Lawyer 9 91 web by Alabama State Bar Association

CommerCial M Insurance p .,'practice o ley

While some malpractice insurance policies can be an incomplete puzzle ... One company puts together all the pieces.

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lahama a ttorneys wan t coverage w here it counts! Many commerc ial malprac tice policies cont ain a penalt y-for-refusalto-sett le cla use. This cl ause can be used to force an insured to accep t an offer of settlement or. if rejected, pay the difference betwee n the offer and the ul timate verdic t. By contras t, AIM's policy gives its insureds protec tion and peace of mind. A IM will not se tt le a case withou t an insured's conse nt and will not penalize an insured for re fus ing sett lement and going to trial. AIM's policy even guaran tees its ins ureds a voice in selecti ng defense coun se l. AIM does w hat most commercial insurers re fuse to do: Serve th e b est inter es t of Alabama attorn eys.

AIM : F or the Difference !

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By JotIf!ph A CoIqllin

Quick access to all important evidence issues 1

nAlabarnaLaw O(Evldence.Judge Colquitt haa carefully organized the Iii-.- IOlOJJ"tJeIIIIC Alabama.. e.icIenc:. 110.. to roua.. Ibe pattorn albe FedonJ RuI& ThiliP,..,. quid. _ to appI;...t.Ie law in _ and for on-plint pn-t.riaI.-..ch.

Essentjal to building your wmrung case J>rooridincup-to-date~ AWJ.....l.- 0(

Evidenoe oontains citallons to Ieadini_ key lltatutel, I"\Ilet, and paUemjuJy ~ I t " ind .., " . Table and ~ ...,aidit&. Thill boaIr. oonWno tho rrwen.J,..,. need to jAep&iE and pnlII!IIt the belt cue for)'OU1 dienL Among the Mdence NIeland iliuM di""oeec! ant

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• the RulesaCriminal ~

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• eahibit.land IIcientiIic evicIence , bNtuyand~""ions , burdenlapma(

DeIigned for annual w pplementation, AI . bam . lAw 0( E,idenoe will remain. prKIica! refef'ellCe l1li_ eYicImce law de> !tJIII

For CUlItomer sen dee, contact the sale!! repN:'!;entath'e ror your area: JAMES R. SHROYER

P.O. Bo>: 3-46 Wilsonville, AL 35186-0346 (205 ) 326-9899

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THE AL\HI\MA I.AWYj,;H

Stpt(mbtr 19911213

IN BRIEF SEI"TEMBER ]991

Volume 52, Number 5

ON THE COVE R: Phillip E. Adams, Jr. , the newly insl~lIed president of Ih. Alaba· ma Sl~te liar, is shown with his family in hi. law olfico in Opeli"". Al.bI!l1\II. (Stand· ing, Idt to right. are Kirk, II. wire Chris and J... h Adams, 12. -'bg~~_~, o".I;ko

INSIDE T HIS ISSUE:

Rtall of CommittH and Tuk ro"'~ Final Report. 8,1 Ktil!! Ii /I"orman..............•............................... ...... •....

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Warning - r . ilu,.., to Rud this Article May R.. ult In lh. msmlual of 'iour Appeal 8y Kerr!l H. Caston ""dee/este W. Sab<!l. ............................ ____ .252

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AlA8.UIA STAn:: ~I S

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Alabam. State Bar Volunt ... L.>W)'ffI Pn:>gram 8,1 Melindo M. Waters. ............................ .

Pruident"s Page .... ................... 236 Eucutive Director'. Report ............... 238 Bar Briefs .......... ................................ 242 Legislative Wrap·Up ........................... 244 About Members, Among Firms ......... 250 Building Alabama's CourthouSl's ......2&8 Building Fund Honor Roll... ............. .271 CLE Opportunitits .. ................... 272

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TIlE: AUwv. U.WYER

PRESIDENT'S PAGE These W€re remarks prepared for delivery at Ihe Grande Convocation

It11

at the annual meeting at Orange Beach. President Albritton established a task force to study and implement the pro bono or volunteer la"")'tr program in Alabama. After hearing Melinda Waters. I am Mlre}lOU agree that ~ are f'lrtunate to haw her leadership in thislTIO.It important program. Melindll 's offICes are in ~!ontgomery. but in the ooming months. she will be trawling thi!state to enlistlawye.. for thi! program. B«.al.llol' of the obvious need in this area. I hope that you will volunteu and giw of}lOUr time and talent to rnake this program a success, Construction 11M begun on the addition to the bar headquar· time to decide whether new task fOTces andlor commilt«s t .... The estimated co.t of this addition is in excen of SJ.OOO.OOO. When oompMed. it will 3110\'1' should b. formed to confront cur'""! all our staff to wor~ under one roof and i~uu inVl,llving 01,1' profe!;$ion. This is a challenge 1 accept wilh oommitment and should improve the .. M« to OUr members and the efficiency of all bar activities. enthusiasm. Based upon our best current estimates. Having Si'rw<! on the board 01 CQmmi~ this facility .hould serve our needs for at sinners during nine administrations, 1 haw seen the work product generated by least 30 yea ... Th. fund raising dfort began last year and will continue this year. hundreds of volunteer la~en u they workffi for the betterment of our profes· Much work needs to be done in this area. If every practicing lawyer contributed sion. Allow fne. for your information and interest. to review jU.lt a few of the many SJOO. we would be able to easily pay for this f,ne fadlity. 1 invite}'(lu tn como b)' accornplishmenl$ of these volunt«rs. Over the pa,t nine y.. rs. the commission bar headquarters the next lime }IOU a~ in appr<M:d and recommended 10 the AlabaMontgomery to inspect firsthand this ma Supreme Court a new code of profes· building. 1 also urge)'Oll to help II> b}' not sional responsibility. new rule. of disci. only making }'(IUT 0\'1'11 contribution. but by soliciting and obta ining contributions plinary enforcrmenl. the ""tablLlhmenl of """Up E. ",urn., Jr. an IOLTA program for Ihe benefit nf Ihe from fellow ~~rs. T~ther ~ can oasiprofession and public. and the establishly reach our goal. ment of the client security fund to prOiect ThLl year. one new task force, "haiRd by past President Walter Ily.lrs. 11M bun formed. This talk foru i. clients victimized by dishone,t la~rs. I also witn.sse<! the catlffi Lawyer Menloring, and its pUIJ)OSe i. to study and deterorganization and ""pitalizat;on of oor highly successful Attorneys Insurance Mutual Insurance Company. The worlc done by mine w""ther a "",ntor program might ben.fitthe legal prof..· si'ln in this ,tate. The objectiw of a mentor program is for our association in a profeMional, rortItruttiw way during the experienced lawyers to volunteer to assist younger lawyers in lime our legislature was considering tort reform was outstand· ing. All of these accmnpli.hments were the direct resull of the properly establishing and op<>rating a taw offict in a profossioo· efforts of volunteer Alabama lawyers seelcing to serve the proal . ethical and profitable manner. I am excited about the prospects of this program and hope that this taslc force will fession imd the citizens of this .tate. makt its report during the ne.t 12 months. As a result ofth. work donr in pa:;t yurs. sevtral cmnmillee. and tlSk forces either have recently reported Or are close to In preparation for my talk. I reviewtd the remarx. made at making a final report and rtt()mmendation to the board. The the annual conventions by the nine immediate predeeessors to my office. I notrd with interest that although the projects of the Task force on Professionalism is clost to making its final r«· ommendations. the task force studying the proposed w'lrk. bar diffeRd "".... the years. each incoming president soundffi a familiar theme. Each pre5i<lent addresstd the impOrtan« >i a men's c'lmpen~tion legi,lation has been working hard in recent ,,-uks and made its final report at \\'tdnesday's commLlreturn to profeMionalism. I do not ko<>w about }lOUr experience. bul when I have talked with lawyers around the .tate. many .ion meeting, and the Taok force to Consider Possible Restruc· have expreSS«i to me frustration and disappointment with the turing of Alabama's Appellate Cooru submiltffi il5 report .t the practice of law. They say thing. like, -Irs jrnt not fun any· June muting of the board of commissioners. You "ill be hear· ing more in the coming months aboul the activitie5 and r«om· more: and "1\ i. such a te"ibl. grind-. I often have heard lawyers ~y negative things about other Lawyers. If lawyers talk mendations of these task forces.

fler selVing on our board of bar tommi15;one ... k>r i. tilt past nine years and observing the activities of OUr stat. bar, r have reached the conclusion that looking at our bar associatioo is much like looking al an ant bed. You can $eO il from a di.IarK •• nd oot much appears to be happening. But the closer y<lU get. the mO. e apparent it becomtS lhal thue is iI lot happening involving. lot 0( workers. Thi. work i•• ~citing to me and tbe beginning of our Y"" " an exciting time. It i~ a time for lask force. and committees 10 establish goal.! md activities for 1M coming year. It is also iI

236 1 ~ptember 1991

THE ALABAMA u\WYER

in such a n<gaH\,. way about oach othor, then it is certainly 00 surprise why the public's perception of lay,yen is so low. As I am sur.}"OII are aware, evel}' opinion poll conducted about ta~n """ats that the public ~ not ~ a ""I}' high regard for oor profession. It ~rru; that evel}' ti .... t attend a social gathering Or (Wit club meeting. [ hear othen makt disparaging remarks and jokes about ta..;-ers. Earlier todoy I introdueed to}"Oll three of my classmates in Mrs. Annie Purl Crocketfs eighth grade English class at Alexan· der City Junior High, As eighth·graders "''' learned that over 200 years ago the Scottish port Robert Bu"", felt that pwple might ben<fit from how othtn viewed them as we recited. in oor best Scottish brogue. the line of his poem. "Ode to a l.oust", This ",,,II.kn<;M"n WI'$t "'Y'I' '0 uf1d some po/}.'"" lhe giftk gk us.

To _ 0W'5IZ1's as ilhers seul5.• How do others view us? 15 it accurate? Is there room ",ithin our profession for self·examination and impl'Ol'ement withoul rompromising the lawyer's role in society? II see"", to me that if some pwple view ta~rs as overly self·regulating, ambulancl" chasing, win·at·all·costs. backstabbing, mQllI'y·grubbers , then we should pause . •"aluate and d.te.mine the rm.its of that opinion and decick what. if anything. personally and profession· ally"''t might do \0 impr'<l"e thai image. If the,... i. some mI',i\ in the publk's negal;"" p"rceplion, I belie..'!: the bar might beSin by doing two things. First. the bar should ha\'t a method making known the good works of our members. This year J ~ "''t can dev\'1op and implement ml'th. ods 10 professionally and positi,'!:1y promote I'" programs of oor bar that benefit oor state. Second. 1 believe each taW)'tr should take ten minutes to sit do\o." and re·read Ihe preamble to oor 1lI'I<'l y adopted Alabama Rule!; of Professional Conduct. II can be found in Ihe di.eetol)' edilion of The Alabama WU'!/f!r. Thi. preamble begins with the sentence: -A ta..;-er is a representali''t of clients. an officer of the legal sj'5tem and a public dli~en having special re;pcnsibilify (1)1' lhe qualify oIjuslice."

This preamble ends with the following parag",ph: "u..yers play a vital role in the pteseMtion of society. The ful· f,lIment of this role requires an understanding by ial<yen of their

,...tationship tn Our Itgal system. The rule, of professional con· duct. when properly applied, ser\.'t 10 define that relationship." The Q\-vr",helming m<\iority of ial<yers in this state ColI .. deeply about our profession and conduct themseM!5 in an honorable. ethical and professillnal way. We should not and cannot allow OUI'$tM!5 to change to suit public opinion and .,eretption if such changes compromise our ultimate professional dulies and respnnsibilities. Hl7oOtVtr, I am su.. we all agree that OUr professioo does haw room fo' impr'<l"ement without compromising our role in socie\)'. Our a!.SOCiation ....... all the lal<yers of this .tate, from lhe big city ~r to the country ta",yer, from the specialist to the gene",1 practitioner.l urge all ta..;-ers to take a close look at OUr "ant bed"', get in,..n'td , lei the bar association work for you. I believe OUr a!.SOCiation has the finest executive directn. and general counsel in Ihe United States and we haw ~ most capable ,WI" in Montgomel}' available to help IlS. Please call upon them if }"OIl ha,'!: any queslions. comments n. romplaints. Ftel fr"'" In call me if I may be of seMet. Let us know what we a.. doing right and wile,... I<'t need improwmenl. Together. I<'t can impr'<l"e our profession and our role as the p...,..,,,,,,rs of society. 1 am humbled by the honor that you haw given to me and look forward to being of ..rvict 10 you in the oomingyear.

, HANDBOOK'

AI'.....,""-'J,OAE lAw OfFo::E fOOl JOlt

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CON!"" lAlE'" PROCEDUIIAlI'fRlRMllTlON ON """"""'" PPOCIOUlEIl JOO.I.()O'tI; .....,.., fOIlMiI INCUIOI" CIW'IEROOI<

ExpcrI Ass is tance In Fi re Department Rel ated Laws ui ts

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FIRE SERVICE CONSULTING, INC. 5611 Lee Road 66 Aubu rn . Alabama 36830 (205) 826-3098 Ellis M itchell THE AWl8AMA WlWYER

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THE ALABAMA LEGAl SECRETARY'S

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT Building

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Construction of tilt iddition to tilt ~r hudqUlf\U$ con· tinuel on schedule. '1'0', Jrt slill comtempllti"ll btinll fully Optrltionll in tho new buildinll lITound tM tint of 1992. The contracton are hinlling tho ulerior "'1111 IS I wnte thll. Much of the elect riCllI, plumbing and interior framing hIS been complete<.l within the limitations of protection from the elemenlJ. The eltvator and windows have arrived. We still continue to rfCelve much·needed ple<.lgu Ind moniu to'Wllrd this proj(ct. lf)'Ou hive not yd made I con· tribution to )'Ou r profusion·, future. ple&W ...., the pledlle ClOre! in this i»ue to do so. Even though mOil hid ,I rudy m,de pledges. tho Pill! presidents of this ilISO' clation have 'o'Oted to give an additional S1.000 nch to dedicate a put p. u;· denh· room. Ou r Wobor Wow Section made a SJ.OOO contribution &llhe Innu· al mteting Ind otMr Hctionl are con· ,iduing simila r con tributions. Pl.n some lime for I short tau . of the new building when you art in Montgomery. I think )'Ou will be pluHd and proud as hive been the substlntill number of I.wyers who hJ .... alrudy loured the ntw lacilit;"s during f;Onstruction. Re<g, ... td T. n..",_h Clurly. the 1991 Annual Muting was I big hit with a ll who attended. Every Ieller ~ recei"ed has nominated the Orange Beach coast as the permanents;t. for future ..... linlll- The hotel perlonntd beautifully. The m,ibit Expo '91 ..... a tq hit. Everyone Iw praised tilt food and the Perdido P,,1s program for tilt children. Tht weather ..... per· fect - and not one outdoor event "'" nined upon. The Ipuk.., "'ere well . received. Unfortunate ly. the Perdido [tilton is not av.;I ~ble for I confi ~d booking until the 1996 meeting. The 1992 meeting is already planned for the Wyn·

~nd 1993 i. set M. Mobile. We hi'" , fint ~llemate's position for 1M hotel on the [994 <.blu a\ the Gulf. II i. hoptillM currmt Iloldu oIlhnoo dotn will clwlgt its plans.

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COftft,.tuI8t1on. Jucltl_ lhovld A.

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Circuit Judge O,,,,d A. Rains of 1M Ninth Judic;,1 Circuit was named the recipient of the bar's 1991 Judicial Award of

Merit. He was .ocOjlnind formally at the IIeneh ilnd Bar luneMon it lht innUII mnting. [.elten nomimti"ll him 'Mrt .«tived from ,cross Iht stile illd "'tn "n;"trY] in lhoti. pl'lli" of hi. (Mllsllondin, judicial qwoli· ties. In pruenling 1M .......rd. President Albritton noted: -P.,h;.ps the ll'IO$i ~,Iing comment Wa.\ a ~t""ript on Orlt of tht lelters $UPporting hi. nomination: 'Ht illJO USI'S lhe term "tt,;. OOlIrt" instead of IIv torm "my toU.\".' Ptm.pslhi. SUltmtnl is the rei· S(ltI another nominator was C3tIKd to Uf,

'We otten forgd judgu lrf fonomost public official •. and it is in this aru Ihll Judg. Rains peuonifin t he very but impreniom to the citizens he se rves.' Jurors have descriMd uperiences in his court as tllti. bes\·eIIt. CMu ~f,5(lfL" Oc:lobet- 1 I. ".., Notices IP~" el_here in this inut regarding 1991·92 licen,ing require' mtnt,. Be su re to p~ rcl\aH your 1991·92 lict ..... if you are in private Or corporate practict lind not oth· nwise tJltmpt from the requirements of 1'0·12-&9. Code 01 AlabamtJ. 1975. belWHn O<:t~r I and Oct~r 31. Special mtmbtnhip$ life IIbo due bttwftn the s.r.me datu. The SIIItt ~r will send It.olemtnlJ for special mtmbenhip d\lfS: h0wever. IkenHs Ire obLillned through the prob,ato judgeo lind linnH commissioners in you r county. Some offices send courtesy notices. but most do not. Thtse licenses should not be (OIlfused with municip.J.llinruing requirements. •

H_ _

HENDERSON PRIVATE INVESTIOATIONS

Traffic Accident Reconstruction

ALBERT MEDINA CONnOl:NTIIIL . IHSCl'lrn L t e r _ . aoNOI:D PO

aox~I I:JSH'1

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238 1 September 1991

THE AI.AllAMA lAWYER

BOOK REVIEW 8yCR£G WARD ALABA.IIIA LAw OF EVIDENCE

!l!J JOSEPH A. COLQUI7T The .' 1ichi, Comp.>ny. Charlott."iII •. Vir_

gin", 801 l»g..

·&1 Mgond this. my son, he warned: lhe u"';/i7l(J 01 rrumJlI>oo/cs is

en4less.

"' 0.1 sole prac t it ioners or members of small fir ms

remember the early (\aI'S or building their la..... library.

book waS templing: nch one off.red and claimed to be IN: "IMl one" ~:very

that}'Oll would ''''''' need on a .ubj.c] to

be "authoritative:. fOe", lived up to these expectatiON. Most attorneys ,,-ound up with many books that they subscribed to, only to be di5.lppointt\l when nmt or them turned out to be lacking in depth or imumci.n! in SOffit other important

way. Some of those books quickly b«ame out of dale due to their lack of

opinions. expert t..ti~ and ,dentmc fVidenc~: hearsay: authentication and identification; writings. TfC(lrding, and photographs; applicabi li ty of rule, and judicial comment on e,idence: burdens of proof; and evidence issues on appeal. There are three appendices, covering con'titutio~1 provision, and statute, which add "'loS Nidence i.. ues, Alabama ru les which address evidence issL>es. and tile r.dml Rules of Evidencl:. I'I'rhap$ the ffiO$t difficult rule of ",". dence i. the htarsay rule, a rule which succumbs to its exceptions. In hearsay, the iuue is how to remain within its bounds or. perhaps mOre accurately, how to remain within one of it.'! many and varied e~c.ptions. Colquitt devotes about 58 pag., to this, exception by uception, and at the end of each he adds to the already·gi""n dtations list· ing of furth ....,r... ne.,. His effort, art commendable. Alabama lAw oIE<'itience falters only

wllere otller such books falter: it is not exhaustive. Excellent autho rs have attem pted to be exhausti"" on this topic with va r ious degre .. of success, But Colquilt does an excellent job in his C/W. erage. The writing style is clean and ea,· ily understandablf. He backs up what he says with ample references. And the index i, ea<y to use - somdhing sorely lacking in this book's counterparts. I have 00 doubt th~t this book .hould be added to most law librarie •. Its use of us~ and quic knus 01 index al one make it a good starting point lor Rsearch on evidence. And , pernaps, the best way to reconcilt the variow Alaba· ma evidence treati ,..s i. to cross· refer· enee them. glean ing the be,t from each. Thi, is a book thai will hold up well over lim e. and not one whose subscription will falter from lack of u"'. • Foolnot. f;:

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uu. or to their be ing better cO\"red in other treatise ..

"''hen I received J~ph C. Colqu itt', Alabama Law of Evidence in itial ly I vie..'t<i it with a littl. reluctance. Aft .. all, we alrudy ha,-e SI!\'ffill 000ks 00 Alabama Cl'idence. Bul those elIisling are incom· plete _ u,um ing, 01 cour,.., that any book attempting to t~ach about Ni........, could be complete , Could this book rtplace those, or could il fill tile gaps? Colquilt begins the book by returning to fi rst principl ... by taking us by th~ hand and dist ingui,hing the va r ious fomu of evidence. He begin, each ,ub,..quent 'eclion with a primer on that ,..ction·, topic. C.nerally, it is difficult to do this "'ithout talking dO'lo.'1"I to the Rader, but Colquitt succeeds in this and I think that this i. one of the highlight.'! of tile book. The book has 13 chapters: .... introduc· tory chapt.r: judicial notice; prtlUm ptions; rdel.'anC)'; privilege.: witnessl'!; G..-g Wan!

You can't get closer to the issues than this. "llawyers ~""liYo.' F\obH.hlng. we know au, .n.!ytiulleg.>l rne~"'" system i. no! complete wW>:>ut one vltot link _ our f",1d "'P~n!.l~""'. T",y know wh.r •• v.il.b!.. ..n.r. offord,oble •• nd will be 01 the g"'.~ v.l"" W your pr.c.tice. given your need •• nd .... rket

""""t!'HOU,....

Rignl nrIN, )'Our Ioul "","'",n!.lliYo.' is rem 10 Ilelp you get the """I (""" our Inleg .. ted library for "I.b.m. " .. <;Ike _ (rom AlR 10 "'" lur Of uses 10 US L Ed. If you w.ntto be In cN.ge. !.Ilk to • represen!.lll".. who". In 10UCh with your need •. Conr.<;I YOU' wt roprnen!.llj".. din'Ctly. Of c.ol! 1-800·527-&130,

"'"'-. . _0""_

G<1Il w"," • 011'_ <II........,,,,.....,....,, ... .. ",.....,...." <II " ' - _ (II Law fit ",,,,.

""''''~' """OI /l>ot.-n.,-

!tIE ALABAMA u\\VYER

Stptember 1991 / 239

ALABAMA STATE BAR

1991-92 DUES NOTICE (All Alabama attorney occupational licenses and special memberships expire September 30, 1991 )

Annual License - Special Membership Dues Due October 1, 1991 * Delinquent after October 31, 1991 THl Al.o\&OMI\ SfIHI ....

SPECIA LMEMBERSHIP CARO ~

" ' 1·'992

'~ ••m."~, ~~~\¥'(,,;

"""' .....

t,.w ditutt,- t. lho ..uu..... Stat. Ba,) Special mrmbtnh,p stalUS is acquired punUlO'lC \0 Section 3'.)17 or Section J.I-3·]8. of,u.w..mo 11975)........ ndtd. Ftdtr· .I.nd .\.Ot, jlKlg." dillril:! .nornoys. Unlt,d S.. t,. auorMl"', and OIN. tlOvtm rnont .UQrntyS who a.. prohib'Ir<llrom pr;w:tici"ll pri. QI.1y by vir1'" <II lhoi. pooil iono ... oligil>k for Ilti/. morrbust"l1 WlI .... UktwiH. ",.-lIdmi!!..! !<, Ihf bu <II Abtwna who ... not fI"4IlIC«I in lht ~>Qf <II IN or ... ~ in • po,uion _ OIN ............ iring. liunK.~ oliliblr \0 be _;"1 ..... mbr ... AUomoys odm,ur<llo tho bor 01 AI;>bo""' .... ho,..,idt ""uid< tho ,\.01001 Alobo"", ~'\lo '" not practkt in tho molt 01 Alabo"", al ... .... Iigibl. for thi,'\.Ot ... Wilh tho ..""tion 01 It... aUo,MI'" .nd ditlrio! .ltOI'nryS..nd 1!toM who r.okIa lice ...... , any l,mo durillll lht bot ~. spKoal "",mbtn ... from mOfI<l>,tory «",1m..• In& IrIoI <dual .................10: ....,....... •• \/IiI. ann..» tump\JOn mu>I 1>0 doimo<l .., Ihf rtpOrtina form. SpKiaI .......... nbip d.... .tt pbI dirttlly \0 lht AIabomo SIlIlt Bu. In lito ......t you ont... tho pr;w:t"" 01 law d.. lilt bot )'eOr. 'Which nt«iJiUI .. Ihf pur· e"",,, 01 an OCCUpollONI lie."",. lht .. d.... . .. not .. (undabir aft ..

""*

.....

\,....uw. tloOW(h 1M _ .lyll"".... ..,.PBCI... ' If,.,.. .... odmitttd 10 tbr Alabamo Stott flu oro;! tngogtd in tho pl'Kli« '" 10",. )'011 ......quirt<! \0 purctw. In .nn ....1occupational lianst. So<Hon -«1· 12-49, Cork of Alabama (19751 .... mond«l. Thi. lit."" ,w.. you the 'ith! to pr>dk. low in Hit 'Ilot< 01 AWro"", tlIl'OIIth Sopumbt. 30, 1m. Tho cost (II' tho liunst Is USO. plus tho county. nominal IsMwIco 1«. and is purm-d f...... lilt probat. i ...... Of lice"", commisaiono. \whon awliabltl in tilt counly in

which,.,.. primarill' prKtice. In oddilion to 1M $\.0.10 1""'..... III p,o<ti<inil"ltol'l'><y$ sI>ould d.td with Uwi. municipal ...... nu. <itporcmo"1< to be ..... tNt tho lict .... ing .. qul ...... nt< of tilt city or town .rt . 1"" bo i". .... l l'l.... ..rid the ... w..ma Stale liar I cop)' 01 Ii«_ wilen it is pu..:lwod., lIId)'<lt'''';1I re<:tiv<. w.oIl<t .. i.... ""pliaI, "')W' 1.. _ (pktured _ I lor .... ntif... t;.., PUrpooH <IuriIC lho 1991·92 licmst )'Uf.

(I,.

ut.

fI"'

_"t '"

Oo<om/:l." 31, H191. and no endi! will .. ai",n for ope . cial mtmbtrShlp duo .. Mombrnh,p cards ... Ii>ooo'n in lho _10 .bow. a~ issutd upOn .«,ipl '" lho dun >nd ... Iood for tho Iktnsoo ~_ 5pKial .... "","n'"p duos or. S7!.

Ouu indulk 11 51511nnual JUbKripiion \0 1'htI AIat>amo Ltlvver.IThi, $UMcription a.nnot be deducted (rom thot dues payment.] If )'011 ha", any q"ullon. "garding your propt. mrmkraltip .lal" . or duet ~.nl. «Inlact Alice Jo lI . ndrix, membenhip

'"""'m dlrulor. a l (205) 269·151 5 or 1·800-392-5660 (In·,lal. WATS). 240 1 ~.mbt. 1991

THE AlABA.'1A ~wYER

You won the

And you d eserve it. Yo ur research was thorough. Yo ur presentatio n compe lling. Yo ur closing argument, brilliant. And yo ur binding, Ve lo Bind . Because good wo rk dese rves good binding .

• Call your Vela Bind representative today. NORCO D ATA S ERVICES 172 Snow Dr;" •. SUlI. 103 . BimHngh.m. AlaMrrul 35209 Tam m!' iklcher, VcloBind "'p=,""ve

(205) 942-0635 TII~;

At.'./l.AMA L\WYER

!kplember 199112~ 1

BAR BRIEFS Christophe, make. li st of _tion' .....t

Thomas

Chri.lopher of the firm of Kil · patr ick & Cod~ in At lanta has

bun chosen to be included in a tota l of 11.50 I JaWl"" nat ion-

wid. and 247 C_' _ lawyers from Ihe state of Gfflrgia in the 1991 ·92 edition of The HeIIAU'ger< in America. Christopher is lisled under Labor and ~:mploym.nt Law. Rased on a year-long 5U~. the list repro.>tntJl only slightly mQre than I pucent of the nation's 715.000 lawyers.

Chris t opher wu adm itted to the Alabama State Bar in 1976. Founder of Ge orgie 1..oIw

R. "/ew honored John Daniel Reaves, a partner

in the Washing· ton. D.C. finn of Ran ker &: Hos tdl ..

was re o

eently honored as the - founding

lathor" of the

-.-

Grorgio Law Re_

viw.

Rea,-es was recognized as part 0/ the

_~_r/ MEDICAL / DENTALEXPERTS .EDICAL TEAl rUIIE. ell_lt AI IE P Tt fOUl OFFICE I I ITTE S I UOIT IF III WEIIT DI CAUSITIU I1IDR

r.lllltl! • 'I "I" ....,. fl

CAllIU-511-ID U " FAl I 1Hll-UJl Fo, S . ",I" . or Inform. rion "-,,kef

242 / Sepltmber 199 1

publication's 25th anniversary celebration. R.a"'" was hir.d in 1966 as an assistant proftssor at th. Uni,.. rsity of Georgia School of Law wilh the special assignment of founding tht law review. Th~ Georgia Law R",iew is now the 13th most cited law r",iew in the country. A graduate of Auburn University and Ihe Un iversity of Virginia Law School. Reavu "'as adm itted to the Alabama State Bar in 1965. He had previously serv"d as a law clerK to Ihe lale Richard T. Ri""s. U.S. Circuit Judge. Fifth Cir· cuil. in Montgomery. ~ isa nalive of Camp Hill.Alabama.

Silberman and Whittington inducte d into c ollege Wil bur G. Silberman. a partner wilh the finn of Cordon. Silberman. Wiggins & Childs. P.C .. and John P. \~"ittington. a partner wilh the ronn of Bradley, Arant. Rose &: Wh ite . received the honor of being inducted into the American ColItge 01 BanKruptcy. Criter ia for admis,ion into tht college include a minimum of 15 }'I'a" of practice, dillinguished service to Ihe bankruptcy community and contribution, to il3 educational activities. The induction c.,.emany was held May 4. 1991 in the Creat Hall of the United States Supreme Court.

Kilpa trick chosen pre.ldant-elec:t Pau l V. Kil patri<:k, Jr. rJ Cotumbus. Georgia has been elected president-elect of the State Bar of Georgia. lie "ill bI' installed as president in June 1992. Kilpatr ick re ~" ... 'tI<k cei",d hil under_ graduate degree from the University of Georgia in I%,1 ~nd his liIW degrtt from the Uni''Ersity in 1965. He has been in private prutice in Columbus ,ince 1968. He has been a member of the Alabama Triall..awyers As.socilOtion and was admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 1987.

Featheringlll e lected pre.ident of a lumnae a.soelation Professor Carolyn Burge" Featheringill of the Cumberland Law School facul ty has been elected president of the Randolph _ Macon Woman ', College Alumnat Association. Tht first ,llabamian to hold this poll •• he began her three-year ttnure of office in Ju .... Randolph-Macon Woman's Colle~ is located in l.}"nchburg. Virginia. It was the forst women's college in tht South 10 b. accredi ted and the first to be awarded a Phi Beta Kappa crupter. Peathtringill grad uated cum laude from Randolph -Macon in 1969. After receiving her law degree from the Uni", .. ity of Vi rginia. she was admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 1972 and ""'" aswciated with the Birmingham firm of Bradley. Arant. Rose & While.

............,.

Alabama Aule. of Court now ava ilable West Publishing Company's Jl/u/Joma Rules of Courl. Siale arrd F.wa/, 1991 provides attorneys with access to the lat. , t ru les govern ing .tat e and ftdera l practict in Alabama. Thi. two -volu me set replaces the 199 0 ed ition and includes amendments received through April 15. 1991. The state volume indudes. for the firlt time. Alabama Rules for U,ing Videotape Equipmenl to Record Court Proceedings. Ganons 01 Judicial ],;thics. Rul., Govuning Admission to Ihe Alabama State Bar. and. efltcH", October I. 1990. the Standards and Recommendations Relating to De lay Reduction . New Alabama Rul •• of Cr iminal Procedure. Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct. Alabama Rul e s of Oisci_ plinary Procedure. and Alabama SIandards for Imposing Law}"er Oisciplin •.

THE A1AilA."IA U\II'VER

iMluded within.

1ft ~11

dfutive hn·

mry 1.199 1.

'Tht ftdfr~1 voIu .... conllinJ the new lot.I.l ihnkruptry Rul~. of the United Slotu ihnkruptry Court for tho: Southtrn Di.trict of Alabama. rffectiw July I. 1991 as well is the amended f:leventh Circuit Rules. Intu nal Operat ingl'roceduru, And Addenda, dfeclive April I. 1991. iUld tM a .... nd .... ntJ to tho: ledu_ al Rules of Appellate Proctduu that will be effective l~cember I. 1991. abKnt cont17lry Cong'HflOI\aI action, Por mou infunnation about A/qbQmQ Ruin of Q,url, contact We.t I'ubli$hinQ Com~ny at 1-800·328-9352.

Hewto" appoi"ted to board Al e~ NeIO>1on of the Bi,mingham form Wynn, Newell ... NewtCln has recently been ~PPCIinted tCl ~ si~·yeu term on the board of directon of tM Birmingham Airport Authority. This ogency ol'luatts ;and ","inwns ~I aIrport IOKilitiu. including management of lhe _I esLtle. ~rking, tofIUS$ions, and the airlil'oU. ~ board Iw SI) employffsand IUptMSU aM'l'(IJIimately 4 ,50(1 emplQy' ees who work 00 the premiKs.

01 tlUt,

We. t a""ou"c:e, " e w N"krupter till", I&ttware Wesr. ihnkruptcy Practice S)'Stent5Chapter 1 ... new JOIt ..... re Pltk.tge from West Publishing ComPiUl)'. is 5COOIuled to bt relUKd (ktober I. ~ software ~k.tge il built afO\lnd the new official bankruptq lorms which became effeetiw August l. 1991. Thil new bankruptcy soflwlr. COnliinl III 01 Ih. forms nrc ...... ry to produce a rompltl. C~ t.. 7 filing, such as dient i!ltlM form., offie~1 filing furms. pro«dural forms. i ruffinnation IIIr« .... n!. ind client sup. port oocu .... nls. Also includti.l ire refer· .nets to Wesr, &nkruptq Code, Rules and For,"", as well is on_lin. practice tips and commenta!,), from thru nat ional bankruptq • • perts. This wftwirt ~cbQt rtQuirn litllt or no training. Orw;r the pl'O!lram is activ~ted, extensiw on-screen instruction guides the US« Ihrooa/l I wiu 01 <ruut",", ind mjuuLt for l!dditioNl infor_ matioo. Tho! forrN fur the twit Chapt.r 7 filing" .. automatically generated upon conclusion 01 1M Kssion. The package Is designtd to work wilh .til 111..'1 or IBM-«>mpatible personal wm-

puter WIth a hnd drive disk and" Hr..iftt-Pxbrd comp.alible IiIoer pnnter.

Ral"' rec:elve. Judlc:lal Award of Merit Circuit J udge [}avid A. Rains, 01 th. Nin t h Judicial Circuit. received the Alabama Stale Bar Judicial Award of Meril illht 1991 Annual Mtding in Or.ngt &~h, Alabo.ma. Riins. of fort Payne, AI~b'ma. rt· ceiwd his undngraduatt degree from the Unlwrslty of Alabama on 1967 and hi' law dtQrtt from the Univtnity's School 01 Ulw in 1970. Previous work aperience includes Krvingat re$lal'(h wistant to Daniel J. Meador, then dean of tht School of law at the University of Alabama. and as a rUQl'(h wislllnt lor thr Alabama law Institute. Rain' al$O wat i judge advocatt with the U.S. Air Porce fur four ~irs iUld in the prival. practice 01 Jaw in DeKiIb County lor i nUmMr of yeaTS. lie WiSllPPOinted a circuitjudOl: in 1981. The Judicial Award of Merit is giwn 10 tM judgt who Iw contributed signi~ can\ly 10 tho: administralioo 01 justict in the Stat. of Alabama. •

500 IBtterheads &500 Envelopes Easv Ordering &Unequalled Value

"'" ...

WILLI A M G . T ATE ..TTO.",~ ..T ..... 61

un 17T>I ST~

t'I~. Y<WJl. t'I~" 'I'OU 10011

t_1 Cal lIS 1<I-!rIo 1...,.11&2.&434, ':Xlo.m. 10 ~::!O p.m .. CST, ___ -.ctI friSry. IM~ .... ".., CusIomer SeMct AoInMfIIItIIoes IIIiI be r>tWY III wlsI rt'IO, Q

SlyltlOlA

WILLIAM G. TAT E ATTO_"U ..T ~ .... 61 lAST ;mil STRUT

t'll '

vo.. ....

N'.

VOlK 10021

~Advance THE ALASAMA LAWYER

Stptembo:r 1991/243

LEGISLATIVE

WRAP-Up

By ROBERT L McCURLEY. JR.

Ii ii

h~ AI~~~ 1A1I;llal\lft ad . journed Monday. July 29. 1991 . In the firultwo oU)'$.

_ ....... .... ... . . ... -......... ... ...... - .. ~ ~I&t ... ft ~

~III

78 per-

of lOll tht bills lor the mtirt session.

..-

1.1()o1

pWillll billJ.. l will ItUmpt only to high_ light lOmt of the 20 o r 30 bill. thai would br of ,ntertS! 10 the majority of

""-~ Family ..ws S. B. 97 - luthoriud the Stitt Depulmtn! of Human Ruourc .. to enter into an inttrst.lot( adoption comP¥I to prOViM medial ~rvicts 10 ~ ,ial nHds child~rL

11.2%

P 5 + .......

""'"

Pasao;!:

111.0%

Of the Stnatt bills thal.,autd, 54 ptr«nt 0( thtm wert of I local and special nature. while in t~ 1l0UK, 65 pemn! of the bnb that plImd w. rt of. local or SpeCial nature. BecaUK of the lut-minute frtn~y of

Support Programmer Calcula te Rul e 32 child support payments on a PC o Performs Ru le 32

calculat ions for Alabama attorneys o Provides on·li ne Help: Rule 32 lext o n-scree n o RUl15 on standard IBM Pes o r COmlJllllbles

SECOND CHAlk

SOFTWARE 2002 Shadt!s em1 Road lIunnvilit. AL 35801

(205)536-9932

244 1 Stpttmber 1991

Business ",,"'0 bills deilif\JI ",th "rmt· to-own" lasing were JWKd to 1IlIOke cloar tNt in wtomobilo lout could not ~ deter· mined to ~ I .sale or a seClmiY ~I'ft • menl .imp!» b«aUSot the Iuse prtMdtd a bU}'-OU1 prcNision (nB. 146). 96 amended 7·I·ro l and 8-25·1 relating to rent.J.1 purtha$o "IIrH1IltI1t.s 10 authorize ct'rIain JlBCIicts now )l!'Mibittd. H.B. 787 - the Uniform Commmial Code 17.9.43 wa$ further amended to provide Ihat with consumu goods or goods Ius than S2.O()O. the financing statement will re1lllOin effective until 30 d/oysaflor IIllIturity of the instrument. H.B. 392 -illows limited partne1'$hiPl to me,* with other limited partne1'$hip5, corpontions or other bw.iras (Rti\ie$. H.B. 294 - Alabllm,'s wo rthlU$ check Ii..... I llA·9·13.1, wu amended 10 incre_ the me.elwln cha~ from S15 10 $20 lor i rdumtd check.

s.a

The Child

II.D. 319 - provides for the ~nt · menl o( /I priv,lu. nonprofit oorporaIion to seM iOII me guIordian lor apt ...... who is dtveloprnenUilly disabled pnMdtd the entity nlttU Ihe guiddinn lor such a guIordian that haw bHn $tl down by lhe Otp.orl ment of Menial "tilth/Mental Ret.lord:alioo.

S.D. 443 - "lends me JIMniie court jurisdiction in child protection casts to ellllbit the judge to ordu /I I'(rson to iUly lfoII1fj from ~ child or the Imlil)'. 10 Vlcue the home. 10 limi \ visitition rights. and to Mil)' iIC«SS 10 the home, and illN)' rrquirt that pt ...... to moperate with II counseling plan and/or pay tempomy Wppor!. and is to ~ IUd in pa ri IIllIteria with the protection from ~ act which is found in IJG..$. I. S.D. 466 - immds 138·10-9 "ilich provldu the OePllTtment of Human Resources to conduct investig~t;oni ~rding me forwxi.ol ability d pt ......... who owe child IUppOrt lind to r(Q uirt employers 10 fumis.h me obliget's finan· cial condition to the court upon rrquest. II.B. 593 - amends 130-3-61 and-62 to rrquirt me (mplo)'e r 10 rtmit to me cou rt child support paymenu withheld within ttn days from the date the employee is paid. II .B. 43 7 - comp letely revisn the mental health commitmentl,w.

Crimino' H.B. 691 _ the "Crimtslopptrs" we~ " ......... ful in me ~ 0(111 act which permiu the jud# to pia« iOII J conditioo 0( probootion me ~t 10 Crimutop. pers d alUm not 10 uutd $50. H.B. 34 - <mitts the "Alaba1lllO Com· munity Punishment and Comctions Ad 0( 1991" ..ilich pTOYidn for IIlttrTllolive sentencing, This may illcludt house arrest or oth ... a1ttmltM $tntencing. H.B. 194 amtnds 114·9-41 to provide for incentive "good lime" for prisoners whose sentences in unde r 15 yurs. Currently. this i. 1I110..oed for sentences up 10 ten )'tars. Mlse_ll_neous S. B. 47 - physicians are cUlrently

requi red to npOrt to

me Medical Licen·

TH£ AI.o\IIA.~ 1.AWYt:R

su re Board medk11 nv.lpu(tice judgmtnU and Rtlltmtnts. Stcti0n5 27.265 100 34· 2.04·56 wt« amtndtd to provide that judgments and ulliements enlued 1pinst professional USOCillions ind profess ional corpora t ions must I;~ be rtpOTItd to the Mediaol Ucmsurt 1\o.I.rd. S.B. 400 - prohibits d~rimil\1llion in tht selling, ruling, lusing or financ· ing 01 housing. II . B. 85 - community volunteers who serye without coml'tnoation are now immune from Ii~bility except for inttntioN,l kts. H.B. 135 _ AlaI:wna', lepl hali<bys. which ue loPfCifltd in f 1·3-8.......... been immdtd 10 include Nalion.il MmMWW ~ iWId Minli G~ lor Mobilt and Ba1dwin counties. S.B. 412 _ T1w probate judgu ..~rt j,I".....,..fuJ in ~ni"l tht ~ 01 i bill ..-hich powidtd t.....t upon rttirtmtnl they would draw 75 pucent of their

saLIlY. II.B. 509 - the circuit c1uk$ ....-ere successful in raising thei, minimum $alary 10 $50,000. II . B. 27 _ tuffic finn ha"t betn incTtutd with in amendment to 112· 19·\71tlMq. 'T1'>Qt lrt by no mans if) exNrUSliYl' mitw 01 ¥U wiih whkh I.lwytrs should be con«mt<I. Tht pOCktl p.lm to tht C«Jt lrt no! txptCttd until mid-Novtmbe •. Anyone wishing • CO\III 0I1hest bills may write tht house 01 origination.

Don't Risk A Valuation Penalty. Introduce Your Clients to Business Valuation Services. John H. D:wis Ill, PhD, MAl. SRPA, ASA, presidmt cJBu>ines:s Valuat ion Services Inc., is the only~igna~ ASA ~iness Valuation appraiser in Alabama. Bu>iness Valuat ion Servicesprovides roruultation by the hour, appraisal n.'fJOIlSand expcn testimony

in casaf:i:

o Esta!e planning o E5ta!e&el.llemen! o Mariral dissolutions o Rc-capirali:ations

o Emp~ stOCk ownership

o BankrulHCY proceedings o M~oracquisi! iDns o BUY"'$e1l ~mems o Dissident slOCkholder suits

p lans Cont.act John H . Dav is Ill , PhD. MAL SRPA. ASA 4 Office Park Circle . Suire 305 • Birmingha m. Alabama 35223 P.O. Box 530733 • Birm ingham. Alabama 35253

(205) 870-1026

In tht SeNt•. COflOCl: McOowtIl Let, SKrttary oftht Senate. St... te C..... mber, Slate lioust, Montgomery, AJabam<l361JO. In the lioust, w,ilt: Grtg J'appu. Clerk of the Houst. AWwna Stale IkJuu, Mon~ry. AWwna36I30.

•

_L Moe .. lei, Jr.

...:e..oo,. .,.

..... _ a l ...

-~ -~ "...-g.-.... ""'-"'Y aI IN _

At Unio~n~~1j[ii Is Our Middle

Offering Solid Trust Service Since 1901

"""' ....

• UNION BANK & TRUSTCOMPANY l1000tottotF.IICE!;11II;F,T I MONTGOMUIY, AlABAMA I _:UO-:«i61 MJ!M1Wl rolC

TlIE;AJ.ABA.'IA LAWYER

~p1tmber

1991 / 245

RECAP OF COMMITTEE AND TASK FORCE FINAL REPORTS

Ii il

mfiNI~~f~Uw~~

ing ~ommittUJ inc! I.uk fOT«$ "'fI«t lhoi. high low! of Ic tivily Ind accomplishments durina the 1990·91 bar yur. Committee ¥III tMk for«' eNirs. loS well as the members, due"", much credit for their dedication and hard work. Below is iii rtcap of tilt ktivitiH of the past year. COMMITTEE ON ACCESS TO LEGAL SERVICES

_ K_th w. htt... . 50'., .lmMn....'" eMir The p,imuy obj«tiYc of the a.:mmitItt this YO' hu bHn 10 implement tIw vollln!H' liW)'U progrim apprO\.~d by the ~ma SllIle Boor BoIord of Comm~ siooers. TIlt prognm wa.s ;mplemonted by Iht hiring 0( Melinda Waters loS dir«tor. The oommiUU hM nwt with her to mtiew and discuss various a.\pt<:ts of the progum's immediate and long·term plans n obj«livtS. The committee will continue 10 """,i!(II", JM'11« and U5ul her wilh this jII'Ilgnm'J impkmrnl.otion

mttwidt during IN upcOming year.

TASK FORCE ON DISASTER RESPONSE

_ RkMnI F . ..!ten, Montgomery. eMir The luk force developed l comprehensive plan to rupond in the event of 1I future dilUter. The plin incorporates thru uparale plans:;l$ brietly outliMd btl(YW. 2411 /Stpltm1>tr !991

(II" MI_* 10 "",,,ide kgal <Wis1(l1K' 10 I1klims· The pilon lonticip.lltn tmt thf ~r will be notified b)' the ~. ml emerQency Manigement Agency immediltely upon the occurrence of l disaster. The AEMA contacts the office of the attorney 8eneraland Ihe Alablma Nuiorul Guard. which haw betn designated (or OIHite damage U5eUment and tOOrdinalion of ;wimnce. On ilI'!'ropri. lit ddennination. YOIunt~r Iaw)'e'" win mIIinta;n II duk It the disasttr assi~ center in the Ioaolt Mf«ted. Voluntur il.W)'trs will be provided in cooperation wilh the YOUf\II llIwyrrs' S«tion of the ~tt ~r. in lIkIilion 10 thoK ...-no vol. untur for Iotrvice. I'or the purpose of this pil.n. the st."Ite 11M been d"idtd into foor IIfOI[TlIphic rtQions lOd I YOIuntur coordinator 11M been Uligr>td for tach region. The coordinllto r will idenhf» lawyers who lTe willing to participate and put them in touch with the ,tate bar's coordinating officer on the scene who will worlc the volunteers int o a schedule INI the coordillltOr will main· lain. (2) l'rmJdJule '=~ plan·The thruo.! of the plan iii to deal with the problem of "parxhute IiW)'tn" b)' gtMT>lting public aIOOIrmtil to help protect Yictims in the ~nt of a diasler. In I nw.s disaster, the AEMA will notif» ltate ~r hr~r. ten lOd pl'OYidt M much iruOl"TTl.1\ion:;l$ ;miil.ble. The official taking the call thtn will conWIlt the crisili IiSk force made up of Ihe state bar president, the execu· tiVl' direclor of lhe bar. tht president.of the local b,)r uwciation Ithe disasler

liite), the geMU] 'GUnK! of tho sU.te bir. lind tho dim:lor of progTllmi. The tule forn Will decide the appropriate I~I of ra.ponit. if iITl)'. Options include I prUI relflU or In on-sitt respom.e tum which will function in conjunction wilh tht A~;MA and the 10001 bar :;l$soci. ation. Once on the site. tho re'ponse team eoaluates the situation and deter· mines wh~t public slatements. medi~ .eteasu, ttc .. would be r~uired to p,..,. teet tho righu of the victims of the dis· uter. (3) R«omlilulion of locol bor and local judiciarr-The pilon for f«OT\S\itul· inl the local ~r is diVIded into four pI\IsH. The first is I prt-disaster pi.durinQ Which eQuip_nt and supplies that might be furnished in the IMllt of an El~. ! ik, disuter art IOClted and recGrded on the computer at state bar headquart ..... This information is to bt updated on I regular basis. Ona a di ....· ter striku. I nnds aSSl'umtnt i. con· ducted b)' the bar commissioner or com· missioneTJ in the affected area in con· n«tion with lho leadership 0( Ihr local bar a»oeialion, Once it is detennined tNt the disMt.r 11M affrctrd ~ ... to the ntent thllt reconstitution pll"'li should be ImplerMnted, the bir com· missioner for the lIffttted , _ win ~ SIKh r«ommentWion to the prnidtnl of the sUte ~r, who witt dirrct. the execution of the reconstitution pian. In lilt third phlH. the bir commissioner lind local ~r Ieldership WGuid determine specifi"ny what is ne.ded by Ihe local lawyers lnd this information would be TilE Al.ABAMA LAWYER

channfled to the .1<111 of the state bar. The stat. bar th.n would rev iew the items on the computer listing to ddermint what can be made available and, in conjunction with the bar commissioners am! the local bar leadership. would con· tact the firms holding the equipment and arrange lor it to be shipped to the all~ted al1'a. No ph~sic.1 tranller 01 supplies Or equipment would b. made until such time as a disaster strikes. During the pl1'-(\iSoUter ptlau. lawyers and law fomu that haw excess equipment will kup it on hand and mmly notify the bar of its a",ilability.

r --

ETHICS EDUCATION - Richard Thigpen. - - Tuac. looNl, c"'ir This committe. was 'clive in many al1'as. including ,,"signing a comprehensiw plan for dissemination of the new Alabama Rules of Profusioool Cornluct which became eff~tiw January I, 1991. In addition. , lesson plan and syllabus for seminars regarding the newly-adopt· ed Code of Professional Conduct were dn'eloprd and lI'nt to local bar associa· tiorn;. The Sub-committee on Law SchOOl Ethics Education has wo. ked with the state bar Task Force on i.egal ~:ducation to compou a SUrve;' on ethics wucation to .end to law schools in other stat.. which could then be completed and shared with the full committee, the bar and law Khool. in the state. Anoth .. sub-committee was cha.gw with public education on the laW}'er discipline process. Finan~. at the committee's recom mendation. t he MCLE Commi .. ion approwd a .egulation to awa. d double Cl.f. credit for hours eamed in continu o ing legal wucation devoted to the new Rul .. of Professional Conduct. The .egu_ lation is applicable for the 1991 and 1992 reponing years.

Er~ IMPAIRED LAWYERS COMMITTEE

-J. Mic .... 1 eo....w. y. Dot"'n, c ...i. The committtt <Jev;sed. plan to assist chemically dependent lawyers. The program plan is based upon a similar program ofl...d by the State Bar of North Ca.olina, 1'0r the PALS (Positi,'e Action for LaWliers) program. the committee

recommenMd operational guidelines. and a prOllram of identifocation, inwsti· gation and I1'habilitation. as well as fol_ low-up •• covery for lawyo ... In addition. t he committee has contacted and is working with the Permanent Code Com· mission to draft an amendment to the Rules of Professional Conduct assuring the confodentiality of a member of the PALS Com mitt •• who is attempting to assist an impairw lawyer.

t~ INDIGENT DEFENSE

COMMITTEE

--- - H. mpton Brown.

Birmingham, c",i. l.egislation restructuring the deliwry of indigent defe ..... servicu in the state of Alabama was drafted by the committtt and the Administratiw Office 01 Courts. Included in the comprEhensiw legislalion bill was an incl1'"",, in hourly lawyI>r Ius for both in· court and out-of-court time. A lI'cond bill to increa.., various state court Itts also was drafted as a recommended means for paying the cost of the p.oposed incrE"",, in lawyor feu. The board of commissioners endorsed the proposed legislation restructuring the delivery of indigent defense 50IVices while it ~ not to ,ndor.., the legislation 10. increasing various court fees. The endor..,d legislation was not int.oducw for la<:k of a legislatiw sponsor.

>"' TASK FORCE ON

JUDICIAL SELECTION - Robeli Denniston, Mobil• • c"'ir The task force continues to monitor the pending Alabama voling .ights litigation. In June 1991. the United States Supreme Court issued an opinion deal· ing with the Voting Rights Act which will p.ofoundly affecl Alabama litigation. Also. the board of commissioners appTO\oW the wk lorce resolution fa,'Or· ing the nonpartisan election of appellate, circuit and district court judges. With the endorsement of the resolution by the board of commissioners. the task force solicited the support 01 appellate. circuit and district court judg.. and local bar associations. as well as tile media. for the proposed legislatiw changes. Th. committee did not arrange for actual introduction of approprialelegislation during the 1991 kgislatiw session because of

lack of ad equat e commitments from sponsors. A comprehensive article on the subject was publishw in the May issue 01 The Alabama Lawyu. asking .upport from the members of the bar in genenl. Both the Birmingham and Mobile bar associations went on record supporting the nonpartisan selection of judges. along with sowral other srnalkr local bar associations. A sub..:ommitltt 01 the task force has studied in detail all pertinent aspects 01 limitations on campaign contributions with a view to developing rK.OTTlmtndations. Tile repo.t of the sub·committee will be presented for consideration at the ne~t general meeting of the task force with a view to de""loping such TtCOmmendations. Finally, the task force has continued to monitor the activities of bar and citizens groups in voting rights litigation in Texas. Louisiana. Mississippi and Grorgia. Th. bar will continue to study me.it selection in Alabama and el"""here with emphasis on it. impact on minorities and femal ...

r\ =--

COMMITTEE ON LAWYER --- ADVERTISING AND SOLICITATION

- Olenda Cochran, Birmlngha.... c"'ir ThirtY_lI'cond television spots were ai.ed statewide encouraging citizens to report acts of lawyor solicitation to the state bar. Funding for the television 'pots was obtain~d through an IOLTA grant which the committe. p.eparw am! submitted to the Alabama l.aw Founda· tion in Dettmber 1989. The spots airw in the major met . opolitan markets th. oughout Alabama.

[ \ >"' COMMITTEE ON

LAWYER PUBLIC RELATIONS _Bry. nl A. Whhmi ..., Jr., Birmlng"'m, chair The Public R~lations Committee met four times last yea •. During this time. the committee discussed priori t ies "tlkh the committee should emphasize and decided on two uea!. One was to educate the public cor.ceming tho laws of Alabama and what lawyers do in conjunction with them. The second was to assist in III'tling as much public recogni· September 1991 / 247

tion H pouible during ()penhon Dnorrt Storm. The commiuu members had numerous mntifli$ with the Binninghom NtVJS n wtre disappointed in tht ~s IlIitvde t~nI publishing any Irticles. Conttquently, !he committH is in !he proeHl of di",,"ning articles through the llTIIUer n~pers throollhoot the sbte, These Irticks ..ill b~ wriUen by IlWYU, on II topic II tayptl'$Of'l cO\lld undtrstmd;rnd should make the publk fetl beller about the ... ay th. court syst.m is handling thtir UIU. Sevtul IIXII bar au(>Ciations .... re vuylCtive in O.sert Stonn and usisted the soldien In numerous w;l}'S. Th.n /lctions Wtre r.p<Jrltd in the .-spaptr W showed !he ~J!III protufion's ~triotic uslstance 10 the toIdi .... IIOing OWI'SU$. 1lw: commillH ibo m;OITVTIOndtd that tht sbk boor hire II full· time public rebotions person. 1lw: com· mittee's fHling WH thoot it would take someone full ·time to handle the work· load ... hich is in...,lvtd in public rtll·

tions.. TASK fORCE ON LEGAL EDUCATION

\ - Omn K. Ame., III, MobI", eMir 1lw: Ia$Ic Ion:c his <.IMtd prtlClOitd regulations ~ A(IIHCCJ'tdited low dIooIs in AIabami. The prtlClOitd rtgubliord will be sOOmitttd 10 !he boan:I 01 CXIfIVI'lissioo ~ iClion iOd.lISSlIfIling ~ xtion. thm totht $UprtITIt Q)Urt.

tr~

UDICIAL BUILDING TASK FORCE

_ u.ury Smith, Montgomery, cMlr

The Alabamll Bui lding Commission reviewed and IIpproved the prop<Jsed contract betwten the Alitbama Judicial Building Authority and the Br;ufield. Gorry Construction r.rm for the con· struction 01 the new judicill building. Thtrt rermin some final details to be rwllOtillted, ItOWtYtr, the o'*r of the c(lmmi$$ion lutl!orilft ttlt contractor to proceed wit h tl... construction in August. The lnticipated construction time is 26 months. The bid P/lCkllgt to tht contract hu listed st\'m alteffilltives in the contract. The bidding period to tht alternatives •• lIIted to limestone for the building. It was determined that the building would 248 /September 1991

be corutruded with alllime5Wnt in the columns, utenor walls and othrr pbcu alltd for In the specifiCillioos. rather tIwl coocrete. This will grutly enhina Ihf buikling. The chid' Justice and Ihf ad!1linistrll· lIve sWf contin ..... to gill!' !he building pro;tct spt(ia1 attention in rYery detail. Adequate puking for employee. and memben 01 the public using !he build· ing is , millter the Judicial Building Authority rontinuu to address_ However, no solution to this important matter, to our knowltdgt,lw been reacr.td.

TASK FORCE ON SP£CIALIZATION

- WIU~m w. eo •••,••,._c., T.llad. p, cMir

Th. tuk force kglln Iht yellr by compiling inform.otion rcceivt<l from other lilIes con«ming their Successes lind problems tMounttrtd with !heir specialiution programs. The task foret recti,'ed , n~mbtr 01' responsu from othtr states which have impl.m.nt~d programs and f.. 11 that tht informa· tion received from them will prow to be helpf~1 in establishin" a program for tht AlaNm.o State Bar. At its l;ut meeling, tht task foret propoud distributing .. quutionnllirt, ptrhaps through VlIrious sectioN olth~ boor. 10 gtt I ful from the hr is a whole rtJ!llrding specilliution. The wk force hopn to follow up with this soon lind hIVe lOme rUpOn ... to furnish Ihe committH.

COMMITTEE ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE _ IN SOCIETY - Hono,.b~ WIlIi.m .... Wynn, Blrmlngto..m, ch.lr The commill.. focu5td i\$ atttntion on ",,"aking 10 ItlChel'S, counstlon and )'OUnjI persons in lrlIde school W high school. The convnitltt worked with Ihf Center for Uw and Cme EdUCIItion in Binningh.im to accomplish Ihtst goals. The committH cha.ir wu rtemtly con· tKtf4 by the IIBA ond ...~ irUonntd 0111 joint ABAIAMA JIfOlIrml ..iltr. docton and 1a"''Y'n rombi~ efforts in speaking to)'GUns people about subst.mce abll$t. The commiuH intends to fully uplo.. this option and worll further in carrying out its mission and goals.

tr~ PERMANENT COD£ COMMISSION _ _ ... . Willi .... Rose, ..... , BlrmI~ CMItTht commission Is unllnimously mo/Ytd to recommend to the boiIrd of commissioners thoot information dis· closed by II I/Iw)'er to llnother Iiwyer in connection with the first 1II\o.')'tT'S stell· ing wist/lna in daling with his or her substance lbuJt probl~m be trrat,d ;u privileged and confidential information under the new rults of conduct. The commission also consider.d th • potential for unequal trutment of judgu and non·Judge IIW}'trs in the supervision 01 their judicilt c.. m~ign tactic. and conducl. The commission pllns to recommend to the board of convnisl.iontn that I single set 01 stan· dirds lit enlorctd by 0IIt entity....ilhout my presumption on tM commission's part H to which entity. QUALITY OF LIFE TASK FORCE

-- - .... me ..... rry Wood, Montgomery, CMlr Through II sub·committ •• the task force his dtvtl(lfltd iOm< specific are;u to be Uilloml in a SlIMy of !he state bar popullltion. The IIIsIc fOl'Ct IllS prelimi· narily dete,mirwd to;uk the board of comminiontrs to consider funding I bar-wOclt suMy during !he 1991·92 yrar. ~ TASK FORCE ON

ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF DISPUTE RESOLUTION - .... Noah F .. rtderbur9.

T...c.toose, cMI, The primary focus of the work of the wll foree this ynr Iw be.n tht education of Ihe bench and bar about the availability and feasibility of various forms of the AD R. This goal wu Khievtd in IIIr~ part through !he publiCiition in the Mill' 1991 issut of The Alaboma Low*", 01 thrtt articlu on Vltrious ianni of AOR. A sub-oommitlft of the IIIsIc for« .Iso ffillde I prntnlltion rtgllnlini WlTIfI'IlIry jury trial. to II IITOUp 01 JtfltrJ(lft County circuit Q)Urt jud~s. The preJtntation wH favorably received, lind membtn of the IIIsIc for« pnctidng in Jefltrson County h~v. comm;ttttl lo IISsi5ting the judges and Jefferson County la~rj in finding suit· TH~:

ALABAMA lAWYER

able cases for employing the summary jury trial technique. The task force has also recommended an ADR educationlll prog",m for the 1992 state bar annual meeting. Finally. one issue which has remained in limbo during 199().9l has been the proposal by the .tate bar to the Alabama Supreme Court to amend Rule 16 of the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure to accomodate voluntary media_ tion. That rule change is still pending before the Alabama Supreme Court with no definite timflable for finlll action.

ALABAMA LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE _ BOARD OF TRUSTEES _ ... ..... E. Willi.m. ,

Montg_,,-, cMlr The Alabama Lawyer Rtferral Service has Otlt"'ted in a very effective manner for the past few years primaril~ due to the hardworking diligence of Joy Meininger. the secretary for the servict. The plan of acti on for the truste.s for 1990·91 waS to continue to review th. operation of the service and identify and remedy any problems that wtre enCOun· tued. The trustees also sought to further pubticize the availabilit~ of legal services through the service by attempt · ing to rKruit additional attom<y.;. Prom January I, 1991 to May I. 1991. the mer",l service actually made 5.993 refnrals to attorneys throughout th. stat e. The secretary for the servic e rect ives approximately 1.000 telephone calls a month requ .. ting an attorney. The program provides a service to Iht ge~ral public and to ~rs interested in the prog",m.

t .... -

Ittler toall such boards and bodiu. This

is related 10 the new pro hoc ,·ice rules and regulations which ha"t been recom· mended to the supreme court which should clarify that those rules do apply to administrati ... proceeding5 held with. in the state. "

....... TASK FORCE ON ILLITERACY

- - - Lynn. B. Kltchen_, Monlg_ry, chair The task force has worked with the Alab<lma Literacy Coalition, which has ~rwd as a useful 5O\Jret of information and advice. The b<lr is taking an aclive role in the coalition·s continuing educa· tion (unction by not only co-sponsoring a literacy conferenet but also by playing an acti\"t role in lhe planning stage. As a result of the resolution drafled by Ih. task fOT« and appr~ by the board of commissioners. th. chief jll5tict of the Alabama Supreme Court has demon · strated hi. inlerest in court/literacy rderral programs and has directed the Administ"'ti ... Office of Courts to deter. min. the feasibility of e.tabhshing such programs statewide as a part of ,Itema· ti ... sentencing . Having identified two programs already in exi.tence. the task force is Iryin~ to f01;ter such programs by taking steps 10 ensure that both judges and illiteracy providers are

informed about lhem. An awareness ses· sion was held al the Districi and Circuit Judges' Conference in Culf Shore. and is to be repeated at Ihe fall Or winter conference. At the task force·s sugges· tion. Ihe largest. most succus/ul courtllite",cy referral program has produced a 15·minule video about its program. The video. funded by TVA. gives a nuts·and-bol~ approach in setting up literacy rrlerral as an intt gral part of altemati ... sentencing. Finally. the task force ffiluested per· mission of the board of commissio~rs to aw\;' for an IOLTA grant to co-spon · SOr a falilileracy conference. an annual event handled by the Alabama Literary Coa lition. Other co · sponsors will include Alabama ~r and Russell Corporation. It ",·iII be held at South Cent",l BeWs headquarters in Birmingham. The tenta tive theme of the conference is "Literary _ Evtrybody·s BlI5inw, What You Can 001" The task force is inwlved in the planning of the conference and is dtl;;gning a session around the courtllit· .racy referral programs and possibly another to focus on the wa~s that laW)"trs can deal with the problem of lit· nacy. The publicily generated for the bar by Ihi. conference, it i. hoped. will provoke even more interest in the problem of illiteracy on the part of lawyers and law forms. •

Get It Right The First Time! A 15hout C.L.E. on Cspltol Defense FetLturlng'

UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE OF LAW COMMITTEE

_ ........ W. Portar, II, BlnnlngMm, eMir A lawsuil which has t:>«n aPllroved by the board of commissioners and i. ready for filing .wails action by the supreme court concerning the immunily of the chair and of Ihe committee in iniliating this la,,"'Suit. In regard to other matters of intt rest. the committe. reiterates i~ omcial position that the stalutes prohibiting the practice of law by an unaulhorized person apply to the practict of law before administrative board. and bodies. The commiU ... i. authorizing a THf: AtABA.'1A LAWYER

Jim COleman • ....\0".,.,.. Ior Tbd Bu..o:ty Nowat

Duke UDiverslty School of Law

and a full panel of other experts

October 18 & 19 Mississippi College of Law, Jackson, MS $130.'" • $50." SluOOIliS

co.Sponscred by ACLUIM and Mississippi Capilal Defens6 RescufC6 Cenler ConIacI.forlnformatian: 9:21N.c:orvessStreet· JD:sm.MS39202 · (6OIO~ Alabama CLE"S Applied lor · Some SchotaJ"llh!:>& Avaiable.

September 199 1 / 249

ABOUT MEMBERS, AMONG FIRMS ABOUT MEMBERS L !iqn J o!uuon, Jr. il"1'IOUn.c:n tho hit primary office to 307 S. McKr"¥i. Sired. Folry. Alabama 36535. ~Iocatlon 0( ~

1205)952·0742.

HHlI'J' T.n.'..... announces

the ,..1<><.OlIon of his omu 10 41~ 19th Strut-Ens-

10')1. BirminQNm. Alabama 35218. Phone (~) 76.$.9600. Vlcto. H .... n , J r . announUllht O\>m;ng 01 hi. ofIke uncltr tho name of \'Iel'" H. LoU. Jr., P.C•• at 15& ~m' menl Strut. Suilt 3ll0S. Th. L.Ct .... BuiJcli .... TIlt mail'fli oddrt$$ iJ P.O. 801 1013. """"I., ~ 36633. ""'- l205l

.,....,.

C ••••..,. 1'1. !'forlon .n"OonCts tho "",ning 01 his olfk. at 112] Nobl. Street, Annilton, AI.bama 36201. Phone (2051 237.7555. TIlt maHi"ll i. P.O. Box 2«2, Anni lton 362M. Corre,Uon: In tho July 'nut of T~e IJobamo l.4wrtr. Robert K. l.&nC. namo:

add,.."

"'u miuptll.d. Th, od'Lor r.grets any il'lCGnYrnitn« Ihit "'"I' ~ ~

AMONG FIRMS

firm ........ Bill J . Ih.._ 1l 1Ia$ bttomo di'K!O' of adminill"'toon .... ith tho firm. Offic •• Ir. Iocil.d in Mobil. and Monl· 1IOfYIt1)o. AJW.ma and Wa$hi.,gton. D,C. Tho form 0( R... hloo, Stabb, Joh". • 10., .. G.,,"II annou",H 11"'1 Jad: B. Hinton, Jr .. for""" Ia.... clerk 10 halk. J. Gorman lIowloo. Jr .. h.>s bt<ome an;wo. d .. l. of Ih. fi.m. Th ...... mng addr... i. P.O. 801 270. Monlgom.ry. "Iabama 36101-{)270. Phont (205) ~-a.so. Th. fi'm of 0 .. 1'....... iii Arn a ld IIII1QUf>CU Ibt rtloClllion 0( \hri, offic .. to IISO Pil\llndal C.nte •. 5(15 North 201h SI.ut. Birmingham. "Iabama 35203. I'honr (205) 324.fi65.t. Joh ... la." Barlon. Proclor. S~ .. " lbrr annOunces lhal Ra, ... o" . P. Plt ..... lrle., J r. has join.d Ih. finn IS cou .... 1. Officos ar. ioclot«l al 1100 Pa.k PIac. T,.,.... •. Binningham. Alaha ..... 35203.

Phone (205)322·0616. Pnur, G"eno, PhllpOl '" Upchn""h announcn Ih.1 D. B,.nl B.ku h.. btcomt • nltmbrr 0( tho finn. OffICCS art 10Ulfd at Pirst N.tional Bank 8uilding. ]07 S.lnt "ranei. St,ut. Suite 2206.

/IIoIIi1 •• 6020.

36602. Phonr 1205143]-

l.aI'r')I •• 1'1,........ S",hn L Su_

»a_,I•• H. Scon.I• • IU.llerb' R.

100 and lb.'" E. Mortln '""""nct 1M

W..I and MI~""'I II. Froach Mlroounct tho formation of Sun. llI , WClt <lit FroIIch . Offica .. ooltd in Tho ~ lI"ildinQ. Suil' 205. 2025 Thi.d "'~n~. Norlh. Bi,minghm. "Iabama 35203. Phonr 12051 328-9908. Gorh.m. W.ldrep. 51 ...... 1, Kondrlck " B.,.... I. P. C. announces that Vlcto, Kdl., h.>s jointd the (,nn as an ;wocllolt. Offo«s a.. loeal«l 112101 6th " __ nut. North. Suile 700. Birmingham.

ro rmation of N•••• D , Su I, .. " Martbo, willi oK",", iltt 3021 Lomo Rood. Suitt 310. Birminll~m. Aw.. ..... 35216. Phont (205) 823·5515. TIlt form 0( flfc R[,II I. J.cbon, Dol" mu . JIolyrid. <lit Moo.., announcos that IIleh.lnl T. Donn .... Ch.lrl.. R. Mboon, Jr. and " .W. MI.h.. 1 Ch.mH.. have bteomc partners in tl>o firm. and Patrld. POII. or. D•• I. II . P uler. Ly"d. 8. N.,rich and Cec:lb Kaffer ~ bteomc _"ttd wilh 11>0 firm. 0IIict:s a~ Ioc;oted at the First AIoI»o'N 80nIc Building, H16 St. Pranci. Strul. Mobil •. Alab..mlL Phon.

12051432-3U4. Tho finn 01 lllJUer, HAIIl1ltoa, S"lder <lit OoioaI lflI'IOUnca ~ Clorloto,bcr G. H..-. III and M. Kathl)'R Ka~t ""'~ btcoom m.mbors of lh. firm. To •• H. ilIoll, Mark J. Tmh .. ndfoW and Chriot ... ,her Xc .... ~ve becomo a$sodal.d .... ilh \hr finn, J .... u B. N_II. Jr. and Hu", H. S.. lth ha ... bec:omr of «JUn5<1! to til<

250 1 ~pI.mbor 1991

352«l. Phonr (205) Z5(·1216P. ... e l! . Cn. " " nd o..o.,. P.A.

.nn.... nc •• Ihll A. RL~k.r. J>y .. e hll rraMd hi$ ",""or 0( laws in ~ and hal b«om. a m.mbe. of lho finn. Tho maiJinQldd.UJ II P.O. 80. 2189. 641 s..uth La ... rence Strut. Montgomery. ~rM36I04. Phont 12(5) 832--UOO. J t nnln,., C.rI .... ThOln_ a <lit V•• I ...nouroc.. tho ~ioclotion of thoi. offlCt:l to 2001 Park Pille •. North. Suil< 525, Binn· lniham, Alabama 35203, f'llonr 1205) JU. 1524.

Th. (irm of S burlll " BallO an· """roc" lhat Wil li •• G. "'.Ih.... has bec:ornr _ p.lrtntr ... ,th Ih. lirm. and tho namr has bHn changrd 10 Sbenill. Bolh " M.lh . .... omc", a,.lotaled M 102 Soulh Jdf~"on Strut. P.O. 80x 853 . "thonl. AI.ba ..... 35611. Phone (205) 232·

.m.

Tho fonn 01 Nayn . .... , t:oopcr. Frier. ..... iii G,I., P.C. annaunUI Ulal .....

Rounlre. has bocornr a membor of til< finn and tNl Coli C. "'.... lntl .... Con s. B.. rt.h&llor. J eff..". R. IIIcLautbUa,

Stroll It. 1'I1u, n.o.u C. C~ Ill , Cb . lll a ,hr II. H.r.o., . J. ff..., A. LN, W....... II. Llllbtfoot, Jr~ Robert W. 1'0,..011. J r ...... Tho .... W. Tha. , ..... , 111 have bttornr assoc .. t.. of tho linn. Tho linn has offlCts in Binningham and MooII/Oll'OO')'.~ ..... U..,.., B... fo .... , SchRlller <lit Gra,y. P.C. annourocH lhat C.", ... A.. Tempi •• ton h.>s jointd III< linn aUn ;wocialt ..... til< finn ;. now ioclol«l II Two Pori""'I" Pa . k. South. Suit. 100. 8;.minllham. AlW"", 35243. Phont (205)967-&'122.

II .... .. Pu .... announc .. Ihat lIoIItrI II. R .. ~t. .wod IIIkhat[ L flail

ha.,., bocom. PlOrtnt" in tho fi.m a.,d " .....11 W. MaoWo. h.>s brcomr_i>!. cd .... 'th Ih. firm. a,. loultd in Sinn' ............. Huntsvillr. ~ Th. fi,m of B, II . Rich ........ iii S' ...k ..... P. ". announc .. Ih. firm narnr has tha"lltd to Bell Rich."""'... P.A. Tho offKe •• mains al 116 South Jd· f• •ron Strut. f'.O. Box 20m! , lIun\lvill•. Alabama 3S804. Phonr (205) 5)3·1421. Th. form allo announc .. Ih~1 J. Mlch u l B,oo m and Stu." E. Smith have br<:ornr me ...... rs 0( tho finn. Tho form 01 PrlIlCC, B. I.... " P ... I,.. P.C. ""'OO",U ,II< addilion 0( Sit.. G. C...... Jr. , fonnnly of Silmos" AIChi· IOn. II :an _ ..I •. OIfocos ... located '" 25(11 SOlth Str..l. T"Katoou. "I~ma 3$401. I'honr !m) 345-1105. Th. fi.m of Da. [ Dl c~. Fl etcher. YeU,lIa" Woe" '" Llo,d , P.A. _roc" tNl C.."" Collier h.>s hKornta m.mbor 0( tho firm. and J .... ElllilJl Cro .... hlt. , B. Bo .... Do ..... and ""')I P. Tho ... lo .. haY! become ;woc"I«I with III< finn. OIlieu art locattd at 2121

om".

TI n: AU.BAMA LIWVF.R

Highl~nd Avtn~, 6i.mingham. Alab/llt'\ll 35205.. Phont 120:5) 9J9.OO33.

Th~ firm of Cle .... C. c.c .... "

announca!hot Xalh.,.. H. 5.......n. b".... rty • putMr ...u. Emond & Vina.. has ;o;n.d tho ronn. 11'It ronn rwnr is changaI til Coc ....... Souarall, P.C. Offias.,.., Iocotrd at lOS ~ PIK. Towrr, Rirrnineham, Alabolt'\ll 35293. Phon. (2051128-

J-,h S. JOIuuI(ln ..,1'oOO.U\Ct tho ~ tion 01 J.h ... lon , Wilkln l, »no".n • Ho]b, ]57 North Conception SI ........ P.O. 80s. ISoI, Mobil., Alabama 36601. Phon. (205) 0132-0738. J. f'1oroI "Inor IIIIIIIWICU thaI CaJrin M. Whit_II, Jr, boamr usoaotrd ...,th tho firm. rIr«tM /olaf 20, 1991. 11'It 6nn', addr .., i, 456 South Lawronc. Stroll. MontlOflltry, Alabomo 36IN. Phono ~20S1

"".

,.......

P.A.. of ~n announcf$ that .. of July l. 1991 trot firm J\II.... has betn charlgrd to

Tho fi"" of Coth.m, W.ld .. p, Slew· • • 1, Ke nd.lck " Br1.nl, P.C, an · oouncU lhal VII' to. xen.y, fo""rrly of

I.... r, Suttle, Sw."" • StlnDdu,

H."., ..

lnou, 511",,01... JohnlOn, P ,". J . ... eo S. 51.~,e i, no longer a .... mber 01 tho rorm. 11m", 110m oppointtd a judge for th. U.S. Ilankruptcy Courl, Norht.rn Dislricl 01 AIWma. Robert D, Mc"1Nwt .... Jr. has joonrd Ilv finn. £Sf'!(, lIoc. announcg \hat B, Hoel ... joonrd the ~. Hudqu,ut ... art local'" al ESPS PIUlI. 8ril10l. Con· noelicul D60IO·h54. Phono (2&3) 585·

J._

tho U.s. A1lomt)". Oflk., Northorn Di,lrict

of Alabama, became a._iatod with th.

,.rt

firm. df.divo Febr .. ary 19. Offi.. Iocot... al210 1 6th A"'nIH, N. SUII. 700. Rirrrungham, AlIbom;o 35203. Phont (205) 254.:1216.

Tho firm 01 B.... I«)', ,\nDI , aON • WIllie announCH lhat An~"w a ....rt C _.lonntrdrputy ~ ~ lor tho U.s. Emtil'(lftll>ffllad ProtKtion 1oIPq, "'" jointd the finn .. a partlVl'. rfI"~iw May I, OfI"lCn a•• Ioc.Mtd in Rirmin&Nm and lIunuvill •. Alabama. 11'It finn WlIlla. . . . ,,"'Illuu on· nounca that a......11 Ill. C1tahlre has becomo an auocl>t< 01 tho firm. Off1(" art oot.d al 26)7 t:ighlh Str«t. Tuscaloooa. AJWma 35401·2103, I'hont ~205) 345-7600. Cenl ..1 BanJo of the Soulh InllOUlIC<I IhlIl D""I. I B. C...... tw betn appointrd .. nio. I.gal coun .. l. Prior to working at C.... lra!, Craw. _ a p.artnor with Millor, Itlmillon, Snid" & Odom in Mo b il •. Offie .. a •• lout,d II 70 1 Soulh 20lh Strut. Birminllham, AI ..... m. 35233.

Phone (:2051933-3690.

•

""'.

En • ..,.n Co..-,o.. llo .. announcrS tho p<OnlOIion of I)u~'" C. RO)'IIOI" til gw. oral counsrl and KCrrtary, and J. Dnld Woodru". J •• to viu·prui<!enl· I01/OII and a.,i,lant "'rotary. Om".l ar_ locol.d al 2HlI Silcth A,.. nIH, N, Binningham, Alabo1t'\11352(l3.27M. Phon< 120:51326-81&4. Th . firm of CO llwlll " Jlllll n announcH lhat R., ". JohnlOn, I1I Iw btcomo a .... mb<r oItho finn, and tho finn rwnr WIll be C... wlil. Jutlce " Joha· "". local'" at Main Slrut. Columbiana, ~ Tho maili'" oddrao i, P.O. 8oJ. 557. CoIumbianll505l. Phone 120516696701. 11'It firm of ...... " B _ .....-.ounc:u tho chllnS_ of tho fi rm mom. 10 L .. h., B.. _r, Sho.... U.... I.... Enkln• • Br..... r , and Ihal "lch.oI C, Sho..., Cy .. lhl. "oak. U.... lcad, T.m... K. E.. kl .... and Jdfrcy D. B..... u h.... becom. I'Il'In ... of Ih' firm. om • • • art loutrd al Ih. dll .. Hall, 2205 Moni. A.,n .. o. Bi r mingham, Alabam. 35203.

Phon< (205) 251-6666. aooc...,. C....... /ormorty 01 Sirotr & I'ffmutl, P.c. in Itunbvill., has bocuno a

...,ior atl(l11M)l 0I1lv a ...I"UoII T...l Co ....... Uon in Balon

Roui" Louisiana.

0fI"1CfS art Iocatrd at ]00 SL.Iama SI ........ Building II, Baton Rouge. Loui ...... 70802. Tho mailin. addro .. i. P.O. Bu. 91183, Ilaton Nougr 7082l.1'I>on< (504) 339-1322. 500 .....1 Ill. Johnolou. Jr.. aabet B. Willtlno, J. IIllchatl »no .... n . J ... Jim •• C. Johnilon , D. t:hl.lu Hoh., and

TilE ALABAMA LAWYER

For 50 years anorneys, mongage lenders, buil(lers and realtors have caJled on us 10 help dose on their real estate transactions-commercial or residential. Some say ii's because we're prompt. Others say it's because WI" rt dependable. 1\ IOSI, however. say ii's because "ilh 50 ~ars in the business. WI' know what Wt'f"!' doing. If YOU'll' in need ci title insuranct in the nt)lt 50 years or 5(), call us. Well be hell'.

c..,...,

Mllllul", V.II., TIM. IIlIurun 11_ QIT,...: Jo<~""'. ,\\ ....... PI". :i15 T""' ........ 1'0 Ibw.... 2.f28 l-<>Ilt.<)69.O'm

July 1991 / 251

Failure To Read This Article May Result In The Dismissal Of Your Appeal By KERRY R. CASTON Gild CELESTE W SABEL ppell.te pr.ctic~ in Al .bama is unde rgoing change. Thai

chllnge is renected in numer· ous amendments to the Ala· bama Rules of Appellate Pr!xt<Iur. and changes in court policy that will MOO,,",

effective October 1, 1991. All too often. nolien simila. to the title of this article art' .. nt out by appel. late courts. In lieu of "to read this . rti·

cle," insert "wding such as "advise us of the status of the case" '" "file brier or "fl le transcript" and you have the ide •. This article i5 to alert the practitioner to

the changes to come so that notices luch as the itbovt may be avoided. The . pp.lI.I. rulu amendments am e ndments which should have appured in the Septembe r 19. 1991.

payment of the est imated cost of the transcript within 7 days of the ming of the ~ice of appeal. There are now time li mits for supplementing the record on appeat and a change in policy relating to extensions for the ming of briefs. Each of the rule changes will be discussed in greattT dttailbelow. Rule I of the Rules of Appellate Procedure prO\lid.. that the rules are to "]).e construed so as to aSSure the jus\. speed~. and inupensive determination of <Mlty ill'pellate proceeding on its merits: It is in the spi rit of affording liti_ gants "just •• peedy. and inupensive" review thaI the new rult amendments ·.:~re adopted .

"<!I.'ance sheett of the Southern Reporter (after this art ide went to p,"u)-will apply to all appeals filed on and after October l. 1991. Briefly, some of the cru~" A docketing statement will hi' required to accompany ~ n",,·ty modified version of the ootice of appal form currently in lISt. Rather trun indicating the proceedings to be transcribed in the noti"" of appeal. the appellant will now complete a "Transc ript Purchase Order Form: Rule IOlb). requiring -""t isfactory arrangements" to be made with the court reporter for preparation of the transcript. has been amended to r<'Quire

2521 September 1991

New Notice of Appe.1 Fonn

fo, Civil C.ses Amendment to Ru le to(b). A,RApp,P. The notice of appul fo rm, Form I , found in Appendi x I of the Alabama Rules of Appellate Procedure. has ]).een mod ified. The notice no longer includes

the section entitled "De5ignatlon of Reporter', Transcript." Now, designa_ lion of the reporter', tramcript will be made by use of a "Transcript Purchase Order Form: The notice of appeal don contain, however, a "Tran5Cript Status" sect ion in wh ich the appel lant will indicate ",hether a transcript will be ordered and each of the court reporters who will]).e preparing the transcripts. Doc:ketinll Statement Amendment to Ru le 3, ARApp,P. AdditlOr1 of Section (e) The "Doc keting Statement: which will be required by a new section designated (e) in Rule 3. A.R.App ,P.. must ~ccompany the notice of ~ppeal in ~II appeals to the Court of Civil Appeals and all civil appeal. to the Supreme Court. The appellate docketing statement is similar to the circuit court CO"'" sheet currently required at the triall<Ml1. The docketing statement requires. among othu things. information relating to the fin ality of the case, information con cerning appropriate appell~te juri5diction. and br ief summarin of the facts and issues. The form. which will]).e used by the appellate oouns for case-management and statistical purposes. is designed to alert the amlellate courts of possible juri5diclional problems early in the appeal. The practitioner is strongly TH~:

A!J\BAMA LAWYER

u~ 10 LISt

lhe form H' 100110 review his or her UK ror ill)' finolily prOblems, 10 delermillt if the appeal is being filed ",ilh the correct "IlIltILm court. and to narrow iuuu. While ,ccurlte sum · rn.lriU a. e txJltded. the appI'LLant will not be pl'nalized i(there is a va. iance In the i"un stated in the dockeling state· ment an~ the is.5uu statt<i in the briefs. The docketing slatermnt 1110 Ius , space for Ih. app.llant to indint. whether ttlt UK i. 0Ilt whic:h rn.ly be aPllropN,le fo. , stttlemmt con~rmce. If the ipptllllnt indicates i wiLLingness 10 parlicipau in i Kltlemenl confer · enet. coun~1 wiLL be notified oIlhe pro. ct<lure to be fol~. ~'il i ng of the docketing statement il not ju risdictional. as is tht notict of lIpp1'll . It should be nott<l. """'~r. tlut Un<.1ions - indllding dismiual of ttlt lIppt,,1 o. conttmpt of court _ mlIY ensue for b ilure to file.

strona

T~.nscrlpt

Purch. . .

Ord.~ ·

CMI AmenchTle!1t to Rule 10(b)(2).

A.R.App.P. One of t he i ... tut hindranc" 10 "Sptedy" i P\"ltllllle relief is dtlllyed Iran·

scnpt prepal"iltion. The txisling Rule II, A.R.App.P.• requirtt tilt court reporter to file ttlt dtsignottil •• po.ter", tran · script wilh Itit clerk 0( the lrill court wilh in 56 diYs from Iht dale of Ihe notice of appl'II. This is not accom · plished. how.~r. if Ihtr. il a dilpule ow r costl of preparing the transcript. Under the cu rrent rulu, the IIppl'LLatt couri h.u no way of knowing of such di!oJlUles until the lime for filing the cer· tirocale 0( completion 0( the reporter'l t'anscript hu pa.s.wd. While disputes owr transcript p~ration are in ~ UKI ultirn.llely reJOhTd ulilfa'torily lor "II concerned. the appeal may lullt been delayed by many monttu. Rule IO(b)(2) was amended 10 al levi. ale Ihls problem. In aLL appea ls filed October I, 1991, and aitu, the appellllnt will b. required 10 pay Ihe (ourl repo rU. Ih. tslim"led COli of Ih. ",...,-11.0.._

"-Y R _ ..... _ _ .....,. .. ... _ .. _", ... _ _ _ eo.o.

c.......w _w. ......~_ _ in .... _ c.. "';00"'", - . . .

s.....-c-

TIlE ALABAMA LAWYER

rtpOrter"5 transcript within 7 days 01 tho filillj 0( tho noIk, of appal Addil ...... lIy. a "Tunscript Purchase Order of Appellinl . Civit" form muSI be fil.d. One st(:tion of the transcript purchase orde r form will be completed by Ih. appellant and dillributtd to Ihe courl reporter, the IIppellee, and tht trial cou rt. The court report.r will be rtquirt<l to complete ilnother section 0( the form ....her. the nlirn.lttd comple· lion dilte. Ihe eslimaud COlt. ilnd whether or not PoIyrtlmt Iw been madr is ooigniltd. Copies 0( Ihil Kction 0( Ihe form a.. to be fo ...... arded 10 Ihe ~ppI'llat. court.

Rule 1 of the Rules of Appellate Procedure provides that the rules are to ube construed so as to assure the just, speedy, and inexpensive detenninalion of every appellate proceeding on its merits." If the appelltt deems lhal othtr part.! of Ihe proceedings are necessary. Ihe appellte mU$1 pay the ntimatt<l cost of transcription 01 ttlt additioru.l proem. ings 10 the court reporter within >tvm (7) days 0( the receipt 0( the "IlIlt11ant"1 transcript purchuc ordotr. The ;r.ppellee and Ihe court reporter mUll compl.le sections 0( the lranscript purchase order form and f""""ud the form 10 the court.! and parties listed Ibov • . While tht rt~uirement that tht appellte pay may Itfm harsh, Ihe rule does providt that lhe appellu ma~. at any limo." ... ilPP\y to tho lrial court for an order requi ring Ihe appelllni 10 reimburse the appellee .. : . Thil new prondure for tranK, ipt preparalion is inttnded 10 mull in the eiTly determinalion Ind reJOlulion of any pottntial problems and Jignific.anUy rtduc. delay due to tranKripl preparation disputes.

Tr.nscrlpt P\lrcha . . Order . Crimi_' Amendment to Rule 10(e). A.RApp .P Rule 100c). A..R.App.P.. relaling 10 the record on IIppeal in criminal UKI, has sevt ra l impOrtant amtndmtnts estab· li,hinS ntw proceduru that shoul~ be reviewed very cartfully. Of parlicular importanet is lhe new requirtml'nl tlut lhe "IlIltllant complele and file wllh the cI.rk ollh. l.i,,1 (ourt a "Reporler's Transcript Order • Criminal" Iorm. This form is 10 be fil.d .. t the liml' written notke of appe,,1 is m.d. If noli,e of appul is 8Mn orally. tho form mUSI be filed wllhln stven ( 7) days afle r or,,1 notice of appI'al is giW!n. The appellant is re~uired to mail COllin 0( the form to Ihe Cle.k of the Cou rt of Criminal Appeals. lhe diurict aIlOmt)'. lhe Allorney Ctntraliind to tith court reporter who rtpOrttd pn.>CWIings; daignaled for inclusion in the ~porter"llranscript. Tht appellanl muSI certify on the transcript order form Ihal satisfaclory financill "rangemenu lullt bttn made with tach court reporter rtlpOmiblf for preparing" porlion of the reporte"1 tranKript. Only two uceplions apply: (l} the dtfendanl proeeeded at trial as an indigent. MId JUCh .!..aIUS is not ..00Kqutnl\y mooked Or (21 ttlt dtfend.inl ;s grilnted permission 10 proceed o n IJlpelll in forrn.l paupl'ril. It should be noted llul the rult <.Iou not ,,,,,,,idt an except ion from this requirement for appellanl.! who ha". "pI'nding" molions for lea". to proceed in forma pauperis. For this reason. financial arrangemenl.! mU!l be made ",1thin the time required in ordtr 10 prevenl dilmillal of Ihe Ippul. rt\lardles. of any pendin\l rnotionl fortrutmenl as an ind~nl. If fimoncial ITringemenls hive nOI been rn.lde by Ihe dille Iht trlnKript onlt. il rece;"'d by tht cou rt reporter, the reporter i$ requirtd to complete a " Not ice of Insuffici ent Financial Ar· rangemenu" form.lile the original wilh the Court 0( Criminal Appeals. and Hrvt «>pies on the appellant ;r.nd the AtIOrney Central. The notic:e Wli oW. the \bIt the original was forwarded 10 Itit Clerk of the Court 01 Criminal Appeall. Within 14 \bys afl.r tho dale the notice is for. warded 10 the appollate court . tilt aPl'tI . lant must r.te an affidavit with tilt Clerk 0( the Court of Criminal Appeals Jlating Stptembor 199 11 253

either (I) Ihat the courl reporler has been p.o id Or (2) that adequale finanCial arr~ngement' have bnn made. If the affidavit cont,} inil\ll the required st,}tement is not filed, the appeal will be dismi$5l'd. Eac h proceeding in the ca •• to be transcribed for th e appell must be spe<;ifically duignated on Ihe repOrler', tran script order . Ceneral designations such as "all proceedings" are not sufficient. The appellant will not be permit· ted to raise any issue on appeal relating to any proce.ding in the case that is not specifically designated in the repOrter's transcript order unless such proc~ding is not required by law or rule to be reported. Supplementing or COlTeCtlng the Record - Civil Amendment Rule 10(1), AR.App.P Rule 10(1), govern ing con ection or modi fication of the record, has been amended and restricted to civil cases. The Cou rt has adopted an additional section to Rute 10, section (g). which wi ll govern criminal cas •• (to be discussed below).

While the current Rule 10(1) sets nO time limits for r.1ing motions or issuing rulings the,..,on with regard to corrtetion Or modification of the record, the new 1011) sets strict time limits. In that regard, the rule is completely different from the current Ru le 10(1). This rule specifically pro~i d es that any motion requesting correction or supplementation of the record must fint be filed in the trial court, not the appellate court. The amended Rule 10(1) provides that the appellant has fourteen (1 4 ) days from the date shown on the COPl' of the certificate of completion of the record on appeal in which to file the 1011) motion. The appell~, too, is limited to fourteen (1 4) day. from the filing of the appellant's brid in which to file the motion. It should be noted that th is rul e reslricts any molion 10 correct Or supplement to items correctly designated in compliance with Rule 10(b). but inad"e rtenlly omitted from the record. In other words, practitionen must be sure to designate every aspect of the trial proceeding needed in the appeal at the lime the notice of appeal is med. After the motion to supplement or

Laser Printer Toner Cartridges Recharged

cornct is filed, the trial court ru.. four_ t ~ n (1 4) days in whkh to t,}ke action on the mohon,lf the tri~1 court f~il 5 to rule on the motion wi t hin fourteon (14) days, the motion be ckemed denied, After the motion has been disposed of, whether by courl orMr or by op<",tion of the rule, a di""tisr.ed parly has seven (7) days to seek appropriate relid in the appel late court. If either court grants the motion to correct or supplement the ..cord, the ci rcuit clerk and the court repOrter (if a transcript is required) have no more than twenty,one (ZI) day. to complete t~ supplement,}1 or cor .. cted record, Note that the appellate briefing schedule wilt no/ be stayed unless there is a spedfic order from the appellate court granting . uch • • tay,

",,/I

Supplemenling or Correctlng the Record _ Criminal Amendment to Rule 10, AR.App.P. Addition ol 5ection (II) Section (8) of Rule 10 i. a new section applicable to appeals in criminal cases. II is Similar to 10(1), except in t...."(1 key

am.s:

WE SAVE YOUR TIME, ..

ameli LEG A L R e sear C h

""""""

. ... y yOOf tootr

artMg<s...they

Now legal rc~"rch ~ssis",n.:. i ••• ailable wilen you need ii,

without the nece"ily of adding. futt'lime lU!«i"e Or ct.rk_

can be refilled manytincsI

Wilh accesS 10 the Stale Law Library and Westl."". we rrovide fast and dr""cnt service. For deadline wor~, we can deliv~' informalion 10 yoo via commOll carrier, toMe .. 1Exp""', or FAX.

sub\Wll.io.l

$living$.

Famcll Legal Research examine, the is!"", thoroughly through q.w.tity ~search. brief wr,.ing and .naly.is. O\l, "'I., are S3~.OO per hour, with. 'hrtt hour

minimum

RAyeO TONERS 4724 St. Dominic Pia« • 1>I0I,;Ie, AL 36693 (800)2601-:1011 ' G~al

de.. /.f

~)666-6e93

CIlbn" lau.. p rinter ~"PpU~$, _

For Research Assistance conlact: Sarah Kathryn Farnell 112 Moore Building Mon tgomery, AL 36104 Ca ll (205) 277-1'937

Z54 /September 1991

THE ALABAMA Ul.WYER

First. if the trial court fails to rule on an appellant's motion to supplement the transcript within fourteen (14) days. it iJ; deemed granted. provided the supplement>l proceeding.; were originally des· ignated in the report .. ·• transcript order. Any other motions pursuant to this rule are automatically denied if not ruled upon within 14 days from mingo Secondly. unlike appeals in civil cases. once a motion to supplement or correcl the record is med in Ihe Irial court. the briefing schedule is stayed until the deni.1 of the motion. If the motion i. granted. th. briefing schedult shall he sospended until Ihe record is supple· mented or corrected.

Exte"slo" of Time for Completio" Of Reo::ord; Reduo::tion I" Time

court may granl up to three additiGrlllI SNen-day extensions: h~r. no more than a total of four sewn-day extensiorul may be granted by the trial court. The Irial court may also grant a SNen· day exlension of lime to complete Ihe clerk's record and. for good c'Ule .hown. the trial cou rt may grant an add itional seven· day extensiGn. but nG more than a IGlal of IWG seven·day txlensiorul. Motions (Gr additiGnal lime may be made 10 the appellate court.

Amendment to Rule 1tIc), A,R.App.P, 1'I1e amendmenl to Rule II(e) simply "quirts that any txlensions granled to a court reporter by tht Iri.l CGurt or the appellate court be limited 10 5t~n·da~ increment •. 1'I1e court reporter tn/Iy still receive a one·~ek extension from Ihe trial court withoul a showing of good cau5t. For good cau5t shown. Ihe Irial

t!QQu !jl G!!!ly!IB 8 . I!oUWD

S"""nd !dH.\,,"

Appe"dix System Rescissio<l 01 Rule 30. A.RApp.P When the appellatt rule. were adopt· ed. appellant. were gi~n the option of r.1ing an appendix to the briefs Or filing a second copy of lhe record. The Court. having found tnat there was an .wrage of only two parties a year using the appendix method, has rescinded Rule 30. A.KApp.P.

Cld! 6<;.ionl U

THE Au\BAMA u\WYER

L&~ 10.\llb""

" "

_"'"

......

••• p ....

19u1t.b1S Rtatdi •• And EJtr.9rdlnl'Y Wri t .

60.00

llabAN

.. d U. " . p.... 'I ..............,

p&rto)

)0.00

6S . 00

$e<:o"d Copy 01 the Record Amendment to Rute I I(aX4), AR.App.P. The Suprome Court requirou; . second copy of the record. The rules allowing use of the "appendix method" as an option permitted the pal1ies until the time th.ir brief. were due to choose whether to use the appendi x method , Consequently. according to Rule 30 (now r.<cind.d). the 5tcond copy did not 1'",.. to be filed until fourteen (14) days aft .. Ihe dale the appetlee was required tG file his Gr her brief. The appendix system no lGnger being an option. Ihe amendmenl to Rule 11(.)(4) now requirts tnal a 5tcond COP}' of the recG,d be filed wilh the clerk of the appellate court within fourle.n (14) days after the date shown on the cOlly of the cerlifiC'le of CGmpletiGn of the "cord on app<>al. rre5tntly. determination of juris<!icliGnal Or finality problems OCcurS after Ihe record is received and Ihe appeal briefed. Receipt 0( lhe l-tcond COl'l' of the record at an earlier ~tl\ge, <IS required by amended Rule 11(a)(4). will provi~ the Courl a more efficienl lime·frame fGr "solving any such problems.

S69.00

p. . . . )

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25.00

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69.00

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............

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C!TV . STAn:, 1IP, _________________________________________ CH!C ~

BNCI.OS!O' _________

eMII!T CMD I,C,========= EX., .....T,ON ........!!

September 1991 f 255

R.f...ne•• In BrI.t. to the A_oN AmendmenISIO Rules 28(e) and

brid il due to bt filed within fourtetn U<t) days Ift.r the filing 01 the brid of the OIP\ltllet In the appellate tourt.

IO(b) .....R.App.P An amendment to Rul~ Il)(b) ~1imi nites lhe ~Quirtmmt of clerks' offICes or nporhn puUing iI OC R" or "RT" t..ron the 1"# numbtn in the m:ord. £.Jch s«Iion of Ih~ record will t..gin with ~ I ;and t.. numbmd consecu· t ively. Wi th Ihe OCR" ~nd "RT" rdertneel having bten rtmQv.d from tho rtco rd. thtrt can ~ottntial1y bt Iwo pages with idtntlal P/lg. numbers. rOf eX/impl •. thtr. un Ix a page 25 of the dork'J record ilnd iI plgt 25 of t ht ~porttr'1 Innscript. II II lhe atlomty's rnponsibilily to dnlgnate in the brief which P/lrt 01 the rm>rd if t..irq! m.fenced. Tht ilmendment to Rult 28(~) pTO,:ida lhit thil t.. done by putting tilt lett.r "C" bdort ~ m ....r« in iI brief to a ~ in the cl.rk·s 1'ttI)fd. ;and if • rdertnct il mad. to a page in th. rtportU'1 tnnscript. the rtf.ron« shall t.. prtttdtd by the ItI\u "R".

TI .... tor Serving end Filing

Bne'. Amendmenllo Rule 31(e). A,A.App.P

Tht amtndment 10 Rul. 31(iI) provi<ks lhit Ih. lppelltt's brief shill t.. tht filfilfd within t~nty.oot days ing 01 the briri' 01 the apptlbnt in the ilppellat. COUrt. Tht old rule stilted thot tho tim. rln from Ihe suoic. o( tht britf. ThiJ amtnd .... nt bri"" tht rul. in line with curf.nt Suprtm~ Court practict. Uktwise. the appellant's r.ply

1ft.,

Length of Briet. AmeoO'nenlIO Rule 28(g). .... A.AppP

This rule wu modified to limit th. iI!lIumtnt HCtion in • rtht.aring brief to no mort t!w> twenty (20) p;Ign of standard commtrtw,1 printinQ or twtnly·fivt (25) type·writttn p;Ign.

REGARDING EXTENSIONS FDR BRIEFS One stvtn-day Ollenllon ot Ii..... u provided by Rule 31(dl. A.R.App.P., fnlIY bt granted to .Kh side. A rtquut for an exttnsion fnlIY bt gnnted O\Itr Ih. Itlephone; however, lilt exl~ru;lon must be confi rmed in writing to tht .ppellatt clerk', offic•. and tilt confirmation letter must Slillt lhe txact dal' the bri.f is dut ilnd bt senl 10 opposing counsel. Motioll5 for enlil!ll.mtntJ of lim. to me tilt britf aflu tht stVtn-<.Uy uten>ion will not be ,....,IN unltu ut"",rdinuy good caust il shown_ A huvy worklc»d. ViICIOlion. de .. "'ill not be con.idtrtd good aU$t. Any uqutst for an enlu8tm.nl of lime to file Ih. brid illter Ihe stvtn-day " lell5lon musl bt

mWt by motion to tilt apprllatt cwrt bt rtCeivtd in the the linl ultnsion haJ apirtd. U;tenslons will not bt gnnlfd lor filirq! I brief in support of iUl "'I'I'liQlion for rthwing or for filin, a rtply brief to the applialion (or rehearing. PIust note thol while the courts ",ill relain tilt !'lther Hbtral pOlicy of allow· ;ng tht one st\.. n-day extension of timt u providtd by Rule 31(d). any tnlugement, of time to file the brids will bt strictly r.vie ..... d. It is recom"",nd. d to Ih. practitionef Ihat tht brief bt fil.d wilhin the origin.1 twenty-ti ght (28) day time period iUld thit the sev.m-day "tension of lime bt used &I an emergency mt~ft only. This will •.now the p.irty filing 1M brief to hive twentytighl days pillS I HvtIl-<by Rfely '"lIIvt. 00 not count on any tnlargement, of limt_ Unltss there is an ullilnticiP/ltfd n'tnl or emergency which resulu in extremt hir<.Uhip. it ClJl be assumtd by tht practitioner that a motion for an enllrgtment of lIme 10 (il. Ihe brief after the K\ltn-day extension will not be grantfd by the appellatt «>uri>,

;and the motion must ~ptllalt tourt Worr

CONCLUSION A n mlnd er: Th. discussed rule amendment. ilnd modifiations should have appeared in the September 19. 1991. adva",. SMetl of the Southern Rrporttr. Also. if you need help or dari· fiation at any lUge 01 your :appeal. mil mnnbtn 01 fIth of the :appellate court dtrk'l of/iCti an ilvlilable to answ' r qutslions. •

NOTICE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _

199 1-92 ANNUAL OCCUPATI ONAL Ll CEN SE/ SPEC IAL MEMBERSHIP DUES

Due October 1, 1991 Delinquent After October 31 , 1991 256 1Sept.mbt. 1991

THE ALAIlAMA LAWYER

1991

ALABAMA

STATE

BAH

ANNUAl, MEETING

H I G H L I G H T

ORANGE BEACH, ALABAMA

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1991

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ORANGE BEACH, ALABAMA

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_01_ . WINNERS IN THE 1991 ALABAMA STATE BAR GOLF SCRAMBLE ht Place

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2nd Place

4th Place

Rod Aleond ...., Mowlh>or Jim Saker, """U"8hD", Don McCab., o./ftJiIlt

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TllEAI.AIM.MA u.WYER

~1991/ l61

A Historical Perspective By GORMAN HOUSTON

n Cretk mythololll'. Memory IMnemosyn~) ",as the moth .. of all cultur• . and Clio, her elde,t daughter. was the patroness of history, responsible for keeping orderly accounts of past events. l.aw (Themis), who sat by Jove on his throne to give him cou~1. WitS the mother olthe three !'ates. who spun the thread OJ! human deslill)' and ""' .. armed with shears to cut the thread when they

plused.'

The United States Supreme Court has used a case that origi. nated in the Alabamajudidal system as the ,.. hid. for uphold· ing punitive damage, against a due proc ... constitutional challenge. Pacific MulUJ1/ Llre fmur,m<:e Co. v. Haslip. _ U.S. ~ III S.C\. 1032 (1991). From a C/lreful review of the majori. t)' opinion in Pacific Mutual and from the actions 01 the United State. Supreme Court since it announced its deCision in Pacific Mulual, it appurs that the AtabalTl/l procedure for p<»t-ver_ diet review of puniti~ damage..; had a greater impact on that deci.ion than I origi""l!y assumed. Thuefore. the ]lO\'>-ers that be at rhe Alabama wl!"lIer thought that it might be of interest to members of the Alabama State Bar if a sitting ju,tico. befriending Clio. white k«ping the daughtm of LIIw close II)' to cut off the account if it appl"Oilched a pending Or impending ~. recounted the evenl> that led to the AlabalTl/l Supreme Cour!"s post-verdict review of punit i,-e damages. II is interesting to note thaI flam,mmd v. City 01 Gadsden. 493 So.2d 1374 (Ala. 1986), the seminal CIlU on posl-\-erdict review. did not inwl-.-e puni!i"" damag... That ca.sl: went to 1M jury onl~ On the city·s innocenl mimpresentation. which would not support an award of punlti"" damagu. The trial court did not instruct the jury on puniti"" damages. and the plaintiff did nOI request such an instruction. Anything in f/ammrmd concerning punitive damages i. therefo .. obiter dicta. HO'WO!'Jer, without the Hammond procedu.. for r""iewing damages when thoy are challenged. p<»t·verdict. as exces· sive. it is probable that the United States Supreme Court would have held that the method of awarding puniti-.-e .dam . ages in Alabama did no! meet the due process ..qui .. men\3 01 the United States Constitution.

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would effeci Q major change in current "",itUlur praclice. and such a majw Chafl!Jl' should be adopted ollly after adequate nolice and deliberate study by the full Q)urt .•

482 So.2d at 1199. (Emphasis added.) At that point. the following footnote appeared: "Justices Shor.s Ithe author of Hammcmd] and Howton are recused in this case." In the dissent in Gem>ral MOlors. written by Justice Almon and concurred in by two other justicn. including Justice Janes'. it was notw: "The purpru;e 01 pun itive damages is to pun ish and deter wrongdoing. The nature of the wlong and the ...... alth of the defendant are pertinent to the deci'ion on the amount n.ce~ry to punish the wrongdoer. Bemuse the jury should not comider the wealth of the def.mdant. il would be proper fo r the trial coortto consider such ",ullers in a posl-trial hearing On the motion for

""w trial Or remillilur.•

482 So.2d at 1200. (Emphasis added.1

........ J G<v _ _ ......... ....-,.....,. ....... .........,.. ,!I&\ "'.,."' ....... """..,.. ....

To understand why Hamrmmd was written broadly enough to encompass both compenlJltory and puniti~ damages ....... must look to General Motors Cmp. tJ. Edwards. 482 So.2d 1176 (Ala. 1985~. Alaooma Fann Bu11i<1u Casually lusuranC(! Co. ". Griffin. 493 So.2d 1379 (Ala. 1986). aod kina Life Insurom:e Co. u. wooie. 475 U.S. 813. 106 S.Ct. 1580.89 LEd.2d 823 (1986). 10 General Matars. the trial court had remitted $6(10,000 in each of two wrongful death cases. In addressing the remittitur issue, Justice Maddox nOted the inconsistency of the Alabama Supreme Court ..... htn presented with the issue of excessive judgments, and for a plu",lity of this court, ..... rote the following: "ITlhis Court has not yet adopted SjNcilic starnlards for courts to apply in g",nting or denying remittitur. We ~Iieve that the lime has come for this Court to study the remittitur practiu in Alabama. and to aoopt a rule or rules of practice which .....ould also protect the public·s interest in decreased CQurt co.1> and a speedy and just determination of every case upon the merits. We do nol udapl those siandards in Ihis case, because to do so

In 1985. the United States Supreme C<lurt granted certiorari in kina Life !mura",:" Co. tJ. Lavoie. and that CIlU was orany argued before the United States Supreme Court on Dffembe r 4. 1985. less than three ..... e.ks alter the opinion in General Molars. supra. was released II)' the Alabama Supreme C<lurt. Based upon the questions asked by the United States Supreme Court jwticn at oral argument. court watchers were of the THE ALilBAMA LAIWER

opinion lhal lilt conshlulioN];1y of punitiYe clarnatH would be lilt principal issuf ~msed by that Court when it rtl~ ilS opinion. Mtan ..... hile, the iuuu of umitlitur ~nd uctuiwntu Ii""r· dlctl continued to be prnented to the "I~b~ma Supreme Court, In AJaoonw Farm 8lJI'fYJU />/lJ/u(11 (;Q$uallg fnsur<1TlO< Co. p. Griffm,.".r OIriom plunlity Opinion releaIN on Jan· till)' 17, 1986, lilt A1WrlII Supn::mc Court mused to ilddms lilt issue of uussiwnua: ""This Court his not uUblishtd $p«ific otar<I;ords for trill coorU to .ppty in IIronl ing or denying nN I. ill mOl ion. On Ihe grounds of n eeni"enen, Gtnerol Molors. Q;rp. v. l:."duvlnis, 482 So.2d 1176 ~AII. 1985). We prelUITW' that. tri.l court', ruling on lhe issue 01 dam· age, i, cornet lind we win 001 distu.b such j ruling unlt:ss we find it 10 be pb;n and palpable error.' 493 So.2d II 1384. Two justices !MlddoJ .nd Jonts) ........ Rc"ustd ;n Criffm, jwt u 1\<0'0 Justice, had bun r«"WOrd in (AnmJt />/Olon. Th.ft justicel di~nl.d in Criffin. bastd on Ihe trial court's failure to slltcifical ly add.en the uceui""nul iuue, jUlt ill three Just ices had dissented when. pluTility 01 the court hid rd~ to iKkIms the iN .... 01 the trial court's nmiUitu .. in

w.-ut MOIon. I w. ote for the thrft dissenling justicts;n Criffm illld It· templed to fonnuim I stMIdilll.I to be oppliW ...tltn l rrdion for rtmittitur ...... .. filtd ,,-ilh the trial court. ThiJ 1tlnd.!..d was basi·

cally • ~ 01 the punilivt ~ judgmml with puni. tivt dImago:s. jWgmtnIS in limibr QIfS motving alimibr tort. IooIcing prinwily to lilt morrnity of the wrong and the neassity for punishmtnt and OOtfTt!"U of the pIIrtiC"Ul" dtfmdanl. On Ap.iI26. 1936, Iht Unittd Statu Supume Court .eleastd Its Opinion ink/no ur, Insurance C<J. v.~. The case WIS not resolved on the iullt of the constitutIonality of punitiw dimaaes. H-... •• Chid Justice Bul#r, in III opinion toncurnd ;n by lix justicH, wrot. the following in rtf,Ird to puni . tive dom;oges: "IAttn.l.) also argues . . . tha/lack of wfficim/ stOJl' d(1n/s gooemif19 rwnili/JII ckImages oU'(1n/s in M(1MmQ

uiolot<!. th' Du, Proc,u C/aUJ£ of th. Fourlunth /Thul 0rtlummt II Nlisf/J ani impOr/<111/ ~/I trhich, in QJI 11PP1TIfJrio/, sellmg, must H 1YSOIvrd • ....

Amendment . ..

415 U.s. ~t830. 106 S,C!. ~ 1589. (Emphisiladdfd.)

Two illld om·half monlhs IIltr on July II. 1986. the AIabIIrna Supum. Court relnstd its unanimous opinion in Hom· mo<1d v. CitN oICodsden. Tho MIll< ~ that the Opinion in HI1mmQnd was r.I._d, the court.1so ul~ ilS opinion in Harmon o. /Ifottm fnsur. Qrl(YfrJrporQlion, 493 So.2d 1370 (,Id.. 19861. tn Harmon. the I.iool coort ~ umitt.d $460,001) of ~ SSOO.OOO wrdiet that 1wI included p<lnitiYt darnagn. Justice SI.~II, for au"",,;· roous court, wrote:

Ba<

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Upgra~e! , -~=

. . . ----

Seplember 1991 / 263

""Tht trial COUft did not stt out the facton it con.idered in ordering a new trial unl .... the plaintiff filed a remittitur of $460,000. Therefort. wo aro unable to say whether the trial court erred on this issue. Today in Hammond u. Cil!l of Godsden. 493 So.2d 1374 (Ala. 1986). this court has held that the trial court must ent.r an order stating its rtaSOns for grant ing Or denying motions of this kind. Therefore. the judgrmnt of the trial court is r",.. ~d and the «lUst remanded for entry of an ordtrcQrui,tent with the opinion in Hammond v. Cil!l of Gadsden." 493 So.2d at 1373. On the sam. day that the opinions in Hommond and Hormon were released. rehearing was denied in Criffin. Therefore. it apptared to me that Hammond would deal only with the problem addressed in the disS"nt in General Molors. which Iwi«llly involved the breadth of the corutitutionally guaran· twi right to trial by JUT» (Article I. II. Alabama Constitution of 1901). and which W/l$ t xcepted out of the general powen of government by Article I. 36, of the Constitution. It did not appear to me that Hl1I1Imond addr~d the due proce.. chal· lenge to puniti~ damages or cases in which trial courts refused to grant remittiturs without stating reasons. i.e,. Griffin. DUfing the summer and fall of 1986, I read eveT» law review article and treatise on punit ive damagu in tho Alabama Supreme Court Library and most major opinions from other jurisdictions on punitive damages, and I prepared what ultimately be«lme my .ptdal concurrence in kina Ufe Im;ur· <m<"I1 Co. v. Lavoie. The seven factors thai I suggested that trial courts should consider when confronted with the issue of """l'i""ne.. of puniti~ damage.s in that Sp<'Cial concurrence «1m< (I) from my ultimalely withdrawn dissenl in Griffin.' (2) from the dicta concerning punilive damages in ffammond ("culpability of defendant"s conduct. des irability of discourag· ing others from similar conduct, and impact upon the par· tiel"). (3) from Justice Almon's dissent in General M%rJ and Justlee Jon ..·s sptcial concurren", in Ridout"s-Broum !kn:ir:e. Inc. u. Hol/owa!l, 397 So.2d 125 (Ala. (981). and (4) from numerous law review articles and treali~s on puniti,.. dam· ages published belo,.. September 1986. My special concurrence was written to addre .. specifically Chief Jmtice Burg"" warn· ing Ihat whelher Ihe lack of sumeienl standards go,.. rning puniti~ dalTlllges violated the Ihle Procel' Clallst of the Four. teenlh Amendmenl was an importanl ;55ue. "which in an appropriate ~ni ng must be resolved." Subsequently. the court recognized that Ihe ucess;""ness Issue presented by Grimn should be r.... iewed in accordance with the proctdu ... s ~t out in Hammond. and on OI:tober 31, 1986. the court did what it ""ry .. loom does. and granted the ..cond applicalion for rehearing and remanded Griffin 10 the t,ial court for the tntT» of an order consistent with /lammond. At that time. I withdrew my dissenting opinion in Griffin. I ha"" often WQIldered if I would ha"" sptnt the time that I Sll"nt in formul ating standards that J Ihought would comply with duo proce ... if the majority of the oourt had granted the first appli«llion for rehearing in Criffm and had remanded the case for a hearing in accordance with Hammond al thai time. I had done Ihis research and prepa red a special concurrence in Aetna UI, In,urance Co. v. wooie by the time Ihe second 264 /September 1991

appli«ltion for rehearing was granted. so I published my Ipteial concur,..nc" when Aetna Ure IIuurotlce Co. v. Laook was reltastd in Jmuary 1987. Two years later. Green Oil Co. v. f/omsi>!I. 539 So.2d 218 (Ala. 1989). was apptaled to the Alabama Suprerm Court. In Green Oil Co.. Judge Jim Avary. the trial judge. had conducted a Hammond hearing on punitive damages and had fournl that although the culpability of Green Oil Company W/I$ gr... t and the wrong to the plaintiffs was ,ubstantial. it did not take a $150.000 puniti"" damages award "to be heard and felt a few miles down the road in Union Springs by two local individu· als'- The trial court ordered a remittitur of $125,000 of the punit i"" da~ award Or a new trial. In Green Oil Co.. with the chief justice and si~ justices concurring in the opinion. one justice conturring specially and writ ing. and one justice concurring in tho result. the Alabama Supreme Court affirmed Judge AvaT»'s judgment and held as follows: "The following could be taken into comideralion by the trial court in determining whether Ihe JUT» award of punili,.. damages is ucessive or inadequate: "(1) Punitive damag.. should bear a reasonable relationship to the harm that is likely to OC<:ur from the defendant's cornluct as " ..II as 10 the harm that actually has occurred, 11 the actual or likely harm is slight. the dalTlllges should be relatively small. If grievous. til<. damagu should be much greater. "'12) Th. degree of reprehensibility of the defen· dant's conduct should be considered. The duration of this conduct the deg .... of the defendanrs .wa...· ne .. of any hazard which hi> conduct has caUStd Or is likely to caust. and .ny concealment or "c",,",· up" of lhal hazard , and the tlCistence arnl frequency of similar past conduct should all be relevant in determining this degree of T(preheruibility. -(3) ff the wroogful cooduct was profitable to the defendant. the puniti"! damages should refl"lO'lie the profit and should be in e:tees.s of the profit.", that the defendant recogni.", a loss. "(4) The financial poSition of the defendant would be relevant. ""(5) Alllhe costs of IitiglOtion should be illCluded. so as to encourage plaintiffs to bring "Tongdoe,n to trial. -(6) If criminal sanctions have been imp05oi'd on the defendant for his conduct. this should be taken into accounl in mitigation of the punitive damages award. "'(7) If thore ha"" been other ci",l actions againsl Ihe same defendant. baS"d on the Ioame conduct. Ihis should be taken into account in mitigatioo of the punitive damages aw.rd:

"Aetna Ufe Imur<mce Ca u. Lavoie. 50S So.2d HlSO. 11>62 (Ala. 1987). Houston, J.. concurring specially." 539 So.2d al 223·24.

In Pacific MUlual Ufe ImurotICf! Co. u. H(1!ilip. Justice Blackmun, in footnote t.n in the <:>pinion of the Court referring to THE ALABM1A LilWYER

t~H HVtn lub$t.l.nti..., .tlJldard. thai Ihi.! Court had dtwl · oprd lor MI~ti"ll puniti..., <Wnagts awards, wrote:

"This. wt 1«1, diltinguilhu Alaba .....·• ')'Item lrom tilt \'ermont and MississiPf!i schtmts u.out which Jus· tias txpTUHd COllUm in Brotminf}·F'1lrris Industria 01 IWmonI, Inc. p. Knco Disposal. /ric.. 492 U.s. 257. 109 S.C!. 2909, 106 t..Ed.2d 219 (1989). ~ in lJi:mhrs Uk & Casual/II Co. P. CunshtmJ. 486 US. 71. 108 S.C!. 1645. 100 I..Ed.2d 62 (1938). In lhost respectivt sclltmu. an amount awardtd would ~ Ht ilSidt or modified only il it Wl.l ·rrIlOnif.. ltly and i/ro•.dy <XCtSS;"": PeUImO U. Bon· neau. 133 VI. 91. 329 A.2d 659. 661 (1974). or would ~ considered e.cusi,~ when 'it evincu passion. bias and prejudice on t~ part of I~ jury so as to IIlock I~ coosc~n«: lJi:mhrs urI' & QuU(1/111 Co. V. Cmu/lIlW.

sa.

483 So.2d 254. 278 1M .... 1985)." _ U.S. at ~ II I S.CL at 1!M5. Justict Blatkmun in Hallip also W'I'Ote: Mutual thUi ~ the bmtfil of tilt lull pmopl)o of ~'I PfI)ffiIunl prottctionL The jury wu ade· quattly instructtd. The trial court oonducttd a post·wr· dict hearillll that conformed ,,;th lIi1mmood • .. PiCi'" MutualliJO rwivtd lilt ~.,.fit ohppropriatt rtvitw by lilt Supume Court of A1lbIIma. It applied 1M HQmmond sundud. and approved t he verdict thereunder. II broui/ht to ~ar all u lfV1lnt factors r«ittd in /Crrerr Oil ComfJQtlJl v., HQmi;b,l: _ U.S. at ~ III S.C\. at 1!M6.

·!'xi'"

The AlwrrllO Sup~rno Coort ruoMd the inconsistency in doling with issllts of txcusiVfIlUS and umittitur of punil"'" ohrn.;r,~ called 10 its lttenhon by Justice Maddox (Gerw-ol Motors ) ~ httdW tilt .... ming oltht United St.l.tts Supurno Court inMtni1 Uk fmlmmt:r Co. II. ~. lindt, tilt \tadf:r. ship of Justice Shoru (Homm(Jn(/), JU$/iu Stugall (Hormon). JUilin Almon (Cmerol Motors, diUtnll. ond Justice Jonu (Ritiout'5. opmal concumnctl. lilt court dtw\orJtd I system for trial and appellat. coorn to evaluatt and U'Jiew punitiw darrllOgts awards. using the Crwn Oil Co. lubst.l.nlj..., ot.l.n· dard •• in a manner thlt comporu with tht dut prottss requirement. of Ih~ Fourtunth Amendmenl!o the United • Sutes Constitution ,

Footnote.

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ATTENTION Local Bar Presidents There is an increasing need tor a current listing of loca( bar presidents, and it is diHicuU to Keep up wi th all the changes since the elec tions vary with each association. We are aSKing for your assistance in maintaining an up·todate list. Please let us Know as soon as possible when there is a change within your local group. You may send this information to: Alice .10 Hendrix Membership Services Director PO, Box 671 Montgomery. Alabama 36101 or call 1-800-392·5660 (in·state WATS) or269·1515

THE At.\8AMA u.wn:R

Stptt~r

199t 1265

YOUNG LAWYERS' SECTION By KEITH B. NORMAN

Farewell to the Old

IIII

""0< .o"'••.m, ".0, yur for='" a repri of "Auld

Lang Syne". but the time has arri~d \0 bid a fond farew.1l to s.everaJ YLS officer! and wekome our

newest members to the Executiw Commiltu. I thank Sine Sh.", of Birmingham and Taylor Flowtn of Dothan who have

Ixen actiw members of the

E.ecuti~

Committe. and contributed much duro ing their tenure <)n the commiU... Both will be misstd. Next. J welcome our newest members of the committe• . Pau]. 8a1re. of Birm. insrum and Deni.. Ferg"son of HuntsviII • . We are very fortu nate to have both of them. and r believe they will add greatly \0 the vitality and industry of the comm itte •. In /act. each has alrudy accepted a special comm ittee assignment willingly and enthusiastically. At the section's annual busin~ meeting held during th" stale bar's annual meeting at the Perdido Beach Hilton. Executiv e Committee membe rs Hal w..t of Bi rmingham and Duane \\1[1-00 vitd for the office of t"'a5urer, "ith Hal's being elected. The rest of 1m office.. and ~::w:uti~ Committee members seTVing for the 199]·92 bar yur are listed at right. Finally. comments about the Execu· tiw Committee would not be complete without taking a moment to mention Pe rc~ B.dh.m , Our sect ion's former president. 1 feel fortunate that PerC!' will continue to serve in an ex officio capaCity as immediate past president. As president. Percy did an outstanding job throughout his tenure on the E:w:utiw Committee. His regular attendance at American liar Association Young l.a~'ers· Division meetings and involvement with YLD comm ittees has ke pt Alabama in good stead with Yl.D leaders. Thi. has resulled in gr. <I!e, opportuni ties for members of OUT stlte affiliate and local affiliates to participate in oommillets and activities. Thanks. Percy. for

266 1 ~ptember

1991

an outstanding ~ar as president and for your long and wntinuing commitment to the young lawyers in Alobarna. Section program. Last Sept.m~r. the Executi," Committee adopted the following as a stat.ment of purpose to guide our section's activili"", To encourage the creation of new affiliates; to strengthen tht existing affiliates; to seek th e active p;orticip;otion of all young lawyers. esptcially wOmen and minorities. in the activities of the section; to focus on statewide out· ruch by encouraging tht net · working of loca l affili.t .. in

statewide pub lic service and ser· vice to the profession: to help young lawye" become mOre skilled ad,'ocaieS t hrough the de~e lopment and promotion of CLE programs : to help improve younger tawyen' quality of life: and to fOSin professionalism among alllawyen, In . <lch of my president's art icle •. I plan to highlight section programs which illustrate efforts to fulfill this commitment. TWQ programs I """ntion in this issue are Pro-law Conf... nc .. f01 Minority High School Students and the Law Studtnt Li.lison Projrd, Minority pre-law conferences are del;igntd to encourage minority students

1991·92 OFFICERS & EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESIDENT-ELECT: Sid Jackson. Mobile

SECRETARY: lei Hayes,

~Iontgomery

EXECUTIVE COMMIITEE: Charlie Anderson,

~Iontgomery

Buster Russell, Montgomery

Paula Baker, Birmingham

Jim SUH •• Gadsden

Robert Baugh, Birmingham

Amy Slayden. Huntsville

Rebecca BI)'an . Montgomery

Buddy Smith. Birmingham

laura Crum, Montgomery

Jay Smith, Birmingham

Deni se Ferguson. Huntsville

Alycl' Spruell, Tuscaloo!oil

Fred era)" Jr.. Tuskegee

Trip Walton, Opelika

Warren laird, Jasper

Duane Wilson. TuscalOO>.1

Frank Potts , Florence

Frank WGOdson. ~I obile

Ban)' Ragsdale, Birmingham THE AlJIBAMA UlWYE R

10 consider I ~ pooi~ of tn.' ioWI i tarttr option. This is ilCcomplished by in\tiling minor,ty )(udtnts 10 ,,",r1 icipo.l~ in i ((11"1. ~I'l'r« whcn they how an oppOrtunity 10 mHt and htir from jurists ind promi· ntnt Ia,,~ .. conaming ~r5OI'Iil fl,,~· nmcu as millOl'ltits in the Itglol pro{ts· sion. YO\In, laW)'f:r lffilialn in olh.. slalU which hiw spOnsored minorily pl'l'-1aw cooferrncu haw mel " ilh gl'l'it SUCCtsJ, Our plan is i lill ie diffe rent. hoIo.'tWr, II'e hopt 10 haw not one , but nvu a\. minori ty prt. law conftroncu across the siite. In additio n. we hope lhal IhtH conferences ... ill become an ann~1 r'o'tnt. rrtd C ray. Jr. of TuskegH his .grud to chiir 1M planning com· mill ... for IMH confel'l'r«s and PJ.ula 01 Birminghim will HM as vice·

Bam

chilor. TIlt following young lon.~rJ "ill HM on Ihr pluming committH : Da.id Lon, . B, rmingham; Hon. Jo C olu l~ Pe ltw.,. Camden; Clau~ . Hund l.,. HunUyi11t; T heroa Stolru . Montgonwry, Maria t'twlNn, Dothan; ByrOn Ptttinl , B,rminlllim; ~ia ......1M PudI· til, llunUYille; \l,me lIunlley, Mobilr: Courtney Tl owr. Montgomery; E ... 1yn TtJgut . lIirmingham: PbyIlis " i mberly. TUSCilooN; Sh. lbonnl. Colemln . lI.ll, Mobi le; Bl rry Rlg, dale. Birmingh am; JIY Smith , Birmin gha m; SUlan R UII, Montgomery; an d Cha rl u Tatum , JioWIjItr. TIlt othe, ntW proj«t that! am , 'tty . ",ited;about i$ the L.aw Studtnt Liloison Project. Thi$ progn m i. cha ired by Alyet Spru t ll of Tusuloou. It will

involvt group$ of young liwyt F$ ITIn't· ing with law sludfnts in the law Khools of ,,1,1),.101, It is duig~d to inert_ th. Iwlrenen Imong Ilw Sludt .. t. aboul tht YlS; to provick ancIid informalion regarding th~ realit ies of law prKlk~: 10 auisl ~ .Iud .... u in tllrir abili ty to aUtU career opportuni t i~. within the WIlt; and to pnl\'ick ~ liii""" between the Hclion.nd Khoois 10 .ssisl students in th. ir transit ion from Siudent to ~ member 01 the Alabama Slate Bar. As these newtst IWO progra .... indio cate. the YlS is act,ve. In my next arti· tit. 1 will highlight our local affiliates .nd their imporl,nce 10 programs irwolvina: publi' HMce .nd HTYiC~ to tht prolusion. •

"'w

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! Workers' Compensation : Law Section

: ALABAMA STATE BAR I I

~;~~;~"m

Wl)rkers' Compensation Law Section elo Gary PearJ. secretaryftreas urer

P.O. Box 10406 Birmingham. Alabama 35202 Telephone (205) 254-711 J Facs imile (205) 254-n57

MEMBERSHIP AND ANNUAL DUES STATEMENT 1991-92 Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ r irm Name_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Mai ling AddTU$ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ _

Committee preferenc. : _ _ Sign ifitant o.cuions _ _ Semi nar

THE M.AlJAMA LAWYU!

Septe mber 1991 1267

BUILDING ALABAMA'S COURTHOUSES CALHOUN COUNTY COURTHOUSE BII SAMUEL A. RUMORE, JR.

, The fot/owing continues" hislorll of Alobl1rnQ's COUn/1l courlhouses-

their origin. and some the people ,dlO contributed 10 their growlh. Th. AI••• m. L.",." pfan. /0 run One coon/II's story in each i.<:;ue of/he mag_

azine. If!lou hove ClfIJi photographs 01 eorly or pn!W711 rour/houses, please foru'drd them II): Samuel A. Rumore, Jr.• Miglion;co & RumQre, 1230 Brown Mau rouler. Birmingham, Alaboma

-II Ii

n ~rt ~s ~n nol, location of a county .utthe in Al3bam~ has been decided by poiltie" In the cast of Calhoun County. the .arne i•• 1.., true concerning the county name. Calhoun County waj oriGinally est~blj$h.d IS Benton County on Dec.mller 18. 1832 out of lands obtained from the Creek lndi~n

Ce$Sinn of March 1832. The 510f)'

of why the name was changed says much ab-out the pol itica l tenor of the limes. Thomas Hart Benton had pla}'~d a role in tile early hi~tol)' of Alabama. Benton was born in 1782 in North Carolina, His family later moved 10 Tenne"",. where he became act ive in local polilics. In 1809 he became a state senalor, and in IS]] was admitted to the Tennusee Bar. Benlon was a friend of And .. w Jackson's and seT\:ed under him in Ihe Creek Campaign in Alabama. In 1814. he became commander of Fort Mont · gomel)'. near the sile of Fort Mims. in Baldwin County. Benton and Jackson bream. tempOral)' enemies foll owing a duel involving Benton', brother. Jesse. with a dose friend of Jackson's. It was reported that a later encounter took place between 268 /September 1991

CoIIH>un County CoU<'lhou. .

Benton and Jackson in which Jackson brandished a whip. Benton had a pistol. Jackson pointed a gun at Benton. and Benton 's broth.. shot Jackson in the shoulder. Jackwn in tum shol at Ben· Ion but mi"",d. and then Benton shot at Jackson and missed. A friend of Jackson's shot al Benlon and he also mi"",d. The mel.e involved olhtr friends and aCQuaintancts. bul fo.lunatdy for American histol)'. the marksmanship of the participants WaS poor, and no one was killed. Shortly ther .. ftn Benton mo~d 10 the Missouri frontier. Sometime later tile friendship bet...-een Jack· son and Benton was restored. When Missouri became a stale in 1821. Thomas Hart Benton was one of its United Stat., senators. He became a spokesman for the expansion of the W.SI. He was also a strong supporter of

Andrew Jackson and broughl support from his region of til. countl)' to Jackson's Democratic Party. In 1832. the Alabama Legislature hon· ored Benton by naming a county for him. HO'w",,,,,,. over the turbul.nt ;urs which fOllowed. Benton took tile pOlitical pOsition that slaveI)' should not be furth.r upand«l in the Wes\. This stand ang.red many Southerners. including members of the Alabama Legislature. On January 29. 1858 the Legislature officially changed the name of Benton County to Calhoun County in honor of John C. Calhoun of South Carolina. a proponent of stales' rights and nullifica· tion. Thomas Hart Benton died later that yeu on April 10. 1858. and his I'I/Itne today is only a footnote in Alaba· ma hiltol)'. When Benton County was originally THE AU\IIA."IA U\\VY£R

created, ~ public meeling w~s held to decide the location of tht county ~at. Alexandria, White Plains and Drayton w.. e the mgg.sted 5ite5, Drayton. named for a prominent South Carolina family. won by one vote. The name of the t""., was $OOn changed to Madison. probably in honor of form .. Pr.. ident James Madison. tn 1833. a log cabin was used as the first courthouse. It was replaced in 1834 by a brick building const ructed on a l<Iu.r. in the town. Shortly thereafter the name of the town W.5 changed again. This time it became Jacbonvill. in honor of then ·President Andrew Jack· son . The records at this courthou5t were burned by Union force. during the War Between the Silltes. ~'ollowing Ihe war, entrepreneurs saw gnat potential for investing in the South. On. ,uch entrepreneur was Samuel Noble. an iron manufacturer from Rome, Ceorgia. With mont)' bor. rowed from the Quintards, longtime friends in New York. he organized the Woodstock Iron Company on Nay 4. 1872. lie al$O involved Ceneral Daniel Ty lu of Connecticut. and hi, son5. Alfred L. Tyler and Edmund L. Tylu, in this proj«t. The Woodstock Iron Company bought up thousands of acres of land in Cal · houn County for its manufocturing plants and for future development. Since there was already a post office assigned to • Woodstock. Alabaffiil, the company tQ\o.'ll became known as Anni,· ton, a shortened form of "Ann ie's Town". named for Mrs, Annie Scott Tyler. the wife of Alfred Tyler, for its fint II years of nistence, Anniston was completely Q\o.'lled by the company, The t",,'n was formally opened for public sale of property on July 3.

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1883. The ceremony wu presided over by Henr~ W. Crady. a friend of the Nobles who was editor of the Allan/a Corulilu/ian. N; 500n as Anniston. r~ned the -M(K!e1 City" because it was a planned company town. became a public community. a movement was started to change the county seat from Jacksonville to Annis· ton. The old courthouse in Jacbonoille was in a sad state of disrepair. A grand jury in 1885 recommended either exten· sive renovation of tht building or that new courthouse be built. The county commissioners authorized the construction of a new courthouse in Jackson in tarly 1886. The Anniston newspapt ... the /10/ 8/as/. criticized thi' use of publir money. The paper stat· ed that the contractor was from Cwr. gia. Ihe bricks were from Chattanooga, and the construction was inferior. Besides. tht courthouse ,hould be built in Anniston. The probate judge election of 1886 was hotly contested and ..",ed as an indicator of the relative ,trength. of Jacksonville and Anniston concerning the courthouse issue. The candidate

from Anni'ton losl by a little owr 3{)O votes. and this laid to r.,t the mo ....· ment to remove the courthouse for the ne~t few ~ars. Oy 1889. Anniston soughl its Q\o.'ll city court, and a bill "eating it P'Used the Alabama Legislature that year , Thi, action was an impori.lntstep for demon· strating the need of removal of the courthouse from Jacksonville to Annis· ton. du e to the volume of busines •. It wa, reported that the docket of the Anniston City Court would handle more cases in the nexl decade than the entire circuit court had disposed of at Jack· ""wille in the prwioU5 60 jIt/Irs. 1'he issue of courthouse "mQ\'. 1 sur· faced once again in 1898. Th. legisla. ture passed a bill that was signed by the I/O"ernor Nowmber 30. 1898 calling for a county seat election. In January 1899. a group of business leaders met and the decision WM made that if the courl· house was moved to Anniston. the coun· ty would not haw to pay for it because il would be built by the citizens of Annis· ton , Th. fight for the courthouse was an extremely bitter one. Anniston argued

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THE AL\BAMA LAWYER

LANDTECH

CORPORATION

(407) 833-0454

30J Guaranty Building . 120 South Olive A""nut . We" Palm Beach. FL 33401

&ptember 1991 / 269

tl\&t it was ~n induft,;~l tawn. l ~* ... il c~nte r lnd mor. acc~ .. iblo to tht majority of tll~ citiltns. Jackson"il1~ tounttnd with tl\&rlts 01 Anni$ton's Ilfrtd iUld crool<td pOlitics. OU well as strusina the still ~btivtly new fxility in J~lle. In tho ~kction 01 FdmJ&ry 1. 1899 Annilton wu victorious O'IItr Jxksonville ~ II volt of 3,84(1 to 2.236. J'tksonvillf initi"l~d a tourt aClion and soughl , wril of mandamu. to prtvent .tmov~1 of the court records. It was deni td. Thtn the constitutionality of the election itstlf was qU~$tionw and brought before the AlabaIN. Suprtmo Court. TIli, cue wou dismissed in July 1899. A new cue was filtd in Stptembtr 1899. The finll d«uion was noIlundtd down by 1M iUp~me court until J ~ 1900. AIItr rT1OI'fc tt.an two gtnfntions. Jxksonville was no Iongtr th~ county K"t 01 Calhoun County. MId Ann~on wu lIuthoriud to build a new courtMuK. Plaos ...·Ut fina.liud in Augwt

1900, and I COrntl'$tonr co..,mony took place NoYf!mbtr 15 oItl\&t fUr . Although ntem~ly ..,,,.,,.,,.ttd O'IItr the yurs. tht originlll courtllou$e begun in 1900 still K,,",S loS the C<11· houn County Courtl\ouK. It was con· str ucted in the NeoclassiclIl RevivlIl style by Ifclliuct I.W, Gotucke of Atlll1l1.l1 is onr «1M earliest NtOClilSsjelll cou rt houstl still sanding in Alahllma, bting predated onl~ by the Lee Count~ and the Chambtrs County courthouses. Th~ Chambeu County Courthouu It Lafayette wa. .1.0 du,gMd b)' l.W. Colucke. The courthoust at Anni$ton was built ~ S.C. HouKr ,nd Wolsoncroft. ContrKtors. and tilt structure wou compl.ted in 1902 It a tost of SI30,(IOO. The building is" two-$tOf)l brick .truetUrt built 0'IIt1' a ~.toot IwmItnL Tile fint noor windows lire nllt with nised keystonu. The stCOnd IIoor ....in· !lows lie IIchtd and c"l'P"d by .to...

We Dare Defend Our Rights - . . . _ _ ""

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moldings with ralud ktyllonU. Tht upptr floor cont"'n. II 50rin of Corinthian pililSttfS with brick $1\&1\$. Tht nntral fntrllnn · way contain. thm udIt$. The courthouK is topped by a clod: tower. In 1924, lIII ~ W;U lKkItd 10 tilt north side 01 1M building for tht county )iiI. On January 15. 1931 the Calhoun County Courthoust burned. The txteri. or .... Ils ~lT1lIintd intact. but t .... entire int~rior "'IIS dutroytd. 'T'hI' courthouK Wilt rt<on$tructtd in 1932. Lockwood and Pounwtone KfVtd as architecb for tilt projKt, and Mauriee R. Thomas woo ~~tt archittet. The buildtr wu J.P. Bradfltld. Additions "'tre InlIde to the court_ houH in 19-4lundtr tll~ dirtction 01 ~rlts H. ~ulry. II1lfcllilKt from Birminillam. Andrew and IR<own ...~rt tht buildtfS for this annn. AnotlM:r ,ddilion was InlIde in 1953. And. in t963. a Ont-story windowless addition wOO attached to tIM: 500theasltm cornu of tile courthouH building. Jam .. M. Hoffflllln wu architect for thi. project. and ShiniKy and Kay of Anniston "'tre contractors. Tilt pr~Hnt Calhoun County Courthoust has scNtd tho count~ si~ 1902. It _ plxtd on 1M Natiorv.l Regifter of Historic Places on October 3. 1985. BtcallSt 01 its various additiom 0'0'fT the )'Un, tho building hu btcomo a patchworI<. Sewnl proJIOSlIts I\iIIt ~n midt for II new toUrthouK. but no funding "'OU t\'tr found to rqrlace tho buildi"ll. Instud. various (()Unty (()Urts have had to rtloute as tlltir nttds outgrew tilt old structu re. Recently a tobacco ta~ WIS adopltd by Ihe Cailloun County Commiuion to providt " fund in g 5OOr« for a two-phaKd courthouse reno ovation projKt. Wh~n work i$ compld· ttl. all court$ will bot albot to rdurn to thf ~novattd Calhoun County Court-

......

Bentlty Building Com,..ny, inc. of Bynum. AWulIT\II is tilt contractor for tM courthouK ~novat;on. The lIrchitrct is William L ChriSl~n of Christ;'" and ASIoc~tn with off'ocn in Anniston ;mel Atlll1ll1. The ~l1QYation i$ upt<:ttd to bt compltttd by Iunr 1992. The t.ti"""ted COlt of the pffljtct is $3.5 million. Tile auilla r IIIankJ Circuit Court Jud~ I'faltolm Sirttil for information crmcemi1!g Ille NYlOt'lltion project. • TIlE; Al.A8A\\A LAWYER

HONOR ROLL

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Ric ..rd o...n P."L Jr. Ri<",~ E. '""""'" Sam".1 H. F""ldln Oar! M. Goboon M. 'P~I..C_

Jolin C""",t Godbold

TIlE ALABArI1A LAWYER

Hu"" I..,.,. Pn'<r. IV

\\,lI iMn P. G,O\'. Jr.

Maoltli,... Hughe. fWlooa. Will~m

CI>tTyll.ynn I"n« ,"" II .. ", ONitl Rutrt.!

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V.lUmmond Ro,.......T,IUrnnr,

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Tomm" 8rown Ha"",,",~ Si<I..,. JoI<>«y J4n'<n

POInt .. 1\0. .. R"" .. Looi> Coopt, Ru,1>nd y,,,, cr,"" S.mlord, Jr. SoIomo<I S. k Corol J.... Srrulh l.-. II<mord Smithut

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William M>cb<IhW-.Jr.

Ruohtrlor<! Lyk 1\tJ'. Jr. [)ovid Ki"ll

€v. M. \\',ldi"ll Clem W,ldrOp, Jr. Clw~ It 1I"m;><>k!, Jr John Roy Mkho< l u..id W ..... Jt,. f. WM• . Jr.

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k>I1n Wi II;"" II II Bryon! A. Whit ..... k

Wm .. 8rickm Lightfoot \\',lIiom 8. Lloyd. Jr.

r'-rd tumill"" W,loon. Jr.

Hugh Min>

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\\-dllart1 Roy

w.:.... J"

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n.om.. 0."\01 AnO,.... I>d>onliol1lt.11I lode M....II Nolm Jock .'It,,,,II Iioitn. Ir. lht"", W>.yn< Iioit" Ad.om ~ f'«k Robttl H. Pt"", - . . . Dovtd Pll<lps

8""" F_rd \\,11"""

&1UW7f MaV 29 rmd August S. In/IN

foI/oimw (""" ...... pkdga to ,I>< lNj/tRtwJ fw4. 11korj-_ ",ill ""'" /W «iJJ<kd"". ..ai/ in III< ,..." buildmt;. 1isI;.,g ,.!/ C'M/riiJu""'" rl><irpWga_~"';lh

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Tu_&W"""

September 19911 271

I OPPORTUNITIES ThIl following programs hll<VI I1«rI approoed bg 1M A/abomo Mandalorg Coolinuing Ugal EduC'OliotI Q/mmission for CLE CMlll. F()r mformation ~rdin9 ()/her a,vi/able apProoH programs, ron/act DiIllM Weldon. admi"iJlralilJ<! =isl""t for programs, 11/ (2Q5) 26~1515. Imd a romp/ele CLE colernlar will ~ mailed /0 VOU.

22-25

.....

SEPTEMBER

Po _ (,dlo .. of Chlld Suual

U' WEDNESDAY AIIOWI .. , En~ron ... en lal Llllb llJl1ln AI ......... Birmingham National Bwiness [",tituto, Inc. C1I!dils: 6,0!C00: SI08

171.5) 8JS.M2S 1. THURSDAY C.lledlOftll Montgomtry Alabama Bar lru;jilut./o.

Onngt IIuctl. Perdido Buell Hilton Alabama District AtlOr0ey5 Assoc~tion

Credits: 8.7 (205)2614191

24 TUESOAY """Idl.., £ .. 'IInoa_..I.1 LlahlUlJIl. Alaba. . Mobile. Ramidi Resort & Conf.rtI1~

eu:

emil,: 6.0 (205) 348·623(1

Ctnlt' National Business INtilute. Inc. Credits: 6.0 I Cost: $108 (7151835·8525

OCTOBER , TUESDAY

OStIA Com,II. nc:t In A1.ba .... Birmin~m

National Business Institute. Inc. CNdits: 6.0 ICost: SlOB (715) 835·8525 2 WEDNESDAY

OSHA C_,U. nc:t in Alaba... Hlilltsvil~

N.1liona1 BusintSS 1"'I\ilule. Inc. Credits: 6.0 I Cost: SI08 (715) 835-8525 3 THURSDAY

Toru E""loymtnt and Laltor t..." In AI- boo· · Binn~m

lornwl8usiness Ctnlu. Inc. CrtdilJ: 6.0 I Cost: $110 (7l51831·39tQ " >'Oldl .. , Enrironm. " l.Ioi Llablll l:f In Alabama

Huntsvilk N,liorW Business IlUtitult.Jnc. CTftlils.; 6.0 I C06t: SI08 (71518JS.3S25 20 FRIDAY

Ba,le Practice In PTobaole Cou rt Birmingh.am, Edna Merl. Carrw~y C~nter

Cumbtrland Institutt for CI.E (205) 870-2865

.....

25 WEDNESDAY

"""Idln' En'llro ..... t n ...1 LWolll lJlUo AlaN .... Montgomny. (;(mmor'J ~ Hotel

National BU$int$$ Institute. Inc.. Credits: 6.0 I Coil: S108 (715) 835-8525 28 THURSDAY

Huntsville Alabama Ba.lnstilutt lor CLf Credits: 6.0

"'"

,....".,

1'1. . Rultl of Profeulo ...1 Condud MontgOmtl)' Cumberland INtitute for CLf.

(205) 870·2865

Em ,loymtll' . .. d IAIwr I.. Ala ..• ... •

.. FRIDAY

HuntsvilJo

L.omwo OusintSS Cmler. Inc. Cl'WIits: 6.0 I Coil: SilO

(715) 833.J940

er.rJ1~S: 6'(J

Birming/wn Rlo, Institute lor CLE

(20S) 348·6230 27 FRIDAY

Will Dra Wn, Birmingham AIaharN Rlo, Institute for CLE

Cn!rJits:6.0

Un ln ... redlUnderlnlurtd Molonll COVtnit Mobile Cumberland Institute for CLE (205) 871).2865

(205) 348 6210 NnI aula of Profudonal

"'-aM" F. ...'..,. Law Crnlils:6.0

Alnnicano With OlsahlUliu Acl Birmingham. Harber! Center Cumberland Institute for CLE

(205)

(205) 870·2865

Cuntersville. Cunttrsvilll: Statt Park

Allbima Bar Institute rorcu; 348~30

272 1 Stpl.m~r 1991

c......

Birmingham Cumberland lrutitute for CLf (205) 870·2865

THEALABA.'tA LAWYER

8 TUE8DAY Buyln,~.

Tratiq ClabM

Binnin~m

CumbnlMld lll$titut. for CL£ (205) 870·2865 I"rottctlon.f Sec:um bltn-ab In Ba.......'tcy Huntsville N~tionlol Business Institutt.loc. CTflflits: 6.0 ' Cost: S 118 (715) &15-8525

,,.,

10 THURSDAY

Mobile AliIwm &r Institute for CLE Credils: 6.0

(2OS134So623O

...

11 FRIDAY

MonliOmtry f!,r Institute lor CL£ CTflflils: 6.0 (205) 348-6230

Bankruptc), for Ib, Central Practitioner !lirmin~m

Cumberland InstiMt for CI.t: (205)870·2865

22 TUESDAY AMtI Proltcllon Planniq

lIinninglwn Cumberland Instilut. for CI.E

CumbnlMld Inslltute for cu: (205)870-2865

,,.,

HI WEDNESDAY

"""'"

Alabama &r Institutt for CLE CTflflils: 6.0 (205) 348·6230

'''m

Cumberland Institut. for CI.E (205) 870-2865

(205) 870-2865

,,.,

23 WEDNESDAY

""~ &r Institute forCI.E

~booma

CTflflils: 6.0 (205)348·6230 24 THURSDAY F .... I\)' r.." Practice

Monll/Omery AIWITII Bu Institute for CI.E Oedits: 6.0 (205)348·6230 Fra .... LltI,.tlon In Ala ....... Mobilt Nlotionll Busmw Imtilule. lnc. Cmiits: 6.0 I CO$I: SIOS (715) 83S-8525 25 FRIDAY

Pam!\)' r.." Practlu Birmingham Alabama Bar Institute for CLI: Crrdits: 6.0 (205) 348-6230

Mnn«4 Ba....... ,1c)' Binnin~m

New R.. ln of Prof..oio...! Conihoo'

Nf,ot

RuM. of PNfeulonal Conduct

"""""

CumbtrlMld Institute for CI.E (205) 870-2865

F....1i Llll,ilatkm In AIaloama Montgomery Nati"",,1 Business institutt.loc. Crwlils: 6.0 I COIl: S 108 17I5)8JS.8525

5 TUESDAY RICO

Birmilliham Cumberlan<J lnstitute for CLI: (205) 870·2865 eWEDNESDAY

S!>Ccu,r..1 Cnillon' Sl.. t~'-' In Bankruptcy

Mobilt NatiONI Business Institut~. Inc. Crrdits: 6:() 1 Cost: $108 (7 15) 8JS.852S

7 THURSDAY

U ...... I.tffi... Eltat .. Birmingh.im A1a~ma Bar Institute fot Cll: CTflflil$.· 6.0 (205)348·6230

Unineundlllndenni und Molo .... ' Co",.. Birmllliham Cumberland Institut~ for CLE (205)870-2865 8 FRIDAY J ....... lk La" J"noctke a nli . . . . . . . . . ft

Birmingham ALlbalTllllar Institute lor eLI: (205) J.l8-6230 En_lronment.1 LIUption

17 THURSDAY

Cn ... I...1 La" Birmin~m

AbNrtII &r Institute forCLE CrwJils:6.0 ('205)348-6230

31 THURSDAY DtpMlllon Taldq

Birmingham ~ Bar Institutt forCLE CrrdiIS: 6.0 (205)348-6230

New R1lIq of P-rofn.I .... t Condud

Mobi), Cumbtrbnd Instllute for CI.E Crrdils: 6.0 (205)348-6230 Ju,," Pl,)'thololl)'

Birmingham Cumberland Ill$titutt for CLE (W.~)870-2865

TI lE ALABAMA U.wYEIi

NOVEMBER

Birmin~m

institute for CLI: (2(l5} 870·2865 Cumberl~nd

14 THURSDAY

TrW 111.... BirmingNm ~ liar Institutt for CLI: Cmiits:6.0 (205)348-623(1

1 FRIDAY B ... lnell Tortt

Birmingham Cumberland Institute for CLI: (205)870·2865

Exte llence In AIhtoc:IC)' Birmingham Cumberland Instilute fOT CLE (2Q5187Q·Z865 ~P\tmbeT

1991 / 273

OPINIONS OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL BI/ ROBERT Iv. NORRIS. general counsel

m o

I "

..- found ' "I hll~t mystlf in 1I ,i tolltion ..hut my oPJI(I-

ntnt in litigation contends

that my firm muM withdraw from rep-

rntnllotion of I longtime tilt nt, Client A, for whom .... have acttd ;as itnt,,,1 cou~l. dut to In .. Ilfged connid of inum!. u", Rul. 1.7 of tilt Rules of

Profeuianal Conduct , Cln we tah of the Commt'lll tQ Rult 1.7 ;and withdraw from representing Client C lind continue 10 repluenl Client A under Rule U? '1lIt sit ... tion arow when I filed suit on bthilf of Clitnt II i~lIinst B. In AI"boo.",. itnUlI1 pa.tntuhip. lind ill I!tnf11ll1 partntrs. C and D. for brach of a construction contrKt and f11lloo in th. inducement and during ptrio.man", of 1m con!11IICt. W. also llltgtd II pattern lind practice of f. aud b;ased On othe , jobs handled by D who was owrsuing the construction woriI lor B. C did not get invoMd ...ith tilt CORIlruction project lind did not commit any of tho "lIegtd fraud and i. not claim~d to M part of a pattern and practice. C is only included in the lawsuit by virtue of beinjl a general partMr in B. OII'Id thus liable for 1M acts d B. "Shortly "ftu filinQ IUlt, I lurned tNt .nother lawyer in our firm. J....... _ nprtsl:nting C on a one·tilm mat· te r which was totally unrelated to the litigation. This is the onty time ·....Il ha,'t reprnented C. The unrelated matt .. involW<l 1M prrparation of 1M nectl' AI)' Itgli doculmnU lor a condomini· um development. The condominium project was not conMcted in any ""ay "";th the pmje.:t out of which the con· stru"ion lawsuit arose. Different en!i· tiel were the "...,l1UI d the two projects and different people were invol~d in _h projKt. Tho only (()fIMdion d C "";th the construction P>'l~ was that it _ I jJtmraI partMr d the own« d Ihe construction project. B. a general partnership. "I.egal work on the condominium lIIYan~

274 1 Stptember 1991

pn)jKl for C commenced in April 1989. ror KWraI years prior to thiJ date. our firm hid acted as I/(MI1OI coo"..,1 for A. In September 1989. A entered into I C(lnltruction conlract witH B for a pro~ which ""lIS not in <lny WlIy related to

In the situation where a lawyer talres part in litigation against an existing client, "the propriety ofthe conduct must be measured not so much against the similarities in litigation, as against the duty of undivided loyalty which (l1l atlonrey owes to each of his clients. ~ the condominium proje.:t. In Nowmber 1989. Client A asked us quntions con· cerning the rorutruction cont",ct. W. periodically thertlfter cave A advice concerning its rights under the con· Itruction conlr.lcl. Millters deto:rior.>ted be twun A and B. Ind in November 1990. A asked us 10 luil agairut B. C was included as a defendant In the la",,· wit .inee it ""as one of the I/(lltral partIItrs of B. Suit was IlItd N(lYtmiltr 13,

,....

"In late Nm~mbtr 1990. ~ discovered the potential conflict coocerning C. We immediately notifitd,. and C of the .itu~lion. We reteiwd verbal con .. nl from both,. and C to continue our rep. restn~ions in the ~ivt matter"$. " In JOII'IUllf)' 1991. W! W!rt <ldo.Wd by cou"..,1 lor C thlt C was withdrawing itJ C(ltIStnt 10 OOr rtpresentil\ll" in the COI1Jtruction litigation btciIUK 'Nt had not fully infol'lmd C as to the e~tent of lhe potential con~ict. Thi. was iurpris·

injllince C hid a COVf 01 the Coxnplaint and hid in·howe lawytrs on mff. Nevertheless. C insisted thlt we withdl10w from our repreKntation of A in the con· .truction litigation but continue to rep!'tKnt C in the condominium project. C contends W! must "";thdraw from npreKnting " btClUse of Rule 1.7 of the Rules 01 ~I Conduct and cites a pOflion ottht Comlmnt there (under .ubtitle 'ConflictJ in Litigation') which .\alel: ·Ordinarily. a la~r must not act as advocate against a client the lawye r represents in 10.... oIMr ...... tter. n'tfl if 1M otMr matter iJ wholly unrrlated.' "Since 1M matter involvinjl C iJ ....'hoI. Iy unrelated to the con$truclion litiga· tion. it ..ems to me the Comment to Rule 1.7 controls haw thl. claimed c0nflict could be resolwd. Tho second Kntenee In the Kcood I"-ra,"'ph of the Com ..... nl under 'Loyalty to • Clitnt' Jtiotes: 'Where more thin one clienl i. involved and lhe la~r withdrav.os because a connict ari.ws after repreKntalion Iha. been undertak· enl, wheIMr the lawyer may continue to represent any of t he clie-nI$ is deto:rmined ~ Rul<: 1.9: "Rule 1.9 would not Sftm to prtl-l:nt UI from continuing to repreKnt ,. in the con5truction litigation, if ......, withdrew from repreKnting C in the condominium pro~ct. line. the construction litigation has no relatlon5hip or connection to 1M condominium project. "'This resolution ot tht HMrted con· flict ......... mentioned to C"I cou~1 who reJponded by citing Wolfram's Horn · bOQ~ on Modem /.egal Elhics an d the CII1ifornia b/lnkruptcy use In '" Cali· fomia Cannen ana CNHl'f!rs. 74 B.P. 336 (1987). The cited authority slittd that in the 5itUlitions invol''flI in the authority. tilt l<tW)'tr could not choooK bttWftn clients as to whom he would rtprnent. HQ,,·evtr. the bankruptcy cue ,eemo to bt diJlingulshable from

TIlE ALABAMA lAWYER

our ~ituat ion ~ince the t .... o matteu invol""d here are totally unrelated and .ince the cast d",ls .... ith the old code. Add it ionally , the pOrt ion. of Wolfram cited talk about simultaneous li tigation .... hich ..... do not have in OUr situation. MorfO'Jer, the refe .. nces seem to be at odds with the Comment 5I'ction to Rule 1.7 cited al>oV<' which seem:; to requi .. .... ithdra .... al from reprn.ntation of at lea5t one client but allows continued representation of aooth .. if such would oot ";013t. Rul. 1.9. "Thus. the quest ion presented is .... h.th.r ....., may .... ithdraw from r'presenting C in the condomin ium project and continue to represent CHent A in the ronstruction litigation .... h.r. C is a defendant by being a general partner of B, or .... heth.r ""t mmt do .... hat C ....ants and .... ithdraw from repres.nting A in the construction litigation and continue to represent C in th. rondominium project. or whether we should do some· thing else?"

.,..

Your representation of Client A in the construction litigation is directly ad"" ... to Client C and for that reason you must withdraw from "presenting A in that matter. You may continue to represent A and C in other matters totally unrelated to the construction litigation. Additionally, you may not, by discontinuing your repres.ntation of C, tak< advantage of the tess stringent conflict rule regarding former clients and th ...• by continue to represent A.. Rule 1.7 of the Rules of Profe ... iOll1l1 Conduct provides the follOWing:

URul. t .7 Canflict af Int . ... t: G. neral Rut. tal A lawyer shall not represent a client if the representation of that client will be direc t ly adve ... to another client. unless: 0) the lawyer reasoll1lbly believes the representation will not adw ... ly affect the relationship with the other client;

'"'

(2) each client consents after consul· tation." A!. pOint.d out in the Comment to Rule 1.7. "IO}'a lty is the essential ele· m~nt in the la"''YOr's relationship to a

THE ALABAMA LAWYER

client: tn the situation where a lawyer takes part in litigalion against an exist· ing client. "the propriety of the conduct must be measured not W much againlt t~ similaritie. in li tigation. "'i against the duty of undivi ded 1000aity which an attorney owes to each of his cl ients." Cinema 5, Lid. v. Cinerarrw./nc. 5281'. 2d 1384. 138612nd Cr. (976). Much mo.. latitude is permitted with respect to litigation against a former client. In this regard. Rule 1.9 of the Rules of Professional Conduct providts the following;

We do not believe that the Comment {to Rule 1.7J was intended, in situations such as this, to allow the lawyer to disregard one client in order to represent another client. To hold otherwise woutd do great hann to the principle of toyally which is bedrock in the relationship between lawyer and client.

t .9 Conflict af Int e .. " , Fa nn.r Cli e nt A lawyer who has formerly represent· ~Rul .

ed a client in a mailer shall not there· after: lal represent another per.on in the same or a substantially related matter in which that person', interests are materi· ally a<jl,"tr5Ot to the int .... t of the former client. unless the former client consents after consultation; or Ibl use information relating to the represenlation to the disadvantage of the formtr client except as Rule 1.6 or Rule 3.3 w(luld permit or re~uire with ... pect to a client or when the informa. tion has become g.-,nerally known." Here the emphasis is on the similari· ties in the litigation (a lubstantial~ relat· ed matter). and use of client confjdenr£5 to the disadvan,* of the former client.

In the instant situation there i. nO question that you could not continue to represent both Client A and C in non·substantially related matters .... hile at the same time representing A in liti· gation against C. Rule 1.7 does not I'>trmit such divided 1000ally unlen the connicting interest will not adv .... ly affect the relationship of the other client and each dient consents . The more difficult quest ion is whethu you could cease to represent Client C, thus relegating C to former client status and thereby take advantage of the former client rul e (Ru le 1.9). Indeed, the Comment to Rule 1.7 seems to indicate that such a proc.dure would be ethically permissible. The sec· ond paragraph of the Comment provides tha t. "Whe re more than one client is involved and the la ....yer with· draws because a conflict arises after .. presentation , whether the lawyer may continue to represent any of the cli ents is ddermined by Rule t,9: We do not beliew that the Comment ....as intend· ed. in situations such as this. to allow the lawyer to disregard One client in order to repruent another client. To hold otherwise .... ould do great harm to the principle of loyalty which i. bedrock in the relationship between lawyer and client. We find suppOrt for this view in /!nil· ell Sewerage Agfficy v. ie/co /nc., 646 F.2d 1339, 19th Cir. 198 1) where the Court held thaI: "The present-client standard applies if the attorney simultane· ously represents cli.ntl with dif. ferent interesU. This standard continues e~n though the representation ceasts prior to filing of the mohon to disqualify. 1/ this were not the ease. the challenged .1I0rnty cou ld always convert a present client to a 'former difn!' by choosing when to cease to rep· ruent t ht disfavored client." (Supra at 1345. N.4, citing, Fund of Funds Ltd. v. Arlhur ,tndersOl'l & Co .. 567 f .2d 225 t2nd Cir .

1977). I'or the above reason. it is our view thai you must cease your reprtsenta· tion of A in the litigation that is direct· Iy adverse to Client C. IRO·91·081 • Julyt991 1 27S

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS Under the Alabama Legal Services Liability Act By JONATHAN fI. WALLER

In /988, the Alabama legislature enacted Ihe Alabama Legal Services Liability Act (the uLego! Liabilily Ael" or the

~Acf "j,

Ala. Gode .~6-

5-570 et s eq. The Act includes a legis/alitte find-

ing that a crisis threatens Ihe delivery and qualily oflegal sen,ice in Alabama. Section 65-510. A principal purpose of the Ael is to pro-

vide "0 complele and unified approach to legal aclions a,quins! legal service prolliders" and to

creale "0 new and single form of action and cause ofGc/ion exclusively gOllerning Ihe liability of legal service providers kno~m as a

legal service liability action. " A further purpose of the Act is to provide

~ror Ihe

lime in which a

legal service liability action may be brought and maintained", thai is. a new statute of limitations. 276 / September 1991

I al

rior to the Legal Liability Act. Ihe applicable statute of limitations for action. against lawyers was six years pursuant to Alabama Code §6· 2· 34(8); Baker v. Ball. 446 So. 2d 39 (Ala. 1984). The Act reduced the limitations period to t",.., ~ars. However. the legislature borrOW<'d limitaUons-r.lat~d p1"Q\/isions from two previously enacted statutes rtlating to medic.:.lliability. Unfor· tunately. these borrowed provisions created a connict in the l~gal Liability Act regarding the t"'..,·year statute of limita · tions. Spe<;ifoc.:.lly. substantial questions arise under the Act as to {al whether the new limitations period is dftcti"" retroac· tively Or prospectively only. (bl the meaning and applic.:.tion of the "savings" clause in 16·5·574 of 1M Act; and (c) the accrual of a legal se",ice liability C11115t of action. The.. que.o;tions have betn substantially answered by the Alabama Supreme Court decision in Michael v. &<Isley. _ _ So. 2d ~ Case Num· ber No. 89-1360, May 3. 1991. •

'fire raclS and Iss"". in Michael v. BeasleJl : The defendant attorney filed a personal injury law suit in beha lf of Mr. and Mrs. Michael on March 18. 1986. arising out of a collision wilh a log· ging truck. On August 13, 1987. the ju')' rendered a verdict in favor of the defendantl in that action. The judgment of the trial court was affirmed by the Alabama Supreme Court on September 16. 19M. Michael v. Gunnin Pulpwood. Inc .. 533 So.2d 588 (Ala. 1988). The Michaels' attorney informed them of the Supreme Court a!firmilne< on March 22 . 1989. On february 26. 1990. the Michaels sued their attorney alleging negligent representation in the logging truck case. The trial court dismissed the Michael complaint with prejudice OIl the basis of th. two--~ar statute of limitations under the Legal Liability Act. On appeal. the Supreme Court was required to decide THE AUJIAMA LAWYER

wh~ther the old JiK.~ar limitations prriod or the new two· ynr period applitd to a ~uit filtd all" tht tfftcliw eIltr 01 tht Lt~1 Liability Act. April 12. 19M. but basrd llpon allr~ nrg!iQtnct brfort such cI.lott. If thr Iwo-Y',,,.. r Sloltlltt applitd. thm the diSpO$itiw issut bra.me 1M cI.lotr of accrwol of the MichKls' auK oIlICtion: if tilt a _ of lClion accrued on the eIltr 01 the tNI court wrdict. thm the Michitls' c~im would br Nrml by the tWO-~lr limiloltions slollutt: if tilt ause of Ktion accrued on ,iIMr tht eIlt. 01 tht: Sup.. mt Court affir· """"" or the eIltt tht attomry informtd tht Mich.ltls of tilt affiTJ1\anct. tlltn the claim was not time·b.urt<!. For the r,a· SOIlS discUSKd htrnfttr. the Sup~me Court held in Michrm th.lt thr two·year staMe applied. that the <:<Iuse of action for allrgrd ntgligtnl rtpr~$tnilltion ar~ a5 of tht Irial C()urt Wr· diet. and tJuot tht Michatls' claim was time·barred. This ruling ",garding KeNai raiSH intrusting policy issuu britfly con· si<lrred at tilt conclusion of this article.

T1N NtkNnl """isions of 1M lAfIlJI LiabI·/I· III Ad: As OOIed by the Court In Mkhori. the Lriall..iobility ArtI>o.>m:lwN a "JWings" pr0vision from the All.Nma Medial liability Act of ]975 Uht "1975 Medial Acn. 16·5· 480 tI Hq. SpecirlCally. 16-5·574 01 tilt ltgal Liability Act. "Umillltion on ti ...... for tommtnctmtnt 0I1r~1 strvitt liibnity action". providi'$: (a) III legal strvict liability actions aga inst a legal str· vice providtr must br commenetd within two years ..Iter the ilCt or omil-$ion or failure giving riK to the claim. and not aftr rwmls: provided. th.lt if the <:<lust 01 Ktion is 001 disclMrtd and could 001 ~Iy haw bHn dis~rt<! within such period. thm tilt action ~ br tommtOCed within si~ month$ from 1M <lat. 01 such di$co¥tf)' or the <latt of discM~f)' 01 bru which .....,.,Id _ . ably Iud to such discovery. whichever is urlier: provided. further. Ih.lt in no ~nt may tilt IIClion br commenced more than four ynrs aft.. such act or omis· sion 0<" failu ..: U(f!pJ lhal "" QC/ or omWioo", (ai/ul'l gM1l{J riM II) a claim IJ)hich oo::urrod beIiJnI Augusl I. 1987. wll no! In Qrl~ evenl be 6a-rrni Wllil 1M upiro· lion ofonr II"'<" {rt)m$uch dale. (emphasis addrd). As discussed herrafter. the stated August l. 1987 eIlt, is 01 particular significance brcauK the '-'gal Liability Act ~ not efftcli", until Apri112. 1988. Thil I1.nQua~ subsunti.11y tracks tilt provisions of 16·5· 4S2(a) of the ]975 Medial Liability Acl. H"""""r. tilt "Sl,," ings" C~ust 01 lilt 1915 M~iall.ia.bility Act pro.....,1u as 101·

...

... tx«pt th.lt an error. mislllkt. Itt. omission 01' Ril. u.. 10 CUrt !!Mng nst 10 .. c!lim which occurml btfon: Stplem~r 23. 1975•• h.lJl not in any ~nt br Nrrtd until tilt rxpiration 01 ont)Ur from such doltr.

tilt tfftctivt dolt. of tilt Act. Tht 1975 Mrdia) Uability Act did no! Jptcify "totlher tilt limiutions period provided by 16·5· 482 would apply prosptctiwly Of ..Irosprrtiwly. Tht Legal Liab ility Act Iiso borrowed from the "Tori Rtform" legislation known IS tilt Mtdica11..Qbility Act of 1987 (tilt "1987 Medical Aen. 16·5·540 # 1«1. Stction 6-5-552 01 tilt 1987 Mtdica.l Act prtMdu: This artide applirs 10 all Ktions against hulthcart providers based on acts or omissions accruing after Junr 11. 1981.lnd IS to such cauSH ofaclion. s!la11Iuprrst<!<: any inconsistent provision of I,w. The ltgal Liability Act providrs. at 16·5·581. th.lt: This artiele ~ppI~. to all actions ~ilUl 1e1lo11 strvic. provi<lrrs bastd on aru 01' omissi(ll\$ KCruing aftrr April 12. 1988. Ind. as to such causa of action. lIlall super· stdt any inconsistent prtMsion 0I~. This borrowi"ll of ~ from the two prior medical aru cruted two signirlCiUlt problems under tilt ltgaJ l.ia.bility Act. TIlt provision in 16-5·581 tNt tilt ltgaJ Liability Act awlitd 10 "ac" 01' omissions accruing ,flu April ]2. 1988" indicattd th .. t tht Act. and the new two·~lr limit.tion. pe riod. was intended by lhe legislature to h.l", fN'(JSp«lit'f" aP\llication only and was not intended to apply to <:<Iuses of ilCtion ~ upon acls or omissions prior 10 the erlecli", datr of Ihr Act. HCI""t\'tr. a5 th~ ,IIkhatl Court rxplicitly noted. this "eff~· ti'" datr" Kction of the Act dearly i. inconsistrnl with thr "savings" claust of 16-5·57~ providing that "an iKt or omission or fa;lur~ giving rist to, c~im which O«"Urml bdrJre A\qjust ]. 1987. lIlall not in ilI\y ~nl br bi.rml until the tlpiration 01 oot ynr from such datto. That is. tilt "savinas" c~_ of16-5574 clrarly coottmpl.iled IP\llicability of the ltgaJ Liability Act to allr~ malpractict cl.ims accruil\ll not only ~rort April 12. 1988, tilt rffeclivt dale of tilt Act, but btfo.. Augoul I,

''''.

TIIr l..tflflf Liabililll Acl UmilQlions hriod is In alltffillting to re5OI\I1: the "ambiguitiu' of tilt '-'gal Liability Acl. the SUprtme Court looktd 10 ils Trading decision inlerpreting AlobomQ Cude 16·5·482. th~ analO\lOUJ Itction of the 1975 Medical Liabil· ity Act. oontaining a two-ynr limitations period ilI\d a one·ynr "savings" c~ust. 51_1 D. Cilll of Annis/Or!. 381 So.2d 26 (Ala. 1980). R~lrOQcIiWl:

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Stptembrr 23. 1975. coincided with lhe eff~li", dolte of tilt 1975 Medical Li,bility Act. Thus. the "Mvings" period under the 1975 Medical Liability Act was for one yur begirmi>Jg on THE: AlABAMA L.\WVER

Stptrmbtr ]9911217

In that "",dical rrnlprnctke action, plaintiff Street sued the defendants ~ upon an alleged inco,,"ct pathology report, rendered On April IS, 1974. On February 12, 1978, the plaintiff had a rrnlignant lump removed and re'"""mination of the orig. inal ti$$ue which had b«n the subject of the 1974 pathology report indicated that that ti$$ue had b«n rrnlignant. As in the case 01 legal provide". the prior statute of limitations applicable to healthcar. provide.. had been six j'fa". However, if the new two-year medical limitations period applied to Str.. t'. claim, that daim would be barred b«ause the lawsuit W<lS filed more than four ~ars aft .. the negligent act, the preparation of pathology report, and also more than one year after the date of enactment of the 1975 Medical Liability Act. and, therefore, after the one·year "savings" J>l:'riod. The Court noted that if the legislature did not intend the 1975 Medical Liability Act to be retroactive and thereby to shorten the limitations J>l:'riQd lor already existing causes of action. then "the one year grace J>l:'riod would be unn«emry, for i\ is only where a newly-enacted statute of limitations is intended to apply to causes of action existing at the time of its enactment that a reasonable J>l:'riod of time after an enactment must be allawed within which such actions must be brought~. 381 So.2d 30. Therefore, in Street. the Supreme Court ruled that the plaintiffs claim was governed by the two-year limitations J>l:'riQd existing when the law suit was filed and not by the .i x-year limitations J>l:'riod in effect when the cause of action arose. Similarly, in Michael, the Court follawed the Streel rationale and concluded that, but for the connicting language 01 §6-5-581 of the t..:gal Liability Act, Streel would control and the lwt>-j.. ar limitatiOns J>l:'riod w<Juld apply retroactively. "Corr~clion" of the 'Savings" Clause: In addition. the Michael Court W3$ faced with the problem of r«oneiling §6·5-574 with §65-581. providing that the Act applies to actio", against legal providers bastd on acts Or omissions accruing ~fter April 12. 1988. In an effort to accommodate these connicting pro"';$ions. the Court noted that "there are ocCil$ion$ when Courts must corrtct or ignore Or supply obvious inadvertences in order to give a law the effed which W<lS plainly intended by the legi$latul\'". The Court al.o relied upon the principle that: "an Obvious error in the languag. of a $tatute il self.correcting. In such an instance, the Court may substitute the correct word when it may be ascertained from the context of the act". The Court then proceeded to "corred" the "savings" clause of §6·5-574, not the conflicting language of §6-5-S81. The Court noted that the 1975 Medical Liability Act W<lS effecti>-e on September 23, 1975, and that the "~vings" provision of that Act began on the ~me date, s.>ptember 23, 1975. ThU$, under the 1975 Medical I,iability Act, the one-year "savi ngs"' period extended for one yeu from the effective date of that Act. Even though that Act reduced the statute of limitations from si~ years to two yea", the Supreme Coort in Street found that a one-year "~"';ngs· period. beginning on the effective date of the Act. was reasonable. H!l'vl-eWr, the one-year "~"';ngl" provision of ~6-5-574 of the Legal Liability Act inexplicably ~gan to run on August I,

278 1 September 1991

1987, and not April 12, 1988, the effective date of the Act. Thus. the aclual "~"';ngs" I"'riod subsequent to the eff«ti,," date of the Act w... 1, $$ than four months . The Michael Court concluded that such a short "savings" period, when a pre-nisting statute of limitations i. being substantially shortened, is not reasonable. Accordingly, the Michael Court ruled that the legislature must have intended to provide an .ffecti,'fi one·year "savings" proyision and that. therefore, the One-}'ear "~vin gs" J>l:'riod under §6-5·574 would run from the effective date <Jf the Act, April 12. 19S5, through April 12, 1989. That is, the Court substituted April 12. 1988 for the stated date, August l. 1987, in §6-5-574. Although the Michael Court noted that there was a conflict be"".. en §6·5·574 and §6-5-581. it is not clear that the Opinion ....,Iws that conflict, sin«- the only corrtction is made in the "sa".;ngs" proviSion of the former section. It would kem that the inherent connict be""'etn the two sections rlmains.

Accrual 01 a CaUU'of Action Under Itw Legal Liabililg Act: The remaining question before the Michael Court W<lS to determine whether the Michaels' compla int was timely filed. This. in turn. involved the i$$ue of whether the Michaels' cause of action actrued on August 13, 1987, the date of the jury ,,"rdiet: on s.>ptember 16. 1988, the date that the Supreme Court affirmed the trial court's judg"",nt: or on Ma1"(:h 22. 1989. the date on which the attorney informed the Michaels of the affirmance. Jf the cau"" of action accrued as of the date of the trial <:ourt judgment. tho Michael$' claim "'"Quid be barred becau"" more than two yea" had expired betw•• n that date and the filing of their complaint on February 26, 1990, and bt:cau •• the complaint was med after the expirntion of the one·year "savings" J>l:'riod on April 12. 1989. Otherwise, the claim would be timely, since the suit was filed within tWl) years of the final judgment on appeal. In resolving the accrual question. th~ Court relied primarily on Cofield u. Smith, 495 So.2d 61 (Ala. 1986) and Garrell v. Ragtheon CamPOrlg. 368 So.2d 516 (Al a. 1979). the well· known radiation e~posure decision, holding that the limitations J>l:'riod btgi", to run when the plaintiff suffers any injury. hQ'oO.·ever slight, entitling the plaintiff to fiI. a .u it, and even though the plaintiff is not .wan of the injury. In (AJfield. a legal rrnlpractice action. the plaintiff pleaded guilty in 1978 toa felony. In 1985 the J,fferwn County Circuit Court ruled on a writ ofhabe<lS corpus that the 1978 judgment W3$ ~ upon a defedi>-e indictment. following the favorable habe<lS corpus ruling, the plaintiff m.d his civil rrnlpractice action on June II, 1985. mor~ than si. yea" after his original guilty plea. Relying on Gorrell and PaJllli! v. AlaOomll Cemet~ Association, Inc.• 413 So.2d 1067 (Ala. 1982), the Cofield (AJurt followed the trnditional tort rule that the statute of limitation. begins to run <IS soon as a party has suffered any injury and is entitled to rrnintain an action. In Cofield , the Supreme Court held t hat a legal injury occurred to the plaintiff at the time 01 his or iginal guilty pie. bastd upon a defective indictment. and that the plaintiff would haw been entitled to rrnintain a cause ofacti<Jn for damages at that time. Therefore. the Court ruled that the Cofield's claim THE ALABAMA LAWYER

was barred by the then e~isting six·year limitations period. Applying the .. earlier decisions. the Michaels Court held that the Michaol .. claim accrued at the tilm' of the jury Vl'r· diet in the trial court on August 13, 1987lJ.ecause "it was at this time that they sustained legal injuries suffident for them to maintain an action against" the attorney. On. distinction between the Cofield and Michael facts is that the Cofield guilty plu apparently was a final judgment. whereas the Michaels appealed the trial verdict and that Vl'rdict clurly was not a final judgment. Howewr. the Court did not eonsid· er the significance, if any. 01 the fact that. in Michael. the trial court verdict w", a non·final judgment and had lJ.een appealed. In its conclusion , the Michael Court held that a cau.e of action against a legal se!'\lice providu must bl commenced within the longest time period allO'l'o'ed by the following alterrutiVl' limitations periods arising undu §6·5·574(a): (I) within tWQ years after the cause of action accrued; (2) if the cause of action could not reasonably bl discov· ered within tWQ years. then within si x months from the date of diSCOVl'ry of the cause of action Or the date of the dis.covery of facts that would reasorubly lead to dis.cov· ery. prO"ided that in no event can the action bl cOmmenced more than four \'ta .. after the cause of action accrued; or (3) if the cau.e of action accrued before the effectiVl' date. then within one year after the effectiVl' dale of April 12. 1988, Application of the Michael Rule in Other UJses: In Qjrle v. MIJS.WY. _ _ So.2d ~ Case No. ~ June 21, 1991. plaintiff Corte filed a legal malpractice action against her attorney on February 3. 1989 alleging improper representation in conn&tion with her prior divorce. The original divorce was ~ntered on June 5. 1980. Under a settlement ag~em.nt. Mrs. C..,rte was to rt<:~iVl' fivt annual alimony payments of S30.ooo. Aft.. the 1982 pay. ment was not made. her attorney filed a copy of the divorce decree in the county of the husband's residence on February 8. 1983 to creale a lien on thai property , bullhe filing was defec· tiVl'. The defendant attorney asserted that the limitations I"'ri. od began to run on the date of the divorce , June 5. 1980 or, at the latest. when Ihe husband failed to make the third pa)'lllent in s.ptember. 1982. The Supreme Court determined that the plaintiff suffered a legal injury on February 8. 1983 when the attorney filed the ddediVl' lien. BeamSt the six.)'.. r limitations period was then applicable and had not expi red as of the effectiVl' date of the Legal Liability Act. April IZ. 1988. Mrs. Corte had until April 12. 1989. under the Supreme Court's "rorrection" of the "savings" clause. or until April 12, 1989 to file suit based upon the 1983 injury. ThllS. the Court held thai her suil. filed on Febru· ary 3. 1989. was "saVl'd" by §6·5·574 of the Act. In!'iffce v. Schrimsher. __So.2d ~ Case No. 89·1832. May 3. 1991. the plaintiffs alleged that their attorney negligent· Iy rendered a titl. opinion in connection with a real estate transaclion which closed on July 3. 1985. Th. malpractice action was med on May 14. 1990. after expiralion of the one-

THE ALABAMA LAWYER

year "savings" period under §6·5·574. The Supreme Court held that the plaintiffs cause of adion accrued on the date of the closing and Ihat the claim was time· barred because it "'as filed after more than two years and after the expiration of the One ytar "savings" period under the [,egal Liability Act. $e;! also Leigh/on AI:enue Office Plaza 1.ld. u. Camp/>ell. _ So.2d ~ Case No. ~ June 14. 1991. (involving multiple mal· practice clairru by different parties agairut the same attorney and illustrating tht application of §6-5-574 to the different claims. some being barred and others SU!'\Iiving) and Lomrv: v. Gibson. _ So.2d ~ Case No. 89·1449 F~bruary I. 1991 (a pre·Michael decision. in which the Court noted ......e need not attempt to unravel the mystery here -(interpretation of the connicting sections of the Act ] becau.e the claim was barred ""en under the old si.·year li mitations period). Policl/lssues Raised bl/th~ MiclrlJeI Acc1"llal Rule: It Stems that .erious poli cy issues are raistd by the Michael Court's ruling that litigation-related ma lpractice cla irru accru. as of the '"I'rdict in the trial COurt and not upon final judgment after appeal. It may be argued that the traditional tort accrual rule - that the claim acCrues at the time of first injury. h(JIW"" slight - sho,uld not apply to malpractice claims arising out of litigation. sim· ply becau,," the injury is not clear unlil the judgment is final. In Garrell u. Raytheon. supra , the exposure to radiation caused physical injury which was not reversible or subject to appeal. In contrast. the "injury" from legal malpractice during the trial of a case may be sub>lantially "cured" by a reVl'rsal

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Stpltmbtr 1991/279

on oppul. IMrtby r~nd~red I mllprxticr dlim unnecesury Or il'llppropriat~. '!'he Michael KC ...... ' ru'~ mI~ tneourlGt pottntially un""ctwry lilillalion in thai a disappointod iili20lnl mly be pul 10 the "Hobson's choice" of (i) findi!ljj lnother L"lwyt:r to !wIdte illllppu,l iUId to _ II~ tr~1 Q)URMI. or (bl rW< II $I.Itul~ 01 limitations ~r while awa.iti"ll the rUtllt 01 ill "",,",I handled by 1M oriGil'llllttOmty 19ainst whom the litillanl mlY be con· templalinG suit. Such. litiganl woutd have to conside r that II fon.t judgmtnt on .ppeat might bt rtndued 50 ctose: to Ihe expiration of Ih. lwo-year limitalions period that lho litiganl could 1101 find I S«OOd attomtY witting to timely me. suit ...inst 1M orillil'lll IttOlTlq'. A nCtnl "Iihml Fodtril Court dtcision .• riJlng In tht analogous context of insur.nu bid faith litigation •• nd in\lOI~. inQ attegod neglig.n,e by Ih. insurer·provid.d lawyer at trial. con.ider.d tht se: illu" Ind appar.nll~ ruched a differtnt rnulL Bogd BrothD'S Traruporlation Comp.:m,. II. Firmum's Fund InsurtmCt Co.• 540 F.Supp. 519 (M.D. Alii. 1982). 'l29 Fold a07 Ulth Cir. 19M). Then. Fi........,·s Fund insum!. trucking CDmIWlY. Boyd. which WI.$ sued by I stul supplie r for attesed d.1magt in Iransil to sle.1 coil •. Firtman's Fund defended Boyd under. ruervalion of righu in 1M Iriil court in N.... York. '!'he attomfY pTOYidtd by Finmln's Fund pro· ",m! an lttf#dly .... r.dmt Iffidlvit in ........... ilion 10 lhe pLointiff supplier'1 motion for "'rt~1 summlry judgment .'nsl Boyd as la Uabmt/l. Tht lriil cou rt g .. nl.d sumlTlllry judg· ment M 10 liability against Boyd lind Ihi5 ruling wu affirmed on l!>Pi'al. Thorufter. the case: wu r.turned from Ih. appel· Loto court to IMlrial court for. hUring on d.1ma&ts. which multed in an _rd against Boyd 01 SI9.000 in 1980 iUId no furtlltr "",,"al WU W<tn. In 1981. Boyd sued FinrtW'l'l rund in Alabama for "bid flith ind ntgligencUwantonnus in defending the loci ion above·described". within tht one·~ear Alabama statute 01 limitations Ihen applying to such tort cLoims igainst imurol'S. 'l29 F.2d 1407. Tho EltYtnlh Circuil affirmed lho tr~1 court's ruling t~1 tho statule of limitations did not ~tl.in to run ""inst Boyd Brott.... for the IlItg~d n~g1igtnCe of Fireman', Funds" agtnl - tht iawyt:r - in defending Ih.liability .etion in tht tda l court Imli/ afler the SUbsel/u~nl damUfl~S QUlQrd b«Qme final. In Bogd. 1M trial court .clmowledged tho iCCNll ru~ 11'1 iorth in Ra/llhron. 'upm. but uprused wnurn aboul applying th~ tr~dit ionallort Ie<NlI rult to insuranu litigatioo.

540 P.Supp. 582. Tht Court nattd I pert~ivtd rult t~1 "in usa alleging ""gligmct Or bid faith on lilt ",rt of tho inlur. er in conducting or selliing of Iii illation. tho rule again ~ I~I tht Clouse of action don nol accrue until the underlying litiga· tion ~s onded (cilin, <.u.s): and obserwd tfii.1 i diffennt accruII ru le would Iud 10 lo muillpl\cily of lawsuits. 540 F..s..pp. 582. The Court "'as aoo corourntd aboul the "Hobson's choice" of rflluiring lilt insured to _ 1M insunr for alleged negHgence of insu ... r-providtd counsel prior to final JudQmenl. ,inc. a TfVtrill on appeal might cure the effoct or Imp." of negligenct in Ih. Irial courl. if any. Se~ alsa Romano u. Ammcan CDwaIl/l Co.. 8J.4 Fold 968 (11th Cir. 1987) lapplying f1orid.1ll1w iIId Bo,.d. ind holdinlll~1 tilt Slilute of IimitalioN on an alleged bad failh failun 10 settle claim d~s nol Kcrue unlil final judgment) and Farmers &Merrhanls lkmlr u. Home insura"a. Co.. 514 So.2d 825 (Ala. 1987) (claim for bad laith dtrlia/ of cOYtr~ and nfusu/lo defond accrues il time of denial - rompan "'ith claim for negligent defense or ""Qligenl (lliture to stille). The facli of BogrJ are somewhal unique. ind IMrt aro dis· tin( tiom belwttn (I) cI.ims logaini! i lawyt:r and (b) claims against an insunr based on alleged allorne)' negligence; howfVtt. It sums tfii.1 lhe policy issues di"'u .... d in IJo¥d con· cerning muttiplicityol Klion!! and Ihe "Hobso•..-s choiu· have nltvlnte to 1M upl Liability Act. A further question to be litigaled in the future mlY in\lOI\~ clienl claims of aUetled fnud. or SlIwrwion and ronculment. as II bas~ for a'o'Oiding Iho t"-'<l-year limi~lions p",iod . and 10 oblain benefit of the four·yur limit applicable in Ihe ovent of fraud under 16·5· 574. Futurt litigants mlY aut rl t~1 lhe defendant lawyer «>rnmiltrd fraud by allegedly misr.presenting tilt trut facti rtglrding thot events In tilt trill court or by failintl to advise the dient of iI prelrial dismi1l101 01 the client's ,llIims in lho trial court. pending an appeal. Dots a I,,"ing aUOrnfY fii.w a duty 10 advise the client that tho Hmiutioru period begins 10 run arterlM trial court verdict? Furtlltr. a question Irises as to tho II.Iluto oIlimiUtions now ipplicablt in Aiabaml to i suit by an insum! igainst tho insunr for negligent cltfense or ""gligonl failure to setU •• ",r· ticularly whtre tht insurtr asserts Ihal il reti~d on legal advice. On~ wonders whelhe r an inlured suffering in ..coss judgmtnt in lho lrial court can .lIord 10 _il for final j~. mtnl afler "",,"at ~fon ... ing lho insu r.r. Clearly. itlPllUl'S I~t ill}' suit ,.gains! lilt insurtr·pnMdtd ~r now must ~ filrd within two }'tI1'1 of lilt trill court verdict. •

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Enhancement of attorney'.

Apiix Oil u. Polons. Zl B.C.D. 1152: _ _ F.2d _ _ (May 13. \991). The bankruplq court gaoe • 15 peran! enhancement of $170,I06JI3 in addition

to tht ren earnw by Ihe $1.272.131.52 examiner's lawhourly fi rm. The debtor

objected to the enhanc emen t and appealed to the districl court. Tht district court held that because the deter. mination of fen is discretionary. to rewrS<' it WII$ n."",<Sary to find an abuse of diltrelion, which means that the bankruptcy judge failed to apply the proper legal standard or failtd to follow proper procedure. A finding is "clearly orrontOu.\" if the r.~iewing court firmly believes ami" talle has been made, Here, the district court determined that the corm;t legal standard to apply is that an "nhant.· ment ovtr the lodestar is justified only when the lod estar fai ls to adequately compensate the applicant, and is n«ded to make the .ward commeru;urate with comparable non-bankr uptcy services. The court reversed the prior award, but did enhance appro~imately 548.000. Exemption undey § 522 If! 1it-ludiciallian Forrev Y. Samkrfool, U.S. Supreme Court. 21 B.C.D. llfiO (May 23, 1991) (W .. t"s 8ankruptcy Reporter Advance Sheet. June 5. 1991). A Wisconsin', di'i(lrce court awarded the hw;band certain real estate but g"" a lien to the wife equal to one-half of the value of the estate. Approximately four months aft .. the decr«. the hw;band filed a Chapter petition claiming homest. ad exemption and requesting tnat the lien be a'i(lided under COOt § 522 If) (I). The bankruptC)i court held that the lien could not be avoided as it prottcttd the wife's interest in the property. However. the district court m'l'rud. stating that the lien was THE A~BAMA

~WYER

a\lOidabl~ becau ... "it flXtd on an interest of the debtor in the property". The court of appeals affir~d. The U,S. Sup,.mt Court. in .""".. ing th. Seventh Circuit stated that f 522 HI (I) of the Bankruptcy Cooe reQuirts -.

debtor \0 havi: possemd an interest to which a lien attached. befQrIl il aI/ached, to ilVQid the fi l ing of the lien On Ihat interest. (emphasi5 added). In effect. th. Court held Ihal since the debtor had not he ld the property fret

r~==========================:;

NOTICE 1991-92 Annual Occupational License/ Special Membership Dues Due October 1, 1991 Delinquent After October 31, 1991

Please Help Us ••• We have no way of knowing when one of our membership is

deceased unless we are notified. Do not wait for someone else to do ,t: ,/ you know of the death of one of our members, please let us know. Memo rial information must be in wr iting w ith name, return address and te lephone number,

September 1991 128 1

RECENT DECISIONS

li~n. lhe lim could not ltla<:h to 'an inter..! of the debtor in prOptrty', Ind. thus. f 522 {l) (I) did not allow for .voidmu of tilt litn.

and clu.r of the

LOCAL BAR PRESIDENTS There is an increasing need for a current list ing of local bar presidents, and it is difficult to keep up with all the

changes since the elections vary with

each association. We are asking for your assistance in maintaining an upto-date list.

Please let us know as soon as possible when there is a change within your local group.

You may send this information to:

Alice Jo Hendri., ",.".".,.hlp S.""/c:••

Director P.O. Box 671 Montgomery, AL 36101 or call t-800-392·S660 (In·. tat. WATSI or 269·1515 2112 /~pt emMr

1991

Dllliflhi Owen lJ. Hden Owen. 21 B.C, D, I ]64 (May 23. 19911. In I

divora QK, Helen ob~;ntd judgment for $160.000 .g.inst Dwight. Undu FIori~ Ii... (~ is in Alabarm). 1M li~n was dfcctive against dt~r·acquired prOperty. "I'd later Dwight oot"intd a condo In Sl.rasoliI City. At 1M ti"", he obtained the condo. $Uch prOperty w;u; not "'empt. Theruft.r. o..ight filtd lor bankruptcy. One yor bter. the condos "'~u mad< exempt IS .. hornt.tead. The qutstlon which ruched tht U.S. Supl"lIme Court wlS whether tile condo was tnmpt under f 522 If) (I). The bankruptC)' court had detennined that Ihe lien could nol be aVOided beUUK Ihe Florida Courts had decided that the homestead exemption wils lim· ited to proporty not encumbered by liens which at~h.d before the prOperty btame a homestead. The di$trict court lind Elrwnth Circuit affirmed. Justice Scalill. in writing for the Supreme Court. slat.d the issue to be ....h.ther the lien impairs an exemption to which the dtbtor would ha ... bttn entitled under I 522 (bl-th~ HomtSlnd f.Mmption. In moersil\ll and rtmanding. Ile sUted that it made 00 di!ferenc.. that the Slite Nd limited the exemption to propt'rI)' not ~ by a lim. Justice Scalia (urtmr stated u...t 1M C(lndo would be the dtbtor'. homtsltad ncept fo r Ihe lien and that a lien impairs II fed~rlIl enmption if but for tIw: lien. Ille lien would IIttach. He said that I 522 If) does not rmkt a distinc· tion bel~n Imral and state exemp· tion.! and thue is no reason that the Wote e.emption should not reeeiVl' like tualmen!.

U.S. Sup.-.me Court allow. Chapt. r 13 following C"'pt. r 7 to n a l wtth lI. n claim e v... though pe.-. _Illa blllt,. .... been e liminate d Johnson V. Home Siole Bank. U.S. Supreme Courl. 59 U.S.l.W. 4609 : 21 R.C.O. ~ {June 10, 19911. The debtor

hId I flied a Chapt .. 71ft .. the blink fil.d suit on defaul ted nottl PJ , lially secured by I real ulile mortgage. The debtor received a discharge from his debts, Ind the blink WU liven r.lief from stay in order to for«lo$t. Refore the blink could foreclose. the debtor filed J CtlJpter i3 showil\lltht blink II a partially secured creditor. BoCh Ille disIrict cou" Jnd court 0( lIPP1',11 ruled against the bankruptcy court which ~ confi rmed a pliln providing for PlOy· ments to s.ilti.fy the ~nk'l lien cbim only. JllStice Marshlil. who wrole the opinion (or the Cou rt . Slated that II claim aga.inst property iI. claim lIIlinst the debtor under 1f102{2} and 101(5). and thll iIfl.er the Chlpter 7 discharQt. tIw: litnhokler !till has equilible reme· dies of fortclo:sure. inc:ludinQ tile rillht to the proce.:d. of tile forecloJurt Slie. In ~nswering the uQument thl' Hrial filing$ we .. contrllry 10 law, Juslice Marshall .. id that the I,,,,· did not lO provide. and it WilS up to Cong ress to prrwnt Krill filing. il it lO desiud. lIt m.ntioned that Congren had done lO under some circumstancu. but not under theK facts.

Iftdivldual may 'lte 'or Chapt e r 11 relle' e Ve n though no ongoIng bu. lntt. . Is malnt.lne-d Taibi> v. Radloff, U.S. Surume Court , 59 U.S.L.W. 4633, 21 B.C.D.~ \June 13, 1991}. In this rase. the ~nkrupto:y. district and Eiahth Cirroit courts held ttlat m individwol not e~ in business "'"IS ineligible to file a Ctlapter II reorglni u tion cne. WrilinQ lor Ihe Coort, Justice BLlckmun Slid thit there is no such language in the Q}4 10 WI>port the I~ r cour!". holdings. and. Ihus. no foundation to dtny the right. The opinion mentions the ElM-nth Circuit ClISt of In re Moog, 774 f".2d U)"73, (1991), which previously had Ileld the Um~ as Ihe Supreme Court in the instant C"K. •

--_. -_.- .. ............ ........ Wil_

_G-...... .. ,,"""

. . . . . ~N

~ ..., ........,

011\'"._ ......

_~"'"N,......,..,·

THE Al.ABAMA Wl.WVt:R

ALABAMA STATE BAR VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROGRAM

ACCESS TO JUSTICE:

An Overview of Pro Bono Projects in Alabama A r.".,..., should ..,."kr publi< inl<YnI Iri>I .. Me•• A bWj'<T mo.)' dio<larg< Ihi> rosw ..ibilil)' by pMiding prof...ionol ..!'Yi''''1 no Itt '" .1 . rtd""td I.. to

ptnOO< 0(

limited ",un< ()T to publ", ..",;,. OT du.,ir>l>it groUI" '" orgoni .. tio .... by so"",. in acli,oj.

ties lor improving In. low, 1M ~ O)'<lom Or llv: I<g.al pro/ruion, .nd by fo ... nci.1 .upporl/or OI'Pni .. lion, th.t p,OYid.l<ga l ..rvic .. to ptT•

...... of limit..! rot>n<. RULE 6.1 PliO 110.'10 I'lIBLIOO SF.R\1Cf.. AIAIIA.'IA RUU:S OF f'1I0FESSIONAI. CONDUCT

I do ..,rOm"I)' ....... that I ...;11 cltm.. n 111\..11 .. an .!tomt}', .«o.d;n~ to th. b«I 01 my le.ming..,d obility, and with .11 good r.dtlity. os .... 11

",u,w

to th. court .. 10 tIK ,Hont, lhal Ju'ill UU' no ftJbMrod or tk/liy ""!I_~ for/urn or mQh'~• • nd thot I will support Ih. <oMlilulion of tn. St,t. of Alabo".. . nd 01 tho Uniltd Stat... OIl IO!lll .. I ,,,,,Iinu, ,<it;"'n th<Trof, .., help 1M Cod. OATIl TAK~:N UI'ON AIl.'1ISSI0N TO TtI~ AIABA.'IA STATE liAR I<mph.oi> ...... di

BII MELINDA M. WATERS 1" 'l labama attorneyl may be J. proud of our longstanding commitment to providi ng legal SHV1CU wi t hout upectalion of compensation to indio viduats who cannot otherwise afford repres<ntation. A:; a condi. tion to receiving the privi leges and benefits of membership in the profeuion 01 law. we have accepted a public trust. that being the ruponsi bi lity 01 asouring that each one of our citizens. wea lthy or poor. h .... full. equal access to Our legal system. Our ethicalroots art entwined with the public inler. e.t ... rvice to the community and concern for the less fortu· nate among us. This responsibility presents uS "'ith a tremendous chal· lenge . By conS"rvative estimates, there are over 780.000 per· SOn. living below the f.de",1 poverty 11:\"1'1 in Alabama and the numbers increast each ~ar.\\'ith limited staff and budgets, fellerally funded I~gal Services programs cannot handl. all legal problems faced by thue poverty· stricken Alabamians. leaving many poor person. waiting for. or even without, r.pre· $l'ntation in matte" vital to their ""I'II·being. Although attor· neys give generously of their time and skills to improve the commun ities in which they live. tm- who are knowledgeable in the area of provid ing free legal $l'rvices to the poor all agre. that there aTO unmet needs 10 which we must continue to TH~:

ALA8AMA lAWYER

direct our energies and expertist. Thus, lhe question facing us is how do.....e as attorneyl i",ure lhat the courts and laws are within the . eaeh of such large num· be" of citizens of limited means? Many Alabama attorneys have responded in two way", by p:articipaling in IOlTA and in organized pro bono acliviti., in their communities. Four .uch programs, established by local bar associalions , currently exist in this $\ate. ~ffK· Each has prown to be a tive muns nol only of delivering Qualily legal services 10 larl/'O num· be" of low·income cili..", but also of provid ing .1I0rneys with an dfident vehicle through which to satis· fy ethical resp0n5ibiliti .. to pro bono work Thest four pro bono programs. sponsored by the local bar a.sotiations of Madison County. Montgomery County. Tuscal""", Count)'. and Mooile, ",.. re nonorell by the Alabama State Bar at this year's Annual Convention. The Honorable W. Harold Albritton. Ill. then president of the Alabama State Bar. preS"nted each of these bar associations with a Certir.cate of ~Ieritorious Strvice ,"cogni.ing the membership for their demo"'tratw commitment to providing f... legal $l'rvic.. in civil matters to the disadvantagell in their communities. These allOrMyS uphold the highest traditio", of our proleMion and have responded to the noblesl of OUr ethical precepts by helping to assure that even the weak and defenseless in Our society have acces.! to juslice.

'''I)'

s.ptember 1991 1283

Madison County Bar Association The Madison County Bar Association Iw. distinguished history of servi« to low-income citi~ens of Huntsvill. and the Surrounding areas_ The "Lawyer Ref.rral and Information Service" was .stablished in 1982 in cooperation with I..(gal Services of North Central Alabama. Attorneys pay an ann ... l fn for pia«-

ment on five panels of their choo..ing fo r referral of f.e-g..... rating civil cases. These altonwys are tMn requirtd to accept one case per pa ....1on a pro bono basis ea<;h ~ar from tM servi«. In 199(1,201 pro bono cas.es were handl.d by Madison County a!tomeys. I..(e Ann Pasker, an altomey. serves as full-time dirKlor of the service and pe=lIy handles man}' divorces on a pro bono b.ui$. Currenlly. 93l.o,.,..,..rs participate in the project.

Montgomery County Bar Association

'Thl:mw Par*"" Q Tf!PU_It1li~ 0/1,", MadisoJ! CclJmv &lr A.t<oriQ_ Ikm. <KttPled 1M <ulili""" from Ju~ Albritton on bMalr 0/ hi< local bar asso<:i<Jlion.

lSI • • •

•

The Alabama State Bar

• •

The oldest continuing, organi~.d pro bono program in our state Wa5 established by tilt membus of the MontgQmery County Bar Association. Altomeys in ~Iontgoml'ry have been lIo .... t;ng their timl' to loaol pro bono projects since the 1950s. This rich tradition of public servi« continues today in the current proj«l titled the "Montgomery County Bar Pro Bono Program" which wasstarttd in 19S1. Arthur I..(sli., an atlorney. is full·time director of this program. Clienu in need of help with cert.in civil matters are referred 10 the proj«l by the MontgQmery Regional Office of I..(gal Services Corporation of Alabama , They are then referred to aloaol VOluntur attorney who handles the problem on a pro bono b.uis. In 199(1,326 case....... re dOKd by members of the Montgomery County Bar through this program. II is estimated that approximately 250 attorneys have participated in some wa)' in thi$ pro bono project.

•

Endorsed Insurance Programs

l''SURA'<CE features benefits for both eligible members. spouses. children and employees . Available through Northwestern National Life Insurance Company.

F AMILY Llfll

MAJOR MEDICAL l'<SUkANCE provides benefits for both eligible members. spouses. children and employees to $2.(X(1,ooo. Available tllrough Conlinental Casually Company.

HOSPIT~I_ I ~l)K.'L"ITl' pays daily benefits up [0 500 days with . maximum of S300 per day. Accepulnee Guaranteed to eligible members uoder age 60 who are either working or attending school full-time. Available through Conunercial Life Insurance Company. A cclD~T~L DEAnl ~so D I5"'J!!'lIIKR."F.~'T I.'<SIJRASCB provides coverage for accidental loss of life, sighl, speech. hearing or dililTlCmbennent. Benefit amounts to $250.000 available. This is available through Commercial Life Insurance Company, D'SAB1UT"( 1:<coMl! futures·'Your Own Specialty" definition of disabilily as well as COlIcragc for partial di .. bilities. Benefits available to 8O%0fyour income in most cases. Available throughCOOlmcrcial Life and its parent company UNUM , Ol'FlCE O'Y.IlHEAO F:~PII.'<SE

reimburses your eligible business expenses. Available to eligible members under age 60 who arc engaged in full-time practice and llOl on full-time duty with any of the armed forces Ihrough Commercial Life and i\.S parent company UNUM.

r:---:-.--.---:-----------------(_and~)---------__,

I Foraddmonal mformauon contact: I William K. Bass. Jr. Ilnsura nceSpedalists, In c_ I Suite 135 I 2970 Brandywine Road I Allanta, Georgia 30341 I '-404458-8801 I ,-gOO-24 1·7753 Toll Free Number I 1·800458· 7246 Fa~ Number L.!.Representativ~loc~~statewide~ __ 284 I September 1991

ALABAM A STATE BAR

PIeo ........ "'" ... IomJaIiooaboo, ... AnodationGroup p,-,>_:

I lMemt..rUl9ln ....... noo

I lSpou.. LiIot ... oconoo

I I

I lo;a~l_ I JEmploy... Oiubity _ I J0ffiaI o....-t.olld E. _ I J Hoo~lndomni!y (Gu .......I08dI'W&)

I 1Employft lbl............... I I MojofM><icalI......."". ( I Aooiden .... o....1h ond Dis.memberrnlln1 (Guaran_Io"",) Name Addl$$' CitylStatelZ", Business T818p/1on~ _ _ _

I I I I I

Bitlhda!.

THE ALABAMA LAWYER

but Ioc.otioru are ch<.>srn for usy aI:(fSsibility to kM-il"lCOffif cit· iUIIiII of TUK"I(KW.. An lIytr~t of 12 elitnh por dink l~ rm'Mng fTft 1ega1 .. rvictJ. Oliv;" Wi llis. 1 staff allornty in the TUl<:llooI-I R.gio .... l Offiu ofl.tpl Strvicu. stOWS as protect COOrdi .... IOf. Thus flr. lS lIUorntYS lI~ donating IOOr time on II roh\ing ~ III tht clinia and 19 pro bono cun hive optnt</ through the pro,~

Mobile County Bar Association

DotWiII NMwJd. ,

~ 011101 Bo<trd 01 Oit>tdfn oIlhe HorIICounI6 &IT iWoriotion. ""'"1Jh lhe CnfilinJlt 01 !okrilori..... .xna Oft bdw>IloIlhe It1mJ bar .........Iion

Tuscaloosa County Bar Association

Th. Mobil. flar Association il Justifiably proud of its highly IUCculful "Pro Bono Program" whidutarttd in 1986. Cumnl· Iy. 188 vo!unt«r lttomtyS art providing quality Itgal lf1"Vius in civil mailers to indig_nU in the Mobil. art" through this ",,;.0. This program offtn its voIunlHrs many options for KTVice. including not only dirtct I.prestntltion of incomt .Iigible ditnts but ~Im tht opportunity to prIWide ~ and 00UIUf1 in lilt oKooe of tht fulltimt pro bono ooordi .... tor. Tonny Algood. AllorntYS stltct tilt lITUS of IlIw in which lilt)' Irt willing to Keep( rdunLo and art uktd to \/Olunllrily handle two cuo: ~ftmls per yUJ from tho prognm.

Eulitr thi$ )'tu. 1M rrvmbm of tho Tuscaloo$.o. County ~r Association dtmorutrattd thoir oommitmtnt to providing Itpl ... rvic" 10 the poor II)' the ~ of a rtsolution calling for u.:h attorney to YII luntarily perfonn not Itss than 24 hours of pro bono lep l wor!! annually. In April. this bar association held its fint pro bono "Neighborhood LtJlolI Clinic" in cooperation with tht Tusul~ RqiOOllI Office 01 the Ltg.1.1 StNicu Corp(lralioo of Alab.lml. Sinct this beginning, a clinic h.u ktn held uch first lind fourth Tuesday of tht month.

n,. ClriifiCIJle of Mlrilorious ~ prfMnu,d 1<> lhe Mobil. &, iW<>d<>li<>rIwas «apl'" bji Champ t..vonr. ptY!S/&tn1 oIlM 1oC1J11>,,, IWIXialion.

~~ 1M entif_ft oi Ntritorioul, $rnJino u, ~ ~. m.mtdiaf~ pall ,.,aidmf 01 fhe 1'uo<IrJoou Ctt.mi,

Judg< AlbriflO<t

EKIl clink il mfftd by voIunt«r priv.lot. lIttOmtyS who give legal advice in civil mailers without cNq[e to walk·in climu. An illCOfTlt eliQibility 5Crftning is fint perfonntd by l.tpl Str. viets Itlff. Tht volunteer attorneys then agree to handlt Iht mailer themstlvel on a pro bono basis or rdtr lhe client to the I.tgal St.victs office for furthor .. NiCt s. Clinic sitfl changt. TH~:

AI.AMMA lAWYER

In 1990. 849 ta$q wort Optntd through tho Pro Bono Pr0gram and an tqUally imprwive 624 cun ~Ie clostd by project attomtYS. 11 is clur (rom thut numbers that many of tht Mobile voIunltfTli I~ xctptine mort thin tht minimum num· b« 01 rtfemll uch )'UI' from tht prQ8r1m. TIlt delivery of ~l strvicu to tilt poor is lin honored Plrt 0I11lt IfilIl profession. As 11t0llW)'S. ~ hold tht rnponsibilily to 5« thai tho: '-s and tht courU Irt within tilt ruch 01 <YI'1)I ciliun . lind ,,~ undtnund Ihlt righll aon be muninglus without K(fS.Ilo Iht IfilIl rtprtstnlltion I1«tulry to enfor« !host righu. B)' participation in orilniud pro bono programs. we can fulfill not only our country's promist of equal justiu undu law for Alabama's poor. but 10110 our special ruponsibili· ty 10 ma.ke equal acc ..s to our COuriJ I rnl ity for III citizens 01 this statt. _ Stptember 19911 Z85

DISCIPLINARY REPORT DlaHrment

Cadsden Ilowyer Sltphtn Edward Ham l Oft wu dis\llrrN from Ihr pndi« (lila.., fi'fectM: April 2. 1991. for miMppro. priootil\ll tIw: funds of a dient in ~ion r:ilhr Rules oIOiKi· pliNOry I'ro«durt. (ASH N.... II9-803. 90-274 . 89·657. 90·248.

90·188. & 90-<176) ..... ~ ... Ion Eddie !AI Uw ll. who5e wh~rrabout$ art unknown. wu temporarily Juspendtd from tilt practic. of law. II)' the Di5(" pliNlry Commission of th. Alabama Stltl Iiu, pursuant to Rul<! 20. Rul" 01 Oiscipiino.'Y Proctdur. Unt.rimi. Eddi. Lu Lewis. by the Discipli..ary Commission or the AIWmIo SUI. Boor, wu .-wooed from mlIint.lining 111 ;litOI" nry tn.all k«l\ItIt in my rl:llallCW i..witution The onln of the Disciplinllry CommiWon of the: ~ sw. 8u is lIIII;Kt In lilt dissolution ind "mmdrnent provi. .ion of Rul. 20, Ruin 01 Disciplinary Procedure {Interim). tASH Nos. 90-32. 90.390. 90·588. 90-6J.t. 90·279, 90·719, &.

90·990) ~lcC.n .

....... On Jun. 7, 1991. Birmingham laWye r Chi Tin Alt xandtr Dauphin WU I'\lblidy ctnsu .. d for inttntionally n.glecting iI

Itg.ll

nuu •• ""(rutted 10 him

and failing to ,..ek lilt lawful

NOTICE TO FROM. RE o

"'effTe, Howerd Die l • ..bllmil Stete . . , Order to Show C. u . . , CSF 91 · 13

~ice" her8t)y grven to J ...... , "ow.r<! DI. I. eltorney . whose lasl known add,e.. is 9.3 Htn Sireet. N. S"mong/"I3m. AJaba.ma 35212. that r.-1\ImIt \"IQ been ..... 111>1K1 10 !he DIsciplinary Comm<nIon for ooncomph.nee With the Client SlK:ullty Fund Ru',equor_ 01 the Alabama Slate Ba, and \hilI ••• ...... ll\ereol an ORDER TO SHON CAUSE has De&n 8t"IIef«I "IIP"t him oroemg him 10 stIOW. ""trion '"""Y

(601 dayI; from .,. oaw of entry 01 , . or ..... IIIhV he IlIOuId not De suspended from Ir>oI prac\lCfl 01 a.w s..d order haw>g De&n.-rter&d June 19. 1991. the .1","'., \"IQ.....-d S<IpIembet 20. 1991 10 IIIOW" ceuI&

AIaNtniI ~fd 8M rOlg Soutn Petry SITHl ~. AJaDama 36104

286 1 Scpl~mbtr 1991

objfctiwI of his tlitnt. In 1988. Ollupllin filed /I mediQI malprKtice lCtion in U.S. District Court f04' tho Middle Dif. triet of Georgi.>. ~ dtfend.l.nu wtU not ,..FWd ...·ith P"""''' for IIlm""l 19 montill. Dauphin Illso flliled 10 comply willi applicable Georgia I.Iw for lilt filing oIiuch 110 actioo. II!. II resull. Ihe plainliffs Q,.. .... as dismis.std upon motion of Ihe defendants. The sulute oI li milatioru had run. (ASB No;>. 9(1. 4821B]) On Juot 7. 1991.Iles.stmtr la.....,.er Robert Will iam Graham WiIS public!}> censured for wi11fully neglecting /I legal mlllIer entrusted to him. failing to ,..ek lilt I/lwful objecti,," of h;, client. failing to QrT)' OUI II o:onlract of ernplormenl mtered '010 "";\11/1 dieol lot Ifeal HrvKu.;and engaging in conduct i"""","1111 fraud.. o:It«it. dilhootsty. and willful miJcono.luct, 1111 of which IIIMTsoIy rrfltctN on hi' filow 10 prKti« ~. G...· ham was hired by II elimt to upUHnllltr in /I diYorce mlltlH. ~ ditnl Pl'id Gfilham II;' quoiN ftt. bul Gw.am ~ilt4 10 ptJrs ... tlv ""'tlH to II ~h.l$.ion on bthalf 01 tlv climl G...· Iwn lIso failN 10 timoly rt$pOnd 10 lilt bar' ioquirin coo· «ming the ditnfs compl.linl (ASB No. 90-445) On June 7. 1991. Birmingham lawyer Jamn Cl nnon. Jr . .... as publicly ceosuTed for hloviog en~d in coodu<:\ involv· ing disho;>oe5ty. fraud. dectit. misreprrstnlatio;>n. and .... illful misconduct. Cann<)ll solicited monty on bthalf of an investmtnt comPl'ny for In iodividual WM iovesltd 52.000 io the wnlUre .....hich wnlure tur0e4 out to bt worlhlus. Conuioed io the invnlmtnt information pKkage wu /I Iotltt from {;moon on btllalf of the wnture. Ouri"l! tilt io,,",igalion of lilt compl.l;ot against Cl;noon. Iv dtnitd my knowltd~ of tlv venture, .,"d. further, failtd to fully COOpt ' lIlt .... ith Ihe Grirana Committtt irwutieati'" lho COInI>b.int. (ASB No.

M"'"

On JUIlt 7. 1991. Gadsdm ~r lAor! CaI'l"llO<l wu publicly censured f04' havillll engaged in undignified or disoourtwus conduct degrading to /I I nbUl"lllI """itt IppNri"ll in hi' profu· sioNl CIIj>IIcity btfou, tribunal. ami for eogagiog io conduct tllat adwmly reflects on his r.tne.. 10 practice law. At a hear. ing ~fore a OOmt5tic uferte in ~;tCM-·ah (;(>uoty. Garmon. io commtnhng upon a ruling b)' the domtstic refer..,. 5tattd tllal the ruling was "th. rTIO$l idiotic aod asiniof ruliog" that lit had M'r lItard. Followillll w:hlo"l!t' bttwttn Carmon iUld the domtslic ufeT«. the ufeT« ordtrttl Carmon out of tile room . Carmon o:ontinutd to dir«l umarks 10000rd the domtstic rtf· fT«. nprwine his displtHUU (Mr tilt meT«·s ruting. Car· mon ilPJ>U.lt4 the iss ... to the Supreme Court of Aillbama. which court affirmod lilt bar·, Iind'lIIIlhai Carmon should bt censured in thi, ""'tltf. (ASB No. ss. 761 Privete Aeprimlond On Ju .... 7. 1991., Birmingham I.Iwytr I<Ii\S privale!}> repri· maoded for issuiog, worthless check on his truSlIlCCOUOI. in violation of DR g·]OZ IB )(S). The lawyer /liso failed 10 respond to requests of Ihe Grievance Committee Investigating a com· • plaiol aboulillt worthlusd\eck. (ASIl No. 88·727) Tl I ~;

ALAIIAMA l.AWYt:R

NOTICE

Disciplinary Proceedings Eoidi. L•• Lewl. whose w~' •• boull 10" IrinDwn. rTUII _ !he - . . ~ B¥t 101·

s..-.ot>eo

mal disc;1pIio .. y CI\IIrgelWlllWl 28 dIIyI 01 10, 1991 01, 1her6811af. Ih8 CMrQN ~ lhIIre ",

ihaU be deemed 8""'"'ted and 8ppropllale dollCl\lIine lhal 1:)('1 rnpoeod against twn on ASB Noll. 90-32. 90390.90-588, go.63-' , 90-279. 90-119, and 90-990 beIore the DcIeopW\ary &.I,d 01 ......... ~ SUIte

Bar

001'II" IN

lOIn dsy III

-"""""'"

Seo*o,. 1991

Disciplinary Proceedings WIlUem Le. Cerro .. whosa _.-boutl .'. 1TUI1._ Ita - . . Slate a.. I pe!>lIOn 10 ~ Of _ _ 2811Wf' 01 $ec)ltmbeo' 10, 1991 Of, lhereafle., lhe aileOll>o<'11 conlained

lI'Ie.ein shall be c!&emeO admUIe<j and app.op.ia te dlsc!pl .... shan be imposed 80.",SI him in ASS Pe!i· 1I0Il No 91.{)o1 beIofa ltIe~"..,. Con'wnIssion 01 INI Alabama Slati el. Done It!I. the 10\11 o.y 01

$eptembet 1991

Alallamll Sr~11I &r

AlabMlol SIaM

1019 Soum Perry Srreer MonIIP"l"Y. ~ 36104

Bar

1019 Soull> Perry Slreet Mmt"""*l'.~"""'" 36104

NOTICE

NOTICE TO

Albert Eelwarel s.ftd.ers

Albert Edw.rd

s....~

FROM"

AI.HINI St.te aar

FROM

AI ........ St.t.

a..

RE:

Order to Show C ..... ,

RE:

Ord •• to Show Cau_.

ClE .'·29

elF 91-42 NDhclI il ~.r.tly given '0 .Ibe.t IEdw.,d '.ndll./I, IttOfI'ley. whosa IaSI known .ooress " ~JO 1111'1 511oe1. SE, 81....-.gh11m. ~ 35211 . that tus name hal be.l ce<\ll;e.j to the Dlscoplnary

Comm,ss>oo fof

nO"compha~

...,It> me Client Sec.,.

Illy Fund Rule 'eQ<J"tments oIlhe AJa~ Slale 881 and thai liS /I rllSU~ the!eoI, an ORDER TO sHow CAUSE has ~ ...-8<1 Ig8I1111 I'III'n Ofdefong twn

~ Ill .... order, """Y I l 0 l _ not be ~ from !he pr8CloCfI 01 law Saod order I'>avng _ _ed

'" stoow.

WIIIIIn

IlXIY (eo)

dIIyI from 1l1li dale

III

..Ivr'Ie 19. 1991 , l/1li altorney lias ""t,1 Seplemb&r 20,

1991 10 show cause

"""""""

~$II"s.

10,9 SouI1'o fWry ~ Mon(Qomety, ~ 36.04

TIlE ALABAMA lAWYER

Notoce I. ha.aby o,.,n 10 Alba.t Edward Sa....... al\Qfnay, wtIoM Issl kfICfM'I adOreu II ol3D lilt! Street. SE, BotmonghIm. ~ 35211, l'1li hIS name lies bean carllll&d 10 !he DIIc>pIonary ConYrus. WI for noncompIi.ance With the maroo.tQfy conlonulflQ legal e<juc:anon rlJQ~uemenlS oIlhe Alallama Slale Sar , and Ihll I' a rnull Ihereot, an ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE naa IlMn entered ~ Iwn OIdarIfIgIwn 10 s/IoW-. """1I><ty (SO) da)S /rem the dale 01 enuy oIlIIe~. wt>y he shoo.Ad not !lit IUSpended /rem lIIe ptKIIC8 01 taw SaId OfOer I\aWlg bean en!ere-d Apri 1 " 1991, the atlOfrey ".. """d Septem-

--,.,

ber20,19!111Oshowcause ~eo.l~' 115I0Il

1019 Sourn ~ S/teeI ~ 36104

A./otlIgOfnary,

~plfmbtr

1991/ 287

• M·E·M·O·R·I·A·L·S •

RALPH ROCER W1LLL\.!.tS Ralph Roger Williams, prominent attorney, died ,n

TU5caloos~

Tw.calooS.l. May 19. 1991. He was born November 21.19]8 in Phenix City, 0( Mr. and Mrs. Cal)' A. Williams. lie attended public schools in Phtnill City and graduated from Cenlral High School in Phenix

Alabama, IIIfe son

City in 1937. In high school, h. was an oulSland· student and was pruid,nl Qf a number of .choo1 organizaliQns. including the joumali!Jll dub and lhe gl.. club. He "'30S (iJitor ollhe school ntwsp.lp<:' and the s<;hool maga..zine and "'as art editor of lilt annual. lie held four academic lIegTu. and an honorary doctor of law5 degree, bachflQr of artl in journalism Irom Ih. University of Ceorgia in 1941; in~

master of arts in political science from SylllCUK UnMTSlly in 1945: bachelor of t-s from the Un"~rs;ly of Georgia Law School in 1947: mutu of law5 from Stanford University School of l.aw in 1948; ~nd doclor of laws from Al~nla l.aw School in 1960. M all underg~u~te, Williams "'a.s prtsidtnl of his fre.h .... n md ~ more cluns, edilor of lhe school nt\Oo'$po1J)(r and 1M school iIflnual, and usistant ~ditor of the "hool maga, zine, and waS active in ath letics, !ie WiS a member of Omicron Delta K~ppa, 81ue Key. X Club. Pi Kappa Dell> dtbote wciety, the ''''1$ily okbole le~m, Sigma Chi wc~1 fratemily, and the Inl.matiOllal Rel~lions Club. In law SChool, he wu a memMr of Phi Alpha Della law fralemil)' and "'as an

288 1 Stpt.mbu 1991

honorary member of Sigma Delta Kappa law fraternIty, Will ...... !\ad iIfl txctllellt rwm! in I<lw school and wu one of the few first-yur la,,' studenu to pass the Georgia bar examination. He was admitted to \he Georgia State Ha. in 1946 whilt a Ireslunan in law school. tie Kr..ed ill the U.S, Mari"" Corps la~tionl during World War II, rising from pri,'ate to lieut.nanl, tie wa.s a J>IoTl-time prolessor of hi.tory at tho University of Georgia While a student ill law school. He tau~ht criminology and sociology .t Wulqan Colleg •. Macon, Ceorg ia from 1948-49, alld served a.s a full-time m.mMr of th. law f:>tully of the Uni'''1$lty of Alab.ima from 19-19_53. After 1953, he wa.s ill the act;"" pratlice of law in Tuscal()()Sa, Alabama, lie served u dim:tor of the Alabaml Oep3rlment of Indust rial Relalions and as a .... mbfT of ffiJ/c>biMl during my lerm as governor from 1959 10

Beginlling in 1950, Williams also served as an imparlial arbitrator in labor-managemenl dispules IhroughOI,t the Soulh . He was a member of the National Academy of Arb itrators for many )'ta1$, ..erving on the board of governors Irom 197() to 1972. and was on the natioNl arbilralion p.mels of tht Ame.i ... n Arbltraroon Association and the F.d.ral Mediation and Concili.llion Service. He was married 10 the former lI<'alrice fliU of CrawfordVIlle. Georgia and they hlId four sons, lIog.r, C~ry and CrlIig. all gradWilu of the Uni"" .. ily of Alabama School of Law and attorneys in Tuscalooll. ~nd Locke, of Fairhope. p....,nlly Krvin~ as t ..asur_ er 01 Baldwin County. lie Io.'ed his family and was particularly proud of the acromplish .... nls of his four 101\$. lie was I/OOd COmJ>loIt)'. and his many friends throughout Iht stat. will r'rMmMr his humor and kun ,,'it. Williams served as ~rtsident of the Tuscaloosa Kiwanis Club, wa. an

aClive memMr of the First r ... byteriin Church of TU5C~loosa. was president of the AI~baml Society of the Sons <>fthe Amerie~n Rtv(lluhon. and ",u on the council of the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Alaba~.

He was a prolific writer and the aulhor of numerous journal aTlicies and nine la ... books, including Standord Georgia Pracliu, I slH'Olume, 3,700-~ W1)rk on tNllnd appellate prllCtict in Georgia, published in 1955· 56 by I..'I"'Y"TS Cooperalive Publishing Comp,my, Rochelter, NY. He was the aulhor (with S.C. Stone) of T""nesset' Workmen's Compensation, published In 195i by Tmnessee t.aw Book ComJ>Iony, .nd Williams' Ataboma Workmen's Campensation, published in 1962 by Matthe'WlI<'ndtr 6< Company. Ilis last work "'OIl William s' Alabama t:l'id.mu. published in 1967 by lhe ~hchie Compan)". Dun Nathaniol lI ansford of Ih. Uni'''1'1ily of Alab.ima School of La", rooted Ralph's conlribution to the faculty of the school of law and to the legal profe.sion as an accomplished practitione r and arbitralor, and his major contribulion as a tegal scholar and .uthor. I remembtr him as a boy_ hood fritnd and schoolmate at Central HIgh School in Phenix Cily lTId cially lor hiS major contTlbutioTl 10 my administration as governor through hi' "'IVice as director of the [}eparlment of Indusl rial Relations and as • memMr of my cabinet. !ie made a tremendous cont.ibutlon to the .tate and the SOuthoast through I.bo, arbitration. and Mc>U..e of his outstand,ng repUlalion lor fairotss and good judgmenl, he ",as in con_ stant demand by both labor and management. He was a distinguished ....mM. of the Alabama Slate 8.:>, for mo .. lhall 40 }'Urs. .kim Pallnwn, pn!Siding judge Alabama Court 01 CnmintJ/ App<!'(lis alld former fIO''<!mor oIAlabama

os.,.-

TtlE AI.A6A.'lA UWYER

RICHARD EARLE PROCTOR The bench and the bar of the 36th Judicial Circuit mourn the loss of its distinguished member. Rich<>rd F.arle Proctor. on June l~. I99L He 1'135 born March 15. 1917 and graduated from the Univ .. sity of Alabama School of Law in 1938. receiving his LL,B. degree in th<>t year. He commenced the practice of law in Moulton. Alabama in June 1938. In February 1943. he entered the service of t~ Federal Bureau of In""s· till'tion as a special agent and se!"\'ed in that upacity until he resigned while serving in the San Diego office to enter the Navy. He .<trwd in the Navy during World War II, and upon release from his naval .<trviee. he returned to Moulton whue he again entered the practice of law. He served as the first bar commi! · sioner for the 36th Judicial Circuit and county solidtor for Lawrence County. He rendered service in many ,apaci · ties in Lawrence Count)', s. rving as county attorney. and was active in numerous civic organizations. He was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church of Moulton. serving as district lay leader. district ,epresentative to the annual conferen ce. local lay leader. member of the board of trustees. and member of lhe administrati,'e board.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife. Annie Irwin Proctor. Born to their marriage "'ere two chil· dren. a son. probate judge Richard L Proctor, and a daughler. Virginia Proctor Johnson. He leaves two grand· sons and Ihree granddaughter.;.

lIarold Speake, MOlll/on

ED~\uND RAsI-lA CANNON Wher~as. Edmund Ruha Cannon was born in Mobile. Alabama on IHcember 17. 1926. and moved tn Vre· denburgh. Alabama during his earl~ youlh: and I+'/w",as. the Mobile Bar Association desires to remember his name and to recognize his contribulions to our profeSlion and to this community: Now, therefo ... be it known. that Edmund Rasha Cannon departed this life on April 10. 1991. His father was. country doctnr. He .ttended tht Uni. versity of Alabama undergraduate Khool where he was a member of Phi 0.113 Theta social fraternity. He grad· uated from lilt Univer.;it~ of Alabama School of Law in 1952, where he was a member of Phi Delta Phi 1~1I'1 frat ..· nitI' and a member of the board nf edi· lOr.; of the Alabama wu' Review, Ed became associated with the Hand, Arendall firm nn January l.

1956. where his firsl Msignment was to dear the title to the property in Brewton. Alabama where the plant of Cantainer CorpOration of America is located , He laler became a partner in Hand, Arenda ll whe .. he specialized and was a recognized expert in matter.; of real property and oil and gas law. Ed retired from Ihe aCli,'e practice of law in October 1984 and moved to Camden. Alabama where he purchased an antebellum hOlme which WM open \0 the public and wh ich he WM contino uing to .. furbish at the time of his death. He had many friends and law partners who visiled him in Camden from time tn time. Ed lowd the woods and outdoors and believtd in proper forestry moth · ods and con.<trvation of our woodland resources and wildlife. People coll ect differenl things. and Ed liked to col· lect 40·acre tracts contiguous to his other properl ies in south cenlral Alabama. Ed will be long remembered for his steadfast frienWhip.s among his fellow laW)lers ,md as an aggressi,'e. determined advocate of the rights of his clients. He is survived by his son. Edmund R, Cannon, Jr. and two brothers and a sister. lie was a m<'m· ber of the fir.;t Presb).1erian Church of Camden. Alabama. Champ Lgons. presidet,1

Mobile Bar Association

Monlgm,..".y Mmdled: 1952 Died: June 13. 1991

P ROCTOR, RICHARD EARLE NOlll/o,! Admilled: 1938 Died: June 19, 1991

BOYK IN, WALTER MAxWELL. JR.

RAINS, AI.B~;Rl' M.

Metairie.1A Admilled: 1931 Dit'll: April 28, 1991

Cad;d"" Admitted: 1928 Died: April 22. 1991

B F.LSER. RICHARD

LESLIE, THo~s

THE ALABAMA LAWVER

SMITH. GARI' P OOLE

Mmilled: 1951 Died: July 20. !991

Flarem::e Arlmitted: 1960 Died: July 8. 1991

McFALL, MARCARET Montgomery M'm1/cd: 1938 Died: July I~. 1991

TAVEL, EZEl.~;E L~;nICH Me/airie, L4 Admitted: 1934 Died: June 23. 1991

S//.,(JIJ.is. !>IO

September 1991 1289

Consultant's Comer fI'"

The follou!;'1g it a ""ikw oland comrmmlUrJl Of! /111 offICe. au/omatiol. i.<sm! l/ral rumml imporlunat /0 1M /ego/ commWlilJl. p~rwI bg Ih~ off," automation «WIJul/o11llo the sial. I>or, /'(lui &rrull!in• .mt- m.m an not n«aJOril, lhox 01 1M &/0/' 1I<1r. This is 1M 20th artick ;" our "Comu1/1111/S Comtr" Wt Iro(lld lin /0 /war from gou. both in cri· tique of1M Qrlick wrillrn and ~i()n$ of 10(lia for fiLlan articla..

smes.

T,", ll.owl"9 corporet. ~II.I depar1ment for m~lly yun. lar.~ (and not so

larQt) firms h~d 11 ltg,l department compoud of a gellenl CO\lnUlllnd ~ .M;(r(taf)'.

n.. "~ntrllJ" aatd

The philosophy is simple: -A/iu many of watching private coumel do much 0( ou •• outint work. ~ rtaliu that wt an do it j\Ut u wtll. ,nd at a signifICantly lower cost:

YUti

Chenge in orgenlutlon

out lIll the fi rm's legal work, ,ilMr to th~ form', oul$i\k cool\Kl or 10 on. of _1101 5IlKialty forms. Additiooolly. Iw

Along with the philOSOllhiul change hu come a change in organiu-tion. In Iddition to I gmtrlll tOlInHl. Ih ... is a It1l,1 dep...t ..... nt, , 1Iroup of laWfi'rs who are nOw tucuting many of the tnks formerly performed by outside counstl. What tasks. fo. ,,"'mple? Cor. porate legal departments art now Ut· cutinglhl: majority ol uKutive employ· ment agrffTl1tnu, property Iea5(S, .tli emte dtlls. and rven some M'cu.iti" ,...o .k. In short, they art /Qking bock much of lhI: rootint work ionntrly han· died by thoi r OllUidecounstl. ThtY have departments (just like pri . V<lle law f1rll'l$). departmtnt haW, par· alegals, couri... and rven admininrll' tOTS. Associite COUnHl ire mtllSUrW in much the ume wI)''' 'noeiat •• 'T<' tracked in private firms. Specialized softwart is utilized 10 follow usociale performance as well as to follow the performance of outside and field Jitiga. tors,

ofttn hid .. number of li(lgilo rs on rtt&;roer in tilt company', market Ire, to xl ilS defense counKl in ilIlY matters brought ogaimt il. Alilhat is changing,

and changing rapidly.

e ....... in phllo,aph, ~ inugr of Ih, "jtntrlll" control· lil\ll in....o.:a from OUl$ide bw firms and

rtmtmbtring to re.- 1M rttainus of his field lit igators is quickly passing. Corporate legal departments are rapidly b«oming .mall (and rI()I so small) law firms. with' single client Corporations still fum out most of thei r litigation and so .... alth.i. ro<pOrlItt work. but the mrporat. \ego] depart .... nt is uki"", on lTWly al tilt characttriltics 0(1 pri. vatt law firm - thtY do legal work!

Richard Wilson & Associates Registered Profess io nal Court Repo rters 17Mildf«lSl~

Montgomery ..... Iabama )61 ()4

290 I ~pI.mber 1991

_ tilt changing upecutions of many IIw $ChooI1IrMiWltes.

more as a

cont rol ler than a counul. He farmed

264-6433

_ tho Ovt .. upply of well-eduuttd law $ChooI jfr.ldWlItS and

Chang. In ov.rslght more cost lhI: 1iU/ility ol CO<J>OrlIte di recto .. incruses, boards of directors are looking at such maners as the cor· poration's general counsel much mort critinlly. They art beginning 10 ask such quutions as. ' Can't we do this as wtll ... oulsi& CQUnKl, and at a much lower cost!- ~ lInswer ofttn is-YUand Ihe rUSOn hu II grut de~! to do "ith two fadors that ~mount to socidal changes: As corporlliions keo .....

COIIKIow;. and

Cheng•• in .ocl.tel tecto,. First, we IAlahama ind Georgia for IUrt ) aT<' gradWlt;ng about 20 perernt mort I¥w students iNon tilt pnv..te_· tor Cin lb.orb at thit time. The PI"O$pt(:ti for .ignifiClnt g!"O'ol1h in the ~rlvate stctor art dim for Ihe remainder of the decade. A number of facto rs, declining birth rat t, a pOpulist diun· dl.lontment with "litigation", legislative limil.itions on damage lIwards, eooctmi UKlut insurllnce pT<'miums. ttc., a", 111 involved. The makeup of the t)llir,ll"" $Chool Quduating elas.s is changing dramali· cally. In !990. 42 percent of all law $Chool studenti were women. Many of them art tager and disposed to seek ar~rs in priv,alt PfX\irt. Sorm. how· rver, lind tilt nu~r _'"' 10 boo on tilt riM', are juJt U dcdicattd 10 lilt profusion but rI()I as C(lmmiued to lilt pri· vate Stet Or. They have concerns about family and the quality of lif., not readily .econciled with the fir$! few yu rs of priV<ltt prllClice. For them, and others. corporate I"" prllctict is In lIltrlldive compromise.

Summery The corporate law de{Xlrtmenl has chinged dr~maticilly. It is ""'" I law Ii"", that works nelusively for lhI: com· pany. Compensation is imprwillil ind the environment stems to suit lin increuinQ number of I~rs who have OPled for a lifutyle more in keeping • with their aspirations,

THE ALABAMA U\WVER

Request .for Consulting Services Office Automation Consulting Program ,,, Finn SizeA.'g. SCHEDULE OF FEES. TERMS,\ND CONDITIONS

CottllaW)~.

DIIRlion "

, ~>

2·3 4·5 6·'

3 days 4 days

8·10

5~"

2 <h;~

$ 500.00 $UX)(}.QO

$I.SOO,OO

$500.00 $400.00 5333.00

52.000.00 $2.SOO ,1)O

$307.00 $277.00

(}v.,r lO

"rN ..!i""

S25O.00

'Sumbor of I~~rs .",ty Including 01 roun<ell to tho ~I.n .... d on-promi .. time . OO dou MI in<i";' time ..,.nl by 11'1< mruultlnl in hi. own Om". whil, P' .... ri"tl documtnutioo and r«<>mmtndoti<Hu.

"f,,,

-------------------------------------------------------------------REQUEST FOR CONSULTING SERVICES OFFICE AUTOiolATION CONSU LTI NG PROGRAM SpOnlOred by AI.hama Stat. Bar THE FIRM

'.'~~.m.~~~~

Addre"

ZIP Telephone ~ Tlitle _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

City

CO!lta~t

per><ln

Numbtr of 1aW;"" _ _ parale!l/lls _ _ sa:relaries others in other ciHes? _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ __ __

Offic~1

ITS PRACTIC E

Practice Areas (9IJJ Maritime Collections

Litigation

Ileal ~:stale

c.."

Numb<. of dienu handled annually Num~r

COrpOrate r.... tat. Planning Sanking

of matters handled annually

Num~r of man.rs pres.ently ol"'n-:====== How often do you bill1

EQUlPMEI'o'T

(~.f:.:O,:'~=============================

DaU processing equipment (;f any) Word processing equi pment DicUtion equipment (if any) y

Copy equipment (ifan",,::================================= Telephone equipment _ PROGRAM

'No of emphasis desired

Admin. Audit

Preferred time

0) WfE _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

DP Needs Analysis_ __ _

WP NeWs Analysis (2)WfE _

_ _ __ _ _ __

Mail this reQue.t for 5'MCe to the Alabama SUI. Bar for scheduling. Stnd to the attention of Margaret Boone. e.ecuti~ assistant. Alabama SUI. Bar. P,O. Box 671. Montgome.,.. Alabama 36\01. THE AI.A8AMA LAWYER

Stptem~r

1991 1291

CLASSIFIED NOTICES "a ......

IIATU, 2 "" ~ "",,,. _ "'" S 50 "'" addoIooI\oI ""'., " ........ _ .. !.35.,. _

_ '_

-.g",

'... _

80m _

""PI ..... _ . _ . , TI.. - . . . , - -. ., _

.." ..... _ _ _

For $00": Sa", 50 per"""t 00 your lawbOoks Call Na,,,,,,,,, Law fleooo..<ce. Ametica's Wgesl lawbool< dealer Hugoe ~ lCWies. low priCes ExcelJoot quality Yoor

sanslacoon absolutely guatanteed Alto. call Ame"ca's laf gesl lawboo~ deale, when you wam to sel l your unneeded booI<s, Cell lor your , .... _blip_ Uon quol • • . (800HI79. 1799. N .. ti" .... , Law R....ure ••

n.. ..... wbook

E.c"",,, ~,

lid. IJvyS aod sells an majOI lawbooks, stale and lederal. natIOnw ide For "II your ' ....book ........ phon. [BOO) 422-6686. Maste<C8.d. Vosa "rod Amer_ can Express accepted.

Fo. S.,., Model Ruills 01 Proless"", ..1 Conduct. personal c:opiM now available for $5 ('f'>CIOOI!S postage) . ...11 c h ack to P . O . Box 671, ""nlg o m • • " Al a b e m a 36101 . Pr._ paym e n t ......i .....

For Sale, AmJut2nd, Like·new condItIOn, curroot. $.2,500. Colli Debbi. [6151 82:J.1238. F~

Fo.

5.1., Alabama Code WIth current

poc~et

parts , $420 . Ala bama Diou!. $1.550. Contac:t Sam Br.. d ........ , III , 131 Chur<;h Slreel , A Ie....ndef City, AI .. _ 35010. " " _ [2051 2342611 .

For Sal., AIa~ Repo!te< System (81 Alabama appellate cases). Alabama COde: Alabama Digest; Alabama Sr.ep.. ards ; Am Ju , 2d, USCA. U S. Supreme Court ReportS (all L Ed and l. Ed 2<:1); Omnolax tele<;op ie, model G36; Minoita copier model EP 5502 wlt~ ten-bin coIIal", Contact Chuck Holtz, P.O. BOil 154, Mobil a, Al a b a m a 366 01 . Phone (2051 'U2-0738.

POSITIONS OFFERED Po s lUon Olter a d Attorney wanted, Experienced P.1. 01' WiC lawye' 10 open Montgome ry oil ice 101 p laintlil's lirm E><ceJient oppOO\lfIIty Must b<l nonsmoker Send " ,uma a nd . .lery history In

conUd.nc. to M •. Ka .pl c., P.O.

292 1 Stpl.m!>er IWI

~31

No . ....... ... , .....

~Qeo"_.

_ _ 30 " " _ . - . ...... _

<0> _~., ..... """ PO 80> "ij6. ""'''''''', • • _

Bo. 95406, AUanla, O. orgla 30347-0406.

FOA SALE

For Sa..:

"""'0<1"

"" ' _ _ ' '" . _ kW>go _ 1035 "'" _ _ aI ~ - 0 . '" _ '" 50 ..""IS '" _ . 1 50 "'" - . " . , "",0 c - t ... 0<1p/ ..... ..,........ ........ ...,.".. OOC(I(""'O"'"

~.-lXC€PT

Po . lllon Oll a ra d Allorney wanled tldmltled Alabama lawye< wanted to WOfI<. .., Atlanta to assoSi .., the han· dling 01 Alabama ~ cases. Posslbll ,ly 01 relocating at a later date to Alabama all"", a tirm. NonSl"nJl<Jng 011"", Send . . _ in conlidencol to Hi.· Ing P .. rtn . r , P .O. 80. 4 50264 , Allanla, Gao."la 30345. Recent~

Po.ition Ofl...d Small O!I~ pract~ tlOne' To represenl oul-of·state finance company wilh domestication olludgmenls and e xecutIOn of debtOl's assets R. ply 10 "anaglng Pa rtna r, Bo" 2524, B. I" Cynwyd, ""'n. yl"anl.

,.....

Position

Off.....

Executive doector of

LI>gal Ser\'ic:es Corporat"", 01 Alabama.

which p<OViOe$ clllilleQal aid to poor pe0pie ... 6001 AIabama's67 COIXIOOS 0-811 program mar.agemenl, plaMlng, fiscal overslg~l, board relat""'s. Dar relatlOO5. lundralSItIQ. IIUQatIOO d~ector MIn.......,., of Ihree years ' attorney expellence and member in good standing DI !he Alabama State Bar. Of willing to become e member al !he eaI1ie$t opportI¥IJly; troal and appeItete experience. !tdrJ>f1IstraW<! and poIicymak ing e xpellence prele!(ed S.nd application. 10 Rob . rt S .ga .. , Prea,,"nt, le900l Senlca. Corpora. lion 01 Alabama , P.O . Bo x 347, .. ont~, A18ba .... 36101.

Po.itlon Off-..d: Bevis. Kyie

BurCh.

a (\'lId·SIZed fmllOca tad in Perimeter een-.

is seekIng an allOl'''''Y Wllh lwo-four ye8ls' experl8nce irll~igat""', WorI< ""II in~ insurance defense in tori cases as we ll 8S comple> cornmefclal lit lgal ion Ap.pIicant musl be able to assume dorect lIIf.

hie handling responsibility and b<l able 10 WOfI<. d~ect~ WIth clients. Must have g'ad· ...sted in the 1<l!l:;>S percent of an ItCCredned law schoo!, Pl •••••• nd ... u ....

to Ra x P . rkin e, Bo"l e, Kyl . .. Bu.ch, Third Floor, 53 p • • lm.t . r C . nt • • Ea.l , Allant a , O. o.gl.

""'01

a allorney and IaW-I&iated job$ WIth the U,S Gavet" ' i01ll arl<f 0Ih&r publicIpr ....a le employers'" Washington. DC .. Ihro"llhoul Ihe US and abroad 532-3 rronths; S55-ll months All fleW job$ each issue Pub llSned sInce 1979. F. d . r.1 R.poru , 1010 V. rnlont Av. nu . , N.W., . 408.,1. 8 , W •• hington , O.C. 20005. Phon. 12021 393·33 11 . h\IndIed$

VISaMC.

Po s ition OU. r. d New Orleans Ilrm sooks employ<!e benelits assocIate Wllh

OI"I&-live yeatS of ER ISA expe<.oence or an LL M In taxa lion

T~e lirm's practice encompasses all phases 01 employee benefits law, includ ing ad\llCEl and plan· nong WIth res.peclIO ,etlf8t'l'l8t'lt and welfare pIaos as well as an active ER ISA litigatIOn pracuce Excellent credeolials, oommtJIlI. cation and organ~8tiona l $!<llIs '&quoed. R.spo nd to Hiring P.rtn.r, 8 008 J .a nn.tt. Plac., N.w O.I •• n .,

Loul ....... 70118.

SERVICE S.",lc.: Medica l maipfaC11C8 and pet. SOfIaI in,ury. 'OCOfd review and investiga.. t""'. Pe-ggw- Smith An.............Ith C e •• Con s ult a nt s . Ca n pro. ide a detailed report on the strengths and weak· nesses 01 your medical record Medlcsl ,esea'cn outhning 1M standard of ca,e and asslslance in obtalrnng appmpllale medical experts Is included 8$ par! of the worI< produCt Twenty ,.ears' expeoence in !he health care industly. R. spond to 15 Splnn a k e . La n ., N • • Orl •• n s, Louls l.. na 70124. Phon. (504I:zsa. 5160.

Sen.c.: AtIwna. Georg'" co-<Xl'JI$Ol Do you I\Md a Georg", lawyer as co-coo..nseI for plaintiff's personal injury case? I have 15 years' experience and limit my pracbCe 10 personal inJUIY and workers: ~. too. C. II "-Id L. Hil ley [40413254400. No rePfesema/JOfl is made abaul rhe quality of rhe / e g s l _ 10 b<l per-

01 !he !1myer per.

~~.

fooned Of !he a~ Iorming S<dr ~,

Po.illon Off-..d Altorney fObS, naliOnal Or lederal legal employmenl report Highly regarded mc::nthty detailed !istng DI

S.,vlc., T'aH ic anglneer, consu ltSMVexpert WItness. Graduate. 'eo'$le<e<I. profeSSIOfISI enginee r, Forty yea rs ' exper ~ TH E ALARAM,\ LAWYER

.....::a HigIIway and

CIIy

.-!'way desq\,

oonItOI dro'ices. CIf\I ZOIWlg Write eo caller ,-...... INa J_k W. et.-. II . ., 621 ••II . h ..r.! 1)001"., Mont· gom. ry, .. I ........ 3.,09. PI'Ion. ~ aIIic

12051 212.Z353.

So",le., Legal , _ c n I'oelp. Exper~ enced 11I0I'noy..... mb.' 01 Aillbam. sc.. 1977 Access 10 _ law I,b,.ry WESTlAW 1".,lable P,ompl cIeIIdi'Ie _chel, We dO UCC-l _d>.... $35IhOur s.r.h K.II"y" F.mell, 112 ...........Ildl"fl, Montgomery, ..IoN.... Hl04. "'-'0 12051 277· 11t~H . No ~-'I/J11Ofl is made ,/)aJ1 tn. QIIaI<!y 01 rn. ~ _ ro be per. Iormed eo". ~_ 01". /r.oy8< per.bmnQ IUI!It ......,...

a. __

S ....lc.' Eum,".uO" 01 quesuoned ~_ 1-*lcMr1lng_ l'fP"WI'iIlng and '.'".d .~.mln.1Jon. Intetnallooally <XIII1~ """'" _ _ , DIpIornaI8. Am.nClln 80wd 01 Feoensoc Ooc..rnent ExIrrw'IIno Member- Atnen::on Soc:oety d Ou.sllOned Do<;u ...... t eum ....... s. the Il'IIe<natlOflai As8ocI8to'"I !co Iderlllf.:allon. lt10I &IIISI"I feoentoC Sc..-.::o SocIety and th. Nillonlli Anoc,ot,on 01 Cllmlnal Delonse Lawye,. Rell,ed Ch"l Documenl Exam ina', USA C I Laborato,io$ H .... M.W . r Qldlo .. , 218 M . ..,. mO"1 Orl .. . . A .. g ... t . O.orglll 30901. _ 1_11160-4261. S.",lc., CO",I..-CIIor.IISIC document 8 .S. MS .. orao.-te 01...--·

IIXIIITW*.

IIty-bMed leMIenI IChooI .. dOcument ~1IOtI

PuI:IIi$hod

s-.

......., ....... ~. pperIence ... SI8Ie and

'-aI eo..m 01 AIIbIr"rIa Forgery._II_ and documonI

~..

na\IOnI .. I"ICO\-CM'W\II mal\eII, Arneric«I AcoCIemy Foransic: Sciences, Amancan BoII,d FOtan,1C Document eXllmlne.a, Amenclln SocIEl!y a..-\IOrIed Ooeunent ExamlMr. L.mllr Mill." P.O. BOK 511405, .I,mlnlh.m, Alabam. 3-5255. Pho ... 12051 ..... ' .... Son-le., SecuritlEll experl wlU'le5&. Will mauly to IUltaOd!ty and eh<.mng Folleen

years' ."""'.....:. ... MCI,.W,tle!l ~.

A,b'I,.lor lor NillOO1I1 ASSOClllilOO 01 SKurlly Delllo". AmerICan A.bd.8tlOl1

A._-........... 1C8/I Stodc ExctIIInge. Can _ OOUI"I _allOtl I'Ie8mg 01

Memlle. Nlluonal fo,enSlc Center Ch .... k .... hlld ...... ', QuI! Sho ••• I.. " . "monl Co .• Inc •• P.O . 80 .. 3033, Q .. II Sho ••• • AI.b.m. :MI542. _12051_11111.

...",Ie., Exper1 WItness. police ""*"<:Ie ope"I""" (eme'gency ,espenso. pu'· t.ul18. neg~gont operailOfl)_ Twenty years' o. perlOl'lCe in law ef'IOfcemem. college

THE AUI.BAMA LAWYER

te.cllong, poIoco 1"1fW>II CoIIeoe Clean ar.d cert,11OCI poIoco IICIIciemy OnSlfUC101 (_gone'{ ~ 0I)III8t"",,) PIaonWI and delenll e~p."enco Dr . Tom BllrIc • • , 111-31 ' . Irwll, Drl"., SW. J.",k . o""m o, AI.b . .... 3.215. _ 1205111_:135.

SonIk., HCAI ...............ltI \'CUI" cases grail' leo merIt Ind causatlOfl CI,nocai oom. II;> YQ4JII oI'fic:e oratlS. HYQ4JII case lias r"IO tnIII~ eo ~ caus8'1Ofl is poor, 'NIl w.- allO provide II WI,Ifan .eport. Slat aHoda.Ils IIJpe' ,..ailed Please see dIsp lay ad on page 10 H •• lltll Cllr • A ...m..e. Inc., P.O. Bo .. 22007. SI. Pot o .. b"f9. 'lo.IN. PhO". IIUI 511J.80114. F•• 51),13-33.

.eps WIll

t,"

S .... I"'.: Legal .0",afch/wllllng ... ,VICes LIc-...CI AI~ IIl111fney Wllh .\fong _cl\lWliIlng sIuIs .....bIe 10 dO inOtlpondenl ConUICllng work lor

atlOtflOyl on SIlOrt,rIoog. eIet· enc. . IIYllllablo De,olh, Agn.w. 3003'", CI""Io, ' 2501 , .....1..... , nOIth Alabama

101m bI$II

Fe...- )'III'"

O><P"""""'.•

........... 357.... " ' - (2011) " , . 1151 . ND~._abaM

tn. QUOIiIy 01 tn. ~ _ _ II;> be per. IotmtKI or me II.I(pIIfIIM d /he Iaw}er f»t. Iormng 1UI!It_,

So,,,I,,,., Alabama IIC.nsed ,"o,ney (1991) I"allalllflleo resellfct1 and Wflt·

ing an,lIance whll. pu'suing LL M Also. on MondaYl', a"allable In Bllmlng. ham 10' In·house needS Especially interestad In an"ilonmental issues $35/hc>u,. Ih, . . ·hQu, mInimum O. WIlU.m Rooke. 12051 818·1418 . No rep,esOfIt.11OfJ I. m.t<1<l obout 1M quM;ry d IN /opal UMces 10 be f»t -

Iormo<i or I". ex""'1," 011118 potIO"'''''{I SUC/t - - . t,

"'' ' Y• II'

r--------------------, ADDRESS CHANGES Pltue check )'OIl' li.ting in the curttnt 1990·91 A/oooma /Jar Direct"'ll and complete the form btlow ONLY if lhett <In lily changes 10 your listing. Due to changes in the st.ltute governing election of bar commiuiO~1"$. we now are required 10 use members' office addrems. unlus nom: is ...... ilable o. a mtmbtr is prohibited from nceiving stal. b.i.r nuil lithe office. Addilionally. lht! A/aiNJma Bar Director, is compiled from our nulling list and it is impor· tant 10 use business sdd~ues for thaI tt;uon. (Thue: c~gu WILL NOT lPPQr in the 1991·92 edition of lht! directory. The cut~ oDIe for lht! d,rttlory informlltion was Stptrmbtr 1. 1991.) NOTE: If we do not know 01 ~ clwlgt in sddrn.l, we C3JlIlOt rnake the neaslOllY chilllgu on our rKOrds. 50 please notify U$ when )'OUr add,," chilIlgn. _ _0 _ _ 0 _ _

ChooK one:

Mr.

Member lclentifiClltion (Socill Securityl Number Mrs.

"00.

Miss

ou,,,

fullN......

B... ,..... I'!!oo. Numbor

Birthdol< VurolAdmIWOn 0IIin Mail;", ""'-'IfUO

co,

'". ""

ZII'CM

0IIin Stnct Add ..... (if d,fIt .. nl from "";11", addraJl C,ty

State

ZIPCode

L County ____________________

Septembtr 1991 / 293

THE ALABAMA UNIFORM CONDOMINIUM ACT OF 1991 By GERALD R. GIBBONS Ql1d CAROL H. STEWART

[i ll

n Janua~ I. 199! the Alaba·

rna Uniform Condominium Act N,ame dfec\iVl'. It Was the t h ird condominium statute ' to be adopted in the state's histo-

ry. The first aCI. pas~d in 1966. was a model act drafted by Ih. FHA and was

adopted by all states. Only one condor

minium WaS formed in Alabama und .. the first act. Deficiencies in the model oct soon CdU5ed the various state legisla· lurts \ 0 begin to make significant amendments to it. This resulted in a

va,kty of condominium acts aCross the country. In Alabama the legislatiO/l was

rewritten in Ihe Condominium Act of 1912 [the "old law"l. The old law provided a basic (ramework wilhin whiCh condominiums could be formed and exist. How"e(, it was inadequate to answer many specific que.!ion> regarding the dewlopment and operation of condominiums. [n 1980, the Commissioners on Uniform State I.w.~ drafted a n"", and much en· larged uniform act. the Uniform Con<\(>. minium Act [the "UCA'[. The director of the AI~bama taw Inst itute. Robert McCurl ey, appoinled an advisory com· 2 94 /Septem~r

1991

mittH to study the UCA. Chaired by Tully. and later by E.B. People•. both of Mobile. the committe. in 1981. after four yurs of consideration. rerom· mended a wrsion of the UCA to be adopt· ed in Alabama. The proposed act was passed by the legislature in 1990 (t ho "AcU. (Ala. Code § § 35-SA·]O] eI seq. (SuP!'. 1990). citations a'" hereafter ref. ere"""'onl» by cod. ~ion num~r). The Act is long (11 sections and 120 pages), t<:ehnical ~n<l sonte\<'hat compli. e.ted. The Official Commentary of the drafters of the UCA is included in the cod. aftu each section. along with an addi tion~1 Alabama Commentary. The Act provides substance and strict guide· lines for the dewlOl'Tnfnl and operation of condominiums. while at the .ame time providing nexibility for develOpers of condominiums. Many of the provi· sions of the Act are ident iul to the guidelines for FNMAlFHU1C apprO\'al of condominium projects. and accordingly. the Act presents relatively f"'" new con· ,"pts for la"'}'ers who routinely prepare the ir condominium documents to b. FNMAlFHtMC apprOl.'able. The purpose of this article is to discuss the lTIOlit sig· AI~rt

nificant changes enedw by lhe Acl_Due to the1imited space "'ailable, howe .... r, many tOpiCS are omittw.

I. App licability of the Act A condominium is created by the recordation of a "[)fdaration of Condominium" e. eeuted in the samo ""nnt' as a deed applicable to lhe realty legally descri~d in Ihe Declaration. I§ ZOlla)). The Ac t applit5 to all condominiums whost D~cla r alions are rtcorded or amended in the State of Alabama after JanU31)' l. 1991 unless the condomini· urn contains f....~r lhan four units and "seNt$ unto the dewloper no special rights. di>cu...,d infra. (§ 102). AI",. a oozen sections of the Act are automali· cally applicable 10 old law condomini· urm ..... hich sections include important matters such as the "",,· ..s grantod to boards of directors of condom inium assoxiations. the association's li ens for a...,ssments. tort and contract liability, and obligations of sellers on the resale of un its. THE ALl.BAMA lAWYER

Whil. most condominium. In Alaba· ma an inttndtd for midtntill plIrpoJ11t$. an inc1U$ing number an dtI... 1oped for cCHTlmrn:;al. off..:t llnd ",,"n indlJl;trial plIrpOStS. Miud·ust condominium!l aft lliso bring considtrtd by rul u tlltt devtloptn ... ho lt pro~trtits might includt suitllbl. ground 1",,"1 offict or romrrotrcilllP'Ct. with tho upptr HOOTS IlVllibblt for ulidtntia] Ult. Tht buyers of nonruidenti,,1 uni ts ITt frequ,nlly fcw in number aoo art gtntrally coruid.red to be more IOPhistkatN and \:>tner politiontd to obtain Itgal advice and contract protec t ion. Ofttn tht pur· dQltrs of nonTuidtntilll uniU Irt ""'n participanu In the original cltwlopmtnl who 5ftk an alttTT\llti ... to the traditional pllrtntrship or joint wnturt form of oomtrship. ror lhese and othrr JU5OnS, many provisions of Iht Act ...hich art inttnr.ltd to pr(Ittcl public ~rs of rosi. tltnlill uniu an be woidtd ..-tvre uniU Ut uSiricttd for nQrlruitltnlia] liSt by inHrting extmption provisions in lhe Decillralion. (f 401Ill)). Most 0( the provisions of tht Act. howtv"" cannot be vari.d by agrttmtnt or waived in tho Oeda ration for rtsidential condomini unu.1t 104). Tht following diKussion relatt. to tho Acl as it awlitl to raitltn. tial condominiums.

II. Title and control of common property Tht dislinguishing rut proptrty ron· apl of a l;Ondominium i$ tJutt tho ralty

-.... -. ..... O..eklR.GI _ Cioor..., A G-.. • • "...,. ~

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

................. _ .. ..... ... _Ieo-

_ftomo... ........... -

""'" _

l.ftow"oI.

-...

e................

-. . . ...... .

t . - H _ •• _ _ d ... ~d

..... c.. ....... sa- ..

.,...... ......

&_'"

.............. . . . .

t-I .. ....

t>ot"...... _ _ Boo-. ""' ..,.... Boo- ....

.... ~ SU'08o<

and improvtmtnU dnignalffi as com· mon proptrly IUlually this indud .. fYtrylhing but tho lil'$fli« and the inlt· rlor wills of Ihe condominium unit. ncllldi"ll tho suppOrt oolu","" or bur· inll "",Us, is 0ImftI. not by tho rondominium wocilliion of unit owntrs, but rather by all the unit owntTS in II form of cot.tlWlC)' "",thout 1M righl of partition. (I f 103]8): 2(l7Itl). The tsclllSi ... righl to ronlrol thf eommon proptrty. h/.:M-'tVor. is vested in the UlO< iation .• v~n though it has no lille intere~t. (1302). Undor the Act the asaoc:iation must bt orginiud '" a profit or not·for·profil co",ontion befort tho first unit i$ ton· Wycd. Each unil owntr is llulomatially a votinll mtmbtr of tht ",socialion. (13011. Tht ~ .....nI of tho asKICill· tion is dtitgattd to a board 01 dirtd.on el«ltd by members of tho association. 11303lllll...-hich board Juts tho ~r to makt rults. l4judic.at. viobIions of tho rults. URIS fin., for violatioru. tnttr into rontracts aoo liti,&a.tion on belutlf of the wociation. aoo formulat. and prepare an annual budgtl. Some impOrtant matttrs art not dtltgat.d to Ihe board of directors. r. but are I,ll. to. '-'Ole of thl: unit owners. C.ruin malt.rs such lIS llmtndmtnt 01 tilt Declaration or Itr· mination of the condominium requirt I high ptn:tnUft of tilt "<.lIes of all unit owntrs.1I f 3031bl. 211. 2181. Other mlltters. such is th. "pproval of an annual bud#! and d.ction of mtmbm 10 tho board of dirtd.ors. rtqIlire only II IIlIjority .-ott of unit o.."lWrs prtHllt. In ptrson or by proxy. at an annw.l meet· ing.lf303lbl.lcl ok Tht boa rd 01 directors has broad authority under tho Act in a combination of I.Sislali.... Judicial. executive and flsal ~rs. Tht board ICU. in efftcl . as a small Qovtrnmtnl. Whilt the old law granted limiltd powers 10 Ihe associa· lion. tilt focus of Articlt III of tilt Act i$ 10 cb.rify "nd tb.bon.tt on tho creation and optration oIlhe wocialion and tho atml of ~rs eMn \0 tho board. Tht aulhorily llffordtd the board undtr 1M Act indudu all pOWtrs ntctUiry 10 OptTItt tho lSJlXiltion as a bUlillftS or gwnn ..... nt. Notwithstanding tht bl'OOld authorily uttndtd unde r Iht Act. Iht !xIard·, authori ty to make and inlnpret rule • and .. gulalionl govtrnlng the day·today "tiviti u of Iht board i. l ubject to

nowe...

1m.

limitations. ror

tum~I•.

the board can·

not reQuilltt 1M liSt. occupancy.ltasing

or lliitnation of uniU unltss tho powtr is upmsly tltltgaltd in the Decillration. Thi$ provision is not signirlClnlly differ· mt from tM old law. octpi that in the Act the term "]'J.Sing and alienation" WllS lubstituttd for the term "Iransfer" in tho old illw 10 cillril)' tJutlllny restric· lion on !using. '" .....11'" a transfer by unit """"lWrs...qui ,.s a clear txprtssion in tht D.eluation. (f 205(1)112): Ala . Commtntary 2 10 f 302). Th. purpooe of this limitalion is to provide ori ginal and resale purchasers of uniu i mta5ure of prottclion to pr"",nt I ~rd from IIlltr Idopti"lll rut.t Iorbidding occupant)' by childrtn or ptU. or prewnti"ll tilt 1.... ing of Iht unil 10 the public wilhoul knowltdgt of lOCh prohibition prior 10 tilt purchist of tho unit. Such limita· tions. of COlIrH. can be craltd illter in the Declaration. but only by the diffICUlt procas oIllmmdmtnt. (f 211). Ew:n when Kling within the aulhori· ty of tho Act .nd Dtclaratlon in ~dopt· ing. applying and enforcing rults. boards of asso-cialions are subjecl to judicial ,...,icw. Whitt some commenta· tors .,gut that the quui.l/O'-emmental pOWers of the boards should in"""~ tilt limillliions 01 tht ]41h Amtndmtnt. courts Jut,... Iltld thai IheH pw,'US do not ronstitutt "Jtatt ~ction" for consti· tutianol plI,!,<*s. lIowt\.. r. ont of tho most signiflCllllt UpKts of constitution~I prolKlion of indMdual unit ""TItTS. • standard of "rusonabltntls' in Iht txtn:i.", of l'O""... r by board..o and dim:. tors, Juts bun adorIltd by most COOrb as ~ matttr of common law In interpreta· tion of condominium documenu. This standard wal txprt!.$ly adopted in tht ACI with rtQards 10 Ih. board's rule m~king authority. (f 205(i)(12); Ala. Commtntary 2 to f 302). Similarly, the authority to imp(l$l! 1 Ii.... for II rul' vioIlltion is limiled to II "rusonabl."

PLEASE HELP US ... We have no way ot I<no:;rw'Ing _ one ot <lU memberollop IS aeooased unleSS we are !"OQI,hed Do no! wan

for someone elle 10 dO ,1 ,f you know of Ih e dealM 01 one of our members. please 181 1lI know

Septembtr ]9911295

amount. and only after giving the violat · ing unit own.. notice and an opportuni . ty to M heard. (~302(a)lII]). If properly levied. a fine is givtn the same status for lien protection as an assessment for common expenses . except as against first mortgageos. discussed infra. (§ 316[a]),

III. Declarant rights and developer control The developer of a condominium. referred to in the Act as the "declarant", must M the owner or long·tt rm Ie...,., of the p~rty sought to M conwrted to the condominium form of ownership. Upon substantial compldion of all structural componento; and mechanical syslems. as certified by an engineer Or architect. the developer files a Declaralion of Condominium. which in legal effect subd ivides the property inlo the various units. (t ~ 201: 205: 209). Under Ihe Acl. Ihe nttd for nexibility of the developer in il5 conslruction schedule and marketing plan is recogni ..d. The Act allows the d~loper to rest"", in the Dedaration certain spe · eial "declarant rights ". These rights might include the righl to (I) control the board of directors of Ihe association for an extended period of time; (21 ptme develop the condominium property; (3) maintain sales, marketing and manag· ing activities on the property; (4) add. withdraw or subdivide ",al utal. which is part of the condominium property and other enumerated rights.

1 . DEVELOPER CONTROL The dewloper begins by owning all th e units in the condominium and appointo; all the member. of the board of dir.ctors. who are not required to be unit O'><'I1erS_ Under the old law. unless Ihe developer att.mpted to reserve righto; of control. when one-half of the unils were sold, the develop.r Iheoret ically lQ;<t control over election of memMrs of the board. The board thnealter might adopt rules hampering th e d~loper's markding of the remaining units or pre· venting the developer from cruling additional unito; according to it. plan 01 developm ent. More oft.n. how.v ... under Ihe old law the d.wloper would 296 t SeptemMr 1991

~ttempl to reserve unto itself excusiw developer rights. sometimes maintaining control over the association lor extended ptriods, even until the developer no longer ",",'ned any unit. in Ihe condo· minium. The Acl strikes a balance Mt;v,-een the two extreme. and permits the developer to rese,,'. to itsell the right to control

. _. one of the most significant aspects of constitutional protection of individual unit owners, a stG71dard of "reasonableness" in the exercise of power by boards and directors, has been adopted by most courts as a matter of common law in interpretation of condominium documents. membership on the board of directors tvtn aftrr on.·half of the units are sold. A formula was devised in the Act hasfd on the percentage of unito; sold to public buyers whereby the developer may appoint memMrs to the board of direc· tors until 7S percent 01 the units ar. sold. Unit -owner r.presentation is required on the board. however. after 2S p.rcenl 01 the units are wid. After 25 percent Df the unito; are ""Id, the nonde· veloper-related owners are entitled to elect at I.ast one board member or 25 perc.nt 01 the numMr of dir.ctors_Aft.r 50 percent of the units are sold the unit Owne .. other than the developer are entitled to elect not less than 3J percent of the board. (f 303[e[). [n nO event. how .... r. may the period of developer conlrol M extend.d beyond the time 75 percent of the unito; are sold to unit 0'WIl' erS oth.. than the dewloper, tW<l \'ear. after the developer ceases to offer units lor sale or two years after developer's right to add new unito; was last exercised, whichever occur.; first. (§ 303[d[).

The formula created by the Act is dif· f... nt than I'NMA guidelines in this regard. Under fNMA guidelines the developer r.linquishes control of Ihe association upon the sale 0175 percent of the units or three y.... after con· ...eyance of the first unit in a single phase project or five years ;n a multi _phase projec\, whichever occurs fi,,\. Th..e is 00 requirement of unit ""'11er representalion on the d• ...eloper-controll.d board prior to this. Control does not extend. howe,.. r. beyond a fiw·year period und.r fN~1A guidelin.s. whiCh the Act aIlO'><'S.

(t 303ldl & leI). Under the Act, after 75 percent 01 the units are sold to public buyers an the directors must be members of the ass0ciation. Le_. record unit O'WIl.rs and are el<cted by the o,><'n .... (§ 3031fU. "'hile the developer can ",te the unsold unito; which ha...e been substantially C<lmpleted U 417l. control ov.r the board is no long.,r ....-;ured. The election Df all board members by the un it O'><'I1ers is the official point of "1u1llO'Jer" of board control to the unit owners other than the de...el~,.

"operience has demonstrated that during the period of developer control th.re is a significant risk of the developer ent.ring into self·se"'ing or .w-called 'sw«theart'" deals on Mllall of the ass0ciation. which transactions often are of long -term ad"antage 10 the dev.loper and long·term disadvantage to the public unit buytrs, for example. a developer Or dewloper affiliate wil l olten enter into a long·term lucratiw management contract with the associ.tion or will retain ownership 01 recreational faci litates and ente r into long-term leases .... ith the associalion for use of the facilities. The Act remedies this probl~m ;n a comprehensive lashion. After turnover of board control by the d.wloper. the a.ssociation. und~r new board management. is entitled to terminate. without penalty. certain a8r~eme nts upon 90 days ' notice to the other party. Th .. ~ agreements include: (a) any management or employment contract or lease of "creational or parking facilit ies; (b) any typt of continuing contract or l•...., Mtween the association and the dewl oper or ito; affiliat.s: and (cl any contract ....hich was not bona fide or was uncon.cionable when mad •. such as an unfair

TIlE AlABAMA l.AWYER

seUlement b-etween the de~ I Opl'r and the association regarding damagu for construction defects. If 3051. The Act also attempts to discou rage "sweetheart deals" by imposing r..traint on the board members apWinted by the de-.-eloper during the period of dewloper control. Board mtmb-ers elected by the unit ""mrs other than the dewloper al'e personally liable to the association in tort lor faHure to exorcise ordinary and rearonable care in the aecution of their powers. (f 303[a)). On the other hand, board members appointe<l by the dewloper. who typically are not unit owners. are held to the high.,. standard of care 01 fiduciuies for the unit owners other than dewlope r in the performance of their duties. (§ 303[a)). 2 . PHASE DEVELOPMENT In Alabama condomin ium development hu proved t o invo lve a high degree of financial risk. To test the market a dewloper might wish to coostruct only a portion 01 the property. with the option to add add itional units lat.,. if the first phase is succ...ful. A difficulty with the old law was its lack of nfXi bilit~ for expansion of the number of condomini um units in I proj.ct. The problem was that, while amtndm.nt to the Declara· tion was permitted without unanimity among the unit owners. the earlitr leg· islation. hell: and elsewhere, required unanimity for changes in tho percentage oftitl. inte""t in the common property, and addition of units wou ld change those percen tages. Some developers aUempted to make provi,ion for phase development in pre·Act Oedarations. but the authority for doing $0 was Ie .. than dear. SecHon 35-8-6 of the old law provided that the undivided intell:st in the COmmOn elements -or the method for determining such interut" would be as set forth in the Decluation. not to be changed unle .. the other unit owners agreed. The developer thus would set lorth in the Declaration the pucentago of common elrmtnt ownership for the initial phase and how it would be affect· td by each phase thereafter. Upon com_ pletion of a phase . the Dec laration would be amended to add the property pursuant to the plan of phase dewlopment and 10 effect the common elemont ownership change. Acceptanct by unit buyers 01 the Declaration with its plan THE AIABA."IA lAWYER

of pha~ dewlopment arguably con,ti· tuttd an advance agre~ment by the unit O\'I'Tl..s required for the change in per· ctntagt ownership of the common elements. Another technique was to .. Quirt each buyer to sign a powu of attomey authorizing the developer to \'ote for an amendment changing the common property percentage interest. The Act clarir.es the dewloper's rights by giving the deveiopn a unilateral power to chango fr.ctional common ownership intertsU by amending the ])eelaration to add new units. (~210 IaH. Tht plan of phase development mmt be set forth in the Declaration. however. and mmt specify the outside number of n ....· units which ma~ be adde<l under the plan and lhe formula to be used to reallocate the common element owner5hip int...,ts. (f § 205[a): 207[blJ. AI$O. lhe location 0( the add itional units must be 500..11 on the plat 0( the property litbeled -Nee<l Not Be Built" .(~ 209Ib[112)[c[).

IV. Liens for assessments Under the old law. if a unit owner failtd to pay his share of tht common expenses 0( the associat ion, the associa. tion had a statutory lien against such unit. Th. lien became effecti"" upon tht filing of a claim of lien in the public records of tht county where the unit was 10000te<l. The claim 0( lien on ly appli. d to amounts due at the time of the fil ing of the claim of lien. The lien created under the old law was subordinate to any lien for taxes. the lien of any mortgage of ll:cord and any other lien 1l:COTde<l prior to the time or recording the claim of the association', lien. Th. association could foreclose on its lien in the same manner as a loreclo· Sure of a mortgage in real property under the old law. but thi' remedy was rarely enforced due to the subordinate p05ition of the association 's lien. Additionally. it was not economically feasible for the association to file suit again,t the defaulting unit owner on the debt. as the cost of the litigation would olien be more than the past due assessm.nt. In .um. undu the old law the failu re of a un it owner to pay his portion of the common e'lX'nses gener. ally meant a practical 10... of the associ·

ation's rights. Thus, the association would be lorced to operat e under bud· got or impose a special assessment aga inst the other owners. One 0( the dozen provisioos 0( the Act applicable to pre · 1991 condomi niums. (1316Ial1. gi""s the association a statutory lien on a unit /or any ...... ""'nt. late f~. fine. interest. or other charge on the date that the amount "comes dut". Gen · ually. the Declaration makes provisions for an annual assessment. payable in monthly installm.nts. There is usually an acceleration clause il a unit C1v\l1er is delinquent on any installment. Thus. in this manner the association would ha"" a lien on the unit for the remainder 01 the ......""'nt for that year. Ther. is nO .. qui rement for a fi ling of a claim of lien. but rather the lien is automatic. (1316). As in the old law. the Act provides that the lien for assessments may be foreclrued in the same manner as a mortgage. The Alabama Commentary clari· ("5. hov..."er. that this is "intend.d to mean a mortgag<> that includes a pcr....,r of salt". (Ala. Commentary I to ~ 316). The Act lurther provides that the associ . ation must givt "rusonable advance notic." of the foreclosure to the unit owner and all lienholders 01 record , require~nl5 not imposed in all mortgages. (f 3 16Ial). II unit owner's f~ilure to pay asse ..· ments often coincid.. with his failure to make mortgage paymen ts on the unit. and as discussed above. in the past a foreclosure .\ale of the unit by the mort· gagu wou ld wipe out the cla im for ....ssment by the association. Under the Act. however. the association's li.n is given a limite<l priority (}'IItr other liens. except liens cll:ate<l prior to the re<:ord· iOJ! of the Declaration of Condominium and liens for ta<es and governmental assessments ~nd charg... (t 316[bll. Most impOrt."lnt. the association's litn is gi,-en a statutory priority o""r the first mortgage to the ext.nt of .ix months' of ...... m.nts prec.ding the enforament of the lien. (i 316[bll. This amount is paid to the association by the mortgagtt at the ti~ of the foreclosure sale. Any remaining amount due to the association may be obtained by having a judgment entered against the defaulting unit owner and attem pt ing to iii. a litn against and execute on other property Or September 1991/297

income. The litn provisions of tIM: Act irt i ITIlOJor accomplishmtnt in nlib· li 'h ing tilt f<1WlC 1a1 ,"",bility of tilt ~ elation lind II I compromise of inttroo ofu...-iMion met ~

v. Protection of condominium purchasers t . ORIGINAL PURCHASERS Btc.aw.t lilt buytr of" condominium unit bKomu " mtmbtr of I typt of pO. \IOte I/OWmmmt, it II; impOrtant that ht havt " gtntral undtrstanding of tht compltx bundl. of rights and obligations he obl"ins by becoming .. unit ownu. Ntithrr tilt common Iiw nor prior Itgia· 1&l ion in this field required thai lny informallon bt given 10 purclw.trs of condominium units as I condition of .. ... It . Tht A<;\ nquiru thai tht dtwloper dtlMr to original purclwm of c:ondomi n ium unila .. documtnt c"lItd "n "offering s\lltt mtnl" . The offering s\lllt· mtnl mU$l conlain HOp)' of 0) tht Otc. 1"'''lion; (2) tht tryllws of tM lSSOCil' lion; (3) u.. rulQ iInd nguL;oIlons~· M by tilt association; (4) III)' rontrKts Or l.-s that art subjecl to cancttlalion by Iht woc:ialion at lilt Itrminalioo of

Advllnce to Jurisnew level of law office automaUan.

The fulUre in Low oflke IU\On'll.tlon Is unfoldi", ar>d Juris !u.s omHSed .. the INdft In fuU·/eotured

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t.nce. WriteorallyourJuris Authorized O""I .... lOdly.

Juris. 2!l8 f StpttmMr 1991

1M period of developer control; (5) any

currtnl Nllnce shed. projWed budget and a lisl 01 assessmtnts of Iht woc:ia· lion; t61 I citscription of .. ny firw><;ing for Iho ballnct of Iht purchan prict off.rtd by Iht dewloper Or uungtd wilh aOOlher party. t.g.. llocil Nnk; (7) a dtscription of any t xpress .....arranti .. provided by Iho devtloper 10 buyo .. rel!o1rding the q..wity of land. structures Or tquipmtnt; &nod (8) I list of all litnl and kOCMll citftctl or encumbrances ..... ...... 11 as several olh.r items of informa· lion. If 403[IIU. The offtring mttmtnt also must proYidt II Jtltemtnt Iml Iht puKhastrlw 5eVm days afttr ~ipt of lilt offerins illlltmtnt 10 canctl any con· Iracl for purchase of a condominium unit (I 403[11)( Illll. If I r0040illlinium is Sl.lbjtct to devel. opment rights muth mor. dtlililtd informal ion mUSI bt provided in ilddi· tion 10 Iht abov!:. (i 404). Howewr, if i condominium ronsl$ts of ft...... r than 12 unib iInd II; not ..,bjtrt 10 0Iny dt\'fiopmtnl righll or phlSing. Iht require mtnU of 1M offtring stJltmmt are Itss complex. (f 304Ib[). Add iliona lly. an oIf.ring illlltmeni in 001 required for • gnluitous disposition of " unit; II Irnufn purau&nllo court onkr ~ ll/OWm· menllli ajlency or for«losurt; I dtpOSi · tion loa person in tht business of seiling real tstalt: or I sale or Inlnsftr that may be c.anulltd III any time for any ruson without ptnllty, FiOlOIIy. in ~ ... tial con.dominiurm. lhe purclwtr lind stller may waive by a greemenl Iht rtquirtmtnb of an offering statement. (1401). The disdoMlre <:A Iht detailed inIonnf,. tion!ltl forth;abow er\lbles the purchas· tr 10 makt II mOrt informtd dtcision ..... ith rtgar~ to lhe purciw.t of the unit. With lilt ~urIDc. thllt 1M buyer has hid Ml opportunity to leam 01 his obliplions and rig/lU. rourU Jhould be !TlOft comforlllbit in enfOKing thost oblig¥! . tions. The A<;t provid •• lhal 1M dewlOPtr musl gi .... I COpy of lilt offtring IlIIttmtnl 101M purclw.tr btfon 1M con· veyance and nOI laltr lhan Ih. dalt of any contract for salt. (i 408lall, Unltss Iht buyer is )liwn I «>PI' 01 the offering >laltmtn! mort than 5eVm days prior 10 lilt tltCUlion of II PUKhast ronlOO or convtjl .. nct of the unit. the bUf'tr may canctl Iht contract or rtscind tht sale

..... ilhin ...... n ibys aftu rtctipt of tht offtring stattmtnl for Iny ruson by dtli .... ringl wriUen notict of cane. Ill' lion to Iht dtvtlop... (I 408[,,11. An .cIditiolloll penally for flilun 10 citli ..... lhe offering stJltmtnl to lilt purchastr prior 10 lhe ule 01 tilt unil illl , Ululory penally of 5 pe rotnl of Iht purchase price al puKiw.tr'S Option in lieu of IIII)' other remtditl. (f 4084([1, Fi'o'f perttnl of the ulel price is IsiQni/lcmt portion 01 lilt dt\ItlO!>tr's profil and is .uatt to ensure 1M developtr'l bUI . ffom to comply with Ih. offe ring statom.nt mruirtmtnU. In the [)1St, uncitrnpilllhltd developers ofttn ultd urnul .. nd dtposil money from ..,lel conlrlctl on unib \'tl to be buill for construclion txptlUtS. In the ."tnl of dtf.loull on lilt oonstJuction loan. bankruptcy or ab.mdonmtnl of lhe project by develope r, lhen .ums ...... rt l(Mt if Iht mortgagee rtfuStd 10 rteogni.o lhe claims 01 contrKl huyon. The At:! moIvtd Ihis problem ~ requiring thlll "II)' dt'posiu gi\om to ~ developtr in mnn«tion wilh the PUKIwt or rtltrvi_ lion of a unil be plactd In an internl· bearing UCTOW iCCOUnl mntrolltd by In indtpendtnt third ~rty. The d(pOSils annoI be relt~ to u.. devetopo,r until either convtyilnCt of the unil to the purchnt r or purchastr's def,ult on tht ..,Iel contoo. (1 4 10).

2.. RESALES OF UNITS The conctrns 0( informing purchast" of Iht obligationl involvtd in being I mtmber of II condominium ilSSOCiation include nol only originll purchln .. from tht de\'ftopo,r. bul llso blu pur· chasen on Ihe rnalt of Ihon units. Although lilt UCA requires IPKific doc· u",",nllltion 10 be giwn in II r.salt tnlN' lClion. lhe AIaNma .... ,,!on of Iht A<;I mllkn performance optional ..... ith Ih. buyer. (f 409).

The A<;t rtQuirt . Iht Stlltr of a unit who is nol Iht dt'ltloptr 10 supply lilt purchllstr. upon ...nlltn request. with" copy of the dtclanltion <IS Immdtd. the bylaws of lhe ilSSOCialion. currml rules ~nd rtgulations of the woc:iIIlion, and a · ~salt cet1ific.ate" con\llining (I) , ,\lIltment of the curren! monlhly ~nt againsl 1M unil; (2) III)' unpaid lJTOOUnt of 1M common or Iny spedll lllitH· ment on Ihe unit; (31 the most recent balan<:t slItet of the woc:i.ltion; (4) the

nlE A1.AlI.AMA lAWYER

current ()j)erating budget of the association ; 15) • statemen t concern ing any judgm.nt. or pending suits .g.inst the association; (6) a d ..cript ion of any imurance provided for the b. nefit of unit owners; and (7) a statement con· cerning any leasehold interest of the associ.tion. or any restrictions affecting the amount an o.... n.r may t1'cei"" upon sale Or othu disposition of the property. (§ 409Ia]). All of these items Can be ob\./linW by the seller from the associa· Hon. Th. Act t1'Qui res the association to furnish the r.sale cort ificate to the ..... ller .... ithin ten days aft .. a t1'Questi§ 4091blJ. and provides that 'the purdw.e contract is 'fflidable by the purchaser unt il the cortifi cate h.u b«n provided and for fi"" (5) days thereafter or until con""yance. .... hichever OCCurS forst". (§ 409lc]). The changes implemented by the Act wi)) considerably modify typical rta l estate sa les involving condom inium units. First, the standard sales contract wi ll most likely be modified to invoke the request for the resale certificate and condominium documents. Additionally. since all associations now ha,-e a lien for unpaid aueuments wit hout pub lic rteordation. clear title in the bu~r and the iuuance of the titl. imuran,e policy wi ll rtquit1' certification from the association t1'garding the status of the seller's account with the usodation , This request for a certification of the s\./ltus of the seller's account to the title company should not be construt<! as a t1'quest by the buyer for the full documentation required by the Act. thereby triggering the fi",,·day cancellation privilege, In any event. hO\\'e""r. in the case of a resale transaction, the purchaser's cancellation privile~ terminates upon conveyance of the unit to the bu}'er and the buyer's right to inv~stigate will be lost. The section of the Act concerning re.. les di5closut1's is applicable to resi· dential condominiums cruted prior ta 1991. To the extent that it is utiliud by purchastrs. the t1'<Iuit1'menl$ relating to resales impose an extra burden upon sellers to acquire such information from the ilSSOCiation but. more impor\./lntly, impose a burd.n on the association to keep current financial rKOrds. to main· \./lin a supply of COllies of the condomini · urn documents (decl~r~tion . byla ..... s. rules. insurance desc ription). and to promptly (within ten da}"S) supply such TI-lE ALABAMA I.AWYE R

materials to owners ..... ho request them, (I 409lbll. Such is the trade·off for the assoclation's new. superiar lien s\./ltu ..

VI. Condominium tort and contract liability A unit owner is indivi dually liable to a person who i. injured by a negligent condition within his unit. A un it O,.mer may ootain insurance against such risk of liability. Under the condominium form of own· er.;hip. alt h{}ugh the association h.u no title to the condominium property. it has the exclusive right of control ~r the common elements ...... hich generally indud., all property outside the uniu , When an injury occurs. whether to a unit OWner or an oul$ide guest Or invite •• due to ~ negligent condition on the cammon grounds. courh in the past have not hesitated to conclude that the association is a proper party delendant, even th{}ugh it 0\\115 no title to the com· rTKKl ..eas, Although the Act requi r. s th at new assodations be incorporated (f 30 1). many existing aMOCiations are oot incor· POrated entities. The general common law in most stat., imposes full liability on any member af an unincorporat ed association for the association's tOr\!; as in a general partnership or a joint ven· ture. Applying that rule 10 a condomini . urn association would have the ""·astat· ing and unfair result of allowing an injurt<! party to sue any member of the association for the full amount of the damages. The Act forbids this. making the association the exclusive party defen. dant ·IAJn action alleging an act done by the association shall be brought against the assoc iation and ntlt allaimt any unit " 'me': (t 3(1 ), Regard ing an association's standing to sue. because titlt to the common areas is owned by the unit OI<'I1ers in common. 50mt rarly cases .I""",here held that the association was nat the • ... 1 party in interest" but that the unit OI<'I1er.; wtr. the proper parties to initiate proceedings against persons who might be liable in damages far inju ry 10 the common areas. Trad itional legislation did not add ...... this iuue, but the Act expreuly authorizts suits by the associ. t ion.

which may "institute. defend, or intervent in litigation or administrative proceed ings in its own name on behalf of itself or two or more uni t owners on matters affecting the condominium: IUOZ(a)l4Il, This section applies to all e>cisting condominiums, E""n tllnugh the language of the Act does not exp re .. ly give the associ. tion uciusi"" standing to sue. it shauld be interpreted to ha>'i! th.t intent, except whe .. the devtloper would be the defen· dant. OthelWise. a tortf,,,,,,r wlln ..... ttles a claim with the aMOCiation must ootain the signatures of all the unit O'V.'T\trs on a sett le""'nt agreement to ensure that the defendant will not be sued again by an individual unit owner. certainly an unde· sirable rule, Where the develope r would be the defendant. for example regarding con· struction deftcl$. and the devtl()j)er then contrals the assodation. the Act pre · serves the standing af individu al un it O\\'I1ers, It also tolls the statute al limita tions on the cause of action in favor of the association until termination of the period of de-.-el()j)er control and auigns court =ts and attorneys' fe.s to a lat.. successfu l suit by the association, (§311), If the developer settles the claim with the association during the period of d,,'eloper control. antlth .. provision of the Act (§ 305(iii]) permits the association to later set aside the settlement agreement if it is regarded as · uncon· scionable",

VII. Zoning and subdivision regu lations The Act p rahibits discrimination against the condominium form of ownership by local lawmaking authariti~s thr<rug/l zoning ordinances. subdivision regulations and bu ilding codes. The Act provides that such laws "may oot imllOS" any reQu i rem~nt on a condominium .... hich it would 001 impose on a physical. ly identical dt\-eIOpment under a differ· ent form of ownership", (i 106), Thu., although there i5 a division of title in the sale of units in a high rise condominium building, subdivision regulations sh{}uld not apply to the development be,am ~ they would not be appliable to ao iden· ti<:lll building in singl~ own.rship by • September 1991 / 299

Ilndlo'd. Subdivision ngulltions for rondominiums do nist in some munici· palitits. ~r. such as Birmingil.o.m. Tholl' resulatiom should bI: examintd ciOKly if there Is some problem with complianct to tnsun they do nOI impost III)' mort ofl burdtn on I con· dominium dewlopment thIn if tht S.lme struCluns ",ert In apartment project. N. to roning. I fuia.ntial condomini· urn unnol be ucludtd from I multiplt dwelling diliriCi. Zoningaulhority utmds 10 1M use of structures. u ..... U as to types of struduru lind a condominium may be .xcluded be,au~ of it. use. For .... ml'l •. whu. 1m, Declaration provides th.al units Jmy be rNrktted on a time·shut buis. the dt".lopment miglll propuly be uclud.d from any dlslrict not Iltrmitting holels becauH the <)Ccup,mlS. though owning a realty inlert.t. Ue mort like Iransi.ntl than Iong·lerm occupant&. The Act ilso prohibits I,,,,, from delaying or impOsing condilions on con".,rsion of lpartmtnts inlo condo· miniums unils. U occur ..d in some cilits in th. tarly 1980s. The ACI pro· vid .. lhot rtsidentilol ttnants shall be given notice of iUly COmltrsKm lind may not be rtquirtd to vacat. fOf 6(1 cU,)" Im,reaft... t".,n if. during lhol period. Ihei r leastJ ue terminable for non· rentwal Or pursu.ant 10 a u le·by·llond· lord IUK provision. U 412). Con""r. sion. of COUrK. <!ofs not permil tuminatioo of the IUK in viol.tion of ils terms. (t 412IcJ). The proviJioru of tilt UCA "'ne substant ially more onerous for conversion projects than the Alaba.·

~""

VIII. Time-share condominiums Many so-alltd "Iime-.haring" prOPer' ty MraJlStmenlS art in the condomini· um form of OI'ITltOOip. \\-lIm on c0ndominium form. th. Act iWlies to th.ir crealion and man~m.nl. Also. where tht develop(f reSfI'VeS the right to mar· ~.II«IW. bUI not .11, units on a lime· ""'re basis. lhen ;. I >pKi.l1 provision in tht Act f~Quiring thtst unolS to be identified in the [)«1ar~lion. (f 4051. Rtgulalion 01 the m~rk.ling of timtshan unils. hoI<.oe""r. is l.ft to. "paral.

300 I September 1991

statutory ngime. A/Q. 0Itk 10 -6!1 (SUIlP. 1990).

f f 34-27-50

IX. Uniform Common Interest OwnerShip Act One of the most important accom· plishmonts of lhe Act W,\$ 10 clarify lhe I.", of condominium ul()(:iations and .. nngtlltn tht PIl"'trt of tilt boonb of assoclltionf.. Simib, homeIYwno:rt' __ ciations for planntd communities or planned unit developments ... wu.ally cnated ... hen Ihere ~rt sub.ltantiaJ artas of tommon grounds or n~nsi"" Kr· viet 0<" recrutiorlll fieililiH dtvtloptd in a subdivision 0( proporty. Unlike a condorrunium usociItion • ...."....Tf. in a pllnn.d community. traditionally. tht common grounds and faeililits art owned by tile associ.ltion rather than in I COIenancy "ith otlltr proporly owno,,Thne property owners 'UOCillions whose membf .. hip il mancU,tory an wUlIlly created in the (\eclaration o! prottCli~ and nstricti,'t CO\tfl/lnt. of lub· divisioru .nd under this lCileme III lot 0WIlff$ Ut assesstd for tlltir portion 0( common u~nsu (r ... lly ~s. mort · JIiI# 1IISIlolilTll'nts 00 common buildings and mainltllUl« costs). fI~r. there exiSts no applicable stalutory guidelinu for this ty~ of a!.sociation other thin the cotpOratioo statutu. Stalulory I~'" ~cinally addftuing homeowners a!.5OCiitions is deSirable lor many reasons. In 1980. tilt commil.ionus on Uniform State Laws drafttd an act cilled tho Uniform Common Internt O"'neuhip Acl ("UCIOA"). awli<able to subdivision iSl()(:iationl dtscribed abooIt which hI~ subsw.tial innu.al common ulltn~ l5SI:umtnts. The UCIOA is. in tlftet. tht Uniform Condominium Act with ~dditional provisions Iloilored for tile >pKial probltrns iWOCiittd ",ith pi.lnntd communities.. States which hIVI' adopted a ~rsion of lhe UCA COtIld. by enxting a fe>o addi· tional proviSiOn!. converl it to the UCIOA. Upon completion 01 tile condominium Act. the.\libiom law Insiitut.1ormnI1 5f~l'ilt ~ committH to consider modifyin,g the Act to indua. the provi· lions of the UCIOA. After Itudy. the Commi ttee recommended against the

\;ol#r pro;.ct at that lime. The prd.,· tn" wu to HlKt tht ntW coodomini· um legislatioo first and t .. t its perfor· mance bffor. embark ing on legislation <owring an idditiooal bl'Olod subj«l It is hoped Ihe ne'" Act "'ill be wtll re"ived lind will moU tnlorCf1Tll'nt of condominium \;ows Iw complex 10 lhat ronfidenCf ",HI bo gained. and support. ers attracted. for consideralion of the UCIOA in tilt fUlu". Conclusion TIlt Act "'ill I ~r owriI.o.ul of uiSI· ing condominium legislation. It is triple tm, .i.e of the urlier statute, and clari. fies iUld identifies numfrous issuH not IddrtSKd in the old I~",. There were H\'tl'il Undol!)"'" pOlicy <:OO$idtntions lhe Act sought 10 addms and they an be virlo.'td ill triangular in direction. first. develOPe" were expressly gi""n gnater fltxibility in thtc cnation of ron· dominiums, upecilily in the IT... of phutd dtYtlop1Tll'nl of projects. ~I· OPert ,,'Ore allO gMn lo definitM period of control owr the <USQCiation. prOtectIng them from ;nterferenco b)' the associ.tion during tht construction Ind nv.rkttins phases.. Nut. the usocwion Will SMn clea!· or and grut" ~ulhority to minage efTtcti\'tly and to tnforce rulu atlllinst and colltet useHments o.... d by unit OWIlfrs. The <USQCialioo's inluests typiully run par;lIlel to thox of the mort· ~s who invnt in 1M projtcl. In tht CISt of litn priorilY. I\c"',n'tr. the inter· tsts of the mortgagees were lullnnd iQainst the lS5OCiotion's by giving the iuociition I limited p fio r i t ~ (Si x months) over the fint litn mort8lgt interest. finally. tilt unit OI'ITltrs '" purthasers art afforded a compnhtnsi~ ronsUITII'r prottction plan requiring de""lopors to provide disclosures in Ih. off"inQ statement lind I rontnd CIDLtllation privi· kgt. Additionally. protection of ...rntsl rnonoy dtposits wu tnsurtd by the Act IS ..... 11 as a m«hinism 10 lvoid sdf. urving arrangements btl"'.. ;' tht devtlopeT lond the usocilltion whilt undor ckwloptr ronlrol TIlt draft." iUld lpo<I$Ors oIlhe Act bel""" it to be I ba.\;onud rudjUSl1Tll'ni of the authority of Ihe dewloper. tilt association and the unit ownerl in the condominium regimf. •

ALABAMA STATE BAR 1991-92 DUES NOTICE (All Alabama attorney occupational licenses and special memberships expire September 30, 1991)

Annual License - Special Membership Dues Due October 1, 1991 * Delinquent after October 31, 1991 1HE '-lABMIA SIA IE fW<

SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP CA RD 1'»') 1· 199'

1""~1Uml.'''''' ~~~I!}>~ .,....""",

'''' Spod.llII.mbt. (paid diO"Ktiy IG II>< Abbonu Sl.olo Rat.

Lkcn ..

lpun:h,"lhrough 1M county of prioury PDCtI«> If you are odmitt<. 10 tho AI.ba"", Stat. Bar ,oJ engaged in 11>0 p.octk. of low, you.re r<Quimllo Pu",hoo< an .nn",,1 o<cu""I",,,,1 \iw,... 5«lion 4(}'12",,9. eo« 01 AJabama (1975). os . m<ndtd. This hcolIH g;"". you lhe right to ~''''Ii c< I.", in lht ,t.t< of ALaborno through Sept.mbe. 30. 1992. The <.,.t of lho lic~ i1 $ 150. pi", tho county', rHlmi ....1 i....... nco (f< ••1Id i. purctwN from lhe proo"to judge '" liun.. commi ..i..... Iwho", al'l'liubl.) in lilt coonly in ",hkh)'<lll p,;"...Hy praclic •. In .ddiHon to the ....1. lie<n>< •• 11 pfOc!icing .ltorn,y. should chttk with t hoi. municipal ....... n u. dtp'"tm,nU [0 b< sure thai tM liceruing "'Qui.. nltnts 0/ tM city or town .,.. .1", boi"ll met. Pi......rod the AI..,."", Sl<Ilo BaH COllY of the 11«".. when il i. purclwed , arid you will mo. i"". wol l<l·.i""d dupli<.>1t o(;-<>ur liet"'" (piClurtd >howl fo, i<J.nlif«.>li"" ilUr)I<>St> during the 1991 ·92 licen .. year.

Spodi. 1 "",mb,,,,hip Slalu. is oequirtd ilUrswntl~ Section 34·3· 17 '" Sect;"" 3<1·3·18. Co<k 01 AloIJ<;mo 11975)...."",""'d. r.dtr· .1 and .l.1t, judgr •. Ili'lrict ,UOnKy>. [Jnil'. SI.lts .tlorllOl'S •• nd oth<r gowr",.... nl.11<M'rIt\IS who art prohibited from p~king pri· ,·.I.ly by "rhl< dll><ir r>a>iHon> or. ,Iigibl. for lI1i, rntrnbtrsh ip .l>lu .. U1<ewi ... per..,". admiUtd 10 II>< hat of Ahl>arna who.rt nol . ng.>gtd in the pr3Clic. " I.... 0' ar •• mp loy<d i". pooitioo not oll1.""i .. , oquiri ng a li«n .. Ol' ,Iigibl. IQ br .pod.1 ""'mbrrs. A\tomey> admilted 10 Iht ha, of Alaham. who , uill, oubidt II>< ,til. "Alabo"", who do not proetict in II>< .tat. of ALobonu . 1", art .Iigible for this .l.1lu •. \Ilth II>< .,«pi;"" ".tal. UIorr><y:l .nd di.trict .llorr><y:l • • 1Id II"lou who hold. li«n .. al.ny tom< during Iht har )"tar. !.pteial "",mbors.rt "''''pt from mo.ndatOl)" <ootinu· ing logal tducolion rt<tui""",n!>; howtvtr. this .nno.>l ... mpl;"" musl bo d.imtd on the r'pOrting form . Special m<mborship .... , art paid dirtClly 10 the Atahoma Stale Rar. In tl>< _nl y"" .nlOT lilt pracliet" law during II>< har yelr, ...hich "".", ilOl" the putchose of an oc<ul"'lion>tli«n<t. the.. Jut •• rt noI refundabl, aft" Oo«mbor 31. 1991 •• nd no cred il ""ill bo lIi'~n for _ n l of $11<' <ial mtmbo"hip d..... M.mbtrship .. rd>.;os ,hown in Iht .. mpl, .Ixn>t .• re issu,d upOn r«.ipl of tho duo< .nd .r< goOO for tho li •• " .. ytar, Spocial mtmbtrship dues ... 175.

Due5 include a $15 annual 5ub.scripl ion to The Alabama Lm~!ler, (Thi, subSCription cannot ~ deducted from Ihe due. payrmn\.l h",~ any quution. Ngarding )'Ou r p~r mt mhffJhip Italul aT dun p.o.y ment. (ontad Alice J o Hondrix, membership u"'letl din'ctor •• t (205) 269·15 15 or 1-8000392·5660 (In_ll.ole WATS).

If )'Ou

I I It:.'

Ho", Fr... II. Jlh", .. , Jr. U. S. Cnrl of ~_l" IUh Circuit P. D. Boo 3'S I\.. t~._y IlL 36101