmS L. North

1974

William B. Hairston . Jr.

H(M~II

T. Heflin

TlLKumbi •. Alabama A. Stewart O'Bannon Flore",," , Alabama

Robert M. Hill. Jr.

Florence, Alabama

Hirmingham. Alabama Birmingham. Alab3m11 Waller Knabe Montgomery, Alaboma (deceased)

Robert p, I>onn iston Mobile. Alaboma 1978

...

L. Tennent 1.«. HI HunUville. Alabama

Harold F. Herring Hunuville. Alabama

... ,...

Robert A. Huffaker Montgomery. Alabama

David Boyd Montgomuy. Alabama Henry T. Hen..1 Birmingham, Alabama

Joseph F. John.ton lIinningham. Alabama

William F. McDonnell Sheffield. Alabama

Conrad M. Fowler

1979

Robert Potts Uni'""rsity. Alabama

M.l.eigh Harrison Uni~rsity. Alabama

Gary C. 11uckab}> Huntsvill e. Alabama

Columbiana, "lab."", M. uigh Harrison University. Alabama

Carl Bear Montgolll<'ry. Alabama

Ronnie G. Flippo Florence , Alabama

M. Roland Nachman. Jr. Montgomery. Alabama

Wm. Michael Hom.• Montgomery. Alabama

1975

"""

J. Mark White Birmingham. Alabama

R<M""na Crocker Teague Birmingham. Alabama

Edward M. Panerson Monlgomtry. Alabama

James S. Ward Birmingham. Alabama

Jo""ph D. Phelps Montgomery, Alabama NOrborne C. Stone, Jr. Bay MiMtte. Alabama 1981

David Ellwanger California

Charles Y. Cameron Texas (deceasedl

Alabama Public Television Network William N. Clark Birmingham. Alabama Robert p, Bradley Monlgomtry, Alabama

1976 J. O. s"ntell

Montgomery, Alabama {d.cea>.edj

1982

...

Roy Cr ...ford Birmingham. Alabama John B. Scott. Jr. Montgomel)·. Alabama Wilbur G. Silberman Birmingham. Alabama Mary Lyn Pike Washington, D. C. (Montgomery & Tuscaloosa. Alabama~

...

Richard S. Manley DerooPOli •. Alabama

Dr. David Mathf\\'s

William D. Scruw, Jr. Fort Payne. Alabama

Crorge P. Howard Wetumpka. Alabama

"83

Albert P. Brewer Birmingham, Alabama

N.L«C~r

Ed,,";n C. Pag<>. Jr. E~rgrun. Alabama

o.nni. N. Bal.ke Montgomery. Alabama

Birmingham. Alabama

THE ALABAMA

~\'lYER

July 1991 / 2(17

Slovak Lawyers Hit Alabama

JANA&JANA By MARTHA HARRIS Since the rail of 1990,

inte rn s in Washington. D.C. 10 undergo a four. week legal and cultural orientation session. Mobil. law firms ha... divid. ed the responsibility of host ing and teaching Jana du ring her slay. She will attond the annual meeting of the Alabama State Bar al Perdido Ihi. month ond will Ii", wilh a Mobile family during he, stay. Only eight lawyers from Russia and Eastern Europe ha,.. been chosen for th i' ABA in tern.hip because host-sponwTS were di (ficull 10 locale, Alabama can be proud of its leadership in providing luch a wonderful opportun ity lnd promoting international goodwill. •

seve ral Alabama lawyer$

have assisted in a lask force to br ing lawye rs from Czechoslova kia to

this state for an intern ship program. Immigration ru t rict ions made obtaining wor k vi.as impossible and se rved only to slow down t he project. Howev"" aft ..

months of negotiation., the first Slovak lawyer, Ja na Janovicova, arr ived in Mooil. in March.

F.ffotU to make her intornship • reality resulted in a second project. which brought another Slovak lawyer 10 Mobile in June.

From March to June. Jalla, a 26 -year~ l d lav.yer from Bratislava, C•• thor slovakia , was in Mobile

F()lIowing is

observing American legal practice. She is. graduate of Comen; ... Univ... ity School of Law in Bratislava. and hopes to concentrate her practice in the field of ch ild advocacy and criminal I.w. Jana visited in Canada wh~n her father was selVing as a diplomat there. Her sister. Eva. is a lawyer in Bratisla,~. and Jana returned to practice with her. H~r trip to America came about afler she participated in English conve rsation classes with American teachers in the Education for DemocraC)l program. Her daily routine included depositions. trials and resea rch. and many. many hOUr> with . Slovak-E ngtish dictionary! Weekends at the gulf Or on the bay rated hi ghest in he r leisure time ... rilul H .... . _

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

...... Edueo·

o.moo:..ao:v "'000' ' ' """""" "'-" 91_, CbtcI ..... _;0 ......... "" Boo1 H

>0<1 rot

-""

-, ....""" ~ Boo1 H. ~--~"'-Homo.II, ..,., - . "' .... 2()8 IJu~

199 1

prefe ren""., but she alw hoped to take in wme mov ies and a "... kend at the New Orleans Jazz feslival. Seafood (a!l» kind) and ice cream (all navors) were irresistible, and she pul~ from her fi ..t case of sunburn. For the month of May> Jana was host, ed by the Birmingham Bar Mwciation and the Maynard, Cooper firm. Tim Smith of the Birmingham firm of Thompson & Griffis was in charge ofthis part of her tri p. Pbns included one weekend with the Birmingham Young La~rsat Destin. In June , Ihe - second" Jana urived. She, too, is a lawyer from Bratislava. unckr the sponwrship of the Mobile Bar AMociation, th rough the Amer ican Bar AMociation - Eastern European Lawye • Internship Program. Her name is Jana Javorc ikova and she will intern in Mobile until December 1. In May. she arrived with the other

partial

agenda of Jtm<1 Ja"Qrri/rQrn:S acti" ities during Iuir SIIlIJ in Alabama. (rourlesg of the Mobile Bar Associalian)

WEEK 0 .': J une 3

Johnstone,Adams. Bailey. Gordon & Harris J une 24 Sirote , Permutt July 1 Cily of ~tobil e July 8 County of Mobilt July 22 Alabama Stat~ Bar Annual Meeting Drange&ach July 29 Criminall.lw Firms August 5- 19 f ederal Court Sepl.2 3 District Attorneyl Probate Court Supreme Court Od .7 Oct. 14 Uni ..... ity of Alabama School of I.ow Oct. 28 Birmingham Bar Association Lyons. Pipes & Cook Nov. 18 THE ALASAMA LAWYER

YOUNG LAWYERS' SECTION By PERCY BADHAM

Alabama young lawyers are on the move! This article is dedicated to the local young lawyer organizations throughout Alabama that are making a difference in their communities. It is tw-d 10 MIiM: thai this bar )'U' his come to '" close. II urtainty his been ilIl honor and '" privi~ to KM II prni· d~nt of th~ AI~b.ma Slate Bar Youn~ LaW)'t.f Section. I think WI: have had a

eus ind mtmbus of the

gful

and made it pO$5ible for us 10 do what ....,<led to boo dont this year.

and ha~ taken some Importint strides lor the YLS. I thank the oIfi~ar

£~uuli,·t

Commitltt for ,III t!>tir hard work and <lWic;ltion this )'tIT. In addition. I than.

tht families. law fi rms and emplO}'tT5 who have offered support for the YLS

The {oI/ou:il1g are the officers (md members of the E:r:eo).live CQmmillee and their employers JAMES H. ANDERSON

{",mediate past presid..~'1 Bee.s, Anderson. Jackwn & Smith K£ITll B. NORMAN" Pmide,,/-e/ecl

AlabalTlll Slate Bar S[[)SE\' W. JACKSOS. III $«rrIO'll

Jackson '" Taylor U:S HAYES. III

Treasurer Melton. ElpjI. Will iami '" 1I~)'u

CliARLES L. ANDERSON Pamen, Crum 6< Anderson. !'.A. ROBERT R. BAUCH Sirole. l'fcnnuu

REBECCA SHOWS BRYA!" Kin<lt r·Care !.taming Centers. Inc. I,AURA L. CRUM 11111. Hill. Carter. franco. Cole", Black l). TAYLOR FLOWERS ~'is. 8rackin &; ~'OIO'trs fRED O. GRAY. JR. Gny. t..ngford. Sapp &; M.:Cowan

CEORGE WARREN LAIRI), III St."htru; '" Laird FRANK II. POTTS Potu", Young

8dow ~re a few of Ihe iKcomplish. menU lind speCific individ uals who mIIlt them possible:

or firms:

BARRY A. RAGSDALE Sirote. Pennull ROBERT J. RUSSELL. JR. Sole practitioner JAMES T. SASSER Simmoru;. Bruruon &; McCain STEPHEN W. SHAW Reddin. Mill. '" Cbrk AMY A. SL.oWOEN Sole praclltioner JAY S~II TH

Cooper. ~1ilch. Crawford. Kuykendall '" Whatley ALfREO F. S~IITtl. JR. ~Ia~nard. Cooptr. Frierwn '" Gale. P.C. "'LLIA.'1 O. WALTO!'. III Walker. 11,11. AdaIfl5. Umbach I< ~leadOlO'S HAl. W~:ST

Cabani... 10hnlton. CarJner. Dumas I< O'Nnl OU"'''E A. WII.SON Tanner I< Guin. P.C. ER.'1EST F. WOO050:-1 Turner. Ootlerdonk I< KimJ:>rough ALYCE SPRUEI.L UniVl'rsity of Alabama Law

School Development

Youth .Judicial Protram Cha rlie And ...on did another out· standing job orQanizing an d run ning our Youth Judicial f'rogrllm Ihis ~ar. This program, which we co· SpOnsor with tht YMCA. con.ills of Ioal high school studtnts ~"Kipatilllil in I mock trial progllm culminating in a '!lIlt'l.dde competition in Montgomery. We had some new schools involved this yur. ~nd the exciting final rounds wert a tremendous .uee.....

hndestln s.mina. Ih,1 Wtlt and Frank Woodson truly outdid t~t- this year! The ~mi. nu lit th( bellch was OM 0( th( ben ever. From the spuken to tht goll tOUrT\llmtnt 10 ih( soci.J e''tnts. tytry. thing wu perfect. I also thank the fol· lowing sponsors who made our seminar possible: • Be.ulty. Wib.on. Allen. M. ndeboohn I< Jemison. P.C .• who SpOnsored re· Irtshments during ~turdiY morning

""'"

• First American Title Insurantt COmJ)llny. who spOnsore d the Friday IIftemoon beach party, • Pittman. Hooks. Marsh. J)utton & Ilolli s. P.C .. who spOlUOred lhe Saturday nigllt cocktail ~rty and band ~rty, • .'06hu & Turner. who sponsored thoe ~lUrday afternoon bellch party it the Elephant Walk: • Cunninghllm. Bound •. Van ct. Crowder I< 8",..1\. who sponsored the friday nisht cock!llil ~,ty, and • Title Insurance (Alm~ny and first Alabama Rank. who sponsored lhe golf tournament. Ju ly 19911209

Inyolyement In the Young uw,ers' D(yision 01 the Amerio;a.n Bar ASSOCiation The Alabama YI.S has been vtry invol .... d in the YLD of the ABA We ha .... a numb .. of members on various ABA YLD committees and have attended_· eral of their meetini!$. W. _,.., forturJatf to hav. thei r pr.. id t nt-tlect. Pam Robnh. accept our invitation to the Sandestin seminar. She addressed the attend«s and met with the YLS Execu hve Commi!tee. Wtl10pe to continue our involO'tment "ith the ABA YLD.

Spring admissions ceremon, Many thankl u. ;n order for Alyce Spruell who planned her first admissions ceremony this spring. The ceremony _nt smoothly. and the luncheon was superb . We welcome our nev.·est young lawyers into the practice. Statewide meeting

of local affiliates N. I ....".,rted in the last issue. we held. for the first time this year. a statewide meeting of lhe state officers and Executiv. Committee and the officers of each of the local affiliates throughout the state. Thi. mee ting provided an .. cellent forum for ex,hanging ideas and discussing young la"~r needs. It i, hoped this rooperation and communication will continue and be beneficial to all.

"..ItIw prog..ms Thanks to All'Ce Spruell."~ sent a lot· ter to.1I of the grad..ating law studenu at the various law schools welcoming them to the practice of law .nd the YLS.

W. aloo implemented a new program which will start next f.1l involving a pant l of young la~rs to speak at the various law schools to discuss the practi· cal aspec\.s .nd demands of the practice of law. It is hoped this traveling road show will belter educate law .tudents about what to ..:pect when the» graduate and begin their practice of law. All in all, it has bu n a fun and exci t ing year. I app reciate the opportunity to ..rve as presi dent and all the suppo rt 1 have received. Ltt', keep up the good work! •

LAWYERS IN THE FAMILY

,.- (I

, : \

..,";.\

..;,

Clenn Pork... (/9111) and ~ AI"'" PrITk... (1n1)admi/letand

.... "'" Scoil !roebuck (/911/) and Sidney/). Roebudc. Jr. (1986) admillet tmd bTOJMT

11'011... ",II"" (19111) and Jimmy S. "'lion 1/968} Gdmill« and broth ...

John MkhlNl lorN

Ala F. LanJdimJ (19111) ""d Ala F. Umkford. 11/

~II

CMt1Il, Dtllml MOllell (J99l) tmd 11Ion/iJJ

and H. L=is Gillu (1976)

(1952)

&Ihun< Nix, .Jr. (1!J5{))

D<mkl MoII"!l (1981)

admlll... and u~k

Gdmitl« tmd rolhl!r

admill« tmd WIde

ChristcpheT C. Speob (}99IA F'nmci> W. Speob (1950) and Frands W. S;walcs. Jr. (}985) Gdmil· lee. broi/wT and folMT

Virginia B. Loddoarl (1991) and l)ar",y C. IAdlwrl (1976)

odmillet and hwband

210 IJuly 199!

TT<linham 8Toi:k

II 911 /) tmd l<»eph

f/991i tmd Debbie

Un<iJeJI lored (1983) Gdmillet and wife

•.,..

Anita UN Ke//JI (19111)

odmillet and hwband

THE ALABAMA LAWYER

ALABAMA STATE BAR

SPRING · 1991 · ADMITTEES AIUlOnd(r N..... """ Agi1ig.J.

Dolfum, AJaba"",

SlI.nlqo Cartu Allen AnrlisJ"", A/aOOmo 1>IichKI Kirk AIsIon ChD//<1TIOtJ9fI. Ttlu_ Keith Ausbom Mort/gomer"

Alabama

Ibnnahil!dt, Singh IIagg.1

Birmingham. Alabama PhiliPPI' McClellan Bainbridge Ntw t'orkCiIIl, New 1Q;k JOHPh Alan Bannister MluJ l'ork Cilll. Nf!IIJ Yori HiIly.ud k/JUSO'ln Hems, III

V"1(ki Ann Bell

lIuII/wilk. A/ab<ImQ Willi,m G~goty Bi(\dl. /(1IOX<'ille. Tennessee Jamt5 Jffferson Bradford M(Jt,lvomerv. AJabaroo Michele Graham Br.Wford

""""" -...

Phyllis ~ry B=tlty

MMtgome:r-v•..tIa6omIa Williim Leon Brantley &11 Minelle. Alabama Jeffny Trainham Brock MrRI/vomefJI. Alabama Bowdy Jerome Broo." /IfoolflOlM'¥. Alabama Samuel Mark BUTT lJinningham. AJaboma Rid<ey Donyi Byrd Birmingham. Alabama Alis:io Jan Clol~1I Tallassee. Alabamo Walter Urill Calton t,'ufuula. Alabamu J. Suzanne Wallon Carlson Birmingham. Alabama ~IJ McAndnw ChQIlift "·arthpqn. Alabama Caroline Looiw CIvIt D«rJlur.~

Cynthii Will;"ms Clinton MMlgomery. Alabamo

THE Al.IJlAMA LAWYER

Jane Addaline Cobb Chattanooga. Trm~ James Wlnfll'kI'&Otl Couoch NasIt~·ilk. T~

DoNld M.l.uric:. Jacluoo C«!MNJa, Alal>ami1 Mid'lMl w~ Jacluoo Marion, Alabama

hmts John Oailey Mobik. Alabama She,,;. Woockoo;k Or..use Mobile, Alofxtma

John M~I J.md. Sr. £Iixl, Alabama Frank St~1e Jooes TallahassH. F1orido Anita Lei: Ktlly TrotI. AJa/>ama

Anndte ~;li13bdh DooltY

Ttrr)' Clen Kf)'

Birmingham. Alabama Virginia Lyn OurNm Birmingham. A/QbamQ l.incb. "'brat Fitld

Dothan, Ala/Ioma Leigh Ann King Birmirlgham. Alabama JQsfph DMd lMM:

IndlilQ. IiI1rua$ Sbnlq' Edward Fitld II'/dIil", KmUll$

A1tondtr Fill"",," Lankford., IV MoNk, AlabamJ:

[)a"id

~on

Cutchtn

Birmingham. Alabama

Mark Bnxe !'bike Hun/SIIillt. Alabama Randal SimP6Ol1 Ford T'waII_. AkdJa_ JWltI Paul Frry. Jr. 1'£<I<ri:r. AJabqmo em Mdtnyur ClII.JC1:1u Atlant", Cro;gia 11>tocIo« Al«k Guw Fain.eld. Aklbamo

Bernard t:douard Harcourt MrRI/gornety. Alabama David Jerome Harrison Monifl(JlMfJ. Alabama .leffny Joseph Hart ley Kashingion. D.C Lanw TrMi Il.!I.icins lJim!ing1tam. Alabama Suw> Scott Ibya

Birmingham. Alabama ThomasChriSlian Hemn, Jr. Il<Jmeuoood. Alabamo John Byron flollis PhmU C.~II. AJobomo William Chipman Honty MMlfIOITW'r, Alabama DarTy! Wayne lIunt Birmirlghom. Alabama Li.a Ma.ri.lluli3ntlli V<'3'lm,,;', Alabama

-..-

Th«ldore A1fml Law50'1, II flinninghom, Alabama

Virginia Barbara Lockhart Birmingham. Alohama

'fhomIs ChrUt~r ~ hdcstJn. MiWssippi !mlttt Lucy Mobik. AJoIJam<J John Elgin McCulley Mon/WIllla. Alabama ~r'IIld Alltn McGill PrnsoooIa. !'lorida Julii Sims Mcintyre Birmm,ham. Alabama San K.ithtrine McKtrWt 8irmil1qham. AJaboma Jdf~ Ra McLwghlin Birmillgham, AJaboma Ma.rpret Mo<Tow Mcleod MOOIle.Alabamo Kenl ~r McPhail MOOIle, Alabama Cameron Anthony Metcalf Dothan. Alaboma Suwme Hughes Milt.

~r\e$ G;.ry Mom.r.oo. Jr.

lJnion. MWilsippi

Chttyle Dtl&ne MOllO)' Dothan. Alabama

July 1991 / 211

ALABAl\1A STATE BAR

SPRING · 1991 . ADMITTEES Lisa Ann Narn-II New Orl~ Louisiana Charlotta Norby At/1m/a, GroTgia John Lawrtr.ct Olszewski TIL>Ctl/oosa. Alabama GlennAiIan Parker Mool{JOtlK!TII. Alabama

Thomas Brown Paulk. Jr. l'fonl!JOl'll"T'J. Alabama Christopher Matthew Petras Montgomery. AiIl/)Qm1J

Ro;«rt Waynt Ruth

HuntSl)illl', Alabama Dennis Richard Sandlin MonlfJOl"'l'!l, Alabama Kyle Da\id Sawyer Montgomery, A/aoomo

Jean McElvaiM Seay t,'qwlily. A/abomo

David Lewi5 Selby, II Birmingham Alabama Sybil Denise Sharpley

Bruce Andrew Pickens. Jr. New YorkCilg, New York

""/ham, Alabama M i~1 Mo;m1s Shipper Binninghum. Alabama

T1Iomas Eric Ponder Montgomery, Alabama Da'lid Gerald p",ton Annislon. Alabama Katherine Anne Quinby Birmingham, M1bama David Lee Raw" Birmingham. Alabama lauronce Byron Reid Birminghum. Alabama Thu~ton Howard Reynolds. II Monl!JOm<1rV. Alabama Robert Ernest Rigrish Allanta. Georgia Aaron Scott Roebuck &sser/w', Alabama Patricia Hart Ragen Selma. Alabama John McKain Rolfe. Jr. Birmingham, Alabama David William Rooks Birmingham. Alabama Pauline Thornpron Ruggle. Birmingham. Alabama

P(11)l Glenn Shuttlesworth, Jr. Birmingham. Alabama Roland Lew;s Sledge Valley,Alabama Donna Sue Smith Columbw, Mississippi Christopher Gowan Speaks almton, Alobama 1'hom:>s Ezra Sport MonlflOmerv. Alabama William Hylton Starnes HuT1lS<-'ill~, Alabama Ronald Chester Sykstus Moodg, Alabama Jame, Marcus T.lylor Tu.!<:aloosa. Alabama John Fa~t Taylor Midland City. Alabama Gerald Alan Templeton Birmingham. Alabama Lynnae Francine 1'handiwt Atlanta. Georgia Elizabeth COOb 1'hom:>s Lax/~V. Alabama

fl, Marie Holl Thornton ilfmlwil/e, Alabama Chalice Tucker Tra";5 Birmingham. Alotxmw Albert Johnson Trousdale, II Hun/wille, Alabama Sharellynn Vansandt Challanooga, r~

Vangel;ne [one Volpe] G~A1abamQ

William Clayton Wallace CuI/Shores. Alabama RoIxrtCharl .. Ward, Jr. Montgomery. Alabama Kenneth Alan Watson Mobile, Alabama J.{f~ 'foylo. Webb

Jadrson. Mi5sissippi Gay Morris Weber Kenilworth. Illinois Milton James We,try Mooile. Alabama Marvin Wayne ""oggins MootflOmerv. Alabama Dwight Hug/1t1t Williams. Jr. Monlgomerv. Alabama Julie Melissa Wilson Montgomery. Alabama Sidnt'j' Harper Wright. III DothlJ1l. Alabama Alex Andrew Yarbrough Birmingham. Alabama Habib Ollah Yazdtchi MlJ1ltgomery, Alabama

Statistics of Interest - February 1991 Bar Exam Number lilting fOT tum ................................................ 79 Number artifted to lupreme court ............................... 104 Certlflcation ...1.................................................... 58 percent

2 12 f Julyl991

Certificat ion ptrttntlges: • University of Alabama .... _.................................... 73 pe rcent • Cumberland School of law ................................ 63 percent • Birmingham School of Law ............................... 18 percent • lont> Law Institute ............................................ 58 percent • Miles College of Law ...........................................1). percent THE ALABAMA ~WYER

LEGAL ASSISTANTS: A Growing Role in the Practice of Law in Alabama By KA THLEEN A RASMUSSEN

As the practice of law approaches

the 21st century, lawyers are faced with complex legal issues not only in court but in their own

law offices. Increased case/oads, technical office innovations ranging from computerized litigation

support packages to WESTLA W and LEXIS-legal research tools, and needs of clients for quality legal services at competitive prices all combine /0 pressure lawyers into operating more effec-

tive, efficient and profitable law practices. To help accomplish these goals, lawyers are increasing the use of legal assistants to perform not only routine case assignments but also specialized tasks. 2 14 / July 1991

I II

n ~cknowl edg;ng the importanc~ OJ! a 1.g,,1 a5';s, tant'o rol •. the Amorican Bar As>.ociation has pr~

duced l formal definition for this profession: "A legal assistant is • person ... who is employed by a law office ... in a cap;!city or function which in'-'Olves the performance. undn th~ ultimate direction and superv ision of an attorney. of specifically delegatN substantivt legal work. which work, (or the mOlt p;!rt. require. a sufficient knowledge of legal concept:; that. absent such aM;,tance, the attorney would perform the task:' Ltgal assisant. have also been defined as "a di.tingui.hable group of persoru who assist attorney> in the delivery of legal services. Through formal education. training and experience. legal assistants have knowledge and .. perlis. regarding the legal system and substantive and procedural I"", which qualify them to cIo work of a legal natu"' under the .upeNi5ion of an attorney,'" Ltgal assistants initiate and complete a variety of ass ignment •. In many litigation firm. in both civil and criminal cases. legal assi.tants are utilized extensively. They conduct the initial dient interviews. gather nere5sa1)' evidentiary docu· ~n15 (police reports. medical records. birth and death certifi · cates. income tax and bank ltate"",nts, etc.) to build the case file. stamp and index these documents. interview witnesses. and photograph and videotape scenes. They also attend deposi · tions and summarize transc ripts. attend court sessions to aM;,;t with evidence and w;tn ....,. and to tab notes. prep;!re exhibits and trial notebooks. research statutOI)' and case law. draft pleadings, motions and orders, and relay questions and answ<:TS betwe.-n the attorney and the clitn15. In f,nns which do not primarily engage in litigation, legal assistants are utilized to draft wills. trusts and othe r estate planning and administration documents. track estate matters th rough probate. draft contracts and illlreements, conduct title searche•. gather abstracts of title and otllt • ..,al estate docu ments for closings. research and shep;!rdi.e statutOI)' and case law. and write legal memoranda. Some corporate legal dep;!rt· ments employ legal a.sistants to perform .pedali~ed work solely for tilt Te5p«tive corporation'. bl.l$inus interests. A few I~gal assi.tants perform law librarian-type duties in addition to their legal assistant work. such as updating pocket parU and Ic>oseleaf service updates. previewing, ordering and cataloging books. establishing and maintaining a working rela· tionship with publishers. and maintaining informat ion THE A~BAMA ~WYER

rrtritv.ll $)'$lfms for the lzw finn's coIlrction of publiQlions. brltfs and prMousIy campkt..d ruardl projtds. A1tomt)'$ an ..u.wiu the btntfiu tNt ~ ~ finn will ~ whtn !tgal wimnu an: properly utilized. Ltgal w.isl.ints an n:lie\.'! Itlomt)'$ of 1YI1lI1y dutiu that only ~Uomt)'$ would oth . ~rwi$l ptrform. The n:sults of this an: tNilUOrneyo ha .... mon: free time ill they become the SUptMiOr owr mundane work ptrformed by the legal assislllnt. This ~itional frtt time will allow 11l0mt)'$ the opportunity to brGiCltn their cliont biISt. dr.ote mon: effort toward profts.. siorv.l ~lopmtnt. iI1d ~ the firm's bU5IDm affllirs in lOOn: drllli!. As for supeovismg the legal asWtlInl's work. the lItlornty'l dtltgation of CIK usignmrnlJ to the ItgalIOUistlInt ."''lI)'I Ihould lllow lho attomty latitude to mooitor routine WI pnXftdin,es ill nruI..d whi!t he or she l<IOfb on the rnon: tedlnlcal and compliated issuu ill'o'Olved in I particulu WI. Some lIttorneyo and clitnlJ might f«l tllal work ""rformed by 1I legal il$SislMlt ~ndm work of I leswr quality. The work per· formed by competent legal wislMlts can n:nder quali\)' ruullJ to the clitnt. Work should 1I1w<\ys bt JUperviSotd by on att"""Y. with the momey ultim.l.tely n:spon$ible for the enti .. work product regardless d who perfOl'lTd the wks iINoIVI'd in I WI. ClionlJ an btndit furthrr by Piying lowe_ legal (ttl. The houn worI<ed by ItgaI ~ ~kI bill 001 at I ~ Rle thln lrllttomt)'. Ahi). difnts can obUin information from the Itgalassimnl .....twn the auQrTlfy is not lViilab!t. The ItgaJ wis, IMlt can Rlay qutStions iI1d lrlsweTS bttw«n the attorney and clients. whid\ SllveS time and allows the attorney freedom from bting ti..d to the telephone when othor matters dewM atten · tion. In Alwnu. quality .....atIc mulu Ire further assured by the Cxt that the work d I legal usisbnt is incll.ld..d under the aoveming \lJri)ftlla d the A\abpN SUlt 8M. RuIeJ d I'foIa.5ional Cooduc:t. The ethial guidelines on conrocltntwi\)'. conIlicts d internt Vld the unautiloriud practice or IlIw lIWly to legal w iSWIts vii Rule .U. The om! for clarity in tmpk>,mrnt po$i. tions 111 printed on business Qrds apply via Rule 7.6. TheK ensure tllat the legal assistant's conduct and work product ~u comPitibl~ with th~ attomty's professional obligations to the ,litnt. and ultimately btrome the ItlOmt)"S work product

Educ:.tion Education ftlndards for legal IUistlnts ""!'R draft..d by the Association d I.qpJ AssiWnlJ. lno;. in 1984. NAl.' is, national ~iution for \egll wilUnts which ,",'lIS originally inoorporated in ]975 to gi\lt prolusioNl recognition to the use of lrp) lISSislants in the delivery of )'Il101 KMces, and to promot( tilt profwional develO\lmtnt and continuing I.gal educa· tion for Irgal assistants thTOUl/hout tilt United States.' The education .tandards ~ted by NALA uOtet the mini· mum tducation.il qUilirocations and !lIw-related work history nredtd to prepan: II peoon Ifficillil ell'lQloymtnt :as 11 ItgaIIISSiJ. ~ionaI

lint. Thty " " I, II~Uition from VI ARA""",r(IYfd PfOllnm of lludy for legal assisUnts; 2. g~uation from II course or study for legal wislMllJ which is institutionally accredited but not ABA.approwd, and which uquin:$ nol than the ~ui .... ltnt of 6(} Krrtester hours of classroom study,

t.,..

THE ALA6AMA U,WYER

3. gradUition from II COUTK 01 study for ieg.JlllssistanlJ. other than those previously set for1h. plU5 not Ius than six months d in·howe tnining as • legal usistanl; . , /I bacalaurute dtgr« in VI)I Held, plus not lw t!wl

months in·housl tRining as a It~l wi$W\l; 5. a minimum of thm yors d la,...ulat..d ."peritTl« under the sU""Msion of In attorney, including at leul six months of in ·house training:as, logal wistanl; 6. two years or in·house tnining U IltgaJ assistant; or 7. successful completion or the Certified Legal Assistllnt uamination d NAlA' As 011990. lit Ieut 16 col~ in AllIb.IIma proridt lfill usis· tant training pn.lI[r.IrTIl. Thut .... ry in the IYJlC' 01 tRining they pn:Mde to students, but tach mUSI meet genrral ~rds d admission. curriculum and fxilities in ordrr to m.l.inlllin lhe iICldtmk ilCCrl:dillltion requin:ments that the IICcftdiling body btslows.' Two dlhe prOgrams in Alabamuu lICcftditod by tilt ABA. ThO}' art 10cated at Auburn Unive~i ty at Montgormry and ~mford University. Th~ tillu of COOfMS offerod in a 10galllSSislllnt education PJOirVII an: much the lime as those COUntS in II Law $Chool student studies. Sevmol LIlt the lime textbooks. iI1d mlrll' d the progrJrnS' ....junc\ fK\l11y 1ft pndicing lItlom!ys. More and mon:. Itpl usislMllJ either I!'lIdUite from II for· mal colltll< program or eompltlr a ~rtific.at, program in /I for. mal.dlJClltion selling. On« hired, legal w;,;lMltt gtr\tRIIy In: l!'3intd further by tilt rmployinQ allomey on tilt duties to bt usigned and how SUptMiOry deta ils will bt handled. In tile altunati ..... a law firm empl~e can n:ce;\It "legal usistant" Iype Inining from an employing attorney Ind then gllin employment status IS I lellli usistllnt wh~n luch ;n·lIoUSl t!'3ining is eomplete. without Ittending a fonnaliud PfOiJlm.

Employment . 1td u l8"". Some law firms follow I procedun: whereby their legal assis!lints an: wigned to work for I group d IIUomrys on ""hatfYtr castS the attorneys aa:rpl. Other liIW offices tmploy legal wistants in mictly specialized areas or l~w. such as in n:al ntate. corporate or ntate planning pooias. Sol~ pooitiootTS often use lrlIal wistanb 10 ptr/onn II .... ritty d liISb invo/Ytd in the operation d ~ one·attomty Law offw:e. IUCh as not only !tgal assistant duties but gtntral offICe duties and "gc..for" work. Kyle Boorn:ntine • • Itpl lISS;,;llInt empJoyrd for siJ: )'Ifars III the Binninglwn llnn d Cabaniss, Johnston, Gardner, 0IrrniIS Q O'Nul, nWoly performs Usb for the finn's Knior Pir\ner and four additional allomrys. III or whom specialize in IlIbor I~w. Barrentine's work cen t ers on federal cases con· ceminl! civil righU lind Title VII. ~ge dilcriminllt ion. "'-...~. union lIrbitritions and """IIt·ar\d·hour disputes. liil duties c.oruist mainly d obta;nil\ll . ~.... _0" f,l .. from tht vari· <' ( _ ... Oui federal agen · Co'mounorI' N!>in, "

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STARTING SALARIES

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des. summarizing documents into statistical charh and e~ hibits. and drarting docum~nll concerning the remo.... 1 of c.uu to federal court. At trial. Barrentine tr.cKs witnnsu' statements Ind testimony throughout the duration of a c.lSi:. and he maintains the exhibill and note, on expert witnesses. Occasionally. he shepard ius. checks cites and performs legal research lor c.lSi: briefs. Barrentine admits that he probably has mOre contact with the clients than do S()m. of his supervising attorneys. but he alS() must be careful that clients and O(lposing counset do not mistake him for an attorney. a common e"or with new elienll. Although Birmingham has more r.adily accepted the concept of the I.gal as.s i,tant ... a productive member of the leg.:ol team than ha,.. other locale. in Alabama. Barrentine en ... isions the legal assistant profession in general as an area for trem'mdous fulure growth. But he beli ....s that many legal "",istants are not currently utilized to their maximum potential. He obserws. "Legal assistants need to be utiH~ed more effectiwly. They should be .ll""",d to do mou than what is in''<>'''td in the traditional role of a legal support suff member. I perform whue-.'tr work is necessar}' to free up the time of the lawyers to do what they are trained for, to do what they au paid for and to do what they want to do: practice law. I mustalS() develOp and maintain a good relationsh ip with the clients, treating them as I would want to be treated by performing in the Il)OJ;t dlicient and tea. nomical manner: Renee Chisholm. a legal assist.nt with Johnston~. Adams. Bailey, Cordon & Harris in Mobile. has l>Hn a legal assistant for ten ~ars and is one of seven legal assistants employed by that firm. She works mainly on castS invol ... ing insurance and prod· ucts liability from the defen~ standpoint. Her dutiu include drarting alityptS of litigation documents, conducting investigative interviews and photographing ",ene •. She .ummarizes deposition and medical record •. At trial . she maintains the exhibits . trial note. and documents and keepS tr.ck of the wil· nes.seS so that they appear at the proper court at the proper time. She also teaches "hands·on" legal as.si5tant COIl"'S at th~ University of Sooth Alabama. Chi5holm poinll out that ""hil~ emJlIO)'ing legal assistants to penorm ("-5e "-!oSignments at a lower hourly rate keeps down the (ost of rendering ltg~l services to the client, attorneys must pay

216 1July 1991

attention to the fact that the pOIentialto g,crw I:>oth fiRaodally and professionally adds a lot to a legal assis!.>n!'. long-term commitment to the firm and the legal profession. Lea Ann Marru. a legal "-!oSistant with the Montgomery firm of Beers. Anderson. Jackson & Smith. conducted a statewide employm~nt and salary surv")' in 1990. Her survey resutts exhibit.d that in four of Alabama's largest cities (Huntsville, Birmingham. Montgomery and Mooile). the starting $lIbn.s for legal assistants ranged from as low ... $8.400 in Huntsville to a high of $25.000 in Birmingham. Experienced legal assistants polled au currently earning salaries as low as $12.500 in Mooil. and as high as MO,OOO in Birmingham. The a"erag. ",Jarie. currently paid to tho.\.e surveyed are $3Ll25 in Binningilam. $24.633 in Huntsville. $13.342 in Montgomery and 516.225 in Mobile.' Surveys indicated that the legal ;wistant profession has an extremely high turnover rat•. The average tenure of a legal "-!oSis!ant at a Jaw finn is three year!.. Many legal assistants com · plain about low pay coupled with th.lack of proper utilization from their supervising attorneys. boring and unchallenging

CURRENT SALARIES

work and the lack of a developing career path in this profession. Such complaints often rtsult in the legal assistant's aclually leaving the legal field for another line of work. And .... of last yur, very few legal assistants emplo)·ed in large law firms plann.d to remain in their positions as a long·term occupational objective. This can be attributed to job burnout.' Prof ••• iomll • •• oc:i. tlon. Professional legal ;wistant associations have formed in the past several ~ars on the national. state and local levels. These indude the National A>sociation of Legal Assistants. Inc ....... hich has 67 state and local affiliatts nation..... ide: Professional ...,gal Assistants. Inc.: the Alabama A>sociation of ...,gal Assi.tants: the ""gal Assistant Society of Southern Institute (in Birmingham): the Montgomery County Bar A>sociation's Legal Assistant $«. tion: and the Mobil. Association of Legal Assistants. There is .,.'tn a NatioRaI Federation of Par.legal Associations in Deerfield. Illinois. which acts as an umbrella organizations for other legal assistanl organizations. The American Bar Association and the American Trial Lawyers Association also have membership categorin for legal assistanll.

THE AlABAMA LAWYER

QI'O\OITl to ilj)pTOlirm.tely 7.5 members. Their Pu1'JlOM' in joining

PARALEGAL BILLING RATES

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m:I to r:sIiblish good ftllowship botlWml the loUOCiltion's mtmbm and the Mobile lega.! COIT\IIllInity. Tho: mrmbm mtd on a monthly twit to htu promintnt $llUkers addrus legal rm.Uen and rommunity issut:l. Says Bradley. ~rs should give !>irllegals progreSlivt ruponsibili t itl lnd encourage ~Iopmmt of initi;.t;"" and new akills." (!tid,

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network 01 coIluguu from ...i1ich 10 pin knowlrlC lIld insi",t into the spKi;.lty lrall 01, law pndia. /obny Itg.l _isuntJ 11K loUOCi;.tion membtnhip ... ID opportunity 10 pin continuing kll/ll tducation wlSSOCiltio.HpOOSOrtd Kmi ... rs. worktho!>s. publiQtions and videotapes. Al the sllte Itwl. the Alabama Association of Legal Assistant.! w<lS esllblbhed in 1982. t.ynn Reynolds. MIA', currtnt prui. dent lind ~ lellJ1 wiJtant with Sirole & Pmnutt in Binning· h.o.m. "timates th.o.t lhe statrwide membership is pruently 215 .... mbotrs and rapidly growing. Reynolds urmr5COl'tI OTl/oIoni:u.. lioNl rnembtnhip bra.-... she "Y'."A nrtworlting $}'Stem iii ~~lly ill'lp)1'Unt 10 I practicing 1eg,J1 wlsunl" MU. proWIts that lor its membtB. Education in the form of quartufy Kmimrs held on II wide v.l.riety of topics is mother botntfil Bul, slit add$. "In onSer to maintain I ....... 01 pnjusionalism, theft should bot I system 01 artirlClOtion or licmsillll for ltail wiswltJ on I ... tioNl iItlIle. The proI'wion iii growina to fast, and this would bot I WAY lor aUDmO')'S to ""rify if I lellli wistant is in fact a (proptrly trained) 1~I .... istanl· In Montgomuy. the Montgomtry County Dar AsI.ocilltion utablishtd its legal assistant Ketion in the fall of 1987. This section currently has approximately 50 membe rs, and hu wateh«l its membotrship double in tho four )'tars of itl uiltt~. Vicki Clwroth, the SKIion's first president and II legal _iSll,nl with Ihe Alabama State Dar, slitn. "The Ketion'l origi ...1 pu1'JlOM' _ to tstablUh communications bttwftn the Itglol WiStlntJ lind the lIUOmtyS 10 SprUli IWolrtntSl 01 the 1tj.lllSIiitInt'1 function, Now it is not only I mec!wlilm to inform 1I10Tnr)1 oi ......1 ..., em and cmnol do. but it abo promotH lOCial inttraction bd'wffi1 ~rs oi the MontlIOIntry Itglol proItaiion: The SKIion works 011 continuina Iopl tdl,Q· tion Pf'OirJm$ for its membotn and on community projectJ, indudinll the annual Mon~OfntT}' County Dar Assoclation'l law Day and Uw AWllRnus ~;"itits and hoIidiy projects. In M<l!lilt, MaT}' IItth Bt1Idl~. i legal wislint It Armbrtcht, Jackson, Oe Mouy, Crowe, Ilolmes & R.evu. i, the cu rren! p~sident of the Mobile Association of LtIlJI AssimntJ. Bradley obKrvu that since the association 's irn:tption in 1%4, il has TI lE: AUJlAMA u\WYER

F...... nclng fret lance legal assistant.lut emerging as an alt.mati"" to the hiring 0( a full·lime ptl1T\antnl staff legal MSistant. Free· liIllCing allows legal ;wistant.! the nuibility to "'Or!< for differ· ent law firms on l tempoTlry buil, and la~rs the frffilom to hi~ leg.il assistant.! only wlltn the nttd IriSH. Fretla~ legal usislints ofttn hive advanced uptritnct in the lepl field which lIliows them to Sp«illiu in certain a~as 01 tho law while they art employed on a temponI'Y ba.i., and which al..,..'S b~n to opI'n.te II lucRt;"" businus on I full ·time

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Of course, tm: oo..TlSide of freelancing indud.. the potenti~1 for. conflict of inlorest and rlOnavailability to work on speCific CMes 0' tasks when a legal assistant tlke, C3k as,ignments from mo"" than one attomey or law finn, In addition, tlw,.., i. potential for the attomey's lack of control and supervision over the assignment. which could lead to the appearanCf' of the lesal lI$$istant's unauthorizetl practiCf' of law since the work would bo performed oul3ide of the attorney's omce.' In Alabama. sewral freelance legalll$$islllnt bu,il\\'S$I.'s have opened. In Birmingham. Patricia Comer operates Comer & Associat.., offering ",rvices in the ~reas of litigation support. bankruptcy and depOSition summariu, Attorney Suzanne Willoughby opened LECAL-EES two and. half)'Urs ago .11.. obMrvir>g how ,ucc«sful the freelance legal assisant business is in New York. On the average, about eight legal assislllnl3 apply each day to fret'lance for LEGAL·EES. Will oughby give. each applicant. skills test by which they demonstrate to her their levels of legal Imowledge and experti",. Though LEGAL·EES places temporaT)' legal secretaries at a steady pace, she has)ltt to place her first legal ass;s/""I into a temporaT)' position. Willoughby .ttribute, this phenomenon to the n«d for employers to be educated on how legal assistants can he properly utilized. Montgomery ~nd Mobile have recently seen freelance legal assistants open up for businen, too. One of the new entreprenuers i. Debbie Sellers, ,",'no was a legal se,rdary profi· dent in medical and business litigation. After graduating from her legal assistant program. sm: found her new talents unl«l· comed in the job marl<e\. So she opened her bu.iness in Mont· gomery. Specializing in the areas of family practice and litiga· tion. She says. "Attomeys in Motngomery a.. ~ ..d of legal a..istlnt •. But don't b. threatened by the fact that we are trained to do what""" do, Let US do our job. and let uS help you." Govemment lepl offlc••

Until recently. legal assistanl3 haw been employed mostly in private sector law fi11115 and corporate in-house legal depart· menl3. Public sector utilization of legal assistants was. for the most part. slow to gain acceptance. Now that it has caught the attention of gowm"",nt law offices, momentum i. gaining. The federal gowmmenfs Civil Service Regi.ter oontlliTl$ a "Paral... gal Speciali.t" cI...ification, and employment is .vailable in district offices of the United Stlltes Attomey. as well as other feder· al agencies. The armed forctS utili .. active duty legalll$$istanl3 in their on·base Judge Advocate General's offices.

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The Alabama State Personnel Department established the legal assistant job classification in 19as. This open .. giSler has been growing with name! 01 eligible legal assistants. but few stllte agencies are estAblishing the job cw.ification within tm:ir in·nouse legal offices and hiring off of this register. A few which have done so include the Alabama College S~tem. the Stllte Department of Education and the Department of Economic and Community Affairs. Legal assistants in state government perform many of the same dutie, 01 their oounterparts in private sector law firms. However. state government legal assistants are called upon to research federal and state law. and monitor compliance with these law•. drall proposed legislation and track it through com· mittees and debates, and prace" State Board of Adju.tment claims against the agency, attend hearings before federal and stllte administrative boards, and draft tm: agency's policies and procedures manual. Educational program. The Bureau of labor Stati5lics cites the legal assi.tant field as

one of the most rapidly growing;ob classifications, at 1m: pre· sent rate of 104 peJ«nt tach year.' Schools off..ing legalll$$is. tIInt programs appear to bo sprouting up everywhere. In larger citi •• such as Atlanta, schools are .. turating the markd with legal Msistant programs, which in turn saturate the market with graduat es seeking employment and big pa~checks. In Montgomery, • city of 200,000, there are cumntly si~ school. offering legalll$$istant programs. 111( supply of legal assi5tanl3 is d.f,nitel~ exceeding the demand , WN.t are the ways an attorney can ascertain how well qualifitd an applicant i5 for the legal assistant position offe.. d? First, , .. rify thaI the legalll$$istant lraining program which the appli· cant attended actually exists. Call the school to see what courses are taught in the program and conf,nn that tm: applicant did graduate. Second, comparison shop, Legalll$$istant programs accredited by the ABA meet stricl stlndards and put forth a quality progra m good enough to carry the ABA', seal of approval. Other programs not accredittd by the ABA might not m«l these standards. Third, determiM whether you want the Itgal assistant you hire to be a "ctrtified legal assistllnl". Certification

What exactly is (frtification for Itgal mistllnl3? The Nalional A.-;sociation of Legal Assi,tants. Inc , has • recognized national voluntary certification program for legal assiStlnts that has boen proven to be statistically reliable, This exam recognizes a high level or ~tandard of profe..ionai neenenCt in the legal field. The two-day certified legal assistant exam covers tm: areas of oommunication skills, judgment and aml}1ical abilities, ethics. human relations, legal terminology and research. and the Amtrican legal system. In addition, four sub·tests are given in the specialty areM of liligation, probate and estate planning, ..al estate. criminal law. bankruptcy, contracts. coTJlOr;ate law. and administrative law. N~ has he.n administering this exam since 1976. Once a legalll$$istant passes this exam, the designation -CIA" may be used b~ that person. but the certification must b. .. newed every five years and a ,..,quired number of to<ltinuing THE AlABAMA lAWYER

PARALEGAL TASK FREQUENCY COMBINATION

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legal tducalion Ilours mu.1 be accumulal~d each year for Ihe "CLA" designalion 10 remain in effect. Certificalion or some other form of licensing appears to be tht wa,'e of Ihe fulur~ for legal assistants. It Joe!WS several purposes. II is yel anolher ..... y Ihat legal assistants can demon• trate Ihei r knowledge and upe rt ise in the legal field. It is anolher way thai legal assistants can eKhibillhei r commilment to professional dewlOpment and gain an tdge <Mr Iheir competitors for jobs in the legal fleld.- Says Suzanne Willoughby of LECAL-.EES, "Licens ing is a necessity. It is as important to the legal assistanl as the bar exam is to the attomey."

case law As legal assis\.ants haw progmsed in dewlOping their prof~. .ion. so. too. have i5.lues ari .. n as. result of their .... idespr.ad USf. Nation-..-ide. recent case la.... has emerged to further define and qualify the bounds within which legal /Wistants can work throughout the country. The Unittd Stat.. Supreme Court in Missouri v. Jenlri"s b~ Ag~i. 109 S. Ct. (19891. recognized legal /Wistants' profe5.lion· ali.m, work contributions and cost effecti""T\t5.1 in deli'1'ring legal .. rv;cts to clients. In this case. the court allowed th~ legal /Wislants' lime to be reCOvtrtd as .. parat. compensation in the attomey fee .ward. at prwailing relevant market rates for their Joe"";c ... This Joeparate legal a5.listant fee i5.lue was challenged under the Ci"';l !lights Auomeys ree. Aw.rds Act of )976 (42 U.S .C. U988). The Supreme Court upheld a feder.1 district judgment to award the prevailing parties wilh altorney fees based on the attomey's work product. The court lound that. "§I988 cannot tl;!w been meant to COmpensale only worlc penormed personally by members of the bar: but must also take inlO account the work of legal /Wistants and the like. In the Kansas Cily metropolit.n area. attorneys follow the pract ice oi billing the work of I.gal .... i.t.mts separately. So the courtaltow",d the attorney lee to include separate compensation for legal assistants. law clerks .nd rec~nt law school graduates at prevailing market rate. under the attorney iee award . This .. parate compensation is fu ll~ in accord with §I9&!. The court reasontd that th ... personnel. along ""Ih other law office ""r'

THE Au\BAMA u\WYER

sonnel (st<:retaries. memngers . librarians. janitors, etc.) per· lorm labor whiCh contributes to the work product lor .... hich an attorney bills Ihe client. The attomey·dient privilege and the "'(Irk product rule are cu,.,..,ntly under review by an Arizona state . ppellat. court as to how they apply to legal a5.listants. In the ca •• of Dawson v. Phoenix Chi/drms Hospital, No. 88·24S94 (Maricopa County Superior Ct.. Ariz. 1988). th~ trial court decided that a legal assistanl"S memoTllndum. which was bastd on interviews with the delendant employ«s and written 10 he •• upervi5ing .ttor· ney. was discowr.ble by u,., plaintiff even though the court rec· ogni2td lhallhe memoTllndum was considered to be work prod· uct, and even though previou.l ..... would Srtm to dictate olherwise. rederallegal precedent Joet in. among other oases, Zenith Radio Corporation v. Radio Corporation of Am.rica, 121 P. Supp. 792 (D.C. Dol. )954), and Admira/lnsurance Cmn{Xm~ v. /Jnited Slaies DUlricl Cvurt. 881 P. 2d 1486 (9th Cir. 1989). argues the Opposing "';twpOint." In Zenith. the attO~'-dient privilege in a patent <:as\' wu determined to e.ternl to an attorney'S subordinates "who habit· u.lly report 10 and are under the personal supervision of the attorney through whom the privilege paSse.: 121 r. SuP!'. at 794. Allhough the concept of Itgal /Wistants was not y<'t born in 1954 when Zimiln ,,-as d~ided, this decision would certainly apply to the 1990 concept under which legal assistants optrate . In the Admiral <:as\'. the attomey...:li.nt pri"';lege ...... determined 10 b•• "privilege" which ·protects communicat ions between client and counsel to encourage the clienl to be forthcoming with his attorney so that appropri.te legal advice can be offered." Thi. w.s not to be confused wilh the work product rule which "is not a privile~ but a qualified immunity prot.cling lrom discovery documents arnl tangible things prepared by a party or his reprfunla!i\lt in anticipation of litig.tion:· 881 P. 2d al 1494. Though Dow$(Jf! is on appeal in the Arizona state court syslem. all litigation attorn,)-'$ and legal/Wistants should be attuned to lhe final deci.ion .. it will potentially affect <:as\' discowry throughout Ihe nation if a legal assiJ;tanl"s work prod· uct is sought by oppo$ing counsel. Connicts 01 intere.t and the sanctity of confidential information .. they pertain to non·la-..-yer personnel ha\lt been featured in Kapro Manufacturing (;()m{Xmv. Inc. v. C&O Enterprises, Inc .. 637 1'. Supp. 1231 (N.D. Ill. 1985) and Williams v. Trans World Airlines. Inc.. 588 F. $upp. 1037 (W.O. Mo. 1984). In th • .., cases, non-lawyer personnel-s.... itched sides" in the midst oi contest.d litigation. raising the question of-..-hether the """' firm of employment .hould be disqualified from repreJoenting the clients invol,"w in Ihe litigation. Kapco invol'1'd 3 non·la,,"~~r leaving the employment of the plaintiffs counJoeI and going to work for the delendant's COUn ..,1. Hel1', the court rultd lhat no disqualification of the deien· dant'. counsel was necelo5.lry... Ihe non-Ia"')'t'. did not disclose confidential inlormation pertaining 10 Ihe plaintiffs case to her new emplOy<'r. Williams inV'OI ~d a non·lawytr who conducted personnel in"".tigations 3nd prepared various documtnts for the TWA legal department on discrimination charges brought aga.inst the airlines. When the non-I.wyerwas furloughed by ru'A. she pursued her ()\O."n discrimination cI.im . gainst thtm and utilized the sam. attorneys .... ith whom she had been adversaries on disJuly 199) f 219

crimination c..eo while ,he was ~mployed with TWA. The court ordered that the attorneys hired to pursue her discrimination claim must dis~ualify thems..l""s t..cause. "The faimen and integrity of the judicial process and TWA's legitimate interest in a trial free from the rislc that confidential information has been unfairly used against it outweighs plaintiffs' interest in being rrprrs..nted by this partkular law finn: S88 1'. Sup!>. at 1046. Thus. legal assistants and thei r supervising attorneys must u.. the ultimate carr on t~ disclosure of confidential information when a legal assistant changes places of employment within t~ legal profession. The ABA has reasoned that normal law office operations "!IOU employeu to confidential information. This obligates atlomrys to exerei.. care in the selection ilnd proper training of their employees to pru<Tve the nnctity of client confidence. and secrets. Therefor•. the legal ...istant. the pr..ious employing attorot). and the present employing attorney are all responsible for protecting the eliont. confidence. and secrets. This mal' include utablishing a screening process to separate legal assistants from Ca.les the;' wor ked on in th.ir previous empIOI'ftWnt. ~

TheMure What does the futu re hold for legal a.. istants~ The profession will undoubt· edly see some new inOO'Jations. includ· ing: 1. The increasing use of legal assistant managers. This can take either the fonn of a legal assistant who has lIten promoted to the position of "mal"klging paralegal" O\'fr the other law office legal assis·

...-~-

MEDICALI DENTAL EXPERTS

GRATIS CASE REVIEW FOR MERIT BlOUR UTIGATION SUPPORTTEAM AFFIDUITS SUPER RUSH HI!ALTH CARl! AUDITORS, INC. U .I. Itlil . Il ,.Ionl."" fl 11111

tALL I t l-~1I· I O~~ " FAI I I H ll·1! ll Fo, k.. 0' 'n/o,m. ' ion P..:h'

s...

220 1 July 1991

tanls. or in Ihe form of an attorney whose main duly;' 10 manage lhe work nowing 10 the legal assistants when several are empl~ by Ihe law firm. 2. A billing procedure for legal assistants known as "value billing." Th;';' ilIl idu whe rrin law firms bill by the task or legal product rather than billing by the hour for the legal assistant's time spent working on a case. In value billing. the value of the wo rlc product does not ~uate to the tiftW in""it~ in p<'rforming Ihe tasks. Inslud. lhe work is billed at a fixed price based on its value to the client. The clienl t.. .... fits Ixcause therr is a limited price to the legal work being performed. and Ihe law firm benefits because it can perform work at com· pttive market rates for whole tasks ralher than for individual hours. Leu lime is spent keeping lrack of those bill· able hours. which. in lum. leads 10 less bookkeeping headadles. 3. Licensing Or certificalion requirements for legal assistants. With SO many programs graduating a record number of legal assistanlS. the licemure ilIld certifi· c.tion process will help to control the I€gal assistant population much like the bar exam works 10 control the altorney population. Licensure and c. rtificalion will lit ways 10 control the ~uality of edu· cation by ronfinning that education programs are teaching the legal 3.'!sistant students th€ necessal")' skilts in order for them to enler the job markel. and will lit a way to maintain the 1...,.1 of profession ' alism needed to be successful once they are in that job. The I"kItionwide certifica· tion uam for legal assistants "ill gain in prominence. 4. Lisling legal assistants on law offi," lelterhuds and business cards. The ABA now allows law offices to list the names of non-lawyer support personnel on the lawyer's letterhtad provided that the non-lawyer status is clur." The Alabama State Bar's Rules of Professional Conduct ha,.. ~n rewritten to include Rule 7.6. which pertains to professional bus in ... cards of non·lawyers. Now legal assis· tants can he identified as a legal assis· tant, "provided that the individual is employed in that capacity by a lawy.. or law firm. Ihal the lawyer Or law fi rm supervises and is responsible for the lawrrlated tasks assigned to and performed by such individual. and that the lawyer Or law firm has authoriud the use of

such cards. "~ 5. Slate bar anocialions adopting code. of ethics for legal assistants. The National Msociation of I.I:gal Assistants. Inc. has adopted canons of ethiC$ to guide practicing legal assistants ;n their daily duli ... As the legal assistant profusion conlinues 10 grow and the parameters upand for their proper utilization, the need might we ll arise for individual state bar associations to ~m Ihe ethi· cal aspects of the legal assistant profession just"' they do for practicing aUor",>,.

ConClusion The legal assistanl profession can lit a challenging career for th~ wilh a 1O\'f of the law. The job requir" a good edu· cation. a capacity to learn quickly on the job and an inquiSitive nature. Whil e other stales are currently more liberal than Alabama in the uu and treatment of legal ",.istanU. thai should change wilh time. The trend is clearly loward great future growth in this field nation· wide. And, as goes the nation. so. a .. ntually. goes Alabama. •

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THt: AI.-IBAMA LAWYER

DISCIPLINARY REPORT

NOTICE TO: G.... Robert Y. la. FROM. AI.MIMI SI. l a h , Order to Show CLE 9' 043

RE;

T •• n . f. r GuntUMr~ "~r

Jolta Walla« 51&"",. has ban !f3f\S. rtmd to dilolbility irudiw status purs ..... nl to Milk 27, Rula of Disciplinary I'rottdure (inlfrim). tff«tiw ,~y 9, 1991. Suspension Fonner Hirmirlilllm bw)'u " illiam Sldnty Undt nmocl . J r. his ban Itmporuily I<Jspended from the practice of l.lw. tff«tiYt AIIril9. 1991. pllnulInllo Rul. 21), Mults of Disci· plilW)l Proa:dul'!. ( Ru~ 20·9 1·031

Pri .... t . A. pri.... nd. On April 19, 1991. • laWyer was

c."..,

8CkIr_.

Not,ce IS r>ereby o"",n 10 Gr. , fle " rt V.t •• , anorney. whose lui knaoon U.S ~ . q Courl. 225 RecIOr PIeca. t12E. New VOtIt. New Vorl< 10280. 1hII1 tus ........ has~ CfIfIIIi8d 10 tna f)snp"nary COl"' 1m lot no"co'~ WI\h the mandatory <:onUro.W'rg IIIgaI educabon raquo"_ 01 the Alabama Slate Bar and that as I r-'t ......101 '" Orda< to Show cause r>es ~ en6r!W8d agu"ISI ,." ordonng"" 10 show. WlIM ""1\1' (60) daylhom l1"li dale at """Y of !he ordot • ..ny hllI"rc:Ud no! be_· pended I,om the ",act.ce of fa ... SIIrd (ltd" wll ",I...ad ~ 8. 1991 The hall .,xry (6O) OIlY' from !he dale o! _ IISU8 to r8SpOnd1l> l1"li Order 10 $how Cavse. Sard tesponse shall be ,fIOC6rIOI!Id in IhII oIhce balore September 13. 11191

anamev

~riyattly

. tprimandtd for

having inttnti"""lIy failtd to Cl.ry out i contr.Kt of employ·

ment tnttr~ into with 11 ~Iitnt for profuliol\lll ~lVicn. in violation of DR 7·\oI(A)(2). The la~r ~Ctptt<l. retain.. to in~lligatt I claim against i busin.!.S r.rm. and never con· !.acted the di.nt with rupee! to the maner and did not reply to numorous inqui rin fr(lm tht clitnt. Fu"h ... the law;oer ignored a number of rtquesu from the bu thaI ht pr(Wide a ... pons. to th. comptll;n! lhat the tiient ult imately filed a,g.lin.lt him. (ASH No. 88·730f On March II. 199 1. a laWyer was privately re~rimanded klr willfully neglecting <I. legal matter ent rumd to him. The lawyer. who represented the dient in <I. criminal matter, told the client IN.t the tlltnn appeal Wl.l .till bting pUrJued in the awellite courU of Ala.b<oma when. in bet, $uch WH not the ast. TM lawyer il$O filled to file a petition klr writ of certiorari within the time required, in<! likewise failed to inform tho client of this filing deadline, thw knpinll the elient from be.", able to ()I)Uin substitute eouruel. (ASB No.

OI-""

Dfst;,pIinary Conms.sCn Alabama SUitS Bat 1019 Sou", Perry S1te&1 Morrlgt:>me£y. Alabama 36,()4

NOTICE TO: FROM:

RE:

Will" Laon Wml8m l, .Jr, Al8ulMI 5t. ta a . r Order to Show C. u . ., CLE 9' .... 1

Nobce II hereby grven 10 WillI. Leon Wllliam a ,

.I" . aIICrne)r. ~ Ias1 k,row 8doi"eu .. 1825 1311 WIq. '!!NI. Bmw>gha-n.

HANDICAPPED LAWYERS

ASSOCIATION The HanOIcapped LawyerS A· ...... '.m was IormM:I II> I)Mg togeIheI people who a,e 1IaOd1Cllpped/ d,satIIed The Assoc"bOn IS IooI<ng fOI' P81tonS on!8te&I8d on acfyo. CM:y. 8duclloon and ""twD<I<ng As Wlth many orgellll8tJOOll. Ir>e As.ac'ltlOl""l·' goal. ate to educate the public and tne pto/aaslorl The HL.A

de.".s .d.lrlCom."t ot 1"- d,sabled and IS work,ng toward tne advancement of the dlNb1ed as htlOat'lS and the" luI panoCl\lauon and onelulm in all aspecll o! !he lud lc,a l sySlem Fo, mo,e Inlormalloo or 10 coombula ,dB85. Inl.r.SI or e'P9"8r1Ca. coolaCI VIClor J Hoffer. HLA. P 0 Bo. 934. Mt AA\je1. Oreoon 97362

THE M.AJW.\A LAWYER

35211-4-418, IhIII"III to ItJe DosapInIIry ComrnII· soon for ""'~ W1\tl ... mandaIOf)' 00I'lIJi"U"Ig IaoaI education _ _ Ill at the ..... Stele Bar and lhat as • rasuK lheraot. an Order 10 Show has ~ en6r!Wtd agarnsI twrr Ofdlnng ,." 10 shaw, _ SO<Iy (60) ~!\'om l1"li OllIe 01 -V o! !he orda<. why he strc;Ud no! be ""I""dad !rom ItJe pract>ca o! law Saod orda< _ "'tared Ap"rt B. 19111 The al!orney has SiJ<ty (6O) days hom "'" dall o! \tOI 'ssue 1<1 respond 10 the Ordot to Show Cauta SaKI

name has

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c..se

'1SlX>n.e shall be rece,,,.d In tllli oltrca belore September 13. 1991 o.scopli'laty CommissJon Alaba'na Slale Bat 10,9 Sourf1 Perry SlteeI Morrl(pnery. Alabama 36'{)4

July]99IIZ2 ]

RECENT DECISIONS By DAVID 8. BYRNE, JR., and WILBUR G. SILBERMAN

UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT otfie a r's pursuit of Juve nile

su spect does not amount to seizure within Fourth Amendment US Q/lifomia v. lIodad D., 59 LW 4335 (April 23, 1991). is a juvenile who nus at the .ight of a polia officer and i.

chased "seized" for Fourth Amendment purposes before actually being caught or submitting to the police show of author· ity? The

Unit~d

Statts Supr£me Court

said no in a seven-tG-1WO decision. In Californi(1 v. H.O .. a group of youths, including H.D .. fled al th.

approach of an

unmar~ed

police car on

an Oakland. Camo.nia Itree\. On. of the office", who was Wfaring a jacket with ·polic.· embossed on its front. Chased flD. When U,D.. who had been looking beh ind him as he ran. glanad forward.

h. saw th. pOlice offien and tossed away a pitce of <Crack cocaine. The pOliet offi· Cer tackled him and recovered the cocaine. The state court of appeals ruled that H.D. had been s.ized when he saw the pOlice officer running toward him, that the sei~ure was unreasonable because tht officrr did not haw the "reasonable suspicion" nec.ssary to stop the youth , and that the cocaine evidence had to be suppTl's.sed. The only issue prtloented on review ill' the Supreme Court ...."ilS whether at the time he dropped the drugs, H.D. had been "loeized" within the mt'aning of the Fourth Amendment. Writing for the Court. Justice Scalia >a id the Fourth Amendmt'nt does not apply until a pur· sued suspect has been physically appre· hended or submits to pOlice authority. ·Street pursuits al ...... ys place the public at SOme risk, and complianct with pOlic. orders to stop should therefore be encouraged:' The Court's opinion goes further in stating: 222 1July 1991

" ... To constitute a seizu re of the person. just as to constitute an arrest-th e qu intessential 'seizure of the persons' under Fourth Amendm.nt jurispru· denct-there must be eilher the application of physical force, ho\o.'evu slight. or ..... hether that is ab",nt, submission to an officer's 'show of authority' to restrain the subject's1iberty:

during a case's preloentation to the trier of fact and may, lherdere , be quantitatively assessed in the context 01 other evidence presented in orde r to determine whether the admission is harmless bej>ond a reasonable doubL Justices White, Marshall, Blackmun ~nd Stewns objected stridently 10 the ruling that some illegal confeMions may be '"harmless error". SpecifiC/lll y, Justice Byron R. White criliC/lll)' noted:

In this case. no physical force was applied since H.D. was untouched ill' the police officer before he dropped the drugs. Moreover. as.uming that the police officer's pursuit constituted. "show of authority", .njoining H.D. to halt, the juwnile did not comply ..... ith that injunction, and therefore, ..... as not seized until he was tackled. Thus, the c()Caine abandoned ..... hil. he ..... as run· ningwas not the fruit of a ",i.ure.

A confession is like no other evi-

Coe. c .d conf••• ion. _ he nnl a . . .... o.? U.S. Ariw"a v. Fulmi"a/e, 59 LW 4235 (March 26, 1991) . Ma~ coerced confe.. ions ..... rongly used as evidence in ~ crimin~1 t ri~1 sometimes be deemed harmless error? The Supreme Court. in a five·tn·four decision, ans ...... r.d yes. The Supreme Courl, in a significant change to the rights of accused crimi· nals, ruled that conviclions based on illegally coerced confessions are not automatically invalid. Led by Chi.f Justice Rehnquist. the Court'. bare majority extended the harmless errOr rule to cover such con· fessions if other trial evidence was suffi· cient to convict the defendant, In such cases, the Court held that a new trial is not automatic~lIy required even if an illegal confession ..... as admitted as evi· dence. Justice Rehnquiest concluded that the harm Ius error rule adopted in Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. II!, ..... as applicable to the admission of involuntary confessions. The Chief Justice reasoned that the admission of such a confusion is a "trial error" ..... hich ()Ccurs

dence ... and thai the Cour!"s deci.ion owrrults a vast body of precedent ... and ... dislodges one of the fundamental tenell of our criminal justice systemcoeretd confe.. ioru C/ln newr be condoned.

Non .minority d. f.ndant. hav• • tanding to .al •• S a r. on chall. ng •• PuIL""'; v. Ohio, Nt>. 89·5011 (April l. 1991). AI. white defendanll .ntitled to new trials if convicted by a jury from ..... hich blacks ...... re excluded because of their r~ce? The Supreme Court said yes in a seven·to·two decision. Writing fo r the majority, Jus t ice Kennedy said that the Fourteenth Amendmenl bar to Slate prosecutors using peremptory challenge. ag~insl minorities in a raci~lIy biased manner. established in Balson v. Ken/udell, 476 U.S. 7'} (1986), may be raised b)' defen· dantl ..... ho art white or not members of the group of e~cluded ~niTl' persons. The Cour!". ruling expands its 1986 d.cision in Balson which barred prose· cutors from e~cluding jurors be<:auloe of thei r race. That decision was based on the .. elusions of black prospective jurors from the /riol of a black d.fendant. Justice Kennedy sa id that any exclusion of pOlential jurors based on their race violates not only their rights, but the rights of the crimi ......! defendant. In concluding that ",hit. defendants have standing to challenge a prC>.lecuTHE ALABAMA LAV,'YER

lor', racially discrimin,IoIO'y ... n 01 pe.emptory ,I.iku .g.inlt African . Amfrieln ..milT rnnnbtn, the Supftmt CO .... I t1u efftclively r~v"Hd recent decisions by ItI~ Alabama lIppeliale coum which have held that Bolson could not bt raised by ddendants who are nO' (/ Ihe.arm net as It.. excluded ju ror, SN Ij P<lTI Bankhead, No, 891179 (Ab, 1991). Abu. . of ....t writ McC/~ U. ~I, ~ U.S, LW 4288 (April 16, 1991). I. "dtlibtmt aIwldonmtnl" the standard for jud,ging whelher a federal habtas corpus petition represtnts an abu5t of th~ writ ? The Supreme Cou.t answered no in a si x.(O_lhrtt winion. In lin dfort to .ebUI McClukeY'1 lIlibi ddel\5t al hil 1978 Georgia mur_ der t.ial. the St.te all'" OIfit ['/In., Iht occupanl of the jail cell nUl to Ihe dde!>dvll"s. who testified ttut Mc· Cleskey had admitted to .nd lxNosted about the killing. On Iht basis of this evidtnce. tht jury convicted McCleskty and 5tnlenced him to death. After the Ceorgia Supreme Court affirmed, McCleskey filtd an UI\$U(ceu· rul petilion for state IWltlIs corpus relief aJ1tgini- inler- olio, !hit his slllltrmnts to [~_re .Iiciled in a sit .....tion cre, Ited by the SWt to induc. him 10 milk! incriminating statemenli wilhoul the luislance of couns.I, in violat ion of Massiuh v, /Jrli/ed Slut~, 3n U,S, 20L McCluhy then filed his first fede ral habtu pelition which did nul rain I Mauiah cb.im, and a 5tcOOll sIlIle peli_ t ion, both of which wort ultimutly urlS'Icctssf... 1. Finally. the def• filed hiswwnd frdtnl hlbtas pttition in 1987 basing a Mauioh chlllltnge on a 21-p.age stalement Ihat Ihe cellmllte, [vans, hlld made to polic. two wuk, before the Irial, Ltd by J\I!lice Anthony Kennedy, the Courl held lhat McClukt)"s Illilure to raise hisMassioh cb.im in his first It&. ,I habus pelition constitut.d an abwt of the writ. The Court irutud lIdOJlted for the"abwt 01 the ....rit· doctrine. lhe Hmt "caus. and p.tjudict" tI~ndlrd \lStd in determining ""'"thor an 1ppt4l1 must be dilmissed for a proceduTil defaull, The new Sllondard mIIkts it usi. e. to I t uck, II abusive, II convIcted

.-..wu

THE AU\llAMA UWYER

criminal's 5tWI'Id or $U~I IWltlIs corpus petition. II is this writt . ', opinion lh~t Mc· Cluk~V ..,!"WS IS I pref&ce 10 Ih. Suprerm Court', efforts 10 rtstrict kdtnl posl conviction relid to one tum 0( the ,,"h~l.

SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA F.llure to .".......f _ motion ,.1_ . eolor. ble $fric:lcl_d el.lm, I.•. , lneffeetlv •••• I.t.ne. of coun •• t )"Ider u. Slot~, 25 AHI! 1239 (Januar;' II, 1991). In a cut 0( first impression in Alabllmll, Velder "gued thlt he ""lIS den~ dfect~ _iIIlonce 01 c:ourutl in that his Iri~1 laW)'i" did not objec t , under Btllsat ", Kmluct,. 476 U.s. 79 (1986). to the SllIte'l 11M' 01 its ptremptory challtngn to strib 17 0118 bl&ek jurors. The Itgal standard for determining a claim for ineffecti ... wisllonee of coun· ..,1 as set forth in Slrkklond u. Washing-. ton. 466 U.S. 668 0984). rt<\ui rts !hit the defemb.nt mUSI Jhow: First, thit counsel's pen(ll"TTl3JlU WU deficitn!. Thi, roquirts showing that counsel madt orran lO strious Ih~t counsel ....is nol functioning lIS Ihe 'coun5t1 guarlnleed the deltndant by th. Sixth Amen dmen t -. Second, th. delendant must show Ihal tht defocient performince prejudiced Ihe defense. Thi, r.quiru showin!! that counn!'s errors ~re SOl serious IS 10 deprive the del.ndint of a flli. I.illl, a t.ial "'oose .tsult is r.liable. UnIon i ddend~nl malcts both showings, it annot M Hid llullhe conviction or dealh senlene. resulled from i br.ik~ in the ad>'tr. u ry procen thll .tnders tho ... ull unreliablt. Juslice ShortS. wri ting for the majori· ty, agreed with Jud!!e lkIwen'. diuent that it is nKtm.ry 10 crealt an ~ition al calegory under the "pus ... mtd prej ... · diced" excrplion to Strickland, Accord· in(ly, the IUpITmt co ... rt r.... rHd thot pOrtion 0( the ;oogmenl 01 the court 0( criminil ipptill' lir>ding thai coun5tl's fallure to rlist BailOn in the 5tlection of the veni •• raist"d a co1orilbie Strickland claim lind remllnded the ca5t to the trial

court for II huring on the BailOn qUHlion. Sptcificllily. Justict Shorn ob$tl'Vtd: That tho failure 01 triJI ~nj.tl to make a limtly Balwn objtc· t ion to , prima rocie nst of purposeful discrimination by the SI,te in Ih. jury 5Oleclion p'ocess through its use of peremptory chilleng.s is prtsumpliwlV P",judkiol lo a tklmdmrl. (em. plwis Jddtd.) Pro HCutOr'. c _ n t on def.n_nt' • •ilene . , 1.ld. rev ...... Ifilliams u. $tale, 25,w1! (l.nual)' II, 1991). Williams was conviCltd of firsl dellttt rl!pe and stntenced to lile impris· onment wilhout parole, His conviclion wa$ lflirmtd by Ih. court of criminal appeals. The supreme court ,ranled Williams' "";t 0( tertio",ri to determlllt if, in his dOlling argumfnllo the jUl)', Iht prosecuto. mIIde an impermissible comment on WillilI1l.l· failure to Itstif)i. The clOlling argurmnt renecls lhe follow· ing: By the SUtt: Mr. Btlcher-: - He is (h"gtd wilh rJpt, lIe lwn't lold)'Oll he didn'l do il. Ho h'ln't told you- II . lave • It.ltement Mr, JoIInsOl/: We objecl to Ihal. He kup;s going on ,bout that. That is not admissible. /lfr. Heidler: He did give a "atel1\tnt. He waived his righl During the hearing on the motion lor MW trial. the prosecutor dtnitd !hil he commented on Williams' fiiluR 10 testif)i. In$ltiWI, he conl.nded lhit he Will only trying 10 point out 10 the jury tJw Williams hid lIIlIde II Slatement 10 Ih. polic. whe .. in he IIIled Ihlll ht had inluootlrst with \hi' victim but cb.imtd tlut it was consensual. lIolh the Alabama and United States toNtitulions prohibill pro5tCUtor from mlkinll a comment 10 the jury on the dtlmdlnt's liltrn. CriRin IJ. Cafilomio, 380 U,S, 609 (1965 ); Ex P<lrlt I'".kr, 375 So.2d 1Z31 (ALl. 19791. To prant ... the mlorcemrnl o(!hil prohibilion, the Alabami t.egillalure provided in 112-21· 220 thit: ... If the dislrict attorney mlku ,ny comment concerning the defendanl's Julyl99 112Z3

flil" •• 10 test if». a new Irial must b. grantwon motion filed within 30 day. from entry of the judgment.

ALABAMA COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS

The Alalwna Supreme Court. ltd by

Justice Almon, applied thei' THon! decision in Ex JXlrle Wi/wn. __ So2d _ _ (Ala. 1990). Th' supreme court, in ' ''''''Ding Wilson', con~iction, critically noted :

Right to p ... .nt defense Nichol5 If. Stole,S Div. S6(l (March l. 1991). In Nichols. the court of criminal appeals .""".sed the defendant's convi, -

Th. Stat.'s "gumon! that the

!ion !>eeause of p.o;>.\tcuto,ial interler-

comment was a permissible refer. enee to the taped statement compl oidy ,:werlooh the obvious inferonce available to the jury thaI tho ddendant did nol loire

enco with the defendant's pretrial in'.... ligation and preparation. Prior to trial, a prosecutor sent wit. n ••••• expected to he 5ubpoenaed for

te>timonya letter containing the f!}llow'

Ihe slond s!} as to contradict Or amplify his .tatement. Civen the context of the rebuttal. it is di{fi_ cult to imagine a more specific comment on Wilson', failure to testify. notwithstanding the district allomey's lateT allempl to limit Ille comment to a r.f...""" to the taped statm.. n\.

ing langu~ge: "lldween now and the time of tr ial, you may be contacted by an attorney r epresenting the defendan t. He may ask you for an oral statement. wrimn statement. or tal"'-recorded statement. Shou ld this occur. you may refuse 10 diICuss the ca~ with him if you wi,h. Should you decide to dis<us, the ca~.

As in Wilson . Justke Almon roneluded that the pro,ecut!}", .Iatement was a direct oomment cm the defendant', failurt to testify which required re .... rsal.

you may requi,.., that someone from the m,trict Allomey's Office be present or that any discussion ta~e ptace in tho District Attorney', Office."

-=================::;l

<tom

One wilnus testifitd that he decidtd oot to talk with (j.,fense coun,el without the presence of an employee of Ihe Di,trkt Altomt}"s Office ~d partially on the letler. Another wilness indicated that he based his refusal to talk with defense cl)llnsel based upon lho District Allomey's letter. The court of criminal appeals held that the defendant's right to due procus of law. a fair trial, and effective assistance 01 counsel were all violated l:>ecau~ he was (j.,nitd the right to discuss the case prior to trial with the Stat'" witnesKS.

BANKRUPTCY

The premiere hotel specializing in uncompromising personal scIVice located in Ihe heart of Birmineham's Restaurant and Entertai nmentllislrict_ '1'<11 CompIi....,wy $hunk stMct """iliblt. l-1ICO-2SS·7:J1)4 ,0%1 _ _ _ ' " "

_:woo.",....,.....

224 1 July 1991

Down. t .... m PIIy....nt. rr. udul.nt ".n.fer? In /" N! Roonguez. 895 F. 2d 725 (lith Ci r. 1990), the court rendered a disappointing opinion from the lender', stand·

I"lint, holding that downstream pay' ments made by th~ parent corporation on tho oI;>ligalions of its ,ub,idiary were vulnerable as fraudu l.nt transfers. Lenders ha,'I' been awart for somt timt that sub,idiary', payments punuant to the guaranty of it! parent or • sibli ng corporation "'e,.., .... ry much subject to ~Uack.

[n the instant case. the paront filed bankruptcy .ftu making payments on the debt of the subsidiary .ri,ing from the purcha~ of a COl"pClfllte jet. The pa~ ments by the parenl had not causW the subsidiary to become sol''I'nl. In particular, the court held that the payments made by the partnt to the lender had created no equity in the jet for the parent. which ilstlf was a corpofllte shell. ik'cause the parent rece;lltd no benefit from the payments. they ""'.. due to be avoided as a fraudulent t r ansfer. In eSSl'nce, there ",os no "reasonably equivalent value flowing 10 the partnt corporation".

Subordln.tlon of cl.lm Maller of Fabricators. Inc. , 21 B.C.O. 809 (5th CiT .. 1991), A sole stockholder of a corporate creditor entered into an agreement with debtor corporation to manage the debtor under a stoc k exchange agreement. Th. court held that the creditor. who had become an insider, mad e ,,,cu r ed loan, 10 the tlebtor knowing the dire financial condition of the debtor. Accordingly. the crtditor's entire claim WaS placed On par with that of other gtne ral unsecured creditors. The landrmrk cas.t of equitable subordination for some years hos been Moller of Mohile SIe<!f. 563 F.2d 69~ (5th Cir. 1971 ). The law in the Fifth Circuit is. and has been. that to equitably subordinate a creditor claim. the creditor musl have engaged in inequitable conduct ... ulling in injury 10 other crtdito ... and that subordinaticm is <:on,istent with the Bankruptcy Code. The court also discussed in detail the case of In N! Missionary lJap/isl FournIolion of America. 712 f'.2d 206 (5th Cir. 19831. Additionally, there is an e",ellent resume as 10 determination of insider statu,. For a recent 11th Circuit case on equitable subordination set Maller of THE AU\8AMA U\WYER

l.emco Cypsum. Inc" 91l F.2d 1553 (lith Cir. 1990).

Exception. to dl. charge _ e llmony end . upport In In,.., Paul Chris Cianakas, 9 17 f.2d 759. 23 C.B.C. 2d 1510, the Third Circuit affi rmed lower court decisions holding that an obligat ion of the hus· band to pay a Stcond mortgage i. in the nature of alimony. "",intenanco or support and, thus. not subject to the automatic stay of §362 of the Bankruptcy Code. The divo rce decree provided, among other items of support. that the husband would assume and pay the uc· ond mortgage On the form.r home of the parties which was conveyed to the wife, Th. wife continued to live in the home with four child~n of the parties.. Th. court stated that one must look behind the labels attached to obligations under a Sdtlement agrttment to determine .... heth.r the obligation .... as in tht nature of alimony. maintenane. Or support. This delermination is a question of /ed .. ~l and not stat. law, but the detumination depends upon the intent of the parties at the time of the selliemont agr.ement. This cau cites many prior cas.s , including a Pennsylvania cau of Buccino v. Buccino in which IS facto .. were ut out to aid in "",king the deter· mination. There also .... as mentioned. among oth .... the 11th Circuit case of

In re }farrell. 754 f.2d 902. 906·07. (llth Cir. 1985). rejecling Ihe minorit~ view which ~1lO'WS courts to uamine the party', prnent financia l condition in d.termining whether the obligation i. currently nece!Sary for rnaintenarICe or support. In other words. "what was, if". for an excellent discussion of discharge· ability of obligations under a divorce d.cr• •. sa In re Delaine. 56 B.R. 460 (Sanh. N.D. Ala. 1986).

Dregnet c lau. . future aelva_ e clau n in mortgage fn '" William Robert Nude, 122 B,R. 533 (Bankr. f..D , Wi s. 1990). Although this is a Wisconsin case. the reader may b. of the opinion that it could

also apply in AI~b~ma, The mortgage had a dragnet claus. allowing it to pertain to futu re advance" The question became whether it applied to a guaranty later ""'de by the debtor. and finally .x«ution 0/ a consolidated note by the debtor within 90 days 01 bankruptcy. The court. in holding against the lender. stated that as the mo rtgage recited that a future advanc e wu $<'cured by the mortgage only if the documents relating to the tra"",ction con· l2Iined specific ...'Ording that tht» were to b. . . cu .. d by the mortgage , the dragnet claus. w<luld not .ncomp~s. the$<' future ~dvances. The cou rt sl2lted that any dragnet dause i. likely to be viewed with disfavor by the courts and must be closely scrutinized. •

_cI s.

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For 50 years allOrneys. mortgage lenders, builders and realtors have called on us to help dose on their real estate transactions -CQmmercial or residential. Some say it's because we 're prompt. Others say ii's because we're dependable. MOSI. however. say il's because with SO years in the business. we know whal we're doing. If you're in need or lille insurance in the neXI SO years or so. call us. We'lI be here.

Mlnlul,,1V. II.y m . IN......c. C'.,-"r

H.,.... OfF",., J>< k"", . •\\,,~ .. ir>Pi, JI5 TomI>.,;bt.. P,O. 1·60 1·%9_112'11

[)r."~, 1418

....... SclWdlow

THE AlABAMA LAWYEt:1

July 1991 / 225

• M·E·M·O·R·I·A·L·S • 23)'t1n until 19&&. whon Iw I>tcarM "of counsel".

PERRY H UBBARD Wlln..... Honorable Pony Hubbard died M.ln:h II. 1991; m:I II'MrNS, the TUSQIoosII County Bar Association dnirfJ to rememb(, his .......... ;and 10 ~i'" his sw..w.lial oonlribulions to our profm.ion, ;as well ;as 10 oor .tau ;md our oomrnunity: Now. therefore. be it knOl<>Tl. that the

Aid Perl'}' Hubbard was bom on March 17, 1921. in Tarnnt. Alabama. H~ received a 11.5. degree from the University of Alabama in 1943 and WaS a member of Bda Gamma Sigma. H. wtnt on 10 rtcti," an LL.B des ••• from the Uniwnity of Alabama SdM.><.>I of Uw in 1945 and was I me~r 01 the FlTrah Ordtr of Jurisc>rucImtt. Pmy Hubbard was admined to lilt Bar of the Sial. of Alabama in 1945 and Mgan practice with the firm of Splin. OIV,U. Cillon & Crooms in Birmingham. In 1948. h. came to Tusaloou to leach it the I.Iw 5(;11001 where h. taught at "arious tilm'S ~r • periOll of 43 ~urs such cour... as wil l. trial and appellate procedu re. common law pleading, tquity pleading iItId. mosl ,«."tly•• pptllate a<!vocxy and a ..-minar in cWo aclioru. At 001' time. PUT)' Hubhird Iltld thto distirlCtion or having taughl every member or the Alabama Supreme Court and he "'IS aMYl I positM inHutfICt on all or his sh'lkntJ,. In 1953. Ptrry Hubbard bec~me wociattd ""ilh tilt Tuscaloosa finn or leM~istre. Clement & G.""in ~nd became ~ partMr in u.. SUCCH50r finn or Hubbard & Waldrop. He was senior partner 0( that ~rm for approximately

226 1 July 1991

In rtcOif\ition 01 his «t,.ordinary talenl.!. rUT)' Hubbard ""as el«ltd ;n 1972 as i Fellow of the ,t,.merican College of Tri.1 l.a"'l'ers. He also serwd his fellow attorneys and OUr stat. as a member 0( the AdvisoT)' CommiUte to the rifth Circuit Court of Appeals on """"Ilate Ruin; I member of the AdviJolry Committte to the Supreme Court of Alabamll on Appell.te Rules: past pruident of the li1fCIioou Coonty &r A»oI:illion; Pl$t chllirptrson of the AIa.bamI State &r Practice and F'rottdun Section: and through his substin· tiil inYOM ..... nt in local rommunily lclivitin. such I.S tht Young Men', Christian Auotilotion. During his 46 yUrJ of pract ice. Perry lIubbard ""as admitted 10 PI'lICtice before all 01 the stat. and federal courts in Ih. Stale or Alabamll. as ~11 as the United Stalu Supreme Court ind the ~'ifth lind Eleventh circuit cou.ts of Ippeal. H. distinguished himself III owr our statt as I wIlful. OlggreS$iw triillnd appellate Ilwytr ...tlo not only recognized. but btlitvtd in. the conttpt thai the prattice of law is I profusion. not 'imc>ly • businta. He ...'as a....ann and trut gtntltmMI to hi' collngufS It the bar lind il",,"ys .dh ...d to the highest dhical and intellectual standuds. He was proud that his clienl.! induded not only the very wealthy lind pow.rful. but al.o those with meager resources who had suffered rtdrewbl. ""rongs. He 100~d the II"" iIId was I "Ia-..yo:r's la-..yo:r" in every !-t1lW: of that ph..... Our profu,ion ha.s suffered a great loss in hi. poWin&Although Ihe duth of ~rry Hubbard wi'll leaw i "'lid. both pmoniIly and proIwionally. which will not easily be filled. wt. at the .~me time. rejoice in hiving experienced his Wli for lif. and hia profwion. Dooglw; MeEk'll

Presi,m,I. TwcaIOOS4 Countg IkJr Ass«ialion

HARRY H . HADEN II"he .....s. !larT)' H. !laden died in HunllYilk. AlabamI on lilt third day of April 1991. ~nd slnt. hi. last r.lire· ment hu betn a member of thia ~ ciation: and 11'hDwu. he was bom in Berkeley. Cilifomi~. and after gTlldUlling from Englewood High School in Califomilo. he I\'IO"Jed ...ith his parents to Virginia, and in 1931. after two years of stud)· in the ~partment of l.a"" ~t the Uniwrsi· ty of Virgini~. successfully passed the bar uam;nation and began tho practke 01 IIw in Fluvanna County. Virginil.; and WMrtaJ. he Hrved in the Unit.d Statts Army Ordnanoe Ot-partmenl in Airic.a.llIIly and lilt Unittd States duri", I'.'orid War II. attaini", tho: rank 01 major.ancl Whel'WS. in 19t6, he .... as awarded an LLB. dtgT« from the Uniwrsil}' 01 Virginia. and therufter became a member 01 the faculty ofth. School 01 Law of the Un;ytrsil}' 0( Alabama; and Wherros. In 1948. h. was granted ~ leaw 0( absence to 00 graduatt work at the Univtrsity of Virginia and wa. a-..'HIitd the LLM. degrto; and WhtreoJ. Professor H~den has taught approximltely It diff.rent «lUrKS it lhe law school. but iMYS considered taullon as his specialty:

"'"

11'hDwu. in 1959. ProftiSOf Had.n

was gTinttd I ltaw of abstnoe to !-trw as SUit Commiasioner 0( R...... nut at the '"'llltst of Governor John Patter· son; and Whereas. he r.turned to his position

TIlE ALABAMA LAWYER

on the facutty of the School of Law of th~ Universit~ of Alabama in Stptem· ber 1%2. and in addition to his texh· ing duties st,",,,,d on the Uni'",rsit}' Re· search Committee. was cha irperson of the law l<;hoot Stlf-Study and Ptanning Committee. and was a member of nu' merous organizations. including the Ta x Counci l of the A.. ociation of American Law Schools. Extcu!ive Committee of the National Association of Tax Administrator,. Committee on State and Local Taxation of the Ameri· can Bar As.sociation. Board of Directors of the Alabama C.. dit Union. Board of Bar Examiners of the Alabama State Har. State Planning and Industrial Dewlopment Boan!. and the Alal>arna and Virginia state bars: and fl-1lereas. in addition to his services on the faculty of the School of lawai the University of Alabama, Profes.sor Haden se"",d as a ",.iling profes.sor al

BAR:-IES.

the Uni,-ersity of Virginia Law School during the Summer of 1949: and Whereas. Professor Haden has pub· lished numerous law review articln. book reviews and a textbook. Pundamental, of Pedoral Taxation: and 11'h~roos. aftu his .. tirement from the School of Law at the Uni,oersity of Alabama. Pr'lfessor Haden was desig. nated Professor Emeritus: and l~lleMlS. Professor Haden se"",d on the law faculty of the Stdson Universi. ty School of Law located in St. Pet..," burg. Florida on two 'lccasions for eight ~ars ar><l held the Di.<tinguished Professor of Law Chair at Mercer University Law School in Macon. Georgia for three ~ars: and II1h>r~as, upon his last retirement. Professor Haden and his bo1oved wife. the former Mary V. johnson. made their home in Huntsv ille. Alabama to be near their only child.

Jom: RANDOLPH

Florer/ce Admitted: 1950 Died: January 29. 1991

CANr;ON, EO.'1UNO R.

Dabney H(ltfler: and Whe.-eas. Professor Haden hu been bl ..... d with three grandchitdren and five great·grandchildren: and fl-1Ie.-eas. he hal b«n an 'lutspoken advocate for ad valorem tax ..f'lrm in the State of AlaI>arna and was dedicat· ed to his profes.slon of teaching; and Whereas. the Law School of the Uni· versity 'lf Alabama and the bar 'lf the State of Alabama ha,.. had the benefit 'lf Pr'lfessor Haden's knowledge of the law and his superlatiw qualiti .. as a teacher for moer 20 ~ars: and Whereas. it is in grateful memory and appreciation for all of his C'lntri. butions to his fellow man and especia!Iy t'l his profes.sion and to the bar of the Stale of Alabama that this resolu· tion is adopted. John W. Ewru

President, HwllSville·Madison Coun/lllJar Associa/ion

H UGHES. JAMES L EWIS, JR.

Binningham Admilled: 1940 Died: December 30. 1990 j\lcj\l IN~,

TttEODQRE DAVID. SR .

Comdffl Admittro: 19S2 Died: April 10, 1991

Cullman Admilled.- 1954 Diro: April 2, 1991

FARMER. CARL SEX1tlS

HILLER. CEORGE WAYNE

f)o/han

Gadsden Admillro: 1947 Died: March 18, 1991

Admilled: [929 Di~d:

/>larch 26. [991

FOWLER. TALBERT BASS. JR. Admit/ed: 1958 Diro: ~lmh 31. 1991

ROBERTSON. JOHN STEVEN Annis/on Admilled: 1988 Died: />larch 26. 1991

HATHCOCK. DOUGlAS WILBURN

SPEIGHT. JOHN JOSHUA

f)othan

Hu"ls",ilI~

f)othan

Admilled: [981 Died: ~lay 3. 1991

Admitted: 1913 Died: July 24. 1954

HUEY, THOMAS

E., JR.

Birmingham Admilled: 1933 Died: March I 1. 1991

THE ALABAMA lAWYER

W!LLlAMS, RALPH ROGER Tu$calooso Admitted: 1952 Died: May L9. 1991

July 1991 / 227

Consultant's Comer ThIl foilowmg is Q I"I'IIiN 01 tmd romrnmlal}' on an offiCtt (/ulomotioo ;~ Ihal !raJ currenl ;mporlqna 10 /'" /eg<1/ communilll. PrqlQrtd bv 1"- offICe aulomolior! consult""1 /0 the slat, NT, Paul8Qmslein. u'h(l$tl deu'S ani not necessarilV thau of the slale bar. This is Ih, 20Ih arlide in our "Qjmulll.l11l's Comer" _ies. II\! would like ta hear from ¥OIl, I>oth in cdfil/~ 01 tl>« articl, mil.", (DId w.wutions of lopia

SmIIU- 11M MMlIum-s11led

firm c: "-ckup N mort _ mort Largo: firms uptri. .ntt growlh difficulty, tile mendan! layoffs and reduced expectations for upiri ng p~rtn.u. it appur$ thlt the small. and medium-siud firms will bt all tht mort attracti~ to Iht uisling ~Ttntn and llSOCiales. IS wtll IS to newly admitt.d ....,mbtu. Therda ••. )'OU bKominC mon: atlraclivt; nWot Surt 1M ill/action is mort than skin

,rt

dftp. Comidtr a checkup lNo! 1001<$ il the iUIl's most critical 10 Iman. and medium-sized firms: profitability, <WOcial. d.VIIIOIImtnl. i""''lh and bu.ointu IlM:loprmnl.

Profitablllt, Thi$ alrM:It always i. the key iuue with IIIw firms. RegretWlly, many firms Sjlmltoo much tirot worrying Iboul it.

Advance to Ju ri~ a new level of law office automation, ~ fulun! In Low olfice aulOmltion It unfolding .nd Juoil has ana&«! .. the Itod... ln fuIl,fMlured

"""'~odv.~ today's technology systems )um offen Ti"",k~.nd

BilIin&- Managemwt Roponlng. TI\ISt A«ountlng. and~, Join ... in .... punuit 0I.,.m·

Ience. Wl1,," 01 caD your Juris Authoriud Dealer lOd.oy.

Juris. .-~

228 / July\99\

for fulure aT/kits.

II tht expmK ohhe othrr rqUilIy (mi· c:al issur:s. Gn)$$ pn::Iit,tOUI income ku the cost of delivering the urvic., i. oflen used I i a y"dstick to musun profitability. Jt il a poor measure, The . imple act of promoting all your lWOXialts to partner will cau.. a dramatic dec run in expenu, since usociatts' .."Iuiu an upensu while putners' draws Ire not. Yoo can ~... 65 ptr· emt gIUS proj'it, il you willi, mil .tin be dmgeromly unprOfitable. Profitabi li ty is Miler mu.ured by .~rage f« income pCr lawyer ptr }'tar. If your utilization ~ ralio of billable hours to total hours) i. hillh, 80 ptrcent or mo .. , and if )'Our rnlintion Inlio of ef(ecli~ rale 10 budgeted rate) is high, 90 pCrunt (If 50, thtn you Ire (mil will btl profitable. Trot, Mraf< let: illCOCn<, H I "'"'Hun of profitability, _ms 10 iloore tht issue: of upms.tS. but il has btnl my nperitl'lCt thai for lhose firms having. budget. the upensu 1C1~lIy track with ~ percenl of budget. Indeed, an e"1"'nst budget can be .."id to be self· correcting.

A..oc l_t . dev.l opmetrt This is tht ItasIappr«iatnl1'QPOl'li· bility of smIOli. mil rnediurrHiud firms. If you ignon, (If undtf\llllue: the impor' WIU 01 this. JIOU will 1M /rIlinin{) /lOOT futun competition, Do not prHllmt lhal your ilSsocililts are "h.lppy". Askl Each usociate, ~wn if thtrt is only one in tht firm, ,hould ha~ a road map of progrusion to partnership or principal stalw. !t should Ht pis, by ye~r, from fi"" year associalt Stltus to partn.r.hip threshold. There should bt .nnual nperuti0n51or blllllblt hours. effective rllt, tfficitncy in lelal research Ind malurity in the art of writil\ll. Progres· ,ively, )"Ju may wish to add require · menl. for supervising )"Junger associ. ates. proj.ct managemenl and businu.

dtYtlopmmt. At tht six·month MIniver· I.lry, and II I... t annually therun.r, .xh assoclal. should bt offered. well. thought·out critique of hi. work and givtn an oppOrtunity 10 comment 00 the work environment. tho quality 01 men· loring. J!aff suwort, tiC, 11wc punchli .... to • rrwe )/>oold llw.lys bt I st.!.temtnt that the ",,"odat. is (or U notl on track t(JWIrd principal stItus (or partnership). If not. what n«ds to be done 10 Id ,*k on track )/>oold bt offend.

Growth _ nd bu. I..... de ... lop-

-"'

This is anoth .. area where putner. IOmtlimes hide tlvi r hea<.b; in the Wld, hopinll the iuu. will go away. It will not. Even If you h.l~ no growth pllios, you must dtYtlop II) to IS percent now busineJl t'Ytry year to «>mptOSltt for "Iubge", Ihe lou of uist;nll di.nts through death, moving ......y (If chaos· i"lllnottM.r provider. 11wc kty que:stion i, most partners' minds is, "Where ..... ill this ne ..... bu.ine.. com. from?" Cood newsl A detailed study of firms ..... Ith viable business develOP ........1 plllU yield. nI the ra.ther ilStoonding diS(owry lhat 80 per«nt 01 new business camt (tOm I firm's uistil\ll client but. Do your clients know """'1Ithin{) you do, or do they prtsumt you are special· ists, like doctors, and cIo only whal you initially did for them? It is your respOn' sibilily to see thai )'Ou r di.nts are aware of the firm's lolal u rvice offtrings. Remind your clitnts of f1Wr¥OM~ prac· tiee skills. not just yours. Su_", E~ryIhing

mentioned lbow, from revenue tnhlnctment to Inocial. dtYtlo!lmrnt 10 businas planning. uk.. lime,.nd lhalleads 10 tht last tidbit, IX nc.lIent lim. monollers . ..... hich reo quires S(rupulou. ti~, •

THE ALABAMA lAWYER

Request for Consulting Services Office Automation Consulting Program SCHEDULE OF fEU, TERMS AND CONOmol'lS

Firm StU' I

Duration'·

''', 7d,.

,.,7'

3 days

'·7

4 ""

'''.

Ow. 10

",,,. CoIIII&W)'er S3OO.00

$1,000.00

$400.00

$1.500.00 $2,000.00 $2,500.00

S333.00

S 500.00

S3(17.00 $277.00

5250.00

·s......... 01 ' - n only (u"lu;!;ng 01COUMdJ • 'Durlotion rekn to tho ~ ",,·pmnilot ltId ......... ind" Ii.... ~ b\r tho _1\lnC in his own oIIiu ...... itt PRfIUInc documr..- lIId ncommrndationl.

I"""

-------------------_.---------------.----------------.-------------REQUEST FOR CONSULTING SERVICES OFFICE AUTOMATION CONSULTI/,\C PROGRAM SPOntortd by AlaN ..... Slate &lr THE FIRM

F;m~'~~~~~

Add~ss

City

ZIP

Conl~ p(rson

Ttille

T~I~hone j

Number ollMyotn _ _ ......' _ _ secrmnes othtn _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

otrl«SinOlhtT~;tia?

PRACTICE

PrKtict Arus ('" Uti~tion

MlritllTle

Corponot(

R~~I

Collections

Estale PlI.nning

Banking

EllItt

c.oo, Number of clients handlfd "mually

Numberofmattul

Numbtrofmaners handled annually

How often do you bill?

pruent l ~

<>pen _ _ _ _ __

EQUlP"ENT

tqUiP""'~"~'~I;~":"'~'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dall procasing tquiprnent (if any) ~tion p!'OCnsi"ll tq\Iipmtnt iif lfl)'J

WOfd

Cop,. t(juipmenl (if my)

TtltphonetqUipmtnt _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ PRQCRAM

" of emp/wil duiffd

Admin. Audit

Preferred time

mWIE

(2) WIE

Mlil this r«luut for service to the Alabama State Bar for Khedul ing. Send to the IIttention of Marga,..,t Boone. utcuth.'t omistant. Alaba","" State Bar. P.O. Box 671. MonlQomery, Alabama 36101. THE AUl.IWIA l.AWrt:R

July 1991 / 229

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F", S.1e, 391 Volume. 01 F2d. (Up·lodate): $4 .600 Phon . (205) 322·

..,..

F", s.ol., Southern Reporter. Vol . 1·200; Soothern Repotter 2nd Series. Vol, 1·237: Alabama Reporter. Vol. 266-295. Oclober lerm·1978; Alat».ma Reporler . Vol 331 So,2d-V0l. 485 So2d, Alabama Appellate CourlS Reports. Vol 46·57 . Alabama Digesl. Vol, 1·2 t . Shepa rd's Alabama CItatIons, Supplement. 1972: Appellant and Sou1hem Repons. Case Edit"'" Part 2. 1972; Supreme Court Repor1s. Case EdlHon . Par( 1. 1972. ConSlltulions, Codes. Acts. ele .. Statu!e Edilion. 1972: all Alabama Repons. Case Ed't""'. 1953: Cons(,(utlOOS. Codes, Laws. etc" Suppl&230 1 July 1991

_~$35

WANTED W.ntad, Code 01 Alllb<imII. current and update<j c.n Or writ. J. M•••• y R. lf., Jr •• 1738 Oxmoo. Ro. d. Blrmlngh.m. AI.b.m. 35209. Phon. 12051 870-1136. W. nt . d : Th . N.w M.xlco Sup •• m. Cou.. l . w Lib ••..,. P.O. Dr. w . r L. S. nt . F• • N. w M. xlco 87504 . is seeking <'lOI'lations 01 copies 01

.,. ___

.." ,,1 CIo&s<food COO'\' .... _ _ _ """' . . _

n..- . . , -. ." -... '-->"M OMs<!-. 0i0 _ ' " r.bpfIy. P O

FOR SALE

1799. Nallo,..,

nw Jooma/ of 11M Legal Profession.

We would be happy 10 prOVIde II lene, 01 ac~nowledgemenl su itable lor ta x deducHon purposes You can a lso deduci your poslage, Or wille uS and we may pay postage The joumals can be sent at Ihe less expanstve ' Iibrary rale' , POSITIONS OFFERED Po . IUon Off.r . d: AItOlney jobs . naliona l or federa l lega l emp loyment 'epo!. Highly regarded moothly deta,1ed lisling Of hundreds 01 auorooy and law· related iobs with the U.S. Government and olher pub l,c/private employers in Washinglon . D,C .. lhroughoutthe U S and abroad $32·3 months; $55·6

... _

d50 _ " <7_,

"",,"00'10 ,,"'"

•._""' ......

!1m "56. """"1l""""I. _ _ 311'01

months 1111 new fObS each issue. Pub· lish<>d SInCe 19711 F. d . r. 1 R. po... . 1010 V • • mont Av . nu • • N.W .• 1.8-A8. W•• hlngton , D.C. 20005. Phon. (2021393-3311 . VisaJMC Po. lllon Off. r. d, Peral8gal fnslruCtors needed NatlOnlllly accr<>diWd paralegal lraining program is accepting resumes !rem members oIlhe stale bar ;"teres!ed in pa rl·llme instructor pOlilions in Ihe

B"mmgham and Montgomery areaS (nt....t . d penon, ehould •• nd • r •• um . to C. rolln . W. ,tf.lI. N.tlon. ' Ac.d. mw 10. P ••• I.g.1 Studl•• , Inc. , P.O. 80x "7, Mid· dl. lown. N.w Yo,," 10940. Po. IUon Off. r. d: Oissalisfied? Non· practocing altorrrey has lound proven way to bu il d a passive slX·figure annua l tncome WIthout a boss. emp loyees or debt Seeklflg two or three key people to

dup li cate my business in your market . Can be developed pari t ..... For Inl0'· m . Uon • •• nd • •• um . to Ol . n . T. mpl •• 1855 O. t . Drlv •• Sull . 160. 8lrmlngluom. ... I. b ..... 35244. PoelUon Off. red, Sman linn ("",s!han leo) wUh bus ....ss pracllce has irmledi· I;'. a!e need !or attorney WIth years ' e xpeli<mce II1t8X. corporate and esla!e matters All inqullies confldenual. S . nd wit. to M. n. g ln9 P. rln . r. P.O. 80x 1885. 81 .... lngh. m . AI . · 35201.

1I'IIr1.'' ' ' '

"!lUI

SERVICES S.rvlc.: Me<jical malP1aClice and per· sonaI injUry, rec<><d , e _ and irwestrga· lion P . ggy Smith And . r . on. H• • lth C... Con. ult.nt • . can provide a detailed reporl "" the streng!hs and weaknesses 01 your medical Iec<><d. M<>dical resBarch outlinirIQ the standard of care and ass iSlance In Obla lni ng appropr;ale medICal . xperts is ""'Iuded a. pa'l 01 lhe work product. Twenty years ' exper ience In the health ca,e indUS!ry, R•• pond to 15 Splnn. k. r

THE ALABAMA LAWYER

Lana. Naw O.l aa n ,. Lo"I,lana 70124. Ptto.-.I$Oot)2Q.57&O. 5 ... lc. , O,vo,c. cn ••. p.ns.on . xp.<t Pentoon ectuwy _ 11'..,. ..... 01 KCI\Ied IOQhI!I Stenda.d I.. \of ",,<11.n v.""'bon. Incoun tutomony 10...... u.ly I." c.n D.e .. ld Godofak,. ca. Cona"llIng G...up•• eo ....... n a .lack campen,. 1'211 , t A........ North ••1..... Ingham , Alab.ma 35203. Phon. 12051323·7000.

del"""••", 1*'''0''

S . ... IC.: Atlanta. Geo<g ia o;:o-counsel Do you need a G80fgla lawye' as co. coun",1 10' plainlOW. p ••• on al Injury case? I ha .... 15 year,' ,xperl8TlC•• nd hml my ptecbca to paI'IO<'\8l "'JUry.nd ...........' ~ C. II JI_ld L.

Hili. , 14.04) 3211 4400. No _ IIJ· lion is madt iJb<A;1 tJw _Iii, '" 1M hgQJ /0 H .,.,/oon,..; ... tJw upmr. '" tJw ~ PI' obrmilw such "..,..;,a.

......as

S . ... lo. , W.onglu] dnlh. pa.son.l ,nj ... y Exp ••1 .Ct..." •• woll tasufy to

Yalua 01 iI;II1 /utII', ....-..gs '" woeng'" <lM1II .-.c:I ~ "'tu'Y cases. ~ 01 Socoety 01 Acl"""." Expa<oen<:ed in court. can _ in o:lasogr1 01 structured IGut.ment c.n D•• hl Godol.k,. C.. II Con,,,llln. 0 ...,,1', a Corroon a •• • ck oompanr , 1921 1,1 A • • " ... . Norlh, .lrmln9h.m, ..... bama 35203. ......" . 12051 32:J..

,_.

S • •• lc. , Trame .ng,n•• ,. consul· l,nV.xpa'l w,'n... G.aduat •.

'''g''-

On July 1. 1991, Ihe Alabama Secretary of Sta t. s topped accep~rtQ 5'~8'

tinanemg statemenl forms and lhe 8".1 0" lICe-I I raquest lor Inlotmation as Ihe siandard tor filing in Alabama, FOf Ille paSI year. the Secretary 01 State Unffofm Commerdal Code $&CIion ha$ bean accepting both aize tarms Wllhout ella.gng the $.2 non-standafd torm lee

The newty approved standard forms lot fq 81.1he 8'.10" l/CC-t financoog statemenl; 8'.10" l/CC-3 statemenl lot COI'ItnlJallOn. partial .elease. ass<grvnent. amendmenl Of lemII08l1On; 8"Kl0- UCC-E e)(tenSlOn Iorm; end the 5-xa- UCC·lt .equest lot inIonTIatlOO form.

Any other II.Ize forms win cons<de<ed l'ICWl-stand8ld and win reqUl.e lhe add ltiona f $.218& when submttted 10 the lICC office for fil ing

Ptln·lIme Allor""V PoSItion Avllila"" Up 10 32 _

pat

Sat ..... Range - 3 1 . 1 161O .... _

.......... I copy 01

«~

(1'10-111"'1

v.ca...., ...,,""""_,•• cantM:I

A_ _ • CNoI C<iounMi U. S. DejII. oj HUO 1'0 ", W.,500.. _ BI"","Il"'""'. .<.I-'" _ 3 ' " (2Oi!) 2VO-1e33 eoo~

II U I) IS AN EQUAL O P PORTU NITY E MI'LOYER TI!~:

AU\BAMA LAWYER

_iii,

IIJI;"" " "",. iJb<A;IIM "'1M hgaI ........, /0 k "",~" .. d ... IM upnIisr '" IMM<yoF~such""""

S ••"I"., Examination 01 qU1IS11OTIII(I CIoco.rnantI HancMt""'O. i'YPI''''''tng .-.c:I rata tid axaminat,onl I",ernalion.lty court.quetdiad axpen WI1neSI. 00pI0maut. Amao'IC.n &.rd 01 ForenSIC Document

E _ s. MetrtIat. Amar<cal'l Socllty 01 OL>ll.tfOned Docurnanl Examl""' •. lhe IntG,n.t'OfIIII A"oclltion lor tdenlllica· bOO, the B" t"" ForIr1Iic ScI&TlCe Society

tt>e Nal<Onel Auor::/atlr;on 01 Crimina! Delan.. Lawya .. RGtlred Chl(ll Docu· ment Exam,na,. USA Ct labo ralories H.na M.,.r Gldfon, 219 M."r· menl D,I". , "'''.''al • • 0.0.,,1. 30e01. ""'_14.04) ~:M1.

and

. . ... Ie., Carl"ied tOlanslC doc.......u . _ . BS . MS" grlklJele 01..--· .. ty ....1eCI .HoCIanI ac:toooI in document

......... uon

~ nal/namat s.,y. anl..n V....' I"al .'pe,"nea in "811 .-.c:IlaCIe<aI courIa 01 AI8bama. FoIgary, .11 •• 11Oonl llId dOCUl'l'llTli .~thent;cny ax. mlnilloni In non·Cf4 m;nal mane" Ame.ican AcaClamy FOtenlic SclElTlCas. Ame"ean Bo •• eI Fo.enlle Document Exarrwtarl, American Socl8ty Oueslionad Document Enm,,.. .. L. ma. MUI •• , P . O • • 0. 1540S • • Irmlngh.m , AI.bama 35251. ""'_ 1205)_

.....10.: k.

,...x,..........., .. Dlhllf legat WOr1< I, not permlll-". _

1la...1"., Legal 'Isea,c/'I help Expat'· .nCld Ino.n.y. mamba. 01 Alabama State Sa< IITICtI 1971 Acceu to stat" law I,b'.,y WESTlAW .",lI ab la. P.o mpt deadlinl aaa , ches Wa do UCC· ' ....ches S3S/ho~r •• ,.h Kllh"n ' •• n.lI , 112 Moo,a 1I .. lIdfng, Monlgom ••" ... tlb.m. 3610••

.....

U.S. DEPA RTMENT OF I"OUSING AND URBAN DEVElOPM ENT BIRM INGH AM. ALABAMA

~Of

"."k

Phon.(205)277 _ 7131 . N<> ~_

NON·STANDARD FORM FEE IMPOSED Ihe

Wed, p<OieISIOI"IIfq..- Forty yean' '''pa''enc. Hoghwav and C'Iy CIes<9n • ua"ic convol CIaYiceI. city zonng Wr4\e o. catt 10' ••• u .... la •• W. C ............. . 21 . . I.........t Dri..., Monlgom.r" A..... m. 36101. - ( 2 0 6 ) 272-2353.

s.c... ..... ,-" wm...s.. WiI

leIiIty 10 • •......, .-.c:I ctunong.

""'*_ ..

years' seo..llIII ~ A.b.llatot to. Nlt"",al ASSOC'.'''''' at Sacu"l'f o.a..... Ame'lCan Art)otrlt"'" AnocIMIOO. American StocI< Exchange

c.. _

in COU1 at

lftIilrauon r-ong

Mamb" N.tion.1 FOflnsic Cente . Chuck ,chlldh.u.,. O"tl Sho ••• tn" •• lma"t eo .• lno •• Gulf ....,...• • ... t.ba..... Pho_(205) ..... 191 .• J~ly

1991 1231

ALABAMA STATE BAR

EXPO '91

Hilton Exhibition Hall Tband..y, July 181 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Friqy. Jab-19: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Jaly 20: 8:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m.

Grand Prize Drawing:

Exhibitor Listing

An IBM PSl ..... ith color monilor. printer and software package will be givtn away to some lucky vil;itor to the Alabama Slate Bar EXPO '91. Visitors who havt their exhibit hall passes validated at a minimum of 15 booths then win deposit them in the registration barrel as they leave the hall and have an opportunity to win the computer as we ll as other priZel. The drawing will be held Silturday morning du ring the business .session. You mull be pruent to win.

Other Prizes: PC ABNnetIBM-based communication software package with f.1ic rosoft Window & mouse Sponsor: INET Company of America Set 1991 Consumer and BorfO\\.'er Protection Sponror: Lawyers Cooperative Publishing U.S. Master Tax Guide on Disk (1991) Sp()nS{)r: Commerce Clearing House

Bo.th Nllakt-

1 .................................................................... LEXIS路 4 ........................................... Lanier Worldwide. Inc. 6 ........................................... .AC3 Computer Center 7 ........................ Birmingham Publishing Company 13 .......................................The Network Connection 14 ...... .Attorneys Insurance Mutual of Alabama. Inc. 15 .............................. 1>lanagement Advisory SelVices 16 ......................................................... OataTech. Inc. 17 .............................................. The Michie Company 18 ..................................... West Publishing Company 19 .............................. ABNnet. The Lawyers Network 20 ............................................... Parkside of Alabama 21.................................The Alabama Legal Directory 31 ............................l.awyers Cooperative Publishing 32 ...................................... VaICom Computer Center 33 ....................................Commerct Clearing House 34 ..........................................5pectra Image Systems 35 ..................................... Insurance Specialists. Inc.

o -

LANIER ValCom'

INSUR..... NCE SPEC . Al,.'ST8.

LEXIS'

\)"

~f~ 14 .

PAilKSIDE LooI,.<1I " .."".. _. I..,.

232/July 1991

tahl"i, ...

West

Publishing Company

' !'Ie. no<

~UCHIE~ "' "''_''._ ' ''''

Centef

1991 IS DIFFERENT! IT'S THE BEACH!

ANNUAL MEETING JULY

• Group Breakfasts

1 99 I

• Alumni Luncheons

• Alabama Law Institute • Sand, Sun & Saltwater • Fishing, Golf & Tennis

and more! Learn tactics for using technology to increase Ihe productivity and efficiency for your practice.

Discover how lawyers employ the latest document assembly, database

spread sheet and substantive applicatioTlS in their work. Leam the latest in technology systems and how /0 decide what is right for you.

._---_ .... ------------..----TECHNOLOGY INTHE - - -

LAW PRACTICE PERDIDO BEACH HILTON ORANGE BEACH

GOLF TOURNAMENT Friday. July 19. 1991 / Perdido Golf Cl ub • Field

limit~d

to 72 pl~Yt'"

IlaKd on handica.,.

• Men play from men's lees; Iadiu play from lad ies' tees. • Teams established by commiUtt •

play.. driwl: pl;o)'el'$ ~lect but d.ivt and soon

until bllil is holed OU\.

ALABAMA STATE BAR EXPO Thursday. Frida}·. &. Sa turday Hilton ElthibiUon Hall REFRESHMENTS • PRIZES

Registration available th ro ugh July 12. 1991. For more information concernin g regist1'iltion. call (205) 269· 15 15.

7- ,

I t 1(- ,

/Ir. Ge"9t' ","C ... lck ~"t, III

Sop,,,, Ct.,t . f Al.b ... ~4~ D.nter A~ . lI.n'g ..... y AI. 36130