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OurSuccess! * *" On July 1, 1994, AIM started its sixth year of operation providing malpractice insurance with stable rates, quality coverage and dedicated service to its insureds. Isn't it time you JOINED THE MOVEMENT and insured with AIM? AIM: For the Difference! TelephOne (205) 980-0009 Toll F ree (800) 526-1246 FAX (205) 980-9009
'CHARTER MEMBER, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF 8AR-RELATED INSURANCE COMPANIES.
Cumberland School of Law of Samford University Continuing Legal Education Fall, 1994 Seminar Schedule September 9 September 16 September 23 September 30 September 30
Health Care • Birmingham Federal Practice: Including Update on the Federal Rules o f Civil Procedure · Birmingham Negotiation: The Lawyer's Essential Skill with Paul M. l isnek, J.D., Ph.D.. - Binningham Annual Bankruptcy Law Seminar - Birmingham AUBA ClE Co nference: Environmental and Business Issues for the General Practitio ner - Auburn leo-sponsored by Cumberland School of Law]
October 7 October 14 October 20 October 21 October 27 October 28 October 28
Insurance uw - Birmingham Mediation - Birmingham New AJabama Rules of Evidence - Huntsville New A1abama Rules of Evidence - Birmingham New A1abama Rules of Evidence - Montgomery New Alabama Rul es of Evidence - Mobile Revised A1abama Business Corporation Act Birmingham
November 4 November 11 November 18
Annual Workers' Compensation Seminar - Birmingham ERISA - Binningham James W. McElhaney's Master Advocate Series: Provmg Your Case lind Expert Witnesses - The Art and The Law • Binningham
December 2 December 9 December 16 December 8,19-22
Employment Discrimina tion - Binningham Recent Developments for the Civil litigator. Mobile Recen t Developments for the Civil litigator - Binningham Video Replays· Montgomery and Birmingham
Brochures spedflcaUy describing the topics to be addressed and s))fakers for each of the seminars will be mailed approxlmiltely six weeks prlor to the seminar. If for any reason you do not receive a brochure for a pa rticular seminar, write Cumberland CtE. 800 lakeshore Drive, Birmingilam,. At 35229-2275, or call 870-2B6S or l-B00-888-74S4. Additional programs and sites may be added to tile $Chedule.
Tm: AUIIAtolA LAWYER
JULY 19941197
EF Volume 55, Number 5
July 1994
ON THE COVER: 5<......111 _tlight tho spilrkling whit. beaches at the Gulf State Park in Cull Sho .... Al>b.im.>. just 00-." tho road from tht .ito of !hi, ......, •• onnuol ..... ling in beautiful Orang. Buch 01 tho r.,dido Ileoch Resort. July 18-21. _ Photo by I.""" W. Cui". It
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: What I.t Thi, Thi n, Called "UST"?
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THE ALABAMA lAWYER
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I
TIlE ALABAMA I.AWYER
July 1994 / 199
PRESIDENT'S PAGE
Thank You!
I ;II
ow time nies when you a.e having funl II's hud
10 ~I~ that my year iI5 YOU' president II nearly ow., but on July 21. I will pwlli'lr 11/1",1 and my but wi.h.. to Prnident-el«t Br~ Holmn. It
hiS cer'"inly bun lin tWlllful yt'U lind Ollt I rotl we ,. 1iW)"1"I an be proud ollhe Il'Wlntr in "tlich OUr WItt h.I.. fQPOfIdtd to v''''om moUt"'" I ~ particub.1y proud 01 the way the bu twldltd tho Amtrak ",~It, the abolition of Rule N(Ol (fM-j;mt bllT tum rule). tho ' - ochooI aa;rtdil.ltion s~rds, lind the Pl'OIl'O"d IIoowr While v. &'111,,11 selll.-
~"' The ~nu 0( this )'taT hi"" taken an mormous mIOUnt 0( limt'. bUI I can hOtlUlly say I enjoyed it Mort imPQrUntly. ! Q,n unt«uivocally say I would do it again. twn knowing what I know now. At tht risk of omining and offending someone J should thank. 1 would b• •• miN if [ did not me"lion 50Im people who haw bttn d t..,mmdous ;wistann 10 me this yor. first and fomnoot [givt my pn*lund thanks to YOU. the ~I"i at ,,~_, /0. ¥fording me the privil* 10 5erw as prWdfnt ol 0fII' 01 tho finest bin in the c:ountry. It Iw bHn an lward· ing o.ptOtnn and I oun sincertly 11",1.· ful for the opportunity. I nut Ihlnk my f~mily for tht un""a\ltring support Ihey ha,-e been throughout this )'tar, I am particularly thankful 10 my own ffrsl Lody. Nancy ~ale. for lisItning 10 my frustulions ,md offuing hu usual sound and practiul advice. Nancy was certainly a help to mo and I thank htr for it. I lilank the members 01 my firm, Robi"", 4i Bel"r, for picking up tho slad: ind I\tt-ping my practice ~ Strving is p.esident 01 tho Alibama S!."Ite Bar tabs an enormous imoont 01 time ¥oil I could ha\lt no!: done so "';!hout tho full suppOrt 01 my partlltn. I am partkulirly graldul to my ""'rtIItr. Martlla Ann Milltr. ¥oil, most .sptCially, 10 my I<I'OIlCIerlul stCre!."lry, Wynn Md.aney. for the htlp and HSistance they gave mt this )'tar. Ilaving witnusW and p;'Irticipated in the business of [he statt bar for approximately ..,\ltn )'tars. I was \itT)' cognizant 200 1 July 19'94
of the impOrlanct of a str(lng ~:xt<utivt Committe. and a Supremo Court Liai"", Committee for a successful year ~ prtskltnl. ~ two commitlus are in Lorge ~rt mpomible for whltt'-er success land the bar may iIa,-e IIad this year. Both rommiltus dull "';th _ 01 thtc mOll ditflClllt issuts ewr 10 como 110m thtc bar and did .0 in an UtmpLuy £Mhion. To my EucutM Committu. compOSed 01 state bar V-ortP,tsidfnt Billy M.lton, President·eltet Broo. Holmes. pUt Pre.id.nt C1.o.rena SmIOl1, and oommil$iontr. Rick Manley. Calhy Wright and John Kty. and to tho Supr."", Court ~ son Committee compo~d of commissioners Sam Franklin .nd Johnny (h.·ens and Vin · Prnident and chairman Billy Meltoo. I say thank)'O\l for)'(lllr SUPf'Ort. your awke and fo' standing tall during tough ti ~. and 00 tough issues. I illso thank the mtmbors of tho board of bir commi$lionus for the faith and support thty gave me this )'tn. W. IIad some unu sllally lonll meeting.. which tested the patienct 01 people from Ii"", to Ii.... ilnd "'t dull "'ith so .... utre .... ly Stl'llitM and YOlaotile issun. M<.:GI impor_ tantly, I boheve tho positiens ultimlOt.ly !."Illtn by tho commiss~rs ",-ere COfTtd. and posilions of ""hich tho >lUI majority oIla"")-er:l and ciliztns in Alabama can 110 proud. 1 tilank tho committe.s and task forces for a job well oone, [am npec;ally pleased with t he work don. by several of the !Uk "foreu' , Le., !.(lng Rang. Pt..nning under the leadership of CamHie Cook, Judicial Sti«tion under thtc leadership of 800 I~nniston, Minority Pirticipation ~nd Opportunity under the ludership of 1Y~lt .. Mceo..."n, A1lel"RlltM Methods at Dispule Resolution und.r the le~.nhip 01 Marsha.lI Timbtrl~ke, ~nd Women in th. Prof... ion und.r the ludtnhip of e.lia Collins and Mar"gard Young. With rtsptCt to lho Women in tho PT<)fuJion Task Force, [ tspecially thank Commiss~r Cathy Wright for htr \/ision in r«Oj[llieing thf: ntctSSity for this wl< forct. Last, but ctrlainly notlu.lt of alt. J txprHI my Iln'er- end _ ing than!;s and appreciation to Reggie [ Iamner. K.ith Nor. THE ALABAMA LAWYER
IYIlIn. Rob Norris and the ""Ii." ~ of thr AlaboIYlll State Ibr. I c.annot bt,;n to lell you how fortunate _ ~.,,;as ~ hir to ""T lhe dtdic.aled st.lff WI' ~. I would irW.Trttnlly Offiit ~ if I atlempt 10 nlIl'IW names. 50 il will hM: 10 suffICe for I'IW 10 ~ I ftlied on nTryOI'It MId could not haw done my job withoul thr help MId support oflhe mlirt!~. They haw my Ileartfell thinks.. Reggie and I will slRg our swan song together at the iUlnual mteting. but Regg't's rom.. at the end of 25 yun of servia:. Reuie ~ $ftn our bar grow from awroulYIlIttly 2.000 mtmbe .. and four employtts to ove r 10.000 membus and 30 employus. Ht has had a distinguished caretr as our t~«uti...: dirtctor and the whole bar owu him a tremendous debt 01 gratitude for his ul'Iquulionable contributions to the SUle bar and ill mcn,btr$. Join me in wishing ReUie;and Anne succus and tu.""iness in their fulUrt! year$. In the t...:nl you "'... not heard. all .. a nalioml surch and ippro~,m.l.ly 80 applican ts. the Starch Commi tttt chaired by pasl Pruidtnt Bill Scruggs rKOffimtndtd K.ith NomwI to the board of ba. commissiontn fo. lhe position of uteut;...: di . « IOI' t««li...: Oclober 1. 19!M. On ~y 13, lilt oommisslontn unllnimously apprO\Td tilt recoml'lWndIlion of thr Scirch Commitlu and stltct.d Keith ill Reggie', SuCCeSSOr. Addi tionally. Ihe commissiontrs elevaled Ktith
10 the posilion of &S.IOCi.Iole Uteut;...: direclo. of the AlabaIYlll Stal. S .... I publicly cooQr.llubte Keith on his bting seltcted. I h"ve had Ihe plusun 01 wo rk ing with Keith 10 . th e put stml yean and I can owuu )'OU lhe boord of hir commissione" m"de in exctllent choict. I tncou rag. those of you ,,'00 do not know Ktith and his lovely wife Ttre ... to tUt lime to mttI thtm and "Tlcome Keith as ou r new tucu· Ii... dirtctor. They au both l",rntn<Ious assell to our bar. In closing, I belN lhe lulurts of OUr bar and OUr profu· sion are bright. I shirt! lhe lame concern fo. our future bar leadm that my coun te rparts throughout the Southern Con· It",nc. of Bar P",sidenll 113,·. exprUSfd for Iheir SUCCi>S(lfSnamely. Ihat the d~mands On the lime 01 the volunleer Nr leader could become so delYlllndinS thil ci . cumstances will limit 1M opportunities to !eM our profusion 10 i stl«t few. As our Long RiUlIIt Planning Committu pur:.utl ill work, [ hope il will kUJI as Ont of ib prime ronsidtntions lhe rlftdlo tvlIluale new prosnms ;and Ktivitiu white kttping in focus 1M lime volunlurs will h.1vt to contribule to ensu .e tM" wccu.sful opt'n.tion lind completion. I ~n say thanks to lil lhe mtrnbtn of 1M A1wlYIlI State Bar for Ilro..;ng me to seM lIS )'OUr prtsidtnl. II ~ bun a wondtrfull'flot ;and liruly tnjoytd it God bless you an. _
JUSTICE MUST BE WON IT: Tools For These Trying Times Huntsville Marriott Hotel Huntsville. Alabama July 29-30, 1994 The Alabama Climinal Defense Lawycrs AssoclaUon's 1994 summer seminar will feature presentations by top climina! defense praClitioners from lhe state and nation and a banquet wilh a keynote address by Ft. Worth. Texas auorney Tim Evans whose client In the Waco Branch Davidian case was acqulUed, The seminar will carty up to 12 C.L.E. credit hours. Seminar reglstralion will be $125 for members of lhe Alabama Climlnal Defense Lawyers AssocIaUon a nd $J5O for non-members. For information, call (205) 834-2511
Tm: AIAllAM-I IJlWYI:R
Julyl99oi / 20 1
Cumberland School of Law The Cumberland School of Law of Samford University is indebted to the many Alabama allorneys and judges who contributed their lime and ellpenise 10 planning and speaking at Ja_ P. At..unde,
B;rmi~&htm
Andrew C. Allen Bibb Allen
Birminllham
M. Clay Alspaugh laBella S. Alvi.
om" K. Ames.
lIT D. I...eooI Ashford W. Mid ..,,,[ Alohi ..... S. Allea Baker. Jr. M . I)IY;d 8atWr Milford O. BasI. Jr, Woller W . llazes Jne L Beasley
Birminllham
$ _ D. Doullbl""
MobiLco
David D. Dowd. III
Binninllllam
Jack O .... e J. ()avid
Bimoin"..... Birmin&lu.m
Dinnin"..." BimUnpam
Hon, Sharon L Blaokhum Duncan B. Blair
Birmi..,nam Monlco-rr Dinnin,""'" Birmin&ham
M. Su:.ford 81"'10/1
Birminllham
Hon, Miohael F. Bolin
Birminllham Birmin~h ..n Birmi.,ham MOO',Q ..... 'Y Moo'l"me'Y Binnin,,,"m Birmin,ham Birmin,ham Birmin,ham Birmin,ham MOII',......'Y Binnin,ham Mon,,......')' Birmin,ham Mobil. Binnin:ham Binnin,ham
R. M ichtel Booker Karon O. Bowdre 1100. William M. Bowen, lr. o..~id R. Boyd Gov. Albert P. B=-,", Herbie Brewer Richard I. Brockman S\ephm E. B""",. S. G"" Bufie Willi..,.. O. BUller, III W. Todd Carlisle II"". Edward E. Charks P. Carr O.via e ..r 5 ..... I.y A. Cash Rhor>da Pi," Chambers Atldrew T. Cilrin 101m S. Civil., Ir. Cha.I.. Tyl •• Clark Jack CI ...... POIriei, Ootfelltr Fred L Coffey. I •.
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8etIjllnlia G. Cohen Charles D. Col. Brillin T. Coleman
John I . Col""'"", III Hoo. Jooepb A. Colquin Edward O. Cooe.ly
Dw>a K. Corli..
202 1July 1994
Birminllham Dinnin","m
Li... c. Cross Clay!"" K. Dlv;, Un! B. nav;. G~UOry M. OeilKh
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CaroIY" L I>uncaa Thomas M . Edea, III AIIl""" L Edwards Mart H. ELovilz Bruce P. Ely
101m C. Falkenbofl')' o..or~R.F.~
SI.v.., W. Ford Jeffrey E. Frittlman Edw:ard ~1. Frirlld, HI I. Noah Funde.bllr, William F . a_rdM. Kerry R. a _ Beth fl.ahn aerwin Roy O. Gibbr:MIs Richard II. Gill Coaoie L Gl.,.. Terry W. Gloot Hoo. lohn C. Godbold Mac B. G ..... _
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Birmingham T . . ._ Birmin,ham Dinnin""", Bi....u.p.m
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MOII'pnery
John B. Grenier 1Ioa. Ja ..... O. lIal.y
Binnin,ham Birmin,bam Binninlbam
John W. Ha l. y WiUiom 1(. Ilanro:k 11011. Arthur I. U....... Ir. Edwa.d L. II lrdin. Jr. Susan Scot, lIayet K..... in I. H,,"""'....,.,
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MOfI'JO"""Y Binnin,ham Birmin,bam Binnin,ha",
TIlE AlJ\8AMA lJ\WYER
Continuing Legal Education our education seminars during Ihe 1993-94 academic year. We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of the following individuals to the success of our CLE programs. Jasper P. Juliano Oavid D, Kom Victor Kelley John T. KiD: Harold B. Kushner Forrest S. Lalla Sydney Lavender William W. Law"",,,,, Hon. Stuart leach Mark W. lee Robert W . 1=, Jr. Eddie Leitman ScoII E. Ludwig Chomp Lyon., Jr. Hon . Hugh Moddox Lane W. Mann David H. Mâ&#x20AC;˘ .-sIt Rodney A. Mox R. Sid McAnnally Mauhew C. McDonald I. Fred McDuff .Bruce J. McK ... I. Anlbony McLain Hoo. Vamell& Penn McPherson Mike Merri ll Hon, Toma"" O. Mitchell Bryan E. Morgan P. R..... II Myl"ll M. Roland Nochman, Jr. Li .. Norrell-Mead Caml Sue Nelson POI Ntlson Be" S. Nenl"ll Neal C. Newtll John E. On John J. Park. Jr. Leno"" W. Pale Gary C. P..... W. Lee Pinman Thomu M. POwtU Harlan 1. P""ter. IV James R. Pro". III Teresa Tanner Pulli.m Han. T. Miohael Putna", Joan C. Ibgsdale M ioh .. l V. R.. m..... n
THE AU\BAMA w\WVER
Dinnin,harn Monl~omery
Birmingham Mont~o""'ry
Birmingham Mobile Birmingham T.Il.d'~1
Binningh'm Birmingham Bjrmin~h.m
Birminglum IlunlSville Mobile Monliomery Montj!omery Birmingham Birmingham Montgomery Mobile Binningham Binnin,hl'" Montiomcry Mont~omcry
Monti!0mery Dinnin,ham Enterpri.. Mobile Monlgomery Birmingham Birmin,ha", Jasper Binningham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Mont~omery
.Birmingham Dinningham Binningham Birmingb&m Binniniha", Birmin,ham Binningham Birmingham Birmingb&m
Jomes P. Rea J.ffrey C. Ridard Sandy G. Robinson Hoo. John E. Rochester James E. ROICh Robert B. Rubin Henry Sande .. Jerry W. Sohoet Bradley I. Ski" Wilbur G. Silbcnnan Hon. K.nno,h O. Simoo Hon. James S. Sledlle Hon, Edword Smith Riohard Smilh Gary G. Stanko bmes H. Slames W. Slanoil SUllnes S. lynne Slepheru William D. Slewa" Allen R. Sl""" James 1. Tho"'p<On, lr. W. Lee Thuslon M... hall Timberlake Timolhy J. Tncy W. Terry T""vis Kennelh D. Willis, 1<. Howard P. Walthall Robe" C. Wallb&1I A. Bl"irld Walton, Jr. R. Bradford WILSb Eu,.... Watson S. Kelly Watson leonard We"heimer, U! J. M.rk White Je .. F. White, It. John P. Whiuington John H. Wilhrson, Jt. Jomes C. Wil""". Jt. R. Wayne Wolfe Willi.m C, Wood. Jr. Michael A. Wornl Cathy S. Wright Hon. Sha"", G. Val'" Ralph H. Yeildinll Lee H. Zell
Birminlllum Birmingham Mobile Ashl&nd Binningham
Binnin,haro ~,~
Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham AnniSl<)n
Binnin&haro Birmingham AnniSIOn Binnin,ham Birmingham Birmin,ham Binningham Montgomery .Binningham .Birmin,ham Dinniniha", Bi,miniha", Monlgomery Montgomery Dirmin,ham Birmin,ha", Binnin,ham Birmingham Dinnin,ham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Monillomery .Birmingham Huntsville Birmin,ham Mobile Binniniham Mo nlgomery Binniniham Birmingham
July 1994 1203
LETTERS
Letter to the President April IS. 1994
Thlonk )'Otl (or Kndina WI thr March 22. 1994 letter from Bob OmnillOfl. 1;o;n)'Oll in)'Oll' pniK for the dili~nl worIc that Bob h» pul into 1M complu ilIld cOlltrowf$i~1 illlUt5 COIWdertd by the Judkilol ~I«tion TaslI fon:t. tie t.u under!.lktn 1 diffICUlt IoUbjtct ""'kll in my opinion wilil"fquire much mort uudy ~nd il\llysis befoTt being I'!COIUKltrfd by the Bar Commissiont ... flue art lOme bul by no muns all oJ lhe ru· soru I QlI tllis: I. The voluntary gui~tllnu art flawed and Should not be adoptw by tht H.l.r Commission I!t<alUt;
Iawyo:rs. !At's Iilct il. some 0( Ihnt iI'OUPilIU ~ in
full SQIe .... r on oor currtnt judiciary and f)'SIem. 4. If WI' btli ..... or for thaI judges o;.ln be and iTt InHLlfflCN ~ lilt sour« and amounl 0( cootributions to their campaigns from lawyers. why Ihtn would not Iht 1.1...... tonCtm a!!p1y to t~ inlerest groups $tl out in No. 3 btcaUH 0( their numbtr and diwrsity? They rould out·spend \h( "limited" 1aW)'t.. four to one or mor ...... n und(. the THk ~'or('t "\001. unbory guideline,",
thlm with litigation pending. 10 tht advantage ",f
5. If we btlie"" judges can bt influenced by the S(lUrce and amount of campaign contributiON. thon shouldn't wt abo auume lhat they may bt influenced ~ sociallnd business contacts they h.ve? W. ,11 know that various intunt groupS ha"" bt..., known to la\'ishly entfrtain.
other ·;nluest gtOull$" [~ Nos. 3'111od ~1;
6. I mUllt also;We why WI' au ~raid that Iht p~nt ..... thod 01
(i11'he}o imPOM limits that may f~r incumbtn\.5 Isn (0 belowl: (b)~ unfairly limit Ia~rs gtne..ny and in plIrtkular
Ie) They "tilt" 1M rltld from kvellSoet
No$.
l VId 31:
(d)Thty lII'lIluitously Ulurnr INot judgn m going to br unduly influenced by campaign contributions 1_
Nos. 6 and 81: (tiThey will only tU(:tro..tt the "problem" if thert is
inclrnl one 1_ Nos.. 2, l..(1IId 51;
III AI qu.osi legislation. affming tltction to iUl arm of ioMmmmt III ~ in'lllOrt to minorities. Iht gu~. lines would ~ ~u J1.IStice Drpartmmt 1"1" cltarJnCe. We do not nmI, nor should WI' invite such a conIlid ISH Ia) ""'1. 2. If lawyers ut USlricted in Ihtir camplign giving lIS ~ ~ Iht TlIOk rom' RttxwI. then Iht pbying foeld is tipped to other potmtial ~ intHUts with mon n~ (individ. ualJ, dMI'K paa. .JUb PICI. etc.) in the-i. COITOH than lawyers. ilt h;.s bten my Hptrit~ that wry ft'W laW)'trs gM O'o'e' S25(l.OO to any poIitial wnpaign. Yet. it taka the rtSt 0( UlI to help r. .... nce theK wry txprr\SM 1'K1tS.)
3. If the Tnk Force is concerned with the perception th~t judges ~ be unduly inHuenced ~ laW)'tl"$. it shou ld also remembe r that there are many more union members, teachers. Ilale employees. bU linns people. executives. stockholdtrs. and employees of tilt insurance industry than 21» I July 1994
fin.mcing ju<iici.l.l campaigns ])OKS any IIrute. Ihmot 01 CC)<'. ruption than was the Wt in Quitter limes? Conside. all the sid. boT and ro/I~ shop t.lIlk WI' have all bten ~ to OWr Iht ytars about this Or thaI j~'s faYOTilism 01 one litiganl. iawytr. or ...flat ..... r. TIl .. imagt probitm Iw bten with US from \h( founda.tion of 1M "public. My point. 01 COUI'K. is thaI. if i iudgo is corruptiblt. no ifnoUnt 01 cam. paign flJW'Q uguIation or ipoliticiut!on is IfOing to pn. vtfIt it - not twn Iht "mtrit'm~ntioo" plan.
7. We in AIa!>aIno haw for ITWly )'firs had in pIaoe .. rr1Kha. nism to dul with corruption in Iht judicilory. The Judicial Inquiry Commission mel Court 01 the Judiciary haw /uno:. lionod ",.11 ind could M strengthened to bt."..,n mort ....",.
If an)'Qlle has any Mde~ that any (umn! judge in Ihis state has violated his or IItr ""th in ftIPOIlK 10 o;.lmpooign cootribulions. they should bt advUtd 0( how to file l tom· piainl with Iht tommishon and do il. 8. By Iht way. I would apfIrrcwe il if Bob would r\U'I\t lilt ,hrtt semsh inte~ groupS" rtftrrtd 10 in his lener 10)'011 llattd
March22, 1994. I would be intemted to know who he btliMs is opposed to the \'OIunbory llUidelines for selfish rusons. Would he include consumers and lilt pwple 01 A1abarl\l in Ihal group? It is they who have btnefiUed most from the Tilt: AIJIJWoIA IJI\\IYER
mJighttool, prOllrwNf, ~rd·working judicillry IhI.t our pment sY'!ern his lNfll us. I WQ\Ild 11M to uk. ~ _ mlly thirlklng Ii !hoM: pfOpk: whm _ try to "fIX" 1M systrm lor tho ~ Ii tho ~I'¥IU Ii propriety or are _ tn,glging ill I public reLitions rlCtion? I del no! aped )'OIl or !lob 1M share 1M condusioos I hM ruched. On thr othr, Iw>d, I trust IhI.t )'OU will continIII' to looIt It III sida Ii this 01I0I'TTI0JW1y compla is.sUI'. r ~re )'OIl that I will do II) as _II. M far as !lob's tlloug/lu 01\ 1M present voting righu cutS Ire coocemtd . 1 t.lnool entirely IIIru with him. but do ful he may be on to II)mething. To be sure, the proposed "llalkanil<ltion" of tm judicilll')' into single memMr diltricts is In unmitipted comtitutiorlal and irutitutional di$lSter in tho making. The bar ........ Id encourage an aggrns i"" appellate and ewn legisl.ti"" rupOMl: at tM NtionallM:l. I del not IIIru ...i th 1m merit·mention SY'Iem.1i is orimttd
to tm s\.;ltw quo.)'tt ita""l thr incumbent sOOjfctlo enor· mous "1'tC211" pressure by a diWffcttd illtemt group. (Look al tho InOIIq' JPftlI 1m )'tIl'S ~ to unsat Chief Justice Byrd Ii
tho Calilornill Supreme Court.) While fir from perfect W badly handltd. the settlement nrgotilottd by 1M Attomty \.mtl'lll makes !llO« sense thin Olrl}> other Ittainabit ouIc.ome. It rminut-Lirge elfction while providilli another plank in the Ooor 01 equity lor mino.itiu. M.iyM _ should just go one sttp fur1her and Jlrft that two additional_IS 01\ tho appellate COUrtl are rese~ in perpetu· Ity for minoritiu. only non·whiles could s«k those sealS. hold eledions. and let uS III vote. I Ippreciatt the openneu with which thil mailer il being handled and hopt that ...~ will continIII' to work t~ther on it. Joha ~ Oliver. II Olivt'r " Simi l)Weo,;lle. ALibama
Letter to the Editor April 6. 1994 n the Jan .... ry tWo! iuue of TM AloIJoma LiMfl<!'. r re~ with inttuSllhr ar1icle enti· tIed "The Tort of Outrage in AlaNm.t.: Emuging T.. nd. in Suuaillarassment." As in·house counsel for BE& K Construction ~ny, I wlnttO clarify infor· m.t.tion contained in the article referencing PotIS u. 8€.&1i Con·
I
SlrucliOfl Company . The sequence of event. a re miutated. The implication i~ that the company ~lIowed two weeks to ~ after lhe complaint 01 sou .... l ~ra.ument w:as ffilde ...·ithout taking lilY acl ion. lIId action was taken only altt< a substqumt complaint. In IU],\)'. the testImony in the record is that there was no inforffillion proyidtd althe time oIl!"Ie initilll complaint to allow ~II)' corro!»-
I'lIlion 0I1'ot1l' claim. There was only the allegation ma<.k by om em ployee and a denial by the other. Sanders was. in fact. put on notice I! to thr company pol. icy d _wl ~l'lIUmtnt lnd his ob!ig..tions to avoid any btha.vior which would be sexually harusing to lnother emplO)'«. there .... u not a second complaint 01 ~r;wment. Two ~ks aner the initial complaint, Potts providtd, for the fir$t time. nam .. of wit· ntSln who could substantiate her alltgations. With this ;nlor· mation. the invutiQation was continued ind disciplinary xtio<1 was taken. The Supreme Court's rew ....1 of the summary judgment orcltr placed the case on thr trW dock· et. and it wI! Iried to a jury in Mobile County Circuit Court. The undispu ted lel t imony It trilll W:ilS tt\;.t. following the ini-
t;al complaint. there were no IUr1her instances 01 ~QS$ment, even though two mo rt wnks p;ustd belore di$Ciplin.ary action ....:as justified lollowing comple· tion 01 the invutigation. The step$ \;oktn by BE&K ~.e aclt· Quale to stop the harassing behavior. The jury agrud and returned a verdic t 10' BE&K Corutruction Company. On behalf 01 lI~:&K. 1 request that t he whole story h. told accura tely in o r~er to paint a lrue picture 01 what did OCCur. We would appreciate your run· n,nlll co rnction in the nut Will'. Carolyn F. MOtPn eo.,.ontc CounHI B£&K Conltrudlon Company
Birmingham. Alabama
July 1994 / 205
Notice - Change of Address Information EII9cIiYe January 21. ,~ ... pea, o/fIce$ were <*reeled 10 cease ~~!~~ and ~ eddresses '" indMduaII...., f....... ~ tor ' - '"","led by governmenl egeoo;ie....w .. ,,"' .... ,... « ageo ...... COUrll or other special e.cep!ioo Ol. Accor ct; ~ to Marvin Runyon. CEOJPostmasl8f Gener. 1, " R ~i z ,ng g'owing conce-rn In socIel)l about d , scIos<~ new address IntormaPOr'l on battered "'dMduaIs. the UMed Slales Postal S&rvoce is makJng major ~ in its .,..;i !orwardltlg . , stem: Hewe.o,. lawye, •. pnv.,. Inv" tlgate,. and ethe' 1n(!lvidu.1I wt10 a,e ""rlorming 81 "Plecesa serve,s: (I.e.. pe,sons em~od b, law to serve or ~ive< legal document. te etl18fS). may be provided with a ,equestod address. "POI' complel · lng Ind signing''''' ""w "Roquell tor So.hoIder '" CI'IIIr9I '" Addreaa Intonnatoon NeeOed tor Service "'legal P' OCBSI" 101m. The form musl be on the procesI...-', Iet\ertIead , ILdIen-d)
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I. C."..,il)l of r.ques,. , ('.1 .. p,oeuo .. rve, . • ttomo)'. pony .. p" .. nti ng hi ..... lij '
2. Stalul' or r$l>.tion ~I . _ " n'It to .. rvcc prlI<a.I (not required wlltn mjUfil<T is ~ otlomt\l or • pol'l1 >ctint Pro S. ••>«fII. corpon\ion ><tu., Pro S. must .. ,. lWut.rl: 3. Tho ~ 01<011 "'-" ~i<f to tht Il\Jplion: •. Tho coul'l in .micII tht C>H hu betn or will br hutd:
5. Tht doc:ket or atl><. idenlifyi", numbo. If one ".. brm iuued: 6. The r.".., ity in which this iOOMd...t II 10 br ..!Wd
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206 1July 1994
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THE ALABAMA LAWYER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT JUNE
Ii il
1, 1994
~nly·r,'1! run a.t> today. I locked the state bar headquarters build ing as secretary of Ihe Alabama State liar for llle first time. Tonight. June l. 1994. r h.!vt locked it for Ihe luI time ilS S«rt~ry. As 1 turned of( the liQhts, I could not twlp but laugh to m~lf as I ~J\td the diffICulty I t~ritnced in performing this limplt bSk for the firU linw back tllm. Theu Irt two large round iJ<ylighlS in Iht mi6dlt of tilt origiml buildi..,. Thry how a~ had cown which. to 1M usual obu.vu. I1Il.kt them .. ppear to M I_largt round lights wilh coven nush at lht «iling. The building !>ad only four light switchrs bick tiltn. l iried tKh OM. but ~ q( them s«mtd to tum off the big round «iling lighLS.lltft thinking I had run up Iht electric bi ll !llJ' first day on Iht job and I would haw to call J udge
""""lit
John Scoll Gn day number two to ask how to oJo such l simple !uk. Fortunate. Iy. I f.1t comforlloblt in knowing that [ rould all upon him. t.'~'u in my wikklt imaain.alion. thai fir.t day on IN ;olI. did I think I would be Iltre 25 JUrs latn. TW« I hid declined tM opportunity to tvfll disctw tM job bdore Ilirttin8 to mtd with I a'lmmittflt ctwgN with 'tcOi,",otndinc I 5IJiCaSSOf to Judgt Scott. Ultimately. I oommitted to thrtt JUrs ill the poiition, bul candid· Iyaprwe<i the ~ that I could not $i't staying ~ than fiYl! )'rat'S. F;~ ynrs ago. I made tile personal decision that I would li ke to leaw my poiition this }'tar. I suggested that the Alaba· ma State ~r employ I person who could gain tile experitn.:e n«ded to compete in alotuch for my rtplacemtnt. The bo.I.rd of bar rommissiomrs concurm! in the emplO)'ITll:nt of such an iooividwoland I made what I belie-oed then. md now know. WIIS one of my bat dtcisiQru.. [ rn:ruited Keitlo Nomwo from priYlte pnctiCt 10 join our mfr. I had not known Keith ptr· sonaIly. but I hid obK ...~ his work. Keith hid bttn ~ oul$Wldi"ll volulltttr ill bar aclivilit$. I ~ ill him," commilmml 10 maki"ll tho 1tQ.il proftWon in AlaIwN the btst il could be. He possesses many eharxttril' lies r haw admired in my coIlt.;>g1les "iIo"'ve ehown to tot blor eXfCutiva throughoul tilt country. Absolule integrity. I .lronG work ethic and In enthusium for those profusiOl1.l.I endeavors Ihrough which our bar and il$ memtotrs can have a positiVi: impact on the high calling of the administration of justice art among thue Irliu. ! have watched with pride the THE AJ.ABA.\\A 1.AWYER
respect his contributions to the National Auociation of Bar ~:ncuti~1 and the Continuing Legal Education AdministratOTl haw eamed him. OM cannot ilWl'st the rm.jority 01 ()tW!', prolu.!ionallife in a IIS')'ru-old institution ",thoul having a $I.TOOQ dui re to $i't Iht work of iu .Itcted Itldtrs aoo countlus other miunteen cootinue on a posilM and progressive courK. I cau deeply about the ptOWll to whom lulinquish my office. I will luve tho oK". Stptembtr 30 with tilt Qlisbction of knowing t"'l Iht best ptOWll I could haw imagined lOr this po5ilion his bttf1 .. Itcted and ",11 follow me. I lim ucittd ou r bu', fuluu. Upon KCepling the rt(ommeoo~tion of the stITch commiuu. which was com· posed of some of our totS! and brightest lawyeTl, luktd the board 10 confer on Keith the title of usociat t t<ecuti"" dir«. lor. Kei th now will havt the bendit !>I a longer ptriod 01 orientatioo than J had. J commil to him, u Judie Stott committed to me. 10 ~ .,-ailablt for counsel. H()Wn'er. iuS! 15 I had to sttk Judge Seou's input, Keith win haw 10 uk for mine. [ will not YOiunlttr acIvict. fortunately. lit Iw gone through the proctSS of building and umodtling the headquarters SO thaI on Octobtr I he CIOn II Itast lUm off III the [illh\$. Also. he ... ill inlltrit, as [ did. a wonderfully ca!WIle sufr. though his ... ill be nint: timn bigger than mint:. The blor has limilarly grown from 1.2oo·plul members in 1969 to OU' 1I,,,enl mtm~Tlhil' of (/\/I'r 10.200. 1 wish for Keith. wiSt counselor like I had in Robert E. Steiner. III . who early 00 shared SO candidly with me what OUr bar Wi! in 1%9. how il !lot to that ItalUs. what it could totcome' and ,,110 you could. rely 00 to help. That ~trnOOI\. 1 lptnt during my fin! wttk as stCrdlry of Iht blr lining 00 IN lIepi 01 Bob', ca!:>ooJ.t ill I rotld 00 lItli ~ Iw prtI\I!'lI ~ time 10 be the btst bar PfCUtM educa.lion Itminar I could haw luendtd. (Ironically. the lint Wle I tvfr cast lOr .. blr presidmt in my first AlabirN SUte Bar meeting attn admission in 1965 "'" for "R.E.. III".) Illso would hope 10 be Iht Wnt fritnd md conftdant to Keith tIw. Judge Scotl was to me. finally. in ilddition 10 Bob md Judge Scott. I benefited greatly both personally and profeuionally from the wisdom an d learned rounstl 01 JUltict Pelham Muri ll who ga"" me my fiTlI oppOrtunity at legal eml'loymtnl. Keith will ha ..... to fond his """II Judge ~lerri ll-hillillu are riTt indeed. •
.oout
July 19941 207
ABOUT MEMBERS, AMONG FIRMS ABOUT MEMBERS I'Illlilm 8. lIardea- anooul\CU the
relocation of his OmCt 10 323 E. 161h. Strut, ""niston, AI~ba"", 36201. The maiHng lddrus i.! P.O. Box 1453. Annis-
ton 36202. Phone (2051238-0093. J.M. IIoour anoounus the ~Iocatk>n of lli. offoce to 502 Church. A~nue. 5.[ ..
Suilt A. Jxksonvilie. Alabama 36265.
Phone (205) 782-2080.
Mom' J . Printiotta. Jr. Inroouncu lht rdont ion of his omen to 3000
Jerf T. Brock . formerly of Nil &:
Strut. Hu ntsville. Alablm.a and the
Srock .• nnouncu 1M op(ning of his omen II South Cou rt Square. Ev", IIl'ftn. Alabarn.a. The mailing oddr~ is P.O. Box ~68. Evergreen 36401. Phone
mliling .dd.tll i. P.O . Box 508,
(ro5) 578·9871.
II. lc h ..d W. WhlUlkn. formerly of PiUman, Whittake r & Pittman , announcet the: OPening of hi. offi""•• \ 300 E. l.te Street, EnttrpriK. Alabama
36330. The mailing lIddrus i. P.O. Ilox 170. Enterprise 36331. Phone (205) 393· 5146. J utl P. COJ , formerly of Veigu« The COlI Law rlnn. located ~ 813 ShadH Cm:k
Cox, announca IIw: opmi"ll of
Parkwloy. Suitt ZOO. Birmingham, A1W. rna l5209.1"hont (2051870-1205.
• CIVIL • INSURANCE
-m
lI.mlllon, BUller. Riddick. T.rilon &: Su llivan annou nces that Slue n C. I'UTlIIn hu become I member of the
William Oavtd Newton . formerly with the City of Itun~ville. Finance Depart.
firm. and Ltlgh L. AUltill and b mu W. T.rlton. IV I-..vt b«omt associat••. The
a ct....nge of address to
mailing .ddrus is P.O. Box 1743. Mobile. Alabimi 36633. Phone (205)
ment,
~nounctl
the Alabama De"...t ment of Finance. 8udget Offiu, 237 Alabam" St"te HOUSf. MonlQOmuy. Alwlm 36130· 2610.
AMONG FIRMS
R i~rchAK
CalleN, Suite 490, Binninghim. AlWma 35244. Phone (205) 9853700.
lIunUvillt 35801. I'I>ont (205) 536-1199.
Jon'" &. Waldrop lItIoouncu. c~ or address 10 Soolt>cresl Building, 1025 Mont~ry IHghway, Suile 212. Vu· tavia Itills, Alabama 35216. Phone (205)
979·52 10. Sll1ne, Cranade, CTOlby til Blackhum announcn that ,l1 artha Ou n nt Htn· 1It1l,. has become a member of the firm. The m.. i1inll .. ~drtu is P.O. Drawe r ISO!!. BI;y Minette. Alabama 31)507.
OoJ.ullu J. F_
lItIAOUncu the optn. ing of hi$ offICe lind the ~"Iion of Jdfrty It Crimu ;and L CuoIint Meec· h«. OfIicu lTe toaottd II 401 Madison
432·7517. Lamu. Neilan til Miller """OUMes that Da>id M. IktIcIr has become lISSOCi· ittd with the firm. oak" irt' toaottd it 505 20th Street. North. Suite 1600. Financial (;wIer. Birmingham. Alabama lS203. Phone 1205) 326-0000. Chnry. CI~t nl. I'tlt ... Locket! &. Diu innounces thit C. rl E. Under. wood. III and T ncy W. Cary have become l!$OCiates of the firm. They will pra<!tict in the Dothan office. located at
125 W. MI;n Street. The mailing oddr~ i, P.O. Box 927. Dothan 3Ii302. Phon~ (205) 793· 1555. Tht fIrm ~OO .... officn in Oirm ingham Ind Mobile. AI~bami lItId Jackson. Missluippi.
Da vi dlo n . WiUiu " Crowdn Innounctl .hit W. Duid Ry.n hiS
Ba<:hus & Assodates PROFESSI ONA L I N VES TIGA.T I ONS 6 SER Y I CE OF PROCESS
• CRIMINAL
CASES
ATTENTION ATTORNEYS: Our
IS.,..... cI _
{tIuI
WId ~""'9_
not 1Imioto:l1Ol ............. ir'9:
Fiold ' ....... II!I"'I0... • ........... Injury • First .. Thlf'd Poony !.I.blilly RsjlfOSd Accidents (lncludh'l{l F.E.L .A .) • Trllflic Accidents • WII ..... Loc.llo" $U ....., I I _ • Wo",,-.. CompenMilon • ~ r1 y D.m"9O' • •............ C' .-m t_'lgaotl_ For $35.00 pet hOoJr (plus ""pensH). )'OU can not alto«! 10 pass up this service ..... noni>fOduct _ _igalions. Fot "",..
2 <i.Hoar P"08e:
:105 / 649·5984 208 1 July 1994
Inlotmalion contact:
H.rry
W. Bsc:h" •• Jr.
P.o. Boo: 180066 Mobile. Atabanlol 36618-0066
FAX Phone:
105 / 649- 5886 TltE ALABAMA LAWYER
~cOI'l'lf u.socilttd with tht finn. The mliling Iddrns is P.O. BOI 1939, Tusuloon. ",.. bam .. 35403. Phone (205) 759·5n1.
Le hr . Middl eb . ookt " Prodor annourn:u that St"'en M. Slutny hu b«ome In associate. Offi~! ~n loule~ it 2021 Thin! Avtnue. North, Suite 300. Birmingtwn. Alabama 35203. Chapman . King " Byrh ot dt Inoouncu that J. Barry Abdon IIu b«omr usocilottd with tht finn. Officu no loclted It 117 W. Btns.oo Strut. Andtrson. South ClITolini 29624. ]'hoot (8031 225·1411 . Abslon is .. 1990 admiltU 10 Iht Alabama Stitt ~r. Po_II" I' uk announce. thlIt Clry 1. Wuvtr hu jointd tht firm lIS a part· ntr Ind Ahn t r Rilty Powe ll . IV hIS joimd ill u.sociate. The firm's ntw I\IOI'l'If if "-II. Perk " We"'..... Offoc:es ..e louttd II 102 S. Cotion Sinti. Ancblusil. ~ 36420. The mailing addrtss Is 1'.0. Dra_r 969. Andalusia 36420. l'hoot (205)222-41 03.
,In
I.o\~ltfl. Ilanb & L),<>nl announcu lhat T. Alltn Tim has ~corot a.ssociil· td wilh thor firm. Offous Ut loc .. tt<l il 28 N. f lorida Street. Mobilt. Allilarna 36607. Phone (205) 47&'7851.
WaIIIOl'> . Slabltr. W.IIa. Andtnon &. announca lhot c. EUil Brutal. III .. nd D.,id B. W.lllon ha\." ~ partners Ind EdWin! J. A.hton, formrr stnior vice ·~n5ident and a!SOC<ate gen· eral counstl for AmSoulh Ilank. hn brcomt of counstl. The firm 1150 lOnnooncu thol J dfry B. Gordon. Kim· berly Cold forb Co rd on . Randan O. QulriU and N. Chridian Cltnot ~ become . - i attd with tho: finn. Offoc:u In Ioc:.o.ttd in 1M Fil\lOnriol Cmter. 505 20th Slrftt. North. Suile 500. Sinn".,,· him. Alabarna 35203. l'hoot (205) 251· 9600. ~ins
Jo h",t on . J ohn ston " MOOff .. nnouncn thlt Sluart M. Mlplto his joinrd tht firm. Officts au IOUltd II Regtney Cfnlu, ~OO Mu idiln Sirut. Suilt 301. IhmUville. AlaboolTW> 3SS0 1. Phont (2(l5)533·5nO. Brylnl. Bl lC ks h n &. Lute. an noun«s that it has opfned In addi. tionot office in ~Idwin County. Alaba· mao Tht new office is located al 21 S.
StClion 51 rut. Flirhope. Alibim ... Phont (205) 990-8998. T1w finn lbo has oIfocu in Mobilt. Alibami. Wl in .... ght &. Pope Innottrn:es thit Joteph M. Ayen hu become in associ· lIe wilh thor firm. Officts are \oc:.alrd ~I 100 Union Hill P, ivt. Suite 100. Birm· ingham. Alabama 35209. Phon. (205) 802·7455. \I.·lImer " Sh.pard InnounCt$ thaI JoI!n O. Cotes hu joined lilt firm as I p.irtner. Offoc:es Irt kattd II 100 Wash· inglon Strul. Suitt 302. l!untsvil1 •. Alabamll 3SS01.1'tIOOt (2051533.0202 . IIlaloxk. Rbloxk &. Orol announces that bm .. L. SlI rlin l. J r. hl5 join~d Ihe fi rm as an assoxiate. Officu ar e 10Ultd al 651 Beacon PUkwiY. WUI. Suitt 214. Bi rmiflghlm. Allhml 35209. Phont (205)94$.9922. MichH! S. Mc..'I;lIr l>I\IIOUncf:I; thai J . C.... rlto \\11..... hu btCO)olM U>(lCiatrd ,,;Ih th< finn. Offict$ art locllrd al 2152 AirpOrt IklUl,,·ard. Sui te 105. Mobile. Alabarna 36606. PMnt (2(}5) 450-0111.
McEky & Ford annoof"ol2J lhol O"id P. Mar tin. Frank M. Cauthell. J r .. Midwd M. Ktmmtr. Jr. and CRgory S. CriU"s ho,." btcomt u.soc;iltd with tht firm. Officn ITt louled II 621
Cnmsboro A,...,~. TII$O.Ioo:.o. Alabamo and Court SqUlU. Cenll'fYillt. Ahlwn;o.
!'hone (205) 349-2QOO or (205) 92&.9767. Edward F. Berry of B.ny" Sh. lnul! announc,," a change of addrns. His new address is 102~ Second Avtnut. P.O. Box 1437. Columbus, Coo"il 31902· 1431. Berry i'l 1990 admil!e. to the Alibami SI.ale B... Corbam. Stnnrt. Ktndrkk, Bryanl " Banlt announcu lhal Vidor Ktllty hal; becomt a ~rtner. O/I'oc:u irt Iocit· rd at 210] 6th Avtnue. North, Suil. 700. Birmi ngham. Alabama 352(}3. Phont (2OSI2~·3216.
Jam .. A. Ihnl l. Jr .. formtrly of SirOlt &; PtrmuII. and Thornu II. BnMrI announce 1M formation .. liar· ril " Braw n . Offieu .... IOCited .. I 2000A SoulhBridgt: Parkwlly. Suilt 520. Birmingh.. m. AI .. haml. Tht mliling add ..... is P.O. Box 59329. Birminghlm 35209. Phont (2051879·1200. Blum . " Blum . Innouncu Ihat
John W. Stah l hiS btcolm In .. uo· ciatr with the firm. Officn IU Iocittd II 2300 Univtrsi t y Boultvud. Eili. TUK110051, Allblma 35404. Phone (205) 556~712. Doyct P. Milchell and Thorn .. E. th e fo rmalion of Mitchell" Mltchtll. Officts ~rt loulrd at 139 W. Main Sind. Albtrtvillt. Alaba· ma 35950. Phont (205) 8780!H41. ,~ i l (he ll ~nnounce
Adams &. RUM iUIIlOIIIlCt5 thol Usa BDdford lIallMD hu hKomt I partntr. ~nd ",Im.m E. Pritch.rd . I I I and Thomll M. 0' 1I1r1 ha\1' btcomt woe;· ~tu. Officulrt IOC/It~d in New Orin", ~n~ Balon ROllI/e. Louisiana; Mobi le . Alab,amll; llousion. TtllilS; and Wa$hinQ. ton . D.C. M. Mort Swaim annwncQ lhit J... \ F. OomIh hu btcorroc: an assoc:ilotf of the firm. and lhol tho: firm hu opened an ..dditiorntl officr. The ntw O(fiCf il loclttd II 3600 W.. lermelon ROld, NorthpOrt. Alobamo ~76. Phoor (205) 752 ·2323. The firm al50 hu an office II 235 IV. Liunl Avenue. Folq 36535. Phonr (205)943·3999.
C. Knot Mel.aney. III announceJ thlIl Hudon BI.y lo(k Oe BrlY. formtrly idmin;Jlrltor "Ihe AlaIwna Alcoholic; IkYrnQt Control Board. hu btcorroc: .. partner and lhor rotW nomt .. lhe finn is Md.. nry &. OrB..,. T1w rotW offoc:es IU IOClltd at 509 S. Court Stre.t. Monl· gomtry. Alabama 36103. Ph!)n t (205) 2&5·1282 . W.bb " Elty announcts lhor n L(IC,I. tion of its offices 10 166 Commtrct Stl'ftt. Suitt 300. l'IontgOmtry. Alihlrna 36104. Phone (2051262·1850. arlllnnl~ &. Binion announcu thit Christ N. Coumonil has btwmt woe;· aled .... ilh lhor finn. Office> art located ~t 205 Church Strut. Mob ile. Alabamll 36602. T1w mailing addre5.'l is P.O. !lox 43. Mobile 36601. •
PLEASE NOTE AURA"" STATE BAR ME.'IBERS: " ......... , )O>U . " ~ t~
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July 1994 / 209
LEGISLATIVE
WRAP-Up
Bv ROBERT L McCURLEY. JR. Flra' Specl., . . . .Ion t994 Bills of ienful interest to lawyers Iml
P/lSK~
in the M~y spedal s<:ss;on
are as follows: 5·)(1 (Act 94 · 800) OHR Atto rn ey-
Client Relatlon, hlp - Any district atlorney or allornty appointed by the a\torRey genull initialing If~1 proeminiS lit tht rcquut of tho Dopart. mrn\ oIl l u~n Rt$OI.IrtH to rsublish
5·70 (Act 94--8201 PQnellion of Pillol ln Publk School - This IInwnds Ab.. COOt f 16-28-40 to providt that "")'Of!<' convicted of tile trime of pmsusion of a pislol on school pr~mi,u lous their driV(,', licenH for ISO days. If the per· son il not old tnough 10 obtain /I licmK 0Ilf will not bI' issued until 180 days ~fr thty b«omt oligiblt.
S· 75 (.Act 94-787) DllCiplinlJl' School Program . _ I'Ilthin nch county t he lChool boards mUl l ts ..,blish it ItaSI program proYid. td tht LtgisLaturr gTVlIl JP"if"" furxb.
0Ilf disci-plinary school
or mlor« child lupport or spous;ol support .tIlT_nlS only OHR. There if roo aUomrr-c:limt K~iorWIip bd-..n u.. aitomty and IP\'lliar\l Or recipient
5-77 (Act !M-7S4 ) s"hool Discipline Plu _ Th" ~mtnds All. Code f16-I 24.1 tQ provide for Khool discipline plin5 10 Include policies lor drogs, alco:>hol, wnpons and physiclll harm lOll person.
5-32 (A(t 94-826) .'Iotor ' "Diu - This duignlln the Alab<omll Secretary of State to implermn\ the National Vol .. Regist ration Act of 1993. It fu rlh • • aulhori~u the ~crual')l o(Stale to promulgate ruin and prescribe forms.
S-78 (.Act 94 -7931 School Regulalion. on n eh u lor I nd Dl ui plino - This arntnds Ala. Code f 16-1-14 10 provide that local school board reguLations g<;N. erning Ih. behavior lind dilCiplin. of pupilJ mUll be approved by the State
5 -38 1M-I 94 · 828) AI.hama Athlele
"'.nl Re,ulatory CommiJlion - This amendl Ali. Cod. 18·26·3 e/ uq. to sptCify the colltgn with rcprUI'ntalnu on th. Comminion lind revise tlu ~tqling pnWisions for agent> md tht Commission. 5-61 (Acl 94-8(2) Powff of Attorney to Mak. eirt. - Any general lIO"~r of 1I110rnty, unleu "~Iric ltd, hll' tht lIulhority to nuke gifts 0( lilt principars property wilhin lilt limits of the annual e>«:lusion allOWfd by IRS .
Cont....11ld SlIb.l.>n« _ Any p..son who unLawfully providts II minor with II cont rolled .ubsunct may bt Habit fo r injurin lufl.... d by third pusan> a. a !"tlult 01 lilt usc of the controlled sub· stane. by Ih. minor.
~rd
S-71 (Act 94 -782) Loal School Board Polk)' _ ThilllrntOOs ALL COOt 116-18· 12 to provide that tach loul public board of .ducation mwt adopt II written policy for itSlunlUnl$ on school ""hav· ior. This policy su t ement mu.t be re«iV(d and signed for by Ih. studtnt and !'Iren!. S-72 (Act 94 -817 ) PQ.. t .. io" of Dndly WnpQn - This IImends Ali. Code I 13.\-11-72 to proYid. lhat pasSHSion of /I dudly ~lIpon on "ublk school prtmisu o r lChool bUH. i. II
at Education.
S-79 (Act 9' -79') Auault an a Ttachn" _ This IImtnds ALI.. Code f 13.\6-Z1 to pn:Mdt that physial injury 10 II ttllcher o r eduulioMI tmplo~~t i5 II Class C rflony. II is InliciJ)l,tfd that a st<;(Kld 5p«ial oW"ion will bI' called for July 10 addre" ~uCl.tion rdorm and casino gambling. f'or furlher information, canuel !lob MCCllrlf)', Alabl"", Law Imlitut., P.O. Ik»I: "25, TU$CaIOO$.l. Alalia"", 354S6. or ~1I11 (205) 348-7411. FAX (205) 348-
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S-73 (Act 94-819) Parenti· Liability for Minora - Thil amtnds Ala. COOt 165-380 to providt thal!'lrtnt> are liablt for damagt Cl.llHd by lilt nulicious ilel5
... ..... ... .....,....._ _ _ from ...
of their ehildr.n up to SI,ooo.
5_74 tAct 94-783) liability fOT Sale of 210 I July 1994
TH~
AUW\A UWYER
HALE
COUNTY
f
BUILDING ALABAMA'S COURTHOUSES HALE COUNTY COURTHOUSE
8JJ SA..,Ut:L A. RUMORE, JR.
The following continues a hislorv of Alobu",,,'s rounlll rouTthauuS- lheir origins omJ .Ome of Ih" ptople who
•
COtllribultd 10 lheir grrN/h. Tht Alllkm" IAwllw pilmS 10 rtm (lOW counlll's slOtlI in ~ iswt 011'" tnQ(ItJzine. If /IOU how =1/ pIwIogrupIr1 of N rlil or
,,'/lIMI ,our /houses. "I/tau forward them 10: Samuel A Rumort. Jr.• Mig/ioniro If Rumore. 1230 Broun MOT¥ Too'0'. lJirminghom. Alabama 3S2(l1
HAUCOUNTY
n Januuy 30, 1867, the Alab/Irm IAgi.r,ture (rraltd H.ok County from lilt ....1tm hooll of Crunt County. and from smaller Kctions 0( 1>lirengo. Perry and TusalooN coontiel. The Itg. islation ,tated thai 1m <;OI,Il1ly ronUined 13063 squart milts and 4,610 while citi· .~
Prior to its (Tulion, tht history of its te rritory was cLouty in tertw ined with that of Crunt Counly. r OT inrunct:, 1M first COIJrthouK 01 Creene Cou nty WIIS located in the aru that btnm. Hal t : furlhn, th. town of Cr«nlboro. which bream. Halt Coun· ty't county seat. was n.l.med for Greent County', n.l.mtSakt. Nat~nitl G~tnt: ¥ld !-bit County......,. n.l.mtd lor ~ promi· ntnt ~Uornty lind WOlr htro who lived lind ~ractictd law in EutllW, tilt county sut or Crttnt County. The countiu shart a cOmmOn border, the Warrior River. On a list of Alabam .. counties, TIlE AlAB>\.'4A lAWYER
Crun ... nd Hal. counties art both alphabttiCllI and numeriaol ntighbot'$. The first settltr in 1M territory was cmb Russel~ who amt to tJv fT(lntin in 1816. shortly aftn tho ChocUw Indian land cusion. A number of «lItr RussellJ moved into tht lift... which. within lO rlOdius of four or five miltt of Caleb's homtttnd, btcamt known as the Rus· sell Seu lement or Russellvillt, OtMr sellltrs from Tennns«. Geor· gia and the C..,olinat Cli me in to the ntuby Uti. Thty er«ttd IIomu and calltd t heir stttiement Troy or Ntw Troy. probably afttr the lneifnt city in Atil Mino r, After Alabama bUlmt a St.ltt. officials condu~ ttu.t Troy was
located In a ·si.t ttnth section" which, according to tJv Act 01 Congress crut· inI AbIwna. had to be Kt aside lor the btntfit d public Khoots. Thtrdon. tJv Kttlers it Troy moved to Russellvillt, which in 1823 was rtn.l.mtd C~nsboro. in honor of NlOthlnit! Gre.ne lOnd Glffn. County. Om: of the first ordinancts passed in GTttnsboro outlawtd hom rxing "'i thin the town', corpo1'ltt limib. IlJ pusiI# _ in ruction to tilt lid ttu.t the town's miin st rut wu bting ustd '" " net course "lid its citizens had orglniztd" "Jockey Club." In ~sponse. lO ntW ract COUrK was built ootside the town limits, awroximately two milts west of tht pres. Juiyl994 / 211
ent courthouse site, and wa. the sce".- of ho ..... rac:ing for many years. In the 1S30s, 1840s and 1850s, Crune County changro lrom a lrontier '«'a to a prosperous agricultural center, With its newly acquired w~alth, it became a cultural and educational hub for Alabama. And Creensboro benefitted from Crune County's advancement. For example, in January 1856, the Methodist Church established Soulhern Uni~ersily at Greensboro, This school wa. de.igned to be an institution of higher learning lor the promotion of Iiltrature, science, moral ity and religion. Its cornerstone "~,as laid on June II. 1857, and the doors of Ihe university opened to students on October 3. 1859. (This school remained a ~itlJ part of the Greensboro community until 1918 when it merged with Bi rmingham College. another Methodist institution. founded in 1898, to become Birmingham-Southern Colleg•• located in Birmingham,1 When Hale County WaS created. it had the good fortune to acqui re tht Ihri~ing and prosperous community of Greensboro. al Creene County's UjlOfI its creation in 11>67. Hale County was named for Stephen Fowler Hale. Hal e w... born in Kentuc ky on January 31. 1816. His parents had ~n nalives of South Carolina. Hale obtained a I.w degree from Transylvania University in 1839 and then relocated to Eutaw. in Cr.ene County. 10 practice law. In 1843 he was elected to Alabama's t.:gislature. He volunteered and served two years ... a lieutmant in the ~lexican War. from 1846 to 1848. In 1853, he ran for Congress but was del•• ted. Subsequentl;', he was elect«i for a second teno in the slate Ltgislature. He briefly served the Confeder.te goovemmmt as attorney ~neral of Alabama, was appointed com· missioner to Kentucky. and sPOke before the Kentucky Ltgislature On seces-ion. In the ",me ;ur he was elected to the provisioll/ll Confederate Congress. While serving in the latter po$ition, he was cOOsen lieutmant rol(Kll'l in the lUh Alabi· rna f(egiment and left public office to serve in the Confederate aTm)'. At the bailie of Gaines Mill outside Richmond . Virginia. Hale was wounded five times. The wounds pro".. d fatal. lie lingered for three ...... eks and then diM at Richmond on July 18. 1862, al the age of
u""......
".
2 12 1Julylm
Hale is remembeml as an able lawyer and oulstand ing spt'.ker, He was mar· ried to MaT")' Kirksey, the sisler of F.M. Kirksey. who served as sheriff of Creene County. The Kirksey Home, Kirkwood. remains t~ sh~ of Eutaw ante·bel· lum architecture. The H.te residence. which was constructed in the t84Os, abo stillstands in use in Eutaw today. When Hale County was created, the Ltgislature pro~id.d that commission· ers would be appointed to organize the county and to determine the .ite of a counly sea\. The five commissioners set up eleclion precincts and c.alled for the election of county official. on the first Monda~ in March 1867. At Ihe same time Ihe voters selected a county seat from among l he communities of Creensboro. Bucksnort and Five Mil e Church. The Greensboro community provided an attractive inducement for voters to stirn it. The 10;0..'11 offered to furnish the county the land and building for a courthouse if Greensboro WOn the elee· tion, The offer contained a proviso that the land and building would revert to Cr«mboro o;o..'Ilership should the count~ .. at ever be removed from the t",,'Il. The inducement worked: the vote was Creensboro. 570; Bucksnor!. 2M; and Fi~ Mil e Church, 124. Since Greensboro rtttiwd a majorily of the votes. it became the county seat. And Creens·
boro's selection as count~ seal ha> n...."r been challenged. On December 13. 11>67, the officials of Greensboro purchas«! the Salem Baptist Church from the Alabama Baptist State Convention for $.8.000. (The deed of COIl",~ance from the convention was signed by J. L M. Curry, whose statue stands in Statuary Ha ll in the nation ', c.apital as one of Alabama's g... t.. t citizens.) On April 5. 1868, the Town of Creen.boro corweyed the former church pr~rty to Hale County. The Salem Church building was used as the ctntral section of the Hale County Courthouse, wing. being added to the sides to provide apprOpriate office and courtroom spa<:e. Thi, structure served as th. Hak County Courthouse for almost 40 years. In November 1905. the citizens of Hale County approved a bond issue for h _I A..
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the purpou of constructing. new courthouse. A contract WiS lei in N~mber 1906. and John A. Straiton se rved as builder. His bid was $44. 767.19. The old courthouse wn 10m down and construction 00 the new courthoust ~g;m in )U1Uiry 1907. The fint court snsions took pll(:e in the nfW (ourthouJe in April 1968. twn though the building ...-as o/ficiilly com· pleted I month II.ter. The lop noor of t ht courthou$f burned March 4. 1935. Tht firt. of an undetermined cause. started in the aUic and wu fanool by high winds. Although
lOme records were destroyed, most counly dotumtntt h.d b«n placed in fi reproof vaults or removed 10 other klcations. County officials estimated the damage to the building It S30.000. After the firt. courts were held at tht old Southtrn University Campus whilt r•• to ration of tht courthouse WIS
county ilto bought the ~II which _ in the old Southtm UnMrsity ~11 tow« to ~ UKd in the courthouK ~lfry. As INort of the ",.tion·s bictnlfnniil celebution in 1976, the Grffnsboro community 5pOrI>Ored further ~itions anr,! rtnova.ti<)ns to the 1908 courthouse. The dtiuns also conduct.d a drive which culminated on August 13. 1976. in the (!"talion of tm GrttfUboro 1Iistoric: District. including the court~ U1d 14 blocks iloog Miin Strut. The district was idded to the Nationil Rtgistu 0( 1Ii1loric: PU.cu. Today·s lIate County Courthouse 1.1 i brick Itruc:ture of Neo-Classical dtJign. It hu a pedlmented portico with four looic columns. The comers of the build· ing ue accentuated with Quoinl. It il topptd by a ~IIIOWI'r containing, lour. fKtd clock. •
Restoration of Iht courthouse "·IS hindled by the Skinn.r Contutling ComIWll' 01 TustlIk;oou. under I conlract Itt in May 1935. The contract price was $32.000. This prict included a Seth Thomas clock lor Ihe new belfry. The
Sourcel: Hislo rv of G'«"sboro AioOOmD from ils Eorlitit SeIlIemer!I. WilHam EdwiTd Wadsworth Yerby, 1908; revised by Mablt Yerby liW!On, 1%3. Tht luthor also thank.! Sut W. Stale of Greensbom for her contribu· tion to this article.
",,,,,"1""-
199"' POCKET PART
ALABAMA LAW OFFICE PRACfICE DESKllOOK, SIXTII EDmON by Robert L McCurley, Jr. 1!19-1 Pod ." Pan
lodudtd in Ibo ..... podct (lUI on: updalN ~ ";I ~ fOflllll lor lhe IteYiotd 'bi CorporaIioa ""'New PnJbo.le 1 ' _ a..,""" ..... do ..... 011 Ijmjled UabWI)'
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I.AWYERS EDUCATIONAL I'RESS orr""" Ilo:< t281 T~ KI",",oa, Al, J S4M f'()OI
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"I1>d _
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"""'" II ............,,11)' <>rpni>d .. J9 ~ lor ...... ",rr...-. 0uIpItrs 011 RuI &tale, Adopoioo!, Do ";.... ClrpaiutioN., I!A\"", <UId c.:.n...v.1OnI ...l!lino lilt &<lICral law 1lI ~ on: .ooompanitd "';,h the Lot.., fonna.
lodudtd . , on: dmptrn 011 Ua::. <UId 0.... Conuniuneall.
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_ All orden must lit I'REI'IIIO. Make checU P-)'oble 10 t....WVf.JtS .:DUCA110NAl. I'ItI.SS. If 1IOI .. tisl"oed ""'....,. ......... tilt book "-;thilllO doys lor I full ... fUlld.
AOORESS'CCCOOOC,":O",",,","co,,,,"COOC,,,",",O ClIJIia 0( I' " I'IICbI Pari< .f liM .u......;. Law omc. Prmloo 0.. ....... .. m.oo~ (J2D.I)O pIuI
$3.1)0 ta., ~ <UId IIar>dliJIs).
PIt_ ..nd "'" _ oopieo 0( AL-\IIAMA I.AW omcr PRACfICE D£SKBOOK, sm. Editioo!, 1993 It S61..80 ..do ($60.00 pM S7..80 la., ~ ond band~ng) wl,h pocU' po.r1 indudtd. 1'10...... 00 "'" _ oopieo 0( Al.ABIIM" DI\,OIl.C.~ AlJ MONV AND ClULD CUSTODY 1I0 RNflOOK, Third Edilion,
""""""'Ie
I t S79.40 ($1<1.1)0 pl ... S~.40 ' ... postl&< &rid hIndi in&).
Tm: ALI.R.I.'olA lAWYER
Julyl994 / 21 3
OPINIONS OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL By ROBERT W NORRIS, general counsel
m
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In
~
rtcent di>eiplinary complaint, it was alleged If! that the charging of an attorney', f•• eqU<lI to 15 P'l'rcent of the value of rtal estale involved in a foreclosure sale was a dearl~ e""essi", fee and, thus, violated Rule 1.5(a) of lhe Alabama Rules of ProfeSSional Conduct. The
","nario presented by the complaint involved an individual who had mortgaged a pite. of real estate. Th. tum, of the mortgage provided that. in the e\",nl of foreclosure. the mortgag<J.
property is purchastd at auction by someone oth~r Ihan the foreclO$ing lawyer's client. e.g.. the creditor. a member of the creditor's family or some olher individual or institution. a per· centage fee. sometimes as high as 15 pert"n\. is charged b), the lawyer as an attomey's f«. 1'Iw Question that arises is whether it is pTOp<r under Rule 1.5 to charge a percentage fee in a forec1O$ure sale without relating this percentage to an)' of the factors for determining a reasonable fee as contained in Rule 1.5(a).
would pay a reasonable attomey',r..,. The mortgage was
foredooM and the lawyer .ubtracted a 15 pucent attorney's fee from the proceed5 of the sal •. During the cour"" of investigation, il was learm<! that i\ i. the practice of some fOrEclosure lawyers to charge aUOTm)"s fee. of $4(10-$500 if Ihe property is purchased at auction by the foreclosing lawyer's client. usuall~ a financial institution. If the
A~
ALABAMA ASSOCIATION OF LEGAL ASSISIAA'1S
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.n .mliale <II National Association <II Lqal As:<bt.ants, I...,.
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iscusslon: Al the outse\. it should be understood that this i. not a contingent fee malter but rather a per· centage fee for the performance of legal services. Pertentage rees mwt not be ciearly e"essive as determined by the factors set forth in Rule 1.5(a) of the Rules of Professional Conduct. These factors are as fo1tmo.'S: "Rule 1.5 Fees (a) A lawyer shall not enter into an agrument for. or char~. or collect a clearly excessive fee. In determin ing whdh .. a fee is exc'!live the factors to be considered are the following: (1)
The time and labor reQuired. the no"elty and difficulty of the questions invulwd. and the s~ ill requisite to per· form the legal .eNi" pTOp<rly:
(2)
The likelihood. if apparent to the client. lhat the accep· tarl<:e of the particular employment will preclude other emplOl'menlby the 13Wyl'r:
;,.July. mz ... ~"~ . Membe"".,ioMiJo.;' ,
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FOR FURTMER INFOR ......nON. CONT~ MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN J.IaWMI ........ ;ation 01 LOQaI _ _
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(3) The fee customarily charged in the locality for similar
legal services; (4)
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80"" _
-,~ ~=
It is improper for a lawyer to charge a set per· centage fee in a foreclosure sale without regard to the factors fOT determining a rt.lSOnable fe. as con 1.5 of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
The amount invulved and the resull$ obtained:
lSI The tim.limitaHom imposed by the client or by the cir· cumstanas: (5)
The nature and length of the professional relationship with the client;
(7)
The experience. reputation. and ability of the lawyer or lawyers performing the se,,,ices:
(8)
Whether the fee is fi. ed Or contingent: and
THE ALAllAMA LAWYER
(9) Whtthu thue is II writt~n fte agr«menlsigMd by the dient: The llhove factorJ ITt identinl to
tI1OSot announced by tilt Supremt Court of AllllilTlll in htbltl ~. MiltV, 439 So.2d 137 (A4. 1983) with the "(t~ lion thllt Rule LS addt<! In addltiorua\ facto r regarding whuher there is a written fu agrument signed by Ih~ climt. ,f,wlying IheM btlol'$, the C(lUrt
SlIid: "1.5 the amoum 01 the rmr.ony incrusu. Ihe IIHorney's fee should be p",denlly r.ducro. 00· erwi~, ...... WOtlld have the anom,). lous !itUllion of II routine collection of II promissory note 01 52,000.000 ;md an IIUOI1ll')"S IH 01 S400,OOO. The dftumiruation of a reasonable attorney's fte should not be done in /I wooden, inflexible mlnntT. but sl'lould lit done so tNt ~I fIIctors will be givm their pl1lJltr inteTplay: supra p.I43. The Supreme Courl of Alallimll in Siule u. Brown, 565 50.2d 585 (Ala. 1990), in remanding the cast Ilick to
~nkroptcy court contending thaI the attorney's fet ..... as elctS$ive. Th. court IIIrHd with the u~red creditors;mel a..... irdtd i fte on an hourly !wis. The lawyer lpprilt<! this <ktermilllltion 10 the United Stalu District Court. That court determined thaI in lfrivinS at a reasonable fee the blnkruptq cou rt should have eoruidered the 12 factOl1 set out In Johnson v. CtOTf/iU Highwo/l ~ Inc~ supr/I. lhae Johnson /k. 10rs IIr~ unntially identical to lhe factors D:>ptnl by the Sup~ Court of Alabama in Rule 1.S(a) and the casts "ted above. II should bt noted that the Johnson clSe wu sprcifiQUy noted in tilt Supreme Court 01 AlabalTlll's relTlllnd in Broom.
the circuit C(lUrtto Iktermine lilt ques· tion of excusive fets, rnfflrmed Ihe above faclol'$ and directed the court 10 ftvifW the following c.ues in connec· tion with the <ktermimlion 01 an 111M· ney'J fee: Rtllrwlds~. Firsl Alilooma BanJr of M()IIlfIOm«rg. NA, 411 So.2d 1238IAla. 1983), Publa v, Milt/l. 439 So .2d 1311Ala. 1983). MusMum u. ',uliooailltullhom!, Inc.. 684 f.Supp.
16791 (M.D. ALL t988\, lind JoIrruon ... CtOrg;u Hiflh_V Expnss. Inc .. 488 F.2d 714 (5th Cir. 1914). Whuher or not a 15 percent fee was an excessive fee was considtred by the United $btu Banknlptq Court for the Middle District of Allbllm .. in DodftIiIk Wmbw ~ dJMI Slill Wul..,.. RtJ(}rl~. fJns«u1'td Cl'tdilors Commill«, No. 85·00406. In this case, II lawyer foredOMd against Still Waters on behilf of SouthTrwI &nk. The property was purchased by the _ d
....
c.ue
Thus, it SttmS clear thill II fee in a fortc1O$ure nle cannol be dtter· mined by applkalion 0111 standard prr· ctntaet ftt applied in i "wooden, innnible manntr" without regard to lilt fiCtors ~numtralnl in Ru!. 1.5 and tnunc illttd in fedtnl and stale cast law. •
rnortglIgi! hoIder....rum was ~ lend· ing iNlitutlon. The Ia..~ deducttd I 15
percent II\0mty', ftt from the foreclo· Sure procuds causing the unsecured creditors to file an objection with the
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Julyl994 / 21 5
~
NEW ADMITTEES "'" """'" "'" """ " ' -
Doc.a ... I993AdmiIlta ~AmBowtini
kIIfty KruQlt Grimts t t _ Buford 1\;tmnJoo\, II Mark \)ooaw Joh""", Don ... Willo..- KoI~1mw Oorricll \IUd L.Il", Clarmor Mo<ris Mullin
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-
John Alan~ Putman
"lilliam IAJf Qutntlk Mary Both"'" Rich>rds Ik>wlord ~k N. TOiiI s,.IoIIl!m _ _
Dr.1d lIofton AI .... Potridc Jootph Ardmon Stowart Gotham Awlin. Jr. St<phtn Judson Bai\ty Iltgi ... MlchIlec_
"""' ..........
IbrrJ' ChrisIOf'ho'r &tilts
AnIhony 1M Cicio. Jr, M>rk Allison Cobb Do<o!lry Joon SQII CoI l;'" An .... GoiH.rd Conl\t.
tonyc-g.Coopor,J •.
Frod 1..01<'1"",111 ~"I Patrick lLhon<
IImr}! &in ComtIiuJ, Jr. CbrisIopt., DonooId Cuny
Willilom Ilfu:hoockl..in<lM7 Kolhryn !.<uK Uppor1
,..,.,.... Jenkins Doniol 5uAn host Fort Dowoon David Paul Dom
00naId Bioi. Lin,..
Larry Liltk 00)'01 Li ..... KoyDukQ Stanlr» Krith Ead)I
Dwid 101"'.....1t..lpt.
--....... Rocly"~ Ea\(ItI
Melbo Fly< Iluldu_ ~
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Poul f:.dwIrd Bu.ull St.pilrn W.lko. Bu,.IIeM;' DoYi> BUIIo •• Jr. Motrribtlh Abboil Bullor 1Um~ ...
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o.risIop/Itf CarT
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TIlE ALABAMA lAWYER
""""'--
tony ArtIoJ. _ _
Robtrt Ctnt Md)onold Sabri ... I.t< />kKinn<y
Midlarl Philip Milozzo
B"""""U Clillon fi'>nklin W• .,...,F... man AWl CurliJ FUrT
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Kmntth Dontb<In F..,..
John NMDt 11<11'" Robm W,llon 8i""lngtwn
11<11)' Blue Ketler Bend ....1Cki C..,-It Bradley Mtiody ""...,10 SmiIh 8rooks Sltphen WoIt.a B""""'- j,. D.awn lAI1i.o II"""... CIori.o Otnu. 8,..,.." ~rril Br(MtI 0..l1li Ywu. Brown
lla,d",,''''''* M>han Un.!> ow.. ~ Mann
~htron
Ronald M>rtio1l'<do.
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J",yM,dwIB~no
Michel" 01 ..... LIrwoIIyn LuAn Ma.wl! Long
Sitp/Ion l'aul McMunn John 0110 Mo;"-
Jootph MiI:hod IIeny
Cynth .. 11010...
William IIurI Key, II fknNrl Hoddoo KiflOft Phillil> EIC< .... Kimoy Mic: .....1Arthur Kirtland
~c..rriton
huI DoMd. Gihrl WiDioon Plul ~ Jr. David l.awrmDr Coodwin u.ur. Rebel<oh Cranlhom J...... lbrold Iblfof<l. 11 rlul MiclIOOllbmrkk J..... Dtu. 11..... 11 Scott ~k 11001«,
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lhomoo< RobtrI ~ Erk Huth JoIInoon Jocebm Foli .. JOI\eI Jul;' Lou .. Jones Brion Kirk.lord.lll Skphonio IobnhIII Kdltr £I~ I. Trimble Cnhorn Kelto, I","",rd Il<ojomon Kelly Wililby K,11y F.dword PtIT)' KmoIoll
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rlul Elliso. Rnm. Roborl Dudloy Rtt>< Rob<rllbrris Rigsbr. Jr. C1in1on IIt ....rI Ri/dUo. Jr. I'Ilr\<ia AM _
Cathtnnt I)ar\<nt l'IIiIlips Robert>
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Thomoo x.,h SIou.....
Chriolophtr BI')'atl Scott Jamos Jerome S<roai .... Jockie Ann Sooon Ri<h>rd 1M Sh>rtr. j •.• Thomoo O;.nitl Simon
C<nld Rrynard Sm,Ik. It. 1'1,1;'" Kaoi<1' Smith Thomas Scott Smith. Jr. IIk.nll Bonn Smith ChrisI",*"r V>n<t Sockwoll RM'I>h ~ SUplrton su...... Mi<hIoeI Suo.Iny Thornos AI .... SlfWM
8r\lU Bruton SConl'. Sr. Midlatl Clen Slrickllnd Chari.. C"IIOIY 1'homu Terri Willi ..... m Thomoo Suoan Diannt~ Ronnit two Th ...... Crti<It\I E,*,," ToW Tunochy Arthu, TyIo, MMtin Edw>rd IJpLlin. S•. JOUph I'tt .. Vu. Iltul Brtn<b lot \~ Motthtw~V",
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8...-.:10 FOyil),,>! s.r.dr> Kiml>roua!lll'loticino Koren S"" 1I'loo1 ~ Brion MiltheU Whilt Riehlrd A.11m Whil,bud ~Ownbt .. llilMwo Wtndtll W..toy lIilMwo John Curtio I't'ri(hl. II David 8m« Zi"""" .......... April 1994 AdmIU ... J......
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.I<nniI.. Ann< Currie John~K~Jr.
J.... c.w.o I>brgntonio
~
Jolll<l10 Rt>dd Timothy David Ryon
July 1994 / 2 17
LAWYERS I
~
THE FAMTT
l.aAa ~(1994)""
T.....,. hniI ( 1994) .....
s.t.... 1I',Ud.. 41950)
krr 1MIC (980)
Paul ParrIs 099l)
~IH" "",",I
~'_'''Iow)
~" IIuobontI
SaMra ",.. kI", jl994 ) ....
V
.....,'-1 L C!do. Jr. (1994) .ad ""o....y L CIdo. Sr. O'Si) todmrIt<t II bIbn!
SPRING 199-1 BAR ' XAM
)IyIo Calhoun C","" (19941 >rWI .ltkhMl K.K. C,,", (1984 )
AbMT lin.,.
Cu~i.
I\'ri.I;trt. II tt994 ) .....
AI>IIrr fliIt1 r _IL III 11961)
Curti.
\\'riCh. (1960)
~,~
~,1oCIIrtI
1 _11-.)
"-IL 1\' (1994) lIId
STATISTICS OF INTEREST Numbtr 5illing for exam ........... l!51
Number «rlirted 10 Alabama Supreme Court ................ 162
Certi fication
ra' e .........65 percent Gn,Idon ~Opho . _ 11994) lIId G~ l.oonaJd
Loun L<lgh Fnndl ( 1994) . .... J.mt. C. Fnnclo (1964)
. ........n (1965) ta<mttoo' /oIhtrj
(...... _ " Ilolhn)
C""lf,c",iOI1
I'., rc., nlag~..:
• Uni,,·,,;!), of AI ..h;oma-90 percem
• Cu",btrland School of u w---73 perccllI • 8 irmmgham School
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• •
(
N...dd (994 ) ond KoIhr)oI
S. c..v.r (1986)
looJrn iU .. " moIMrl 218 /Jul~
1994
.... 1~S5 peHenl • JOlIn s,,1loo1 of 1...10'-
65 perc..", _ 1 .... ."Ioddo:c 11957) II1II Alan C. f urr ( 1994 ) (mwin "ooImi" .. )
Scoll C.
r 'We.
It"""", 0994 ) .11<1 lloon. (1990)
•
MjI~1
& 1>001 of1.;o_
8 p"rc~n\
1"'",;\1« & """-hoI)
THE ALADA.'\A LAWVER
ALABAMA STATE BAR DISABILITIES LAW SECTION To beuer stm the needs of Alabama aUorneys practicing in thlarea of dinbitin IIW, the stile b.r h.s formed the Diubilities Law Task Force. The minion of the tnk force i1 to suryey members of the blr to find out if there is sufficient interest to suppor t a new seclion on disabilities law. The propored section would serve auorneys who practice in sever.llreas including: Soci.1 Security MediclidlMediClie S",c~1 Education Americlns with Disabilities Act
F.ir Housing Elder law Rehabilitation Act Insuratlce
The Ictivities 01 the piOposed section would intlud.: • • • •
Development of I network olall*iencH attorney, to snare information .~d idea~ about disabilities law Publication of a periodic new$len er dealing with disabilities law Presentation of seminars elig ible for eLf credit Development of a pool 01 upen consultants on disabilities issues
Thl task foret is now attempting to iclentify" members of thlltate bar who would be interested in thl crt.tion of this SlCtion. If you 111 interuted, t*ast IIturn tl"llanlChed fDl"m. This does oot convnit you to become, mtIllDer oltl"ll section ~ fom.dl nor lion it corrmit you to do any work in atltil'lg the section. It RnpIy""" thlllsk lorce to learn the Ie'l!! 01 interest in IDI"~g this section.
l'III.se. or f•• Ihllltaciled form by J uly 31 to V"lCtorll Fan, Disabiities taw Task Forct, Univer5ity of Al.tIlama, So. 87D395, Tuscaloosa. Alabama 35487·0395; FAX: 205·348·39D9; PboM: 2D5·3484928; TOO: 21)5·348·9484. lam interes ted in the proposed Disabilities Law Section. Name firm or Company Mailing Addren City Stlte
""M
ZIP
FAX
Return by July 31 10 VictOfIa Farr, Diubililiu Llw TISk Force. Uniotenity 01 Al.abaml, So. 87D395, TuscllooSi, Alabama 35487·D395; FAX: 2D5·348·3909: PboI"Ml: 2D5·3484928; TOD: 2D5·348·9484.
TM.: AUJlAMA I..-\II'YER
July 19941 219
/
\
\
'/\
By: James C. Sttl.'f!rlS
D
uring the lasl few months I noticed that I was
reuiving
ing
mo~
than I lew telephone calls concern-
und~rgtQun\l
storage tanks (UST). " 'hile the
topi.; Ii diJCLWion was ..... Md. tho! topic that domiru.!.d the discussion ",-as tho! qutStion 01 owntrship 0( tilt UST. This quution is nlumdy important if you happoen to ~ the OWOff of the proptrty wherwpon tilt UST rQide.o. In onkr to ~ thor quution 01 "Who is Itit owner?" """ mU$l. ddmninr how tt.. UST got 10 ill "fiN1" mling pLla:. Fir$! and fomoost.lll USTs must mul 'new tank" stan· dards by the ~ar 1998. This llltallS thai all 51 ••1 tankJ tN.I aft preuntly in pia« mUll be clow.! or replaced with an ·upgrJd.d" I)'5tem by 1998. Wor "new tank" UK! 'upgndt" lIandirds s« ADE M Admin. Code R.135·6- IS-.06 and .07) In Ih. event that soil IImlio. groumlw;ott' contamiru.tion wJU, Ow: PropI'rty "'ill nmI 10 be rtmrdiN by ~. Tht qUt$tion is ' WOO?" An undustanding of lilt .tt."li' gHOline business I1ffiIs 10 b. explo red \0 fully lIpprttiltt th. magnitude of the impending diSUltr 1000110 befall the U!l\<o'lry propmy owner. An uruuspttting proptrty owner in the Quest
220 I July 1994
to product a profit (rom the land will ti t htr starl a g;uoline businns Or lease his property to a mar~ettr or oil com]l<lny. As timt gou by tho prop.. ty own .. may btronw' dl$50.tl!iiw with hit IN.rketer and t.1oke aclion to change 10 anothtr IN.r~ttr. Similarly. tilt IN.rktter !NY dettrmine that he Clnnot mI~ /I profit IItI~ri"ll 500 piIons to his rostomtr lind d«idt to slop lIt~vtri"'ll ~;nt 10 him. Thtrt it another ,ituation thai it II ]XlttnlW pitbll for
the prOl'l'rty owntr. Th. oil company or tho mark.ler approaches the property owntT and informs him that lhey art going out of bus in us lind will "$Oil " the UST to him for "S I.00." In addition. the rTIIIrkett r mdfor the oil company rTIIIy atttmpt to induce the Sli. of the UST 10 the property owntr undor the guist of inc' using the proptrt)' owntr"s "profits" on the SIlt of fIlCh aallon of ~ine by drcrtll$. ing the ;amount of "mit" to be p,aid to tilt IN.rktter. LillW below .. t otlltr sitllltions that art mOSI oft.n a$ktd about that tilt property owntr should be _rt of: 1. The proptrty O\'I"lltT slirU /I Tdllil guoline operation ~ buY" and irutalisil UST and beg;"" operation:
2. Pl'Oputy owner lu~u the proptrty \0 ;lI1 oil ~omp;lll)' and the oil rompUly insl.lll$ thor UST with no written I(IffrTVnl as 10 ble d thor UST Up(ln thor Upi",lion d thor lu~;
1. Property !JI<I'IWr leases tilt property 10 an oil ~ and thr oil 0JITIIIiIIY insbIls the UST "ith '''1'iltm ag.ttment. 10 60te d the UST upOn the Upi",tion d thelaK; .t. Property owntr lu5I's the proptrty to;ll1 oil com!WIy and the oil com)">l.ny inst.l.ll s the UST with I provision in the leau that all improvements to the pr<>porty remain .... ith the property at the e~piration of the lea51';
S. The
propert~
ownu starts a retail gawline operation, Ihe
10<.11 marketer buys and installs the UST. and the local mar· hter then ~eaul to do busines.s Or th. property owner to do busine".
(usa
ThtK a~ but ~ sit.w.ions that QI"I aOw, och ~uir. i"ll.".-r to tllt quntion dwhoowns the UST. Exapt for (3) abo:M!. the "owner" 01 the UST "ill. in ~I probability. hr the pl'O!)trty ""..,wr. A problem arisu ...... n thr person tothrr than the prOperty owner) ."nui", the UST 10 lhe rtal """",rty is ~.., 10 hr found and thoe prOperty owne r i. fac~ .... ilh ADEM and lhe Tank Trust Fund ~quiring lhe pr<>porty owne.IO tilher regis· ler or dose lhe UST. In addition. ADEM and the Tank Trust Fund art having to bteomt involved in ruolving dilputu bttWttn Landlord and tenant andlor tank owntr and proptrty o .... ne •. Using tht analogy above and. unlou the proptrt~ owner andlor the tank owner tan produce facts that lhe.., is an liTftmenl to the ~ontrary, the.., is I high probability that the UST 1w bKomt a "ruture" and lhereby becomn the pr()peTty 01 the proptrty owner. In its efforts 10 rfiUlatt the UST univ!ne within ALabama, ADEM and the bnIt Trust Fund may bt confronted wilh the diffICUlt siluation 0( becomi"ll involved in a prhratt dispute in their efforts \0 fulfill lilt miI"OCIlItt \0 protect lilt mviTOOmtnt l!ld human health. S«tion 22·)$.3(5) o(lhe ClJlkofAlD/)QmQ 1975 (1990 Rep!. Vol. and 1993 Cum. Supp.) dtfines;ll1 owntr 011 UST as: Owner in the cue 01 in UST system in use on Novembtr 8, 1984, or brought into Ult after thai date, or in the cau of an AST in u .. on August I. 1993. or brought into use after August I. 1993. any person .... ho owns ~n UST or AST syst~m Ultd 10. ItOl'lie , use, or dispensinG of. motor 1",,1s; ~nd in tilt CHt 0( any UST system in use btfou NcMm· btr 8. 1984, but no ~r in use on tNI date. 01" lin /1ST in use brio~ Aug...t I. 1993, but no Iongtr in USt on thai dale. the prestnt owner of the wlik'1lround it~ tank or ~round st~ tlnk sys tem lind IIny perJOn ..,ho o .... ned su~h undtr;round sl~ !link or abowground itOOllf lank system immediately before 11K dilCOl1linuation of its ust. 1'0.- the PUrpOSn of Ihis dwplllf". lhe penon who ~islm; the underground SIPfQ9t 1(1I1/; or uIlo«t;round slQrtJ{IIl Ilmk is. and sholl b.z <xm~itkrtd Ihe
From the above d~finilion it is pouible to bt the actual 0111 UST but no! the person who 1w rq!is.I ..~d it with ADEM and the Tank Trust Fund. It is to bt hoptd tNI this article will help the regulatt<! community undtnta.nd the ",Iiomle INt SUJlt)Orts "DEM·s and the Tank Trust Fund's pofition rtgIIrdi"ll tilt responsibility tNt "",y btfall an uTISUSj)tC\inG pr<>porty owner. Ctlll'",1 prindplu 01 pr~rty ""'....."hip imply the right of pofStllion and cont rol of f\ltrything attachw to the surface and embedded in the soil. In the aMen" of II bett~r title in someone elst. the ownor of the lOil acquires property to the things deposilw therton or therein; it makes no difference that the pos5el$OT is no!l....~" of the uisttRCe 0( the thi"ll. In judgi"ll ...... ther proptrty is personal or reili. the manntr in which it is affilw to Ihe land lind the permanence .... ilh which it W3S dosil[tltd to remain in place m...t be considertd. Ordinarily. proptrly whidl by its "'ture is otherwise Pl'rson/II, ...... n physially a1lM;htd 10 lhe IOiI bKoIhU pl.rt of thor ~"'ty. For t:Wllpie. ,~I_tmomt plant tNI is tTllrlSpOrted by truck and insulted al ground ~I on II coocute slab is per. SQf"W property but the _ . main that is buritd in proptrty is ulII proptrty. Similarly. II UST is permanently buritd in the bond without regard for mobility. In cont1"Mt to the ugument that a UST;I personal pr<>porty. there apPI'ars to bt II stronger argument that II UST is a "fi~· turt." A "fulure" is defi~d is personal prOperty that ....as orig_ inally personal property. but whkh. by reason 0( its affutalion """>H
REAL ESTATE ATfORNEYS LASER SOFIWARE A complete line or Real E.sta te Closin g Program s including lit HUD's, Buyer & Seller State ments, Dis bursement Regi ster, Checb-Titing IJ!l Deeds, Mortgnl.'es, Notes, & Affida,·its ill) Title Policies, Commitments and Endorsements III FNMA and M ore O ne tim e data entry, all calculations performed, hi gh quality pri nlin g or complete documen t, wi th data , generated on plai n paper. CALL FREE (8 13) 763-5555
()(l'fU?r.
THE ALABAMA LAWVER
July 199-t / 221
to real property. has become a part of the realty. The general te5t for determining whelm,r a particular per· WI\III property has become a fixture i. usually said to comprise annexation to the realty. adaptation 10 tm, use to which the realty i5 devoted. and intention that the perwnal properly become a permanent accnsion to the fr«hold. However. in Alabama. it is the intention of the party making the accession that control. OS OppOsed to the intention thai the UST become a pel1'T\anent accession to the property. (See. Milford u. Ten· nessee Riwr Pulp & PaperOl., J55 So.2d 687.) Whether perwnal property constitutes a fIXture depends on the circuJrutlnces of the parlicular cast. The nlative ease with which personal property. e.g.. a UST, may be removed, while not tm, wit test, is often coruidered in determining whether personal property has become a fixture . However. the ordinary criteria for determining whelher personal proputy has become a fi.ture are generally held inappl icable whe re the properly owner and the perwn claiming the personal property (or who installed the perwnal properly) have made •• pecial agreemenl respecting its stltu'<. Normally. US,... are instilled in a permanent manner (i.e .. to remain in place) and. although they can be removed. any removal would not be considered easy and would cause some damage to tho properly. In Alabama the test of whether or not and when personal property becomes a r.xtur. has been visited by the court on several occasions, However. Alabama has only 0"" cast direct· Iy involving. UST. MOCO, Inc. v. Caines, 484 So.2d 470 (Ala.Civ.App. 1985) held that a UST was not a fixlure and
CHAP7..13 introduces New The Chapter 13 Software that adapts to dillerent courts. Makes complete plans in 13 minutes.
remained personal property. Howe~er. the faels in the cast were that the USTs were to be rtmoved from the properly by a prior oral agreement betw.. n the parties. This is in line wilh the circumstances required to be visited when determining the stltu'< of a UST in Alabama and 5e\.'eral other stites. In the cast of Milford v. Ten~ Pulp & Paper Co .. 355 So.2nd 687 (Sup. Ct 1978) the Supreme Court of Alabama held that only from the ..amination of the circumstances of ~ach cast that doubt as to the status of personal properly can be resolved as 10 whether or not personal properly has btoome a r.dure. The court held that the criteria for making such determination ""'.. (I) actual annexation to the realty or to something appurlenant thereto; (2) the ~ppropriateness to tm, we or puJl)O$eS oflhat pari of the r~a1ty with which it i. connect· ed; and (3) the intention of the party making the annexation of making permanent attachment to the freehold. The intent of the parly ma~ing the annexation may be inferred from (a) the nature of the personal property annexed ; (b) the relalion of the parly making the annell/ltion; (c) the structure and mode of the annell/ltion; and (d) the PUTJ>Ost and uses for which the annexation was made. (Set. umgs/rm ... Sia/e. 96 AI~. (1891,) Contrary to the above general principle that fixtures become part of the realty, "tralk fIXtu ..," remain the personal propertf of the occupant of the land and are generally removable by him at the upiration of the occupancy. Lt " expi ration of a lease or lale of the property. Trade fixtures are those it~Jru of personal property brought UpOn the land by lhe occupant that are neceosary to carry on the trade or business to which the land is dtvoted. Moreover. trade fixtures in the natu ... of chattels and capable of being detlched without material damage to the re.lty ... ma;n personal property. (See. Walker v. Tillis, 6(i So. 54 (1914).) It is pOssible to make tm argument that a UST is a "tr~de r.xture" but given the intent and natu re of the annexation to the realty. and without an agreement to the contrary. the UST mosl likely will be determined to be a f",· lure, As with fooures. courts will draw a distinction belw«n tr.de fIXtures which are incorporated into the wil and trade r.. tures which. though attached to the .oil. can easily be removed without any Or appreciable damage 10 the properly and in the latter cast suslloin the right of O\'o'1le"hip to the saleer or ten · ant From this, one can draw the conclusion that unless the UST r~n be removed easily ,,;Ihoul any or appreciable damag~. the UST will be determined to be a part of the realty unl.ss there inn agreement to tm contrary. Several ~Ilote courto; have decided property law casts invol~. ing USTs. Cenerally. the courls agree that a UST is a perma·
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I\Ilnl annexalion to the rul property unless Ihell' is an agr~_ IIltnt 10 the conlrary. In Big Wesl Oil Co. v. Willbom Bros. Co.. 836 S.W.2d 800 (Tex.CI.App. 1992), the Court of Appeals of Texas held a UST to bo an "improvement" and. therdore. part of Ihe real property. The court sptcifically stated: The lerm "improvtment" is defined in <:as<: law as having broader significalion than "fi xture" and constitutes all additions and betterments to the fruhold. Id. at 802. In Wi/so>! v. McLrod Oil 0,., fm:.• 327 N,C. 491. 398 S.E.2d S86 (N.C. 1990), the Supreme Court of North Carolina held that USTs remained penonal property becau.e of a wri tten agr«rnent botween the property owner and lhe oil company evincing the intention thai Ihe USTs nol become a part of the real property. In L«-Moore Oil Co. v. Clearg. 245 S.E.2d 720 (N.C. 1978). the North Carolina
:.~~~-!..~2:~
Supreme Court held that bocau"" of a previo,," agr«ment bot~en the property owner and the oil company that installed the UST. the subject UST remained the ptr50nal property of the oil com· pany even though it was annexed to the property. As a general rule, what ever is attached to the land is underslood 10 bo a part of the realty bul as this depend.! to some exlent. UPOll the circumstances. Ihe rights in\>Olved must al ....ays bo subject to explanation by evidence, Whether a Ihing attached to the land bo a fi.ture Or ptr50nal property depends upon the agrttrnent of lhe parties. e~press or implit<!. Similarly. in liller/on Oil 0,. v. Riggs. !3 N.C.App. 547, 186 S. E.2d 691 (Ct. App. 1972). the North Carolina Cou rt of Appeals held that a UST was a "trade fixture" and. bocause of an agree.mnt bot ...."en the property own". a pre"iow tenant and the fuel supplier who installed the UST stating that the UST remain the property of the fuel supplier. Thw. the UST was determi .... d to bo the personal property of tho fud supplier and was attO'>l't<l to bo reffiO\ltd. In contrast. in Stephens v. Curler. 246 N.C. 3]8. 9S S.E.2d
nuPI~E
FACSIMILE
(1~)J1!j..9111
(lOS) Jl6-1l16
311 (]957). the North Carolina Supreme Court held Ihat a UST WaS a part of the ru1t~ and could only bo con"eyed by written <>gree.mn!. In Tyler v. lIavword. 235 Mich. 674. 209 N.W. 801 (Mich. 1926). the Michigan Suprem e Court held Ihose USTs installed by the property owner are annexed to lhe land and thereafter boco.m part of the realty. The court statt<! that where an owner am~es a UST to property. "the presumption follows that he intendt<! they should beco.m rulty." Given the state of the law on flXlure. in Alabama, it appears that althe installation of a UST it ~comes a r.xture unles, there is an agreement to the contrary. This presents ADEM with a regulalory problem in the event that 110 one is willing to take the responsibility for the UST. Having to deal with this problem daily has caust<! more than greal concem for ADI:M. Jt necessarily invoh'eS ADEM in the dispute between private parties and they. in all <:as<: •• are looking to ADEM for the ans~rs Currently the ans~r is that unless theu i. evidence to the contrary. ADI:M vi ...... Ihe UST as a foxture and therefore it becom .. t he responsibility of the property owner to comply wit h all of the UST technical and final!· cial responsibility require · menu as set out in AOI:M Adminislrative Cooe R, 335·6· 15 and 16. The property """er who is .ucassful in hi. attempto; to rid himself of the responsibilily of the UST may find that looming On the horizon i. th e Alabama Water Pollution (AWPCA) (Code of Alabama 1975 H 22·22-1 el. seq.). In the event the .. existo; groundwater contamination. the property owner is faced with prospects of being required to re.mdiale the propert~. The AWPCA has conferred upon ADEM the aulhority to "'quill' any person who is violating. or is about to violate. any provision of the AWPCA or any rule or regulation or any order or permit of ADEM. issued pursuant to Ihe AWPCA, to take such action as is required loconlrol any harm or potential harm to the e""ironment or human health. In the end. this Ihing call ed UST is really called "TROUBLE ".
•
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July 1994 / 223
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July 1994 1225
LIABILITY OF PROFESSIONALS for Negligent Certification By: William H. Hardie
J.ly in ]994. Iht Suprtmt Court 01 ALi~ma iuutd In opinion in /k;jlrin u. ATthur Amkrsrn & Co.' which substantially e~""nds the rights 01 minority $hare. holden to sut for their individual 10M at the hands of thou in control of the corporation. The d«ision also tJlPiUlds the cottt/Ory of pbintiff..... ho rTI<IY .... «rtifitd public IoCCOUnlarlts for mimprtsenll,lionl INdt in fim,ndal state· .... nts. Thil ~I of II-c C:aSf' IN)' bt mort ilT\POfUrlt b«.a_ of its pOtential "pplicolion \0 IlI~n. engineus. md other prolwioNli who iuut opiniom and certificatiom to their own clitnts with II-c uncltrstanding thaI third par· tin may ~Iy on lheir work. In &vlrin v. Arthur Andersm & Co. the Supreme Court of Alabama aban· doned the rule adopted more than 75 yu", ago by the Court of Appul$ of
226 1July 199-1
New York and emb.lCtd I mOrt lib-tul rul. promulgated in the ReJ/oltmenl (Stcond) 01 Torls.' Th. luding case in this ntld is Glanzer v. $Mpartf> writttn by J~ Iknjamin N.
Cud(llo in 1922. In C/ollu. I public wtighu, It the request of the Hlltr, providtd the bureT with a cutiflut. of th. weight of 90S bags of buns. On reule, lht buytT Ituntd thai t ht weight wu ovtrllited and sued the
weigher for negligent misrtprt!.l:nlilion. Jud~ CUdoIO" opinion for Iht New Yon: Court 01 Apppb "dd tNt thf: _i8Mr, duty of ClIU tll.ndrd 10 thr bUytT MeliuS. tht buy.r's use of the ~rtifiCllt. _ "thr end and lim at thr traru&etion .... The legal thf<)ry applitd by Judge Cardozo wu t\lrt. not contract: "We do 001 need 10 stat. lhe duty in tums of contract or privity," It ~Iso
"dd.d: ·w. state the defendants' obligation. therefore, in terms, nol 01 tontr",t >m rely. but of duty ." Ahhough the Clonze r decision inwl~d I public weigher. Ind not an ,,<countant, the rule .... '5 obviou.ly applicable when tho isruo: arose in connection with I «rtifitd public KCOUn· lanl in UlI,,,,'''''ts ~~. T~,' an Opirtion .abo Mhortd by Judfe Con» 10. In fJllrrnnara tho plaintiff nlitd on fim,ndalslatementJ prrpued by the defendant, and m.de a 1000n to St.m Com]lllny. When Stem Com]lllny fil.d for bankruptcy lind f"iled to rr]llly its 1000nt, the plaintiff luffe red a 1051. The plaintiffJ suit pruentrd legal thoori•• of negligent and fraudulent misrepresentation. The Court of Appeals of New
THE ALABAMA I.-\WYE R
Ynrk found tvid. nc~ 10 wppOrl the ", r_ dict of negligence. but the court held thai lhe Iltftndanl iCCOUnWts did not c;NIO the p4inliff a duty of tue 10 pn· ""re Ih. li""nc;,,1 t~t"r",nts wilhout negligtnce. Tn hold otheTWin would txpOSt iCCOUnWts "to I liability In III iTKitlmnin;r.te amounl for In indeter· minate tim. to an indettrminlh class.... ~ court Gpbintd fIIrtlw:r that Sttm Comp.llny's lin;r.ncill stile menU wen' only ·incidtnllily IIld coillte17l11y for tho "'" of thoR 10 whom Stem IIld his owociltu might uhibit it there . "ner. Foresighl of Ihest possibilities n-..y d\;lrge with lilObility for fnud. Tho condus.ioo does not follow !Not it will marge liability for mgl~ra.'" Fifty )'Qrs later tht issue Will Iilin prestnltd to Iht Court nf Ap~ .. ls of New York in Credit Alilonu Corp. v. Arthur Ander3er1 41: Co. " when .. crtdi. tor uli.d to iu Ilttrimtnl on fin;r.I\Ci ..1 slalemtnts negligently audited by tht ddendant. The coun rtvitwtd in ($ellil the Ot>inions in GI"'lUf In~ Ullr"IIwm and con finned iu rule that "I relation· ship "SO dose IS to approach Ihlt of privity' ... remains va lid al the prtdi· cate for imposing liability upon accoun · lanu to non-conlractuai p.lIrties for the negligtnt prtpiration of financial rePllrU."" The court expussly rejected fomuability ill the tut of tho pLlolntiffs standing." but il did not upillin why its rule Will prtferablt to tho fortlft"bility rulelOdopted by other courts. During tho )ours btlwnn the Ultr(l' mara and e ...d,., Alliana decisions. other Slltes hid adopted mon npan" si"" testl such ill the "fortltubility rut." ~ed in 1983 by lhe Suprtme Court of N~ JtrKY in H. RosmbIum. /~_ /I. Mkr. The cltfmdint Mler Will "partner in tho finn of Touc:hf. R0$5" Co . .....00 hid audiled the financial SUtt· ments of Giant Stores. Tht plaint iff, r.lied on I~ SUtementl whm th~ ~pted Gill'll Stores' stock IS coruid· "notion for the ult of their businw 10 Gi.lnt. 0.... of the Touche p.1.rtmrs "''M preMnt II Iht negotiations and knew lhal tht stattments had betn given 10 Ihe plaintiff•. CiII'It had manipulated its booI<:I by rKOrdin,glSlets il did not own and by omittin,g substantial amounts of Iccounts paYiblt Ihereby making Iht financial stalem enlt incorrtct. When the fraud wn discovered. CianI Stores
THE ALAwtA LAWYER
filed blnk ruptC)' procttdings, and Iht pllintifh sou ght recovery from Iht accounllntJ. Tho Rosmb/um court began iu uu.ty. tis with the premist Ihal a CluSt of Ittion for negllgtnl misrepreKnlltion is I Itgllly sound theory if <lS5trted by lilt diTKI recipient of the informalion. The court ilio Ipprovingly noted lhal fWM'ry ofeco"omic IoI.J due to ntgligenl misre!":tstntalion had""" ~n aVilliblt. ' Inasmuch I i privity hid betn abindontd is a prtrequisilt 10 recovery of «onomic Io$s in products liability casa." the court uUd metori_ cally why the prMiy prerequisilt should remiin in other Cilts lounding in tort." The t(lurt rtjllied that the only objection to up.1.ndtd liability wn a felr of boundless Ittions IIld III "undue burden on tht dtclannls, when bal· anctd against the functions they performed. "" Relying on public inteTeSI and fai rn ••• , tht court ..asoned that "[t]he auditor's function has oxp.:onded from thai o!. walchdog for ITIanllgemtnl 10 an indtJll'nd.nt ovalualor of lhe adequacy and fairness of financial st.temtnts Inued by management 10
stoc kholders. creditors, and olhtrs:" Accordingly. tht cou rl concluded that tho accountant's liability for negligently prepand linlnciil stattments should extend to any fOTtstuble UMT. I rule which might force Iccountlnts to "mgago in mo'" thorough rtvifW$. .It In 1976 the American Law Institute idopted iIId promul~led I standard of li.obility which bib bttwm1 the mtric· tive rule of fJ/1~mJiI Al/ian« and tilt tlPlnsi .... rule of Rounb/um. Stction 552 of the Ralalemenl (5«umI)afTam wended liability for flfi\i · gent mi ... pruenlalion to I "lim ited group of persons for whose benefil IIld guidana he intends to wppIy the inIormilion o r kn1)WS thl! Iht rtcip ien t intends to supply it" Thi' rut. apands liability bqQnd the "our privity" standard idopted by tho Court of Appeals of New York. The Rulattmenl uprtuly di5Claims liibility to "Ihe much IlrgtT class ...fIo might rta$Or'oably be expected SOOntT or lattT 10 have Icceli to tht information Ind fortstubly 10 lake some action in .. Iiance upon il .... • Wh en Ihe Supreme Court of Mi lSis· lippi confronttd tht inue In 1987. il
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Julyl994 / 227
found four ~ltefnlt iv~ ~~prenion5 01 tho rulo: tM Ntw York rulo of /R1,amora and Crrdil AJlkmcr. tilt New Jtr· lot)' rule of RosmbIum. tilt RtsW~ment rult Ind I drcWon {,om CooHfomii in which the tourt bl.1~nCfll vuio\u fac· ton." The court lrWIlyud these fou r rulu is involving only three leYels of 10rueubiHty: A known third party (Cmfi/ AJIi~). I third party who hiS Ictually been foreseen (Res/alemenl). ~nd ~ rusonably lortRubl~ third party (RruenMum ). Tht (ourt held Ihat "an independent audilor is liablt 10 reasonably fortsttable users of the ludi\. who request Ind rtctiv~ ~ finlncial Jlattment lrom the luditod onlily for I Pros>or busineu purpose. lind who thon detrimontilly reLy on Iht financiil fblemenl, wlfering a \oI.s, pnWJ1"\IIuly c.;I~d by the luditor's ne.Ii!lt'nCf .... Among such rusonibly forueuble USt", according 10 Iht Court, are i"""stors, ,mliton., vmdors. and insur. ers who regularly rely on ludits." Th is wn the contUI in wh i.ch Iht SUprtm. Court of A\ablm~ fi rst con· fronled Ihe inue in 1989 in Colonial Banlr u. Ril/leg 8- Schwe~/." Colonial Bank WII I creditor of I..MIy Mortgage Company who$e lIlnual flnmciol statemonlS wne audiled by Ridley & Schwtigtrt. In lilt course of iuditing the finaoci.11 Kittments tilt lICCoontants Wed CoIonill &ok to rapond to standard bl.nk WflfinNlion inquiriu, and I.udy furnished Coloniil Bank with a copy of och of lhe mntlilaudits. I.eidy filfd for bl.nkrupky and dtfaulltd on ill; incltbtfdnw to CoIoniil Bank. 11K trial court gnnl~d summar}' Judgmenl in bvor o{ the accountants Ind the Supreme Court of Alabama affirmed btc.;luse Ihe relallonship belween Ihe KCOUnlanll; and the b.lnk did not reach the leYel of nellr privity roquirtd uncltr the C"dil Allwnu rul •. ll>t AlabaJ1"\ll alUrt ~fd tilt New York rult by RIying on lilt perslWiw authority of the C"dit Allio>/U dtcision." Tht court cited with approval Judg( C~rdozo·, Uilroma,,' 09inion which up ...... d Rlucunce to imPOSot I rule which -J1"\IIY upcm iCcountlnlJ 10 I liibility in an Indderminate ~nI lor ~ indttermi_ .... t. Ii ..... to 1Il indeterminate claM. ..>I Th. Coioniul Bonlr d.cision also affirmed summary judgmen t On Ih. fraud claim l~inJI Ihe aCCOuntlnll;." 228 1Julyl994
but thll wn not con,iltonl with the principia ttt out by JudI/< Cardow in lhe /Rtromora cut. Cardozo Iw:I distinguished betWHn lhe people 10 whom lilt iudltor owt"d a duty of tlrt and tht people to whom it owtd l duty 10 mm, ill; «rtiflCilt without fraud: Praud includes lhe prttelUt of knowletlgt whtn knowltdit there il nont. To cr~ditOFl and in .... J\or' 10 whom Ihe employer exhibited the ctrtificate. the ddendanls owed i like du ty to make il without fraud, .ina Iiltre WII noti« in the circumstances of its J1"\IIking thai lilt tmployer did not intend to kHP it to himxlf." Judgt Coordozo also txplaiotd: (vtn in opinion. upeciilly an opinion by ~n up .. t , may b( found to be frlUdultnl if tho grounds iUpporting it art 50 flimIY II 10 Iud to th. conclulion th<lt th(re WlJ no genuine Milt! bl.tk ofi\." DaKd on the tvld.nco before it, the cou rt concludod lhal Ihe tvicltnce of negligence was suffICient 10 sustain an Inference of fnud. thai is. "without inlorJ1"\lltion leiding to" sinCOR lfId lIt""ine btlid when they corti. Aod to III Opinion thlI tilt bl.w.a ohHt faithfully rtfItcted the condition of lilt busintSL ... , Sina the duty 10 malee lilt ttTIific~le without fraud utended to crediiors Ind invulors to ..·hom Ih. ctrlificlte h~d bun exhibiltd, the Ullrumures court r.vtrud tho trial court·s diJminal of Ihe fraud claim and reinstated il for a new trial.'" Thus. the SupTtme Court of AI~b~ma had bttn more rtJ\riclivt in Cdoniol Bonk than Judgt: Cardow Iw:I bftn in tnlramores. In Bo¥lrin the Supreme Courl of Al'himi idopttd a rule thai -limi ts lCCOWlWJts' liibilily to JpeCiflClllly io«1m! lfId limikd ifOUp!5 of third partie! fo r wholt benefil Ind .uidince Ih. iCrounting firm supplied tilt financiil informltion ind who uKd it is the iCcounling firm inttnd~d il to be UM'd ..... Boykin and the other plaintiff, we r. share holderJ in Stcor Dank, and they alltged lhal Ihe accountanl. acting in conctrt with the officers and direc· Ullramorll~
tors of the cornpin)'. refused 10 disclost J1"\IIurialliibilitiu and bjltd 10 disclost thTft}Urs of losses ilthough it alltgedIy knew tilt true financial condition of the !Unk. Tht Ir ill courl grinled a motion 10 di$llliu undor Rule 12(b}!6] on the ground thai tilt plaintiffs weR not in ""ntiT privity" with tht accoun tlnU. In ldopling tht ne ... rule. the flotI/rin court invoktd Stction 552 of lilt R.stat ...... nt ~nd upl~intd thai it Wall '"lime lhat Alab.lma move fo....ard ..... Policy conlidtr~tionl. rather Ih~n Itgal logic, x.m to motlvat. the itdoplion of tMH various rulti. Tho Court of Appeall of New York _mtd more WfIcerned in preH""ng accountants and otlltr proftsaionils from immeuurablt pohntial liability. Convtutly. tht Supre .... Court of Now krsty rejrct~ INt concern in order 10 fora lCCOWllanlS 10 "tnSig. in mo .. thorough Ttvi.wl .... Th. RUIII.mont. on Ih~ other hand. oplaintd INt ill; rult lim,ltd lhe righl of rtcOvtry to thost who have I reuonabl( tomlntrti;ll expect.a. lion Ihat tht mak .. of Ihe c .. l ifical~ will bt rnponsiblt \0 them. None of theH policy reasons IpJl(ar to be sup· ported by any tvidenct or otlttr rational tonclusions. The boundless liability which so affected lhe Court of Apptllll of N~w York il unsupported by iny tmpiricll ~dtn«. On the other lide, th( Ntw Juuy Court·. b(litf Ihll boundl", liability would foru KCOUn!lnlS to tngig. in mor~ thorough RYirwI wu supported only by tilt opinion of studtnt I;I)mmmlilors.>I Th. B(J¥lrin decision will ctTliinly h<lvt imporlint implications beyond the accounting profenion. A public ..."igh.r began 1M lint of t.UU. and II Coordozo pointed out in UllromarfiJ. liabilily for ntgligtnt miJTtpru.ntation "will utend to J1"\IIny calling. other lhan ;m auditor·$."fI CardQ1O·s eumplu wtrt lawyers mol tillt companies. 1ndttd.liI·
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THE AU\BAMA lAWYER
bilily has bem IIOIJghl with varying sueonly iglIinslliwytn" and tille abMra.cto",,- bUI Ilso engiOttrs," lermile impKton," and .. rchlttdJ.... Tht Resl .. lemtnt rule .. pplin by ils own leTTTl$ 10 arty(IfIf who $Upplits intonn. lion in , comm.,ci,1 uUing, SO Ihe d.us of ddendlnts il limittd only by lilt pi.linlilfs irNginllion, With so mlny cattgoriu of potenlial ddendanlS, Ihis QUse ohction dHt~ mort ClIrdul Krutiny, Who clln r'(over? Tht Restalement limilS 1'ttO'Jt!)' to: «SS no!
Iht person or one of .. limited IlrooP of persons for ,,'host bent' fit 1114 guidlnct [the ~ftndintJ intmds to wpply tht information or knows that t ht rtcipient inlmds to suwly,"
Obviously, thot dtfmdinl till be liabit tilt deltndint intends to rely,
10 UI)'Ont
Sut whit doH it mun 10 Sly that tilt provider of inform .. t ion is li.. bl. 10 .. perion or one of a limited group to whom he "knows" Ihal tht recipitnt intends to supply Ihe information? In &!lIkm the Court found that the client's st(l(kholdus constitu ted .. IlrouP to which Arlhur Anderun "kntw and understood" ita opinion wu dil'fded," A«ording to tilt &gkm Court; There must simply be lome cooduct on tilt poort of tilt Idtfm<bnlSl thaI t\'idtnCt:I Itht ddmdanlS' l understanding lhat thotir opinion will bt relied upon by .. rusonably forutable and limited dus of persons," Dupile ill Inl'OClltion of the Restatement rule, tht Court', addition of "fore_ senbUily" to III formulation signifiClintiy expands the pe1'SOl'\S entitled to recover, Th. RUtiltment requi res that tht ddtndlont "know" the limited group to whom lhe rteipimt intends to wWly lilt inforrnalion. Yet tilt Bogldn Court ..Iso lIlOIt:I: The Reslatement rul. limits ICCOUnlS' liability to .. speo;ifiCll1y foreuen .. nd limited IIroup, of third parties for whose bentfit and guidance the accoun t ing firm ,upplied lhe firwKial information and who used il as Ihe accounting fi rm intended it to be used,"
Contrary to Ihis usertion by the Eklfldn Court. tht Ru:atement txprtsSIy rejects forueubility," \\-'lly thm did tM Court slip "'foruenbility" into its diKussion? !'tfhaps it munt to tqUlO~ "sptcifitilly foreuen" with .. knO"1n limit~d IIrouP," If -,,>, the Court hi.t netdleuly confuud the clarity of the R~ttmenl" Mcm likely, tht Court is simply upanding the Reltilement for lhe bentfit of fulure plaintiffs," Another aspect 01 this cause of action ;1 t he temporal requi rement of tht dtfendlnl's knowledge (or foresight as tht tiM' may btl of tht plaintiff, The prtunt ttrue of lhe Rt$lI.ltmtnt sug_ gests lhal tht knowltdge muSI ni,t when tht dtltndint SUWlies tht informllion to his recipient." II is .. t this time that tht supplier must choos.t his compensation, and it WOIlId be unfair to pennit tht rteipimt to UpInd tht ""p. plier's potenl~ liability by wbM'qutnl· Iy informing the lupplier of .. wider diuemilllllion oItht information. Evi· dtnet should be limited to the supplier's knowledge at tht lime the informllion was delWertd, In Firsl NolKPwl &mJr of ComnK'l'l:lt
~, Nonco Agenc6, Inc.... the ditnl received ils 1980 audit from Arthur Younll, and thr .. mon ths laler tht ditnt dtlivtm:l tilt .. ud't to .. boonk in suppOrt 01 MI appliQ,\lon lor I loan. At 1M lime i\ delivtrtd tht audit, Arthur Y(lIJng WU ulllWlJ1: 01 tilt loan lp!lIicl_ lion, Tht Court's discussion of tht evicIenct dots not emphuiu 1M timing of the t\'tnlS whkh it considered, but tht Court Stited: l.ilbility is fi~ed by the .. ccoun, tonl$' particular knowledge at Ihe momenl the .. udil is published
......
Reliance ;s another element of Ihe RtSlllement rult, ,nd the pl .. intiff's reli"nce must reilit to" t r"nSlction tNt tht wpplitr inhnds the ,n(ormalion to influenee 0<' knows that tilt m;ip. imllO intends or in a wbstantial· Iy similar tr'lllllKlion,"
The iswt is simple if lilt informalion relale. to I transaction lhal Ihe deftn, dint inten~ed to innuence, The prOO·
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For mOre information, please: call M,rk Gallagher or Les Hankes al 4<lo1'99.o<140 or fas 4<lo1'95J.o~70
CAMPOS
&
STRATIS )ulyl994/ 229
l~m
ariJu when th~ pl~intiff mtuly oontn'Nb tNt the drimdant knrw tNt 1M recipient intended the inlonnilion to influence I specirlc trallSKtion 0' I subst~nti~lIy simil~r Ir~nill.lion. In ~km the C<lmplaint alleged tNt the luditors failed to discloK mal~rill iiibilititli and lonu. The BOllkil1 court !WIer disc~ tht ru.tu .. 01 the traru_ IClion s in which the co.po.llion', stockholders rel ied on the ludit~d fiNrotill )(.ottmen'" nor did the rourt discuss Iny ~ction that the plaintiffs took. o . fo.bort, in nlilnct on the audittd fin.anNl sbttmm'" A«oJd.intl to Ihe opi nion, Iho plaintifft mt.tly "amrted that tht)o rtlitd to thtir dtlfiment on inaccu . ate financial .eports· ctrtifitll by th~ defendant." In TOUCM Ross u. ~llJnion louuTQna Co. ... an iraurance company .. Iitd on certif~ fifWlCilIl state menu
when it il.lutd a fidelity bond 10 the subject 0( the ludil. Thr court approYtd
In instruction to the ju ry which allIMoN rtWIIf)' ag.airat 1M auditor if the jury found tNt lilt auditor should ~ rUSONbly foru«n tNt an enlily ....ch as tht iMuranct company might rely On the audit It don oot mention Iht nature 0( the transaction lImong tht rtquir.mtnts for recoYtry. Thr Rut.>ttmtnl imposu liability for ptcunilry lou uuud by justifiilble rtlillnct UI)OIl 1M information ."",,11td by the ddtndant: othe .... ise. the R..L1tt .... nl don not cow. issuts of Cilusation. Po. enmpl., if II lend. r .. lies upon iI negligently prepa.. d audit in making iI It.,n. will the auditor .lways bt IWlle 10 the lende. iftht borrOwt r ddaulu? MuSI tho inaccuracy ull.tt to tht ruson lor the default' In lUuritits f"ud usn, courlS dist in-
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uam To:
Make t he best use of motlons
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this dynamic program wl!l enhance your skills to build p rn?(;-r foundations a nd demonslrale how 10 p resent your e~pert to judge a nd Jury so they want to believe. This wi]] be the Clnly Alabama semlna r conducted by McElhaney Ihis yror. For Informa tlo n call Cumbuland at 870-2865 o r ]·m888-74S4. Tho P"'I'''" will IN MI4the 4.y bo-forc the AI.b ..... A"bum 'ootboll p _ In Ilnni"'ha .... Cwnbo>rllond .--.wd .limlted n.. mbl-t- oll"OOm •• t tl>eShenoIOn Ovic Center HOifi in Binni"5ham /or Now",~ 17" 18. 1994 for OUr .,..,inar p&.dclp&llt .. Can tlie Sho-raton at n4-5000 and....-serve your hottil"OOrn "fly!
230 1Julyl994
guish bttw.. n mi ... "ruentations which merely induce the plaintiff to mtff Into tilt tra~ion iUId murtl'" rtKnlllions whkh ..lat. to tht plaintifl's Ioss." For eumplo. if i tumil. insptctor noglil/tnlly certifi~s the iraect-f.te WItUI of a dwelling. ~hould the bu~r he ptrmi lled to tender tht proptrty and rto::oM. the full purdwt prin or merely fKIJ"Or
the difk....-a in v.tl ... or tOIl
0(
"!)I.ir1 The 8o¥km decision wu ~ on tilt pludircs. 50 thtrt is no gu~ on thesot questions d ~ Can the information provider limit its lW1ilityl Could. say. the auditor reslrict its liability by simply stating that its certificalion is intended lor the benefit solely of its cli.nt and no one tbe? Tlto Ul/ rama,e:,IC, .dit Alliance decision ,uggtsU tNt this question '"'"" not be ~ btullK the only eligible plaintiff is 5Orlltbody who. for III pradial pur· postS. ...-u lhe intended m:ipitnl ol 1M information_ Under tht Rtstatomtnt, h(lWi:~'. ,uch iI limi tation might bt imporllnt evidenct of the defendant', intent ion Or knowledge. The Rutatement i, silent. !xJo".~r. whetht. luch a limitation would be binding. Of coune the $Uppl;"r ol information could 'imply mUM: to aM the infOl'll"lition if ht were info rmtd Ihu the ncipienl intendtd to PiSS it on to SOIMon. ~be. Under tht "forueubili ty · rule of Rosmb/um tilt lObility to limit liability is more important, rnd the New Jerst)' court .turly stattd that tho informalion supplier can limit its liability." Logle ilso suggests that the infOl'll"lilion ,upplier .hould bt: pt . mitted 10 limit its IWlility. Tho duty to xt with un ui ..1 in I contrllctu~1 <;(lnlelt . Tlltrdon, tht contu.' il II suit~blt medium for dtfinintl the duly. II third party should hi~ 00 hightr ca!)l.(:ity for rtc.Ol-'try than tilt contracting party. FiNny. il is fair to ask whtther the &Jgkin decision i. really an eljllnsion 01 existintl Alabama law. Tho i/Uwe. is. probably not. Tho Rutattment .ult requires iI negligent misropmm~tion. In 1I1,~ma it his long bftn tho rule that ~ misroJl1UtnL1tion of a maltrilll fxl mad~ by mi,take lind inl"lOXtntly and iettd upon by the opposite poorty constitutes legal fraud." TItus. undtr IIli~ma law. it is not (VOn lItCesNry to prow negligence in Clroer 10 .. co.... r for
a mi.\repreuntation. Th e rul iuu e in tht cases which began with Glanzer is w~ther a Ihird party can rKOVer for the misrepreunta· tion. The Supreme Court of Ala bama has recently amwered. ~5. to this QU1'$' lion in corm«tion with innocent fraud. In Thomas II. lIalsltad" a patien t attempted to reC(lVtr for a misrepresentation made by hil dentist to his medical insurance company. The trial ",urt granted the dentist's motion for Summary judgment. evidently ~cause the misrepresentat ions _ro not made to the plaintiff. Relying on the statutory right of action fOT innocent fraud. the court stated: In Alabama. it is oot always ""C· ewry to prove that a misrepresenta· tion was made dirtttly to the person who claim:; to have be<>n injured." Un/ortllfl.1tely. the CO\lrt does not ana· lyze the circumstance. und .. which a third person IT\iI}' recover for an innocent misreprntntation. and no mention is made of any of the alte rnative standards con. ider.d in the Bovkin decision. If innocent misrepresen · tations can be the subject of a cause of oction by a third person. then logic sug· gests that the. right of re<:(I\'Cry should Ix restricted to substantially the .. me type of recipknts M provided in the. Restatement. All professionals who issue opinions and certifications must be .ware that their work product can be the """ree of liability beyond their own clients unless they take an active role to limit the dis· semination of their opinions or "rtifi. cations. More impOrtant. the decision in Thomll.'i II. lIo/slead suggests that such liability may won be expanded to innocent. rathtr than negligent. misrepre· sentations. Otherwise. an unruolved distinct ion exists between these two areas of liability for misrepresentation. Until such lime as the Supreme Court of Alabama resolves Ihue qu estions. professionals will labor under a mea · sure of uncertainty as to the scope of lheir pOtential liability. •
Endnote.
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TIIEALABAMA LAWYER
-PATTERN AND PRACTICE:
DISCOVERY AND USE OF EVIDENCEA
Defendan t 's
P erspec t i ve
By: Charl es D. Stewart. Edward M. Weed and Philip G. Piggott
I 31 t
•
e~UH ~ 1M cunplu foundation which is used \0 try 10 introdl.lC4' tW.knce of coI"'t·
ent ktS 01 misconduct in a trill for fraud. many pntli t ionns shortcut !tWiT aNtysis of the lradiliooW ruks nglnJilllllhis type or fVidfn«. As a SO~ confw.ion ui't$ in the UHJ. and (ar 100 much "lIenlion "t trial gou lowud trying 10 deciphe r what the cu rTf'n1 "'W i. wilh ...,gard 10 1M admiuibility of such evidence. This
,.,,,,It,
article is written in an att empt to TIlE ALAIlAMA LAWYER
review some of Iht buic prinei"l .. nQuding Ille admissibility of ot hu iKU. IIopduUy. this "rtick will pl'OYick 4~rs and juqu ~ buie guide· linrs 10 use in dull", with rvidrna of coIlate ....1misoonduct. As with ill)' ira oIlhe ~. the but stuli.., point for aNtysis is thc genenl rull: of law which ~r')'OnI: agrees upon: One of the cllfdiruol principl ••
of the common law is thaI a pt.scm', characttr. 800d or b~d, offered for tM pUl'J)O$t of showing
his tondud on ~ specified occasion. is not prowble by f'Viclen« of his specific ItU Or COUr.., of
conduct. The policy Mhind this rule ill tNt the ft«1'Iion 01 such ~ would rr:sutt in .., intot· tnble COI1hWon 01 the issues.
••• ••
The pruent princi ple is one th.1ot h.u bw1ttnmd the 'gmer.tl uclusion,uy rule of ehu l ett r.' Collate r~t acts of /I liti gant ;I re gener all y inadmissi ble when Ju/yt 99oi f 213
off..ed to prtM' that the litigant w... of a particu)." , ch<lratter and acted consistent therewith On the occ.uion in qutstion. Camble. Mee /roll's A/abama Evidence, 4th ed. 1991 § 26.0 I{l). White there are ""ceptions to this generat rute (di5Cuued below). th e "intolerable confusion" which re,uU. from the jury's reception of collateral acts 01 misconduct provides a sound reason by itsell lor excluding reception of such evidence. More importantly, however, the general exclusionary rule is probably bas.d upon the poti<:y that it is fundamentally unfair to convict, or 11o1d liable, SOmeOne for a particulor att when the only evidence th at they did the act is that the;' have done other bad acts. r ..... wou ld disagr« with this basic premise. the past. under certain exceptions to the general ..elusionary rule nor· ma lly applicable to collatera l acts of misconduct by a party, the courts have allOWl'd evi dence of collateral miscon· duct. One such ex""ption is lor collater· al acu of fraud in an action for fraud. Two clear requiremenlS for admissibili · ty, how""" r, unde r the fraud exception which has remained steadfast for 100 years in Alabama i. that such acts mwt be similar and must be prown. Nelms ~. Sieiner Bras., 113 Ala. 562, 22 So. 435 (18%) (citingJohnslon v. Br. &mk Mon/g omery, 7 Ala. 379 (1845 )) ; Cor/wTighl v. Bra/g, 218 Ala . 49, 117 So. 4n (1928); Creal Anwriam Ins. Co. ~. Dover, 221 Ala. 612,130 So, 335 (1930); Shelbll Mllillat Ins. 0,. 01 She/by, Ohio v. Roision. 369 So. 2d 285 (Ala. Cwo App. 1979) (in addition to similari · ty, proof of collateral acts of fraud is required); Don:at, Inc. v. Xerox Cmp., 398 So, 2d 665 (Ala. 1981) (court did not err in excluding evidence of coli at· e ral acts ba,ed upon doctrine of res inter alio. acta and quutions of materi· ality, rel evancy and r~ mottntu as determined by trial judge ); Ex parle Siale Form Mul. Ins. Co .. 452 So. 2d 861 (Ala. 1934 ): Robinsrm v. Xierce, 513 So.2d 1005 (Ala. 1987) ("The idea that a complaint f,led in one action can be introduced in aoothe. action to establish the truthfulness of the all egations
In
234 / Jul~ 1994
in the complaint transcend Our e.tablished rules of evidence."); Xab,'v. Brady, 519 So, 2d 912 (Ala. 1981); Polomac Le<uing 0,. v. Bu/ger. 531 So. 2d 301 (Ala. 1988); Ex porle Georgia Casuall1/ and Su rely Co .. 531 So.2d 838 (Ala. 1988): Massochusdls Muluol Life In •. v. Collins, 575 So. 2d 1005 cerl. den. 499 U.S. 918, III S.C!. 1306. 113 L Ed. 2d 240 (1991) i"ln onler to admit other, false representation.'! in a fraud case, the other representations must be similar in nature to those alleged in the complaint, ... and the transKtion must be of ,ubstantiall~ the same character."); Hams v. M & S Toy· o/a. Inc., 575 So. 2d 74 (Ala. 199 1) (prejudicial effect of evidence admitted coo""ming oarHer different settlement of fraud claim held to haw oU!\o,'eigMd its probatiw value, mtitling defendants to ""'" trial); Associates Fmonciol Ser· vices Co. 01 Ala., Inc. v. Borbour, 592 So. 2d 191 (Ala. 1991). As ,tat. d, evidence of a party'J past acts cannot be generally offem to show that party acted in conform ity with such acu on the occasion in question; however, as noted. the Alabama Supreme Co urt hu stated that th~re are certain situations where prior acts may be admitted into evidence. The uceptions, it should be remembered, are exactl~ that - uceptions; and the exceptions should oot be allO'\'l'ed to eat up the general rule. Uke any other form of evidence, in order for the court to permit evidence of !imilor representations to others in the past. such representations mwt be reltwn l to the issues being litigated. Car/umghl v. B,ol1/. 218 Ala. 49, 117 So. 411 (Ala. 1928). It would also 5Hm to go without saying that the actions of a person whose conduct is not on trial cannot be material or rel evant in the trial of one whose conduct is being ana· Iyzed at trial. e.g. what one emplo;u did on one occ.uion would ..em to be immaterial in dete rmining whether a second employ« mentall y fonnulated the intent todo a similar att on another occasion without any knowledge of t.... first empl~e's actions. There is good authority that, absent an allegation of Iraud, evidence of collateral misconduct is not even discoverable, much less
admissible. Ex porle, Mobile FiX/lire and Equip. Co .. Inc.. 630 So. 2d 358 (Ala. 1993). Thus materia lity and relt· vancy are always consid erations. If in fact fraud all tgations do exist and prior representations are permitted as evi· dence, the trial judge should caution the jury as to the purpose and legiti . mate bear inS of the testimony .egarding those prior representat ions. Cortwright , 117 So. at 480. This type of evidence can be handled through twopart jury instructions . Cups Coal v. Te,m Riwr Pulp & Pop1! f , 519 So. 2d 932 (ALI. 1988 )(adIIocating instructions regarding limited purpose admissibility). It is evident that prior acts may be admitted into evidence if ,uch evidence falls within the broadly d~ fined inter_ pretation of "si mila.it~ of character ." ,\t the present time, however, the re appears to ~ no set standard for the courts to use in determining the mean· ing of similarity of character and thus there are some dispar~te holdin gs in the case law. As trial judges have wide discretion in thei r authority to pennit, or exclude evidence, the c.ases are difficult, if not impossible, to .econcile. In Newmrm v. Bo,,/rers Fidelity Ure Ins. Co., 628 So. 2d 439 (Ala. 1993) the court reviewed the issue of whether the trial judge e rred when he disallowed evidence regarding the sale of a life insurance poliCjlto a third party. The evidence was purpo rtedly offered to show pattern and practice in a fraud action, The Supreme Court of Alabama held that such . videntiary matters ""<!re fully within the disc.etion of the trial judge and refused to ovtrlum the trial judge', ruling. In refusing to find that the trial judge abused his di$Cretion the court stated that, "in order to admi t other false representations in a fraud case. the other representations must be similar in nature to those alleged in the complaint. and the transaction must be of substant ially the same charact ••. " at 442. Apparently, the appellate court left the d.tennination of similarity entirely with the judge at trial. The trial judge. therefore, appears to haw a wide area within hi. discretion to detennine whether prior acts by the defendant are of a similar character.
"''''''"man.
THE AlABAMA LAWYER
In ilddition to determi",tions d .imi· larity, the trial ooul1 must nWcf other determinations with regard to evidtnu of coll.iteral misconduct. In .ome insuncu. then dtlermin.i llons may lIlso lead to the uclusion d ~nct d coIlatHJI m~!lct. In 1/QTrU D. H" 5 To,%. Inc., 575 So. 2d 74 (Ali. 1991). the court upheld the order granting a ntW trial afler evidenc:t was in1roduc~d of I'iUt sdtlemtnll r~ach.d by an au tomobil. dtaltnhip. Owllowing wch Mdtn.c:t to pTCMt II 'Pittern' by the dtfendllnt. Ihe court held IhIIllhe pnjudicQI etr«t d lestimony concern· ing the lIulomobne d.lIltr'! ",,\IItmrnt 0( prior fraud claims, outwoeighed tho probat ive value of the tutimony. The rourt atso rtcogni.ud the gemral policy d encouraging ""ttltmrnt. Ornying the .dmi»ion of tht prior $tllitmenu in ~nct the court held: It is the gemTlI rule thllt evidence 0( an off.. to compromise or settl •• c laim will nOI be nceived lJ an admission of the Pirty mUing lhe offer. An df.. d "gntment to ""y, or tWn ""y' ment, in 1M WlI)' of oompromist. II 001 lin admission of i..... bted· nflS no. of any fllcl from which indebtedmss rillY be inftmd. Iklrris, 575 So. 2d lit 79.
If. in flld. a dtcision is rNde to let in evidence of collllterlll miKonduct. il Ihould be borne in mind Iht thtst other acts must mHt the Qme r"'luirt· menu of any piece of evidtnc:t. That iJ, hea rny. the bul evidence mi. and Atto rney/di.nt privilege for tumpl •. may abo M roadblocks to gelling thts.e collateral acts into evidmu. In "-ort, in order to Idmil proof of similu KIll, such evid~nc~ must b. proven by lIdmiUible evidtnct. In DJurlesy Ford Sales, Inc. v. Clor/(, 425 So. 2d 1075 (Ali. 1983), the court refund to admi t inlO evidtnct prior lICU by lhe dtaltTJhip when there ...-as no evidence lIS 10 whdher the vehicles sold in the p.ut woen in fad sold as ....... or U$td. The court .L!.ted Ihllt. 'Iwlhm a clilm is made for punitive damages, proof of similar misrtpre$tnL!.tions rilly be offered to show Intent to deceive.
The otMr fraudulml I~ions. haw· I'Wr, must be uL!.bliohed by lIdmissiblt eyidence; me re TUmor of frlud on the part of Ihe part}> is not lIdmiuible evi· dence lind CinOOl $t~ as II ~is for finding f""ud in II Iller I"n_tion.' Clark. 425 So. 2d 1I1 1078. Su o/~o SIwIbv Hu/. 1m. Co. ofSltelbv. OIrio D. RaIsIM, 369 So. 2d 285 (Ali. elY. App.
(979). Similarly, unproven allegation. of misconduct woen 001 admitted to prove intent in the case 01 RobinsofI D. Kie;a. 513 So. 2d 1005 tAlL 1987). In Kie;a, Ihe pillintiff SOIlghl 10 introduct ....,. dence of I prior lawsuit by I third party against the defendant to prove II pattern of fraudulent behavior. In diJallowing evidence of the prior lawsuit. the court ltloted ~t. 'I llhe idea that I complaint filed in one lIdion CiTI be Introduad in lInother lICtion to establish the truthful. ness of the ilitJlltioni in the complaint traructnds OUr ~liJhtd rules of eyj. dtnc:t." Xierce, 513 So. 2d it 1007. SevtTlli trial court decisions, h<M-wer. hlIvr been uphtld on the b&tls thai the trial j~ did not ..... hislhtr dis<:u, tion in permitting ~nce of coIlateTllI KU in order 10 pTCMt II common plan or Khemr. In S/rQoIs Ford, I~. u. "'cKin""N. 605 So. 2d 1197 (All. 1992 ). the court permitted tutimony of witnesses to M Introduced into evidenct in ~gard 10 the lad Ihllt false repr.""nL!.tionJ had ibo bn:n rNde to them 1.$ 10 the phyoi. c.al condilion to the whicles they pur· chlIstd. The purdlllSes by the witnessts had otCIlmd within II period txtmdiT\ll from ippTOJ.imat.1y row months befon the plaintiffs transaction 10 approxi· mately nine monlhs ilfter the plaintiffs tTlnNction. In upholding lhe ...,idtn· Ii.t.ry ruling 01 the tria.l judge. the court held thllt "telvidm« d limilu fr.loudulent acts is admissible 10 Jhow II fraudu· lent inttnt, plin, or kheme. proYidtd that the ~ts sought to M proven met! the requirtrnent of similar it~ in nature md pTOJ.imity in time: HcXintwN. 605 So. 2d lit 1200. It woold lIppI!arform the holding in McKinne,. that the triil Judge considered prior leis is ,,-.:-11 is IhoR occurring ilfter the incident in question to be considered when reviewing the ...,idtn~ for the r.quirt"",nt of proximity 01 tim •. Such would apl>"aT
ir'lC(llUistent with I()nII! (lIStS that hold {Jtll, prior acts art admiuible evidtoct in such situations. S"e t.g. Xobel v. BrodN. 519 So. 2d 912 (Ala. 1987) (Allhough put dulings 011 party with I non""rty ITt norma.Lly ududtd lI, irrtlEYmI. this prior condUCI bKomu compettRt when the inltnt d the party ii in iuue). In Vol""l"", v. World Omni Uasing, Inc.. 601 So. 2d 1006 (Ala. Ciy. App. (992). fraud wu alleged lIJIIlnst both the principal eom""ny Ind its litnt. The leu« oIlhe iutomobile brought I fTllud in lhe indu«ment cbim ",inot the lessor of lhe lutomobile. The trial court excluded evidtnce of alher .imibr misrep~$tnL!.tions thlll ~re made by diff.renl .. I..man nOI nllmed in th~ suit. The Court 01 Civil A/!ptlo!s. howev· er. held that the evidence should have befn ldmitted. The coon stlted thaI. .....hile tyid~net of ,,",il dulings of II part}> with non·partin i, gfneTlllly iml· ...,ant. when the intent of the party iJ It ISlUt, Ihat party', prior conduct and leis on other occasions which hIIve II Mllring on that Pirties intent in i sub-
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seQutnl action i. competent evide""e." Volomtine, &01 So. 2d al 1009. Th. court in Volomline, appear> to IIavt exceeded the traditional ·.imilar in nature· rule and allO'o'o·ed not only • .,i· dence of the parties· prior ac15 to prtM' confonnity therewith, but al'" third par. ties' ac15 to pro.-e the dtfendant acted in conformity with other parties· actions. Another cau which appurs to have • tretched Ih. commOn law to beyond il.limit is Davis v. Dauis. 414 So. 2d 654 (Al ... 1985). In Dads, the court held thai th. Irial judge did not abu •• hi' discrUion by admitting inlo evidence te.timon~ of a similar repreunt."ltions m;uI. by the defendant toa third person ttn )"ears after the alleged misrepreun· tat ion was made to Ih. plaintiff. The court held that the actions of lhe d.fen· dant ove r the ten ~ ear period w.r. "COOlinuing in nalure." In dealing with Ihe i.sue of ·proximity of lime· the court slated Ihal "whether or nOI Ihe offer 0/ "'idenc. will ~ denied on Ihe ground of remoleness is a question to b. decided by the trial cou rl in Ihe • ""reiu 01 sound discretion. and such ruling by trial court will not be rewOO on appeal unless il is plain that nrOr
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was commilted. Davis. 474 So. 2d at 655. lIecause of tht "continuing in nalure" 1}"]le fraud, """'·.wr. the situa· tion i. Davis apl>ta" di.t inguishable from most cases. Thus, as is ..ident, some trial judgu in A1Ibama, supported by the Alabama Sup rem e Court·s wide discnlion allowed to trial judgts. appear 10 have broad.ned tht common law in regards to the ·similarity in nature' in allO'o'o·ing evidenct of collaleral acts beyond its intended realms. This broadening of the common law may hilw also allOW<'d, in .Ome instaners. the exceplion to become the rule. One problem wilh Ihis is that it overlooks the basic rusons why these rulu w.rt establish.d. In particular, it O\... rlool<s the fact that The general law. with regard to simi· lar ac15 of defendants. as st."lted in CJ.S. is as lollows: Evid e nce of similar acts or transaclions is inadmissible when irrel.vant 10 the issues in Ihe eau. Thus. the law will not con· sider evidence that a person has . Or has not, dOM a cert.?in let at a particular time as probative of a con tention that he has. or has not. done a similar act at anothtr time. One vise Or moral derelic · tion cannot be proved as a cir · cumstance to show the existence of another not necessarily o r vitally conMcted with it as caust or effecl. II is clear thai a person cannot be ,""","II to haw done an acl by tvidence that another per· son has done a similar act. although both persons art" under Ihe control of a single manage · ment. 32 C.l.S. Evid.nce § 519 (J964). Th. common law don allow the exception of admitt inG evidence of col. lateral acts where such acts are perti· nenllO lhe issue in question: Evidene. of a cou ..... 0/ conduct Or dealing"...y be admitted whert" perti ntnttoan issue in the cast.
Therefore. the burden is On Ihe p~in· liff to proW!. in ord.r fOT evidence of prior acts to be admissible. that the ewnts SOUGht to be admitted are not merely similar . but Ihal the essenlial elemen15 are the Iolm • . ThI' plaintiff must not only prow thilt the elements wer e the !-arne but the plaintiff must also prO>.... that the ropr.· stntalion made to him in the underly· ing action WaS in fact false. In McElroy·, Alaba"... Evidence § 70.03(1) (4th Ed. 1991). il states.: It appears Quit. clur that the plaintiff may not prove that similar fal.e r. pnsenlations wert m;uI. 10 others in the absenc. of evidence that tht repr, untation to the plaintiff was inde.d fabe. Another way of st."lting this rule is
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Although, Evidence of similar fac15. condi·
236 1July 1994
tions. or occurrences is inadmis· sible wh.re nOI perlinent to the issues in the case. Thus, in Ihe .b,onc. of a showing thai the essenlial conditions w. rt Ih e Iollne , an issue as to the .xistenc. or occurrence of a particular lact. condition. Or event cannOI be proved by evidence as 10 the exis· tence or occurr.nce of other lacts, condi t ions, or event •. al t hough Ih ey are. in .ome respects .• imilar. 32 C.l.S. Evidence § 58J (1964).
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THE AIAHAMA LAWYER
that prior acu or the dtfendant. st,mding alone. aonnoi form the basis of a judgmtnt that he acted fraudulently in the pnstnl trans· action. Once there is evidence that Ihe rCllnnnlation 10 th p!lintiff wiS falH. the pllllnliff INY then oller t\idtn« 01 simibr repreHnlation. 10 others about the Umt time for the purpose of boblering the conclusion thaI the repreHntalion 10 him WiS false. Such Is lIdmissible ~n though lhen is 110 eridtn« wunnti"lla finding thaI the mi,repruo:nlllions wUe I parI of" common plan or scl1m1e. Gamble I: 70.03. from the defeodan!", perspediw. the inili.l.l OP\>OSition 10 tht introduction or coIlale ...! evidenct should be lhat the pLiinliffhu /ailed to ~ that tM up. rue nlltions allegedly madt 10 him wtrt flbe. If such can be shown. it would aulomaliaolly follow that no evidence of othe r .imilar acts would be admissibll: 10 provo: th.i.t the repnsenll· tions rNdt 10 lhe pLiinti/l' in the p",. Hntlldion ..,.'" !Iolse. A ddendmt"' first tine: 01 dtfense .. to oppose broad. general discove ry ",qutStJ eoo«ming other claims d«i,ion •• compt . ints. and I,wluits. etc. Unlike the federal TUlu. Alabama Rule 26(b) dots not conlain specific I"nguage limi:ing the diloCOYtry on matters which the court Iftm$ unduly burdensome. oS« ALl. R. Civ. P. 26(b). ~.td. R. Ciy. P. 26(bJ. Neve rlheless. Alabllma courts haw recogniRd • ...thal the right to di KO\Itry i. not unlimited. and the trlll court has brood powers to control Ihe uH of the process to pre~nl its libuse by lIny party". Ex ('IJJ'le McTier. ,414 So. 2d 460. 462 (ALI. 1982). Citi"ll CQmp11t1l Il. EQstland. 307 F.2d 478 nrl. den .. F.;aslt<md Il. Campbttt. 371 U.S. 995. 83 S.C\. 502. 9 LEd. 2d 502 (I963) and Delong CQrp. ". wros. 138 F. Supp. 805 (S.D.N.Y. 1956). In limit· ing unduly burdensome and overly broad discovery requuts. Alabama courts hrIt iruisled that the inforrI\llion JOUght be limiled to both I r&SOllable time and <I !usoNble gcographiaoi a.tl. Ex Parl~ Slal~ Farm. 452 So. 2d 861. 863·S64 (Ala. 19841.
"1 E: AtARA."1A l-' WYE R
In Sia/' Farm. the pl<linliff alleged thaltht insu",.s rtlenlion of invalid policy prwi.ions, without notifying il$ insureds of the irwalidity of Iht provi_ ,ions. rorutilut.d .. fnudulent nationwidt schtmt. Id. at 862. 1M lIfOYisions dull with uninsured motorist btnriil$, and pUrpOrtt'd 10 prohibit stacking, in conlrllvention of Ihe Ilw of Alabama and /I host of other jurisdictions. Id. Despite the fact that the policies were iSiued nillionwide, lind the .. tained proviPons "''fre innlid In many other jurisdict ions, tht AI,bama Suprtmt Court htld that tht pilintiffs gto· grlphicll scopt of discO\ltry would be limited to AlabalTli. Stale Farm al ~. Tht court furthtr limited discovo:ry 10 a re;u.onable lime framt (appro~imately ten )'Un) .... hich it fell wu sulfidenl to tStabli$h the pLiintifl', tLiim.ld. In Slate Farm. Iht (ou rt dud National Slatu Insurrmct ('(I, c. JorIn. 393 So. 2d 1361 (Ali. ]980) in support of ils decision to limi t the scope of plaintiff's discovery. On. of the ... rlitll cuu 10 dtal with this particuLir ITta of dlsco~ry. Jones limited discovery of Insurlnee company informal ion to II fM )'Ur period. JorIn at 13M. Prior to the court's dt<:i$ion in Stol. Farm. the court faced nearly idenliaol
illutl in Er Pari. Alfslol. InsurtmCfl Co .. 401 So.2d 749 (All. 1981). In All_ slale. the cou rt htld thl! pl.intifr, mot ion 10 com~1 had been p ropt rl~ grlnted whe", lilt plaintiff limited his diSCO\ltry to similar cLiims within the !btt 01 AlabamIo and within tho LIst two )'U1'1.ld. II 750. 7Sl. Another taR decided prior to S/ale Farm was Ex Pari' McTier II, 414 So. 2d 460 (Ala. 1982). Unli ke AIIsII1I~, and Stale Farm. McTier II was deCided in noninsu rancr conlni. McTier II irwolvtd the .. 1~1y fnudultnt ull: of I burglary prottction $)'Stem. td. lIl46l . In sllrk contrast to tht insumlCt cues, the cou rt denied a discovery request concerning similar all egedly fraudulent uln wht .. such requtlt was limited 10 Nl .. within OIl\' coonty ()W:r .. two )'Ur period. td. at 461. 462. Thus. il would appur thaI &d1 taR is clur!y dt<:ided on its own circumstancu. Sin« Stale Ftmr/ in 1984. the court ku continued along the Nm. lin.. it Ulablished in thaI ca". Su ~.g. Er PQ rlt Ceorgia CaJuaU, and Sur,I, ComP/1l16. 531 So. 2d 838IAla. 1988). In it, most rtcent discussion in lhe artl. Ex Pari. Mhtr . 569 So. 2d m (ALi. 1990). the court WU afIordtd tho opportuoily 10 discun the Cl5e law
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""""II. Fl. 3J4(l1 Julyl9!M/ 237
developments subsequent to Siale F~.
It must be pOinted out initially, that Illougil tile Ash~r court ordered pro duction of documents o;,ver defendant's obj ections tllat sucll production WaS unduly burdensom e, tht burden in Asher was substantially less than in the casu decided previously: "especialiy when comPllrw to the numbers of files the oourt orderw productd in Ex Parle Slate Farm and t:x Parle Ails/ale". Asher al 738. All in all. Ille Asher disco~ry dispute invol~d approximately fifty (50) fiI ... /d. In Asher. ill5ureds who had placed their insurance through an agency brought suit against th e agency when the insurer cho.. n by the agenC)' ran into difficulties_ {d. at 734. When the plaintiffs. alleging fraud in Illeir complaint. sought disoowry of similar sales by the agency. the agency objectw on grounds of unduly burd ensome./d. Unlike tile Siale Farm and Allllate cun. the Asher aliegations involved only the local act ions of one agency.
Asher dealt only with disoowry requests regarding local transactions and local insureds. Therefore, e~n though Ille discovery p.rmitted in Asher may appear broad. the limitations set by the court sewrely confined tile scope of dis-
collateral act evidence and whether or not it meets the simila rit y tests in accordance with Alabama case law. At the hurin8 on the molion in limine derendant must be able to demonstrate the pertinent facts of the cue at lIand and tht detailed. specific facts of eaell collateral act witness«' testimony and transaction. This should be presented to the court through deposition ,ummary and claim fil e documenWsummaries if appropriale. Most courts will consider the motion if the '''idence belore Ihe court i. sufficient ami the oourt ha:; had an opportunity 10 study the motion before the hearing. Defendanfs last line of defense is to 0pf!<>Ie the introduction of the collateral acts offered as e"idence at trial. If the court did not rule on the defendan!"s m(}\ion in limine (or .""n if the court denied it. in whole Or part) defendant must be prepared to object to the evider>« al trial when presented. The previOWl denial of the motion in limine (\on not alleviate the need for an objection 10 the admissibility to the collateral eviQe"""
~o·
Therefwe, the ddendant must first object. if appropriate. to plaintiffs disco~ry requests of information which exceeds the parameters of those cases cited aJ:><.>vt, on the basis thai it il OV\'rly broad and unduly bu rdensome. The defendant must demonstrate that the right to disco;,vel'}' is not unlimited and that the court does haVl:' pO'WI'rs to oon trol and prevtnt abuse by either party. Defendant's next line of defense is a pretrial molion in limine. A defendant should alw<\ys file a pretrial motion in limine directed at collateral act eviden«.l'resurnabl)' a pretrial oonference and order (tllis is a must) will lIa"e directed plaintiff to disclose all witnesses. Through discovery ;rndIor inw>tigation defendant ~houl d M able to fully determine the ~ub~tanct of plaintiff.
UNTIL N::w, TInE CCI\1P.A.NlES WERE Al'DlIf AS EASY 10 CDMPARE. These day .. a kII oftille compani<s claim to be
fi.....cially souOO. But \00 oIien. whal !bey pro<mIe "'" isoW<d r:ltios and SllIIisrn lhaIare 001 a "'" mea"' ... of frnanci.al strength. In fa::<. ""'y are oI\I:tJ misleading. At M~ppi Valky Tidt, ,.., sa'" the IWd fCO" Slandardizoj cJaj'"'"l"'ying-~b(jjty
ratings fur tidt insurtr<.
Th"fs why". asked 10 be rated by S!ardard & Poor' .. w. """'" ~""" an A. - ..... higbesl rating fI<lm S&P in Ih: title industry to dal< - along willi our affil~ and coWldo:v.TilOr. Old Republic Nalional TItle I"""""", Company. "no received an A+ rating fCO" the second year in • !OW. As!< ancd>tr titl< ~ fur Ihcir rating from Sl3ndard & Poor' .. If they don't have one. ask ,,'hy. Then call Mississippi Valley Tille.
• •
• •
••
•
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TITLE • •• ••• INSURANCE COMPANY 31 S T<lIllbigbee St=t. P.O. Box 2428 Jxkson. MS 39225-2428 {O(1 ) 969-0222 {1lOO) 647-2124 (ALJMSITN)
238 1 Ju ly 1994
THE: ALABAMA L\\\IYE:R
lit trill\. 8ufIr II. Ala. farm Bur. Nul. DIs. /ns., 576 So. 2d 17S 1991). BeCllUIf of the nllture of such evi· dtnu and its pottnti.&l.ly hinnful elfm on the defendant. lilt defmd.ull lhoukl request. befort such tviden« be plactd befort tilt jury, II voir dire examination of Ih~ wilneu to tnllbl~ Ih~ tourt 10 oucnllin whtther the evidtnce m•• U Iht similarity lUI of admiuibili ty. Judges usually art rtcepli~ 10 such a request. This procedure is valid even though the .. hllS bun in nlensive (VoIluation of such tvidtnce befon trial beaux the trial.:ourt i$ in a much btl· Itr pos;lion 10 evll""I' tht Nidtntt lIrod its ~rnissibilil)' when il is coming from lilt witncu Jbnd and is wbj«t to
w...
AIQ6ama LQw¥lr. Much 1990. Ihe pillinl,ff "'lIS entilled to almost urt~ bbnche ~mis.sibilll)' for coIll1ltn.l lIdS 01 mlKonduct 'n frllud lind bid filth ~
....
While tht utent of the VlI!idity of thi$ ugumtnl wllS never fin~n~ detid~d. mlIkts Ih. ugumtnl moot since pattern Ind praclice evidtnce Is 00 longer n«usary to avoid a punll;I't darnalle cap. Cober v. Khalaf, 628 So. 2d416(~ 1993).
Hend"ron
CONCLUSION A ddendlnl. in In ICtion for f",OO. liKed wilh ~ sitllltion whl'rt the pbin· lifrs attorney is mort Ihan liktly to ",ist lilt ~ 01 "pattern and prxt.lce"
~Id clurly Ht forth grounds under whi,h Ihe ,ourt should grllnl its Motion in Limine prt(:luding testimony K to MI)' prior acu. The prtHnt cut 1.1.... is fairly c1ur. w;lh only I ftw unptions. lIS to the parlm~teT1 which prove plln. ;nlenl andlor schfme. II is dear thai Ihese param~te rs must be met in orde r for evidence of collaltr~l &CIS to be admit· led and Ihal Ihe pla;n t iff must first prr.JVe thit there was II misreprtHnta· lion made. Aft .. which plaintiff Ihen Jus Ihe burden to provt that the evidence soughl to admitttd i$ pro...,n. similllr in nature and occumd in clur prolIimity of time to the occurrmu In
.
~.
cross ewni~ion. One finll note. Ihe.. sums to be 10ft of I,.u.arus like attempt to UK lilt lerm "p,lIlIem Ind priclke". This phrase is dud lind hllS no meaning oth.. Ihan to confus. Ih. i!.Sut even mOTe. Becaulf the Alabama Supreme Court Struck down lilt Cap on l'uniti~ damageJ, evidenet is 00 longer ;ldmissibit on Ih~ grounds Ihllt it ;s nud to show a "pallern and prOl(li,t" of tondUel enlilling plalnliff 10 dimages in ncn.s of the statutory CIII). One: of the pllinli/l', nQt frtqutnt ugumenll for allowin. coIl1lt",llIru inlo evidence "'lIS lhil such mdence "'"" ntCt$$lIry to cil"CllJTl\'Ol'nl lilt statu· lOry ap on puniliw ohmages enKIed under lOTI rdorm. In flende rson v. AlabamQ Pow,. CQ .. Ihe Aillbimll Supm"" Court $trod down lilt c:ap on puniti~ damagts 1ft forth in Alabama Code 16·11 · 2 1 (1975. as amended 1987). Prior 10 Iht statuU being declared unconstiMi~I, lilt only way to get around the (.ap w.u by showing Iht ctrla;n lypU of cOnduc l Iud occumd. One: of lhut I)'ptS of conduct involved II "plUern or prlletic." of inttntiorW wroneful conduct. If it _re demonst",led ~ IrilI! thaI lhe defendant hid en",ged in II p,lIttem or p~lice. tilt pl.l.intifl could be entitled to damages in netu of tilt ClIP. Ilastd on the need for Ihis Iypt of evidtn«. lhe plllin. tiffs bar argutd.~, •.fI .. &\"id Marsh. "The Tori of lIad Filth and the S250.000 Punitive Damages Cap" The iII.MTIO
TH~:
ALABAMA lAWYER
Cumberland School of Law of Samford University Presents Negotiation: The Lawyer's Essential Skill Featuring Paul M" Lisnek. tD.. Ph,D. Friday, September 23, 1994 6 CtE Credit Houn Sheralon Civic Center Hole] in Binningham Program Highlights:
** * *
How nollo give It aU away Learn how otheT negollators think to bette r approach them and their positions Testing ot he r negotla to!"$' positions w h ile con trolling you r own concession s Mas lering n on verb;ll behavior so yo u d o n't cave in d uring the last m oments of the negotiation
Alabama a llomey' agree Lisnek's a p pr03Ch 1$ refresh ing.. h is delivery concise, smooth and a d mir.lbly entertaining. Don ' \ miss the opportunity to heil r this celebraled speaker a t h is only Alabama appearance. For information call Cumberland a t 870-2865 or 1·8Q0.388.7454. Th.
p"'sr~m
wl1l be hold Ih. day befOf. \h. Al.b . .... T" .. n. foolb.ll "'_ C .. mb<rland ........... ed a lI",iled numbl'r o f """". al ,ho Shcr.loro Clw c..n~ in Birmingham for Scpl=blT 22 " 23, 1m fOr our ...."IUT ponkiJllnu. 0.11 'h~ Sheraten II 324.sooo and .....".".. )'OU' 1>0101 100m ",rlyl in Binnlnst..a m.
July 19'}4 I 239
DISCIPLINARY REPORT DI... blllty Inactive Stat ... • William Ea5<'HI Mitchell , an Alobuter attorney, p(titiontd the Disciplinary Board of the Alabama State Bar to be placed
on
ai~bility
inactivt status pursuant to Rule 27 of the Rule. of
Discipli nary ~du r. (Interim) contending that he was disabltd from 1M practice of law due to substance abU$('. The Disciplinary Bond. on March IS. 1994. app roved Mitche Il 's ",,!ilion and ordtred that he be transferred to disability inactive . tatu. and prohibited from the practice of law in the state
or Alabama and shall not fOlium. active statUI until ordered reinstated by the Disdpl inary Board upon a showing by clear
and convincing evidence that his disabi li ty !las been removed and that he i. fit to resume the practice of law. The Supreme Court of Alabama, on AprilS. 1994. tran.f.rrt<.! Mitchell to disability inactive status. effective March 18. 1994. IRuie 27«1, Ptt. No. 94-021 Re instllt_nt • Jad< £dwud Swinfo rd. a Talladega l.lwyer. was r~i ru;tated to the practice of law by order of the Supreme c.:.urt of Alabama effecti"" April 8. 1994. (Pet. No. 94·01)
Notice Mark M. Hull, ilttomey at law. whose where·
ab outs are unknown. must answ er the A(abama State Bar"s formal disciplinary charges wi thin 28 days of July 15. 1994 or, thereafter. the charges contained therein shall be deemed admitted and app rop ri ate discipline shall be imposed agilinst him in ASB No. 93-382 before the Disciplinary Board of the Alabama State Bar. [ASB No. 93-3821
240 1 July 1994
Suspen.lon • • On May 26. 1994 Birmingham lawyer C. M ich.~1 eren,1m< was suspended from Ihe practice of law for a period of 90 d.ly$ by order of the Di$(;iplinary Board of Ihe Alabama State Bar. Crenshaw was employtd to probate an ~Itate and misap· propriated and converted to his own u..e a pOrtion of the proceeds of the estate. Crenshaw replaced lhe money in lhe estate !>efore the di$(;repanc:y was di$(;owred but his misappropria · tion del.lyed the cI~ing of the "ltate. The Di$(;iplinary Board found lhat Crenshaw·, conduct con,tituted a violation of DR 102·04 Which provided that a lawyer shall not misawrOpriate the funds of his client by approprialing 10 his own use funds entru,ted to he. itrtping.IASB No. 93-1ZZI • By order of the Supreme CQUrt of Alabama. Birmingham attorney Dwighl Lee Orislrill was suspended from the practice of law in the State of Alabama for a period of two years. effecti"" Apri1 5. 1994. Drilkill .....as further ordered to make restitution in each of the three ease, invol,·ed. Driskill failed to r",pOnd to the formal charges filed by the bar and failed to attend his duly noticed disciplinary hearing. In one case. Driskill was hired to help place a parolee in a drug rehabilitation program. Even lhough paid 10 render legal .. ",ice. Dri.l! ill failed to do so. Driskill's failure caused th e parolee to be transferred directl y to prison. Driskill failt d to refund the fee and failed 10 cnoperat ...... ith the inwstigation of the bar cO)mpla in\. Rules violat.d wer., DR 6· !0!(A) and A. R.P.C. 1.3. (willful neglect); A.R.P.C . L16(d). (failur. to refund unearned fe.); A.R. P.C. 1.4(a). (failure to k•• p ditnt reasonably informed): A.R.P.C. 8.1 (bJ. (failure to reSpOnd to dioeiplinary authority); A.R.P.C. 8.4 (c). (engagi ng in conduct involving dishonesty. fraud . d('C~it, or misreprerentation): and A.R. P.C. 8.4(g} (.ngaging in conduct ad,·.rsely reflecting on fitness to practice law). In the second matter. DriSkill acc'pted • retainer to repr.sent a client in a oom('$tic relations maner. Driskill failed to take any action O)n behalf of Ihe dient . failed to keep her informed. failed to relurn h.r telephone calls. and fail. d to return the untamed fee . Driskill <lIla fa iled to) reSpOnd to r'peated written and telephonic reQuests of the grievance committe. inwstigating the complaint. Rules viol.lted ·. ..~re! DR 6101(A) and A.R.P.C. 1.3; A.R.P.C. 1116(d). 1.4(a). 8.1 (b). 8.4«). and 8.4(g). In the th ird cast. DrislciU .....as referred a criminal matter by another lawyer ..... ith the understanding that Driskill, the client and Ihe referring lawyer would agr.e upon th~ fee Driskill would receive. H~r. unbeknownst to the .. ferring lawyer. Dris kill sel a fee of $1.500 which eventually esc alat ed to $9 .00(1. Some 55.000 of the amount paid by the client to Dri'kill wali fo r restilution to be made by Ihe client in the cri mi""l matter. Driskill faile<l to ma kf said restitution. failed to perform the agreed· upOn legal ..",;ces fo r the client. and fai led 10 ma ke THE AJ.A1lAMA 1.AWY£R
any refund of 1M misappropmttd funds. Driskill;tlso failtd to mpond to tM ~r griroJance. Rults vioIattd ~re: OR 6·10 IW ~ AR.P.C. 1.3; AR.P.C. 1.I6(d). U(II), 8.1(b}. U(cl, 8.4(g). 1.1$(11) ~ (h) (wekHpi"ll proporty of II client), ~ U(d) (~i"ll in <:OtIduct JmjudieW to tho llllministniion of jus. tia.).IASH NoJ. 92·02. 92·178 ~ 92·21)21
• On AprilS. 1~, the Supreme Court of Alalwnlo lUSptOO. td Gllllsdl.n IUOrTlr!' John FAlnnl Cunningham for II ptriod of 4S days, dfectiw from lhat dale. Cunningiwn was swptnd· td for willfull~ neglecting I probate matter M was handling lind for flliling to keep his client rea.sonabl~ infol"mW. He also faikd to rUpOnd to lawful demands for information from a disdplinaf)' au thority. A ddault judgment was enl~red &gaill$t him. Cunningham flIiltd to appO'ar at tho Maring to dtttrmine dis<ipline befou the Dis<iplinary Board of the Alabama Stille Bar. lASH No. 13·1261 • By emit. of 1M Supume Court of AIWm.l. CtntH /lltor· Caf)' Edoorin DII..tJ was sUSptndtd from 1M PfX\ice of law in thr Sble of A1abama lor II ptriod of 60 day$. dfectiYt April 19, 1994. Davis' suspension was twfd upOn the following
ney
-
In ASH No. 92·27'9. Davis representtd tilt elt«utrix of ilIl tsl/;Ie. lie failtd to ente. into ~ moinWn II dOT ftt ment. and fu.ther fliled to ketp his client informed. Divis failed to compl~ with the disc.:rvery mandatts of the court and in so doinS caused his client to be rel11<Md as uecutr i~ on two separate occuions. The Disciplinary B~rd found that ~vis' conduct was in viol<ltion of the following ruin: OR \ . I02(A ){6). (misconduct): A.R.P.C. 1.3. (diligence): A.R.P.C. l.4(II) & (h). (communication); A.R.P.C. 1.5 (b) and (el. (fen); A. R.P.C, 3.2. (upt dit ing lit igat ion): A.R,P.C. 8.\11), (bar IIIIrni»ion ~ dikiplinary mailers); ~ A.R.P.C. M(g). (mi$-
".tt·
"'""""). In AS8 No. 92·280. DIIvis I,'IS hired 10 reprumt clirnts in II d.il suit. "'hm thr climts qUQtioned[lavi$ i>bout thr filing of tho wit with <;OtICtm MIouI the statute oIlimitations runnilll out. ~vil misrepresented to the dienl5 that the suit Mel ~Irtady betn filed. In /lddition. Davi$ falsely indicated to thr clients that tllte cast had to be rtfiltd d~ to ct.uin alleiltions that could not be prowd. Davis furthtr failed to communicate with his clients about Lhe statw of their case after it was filed. The Discipllnal)' Uoard found lhat Davis' conduct was in viola· tion of the following .uln: A.R.P.C. 1.3, A.R.I'.C. 1.4(a). A.R,P.C. 3,2. and A.R.P.C. 8.4(t}. [n ASB No. 92-380. Davis rtprtstnttd clienl5 in I conttsted guardianship pf'OCftdiT\ll md subsequent iWQl. In thr~. the opposing puty tiltd ilIl ....-.:nrous IlIJTUTW» of the tt$limony taken in thelowt. tour!. DIIvis railed to not. or object to the diKuPUleies in lh. lumrmry. and further failed to fite an ljlptllite brief on bdWf 01 his dimLL Tht Discipli~ BooIni found that 011"';1' conduct ...-as in violltion 01 the following rultt AR.P.C. 1.3. A.R.P.C. 3.2. and AR.P.C. 8.4(1). (iI) and (g). In ASH No. 92-436, 0IIvi$ was reliintd to rep.-tstnt climts in their attempt to p.Operty whkh hIIII brtn miltaken· Iy transferred. Davis flliled to taOt action on behalf of his clients. causing them LO lose any ability to rttOWT thr pl"O!lt •• Iy. Davis further failed to keep his cli,nU informed 1S to the status of IMir cast. Davis failtd to .espond to uquests of the
.tc<M.
THE ALAaAMA t..\WVER
Disciplinary Commission for Information uQllrding this com· plaint. Tht Disciplinary Board found th.o.t [lavis' conduct was in "';ollt ion of the following ruin: A. R.P.C. 1.3. A.R.P.C. 1.4(1). AR.P.C. 3.1. t ..... ritoriou.s claims Vld contentions): A.R.P.c. 8.1(b). ~ AR.P.C. 8.4ta). (h). (e), (d) ~ (gI. In AS8 No. 92-464. Oavis was to TtpreKIlI I clie-nt in a wit for patmt infringe .....1ll [lavi$ ~r mtd weh wit on behalf 01 his client and furthrr falsely repmenttd the st/Itu.s 01 the fictitious cast to the elirnt. Tht Oisciplinaf)' Board found that ~vis' conduct WI$ in violation of thr followiT\ll rules: AR.P.C. 1.1, (tom.,.ttnc",: A.R.P.C. ].3, A.R.P,C. 1.4(h). A.R. P.C. 3.2 and A.R.P.C. 8.4{cI and (g). IAS8 1'10$. 92.279, 92-280. 92·380. 92436 and 924641 Public;:
R..,.;....nct.
• On April IS, ]994. Mobile attorney Richard R. 'Ai Uianu pled ~uilty to II public rrprirTWld with 1ff.......1 publication lor hMng violattd the Rults of l'nlfnsiooW Conduct of the ~ . IIIi Sbte Bar. In 1991. Williams represented William Dtts. Sr. on ljlptIllor his <:<:I<IYiction of pounsion ~ distribution 011 controlltd wbsta.noc:e. I'urslWltto thr eonvIction, the FlIlhIIII seized I motor home ~ I shrimp boat whim klonQtd to \ht; defendant. Williams coot/lcttd Mr. ilIld Mrs.. Albert Dtts. Ihr brothtr ~ .,sler.in·law oIthr defendant and asktd them to post bond in the MnO\Int 01 $(.500 to .edetm the motor home
WE SAVE YQUR T IME ...
ameli
Now Iopl ..;,earch "SI~ aVlllabie "hotn you ......:I ~. "',.-, ,'''' IItCoI'SSlIY of addm, a full·""'" as_III'" Of t>
L E G A L Aesea rth
cln~.
Wi.h acce!oS'o'lIe Sill< Law libr.ry 01'<1 We,daw. """ po-ovide fall arod efflcienl ;,er>o<:t. for de.dli ... ".«t. "'C con dtLivcl infom>.'ion 10 you vi. comn\Oll can", •. f ederaL E. prr". Of fAX .
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Assistance conlact: Farnell 112 Moore Building Montgomery, AL 36104 Sar~h K~ lhryn
Call (;lOS) 171.7937
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and shrimp boat Williams did 001 use ~ TOOrIty 10 post bond ;and 101~d the dw;Ili .... !'or po$ling bond to run. Thtrnftcr, Williams lUempttd 10 kerp ~ $4,500 as lOn 1011Omty'$ fer, dupite lhor flOct INot thor brolher;and sister·in·l"" Nod ntV!. III'ttd, eithorr ",rtNJly or in writing. thlot thor IIlOOflI could bf ~ 10 pay hil aUOnlty's fH or lor my PU'1"* OIher thln J>O»ling bond. Williams look Ihe 14,500 out of his Irust xcount and mislopproprialtd it to hil own use. Willilml kept the mOnty for lOpproJimatcly a yUT and a hill and only relumtd it U IIIrt of the stUlemenl of a civil aclion filtd in lhe Circuil Court of Mobile County. The Disciplinary Board accepted Williams' plu of guilly to a violation of Rul. 1.151b) which r.qui r.. a lawyer to p",mplly deliver 10 a Ihird person any funds or ollll:r property INoI a Ihird person is tnlilltd 10 uai", ind promptly rtndt. a full iccountinll rtprdinll such property. The DiscipliNry BolO.rd also rtQuirt<.! thlot ""ollilml m;tkt rutitution to Mr, and Mrs. ~u for lellal upcnKS intuntd by them II I rnult of Williams' actionl.lASB Nol. 93.fl291 • On MiTch 18. 1994. Bi rmiRllhllm lIUOmty Donold T , Trawick _ lIi",n I public rtprillWld wilh gtneral publiC;)· tion lor No_illl/ vioWtd thor Rules of J>ro(wioNl Conduct and thor Rules 01 Discip!i"",T)' Proctdurt 01 lilt ~ Sl;Ilt ~r. In July 1992, Tl'3Wick was tmployed by RicNord Pirtle and Robert BoIfi 10 file i motion for a temporary rUlnininll order lnd ,uit !'or damagtS for brtach oIa non-complttt provision of a salu conl ract. The motion for Ihe lempor~ry rutraininll order and Ihe suil were 10 be filed immedialely. Thereafter. Pirtle and Uoffa made K'\Ienl auemptS 10 contacl Trawick con~ming thor sl;ltw 01 their tMt, bul Trawick refused or biltd 10 communieate wilh lhem. In Oclober 1992. wlll:n Pirtle was fiTlo1L1y able 10 conlacl Tl'3Wick. Trawick falstly represmttd 10 him th.i.1 ~ lUil hid bHn liltd lind was stt!'or INt. ThtruIttr, Pirtle contxted thor court ind found tNot no suit hid bHn filed. SubHquently, Trawid! falstly ~Ied to hil dienti th.i.1 he had 1051 or mispiaad ~ir fil~ When lhe file ....as Iutr wltd, Tnwic:k ailin misrtprutnted to his climu tNI lUit Nod bHn liltd, Th<,,~f\tr. Pirtle ~nd Boffa filrd a romp .. int with lilt ~ SLale ~r ind T'1T.oilck fiiled Or rtfused 10 rtSpOOd 10 lhe oom· plaint Th< Disciplinary Board determined lhat Tnwick's con· duct conltituled i v;ola l ;on of Rule l.l of tht Ruin 01 Professional Conducl which requir. s I lawyer 10 provide com· petenl rtprtsentation 10 a clienl; Rule 1.3 which provides thai .. I,"'yer shall not willfully neglect a legal matter enlrwted to him; Rule 1.4(a} which states a Ia"')'tr shall k«p .. climt rti· 5Omb1y informed i'boul the sl;ltw ollilt matter ind promptly comply with ft~ rtquom for information: Rule l .5(c) which rtqU;ru conlin,.nl feu 10 bf in writing:; Rule 8..4(111 .... hich prohibits I li~r from tngallinll in conduci Ihil advm.1y ftRtcts on hi!; filnt.sllo practitr bw; lind Rule 2(d 01 ~ Rules ofOiscipJi"",Tl' Proaduft which prOVidts that discipline ffiI)' bf impoHd for wlurt 10 mpood 10 I r'tqUUl. for information from a wi g~'aTICt rommittH or lhe Offi~ of Gentral CoulUtl.lASB Nol. 92·533) • On March 18, 1994, Haynt\lille attorney Harold I.- \\1110n ....as gi",n a public reprimand with general publiCillon for having violattd the Ruin of Profusional Conduct of the Alabama 242 / July 1994
Sl;Itt Bar. In 1993, Wilson ....~ Ippointtll by lhe Circuil Court
d loIo'ndts Cwnty to rtJlftstnl two stlllnie indigenl crimi· "",I cues on ipptil. ~It bfine gWen two uterulons by lilt
court of crimi"",llIPPtIll. Wibon biltd 10 m. eililtr brief on a timely basil. n.. britfJ Wibon filtd lale ""'" rtjected by ~ court and other counstl ..'U iP\'lOinttd 10 •tp.esent his client&. Wilson providtd thor court with 110 ~tion 01 his b.ilurt 10 file thor r'tquirtd briefs on a tirnrly basis. The Di.dplin.1ry Comminion of Ihe Allblm.1 Sute Sar delmnined thai Wilson's conduct ~ described aboVf consti· tuttd a violation of Rult 1.1 01 the Rules 01 l'roIeuional Con· duct, which providtl that an attorney shall provide oompeltnl representation 10 a dienl. and Rule 1.3, .... hich prO\'ideslhat a lawyer SNoIl 001 willfully negltct .. Itpl matter tntrusltll 10 him.lASB No. 93-4751
• On March 18, 1994, Moullon itlornry Rod M. AIuandor ftCtivtd a public rtprimand with ge .... ral publieation for haYiOll violated thor Ruin 01 ProlwioNl Conduct 01 lilt ALaIwni!. $tole Sar. In JiIlIW)I 1987, AIuIondtr was employed 10 represent Roy 0, OIi",r in conn«tion with I WOlkers COTTII'ftI""'tion claim. ~ 10M. or misplaced Oliver'$ medical ftOOrds and f~iled 10 depose 0Ir.'tr'. tratiOll physician until fi", yean lfttr lilt iCCidenl. whm ~ doctor's ftOOlltction was cloudtd and sonw d the records "''trt unavailable for rtvitw. Alexander .... as .. tt for the dtpo$ition 01 i critiCiI medicil wilnell for lilt ddtnd.:onl and miSstd Ihe apportuni!)' 10 cT()S.$.exarnine 1111: wilness and impeach his leslimony .... ilh rtcords. Th roughout the course 0( Ihe rtpreKntation. Altundtr fail,d or rtfwed to rttum Oli",r', telephone ClIIs, rtspOnd 10 his ttnors Or othtrwi .. communicale with him conceminilihe stalW ol his cue. When Oliver filrd i camp.. inl ailirut Alwondtr. he failed to respond unlil rtquesttd 10 do 1(1 thor third time by lilt Offi~ 01 Gtncnl Counsel Thr Disciplin;ory Commiwion delermined INoI Altnnder's Ktions vioIaled Rule 1.1 of thor Ruin of I'rtftssional Conduct which proo;;dts th.Jol I Ja,.ycr shan provide oompt!ml nprt· Knl;ltion to i dient: Rult 1.3 which provides tNt I la""),l'r shall not willfully T>qIJect a\tgal maUer enlrwled 10 him: and Rule 1.4 which provides INoI a la~r shall keep i dienl rea· sonably informed about the status 01 tilt matter ;and promptly comply with all reasonablt rtquUIi for information. lASB No. 93·1791 • On May 13, 1994, Mobile a\tornt)' W, Cary HOOD pled ,Iuilty 10 i public rtprimand wilhoul genenl publiCilion in reSpOllst 10 four sepanl. chaTI/U 01 prafusioru.l misconduct. In complainl 0...., ASB No. 93·172. Hooks WiS rtlaintd by Roberl B. N..... Jr. on July 28, 1992 to filt I Chapler 7 bankruptcy. Ilooks did not file the pelilion unlil DKtmber 1992 and then requtlled in Ultnsion of Iht first helr;n8",toich"'as IInnltd. Wilen lhe htarinQ was mel. Hooks did not ippcar it Iht scheduled time for Ihe haring ~nd Ihe Iwlkruptcy pelilion was dismiSst<! due: 10 hil (ailurt 10 limely file lhe rtquirtd schedules. Neese auempttd 10 contacl Hooks ind lumed INoI his lelephone w~ disconneCltd. Hooks indi_ cattd tNoI he would repa)' Neese the $0150 rtl;liner but did not do 1(1 until after a complaint WII filtll wilh the Alabama State & •. THE AU\BAMA lAWYER
In ((lfIlpiainl two. ASH No. 93-IR Hooks wu rtt.lintd by Jamie W. Sullivan to prtp,art a Chapler 7 b.inbuplcy for which he paid Hooks the sum of $400. Hooks took no action on ..hill( of Sulliv.ln. and ;after ~l'OlCilNltly two )'tars. Sulli· van med a compillini ...ilh the b.ir. Hooks ~milltd thill lit railed 10 prepart lhe b/lnkl'Uptcy ~I ilion i\f\d;tgrttd to refund $350 to Su li ivan but f~HM to rdund the tnlirt: amount. In ~omplaint th ru. AS H NO. 93·249. Hooks waS paid a SI.OOO reta iner by Robert M. Whetler to rt:COWr thru dogs from I kennel. which ... as holding thot dogs as paymtnt for boarding Ins. Hooks did not pursue lhe INlter after sending the kenroel's Ittomt)''' prtlPO$td comp~inl, ;tnd, thus, tht: Ihrtt d<Ji$ wert luctionrd by tho ktnntL Hooks thero .",.,nded lho: compLaint to include danlagu for tho: fnudultnt SlIlt of Iht dogs bUI did nOlhing furthtr. Hookl agrnd to rdund Wheeler'1 re\lliMr fn. but failed to refund lhe tnth amount. In complai nt fou r, ASH No. 93·288. Oonn~ Eatmon paid Hooks $700 10 .epreS!!nt hor in a chit~ support matter, $JOO of which wu 10 cow. blood lUling feu. Th. court rdused 10 ,,11ow thot blood luts and Hooks ~ 10 refund S300 10 Eil' moro. Hooks ...as to 011$0 prtPllre a divor~e for Eitmon bul f~1t<I 10 do so until M1er II rompl¥.int was filed with tho.w. ~ ,.
Tht Disciplinary Board KUPled Hooks' plea of guilty 10 a .,.;aLation of Rule 1.3 which provides lluit "n illOI'I\t)' shall not willfully Mgled a I~I matter enlrusted to him, and 10 Rule 1.16(dl which requires an allornt)' whose representation i, Itrmin.aled 10 refund any u""amed portion of tho: fu PlIid in advance. Th e Oisciplinary Boud furlhe r determined thit HookJ should maltt restilution in each Cut. IASB NO'-. 93· 172,94'114, 93-249 and 93-2881
• On Hi)' 13, 1994. Mobile attorney Jamu C.
pled guiLly 10 I public reprimand wilhoul ~neRL publiClltion for luivil\ll vioIaled lho: Rules of f'ro(nsioNl Conduct rJ tho Abb.i. lTIlI Stale Bat, In 1987, ]>010,.. 11 was re\.lined by W. Todd Pipltin 10 represent him in a fraud and brelCh of warranty suit owr ~II
his purcluist 011 mobile horne. After being emp~ by Pip. kin, Powell f"iltd or rtfustd 10 return telephone calls or other· wise communicate with hll client conceming tho st.'IllIS 01 tho ClIIt, When the ClSt filllily ClIme to tNt in Nowmbtr 1991. I Hltlernent was rtiChtd. ~r, tho: ddtndanl only PlIrtially puformed according 10 the lerms ollhe settle ment agree· menl. In April 1992. Powtll filed a ""'lion 10 It! n ide the oriQirlil selliemeni agreemenl and Iry the cast before I jury. Subsequenllo the filing of Ih is motion, Powell again failed or refused to return Piplcin'l leltphone ClIIIs Or otho:,.,.ise com· muninlt with him concerning Iht slltus of Ihe motion. Finllly, iro />I.arch 1993, after repuled unsllCUSSful allemptJ. Pipltin wls abl. 10 conllcl P~II by telephone and WII informed lhill tho IOOtion 10 HI aside tho setllement was 11110lTIlItiClllly denied if not ruled on ... ilhin 90 days. Powell did not convey this information to Pipkin unlil afltr Iht lime to appeal the denial of Ihe motion had run. Thereafter. Pipkin aUempled repeatedly, wit\\oul succus, 10 obtain his filt from Powell and fin.ally filed .. complainl ... ilh the stale bar. Despile Ihrn writttn requuls for a response. Powell failed or refused 10 rtspond 10 tho stalt boor toneeming Piplcin·. compLaint. Tht Discipliru.ry Iloo.rd KCtJIItd Powtll's pin of guilty 10 a viola· lion of Rule 1.3 which prwioXlthill" ~r shall not willfully neg1tct I legal matter tntrus\ed 10 him. "nd 10" .,.;aLalion of Rult 8,l(b), "ilich provides lhilil iaw)'tr shall not. in conoo:· lion wilh a disciplinary maller, knowingly fail 10 respond 10 a lawful demand lor inlormltion from a disciplinary authorily. ~II was al$O placed on probalion lor a period of IWI) ~a., under terms prescribed by the Office of General Counsel oIlhe Alaboml Stote Bar.IASB No, 93· 1141
• Oro May 13. 1994, Anniston aUomt)' Mark M. 11 .. 11 was aiwn I JlUblic reprimand with general publicalion lor luivi", vioLaled tht R.. lu of f'ro(usional Conduct of lho: AI"boolTlll Stale Bar. In the first cast, lI ul1 "'as OlPPOinted in 1992 tJo,o lho: pmidina: judge of tho Circuit Court of Calhoun eoullty to rep. rt:senl James Wilbum HuShts on "ppeallo tilt court of crimi .
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July 1994 1243
nal appeals/rom his conviction in !he Calhoun Count~ Circuit Court in ~ number CC 91·979. After being so appointed , Hull failed to file a briel on behalf 0( his client. Or to apply for or obtain an extension from the court. On I'ebrua!)' 12, 1993, the tourt of criminal appeals issued an order which found that Hull's failuff; to file a brief on behalf of hi.! dient constituted ineffective assistance of counsel. The court further ordered that Hull be removed from the caS\' and that the circuit court appoint a new attornf}' to represent Hughes on appeal. The Di,dplina!), Comm ission of the Alabama State Bar determined that Hull's conduct as d""'ri~ abooJe constituted a violation 0( Rule 1.1 of the Rules of Profe.. ional Conduct, which provides that an aUome)' shall provide competent represenlation 10 a client; Rule 1.3, which provides lhal a I~r shall not willfully neglect a legal matler entrustfil to him; and Rule 8.4{g), which provides that a lawyer shall not engage in oonduct which adversely reflects on his fitness to practice law. [ASB No. 93·0461 In September 1992, Hull was appointed b}' the presiding judge of the Circuit Court of Calhoun County to represent H"""ard E:. Hughes on appeal from hi.! conviction in Calhoun County Circuit Cou rt to the court of criminal appeals, Aft.. ~ing appointed, Hull failed to communiC<lte with his client, failfil to keep appointments with hi. dient. failed to comply with the appeal procedures of the court of criminal appeals and failed to file a brief on behalf of his dient with the court. The court of criminal appeals sent Hull two nolie(s ad\lising him that he had failed to timely comply with the appellant procedure. and allowing Hull a tOlal of three addi t ional months 10 comply, Hull failed or refused to respond to either of these noIie($. Thereafter, the court 0( criminal appeals dismisse<! Hughes' appeal because of Hull's failure to file a docketing statement and the court reporter's transcript order. The Diociplina!), Commission of the Alabama State Bar
WANT YOUR MONEY
Now?
1994 Directories are in! Members - $25 each Non-Members - $40 each Orders must be pre-paid
244 I July 1994
determined that Hull's conduct as ducri!)ed above constituted ~ violation of Rule l.l of the Rules of Prof~ional Conduct, which provides that an attorney shall provide competent representation to a dient: Rule 1.3, ..... hich provides that a lawyer shall not willfully neglect a legal matler entrusted to him; and Rule 8.4{g), ",hich provides that a lawytr shall not engage in conduct which adversely reflects on his fitness to practice law. [ASa No. 93-051 [ In 1992, Hull was appointed b}' the Circuit Court of Calhoun County to represent Jero ...... Harris on appeal to the court of criminal appeals from hi. criminal convictions in three different CUH in Calhoun County Circuit Cou rt. After being appointed, Hull failed to provide Harris with a copy of the record on appeal after having been ordered to do so by the court 0( criminal appeals by order of March 11, 1993. There_ after, Hull .....as given seven da)'S to respond to Harris' allega\ions that Hull failed to provide him with a COpy of the record on appeal as ordered b}' the court of criminal appeals. Hull failed to r•• pond as directed by the court. On May 6, 1993, the court of criminal appeals removed Hull from Harris' case and ordered the Circuit Court 0( Calhoun County 10 appoint new counsel to repre$ent Harris. The Disdplina!)' Commission of the Alabama State Bar determined that Hull's conduct as described above constituted a violation of Rule 1.1 of the Rules of Professional Conduct, which provide that an attome)' shall provide competent repre· sentation to a client; Rule 1.3, which provides that a lawyer shall not willfully neglect a legal mailer entrusted 10 him: and Rule 8.4(g}, which provides that a lawyer shall not engage in conduct which adver!"ly reflects on his fitness to practice law. [ASS No. 93-168J • On September 17, 1993, the Disciplinary Commission
voted to impose a public reprimand ..... ithout general publiC<l' tion on Bi rmingham altorney Gary Step hen Tetrick. In December 1989, Tetrick was emploY"d ..... ith the !...,gal Coun$el for Senior Citiuns. A dient paid Tetrick a fee to har>dl. a dispute o,..,r poor workmanship on a home roofing job. After hearing nothing from Tetrick for a period of time, the client learned that Tetrick had been terminated from the agency. No file could be located ~nd all of the documents the dient had provided were missing. Tetrick has since leli Alabama and is apparently living sonw..'here in New JeTS\')'. [ASS No.9 t-341]
• On January 28, 1994, Phenix City attorney G.-.gory Kelly rtceived a public reprimand without general publiC<ltion. Kelly was appointed b}' the district court to represent a minor in a juwnile proceeding. The minor was receiving Social Security Administration benefits which, by agreement with lhe minor's next of kin, were retained by Kelly, During the time these funds were in Kelly's po:w.ession, he misappropriated and con · verted to his ""'" use approximately $5.496. Kelly also failed 10 communiC<lte with the minor or the minor's next of kin or to comply with a request for an accounting 0( the mane)' in his possession. Kelly repaid the misappropriated money in full, aft .. a complaint was filed against him with the Alabama Stat. Bar b}' the minor's next 0( kin. The Disciplinary Bo.lrd of the Alabama State Bar determined that Kelly should receive a public reprimand without general publiC<ltion and should remain on probation for a period oft..'OY"ars.1ASS No. 92-881 • THE AlABN>1A lAWYER
YOUNG LAWYERS' SECTION By Les Hayes fIf. president
SANDESTIN SEMINAR
ItI]1
ur Sandeltin seminar in ~lay was ~ huge suc, .... Al most 300 auomoys J.essioru. and 00 behalf of the
~ttend.d th~
AJabama Young Lay,yers' S«lion,lthank those I.w firrru; and b\a;nesses who gra-
ciously agreed to ,wnw. the leisure activitie! a1 the seminar. I also thank our stmina. speakers for providing uS with excellent p",""ntations and u.seful materials. Many thanks al50 go to H.l \\,..1
(Binninghaml. ••.. nl< Woodwn (Mobile) and Roo.rI lIodg. (Mobilel, mernbm of the YLS t;_eculive Committn. who "''ere in charge of organiz ing the seminar, Minority High School Pft-l.aw Confen:nu On ~Iay 6, the Alabama YLS sll'O!UOYI'd the first annual Minority High School Pre-Law Confer"",. held a\ Alabama State University in Montgom.ry. AppI'Ql(' imalelv 75 high SChool students from around the state .ttended the confe r· ence. Alabama Sup .. me C'lurl Justlee Ilalph D. Cook was the 'PI'ake r. Atten· dee:; Wl'r. pr()\lided with useful informa· ti'm about law schools and matters conaming tho pr.lCtice of law were also diKussed. fred Gray. Jr. (Tuskegee), a "",mber of Ihe YLS Executive Commitlee who organiud the conference. is to be congratulated for his good work. (}ioul .... relid aid
Evel}'Ol1e is certainly aware 0/ the trag_ ic situation that occurred in north Alahamil when tornadoes recently struck the area.. Sa....1years ago. in order to t>elter deal with the aftermath of such natural disasters. the ABA Young Lawyers' Division e.o;tablished a national network of dis· astu relief committ ••• composed of young lawyer. from every ,tate. Each state's commi tt~ fonnulates a st.tewille network of }'<;lung lawy.rs who "r()\lid. volunt«r services and assistance to vicTHE ALl.BAMA I.A\I'Y~;R
tims of natural d.... t.rs. rr.....iously. these committees have sprung into action in Florida after hurricanes struck and in the mictw",t after the devastating floods.. Candi. McGowan (Birmingham) is the chair of AWwno.'. D;"""ler Relief Committ«. and aft .. ""ing notified Ihal President Clinton had declared north Alabama a national disaster. she utilized the network previously established. Candi. and several other young la~,.. Spent se"..ral da)'S in north Alabama pr()\liding assistance to
victims of the tornadoes. and ,he and tho5e who unulfishly participated in this program ar. 10 be commended. Bar admission ...... m OIl)' On May 24. the YLS helPl'd spon$Or and coordinate the bar admissioru c...:· many for our newest members. 1ht ceremony was held at the Civic Center in Montgomery and approximately 162 new ~,.. were admilted to practice. Mont· gomery attorney Jere Beasley was the guest speaker. Young Lawy.,,..' Executive Committee member Andy Birchfiold (Montgomef)lJ was in charge of the ceremony and did an ucellent job.
Stalt bar ann ...1 me<'ling Tht Alabama Sla t e Ba r will hold its ann ...1 metling at the Perdido ikach lIi1ton in Orange lkach July 18-21. The YLS m~eling wil l he during the afternoon of Tuesday. July 19. At tht meeting. Ha l We.t will hecome our new president and elections for the pOsitions of presidenl..,I"t. ~cretaf)land treasurer will he held. "ru r of the Child" The inc<lming chair of the ABA Young Lawyers' Division. Mike Bed ke . hal detennined that his admini.ltration will focus on matlers deali ng with Children and children's rights. Certainly this is a tOpic which dese.".s the attention of all lawyers. particularly }/OOng lawye rs.ikt· ler ways in which to deal with gang violenct. children who are the product of di'"<lrce. and the problems of healthcare and education for }'<;lung pWple will he emphasiz.d and diKuw:d at upcoming ABA YLD assembly m.eHngs. 1 haw used this column a. an OPPOr· tuni t y to address the dilemma that many young lawyers face in trying to balance time belwffn a career and raising child ren. Each of u,. a, parenls. must make sacrifIces and spend Quality time with our children. We should also bt aware. how ...... that tht en .. ironment in which OUr child.. n are living is not the same one in which wt were rai ..d. Opportunities for children are becoming more limited and the compli. cated decisions and increased dange .. they faco haw multiplied over the years. To bt a bdter parent il is e~nlial for uS to stay in touch with the issues affecting children and the problems th." fau: we cannot tffedively deal with them unless we are aware of th.m. As attorneys. we can ma ke a difftrer.ce for children in our society. We cannot expect others to do tho work for us. It is July 19941 245
up to U$ to He thf,t Our children ne gNm ewry opportunill' to better them-
MIw$. C(minly, ~ C<ln "dp children through our involwment in thr lepl proass.. We Q/l shipe lfiiltMion. COUllHI ~rent$ Jnd children involved in divorces. Ind volunteer for work in numerous childrm's organizations; thot opportunitits iO~ the~ waitillll for us to seize thtm.. JU$t M irnpOrbrlt a$ our par. ticipation in the aboYt maUus.lIowtver. is our involvement wilh our OWn chil· dren. th~1 "one·on·one" rel~tionship. Btfort we Cin get thini' in order for children in Ihe world nound us. we should make su~ tilat our ~lationshiJl!l with the chiklrm in our IIomes are solid· ly tmbIishtd.. Tl.kt the time, ma.U the time. 10 opmd with your child. Find out about his 01" hotr school. lUit with the tf.Khtr, ~ke YOU' child to church. 00
ewrylhi"ll you WI to dewlop i strong bond betwttn you and your child. wrn ~ MIout the problems he or she Qcu and the dfcilion5 he or she will " - to make in tilt future. M attomtys. _ an Irnoolto be iIIfo,ooQta.. Be ~ xNocatt for your c;hildrtn. Spmd time with thnn and 1eam about tIltir mvinlf'ltllUlt ,,~th the SlIme determifllltion and enihusWm that you hive (or iOn importmt case or client. Any ll"(Oinition or O«O~ you have received for tht work you have done as an auol'l"lt)' won't rome dose 10 the salisfaction you wilil/ft IrOOl he lping children and spending lime with them.. Any lawyer in )'OUr firm who las childrm or who tw worked with childrm in my C<lpacily. whether it be as a coa.ch. luther or volunt«., will tell you that INR i$ no btlter 1«ling than whrTl II child looks up It you and SII)'S "tNnk
you" or"1 kMi )'OlI" or simply gr.-.:s you a
''''
""""'"
I IhlInk ewl")'Om who las made this fI1iO';abic ..-I worthwhile one lor me.. The IIaff II the lUte bar headquartm hu btm ht",enclous. I particularly think Keith Notmin for 0111 0( his help. Congnotubtions aloo iO to Keith on his btcominQ the new tJecutive director of the stat e bar when Reggie Hamner ~ti~s. We are very fortul\llte 10 ilaw a ptllOn of Kfiih's iTltqlrily and krJoo,.,·lrol/f 10 seM. t..utly. [ think the membo:rs of the YLS ERCUtive CommillH who haYt participated in the many project.s lbout which [ tIM: rtporIed 10)'011 in this col· UITV"I throtJChwl the)'Ul". [ look forward 10 Sfting )'011 II the INlwol medillll in ~BuchJulyls..21. •
)'W" iOI1
LEGAL SPECIALIZATION By Keith II. Norman. a5S0CiQt~ uecutiw director
Ii II
he Alabima State Rar Board of Ltgal SptCialiZlllion hu certified Ihe lollcrwing three organiu· lion$ u tutifyin g agencies for AllbamiO atlomt)'$.. Inc:ludr<.! below ~~ the OTgiTlizalions, u ~1I u the Speciality lrea$ for which they ha.." betTl Ipproved to certify Alabama Ittomt)"S..
American Bankruptcy Board of Cert ification 510 C SlRtt. NE Wuhinglon. D.C. 20002 (202) S<46·1200 Conlact Person: Stoll Williamwn Speciality Arras: Busine.. Bankll.ll'tcy and Consumer IJ.ankll.lplcy
The memben of Ihe Board of Legal Specialization art: Will UwRna. Tillb.dep. d-.air Gugg E"f,.,U. MontgOmery
Charlie Beavers. Birminglwn Richard Caler. Anniston Jacob Walker. Jr.. Optliki
BiU Coleman. Mootgomery Clay Alspaugh. Birmingilam
Comrnerdal Law League of America
Ilemdon Inge. Mobile
ISO N. Michigan. Suite &00 Chia80. Illinois 6060 I (312) 781·2000 $pKi.Iolity ,wa$: Cmlitors &nkruptcy and Busirow l!.l.nJr.ruplcy
Stew Ford, Tuscaloos:i
National BaIrd of Trial AdI.'OCaCY
Cbude Hundley. Huntsville Judy McMillin. Mobile
Sam Frmklin. Binnlnglwn
18 Tremont 51,"!. 4th Floor. Suile 403
Boston. MWlchuw!1$ 02108 (617) 720·2032 Speciality Areas: Civil Trial Advocacy and Crimil\lll Trial Advocacy
246 / July 1994
11 you hn-e any quutioTls concerning specialiu.tion. plelSe conlaCI Keith B. Norman al (205) 269·1515 Or 1-800·354·6154.
THE ALABAMA u\WYER
RECENT DECISIONS By DAVID 8. BYRNE, JR. and IVILBUR C. SILBERNAN
UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT Beyond I rtiloonallie doubt lnd to a moo ..1« ...... Inl)l V"IC/Qr v. NtbrwJca, ~ No. 92-8894 ;rnr,\ Sundot'tJI~. CQlihmi<1. Cu.t No. 929049. (Mllrch 21. 19941. Art jury instruc· tions thll includt tht phrlSt "mo.il cHtiinty" in defining whit is nttded to fmd i crimi"'" cldtndint auJlq. bq'OII<.I a Tfasonablt doubt constitutional? Thf Supmnt Court u id )'H by a KYtn-totwo
vott.
Justi« &.ndR Day O'Connor, writing fDr the ~r;ty. stattd: "Though ... wt do not counte· nan« its UK. the inclusion of tht moral ctrtainty phrase did not rtn· der the instruction givtn ... unconstitutional." &.ndcml conttnded that the meaning of tht tum "moral ct rtainty" had dwWd sinct Chirf Justa Shaw's time, to tht point tllat i modtm jury...:KI1d UnderSlind it to Illow conviction on proof that don not II>«t tho lxyond.a. rflSOflablt doubl mnd.o.rd. Tht Court diugrHd. holding IIIaI lhe instruction givtn in Sandovil'l ase WitS constitu· tiONI. H~r. tht Court rtcognized Sandoval's conttntion that "mo ...1 « rtainty" standing alone mi.llht not be .tc· ogniztd by modem Jurors itS a synonym fDr "proof beyond a rtuonablt doubt", and Q.utiontd tllat a <:On\'iction based on such a misun.dtrstandilllil would violitt dut procw. In so concluding. the Court rusootd that: II ;UfO!" m;,hl bt convinffll to a monol «ruinty IlIat tho ddtndint is guilty twn though the ~m· men! Iw bikd 10 pl'O"t his gUilt bt)'OI>d I rt~~ doubt. II defi· nition 01 monI ctrtainty in i wide· Iy uHd modtrn dictionary Itnds $Upport 10 thi' argurntnt ("bastd on strong liktlihood or firm con· viction . •~ther than on the ilCtual evidencf"l and wt do not gairu.;,y TIl~:
AUlIAMA IAWVER
ilS fon:e. As ~ IIlve noted. ")the) consIitulion.1J standard recognized in 1M i-t-tnship CiK wu npressly phrased as one that protects an ~cc\lsed logainsl iI conviction except on proof beyond a reasonable
Rtlhnation of eMl righll by Ibt. dou not avoid ftdtTIIl nrunnillaluln
Beecham v. United Slalts, JontS v.
--
while jurors mii/ll not understand 1M mon.l tnb.inty phmf, the full i.w.ruclionJ gh'fn to the juron in the two casa
Uniled Siaies. CiIso:' No. 93-445 (May 16, 1994). Eight«n U.S.C. 1922(.1/1 providu in pertinent part as fntlows; It shall bt unlawful fot UIy periOO who Iw been coovicttd ... loO ~ trimt puniWbk by impriKlnrntnt lor a Unn e>nt<Iin( on< ynr_.lto
~. il du. INt they must · roOKh i subjective state of !lOr ~r1ituok 0( lhe guilt of the lC(used." Thus. lIoktn ilS i ...i1ok, the instrudions in qUftlion ror· 'telly conwyed 1M concept of rusonable doubt, and 00 reasonable like\illood uisted tmot the jurors understood the instructions \0 ",Uow convictions based on proof insuffidtnt 10 !lift! tilt Winship standards.
Tht FedeRI Firunn S~tutt abo pro1Iides thoit ...iIa\ CONIitutn 1 corMction 5hou.1d be detfnnintd in ar;x;ordanct with 1M law of 1M jurisdiction in which tho procudings wert htld. 18 U.S.C. 1921(1)(201 (tht choict·of-l~w (Iaust). Tht. third provisiOfl of the statute under II;ruHny, i.t.• thf fxtmpliOfl clause, p,..,. vided that where "any <XM1viction which
f'irl.)l1y. Justice O'Connor noted that
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We ca n helpl Calilh e
fore n sic accoun tan ts and frau d exam in e rs.
1530 AmSoutl\lHarbert Plaza Birmingham, JlJabama 205-71&-7000 )uI)11994 / 247
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PfQOll hu been pardoned or hu had tivil righb mtortd !hall not be ror'I$iderfll a conviction ... ." Thf question before the Supreme Court was which juri$dktion'. law is to be ronsiderfll in determining whether ~ felon "hu had .ivil riihu restored fo r I prior federll which
conviction." Each 01 thf Pftilion«s WJS tom'icttd of viollOling 1922(,). Both Jon .. and flftcham had their ,ivil righu restored by the states of TennelSet;md West Virginll. The question prennled wn whether t"-' rw.orJtions 01 eivil riiVlb by $litH could the diloibilitiH impond lOS result of Bucham's and Jonu· federll rigllb. Justice O·Connor delivtred the opin· ion the Court. In a tightl~ worded opinion. Justiu O·Connor and the ma,inrit~ held: We therefore conclude that peti. tioners un lake Idvan tag. of t9ZI(~)(20) onl~ if Ihe~ have had their civil rigllb rHtored under ftderll law. and accordingly affi rm the Judgment of the Court of Apptal •. This cue pre ... nb a red nag for the .rimiml practitioner who musl idvise his client previously convichd of <I felony oIfenH ~ the rHIorJtion of his civil rigllb by a .tate dots no! eumpt him from the reach 0( the federll gun control laws . The protection undtr 192)(a)(20) is afforded only to tho ... pusons who have their civil righu rutortd under federillaw.
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StnlCh.rillJl ,iQlation ~ulfft proof of Rlltzlll! v. lirIited Stotes. ~ No. 921196 (hnulr)' 10. 19941. Must prosecutors prOVl' that 50~. charged with Mding ~ ftdtrallaw requiring all banking trallACliolU involving S10,OOO or more in CiIolh be rtpOrttd. knrw the condud wu ilIe,..l! The Supreme Court UlSWtred yH by i fM-to·four VOle. The 1986 Mont}' Laundering Control Act mIIkes it i CTirm to "willfully" structure nih t ransactions to evade the requiremtnl. The majority. ltd by Justict Ruth Bader Cinsbul1l, uid, "Th.t ..illluinw Tt1I\liremmt mtms tht !lOYemmtnt must ~ I defendant lded with knowledge that the conduct was illell.lll. It is not enough to prow a defen· d~nrs purpose was to circumvent I
1mowItd,.
TIlE ALA8A.."lA lAWYER
bank', reporting ololigllion." Juslice H.l.TT)I A. 8bckmun wrote a dilStnting opinion in which h.t iUggtJled that the Court had ignored Ihe traditional role that states. "Igooraoct of the law i. no
u"'....SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA Wh en II an indigent ddendlnt not enUtied tn r.... trinKript? PofJ.",lIv. Stale nf Alabama. 28 ABR 1854 (Match II. I!!!MI. 1'oowt1l, i crimi_ nal ddenclant. Pftitioned Ihe AI~ Supre .... Court for wril 0( rTlindamus directtd 10 thf Circuit Court of Mobilt County. 10 grant him a f.... COllY of the transcript of his senter.cing hearings. II is importanl to note thai P.,.,...II did not appul from hit conviction and sentences originally. Powell claimed that tho! transcripU were ntCtulT)' to adtquately prq»re and praent his Ruw: 32 petition for poIOt-conviction ..lid H to his senttnce. In an opin ion authored by Chief Justice Hornsby. the court. allhe OUlStt, noted lhal the type of post·ronviction "lid provided by tho writs of habeas cor pus or t rrOr co rim nobis. now encompuKd in i Rule 3Z Pfti tion. is sepa",!. and dutintt from 1M coovicted ddtndanrs right of appeal. A direct appeal is the rermdy fawred by the law and i Rule 32 pet itioner will not be gr~nted relief if thf grounds on which he n .... rel id ti ther wtrt raiud Or could haw been raised on appeal. ~ Rule 3Z.2. A.R.Crim.P. MortOVl'r, it is clur lhat in Alabama. whore the law provides for a di rect appt"! of i criminal conviction or the ruling on I post·ronvidion motion, I trinKript of the procHding "ppealed from must be provided without cost to in indigent defendant WMnltVtr the pro«tding i. tTllrlKribtd. ffl2-22-190 and 12-22-191. Code of Alabamll (1975). The Alabama Code ~uirement is basfd upon the supreme cour!"s decision in GrilTin v. Illinois. 351 U.S. 12 (1956). AII.r rmtwing HI2·22- 190 and 12-22191. Chid Justice Hornsby critinl1y focused the issue "" follows: Thuo. Alabama law rtoognitH that when an indigent dt~ndant appeals a conviction or the lrial cou rt', roling
In. posI<OOYiction procteding. wch hearing on • Ruw: 32 petition. I transcript of the proctedilli must bo rT\l<It I""ilable to the deftndant without co.t. Th. "itital word in the ibIM statutes is ilppf!fll. Ultirllitely. Ihe supreme court held that Ml indigent defmdant hu no constitutioNl right to a frtt traMCript his trial or some other lIfOCteding ~ thai ddendanl hM foregone lhe privi. Itgt of appealing from the judgm~nt bMed on the trial Or other proceeding. S« il50MagO/a~. Stale. 3« So.2d 818. 820 (Ali.Crim.App. 1977). em_ dmiftl. 344 So_2d 822 (Ala. 1977). The court concludetltllat f'owtll'1i Rule l2 pnMdtd no basis for fight tn • frw t~ript of his Jtntencing heari ng becauJt he had failed to appul from hi' .arlier coo· ";ction;md senteoct. /IS •
or
Spedf..: objectionli and -.-I< linb Ex parle Darm* liar/lin li'nrb, 28 ASR 1458 (Ftbnla'l' 4. 1994). Works w.u convicttd 0( murder and sentenced to life imprisonrmnt. The court of criminal appeals affirmed. Works petitioned lhe wpreme <:ourt for certiorni on tht
\1fVICU DE\TlI 11\[ PR \CTlU
nPlm
July 1994/ 249
issue of whether the trial court had com· mitted error when it admitted the knife allegedly used by Works in the murder. Works argued that it was prejudicial errOr to admit the knife into evidenc •. onr objection. without "'tab· lishing an unbroken chain of custody. The State argued that Wor ks Jailed to preseM the issue for .ppMI by failing to state specir.c grounds for his objection. and alterna t ively. that any errOr in admitting the knife was harmless urw.ler the circumstances. The Supreme Court of Alabama. how. w,. through Justice Shores. affirmed under a harmle.s error anaJ;'Sis. Pictures of the knife and testimony abQut the knile had b«n admitted without objection.Justi~ Shorts' opinion seMS as an important reminder to Alabama criminal practitioners. First. specific objections or motions a,e generally necessary belore the ruling of a trial court is subject to rtview. unleos the ground is so obvious that the trial court'S failurt to act coru;ti. tutts prejudicial er ror. An obj ection without specifying. single ground. such as "I object." "objection: or"""" object" is not sumcient to place the trial court in error lor owrruling the objection. The purp!>.'!e of requiring a specific objection to preserve an issue for appel . late review is to put the trial judge on notice or the alleged error. giving an opportunity to COrTtct it before the ~ is submitted to the jory. Howewr. as Judge Taylor stated in his dissent from the memorandum affi rmance in this cast'. "Defense counsel should not have to di rect his ,,!,poni'nt's mind to the cor· rtct law the way one would thrmt. bea. gle's nose on a rabbit trail." In thi5~. Work$' objection was suf· ficient ly specific to put the court on noti~ of the alleged erTO, in the chain of custody by saying: Judge. we would object to the introduction. Ther. has not been chain of custody proven whert the knife has been [sicl. Justice Shorts' opinion also reaffirms the teaching 01 the supreme coort in Ex parle HP/IQf1. S90 So.Zd 918 (Ala. 1991). which originally explained the court's chain of custody anal ysi~. as follows' The chain of custO<iy i, com· I'QSed of 'links' , A 'Iin k' is anyone who handled the item. The State must identify each link from the 250 I July 1994
tirm the item was seized. In order to show a prOper chain of custody. the record must show each link and also the folJo.,.,·ing with rtgard to each link's posseSSion of th ~ item: (II (thel rtceipt of the item: (2) [thel ultimate disposition of the item. i.. .. trarufer. destruction. or retention: and (3) [thel safe· guarding and handling of the item between receipt and di5position. If the State. or any oth. r proponent 01 demonstrative e~idenct . f.il, to identify a link or fails to show for the record anyone of the thre. criteria as to each link . the result is a 'missing' link. and the item i~ inadmissible. If. h(M-ever. the State has shown each link and has sh(M'n all thr~ crittria as to each link, but has done so with cir· cumstantial evidence. as op · po~ed to the direct testimony of the ·Iink'. as to Ono or more [of the[ criteria or as to one or more link •. the result is a 'weak' link. When the link is ·w.ak'. a q""stion of "edibility and Wi:ight is pre · sented. not one admissibility. In this~. the State did not identify the person who recei,oed the knile in the Department of forensic Sciences: identi· fy the person in the Department of Forensic Sciences who ultimately disposed of the knife: or show the safe· guarding and handling of the knife while it was in the custody of th ~ Department of Forens ic Sciences. Thus. there was a miosing link in the chain of custody of the knife and the knife. therefore. was inadmiosible. However. the Coort deter· mi""d that. based on the specir.c facts of this case. admission 01 the knife into evi· dence did nOI prejudice a substantial right of Worlcs and upheld his murde, conviction.
or
Other act s evidonce_ on np.nsion under gui.., ..f moth.. t\idence /lutcher- v. Siale of Alabama. 28 ABR 1677 (February ZS. 1994). Hatcher was convicted 01 suual abuse Qf his wife's ten·year-<.>Id .ister. who was lilling with the defendant and his wife. The court 01 criminal appeals .. versed the defen· dant's conviction on the ground that the trial court had erred in allowing the State tQ present evidence that the defen. dant had committed another sex crime
o/Ier lhe dole of the offeme for which he lim charged in Ihis(Xl$e. The court of crimina] appeals' reversal was based on the introduction of the evi· dence rega rding Hatcher's su crim. against eM. TM's sister. int roduced in order to prove that Hatcherwas guilty of the offense as to CM. The supreme court granted the State's petition for writ of certio.ari to revi, w the holding of the court of criminal appeals that the law established by previ· ous decisions. i.... Bou:der, u. Siale. 538 So.2d 1226 (Ala. 1988), was not applica· ble because the motive uception Wa! available only in ~ involving incest. The supreme court. th rough Justi" Maddox. reversed the intermediat, appellate court and affi!'lTled the COIWic· lion. Justic. Maddox reasoned that the holding in Boo:den u. Stole was not so restrictive as to make the evidence of th~ coUateral sex crime inadmiSSible in this ~ simply because the State had failed to charge incest. Justice Maddox went on to reason thaI: It i5 unnatural. as "'ell as ill~gal. for an adult mal~ to seek to gratify his se.ual desires by e.plQiting a chi ld: therefore. CM's testimon~ was r~le"ant and admissible as proof of Hatcher>~ moti,,!:: for com · mitting the act for which he WilS being tritd. Based on OUr """lysis of the cir· cumstances of this case. Wi: hold that the trial jud~ did not err in admi tt ing the evid~nce and that 'probative value [of the evidence outweighed[ ils prejudicia l eflect...: The ellillenee of th~ col. tateral act against CM was relevant in this case to prove what the prasecution contended was Hatcher's motiw. to gratify sexual desirts by having sex with young girl~ lilling in his household. Therefore. the supreme court eoncluded that it was not undui» prtjudicial for the trial court to pennit CM to give testil11Ol1)'.
,
Bankruptcy Decisions
Di5Ch.rg~abilily
cQmpll int in Chl pler
I I use di.mi......J ... untim.ly 1>1 rt Joe II. WilliamsQn 15 F.3d 1037
(llth Cir. 1994). Northern District of THE ALl.BAMA LAWYER
Alj~~ Bankruptcy JudQe Jlmn S. SledQe dismisstd I diKhirgubility complaint on t~ Qroond of untimeH. nus. District Judgt Sam C. Pointer, Jr. affi rmed, and on appeal. the Eleventh Circuit adopttd Judgt Pointer's opinion. The d~h.lrgtability COnI;>laint hid bun filed 16 diyS jfter the npiution of the 6O-cby period prtMdtd in Binkrupt· cy Rule 4007(c) (the opinion in two placn refers to the dudHnt in It U.S.C, f52)(c) which wu probably a t)'POlJraphical errnr.} The opinion is correct ' when it rden to the motion to diJrnisi ~ing ~ upOn Rule 4007 whie:h cont.lins the 6IHby rule. (Section 523(c) dots not cont.lin Ml}I rdertflCt 10 t ime.) In ruponse to the debtor's motion to dismiloS. the pbintiff coottnded (l) that tt.. initial ~nkruptcy notice hld SUted that the filinQ !!tadline was "to ~ $et". (2) there had betn no 3O-da}> notice u required under Bankruptcy Rule 4007(cl. (3) the bck Ii tht 3O--doy notice from the cleric Ii the court viobt· ed the due process clau$e of t~ Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and (4) equiUble principles requirrd a hnrinll on th. merits. The court was not imprtSKd; it .t.attd that the !!tfee· tiw notice dots not reliew the observance Ii Bankruptcy Rule 4007. citing In ~ Alton. 837 F.2d 457 (1 1th Cir. 1988) which in tum had ~ its opinion on t~ Fifth Circuit cast of Neeley v, Murchison, 815 F.2d 345 (1987). Neeley had ruled that t~ cI.rk·s failure to pro.
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vide notice did not swpend the running Ii the r~ limiution period. HtR. the court mted that the pbintiff hid notice Ii the bankruptcy, there wu no iocorrect date lIi~n in the notice. and that plaintiff should ha~ dttermined dudlinn under the Code IIId the Rules. As to the "due proctsS" u,ument. it wu held not to bt i viobtion, as the Fifth Amtndrntnt dots not Ttquire Ml}I additiOll.l.I notice. and this $arne reuoning applies to the argument that equity requirts notice. Comment; A le-'$On to bt ltamed from this cast is that i IIwytr lhould not rely on the court for notices requirtd by the Rulel. The Ruin au to be folio-d. IlIl«\I ....t. noticn lTIly bt Ii lid in not mutinlla dud!ine, but insufficient notice or lack of notice is not beneficial provided that the (lolIrty has had actual notice Ii the procmling. Chapter I I _~lor has no liUility for continttnt mvironmtrllll contribution claiml 111,. Picher Indus/Tin, Inc.. 164 B.R. 265 , 25 B.C.D. 520 (S.D. Ohio. Feb. 16. 1994). Prior to filing the Chipter 11 petition. EPA sent notices to dtbtor and two clji~n\$ as to btinl pOtentially respOn$ibl. for cleanup Ii artlin lita ....ter the EPA issutd notial Ii liability. demlndi ng reimbursement for past lind futu re responH COits. One of the two claimanu coruented to a decree and the other to an administrative order with EPAas todunillll up the lita The debtor ,,'U not a (lolIrty to ,ither. Aftu debtor filed its Chipter ] I. the two cbilTllnll filed proofs of claim which included a cont ribution for (lolIst and future respOnSe C(>Sts. The court, under Code t5021e)U}(B) which provides for diullowloce of claims fo r reimburH' ment or contribution which are contino lent as of the tim. of allowance Or diullowance. denied the claims. The court laid lOll of the ])lOrtin were coliablt to EPA for C(>Sts in the future. but that the claims we r. contin"ent until P'lyment hid betn made on the underlying cbiro; further. that diullawillll the cllOoms would not dtfellt the policy of CERCIA t.tau.c it requirtd those whl _k contribution to incur the expense bdore stating the claim. The district court . upon appeal . .t.ated that to allow the claims could crute double liability
as the EPA wu frH to also PUI'"IU< the debtor fo r remtdi.ltion costs. Claimant contended that it would be impomible for them to liquidate tilt claims at the present time because of the immenH cost and length of time required. thu CERCtA·s policy is 'o'iNted, and. thereIon. the debtor's ~re Ii tutu,.. cle.u'P costs should bt plac:td in lO tn.ost with pnXttds to be doo..l""$td to ])lOrtie! who perform tilt cleanup. The district judgt quoted from the Eleventh Circuit cast of In,. Charlo, 862 F.2d t500 U989J to the effeet that the main PUTJlOM Ii CERCtA is to promote nptditious c1unup by lIuthorizillll print. putiu to 3IoSlUT"C flnandal ~"bility 10 _k CMtru...tion from othe r r up.onsible partin before a dttermination i, made u to the party responsible. ~nd the allowance does not conOict with this but rathn folie,., the policy by ..... uiri"i u~ to ~ incumd btfono an 11~1e claim can be sLIled. Com .... n!: Some putiu may considu the holding in this cast u rather ttnu· QUs. and ~rhapo faulty. Certainly. the holding is an aid to reorganization as contingent claims for envirnnmtntal c)Qnup tlfl ~ enormous. Ptrhlps this cast is h •• d.d for the U.S. Supr.m~
""~ 1'I' Inth Circuit ruin th at dllc harged omplOY.. ·1 claim for pol t.petitlon back ply not id ministntlvt cblm enlitltd to
""".
In ,. Palou CoI7Jorolio#!, 18 F3d 746. ZS 8.C.D. 547. (9th Cir. Mlorch S. 19!M). The employee wllS dllchuged one month prior to the flli"i Ii a Chapter II ~nkruptcy petition. Post-petition. th~ NLRB ordtrtd rtinstatement and back wageJ. further claiming that tilt amount was entitled to fint priority lIS an iIodministratiYt upenM Ii the bankruptcy e:stak. The cl.tim lICI.w1y was divided into ,,",'petition net biock PlY and )l'»l. pftition net back pay. togtthe r wi th frinllt benefit contribu t ions. Th. ~nkruptcy court allowtd tilt post·peti· tion ~ck ])lOy claim only as i general unstCurt<! cbiro. and the NLRB jppul ultimately reached tht Ninth Circuit. NLR8 insisted that the NLRA controlled rathu thn the Bankruptcy Code btcaU51 the claim wu tM result of an unfair labor practice chargt and federal law g<Mrns the terms and conditions <J
Julyl9!M/ 25 1
payment. The Nintll Circuil ruled llial the B~nkruPI'y Code prevail~ as bankruplqlaw determines tile priorily and ljabili!}' of all clailO$ in a bankruptq proceeding; allhough. tile Labor Aot determines the validily of ~ claim for compensation resulting from unlawful discllarge, tile Bankruplq Code determines priority. II Illen slated Illat adminislrative expenses "musl be tilt aclual and necessary =t of preserving Ihe eSlate for tilt benefil of its credi_ tOTl", and lIS no selVices ~re performed post-petition by Ih. employ«, to allow Ihe claim .. administrative would ignore the very purpose of bankruptcy. whkh li to allow a debtor a fresh start while fairly apportioning 1000s among creditors. Qun t;on: SuppOSe the unlawful discharge had been POSI-pelilion. Would tile holding of tile coort relaliw to postpetilion back pay 1\;",. been any differenl? Paralegal compeD lation I Dd mon_ n,..t ruling by Iny court of a",,",,15 In N! Bw" &aver Building Centers. Inc.. _f.3d~ 25 B.C.D. 603 (3rd Cir. (P •. ). March II. 1994)_ The bankruplcy court sua sponte characteri.ing as purely clerical work, disall~ certain ilems of servi~ of debtor's coonsel's paralegals. Upon reQu<>1 for rIXonsideration, evidence was taken upon which the court again denied fees for
1994 Directories are in! Members - $25 each Non·Members - $40 each Orders must be pre-paid llllil ct.cIc to: - . . . a. !lirfCIoriH,
P.O. BoI 4 t56, MoI~" "'361 01
252 1 July 1994
the clerical services or functions. Aller affirmanct in the district court. the Third Circuit undertook to CQTI$ider tht: Question. first commenting that it had never betn ruled upon by any circuit court of appeals. Th. activiti .. in QU'* tion were filing motions al tht bankruptcy court; preparing, organizing and tabbing motiOTl5, pleadingsand document binder.; for hearings; distributing documents and other materials to creditors; and drafting transmittal letters. The Nat ional federation of Paralegal Associalion. Inc. as amicus. participate<! in the hearing. There was e><lensiw testimony C(IT1eerning paralegal functions. including t .. timony that in non_ bankruptcy casn. such .. ",ices art billed to the client. The Third Circuit first stated that the bankruptcy court not only has the power losua sponte review fe. petitions, but that it has this duty. It also held that should the bankruptcy coort believe the wriUen application ddecti,,, in delineating detail. tht: applicant ;oUom.y should be allowed an evidentiary hearing. In turning to the question of paralegal compensation. the coort stated that to comply with Ihe 1978 Code requirements, it must rely upon Ihe marht: tm Code does not bar clerical servicu, but that the five factors set out in Seclion J30(a) must be follo:....-N. It ..late<! Ihe hislory of legal practice and the emergence of the paralegal. the .somelime roquiTl'ment of a paraltgal's e~per lise ove r Ihat of a legal ,ecretary in perform~n," of clerical work, and th. cu'tom with non-banhuptcy clitnts. l'inal1~. the court, in opining on bankruptcy fttS in the ontiret)'. declare<! that jmt as in non-bankruplcy mailers, certain non-productive or redundanl work ,hould be absorbed or "'Titten off wi t hout charSe, with the ruult of a blended rate. Comment: This case is nol applicable on ly to paral.g~ls but 10 Ihe entire scope of attorney fen in bankruptcy. Undoubtedly. it will be contraversial. but it i, well-documented, including an appendix of tndnotes of considerable lengtll. Two attorn ey', f• • cu •• give p. use (Ind nol the OIIe that rtfrt,bt,' In the Maller of Jeanelle Pierce. _B,R_~ 25 B.C_O. 629. (Bankr.
W.O. Plt .. March 23. 1994). This w"" a case in which an attornt» succusfully defended an involuntary bankruptcy petition based upon Bankruptcy Code §303(i). which in the evei'll of a Successful defens.., provides for payment of a reasonable attomey's f~ to the debtor's attornt». Such attorney sought $12.000 based upon more than ]20 hou rs of time. The parties stipulaled that 32.1 hours were compeTl$able. The bankruptcy judge held that in a I.e-shifting caw. tht prevailing party muSI nc1ude unnecessary or redundant hours in eurcising billing judgment. In such cases. burden is greater lhan in seeking payment from one·s ......." clienl; il the deftns.. il against frivolous pleading, ther. i~ a du!}, under Rule 1I to mitigate fee expens., by quick and eftki~nt r"SOlulion. The bankruptcy judge furni,hed numerous citations of appellale courts. including the U.S. Supreme Court. Precedent was furnishod to show that multipl)'ing hours by rates j, a starting point only-the ","orth of Ih. services. th. party hi'ing billed. and the approprialeness of the bill which has been shifted to tile <>d\"rsaT)' Irt all laclors to hi' coruidertd. Finally, the oourt said that if til. amount 5O\Jght i, exc ... i"" or if no efforl was mad~ 10 mitigate the damages, the entire amount claimed may be denied. In this instance. Ihe court did not deny compensation but only allo:....'I.'d an additionalt.n hours to the 32,1 hours agreed upon. Addilionally. the erstwhile successlul attorney received something of a tongue-lashing in the opinion.
In re Rg<m~ Subs. {,Ie.. _ _ B.R.~ 25 B,C,O. (Ban kr. W.O. Mo" March 22. 1994). Debtors had defaulted under a franchise and sublease agreement. The franchis.r and sublessor. under the ronlenlion Ihat damages are due on assumplion of an executory oontract for any )1«uniary loss (see U65(b)(lUB)). requ.sled payment of lUorne~s fees claiming that th.se were part of the pecuniary los.o;. HOI<-'tWr, the court held that attom~ fees were collectible only if provided for in the written agr.. ment belWttn the parties. and here tile agrttment provided for attorneys I«s only On collection matters. but not for the matter befoTl' the coort. Co mment: Although the above two
lIR from Ihr 1",,1 Itwl, Ihr C(lUrts In flOCh inst.lfIU tiltd sufficient p. ett· dent to 5ubstantiate the opinions. Thf k<nrnelle l'iera! QK specifically should be nottd as a JIOSlible t.end in Ihr ~rd of fefS. Acco.din, to info.mltion obWntd RglIrding 1M EItwnth CifOlit Judiciil COilfuenn in MiMni ... Id in May 0( this yur, Ihf judGu were rat .... K\'ere in thei r lUitudt taward tJlcusi'o'f lltomryI; rm. Q5U
Th ird ClrClt l1 ..y. d.~tor'. lno l lu eannot .m~ genttally a pror...ionJJ when it II not dl l in l~lled. If In Intern l of all to do 10 U.S, Truslee u. Price Wale , hollst'. ~.3<L...... 2S B.C.D. 618. (3Td Cir. (Pa.}. Much 16. I~}. With concur· .tnu of tho cr.ditors tommillH, It.. Chapler I I debtor SOUghl to employ tile f'rlce Wate.hou se accounting fi.m which held an 5875.000 claim. Pric. Waterhouse promiMd that it WOlIId not 'IOIe Ihr c"'im. or participlte in tM <;Io5f. Tht blInk,uptcy lind di5t.ict tou.U lIpproved the employment. Tht Third Circuit .dopted 1M strict construction· alist's ..ifW. staling that S«tion 327(1I} prohibited th-f emp!oym.nt. Ihal Ihe penniJsivr: ~ in 327(c} porUm only 10 disallow;anu of lea in 1M ~nt 0( Impropfr emplo)"mVl1 0' il p<.>SI·peti· lion maUers cauu Ihe p. ofessional to !ole "disinte.u\". II said the bankruptcy court, although 1I court 0( equity, tlIJl· not use equitab~ principl.. in contra· vention of ·unllmbiguou. Iialutory linguate' ~ng In '" MiddlelOn. 934 r.2d at 725 (6th Cir.}. Comment: This Is stHl an unsdtl.d malter. F'mt.wly Congre.» Ihould R· ","rite the law 10 olIlow Jfpre5entaIion in _h insbnces. Is IMR .. rut diff.~ in the profes&ion:iol bting a prt-pelition c.editor, than in becoming i pOSl·pdi· tion credito. ' [s it worthwhile from the standpOint of economy ~ ~ffkimcy to .. lIow tmplo)'ment of tM p.ofeuiorul who iJ owtd pre·pttition Krvica?
_n
E'o'frylhlng you want.d 10 know aboul equitablt tollinl tbul won afraid to
u k) In '" lJni/m /ruurrma ,<failage",!!'nl, In(.• 14 f.3d 1380, t9th Cir" ~ Il. 19931. Accountlnt, appeal ed dislrict court partial .umma!")' judgment order which . emanded th. CUt back 10 the
blInkruptcy cou.1 to decide whelhn tolling'" """"Id allow lOll iIVOid· anet i>CtiOl"l against Ernst & Young (EY). t"o'fn though It.. statute of limitations had upired. EV conlendtd that equi. tabl. tolling WIS not lIpplicable 10 bankruptcyltallllts. but t\'VI JhouId it bt awliclIb~. it "''U not to to tt.. ~ of the inshnce C~5t. In this cue. lBrown) had originally sued EV for b.elOCh of iU duty, and wh-fn nol suc, ~I bought the potentilll claim 0( Ihr debtor from the trustH. ThUi. Brown ",'U the one iduolily Ilk"""ing to sue EV by ,tandinQ in the shon of the trust .. 0( the debtor. The court of appeals lint hfld I.... t a PlOrtilll WrnmI>ry judgment dots oonsti· tute II finll order in the lsank.uptcy senK whtn it iJ a final disposition 0( 1-11 ... trted c1l1ims. but when a ca .. i. .emanded for factual findings. the order oTdinuily i5 not final. 1I0WtVtr. h ... jurisdiction """ gnntrd on Ihr ground thai tM awe1lllte court could poulbly dispoK fA the case or raoM i.»UtS to aid the bankruptcy court in • final disposition-to wit: a deciiion on the applicability of equitable tolling. The court then Mid that equitable tolling dots apply 10 lvoi<bnc. lOC\ioru ucept .... hen as • matter of IlIw. tile truste.'s lack of diligence in not proceeding aga.insl tM accounting lirm ea. tier oow prevents the invocalion 01 tt.. doctrine. for equilibl. tolling to~. the invok· ing party must. wilhout /autt, bt igno~n though rant 0( Ihr olIkged IMR has been no effort II)' 1M alleged offending party to conceal 1M circum· .l>ncu. In bankruptcy a trost.e has a statutory duty to illVUtillllte the finan· cWlIffairs of the debtor and for equi· t.>bk toIli"'ll to lIPIII}-. the tJUSlH should OJW1line the debtor's books ~ records. including an in'o'f.tigation as to pOten· tial liwsuill. The trust .. did not do so. th~ trUlt .. wllS not diligent, B.own stands in th-f shots of lhe trustH who """"Id not hoYt bHn ab~ to invoke Ihr doctrine lind. thus, B.own was not allowtd to do so. Comment: There may be a IIOQd deal mort in tho! opinion than has bHn men· tiontd iIboYe nm though my lIrulysil I>u been mo.e detailed than U5UlI. I N'o'f don. 50 betlUK we do not often ste the equi lable tolling doctrine invoked. • ·equilllb~
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Ben A. Engel
." B"'"ht,....
"",I,'td b)o ,II< E. ocu,ivt Com· miU« <>f "" Bmnl ngham 11.> , fWo. 01'11"" . ,hat: Il<n A. Enll.1 "'. . . n mt_'of lht Binnlngh>nlll>t Auoci.>· liOn .no! ' he Ai<>bo .... Sla" B.ar ., tho "mt of h" d •• th on Prodoy. I><<"<",b.. 31.1993; and Wl.. ~... II<n A. Ena<I ....... pr>o<!><. Ina ,uormy.nd mt",btr of ,I>< lI"m· inllh,m B.. A"o,i.,ion for 0",' 5~ yo.,,; . nd Ill,.'.... Son A. Engol ,..... 1I'>d...... 01 ,he Uni"'fl i'y of AJ.b ..... Sthool of La,.. and ,..... ""mb.. of 'he Abbo"", SUI< III, and lht Binnml/hlm Sa, fWo.
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Connie Walter Parson
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ho'.... , Conni,W.It" Parson " ... .n act"" mtmo.. 0( ,he B"mingham Ba, """"";"tion I,om I~ to Ih" limo: of hIS dt>th on .',,<Ia~. [)oct'"" btr 11. 1991; .nd. 11"1>< ..... Connie 11',1,,, Parson ...... mo:mbe, of tho Amfriaon III, Auoc"'tlOfl. tho AlWm> Stat. 8;0". tho B,nn,,,,,,,,,, 110.. Auoci.>'IOfI. lht M>(ic ("y 80. Aooo(loll"'" tho Suprrmo: Cr;>nd Loo.III< oIlht (n"mahonal r .... and ActfJlled Modem !>Iuon•. and numo,au' othtr o'lIani..· lion, throughout JeU,,,,,n Co"nl~ and III< SIO" of AI,born>: and Whe ..... Conni. Walt .. Parson ..,,"t<l f'i l hiuliy ., <>o<ull .... v.. e,p'OIld.n, of
Nonnan W. Harri s , Jr.
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il resoIvtd by tho Mo,· ~.n County Dar Auocialoon du l~ .... mbl.d at ," annual mUlin," fol·
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bt, ou, brothe,. ","OT1YIl1I W. llan". Jr, .nd '0 tIp .. '" OU' d .. p ",''OW" hi.
254 1 July 1994
c;",;"": .nd Wl><rus. Il<n A. F.ng<1 " ... "«>&nat<! a nd h illhly "lIlrd.d by 'he bto<h and b.... . keen and dilia.n, I.wyor ""ho f.iny. bu, f..,I ... ly. pu"""d the """"... of hi. eli.n" .nd th. <au'" of ju"i" ""hilt prOYI\llng on .... "",1. of >.II lhot i. good >J>d ro~t In our profeuoon; and II,.,. ..... II<n A. £..,.1 ....... mtmbtr of lht T,,,,,,1t Enw>u·£l: and 11"1><..... 1I<n A. Eng,1 1\>.... /rul)' of hi. limt. Kliwl)' ... ,..,nll h" community. hIS G<>d >nd hi, I.... il)'; and \~"I><,ta•• "" IoIlsh 10 ..p.... our d.. p "iI"d fOf B,n A. Eng.1 and our pro· round ... 1IS< of ~ in lhe _mil 01 ou' di>lingui!l><d ,ollugll' who ... "",d "'"
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Sow. 'hordo .... " i, lI<... b)o ruolvtd. b)o IfIt E.. cut"" Commln .. of til< !l,nn· ingham 110., """,,;"Iioo . thotlh" ~l<)lu· lion bt .p ..,d upon the mlnul• • of Ih i. commll!" .n. th.t copi .. th ... ol be Hn, '0 Mrs .•· .. nki. F. Eng<1. hi. ""I.; !>Irs. Jan, Enll,1 1'"".1. hIS doulht .. : lois. Elltn ~l. hi> <laugh"r; MrS.. Loll" E, Buth.t,)!.,. hi •• i.I<r: !>I .. , II'IIIIM !>Iltnick. h" wltr. 101,. /ostph U. E>1i<1. hi' b,oth.r. and 0,. Robo .. Eng,l. hIS brolfltr. _ 1I1UI,,,, ~' . CIarlo 1' .... ldtn\ Dlnnlnlh.m D.r AI><>cialion
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tho G,ut .. Bi,mln,ham C,imin.1
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lI,.,.rus. Conn" 11'.11" Parson " ... in Ira"mal kinsh,p "'llh lho bioi I .... m"~ 01 D<IU Thtt. \'hi .nd "'"h Omtll> P.i Phi: and. Wh . ...... Conni. Wall" Parson "'., gr.>dwttd I, om Mllto $.<hool of~' and lhe IIni"."'t~ of Abb.arn>. D"mingham:
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II,.,. ...... Connl' Wall.. Parson ....... mtmbt. of tho "-'I.E. Z.... Church; and. 1I"htrt.u. Conn .. Walt .. !'anon i> "". viw<I by hi' ",f•. LoJ>da Robonson Parson; • <lau~t ... !>I,,, S)'Ya Connyso p.,>on; al.o b~. mle •. Corinne Lot\«U. and Ih, .. brot htn. John Sro>in and Man",," .nd L<on P., ••,.·" .nd, Whe ..... Conni. WIlt" POT"''' ...'• •
lragi< and unhmtl)' dtath. A third-gtn...Ii"" loW)'<, 01 hIS lamily to .. t";~1)' pratti« in loIorgon County. Sorman ...... .ndowtd both ",;th "",,,I lifts and .bil· llin. and IoIllh • work .thie r;v.l,d b~ f..... 11. "·. . . ,011')'0(0 bwyr, ",ho cared d •• pl~ .boul Ihe prof, .. ion .nd about hi. di.nts and f,i.nd,. A (on."m .... 1< pfof.... ~. fit ...... v>.ilabl< >nd g<n... OIlS IoI'Ilh hIS lime and II"me"" talent. 1010.. th.n. f.w of 011' numbt, h".. bt<n tho btneflC"'" 01 hIS Wl>t courut1. IIi> commItment 10 .."lit""" .........., • bta.oon I;~I throu~ tho 10!il of modi· ocril;' .., p ....... l.nt lodoy.
acto.... In ,he dtle"" of ,II< rtpUlallOn. lib<rty and lof. 01 Alabama "'ilfn. agaHI$l.lll ,haflltS. .bnd", and occwohOll: and ........"""" ... dtl.ndtr 0( lhe rights of.1I <i,i ..... undt, 'he Allborn> CO<UI ,lu'ion.nd Iht Const illliion of ,ho Unued States: and ...... t.. mod .. a ""." .. ed, .,gorou•• nd l<nacioo. on btha]1 of (itizens ,nJioling hi ... prtstn .. non: and. Wh ...... wt up .... "'" d«p " ,.. , and HIlS< 01 """ .. lht poW", of ou, col, lugu, f, om "", lIono"bl. p,of,,,,on. from II>< WOfld of buo ....... no! f""" lhe ,,,,,,ro .. of IO<ltty.
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_ 1I'Ullom S. Clorlo
l'n.kitnl IIlnnlntham Dar A..oci,tlon
Wt.- ..p.... ou, Ih>nI<o for II>< Ide of "'" I",nd. III. fD"",It""1I dwlt..,. us and \ho$t ...·110 follow u,. II', .. tend ou, conoIol.""" and 6t<p ... grol '0 both I,mily and f, i, nd •. E.«pl 10' a f.", .""",g us. ".. can ""Iy illllil"" Ihe!" i. 0( tho Iou of • -""'. Or lht lou of • hus· band. Ou. lhoughu.nd p.. ~ .. • rt ..".. 'lOlly IoI'Ilh Sorman. S, ..• nd S.,man·, beloved K,li •. Truly. in t he word. of KIna DavId. -A ",inc< has Wltn:
-J<rry R. K.ilhl Im.....tlat.,...t p.... i6tn1 .' !ortI,n C.... nty &or Aloo<;.,t ....
THE ALAfWoIA lAWVER
Joe A. Macon, Jr. ".OIlY. the Elmor, County II., Auociltion, m.t for its annual muting. Willi. lhe <Ven' drew 0 .... 01 the larg .. t crowd. in memory, Ih, noted .bunco of on. m.mb". Jo< A. ~n. Jr.. wos I,ll by all. On No"mbtr 17. 1993. Jo< di.d of <:ompli<."ltioos >ss¢<ioted "ilh 1)0 .... ""r· row trM\$planl surg,,.,, Thi' 1974 gmtuai' of I~" Uni""ily of Alab.m. I..>w 5<hool ~ ",hil ••1 the poak of hi. """er.t t.... OlIt or Hi. unti"",ly and tragic d .. th Clu .. d tho whOlt Elrnor< County B., 10 ,uff. . . ~r •• 1 .. n.. of I"" and gri.l.• Iong with hund,,1h of Jo<', f,i.nd!.nd family. 10< w.. ,u'""td by hi. wift. Jo Pu,).. a, Macon .• nd tw<l.lOlU. Jobo and John .• Iong with both partn".nd all hi, >obllni'_ Hi, loth ... Judg. J<>t Ma<on. Sr .. and hi. moth". H.I.n N. ).I'<on. w.''' driving innu.""". in Joe', IiI,. A>. lamily. the ~1.oon ' h.v, long bun dt\'ol<d to im~r""irll! lho QLality of Iii, lor .11 propl. in Abb<uno. Joe A. 1-1."00. Jr, " 'a•• oh .. i,m. tic
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Claude E. Bankester herea" ,Claudo E. 8.3nk •• ltr .• d"tingUl.htd momber of tho bor. pa$O.d .way on S.pt.mb" 5. 1993; .nd Wh ..... , the Baldwin County II.. A"ociatlon duir .. to "m.mb" hi. """'" anO rtoogn ;.. hi. conlribution. to ""r p,of...ion. Now. ther.lort. be it r.. ol.,d. Ihal Claud< E, 8an~"I""''' born on N",.. m· ber 25. 1928. Rob<rl>dok AI,bo"" .• nd .\tended ",hool in kobertodale. and grad. uat.d from Robertsdal. Iligh School. H. att.nded <:o1I.g. Ol tho Uni .... f$ ity of AI,· boma.nd obtained. ba"helor 01 ",ie",e d.g"e in com".,.", .nd bu,in ... ""min· 8r;wualin)l he continued i.tr>tion, hi, .ducation at Ih. Uni'~r>i ty of Alab>.· "" 5<hool 011..>,... Whit. in I.ow ",hool h, ~·a. inducled into tho Farrah Ordtr of Ju,", Prud.nce ,nd .1'0 ....... d •• com· menlS ed,tor of lh< AJalJarrtd Law R",·kw.
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Af",
THE Aw\BAMA W\II'YER
indi,·idu.1 "'h"", pr.,enco "'. . .Iway, 1.11 wh.n he .nt<rrd a room. Ilil ,i",,· riou< .Uilud< townd lile "'.. contagioo. 10 all. Throughoul J<>t'. lif. , ho wos ,,~II known for hi. friendly.nd ""tgoing 1""_ oooolity: h. IIt\U mot a .trangt,. n.. .. ~ualit ; .... rwd him ,,~Il in bUI lding a I.w pr.otice in Elmort County and in pro.iding lud.rship in nl1lny ,i,i, .nd pOlitiC3J rnde"",,,, Joe chairm.n 01 tho Elmo .. C""nty D<mocnlic E"culi", Commit· tee, immedi.te ""t pr"ident of Quail Walk Count,., Club .• nd.n atti," mombe, of tht Lion'. Club. In tho ""'1. 100 ..rwd .. pr.. id<nt of the Elmo" Coonty Bor A.,ociation and "'", acti,·o in Ih. AI.boma T,i.1 La,,-y<" A,""'ialion .•, " .. 11 .. 1.... Alabo"" Slat.Sar. Jo< was an ,If"'ti,~ I",d'r in the leil"1 c¢mmuntly of Elmore County and "'ill .Iways be kn"",," for hi. enc<tur>g<mont 01 <:o1I.gi.lity b<l"'Un member> of Ih. bar. II< coun .. ll.d .g.in.t tho ,.,'i",r... ing h",til" ad"" .. ,;"'1 .nviron· mont ",hich has bee""", p'l'W.lent in the p'>ctk, 01 taw and ho .100 "",""",ted the Gold,n Rul.among attomtyS.
Throoglloul hi> ca,«r. Joe behoved in t .... h,ghesl qualiti .. of tht l'il"1 pro/eo. .ion. II, 1.lt it ,,'''; <l!l hQror.nd a privi· log, to be an attorn.y and to ....... Iho public in • .,.,h cap>'ity. It pl • ....t Jo< to b< .blt 10 h.lp peopl, in th'ir dlfficu lti ... IIi. pr.oh", affo,d.d him m.ny opp~rtuniti .. to b. mOre th.n just • ..al"", """"",t. lor hi' di.nts. il il"'" him Ihe cMnct to b< a '''mp.>s'iO''''1< '''''nstlor IQ th"", in need. Joe , t rongly beli",d tMI .ttornoy> .hould Mm', 10 promote Ih. but inl .... t. of the ir di.nt! and help thei' clients to I1ItiooolIy and calm~ see IMI int ....!. In the momori .. 0/ the Elmort Coun· Iy B" As>-oci.tion. Joe A.•'boon. Jr:. innu<nce .. i11 be f,11 for a k",g t imo. lie """ tl\at kind of eff,et on tho poopl, who knew hom. Jot A. ~I>CM. Jr. will rr""in an ...._ nal member 01 tho Elmo" Co"nly Sar ......,.;.tion.
H, gr>.<lual<d from
ma Statt Bar and ..rwd on lho board 0/ bor ... min." for m.ny yea,,_ In 1975. .... mwtd to 8.3y Mi nette who ...... wenl ioto ~'i">I' pracli« wilh the 1'10 lirm now k""""" .s Wilkin> , 8.3nk"ltr. Rit" & Wynne, In 1979. the firm opened .n ofoer in hi. nali"" Robettodal •. AI""""" ",hu. h. practiced until hi' doat h. II. ""'" an active momber in the Firsl Chri.· tian Chu,ch of Robtrlsdol •. Alaba"" .. " ..II .. Ih. Balolwin Coonty 8.3r Associa· l ion , .. rvlng a, p,,,id,ot. In 1992. h. " ..... I«ltd · Bo," of the V<3 ' · by Ih. Baldwin Coonty Ltg;>1 Secrel.ori., Msoci· ation. Cloud. i. "mombe"d nol only fur h" ability in tho p""'ti« of I",,", but .100 fo, hi, Iriendlin.., and willjngn ... to h.lp hi. lell"'" la,,-y<r> in.1I ...all« of lif•.
"'.s
]a,,' "hool in AUlJu<1 1953 and w. . .dm itl.d to Iht Alal>a"" Slalt IIJtr In Sept,mber 1953. Aft" law $Chool ho join,d lh< Untt.d Sl.ot" Army "'here h. held tho ran~ of flrslIi.uttnanland ..rvtd with t.... JuJge Ad""""t, G<n"al'. CO'l'_ fle .tttnded the Uni"",,,ty of Vi, glni. l..>w 5<hool ,,·he.. II< perlormtd gradual< work in tax>tion. In 1955 he bec""". ".,.mbe, of the raoulty .1 Cumb"l.nd School oll..>w in Leb.non. T.nn ..... , wh". ht taughl until 1%1. fl. Ihen """",d 10 W.. hing_ ton , D.C, "'here he worked for t .... II"".. of Repr ... ntativu Committtt on T.... • tion. In 1963. he .. turned 10 Cumberlond 5<hool of La,.. In S"mingham. Alabama .nO taught until 1~75. Whil. a prof..oor at Cumberl'nd , h. helped found Ih. Cumixlrland lAW R",,,iew and .. lVed .. its liul f>cully .d,i.o,- fle wa, . 1'0 .. I. ded -).I",t Qu"landlng l'ro/tssor'" by Ih. 'Iudrnt' at Cumbtrl.nd School of
_ Tho ..... R. Ed",.nk I'rt. ;,!tnl Elm.... County IIJtr As.od ation
- II'. Do.old I!olton Pr.. ident IIJtldwin Coonty B.a, M.",,;.tion
"-
He w.. ,n act ive member of the AI>ba·
July 1994 I 2SS
Roscoe B. Hogan
Morris K. Sirote
~
MQorio It
Si_.' pn<tic.
ing .lIorney in Blrml"ihom f.,. mort !han 60 - . Ilied at the 'lit ciM an f<bruory 18. 1!I!M:and. 11"-, MomJ Son:ltt ~ ~ Iligh School ttl.diod prt-booo lit tho il'IMtsity ci - . . . on:! ~ his trw dtgrtot In 1932 from Iht 81nmngl>om School ci ~~and.
11" - , Moms Siro!e ~ a found.
ire p;ortntr in 19012 ci Iht firm ci Si_ & .."........ on the oaItycumnu RMs the boot. ib ruddtr otoR<l _ .... 1Ioou ..... the ro:b
Thm oIopt, then sand. then ~ Ihorod
• Nont abo.>rd to L<nd the tilltr
""'"" '"'
IIlttrus. shofIly 011.. tho I\:ounding 01 thio finn. Son:ltt Idt the pno:tjc< to 1Ci'I't .. • )ud~ AdYQ<.oto Oif>«r In tho Unittd SbIa """ IVt c-lbIrC II\:orId II. 11. raumif'lll hi< pt'Xti.<~ followof'lll hi< dism.rg. ......... 111 19041i<and. 1I'!onuo, Monu S<roI< _ _ 11·"'-" /0< hio O>ntribut ..... to \IOriow <\Ill""" and
commu ....1 "'lI'n,..I""" and institulion> in B.rmi"llhon, •• moog thtm to.ing tho ~ kts Cml<r ci tho ~cy ci ............ in l\innif'lll!'o>rn. ......... the main thtattr ci the Ctnttr. . - iInCIn' 0lf'ISIrU0:. t>on. hos ~ _ tho 'Morri> It Sirol< n-o..... ,tOlC',tooo. cihis t....o on:! ~ poot "" the..u;1nd, 1I'hI'rus. Morns _ h>d. _ fo< Iht Low gtn.....lly and • bum,ng ....1 for
Itpl ......rd!. rtorIOining an inoldoti_ and Itr'~ ~I. for hi> d im'" wi» "" ...:t"" in the fl!Xlioe ci law until, lew _ b JII10r lO hisdutn: and. 1I'hI'rus. _ _ "",....Jo..onrc f$o>J ..... ""'I'fCl b .,.. ~ mil r or who .. owd ..... r pod 'Kon. "'" Sl* >nil ""'aJIJI'iIlY .. 1Udl. ~ rnomtI'. _ 11_
N. CIooIo
""'""'
~IIar A'_iM
Nont """" forth to drop the"';l Dna: thert ...... its kni!P:K tn $Itt, ht, Nowthe ""'... doos not >'411
• .Ibo>rd b<hn;I the.....t..-.J..-
·.a-
SUoboard cithe ...... Ilumo. condit naI the caW!. Its I'I>mt ~ to t.r.....lI'itrt
• '110M tho " - . gTml and gil>t..,u"4! RISing tI\rt:l4I the clouds -.... <illy A ..... ci~_ iubnrd'a \\'hispo,ioC_ .. tto~
• Roocot 1\oI>n_.<aIutf)Od ~oIth:or< """'Iut..-.J Iw ~ from,.",,/o<..-k
on:! ~ 1I'.1conv "",,,' toso;;..,m htrt
• Yoo ""rt thtrt fo< futUrtO<:<.>r$ roo stood wi b strum..-.J ti'ff \rdi:on opont ...uh ' - t 01 Icnoitothoo.I 11'..... plott "" ><do .. tta.
256 1 July 1994
Milton Guy Garrett <~ Itt
to, tho EJmotr,oo C<onmo\• 01 tho Birmif'lll/lom Bor Assotia·
~
B'"'"""
11"-, Milton c..,. Gorrtn..",.,...a,. 01 Iht BiIT1\l"llh>m Bor Auocootion >inee 1967..-.J. tntti<irc attomry .. Birmif'lllNon lot mort than 21)'Qn. oIitd ot the 'lit olSS on M;.rdo 28, 19!14:and
1I'he ..... Millon Go.mtt .nmdtd WoodIown High School and distiroauishtd him· ....... dl:otrcooon OlhI!tt:.-III IIltt ...... loMan Co.ttlt ..rvtd in the Un'ttd Slota o'.tn>td Forca WIth diston<·
""'~ "lttrta>. M,1ton Curtn ..... a Iormt. deacon of tho W~'" BorCist Church. It......lktd with lho lrulh and. friendly hear! and f..... ntl f.ilh and hop< .... itil'll! Iht... Ile <rtaiN the ilTll'rtO>ion (0 olht" !hat ho f!OIIIItSStd the spinl 01 III'I<Imtandif'III, with a o:htri$ht.J ~ doily....tk ...ith hi> I<llow mon-and ....... friend to
.
~
1I'berta>. M,ltOll Conm wu. Muon and • Shriner >nd Ttor GoIdtn RuIt /trtil. itt<! hi< op.nl U ho t...,..bottd intrirul< """'""_ ani aIIodIniI 11M /0< hi> itIkM~ into • PQ<Irlit ci • ~ -""1 01 worth)' ..!Yioe: >nd
Whtrus. .'1iltan wm(1 J....:I • p.»Sion for the !ow iIi"'...I!»..-.J ...... rt for <IIhm lO >hart ...... pow.ion ""'"'" .....Mtd in hiJ tadtong and mstructirC ... prabtof lit the Binnir¢>m School 01 Iiw /0< "*'I'
_....
1I'!onuo, Milton Cam:n ~tl<I in
and donoItd rr..odI citm\im<;on;! taImt lO the I'•• enl Ad">eatel Oo>Wn S~ndrom. (PIDS):ond Whole .., Milton C;trrett w .. deep ly mptCttd ....t kNtd to, mtmbtfS 01 the bar >nd btnch ..-.J the COi'm'oIMy at bortIr. ..... II'htmoo. _ _ our erodo.mf'III f$o>J and mroct lot our dtit~ • J It """" .. owd our prokKion. ou. out,..-.J (lUI' o::u'IIt)r in sud>. no:obbIe rnomtI' It i. lho ..fore hereb!> reooNt<l by tho EKKutM> Comnitl« 01 Iht Rirmi"llhom Bar Auoci. lion that Ihi. ,...,Iutinn be "",lid """" the mii'<Jlt:< ci thiI ~tct and cori.. lho.eof to. .enl In hi. wife, Sllir\tv Martin Carrtu: his d:oughten. I;ou. rtIl II~.-III )ulo. SIoion; In> son. SC......, D. Cornu: >nd hi> ~Idnn. DarutI lI·alLoct. Cuty Sk>;oo and s-nn.h WaI-
....
_ 111111a... S. CIarlo
m.Id.,,1 Blrmlnllum II... As""';"Uon
THE AU8AMA UWVER
Samuel Earle Greene Hobbs lltrtU. !fit, ~ Iwd fought >l.rug. gl •. d..lh d~i"",d au. brolll< •. Sam ...1 £lorl. Cru"" Itobbs. on
W
January~.I9!M;~,.j ,
Wh ...... S~m Earl. "'.. born 10 I.milt.. on N1ril 23. 1917. til< "'" fA Sam""l ~ .. nco,.nd Sa"'" Ellon C".nr Itobbi; and, Whorw. on tilt pOt,,,,,,1 Ii<!< 01 Sam Ea,Io'.lamii)- hIS 1>11It....... born in 1887 It 5<1 ...... A1W"", to ~ ... I fr ...man lIobb. In~ h .. w,f•. f •• nc .. Jefl.i .. John, til< fr:wrnr,. I'l0l.... 01 Yon: Counly. l>Wnr. who rnowd to DallM County. AIIboml in 1856 and .. NOd 19 til< eon. Itdo"'I' .. MCt: tII< ..111 Sam ...1 f1'>nCtS Uobbi ...... IdueioIHl in p.rb1ic ochool$ '" Sol"", Inrl IU.1III<d hoi....,.. ~i<M'ay'. ochoollnrl Manon Mrliury AclrltrYl\' and V.nrlcrbilt Uni ... "ity and tilt Uni"..ffity of Alabo"", School 01 Law, .ng.g.d in the p"cHee of law in O. IT'$ County. AI.bI"",... Md ... judI!< of lilt cir<u,l cou,t Ind .. M.p .... M.Ii •• in Ih. fA lho l:Mtd SUlH; >rd. Vo'htrtU. on lilt "",t<mol.id< 01 Sam f...\t·. famii)-. h.. mothe •• Sarah EII.n. w» born 'n 1891 to JurllI< s-ru.1 Eaf\t C....... >rd "" WIIo. ROil Millo •. and til< lott .. , ~ rbut!>t<. 01 Jurlgr c.o.g. Knox M,I\t. and "" "..tr. Crk$lr !okCann; and. " .... ,.... Sam Earlo 11t.ndtd 5<lma pubhc ochoolo. Ind ..,.i •• d .n A.B. <Jog ... from lilt Umvt .. ily 01 North Co. 0I,n>'1 Charollhll ,n 1939. umtd.n M.A. d'a'" I,om Coo,g. Wuhinllton Uni\oo ..ity 'n 1940, . n 11..11. r\tlI ... from lho Un"" .. ity of AI.b.lma School of law ,n 194$.• n LL.M, dog ... I,om Yolo Uni· ...... ily Law School in 1940. and on han""'1)I11..[). rlottru from lilt Uni\~";ty <>f AIWmo in 1987:and. Who.w. Sam Ea.\t .. NOd .. a >I"CiII IQ<nt in til< rtdo~ lIutuu cf1~1I>' bon f<om 194(110 1944,"rvtd in nnk from ..... an to hC'llltnant on lilt Unrtt<l SUI.. Z,hhU1)I1I< ....... (1944 to 1946) with ..M« rn lilt I'xifi< tho>!". _ at lilt Un ........ rty of AIaboml .. rn>tnrdor of potilal ocknct from 194&-1~ and .. .....1.lnI prolwa. 01 law fTOrn 1949· 1952. wu IIdmiUt<lto the.'Jlbomo Stale Ba. in 1948.• nll>l.«Iln Iht pr>r:ti.c. 0( I.w with Iho n.m. <>IIIOON. lIobN I< ~rorni""nl
eo.w...
TH t: ALABAMA lAWVt:R
IkJIlbo. CnO.&. IIot!I:II. I< llain. _ Iiobbi I< n ain. H ..... d u lud,o of Iht Oalw Coomty Court 110m 1952· I958,"NOd as • ",.,,,b.. of the Boord 01 Ba. ExwUnrr> from 1967·1969. and .. rvtd .. l ........... r oIlho 5<1"", School Boord Irom 1952· 191)3, ~nd 01 U. du,i."",n from 1961· 1963; &00. Wh ..... , S.m E••I. ",u aclivo in ,ornmunity.nrl ,ivi.e o<lI>ni .. I'on ....... .... 0I111t Ihru foundor> aM .. rvtd as a <>f the Boord "",rrbe. oI.nd .. of 0"0<10'" oi Cili.. n. Bonk I< Trwl Comp.ny land aft" iu mUll" .. ,th SouthT.wl Bonk. u a """,b.. of Iht 10Clt1 boa.d of d""'IOtl), .. ",od a. a trwt.o·d"orlo, and <1",i"...n of Ih. boa.d of Ih. Sow V~u8h.an 140"'ori~1 Ilosp'lOl, Inc. ... d""'lor 01 the Vaugh.i.n Momo."1 founrlalion, .. p... idtnt 01 tht Unittd Communily 5<""0' and <>f tho SturdIVant A .. oeill;on. mrmbo. <i lilt boor<! 01 dir«ton oi the You", Mon'. Ch'''It.n Aswt:,.tion .• nrl p,uid.nl 01 th. S.lma 0.11•• County Chombo. of Corn"",. ",,; .nd. "'ho..... Sam Elrl< ..<"td .. a ....."'· bo, 01 the boord of ~Itu oi the UrUm'· lily of AIWm:o I""" 196+L987, ...vi"l! .. chairman 01 the boon! fTOrn 1981·1984. .. Iurni", in 1989 10"""'" inlnim chanctllo< of tho U...... roiIy ~em: and. " ......... Sam F.arlt was raistd in tho Prrob)1< ..... Church. joined >rot! .. NOd as a /o,thlul ............ cf St. Paul', ~ Churdt. ....."" ... rnnnbt. cftho YOSt:y and .. ...,.,.. wonltn I!t'l<l ..""'" the I)io. .... of ALobamo .. pmidenl of the Epsoop.>I o..n:hrnm oI.-\La1wna; and. VO'ho ..... O<l Junr 10, 1941 Sam Ea.l< m... i.d Emily Steol.on. and to .uch uni,", wrIt born IUlph '-'iroiJOn lIobbi, Slmu.1 f Un, .. Itob." II .n d Elltn Earl. lIobbi; and. Wh ...... Som E.rt •• nd Emily .uf· (o.od Iht lou 01 lilt .. _. Som. in !971 and in 1989. Sam Ear\t .... w.ml the loa 01 h.. Wllo. Emily, and. VO'h ...... Som ElI.I ....." .. d 1'10<), 0 .... Be...., Jonos ,n 1992 ond obQ,nod .n ntondtd I>mii)- <II 1i1.long acquarn·
'N''''''''
."I,,,.u,,,
- ....
"'ht..... the law pradict of Sam Eaf\t C...... Hobbs ...... >r:t ..... nrl ... t.... iw, .u« .. din& 10 ~ .. ,d. ~nd innu,nli.1 clienl<l< of hi. fllht •. and in _ lion ,,;!h William 11. C~g. II.V. lb.in and his
oon. IWIpb S. IIobbt.. _ 101.. .....,....1· '''' wilh t_ "",ng '1I0"""Y'. Bony R. Bennrtl.nd J~",.. II. M.Soili. J ... and 1""l"'d>"I! qualny ~ ..M« and <OUR' .. I lo.n w ........ ,hont.1< 01 inrln-iduaa. corponlO >rd I/OYOmmrnul >rd. Whr~. Som K.. I< .... p<)OO<ost<I 01 tho no ..1 ch ...,t .. Ind int.g.ity and .>.hib,ud f>,thful.nd rlodi.>ltd .. ",ieo through Iht coot.ibulioo of h" Ii .... ond cap.>bl. m,nd .nrl .ffurt to hi. commun~ ty, to h.. chu..:h, to td....,.t,on, both on hIS hometown and at h.. uniwrsay; 10 his ~ and the :woeiat"'" 01 tho 01110 Nr. and. "'homo. our b'otllt •• Som Earl •. in rt\OI!;;nfiI sud! _triM""" >rd pnwirtrrra "" famii)-. frienrh. C(>n'OnUruly ond >1>10 by "" ~ & I'" -v.y oIlht bosI of mankind. ~......:L • tlldil"'" 0I1ami1y eN.... I..... rYict. \t_'"""p and drotinc· lion >mOna Iht mo5I promi ... nl In tho hi>l.ory 01 our SIOI. and n>1""': anrl, Wh ....., Soon Ea, I. "'•• a mon poi. ..<0<11 01. f1nr inlrllw and dry "il; .nd. Wht ..... Som f~ rtt Ita..... 'u",ioon.ll him in IhlS lifo hi. ",if•. Mary Druo BeIT<)' Uoou) Itobbo: hIS ""', OUr b, oth... Ralph 1'1. Hobbs; hu r!oughl... Ellen £lo.1o Itobbs "'ilk..; hIS ,rlndchild"n . Ai"",o Lou; .. lIobb>, lIu,," Nid»l"", lIobb •. Emily N,col.on ""Ik.. Ind Somud Kmnrth Voilku: his oiit< •• IIoI.a Mill .. lIobb. loye.; "nd hi, b.olh ... 1",,* Tru ...... M.llobbo;and. VO......'"" Sam Earlo was • ttur ChriJ. tion I/<11t1tmon in the mold and .... ~. Ie. of the 101< Hobert .:. I...; and . Vo'ht".., lhe (IUS,nA from this 1010 <>f our brothe •. S.om E.. I. C.rono Ito/lb., "",.ks I t .. mrnrloua 1040 to lilt .toto ba •• to our .tato.nd ''''lion. 10 hi. fam ily ond mony fri.ndo. 10 hi> chu":h. anrllO t<luCltliono l. ,ivIC Ind ,ho';l>bl. o'i/>ni ..· tiono r... 100 numrroullO mrnlion. N_, the"fo ... be il ...olvrd by Iht Dallu Counly Ba, """"'ilIion tNl wr rio hortby .... mbIt ..-.l ukr oIfrcial rooticr 01 the I'OI4U'Il f..,.., th" hI< 01 Sam Eaf\t C....... Itololos and of hIS oumpbry cIIIt.· ><Itt• ..-.l the many .. anrfoant oncL_· rod cootribuliono 01 OIl' !lid bro(he.,
bod".,
_ R... rt R. 111>1 • Prw. Id<DI
D.11ao C... ~ ly 8 .. A..od .tloto
July 1994 / 257
Grady Jackson Long
w
h...... Crady Jack.on Lona p....d Ihi' Iif, on O<lob.. IJ. 1991:and
"·h ... u. C ..
dy Jubon Lon, ..... born on Octob<, 17, 1904 in La ...... nc. Coun· ty. AIaboma. ",as. gradual •• rod lil.lona 'UP\XIrltr <>f Alab;oma PolylfChni< hUll· l ut •. 00'" Auburn Unlo.roily. ",h .. t he 10utA'll in football in 1928 and 1m, .nd tal" c",chod.t ""Iumpl<> Hllh School btlo," movin, to 111.1.. 110. Alaboma. wht .. lit u.ltd hi' coocl,,~ c... o. al 1oIo'i"n County I!lSh School
Horace E. Garth, III h....... l h. lluntovmt· Madison Counly Bar Auocil1ion (Omu l<>t/ftho, to poy lributt to Hora« E. CaJth.IlI, who ~>wl)' ~n:h 17. 19!I4:and I'o"h ...... Hora,. E. C.. th. Ill ..... born In Madison Counly. AI.boIma .nd .I"ndtd tho public ,.hoof. of Ilunu.illt .nd lilt Uni,.. , .. ty of Alaba· m•• in Tu.caloosa, grodualing wilh.n L.L.D. dog ..... nd Wa. admiu.d 10 lho Alabama Statt Ba, and pracli<td at Ihi. boIdor ow, 40 yean: and
W
.nd won lhe T.nneos« V.IIO)' Champ;· OO$hip In 1939: and Wh.r •• " Crady hd.on Lon8 "'.. .<lmilt.d 10 the AI.boma St.tt liar in 19J9:;and Whcrns. C.. dy l.<I",on Lo~ ...... dnout Christ~ hr,n ...... mbr. 01 tho Fir>! 8apt1$\ Chul'dl wht" !>o ..rwd .. <bcon ,rod Sur.d.>y School suporinltn' d.nt and .. I.... u ... of Ih. Mor,.n Coomty 8a;It1Sl .woc.. hon: ;and
"'herus.
C~
Alaboma St.t. liar ......,.,i.Uon. for 55
)'t'.n .rod continuolly oxhibilN dilill<nc<.
•.
~li."" courluy. d,ptnd.>bilily. ,om· munlty inttr..t ond .."itt. and ......,. to his family. his Cod. his country and his community. ;and il is tho <ltl.lrt <II Ih. /'Io.,.n County S.r A.. oclalion. as .. mbl.d on Ihi. d.>1t. 10 honor Ih.
o.\tvot",,,
....mory 01 Cr»y l><bon
Now. tho<tlo<t. be il
l.<:I<\f.
~
IN.I tho
Mool>n County Bar Association mourns
JI"bon Long ....... d
Ih. dUlh of Crody bduon Lona and
hi. country In \l'o.ld War II as. liou· t.n. nl <olon.lln Iho Unit,d StalU Army.ond
con' .... nds hi. many years 04 honorai>., . J\>11.nl • .-.I u""Ir.", ..,vic. 10 lhe Mo.· iOn Counly • .-.1 AIaboma S\;It, Bar 0$$0-
"'he ..... C~ '""bon Long ..,,'«I
his communIty .. Nyo. of H.rtI<lI, (TOm 1960 to 196(. and as a CMWl: .rod \I'!>orus. C,ady Long .. T\'Od hooo~. J\>lltnUy and dill,.nlly as. mtmi>t. of Ih. /'Io".n County .nd
,,,,,bon
"'he,...,
Ho,... I:. Carlh "'.. pros<. <uto, for Ih. Cily of Uuntooillo. (rom 195810 !959 .• nd •• cily ludllo from 1959 to 1962. and Wh ...... Uo .. ct E. Carlh di,lin· lIui,hod himKl1 .. ~ filh, .. pilol In "'o,ld W.. II and tilt Ko ...... ConHki: ~
W!>o .....
I~
E, G,>rth·, rtpI>lation
... m:rn" inl<l1ri'y;and dlilnity di,' in· gui.<h<d him in .11...,.eu d. community lit..nd ho ha<ilho "W'''' <>f hi' fellow Iawyo".nd ~II who knew him:and 1'0""..... 1l0':Ke E. Cart" l> .urviV<d by hi' wife, Syl.~ C.rth: two sons,
s.
ciuion •. hi. f.mily. hi. church. hi. oornmunlty. ;and his country. -Jrn)o R. KnI&h1 1.. ~ ...1 prn.;cinl ." I4rpn C... ~ i)I 110, As.oocIaIIoll
Ho.act ~:, Corlll, IV and S.muol C. Carlh;. "'tn. C>roh ... Mon,,,,,: 1.-.1 a nio" .rod ..... pI>ow: and Wher .... l1or ~ct E. Culh ..... • \/Olued • .-.1 rt>p<Cltd friond and "'U • dlSl11lllul$hod. cllizen d. tIuJ communIty. and il l> in memory and 1!'IIfl" c"lion <II hl$l;(Inlributions to h" "Ilow m:rn. 10 hu proI...im and 10 Ihio _ . C"'im.tha, \hi. R.",lulion iudOpltd .
,,,,,.fu]
-John O. Sood, nu Pft.ldonl It "nlt .t l le · ~
Coua i)l 110.
"",,,101I0Il
Please Help Us The Alabama State Bar and The Alabama lAwyer have no way o( knowing when one o( our members is deceased unless we are notified. Do not wait for someone else to do it - if you know of the death o( one of our members. please let us know. Send information to: Christie TuanUIIO. P.O. Box 671. M",,~. AIaU ....
2 58 1 July 1994
36 101
TIiE AUBAMA LAWYER
CLASSIFIED NOTICES RATES: ......... ~: 2 tree listngs 0150 'M)f(ls 0I1e$$ pel bar member per calendat yeat' EXCEPT lor 'posotoon want00" or "posotion otfef&d"' hSlngs - $35 per insenlOl1 01 SO words 0' less , $50 per add,jlONll word . No"_mbe ...: $35 per nsenoon 01 SO WOfds at less, $.50 per addltlONl WOtd. Classilied copy and paymenlITWJSI be recewed lICCOfding 10 !he toUow,"g publfsh'ng schedule' .July '94 I . .ue - deadline May 31 , 1994, September '94 tS&ue - deadline July 31. 1994, no deadhne ext&nSioos will be made Send classilied copy lind payment. payable 10 TM Alabama Lawyer, 10: Alabama Lawy6r Classlfieds, C/o Margaret Murphy. p ,e Bo~ 4156. Montgomery. Alabama 36101
seM'Ig the Ie9aI cornmuniIy 10< oYer 60 ~ . . rs. W. buy. MIl. apprlise d lawbook • • Send wlnt Ibtl 10: Fax (7te)
CAREER SERVICES • CAREER GUIOE, "Wh;Il Can You 00 Willi. L.... o.g.Hr ~.'95 edition. o.boI.. .t.rrQn'. IQp-nued ~ ~ 101 ~ How updated & .""""""". "Hlghty 'KOmmend..:!' by VII. Law ~.
r.ctudeI_...-r.on_.
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B'rmin9/>am
El~an or Oakl~y Gordy l>othan Mmllled: 1931 IMd: Morell 31. 1994
Winston F. Groom
Roscoe
B~njamin
Hogan
BIrmingham
Admillnl: 1956 DiM: M.3y 6. 1m
Robert Lawrence Gunn, Jr. /lulI/will, Adm'~lnI:
1954 0i<YI: f·.bru:>ry 5, 1m
n lE: ALABA.'1A
~ WytR
• LAWIIOOKS: CodII 01 Alabama (1975, 31 volumll. wrth all luppl,mlnlS ttwougI'I ~ 19901; Slwpwd"1 Southern
(1_. -........
Rapor\If ~ I & 2. all part •. plu. lli&B·90 & 199(1.92 suppl,mlnlt: U.S. Code SlIvic •• La wyer. Ed,' ron (III \/OIUm85 a nd updIIt.. t!'orougt1 Nri 19!101). BasI cH ....: Contact Ala 9aIv, Spring HOI Collage Lib, ary . Phone (205) 460·2381. FAX (205).&e.2086. • LAWBOOKS: Numarous sI;ghtly dam· ItQICI lawbookl 101 ..'" Irom Alabama
11m P~ach, Jr.
11,,11"" f/Iodr. PI. Ad'MlnI: 1931 Dkd: Arnl30. 1994
~.O#"I
Dani~1
Adolphus Pike ~1ob11.
Gilbert Eglorr Johnston
Mmillnf. 1971 Diod: May I~. 1994
Birmmgham
Admillnl: 1941 INd: .'Iay 17. 1994
Mo,gno/i<1 Spri>ws
Nlrnillod: 1~ fMd, february 15. 199<1
"".
John
III
Admillnl: 1980 Did: A/lnI3(l. 1994
Phone n..ooo.l l. Kall It (205) 343-
-"
Jos~ph
C. Sullivan
MmillM: 1932
Harold P. Knight Birmmglwm
Nlrnillt<f 1!1SO
ow; Mo' eh 2<1. 199<1
IMd: /Illy 5. 199<1
Gabrielle U, Wehl I/""Ia'ill.
AdmillH: 1977 Oi...t: A/I,iI9, 1994
July 19941 259
CO m me' cl allb. nk' uptcylpla Inl iIt to ,m . GIIneraIIy upciated .. o! 1993, Coma<:t MAlI Hennigan ., (205)933-11207.
FOR RENT • OFFICE S PACE: Downtown 9irml"O· ham. Two oUlce. I,onl ing on 20th SIreet. North (1IitnWIgharn ~). I*secre1ariaI olliol and 5tOfage. ~ tlenisl. c:opIe' .nd la. mact.iM aVlil· a ble. Ideal 10' atto,ney In p"vate ptactico. Ca" (205) 328·72'0 tor intOt·
.......
• LAKE CAB IN: Lake MaRin <=lIbin. On poinl wilh 1011 at p'ivacy. wilh larodod<. grut perl«:l1or !amily. i1Jlly lu,nI5 hed. CATV . c.nlral ar,. Phon . (205) 857·2251 0, (205)
_.1I8eps ... ,
857·2653.
• O FF ICE S PACE : 8eaut'tu1. newly '''''''' doled ...... 01 two otticea located within 1·2 m lnUles of Monlgomery County Cou rthou se. Pe.lect 10 ' so lo practilion" . Competitive lI,m. Ira negotiable. Call (205) 265·2002 fo'
-.
POSITIONS OFFERED ATTORNEY J08S: National _ F.o. ..II Employment Repo, t. Mlghly 'egarded monlhly detailed lilling 01 MIOmey aocl iaw·,e/aled jobs WIth the U.S. Gov.~nl, other publiclprivale .mplo y.,s In W. shington. O.C. th'oughout It!I U.S. and abroad . 500· 600 new jobI Nell S-. $Yo lor tIv.. months : $58 10. Jill moothl. Fe<Nral Reporl$. 10tO Vermonl A _ . NW. . .08·A8. Washington. O.C. 20005. I't1on8 (202) 393·33". VISA aocl Mas· !lfCard accej)ted.
SERVICES EXPERT WITNE S S : Child a bull consultant w ~h " le","", Invesl9&lNe and call e .perl.nce CUllen lly Imployed 'I 11111 level will p,ovid. cne ns'-"nee and/or educallonal progr. ms in IIbuM areas 01 Faclitioul Oiso,der b y P,o.y. Munchaunn by ",o. y Syndrom., a nd s .. ual abul •.
260 I July 19!M
Noo·Geo'gla casel ooly. R.asonabIe. Reier ........ Louisa J. lIsher. P.O. Bole 737, Conyers. Georgia 30207. I'f-ooow (01) ns.7608. PARAL EG ALS : Alllnl,on attorneys aocl pe<soonel di'ec1OtI. The Nallen.1 Acad emy 10. Pa,al'gal Studies has qUlhto.d pa"tegall In you. I<><:al are, ready 10' employm.nl in ta w oIIioII ...., 1XIfJO'-. Our par:Wgal g.aduates are trained In areas at law. I-UCfl as lamily. flal eslate. 10fU.. criminal . ptobale. Ind COfj)Ofa te law. Sludent inte.n •• " ali a avallabl • . 1'he<e ar. no lees IOf !hese ""'""". Fo' add,tlonal Into.mar ion . caUlh. Plac_anl OIIiee II 1·800·285·:)425. . xt. 3000l1. P ROfESSIONAL LEGALINYESTlGA· TOR : l.Ic:ott>Hd and bonded. SperiaIi" 1"0 In linancial _ _ ,~'" relaled case •. E~lensiva .. parlance in wtlil. coItar inveslloailOn!l and case prepa.a· tion 10' I,IaI. FOt confiOenlla1 consutta· tlOm Ot copy 01 C.V. Ind ralerefICH. conl.ct Wyman O . Higg.ns al (205 ) 264).889:2 Of P .O. 80 .. 211071 . Mom· gomery. Alabama 36121 . • DOCUM ENT EXAMINER: Examinaliolo 01 OUlllloned Oocum.nl$. Cenilied F",.n.ie Handwriling and Document e -. T-my·_)'IarS ..-.perl. lII1OI in II berlsic doc:umIrl pr r:bIIt ... Formeri)'. Chill 0ues1lOflld Dowment ArI8Iyst. USA Crin'IinII inves1loalion lIIb< Ot8lorift. Diplomat. (Cot,1JIied)-8ritisl1 FSS . Diplom ate (certJlledl--ABFDE . Member ASOOE : 1Ai; SAFDE; NACDL Resum. and III ICl>edut. upon ~. Hw>& Mayer Godion. 218 Meny • mont Drive, Augusla. Georgia 30907. Phone (706) 861).4267, • LEGAL RES EARCH: Legal ' .... arch help. &p.ionaod I~. h.'obI> at Alabama Stale 6ar _ Ign. koess 10 SIiI1I_Iibary. WESTLAW avaiIatN. P'ompl deadline .... c ~ es. Sa'ah Klthryn Farnell. 112 Moore Building. Monlgome'y. Alabama 36t!M . Phone (205) 277· 7937. No npfISMlaIioII ;' made IIYIIhI quaiIy 01 fhllIgaI _ . vo::es 10 lilt .... Iomwd iI grNlar' /Ilar> "'quaMy 01 /ejjal seMen perl<Jfmed by ott...lo~.
• DOC UMENT EXAMINER : Certified F",ansie Ooeument Ex.mine •. Chl., do<:umenIlX8INfWf. Alabama Oepart. 01 F~ ~ rewed. 8.5 .. M.S. univl~i\y·based res!· denl school In documenl examinalion. Published natlonaliy an d Internally. Eighteen y.... lIial "per l,nc., siall/led.",. cou.ts oj AI.bama. Fo.gery . 11""I,ons.nd docum,nl IUd.oticity e~. Cnn*IaI_ "",,<Criminal meH"'. American Acade· my oj F o"n,l~ Science •. Amarlnn 8o.a,d oj Forensic Oocumanl E. """,· ..•. American SociaIy 01 OueSlioned Ooeum.nl ml.... s. Lamar M,IIe •. 3325 Loma Road . 1 2·316. P .O, SCI' 360999. ~ffIIIflQhIm, Alabama 35236· 0999. Phone (205) 966-4 158.
"*"
G,adu""
e••
• MEDICAL MALPRA CTICE CO NSU L· TANT: Donald J. Heese. M.D. hensi"e case analy,,~ ot medic.1 rr..,."'*<le. pluon. q,..y and wort<en. r;ompensaIion. AssisI at\ameyI in diIc:<)y. ery. MedicaI ..pen witnesses provideQI ptctp.a,ed. Dlmlg".. penH analy.il. MecicalIeg!Il 'II I d L MociaIoon ~ IIlion. MecicII riIk ~ rnaor;ICaj I.aud and abuM del"mination. Not • ",...at serW::.. Phone (305) IISfi..l027 . Fa. (305) 285- 127 1,
c.:wr.:-
f OREN SIC DOCU MENT EXAMINA · li O N: Hand w'itlng. tYPlw" l lng . alWed cIoc:uman1S. Criminal _ cMI matters. Medical "cordS. willi. con· t,aers, deeds. checks. anonymous let· lar •. Court qUllllied. T ~ itt y Y"" combined ..pit let ..... ABFDE CIt1iIIed. M.mb. ... Amarican Ac.d.my 01 Foran,1t Sci.nce. American Soc,tty ot Questioned Documen t Examiner •. Inl'rnalional ASSociation 10' Idanllh~l1 lon. Ca,ney a NI IIOn ForenSIC Docu .... nl Laboratory, $355 J immy Carter 80ul,v8fd . Norc'oss (AIIanIa). GeorgIJ. 3OO71 . 1'f-ooow (01) "0.7690. • AUDIO TAPE EX PERT: EMancotmen1. authentication. Inalysis and ""'lSliga' lion 01 audio Ind tape.felaled mal!e<S. T~)'e¥I prolll "" audio.xpen. lII10I. J:tmes GnI&'o. For.... Tape Set· "icas. 518 E. Capitol Sn," . "to, Jackson. Mil-'Ilipp; 392{)1 . Phone I · 8(l(l. TAPE·SE RV. Fax (601) 353·7217.
THE AlABAMA LAWVER
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