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LAlyD,_" Tm RIGJ-ff A'\SWER. RU,IIT H~RE. R1GIIT :\'0\1,
IN
BRIEF
July 1995
V{liume 56. Numbe r 5
ON THE COVER: Her.
iJ; a
look at jIQU ' Alabama Slate Bar staff. lhe peop le who make the bar work.
and some of the exci ting programs thai are being deve loped to bring together all
aspects of the bar. from the .010 practitioners to the many-member statewide firms. When the ren<,:NatiQIIS and additions 10 Ihe stale bar building "'~re completed in Apri l
1993. the .Wf had rOQrn to u pand. In May 1985. there wue 15 staff members: that number has almost doubled. To know "woo', who" and what they do. see page 22L Photo by Paul RoIJerISOf~ Jr.
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Agrffment. AlTh..,. in AIab.ma By Henry C_Stoic" lond ........................... ....................... .................... ............... ..... .... 238 The Thin! Citizon.· Conf. .. n<. on Alab.>ma State Court. By "-«O<:i, l, J",ti« Ilugh ~, ... .... ............................ ........................................... 243 ____ .. .. _.200 Presidtn!", Page .... __ EX<nJliw Dil"«lor'. Roport ... .. ....... 203 About M.mbe". ArIIon<I Firms ... . ... . 205 Bu ililing Al>boma', COIIrthou .... _ ..... .207 Sp. ing Admiltta ........... . .. .215 ..... .2)7 uWyt" in the Family_ SUti,l"" of Int.,.. t .....218 Bor Bo<l......................... .. 220
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198 I JUI.Y 1995
....... 3&lDH'56,
THE AU\1l.J\MA U\WYt:R
PRESIDENT'S PAGE
SIGNS OF A SUCCESSFUL YEAR
1 I I1I
hardly swru pOSSible that another I'ear in the long histo!), of the Alabama Stale bar is drawing to an .",1. Traditionally. this is the Him to rttOUn\ SOIm of the accomplishment. of the ~ar and the outgoing presiden!'. oo.,.es for the future. Due 10 Alabamll /.au:!#?, deadlines. 1""ile this column in mid·Ma}'. Bul ewn at
.is''''
this point. thank> to the help 01 so many. this has ~lIlhe of a sucussful ~ar for Our bar and I believe ~ will bring \0
fruition other iniliali,-es between nOW and the July annual m«ting. which marks the end of my term. The Alabama State Bar committw;. 1aSk forces and s«tions have again performed groat •• ,vice for this bar. OUr profession and the ciliurlS of Alabama. I will rIOt giw an accoonl of the committ« and task folU work as those "1'<',1. have bun set out in the May Alabama Low!F' and other pages hut. It is important to reiterate. howewr. that almost all of our 42 comm;!lees and task foreu md on one or more occasion, indicat ing very active Nlrtidpation by hundreds of Alabama lawyers who dedi· catw their valUlOble lime to the "'Ork of the bar. I th.ank all of the chairpersons and OOmmi!lee members for again demonstrating the wlunteer service so 1,'Picat in our bar. Th~ \lQtunleer spirit to nr.... among our members remains ""ry high. 8roo. Q . t hesitate to single out spedroc commit· Ie .. : however. I think we shou ld take rIOte of a few. In Augwt 1994. the Alter· nati"" Dispute Resolution comm i!lee. chaired by 1.!iII Coleman. opened the Alabama Center for Dispute RewlutiOll->ln ADR management coordination. resurch and development officeunder the supervision of the ne-..iy created Alabama Supreme Court Commission on Dispute Resolution. The commiU ... has drafted a prop<l5l'd code of ethics for mediators to be submitted to the commission for approval. Th. commi!ltt is also focusing on the qualifications and training for court appointed mediators. The fine work of this committee was recogniud nationwide when the NatiQnal CQnf.rence of Bar PruidentJ; selected Ih< Alabama Ctnter for Dispute Resolution as O!lt of it> "Iltst Bar rroject. in 1994." The Task Fol"Cf1 on Bench and Bar Relations. chaired by Judge JOi' Phelp>. and the Task FQrce on Women in the Profession,
200 I JULY 1995
chaired by Celia Collins. have been particular!)' acti"" in encour· aging unity of purpose to accomplish the goals of the bar. The Bench and Bar Conferenet in March .ponsored by the bar and Judge Phelps' task force was ""T)' productive in our CQnsensw· building effort_ That meeting. 1 believe. is a model of what 1'0"" should do owry Yl'"-r in bringing about unity in OUr unified bar. Bob o.,nni.IOO·S Task FQrce on Judicilll Seleclion did I)()\ bke off the resl Qf the Yl'"-r after the Third Citiuns' Conference on Alabama Court. w.... oon""ned pursuant to)'Ollr bar commis' sioners' December resolution. The task force has continued to meel and 'UPPl' addilional research and recommendations 00 judicial Kledion measures to the board and the Citizen,' Conl... nee leader.hip and members. This information has been veT)' useful 10 conlerence luders Go~.rnor tJ ...... r ~nd Jwtke Adams and in the delib· erations of the e<,>n/erence in its two daylong conferences held thus far. I! is hoped that the Ciliuns' Conference "ill reach some concrele recomm<ndation. for improv.m~nt ot the judicial ",lectiQn .ystem in Alabama on both the Irial and "I'" pellal. levels before our annual meeling. lis I have mentioned io prior columns. tt..re is ve1)' broad IUpport alllOflg lawyers. judge5 and lay proplelor imp ....... ment in Ih< judi· cial",lection pTllCesS in Alabama . We must nol let Ihis opportunity for improvement pass us by. Hoi ..... I acknowledge and thank Keith Norman and each member of the bar headquarters staff for Iheir dedicaled work Ihi. year. I know there w.... some concern "'hen our good friend Reggie Hamner retired la,t year. but I can tell you thaI Keilh is already perfonning like. veteran execulive secretary. Keith's counsel and knawledge of the bar have been most valuable to ~.
Lost but certainly not I..... t. 1 Ihank rresident·Elecl John O",en>. Vice·rresidenl Rick Manit)'. Ihe becuti .... CQuncil and all of the bar commissiQners fQr their frieno,bhip. hard "'ork and suWOrt. In my opinion there is not a 'tronger or more repruentati,... tate bar governing body than our board . As)'Oll ha,.. probably read elsewhere by now. GEneral Robert NQrri, i. resigning hi. position as general counse i lo go into private pradice in Birmingham. Ceneral Norris Came tQ the
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President's Page QmlinwJ from ~ 200
NOTICE TO SHOW CAUSE • Notice is hereby given to Timothy Patrick McMahon 01 Fo ley. Alabama that pursuant to an order to show cause of the Disciplinary Commission of the Alabama Stale Bar. dated March 3t. t995. he has 60 (sixty) days Irom the date 01 this publication. (July 18, t995). to come into compliallCe with the Mandatory Continu ing Legal Education require· ments. NoncompliallCe sha ll resun in a suspension 01 his license. [CLE No. 95·16)
NOTICE TO SHOW CAUSE • Notice is hereby given to Timothy Patrick McMahon of Foley. Alabama Ihal pursuanl to an order to show cause of the Discipl inary COmmiSSKln of the Alabama State Bar. dated May 9. 1995. he has 60 (sixty) days from Ihe dale 01 this publicatIon. (July 18. 1995) to IXlme into compl iance with the Cl ient Security Fund Assessment. Noncompliance with this assessment shall result in a suspension WIth his license. {CSF No. 95·10)
ffL
Alabama State Bar after selVing splendidly as Judge Ad\lOCate General oflhe Air Force, We are ind«d indebted to Bob Norris for the great job he has dom in Llki"ll charge of and improving greally the bar's Center for Professional Responsibility and our diJ.Ciplinal)' system . We will miss Hob and M.nha and we wish them the wI)' ~st in the future. Now in pan ing 1 ..1" This i. a great bar. I ..id at the ~gin· ning of my lenTI that we can be ~t1er and that the only thing holding us bad is the divisiwnus and a lack of unity which hall «Ime about in ,,,,,,,nl l"'ars. 1 ~I iew we haw helped 10 im· prow on Our lack of unity. We haw oot cured it. It is my f.."ent hope that the Alabama State Barwilllle">'er be used by any mem~rs 10 foster positions supporti,·. of spodal interests such all. particula r "iewpoin t in the civil ju,tice sys· tern . It is good for all lawyers to seek to.erw the bar but tht guiding light 0( tho:se ...fIo seek an office in this bar should a]l,..'3.YS bf- to seM for the purposes for which it exists. If we seM this bar with the I'€ solw to rise abovt Sl'tcial interests and .elf inte'· ests to addr... the greater professi(l<lal and public good . as r believe has bf-en done for the last 117 years · we ",ill continue 10 have an Alabama State Bar that truly selVes all Alabama lawyers and the Pl'OPle of Alabama as it was created to do. In 1941. all he left the office of president of Ihis bar. a great la...~r from Mobile, Sam M, Johnston. said of the office...1t is an honor worthy of any lawyer', ambition. - I agree with Mr. John· ,ton and I again thank each of you for giving me thisoppOrtuni· ty to serve our profession. •
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~--------------------------------------------- - -----~ 202 / JULY I995
THEALABAMA LAWYE R
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT A GLANCE AT YOUR ALABAMA STATE BAR, PART
II
FY 1991 ·1992 5 1.60 IM~\ fY 1992·1993 S 1.%5~\ J.\ How I. the AlllbalNl St.t. a., I",nded? FY 1993· 1994 52.1441'1»1 progrnns ind ~ivilitl of the AlabiIN Stit~ &. Thr bod#t hM gJ'OIo'!l ailVlifitmtly in the I'd fM' yora basi· , Irt funded by licel\K fta. s!,«ial _mbe'$l1ip tally in I1:SpI,lrut to new or tnhanttd produn Of un. Ins, e,a:. bar r - - - - - - - - - - - - - - , grams, ICl iviliu and ~rvice5 offtred to tumination. "'th(mSh Iht Ihe membersh ip and Ihe public IS bar's budget ~s th ./)Ugh the state budappl'O\.'ed by the board 01 bar commission· getina process and Is included in the ers. ~ll1Ch 01 the bodatt growth is attrib-
Fiscal Operations
10 lU
state', general fund. no state ~nua i~
ut'" principally to inert_inti ..dmini$tra· 1M lrlod reguhlory .,..,.;ces. A5 bar membenhip h.I.I incrused .. nd programs have expandtd, "'. have ad ded .. dmini5trative 51<0// to ..... d Ihis incrt-utd dtmand. Rtgulato<y.NiceJ tIM: inc-rus«l btcause 0( the risinII number 01 gritv.llrlCU filtd .. nd in''t5logiltd, 1M rUing numbu of UPt. in~stigitions and proJ«utions, andlhe pfl.)U55inQ of mort Cl ienl SKuri. Iy rund claims, while In5u ring lawytr compIl.mce with the Climt S«urity Fund Rula, MCLE Rules ind InkrtSi on t.r..ym' TT\iSt Acwunl Rules.
incluckd in the ~r'i budg«.
Which protlrllm S .... "",,'.g" on II b .... k ..... " or pert I. , tund· Int bIosis?
II numbrr of bar ProQ~ are upecttd to brule IMn financially tach )'Q'. These "brellk~n' PfOlIraml ~ funded by rev"nllfl other than lInnmllTll'mbu ftu: I. Admi ..iom
2. Pro Hac Vice
3.
~
Roo. RfJIOfItr
•. SPKializ.ation Which prog . ......... funded primarily by m em be. , . . .?
Most bar prflllnms or ;tCtivilitl an funded by member ffn.. Typically. IheK lIU publk st1'\'Kt J)TOIIrams or Ihr "'IUIIoIOl)l mporuibililies 01 tilt bu. I,
Commun;ati~
Program
2, Client Security Fund Adminis\r311on
3. 4.
5. 6.
7. 8.
~r
Refernl Service Mtmbtr Puiodicllls Oisciplin< MCLE Board of Commissioners CommltttH and 1Uk Forc~
....t Is II•• his tory of the Hr'. budget o"e, the past fl"e ye.,s? FY 1989-1990 Sl.364MM FY 199(l.1991 Sl.476J.\M TlIEAUJIA.'1A
~\'lYER
The: four principal artllS of ongoing inttrtst of bar oommll· IteS and lisk fOfC~ afe, with the number 01 committee5 or task (01'«5 in p,lrtnthe5ia, foe..., on the pro/wion (20), be1l(h and bar (31, public: RM« (12) and bar ~nw:nt and!!<N· rrTWlCt
(3).
w.o.t .,. ••• mpl •• of the b.,' •• ctivlty in the. . key . . . . .? Public Service l. Committee on Client Secufity fund. The sWf pTOYidta idminiatratiw support to this oommittte ",nidi rtView$, t\;>llI/It~, (\ekrmines and pays c1.tims med by ..... mben 01 the public for aUor nt)' malfeuance. Lut year the fund paid $49 ,814.08 in claims.. 2. Committee on AcoesI to Legal Se,..,.;ces. This commiUte Iw O\I!raiaht Dlthe ba(, Voluntnr i.n.'ytr Program and ....0 ..... d,rtdly with !he VLP director to mNit IMwytrs for the proQwn by increasing awartness of the public and the pro/u· sian. More than 1.600 lawyers Ife now p.rtici]!<lting in th is proQram. JULY 1995 / 203
3_ Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution. formerly a task force and !\OW a committee. this group ha5 bten instrumental in the supreme court's adoption of civil mediation rules. and the establishment of the Center for Dispute Res· olution. as well as recommtnding the Supreme Court Commission on Dispute Resolution. 4. ludicial Seltction Task Force. The task force membtrs have studied the issue judicial selection as well as the financing of judicial campaigns. The findings and rWJmmendations of thi' task force ha"" bun furnished to the Third Citiuns' Conference on Alabama State Cou.u. 5. Other committees and task forces invol"td in public se",i~ include Ind i ~t 1)efense Committee, Prepaid t..eglol Services Committee. Law Day Committee. Cititenship Education Committ... CQffimittee on Corroctional Inst itutions and Procedures. and the Adult Litnacy Committee .
liai5l)n Committee and the Judicial Confu.nce lor the State Alabama.
or
Focus on the profes.lon I.
or
or
2.
3.
Bench and Bar Bench and Bar Committee. This committee ha5 W(lrk.d to encourage joint activities betwetrl the bench and bar includ · ing joint programs at the mid-winter meeting of the circuit and district judges associations, and the recent -Unity Cooference- involving representath... of different segment.s within the bar. Otherrommitteesand task forctS include the Supreme Court
4_
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2M / JULY 1995
ora
I.Qng Ra~ Planning Task Fora. 111th thr adoption long rang. plan by the board of bar commissioners. this committee "'000 with the staff and other bar-i:ommittees and task forces to accomplish the ten broad objoctivts of this plan.
Future of the bar Th. long range plan was appr01... d in September 1994.t the recommendation of the Long Rang. Planning Task Forc. ably chaired by CiUllilie Cook of TuscaIQOs.l. The long rang. plan. the wor!< product of that task force. i> a blu.print for the future of the AI~batTIII State Bar. The bar's mission statement as contained in the 1000g range plan stat"" -The Alabama Stale Bar is d~diC/lt.d 10 promoting prol'$' $ional responsibility and COfflPI:'teoce of its members. impTOl.;ng the adminislnltion of justice. and incr~asing the public under· ~tanding of and re,!",ct for the law." To acoomplish this mission. the plan seli forth ten general objectives that will serve asa road map into the next millennium. A 00jl)I of the long rang. plan can be obtained by contacting state bar headquarters.
ConClusion
Call (20S} 27m37
flRM""
f:ditori~1 Board of The Alabama /.I.Iu·yer. The board of editor$ i$ an adviloOry bOard and ~i~ts the .ditor in publi~h ing The A/obumo Lt1wyer and other publications assigned to it by the board bar commissioners. Pmnantnt Code Commission. The Commission works closely with members of the general ooun .. l"$ $taff;n monitor_ ;ng wh.ther the Rul.s of Prof... ional Conduct me.t th. netd~ of the legal profes,ion and the public. as well as serving as a dearing houJ.e for all proposed amendments or change$ to the rule •. Commillee on La ...~r Public Relations . This committee works directly with the bar'$ director of communications to provide public .ducatiQn and public information and I>Ublici .. the .. rvices available to the public from the bar. Task Foru on Solo and Small Firm Praclition.... Working with bar .taff, the charge of this wk force is to determine any .ignificant problems or issues that confront solo practitioM" and members of small firms and what the bar can do to assist these members in particular. For the pUrposi: of this task lorct', mission. ' small firm" includes fi,.. Or fe..... r members. Other committees and task forces inV<llved in this area include Insurance Programs Committee. Task Forc. on ,l1 inority Participation and Opportunity. Ethics Education CommittN. Women in the Profession Task Force. and Com· mittee OIl Local Bar Activities and Services.
ChIr...,....
Thi> quidc overview don 00\ detail the foil menu of bar programs and activitie$, but b~ highlighting those I believe to be of $pj'dfic int ..·"51 to mosl of you. I hope to ha"" pfO\lided a more complete piClure of the Alabama Stat. Bar. •
TBI:: AI.ABA.\tA LAWVER
ABOUT MEMBERS, AMONG FIRMS I
ABOUT MEMBERS O.~l d
A. McDona ld
opening of
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~nnounCf$
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tht
208 S. Warrtn
Slfffi. Mobilr.A~ 36602. The mailing;Wdrm is P.O.lJolc 832, Mobil. 36601. Phone (334)434·0045. Mark G. Montiel, fOI11\e. judge of the Alabama Court of C,imin,1 Appnls. Innouocn the op(ninll of his office II 67:;.1 TJ;y\Or Circle, MonIQomtTY. Alaba.... 361 17. Phone (334) 277·7525.
EcIwloI'll E. Blair anno\ln«$ tho .doc..· lion of his olfo« to too W. Court Sq .....,. Sui t. 51. Hu nt.ville, AI'~1N 35801. Th. 1N,!in, ,dd.tu is P.O. Box 2855. Huntsville J58O.I. Phone (205) S30t·9995. "'JoYnt K. AIuI""'. r, J ... fOrmtrlyof Ih. Morgan County Districi Allomty's office. anOOUII«S the opening of his office
al 302 Second "venue. Southeast. Suite C. Dtatur, A~!),TT\II 350601. The mailing add.us is P.O. Box 1286. ~Ciltur 35602. Phont (lOS) lSS·9591.
Paula I. Colola. /oo'tmrly of Bolt. born.
Jaclu.on
&: &lilt)'. announces 1M Open' ing 01 her oIfo« II Security Bulk Build-
ing. 10 W. 11th Sired, Suite 20, Anniston. AI,~ .... 362(11. The .... iling add ,us ;, P.O. BOl 11 95. Anni.lon J6Z()2. f'ho)rw (205) 235·3903. litnnt h WIt 'O ll . fo r mu ~U;$tJnt $tat~ 'UI'C . intfndent of fducltion. annourICU the opening of his office at 200 Sand Mountain I). i~, NW, AIMrlville. Alabanll35950. Phont (205) 878·9no. RoWrt C. Cammon. announces the nmtion of his oIT.n to 108 South Side ~I't'. /luntsYIllf. ~ 3S801. Phono
flOS) 534 ..557.
North. Suitt 900. Birrnintham. AIaI!arno.
of Lanlilon, Frutt" " S-t. The new
3S2OO.1'honI: (WS) 328-2200.
name ;1 Lan,aton . Frazor, SWot ' & Fruit . Offi en Irt lo.:lI ttd ot 1040 Finmcial Center. 505 N. 20th St nel. Birmingham, Alabllmi 35203. Phone (205) 458·3550.
Donna Wenon Srrmlty announa:s tht of JalOII Baird. Offices ha~ ~n I't'ooted to 601 Gnensboro A~nue. Twcaloosa. Alab:onll35403. ~ nlliHng add .... » is P.O. 1488. TuWlI(><»;l 35403. Phone (205) 758·5576.
~"'tion
Gory O. lI~r and R. S te-phen Criff· ilinnoun« lhe formation of Hooper " CrUR •. Offlcn a'f mled al NfW South Ftdt",,1 ~np Buildin, 8th 1'Ioor. 215 N. 2bt Strtet. Birm;n.ham. Al.I.banll
1521l3.1'honI: (205) 251·7188. J amn C. liin, and C."'e h~, Jr. . formerly of WitH" &; King, announCf lhe formillion of King & I""Y. Bony "1Ug.,blc joined the firm as In .......,i.o.te in tit. Birmingham office. ind Charte. E. lIamlOn and CI.tul Junkin. former circuit judge. have joined the Fayette office. Richard A. FrftH has joined tho firm
ltutlJnd" H... ~II announns that L.. Cooper Rutland. Jr. hu joi ... d the firm as an .......,iate. Offices are mild at 208 N. Priirie Stml, Union Springs. Alaba· ma. The maiHlIlI iddrtN;, P.O. Bole 55!. Union Spri"" 36089. Phone (334) 738·
4710. WuthinfiOtl " AssociaIU lnn(lUncu tlW. Cony B. ... _ has joined tht firm. otrt«l an Iocaled at 819 ParMY DIM. Southu5t. t.mb. AllbatnI35O!U. Phone (205) ij99.jjIM. W,IIOn. Fen" J im ............ announcu that C....... It. Pullon ha.I bffi.>me a part. nt •. Offices art located al AmSouth Crnter, 200 Clinton A~nue. West. Suite 800. Iluntsvillt. AIWnll 3S801. The mailing
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AMONG FIRMS Emut CoTy. Leila II . W, llOn. Charlu R. C~. O. 1In.ce Pe~. and AnM.sloy II. DeCari. announce I.... fO'nlltion of Cory. W, I. on. Crowder &. Pel w ~.
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(800) 211.2971. IXI. SOJ.
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~r-LegoI.lnc:
Omen are located at 300 21,t Slre,t. TIlE ALABAMA I.AWYEII
JULY 1995 / 205
address is P.O. Box 46. Hun!.:;,,;lle 35804. Phone (205) 531;·7423. Donald, Rand all. Donald. Tipton &: Dona ldlon announces th.t Lauri. K. Putt has become an associate. Offices are located at AmSouth Bank Building, 2330 University Boulevard, 9th Ploor. Tuscaloosa. Alabama 35401. Th. mailing address is P.O. Box 2155. Tuscaloosa 35403. Phone (205)758·2585. Wall ace. Jordan. Ratliff. Bye .. &: B....ndt announces the Op!'ning of Ih,ir Montgomery omu and that Alg.rt S. Agricob. Jr. has joined as 01 counsel. Offices .re located in Montgomery and Birmingham. Alabama. Bainbridge. Mimi &: Rogen announctS that Alf.. d P. Smith. J r .. formerly with Maynard, Cooper 0; Cale, has b(come a partner. The firm's new name is Bain_ bridge. Mimi. Rog." .sl Smith. Off,ces are located at The Luckie Building. 600 Lucki. Drive at Highway 280. South. Suite 41S. Birmingham. Alabama. The mailing addrus is PO. Bo x 530886. Birmingham 35253. Phone (205 ) 8791100. Whito, Dunn &: Boob-r annotlI>OO; that Olur W. AdamI. Jr .. associate justice (Retired), Supreme Cou rt of Alabama. hu joined the firm of counstl. and Robert W. O·Noill. formerly vice-president and general rounMllor South Cen_ tral Bell Telephon. Company. and Jomu L. Sanders. II have joined the firm. Offic. . . re located at 1200 Pi"t Alabama Bank Build ing. Birmingham, Alabama 35203. Phone (20S) 323·1888. Miller, Hamilton. Sn idu £. Odom announces that A. Carson I. ~icolson and James RtbardW! have become members. and Josoph E. \·.suti •. W. Ikn Broad_ wlter and A. Lyson< " igginl ha"" btwrne associates. E. Bany Johnson has rei... c.ated to the Montgomery off,c •. Office. are located in ~lobile and Montgomery. Alabamaand Washington. D.C. Peld &: Hyo:Ie announces the O5S(lCiation of Katherine N. BaTT. Dffices are located at 2100 SouthBridge Parl!vo·ay. Suite 590. Birmi ngham, Alabama 35209. Phone (205l S02-7575. lIurdin., Colli .... " Burdin. announces the uwciation of Roy Edpr Long, and the new firm name is Burdine. Collier. 206 ! JULY 1995
Burdine" Long. Offices are located 102 S. Court St reet. Suite 412, Plorence. Alabama 35630·5-65-6. Phone (205) 7675930.
aswc .. t• . Offim a,. located at 900 Park Place To",er. 2001 Park Place, North. lIirmingham. Alabama 35203·2159. Poone (205)3244400.
J olt ph W. S tTickl.nd. Patri ck P. Smith. Melissa K. Smith and Jlmn A. Hauert)'. Jr. announce the formation of ShicIdand. Smith &: 11agg.rt». Offi= itre located at 4 OffICI: Park Circle, Suite 212. Birmingham. Alabama 35223. Phon e (205 ) 870-4440.
Lanier, Ford. ShJver &: Payne ~n · nounces that G. o'lle E. Knox. Jr. ha. bttome a member and J amie Manuco Bubslon. Louise C. Porter and p. Stott Amston ha,.. b(come usodate .. Offices are located at 200 W. Court Square. Suite 5000. Huntsville. Alabama 35801. The mailing addrUi is P.O. Box 2087. Huntsville 35804. Phon. (205 ) 535 · 1100.
Bolch &: Bingham announces thai Rebeeca J. Brown. B. Butl.r and Paul B. S .. lty have joined the finn as aswciat e•. Officu are located in Birm· ingham and Hunt~ville. Alabama and Washington. D.C.
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Jam .. W. May and Kathryn D. Fe,.,..,11 announce the IOnTllltion of M~ &: Ptm:U. Offius are located at 307 S. ~kK.n.ie Street, Potey. Alabama 36535. TIM! mail · ing .dd.... ;. P.O. Box 549. Poley 36535. !'hone (334) 943-2881 or (334) 943-2333.
Burn,. Cunningham £. MackO)' .n· nounces that Gary w. Pillingim has be· come an aowci/lte. Office. a .. located at 50 Saint Emanuel Street. Mobile. Alabama. The mailing add re ss is P. O. Box 1583. Mobile 36633. Phone (334 ) 431·0612. Sirole &: Permutt announces that Chorl., A. Stewart. 11I has joined as a sha.. holder and Dana Clai.. Gib.on as an aswciate in the Montgomery office. Michael D. Rogo ... Thomas II. Young and Slephen K. Woll s tt in. forme rly partners with Bolt. 150m. Jackson 0; Bai · ley. announce the formation 01 Rogen. Young .sl wollstein. Office. are located at Williamson Commerce Center. 801 Noble Street. Anniston, Alabama. Poone (205) 235·2240. Vick.rs. RHs. Muon)' " Cuonn an_ nOIlnces that C. Richard ""lilcins has become a rmmb(r of the firm. OffICU are located at First Alabama Bank Building, Mobile. Alabama. Armbrtcht. Jackson, (n:rlou)" Crowe. Holmu &: Ree\"U announceS that J""",. E. Robert lon. Jr. and Scott C. Brown have become members. Ofroces are locat· ed at 1300 AmSouth Cenltr. Mobil •. Alabama. Phant (334) 405·1300. Tingle. Wat.on " Ratu announces that Mark T. Waggoner has become an
Bond. Rotes. Thornton" Carlson an· nounces th~t Ilt lTy Fri nk Brown has joined the firm as an ilSsociate. Offices are located .t the Colonial Pinancial Center. One Commerce Stred. Suite 10 l. Montgomery. Alabama 36104. Phone
(334) 2&4·3363. The following attomeys announce the relocation of their offices to II 15 Office Park Ci rde. Suite 100. Birmingham, Alabama 35223: J a m .. M. Kend rick (20S) 871·3116: D. William Rooka (205) 8(}2-71l63; Jam•• S. "itch... (205) 871. 3056; Michael J. Rom ... (205) 871-5859; and A. Ocnier "il1"m. (20S) 871·5050. Olsehner &: Alloc"to. announces that J. Mark Hart has bKome ~ shareholder. and the new fi rm name is Olschn.. &: Hart. Office. are located at 17 Office Park Circle. Suite 100. Birmingham. Alabama. The mailing add","", is P.O. !lox 531228. Birmingham 35253. Phone (205l 879·
""'.
Richard A. Thompson announces that C. Brandon H.IJtud. Jr. has b(co .... an aswciate. Ofroces are located at 2903 7th Street. Tu.lcaloosa. Alabama 35401.1'hone (205) 759· 1512.
Pi.rco. Ca .... Alford. Ledyard &: l,;otllo announces that Jam .. 11. ,"!cDonald. Jr. has ioined the fi rm. Offices are located at 1110 Montlimar Dri"". Mobile. Alabama 36609. Th. mailing address is P.O. Box 16046. Mobile 3661ti Phooe (334)lW·5151. Steven C. Salle r and Robert D. Wealhen. Jr. announce the formation of S.. _ " Wealh~ .... Offices are locat· ed at SOl Chur<:h Stred. Suit. 14. Decatur. Alabama 35-601. The ma ili ng add ..... i. P.O. Box 3043. Oecatur 35602·3043. Phone (205) 351·1184. •
TIn; AIABA.."IA LAWYER
BUILDING
ALABAMA's
COURTHOUSES MACON COUNTY COURTHOUSE 8/1 SANU£L A RUMORE, JR.
Th~
follou;in/J continues
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histor/l of
Alabamo's rounl/l awrlhoultS-lhei, origiru and _ of1M p«Jpk rmo CllI1lribultd /0 1M;' flJ'lWfh. ~ AI.IM"", Ul"ll'" pkms 10 I'UrI _ count,'s sl<XJI in NCh iu". of Ih, magazine. 1f!lOU hotw pOOlograp/u of N.l/l or ptl'sen/ courlhou-. pt_ fonNrd thDn 10: St:zmuel A RlimM!, Jr.. Mig/ioniro &
1m,
Rumor<'. 1230 Brown Murx To",er, Birmingham. Alabama.l5203.
MACON COUNTY
I;) II
KOO County wu - by ~ It" new counties crealtd thr Al,biml Ltgi,luurt on Dfnmbcr 18. 1832. All of thesr counlits am. from forme. lndWl Ilmls - Choeu, ..... CMroku. Or Cruk. /obcon COUnty formerly btlooged to lilt Crftla who tl'llruftrrtd tilt last 01 tllti' lands US! 0( thf MIl$luiPl'i RMr to ltv Unlt~d SllItes by, tfuly In 1S32. n,. C(>!IlIty \<I'U f\lImtd for Nathaniel Macon. a Rtvolutiol\.ll')' War sold irr ond long'loeNmg political leader. Maron was born in whit if now Warren County. North CifOlifli. on Ott.mller 17. 175ft H. IUtndtd !'tinctlon University in Nrw Just)' in 1774 and joint<! the New JUsty milili" in 1776. [n 1777 ht rt1UmN 10 North C"roIU"'IG study !lOw. but in 178() he ~jointd tilt ",'my whtn Ihe British utuked tht lOuthun
-...
~ bK" .......... impGrtanl political lcadtr in North ClIroh .... From I i8[ tG 1786. ht Krved in the North CnoliN &nate. In 1788 he joined the loti·fede,· a[i,1 mCIVemenl in opposing the adop· lion of the Uni ted Statu Constitution. l1e WIS II fe"~nt bthever in states· rights:
nlE AUBA'"IA I..o\WYER
the abilily of lonl people to govern tlltmstlvu. He feared a strong central government. HoI.-ewr. afler tilt Consti. tulion "·115 ",dopted, he supported Ihe new go,·ernmenl lind was elected in 1791 to serve in Iht Ilous. of Rep .. s.n· tltivu. ~tloon 5eMd continuoully in ~ • itlltr in lhe House or &nate. for the next 37 )"tllr$. He WllS Speue, of tilt House from 180010 1807 and chaired tht House Fonign Rdatoons COmmillft. H. K~ In the United Statu Smate from 181510 1828. 0...""11 his final """ rurs in the Sen"te. he wllS Pre.idenl Pro Tmlport". He raigned from tilt Senate in 1828 when he rnchtd lIif.: 70. !>boon ,,-as uniYmlllly ~ed krr his honesty. Economy with the public·, mont}' was the p.wron of his carffr. Hoo.-,•. ev.r. Macon om>05td rederalist policies in Congrus. He opposed any <onstitu·
tional inlfrprdahon t~1 npan.dtd fed· era.illCl'o«r. lie OPIX)$td protKti1l! tariffs and the buildrng of a N\')'. lie Oppof.td tnation 10 fund the War of 1812. lit opposed the Minouri Compromise becaus. ht felt that to ack"""·led~ the ,ight of Congress 10 compromiM on slav. ery would aCKnowledge a right to inter· fert with statu· rights. In summary . ~Iacon is not rtmembtrtd by historians ;os a constructive for<f in C~~ Macon IXIIIIlnlitd 10 '""" IIiI stat. dtr r<:liring from Congrns. first lIS trust« of the Uniwrslty of North ClIroIi ... and then in 1835. u pruident of ,hi: ~ ClIroh ... Constitutional Com'fntion. Ii. died "t his homr on JUnt 2'9, 1831. Macon ,,"a.\ POPIJlu among the Killers in the newly opened Indian land, in Alab;Jo""' .... ho came from the ClIrol ina.'! . Ceorgia. Tenneuu. ~nd Virginia. They ~'I'tcted hi5 10ng Krvice and hi. politi.
JULY 1995 1207
cal leanings. including his ddense of sla,,~1)' and states' rights. and his po$i. tion that se<:tssion WII5 the only mnedy for usurp.l.tion of pOWer by the federal government. The 1832 AlabalTllJ ugisla· ture named one of the ten new counties in the state "Macon" in his honor. On January 12. 1833. the Alabama Legislature passed an act establishing a three-member commission which woold sel«t a site for the courthouse of Maron County. The commission was charged with locating the sut of junice at or near the center of the county if practi. cable or. if not, at the ITIQ6\ eligible pOint not exceeding.1x miles from the center of the county. The membtrs of the commission were General Thomas Wood».,.rd. loaac Ray and John Thomp· SOn , They chose a sitt on the headwa· ters of Calebee Creek on an old Indian trail near the center of the aru. The town WM laid out in 1833 and named Tuskegee. As with ITIIJny Indian names. there are seve",,1 theories concerning the histol)' and derivation of the name "TU5kegee". One tradition is that the word comes from a Creek Indian word "taskialgi" which means '"warriors." Another theeI)' i. that the town was named for a tribe - the Tuskigis. A third possibility is that the town WM named in honorofan Indi· an town. TaskiSi. which was located near Fort Toulouse in the triangle fonned by the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers. A final suggestion is that the town was named for a Creek Indian chidtain_ Tuskegee. At any rate. Tuskegu became county seat of Macon County in 1833 and has served continuously since as its only county seat. The first election of county commis· 5ioners took place on the first Monday in March 1833. Ceneral Thomas Wood· ward . a member of the original selec· tion commi ttee. was among the fi"t commissioners el«ted , He built the first house in the town of Tuskegee. The first ChanaI)' Court met in April 1833. The initial courthouse was a log cabin·t;'!)e structure with a dirt noor. It was also used by the Methodist congreg.tion. In 1841 this old loS structure was replaced by a two-story brick courthouse constructed in the center of the town square. This courthouse was d.. igned by Joshua F. Mitchell and Iknjamin H. 208 1 JULV 1995
Cameron. It was identical to the Greek Revival courthousl'5 built in Chambers County in 1837. Tallapoosa County in 1839. and Randolph Count~ in 1840. B~ the 1850s Macon County had 8fO\'o"fl and thrived due to the richnw of its soil. Plantation. prospered th~re. Th~ total population approached 27,000. Fine homl'5 were constructed. including the Varner·Alexander House. commonl~ known"" Crey COlumns. which today is one 01 the largest and most elaboor"te
--
Tho III5J C,"* h ....""/ rou"""'- /oa:f<d in
ante·bellum homes still standing in the state. It was acquired by the National Park Service in 1975 to serw as a recep· tion center and headquarters lor the Tusktge. Institute Nat ional Historic Site. Its front gates were med in the movie "Gone With The Wind." Also. by the 1850•. Tuskegee had becom~ a center of ~ducational opportunities and culture. esptciall~ for JIOlIng women. There "''ere 46 pubHe s..:hools in the county and Witral print. schools and colleg... On February 2. 1354. the
Tuslcog.., Female Conege was chartered by the State 01 Alabama, This school was later taken owr by the Methodist Church and became known as the AlabalTllJ Conference Female College. In 1909 the colleg. moved to Montgomel)'. In 1935 its name Wa5 changed iI8IIin. this time to Huntingdon College. Thus. Huntingdon. which still thriws today as a private college. can trace its roots directly to the college chartered by the state in Tuskege. in 1354. By the mid· 19th century the citiuns 01 Macon County wanted a new court· hou5e that would reneet the ""a1th and prestige of the county. Montgomery architect Chari.. C. DrdelTllJn designed a new building that w.s erected in the town !Quare. The cornerstone was laid on June 24. 1853. His de.ign ,.·as simi· lar to the 1854 Montgomery County Courthouse fOT which he also ~rved "" architect. Tht style for this third Macon County Courthoust was Creek Revival. It included a raised portico. reached by j)ilired curv· ing staircases. and four nutw columns. The cost Wa5 $14.000. Bf>ides being used in Macon County, this basic design was imitated in other central Alabama court· houses. including the Taliap<loM County Courthouse at Dadeville. the Lowndes County Courthouse at Hayneville. the Butler County Courthouse at C"",nville. and the Lee County Courtl>oust at Opeli· ka. These courthouses all expressed the \iew that the 1'00 of justice should be a "temple of democracy' <IJ1d so the;> Wl're constructed in the fashion of ancient Greek temples. At the outbreak of the Civil War. Tus.eg.. was the center lor trade and culture in a large county that included such t",,·ns "" Auburn. Union Springs. Notasulga, and LoachapOlla. After the Civil War. Macon County lost territoI)'. po]lulation, 'walth. and innlll'nce. The Reconstruction legislature of 1866 created several new counti~s. Among these were Bullock and Lee. Much of the territory used to crute these counties came from Macon Coun· ty. In ]870 the population 01 ~lacon County had declined to leu than 18.000, and its area had botn reduced to 622 square miles. The 1880 cenSuS revealed a further decline in the population of Macon Coun· ty. Vet. despite this problem. the elec· TilE ALABAMA LAII'I'ER
lion 011880 $t1: tht sUit for T~ and Macon Counly 10 btcom~ known ~round lilt world. In 1880. m~ny ru;d~nlS or Macon COUnly ~re trying to unltat th~ two county legislators. The election result could not bt predicted. ThtH legislators made II political promin 10 ltw;, AIbm5, i blxlt Iudtr. tNt in mum lor tilt blick \'Ole thil)'Or Ihty would support Ihe eslablishmenl of I vouliooal school ror black slU\kntJ. Tht lwo won rNltclion with the help or black vot· u s. and Ihtn hpt thei r promiH. On Fobruary 12. 1881. Gowmor RufusCobb s i,ned 11M: bill cUitin, the Tushgtt Normal and Industrial Inilitule. The Irul,lute OIltned its docff wilh 40 stu· dtn l$ on July~. 1881. Th rough the dforts of Jl()Oker T. Washington. Ceorgt Washington CaMr and oIhm, Tuskeg« lrutilut~ IM:lptd 10 tfJllSronn the South through education. Tht school is now Tusktgte UnMrsity. Whm Macon Counly dtc:idtd to build l ntW courthouM: in 1905. 11M: $Iy\r cho,tn wu Richa rds.oniln Roman ..qu •. Romantsolue architectUN is I basic archi· ttdur.ll style dating back almost 1.000 ~aff. Its chir.lcterislics indude round· ed iTtha. ~m'1 ~ultJ IIld Ihick ,,-;.IIs. The $Iyl. is noted for its ,ITOngth and lQIidity. iklWftn 1880 and 1910. a variation of tht 1I0manesqut style btcame quile rashionab le lor public buildinv in Ihe Unit.d Slitts. Tht $Iyl. was pOpUlarized by tlmry Hobson Richanhon of Iloston. His veffion of ROR\lnesqut conllintd mIl$iw pyrlImidaI roofs. poleed towm.. Ium'ts. and low. rounded S)'T"WI arthts for porche. or olhu openings. This stylt is cal l.d Richard.onian Roman-
"'~.
_. -.._"'
Tht 1905 Macon Counly Courthouse.
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... -.~ ....
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which continUt$ t o _ tht county. is quitt imprtuiw lor I "m,1 rotInty and is one dlIM: best prnolVfd tum-ol·U...· century cou rt hou~' in Alabama. Th~ main or south.", side of Iht building contairu a .ix·story c~ntril clock ta..'i:r ... ilh nanking octagonal lu " eU. Th~ roof, owr the tow~r and tu rrd, ar~ 5I«p-pitchtd pynmid$. Rounded ITtha pffilominal. in tht openi"" of tht l()W(r. The structuu is brick ... ilh gran. itt trim. A sptci~1 f~iluU of 11M: clock lowe r ;1 th~ deco ral ivt ,unite gar. goylu lonted at uch corntr. The •• gargoylu IN an artistic combination of In ugl. lind II dugan. Tht Macon Counly Courthouse is tIM: only court· houH In Alibaml "'ith prgoy\H. Sinc. the CQurthouJt is irr.llularly lhaptd. tIM: western side is tolilly differ· enl from Ihe 50ulhern uposurt. The ~'ttm entrance hu I ono ·,tory natI'(l(lf portico with rounded arthts lor tht three openings. Tht mtrmct is framed ~ twin four·$\OTyt()W(rs.l)irrctly~ 11M: tntrmc. is I gabled dormtr mltch. inQ 11M: height of lho Iwin 10\>11'1"$. Tht courthou.t il located dirtctly northt ... t of the town !oQUiTO. Tht two puviou, courlhouses ... ert localed in 11M: «nlfr of tht !oQUiU. When tht pres-
tnt court houH wu compltttd. th. Gu.k Rtvival $IructUTt in 11M: !oQUiTO ...as 10m dooo.'Il_Tht square now 5tNU ... a memorial park. The prtle nt Macon COunty Cou rthoust was designed by J. W. Goluckt and Comp,lny of Atlanu who llso dnigmd 11M: Choombef"1 Counly Cou rlhouse of 1899 and the Calhoun County Court_ houH of 1900. Rern.l.rIWIly tIM: Macon Counly struduTO was completed in 1906 lit a cost of only $42.000. It ....... named 10 tht Nationa l Rt giste r of Histodc PlkUon Nowmber 17.1978. Maoon County hu l unique: distinction in Alibami histCMy. In tht 195(ls, d~ to cMI rights ...... hysteria. tIM: county was llrgded not simply to bt reduced u in 1866, but 10 be lbolished. Furs of a black majority taking contT(l1 01 cou nty gOVtrnment mot iva led tht legi.lature to pfOClOlt a constitutioN! amendmenl that would alter tht boun<llrits. red"", tht uu. Or entirely iboli.h Macon County butd on 11M: IIfOPOUI of a com· mittet. n.. commiUft .... u composed of stnaton and reprtsentilives from Bullock , Elmor •. Ltt, Monlgomtry. Macon. and Tallapoosa counties. Thi!
PRofEssioNAl INVESTIGATivE SERvICES OWNEd & MANAGEd By A PRACTiCiNG MEMbER Of THE AlAbAMA STATE BAR
CIA,
iNC.
CO BURN INVESTIGATIVE AGENCY
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'THE SURVEILlANCE SPECIALISTS'
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c."""', __ ........,.. ..... Tm: AlAlLIMA LAWYt:1I
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BIRM1N'iIiAM, Al }5205 205/918-0042 FAX/918-0024
Cumberland School of Law The Cumberland Sch.ool of Law of Samford University is indebted to the many Alabama attorneys and judges who contributed their time and expertise to planning and speaking at
Hon. William M.
A,~er.
James P. Alexander Bibb Allen
LaBella S. Alvis Orrin K. Ames. III
Jr.
Birmingham
Alan 1. Dane
Birmingham
Richard Eldon Davis Edward A. Dean Charles L. Denaburg
Birmingham Birmingham
T. Brad Bisllop
Mobile Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham
J. Richard Duke John C. Falkenberry Charles W. Gamble Hon. Ollie L. Gannon, [[[
Duncan B. Blair Pamela C. Blalock Ollie L. Blan, Jr. H. Hampton Boles R. Michael Booker Karon O. Bowdre William M. Bowen. Jf. Michael A. Bownes Gov. Albert P. Brewer Richard J. Brockman Stephen E. Brown Richard E. Browning Hon. Jack Caddell Charles F. Carr Rhonda Pitts Chambers Thomas W. Christian John S. Civils. Jr. Charles Tyler Clark William N. Clark James R. Clifton Patricia Clotfelter Fred L Coffey. Jr. Charles D. Cole Jobn J. Coleman, JJl William D. Coleman Joseph A. Colquitt Reggie Copeland, Jr. Deane K. Corliss
Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Montgomery MOntgomery Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Mobile Decatur Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Andalusia Birmingham Huntsville Birmingham Birmingham Montgomery Tuscaloosa Mobile Birmingham
Beth H. Gerwin Sen. M. Douglas Ghee Walter T. Gilmer, Jr . John D. Glcissner Hon. Paul W. Greene James O. Haley Francis H. Hare. Jr. Samuel H. Heldman Stephen D. Heninger Henry T. Henzel R. Benjamin Hogan, JII Jack B. Hood Alex L Holtsford, Jr. M. Ann Huckstep James F. Hughey. Jr. Edwin E. Humphreys Patricia E. lvie Ale... W. hckson Hon. Douglas L Johnsto ne Jasper J . Juliano Frances E. King M. Christian King Jeffrey C. Kirby John T. Kirk John F. Kizer Harold B. Kushner Frederick T. Kuykendall , JJl Nina M. LaFleur
Ann Z. Arnold
Leslie R. Barineau James C. Banon, Sr. Sleven A. Benefield Lei: R. Benton
Susan D. Doughton
Helen Kathryn Downs B. Boo2er Downs, Jr.
Birmingham Birmingham Mobile
Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham
Tuscaloosa Birmingham
Birmingham Anniston Mobile Birmingham Huntsville Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Mobile Momgomer~
Bi rmingham Birmingham Birmingham Montgomery Montgomery Mobile Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Montgomery Birmingham Birmingham Bi rmingham Birmingham
Continuing Legal Education our education seminan during the 1994-95 academic year. We gratefully contributions of the following individuals 10 the SIIOCeS$ of our
Forresl S. Lalla
Mobil e
Sydney Lavender L. Tennent Lee. III Robert W. Lee, Jr.
Sinn;n&bam
Hon. Hugh Maddo~ Patrick Mahllley Hon. Margaret A. Mahoney David H. Marsh Deborah A. M3I.ti$On Rodney A. Max
MontlOlnery
George F. ~hynard Bruce J. McKee E. Ann McM;ahan William H. Mills Hon. Tamara O. Milchell P. Russel Myles Rebecca A. Narmore Carol Sue Nelson Hon. Edwin L. Nelson Thomas A. Nenles, IV F. W. Neumann, III Ralph R. Norman, 111 Lewis W. Page, Jr. Vifllinia c . Patlerson Gary C. Pears E. B. Peebles III Hon. Joseph D. Phelps Abner R. Powell, III Phillip B. Price Jalm$ D. Pl'1.Iclt Wanda M. Rabren L. Drew Redden David P. Rogers Ri, hard R. Rosenthal Richard P. RouCQ Geo rge W. Royer, Jr. Frank M. Saller S. Shay Samples Ernesline S. Sapp
Huntsville Birmin&harn Manillomet;' Mobi le
Birminllham Birminibam Birminibam Birminpam Birmin&bam Birminibam Birmingham Birmingham Mobile Muscle Shoals Birmingham Birmingham Tuscaloosa Binningham Monlgomery Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Mobile MOO1gomery And alusia Huntsv ille Birminaham Andalusia Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham BirminKham HunUivi li e BirminKham Birmingham Tuskegee
ac~wledge
eLE programs.
John P. Scott, Jr. Eliubetb H. Shaw Terry A. Sides Griffin Sikes, Jr. Wilbur G. Silbennan SUWl J . Silvernail Hon. Kenneth O. Simon 0 . 1. Simonetti Winfield J . Sinclair
the
Birminllllam Birminllh;un
Monleomery Monleomery Birminllham Birmingham Birmingham 8irminl:ham Birmina;h.am
Hon. James S. Sledlle
AnnislOn
DdIonh Alley Smith
8irmin&ham Mobile
James Dal e Smith
Guy G. Stanko James H. Starnes Norman P. Slein William B. Slewan Charles D. Slewan Ted Srudr.enschtotider Hon. Charles A. Thigper. Marshall Timberlake Sleven D. Tipler W. Terry Travis Michael E. Upchurch Ray Vaughan Howard P. Walthall Robert C. Walthall Keith Walkins Anne P. Wheel er J . Mark Wh ile Jobn P. WhiuillilOn Ann K. WiUins Robert L. WiUins, Jr. James C. Wilson, Jr. R. Wayne Wolfe William C. Wood Thomas Woodall Calhy S. WriKhl
Anniston
Bi rmingham Tuscaloosa Binningham Binningllam Birmingham Monlgomery Birmifliham Birmingham Monlgomery Mobile Monleomery BinninJllam Binnilliham Troy
Birmingham Birmingham Binningham Birminaham Birmincham Binnin&:ham HurlUville Binnincham BinninKham Binnin&:ham
CQmmittee CQuld recommend Ih~ transfer of all Macon County lerritory in var· ious pOrtions to contiguous counti~_ On December 11. 1951. the citiuns of Alabama. by a two 10 one majority. appr",,~d this prOpOsal. and it became Amendment No. 132 to the Alabama Constitution. The amendment provided that a rtpOrt oflhe "abolition" commit tee had to be submitted to the l~gisla turt b}' the first Friday in October 1958. The committee met. but could arri,'e at no recommendation for the legislatUrt. The repre~ntati= failed to reach any agree"",nt on how to divid~ up the population and ter ritory of a counly where blacks ootnumbered whites seven to ooe. The "abolition" committ.. ""'" disbanded. This amendment remained a part of the Alabama Constitution until 1982. Theorttitally. the CQntmittel! could ha...., been revived to once again consider abolition at the county. On March 2 at thai year, Ihe voters of Alabama passed Amendment No. 41)6 which rtpealed lhe previous amendment. Tragedy struck the Macon County Courthouse on August 2. 1985. when a fire destroyed much of the interior. The county rented a building across the street and moved the courts and some offices into this courthou~ annex. The struclure had a sma ll. make-shift courtroom with folding chairs. Other county offices ",-ere scattered through· out town. For approximately two years the county leaders debated the fate of their courthou~. Some argued for a 1!eI\' building while others desired to retain the uniquely designed but damaged old courthoo~_ Find ing tho funds for my proj«t w"" problem. Finally. in 1987. plans wert iniliated to remodel the old courthou~. Conslruclion beg.n in 1989. Becaus. of limited r",oureu. the Macon County Commission had to be creati...., in financing and implementing Ihis project. Major L Holland of Tuskegee w", architect. and Hardaway Construction Company of N",hvill e. Tennesu~. w"' construction manager. HO\I-'ever. to save money in construction. the county il5elf ~rwd;u its (1';0'0 gene",1 contractor. The county divid<:<l the original bid 212 1JULYI995
A view of the main or south f(1(:ing en/ro",:" aller retuJIX1/ioo
into 16 bid projects and purchased materials dir«tIy for each phase. The county used inmate labor from the Bullock County Correctional Facility at Union Springs to further bring down cosls. With the u~ of various cost_sav_ ing "",",ures. Ihe project totall<:<l S1.7 million instead of the originally estimated 52.5 million. The historic Macon County Courthouse W", rededicated in a ceremony held on Sunday April 7. 1991. almost six years after the destructive fire. Rep· resentatives from the Governor's office. Ihe supreme court. the Alabama legislature. the U.S. Congress and Si.nale. other slate agencies. and the City 01 Tuskegee were present for Ihe ceremonies.
One day the city of T""keg •• and the county of Macon hope to undertake a joint venture to build a city-counly juslice cenler complete wilh courtrooms and jai!. Due 10 careful foresight in the re"""ation project. if a new building is ever constructed. the old court facililies at the courthouse can be easily and cosl-effectively converted into county offices. With an eye on the future but recognizing ils past. Macon County should be saluted for saving i($ historic courthouse building. • Th e author extends thanks to the Macon County Commission and its president. Frank H. Lee. for providing infonnation and photographs for u~ in preparing this article. THE ALABAMA I.AWYER
BOOK REVIEW
Bus RIDE TO JUSTICE By Fred D. Gray, Sr.
I al
m D.Ride G~'uut~~y, Bus to JUI/ice. is a "mU5t fud" for ~tud.nl> of
1M Civil RighlJ MOIIfmen! and for those interuttd in the txliclIl ITIl.rotu\~fing and )tilIl undtf1>innings oI_nl <J the impOfUnt constitutional QSH to """'r1f: from Alabama. II is ilKi a wonderful. illuminating slOt'\' 01 how. lalwted communHy-based Ia~r. dedicated to a c.a1JSe. used the law as .. Cl.I.a;IYSI for tfftcting chingt: in OUr lOCitty. Mr. Cr;oy', W,wy IM:gins in Monll/OfTll'ry. Allhouth h. uc.lI.d ICldemiul1y .t Abbama State CoI~ (wIw is oow AIaba· rna SU It Unive .. ilyl. Mr. Cray was loreN to attend law Khool outside the state btcaust the Uni~rsilY 01 A~1TIl. would not admit ~ For.om< bIK.... tl\alt injustice rrUehl h.Iw austd thtm
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lional .nd ci'llil rightl ClHI decided by tht Supremt Court hive root. in Ms. Parks' tourageow rofIWI to giY!: up IItr stit-thit "bus ride to justice." Mr. GI1IY·s I1Ipid riM I I . civil rights liIo.')'fr, though, IIlmost ........... briokJy 10' hilt in 1956. In 1M midst of tilt b0ycott. ho "''U indicted b1 , MontgOmery County Gr.lnd Jury for lIU'l'Ortedly rep· rutntinQ a plaintiff without IItr coru.nt In a federal dtsegregation lawsuit. (Tht
For Mr. Cny, the
uptncnc. of exclusion K1td u .. magnet: lie pledged \0 return \0 his oo.nelown. law degree in hand, to "destroy everything Kgregat.d t rould find." J>n:M.kn« unik<.! on Mr. Cny. Ont of his fil'$l ,Iimt:; was Row. Pub....no_ .rrtsled for viol.!;n, Montgomery's stgrtaallOn laws b1 rtfusing to ""catr Mr Hat on I bus to. whitt man. Plrks' criminal wnvktion triggtrtd tM masli,-e 14·month bQycou of ~'ontgomery's Hg~gattd buMs by blacks. It also ush· fred onto nntu slllgr I liUlt·known 26 ·yur old Bapti.t minisltr named Marlin Luther King, Jr. who. lIS Mr. Gray poinll out. W:;l5 tht -Iklioult- WI· di~tt to Iud tho protut btc.Iust stltclion of either of tht two obvious choices for that position would have alienated tM oIl1tr's supportm. Murn l'1li btm ....nllon about 1M MontjJOmtry bus boycott. bul Mr. Gray's book provi<klll Qre. lint·hind dncription of 1M Ilgaliind political bi.lliu lhal iMlxd from that groundbruking twnt. Indetd. a centralthes;s of Mr. Gr.lY·s book is that _ral of tilt """,t significant conslllu·
nn: ALl.BAHA !.I.WYER
indictmtnl "''U ~ noI""tluanding tilt fact that Mr. Gray hid obUinN. prior to filing tilt suit. II "Tillen ret.liner agree. ment from his elient "lid a tape rttOrd· i~ oIhor or:oI agrttme:nt.) /ieft, Mr. Gray re"tes I pOignant stlM)' about how J~ rrank Johnson. tlltn two montlls nN to the United SlIItes District Court for tho Middle District 01 AWwnI. arne diseMtl» to Mr. Gray·s lid. At tilt conclusion 01, mHHng in Judge Johrq,on', chambers on lnoth", matt ... 1M j~ inQuiml about tht st.lotw of tht pr'(IS«Ulion. 1'1•• Gray responded and, :;l5 he turned 10 lU\Ot. the iudlt" wagwed ~Iy: "You know whitNer offerue thon: was. if ill}> ....'U committed when tilt lawsuit was filed 00 tho Stcood floor of Ihis courthouse. of which tho United Statu government tw uelusive juriS·
diction." 1hoH wordJ prtMd prophttk btuuse tM MO<l~ry Coonty IMtrict Attorney 5000 dropped tilt <hargt for lack of JuriJdiction.ln his book. ~lr. Gray ~bo coontrrs the notion lhit J~ Johnson ...... libtQl. lIctivist jurist, pointing out that Judgt .Johnson ",ltd ljIinst him on 5tYI:1'I.Isignificant civil rights cues.. But Judge Johll$Ol1 " ... utl1lO!"IIinary among Southern judge. of tht tlmt. Mr. Gr~~ ",rites. blcaust he had the "intutinal fortitude" to interpret the Constitution 1$ prOIKling tho rights 01 ~II peopIt. Mr. GrIy'S<2Rtl'. ~ indudrs.stint as I IIaIt legislator and ...,)I'k as i 1Tliomtn. Iw bee.n long and full. Tht list of casu he Iw liligated IUds like a road map of constitutional and ci'llil rights landmarks. A ftw exampIn 01 thoH casu art: • (;()million v. Ligh/fool. in ....... ich 1M Unit«i SI.3.tu Sup«mt Court dealt a body blow to r.lci.llgtrrymar>dering and laid the groundwork for tM prin· ciple of"orv: man. orv: vote" later enun· ciated in Baker v. C<trr; • La v. Macon Cow!/V &xmJ 01 &fum· lion. whith resulted in ~ stltNide il1.iunction ordtring the "-irogation of III of tho primary and elementary IChools in Alibama: • Sutuwn D. NflIlJ J'ork Tima. I land· mark United SlIItu Supreme Court libtl CUt holding that, public official miy not rocove. dlmaQes for libel abHnt proof that the Slalemenl was macIt with"xtual main": • V/rIHm ,.,o~ v. /}n;,ousitv 01 Alobo· mQlnd FrimJrlin ". Aubum. tho Q$i'S that desegregated the UniverSity of Alabama and Auburn University. respectively: • SI. 101m Dtton "" Alabama Slatt Board of Uucarion. in ....... ich tho E1Nfnth Cimlit for tho United Statts Court 01 Appals hold. for the fint ti~. that iludents have I constitutional right to ,n education at slllte·supportw insti· tutions. and that the OUt Proxeu MAY 1995 / 21 3
C"'u~
of the f ourteenth Amendment
feQui rtl notice
~nd ~
opportunity to
be hu rd before I st udent may be upelltd from a public institution: and • SIQI~ ofAla/Jama /I, NMCP, in ,,'hich the Uni ted Statu SUPumf Court made cif.r tllat • civil righu orpni· u tion lw. a Itgal right to _It md proltcl lilt rights of iu mtmbtn md to , duse 10 diKloH iu membt rs ' _ md add,nsa.
In I reant interview. Mr. C~ dis· cU»td his book, his legal CiTeer and
""""'"
Q: Why is tilt Gomillion CIK your b._ites?
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ell,//""I",. fIIoT«J<on. I".,H/Nr ftli I""t....., ""'"' ItHIIIJI lJ«.,us, I _li.:ttI /h, ~"'" Af,k.n·Am"k.II, II.~/n, III obl.i"I", III. b.1I~1 In Ilr. Cit, of Tus/tffJ«. Tllrv ""d I/HII IiII,.,tin, j" TUJh,u for III~ rl,ht I~ ''fII, 10", MfolY IlJ«.,m. ;",'O/.on/ln Ih, cOlt. It gOts a// llr, u'IIg 1Nr<* I~ Ih, BI»"... II Amendmenl u'/rich I Ilrlnlt ,,"', IHlclt in 1M fortle• . TII'II t«nl Ilrrou,II dimcull tim~ In "ttln, Ih, 1Hl1· 101. Finlll/g, wh,n m uniei",,1 ,/~dioll' ."...., comi", up, ,mi WI h<HI llboul 400 Milch ill 11r, eitll. lind u ... Itntw u ... would .1 1....1 pllI/I II role in u'ho "'flUId
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tMv pul ft¥f1l/Jotlg out o( 1M eilJl. 1/ U'll' ...., ingtmuous u.. UltJII tMv did4tl JUJI ehll",Ing Ih, cllJllimils lind IMn Ulling 1""1 it is II ~poI;Uul luw" u-nich u.. ax<rts could 1tOl1oudt. II WIll th"l"""i", to <'1>"" up ",i/h • IIIH,., Ihlll would worlt, .nd to find I.uyers .rna would h."" mough (llith IIItd ffHlfidtMt i" idNst I ...., tTpi"6 to .. • Itd u'ho rl1OI'ld M wiDing w hap "., willr it .... Q: M'hIlI do IW _Ill 1M prt"Sml cho/. Itnge facing I'-.mo _ inDoItw in IIw Civil Riv/lI, MovmIenI'> AI f ,...1111 titink titi, ",hok businru I'll «Onomk dilpllrilM is _ '" thIIll "".., _I sm-I ".ootmu "'ith. ~ to do .ontdIri"9 to H ,u... 1111 propI, un ,h"... ill Ill' «"IHfOmk pmsprrilJl '" thi.lllliion. And d .... /Jwrt i. dllptlritg bttuwn iII«Its ,,~d u""it" In thi, ._. l.ut lib "'" ..",.. .111" la com. up "'illl .""" of /Jr. • lrale,l" (or 'tt.cltl~, ourl "e;,,1 di,crimilUllio~. Ilrtr'f should M .om, WIlg Ih.1 goung I~I mimb, ,'nelud;", gours, Clln ,a into Ih. Con.lilution ""d 1ft if lireN i,n't SO"" "''''/110 rom" up willr Idu, "mllhtorl", /hoi Nn be ,d.",ncttllo ,fII", tlrts~ problems. (w rltctttl.
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Q: II 'hoI is /IOOr ...",inion '" lhe preset/I stol" '" nm' ....Iolions i1l Alobomo gil>en /100' big ~Ii",,?
A: Ilflinit ...~ hll,,* m.d, , 101 of ~ In "'"' rritllloru. I'm I~ with Ih~ lubsl"nll.1 IltNYo" in 11r,
number of dUltd offlti.I•. I IhI,,1t Al"IHIm. now proiMlI/v h., /h, 111,.",/ numlHr '"1It.<* rkdttl IImel"l. I/.It in III. U"illn. 1 ,1.,1,. p,.eticin, ..,.. mtI,IHI OM or IIi1Q from 1M _III' tiro III«Ir _ wt I...J ill 1M lI,t, ,I th.1 filM, /IIQl.1 ofllrt# posit"" ch.ngn N" iHI /Nffd />Hit III ComUliolll v. Lightfoot.nd rrMlttllu_ thIIl.tW••J . _ult ofllull ...#. I'm IIlsll lilld to Sft, ,uinllln/illi i~ m""t /11 I_, IIf Aklt."·Am,.lu,,, ~ in .I,t, ,....,...m~"I. Iflrtn f U'II' in 1M 1I.1ft Itr/I.llliun In f!J7()'74 , /Jwrt ........ • laolul,11I no 1II11C/rs <loIn, IInllllri"9 other lluln jII"illWi.l....". In sl't~ fIO"W'lmrnl. I "",nllirt #lim d'lI to IIrt Itg/,'otu ... wltll Mr. /lice,.., in tonntrlion ",i/h ""Ino bills _m! fO" h.", Milch i~ mtlml~/I(ul po.ilioll, .11 ....... IIrt '/111, fIou•• • So I IMnlt u... hu", ",adt , lot of prO(Jrtll .... Q: Did /Iou. "IIer imogille wh"" /IOU ....Iun"'" 10 Alabamo in f9S4 Ihal /IOU would be oS suCO!s.ful oml itl lrgrol •.,; inlO Ihe All/born<! Siole &r III !IOU Ort today.> AI Tha/ nIl'" .nltml "'II mimi. Th, _'On iI didn '/ WIl' Ilro/ Iht p"''' o( fff'JI dllll' IIrt IIr«r ptyUurt of wltoll IuId /0 -( /0, ",</S so ,_1 Ilral 11/1 J could do ..... lIIln1t .boul ",h.1 f Iuu/ 10 do to lu,..i..... AI /IOu un 1,,11 from IIrt kcM. mil tllrtfT h., lilt,,, JlI "'."11 hei.,. lind hl,.,., thIIl I don 1 U'Irtrt il (, goi", nut. otJrrr t""" I know thIIll "'" trg. Inl to IHd frtJm il. B u l l _ rNfJ, Iho.ghl .boullrlltr'f il ....., rdti· ""ltI, going to fHd to, .... I _loll focus IHI "'II tlni... "ttt/ wit, IlNNm. • IIIw"..-nd Ih.l "''' 10 d' l/rOIl """IM", "Irtgtlltd I could fiml. f IIIOIt: It "'" IItJ "", .... ICOrltIfi reillr iI. It dot.,,·t Iftm liu It "'I 40 JIftn. •
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"Court surety service no ordinary agent can match"
CIVIL COURT BONDS BY PHONE ... BY TOMORROW PROBA TE . IN JU N CTIO N t SUPERSE D EAS t REPLEV IN DISTRESS fOR RENT. GAR NI S HM ENT t ATTACHME NT ALL OTHER FEDE RA L & S TAT E COURT BONDS
1-800-274-2663 214 / MAY 1995
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Cind)l Miche l. Allison Black And",.... 'fhomu C.. ig Ande ...... C.ml J.an Alhey ShoiL> J.ne A;... " Chri.l""r... AI>n Bailty R.....II CI)'dt Bakh Bi~ Ot.rick Blyth< C.roI Joan ~k.y Boone Joon Wo.yne Boone WilHam Robert Boolw;o" Gary Dun B,>d,h;ow WHiiam f,.ry IluIl •• d. Jr. Tin»lhy C."l.Irphtn Burgtso Yanc. y Nul Bu"...U p,w Au'lin Bush John R.....U C.m~1I V.lma 0.,.... c." M>r\ John Chn.l<n$<n ROiI<rmri Loti$< C1.>it>on Kari LynnCI,,,,,,nt C.thy Dal. 1I01li""'n Coggin Richard Michotl Colbert 6ryS<>11 K;10 Collill5 John Robert Cotvin Clurt.. 'fhomu Con",ay Julia Elizabeth Bou Coopt. TIIorrw Loui. Cow«\g. Chort •• Cilbert Crowf""'. IV [I;wid Sims Crowford Lois C........ u lIill .. u.J D>jIian Joon i\lben Daugr..rty Joon Judson \)a.is ChiI.l .. t""oytUt Day Da,,;d Lo_""o Otan. S•. t>.lricia Ih>k Shorry Ann \\',I<Ion Dobb ill5 Ann Micr..l. Falltn.. Du,ham M>ri>. Karoli"" Oybczak Thomas Craig t;a"...n William lkw1 Eddill5 Mill,. llonn<r Engtlhilrdl. Jr. R.btca N.n JtU farris C.lhon ... Mn Filhiol Jason Th<Odor< Fleishman Lou .. Loll f'o ... hiIr>d C.. I Ewml r"man Hobert Anderson Cal ....
216 IJULV 1995
WHiiam ~larohall Ca"'n .. LynoU. ~. Gayle Mu"ay H.rlin CiNon. J•. Donald Jot Gilbert rt.lcho, Otl ...... Gretn JohnAl I.nC .... ... M>lwm Ulyut< Criffin. III Angtli'" Gabrielle McC.r.., GriRx$ C.1.b 8randon n.ISltad. J •. Clift"" f1O)-d Haslings Arulty !Jut Hud Otbo ... h S".." H.... lty James R~' ft.pburn Mkhiltl Bray HQlUwn Jimmy Dou.gl .. Jac<>b5 Cliff",d Wayno J....ll Mkhiltl Roy Jeffrie, Jenni(" Lynn J...... Micholit h~lt. J""" 1t.I.n fIoyd.J ...... JO}'« Abdul Karim SI .... n lUll"" Lorry Way'" Keol R<>derick 51...... n King Otbo.. hC,eon Knight iWunno Wil"", La\~n ... An ...·M.rie WOlkill5 1.»0....,... Rkhil'" Brooke l.;o\.wn.1I! Harry o...-.n I... , Jr. Richa'" Dale LMly Gto.gt G.. gory Lockli .. Thomas Rain"" Long. IV R.be«a J'"Nthan Luck Gtofllia Ann Hidl. Ludlum Branlltyll".lk.. Lyom )\\;on. n...... Vi ..... Ma.<luQud
Edgar Fir>dlay M.i .. Dan LaShaun M.lono: Frank Timothy McCollum Stanton H""",II McDonald Sun Edword McLoughlin Gklria J.an McI'he ...... Bill CIayt.... ~1 ... ick Dana T... Middl.loo Gtorgt Will;"" Mill., Loui. Martin M""~')' Euge"" ferry Moo •• Pomelo Ann 101"",. Dolhan Elroy Morgan. Jr. Thtodo .. o..ryl Morll>n
MoniQ'" Deborah 101_ Palrick C.rald Nel"",
J."" K""" Nettl .. Cnig Andrew Parker Be.na,d Dobbie Nombefll Albert John l'amrson Cel.m Lynn !'au"" Andrew Chrutopher C. Ptnu •. S•. GTOI/O,), Holly Pin.. Palrick O.-;d PinkotOll Robtrt.tll Jean 0.";. !'Ti.. t c...nnza Moth<"r..d Pryo' lam.. 0.".11 Rull)' Jo.!« L<».ri"ll ROwt
o.""i. Lowtll Ru.hing o.ird .. Young R..... II Looil Cooptr RuU.r>d. Jr. J_ph knn RpJ, Lynn Bruct Sandt" ttorwy Dun Smith Sonlo.d Patricia kigh SoIl5Ollt Ka ... n Grae. Ashworth Soubbe,ry Lo", .."" Cli(ford Schill John Foote. Sc'og,gill5 Jerry k' S.emann lI'illi"'" Wallon Stll... Rod c.m.roo Shirlty tnvid \\"illiam Smith Chri,IOJ!/l<. Rhett Smitherman Kolia Sp.a.. I.me, Lo. ry SIt\>.. rt M.,.. Wad,worth 5\""rt. IV Leol., Thorrw Styron Ilarbora Mu.i.l Mill .. Sull""n lIugh Tri.lram S"indl. Cn i, u.nar TIIorrw Willlo.m &rtl<)' Till U.. Diano 8urch Todd Robert Thonw Trout. lr. J;uno. Albert fn" & rry R.. d TU&llI. Sc01IW.tson W"lh<rly, Jr. Ale"",,". Martin \\" i" kopf Mark ttenzle.W.I\on Jeffrey Aw. Whitt R<>n>1d J.y Wilho"... Ali .. Kelli Wi.. Tro<)' c.,.,. Wooden Rebttta LYlln W.ighl THE AU\aAMA LAWYER
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THE Al.AlIAMA LAWYER
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CttlilkaUon pm:mta,u: L:"i",rsity of Al.1h:!ma Sehool of La", . C"m!>erland S<:hooillf La", ...•••. Hirmi"~h.>m Sehool of .... ", ... 'lInes Sd)(>(ll (If 1..3'"
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AJ.ABntA I.,o\WVER
John 1tobtr1 CoMn (1995> ard Judge Cus Co/YIn. Jr. (1965>
John J. ~tl995I"'"' lion." D.
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l<lui1 C. Rutland tl9691 ard L. C"""", Rutllnd. j ,. 11 9951
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1995
ANNUAL MiT'iEE:;;:rTrulNG July 19-22, 1995 The Wynfrey Hotel Birtningham .. . .. striving to keep OUT business a profession and ou" p,.ofession a calling in the spirit of public service."
nne ALA!IA."IA lAWYER
JULY 1995 ( 2 19
BAR BRIEFS or
• Tho AW:IamI Auocillion Legal Stntlariu ho!ld iU ann .....1mming May
S-7. 1995 In TuscalOOSo1, ALabalTllo and tilt following new oIfo«rs ~re installed: • I'rulftnt-Ginny ChHk. Cabaniss. Johnston • rr..ld~nt.~I«t-Dtbbitc Whitman. Montgomery County District Attorn~y's Offi~
• 111 Vlct,pl'u idt nl- Barba ra Malone. Collins. C~ lIoway & Smith • 2nd \'!«'! "l ldt nl- lIeo.>erly Lynn. Bokh &: OiniINrn • Stnt"'~Ntll Yarbrough, SchU6lltr. ~ndlin & Thia>en
• 1'rt.uuru-1bbs o.KtyKT. Hon. Mic:hMl E. Mc.\bktn • NatioNI Olnctor-Sw.an Tumer. Burr oil Fonmn ind
• Tammy Denl on olWill~ms« I\C,lIiams in TuscalooA was IlIIINd 1995 Membtr olthe V.... o Two Alabama altorntys, Phillip E. Adami , Jr. of Opeli"" and Fred O..'ld Cn)' of r usllegu. wtrf rectntly .IKI~ F.11ows of the American Bar .'OUI'IdlItion.
n.. Fel10ws is in honorary orglonilollion of att<:lmty$..iud#:s -.I ..... tmdIers ,,'hose professioN., public and private
• •• •
• • • MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TITLE • • • • •• INSURANCE COMPANY Tltll: Hexil1i1if, lim Need. The: Sfnbilify lim T",sf. )1",,.,.,,..._ .
JULY 199.5 / 220
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.
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arftrs hlow dtlTlOn$lntrd oolslmding dWiQlion 10 the wttfllU of their com· munititt ~nd 101m hightst principlH 01 1M ~.... I profusion.
tsW>lisMd in l!l5S. Fel~ IflCOUrage and , upport the ",sun:h program or the American IlI.r ANoci/llion. Adam •. 01 Ihe firm of Wal ker. lI ilL. Adams. Umbach. Mudo ..·s I< Walton. graduated from Auburn Uni~ersily in 1965 ind Ihe Univenity of Alabllma School 011.11'00 in 1966. lle Iw ~"",d;as presidtnt 01 the Ltt County Bar Association UId lhe AIib.lmll Stite Bar. A member of Ihf ABA lin« 1969. he Iw ""rvrd on the lJouw of Ooltptts ";nct 1991. He w/lill municIpal i",* lor tht City of Opelika from 19i6 to 1991. Gray, senior partner of the firm of Gray, l.angfonl. SaPil • •>avis I< ~kCowan. ~ivtd hi. undergraduate (!egret from Alabama Sti tt Univtr. ity and hi. law (!egru from elISe Western fI.""rve Union.ily. lle hu nrved iI$ pr.. ident of the Macon County Ilar ANociation. ll e '00" II membe r of the Alabama House 01 ReprnentltiVH from 1970 to 1974. II $Utt bIIr commit.5iOOl'r for thr Fi!\h.ludicial Cir(U1t in 1983. mil pm;mtIy ""MS on lhe AIWnv. AdvOOry Committee 10 lhe Civil flighb Commiosion. • n... Amtrialn Collfllt ol Tn.ut wei utllt Counlotl annO\lncn tl\;ll R.lph H. r.ildin, 1w betn elKIN /I F.llow 01 the College. Ytilding prKlicn ..i th the Birminghllm fi rm of Brlld lty. Arant. Rose i nd Whitt . • M..... 110 Athlry Okl<er1on. II partner ""th tht Anchorage. Alaska firm 01 Dick· erson &. Gibbons ....... chosen ... 001' ol si. recipitnts 01 the .-ifth Annual Mar· 3WI Bttrt 1I"0000000l./lv.l'fS of Achi",,,,,ltnl A...ud, iponiOred by the ABA Com miso.ion on lI"omtn in tht I'roImion. lots. ~rson.lI 1Q..l8 ildmltlee to lhe~· mil Stilt Bar. _Ihf leilum! spaker III the SUit bIIr'. 1994 Grandt Convocation. n... /IWlfd$ hooor outmndina:..-omen Lo~rs....t-.o 1\;1,.. KhifVtd proftMional =.lIfflCt lIld....t-.o .... vt cont ribuled 10 th. ,uCCUi of women throughout the profenion. Th. ceremony ... ill be held August 6, 1995 al the ABA Annual ~l eet inQ in Chicago. • Tl tE AlABAMA UlWYER
Your Alabama State Bar Staff By Pamela {" Mable
tI".
Ke ith 8 . No ..... n, . " ..:: .. dino<:tor Ktith hal bttn tht O«Uti\of dilKlor 01 tht bu $in« Srptrmbtl" I. 1994. With this MW pOSition. Keith Wf11'S uut<! hall. Iu. uec:utivt director. Keith', dutiH lI'Hl .esponsibilitiu inclu<k <Mrsuing admissions and lietnsin, and workin, wilh I~ gen.
era l counsel '. ollke 00 such "",ltus as coor~inalinQ ongoing diKiplinuy i..,uuafftctin, the bar. In addition 10 his ~ibilities lIS nerutM: director. Keith i$m tltcud ~raftht board oIbucommiuiontrs.llt 5eMS U S«Ullory 10 tht board 01 bit commissionm., and his duties includt oyerSfting ~r)'Ih jng 11'1101«1 to tht board. wch .. pro"';ding ootku to tht rommiuiontfll. Orglll'li"ng thf for mfttin~, laxing m;nulU of th. muting., having ll\o5e min· utts tr3nscribed and distributed. insuring that 1M board's policies art impltmen\td. handling the dtctonl functionl b\I rnaI!inlI Ml11' tl>;r.t ""'~n are properly .1tcttd; noIifyin, 1M judicw circuits whtn" vacancy is coming up; .. nd Ihlt the '"liTious committee lIppoinlmtnls Iffc ~. The third h;ll that Kti\h..-.tm ill tht "aosociationll" h.aL In this apKity Keith work$ .,.i!h other st."Itt agend" and the Ltgisla· turt in rn.l.uers concerning the bar Iwhich is a Slate agency) and rn.l.inLains fiscal IXlliciu that ~re consistent with the rinance ~partmen!'J and Enm;lItr cI Public Accounts' IXlliciH and
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Prior to brcoming l:I«Utiw dirtrtor, Ko:ith 5ftVtd old tht Sloto bIor'J dift(tor cI programs lor 5;" ~D. Ko:ith WO<hd "'ith 1M I.!w firm cI B.lkh & Bingham in Montgomery before joining the
state bar staff. Ke;th is rn.l.JTied to T"O$I Norman, an attorney, who ~""" as the sWf attomry for JU>I~ Ralph Cook cI tht Abbima Supremo: Court.. They haw four children.
..."..,.t 800ne, .dmi..i, tl'lltiv•• " i, t. "t Mlorpret has Ixm ..ith the bu for- i7 )'Cars. ner rn.l.in 1I$P(lIl. 5ibiliti., indudt bti"ll5tcreLary to tilt aecutiw director; wist, ing in the preparation of ~It annual meetings. commissioners' meetings iIIld commwiomrs' elections: and rn.l.inlaini"ll rmm.\s and penon ... 1filu. Mloqp.ret ill tunil"'r with many ISopod. cI tht bar beaUS!: s.ht has worktd as tht receptionist, as tht lMytr rdemlKCret.'lry ;and u the bookkeeper. MloTgllm is I natM cI Pratt'Ji11c ..'htre s.ht cum"t!), 1M:. with her husboond. They ha,..-thre. son. and r,,,,, llralllkhildrtn.
Edw • •d M. P.tt• • , O", dlrecto. 01 prot , . m, Ed joined the stat. bu in October 1!I!f.I as the director cI pro-
grams.. lie has had a varied past including cltrluna: with JU$l:i« Ilugh ~ IOrtwo~rs.. worklngwith tho bar for foul' and a the lint assiJta.nt gmoral cool15ltl. ;md 14 ~rs in private priClicc includina: ..; th tht Montgomery I.!w firm cI Hill, Hill, c,rttr, Franco. Coif & BI.!<:k. and as a .01< practitioner. ~:d enjoys proactive rn.l.nagtment and th. challenge of providing upanded sllVicu prOllrams to the membership, His half~" old
Ttlt: Al.ARA.'1A LAWYER
goal is tilat some program willenlwKe the personal or profusionallife of AlabIrn.l. ~itioners in a pl'Klical ..'i}'. As director 01 programs. his reJlXlT'4ibilitits are multi·~ -.d chana:ir4/ in vin.o cI the ...... <hangl"ll1rgJ1 and $<)Cia] mYi, T(IIlI1l!1lt For elWnplf , Ed is responsible for directing the MCU: program. At present. this Is the most time..consuming aspect 01 1'.13'1 job, In addition, he ~rves ISo tht liaisoo and ~inis.trat~ support penon betwm1 the Ibt~ bar and the ''arioos committen;md wi! 1ofU$ 01 the h¥. Ht ill ~ invoh'td in the futllll' of speci~I; ... tion AS adm;nillr~tor of the Irgal spe;:iali ... tion boI.rd, a 12·membtr boI.rd lI"\'IOinted ill' the boI.rd 01 bar com_ missioners, "'hich became efftct~ January 199.4 10 ~P\lrwe the certification of aUomt;'5 within such current specialiwi areas such old bankrupl'l' law, and cMI and crimi~ltriJ.1 ~. Ed is l ~tiw of MontgOmtry. Ho is married and has two daughters, one who is a sophomore at Auburn Uniwrsity and IIIOtheI''''fIo is a sonior at Trinity Pmbyt.rWl Sc:hool.
1».".
We ldon, . dmln l,tr.lIve ••• I.t . "t for pl'Ol,.m, Oia ... has been with the bar since 1978, when she came as a student wori<e'r as part 011 business office education coorse durina: high KhooI, In 1982, she beca:nt I full·time staff member ;md has bttn with the CU; ProtilTUn .ina its inctption. tltr job entails handling all c(lrrtspondonce '.elating to CU:, reviewing proposed CLE progrnns. ktt-pina: a running lill 01 lIli programs and sporuon. rn.l.inlaining all CLE records and meso and wor1<ing with tilt ~isciplinary Commission ~rtif}ing attorneys who fail to get thei r .. quirtd annual CLE hours. Oi.lne also is irwo\vod with working with the various committtu, wi! fofU$;and 5Klions 01 the bar. II new areca ..ith ,,'hich she is_ioting is the dtYelopment oIltpl JP«iloliecalion in
"""'"'He idi Alve., prot I'. m ••e c ret . ry Iteidi, a nati,..- of ManhatLan, Kansas, has been with tilt bar as the programs socrelary since May 1994. Heidi attended Kansas State University where she re«ived her ~helor cI Kiena in m;r.nagtmmt. Prior to that, silo ~ slationed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Htidi has ~ oDughter ....... is one ;md alWf yean
"'.
As progrnns secrelary, Heidi 'J duties include ke"';ng track cI the different 5Klions cltllt bar and the members cI ttloK sections, handling tilt committH and W fora mailings, entering awrwed CLE prtlfirams Into the comput~r s)'item, and rn.l.inlaining and updating the transcripts indicating CU: credits to be IIiwn to ~rs.
iko.... H. And,." di rector o f commun lc . Uon, • public i"'o..... t io" SU$.In joined the bar in November 1994 in the nt\<'ly created posilion of director of communications and public information. Swan's job IorusG on both outreach and inrtllCh progranu.. Out-
JULY 1995 / 22 1
reach programs involve establishing the state bar as the centrat resource for obtaining and distributing accurate information regarding the tegat profession~ estabtishing media rontacts; and publicizing major bar activities, such as the Citizen's Confer· ence 10 be held Ihis year and other bar programs. such as the Allernale Dispute Resolution Center, IOLTA grants and the Voluntnr LaW;"" Program. A primary aspect of the inreach program is the ASB "Roodshow '95:· Wilh other state bar staff members, Susan is Ira....,ling to local bar associations in the state, presenting an o,/.""i.", of th. bar's long·ran~ plans. Th is is also an Opportunity \0 receive input from the toeal bars 00 concerru and areas to be addressed in the future. A major proje(t f(lr 1995, in wnjunction with The AloOOm<1 Lawyer editorial bo;ord, is Ihe publication of a newsleller. Before coming to the bar, Sw.an served as the e>:ewtiV\' direc· lor of the Chattanooga Bar Association. In addition to her expe· rience in Tenn<ssee, Swan ~ tm, Alabama Radio Network in Birmingham, and she and her husband """ed and Operatw a radio slation in Arkansas. ThI'J' are the P/lren15 of. daughter and a son. Margaret L. Murphy, publications dir~tor Margarel has b«n with Ihe state bar f(lr ten and a half ;... rs as pub lications dire(tor. She se1'\'" as the managing editor of The Alabama Lauyn and the Alo/Jarru} Bar Dime/org, and worl<s
with those IWO COmmilleeS 10 produ(e the bimonthly journal and annual directory. In addition to editing these two publicatiotlS, Marga .. t is .... pons ibl. I(lr .11 the various book~ping. adv.rtis ing and subscription dulies relaled to the IWO bar pub· li cations. Margaret. a natiV\' of Montgomery, is married and has two sons. She allended Brtnau College in Cainesville, Ceorgia and received her degru in communications lrom Auburn Uni'.. r· sity at Montgomery. Linda F. Smith, communications assistant Linda ~ fuJl·time lor the Communications &: l\Ibiic Information department as I communications assistanl Previously, she
dividtd her responsibiliti .. between the Voluntffr Lawyers Pr0gram and The Alabama Lall!IJ<!1'. Before joining lhe state bar staff. she worked as an administrative secretary at Auburn ijn;vers;!)I at Montgomery and Washington Univers;!)I in St. Louis. Missouri. Linda is a native of Savannah, Georgia. She has, certificate as a brniness stenographerlword processor programmer and has oblained her certifiC<lt. as a I~gal seeff:tary. She aUen""d Armstrong Stat. Colle~ in Savannah. Christie Tarantino Free..,.n, membership ser· vices director Chrisli. has been with the stale bar for IWO years. She is Ihe
membership se1'\ices director and her job resporuibilities include issuing licenses, collecting fees, maintaining the "",mber ~ handling pro ha( vice applications and collecting the applicabl. I«s for the cli.nt security lund. In addition, Christi. also maintains all the current addresses and telephone numbers of the members olthe bar, Christie, a natiV\' of Montgomel}', worked at the VA Hospital in Montgomtl}'. In 1991, sh~ received her bachelor of science 222 1JUI-V 1995
Mgr« in political scien(. from Auburn University at Mont · gomery and in 1993 she received her master's degree in public administration Irom AUM, You may have noticed Chrinie's new last name: she marrie<llast month. Kelly H. Carden, membership aSSistant Kelty has been "'ith the bar since Jam.liOf'j' 1994 and she assists
with all matters relaling to membership. This includes procu,s· ing the occupational and speciallkenses. admini.tuing pro hac vice applications and maintaining the nwmbe.,hip f,l.s. Kelly is originally from Covington, Loui,iana. She attended Louisiana Stat. University. She and her husband ""rrenlly reside in Montgomef'j' with their son, and are e~pecting another child in November. Dorothy D, Johnson, director of admissions Durothy has been with lhe stalt bar for thr« ;"ears. Dorothy',
duti .. include scruning bar applications, "";.",ing law student registration applications, coordinating the bar ~mi oation with tht: board of bar examiners, administering the bar ~mination, and scheduling/attending Character and Fitn"," Committee hearings for student and bar applicants. Dorothy and her husband, both natives of Montgomery, and their two children returned home when her husband retired from the Navy. Durothy rt(eived an accounting degree from Alabama Stale Univer5it~. Judy Keagan, director, Alaba..,. Center for Dis· pute Resolution
Judy Keegan beC<lme the diredor of th. Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution in the fall of 1994. She maintains educa· tional and re>Ouret materials and a roster of mediators lor use throughoul the state court system. and works I<> coordinate all altematiV\' dispute resolution programs in the State of Alaba· rna. The Center operates un"", the supervision of the Alabama Supreme Court Commission on Dispute Re>olution and in conjunction with the Alabama Slate Bar Committee on Alter. native Methods ofDispule Resolution. Judy's main duties include providing suppOrt to local bar association ADR (ommittees~ ~isting with the presentation of ADR seminars; maintaining stati,tieal data 10 evaluate the ~llfftiveness of ADR programs; ~isting stale ageneies in implemtnting ADR (oneep\.! in the administrative proce,,; and promoting conniet resolution program, in the cour\.!, schools and neighborhoods. Judy, a native of Florida, reeei,'ed her law degree from Calooiic University in 1986. She is married and IiV\', in Mont· gomery. Tracy Daniel, Alaba..,. Law Foundation, Inc, exec\ltlve director Although root tt(hnically part of the stale bar staff, Tracy is the
executi"e director 01 the Alabama Law Foundation, Inc. The Alabama Law Foundatioo is housed at the bar's offices in Montgomery. The foornlation nons the IOLTA program andadministers various scholarships, including the Kids' Chance Scholarship enOO.o... d by the Workers' Compensaiion Section of the bar and the C.baniss, JohtlSton, C.rdner, Dumas & O'Neal Scholar· ship for second-)",.r law students. Tracy has been with the loundation lor ",,"r seV\'I1 )/ears. ildoll' that, she worked as an assistanl with the bar's admissions office. THE ALABAMA LAWYER
Tncy isi natMo( Iturtsboro. A~ but bfc.iIme l MontiOmI'ry tr.m.lpllont l/t(r IUenditljj Ituntingdon College wiwoll' lilt rKtived htr dtgret in rna,ktting. Silt ~l$O his.il moutt r', in busintss administration from Auburn Un i''I'r.lity.
tIltir pllrticutar probltlTL In ~ilion.she ii ruponsihlt for the coon:Iiroating and billing 01 tM Alllbarna Bar Reporter. .... therint his boten with 1M statt ~r for thl"ff )'I'ars. She;1 a native of Montgomery .... her( she IIttended RQb(rt E. L« 1!igh ~hoollnd hIS atttnded ~ W~ILKe Junior Colltge.
Dawn Howard , ALF assistant ~wn HOWlrd il ont of OUr M><Ut tmployn:slt tht bir. 1Ir;in.a only bem Iltre sir>« the (nd 01 April She ...-ork$ for tho l..iIw Foundation IS in <uoi.tant to TrlCy D.u!itl and sht al$O ...-orl<.! for tht bir ont day a we.k. Oawn is a nati~ of ~'ont· Qomery and rKtiytd her degru in marketi ng from Auburn Uni~rsjty in August of 1991. Silt "'IS I w.ln rtpratnl.iltiYl' with Allttl Mobile befort joining tilt stitt bir .WI".
E'lzabeth ShW.rtll, .dmlllillonil .lIIIlst.nt Somt 01 E:lizabtth's dulies include processitljj studtnt llllllica· tions and assistill/l in the proc:usin.a of bir =m;Nltion iPplja. tionJ. handling nqualJ lor copies 01 bu ~icAtionI n .tmisWn Inlormalion packm. ~ng in the ~ oIiht blr ~ionn monitoringspocial~aamintU.
E:liubtth .e1'VflIlIll«retary for two ministers II First Bap. tist Church located on Perry Strett in Montgomery. ~;Iiubtth is a roative 01 ~tontgomeT)' whr.., $ht ~ .... ttd from Lanitr High ~hool. Sht his t...-o children. a boy mel.l gir l. Olgn II and 13.
Q.'e Skinner, bookkeeper Galt starttd ",th the bir ]3 )'Urs qo. and il goa without saying that sht has I«n much gr0\'01h O\"er thou \'I'ars. Calt his served as the bookkttprr lor nine )'1'<1" ..-here her prirnaT)' mpon. sibilitiu indudt ~counling for all funds coming into .md goin.a out of the bir o rnaintaining fin.lncia] rtcOrds. &lling ..·,th the .lUtt Comptrollu's Offin Ind Examintrs 01 Publi' Accouou. oltId handling bir invt.tlTlt1lU. Om change that has occurred rtlatively rKently is the direct receipt b}' tilt bar of bir li«n.le feu. Ely centralizing the colltction of the.le ren the stite bir k.--.s more quickly ,,'ho is Iktn.\ed to pr~tkt and .... ho is not. ikf"", btcom"'lCthe stile bar's booIckftper. Galt ...-orked IS the ~wyer rtftmll«retlTY. SM lives in \\'ttumpklw,th Mr husband lind t...., children.
....nnl. L098n. rec89Uonillt Jennie is that very pleasant voict that you har ...mn you aU the ltate bar. She pm(wionlIly ~ COl.n1fOW.iy dil'l'Cts telephone call. receivtd and gl'l'tl$ guuu to 11K stllt ~r. B<fort jQinin~ the ~r in bnwry ]994. Jtnnie Hrwd u eo.....mor It unt's l'I'a"pIiO""Sl She is II natiw of EII1'IOft County. She is married .md hat two child....". II daughter ilI bt grJduatilllil from Auburn Uniwrsity lInd I son "m is currently in high Khool.
"m . .
Rob.rt W. NO"'II, g ....,., co"nll.' ~ .... ral Norris has bten tM gentral counstl 01 tilt Slite ~r sina: 1988. Ht and his Iliff lire ruporuiblt for enforcement 01 the Rules 01 Profn.t,oniJ C<Jnduct. TflIrts.tnti", the bar in SIiIt and ftdtril court. pn:widinQ ~t to bllr membotrs on ethics "",lIers lind as legal advisor to tM officers and commissione" of the bir. The general counsel 's staff has grown from si~ in 1985 to II toda)·. ir.c;ludinQ four la"'Ytrs. three invtJtigators and f(ll.lr IIdministl1llive .ilSSiswIu. Cmtril Norris rtuMd his liw dtgm from tht Uniwrsoty 01 AbbaIN and I m;utt1", in tax Ilw from ~ Washington Uni. vmity. He se,,'I'd 3] )'Un as a !a>o.yer (Judge Advocale) in lhe Air ~·Orte. I"ftiritljj in ]9M as the Air For<e Judge Adlloc,U Gtn· tral. Iff: is manitd ..ith two children and thlft grandchildl'l'11.
....
AnttMIn~
MeLaln, .lIslst.nt
gener.' eoun_'
Tony Hellin has .lef\'l'd II wSlInl genu,,! counstl sira Octobotr 1988. He recei"ed his undergrduat~ dtgree from Auburn Unive"ity in ]974 and his law degret from Cumbotr' WId ~hool of Law in ]9n. Upon grlldwtion from la .... school. Tony ~nt to work ..,ith tM AlabilTll AltOll>ty ~nt .. ()t'fl« I I In .ilSSUtant "ttomey IItnt ...1. After two)'Urs with the '\c's Office. he Itft to m ttr privatt practiCt in Moo\gOrneTy H. par!'
r,
Maf'98NIlMaggiel St"ller, "aphlcll artll dh..etor M/Ij/git hIS bun with tilt
bar fIlr ten )'Urs in the graphics W
department . ..ml'l' loht is rtSI'OOI,blt for !\Inning the ,n·"""* ~rint iho!>. Thii mdudn oif.let pr,ntinll 01 tho AllhIIma BIIr Reporter. fOvelopu. ttalionaT)' lind OIhtr fonns. SM also MIps ;n \kveloping and tyPt.leUing tM var ious forms. pamphletJ and mUll!)S which are printed in·hou.Ie. ~ itUrxlt<l John I'lIUeTSOrl T«knical CoIItgt for el".ilPh· it IIrtJ in Montgomery. Prior to tMt loht SotMd in the Air Foret lor four)'l'<ln III M.uwl!Q Air Fortt Sue. She is i oat"'" of O!!gon. Ollio wiwore she graduated (1'00'11 CirdiNiI Stritch High ~hool.
K.theri ... C. Cr•• mer,
L.aw~.,
R.fe".' Servlc.
director As dirtClOJ 01 the Uw)'I'r Rtfeml Se"Y(. KIIthorint Opt • • IItI tM ,"",')'1'1' ..,~ml Sot,,'ict b)' I'I'Ct;"';n.a ili incomilllil ails from peoplt who do not N;W II !a>o.yer or who do not ~1lOW how to obtain tht .Ie",ict5 01 ~ ~'Ytr. K~tI... rine then refus that client to an ~1I!)mty in /I county in .... hich they .... ed htlp for nt!: AJ.A8.o\.~ LAWYER
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JUlY I 99S 1 223
ntr in a two-man firm. Min nine )'tus in private practice, Tony came to work for tM bf.r. His primary ~>pOI'I$ibililits u assislant sere",1 toollStl art providing tthical opinions 10 attOl'fleY$. prO$t(\lting ~ 01 nh;cal misconduct invotving IUomt)1-. and ~p~senling the bat. its oKocm and mIf in litigation In the 'tate and kdmol rourb. 1M: ~ ........itd and h;u two chi1d~n L_ Qilbert K.ndric:k, ."I,I.nl g.n •••1 c:oun . .' Cil Ktndrick began womnS for the otTlee 01 Cfnt",1 Counsel on l ~rHi .... bas~ in JlIIUlIry 1991 and bfQo.... fullti .... in 1992_ AI wistant ~ntru toollStl hi, dutits include prosecutinQ viobtioN 01 the lluiu 01 ProfH.$loNI Conduct and providing opinioN in rnpOI'Ist to ethiallnquirits. Cil ia II hllti,.., 0I8utltr County. ~ma iIId lUtndtd the Unh..,rsily of AlWma urnlerindultt iUld ~ school!.. Mter IlOW school. he clerked for lud~ Jlmts 8100dw0rth on the Alabama 5up«'mt Court arwl K~ U iUl _islantlllOfN")' ~ntru for tighl)'UrI.. He _ in ~te prxtia for 12)'Urs prior 10 joining 1M otTlee 01 Contral CouIlStI. He is married lnd h;u thrH children.
Milton L_ Mo", ."I,I.nl g ..... . 1 c:oun,.1 Milton has been "ith the Center for Profwiorul ReSpONibillIy 05 an assistant gentral toollStlsinct Janwory 1991. He has the duty of duling with di$Ciplinary casu from the initi.1 scr«ning stagt throuQh the appellate stage. Abo. Milton dtals with requests from la""ltrs and others seeking advice regarding ethical problems or inttrpretations of the Ruin of Profnsional Conduct. Millon is origi .... lly from Racine. Wisconsin. but wU T3istd primarily in 51. Louis. Miuouri. Alter allending the Uni..-eTJity 01 Missouri ind the Uni..-ersily 01 Alabama School 01 taw. Mil_ ton cltrktd for Just"e James Faullmer oIthe Aiab;lma Sup~mt Court. serw<! u an wimnt U.S. Allomry in ~lontQo""ry lIld in ALukiI. lind practiced law in Aluk.>. lit rttumtd to Montgomery in 1989 ,,1<1 prllCt~ bow here untill99t. He;s matried and his t'WO child"n. OM a sr3dUite of AU~I and OM a gr.tdwolt 01 Emory Uniwnity. Vivien F.... men, g _ •• 1 .::oun. .", ,ec:NI.ry V"wian·s titlt lIS tho I«rd.l.ry to tho Qfntnl COUf\KI is iQfTItwhit misitld,ng MalIK her iob tntails rroon thiUll«~U.rial duti",. \rwian also hMldlts petItioN for reinstiltemmU. INin· wns sU.tistk.i1 data for discipllhllry purpO$lS_ lIld filu Iny awols which IT( rtCtr."td thl"OU(h the admissions offia !luling with dliracltr lIId filM$.l.. SIlt is also the ethics opinion coordihlltor ..t.ich enuils induing lIlI infomlll opinionll Qiwn by thot Ia..")"tn in the disciplirv offia. V"wian also is responsibit fur induing ilnd upitH-ping IannII OPinionll written by the otfia 01 Core",1 Counscl. V"wian h;u been with thot bar StIff since 1981. Kim Emt, c:ompl.lntt Inl.k . . . .dv.rtl,lng c:oordl .... lo. Kim. like many 01 tilt other staff mtmbtrs .....,~rs more than one hat. AI; the compl~inu intake coordiNtor. she Opens flits on each complaint that CClTmS 10 the Centt r for I'rolusiOl1.l.I RespOnsibility. AI; the adl'trtlJing coordinator. she recei..-es all I~gal ad\"trtiJ,tm~nt.l which mllSt be submitt~ according to the 224 1JULYI995
Rules of ProfwiQnaI Conduct. She reviews ellCh ~rtisemtnt that U submilltd tn insure that it complits with tM Rules and mainu.iru all such a"'..,rtiJ,tmtnU in tilt mts. Kim has b«n with tilt Center for ProfessioNl RUpOIUibili _ ty for two )'taB. Before that. she work~ with the CLE division 01 tho StItt bf.r. Kim is INti"" 01 Monljlomery ilnd Sradwoted from Jeff D.avis High SchoGl_ She has lIllendtd Auburn Uniwl'$ity. She Is "",rrit<! and his thrH SOI1I.. Bonnl. "'11101", UNiuthorin-d Preo;:tI.::. of Lew, CII.nl Sec:urtty Fund c:lelmt .dmlnl,tr.I'H',.nd CSf .. ClE Complo..nc. coonllNilot' 8onn~ has II ,~01 rapOI'ISibilities in her duties lit the bolor. lis Client Security Furwl claims administrator. she hlrwllu clallnll to tho fund and presents 1Il im.uti\llt .... I'tpOf1 on udI cboim to the CI~nt S«urity Fund COmmillH for payment or denial. In addition. Bonn;' handlts tho delinquent Mand"tOry Continuing ""gal Education lilts and the filQ 01 thooK Ittorneys who have not complifd with tht CSF U$USI'ntnl Bonnie liso talcu Qre of any UNuthoriud prllCtict of law malle" and work5do.. \y"ith tM un CommittH. Bonni. workfd with the Crievana committees from 1976 until ,he I.flthe bf.r in 1981. In ]%9 she WllS ",hired to work u Tony McLain·s Stt",Iary. She worked in that rmition for f..... ~rs and for the lut I-""ar has worked in her current job. Bon· nie has bun with the bf.r for i total 01 ten lnd I half )'tITs. She i. origi....11)' from UIlCOIn. tlIinoiJ. She i$ married and has three children. Her younger d;!ughtu is II and will be attending the ISlA World k~ Sk.>ting Competition in llou$ton this $Um .... r. Htr .on attends Southern Union Community College in Opelika. Alabama and her oI~r daughttr is married and live. in Florida. Vicki GI. . .rolh, p.'.'.g.lIl n"."lg.lo. V"lClti·,job is twn-fold. She has served both III p.l.T3If~1 &rid invHtisa-tor $in« February 1991. prirnaril)' for Cil Kendrick. AI a paraltgal $he raurchn Irg.1l io&ueI.. i1lends 1'arif18s. JUJTImariza Iiopo»it,,- and helps pn~re for l'arinas and l~ls. Silt also rltlds quostions from complainiUlU nttdina cl.lriflClltionll of the RuIH ofl'rottMionlol Conduct and lIlY other Ques· tioN that InllI CQrnl' in the oKlCt. Allin iTMSIigator lor Cil. Yodci reaivt:5 a artUn rtWJiJer 01 ~nts which l~ Wi~ to her offiCI' that she $Ummarius. SIlt also ~intains rtCcmb 01 lIlY "npeat offenders". If a COfIII'l.Iint ~ deemed to be meritorious. she cornmtfICI'S iUl invt:stijoIion 01 the ~ltgations which an include WOrking with law enfor«mtnt ljftncics, s...,;h lIS tht U.s. Attomry"J 0IIia. the Attorney GentnJ·J Offia and loaI district attomry offlCtS. \"di is from Monljlomery ..t.r", she n:sides ..ith her hwb¥ld. Stephen. iUl attomry. and their son. Vicki l\tendtd the Uni..-er_ ,ily 01 Alahama wht«' she reai,""" her degree in Engluh &rid .... bstqutnt\y her ]lI.ralegal ctTtification. VICki wu the fil'$t pmilknt CJf the Montgomery County 8/lr ~iation. l.esa-I Assiltant Section.
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Robtn K.y. a.cret.ry Robin il the newn.t .wl ..... mbtr 01. the diJdplinary olfJce. Hrr lNin jobs Ire the dosi", 01. all disdplint filos. omding out prfls 'tlus(s, pluing diKi~line Ids in the ntw.po.~rs, '''lut$linl/ SUp,tm( court orders, backing up the complaint intake coordiTUtor, and ;wisting all other fmploytts, if lind wlltn tilt need arises. Rohin is II native of Aluander City. She moved to Monttl()n'ltry in 1993 to continllt her edllClltion at Auburn Uni", .. i· ty II Montl/omery. While i!tending AUM Rohin received certifie.tion as II pa",Itl!illind '''is I member 01. the AUM PR' law soc:itty. Robin il"'<!uatN this JUM with i Baclltlor 01. Sci· ern dtgrH in J.....irt and Public ~ety.
P-agy O...... tt. iny•• Ug.tor/p.r.I.1III1 PeIlllY joined tilt 5tate bar staff in May 1992, and provides suff support to Milton Mos •. H~, main dUlies include research, preparing for tri.alsfrlearings. wisting in the appt~l of discipli. na'l' maUers handled by Milton. statewide attoffirl> wislllnu. workin. with Slllte and/or lotio) Igencin during tilt investiQII· tion loo disc:owl'}' stages of complaint" ,umJTlll.rizing new CIJIIlCPbints. ilMstigltion 01. meritorious complainb. and main· taininC the law library for the Office 01 Ctntnl CounKl.
In /KIdition, Peggy hu communiatN with olht, fUte bars 'fllarding Iht:i, rults, rel/ulitions. polieii:s 1100 procfllu,es involwd in the discipliNry procus to see whe", impr(M1Tlt:nll eould be made at the ~ Sillte Blor. Peggy obt.1ined her ;woeilotf dtI/,wctrtifiation in pa",ltpl studies at Auburn University at Montgornt'l' in Mardl of Ihis )'tlr, She is prntntly attending AU~' , ~ring in jurisprudence. She IiYts in ~'ontgomery. and hu two child",n. II daughter and II son.
Cheryl R.nkin. tny •• Ug.to, Chtryt. a CoIlII'IIbilo. Missiuippi. nMM, hu bttn with the Itale bar loin« Sepkmbrr 1988. 8tfort tNt, $he ,,'OTkrO lor /I bw 6rm in IlaltieJburg. Mississippi. \'.-'hen Clltryl first amt on booord. $he ~rwd as the oompbints intaU coordinator. In Stptemb« 1994, silt becomr an invtStillator. As an in"estiplO" C!>tTy! worl<$ primarily with TOO)' MeLlin. In IIddition to screening complaints and in .... ligaIiRJI all corn· plaints doomed meritorious, Chel'}'l interviews witnessts and dots cle,ical "",k for Tony. such as mainlllining trilll ind hear· ina datts. Also, b1 working with Tony, Chtryl;wOO with IIny civillitiplion t~t the bar is illYOlwd in directly. Chtryt mmdrd Mississippi SUott College lor Worntn in CoIum. but. MississiPlli. •
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THE ALA1lAMA !AIWER
OPINIONS OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL By ROBERT W NORRIS, general counsel
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CorpQratioo I have agrttd , to indigent individual in a petition 10 modify his di\oor« I.iKru to urminatt or reduce his child support sinct he is now uMmpIO)~d. He quit hi. job with II "'''''om brnkdown;and ~ b«n hospitaliud twice lor suicidr attempt>. tit hu stOpptd _king psychologiQI counsding btause lit is saud fA indigent hulth all' s)'SttlTl$ iUId has feelings of paranoi.J KIouI being watch.d and Or invutigattd. It has IlQW romt to my ~ttention thaI. in fact. there is an ongoing i"yut igalion abou t his alleged suu.! IIbust- of one 01 his children iW(l )'tus Olio. tie has not bten allowtd visitation wilh his children in ~r i ~ar pursuant to turns in lilt diyO,« <kcru for this wry rt:awn. Evtry time 1 talk to him lbout anylKtt 01 his Q.W hot hu II complet. tmolioml brukdown. H. Qnnot handle my ot""$S right now. I tMlOOl corM,," him 10 _k PJ)'ChoIogi.cloI counst-ling bKaWol: oO.is fear 01,,'11;0\ miiht be ~alfd. Ht is JO unstable. r do oot btlitw I un prOCtft.I "i!h the petilion to modify, becaust I will not be able to get him through a court proceeding Or evtn the di~O\'try ne~Wlry to prwe his tiK. He has 00 immediate famil~ that I un ull upOn for help. I ha,t bun appro.J.ched by opposillj counKl (woo mwt represent his client. Iht n .wife. woo will not consent to i tempOml' termin.l.tion of the court ordtred child support) thil M would be willing to illow in in-chambers prl:So!1>tltion to 1M judge about~. dilemma.. If I do 10 I will be divulging to the judge that the mill hu .. serious tmotionlol problem thai 1M judge miaht Wlflt me to emblish or he miQllt even ordtr JI$)4 cholOiliul tuling to Re if my client t.IIllldtqualely ;wist me wilh the tiK. In either twnt. if the mAn goes to any counRlor further evidence would 1x .tw/lled about his wiOl.l$ leelinas of guilt lind remorst which could 1x u$td against him in /I crimin.l.1 inwsHption. I t.IIlOOl coullRl ....ith my climt as to ....-hich COOrs< 10 t&kt brc.Mi$t he o;KmOI. dr;aI with conflict Without an rmotionil brtalc· down and I r~1 this could ~rdJ" his Iirt (i.f . anolher sui· cide IIl1empl anclIor because he is illC.l~1t of malting ... tional decisioN). On the other hand I cannollta~ him withoul relief from the dtclft of divorce because the arreanogu would jwt ketp adding "" al $911.56 per month. (He ...... fOl'TTll"ljI emplO')'td /II I wry I/OOd ....age working in an intensive cart unit at a local hospitll .... hich cau",d such a high child support award). lim convinced my dien!". emotional insW:>iHly is .uliind I ~ uptrience and tno ining to make that judgmtnt.
Through Leg;l1
~rvicu
How must [proceed in p~rly representing my dient? This is. of COUrs<. urg.nt becaU$t /lirial date is coming up In /I If\<> WHks and I am further cono:emtd for my ellent"s >veil being."
Il tlN~~ RuksofProftsSi~CQMud"l~
)'OU to Kek lppoinlment of a guardi .. n fo r )'OU r climt. or to Wef /10)' other protective lClion if )'OU reuonably beliew that)'OUr client cannot adt<;juately ICI in his ()',o,"Tl inlerest. l'urtller. the rules /llIow you to disclo$t .uch tOn· fidential information 115 lllIOy be required to adequately repre· sent you r dient and /ld,"~nce your dien!"s interest. Rule 1.14. AlaballllO Ruin of Proft~ional Conduct. suits 115 follows: "Ruk 1.14 Climt Under II Dislbility tal When a dien!"s ability to make adt<;juately ronsidertd decisions in conn«tion with thf repreRnution is impaired. whether beuuse of mioority, rmn\.ll di... ability or for some other rUlOl1. the !aW)'l" shall, 115 far 115 reasonably possible. lllIOintain a OOTm/l1 clitntla.....~'l'r relationship .... it h the client. /b) II lawyer may _k the appoint"'"'t of /I guardian or t&kt other protective IIClion .... ith rtsp«l lo a c!ient, only when Uw Ja...,")'l'r reuonably believes that the client CIIrloot adtquattly act in thot clim!"s 0WIl inttrn!." Tht Comment portion ofRuic 1.14 takn note oflht bet thai disdo..... re of)'OUr climt"s diWlility could ~'l'rstly affect h'$ Inttrest. The Comrmnt directs thil the IaW)'l" may _k guid· anct from an appropriate diagnostician in furthtnonct of the ~Iitn!"s but inttrest. The i5.'iue ",·hich you face reQuirts conside ration of the obliQ. ation of tOnfidmti.oJity. but /lao requires that you WHS the situ· ation and make a dttfrm;nlltion lIS what you ful would be best. under the totality of Iht drculT\SlllnctS, lot-)'OUr dien!". inttr· aI. In RQ-9G-67.1ht Disciplinary Commission sIIItt<i that Rult 1.14 "_. IRlecognius that I lawytr may. on OCCIISion but seM a dient by Wcinaadion thai, on first blush. might appur to be ~I'K tothe ciienl." In RO·95.Q3. the Oiscipllnllry Commi~ion rusoned that I iawytr ronfronted ..... ith such .. diltmma must determine what is in the but interest of the client bastd on tilt lawytr·. analysis of allll5!lfcl.I of Iht situation. including ""inions of medical rxptrU. The Commiuion further suttd: "Much of the burden of Ihis decision is plllCtd
on thot
NOTICI TO SHOW CAUU: NotICe OS hereby grverl to TImothy Patrick McMahon of Foley. Alabama that he must respond to discrphnary file ASS 95·45 wlthrn 30 (thirty) days from the date 01 this publicatIOn (July 18, 1995). Fa,lurelO respond shall result in lurthe. act ion by the Office 01 General Counsel. [ASe No. 95·451
THE AlABAMA LAWYER
JULY 1995 / 227
Finally, Rule 1.6. Alabama Ru les 01 Profe~iOr\ilI Conduct. deals with "confidentiality 01 information". Subsection (bl of Rule 1.6 allows di~losure of information b)' a 11,,",·.r which is otherwise oonfidential if the la~r reasonably belie"". di~losure is necessary to prwent the client from committing a criminal act which the la~r beli ...",s is likely to result in imminent death Or substantial bodily harm. Tho Comment provi,ion to Rule 1.6 1110'10<'5 that tilt> lawyer Iw profmional discretion to reveal infor_ mation in order to prevent such consequences. Therdore, if you determine that the best inlerest of y<Jur client would be served by making disdosure to the court of your die nt's condi · tion. and lhe possibility that he might harm himself. and that protecti"" """,ure. should be taken to prevent such harm, the Rule would allow such. In conjunctioo with Rute 1.1 4, if you make this determination, then you could seek appointment of legal representative for your client to further prottct your client's interest. Thne is no definitive standard which can be applied in such a situation to guarantee lh. besl result. TIlt rul .. are fashioruxl 10 allow the law;~r to analyze the client's emotiONI state. in the interest to be advonced by the law)"" on behatf of the client, and then pursue whatever action the la~r deem, best under obviously diff,cult circunutan<:es. On« the ia"">'tr has dctermintd "'hat h. feels to be the prOl"'r course of action to best serve his client, the rul •• anow the la",)",r to do what is n""essary to advance the interest 01 the client. while, at the same time, insur' • ing protection of the client and his ",.II-being. {RO·95·06j
lawyer who must ku p fore most in his mind the incr• ...,d standard of responsibility when dtaling with" disabled dient. He must assess all aSPKts of the situation. including expert medical opinions. balancing tm, client'. ability to communicate and to appreciate the serious deciS iOns to be made. 11 tm, l a,,~r has doubts. he should resolve t~ doubts in a manner that heM serve:! his dient. The la~r should also apprec .. te 1M Court's increased concern in matters involving la"),,,rs ami their represen· tation of inco mpetent clients. The normallimitatioru; on a l a~r's self·enrichment at the expense of a dient are applied with enhanced strict nUS whon th e dient is a child or othe""'ise not capable of making fully informed and voluntary decisions: " \\'otfnm. supro. p. 159 Hazard ami Hodes. in their treatise The Law ofLou'g('ring, deal with Rule \,14 .nd give an illustrative case wherein a1a~r is representing a criminal dtf. ndant with diminished capacity. Hazard and Hodes determined that thelaW)'er acts properl~ in urging his cl ient. who has diminished capacity, to accept a plea bargain offered by the prosecution and to waive a pOSSible ins.anity defense, even though it would mean a oonviction on the client's record and a short jail term. Hazard and Hodes con· elude that the la~r may judge that hi s client'. long·tenn best interest would be best se,,'ed b}' accepting a short jail term nther than a det. nn inant stay in a mental institutio n. Hazard and Hodes fttl that in dose cases. the la")'I'r "cannot be disci pli ned fo r any action that has a reasonab le basi. and uguably is in his clienr . best int.rests". Section 1.14: 201
ALABAMA DIVORCE, ALIMONY AND CHlLD CUSTODY HORNBOOK TlIIRD EDITION by
Penny A. Davis
REORGANIZED FOR CONVEN IENT QUICK REFERENCE AI.bama Divorce. Alimony and Child Custody Hornbook. Third Edition. is the most comprehensive book on Alabama divorce law Ivailable. It h.. been reorgani tt<l into 42 chaplen, tak ing the pnctitioner through each $lOP of the divorce process. LAWYERS ED UCATIONA L PRESS Post omt" 8 01 1287 TUJOaloosa, AL lS486
•• d Robert
FORMS
1.. MeCurlq, Jr. Over
New Edition of the Leading Reference relied upon by the Alabama Bench and Bar for over ten years.
t7S pages of fo rms are conveni ently organitt<l with the b.... y lawyer in mind. Amo ng them an:: new forms on postnuptial agreements and uncontested divorces. Seven.l forms have been rev ised. includ ing the client divorce com rac\, agreement in contemplat iOfl of divorce and properly settlement.
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Please send me _~ copies of ALABAMA DIVORCE, ALI MONY AND C HILD CUSTODY HORo"BOO K, Third Ed ition. at $79 .4 0 each ($70.00 plu, $9.40 tax, postage and bandling). All orders must be PREP AID. Make chttks payable to LAWYERS EDU CAT IONAL PRESS. If not sati, fied you may mum the book within 10 days for I full refund.
228 1 JULY 1995
THE AJ.ABAMA u\WYE R
LEGISLATIVE
WRAP-Up
By ROBERT L. McCURLEY. JR.
itIIi
vu 1.100 bills h,ve bun introduced in th~ Legi$la · turt . The Alab~ma Law InJlilu!. hiS prtstnltd to the Legisluure t ight of thew bill! which art the moll e;tt. prtKnttd in any ont I.gi,lative $fuion. Pending I)t/(>r. tho t.gillaturt art Unin<orr>or rated Nonprofit Anocialions ~IU November 199~ ;l{(,liama Llfw*,,) ; r~,..d Artidn 3 &: 4 oIlht Uniform Co mmtrci.t Code (Itt March 1 ~9S Alabama 1.<>",,.,,): and four bills concerning family law (It. May 1995 ,vubama Ltw.~). The$/:: bill. and their SpOnSOn an: u follows: Revised Articles 3 " , Repment.ltM Hill - liB 110
new rtviUd Partnership Mt. The com· mittH met for the first time in NoYerrQlor 1993 and utablishtd thrtt lUbcommit· letS IS follows:
Crutionr'Pro!ltrty - Gordon Rosm; CoI'tmanalLi4bility _ Bob Johnson;
'"'
DiQOlution. Conwrsions. Merg.,rs _ John Lyle
.f.IthoutII tht UPA mains tht bl.sic his-
Senate Windom - SB 237 Uninoorp<Jrat.d Nonprofit Assoi:ialioru Rtpmtnt.lti~
Ga.inu - HB 218
Senator C~ - 58 204 3G-D.ly Off IIriort Divon::rt Reprtsentati~ Guin - HB 166 Senator Ilailey - SB 125 Ltgal Separation
Cool,,,,
~resmt.lti~
Blxk - tlB 108
s.....tor Hlk - S8 210
Retirement Benefit! rart of Properly Settlement Rtprtsenuti,'t Peltloo - HB 208 Se .... torLi~ - 5B218 Joint Custody Rtprntntatiw 11M - HB 1506 Senator Bedford - 5B 260
P.rtne •• hlp A commiUH 01 1M lru;titute chaiN<! by Fred Daniels of Binningham with Reporter Proftuor Tom JOIltS of tht UnMrsi~ 01 Alabami School of \...iw h.u worked for sevtral ;'tars on this now &ct. Tho National Confertnct of Commis. sione .. On Uniform Statt Laws hu promulgattd a nrwly m>istd Uniform I'lortntrship Ad. Tht \...iw lrlllitutt (On. ~ntd" commitlH to rtvitw ~ma's Partnership law In COmp;lrison with the
tona.l charact.r of I p;lrtnership. Iht" haw bun 5OI1lt changes to adapt to 1M W"y bwlntu is currently dom and is uptCttd to be done in tht nut century. Und« tht UPA the !"rtntrJhip formtd iun entity and not an aggrtgate ofindi· viduals. The UPA does not m;uiRe filing • certili~\e to fonn I partnership. pre· Krving "vaiLlobility of the partlltrship loon 01 Oftiniution to both Llorge and smill entitiu. It does. howtvtr. pennit Iht filing of a stalt~nt of !"rtntrJhip authority which may be used to limit tho capacity of I !"rtner to ;u:t IS an agent 01 tht partnership and to limit .. ""'rtner's ~po.city 10 Irand.. propl'rty on beluolf 01 tht partntrship. Such stat.· ment is wluntary. No partnership nttd me such II state.... nt nor is the ."i.t"""t
of the partn.rship dtpendent upOn the filing of the ,,"tement. Howowr, the stattment, iffiltd,lw an impICI upon" third party dtaling with tht partnership. Norcthtleu. II limitation upon /I part · ner's authority does not afftd 1I"l' third party who dot.s not know aboul the SUit· ment, except as to rut tstat. tr.nuc· tions. If theRe has bttn 5OI1lt limitation .. 10 lUI ~e tranJactiono that ;arc ~Itd in tht rewrds oIfoct. thtn • third party deiling with that partntr is htld 10 know of that limitation. The draft contai!\ll .rtidu on: NatURe fA tht Pirtntrship: ReLloIioru ci Pirtnm to Ptrsons Dulin, with Putntrshlp; RtLlotions 01 P"rtntrs 10 f.acl1 Other and tht Putntrship; TnnsI~rs and Crtditon of Plrtn~rs; p,rtner', Di ",nociition; Pa rtner's Dissolution Whtn DUliness 1'01 Wound Up; Winding Up II Dwintu; iInd Con\~nions, Additionally, /I Ilparat~ cummittH ci Ii",)'trs, many fA whom htlped draft the Limited Liability Company Act. drsft~d a I.lmiltd Lilbility PartnerJhip Artid. to ~ to 1m UP,,- 8«.iI<at about Iuolf 1m $!.ItH haw llrtidy \IiWd a u.p Act and much intem!. has betn upmstd that AI,!)ama Jhould .1", ha.~ U.P, as .n IIlttrnat~ ~nlity, it hal bttn .dded to the RtviKd Uniform Partnership Act. Ae"lsed Arllele 8 of the Uniform Commerc'-ol Code In Llott 1992. a committH was formtd to iludy revisions to Art ide 8 of tht Uniform Commercill Cod~. This commiU« w.u cha.i .. d by E.D. Pttblts of Mobil •
_L
McC......" Jr. _'-~ . JI
iON_oIN
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JULY 1995 1229
with RtpMtr f'ToftUQr Howard Waltholl olCumbtrlind School olLaw. In 19771 rMwd Arliele ol IIw Uniform Commtr· (ill COOt _ pnjnlIJlgaltd by thr NolionIII Conferenu of Commiuioners on Uniform SUIt llIws lind lhe Amtrian Law [rutitutt. Altho\Igh .tl! ,btu ""'.. mact.td tlw 1977 RMstdArtidt8.Abba· rna i, still foll""';n, the pre-1m ,...r~ A l"C\Ooiy mOifd Article 8 was lIClop(td II)' the NatiOTlllI Confenncc ol CQI1lmi!;· s;onen and the Coul1<il of the American Law Instilute. The commiltn .eviewW the turrtnt Alabama stltut(lI), and CIIU' I,W in conjunction with the p'(Ip05<d clunges to Revised Article 8. Sew ....1subcommittHS ha,... bttn formed to insure an indtpth rrn~ ol elOth Ira. Artide 8 ol the Uniform Comrntrcw Code pl'OYides tlw col1"llTlrrciallaw rult:5 awliuble to ifl\titmtnt SKUritits. The OffICial Commmt \0 IIw 1iT$\ S«tion 01 Alwmn p.mnl ,..."ion of "rtidt 8 nottl. the article is neither 1I Blut Sky """ nor a COI'J)OI'Jlions codt. insttlld playing the role oil negotilblt ill$lru,rwmts law for Investment Hcu';tiu. Rtlattd prO\lisions of Article 9 deal with stcu . ed t.anActioll.l involving in,...5hmnl st<:u· ritit:5. The prestrlt AlWma ,...rslon 01 Artid. 8 WQ f"",ttd as part ol Alwma·s initial .. doption 01 the Uniform Commtrcilll Codt in 1965. Alabama Acts 1965. No. 549. It _ ~ upon tilt lICC·, olig;· TWO] Articlt 8. dr1l\td in tho 1940$ and 19501 and approytd by thr ArnniwI Law llI$litult and tlw NlitioN;l Conftrenct of Commiuiontr' on Uniform Stat. L1w-the spon$Ofing bodiu Q/ tho Uni_ form Comrrotrcial Cock-llS part 01 tho 1962 Official TexI 01 the UCC. The o,;,iTWOI Articlt B. which became law in Alabama efftctive midnight. IXcembe.3l. 1966. supersede d the Unifo rm Stock
TWl5I'tr AcI. lIClop(td in AIib.?ma in 1931. The ori,inal Articlt 8. Ilk. tho tani.. Uniform Stock Tmuft. Act. i!; bas.td 00 the lUumption tNt Ih. own.rship of SKUritits is Mdtnud II)' pO$ .....ion 01 ptrysial urtiliatts. lind tNt tnnsl"trs Q/ f«"\Iritiu lin dl'tcttd by tho dtl;...ry ol tlw urtifloClltu- tt lNUITIts. in $hor1. II "-paper-bwd" $)"Stfm for tho C1Nntrship lind Irall.lfer ol IfCUritit:5. In tho 1960s. howtve •• Hcurili" mllTk.ls lind th.ir participant firms encountered difficulty in dealing with a high V<llume of HcuritiQ lf1\ding when ffqUirtd 10 setU. lnw.ies through t~ physical Iklivery of certificates. [n re!.P()r\S<t to thi, probltm. often rd.rred to ;as tlw "paperwork crunch" probl~m. IUtt corpoflllion codes ..... r. Imnd~d 10 permit the iuullne~ of "ullCtrtirl(attd ,"uriliu" and in 1978 tho ~ bodit:S ol tho UCC to I'M..;de rults lor tilt holding and r:orM)"lIIlCt of "unttrttflClltd !«Uritit:S: The 1978 Amtndm~ntl to Arliclt 8. which .. bo moved tilt rulu dealin, with security inl.nlts in invellrrotnl st<:u,;tiu from Ar1icl~ 9 to Artiel~ B. "''en ........ r ~dopt· td in Alabama. As il tum~d out. "ullCtrtir.cattd st<:u· ritiu" did not f""'flIe IS the solution to tht plperwork crunch. Instud Ih.rt dtvtloptd a Iy$tem 01 indirtd holding ol HcuritiQ. undtr which "jumbo cfrtifltlltes" lift issued to II dlpository insti· tution. TIw Otpolitoty Trust Company. which holds IIw HCUritiu for its memo lxr brobr-<laltrliind banks. who in tum hold tho steuritit:S on hrhlIIf Q/ tIlti. cwtOl"llerl.. For participlnts in tho indir«1 hokIinll 1)'Sltm. trus m: dfttttd II)' booklreepin, enlrift on the books Q/ the IXJI(l:Sitory Trust Company and on the books of membotr banks and brokfr -d~.I~rs. rather Ihan through the deli ..... ery of ph)'lical eertir.catu. "'hellier an
Richard Wilson & Associates Registered Professional Court Reporters 804 s. Perry Street Montgomery.
Aillbllm~
36 t 0.
264-6433 230 lJULV 1995
in\OeJlor Is an IndividWll or In inSlilu· tioNl in\OeJlor. luch q .. pell!lion trult 0. inlurllnc. company. tht ;n'~tor's ownership of in,...,tlntnl stCurititl is typically evidenced by bookkeepin, enl.in on • Hcu.itiu Kcount main· !.. ined by Iht broktr-<lultr or other cuotodian of its invtttmmll. nthor tIwr by tht physial pouc.sion of tanlliblt urtiftates. HowtVtr. milher tho original Articlt 8 nor 197B version 01 Art icle S dealt comprehensively with the commtrcial law i.sun involved In holding ~nd trall.lfer· ring Kcurititt held in tht indjr~cl holdina S)'$Ifm. or with tho USI' Q/ ilNt5!mtnt HCu.itits $0 Iwld q coIlattralfor 1oaru.. Accordingly. Iht IoJIOnSOTS of the Uni · Iorm Commercial Codt-the Amt-ric.an Uw IlI$litute and tho Nlttional Conffrau 01 Cootrnissiontn on \.klifonn Stak uWl-promulpttd in 1994 this rfYision ol A!ticlt 8. II includes II ntW PIIrt S. ~ntilltd "StctlTlty Entitltmtnts" tlw purpC)Sf ol which is 10 pl"O\;1k tho rommercial IlIw frllmtwOrk for the holding and transfer of inlenm in in,...sllntnt Hcuritiu held in the ;" dinet holding systtm. It also rontaill.l amtndments to Arlicle 9 dulin, with the uH of such inltruls u eol1iteral for loans. Sinc. A1alwna did no\ ~ the 1978 ,..,nion ol Articlt 8. thi, rnoision also providtl for tlw fiT$\ time in Alabama rulu pr0viding for unurtiflGlttd SKUriti .... Tht InnWl] mettrn, of the Ailibaffia Law Institute ",iU be hdd p.m.. !hurs<kyo July 20. 1995 duri"ll tho Abbafna Sute Bar AnnUli Meding at tho \\ "ynfrry Hotel in Birmingh.im. For further infoTlllation. contact Bob .\.IcCurlry. AI.blolTlll I.IIw InSlitute. P.O. Box 1425. TU$C3I~. AI~bama 35486. or call (205) 348- 74 11. FAX (2051 3-t8-841l. •
;at.
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FACSIMILE
(lOS) Jl8.9l1 L
(105) ll6-1)16
ANNA LEE GIATTlNA ATTOII>IF(' ~ OI' AI.JIIAIoOA .... lUOCf ,..,
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THE Au.BA.'1A l.I.WYER
Fraudulent Suppression's Duty To Disclose-iII)1 Has Exception Swallowed the Rule?btl \\~ Maddirw II. IIDika/a
he Alilba~ Suprtme Court consiSI.nll~ has held that a plaintiff cannot prevail on a fraudulent !lIP!lTusion cl.i.im unlw he can ~ by su/flCifnt ~ that tho dtftTKWll had a duty to disc:1oK INterno! facl$ to him. Until reantly. unlesi I dd~1 undtrtook I" ~iS<' Or counsell plaintiff, the Coort wu rtluct.1nt \0 rKOgniu a dut)' 10 disclow:. In the paSI ~ar. howewr. lhe Court hilS recast the circumstancts under "'hKh , duty to disclost may ar;.... This articl. "ill m'i~' tho poe«cI'llltW bockground igiinst ..mieh lilt tort Iw fYOIvtd and will womim recent dtYtlopments ug,arding tho circumstaocts undt....'hid! the Court now "ill r«Otniu a duty 10 disc:loH. Ciwn the new pll'lImtttrs of I duty \0 disclole. th. artidt al!.O sugguts a nurnMr of defenses which shoYld ha ... application to the tort.
T
Hi storic • • iNoc:kground of the tort of
fre ud,,' . nt &uppNs.lon In.k;nJan " Pit:ketl. 78 AlL 331 (1884). an uriy cast rtgird~ fnudulent suwression, the Alabama Supremt (oort opint'dlha\: silence, in order to be actionable fraud. must rrllitr to a material manu, kflooo,'I'l to tnt ~rty. ~ which it wu his Itgal duty 10 communitlote 10 tnt othtr rontncting ~rty. ,,-htthtr the duly mx. fl'(lm I niMionship 0I11US1. from oonfodence. il"lfQlQlily 01 coodition I0Il kflooo,i. I(~ , edge. orotlltr anendant circunutances.
,C.ifJr
. : : fd. al 3J8.J9. Tht tort 01 frwdultnt ilIWrmion lIilt< ...... codifotd and,--. is Ior.lIt~ at ~ COOt f 6-$.10'2 (1975). Section 6-$.10'2 prOYi<Ia !hal: hlupprnsion 011 maltriallaa whkh I ~rty is under an obligalion 10 communicale COIUlitUIU fraud, The obligalion to communicale may IriR from the confidenlial relations of the ~rtit5 or from tnt p;lrticular circum· sbnc.. oIlhe (aR.
/d."A ~rty must ~ knowIt<lge of I fact to be liable lor its luppre..ion: and the informlltion omilltd must be maleriill. McCou"'" u. Chrv~fer Corp .. 631 So. 2d 842. 847 (All. 19931: Doddv. Nelda SJ!'J}hmsm Cirevrokt. Inc" 626 So. 2d 1288. 1293 lAb. 1993): Ifurdg v. Blae CrtW If BlIM Shif'ld 01Alabama. S85 So, 2d 29. 32 lAb. 1991): King D. lI'otK1ml F<><m<JQtion Lift IJIS.. 0,..541 So. 2d 502. 50S (Ala. 1989). Additiomliy. I fraudultnt suP\lrtWon cllim shook! no! be prHtnled 10 a jury if the (,>lIiin· liff canr.ot pr"...., by substlntial widtnce IMI tilt drfendanlhad iI pruent ;nlent to dKtive him. Ind the alleged <It<<ption prox-
TilE ALAIIA'IA LAWVER
imalely caw.td lhe pl/linliffs injury. M.:Ccu'<1n. 631 So. 2d at 846--47 (citing Crootdn- ... MemM]j Hill Cordens. Inc.. 516 So. 2d 602. 604-05 (Ab. 1987)). finiJiy. ibHnt actM oonmlmtnl. iI pLloinliff must be able 10 ~ thai the defendanl had • duly to (Onlmunicatt a material fact 10 lilt him. "Men silence is no! fraudulent in the IbRnce of a duly to discloR," Dodd, 626 So. 2d at 1293:Jlartiv, 585 So. 2d at 32. Mud> 01 the litillo>tion <;(lnCtming fnoudulml SUpprn.Sion ~r· t.Ioin$IO 1M ocopr 01 iI clrftndanr. duty to di<dow II duty 10 dI!.e'" rl\I}I bt impOHd upon iI clefendanl either (\) bec.iUR 01. confidenlial rel~tionship. (21 btc.iUR the plaintiff nqut$ttd information. or (3) becaUR of Ih~ Pl'rtieular <ircumst3n<;tS of tnt aM:.Mcew.m, 631 So. 2d at 846:Dodd. 62£ So. 2d at 1293. To the blml thot ruc:1I ~ duty purpOrl.~1y uises 001 of ~ clrfm· dant's confidmtiill n:lationship with I plainliff. lhe Itpt defin· ilion 01. "ronfJdtnti.t relationship" IJlIIUI'$ to be "'ell·Rttl~. In&mlrofRN &lV~. King. 482 So. 2d 274. 284 lAb. 19851. the Alabama Supremo Court txpl~ined Ihat: A C()I1fodenlial relillonship is one in which one ~rson occupies lo:rwanl ~nother such I position of WviKr or CClUn$t1or ;as TUMlRabIy 10 inspin: oonf,denct that hit will act in !lOOd Iioilh lor the others inlnuts. Of...toen ont ~r· son has gained lhe confidence oI.nother and purports to act or advise wilh the others interest.! in mind; ",ho.. lrusl and confidenc~ Ire rtpO$td by ont ~rson in mother who. iIS I """11.",,,,111 an inft.......:e or superiority <Mf the 0I.1\tr: and il ilppun when the ci1'CUlllltincn make it c~rtoin the ~rtits do not <luI on eqr,allfR1l$. but, on the OM -. Ilde, lhe.. is an oYtTTTlilSI.ring influence. or. on the ~ other, _akness, dtptndence. or truSI. justifiably .. rtpOHd; In both an unfair advantage is possible: ~' BanJ:oIRN~. 482 So. 2d at 2801 (ciwions omiutd).1t also is fairly clar that if iI plainliff ;oW .. clrfmdant lor inIormation. tntn the clrfmdant is obIi\lilltd 10 pn.Mdt it MoreoYtr. CIrlU 1M dtftndant has suppli~ some informlltion 10 a plaintiff "\lilrd· ing a p;lrticular topic. the defendant is rtQui ..d to make a full disciosun:. Wau u. I/~. ~9 So. 2d 154. 158 (Ala. 1991)
:1rl)J
JUlY 1995 1231
ron~ Jll"lt control compa.ny ·undutoolc to iss~" I~lter con· ctming tht lut irul"'ction" of t~ plaintifff houR, {Ompany had"lI duty to disclose the full situation."! ~emplw;s supplied!; .IocIr:son Co. 1'- Fau/Jmer, 55 ~ Aw- 354, 315 So. 2d 591 ~ 1915). Tho: "p.o.rticulu clrcumst.1or"K:u" lest for" duty 10 disclose is far murkier lhin the OIhers. If" situalion dots no! in-.olw II fiducillf)' rdltionship or l requnl lor inlonTlition, Ihen l "duty to spnlc dtpt"nds upOl'l the relllion oflhe p.o.rtit$, the ""ILIf of tile ""TlicuLir fKt. tile relalNt knowltdfe oflhe p.o.r· tiel. -r OIher clrrumstInCG." &mIc ofRtd &,.482 So. 2d III 2M-35 (ciboti0n5 omitltdl; I « «so 11m /J. Ri<~ Chft._ 1eI·0irb. Inc. . No. 1921164. 199<4 111. 474206, 'S tA1i. Sept. 2. 199<4); Ali. Codt lit f 64-102. Tht qutSlion of wIltthor or noI " duty 10 disdaot arion from tht "JIlrIicullr cirrumsbonai" of" ClISf is dttmnined on ClISf· by-(.UI: buil. MeCctmn, 631 So. 2d lit 841. Tht COnII'rslone of l duty to discloK tlltn under the ""po.Tlic· utu cirrumoUncu" trSltraditionally his ~n the r~lllioruhip of tile ""TIlts. for instanu. in the past. tltfOft a COI.ITI would r«qIniu l duty to discloK. there lit kut had to tit somt dirK! dtalings tlttwttn 1M ""rties. If II dd~ndanl did not hl~ diT«! contact with tht plaintiff. tMn tM dd~ndinl W<lS undu no obligation to disclose infOrrTlllion to a pilintiff. rmterill or oth· trwise. Centu'1l2/-Rf1f1WJ Roottll. Inc. u. M«;o,,,,,,tl Cadillac. Inc., 626 So. 2d 1213 ~Ala. 19931; Cobb u. Southf1flst Tagotu DiflTibutan. Inc.. 569 SO. 2d 395 (Ala. 19901. ~:~n if the pLiin. tiff and tht ddendant did deal directly with one another. the Alabama Supremf Court t'lIr~\y found that hue were sp«ial ci rCUOl.ltanCtl ....-arrant ing a duty to dildoH if lh~ dd~nd~nt did nOi counselor adviH tht pillintiff or hold hinu-tlf out u an t~pert in a particulu uea. Compare, f .g.. llard,. sas SO. 2d at 32 (no sp«ial cirtUOl.ltances giving riH to l duty on paTt of insurn to inform insurtd t~t lilt n«\kd 10 purchase II con· \'fuioo pOlicy to ai~ her toYtrll/e durina ntw pLin', ..... iting period). and f.u(:as. S89 So. 2d at 158 (although pest control company did not dtil dirtctly with pLiintlib. where tompany held itself oot <IS upeTl lind Il\ld( I part;"1 disclosurt I~t would luI! plaintiffJ into KIISf of J«urity. company Nd II duty to disclose ;0.11 infol'1Ntioo rfgardina inlu~tion of 1louH1.
no. .vol,,'........rtle".. , Clrcum.l.nc .... rul. Rtcmtly, thot (mp/luiJ in "JIlrIicullr circumSlllnca" cues _ to M shiftirc ~ from tho rd*lionJhip bctwftn U. PlII" tiu.lnstud. lilt Alwrm Suprtrrv Court his hiahli£httd tile reLltn,. ~ of tilt partin. In 11Idtpmdmt Lik.t Nxid. Ins. Co. iii. Harring, .... No. 1921093, 199<4 AIlI. LniJ 3841Atio. Aug. 5. 199tI.tllt i:(lurt ItlIttd. "this i:(lurt has HTlphuiud thot ...·here one party has superior koowl(cige ofl facl Ind tM othtr party', Nving the lime koowledge would tlluK tht othtr party to Ilkf II diff~renl COUI'M of lIClion. tllm I duty to discloK ,rUn. if tM othtr party annot dlscO\'t"r tM flld. him· self."' In Hirws u. RWerJide C/>ft;ro/eI-04/s, Inc.. No. 1921764. I~ \\1. 47206 (Ala. Stpt. 2. 1~ 1. the Court found t~t the \klen. d~nt minufaClUrer's supulor knowltdge of a purpOrttdly "",t..ial fact atoblished II rdationship bttwun the manufac· turer and the plaintiff. In l/i'lf!$. tht pllintiff cont~nd~d that the left rear quarter panel of his Oldsmobile had btfn repaint· ed btfore the eIIr was sold to him. and lhat tht repair lO»'fred 232 /JULYI995
the value of his eIIr. '!'he pllintiff III~gw t~t both tM d~aler ship from whkh he bought the ar and the eU manufaclurer had I duty to disclose the flaw in the car's paint. '!'he manufxtum had no contact with the pLiintiffwith relp«1 to the salt oflhe car. Id. at 05. In rewrsinc I sumlTllry judgment in fa_ of tile manufacturer on 1M pllintifi', JUpprusion cLlim, the i:(lurt opined ~I; Tht fiet ~I two parties hl\... no contract ..... reLationship or othtr dealings don not prtdudt tho findirc of tile Itgal duty not to mikt i miltrilll misnpmmwion Of( to IU)Ipress I material fllcl . The ,bMnte of a contriCIUlIl relationship Of( od>rr deal""" thrrri:n, li~ don not _ pndudt the finding of II reialionship on ...t.ich to but a duty 10 disclose. ')/ Id. lit '7. Tht Court concludtd thot Ikaust thr [pbintiffsl WltT'f members of a I/fIlO.rJI or tau. or pmoos who [tile mamdiClurer[ GpeCUd or had JpeCiai reasoo to ~ would br infll.lt'1'ltttl by lis decision not to discloH inlOrmatlon i>bout the TfPlIinting of dimlg(d lUIomobilr$. [tholTllllllfKtuml ;and the [pLlintifr,) had a wffi. cimt T'flationship on which to base I duty to discloK. Id. Th. Court O\'t"rrul.d Centurv 21 UId Cobb to lhe utent ~t the» are inconsistent with tile holding in Hlnes.'!'he hold · ing incorporatu the negligen« COllcept of "foreseeability" into the tlemtnts that d. fin. a duty of disclQllurt. Following similar rtasoning in lNc/wOTth v. Natkmul &m/{ ofC4rnmerce. No. 1930416, 1994 Ala. l.exis 610 (Ala. Dec. 2'2. 19941. a p.er curiam OI>inion, the Cou rt abro~tw the rule thaI a bank does not have. duty of disclosure to Ihird parties with whom the bank has no {Ontractual relatioruhlp.' The plaint iffs ...... re ;n_lors in a real estate dtwlopmmt. Tht \kf~ndant bank held a mortgage on tho P"'!"'rty. '!'he pllintiffs and the bank did not dul dirKtly ...ith ont anotMr. lit leut with regard to tM dtwlopmtnl To tntice thr pllinliffs to imw. in his project. thr dtwloptr agreed to get a wriuen concusion fl1)lll the bank t~t tho plaintiffs would hiI-'t prioriI)' <M1the bank', I11CII'tgagt in the tlltnt the pro;tct ran into fina.nc41 difficultiel. The del.'floper /orgtd II bank officer's sil[nllture 10 tile written USUt'llntC and ga~ it to tile pbintjfB. Tht pLainliffs ga~ tile del.'floper thrir 1l'IOIloty. hi. at °1·'3. Tht bank oIflW' discow:rtd 1M fo'lff)l, but Ilt told no one about il When tho pmjm wtnt IOOr. thr offictr initially dmitd knoI.itdge of tile ~ry. Liter. he ~milltd thaI Ilt Nd dis· COYtrtd tho forgery but had not reporttd it. Id. lit '3-'5. The trill court diredtd • ~rdict for thr NnIc on tho p!ain!ifr,' frlIud· ulmt supprwion claim. Tht AIab.unlI SuPl'frrv i:(lurt ..-rstd. finding that even though the bank did not ha~ I reLitionship with thr irMstors, thr bank should have tcoo.>n that thr iIMston would rely on lilt ~rification l~tter when thry conlributed to lilt deoJelopment. SO tilt bank had I duty to discloH tilt forgef)'. Id. at '9·"0. Justice Houston. diMmttd. noti.,. tile Court', <ioparture from prtcrdenl and it', t$ta/)Iishmtnt of eonflict'''' dutits. Duclcworth. 1994 Ala. LEXIS 610. '11 . 12 (i touston. J.• concurring) ("What a!fiTmllti~ duty doe, a bank OWl!: to third partin regarding its customers? None. I believe this Court """''fred this que,tion in Revnolds v. McEwfY/, 416 SO. 2d 702 (Ala. 19821; C4haba Swfood. Inc. v. Centrol Blm/{ of t"" South. 561 So. 2d 1304 (Ala. 1990): and Haclmq v. fl'rst AJubaffl<l Btm/{.
ijl
THEAlA6A,\\A LAWYER
$55 So. 2d 97 (Ala. 1989). In fXl, fir\lnt~1 institutions ha~ ..
duty to lTIlIinuin !hi: CIlnf..s.nt~)ity cI thei, ruslomtrs1. T1w Court's IIKiIions in that usa iIn diffICUlt to ftCOOtiJt, ...ith its most !"ettnl dn:i5ion in M_ ~. Chrysler Dwp.• No. 1931199. 1995 WL 19652 (Alr.. Jan. 20. 1995). Justict Sham authoml the unanimous opinion. T1w I'l.lintiffs in MilSQrI SolW advtrtiwmtnts for Chryslu fifth Menutl . They vi.ited tht deftndant cu d.alorship and spokt with a Sollespe rs.on who alltgedly told them thai. Filth Avtnutll Wfrt comparable to other luxury ars and that the warranty on the Fifth Monue Wis is I/OOd is the ..... r ... nty on other luxury ~hiclts. At the timt, IhI: dtalfr and the manufactum kntw that the filth Awnut linr had -huiution" problems. In fXl, !hI: rNflUfiClUrtr hid supplied dellen ",ith .. "l'1'1)iir kit" that would rtdu~ the hf:SiUlion problem. Id, I I ° 1, Tht M:uon$ lUtd the manu{ilClureT Ind the dealmhip from which they bouQht their tIIr, They claimed. among other things. lhat the dtfendants fa;l~d to disclou that lhey knew that Fifth A~nues had recurring defects. The trial eourt jIl"anttd the deftn· dants' motions for summary Judamtnt on III of the plaintirq' claiml.ld. at ·2. The ~ Supmne Court i/lirmtd the IlItllIl"Iif)' iudgmmt. findillll with rrgard to the plaintiff'. ~ion claim th:iot nri· ther tht manufxtul'1'r nor the dulH had I duty 10 discloR their knawltdge cI the rtruning Meet, Thi$ Court has sb~ that whtthrr CIf"Ie has a duty to speak dtpends UpOn a fiducial}', or other I'1'latioruhip of the par· tift. the value cI the particular {act, the rtlatM kno:Miedgt. and other circumstances cI the CUt. Whtn the partits to I t~tion dnl "ith exh other 1\ arms ~ with no conficImtial 1'1'~ 110 obIigKion to discbt i...........lion uists when the iN:mN1ion i$ not requested. TheI'1' _ 110 tvidm« cI a confidmt.ial rtlitionship betwlaI the Masons nI tithtr cI the two dtftndants. and then WfI'1' 110 ~ cirrornsaanas to gNe rise to I duty to spuk. The MI$On$' rontactJ; ,,;th Chl')'Sltr Corporuioo coosi5ted pri . marily cI their '"""'ing natioNl idvtrtisemtnts before thry purchased the ~hide and thtir prtwnting the ~hicle for rtpoir. Neither the Masons' depositioN oor their alfK!.ni!s in OPII(ISition to the sumrn/lI}' judgrnrnt motion contain any Mdmce indicating thot thry nqulmI cI Oll')'Sltr Coqoon. lion 01" RoyiI Motors ~ I"$rdinC whrthrr problems $irnilar to thei". had occurred in other automobilu. _ Id. It '..
,,~
Surely, lhe rmchanical dtfecll in the I-t:uons' tIIr "l'~ mort e'1ousl/ld had a grut.. impKI on the val~ o(their car thtn 'It pIIint cltfect in Mr. fl inu' tIIr. NontlMleu. the Court found dUly to disclose in the lattor cue. baud upon tM manufactur· "I I Uperior knowledge of the defttt and the ~OIbility cI the laintiff'1 "nred to know- the information. but the Court held lit thue w:u 110 rtLotionship or otiltr lptCW circumstMJa in It Ionnrr QR that.....Jet giIIe rise to J duty to disclose. The em-ary rtsUlts perhaps can br nplainrd by the fact that the Court ,Mason mlY have ~II constJllinrd by ill opinion inMtCowon , cue virtLlliIy iclmtical to AAIsM in whidlthe Court found thot It arms' length rtlationship cI the pIIrtin precluded the impotion of .. duty upon lhe manufacturer to di..:lose the k""""n efects. flfcGou."f1n. 631 So. 2d ~t 847 ..... 8. liE AI.ABAt-1A lAWYER
A P. ndor. '. bo x The rnnificalioos cI the "p.l.rticuLor circurnsunces" rule is it ~ to br dtwlopi.,. in rmont cues Irt far ruching. Con· sider the ~1owing JCaWio. M$. kInr:$ i$ .. salespmon. Mr. Smith ~
her and tells her th:iot Ilt ,,~ts to purch:ut .. product that ptrforms .. particuLor function. Ms. Joou shows Mr. Smith ont 0( the products lhat she distributes. She tells Mr. Smith that it is the product on tht market but ·suited to his needs: however. Ms . .Ionts ~ that in leu than one month. the rTWl· ufadurtr that supplies tht produc:ts that Ms. Jones distributH ",ill introduc:( J I'roduc:t trol will bette r It" l' Mr. Smilh. The nrw product will be $IigJotly cheiptr than the product lob. Jora Itlls Mr. Smith. Only mcmbtn clthe 'ndUltl}' ha~ ~ cI the nrw pnxluct. Dots M$. ./o)nes tw.l''' dUl)' 10 tell Mr. Smith about the uproming product? Uncltr HtmingIOfl lind 11m, il appears that silt don: Mr. Smith certainly ","OUld like 10 know about the belttr.I ....... xptnsivt product. and he tIInr>Q! diJeOY-. er tht n~ product on hi. own; only people in tht industry 1>( lWlIrt 01 it. Under HiMJ. the manufacturer 01 tilt product that Ms..Iont... lis lls.o INIY ha~ .. duty to share ,,; th Mr. Smith the inforrru.tion ttwot it his roprdinll the nrw produc:t. The burdens which a duty cI disclosure i!lljlO>O upon a defendant who has no direct contxt with the plaintiff. such is tilt INnUbctUrt' in tilt tlWTtpie ibow. lort ItIbstant~l. Whit t~ of disclosul'1' tIllI wi1] Mlisly lhe defendanfl duty if the ddtn, dant dotl not deal di ..ctly wilh the plaint;ff? A "",itten disc\osurt il sufficient under Alabama la", ""/,,.<$ the plaintiff tIInnot understand the docu rmnt or is not given the opportunity to l'1'ad it. Henson. v. u./lic Uk Ins.. Co., 621 So.2d 1268. 1273·74 (Ali. 1993) (whert applitlltion for insurarw:~ po;>lky contained infor. ma.tion that plaintiff argued '''is conce~led. "no INIter~1 fact w:u undiscloKd"): lfanl,. SM So. 2d at 32-33 (110 slJIlI)lUIion ",iltft f~ booIdtt disclostd insurara plan', 27O-diy "oQit· iflIl period): Ror-~. AJsociGtes F"i1IanciaI Sm!ices uIJIhtbqma, I>K., 533 So. 2d 206. 209 (Alr.. 1988); but IN, Hotmrd v. Hulu· III $Qvhlgs Lift Ins. Co.. 608 So. 2d 379 (AIL 1992) {findin, that information in docurmnll w:u not ,uffiC;fnt to put plain · tiff on notice offraud as ~ matter oflawwhert documents Wfro "complo"). lkcaUSot a deftndant that had no direct contact with I plaintiff ordinarily would two~ to rtly on a third ~rty 10 con· wy I disclosure. the cldendant could not pCWibly deltrminr ",hether the plaintiff could Rad 01" w:u gMn .. chan« 10 rtad I "",itton clisclosurt. Can .. pIIrty wch is a ma.nUfXlUrtr be held liloblt lor wpprtSlion if the penon who bought its prOduct could not rud the rTWlUfactUrt"l "Titttn disclosu..? Dots a manufKlUrtr ha~ to train iU dist ributor to ensure th40t In ~ppr<l!>rilote disclOiurt il made?'
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JULY 1995 1233
Po •• lbl• •olutlons Althoujlh the AlaI:>MN. Supmnt Court's 5hift in tmp/wi5 from the ~lition ohhe parties to the UlitM kOO\<o'ledgt ohhe pa •. lif:!! rmy ITIWII widrr v;orM:ty of defermnb. ouch os Ikftndonll wh'l hwt had no contact ..ith I pl;lintiff. will M sub;tct to" duty to dIK ...... cltfmdau shouk! not be found liibIt lOr fmldulmt sl.lC'P«'Uion os ...mU" 01 00lI1'SI' $imply beg.... the cltfmdlnt h;u, duty to diKlOM. A$ the foru> of the "partituli. circum· 5tanr:ts" tts! tIM 5hifi~d to the uiaiM knowledge oflhe parties. lhe tort I... udul~nl suppmsion has become strikingly simi· lar to the tort of negligmt 11Iilu~ 10 ...."m. In AUba.mIo. "[lIl rr1itl· ulaclu'" il undt. , duly 10 ..... arn u,~u 01 the dangeroul prop~nli l iu of a p.oduct only ..... h.n such products in dangtrOOS when]lUt 10 lheir intended UK." Gurl"ll v. AmtorkIm Honda Molor Co .• Im;.. 505 5<.>. 2d 3511. 361 (Ala. 1%7). Many of the defenses that MY!: b«n . ecogniud in failu.e to warn usel should Irarulllie to f... utlulen! sUJl1)msion CUts. Om ronctp\ (rom nrg1igent fllilu~ to "'lIm aus llu~ t>u InlIoI.Ie illl WI, into fnoudultnl IUJl1)~sMon ~ Jw;t os I rrIitlufx . tuu. tIM no duty to wam of" ~. that is aprn M1d obvious. .. ptrson dots not hwt .. duly 10 provide information 10 anoth· er party il the party tan d~r the txt himsdl. Id.: Jhwrirtg-
or
lo.ul'lI. In I failurt 10 ..... arn CIX. "[wlho •• " .... ming is nectWlry. the warning nHd only be one lhat is .usonabl~ undtr the ci.· cumsl"ncu lind il nud not be Ihe but possible ..... arning: Curlrv. 505 5<.>. 2d at 361. Applying thi' rul~ 10 " fraudul~nt sUjlflrtssion CIX. an adequate w.itten disclosure should suffice 10 discharge" parly's duty 10 inlorm if the party has nol deall dir«tly with the pllinliff. tven il the pl'intilf is unable 10 .ud 0. is otherwiH prtvl'nttd IIQrrt readinS tht disclosure. The di5. closur~ mull bt COnIIlicuous lind unambiguous. The IfIIl'nfd 'ntermed;"ry defense from ....vnings taHS 1110 Ihould bt OMilibk os I de~nse in frwdultnt omission cun. In bilu~ 10 WlIm cun.lIlTl1f1ufxiur" "ought not to bt held 1w,lt wM.e It hu -.lr reuorWllt ~ffort.s to COIIW')I warnings anelIo. product informltion lhat. dut 10 circumstlr'lCU ~ the rrIitlufxlurer'J conlrol . ..'t.~ not pused on to or I'f«~ to)' the ultoTTlllt UHT. Whtu the third party t>u iIfI indtptnclmt duly to Wllm the uitilTllte UHT•... tht ....... u/;>c:tu~. ;" juliirltd in .tlying upan the third party to ptrform illl duly: Pun-u~. P.P.G. Induslrits. 1m;" 502 5<.>. 2d 714. 720·22 (AI ... 1987). Simil~'ly. il .. party with In obligation 10 disclose provide, ptr· tint nt infOTnuotion to ~ third pa.ty who do.l. di.or:tly with, plainliff and who has a duty to transmit the infomution to the plaintiff, then the obligor has fulr.lled his duty 10 discioK. For imunce. in llifl;!l . if lhe nuonufa.ctuur hid told the tI' de"leT olbotrt the point def«lI. Ihm tht .... nufxlurer IJootoId haY!: l romplttt deftnse II" ITlIttt. 01 law 10 tht pWntiff$ fraur.lulent wpp.wion cliim. 1"1\1, lTlIfIufKtuur would hivf d;S(Chafied his duty by lIfOI'KI;ng llllTllterilol information to the ar de.. ltr. lind it would hivf btcome the rtspOIlSibility oflhe ar dultr. the p.uty tIlIl dult diredly with the pWntiff, to COIMY the iob· nuotion to the pliintiff. In addition. just as a pl'intiffs f"iluu lo~..d lhe labtls on i p.oduct bloT " f.. ilu.t to .... m claim. p.oof lhat the pllinliff was ablt to rue! .. document in which an il~gedly inadequatt diS(C]o. IU~ wu nuode but that he did not 00 so should lornlolt .. fraud· ulent suppression claim. Deere & Co. v. Gros" 586 5<.>. 2d 196.
234 I MAY 1995
198 tAla. 1991) ("a ""ghgent .t'.lilu~·lo-.....am.ad.tquattly CUI: should not bt ""'mitted 10 tht jury unltss lheu i5 subst.'lntilol tvidtfltt thai an adequate warning would hivf 1I«n relld and heeded ..nd would haY!: prtvented the .ecidentl. Finllly, tht AIWnv. Sup.tme Court r«tnl)y recogniud the '"u)o1.,.Utor'S privileie" as .. dtfmJt to toI'tious intemrm:t with buiintSS relitions ~ TPwSoop Co.. tI (1/. u. &%lJ. Inc.• ,/ (1/" 646 So. 2d 1366 lAb- 19(4). Uncltr tIW dactrirlt. a party may intmtiomliy ... _ inOIht. tithtr not 10 tnl~r into i"prosptc· 1M contractual .tlition with another who ;s his compttitor" or to disconUnue a conll'llct Itnninabit il will il tht party "dof:!! not tmploy WI'OfIIIIul [1.0. illegal] mems." Id. This dde"", aOO lhould apply to f.audultnlJupp,tssion CIX! SCI that in compet· iii ..... ituations. one Plrty dots noI ha .... to discloH inlorn..· lion about I competito"s product a.bstnt a di~cl inquiry. Conclusion It is unclfll' ..·hctht. the Court's d«isions in Harringloro. HintS lind DucIfUJo,lh ITt iIOQted dellarturu from the Court's prior opinions regarding the ~rticulir circumSllrloru" lui in fraudulent supprusion c:uu, or whnher the tmplwis for tht ttsllTIdmI has 5hlfied from tIw ulilioruhip 01 the parties to the partif:!!' relitiYI: knowledge. If the uqurr~mtnl of some degree of diuct ulationship bdwun the plaintiff lind .. defendant as I prerequisite to imposinQ" duty of disclosure in f.et has bun disarded. then the impHcati()nS of tht ..- diuction that tht .ult i. taking may be dTlmatic. II tht "~ .ticular circum. lIancu"test has undergollt I metamorphosis. ind lhe Court's dt<:ision in M<2$Q<l is to bo 'e",riled as the txception rathtr tIlIn the rule. then defendanll should be permitted to ..vail them· HIVfS 0( defenses thallhe Court previously has ucogniud in othH contexts. such os lhe Itllmtd intermedillry doct.i"" and tht "compttitor'l p.ivil..,.: •
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'(1
lion LAQILI Aid Committ", chaired by
frank Riggs. cmrstes tM program and ano,nt)' recruitment. Tht Ltg~1 Aid Committu members spenl many volunitt. hours individually contacting other iltlomt)1 about the program and encou'lginS thtir pUlicipuion to tnsu"" ~ proj«t'i stlCCtsf. Abo urving on this committee i'f a\lorney> TedeI; c.r.rtt. Ellotn I-Wtings. Dtbnt HoI· lis. Bobby Sf:illl (11110 cN;!ll'IiI1 of the Iloud 01 DirmOJI oIlApl Sm'icQ Cor· pOntion 01 ~J.xI Jim Smith. mon19ing allorne), of tht Montgomery Rtgiooal 0If1Ct of I..eg.il Servim C0rporation of Alab.J,ma. Many 100;&1 l.tw firms lind wit practitioners art supporting the VLP. Approxi· mately 1.171 aUomeys ue currently Ikennd to practice in Montgomery Coun ty. or then a\torneys. 722 are a.ctw.11y eliSible to a.ccrpt direct ~ftrral 0( pro bono ases; ~7 others hold speclil mtmbrrships in the Aiabanv Sliite s,. lnd art tIltmOrt eligible 10 poorticiJIItt in $p«1iI VU' pro;eru. h 0( MJ.y 26. 199!i (lYtr 100 l ttomty$!lad voiWltured to ""rliel""te in the VLP. with nvny mort upected to enroll during the linal two stagn ol lht current recruitment drive. CUt rtferrals th rough the program ire npected to begin no late. tlw1 August I. 1995. Montgomery County attorneys are
236 / JUI.Y t995
l« Copeianc( prsidenJ oIliw MC8A m«11 trilh J,..IoIm L Q1rn)II. u.s. Magu· lrole. 10 roon/jIl(1/. pro 00n0 scvi<:n _iJobIe for use ~ krJmU mQfIislrota in cwlain lwa 01 priJonen . ddt QC/ions. enrolling in grut numbers in the new VLP dut in luge ""rt to the vuitty of civil caK types ~ing Ilandled throogh th. program. In tht past. tht Mont· gomery County pro bono program focused on domestic abuK t.Ues. thus w:luding nvny lltomeys not p!Xt.icing in this bmiiy LIw iItU. Und« the ntWiy organiud project. aHorneys may choose to a.cupI rdomd pit) bono aSH in I widt Yiloritty 0( prK1ico- aIUS includ· ing. lmoog otheri. ~iOO5. Cilapttr 7 ~nltroptcy. CONUmtr problems. _I utate maUen. til problems. probate nvlten.lnd VA issutS. The tremendous succelol of Ihe recruitment driVf' thus fn is indicative 01 Ihe public service spirit and suppOrt which is found in
abundance among members of tht Montgomery County &ar Association. When a n«d arises. ~Iontgomery County attornf)1 willingly respond . Upon enrolling in tilt new VLP. taeh a\lornty YOluntuily 'grt"' 10 accept two civil non·I«·genualing c.ue rd.rrals p'r )'fa. or 20 hours 01 fret Itgal ..,rvictl. whiche...,. comu Ii .. t. Tht projKt. which is administtred through tht AI,bllm, S tlltt BlIT Volunteer I..iWYUI J>roerllm. is II -""nel mudd" pro bono project meaning lhatllltornt)'s are uligntd casu only in the a_(s) 0( his or her choice ill indicated on the enrOllment form. Poten t ial "Iients lire firsl intervit'Nftl for !n<:Omt eligibility by tht prolusional staff 01 tilt
TlIEALr\W\A LAWYER
Monlgomery Regional Office of Ltgal
Str.i«s C!'!rporaliun of AlWIN.. Eligi· ble c1ienu ue Ihen rderred 10 Ihe \Iabama Slale Bar Volunleer l.a~rs O>rogram for direct rtlerul to l VLP aUorney. The volunlur al lorney i, tJlptCteil 10 handle only the specific Itgll mailer mmell. Pipe~ Ind reporl· ing requirements ilUOCilled wilh 1M pro;tc:l U~ Mpl 10 II minimum JO I"'t the volunleer ailorfit)' II frte 10 Spend his or Mr entire lime 00 the Klual repr.sentation ralher than on adminislra· live manen. Vision Ind ludenhip for creation 01 Ihe new VLP were provided by l.ee C~l;ond. 1995 prnidl.nl of lilt Monl· gomery Counly Bar Anociallon. and 1)orolhy Norwood. lilt 1!/S4 pruident IloIh worked dili~ntly 10 produ« II suc· cessful program which would nol only benefit indigenl clients. bullllJO app<:'al to bar mtmbus volunleering Iheir valuable lIme. Iu loal bu president. Copeland hIS choHn Ihe Vl.P IS his ~nonal project. piNging to He tllit Ihe program begim opention lnd is successfully underway during his term. The officers Ind bo.o.rd member> have agreed whal,hurl,dly wllh Ihis I'lan due 10 tho fIKt IIIiI 1M new VlP win rod! 00110 a climl community greatly in n«d 01 fm' legal Sl'McU whilt mo fulfilling lhe moral responsibility 01 all attorneys 10 provide Kens 10 justice for all citiun. regardless of their financial ci rc urrullll'lCtS. Copel;ond is alJO ruponsible for Ihe C.utlon of I unique Hrvict5 compo. .... nl within lhe \'!.P. Mer di~i ..... with Judge John L D.rroIl. U.s. Magis-IFlIte for lhe Middle [)Utric! of Alibima.. Copeland rulind Ihal maglslrales in Ihis dlllrict need the aoj»bility of refer. ring indigent dliuns to /I volunt ... l!to.n-ty who will p.ovid. inilial Hr· victs frte of c.... ~. Cue I}'\XS most often Hen by the magiwalu in this regard _re then added to Ihe enrollmenl form of Ihe \'l.P by Copel;ond and administ rative detail5 ""re coordinated wilh Ihe cle rk·s offke of Ihe Di,l ricl Court. This cOOptr.ltiw effort belween the federal judiciary lind II loul bar ISSOCwion 10 Sl'rvt indiamu through 1I pro bono projfCI is uniq ..... in ~ No OIMr VlP Or pro bono prOQnm in this statt currently hu such 1I projecl lIS part of ils s .. vku. Montgomery
County lllorneys iTe Ihus Hrving lIS .ole modtls for lIIIO ..... ys throughoul Alabllma. II is hoped by Copeland lind the board memben of the Monlgomery County Bar Association t~t oth.. pro bono p~FlIms will .,."iew this Ipteial project;md institute a simil;or one wilh · in their local VlJ> proim. Fil1lllly. il mu.1 be nOled thlll one ma,ior _ lor 1M suocess oIlhe VlJ> Iw bun lhe cooperalion of Jim Smilh and lhe staff 01 the ~Iontgomery Region· al Office of Legal Services Corporation of Alabami. Ltgal Servicu programs n;ltionwide are now thTntened with decrellSfd funding or uro funding by ConJIress.ln light oIlhi .. pro bono ser· ...len from Ihe privllle bar Ire greatly netded to ill$ist Ltgal Services slaff in meeling the ever increuillJllegal nteds 01 indigffil clients. Smith iInd hll entire Ibff ... ve pledg,d their suppOrt to the ,"'onIQOmtry County Bar AS$<Xia.lion lind will provide income eligibilily scretning for Iht VI.P . Withoul this iCnening mechanism, Iht new Vl.P
simply could not nis!. Monlgomery Counly luomeys irt Qrllteful for this Klive support by Legal Services iUO.· n-tys and staff and 100II forward 10 work· ing cooperalively to better meet the civil legal nud. of indiQtnt Monl· riOOltry Counly CiliK"'. The newly rut.uc!und VLP hn prOVtn to be ""ry suC«Uful in a >holt pfriod of timt. RKruilment tflorts will conlir.ue in the mootlls lhe~. Member> of the MoolgolTH'ry County Bar Association may be proud of tlltir Iong·standing commilment to the provision of pro bono leeal servicts and Hrvict 10 the communily ~nt.ally. Rec:OIInition 01 IhoM &Itomeys will be a higtl prioriI}' lor Iht coordinalor of Ihe VlP; hOwtver. participating vol unite" know that helping clients in a time of great ptr· sonal crilis is sufr.citnl reward in and of itself. If)'OO Irt 1 priICtidng allOlTle)' in MonlfOmtry County lind iii"" not yel joined Ihe Vl.P. "lust cllllhe VLP coordil1lllor (locllltd in the Alabama Sute Bar building) 11269·1515. •
CADSOU111 Compute r An imation and Design Services
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Allied-Bruce Terminix, Inc. v. Dobson: ----------~~ ~ ~------------
Widesp~lbEiifrcement of Arbitration ~rretilents Arrives in Alabama B,IlIlm'1l C. Stridt/lwd
n"
long enforced
partiu elusion.
to enforce agreements to submit disputes to arbitration. lVidelp,..,ad application 1)[ the FAA. therefore. will
•emlutionize arbitration law in this state. For the first time. enforcem~nt of contraclUal arbitration provisions will Ix the rule rathe, than the exception in Alaba· rna. In the wake of this change. many Alabama lawyers will need to Ilerome better acquainted with tile FAA. More importantly. they must reconsider the advke they give clients ilbout whether 1(1 include arbitration provisions in their 'OOIT"eli
and whether to sign contracts contain· jng arbitration provisions. Alabama Arbitrati on Law and the Alabama Supreme Court'. .. aistance to tho FAA
Nea rly all arbitration comes about
because the parties at some time wlun· tarily agreed to arbitrate their disputes rather than take them to court. Partie! might make such an agreement after a 2381 JUI.Y 1995
agreement ll'I/Iy time befo", an I.
been mean· USl of arbi· The Alabama Supreme Court summed up Alabama arbilration law 35 follows: [Alt this junctu"" thi, Court feeb compelled tG PClint Gut its disfa""r Gf predispute arbilration agree · ments. In fact. Ala. Code [001975. [SlctionI8-1-41{3), explicitly prohibits the enforcement of predispute arbitration agreements. This somewhat hosti le attitude toward predispule arbitration agreemenu is rooted in the btli.f that pIIrtiu shi)uld nol be permitted, b)' their agreement. to oust the courts of their jurisdiclion .... "The public PCllicy of this state is to encoura,ge arbitration and ami· cable •• ttl emonts of diff. ,.nces bet_en parti.s: but public PCllicy also holds void an agftemenl in adva~ to oust or defeat the juris· diction of all courts. as 10 differ· ences between the paTties:
TG avoid
,
FAA of
agreements. the Alabama narrowly conslrued Ihe scope FAA's applicability.' lI first held that the FAA awlied only tG cases in federal court- not cases in state court . '"The wording of the Act and ils legislati~ history," the court said, "indicate a desire b)' Congre.. to erut. a law only appli""ble in f.de,al courts in di,-ersity cases.- Ex Parle Alabama OXllven Co.. 433 So.2d 1158. 1162 (Ala. 19841. This interpretation enabled Alaball'l/l toIlrto; to conlinue denying enforcement of all arbi· tration a,greemento; brought before them. The United Statu Supreme Court over· turned this interpretation Gf the FAA h0wever. in Southland UJrp. v. Keating. 465 U.S 1 (1984 ). The Court held in Sou/hland that the FAA ·creates a body of fed· eral substantive I.l.w" based 00 Congress's pOwer to regulate interstate commerce. Id. at 12. While conceding some ambigu ity in the FAA's legislative history, the Courl held that Congress intended the cenlral pTll'lisions of the FAA to apply in TH£ AJ..UlA.'-IA i..-',WY£R
s1itt IS ~II is ftdt,.,1 toUrts. After Soothll11ld. tht appliabilily 01 tM FAA hinJ!ti.l on Iht FAA·s in t~l"$u.tt tOIT\ITItrtt ~ui .. mmt. By ib ""T1 term!!. the FAA appliu and reQuirt! enforce· ment of ,n bilration agrurmnl5 only if they Ire in I "maritime Ir;msaction Of i contne! evidtncing i tnnnClion in !inltrslll.ld COrruTltr«: 9 U.s.c. It 1 &: z. If ne;tlw. tlw maritime IransKlion nor the Interstite commerce reQuiremrnt is Ioatisrotd . thtn the FAA don not apply; and 513t. law contro ls. In Alabama. that muns the arbitration ilIrUment is void iUId unenforceable. AjIl,n trying 10 ""Ivagt AWwN·s pol;. cy disfivo.ing arbit. ilioo ilIrull"II:nts. the AWwN Suprell"ll: Court limited Iht appliabilily 01 the FAA b)' narrowly con· struing ib ;nttrstatt comrmrce rtqu;rt· ment. The ttst for determining whttht. Oil t;OntrJo<;t ;s""" "Mlltncin, I tfllUaC· lion in !intmt.1ttel commer«" and thus enforceable uncle. the FAA. thl: Abbllma court hl:ld. is .....Mhe'. It thl: lime !thl: ~rtinl entued inlo 11M contn.;tj ind lICtepied the arbitralioo clause, they con· lum"lol~d substantial intentlle activi. ty: J~ Purl~.Ion<!$ . 628 So.2d 316 (Ala.
1993J{qoo(ing Ex 1'Im~ II'" "",,. 548 So.2d 157. 160 Wi. 1989).0Id Mmo IndUSlri· at f'rJiIIling CqqJ. u. TmniIIol Ct:Instrut;. lilm Co .. 287 F.2d 382. 387 (2d Cir.) (Lombard . J.• concurring)(emphasis in original)). Application of this lesl. which
"'·ilI subslantially mort
rUlrictiv. than ttm used b)' most other courts. mulled in numerous contrlcts being deemed oubodt the at the FAA. Conw· Qutntly. AIahima J,w continued 10 gw. ern many ubilrilion agreemen t. in Alaball\l (particularly those relating to consumer tranloactions). making them untnforcuble.'
COIIe'*
AIII. .8rvce Termini.
ComJNInies, Inc. If. Dobson lht United Stala Supmnt Coort again owrtumtd lho Alabama court·, narrow Interpretation of lho fAA in Allied·fi..."" Terminix Qjmptmies./nc. u. /)Q/)$(}n. That cue tOr"oCtmrd an arbilralion agrttment in a termite protection contl'Kt bttwun In AWwN hotnecJo,m. and III Afkansu corporation doing bus'","" in Abbama. The contntl pr ..... idfd that Terminis would provide termite protrction for the lifelime 01 the residence In e:<change for an Inn",,1 ft<. It furl her providod th~t Tm: AIADA.'\A UWY"ER
Termini. would imnge ind ~y for iIII)' re~irs made neCfWlry by subKQuent tmTlilf:~. When tmTlittl ~n' iIIter diKO\"tr.d, T~rmini . provid~d ••Iermination IrutmenlS and performed v~ri· ow n'pairs. The I"oon1towntrs liter filed a civil lICtion ~inst Termini):, ~r, cliim'nJllhiot Termini. brtaclled the ler· mit. prottdion ~tnd by flit"" 10 pr0.WSe itl netlWll)' n'plin. Relying on in irbilration provision in tilt contrut. Termin;" filed a motion to stay the litigation 10 allow arbitration to procwJ. The trial court denied the motion,
iIld the ~ Supmne Court ~rmtd. An irbitration '"lITHlTItnl is enforcublt in ~ the toUrt noud. oo/JI if it blis ...,thln Iht ~ of the ~'AA. Applying ils "ront~mplalion 01 substanlial inler· state activitY" lest. lho court held the FAA inapplicable b«.aust tho horntowntrs did not conttmpllt~ substantial intt.. ta.t. IctM\Y when they enlered lilt conlrxt. They dealt "'ith Termini): in its o..phne. Alabama otl'ke. and they purclwtd se.· vicu for and prottction of their horne in I'airhope, Alabama. lht United Stat<:s Suprtme Court, howMr. hold lhat the FAA did apply to tilt ttrmilt prottctioo contrxt and rtqUirtd tnforcement of its arb,ttition pl'Ollision. The Court n'jtctl.'d tho "contempl.otion 01 subsUntw inltrstitt Ictn;ty" tcst UMd b)' tM Alaball\l Supreme Court. The rtl· tVant inqully, tho Court Ioaid, is whether the ,ont .. ct in facl invol'"td inters"'l. commerce-not whelhtr the plrties con· templated such commeru. Mo« impor· wtly, tho Court h(ld thlot the phrlSt "iTn'OlvinJI COITlIl"ll:TC<'" used in the I'AA is tht "funclional equivaltnt" oItho phrase "affecting COITImtTC<': a phrlst that "signal5 a congressional inttnt to exercise its Commerce C1aust pcM"'trs to lhe full: Id. il839. The Court thus con;ludtd \h;ot the Act rut:hes to the limits of commeta ~ •. Under Ihis sWldir<i. tilt Itnni\( protrdion contract clt.u1y inv0lVed intentate tomll"ll:rte. "In addition to tht multistate nature of Ttrmini • ..• : tht Court not.d, "Ihe termitt_ trtaling and houn· repairinQ material used b)' ITermini):1 in its (allegedly inadequatt) tfforts to al1'}l out thl: Itrms at the Plan. Qmf from outsidr Abmma."14 "'843.
eore--·s
Appllc.bllity of the FAA .fter Allled·8ruce Term'n'. Under Allied·Bruc:tJ Ttrminix. then.
thl: FAA ipp/ies to IlIlrb,tr.ation iJIftt· mtnli within Congnu ·s commerct power. Triditionil wisdom lnd the lYWly Suprtme Court <.\«ilions construing the commerct pcM"tr indi,ate that it is al,",-""t limit less. It exlends 10 any OlCt ivity Or tnns;oction that "lfftclS inte<SUte com· meru'- /lockl t_ \'irgmia Surf/JCfl Mill· ing ~ ihdamolionAuocil.llion. 452 U.s. 264. 2i6·n (I%1j. ApplyinJI this stan· di«!. tho Suprerm Court Iw hold tNt even "intrasLa!. ac!ivitiu of a vel)' small seale leanl be ftderally regUlated if they miaht aff«t commerce whon combined with limibr 5rnll1I·scale lCtivities.· John E. NOWlk. et al., Constitutional UJtD 153·54 (3d ed. 19861. In Itldord a. HI· bum, 317 U.S. III (1942). for WImple. the Court held that tongrus could use ill commer« pcM~r to rtgul~te a fa"",,.-. production of grain on hll own firm for his own consumption. The ruth 01 Con· grH.I., COrruTltr« ~r Ind thus 0I1ht FAA. thtrdcJ«. is imlTlflUt. The only cast in mort thlon SO ~n lo.uunt lny limit to the COmmerCe ~r is the recent cast at United Siaies
u.IJJI)U, 1995 WI. 238424 (April 16. 1995). That decision struck down I ff'knl statute
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39~-~OS
JULY 1995/ 239
banning the po... ,.ion of firearms in sdlOO l WIles speciflcal~ on the ground that it was beyond Congr...·• commerce pOWer. The decision may he limited to the pe<:uliar facu of the case, or it may mark a renew.d inilialive by Ihe Court 10 narrow Congress's COmmerCe .,...,.."..,r. In any evenl, it suggests that while the scope of the fM's applicability may be immense. it is not limitl.... Despite Lopez , the ~AA has almost uni· vmal applicability, si~ tilt Court's atlltr cases interpret the commerce l'O""r $0 ex~jve~ and since the FAA now appli .. to the lim it! of that .,...,.."..,r.' Ail COmmer· cial arbitr.t ion agreements (and nearly all arbitration agreements of any kind) affect inter.tate commerce, are within the f~ral commerce PIl""r, and are thus governed by the fAA. The result '!',"'~ "irtually all arbitration enforce.ble .. a matter and all I courts- are obligated pursuant to tl>< FAA.
citrant party to procud with arbitration as ag!ttd In 0I'der to obtain SlXh an order. a p.arty must show: (I) that a valid and tnforceabl. written agreement to arbitrate exists: (2) thata diS!'\lte ..ist! betwten the p.arties; (3) that the dispute is referable to arb itration under the arbitration agree· ment; (4) that a demand for arbitration was made: (5) that the other party failed or refu .. d to arbitrate: and (6) that the dispute arises from a maritime tranAC ' tion or a contract inwlving interstate c:ommen:e. Section 4 dearly contemplat..
The.. federal rules of .. bitration contraet law. based on either the language 01 the fAA or the policie. implicit in il. reflect a strong poliry favoring arbitra· tion. As summarized below, the Court's decisioN actually maIre arbitration agm:. ment! more enforceable than other t)'!lf' 01 contracts. Indeed. an arbitration proviSion is mOre enforceable than the sub· stantive provision. of the contract that contains it. I, In un Relating to the \'alidity of the Contract In deciding "'hetlltr to enforce an arbi.
''';';;:O;":;;';'"'';';,m,~enl. a court must fiTit '<'
parties actually entered contract to arbitrate and that no t the contract. The "
Enforcing menls under the A
~~;~~~~;enforcement of an
the party ~king to enforce the arbi· tration agreement must show (I) that a ~alid and enforceable written agreement to arbitrate exist!: (2) that tilt contrQ\.. rsy inwlved in the lawsuit is rderable to arbit ration under that agreement: (3) that the controversy arise. from a mar· itime transaction or a contract inwlving interstate commerce: and (4) that the party seeking the stay is not in default in proceeding with such arbitration. ~ 9 U.S.C. § 3 (1976). Section 4 prO\lides procedures for obtaining a court order to compel a recal· stay,
240 IJULY 1995
fed ..al rules to govern these contract issue. iI5 they arbitration agreements. Th... rules preempt state law whenevFAA applies. Indeed. the Alabama Supreme Court has stated: "In case. gov. erned bjI the FAA. the federal substantive law of arbitration gOV!ms. despite con· trary state law . ...further. the PM'iSOonS of the fAA govern all questions of the validity, interpretation. construction. and enforceability of the arbitration agree· ment". ~ Maxus, 1m;, v, SciIlCCO, 598 So.2d 1376, 1379 (Ala. 1992),
tration provision i trim: 01 sewrability treats the arbitration pTO\';sion as if it were s<p.arate from the contract. A contract that cOncerns the contract as a therefore, will not prevent arbi· rather. tilt court will require lhat to be addreSStd to the arbitrator. If, for example. a party contends that a contract containing an arbitration provision was fraudulently induced. the court will nonethele .. order arbitration unl ... the p.. ty shows that the fraud related specifically to the arbitration provision. S« Primo Point DJrp. v. Flood & DJn/rIin Mfg. Co., 388 U.s. 395 (1967). A claim
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01 fraud that UlatlS dll'fCtly to tM arbi· tration provision will bt deddw by tilt court. but i claim 01 frloud Lhit rtlalts to tho conll1lCt "i wIloIe mUll bo: Mld~ to tho artIitralor. The rtrKl is th.at ;on m,o. tratioo prewision is IT'OOU mfon:&bk than otlltr pa.rU of tho contra.ct btcause it .. immune to contl1lCt dd'tnSeS directed at tilt contra.ct ilS i whole .... hich may reno der void tM rtlTllindtr of tilt rontnct.
2. Iliutl Rell ting to the Interprtta· lion of thl ArbltnUon Agrftllltnt E'o'tIl after i rourt dettrmil'ltS that th.", uisu a valid lrl)itration contoo I/OI-emed by tilt FAA. the court mu.U ~tltt ;nterput th.at cont rllct . Since the obligation to arbitme is conll1lCtuaJ. courU an rtqui ... II pa.rty to arb,trat. only thott disputu he or she ~ to lUbmit to arbitntion. The court thus mUlt determine """'thor the dispute in quHtion "WY«ed by tilt pa.rtiu· arbitntion I.IIrftmmt. In other word!. the court must determine whrthtr the di~JlUtt is "IIrbitrable ." As it dou .... ith ;Nun relating to the existence of II contrlCt. the fedenl com· mon law of arbitration tilt. in favor of arbitration the standards QoYeming the con.t rUdion of ubitration provi.ion •. Like any otlltr contract interpretation. this inquiry rtquim the court to deter· to the pa.rtie. intent. mine ond gn... The Supreme Court hilS 'Kogniud l presumption of ubitl'ibility. ~r. that nqUlru courU to order IIrbitration if;ony rUSOfIiIble interpretation of the ilrbitriltion lIIreelllent would COWr the dispute in iuue. Su Nosts If. Cone Nemorialllo&pilall!. Mereu'll Comlruc· tion Co .• 460 U.S. I. 24·25 (l9B3). [ndud. till' Court h.as itated:
thoy lrt more enforcwle. Arbitration prll'lisions th.at ire denied enforctment under the FAA. there/OTt. will bt rlIR.
...... look .t .rblt,.tion Now Ih.ai oontra.ctu.llllrbitration proyi. slons will k routinely enforced in AlaN· ~
AlibmIII 1""')'tTS must W<e II clostr
look it the lIIh<rIntlllts and disadvrntages of arbitntion in order 10 wise di~nts about lhe advi$/lbility of entering arbi· tration agree menu. Arbitration differs from litigation In a numbtr 01 respettl. ....'hile these diffeunce. may offer ITIIny oWvllnllgu emr litiption. the de.irabil· ity ollrbitration;ond an arbitrlliion provision mUSI be Mlua~d independently in light 01 uch dient's 1Ifflb. First, ubitratlon is usually (bul not ilwlysJ Ia$t" ond less apensM than II judKiIIlNi. Artlltntion ordiOiorily mtaib Ie" prtlOil mllnelMrint. md the lIrbi· trlltion hu.rina ulUllly taku pbct long btfo« the CilSC: could i/fl to tNI. Si~ the matter proceeds to hearing mOre qukklY.lIrbitrlltion tin prtcipitatel sel· tlemenl more quickly. Th. arbitration lItaring ilstlr llso is ~oerally shorttr than a trial. This rtllli .... speed 01 arbitrlltion il. Olf course. Qenlrally advln tageous. because il usually mikes the proceu
ku costly th.an litigation lind it ends t .... dispute mon quickly so that the polrti.. ClIn focUl on more producti .... endeavors. This JilHd an of COIlrK bt detri· menlil if II dient h.as some intertst in deliyinll ruoIution of the dispult.. St<:ond, pa.rtin in lIrbitntion hove $libstllntially IIIor. Ruibility and cont rol owr the pn)a$$. They Ulually can deter· mine t .... lime md IoClItion of the lItar· ing. More imllOrtantly. the partin un by lIirtemenl select or dtvise ITbitrlltion procwurel th.at bt51. suil their particular circurrutllnCfJ. They may adopt proce· dures dtvi$ld lind published by organi. zations like the Am .. iun "rbi trat ion Associlllion. or they may Wlor procedures to Ilt II pa.rticular dispute or contn.c:t. Thin!. arbitntion procedure. uswJly lIU 1m IanNI and ttthniallh.an court proctdUI'U. Thry typH:i11y proyicle little or no pm";"l discovery. lind thry gmer. lilly dOl not requirt wherence to legal ruIn 01 fVide~. Thtse ch.al7rCleristics contribute to the relath-e speed lind low Cl)lt of ",bitrlltion. and they generally crtate leu hostility among the parties and counul than in litigation. Conse· quently. arbitration il IIIore likely to permit the continuation of profitable relitionship$. These ume chulICteris·
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"An order to arbitr.t .... shou ld nol bt denied unless it lTIIy be ~id with pOsitive IISJunnCe that the IIrbitrlltion clause il not suscepti· ble 01 In interpretation that cowrs the ulerted dispute. Doubts should bt rnolvW in 1/lII0I' of eoy.. erllQt. "
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A bill to IICcornpliJh that end has b«n proposed by Rodney A. Max and is cu.· rently Plndin; in the Alabama legilla. ture. The pro pond bill would repeal seclion 8·1-41{31. which prohibits 'Pl' cific enforcement of ITbitration agl'«' m'mis. It aoo would modify section 6-6-], ""hkh pr~owly purportt<l to eneo...· ~. ubilralion bUI ~ no real effecl. Under lilt 1"'flIlOSi1. fo!'(lion 6-S-1 would rtad u follows: The public policy of Ihis sl"le encourata lilt raolulion and .. t· IltTntnt of pHldi"ll and futu~ con· troversin th.ou,h ntiOlialion. mediation, arbitration. and other illternative diJpute resolution rntdla· ni.ms. A,' eements providing for arbitration or other alternative dis·
242 IJULV 1995
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t"' co HIMI. THE AU.fW.IA LAWYER
THE THIRD CITIZENS' CONFERENCE ON
by Associate J/J$tice Hugh Maddox
"Reform of the justice system is too important to be left to lawyers and judges .• his statement .... as made by Chid Justi« William Rehnquist of tile Uni teJ Stales Supreme Courl to a Just SOlutions Confnenee org.J.niud by tho Amtria.n Bar Associa· lion and held May 1-3. 1994. in Ltts· burg, Virginia. uunded by 380 conff'eO$. a majo rity of whom weu rlOnla..~rs - eduCltors. civie luMri. citizen activists. media repre~ntativu. busiMu pwple. labor re presentali~s, elected and appointed official$, coo lUmn KtMs15. and others. In a report rtsulting from that oonfn· ence. entitled JuSI Solulions. Seeking
T
im!fll}(llioll uJllj ChuII911 ill lhe..tmericcm JUSlia $JIsl"",. lho tonfneu r>OI:ed: "TlM: Amtria.n justice syottm is II I crossroad •• facing cn.llengu unpJ"fCtdented in the nation's histo1)'. challenges un(oruem as recentty ;IS i III'neralioo al/O, challenges for .... hich Ihe syslem is neither de signed nor is I>IIW tquopprd to han· die. While tilt S)'ttm is armng lhe world 's finul- inMed. it remaiN one of the nation's hottesl ex· po.!J.--<:hange is clea. ly called fo•. "
"In the justice S)'tem. cIwl# is mosl lilttty when II occurs '-flere the rubbtr m«\S Ihe ~'_t the state and local 10Ml1. whe11' it twcha .eal ptOple twT)l d.l.y. If chang. is to be lM\ing il cannot be impostd from Wdlingkln. 01" t\Im from the benchts 01 sta\t 9.lP'"tmt 00UJtlI and st.au· hou~ chambtrs. It must originale in cilies and t""'"!\S. and It must reflect the concerns of ev.ryday people. Whil. Ih. agenda should be informed ~d Id\-aoced by justice S)'it em . insiders'- fIlIliofllll. stale. and local bar u.sociations proml· nent anKKlg til<m-il Is tile pub lic. abo-.>t all. that the system must not
TIlE AL\M..>.\A IJ\WYER
fail. ;one! It is the public interw. that must be this mission's compu&.., Alabama, of COO"". IUlm~ Ih~ value of citiz~n im"Ol,-ement in changinQ tho justice systtm llmost 30 )"ears ago when the AL"Ibama Stalt Blr.lII'Kkr the leadership of its pmidtnt, ~II Htfl;n. took an ac:I~ role in CIlfI'.'fflina: the First Citi>:ens' Conftrtnc:t on Abb.una State Coort. 10 ad~ress problems faced by the judi· ciaT)I at that lime. While he was pruident of the Bar, Htflin had ~nled a ""Committtt on tho nasibility of J Ci!iun·$ Confe11'nce" Ind two ot/K. committen that weu mletd 10 study tho problem of the conll\'Slion 01 CAS('J in Iil< circuil and appollate eourts..' The Fnsibility committtt 11'COI1l" .. nded that the AbIitlrrIi State Bar. ",ith the help 01 the ArntTia.n Judi. calure SO<;iety. SPOnw. I · Citizen·s Confuence on Alabama Stille COOrt. .... The First Citizen's Conferen« was held in MontgomeT)l 00 DKembtr 8. 9. and 10. 1966. The conft-rtts -..-ere from t\'tT)l poort of the iIiott and -..-ere diYtrw in lhtI. pro(eS(lioru and Iradu: and II tho conclusion of their meeting. I~ adopted. ConseNUS slatement recommen~ing the abolishment of justicn d the pact. the creation d l unifot<! judicial systtm. and the ~ishnwnt of l judicial ..Jminis· trat~ o/fice 01 courts II the state lew!.' Som. rtcommendalionJ of the First CiliUM' Conference weu adoptttl by the Ltgisl.lu11' in 1969 and 1971 .' but the major ovtrllaul of the judicial Syslem would corm latn when tl~1I Hemn was elected Chid Justitt d the Supreme Court 01 Alabarm. and .. Sttond Citiuns' Conference ..-:u coovent<! lhat made its hfllli .c<ommendatiollS In 1973. Tho~ 11'COf1'IfTotndaiioru ullimately mulled in the C11'l\lon d the Unifotd Judicial Systnn lI1d !hi: adoption of the Judicial Article Implementlliion Act. and Alabama's judkiaf}' became a model for Ih~ relt of the counlf}'.'
After aeatinQ the Unlrotd Judicill System. Ihe Ltgislatuu did mo11'.lt provid· e~ lor continuing planning by conlin uing the Alabama Judicill Confe.ence thai hid tulle. bt<:n authoriztd. and by creltinQ the A\abirrv; Judicial Study Conunitttt.' Neilher the Judicial Conferen« nor lhe Judicial Siudy Comm~ttt ....as Slructurtd, as the first two ciliuf\I' ronferences had been. to provide for the typt of citizen irwotv-emenl. M •• havina: hurd 01 the ustfulnw of comprrmnsi~ planning ..1 the Cooler· .net of Chief Just ice', Chief JUl liet Sonny Hornsby. in the fall of 1992. reo quesled the Administrative Office of Court> 10 initilte a ItatMde planning progn.m. dtsigntd 10 ~Iow the judiciary 10 eumine itself mel 10 dtfiM·its priori· ties. Fifty repreKntali>.-es of lhe llii1 JOO apptllate court>. all ,onnect.d with tile Unlrotd Judi.<ial System. ~Md as i stff' Ina: commitlU and met in Binningharn. Former Co:wm1or Albert P. Brew« ..nd Dr. hmes W. Wi!liims. Jr~ prmdml mel e~«um-e dir«lor. resl'edh-ely, of Ihe PublicAffairs Re~u,h cooncii of AlabI · mao served as facilitators. and til< groop icltntirltd 5I"o-eralJrus in ...-tUch improYt_ mtnI could be miIlt.' The ~fic ob;ta~ d this "in-houK" planning grto.lp was to rtCI.lflfinn or redefine the mission. Soals... nd objectiws of the Unifitd Judicia l System. to Identify .. It.rfllll"," for improving the efficiency "nd e"ect~ ..... 01 <;ourt procnsa and servicts. to dewlop .. comp.eh.nsivt: ~rogn.m for implementing the chang« m:ommended, ..nd 10 utablish an on· goin~ proc.ss to monitor and t\'ll~tt any change. that were made. AI In initi ..1 mttllng 0( the Judicial l'I:anning Commilltt in N",-embtr 1992, formt. Cowmor Albert P. 8 .....-e. asked each member of the committee 10 rede. fine the missioo. goals, and objtcli~' of the Judicial System mel 10 idmtify issues. JULY 1995 / 243
a..... procedures, or proc....s that might nud to ~ refined or changed, so that a comprem,ru;ive plan could be de~loped to improve the efficiency and effectiveneSS of the Unified Judicial Syotem, £ach committu member """ specifically asKed to "dream" and to define his or IItr ind ividual vision of how the Unifted Judie;;,1 Syotem could better it""" the publ ic, A joint m"ding of the committee and the various ~ubcommitlees appointed to addre .. speCific problem areas """ held in Tuscaloosa in September 1993, At this combined meeting, the membersdef,ned various "visions" of an ideal system for the courlS of the future, and th~ adopted tm: following mi .. ion statement for the Unified Judici.1 System: "'The mission of 1m: Alabama jUnifoed ] Judicial Syotem is to provide equal justi"" un<l •• law in all cases. cont""",rsies, and matters .... ithin its pOWers and jurisdiction and to be accountable for the provision of judic;;,1 J.eMces in a just. speedy. and dfLcient manner so that the integ.ill' of the system and the pub li c's .upect for it will continue to be maintained."
244 1JUI_V 1995
One of the fint findings of the committee ..... that the Un ified Judic;;,1 System was, for the most part, operating re.asoo ably efficiently, The second major finding was that. while a formal "planning document" may never have been published, the offICials of the Unified Judicial System had b«n planning and were .till planning; h<,:M."""r, the citizen input that had been evident in the dti~.ns' ronfuences was missing, and a r('Commendation was made that the f.... ib ility of reconvening a citizens' conference be e.plored,' At ill' annual m.eting on Do>cember 1993, the Judicial Planning Committe. endorsed the ronetpt of the citizens' ronffrmce and formally adopted a rocommendation directing tht Administrative Office of Courts to review the feuibi!iry of fund_ ing a new citizens' conference an<lto repOrt its findings at the Committee's 1994 meeting. Interest in reconvening the conference heightened substantial ly after the November 1994 elections, in the hope the conference could look at J.everal issues, especially concerning judicial stl«:tion and retenlion and fif\llncing for judicial campaigns, The Committee selected several of ill members 10 J.ervt on a steering C<)mmittee to explore the feasib il ity of reconvening a citizens' conference, and securing the ne<usal)' funding ," Former Governor Albert P. B,..".,,,,. agreed to chair the steering committee, and the Committe. m.. on December I. 1994. at Samford University, That steering com mittee of the Judic;;,1 Stud» Commission fprmally issued a •.solution recommending that the Alalxoma Judicial Conference and the Alabama State Bar, which had called the First Citizens' Conference. be tm, approp.iate group to jointly conside. a calling for the citizens' conference. On Dec. mber 9, 1994, the Alabama State Bar, noting the "widespread public conctm, which is shared by the Alaba ma State Bar, about judicial elections in Alabama: and that the Bar's Task Force on Judicial Selection had previousl,' "spent much time extensively studying issue. involving the elected judiciary: adopted a resolution in .... hich it called for and authorized the formation of a Thi.d Citizens' Conference on the Alab/I. ma State Courts, "to ~ modeled gene.ally on the 1966 and 1973 Conferences, to study the stlection of judges in Alabama, judicial campa ign financing and
other important issues affecting the administration of justice in Alabama." On March 10, 1995. the Alabama Judi cial Conference, after noting that "the Alabama Judicial Planning Committe. , after two years of stud» [of] a number of issues aflecting tm: structure, organization, and administration of the Alabama state courts, [had[ recommended that the Alabama Judicial Conference and the Board of Ba. Commission.-rs of the Alabama State Bar jointly issue a cal l for a Third Citi.ens' Conference pn the Cou.t.: adopted a resolution asking fo.mer Covernor Brewe. and Reti.ed Justice Adams to solicit nominations fo. jliIrticipanls in such a cpnference. The Alabama Judicial Conference also asked that the Citiuns' Conference "to make a repOrI to tilt Judicial Confe.. nct and Board of Bar Commissioners on the issues of judicial selection and campaign financing as soon as pouible, and if feasible, prior to the 1995 sess ion of the Alabama Legislature and make al l pther reports On subJ.equent issues as soon as p.acticable: The Third Citizens' Conference .... as convent<! and held ill fi.st meeting on Ma.ch 23. 1995, in Birmingham at the Carraway Convention Center, whue the conftrets hea.d rema.k. frpm 6.00~ Hplmes, President of the Alabama State Bar, and Chief Justice Sonny Hornsby, chairman of the Judicial Conference, They al,o ," ceived an ove",iew of the Alabama ludicial System from Abner R, Pa....·ell III 01 Andalusia, AttorneYI Joe Whatley and David Boyd briefed the ronference on the status of tm: two Voting Rights suits pending in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals inwlving the ,t. ucture of Alabama appellato and circuits courts. which could have an impact on what the conference was considering. Ms, Frances Zetmns, vice president and executive director of the American Judicature 5ociell' of Chicago, SpOke on the twic, "Judicial Selection in th~ United Stat..: and Dr. Pat.ick M, McFad den, I.o;'ola University School of Law, Chicago. talked about "Campaign Financing for Judicial Elections'The conferees were assigned to discussion grpups, where they discusi<'d the.., Questions: What 00 you like about Alabama's current process for sel<cting judges, both trial and appellate? What dp you believe could be improved about THE Au\BAMA U\wn:R
"labllmll" currfnt judicilll Hlect;on proxeu? How could tilt sugguled impr(Mment be Idd~sst d b)' continuing witll putiun tltc tion s. or by clllln,ing to nonpartisan, titlltr II mfTit/nominliting commission, or mtrit Covemoo' nomin;oting. without /I commission? Tht confentS thtn reauemblwand the VlIrious discussion groops gave their r'POru. The conftrence mrt II HtOn<l time in Montgomery on MiOY.t, 1995. Rtl irrd Judge Riclurd IlOlmti told the group about tht operillions of tile Judicial Inquil'» Commission rebtin, to the dis_ cipline of judgu, and Robert EU;ott. ESQ .. of IAxingt"n. Kentucky, discussed the operation of lilt non~rtisan ,I,ction proceu in Kmtucky. John FUl Amoid. f-'Cj. of SI. I.ou~ dilCWKd the "Missouri Plan: I merit stlmion plan for $lIt<:'!· Ing and retaining juclgu Although tilt conf.rence was initiaJly rmblished to consider judicW tWction ml ~ttntion ml financ;ing lor judiciJ,1 ~~ tilt Third Citiztns' Cooftm'a could be II Jon,g lived group, and judicilll stlection and rrlenlion and caml'l'iQn fin;oncing ~rr only tilt priority items tN.1 ,,",ded aUrnlion beaust the Ltg· isblu~ was in SHSion. The inilial st«rinl (OrTII1liU.. desig· n;oled by Ihr Juditial Planning Commit· Itt to consider the feasibility of corwrning a ciliUN' conference wnsidered the ABA MoIitI r..r Q:mn\i$siQn CrWioo lIOd ~Itm bmh~ ml specifiClll1y considtml the following. which ~~ adapted from Jusl So/utitm •• Sot:ot:Hng !nnovalion ond Change in Ihtt American JU$ticot: S~slem, ABA, 1994. 1'\'1. 65·71:
• Increuing publit IIwartnen of lind gaining public support for justice fYS" um impr(Mrnents: • Enlisti~ public and government support for floir ml adeqUite fundinQ for the SLate's justice ~em: • Identifying ml disstmin;oting models of suc~uslul initillivu (rom otller jurisdictions: • Con~ucting po riodic assessments 01 ~ .....widt mllocai justice problems iWId public OJIinion lIbout jllStj~: • Enhllncinl roopoTlltion among the th~t branches of go.ernment by ere· ating a standing forum It which to work coUtgially toward eff«ti~ solu· tions; and • Acapting such othtr tasks 10 impnM: the qu.ality of SLatt and Ioal justice as OM or more of the thrtt branc:l~> of government may m ign .
'or eourt .., _ eomml•• lon.:
• Crtllti~ task forctl Uncluding non· commission member experts whor' awropriMt) to iludy and rn;okt ftCI'lrnmenda.tions on spocific issues, being cardul not to O\IeruSf tht task force model becaust of the risk of commission frllJlmentation. lick of continuo ity, and lo:u of diversity of 'Jir;.'PQint;
Sull~.ted
.... ncI.t ••
• Crr.lIting;mel tllm supporting projtm, programs, and initiati ..... > to imprO\le lhe jllStice s)'$tem in the jurisdiction:
Comml. .lon LI'•• p.n: The work of Ihr commi$$.ion lhould ~i", II ~fic:ant oontribulion 01 time. It is r«Onlmrnded thit Iht commission be tong·lil'td,
Comml .. lon .upport .nd oppo.ltlon: It is tutnti.ll tN.t ill thl'« brancl>es of SllItt IiO"rrnment support both the procus;mel tho r.. ulL Opposition to the effort should be identified III ~arly as possible ind conVl'rted 10 support. Comml. .lon b ...., • Gllthoring qUilitati ..... ml qllllltiWi ..... data reboting to demognphic, WlnOOI· ie. and M)ciolOQicaltrends lhllt affect the qUility of justi« in lhe stat,:
• Conducting public opinion ml justice· coruumer rtstarch on a !"fQular ha5is through, e.g .. professionlll ttlephone polling: wrilltn quuhonrUliru; and jul'» poOl ml jul'» JW1t1 uit polls; • CoIWctIng. mri....ing. ml disstmina!' ing rtsfllrch rnults ml model initia· li""'l from other sources. for example: other SLate commissions; the State JusTHE ALABA."IA LAWYER
tier Institute; 1M National Ctnler lor SllItt Courts: the Confertn« of Chid JlISti~s: and private think IlInks (e.g .. the RAND CorpOration) and uni ..... ]'Si. Iy·bascd rHeareh lind pooict-orient·
w projects:
• Cornoening periodic: pubI~ symp:l§iums and conferenees 10 bring tOQtther justice syslem stakeholders to discuss specif,c isJIun, """Iw tt ..rae· lion to new initiatives lind IKilitatt communiclltion lind fetdb.Kk on tht justice fYStcm IIt'nenlly.
Commission tim. lines: To tNur. timdy completion of the Inl· ti.ltivts, timr·specific dates for comple· tion lhould be built inlO Ihr lIuthorUil\fl SLatult. rrgubtion. or judicial order. Comml ..lon fvndlng: If 1111 thm: brMIChts 01 govemmrnl will support the commission worl<. the Wits W1 be sgread. If nong.:,... mmtntal funds, including 'n·kind (ontri butions, are solicited. care mllSl be tahn to ~d IIIl)' apprarance of connid. To the utent ponible, SUIlPDrtshould be b<olanced bet"",en roml"'t ing intereslS. 1 . _ . recomm.nd.d by t ... ..tudlchll ""'nnlng CommIH_ In 0..:......... '"3 to"
to. cltb.en.' ene. on the court.:
..f.rred
eon'.~
• EStlblishmtnt 01 a wmprehensive /amity court ml mtNCIuring of lhe Unirord Judicial System into ,_.ti" c:ourt system: • PiNllity of judgmenll b)' tht courts of limited jurisdiction ;mel appeals for tria l de t>()'\rO in the eiT(Uit courts: • Proctdum lor the $lWction of judges;
...
• U$l of .il·~rson juries. As is apparent from this tisting, lhe issues ". many and the life ~n of tho Third Citizens' Conference could be ~rpttUiI. iIId the Third CiliUM' Con· ference could be the group tN.t would giw credibilily 10 l sutemenl in l rrPOrt of tht ABA sponsored Just Solu· tloru Conference: "If thot justice aysttm is to work, if it is to hi"! "edibility, il musl hi", tht ptlblic's trust lind (onfi· doner. Por the public to Iuo\>t confi. dence in lhe systtm, not onl~ muSI it have l voice in reform, but it JULY 1995/ 245
2
mUSI be a YOi« llul is lislened 10. Chief Justi« Rehnquist. spuking II the ~rma's aroclusion. m:al1td Ctemencuu', famous c,ulioony words - 'Wu is too ilT\jlDlUl1l 10 be left 10 the 8tnenis.' Simila;rly. said the Chid Juslice. JO II ·.dorm of IIW: just'u J)'St.m. .. 100 irnportinl 10 M ltft 10 laW)'tu and judgts: Cruling just solutions cannot be a cooxie · ,uUu, top· down procus. The initialivt •• the energy. and the JOlul ions must be local in origin and local in application. and above all. lhe)- mUll begin with tlW: publk." It II ~",nt thiolthe ~t Ii ~ by autina the Alalt.vnI Judicial Planning Commil\« and COIMrling the Third Cili. ,"ns' Confuenc:t. !wi Ht in motion I pnXeS5 thai an KCOiuplish ...w the t'M) prior cililens' con~rmcts hI'vt accom· plishtd: I betttr judic:W ~t.m. •
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246 1JULY IW5
TIlE ALABA'iA LAWYER
YOUNG LAWYERS' SECTION By HERBERT HAROLD \VEST, JR.
Ii il
he f~ones ~tlu ~wYoung ~fn wrylUI bUS)' for lilt
u..,'yus· Section. The section Mid its ;annual SWliNr it thr bucl'!; put on Its SKOnd annw' minori_ ty pa~ion COOH ••IIU; scnL in c:oop. tl'llioo .. ith tilt YMCA. winneTi of [hoe high Khool mock trial com~tition to Denver, Colorado to p,articipatt in lht National Mock Trial Competition; and
planned and
organi .~d
lawyers lind u k
~uutinn,
about legal
carters. This)'tar iJ!I)roXimalely ItO high school Sludtnts participated in the forum. This )'ti"S IIl1endance 01110 students ...,.. an iocll'ut {'(Im )'tllr', lIlle ... danct 0175. Fmd en)', who ~IW .. !hi: commiutt ....~ mpomible for tilt con· fermct. lie is romrmndtd for hiHfforu. Tho ..clion is al$<) rtlpansiblt for tilt spring admissions ctrunony which took
wi
the aurniuionl
,""moni., for the spring .dmitttU. The iOIIUiI5tlTliN' at tilt beach. which I\tld "t IIw: ~tin &:Kh Ruort in $.Iondutin. Florida onct .gain WId l bi, succtU. Approximately ~ bwytn rtgisttrrd 10 Jtt~ the 5tI1IiN' ;ond weft eligible klr up 1(1 si~ hours of rontinuing legal tducalion credit. The seminar ftll' turtd an oul$l3nding lineup of spnkers, including: Judge Arthur lIanu: I)u n Cha.lel C.... blc: Prolosoo. 8nd Blih. WQ
tum. agairut which it ....... competing. Finally. tht stction has igreed with lht YlS of lilt lIirmingllam llir Association \0 II'O"JOI" II band party II Sku f"ur~t on Thuud.y, July 20 durinQ the -.ate bar C(II'I'Itntion. Tho party will btgin il 6:30 p.m. with the band start;na: 1\ 8 p.m. The proceeds from tilt party will be donated 10 the YWCA program for abwtd and battered women and children. Tickets ire S10 in\! may be purch.Jstd when ",gisterin" for tilt ~onwntion. from tilt lIirminghim YLS or at the iite. This il my WI. "rticle • ~nt of tilt YLS, so I tlke this OppOrtunity 10 tl\.ank you for "llowing me to SO"" i I )'OUr prtsidenl for lho Jmt )'to'. It hu bml ~ hooor ond • priviltgi'. I thank the oIfice. s and the members of the Ex«utive Commilltt for their hard work and • dedication.
op: Ml ,utl J. Cor tn (clerk for th. Eleventh Circuit): Skip Amn: Tom Oultu : David Oowd: and Charlie And.non . The 1000ics On .. ilkI'! thty spoIc. rafl#d from OUl law to evickn« to proudurt tn thor r>rW corpO .. te ~nde. [llch morning session nf Iht semin~r was followtd by the usual entertai nment in tht afternoon and evening at whkh tilt lawyers a\lending the Kminar I\.ad in opportunity 10 meet and t~cl\.angt ideas. On btl\.aJf 01 1M YlS. I extend a special Il\.anb to tilt firms lind COIl\IloI' nin which sponsored those socill ovtnb: PlII ..... a. 1l00b. Marsh. Dullon & 110111 •• P.C.; Jackson, Taylor & M...• Uno. P.C.; Dtuley. I'o;bon, AI~n . •'hln & Crow. P.C.: lIarf. l'o')'IIn. 1'I' twell & N.... ton: Fot h« & Tumtr; and lnl ur. anco S ped"lI. t., r n~. I .1~ Il\.ank Jud . .on I'o't ll., Cordon Am1s trong, Robert IIt dgt. lind Andy 8Ir~hr.tld fo. tllti . Iw-rd work in pulli"ll on thor $Iminar. On Miy s . 1995. thor stCIion put 00 the Second AnnUliI Minority P"rtici~tion Con{tll'f1«. The conlell'''''' ...~ held al Alabama Stitt Uniwrsity md providtd minoflly high school studtnts in oppor. tunity to meet with minority judgu and
THE ALABA.'IA lAWYER
H AL WIEST
place on May 23. 1995. Over 100 new lawyers wert idmilltd to tilt state bar at tilt «rfmon)'. The srction liso planntd lind mgmiztd .. luno:hI:on aft •• tho « ••mon)' in hooor at the admillttS lind their gutsU. This pro;ect il one 01 the most diffICUlt and limt-wnluminl\ <J.oI1 of the Jtction., pro;rru, lind Tom A1hrillon ond Bryan Horsley art commended for tlltir hard work in pl~nning an\! organizing the cuemony. I can also ,"po.t that. following a sUlewidt compttillon held in Mont1fOrT\tl}', ~ ~1I-JUr tum of hillh school mock tr;"1 cornprIitors rtp.twnttd tho statt it lilt 1'OaI.ioNi Mod: TrW Competition in Ot"nver, Colo.ildo. The IlrouP did wI}' "''1'11 dqpile lilt fil(l that it ...~ /wnrItrtd bccaU5t its membtn wert from o.chools across the nate and were unable 10 practice as 1 tum like most of the
JULY 1995 1247
DISCIPLINARY REPORT Public Repri ..... nd" • On May 12. 1995, the Alabama St.lte Bar adminbt~red a put.. lie reprimand, without general publication. to Montgomel» anor· ney Kd th Au _hom. Ausbom Wa5 list~d as attorney for the petitioner in a matter "'hnein th. petitioner was seeking 10 terminate the parental rights to and secure permanent cu>tooy of a juvenil•. The child's mother had executed a written document stating that she wanled to} give up he. parental rights to Lhe child. The CQUrt inQuired of the mother as to how ,he had come to e. ecute the written document. The mother sialed that .ve" though sh. had an attorney al the time she executed the document. ,he did not discuss lhe document with he. attorney, 00. did she advise her attorney that she had executed the document. When asked ~ the rourl if she had prepared the document herself, the molhe. stated. "I prep.lrW il myselfbul I had sorm le~1 advieo from Mr. Ausborn." The C(}urt then inquired of Ausborn as to how he had rome to bo the att(}rney who prepared the <k>cument for thi> mothi>r when. in fact. Ausborn knew the mother had an attorney. and Ausborn was "'p",,,,nting an adverse party. In ruponse, Ausborn stated, "The only communic<otion I had with her (the moth.. ) was indirl'<:tly through ~lrs. Ne'o'o'berry IAusbom·sdien!l." Ausborn'sronduct was found to have violated Rule 4.2. which rule prohibits an att(}rney from communic<oting about the sub· ject of the representation with a party the attorney knows to be represented by another attorney. The Disciplinary Commi..,ion also found that Ausbom's conduct in.....,lwd dishonesty, fraud. deceit or mi ..epTe$fntation. a violation of Rule 8.4 (c). was con· duct prejudicial to the administration of justice, a violation of Rule M(d). and thereby violated the Rules of Prof..sional Con· duct by ~ngaging in conduct which adversely renected on Aus· born's fitness to practice law, violations of Rules 8.4la) and Ig). IASB No. 9.\ . 1701
• On March 12. 1995. TUSColloosa attorney John Alan 8 ;"..,no administered a public reprimand. with general publication. by tM Alabama Stat. Bar. Bivens had boen hired by a woman from Missi!.lippi t(} repre· sent the woman's son in an appeal of a criminal conviction. Biven. made the mother and son understand that his fee would cowr the appeal for the son. on both the state and federal level. A leiter from Bi"..,ns to the mother supported the mother and son's interpretation of their employment contract with Bivens_ Bivens initially informed his cliento; that the appeal would I>e ready to m. in January (}f 1988. However, this was not done. TItere Wl're numerous requests from the clients for information oonceming the status of the ~ beginning in AIlril of 1988, and continuing up and until the clients filed a grievance against Bivens in Otceml>er of 1993.
1'1/1$
248 1 JULY 1995
Petitions filed by Bivens on behalf of the son ....1'.. ruled upOn by the Mi!.lissippi Supremo Court in April of 1990. However . Biveru; failed to inform his clients about the denial of these motions until the mother came to 8ivens' Tuscaloosa omce for information in February of 1991. At that time, Bi,'e1lS aao offertd to file a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the federal court. H"",,·ever. he failed to pursue this. The Disciplinary Commission determined that Bivens' actions violated Rule 1.3. in that he willfully neglected a legal matter entrusted to him. Rule 1.4Ia). in that he failed to keep his client reasonably informed about the status of the matter. Rule 1.5(a). in that he charged or collected a clearly excossi". fe., and Rule 8.4 (dl. in that he engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice••ll of which adl...,rsely reflect on his fitness to practice law. a violation of Rule 8.4Ig). IASB No. 93·4661 • On May 12, 1995, Leed5. Alabama attorney !IOancy L FnnkIin w<lS publicly reprimanded for willfully neglecting a legal mat· ter entrusted to her and failing to communicate with a client. A client made arrangements with Funklin to handle a Social S«urity disability bonefits case. After the initial consultation. the client heard nothing for eight months. Numerous calb and phone rntSSaj/;es wer. ignored, \\lhen the Birmingham Bar i\l.s(l. ciation investigated the elient's complaint. Franklin did not reSpOnd to the allegations. The Disciplinary Commission had determined that a public reprimand .... ithout general publication 1'1/1$ appropriate in this case. and Franklin accepted that decision.IASB No. 94·1731
Su.pen.lon. • Scottsboro attorney Richard 1'1. Payne 1'1/1$ .Iuspended from the practice of law by Order of the Supreme Court of Alabama ror a period of three years, ... id suspension effecti,'e February 21, 1995. The order of the Supreme Court affirms the action of the Disciplinary Board of the Alabama State Bar which suspend· ed Payne On the basis of evidence that he had misappropriated and converted t(} his own use funds ~Ionging to his cl ient. [ASB No. 93-091] • Gad:;den atlOrnt}' Milford Leon Carmon has l>etn suspend· ed from the practice of law in the State of Alabama for a period of 225 days. said sUlperu;ion to be effective AIl,;1 22. 1995. The Supreme Court of Alabama ordered that Garmon I>e suspended f(}r having committed mu ltiple violatioru of the Code of Profes.ionaJ R.. ponsibility of the Alabama State Bar. [ASB N",. 89· 991A), 89·173, 89-341 Ii 90·775] • On May 18. 1995. the Disciplinary Commission of the Alaba· State Bar ordered that Gadsden attorney Jnnph Cullatt. Ilunter. III bo interimly .Iuspended fr<lffi the practice of law in the State of Alabama pursuant to Rule 20 of the Ru l•• of Disci · • plinary Procedure. [Rule 20(3): Pet.. 95·021
ma
THEAl.AJWoIA l.'.WVliR
RECENT DECISIONS By DAVID B BYRNE, JR. (J1Jd WILBUR C. SILBERMtW SUPREME COURT
OF ALABAMA T~ltpbono ~r
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and $800 in cuh an of drug po ....
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Rowlil'. Sial" 29 ABR 359 (hnuary l!/!lS). Is evidence of $800 cash and I telephone p~ger .dmiuible to prove pOliusion of coaine! In in opinion IUthoml by 1M dlit/' jU$tiu, tilt AI._ ml Supreme Cou rt InsWi:rtd in tht affirmative. Rowell was arusted for Hlega] POUUJiQn 01 cocaine follow ing I police ~u.::h of an automobile co-owMd b)' Rowell lind /I frimd, who hid «<tntly diN lInd l,Q.lIinst ",Ilom COCIirlt ch.l.,-gts hid llten ~nding .t the lilM 01 his death . The search. Which was ~rformed pursuant to. 5l'arch warrant. diS(:iOSl'd. mIIteh box cootaininQ crack cocaillt under the U.ptl oIlh. floor on the dri,'t'" side
MId S800 in ash hidden in I boot Ioat· I'd in I trunk 01 1M .ut<)lTlObilt. Mille time of Rowell's arrnt, h. was found wearing a telephone pager (beeper). At trial. Rowell". la>.'YI" rnadt • motion in
limine to exclude the evidence rtgiN ' ~nd tt.. ash that h.ad ktn found in Iht •• ~rth of Rowtll's car. Ultimately, the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that Ihe Iriil rourt 1wl.rm1 in allowing!hr evilkn<:t 10 be idmilltd hold,ng Ihit although Iht e.,idenc. would be ma.terial 10 I ch.arg. 01 COCa,ne dislribulion, it wu nOI maluial on Ih. charge of COCa in. pouusion. The AI~b~ma Sup reme Court ~n.ed "ld rel'lWlded It.. c.ase, Abboornll law is not clear on whit typt of cirrumsbnlial cvidmc:e IN}> be used 10 show !hJ.1 !hr Ikfer>danl had 1mowI· td,e 0( drugs ioc.aled wilhin a car. not in Iht deftndant'l exclusive passusion. 1100000'tvtr. il is tommon knowltd~ thaI lelephon. pagers and la rge s ums of ash Irt often wociated ...ith It.. illepi ....1. 0( drugs and constitule. S(I 10 s~ak, lools oI lhe I"de. Chid Justice Ilomsby ullimalely toncludw;
in, tM lelepho..., Plgtr
Tin: ALA8AMA I,AWYER
We condl.lde !hJ.t ~ c.ase I."ow re.:ognius that I."orge sums 0( c.uh aU relt\lllnt and malerial 10 a charge of construttivt pOSSUSioo of a "",Irotled sub$tan«, and our taSf law wpportS !hr admiuion 0( the evidence reprding tt.. $800 found in lhe boot in the trunk 0( Rowtll'J car. Atcordingly, \h. 5800 and the tel.phone pager were properly idmilled to PI1M' !hr <kfcndant·s tonltructivt po$swionoflt..COCliM.
UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT \I &UIHI I tw.lle-p or I waltl for
th. pros«ut\on? Pu,lwll v. [/em, No. 94-802, 1995 WI. 283453 (May IS, 1995). Th. supri me court mide II osier for prOKCUlotS to counler allegllion. thai Ihey hlv. improperly dimifllllni potenl;"1 jurors
Iwtd upOn race. The supre,..., rourt's Mi.y IS, ImP<'>" curiam decision held thaI prOitcutors fac.d with a 801500 obj.ct ion do nol nt«surily I'wove to oller a ·~rsuasivt or rven pbuslblt· rusoo lor It..ir jury ..,kc\ion \lI;Iia. INtrad, it is up to !hr ddendanl 10 convinc. Ih. judge lhal racial consideration! mot iva ted the .xclusion of a potential juror, The SlJpu,..., court's ruling. .... thoul o,~1 argument, rei",tlted I Missouri man's robbery conviction by Uvtrsing the Eighth Circuil Court of Appeals which IwoI! held that two blll(k men .... re unla",fully excluded from lhe Irial jury. The Eighlh Ci rcuit h~d dismissed as implausible It.. Pl'05mllor'S p;planlltion tllll he did nol like the w"y Ihe IWO men looI<td because they Iwlloni rurly hair. were unkempt. iIIld had facial hair. By wllY of brief rovitw, thf Jupr~me rourt's 1986 dtc:ision in 8olsoo held!hJ.I Ihe Equat Prol.Clion Clause of Ihe f'ourtttnlh Amendmenl forbids a pr0secutor to lISI' peremptory thaJle",.. to exclude Ai, k"n Ame.itlllS from jury ..,,,,ic. NealISI' 0( thei r . ate, The court
articulated II thr'Ntep prCICd.O lor prQ\'ing skJCh violatiolls, Firsl, a pallern of ~remptory challenges of black jurors IN}> utablish • primo {ade r.- of diJ.. crimlfllllory purpose, Two. !hr proHCUlor rnIIy rebut Ihill prima ~ c.ase by ttndtring • rJ«· ... uITII explanalion for lhe strikes. Third, lhe court must decide whether the expl."onation is prete~t~l. At It.. i«ond mp of Ihis iroquiry, neilher I mer. <kniaJ of impt'(lptr motiw:: nor an incredible nptafllllion .... ill suffict 10 rebtot Ihe primo {ac~ showing of diJ_ crimifllliory Pl''1I<*. At a minimum. as lhe court earlier held in &11«1. !hr prG;Hcutor "must Irticu_ I."ole a neut"t p;pl."ofllltion ulaled 10 It.. particular c.ase to be tried." T'he supreme court'J stYtn-t.,..two rul , ina: held, "!hJ.I the Court 0( AppealJ for the Eighlh Circuil erred by combining 8<11$0,,'$ second and Ihird st.ps into ont, uquiring lhat It.. justifICation ttn · dered at the 5tWfld $\tp be notjwt ... u· ITII. but "Iso minimally pil'SUlSivt, i,t., ,, · pl."ousib!e· Iwis lor believing that the person's ability to ~rform his or he. duties as a juror will be affected. It is not until the third step !hJ.tthe ~rsLll. ,ivollus of 1M jusl ificalion betomu relevant, I sI.p in ..tllch !hr trial court dtunni.... whtIht-r the opponent 01 the slrike has carried his burden of proving purposeful diocriminalioll." The court', r.asoning ..... nl on 10 state. • ... At IIllI slage. implausible or fiIIlllSlic justiflCll' lions IN}> (and probably will) be found 10 be pretuls fo r purpostful discTimifllllion. Bul to .... Y Ihilt i trial judse may choose to disbelieve a silly or !u~r$tl. tious ruson ~I slep thm is quite differ· enl from ....ying that a lrill judge must lenniflllle lhe inquiry it $\tp two ........ n !hr /xe· ... utfill reuon is silly Or superstitious. The I."olltr violat .. the prirociplt lhat lhe ullimale burden of ~rsuasion regarding racial molivation r.. ts wilh. lInd ntVtr shifts from. tho opponent of It.. strike." In a Slinging dis.aent, Jullias StIMfll and 8rt)'" ....rot. l$ klIlows: "'Today, ...ithout argument. Ihe Courl replacu the BOI$on standard wilh the surpr ising JULY ]995 / 249
·nnouneement tNt any neutr.1 expll· ~tion, no INller how 'impliu.iblt or bnwtic: ante, 'I 3, ~n if il iJ "illy or ~llious: ibid., Is sulfocient 10 rebul I prilflll bl:ie cue of diJcriminllion. A Irill courl mUJl ",cepl th.t neutril txpIination unlm i separate 'sttp three' i"'luil)' Ie,\d$ to tht rondusion thol tht pertmptOf)' chillengt was racially moIi· vited. The Court dou not attempt to expllin why i .~t ernent tNt ·the juror had a beard: or 'the juror'. last name began with tht leuu '5" .hould satisfy .ttp two, though l.t~lement that'J had • hunch' should 001, .. It iJ not too much
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to uk tNt a prosecutor'. txplalllltion for his nrikt. be net neutral, rtiSOn· Mly JPKi(", &nd trial rtllted. ~othing less WIll RM to rtbut tilt infu~1l« of race ,t..ud di$C:rimilllltion thlt ,,;... ....tIm tht drimdint hu INIde cut a prilnl facie cue. SuprllH Court upbolU ju"". _
riM 11\ Ala N_ capl,,' C..4:I Ham'J u. Alubi"'''', No, 93·7659, 63 LW 4147jF.bnJal)' 21. \995). The United Statts Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of Alabama'. Q\'t"ide scheme in capi~l cast. by concluding that the Eighth Amtndmtnt dou not "rt<juirt 1M SUtt to <Iofint the ""ight the Rnteneing judgt must gi ... to in ad-.-isol)' jul)' wnlict." AWwni liw vuts api~1 senttncing iuthority in tht trial j~. but requires tht judie to -COIIJidtr" an advisory jul)' ... rdict. Alter Louise Harris was """"ct, td 01 ~piul munlt:r. tht jul)' recommended that.1lt be imprisoned for li~ without parole. but tilt trial judgr 5C1l. I~~ Iltr to <loath by concluding that the JtatutOI)' iggrlvlted circumstancH found and con.idtrtd by tilt court out· weighed III the miliglting circum. ,tancu. The AlwlTIlI Court 01 Criminal Appul! affirmed the convict ion and "ntenee rejecting HUTi,', argument that the ~pltil "ntfncing st.Jtutt is uncon,titutionil b«iU.. it don not specify tht '«igllt tht court must give to tilt jury', ffaIII\fI1mdation, lind thus, pmnill tilt lrbitr.try imposition of tilt dtath pellllity. Th. Alibirm Supre ....
Court affirmed. The Unittd Slltn Supremt Court gnnlt<! arliorgri to r~ the Alw· lflii ~p;t.J1 Rnteoclllg sclltme. N.arl ~ 25 per~nt of AlabamI·. death I'0Io' prisoners r.cci ... life without p....oI. wrdicu b~ the cipitil juro...... ho hur thtir cast$. AI.1nl Is tilt only Stlte in tilt countl)' which permilla trial j~ to (1Vtrride I jul)' ... edict olli~ in a capi· ta! without dirtcting or guiding the judge" consideration of the jul)'" sen· tencing recommendation. Three other statu Ihal permit judge <werride of a jul)' ... rdict 01 life without parole ha\'t required their judge. to conform to JOfTIO lepl ,~ndlrd, i.... yardstick, tlult is revi .....able to the litigants ind to tilt
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The Supreme Court. in , dtClSion IU~ by lUJli~ O'Connor, held thll tht Eighth Ammdment doH no! rtQuirt tilt St.JU to define tilt "";ght tilt Rn· Undna; judge must g;.,. to In idYirol)' jul)' wrdicl. BtCluR the Constitution perm;1I11lt tr;"1 judge. ming 110M , 10 impost I ~pl~1 sentence, sn Spaziano v. Florida. 468 U.S. 447. 465. it i. not offended .... htn a .t.JI. furthtr .. quire. tht judge to con.ider a jul)' recommen· dation and lFUlt a judge 10 give it the proper ..... iahl. Alabama's capital sen· IOnemg scheme iii much likf Florida's nctpI tNt I Florid;. sentendng judge u required to giw tilt jul)"s rttOmmen· da\lon -8rtit ""i&ht: Tedder II. Slole. 322 So.2t1!J08. 910, whilt an Alabalflll
EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS. (Ikner yet, lei us do it for yo u.) W< Inli .. you an: r><1.'d "";rlr. nuny m.alpro<ti« insun .... opI ....... Se2tdoi", fo, ,k _ ..... ,tw .. ,ic/>, fo, you is oome<hinl you ohouldni h• ..., '0 -I)' Ltc lIS do tt.. _,k rou.
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250 IJULV 1995
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jud&t is not. The Supremt Court further rusonr<I thai. ", ..10 in'lJlOK tht Tmtkr standird htft would olftnd tmblishtd principles goytmina tht criltria to be consideml by the sentenct r. 5ft t.(I., Frtmlclin r7. l$loUf/h. 487 U.s. 16-1. 179. md would plact within eonstilUlionalambil micro m~na,gtmenl Ill'" th~1 properly relll wilhin tht Slale's discretion 10 admin. illtr its criminal jwtlct $~Itm." InterutiTlllly, tht Court did not addms whetht r AI~IN'$ ovtHKk .ystem lNy violat. the Fourlnnth Amendment's Equal Prottdion Cbust tII'ldtr \l>DK circurmUnCH whert particul.lr bias ColIn be tmblliht<l.
PRACT ICE TIP: Tht wrilor.u,UUU that brQuse Iht Fourtffilth Amendmrnl is,wt 01 ju<,\jIo ownidt TN)' mn be viable. I ttomfYS mould continue challelltillll the It,ilimlcy of dut h senltnces imposed whtn: juries ""'~ rttumed life ... rdicts. In I Itn,thy di_nt. Justict Sinoeru; crilic:iud A\;oIwna', sclltmo mel focused on tht"rut world is,wt" of ...t.ethtr elect· td politi" migh t Innutnct judicial d~ilion INkin, in hard CMtS.
t I) is avoidf4 undtr section 547(b) of this t,llt; ;and (2) wu INdt for the btntfit
of
~
enditor Ih~1 ~t tht timt of ,ueh tnnsfer ""1.5 ~n insider; tht t ruSlte may not recover under liu~ction (a) from atransftl'tt that i. not an insider.
RICI!NT .... NKRUPTCY LEGISUTIVII COMMENT Rankruptq Code IS5O(c) under tht
199-t Amtndmmls now prtM!Its il5 foI-
""'"
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Chapter 13 Trustees Want PLANI3! ~ More Bankruptcy Lawyers Submit PLANI3!
DEMO DlSI( • REFERENCES' MONEY aAoCK GUARANT£E
CALL 800 BEST-l-13
252 I JUI.V 1995
If I Irlndtr =dt bu",un 90
dl.ys and ant )"ar btfOTt Iht filillll of tht petition-
This amended Sotdioowu inlendN to ovtrrult lhe IRPrizio lint of CUtS by ve rifying Ihlot non-aue l Innsfer.tS should nol bt subjecl to "nforenct claims btyond the 9Q..d.I.y statulory I"'riod. Tht [)ePriz;o cut IwI TUl~ lhal JII)'fTItfI1 by tht debtor to I TlOI\.irWckr !tnder whidl htld i per$<.llW auaranltt from 111 insickr mon lhan 90 ~ prteedin, binkruptcy bul Itss than Ont )"ar could bt a prtftnnet under sec· I;On 547(b). for tht ruron thaI Ih. lransfer bentfitttd Iht insider guaran· lor. No nottd, Ihe amendment provides that the lransftr ,an only be retovt red from th. insider guaranlor who is the party actually T«th'ing the benefil. and not from the non·insider lender. Bankruptq SChollor5 an now pOinl' illll out thai tilt Rdonn Act Imtnd· ment did not amtnd subsection 547(b) which begiN is loIlowl: ••• Iht ITUSItt TN)' oawid arl}> tfJfl$fer of illY inttrtS! of lilt deblor in property'"
No this wbstctioo ....u not amended. il slill an be contended INI if tlw deblor granttd a li.n 10 a non·insidtr holding an imider 'Ullranlee during the one-yt.lr prdtunce period for insiden, Ih e ,ranling of sU(h litn to 111 insickr lTIIIY still ~ avoided. II <;<)Urts follow Jwtkt SCilia on the RM Pai. Enterprises Supreme Court Wt'.lhen lien ~ under section S47 will nnWn is a nm· flfy, SCPIratt ;and distinct from ..ruon 550 property recO\.'try. Conversely if courts follow ",il;at wu undoubtedly the intenl 10 ino:ludt lien avoidance in tht lomwdmenl, lhen the courts will writ. "mull..()rienltd" opiniom. The Eitvtnlh Circuil Ius .I ready adopltd IRPriz;o . • nd thus it rtlT\llins 10 ~ sun u 10 whal will occur .... ilh tht courts in this circuit.
• .,NKRUPTCY
f or ,",r~ ~tlon Ult, St¥mlh Clftull rultto tIuol ~. mtnl or a n.ehmt nl oIoto not I...... ' er _11,y 10 atIItlor
until doolt of n ...1
0 ...., or Ult . Itachmmt IlIMuet1
In 11># M(JIln of Frwdom Group /nror. porotm. 50 F'.3d 408. Z6 B.C.D. 1147 (71h Cir. ~I'(h 14. 19\15). \\'tll.kn(~.'n CiKUiI
Judge RichllTd A. PGsnn tntertd Iht Opinion in this Qst whim was submitkd on slipubltd fKII. On June 2. Lap/lan· Hickey (loll ) obtained a $7.335.49 judQ' men l ~gainsl FreedGm GrGU p in ,In tndiana stale court. Ten days laler. Ihe ume CGurt enlered an order cilled "nol lce of gunishmen t ". which wu R"'td on FrmJom Group's bank on JUIlt 15. freedom Croup had Gnly uound $100 in the Iwlk on tilt ~ Rrvtd, bul
Ihr fotloo<.;ng .uy S18.000 WIS ckposited. On Juno 17. Ihr «>uri ,"Iem!;on order on thr pmishmenl dil'Ktilll lhr bank to Pl'Y Ihe judgment, which "'U done. On Septtmbrr 14. frftdom Group fil ... bankroptcy. June 15 was 9] days befGre bankruplcy· lhe final order on pmish· IIltnt was 89 days before ban kru ptcy. As a prtferenlill Irlnsfer Is cansidered avoidab~ 10 partiH other than insiders. Gnly if mllde wilhin 90 dllYs btfGre IrlnM"tr. time is ~I ITIlltrill. J udge Posntr. in reviewing Iht Ilw. first dtdared Ihat federal IlIw gowrns tt.. issue of whtn It.. Irinsftr occurs, but lhil slllle law dettrmlntl the definition 0( "prOprrty" and "interesl in property: The CGurt nated Ihal in Indiana, Ihe "nat ice GI ga rnishmen t" prevents tht debtor from withdrawilllthe funds, and further i,",,~~ a lien in loV'(H' 01 the emlilor for Ihr ilnlOUIll dur OI1thr judg. ment The court thU$ held that although there was II litn imprQRd in Cwor 0( L.-
H 011 June IS, 00 Iroln.ltT ...... tfledtd until June 17. J~ Posner took i5$ur with the l'lItJment 01 loH thil the dIIte 0( R....-l« 0( the ootiCl' was the erilial day btC~\lR it perfected the creditor's claim to the content. of Ihe bon k a«OUnl, lie ldmiUW that different cir· cuits have ht ld that the l ime begint running 011 the date of the natkt. IIltn · lioning mler alia I" rt Coonu. 733 F.2d 1560 (11th Cir. 19M). He believtd they no longer lIpp1y because of &mhill II. )oh_, 11 2 S. CI. 1386, 1389 (1992) hGldina Iml 0 t r~nsftr Gf mGMY in II checking a.coounl (fGr dd.rmining t;mt 01 prde rtn l iol paymenl) occurs nGt when the check is delivtrtd. but when paid. Following this rtuoning, he deltr. mined thaI a garnishment Or attach. ment <lotI not effecl u.. tr~nsfer unlil ~ final order GI g;ornishmenl Gr attach· ment issutd. Commt1ll: This taR should rtolI>'" the holdings pre·&mhill,,- JoIms;on in ilIl
.
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circuits. lind thue ll1IIy be variances in tht diffuf1llstootn. IleaUll' of inlerprttootion of stoole law. I suggest th.al if the ruder hll Iht qutstion IIrUtnled. AtW,... !roo II 10 definilion of-PI'OI)ffty" and "inlem! in property" be uam· iMd. and Ihtn C(N'ISidtml togrther with I do... rt~i"ll of lilt pmishmtnt ~ Itt;lchmenl statules. Eleftnth Cin:uil hoi" that IaI: 11A_ bUH, II h ' clhchar,t Un If d£bl o~ Imowln,ly r.lIed 10 saY \.ut. /" .... IkIaI, 48 F.3d 1153 (11th CiT. Mar. 30, 1995). Between 19n and 1985, debtor paid no income or tmploynwnt tlxes. but hi: did fole tal rtlums. In 1987, hi: ¢nItrtd I guilty pin for failurt 10 PlY income lUes from 198(l to 1982.•nd naiYed. .~nck4 $enlenu of one yor and rM yurs probuion, condi tioned UpOn ,.,moini.., currtnl on atimottd IU and payillJl monthly on lilt delinquenciu. He complitd with lilt conditions of his ~tion OOlill991 when debtor lfId his wife foItd I C~pttr II ""lition. The IRS folrd a claim for OYer S700,QOO,lfId debtor med an advet'Sll)' procuding 10 deler· mine dischargtability for Iht 1977-87 tax years. The bankruplq courl rultd for
the debtor on lilt premi ... lhat lilt failure to PlY IUti did not constitult an IItl1tlPl to Mdt or dtfut his lues under l523(aIW(C). The district court VlQltd lilt dKis.ion of the bankruptcy court lfId rtmanded with irutruclion$ to dtttnnmr whrther debtor's fooilu,., 10 pay the tues __ -.,...jllful: Tht binlcruptey court 19ain beld the ~ dischargublc: finding that deblor "",de 00 Iffirm,1li,'t lItemPI 10 tVide his taxes bUI menly uood hi. incom. to PlY olh., debls. On further Ippul, lilt district court reversed holding Ihal debto r's f.ilu rt to pay his laxts whtn he was financially ablt to and choosing inslud 10 pay olher obligalions cOn$lilulcd , willful attompl to Mdt his tal ob!ill/ltions ~ndmng thtm nondischargub le. Tht deblor Illtn AppUltd to the r. 1c:\"nlh CircuiL The Eleventh CircuiL followin.e Ron Puir, ~., 109 S. Ct. 1026. 1031 (1984), !.lid the plain mtining of 1M 51~lute mUSI lit 1oI1owrd. Under wdion 523(~) (II(C). I ddrtor !lIlY noc discharge aliX -.,...jth rtsptCIlO which the debtor made i fnudultnt ~tum or willfully lttempltd in lOY Il1IInner 10 eVlde or deftal such tax.- TIlt Sixlh Circuillw held previous· Iy that allc:btor's conscious failurt to file
lfId pay lhe IiX ftll within the ~ioo to dischargt. Tht Eltwnth Circuit said to ntmd thai holding 10 thr fIcts of this C3$I' would ~ 111 tal debts oon-dischargt· Ibk, rusoning that if Correrus wished to make allliXU non _diKhargubit, il """"Id have dono so. The opinion com· pand IRe 17201 with Bankruptey Section 523(1)(I)(C), glling to IllmIion that IRe 17201 coo!aintt! words rtftrring to pay.....L ~ "", the p.l)'fT'Iml therwl"', while 1M binkruplq section omits lilt words rtfming 10 payment. In §523la)(I). Con~ limitrd the ~iOfl from discharge to thOle lun covered by 1507(a)(8) which includes certain \axes incurml with· in lhrtt)'tMS of binI<ru!ltcY. TIlt Eltwnth Circuit upon Ihis btiis held thai tht dis· lrict court trrtd in dttennining the IiX to bt nondischatgtlble. Comnlfnt : This C3$I' cootooiIu a d~r \It ion on llitutory construction which could he helpful in non-«Illed ClH5. lmof"ll' all tbe puticullr holding is concerned, il sums ralher clea r Ihal an affirnunct would "'-' made inoptrative Ihe implicltionJ of the provisions of 15071&) (8), Ihal I'xu incurred mOrt Ihan Ihrt. YUrl previously are dischargeable. •
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C<IfLI""''
254 / JUI.Y 1995
~ f~
THE AlABAMA lAWYER
Marion R. Vicken
in 1944 ..... ing IS p,uid.nt of the Mobil< B>r """",,,lion in 1945. ~ par. t",p.oU", in nu"",rout oth .. • ,vic;ond chonW>l. m and about III< Clly of Mobil" ond II".'.... M.,ion R. V,cktrs p.acIIC.d I.... in Mobil. mort than 60 ,pt ci.h.ing in bu.in ... I .. n.. clion •• nd ..... ''''O(n,ztd >rod >drnittd b\I Ius. 1.11...Iowyr" .. bt,ng <l<ill<d and obit ,n thi, and othe ...... of Ih. proch". Amonll h .. many Kcompli..nmt nu, of which he ..... porlicu!.>rly p,oud. 'Ntr"
>fl.,,,
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horo", Marinn H, Vi<\, .." I di.tmgutshN mtITItit. 01 thi>...oo.>.~ ion di«l on rob· ruary 2, 1995.• nd tht Ml;bilo: Ilor AI$<). d,uon d .. "., 10 ...".mMr hI> rIOmt.nd ,w>tni.. hi. «I(Ilribuiio<lO both 10 OUr prol... ion ~ 10 thIS commun,ly. ~ 11'11<,......'lU.non R. hom on D«.mb<, Z~. 1901 in Mob,I • . ,,'ht .. h •• mndtd St. I',n«nt P.,ochi.1 School. .n~ r«oiv<'d hi. under~ .. du>.lo dogr.. from Spnnlllhil COII<~, .nd hi. I.... o.g,.. from Ctoli<towfI CnM,."ly. II, began praet,c. ,n Mob,l. in 19Z3....,Ih ~ Ch>rnbtn.," & Co"'tIley. then as • sol. p,.,Cl'l'o .... ' bolo,. form ing ""hl<h b«.m. known .. Vjcku• . I.. ig/> & Tho,nton .• nd Vlck .... Rii'. ,"t urr.y & CUmIL HIS cM(; ~ pro/....,..,t :KIM· II" ,ndud.d •• ""ng ,n the AI.b.m> lio<". 01 R<p •• "n!>t".... in th< 1920$. "rYing .. on "",,,nl di>lrict ,IIO.n<)', .. ",;nll .. ch>""",n of tho Communlly Ch.. t (p .. d<cu... , to tM Unit.d FundI
Vic"',., "...
fi,,,,,
Richard O. Fant
w
w'"
h" .... R,eh .. d O. Fonl mtmbt, 0/ the T'ulalooso Count, Bar ........... IIon mort than 40 ,...,. died Ju ly 10. 19'94; and Whueas. ho .. rv<d hi. country .. , comb>! ... t... n 01 lI'o,ld Wa, 11 .• nd 1>.1.. in the 10<;01 Army Rtst""n; and IIlIer..... II< kooI ..rY<d many)'U" Of """"",nde, 01 tilt Twal""", Cl'apt<r '" th< I'.t ... n, of Fortign 11'.... n d .... acl,v<' in tho N.",,".t Or~.ni .. l,on 01 u,. '1"tr.... of .'0...'" 11'.,.,; ond Whort... ho "'.... dtd,c>.I<d m<rnbtr of the Lion. Club 01 Tu .. aloo.~ for
_...
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Whort.. , 110 "'.... 10)'01 mtmtltr of tho
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Ii) insbilllln;: and hanJhnglhe lransfer by tht CI.nnon f.... ily of th. Po,nt CI<or rr-rlOO$lor u,. purpol< 01 bu,ld· ing Ih' no ... Cllnd 1101<1. as Ih. main f"", loti .. 0/ III< holtl .. in l<>d>y: liil ..",ng a. an illCQ<JlOfllto<. dirt<l",
and I/.tr.. ,.1 counsel'" Southe,n IM",tri" CO'PO,.ti"" <!unnll 'u .nb.. ~ lenee; dun", ""'ich It d<v<'1op«I onto ~ publicl~ h.ld corporolion .nd lotn m"lIod inlO D,aoo CO'1'Orol'On .• S"'" York Slock .:..,hang. compony: (iii) ..",ing .. d,,,,,\o. and sho .. hald· " in conn«1<"" .IIth Ih. lo.mallon 0/ tho Prichard N.liono] B.nk .Dd Loop ~uonol Bonk. ""'oth ....... Lolt • ....,'1I<d ,nto th. M.. ch.nts Not,on.1 flonk of Mobil.lnow FirslAlob>ma ""n~l; (i,) ..",mg
pnct .. e; and Ivl .. rving a. a lnul .. ln con1\tctiM w,lh lhe ch:"'loble I,,"" crW.d under the will. of Edwa,d A. Robtru and Bollt G. Robtru. ,,'hich In.uU ha,.. tIt<n on<! ""II contUlU< to M • """ro...,t ....."'. '" krr choritits ,n /IkIbo1. Count, in ptll'<lu,1y. >rod 1I'h".... ,'1 .,ion R. V,ek .., .«om· pl,.tltd many ou,., u,,"~ ,n hi, liro. or.! wa.;on immt" .. ly cha.minll g.ntl.",," w,th • onog .... he ptrs.",oliljl. gift«l ""th on abrhly to ''''''''', .. «<)nOmic chonga ond "iIlrdl... of hIS 011<. 10 >«Om""'" Ilalt 10 ch>ngu in III< !.>... and ~"' .. lranlo\<lions; ond II". ..... !'t>.ion H. Ilk"'.. "'... p.. de· c.... d by hi .... if. of 57 ~ .. ". Jnn Dunw I-"ktr>, ond '" hi> onl}' >OR. .'In· 10<1 R. VIC"' ... J, .. obo on ottomoy and mtrnbt, of tht Mob,l. Bo. Associ>.lion. .rId ",u",iv<'d by h,JllauJlht ... Eli .. · bolh V. Cou ,tn.y, . ighl g .. ndchildrtn. ~rUI·~r.ndchildre". ond num .. ou. otht, reLotoveo.
fund,,,,
All"" R. B_ . J •. Pw,loSenl .. ....11t 8 • • A..ocl.lIon
on the boo,d oI .. g.nl. of
Sons of Confodent< Velenns and IIt.nd.d ""ny nollonol com·.nt,ons. al ...}". "p, .. e"tonlJ; Tu .. ~loo.a '" h .. o"'n in,m,toblt ......."''' and IIne"OI. h. was. hf<lon, m.mb... .nd generous 'upport" 01 til< F",! P...· byt .... n Church of Tuscal~ V1~ WII< ..as, Ric""" ...,.. . Iways """ ....... in "I"esenl<ng his clien\> ..... n thouih II< may ...... bKn """""""t ouUpob" 11".,,01. h,. d,,\inch ... pl.>I!ini! and uni ..... 1~'j1'''11 skills ...... always r«011ni .. d b~ dork', Judg ... and h.. f.llcw mtrnbt .. 0/ III< bar, and 1In.' ..... RlCh>N O. r.nt ""'". Locked pt ........ nn<. 0< conrJde",. """n Irying ...... belQ.t • i""ge Of jury; ond h~
!>!Iring 11,11 CoIltet or.! OCli"ll a. """""I 10 the col~ during r'RO$l 01 hi> .. IN<
11'1........ Richard O. flnl """ always. (Oloriul ptnonolily ,,"'" ne-.. r ... mod d,,,,ou'o,<d I" .pue of Ih •• lings and .rrows 01 0IJ1njItOUS fortu",; thortfcrt lET IT SOlI' BJ:: RESOLI'ED lh>t the!>o, ...... jallon of Tuscaloooa C<>unljl h" unll....,1y death. tNI ,t ,ewgni ... h .. conlribution. to ou, community.• nd Ih>t thi, r .... lulion M r<c<»d<d in III< m,nul .. of this ""iIln;.. lion and rub· loU1td to hi. family.
"1/1'<"
.''''Il1<)0 SpnM lI s....t.ry
Alyfi
T ............ c .....1)' lI.r .... -'otioor
JUlY 19951255
Rrw" .... It, ,,~ • mttnb<r of Ih< fir>! B.pUOl Church. Montgomory Rot.ry Club. and PI" c..mm. Otltl Soaol fn-
Willard W. Livingston
ttffll~·.
W
'II~rd II'
Li""8.'on", dishn!lu;,htd mtmb<r 01 thIS "-'>0<1. "an, p...... d .way en October 7, 1993. Tht Moolgo,,",,), County B>r Moo<I.lIon !Ie"... 10 .."",mho. hi. ,."". and "'''IIni .. hI, contribution.< madt \(. nu, p. of.uu,n .nd to this community_ W,II ..d II' Li'ingSlon was. lllli'" of Sowulg,a. M.~. h< .ll.nd,d
"tit,.
public KI>ooIl. H. g .. du.,td from II>< Un"~ .."y of AIabomo in 193h,th OIl 1..8dti1t< In h .. ,ory. 11< au.ndtd tho Un;· ...... ")' of ~ Sd><>oI of ~ I>e ' ........,N In 1~1 II',U.,d w.... U.S. Army v",,," of \\'nr\d War [J and <Ompltted 33 }urS of m,htary ..",i« in Ih' Judg. C. ...... I·. Or.,.r1""'"l. Air Foret RutM. "linna W1th 1M rank of <0"""1 in 1967. H, .. rmI :?9 )'ta" .. an ... i.tanl anornt)' g..... ir>< lud ing 19 )'t ... '" cbiol Nunstl fo r II>< AI.l».mo Oo[».rtmtnt 01
,,'1><,.
"'-"'0<.,.
'.I,
1I',IIlo.d wu tllo _ 01 tho 1.>,. Chltr Jush,< J. Ed t.w'"lISton and .'1.nt Wi .. Livinl'IO<I. II. w>s. dt\'Ol.d f>mil)' man • 00 I.ft ""vl>'n~ him Mi. ",il•• Ann Key Murph .... LM0II'I,.,. ~\onlfOmtr)~ th ... ""n, and d>.Uj(lH,r •. on.l.w. Willord . Jr. • nd Margo,,\ f\,lIlon l.Mngsion. 1'10/>,1.; Ed .nd l.(1u,,, Bokor liv,ng!lon. Monl~"""'ry; .nOllorold .nd C.ro1)..., 5,,;n· d.1l Li.,ng.10n. Tupolo. M",i ..,ppi: , d.ughl ... Ann l',·,ngOion R.y. »1onl....... ry:. douihlor ond ""'·in·Ja-..·. Amy ond IWIdy CoB. c....nd>.Io: ""' brothtr and .. OI.r.,n-I,w. EdIoin 1I.•nd too, .. Ru"i< L";ngolon. Syb<;ougo: ond ...... n iJr>.Il'kh1lll rtn. "ilioN was. I..... g<nlltman in .....1)' ...... ohllt "rm. both m h" prM'" .nd prok ... "",1 M•. II. was rowgniud .nd rt1p'cttd lor hi. ~roliCl.ncy in h ...... .hllt f'rl'lk. of I.w >nO far his man",r· I)' .nd .lhi,,1 cooouct. Thi, •• ""dalion
Warun S. Reese, Jr.
footbolilln.. cItcor>lrd 11.5. Army ",tor• n....,.. N\ItII.d at IJ,>.".. Sd>oo!. Ib.r , .. nl Un"~nuy. Tuw..llnivt .... l)· and the
'M
l'nivt .. ,ty 01 ~.nd ~ low /orMyu<>:and \I"htrw.. Ik IrfI """""'" hun • IIM>rod ....u.. MIfII»'t~ • dougNtr. Stoni<. and """ popul.r membt" of thi, ..... <><iOlion. Judg. c ..... R.... and 1.'")'<, EIJIIl«
,ns, this W<ICJOIion i0oi "'" 01
,u .... ooIori.d. be\(lyrd and _ .
lor .....rrlxnonJunt21. 1994 with Ilk poso;nt 01 W.Nm S. Rm<. It.: and Wh" .... W.".n·, .g....... known onl~ 10 hll d.<u .. d 1.lh... d.co ... d morlkr.nd W.... n bY1 ,I i> "'-"IIWt h.......... nior. rouibly tho ..nior. ..... """r oIlhi> ~r iWOCial,on: and \\1k ..... W....n w>s an "id Ahl>orna
d.." .. 10 .pr..d upon ill p'rman.nl "conU' lok,n 01 OUr 8"'lilu<lr 10 tl>< -'im'ihly for .I\owI1l1I U1 10 ""'" kno:7wn ond l<> 110\.. botn iWOCi>ttcI l<ith 111 .. fi", and arnltt1lowyor. bc II resoMJ by II>< ""m· bc .. of Iht 1-1oo1gomtl)' Crunty 1», As.<Q. ciali,., on ann",,1 """long duly ..... mbltd . lhal Ih. auoc .. lloo .nd ,u I><"by unanimou.l~ .. ~r'" lilt" grati. lude fo r II>< lif. and .. oIl1"ollo,d W• !.i"ings,oo. and lurtht, .....,... Wi, grid and "I.net thtl< I)"m~thy to his ,,-id(r>,'. 10 hi. "'" .00 0." bcb..". lri.nd and ""mbc,. Ed L"ngslon. and to W Olhtr 01 "illlnn wmly_
n,,,,ro...
""mho"
,,-k.
""mho..
W.•'1 .... A...t. .......
SKt.\.Ir)' JoI""1~r)' C....
n'" s... MJO<iIlion
Ih. ",.Ih of our b'D1htr. W.".n •• nd .."nd. ,10 dupe" 'ym~alhy 10 .'1... gom. Sroow. c. ..... Lynn and Elno Ltt. W·•.'Im ADd<n<>n SKt.lar)' .' I"'11lO1Mr)' C"""'"
s... A..ocillion
Rm<;
Th ..,fore. be it rnal .. d. Ihot tho Monlgom<r)' Caunt~ IJ,>, Auocialian.r ,to hnu.r)' 1995 mooting dot. moum
Please Help Us ."" Aolo/lomQ u.q,w"!olrrnorioll' action io dtsie:wd 1<1 """'"'" """g" 01 tht bor willi Wonnotion obout tht cI!3lh 0I1hbr. g ... lhr.-l.loblmo Scou Bor lflii tht EdirorioI BoanI " - no _ 01 "'--'C ........... 01 WI" "",,,10,,, io -.....r ............. notiIied. ""'"" raIi:e tht _10 proow;Io .. with tNl ............ 1(,... ...... IO~ .. ,.d . Cobout tht ......-... lflii .. If 1"nII """""1IIoshnknts lot .. Hio::olion" tht ........... .-.1in"il)'IUQII"""'1I:S 102S0~IfIII...-.I .. , pictJ.ft 't~ w. _ tht <itt/; w<dit ....... _~lottht'"Ma, ... "" _ _ ...-.I .... h!on ;. "',,_'wlhr~1doIrt$ n
"-Pr<C1.. .' I1nJIhy 7JIr Mo&.mw/Awrtr 1'.0. IIol< U56 M",,!fOO*tY. AL 3610 1
256 1JULV 1995
TH£ AU.BAMA u\WYER
>Iak ...... _
Claude Hania, Jr. horns. II" wIth dttp.nd abiding grief l .... l.lho Tuseal""" Count~ 11>. As>0c"Uon "cord> lho Iom,ntalllt doralh of .... t$lttn'ltd m.. of
W
,Ibe.
thOi usoci.tion. Cioude 1I."i,. Jr.. of TII$C'kIoo.l. Alob>"",. on Octobt. 2. 1m, .~
llho ..... CIo""'~.... hil!hty "iI'InIe~ nltmb" of h" community. who ,"'" w..It· Iy k""",'11 10' hi> $<"';« and .uP\>O.t of many o'll.n; .. I1"", .nd progwn, 1....1 ....,. gml impocI on tho good and ....11b.,,'Ii of hi< kliaw """" and 11'ht.u>. Cl>1.dt .. NOd hi> «>unll)'''' """,bor of II>< AI~ba"", ~.ho""l C., ... d • il"lCt 1965, n.ina In ""k from ftI'1I'Ol' 10 <OIon<!. during t .... t hnlt: >nd
llhonu. Clal.dt .."...J hi< <WIlly ~
David B. Elli. h...... o..,d 8_ E11i •. ~ (.110'" l'iI'Il pr~III1O"". "'00 r«"I"~ hi. und .._ .. ~ ....!t ".g ••• f.om /lltmmghom Southom Coll'R<, hI, III", ~.g,.. f,om th. Unl\,."it~ g( Ala~ma School of I.3.w ..... ~ "'... ~mi ll<~ 10 lho Alab>ma 1\0, in 1974, ditd u"..",Cltd!)' on 1\'tdntSl.io1. AugU$l 10. 1m. 1I'htrus, 0aI'iIJ Ell" ....... an outll.nl lnal ta..1'" md a c.)I'M'Iunily Iodt~, and "ht,us. ho ...... not on!)' ...."..,ttd roll .. gu. but. good f".nd 10 all ...'ho n.tdtd hIm: .nJ II'h<r.... during h .. a',,' II< ... m·
W
district ottom<y m.rn
1965 10 1976. .... ~. for ,"'inu of rnnlt. ~ • ltauneh >UI'I'OIl" 01 tho I>w .nlolc.nIt"t of thi. commuMY;
""
off"".
I\htrns. ClaW. conlin>lN hi, .. rvict 10 tho p.obI;" .. til'CUil juoJ,g< of tJIis coo.uy and timll! from 1m to 1985...... .,...". pbry .... U\III.T>I<>r of juotic:r. and llho",",- l-I(lOI'I hi> "" " nIt'" .. tirruil judgt. I>< conlm>lN hi> 10 tho good of hi> .1.>1. ~ COY"I.,. .. an Imnltrutty popular an~ OUl$t.ondin8 Unlltd $1>1 .. Congra.o.mon joo- thn:t <OllOtCIIII ..... """" from 19S7 to 1993•• >It><ly "'WOfIt. 01 \tgi<Iolion to rn>k< Congouo ....,... _ >iw 10 tho pt(If>It: lI"III Whe,us. C!lude cone)",J,,J hi, .<tm pl30y c.... r ... tru. public ,","anI .. Unittd Sl.tOl Allomty 10. tho Solll'ltm Diotnct of AbIwno from s.;.t<mI:Ito 1993
,.,,'i«
plifi.d lhe good in ,uorrl<')"S. prOl«tinQ th. meek .nd mild ag.>ln<t Ih •• t,ong and I'<""<rlul: and Wilt ..... h" bnllianct and oloNotion to th. I.,.. "'"' "",nif.. l.d in h" ,nU .... dn>" to <10 Iht btst 10' h" dltnl.:and h" community: and II'hun" h. look th. 1,m. 10 gil" ...",mg tawy." ~ui""n<. with compoMion :and uro.lo"u,ndmg: and IIht".., ho ...... b,;fIlI f.mi!), man and • _«I hwblnd. and ..... """""" ond <I><",h.d fo. hi •• pO" SOf'Illityand hi. " .... m and to.lng ,milo:
«."...,,,,,t
wthl h" unhnlt\)- death: and 1I'!'It_ Cbudr ....+.0 i< .... l'VIWIllly hi< bolo:olN ...ilt. I\oobo'" eM; IIIImo.. ...... lho b,;tIJI latho' of two ....... 1.« and Trip, .nd hi. Iou ,,"UfO. of d.. p and abidmg grid 10 lhom .11: lI"III 1I'!'Itnu.lt m>y bt moot 0U<CinctI)' ~ 01 C'IioJdor tNt ho IN/Jo • dotkrtnct •• """1 JICI'IlM diRrl'mCt, '" >II OU' I",.. >nd th". ou. bro!ht. 1M> on; ""'lI><mo.-., Be " re><>Ivod by lhe Twcaloco.l County Bot """"'hon. thai .... tilt I... of CIoudt H.vn$. J,. """",;..riot. >nil _ ; o n : J dirtCt thloll <>lPY of this ..... .......... oh>lI bo."....J '""'" tho ~ of
i,.
cornm<"""""
thio...aaat ...... AIy<o ." ...Ioy SpnMII
T....atoo.a """"
County Bar _ _
IIht"... he d...-<lt,d countl ... hou" 10 oha"tabto ..... ,," .nd promoted good ...·,11 among tilt <OInmunoty: and Wh ... u. In hI> PI",ng "'. f..1 th. I".. 01 a d<.>. and .ho,1ihtd fri.nd who Uo-.yo dlOPlal...J. $< ...... of fai",.... J"'-
11« and .. m........ In h" dealings ",Ih <>111<,,; lhe .. for<. BE IT Rt:SOlI'ED Ihlllhe ru.c..loos:o County 1\0. &,oc,.lio" by t his m.. n. .. p, ..... ils d"p ..1 .ymp.thy .nd ,,,..IS >I tho ~lfIlI 01 our deaf mond. Oavod II. Ellis.
,~
Aly<. M. nloy 5 ....... 11
Ilht' .... I~·,d ....... on •• ,~ ruhtm1Ml and out<iooroman: and
T~ ...1oHa
St<rttaoy C.,only 1J.a, Aooocial;'"
Edward B. Crosland
William Lewis McElroy
Annie L. Sorge
&11""""'. "'Q,~I(1tId
8'nnirl4l/lam
Binningham
Admilli'd: 1m
Admirti'd: 19-'2
1liN:A/lnl10.1995
Dird: Mo"h 21. 1995
William Aubrey Dominick
Marcus Eugene McConnell, Jr.
Marion Richard Vickers
"'"'"""
BiTmingluJm
.'Iobi!.!
Admlt/i'd; 1929
Dird: Ar,il 27. 1995
NJrnII/<d:
fNd:
191~
r.........oy 17. 1995
NJrnill<d: 19.11
Admll/n/: J92J
1Md: ",,';125. 1995
DMi:I.., ....1)'31.199S
nn.y 1995 J 257
John Peter Koho
w
h...... John P<ter Kahn. Jr. " .. born on o. .. mbtr 27. 19O:? II>< ,On 01 John Peltr Kohn and Cltm.ntin. ROM«a Cram Kohn •• nd "'"' a fifth J!i'ntrat ion .'1<l<'lgorno>ri.>n; hi. moth .. "'.. a grul gr.ndd.ught" of Gentral John s.,Oll.' found.. of Mont· gom<'Y' and \\110 ...... he alltnded priv>.le schoob in Monigomt!)', and g, .duatod from the Un i, .. "ity of Alabamo: .rnl Wh..... , I>< mo"ieol Mari/>ret Patte· .on Thoringlon •• fiflh gtn".tion Monlg(Jl'J'ltn.,n. "ilQU Jather, Jack 'Thor· ingt on. w.,. prominent Montgomery I....;~r; .nd II'h ...... John Pol" Kohn. Jr ....... distinguished lawy<T. ",+.0 Ir«luenlly rep' r "enltd the underdog., ond "'as
Joe G. Bums GStPh
G, Bum., Jr.. "!Iud<" &oms
J
., he "'''' i<n<:M"
to lht .... " AlabanIO community lhol 1O'\'td him, d;ed on (ktobtr 7. 1993. B""k hod praclktd Ia", lor many y.. ... in Tusc.l""", ... ith hi, falher, lh< bte Jostph C. Hurns , Sr.• nd m",t ", . .. otly wilh tl>< late l4vid Wi>.
Mile. S. Hall il.. S, Ilall " di,lingui,hed mem·
M
ber of Ihi. """'ial;O". de"""ed Ih" I,f. 00 July 29. 1994. Ilorn;n K.ntucky on Apri l S. 1909. he """"d to tho ~Iontgo .... ry .... ",ith hi. f.mily .. a child. 11•• Itendtd 0>001 in Pinll.I •. Alab>. ........ t Sid...." Lon;or H;gh SdJooI in Montgomery.• oo.llhe Univt,· 'il)' of AI.b>. ....... H. " ... ,,"m,!ted to til< p.adirt 0/ I....' ,n 19301 and conl,nutd to
258 1 JULY 1995
de.cribed by. journ.li.t ••• "fighl.. who admirtd figh t'''," 11'1........ he "'... known ...n ""''''' to iIOW"""'" and ..... """ribed on the <)<ca· .ion of hi. doath by journ.list Hob lngr>m .. being "on< '" the mo.t _ .. r· rul behind·the·"' ..... _~r brok .... nd ""licy makt" in Alabama ""lilic';" .nd \\'I><r..... hi, «Itbnl'" ca .... r inch>d· od .. ",itt •• pr .. ident 01 the Mont· gom<ry CQ<lnly Bar Associ.lion •• ptcb>1 drcu il judg. in Monlgornory Cwnty in 1961. Montgomery Counly .ltomey •• nd a .horl lenuft ... n "!<Ieb>I' ju1ti" '" ~ .. Alaban .. Sup ... me Cwrt: and Wi....... , John Pot" Kohn. Jr. dOed 0<1 ~.27. 199:\,>1 Ih.agtof9O;.rnl II'h.reas, ,I i, bolh filllng.nd ~rO\l< r that the MO<11go""ry C""nty Bar Associ· .lion ""y we".1 tribute to this olinin· gUi,h." I,,,,),<r .nd genUtm." for lho many '01"i .. he .. no. .. d to hi.
..I",,," prof... ion a niJ to hi' com mun i· Iy: N",,'. thero, be it "'!<I1ved by tho .'\onl· g(Jl'J'ltry C<>unl)' Bar Associ.tlon thot lhe ....,.,i.lion ""y Sll"Cial lribut< to the lif, of John rete. Kohn. Jr. .• b",y,,', I....)'<r, ",+.0 di1tingu i,l><iJ h imstlf in.., II\1II>;' an Q<lt>!.uxling membo, '" tho l,g.1 p,ole"ion . nd ••• di>tin· gui,hod c<>mmun ity 1•• 0. •. fie ,t furlr.., ....,Iv<d thot Ihi.....,Iu· lion be ,~ ..ad upon the minut .. of tr.. MO<1tgom<ry County Bar Assocb>tion .nd tn>! • COPI' be .. nl 10 hi, .urviving daught,r. 1'1 ". D<I}' L..I, McC.II. Jr.
In Suck'• .,..,ing. Tu",.I.,... lost on< "r it< most unfo,*ll.bl. and best 1"",01 dto.ons .• fine .Uomey, • loving husbond an~ f.th •••• 'POruman, lUrkty humer "I,""rdinai", •• nd a g ..al fritnd 10 .., many. Buck ...... man ",ilh""t gui l•.• tl\Oll without r><lli"", .00 • man "iihout ent· mit •• no .mali achlt'·omenl. Bu,k ', magic",", fund3. .... ntal .nd oirtct .... II ...., =! tobe Buck', fritrMI. Hi. "'armth 0/ pe....,.,.lily. h;, humor or hi, k'nd ...... v.wid draw y<MJ in. B""k', love 0/ people ""., evidenl in hi. com.,..,ioo .nd hi. "'il lingn ... 10 help otho ... , lli. 1_ of lift was evi<l<nt in hi • woOOerful stoo;1tlhog.nd geml< humo"
ThrooAh hi. fore. of Pl'rsona l,ty, Bu,k ,ould tr.nsfonn ""'0' dodd c. 1l into. mtmorable <)<us>On. ThLs "".t yeor, for rn.1n\' '" u' who knrw Iluck i!ums, has held """""''' 01 dLsbtli<l .1 the thoughl of hi • .,.., ing. The v,vidness of Ihe ... ,ollection 0/ 8 uck $Ums 10 d<ny hi' I.,... It i. hO\l<Ii 10 be >0, for too .. fortunate 10 ho'~ ca lled Huck Bum. -f,;'nJ:
p~ti .. in Monlgomery unlol hi. d •• lh 60 yea .. 1.I,r. In .ddition 10 hi. privolt praclice. he .. ",od for. "'hile .. oily ~IIOmey ror M<>nlgorntry. He "'.. p.esi· denl of thLs ....,.,;.t;on in 1950. Mil .. H.n,,~. ~I>son and. membor of the (W; Park Ma.\oni< Lodge. Aclivt in h;, church , he taught Suroday school and htld . Im." evtry offict at C.pitol Ilelghl' MttM<ii,t Church. Ht d.mon· ",.ted hi ••trong Chrisl .. n belieJ on the ...'ay ht cond""tN hi< "'"''' aff. i" and ,n the woy he dot. ll ,,;th others.
H. " .... """'ttd hU$b>nd .nd lathtT, .nd Itlt .u","ving h,m hi. "ile. Lou, ... hi. tw. ch ild"n, Ann and Mi l.... no! f""r grandchild ... n. Mil.. 11.11 "''' '''peeled •• a I• ...,... .nd . . . gtntltman by a ll m.m"" of oor profes.ion "too knew him woll. 11'. shall mi.. him,
'"0
"'''YO''
11'. Mark ..... <1<<00"
'"~"
."Ionl,.m<'Y County 8 .r Au .dation
\'f'" '"
.tw.,..
AIyn ..... nlty SpTU.II
ScCl'tI.ry Tuscaloou County 8ar ..... <)<l.oll"o
11'• •'1oTl! .l.ndtrlOO Scc ~ I.'Y
Monlgomory County Bar A.."dotion
Tm: AlABAMA lAWYER
w;
"'>$, Ann L Sori" .n ~! Ivt !TItml>o. oi lilt lI,nrungNom 80.
"".,<i.lion .nd tho AI.bam.
S\.1to s"r """. \975. died on Foh""'!';' 17.1995;'00 I'..... ru.o. Ann WOO • ""I ..... oi ~ ond sho "...ru.led ,n lullt 1943.u ' ... ;11,. «1 nur$l' from Ilo-.,>.d Colltil' .M in M.y 1974 f,om Cumhtrland School 01
...
of C.".,.... y M.Lhodi,t M,dlU! Con_ I." r,lI"", . llomoys of 1M bar. and lroe <ommuMy.t 1.0'\10 ht",,£t.d f, om 1M mIIRY hours <II U"Jli. dedicolOon • ..tv;c.
<u
Annie L. Sorge
~
1I"he .."" Ann hod app,01llnat ,ly ~5 yea .. oi .. ",;Co 01 C''''''">1I !'I<lho,J,,] Mtdical C,ntor in vaflOW posiliM<, ouch .. scrub nun., di,«!o. of nu ... ing . nd
.........,,1 a.lrrun..uatOf. Sho ..rvod on tho
IH».nl '" d"'KI<M'S .t CaN>W>Y JoItLhod..c Ho,p,I.I, .nd ",tlr.d.s tho ..",I.nl admonim"lo' .nd m-hoo .. coo",,1 for Cam,...y Method;,] 1l00!',I.I, """ ",her.a.. Ann "'OJ ,«08ni.,d .nd highly f$nl«l b)' both tho m<docal and log;.! rrolu.sioru. Sh< .. 1Wd on tho Mtdical Liaioon Commin .. oi 11>0 bar. and Il)I 'ombining h" <],, 111 ... "gi,t.,.d nur>< and 1110""1. p;oti<1ll>. <mpk>,.
:and 00II1"IIl1 shr >0 / ...Iy rtndrrtd: and \I'M ..... Mn i. "'''';"... t>y lit. hoJs.
hand, !!aymon~ D, So.go:, four child"n. Shuo" Jot o'lI.n. [)onni. So.g •. lohn So" •• nd T...... Adam.: .I<pmol""., Jot ... w.n .. C, CIuI; NO ,,,I..,, DUn V.ndtgroft.r.d Ikrtha Shirkey, ar.d ...... n gr>nd<hiW,rn; >r.d 1I"hr..... , Ann_.n 'rupiDhon 10.11 c",ing and dovolrd 1't""L< who had tilt pl ... m, 01 know,nll hOI. 11', h ..,by "pr... our d..p .. g>rd for Ann 5<"g' .nd our profound .oou of los. In Iho flOO'i"ll 01 ,.." coIluguo who .. Md OIlr ",o(eulon '" .... n. J, I'rtdric In""m l'... kltol Birmingham Illt Ao_i>liooI
t""
.. C
Carl Webster Bear
I Wobm. 8 .... 80 •• lonillm. '''''"'', bu$1 ...... and bo, Irado,. dird on Monday. October 18. 1993_ H. and hi. f.mily "'en p.ominenl in do;c and blUlnu, aIbi .. In MMlaornrry and theml.oI~
Carl Ikv gradu>l«I (rom
W~\ng!on
.Ii ILe Unlvtnity in Luinglon. \I".. g,ni.
.r.d ncoi ... d hi, law .k~, •• from II>< Unl' ....,Iy 01 A1aIwna Uw School. It. rrx' herd I..... in Ih. 1~40" .nd Ihen Itft praclice 10 JOIn hi. I.,IIt, .nd brothe .. In ilr., Lumbe. CMI","Y'r.d lit" n,olhe.. CONtru(lion. Carl Ikv _ • the AIob.wno ""',,' reform .....wm.." 01 the lair 1960s • nd .. ,Iy 1970<. "'hich ... ult.d In Iht .doplion 01 the Jud ici.1 A,lid, 01 the Alab.:lm, Con.Hlulion. Recauu of hIS ~I tfforl> for judicial rtfo,,". Cvl Boo, "'U .",..d,d tilt p... hlllOU. 11 .. , hort Lincoln llarl<y Awo,d of lilt Amtn<on ludic~lure SaCl<ly in 1974 in recognitton of h" service in p.omo\mll the ttloch.. odrnin..c ... tton d j ...her and court mod..nL<>liQn ,n ~
ie_. '"
Carl S •• , and hi. (.mily wort prorrunomt
for
II\U1)' )'tA"
in
~
""""'liorW
H...... C""I""",, 0111>< bo>rd 01 d"wa .. 01 Monlgomtry Acaoltmy in it. for .... ti ... ye .... II, " '", alloO pro"'i· ""1'11 in bw, ...... and covic oIbirsln Monl· _ry and the .t.ott 01 A1abarno. II, ..... • fonn .. prnident <>f II>< M0<11*"",fY .nd St.ol. 01 AIaba .... dIolmbr .. 01 com· 1I1<<C<: a la"","r membe. 0I1ht boa.d of di.octo .. of II>< YMCA in Monta"""ry: .nd a lo.m .. ",.mbo. 01 Ih~ boa.d of dlrcrton <>fW<SI.m Rait....~ ci Alabama. C•• I 8.......... d ., an officer in tho Unll«l Stal.. NlV)' In Wo.ld War n. Now, therefore. br II ,..loI...<d tN.t the Montgomery Bar A»o<ullon to •• membo, .nd I<collm" C.. I 8 ... ', .... n~ OIltsl.nd,ng <onl"bulion. 10 OUt prof.»ion .nd to this communIty. and do.. '" '<sol". by lh. od",,110n ()/ thIS ,t>oIubon.
do,,,..
Ernest Ray Acton
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l><, .... t:m<.1 Roy Acton , ..... mbr, of lhe Monlgomtry Coont~ Ba. AlI«Ulion. diHI at the >tI< 01 72 on S<pu.... r1. 1m: and Whe,us, ~ •. Ac1on. a gr.rod .... l. 0111>< Univt .. ity of Alaham>. ..,,'«I hi. county wllh d;'bn.:hon dunng Iht Stcond World II'.....",ng In lhe Eu~ lhal .. 01 Op ... lion. at .uch pl...... Om.ha lIt;.ch , Ilaotognt.nd R..... g.n;.nd Wilt ..... M,. i\c1Ol1 ..""II '" "",,..,r ()/ !t~ from 195:!·56. but lool< time olf f.om Iht JOb tn 1954 10 .."" .. II>< mlillary ""')'0< 01 PIIonir C,ly ,,-hen .... rhallow ..... .kcla.. d: an<I \\'11< ..... Mr. Aclon .. rvtJ u ... i.t.o,,1 V.S. AttOfT'l<1ln Binningham du"fIlI the turbuL<nt 19600 before ;o;nll\llll>< >tat, AllOm<y c. ... roJ·, oQff tn 1971 ond lau • .. IVIng os chltl <001'1 ..1 /or tilt AlaN"", [)rp,>rtrro.nt of 1'01>1;" Softty: and 1I"hr,.... /01, Acton .,.nl 4B)'U .. in public ""'''''. lOll. 1'"00" In munici",,1 t/O'I<mmtnt. ton l'"Oa" 10 /C<ier>1 ~""'m m<nt. 20 ye ... In .Utl. ilO',,,nment .nd in Ih. acli •• mIlitary .. ",i" during whICh public ... vi« he "'" """"";1>1< /of COIIYICllng. IfT1I'tKhing or otl><rwi........,..;"lI innu ..... rabl. di.lhonell public official.; and Wh ........... uP'''' our .nduring rtg.>nI _ _ I /of OOr dUlInt/Ui>hed tOIlt.agut ""'" seMd ou. prof.... on. ou. lIat •• nd OIl' counlry in such an ... m pt.ry man ... r
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CLASSIFIED NOTICES RATES: Me mbe,..: 2 'ree 6S11flgS oI50words 0I1Hs per bar membe< per calendar year exCEPT !of "posrtoon want· edt OI"poI.Ition o/fefed" IisIJngs - S35 per irlSerloon d 50 words orle$$. $ .50 per 8d(lit;onal WOld, Nonmembe,.: S35 per insertlOO 0150 words 01 less. $.50 per adDtoonal WOld Ctamied copy and paymenl must be rec&tVed accordng 10 tile IoIlowmg pobIistuog schedule July '95 In .... - deadline May 19, 1995. hpt . ....r '95 i ..... - deadlIne July 15. 1995. no deadline &xtenSlOf\S wia be made Send class~ied copy and payment. payable 10 The Alabama Lawyer, 10 AJabams Lawyer Classlheds. c /o Marg.arel M\lfphy , P 0. Box 4156. Monlgocnery. AJabama 36101
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FSS. Diplomat. {ce",fied}-ABFCE. Member: ASOOE; 1A1; SAFDE; NACOL. Rewrne and tee Id>e<)uIe upon request Hans May.. Old len. 218 Merryman! OrNe, Augusta. Georgia 31)9(17. Phone
(106)1!160-.2&7. LEGAL RESEARCH : Legal research help. Expeo"'Qd~. rr.. "bar 01 Alabama Stale Bar III'ICII 1977. Ao::ess to stal. law library. WESTLAW avail..... PfompI cIN;IIine , . <J ...l. $ar.oh KIothtytl FI''''', t 12 Moot, BuiId"'O. MonlQOlMfY. Alabam~ 361().t. PhooI (33-4) 277· 7937. No is mad!! l/lal IhI qu8Jily 0( 1h118gaI_·
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FORE NSIC DOCUMENT eXAMINA · H'JlC!w'~lng, ly\IIWriIing, " II .. ed doQJ.....-u, ~ ~, wits. con_ _ . deeds. CfIIICkI. anonymous IeIIon. caun qo Of .. years expao;. ...:.. CertiIied: ........an Board cf Forenlie: Oocumenl e ..mine.s . Mllmba< : ",,*,,*, SocoIIy 01 ().oastJon8d Oo<:u. Ex--... ArnIrican Academy cf TION :
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INSURA NCE EXPER T WITNESS : Bad laim N,. "ims. Origin and ca<iH consuIIInVe.per1. tx::.nSId ..:!jus. for 29 .,...r • . Cer1,hed I~. and axplosion 1nve"'11~IOfAnS1I'11C1Of. Invesllg"1OYI " Fife ConsullaliYI ~ . Inc .. 3258 e,h-,,- Heights Road. Blfm'ngham . AI,bamll 352'3·161 • . Phone (800) 591·~. JIm Posey. Jlflsiden1. Fa.
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MEO,,,TOR : Anorney w,th extllnshle medialion training. Or....." education and . xperienol in porchology. All types 01 caMI. WiN travel J1;ItewiOO. Reason· able 'M. ~jS$8 G, Math. ChamblHS. Coone' " M'th. 5720 Ca ,micha el Road. Montgomery . "'abama 36t17. f'tlanI (33<1)272·2230. Fwr (33<1) 272· 1955. No repr.HIlllrioll is mOOe rhat lile queJjl)' 0I1h11eg11 Mn0c8S 10 t>f I*bh>W. gtIII'" II>an lie qualify 01
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Need shelYlng1 W. sell ne w. b,and name . steel and wood shI!Mng at dis· count prIcft. F,ee <!'Jot... 1·800·279· 779S1. N,~ law AasaufOll.
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• EQUIPMENT LEAStNG & FIN"NCING : 00 rou need ~I lor VOl" Llw oI6c:oI 0< 1IuoIiI'lesI? My type; I . ~ 01' ~ ' 1'$IIfTlS. oIIico fumj. lure . copie ... comm",cl.1 equipm"nt, lite. Any amount: Irom $.2.500 10 $ mil· lion • . "ny location. You selllcl: wo /inatIoI. lei .... buy ~ and lease ~ to rou. P,ompt Hrvk:a. No husle. Call B,ad Oarna' (~of !he Alabama State Bar) at I ·80(1.373-!1602. Oamal Enter· priNt, ~ Iearog & tn.Iang . EXPERT WITNESS; ProIeuronaI eng!. e.nd eno."", w,'h prac1lCtl ot e"P8'11i1S1O'nony In constructron. saleI)'. hrgl'lway alld I1I'11C1U,aI design . Tt."ty )'I¥S e'l'l'ienctt In highway. railroad. CO<I'II'I'I¥Cia buik!irlgS and powe' plMt conltruC1lO11 . Caft or W,itll for ,esumll. ten : lama. T. Hawk,n • • 950 22nd SI'"I. No.th, $yile 632, Bi'mi~gham. Alabama 35203. Phon. (205) 456·
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. . . ot fringe Denefitl. Send ,osume and HI,ry history to : larry T. My''- ' President. Wa"anty Co,poration. One W."anl y PI.u. HOD Govornmenl f'IouIevatd. ~.
Alabama 36693.
ATTQRNEY JOBS : Indispenubl, mondIIy jab--hunIing bIAetn listIng
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nationwide and ab.oad . O.dll' lhe NaIionaI n Fedtrll llOill Errpovment RIpatIIrom: Fedetal Reports, 1010 Ver· mont A-.... NW, Su4e oIOII-AS. wasr..
Ington . OC 20005. 539-3 months : S69--6 rnor'IIhS. Ptcne (800) 296·9611 . VilaiMC.
Tl tE M.ABAMA Lo\\\'YICR
Cumberland School of Law of Samford University Continuing Legal Education Fall, 1995 Seminar Schedule September 8 September 15 September 22 September 23 September 29
OcIober 6 OcIober 6 October 8-10
OcIober 13 OcIober 20 Oclober 27
November 3 November 10
Health Cere Law - Birmlrlgham (co-sponsored by Baptist Health System, loc.] Legal Wrlllng Workshop - Birmirlgham Expert Witnesses - Birmingham How To Prepare and Try a Soft 'T1ssue Injury Case Binningham Recen\ Developments In Criminal Law and Proce dure Birmingham
6th Annual Bankruptcy Law seminar - Birmingham AUBA ClE Conference: Ethics f or Lawyers and Judges Auburn (co-sponsored by Cumberland School of Law] 30lh Anniversary Conference on Ihe Voting Rights Act of 1965 - Birmingh am (co-sponsored by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute] Alternative Dispute Resolullon In Alabama - Birmingham Winning Numbers: Accounting and Finance f or Lawyers Birmingham New Alabama Rules of Evidence - Birmingham
November 17
9th Annual Workers' Compensation seminar - Birmlrlgham Advanced Jury selecllon: Making the Process Work f or You with Wdliam A. Barton - Birmingham Representing Alabama BusInesses - Birmingham
December December December December December
Employment law - Birmingham Recent Developments for Ihe CIVil litigator - Mobile Recent DevelopmenlS for the Civil litigator - Birmingham Class Action lawsuIts - Birmingham ClE By ll1e Hour - Birmingham
1 \ 7 15 2 \ -22
Brochures speci!ically describlrlg the topics to be addressed and a listing o! speakers for each a! the seminars will be mailed approximately S<~ weeks prior to the seminar. It for any reason you do not receive a brochure for a particular seminar, write Currbertand CLE. 800 Lakeshore Drive, Birmlrlgham. AL 35229-2275, or ca1t87()-2865 or 1-800-888-7454. Additional programs and sites may be added to the sdledule.
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