Lawyer 7 96 web by Alabama State Bar Association

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Our Success! * *" OnJuly 1, 1996, AIM started its eighth year of operation providing malpractice insurance with stable rates , quality coverage and dedicated service to its insureds.

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Official Oxle, Alabama Cases, And The Only Alabama Administrative Oxle OnCD,ROM. AComprehensil<, Int£gTared Sysrem. E...yrhing YOI< Need For Your Alabzma Research. Whm;t o:on-..:! to builJil\l: your pr1IC!lC~, AlaNa"" u...~ i> t .... foundation for success. With Aboo!J\ll <Ales. OffIC .. l Scorurory Oxlt, and AdminiM""".., O:..k on (DROM. LNOrJ/c 1:n"tll5lalt-d,~an IfI<hnoIogy tu A~ prunary la., CRatIng thr moll coo.q.tlomso."" .ru..n1lllM: 1tpI-.....:c ......1abk in Alabama. And .... th • ~ ktrI<rok <II """""" dd:, th. ro-..m..I 'YI'~ links 10 ~ Asuo-Cwl l1SCS:" AntJ ... U.1d """", ~ ,1 for ~If. For mon: informatIOn, or to arnnge a oo-obIia;:ltlOO dtmoru.!rauon, call 1-800-762-527Z.

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l.a\\}ers COOpl'ratM' Publishing" Imp:/,............lcp.wm

Cumberla.nd School or Law Continuin, Lepl Education Tht Cumbtriand School of law of SwIford Unive!5iry Is Ioddxed 10 the mmy AbIwna auomty5 and judgts who contributtd thtir omt am:! cxptnist 10 pbnnlng and sptaking at our tducation scmlnar5 during the: 199H996 acadtmlc year. Wt gratefully admowkdgt the: contributions of the rollowing individuals 10 the sucass of our OE programs. Hon. William M. Ad"""Jr. Jimmy E. Altxandcr Bibb Allen K. RIck AlvI$ 1..&Ik1!a S. Alvis Orrin It Ama. III HMoId I. ApoIInsl<y !L(: E. !II"" Jr. WIIo: R. 1IIrIno:.. Mdfoni G.Ibsa..]f.

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Michael L &til Steven A. Benefield T. Brad IlIshop AbancicrJ . Bolli Jr. Lee w. Bookn W111brn M. !Iowen. Jr. G<7J. Albrn P. Brewer

Rlchlll"ll J. Brockman MqJTtt Y. Brown RIchard E. Brownl",

Hon. Jl<k CMidc:R Han. John C. c.lhcun. Jr.

Andrew P. c.npbeQ a.m F. Carr

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Chm Tyler CIarIt

Han. SuI; StU Cobb Han. IknJamtn G. Cohm Charles D. Cole Ted Co\qu<u J05(ph A. Colquitt Edward O. Cor.er\y Han. Ralph D. Cool< Dun. It Cc:rlisf M. DcnaId DiMs.Jr. Theresa S. Dean Grtaorr M. OdI!Ch DMtI R. Donaldson Riclwd T. Domun

Susan D. Doo&hwn Han.Jotl F. DubInI ]. Rlclwd Duke

Raben W. !L(:. Jr. John A. Lcnrln<

Ann Z. ElHou

John f.

Michael].

GrqgB. &mu

DoroIhy W. UlIkwn L~. III MlchII:l B. Maddox

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Tho::xnM]. Mahcx>cy,]f.

T. Rae rnzn II limy V. fudm:k Dougbs L FnedI!\Jl\

DIYidH. Mmh

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Hen. Edwzd B.

DanldL~

Chmes W. GambIt.

IIru(:e

W. LewIs GIII"Non.]f.

J. Anthony McUin

Ikth H. Gerwin 5<tphm R. G~ Edwm:l C. Gre.nt;

\Wliam T. Mills, II Hon. Tam ... O. Mltchen MIl: M. Moom p. Russt:1 Myles Rd.,.tcJ A. Nonnore Usa NamJI-Mtiid Carol Sue Nelson Ralph R. Nornm\. III

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W. McCollum tWeomb Junes O. Haley HOI\. Lewis H. Hamner Hon. Arthur J. Hanes, Jr. Rick E. Harris

Jock H. lUnIson Slcphcn D. Hcntrccr Ridurd L HoIma; Jl1$IIttJ. Gcmun lb$Qn,Jr. M. Ann Hucbttp

Edwin E. Humpluqs Garvt W.Ivty,Jr. G.

Dour;Ias J~

Ja.p<r P. Juliano Jobn M. Kant! VIctor Kelley Justice Mark Kennedy 1~

C. Kl", Lo:tgh Ann Kl", }t;fFrq C. Kilby john T. Klrlt

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"""" MIchad 0R. """"" PtnnIngwn

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Joseph D. Phelps Dmlw: J. Pomeroy Ch.tes J. Poos SaInI.. ~D n.om... M. I't>wdl IUrlm L Prater. W James R. I'tau. III PhIllip B. PI1tt R. Davtd Proctor

Leslie M. ProIl T. MIch.d Putrwn IIni<:e A. Rawls Tho::xnM E. h)O>Olds Jdftty C. Ricbrd A)., T. RgpI

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Elizabeth H. Shaw BWer SI>erlIng.Jr. Wilbur G. Sllbmnan Kenneth O. Simon Thcma!I D. SImIln GraIwn L Siw:n.]f. Hon..lamc:s S. ~ CbmItt M. SrnaD.]f. G..,c. SmIth Gill)" G. s-ko

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J_ H. ScmIes

'MIl!om B. Sttwan R G. SulIMn

",,",,0_ RIehm! H. ToyICII" HOI\. CharId A. Th." W. Tmy1"l"m Unny S. VInes Han. J. Scott Vowdl

CharlIe D. WaIdftp liowwd P. Walthall Mlehad R. Wam!ty john E. Wortm. III Gal C. WaVIlngwn WIIIWn W. WIm, lU john f. WhItaker J. MiIrk Whltc Jm; f. Whitt;. Jr. John P. WhluInf;ton J. MIchad Williams, Sr. J....cs C. Wilson, lr. 1"hom. A. Woodall Cathy S. 'MIght Rlclwd A. 'MIght Han. Sb.on G. YIlle5 J. Gusty Yumut lar A. Yen

TheAlabama Jul,l 1996

..... <'ow Pktuml an tltt ~ .... BIrmingham ~ltcmtJI N. L« ' - <md his rik Jo,. daug/llo- CaIMriM rmd son C/<lrl<. ~ ""'" pFIIClka I<'ilh ,'''' firm 01 Mayroard. ~ & (;ql~. «'ill """_ off/a in AuguJI as praidtnl 0111>1 Amtric"" &If Autxitllioo, 11>1 I«fIftII It> do 10. Hit if abo ,",Iurwi ~ hr ,'Bmdt & &r ~ "llhil_~ AnnI.d Hm"W. -I'ttoIo ~ Ci/rirlf1S oIl.lIan/a

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IN THIS ISSUE SPRING AD~lmES ..................................203 LAWYERS IN THE FAMily ..............................205

STATISTICS OF INTEREST .................•.........•..207

LtTrER TO THE EDITOR ...• , .••........••..... "•..•.. 210

LAw DAY 1996 .... .... ...... ...... .. ................219

By Susan Cullen Andersoo .. _... , ... , . .. ..• , ..

....220

ROAD Suow'96 .................................... .240 PUNITIVE OA."1ACES AND PR~;'VEROIcr PROCEDURES

LIFE Of GOORCIA: A BoU) NEW FRONTIER lIy J)a,.iJ Carr and RacMI Slnden Coch....n ....•••.......••..225 SUPREME COORT Of ALA8A."IA - FE.\r OF CLAY By J. Gorman Hom!:on, Jr............................... 236

BAD FAITH: DoEs IT APPLY TO SURETIES IN AwIA.~lA? By R. COOptr Shattuck ..................................241 ~"_'~

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Alabama Bar Institute

far Continuing

Legal Education ALABAMA LAwYERS SERVING ALABAMA LAWYERS

a member of tIx MalJlblory Continuing Legal Education Comminion and an Adjunct ~ As

Professor at the Univtl'5ily of Abballlll School of uw, I am I

firm a(h~te of continuing legal rducation. Alabama pridu itself on having f('lIM 01 1M I'in$ and most competent bwyel1 in the

world. They recogni~ the need for renewing their knowledge and kuping CUTTcnt wilh the Irmds aoo d芦isions of the law. ~

.J. Mason DIvis, Jr. Sirolc & Pnmuu, P.C. Binninghllm, Alabl.ma

Call ABICLE al \.800-627路6514 or 205.348-6230 f~ program infOflNlion.

PRESIDENT'S PAGE BN John A. Onom

M)OUr no longer sums /I signifi·

cant 01 O this lasl article gou to p.eM (fll(lh

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tlut will be the aPllroximate time 1 wilt ha~ :serwd as p~sident of the ~ma Stat~ Bar. Although we haw aocomplishtd much this )'UT. 1htr. lIU itill many "Joost

mds" which 1Il0l)( \0 lie !,*the1' ",;111 the two mmings ol tht booord of bar commiaionrn. We IYw commitl.. I't\lOI'IS - ' propou,ls for Iht Man.agt'menl Auillan« Program and /I fH 0...,.,,, Ruolu\lorl mtCNnism, both of which I ~'C "Ti\t(11 ;about ;m;I Wbd

Spotlighting Committees and Task Forces

about .:onsidtrab/y during this ~ar. We an doing what we a.n to work with 1m JudldoJ Inq\&lry Commlu ion to try to impr{M upOn lilt tOM of the UpcOming judicial elections. We ha~ worlred hard /III yelIT \0 try to pruel'Yt !..tga! SerJices C<lrporati()n, \\'.IIT. hosting II ronle.<'nC. ~y 3(1111 tbe ~ Stott lin to disaw this subjtd and acass lor Iht poor 10 Ifgal KNi«1 gfnerall}'. Bar ludtrs. community !&deI'S, 5OCilo1 se.vius igencoes and othtrs IIU being inYilfd is I writ•. ThtT. lire always nomef'OUl iuuts and projfds ongoing within 1ht Abba ..... St.>t. Bar... ....,11 .. an OppOrtunity for service. with an ~ tOW3ord improving lilt lelt/ll profession, to ~ilt )'O\l and)'Oll' ilbility to .. ,,'"

YOU' ditnu. I had plaon«! to dtvOle seve",1of tMM Jrtkles to tilt work ofvarioos rommitttfS. tn the Srptmlbtr 1995 issue. I wrote aboul tho: Solo and Small Firm l'nc1iliontrl YUle fOfU.,..,...1 mnding comm;tI~. and the new YUle foon

tho:

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OiJpule Ituotulioo. In

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Clitnl SKurit)o Fund CommittH ond the Citiunlhip Eduation Commitk<l:.

TMn was J stpiIrate article in tilt same issue about tilt Uo.authoriud F'Yactia of Law CommUt~. Still. this banly touches on S()ITN! of tilt work of rIVe of our 39 committees and task forces. All of the commlltus with their members

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_r. pub\islltd in tilt Srpttmbor 1995 iss~ of 11NI Alabama /.QICy0"' and all of tilt> wk forces with their members were publi.htd in lilt Novembo:r ]995 issue. Yti. this II still scant ncognition for all of the work oJone by tho: 863 men and womm who .....:)Tk on our rommitlea and U$lc for~. Whtn t am uIIed. as I oftm am. -..'hat tho: AIWmlI SUtt Bu doH for tilt _ ... ~. for tilt trial ~. for the sole prxtitiontr. etc.. I lik( 10 aR5Wtr by pointing 10 the work of our39 commitlHS and U$lc foras. the work of the boird of bar commissioners. the work of the boird of bar ua.mi,",rs. tho: work of the sections of the AlaI:>ama Stat. i!.Ir. and tho: work of our outstand· ing bar .taff. I am using this final article to lpotlighlt ...-o more of thue rommit· t... and Ia.Ik forcts.

Lawyer R.fen_1 Service The Lawyl'r Rdemt Smi~ consisu of 13 memben; chosm frtNTll3 districts sd out in tho: by~ They Ire urn ;1ppOintN for thrtt-yQr ttfTRl. nus )'UI" the comm'U~ il chaired by Cft"'ry A. It_ I ci o..c..tur....ith Daniel C. Ham of Montgomery se",,;ng as vKt-Chair. Its members come from Cullman. Ftoren<:e. Fairhope. Dothan, Enterprise. Demopolis. Prattville. Birmingham, AleMOOt. City. Ga.b<.!en. Wetumpka, Hunt.lVilit. Thscatoo .... Montgomery. Gulf ShortJ. Daleville. Grttnsbo1'O. Auburn. and Anniston. Joh.n C. Cullabom of Albertvin. is the boird of bu rommissiooen; Iwson. Ed PllttllOn i:I the Ii;.ison and Kattw.riow Cre~r is its director. IWheriow is the tm~ioyft ...-00 makes

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the service .....:)Tk.

When I bta~ prWdm!"*Iert.. t stwiN the ~noul fundionl of the bar more clostly. r dtddtd \(l become ~ par· ticipating member of the I.RS. so I paid Ill)' $50 and listtd the areas in .... hich I ....ould accept CMtJ. I ha"" betn ~maud at the number of reftmts. M()$t ha""

rtwUed only in I~~ w.i«, buI ~ O(lUpie led 10 a desirable businw in

which I was able to render service and p;lid a rusonable fee. I asked Greg RHYeS to write i wmmary 01 whal m would like 10 ccmmoniaote 10 the bu ibout 1m LRS, lie ",Titn: ..",. AlaJ:>ama Lawyer Rrierlll ~rvic. was Htabhwd in 1978 as a se""';« 10 the public.. The LRS opmtn to IIddress the I'ftds d a borge if1Immt oIsoxitty whouimpiy does not " ' - ' how to find a lawyer. TM p;lrticip;lting attorneys. Or 'p.mel member&,' alloO benefit from lhe LRS bII rKeiving mmals in \hfir p;lr· tkubor area 01 prXIitt. An incidental bemfit to our bar :wociation. as ~ whole, is the pOtentially enhanctd imase sained bII sponsoring the iRS as an organizalion dordicated 10 _Wing 1m public locate the 'right" ~ for their pmkular nerd.. The LRS makes ref.mls throughout the sllott. with the e~ception 01 Madison. Jdfuwn and MotMk counties. which

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" - their own

IoaI rriernd wvitt.

I~r. attomtyS practicing in those counties with I local refeml service

may belong to the sllote LRS if th'Y desire to IwKlIe Clst:I in wrroundil\ll C(lUnties. Our LRS recriYes I great number d calli each day. The LRS rderrrd 17.957 prOllpecli~ clienls 10 panellmmber ~IIOITII')'S belWftn the monthi 01 Ju ... I, 1994 and JIIOt 30. 1995. The majority d !hut calli are gentr.lted bIIVel10w ~ advertising. As an ilddrd benefit. the LRS has a toll-fru number for Ihe publie to ....... The iRS is not to be confusrd with a pro bono merral prognm. The PlOtI membn allormys may ntgOIiate tmir leu with the referred prospective clients. As IDCh. the LRS S....1l11y caters to the middle class Kgmmt 01 our iOCidy. lhoH individwols who WI ~Ofd an ~ttomty, btlt simply do not know who to call. The monetary value 01 referlll servica is being rttCgniud bIIlN.r 1IUOCialions ... tionwi<k, U many mtrral services now rece"" pen:en~ d the fees genmted blithe referrals. In this WlIJ. the servien are able to btcomr xif-wpportiflll, and, in ......." i~ shaft funds gtnmoted with other bar ccmmitteu. such u pro bono services. The sllote LRS il

prnmlly considtring the implementa· lion oIa fee perun\a# syslem in the ...aT fulure. Ailormys interested in joining the 1.RS as ~ ~rticipating PlOtI membtr may writt to 1m ~r Refm;al Service. P.O. Il0:l671. Montgomery, AlaJ:>ama 36101. Or oonlloct Kath.rin. Crumer at 1-800-354-61504 for an application and I top)' d the iRS nalQ. 11>t iRS l"fQUiTfS a mrmborship fee 01 $50 and pnxi of malprxtice insullnce coverage in an amount nol less than SIOO.{)()(VJOO.OOO. In wmmary. the AWwn..1.RS is II "win·",in" prognm.1or the individual who Ioc.ites an lItlOmt}> through the service and for the participating aUornt)'S who iliin rww clients. .Iudiclal s...ctlon Roi>m P. ~nnillon d MobIle. Alabama has chaired this task for« for ,Ix ~l". Carol su~ Nelson 01 8inninghom is its Yke-dWr. Rick Manley dDtmopolis is the bond 01 IN.r commisuonm liaison. The worll which Bob and his \a5k fora: have ateOlllplished is astounding. Although unfQrtu ... trly none d it has TfSulted in legislalion. Bob Dmniston has made hUTllelf j)(rhipI: lhe mosl koowled#lIlle j)(rsoIl on the lubject of judicial selfction. The IUk fora: has prt.M:nted many _ll-rnsoned and _ll...;orWdmd 1'f'lIlOSOb 10 lhe board d bu com· missioners. Although none 01 them have I'd made their way into \n;. Bob dou not get \liKOlJragro and h~ and hi, task force 110 forward. They providtel oulSWlding meuch and mouree wpport for the Third Citiwls Conference which did ultimately rec· ommend non ·partisan elfction of judges. The board 01 bar commiJl.ion." has .in tI1oIIorJed ~t ~L I iI$krd for some comments from Bol.s committee members. T'ypielll il the following from Carol Sue Nelson: "First. I cannot tell you what an honor, pleawre and privilrge it has beflI..oocing with Bob Dmniston durIng lhe past several years on the task force. lie has W(I,k~d tirelessly to bring ibooJt judicial reform in Alabama in lhe way"'"1: selKl OUT judgu. Bob iu man who displllJs integrity. leildtrshi!'. commitment.nd mergy toward I goal thllt is not just Important to him. but

to thllentire state. His ~I II to dMolOIll belt.r way 01 xlecting judges 10 insure integrity. impartial ity and oonfitience ",th .. fun and /.iIir owortunity for minority rtpO"aentation on the Hench. ~te many i'rmtlltionl and rOIHl bkrls Bob has continued to chalI.ngo OUr task for« to remain aclive ~nd pursue monn. H. has done this Ilnpile lhe floc! lhal ......." d our mrmbe" " - been rudy to dOOmd." ! Wc:e this fi ...1opportunity 10 express TIl)' gralitude to Hob ~nnislon and to all 01 the other committee chairs. co-chairs and mnnbers, 10 the board 01 bar commissioner&, the board dlN.r uaminen. the bar staff. and all the mall)' other people who .... ke our ll.()()()..plus member associalion the best bar a:ssociallon in IMK United .,,~

r ~Iso thank the mtir. bar for the opportunity to serve as your president. It is .. high honor. It is an Ufltrienc~ tIw Dot and I will che""" fortvtr. [ Ieaw the bu in the good and capable hands d Warnn Lightfoot who ii_II supported bII Keil h Norman ~nd an ouWanding bar $t.off. Thanks again. •

COLLECTIONS SOFTWARE?

Wortl'lrfecl t Word I~Itlfatt COLLECTaMAX"'

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT BV Keith 8. NQn1!1m

ne of my responsibilities j. to review the applkations of individuals ~ek·

O ing admission to the bar.

l\pplic.anl$ must disclose all education loam.! have boen monitoring the ~ducational debt load of

for the last two years. and I am very concerned about the amount of

applic.lnt~

Educational

DebtA Heavy Load for Law School Graduates

debllaw school gradual.. art accumulat· ing. Thi, level of debt i. truly stunning!

Ther. ",er. 287 people ,,-110 look Ih. Februar}' 1996 bar ex.tmination for 1M first 111m. On. hundrro and forty-eight. or 51 percent. had borfO'ol.'td monty to finance their high .. ~ucation. Their 10im amounts r~n from a few thousand dollars \0 more than $~IHlOO! The debt a"~rag.d aPl'rm;imat.l~ $35,000 per applicant. lWically, lOOe educationalioans aceroe

inle, •• t al an annual rate of 7.0 ptl«nl and 1m" a "'P'l';Tn<nl ptriod of ten years. Monthly payments for S35,ooo would IJ.e $400. By comparison. the monthly payment on $90.000 tiMnced for ten ytar. at 7.0 percent i5 more than SUIOQt This debt load is significant bf:<:ause graduates generall~ llave rtnt to pa~.• car payment. imuran,e and a host of other t~pen5es. Associat •• ju.t out of law school ..coive salaries in AlabaIN tllat range from SZl.OOO to $65.000. Most position. pa~ in the low S30 •. Needless the sal'. if ~ grad""te i. unable to find legal employment in the private or pub· lie seclon. the only rtmaining Options are hanging out a .hingle Or see~ing non·legal employment. These options mayor may not prove to be very remu· neralive in Ihe beginning. As poinled OUI in an articl. IhiIt appeared in Ihe Janual)' 1996 iss~ of The Aldwma LaII"!lIilT. recent law schoolgrad""le. in Alabama are facing ~ struggle finding legal employment. Law school graduates in other ,tate. are finding tllat legal employment is more difficult to corne by now than in recent ytaT5. Although the number of students applying to law school, has

been (\eM" the last Wltral yt.rs. there Itill appear to be morel.w school grad· uate. tllan j-obs. In spite or the tight job market for lawytrs. we are uperi.ncing record numbers of applicant. silting for the bar examinalion and being certified. In Ihe fi~·ytar period of 1991 to 1995. the number of law school graduates taking the bar examination incre~ by 4; percent. The number of examinees who """tre certified was 30 percent higher in 1995 than in 1991. With iocreasing competition and decreasing job prospects. the education debt load of SO many i. ,",use for COilcern. I am oot alone in •• prossing thi. concern. J haw seen arlicl.. dealing with this issue in two ..cenl state bar magazines-The P0m511/lJOnia Lau·!I'" and lhe Oregun Siale Bor Bullelin. ~\y COncerns are prim1l.ily twofold. Fint. a high debt load rompounds the other daily pressures of a law prilCtict. MortO\"tr. Ihis addilional pressure romes at a time when the new lawyer pOSSesses the least amount of knowl· tdge about Ihe prilCtice 01 law. This is also Ihe time when the new laW)'t'r is probably the 1nO';\ vulnerabl~ to these pressure •. Second. high debt levels may force the new laW}"tr \0 consider ;oil pro5P"<ts ba.<td purely On r.naoci.1 reasons. For example. a new Iav.;.. r with high debt =y prefer a IO"-"tr paying public-in\erel;t job. bUI choose anotMr;oll becau~ it pays a higher ..lary. This is lruly unfortunate . Whenever the independence of. lawyer·. judgment is affect.d. regard· Ifss olthe reason. the public and profession sullu. Considering the .tatistics or Ihe last f....· yean. 1 beli,,"t that this probtem will become more ilCute . While there i5 nO quick and in •• pens;ve fix. on. thing """t COlI do;s counsel pro.pecti,"t law 5tudents about the problems ofhigh (Caltinwd "" page 2Q2J

We know)'OOr

Iimt is \'lIuabIe. so we'D rome rigIIt to the point Did )'00 know)'Ollr member.;hip

in lhe Avis Associalioo Program e!ttilies yoo 10 a tKI!I 01 special ,1,,1$ setI'icf:s and diKounts that C&II save you klI$ 01 time and money! F(lI' irt!l&llCe, )'OIl'~ rligible Iof savings 01 111'% off AI1$ SIlperValue Weekly rales. 5% off promotional rates aoo 5% off Alis Mini-lease rate ~ rtntal$ at all plIticipating locaIions. Shop arouoo. Yoo路' 600 Avis ila:ssomt 01 lilt 1ooo"t'Sl rates in lilt ino::k.I$by. And willi the Avis W"123ld Sf$tmI,)'OII GIl rectM oor be!.l: available rate wlIeI1 )'OIl mention )'OIlr A,1$ WOI'kIwide Discoo nt (AWO) number. A530 I00.

,-----------------------------------, Especially For Alabama State Bar Meml>ers

$15 Off Avis Weekly Rat..!

AI1$ also has w:1ling. new inOO\.r~ senittf designftI to ~ you on tht __ fliChiOl芦 .... oIIeG you up4o>the mirlll~ flight inlonnation rigtd in oor ar Ittum 101. 芦(lI'Olpielt with a (roIpIltH print-out al major airpon locations. And ROPlt Na'~tor":' available al 5eN!ct aUport ioations. is a poinHo-point d~~em that prv;ides you with directiom

10 multiple de5linationson a rompultf ~ IIIlP and prints out you. ~td i~lion in ~ Isn路t it a ~Iier to know that Avis IJlC)I1('$ just 0I$1a5I as you oo? For more infoonation and ~ions, call ill ~ 01 Ali5M: 1.s00.831-8000.ArId ~1O~)'OUr AI1$ Worldwide DiIroum (AWO) 1IIImbtr: A530100.

AVIS ~ ~-----------------------------------

bKutl". Director's " . part

fOInIinutd "-",. 201)) debt. Wt an encourage thtm 10 consld · er qya 10 Joo,~r debt, including deiII)'. ing law Khoollo tarn rrooney 10 p.l.y for $Chonl or _rking part-time during l.aw I<:hoollo hel~ defray law school u~ns·

es. In SM:r1It mltsl debt forgiveness program lias WOfIced ..~ll, ~ progr1llnS allow Law Khool gr1lduoltllo Mw ~ pOrtion of Illtir law Khool debt relired in relurn for Illtir working in public-inle~lt jobs. This rn;IY Ix an idta worth romidtri~ in Alabama. Educalion debl il an ;$5ut IIIaI ~ars

dOH witching. EdllClOlion tO$l$ no doubt will ronlin ... 10 risr u will debt IfWls. \\'t must tit conctmtd 11u!.bwytrs enlmng thoe r1IfIQ oIlht prorelSion I"' not to burdtntd wilh debt 1IIalilltir abilily In pradict nr 10 tlftcli~ly re~!'tItnllhtir clienls il impaired. •

Position Offered Unilnl

SI~ln

Dislrict Court, Middle Dislrid of Abba...."

The United .$/.Jr~ Di~fic;1 COlII1 is now iKct>pting JpPliedlions kx the position 01 ~JH attorr"lelWro 5e IJW ,/ell.:. )SP Gt,ocJe; 9·'1, annUilI ~att"'s 5i1I,1ry: 519,405 ro 541,641 , Gr.Jde ~nd $;llary ""'y be hiHfpff d£vroding upoo qwhflC,lIJOt1S,

Applied/ion deadline: ""y '5. 1996 Ocrupational ;nfonnalion: Tile staff ~tlomey is ~ ~I Slaff position; tile law c~ is hIred by and rqx>ns 10 the coun. A staff attorney ex<Imll'oes all prOOner petitions;and oompI.inlS, including Slate llabe.u pclitions. morions ro vacate lede<al ~, and ci~il rights complaints, d,,'lennining if ~ a... propt'I" lor filins; .,...101111> subst:tntive sc.-.. i"ll after filing 01 all pclltions and morions; drafts appropriaIe recommendations and ~ lor the court; peiOlln, rese....:h as ~1I«l1O us.,S! the coun in prep;!nng opinions; ;and perioI III> simIlar work M Msigned by the coun.

Minimum QualiflCalion< TIle iIPJ>li<;.lm mu.I be a law KI>ooI graduato> (0< have COffijIlered all law KhooI Sludies and mt.'ft.'ly ~wJlti"8 conferment 01 degree) 10 satisfy emry Ievt-~ requi>tmen1S. I""'rable experi""«' This coun is interested in an "PI~icant who lias at least two yeJ~ 01 SPeCialized ~'Xperlence In tile Il<aCIice 01 law, in 1'-'8"1 rese~rch. 1'-'8"1 iIOminiwation, 0< equivalent experience ,,-'(f'lved an ... graduation from law "hoO. Submit """me with Wfiling $.ample and law school Iramcnpl 10; Hon. 0..."" S. Coody, Unilnl Slates ~islr1It~ I. ., U.s.. Courthouw, P.O. Box 1$8, Montgomery, Al36101. f'h<lM (l14) 223·7316. Namesolpenonupplying WIll ~ be published and appIiQlions will be oonsodered oonfldem",l. An [ ......1Opportunity ErnpIoyw

Sojtwc;tre jor A Lc;tI1c;tmc;t A ttome~s softwwejlr IBM COmp&:ttibte compl-l.ters. ' CItlld. SUpport OUculator vAl95.10 (Updatl':d Jor AOC dtllJ1tleS ~\e 10/01/95). 'Fiml.nciat CALculator (AmortizRtioI1. Sdtedutes, eD:.). , cooking Aa::oun.t MAlUt.flemel1.t. 'Crue M"'lUt.fIemel1.t. 'ProjessiottRl BiUing S~Stl': m.. 'Appoil1.trn(l1.t CRlettdar. Call or write or.fw<Jorfree il1.Jormatlol1.. ftUluiries welcome.

Simple Logic. 111.C. P. O. Box 110. Allgood, Al )501), Ph.. 205/625-4777 Fax, 205/274-0178

\dmitl~J

:O;pring 1996

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Lawyers in the Family

vetooICI J. CI>erroII:; 119961....:11. 0tY0cI Chefroak n965J

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Ene B. ~k 099611t1d Kernett. l fl.nderburk 119651 _~.. ¥Id

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Han ""'lisA. n..gp.r. (19721 a:m~N

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TIBC'/ Gwyn Bo-dSOtlg (l9961 n BordSonCI ~ 119861 a:mnNIlId 141ft

Cert iflcalj()n percentages: University d AlaNma School d (.n.. . .. ••• ..•.. •••• . . ••• 75 percenl Cumbrrbnd School d I...iw ••.•. •••••• • •••••. .... •••••• ...67 pcrc.n! Bi!ll1inghlom School (If l.aw .............. .. ..............371'1'fCom Jones School of Law . •.. ........ .. .••... . ...... ••••• ....55 pcrcmt loll," Uw School .. ..•••••• .......•• •••.. ...... .••••• ..., pHOOli

ABOUT MEMBERS, AMONG FIRMS About MemH",

Paul E. Uumll anoouncu lilt !'floc.llion 0( his offict to 412 S. Uwnll«

ing iOddrw i$ P.O. Bolt 2673. Albertville 359500. Phont (205) 89]~]06. Bi]1y Joe ShofOeW Ulr"H)Uncf:l the ..Ioation of his office to The Sheffield Building. 400 W. Adams Strttt, Dothan. Alwma 36J03. Phont (334) 79403733. Janie I»ke. Clarke anrlO\locu her rd irellll'nt ... ;lUillanl aUornry general for the Statt 01 Alabama Departmtnl of Transportalion and 1m reopening of her priI."ale pradi<;(: ~ Z3S S, McDonough Stred. Montaomery. Aillbami 3(;164.

Strm, Montgomtry. Alabama 36102-

Phont (334) 29-0032.

141 1. Phone (334) 269-2929.

Andtnon "" ehm Innounca t/w: ..10ation of hi$ off," to 5755 Cormichatl Parkway. Montgomery. Alilbama 361]7. !'holM! (334) 279·5600. Jlmu Middleton Slzomort . J . .. for· mtrly director. Alabama ~Iopment Office lind commiuiooer. Alabami Department 01 R(\'I'n~. lInnounces t/w: ..location 01 hi!; office 10 461 S. Court Strttt.lo\ontlOmtry. AIWnv. 36164. Phoot (334 ) 2ss.112 I. A1exandt. M. ",elu kopf OlllrlOUllCU tho opening of his lit 205 20th Slr •• t. North. Frank Nel.son Building, Suile 508. Birmingham. Alabam.l. 35203. !'hom (2051326--3737. BrylIlI E. Mo.... n ("'*r) IIInOOIlCeII his rtlocation to N"liom\ G~rd Bureau-JA, Tht i'tntagOn _ Room 2E-t25. Wi.Vlil14ton.D.C. 20311)..2500. Phont (703) 607-9870. \lcki A, Bell OUlnouncH 1M rtloa· tion ofhtr office to 108 Soulh Sick Squart. Huntsvill •. Alabam.l. 3580\. Phone (WS) 5334491. Chuck lIunt •• lnnounceJ 1M """n' ing of his office al 113-4 22nd Stred. North, Binninghim. Aillbama 35234. Phont (205) 324· 1234. Clinton B. Smith lInnouroces his tIec· tion ... S~<it/w:Town<iN .... CalU •• N.... York. (lfr"u a.. locat~ al 40 Radio CirtLe, Mount Kisco. N.... York 10549·0117. Phone (914) 666·2311.

CHrft C. Do,y, Jr. inllOUlJCH IlK uloc3tion 0( his offi« to 1917 Rainbow DriVf, Gadsden, AIooboom;o 3S901 . 1'ho!lt (20$) 543· 1660.

J. MI,haol Fincber tJw: """ni~ 0( his offi« at 107 SI. Fr~oci5 Slr~t. firsl Nalio ...1 Bank Building, Suil~ 1502, MDbilt, AI~balt\1l. 36602.I'hor.e (33-&1

694· 164$.

Scott L Speu.. ;mnouoc..s 1M 'tJo. ClItion 0( his off",. to 220 Cim" Street. Suile 3]0. New Orleans. Louisiana 70130·2711. Phon. (504) 558.0600. Thotnu J. SIounden. follTltriy atlo,· MY. II<Mmmmbli ~ regulatory .tf~f$, Entrgtn Coqx.>ration. lMO\Ino:tS

the opening of his offlCe;at 100 N. Union Slmt. Suitt 358. RSA Union Building. MonIgomery. Alib.lma 36104. The mail· ing iIIdotra.f it P.O.lka 1146, MonIiomtry 36101. 1146. Phon. (334) 241 ·7120. Richlnl D. Cl'ftr, fol1Tlt.ly a memo ~r of Najjar Oeoaburg, anlloonctJ the """ninQ of hi, offi« at 22 Invo:muI Ctllltr Park....y. Suite 160. 8innir1jJlwn. ~ 3SU2. J'Ilom (20$) 991-8440.

William W. 1'1"'1"", Jr" fonlltrly 01 lbe A~rTIi AUomey Gene ....!'i Offi«. announces the OI)t'nillll or his offl" in the Btll Building, 207 Montgon\t'ry Street. Suite 1200. Montgorrwry. Alabama 3(; 123-0743. The mailing address is 1'.0. Box 230743. Montgomery 3(;IZl·0743.1'hooe (334) 834-7007. Michele Graham Bradford Jnnoonca th.t reloation 01 hr. offia: to 7500 ",,,lnut Strtd. ~ ~ 3S901. J>horw (205) 549-0090. TtftA L. Con'" U1noonca thr relocation of hrr offia: 10 105 E. Main Stred. The Courington Arcade Building. Suitt 4. Albertvillt. Alabama. The mail ·

o"ic.

Among Firm. Cllffon! L. Calli •• Jr. lInnouncu tNt Jdr.., p. MonlfO ....ry. Lau.. An M Oiclory ~nd Blrtu... Lee Ibntett ~ b«omt ;wociatn. Offk.. art Ioalrd in Iht Church StJftI Profusional C~ntr~. ]01 Church Street. Rainbow City. Alabama 35906. Phone (WS) 442· 6102. S. Mlort Hu ..... fOflT\trly $lni(). $Wf IUomty ",ilh Prot..:tive WI. Corporlllion and claims ooullKl with Comll"lOffllUllh I.lInd TIt.. ]nsurance Cornpany. lwoI_iotod with Bu .... " Forman, loatrd at 600 W. P&chtrft Street. One Georgia Cmter. Suilt 1800. Atll.nta. GeorgiOl 30308. Phone 14(4) 81703S36. Scott Johuon announce. the lornlll . tion 01 BirdSong &. John..,n and hi. partntl"Ship ....ith Trxy C. SirdSon •. oa.id R. Martin will bt oIcounse1. The mailing adcIms will rtmain P.O. Bolc ISH. Montgomery. AIiIIwno. 36102. Otroc:u lor. Iocattd lit W7 MonlfOrTltry SIred. Bell Building. Suite 718. Mont· gorntry 36104. /'hone (334) 834-3221. \\ll1ilm S. Shulman. fonm, ly a part· lit, in ~'eibtlman. Shuinun & Terry. "'.... sworn in is United Sb.tu B.antruplC)' Jud# 10<' t/w: Snulht... OIItrkt or AIMlma His off"oce is IocIoI· tel U 20 1 SL louis Strftt. Mobi ... AbbOlnvo 36602.1'hooe (334) «1·5625. The Southern District 01 A!akma, .·ede..1 !)efe"""n Organization lIIII>OUIIW that K. 4'n IImman CampboU has be.n p.omoted to ;lUislant ftderal public defender. Offices ar.located al 2 S. Water Strtt\, 2nd Floor. Mobil •• Alabama 36602. Phont (334) 433-09] O. Com"".. I»nk OUlr"H)Uncf:l tim J. \ "once v..idson has been namtd senior vic:t·~nt and $Hlior trust oflit•• lor th.t trust dio.Uion in BirmingN.m. The nIlIiling iOdd ..... is P.O. Box 10566. Birminghlom. AlaI>.un.. 35296. feq"lln~ on /IQ9'! 210)

M I C H I E' S·

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' ___ """'_"- UDI''''''''' _ _ _ '' _ _ _ '' .........

At>out ............ Among Firms

/C-11NItd htvrI,. 2fJ8J

John Ikn lincroft. lonnnly mmoging aUOI'l"OeY (or Shapiro 61: Kruimlln. aroroounca his rmploymmt ;OS aUOI'l"OeY advioor with t.... U.S. s"",n 8 ..l i _

Admioillration. BinningNm Servicing Center. III 2121 8th Avmue. North. Suit~ 20(1, Binn.nghllm. A1Wm1135203. The INilin" 1Idd.ts$ i, P.O.ll<>x 12247. Binningham 35202·2247. Phone (205} 131·172& Robm erawfoni llMOUOCU thai .... was

elf(lt<i circuit j~ in Milwaukee

Coonty. \\"l.!COOSin . •Hs office is localed at SOl7 N. l'aJisIdes RoId. Whiltfuh Bi}l. \\rocoosin 53217. Phone 14'41332-2229. Pam~1a L Mable, forrr>(11y with Thorington 61: CrttIO'Y in Montgomery. A~ announca ..... nlocotion to Allan~. Gtorg~ IIld her position as I ~ allorfit)' With I .... United S~lu COlirt of ,,-all (or I.... Eleventh CiT"Cuil. staff attorney's offict. The mIIil· iog ad<iltSS is Room 549. 56 Forsyth Strtot. N.W.• Atlil/llll. GfOrgia30303. l'hon~ 1404) 331·5n5. G"""..,r. Mldilon & GB)' anOOllncts that David \\', un,Slon. formerly assistant district attorney for Morgan Coonf)'.

Iw become I membtr. The new name i. G......... r. Ml<lIIOI"I. GB)' & LIn"t" • . omctl ife loc&ted II 617 Colllcge Strtri. N.W.. P.O. Box 487.1-brbf:llt. AlWma 35640.1'hono (205)773-0241.

MOdltdonlco. IilmiltOil & All ...... ilIlIlOllnca thaL John Ilanltl Rta\u Iw btcorrv an ;u.socOlllt. Officts life logLed III 5301 WiKons ... A~oue.

N.W.• SUitt 400. \\'ashin~ton, D.C. ~

(202)364·1434.

Pitrtt. Cl rt. Alfortl. IAdyarti & utI.> IInnounctilhaL Q,roll nt Wt llillind •. AnneUt M. Clrwl •• Frank L ""mr. Jr. and Robert E. 1I ....b.. t. Jr. ha...t joiMd I.... finn. Offica art located al 1110 Monthmar DriYf. Suite 900. P.O. iIoJIl6046. Mobilt. AIaIwna 36616. Phone (334} 344-5151. 4'an Etlwricl,., III ... Slt1Iha"it R. Whilt. Kori L Clemtnt iIld Celtste 1.. """on. forrr>(rly of Janecky. N..... II.

Potts. lI~rt" WtllJ. ~Iong with Ra.". W. lIalr. fonntr claims lUO.nq for

Nltionwidt ImurolRCt Comp.Uly. announct the formalion of II .... Illir " \,"it•. omcn are 10000ltd at 1901 S;"lh A~nut. Norlh. AmSoulh·lbrbert I'I..u.o. Suilt 2800. Binningham. Alabama 3521l3.1'hono 42051322-3040.

LEYrER TO THE EDITOR Ple~ acttpt this letter as an apology to both you and the entire membership of Ihe Alabama State Bar for the negati'lt publicity my actions have brought upon the bar arisin!! out of my failure to timely filt Slate of Alabama income IaJc returns. As you are a\\'are, my indictmenl was published in our local newspapn 1 was ashamed and embarrassed. not only for myself. my family and friends. but also for lhe members 01 my profession. I shall be puni5hw for my ild.ions. howt\'l'r. thert i5 no way to make restitulion to my profession. and for this J troly apoIogiu . You haYe my pennission to publish this Itlttr in The AlabutnO I.«u:get so that other members of our profession can a...oid situations SIKh as mine by timely filing state IaJc returns.

Don O. Whil,. Mobile. Alabama

Youngdahl. Sadin &- Morpn il/lOOUllCts tlw. !)tniH V. llill hu join.td the finn, Off,", Irt located al J603 Pint~. S.E.. Suit. A. Btssemtr. Abblimlll5023. I'I1ont (2051424-0119. unitr Ford SlIavt-r & I'a).... IIw. ) d fft)' T. ~11y and ......1A. Plte ~ bccomt _mbers of the firm. and C..SOI)' M. nr.ubt. Jbchfl Stt{ lIOWJ.rtI and Mtlinl J. Loog """" /ll"lnouncts

be<:omt ;u.sociatn. omcn a •• locat.d at 200 W. Court $qua ••. S.. it. 5000. lI .. nlJville. Alabama 35801. Phone (205)535·1100. Bradll")'. Annl. IIOH &. ""it. announcts that T. Mlchatl 8 .........,. [kant K.nworthy Cortin. ee...-g., B. lIarn J, Annt R. ,·"tnam. J. "".. I Compton. Jr.• L S..... a O<»J. Wame S. Iinth. and S...... DonO'Vlll JOH)' ......., bKorne ~rt ...n in lhe firm. Officts ife lootled in Birmingham and lI .. nlJ"'I~. Abblimll. 1krkow1l1.. IAnro-i tJ. born & K... hner announctJ that Thoma. J. MahonI")'. Jr. hu be<:ome i member of the firm. Dffien ar. locattd at 1600 SouthTrusI Tower. 420 N. 20th Str«1. Birmingham. AI,bama 35203-3204. MIone; (2(15)

328·0480. I>rinkard & mdt. il/ll\OUncfS the addition of J. Donald Ranb to the linn. The new finn na_ is I>rinkartl. &1Ib I.: IHcb. OffKts ife located at 1070 CoYmuntnI St.td.. Mobik. Alahami 3ll604.1'hono (33.4)432·3531. Wayne L " 'llilm. iIld Cni. 1.. \\,II i1mJ lII100unct INI Randall M. Chu hl .. lwjoinrd tM finn. The new nanv: il \\' II IamJ. " 1111am1 & Chu hi,.." OffiC~1 ue loc.:ottd at 2617·Slh Sired. Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35401. I'hone (205~ 345·7600. Bond. Bolu. Syblu . u,,"n & Wi .... lnnounct$ the ;u.sociation of C. ... icMIt Andt ... former law c1trk 10 the Honorable Sotlly em-nNw ilIld lilt Honorable J_ph D. """'lPJ. Off"Kts an Ioc.altd at 102 S. Court Strttl.~. Abblima l56JO.1'hont (205) 740-8220. John T. Alley. Jr. iIld John W. Watas. Jr. il/loounct the OI)tning of i stCond offlU 01 Alley & Wl ttn in Union Springs. A1~ma. The add~ i. 214 N. Pr.Ii.it StrHt. P.O.1loJ: 5006. Union

Springs 36089. Phont (334) 738-5505. Jam.. I). Pro.II. formerly acling 210 ,,, .... ....

~--

gtntrlll couflU'l and associate ge~ ...1 counsel 01 AmSoulh Banc:orporlltion. Fnnk I. B..-... J.on M. Tllmer, J r., U ... Jcmipn BntW1I, and Bf)'In 1\.

11011110)' announce I.... formalion of P",etl . Brown. Tu mtr & tl onltY, LLC. OIfoca lIr. Ioc.otN III 211 22nd Strftl. North. Binningham. AIlbaml lSZro. and 304 S. 5th Street. Clod..!en. AlabalN 35902.1'hont 1205) 32G-17l4. 1205} 546-1714. Schrodt. Cent.. ... anagem ~nl, Inc. Innouncu the as.rociation 01 Lynn Glints Towny lIS assistant counsel. OIfoca are Iocaled at 1S303 Oallu f'lIrkway. Suile 650.0lOllu. Tau 75248. Phont (214)239·9500. Uoyd. Schreiber, Gn)' & GoiMI announces tht new finn name. and thal Ibniel S. ",oltn and Sttplltn E. Whit,h.ad ha~ becomr membtr$ and Stuart l'. JoIuuoa hu btcomr an tiSOciale. Offices lire ooled at 1\00 Perimeter Parle Soulh. Suite 100. Binning/lam. AiabaIN 35243. Phone (205) 967-8822. s..dltr, Sullivan, Sill.,.. Fishhourne « \lJI TuHl lInnouncH IlIat Ted L Mlnn has rejoined the firm and that Tilt.,. ... S. J.oMs lIios become an iWOCiillf. OffICH IIr. Iocaled 112500 SouthTru.t Towe', 42(} N. 20th Slreel. Binningham. AIabamlI352OJ. I'hont (205) 326-4166. Beuloy, " ;100", Allon, ,"'ain " C..... announces Ihll Rklllrd O. Morrison has become an associate . OffiCH Irt 10001«1 at 218 Commerce Sireet. Montgomrry. AIalwna 36103-4160. Phone (334) 269·2343, StUl rt lAach. former pr.Jiding j~ 01 tht civil division of I.... 10th circuil. hujoined Sirole & P.nn"t\, and will Kf\~ tilt finn of COUtue/. H. will ~ baRd in the finn', Binnin.aham of(lCO. The finn hils offices in Hllntsville. Mobile. Birmingham, Montgooltl')l. and TwtalOO$.>, Alablrna. I'tIone (205) 933·7111. Cochran & Asoodalu announces tht reIocalion of thtir offices 10 310 N. 2ht SlTHI. Suite 5OO.lIirmingham, Alabama 35203. I'tIone (205) 328-SOSO. The firm rl RichanI JonIaa and Ibndy M}'tn announces a name change to Richard Jordtn. IUndy M)~ .. & Bon Lockbr. OffICeS lr. 10001«1 al 302 AhblIN Stred. Monl\iOll1otry. Abbarna 36]04. Phon. (3341265-4561.

Cabanl ... John.'on. Cardn ..... Dumn

Burge.. & IIlle. L.L.C. OIficts are located atlOlO Park Place ToweT. ZOOI PlIrl< PIKe. Norlh. Bi~ AIlbmY 35203.1'tIone (205) 715-«66. Newmln & Suton announces that MichHl A. ~BT\ln ;md FrlI"k SI«10 J.onu ~ joined the finn u shoareholders lind tht new f\II~ i. Ntwman. Suton. ~ BT\ln & Jnn... P.C. Ollie.. are Ioaled 1I3021 Lorna~. Suit. 310. BirminiUNm. Abbarna 35216. I'tIone (205) 823·55]5. W.llace, Jordan. R.tliff & Brandt announces lhat AI ..... S. Agricob. J •. and Jamel '\' 1\". Jr. kavt ,inioed t .... finn as mtmbtrs.nd that Chl.le. B. Compboll mil Phillip D. Corlty. Jr. ha~ joined lIS iOSJOCiales. ()ffoca lire located in Rirmirewn and MontgOme!),. Alabama. Pho~ 1205) 870-0555 and 13341832-9900. Pio,", Can, A1fonl. Ud)..nI '" Latla announces that firm's name has changtd to Pitre •• ~dylrd. Lat la & W.....n. ()ffICt'Jlr.1oc.o1td al 1110 Mon"'mar Oriw, Suil' 900. Mobil •. Alabama 36609. The mailing ;tddress is

& O·Nnl. with offices in Birmingham

and Mobile. an"".....ces that ~ C. RobinlOfl beame II partner. I'tIone (205) 252-S800. Nltluon & Assoclll," annoonc:n Ihll DotIna Bowling Nit"'" hls joined tht firm n a partner. OffICes U~ Iocaled at Su il~ 300. Massey Building, 290.2ht Strftt. North. Birmlnghllm. AlwIN lS203. Phone (205) 323-5400. Bo..ron, Oldenburg & Luther annooncn lhill Danny J, Collier. Jr. hils become an lISsodale. Omen ilre located al AmSooth Centu, Suit~ 6(19, 63 S. Jloyal SIred, Mobile, Alabama 36602. Phone In.} 433-8088. Bingham D, EotwInh announca \h,)t Creg"" A. Ref\~f has become lin ;modate and that the ntw name ofth. firm is EdwmI., Mitchell &; Rft\.... 0If1C.. ilre louted lit Court Squan. 123 1.te Stree\, Suite A. Dtatur. AlabalTll. Phone (205) 353·6323.

I""

Tom Bu.,.u. Thomas S. ltalo,

Jim.. A. lIaggtrty. J •. mil Murny II . Gib.on, Jr. announce the formation 01

BLUMBERG

EXCELSIO R 'S

9'UZU€d~hw~ Sf~

S275 Ideal for Laser Printers Leuerheads and 500

":n"elo~

500 Plain Second Shed s proof,

24 lb., 25% Cotton. La>er Fini sh, White or Bamboo.

Recycled Bond SZ75 24lb .. SO'l> Cotton Law Bond. White, B:IlIlboo

5285 Crant's £lIg"""n, p/,mlJ ,tt A/batt" NY ~ntI Or"'n""- f"L C.n /'" U..".I ~1Id ~_/.", (800) 221_2911, ul. 50).

lor,. 0"""'

Blumbergl9<cel~9.r

p.o. Iku; 16046. Mobile 36616. (3J.l) 344-5151.

Boonlnwo &; Tyno Ml/IOUn<U that KrUll .... Dow.Iy and MIrlI: M. lIogt'400d ha~ jointd the lirm. Officn art \oat.

ld at 1(14 In~"",.. Crnter PIa«. Suitt 325. Birmingham. Alabama 35242· 4870. l'hone (205) 9&1·6000. McRight. Jacluon. Dormiln. MyrIck .Ii Moo .. announcn that \\,lllom T. ," kCMn, 1\1 has ~ a mtmMr of tilt linn. O/fJttS art !ocaltd at 106 SI. FQflCis Strtd. Suitt 1100. Mobile, Alabanvo 3%02. Phonr (3J.l)432·:W«. Itt nry F. Ln, III MId David \\'. Roulltlu announ« the formation of lu" Rou lluu. Officel art 10000ttd in tm 1.. limer HOOle at 310 S. Commtr« Str«t in Cene"a. A1tbam;o. Thr mail. ing address i. P.O.1ku; IZ9. CmeYI 36:W0. Phonr (3J.l)684.0406. ....." . .....,, " ....." Ml/IOUnas that m imi ClrtUit Judge \\~d l ;a.., C. Sull ..... n has joined u.. finn of rounsft. OKocn;<re Iocatld in T31~ga and Birmingham, Alal:tama. Phone (205) 362·6670 and (205) 6204535.

AM" T. PI".. twood. Ellil O. Ib ....... Chari.. II. \'"Iz, Jr. and C"'rl.. II. \'011. III . formtrly of \'011. Pmtwood. Hanan" Siull'lOl't...nounct tilt c0ntinuation uncltr tilt twnt of \,.. Iz.

P.u!wood &; 1I ..... n. and lhat Clinton C. Cartf' ""d D. nlel t.. Feinl lein haw b«:ome ..,,,odat ••. Offices art located at 350 Ad.uns A,-enue. Montgomery. Alabama 361(14. Phont 1334) 264·640], N-..u.n. Mill• •.

lAo" O'Nul

Ml/IOUnc:u thlot T. Samuel Dud: has jointd tilt firm as .. PIortntr. OKICes lIrt located it 3250 lncltpmdmc. i>I'M. Birmingham. AJ~ 35209. Phonr

(205) 871HIOOO. Sion •• Granad • .Ii Cro&by anOOunctS

tm uparuion and rtlOClltion of their rolf}! office to 7283l1ighwl)' 59. South. Foley. Alabama 36535. Phonr (3J.l) 943-888ti. ou..r offl«$ al'1' IocatN in Boy Minottlt and Oiphrw. Alabama. Compboll" Walltt OInnouncts that C"'rlu A. McCallum. III has joined the firm:as a pa"ner. O/flCtf artloc.>t· td at Suit. 330, 2(l(l(l.A SouthBridgt Parkway. Birmingham. Alabama 35209-

1303. Phone (205)803.(1051. I)u"",rd " Crom ... Ml/IOUn«S that ])a,i4 P. DonI hujoinrd tilt firm. 011"11:,. lrt Iocot..! at 1150 Financial CtnltT. 505 N. 20th StrHI. BIrmingham, Alaba.ma. 35203. Phone jZ05) 324.6654. Hogan. Smith &; Alspaugh announctS thai Pam Ikard, formerly :an ~Ie. hu b«:ome a .harrholdtr, and thai Ika Balro. and Ln Robe" . ha.-e joined tilt firm as associates. OKI«$ art Iocot..! at 2323 Stcond A,'mut. North. Birmingham. AIahamlI 35203. Phone (205) 3'>..4·5635.

Ow.u " Carwr annou""" the ilMOC;ation of A""nah Cftr ~nl. Officu ar.10Ci1t.d at 2720 6th Street. Suite 3. TUscaIO<'>Sll. Alabama. 35401, Phonr (205) 7~75O. CoMII M. Wh,tneLL Jr. • nd MOle \\" ShaUl. IV:announ« tilt rtlocation of tllt,r o/flUS 10 63S S. McDonough Strttl. Mootgomny. AIahamlI36104. The ma.ilingaddrns i. P.O. Iku; 4190. MontgOrne'f)' 361034190. Phone (n.) !\34·5999. •

BAR BRJEFS • The Abb~ma I'attem Jury Inl truc_

lion, Commlttee·Chell anllOunu, itl commitltt membtrsand ~ PUfJlOK 01 the commilltt. Thty 1Te:

Han. William C. $u1l;"OIn. chail'lTWl:

Thomas A. Woodall, vK«hairm.:on: Uu~J H. CLopp. r'POrter; nav" Carr: Andrew T. Citrin; IlriUin T. C()lfltWl; Robert t.

Gonce: Hon. J~ Ha~ Hoo. Robtrt B. Un....""..; R. Iknjamin Hogan. JlI; lion. Josh Mullin$; Bnt Ntlties:; Pro(~r Herbtrt Peterson; I'roltUO, Robert Riegert: and E, Ttd Taylor. The C(lmmitiH is composed 01 trial l.IW)'ers and ddellK Lo.W)'tfS.;U well as judga and profusol'S. and is cha~ with drall.irc jury c1'IU'l16. For IT"IO)« information or to makt a

Poinler. Jr, Wood ....aJ, member of the exuutiw committee of the Inlu. national A$wcilation of DeftnK Cou~1 and is i mnnber u the Abba .... Deferuo ~I'I ~ilation.

• Jam.. R. Pntl. III of Birmingham r«ently inducted into the Inner Circle of Advocates. a group limited to 100 pllinli/f bwytn nationally ...00 haw Khi~ i 5Ubstmhal number u KWn·figurf vtrdicts for plaintiffs, Prau is alsoa fellow in tm International Academy ofTyial La ....yers. a group of both plaintiff ~ dlfellK COlUlKllimit. ed to SOO ~n in the United Stain ~ 100 ~n abtwd. ....31

suggestion, conla.cl Judge William C. Sulli~an. P.O. Il<>x 697, Talladega, AlablIll'III35160. Jo~ph

It. JoIIalOa. Jr., of CO<mSd 10 u~. SimpSon, Robinson &

•

Somerville. his b«n .Ircttd III memo bership in tht- MWly established Americ.an College 01 Bond Coo.ml. Ilond «>onstl are hijjllly lo/I«i!oJiud

~ ,,'flo nprumt ltales lI1d loa! fO'.'t'rTllTltntJ """" thty r;ojse IfIoOIIty through tht issu.l.r>ee 0( municipal bomb. The ColI~ 11M b«n tstabli.1lttl 0$ an organization of prominent bond ~ .. ..,I«ttd 00 j ... tioNl bui, (or lllti. ~ ..ince. reputation and commItment to .."" stat. UId local ~ mmt.lI bond issuus. Initially, the ITItm.

bership of the Collfge indudes 60 bond laY.yell from 28 stale$. Additional bond I~ .. ",ho ITIftI the College', highly lotted;,." rnnnlxnhip crileria"';l1 be invited 10 btoonw membtl'l. • llilli'm C, Wood I'IU been el«led a dir«tor of Ihe Defense Research hutilutf, the nalion's largest O!SOCiIa . tion of civil litig.lion dlftrue Ia"')'ell, He is a p.lrtner in the Birmingham lirm of NorTNn, Fiupalnck. Wood & Kendrick, He..,Md lIS the filll law clerk to U.S. Oislrict JudSf Sam

~bIto

00 .

• This )'O(s r«ipient of tho Edw~rd J, Devitt OiliinguishN Strvi« 10 Justin Award is the 1I0nQrab~ Jobn C, Godbold of Montgomery, Judge Godbold i.

a Smior lkIited SWeI CiTnlit

Judge ((II' lhe U.s. Coort of Appals for lhe EI~nlh Circuit. and has been a chid judgf oflhal court and of Ihe U.S. Court u Appeals for the rifth Circuil The committee for the lotltction of the award noted 111M Judge Godbold'. Cir«r exemplifir$ the wisdom and COIllinuing necwity for lhe constitutional design that eSlablishe<! the Judiciary as an in(leptoo.nl branch 01 iIOWmmenl. According 10 lhe commiu«, Judge Godbold _ a JPltndid chid j~ dur. ing the interesting and important Pfri. od in judicial history when "'hat ....aJ lormerly one cirmit, comprnlng s.i~ st.:ot.. in the soulhern part oItlle Unitt<! States. became two lotparale circuits, Judge Godbold is known for his lucid opinions and his willinanm 10 ItloCh and inspi~ othor judgn in tho prompt and schOJlar' Iy discharge of Iheir judicial dutie.,

Nt.. being chid judge. Judge Godbold reoo.red lurtho. Itrvi« as an inr>O\l;l. liw and skifled di~tor of the redml Judicill Cmln. the edUClltional ~ r~arch arm of the /edt",,1 branch, lk continues 10 rTlikt a .ignirlQUlt tOntri • bution to) Ihe United Stales Courl of Aweils in hi. senior stalus, and liS() tuciln al the Cumberland School u Yw in Birmingham.

• Birmingham attomey Sln, Miglionito has

..., '""""

It""" Mlgllon!co

~ of rlYt WCImm nationwide 10 r«eiwthe American Bar Associalion's Margard Brent Womm~1'I

of Achi~mml AWlird. A COI1jIreu. WOI'r'WI and a s,,"le SUp~1TIt court jUl' tke Ire ~mong the (l(her lour ",inner$. Miglionico il a 19JJ graduate of lto..... rd Uniwrsily lnow Sunford Uniwnity) and a 1936 ~e of the Umwllity of Alabama Sd100I of Law. She ~ her own offi~ ind has prarticed continuously .ince Ihfn. Sh< ....as Ihe only "'i}1TWl flee led to Birminghan!'1 first City Council and ~rTliincd on the Council for 22 )'01'1. de.:lining to run for ~~Imion in 1985, In 1958. iho: was elfctfd pruident 01 lho National Association of Women u"')'ers, In 1974. she was the first Alabama "'<lmin nominaled by a major party for a congrusionaJ _I (when iho: _ chooKn the DmIoc""tic nomillH 10 UNut U.s. 1Ifp, John BuchanarL) Among ~ nominaling her for the award ~re Carol Ann Smith. presidenl. tlfet oi the Birmingham Bar Associlation. Janie Shores, AIabama'I only f~rTlile IUprnne court justice, mired Ju,lia OIar Adinu, the court's only b~k jus. liee, and the Women'l S«tion of tho Birmingham Bar A.l5ociation, •

DISCIPLINARY NOTICE Aeinstatement • Birmingham attorney John II. WiIO)" III wM rein5\at~d to the acti"" practice of law 11)' order of Ihe supreme court.

effective March 22, 1996.IPet. No. 95·0051 Surrender of License • Huntsville attorney lI'alt., J upn Price. Jr. has surren~or""

his l ic.n~ to practice I.", in the State of Alabama. By order of lhe supreme court. Price's lieenst to praetice law was cancelled and annulled dfective ,,"p.iI25. 1996.IRule 22(a):

Pel No. 96-031 Disbarment. • On March 28, 1996, the Alabama Supreme Court '''t<red an o rder disbarring Jackson. Alaroma attorney hmu A. Tueb •• Jr. TUcker had earlier pleaded guilly to a violation 01 TItl. 38, Section 9-2. CtxIe of Alaboma (txploit/ltion of the elderly). which is a Cl .... C felony, As part of hi' plea agreement with the S\ate of Alab/lma. Tucke. agreed to cons.>n\ to disbarment. and formally did so on March II. 1996. The evi dence showed trot Tucker rod fraudulently obtained a deed from an elderly client which conveyed her interest in 700 ac .... offamily land to a real estate entrepreneur from anoth· er city. Tucker was paid $15.000 by trot individual. Tucker ;5 alw $erving a ten· month $entenco in county jail. [Rule 23(.). Pet. No. 95-001] • Tuscaloosa attorney J"lla M<Cain Lo mpkin iUam w.. disbarred by order of the Supreme Court of Alabama. effecti"e ~'arch 28. 1996. Aoam's disbarment was basro upon her IID'i ng b«n found gu ilty of multiple ,;ol.tions of the Alabama Ruks of Profesoiooal Con<luct in eight $eparate bar complaints. In ASB No_92.254. Aoam filed a civil action on behalf of a client who recew.d an on·the·job injury in 1973. Other coun · 1(1 had I(uled the client's ~rwrnl injury claim and a work ...· oom~nsation case in 1974. Some 16 years later. Asam filed suit in the circuit court on bellalf ofthi5 same client claiming to ha\'e ·n...... ly di ~red evidence_" The trial court dismi ..... d the complaint and imposed sanctioru against Asam. Aoam then filed an identical action on behalf of the client in federal courL n.... district court dismiS5ed tt-.., complaint. the Court of Appeals for the £I~nth Circuit .ffinned the dismi:s.sal. and the United States Supreme Court denied certiorari revi ....... The Eltl.-enth Circuit also impOsed sanclioru again51 Aoam. o..-e. $32.000 in sanctions were impol(d against Asam in these two =e5. In ASK No. 94.1 n. Aoam filed suit again.t a circuit judge. During the diSOO\'try prwe of the lawsu il. Asam a,-oided noIice an<l I(rvice. and laill:<! 10 cooperate with regam to depositions scheduling. The circuit court granted the judge's motion for summary judgment. which wa5 .ffinned by the Alabama Supreme Court. Aoam filed the identical suit against

~- -

the judge in federoll court. The federal court dismissed the 5ui\. which was .ffinned by the federoll appeals courL In ASS Nos. 93-476. 93-378. 93-379. and 93-488. Asam sued ",-e.al people who had O\lposed her 1992 campaign for circuit judge. A.sam filed suit both in ,tate and federal courL Dismi",,1s of all lawsuits W~re ilffirmed at both the state and federal leveL In ASH No. 94. 176. Asam undertook a medical malpradi,. ""tion on behalf of a client. Suit w.. filed. and def.ndant~ filed motions for summary judgment. The court twice warned Asam lrot the def.ndants· motion for summary judgment would be granted unleso A$am could p.ovide expert testimony supportive of her lawsuit. Asam t.ied to Qualify hersl'lf as a medical •• pert. ",·.n though her affidavit failed 10 refute the affidavit of the defendant docto •. Summary judgment w.. granted for ddendanu. Asam then billed he. client """n though .he had agreed to handle the matter on a contingenC)' fee basis. Without the client'. knowledge. Asam appealed the supreme court's affirmance of the circuit court's dismi",,1 to the United States Supreme (;{,urt. In ASS No. 94·175. Asam filed two wo-ong/ul death aclions which "'l!re dismissed. with Ihe Supre"", Court of Alabama afr.nning the dismi:s.sals. Asam then f,led suit in federal court on the identical claims. The complaint was dismi ..... d. wilh the court of appeals affinning Ihe dismi.sal. and the United Stat.. Supreme (;{,ur\ denying certiorari revit""·. The Disciplinary Iloard found Asam guilty of 17 I(pa.at. violations of the Alabama Rules of Profesoional Conduct and ordered trot ~he be disbarred. A$am appealed her case to the Supreme Court of Alabama. The Supreme (;{,urt of Alabama initially affirmed. without Opinion. On Asam's application for rehelOring. the Supreme (;{,urt of Alabama granted the appli. cation for rehea.ing, withdrew its initial affirmance. and sut>.tituted a 3O·page opinion wherein it affirmed the disbannent of Asam.[ASB Nos. 92-254. 94· 177. 93-476. 93-378. 93·379. 93-488.94· 176. and 94·1751

S uspens ion s • Binningham attomey " "dU.m Dowsing Ib,; •• III w", su'· pended f.om the practice of law for a period of 60 days by order of the supreme court . .-ffective Arori12. The wpreme court foun<l that Imis expen<led substantial amounts of money on adwrtis· ing, pri"",.ily televi.ion ""","rtising. and this ad\-ertising aUract· ed a large number of clients. As a .esult of this I.rge advertis· ing expenditure and the volume of cli.nU resulting there· from. Davis implemented """ral policies designed to mini. mize exptn..es and rrw;.imiu profits. These policies iocluded all""'ing noolaw;'l" secreta.iesto provide legal services. inter· vit""· c1ienh and prepare legal filings, esp«ially bankruptC)' peti · (Continued on pIlfI'l216)

Cumberland School of LAw of SAmfOrd University Continuing Legal Education FAil 1996 Seminar Schedule September 6 i3

20 27

Octobcr

• l' II

November 1 1 8 1>

Da-dopmenu and T~nds in Health Care ~ [co-5pOIlSOrtd by Baptist Htalth System. Inc.] • Btnningham Alabama Minl-Codt Blnnlngham Advanced Personal injury Bimllngham Whitt CoDa, Crimes Blnnlngham

7th Annutl BanluuplCY law Seminar · Blnnlngtwn litigating me OU15 Action lawsuit · Binningham Elda law: Whit Every Pnctitioner Must Know - Binningham AUBA Cl.E ConJUUla: [co-sponsortd by Cumberland School of Uw] • Aubum

Securities Regulation in Alabama - Binningham Municipal Court Pract1cc and Proccdun: - Huntsville 10th Annual Worun' Com~Zl5aUoD St;minar · Binnlngham it!:cml DcvdOpmCDl$ ror the Civil litigator • BinninghJm

Municipal Coun Practice and Proccdurt • Mobile Mastering Evidence and Opening Statement and FlI1a1 Argumcnt!t4u"rinl}QPlleJ W. McBhallq' Binninglurn

Rqu'tSwting Abbama Businessu ' Binnlngham Recent Devrlopmcnu ror the Civil litigator · Mobile Writing to Win; The Essentials of Writin, for Utiptors /auuri"1 S~ D. Stark - BUrningham Cumnt Issues in Employmml uw - Binnlngtwn CLE By The Hour

Dccrmbu 6

20 J()..]l

Brochures d=1blng the spcctfic topics to bt addtessed and listing the speakers for cac:h of the scmirws will be mailed approximalely six wttks prior to the seminar. If ror any rtaSOn you do not rtccivt a brochure ror a parOCubr seminar, wri\t. Cumberland CLE, Box 29227}, 800 l..akcshore Drive, Birmingham, AL J}229-227}, orC31187~2391 or l-&J0.888.H}t. Additional programs may be added to the schedule.

Dlac lpl .... ry Notie. /Q>nI{nutd " - pagt 2/4)

lions. Son~r staIF"e"oM's wlPWclimts legal ~ such II ·in(ormirog" dimts 01 ttc difl'mnces bthooun ~tr 7 ~ ~er 13 b.mkrupt~. 0aviI ~i50 irl$litutN ~ pnctice "'","rob)' ~iate attorneys would not intlM ..... {II" have aJll' wnLloCt with the dimt before the first schtdultd oourt appearance. D.lvis w ill"ll'OStd unrroamgubl. aH loads 00 ..uociat. ~t\omq'l, many 01 ",tIom Wl're inexptritnud. Davis further faikd to pnlYido hi> i550CW.es ",ith adequate tqUipmtflt. supplies and ~ SUlJ. ,,'hKt1 coupIod ,,;m ttc hu# ooIu .... 01 ~ ill"ll'OStd upon I1c M5OCiaI<:s, (re~ttd a $ituation in which files wm oni!.handlrd multing in hum 10 I1c intmsts of clients. IRvis abo instituted poIidtl """idl imposed ti .... limits {II" ratrictions 00 I1c amount 01 ti .... ~iattl oould $ptr.:I with clients and 00 cases. futhermore. lla\is imposed a '<l'Ol<l Sjlltem that required awxiat.., to Optn a IpocifiN number 01 filn in a ctrbin ti..,., period. o.ms iNlitutrd a policy requiring moci.u.es not to !dum the le~ calls of existing dimts. 50 that the atlOrneys would ~ ~ (m ti .... to sign rcw <Iimts. OMs .... /ound to be llUilty of mUlrading adlmioil!4 pr.aclio:e$. in thiot he ;ond I1c attorilt)'S under hi;S SUj'Jtl\ision "'f" not corroptImt or "illing to PfO"idt the quality of 1tgoI_. .,.;m ""","rliHd. D.I";s· conduct ..... found to be in violation 01 Rule 1.1 of the Ruin of ProftsSional Conduct Ifailur. to providt compeImt rt1lre~ntation); Rule 1.4 (failure to k«p clitnl$ reason· ably inforrmd and failure to ruronably uplain a matler.., as 10 permit a cHent 10 mah an inforrmd Mcition): Rul. 5.1 (failu .. to..w.. ruson;able .(fortl to tfiSUr. tlwlawym under his supervision ronforrroed \0 lhe Rules of ProfessioNl Conduct); Rul. 5.3(b) (failu .. 10 tlUUr. tlw the x1Mties of a nonaa...~r undtT an ~tlQi"TlI')"s supervision are comp.>tibl. with prolwioNl,W><b.rd$j; Rul. 8.4(1) (vioWion ofttc Ruin of ProitWonaI Conducl throu,.. the acts 01 another); Rule 8.4(d) (engaging in conduct prejudicial to the adminis· tratlon of justict); and Rule 8.4Ig) (engaging in conduct that advtr~ly r.n.<:is on the la~'er's fitn~1S to practico law). lASH Nos. 92.134(A). 92-405(A) and 92-451(".11 • Birminglwn atlomty Hlrtllol Evant Wluolty was suspend. ed from the prattico of law in lhe State of ~1TII1or II peri. od oIthr«)'Urs df~ Moon:h 14. 1996. Thor Sup....,. Coort of A\;oobama m lertd tho order of SU$pf""",, t-ed upOII'i ....'hlolty·' tw.ing plrd guilty to formal discip1inliry chargts which ~ 1>«n mrd agaiNI him. Wluolty was engaged II}' Compass Bank of Birmingham to closot certain mortgage loaN on behalf of I1c b.mk. In N<Nember 1993. Whlolty clostd a mortgage loan for Compass Bank where· by sufflcitnt funds "''ere plactd in hil trwt accoont to ",titly silt mortpges on the propmy in question. H",,~r. ",h.lIty fliltd 10 satisfy thtsI. mort,g.agts. \\lWty rtptlttd this misconduct in I second matter in July 1995. Whlolty pled guilty to hiving vooImd Rul. 1.15 (w.kHping prOpto1y) in t ..... t .... f.liled 10 promptly del"..,r toa third person funds ...... kh thai third person was entitltd 10 receive; Rule 8.4(a) (misconduct) in that he violated or allempted to violate the Rules 0( Professional Conduct: and Rule 8.4(c) (miscon·

duct) in that he envgtd In tooduct irr.ohing di~y.

fraud. ~il or misropresmlillon.(ASB No.- 94.Jlj6 &. 9$-601 • On April 12. 1996. I.... disdplinliry commission of tho Slilt Bar mtered an ordtT in!(nmiy JUSptnding

Mobile ~r l4.~mol AIltn Malone from tho prKIk. of law undtr Rule 20 oIlht AJ:sbama Rules 01 Disciplinary Proxedure. The Di.dplinary Commission found lhat ~'alone'l continued conduct was causing harm to the public. Malone ..... d. on ~ral occasions. acctpled rt>OII"Y from clienu and thon failed 10 perform lhe I.pl Hrvias they had toIltooed wilh him. [Rul. 20(11; Pet No. 96-01J • Binninghmlltlomty RUSHUT. /01<00","101. III was suspmdrd from the pr;Ktico 01 law lor I poriod 0191 ~ Tho Supmne Court 01 AWwna ~ this smptnsion dfKtivt

MAY 6. 1996. MclloNld .. plUtnted I bail bonding comp.>ny

on its collection casot>. MclloNld's mother "'as 2S perc.nt owmr 0( that company. In one p.>rticular~. McDonald col· ItctN the sum 0( $1.300 in lieu of foreclosure on prOfltrty which had been mortgaged 10 ~curt" bIIil bond. At t .... time he colltcted tho monty. there was. in facl. ooly $160 still owed by tho mort~. \I'lltn the 0YeTJ'IlYI'00l1 was discwmd. McDonald failed 10 ~ the monty, "flkh had not btm returned to his diml in any ~ McOonald ;1150 rtfustd 10 eooporate in tho invcslilV<lion of tho grievance filed by the mortg,lgOr.IASB No. 94-Z44(A)J • Binning/um allome)' Oan Arthur CokLberg was IUlI'fnd· N from the practice 0( law for a period of 60 d20Y' by ordu of thr lupreme court. oll~ctM M~y 3 L 1996. The supreme court found that CoIdberg expended $Ub5UnliaillOOUnts of ~ on ad\..,rtiting, prilTWily ttltvisicon w.trtising, and this adlTrlising atlrKItd 1 /a,* number of ditnu. AI a mult oIlhis /a,* adI..,rtising apmditun and ttc volumt 01 climu resultinll thtKfrom. Goldberg imp~mtnlfll _raJ poticies designed 10 minimiu ~ and maximlr.e pr(Ifib. These pOiicits ,oclud· rd "Slowing nonlawyn _ .. lines 10 provideleg;ll ~cvictl. interview climts and prepl" lepl filings. especially ""nIcruptcy petitions. Nonlawyer IIaIf members alJO go..,. clion!> legal ;>dvice such as "infonning" dien!> of tho di ller~"'es betwffn Clupler 7 and Chapt.r ]3 b.mkruptcy. CoI.Jb.,rg al50 instilutN a practict """ereby associate attormyJ would not intervi ..... or """" JI1)' contact with tho ditnt befo.. tic first .!dvdultd court IpptU· ..ct. GokI>rrg aI50 impo)5td u~ case loads 00 ;wocilt. atlonwyS.. iTWiY of whom "'f" inoxperitn«d. Goldberg further Qikd 10 proyitk his iIiUOdates with lidtqu.>k tqUipmtflt. supplies and support stall'. """ich coupifll with ttc huge: vol· ume of cases imposed upon the MSOcia\<:s, created a siluation in which filts "''ere mit/landlfll ..lulting in hann 10 the inttml of dients. Goldberg also instituted polki., which impo~d time limits or restrictions on the amounl of Ii..,., associates could spend with dien!> Mid 00 casu. furthermore. Goldberg impo5rd a quota 5}'Si.tm that required associates to Optn a sptCified number of filts in I ctTUin lime period. Goldberg. irl$lilutfll a policy rtqUiri"llassociates not 10 .. tum the 1.1e· phone calls 01 nisting clients. so that the IttorntyS would """" rroore free time \0 sign new climts. CoI.Jb.,rg was found to be guilty of mitltadirIJI advtr1iling pradicOl. in that he and 1M IUOI'M}I5 under hillupervilioo~ .. not romptttnt or willing to provide tho quality of l~gol ~rvices iOdwrli$ed.

GoIdbtrg's tooduct ..."lIS found 10 be in violMion 0( Ru~ 1.1

of 1m Rules 0( ProI"essioNl Conduct (failuu 10 providt: com· pelenl repuKnl~liOll): Rule] A (failure to k«p ditnU rta· sonably informtd uld failure 10 reasonably uploUn a maltu so ill to permil I diml to rl\Ikt an informtd dtcilion); Rult 5.1 (flilure 10 maR rtaSONble efforts 10 msuu tllllll....")'I:n under hit supelVitiOll conformtd 10 !ht Rules of Professional Conduct); Rule S.3(b) (failure 10 ensure lhal Ihe ~ctivilin of a nonlawyer untler an ~Uom<y's ,upe~ion Ire compatible wilh proftsSionalltanlbrds); Rule 8.4{a) (violalion of tho Rules 01 Profw.ional Conduct through the XIS 01 anothtr); Rule 8.4(d.) (engaging in condUCI prejudi~IIO the ildminis· lralion of jUllied; ~nd Rule 8.4(11) (tngaginll in ronduel lhat adwrsely rrflecu on the Iawyer'1 fil"" .. 10 praclice law). [ASH NoI.. 92·134(8). 92405(8) and 92451(8)) PW>lIc A... rt .... nds • On April ]2, ]996, Birminllham attorney " , ll lam Jac:bon Frffman received I public reprimantl wilhoul 1I.""ral publi. aolion Iorviolalln1l Ru]e 3.]0 of 1m Ruin ofProfessioNl Conduct. Rule 3.10 prohibiu the thrutmil\ll cI crimiNlI proseculion JOIeIy 10 pin an a\II."lIntagt in a (;,...1 matter. Fr«man was represenling a plainliff in a 11tle VI[ action and engaged in a variely of abuli~ litigalion IKIItS. A protecli~ onitr ...."lIS granled by tilt U.S. Oistnct. Court al tilt dtftndant"s requnl ln tilt Court'l order. the ~ of .·rHlNn·llttlen 10 defense counsel ...as addrtsstd.. 11w: lang\liit and tone suggul thai Plaintiff's counKI is engaging in tl<IOI1ion and/or blackmail of defendants and tile law firm rtprutnting them." The court further fountl tlllllhe pLaintiff's "tactics of thruu 10 promote sttlltmml" l7Iistd "KOous eihiaol quu. lions." IASB No. 95-04](AIJ

• On April 12. 1996. Gadsden attorney Lton Gannon received a publk reprimantl Wilh general publiaolioo for violating DiscipliNlry Rule \ . ]02tA){6). in thai he rngaged in conduct which adwrsely .. Ileeted on his /i\nui to PQcti« I-. Rule 7. I02tAH I t. ;nthat he filed a luit. w.erted a pO$i. lion. conducted I defense. delayed a lrial . or look olher acllon on behalf ofhis clienl when he knew it was obvious lhallllid action KMd me'ely 10 hal'Ul or Tn1Iliciously injure another. and Rule 7-102(A)(81Ior "'-il\llly mgogi"ll in othtr iIlrgal conduct Or conduct conlrolry 10 I disciplinary rule. Garmon hiId previously employed a law clerk unlilsuch lime as he pUstd Ihe bar Ullm. Upon lhal individual'. IUCcu.ful completion of th. blr two. he loft Garmon', employ. Therufler. Ihrft oI"Gannon', formtr clients rt<lutSUd tIw. he wilhdT3W as counsel .mll IIIIow lhe formtr law elnk 10 repTtKnl them in their I~ rNlttrs. In rel;poosC !htrrto, Garmon ~nl a 1.lIer, with allachments to the thrff form.r clients wherein he indudtd COpin 01" corrUiXlndeoce 10 the former law elnk from the 1liiIe bar reprding his bir ewn TtsUIIS. The lIforemtnliontdltlten IC"TYl"d 10 MTiISI and degrade thi$ individual. [ASB No. 89-321[

• Tuscaloosa II110rney RogtT S~ Moland was given II public reprimand with IItnel7ll publicalion by tho OiKiplinary Convniosion 01 the A1Ibama Sl.It. Bar on Janwory 12. ]996. RoLand ..."lIS employed by a elimtlo probale an tsI.Ite 1Int1 was paid the sum of $],500. Thereafter. Roland fa;lt<! or refused 10

~t. the rmte lIS he hiId b«n tfl1I)Ioytd. 10 do. or 10 !like any other Itgll action on bthalf of his client. Ro0nd also failed or .. rust<! to respond 10 numerous rrquuts for informalion from his dimt or to otherwise communicllie ...i!h the climt con«mi"ll tho ItlItus <:II the au.t .. ~r !IIlPI"OlilTlllldy oot )'taT during ......ith Roland modt no p'OIII ....... in probating tilt nl.lle. his climt filed a ((IrIIplaini ...i!h the AIab/Ima Sl.Ilf Bar. This complaint will forwardetl to the 1\acaloosa County Bar GritvIn« Committ« lor iTlVtSliption. Roland failed or rtfustd 10 o;ooptr.olo with tilt grie\"lIIICf commiltee in ilS illVtsl:igation. rtfwtd 10 ~ 10 rtqUrsI.I for infonnotlon and rtfustd to provide I wrilten rtsj'IOIlK to the complaint after ha>.;ng promised 10 do so. The I);sciplinary Commission delenninetl that Roland's «>nduct violated Rults \.1. 1.3. 1.4 lind 8.] 01" the Rules of OiKipiiNIry Condur;t. In ildditlon to tilt rqwimand. Roland was requir'N 10 pay 10 hisdimt the sum 0151.500. [ASH No.. 95-12S]

...,tsotwr

• Mobile altorney !)o n Odell While r«t;,... d. public .. pn_ Tn1Ind. with gene",1 publication, on Mil' 17. 1996. In April 1993. Wh;l. Will intlkled by th. Mobile County Gl7lnd Jury for criminal income UJ; violilions. [n ()o:t(:ftr 1994. Whitt pled guilty to willfully (IIi ling 10 file an Alabama ino:ome IU return. Formal eha~ ..... re filed againsl """il. by lhe Alabama State Bar based upon hi. conviction. While entered /I plell of guilty wherein he ildmitted: Commitlil\llll enmiNlI acl which

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Wi.h access 10 tilt SlOte la"" Lib.. ry and We'tl.",. we pl"ovide fa,! II"" efrtcltn. ,.. ... ic • • For dudlll\t ""or~."'. can deliver informa."", 10 )'OIl ~'" common ..... ~, . FodtQ.l bpn: ... or FAX .

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r.1IK1I advor$C1y on hi. honuty. tru>tworthinusor fitnus as bwytr IR ... ~ U(bll: lOd ~ng in conduct which liM....· Iy rdItcll on hi.! fitnw to pncti<:e law. IRuk U{gI) As 1I part 01 Whitt's plu to disciplinary chargu. Ilt rtctilled II 45-day IlIlPtnstOn (rom tilt PAtti« 01 law. "ilich 1UIPffllion hM betn .ttd (Of " .,mod 01 two)'tan.. Iluri"ll thi.! two-~~r ptriod Whit. is to ~rtify to tilt OffICe 01 Ctntnl Coon$ll tht.t lit hM filtd lind paid hi.! incOffit Wts (Of 1995 ;mil 1996. lind 1101 commit lnY \iobtions 01 tilt ~ Rults 01 ProI.,~ional Conduct. IASB No. 93-118(011 ~

• 1Uscumbia attormy Mumll' II'. Btu lty rtceivtd a public reprimand wIthout gt~ral publication on April 19. 1996. In 1982 ~aslty rtprtil'nted 11M: rornplainant. Reba Kilpatrick. now known as Reba Dick. in a divorce procttding.ln 19!!5 Beult)' repreil'nted Jtre Rosenblum in II divorce procwJing lIglIirut hil WIfe. Reba RO$tOblum. fOrTl'll11y Rem Kilpatrick lind now Rd» Oick. In ]987 Brulty r'l'rnrnted Reba Roxnblum in I pttilion for contempt fi~ i&lilUt her ex· husblnd. Jere ROSotnbium. In July 1993 BtlIsIey rt1)rtltTlted Jtre Roxnblum. and mtd on his bthaIf. and against Mrs. RoRnblum. 1I pdition to modify tilt divorce dtcrH to cmlooly 01 tIM: child.. n to Mr. ROKnbIum. Beasley mttred II plu 01 guilty to having viobted Rult 1.9 01 tilt Rults of ProItsSional Conduct ...tlich prohibit lin attorney lOtio hM formally .."re$Cnted II ditnt from repr... nting lnotlltr person adw .... to the fOnnl!r client. in tilt same Or substantially rel~t .d matter.IASIl No. 93-4821

• On April 12. 1996. Gadsden /lUome)' Leon Garmon rtctiWd I public rtprimand without general publication for violatin8 Disciplinary Rult 3.101(A.) in that 1M: li<led a nonl~r in tilt unauthorized practict 01 IlIw. In or uoond Dtctmbu 1988. omlltomey ...tIo Md bttn sw.ptndcd from tilt pncti~ <:I b.w in tilt State 01 A.IlIIwna auocioled employmmt with Carmon ...... attorney. Gumon t...r unokrtokm tilt rt1)rt:>tfllalion 011 ditnt in I criminal malin. ThtrufIer. tilt prosecutor handling tilt c:ase rectMd ails from tilt sw.pended lIttomey. who W/IS in CIInnon'l tmploy. by n on belllif 01 tilt c1i~nt. Thi$ tmploy«tvtn negotiated with tilt pro>tCutor II pit. ~«mtnt in tilt ast wIM:rein Garmon was tourlStl 01 record. On or about April 12. 1990. that tmploytt ~pptartd in optn court with ('.armon·s c1ien!.at which time tilt cti~nt tnttrtd I pita of guilty to tho charge.. Garmon was not prtse"t at th~ .. proc«<lings. but will aware of tilt same and of the Iwpendtd

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3 547~

anormy's participation tllt .... in. The Oisciplinary Boord loond that Gannon', conduct in thillTlillttf~ted tilt ~stllt td pn:Msion <:I tilt 10"""" CM 01 ProkuionaI R~lil, oItllt A.WIarna State Bu. IASB No. 911-601(811

• On ApriIIZ. 1996. Clldsdtn attorney Leon GarmOd rtctr.ed I public f'l'rimllld ...iUlOut I/trotlll publiation for vrobting Disciplinary Rut.: ] .102(A.)!4). in thai lit eng;oged in conduct inYOlvina: di.oonuty. fraud. deceit Of mi.!f'l'restnlll· tion, n Rult J-101(A.) in thlt he lIided II nonw..~r in tilt unauthorized prllCti~ oIl,w. In 1990. Garmon undertook to represent the interesl of a criminal defendant on a retained basis. Ht employfd an allor· nty who had previously Ixen swpended from the proctke of law in the slllte 01 Alabama. 1I(11O.~r. CIInnon directed his employ«. tilt sw.ptr.dtd attOfTlq'. 10 anend .. preliminary hearing with tilt clien\, bti"ll ' ........ tlllt this indMdlll1 was not li~nstd to practice boN in lilt stIItt 01 ~. CIIrmon furthtr flilN to inform tilt court that IhilI indMdlll1 ...'lS not licensed to prKIict law in tilt .... k. The discipli~ry bolrd dttennirotd that Glnnon·. conduct violated tilt aboYe·staled proYIsionI <:I tilt former Code 01 f'to/e:ssiQnoI Re<pOtUibilit,. IASB No. 90-4241 • Mobil~ lItorrot)l JohoDY Ma.ck Llrot rectilled <I public reprimand. with ge""r1.I publication. on April 12. 1996. In April 1993. L.!.~ was indicted by tilt Mobile County Gllnd Jury for crimi~1 income \/Ill \'iol~lions. In M,«;h ]994, LIno pled guilty to willfully failing to file In AlabamalncolTlC tax rtlurn. Pormal charge. wert filed against L.!.~ by tilt Alabama State Bar based upOn his con\'icl;on. LIne tntered a pita of guilty wherein lit admitted: \IioIlIing the AIaIwna Rulos 01 f'ro(t:IOional Conduct and/Of a disciplinary rule IRule 8.4(~H: committing II criminal..:! which rdltcts adYe....1y on his hontst~. lrustworthiness. Or fitness lIS I ~r IRuit M(bll: enpging in iIItgIIl conduct irrvolving morn turpitude IRuit OR 1·102IA.}(JJ1: engaging in conduct il'lYOlving dishontsty. fraud. dtcrit Of mis-represmllltion IRult M(cll: n ........f1II in conduct which IIIMI'JtIy rdIeru on his filnW 10 practict boN IRult 8.4(gl). M. pari 01 LIne's plu to tilt disci"linary cmfitl, lit receilled I 4S-di1y swpension from tilt p~tice 01 law. which JUSjltnsion hM Imn abated for a period of two ~a ... During this lwo-yar period LIM is to certify to tilt Office of Ctntral Counsel that he has filed and paid his Income \/Illes for 1995 and 1996. and not commit any \'iollltions of the Alabama Rules of Profusional Condu(l. IASB No. 9J·1l8(C)) •

Richard Wilson & Associates Registered Profess ional Court Reporters 804 S. fONry Streoet

MOntaomerY. Alab.am~ 36104

264-6433

ht IhmIe of this ~lr'J u..' Day «I,bmion Wil5 "The U.s. (;()n5Iilulion'lhe original Ameriaon dream." And, ;!Coording to limost 200 tAIO)'S and O'o't"r 50 POSit'" mteml in the: ASB'. ann~ us.yI pOSt .. CQ(lttst. lilt dream iI $lill.Ji,'C.

The 1996 Law Day winners are:

Tht Crul Expnimtnl; Il-rwn 01" lIulil)'1

continue 10 run on stations in Inoljor

3rd place: Nicole Ltdtm.... 7th grade. Wutl.wn Middlt School,

• ... Th. autho .. of tile C(>fl$litulion p. obably did not all i4'" on eacll issue and ob.i«tiw during Ille construction 01 it. but cornpromisfc ""U ruchtd oul 01 a sense 01 duty to tile Arne.ian D.eam 01 individual frttdom. The lulu.. of America depend$ on "miller ill ciliullS wililole~. indiff••• na and injuMkc, and iftlvy do, thtn the Amrrican Drtam is .ur. 10 btcom< the Arne, iean Nightma.e. Bul ifthe propl. of tIli. country conlinue to acctpt and perfonn tile dutits and ruporuibilitits which ... tsKnlw 10 the p.--rvation of a Ir.. society, then tho Ameriean D,eam wi11 continue for future gene.a. liom M lhe f ounding Fath,m original-

(iii .... A l¥w W..k Aw.oTmot.! publico.

Huntsville

ly intmck4."

(Entries in lht poster contut. new this

)'U. for gr~du K·5 .....'ert .. 11 displi}'I1d ill ASB !Iudoqwrlello.) Unilt<! Stalu s.vings I\ond$ _ ........ rded to win~D; PilrtidPilling schools l'Ktilltd ctT-

tir.cates. Loul and state LIIw Iny Comminu me~rs _ re inleMe'o<"f<i on Monlgomfry tv progr;lnu; ASB

Prmdent John Owms _

a I/UDI on

APT•• tat ....i!lt "For the Rtcord". Abo. updated ~ublic service inoouncements

lion appurtd In ~ Montgomery Advtrti_ on AIl';1 28 ...ilh tdilOl'ill1 information C(Mring Law Wuk;and ASH pub lk uNitt> and brochures. generating requests for brochurH ;\tKI ails regarding highlighttd pr'08fi'lTI$. LJw ~ ronta\ ~J Ihis ,nduMd l.;tw Day COmmitt.., memlltrs and rep.-ntati_ of the JAC School il Maxwtll

Air force BaK. A...... nJs Irt prf$l'ntt<! in Ihl'fl' cale· gories: K-4th'~ (postn (Ontrst) md

5th----8th and 9th· 12th grades (essay contesl) . .-irll. second lind Illlrd pla<::t willfll'n in eacll c.attgOry rt<;eiw U.s. Saving. Roods. H well as cC1'tirocaw 01 honor. Honorablt rnmlioo certirntts ... also awardtd in _11 altllOry. •

Pos t . , Coni ••, 1st pbct: Juon Molts

2nd plxc: Lull Smitll 3rd place: O",k. Roberts (,,[I'" the abotll!' (trf! from Inditm V,,/Iq 4th grutk in Sg/«aUflO) Divis ion 1 Essay Cont •• t: bt pla<::e: !loshan p.tel, Stllilrade. Vutnri. Central. Birmingham

2nd pbct: ~Ia McNeil. 7t1llfralk. Crtwvilk Middk ScI100l

Dlvl . lon 2 E. . .y Cont•• t: hi pix.: Jonathan !larbte. I till

grade. Hewitt·T\"ussvill.liigh School 2nd plxt: VantsSil A1~r i~it, t(ltll ~.

M_I. Sho.ablllitlh School

3rd pl.lce: Brad Byrd. IltIl gDde, Muscl. Shoals High School

Honor. bl. M ention CerUflc.t •• : Dom Ch.win. 5th gDde. UMS Wrighl PTt"paratory School, Mobilt N.tllan Ry~n. 11th gradt, Muocl.

Shoals Il igh School i..I:igh Ann Moncus. 12tIl gDde. Valley lIitlh School. Linell

-J..... t ... n O. ButMc

The U.S. Conl litutHm_ Th. A",trieln Dru m

"Amtric.a·s hiltory chIIngetl when lama Madison dipptd Ilil rone, ~n quill p<n in a jar of ink and w.ote th. lamow. I.a.~. bold p.int wo.ds. · W. lhe !'topl• .. ." 011 Pilrchmtnt paptr in 1787. The docurnmt ~ wro\~ II i<rloI<-"Il ill the United Stat.. CQrutitutioo. which set up OUT nalional gawm· mtnl... . .. &. g.atdul 01 your righll and 1m· 110m. We _ it ;aJllo tht United Sllotts Constitutioo-tht American dream." - Moi lla" Pat.1

Alabamian Set to Lead American Bar Association N. 1M Coo:Jper. pretlidtnt~ltct of the American Sar ~ion. tion." Cooper said 0( tilt position. for which lit ran UOOppOStd. tw trawltd a long mod Jincc his <Uys lOU Udia' " - ultsAll )'OUfIiI1a\o.-yer in 1972. Cooper was introduad to thr mill in the !aU 1950s. lit bdicvc>.. ~,. that the: Ul"'riAmc:rian BIIr AsoodaIion ...tw:n thr :lIVU>at toII\l'ntioo was en« 'oQS irMIluabk "To bt a good trial Iiw1er. you ~ 10 htld in San franc:iseo.. ' I wantrd to 110 to Sail Frand~" lit have btt:n a Ladia' ~ S/lltsman; Cooper said. explaining said 01 hi$ rnotivts for becoming irrvolvtd. At the timo:. 1M: ,,"as thai it laught him diplomacy. ~ti~ in the AlabIOm<I St3te Uar's Young ~rs' Sedion (he "You can'l f,t. sin 12 foot in a .i.. 8.00.: he ...;d. served;:os president in (976). and he Ileame involved in the \\'htn Cooper ukes ~r lilt rei", in Au~t as the p.w(\enl Amnian Uar M50ciation's YounG ~rs' Di,-uion. of the American Bar Association. his diplomlltic skilL! ...iU be in Cooptr. thr .... 01,1 coIkge football COKh, tmo' up in iIi'Y<knw>cL He Qlimala he willlm't'l300,OOO ~T miles m:I giYe mol UUI 01 the l!nitrd SUottS. Hi$ fathrr settJtd into pm."te hundrt<b of ~ and inltMtwl. in hiJ )'Q' of HTVi«. bwiness in Birmingham when Cooper was I junior at Shade. "I have bttn told the bil18Hl pmllltm iI \'lIl1fY High School, wile .... he was uptain edting the billl Pi'id 300 the laundry 01 thr i)ukothall toam. done," COOp<' sa id. Moat. will not preCooper met his wife. JO)' Clark Cooper "To be a good Irlal sent a problem. ~r. COOPtr txp«ts olTuKUmbia. on II blind date when he 10 ul 10 hdty lOmoonl 0( chicken .00 W15 an 18-yar~ fmlunan lit the lawyer, you have to University 01 AlWrna. Thry will cdebnt. 'lttn pt~ the ~ of my self'TesptCthOve been 0 lodies' iog HTVi« - dub lunchfon. "I'll bt on their loIlh lIV1Ml'Sllry ;u about the s.anw the old chicken circuit: he $aid. tilnl' he IIIkts IMI tht helm 0( the shoe salesman, ~ Coopt., 56, a partner al Maynard, AmtriCill &r As$oxiatioo. Their ..... Cooper sold, Cooper & Cale in Binningham. is only Clark, 28, is an attomt)' with Burr & the second Alabamian IQ head the nation· explaining that H tought .'orman in Birmingham, lind their al bar UiOCiatioo. The first wOlS Henry ~UlIhter. Catherine, 26, il iIII officer and him diplomacy_ UI*Jfl Sims....'ho seMd IS pmidtnl for bw.:h ~r for ArnSouth Bank in " You can'l ftt 0 size 12 the 1929-1930 tmn. Cooper tria not to Birmingham. contemplate the enormity of the job Coopn rutMd his law IJtJIrtt from foot in a size 8 ~. instud focusing 00 the I1ay-tCHby tho UniYrrsity oI.f.1abam, in 1964 ~ shoe," he sold . uslu. which alrudy have indudtd a ",il stt\'td in the U.s. Army lor II two-ytar tour. 10 the Unittd Nations and _ral.tints Whilt hil servio:f: lIS a hrst lituttnant WIIS on I40lk rlrdio. "It's an eJcitins challenge: during u.. VII'lnam War. ht w;:os slationtd lit Wid. "I'm SOinS to ha'l'1I srut time: It .'ort Lot. Virginia for the entirety oItili The Amtrklln BIIr Associ.1ti<Jn was lour. In 1966. Coorn and his wife returned established in 1878, md it i$ thr IargeIt to Bil'lllirlllham. "tom he began work as 1/01001/11}' professioNl orpnizalion in thr /III /II.IOCiiItt atlome)' lor ~ world. Coopn said. It has 340.000 memo JoIVISIOn (from which Ml)nard. Cooper bus lind II $125 millio<J budget. with 750 Split off in 19&1). full, time staff mem~rs in Chicago and In 1974. COOptr was invited to the for· WashinGton. D.C. Al pmidtnt, Cooper mation of the litigation section oftht will N bu.td in Birminttwn. but'" will .tumriQn Bar Associlltion btcIuse he spmd I great deal oItime in ChiugoMld ""as II rmmbu 01 two millOril~ sroups; W,"",iflllon in /lddition 10 thr atms;...e He wu young. and ... wu from tho Im'tle~ ..... South. from that time forward. COOptr serwd tho :woci~tion lIe will run tht I\o.Iord 01 ~fIlOI"$, write monthly coIul\"If\$ in many apacilies.leadin8 to his current rolt. lor thr ABAJouma1, and <kal "i!h u.. mrdia.. arTIOIlII other dutkl.. It would Nve been tilly to f0CU5 complelely on his ~ pr.v:tice. but Cooper said ht f«11 strongly about altofTlt)ll ~nd public "Irs lilt whole busineSi of running a St25 million cOrpOra-

JtM«."r-y.n aft lianstd bytht state." Cooprr Wd."1 Iftl liM 'oW'~ bttn giwn tht fIriyi~d sdf·ngulatioo. We 1Yw .. hightr ailing: he Aid. "1..w.~rs IJao.ot 10 p;Jy thti. civic unt." lit ""id ht c~ 10 p;Jy hit unt by hit MM~ to lhe bar iI$5OCialion; others I"Y it by MMet to community organi ...· it is dont. Cooptr !.I.id. it tiont and IMi r churches. must bI: ~d. As president d tht Americlln Ibr AsaociaIion. Cooptr intmdt 10 shifllhe locus oIlhe group from iOCiiI policy to lhe organi. zation't origiNI Puf1lO5": to bI: "Mrvict organizatioo for lhe fI/Ition's ~ttormyt. I It .....anu to rUlCh "Main Stl'ffl l,lW)'t •• U.SA: as he Itrmtd it, off~ring II'IOre .... i~ 10 ~rs in thtir da)'-to.day prxtica · W.1Yw too far M'..1d on iOCiiI istues. ...+om 'oW don't IJao.ot much irl1f:QCl on them." Cooptr ""id For example. he Aid. tIIC board 01 goyemors took a ttanct on lIbortion y..hich cost the organiulion !l'IC1l'Ibl:Tship "rod had liUlt. if any. impact on Iht n.ltiONI debatt. The boanl $Upport. td the right 10 <hoot< abortion. "We Ioit "",mbors t..eause ~ lost sight that ...."·u,, Kr.~ orpniAlion first." Cooptr ""id. "I'm no( goil\ll to cf\1Clhlsiu socW policy." Anothe. iuue 01 irnporlMlct to COO(>fT as pmidtnt i. the indcpendtocc of tIIC federal judiciary. In this cltction )tirofed· eral judges ha,-e taken 1I11Cating by Republicans and Ikmocrats ali"" . .....00 disagrwl with OTIC judge's ruling in /I surch and

H.,.,.....,.

eone

Ki~uu

Cooptr ""id tIIC politk.ll rlJdoric is harmful. Prnidmt Bill Clinton MId Rfpubliclln pruidenlill andidite Bob Dole au "irrespomiblc" to Itlade the federal judicilry lIS "GlOusing" <rirm. C~r Slid. II is imPl'rati~ Ih~1 the ftderal judicilry ,,""'in frn from poIitic,,1 pre.ssun. bt<:lIuse ooly an indtp(n. dent judiciary ClII1 pmotrw corutitutioNl frffiloms. he S.I.ld. After his)tir lIS pruidenl is <Mr ml Cooper has hid his fill d l irplines. radio !.Ilk showt MId the "chichn circuit: he ",ill utum to hit taw pooitt in Binning/lam."' ho!le someooc ..... ill call: he Slid. COOptr $aid he is not ually ntlVOllt iboul practicing I/IW afttr such m rxt.ndtd S.I.bboticaJ. " . ClIIlI ....~ solllidits' !hoa. " he S.I.ld. •

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

s..-Cul .... A _ s..o._ c.__ ••.... 11'_ 01 .... _ 01 _ _ ~

<-'0100-00_ . . . " • • • & ,.,. • • _ _ .. 1Il00 ........ .

case.

Health

MIJor Medlcll. PrlMdes pel'sona~zed comprehensive coverage 10 LlWye<S. employees. and eligible family membe<s. The Soutnem Professional Trust is toIally IIfIderwrit1en by Continental Casualy Company, I CNA Insurance Company.

Life Flmlty Term Ule. PrlMdes benefits !of Lawyer,. spouses. children and employees. COverage tllfough NOttIrwesle<n National life Insuranot Company.

Security OIHbll1ty lneome. Features "Your Own Specialty" OOfin~ion of disability with renewal guasantee and benefrlS available up to 75% of your Income !of most insureds. Coverage through Commercial Life, a subsidiary of UNUM.

Peace Of Mind BUliron.. OVemead Expenu Ineurane.. A financial ak110 ~eep your office running C<IYerage Ihrough Commercial LiIe . • subsidiary of UNUM.

All from lSI ~ you·r •• Lawye< practicing In the State 01 Alabama . Insurance Spadalis~. Inc. oilers 'he finest InstJranc8 coveraga anywhere.

W,·r. here to help wilh all your insurenoe needs.

INSURANCE SPECIALISTS, INC.

you become dlsabktd.

33 Lenox Poin1e NE

Atlam •• GA 3032.... 3172 404-814-0232

800-24, ·n53 FAX; 404-814-0782

CLE

OPPORTUN ITIES

Th, fo/lQU.'ing m-s/ult progrtJrnfi horJe ix'm upprotoN for crrdil bv IIw AJuboma M(1IIdaIOTj/ CLE Ccmm;$Sion. H_w, inhrmalion is Q''<1i1u/)/, f_ of cha~ on Ot!er 4.500 approtw flrovrams nalionu'i<k identified b/llocalitm dIIlt or sp«iIIilll <11'«1. CtmlllClliIM !>leu; Commiuitm office (1/ (334) 269·1515, or 1-8QQ.J54·6154. and a romf!I~I' CLE OJ/elida. will be tnuil,'Illo IJOU.

....

S(J~)!ER

_....

15 Monda,

JULY

TIMBER &; TilE FEDERAL

INCO ... !; TA.'I:

CONFE RENCE

"'-""" Alb"", Oistrid AttOl'm)'l .u-ia.tioo elf crrdits; 8.J (334) 242 .... 191

Auburn UniYenity CLE crtdiu.: 7.0 (3J.4) 844. ln042 16 TU •• dey

.I1EDlCAL MALPRACTICE IN AI.AIIA.\IA

10 Wedne.da, IIAStC PRORATE PROCEDU RES « f' RACT1Ct: IN AIAHA.'II\ Birmingham N~tiONlllusinuilnstit ul~, lne. elE (mlil$: 6.0 (715)835-3525

MASTENI NC REAL ESTATE TITLES &: TITLE INSUAA.,"CE Mobile NatiOO.l.lllusinus l rut itlltt. Inc . CL~ <.edilJ: 6.0 (715) 83~8525

13 Sat"rday T1)!St:It" Til E FEDERAL ISCO)!t: TAX Monroeville Auburn Uniwrsity e l E cUliilJ: 7.0 (334) 844· 1(1.42

Birmingham

NMiONIlluJinus InsliMe, loc. CLE cmliu: 6.0

(7151835-8525

_....

ESTATE PI.A.\:NING FOR fOREST I.A.\:OOWNERS

Auburn Uniwnity CU: cmlits: 7.0 (33418o\4.1(l42 17 W.dn ••d.,

TRYING THE AUT01ol01liLE INJURY CASE IN ALAB",'lA Mobile NatioNl BU$lntSS Institut~. Inc. CL..E crtdi\$; 6.0 (7I5183S-852S 18 TtIou..ct., Tln1NC TilE AIlT01ol0B ILE INJ URY CASE IN A.LA8A.'lA Montgomery N~tioNl Businus Institute. loc. CLE cmlits: 6.0 (7151835·8525

Tue.u,

23 W·nTED LIABILllY COYlPM'IES

IN ALADA.'lA 8inningJwn N<ilioml Businesllnstitutf. Inc. CLE credits: 6.0 (715)835-8525

25 Thu,.d., R~:C.: NT D.:V.: LOP,~ EN1'S

INSURASC E LAW Birmingham Lorman Businu5 Center. loc. CLE mdiu: 6.0 {7lS) 83J-mO

26 Friu)'

PRACTICAl. DEfENSE Of DUt &: VEH ICLE ACCIDENTS HunUville SBll'T(llmioNl Dtwlopme:nt ~minan.

loc.

CLE credits: 6.0 (800)826·7681

30 TU• • • ,

BAD MITII LI TICATI ON IN ALAR"''''' BinningNm N~tioNl BusintSS Institute. loc. CI.E .redi!$: 6.0 17lS)

8J.S.3525

AUGUST 3 s.turda, INFERTILITY. AHORTlO:>..· &: TilE RICHT TO DIE

Birminglwn InUill1lt lor Nalunol Raourcu CU:: cmlits: 5.8

(5]0) 450·1650 8-to MEDIATION I'ROCESS &: TilE SI( ILLS OF CONF1.ICT RESOLUTION Il untwi]le

Mtdi>otiol'l ~Ijon CI.[ crtdits: 21.0 (800] AOR· rtR.....

2.... M£OIATIOS PROCESS .. TIlE SI(ILLS Of CONfLI CT

13 FI'I.cbI,.

AU.8A."IA _"II NI CODE

Binningham Cum~rlan~ ln51ilule for CLE CLE credits: 6.0 (800) Sf.8.7454

Mobile Mtdialion Corporation CI.[ "wits: 21.0 18(0) ADR.rtRM

20 Friebl, AOVAl',CE O PERSONAl. INJUlty

SEPTEMBER 6 Friebl, OEVEI.OPMEI\'TS &: TRENDS IN It £ALTII CARE LAW

B"mingl\am CulT\berbnd lrutitult for CI.[ CI.[ cmiits: 6.0 (SOD) 888·7454

Birmingham Cumberland Instilute for CU: CI.E cmiits: 6.3 (800] 88S-7454

9 Frida, PRACTICAL On' ENSE OF DUI &: \'E Hi CLE ACCIOEI''TS PhtniJ: City SRI Profe55ional Oewlopllll'nt

S.minar5 CI.E crtdits: 6.0 18(0) 826-168]

.. to TAX ON TIlE IIt:ACII CulfS""r.. DYAl.l Publi)/linll Cornpm)'. Inc. CI.E crwits: 8.3 (800) 252·5297 14-18 O",ORC£ &: CIlILD CUSTOO¥ MEOIATl O:>..· Montgomtry

I? \\!ley Tu Ius ~ lIJnWh in! JUliIiy 01 <M:I Xl)U$1II ~ mit

busnsi. ~ A+1lU'f:i &om Sullu.tb I'uor. in!!ht ~ pD!i_ 01 bmg ~ ...... (R mit _ _ in IxIlh )r ppi in! AIaI:.na.

School for Di5putt Resolution CLE crroil$: 40.0

....\11 (air ~ IIIId ~,it,oct. "'" carobne !ht IbDIiy to scM j'OUt ~ tllk prt:l*ms with a ~ to \OI\lrl: """)W uw.Ws rt:aI snIIIims. Blau!oI:. M . ppi 'hfky Tdt. f\nSrobo"yso'i'Uaorapl.I\~ WZ;

(404) 29'}. 1128

21 Wedn •• ebI,

1M PACT Of Til E ADA OS \IIORI(I>II.S· CO ... PENSATIOS

Binningtwn !.orman Business Cenler. Inc. CU:: credits.: 6.0 (715) 833·3940

........

• •• •

• • • MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TITLE

••

• • INSURANCE COMPANY

The: Ambilify lou Nml. The Slabilif), lQU TrllSf. )1' . . . . . _

• ....-. ....... _

. OOI-.nu · _1·1IM

~--

11111

LEGISLATIVE WRAP-UP

1996 R•• ul •• S . . . lon The AlabalTlll Legislature ~gan mminll in urly Janual'}' ~r.d hu bun in susion either in ~ sp«ial session or tht currtnt ~gular fusion sin« that time. On Monda)', May 20, 1996. the Legislature ,}djoumed. Then: ..... u~ 1.793 bills introduced in the legisb.lun: and 6S3 01 them pwed. ~r, Ius than 1200fthe bills aftedtd thr Jlatc at large. In addition. thm ~rt 835 I'UOhJtiom Introdutnl 01 which virt~lylll pwed. The iowt tNt ItI~· td mosI d Iht .untion _!he Mini-Code bill (SH 587) whid! ~ on tho Wt day In.titut. Bill. Partntnhlp with Umittd Liability r lrtnenhip (1 m 184) . P;uud the I.gislature and will btc .fftcti..., Jamu.,}, I.

1997. Tht

01 this bill was due in

large part to the sponsorship 01 Rtp •• stnbtivt M i~t IIoox and SeNior Charlu ~ord.

"".

Rn"iH<i

SHAklI10ma L=~. July

uee Article 8 MlnvellaMnl

SKurilitl~

(118 "OS). This Iawwill

become df«lWc Jm ... f)' I. 1991. The sponsonWffi! Rtpresmlitivoe Mark G.oinq

Senalor $(tyf \\r,ndom.. s.,.,

Alabama lAwyer. July 1995. Repta) or uee Artkle 6 " Bulk

1'rJ.ntf... ~ (58 21 7 1. Senator Steve Win\klm and

R~ pr.stnla tive

Mark

Caines weft the sponsors. Thr •• ·fourths of the states haot "puled Article 6 because thi, ~rt~ of tr~ru.actions is now CO'vtm by tht Fraudulent Transf~rs Act

_ ....."'-............ .....

....i1ich Alab,)fN, adopted in 1989. This repeal betame fffectiot in May 1996. Joint CUl tody (SB 2671. SpOnsors are Senator R01!n Ikdford and Repmentative HOWArd Ha..... k. This act dotl not r"'iuire that joint Ifgal custody be .....=ltd in eve!)' CA5I: acept l'I'hfre the parties request joint IfgIJ custody and MOn then wbjoect to allllfOYil by \he: iudgf. Thit iKt will become c-fffdiw Janwo!)' I. 1991. Str A/Qb(zma f.atcyw. May 1995.1"hI: Institute bill on lrtJal JorplIntion spoo __ rd by R~1iw Mircd Bt.d< t»outd tht H()UJt of RepreHntativn but .....u 001 a.ctrd on In the Smate. Other bill, of interelt to ~rs are as follows: li B 52_Revocation of drive .... lic • .,... of l non<Ust(ldial PiO"nt who it . ix months in amars of court-or\km child support.. liB 86-1"hI: Antique Lictl1Sf Thgl.1..... Ilu IIKn c~ to prohibit automobilfs ngubriy ~ on the highway from obt;IininQ antique Ii«MtS. Effective J.-...wy 1.1998. Anothrr bill, liB 546. was puMd doling with Yinbtgt whicle IU. liB 147-1'roYidu pttWties for u.-: ,,-00 in"rftft with and disrupt Irgal hunting and fifhlng. li B 152--lt i, unbwt"ulto destroy or deface tnoffie signs or deface public build. ings or public property lOr.<! PiOren15 of minors who are convicttd of destroying Or defacing traffic JigllJ or ddacing pub-lie bu ildings or public property ..... ill be liable for Iht actual damages caU$td by the mir>{)r. li B 200--ThoM!lfOON ;adjudicated i~ or fHbltmindtd lOn 001 to be iswtd 1I driwr·slinnol!. li B 226--A!lfrsOll may plt;ad guilty to a f.1ony on infoTll"llltion before indict· ....nt provided IIwoI the ronslitutionlll ...... ndmml is lIPPrCMd in Niwm1be. removing tht prohibition from pl.;ading guilty briore 15 days after u ... t li B 292- Amend. Al.ab,)ma Code Section 13A·6-21 that any a.w.uit on a !lface officer or fir.fighter is an a.w.uit

in the second deg,« rfganlless of injury to lhe offkt •. Ita 368-Amtnds Alabama Code Section 22.52·1.2 to exclude tilt home addrw of the !lftitiontr in lon ilWOlun. t.l.!)' commitment procttding. HB 489-Regul,tes window tinting. liB 6OS-Authori:w tlw us.e of an audio-video communiations system al any crimiOil pnArial procttding. 1"hI: physia.l prutrv:e of 1I defeoo..t is not nquim in open COOT! upon tlw lISt of ~udio-video l)'SIe .....

liB 652-Amtnds A1a1wn.l. Code Section 18--IA·3 tI alto cllIrify the =t usociattd with cor.demnation action> lOr.<! .Iimi ..... le the 3O--day !lfriod in ..... hich the probate judge is required to conduct iI huring afl.. r the filing ofa cond.m ..... tion complaint. lIB 755--lncn~!\'Ited limiu on higtw.·ilYS. sa 9-Amends Alabamll Code Section 6-2-8 which rtrnovu tlw tlutndtd ti..... prison inmlltn an Qivm for bringing or ddtnding iKtions b,)std on litlo to nill properly.

SB 24-1"hI: jurisdic:tion of ...... 11 ""-as noiJrd from $I.soo to $3.000 effeclM: July I. 1996. SB 35--AJnvIdJ A!.b,)miI Code Section 6-2·33 to limit the statute of limitations for dvil actions agaillJt .her· iff, and other public official . for mislea· .... nte \0 action. brought by the state against the public. SB 4 1--.1.mtn<.11 tlw Workers' Compm. Qlion Law 10 provide compensation lor death 01 a person 21 years old or )'OI.lflgt'. SB I I9-RfllIlfl 10 juwnilt delinqumcy and ;untnds AIWma Code Sed.ion 12· 1S--S3 to provide tNl iI mild iIlltgtd 10 be dolinquenl for possessing iI pistol. elt~ ~Il be detained in aIStody until iI htllrinQ ar.<! can be held in ~1 lor up to 60 days. The .....~ilpon ..... ill also be confiscated and dulroytd .

d~ims court

IConlinued on {iIJg< 214)

Punitive Damages and Pre-Verdict Procedures Life of Georgia:

Bg Davis Carr and Rochd Stnukrs Clxhrlltl

l~ju riH historiaJIy ~ r«O'Md very little ll\Iidan« in dttmnining the appropriate amount of punitive damogu 10 be ;ww.etl against a def.ndant. Since 1986. KClIrlty fOl' lhe defendant "''as sul'l'QKdly had";' a post·lrial Hammond Maring. al which the Irial court toruidtrtd Mdence relrvant to ...Mher the amount of punilive damagn ~lrdtd by 1m jury WlS appropri. at •. H~r. the r«ent.- of Uk Insufr11l« ecmpan, ofGcorgio "-

.IoImsot!. 19-10357. 1996 \11. 202543 (Ala .. April 26. 1996). bfQ.1denedthe aJIPli(~ilily of lhe HllI7Im(JtIdiCrem Oil beton.. Ma ~It of Ur"ofCi«1rgiiJ. thut fKtOl"S in 110"-' comidered by tilt jury lS wtll os Ihe by Ih. Iri~1 court in determining the amounl of damage. 10

..........

Accordingly. detailed k~edge of

!>ow ffommrmdlGfffrl Oil f~ctoT$ art intuprtlt<! and """,liEd 1$ c;nw;i.al for ~ri i.....oMd in any action SftIcing punitive damagn. This articl. examines the history behind the court's action in Uk of Grorgio and rMews the new method by which punitive awards are 10 be ususod <IS announctd in that deci· sion. Nut. !hi- article diocu»lis rtetnt application of Hammond/Crrm Oil fac· tOri in partirolar tun. Fi",lly. practice POinte" ar. provided.

IllltOt)l BehilWl Uk IlUllnn« Co. 9f fAo,y/. V. JtJJmHII Tht Green Oil factori wen origi",lIy conceived in JUltice Jonn' sptCial con· WmTI« in Ridoo/~·Brown Sm.-ia. Inc. u. 11ol/ou:Qg. 397 So. 2d 12$, 1Z7 (Ala. 1981). While concurring in tilt COlIrt'S affirmance of iI $220.000 award. JUllic. Jonn ~rwed the "1.lIl1Uided di$cretion acoonIrd in both the bet· finding ~roct5S and the judicial review tNt fOCH the amount of punitive dam· ogn," Whilt punittve da/r.,gn-ought to lting in order to deter; Jo.utiu Jones wrol •. "only in the rutst of castS should it be large enough I" destroy; this is not its pUrpoM." The wrrmt S)'itern furnishn "virtuolly 1>0 y.l.rd5lick for me&.luring the amount 01 the ~ward owr againsl the pUrpoM of the i>oo";lrd." While rKOgnizing Ihlot e'\idmce of ....alth 01 a def.ndant "·&.I entir~ly too prejudicial to injtct into trial before the jury det~rmintd liability. JUllice Jones suggestEd ~ posI·jod(mmt procwling during which the trial COlIrt «>uld corn· p.ar. the amount 01 the award against tilt ro",nciool worth of the tidmdanl Duri"" the ""'" time frame. another relevant tr~nd was developing. In the 1986 cut oIlIammondt'. Cilll 01 Godsdm. 493 So. 2d. 1374 (Ala. 19861. the Abbima Supreme Court bt-gan r.~uiring trial courts to stat. in the

,......,1

rowrd its nason for intuf.ring with a jury verdict. or musing 10 <k\5(I. on the grounds of txCtuiveness of lhe dam· ages.. Such statements btame kOO"-l1 ;IS Hammond orden.. Accord",g to J...... ice Shora .....ho authoo«d the IkmImond opinion. appropri.:ote factoT$ for consid· eration by the trial COlIrts in determin· ing ~ included wlpability of the deftndant's conduct, de$ir;>bility 01 discourafling others from similar con· duct. and impact upon the p.arties. as ..... lllS impact on innount third parties. Shortly aft •• the nl ..... d lIammond • JUl tiee Houston wrote a sptCial concur· rence in kino Uk 11U. Co.", Uwoitl. 50S So. 2d_1050. 1060 (Ala. 1987). obstrvinQ thai a lu!»tanl;"1 portion of tho judgment in the $3.500.000 award in tNt cast violatt<! constitutional5lan· dards. ........ havt pmn;IIEd punitive dam· ages to be leviEd withoul tilt constitu· tional uftguords thlot ..... insist attend every criminal prosecuti",,; JU5liu Houston thm mumenttd KYm faclOri that -should be t,km in to consideraHon by the trial court In selling the amount of pumtive damiga.: Only two yeari lat... in C,..,.", Oil Co. v. HrJm£bv. S39 So. 2d 218 (Ala. 19891. the court adopted JUltice 1I0Ulton's Lovoie concurrence and emblUMd what 1$ ~ today "" the Green Oil f;octOfS. Despil. the post·verdict ~pp lj c<otion 01

""--

If<lmmondlGrMl Oil fxtors. debate continutd as to whether A1aOOmljuries recei"" sufficient guidanu in their <luempt to detennine the appropriate lIII"IOUnt of punilM w.~ In CIraTIer Hosp.. 01 Mohik, Inc. ~. IIWnbrrg, S58 So. 2d. 909 (Ala. 19901. Justice II()USton remarked that constitutional due proeess pr(Wisions are vioIlottd ..twn the jury is "givHI the unbridlN di5cntion to ,..."rd no puniti« dmnages or to iWard an unlimited omolm/ 01 punilir!il Ii<Images. taking into con5ider~tion only the char· acter MId the dtgr .. 01 the wrong .... i/IoIt." by the evidence in the case MId the nttn5ity d prrvmling similar wrongs in the future." In an attempt 10 enSurt due process. JU5tict IIOU5ton suggesttd a bifurcated trial proc:tdurt. in which u.. jo.ny ....as to be pAl"idtd informlOtioo rew.M to the al"lPf"l)pri;lote i mount of damagts to 1M: Wts$Cd. JU>! .... his corw:urrenct in lAuoie formed the cornerstom 01 Grem Oil. Jwtice Houston. in his COflCUrrence in Charler Iklspilal. set u.. ~ lor Uk Insunma Compan,l 01 Crotgi<J v. JoItrlJOO. In /lddilion to COTlCtmS of due process.

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~rUin mmtbt:rs fJi the court ~re JtrugglinQ with concorns of "wln,lfjll. to plaintiffs iii a result 01 large punitive iWards." In recent ~ars. ~raJ jwtkes supported the concept ohllocMion ofa portion 01 punitive ,...-arcls to the il<lte ~nerJ.1 fund or to some ~""I fuTld thai serves a public purpose or advancts the ca~ of jusl k e.' HoweYer. the con· cept IlM'r prnered <I majority of the AbIwno rnurt until Uk 0I~.

r-o .... Bifu_lt4 l'Tocedurn Ado,tt4 in

l.lf, Of C«>trIi" In Uft Iruufl1J'1a ~ 01 Georgia rJ. .iohnslOO. \940357. 1996 WI.

zms.tJ

(All .. April 26. 1996). the plainlJff sued the dtfendantlnsuranct company alleg· inti fraud and sUl'I'ression in rellltion to the u.\t 01 <I Medicare SUpplement poIi· r:y. After trial. the jury awarded plaintiff $250.000 in com~tory damages MId S15,000.000 in puni\;""t Wma~es . Pursuant to a l/"mtnQlWIGlWfl Oil haring. the t",1 court remitttd the punit"'~ _rd to $12,500.000. Uti: d Ceorgi.t. appe~ltd llleg;ng a den;II 01 due proct5S in that tho ~es award. td ~re txCtssive and the mtthod by whIch those IIlmages ~re wessed was illiolkqual. •. On lIlIlUl. the Abbimll Supremt Court ~ the trial rourt·s I/ummond order. Although no ' - cita· tions ..-ere provided. the court tonducttil a comparative <lOllysis and mnitted the punitM _-ard to $5,000.000.' Although newsworthy, the remittitur by tho court of the $12.500.000 punitive award wili not the kt)' holdinQ fJi the Uk 01 Coorpio decision. Writing for the rnurt. Jmtkt Shores COfT\mtnted thilt, although the UumJ1l()n{/ and Grem Oil procedures lrtr. adopted p.l.rtly in ~ponse to the due process concems of deftN.bnts, juries IraodilioOllly have bHn Jhielded from urlain relevant but potentially prejudicial infOlTl\lltion. lI~r. she noted that. wilhout benefit of that informlliion juries cannot dettnni ......twtherthe amounl fJi darn· ages it awards il an app«lp"'tt lIII"IOUnL Thtrtfore. tilt rnurt concluded the jury·s nml for ikklitional guidance outweighed any potentially prejudic .... l eff~t and held that e..-idence relating to illl IhlmmDtllUC...- Oil fxton. with ftw rxctptions. was to be a.dmitted ~ Ih' jUTJI in <III actions seeking punitiw damages.' ln S(I holding. lilt court dr~·

""tic:ally jltutd the mtthod by which puntli"" damagts ,re wessed in thi, state. Accordingly. eff~tive 90 days from the IIlte the certificate 01 judgment in Uk 01 Crorgio i$ enterrd. jury trial 01 <III cases in which punitM damages lire JOUght, with the uuption fJi wrongful duth actions. a•• to proc..d in the fol · lowing mIInner:' /I... \"mlid Slap Mer rtaMng the jury d>ar# from the Irial court. tht jury is to detonn ine li.tbility and the amount d compensatory damages, jf ~. /II. the 5amt time, the jury will illll) decidr by Sptcial .... r· dict w..... ther the evidence fl«Stnted at Irial jwtifies the imposition of punitive damages. If the IptCial ,.. rdid indicates punitM ~ are to IN: a....udtd. the punitM pIwe of tile trial begiOi.

8. Pu nit"~ I'hin Whtn the jury·, spec .... , verdict indio cates pun;ti"" Ibmages Ire to be lWard· ed. the trill ftSurnes and .,11 evidmtt relto."ilnt to!he ~te lIII"IOUnt 01 punitive damagu. with only I few ucepliono.;s aodmissible before the jury.' Admi5Sible ~idtn.ct includts information ntCtsA.ry to consider all Ilar7l1"llOOdJG/W1l Oil facton.. as ~II as thoK fac:to ... ickntified by Itatul~ or tlI$t law.' The flCtors 'pecifie.al1y identified by the court as jpproprillte for COflsidmtion by the juryue as follows:

From the sU!ute If 6-11 -:0. Ala. CcIk 1975 (Supp. 1989)]: I.Nature, utrnt and ·tcononlic imJlld.' fJi ~rdict 00 plaintiff or

dd"""',

2.Amoun! of compensatory damages. 3.\\"hether dtftndant hal been guilty of similar ICU in the put. .t.Tht I'IIture aTld atm! 01 any effort by dd"tndant to remedy the wrong. ~·rom

Green Oil:

I.Dots the punitM ~n ",,·ard bur I reasonable rebtioruhip to the hilnn lihly 10 oocur from the ckftndanl"s conduct? 2.The degr.. d reprehensibility 01 deftndanl"l conduct, including: {lIlIhe duration of the conduct; 1b)the deg.H 01 ckfendann lwareness of any hazard which thi,

conduct Ius c.o\l$t'd or islik(1y to caust; (c)any c(Ir\Ce.lment or ~r·up of tilt lluird; (d)ftjiltna and fffilUtnCy at simi· br p;ut conduct. 3.Punitive da~1 shoul d remove the profit. if any. from tilt defen. danl lind should be In u«ss oltht profil 50 that defendant rtoognius

a 10l0I. 4.Dd'tndant's fin.mci.ll po»ition.

5.c..t ol litigation to tht plaintiff. 6Jf (Jefendant Ius received criminal sanctions. tllat should be taken inlO :KCOOnt in miligation.

t..>... Imn other civil actions agairu;t tilt samt del.ndant bastd on the same conduct. this $hould be taktn into :KCOOnt in mitig.llJon ol the p!.Initiw ~

7.11 theft

From HammOlld;

I.Culpability at (Jefendanfs conduct. 2.~

desirability ol discooRging

""'.~

ing. Only evidrnct not prtYiomly con· lidertd by the jury is to be ildmitted in a pasl.""rdict hurin, on ucusi1.'tIll'''' C.AJlocatioa of Awanl 1It"-" PIIlntiff aood Statt MI. r appell.tt review. if any. the amounl ol the judgmtnt (as finally drltrmintd) is to k paid into the trial court. All rtaSOnablt txptTIStS ollhe iiI , igation. including thel'laintiff'f altor" nt}I fetf. art to k pooid out ol the judg. mc1It. The ~ining MIlOUI'It is tllm 10 be dhidtd equally bdwtt.. the pLloinliff ~TMllhe Slatt gtneral fund. Although /luthorittd 10 receive a portion 01 all p!.Iniliw 3\o'ardf d\tr tljltl\st$, the statt has no right undtr this IlnII ~u~ to in!towne or participate in cutS: the ri,hts 01 tht PIIrtits to stult any lawsuit art unaffe.:ttd as wdL' R_nt Appliaolion. of /filmmomliCFftII Oil Facto .. A. Ftdt .. l o.cillon,' No doubt the most importanl awliCli' lion to datt olllommondlCnm Oil lac· lors if IouRd in the TtCtnt U.s. Supreme

Court cast ol 8.'111' 01 Nonh America. Int:. v_ Core, No. 94-896, 1!i96 WI. 2GZ429 IU.s.. MOlY 2<1. 1996). In Core. II physi· ci.ln p,,,,,ha$td a new 8.\lW ro. """roD· mattly $40.000. MIn driving the vthictt for nine montiu without compbint. plaintiff discover"" the vehidt I1aoJ ken rtpainttd prior \0 ita p!.Irchast; he then bfllUll.ht this action lIIPinst tht ArntriClIn distributor ofB~\\'s for fraudultnt su ..... pre.. ion. 1M jury award"" plaintiff 14.000.000 in punitiw damages. On ~t. the AI.nv Supreme Court remiUt<! tht award 10 S2,000.000. find· ing that the jury had imprOperly butd its lIWard 01 punitive damages on (OIl. duct tNt occurred in other jurisdi,· tions.- Howtvtr, the Alabanv SUprt ..... Court found 00 other justification for rtmitiuur undtr its lIammood/CrMl Oil analysis of the cast." In II ftvt-t<>-four drcision. the U. S. Suprt.... Court """,rstd the Alabama court. find ing tht S2.000.ooo punitive award grossly uc......... thtreby vioLIot" ing 8~W'J constitutioN! dllt procus rights as gll.lr;)t)tetd by the Fourteenth

3.Tht impact on tht panits. 4JrrIpid on innonnt third poortin.

From Ho/llJWOIIIRidourHJrou.." !krviCf!. Illc. v. Hoi/ooVII. 397 So. d. 1~.127

(198111:

~ punitiw damai« _ud should Sling, but ordirwily it should not destroy." From Wilson Iv. Dllkono Corp" N.Y.. 547 So. d. 70. 73 198911: -Otf.ndUlfs 'right 10 fair punish . ment' mUll be considered abo". plain· tiffs right to re.:Cl'Jer the fullest amount ol punitiw~· From I.lJvtW Ikilla Vfe Ins. QI. .. LOlXiit. 505 So. d. 1050. 1053 (Ala. 1987)1; "A compar3"vt anal)'$is with other awards in limiL... usu ...., M indic.oltd in the opinion. iICIoIltion of this bilu1'(:.ltt<! pr«tdure was not intendt<! as a substitute for PO'!!.wrdicl rrview 01 puniliw awards. Puni\i"" ~.. rds, when chlIllengnl as nccssiw or inadtqu.tte, still must be consid.,td through the pr«tdurts stt out in Cn1m Oil Co. v. Hontsbg and Hammond .. Cilll 01 CodsdcI. HoIo..... r. evidence alrudy considrrcd by the jury nHd not be readmintd at the po»t·""rdiCl hear"

v.a.

Real Estate Settlement system "The Nation:~ Mosl Widely Used " " " " "

" " " " "

HUD 1 AutomaUc Calw iaUons Checks & Escrow AccountlnQ: Word Processor " Spell Ch eck Poli cies & Comm!1ments Deeds & M OftQaQ:es Dala Base ReportIng On-s!1e TrainlnQ: Available 10995 Repon lnQ: Regulation Z APR's

$1,495.00

(8001 917-2918 303

~--

IN·STATE MEDIATION T·R·A·I·N·I·N·G

(Apptrwed f(}t CLE c;red.t and Alabama C6Ilter f(}t DisptJl6

ResolutIOn rost. registration) August &-10 HuntsVIlle Medl.tlon Proce ••• nd the SllII1. of Conflict Re.oIutlon. Me ell.tion Corpor.tlon (800) ADA·F IRM

Augusl14·18 & Navember 13-11.

MoI~gornery

Divorce .ncI Child Custody M_ di.tion Tr.ining, School for Diaput _ R __ lution (404)299-1128

August 22-24. MOOle Modl.tlon Proc•••• nd the SllII1. of Conflict Re solution, Medlstlon Corpot'. tlon (800) ADA·FIRM

For ool-(l!'Slale training inlor· mation caU the Alabama CentOf for DIspute ResoIutoon al (334) 269-0409.

Please Note: Due to the I996Summer Otympic pmes. the U.s. Court of Appeals for the 11th Ci rcuit h.ls a.dopttd I modified workday schrdule. From Moodi.Y. July 8. 1996 through Mooday. August 5.1996. the Court will be open to the public from 7:00 a.m . untit 3:00 p.m .. Monday through Frid.l.y. For mort infor· mlItioo. conlXl tho: ci"",it atC\I. tM: ~t (40-4) 33 1-5124 or the clerk at (~ 04) 331·2211.

AmtndmenL Writing for tho: Court. Justitt St_1IS stattd that "[t!lementlory llOtions of r~imt$S enshrintd in OUr con· stitutional jurisprudmct dicutt that. person reetM: llI,r notict not only of the conduct lhit ...ill subj«t him to punish· ment but abo of the ~'trity 01 the peNl!)' thi! .. Stlott n\I}I impost." Tht Court identified thrtt guidtpOSts, taCh of which indicat..! B~IW did not .Kt;"'t adeQuatt notict of the mIIIni· tuck 01 the unction Alwma might impost lor its nondisclosure policy. First, the Court found nonr oItht ~... t· ing fKtOI'$ typically ;wocilottd with reI>rtheruiblt conduct to be p.esent in this cast." SKond. the Coun nottd that the punitive: ~a ¥I'o... r<k<! to p!;o;nliff aft ... mnititlur ...... 5000 tima the .. mount 01 his Klual hirm. Although 51ill dtclining to establish ~ malhenutical briQht_line ratio of punitivt doomag~. to actU.l.I hirm. the Coun $tloted "Iwlhen the ratio il I brtathtloking 500 to I. howevtr.the ""... rd must surely ·",Ist ~ $Uipicious judicial q'tbrow: " Third. the punitM: award of $2,000.000 greatly •• c«<led tht ma:.imum cNil penalt~ ilutho.iud by the Alabama l.eQislalure. or that ohny othu stott. to ,,'hid! BMW could hove b«n subjtctnl for ill nondisclosure poIicy.DTh .... tht Court coodud.. td. 1lI1. notice w;os not giwn to IIMW that ill conduct miQht ruull in .. multi. million <.Iollir penalty. AcwrdinQ\)'. the ColIn r~ and rernmdtd the ...... to the AlIbima Suprtmt Court lor I new tN! or. ~lttrrlltM:ly. reconsidera· lion by the Atwma Supremt Court. The Coon's dtc;'jon in Col"f! did not di",pprow of the HammomJlG""", Oil fKlOrJ. and their use du.ing post·vtrdicl revitwl 01 puniti\~ ¥I'o~ 110000't\'!f. the majority 01 the Court re.itcttd the rnanntr in which thoH flIcton w.n applitd by tho: Alabanu court. Ju.ltice Breyer'l concurrence. in which Justices Soutu Uld O'Conner joined. It;otnl: "~lltM>d;onh nHd not bf pr«1st in order to utilly this constitutioNl concern .... Butlhey must oIl"tr some kind of eonsl",int upon a jury or coun '$ discretion, and thu. prot«tion agaimt purtly arbitr~ry behivlor. Tho: It.1ond.l.nh the AbbaIN courU applied here lrt vague and optn-mdtd to the point whert they risk arbitrary mull&.

•••••

"And. ~ the majorily opinion makes cleu. the rtcOrd cont;oiru nothill.ll to IU~st that the e.lraordinary sin of tht award in this caK is txplained by the tltraoroinary wrongfulness of the dtftnd.l.nfi bohMor. me.uurtd by historical or community standards. t1Ithtr tmn arbitt1lrinas or QpriCt ..... B. Alab.ma [)«lilo~i" One 01 the rTIOII detloiltd and inslruc1M: diKUSSions of HammondlCrt!fm Oil bcton from tht ~ Supremo: Court i$1ound in the reeHlt ...... 01 Dudr Ifwd Apparel Co. D.lIoo1J. 659 So. 2d 897 IAla. 1995). In Duck IIt ad. Ihree /Ormt. tmpk7,'tts alltged ft1lud. wpprt<Jlion and breKh of conlnd 19ains! tlJi:.ir fonnt r fflIpIoj'tr for failure to pay $852.000 in ula commissiom. AI trill. the jury :rw~nItd pl.intiff5 S ]9.5000.000 in puni. tivt damag... At the Hammond hearing, tho: trial coun remi lled the ~mounl to $] 5.000.000. 5utjllll ~ .euom for lhe rmuttitur the adeQUK)' of the comp.-n· Ulory damages. the bet that the company ... as in a dawn cydt. m:ithe fKl that the companis in.ure. was conttsl· jng COV't. age, On appeal, tht AlabalN Supre ..... Court lffirmtd the punit i,~ a...... rd ~ remitttd. conditioned upon I furthtr .tmittitur 01 the mmt;ol Mlguish d.I.mag ... FKto" rett..... nt 10 the eourt's .ffirmance included reprehen.ibmty of the ddendant"1 con~ uct. the fact that dtfmdanr . Ktions ~u intentioNl and dtliberlltt M1d wm carried out by numtr· <IUS mernbt" 01 ~mm!. ~ the fiNncilol 51.. ngth of the company.• In addition to ill nc~lI~nt discu"ion of tht HarnmondlGN!f1rr Oil factors , the Duck fleod opinion is nottwOl'th)l for KYtrlll other reuons. CIne. the opinion afJirmrd tht !;orgut punil ...... ""... rd evtT madt in Aiibi.rTIlL It should be nottd for comparativt analysis PUfPOKS that tilt actual tconomic lbmagt surrert~ b~ tht thrtt plaintiff. in the cast. $852.000. probably •...,rtsenlS the largest ounounl of Klua! damllgtl. ucluding "'l'OOIIfu1 dealh KliOlll, rtpOrttd in ~ Hummondl Grwn Oil cont"l. n '!Wo. tht opinion contloiru; a dttililtd discu..sion reprding remittitur 01 damages for mentlol ;mguish d.I.rnagts. In Dudr damages ....-ard· td by the jury lor merQI anguish ,lone trultd an astounding $7.000,000. On a.pf)t~I. the court umitttd these dam . ages to $3.500.000.

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Acdtkntlnsurant://! Co. v. /limington. 6548 So. 2d 892 (All. \994'.;$ also instruclivt:;n 111.IIyzing llommoodl Green Oil lKtors. The jury in llarringlon ","ar&d plaintifl"S6Z}O.OOO 00 a f... lId · ulml wpprtuion action Jgainst an insurtr. On IJll"lUI . the Alabama Suprtm< Court remitted tM award to $4.000.000. f"~ors Sjl«ifically cited by the court as grounds for mnitlitur included tIw 101· """ing, the ~\IlIt and Ihrtalened Norm from <.\tofendan"l conduct was not u Qrtat U determined by the I.ial court; Indeptndcnt Life's posl·... rdict efJoru warranted JOmt mitigation 01 ponitivt: ,,,,... rd$: and. although no compori...,., c.utS are citt<!, the court'S comJ\<lrat~ r<!\liew indicated the award was lOme· who.t ",ceui'"f.HarringlOfl cont.lins an interesting discussion ohhe .fftCIlo b( ,i,-en. in the contut of a f/(1mrmmdlGTl!tn Oil Maring, to tvidtnce of $imila. KI3 ~r· fonned by a ~to defendant in other jurisdiClion$. The IIvTringt()n CO\Irt held th.ot wdI tvidmct _ propffiy ronsidtred when dtterminin8 whether puniti><e damages we.t warranted but such endence could not b( used as a multiplier when dttorminlO8 the doIla. amount 01 an ....... rd. '"Such evMSt""" may 001 b( considered in senln, the si.t of the civil ~fI/Ilty. b«aUH neither 1M jury nor the lriol court Nod Mde",e brio« ;1 showing in which states the conduct _ "'TOngful:Additionally,/f(1rringtQII pOinll out the difficulty of determinin, the profit made fr\Kfl deftndant". wronQlul cooduct.. SpKiflCllly. lhe court rejected 1M methods used by both the trW court IoIId the defendant 10 calculate Inde~nd.nt Ufe'l profit from its miKQllduct.BtcaUll1 1M infornulion _eUiI')' to aIculaU: the true profit to the 1I<».;'ViU' Ikf.ndant WiS not prtWnt in the rtCOrd, the Alabanu Suprtme Court wu unable to consider this f'ctor in rtviewing the puniti><e aw.rd. Another noteworthy development in the court's decisions during the lui sev....1)'Un has ccnter.d on the issue 0( liability insura.nc •. Rightly or wrongly. the court has made it clur tNot the wllmc~ oI liability irau ....... e will b( truted by the trial courts is an iUd for the PUrpo$U of l/(1mmond hearings. n H~r, the court has rtccntly ,one a

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the defend,lOts' inchoate c\,irru 01 bad faith ~in.lt thei r insurance carrie" os an "aswt" oIthe dtfencWJt for PUrpOsH 01 llommoodlCrwn Oil hearings. for e:gmplt, in the wrongful death ~tioo 01 KilIO<IglI1I. .klllvntlvrfard, 578 So.2d 1041 (Ala.I99I),defendint rtquested his Insurer settle plaintiffs claim for pOlicy limilS. H~, the insurer refused and tIw jul')' n.... nIed plaIntiff Sl,OOO,OOO, ton timu 'rtate. than d,fonlbn!', policy limil3. On ~ppeaJ, defendant arQued ClCusi><e1liW 01 the n.... rd. al1rg;ng the verdict I:XCmIed the combined total 01 his ..... ts and limill 01 his I"bility inwr· an.. by $1.900,000. Howev-er, the court rtfust<! to consider the dtfendant'S claims 01 exceuiwneu.. llKaust the defendant's insurer posted a supersedc.u bond in iln amount acceding the ver· diet in rtCognition of a j>O$$ible bad laith actioo, the court loond INot del.n · "w,t"1 __ Ii' appeared Ntquatt to ... t· isfy the judgmmt. Th ..., \k$pIte 1M bet INot no b;od faith ~ion had bun filed, much less won, the court affirmed the entire judgment.

In a ><el')' I-imila. ~, Mutwl IUsurvtlU, "1(. 11. MacMm, 627 So. 2d 865 (Ala. 1993" the Alabama Suprtmt Coort hold th.ot defendanfl pOtential b;od faith claim _ properly considered . , "as$d" for the I"JIlIOHS of a lIam"oldl CrFmOiI heari~. Quotin, Killough" .kllumdvrfard, JUPro, Justke Kenntdy wrott "Iclertainly, it is within the trial court's discrdion to ascrib( a ruson· able present ""lilt to this inltrul. and to ronsidtr such an.ustl on the remit · titur IISUf, We ha><e mad. it clear that in determining 1M fi ..... nc"l impact 01 a punitM damages award on a defendant, a trW courllhould ddermiM 'the true impact on the def.ndant· • Finally, although it is outside the SCOpt of this article, it is interesting 10 ~r whrthrr tIw appIiation 01 tIw IlmwII",1dI G.-. Oil bcton has hem so ....... wl in iu attempt to prwide SOI'J)t roruillenc:y to punitivt: ilWards." .'01 .Mmple, consid· er the rmnt a.se of Shd'{"1(!/d II. .4n<itw'l, ~ Suprt .... Court No. 1941693, "1. I iJ5.t21Apri1 12, 19!I611.awtic;otion for rehearing filed) , an action alltging fraud against an indi,idual. In S/u!ffl(!/d, the jury ilwa1dN S2,OOO,OOO In punil"""

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"";ndlo an rIdtrIy........an CIO.It 01 ' pt'tII)Otrty. AI tilt Hammond huriog. tilt Ir;,1 rourt r~m;ttfd " $2.000,000 verdict 10 $1.000.000 because the dtf~ndanl"~ net worth wU estimated to be onl~

$I.soo.ooo. "!"he SIwff~d opinion i$ not .......,rthy lor two) I'USMS. First. il i$ «or of only a ftw ~pMed cam ~msmg 1I punitivt "W<lrd.,gainst ~ individ ......1 r.lt!w:r than a ,()rporat~ defendant." $t,ond. the Alabama Suprtme Coort afformed the 51,000.000 punitive verdict ;!JIlinst the <kfmdant although tht awud repRo Hnted, at a minimum, a ...-I1oopping 67 percont of hi> ... t worth..• Compan tilt moult fOChed in Sheffield to that reoche<.l in 1I<"i1sofl f'. Dukona Corp. N.I':. 547 So. 2d. 1() IAla. 1B89). lin action against an individual defen· Ibnt for the .... rongful cutting of\imber. In Wilson , the A1aba ..... SUprtml' COtlrt umiued tilt mliR puAllivt a...<lrd of 121.000 lIglinst 1M individual defi:n· wnt bta.use 01 his ilbjtd I'O"trty. Also O)m~~ tht "".. rd in Sheffield 10 a\>.... d:I made agairut large corporate ddendantJ; in va.ious casts. For t:o:.Imple. in the caR of Generrz/ MolO<'S Coop. v. Johnslon. 592 So. 2<1. 1O!>t (Abolml. tilt jury ~rIIrd SI5.ooo.ooo in punil"~ Ibmagu. finding th;ol GMC failed to rttaJl :101m 600.000 vehiclts containing faulty computer chips despite GMC"s knowl· ~e that such a dd.ct would risk lives and II1"¢I>I'rty. On appal. the AIII\);Ima Suprtmo: Coort found the reprt!Jmsibil· ily 0( defend..nfs cooduCl to bt grellt t~. tht court remitted tlw verdict to $7.500.000 dnpite the fact that the WI'OO~doer wu a ..... mmoth corporation and tvidence indicated GMC made over S42.000.ooo in profits from tht s.al~ of thoR 600,000 vehides. Abo comport the mult in SIwff~ to th;ot ollnll!Trotllinmllll Uft Ins. Co. ~ Lindblom. S98 So. 2d. 886 !Ali. 1992). "bill! (aith action in ...-hich tlw jury .....arded over $3.000.000 agairut trw: dtftnlbnt iruuranct ,ompatly. On m.-itw. the Alaba ..... Supre~ Coort Ioond ...iduprud use of ,imiLi. miscon· duct by tlw defendant .nd ,,\ttmptS by the defendant to cone.al bell reLited to ill wrongdoing. Despite the number of GI"Ml Oif f~ors i<ovoring " Lirge verdict. the court affirmed the verdi,t conditioned upon remittitur to SI.QOO.OOOO.

It cutainly is not suggested thot the Johns/on and UntJbfam ~nk_~ InsuffICient or insignirlCllnt or thot tilt SMmtld defendant lhould not ha..., ~n punilhed for his misconduct. However. the punitivell ....ardtd in Johnston .nd UndbIom _~ llO\'o·hert nell' 7() percml of the COfJlOI"lIt~ dtftn· dlOnll' ntt worth. as wu tilt cut in Slwffwld.- This is trut dnpit~ the fact U.... t tlw corporale dtffrw.llOnll_rt found 10 ha,.., cau..ed greattr actual harm in multiple transactiOnJ that afftcted nu~TOllS persons whilt the Shdfleld dtfmdanfs failed f... udulent attempt toR$isl:ed of an OOlated transaclion ...-hich mulled in no ~ ...... I KOnomIC haoo. Clearly. IIw lIpp1ication of lIommondlGnren Oil (acton does not. ""'.~)'$ equalize punit"'" "W<lnk.-

.'ut,,", Applkatiod of ll .... moodle_n Oil racton 11m. in no particul:ior bmM. 1I~ 5(IO"fW wggated pnctlCt pointers illS _ ~ttr this bold ...... frontiu. AlalW<lys. _ are limitN only by the bounds of OOr imago ination and ....., .... ill probably stt some pretty imaginative legal pyrot«hnics. A. Oiseo>..,1)' of fiudrial I ~(orm.tion Of <;I)OJne. -pm/it frQnl LIlt <kfmdanfs mISCOnduct" ...ill now be the subjtd 0( II1"¢I>I'r and tltmsivt diJcovtry. In the ""I~ of one used car. this H~ms easy t1\()llgh . Likewise. ptrhaps one can tract trw: rrofit for a ~rticular product lint. , lith U 1I porticular t)'p( of insura.n« poIk)'-but for ...-hat period of ti~? \\lIIot ~ product liability CHItS? What profil do _ consider? "!"he profil ford made on "II cars from 1980 to 1995 .... ith allegedly def~cti..., ignition switch. u ? This ...wld hardl~ ... m f"ir, but if the ~rticular a.ileged def«1 cull across rroduct lints ur.cltr wbsWolially trw: same conditions.. wilt", should_ draw tilt hroe? for 1Il1 similar models? r or. ""Y. the fivt-yrar period prior 10 the incident in question? Obviously...... ny detai!J ~ma;n to be ~solwd in the producll cam. III lillY event. we 1lO\'o........., a tr~~n· dous burden during diKOvtry-fi ....... cial rKOnh must be nplortd in order to properly pmmt trw: fKlI during the pIIl1Il"'" pIwt of trial. .'rom both lidu. _ will look at net worth. SI'OSl s.alts. net s.alts. st."atutory income. gross profit.

ntt profit. ttc. I( the matte. were IdI to ruSOfl and 5OI.Ind lICCOUnling principles. it would S«m only lair to oami... the actual financial txperienct lor the tram· ~ion Or product;n question for lO ~a· 5OOIObl~ period oflime. on .. net \);Isis. Gmu figures do not. from an aCCl)<mt· ing viewrIoint. provide any WMtantivt m(OI'INtion and It.aYt tilt jury with ir>KCUrat~ infonoMion rtprding the trut f;O$\ involved in m.-.Jcillll the ")Irof· it." Accordingly. il i.s wbmitted th;ot only net figures should be considered. The porticu\ar product or producl liroe, IS ...~II U • ~le ti~ frnnt. mu.lt be .awiied IS limiting fxton.. Courts might use the -wl)st.ull;'1 simi~rity- ttst used tls.-..tltre 10 deteomi ... trw: r~ltw.nce oI .... rious products. Il«ause the fin:mciallituatlon of a dtfenwnt is rele,,~nt. it II now fair game to show JIO"I'rty of a dtfendant. ...·lwthn corporatt or individual. Thus. deftndants will uunin.e \'lIrious ~th ods of tst.abhshing this I'O"trty through diKoYtry and dtmomtnting it u ..... 11 to tlw juf)'. In;my event. (o~ruic accountants will beco~ critkal coruul· t."antl during most sUMtanliw castS. A ...... cot~ industry will noorim .... hile tht costs of dilCOvtry will tscabl.e dramat.Qlly. A .igniflClOt ...... oopp(lrtunity emts in the puniti.., p/wt lor the dtftndant to d,lCuss opportunities lnd efforts to remNY th~ lOlIeged .... rong. t.g., refund and .. ttle"""nl offers. Assuming thert weu no Hltlemmt OIItrturts prior to tlw fihl1ll of the cornpb.int. it ...ill bthooYt I defendant 10 quickly _trWn whethtr HttJemtnt offen should bt made upon servict of compLiint papers. The liming and tilt amount ofl Hltlt~nt offer Hems relevant and dtfendanllshould plan their lOpproach Qrefully. Who makts thf offu and who WI ttstify about the offtr it Iriol1 DtfmdantJ; hao.~ 1I great opportunity to ~movt tlw -sting" from I cast. if prompt and proper rt$pC)rut' to compbints art made. I)b(o>~f)' of Informltion Kelew.ot to Other r acton In lOddition to financial considtn· tions. all OIller Hmnmond and Gn!m

Oil factors .. ~ now JUbjtct to diKove-ry. Look iiiin at the list of (ltlon: \. t:conomk impact upon plaint iff

and ck(tfldanL Does Ihis ~n IIw: wealth or ~rt~ of the plaintiffis relevant iln<l fair ga_ for <:OlI~I? So~1y not, '" would .,.."rtum 1ong,$Unding prtUdmt mel dan· gerously risk influencing ju,iu by this highly prejudicial. irrtln'ant

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Coruidmtion of this ficlor by tlw: jury makes sense . Such considera· tion guides the jury by requirina: thry tumine tlw: icI....1hi.rm to pil.int,/f. 3. Whtthu the defendant has betn guilly of similar iclS in the ~t . Both sides will now litig.>tt bd'Oft the jury whetht, oIhtr prior a.c:u are "substantially limilar" or not. Nationa.l companies will of ro\Irse bt ilM)iwd in litigation elsotwhe,e mel will bt ailed upon to show ",mther other episodes "''ere .imi· lar or not. demonstrating the ntCtuity of coordinated diKOYery on all mes. To P'OPtrly rnpond to such ;an inquiry, IOIT\tOIlO within Ihe company must ha"" ""CUStO infOnl'lltion rego.rding the various matters in litigahon. past and pre· smt. Such a ratlliremml may necessitale the restructurinH of cer· tain business records Or depart · mtnts by national dtlendinu. 4. Rttatioruhip of .... nitiw damages to the harm li kely 10 occur from de/enwn!,s conduct. This too is l good 8uidi"l! fador which requires the ;..ory to locus on the conduct MId the &ITIOUnt of c1imagu 10 be awarded. S. Degree of reprehen:sibility of the \kl,ndant'. conduct, including dunotion. iw.Irtr1US of hwtrd. con· cealment. and frequency of similar ~t conduct. This will bt one of the more lertil< lrUS for the delense. Counsel will bt all'" to point out th.ot the hwtrd was unln· tidpated. occurred in a short period of lime. the IKk of cOllCulment on the ~rt of the clrl'endant. and that tht mallu had l'In'er occurnd briore. or Coorst. if Ihe opposite is true. pliintiffs counsel will high· light these racton. Consider the differmt impact thtso: fadors will ha"" on different lreas such as

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rdevont th.1tfgts p"""'ini~ to puniti"" damages: T~re has betn evidence of defen· mnt'. profit [or net worth. if lIppmpoalel. In Ihis rego.rd. the dt1'm · dant is to be punished base<! only upon ilS conduct. You art not 10 ""nWlthe dtfenclant lor ilS size. nor for its succtu. 7. COSt of litigation 10 the plaintiff. This has hardly seemed a signir.cant fidor, inasmuch as most plainhff's lawy!rs do not keep ti~ shttU; ~r. in IIwm "mega" filu ",Iltre lher. i,,,significant amount of OlQlense. we could lilerally _ 1I booidceeper or 0«1« rrtarli#f of a IlIw firm testif);~ '" to nptnstS incurred in Irial preparalion. S. Criminal sanclions. So fir. there haw been 00 rtpOl'ted asa in Abbl ..... ",'he~ this has betn a fac:tor; nonttheltss. iIOmt ~ $Oft\t unfortunate (or fortunate. depend· ing upon the porsptCt;"-t ) dtfenclant ",ill be iIbIe to Irgue lhat. due 10 the criminal sanclions imposed

producU. f... ud, ac:tident CAstS. ek. 6. Rell'lO'.'al of profit. Perhaps no sin · gle Iac:tor will pm.'e mon problem· atit 1hiU1 th" onto 110\01 do 1011 ddtrmine '"the profit" in the manu· fac:ture of «ruin prooucli lIlieged to ~ delmi",,? Po you loolc It "the profit" on the iltm? A tonlj)Ofltnt put> A product lint? A division? The oom~ny? For tht prodlJtl itself! Argumentl will be made thai the profil mUSI be limited to partic· ular products Or Inruac:tions. and not product lines or multiple I"""," ac:tions. Hert. th~ Court modifitd the traditional Hamm{)tllifCrern Oil flltton to obserw that defendant"s net worth may or may 110( bt rtl" ''lint. de~ndina: UPO" the naturt of th~ case. Significantly. the "''lIilallil· ity of ;lUIImltt is not 10 be disclosed. AI welt, tlv: opinion 110(0$ th.ot the delendanl i. not to be pun· ished for ilS size or success, only for ilS tortious oonduct. Thus. I~ fol· leMing would seem II Illir jury dIIrgt. in conn«tion ""Ih the

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against him. lit has boell PUlliJhtd enough. ~ could ~rgut that ptrhaps!ht: dtlendallt who avoids multi·million dollar punitive judgments becouw 01 previously ~iwd crimirW PUIlWunmt i. fortunate in ~ sell$t. H"""",,". «In' sidtr tilt logic 01 ~lIa..;ng <I dtfen· dant who$e COIIIluct ...../IS egregious enough to rtsu lt ill c,iminal PUll' ishmenlto r«eiw a lighl ... civil punishment ttun lilt dtfendlnt .....tK>R tonduct was tonious but did not violate any criminal statuln. 9. Qt.m" civil attions relatt<! to tm, same traJ\Sa(Ction or type of t"'~· tion. Thi. has b«omo: known by w..oyers in tilt sUte lIS an • AlIi" ordrr. ~ rwnt'd lOlter!ht: tirst UpOrled incidtnc. whou lO triol judge entered an orlltr approving setllem~nt, specifically find ing lilt dtl.ndant IwJ "boen puni.1IN enough." • Juries ....ill fIOOo' M 11\oIo'td to hur evidence thaI 1M dtftfldant "has betn puniJhtd .nough." Iltf.nse counsel should pay particular attention to amounu paid in settlement 01 wilstantially similu QS6. Thought should lit given to iOIly chvxterization of tilt CUI! ~ in thor seUlement ill order to preseM this i....... ft.> of Ihi. writing. Life of Ceorgla is pursuing <I petition for certior.ri in the U. S. Supreme Court. ~ constitutionlol due J)I'<IaSS ccncems of multiple punishment for tilt same singular kI 01 misconduct. not addressed in the U. S. Supreme Court's OIlinion of BMW of N01lh ~ 1m;. p, ConI.....ill lit

-""'-

10, A tomparaliw ilNlysis with othH ~'.r<b; in similar tiSU. Application of this factor presenu .n inluelt_ ing opportunity for both the plain. tiff and defenK bar. The senior lOulhor of this papcr has betn quali· fied in <I pOot.jriol //amnrondJCfNr/ Oil hearing to IHtity;as an expert on "comparative analysis."" A lisl of ~ was compiled. trial trlllUCriplS read. and venJicu in similar c:un brought to 1M ~ttelltion of thf lriol coun.1t _ms Ia~rs ....ill fIOOo' b«o!m "experts" ... ga.rding similar ~.

~--

C. Bifllrnletl Trials and AJloatiod 10 tilt Statl: Mi_llancolll Thoughl. Bilurcited trials aP1X'~r to M an equal OppOrtunity for IIw plaintiff and defen. dant. The filWlCw informlotion that i. to M proYidtd to lilt juryiPPUrs 10 lit ~ oI:IYiou5 illMnllge lor pbinti!fs but <XIIJkI ~ i drlmdant. if pr(I!If1' instructions au provided to and hetded by the jury. On the otlltr hand. lor the plaintiff with i thin punitive damages CUI!. the bifurcattcl Iml will ..quire 1M jury 10 focus on thf is&ut of liability briOft addrnsilli damages. Also. tilt ... will M an additional OIlClOnunily for defendant to addre» settlement, even aft.r the jury returns .. finding of liability. On balanct. Ihis should btntfit defendants ITIQft than plaintif&. It is r'U(lfCIfufly wggtsletl. hownro-r, t.... t dtf.ndanu M pupared to address s.eulemtnt im~i· ~t.ly .. pon an ad<erse liability finding. In CUl!I whore there is a potential for ~ HCtu venlict.. COI1IUfI and o;:arritr must M"'~ to immcdillltly idtle. if indio;:ated on tilt facu. A110Cl0\ion 01 a portoon of tilt ......-ard to the state ;11 \ ... ",enOO.. 5 wild card in settlemtnl ... goti.tio .... At S(),nt point, the plaint,ff act .... lly Iosn II'IOnt)I if 1M maner is pressed to judgment M plai .... tills IIIlIY not see!ht: full VIIllIt 01 the ...... if the award is ultimatdy SIllit with the State. the key to 'IICce»ful seulement lor the defense ..... ill lit to o/I.r tnO\lgh II'IOnt)Ito make il wortm..t!ile. yrt ~t Ins than whM could lit aptCIed from 1M jury. Sooner or lat .... problenu will al~ .rise Mtwun the plaintiff and his Or Iwr la ....oyer, in that the economic interest 01 counsel for plaintiff cootinutS regardlul of whether thf sUt. or !ht: dimt m:tMs 1M ,..ncIl. Some climt. "moo thr advice of counsel. uj«ts an offer and lattr ucti,·u tess after ~110Cl tion to tilt state is likely to "ix tilt issue of connict of inlerest. Rei] or not. 1M climt.1fId possibly tilt jury. 1TIlI)' perceive thiot 1M ~ kled WIth his Or Iltr own ta)IIOmic intemu in mind, rather ttun those of the client. In any event. all ocation;s asignificanl factor to M Clr.fully considtred in •dili"ll any ClOK alle-ging punitiw dun· ages. Both &ldn m..... o;:akulate where thrir ...al troOOmK: internl is Mst serwd. Delense counsel and clients must he prep",ed to pay the full judg.

mrnt into toort, to puterm;t any dilruuion of rutlilllllht sU~ oul of iu sture in lilt event a favorable RIlle· ment cannot M reached, In thilvein. it should M noted,.u lObly argued by tilt attomty in his wcond lpplia· lion for rthellrillJl in thf Lik I1f G«xgia c...., that lIS long IIIIht ""niH an set· tie and cui the sLlI. oot 01 the dnl, ..... hich under the current procedure they can do every time. no money ..... ill ever lit ~id to thf sUte. Accordingly. tilt notion th.at Alabama', "\oindfall ........ rd" pr(lbkm has bftn solwd is <I disingmu· aus notion. indeed. •

amen!

ENDNOTES

&.t_d _ _ ....

~Gono.

... So.

211""_(.<010.' '"', .... __ , _1_'" .... -. ,_'tA _III.&. ... ZO, _""'''00.._50.:141 I.hon....-- eo. .... 102., _,'_jAIL l1li ,1M): _

1301l11.... lfi'1l; _ 1 M . .. c... _ _ $o. ....... .,.

$0. ... _

211 ....... JAIL ••• r.

\AIL '~I :

l1li10.

,.,.".,._Gtooo>~_ _~_

__""'too co.• sn \AIL ,... __ _5o.:III117t.., _ , II.S.lIII.YI'.

-.._.,-----,--....._., ......... __ _. __ .. _1,._ .......__....--'... (OW. . .

c.... .

*l1li-

..._ _ In.,.,_:a... ... _

2. In "'"*'II ...... """".- _ _ • ...........

_ ,

...

--'I' _ . , .

.. _

........... ,.!oo<_ ..""'_In _

lilt ..... _ .. _ _ _ ... _ .. UIIo dGo<otpio.

.==:;~.==

.,..Foo-. ..... ............. _.. ........ .....,. ....... __ . ......,-,....... --.............. ... ""'"_-"'''''''_ ..... -"'_ .......... --, ' .......... ,._. . ~

.In ""' .. 00c>,II0,*,

not _ _ ,

h ':· : O ' i _ ....

dio"~_",,

, ..... ".. "'~ C>:1II<* _ _ ao..

_ " ' so. ....1.101 (OIl. 'M) "' ..,,, ... "1 . . . . .. _ ..

""__ "_1

_·_Nt . . ___

1 &.tIlCon. _ o . . . - _ __ P • Oo .... (lo _ _ 1"."", , -. ""- ~' . _ 'MO.pp.IM*, ThIo _ _ ... ..., ..

. . _ ............ ,.......".....or-..

•

N '" lOlL ''''') ...... _ _ _ n.oo-....,_

,..,

........ ...

I ..

----. ... .. _

'1.

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

i ..... _ _ ..... _

...

.. _

...-,

"' _ _ cr., ..... _ . _ _

c.....". "'-""'"" (IlOO. , _ _ .... t>o .. =

...

17. 'Of IhII 'HIOn. 11M 01 It. DuI:* HHd¥tfdlct lOt puljIOHI 01 ~ shOI*I. "" ..

...

a>mpAI.w.

-~~.

II, AIIhough f«OQIIIIlnD!he""" 10 ,.., ,.....cIIIII

1CIloII ... mlllOIIlinQ IfIeIor durltlg PNI·~ ,tyIew, 1M /UrrlttgIotr CCU., l:o"""".1'II1Id !hel "IhtI weigh! OIlh., aaIorI III • miUg'~r1Q laetor In a punill .... d~mages '''"" WOIIkI rIOI be 110 or.al willi,., Min IhIt _ . tilt .~ .. IIOIIon It t-..n OtI!y ,n"!he ju'y hal ft\urrlf(l. IlUbltan·

tiall)UI1IIjyt damagft .....old. TImIng ot ,1ffIlIIdI.aJ .ctionI, 1r\dudIncI ~K oIItr't anti"*"-' wIIOIt OIItrs, can be • tIgnIIcant IIC10f IbInV

potl--aIct .tyIew and, In IIOhI ot 1M 01 CitOtp/jI,

can be IIgniIIr;ant pr.vt<dict .. MIl. SHBMWOI""""~. ~, v,aor., a.e So. 211(118 (All, 1094) (0IdIr1ng.~ III $04,000.000

award 10 12,000,00 In pari

btr:1~" jury~.

."y mY~~1Id pl6inl;JI" c:ompIInUlory OIIm.get by flYmbtr 0111_ In AI ltaUtl, wll!lO!ll t¥ICItI\Cf Ihll touCh ..... _ , wfOfl9lulln!hoM llIlfl), I-..d _ ~ No. .... ItI(I, I . Wl

2Q_n tU.&, ~ 20, 1M)

20 ThlIrW_'In~~~~. "'*- by lilt ~ 01 iIOICIM IIOId 10 ........ " • "PtoI~. 01 17.000.000 1* yMf ThI~. 0f1 lilt 0IIItr hoInd. ullliJlld , rn.ICh lII0I'1 fN)tCIIIc rnt\IIO(I 01 ulculllUng ~odIpetllllnl Uho cltlrt\ld thll, wllh fIGaro to poIjj;y~ ~ 15 \'HII Of okIIf, II MIl IIOIUIUy loll fIlOIlI\' 0f1 the type ot PfIIIIo:* It ..... In ",.. ChI Tilt ~ ~ Caun • •1Id bOIl! fI'IfIhcIck. InIIHd 11.,1ng lIIt"pfOtft 10 ~1OIIpI"1II'" U. ffom __ 1UIlPf-.bl 01 taeIIr 011Il'0l POIIeIN

"pro"" .'

If.....,......,.

" ....tion .... 1IIrlYId Ifom not I\IYIng .~ PftIIIIumt IIIId by ~ 11\1< ''*'*'IiI -0& M IIId In fIOIlIMIg pMI dMIt by POlIcy IIcIIIIIQ _ • (15 wIlD, ikI (j)IIIntlll]. did not lilt' • elalm bI!:aud !My bII~ IhIIr IlOIlCIn

Leglal. tlv. Wr. p·Up ())lIlimwd from puJXI2241

S8 128- Estab1ishu a putative father registry wilh the Oepartrmnt of Human I~uources in adoption proceedings, SO 141 - Pro... ides a remedy for d€claring property repealedly used ror iIIcg.11 drug houses as a nulSllnce and provide a procedure for abatement o( lhe nui5llnces. sn 146-Amenru Alabama Code Stcllon 14·9-42 to allow deductiON from sentences for time served on pJ role. sn 156-PrOYlde5 that dererred com· ptns,1tion plans l1uthorized under Alabama Code section 36·26· 14 or 36·271\·2 is to rOCfive the SlIme tu deferred Ireatment ror state income lu pUI'fI()seS as the plan received from the IRS for federal income tax purpc»es. SO I64- Amends Alabama Code Section 30·5· 10 and 30·51\·3 relat!n~ to protection orden in certain instance$ of domestic ...iolence. SO 182-Underil"e dri\'~n may be round "uilty of QUI with a blood alcohol level or .02 percent. ~l4

JU~V

1(1011

MOt! oIlh1 rtpOfllld CIICIIIonIIOCut on !hi ~ . dill poIIIlon oil OOrpor ... 1III6ncIIfII, 1iowI<o'II, lOt oIItf CIfM 1#. . . . In!IM;IuIIIIIIInIIInta.

I'WId IIfmln&lId."

21 .

s....II.. _CNm. .. F"~.COtp.w.

ClWIdIIw, ~7 So. 21;1 812 (AlII. Uti); KilIINIptII! ....,.,....."...: $78 So. 20 10011 IAIII 10111); IrMwI ~_, /lie, I! ~ 627 SO. :hI

Me IAill. 1~3); 0udI HHd ~ Co. SSg 2d e97 tAlI, 1 ~)

w._

_ffllW~~I!~"2F

22, SH

I~I UJ. .. kcIdIn. I".. C<I. w . ~fllnglon. 158 So, 2d 892, 1102 (Ala. I~) ,

whICIo 1M CovrI.UII"' . ~ <:ourl 1\lll1UI11ld l1li1 'lilt COfIIIIIuIIon1liiy 01 AIIIWn\I.'J putIiMo cIaftIION .... - . III pat!. 0f1 iHf CoUll...... 01 00II1*"'" .....,..,. <IufIrIg jucIdooI .1IVIIw 011 punniwo 1lI"",,"....w: BMW Qt Notth AmIrlr:II v 00.., 84e!b. 2d (1111 (AlII !vea) ~ 0I1h1 \'IIdIcO In !he C8H tiling ~ -M1t1 vor~ In otlIr IlmiIr CII", II htlpl.., ., ""'Pl\lIiIIInI! oon"SllIfICy In I)f,Inlftvt damaoea

-...

ComcIw9 tMIt HtM1 APPII~ Co. v _ , G58 SO. 2d "7, ooe tAla 1m), In whICIo lilt oourl QUItIItN lilt ulllrty 01 oomparlnv 0fII punI.

... ItWIWd 10 ItfIOIher TIll COUfl quQIf(I .... Ur*ocI SIll. ~_ eourfl 0C*II0n In ~ Cotp. v.u-:. ~ COt/1.. 50U U,S, 44:), 113 S. CI. 271 , 2720, In L. Ell, 2d 3641

rxo

POll]), whI(tI"~lf(I; IP~nl1lV1ll1r/O'arda IlIth' proclur;l 01 "IJ ..... 001. ~OO _m- Inllnglb!e. !lICtQfl, • jury ~ mpurWlMt cII.rnIiOM I_d fnIIll II'IIIkt • qI'IIilltl/vl _MItfIl ~ 0!1 • ' - 01 &I'd ~_ un&qu. 10 IhI

i\IIlicuIIf _ btfOt.~ . ~ roo IWO _ _ ... ,JIy IcIIr*II. ~~ . laona 0I1UC1111W1/01 ... 1IoIIIc\.III1O .......

n TM ~COUfl_1fIII ~ ....

I'll-. ICkIrIUld !hi ,...... ot r<tmhtItur 01 • punI1IVt IWlIIIIIgIiIllI an ~ dnnd.fII. ~

SIJ 194-Amends Alabama Code Sections 6·5·548 IUld 6-5·549 to prohib· it disc~ry of limit.! of liability insur· anc~ coverage for certain health Cilre providers, SO 203- Pro ... ides that county commlulons mly collecl or contrllct (or the collection fi local taxes that are authori1.ed 10 be levied by a general or loclli act. SU-8chool bus or dilycare driY(!r5 may be found "uilty of DUI with a blood alcohollevtl of .02 percent. So 255- Thi$lIct would make medi· ation mand3tOl')' upon motion by any party or up(ln mOllon of the court but it would nOl be binding, S8 264-Allows juY(!nile records 10 be insP'!cted b)' tht principal or the school the child attends and to permit Ihe I<Ik· ing of finge"Prints. photographs or DNA 5lImpies without prior permission. SO 265- Amends Alabama Code Section 1304· 10·3610 make cont raband the possession of Cl)rrcncy hI prisons, SO 272- Provides penalties for currew ... iolations when a curfew is adopted by /I munidp;ility. sn 276- Amends Alabama Code Section 32-6-49,13 to prOYide for a

SUQp, UN tM 0. ...... 11m); K ...... ~, ~rd, 571So.2d /001/1 ..... '"') • ...., WiIott v. DuIIOfNI C«p. N 6017 60, 2d 70 (IIJ • . IMI).

v.,

24, TIll..., worlM ot lhI $tIO!llMtlllllit<'(lflr\l WM thllpI'f IlilPUlf(I ourIng N IiIIrmIOIId ,..,Ing. TIll ~ MIIfnIIIf(IIlt l1li __ 111 II 1720,000 wNI lit .... COUI! tIIImIIIIII hII .... wor" II

11.225.000 11:11/.500.000

co.

H SH IIIIO~ ~ LIllI /nil I! ~ IMWl.3720S1 (All.1M)(AIIIbIrNo Supo_ Courl r.mihf(I $3,000.000 punIIM - . d. wNdl 'tPftHllltd only II~ I*wnI 01 ............10IIII_.10 12,000.0(0). NonIMw..", Mul. /.It. I".. v. Shfrldtti. tI30 2d ~ tAla,

co.

1m) (OWl $25.000.000 l'U1'II!1YII_rll r.mIne<l IlV 50 PIfllInI; "",_toll .... INn 0fII Ptr_ 01 Nor~"'n"lOIII .. _)_ H . e...... lhIlypII oIl'IIiIIII ~ .... 1ICIuII eIaInw IM)jyId ... !hi _ , ........ YIfY \01dIIy Cf . _g , CrownLIIIIInJ.C). v ~ M7 SO. II

"".ward

""'*'

821 (Ala 10lI<l) ~IIU 19IfII_1lCl1un(M from whoIt tit DotIcitt wI1IouI ~ 01 "....,. or ~ 00fI'4*l1: ~ 01 $2,000,000 'lI!\~tICIIO 1250.000) wll~ NoI/tIWftl.m Mur, Lift I.... Co. ~ ShIridiIn. tI30 lID, 1I 3601 (IIJ. '"3) tlnl<JfI~ IIQIfII /IbI(:OndIId wlth Ivfdt, I,om InIuranCII ~ wtthouI kf'oOwit<IOI 01 mur.dI or ~ ggmpany; IWIfd ot _12'.000.000

JllnilIlllIO " 20$00.000) 27 Sea OriN 0\ AIM MufuIII ~ eomp.r.y, 8arbcM CounIy. C"'-9oI.Ql2 tdlal ac:tIon.."..

-I 21, SH RoN DI"* v. " ' - ' " F1Nt!cMI s..w:.. Qt 101., ,, II. Lowfllllf CCUnI)l C...·8U8

chemical test ir the law tnforcement officer has probable QUle to belie...e a commercial vehicle driver is operating under tht influencl: of drugs or alcohol. sn 300- Public eMployees as sher· iffs, Ifl at may participate in the employ· ees' reti rement system In lieu or super· numerary 11 rog rllm~. SO 3 1 5- I~equlres parents to assist the court wilh ensuring compliance with probation prOYis.ons or their children who haY(! been declared to be delinquent and pro...ides penalties ror failure to assist in probation. SB :l9a- Community Notification Act. Law enforcement is to inform the resldenls or an area in Which the con· ...lcted sex offender is inlending to moye. SB 46' Amends Alabama Code Section 12· 15·34 for jl)venile cam transferred to circuit court: the child may be tried for the offense charged ~ r) d allles5er· included chargcs. For more Information. contl1cl l3ob McCurley, Alabama Law Institutt:, 1',0. Box 1425. Thsc~loo$ll Alabama 35486 or call (205) 3"8-741 1, fax (205) 348· MIl.

•

The Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Presents

JUSTICE MUST BE WON IV: Techniques, Tactics & Tools Needed for Success (A Beachfront Semin.,r for Criminal Defense Practitioners)

August 15 -17 1996 Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Gulf Shores, Alabama TOPICS FOR PRESENTATION: • InnovQliv,<! Defenses • Turning the Tide in the Horrib le Fact elise • Qpening Slatement$l1nd Maximizing Persuasion • Crossing the Chief Investigator • Crossing the Cooperating Witness

• Crossing the S~pa lhy·Evoklng Witness • Standing Up to Judges and ProSecutors • Criminal Defense Uiwycrs Under Siege

• Effective Use of Experts

COST:

ACDLA Members: $150.00 Non-Members: $175.00

SPEAKERS INCLUDE: • Jim Boren, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

• Bob Clark, Mobile, AITIb3ma • Stephen R Glassroth, Montgomery, Alabama • John Wesley Hall, Jr" Little Rock, Aric.oru;n!l °Oavid Luker, Birminghilm, All1bnma • Bill Moffit, Alexandria, Virginia • Virginia VifUlOn, Birmingham. AlIIbamn • JcffWeincr, Mi:lmi, FlOrida

(Includes reception on August 15 and Iunchoon and keynote address on Augu$11 6)

CANCELLAnON POLICY: ReqUC!lt8 for refunds must be 8ubmittl!d in writing. Refund requests ti!Ceivl!d before AugU8112, 1990, will be charged a n administrative fee of $25:00. No refund8 will be given after Augus t 12, 1996, bUI materialS will be provided to thOM! who mU81 cancel Augullt 12 or Il'ltet.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS: RooITL8 at the Holiday Inn Hotel &: Suile. on the beach will be at 8pecial seminar rales ranJl;lng from a standard room (or $105.00 per night 10 $150.00 per night for a deluxe king suite. I1Jease cheek for ral~ and availability and make your re5ervations dlrcctly with the hOlel at (334) 948-6191 . Be sure to ide ntily yourself a8 attending the seminllr to receive the 8pecil'll rates lind register carly ""5 we expect space to be a premium ..

REG ISTRATION FORM: Mall To~

(Photocopy of Registration Porm accep ted)

Alabama Criminal Ikfen8lo! Lawyen AllSodation POll Office Sox

1147

Montgom6Y, A abama 36101· 1147

Name: Firm: Addrete:

State Bar NumbeT~ "Thill program hi. ~n IpprOVed for I maximum 0' 9 CUI c~lt hoW'&.

Supreme

Court Of Alabama Feat of Clay $pNdt 01 J.

G()rm~",

llouslOll. Jr~

as.sonot, jwlia, AlobtmttJ Suprmw Court, ~IIM

AI,"",mtI Hi.,oriLaI ~Iion 'J

49111 "Mllal " f«ling. April 12. 1996

hitf Ju,tice CI.menl Comer Clay's

C Willilom Frye.

portrait. which

was plinltd by

hangs on lilt third floor

of the Judicilol Building. It tm lOp I'll the c""moniaI .... il'CiO$t. Whm I first bra ..... I justia on tJw SUprt ..... Court d Alabama, tilt QrMIS on whkh Ihq; po'lrJil ....u painted ...."aS slashed. It wu rumored that. Union soldin tI.1d slashed this portrait. H~'fr. betluse Ihllt «I\lld no! bt authenticated. this portrait damon who might be thought 01 ;as the Fathe. 01 AIabamo was l'tfI/Iiffii. Perhaps it ohould not tw.'t bttn. On January I. JS6J, a kUtr, oIwhith I will rtad a portion. was Il'lIlUmitted from Maj . Gen. W. T. ShenTl3n. HudQu.l.rte", Dtpartment 01 ~nfltSSft. to Maj. R. M. Sowyer, A..A.G. Anrri 01 TmllWH. HunlSvilk. ~ "Dear Siwytr. ·I ~rtl m ~II nlablishtd prine;· pits ohm. and tllfe pwple oHm Soulll havinG aJlll':'altd to war, Ire barred from

aptltaliog 10 our Constitution. which they"'~ practkall)' 100 publicly defied. They luw awea1ed to ,,'ar, lOll mwt abide its rults and laws. Tht Unilr<! Stoolu, as a btllig«ent party doliming rilIht in ttw: JOiI • the ultliNte ~r· eign. ~ a right tnclwlCt the populi.. linn. and it m.:oy bt and is. boXh politic ""~ best. thal"'~ shou ld d() SO) in certain districu. Wlltn tilt inhabitants persist 100 ~ in hootility. il m.:oy bt both politic IIIld right tNt ...., should ~ ttw:m and :appropriate their II.nda \(II R>O'" ~ mil ustful popu~tioo. N<l man ...il1 dfny I~t lilt United Slata would be benefited II)' dis~ing I single prej · udiced. hard·h ...dW and disloyal plant~r and )substituting) in his p~e I Ikmn or rTlO« ~timt. industrious. good fami· lia. I!Ytn if thty bt of foreign birth. I think il <loa good 10 pratnl this \>itw of the caso: to many Soulhern IItntltmen. wOO grow rich and ~llthy. not II)' virtue alooe of their industry and skill.

but by reaSO<l of the protection Ind impetul ln PllISP"rity Il.ivtn by our hith· trln mnderate and !NgNnil11<)UJ GoYtrnmtnlll is all idle roonsellSe for u.- Southern plantrn tn A)' that thty ..-It the South. thot they own it. and that they can do illS they please - rven to break up nuT GoYemmenl. and to shut up the natural a .... nUeS of tr~dt. inlerCClUrSot and commertt. "In this btlitf. ...,hilt I tiStTI for OUr the higJlat military pre· rogatr..a. [ am Willins 10 bear in P/lli«Ic:e thot poIiticalllOnKnK of slave Tigllts. State Rights. fr«<lom of coo· science. frtednm of IlrtSS. and such OIhtr Imh illS ~,~ dflodtd 1m Soulhfm ~ into ...... r, iU\ird!y. bIoochhtd. and Ihf IoultJI crimes thot ~ disCrxtd any timt or any peoplt. "J wouklldvist tilt commanding offi· Ctl'l al l!unlsvillt and such otlltr to...ns illS " t occupied II)' nuT tr~. to aMem· ~nt

bit thr inhibiwlIs and aplain 10 Ihrm thtse plain. Klf·eYidmt propositions. and tell them tll.lt it is for them now to IIa}' whether thty lI'Kl their children wll inherit thrlr wre. The (;ow,rnrntnt 01 the Unittd $Uta his in North·AbblomlO ~y md all riahts which thty c/Ioo$t to tnforce in w~r - to take IlItir liva. lheir homts. IIlt;r lands. thrir m:rythina. blcauK thry atII'IQ( deny that war tloa uist theu. and war is siml'iJ' l'O"~r unu:stnointd by ronsti. lulion Or com~t. If they wanl elemal war/au. "",II and good: we will Keept lilt iI.sue and dispossess them. lI'Kl put our friends in ~. I know thou· wv.Is and millions 01 good peopIr ..."ho. at simple notice. WQuid corm to North Alibama and Kcepl tilt elegant howls and plantations there. II the people of Uuntsville think dilluml.let Ihtm ptr· !-1st in ......r thrH )'W"1 ~r. and thry witl not bo coruulUd. '"W. T. Shennan. M~. ~n. Corroomnding"

Clemml C~s home ...~ Klud. and pbced under 00u..t amlt and treated to tn. indignities enumerated in thr full telCl 01 Ctn. ShmnaI!'s Idler. After two )'tlI.1"lo while Clay was still under 00u..t arrest. this cilian', oIdtst 500. who had K!W<I two terms as a Unlttd States ~nalor lrom Alabama .....as arresttd lOll impriJootd in 1I dung«lfl in r ortreu Mon.w-i'ortre:u Monow. how Ir(lnic. His lOll wu infonn..o.lly. but IWM1' lonnally. chargN with complicity in the murder of President Abraham 1.lncnln. r", iI)'tlI.. he W;lOl held undeTllround in 11 d",,*",. in a stHI agt within a stHI age. like 11 wild bust. Ue was guarded niahl and day and ....;1$ insp«ltd m:ry IS minute •. 10 prevtnt him Irom slet\>, ing. He ...-as ptrmilltd no SGaP. tooth· bruiih. hairbrush. rornb. fUOI'. or fush ck>\hing. It. was fflI inadtql.lilt.lood. given i...... ffidml blankets to prGltcl him lrom tilt enid. and newr giwn pri· YK)'. He suffertd from asthma and probIbly luWcuiGsa. But. mum with me to the father_ the Hunts\ille ciliU1>--<ln his dt.ath bed at lilt age of 17. a Knsiti". and deeply emotional cilizen. One 01 my lavorite !hort works 01 flC· Iioo is TolstoY' TM Dtalh of I'"an II/lid!. which i, " stGl)' of the Hr. and ,,"ath of an apptllate court judge in he,,~

cumt Russ~ I'trIIiIps il is prokuiooal courtesy tel. OJ C(}OCtm fOJ. ~ judge by 1I Judge that cauKd me tn cheer. when after J~ Ilyich had endured horrible suffering IOJ 50 long.. Tols.toy finally let him hiM i glorious momml ll tilt point 01 dt.ath and thr judge w:laimed: '"So that's iii Whal bliu.'" With that WrIt lervor. I want Chief Justice Clay to hive hid i gIGriooI moment at the point 01 dt.ath. 10 allow me. plaK. to hGclt thai Clement C!a)·. aft .. having lived hi. I""t ~al"$ in such Id\'erst circunulMlCH. may hive. on his ciuth bed. uuemltriump/wltly the wonls ~Monow: AlaI»mi.• \lolly "Monroe'"? II certainl}''''";1011 not for Portreu M(\Ilroo. where hi, oldest 500 had .wIIered so. Why '"Alabama'"? Let·s go back tn the begiMing. Ciemmt Cooler Clay WlII born in VIrgin .... the son 01 i RtwIUlionIol)' sot· dier. He ..."" rtare<.! in T!'n_. He w"" tducattd in the law. In 1807. one Joon IlmlllCCUKd Clay of hcJg sttiling lIIld" WlIfYiflt"'» iIiSlItd for Clay', Imsl. Clay', bther lempGr;lrily ~ the mailer by PiI>ing bbckmail. This allrged lheft came to light. ~r. in 1811. when Clay mtered poIitia in C,..;nger County. Trnnwtt. The Clay ~ .... at Duke Uniwnity Library. indicate that the hcJg Cby was accused of stealing was Clay'. GWIl hcJg.llul bo that as il may. he WolS not succwful in his election am· ~ in TtI ... Uft nknow the fnling) and in 181 1. Clay. with uuh .wfflCitnt 10 last only a I..... days. a change of ckltllts, a f..... law boob. and \W(} hcmes 00 which he and his boon ~ a )'OWlII Nt(ro man. nxIt. uriwd in Iluntsvillt. Clay "";I0Il 22. llIough his ~ras_ I...... his me'l!)'. 1nJ$\W(}rthinw. md thclrougt",eu $OOfI woo him the rupect and coofidtna olthe frontier communi· ty.and he atablishrd a \'try soo:astul law pnctict. a '"W>d Lw."YtT.'" After Llking lirm aw..y from his law pra.::t;ce tn fight In the 1813 Creek Indian War. where he rose from the rank 01 priv;lte to adjuw.1 01 his command. Clay married Suwv>a CLoib(}ume Withers. the daughter of natM Virginians whcl had alre~ bocome prosperous plant .... in lilt lIuntwiUe area.. Clay ....n:1lMtd sewnllllrge plant.atiGN in Madison lind Jachon counties and con· si<lf:rable property in Huntwill •. He also acquired an inte.est in the llun lSvi li .

!'bnten and MtrdwllS Bank. Clay"''U

a slaveholder and produced approxi· mately 200 bal~J of cotton annually. Cia» was el..:ttd II a repre$tntatM 10 the ~ TmiiOrW Legislature in

1817. Presidenl JlImtS Monowsigned the Alabama Enabling Act on March 2. 1819• .\I'Wng lhe fnr Alabama'. b«oming a .t.ate. With no waming, Pn:sidtnt Monroe arm'rd in Huntsville in June 1819. II welcoming committee. headed by Clement C. Clay. "'"aliwlily organiud. and the Prtsidtnt received a f\(lwery oration iUId ~ ilWit.ation to a public diMl:r the IGllowing m:nina. The banquet was Iltld in the mtmbIy hall wheu a I..... months later \l,illiim Wyatt Ilibb woold bo inaugura(t\! Go\'tmor Gf the T.niIGl)'. soon the St.>te. 01 ~ The banquet WolS attendrd by IOOI't than 100 oItllt most rtiIlKttd cit· iUflli 01 Madioon County. Alte. dinner the •• wert 21 t()MlS. accompanied by appropriate SOfIlI and the d;K~ 01 canon. all 01 which wured I're$ident Monow of the ptGpIe's "fftclion and apprecilolion for Ihr ge<ie1'OUli Enabling Act. n.., toasts. in oodition to being tn the Presi,,"n!. we.e offtrtd tn the Unittd SUI.,. Constitution 111ft Alabama Constitution would bo adopttd two months later). 10 the mtlTlOf)' 01 ~ Washingtoo. and 10 Maj . Cen. Andr ..... Jackson. n.., preceding year. ~n. Jxkson. with his troops. hid Il"ICMd through thr Tmitcwy 01 ~ and tng;qjed in a f...... kirmi$hta on hi, ""'y 10 f"tGrido. when Ilt conqUtrt\! SI. Marks and Ptns.KOla and thereby s«urnl AbbiOmlO'S JOUlhtm bGI'dt •• This encouraged the immigration of Kltlen into the Territory. so thai before

'tall.

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nl 1818 tM population nltM T~rritory ilu'passed tho number required for admi$Sion to the Union. So. in 1819. Gmtl'lll Jackson ...-;as 11 horo in the T~rriIOl'Y and 111M dinrot'r honor· ing Prni<knt Monrot ho ..... I~ed as 11 ITWl who "!mows his duly In hi> COImIry;and ptrlnnns il with erot'rg)' and effici~ncy." Pmi<knt Moorne was dul» impr~,"d .... ilh u.. r«~ption lrranged by Clay. l.attr In 1819. Clay .... ;\5 ~1«I~d ~ dele· galt from Madi""" County tn th~ Alwma Conslituli"",,1 Coo~nlion. CIay.....ho ....n Nmed chairman of tM rommitlH on tho Constitulion. p,,->~ a prnmintnt role in drafting the rather liMI'lI] Constitution ol1819. Since a Constitution is the nrglni<: Ia... nll govemmenl. Clay could. withoul much quatlOn, M COI\Si<kred u.. "rather ol ~" Thi> Constitution tsbbli.Md uniwl'S.lol...hite male .uff,.. withoot tho requirement nl owning property. Pilying tun, nr Hrving in tho militia. Tht Alabama COWmor ....... I«ted by lhe people. The dtdal'lltioo of rights containt<.l30 s«\lnns. many of .... hich are inmrpOratt<.l intn tht current Constitution of Alabama of 1901. such as "tho right to Irial by jury shall remain invinbt~: and ~ry right stated in the D«lal'lltion nl Righ\$ W<lS uctpted oul of lho I/tntral po:tWt1'l of JIOMmmmt. A1thouah .Ir.>try __ Wldioned. the C..,..titution pfO','idtd that sbvn """re to be tTOted hulTWlOly and """re to lit pfO','idtd with "n«tsS.lory food and clnthing" iUlIItiw. ownen..."re"to ab$llin f,,,,,, 1111 injurits tn . !.J...u nttndillJlto life and limb." Like tho COWmo, ~nd lesislali~ r.prtsentalfvu. under this Cnnstitution sheriffs WOrt .I«ttd by the peopl •. but judges lind most officers Irtrt appointtd by tht Ltgislature. Tht Constilution provided tllli the circuil judgu should Strve itlso as the jlUtitu nl the ."",",me court. All" this ConWlutinn ...... ratifitd without a vote ol the ~t flirt !.Jltr ,ning SQI'I'If Itgilimacy tn the RtcOrlSlnKlion Constitution 0( 1868. which was "')«ted by li ~ty >'Ole bul ..... rl\ifoed by tho Uniltd Sbt.. Congr.$S-A.Iabuna was admilitd In statehood in OKember 18]9. Clay Was appointtd the first circuit judge fo' Ihe fIflh circuit and though he Was the youngest of the fo~ ci rcuit tM

judges. hi, collUj[llu imrntdiately ekcttd him the font Chiti' lustier of AWwN. a POSilion Cia}> held for four )'UB. Dunng lhe lour yun C!.Jy Strw:d • circuit j""", and chiti' jUfti«. he authored ZS $Ilprtmt court opinions. which wtTt lpPf'(Wmat.1y ooc-fourth 0( tho tot.'Il number 0( opinions ",Iused during thoK rour )'Urs. MO$\ 0( ~ opinions dnlt with proctdural maUtrs.. After four years as chid justice. CIa~ ,uigntd .. circuit judg(: th~refor~. he ",as no lonlltr a member of the supreme court. Clay ga~ as hi' rnson for r(signing the nttd to r~tum 10 hi5 Ia.... prKtiC~ and 10 ttnd hi> plantalions. so as to ~roviok the funds nfCwary to kH\l hi' l.amlly in u.. style lo ...·hich they we", aocwtnmtd. ~r. historiaN wonder if ooc ruson for Cby'. rui~tiotl was an intenl to fight a duel. for 100I'I aft.r his mignotion Cia}> lind Or. Waddy Tilt had In tTICOUnttr in ...hieh Cia}> MlOI Tite in the log, In 1827. Cby $Ilfftud hi, forst Alabama political defeat. (Again. I know the f.. ling.~ Gabri.1 Moo", ddeattd Clay in an el«lion ror Cong~S$. But the !\txl )'Ur. Cla.y "';\5 again elected to lhe Alabama l..egislalurt ~nd St"'~ as Speaker nl the HOUK nl ReprtStnlllives.. In 1829. Moor' ...~ ,1«Itd COWmo, and C!.Jy ....... ltcttd 10 suctttd MOOft as 1M ~1'IW1 from the llunlM]lt di>!rict. C!.Jy St ...~ thru IUrns in Con.grus.. During this time. Moon ..-as . I«ttd United St.a1tS Senalor. C!.Jy·s fHlingubout MOOft we", but uprused in a D«embtr I. 1834 leU" to CIa}>', wife_ On l trip 10 Washington in 1834. eon.gressman Clay. Stnator Moore. and ~ young man w..... the sol, ~nlle" in a stagteoach for 170 milts. Congrtssman Clay wrott his wife Ihe following aboul how h. 1",lted StNtor Moor~ during IhiJ long stag.coach riclt: ". did not $llute him on .nt.ring the J~. dirK!. I ",mark to him. Or ~Iy to one made by him. during the whole diJUnce. flOr bid him adi ... by a nod when "'~ stpiIrlttd, Withoot going inlo furlhor partiClllaB. I will flY. I/tntl'llily. that I scrupulously ktpt up the flme unbending non intercourse or 1/001 rommul1km. which I ~ obStn:ed toward him for Ih~ last t~n or ,",,'elw }'tars

Tht cenll'lll iSSllt nl Clay's polilical carHr ...'lIS the disposal nl tho public lands 0( tho mtt and the fodtral ifO'YTT1ment. Should public lands that IYd bcm irnpnP.otd by the Stltlm lit PUtu~ for sal. it public ilUction....'hit", Sl)«UWors could outbid lho Kttltn. or $hnuld the StlUm bo able by "prttmption" 10 gain lillt to tho land they had firmed and improwd-by Pilying the ~mment's minimum price of SI.ZS ptr Krt. without bi<ldinQ at public luctioo? Clay tool; whal ap~aftd to bo Inconsislent poli. tions. I'o'htn he Was in tho Ltgfslalure reprtKnling MlIdison County. ",hich conlllintd wry littlt nlthe Lmd in dis· pute. Clay took the position that tho Cnwmnwnt ¥>ould lid top dnIlar for tht land by II public auction. A propOStd anal ...-as to be buill WIth tht monty reuMd (rom tho SlIIt nl public lands. and tillt __ hiihly f.a\'Ortd I7i !hi' farm· min />bdison County and the merchants in Huntsville. I'Ihtn Clay I'lIr\ for and StMd in Cong",1S. he rt'Wrstd his position and honeItly admil\N it. A majority of Clail constituents IIld ",linquished their lands or~", squallers on the public domain iUlII we", hopdul nl regaining thoir !.Jnds or prffmptillJl them at tho (;(M,mmenl price nlSI.25 ptr ac",. ...ithout biddIng for them ~t public auc· lion. In Congress.. Clay sponsored ()I' lICIiwly fIlIlIIOI'Itd JUCh ",Iiti' lind 11«' emption measum as would enable tho Stlllers 10 ~In their lands or In pur· chaK thtrn it (;(M,mmenl prices. Clay abo quittly wppOrltd COWrnnr CayIt's stand ~inslthe natioNl gowmment and Pruid~nt And""" Jxiuon "''''''n an itt~mpt was rn.lM to driw oquallers from CrHk Territorial lands. This was the t'.'tnt thaI ltd to the popularity of tM UUH of sillu' righ\$ "'ilhin

"_.

In 1834. ClIy was elt<:ttd gowmor nl tho st.'Itt. Two omior ~nu occurred during hiJ ad.minfstmjon.......tht C....... Indian "'ir 011836 ....'hich led to tho ~ 0( tho Coo Indians from nst AWwN ~which was not accomplished pocffillly)_ mlil' StUlen."'-"""'Chtd on territory ltgaJIy Mionging to tho Indians undor the Truty 0( 1832. and Ihi. tncmachmtnt tlOustd Jndian rtae_ lion. COWmor Clay OnltrN Maj. Ctn. I'alltrSQn in northem Alabama and Brig. Cen. Moo", 0( the Mobile distrfctto

wilh their troops on the Ittllt oI the uprising, near Monl~ry. Cl,y «tabliw,w a htadq ..... rltrs al Montgo.>rnfry (the 1I;o1,·S apital city WH still Tuocaloos.I) and ntgOtialed 10 ptacefullttlltmtnl wilh somt dozen chiefI. The -Irail 01 Itars" foll~d Ihis wilhln IWO )'Urs. The bounllloriH of the mle ...,.~ Kt. iUId the ~ttina; 01 boundariu soon led 10 Iht rrloClllion 01 the stile apital lo Monlgomery-lhe appro~i rrole ~nter 01 the stale. In 1831,10 filWlCial emil r<sultt<! from 10 run on the Bank 01 "Iabarro. which lhen susptnded s(>Kit payment. c.o..-emor Clay advi~d conlin· uing the susptnSion 01 IP«ie paymenl for a )'Ur. 10 Iliw bmk$ rtlir{. Rrclr.lts$ nIlInagemtnl and o....rconfidence had arrit<! Ih. Jble banks beyond lhei r mUllS: and in 1846 (iI1ter he had ~~ as 10 Unitt<! Sblts Stn;.lor and briefly as ilII auoci.alt jlUlict on tt.. Suprtme Court 01 "Iabarro) il becamelh. prO\'ince 01 tlI·c.o..-eroor Clay to acl IS a comrnittttrnan 10 ..,nd up the afflUrs 01 lhe defunct Stal. bank. Bul btfO«' t"'l, Ctay ...iU al'f'Ointt<! 10 It.. Uniled Stales Senate and ~I"\'ed in tht Senatt from 1837 to IMI. whm he rHigntd.. No StRIOtor. he intn.><luml. WId grad ..... lion bitt dt$iQr>ed to make miltions 01 acres 01 valuable land available for pur· chue by citizens. The con«pl 01 IIi, bill. in somtWh:iot altem! form. beamt tawas lhe Benlon Bill 011854. Itt al~ JUJIPOrI«\ lhe preemptiV't laws, wllkh taw origiRIOI s.ttllers who had liV'tll on and improved the bnd a first right to putdlis.e the bnd II lhe minimum prite fixed by la.... \\lKn Senator Clay r'lumtd 11ome. he WH commiWoned by lhe iLott ItiiIblu~ to P«"J'Orta dil/Hl of the laws 01 A1abarru.. He complottd this task in 1843. and In thaI s.ame ~ar was "Jlllin appoinltd to s.ef\~ on the s\.ate wpremt com~rge

"'*""

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In belwttn his prriods 01 poIilica.l s.erviet. Clay would rtlum home to his

family and would pra.clicellow and mIIn· his pIil/Italioru.. Mer Cby helped wind up the Ufain of the Statt bl.nk. he resumed hIS practice 01 law in partner· ,lIip wilh his two sons. Cboy flOvored u.. ~ """"men! in 11161. During the w.ar thlI11oI1owed. l1untsville wasaptum! and subJ«lt<! to lhe lreatment ~I out in Gen. Shermlln·s •

leuer. CLay·s house ...u seized. and he was pbeed u~r lloust arrut. We have comt full circle from !Iv dolh bed ...hm the iqned won!. 'MoofOlt" and ·ALl.birro·...,.~ uuem!. AI lhe beginning 01 CIay·s brilliant ar •• r. which included s.ef\1Ce IS the drafter 0110 grut oJul 01 fin! <;VnSIilution. and s.trvict IS dUe( justice • spuker 01 the hoos.e 01 repres.entative!. congressman. I/OV'trnor. and s.e .... lor. !'millenl MoofOlt aignt<l lhe ~;nablillJl Act, which ltd toAlalwna·, ~illJla slItt; Clay...... ilt still in his 205. and because oIlhe respect lhat h. ~ earned from his peen. hosttd PrHidenl Mor\fOIt when he arriYtd unupfCIedly II HunUYillt. Pmidml Monroe nladt it pOSSible for tt..~ \0 be an Alab.lma. Therefore. t.ht word "Monroe: Cby·, torrnpondtnct with hiJ wift and ..... i. rq>!ete wilh indications 01 a fttlinQ of dre~ or I s.tnse of impending Ira,gtdy: this feeling always s«mtd 10 stay ",ilh Ihis s.ensiliw aoo detply emotioNl man wlltn he WillI JWlf1 from hiJ f1Omily. ....r,lhout a doubt. Clay found the game 01 pOlitics exciling and fasei .... t· ing. but when one ruds hi.

AbIwnII·,

denct. one geu the sense thlIl duty. rather than ambition. impelltd Clay 10 pur~e 11I\OW.1lI<Xtssfui political CUftr and. in doing $(I. 10 depriw: llims.elf 01 the daily pltiUUl"U 01 fMnily life and lhe financial r....ards Ihat would haV't been his if he had pursued lIis legal tartt. and tenOnl 10 his pbnta· lions. Clay <kmted hi, lift to the mte to ..-hose birth his work had ron· tribuled-hence lhe word '''Iabanlll: ThtoIIore Roosevell, in I speech in Ne-A. Yorl< in 1902, Wd:""Tht finl maui· .ilt 01. good citizen in Ihis Republic 01 Ou rS is thaI he shall be ablt and willing 10 pull his "",ight: Certainly, Cilizen Cby mort than pulltd lIis ...,.ight. TacilUS wrote 01 the Emperor Calbl.: "He seomed much grealer than a prl· vate cililtn while he still was a private citizen, and had he ntYt. Ixcomt tmpr ...... lV'tryont would haw a,grffiI thlIt t.. had It.. capacity 10 reisn: For tht word "emperor." "'" can substitute -dratter oIlhe Constitution: or "Chi.1 JU5ti~: or "Spraker oIlhe Hous.e 01 RrpresentatiYH." or "Congr~m.an " or ·eo.... rnor.. Or "Senator." and this could bt s.aid 01 Cltmenl Comer Cby. •

to the demands or your construclion related case in our analysis or disputes and clai ms in dispute resolution and litigation

•

.-J

, Roadshow'96

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~ _"'" " 1001II _ ~ IW urocirions ...... spring. ClIhIr .,.. _........, 10 join RusHI, OM. CNIon, T,',; l ). ..

1M C&<cuiI. T'"""""., Choetaw. _ SI. CIaot_ in tdIe<Uing .., ASS .....

"Ibd f.l.ith" tw bun a popular lOJIic in Abbima 101' continuing ~ edualion Kminars.mel numerous artkl", One iuu~ .... hieh tw al'l"'r~nll~ not bftn add",5$td is the application 01 the tort of ~ faith to wrtlies in Alabirm. This artkle addrusu \hoe natun of tht law of suretyship ill it relat'" to sumy bonds and comtruction bonds. the surtty's good faith obligations under the law of suntyship. tilt tort 01 bad faith ill it lIppli", in tht ""'tut of il1$llrMl« in Alabama, \hoe diffutnU betwffn surny.. $hip.mel ill$urana. tht trutmtnt Iry tht Alabama courtJ of bad faith claims made against SUTttita. .mel ...fly tilt tort 01 bad faith should not be mtnded " /I CII_ of IICtion "IIIIinst wnties. FirWIy. this artielt sUllllfitJ a mullS of addressing bad faith in tht contut of suretysh ip if Ihis tort is to be uttnded btyond iu pratnl ~iClltionL Surely.hlp aener.lly The law of suretyship applies to mort pooitiootrs t!wl om might first prt. sume. In AbIwnl. .... retyship is ~Iy most o/kn moounttnd in Itrms 01 bonds requi~ for construction pro;ms. public works prOjoeli and prob.tle procHdings. H(r.o'tWr. om may aptntnct wrttyslUp in rlWl}I othtr illSUo'lCa AI Iimu. il1$llrana ;mel surt\yship an ton· sidued to be tilt ~ ho:M~r though si milar to iruurane<. suretyship is really quile diff~ .. nt. H is tht IIwliCllble law. Suretyship iI/I uniqut Itpl rebtio<r ship. contrxtual in nature. whtrtby om party. the Jurely. undtrUlcH lin obligation to be held answerable for the ~bt. default or m~rrillit of anotlltr party, the prindp;il.' Generally. such an ~rnml must be in writing 10 be enforceable. lIS it falls ...·ilhin lilt Sutule

of Frauds..' Suretyship cmotH llripar· lite nlaliomhip bttIo'ttn and iII>OIlII tilt party _ured (tilt bond obligee). the principal Uht bond obligor). and the party s«(KI<\arily liable (ihf; lUrely). The sunly relationship is usually contained within 1 document Clllied a "bond". The su .. ty·. limllily 10 the obligee !Ny be limiled Iry the npress provisions of ilS contract with lilt obligtt-tllt penal amoont 01 the bond. lhtrt Ill' Ilfntmly two \ypt$ ofbmds.: fidelity and lurtty. Fidelity bonds gmtr. ally provide caverage for lilt dishontst. Illegal or wrongful conduct of their principals with mpte1: to monia ....hkh !Ny rome into their pot.$t:SSion as fMlu· ,ilIri", or 1M failure of the prindpals to perfonn specific duties. Surd)' bonds provide compensation for louts swUillfd Iry ilI1 obligee <>SI rault of tht principal', failu .. 10 pnfonn iu tontn.ctual or SWutory obligations 10 tht obligee. NO! 111 bonds .... illlit into one of these categories. Some bonds may haVfc both fidelity ilI1d ",rety prQYi$ions. Regardlas 01 how a bond !Ny be characterized. it will almost lMYS invo!vtc lilt three· pari), relationship di~ above and .... iII involvr the body of law known as lUretyship. In most CIISH. the oblill« will pro';icIe tht form of the bond that it desires. or will have 10 approvt the form o(the bond proposed Iry Iht principal. Some of the rtquiremenu of /I bond may be required Iry ilI1 appliCllblt mtute. including tht amount of the bonds. Most of \hoe larger commm:ial lUrety compania hive bond forms .... hich haVfc b«n approvrd by their lrequ~nt oblill«J, ,uch" gowmmentaJ tnliti", ilI1d OIlier large tontrxting putiel. The bond penalty ilI110Unt will be eJt/IbliJhed Iry tile oblig«.

A surety generally tw \hoe right to .. imburstmtnt from tht princip;il for dtbu paid Iry the su.. ty on behalf of the principal. whether und .. a common law claim 01 indemnir.ulion. by statute' Or Iry uprn.IlIIT«rntnl. IndemniflClllion JireernmU are generally ncctJttdlry the principal and any odditional inclemn. Ilors (or guaranlors) and g<Mrn the relationship btlween thtm lOnd the surety. f.Kh .... 'tt~ I/fnerally tw iU own Iorm of indemnity agrttmnlL If \hoe parties antkipate more than om bond being issued. the priocipal and any additional indtmnilors!Ny noeutt 1O"master sumy agrHment" or "master i.......... nity ~mnlt" althe ouUd of \hoe relationship with the surdy--btfore ;my bonds an written by the surel},-",'hich .... illl/oYtrn lilt relationship bet....ttn lilt parties lor ,II bonds whidl ~ be issued. This i. particularly true 101' tonstruction bonds. ....... kh ...ill be discussed in greater detail below. Where there is no anticipatt<l continuing IIftdlor bonds. \hoe agreemenl between tht SUflty and \hoe principal (and lIny additional indtmni\ors) will U$UIIIly be conUillfd within the application lor the bond.

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An indemnity agretment genually gives the surely rights beyond ils com· mon law or statutory righll of indemni fiCillion_ The$t agreements usually con· taln provisions for the collection from tht princi p.~1 al'ld indemnitor! of not orlly Ihe sums paid by the surety on behalf o( Ule principal but also aS5QCiated costs and expenses, including allorneys' feu. For example. some agreemenll also may include provisions that th~ principal and indemnilors must provide collateral or security to the surety, as it deems necuSlIry, when claims are made on the bonds, or thaL the principal produce all of III books and records for inspection by the surety upon demand. Claims on a surety bond most commcmly arise in terms of construction projects. Surety bonds are generally prtvalenl in public works projecb Dnd sizcable privately-owned projects. On a privately·owned project. the owner may require the general contractor to provide payment arId/or performance bonds. The payment bond protects the owner from mc(harli(s' and materialmen's liens.' Cenerally, if a subcontractor of the general contractor, or someone providing materials for lhe construction site. is not pllid for the goods or services it provides, it may present a cllim on the bond for payment. Such owners may also require the general contractor to provide a performance bond. This bond generally provides that If the general contractor should fail to fulfill his contractual obligations to the owner, lhe surety will either pay the owner the cost incurred in colllpleting tht contracted work with a substitute contractor. provide a replacement COI'IllOlctor 10 finish the contract, or pay the ptnalalllount of the bond If ills leu than lhe foregoing options. A general contrllctor may also require its subcon· tractors to furn ish the5e types of bonds, so thai it i$ proll"cled as well. f>10re often, surety bonds are seen in the contellt of public ~'Orks or governmental construction projects, Most agreemcnts to construct. alter or repair any public building or public work of the United Slates require the contractor to furnish both payment and performance bond5.l Likewise, those entering Into contracts for the construction or rtpair of public buildings. public works, highways or bridllU for tht State of 242

JULY 1000

AlabJma, or any (ounty, municip.ll corporation or subdivision thereof, are required to furnish performance. and labor and material bonds! The policy behind requiring labor and material bonds (or pa)'ment bOnds) is to provide subcontractors ;md malerialmen with recourse for payment for goods and services provided on a public construct ion project where they do not have the benefit of 5tatutory or common law mechanics' or materialmen's liens !}ecau5e the project properly is not subject to mecilo)nics' or materiillmen'5 liens.' Another occasion when a practitioner may encounter a surety bond (fidelity bond) is in ~ probJte proceeding, For instance, under Alilb:lIna's version of the Uniform Cuardianship Act. a conservator is required II) furni sh the judge of probale with ~ ~ure ty bond.' Likewise. administralClTS of estates must be bonded. ellcept in cases where an eKecutor is eKpressly exempted from this requirtment by the terms of the will.' Various other offici~ls or perllOns seeking official recognition must also provide bonds." Surety or indemnification bonds also arise in litigation. Cener~lIy, a creditor must provide a bond before a writ of seizure or ellecution. whether pre-judgment or post-judgment, wl11 be i"ued. I ' Some court clerks will not accept a personal indemnity bond but require commercial thi rd.party bonds. A bond may be required to stay lin action pending appcal." Likewise, II bond may be required as security before a restraining Qrder or preliminary injunction is issued." Other m<ltters in which bonds may be encountered include performance bonds required by the Alabama Surface Mining Control and neclarna.tion Act of 198 1,11 the surety bonds required of developers of vacation time-share plans,n and the surety bonds required of auctioneers. 1I Before addreSSing whether a 5urely can be htld liable in Alab.lma for "bad faith ~ one must have II thorough understanding of not 01'11), the nature of a suretyship, but also the tort of bad faith in Alabama. the differences between suretyship and insurance. ~nd the limit· ed elltensiCln of the tort of bad faith in Alabama. Surety'a Good Faith ObligatIon Cenerilily. moSI agreements between

a surety and ill princip.l1 (indemnity agreements or bond applications) con· tain an ellpress requirement of good fllith ." Tht terms of the surety's obliga. tion to the obliAee will be provided in the bond or in sl)me other COlltTllct which may be incorporated into the bond. An obligee may provide a good faith obligation for the surety within the terms of the bond because II has control over the termi or fo rm of the bond which it will accept. In Alabama, as in most slales which have adopted the Uniform Commercial Code, all conirilct5 cClnlain an implied duty of Aood faith in their performance and enforcement.1I The surety will then have an implied duly of good faith to the bond obligee with respect to the hood and to the princip;il with respect to the surety'S contract with it. The surety thus has b divided duty of good faith toward the principal and the obligee, This can put the surety in an uncomfortable position. Aclaim which. to the obligee. should clearly be paid, in the eyes of the principal. should just as clearly not be p.lid. This situation is not unusual but arises often . Whether the surely pays or doe~ not 11a)' the claim. either the prinCipal or obligee will disagree with the surety's decision. If the surety pays part but not all of a claim, both the princip.~1 and obligee may be perturbed. and the surety can easily end up in litigation with one or both of the other parties regardless of its decision, If it does not pay a claim as presented, it cou ld be sued by the Clbligee. Ukewi5e. it may have to sue tht principal to collect the claims the surety has paid on the princip.,I's behalf. Does the sUl1!ty's good faith obligalions give rise to a ball faith claim by the principal. the obligee. or both? Bad Faith ClaIm, Again.' Sur.tl •• Courts in some states have Imposed liability upon performance and payment bond sureties (or breach of an implied covenant of Ilood faith and fair dealing following tht same standarlls developed in insurance ca~es. eHher by applying an unfair insurance claims practice statute. or by finding a. breach of a common-law obligation of good failh and fair dealing.1t States that recognize bad faith cl<lims by an obligee against 11 5urety include

ArilON- and AWb.• Oth« courts {including SoeYtrlll fedulIl courts] which have lIddresst\l the iuLJt have held that • bad f~ith action annot ~ mainLl.ined against i surtty." Appl~ntly. no court his held a surdy liiblt to the principal or..., indemnitot for bad faith on the basis 0( 1m IptCi11 relationship that his ~en found in insunnce CiSU...

.... •• d F.lth In AI.b.rna The Intentional tort of bad faith W;lS adopttd in ~nt·party insurance Ktions in A~ma in C/rtl,...", ... NolionQ/!i«. Fi" '" CtuuaIlV fA.. FiT'lt.party il\$Ul" ance actions art tI'oi;)oK bttwem the insur· er and the insured. in other worW. bet~en Ihe parties 10 the contract 0( insurinct. In Chatoen. thoe Supreme COurt 01 ~ rccogniztd a redreu-MIlt tort tOr thoe inlentional brodl by an inlUrtr of its duly 0( good faith and fai r duling to its insured." The coort adopItd the t~.t promulgaloo by the disHnl in V_I rI. 811M Cros.s·81w Shidd ofAJoboma'" and held "Ihat an actionable lort lIriHS from an insur.r·s intentional rdWiI to HIUe. direct cll.im where there is tither (1) no lMul basis lor tht rtfuoal COUpled with Kh.W ""-itd~ 01 that fXI or (2) intentioN! failure to dettrmine wi'.ether or not there was any la"'{ul bull for luch rtfusal."" In NolionQl SmJrilV FiTt' & CuuollV Ci)mponv T1. Bou:wm.- the court latu tnumel'3led the f~ requirements nee· woory for a plaintiff to satiJfy hi. bur. den of proof in a bad faith case: l. An insul'3n« tontl'3Ct bttwftn the parties and I brtlCh thereof by the

det'mdant: b. An inltntional rriuJ,lllo pay 1M insured', d~im: t. The abstn« of...,y reasonably Itgitimate or iT1Iuable rrasoo tOr thaI rtfWiI (the abstn« 01, dd)oo~e ,uIQn): d. The inlurer', actual knowledge 0( the abHnce o(...,y legitimate or uguable re:awn; e. If the inlmtiorW failurt to ddermine the nisler'lCf 01,1 ....101 basis il relied upon. the plaintiff must p~ the insurer', intentional failure to deler· mine .... helher there is ill legitimate or arguablt rt.QOfl 10 ~ the claim. Mlhe court .ummariud. "lI )n short. plainliff must go beyond. mere show·

inQ 01 non·paymfnl and pr<IW I bad faith fIOflpaymrnt. a nonpoyment with· out any rtasonablt groond for dispute. Or. sLl.ted differently. the plaintiff must show that the insurance company IIad no 1t811 or factual dtifllH to thoe insu.· ar'lCf cll.im."" In NlJliQnal Sovit!9$ Life 111$. CO. II. Dti.IIQ11.- the AlabarN Supr~me Court ;oddttl the -dirtcttd wrdict" lest to lhe previous requiremen\$. The COurt itat00 thai "in the nonNl ca..<. in arMr for the plaintiff to make out a prilTlll facie case of bad f.ith rtfUS/lI to pay an insurwet claim. thoe proof offered mUJi """,. that the plaintiff is tntitled to a dir«too wrdi(t on the contract d.im and. thus, entitled to reCO\~r on the contract claim as. mailer of law.... HowtYe •. the AbbalTlll Suprelllf Coort has slr'lCf ,numented a number d ~ 10 the "dirtcled "",,,ict" requirementLong before the tort 0( bad faith WM aIIopltd in the roTit·party insunnte <:ootUI. it ...... adopted and ~Iied in the contat 01 "third·party" insunnce contrxls. Third·party Ktions imoolviTll! liability coverage are those ,,'here an insurer wrongfully rdu~'. tither negli. gently or in~ntionally. 10 HtUe a thirdparty claim madr against an insu~ within policy limits Ind ...-here. as i rHUII. lhe insured incuTi a judglllfnt ."inlt him in an amount in eltCe" 0( thoe policy.- Nellli~ntt and bad faith in the third·party contat art two Hpal'3te C3uses 0( ictioo ...·,th different culpobilitin. and the insured may recowr under .ither." A le,t for bad faith in such con· lut dots not include a negligence mn· dard 01 cooduct.· Whether thoe conduct 0I;an insurer is an act 0( negligmct or bad faith is a queslion for 1m jury.- Of (()UrH the di,tinction is impOrtant in thaI such will determine whether pun;. 1M ~ may be TeCO'o't'rtd in lIdI!i(ion to 011)' compensalOry damogts.

•. $u..tyshlp I. Not In.u •• nc:. Case 11..... 5OIl'Ittimes confum lurety$hip and liability insunnce.- An nImpit d the confusion bttwem suret)'Ship and Insurance is tonU.intd in the following dicta of an Alabama Suprelllf Court Opinion: "II bond is ~ically an insur· ance contrllct utCUted by thoe principal and his surety. bul for the bmrflt 01 a third.party (the lubcontractors and lUppliers)."" This cast had liUle. if any·

thing, to do with the lUrdy relatioo3hip. The cast ITQH from a lUit by the Cit)' d Birmingham ."inst lhe archiltct. gen. enl contnctl.>r and roofing subcontractor for the Birminglwn Municipll Airport Tenninal6uilding tOr bftKII of contract and negliger'lCf in the design and instollation 0( tht roof 0( the tem,i . naI building.- The City attnnpttd to lengthen the ~liabIt statute oIlimiutions by arguing that the bonds given by the ronlnctor (n«uted under Hal) ~rt il\COrporat~ by .eferena into the construction contr.lct il.lOSUled). thus, the appliC3blt statule oflimi~ions_ tm yurs I'3!htr than silt )'Un... No claim ...... prnentoo on the bonds and 00 surety ...... madr a party to the suit." HowtYer. the tripartite relationship found;n a surd.y tontract should be contTaJted to the bipartite rell.tionship found in common insunna: or fidelity cootraeu. The differeoces bttwffn sure· tyship and liability illJurar'lCf include: I. Suretyship creates a lriportit, ~latioo· ship in which the surdy m;l principal ire liable to the obtigff; but bttwem

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sumy iOd principal. the principal is primarily liab~ and wmy is 5K<lfIII>r. ily liable. 2. A surety's oblig;otion 10 Ihe oblig« is primarily the txlension 01 standby Cl't'diL 3. The COSI ch3rged by lhe surtly for tilt bondls) is no! b.uW upon ~n actuar~1 ~tation 01 lou, but irutud is ~ lee /or' tht atmsion 01 (miiL 4. Tht principal. ~nd not the obligft. makH the ~ppliation for the sunty bond and genu~((y is oblig;oted for the cost of the bond .... oppoM'd to tilt obligee. 5. Then is g(flt1'~11)' no issue 01 uoequal bargaini.., pIIWH Ilttwftn the obli~ iI1d tht surety. iI1d inclftd. the sunty 11M liUle. ifaoythina. to 13'/ ~I the drutinS 011'" underlying (ontractthe bond. The obligee can control the terms of the hood. 6. The bond is generlllly no! 0lI'l adhesive ijlrtfment but 0lI'l iIgrttrrIUlt prt'1).lretl by the obli&ft.;and tlIfCUtion 01 the nquimllorm 01 bond is made a ""'. ditlon 01 tht principal's ""rfl>rrrWl«. 7. Couru generllily do no! impoM' fidu· ci~ry resporlsibiTitiH upon the surety toward the obligee. but limit the sure· ty', oblig;otion to IhoK of the princi· pal, including the ri&ht 01 the sumy !(l _rt 0lI'I)' dtf~ thot tht princi. pal might _rt .inst tht obligee. S. The surety Iw ~ dividtd oblig;otlon of good faith 001 OIIly 10 tilt obligee but also to the principal ami indemniton. rHulling in I dilemma of potmli~1 liability to ON: p.>.rty or tilt othtr,"

C. B.d Faith In Suretylltllp Cont•• t In ...I.b..... Al;!bama courto havt not dim;tly addmsed tilt issue 01 ~ faith "" a cause of action in lort in the context of sure· tyship; l-oo\o.'l'Vtr. the courts 113\/1' applitd tht elemml5 01 bad faith as I.*d in the contat 0( insurll'lOf whitt prdennillioe I discussion on whether tht tort 0( bad faith shoutd apply to I SUrfly. tn Iw;ur(ml;fl Co. 01 North Am. v. Cilizerul}(lIlk 01 TMtn01i~·ille." the bank made a claim under it! banker', blanket bond (0lI'l indemnity bond) fur fraudu· Imt or disllorlw ICU 0( one of iu ofli· «rs." The cblm wu denied by tht su~ ty." The Iw>k wed the SUrfly for bruch 01 rontract and bad flith." The jury returned a \/I'rdict in favor 01 the bank on iu contract claim in th~ amount of

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fOUlhl)' S290.4.lI.77 ~ on il5 ~ faith in tilt lmOUIIt 01 $866,930.01." The wn:ty apptaled tht judgment on the ~ faith cI~im." On aweal. the 5upr(rm court treated the caK as if the cl.l.im was made by an ;nsumi 00 an illSllrance policy-a lirst· party inI.I.Inn« cliim. The court appIitd the "directod , .. n.!id tat" sd /orth in NaticnoJ ~ Uk In$urr1na ... Dultoo ... it had by thm been muted ... nd found lhat the bank ....as no! entitled to a dir~tw \/I'rdict on il$ coo· tract claim. There existed a 1....fIll Or debatable reason for the IoUret~'5 dent ..1 01 the doim. nw: court detmnintd that the surfly's motion for directed verdict should havt bem gno.nted on tht bad fiith count ~nd ~ld not ha\... gone to jury.- 'I'M court did I'>Ql rmntion tilt fact that the CUI: arose from. bond instud 0( an illSllrance poIicy.I'resumabl)'. in applying the tuU for a bad faith party insurance aa. the court prd(r. mitled a diKUlSion on ...'lldher the tort 01 bad b.ith ~Id be ntmcltd to sun· tyship by determining that tlltre wu no bad faith anyway. l1owe\ltr. the court did not explicitl~ .1It( thiJ. Reg;ordlus. tho holding of this CUI: would be difficult to almd to payment and performan« borlIb issued in «Q\rudion ~ boca.... a banktr's bIanktt bond la fideli_ ty bond) is much I11OI'f; limil.. toan illSllrance policy. Unlike most surety bonds. a banker's btanket bond doH 001 havt .. true lri·party r(l.I.tioruhip. in th3t lhe sonty', oblig;otion 01\ the bond is not primarily the ultnsion oI,tand.by cmiit. the premium lor such bonds is 11'10« likely based upon an actuarial computation 01 ION. and the obligee purclw.. tilt banke", bl/lnket bond "" protection from ill own employees. BMia\i>'. the bankn', bl.l.nket bond iruuruthe faithful performancf' 01 & dass 0( nnployHs. nther IIwI proyid. ina lIiRlloci.ilguan,nty lor the ptrlor· rRlIoce 0( a particular ptrlOll or entity. In £1_ v. M~ AssurarJCl! Co. ... "surety brought an indemnity "'lion against tm principal"r><.I iu indemni· tOI'$ on " ""rfonTlllnct bond issued in <XIfIfI«tion with tht rtebmation 0( lands upon "ilich the principal surfa«·mintd coal. M Tllt trial court instruded the jury to "'<'In.! dmlaguto tilt sordy in the i\tl'IO\Int that it paid in goodjuill! on beh3lf <i principal.- Tllt Alabama Supmne (~m

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Court held that the trial court's cha,* "f~irly and ;occunol.1y id forth the law as it pullins 10 the musun 0( ~ in tilt contut 011 5urdy and principal rtl~tionship: " The trial court took t ... charS. djrectl~ from .. M;w.achusetu cast.llurtford AccitJml & Il!tkml!it~ CcmptmjJ 11. fIIillisftoo/itt9. N and

chargni tht jury on good faith ... tOIkrws: \I'mt of,.,oo faith illYOlvos J1lO« than bad judgment or negligence or insufficient uar. In orller to find that Morrison Ith. surety) w"" ~ctjng in b.l.d faith or ...... not Kling in good faith. )'OU woutd ha\/l' to be rusombty SlOtisrled from the Mdencc that Mormon wu acting with a dilhonat purpOse. Lack 01 good faith amH an imp/iQ. tion of ~ dW>orw:l t Pl'1'j)O$t. & corucious doing 01 wrong. a brtKh 01 a duty through moti~s of Hlf·interest or ill will. That is what W( mean by lack of ,.,00 faith.The indtmniton ob;tded to thi$ cha,* at trial and argued that it wu em)ntOUS on appeal.- The indmmiton ..rgued tN.t the chargt WU lIkm from .. aa which dealt with i summary judg· ment in .... hich all 01 the testimony was by deposition lmlln which the deftn· danl did not tvm pmmt an lI\SWt1'.Thqo ~rgued that tht chug< ...'ml '"much further than the AIibam;o I.I.w ;OS to \iOOd faith .... nw: court on 0IPpta1 detennintd that the indemnitorl had no! identified ~t lrial how or in what ruprd the instruction differed (rom Alabama I...... and had not "IoUtmant~lly argued" this claimed tm,)f in thtir brirf on """"al lappoormtly by not cilintl any SUJIIIOrlina OIUthority).- This cl.l.im 0( error was lhus "'<'Iived." The court then tbted that it W(ltlld tIltrefore not COII5ider thi •• rgu. ment." Nev-erthelw. the question rtrRllins-"Ha.d tht court not already COfU.idertd the &'1umtnt by holding that 1M trial court'S charge to 1M jury f.. irly UHl iOCUrlIttly id forth the I.I.w in

""""""

In lIightoww & QI. u. Unilf'd Sillies Fidefil!/ & GUIlr. Co.."the surrty b....,...ght an indemnifiation and uooeratioo actioo ~nst its princip.a.1 on payment 0( ptrfOrmlOncc bonds issued by tht surfly 011 a construction pro;..:.. for the United Slota g.J\Imlmmt." The princi· pat count(rcl.l.imed .. Ilq;ting, among other thinl($. l'I'anlOO brt~ch of good f~ith by the surely.N 'fh( principal Ht

up the allegations of its counterclaim as affi rmati\'e defensu to the surety's com· plaint." The trinl court converted the ~ure t y's moliOn to dismiss the counterclaim as a motion for summary judg· ment. without notice to the counlerclalmnant. and then granted it.- The trial court also granted the surely's motion for summary judgment on its complaint.'" On appeal. the Alabama Supreme Court held that the surety's claims and the principal's counterclaim arose out of the same tran~ctions and OD'!rative (act$, (lnd thlll they were so closely intertwined thal separllte IIdjudiclition would pose lin unreasonable risk o( inconsistent results,- Any determina· tion of damages mffered by the surety could not be disposilive in Ihe absence of proper adjudiclll ion of Ihe I)ri ncip;ll's counterclaim,- In remanding the case, the court concluded that the trial court pn:maturely entered summary judg· ment In favor of the surety on the coun· terclaim and thus also prCl'nalurely entered summary judgment in favor of the surety on its complain!." liowever, in a footnote, lIle court did note that a surety contract is to 1M! construed according to the intent of the parties and the implied condition of good faith." An extension of Ihe terms of the suretyship agreement by either party would, as a result. breach the duty of good faith," The question remains"What is an 'extension of the terms' of a suretyship agreement?" Unfortunately, the rep()rted decision Is based upon a Ilrocedural error and did not address the medt! of the claims. In Knutilla u. Aulo·0u.1Wrs Insuranee Com/xlI/Y." the purchasers of a timeshare unit brought suit against the surety on the bond provirJerJ by the lime· share dMloper,T'The plaintiffs claimed a bad fa ith refusal to pay the claim they had presented un<ler the bond and a breach o( fiduciary duty," Tht trial court granted summary judgment in (avor of the surety," The plaintiffs ap~ealed the ruling on the bad f/lith issue. Applying the law applicable to nrst· party insurance claims. the court of civil appeals determined that there was a "lawful basis" for the denial of lhe plaintiffs' claim o(blld faith ," The court noted that when a claim 15 fairly dcb.1t· able, an "in5\lrer" is entitled to debate

ii, and if II lawful basis for denial exists, the "in5urer" will not be held liable for bad fait h." "J)ccause there was a lawful basis (or the denial of the claim and. therefore, no basis (or a bad fait h action, we pretermit a discussion of the applic. ability of Ihe tort of bild faith in this type o( ~ction as unn~cessary, '"

to ~itCt in good failll "." As the court noted in l.oke Marll'n/Ala, Power UClltlsee Ass'n, Inc. /J, AII/bl/Illa Power Co.. Illc.. rtJ there may be a cause

of action for an identinllblc breach in the D'!rformance of the specific terms of 8 contract, but it is in the nature of breach of COlltract. not tort as in the con\e:oct of insurllnce policies,-

D. Tort 0' Bad Faith LlmUad

In Alabama The Alabama Supreme Court has betn hesitant to CII.tend Ihe tort of bad faith beyond the insurance contexts discussed above, Alabama'~ lldaptation of the Uniform Commercial Code provides that every contract or duly falling within the Uniform Commercial Code imposts an oblig(llion of good faith in its D'!rformanee or enforcement.n As the court has repealedly 5tated, "Althouilh every con· tract docs imply good (aith and fair deal· inil (see 17· 1-203. Code 1975). it dots not carry with it the dut), imposed by law which Wi' ha~ found in the context of insurance ~s.'" The failure to act in good (aith in the performance or enforce· ment of conttac(j or duties arising under lUa. Code 17·1-203. does not gi~ rise to a claim 00 which relief m.ly be granted in Alabama."' Neither Alabama tOrt nor con· trad law ~ffords a remedy for breach of an exprCM promise in a written contract

Tort 0' Bad Faith Should Not Ba Extendad a. Ca ....e of Action Applicable In Cont.xt 0' Sur.ty.hlp, In Alabama In Alabama, the law of suretyship, espccillHyln terms of bad faith clalm~. i$ not (ully rJC!Vcloped, Howevn, just as the tort of bad faith has not been extended beyond speCific situations which arise in the context of contracts of insurance. it should also not be extended to su rely· ship, As discussed above. insurance and suretyship are not lhe ~me. The differences between them (orm the foundation for why the tort of bad faith should not be imposed upon sureties. The torl of bad faith should certainly not be extended to allow a princip;ll to assert such a claim allainst its surety, The reilltionship between a principal and a surety is not Mn remotely simi· lar to that of insurer and insured, After all, the principal doe~ not seek prolec·

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tion from the surety against a calamity, but instead seeks the comrllercial advantage of obtaining a contract with an obligee which requires performance and/or payment bonds. The su rety is more like a standby creditor of the prin' cipaL The s(rretY'$ paYlllent of a d (lim which 11 principal believes to be merit· less causes no harm to the principal because the principal's indemnification obligation is not absolute." Harely will the situation arise, like in the third· party insurance context, where a surety refuses to pay a claim that the principal believes ShOlild be paid lmless the sure· ty has a unique defense such as the claim not being covered by the bond. Obviously, the relationship between a surety and an obligee is more akin to that of Insurer and i n~u red. The primary differences between the two are the sure· ty's dual good faith oblig,l tion to the prinCipal and the obligee, and the three· party relationship between surety, oblig. ee and prinCipal, [n addition, like the principal. the obligee does not seek pro· tection from the surely a~linst calami· tiC5, b~L\ instead «:eks the commerci(ll advantage of obtaining a contract with th ~ principal which provides additional financial securit~ It is these: very differences which should prevent the exten· ~ ion of the tort of bad faith to aL l obligee. Some might argue Ulal a surely has more incentive to disallow a claim than to pay it and thus the pl<i}'ing fi eld should be leveled (or obl igees. After all. under current Alabama law, a surety will only be allowed to recover from its principal fo r those claims which it paid in good faith. 1-I¢Wever, sureties m(ly have just as strong an ince:ntive to pay an obligee'~ claim. particularly in the context of public works I)rojects. For example, under the Miller Act and Alabama's "Little Miller Act". a surety has a statutory incentive to pay proper claims because if a properly presented claim is not timely paid, the obligee may also recover reasonable attorneys' fees 'lnd interest.- In private projects, obligees decide the form of Ihe bond which they will accept from the princi· pal. thus they CM require terms which provide an Incentive to the surety to timely pay clalnu. such IlS attorneys' fees and interest. as contained within the Hiller I\Ct. Thus. the tort of bad faith need not be extended so that such 24{1

.JULY lD911

an action can be maintained by an obligee against a $urety. If a cause of action for bad faith is extended to bond obi gees. it should not be extended as a tort as exists in the con· text of insurance. If a court is inclined to ;lllow an obligee to pu rsue a cause of action fo r a surety's "bad (aith" refusal to investigate or pay a cairn, it cou ld do so by allowi!'l g a claim for ;· b.~d fait h bre(lch of contract" in which the oblige~ could recover the penal IImOul)t of the bond lU damages. The action would arise from a breach of the surety's good faith obliga. tion, whether implied or contractual , This would allow the pollcy considera· tions of the tort of bad faith to be real· ized while also taking into account the unique nalure of suretyship. The amount of the bond ~ hou ld be interpreted as the parties' 3greed, reason3blc, pre-brC3ch estimate of damages fo r breach of the good faith obHgatiO!'l (as ~ uc h darnage$ could be difficult or impossible to accu· rately calcu[ate or estimate). and the bond itself should be interpreted as the parties' written expression of their intent that the bond ~mo unt be a reasonable pre.breach estimate of lhe probable loss and be considered thei r agreed dam"I:le~, !'lot a pen,,[ly.A.~~essi ng the bond amount as damaile$ cffedivc[y puni$hes the surety for its wronsful conduct. At the same lime, the inherent differences belween insu rer and sutety are taken ullOaCCOurlt by limiting the amount orrecovery from a surety to the amount of the bond. After all, in many contexts the surety'S only sources of information regarding a claim 3re the obligee and the principal. They effectively control the facts available fo r the surety's investigation and upon which the $urety will b,L5e its decision on a claim.

of bad faith to commercial sureties in A[abama, at [east in the same fo rm as such <ippl ies to inSurer$. Endnot • • L. 2.

3. ~.

$t.-,..... r". LII'" "I $urflly,"Ip f ,., (5th III. '115' ): 7~ Am,Ju, 2d Suretyt/l:p § 1. ~I . CodD § 8.11.2(3) (\993) . ...rl. Code § 8·3·2 (' l1li3). Al6.CodD; 3So ,, ·2 , 0 1' l1li ' ) . 0 U.S.C.S. f 270. (Llow. Cc!oqI. 1Il\104 5 &pp.

111951 (,he ' Mille, ,f,c!") (reQUIm H PfOI«!

eMIr

ara(!. F.-Ia'il ~1t/IIon $,'utnilnlng I<QI or,Wo! (!""'$A.). S. 'i!oe11H.A, $ ' 00.000). SU,

2238 (8116fMUWI pernI&fIL pr~1CI1oM 11'11)' III proYidad on prDltctl bII_ and $'00.000), All. CoOe 1311.", (' 995)(AlII:)&mI" 'lin'-

m.ooo

Miot'

Ac!'1.

7, City Of 81(~m ~. COCII(_~' R~ , ~,,, Co.. Inc.. 5017 So. 2d I' eo. LIU (AID" aei)(Qt, !no SurrrIIn ~ ~ 810m! Ff/Ia Co. • • 011 50.

2d 8'8 (Ala. '1182) MId HHdlIy~. ~ Aurtl.

01 p,.,.rMllo.~' So. ~ 532 (~I. elY. ~ ' 071)): S. r fJUtIII COtIIIr. Co. r. c.~. Inc .•

1121 50. 2d

' 3~

(All. C~.

(993).

AI,. CQdt 1:t6·2A,'Ji ('ii2) ...~ . CoOe '3·2·851 to 852( '9115).

II. 10. s..Ala.~t§3e ·20·3( ' " ' )INol;lr~ ,oubIk): 3.·. ·24 (1119') tr\uct~.): '2·'H, (19811) (Clf<k or LIMo c.cutr Com): '2· ' ,., , , ( 1$$$) (A40gltLtr 011,.,. Cheuk Court)! 36·2H (11191) (ConIIabkII): 1 ' ·S·3( ' iNllI) (Cor_I).

,!. SUo •. g. AI~. CodD" e ·8.2e(I {,M3) (0.11 ..... 8Qnd).1Id 6·8·4 5 (1l1li3) (IItiachment 8Qnd). L2. Ala. A. Civ. P. 62(c) 8 (d).

elv. P. 6Sicl.

'3. ~ •. A. L4 . All. Code

§ 11· 111·89 (11187).

'5. ...1• . Code I :).4·27·5' t2)(i) ( I "

I ). ' 6. Ala. CodIt 13~ ·~ ·24 (' 119 ' ). ' 7. IM'nllld .... R""",t. n.. Duly of"", PrH1rNmJng SlIIfII)' 10 '1Mo fJQIId Prlnc/plllilld IINr

IntJemnjl(lf'" 0D0d F.tlrfl, , 5 FOIum , 005, , 009 (19$0).

18. SHAIQ

COo:It, ' , ' ·203( ' IIIIJ): K~ fife.

co.. If!(;.~. MQore.Har>dlay. If!(;,. ' 37 So, 2d 711

{""'. ' M3) : CM..,. 0.\ NJf,/QIMi See. FJ,. " G',t• • co., 405 SO. 2d " 4 (AI • • 'IIB') (0:1111\0 CJrJid3~. Mi,IIIIIIppJ V.I~ r",. Inf. Co.. 35$ So. 2d , L~ ("'~ '97S)}.

19. IkUM,d l. 1IIIIIIn

~r.d ~ t h

Wltln. Currwol

o.w~,,, In

Bad ""~h Ul9-tr/Ql! 1t1~ IINr F'IIIfQ/'m.t~ 111(/ AlyrlNtll' Bond ~. 28 TOI' 8 11\1. l.J. 8", /1,8. (' "5] {cI!lnQ RQyII ,,,,, co. ~. ~Ct.. S\l2 P.2d 3Z&{Cal. (1179). fWlffuIfiJ ~ MorIdI-SIrIl.tl v. F1nIma~" Furtd 1M, Co., 48 CII .:Ir:l 287 (C61. ' 9M); ~

0/1;1(>1

o.\~" ~'Co.,

778 P.20 ':t4g (lillI,

'11811)).

Conclusion The various forms of commerclal su rety bonds available today are too numerous to discuss in detail in the space allotted here. J..ikewise, there has been no attempt to diSCUSS, in detail, the law of bad faith a5 it exists in Alabama today. However, the reader should have a better Unde r5landin~ of the general nature of commercial surety bonds, and how such diffet frorn insurance. It is these differences which should prevent the extension of the tort

20. SHOgdgfI

~.M~Iy " ~,.

778 P.2d'240

(.t.rtz. III8I1) . 21 . LI¥IIOrf1f/r<>lMooH. ln~fVI~1 Fra.Nry

LDdgIIl392~.

/nil. Co., 1117 ,o.2d 1122

(Alaslcl 1911O}.

n . SUo fI.g" Unl/tlo<l Sla[.t,~. ~ra SurIty Co.. 8 L7 F.2d II~ (:t!ld. C~ 11187)

t,.,.

~no IIIaI IjIIIII8<nmetLl could I\QI mlirII~ln bIod I.hI. clIIrn "11,,11111 &\II'''~ on. MI~r Agr ptrlor"""", bond); /,JIrI1fI(1 St,t,.. II; W<i_lne, ~. 765 F, Supo, 908 (E.O, Cal. ' 119') (~C.liIOrnilllllW Ind hQkIIng thl l dPnanl uI!dIt PII)"IlII'1I bond CLlmoI mllnlaln bed 181m ICIlon agalroll ~ bond

lU,ery): KMIINicr ~. FId6I#y " DIPt»Ir Co., &90 F.

Supp. , 112 (0. Mm . , 1'67) (1'\11"", !/\II! !".". no 101' CIIIm aYlIIlIIIlIe to dalmanl 011 pa1mtni bond (CQlllillllj!d QII

page 248)

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B.d F.lth

...•• ". •• ... •• <S.

(Conll,luM from tdfN 246) far 1IU"lyll tallure to pay ~I ,tr\dered lIIIaIr4l~.

23. BIIIkin" Willen, ~ noll 19. II 623· • . 2. . . 05 So. 2d I (AlII. 19f.ll). 25. /d. II 6 , :/e. 373 So. 2d los.. (AlII. 19711). 27. ~ 405 So.ld II 7 (qootng V/rQnt. 373 So. 2d 1~ (All 1(711). :/e. • 17 So. 2d 179. 183 (AlII. 11)62). 211. /d. 30. Dum;tn, ~ 1 9 So. 2d 1357, 1362 (...... 19&2). 31. /d, II 136a. 32. SH••. p .• SltllldtlitJ FlaM, Inc. v. 1!JcI<M. Mot So. 2(1 1 02 ~

(Ala. 1981); 1n'_IInen'IIIut. m.. Co.

v. ~ 571 so. 2(11~ (AI • • 1m). ~Ifd

"" 0/fIef (}ffIUIldI..99 U. S. II68I~ '''UtIOf'· dll\e"'II1C~) (198 1): 1'Irom.1r. v. ~!'In.

Group,568 So. 2Ij 135 (...... lm):..btNNr

F/o,m s..'tPu Mul. c.JUIIIIy Co.• !107 So.

JUt(l.lmlr

lid age (NA. 1~ (1IOIdif'91f\111 ,..l1l1I 01 tvOM· quI!1l irMtIllglI~ are rIO! In atgwble bUll far oonyIng ~ dIlIm btcAi.>M drldlllorr """., Dr! ~ OV Ih6 IrllOfn\llllon tlYaiIGOIt II lilt llmt dIlIm 0t<lI. ...,., .. al m~) : AIPInII UfIIIrIf. Q). v. UW/f, '70 So. 2d 1060 (Ala. 1$84)• ... ~Ied "" DI/Ifr Qf'DlJII/18. . 75 U.S. 813 (1986) (titldklg Insu!'en laDo .. to _ t t ill medeal dMI' tmflnl an med· IcaI CIalm Q/llOI,jnltd 10 I rl(ll(JeM IntIllltttne<lllO ~ Of 10 pmoIlIWIlrrItned b\lIM .-.wrtd III'" II..... oIlhri denbII ~ ConHrremm Ag",.~ Ca. v. KoonU. ~61 So.2d ~ (Alii , 1$84).

411. /d, II 885.

cr..

!IO. !102 So. 2<1 378 (Ala. 1917). 5 1. TIle Surlacl MlIIIrIg RlCIBInItion Act 011875 ,lqUIred lhoM eng.agIrIQ In 1il0ll1li1_ mirlInO oj ~ to pt~ _ pOrIotl"W'QlllOnd wilI1 r...-cr 10 118 I~ked IfCWllaliOll ",arlo ....... Coot , 9·1&4<1 ('epllalod 19111). T ~ 11\a16C1 ,tpHIed. IIIe ,equl ......" '- o;ontAlned ...ttnIn llIe SI.JrIac. MlMIa R«IamItlon Act 0I19f.l1 (..... , coo. f 9 ' 18·89 (198'f).

wa.

35. /d.

36. WIllA 261 Ala,.,

2~.

37. Edward O. Ga!lilllt>ef. Inttodlit;/ICKI. n.. L8w 01 Sure!)'1hiIl 1-1 , (1993). ~. City 01 BlfmlrlQllam ~. ~ ROtJIIng &. AMlM Ca.. InIl.. $41 So. ~ I I~. IIG!! IAla. IM9).

311. Ill. 40. /d.

41. Ill. ~. Bddn" Wiluirn. _IIDI. 19. til 81 •. 43. 491 So.2deeo(N.rr.. IIlIO).

Rot/bucII 01 Ca.. gsa f.lId l036( ll th Clr. 1m). _ f. dMIIed 113 S. CI . • '2 (1992), lfIPH/_rw """"tIQ' ~ 1'.3\:1 l oIOt (I ",J. 1»11. d<Jn/.od 11 5 S. Ct. goa (19\15) (lfI'dInO 1/111 Alabama <!Ott 1'101 rIC' agnlzlll~ IOrI 6C11on ..". bed lal1n brelldl 01 ~111!111! o;onl'IIC!). SIIndefII v. CoIonIM B"rIIr cI AI.tl .. 551 SO. 2<I IQ.i5 Vole. I ~llr.oIOIno IQrI oIlNtd tailh IIDI .... ~1IlM by cut_f 6OAIf\I1 blnlI): Hk;Q ~ AJ#JINImiI Pflt Int;., $ole So. 211 1.8 (Ala. 19119I(tlndlng no t1'O'Idenc» 1/111 r.orne. _ h.-d 1111 inwrlll1C4l r:ontrrw:t whh any deIen· dafll lhul '*I no fight oI.eIion agalnillh1lnllUl" .... dlrllClly and no CluM 01 acton far bid laIlh 1C11I1nlI11II1)' ~ In DCIion In v.+.ich

54.

A I8 Ne .~&&5(MaM. I~I ).

55. EoI'rxW. 502 so. lid " 310. 58. /d. 51. /d

...

M . /d

82.

./10,

FortJu. v. Sea,.

s.n:.

eo. • $1 . Id. 527So, 2<le~(AIa , II)aG) .

63. 1d. . 1 700. &&. Ill. ~I 703. M. /d.

ncm..

ow...., Droughl ~I ~ PIli (IOI'!1()I oomp(In~

72.

405 So. 2d al 5.

85.

u,. too1 01 bIIr.I faith. _

""""*"'""

u.s.

53. /d.

52' (....... 11153).

w",.,.

14.

52. EImOIf. &w So. 20,,, 38(l (.f1\?/1M4 ~J ,

66. /d, a1701. 87. /II. 66. Id. I I 703. MI. /d. 70. III. al 7a.. 71. /d. al 700 (dIIrIog, 1181*""', City 01 tJinn/ngIIam " n.~ 101 So. lid 2sg (1!1$8}).

33. 58.I,g.• Ch/iW v. 1.li,,"1iPPI ~ rw.1rIf Q).. 359 So. 2d I ' 46 (Ala. 1(78): v. c._1ft Ca. '" RMtIInp. p. .• 73 So. 2d

:w.

83,

~ ElK. Ca.. InIl. ~ Io'-~ Inc.• 437 So. ~ 76, 81 (All. I~J (i"MIMnII conlllC1 far ~ 01 MIrIealIlQUlpment); ~IIJ' ,... Co. ~ BIIot1rmon. . 7e So, lI<I 87 (Ale. 18$!), GO\.WMIfI'II SlrHI l ilt'l\Cff C!l. ~ AmSoum 8,w.« 553 So. lid M (AI • . 1989); Ctra,."., ~ Hun/fl(. 340 So. lid 818 (Ala. App. 1978). r _ v. CIIuIc1!~ FritldCIIIdrM, Inc.. 682 So. lid ~4 9 (AlIt 1981); ~ OICo-, Inc. v. SPOIl CO/OiJ/I PfOd1JC# DN. •• IJN. 0I8P 0/1 Co.. m 1':2<1 1:18<1 (11th C~. 1991). ClIft. dIWIItd 502 925 (1i9 1)j.opplylnv Al~ I....). 801 So. 2d Q.62 (Ala. 11192). /d. '" "'. (citing E'f/IH BHwr BuIdr. IrIC. ~ &'1. ro3 60,2d 81 ~ (Ala, 1987)). For IOITlI trdd<tlonIll CU6lIn 1O'!IIcII1IIoI COull has ftl~Md to ..,&11(1

I(J,

73. 578 So. lid 1359 (All. c ~ , App. li111). 7~ . The IIOr'Id .. plO'<iOed PII'IUIOI to Ala. :W.2MI(2W) (1991). 75. Knurillll. !78 SO. 2<1.•,13&0.

CO(Ie,

1t. • 77. /d, 18 /4, ~I 13Ga. 711. /d, (ct!ing GiJ/I Al/llntk ~. Inf. Co. ~. $.omn, _oe So. 2d 916 (Ala. 1981j. &0. /d. 81. Ala. Cod!t G7·J.203 ( 1993) .

.rod ~ lIIIbIi ly lttIurer): ~ v. !.I~ MCbIII Hgmn, /n(:.. 477 So. lid 382 (~. 198!j(a" lrm/ng aumtn8(~ )udgmeI11 an bad IBit/'J DDUnt In K1lon Drw9ht by put(;!\&W$ 01 r1IObi~ hOr'rIfI ~al .endOr); ~ v. KI/loiif/I'!. So. 2<1680 (...... 1985) ("tilling to e~lend klfl 01 bad IalIf1IO wro<9-' IIIrmirllrlian at ~rrltlnl conuacl): KHIOfI v, S,IIII cI ~ 46Ij So. 2<1 $37 (Ala. 111M) (rtlueing to ..lend klft 01 bid 18l1!1 10 101. ~ ,1denIpdon o;on1<_); l11li Hd v. HIlI, 4S5 So. ~ 813 (Ala. 1$84j(r.tUllng 10 8lC!enG IOfI 01 bad lakh In ~ 1:11541) . 87. 502 60. 2<1378 (holding \l1li1 ......et~ mat' only fecover _ , k PItft 1ft 0DQd taJthl. 88 , AIa.coo. f 39· 1. I(b) (1m). III. &HI•• ~.. SuIlOrr v. ~, f3 1 SO. lId 832

4'.

s.r.

s.. anor.. (Ala. 1m)

(~ng

ll1e.trtI1dMdoI oj Cllme/oI

MusIc, Inc. v. Mil'" RM/I'j &. ~I Ca.. 51. SO. 2119871 ...... 1987). IOd$I... mInt whtlllet .1IqukI.~ted l1li.... prOIIilllorr 01. COOlrll¢l may lie 1tIIIoo:ed).

Montgomery to Serve as Pilot Site for Mediation/Settlement Week Circuit Judge Sally Greenhaw. 151h Judicial Circuli . Is planning a Mediation! Settlement Week this summer during Ihe week of August 19. The purpose of the event is two-fold: to clear the dOCket 01 pending civil cases, and to provide participants an opportunity to decide their own cases through mediation. The Montgomery County Bar Association, with coordination by Wes Romine. will ask members trained in Il"rBdlatlon to volunteer as pro bono mediators. Rich Hobson of the Administrative OHloe of Courts and Judy Keegan from the Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution are also ollerIng assistance. The Montgomery efforts will serve as a pllol for posslbfe statewide expansion of the program in 1997.

2~O

JULY 1000

RECENT DECISIONS Bv Da~itJ Ii 8j;nltl!. IT. tmd ttl/bur C. Silberman

..,.u....

Sup....". Court Crlmlnao' IHmillld R ~uctlon MHll ment Act ;. mandalo,),

PWrwn ~. Stole ofAJaI>omo. 30 MlR Z6 (Octobtr 20, 1995). PkIWfl "":lII convicttd 0( distributing a conlrollfd $lib,Ian«' in vioL:lIion of J/3A·12.21 I. Tho Irial court HotenceJ her to 12 years in the lIat~ prnitt nto..ry pu~nl to 113A· J2·2S0 ...-hich provides for an enhanud ..... ltnt. lor I drug IoJle that oc:curnd within a three_mil. radius 0( . Khool. Tilt trial court, however, did not iml'O'" on Pi ...$OO' nne unckr the IHrnand RtdLK1ion ~nt Act. IJ3A-12280-284. Cctk ofAIoboma (1975). The ('.OUr! of criminal awol' a.ffirmtd the trial court'J judgment 01 coovidion and the .. ntone. holding th.>.llhe p""';. sions 01 tilt 0erNnd Rtduction ....... mmlAd Ire merely pmnissiw. ~ thus. tilt ,';'1 court did noI trr in failing \0 assess Pierson the statutory prr\llily. The supremt court IInnttd the 0.......

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Stat."S pdilion for writ 0( «!1ioroi to dtltrminot whtther tht pTOYi, ionJ 01 tht l~mand Reduction Asw .. ment Act ~~ mandatory and not permi!$i'1 . Cllirl Justi~ Hornsby. writing,or a unanimous court, !wId tNt l!w pn:lYiWoN 01 fl3A . 12·284 wthonu the court to susptnd tt.. coliKtion oi It.. pe""lty. not the lWtSSrmnt 01 that pe""lty. II a dtfendant compJits with tht provision$ oi f/lA·12·2M. ttwn tht coIltction 01 the ITW>datory fine imposed in acc(Iniance willllllA·12-281 may bt suspended. Chitl Ju.tice Ilornsby reasoned in pertinent Pilrt ... lollC\WJ: Mort<Mr. an tnm'''''tion oi tht """Iiation oi otiltr d~' Tl:bled crimi""l mtutts S~SI IN.t tt.. p1'O\Iisions of III< IkJTl.llld IINuction ~mtnl Act "1r. intmded to bt mandlotory_As noted by Judge Bowm in his diwnting O!>,nion inPiersoo. sinct ]988, the AlWma l.gi,law~ has dearly uprewd its int.nt to imJlOl" h.arsh mandalory punishrntllu on d"'ll"'a~rs. The enlwonctrntlll pn:Msions of fl3A-12-25() and 270 "ilich provide for an ;"'re.... d $(nl.",. il It.. drug sa l. OCCurs within a thr«-mile llIHIius oil school or public: hou$ing pro;ea mpectM:I)' In mandatory. S« Curmv V_

Siale. 629 So.2d 693. 696, (AIlI. Crim. App. 1993). Child IU alnaae _ "'",inibility of prior fl ule. "tI~,"Ii n. Peeples v. Siale of AlI1/xmw, 3(l ABR 428 iDewnber l. 1995). Peeples was tliN '"'" convic:led for. vi.oLation of IllA-6-66. Code of Alabama (1975), i. •.• drgr« IUUlI abo$( of . (tma~ under lhe ase of]2 years. During an in limine hearing. the State sought 10 pre_ YfIlt PeqoIa from asking Js.. the illeged victim. any q~ l1JIal'dinllll IUUlI abwe alltl/lltion she ~ ~ against another individll3l, In respon$(. Peepl..

r.r$I

~ an offt:r of proof 5UUtSl ing tht following facts: At a limt btl'or. the lria] ofillis QSI'. J.5. ~ alleged lhal J.R .. her stepbrother- in an ;",iMnt unreLatN to the one ' onning the bui, oi f'«p1r:J' prOS«Ution--Nd pullttl her fWltit:s doIO'n ~. , .triW to h.aYt sa with hrr. This allegation was I1porlW appar_ fnlly by J.S:, Khool oounsdor to tht Abb.uno O' .... rtTTll'nt of HUINn Ruourca (OHII). 1.11. dffiied tilt llltl/ll lion.lfltl mol1 significantly. J.S.. during an invtsligation bogun by DHII, recant· ed the 1I11t1/l1tion agaiTl5l I.R. in an interview wilh 1I rtpr~l;Itivt of DHR. The lrial court sustoir>t4 the State's objection to lilt rvidenu citing Ex (I(1rl8 Lcvd. 580 So.2d /374 (Ala. /99/ J. The court of crimi""llIpptllQ moerstd Peepl..· convitIion ronc:tudi"ll th.a! the court tTMI in gnnting the 5I<It.·, motion 10 tlCdUM eviole",e of J.S : ' tI~ttmtnts C(jncerning the alleged sexual abos. by her lIepbro;olher. Lo¢ held that during the trial of a drftndant xc:used of smW ~ "evi· dmc~ of the victim's prior fal$( a11eg.· lions and Ihruts of sexual misconduct by persons o;oIher than the Mfendmt may bo imroduted to show a 'common plan. sdwmt. daign, or $)'Ilem' by tht victim." Lovd. 580 So.2d 11/1375. As articulated in l.cvd. d"morutr~tM falsit~ is the sinequu non of ~mi!$ibili\)' of this $petin of rvi<Itrla.ln otiltr words. given that J S . ~ rroack allegations of IUUll abwe. It.. dtnlals communicated 10 the ll HR reprt$(ntati~ wtre tanta· mount to ~missions that the alltl/lltion of smW abwe wu~. J.5:, dtn~ of tht alltl/lltion agaiTl5l her , ttpbrothtr brin&s this aM' squareI)' "ilhin the operation oilhe rule articulated in Ex purle Lovd. supro. Accordin&fy. the Supmne Court. in a fM:-to-lt\m: d«Won. ilffillllfll the Alabama Court of Crimi",,] Aj>peals which held Ihat the trial <<)IJrt had

... _ , -

u'V'''' ••••

urtd in ududi"llnf.nna 10 u... fld that 1M victim had made I falSot Illegalion of suual abus.e $11$1 InOIOO. Mi ndamul vitw of double jtopIonly 5101' '" Adams. 29 ASR 3722 (Seplember 22. 1995): Stolt. v. liglar 29 ASR 3793 IStpttmbtr 22. 1995). lht Supnmt Court of Alabama. in two cues. lias Ul\llndetl aoo clarifitd lhe use 01 pt1ition ror l1WIdimus to bar further I'fOI'!ClItion ., ~i"ll vioWn.. of tho dwblt ;top;.rdy provisions oflht SUoIt and ftdual conslitulions. InAdams. Chid Justiu Hormby. writ· i"ll for the court. <;QfICludtd thot the INI rourt Ilad urtd in denying Adam's rtl;uest for ajury trial on the quellion of ""hether the p1WKUtor inlentionally and improperly ;ocltd so as to pTOYOk. a millNI in the first lrial.lh p1WKUlor intcntioNlly pl'Ol'Oku a mUlN!. hOi 1ction$....ouId requin a firKlirli 10. Adams or his pita oflormtr ;top;.rdy.lJniltd SlaIn v. f·iTw. 644 F.2d I()J8(51h Ci,. 1981). em. denied. 454 U.s JQ91 (198/~ More imporllontly. the supreme rourt nj«ttd the Sbte's argum<nl that tht quution of former jtopardy ""as an illut oflaw. and therefort. a jury tNI is not constitutionally nquirtd.ln rtject-

ing thot aJtumtnt. the wprtmt court nlied onSlor, /J. Slate. 435 So.2d J36() (A/a.Crim.App. 1!J82} and nottd spec:ifically the foilowlna: An ~ is tntitltd to I jury INI on the iuues oflKI rais.e<J by the plea llormer jtopardyl and the i»ut of former jeopardy should ~ submilltd for tilt jury's dtltnniNtion bela.. the submiuion oflhe iuu. of guilt. Havint dtttnnintd thlt Acb .... lias I right to Ijury trial on the ~ 01 formtr jeopardy. the SlIprt"mt court 1M<! comKltrtd whdhtr l1WIdimus WillI the PfOPI'r means 1M s«uri"llI ....1 right The court concluded I .... t il was oboe ...... ing: "mandamus is. proper nmed)' 10 p~nt justice and to prtvtnl an ilTfl\llrable injury ""heuth... is 00 atlltr adeqwott remedy invoMd." The ~ CXltJrt's d«ision in ZigIm "'~ m.-d tho _ \Qy asAli>mf. In Ziglar. tho supmne court conducltd th.lt I criminal cItfend.mt with j douIlIe je0pardy deftn5t coukJ not ~ 'ondc)$td from prttrial rorndion II ~ t~ ju<.Igt·s UTnntOll$ denial 011 plu II forrnfr ~. "!h.rm.r.. the apptllatt r.ourts of this state ",ill rMew double jeopardy claims pl1l!>fTly prtsenttd by petitions for ...Til 01 mandamus'- SN Rule 21{,)' AlaiKnna

NEW IOLTA PARTICIPANTS FOR APRIL Barbara Neal Rogers. TUscaloosa nay E lIobbins. Tan~d~ga A. Crfgg l..owrey. Pelham Robert Donald Word. HI. S<:ot\M)oro Clinton H. Ritchie. Jr.. Hueytown Nancy P. Vernon. Jacksonville Donna Armstrong Bland. ~'ontgomery Lloyd. S<:hreiber. Cray & Caines. Birmingham M. Stoll HaT\\,'tIl. Atmore Christopher Creene. Birmingham ~l ichael

E. Bevt'TS. Birmingham James E. Walker. Montgomery Joseph R. Ktmp. Pen City

Lonnie A. W;uhington. Bessemer John W. Parker.

---

~'obile

Hula atAppeIl4le I'rot:trIurn. ~r.

the ~ oourt ~11y.....amrd the pnctitionn-!hoI. "Cmtrally. tho dtfmst 01 cIoubIt jeopardy should ~ rai$td by prriN! motion. - Because ZigIm /ailed 10 1'lIis.e Iormtr jeopiIrdy prior to IN!. there 01 no duty on the p.lrt oIthe trial j\ldgf to bar the sub$(qutnt trial. Eltwnth Cln:llit Aciopll &lill'/! t. u"ilH StQltl Uniled Stales v. Kmg. No. 93..sJ9.1 (Ftbrwry 6, 1996). TIlle 18. 924(cXI} provi<Ie$ for a r..... -)"rM minimum imprisonmtnt for j person who "dur· ins and In ullOtion of any crimt ofvio. Itnet or drug \",fficking crimt .•. USot$ or c~rr;.s .. firtarm'- In &1i1rV v. United Sloies. _ U.S. ---> 116 S. CI. 5tJ1. ~Ed.2d--..-iI995). the S-lIp«me Court ~rstd two corr.i<:lions uneStr f924(e, holding INtlhe evidence was insufftcimt to wpport tither conviction unIItr the "U$t pfOnjf' II the sutut •. Tho Supnmt Court held. "t .... t the ~ntuagt. contnt.lnd history of 1924(c}(l) indicale tholthe JiO'.'tmment mUll show acti,-e employment of the firunn 10 establish uSot." Id 0/5tJ6. As applitd 10 the two convictions in &ill'/!.oo RobiIuan. the Court held INtI r.rarm i",KIt l bai in the Iodctd QT trunk.,oo one Iocktd in ~ loot locker in .,1xdroom ckl$el did not consti. IUle lid,", ffJlPloymml of tho fir... nn. In United Stoles I!. King. the Eltvtnth Circuit. applying &ileV. held thotll fi reann lound be""-een a matInu ll1tl a box spring in l bedroom nul to the room ",tit......... t 01 lhe drug tnl"f\Cking crimt occurred dots not constilutt the type of KIM tmploymtnt oItht firunn I.... t is fItCtsS.iT)' 1M conviction uneStr the use prong II 1!J24(cXJ). Pndic, pOint: o.fenK oounSotI should be Olwau t .... tthe Bailev dKision and the KillV decision should ~ utiliud in tvtry """'" irwolvi"ll the "use 01 .. firtann in a drug traJfJcki"ll offenK." An unstttltd question Is whether or not &i/~ and King might Iiso apply 10 the Kntmci"ll ~ uneStr the Ftdtral Stntmcint Cuio;lolines when frequently I lirtlnn mighl be U$td 10 "raise the offense Itvtl- and th.r~by th. ullimat. Sotntenet.

hnkruptc), Su,..eme Court ruin Bankruptcy 199. Amendment subordinate to !':lewnth Amend_al . .... d potsilJ.ly

in,~lid

Snninok 7I"iboo! 01 F/tJridD v. F70rida, flI.aI.. 116 S.C!. I li4. March 27, i996. This is oot a l!ankrupt<:y ast. hut a ast brought under the Indian Ciming RtguLatory Act of i988. Tht lribe wtd lhe Quwmor of Florida. <;Ontrr>dinll that tho Stale was not negotiating in good faith. Tht Eleventh Circuit held it ~

no iumdiction. and crrlionrri was

KrJflltd by lhe SuP«'~ Court 10 <;On. sidor i,,/" olio who1her lho EltWnlh Amondmtnt prtWnltd Con!lTrM from authori1ing wits by Indian tribn to enforct ItgiIblion PUmwlt to the Indian Com~rct ClaUS(. Tho Supremt Court affirm.d. II held that tho: .. is no diffuence betwten juri5diclion founded on tholntmlitt COIll~rc. CLa ...... and tho: Indian Commtrct CLause . It 5tattd lhat undtr the Eleventh Amend~nt. tho S<Mrtign SUtt is not amenable to the lUit of an indil.idual withoul the State's constnt: first. immunily C/lnnot be abrogaltd

withoul m unt1luiYOClll uprtM-ion of Cong..S$ 01 this inttnt. and s«on-d, Ih. ;oct must be purslWlt to a VJ.lid utrdsc of pOWI:r. It found tJv.t a1thoulh Congress may ha~ upmstd tho: necesSIIry inttnt, the uercise of power "'"as invalid. Prior her.to, in fTmuV1Vtmio v. Union Cas. 109 S.Cl 2273 (1989) in I /M·IO-four decision. the Sup«mt Court ~ determined that the Commerce Clause allowed a Slat. to be liable in damagu as . .. guL>tion of Interllllte commerce. In the iNbnt ast. the Court (MmJled Uniotl Cas. stating that th. decision was only by. plurality of justices. and that as Congress may not circulm"'tf11 lhe Eleventh Amendment limitatlom. the /inion Cas dtcision was incorrKt. Tht Court discussed thost few instances, and undor "'nat circunutJnc" a mle. withoul conomt. may be wtd by an ind,yjdlW. but dtcided tlw thi. ast did not fall underlhe uceplion.!. The imporlan« of the dtcilion to bankruptcy pndilionr.. i. braoUS( of Justi« StIMN' dis$tnt. as commtnttd on by Chief Justice Rehnquist in fOOl-

Uni\'er.-;ity oll\:onh AlubaJn<1 University of Alabama Hunst v il1 e Alabama Supreme Court City of Bir"l:'\p~,am/~, ' nlh~;de Branch City of Birmlngham/i<olortnSlde Branch

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City of l3irminl?ham/Wcstcm Hills t\-1a1l I3mnch

Univcrsitj

vi ,\J<.\.I",l,.l, ... isler Hill

Unin.'f":<l1Y of AllbulIa fi ~ ' II' ngh;lIn/Ml'1"\)'I\ S!cmc

University Roh e

South AI,lbama Ie Public

Fair Puhli c Au bur n U.1."..: l.i 1 \;' .\\ v.1 t g 0 mer y Tuskegec University Vesta\'ia Hills Public

ur.,\ersily S t i l l oltlirl ,,;.,llcgc Univcl"ity (Jf Ai:lh;una Birmingh:lI~!t.'f\o)'n SIL'tTtC City of Birmtngham/;\"orthsid..- Branch

IlnI Type$(!. i0oi< in I»nkrupiCY Ponns. F»leSI. friend!~ soflw, ... The ooly sof~", wilh bu,lt·in /.ucl1i8e",Ife/p. Aulorn;llOC PLan Dl;tftong. S" CU>IOn1 pbns 10 $3wfy 311 d,,,,ncu. '" Filing check·luls. dien! q"""'ion",,i,c '" Ma!nX-on-d .. k v.:rs>ons for 311 CO."", Ih:u take them.

'" '" '" •

DEMO DlSI( • RfffRENCES MONEY UCK GUAItANlEE

Auburn

City of Birminghuml\\b(cm

HilI~

Mall Hrnnrh

Univt'T\ilY of Alabama lIuns(villc Ala'.)?"'" "'!'p1'.!f"C r , ) l I T ( Cit" of Hirmlnl!ham/SnUlhsidc Branch

note 16 (lIP< 1131.1132). Jwtiu Stf\'tns. in his dissent, referred to the poS$ible prohibition of ftden! jurisdiction O'o'tr wits 10 en/Of« banJmsptq, copyrithl and antHrust iIwo.gainst SW~ (p.l I34I. Tht Chid Jullice countered Jullic. Stevens by SIIy;ng. first. that lhere coul d be injundM ..lid under £it Pa,11I lo.m9. 28 S.C!. 441 (1908). and S«Ond, that factU.l.lly it is not ((lrrtct that lilt l!ankruptcy. copyright and anti·lrust ltatut" ~rogattd sowrtign immunity. Comme"t: AlthouCh the U.s. may $till.ut stata in fcdcnl court. and under SOffit (i rcunutanctl. indi,,;du~11 may sue on l federal question in st.l.te court. il is unclear as 10 the effect of the dcdsion on the Ba.nkruptcy CocIt and in parti(tlL>r the 1994 Amtnd~nt.s. Thtre is insufficient Space allocattd to allow discw.sion of tht effect on sections 106. and ....... poJIISibly 505 (the ddermi .... tion of SIlote tu quations). but undoubtedly this dtcis,on "'ill be the ~il of lili~lion in maUers irwoMng SIlot" or thtir oifltiall. The lintl.q) of justitts alto indiCllta the prncnt pObr. ioation oflhe court. •

CALL 800 BESH·13

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MEMORIALS

William David Wilkes, Jr.

Jamu I,.. AJdrldg~ BirminghlJm Admit/ed: 1977

Died:

r~bl'Ullry

2], 1996

Pa ul Warrington "rod: Mobile AJmilled: 1950

Died: April 14, 1996

S)'IIncy WilJOn 1m.

""""'"

Admilled: 1956 OW: February 18. 1996

T'" om

ManiWI County Bar ANoc:iation 10»1 of il> most di5tingui$Md members through the death of William Dl.vid Wilkes. Jr.. on .'tbrwory 6. ]996. 31 lhe <1# 0176. " ilka-, or "JUnior";lS he IoI'a5 Ji(fC· tionaltly known. W~ born in RGaool<., Alabami. His family ITIO'.'ed to MlorshaJl County in 1935. Wj1kn ~lIendtd Columbia Militlry ,o\Qdm,y, .!II lI~u. attd in 1939 from Marshall County High School. lie then autndtd Snead Stale Community CoI~ IOd hcksonvitk Stlk Unr.~rsity briO«' JnO\;na to ~ I);el/O. California, whe .. he workW as a machini't for CO<\$Olidoted Aircrnl H. ..1'W<l in tho Navy ill tht l'acirlc during World war n. and alt •• the war. altendtd tho Univmity of AWwnlo MId umed his law \kgrto.

Witku

to Arab. A1ab<oma in 195610d began practicing law. Ite w;u tltcted county jud~ that $UrIC )'Ur.

and two )'tan later was elected circuit solicitor. Wilku received numerous honon lor the number of ases ht handled and the number of corMctioru he ..."". He I1"IOYtd 10 Cuntersville and resumed his private practice in 1961 and continued it the .. until 1m death.. Wil~ ..

htld thrft public pO$itionl on

a ~rI·time buiJ while prxticillJliaw. He WiU awointw a special federal PTOltcut .... in 1967. and in 1976 the City Coo...:il of the City of Cunttmil'" appointed hIm munici~ljudge. a poIi· tion which he held until shortly be/on his <k>th. Additiooally. in 1982. (".oomnor Jmoes named him" SpKial usisunt Ittornry general. Wilkes lell behind a lkYottd wife. two SOf\$, a brother. three grandchildren and an irulUlnf~ t..o»t of coliuguu and frirods ...t.o mourn his pU.ling.

-Jdfl"t)' 8. Carr President, Marshall County IlIr As.oociltion

Ric ..... rd Luter Jo ..u Birminghum Admilled: 1949 Died: Apnl 1996

J. rlul ,"Ift ks Birmingham Admitted: 1937

Died: December S. ]995

R'Uie 51.phono

NoMe Admit/m: 1%8

Died: February 23. 1996

Please Help Us The AJabatml Lawyer 'Nemorials" s«tion is de5igrwd to pr(l\.ide m<'m · btn of the bar ",ith information about the death of their coIleajllJI'S. The Alabama State Bar and the Editorial Board im--e no way of kncMing when one ofoor mtmbers is deceased unless we are notified. Please take the tim<' to prtMde us with that infOrmation. If you wish to write S()Illdhing about the indr.idual"s lift and professiooal accomplishments lor publication in the mag,uine. please limit your comments to 250 words and 5t:nd us a picture if possible. We re5t:TVe the right to edit all information submitted for the "~ltmoriab":section. Please stnd notification information to the loll,".ing address:

Margaret L Jllurphy, The Alobomo LAwyer, P.O. Box 4156, Montgomery, AI.. 36 101

M EMORIALS

A Tribute to Justice Richard L. "Red" Jones (Tht. foIlO<1dl19 >Wmlrirs u'I1rI< I7IIJIh b,lJwlice /lugh Maddox allhe (IIItmll 01 Junia Jones (,11/'" Shades Vall.., 1'mhJIlnitm Churdr Of! Apri/24. 1996 and originoll/l oJjJjMlJErt in T~ Courl Britr. IIHI AJabama Judkial Deporlrrnml staff lieu'S/tiler. ThrV aN! "'Prill/ell hfm/

u'ilh ~ission from JUSlictl

_.J n April 22. whtn r ht~rd iIbout Red', death. I will ntvtr fO)Tgtl luling. I said to myself. "No, it w.l be RN.. Evm ~I 73, i[ c.lIfl be Red." H~ I...d i00i<<<150 good lilt lui [,IN I saw him, bill whm I hurd the dNils. I knew tJw it w... Rod, III" , /,..,ak acddeot had wrtndltd Itit baton oi l jf~ from his hand and thrust it into 0111"$, that Iw: I...d fin· ished his part of 11\1, na, but thai WI' Itilt ~ the bilton. &ell of us, MId must carry on, mindful of the irutructions and wisdom thaI he $0 willingly left to liS for running tht ract. but ~11oO conscious!}> ....·art, and lpprKiotiw, of 11K WIy he nil the ,Kt ,nth boundla.5 tm'lD' and enthusiasm. wHh wit and humor. with sympathy in Ijlm of SOrrOW and tragedy, with courage. with hope, with focus, 100 most ofall, with mdUrn'lCt. a~. U hul said in Philippians 3: 14. ·prtni"ll toward tht priu oIlhe high carting 01 Cod in Christ Juus: Red ~nd I Kl"led together on the Alabama Supreme Court for more

O the

INn 23 )'UI'$. W. did not ~lways agree on eve')' point 01 " - I tell ~e tNt iii why there &ft ni"" of u$--but ~ lihared many common c~rllcttristic.s. TM one tNt I appreciated the I1\(I$t .bout R~ is illus· trllttd by I comment he !Mdt ~ral )'UI'$ "'110 when ""t ""tre ilUerllflling to get _ rutructuri"ll 01 our court.lte loaid: "Hugh and [do not 11w~ agrf"e on everything. but ther. is alw~ys OIle thing! un count onif ther. i. il propooal tNt would imprwe the administration 01 juW«> on the table. I an always count on one othn vote from ilCTOIS lhe table." That f«ting w;u mutual. I can assure you. Rtd and I ..... re friends and wrtd many thires in common. We both arew up in runt AbIwnil. he in Pickens County. [in Covington. W. shartd common folklore and l.grnds, and enjoyed the same lIind of wit and humor that ""U always OltlI'Il'OI>ri.lote for miud QOrnJWly. We both disliked pulling thing. 0«, ncept ma~w lhe filing of OUr income !ilxU. We shared 1 common fiith. though lrt WI.Ir· shipped at churches of different denomin.alions. We wrtd In arly intorU! in Krvice to others by vol· unt«ring OUr time in (Me organizotionl ~nd ;wociations that ..... Mt would impl"lM' our communities. or that we thought would """.nce our prol'ession. We both belirw<! strongly in \ho$e things ""t held liar. OUr country. our bmilio:s. our l'aith. We mpeatd uch othn. My only regret is tNt because ..... li'-'fd in different dties ...... did not get to iOCiali .. as much as [would ha~ liked. to play golf or jusl to visit with filCh other. I iIll wre tNl I ha~ miSMd _ good storytelling sessions tNt his friends in Birmingham got to enjoy. I am goinS to miss Red. U. knew and 1 knew tNt the pOSition! .....

h<1d and the convic:tiOll$ ""t devel. oped ..... re Iormtd in the crucible 01

wl:lsw>tial resurch and ~r.:e and were reiIChtd only atter ""t were prrsonaJly corwinctd tllat wh.at ""t ..... re doing wH right. but twn if we disagreed, ..... did 50 agreubly. Ourill8 Rtd'ii leg of the 1"1«, ~ did not Ild all IoC(Ompliohni tNt he a.nd I would hil\"t liked to see ilCCom· plishtd, but during the leg of the rac ...... ran tOlltthtr, ""t $/IW and txptrienced 1101 of eh..mllt. In f..ct, ~ ........ working Iog<:ther. and wtre iIIl integral ~rt of it Red a.nd I saw the abbIWunrnl of the Unirltd Judicial System. the Rules of I'rocedure that go.>ern the trials in both ci.il and criminal casts. and lho ~minW.nlion of justia. We saw the ~w.ment 01 tninill8 programs for OUr judges. derla a.nd reg· isters. judkial <wistanls a.nd 00II11 reporters. We participated in tht revision of the A1Wama Code. KN· ing it ;alIOTn..te timrs on the Code Revision Committ«. Red Jones had boundless mo'i)l. and although he has passed his baton to those of us who are still in lhe race and to l(lme "flo are just beginning. let me lell you tNt he ld\ "ith us the ItgKy of how the nu should be run. He prepared ~ll, he ""u totally commiUtd. and he ran with endurance. Red and 1 ~r talked about the rnding 01 life, beaust ..... wtre too busy li...i~ it. tonwq .... ntl)'. he nt'."tr told me how he would like to be remembered. I will remember him .... a good husband. father and grandlathtr, a good soldier, I fine ChriSlWi. lIlawytr ,,-ho IoYed hi. profession a.nd ga~ hi .....lf to it, Ind .... a justi« who mad. .. differ· enu. But I willllw~ remember him <IS my friend. and l ....ill mill him, •

NOTICES RATES , M e mbers : 21ree listings of 50 WOfds Of less per bar member per caleodar year EXCEPT for

'pos~ion

wanted' or '~lion ollered'" lismgs - S35 per inserlJOn 01 SO words 01 less, $.50 per addiP:lnaI word, N_mbe,.., S35 per inserbon 01 50 """ds Of less, $.50 per addihOnal word CIaS$ified copy and paymeollTllJSl be I'8CeNOO according 10 !he fobwlg publislwlg schedule .July '96 I. .u e _ deadline May 15, 1996; Septe mber '96 I . .ue - deadline Ju'Y 15, 1996 No deadlane e .tensions will be made.

Send classlhed copy and payment. payable to ThIJ Alabama Murphy, PO SOle 4156. Monlgomery. Alabama 36101

FOR SALE

coo.. bjr IroIittlII ~; '-"-' sw.. coo.. .$er.b by law)ws Coap. and I...oor ~ bllllIIiuo , Rtpo.!s by Bureau oj Narional ~1faQ. are alIl'IpIe!. lhtough 1995 and at. in "0I!«en1 COrIi;Iil000. For more

• LAWBOOKS: AIabamJ,

s...

Lawyer, to Alabama Lawyer Class~;e;js. cJo Margar8t

HAHOBooK, The s..p _

FII

HarJdb004. 1!196 by StOjphen Rosen. J.D., Ph.O. The ~ .. pen gives A to Z c:<J\«1IOIt oIlheH dilticutt cues. S!>ecaaI pr;e.. $79 {~$ I25).ao • PIgM. Har.ow Pr1I5I. ~. C. Bar 847.0.1 Mar. Calibnia 9201~. Order now'Wf~IIca11 lot a brochu,.. 1.8()O. 235·5588. Fa. (619) 756.21122.

InIofmalioo c:onIiOCI Tanmy C. Wooley

.. (205) 252·113:21. LAWBOOKS: WII'-m S. I-iein & Co., I"",. serving 1M IeOaI community for _ 60 years. W. ~..... """_ .. IIroo.txIoks. Sen::! wa'll1iIIs 10: Fax (716)

883-5695 or phone l-lJOO...<1WfiM.HEIN. LAW800KS: ~ 50 "",cern on yow

11WbooI<•. Call NarionaJ Law Resource, Amtrlca's largest ifwbooks dealer. . . ~ lowesl prices. E" ' • quaIiIy. Sabsr.:tiotI guaran.~CaI US 10'" JOU' "'0--.:1 booIo.I. Need sheMng? We .... 11M. bfatId name. stOle! 8lld wood sheMng II discount P'ioIt. Fr.. quotes. 1-800279-7799. Na!ion.ll Law Resource. GRAPHICS : P\:IwertIA, proIes&ion;oI p"-.Jations. poar.ra _ phoIomu. raJs ",ontoJ We <XlIlV and enhancto. caption and ....1lf9&' ptint and mount

dcx:o.omeot" chans IIt'od grap.. in bald color. eallOl-lrM lor.

NATIONAL SAFETY CooE, 1996_

...... n. standard ,........ lor per. sonal and public safely otandards.

Broad CO\'e(IIOIt. A must lot ..... sonal in;.>t}' '"Olney. $56 (indudH t/Iipping) ~50 • PIgM. Order ...".: Ha~ Salary eoc.., 101::.. Dept. C. 262. SoIInI Beach. CIIiIDmiI 9:2075. Broc:hute S8nI upon wri!Ien 1'IqUeSl.

eo.

Satislac60n guOlfllntHd. BOATIHQ: North Gun IIn* lor MAlHSHtP350T......... ~and

Hunter ~ ~ yac:hts ir'wiIM attorneylltnd 111M ~ 10 disc:ov9< the sa;ting _ CfUising oppott\lnitie$ in the Priandle of Fkl<ida. B<QwIl

sa.

Yacht WId BroI!etagI, ~ AoridIo. ~ 1.80IH(»'7245.

FOR RENT

SERVICES IHSU RAHCE EX PERTWITlIESS,

BId FaitM'raudllnsura...... c-aoeI

Claims Uan~ 1 _. 1'0.""" claims attorney wfth prior sales bacI\ground available to consutt and IIStity in casft WIth IiII 01 heaItt> Insu-. . . , . ~ ~c:a:;l1n trial .....

.0.... .

IrICIny. E" I A.c...u.., J<. J.D.. CLU, Biomi III""". AL PIIonIo (20$) 988-3210. Nt;> f8pnl$erl1I!';"" • madI! thai "'" qlJ4~'ry 01 /fIs ItIgN StIr. '*»s /0 bIJ ~ • gtBalflr IIw! ,... QLI8oI'ry 01,. -..ices perfoI_

"'--

EXPERT WITNESS: ProIes.sionaI 1trIgI. ....... and anOlney with. practioe of expert tesrilrlClny in OOI'ISIrUCIion, ute. Iy. high • ., and Ilf\ll::UalIIa$igrL Tlwty )'NrS. ~ ..... In high"d,,1lIibIocI. como, .. ciaI buiII!ings and pow. pIarI oonstrl>CtJon. C" 01 wriI1Ilot resume. IeeI.;

Lamar T. ~. 950 22r.:I Stra8!.

North. SwiM 632. EWmingham. Alabama 35203 PIIonIo (2(5) 458-8-135. No r-rr

- * " " ;" ..- ..., the -'it Qt ... ~ ~ 10 0. perIorm«J;" Ii'"'" /han /tIfI ~ 01 /ggaI _. ri:Q performed by otllfIr IBwy6r&

p/IoIogfaphs.

and d$OOUI'II-..xn (888) 347·.,6,. Email .... 1IIimpa::t•• 61 @llal.com. ~IGoIphies. PO. 8c>c 1622. Enterpri ..., Alabama 36331. SII'npiI

• BEACH HOUSE: Gull Shorea, ~. two and Itne beii ....... " beach hoUIM and cooodoo"..u .... with JIOOI, competei)' t\lrrished, gtQt view.

an..

cau (BOO) 876·2926.

INSURANCE EXPERT WITlIESS,

S... ,s ln,..... 01....,. P'OI*IYI ..aIUIII!y c:t.aun. ~ ~ .. Il$peCts 01 o:Ietermining ~abiily :..,..,.. IIQ&: damage:s; HI1Jeme.m 01 dele"",

01 • dadlin AIIItI!wnI ... In caJifomiL ~ 10

testly Of COI-.uIIn CIlStIS

01 bodily if.;..)' Of poOl*Tl' . . . . . lram eiIt>et. "'I·party vkIw Of IIli<dparljl view. f'lIot1e (205) 324· 1234. MEDiC"'L RECORDS : ~ sw· glIOI\ bcI;IRI-awiIied br\' .I.Ineric3n Boird

poeblenos. Formerly. ChIlI O_........t 00x:lmer0I Atwo/ysI. USA Criminal "-toga1ion LIboo MOO in. I:lipIon\IoUo (~BOE . .......: .I..$OOE: IAI : SAFOE: NACOL. Resume and fee sell.eM. upon request. Hana Mayer Gio;IIcn. 218 M8r~ Drive. Allgosta. GIcoglI30907. ~ (706J 1!160-4267.

01 Surgery 19jW: ,_Idiood 1993. WiI _

MIdicaI - . . and aSSOSI ..nto

metical eoid9nce and ~ p'.ralion. ~ (205) 'n7·7170.

DOCUMENT ex"'MINER : CertiIiad Fcrensic Documef1l Ex......... ChI8I

docurne<1l ..aminet. Atabama Depart· mer>! 01 Forenslc Scie0C8S. retired.

METEOROLOGIC"'L CONSULT... NT:

ConsuIIong MNicelIor most _

""*"""0 induding MIion wealh· o:ImMoIogy. r...s.;.

... _ _ SIOIms,

gabOn&. ar.:l aper111oSbn"1On\'. Fefln...

,,«eooologisHn·ctl8fg.lll1 Moo . ' ' ' r.

AlabarM. ThirIjl·iM )'ears 01 meteorological expo......,.. Cornkl Paul P"t1i1. 331' F..-nwar Drive. M001Qomery. ......... 36111. F>t-.on. (33<1) 288-3667 FORENSIC DOCUMENT ex"'MINER: ~odw"Iio>g . l)peA'itIo>g.

aIIe<..:I downI9tl1s. medical recordl . ...... conlracts. doods. ao.<:b. arlDf1Y1llOUs lei· Iers. CcYn-quaUlilld. E>gh\Hn )'Oars· "perience. CI<1ifi1c1: Ameriaon Board 01 Rnnsoe 000:umw0I Ex.......... .........: ~ SoOeIjI 01 0...liar-=! Doamem E..mer.. ......... icao' Aad&my 01 Fcr.,..;c ~""'s. DooJment Examiners. Criminal and ~ matters. Car.....,. & Hammond Fco-...sr; Documenl LcobOfaIOlY. 5&SS JirTmy Caner 8auIeYanI. NQrcmss (.o.tIInta). ~ 30071 ~ (770) '16-7690. Fill< (170) '16-7689.

American Beard 01 ForltMic Documerot ExatlWlflrS. An1ericen Academy 01 Foo-ItilIio: Sc:ienota. Socoety 01 o..est.on.d Document ~ 20 years. In $\<lie and lIIderaI a>Urts in At.bamL Lamar ...... 11'20 N. K&ndaI Drive. Suite 206-A. Miami. Florida 33176. In B<rmongham . pIIcne (205) 963-41 $8. In ........ pIIcne (305) 27'-<1-469. Fa. (3051 596-2618.

Ao,.ice.,

H"'NDWI'ImNG EXPERTIFORENSIC DOCUMENT exAMINER : ... BFDE ....•

Iified. pasl prHIdent SaYlheaste<n Asaocialion 01 Forensic Documem Examiners. American Academ)r 01

""' .. osIc Sciet>cw t.Iow ftdetaI ccun '" fr t S ..... I . n j'Mf$ • .-peo"""". CMI and aiminIL Handoo'''>g CCIfI¥>OriIDfI. forgery det8CIioo .. dal . :1ioo. 01 a/t.,..;1 meo:Ic.aI recordIand 0Iher docume<1ts. L. Keith Nelson. Stone

-. SaraIo KahynF....... 1 1 2 _ BuiIcIng. .I.Iabama 361G4.

Moo.,. ,.

Pt>on. (33") 277·7937

Icrmed by _"''''''''' DOCUMENT EXAMINER :

EumitJato:'IoI 0 ..,; ~ c.tdIed Forensic ~ ..-.:I DoeIIm8i"It Examiner. """"1jI·nine I""lrs·

. x!l8rieoce in aI brltJllio: documenl

~--

EXPERT WITNESS: Tr8l1$pDftation io"Q.cIfy (trud< bodiM. 1t.;Ien., ~

~...........!IOfO equopmMI). Forty ,..... rnIfOUIEturing ~ in IhiI ~. Mar\aQemenI 01200 people. ExpettiN In $\<Ile-oI·the ., ""thods 01 OOtIttrllC\lOt1 aro:l1edetal

hog/lWay IOd!tlit>sltl1tion. DOT. OSHA ~ thai gcrNn !hem. FitIy·MIy ratio 01 pIaintitI and daIandanI , . . WUIion..I.I1red Hannon. 13294 Who$peting L-. ' - -. PJAcn Beach Garden. Florida 33"18. ~ (561 ) 626-9763 . FEDERAL TAX CONSULT...TlON :

Eroroled Aoe<>I. Fcr"... Hniot IRS ~ 0IIicet. ExiI'''''' in w lien ....n..: ........ $8Ios; ~: 100 pet<:ertI Penalty: IRS policy. procecbe & praclICe ; aN fac81s 01 IRS coDection actM· Ii... Jiimes W. Cta ..... iSl Government

_ieo""

SI_. Su~. 219. ~. Alabama

3660-1 Ptlorle (33") -'32·9992.

POSITIONS OFFERED ...nORNEV JOB S: lndispensabIe

BUSINESS ...... LUATIONS:

mcnIhIy jot>-huntong bo.lIe\ln IiWog 500I!iOO wmont jcb& (lIda<a/JsIaIe gowm........ co..1S, ClpiIoI HiI. po.tIIic ........

,"'. PI': '

IiII . ~.

iIUppDf13bIe

vaIua1ionIlO asaisIjOI.-

...... in attaIfWog Ihe bear po!Isibie benelits. Conta.cl premier busiooss valuation firm: W,liams. Taylor & Acton. PC .. 2140 E~ A........... So.Ato. Sui1e 0100. The Park 1Iuting. e;,,,_oghiom. .......... 3520S. ~ 1205) 930--9111 or (800) 67'-8552.

AIabam.·,

No~·

lion is tnadt1ltoort rn. Q<IIiIi1y 0111111 ~ ..~ to be perlrxm«! is J1"U',er !Iwo rn. ~ 01 • ,.,..,.,. par.

P:O. 1b. 6343,~. Alabama 35624. Phone (205) &7-63-11.

Mountain. <>eorg; •. Pt>on. (nO) 879-

LEG ... L RESEARCH : L"Oi'I res<taTCh r.e4p. Ex~ allOrMy. member 01 the Alabama Siale Bar Iinc:e 1977. ~ 10 Stale Law Ubi'aty. WEST· LAW ~. Prompr dNcIroe MWd\-

""P""""

o...r

.... ar-d <XlItIInIIt"IQD ...... _ . .... _iooo ... and ~ jlfQOIISS terniiari1y. CorUd John E. ~

.... ,.... ........ 11 ·..

---~~ RFPS) lit allCttl8)1i at 1011 _ 01 _ tIeoc:8 In Washitlglon. D.e.. naIionwidI and CMIrS8ilS. O"cIe< !he NabOOal and ftdetaI Legal ~ Repot1 !rom: ftdetaI Rep:ons. 1010 ~ A _. KW. SuHt 406-AB. W;to$/WIgIDn, o.e. 20005. $39-3 1IIOfft: S6IHi ttlDft1hL ~

TR ... FFIC ACCIDENT RECON· $ TRUCTIONIST: CaN ........... tion pet. Jormed with r,,",*, !Q iHuN. Legal lotSti"iOO~.

in::::t.ding ~, ar-d tria'. .I.a:denI arWysiI.. _ _ IC8Ie .n..;ng. and~_ h """"'Re; I lid "" 1 11 ,. .... "90_ TectncallOCieIy """ obii . CMIt 1B .,........ ogio' _ io >g "perienm. Traffir; ........ ~ 1nv9s1iga. bOn ttairing. Bad<groond Includes tech·

.. .... m..,

1-800--296-9611. VlIa.'Me.

LmG ...TION : Lillgaloon al1crney need·

ed lor medium·size boJalness oriented firm in 9itnw>gharn. ~. Comn1IIfCiaI and ~ ~ litigation. Mirittun eigIlI ,-s......... ~ E" ' cbenefill..coo,..,.. annn ..... IiabIt based on ..... iCe. Send ""'-'"and resumes 10 UanIging Partnet. 1215 Highway 470. Leeds. Alabama 3S094.

Your clients diJn't retain /I, t /I JUS .myattoI7Jcy

to represent their legal interests, Don't retain I/' t allY vatua '6'OJl Drm r· /I JUS to establish their business valuations, W'I.I.lu.$. T A1Ulll /l{ ~ p .e.IS'" ~\na-;.\LL1' ....."UDAODL,.,,~ "-"D (l)SSL1.T1!\oG f1'IN

"ml fl\1! comflW IIJSISESS '"AI.lIATlIlNA.'iU.ISTS c.< rflUoI....,'EXI" ST-Ifl'.

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,-,,

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