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luly 1992

ON THE COVER, '!"he 1992 Abb.lma Slale Bar Annual 111m;", ia m urning to the W),nfny 1I00el In Birmingham. Come d~ the city and III maQ)' attncti0n5 . 11 CM1' agalnl

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238 IJuly 1992



PRESIDENT'S PAGE

II Ii

hi. is Ill)' final report to)/QU thi' yoar. It would be a grM. understatement to say that the past 12 months for 1m haw been e~citing, interesling and totally.twa.ding. I can report that the Alabama State Bar had an active. and [ think. produc\i\ll' year. I feel C<lmfO}rtable reporting to jlQU that it is in .hape, fiscally !<lund and well·managed. I. however. cannot take any credit for that condition. The credit for OUT bar'. soundness and stability goes entirely to my predecessor. and the board of commissioners who have, over the Y"ar •. insi.ted upon sound fiscal management and productive pro-

grams. \\Ie are also fortunate to have Reggi. Hamner as OUT uecutjVfc director. Our general counsel. Bob Norri., i. outstanding and the remaining member. of the staff UI' dedicated and hardworking.

In thinking about my final report

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decided that you might be interuted in

hOUri to careful review. study and debate of matters which come before our board. Much has been considered over the put }"e/lr and it would be impossible for me to outline all of these accomplishments. I will. h~r. attempt to review a ff\\' of the significant actions. Expan,lon of Dlldplinary Commillion ~ Lall July the board approved and submitted to the supreme court a recom· mendation that the number of members 0/ the Disciplinary Commission be increased from three to four and that the fourth member be a non·voting chairman who would serve a fi""-Y"ar term. The commi.. ioners felt that this non-voting member would provide an improvement in the current disciplinary procedure and would add continuity to the Disci_ plinary Commission. We are fortunate that Commi .. ioner Vic Loll of Mobile agreed to accept this difficult position and has served .....,11 in hi! font ~ear as chair-

some Itatistics about the State Bar of ~. Alabama, its makeup and the location of Legal Education Tas k Porce ~ The memben within our state. At this writing, supreme court requested that the bar organize a task force to review slandards there are 9.728 members of the bar. We and procedures for approval of non·ABA have 8.235 members located within Our accredited law schools. Our task force state and 1.493 memben with offices out· sought advice from the deans of the nonside the state. Our bar is becoming more accredited law schools located in Alabama and more urban. ~ counties of Jefferson. with respect to the proposed standards in Montgomtry. Mobile. Madison, and Tuscaloos.a have 5,902 laW)'en or almost an attempt to insure that these standards 72 percent of the total lawyers located would not impinge upon the abilities of within our state. The largest circuit in our the law schools to operate in an effecti ..... state i. the Tenth Judicial Circuit (Jeffer· mann ... The rel>Ort, a. adopted b~ the Phillip E. _ma, .... son County) with 3.026 lawyers while the board of bar commi.. ioners. recommends smallest circuit currently is the 36th Judi· that the court adopt certain minimum tial Circuit (Lawrence County) with IS standard. for non-ABA ",credited law lawyers. school. w;thin and outside the state of Alabama. The supreme Our bar is relati'·ely young with 4.970 people who were court currently is reviewing this report and I assume will act admitted in 1980 or later. Th"-$O lawyen represent 51 percent upon it in the coming months. of the total lawyers currently licensed to practice. Pemale. Amondment to Pro Hac Vice ~ The board of commission· represent 18 percent of our number. Based upon the female ers approved an amendment to Rule Vll of the Rules Govem. enrollment in law schools. this percentage should increase ing Admission which relates to non·resident attom~ being rapidly over the next decade. admitted to practice pro hac vice. The commission·s action Unfortunately. discipline i. a rather large function of our was taken because of what was felt were significant shortcombar. The Central Counsel's office received. in 1991. 1.043 ings unde r the exi.ting rule. The supreme court. b}' order complaints about our memben and has recei.'ed through June dated March 27. 1992. approved the amendment of Rule VII II, 1992 310 complaints. Files closed with discipline in 1991 and has established an effective date of this rule for October I. .....,.. 98 and mes closed with discipline through June II, 1992 1992. Under the new rule a non·resident attorney mUlt make .....,re 45. Lawyer diSCipline and the diSCiplinary process contina verified application to the Alabama State Bar rather than 10 ue to receive much attention within our association and from the local bar commissioner. The commission believes this rule the public. will significantly improve the method for admission 0/ non...ident attorney> to practice pro hac vice. I thank the memberl of the board of bar commilsionen for r u k Poree On Profeu ionaUlm ~ There has been much their faithful attendance. service. attention and sUppOrt during written and discussed in Alabama and elsewhere concerning the past 12 months. Every laW)'er in our state should be proud of the dedication and commitment of thes. 57 men and the decline of professionalism. ~'eralstate bars ha,.. adopted women who serve without compensation and devote many professionalism programs and our task force studied several

240 1 July 1992

THEALABAMA LAWYER


programs before making its report. The task force made several r«ommendations to the commission. induding the definilion of professionalism is follows: "The pursuil of Ihe learned art of Ihe I<lw <IS ~ common calling. wilh a spiril of service 10 Ihe publit and Ihe dienl. and undertaken wilh compelence. integrity and civility." The task fo. ce also .ecommended and Ihe commission appr(M'd a la~rs' c.ew.• ules of engagement and amend· menl 10 Rule 9 oflhe Mandatory Continuing Ltgal Educalion Rules which ""Iuin'> for new admiUeos an eighl.hour course in professionalism. The work produci of this task force WiS lruly outstanding! I belie--e every la~r in Our stale who takes lhe tilTll' 10 ,..,~d the cfffd ilnd rulel of engagement and other findings will agree lhat if_ adhere 10 these ilIpirational ]/0/111 Our life and the level of professionalism would be Iremendous· ly improvt'd. Ltgi. lali,·. Icll. ity _ Thf ltale bar. during Ihe palt 12 monlhs. has been fairly acti .. with the !kgislaturt. l.aot fall I learned lhal a joint legislali.. COmmillee was considering a tax on profe$!ionaJ ",rvicos as a part of the ta.>: .eform package under consideration by the ugislalure. This ta.>: had been con· sidered in several stales and was implemenlid for a ptriod of si . monlhl in Florida. We fell Ihat the tax was Ihe ullimate miill'ry tax on consumers and Wal ill-adviiW and ilJ..concei,-ed al this time. We "..,re able to ptrsuade the Transactional TalC Suocommillee that a tax on legal ill'rvices w<Juld not be in the best inleresl of the citizens of this slate and the prOp<>!.al was not included in the legislation considerfd this yea •. The board of bar commissioner! also continuid its invuivf:· menl in the Department of Industrial Relations' allempl 10 revise the Workers' Compensation Acl in Our state. The board fell initially that the department's bill. which crealed an adminislrali.,.., law judge syslem 10 handle workers' wmptnsa· tion. was nOI in Ihe best interesl of Ihe citizens of thi' ,tate and "'Quid create an unneeded. expensive level of bureaucracy to handle workers' comptnsation cases currently handled b}' Our judicial syst~m. The board of comminioners' oppol;iti<Jn was based only upon the administrative law judge syslem and the state bar did not take any pol;ition other than in O!l\XIsition to the admini.trative law judge Iy.tem, Steve Ford. chair of the Wo.kers· Compensation law Section of the bar. and Bob l« of Birmingham spent many hours in Monlgomery during the legislati.,.., Si'$!ion on behalf of the bar and Si'rved well. Addition to bar huildin, - The addition to the new bar building has been completed ilnd has nOW been occupied for approximately lix weeks. The building is vel)' funclional and hM adequate room 10 hoUSl' all 22 fulltime employrts of the ba •. Wo.k is now in progress renovating Ihe old building . When completed. " .. will have room at IMI to provide to Our membership with meeting spacel and <Jther services that simply ha.,.., not befn a .... ilable before. E,.. ry member of our associalion will be proud of this building and it should serve tho needs of the stale bar _II into the next century. Our fund drive il continuing. As of this dale we have received pledges of 'ppr<Jlimately $1.200.000 and have •eceived conlributions of approximately $700.000. I continue to be disappointed in the response of the majo.ily of members THE AlABAMA LAIWEII

of the bar in Ihis effort. l.et me hasten t<J add that we have had marl)' members who ha.,.., given lirelessly of their time. talents and mont)' to support this effort. If you have not I'd conlribuled. I hope)'Ou will consider dQnating at least $100 per year for the next three )'ears 10 help pay for this building. I cannot begin to thank all of the people who ha'" tirele$!ly and unselfishly gi,-en of their time 10 help me during the past year. Wade Buley. Billy Mellon. Sam Franklin and Vic Lott haw never refused to take time to talk with me aboul p.oblems.1 "ill nt1.-er be able 10 repay them for thei r kindne$! ilnd thti. support. They are all fine people and outstanding lawyers dedicatid to ill'rvice of OUr profession. We are indeed fortunate to have a ptrson of Clarence Small's intelligence and abilily who is willing to gi"" hi. extensi"" tal~nts 10 the service oflhe ba •. l know his preSidential year will be outstanding. I would bot totaliy .emis.s if I did nol lhank my secretary. Rhonda. lIomilo. who has "taken on" additional responsibililies far beyond lho", she envisio""d when .he came to "'Qrk with me years ago. Many of my clients lell me thol Ihey prefer 10 talk with her about their caselthan 10 have to "deal with me: I will never be able to thank her adequately for her assistance and support. SptCial lhanks go to member! of the Lee Counly Bar A$Iociation who have lupported me throughoul the years ilnd ren_ dered advice and assistance to me during the past year and have been most understanding of my ·other job" when Il)'ing 10 arrange OUr normal profe$!ional9:hedule. The members of my firm hi.,.., befn supportive ilnd always have been quick to encourage me and 10 offer assistance when requested. J also would be lotally remis.s if I did not thank my wife. Chris. for hu encouragement. support and advice concerning matt ... relating to the bar and my personal9:hedule. My year as your president has been. without a doubt. the highlight of my p.ofes.sional career. I have been constantly amaze<! and ptrSOOlllly challenged by the didicalion of mem o be .. of our bar from all backgrounds and philosophies who annually \'Olunteer thollS.lnd. of hours to the service of OUt profession. I have never asked a lawyer to assist the bar who has not quickly ilnd willingly acceplid. I haw been honored to serve you as president. Words are inadequal. to upress my appreciation. I hope thaI some progrw has been made during the past yeu for tho betterment of our profession. •

NOTICE In the Ma1 1992 Iss", Of TIle Alabama La..,....'. Joe Nathan Dtckaon was inco"9CI~ identified as an auomlly in an artic le in Ihe "Bar Briefs" section reoardtno lIis ~ntmllnt to Ihto Stale Pe<son .... Board. Did<son Is nol a member of the Alabama Stale Bar rIO< is he Iicoosed to ",actioot in Alabama. This incor'9Ct In!om1alion was prov'od. ed Ie TIle A!abamd La..".., by 1he State Personnel Board . TIle edi\<)lS 'eg,el any confusion 'egarding this.

July 19921 241


EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT Out of Sight - Out ofMind

II;'; II

Y "",il bag of . tWlt date prompte<l the IUbject matter of this column. Bur in mind that the circumstances 00 not relate to an undevelo~d thi rd-world counlry, but to Alabama's criminal justice system. In a typical week,l will receive four

or five leners asking the bar"s help with ru!,«\ to perceived injustices inV<llving the incarceration of apt'"

son somewhere in OUr penal sj'$tem. More often than no!. I can readily see that there is little or nothing I or th.

bar Can do; howeve r. this is not

always the case. Some of the matters I rocontly pursued, becau~ of a ring of truth. frankly >ear. me----becau ..

"ther., but for the grace of God, go

'"I am talking about persons being lost in Ou r criminal justice system. The mOre common requests inV<llve

getting a court·appointed lawyer In visit the prisoner at leu! once since the appointment or obtaining a tran_ script from a low .. court proceeding: howe~r_ I r«enlly receiwd two Imen that lotemed too preposterous to belie"e - but I did belie"e them becaus~ of I po •• ible ring of truth. The names and locales inl'(l\w=d will not be identified to spar. furthe r embarrassment. One j.iled inm.te was ar~sted August 14. 1991 and arraigned August 21. 1991. I receiwd a letter from him on March 9. 1992 asking for help , as he was "on a one-way railroad to hell". He had been locked up six and a half months. had seen a lawyer twice for about a minute before. hearing, and had rtceiw=d no bond reduction hearing and no speedy trial. Relatiw=s had purportedly rontactfii the appointfii la~r who complained of how little he was paid by the state. I! was obvious to me the man had betn jailfii too long. if believable. with no meaningful hearing for an arrest on a $«(Ind degrto assault and burglary charge arising from a dispute with. common l.w wife with a known drug problem. I wrote the presiding judge who responded th ....: "I .pprtciate jI<Iur <ailing this to my aUention. As • ,.. ult. hi> case was disposod 0( with • ju!}, vtrdict. find i"ll him guilty 0( .... ult in tho third dog ..., with ... nt.ne. 0(

242 1 July 1992

12 month> hard Wlor ond eudit "",nl in <OnIilltmtnt con· tinuous .in« August 16. 1991. "In . 11 f.i' ....... 'Mr. X'.' lengthy ill<..coration bolor. trial woo tho I.ull 04 thr court ')'>tem and not hi. '''''rta;>pojnttll.ttomey."

I was glad [ wrote the judge. An Ar my office' wrot e mt con· ceming his brot~"'s IS-month len· tence in a county jail. Tho prisoner. during his brOlther's vi.it. had nO) "time card" showing time lerwd or time remaining. His tS_month lentence began July 10. 1991 and on the February 16, 1992 visit to his brother. ~ I... med that the county sheriff would nOlt assist his brother in determining his time card status. The brother was coneeme<.! that the state had no rorord of hi> brother's incarceratiOln. [ wrote the state prison cOlmmissioner who responded April I. 1992: "You. (my) ... umpti"" that the Stat.lo.;..rlmtnt 04 Cor...:tionsJ u not .w.r. thO! 'Mr. X' is inc.reer.ltd i. <Ono<t. Our rtc<>'ds indicate tNt ho was selltenced J.nuary 22. 1990 to fivt )1<0" .nd r,te •• tIl on .ppeal bond on Feb, u.T}' 28. 1990. W. 11.>,.. ,..,.i""d no furth .. information lrorn tho .. ntenting court since tNt time." I! was suggtstfii that [contact the circuit clerk to det.r· mine the stal .... 0( "~'r. X's" case to see if ~ had been re· arrested (he obviously had. or had never be released). I for· warded thi> information to the broth ... [ al50 advistd the bar commi.. ioner in the circuit 0( this situation. I ;un reminded of the Kingston TriO" song about the MTA. wherein t~y asked about Tom Dooley. "Did he ever return?" "No. he never returned and his fate is stili unl ...med." Thue recent incidents convince me that this bar must become more vigilant to see that thOle plactd in our sys. tem are not 100t and kK:ked away without due I'roce~ of law. The rourt system and the state prison system should not tolerate even thelot t,,'U miscarr~s of justice. I sug· gellt that OUT local bar usodations consider some moni· toring of our county (and city) jail populatioru; to imure that our citium are not therein "lost". •

THE: AlABAMA [..\WYE:R


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LEGISLATIVE

WRAP-Up

Bg ROBERT L McO.JRLEY, JR.

(OfTl~fI$lOt ion

M"y 18, 1992 IIfttr pus;ng II ":orkn"s liW, ~onllr ... ional rap.

5 -109 tAd 92-6(8) ProYides for liaruu.. 01. pelWFU ...-ho I rt ho mebu ildeu when consl ruction

pOrtiQnmtnl plan,,, five-unH>tr-ga.Il00

ucwh SIO.ooo.

Tht AJ,,1No1l\ll l.egislatll'. "djournW

gasolillt we and 1M two stalt budgets. Pailing to rtctivt nnal consideration wert lilt 32 tax reform bills. Tom Car-

ruthus of Bi rmingham and Professor

S-122 (Act 92-539) Allbaml Work mln's Compensation law reviled.

Jim Bl)'(C. Univtl1ity d A\;lbarna law pro. fusor.lIolintd tht respect 01 both tho: proponents and opponents of WI reform. I'rofusof 81')'« _ .. chief consultant to both tho: Tax Rdorm Com. millH and to tilt lftislltun:'s axnmilIff which wu chllirtd by former Chid

Cove.nor,

Just~ 80 TO<bert. As is often the C3S(, tilt JUte now looks t o tht toUrt 5)'Sttm for IOlving its problems os the "equity funding" we for ICIlooIs is scheduled for

l,i,,1 in MontgGmery Circuit Court on Auglillt 3. 1992 in the roruolidat<><l C3$Q 01 Alabama Coalition for &lui/II v. Coo_ CUi IIrml ;md lfarp0" tI. Gowmor GUl/flrm/. 1M Legislalun: ~ befon: it this year 1.S32 bins. Of IhtH 331 pused fur 22

puctnt. Howtvu. of thue 337 bill s which ~. ]80 ~n: loci! bills lind 9$ mOff wert ipproprilltion bilb o r &llt with liute Igencies_ Clenir, 275 bills, or 82 perttnt of those bills passed,

Nod 00 dirtct stltewidt ~iclotion. Resolulioru gaiM<!, hil/her ac:c'l'Llnce of ,doption with 89 peretnt of.n U$()lu· tions introduced being passed. Some of Ih~ 50 billi that could have $Orne d~gr« of ltattwid~ application a .. as follows: S-93 (Ad 92-626) [rKliaN i .. now includ~d i15 "minori_ tin" lor affirmati .... action prQllums.

SENATE

S-246 (Act 92-588) Citin rTIIY pro:Md~ for thl: ~e of a liummons IUld complaint in lieu of I custodi.il arrest for !hi: vioIilion 01 lily ordinance punilNble as II Clus C MisdemeiOOF not ilWOlving vioim«. drugs or lIkohot. 5032 1 (Act 92-607) Villi SlItllt tu-Bili repuls SectiOlU 22-9-1 10 22-9-79 Ind provides I new slatewid~ system for registering births, dUlh$. ma.riages. divo. cu. and adoptions. S-324 (Act 92-6001 Attorney,' license leu will in<reale from SISO to S200 d lettive Octo/:It. I, ]991 and to S250 on October I. 1993.

HOUSE

TOTAL

S-365 (Act 92-6(1) Amfnds fJ3A-S-W to.lClcl to the list of crimel punishible &I capilol offenses: mu rder when the victim i$ under ]4 ynTl of a$: mu rder whon the vicilim i$ in a CI ' or hoult when the shot was fir~d from outside: an d murder Irom a drive-by shooting. 11_254 ( Act92 _186) ~rs' Bill of Rights lind Uniform Rrvtnue Procedures Act." " -594 (Act 92-52') Amrndtd SettiOlU 8·6- 10 and 8-6- 16 connrnin, idminilt . itiw ceiU-r and desist onltrs from the Alib.lma Securities Commilsion. " -60S (Act 92-2271 Oocket fHI ........ inc: ...ued 10 pn:lYid~ mont)' for court per$Onnel and Ol>".ations due to shortagel caused by proralion. Dill ricl court len increased Irom $59 10 $&I Ind drcuit cou rt lee. from $95 to SilO. The Aliblml t..o.w [",titu to drafted lhe foIlowinQ bill.$:: UCC 2A· lns,fS, lJCC 4A·F\Inds TrUI$fers M>CI Probate Pmct· duft. All pw.td one house of the LogisLilun without oppoIOilion only 10 die on Ihe Specill Ordo. Co.lor>dar of the ~­ and house the lui dloy of the session_ Tho Innual metlin~ of [he Alab.1fl1l1 I.."Iw I nllilut~ will b~ h.ld ai' p.m., Thursdly. July 16. 1992 al the Wynfrt)' Holel in Birmingham du ring Ihe stale b.1r·J annual meellng. For more information, contacl Hob McCu rlt)'. Alab.1fl1l1 t..o.w [nltitule. r .O.

Bo:< 1425. TUJUloou.. Alabama 35486 Or phorK (205) 3-48-74 11. •

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244 / Julylm

THE AlMiAMA lAWYER


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BUILDING ALABAMA's COURTHOUSES TUSCALOOSA COUNTY COURTHOUSE 8g SAMUEL A /WHORE. JR.

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Wl)Td which muns "BliCk WITTio,", tm lime ......... u the rh'rr which flows thrOUllh the county lind. the giant Indian chid who wu killed by Dr Solo" men in 154llat the Battle ofMauviLa. Although mounds found in Tum,· !oos.iI County art evi<len« that aborigi. nal vil/agts once wert louted there, no significant Indian towns survived to the period of Amrrican Kltlemen1. The first white sdtkrs cvnr to the lI.tI from the Carolinu. Ceorllil lind Ten ... _. in 1816. TM town tlw thry IOuncltd_ incorpo~ltd ~ 13, 1819.

as Tusaloosl on De«m·

The town of Tusc.l1ooSI hu served as the only county UII of TUlnloon County, u~pt fOf one brid interlude when the cou rthouse wu mowd just outside the town', corpor1llt limits to ~ place clOlied Newtown. No fewer than nine upu~tt f~ilititl ltave .. "",d u the courthouse of Twaloosa County.

TIlE Al.ABAMA LAWYER

The first rtfen'nct to I coul'\hous( in !he county wu midi: in the notia of I mtdinQ called in JUlUiry 1820 for the purpose of electing Tusuloou town offictn. Nothing is known of this build· ing nap! th.at il was prob<obly a temp<>r1Iry Jtrudurt built of logs. It is believed th.at this counhoust was located at the southwest corner of prt •• nt·da~ 4th Strut and 22nd Avenue, where toda,y then' is a parkinQIoI for TwalooSl city

vehiclu. The nut )'tlr, in HUt, the courtl I«n' rncwtd to the Rising Vin ... I.odgo No.4 M.uonic lUll. Its Ioution is not euctly known, but Wil probllbl~ the ..... tha$t COrTIH of Crftnsboro A\'m1IO and 61h Strett. The county PlIid 1M Muons 111 Ulnwol TI'Iltal of $SO for the \I$f of their buildi,.,. In 1822, Ihe !'>tople of Tusuloou County voted to f1'lO\'t. their cou~ to I third sitt. the sitt located outside Tuscaloosa's corporate limits. This tilTH'

"brick courtllcJwe was built in" pIKe thm ulltd Newtawr>. This ITI'lI is now, put of TUJuloou. c,lI.d Wut End, Hen' is how the location of courtllcJwe number thTft came into aisttnce, William Ely wu the land i\ient for the Connecticut [}elf Uld Dumb A"ylum, In 1819, Congrw nwIe a grant of a town· ship of lind in Alabama for the bentfit of

Julylm f 247


t he asylum. (M an aside, this is the same institutiGn that received land in lefferson County and made a donatiGn of pmperty tG that counly for a courthGuse. The town that grew up arGund the courthouse in lefftnGn CGunty became known as ElytGn in hGnGr Gf William Ely.) When Ely came to Tuscaloosa County in 182(), he selected fGur and Gne·lu,lf sectiGns of land lying tG the south and west of the city of Tmaloosa as part of the grant fGr the asylum. This . ff.cti .... 1y blocked the grGwth Olf the city in all directiGns but the east sin~ the Bilek Warrior Ri .... ' bounded it Gn the north and the land grant bounded it on the south W west. Ely sold the \and in 1821 to a group of speculatGrs who laid Gut a tGwn and called it the Lowtr Part of the Tawn Gf TuscalGGsa. an unwieldy nam e SGGn changed tG the Newtown of TwcaIoosa, then later shGrtened simply tG NewtGwn_ NewtOlwn grew faster than Tuscaloosa, and had a thriving business sectiGn fGr SGme time. The ustern boundary Gf N~own w;u called E;ut Street. In Tuscaloosa, this 51rut marked the western boundary Gf that w..l1, and sOl fOlr Tuscaloosa it wa. called W.sl Margin Street. Later this street with lhe two names marking the bGundary bt tw•• n rival IGwns WaS called 32nd Avtnu •. Today it is called Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. The incorporatGrs Gf Newtown wue able tG win enGugh \lOtes in an 1822 eleclion 10 .elecl a permanent CGurthOlus, IOlcatiQn by prGposing a sile directly adjacent tG Tuscaloosa that appe.aled tG some Tuscaloosa voters. The booslers chose. IGt jU11 ~st Gf Well Margin Street and south of Tiwecanoo: Street, on present -day Martin Luther

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King, Jr. Boulevard between 6th and 7th streets.. The courthouse that was sub$eQuently erected has been described as a "handYKne brick edifi~" w a "stately bride courthou$e." The victory for Ntwlawn was a .nortlivtd Gnt. In 1826, Tuscaloosa beam. the state capital. In that same yen. Tuscaloosa annexed Neo.o."\oWn and then moved the court:! tG Peter Donaldson's Hotel in the "Gld tOl'.l1." This fourth seat of juslice fGr Tuscaloosa Count~ "'al IllCated at the southwest COm.. Qf Broad Street and Madison Street. Tuscaloosa City Hall is now located at this site at the CGrner of present-day University Boulevard and 22nd Avenue. This cQrner is Gnly Gne blGck frOlm the first courthouse lite. In IIlJO. the fifth courthou!e locatioo ",as selected and a tWG-Slo ry brick CGurthGuse "'as CGnstructed at the northwest comer of Market Stmt. now called CreensoorG Avenue, and UniGn Slreel, now called 7th Street. This COrner presently houses the Spiller furniture Company. The building cost 52.478 and was paid for by a lpecial tax. Edwin Sharpe was the contractGr and JQhn S. Fitch was the architect. It shGuld be noted in pauing tru.t the CGurthGuse built at Newtown cGntinued in e~istence until 1842. It "'as located approJimately 300 yards south west Qf the state capilGI. On March 4, 1842 a tGrnado struck the area and destrO}'ed the fGnner courthGuse build ing, Ihe nearby hmel and many hOlmeS. Though this secHGn was later Tebuilt, it never regained itl fGrmer stalure. Bricks from Ihe Gld courthGuse were used fGr pillars and chimneys in sevtral area hGuses. Today. NewtGwn is a his_ tGric dist rict in the weslern part Qf Tuscaloosa. In 1845, the TuscalGon CGunty CGurthou$e "'as mowd again. Thillixth IllCation marked the return tQ a funne. Sil', I~ soulheast CGmtr of Crunsooro Avenue and 6th Street, where the Masonic Hall ...... previously located and the Alston Building is now located. The purchase price ",as $4,000. In 1846, the town of Tuscaloosa buill a dock tower Gn the west end of the cGurthhGuse. O..:nership Gf the town dock remained ",ith the tawn of Tmaloosa rather than the CGunty. Sketches Gf this building revtal a thrtt'-stGry structure with the

clock 10000r ~nlered on the Creensboro Avenue side of the building. Thilsixth Tuscaloosa County Court house served the CQunt~ fGr approximately 62l"'<lrs. H~" the commissioners of Tuscaloosa County Grdered an election on Nowmber 6. 1906 to decide if a new tourthoust should be built. The p~1 passed by a margin of 1.l()6 in favGr Gf a new cGurthGus. tG 215 against. AlthGugh the Gld courthouse property "'as sold at a public auction Gn January 9, 1907 fGr $22.275, the county r<taintd the right to use the courthouse structure for two years until a new one could be buill. VariQu, .ite. ",ert prGpOsed fGr the new CGurthGuse. HOWI'vtr. Gn January 23, 1907 the county cGmmission purchased. on one block, the east half of lot 257 and all of IGt 260 for $]s..soo. This is the site of the present courthouse. The CGmmissiGn e.. interview ed several uchitects and finally cho.e William Ernest Spink of Binningham. He was tG be paid 5 percent of the tOlaI oorutructiGn pri~ fGr drawing plans and supervising the project. Tho bUilding conlract was a",arded tG Carrigan and Lynn ContractGrs Gf Birmingru.m fGr a contract pria of $90,000. The oorutruction of the courthouse ",as to be cGmpleted by August 31. 1908. The project proceeded ahead of schedule, and the county rom mission a<,:crpted the 5(vtnth Tuscaloosa tourthouse on August 8, 190& The 1908 tourthouse was built in the classical style. It was a two-stGry structure with a central ptdim¢ll\. The w..'11 clock from the for ..... r . tructure "'''"' not used in the new courthouse. Instead, it was placed in the tower of City Hall. In Augwt 1955, preliminary negQtiatioru began between Tmaloosa County and Birmingham architect Charles McCauley for plans and specificatioru on another n..... courthouse. By lhat time. the needs of the county far exceeded the capacity of the existing structure. Still. tht county spent several )/tars arranging financing and I;I'leCling an appropriale .ite. In August 1958, the county passed a resolution that authorized the pUJC~ of property adjoining the present courthouse. However. there W,,", strong local support to build the new tourthouse at the site of the old state C<lpital building; therefore the study and considtratiGn dragged on. Finally. on March 14. 1961. THE AL\BAMA LAWYER


me Tuscaloosa County Board of Revenue approved the mot ion to build a new courthouse and jail at meir existing Ioca· tion. In February 1962, tho Boord of Rev. enue agrud to Inse the McLest.. Hotel, built in 1887. for use as a temp<>rary courthouse while the old court· house was being demolished and a new one constructed. On April 24. 1962, the hotel. located on the same block as the old courthouse. was officially de.:;ignat. ed the temporary county courthouse and became the eighth courthouse in the history of TillI;aIOO$ll County. The old courthou.. was taken down b}' tho Loftis Wrecking Company. It paid the county $4.800 for the right to sal· vage mattrials from the lit • . Meanwhile. Oani.1 Construction Company of Birm · ingham was awarded the new court· house contract. ~ total price. includ· ing architect'. Ie .. ;md furnishings, was approximately $3.000.000 for the project. Charles McCauley of Birmingham was the architect. C roundb reaking took place in September 1962. the corn..stone was laid June 5. 1963 and the ninth

THEALABAMA LAWYER

Tu5caloosa County Courthouse was ded· icated Sunday. April 12, 1964. The day was cold and rainy and me ceremoni.. which had bun 5Cheduled for outdoors were moved inside the building. The dedication address was delivered by tho Honorable Georilt' C. Wallact, gowmor of the State of Alabama, who had just recently returned from his strong show· ing in tho 1964 Wisconsin Presidential Primary. The present Tuscaloon County CourtlJou.« is a ..".n·story structure of modem design. From the ol d cou rt· house the builders saved tho statu.. of two maidens, repreKnting Agriculture and Mine rals, the principal economic industrie, of the county, the marker honoring Chief Tushkalusa. the mtm<»ri;ll to World War [J .. rvkemen. and me original 1907 courthouse cornerstone and keystone. Over the years. cou rts have been held in Tuscaloosa in buildings that wer. borrowed, rented and built. The latest courthouse is the culmination of Tuscaloosa's Courthouse legacy from log cabin to modem highrise .t ruc· ture. •

NOTICE ThII Alabama ~ annual· Iy sponsors a legal writing oontesl opan 10 law studants attending any 01 the law schools in Ihls Siale. A cash prize of $250 is awarded 10 the atudenl whose paper Is judged 10 be lhe best The winTl8f lor the 1992 conlest was Anthony M . Hollman for his a rl icle. "Open·Bank Assistance: Is It a UseM and Effective A/IematiY'8 10 tha Closed Bank Transac· tion". The Ilrsl runner·up was Philip Segresl lor his manu· script, ' Universal Malice Murder as a Lesser Included Offense 01 Capital Offenses". and the sac· ond runner·up was Twala Granl for her paper, "Alabama's Fair Dism issal Ac! - A Model 01 Legislative Ambiguily".

July 1992 / 249


Civil Court Mediation Rules by J. NOAH FUNDERBURG

1111

n AUgU51 I, 1992. Alabama's newly adopted Civil Court Medi ation Rule. will become effective. These rules are the W<lrk product of many hours of discussion. Te\I;ew and consideration. The rules ~r. drlfttd by the state bar's TMk Force on Alternative Methods for Dispute Resolution.1he draft orthe rut .. was th~n cir· culated to and revi~ by the IQl10wing bodies: the board of bar commissioners of Ihe state bar; a task force comprisci of ,

judges and court P\'r'$On~1 which had bftn appointed by Chief Ju:;tice Hormby tn ,tudy methods of alternative dispute resolution; the Di,trict and Circu it Court Judges Association; and the standing committee for Kl'isions to the Alabama Ruin of Civil Pnxedure.

rrmembered as a revolulionary st~p in the history of Alabama legal practice. It is, hO'WWtr. an evolutionary slep. Mediation has been ... ry effective in other ltate, and communitiu in resolving a wide varidy 01 dispute •. 1\ is time fOT Alabama ta~rs and litigants to begin to enjoy the benefits that this form nf dispute r.solution can offer. Mediation is not a panacea nor is il appropriate in e...1)' case. It dou oller an altemati ... with which each member of the bench and bar should berome familiar. The Tuk Forct on Altemati"" Meth · od. of Dispute Resolution will continue to study mediation and other forms of alternati'-'\' dispute resolutioo. Members of the bar whl) have questions or cnne.rn. about mediation • .hould oontact the t.l5k lore. at (205)348-4960.

After receiving approval fram each of thue bodies, Ihe

Alabama Supreme Court approved an amendment to Rule 16 of Ihe Alabama Rules of Ci",;1 Procedure and also adopted the Civil Court Mediation Rulel;. Th. chilng. tl) Rule 16 i. r. tati""ly minl)r. The Mediat ;nn Rules, hcrwever. have the pntential to greatly expand the tools available to la~rs in resolving their dients' problems. The primary locus of the Mediation Rules was to ensure Auibility and retain mediation as a voluntal)' procMurr. For example. tM rules give a judge the pOWer to send parties to mediation. but also provide an option for the parties to immediately with· draw from mediation. The introouction of the Mediation Rults is not liuly II) be

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250 1 Ju ly 1992

THE ALABAMA LAWYER


NOTICE

......

The State 01 Alabama Judicii' Department In 1M Supreme Court 01 Alabama .... rch 3, 1992

Whereas. \tie Board 01 ConvnIssloners 01 !he AIaba· ma State Bar has proposed to this eou.., Ihe adopIion 01. set 01 f\IIe$ entitled 'Alabama CIYil Coun Mediation Rules: and Whereas. the Cour! has considered the propos.&d rules and deem$ ~ awropriale 10 acIopI thoM!\IIes , Now. therefore. it Is ordered that the Alabama Civil Coo.., Mediation Rules. al\aCtled as an appendix to !his order, be, and they hereby are, .oopced by this CooJrt, to be et1ectivtl August! , 1992. Homsby. C.J.• and Maddox, Almon, Shores. Adams, HoustOtl. S/9ag8II. KtMfIdy, and Ingram, JJ. coocur.

I, Rober! G. Esdale. as clerk 01the SupI"eme COurt 01 Alabama, do hereby O8fIily thai the toragolng Is a tull, true and correct copy of the Instrumenl(S~ herewith set

out as same appear(s) 01 record In said Court. W~ne&S my hand thl. 4th day 01May 1992. Appendla;

Alabama Civil Court MedI"lon Rul4l. These rules have been promulgated w~h the assistance of the American Arbitration Aasociation, who&! medIation prlXlIIdures llave beefl appIllId In whole or In pari in these rules.

.... ,

Deflnlllon 01 Mediation and Seopl 01 Ru," (a) Mediation is an extrajuOiclal procedufe kw the res· oIution 01 dispu1es ~ed by Rule \6(6), Alabama Rules 01 Civil Procedure. In lOI'I'I8 situations. a medialor can assist patties In reaching II settlement oil dispute. Me1i11ion Is a process by which the parlin subrRt IhW dispule to an Impartial p8fS0n - the m&dialor. The mediator may wogesI ways 01 resolving the dispute. but cannoI ~ a senlement on the paItiM. (b) These rules shall apply in !he circu~ courts of this Stale. butllhall have no ~Iion 1\'1 the district courts.

Aule2 Inlllllion 01 Medlllllon: Slay 01 Proceedl nlls Upon motion 01 !he parties concerned or by sugges . lion 01 the court or by allr..ment or the parties eon· cerned, the court may entif an order dOrec1ing parties 10 a pending action to proceed w~h mediation 01 ona or more disputes In the lawsu~ . Upon the entry 01 an order lor mediation. procoodings as to the dispute In mediation shall be stayed as 10 the

parties in mediiItion; !he ploceedi"II' shall be stayed !of sucn time period as set by the court In its order 01 medi· ation. Upon motion by any COI"IC8f08d party. the court may, lor good cause shown. extend the tirne period 01 the stay lor such length of tirne as the court may deem appropriate. Convrrnoo COmment 10 Rule 2 - participation in the mediation process is strictly \/OlIntary. Any party wishing 10 tllflTlinate the process may do so at any time pIJfJU8Il1 to Rule 13. Pursuant 10 Rule 13. the mediation plOCB5S Is also terminaled by e~ 01 the period 01 stay provided lor by Aule 2.

Aut. 3 Appointment 01 a Mediator Upon ordef lor mediation, the court. or such authority as Ihe coun may designate, sha ll appoint a qualified med~tor. The mediator appointed shan be agreed upon by the parties concerned , except thalli ttle parties do not agree upon a mediator, Ihen the se~lon 01 the med~tor shall be i!l the discretion 01 the court or its des· Ignated authority. A single med~tor shall be appointed unless the parties or the court detennlne OIherwl$e.

Rut. 4 QualllleaUons 01. Medillor The mediator shall hav9 those qualilications the court may deem appropriale, given the subjec1 mafter 01 the mediation. No person shall serve as a mediator In any dispute in which thai person ties lWIY financial or person. aI interesl except by the written consent 01 all parties.. Belore accepting an ~tment. the prospecIive medi· ator shall djsdose 10 the court any circumslallCeS IQIy to craate a prll"SUmption 01 bias or likely 10 prevent a prorI1)I ~ with the paIties. Upon r8DIipI 01 notice 01 any cira.unstances 01 ei\tIer character. the court shall ei\tIer name a different person as mediator or mmedi· atety COIT\ITVJI"'kal the Information to !he parties lor IhW commenl$. II the pasties disallree as to whether the prospectiva mltdialor should serve , the coun shalt appoint another person as mediator.

.....

Vacancies II any med~tOf becomes lInwimng or unable to serve, the coun shal l appoint another mediator. The appoinl' ment of a successor mediator shaMbe by the same prooedllres and upon the same terms as an Inilial awolnlmen\. Julylm l 251


Rule 6 Asslslanee Any pany not represented by an anorney may be assisted by pefsons of his or her choice at proc&edings before a mediator.

Rule 7 TIme and Plaee of M&dlallon The mediator shall file the time of each mediation session. The mediation sessions shall be heid at any convenient location agreeable to the mediator and the parties or as otherwise des;gnated by the court.

Rul.8 ldentlfleatlon of MatierS in Dispute At least ten ( to) days before the first scheduled mediation session. each party concerned shall provide the mediator with a brief memorandum setting fonh the party'S posrtion w~h regard to the issues that need to be resolved. At the discretion of the mediator. the memoranda may be axchanged by the panias. At the first session. tha panies shall produce all information reasonably required for the mediator to understand tha issues presented . Tha med iator may require aithar party to supplemant this information.

or other documents received by a mediator while serving as mediator shall be considered conf identiat. The mediator shall not be compel ~ in any advarsary proceeding or judicial forum to diVUlge the contenlS of such documents or the fact that such documents exist or to testify in regard to the mediation. Each party shall maintain the confident iality 01 the information received during the med iation and shall not in any arbitral . judicial or other proceeding ra ly on or introduce as evidence: (a) Views expressed or suggestions mada by another party wrth re-spect to a possible seltlamant 01 the dis· pute: {b} Admissions mada by another party in the course of the mediation proceedings: {c} Proposals mada or views eXp4"essed by tha medi· ator; or (d) The faCl that another party had or had not indicat· ed willingness to accept a proposal for santement made by the mediator.

Tha court shall naither inquire into, nor receiva inlormation about. the pos~ions of tha parties taken in mediation proceedings : the facts elicited or presanted in mediation proceedings: or the cause or responsib ility for termination 0( failura 01 the mediation procass.

Rul.9 Authority Of Mediator The madiator does not hava authority to impose a selliement upon the parties. but shalt attempt to help tha panies reach a satisfactory resol u~on ot their dis· pute. The mediator is authorized to conduct iolnt and separata mealings with the panies and to make orat and wr;nen recommendations lor settlement. Whenever necessary. the mediator may atso obtain ei<p8rt advica concerning technicat aspects 01 the dispute, provided the parties agree and assume the expanses 01 obtain· Ing such advice . Arrangements tor obtaining such advica shall be made by the mediator or by the parties. as the mediato( shall datermine. The mediato( is autho· rized to end the med iation whenever. in tha judgment of the mediator, lurtl"MJ( efforts at mediation would not con· tribute to a resolution of the dispute between the parties (saa Rule 13{a)(2)}.

Rule 12 No Record There shall ba no record made 01 the mediation proceedings.

Rul. 13 Termlnallon of M&dlatlon (a) The med iation process may be terminated at any lime by any party to tha mediation. If may also be termi · naled by tha mediator. It shall be tanninated by filing with the coun one ot the following :

(I) Notice that the partias concerned have execut· ed a settlement agreement. Such a notica shall be s;gned by all partias concerned 0( by their al10r· nays: (2) A written dooaration SOgned by the mediator statlna that In tha mediator' s judgment tunher ettorts at med iation will not contribute 10 a resolu· tion 01 the dispute balween the parties (saa Rule 9) : or

Rule to Prlveey Mediation sessions are private. The panies and their representa~ves may attend mediation sessions. Other pefsons may attend only with the permission of tha par· ties and with the consent of the mediator.

Rule 11 Conltdentlatlty The mediator shalt not divulgtl conliden~al informa· tion d isclosed to the mediatOf by the parties or by wit· nesses in the course 01 mediatioo. All records, reports.

252 { July 1992

(3) A wril1en declaratioo s;gned by a party or par· ties. or by their anornays. stating that the media· tion procass is tarminated.

(b) Mediation shall also be tarminated by the expire· too 01 the period 01 stay provided in Rule 2. (c) The lact that mediation has once bean terminated to a particular dispute shall not bar the enll)' of a taler O(dar to mediate thaI dispute.

as

THE A!.'.RAMA U\\\'YER


Commil1ee Comment to Rule 13-(1) Notiflcallon Ihrougl'l subseclion (2) assures confid&ntiaIity as 10 !he party requesting termination. (2) NotificatIon through subseclion (3) wiI dow &ith&f party to terminel& me mediation process before a medj. ator Is appoin ted. or . once a madiator I'In bean appointed, wiI allow a party to termirl3te the process without further comrnunicatioo with the mediatOf,

Rul. 14 Inlerpretetlon and Appllcallon of Rules The mediator shall inte rpret and apply these rules Insolar as Il'Ie y relate to the med iator'S duties and responsibililies, In other respects. they shall be Inter· preted an(! applied by the court.

Ru"U EIpen.... MedllllOf" Fee Ind Deposit. (a) Expenses - 1l1e expenses 01 a witness lor a party shall be paid by the party producing the witness.

AI other expenses of the mediation. Including neces· I5IIry Itava! an(! oUler expenses of Il'Ie medialOf. the expenses of any wiInasses calI&d by the m&diaIOf. and the C05I 01 any evid&nce Of eKp8!t advice produced al the direct request 01 me mediator. shaI be borne equal. Iy by the parties unless the partiH agl'M oIh&fwise, Of urol&ss the court directs otherwise, (b) Mediator"s FIIII- A medlatOf $Ilall be compensat· ed at a reasonable rate. agreed to by the parties, Of as set by the court. A mediator's rae stlall be borne equally by the parties untess tlllly aoree otherwise, or untess the court directs otherwise. (e) Deposits - Before 1l1li mediation process begins. each party to the proooss $Ilall deposit such an amount 01 the anticipated expenses and fees as the court shall direct. When the m&dia1lor1 process lias been terminat· ed. the court shall reoder an aocounting. requirirIo pay. men! 01 additional expenses and lees by the appropn. al& panies, Of reluming any unexpended balance to the appropriate parties.

ADDRESS CHANGES PinK chfck your lilting in tm curffnt 1990·91 AJ/lbQma 80r Direr:lorv iIf\d complete lM form below ONI.V If there iff any c~nllu to your Ii$tina:. ~ to clwllU in lM statute II'Mming o\trtion 01 bu ~rl. wt now Ml' mjuim! to 1M rnt~n' office lOddruse, unlds none lsavailableOf Im,moM' is prohibited from rtulvingstatt bu mail It lM offieo. Additionally, lM ~ 11M [)iTt<;. tOfY Is COIllIliltd from our mliiling Ii$! M"id il is irnporunt 10 11K bu5intS$ICIdR$$ot$ I"or tNl rQ$(IO'\. (1"IIew chlrlgH WlUNOT IflPUr in the 1991·92 tditim oIthtdirtdory. Therut-o/l"dile I"orthtdiftdOry infonnItim _ Setlttmbtr I. 1991.) NOTE: If'<< do not know 01 i change in 1CIdma. '« annot fNkt the ne«ssar)' dwlgu on OUr rtCOnb. 10 plust notify II> whe-n your ICIdress chinges.

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THE ALABAMA LAWYER

State _ _ lip Code

"""" County July 1992/ 253


ASA ROUNTREE COMES HOME ... AND REFLECTS ON 40 YEARS OFLAWPRACTICE The following is the result of an interview by Andrew P. Campbell with Asa Rountree, both members of the Alabama Slale Bar. fie. 30 years in New York City, A$<I Rountree has •.,..!tled hi. roots in his native Alabama soil.

Home is Birmingham. where Au wu born. aUended Lako· view Illementa . y School and began law practice in 1954 with Cabaniss &. Johnston. O}nly to leave for the "Big Apple" in ]962. After almost 3O}'eaTS as a lisa Rountree distinguished litigator for the firm of Del:>evoise &. Plimpton. ami as one of the founders and later chair of the ABA Litigation S«tion. Asa. unlike Thomas Wolfe. decided it was time to go home again. I'rO'o';ng that life tan be a circle. lit becamt a stockholder in Maynard. Cooper. frierson 0; Gale, p.e .. the, eIl)' joining his old friend ~'l!e Maynard, with whom he started at Cabani ... &. Johruton as. young la"'l"'" Since hil return, Asa has betn actiw in tht firm's litigation practice. In his interview with The Alobomo Lou:ytr, Asa Rountrte lookS back on 40 yea .. of bw prac t ice and the changes wrought by the profusion during that time: Q: A$.o, wben did )'Ou decide )'Ou _nttd 10 be • IaW)'e'I'?

A:

I decided when! W1l.l itbout 14 years old. The onty other thing I ever thought aI:>out doing W1l.l being an architect, but 1 had no competence for that. J can't draw a straight liM ewn with a rule. I am delighted, though, that on. of my sons is an architect.

Q: And who hlrtd you at Cabmill" Johnlton in 1954? A: J~ Johnston, a man for whom I have always had the

greatest affection and respect. Q: And how many Ia~ did thty ha"" at that time? A: I was the 13th lawyer. as I recall. Q: Whit Cluud )'Ou to taft leave of your UnHI and head

north to New Yorio: in 1962? A: That's a difficult question to answer. It's a question I asked myself twryday for alfl)()l;t 30 ~ars, and I never did 254 1July 1992

come up with the same answer. Lots of things "",nt into the decision, though. Q: How...,..)'Ou tntict1l?

A:

I had b«n involved in a major $Olcurities case that arose out of N"", York but W1l.l pending h.re in Alabama. [ represented a Ntw York lawyer in the case, and I becamt interested in $Olcuriliu litigation, Also. I kn"'" and liked the t1l.lt. 1 had liwd in Washington, D,C, on two differtnt occa>ions. I had gon~ to law school in Boston. And the first time r w1l.l in the Army, I was a military policeman stationed for a while in N"", York City. So it W1l.l really a matter of finding out what the big city practice W1l.l like . Thar. the major reason I"",nt.

Q: Asa, at thai time your intenll wll in

HCuril ~1 litigation. Wu then that much HCurities litigatio~ in BirmIngham , Abl».ma available 10 you? A: I think not. t belitvt that the case I W1l.l involwd in, Hooper u. Ml)U12lo;n Siole &<:urWes CorporoU'm, was the first l<X:uritiu case, at le ... t the first IOb·S cue. in tho Fifth Circuit or certainly in Alabama. I won at the District Court level. The case thon "".nt up 10 the Fifth Circuit. r lost.

Q: Wulhat a fador i~ your dKillon to '0 north? A: Not losing tho case, but the fact that! liked that kim! of

litigation. Q: One vvy li,~;r;ant event In )'Our aretr was that you _re In\-olwtl .1 the original I~I of the loundin, 01 the Litigation S«t.ion olthe ABA. 1 ....uld lib for you 10 t;qllnd on bow lhat aIM about. A: Well, the Litigation Section w1l.l founded, as 1 recall . in 1973. The driving force w1l.l a young la~r out of Hous· too, Tt.as named Wilt Wright. who decided that it would be ~ good idea if the ABA had a Litigation Stction. tn retrospect, it i, ,urpri, ing that the ABA had no Litigation Stction. Will, at his own expense, went around tho country contacting la~rs in variow grographic areas and in various arus of litigation practice. He got in touch with me through a good friem! of mine in Atlanta, David Gambrtll.

THE ALABAMA LAWYER


\Io'hen Will ruched me. I was wry busy. UId I told him I wu not interuled. He ktpt t."Ilkin, I rouldn't itt him off tilt phont. FiouJly. just to set rid of him. I said. "I'll do anythins you want me to: It was lilt beginnillJl ot.!ong wociation with IOITlt IO'OIldtrful J)KII)le. Will putloRtliltr. wry interuling group ot ~n. most of whom Nod not bem dHpIy ilJ\'OloJtd in ABA mat· tn-s on lilt ground IhIot the U40Ciation hid ~ too buruucratic. Thty S.lw this u an opportunity to build an organization from the ground up. It was In ntiting group which included sornt of lilt best IN! Ii;~ ... in lilt country. Thty hid good ilk» iOboul ~1opi11ll1 Litia>· lion Section, UId they did it. ! btliew the Lilif,llion Seetion is now the li;rtut Hctlon of the ABA. with about &6.000 membt .... It has had. vital pTOgl7lm throughout ~1I its yurs, ir.c!uding excellent publications. [ ~rtkullTly e~ Iht ~rs I worktd with in Iht Litig..tion SKtiDn. Althou&h I like New York ~rs. I found it mtontiw. from tiTne to lime. to itt out of New York lind work lind utand drink and tell itorin with laW)'t'rs from other P"rU of tilt rountry. Q: Haw Y"I" .... pIaMoI willi \hi Iuecn& 01 \hi Utlpllon ScdIoa uod .. Y"I" MI_ It hal ac:h'-d III ....' A: Tl\( answer is )'tI. Tl\( section has Kh~ its pb. u best 1 an ttll, ~though 11m no longer iCliw in an offi·

cia! ca~ity. It continl.ltl to IwJt 8Jut vit."llity.1t has not become foJ.Iiliud. I think it is. grnt organization. Q: III \hi 30,an ill N_ Y"", CUI,.... tdl ......... t OM M"

two of ,.ur aitl or trial, that Ilick .... 1 I. ,our

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A: Wtll, thi!"i an usy question. I on« rtprtStnted the D~­ lu c.r.."boy$. Cheerl ...d'ff in II suit. A pomogl7lphi( tnO\Iie titled "Debbie ))ou Oallu" had bHn produced and wu being ~ in New York on 6rOidway lit II thuter alled tilt Puss)'CIt Cinrma IZ. Thii ITIO'o'ir ustd I rtpliGo 0( Iht uniform 0( the o..lt.a. Cowboys. Ch«rteadoeff, p~ on Iiltir rwnt , Ind made III sorts of wociations with thit organiZlltion. Tht Cheerludtrs mnted it closed down. We brought 5Uit for an injunction, not on obscenity IIrounds, bt ....... of tilt First Amrndmtnl. but for infri,,*nwnt of trademark. We were successful in mjoining tilt lhowing iii. tilt movie, UId I think il ii fllir to iII)'!hit !hit ii the only time in tilt lut 40 yurs or 10 thit • pornographic movie has been closed down in New York. But. again. it Wa5 closed down for tTidemark Infringement, not for ob5«nity. liown'tr, we could not stop the OItionwidt dl$..

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lribution of lilt movie beaowe we OOI.Ild not. .t In$t II • It8~ malltr, idtntify the produceT$. Tht Fifth Amtnd. ment stood in OUr way. Prom timt to time, I ttitt Ht "Debbie Does 0..11»." That l$. to 1IlI, I stitt Sfe it idwr·

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A: It was indeed, considering the OIture UId affiliations of the prodUCITJ, to IIlI nothing of the perfonneff. We kept t\lbpot .... ing 8.l.mbi Woods, the $t."Ir of the movit. for I dtfIoaition. A crowd wou.ld g..tiltr ~ the schtdultd tinw. but 8.I.mbi r>rYtr Ihowtd up. EKh time, just ibout when tilt ~tion WII wppo:>Hd to Rlrt, tilt tdepoolle wou.kI ring and it would bt 8.I.mbi ..ying, "Gte, you fellowllookIng for nwt" She would promiH to show \lp later in the day or the ntxI day. but lilt nM:r......x it. I went to set the ITlO'>'it bdort we filtd wit. Thit was on • Sunday aftemoon, and ~thou&h I didn't ru.liu Iht ii8nificlnct of it. btcaUH I was rWw in those dayJ, I wort duk gllssts and. raincoat. I planned 10 go alone. btiilll embarru5td by that IOrt of thing, but two YGUIIJI associ· atn working on tilt ast, ant • man UId 0At'. woman, liked to go.1ong. I told tilt woman I wouldn·1 IIkt IItr with me. She hinlN II unlawful diKrimiOltion. I yiotkltd. Whtn we got to Iht boJ: office, I told her, ' Look, 1"11110 in litre with you. but I'm not going to buy your ticket. That would be contributinll to th~ delinquency of a minor." Later on -lind thl$. was in the urly days of~minism ­ • ~int ftI)OrItd thit oor Iiw finn hid dtmonstl7lttd perftct rqu.o.lity, that when I toolo U40Ciatts to I « lilt film. I wl.I CIIrtful to t."Ikt one ITI.Ile usociate UId one ftmlllt associate with me. After we obtainad a prelimiOlTY injunction, tilt defendants wert 'JIP<1~ntly 10 5Urt of thei r Pifft Amtndment IlTO\lnds tlat thty kepi showinQ tht film. A contempt ordrr was issued. Tl\( jUoCl# stTlllTl.lrshals \lp to BowdwIy to .nut the peoplt who wert runnil\lllilt thuler in vi0lation of tilt injunction. Whtn the OTIlIrshab appeartd, patTOllS of the thuter fied through tilt back exits. Some wert businessnwn wearing grill nannel suits. Some were wuring rnncoatJ and dark glautl. MiYbt they were busintUmtrl.

too.

Another QSt I IOndIy remtmbtr WII • compIu securi" tiu ..... in !Won Diego. It went on lor abo\ll fiw Ytlfl. Whtn the wutlltr got bad in New York, I could often find work - lellitimate work - to do in San Diego, which l$. bleSKd with ant ot tilt best climatn in Amrm. On tilt Wol)I ba.c:k to New York from San Diego, I would often itOp UId ski in V.li1. Stwl7lt yurs later. I uw my climl lit . club and 1 S.lid. "Hey. how lbout Hndinll me ba.c:k to San Diteoi'" He declined the Opportunity. A week lattr.I \lntx· pectedly wenl to San Diego on ~nothtr caH. 1 stnt him I postcard sayin, "1 made il backanyhow." rort~ttly. my ditnt hid. good HNt ofhumor.

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for the ~ID·n"" uhldlartu whIch you cnall' Ind which Ipponlltly nourilh.d at )'Our n .... durin. )'OIOr itnuR then. Would)'\IU .labanl. oa th_ for us? M

July 1992 1255


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nu.t i, too Ion8 a 51.0ry. MId I'm not SUre it would be wry interulin(. But. in brief. I tmbhshed III imagil\lry 0011 · t\omer;ltf, thor ""Il'nt ofwhich WH rwned REINC (ROUr'I ' tTft Entul'rl$n, Inc.). It all Sbrted when thor firm', mill· aatment _ misting I ptop\ISIl 10 saUer mill1fOllrJPh mKhinu throuahoullhe offl~ in ~ition to hlviOi a ~ntTil duplia.ling dep;arlmrRl. AlI>llrt.l 01 rusons I«A! ,iven why this was T>\It feasible. Thtfe w;un'l SilKe; II wasn't electria.l1y fusible; it would T>\It be economic. I then n .... blilhed REINC', fint 5ubsidiory, RPOOXI (Roun· lTet.POinl·of·Origin·XeTIIling, [nc.), which acquired II mimeograph mlchine for its own account, put it in tht hill, lind $(lId it •• ervicn. The dOll[ wu thit RPOOX! would bar Iii 1~ omd tum all profits <M. 10 the firm, I SQuare cleal il ever thell' wu one. II soon became dear the hili mimeo,flph machines ~rt tho WiVt 0( tht futurt, From time 10 Ii .... thertafi.u, in ordtr 10 fill ,im;. In ITIlrktt ill"- [uw.lishcd ~ilioNl subsidiaries. such as ROPUBCO (Rountru Publishing Com])llny); RIRSSA (Rountr.. In'ormltion Rttrievil Sy.ttm SA); RlotTIA (ItoontTft Mid ·Town TrW AdYocxy lNtiluto); ROTELCO (ROUr'IITft Ttltpl\ont ColmJWlY. Inc.); Ind The Moiinus ~Ilery, which marktttd ~ that I ""Inted unckr thor I\iInt 01 R. B....,I (thor "R" stlI>ds for I!htmm), lt was II lot ollun, MId my ])IIrtntn ""'.., of suffkiont good naturt omd forbtlranCt to allow me to tnttru.in ntyKlf in that w~.

haw aM.,. ,,"0 !mown for quoitl and wiltlcllnll .... tlna; to ' " oflJce mana&omml u ...U u tIM ]II'Kliee ~ IN, 0. of 1OU' _ famou • II. Mit IaIota • IIIIIdaaI to ..... I oobooodtoue, or. llated otbmriM, wNII _ M ~ or all;)' G!hIII' _ f u l tICIIIIICNIIk 1IfPD1A11a1l hu IYtT *11 rill H HlIIOCTItk ,..t.d,,".W AHthtr b . wAJI HmlllitiH ",,",I..,. lhould be heW It ......"'" w I _ _ thai wu IIrutd OIl your upe...... '" IN .........1111' _nl! II:. The firm thai I btlonged til in New York_ MId ia awondtrlul orpniution. both in its profa5ioNlw.. and in iu ptr$Onll relition.hip •. W. had ~ lunch.ton mttting of ])llTintTS rvery week. Wt also hid de])llrtmental mHtlngs and mutinQ' of various idministrltivt committe... In olmost 30 )'tiTS, I nrve r Itft on. 01 thou mttIinll$ with. out bting awestruck at the C<lurlts~. restraint and kind · ow with whkh ourpa.rtntTS treated _h ollle'. So it wu IlTIlrvtlow pllCt to work ind to bt. On the other hand. whfn eordillll'if.tiorW\iJl$ ollhot ""lure uiSI. dt<:;,ion · mlkiOi il often by _nsus. MId the.., .re ineff..:iencitl in that pTOCUS. Occ;uionally, whm I WU adivt in r.rm adminialration, I would bK:ornt frultnl!1l with the proall. And I newr hiw btm fond 01 committftl, which I believe to be I SiWlk dtvict 10-*1 doini hard thin&l Wi n«d 10 be done. T1I(II5t 1ft the rn.(lnS for tht qUQU.. lion$. The fin{ ~ krIo;)wn as Rountrt<t's Pint Uw of Effi · ciency; the SKOIld. as RountTft'1 Second Uw 01 EffocienQ: V""

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256 1 July 1992

II:.

I Uttlo WI ....1. 10 .. fled 011 tIM art UMl 1M pndice of litlaatloa UMl tho ~ chana;a tNl ..... _mal IIC· 1I1fla.n1 18 you IllIoodo tbe fOtW. 1M art of adwecac:t UMl IIIIawyoon you ........,Stacell_ tIM ,....... I hive 50fTC f%ltR$M tIooulhU on thlt subject. lout I lind

difficully in .. pressing th.m in this format. For ont thin(. though. lhere is not now, lind _ not whtn 1 10ft Birmingham, alilhat much diffell'flCe bot"",on the pr><:. tice ol the law in Birminatu.m and the p~ 01 the law in New York. The nujor difftrell«,ltthe time Iltf! Birm_ ingham, WM thlt litigation in New York involwd iiO much money that 10",),<," could afford tconomicall~ to do a first..::lass profusional job. nu.t was the major attraction of the New York praclice, Coming bid 10 Birmingham. I'm struck by Iho complexity of mueh of Iho litigation hell'. In mosl ~cu. it's tM Sime sort ollitig;,tion)'Oll 1ft in New York. Th. CiStI Sffm til mIM • !illie more quickly he..,. ind f<:w thlt Il'lISOfI. 0 ' ptrh.o.JI$ for otht. rUSOllS, litig;,lion practice hell' is mort triil..mtnted. There is. d,ffermce belwftn I liligator MId I real tNI ~r_ Litigaton dco not alwiys recognizo the differmet'; trWlawytn do. So thlt I ITIlY bt cleir, 111m jUli a Now YoriIlitigi'llOr, but I votry good \1M. Q: ""Ib rnpect to tIM _111110 .. of 11U..11oII _

tilt lut 30 til 40 )'Un. whli ~I haw Mt1!Itd tIM mOllt.1inlflcanlto )'OIl? A; There havot obviously betn many chang.., and most of them havot bun evolutionlry, For one thing, litisalion has become mort complu ;u lilt world has bt<:ome more complex. Litig;,tion hu moll' ol, ttchnological orientation thin it did ~O)UTS • . TKhniqUtl for d~na. roIltcting, organi1ina. an.alyzing. 51.orina, retrieving MId pmtnting inlormition to lrim-of·fa.ct h.M: become I.. mort' sophistiCllttd. O'ICovtry has ctTtllnly become mllre compln lind upensivt in tht lut 40 )'firs. DiKowry W:aII born 01 • wistful dll'llm ol simp1iflClltion and en1ight ....... nl. but it has btcomt III incubus on 1M tntiA! litig;,lion process. 10 u.. onrichment 0Iliw)'frs. perhll.ps, but 10 tM impoYerishment of their clients. As you icnow, efforts ire being mIlde omd havt be.n rna<k for i Iong ti.... 10 try to deal with di!<:ilVeTy ~se. That was one of tilt tarly efforts of the Lilig;,lion Section, At present. Judge Sam Pointe.'s AdvisoTy Comm;uu on Civ;1 Nul .. hu mad~ some far· ruching ind controve rsial prOpOills rtif.tlng to discov-

.,.

Judge Pointer. 1 might Siy, i. ont of the most highly mpected juriau in the ""tion, Ilia KallflplWunents ~

truly \IUu!.vldina. I bewne 'ully IWaIl' of thoK KaIIfI· p!is.hmtnts when, _TIl )'tiTS a.ao. I _ cNoinTW1 oll committot of Iht AmtTiun Collt8e IIf Trill uwyen which recommmdtd Judgt Point.r for III award which M thtreaIttr received. In itddltion to hia judkiil MId itdminiSlrative dutltl in tilt Northern Oistrict of Alib>ma, he has pa.rtici])llttd in lepl t<l ....lIlion ITIltlon all <Mr the wunlry. Helw IGna bun a faculty member in the school for new f.derll Judg.. and. as 1 rtull, he has -taught" about two-Ihirds of the fedual judges now .itting. He was THE ALABA."tA U\WYER


~ !tIitar d ~ mision d ~ /obnual for Compla Liti""tion. And, is I rotntioned. M is now clliinl"Wl of ~ pruti,Qious Advisory CommiuH on Civil Rules.. We au fortunate to have tlim. AnCllhtr cNngt hu llten in Iht public ptclUptioo III Iiwyel"5. La.wyers llive never won PGPulirity contfsll, but, at ItiSt a.coording to dt Tocqutvil1t, tht}' ",,,,ro once oon· li~trt~ 10 be ttle only trut aristo.:rICY in America. Tht}' no 10nQn ha~ thai tlttem, I'm lfni~. NGW. nOI only Iiwye1"5 but the litiQJ.lion prouss iUotlf dnws public dis· dlln. This is someliling ~ profwion mustlddreu.

Q: """" appean t. lit I tI"tIW. ... 10 the &nat compdlu.. ",,"UTa 10 IitI&oUoll for '""" Ie ooIopt I "Idll ... lit kIIW" approodI wMr. buk ctrilltJ iU>OI .. IIWIJ OMs ,thlu tab I oecood Millo UHntlally tryI", 10 "'Im., Iht O\I'IIOllIIon, !loth In dlKOYtl")' Ind In trial. I'm not tllldnl .Imply about 1M kill of cMllty IIttwftn bloytn, I' m abo tllldnJI aiIoullawyen iU>OI fud"L i1l 1"u, view, ill thla .......... proIIIom, ud, If 10, whal 010 )'IItI thlnk 1M WI . . lIIout If!' A:. I Ihlnk il is II very strirus probltm. By Iud<. I IIive ~n s~rfll 1I\IIM)' t>f ~ incivililiu sufferod by nwry othtr bwyers. bul ) Mn coofodrnt in my belief tNt Ihm is ever Incrtuilllllbstnct t>f civilily Imc>ngsl Iiwye1"5 lind pt • • iiiPI' be""""'n lawyors and j~$.. "T1ltrt is 001 tho wiltgiility wilhin tilt profusion tNt thort Wal 40 yea1"5 aga. That's too bad. It makts tho prutiCt of Iho law a lot Ius lun tllin it once W<r.II. A ltronQjudge QR controllawyerl. at lust in lho casts bdo u him. but it is difficult 10 know what QR be done about gononl incivility belW.. n lawyors Or belwton /udgtI ;mel lawyers. In &ny notnl, this m.utt. should be continoous/y iddresstd by tM iudt1"5 III bench ;mel ~r. Not IonQ ~u ) murmci to Birminatwn, thou WI.I an uctlltnt a"iclt on IlIit subject by Warrtn Lightfoot. wOO wu then presidtnl of tho Birmingh.am Bar Associalion.

Q: Do you

nnd lIIal 1It1.-lon'

behMor I. IOrntwhal H ltrmlllftlll1 the Iplrit aIId pblkltopll)' of their firm? A:. Often thai is ... ry lrue. I c:&nnot eommtnl.bout Birmin(Jham firms. but in New York an<! in other UOlS of Ihe country you oft.., know willt 10 nptc\ from I lawyer just by knowine what low finn he _ from. A finn esbb1j$heJ I Urillin dhos. ;mel 1awye1"5 ;o;nilllltho firm pio:k up tillt tlhoi. Somt finns find dtliQht in pliyillll"lIird bll1." I mystll do not belinot tllost ladia 10 be productive In Iht long· run, wllilewr Iht short· run triumphs fTII.)I be. Rectntly, thu~ ha"" ~n $Orne highly publicized occur· rences that bear mt out.

Q: 0... of tM

Ioaaam,

,..Imd

wllh tM compdltlw and illCl'UllntiY pooflt-«imtcd focul of IlWlJllaw firma In ... ' Mdrty ~ It bulally how, !'or,)'MIDIa" Iaw)oer, 10 ..... "'" IliI or ... nJ ..... iU>OI 1M • BMIIlioCfIll IK• ... bIk of tho 01f1Cll! with the ramlly. 00 ,.... haw ..,. aMce III that ~ A:. My ittMu would 001 be ... ry VlIUible becal.lU It would be ~ry genna1. Ba.iclIlty. though, the nOrm of moder. tion - of abstnct of t~ctll - II jwt M valid today is it

was in tho timo of II.riltOik. I toll YOUIlllInl-yHS who WOfIt with rot tNl .llhooCh IlItir plr&n"lCKlnl obliQJ.lion is 10 ~ir ditnts btClUst tm!', tho naluu d proW.$ionllism. and tNl Illhouih ~ profusion is dtmandlna. ;mel that .lthooCh thort au limrs when I.hty "'ill iii ... to work dl)' .fltr diy, night .nor night, life is i far bfOildor lapulry tlwl tht practico of liw. I telt them lhal there il • big, wide, wonderful world OUI thou; that Iht}' lhould be cm · ful not to mill il; and that Iht}' should not neglect the obligation! ;mel pllWuru Ulltin(J to family. oonununlly lind HII.

Q:

""M It your uptrltnce, AM, that a Iaw)oer .... koaPt • ~"""tr

A:.

rallie .f Inlf"111 10 pradlce ...... Mtter

" yu,.olthough in III candor llItu irt

50ffif clienlS thue dlys wOO do not agfH with that sentimont. In too nwly instances. tilt)' ugard their lawyers simply M ttchnicians or gunslingers. not u wise coonsellors. Ctntrally. tllost clients m tht poortr lrom Ihllt altitudt.

Q: What -w. bt I Oillq q/tIph for All ROUlItrItl A:. Ho I\od • diYtl"$C and inltrutl"lllik. It was uqUllu <kIt. Having wilnastd Iht deprcUi", trend of Abbamw.a not utuming to AlahlllTll .fltr completion of liw school. it is Quite enoouraging 10 1TIl'" the mum d this r13tiYt son who mos honored our slatt with his life and achiewments. AN. Rountrtt will contribute much tnergy, goodwill and wisdom to thi •• tatt and ill ~r. Thus, New York's loss will be ou r ""in. •

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Legal Systems, Inc. 1-800·844-2483 July 1992 f 257



DISCIPLINARY REPORT R.ln .... tement. MlJo~ E,h,u" ". .. holl, Jr. was ~inmttd to the prxti« Ii bw by order 01 the Supwnt Court 01 ~ ~ff«. 1M May 4, 1992. [Ptt. 191 ·051 Russellville lawyer H. Nt D ~. Jr. was reinstaltd to the practice of la ... by ordtr 01 the Sup~me Court 01 Alabama. t!ftctM April 17. 199'2. 1Pet.192-03[ SuSfNftslons Anniston attomf')' Ja.u Ala",I,,1I "'llcbeli was suspendtd for a period of ~S days, tfftdj~ April !. 1992. Mitchell ... " found guilty by 11'1( Di.dplin~ry Boa.rd 0( negltctir.g I kgal malUr. fill-

ina to kup hi. client U iuonlbly informo:d and .... fu.inQ to ~ ... tc: in the inVUl.;g.Jlion of the oompll.inl filed

against him. Ouring February 1991.

1Th

i

FROM:

William Kent Eason Alabama State Bar

RE:

Order to Show ~uH,

lo,!Il(, divom: diml ukrd Mitchell to NIl;,! him in ~nl hili child support payments reduced. Th e clien t nnt Mitchell the RqUUltd lum of $250 in Mlrch 1991. From thlll point on, the client had no IUCCtU contacting Mitchell about the maner. Finally. in June 1991. the client', second wift II.lkfd with Mitchtll..d ... told bu he I\ICI bHn ...... tint lor thtm to >md him court costs brion: filill8 anythill8 for the client. After a complaint "''as filed with the ""r, severilaltempts were made to obtain i re5PQIIM to the IliflIations con· tained in Ihe complaint. Nothing was submitted by him untll I(hr (ormil chirlln were Itrved upon him in N(Mmber 1991.IASB No. 91 ·5621 Alabama ~r Ham.. L W_r. I rnicknt rJ Cincinnati, Ohio. ...·ilS suspended (rom the prattiee rJ law by order

CLE 92-57 Notia is hen:by given to WlIU.. Kfo .. t £ q p. Ittomey. whost lUI known addrus is 142·[ I~th Avenue. NE. BirminQlwn. Alabama 35215. thll his namt has bttn artifted to the Disciplinary Commission (or llI,K\tomplw.:e with the Mandllory Continuin, ltgal Educalion requirements o( the Alabama Stitt Bar and thlt IS a resull thutof an Order to Show ~use has bttn ",'ned against him ordtri"ll him '0 show. within liIty (601 dIy$ from tht dole 01. entry rJ the order. why he dIould not be s~ from Ihe prictitt of IlOW. Said order hiving bttn entered April 24. 1992. ind this AloIxImQ Lowver Issue being dlltd lTound July IS. ]992. the attorney has until Septomber I~. 1992 to show cause. Distiplirwy Commission AlQrna ~IS

Sbott Ilar

Ont.r A...., ...

rJ the Supn:me Court of Alabama for a period of four

,m.

~UI,

tflKtive April 7.

Wil/'mr was convicted rJ unauthorized ICU and securities (nud In connection

wHIl his position as pruident of the Home Stale Savings Ilank. a Slate char. tued privately iruured uvings and loin luocillion. with hudqulftns in Cincinnati. Home Stitt col~ main. Iy IS I ruult o( its tr~in, in !/<Mm. ment securities and its i~tmfnU in reverse TfPurchase lIIr«mtn!.s. secured by the ustU 01 the bank. The court held Warner res.ponsible for thls activity and ordered him to ~ n:slitution in the amount of SI2.200.000 and to be inar· anted in the .bott pf'nittntiaJy in Ohio lor I period of ten ind • h1lf years. of whith seven ~Irs shill be suspended. • IRuie 22(a)lIPd.'9] ·051

NOTICE Disclpl....ry Proc ee diltg:l

Robert W. C ... b... , attornoy al law. whose

whueabouts art unkll()',',·n. musl ans ...'t r Ihe Alabama State Bar's formal di!;(:iplinary charges within 28 days of July 15. 1992 or. thenafter.

the charges conl.airM!d tlterein shall bel deermd admitted and appropriate di!;(:iplint shall be impOsed against him in ASB Nos. 9O-795(AJ and 90·932 before the Di!;(:iplinaT)' Board of the Alabama Slate Bar. Dociplinary Board Alabama State Bar

MontgolTlfT)'. Alabama 361().1

THE AL.I.8AMA UWYt:R

July ]992 1259


ABOUT MEMBERS, AMONG FIRMS ABOUT MEMBERS . anda ll B. Jamu ~nnouncu the opening of hi$ office at 559 South Lawr."". Street. Montgomery. Alabama 36104. Phone (2051262·0500. Rh:b"n1 C. Dun, Jr., fonnerly with kaT &: kaT. announCe. the opening of his office. dlee!;v. January 4. 1992, loc.ted at 407 South McDonough St reet. Montgomery. Alabama 36104. Phone (2051264·2695. Al';trl S. "trico!., Jr. announce. the relocation of hi. firm 10 III Wa.h· jllglon Avenue. Montgomery. Alabama 36104. Phone (2051832·9900. Hanl! H...ldo, announce.! the rei.,. cation of hi. office to 2103 Lurleen B. Wanace Boulevard. Northport. Alabama 35476. The rnaiHllg add.eM is P.O. !lox 596, Tuscaloosa 35402. Phone (2051 339-3215. W.L. MaUh ..., . Jr. announce. the opening of hi. om,", a\ 118 East Moul· tnn 5t ...!. Suite I. ~catur. Alabama

35601. Phone (205) 355·6070. H~nr)l A. IA.Ue. Sr. anncun«1 the opening 01 hil olficel ~t 456 South Court Street. Montgomery. Alabama 36104. Phone (205) 834-3200.

AMONG FIRMS Flnkbohnn. Lawln &I Olen announces that St",. Olen hilS .... ith· dra.... n from the firm and witt practice at 169 Dauphin Street. Suite 301. P.O. Bo~ 1826. Mobil e. Alabama 36633. Phone (205) 438·6951. The firm will continue to practice iI$ Flnkbohncr &I La.. ler. 169 Oauphin Street. Suite 300. P.O. Box 3085. Mobile 3&652. Phone 1205) 438·

5871. Hu ... phrfY" Dunlap, W.lIford, Ae off 6- SlanlOo announce. that Frt<I M. Rldolphl, Jr. has joined the firm. with officu at 2200 Fint Tenneue. Building. Memphis. Tennessee 38103. Rivel &I p.t. rlon announces that 26(l 1July 1992

D.bonh All ey SmUh and B.nn. tt Lu Futh h .... become partners in the firm and Ma rk A. Step h en. and Thom .. C. I.o,an ha~ beCOIN ;w,o. dates of the form. Office. are located at 1700 Financial Centu. 505 North 20th Street. Birmingham, Alabama 35203· 2607. Phone (205) 328-8141. Miller. "amilion. Snider &I Odom announces that Carroll E. BI ..... J r. , Matth... C. McDonald and MOTk J. T.nbundfold have become members of the firm . Jonph C. Gill. Jr. has become of counsel to the firm and Jamu R.ha""h ... has become MSOCi· at.d with the form. Offices are located in Mobile. Montgomuy and Birmingham. Alabama and Washington , D.C. Lon,. hor •• Enn . &I Lon,. hon announce, that Gary P. Cody has become a partner in the firm. and the fi rm has relocated it. omces to 650 Park Place T"""r. 2001 Parle Place. Birming. ham. Alabama 35203. Phone (20S) 2527661.1·800-489·7661. Mutln. Drummond & Wooll.y announcts a name change to Martin. Drummond. W..... ley & Pal ... e., and that offices continue to bfc located at 2020 AmSouthlllarbert Plaza. 1901 Si~th Avenue. North. Birmingham. Alabama 35203. Phone (205) 322·8000. C.nl r a l Bank of th e Soulh ~nnoUnCtS that EI.na A. Lovoy, for· merly of Redstone Federal Credit Union. has joined the banle. The mailinG address is PO. Bo. 10566, Birmingham. Alabama 35296. Phone {20S1933.J19S. Woodall & Maddo:r announces that Jeff W. P.rm", lormer la.... clerk and staff attorney to the Honorable Kenneth P. InGrom. Supreme Court of Alabama. has bfccome associated .... ith the firm. Omces are locawl ~t Chau Commerce Parle. 3821 Lorna Road. Suite 10 1, BirminGham. Alabama 35244 . Phone (205) 733-9455. Ta n Der &I Culn announce. that H.rbert M. N.w. II, III and DIlant Wll .o n ha"e become shareholders in the firm. effective hnuary I, 1992. Offices are locate d at 27]] Unive rsity

Boulevard. Suit. 700. Tuscal005a. A10bama 3540L Phone (205) 349-4300. Bolt , hom, J.ch on &I Bailey announces that Slephen K. Woll.teln has become a member and that M1eha.1 D. Roe.n has become usoci. ated with the firm. Offices are located at 822 Leighton Awnue. Anniston. Alaba · rna 36201. Phone (205) 237-4641. F.i btt .... n . S hul",an &I Teny announces that Eric J . Brelthaupl has become a member. Offices arelocat· ed at 150 N. Koyal Street. Suite WOO. P.O. Bo. 2082. Mobile. Alobama 36652. Phone 1205) 433-1597. Hay . 004 . Cln. land &I Pltru announces that Michael Sharp Spe...• man has become associated .... ith the firm. Offic.s ~ .. located at 120 South ROO! St... t, and the mailing address is P.O. Bo. 3310. Auburn. AI~bama 3&831. 3310. Phone (20S1821.J892. Stove Ol e n and Mlch.el S. MeC'o lh"n announce the formation of Oltn &I McClolh ro n . located at Riwrvi ...... Plaza Off"e r"""r. 63 North Royal Street. Suite 710. Mobile. Alaba· ma 36602. The mailing address is P.O. Bo. 1826. Mobile 36633. Phone (20S) 438·6951. Bell Rlc hard . on announces that John J. Callaha n. Jr. and "khael E. Lu ha,,, become principals of the fi rm . The office rema;ns at ]]6 South Jeffe,· son Str.et. P.O. Bo. 2008, Huntsville. Alabama 35S04. Phone 1205) 533·)421. Rlch.rd E. Dtck and Michael K. WI. ner announce that they have left Bell RiChardson and formed Dick &I Wiln" ..... ith om,.. at lOll Washington Stred, Huntsville, Alabama 35801. Hay,o od. Cloy . lane! " Pl e n e an nounces that Mlehu l Sh.rp Spo.... m i n has become alSociated with the firm. Offices ~rf located at 120 South Ross Stred. and th, mailing address is P.O. Box 3310. Auburn. Alabama 3683)· 3310. Phone (205) 821·3892. W.H. Ro' .... and Rod M. Alenn. d. r announce the formation of &I Al..a nder. 157 La .... r.nce Strt et. Moulton. i\labama 35650. Phone (205)

R"",...

THE AL..\8AMA LAWYE R


974 ·1936. They ~Iw JllnouMC that Joh .. Eric Burnu .. hal joined Ihe firm as an associate. Clark" Scol1 of Bi r min,him ilIlnotm«S Ihllt Duli M. \10'1110" \\is become ~ membe r Jlld Mlcbael E. He ............. tw ~joined lho firm. The Mobile firm 0( Clarlt. Scoll Ii Sulll~a n announcu that RBune II. Crowe h/I$ become I ~mbor. Shuo. R. Hallu ~nOOlJnCU Ihe ~ 01 the firm I\atllC from Shlron R.

-

PLEASE NOTE!-

Alabama SUlr. s. nwnbeo,: vn-....r you af. f~u""!IId 10 lu,n llh your $\;It, bar k;Mmilicalion numbar (pleadings Jiled .. Ith cou,tl, IIC.), pleas. to Socia! s.o..nty ............ IhM It what we keep on

,e""

_

roor

ltoil" to Hol lu Ii Dull.,er and thot Mlei" •• 1 A. Duln,u, In \\is l>eCOITK ~ ITKmbor of the finn. Offices I~ Ioc./Ited at 18410 PennsYMolli~ Strnt, Roberb· ~Ic, ~biI!nIO 36567. Phonr (2051 947. 4757. Charlu A. Cn441a. former altor· ney gener~1 of AlabillTll, and Da~14 E. lIel n r . former chid IriJI atto rney, Montgomery Coonty Dtltrict Attorney', Office. InnounCe Iht formuion of Gu4.lck " Btl n r •• t 138 Adiml

A\"Cnue. Montgomery. AI.biI .... 36103. Phont ~205) Z62·2000. Ph,I" , Owenl, Jeo",bll , Glhon " Fowler .nnounces th.t S ..,le T. Canu l>ecJmc • pulnn in the firm hnuary I. 1992. Ihllt C. Barton AMol Joined Ihe firm U I partner Mlrch 1. 1992 .nd thlt Xaren C. W.... '" became assocliott<i with the firm Marth I. 1992. Officu Irt loca ted It 1201 G_nsboro Awnuc. TUSClI~ AlIha;. .... 35401. Phonr (205) :MS-5100. •

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Notice 01 Ind OppOfllln lty to, commenl on propo ..d Eleventh Ct,cull Rut. 33·1 ast,btl,hlng' praltearlng conla<enea program In lhe U.S. Court 01 Appeal. lor lhe

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §2071 (b). 1101",,, I. hareby givon 01 Inlenl 10 acIopt ptOpOMd EIe.enth CirClll! Rule

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U.S. Court 01 App""s 10' th. Elaventh c.a.iI. A C09Y 01 1M ~ poSed rule nII1 be obta.-.ad wiIhout charge from 1M 011100 oIlhe CIM!. U.S. Couri ot App.,t, 10' the Eleventh Circuli, 56 Forsyth 51""'. NW. Atlanta. Gaorgla 30303. PIIoM 331·8117. Com ..... nla on 1M proposed ...... may be suhmmlld in (~)

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July 1992/ 261


ticululy stMilive to dilclosure ,nd accounting illutl prestnled by Ihest laws. ror tumple. the Resourct Con. 5tMOlion and Rmwtry Art ,-RCRA1 is • ·cndlt-lo-graw" IIIw urtcting most r'I1Ulufactuurs. that IiQYtms tht gvw:r. ilion. stoflit and disposal of hazMdous mlteri.lls. Each )'far. U.s. indwtry prodlKtl ill tstil!llltd 300 million tons 01 wule thai has bun cllHifitd as hazardous. Compliance with Ih~ ..quirt· ment. of RCRA h.u be.n ~timat~d by the Envi ronmental Protection Agency ("EPA") 10 COlt bUlintliu in excess of $20 billion per year. Similarly. tht tlNn Wattr Act and the tlNn Air Art

the Superfund l.gi.latiOr>. waste i~~'." n and wastt generators. u I I Pllt and pre.enl owners and operalors of haurOOwi Wa5te lites. may be duigru.ted by the EPA a5 Potentially Rts~ons;blt Partin I·PRP"). Unlike mosl ~u1t baRd liability Khe ...... IllSt or prestnl owners of • haurdous waste sile can be held liable without regard 10 wIltther they~ .. responsible for the ule_ 01 hlloontous subsUncer;. MonoYer. txll PRP is "jointly and stYtnlly Iiablt" for the COSI of ciuning up the entiusit •. 1 ViI/OfOU$ enforce""mt of ~n";ronmcn· t.il laws likely to OCCur in the decade 10 come has ma<It enviroomental liability a matt .. of growing prom inence for lendn•• ratinQ agencies. and acquisi · lion ·minded companies. among othtrs. In response to Ihut concerns. Ih ... alrudy is a if(Iwing uluc:tana 01 Indi· liol\l.l lenders. as ~1I as lrustees for bondholders. to eurcist CO\Itnanu thai pennit fom:losuu on propI'rty 5KUrinl dmulttd dtbt. 2 In addition. tho ezpand. ina scope of mvironmmtal liability hu productd i perhaps unan\ici~ttd dffd on I/CMrnmtnt.i1 iSlUers of municipal conduil bonds lhat,through fom:~u or lhe oIt'erifli pnxeu. iCquiu titIt to. h.uardowwutel;I •. One n •• d only i0oi< at the newspapers to lurn thai potential .nvi ronmental

..

Intruductiun Th~ impo rlJn" of tnvironmtntJI disclosure is rentCltd in Iht offning documents Ind p(riodk reports tiled wilh lhe Stcuriti(s ,nd E:xchangt Com· mission '"Commission") ~""ry day by iuutrs localed throughoutlhe counlry. This art icle is Intended to provide a brief overview of the erwiromTlenl.3t d;'· closu re re<lui remenu applicable 10 compln iu under federal securilies

....

Oro,"",

.w_..

nM_YII._

_

of

_vi.

As sociely sldvu to IT\,)inlain and imp rove tkt environment. costs ire impoHd on com~nits that IT\,)y need 10 ~ disdORd 10 inwslors. Complian« costs associated witk regulations r.. l ricl ing develop mon t and limiting

262 1 July 1992

harmful mlissions an ha\'t a I!Illfflil dfed on Ih~ apcn.tions 01 a corpora· lion. Mol'W.'tT.liQYtrnment regulations and tht public's concern for lhe tn";· ronment hn s~wned new indUllri .. lI'I<i. II the lime time. r.ndeud "..on. tn";ror>menlilly Afe" products unfash· ionable. Perhaps even mau signific:ant. however. I rt envi ronmentailawl that can imPOSt luge liabilities. ~rticularly with respect 10 IllSt generators 01 wlSle materi,ls. lndew. the Itr m 'trwi ron mental due diligence" hu acquired I reltvlnce \0 ~rtici""nu in business trinllctionl thll would have betn unimaaintd only I dtadr ago.

EnvIICMII'lMnYIIt.b1l1ty While both /tdtn.1 and sUtt environ· mental laws ha,," permuted the con· scious.ntll oIl!Ilny bwirotSKS. ~rticu· IIIr indwtries. such is the phallT\3Ct'uti· Cli. petroltum. chemical. wasl. managtment. and hn"l' manufacluring $tgmenU. lmong others. mwt ~ par-

Till: AlAllAMA U.WYER


liability also ~ scullk twn the largw. KquiJitions or nv.y endanger twn the lugut of indu!tritJ.. rOT fumpk. the prw KJ)OI"k1Ithoat .. propoKd KQUisition by Nort~i1 Ai rll~s of Midway Airlintl Mlllhl'OUgh It the lut minult beuuJt of concerfl$, among other things, wilh pottntialliability ariJlng from PQ$$ible l'lIk$ in .In und..groooo fuel t.ulk at Midway Airport in Chicago. 3 It allO wat reported Ihat one of the major thrnts to the solv~ncy of the property' casualty Insuranc~ Industry Is tht risk of cont rllct reinterpretations that rTI.I,y imp<»t onormous unfo""en environmental cltanup costs..

Print'ipal rcpn rlin ~ rcq uircmcnh HI, torlc.' rol<t of U ••

e _ I,,1on Tht fedual Iteuriliu laws ue IltslglWd to promote full dlsclosurt of materiil Information. Tht general antifnud pr(IVisioru imp<:>u liability on persons who make falst statements or omiuions of rTI.I,ttrial facl> In conn«_ lion with the purclwe Or sale of securitiH. These provisions apply to all stCU,iti., t"n,,"dions, indudlng privale plKtmtnts ;mol meTiers of many busi_ 1"ItSKJ. In cemln cues. \h.tst gor.. nl .lnti/nud proYiJions will NqUirt diKJo. SUrt to ill'lUtors of t~ nv.terial efftct of tfNironmental bw5 on m is.suer.

IIk_Y.

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[n addition to complying with tht .lntifnud provisions of the fedtnl KCurities lIws. issuers registeri"ll public oHerifl3l of 5tCUritiH uncle. the S«urilia Ad of 1933, or filing periodic rtpOrts utHk. the $«uTiliH Exchange Act of 191~, must comply with the ippliuble lir"lt-ittm disclosurt rtquirtments under Rtgul.l.tion S·K. With the iocrtUt in rtgul.ltion and environmentill liability since the early 1970s, the Commiulon has a\tempted to retiM the disclosurt obligations raised by envi ronmental Ifgisilition and th. reguili' lions promulg.a.ted theuund ... In 1911. for tumple. the Commission fiB!. iuutd" relust calling to the attention of issut .. thel. disclosure rtsporulbititia in conntction with lili!lilion and compllinct coW iI50ciated with environmental requiromtnts. 5 A stria of subsequent rtleuu OWr the nut two deCidu lOught 10 furth .. rtfint tho disclosurt rtsp0n5ibilitiH of iuuus subject to tnvironmentallaws. In addition. ItV'tnJ promintnt enfora· ment actions Instituted by the Commis· sion against Issutrs that failtd to dis· clost known environmtntal liabilities md eompliance ~\$ ha~ highlighttd the impOrtln.ce of accuratt disclO!lurt in thillTta. 6 ~r"ltnJ

"-9u1.tlon .. It Three provisions of RtiulitiOn S·K liiOiflCiOCe for issue.. lhit ue ,ubjt<:t to pOtent;"1 mviron· menl&lli&bilillH ind risks. Item 101, for eumple, requires m issuer to pr0vide .. genuil dtscript ion of its bll5i. ness. In addit ion. II rtquirts specific disclosure of thf materi.1 effects that compliance wilh ftdtral. stat. Illd loal .nviT()nmtntallaws I1lIY have UpOn tht Clpltll expendi tures, nrnings, and competitive position 01 the issuer. An Issuer m1l51 disclose lOO)' rTI.I,terial Hti· nv.t~ c.lpital txpmditufts for tnviron· mental control f..dlitiH.1 Item t01, for Inolher "ample. rtquirts thlt th. iuuer disclOH any miteri,,1 pending Ifg,,1 proceeding. including spKifled pnxted.lngs iming undu ftderal 0' stilt tnvironmtntal N~ ~rtlcul.l.r

.....

Finally. tM Managenwnl Discussion lind Amlysis {"MD&A") provision, Ittm 103. reQuirts management to discu .. tht iSlutr's hlltoriClOl results and Its

nl!: ALABAMA I.AWVER

future prospects. This forward-looking disclosure is tri"tr~ by my "known" trtnds. Iltnv.ncb. o;onvnilmtnt.s, ~\$ Or uncertainties thll lIrt reasonably likely to h.I.vt II rTI.I,terialafftct on the issuor'l operating 'elulu or r,flincl,,1 condition. The purpOSe of the MD&A is to 11M invtSlors I look II the toml""'Y through t h t eyes of managtmtnt. MD&A and the .tl"ted financial statt· menu art tilt helOr! of In i... utr's dis· clOluro document. 9 Obviously, Item 303 would compel managenwnt to dil' clost the s ignificant implications of envl , onmtnt,,1 lawl on futu •• Optri' tionsofthe iss ......

" ccounlin!! anti

disclosurc

rcl a t i n ~

to

cll\"ironmcnlallllSS Cllnl in ~I'ncil's Beyond thue n"rrative discussions I1lIndalCd by Regul.ltion S-K. tnviron· nwn\J.1 mallt .. i lso may ha,~ impllca· tions for the financiilltattment. of iUlltTS. ~~rally accepted accounting principia, lpedfically rASB Statement No.5, indiut. INt i n utimattd lou from a [011 continQency must be accrued by .. chirge to income if it is probiblt thi t a liability has betn incumd and the amount of the ..... an lite I'UIOTI&bIy alimat~. It is the l'U(I(llISibility of managtment to Kcumulate 00 " limely bui. sufficient relevant 1In.ci reliable information to I1lIke a ••asorWllt Q lil1llt. of tnvi· ronm(ntalliabili ty. If manasomtnt determines thaI the amount 01 11K liability II likely to Ian within a range. and no amount within that nnge can be dettrmined to IJ.e the !Klier estimatt, the rtgistnnt is required to record at lUll the minimum amount of th. rIIl~. I O Additional exposure to l<»ws also s.hould lite disclosed and changes in estimatn of t ht liability should b. .eported In the period that thty occur.lt The mtaSUrtmtnl of the liability Ihould be butd upon currfntl~ enacttd envir()nmtnt.al laws ind upon oilling ttdmo!Gg)'. The recognition lOOO measurtment of the liability mUlt IJ.e ovalualed ..,panl._ Iy from lh. corulderatlon 01.0}' e. ptCIJuly 1992/ 263


but technology that does not yet e~ ist and whOS( costs. in some c:aseI. cannot accurately be rntilSured. Moreovtr, sud· den. and ~rhaps unpredictable. liability arising from accidentll discharges of hazardous waste. including oil spills, may have a profound effect on the bal · an~ sheet of a company. Even the law in this area is still emlving. fundamen· tal interpretive issues affecting lenders, insurers and the role of the bankn.Jptcy laws have yet to be clea rly resolved. Moreove r. although defeated in the most recent ses.ion of Congre.., fur_ ther legislative refinement. are likely that may reduce the pOtential tJlpOSure of some persons. such as lenders. municipalities. and defenK contractors. finally, although the gennal accounting standards that are applicable to the contingent liabilities of any i$.5uer can be summarized. a gmt deal of di5crdion is left to management and auditors. The actual costs of remediat· ing a ha~rdous waste site will depend upon the complexity of the problem and the technology determined to be most effective; the participant". shar~ of respOruibility for the total CQ:!!ts: and its

ed insurance reCI.Mries. If information available prior to the is..uance of the financial st>tements indicates that it "' probable that environmental liability had been incumd at the date 01 the financial statements, the amount of the company·s liability should be ncog· nized and recorded, if it can Ix utimat· ed, regardl e$.5 of whether the ;$.5u.. is .mIt to estimate the amount of reCl.Mr· in from insurance carriers. 12

I nccrl,lin lics Having descrilxd the tnv;ronment>l disclosure r~quirements, it should be mentioned that detenoining the costs of regulatory compliance. and measur· ing the bottom line effect of pOtential environmental liability. in many cases may be difficult. The lasl decade has witnessed the enactment of a host of legislati"" and regulatory initiati"". in the environmental area where the costs are yet uncertain. Environment>l stand.rds. for inst.nce, may impose On i.suns the requirement to use not merely the be51 available technology.

$imp/~

Prepare

or romple.< ,..i/ls

i~

mj~UI'S K;ln AJlomrys·ColllpUl~r Net-

...ork soft ..."r~. TIl, SWI,_$puijic pmg mms ask mull ip/~-dlQic. muifi /Ii~-Ih.·bl,,~k qutJrions.

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proc. ning ~"rt'. Usn /ri. ndly. "" ,·ornTtumds /0 I,,,m. 1.... WOlb~~ ......ritI'· of_

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C.lllk ,ni« Will;,,,,, .. 8O().lll·l972 Sp«ify ~ \I.-or 1 II- di ... .

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ability to recover part of the costs from the other parties. All of these factoT$ may not Ix immediately apparent. In addition. FASB No. 5 prtdat~ the SuptrFund logislation, and thut is a paucity of speci fic gu idance to help management and t heir account~n\s appropriately reflect environmental clean·up costs on their balanct .heets. MortQVtr, due to the press of other projttt., the Financial Accounting Stan· dards Board is unlikely to provide addi. tioTI/II guidan~ on accounting for envi· ron"",ntal CO$ts in the near future.

Ongning Ye\"icw Although a number of i~ues have yet to be resolved. it is clear that aggrl'$5i"" enforcement of environmental laws will increase in the 1990s. Environmental i~ues must become a growing conC('m for corporate management. Vet a reCl'nt study by Price Wate rhouse indicates that at the largest corporations . only 11 percent had adopted any written account in8 procedure. Or policies to deal with environmental i~ues and le~ than 20 percent had established envi. ronment>1 oversight committees at the board of dirtclors 1",,1. 13 At tho Commi$.5ion. the larg. dollar amounts of anticipated environmental liability cost. has produced incr.asod pressure to monitor the adeQuacy of i$.5uU di,closure. During the past ~r­ al years. the staff of the Commi.. ion·, Division of Corporation Financ e has been closely looking at the adequacy of environmental disr:losure in connection .... ith its Ttvi"", of filing,. When the staff find. material omissions Or deficiencies r~lating to envi ronmental matters, it will request correcti"" disclo.ure and. in egregious case., may refer the matler to the Divi.ion of Enfarument. In order to enhance the disclosure in this area. a dialogue has been developed between the staffs of the Commission and the E PA. Thmugh an informa l understanding, the staff receives from the EPA lists of all companies that have been named as PRPs on haurdous waste sites. Information also is receiVl'd concerning companies subject to the clean up requi rem""ts under RCRA; criminal casu unde r fedenl envimn· mental laws ; civil proceedings unde r e nvironmental laws; and companies

THE AlABAMA UlWYER


__ -___ - _ _._ __ _--__ -_----_ -.-."'"- __ -.-_ ..... _..."_-_"' _ _ _ . -_ "--. ' ' _---.-..-. __ -__--_ . __._. ---1 _-_ .... 1 . --. . . . . .... __ _._. _._"-"-"-_ _-"", -_ _ .. __ _ .... _......... -___-__.'__-_ ...... _ . _---- -_ -_.__ __ -,.----_ _.... _-__..... -. _ .... _.... . _.. _---_._ --"' -. ..__._" _....__ .....-----'--"-" _. _--,--_ __....- _ -----_.. -_ _ .. _ . " ,--_ _-_ ....._ __ _-_ _--..._ -_._ . .. _. .. . _-_.-

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barred from sovunment contllcts under the CIWl Air Act iI:Id the Clun Watt. Act. 1M stiff cur~ntly utilius th;, inforTmtion in ill rmtw pnXtSI. In tht nuT fulurt , it is &nlicip,attd that this cmlollue will be IormaJiud through the fltcution of i memorandum of uncIrrstlnllillll with the EPA.

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comp,aniu al ready are acutely

ilWire of Iht ir ruponsibililies and poten\w li;lbility urnlfr lPplicablt envi. ronmental laws. Rt.ndlus of Iheir soph iJliaotion. ~r. it is tht ru· ponsibility 01 to\IflKllo ..... ke SUrt tNt II... i. clie nts Ire familil. with their

ruponsibilitla to invuton undtr the ftdr",1 Halritia ~ In tilt future. IOt1\t compinies will IKe sign lfianl 10iHS dut to environme nt l l li~b;lity . Counu l should IC qu.loint tlltmstlws with the applicable tnvironmtntal Ttgullotions and should focus suiously on whether their clients have adtquate l~ diJc10std the shortttrm and long·ttrm dltc!s of tnvironmentJ.1 tJ.ws on tllt; r Operations. •

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If you have clients who own or opemte public facilities, protect tl\(:m with

kflO\'>·ledge. In!~iQn

H~ve

them call the Ameriun Disabil itirs A5SOCi~tlon,

Soervice5 Oivision to find 001 what n!quirements their properties must meeI to

mmply with the new AmmCIln5 witll DiSilbilitits Act a nd a,'OKl s tiff penallil:'S.

Because you r clients depend on you .

" 41 23 AlJIUM N V.NE • 1l1R/l.UNCHAM. AlABAM A m4J (:za;~

THE AU\IlAMA LAWVER

967· (9)()

FAX 12051 967·1539

July 1992 1265


TO: Will ..... _MIt Enon FROM: "18Hma SbIt. . ., At:: 0nIw to Show

c...o, eLI: .2-57

Not ice is hereb1 g i ven to ... _ _ Eo .... , attorr>ey. whose last known &ddr_ is 142·E 14th Avenue, NE . Birmingham. Alabama 35215 , that his """'" """ tI/Ie<1 c ertilied 10 tr.e Discipli nary Commission lor noncompliance wit h Ihe Mandalory Cont inuing Legal Education requirements 01 the Alabama State Bar and lI'Ial as a result tfle<eof an Order 10 SI'>ow Cause hes been entered againSI him ordering him 10 ShOW. within si.ty (60) days hom the date 01 &ntry ot the ord... ..... y he shoold no1 be su_nded 'rom the pill(:. lice of law. Said order having been entered Apri l 24 . 1992. and th is Alabama issue being datOO around Jut)' 15. 1992. lti<I anorne1 has until September 14 . 1992 10 showcaUS8. Oisci~ Corrmssion Alabama State Bar 415 Dexler AV<IflOO Monlgome<y. Alabama 36104 WIII ~

L.....,....

HONOR ROLL

Between April 9 and June 3, 1992 the (oI[OIIJing attorneys mode pledges to the Alabama State Bar Building Fund. Their names will be included on a WIlli in Ihe portion of the building listing all contTibu(1)r5, Their pledges are acknowledged with grateful appreciation. (For a list ofth~ making pledges prior foApril9. please 5ee pri!lliow issue5 of The AI/lHm/lu/D,er. ) Roderick Mark A1nand~r

John David Knight

Michael E. Ballard

Frances Kilpatrick Mil ...~t

Clifford Lani.. Branch

James Warren Tarlton. IV

Thomas KiMn BranUe;', Jr.

Ceorg" Walton Walker, III

hme$ Melvin Edwards • Com_I " Kmll CoIlroion> • Modical " SuboJlr,oOio<I Cues • f .. 18." I_PC'." Nor_I.<

• Ont TI ... [)all f.tlll} Fri< ...I, I'o!>Up \\1 _

• u....-

V. Edward P"",man. II

""1fMJ will al$Q "" mduded

J=ph Jam .. Calla

• A_Ii< f ...... " 1zIt<"

• _rmm s.t I.'moa • Complotc TI<~'" s.,...", • TNII

Norman Cunler CU}I, Jr.

"''''''"'1nlI " Clw<~ WriU...

• Prow ... ~, " E'I"'nM>i<

Fre. Demonshalion

William Wallace Haralson

Program Available

For In/ormation Call (800) 827.] 457

r

~

JS Technoloui"" Inc.

• , " • 5001 WI'SI Broad Sl. ~ Richmond, VA 23230

266 1July 1992

IJeIUWt! April 9 and Jur>il3, 19fi2IM /OJlowing firms >T1IHk pledge< 101M buildirog frmd. "",if

on" "",II m

1M ''''''' building {ioling all conlrilJul(NS, TM;' p/edgts are 0<:1mou1a1gtnf wilh (JrtJleful app<TdGIi<wt. (Ple<JS<I_ P.....• OUS Wua of TIle A.lduwto ~, ... for listmgs of 1100# making conlri/>mic<!l priorloApriI9.)

Kalhryn McCullough Harwood

Walker, Hi ll, A<i<lrru;, Umbach, M.adows iii Walton

John Benjamin Holl

Workers' Compemation Lilw &<;tion

THE illiIJIAMA LAWYER


Do you know the Bar's Plan? by RICHARD F ALLEN

m

urriClnn. to,nadou, urthqulkn. alrllillne nul,u, C~miClI spills, nudu. accidtnl$. tnin wrecks.lnd firu. DisasttTS, whether Nt· ural or nun-made, come in ill shapes and .iu.,)'I!! they haw oome chancIer. ulics in common - they often strike whm lust apeckd, their dtstNction is ind~imk, and IIunw> bfinas ~ to COpe with the aftermath. Tnditionll_ Iy. members of the AlaNIN Stilt Bar haw always played a role in the .tcOYtl}l from both "IIturJIlnd man·midt disasItrS, somrlimu volunt ... ing time and

Kl'Yicts. sorJ1eI.ima pursuina claims lor irInomlt \o'ictilTlf, ;and $Omd;ma lifting through the .... bble thot ....... <JoII« thrir own Ihrivinglaw practiu. The b<lr's plTticiP<'tion in recovery dfortJ. while ofttn laud;ltoTy. lIN ltn. tnlty been loa! and ad hoc, individiW ~rs working Ioaolty to do willI Ihry (O\Ild to htlp Ihri. friends lind neigh· bors. Under the ludtrship of two oftt>.

Alabama State Bar's past prnidenu, Harold Albritton Ind Phil Adams. a Tull Forct on Oi$;lsttr RUpoIlH Iw prepared, ond the ,WI' of the sUit NT is prtP<l rtd to implement, I statewide.

coordinated bu usociation plan \0 ' Hpor!5t to dilUters which might lfffC! I'~n as wtll as our clients - tht peopIt and tht busi~ 01 tht Sbte

"The """""ITwtdlltt Issued

to tilt Taslc force follows: "Tht minion of this T\uk Forct shall M 10 dtvtlop a compn:htnSM: plan iNt will allow tht Bu 10 tfftcliwly and tlq)fditiously rtspond to !I rutur,1 or manIt13dt diwttrJ in tht .wnt of a future disaster."

on Disasttr Rtsponse

WIIS is

THE.IJA8AMA V<WYER

MOre sptcifically, Ihe tlIsk force wu tnked to accomplish three specific

objtctiws:

m

In

~rWon

with tht Young

Stction. trWe, stltrwido nttwork tNt would rupond to tht ~Tl'

legal nnds of thou citiuns whn haw ilUfitud 110M If a ~II oil diloUttr. and whn, undtr tilt tirCUmst.lnces. lack Iht !il\llneiaJ reo ~ tn mDl kpl 00\III$t1; (2 1 I)evt!np and recnmmtnd I plan of rapid wistan« to lawyers ,lnd the local judiciary adversely lfftcted by I d~tr; and (31 DevelOp a plan Gf IClion 10 respGnd rapidly In 1TWI diloUten whkh cnuld rnult in improptr snliclu t ion bolh b~ Incal and "p.lTllchute lawyers", The taslc lora's work product turned out to be thrft p/UI$ which an: ~t inttmllud and which "'- been wonJj_ Nlted with taeh otIltr and with I myria,d otagtneiu which play I role in diJMtrr _oyactivitiu. With tilt Ido.,tion and implementation 01 these pl.ms, tilt bn his takm st~ to ensure that the bar's ruponSf to, future diNSl(r will bt immtdiate, tfftcliw. ,nd it i. hOl"'d.

welloOOOTdinated, Every lawyer in the stitt at lun nttd.! to M awar. Gf tilt tliSltnc. Gf that pl.ms for ~raJ rtaIOIIl. firs!. in anticipMion oil futun: disNkr. ~')'!rs around tht Sill. art being uhd 10 identify elCtss but serviceable equipment and matnials which mighl bt quickly marsha1lt<l in Gfdtr to help our brothen, and sisltn-1I41lt-bar w~ prxtica mighl M disrlJl)ttd by I disutu. Sinee. diloUterJ in: unp.edictllblt and indiscriminate, we were ar. all potential victims, ind as such we all

nwl lo know that a plan is in uistence iNl can have htlp on tht WlI~ in I mat· Itr 01 houn if our equipment and lKilitiu Ire dtstroytd in I d~er. ~. although tht Young 1.Iwym' Seclion his auumtd primal)' I'UpOnSi. bility for providing volunteer Soervicu to diluter ..;ctims, this dots not mun that ·old" lawyers cannot giYt thori. ti~, all '« aJWlIyS havt in the pUt, in htlping our fritnd.!lnd neighbors in times 0( despair, This article will upboin the plan f(H' pTQYidinQ such volunlnr auist.>nte 1O thai lawyers around Ihe $late will know how to set involved in ill orga· niu:d~,

riIWly, the Irticle will d~, prob10m we have not uptrienctd 50 fIr heu in Alabama, bul with which many 0( OIlr ntighborinS S\.>lt ban havt had In C(lntend, That is the problem 01 out-ol-iUte bowyen ducmding in bo~ IIIImbns on the octnt oil nWHrw:lt diAsltr, such If ill airplint cruh or rn.Ijor chemical spill that (lUstS multiple deaths, nr s.evere injuries 10 man)' I"'rsons (A Mass eu.....lty Disute.), and pt.haps \.>king unflli. 1ICMn\.>ge 01 victi .... or their billilia

Ne twork to provide lepl ......lIInc. 10 dI. . ., ... "5(:U,,,. Tht bar's plan 10 provide legal um. \.>net to victims oill dislIskr is incof'llO)o raiN in I documtnl mlitltd "VGlunlotT Liwyer DiloUter Mlnua!." The ITIinual provides background infnm1.llmn II voluntetT li"'Y1lr would need to know in Grdtr to providt 1t",1 1$Iistln« to vic.. lims and tn knGw whtrt lit or slit fib in the ~rall victims' ;wistlnee uniwru, establishes policies ,nd proce· dunes for providing legal ;w;iltance GIl a non-<liscri miru.tol)'. non· fee·senerat ing July]992 1267


buis. ~ pnlYidts guicAnce to the vol. unteer bwytr who is Klmll)' providing the leelllSsistlnCt. Tht kty to this plan's SUC«Sf is IWIrtllW by thr bar fA its uist.",., and volunteers coming fOrwlrd 10 help in the disasler's ~er· ~,

Tht Alabama Emergency Minage",",nt Agtll(y (AEMA) is the u«uti~ l.ger'lC:» of the St.ite of AllbalTlll which is responsible for coordination of th. 5Ut.·S rt5pOnM to III major disasttrs.1f tht Prelident declares .. NtiOl'\llI disas· ter, tht .u:MA works in conjunction with the rtdnll Emergency Manage· ment Ager'lC:» (r EMA). If Ihe President fails 10 declu ... major disaste r in AIabami. the Co:wtmor of AIatwni miY still declare a slat. of emergency. In such CIR. AtMA Is mpomibit for the idministno!ion iInd coordination fA thr IUte's re"l'O"M to thr di~er. NormiI· Iy, the AtMA will ~liJh .. field gff,u near the site of th. disasler which will be the hudq.... rt.n for the stat. COOrdinating officer (and federal coordinating officer if lhe I'EMA is invol""dj. Tht AEMA may also tllablish one Or mOre Disaster Amllication Centers (DACs) in the disaster lTelI. Repruental;"'s of ftd· enl Igendn. slllte Ind local gO\·ern· ments, plivat. rtlief lIItn<:ies. and other organiutiorU which can provide as&is. \.lnc:. or Q)U~ling .. re pruml in the DAC. Punu .. nt 10 .. mulu .. 1 support agrttmen! between lhe AtMA mil the ~r, the AtMA will pl'OYido: SpaU. communicatiorU iInd other f",ililies neces· suy for the ~r to perform its voluntary disaster rtlief aclivitiu in .ach OAC. The pion anticipates ih3tthe bar lead· mhip wHi be notir.,d by the Alabama £mergency Management ~ncy im"",diately upon lhe occurre""e of .. disaster which might require implemenllltion of Ih. plan. Th. plan hal been coordin.attd with lhe AEMA and coordi· n.ation with and notirlUtion fA the bar is now writltn inlO the AtMA disaster ~,,,,,,-

268 lJuly 1992

_

'T7w Elba IIood Allhough lhe thTUlI cI the plan is lot' Ilwyers to volunteer their lim. lnd .fforts 10 help their friends and neigh· bon recover from I disaster. Ihe task force ..,,,Iiud thaI providing such support W(luld M more ,ffeel;'" ~nd MUer organbed if II non·V()lunteer (i.t .• some· on. in a J!<Iid 5tatus) could be on the K.n. to delumint what need.d to be done ~ 10 coordillite the ~r's contri· butlon \OWinl the ..,lief effort. Sina: 11K Alabaml Nlllion ..1 Guard r"pOnds to .. Imost .very disuter sttnllTio, it appurtd logical to the wk Iofct to sttk .. commitment from the G.... rd to pro. vidt a Nitional GIIUII !&wyor to do lhe prtliminary a$$U$ffitnt of .. disaster lilt "nd. whtn needed. to coordinate the work of volunl .. r IIIW)'f:n in respOnding to tht diluter. Although the National Guard had traditionally not activ~ted II laW)'f:r to perform such II role, the Staff Judge Advocate ISJA) for the Alabama Nlt ional Guard. Col. Larry Crav.n. immediately recognized Ihe need for such In on·site coordinat or and obtain.d ptrmiuion from the Stile Adjulllni Centno!. /otajor Ge ... nl ivan Smith. for the Gtwd to fill the nttd.. In my future d~tr in which the Cum! is calltd upon, the SJA will KIMIt .. G.... rd lawytr 10 ' tpruen! th. bar u ..... 11 as the G.... rd. fulfilling 11K iWl'Umtnt lind coordination rol •. A fornul mutull support agr"mtnt hiS been prepared iIfld .~.cuttd by tilt presidtnt of the Alabama Stale Rar and the Adju·

no._looIIo

IlInl G.... "I of the Ab.bal11.l N.. tional G.... rd.

In the Q)Urse of lhe Wk fon:o:'s work. il WOJ also distOYtrtd that the auOTTIf)' ~n",al's offiu routintly Mnds a fa>..;",r to tht se .... 01 any lignificant disaster. That lawyer seMS IS the ryes and elITI of the aUomty gtntral in order to ddermint what. if any. additionalsuppor\ the diwter relief ltam might requirt from his offict. That rt\lt il currently pe r· formed by Auistant Altomry Centr.. 1 !>tnnis Wright. An agreement bet'ooo'tfll the ~r and Allornty G.neral Jimmy Evans WlS subsequtntly dnwn up which providtd tmt Wrighl Or his successor would also stM is 11K ryes ;and ean 01 the ~r. to lSKSS the situation;and coordinate voIunl .., Mrvic .. at the site of II disaster. Accordingly. It the onset 011 disaster, in addition 10 notifying the bar hnd· quarttn, AtMA C(lnlllCa both designllt· td officers in lhe Offiu of the Attorney Cene"llnd I he Alabama Nat iona l Guud 10 "TlnSt for on·site dimage iWl'ument and «IOrdillition of volunt ... .sist.ance. The redundancy in this rolt ;1 on purpose. It's being the task force'l fHlin(j ih3t if ..... ha,~ two offi· dlb destanattd to ..,prOStnl the bu It I diwttT llile. there is II high prot:WHli· \y that at itU! ant cI them will, in fact • be th .... And sinct thUt liWllers are being compensattd for their time, at leut one will rema in on·site for the duration of an emergency.

TIU: ALABAMA lAWYER


If a drttnnination i. TTIIIk 10 impl.m'nt tht 1'1 1I1 (bastd uJllln a ncom mtndltion by our r.prnentatiw o.1-5itt to the bar prtlide nt). then the bu', coordinating o fficer. i.e .• either the ,~ci(jully lId ivlled NatioRliI ClIlIfd offl«r O. lUistanl attorney ttncl10l on th. scono. will co ntact th Youn, L.lW)/i'''' Section voluntur coordiruotor lor the region in which the disaster occurnd (who will also haw been Ilert· ed through YLS chlnnels). The YLS coordinato r idenlifiu lawyus (both )'(lUng mel old) who m willi", to plrlicipate and pull lilt IIOluntet'" in touch wilh tilt on·site coordinalor who Khed· ultl tho volunlet r. to st",.., I .~eific shift in II s~clfic disaster Il'I"l iution emler. For purposes 01 this plan. which hu bttn coordinattd ... ith Iht Young L.lwytU Stction. tho .Ialt hu betn divid.d into four Ii«Igraphic ngions Ind a volunt.u coordinator hu bun IIsigned for nch .egion. For I mort Cl)mplrtt dUcu$$ion of Iht YlS pnpm.. tions to impltmmt Iht plan. _ Yount L.lwye",' Section. S3 AI.!. Lawger at 99 (March 1992). Using the materials available in the "Voluntter L.awyer OiSllter Mlonlllll", II wtll '" lilti, ()Wn aprrim« and IIood common .. n ... the voluntetr l~u will help disasler victims cope ... ith I wide range of probltms from landlord! tenant matten to insuran« claims.

Reconstlt"'lon of the loe.1 bIo •• net loe.' Judlel • .,. Tho nttd to hloyt I plan to 1It1p indio

vidual lawyers. or indud an .ntin Ioal bar, was brought home by the Oood Ihlot ravaged Iht City of Elba in Mlorch 1990. As in many IffiIII towns. most 0I1ht law offices in Elba "'~r. clustered lround tht courthouu lind whtn do ... ntown Elba was submerged under 18 lUI of waler for four or five days the d....ast/l· lion wu comple te . Indeed. al1lhll nmaintd of one tWO·pe riOn law firm was .. concrett )jab when ontt II IhriYi"lllaw practice had nisttd.ln EIba. ..lI of the 1"",1 la~n were themstlvto victims of the diwter. many su!laining sewre dall'\a$ not onl» to their ofIlcts but \0 liIt,r homu is ~II. In lIddilion. lilt firsl floor of tilt cOlI.thoUM JU$' lained con$iderable damall_ and the filts for many pending civil and crimi· nal actiom "'~n dllmagN or ~ulroyed

and hid to br Ttcon$lituted. Whil. 10m, rel it! ..... provided to lonl laW)'t'" from OIl1tr membe'" of the bar. it WiS. II has been the CiISt In 1llO51 plSl d;suteTl. ad hoc and uncoordinated. Tht Admini$trlltive Olfin of CourU immediatdy brilln II reco n$truction effort aimed It I/tuing tilt court S)I!Item hack in optration and did I crtditable job notwithstanding the severe wattT damage and the lack of t.~rience In hindli"ll fIlCh /I dilllte!, In ill ((lnSidrl1Otion of the Ws role in ruonstituting Iht Ioal bar and judi· ciaf)'. the tuk force made an early dett rminalion at the nsources availa!>lt to r"Onititutt the judiciary. whetMr Ioal or tilt 1I~llIIte couru in Mont· gomery. anllVailllblt through lilt sLlte lIIelK)' rtsporuiblt for tilt nronslilu· tion of the court I)'$ltm _ the Admin_ istrative Office of Courts. Tllose re sourcu by far outweigh IIll' thlol could be made iMitable by tilt sule bar. Nty. erthfle$.l. tho !uk force coordi .... ted OUr plan ",i!h Iht Administrati"" Offi~ at Courts. \\'lIile lIffecting this coordina· tion it WitS discovered that tlltn is nill . I» r>(l formal plan in e>.istenc:t lor rt<:Qn . stituting eitiltr Iht lWflllltr courts in Mon~ry or Iht Ioal <»Uri.! around tilt S!.lte. Officws with AOC indiellted lh.1t such /I plan wlS needed and Ihll liIt)o would be pnparing such a plan. Al thi' wriling, Iht pilln has not bern drv.loped. but /In appfndi. IwI bun rexMd in the bar's plan to iICCOI1lmOdate II copy of tilt AOC PWI when it is pubHihtd, The plan lor reconstituting a 1(1<11 bar, Or a portion of /I local bar. struck by dilUter it divided inlo phuts. Tilt fi",t pIw.e is Iht pn-dilUter planning phase. during which equipment lond .uppliu which might be nudfll in the IMnl 01 an Elba-like dilUte r are located and ncordtd on II computer at the Jlate bar hudquarters. This informa· tion if to be updatw tvfry .... monli'IJ. Once a disaster striku, .. need ilSstUment ;, conducted by tilt bar commi ... .ioner or commiuionen for tilt effect· ed an, in connection with tht te.drr. s hip 01 the local bar. Once it i$ determined thll tht diloUter hid in imp,llct on b,wYUJ 10 thf u!tnt thllt rrcon,titution plans ,hould be implr ' monted. the har commi .. ioner(sj will make .uch /I rtcommendation to the

"midtnt 01 tilt bar who will dirtd tilt txtcution of tilt 'tc(KlS\itution plan. In the third phue, the bar commis sioner(.} and tht local bar Iradtrship will determine specifiellily whit suppHrd lind equipment IIrt n .. ded by locallaW)'ltrs. 11Iit information will be channeled to th. sufI of Iht boor. Tht boor suff will then rtview items on their mane r computer lin to determine whlot elIn be nwle lIvailablt and will, in conjunction with Iht bar commission· ,n and tilt local boor leadtu. contact firms holding the equipm.nt lind arranie for it to be shipped to the dfected aru . No physical translor 01 lupplie$ and ~uipment will be midt unlilsuch time u a dillltrr Ilri.U. During tilt pn4is· HI.. phiISr. iawyen and law forms thlot havt elCesl ~~ipmtnt will k«11 il on hand and merely notil)o the boor of i~ availability. (Of courst. no la~r or form is committed to hold .uch ~uip­ mmt just beausr it if repor\w II on· hlnd. If it it disposed 01 in the ordil\lry COUnt of operalions. it will be dropped lrom the bar', lilt upon notirocalion to the stafl on the ntxl qutltionnain.) Onee II disaster strikes. Irrlngemen~ will be ~dt 10 lOt tilt rQuipmtnt in the hands of thou who nud i\. Tilt key to a iucce..ful reconslitution dfort will be the speed with Which it can be KcomplishN. TtIi •• in tum. will depond upon how COfUCient iOUI the Ioc.al bar is in iettinQ the bar IItlldqUlr1m know oIlht iMilability 01 useable rquipment. L.lwye .. or firms having it",i"'able equipmtnlex", .. 10 ~u rrent needs will be asked to respond genor· ousl» and expediliousl» when tilt ques· tionnain hom Iht har " dislributtd.

Richard Wilson & Associates Registered Professional Court Reporters 17Miknd~ Mon~, .... llba~

J61001

264-6433 July 1992 / 269


h,_lMrte

"wyer

plan Although we hIVe neye r hld the problem he .. in Alabama, we are all familiar with the phenomena that often occurs after a major man·made disas· ter, such u an ai rplane cruh, which CcluHS mas. cuual tiu. Typically. Ihe lrnI is mundittd with ~rs from ~I uound tht oountry...:l, unfartUfl/llt:l)', somttirnu thtH IIwytrs Sttm In prey 00 lhe victims or Yic!i!l\l' Wnilits ....tIo are subject to both physiCciI or emotion· al stress. and who ~ rI()I be awart of what their options Ut. Thnt oUI·of· oUte l.Jwyrn _ oomtIimes rtf.rm:I to .. "pIract.ute ~rs" TIw; thrust of the plan to dUol with the problem of p;or.IChute IIwytrs is to I/fnt",te public awa.. n.eu to help vic· lirt\$ prol. ct Iheir riQhts in the evenl of a disasler. A crisis task force made up of the m le bar prnhlent. the tleculiw; director of tht blor. tht pruidml of tht local blor usocill ion (II the disaster Sild, the ~rot~1 counsel for the sllte bar auoeiation . and the director of prOilrams is c..ated under the plan. In Iht t venl of a disute r, the Alabama

Emergency M&Ngemenl Agency noti· lies the sllie bar htadquarters and providu AI much infonnation III is initiJ,l· Iy aYjilable. The officiJ,1 IlkillJllhe call will then conw;ne (by ttlephone if pos· sible) the crisis luk forCf. Tht task forct will decide whll leve! of rtl · POOH, if "ny. il "pproprilile. Optionl rana;e from I prt . prep,.ed p ross ..Itut. twically informina victims of their ria;hts. to In on'lilt response Itam, lead by the II1Ie bar prOJident. which would function In conjunction with Ihe A£MA Ihe local bar &$$0dation. Onee on lilt. th e re sponse tmn would IMIUlle the lilualion and deltrmine whll addition"l public stalements, mtdilo releutl, flc" would be required in o rder to proled the rights ofvictims of I disaster. Pursuant \0 the plan. Ihe slalt bar hudquarlers will publish I "Victim's Cuide" which will bt printed in suffi· elmt quanlilies to bt dillributtd 10 We· lilTll iIfId famil)' members in the f"tnl 011 dil-lSttr. either by "prUotnlltivts oIlht suIt bar or by I local bar associ· ation in the df""led ~re~. The sole pur·

a"'"

• GRATIS court room uslslanCe by our clinical reps GRATIS written report If cue evidences no dear merit or proximate cause is

InA~

Conc:I,,-.Ion TIw; ~y a plan ill ~itttd to Pl'J'I'r it sum btcomin, oblOltle. According· Iy. stafl memMTS al s talt bar hud · quarters have betn assigned the responsibility of keeping the plans cur· rtnt ,"'" eff""tina; conlinui"ll coord i. nalion wilh the Alwrn;o Emergency M llnaQem~nl Agency, Ihe Attorney Cent",I', office. a"'" the SllItt Adjutanl Ceneral. Each YU r , the Alabama Emergency M ~nagemt nt Ag~ncy con· ducts extrcisu 10 tUI and validate its pl"nl. The ba r'l pllns. especially Ihe plan pert"inillJllo victims assisunce, will be lu led dur ina; "n upcomina; eU:rcilf. Soon, neh r'I1Otmbtr of the b;tr will bt rtct;'Iing a Quutionnaire IOliciling Ihe lill of ucess supplie. and equipment which coul d be don~led 10 olhef bu members in tht """nl 01 ,disut... TIw; .nulu will bt catalogu~ Ind rn;oin· lained on Ihe IUle bar's com pUlers. E..... ry sill months, U. bar will bt w.d to update Ihis list by not ing changtl lrom previous rtports. With the list of available equipment $aftly $tored in the bar COmpultrs. ~ probably will bt u .udy U ....-e can bf: to respond 10 the

""'As of Ihis ..... ril inl/. no di»sttr hi! We work you to BUILD YOUR CASE a

• All medical experts are actively practlclng BOARD CERTIflED • r!Q REnRED EXPERTS • F1nanclal tailored to exact needs HCAI MEDK:AL t1fIGAllON SUPI'ORT 1l:.AM

P.o. e.o.l2OO'I

SI.~_33742

81 3-519-«154 fOO' SUol ServIce: FAA (813) 513-t333

270 I July 1992

pow of tht ~mph," 1110 usist victims in preHNing their lepl ria;hls unt il luch time AI they , .. prtp;ortd to make ~n informed de,ision _ a ded.ion based on all circumsuncu and unbur· dened by Ihe emolional trauma and IITt11 cauHd by the tr~edy. The vic · tim', Iluide 1w bten rtYi~d by tht atnt~1 counxl for the AlabAma Sutt SIr UId by tht tuCUliw; diTtCtor oftht Illte tri,,1 la.....yers allOti"lion. It was based on II .i milar document prepar~ by Ihe Tens Slate liar Associlotion bUI 11M bnn ronlorm~ to rondilions hore

Iriggertd Ih. full implementalion of any of the plans. although the victims' aJllsl"nce plan ..... u partially imple· mented during Hoods in north Alabama In farly 1991. There lilt plan appUrtd 10 ~rk ~1I. Con«ptionall)'. the plions lind preparaliOIllIlpt)Q. to bt s.ound. Only parl icipation by bar member •. btfa... during """, after II diwttr. how· eW; • • will ensure an dfec\iw; respollSf when tht need ar'sa. •

THEAU\BAMA lAWYER


LITERATURE FOR LAWYERS: ANEW APPROACH TO AN OLD SUBJECT by DUNCAN B. BLAIR

m

n March 20. 1992, 25 mtmb... of the Rirming· Bar Association met in tht faculty lounge of 1M Cumbtrluld School 01. Law /Of lin unU$wJ lind inllOYlllM Itgal Hminar enhtled "Lile... ~m

11,1", for ~n : This Hminar _ which was $pDIUOftd by the CUrnM'WId School of Law Ind lilt flinnil14ham BlIT lwo-

cialion

~nd funded by the Alabama HUl'rWli\iu Foundationrequire<! its parti cipants to full Iht following three works: Slu.ktspt ••• 's Kill(} wr. Totstoy'. The iNalh of 1001/ lI/ICh lind Kathtrillt Ann Porltr'sNoon Wine. ~ particiPi"tJ then iUtnded II li. -hour d~on Iud by two f:aculty mfmben from It.. BW\dti$ Uni""nity HUrTWIit;u mil the Professions Program. I'artkipanu earned 5.9 hours of CLE credit By all menure. Ihe program Was a succelS. Ont hund~d ptreen! of those who ligned up \0 IIU.nd did. The di$CuWon llmong Pl'rticipanb ~ CAndid.. In written "",,1~lions rwry pUticipml ~ Mlrpnw tN.1 wori<s of tittl'llluft coold lit SO r.llt\Iarl! \0 the practice of law. Participants reported that

they had str •.tell.d th.ir minds Ind e:oamined their v~luu. When asked to comp;l r( t~ progr~m 10 olher continuinll l.gal education progrims that they had altended. tveTY t»rticit»nt compltling in rvaluatioon reportt<J th.lt the p.ogtl./n w;I05 "btl· ter than most." I'o'hm..trd what \hoy porticuLarly liieN ibout the semi""r. plarticip.mts mponded wilh the 1oI1owinjf: The work I did II horne on thut booI<s: crutivity: the partici· pation and inttllectual ~xerci.se: the kllO\'o'ledge 01 the ~prak< ... I1"od bringing human touch to Law plXtiu; intuactioon of.~­ .r, with Itt.ndtU vii motnilll,; plrticiplation; brOld ·baso<i; intelltd.w stimuLatioon; diilotlue that w;I05 generated: I t~ Socratic mrtilod nc/wIge and ideil: it dult with reil lift; it """" mr think: I .tayrd involvtd: clasi participotioon I1"od interaction bel\>ffn ~prakers and participants; leadership: materials; opportunity to PIOrticiPlOte - not jwt listen: srrllli si~.: pnl'llOCatioon; "'" oIlittratur( to tDmint our 1M:. - ~I and priyatt; Iawym could participlat. ind 0&. insights. What do theK worlc$ ollittrature ha~ to offer prac:ti<:ing Lawytrs' Ptrh.lPl' the bt.t ptac.. to .lart ;" the prwnble to OUr new rults of professional condu~1. There ",-e find an ackoowl· edgement of th. humanity of. ilI~" thai is rolllti~ly rare in Ieg;II "Tilings, The preamble ..titu: Virtually III difficult tthical problems fin the legal profu· Won} irise from conflict bet ..... m I Ii\o~r's rupons.ibility to clients. to the 1$1 !)'Stem, Ind to tilt La"~r's own inttrest in remaining in upright ~rson while earning Mlisfa<;toTY living. The aim for "Literalure for LII~rs" was. and is, to explore this tension in prrsooaJ. nonl.pl terms. wil1lllite1'llUrt as i catiIysI for discussion. The discUSIion focum on two typn 01 tutJ: the tulS oIliteraturt and the tub 01 each plarticip.mt'. proie.. ion.allif•. Both tuts ut up for critic.lol uamination. "L.iteratuu for LaW)'en" don not offer its participants answ ...; it only helpI p.articiplnts ask the quntions. For THE ALI.BAMA ~WYER

.:<ample, whal do we mean when Slay Ihllt justier is blind? Blind to whatl To what tlCIent IIrt judicLaI decisions innu.need by the emotional nmIs 01 the decision· makorl To what utenl un, or ihooJd. iawytn pLay to \ho$t tmQtiorW 1IftCb? TIvst Ind other qutslions art txplond in King Wr, ...+oich telll the slory at I man who Illows his judgmenl 10 btc corrupted by ",nityand the de,ir. for flatt.ry. Another lopic. discussed in "!.itm.turt for La~n" was the rtlltionship be\l<o'em idvociC)' indtrulh~nding. Are ilMlcatu interutt<J in disc_ring tilt truth? And, if not. ihoold they btl One PIOrticijWIt obseT\~ that sht 1......}'5 Win~ to lu.m t~ lruth from her client; another SIIid lhatlhe trulh is imle· vant; i third Mid that he WIIS only interuted in I ~nion of the truth: and a fourth asserted th,t it is presumptuous of ~n /IdYoat. to corw;lude that he has iSCertaintd the truth. What is lhe rt~ionship, if any, betwnn truth. wilUling and jultia:l b winning tverything1 15 it the function 01 i judge or Jury 10 pus moral judgment or proYide moral ilCqu;tlall And, if not, what is. or should bt, thl. 50UIU 01 ou.values and how lhould we act 'liMn our value, connic\ with our obligatioru as ad.-ocatH? Wiltn. if tver. do ..... haYO , ruporuibility 10 ourselves or to the I.pl system thai gon. btyond our ~bility to ou.dien~?

"001/

These questions, and oth.", iU uplored in WitH'. whieh tells the story 01 i man who il ...:quitted 01 mans!;ought,r but nonethelus commits luicid. bt<;aU$l: he was not all(llO'td to t.1I his story in the triliLln his view, "Iill the triil. \hoy hidn't Itt him \ilk. They Just asked qutSlJOOS ind he ;uuwertd )Its' or 'no', ind \hoy ~r did get 10 the eo«o(the mall..: Another t<.>pi<: di$c:ussed in "Lite1'lture for ~.," WIiIthe relat ionship between Ou r .,enOln,1 and profusional lives. Should we force the two to remain separate/ls there a place in our prof..... ional live> for \0\",1 Do ..... "'" our profnsiol\lli Ii .... i I i rduge from OUr prrsonall "',hat is i s,,«essful ca_,1 II meaningfullif.? These ind other quutions art e:xplorfll in ~ /)<o<;zlh 01 lI".m livd>. which t.lb the .tory of a succossfullawytr and judge who lives hts professional life in complete conformi · ty to the expectation.! of society. H. r.tIs his role quite ClPIObly, but'" he diel he rnliznlhat his lif. has be.n a livinlldtath. I'\,)to wrote that an untnmined li~ ts h.ln:lly worth living. ' Uterature for ~,," provides in opportunity lor practicing Lawytrs to enmine the pl'rsooal .ide of t!.fir proieuioNlliws. eiven l!.f enthusiastic rtSpOruo tNit this pn.>gr.un rwived in Hirmingham. plans art al ready underway 10 offer it in th. other metropolilan areas of. the slate. •

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July 1992 / 27 1


ORDER THE STATE OF ALABAMA

JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT IN THE SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA MARCH 3, 1992 Wht'UJ, tho Board of Commiuion· on of tho Abbulli Slat. &r Ind th. Sup•• mc Court', Advi~ Committff on Iht Rulu 0( Civil Proct·

,,'.\)aml

dun: I\avc rn:ommended to this court Ih.\ Rul. 16. A.]aNm.o Rulu of Civil Procedure. be 'IInmoitd; UK! Whtnn, Iht court hn tonsldtrtd tho Ill'OpOKd ~m.ndment and deems it

M>d ~uir. the IUOTnfyS for tho parties In lIppen befon It. II lust 20 dlYI lxfo .. the CUI is H I (Of trilJ, for I con· ~rmu to consider Vld ddenniroe: "(I I ~ limplirlaotion of the issuts: "(2) Th. nt«uity or dUirJ.bilily 0( amtRdmtnts 10 the pludirlg$; "( 3) Th. possibility of obtaining

admissions of fact and of documents

Rule 16. A11bimlo Rules 01 Civil Proo:. dun , tit, iIfld it is twrtby, IlTlfnoKd to rue! as IoIIow5: ' . Ie 18. Pre-Ido l Procd D.t,

whicll will avoid UnneCUSlI')' proof: "(4 ) n.. limiUotion of thr numb.. of upert witntsw:s; "(5) n.. MlviQbililY oIa Pft'liminu)' rd(l'~n« of iuua to I maskr for find· ings to be UKd IS tvidtnc~ WMn th~

F _ .. "In lny aclion tho cou rt ~ of ill own motion. Or sllall on timely written notict by lny par1l' \0 the cause. direct

trill is to be b)' Jury; "(6) The pouibility of sdtlemfnt or the voluntary uK b)' all pIIrtio, of extra· judicia l procedu.u to .esol",. the dis·

lppropriltt 10 ~t that amend~nt. Now. therefore. il is ordered ll\i.t the

"'t1......_

Don't Risk A Valuation Penalty. Introduce Your Clients to Business Valuation Services.

john H. (}.wis m, PhD, MAL SRPA, ASA, presidenl ofBusines5 Valua1ion Services Inc •. iSlht only daignated ASA Bu5inCSli Val""lion appraiser in Alabama. Busines5 Valu:.uion Servke$ ptOVides coruulnuion by the hour. appraisal ~ and expm le$limony

incasesof:

o urnte planning o ut:u~ settlement o Marital dissolutions o Recapitalizations o Emp~ srock o .omership

o Bankruptcy procftdi ngs o Mergers or llCquisitiollS o Buy-sell agr~'emen[$ o Oi§sident stOCkholder suits

pl~

Contact John H. Davis Ill. PhD. MAl. SRPA. ASA 4 Office: Park Circle . Suite 305 • Birmingham. Alabama 35223 P.o. Box 530733 • Birmingham. Alabama 35253 (205 ) 87(H026

put •. including modi.tion conducted purswont to til. Alabaml Civil Court Mtdilltion Rule$; and "(7) Such othtr mitten IS !NY aid in the: diJposition 01 thr Klion. "Th t cou rt shill make In ordlr rtdting tht lCtion taken at the conferenct. tile amendments allowed 10 tile pludings. and the agreements made b)' the pIIrtin IS to any of the mltters considtr.d.and which limjl£ iuuts for trilll to ~ II(lt diSpOSed of by admis· slons Or lar •• ment of coun"l; and luch orOt, w~n tntemls"'-II control tiM: subu'!uon t COtI rH of the action. unltsl modiroed It the Iri.ll to prtvtnt mani/til injust ice . Th . cou rllhall .stablish by rule a pr.-trial calenda r on which such actions may be placed for coruideration as alxwe provided. "(Arne1Idtd dfuti"" "lllIwt I. 1992.1 "(dcl District Court Rules - Pn·tri&l proctduu in thr district court IhaI1 be IS follows; "Immedi"tdy pundi"ll the tri.ll on I~ mf,il£. or prior ther.to. if justic. reQuir.l. Ihe cou rt may dirtcl Ind require tiM: attorneys for tIM: pIIrtiu to appear befo.e il for a confe renct to con· sider and ddermine: "( II tiM: simplification of tiM: iaues; "(2) Ille possibility of obtaining admiuions of fact ""d of documents which wililvoid lII1I'IettSSlr)' proof; "(31 such other matters IS !NY lid in tho diJposition of the Klion." It il further orden<! tlut this lmendmfnt s"'-II beoome eflecti",. Augwl l.

1992. HOTOSby. C.J" and Maddox. Almon. Sho ru. Adams. HOUlton. Steagall. Kennedy. and ill8rarn. JJ. concur. I. Robert C. Esdil •. IS clerk of til. SUPTWlt Court of AIibaIN. do hereb)' emily tlullhe JoTtgOi"ll is" full. lrue and corutl cop)' of tM irutr1,lmfnl(,j herewith s.t oul as Slm. Ippear!s) of record in Slid Court. Witness my hand this 4th day 01 May.

1992.

212 1July]992

• THE AU.BAMA LAWVER


YOUNG LAWYERS' SECTION By KEITH 8. NORMAN. president

PARTING SHOTS

lui Flo"

his ~.. (s AnnUlI! Seminar on tk Culf w» held May 15 and 16 it the s.nde$tin Resort in Ilatin, [""'Y)'OI". lilt Young ~n' Section Annu.al Seminar Planning Committee. with milo tance from the Almma Bar lrutitute for CLE. designs .. program that p!'O'Jidts information in various "'WI of PrKtiu thJ.t ~n fnrounltr

The AnnUli S.m;"",r does not hippen by accident. MinI' houn 01 pWmina and irnnging Ire required. FnnIc Woocbon M1d fUl West <lese,.... I grtlt deal 01 credit not only for pluo· nins the ClE portion of this ye,,', program but also for manging to have tho sponsors host each of the *ial aclivi· ti-ts. Jem. lle M... h 01 ARICl[, who is I young la~r llso. works .... ry closely urly in Ihtir arUU. The ~h.a;rli for with tho memben 01 our pr"Ognm com· this ynr's Innualnm;nar ~rt f'nok mittee 10 plln the ClE offerings u(h WoodJon of Mobile and Hal Wott of Binn~Ir. Jen~l l t 11$(1 ~ese,....s nwly think> lor help ing uS maintain a high level of inQham. Frank and Hal put together a fint slatt nf lopiCi wilh In outstinding quality for our CLE Pi'Oll.. nu. You r suggutiOns and ide" lor ClE group 01 spuken which "-as ~ for 6.0 hours of CU: c.edit. Md'tionilly. topiC5 it the annUli umi",. are wo!· thtu ....,rt • numbtr of soci.ltac!i"';tiu corned M1d aP\"lreclated. As an uample. I highlighting this }Ur's program. point to a telephone call that I receiYed 1 than k Iht firms and organintionl I""t fall from John Pennington of lIirm· who gradously hlut.d our SOCiil aClivi· ingham. John, who hmdles Social Stcu· rity clainu. calltd to suggut. that a tOpic: lits. By spon!.Ofing Ihtst acliviliu. OUr hosts lilowed US to offer Abblma young on rtpruentinQ Social Security I,wytrs .. wuktnd of elE 11111 Jodl1 clai ..... nts be: included in this spring's <>etiYi\iu for tht e<)l;t 01 just i elF. agisprOQram. This Wi! an n c.llenl sugges. tlon and that topic WI! included. I hope tration r••. Keeping the overall cost 01 Keith II. NOI'm8" this semin.u low is a priority every yur. thai you will Itl us know 01 other proWe ho!lt t1a1 by k«ping the roll ~ low grun idt~ M1d tOpics. We do not want to as pouibl. mort )'Otlng IDI'yrrs will be be repetitious in our oifuings; ill$ttad. wt hope 10 bring topics IlIit are intertSling IS well IS rtltvult encouraged to attend. On Friday and Saturday morning., tM. blUks wtre hosted for young lawyers in today's legal dilTllle. by the Beuley. \\llton fi rm of Montgo""'T)". ",. 11011 tourna· ment on .'ridly afternoon at the Sandestin ~II Course was Report of the Section Bya.w. COhlhtltt_ hosted by 1~lw ... nce Sptd lOliltl, Ime. of Atlanta. Insurance I im hippy to rtpOrI that at the ....rd mming held during Sptc:wisU ill the $Ute bar' ••ndorsed insuranc.o administr.ator the Annual Semi",r, the uteuti", Committee of Ihe Y1..S lor lif•. mtdial M1d disability insum.«. Relmlmwnu ........ adopted tho rtpOrt and recommendation of the By"WI Com· serwd and ~rwrous cash prius wtre awarded lor the top two with only two minor changu This is •• ignificant step mittee teams. as wtll III cash prius for dosest to lour different P/I' with ruptc:t to rutrucluringour section's by~. lorward three holes. For thaw who.hom to Ii. on tho bei>Ch or by tho The committee ma"" tho following rtcommendltiolll for pOOl on Fridly afternoon. Flnt Amerkl n Title I~III"'~C' chlnets \0 tho byt,WI 01 the YlS 01 the Abbamo State RIo" Com""", hosted I boch party. Officers be elected by Jlitewide ballot insttad 01 hotding On Saturday, FOIMe & Tllme. C.... rt Reportrn 01 Hinn· offIcer election"t the IIUlual ""'tlin&; inSham hosted the aft.rnoon buch party. The firm of Plttmon, Hoo kl, Min h. Dullon & HoUiI of Birmingham (21 E'ecutive Committee members be appointed for a term of hosted a socill hour and cocktlil buffet at the Sandutin thIU ~aTS only and II()\ be allowt<! to se,.... more than Retort ~i<.le pOOl. The eo<;kliil *ill was follO\<i'N by the _term; band Pilrty ftltunng tho ·Soul i>Tactitionm". 1M Saturday (3) 1M praidtnt or chair 01 udlloCll affiliate shall be a 11(11.. evening buffet and band party wtre wtll'lttended M1d thor· ing member of the Eucutive Committee; oughly m.io'ttd by ill. The buffd Ind band party hi ... beoome t .. dltions of the Annual S.mi""" al the Gulf and wt are very (4 ) The Execul;ve Committee .halt have at l... t one member appreciative of the generosity 01 the Pittman. Hoolu fi rm. for each conQrusional district: Ind

m

THE ALABAMA U.WYER

July 19921273


(51 ThtK propoHd dwlgu ...ill not ~PPIY to the cumnt otfl· « .. or tho current mt.m... of tho ExKUtM: Committ«. The propoHd changu would btgin with the election of I trusu~r in July 1993 ~ be effKtiv! 15 to mtmbers of the ExKUti.... Committu IppOintw aft.r July 1993. I believe the two additions to tM B~\')ws C<lmmitt« uPOrt were good ones. The first was that in order for the president· elect to QU/llify to seek that office, he or she must ha,.. ~t leMt Orlt )'tar'. nptrien"", on tIK Ex«utiw; Committee. 11te oee· ood wu the requiremtnt th.I.l tho pruidtnlwould be prohibit· ed from Ippointing mort. th.in ont ptuon to the ExeculM Committee from •• intI< J.w firm. This would not p~nt. ptrson from seeking elected offICe in the YLS even though tho~ >my be another ptl'$OO from hi, 01' he. firm then srrvintl on 1M Eucutivt Committee. In consultation with PresidenHltct Sid Jackson. In Imple· mentation Committ« will be appointed to incorporate tMsec rt«lmmtr.d/ltions into a $lt of bylawl which win be p.e$lnled to tM ~:Itculi .... Committee for final appr(MI llld then to 1M

RIDING THE CIRCUITS Elmore County h , A..oc:lallon Thll (ol/QUling 0'" the 1992·93 offlars of the Elmol'lf Cowl/V 80r Auocio/ion: Prtsidtnt: ..................................... Pllul HiHltl. Wetumpka Stcn:I.lry(trusurcr: .............. ClfM~. Wet .........

".cll.on Count, h, A.socl.llon Th, following

/lrt

the 1992·93 offlcers of the Jackson

<:00>119 Bor Auociotion:

President: ...................sl.phtn M. Ktnl'llmtr. ScotUboro Vkt·praident:_ ......... _.. __ .... ~ry W.l.lItkty. Scottsboro

Pamtlll Mc:Cinty Parker.

""""'.

u:t:CIATIINA A.-.....ANNA . --.,.· ............ ____ _ _tM~.c

no."""' ....... AI,......,O-O' ...... _211 . 211lr-A _ _

.

_.__._......- .._..._......_..IIio

oI· ... A_~

" ...... . Muo"""" . ...."" . . ..... , .... ............... """

274 1 July 1992

board 01 bn commiNiontrs (or rlltifiation. I hope tl\;!t the 1tllj)lmItfltlltion Committee an finish illl worIc by thil fall 50 tl\;!t _ CIln pustnt II r\tW Ht of bybws to the commissiontn btfo-n: tho end 01 tho )'t~r. I ~ gradul for the work of Ihi$ committee ~ illl membtl"$ wh.ich indudt<! Robat f1&uth 01 Binningham. ,"olbert " 111ilml of Montgomery. Rhonda Plttl of Birmingham. tori C<lllltT of Dothan. Sid Jlcmn of Mobile. nal Albritton of An dalusia, and Sabrina Simon of Hirming. tuom. I •• prcially thank ""~ Badtuom of Birmingtuom ktr his ludtuhip as ctuoir oIthis .:ommittH. This is IllJ' fil'lll column u president 01 1M Yoong llI~rs' Section. Havintl secMd as committ« dWr 01 tht Yooth Judi. cill /"rognm ~ then II an e1tckd off..:tJ of this !«lion hu giV1'n rr.t an opportunity to work with out.l.lnding )'Gung ~r:I Kross tho SUtt on JIIIblic Krvief proQralTllllncl p~ grams s.erving OOr profusion. To me. the YLS and tM work of the many 1'....,..1"$ around Ihe state ex.mplify the high ;duls and noble c.alHng 0/ thi, profeNion. I thank you for the oppor· tunity 01 secrving. •

NOTICE POSITION FOR Admlnl.tr.tlv. DlNctor

of th. Court. St.t. of AI.b.n-.. SupeMsed by the chief justice, the incum·

bent plans. mon~or •. organizes , directs , and implements administrative support actMties lor all state courts: in add~ion to other slatulory duties. the ADC directs the staft of the Adm in.

istrative Office ot Courts in matt8fS ot budge' recommendations, judicial educalion, person· neI management. and data coIIoction and anal· ysis, and 8CIS as 8 liaison '0 the Legislatuf,. OuaIifications Include 8 bachelor's degree : maste(s degree or law degsee pref8fTed: ten years of admlnlstrelive experience with live years al a senior level IWpervising subordinate managers, or equlv8len! combination, prefer· ably in a court or other legal selting. EOE. Salary ranoe for Ihis position is $85 .000 10 $90.000 annually. oommensurale 'NiIh experience. SobnV1 resume and ttvee lett~ 01 support by August 15, 1992 10 Associate JUSlic8 Mark Ken nedy, 445 O,xler Avenue , Mon ,· gomery. Atabama 36130.

THE ALABAMA LAWVER


REMARKS OF M.

~

Jlt tfie tJ)edication Ceremony of tfie franf(M. Jofinson r.BuiMing, May 22, 1992 TIlE A1.ABA."IA LAWYER

R.

NACHMAN,

II Ii

JR.

am pri"il~~d btyund nteO$urf to be ~ble to ~ppnr today to honor Judge Frank JohlWln on thil (lCCIo-

sion. Surel» 00 «.emony .....as ~r more filling tllin the ptrrm~nt ~k.ltion 01 this judie;"1 building to "'is rumt. Ourine his qlllrter cenlury herr <.Nl tht dill.iel bench, Uld durillll the tnlUil\ll dozm ~rs on tM ~tlilt Mneh - with his pfilNry olfice in this buildi", - Jud~ Johnson has IChit"td r«ognition U ont of the foremost judgn 01 thili Llnd.. No ~ la~r who has practiced htre IxlnTO Jud,ge Johnson during this 37·yea. r>triod. he is tlched indtlibly in Ill)' mind and al ....ays willlx. As one 8rows older. one has r~r htron. And ! haw f~r htron. But Judgt Johruon has .emailit'd II constantono. Of courK. judgn In Imn lind women. IIOt disembodied Jpi.ils. 81,11 Judge Johnson', owry judicial cnduvor Iu.J embodied th. conctpt and practicr or rlrmental fairnns, whidl is, after III. the essm«' ol dUfc proctloS of 1.Jw. No liti·

gant. wult or JlO"'I'rful, flO \.Jwyfr .....tw:ther ~ ltumbli"llIlOYiu or I ,rauful and accompli$htd practitionrr, W\lld lflve his courtroom without the sure conviction that ht or sht had seen dut proctU in action. had snn an uncompromising.

July 1992 / 275


fearless wd unflinching imistence on faimelS, and had !oten a judge Ihoroughly pupared on the facts and law of the ca!ot at

'""'.

Judge Johnson's career is graphic proof thai the legal process is slill the most effecli~ means of accommodating the needs of all who wwt to li~ peacefully in a just and civilized so<:iety. His f\II'ry d~ision ~ regardless of the particular area of the law, wd regard Ie.. of perronal difficulli~, in~tive, isolation wd f\II'n attempted violence ~ has adhered uncom· promisingly to Lord Coke's ujoinder to King liImes-"[Nlot under man, but undu God wd the law: He has marked well the admonition of Judge Learned Hwd lhat of all the factors thai enler into the art of being a judge in the great tradition, Ihe forelnO$l is "(HIe shall abstain from subslituting his per-

sonal

choi~,"

And Judge Johnson has done more, He has engaged in a constant ~uesllo impTOllt the adminislration of justice wd to better Ihe peactful solution of conflict Ihrough reason. He has understood thai Our g ..~at legal tradition is not a treasure to be hoarded and counled periodically, As one di r~tly responsible for its conduct and st~ardihip, Judge Johnson has uud the law &I a source of dynamic energy to ensure that so<:iai change and the solution of so<:iety'. problems are acompiished with integrity, conscientiousness and fidelity to that noble tra· dition, In 1831, a French political writer. de Tocqu\'Ville, came to this country and lat.. wrote a discerning treatise entitled, Democracy in America, Prophetica1iy he noted,

17'1

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arne II L E G A L R e sea

,,"

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Wilh:occc" 10 lhe St.le Law Library and Westt, .... , we I"0.ide f •• l and efflei.n, servi!:._ For <kadtine work ...... oan <ktiv~' informalion (0 )'OU vi. common carrier, Federal E'l"e<s. or FAx' F.rnell Leg.1 Re.. ...",h ex.mines ,tit i"ne, 'lloroughty lhrough quatilY resta"'h. bri.r ...... i(ing.oo anaty.is, Our rales

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minimum,

For Research Assistance contact: Sara h Ka t hry n Farn e ll ! 12 Moore Building Montgomery, AL

36104

C.lI (205) 277-7937

276 / July 1992

"Scarcely any ~uestion arises in the United StalO$lhat;' not T(solvtd soone r Or later into a judicial ~uestion," Certainly judicial quutions h.~ come to Judge Johnson out of such origins, and he has not blinked al deciding them. Th«o d~i~ioru have become landmark examples of a neces· sary wd pervasi~ uu at a court's traditional tquity powers to assure protection of constitutional rights, Judge Johnson has understood that . failuT( of a judge tn resolve a claim of cnnstitutinnal violation is not judicial abstention; it;' a deciSion not to enforce constitutional rights by the very agency ~tablished undtr lhe Comtitution to do Judgu have a constitutional o bligation to intervene whenever constitutionally protected rights of our dtizen~ are affecled, And they ha~ an especial obligation when, as wilh the Alabama schoob and prisons wd mental hospitals, other problem-solving agencits in Our state were so prwccupied with other affairs thai they abdicated their responsibility. Judge Johnson did not usu r p power. o r exercise a long. suppressed desire to run state schools Or prisons or mental hosp;lals, Quitt simply, he responded to a constitu· tional duty, An ironic benefit may come from Judge Johnson', cou ...· geous decisions in a"-",'er to those who have a traditional and justifiable concern about accommodating the reality of judicial power to the theory of repre!otnlali~ government. That answer is thai all o rgans of government ~ not just the courts ~ must be conducted so a.s to &lsure equ.1 juslice under law, gllarwteed by our Constitution, And when they dn, court. will cheerfully withdraw. It is particularly apt amid today', difficultiu 10 recall the topic and CT(do of Judge Johnson', commencement speech at the UniverSity Q( Alabama on May ]5, 1977 when he was awarded an honorary doctorate. His topic was, "What is Right with America", His concluding credo WlI$lhat our InO$t cher· ished birthright is "the right to share in the fMoms which our governmrnt wa.s utablished to secure and prole.:l." And, quoting from Senator Sam Ervin, he reminded all who heard or read his words, "'!'hue freedoms are exercisable by foots as well as by wise men, by agnostic> a.s well as by the d\'VOUt, by lhose wtlQ defy OUr Constitulion wd laws a.s well a.s by those who conform to them, by Ihose who hate our counlry as well as by those ..... ho love il: Timt. ha~ nnl always been easy for judges and lawyers, and the!ot limes au certainly no exception, But Judge Johnson has honored all ..... ho have practiced or litigated here ~ and countless oth.. Americans who have not - by O~r a third of a cenlury of dedication to the proposilion that, in America, I.w is supreme, His court has been a model of fairnelS and of upedilion, His name on Ihisjudicial building will be a constanl reminder to all who come here, whether or not I~rs, that Judge Johnson's performance has been a sample of our belt, of the fine.t that the law can produce in a civi· liZI'd so<:iety, A$ a ~ r, I thank you. Judge Johnson ~ and Ilhank YOU' devoted wife, Rut h ~ for the honn .. your s.rvice has besto;..",d on America's lawyers. History, and ge~rations yet • unborn, will remember you and than~ you, too. THE AU\IIAMA Ul.WYER


ItI 11

'Dedication n F'rida~. May 22, 1992 the fwent courthouK in

Montgomery

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Fnok M. Joh~. J r. Foderal B",i1dilllil MId UnitEd Sbtes Courthouse to honor m Alabamilln who Iw I9tnt 36)Ur5 as.l. fedml judge. Judge Johnson's IonlIlJId distilllluishtd judie;"! a.'H ' , mDS\ rr«nt/y on 1M Ela>tnth Cir<:uit Court of """,.lIs. is most notable for tilt landmark decisions he handed down concerning human rights, tht protection of min(lritiu and women, and the rdorm 0( prisons and ment.1ol institutions. Tht dfdiation ctrtmony was IIdd in tht ,"cond floor courtroom. in which Judge Jo/uu.on hill hu.rd rtWIy QWS, and wu br~ by cLoud circuit television to the other courtl'OOlnS in the building where more thin 400, including nwly Elewnlh Circuit judges, weffc in lIt1tnlllonce. The muter of ceremonies was tht Honorable Ctrald BIrd Tjofla!. chid ju4t. United St.>.tu C()Urt of Appeals for tilt Eleventh Circuil. ~n.I individ\Q1s oUmd tributts to Judie JohnJon, irodudina the Hclno:mb~ Wlrml E. Burgtr. chid jU$lice ohlot Unit· t<! Stotts (mimi); !hot H(lfIOfable Howtll Htflin. U.s. Smator. Slate of Alabarnlo; Statt RtpmtntalM Alvin Holmes, District 78: and M. Roland Nlichman, Jr., .squirt, of Montgoml'TY. R.marks by tht Honorablt Elbtrt Parr Tulll., Sfnior judg• . f.lt~nth Circuit Court 01 Appeals, wert rud by Judge Tjofll t in Judge TutU.', ~nu. In a Kp;lnt. certmony in ~ main lobby of !he courthouK. a bust of J~ Joonson """ Ul"Miled IIId IHUfnltd. Tho bust wu comrniuiontd by J~ Johnson', pUt IIId prrsont bw cltrl<$. J~ Johnson', wift 0153 )Uri. Ruth Jenkins JoonloOn. unytil.d tho bun. which was loCul!>ltd by Douglas and

s...ndn Mc~Jd . Frank une Hurd, III presided 0\'" th. et remony. Hurd is I former IlIw c1trk now prKtieinQ in Wllhing!on. D.C. The f"nnk M. Johnson, Jr. Ftdtnl Buildilli IIId U.s. Court· hOlUO .nd the bust of Judge JOhR5OTl now sLlond as unique tri"t>utu to Judge Johnson's SflHess dtdiClltion to ~ law. •

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THE ALABA.\\A LAWYER

July 1992 / Z71


REASSESSMENT OF THE LAWYERS'DISCOVERY RESPONSIBILITIES The Early Disclosure Provisions of the Proposed Amendments to Rule 26, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure By PAUL W GREENE substantial portion of the May 1992. Elewnth Ci rcuit Judicial Conf~r.nc. was devoted to consideration of Ihe need for Ihe devetopment of

management systems to facilitate more efficient disposition of the burgeoning cue load in Ih. United Stales Di5lrkt Court5. The formal a~nda 0/ the oonf•• ellCe. 11.1 well

as informal d;scU$S;ons among judges and lawyers. resonated with an acknowledgment of a general dissatisfaction wilh the MIllY and exp<'1lU as.wciated with "''I'll a simple diwrsity law-

suit. Criticism of the courts, like criticism of the legal profes· sion itself, is neither new nor inherently unhealthy. The judi· cial system is d;,mmic and has consistently ~monstrat.d that through the unique combination of academic debate, laW)'l'Tgenerated anatysis. judicial nUibility and legislativt initiativt. the insti tution t.Ul adapt!(l and accommodate changing needs of the society in which it must function. The history of the American judiciary is a record of constant change. punctuated by upheaV1lb 0/ epic proportion when ci rcunutances demand. The recurring criticism of the judicial process necessarily renects a critique of the system in place at the time of the namination. This historical myopia tends to obscure the proper view 0/ the inc,..,mental devtlopment 0/ the irutitution as a whole. Speaking to the Judicial Conference. former Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge and Attorney Cenu.l of the United State. Criffin Bell ot..e ..... d with palpable melancholy that his was the last generation of lawyers schooled in the art and sci· ence of common law pleading. J~ Bell was particularly crit· ical of the disc~ry process. Oiscovery practice. an integral component 0/ the notice pleading system. was dismiSSl'd as a wastelul ..erc ise engaged in by unsuperv ised adulls . Thi. expression of frustration with the present rule> of pr<>cedure by an eminent jurist and practitiolWr argues less for a return to thei r archaic predecessor than lor another practical modifi· cation to remedy identifiable deficiencies. One such proposal is found in the proposed armndments to Rule 26. which antic· ipates significant non·advtrsarial pretrial disclosure. The Advi· 278 1 Ju~ 1992

sory Committ •• has proposed a process by which the exchange of b<lsic rel~ant infonTl.ltion wilt occur without court intervention Or formal motion practice. While the proposed amendments ha,·e received some justifiable criticism. it se.nu that some commentators do not fully apprehend the role the amendment. are intended to play in the mosaic of the civil procedural procts.s. Discovery is perceived as the principal source of much delay and elIpenSf- by lawyers. judges. and the public. Th. non·adwrsarial approach to di.rowry is in tended 10 simplify and expedite the resolution of litigation. The relor· mati'~ proceloS is another step in the d..." lopment of the court systerm and adjwtment to practical n",eloSity. One-mlnute history of civil procectu ... II the aspirational goal of a judicial system is to "Sf-CUl\' the jwt. s!)«d;'. and inexpensivt determination 01 every adion. and laMurel that caus might be Sf-ttled on their merits ... " Nichols u. Sanborn 0, .. 24 P. Supp. 908. 910 (D. Mass. 1938). there is virtually no rational argument in favor of 10 return to common law issue pleading in its traditional fo rm. Issue plr10ding w.... and remains incapable of efficieOC)' in the delivery of justice. Common law pleading. which was originally oral. evolved o>~r centuriu into a detailed byzantine written exerc i.... In order to prevail. the common law plaintiff had to chooSl: the correct form of action. He and his la,,-yer then embarked on the exchange of pleadinl!S with the ddendant that w.... duigned ultimately to produce a s;ngl. issue for resolution by ajudge OT trial by. jury. with the trial itself as some· thing of an afterthought to the pleading process. See R. Palmer. The CountV Courts of Medieval engllmd 90 (1982). This issue pleading evolved in the days of much more rudi· mentary notions about the resolution of facl disputes than our presenl methods involve: issues/ramed were narrow and pre· ciSf- . as indeed they had to be when the "jurors- we,.., membtrs of an inquest who presumably knew the facts. It would have been not only weleloS. but irutitutionally improper .... well. fOT THE AlABAMA LAWYER


plitWrs in such ~ syst(m 10 Iry to ~~ I rid pt'tMntalion. Skmnu. Pretrial tmd ~ fJndn" 1M A/t1Wmo IW/I'S 01 Civil PYoctdure, 9 Alii, L R..... 204, 205 (1957). I}j~ry, or any f""tllli di'VtIQllrTH'nt, ",..u thtrrlore ;m,ll:VInt Or improper In most casu. The Implicit assumption of the demurrer was that tht claimant could not pl'<:M' what ht did oot alltgt, and would not a1~~. under oath, what he cook! not prow. ~, Pnkral Sumn>l1TJ )udgmm': A Crilkrll AnaIpiJ, 83 Y. LJ. 1~5, 746 (1974). I>iKcl<wry .i~r did not Hist 01' the UK of cIe'IIi«s ~TOIimating modem di5CO"eTY was _rtly .woo· ed. Set Ex partt Joiner, 258 Ala. ~66, 64 So. 2d 48 (1953) (depOfitioru for pe~tuation of testimony): F.x partt Roo/ell. 248 Ala. 80, 26 So. 2d S54 (1946) (interrog&toriu for limittd pUrpOSes). The txh3uSliYf; pleadina mochanisnu were inher· enlly Incapabk at moIving I Itg,il dispule in in upeditious manner. /oIOrtOYf;r, the court was nKtssarily involYtd at_h lIiIt 0( 1m: proctS$, in poort btcoUK it was as!Iuroed f(W. if In)', trials W()Uld mult. E.rI,. ... fonn In 1848, the Stale of N(W York idopttd the Code of Civil Procedure. TIlroed for its principal draftsmln. IRvid Oudlf)l fifkL Tht f ield CO<.\r, whith """ capliontd as an ad to .impli. ,., and abridgt 1m: prldkt, pleadings and proaedings of the courlS of the Stale of New York. was intended to (limiTllltt decisions based upon technicalities. In plact of ,tyliud Yf;r· biagt, the Code directtd that the complaint contain "a state· nltnl of lhe facti constituting 1M "'''.1M 01 ""lion. in ordiTllry and conciot W1gwgt. without rtpetition. ind in such I man· nt1' is 10 enibIt i person of common undersllnding to ~ whl-t iI intt1ldri." By 1900, more than 27 mil'S had ~ed I rork pl&ding $Yllem butd upOn the fiok! f . James & C. Huard. Civil ~edure 18 (3rd Ed. 1985). The Code's reformulalion of pluding rules predictably created its own interprdiYf; and Kmantic dupules. Pleading lornu u.,w,r 1M Code caUKd increasing dilf.cully for twn lhe mosl common clilims. Richard Marcus, TM Ret·ival of Pact Pleading l1rIder the Federal Ruks ofCit.'iI PtrJadure. 86 CoIum. I.. Rev. 433. ~ (1986). In """'ilion to the Code', intefTllllhortoomings. thlAo iI stlbsbnti.ol rvidtnce tN.I lhe simplifitd code "lading ~ roceu was sabollged by judges and lawyers alike. Se, McAr/hur Q. Moffett, 143 Wi s. 564. 567, 128 N.W. 445. ~46 (1910) (referring to ·l l lht cold, not to HY inhuman. trratlTlf;nt which lhe inf""t code rrceiwd from ~ New Yorkjudges1. In II Aomarbbit OkIdms 10 the Aroencan Bar Associ.otion in 1906 on the ClUSU of dis.satilbction "'ith lhe Aroericln judicial sys.

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tem. the dean of ihf Yalt I.N School. RO$Cot Pound. idrnli· fitd code plading Ind common 1_ pludinQ as a SOUrce of disillusion"""nt by the ~ncral public. Criticism of Ihe various pleading codn and common law praelice of the slatu led 10 a !TIO'-'emenl to di'Vtlo~ uniformity in the I,denl court witlt tit, g<J>Il 01 rdorming of lhe enlire pltading procns. The motivation for JU<;h chanl/t WI$ both II nftd for uniformity Ind I ruction to delily l!ld uptTlM. In 1934. IoIlowina 20 years of conlentious debate. 1m: Congms of the United SIiIU pautd the Ruin [nibling Act which lIulhori~w 1m: Supreme Court 10 promulgate rul(s of judicial procWUrt. The notion of uniform. simplifi ed procedural rules for federal courts wiS IIdvlnced with Ih, Mrtndipilous conlention lhalihf Supreme Court would <lMM such sound and simple ru~s llIlt och '111e would then be obligtd 10 copy them. Stephen N. Subrin, Federal Rules. Local Rules. and Stal~ Ru'- /Jrlilom!iIN, DMIga","f atId E~ PtrJadural Pal/ems. IJ7 U. PI. I.. R..... 1999 (1!I89) (from 1M Symposium on Ihe 50th AnniytTSllry of 1M federal Rulu of Civil Proce · dure, 1938·1988). One obviOUI purpose of tM fweral Rules of Civil Procedu re as promulgated in 1938 WIS to upand tlte QIlportunity for i decision on the morils of i claim whilt retaining I procedural mechanism for lhot inlerctp(ion of nltr· itltl.$ or sprc:ious Clillnu or defmK$. The diKoW;ry rults (2631/ wert intendtd to faciliwe the full di.dO$urt of the molm· al facts 10 both sides. Rule 12 and 56 di.sposilions would guard againsl claims impTGperly made or insu~portablt defenKs. During Ihe debate over Ihe enabling legislation, Senalor Thomas Walsh. an owooent oflhe At\. gaYf; COI/tnl voice 10 I S«Orld mole",,1 consideration in the judicial prOCess whrn .... obMMd that "it illhe hibits of OUr bir IlIlt .--:I rtklnning. not 1m: rults under ,,'hich thqo ad.· The ~f'Si",,1 component of the practiu of law ...... not ;altered by t .... Field Code nor the Federal Ruin.

Th. rol. of dl_ov.ry· th. n.w c.u..

ck,-,.

of The spirit at ~ Ftdtnl Rules of Civil ProctdUrt included I liberal diocovot=ry prOVWon II a corrqw>ion to the liberalimi pludings rules. Permiuiyt disc""try, il ""IS hoped. Wi.luld inform Ihe parlie, of Ihe relevant facti. eliminale surpriK. Itelp limit the iuues, lnd pr",,;de a basis for (ilher intelligent KUltnltnl or an elf.,ient trial. II was I promiK of the sys· temic change thai broidtning diKoW;ry would facililile stirn· mory judgment. ~ epitome of in inupmsjyt. SIlftd\I disposi· lion 01 ~ merits 011 clilim. The unith of the U1ensjyt bti· tudt of disc"""ry wu ruched in 1970 when requests for production of documents under Rule 3<4 were lulhorimi as a lTIIuer of IlOTlTIII practice rather than upon a demonstration of QOO<! camt whiclt Itad previously bttn requirod. ftdorll Rules of Civil Procedure. Advisory COmmilltt NOles (1970 Amendments). After 1970. rtfltcting lhe reillilin of the prx . tkt 01 law in our courts. 1m: cornmenliry to lhe rules begin to ~ an untasintU with the broaockni'" of ~ d~ proclW. A .igtliflQrll souru of the discomfort ''''is the tension ,ruted by the relationship betv'1:en the la\Olytr's Iraditional role as an advocIlt( lind the permissiYf; di sc(l'Olt!}' requiremonls oflhe ftdtral Ruin. In 1978. Wayne D. Bruil, lhen an a.wxi.

July 1992/ 279


ate professor of Ill .... at the University of Miuouri, .... role an illumimling and fmrucnlly qUoOttd law rnW article (rilia.L of the roLe of advocacy in civil dis.covery. Professor Bruil noI:td that: Tht Kidemic and judiNoL proponenLl 01 tM mockm ru~ of diKovery ~rmlly biled 10 opprKi.lte how tenaciou!ly litigators would Ilold to their IIdvenarial Wi)'S and lhe rNgnitude of lhe IIntagonilm bet...,"n the princi~1 purpO$<: of d;s.cOYt:ry (th. as.certainmtnt of truth through disclosurt) and the protective and rom· pel ;ti~ instincts that dominate adverl/lry litigation Neithu lhe IIrchitecLl of the discOYt:ry rmchinery nor the judgu .... ho emb raced their work .... ould have endorsed the cent",1 premise 0( this essay: that adver· sary prusuru Ind competitive economic impulses inevilllbly would work 10 im~ir signific.antly, if not frust",te completely. the atlllimncnt of the discovery system's primllry ob;ectives. ... Tht unartitulllted lSSUmplion underlying the mod· em discovel)' rrlonn ~mtnt was that the gathering and sharing of ~dentilll)' inlormllt ion should (and would) tUe plJ.ce in an a.sentially non·lIMnarial envi. rotlmtnl. ThaI UJumption was not ~II made. Instead 0( redudng the sway 0( adversal)' forces in liligation and confining them to the trial slage. discovery hu gKatly ex~ndtd the are""" in which those for«.$ (.In opera te. It has also provided attorneys wi t h new weapons, devices. and incentives for the adversary

REAL ESTATE ATTO RNEYS LASER SO FlWARE A co mp le le line o r Rea l Est a le C losing I'rogra m s ind ud ing II II U D's , Buye r & Seller S la le m e nl s, Di s bursem e nt R egis te r , C h cc kwri ll n g M I>eed s, M o rt ga ges, NOl es, & Afli davilS rt! "lIc I'olic ie s , C ommitme n t s lll1d End orse m e n ts lit FN M A li n d More O ne t ime d atil entry, a ll c a lc ul ati o n s perfo r med , hi gh qu al ity pri n ll n g o r com l, let e d ocu m e nl , ..i lh dat a , genera ted o n ptn tn p a per.

CALL FREE

280 I July 1992

(813) 763·5555

gamuman.hip thU discovery .... as duigned 10 curtail ....

8ft W;o.ynt Bruil, The Ml""""'J' CiIoNCter ofCWiII'JisccJ«rg: ... Critiqw and f'roposoh fr# C/wmgI, 31 Vand. L RO\'. 1295. 1303-1304 (1978). l'Tofeuor Bmil ruogniwd the practial;· tin 0( the legal marl<npIKt by quoting Judg. fratlk.rs sue· c;ne!. if cynial. obstMOtion that "the business 0( the advo(.Ite. simply staled, is to win if posaible ",thout violating the law." The preoccupaHon with winning;$ not merely II product of rompetihve iru;lincl.! or J.ttf.J.tlected penonalily traits nor can it be dism issed U I pe(ullarity that is congenital 10 lhe personality 0( Ihe kinds of persons ..... ho blcome Htigators. The (ocus on winning is raHfi.d by professional tlpectllions and driven by c1.ar e.:onomic incentivu The ethi(.ll and tcOoomic coruiderahons of advenari.ll discO'o'tl)' are further clouded by the discrete interests that c.an uiSI in the ~It~·client rela· tionship. The client gonerally relics llpOn U", allonuy to dettnni ... the proper course of civil litigation. Tht attorney fft rosu usocialtd with diKovel)' dispules a~ ......'td from difftrent pmptCtives by the tlient and counsel. The nptndi· tu~ oItime and tffurt in opposing or pursuing certain discovery mlIy argwbly be in the client'l best interest or, at a mini. mum. consistent with the tthial obligation of uillowl repre· sentation. whilt at the ... mc timt require that sUMtantial COltl be borne by the client. The economic benefit 10 the Ia~r can be a detriment to the client. This judaposition occurs not only in Iht f",,<uenlly rondemntd "abU!lt of diSOO\l· ery" context, but il • pr<dictable consequence in genu"lliti· gation practiu. Di..,OYt:I)' can be a time-coruuming, txpensive proc:6S even when properly conducted by ruporuible lawytTS. The costs associated with diKO'o'tl)' gT(IW exponenl ... lly ...t...n an lItlomey negligrntly, consciously. or malkiomly abuses the diKOvel)' mtehanisms. The amendmtnts to Rule 26 under ron5idtralion are intended to provide substanti.ll incentives for the elimination 0( signiliant portions 0( lhe lim problem. The 1983 lmtndment$, which provid~ for unctionl for law)'trs and ~rtiu. remllin ~ntrallO controlling the IlItter. 11183 . mendment...... nction. In the late 1970., criticism th~t t he feder~l court. had bt<:omt increasingly mired in c~ll ion. dei.lY.llnd high liti· g.tion costs was frequent. Mort(l~r. thue problems were thought to have been partially (.Iused or exacerbated by the federal Rules. or at the vel)' leut, it ....lIS UJumed the ruin could not rope with them. Ind«d. by 1983. tM critici .... had bt<:ome!lf\ltre enough to raise qUHtions about tilt viability 0( the federal civil jllSlice i)'SIem Ind even the mntinuing worth of the Federal Rilla S« Mulin I.ouis, Iflt~ing and Dis· coutl11Jing Doubtful Wigation:'" CoIdm Anniwrsmy I',w, of PfetIdings. Summary Judgmmt. and Ruk II Stmctioos Under lluz FerJf!T(J1 Rules of Civil ProcetiUJ'I. 67 N.C.L R...... 1023 (19891. The 1983 amendments to the FtiIe",1 Ruin of Civil Procedure. 97 F.R.D. 165 (1983). r..... italiud Rule II. and made clur that through Rule 7. Rule II applitd to motions. Rule 16 provided for subsLUlti.ll changes in prttrial dis.ca.~ry confe .. nce rules, ineludin, st rengthening sanctions. and Rult 26 provided for limitinQ frtqutnC)' or the .. tent 0( the use of discovery mdhods and impOSing Rule II ·type signing

THE ALASAMA LAWYER


rtqui~_n\$

on dis.cowry

~qut$u,

responws, and objK' ilIl ad hoc buis, into the p~trial procns. with the undmtandins that lbwiw discowry would be curbed. The 1983 ~mendmenu. whi~ In<;:rusilli judicial $llptrvWon 01 disaMry, did litt~ to eliminate lilt adYmarial nIIure of lilt procus.. The notion of I wlf-iiltcutins discowry systtm is prtdic;Ited in Plrt on lilt wumption thit iawyen W~ in the belief that a spttdy and jwt adjudication of claims is consonant with their traditional role as an ildvocatt. Addrwilli the adIIerurial role of diKoWry, WilY"'! D. BTUil, now I Unittd StotfO MagWr.a1t Judac in Northr:m ~ of California. [proere$Sing up or down lilt Udder of succus. depending upon ont's ptnpectiwl obKMd in ruliTIII on a disaMry matler in whim more than $-40.000 had bun exptnded by coulIKl on a sinsle diSI:QWry diJpule whkh focUKd sole!)' upon /liMn contention intmog.~ $hould be ~red by the defendant:

lions. TMM rules reinjecttd the court. at least on

IThe entire pro«u] strikn thil court as RronS m_ dtne. that IIItre has bun in thiJ ca5t ~ major brukdown in what is suppostd to be the stlf~xecutilli sys· tern of pretrial discovery. The spirit of Rule 26, U ilIller>ded in 1983, has been vioLll.d. So has lilt Spirit 01 Rul. I , which decLa~ the purpO$t of the FflItral Ruin of Civil Procedur. is 'to steure the just. SpHdy. Ind inexpensiw determimlion of ewry action." The discovery system ckptnds ahsolutely on good faith and com· mon stnst from COUIIKI. The courts. sorely preSstd by demands 10 Iry (iRS prompt!)' and to rult Ihou&htiully on POtentially Qst dispo»itiw motions •• imply do not ~ lilt rt:IOIJfUS 10 police cloKly lilt operation of the disaMry procns. The ,,'holt Iystem of civil/ldjudiCiO' lion would be sround 10 I \;rtual hall if the courts were forced to inteMIlt in even a modes! ptreental/t of Ihe discovery ITlnnctions. Thill flCI Ihould impolf on ~I ilIl Kult stnst of ruponsibihty ~I how they h.Jndle discoY'try mallen. They should stri~ to be roopenliw. pTKtlCiOl and stnsiblt. and should tum to the courts (or like posilions tilat foree otheTlto tum to the courts) only in t xtraordil\llry situations thai impli_ cate trul~ liQnifount lnt'ruts. In

~

Dmwrvenl Techno/OIl"" S«udliu Li/igoli<m, 108

1'.11.0. m. 332·33 {N.D. Cal. 1985). Magistrale Judfe Bruil.

in tither hi. role II ilIl ar.adtmi(WI or a judicial officer. iJ not alone in txpreulnS exasperation with certain aspects of the disco~ry process. Abuse of discO\lery was identified mOrt oft,n than ilIl)' othtr /actor '"' a ""*>r Qust of dt~ in civil litillltion by both SUtt and fflltnol judsn polled in a RUdy conducted in 1987. ApproxilNtely 80 percent of 1111 the judges polled uid lhit they had at Itm IOmt probltms with the diJ.. covery proctu. In Iddition. tht owrwhelming ~ority of the 161 fedml judgts [of 200 interviews[ and 50J state judges [of tilt 800 interviewedl who uld thit litigation costs Ire u«ssiw idtntirotd discolt!ry pndice as the CiOust. ~r .•~ J(lmlil, CaUJef of DtIag in CitJilUti{Jolion, "Uti{Jolion Nft£S. Otcember. 1988. at 3. The joumt)l from complaint to resolution has been uid to be a slow trek Krl)$$ the badlands of dis· cowry. The dominlJlCe of civil discoYtl}l has changed what it

TItE AlABAMA lAWYEIl

meins 10 be a lilillitor. In somt firma, lhere iTt what are defined lIS "Iitigition lISIOCiatts" who do only document ~ ind Interrogatory dnltlns. Some firms tnrourage h,wyen to qltCillin iltId to qltnd th.ir entin proftuionalliwl only tak· ing depo»itions. The ~ is fut IpprOKhina. if it is not already hm. when li\iaiton will not try casts. they will just discover tach other 10 duth. DisctMry iffeets how tilt public and clienll ... trilll I~rs. I'ew lISpects of litigation iTt more eritieiled lhan Ihe foot·thick interrogalories and endlus depositions. lei.

_,t.

Proposed .n .. ,... to RuM 2fI The reoon:I of tht tfl'tctiwntss of the 1983 ilIl'Imdmenu in controlling disamry cosll hilS. according to SOIm c,itics, betn 50 dismallhat an entinly new proceu is warnnted. For inltanCt. the reporter of the Advisory Committoe on civil rul es. Oun Plul ClTrinSton of the Ouke University liw School, rumtly wrote in a commentary to lilt draft ilIl'Imd. menll thol "disaMry practict has blcornt mcumlxrtd with ucw motion pnctict ItId othtr Plpen to such Oln utent that Rults 26·37 are no longer consonant with tht aims of the rultl I"'ted in Rule I. It is lhe aim of this rule [amtnded Rule 26) to tlimimtt much of the txCtU papcr by alling upOn proftuional mpoosibility 01 the bar to substitul. info .....1 meth· ods of tllCllanSinS information for costly 10.....1 melhods." The prevalent criticism of civil diSCOYtry undtr the Federal Ruin is that it is Inefficient. wasteful. costly. and subject to predstly the kind of pmesmanship that the drafters of the rules had soughl to elimimt~. Thus. rather than reducilli lilt poktr·hlInd conctpt 01 the adw .....rial proctu, the disaMl}I proYisions permit a uilltd practitioner. Plrticularly in complex astl, to UK ut~ndtd discoYtry lIS ~ mtins 01 delay or harusrntnt. Or to exhawt the I1iSOUretS of ilIl OP\l'OI'II!nt. Tht ~ctual or threatened protTKted diSCOYtry can negatively innu~nec s-ettlement to the d;,.advan\.J# of one li<le of the lawouit. The sanctions lutho,ity off.red by 1983 ~lmnd_nt to the dilCCMry ruin in M1d of itself cannot ~ lilt iCMTllrilol cosu from the procus. Tht intent 01 the proposed IImtnd· menll to Rule 26 is lIS important ilS the specific provision. An unstattd Sool of Ihe proposN am~ndmenlo iJ Ih~ development 01 a proiowlonal climlllt in which lawyers un engagc in the Infonna! tttha~ of relevant info ..... tion without ruorting to a formal discoYtry dtvict. Criticl tonttnd Ihlt the INndio· to<)l informal disclosun of infOrTn.1lion i. in oxymon)n. " 1tl. 'Craning Disdosunt! Qnlq ~. · lkftrw! CounMI Journal. April, Im.~! ISS. Such criticism igoores the underlyinS int~nt oIlhe Ad>;oory CommiUH to restructure the nlation· ship between the I ttOTTlt}l. the clit-nt.lnd the court in pretrial

=w.

Proposed Ru~ Z6(1) speaks in lerms oIl1iiluired p~trilol duo dc>Wres lIS distinct from discolt!ry. The rule pTQ\idtl that all partics uehange inform~!ion rtgarding potential witntlstl. documentary evidence. computation of damagu ind insurinee policies Ufly in tilt lawsuil. The rult prOYidtI for 1TIilIldltory uchilllgf 01 delliled wrilltn sutemtnlo of tntimony that ~ be offered It trial through rellined aptrU, ilS well lIS lilt obliption to specifoall~ identify panicular mdence. Thest disclosures are to o«:u r prior to en",gins in formal discoYtry. The Soal of the rule is to accel erate the uchangt of buic

July 1992 1 28 1


infGrmation lOll elimimle ~PO""'llrlt involved in reQuuting such information. The Rulu of Procedure Ilaw provided UI OIIpOrtunity for district courts throughout the Uni~ Stltu to uptrimtnt with IOCII rulu Iml ,., in humony with tnt uliculated obj«liva of Rule I. The provisions of proposed Rule 26(1) Ire biKd in pIOrt upon lilt succusful uptrienu of l uch IOCII rulu. Many Ju~i<;tions !imit ~ and rnr\hod$ of diKoYtry ~ wtll IS rflluire urly disclosure of twic information. The disclosuru reQuirt\! undt-r Rul, 26{1} lire only I ~rt of the proceduI'I1 chlnge. The rule will provide for a mandalGry muling Mtwun tht pIOrti., to M htld prior to the court's Rul. 16 scheduling cGnferenct. The PlIrpGK Gf the muting will ~ to idtntify the issun IG ~ litigattd. The ~rtiu will deviK I discOVtry plan for completing diKIMry with regard tG \host 1 _ . This plan will then be .vaibble to the ~rtiu.nd the district court lit the time the Rule 16 order is tnttrtd. The urly m«till8 bttwttn the ~rties to jointly prodoot a diJcoytry plan is contistont with the Ad\Uory Commiltft's IOil of rernGYing IhI: lIIiYtrsarW proc:ess from 11 entia! SU# in tho tvoIution of IIliwsuil The disclosuru requirtd under Rule 26 Irt to be mAde without ~Iing any di$o:oYtry reqUUl from counsel reprutnting MlOUwr party. Signifoanlly, tho authori· ty for IhI: production of this information is dorived no! from tho amrtion of a ""im of OM ~rI)' directed towud the other side. but flther upon tho "uthority Gf the court itKlf. The focus of proposed Rule 26(1) is upon the altom eyo' oblia;ltion tG the court under the fedel'll Rults.. A!. the functional eQuiva. lent of court·ordered interrogatGries. the urly disclosure of information cuslolnlrily ~ured Ihrough fGrlnl1 discowf)' is tG be " routine matter rtducinll both tho time required to OOtllin such twit inform1ltion and the fOfTTW prO«u n«u. ury tG KCUre ill production. Tht rule prtl'lidts for tho idenlif.mion of III ptl'JOlll who, lit the time, InlY Ilaw discovt1'llbl. information r,l"ti"" IG the fa.:tual disputes belwun the parti ••. All sl.I(h ptrsonll with information must be disclosed whether Of no! their lutimott)' is in support of lhe position of the disclosing pIOrty. The propoKd comlMn\.ilry to tilt rul. providn: "As officers of Ihe court. couruel art nptct~d to diKl_ the identity of thow pol'$Onll wko may be used by them as witnesses or whG. if their potential lestimony wert known. might re~SOOIIbly bt upected to bt depOKd or tailed .. witnt W'. by any Gllltr partin: The cGmIMnury suggests a shift aw.y from the tl'ldition.llldvotate's role of a lIW','tr in this prttrial siagt. pla.:ing emphasis on her duty to the court.

The disclosure role requires Ihe identification of rel~nt documtnll by aoltllOry but dou no! reQuirt the iClual production of document1. While description of tht documents is !"t<luirtd by the rule tarl)' in tht litiption, the disclosing pari)' dou no! ~ traditioNJ work product immunity or ""omt)'client privilege claims. In Idditit)n. idtntifyiflll documents under the provisions of proposed Rule 26(bJ dots no! waiw tht dtscribinll party's ntht to amrt th;.t the production of tht documents i. unjustified when the reltvanco is mouu rod ~inst tilt cost of production or OIher burden. Subp,nagraph {c} of proposed Rule 26 requ;ru disclosure of tht calculation of damage. and providtl for lhe availability of tupporting documents for inspection and eopyinllJust;u if 11 Rule 34 request had botn made, Sub~ragraph (d) provides fGr the early disclosure of imurlllCt policin. includill8 making them a'JlIibble for iruptction and CQII)'in&. T he n"tufO of the information dutribed in propGsed Rule 26(I}(I) is prtciKIy the kind of inlomW:ion which hiS bttn Iltroe~ted by forma! doo-ry mo(ions in the past. NOI IUrprisinllly. the rapoIUt IG forma! discowry requests is typi. ally mad. on the fiml ~ such prOduction is rrquiml. Nor· mally. the partin " - liUl. IlICtPtiw to meet and discuss the issues of tht lawsuit or tht pnxus of diKllYtry unlila dispute ar;sq. The I'f'lI'OWd arroeOOIMnll to Rule 2li are not in and of themselves npected IG eliminate the costs of diKlMry. The rule. together with lIdditional chlngu to the federal proudu · I'll rules will, h(lWt""' , pormil the partin tG avoid the nKessi· ty of formal t xchange! at thi! critical t~rly !tage of litigation. The inforrru.1 discovery process dOlts not rtli~ any party frGm complying with the spirit of the discQvery rules. The oourt retaim tilt authority"OO the obligation IG impose sanctions for the negligtnt or intentional lbust of tilt discovery process undor Rults 26 and 37. The f~eral coorts Ire indeed clOU~, owing at I.... t in ~rt 10 the ewHxpinding criminal docbl There il delay. jUSlifi~ and unjustified, in the ruolution of I civil lawsuit Nothinll in the judie;"1 ""poriena suillltill thl.t" return tG 11 more fOrm1lliud and rigid pluding Jtruclure W()lI!d lu\It any positi"" impact on the preHnt stilt Gf the La ... With the prGgressi"" changes «<omIMnded by the AlIvitory CGmmit· tto to Rule 26. lnother step in the consistont de""lo;>mont of Ihe judiciary has been taken. Relir.o;ng coun..,1 from tho burdens of unntcnsary and wasteful confrontations will provide another Gpportunity fGr cGnsider.tiGn Gf Ihe merits of li t igation wi t h a concomitant reduction Gf l ime and monty 1011. •

ExfKn Assista nct: In fi re Ot: part mt:nt Rt:lat~d lawsuits

Traffic Accident Reconstruction

FIRE SERVICE CONSULTING, INC.

ALBERT M EDINA

5622 Lee Road 66 Auburn, Alabama 36830

Ellis Mitchell 282 1 July 1992

(205) 826-3098


Cumberland Thanks You! TheCumberland ]l\Slitute for Continu ing Lepl EdOOiltion Is Indebted to the many AlaNITIa aHomeys and judgel who contributed their time and expertise as 5pea\.:eQ, prognm wirperson5, planning committee members, modl'lOltors, and advisory board members d uring the 1991-1992 ilOIdemlc year. We gratefully acknowledge the contributions 01 the following IndivHluals to the Iuct:e$$ of /,lIJ r Cut

""""'=

Jas-tr. A~

...

Bibb"Um Edward S. All ... K. FJck Alvil

Orrin K. Am", rn Ann Z. Arnold W. Michael Alckison

Kly K. 8&inI T. B~ Biohop Duran B. BIlIt Ollie L BI.oI\. J•. Donald E. Bbnk....hlp M. Stonlo>rd Blanton Jud6~ M icluoel F. Bolin

-~ MKB.Gnoon. Andl't'W Roben eno. ... John E. Hl.gef,tntlon. Jr. '""' ....... S. lUI.

L""'~ W~liom

C. R<ddm

W. Boyd !!«V..

Judge George R. R"Y"oldt

/.,.,.. 0. ~

Rober! 1'. Reynold. Dwl&ht K. Rice

IudS" William L. Honb<ry F..ncis H. 110.., Jr.

J. Williom R<>H, /••

M. Lloyd Roebuck

Oosnal Row.

RIck Horri.

S.

J.w::k H. Hom-.

Roben B. Rubin

Vidor L Hay.!ip

J. Allen Sdveibn

B. Iud_ H.nnlnglon. U!

W. Hill Se_u

Jack B. Hood j",t;ce J. Connan Hou'ton C.ryC. Huckoby

Ja.cquelyn S. Shaia

Karon O.

P.tricia 1m

ludgo J:unoo

C.

AI.. W. lackton Sicbwy W. loa:-.. III Neil C. lol.no_

T . Dwlghl Sloan "'y SmUll W. Cftsor1 Smitll Ri<hord It Smitll G.ogg L Smilll Donald N. Spurri .. Cary C. S IMIko ....... H.SIMnn

Al.""nd .... J. Bol ....

Jr.

8owd~ E1~, Iku.N~ III

WiD"m S. B.-boker.1Il Bobby N . SriSh! ludp "tlllu. B. Sriokman Ri<hard J. I""k .... n 51_pilon It lrown Ri<hard It lrownl"l!i Richord P. Cormody Chari.. F. Co .. J...... s. eMMIt, 'r. Ard ..... T. Oh'ln Jack Clarke Fro<! L CoIl., IIffijomin G . Cellon Cha.l.. D. Col. Jolin ,. Col ........ nr Robert It Cooper RoWe Copftand, Jr. ~K.Corii.

Robert A. Colhren lla .... H. Crulohf..1d Urd...y M. 00\1, P~nny

0."'_

Jill V. o-r

AMelIe C. Dodd Su..on O. Oo.Ighl<>n

",'J.

David Ont.her Thoma. M. &un. III Mlelloe1 D. Ennort C...gg I. E",' ell Jolin C. Falktnbeny ll.aymond P. Rl>po.lrlok. Jr . D. Taylor Rowen Ccorse P. Food Helm Currie I'oo!... Louis v. F..nkIin, / •. RXN «I A. F _ Judge Cliffard R. Fulford /. N",II Funderburg Fl"ilnk C. Calloway, ' r. Win"m F. Ca«l_

TIIomatLJoh_ ludp Douglu I. joll...!...... Ju . Uce Rkha.d L 10...... (m.) Joop.. P. Juliano J...... W. Killion Roy F. Kins Jdlfty C. Kirby Jolin T . Ki.t F<><TeOl S. Lallll Syd ....y Lavmd ... Jolin N. 1Mc1l, 'r. kobftlW. ' - , '•. TNd C. Long Doni Mo ..... Rodney A. Mu Dorio! S. )owpI> II. Mays, 'r. Bruce J. MoKee kobort P. McKenzie Steven G. McKinney ,. Anlllony MoLaln F",nk MoRishl AMe W. MilChell

MD.,.

&yanE.~

RUNeI Myleo PaulO. Myric:k Can>! Sue NoI ..... Loonard J. Neloon, 111 N ...1 C. N __ U H. E. Nix. J,.

em. Robert W. Nom. (retJ a.rbol"il F. 01.",,,,... Ca, .... O"Rar, III Jolin E. Ott lewI. w. Pap, / •. All<>n I. p.,ker. Jr, WiUiam H.l'ryor. J•• Georg.- L POIIe' A. Cloy 1bnId... U1

Robert L Shield" IU Wilbur C. 5ilbonnon

s. SI<dgo

DoNJd ,. 510_.. Con>! H. Sbowart Winiam I. 5Iow&rt Richa«l O. Scnnon HelV)' C. Stricklord. III Willllom C. Sullivan kobort Tambling a.rt P. Taylor William K. Tho .....

c..".. C """"" W ~lio m C. rodwdl. m Marslv.U nmb.rlab M.rk It TIppi .... W.Te..,T","', Harvey 1.. W""mrnan Chari .. D. Wl ldtq> E. CIenn W'Idrop, , •. /oNlhan H. Wall..kennttll Wallio Howud P. W.lthall WiUiam W. WIIIo, III / ud..", W. WoIlI Mielloel W. Wllioonan! Oovld P. Wllilooide./' . Jolin P. WlliIli"6lon 11"- C . Wil~ J,. Oovld C. WIJ'Ief, / •• W~1i&rn C. W_ Thomu A. W-.O ,a ..... Uoyd Wriglll Thom ... T roy li..... n


RECENT DECISIONS By DAVID 8. BYRNE, JR. and WILBUR G. SILBER1>fAN

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES ""'enelng ftUldelln •• g.nll .... mbe,..hlp [)Qwso>! v. IhIQu'ar~. No. 9(l· 6704 (MaKh 9, I99ZI. Did 1I jury violate 1I convicted killer', First Amendment right of aSloOCialion during the xntm.:· ing ~ at hi' I.ilil by coosKkri"ll hi!

membership in l racist prison gang as lin .. ggravaling faciO' whtn Sl!nlfllCing him to the dUll! penally? The SUprt ...... Court. in In eillh\·lo-Ont decilion. ~rtd)'U.

In iIO opinion lIuthond by Chitt Justice lI.hnquist. tht Supreme Court held

lhal l!anlllTllmbuship was 001 relevant I" the crime an.d ~ not b«n prtMd nkv.lnt in deltnnininll fut,,", dullerOUlntU. "The 19ingl mlltnC! in thi. ~ a-nnot be ..;~ as .tl~1 , ~. character evilkna in its own right." Iht Chid JUStiCf wrote. adding that memo benllip in the gang"iI; roruti\ution.J.lly protfCI~. · lusHct Ii.Jrry A. BlKkmun wrote 1I concurring opinion and JUSlicot

_ .... ..__ .. ..-David • • '~. Jr.

•• ..-.

0..;06~"

~

_.... -,. _.-.... _ .. . .

...-gr_ .... ....

.. . ...,. Moo. Iormol_'_ -~ ". 01 ....

... .......... -"

W1_0.

",,-.-

Wltu'G _

.... 0;.

.... " ,.",_"""01

'.,

~~~

~.-

<IOgroo ........... 1,00;-

_W._oIl.-

Z84lJu!y 1992

Thomas dis..enttd. "denyinQ that ... IIInll membership told the jury any· thintl about Ithl inmate' sl Ktiviliu. lendentin and traits _ his charu· ter - illJlOm rtalily."

Is ",.nd Jury Int.nded to be

1.".1 1'1.,1"" fJeldf

Unitm Sltlt~ IJ. "7I1iams. No 90-1972 ftdtnl judge dis·

(foby ' . 1992). ~ I

miss '" indictment if PI'(lo$l:Cuiors wilh. held from the grand jury exculpatory evidence sugsestinQ that the defendant W&!I not llUilty? The Supreme Court. in a flYt.to-foo. decision. ~rcd no. In In opinion aulhored by Justice S<:alill, tM Court Soiid that tht pr!.l5tCU· lion 's failure to disclose "substantially exculpatory evidence" in its possession don not empowor a fedorll judge. under the fedual court's Ju~rvisory powitn. to dismiss an indictmmt "Nti· ther jUltice nor the concept of a fair tri.l.lrtquirc it."

response. severa) of the jurors rlSjlOlldfd lhal they had hurd somtIhina iboot the CiO$t, but that they would be Ioblt to " - thtir dotc:ision only on tilt evidence hurd from lhe witness stand. Defense counstl then requut~d the court·, ptrmission to question taCh juror individu_ ally to determine the U lent of hi, or her krwwltdge of the cast. The trial judge ,,"nifd tht TftIIlosl for individw.l voir dire &nd counsel objtcted. The supreme court. speakin, through Justice Kennedy. lffirmed Ihe conviction. In Bro.m u. State. 571 SO.2d 3-15. 350 (Ala.C rim .App. 1990). j udtlment Vicued Aillb/"na D. U.S 111 S.C\. 2791, 115 LEd.2d 966 {I99I). the r~uUI for indio vidual voir dire was granted only btcaU!il' deftllJt coonsel offered ~rOOI of tht tlttnsiw nIIturc of the pretNt publicity. HOIO'tWr. in Anderwrl, defense toollJtl failed to prtstnl proof thaI the pretri.l.l publicity about the defendant's use was so extensivt as to WUr3nl indio yidual voir dire under the tnching of

B._".

Broom. suprtJ.

SUPREME COURT OF THE ALABAMA Indl"ldu.1 "olr dl,. tied to ,,",trill, publicity And,rson o. Slatf. 26 ABR 2d9 (Much 27,1992). The Issue inAmlfr. son wu ,,·heth.. the Irial court committtd r.v .. ~ib\e error in denying defense cou .... rs I'C<IUtst 10 indi'Jidually qualion taCh member of the vtnire /or tht purpose of making ptremptory st riku IltU Sf~TlI ju rors indicattd that they had ",me knowledge about Anderson 's previous eonvictions . AI Ander"'n's new tfial. the judtle uked the vlnirl if any of them had knowlt,t of tht (i.cumsllnces sUrrounding the~. 1hty ..'t~ ilsa gWen a brief description 01 lilt nIItur~ 01 lilt offenst so IIlat they could determint if I hlY had lny pr ior knowledge. [n

Vol, dire In c.plt.1 murdet' <on Brown u. Siale. 26 A8R 2607 (April Ill. 1992). Brown was found ,uilty of murder ind senlenc:ed to duth. Tht court of mmlnlll ~pt'als r~ntd lhe jud,,,",nt of conviction. holdin8 Ihlt tho Irial toorh voir dire examinlliion of the jury was not sufficient to allaw il to nuke an indt~ndenl del~rminlltion as to whethor the juror s irnporti.l.lity had b«n destroyed by the utensn.e prctri;ll publicity in tht t»t. The supreme court 'r3nted Iht stalt·s pelilion for writ of cerliorari. but later quashod lho writ as improvidently granted. Bro.m u. State.

571 So.2d 353 ~ 1990). Subsequtntly, the state filed i petilion for wril of ~rtiorui to the United St.ite Sup~mt Coort. The ~tilion W&!I gr3nted and the sup~me court "lUted the judgment &nd remanded the.Me to

THE AURAMA LAWYER


the court of aimirlllappWs for r«OOsideution in light of Mu 'M in 11. Virginw. SOO U.S.- , III S.Cl 1899

(1991 ). In MuMin, the supreme court held Ihat the proce dure uud by the trial iudlc (in quntioning the wnire memo ben in panel5 of four) did not IOOIate the dritndan!"s Sixth Amtndmmt right to In imp.irtiil jury. On remand. Ihe court of criminalappul5 "pin rewrwd th e conviction dislinauishina the Broun case fromMu'Min. The Supreme Court of Alabima. in In oJlinion by Chief Justice Hornsby, revtrstd the court of criminll appuls.. Pr ior to voi r di rt, the defendant TnOYfd for individual voi r dire biKd on Ihe pretrial publicity of the ca~. Th. Irill judge d.ni~ the motion. but durins voir dire askt<! the following question: "Now. ladies "ld gentlemen, dots IIl)'OOf know lf1)'Ihing""t this case. eithtr wh.at )'OIl hiw htard, rud. know fil1tlwld, n...... medii, Irl)'body know an)'thirli about this cue?" Sixty-thne percent of Iht venire rupondtd in the affirmative. TIlt trial judie immediately askt<l the ontiro venin if any member felt th.at what h. had road. hu rd or t.llked about -.Id intenen with his or htr ~lity to nndfr. fair and imp;irtial verdkt. No juror res.pond.d. The trial ju~ dtnied the dtf.ndan!"s request for individual voir di re shling that he believed that individual voir dire wn neceS$llry only if a prospeetirt juror .quivoCiled n to whelher he or she could be fair iIld imputiaJ. In affi rming the trial court. the Supr.me Court of Allblma obstrrtd that the U.S. Supreme Court In Mu'Min h.ld that a trial judge only n.ede<.! to ..lImi .... tho: nttnt of .xposure to the prtlrial publicity in order to dtt.rmine whelhtr a juror could iKl imparti.llly. JUlt ict Hornsby oburved Ihit the method of determining impartiality is not criticat. "The crucill requirement is that the trial court gel tnouah informa. tion 10 "",ko a meaningful determina· tion of juror impartiality: C.pitIIl - - - . . _ mit"'tln,

f_lon ubiilitted ctu'''1g senI.ndn, phil . . Henderson V. Sial" 26 ARR 2670 (April 10. 1992). Henderson was cOnvicted of capital murder and sentenct<l

Tilt: AL\&\MA lAWYER

to death by tlmrocution. The S""mno Court of Ahbamlo mTrstd tht court of criminal ~ppuls because of the int. rmediatt appollato cou rt 's e..oneous belief that there was only on. mitigat· ing factor "'hen. in filc!, Ihrtf existed. TIlt supreme court dtltrmined that tht error in tht Knlmcina pnxtdu", iIld in the rrvitw by tht court of crimlJll.l appuls iKMrwly Ufected the s",,"!.In· till riahts of the defendant. Specifically. the court of crimin a l a ppeals had affirmed the Irial cour!"1 finding that Henderson's low 1.0. of 68 did not con· stitute a non ·.t.ltutory mitigating eir-

-

in , ptr curiam OI'inion, the supnme court htld that the dtltndann mental rtUrdation ....... in fact. In apprOpriate mitigating factor. rel~;ng upon Lockett V. Ohio, U8 U.S. 586, 606-08 (1978). In Loddl, wpm, the IUprCme court held that the E""th UId Pourttfnth untndmenu ""lui", that the smtenctr no! be precludtd from coruidtrirli as a mitigalirli factor any Hptct of II dtlnldant'J character or record and any of the cir· cum.tancn of t he offense th at the dtl.ndant proffen as • buiJ lor a Kn· ttncelm than death.

BANKRUPTCY Durrett distinguished _ 11th elreult hold. tMt rec.Nt", Ie •• tMn 70 pet'Cent of '.1, _rIr;et .... 1..... t foreclo ....,. . .Ie not rtee. . . . .lly f •• udu_ lenl I •• n . f•• under kction

...

GrisJOm v. Johnson. 955 F.2d 1440. 22 B.C.D., 1178 tilth Cir. Much 17. 1992). Debtors re.idence ",n sold al foreclosure for 1m lhan 70 ptrct1l1 of ill fair lTII.rI<et villue. After tt.. debtor filed a Cha pter 13. th. court dder· mined that the Chapler 13 trusl .. could lvoid the sale because there hid not be.n reasoNbly equivalent ""Iue. The EI~lh Cil"(:uil rtYtrled UId Kt oul cut.lin guidtlillH. f"ir"lt. tht court Aid that Ales priea obtained at regululy conducted, non·(ollusi,.. lawful foreclosun ..los are Prtlumed to be for rtuonable equivalent value, bul that this is rebuttable. The court held that

thm: $hould be Mdtra III to the vaJut of the property. tht rlItu", and type of illMrtising, the number U Krious bid· den at the salt, and IIny other competi · tiw conditions surrounding the ... Ie. It was emphuiwi that the p,..r way to dehrm int Tenon.blt equivalency under 15-'8 is to """duct II thorough inquiry of all ",ievml facts iIld circum-

.-.

Comme nl: There are s-erious quolions of burden of proof raised by the Opinion. The appel lale court Aid that the Bankruptcy Court misst.lted the relevant burden of proolu beirli upon the mortpgte, lnd. ~t, lwo pa rlJlraphs IIoter, it _mtd to piKt the bunlo:n on the m(lrtilJlot to prow thil the sale mt! ilil r.quirements. In an abundanc. of caution, it is recommendt<l that the Itnder should be p",pa red to oller its

--.

£cktc8t'-lloen to prtv.t. In.tltution non-diKM..,..a.Ie, If mede to puboIlc In.tltlltlon; how."." thl. doe. not entltl. school to wlthftold t,.nscrlpt 01' .t... denl'. _cornplishment. Andre..., lJn;DersilN • . Merchonl, _ f"2<L-, 22 aC.D. 1169 (6th Cir. Much II , 1992}. Andr ...... University

"nMI ••

gUlirantoed a lull recourn blin k loan mad. for paying a portion of debtors educillion al upenns. The debtor received t..lp from Ihe KI\ooI lor he r other uponMs. for whi(h .he prt. note to ~ Uniwrsity. After gradu· ation. she dtbulted on both loans. and Andr,"",s, after plying Ihe bank loan. btcomt tht 001. crtditor lor tht debtor's educillional expensu. After filing a Ch.apler 7 cast. the d.btor requested iI o;Opy of htr ed"",tiona/ t~n"t. which the school rdustd. The dtbtor elilimtd vioIIoIion of the lulOfNtic st.Iy. The tJnj. verJity defended on Ihe around that 1523(1}{8) txctpts from discharge both tht lOin and credit expensu . The bankrupty and district couru reject.d Iht dtftndan!"s irgumrnt, and ll$o htld. that t362(a} WIJ violated in withholdin8 the tranuript . The Si.th Circui l rrverstd on tht issue U d~lity in holding lhat 1523(1)(81 does apply btcaust the loans ......,r. funded at ltast in part by a non·profit institution, and fur· ther that credit extensions tvidtncrd by Jul)'l992 / 285


notu ~k to tI>e lJnio.oersily corutituttd loins. and acamlillily an non·dllcharguble. Ho .... ever. in Iffirmin&. the wurt Ibkd thM the aut(>. Il'IItic ~ was ~ttd by withholding tI>e transcript, thM then: is no aaptioll to the auloll'lltic stIy. iIfId tNt it appIirs until the aM: is d~. diJrni$ml Or ~ oiliclu.... is granttd or dmitd.

promislory

NIntII CIrc:uIt

rua.. t-...:

unkruptcy court !MIy not w.l". t . . . undet' 28 U.S.C. Section 11115 •• " I. nat court of Un"eet St.t•• /" ,., Perro/OII'I, __ F'.2d ~ 22 R.C.D. 11152 (9th Ci, . March 9, 1992). In this (Uf, the debtor n:questtd per· million to appul the bankruptcy wurt'l dKilion in IomIO paupnis. The Ninth HAP. uid a .... nkruptcy court IIou not lu.vr authority to waivr prfc· poymont of Illing feu. On I~al. tho Ninth Ci rcuit. in a d.tail.d opinion which oumintd the statutory language. held Ihat a \)oonkruptcy court cannot waivr commen«ment foe. und~r Titl. 28 11915(&) beaust it is nOi a -court of

lSI

• •

• •

The p .hlUiAAd oI>tair>t<l. loan from hil new father·in·li.... to obtiin jiil rfclaK. WId then 1\.Itd in bmkruplcy /or .... ill ful violation of the slly. The EI.venth Circuit held that the bankruptcy court in th il inslance should hayt abstained bcaust of (I) strons i bte Inlertit in domutic relation rmtlers: (2) state courts 1m competent to handle luch cuu; (3) con· j/esttd ftdml COUr! docke~; and (4) the J)OlIlbHlty of incompatible stat. and federal cou rt deere .. where Ihe $ble has conlinued lupervision of the (Uf. In the concludinS paragraph. J~ Fay did say that wnm the bmkruptcy toor! ....ould not be required 10 delve too dHply into family 10..... the toor! need not absuln from fuhioning l rfcmtdy fo, .-iobtion 01 the automatic sli)'. but thit in this cast. it should hive

the United SUtu". under the defmition in Title 28 U.S.c. "51.

court .......1cI not _tlon c""ttor few vloletlon of .utomatlc .... y. H violation .rt. . . C*t of ....t. ~.tlc lew c . . . Involving .llmany !MIlnt_nc:•• or ...pport. un.... tt cleart, would nat bec _ _ ttt.d In .tM. court c ... Coroer v. Coroer. 60 U.S. LW 2577; ~c,

95-1 F.2d 1573 (11th Cir. March 6. 1992). The l!I. huslwld., who was dirKkd to pay I ~ ~ by the SUit wurt. filed Clu.pter 13. He fiiled to list his u wilo u . rnditor. WId also failed to pa.y the tI'IOI'Igaae.thUi pn:cipiwing fortdo. lure procudings.. Tilt ex·.... if•• being ulllWlr. of tilt boonkruptC)l. lIItn filed contempt Klion in family court. Aft.. the citation was filt<l. she IumftI <:I thr Iwlkruptcy but her atl()mt)l. oontthe· tess. arsu.d thit the bankruptcy stay don not apply to alimony iUId support. The tamily court sa"" the n-huWnd .ilI montlu' jail stnte~.

The Alabama State Bar

~ntd.

COlll ment: This CUt rmy throw an addtd burdtn on both bankruptcy and fimily cour tl. IS .... ell i$ the trial la\.'y~" •• in attempting to de termino whether the facls justify non·compli· • ance .... ith the automatic sta~.

Endorsed Insur.mce Programs

F.um,.v LIFE l'n....."'<:1: features benefits for both cligil!lc members. spouses, ch.ildrtn and c~ AVlilal!lc throu&h Nonhwe5tem Nuionall.ifc lmurvoc:e Company. ~ I......,. MEDJC.U.I.'<WU.'<CII provides benefits for both eligil!lc membcrs,lpou_ chil~n .ndtmp!oy«S 10 S2.ooo.ooo. Av,ilable throuth Continental Casualty Company. lIosrrr.u. l'lOt..I1'o"ITY pays daily benefits up 10 SOOdays with. Il'IIximum of S300 per day. AcccpWl« Gu.-antecd to t1igible members \lIIOkr age 6O .... ho are either workin, or attendinl school full-time. Available through Commcrciall.ife JllS\lrance Company. ACC1Dt:STAL O&ont A~D DLS.\II!.mF.a" w_,'T I.~'IC. provides covenge for acddentat loss of life. light. speech. hearing or dismembemlCn~ Benefit amounts to $250.000 IvaJlable. This is avai13ble through Commercial Life IrI$uranc:e Company. DI~AD IU1Y Il'COME fealures "Your OIYll Speci.lty~ definition of disability as well as covcnge for partial disabilities. Benefits Iv~illble to 80% Of your income in most CISeI. ... vailable tmough Commercial Life Ind iLs parent company UNUM. QI'FIC& 0''11.''1'..0.0 E XPENSE reirnburSC5 your eli,ible buJincsl e~penses. Available 10 eligible members under .gc 60 who arc cng.~d In full-time practice and rvx on full·time duty ... ith any of the armed forces through Commcrcial Life IIId its p.rcnt company UNUM.

r.:---: . - -.---:-- ----- ----------(_..;-~---------__,

I For ildd1llooa1 tnfonnauOIl contac t: I Willillm K. Bass, Jr.

I Insurance Specialists, lnc.

I Suite 135 12970BrnndywineRoad I Atlanta. Georgia 30341 I 1- 404-4 58-8801 I 1· 800-241-7753 Toll Free Number I 1-800·458-7~46 Fall Number .

ALABAMA STATE BAR

I

ii=~iI=..:.!.ialoout"""i1~·:::=-II~~~ ! I=-~ Moojor~__

1

1

I

I I I I I I

Ho&piooI~.i.~(~Io"'1

J _ O ' ... _Oiooi ... iobeoi\ .. ~(Guotwo_I ....1

N.......

Add'f.. CilylSlalllZip ~Rep~~n~t.:e~locate~tatewlde~ _ _ BUllnf" Tt l.phon. 2B6 / Julyl992

I

_ _ _ _ ~'!:...hd~~ _ _ _ _ _

d

THE AI.ABAMA ~WYER


PRO BONO HONOR ROLL

=

8/1 this hQ/wr roll. Ih~ Alabama Sio/, Bur Volun leer l.GWII'" Program recf1f/lllus Ih' fallou';ng allom'II' for Ih' ir participalion in organized pro bono proj«U (ft)r civil ctlS£J) l/Ii slole_ IV, alend Iltimirs 10 I~ ouwllT1ding ot/OrTH!gs who. th rough Ih'/r 9'''IrOUS /luis/anu , coam, ation and dedication. or. malcing auf'S! 10 justiu (} reolilll fw hundrfds '"disDdvlmloged Alobamimu. (7'/'IU honor roll rrII«tJ our ~ to gul,," """""'" 01 alt_~ who purlicip<Jle in organil«J pro IJono JNOi«tJ for ani ........ 00//1. IN who _ on IIoarrb Ol' cummillfW$ ~ primmy ~ i$lf'9I1/ aid to the poor. "~also salut, illllaw"ers in Alabama Idro dMo/, their Irm. p;ot:idmg IT« . / aJJislanct /0 «-mromt pnsons. HOWf!I)I!r, if _/tall" omilled the """'" of tmll ollarnl'J/ IL'ho participates in 1m OT(l(1r1iud program, please send Iho/ 1101716 and addrnn /0: MeUrriIa M. Woln:!". 1)ir«lor. Alabama Siote Bar Vo/unl"'" """~rs Program, P,O. Box 671, Mon/{lQmef)l. A/olxlma 36101.) William K. Abell. /lion...,.,...." II,Pwn R. Adair, J •., bopo' Eric F. Adorno. 1f""",,'1o Phillip E. Adams, J." Optlika

!lobe" II. A<bms, Birmil!lham C. lIonon Adcox, T...aloooo Hon. W, H. rold Albritton, Ill, Mon!g<>mtry ~ry 1'. Ali""'. Sr .• MotH .. 80IIby [.. Allen, Montcornory

Ch>oI« W. AlI<n. BirmirCJ>M'n II<*rt H. Alitn. Mobilt /IIyo"ofI AIIotosuin. GodsdM

John T. AIit)'. I•.• Mon''''''''''' 0Md E. Allred. "'''''tgo/nory Hobtrt M. " I,,,,,. I•.. M"",aom<!}' W\fll.. s. A/vU.. B;nni~ F~".II S. "ndn.. Mobilt Cl\iorlts L. ~ Moo\IaOIntry W. ","",,~

III, MonIflm«Y

oa.id M. Andrn, 1i1~ n.om.s A. Anslt)'. Sirrninatwn Chi"""", Ub.o Anyonwu. M""tllOml:!}' I. Knox .... go. Mon,aomt!}' Allan L. "rmsttooa. Sirmlntham Uly M. NnoId. Mobilt Ltonord Q. ~ Mont ....... ry G. Wa,rc Aohbo<. MoIoiIt B.- 1.. "'-. Mobilt E. KtMoth A)'CIOCk. ~ <Ao'llt S. Au •• M"""""",ry l .... pI> &bing,,,,,. Mobile Donoi. R. Ibilt)'. MonlJlomtry

TIlE Al..ABtl'tA LAWVER

I~_

B. Baird.

T,,"<>1ooI>

MKhMI E. Ballard. Mobilt DtMIo N. 1bIsb. MonlJlOMtry J. Donald Ibnks, Mobilo EoLon C. Ibmard. Mobile Uonry C. Sarntu. I •.• Monlg""",!}, loion M.Ib"an.llunl<villo A. Cd,n Ba,n'1.. T'Iv>loo.. C. Pari< Ibrton. J•.. "'IK'IM. lot E. Ibotnbtrg. Mobilt DA Ibw.·Fruit •• Mobilo Ktnnt\h w. &ttJa. BinnitChlm Robert R. Ibu(h. Birrninatwn

P. Ken, 1W1ty. Mobile Clenn N. Butor. TUKlIloooa 14a,.".. R. Bu •. Kobile Robrrt A. Bocbrlo. Mobllo BIlIJo c. BcdsoIo. Mobilt Mourict s. BoU. MonIflm«Y How>.rd R. 1I<bt•. I •.. Dtutur John T. BtndtT. Mobil~ 1(.0,1 B. Bonkwith. I •.• Mon"""",ry Robtrt M. BoI'I(>. Mon'liomt!}, I . Robert Btntlt)'. o.->t.a 10M A. Biwns, ,.. ..... i00i> Robtrt C. Block. Morqomtry Walty H. Bbcbhtt. Mobilt EdwIrd E. B~ •. HuntMllo Willi.lm R. Bl.>n<hord. I••• MontllOmnl' Itfi'rfy W. BHu. MOO"l'jlOITItry

Thomas D. Hobitt.lI. T\IK.IOIoos>

n.om.s R. Bolle•• Kobile

BoI'.

R. Praton Ir.• Mobile /ohn M..1IoItcn. HI. MonIfomory BriI, S. Booth. Montaomor\! .lot T. Booth. HI. Mon,..,....!}' lot T. Booth. 1\'. Mon"""",ry I ...."" P. Bo'g. M"",gomo!}, U. Ri<h>.rd Bounds. MotHI. ErII; A. _ " , Montgomtry EdwIrd G. 1Ioom>n. Mobilt David R. &,.I. MonIflm«Y Dtlono R. ~. MonIfomory Man: E. BfOdIt)'. Kobilt I. Norman Bradley. Ir .. Ilunllvillt Robrrt W. B~<>rd. I •.. Mon,gomory C. Lon ... Brooch, Mon'gomt!}' I. Iltmatd Bran ...... Ir.• Mon,ljO<nt!}' Paul A. BnntIty. MonIJl<lnltt)' IItfw)I H. Brtwsur. I•.• Mobilt Ann C. 8ricletman. Mobilo

BoIIb!I N. Bnth,. Mon'IIOmt!Y Sol E. Bri!Wiold. I•.• Montgomtry DoNld M. Briskman. Mobile F,o,Iwin L. B.oo.,oo. Birmingham RoIttrt C. Broc:k. M"",gomory Rtbt«.I. G. Broob. T"v ...... David P. B _. Mobilo w. Clinlon B........ Ir, Dtcatur E. Tony 8..-n. """'........., HouSlon L. Brown. BinnlflCham n.om.s U. B,..,.." . Binningham MOMn W. 8ru ....... Mobile DoNId E. Brutkitwia. Mobilt July19!l2/ 287


-

1' llO 110\0 III1\OU IlOU,

John C. Brutkiowic., MoIlil' a ......d F. Bry>n, Ill. Monl8OmOry ThornM E. Bryant. It. Mobil< CrrtorY C. Bulblow, Mobilt Y;illiam P.1kIrgao, Jr. JfunuviJIo

C",ilit J. Coil in!. Mob,l. Und.> t. Colli .... Mobil< t. S<ott CoogItt. Twa!ooN J _ II. Coopt" J.~ MontIQ<nrI'J' I'>ulll.~,~

fmlt ridr; T.

Mom. A. Burktn. KontgomofY Cia ..... lot, BurN,"" Twcoloooo "-tor F. Bum$, Mobilt Rolli" L. Burrtll. Bi,mlnghom II. Colo""" Burlon. Huntwillt

Lor H. C"",Iand. M<:In\fOmo:I'J' R,boca L Copoland. Twa'-> Mi<:hM l C. CorrtW<lI. fulClOloaoso Robort A. Coth... n. Si. mi nahom J.1WIdaI1 Cnnr. Mobil<

JoI,cph C. ~.

Phil", H. BUIlt •• 101",""",,"1)' Ik10dIty R. Brm<. MobI .. DMd II. 1Iymt, Jr., Mon\JOmory Ilon'1 H. C>ddtIL Mobole Konntlh Il Cain, I •., 8,..".'n&hom AM. C. Caine, Birminljll>m Und~ C. CaIWlam. Ir .. Montgomery Iton!), A. Calloway. III. Mobil< J. Brio! Call>-..ay. HwU$Yi11t c-r.., W.~ ..... m. Montpnny

J...... W. eam. ...... Mon~ .oM F. Comnon. Jr. MontllOAM'ry

John O. Camoron. Montfomory 8<>yd F. C.m!Ib<lI. MonliOfTltry Mlrvin II. C>.mpbol l, Monlll"""''}' Robtrt C. Camilhtll. III , Mobi" W. Clark CampMIJ, It .1o\on1.fOrroO'l' Wooclty C. CampMII. ~ Joock L. c.nl. HonIjIOnIO'I'y John L Capoll. 111. Mon\fOInrry

J"'"!Ih T. tarpon,". , Monttomery C... gory A.. C.rr, Moottomol'J' Kort" It. C.rr. Mobil, Billy L. cart ... Montgomo!)' J.C~ Ca""".MobiIt

M. Frank Casby, MonIfOrTIOry John

Cuon. Hontgomtoy

John O. c...... Jr .• MontllOmt1Y W. Wtn<loll CMJIqr. It.. Mon\lOlMry M.>.k A. c..... n.>ugh. Monltomtrt

Oouaw J . C,nt'''''. Biml1nglilom

Ro, I. Cr..."'....

8irrru~

ChorlcoM. C..... ~I'J' C......,. D. CrossIi,., MonJtOml:I)I Michod J. Crr.. MonJtOml:I)I John T. Crowdrr. Ir .. Mobil< A. E..... C.-t. Mobil< John I. CrowlI)'. Ir .. Mobile Robort B. CrumplO<l. If .• MontiOmO'l' I.ny t. C....... McnJtOml:f)' BJanr II. C",1ChfioW. MobiIt 51..111'41 C. Culpoppof. If .• MonJt<lmft)' DaYHI tl CuM'. lIunUYill< Will"", Jot. Cunni""",m, If •• Mobil< Edwin J. Curnn. I •.• Mobil< AMrow D.alins. !!untmll. lorl F. 0."1<)'. Mobil< EIorl L 0m0IIy. MOIIJtOmI:I'J' Cimn L Do¥id>on. Mobile Rldwd E. 0-.. Mobil< IIorvoId L J)wro. T".aku.! ROIIlId P. D.oYis. Mobile T.ny C. 0."'; .. Montgomny Wall.. Allen 0."'; .. l1untrvill. lI"illitm D. o.vI .. lIJ, Birminlhom Edword Ou,., Mobilt 11m L 0.8udo1oi>m.~ 1'I>onw II. o.s..y. Mont"""",

1.. o.Mtn~ MonJt<lmft)' Sw.an S. 0.1'ooIl. MonJt<lmft)' R.II .... Uo.an. Montaome'l'

Iohchatl Chambors. Mobil< """"",,,!}, dtJ ..... CIwnbtts, M..k N. CharnbIw.. Monttomn'\'

WInd.> D. nm:" ..",. Mon!fOmr'l' KI,," N.I>kt. TUIClOIoooo Rrd'IonI E. Oidr. Hunllvill< Brendo 1<. Di1on. T,_10000

Sh,riry T. CN,pIn. T,W'I""..

~rd T.Dormoo>. Mobilt

""""It

Ilmoy C. ChopptlL j._ Mont ....... ry Allan R. Chuon,Iloy M'lItIto John &orlo Ctwon, ~ Mi ""n< Rondall M. Choshi.... fulClOlo<:>$o CS. Chi,polich. Mobil. )~ M. CIoud. II.....uv;11< William P. CollI>. II. JI\onIfOrnrI'J' IIolIb\r It Co:ktrll J.~ T"...ol"".. ~rIco M. Cokmon. Twaloooo John W. ~. MoIIiI< 1'I>onw Col<man. J•.• S"'''inlhom F. Luk, ColO)'. J•.• Mobil< John ColO)'. Mobil<

288 I Julyl992

B~ J. DI7wnr)r. m. MorItJlOmtl'J' 1'I>onw P. D<:JrI<. Mobil< R. JIduon Drlrk•• T""Iku.! 8. V.ughon I)rini<>rd. It.. Mobil' )(111 1<. DlJdrtk, Ir •. fuocaloooo Jtffol'J' C. DIJ/foy, MO<ItJlOmtI)' Brpor C. Dutro'. Mobilt ~"' C. Drrn-. Mobil< DoocIas II. DunronC. Mobilt 11ft M. Eberhardt. ltunUVil1e Robert S. EdingtO<l. Mobil< Cho.l" W. Edmondson. Monlgomt'Y Non. E. Eldt •. Twc.\ow.l

J~ E. Eme,...,.,. If .. l1untsvill< My\an It. Engel . Mobilt John H. England, Ir .. TWc.IIoooo John Joluk ErcI<tr.rt. MooqomoI'J'

EnoIon. Jr~ Montaom<I'J'

m. MontlOmfl'J'

C. o.n,,1 t:v>ns. Birmll\d'llom Hoo< P. Evans. Moo lfOl'l"rtl'J' o.ni.1 H. r ,moll. Jt .. Montll<>m<l'J' Victoria A. faIT. TusalooN Donald E. F'uo .... MontJlOmtI'J' hod<io D. HunlsYillt

f."""""

KliJtS.F~ TI~

Kathryn D. FomO. Mobil< II. Fi..,,.... Mobilll Crorft W. rinkboh .... f. Ir.. Mobile GfQtg< W. finkbGh .... '. III . Mobil. o.vId G. flack, Mont ...... 'l' Bookn T. Fo".. Ir .• T"ocaku.! IlIInl'J' B. Fondr. Mobil<

~

c.o.., P. Ford.Cadsdrn ClrfIord foste r. III. Mobile 8,IIyF. F_h, MOIIIJIOmtry 11,,,,,,,n 8. Fn.nco. Mo<11JOmtl'J' tobork A. Fran«>. M(IIIti~~ Ralfl/l A. Franco. Moo lfOl'l"rtl'J' DouaW C. fru-man. MontfOmtl'J' Donald A Fritdbnclrt. Mobil< CrtIOI)' M. Fritdlltldtr. Mobile DoocIas Fritdmon. 8inni"""", SalVI S. Frior-.. ~I< RoiItI .... It. Frith, Mont""",~ P.I,Ie .. V. Fuhrmeimt. Columbiln> C. Ma.cLtod Full<,. Mobil< I. D<:JrI< Full<r. ~I'J' Darb T. Furmon.l1unUYille Walltrll'. Fumrr. 8inni......, J _ M. Col ..... HunUYillt ~ J. c.It. Jr.. Mobole Robort M. Goll.,....y. Mobile It.ny W. Gombl •• I, .. Sol"", I"""thltl P. Co.nJbt1j. Mobil. Ian F. Cuton, Mobil< Robtn E.Cibn<)'. Mobile 0... H. Giboon. Twalooo.o 1I"aIta T. Cibnrr. I." MobIle ~rI Cillian, )oJO<I1JlOmtry F.arl Gillian, If.. MO<I1JlOmtry II. Lowi.CilH •• Monlg ......11 lI'illitm B. GMlln. Mobi l< Randall O. CIadd<,., lIunuvill< Thorrw M. CociI>no. Montaomrry Allmi w. GoWrwaito. HonlfomrI'J' hmtla I. Coodo,., MorIttomrrY I.W. CoooIIor. Jr .• Mobile 1I)... n H. Goodwyn, ."""'tJlOmtl'J' StMn K. Goouo, Birmingham lI'illitm R. Gordon. Montgomof)'

TlI F:AI.ABAMA lAWYER


J'HI) 1:0\0 1I0\()H Holl

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------.lohn H. Gnlwn. Northport Cail< P. Cratton. Sirminllhom Frtd D. Cny. Jf~ Tuskrtt< John H. C.... n, Mobil< lonA. Crun. Mob,I. W. Stmley Crtgory. Momgomo "1 IMn C~. Mobil< Tornothy Jot GropJ\, Mobile 51 ......... ~. CWoc. Moobilt John C. Cut~ Albtrt\'ill< Sul>tl J. Cu~lIl. Mobil< M.>ry F. Gunt ••• Abbfylli. N. Cunl<r CO)'. Jr ., Montaomtry

Vlrainia \\jll~

w. I~ JoIoIIIIo B. HainlOn. III. fli~

Bin c. IbII. Huntsvillt homos A. 11.011. Ir .• n ....·I""" ~ ..na I. llolim. It .. Mobil<

nmothy c . ltaulrom, Monlgo!n<ry lIoflNO H. Hamilton. Jr .• MorlljfOl.-.ry hlriril A. fbnuhon, Montpnny

RtaiI'lOid T. !Wnno., Mon\iOmtry 1.-. F. ~ MontiIM"ttY I{onnolh D. It.>mlllon, lIuntruU. Elli. O. IUnan. Mon.,.,.,...1')' IIQf1. William L.11anM1}'. nonne. Alicc J. IlMIcock. Madison Jo W. Ibncock. Tusaloou

Ceortt N.1~.MobiIt DuryI C. Hardin, TUsaIooo.o 1""""1 Hardwick. Monlllom<l'l' Chari•• It H.... Jr,. "'berMlle 8<n H. Hu";" k. Mobile Ceort< W. twris. l""...... Witl ..... fl l..,... Mobile Cl\Iorlt$ E. Horriwl. T'u!<2Ioaoo

.10M \\'yly Il.oni$on , lIunU\lil1t CI)'SIloI K.llartley. C. "t rtVil le P. Richard 11.o"~. C... nvillt I. Skphrn Ha""'1. Mobil< K.athorirc M. Horwood, 1\·..,.1oow ROjI L "-tl\",•• F'1o<trW ~lbnk~T~

Frank 11./l»Ithomt. Jr .• Montsomol')l IQyrnc>r.d I. 1I. ..thorne, MMIiOr""'I)'

I. Clition llean!, Montaomtry Secn K. Iltdttn. Dolhan Robtn J.II«ia<. Mobil< IlfnfJ H.IItr. Mon\fOfII<!}' Clartnu T. 11.lIulTII. Ir.• C.nlmille Frtdtrkk C. U.lnuing. Mobil. KtMelh T. U.mphill. Mon\lOlTltry ~""" C. U.OOI'1. Mon\a<mt'1 John A..1Imi&. 'r .. Monte<>mtrr ....'alltr 8. Ittnloy. TlI$OIoosa II' • ......., C. lI.. ton,. Jf .• Mob;Ie B~ron R. U.... III. MobH. J....... p. Itt ... Uun\$\'i ll<

Tl IE:ALABA.\1A LAWYE:R

IAwis B. Uickman. Ir~ MonIaomtry JeNY LH Hicks, UIIftlSVIIIe L. Limr Uill. Montgomny Robon M. lIill. Jr .• F10rmct Robon S. U;I1. Jr .• Moolaomtrr Robon S. Ilill.llI. M""lgoo>try T. Sowon Uil!, Ill. Mon\jJOn>t!}, W. 1,,* !till. J,~ Mon\a<mtl)" ....c~lio<n I. Hill. II. Montgomny carob .... W. 1Iinds. Mobile Truman M. Hobbs. J,., Monl(Orntl)" Chari.. P. UolTifi.ld. Moolaomt!}' BTOCIlC C. 1101....... Mobile

I. EIcIridft 11011. MonIjIOmt!}, Alex L. liolulonl. If .• Montgomny D. CharIto IIok&. Mobile RicNrd D. Uo,..... Mobile ca"'in M. U"",ard. Binninaham An,n W. II.....Il. Moolaomtrr J. URtr Ihbbord. Montaomory RoIlon A.. UuIfakt" Montforntry _1 C.11uoty, _1t W. Cr<iIO!Y It"';"" Mobile ChristOPhor C. Itu"",. III. Mobile Robtrl L lIumphria, M""lgoo>try lI'i lbor J. U"'I. Ir .. Tuscaloosa lie""'" 1..... 1'.. Mobile Htmdo>n I..... m. Mobil< Lony L. In....... Tusaloosa 1I'i1i1o E. Iou<. MOOIj/OOItry I. Theodort locUon. I, .. Moolgoo>try Lynn R. I",bon. Clayton Moe ....1S. I",bon. Monl(Orntry Sodnoy W. Jkbon. 111. Mobolt John r .lanKky, Mobil< Ddlbit L. lared, Eibo Ib.ymood E, Joh""",. Mool(Ornt!}' Raymond L. lol"uoo. If .• Birminaham V.c. Johruton. 111. Mobile lI'atlciru Co.klhntWn. MontpntJy Andnw M.1oru. Mobil< IUnq S. Jonos, T~ Patrkk A. Ion... lIuntsville William C. )""'.. III. Mobil' lI",lIit I>L»'Io I ....... n..aJoou, Richard M. Jordan. Montaomory ~11Wrm.n. Monqomory Manlyn S. KIvaNugh, ItumMll< Thomu C. Kr,th, UunUVItle Palrie;' K. K.IIy. Moolgo.m<ry loon W. K.IIy, II!. SelIN losh ... O. Krlly. Ill. U",,\$\'ille D. ~ Krlly. T,........ Sttphtn M. Ktnn:amer. StotUbon:> ChoUl""""" Ktm. Mob;Ie

frtderidt W. KilIioo.lr .• Mob;Ie WiII ;'m A. Kimbrough. Mobile Miork E. Kine. T~

Cbriolophtr Kn,lfhI, Mobile Mocbarl D. Kni ..... Mobil< OoM .. '. Knizloy. M<lbiIt T. Cawin ~ M<Hllaomtry lulilrt U. Kahn. Ir•• M<Hllllomerr Thomas O. KQiOU(, Monlaomtry JoItfIh O. Kul>l<ow$/ci. ...",.lllMltq.lr., T""",..",.. C;hrt B. Udm. Mobile Att:hit C. Umb.lr.• Binninilham Joe N. ~.ltuntsville Cha,l.. D. Langford. Monli"""'ry A1eundtf f . Lanklord. Ill. Mobile forrat S. Latla, Mobile Robin C. u..rit. -...m<ry

_It

~M.Law.Monttom<ry

Richard A.. Lawrrnu. Monttom<ry Thomas s. Lawson. Ir .• Monlgoo>tl)' loon lach. Mobile Bany C. I.t.o>o<ll ~ry 1>1_ E. LH. u..u.;11< .......... s. ~ M.,...,.,.....I)" francis E. Leon. Ir.• Mobilt F. Marlin Lui... Ir .• Mobilt I""ph I. In'in. 101onlll'''''''l)" Loyd U. Little. Ir.• UuMAille Doooothy W,11s Litll<ton. iIIon\jIom<ry ....... c. LiYirCoIon. Dothan F..nk M. Lon" Mon\IOm<ry I. r.ut Lowol)". MOIIlaomtl)' loon C. w,..,her. Birmingham ()ov;d Y. tut... flunlJville Me""", L.1..ut;Ijood, """,t,.,......, Champ L,.,....lr.. MQb;1< _ S. Moeltq. Mobilt Bruu Moe........",. MonIjfOmfI)" Arthur I. 101addtn.lII , Mobil' R. II"", MaoJdox. 101011111"""''1 I. Moe""'l MaNKo. MonIaom<ry 1'horn>o; C. ~, Mont,.,......, IIowan! A.. Mortddl. MonllI<>m<r1 Ttd .... /IIann. Bi .... nt/ham CItM f . Mannina. ituntsville A.. Richanl Maplt •• MoItllt Michatl E. Mark. Mobile I.A. Maroal. Mobile u.. A. Manh. Mobile ,..... L. Marl,n. EufMlto Batba.. Manin, Tusaloooo 51"",n A. Marlir.o. Mobile R. Edword Mao>cy, Jr.. Mobil. W. T"", '"'-<yo M ~aon>try JO<tp/I M. Mal,.,... Mobil< Cr<8<I<Y B. M<.Attt. Mobil< Donald C. McCabe. o.lrvitle Roborlll. McCoIttt.lluntsville o.ni' l L. McCI .. ot. Mobil. l"'q""li'" M. M~ Mobilt

luly 1992 / 289


!'IUI nO\O 1I0\OH 1lIo!nu C. McC . .. key. Mobil. John E. McCulley. NorthpOrt l\mri B. Mc~ . Hunllvilk I. M.uk McOonid. HunllYill< \\"illiam H. 14<1)..",otl, Mobil< ,. r:r.itioy McDonald, III, MonI8Om<TY 1 _ H. McDorWd. J•.• Mobil< Ka ..n R. McDMlld. Mobil. MoltMwC. Mc Dona ld. Mobil. Edword B. McDonoolh. I." Mobik R. 00W:I 101<:1)0..... 11, 1IunU\ilk Michod H. McDuIfIf, Monteo<t"lnY I . DoueW McEivy. T' ..... "'<If· John II. McEniry.l1I. a;~ 11'.11<. E. ~ TuWg« C. MichMl ,'klnni"'. Mon\fOM<IY L..I<. L. Mclnw". Mobil_ E.Roy M,K ... If .. lIunuvilk hIr.1}' W. ""KilUl<)'. lIunlwilk Ch..... N. McKniahl. Mobik C. Krm MdM"C"I.IU.MonItom<I}' ' - It McI..<rnoN. MOfIICGm<ry Lurit IJ. Md.m>Or<. Mon\fOM<I}' Suloln A. Mr..'IiI\o:\. 11L"'lIvilk Jud ith L. McMillin. Mobil. L. ~ McMu!1ri<.lIuntsvilk £or! D. McNul. HWllMlk Roor A. M<:f'hilliloo. Mobik Sand.. K.Mudowo.Hobik C. Mt...... Honl,eoonol}' Von C. M,,,noI}'. Montaomtl}' ThomoJ J. Mrtlto.in, Mon taomol}' ~rbo .. C. Mm.r. Hunllvill. CN-.Iu P. Mm.r. M.onl.om",y Edwi ... E. Mill.r. T'uI<.Io'I. Robert Milk •• HuntMlk

rrr-

, _ [Iorid Mil'"

MoIMIt

I. F'loJd Minor. Mon~ry Annt W. Mil<hell. BirminCl>om I. lI'iloon Mitchell. I'Ior<na I'!>il ',p D. Mit,he l', II. ru"",111M.. O. Mileho:II. Mobik Iarntl D. MotI>tt. Mhe ... ~_"""n R. Mcd, 8i~ 1 _ E. Moor<. Mobik Randolph 8 . _ . II , ~ Willw.. 8. Mooro. Ir .. MonI~1}' ..... IY C. /'loon •. Mobik 11. DUn Mooty. if.. MontQOR'IfI}' ~II C. MO<g>n, Monltorn<l}' R. SUn Morril. BirmmllhMo

F. ChooIw;cl Morn... Montaomo.., Ikfol}' T. Morri!4<u •. /IkIbik R.... S.~.MonIaomo-l}' W. AI<-..It. _loy. Mobik

K. Eli .. M.... llunlWil .. ~rbo .. W. Moun!.>in, TuoWOOIo1 Robert II. Mudd, I •.• Mobi"

290 fJul)' lm

John Russoll Mungor. I ... Huntsvill. Rondl. A. My.... MOI\l&OII'Ifry P. R_U Myla. Mobik C. Dmni> Nobort. Mon\IOm<l}' M. Robood Nochrnon. Montgoonny Ctori<It.. s-roy.J... T..,Q!oooo SltPhm M. N'Smith. Honttorn<ry Mo.k It.. N...... U. Mobik lam.. B. """"""n. Mobil. Rklurd Nt'01on. T-..1ooIa lohnlt.. Nichols ........... John R. N~ Mobi" IItrt P. ~. 0nr0I!t _ """ O. Noo;in. I•.• Birminfham K,lth B. Norman. HonIfOmtIY Tabor R. N<><ak. Ir.. Mc"U,OR'IfIY It.. St ..... rt O'Bannon, III. Flo ..",. o.Mis E. 0'0.11. Huntsvil" CaIn< 011 .... Ill. Mobil< 0Md R. Paa. HWlUVilk 'lorman D. f'ada<!t. Moobik [/olano'. hlughi. Mobik John N. ~ HonIfOmtI}' UwIord B. hrbr, n. Montaomo-I}' Thomas E. Porbr. 'r., iluntlVill< 1lIo!nu F. h.ko •. IV. MontfOmtIY Charla 1'. Parntll. III. Mon~'l' )0 Kum hrr. Monttomory W.c.m.ronhr-. To""' ....... Donald C. Pulrid,ft, Mobil< Nicki &. hit_own. Mobil< Ctrakl R. Paulk. Scottoboro C. Tom Payno. MontllO/lltl}' CaryC. Purs. Birmin&Nom lorili. Purson. Monttomory o.vHIll Pcdu. Mobil< Johoo W. Pm*r\<In. ~ 50_ F. PtnIon, II. Montaomt.., R. hflroy Ptrlotr. Mobik R. John Ptrry. Mobik T. Dudley Pt.I}'. Jr .• Montgomery Christ""",. E. Pm ... Mobik C. Marl< Pttorson. Binni~ AImm L.l'ttilipo. Ir .• Mobik BmI<Il I. 1'Wttf. Mobil< 1*Ph C. Pit."., To...,1ooN Dtnnir. R. Pitrson. MontljOtnt.., I. I.rry Pilgrim. Mobik C,.ill S. Pillm,m. Mobil, 11a,1}' S. Pond. IV, M obil~ limmy B. Pool. Montaomo-'l' 1*Ph N. I'00I<. Ill. Montprcry MtliIA A. I'otoy. Mobik Arthur T. Powll. Ill. Hobol< 1*Ph M. ~ Mobi .. Robert F. Powtrs. Mon'aorn<'l' SU$On B.l'r>thtr, Phtn;' Cit, AMn T. I"rWwl>Od. Monle«ntry

'r.

l~oU ,

Walt" I. Pric •• lr.. HuntlVili. Oi.vId W. Procto.-, BirminllhMo Iln'ItI D. I'Turtl. Birmir'l(N.m Wry O. Put~ 8i""'"""",,, It..lIktword 1'yDr, Montprcry RldIard L.1'ypcr. Mont..,.,...., David R. Quirtmoyt •• Moobil< ..... ry l. Raby. Mon"OR'IfIjl Sand .. L. Rand.r. Mobil. It.. CIa}o Rankin, 111. Mobi" Royn A. Roy. Ill. Mobi.. ~ P. Rtavu, MonI8Om<TY Jarnts ~ Mobik F. Ctey lItddi't. I." Mobik MarIe l. Rocklin. Mobik Elna L. Rot ... Monll/OtllCry K.11y D. R..... Mobil. W.1Ioyd RHI't •• Mob;k llarry M. RenIrot. I." T'uI<.IoIoola , . Donald RtymIob, HonttomerY ItGbnt D.1toynoIdo. Mon\acIInory LMora Rict. To""' ....... IIobort s. Rkb.>rd, MontllOmtry llarry II. Riddick. Mobi" Frank W. RiW. Monlfom<ry I. 0" ...... Ri;'" Mobil< Itflrty L Riloy. T"v.1oop James V. RobtrtJ. Ir •• Mobil< hoper 8. RobtrI>. MonlIOm<l}' c.c.. It.. R<Jbinoon, u,.,u.;1 .. Sandra C. R~ MobIk Cha.1a S. Rodon,,",,",. flunllvill< Willi.m C. Rotddtr, I ... Mobi .. Allxtl L. R.,..".., MonlfOR'lf'l' Scott A. Rog<rs. UunllVil" ROIItr s.1tNnd, T'uI<.Io'I. WuIoy Romin<, Ir., MonIfOmtTy hi)' M.1I<:Ioo>,

_It

Jarnts B. RouJo •• Mobik

Btth M. Maust. Mobik 0.1. Y. Row.<. Birmingham Robert fl. Roo .. , Mobile ~n T_ R".... Mobi .. Bonn;' C. _.lIu"","1k

S. ()oCnaI1Wft. fl...uvilk L ThomoJ Ryan, Jf. 1lunl$Vilk I...,k B. .Sabatini. llunllVilk M. W.oyn< Sabtl. MontllO"'t'l' William II. S>lib.>. Mobil. P. Mork Sandlin.lI"ntsvill, Ntw!N.n C. ~. Monttomory Ernutin< S. S;q>p. TUsb,,", Robtrt E_ S-<r, MonIfoonttY I!ictIIIrd S. ~r, M<ItIiI< Elbworth p_~ ttl. Mob,k [Io,.;d Schorn. Mon.,.,.....ry lant' Eo Schrotelt,·Grant. Montgornt'l' John B. Scott. I ... Mon"om<IY

11IEAI.ABA.'iA U.IWER


I'110 1I0\!) IIO\OH UOII

E.... I A. s<,twS.lJ.. MontgO)rl\O'l' Jlm.. R. St,I<. MontllOlflt'l' £.....11 8. Storey. MontIlOmO'l' ' - D. Stars. TlI'<aInoP SoIooiiiOli s.~. Jf, MonIfomtry IIobort D. StpII, MmlIOmOry WiII"m B. Stll<n. MonlfOlfWry John W. SN""""gh, III. Mobil< CliJlord C. ShoJpt. Moilil. R. COOpt. Slun"",k. ~ C. lI"oruton SIwhon. JJ~ Mon\ICiIIIOry huwtll T.~. 11I.II""uvil" !lob S1w.brc. _10 II, f"1o:¥:I Sho-mod. J. , F\ora"Itt Richard E. Shitlds. i'\obil< Ktnntth J. Shinbaum. Montj/Omery Rk:hard D. Shinbaum. Montaomory Robort M. Shi~ IIWluvil1< T.rry A.5iob..~ry

C. Cnl'lin Silu, Jr, Mont ...... oy

Curt .. M. $ampoon. ~ Dono lin Sompoon. RoiNVil1o t...ry U. 5i ..... JoIobiI< loon 8. SinQltion. Bi,mlngham Thor'ow II, Sin ... d. llunUvill< Will""" t, Ski ....... Mon\lOmtry Ca..mor M. Small Jr, Birrnoti8lwn Donna w. Srnoilcy. 1>_1000' AIfrt,j F. Smilh. I., 1Io""'~ And..w It.. Smith. 1'_Joooa Anillo T. Smith. Mobilo FrI""" H. Smith. Monta<omery Fronkit n.1ds Smjth. Mobil. II .... V. Smith. J•.• Mmaomory

,_toy

I. Smith. B,nrooec:to>m '-D. Smith. T...aIooN

Maury D. Smoith. Mon\lOmtoy Robon II. Smith. i'\obil< Kobon Sotll<.. Smith. Ilunllvill< 5tillirt E. Smith, lIunl<vili. Suwl ... B. Smith. T"",1oo4> llillo« D. Smyth. III. MotIteornery It.. l!ankin SnmI. Ilunllvill< Joel L Scoeol 1'_100,.. Kyn. L S(oarb. Mobi .. Robort M.~. ~Joor.a S. AItw><Io. Spoon. Montl/OITIOry Cunl. II. Springer. Montllomery Jock W. Spnnkl<. 101 .... 1< AJya M. Spruell. TIioaoIocooa Mary Ann SUckhouot. Cadodtn CharIe$ It.. Scakely. J •.• MotI~ FTW J. Stakriy, Mo:onliIO"'I:ry Ctowooll<. K. SUnard. M...... Iln\tI O. SUndrid.ge, TuKaJoooa K. Scott Slopp. Tuouloosa Wi ll"m II. Stnn.', lIunUvil1<

Joseph D. St~man, Mobil, C.,torY B. St<in. M<obilo T. Iefft .. Suin. Mobil< Robort E. Stein... Ill. Mon\fOmI:ry Donn .. 51_ ........ 1'",,'1000' CI'oHIto A. S1twort, Ill. Montl/(iml'ry Oonlld I. St""",rt, Motoilo Micki II<th Still ••• MontlIOIfItoy St_n T. Stine. Birmingham ~I L Sto<l"....., M.... 10 Marpretlt.. Stonr._1< Allm R. Stoner. MoIqomtry JoMph R. Suilioan. Mobil< JohoI T. Sutton, T\ooaIoos.I C.rlid C. s..-.nn. Ir .• McintJlOll><OY o.n W. T.liolerro. Montgomery Scott R. Tlolkingtoo, MontgOmtry J....... W. Tlotlton. Ill. Mobil< Courtney W. Tlirwr. Mon\lOmtry M. fw\klin blom. II. 1I....uv;11< ANI E. T'O'Ior._1< Ridwd II. TloyIor. 1'1 ....10 Borry E. Toogue. MontgOmt'l' RO'O'CiIO Toogue, Birmingham Don T. T....II. IlWlIlviIi. """ph D, Thetfofd. M....I< Fronk L Jil. MonIIorne'l' Riclllird L Thiry.1>kibi1< K_th L Tharnoo. Mooqonvry Richard A. Thornpoon. T\ooQIocooa Suo ThoonpIon. Tuocaioooa Robort D. Thorington. Mootllomel)' Edw.rd R. Tibbetts. M.... I< DQmond V. ToIoioo. Mobil< ,..,.Ia W. T... krr. S<otuboto CllrUtopht. P. Tnme •• Abbovillt ~D, Tumer. 1'iKllocooa Katfft r. Tume •• 1'1...... RicNnl D. Tumer. Tuouloooa ~rt II. Tuton. Ituntsvill< John M. TYson. S... 101 .... 1. bymond It. Uhri.g. lIuntfvill< Mark R. Ulmer, Mobi .. Earl P. Uoode"""""- Jf, AnniMon Kenneth W. Uncle ........... J.~ Mo:onliIO"'I:'l' C. llamp Utull<. Ill, Motoil< f'tt, I, \'AI ~. Mobil< loon Vln Almon. Montllom<oy Eliubc1h C, Vick.... M<.tison. Moota<omrry SInd •• Lois ~lnik. Birminlhom CIoo,1a It Vol •• III, MonlIOm<'l' AI LV_Wid. 1'_...... ~ H. Wahfitlcl Jf" MonIfome'l' C~lie D. Wold ..... 81rmlnJllwn Ceorf< M. Wllk ••• M....le o..ld B. "'oIOlon. Birmingham Donn> L W.rd. 101 .... 1.

Thie.......,..

Joseplo W. W...... n. Montgom<l)' M,liildl M. Wile ... Montgomtoy Michoel D. Watt ... Monteornery 510dt C. lI'Jt>on. Mobil< W. CLiork 1I'alb'!, 8irrni ........ Win ..... W. W.tu. III. 1'1...... K.ndrick E. "'...... i'too1tgOmt'l' Oonold B. 11'.,••Jr .• Itunt,vill< John 11'. W,i .., MonlllOrN'l' Sanford D. W...... MotIteorne'l' Stanley II·........... MoritlOMtry U.1en C. W.11s, Monteornery luobofI 11', 11'.110. Mobi .. Sttphan;o W. W.rdtboIF. IIWlIlviI .. Michotl R. Whit •• MontJlO!n<'l' I. P.ul Whlt.nurst. T"", loosa Kilt, II. Whit.hurst. 1\os<>!oosa CaMn M, ...."'iwell. Ir, MontgOmt'l' I. ~ 1I'hitfitlol l r .. M...... Brylnt A. 1I'Ioitmi.. , I., 81 .............. Euame P. lI"hitt. Jr~ MonIfome'l' Marlo D. lI,t~ ....... Mont ....... ry Bruce E.....,II ......... lIunuvill< c.o'llt K, Will .."". Mobilt Jomn E. Will ........ , MonlilOfnt'l' laM M. 1I'i11....... III. MotI~ Richard R. V'-~Ii>mo. """"10 Rick It.. ....'11........ MonltomnY Ronnio L ....c~liarno, Mobil< I, MtGowi .. Willw.-. Cmnvill< W...... n J. Williamson. Jf .. C.. mvill. Il(k W. Willil, Montllornt'l' Suo A. Willis, BlrmiRiham Charla S. ....c~~. "",,"I< E. CoIIooun Wilson. ~Ioooa Duane A. Wilson. T".alooo· E, Ibmil\Qn 1I'i1oon. If.. Montcomo'l' rrlnk M. Wilson. Monteorne'l' J....... E. 1I"olson, J ... MootgOmtry Lau .. n lI'iJ..",-(:&". 1'iK.lk",.. SttPhon M. 1I...1oon. lIuntsvlll< Tmy P.Wiloon. MonIj/Ome'l' PhyIouC.llimberiy. 1'_Ioooa Strphm R. lI'indom. I>kibil< Patrida ...."U\StOn·H.oII. MobIl< Ronald W. 11"1 ... MootlOm<'l' MIc....1K. Wi ..... '. Ilunuvili. ~ikC.

Wolf., M....1<

I. I.rry Wood. Monteornery OJ;.,... F"Ttdtrid< Wood. IUnlilton Tom Wright. MotI~ D. C........... Y.............. MonIj/Ome'l' Edwin L Yaln. i'too1tgOmt'l' Suannt Omkin Yaymon. Bi,mingham Mk ....1It.. You"llJXl", Mobil. AI.. W. Zoa/Iby. 101 .... 1< • July 1992/ 291


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-.

PlA'1SINC OPPQ RTUN"ITIE S WITII LM SC TR USTS IN

Binninghllm Nl.tional Businw lnstitutt. Inc. Credits: 6.0 Cos\: $128 ]115) 835·8525

21 Frid8y ,",'ORKER'S

CO~PESSATlOS

Binningham, Shtnton Civic Cmttr

CurnborUnd Institutt for ClE Credits: 6.0 (205) 810·2865 THl:: ALI.fW.IA LAWYtR


SEPTEMBER

'J{orrIC'E

10 TtturadII, FA.~'LYLAW

--..

AIDrN B.ar ,,,,titulo for CI.E Cndiu:6.0

TN ~ t...."., annudy IIPOf\SOI'"I I ~ ..riling con ...1 lew ~ attendin; any 01 rr. lew ICI'IooIt In 1hiI; S!aIe. A casr. IXizI 01 S2SO is awarded to \hi student ~ ~ II ~ 10

(2051348-6230

~ to be 1I'e besl. The ";noor lor the 1992 Anthony M. Hollman lor rns article. "Open·Barik -,"istance: II

11 Fri_, FAllli LY IJI. W Birmingham Alabima B.ar l"'I;luI' for CI.E Cl"fdilf.: 6.0 (205) 348·6230 TAo'( STRATECIES FOR TH E 1990S Monll/l)lnWry

T ......,;tion·. The Iif$! rlJM&I"UP

was Philip Seg..st

manuscripl . ' Universal MalicR Murder 11 I Lnser Included OtIense 01 Capital 0!IRnses-. lot her PIII*. 'AIabamIo'1 Fair DismIssal Ad - A ModIII oIl~ AntIiguiity".

fa. Reduction InltiMo Strninan, Inc. CrNilf.: 6.5 Colt: $295 (21)6 ) n6·1262 NEGOTIATION & SETTLEMENT IN THE 1990S

NOTICE

Birmingluom, Wynrrf)' Hotel Cumbtrll/ld lrutilute lor Cl.II C••diu: 6.0

The A1aba ... State Bar Ms """" request..:ll7; Harry RosInbIrll, UJlited Stal8S AIlOrIII)' let rr. EUI&m Oisllict ot Louisiar"lll, to pubIisI\ IhI ""eooOog notice to .... mb&ol 0I1hI Alabama State Bar.

(205) 870.2865

17-11 THE ADA ,,"0 ITS EFFECT OS " '(HtKER'S CO~PESSATIOS IN AIJI.BA.'IA Birminglwn. l'.'ynfT!)' Hot.1 AI.IN CommiU« on Worker's ComPf~lion

CrtdiU: 6.3 (205) 521-8304

Colt: $75

11 FriUy BA."KRUI"TCY: TIlE BASICS Birmingham. WynIT!)' Hottl Cumberland Instilut. for CI.E Cl"fdilf.: 6.0

(205) 870-2865

Uniled SlaleS of America v. Gregory Lenn Brown UnIted Slates District Court e"tem Dlslrlct of Louisiana Criminal Number 91-445 " F" Ple..1 Ilkl fIOIic:e Inat Gregory Brown. also known as G. LIM Brown , dOI"ll businlSS I I P"rSllnal InJ~ry Trill Llwy"rs A$$oclal ion , U.S ."'. Incorporale;:!; PITLA U.S.A .. Inc,: PilLA: !'tornark, Inc.; Prcmark, LId; Promlrk Communication$, Inc.; B.n~r~pICY AuornlY" Tru'l. Inc.; BAT: Patiln .....; DUEIDWI Defense lIM

l.e.aQuoI, Inc.: HuhhUnk. Inc.; As5IIaetion 01 ~.-.d Tv ProIestio ....lI: AATP : and LewUnk, Inc .. ..... pili"'" guilty 10 various crimes ~ QUI 01. inYestmenI KhImI. Brown ..... DnlIted !hat "" .nd /iii 111OCia11i perwaded vari<lUI indMcIuaII and proIessOorutl &ms

"-.w...

25 Friay ELDER IJI.W Birmingham. \\'ynIT!)' 1l0t.1 Cumbtrland Instilute for CLE Credits: 6.0 (205) 870·2865

""'ice.

to Inv ..t In IIlerral wl>ich wggesl..:l thai members 01 tt.t public 1IIIIn s ~b lc rl b " proluslonalS through lhe LIM 01 comme<cial adver·

ti,ing Ind 100·I'M IIIIj)hon1 n~m' ...... Brown ..... agreed 10 IorfeiI his assets: ....... _ wiI be used 10 repay (in pari) IhI a.- 01 victims 01 hiI~

H you beliwi you are .. victim ot Brown ', Crlmll and you wanl 10 know ' - ' to apply lor p.artial repay' ment ot your 1otMtt. you m~st fumish )'00' n,me ,nd lUll mailing address

.,

Uottle Vkllm WIIJII . . CooldlnalO< Unlled 5111. . Attorney'. ottic:e Hale Boggi Feder.1 Building 501 MagazIne $I..... 2nd Floor New OriIIna, LouiN'" 70130 Mal")' JI ...

Rllpg .......... be in wr&!g and I«rIIved 17; IhIlItIiMd Stales AIlOr' "'Y's otIioI no later IMn SIpIembet t. 1992 In on;Ier to be oousider..:l. H yoo..- 'ft9DnSI1i timely, turther Inlor...Iion wiI be mailed 110 you. Hlrry AOMnber; Unll'" $11111 Allorney

July 1992 1 293


• M.E.M . O.R.I.A.L.S • ROBERT BERNARD W ILKINS Whereas, Robert B. Wilkins. a distinguished member (If

this associa lion, died on February 2(). 1992; and

Whereas. th. Mobile Bar AsSIXiation desir •• to rem. mbtr his name and .uogni.e hi. significant canlribulions

to Our profession and to this com· munity: B. it knO'Wll that Robert ~mard Wilkins wa.o; born On the 24th day of August 1922. A lifelong resident of Mobile. Wilkins graduated from Murphy High School and earned his

undergraduate degree al Spring Hill CoII.~. He re«iwl hi. law degree IrQm the University of Alabama and

waS a charter member of the

National Association of Bond LaWyers. Wilkins. a wtuan of World War II, ler"ed in coml>al in the Pacific

Theater aboard the U.S.s. New Jersey. He served in the Alabama

House of Repres.entati\'es from 1950 to 1954. and was named attorney for the Al ~bama State Docks in 1959. Robe" Wilkins was active in civic and community .ffairs throughout his career. He 5trved as attorney for the Industrial Development Board of the City of Mobile during the 1970$, and was a guiding infiuence on the development of whllt is now the Theodore InduSlrial Park. He was a lor""'r member 01 the board of directors of the Mobile Area Chamber 01 Commerce. the board 01 directors of the Mobile County Chllpter of tlw American Red Cross, and a committ ee chairman for Downtown Mobile Unlimited. He was also on lhe Coundl of Regents and former pr~i dent olthe Alumni Board of Visitors of Spring Hill College. which honored him in 1985 with its O'~ary Award for his com· munity serviCf. A member of SI. Ignatius Calholic Church. Wilkins was actively involved as a layman in the Catholic Archdiocese of Mobile. He served as financial adviso r to the Priests' Retirement Board of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mobil • . Wilkins was also a grut enthusiast of b...,ball. beginning with the

PLEASE HELP Us ••• We have no way of knowing when one of our membership is deceased unless we are notified. Do not wait for someone else to do it; if you know of the death of one of our members, please let us know.

294 1 July 1992

old Mobile Bear organi2ation. fie was an acli,.. field sportsman. It has been S/lid of Wilkins. " He was truly a gentleman who could walk with kings or paup ers and treat them both the same." He loaves surviving. hi. wife. Monica Oamrich Wilkins of Mobile: four sons. Robert B. Wilkins. Jr. of Alexandria. Virginia; David Oamrich Wilkins of Tw;caloosa; and Thomas Bart ley Wilkins and Carleto n Richard Wilkins, both of Mobile: and two grandchildren. He is al.o survived by three brothers. J. Carleton Wilkins, Jr., J. Vernon Wilkins and Marion P. Wilkins, all of Mobil.; three sisters. Marie Nartin. Ruth O'Connor ~nd Regina MorriS. all of Mobik; and niK~. nephe-.·s and other relatives. N(J\'.'. ther~for., be it resolW<! by the Mobile Bar Association. in regu· lar meeting duly assembled. that the life of Robert B. Wilkins was that of an abl. lawytr pOssessed of dignity and integrity: and that his family. his many friends and the lega l profession have suffered a great 10S$ with his death.

- 1""11 A. McDowell

President Nobile Bar Association

PLEASE NOTE! Alabama Slate Bar members: Whene"e r 10U ar 9 requested to furnish your stale bar Identifl· cal ion numbe, (pleadings med with courts, etc .). pleas e refer 10 you, Socia l Securily number . as that is wh at we ~.ap on record idenlitylng you .

THE:AI..AIlAMA LAWYER


• M.E.M.O.R.I.A.L.S • JUDGE ROBERT PROCTOR

B....LEY Tht death of Judge Robert P. Bradley on April 27,

1m

femowd from OUr midst tht proIOI)-pt for , Irue public suvan!. Hi. public career spanned over four

decadu of nf·

vicr to 'M Stat. of AlaNrn.I.. H. was ldmilltd to 1M Alabarm. Stat. Bar in 1951. following graduation from the Univusity of Alabama School of Law, h. ~rwd th. Stat. of A1aba~ u an aniltan! attorney genua\' legal ado.';Wr to Co"tmnr Jolin Pattenon and interim prison commisJ~r during the ldministr;otion of Gowmor Albort Brr.... r. II. "'''<N IS judge of the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals for O'>'eT 19 1"'31'$. II, al$O .. ,wd <u c~ir 01 Iht Alab.una Juditiallnquiry Commission. Judge Bradley wu one of t he

ROBERT P. BRADLEY MOtIlgomcry

Admilli!d: 1951 Died: Ap.iI27.

1992

th ••• eha".' memboTI appointed to tht Alabama Court of Civil Appeats in DKtmbo. ]969 fallowing iU creation by the Alabamlo legislature. He seIWd as iii pruiding judge from Januuy 1987 until h. auumed active retired status in January 1989. He remained an active .etired judge until the time of his death. Judge B"dley wu born in Bellevillt. ALlhama on Nowmbtr 3. 1923. He was the eldest 100 of J. Proctor Bradley and Hulit Ellis Bradley. Prior to his moving to Montgomery. he resided in Conecuh. Baldwin and ElCambia toUnt~$.

Bob Brndlry (t... n.e\ltr introducN himutf in any other fuhion} wu relpected for hi' ablolule integrity. st rong wo.k elhic. dedication to public service and quality work. He W;lS admired aod nlll«~d for his !()Und judgment and willingness to assist others. His chulCter ""as uOlOuuming and above reproach. ""hil. his fritnwhip ""ill be .emtm· btred;lS both deep and full. Judge Bradle;' ""a.\ a Navy vele,on of World War II. He ""u graduated

from the National Judicial College at the Uni,.. rsity of NfVIoda and the Appellat. Judg .. School of New York Uni'· ...;ty. H. nrved as an inst ructor at the Alabama Stalt Trooper Academy in ~Ima. Alaba· mao Jud~ Bradley ""as a member 01 the Alabilma State Bar and the Monlgomery COunly Bar A$SOciil· lion. Ht "'as Iht rtcipienl of Ih. Alabama S~le Bar A"'ud of Merit in 1981. Acl;,·. ;n Ih. Episcol'/Il Church. he .. rw<l a.\ a l.Iy .eade. in Montgomery's Church of the Holy Comlorter. Surviving Judge Brildley is his wil. 0139 years. th. former PeU\-' Oliver. and one son. Robert Keilh Br"dlry of lta.vut. Alabama. Mrs. B.. dley rtlired from state urv;" alter having served JUltiet. Pelham J . Merrill and Samuel A. BUlly as th.i. confidential assis· tant. The me~1 fund "lit... Church of th. Holy Comforttr ;n Mont· gomery ...·as the suggested beneficiary of Ihose ""ishing 10 honor Judge Bradlry's mtmol')'.

- R'TII

ROBERT FOSTfJl EntEREDGE

Admilli!d: 1949

"'""-

Ad",illed: 1976

Died: April II. 1992

Died: May 9. 1992

L. NEW$O.'1

Rul'US ARTllUR BURNS

JOliN WACNER FI NNELL

Binllill",ham

Tusrol_

Birmingham

Admifli!d: 1945

Admit/eli: 1947

Admjl/ed: 1952

Died.- April 7, 1992

Died: Marth 27. 1992

Died: May 12. 1992

DoNA\"o

July 1992 1295


CLASSIFIED NOTICES ".,boo

c.IIndw,...,

RAn ..... ",11 . . . 2 ff.... 1isbngs per t.. 1* EXCEPT Ior'~ W\OIlIed'" OI'~ ollered'" 1istinOS$3!i 1* i_bOi' 0150 _ . . 01 _ . $.50 per l000000 ... _d, No _, .. S3I5 per nsertion oI50WIOIdil Of ...... $.50 pel adciIO;naI WOf(\, ~ copy and paymeol mAl be receMd accordi'lg 10 Ihe loIowiog pubIiINo iQ 1CI'IIoUI: ..., '92 I..~. ~. h MaCh 31, 1992; "uty .. 2 I..... ~ """ 29. 1m. No _1nea>:t& ..... wII be "*'-.

Send c~S&lfied copy and payment.

payable 10 The Alebam.t

,,,b, ..

uW}'«. lO: AIBbamoI ~CIasIdiedI. C/O MarQllret Murphy. P.O. Bo.

4'56, ~gornery, Alabamll3G l0t . FOR SALE

• For S.,.: Five Lan ier sumdard cassene dictation machines, Itlree woth I\and mieropnooes and two WIth loot controlS (10< trenscrip.

tion). Model, Ed,selle and Regent Under Lan ier maintenwoc.loI whole period 01 use. IBM compatible computer equipment by Harris-Lanier: two 286 PCI, 0I'e with 20 MB. ollie, woth 40 Me liard disc drive and 3 1/2 Inch lloppy drive. One Qurne Spr int II /55 Plus impact printer, one HP Desk Jet prinler. and one , 2 ppm Oala PrOducts Laser Prlnlar (OlP capable). One Ne<: Hd ~P"OP 286 computer with 20 1.18 aM 3 1/2 Inch drives. All under malfl1enance lor enU'8 life. Available ., .. 101 or in separate ~.

AT&T Merlil'l CommunIcations System Model 410 $even tenbunon sets. two 3O-bunon sets, and control unit FAX machine. Panafa;.:. UF-250. Can be used as copy machIne for light copyIng For Information about eny of the .bo"e, c.1I 288·0171 beforo 9 p.m. or w. .kend •• • For Sele: Save 50 percent on your tawbooks. Cau NallOnaf law ReSOUfC8, Amerrca's largest la..... book deafer Huge inventories. Low prlCell, Exceflenl quality Your satisfaction absolutely guaranteed Also, call AmeriC~"s largest lawbook dealer wtren you want to sell your unneeded books. Cell for your ,,.e, no.obllgatlon quote., 1.800.279.7799. N.tI_llIIw Ro.ource. • For "Ie: Model Rules of Professional ConducI; personal copies 296 / Julylm

available for $5 (includ es postage). Mell check to P.O. Box 871, Mont90mery, Alebema 3&101 . Pre·payment requited,

• For ....: Save up 10 60 parcel'll when you purchase Alabama ReporI., Southern Reporter, Fed· eral Repol'ter, Federal Supple· ment, Tax Cases, and many mDfe. We lealure Wesl, LCP. GPO, aNA. and CCH pubhcallons. We buy, setl and trade. We guarantee satIsfaction. Cell now 1.a00.3:z5. 1012. lIIw Book ExcMlnge. • For Sele: Alabama Reports, Alabama Appellata Reports and Alat:lama Reporter 191610 present. leu mosl recent volume226 tOlal volumes. II interested, can (205) geQ.t 199, SERVI CES • Service: Legal researcMegal male<tall wrman Graduates 01 top ten law schools with Law Review; legal writIng teachers on staft Rusn service avai lat:lle; ftal lee avai lable lor major jobs. S35 hour; one·hour mlnrmum, wr iting $20 hour, research . Also editing, proo freading. Write Legel· E•• y, Ro"to 1, Box 293, Equelltr, Alebeme 36026. Phone (205) 541-3983 (rIMI.. ..go.). No representation ;5 Ill4Ide 1h8/1he quality 01 the Je{JaJ u,~lce$ /0 be peltOlmed is greater then /he quality 01 legal urvices performed by o/her

"..,.,.

• . .",Ice: tnaurance , expert 1'111· nell, SIver Insurance Manage· ment Consultants (since 1970). Available to conau~ alldlor lurfIish expert leslitrooy in areas of prop-

ertylcasualty Insurarrce. employee benelilS and business life Insur· 1WlCe. Slaff include JDs 'Nitt1 insuI"ance Induslry eKpel"ienc:e. Due 10 !in"n's oorlHXX"lSlAling practice 'Nitt1 corporate and gr7W$1."er( Clients. _ are p8ftJCUIartt ~ in mat· tera invoMng COYefIlg8 inlerpreta· lion. nsurance i"rdustry customs & practices. proiessionalliabilily, bad lilith, rates & premrums, controverled property claims, pOilu· tlon , claims-made issues, and in,urer Insofvency. Initial discus· sron and 'mpressions offered wfIh. out cnarga. Cell Edwa~d W. Siver, CPCU, CLU Or .11m .........11, .10, CPCU, ARM at 18131577.2780. • . .",Ice: Tral1 ic engkl'lOOr. COIl· sul\.antlexpe<1 witness . Graduate, regIster-ad, professron.af engrrr.eer. Fony years' experience Highway and city roadway design, IraHie control deW;es. city mning. Write or cal lor resume, fees . .Ieck W. Chambll . . , 421 Bellohurat Drl"e, Montgomery, Alebe· me 38109. Pftone (2051 2722353. • Service: Legal resea rch help. Experienced attorney, member Of Alabama Stala Ba r since 1977. Access to stale law library. WEST· LAW available Prompt deadline searches . ..... h K..e:hryn F .... nen, 112 Moor. Building, Montgomery, Alebeme 38t04. Phone (205) 277· 7937. No represental/Oll is made thaI lhe qI.Iailly 0' /he legal sarvices 10 be performed is greater than the quality eX legal sarvices performed by other lawyers. • . .",Ice: Certified Forensic Doc· um&nt Examiner. Chief document examiner, AJabama Depanment of

nt EALABAMA lAWYER


Forensic Sciences, retIred. B.S., M.S. graduate, university·based res ident school in document examinalioo . Published naliooally and internationa lly. Eighleen years' Irial experience state/!eder· al courts 01 Alabama . Forgery. alteratIOns and document authen. tlclty examlnatiOl1S. Cr iminal and non-Crimina l malters. American Academy 01 Forensic Sciences, American Board 01 Forensic Document Examners, American Society 01 Questioned Document Examiners. Lamar Miller, 3325 Lorna Road, 1 2_316, P.O. Box 360999, Birmingham, Alabama 35236_0999. Phone (2051 988-4158. • Service: Examination 01 Ques· tioned documents. HandwritIng. tYjJ(lwrit ing and retated examina· tions. Inlernationally court-Quali. lied expert Wllness . Diplomate, American Board 01 Forensic Docu ment Examiners Member: Amer ican Society 01 QuestIoned Docu· ment Exarruners, the Internatronal Assoclatloo lor Identllicatton. the Bmish ForensIc SCIence SOCIety and the National Association of Crimina l Delense Lawyers. Rel lred Chiel Document Examiner, USA CI Labofatories, Hans Mayer Oldlon, 218 Merrymonl Driv e, Augusta, Oeorgla 30907. Phone (706)860-4267. • Service' HCAI will evaluate yoor cases gratl$ for mer it and causatIon . Clin ical reps wil l come to you r office gratIs. II your case has no merit or il causation is pooI", we wi ll also provide a free wr illen report State affidavits super· rushed. Please see dIsplay ad 00 page 270. Health Care Auditors, Inc., P.O. Box 22007, St. Petersburg, Florida. Phone (8131 579-8054. FAX 573-1333. • Service: ProlessiOl1al eng ineer and attorney Wllh a pract ice of expert testimony in construct,on, salety, highway and structura l design. Thirty years' eXjJ(lflence rn highway. railroad , buildIngs and power plant construction . Call or write for resume, fees: Lamar T. Hawkins, 601 Vestavia Park· TH£ AlJ\HAMA lJ\WYER

wa" Birmingham, Alabama 35218. Phon e (205) 823_ 3068. No represenlatlOfl is made lhallhe QU<!lity of legal services [a be performed is greater 1han the quality or legal services performed by other lav.yers. POSITIONS OFFEREO • Position Offered, Position avaIlab le lor allorney WIth litiga tion exper ience and strong aca· dem ic background Submit resume to Office Manage r, P.O. Box 550219, Birming_ ham, Alabama 35255. • Position Offered, Want closing agenl for HUO-owned single family properties in north Atabama . This is a soJ icitatioo fOf cootracted services. not an oller of employment. Responsibil~ies include, but are not limited to, comp leting all documents rnK:essary to provide a comptete closIng, Including Set· tlement Statement, deed , note and mortgage (if necessary); depositing and wiring funds; recording the deed; and coordi. nating clos ings WIth real estate brokers, purchasers and mortgage companies. A substantial fidelity bond ($1 ,000,000) is reQurred. This is a sma ll business set-aside (firms must have annual receipts of less than $3.5 mi llion lor any 01 the past three years). AntICIpated closing date is August 17,1992. Written reques ts for Solicitation 14·92-062

IIhould be sent to the U,S. Department of HOUSing and Urban Development, ATTN: Dave Silvie, 600 B eac h Parkway West , Suite 300, Binnlngham, Alabama 35209. • Position Offered: A young. growing law !lrm in the Mont gomery area seeks an associate With two to three years' experience. Strong litigation back· groo nd desi red . Salary commen· surate with educatioo and experi. ence. Send re Sum eS to Managing Partner, P.O. BoJ!. 4992, Montgomer" Alabama 36103-4992 • • Po s ition Offered, Attorneys wanted , eXjJ(lrienced in insurance or subrogation for new bUS iness relerrals. Write Insurance Services Group, 413 East Broad Street , Columbus, Ohio 43215. Phone 1·800· 274-1537. • Position Offer e d: Attorney jobs. National and Federa l Legal Employment Report. Highly rega rded monthly detailed listIng 01 attorney and law·related jobs WIth the U.S. Government, other public/private employers in Washingtoo, D.C .. throughout the U.S. and abroad. 500·600 new jobs each issue. $34 for 3 months; $58 lor 6 months Fed_ eral Reports, 1010 Vermont Av e nue, NW, . 408·AB, Washington , DC 20005. Phone (202)393-3311. VISA and MasterCard ••

NOTICE Adml"l.t ••Uve 0/...,10. of the Courts s ..p ...... C..urt .....ntg..mery. Alabama SupeMsed by the chief justice, the incumbent~, monite>rs. organizes, d'....::ts. and implemems administrali"" suppon acTi,,;!ies lor aD Slate courts; in add~ion to ollrer SlaWIO<y duties. the AOC ditects the staff 01 the Administratiw ClIfi<:e 01 Courts in ma"ers 01 budget recommendations, judiciaf <lducation, personnel managamem. and data collection and analysis. and ads as a liaison to the lllgislatur. OualificaliMs Inctude a bachelor's degree; master's degr" 0' law <legr.... pre· larrfld: too years of administrative axper"""", with five years al D ... nior levlll super,,;sing subo<dlnate manage<s. or equr.alont combinati..." preferably in a co~rt Or other If9aI S8ning. EOE. Salary range for1his position is $85,000 to $90,000 3r\1l1JaJ· Iy, commoosurate with experience. Submit ,asume and three tenors of suJlPOl1 by August 15, t 992 to Associale Jus1ice Marie KennOOy. 445 Dexter Avenue . Mont· gomery, Alabama 36130.

July 1992/ 297


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1Ir, Will, •• D. C.L ..... C.p~lL, Il .... rd, Knab" ~ Cobbs P. C. So> 2069

Hont9 • ...,.Y f1l 36102-2069


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