Lawyer 9 92 web by Alabama State Bar Association

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Essential Publications For The

ALABAMA LAWYER New From The Michie Company

Ala bama La w of Evidence, by Joseph A . Colquitt, is the most p ractical and up-todate reference on Alabama evidence. Carefully organi~ ed, this book makes it easicr to find the Alabam. evidence law applicable \0 your case. It conlains slalules. rules. a discussion of pallern jury inslructions. cilalions to leading cases. Ihe Federal Rules of Evide""", and Ihe newly adopled Rules of Criminal Proced u re. 8 12 pages, ha rdbound. C 199O. The Michie Company ......................................................................................... S85'

F a mily Law in Alabama : Practic e and Procedure, by Rick Fernambucq a nd Cary Pate. is a working tool for the d omestic practitioner, useful from the fi !"l;1 client inlerview through enforce me nt of awards and ag",ements. This book b lends p ract ical application. wilh analy.is of legal principles, and ""t. Ihem in the context 01 everyday probkm s f. ""d by lawyers and thei r dient •. Completely up' to-date, the book encom· passes the latest changes in Alabama family law. 657 pages. hardbound. C 199O. The Michie Company.............. ......... ............. ................ ............ . .. S65*

Ala b a m a Civil Pro cedure, by Jerome A. Hoffman and Sandu C. Gui n, 1990, is a comprehensive trea tise which gives "HOmeys both scholarly and practical support . U",,/ul as a research and courtroom refenmce. it covers the Alabama Rules of Civil Proced u",. ",II'S from other sou rces. ",leva nt statules, comparisons with Ihe Federal Rules of Civil Procedu ... , and case la w that ~ars on civillrial practice. In one volume, Ala bam a Civil Proced u ... d iscus""s all the procedural issues jlQu face in civil adions. including an in.depth \",a\ment of ju dgments an d jurisdiction. C 199O. The Michie Company .......................................................................................... S85'

Ala b a ma Tort law Ha ndbook, by Michael L. Ro~rts and Gregory S. Cusima no. Contribu ti ng Editor. gives AI.bama a tt orneys the legal basis and practice inForm.tio n to evaluate claims and win for their d ie". " Covering all torts which are actionable under AI.bama law. it provides up-to-dau.> analysis of Alabama s tatutes and case law hold_ ings . The boQk offers p ractice guidance, and includes t hed di.ts and sam ple complaints. 1065 pages. hard bound, with cu rrent supplement, ()1990, The Michie Compa ny ..... $75'

For mo", In/ormation, con.. <1 your .. t... "present.tive· JI M SHROYER P.O. 110. l46 • Wilsonville, AL 35186-0046 lOS/n6-~8'H

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The Alahluna

awyer

BRIEF Volurrlt 53, Numbu 4

Stpwnbtr 1992 ON TilE COVER:

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TIlE AJ.AIWoIA )".\WYER

PRESIDENT'S PAGE

Ilti

t the Amerk~n Bar Association meeting in Atlanta.

ma!1)' other profession. can claim such public ~",i ce? These activitiu are rarely the subject of media attent ion and proba· administration's program of (."'}Ior·bashing. h. bly never will be. picked what was P\'lUived in political cirdes as a The citizens of other nations are not >0 fortunate. In an editorial cartoon whiCh recently appeared in The Bin,,;,u}ham m.l.rveIOuslarget. Since. in most dispute. ruol\'td b;' our legal system, ther. are winners and losers. ,eroing in on th. ,v",,-'s, the an1ooni,t depicted the U,S. and Japan as runners in a footrace. The Ja!><lne,. runner ,printed freel y. while the 1''''Y''rs snmffi to make good Rnse. Odd;; are thai at ltast hall Ihe disputants will agree . It probabli' makes no political differAmerican lahore<! to leap hurdl.s labeled "U.S. Legal System." ence that 1M statistics cited by the vice-pre,ident to support Coincidentally. a few days before. an article on the front page hi, claims that an .<cessi". lawyer population in the United of Th~ Wall Street Journal described the price paid by Ihe Stalts, • multiplicity of tort suits and capricious ju!,), ."-.rd. J.pan.~ publi c for the sl" tem fre. of legal "imped iments," ha,-. resulled in Ihe inabili ty 01 the U,S. \0 compete in lor.ign That article began: markets ha''£ proven fa lse. (Legal Times, When Shigeru Kamogawa ,..ti,..d from a February 17. 199:2). The pruenlalion of care.. in medical research two rears ago. statistic> to rtfut. fa l~ but d.. =tic gen_ he dreamed of us ing his 50 million yen eralit.ltio!lS often bore. tht list.ner and is retirement payment - about $385,000lost in Ihe sound bytes of t<>day'. method to ,.t up hi. own consult ing company. of communication, Doe, anyone out. ide Ten weeks after he entrusted it to Ark tht I.gal profession r• • tty care to debate Securities Co .. he ,ays, his retirement the validity of a 1990 feder.1 .tudy ofprodmoney was almost all gone. ucts liabi lity suiu which concluded that Today. Mr. Kamogawa. 67 years old. has plaint iff. won fev...,r than 50 percent ofthe a !><lrt-time job at low pay with few benecases, the si.es of jury aw",ds we,.. ne ither fits. his dream a th ing of the pa,t. Ark .rTatic nOT excessiw , and punitive damsaksmen. he as",rts , recklessly traded hi • agtS w..e highl)' correlated to economic • crount for commission incolYl\'. Ark offiloss? Probably 001. It i. far tasi .. to prove cial. deny his charge. but there is no denythe syslem bad with aberrational <xUI" ing his newly .traitened circumstances, tions. luch as the California woman who Complaints of .tockbroker "chuming- of ree ei"e d a favorahle JUT}' verdict on her client accounls i. a fact of life wherever Clarence M . Sma ll, Jr. claim that an accident made her ~,uall y there are financial markets. but in Japan active. the plight of the victims is especiatty """,re. Tht truth of the malter, however, i. that In many countne.!. inwstors can r<'COver.1I lawyers .bly perform functions "sstnt ial to Our society. or mQ.\t of ttwir losses by taking legal action. In Japan. mores Lawyrrs police the marketplace by drafting and enforcing conand legal roadb locks di1CQur"l/t' victims from going to court tracU that make a six trittion dotlar economy function and and pm.. nt them from re=.. ring much ift~ do. provoking standards that increase the .\.afety of the workplace. lt i. rare for Japan ..e even to engage a laW}~r. as ~lr. Kamo· La",)",,, a,.. constantly involved in improving the administra· gaw. did. tion of ju.ltiu. Exampl,,, Marshatt Timberlake', Task I'orce on This is the downside of Japan'. confl ict-awid.nce society. Atternati,'t Dispute Resolution is. at this momen!. working which fa'"rs harmo!1)' O1-'tr individual rights. ~lany foreigners. dosely with Judge Joe Phelps' Committee On BendvBar Relaparticularly Americans. admire Japan for a,'Cid ing a U,S.-style tions to educate judges. lawyers and litigants on altemat i,'t litigat ion exp losion. Rarely mentioned is the difficulty Japanese ha,~ gaining redress for ewn blatant wrongdoing. methoos of reducing ca.\tloads in an O\.'trburdened and under· funded court system. IOLTA funds generated by Alabama's Long ago. the framers of Our legal system concluded that la"'~rs' trust account. have. since 1989. pOured more than the adwrsarial system WaS the best method of a.s.certaining the 1.4 mittion dottars into legal aid for the pOOr. The Jul)' 1992 truth in resolving dispute •. No 1001 has ew. been found to issue of The Alabama Laa'f/l!r lists the name, of 792 lawyers in equal a skillful cross-."amination in testing the validity of an th is state who devoted thousands of pro bono hours to making asserted pOsition. When caP<lble ad .. rsari~s perform thei r acee .. to justice a reality for hundreds of disadvanlaged required function. the loser is rarel~ pleased. It is human nature to blame others for Our Own mistakrs , The obvious Alabamian •. An article by Richard Allen in that .\.ame issue describes how members of the Alabama Stat. Bar have w lunscapegoat in this situation is the Oppo>;ng lawy... Thu" the teered legal assi.lance to ,·ictims of natural or manmade di.\.aSgrim paradox i. that la"')-'en are condemned, not for doing tu. on a non-discriminatory. non·fee·genfTating bdsis. How their job 100 pOOrly. but. ralher. for doing it too ",ell, • •

when Vice-pr •• iMnl Quayle kicked off the present

300 /S.ptember 1992

THE ALl.BAMA LAWYER

POLL Art you interested in participating in a WI';' uIl$dentific pom It i! paint.... anonymous and not time-collSuming. II could be fun. and it may provide some insight into various ;Mues confronting OUr profet.Sion. Take a moment to complete the following questionnaire and then fax it to the stat. bar headquarters at 1205) 26]·6310. The results will be published in our NO\.~mber 1992

issue.

How Hard Do Alabama Lawyers Work?

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Complete the form below O:-.'L Yif there are any changes to your li.ting in t h~ current Alaooma Bar Din!Cloru. ,: Due to changes in tlw sUltute governing rlfflion of bar commissioners. we now are reQuired to use members' olliee addrelSe5. . unless none i••""jlablr or a member i5 prohibited from ,eceiving state bar mail at the offLee. Additionally. the Alabama Bar DiY('(:iory is compilt<l from OUr mailing lis\ and it is important to use bw;iness addreSk" for that reason. NOTE: 11 we do not know of a change in address. wt cannot make the nr cr"-",I)' cMnge. on OUr records. SO please not ify uS when )'Our address cMnges. _____ Choose one:

~jember

Hon.

Mr.

Identification ISocial Securityl Number Other _ _ __

Miss

Full Name Bw; iness Phone Number Race

Birthdate

Year of Admission Firm Office ~lai1 i n" Add,ess City State ZIP Code Office Street Address lif different from mailing add ress) City THE Al.llBA~1A L.IIWYER

State

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County _ _ _ _ _ _ __ September 1992 1301

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT New IIcenllng .t.tut. ~rs

uquired 10 obWn tho .. nnual .t.lol~ lict1Uot under HO· 12-49. Code 01 Alabama. 1975...;11 na longer purcl\.ll~ nmt ,I lilt counly co... lhou~ from Iht probate judit or lictn~ commissioner. Effecli,-e October I. Ihls IIwm must be obtained Ihrough Iht st.lote bar. 1 im now lilt issuing iulhorilj> and am requirtd puT$uant 10 tho ltalule to rom· pilt I llli of properl~ lieenwd lawyns afttr October J l. I will pTO'o'ide such a list to the rewnut dtpanmtnl. the prtsiding circuil judgu ,nd the clnkl of tht apptllilt (OlIn.. within the first "'uk of N..... mber. [wry liWJ'!' mgaging in pm...1t prac:. liet mull purd..~ the .lIlt liconK. ,\'a ~ 4 MlUirttllo pay ill« .... Iff \0 the county. II iiiill' underst.londing SCII1W (OlInliu I\.IIw t!'ltd -..."J othtT$ ~ be actually col1wm. _ in .dditio....1 Itt. SKlion 40·12-.49 prohibits Ihis adcIitio ....1 eounty ftt. Munitip.liliu do havt occupation.1 laxu. usua ll y levied undrr a .rou rtctlplJ formula. This fn il payable only in the cily whut your office i. localtd, Tilt MW Itllillalion (Act 92·600. Acts 01 AI~!N. 19921 dou not .ffecl any munkipal I.... Every I.W)-e' .dmitted in AI.bima will be rtctivin. our IMUlllicrnstls-ptci;ol membt'ihip duu invoict in Stpltmbt, 1992. This "ill be the onill blll)'OO will rttti,... P"Y'Mnt with· out ~lty i. d~ Octobn 31. 1992. It iI hoped Ihis cenlriliAtion will ~iJl bir members In maint.lolning I currmt license. In rtemt rears. dthnqutnCln

M'~ run 2(1.25 ptf<:(nt beaousc of iUl tmy inllbility to H~ hsh a valid lic.~ 1;'1 immtdiattly lollolo;n, the October 31 dt;odli~. This 1Il'oI' prottdurt ...,11 milk. PDU,ble in iIoCcun.lt list from which ct'11;r.Q;tn of good JtIIndin, an br iMutd.

Watch )"JUT mail for )'Our 1992·93 licensing invoice ind alert )"JUT office. mainly the boolcl;e~r. of Ihe Oclobtr I dut dat~ and Odobfr 31 del!nqutn<.)' date.

S.vlngs for youl In less lhan" rear. A1;Ibama 1I"Yt'TI art Mvin. 42.9 percenl on tht c.,.t of 0\.. " night shipments ";1 our iroup ratt Air· borne ExpRSl OiKO.,m1 Program. Yel' 10 ilalt Uunr 30. 19921. OIl' mtmbtn 1\0\.. $hipped 6.655 pit«s. CroJ.I dwgts with· oul OUr diKounl lotilled 5132.668.08. Ou. diKounts ~lIed S56.952.09. wilh net choriU tOUI];n, $75.715.99. Thi. i. onr of)'OOr bI. ~I'\.;us lhot can dtcrtase )'00' o/fJCe ()f!efliing e.,.u.

You r •• d thl.

H".... do r know, Put "Tom Doole}'" on the MTA instead of "Charlie" and your friends calland wrilt \0 point OOt YOUT "liCk of lyric memo· ry.""[ am h.J.nging dOl'o'fl my (J\o,'n head", but tll.anks for rtad· in£ 1M cohunn. l ....u initi,a1!y troubled with corrtctly determinin8 Iht filt ('unknown" or "unlurntd"?1 of our lost ridtr. All of my musiulldvisorJ agr«d 00 "unlurrotd", bul ~n !Of)' did not uihu ..... N4 tht wrong JIH~ngtr lost brnuth Iht si."tJ of Boston. "polo,i.s 10 the Kingoton Trio.

•

BAR DIRECTORIES Extra copie5 are $15 each. Send checks or money orders to:

ALABAMA BAR DIRECTORY

P.O. Box 4156 MONTGOMERY, AL 36101 THE A~WIA

~WYER

Digi,.r ••"mpu,ing .y._ 'em, g,ve you "'0" "ho,ce , Wh.th .. you M,d a ,ingl._

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Ro .. I1 .... off., you ,J", ""'nglh of an oxp.",d...blo line of h:.rd· wore ,y.tem. from [);gi,al. plo •• "."i"lt.«I ..,f,wa .. and "I"'"i,•. They 0... eXI><"" i" tail",ing. in ... lling and .u p_ porling romp",ing ."hni"". ,,, kCOp yo"r law ri'm runnin!

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worldwide "",.-vic, <><ganiza,ion provide. a compl.,. rong. of mul,i·vendor 'uppo" and ..ev;oe op,ion •. You can get plann'n!. ,I ..isn , con,ulting .nd ,,..in;n5 On bo,h our prod_ yctl and on 8000 products 800 o,her

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LEGISLATIVE

WRAP-Up

By ROBERT L. McCURLEY. JR.

AI.b.,.,. law Institute 25 ye.rs old The Alabama taw Institute was crealed by an Act of Ih. Legis latur. On August 24 , 1967 as the official ~dvi50r)' law revision and law reform agency for the State of Alabama. The Institute was funded and commonced operations in 1969. It is houJ.ed in the law contn on the Uni ... ,,;ty of Alabama campus 50 as to ha... avail.ble the , • ..,uth fadlities of a good law library which is e~ntial In major law revision. It also tnahle. the Insti tute to haw exp"rU in "arious fields under study as readily available consul Lmts, The Institute also cali, upon the profeW>r! of Cumberland Scl1oo1 of Law and prac t icing lawyers and judgu throughout Alaroma.

the vast majority of bills for each ...sion of the Legislature. hO\<·ewr. major cod. revisions. such as re"i5ion of an enlire section 01 law. as Alabama', busineu corporation law. banking law . • tc .• are handled by the Alabama L.lw Institute.

Function _ Th. Institute. while being a disinter· e.ted IOUrc • . i. a great strength in draft· ing revision propo..als. II is not a "lobby· ing'" org<anitation to promote legislali""

Purpose

The Inst itute acts in an advisory capacity with Ihe genera l pu rpose "to promote and encourage the clarification and $;mplirocation of the law of Alabama to secure the better administration of justice and to carryon scholarly ruurch and scie ntific lega l work. " Alabama Me ~29-8-4 (l975}.

...,

The Alabama L.lw Institute oo",id.rl n•• d.d imprwements in both lubstan· tive and adjective law and makes recom · m.nded needed change. a5 it deems nec.$SIIty to eliminate antiqu.t.d rule. of law. thereby bringing the state law . both civil and criminal, into harmony with modem conditions. The Institute works closely with the Ltgi,latiw Reference Service in ensur· ing the proper placement and codifica. tion within the Code of Alabama of Acts passed by the Legislature. The Ltgislatiw Reference Service prepare. 304 / Stptemb",I992

propm."lls through the Alabama legislature. It is an agency of the Legislature dependent upon SOme other group or legislator to promote the propo$td legis· lation within the Alabama Legislature.

Pre_lde"t_ The Institute has had the "rvice of four presidents: Representalive Hugh ~Ierrill. 196778 - During his years. the Inst itute conducled inquiries from lawyers. judg.. and legislators to delermine lhe a .... of law most needed for rtvision. It

was determined that the Busineu CorpOration Act and Cri minal Code we .. areas in the most preuing n«d of revision. Funding was rorst made b~ the Leg. islature in 1969 from the state Ceneral Pund and Special Education Trust Fund. Senator Pinis E. SI. John, 111. 1978· 84 - During his term as president. until his untimely death. the Legislature considered and p ....d the lollowing major pieces 01 legislation: Criminal Code. first revision in 160 years: Busi· ness COTJlOration Act, forst revision in 25 years; Probate Code. forst revilion in 160 years; Banking Code. firsl revision since 1915: Rules of the Road . first revision since 1926: Administrative Procedures Act. Alabama became the 50th Slate to adopt such a law: and rtvised Article 9. VCC, first revision in 18 years. Addition. all ~. the Nonprofit Act. the Revised Lim· ited Partnership Act and th e Profession · 011 CoTJlOration Act all became law duro ing this period. Honorable Oakley Melton. Jr. 1984· 91 - The Legislature considered and adopted the fol lowing revi sions: Emi_ nent Domain Code. Uniform Transfers \0 Minors. Trade Secrets. Uniform Guardianship I'rolecti"e Proceedings Act. Alabama Fraudulent Transfers Act. Alabama Securities Act. Adoption \..:ow. Alabama Condominium Act and 12 othe r acts. Additionally. the Alabama Supreme Cou rt adopted the Alabama Rules of Criminal Proctdure.

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THEALARAMA LAWYER

lIugh

,11 ~rrill

Presidl!t1/, 1%7 - 78

1'10i$ E. 51. John Presidenl.1978-84

R~pre .. ntaliv~ Jam .. M. CampMII. 199I·pr... nl - Currently the Institute has revised UCC Article 2A. "Lus.." and UCC Article 4A. "Pun<u Transf..s". It has revi ..d th~ ptrsonal representa· live pO>\~rs for probate procedure. and has under study Rules of Evidence. Business Corporation Act and Limited I,iability Companies.

Member.hip The Alabama Law Institute member· ship i. lim ited to the max imum of 150 practicing la,,'}~rs. who serw on rotat· ing six·year term! wi t h 50 lawyer. being eloded every other year. In addi· tion . membef5hip includes judges of the Alabama Supreme Cour[, court of appul. and circu it courts. federal judg.. in Alabama. full·time law facul· ty members of Cumberland and the University of Alabama School of Law. and allla,,'}'er-m~mbers of th~ ugislature.

CounciL The gm",rning body of the Institute is the Institute Council, comllO'ed of six practicing law;'ers from e.eh congrts· sional district. .. ;veil .. representati'~s from the appellate coutU. attorney gen. era1"5 office, s\.lte bar, law schools, Leg· Islature, and the Governor', omce.

Ad"i.ory committee. For nth majo r project. a special adv i.ory committee is appointed to r.,·iew and provide criticisms of t h~ THE AI.ABAMA w\\I'YER

(4kley Melton Presidl!t1l, 1984 - 91

.lamo:I ,11. DmpbolI Presldl!t1/, 1991- proSfflI

draft submitted by the reporter for app. ovaL The advi,ory committe. is composod of practicing lawyers, judge. and experts in the area 01 law under revision. These committees often spend three to fl,'. years considering a major r.vision ollaw.

Once approwd by the LIIw Institute council. the recommended law revision is preunt~ to the Alabama Legislature for its consideration. The time r~quire<l for preparation and appro,'a l of .uch ,evisions varies from a matter of months to se...eral year$.

Procedu ... for ne w project. The Institute. through the director. receives and consid ... suggestions from legislators. judges. public ofr.cials. the practicing bar, and the g.n~ral pub· He to discm"" in,quiti .. and inconsis· tencies in the law and pOSsibilities lor its improvement and expansion. The director of the Institute submits to the Inst itute council the suggestions lor revision or clarification of the law whith h. has receiwd. The council .. Iects a limited number of suggestions .. its projects. The council. through tht director, selects an advisory committe. composed of experts on the subject who are resPOn' sible for drafting the a.:t or revi,ion. Usually. the director and advisory committee ulect a ""porter from one of the Alabama law schools to prepare the initial dralt. The reporter prepare. a draft of the proposed leg i,lat ion and presents a draft with commentary to the advisory committee fo. comments and criticj.m. The advisory committe. makes such changes as it d.,.,rru; appropriate before app"",ing the d,aft. The advisory com mitt.,., then subm it. to the Institute council the proposed act for their consideration and approval .

Ste ff

The Alaba"", LIIw Institute i. b..ical· Iy a volunteer organization with a director. associate director and sec ..· tariu who organize ,"<)Iunt.,.,r efforts. Bob ,'1cCurley. the current director. has urwd in this capacity since 1975: Penny Davis. usociate director. has bun with the Institute since 1979: and secretades Jadie Sartain and Linda Wilson have been with the Institute 18 "nd 19 years. respectively. The Institute has had the se"'ices of four directors. The first director. Vastine Stabler. 1967·69. is now a pa.tner in the firm of Walton & Sta· bier, Birmingham: I'rofessor Jerry Gibbons was director from 1969·72: and Dean Tom Jonu w.. acting dirte· tor from 1972·75. Both of these con· tinue as professor. at the University of Alabama School of Law . ~kCu,ley was in pract ice in Cadsden with the firm of Rains, Rains, McCurley &< Wil· son unti l 1975 when he ac"pt~d the directorship. Anyone wishing to obtain further information about the Law Institute o' an}' of its projects or reports may do.<O by writing the Alabama Law Institute. P.O. Box 1425. Tuscaloosa. ,\Iabama

35486.

• September 1992/ 305

BAR BRIEFS Judg. Colquitt rtt<:eived

He rbert Ha,'e, award Tht Honorable Joseph A. Colquiu. formtr presiding judge of Alibam,', Si~th Judicill Circuil. rttt;'·td the ArMrican JudiCllu •• Soci~ly'S Herbert UnitY Award in recognition 01 hIS con· tributions 10 ilTlf'l'O'ing the ildminislra. lIOn

01 justitt

in AIWrnL 11t.as pre-

$tflttd the ''''<lTd during th. AlibalN Stale Bar's llench and BlOT Lunchtoo II Iht 1992 Annual Meeting in ""minQ'

"'m.is the author of Alubuma f.u/li t

hu sti'Wd on <I committ« of th. Jupromo court on th. st.t.', rults of ovidence. H. hu aho bun lCIi,oely ill\OlYed in the d~ing 01_

dellU • • nd

INt

ti~

stlndard5 in A~

time ...-h.n the SICC's proxy rules ha". been the subject of utensive debate fUltionwide. Wat ..! i5 a 1972 cum laude graduate of Duke Uniwl5ity. In 1975. he m:ei'.'td 1!TIM!e" degrH from Oxford UnIWDl· ty. wher. h wu a Rhodu Scholu. Walers graduated from the Uni'.'HSity of AiabarN School d l.aw in I!ln, ....here he ...·u editor of tht "Journal of the Legat Profwion." Prior to joining MIller. Hamilton. he .... as .... ith the lIirmlngham fi rm of Bradl,,),. Arant. Rose ;;; Whit. and then se,,'td as kg.J1 advisor tG Cowmor f'oo

record ordell'd at tlot Ill .... Hnv: lIirth. dealh. marriage. divorce. amendment. etc. - $.1.00 3. ~'ee for on nemplified copy of a •• cord: Birth. duth. marri.ge.

James. II. is I nvmbt. ol lhe Amorican Bar ",",",.. ti,;"•• Ftcitrailitgul»ion 01 Stcurities CommitlH lind II nvmbtr 01 the

!inute. to include one «rtirte<l copy: Birth. death - S2O.OO 7. ~« for """"rding lepl <Ioc:unvnts of iUl adoption granted in this $!.'Itt for a person barn in ;mother ll.ite \0 lhal $!.'Ite: S 1Il.00 II. Additional f« for any !lon·roul"'e or e.~dil.d UNict : S10.00 RtQu"U lor vital .KGraS Ihou ld ~ mailed 10 tilt fGn""';ng address: Ctnlrr for Ilulth SbtishCli P.O. Box 5625 Montgomery. Alabama 36103 Phone for customer ser.ict and ~. dited ser.ict: (205) 242·sroJ.

Judlll' Colquitt has ...rwd on lilt fK-

Jubcommitt« on Proxy Solici!.'l!ionl

ultie" of Iht National Judicial Conege

and Tende. Offers. Wit. II i. the chairperson 01 tilt board 01 bar e.aminers of

and 1M Alabama Judicial College. II. ruigrn'd hi. judgeship tallt )'ta. 10

IU\lmt • pumanenl p()si l ion on the

the Alabama State liar. He is also a member of the Diltrict of Columbia Bar.

facully of the University of Alabama

School 0/ Law. Ht is I grntuatt ofltwo Unr.'tnityand its School olLaw. and ho: rt(tiwd ~ maot.'s of judicial studiu frl)l1l tht Uniwrsity 01 ~·R.no. w.t.rs

.utno•• t.d Miclwill. Waters. a partner ,n the Montgomery lirm 01 Miller. II~m' . Iton. Snider ;;; Odom. hu w"lttn J new lut . Pro¥II R~gul(llion. Pub. lished by tho: Practising ~ InstItute. the booIc pf'tl\>i(\U carrorate and KCuri· tits practitioners with a camplthensiY( IIl1rHo·finish approach to the proxy $Olicitation proc.ss lrom the buie POl.· cy of lull disclosuu to the de!.'liis of how to prtp.lre the proxy st~temtnt, fil. It ""llh tht SEC and d;.trib\lte it 10 KCuri· ty holdus. Th. book ~Iso contains ~ d\apler on envrging issuts In the lOIie· '!.'Illon of prollltS under stale Iiw. One of I series of books published by tht Institute on corrorat. and lecuri. ties law, Prox!J Rfflulolirm appeall at a 306 1 September 1992

FriencI_med to _tlonel boIord F.dward M . Friend . 111. the lnlIIlI.ging ""rtner of tho: finn 01 Sirole ;;; Permutl. hIS been n~med to the bo,.d 1)/ di .. ctort of the NaliGna l Hulth l.awyers Anocilltion. The lMQCiation is a Itg.JJ tduut,ooaJ _,tty drdicatrd to tht diu.emlnation of timely and lICCurate [M·rebtttd infolll'llltlon on lhe health r..kI. Friend hu se,,~d u chairpl'rlOn 01 tilt Southern JlI$t'tute ofHullh La ...•. F ••• Incr •••• d 10' vlt.1

r.cord. EIf.cti"" July I. 1992 lilt Iff$ forvil.il records in Al;obalnll incrnstd. The fol· lo.... ing list prOYidel lhe ...... (0$1$ for rtquuled rmm.Is: I. F« for a IW'(h of ltoe rtCCJrds. to 'n· dude one ~rtifled COPY. if !ocatrd. 01: Birth. death. marriage. dim"e-

512.00 2. Fee fGr each additiGnal copy of a

divoKt - 520.00 4.

~tt for an lImendment to a vital record. to incl" one ctrtlfled ((lpy. Birth, duth. InlIrriage. divorce -

$15.00

for prtp.lralion of II ...... ~rtifi. of birth aftu adoption or leg,ti, maHon. IG include one certIfied COjl)':

~te

520.00 6. F« for prep;lration of a delll\'td cor·

Kllp.trlck to heed Oeo.gl. St.t. B., Columbus, Geor. gill attOrney Paul KilpOl.trick. Jr. became presiden! of the 23.481. member State B<tr of GeorQia for 1992·93 lit Iht bar's lInnulil nvtl· ing in Junt. KilP/ltrick is a n.li"" of NQrth Caroli· na. He rtCti''fd his I.w degree from the Uni,~rsity of Georgia and IS currently a P/lrtner in the finn ol Pope. McCl;omry. KitP/ltrick & 1-IGrrison. lie hu ~ on nunvl'OUS commit· 1«101 the S!.'Ite Bar of~rQiII and was in the Judge Advocate General" Co<po. U.S. Army, from ]965-68. lie Wa.'l admitted to the Alabama Stale Bar in 1987.

Annourw: ement . lrom WEST Abloloma Ku~, of Court now a-"ilible Ww PubI .. llIn8 Company's Alabama Rula of Court, St(Jt~ Qtld Feden1I_ 1992 Ilrovidts ltIorntys with ~CCfSS to tilt latnt court rules 8O'"rning slatt lind ftdtral practice in Aillnoma. This twovotume HI replaces tile t99t edition and intludn amendmen t. ncoind throuQhAIIfII1 5,1992. Ntw to the statt oolume are the Alab,ama Civi l Court Mediat ion Rults. e(ltdi,,, Aul/Ust l. 1992, and the Regulations of the Continuing Ltgal Education Comminion. Also included art ,,,nendments to the Alab,atTlll Ruin of CMI, Criminal and Apptllate Procwure; AlaiJatTlll RulH of Judicial Adminislution: A~ RulH for U"ng Videotapr Equipment to Reoord Court Procewings; Atab;orllll !lulu of Profusional Conduct: AblolotTlll Rules of DiKiplinary ProcWUI"t (lnlniml: and Rules ~m ing Aodmission to the AWwna State Bar, The federal volume contains amendmenl$ to lhe Local Ruin of Ihe United States Distriel CO\lrl for the Northern District of Alabama. Local Civil and Criminal Rules of the UnilW Stote. Di.triel Court for tht Middle Dist rict of Alabama and O.ders of the Uniled StattJ Ilis.trkt Court for til< Soulhern Ois.t.ict of AlWma. For mort inforTTlitlOO, call (8001 3289352. FAX p.lntln-g o ption neilebl.

to WE.STLAW u.e,.. A new offline prinl destination, known I I FAX, i. now available to WESTt..\W users. The new FAX dutination allO\Oo's uHf! 10 send Iheir omine print reqUfl1$ to any facsim ile tTIlIchine. Welt Cusiomer $eMU can enter one or more fu numbers in a lub..,. ib..·• Options Directory or subscribers can accus Ihe Opt ions Directo~ themseilles Ind manllll1y ent •• til< desired fa1 number(.), The systtm will auto.... tically \~rify thllt the area code and format of the ttlephone number(.) tfltered are valid. Print requesl$ for as.. t.w docu ..... nb WI be Itnl to a fu desliflition in either norl1'llJ width 0' ~\lal -col~mn format. R~ default, print reQuests for CUI' law documents will be delillered in dual<Ol~mn fOrTTlit. Dwol·oolumn printing can be turned on or off in the Options Direc_ niE ALABAMA LAWYER

tory. I\!ESTLAII' users printinfl in dualcolumn forTTlit WI also ItlKt tho high_ lighttd temlJ future. Whon this leatu~ is Hlecttd. Harch terrns art printw in boldfaced type so thll the r..encMr ~ quickly s« where and in what COIltt xt the tUllluppear. For more- informatlOl1. call (800) 937-

NOTICE Disciplinary PfoeHding. Seille M. McConn e ll ,

"29.

atlOfney allaw, whose wh&re-

N ew from the A ..... ic.n Be,

abouts are unknown, must

A •• oc letlon

Diredol')' of II"",' ISlbllnn progn m. " .. liable The ABA's Commission 00 Imp3ired Attorneys hu p~blished the "]992 Directory: SlIItt and LoQ,lla ...')~r Assisli'lCt Pf"OIInms. " The directory lists thr namu, »ddre_s, teltphone and fu numbers of apprOllhmtely 100 chairs and prognm .... Ngers 01 bar lS5OCw.ion alcohol and dru,-reilltd committees and lawyer assistarlee Pf"Ollnoms. There is liso a SptCial listing of II.....)". assi.tarn:e holhnu, many of which art toll.f. u within the various states. The directory lists national resources such as the Nationallrutitutt on Alcohol and Alcoholism, National Council on Alcoholism, InltrrllltiORll1 lawyt:rs in M. Alcoholics Anon)'mous, Cocaine Anooyrnous and Narcotics Anon}'Tl-.;lllS. For price and order,n, information conlXt the ABA Order Fulfillment. iSO N, W. Short Drille, Chicago. Illinois 60611. Phone (3121 988-5500. The product l;OI!e number is 3 ]9-00]3.

answer the Alabama State Bar's formal disciplinary charges w'1hln 28 days of Sept 1. 1992 Of. thereafter. the charges conUiuned !herem shall be wnposed agalf1St her m ASS No 91-330 before !he Dllclphnar, Board 01 the Alabama State a.r DIscIplinary Board Alabama Slate Bar

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Upd.ted veT.lon 01 mentel dl.eblllt, lew primer evelleble A new and updated venion of the ABA's "Menta l Iliubility l.aw Primer" i. ava ilable from the ABA's Commi.sion on Mento! and Physical Disability law. fint published in 1984, the primer provides an OO!Mew of mtnllli disabili_ ty Law. It focllSH on the luding mental disability l:iw ;»un, the major ta.pics within each of t/lo$f artas. and princi1131 cons.tltutional. st.atulory and judicial dn'tlopments, and provides rtSOurUI lor lawyers, I:iw students and gr3duate .tudents. To order CopiH or for mort informa_ tion. conillet Iht ABA Commission On Mental and Physkal Dinbility Law, 1800 M Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20036. I'I1ont IZ021 331-2240. •

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SOURCEBOOK$ • DEPT 260 PO BOX 33841 SAN DIEGO, CA 92163

SeptemMr 19921 307

BUILDING ALABAMA'S COURTHOUSES BIBB COUNTY COURTHOUSE BII SAMUn A RUMOR£. JR.

Th~ following continues a his/or" of Alahama's coun/II CQurlhousestheir origins ""d some or the people u'ho ronlribuled /0 their gr=lh. The A fabama L"UJller plans /0 run on"

rou"/IIS Slo'JI In

roc" issue of/he mag_

aline. If !IOU hOll" ''''II pholographs 01 eariN or prcserI/ rourl"=. piNS<! (",. U'/lTd lhem (o: Samuel A. RUr>J(}re. Jr.• Miglia.,icQ & Rumore. 1230 Braum

Marx Tower, Birmingham. Alabomo

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I JI

Bibb County

ibb Count~ i. ono of only. handful of Alabama coun· ! i~, to h.ve h~d a name change. Th. county was o ri g inally e.tablish.d as Cahawba County by tllf Alabama Territorial Leg. islalure on february 7. 1818. It was cr. _ attd the same day as its neighbor. Sh. l· • •

by County. The origina l name is derived from the Choctaw Indian language and me~ns the "water aoo~.· This is alro the n.. me of the rivor which traverses the center of the county from north to south. dividing it inlo an eastern and ,,~stern part. The name of the county was changed I.... than three years later to honor Alarom,,:s first governor. l\lhen the Alaroma Territor)' was tre· ated from the eastern lands 0( the Missis· sippi Territor)' in 1817, President James Mool"Ol' appointed William Wyatt Bibb as thl' fir.lt and only gowmor of thl' territor r)'. Bibb was a TliIti~ of Virginia whO$\' family h.ld moved to Georgia. He attend· ed William and Mary College and gradu· ated from the Medical College of the Uni · versity of Pennsylvania. H. began prac· tie ing medicine in his new home .. t Petmburg, Georgia in lSOI. By 1802. at tilt age of 21. Doctor Bibb was elected to

308 / September 1992

Bibil CO""'Y Couo1ho ... .

the Ceorgia House of Repre..,ntati," " He next was elected to tilt Georgia State SeTlilte. After four years in the Ceorgia ~gi'latu .... the young (\octo. was elect· ed to Cong.... where he ,.rved from 1806 to 1813. \\lhen Senator William H. Crawford resigned his seat in the United States Senate. Bibb was ",Iected 10 com· plet. the une~pir.d term unt il ]816. In that}""ar. he .an for a full Senate term. but was defeated. Bibb was quite unhapPl' after his fir.;t political defeat. He promptly resigned before hi. S<>nate appointment «pi.ed. However. a. ollen happen>. when one door closed another On. opened. By April ]817. only a few months after the

defut. President Mon roe aprointed Bibb the g<Mmor of the newly created Alabama Territory. Bibb worked hard to prepare the Alaroma Terr itor)' for Sbtt· hood which ClIffit' in 1819. In tilt guber· natorial election that yea r. William WyaU Bibb became the first gOVl'rnor of the State of Alaroma. Governor Bibb presided O\'er tilt state for a few short months. fie was injured in a f.... k acciMn\ when he fell from hi, ho ... and died in July 1820. He had not yet reached his 39th birthday. On !Xc.mber 4, 1820. the state l.egislalure officiall y changed the name of Cahawb;! County to Bibb in hi' honor. Aeeording to the Constitution of TilE ALABN>IA I.AWYER

Alabama at that ti"",. in th~ C'.. nt of ~ vacancy in th~ office of GO''ernor. th~ president of the Alabama Senate aut",. matically became Governor. Ironically. the president of the Alabama Senate was GO"ernor Bibb's younger brother. Thomas. who had follov... d his broth..·s e~ample and embarked on his own political career. Thomru; Bibb ""as a col· lege educated farmer and bu.ines.o;man who. as a statt senator from l..imestone County. had been 5<'IKted by his ~rs to be presiding officer thai body. He completed Ihe une~pir .d term of his deceased brother. The Act wh ich created Cahawba County in ISI8 duignated thai courts for the lime being would be held at the Fal l, of the Cahawba . the site of pre· sent·da~ Cent re-·ille. The community was located along both tbe eastern and we~lern banks of the Cahawba River. but the log courthouse stood on the ....-utern side. The f,rst courts were held in ~tay 1818. On December 17. 1819. the Legisla· ture passed an Act to establish a perma· nent 5<'at 01 jUsti"" in Cahawba County. This Act cal led for an election On the first .'looday 01 ~t.l.rch 1820 for Ihe pUT· pose 01 electing fiw commiss ioners who. b)' ~ majority ",te , WQuid 5<'lecl a suit· able site lor the permanent county seal. Th< Acl further provided lhat Ihe com· mis.o;ioners could selecl a temporary seat 01 justice so long as it was within four miles 01 the Cl'nt.. 01 u.. county. There was no ~uch restriction for Ihe perm.l.· nenl county 5<'al. Also. the Act kept the seat 01 justice at the Falls 01 the Cahawba untillhe comm inione .. "Iected either a temporaf)' Or pel"JTlamnl site. Apparently. the cQmmissioners did not act '''''illly enough in making their chQice. or they simply coold nol agree

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THE AlABAMA I.AWvER

on a site . Another Act cQncoming th~ county seat passed I"kcember ZO. 1820. Thi, Act .uthorized Iht sheri ff 10 hold a new eleClion for comm issioners if a suitable site for a CQurthouse "'as not selected by ~cember 25. 1821. Anothe r Legislali"e Act, Ihis one pused on November 27. 1821. p.eempted the previous law. and appointed three commis.o;ioners who "'ere to pick a temporary seat of justice ",ithin two mi les of the center of the county hy April l. 1822 , Including the Act which origi nally created the county, Ihi. was the lourth law p;l.",d concerning Ihe counly 'tat localion in less Ihan four j>tars. and slill no decision was m.l.de. ~'inal1~. Ihes e last commissioners made ~ decision. locating the temporary county srat appro_imate ly nine mile, east of CentrC'·ill. at the intersection of Ihe Pleasanl Val1e~ (0. "E lylon to Selma") Road and the Fort Jackson (or "Tuscaloosa to MQnlgomery") Ro.d. This location is approx imately midway bd"'een present-day Centreville and Randolph. in what is now known a, Ihe Antioch community. A frame structu.e had been bui lt al Ihese crossroads b)' Thomas Coker and his son. Noah. It was originally u.>ed ... • home. t.""m and inn. Once the <Ount~ govemmenllJ'lOVed into the building. the community became knov.l1 as Bibb Court House. Later. alter the county ..at mov.d. it became known as Bibb Old Cour! House. The first circuit court met at llibb Court House in September Isn The original size of the building i, not known. bul evenlually il <Qnsisted of tW(l stories and conta ined at lea.t nine roorru; and a wide hallway, Paris 01 this structure remained inlact until the 1970•. It ..... as then dismantled and Ihe building materials Wf;re used on variou, pion ... r hom •• which had been relocated to Tann , hill Slate Park. Nothing remains today of the old courthouse at ilS crossroads location, On December IS, 1824, three commis.o;ione .. were appointtd by the state Legislature to seleci a quarter section of land that was to be sold to raise funds for Ihe construclion of pub lic buildings. Thty chose a quarter section near the temporary CQunly seal. They laid out loIS but. unforlunalely. nQn, wer, >old. One possible reaSon for the failure of

Ihis project ..... as an madeqll3te supply 01 water in the ar ... Many ",ells were allempted but water was scare •. Finally. after much disconlent <:1\'" th e sit e of the lemPOrary courihouse. On ~c.mber 27. 1827 the Legislature authorized an election on tbe r.rst Non · day in February 1828 to determine the permanent srat 01 justice, The l..egisla· ture limited the choices to -B ibb Cour! 1I0u .. " and Ihe -F.II, of C.hawb." (Centrevi ll e) , The laller location won. Courts continued to be held at Bibb CQur! HouSll until May 1829. Meanwhile. a commillU of three prominent citizens .....as appointed b)' the l..egislature in 1828 to 5<'lect the specific location for a new courthouse . They chQse ~ sile al the falls Qn a hilltop above the .a.tem side oItht rh.. r ralher Ihan at the previous location on the ".,.,stem side , ThtY laid out lois around a large cour!hou.>e SQuare. Bibb County', third courthou.. was .00n completed and the county SIlat of Centreville was incorporated January 21. 1832. There are no surviving piclur.. oIlhe third Bibb CourthQu ... Ho ..... e"" •. Qne noted feature of the court square wa.

F"""",y Dff..,,,,,, 0/ PI.o.:""",, 0/ <he Uft"·",,ily of Alabarno

s"w of Low.

p.o.." " <>P<'n ><ar<. 1<'f"OO 10

"'''''''(01'"''''

Ia~· (""'. and ooh<t rtcn<,,"'lI ol><',irn<.,/ .""""' •.

F", """" m{tmno>,..., """',

Ie ,on[.." "..t ><'f\ """, pit"", "" ..,,,,, Pm", Par!(,. Vk. p,..,i<l<n l. N.... & A1.oo<it!«. In<. M .II. s,,'« 21B S.C" 291111

SOOO Th~.....,...j CoI ~mbio.

T.kp",,", fB(H) 799·}622

-September 1992/ 309

chimbu'Y trtu planl~d in th~ 1830s llut providfd wel,,)mod ~h.adt. Thuo tru~ survived until a lurd f.. eze .. "'" 5fKMull Umt in 1899, The court~ itwlf wu di,rmnU.d and robuilt u a rnid.nc. at anoth.r localion in 1858. when it _ decided tlul the county ~ outgro-.'!I its old courthoost i"'" pL"lru wer~ bfgunlor a fIfW 0IIt. It WiS al$O in 1S58 tNt the L"Ist ous att.mpt 10 relocat. th. court~ took pl,~. Th. lo.... n of RIIndolph had r«tntly grown b«auK of the coming of the first railroad. BrosIUS from .astern Bibb Count~ allld for a rolmly",.. i\le rd· .r~""'um on court~ .. Ioc.otion. On ~L"ly 3. lass. WI.rs cilost bttwttn Cen· tmill. and Ranllolph. C.ntmille won and the iMm _ nover JJ.i~ ag.>in Aft.r the old fJJ.mt eourthou.. wu r.Rl(Md. construction btgan on i fIfW brick courthouse. The new courtl\oust; was consIrucltd by CA Shelby ind Soo of TallMp. It =1 $13.(100, The two$to'Yslructure Iud i Lo.~ ItCOIId floor porch und.r I gabl.d roof .... hich ....as suppo,l.d by fou r Ionic columru. This court houK serve d the county unlil it .... as liUdin 1902.

.m.

The pment Bibb County CourthouK cOllStruct~d on Ih. sil. of its two iJ1lrrlfdilol. prtdtas.son in 1902. William S. Hull was "chittct lor lhe pro;ea. He

.... u

liter dnign.d th. Choctaw County Courthoost at Bulltr. Ablwn;o in 1906. F.M. Dobson Krved as oonlrKtOf. The tot."Il cost ohllt building was 534.000. The archIIKtUJJ.llityl~ "'Iho court· house is Victorian Ecltctic "ith a .Iroog RomanuQIH innIHntt. It is a two-stOT}l brick struclurt with 3 corn~. clock tow~r. It hU slon. linlel. and . ills, a dentilltd cornic. and ped iment. both S<t",..·hellded lind lrchtd winOO""'S. and corntr 6omu. Tht courthou.. squaro .. nd iU surrounding historic disl rict we .. llimed to lilt Natiorlll RtgistfT 0( lIistoric Pbcu on Octobtr 19, 1978.

On Friday. Ftbrua'Y13.

1903. a di>ao·

lrous fire struck the business district 0( C.ntrevillt. Only lilt .--er brick build· ings of the district survived, including the courthouse. ~ older fl1lm!' $true· turn ,,-ere \o$t. but soon ...-ere re"lact<! by modern brick buildings. The prOStnl courlhouse ;s over 90 )'tars Old. and allt has taktn il5 toll. Thf SlruClure has suffered from d.teriora-

tion. I lull» rooJ. ind iTYo\ltq"'I~ funding for ",,"intenlnce. The eitizeru of Bibb County luve crellted seve",1 o~niu· tioN 10 USISI in p.ostrving tho,r court· houK. Amon/! U- haw btflI tho Bibb County IItritage Association, the Bibb County RtstOl'ation Society"nd tho Bibb Count~ CoUrtOOUSf PrtKrv"lion Sod· ~ty, Estirmte:s 0( tho c(lOt 0( a rutOl1ltion IPPfOlCh one mIllion dolL"lrs. Rec.nt efforts havt bten taktn 10 securt funding fo r the Bibb County CourthouK. A two mill ad valorem tax earmark.d fo r the courthouse passed Novtmbtr 8. 1988. A multi.p~ progrim of rutoration and mainte""nce IO(ln Msan. Tht first philt included the irutllilation 01 a fIfW roof Ind the rntOfltion of tho clock lind clO(:k tOWtr. PUtIiJ Arch,tt<:u. Inc. 0( Mont· gomery sul'ltrvistd this pro;tct. and the conlractor wu Residential and Com· mfrci,,1 Im"rovtmenu. Inc. of TUIGIIOOQ. ~ !uoW btcomt available. "dditionlll work is planned. Though it had fallen on hlTd limn. the Bibb County CourthOUM is a struclure of archil.tturlll charact. r which th~ citi· zens of lIibb County will pruen>e. •

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

._,= ,..., ... s......

.,._

3 10 I ~ptemMr 1992

T f l ~;

ALARAMA LAWYER

""'" O<n ~

" ''''''

1\ " " " •

Fo~

1992 SUPPLEMENT TO McELROY' S ALABAMA EVIDENCE FOURTH Edit ion By Charles W. Gamble I . i 1992 Snpplemen~ ($97 .~ + $6.83 &ales IU + $6.00 posIa8e &: handling) $18.83 Bound volume only ($69.00 + $4.83 sales tax + $5.00 pos ...ge &: Mndling) 1992 Supplemen' only ($28.50 + $2.00 &ales Ill' + 52.50 postage &: bandling)

ToI8.I .moun1 enclosed: 5_ _ __

~':;:~~;;:;,.;;;;':~'~:. Allow 2-4 weelcs fordelivery. ALABAMA EVIDENCE .

Ship To :

,- - - - - - - - - - ~= --------- • Signa,ure _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

Ex PARTE INTERVIEWS WITH CORPORATE PARTY EMPLOYEES:

OVERVIEW by SCOTT DONALDSON

II 311

wry 1 '''"1'' knows that e. parte 1 contact with a rep ..• sented party during litigation is generally forbiddtn. ~I this pro-

To what e. tent. 00.....,.., •.

hibition apply to the oorporale ad""rse party~ In olher words. can the JaWl''' contact and interview a represented corporale party's employeu without the opposing lawyer's coo..,,! or presence' (Assuming, of course. thaI the

These opinions have allowed inter· ";"''S or contact with emplO)'ee witness· es to II lort. but only if tney are low-level with no p<1Wf. to bind the rorporation: 7 municipal employe.. with >orne man· agerial functions. but only il the» can· not commit the city:8 co·W(lrkers in a sex discrimination suit. but only il they

individual employee is no1 separately represented by coun..,l.)

On one hand. depositions and formal discovery procedures are costly and lime.consuming. 2 Empl<>yl'~ might be rno~ willing to diKUSS certain matters without the presence of ooun.. 1 for th. corporale entity, thus tnhancinl fact-finding process of diKowry . On ttle other hand. eQrporate partits should have the same legi t imate prolut ion agai",t owrreaching. and should enjoy the same protection of counsel in the adversarial nature of OUr I.gal ~;'Stem.4

,h.

The General Counsel has been careful to emphasize thot

the opinions are fact-specific ...

ALABAMA ETHICS OPINIONS

The current applicable Opinions of the Alabama State Bar General Counsel are based upOn former Qxk of Profes· sional Responsibilill/ DR 7·1 04(A)U 15, which provided: During the course of his representation of II dient a lawyer shall not: (I) Communkale or cause /loother to communicate on the subject of the representation with II party ho knows to be represented by II lawyo. in that matter unltss he has the prior ronsent of lne ia",),« representing such otlltr party or is authorized by law to do so.6 312 1Stpttmber 1992

cannot bind or speak lor the corpora· tion and are not officials or managers: 9 and II s«retary lor the defendant torpQration. but only if .IDe i. not an agent of and cannot bind the corporation. \0 Th. General Counsel has been carelul to emphasize that the opinions are lact· specific. and thatth. status of the inter· viewee most often in\iOlws a qu.stion 01 law unam_rable by the Offi«.l t In RO·9(I·79 12 • a lawy•• representing the plaintiff wanted to interview an employ· ee 01 the defendant corporation who possibly had relevant inlormation. and

possibly committed the tortious act which I~d to th~ su il, The lawyer asked the General Counsel to ci1Wi/y. by job tit le. those persons who lell into the prohibited categories. The opinion summarized the previous holdings. and conci ..ly addr~sse<lthe issue: The determination of whether an employee of a corporation i, in a position to bind that corporation is a legal detrrmination and is beyond the scope 01 this opinion or the ~uthority 01 the Commission to dedde. Accordingly, "'\' can do no more in , .. ponso to your query than to state. as we have in the pasl. that is ethically permiSS ible for you 10 speak with the employff 01 a delendant corporation. "ithout tho kno"d edge 0' consent of the attorney for that corporation. il the pe1'SQn with whom you speak i. not in a pOsition to bind that rorpOra · tion and i, not the all.gro tortlea . sor or person whose actions have predicated the la,,'Suit. You .hou ld al,o be mindlu l that addit ional inv<!stigation is indic~ted. on the .. facts. as to the issue ofwhether this employ•• is the actual tortleasor since contact. in that eVl'nt. WQUld be improper. l\'t belieVl' it would be appropriate at this time to indicate that by so holding we are not fi ashing a green light at Alabama lawyers and endorsing this practice. IlVlhile contact ",ith such an employ.. .., may be pennissible. it is not Tee· Onlmtnded and should be underta~· en with a dea, view 01 the .. hical mandate of Rules 43 and 4.4. 13 THE ALABAMA U.WYER

THE NEW RULE Eff.eli..., January I. 1991. 0111· 164 was rlplacfd wuh Rult of Profnsional Conduct 4.2.14 This n~' rult is Aid to ~ "substantially i\knlkal" to the for. mu.15~p!'1Mdu:

In reprutnhn, /I clienl. II bwyfr shall not communicate aoout tht subject of the reprt5tntation with II partll the law.,.er knows to be repre· Hn ted by Inolher la~r in the INlier. unltu lhe b ....')~r hi, lhe (olUtnt of 1M OIM' lawyoer Or if aUlhoriutl by law 10 Ik> so. IEmpha$is added)

Of courst. the ,ritial issue is the def. inition of"~rty·. Rderon« must be ~ 10 Rule I.1l. which stalts: II) A lawyer emplO\~ Or retlll'lfd by an organiution represents Iht organization Icting through ilS duly authoriutl constiturou.16 l1').e (omment to I.Il delin" "con· lI't .... nu" as offICers. dim.1ors, emp{ov· "'$ and shareholderJ. It further prwidts that communications from I con · Ilit .... nl Ut prot.etfd by the "C(lI!fi<.ltrl. t"'hty" of Rule 1.6, but: This dou nOt mun, hOl.,.vu, lhat the conllit .... nts of an orQI. niutiona l client are the clienlS of a law.,.... Therdore, the corporltion il Ihe client 0( tho: ~, 1~1 thr eo<p01'ation clln only be contacted through "con. stituents". To delermine whether con· stituenu can be Intervi ......w. you must return to 4.2. The O\'Iinion in 110 90·19. while applyinl OR 7· 104. np.usly iiKIo!ltfd the comments to 4.2. "toi(:h list

thr'ff eitttlOriH 0( 111'1"$0l'Il ""th whom contxt il prDllIbitfd: I. penons having a managerial rUPQ<llibilily on be"'lf 0( the orga· nlution.

In RIKk's uw Dictionary, 5th ed. 1979. I ml1nag .. indudn 11 person • ......,sted wllh II certain amount of dis· cretlon and independenl Judgment", What is "rTl.lnagtrialrnponsibility". and which empIO)'u, l1.e ml1nagers? One IpprOich would be thOH employus who COuld be subj«t to lea<ling QUU' tionl undtr Allep 43(b) as "ffi>Tl/lging agentl", In Stauffer Chemica! Co. ,'Buc/r/Jlew. 456 So.2d 778IAla. 19841. and Whltwor/h o. Utili/w. Board. 382 So.2d 557 (ALa. 19801. the dttermina. tion of who is I1l1lM\Ojjing ~nt appears to det>tnd on title, job function. and whether the agent could have been named as a defendant. 17 In one ethics opinion. P1'rlOnI wl\o served in $Om. mana.erill upacity ,,~u not l1utOlNticallY bum! u long itS they could not "commit" t .... ro'poration In the particula' Cut,18

2. I1ny other PI'.lOn whOM' itt or omission in COI!n«tion with that matt.r I"N)f be imputfd to the argo. niution for purp(lSU of civi l or trim".",1 "ability. In Alabl1ma. an employee who acu within the KOPl' of hi. employment may lubject the co rporatio n to liability.19 Nok that the imputfd liabil. ity can anM' from IJnllemplO)'H. The ..· fore. ewry !>trson who is to be inter· vi~'ed COlJld fall into the ucand cate· gory if he or sho: a.cttd In lhe KOPl' 01 emploj........ L

3. la P1'rwn J whost SUIt ...... nt rTI.Il' constttutt an admission on the part of the organizal ion.

-kelt

Scoo 00N1_, • _ ....... 1 _

Iocu """ 01 00NIcI. fI. nd. lI . Oonl la • Hl mn l'. IS, Cum I.u .... 1I,"a u... 01

t.ot.ooC\6Io ...,._ _ ~--

!>or

He r l l _ o t ..... E,..,. Edo.co!oon eor..r.a. ot ..... - ' ml State Bar ..,... " chi."... ..... 01 "" Cl.E Comm,n" 011 ... r Ulelloa .. COUNV B. , A_

TilE At-'BA.\IA LAWYER

The Supreme Court has heW: . .. gentrllily. 10 be I1dmis.!ible a,g,Jmlt 11 prillCi~J. IIt<:bra\lons of an agent mUlt be rTI.Ide "'ithin the scope of the au t hority conferred upon the ~nt and must be rTl.lde "toile the ;rnt is in htrCIK of his lIuthonty. The lInilysis undr' this prong pr.· sent. addItional probl.ml in federal court litill/ltion.21 Federa l Rule of ~:"i·

d.ne. 80I(dIl21(0 ) "rlllnll MarAy '",eplion ioI' stalemt'nlS macIt by. • , . the p~rly's agent Or .ervant concerning I mi tter within th. scope of the agtncy or emplo)'· ment. made: dunng tho: nisten« of the rebtionship. The fedtral rule app .... 10 admit stat. menu mad. ronremi"9 a matte. within the SCOPI' of rmployment. whIle in A~IN tM (Juthoritll to INkt the IllIlement ilulf mUll be with in the Kopt 0( emplo)'nwnL The combinatlOO of the second and third pronlPl would Ippear to place III employees orf. limits in f.deral court ~L Therefore. if you <.On be usum! thl.t the corporale em~loy .. II ) has no INrl/Igeria! rflp(lns'bility. (2. hu not ptrformt<l any act or omi..ion which rould subjecl the entity to liability, and Il) cannot mike In admission, the employer mllY be intervi.wed. Hut since th legitimale purpose of the inte"itw is to obLain r.levant in/orma· tlon not othe",,'1$C koown. the ItltuS of the emplol'.e will rarely be clur in advlnce of the <ontlCl. Procuding with the or ~rte interview could be 1 violation of the .ule. uposing Ihe b ....~r to ynctiOOL

DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS

The risks anoc ilted with violltmg lhe rule rTI.Iy be st\"ro, The most likfly ref..ence point is fou .... in Section II. 6.l, of Ihe Alaba ma Standards for Imposing Lawyer OiKiplintU which includu the following: Public reprimand is g.nerlllly i\ilPropriltr "'hen I t.a..~"r is negli· gent in dtt •• minmg whether il is proper to .n~lge in communiCIl' tion with an individual in the legal system, and CllII5I'S injury 0' polen· till ;nJul)' to II ~rty Or inlerfn· en« or potent",1 interlerollCe with the outcome of tM leQl1I proceed· ing. 23 Private reprimand is generally appropriate ...hen a La",).. r engagel in lin i.olated inStinct of ne,li . genu in improperly commun'at . Ing ",th lin ,ndi"'dual in the legal Iystem, lind UuHI liltl. or no actual Or pOtentilli injul)' 10 a party, or CIUSU liul. or no aclual or September 1992131l

potential interftrence witllthe out· COIm oflhe I.gli procHding. 2-t

The rommentul' 10 lhe Amotrican Bar Auoci~lion Standuds Z5 statu that "Imlolt coorU impoJt reprimands on "~rs

who

f1Ij[a#

in impn'llM" com-

muniCalionJ-. 26 The ABA notts ont tlW. not i!!\'OMng a rorponlt ditn\. in ""hkh I lawyt. was .. .,,;manded for

communica t ing with I represented party u"knowing/II. U Iht rule is designed to prohibit lht conduct «ga..dlm of the intent or lack thorror by the II~r.27 Aoothtr court held, Tht pu.pose of this prohibition is 10 pr.'-tnl I p."on from being dtpriVl!d oIlht advice 01 retained counsel by tht bl'p,assing of such counnl. and it is immltuial whtther d.ffi;j contxt is om inlenlioNl Of nrgl'gt'nl wioblion of the rult. 23

Thus. I fISk usocilled .... ith Iht

p.lrte inleNlfIO' is disdplif\ll'Y <>etioo.29 Suking In opinion from the Central (ounKi and Disciplinary Commis.sion in advance mal' shield lhe lawyer from tthiClOll/ioctioo. JO bot the opinion will not aruwer lhe fondamtntal qu ..tiQn is tht tmllloyu 1I ~rohibittd person Wllhin the Kopr 0( 4.2?Jt

PROCEDURE So how do YOII d.tumint if the intenoj,rw is lIP11ropria.tt brior. tho COflIXI? Not Jllrprisingly. wlul ~gins u In ethicil ~robltm ofttn ends, or It lust con l inun. befor. Iht court in whiCh Iht aClion is ~tnding. Some· times. the lawyer s«king the interview hu uktd for relief. whil. in other caus. il is tnt corpOration's counnl who turns to th t trill court. Jurisdiction ~r tho issue in civit3 2 cues has bun attempled through \/lIrious proctduru. iocludinQ:

• motion IIndtr Civil Procedurt Rule

U s«king "prottdiw ordtB" ..!al-

ine

10 diiCOWoy.l3 • motion to striltt pltadings llut contlin inforrl"llltion~ined through lhe n putt contact. • motion to disqualify IllorneYI for conductinQ inteMf\\.·s:l!' • molioo to hold Wom.y in coolempt of court: 36 or

3 14 1 Septtmber 1992

• mOlion to inyoke Ihe "inherenl" lIuthonly 0( lhe court. MOJt d1Kisions al Inst mtnlion Ihio jllriodktiOfll1 vthicle. 37 ind somt cou ru havt u~nilty reJecttd lny olher ap-

.....

The results In cues irising in other juri:ldicttonl No ... bml ,... n.-d. with no ctt"r rorutnWi. Somr dtcisioru ctnter On whtther the comments to 4.2 are tVen applicible. If tht comments are found 10 inhibit the litigation proces:s, th.y art rtjecteJ.39 In Alabama , the COmmentJ • ... Irt intended u guides to interprttation. bul tht tut of nch Rule is authoritltivt',40 The holdin~ art uniform. OO"......,r, tllal ill penlllssion to inttMew Slops al illomry privileged iruorma.tion.· 1 The cornmtnt to Rulf 1.13. sbtu: When OM oIlho corulil .... nt$ 0( an organiuti(ll'l,l.l dient communiCllt' With Ihe organintion's liwyer in tlut person', organitlltionil clpacit~, the communic~ tiOfl is prolmtd b)J Rul. 1.6. Communication has been defined in Alabama as •... not onl~ wOrdl uttered . but information conv.~ed b~ oth .. mtaN. Acts.llS "",II ;U -..>rds fall within th.i.t privilt~:"1 If tho liwyer inl.." ....."' an emplo)..,t ,,'110 has p''''ilel/td inlormation, h, or ohe could be found to br ov • .,uch· in,4J

WH .. T ... OUT ..L .....M .. ? Alablml cou rU would liktl~ follow lhe inhtrent l'O"..,r aPllroach.llS a jurisdiclional basis. In F.x Purle Tall/or Coal Co., 111( .. 401 So.2d 1.3 (AI •. 1981), the Supreme Court Mid:

IThe ju rildi<:t ion oIlho Court OWr auorr.eysJls inherent. continuing. Ind plenary, ind nilll indeptn· dently 01 Jlitut. or rults 0( ~uity. and ~hlIO be UMlrntd mel uncised .lIS lho ui~roc:its and rot«SSlIy 0( the CiK require. not only 10 malnuin iIld prol«t the integrity Ind ditll1ity 0( the court, to 5«Ure obedienct to its rulto and proce"ll. and to rebuke intufertnct with the condu<:t 0( il.! busines:s. but also to control and protect its officers. including attorneY'."

Ila,,,

Therefore, the trial court should jurlJdlCtional authority to acl upOn • roque!! from a ~rty, prior to Or 1ft.. tht con1Xt. to deltrmin. who can ~ int."" ......,.. ox part•. c::lou in court. the scope iI1d attn! 01 tht IPllhCiblt ethies rule is often boollnced ap,nst COInpl'ting policy int..als. A good tumpIe 01 how compldtly connicting rnulll cln be obtained is found in 1I romplfison 0( "'iesig v_Toom I. 76 N.Y.2d 363, 559 N.Y.S.2d 493. 558 N.E.2d 1030 (1990). and l'ub/ic s"r..,·", EillClri( Utili Cu.t COrtlflUt'lI u. AwK:iuleti ,,'Ieclrk ,mil Gas Imurul1C<! Sen:;ces. Lid.. 1'5 F. Supp. IOJ7 /D.NJ. 1990). 80th 0( lheM: ..-. invol\.. t Xparte CI,lm-munialions with fOTlTler emplo)"ftSU . but could be lIlIllicable \0 current tmployees of a corpOration. Tht Ni<!Sig couri dult only wilh OR ;·104. and spl'cifiul1y njtcltd Ih. definition of "pirty" IS contained in tho romtnI'flts to 4.2. The court further held th;n tmploywho are mere witnesses to lin inci· denl should ilways be accessible to either side through ox part. contact. and • blanket rule oIe.du.ion 01 all employ. «s -..>uld frustrate ItQitimate informal inltMews whiCh ofttn ufl<:O\'O!r addition· al f.Ku..ln rejecllng VI all encompassing prohibition, the court hold:

rt,

The songl. indiJPUWlle ;KI\'l!ntage 011 blanlttt pr«lusion - as ";lh ""'ry lbsolute rult _ i. that it i. cltar. So ~r nud rvtr risk di5Qualifiation or diJCi~lint btuuse 01 unwtlinty u to "'hich employees au covt rtd b~ Ihe rult and which not. The probltm. oo..,"",r. is tNot II boon oIlhil fllttu," exacts I high price in lerms 01 olher valu ••. and il unne,ulary to aeh i,,,,, tho objectivts of 1m 7.104111(] 1.~6 The New York court rejeded a 'control group" lut. as w.lI lJ I cut -by-ease inllysis. lind held -Plrty- to only include: _ .. corponlt tmp!oyfts whose actJ Or omiSSION In the mailer under inqUiry i .. binding on the Corpofil' lion (in effect the co rporations "ilt.. tllO"] or imputt<i to the COTp<H"lttion for purpoon 01' its llabili!)'. (lr employeu impl.menting the advice 01 rounsel. All other tmploy· en may be intervie""ed informal· ly.4i

THE AUlDA.'1A UI\WER

Althougtl clalmmg to tw.~ provided dn . Quidance. tile COI.I.I then noted that the opinion wu limited to the

faeu presented. ind ", , . t hne art undoubtedly quutions nol nised by the part ies that will yet haot \0 b.

answtrtd: .ill PulHk Sen:i« .ucht4 tho opposite conclusion. This New Jersey ftderal court htld thot t .... {l.iWg leu would do nothin~ bul product additioml p.N,i."Il litigation. and thlt 1M value of lhe .~ plrtt interview is ",rutly tugger. illtd",49 The court found thot the second P1'OOg aI 4.2 cook! not N ~. u .~h .mployft', act could k imput· ed to lho .m~r. In idopIillll iI tom· pltte and lot.'lt blanket nclusion for all employttl, tm court !-ottd: By prohibiting conllel with Ih. .tp•• Knted {<lrme •• mpl~e, the opportunity for cmrT(",hing by tho "","tipting"..Tty i$ nullifitd. the orp.nintion's ;nttfut on the Id. omi!.Sioo Or tranw:tion ii, theil'-

for •. also proltdtd, MOlt impor. tantly. the conclusion ruched today has tht decide~ bendil of limplidty.lt thus M'rvu Iht over~1I objective of Ihe elhiul rules by pn:widing dur guidin« 10 the ~r coocemil\ll .... ha\ cond\ICt is prohibittd and "ml conduct is not. This Iilig~li(>n. and numerous olhers lik~ It. illustrate Ihe bu's cle .. nerd for such an underslandable brighl li~ lUI. Adopling an aher rgo Its!. iU delinnltd by the N....• York Court of AppulJ in A'iesig. dot.! nothing 10 furiMr Ihis objec· t,,'t. 100tfll. lhal court'lltsl M'TVU only 10 furlht. muddy Ihis ,Iready clouded elhical area:50 Whal remnly will 0IPPIy if the contacI is Iound 10 be prohibiled? The Suptl'~ Court has T«Ogn,ud disqualiflCalion in

conflict 01 inlern! asH.5t bul is ul\ICtanl to mort 10 Ihis dTllllic meuuu.S2 In addition. confliCI CUti necessaril!l i!WO)lve the umedy of disqualir.calion. is lhe disciplinary rults in qutslion con· ttmplalt "ithdr;r..'111 01 . tprtM'ntllion.53 Non,~. thai the 11th Cirruill'lld ~niud the inhtrfllt authority of II di.ltrict court to dlsqu.1lify lind fiM coun· sel for improper cootxts, althoogh in , dill.unt procedu ...1seUing. ~ In many ftderal juriJdictionl. infor.

I'IV.lion obUintd through prohibiltd a pIIrt. Inltrvin<:! cannot be UKd is an ,dmission under f.R.E. 801. 55 In Slrin9f1r u. Slale. 372 So.Zd 378 (Ala. C. im, App, 1979), the dislricl attorn~ conlacted Ihe rtpresrntrd defrndant directly and obtainrd In "~mis.sion". Whilr tht opinion addrturd othe r grounds. I troublina ~ is lhe hold· IIIg lhat the disciplilllry rults" ... play no pllrI , , .- in delermining the ~mis· sibility of evid~nct in court. 56 On Ihis bUis, an ex·pa.le inttrvirw which resul ted in an "admis.sion" under tht third prong could concri\lllbly be uw<1 in Illh court. luving disciplinary iClion or disqoWifieation as ttlt 00fJ>Il' nte pllrIy's sot.: recourse. 57 A prattical problem with lny "alter the fact" rell'lO'dy is uceraininQ e..ctly wh.tl information w~ obtained in violl' lion, lnd "'hal WlJ obtain ed through leQ'lil'lV.te 5OU"U. Any system which pr(IYidr:J only this o-elitf would SHm 10 fosttr prr·triallitigatioo. including Its· timony from the inlrrviewing lawyer,58

Accordil\ll to the ludlllQ c"","",n!.l· lOri, the best appro»ch is 10 consult counsel lor tl>t corpo"uon ;n .11 but the mOil tlear cuu. 59 The cO'pOra· lion's law.,.e •. howt'.'tr, i rroa. enlly may proprrly advise emplO)'rrs not to spuk to the o:>ppO$ll\ll (01111$(1 on an inlormal flO plrtt !wi.. Rulf 3.4Idl, "'hich hiS no rul counterp.ort in tIM: fo.mer Codt. $lItts:

A la"').. r wll not: requut ~ person other than a cli.nt 10 refrain from voluntarily Qiving rel rvant inlormlltion to MOOthu pIIrty, unltu; m the person is , , , lin ernc>IO)'tt: or olher agent 01 a clirnt lnd Ihe bwyrr reasonably belieVe! thai thr prnon's interuts will not b~ ad"ersely affect.d by refra ining from gMl\II such information. The commmt ,!.II., lhat " "... ptr· ""IS <I. b,,')'Or 10 """se tmploytts of a

clitnt to ref...;n from 8i,;ng onforma· tion to MOOther pIIrty, (or thr rmplO)us

LANDTECH86 Real Estate Settlement System For Uzser or Miltfix Prillters

• HUD I Automalic Calculations • Checks &: Escrow Accounting • Word Processor - Spell Check Policies &: Commitments Deeds &: Mortgages • Data Base Reporting (SQL) • On Sile Training Available

$1,495.00

LANDTECH

CORPORATION

(407) 833.()454

J03 C... r.nty Build,"8 • 120 Sau,~ 01,,,,, """"~ • Wes, Palm B.-I<I\, Fl 33401

Stptembo.I992/ 315

may identify thtir interuts ",1th thoM: of tht client --6(1 The CJvut contained in RO 90-79 tugguts that a rtuOOablt irwutigation of the facts muSI bt un~rUk.n prior 10 app.O/iching an)' employu. In tht e>."tnl an inteNitw is ntCtsury. Ihue sttms to bt no rul imptdimtnl in $<'nding interrogatories to tht o;G<JIClRtioo.~· ing if certain named employees are shielded by •. 2. In the event the .equuting party qutstiOflt the "sporl$<'. lilt trial court should have the power 10 ruol'-'t tilt dispute just as in any discoyt ry procttding.(;l NOle. ~r. that ~ int • ....og.tory which bowdly rtqUtm tilt corporation to d",ulllt tilt nimH 01 all tr,,,,1oytto who would bot prohibittd shifu the bu rden away from t he .equesting pIIr!y. and fail! 10 recognitt lhat the ox part. inleTVitw is an unusu · a l and txtraordinuy discov",y lech. niqUt. 62

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CONCLUSION I'rocotding with an ex part. contact om)' b< permissible. but is fraught \',ilh da nge r of disciplinary commission andlo. trial court S1nction. Ab$<'nt an Igrftmtnt from lilt corporal. counsel. permission from tht lriallXllJrt (if app ...... riat.J appt"ars to bot tht only $Ife appTOKh. •

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THt: ALABAMA U\WYER

43. SHRO«>I2!i. ~ 23, 1986 .... OuoIng!rom.b>ols >' ~Nm.o 353 So 2d 508, 509 (All 19m

sw" 8.0<,

45. _, FO' l...-tnet dlllCUOSO'l 01 " _"Co. employ. _ /'Mel • ARCO l.Ieralo . PoIt-

c", Te<:ln>Icgy Corp . • lk"'oy;tl, ihc" ~ Plasl<: .. ..,.• ~ CuI> Corp, ~3l SH_;tIIy~ard and_, ""Lo ... oI~,2ded.,

HONOR ROLL

4 2' 1071Supp lWJ), ' ABASl¥>ongon Elflic. M<l _ .......1FIBsponoibilily" f<)<tMI Opinon 9\-35\1 ( 1!III 1), d""""",, Ir1 ","ABA~ Vol. 11 . ~ 1991,

,00

lfl N Y 211 .. 312. ~ N "-211 .\ 1034

N Y 2d", 314, 551! N E.211 at 1035 TM NoMog COUI1 CIIIim<Id • edcpti"lg 1 ".., """"", 00 "'" """ Ioun<I AIabamo Ir1 RO--83--6 ' (1963) Ifj

"*'

8etwern June4 and July 24. 1992 the foIlOUJing altomeys

0'1

45 76 N Y2d0l376,55I!NE2dlll006 fl>o coo.<\ 0100 ref""; 10 ,.,.". 01 COUld "'" """"'-"18<1, ano !NO oontert INI<oof N ....... is .".. Iy:ed Ir1 "Stewa<t. Grou>d IWeo Stofi lot e. P~<te """"'_ : The N.oIIC'Nn_ ..!t>.mai. M.,Ch , I, 1991, S6

""""'* .....,

0'1''''''_

49.

74~

made pledges to the Alawma State Bar Bur1ding Fund. Their names will be included on a wall in the portion of the build· ing listing all contributors. Their pledges are aclmoo:ledged with grateful appreciation .

F Supp , '11)43

50. 745 F Supp .. 1042· 11)43 ~1

E . Parte~'.F,",Cred<lUnion , 519

So2d 1325(.oJo 1988) . .'Iol>emv ~ 572 So.2d 12:1 1 (...... lWJ) ,

52 Sed Ex Porte r"1"O< Coal Co .. Inc .. 401

(For a list of those making pledges prior toJune4. please see previous issues ofTht!1 Altlbamtl Lilw,.,r.)

So 2d \ (.oJo \9E!!); E. P."" Stat. FOJm ldutual ~ Jr>IU'ance Co , 459 So 2d 574 IAia 19651

Pr.......,.....ecn-

OR [,.101 . 106. "Ruleol <Iuc!" 11"12

Fur NaIJoollI_ 01 AlIanI•• 7SH 2d 11931 \ Itr. Ci< 1965)

1(_.

55, S.H".tMocw>, 128FRD 659(N D __ 1 9EI91 . ~. -.pCo.. 678F $vpp 250(DKan 1 988) , Freyv.~_ """" 0/ H6.01lh & Human S<wi<:e., 100 F~D 32(EDJH 1965)

TJ. Carnes

Michael D. Cook

Andrew J. Centry, Jr.

56 372 So 2d II 382-383 57

s..o In Re

1<&... SIliQping Coo-p .. 621 F

$vpp 164 PO (D .......,. 1965)

Barry Clayton Leavell

s..o Put>IC Se<va. oup.-a,

59 H4Zardand HO<JtM, l1'1li1. ... 01 Lo..,...-.,g,2ded 42:106(So.ow '9001

" .... conou.ong 11>0 <\gt<t 01 """""'" ., _ ... om ~ no! 10 tall< '"' an "" parte t>osis. _ /'Mel v ARCO

Mereeria La1lOnne l.udgood

00, FO' _

Gene A. Marsh

l.Ieru Co.. 642 F Supp 111810 Men 1986);

wrqwv

Gto<.J>_/'/osp<~.

100 Wooh.2d 192. 6\\1 P.2d 564 ( 1984); BH tJyMonall.wl • .k>Inson. 128 FRD. 1989); ~ v r..."" . 16 659 IN D N Y 2d 363, 5.59 N Y S 2d 493. 551! N,e 2d 1000 11900)

61 S " O _ v i _ _.... Ioot· ""'" 42. e. Parte Grea\ ~ SurpluS u- Jr>IU'once Co, 540 So,2d 1357 (,'.10,

Andrew L Sm ith

William P. Trnylor,))]

, ~,

62. SH Public

s.-wv.o... lOp<'

THE Al.ABAMA UlWYER

September 1992 I 317

1992-93 COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES !\I~mben :

Chlir. F. Luke Colt}', Jr.•Mobile ............................................460·0555 \i«·chair: R. David Mdx.>"..,II. HUrl/.ville _.... __ ...... ___ ____ ..... _.. _... 534·2436 Bo.n! of Ihr Commission'n Liaison:

Ikn T. Rowe. Nobile ................................... .................433·6% I \'oung ....wyen· R .pru~ ntal,,:1': ,"ed D. Gray. Jr.. Tw,l-egff ......................................... ,n7 -4830 Stlrr Liaison" Keith B. Norman. NonlflOme'll ................................... 269·1515

Melinda .'1. Watm. Manlgomny .............. ..................169·1515 .l 1embon: Anne W. Milch.ll, Birmingham

John Mark Englehart. "',migomer!! Flo\'d Sherrod. Jr .. F/oM'ICt

Anen R. Stoner, NOll/gomer, Raymond L Johnson . Jr., Birmingham Courtney W. tarver, M01!I!JOmer!l Boyd F, Campbell, MOIltgomery

Mat)' Ann Stackhou~. Cadsden Katherin~ Eli~

M=. Huntst'iII~

I'.arl P. Und e",.'OOd. Anniston

AI Vreeland. Tu=foosa Cal.in M. Howard, Birmingham Stanley Weissman. MOIltgomery RoS!' P. ham, Monlgo"",rg T. Kurt Miller. Birmingham Chrilloph~r E. Pet ..s, MoMe Ken Baules, Birmingham Ann E. Taylor. MOOife Patricia Y. F'uhr~ist .., QXumbimw Dana Jill Simpson. Rainst'i/le Ernestine S. SaPP. Tuskeget! Robert S. Hill. IIl . M""tgomerg Daniel R. farnell. Jr .. Montgomerg Pamela H. But')'. Tuscaloosa Otis R. Burton. Jr.. Talladega James Rebarchak. MOOile Susan Cilman McAlister. Birmingham ~I .. crria L. Ludgood. Montgomery

TASK FORCE n.. Antlll' Lrrnuc\' Chair.

Lynne B. Kitchens. ,IIonl9Ome'll ............................... 242-434? \i«-ch.ir.

Ernest C. Horn.w;.. Jt.. Tal/assu .... ........................... 21>3·6855 BOlrd .. f Bar Commi.. ioner. Lilison,

George Higginootham.lkssemtr................................425-3214 \'oung uW)'I'n' R .pO' ~ntat;'·e: Amy Slayden. flmllst'ille ..............................................533-7178 Staff Lililon : Keith B. Norman, Monlgo"""11 .................................. 269·1515 3 18 1 ~pt.mberlm

~ C. Bradley. Birmingham Donna Ward,Mobile Elizabfth tv.t.ti,. Monroeville JoelI'. Alexander. Ill, Birmingham Eleanor L. Sm ith,Birmingham John H. BurtOll. Jr .. Birmingham Donna H. Beard. Opelika William Richmond Stephens, Leeds Barrie 1.1. Stokes. Birmi"gham Willi . A. MaiS!' . Demopolis Jim Sears. Tuscaloosa Richard Eldon Davis, Birmingham Nick Roth. Decatur Carter H. Duke •. Birmingham Ina 1.1. Leonard. Birmingham Blair M. Haddock. Tuscaloosa Annetta Verin. Bes.semtr Dorothy Norwood, MOIltgom~'11 GOrdOll Carter. M""lgomerg J. Mark Hart,Birmingham Mary W. Burge,Birmingham John David Kn ight. Cullmlm George R. Irvine. Ill. Ba!l MinellI.' David R. Pace.liunlwille

Chair and Edi tor.

Robert A. Huffaker. MOIll9Ome'll ...............................834.&180 \lco..,h.ai r lJId Auociat. Editor. Susan Shirock DePaola. M01It9Omerv .........................262-1600 B"",rd

or liar C..mmiuion.... LiailOn:

Samuel A. Rumore. Jr" Birmingh"m .......................... 323~957 StIff UlllOn and Managing Editor. MargaO't L. Murphy. M(}III9Omer!l ..............................269-1515 Momber"

William J. Underwood, Tuscumbia Jeffre}' L. Luther. MOOile Alex L. Hol15fard, Jr .• Nonlgomer!l Alan T. Rogers. Birmingham J.E . SaW)'l'r, Jr .. Enterprise I.eah O. Taylor. Birmingham Deborah Alley Smith. Bim,ingham Ollie Blan, Birmingham John W. Hargrove. Birmingham Ray O. Noojin. Jr.,Birmingham Deborah J. LonS. Birmingham Sh~rry Collum.Butler, N""tgo"",'11 Laura Peck. Birmil,gham Sa.. A. ~1cGi'·an'n.Birmingham Hon. Joseph A. Colquitt. TuscafOOSQ Susan E. RUss,Monlgo"""!I John Mark Hart. Birmingham Raymond L. Johf\SOn. Jr .. Birmingham Phillip A. Laird. Jasper THE ALABAMA L\\VYER

Cecil M. Tipton. Jr .. Opelika Forrest Lalta. Mooile Han. Jlugh ~laddOl<. MO>I/gomery J.W. Goodloe. Jr .. Mooile Mark D. Hess. Mon/lJOmery St~"e P. Brunson. Gadsden Benjamin B. Spratling. III. Birmingham

TASK FoRO: ON Aln:R.'OO1\'E MEmODS OF

Dl'IPUTE

REsoumo.'Ii

\r,ce-chair: Katherin. 0 . Wilburn, Birmingham .......................... 822-2744 Hoard of Ib r Commi u ione ... Liai son: Conrad N. Fowler. Jr" Columbiana ....... ....... 669·6783 Young 1.0'00')...,,' R"1l ...... nl.>ti,...: Mark Newell, Mooil" .................................................... 432--8786 Staff LiaillOn: Keith B. Norman. Memtgomery ................................... 269-ISIS Member! : Mark B. Craig. Denllllr W. Keith Watkins. Troy K.W. Michael Cham~rs,/liOOH. Jame, fl . Stames,Birmingham William Allen Smyly, Jr.. Binningham George Reck. Montgomery Timothy C. Cann, Birmingham William W. Smith,Birmingham Sue Ikll Cobb , Evergreen Roger C. Allen. Birmingham Donald C. McCabe, DoI.vil/e Harl')' A$man. Birmingham Janice H. Parker, Birmingham Thoma. G. Keith,lIun/It'ille l.isa Janet Na.:J.S. H,m/sllme Li .. Bradford Han .. n, /lloo!le William S. Halsey, Jr" A'miston Will iam G. So"",""; II •. III. Birmingham fournier J, Gale. III. Dothan Will iam C. Cam, III, Do/hem Jack Clarke. Tuscaloosa frank S. James. Ill, Binllingham C. Winston Sheehan. Jr .. Montgomery John I.. Quinn. Binningham

TlUi AL4&VM I.4WYF.R,

BAR DIRECIOR'I'

Chair: Ter... R. Jacot,.. Montgomery. .. .......................... 223·7355 \1ce..:hair: W. Ronald Waldrop. I'estatia flills ..............................979·5210 Staff Lilison .nd Publication. Di.. <lor: Margaret I.. .'lurphy, MO>llgorrwry .............................. 269·1515 .11.m1>eno: Laura L Robinson. MO"lgonwry

THE ALAIWoIA LA\\'YER

TASK FORCE ON B~I M."D BAR Ramo1'o"S Chair:

Chair: Marshall Ti m~rlake. Birmingham ............................ 251-8100

eo",,,,,,,,

Walter M. Northcutt.Auburn Carol H. Stewart. Birmingham Richard E. fIO\\~rs. Columbus, WI John W. Sha. brough. Ill.Mobile Thomas C. Logan, Birmingham

lion. Joe Phelps, Montgomery .....................................S32-49S1) Viu..: ho.ir: 1. ~lark White. Birmingham ................. . ............ 323_1888 Board or lI~r Commiuione.. Liailon: George W. Royer. Jr .. lIun/It'iIl~ .............. ................ 536·1711 Young Lawyers' Rt prutntali,...: lee COP"land. Montgomery ....................................... 834·1180 SI,1f Liaison: Reginald T. Hamner, Memtgomery .............................. 269-ISIS Members: K. Rick Alvis, Birmingham Duane Wilson. Twcaloosa Kenneth N. Schuppert , Jr .. Decatur Han. lien MClauchlin. Ozark lion. Elise I). Barclay, Birmingham Mal')' Reth Mantiply.MOOile lion. Samuel It Monk. II.Anniston Jot H. Caivin,lI!,Birmingham lion. liugh Maddox, Non/gomery Han. Aubre)' Ford, Jr" Tuskf'{lf'l! William T. Coplin, Jr .. Demopolis lion. Donald H. Patterson. norm", lion. liardie B. Kimbrough, Grotoe: Hill Hon. C. Lynwood Smith.lluntwill. flon. William A. Jackson,Birmingham W. Micbatl Atchison. Birmingham James R. Shaw. Birmingham John E. Byrd. Dothan Cal')'I P. Priwtt. Birmingham Ja""" E. Williams. Montgorrwry Harold f. Herring. Huntwille lion. Edward B. McOermott,Nooile Hon. Robert C. Kendall. /llooile lion. Tamara O. Mitchell. Birmingham farrellll'right. Mon/gom~ry

ADn..aR\' Con'1ITJEE TO nlF. 80Atm Of R\R ExA,\u:\D!S Cluolr: Rick Manley, Demopolis .............. . Slorr Li.i.on: Reginald T. liamner.Montgomery Members : Winston V. Legge, Jr .. Alhrns Cathy Wright. Birmingham

..................... 289·1384 .................. 269·1515

Septembor 1992 / 3 19

Chair. Plntl I:

John P. Scotl, Jr.. Birmingham ...................................251.alOO Chair. Pantlll : EdIoo'ar4 B. Parker. Jr .. Moo/{JOIMTJ _....... __ .•.•.•.•.•.• _.2(;5. 1500 Chai r. ran.l lII : HOWlIrd t-bn6tIl. Mon~ ______ .•.•.•.•. _•. __ .• __ .262·164;6 Boord w~

or Bar Commilliontn UalJoo:

Melissa C. Malh. Mqnlf/(lmet]l Vict<)r L u...yslip. Birminghum Jlmes G. \I1liddort. Ill . MonlgGmf!fJI William R. Chandl.r. Mrm1flW"lt'II Chrill N. Coomani!. Mobilt Ktnntth II. Rai,,". &v Minell~ WiIli.Jm B. WOCIdwanl. J r.. HIirtI51:illt

Ctre\'J Suuur. n,\D Co'll'lJJlU:

It 1laJt1oy, 00I1wn .___ .. _. _______ .... _... ____ .79l-6551l Chair:

Stoff LiallOn :

Norma J. Robbins. Monlgt;omn¥ •.•.•.•.•. ___ .•.• _.• _ •. __ .269·1515

James R. Salt. MotII/IOIM1r ............... _.. ____ ....... __ .8:U·7000

."It mben:

James S. Ward. 8irmirlglwm _.... ___ .. _.. _..... ___ ........879·5959

\ -ICIO.chair.

r.n.11: Anthony Josrph. Birmm,ham

Ch...laA. PQo.... n.

m. Birmitlgham

Panolll: Moibtlh J. Porttr. Birmingham \\'. Michatl Atchison, Birmingham Pano l lll' JamtS E. \\,illi40nu. />/on/9Of11e'JI \\'. H. Albritton. IV. Andalwia Altomatn: Julia \\'.Il.r. Bim,inll/wm hm~1 II. llowlu. Tull_

Boan! of Bar CommiliioMn Liaison: \\illiam B. MalttwW$, Sr .. (karlt .. __ .. ____ ....... ____ .. n~.a&OoI Stoff liaison, Rtgi~ld T. Hanuwr.~~I{/fJntefJI .............................. 269· 15 15 Memi)cQ: Midowl E. Ballar4. Nobile LowtJl Womack. Birmin9/wm Tom Nich<llsoo. }os"..,. A. Stewart O'Bannon, 111, Flo""", Thoow L Rounlrtt. ()po:liku

Mark fUller. t:,,/t>'Priu

CORRF.CllONALl"...."JTI1'11o:\...., A.''D PRonmllu:s

Co,= Chair: T. Michael Brown,Birming/wm .................................. 52I.8462

Ch.ir: Tom Ilaas.Mobile ........ , ................... ............................ 432 ·00157 Vi«.chlir:

V1« .• halr: H. Jeromt Thomp$OTl. Moullon ...................................97~·3007 Boon! or Bar CommillioMn LiaIson: J. Tull Barrell. Opftilaz ................. ___ .•.•.• _.•.•.•.•. ___ .• 7~ S.3S04

Connie Cald>.1:Il. Monlgomerg ................................... .265·8573 Roan! of Bar C<)"' ''';lIi<lllo'' l iaIson: Ctorge P. Ford. GtuJstkn ....... __ ............... __ ........... ~ .. S4f>.S432

" oun' UwyoTI' R.pn Hnla\;..e: Charln L Andrr$()n. Nml/lOlM1r .•. __ .• ___ .•.•.•.•.•. _..832-4202

Johnny Brulkirwkz. Mobilt ........ ____ ......... _.. _......... ~:O'I866

Stoff Liaison: Ktith B. Nomw>. MooI/lOlM1r._.•.•. ___ •. ____ .•.•.• __ 269· ]5]5

Mom btTl: lion. w .lIu C. 8~f..1ftNYl{Jf£TI O. Kain Vincmt. Rooo:illt . MIJ Dal.id II. Ptoltr.Mo6iIc

Russell T. Duruki. foIon//IOIM1r Urtw Sinor. Birmingham ~rt H. ford. Birmingh<MI Jdr.ry w. McKinnty. /ftm/willt Claudia It 1~1r$()n. Birmingham Hoo. Richard D, l.int, Opftik/l M.", Joonnt Cam!'>. QrwUk<l Patrici.J E. hie, Mon/fIO'M'lI Deanna Higgi nbotham. Dothtm Barbaf1ll1. O'C.in. Birming/wm David Vanet Lucas. Jllln/sm'/I/! John Cumming W~tkins, Jr. , T'ulCUloosu Donna Smalley. r~ICUIOOSIJ 320 I ~pt.mbt r 1992

\·oung Utwytn' R......Mn lal;..~: Stoff LiaiJon: ~i th B. NMTTWl. M""I!J01TWfJI._.. ______ ... _____ .. ~.269· 1515

M.",ben: J. Robort BmUry. Onftlnla

P. Kent IIaJtky.Nobi~ IW>dy A. Dtmpsry. Birmingham J.B. Snsionf..l1I.Mobi~ William N. Clark. 8irminghom

~ith

Pitts. Cadsdtn

Willi.lom H. Broome.Amlislon

Kimberly R. Wtll.Birmirlglwm 81'aJ11on 8. w.... ,Ak.rarnkrCiIV CIlt",1 Simonetti. Birmir/flham Aliet A. s.,s..... ll. Monl9Qf7llt1Y Gail Dickinson.Birmingham Andr ...... W. lWld. Mo"lfl(l17IItrV

E. T. Rolison , Jr .. Mobile Daniel R. famtll. Jr .. Monlgomerv Douglas &ooeld , Birmi'lghum Hugh Davis. MOI!lfIW"It'V

Don Siegelman.Monlgamery David L. Selby, n. Tuscaloosa RA NO""d. Birmingham Robert Henry. Sillm" CladY' Marie Daniels.Mobilt Robert L. Williarm. Jr .. Birminghurn

Chair: Tommy Lawson. Montgomery . ................................. 241-8000 \1CH~ir:

AlfCe Spruell. Tuscaloosa ........................... ................ 348·5752 "oung La"YWI' Rep"" •• ntath.. : Barry Ragsdale. Birmingham ......................................930·5283 Staff Liai. ons: Keith B. Norman. Montgomery ...................................269· ]S]5 Cil Kendrick. Montgomery .......................................... 269· ]5]5 M.mbers: Charles P. ~1iIIer. MontgomerJ/ Ayn Traylor·Sadberl)'. Birmingham Judson W. Wells. Mobile Thomas R. Elliott. Jr .• Biro,{ngham ~1ark Vaug1lan.l:"lba John N. Randolph. Birmingham Clarence ~lcDorman. Birmingham Anne R. Mmes. Birmingham Bobby N. Bright. Montgomery Jenel le M. Marsh. Tuscaloosa J. Douglas ,\lcElwy. Tuscaloosa Cal)' Farris, Birmingh"", Chari.. N. McKnight. Mobile James E. Malone. T"I/alkga Robert F. Northcutt, Mantgo"",rg Cl ifton Perry. Auburn John F. Janecky.Mooile Michael fraser ford. Tuscumbi" Robert Baugh. Birmingham WilHam ScOit Donaldson. Tuscaloosa Clenn C. Waddell. Birmingham ThomaJI A. Ndtles.IV. Tuscaloosa Robert IV. Norris. Mrm/gamerll. Ex Officio J. lVilliam RO.It. Birmingh"m, Ex Officio

hDlCfM OaJNl[ Co.'If.'IIJJTEE: Chair: E. Hampton Brown, Birmingham

.................... 251·3516

V;c.--c~ir:

Theresa Dean. Opelik" .............................................. ............... .. Board of Bar Commin ionen Liail on: Dra}10n Jam... Birmingham ................................ __ . .322·3636 Young Lawye .. · R.p", •• "I.th.. : James Edward Smith. Birmingham .............328-9576 Staff Liti .... n: Ktilh B. Norman. Mon/gomerg ...................................269-1515 Members: Laurence P Sutley. Foley Will iam R. Blanchard,Montgomery Roy W. Miller, l/u1Ilsvil/e E""reU. A. Prico. Jr.. BreU!ton Elna ReeS(. Montgomery Hill Komi"",. Ozark James D. Moffatt, Alhl!7l3 Larry W. Madison.llart.relle J. Langford Floyd. Fairhope William K. Rog<'rs. Birmingham Stuart C. Oullose. Jackson William L. Utsey. Buffer William H. Broome,An1lislon Rulh S. Sullivan. Dudeville Amy Herring, Huntsville Richard Vickers. Alabaster Ann D. Mar~hall. Birmingham Coorg<' W. Andrews. Ill, Birmingh"", J. Stephen Salter. Birmingham J. Wilson Dinsmore.Birmingham Ceorg. Peach Taylor. Tuscaloosa Pew Hool-;er. BirminJ/h"m Earl E. Cloud. Jr .. lluntSl)iII~ ~1annon C. Bankson. Jr .. Oxford H. Wa}'lle Lo>.... Anniston Roland Sledge. Vol/ell Robert C. Mann. CUlltersville Robert L. Williams. Jr .. Q)/umOia1la Aubrt}' Ford. lr.. Tuskegee William N. Cia .... , Birmingham Gordon G. Arrmlrong. Ill. Mooile Michael D. Mastin. Albert",'l/e Hon. William R Gordon,Montgomery

starr liaison: Keith B. Normlon. Mo"tgo""''11 ...................................269-1515 Members: Doug f'riedman. Birmillgham Michael K. Wisner. ilun/wille Andrea Wilcher. Cardimdale Ern ..1 Potter. HU1ltsville Wendell Cault}'. Montgomery Alan E. Rothfeder.MontgQme'll Ronald ~"iu. Birmingham louis H. Anders. Birmi"gh"", Richard Woods. Mobile

TlIEALABA.'1A LAWYER

Ch. ir: J. Bentley Owens. HI. Birmingham .............................868·6000 \'k.-<~ir:

Elizabeth C. Bookwaller.Molltgomery ......... 269·3561 Board of Bar Commill ioneTJ LillIan: James 5. Lloyd. Birmingham .............. Young Lawyers' Rep,.., •• ntalivt: Joe C. Cassady. Jr.. t:1Ilerprise .................................... .347·2626 Sepl. mlltr 1992 1321

Staff liaisons; Reginald T. Ilamn.,. Mon/(,l{)mery ..............................269-1SIS Keith B. Norman, Montl/fJm<!Ty ...................................269-IS15 Membe.. : Hen'}' Henzel. Birmingham Charle. 5impwn.lJag Mhlelle Roger t . !:Iates. Birmingham C. William Gladden. Jr .. Birminghom John Earl Paluui. Carroilion S. Alec SpOOn. MO>lt(,l{)""-"l/ Thomas R. Jones. Jr .. Tuscaloosa Rocco 1.1.«1. Birmmgham Chari.. H. M(lSts. Ill. Birminghom Karon O. Bowdre.l!irmingham All en Edward Cook. Andalusia Charles H. Booth. Jr .. Birmingham James A. Haggerty. Jr.. Birmingham Cheryl PTi«. Nont(,l{)tnery Lyman II. Harr;", Birmingham Mary Lynn Campisi. Birmingham T;mothy P. Donahue. Birmmgham Jame. Fli nt Liddon.Nooile Bill Roedder. Mooile L. Joel Collins. Phrnix CitJl Donald M(I;.. be, Dalet'ille Clarie Black. Tuscaloosa

Ch.>ir:

Maury O. Smith. Montgomery .... ................................834-fiSOO Vice-chair: C. Sage Lyons. Mooile ................................................ 432-4481 8~rd of Bar Comminionen liai$On: Richard B. Garrett. Mon/l/fJmery ................................. 241 .0945 Young uW)"n' Rep~lentali\-e: Warren Laird. Jasper ............ .. ........... ........................ 334·9272 S taff Liaison: Keith B. Norman. Montl/fJ""-"l/ ..................................269.15 IS Members: Fred D. Gray, Tuskegee J. Lister Hubbard. Montl/fJtnerJl Judith S. Crittenden. Birmingham Charles B. Arendall.Mooile Thomos B. Carruth.rs, Birmmgham Robert E. Steiner. m. MO>ltJlO11l"'JI Jack Floyd. Codsdm Gordon Thames. Montgomery Robert S~nce. Tuscaloosa Jam., Stewns. Montgomery

Do!lTlan Walker, NontgomerJl J. Don Fosler. Daplm~

E. P. Stutt •. Birmingham Donald lamar Collins. Hirmingham Robert T. Meadows. III. Opelika Forr.. t latta. Mooile William McCollum Halcomb. Birmingham John A. Caddell. Dmltur. Ex Officio

322 ' September 1992

Jl1Illct-\L Coi'O~ FOR THE STATE OF ALARA!ltA Members: A. J. Coleman. Deca/ur Joe C. Ca>sady. Enterprise Edgar M. Ell iott. HI. Bi""inyham TASK FORO; ON Jl'DlCIM. SEUX:TlON Ch.ir:

Robert P. Denniston. MoJJile........................................ 3M·7744 Vice·ch.ir:

Carol Sue Nelson. Birmingham ................................ 252·9321 B~rd of Bar Commissiontrs LililOn: Richard S. ~lanley. Demopolis .................................... 289·1334 Young LaW)"rs' R.... ru~ntati,..,: N. Gunter Guy. lr.. Montgonw'y ................................. 264-8118 Staff LiailOn: Keith B. Norman, Montg<>m<!Ty ................................... 269· ISIS Members: L. Drew Redden. Birmingham James C. Barton. Sr.• Bim,mgham Richard F. Ogle,Birmingham Da~id Bag\o.'ell. Mooile Joe R. Whatl~. Jr .. Birmingham John B. Tally. Jr .. Birmingham Robert T. Mead<l\\'S. tn. Opelika Vanutta McPherson. Mlftllgomery George C. Simpson. Ashlrmd Gregory O. Crimn. Montgomery Oakley W. ~Ielton. Jr .. Montgomery Michael A. Figures. Mooile C. Neal Pope. Ullumbus. CA James L. Klinefelter. Anniston Hon. L E. Gosa. VemOll Julian D. Butler. !/untsville Wayman C. Sh.... r. Orteoi!ta J. Fa irley McDonald. JIJ. Montgomery Conrad M. fowler, l.imell Carol Ann Smith. Birmingham Alyce Spruell. Tuscaloosa James D. Pruett. Binningham George Walker.MOOile

Chair:

Robert E. Lusk,Mont(,l{)mery .....................................242·7366 \iCHh.>ir:

Ben Fuller. Montl/fJmery ........................"".......... 242·640 I BOIIrd of Bar Commillioners Li.ison: S;omuel H. Franklin. Birmingham ..............................581·0100 \'oung uW)"n' R'pre untati,-e: Archibald T. Reeves. IV. Mooile ..................................432·55 I I .'rIemMrs: )aimS i\. Main. Montgomery

THE ALABAMA UlWYER

Charles 1. Lorant. Birmingham St .....·art G. Springer. Birminghcm Chari"" Reeder. Mobile Jeanne Dowd le Rasco. Tollarkg<! Sandra L. Randleman. Naslwill~. TN Judith Holl. Birmingham Charlel Amol; Thompwn. Birminghcm Chris Christ. Birmingham Larry Harper.Binningham Siewn IIrackin. Dothan Tameria Driskell. Gun/"r,"""" DbyT. Rogers. NwOrIeans. L4 Cttnn Parker. Mon/fIO"'ery Douglass Cull'. Birmingham Li nda C. Flippo. Birmingham Carolyn Sltverson.lJirmingham Katherine Milner Eddins. Birmingham Thomas Eric Ponder, Anniston Shirley Ho-..-ell. Mm'/gomet"!! St<"\o"en II. Sears.Montevallo Charles D. Langlord. MontflO"'<!T!! MeHssa Heron. Huntsville Eliz.l.Nlh e"'letie. Monroeville Cml'llJTIE£ 0:" IAW\'ER AD\'IRn<m\"C MD SoUctrAt10N

Chair: Lisa Huggins. Birmingham ................ . .. ........254_2369 Vice-chair: William Rulu< King. MontflO"'ery .. ........................241 -SOOO Board of Bar Commission.,. Liaio.on: Gorman R. Jonn. Jr.,Sheffreld ....................................383 ·3621 Young LaW)'<',.· Reprl'$enuli>-e: Steven A. Martino. Mobiie ............................................471·6191 Su ff Lla15(l1l: Millon Moss. MontflO"'er!! ...........................................269-151S Vicki Glassroth. Montg<>me'1l .............. ......................269· 1515 Memblou:

JOMph C. St .....'art.Binningham J. CregAlien. Montgomery Jame. H. Wettermark. Binningham Keilh Veigas. Birmingham Jam .. L. Martin. Eufaula T()flY G. Miller. Birmingham Sltven A. Thomas. Jus"", W. Alexander MOMIf)'. Mobile Larry Morris. Aluander Cit!! St".."n K. Gooue. Birmingham William P. Cobb. II. MontflOTm1T!! CharlesA. POWfIl,Birmingham (;wrge Barnett. Cuntem,illt W. Kirk Il<ivenport. Birmingham Allen Edward Cook. AndalUSia Donald M. Phillips, umel/ J. FOSler Clark, Birmingham Gary A. Hudgiru. DQthan Charles J. Lorant. Birminghcm

William F. Smith, II. Birmingham Mark A. Pickens. Birmingham Douglass Culp. Birmingham David B. Narris. Birmingham !ackie O.lsom. Hamilton St .....·art M. Cox. Birminghcm Allen A. Rilchie. Mobile TASK FOJ«."E OJo; IAW\'ER D&1I'W."E

Chair: William D. Scruggs, Jr .. Fort Paylre

.....845_5932

Memblou:

Brillian T. Coleman. Birmingham Willie Huntif)'. Mobile Claude E. Hundle}'. n. Huntsville Howard Mandell. Montgomery Carol Sut Nelson. Birminghcm M. Clay Al5paugh. Birmingham Tim Dillard. Birmingham Harry Gamble. Selma D. Taylor Fl"""..... Dothan Philip Reich. Moulton Hon. L. Charles Wright.Montg<>mery Mary Murchi son, Foley G....-endolyn T. (;wrge. MontflO"'e'1l Billie Ann Tucker, Lafayelle Frank Wilson. Montgomery Wanda Dn.-ereaux,Nontgomery George Ford. Gudsdert Phillip E. Adams, Jr .. Opelika

lAWYERS IIt:l.iTo;c lAWYERS

Co.'Il'\UTJEE

Chair: C. Terrell Wynn, Jr .. Birmingham......................

.. ..328·5330

\1~ ch";r:

Hank Hawkins. TuscaflXJS<1 .........................................339·3215 Board of B.. CommlulontQ Liall-On: Jerry Selman. Jasper ...................................................387·0387 Suff Liai50n: Keilh B. Norman. Montg<>mery. .. ........................ 269· 1515 Mtmblou:

Paul A. Phillip.o; , Birmingham John T Kirk, Nonlg<>fI/eTJI Sieve Jones.lk5semer Paul Coulter, Birmingham Robert F. Clark. Mobile Anne L. Maddox. TuscalOQS(1 Walter 1. Price, Hllntst'I'l!e Carolyn II. Nelson.Birmingham J. Sanford Mullins. Ill. Birmingham Michael P.O·C()flnor.MontgomerJl Edwin M. Van Dall. Jr .. Pel! Cit!! Albert E. Byrne. Dothcn L. Kenneth Moore, lk5semer Thomas M. Wilkinson. Eufaula September 1992 / 323

J. M~my Relle. Jr .. Birmmghom Martha D. Hennes.sy. &u Mi""lIe Jame. O. 5tandridg•. TuscalOOSi1 R. Da~;d Christy. Monlgr;nm'JI Robert H. Adams. Birmingham

Chal" !.twill'.'. Page. Birmingham .......................................250·500(1 \1ec-<:hair: Connie Glass. Ilunlu·il/e ..............................................533·3330 Boan! 01 Bar Commi.. ionen Liaison: William D. ~Ielton. E<wgrttn .................................... .578·2423 Young uwyen' RopreHntath.. : \\'iIIi~m Lewis Garrison. Jr .. Birmingham ..................879·5959 Staff Lilison, Keith B. Norman. Nontgomery ................................... 269·1515 M.m~l"lI :

James L. Goyer. Birmingham Gary A. Hudgin •. Dothtm Jmy Quick. Trwwille Fred Blanton. Gardmrklle Lawrence Voit. Nobile 1'''':1' Badham. Birmingham Robert S. Robertson.Huntsvilie James T. ~r. Monlgomerv S. Rewlle Gwyn.llunlSlJilIe Hemdon Inge. 111. Mollile Jimmy Pool. MonlgomerJl D.,id Maxey. Birmingham Sl.muel Fisher. Birmingham Kathryn ferrell. Daphne Robert F. Clark. Mobile William It Lewis. Birmingham V. lu Pelfrey. Trog Willi~m Kent Upsnaw. /Jirmingham Cnarle. H. Durham. IIl.Monlgomerv Tom Maxwell. Birmingham Jacob A. Walker. III. ()p;Jlika Marc Bradley.Mobile

LmUR Pl'BUC 1b:Lm(}:\'S, hFOR't.m(),'i A....D

I'ImIA RELmo~"<; Ckai" Mary lynn Bate •. Birmingham ......... 325·7110 Board of BI. Commi •• ione .. Ualw n: Abner Powell. til. IInda/wia ........................................ 222-.4 103 Ya ung .... wyers· Repruentati,.. , Judkins M. Bryan.Montgomery .................................270·2120 Staff Liaiwn: Margaret L. Murphy, MontgomerJl ..............................269 ·15IS Memllen: Richard H. Holston. TuscalOOSi1 Jamu D. Smith, Tuscalooso 324 I September 1992

Walt.. Allen Kellry. Huntst'ilIe StepMn V. Hammond. D«atur David A. Nihart. Mobile Woodrow E. H()'o\.·ard. III. Mooile Ralph lo1... less. Mobile James Barne •. Marion William R. Lauten.Mobile R~ B. Hogan. 111. Birmingham Lisa Hodges. Birmingham Clair< Black. TuscalOOSt1 E. Paul Jones. Alexander CitJl Patricia Hamilton. Montgr;nm'JI William C. Veal . Birmingham Bewrty J. Paschal. Cullmo" John F. Kizer. Jr.. Birmingham Elizabeth Shaw, Birmingham Victor L. Miller. Jr.. Birmingham Denise Ferguwn.llunlst'ille Cerald R. Paulk. Scollsboro Elizabeth D. Eshelman. Birmingham Lily M. Arnold.Mobile Michatl N. Mclnl;t«'. Birmingham Al.A&\.'t\ L\W\'FJI: 1b:»:Rlt\L SER\1CE (}F Tlu...."<ffiDi

Bomo

Chair: Jimmy Pool. Montgomery ......................•....................262·2717 Vke-o:hair: Gregory Allen Reeve,. D«alur .................................... 353· 7031 Board of Bar Commin ionen Liaison: Stephen K. Griffith. Cullman ......................................734·1)456 Staff Liolison, Keith B. Nonnan. Montgomery ... .............................. 269· 1515 M.mller., thomaSA. Smith. Jr .. CuI/mar! Jam •• Hall , TwcalOOSi1 E""·.rd E. May.Birmingham Frank R. Farish. Jr .. Birmingham John Knowlos. ~'t1 JOI! C. Cassady. Jr .• Enterprise Tom Jone •• Jr .. TuscalOO$t1 Roger Pierce. ilubum W. N. Watson. Fort Pagne Jack Booker \\'.awr. MonfOl!l.'ill~ Allen R. Ston ... Montgomerv John David Knight. Cullmar! John C. Gullahorn. Albertville Ruth Stone Eull. Gadsdm

TA.'iK FORl,}; 0.... l.a;,u EDlUTIO"';

Chair: Bruce McKee. Birminghom ...................................... 328·5330 Vict-c:hair: Kathryn ~l;ree. Birmingham .................................... 326·5333 THE ALABA.'IA U,WYER

8c».rd of B~r Commiuionerti Li~iJon' W,nda ~.. re.. ux, Mwtgomerg ..................................21>4·8500 Young La~rs' Rep....e,,"li,..: Peter S. Mackey. Mobile .. ............. .

.................432·0612

Staff Liail onl : Reginald T. Hamner, Montgomerg .............................. 269-1515 Robert W. Norris. Mwtr;<Jmery.. ...........269· 1515 !llembers: Orrin K. Ames, Ill, Mobile Robert W. Rieder, Huntsllille Helen Currie Fosler. Birmi>1[lham Timothy Hoff, Tuscoloosa Wendy IIrooks Crew. Birmi>1[lham Michael R. Silberman, Birmingham

Gregory S. Cusimano. Gadsden St • .,.., Ro",e , Birmingham James J. Bushnell. Jr.. llirmingham Jim Vickery, Mwtgomery Franc.. E. King, Birmingham J. Franklin Ozment. Birmingham Susan J. Walker. Birmingham J~I H. Pearson. Montgomery William H. Pryor. Jr .. Birmingham C. Mike Benson. Auburn Chari.. D. Col •. Birmingham SI","'!n A.llenefield. Birmingham J~I Williams. Tro!I

Chair: William B, Civhan. Mobile .... ..................................... 432·5511

Jeffrey Lynn Luther. Mobile Robert W.l«, Jr., Birmingham Chri.toph" A. Smith, nonmce Paul II. COOfI"r. Montgomery

0... A!\U SEJalCES

Co\['\tJ]'['f.f;

l..ocAL BAR Acm:mt:s

Chair: Thomas E. Bry.nt, Mobile ........................... . -" .. ,... .. .. 423-4671 \r,ce-chair:

Julia Kimbrough, Birmingham . ................. .

........ 32~·9494

Young La,,-ytTl' R~ •• nb.til'e: Ern.. t 1'. Woodson, Jr .. MoJJi/e ................................. ..432·2855 Sb« I.iaisonl: Keith B. Norman. MQIllgomerg ........ .-" . ...... .269· 1515 Melinda Walers. Montgomffg .....................................269 ·1515 Membe..: Eli .... beth B. Nash. OrIeonla Jane Faulkner Evans , Birm;''9ham Sarah yat .... Birmifl!/ham Pamela P. S",an, Montg<»nerg Tameria Driskill, Cunt"Wille Robert J. Hedge. Mooile John C. Gullahom, Alber/ville Christopher H. Cri ffith. Cath;den Ray Noojin. Birmi>1[lham Linda McKnight. Tuscaloosa Richard Ramsey, IV. Dothan Banks Smith. Oothw

Vice-chair:

Robert E. COOfI"r. Birmingham ................ .. ............... 328·8141 RoJ.rd of RaT Commili ionUI Uailon: Richard Cill, Monlg<»nerg ...........................................834-1180 Young La"'l"'n ' lIep.uentatr.~, Chris Coumanis, Mobile ...............................................690-8400 Sb« Liail-On: Keith B. Norman, Man/gamerg ..................................269-1515 Membe..: WHiiam J. Trussell,PeIl Ci/g Thomas J. Meth,"n. MQIllgome'1l W. M. Hed. JT.. f'ort/'ag>w Cugory A. Nicholas, Cullml1l1 Rebecca Creen. Russellville Wendell Mitchell, Luverne Robert Rash, Monlr;<J"""g Robert T. Wilson, lr .. Jas-per Thomas 1', Parker, IV, Mon/go"",'11 Ernut·Hester, Cuin James A. Bradford, Binningham Richard J. Brock!1'l.ln, Birmingham Jerry DeWitt Baker, Huntsville John M.Pttk,AlKlalusia THE AU\8AMA LAWYER

Chair: Claire Black. TuscallXJS() .............................................345·8226 Vi«-chair:

George H. B. Mathews, Monlg<»nerg ..........................264-4095 Board of Bar Commi.. ion.n LIaison: J. Robert Faulk. Prallville ............................................365·5924 Stan Liaison: Keith II. Nor!1'l.ln. Montgomery ...................................269· 1515 Memben: Michael McNair,Mobile I,. Bernard Smithart. Union Springs Joan Rickels.Birmingham Calvin M. ","itesell. Jr .. Montgomery Edward M. Patterson, ft/QIllgomerg George B. Harris. Birmingham Ann Marshall , Birmingham William II. Woodward. Jr .. Huntwille Salem R•• h., Birmingham II. Craham E$dale. Jr .. Birmingham Michael S. Sealy. Monlgomery September 1992 I 325

Chair: Robert T. M.ac\o>o.·5. Ill. Opelika ..............................•..745·64&6 \l«·ch.ir: Wi ll iam C. Tucker, Jr .. Birmingham ...........................328·8141 Boan! or Blr Commi•• ionen Lillison, Robert M. Ilill, Jr .. Flortmee ........................................ 767 ·0700 Young ....W)·.n· R.pr..~ntath... ' William O. Walton. III. Opelika ...........•........ Staff Llal , ons, Reginald T. Hamner. Montgomery .......... ................. .269·1515 Robert W. Norris. MonlgomerV ...................................269·1515 ~'embe ..: Ronald C. 5ykstus.Moodv Sandra K. Meadows. Mobil~ Joseph Dice. Tuscaloo.w B. Boo.er DeM·rn. Birmingham Victor Keilty. Birmingham Antholljl P. Underwood. T""an,,,. WI Charles Sparks. Hoot",r Bryan E. Morgan, Manlgomery John W. Grimes. Birmingham INnni ••11. Wright, Montgomery Frank Williams. Jr .. Cullman Thomas E. Soodd;'. Double Springs Frank M. Capiro. Hunlwill~ J. Donald Banl<$,Mobile 0(b-orah Montgomery. Birmingham Warne S. Heath. Huntwille A. David Fawal. Birmingham Kathleen Hender... n, Birmingham Jack W. Wallace. Jr .. Manl{I(JfMry

Kenneth J. Mendel.rohn.Monlgomerv Thom.u R. 0(Bray.Monlgonw-V Thom.u Henf)' Figur... Mobile William Harold Albritton. IV. Aruialmia Robert Simms Thomp.ron. Tusk~ Jerril"" P. Sutherlin. Huntst'iII~ Renee BI~ckrnon Hagler. Birmingham Stewart G. Springer, Birmingham Patricia T. ~Iandt. Birmingham Gwendolyn B. Garner,,llcmlgomerg Han. Kenneth O. Simon. Birmingham 0(metrius C. N"",1on, Birmingham

Chair: J. WilHam RO$e, Jr .. Birmingham ................................322·0610 Viet·chlir:

M. Clay Alspaugh. Birmingham ...................................324·5635 Boan! of Bar Commiulon e.. Lllo;son: S. Dagnal R~, HunlMlle .........................................551·0010 Young uW)'trs· R~p ...sentall'...: Laura Crum. Monlgomerg ...........................................$34.7600 Suff Llalsons: Ton~ Mclain. Mantgomerg ........................................ 269·1515 Robert W. Norrh, Monlgomerv ...................................269·1515 Memloon: Robert Rumsey. Tallad~ E. Alston Ib.y. Birmingham Robert L. McCurity. Jr .. Tuscaloosa M"" C. POpe. Jr .. Anni.lon Joyce \\'hite Vance. Birmingham Robert H. Rutherford. Jr .. Birmingham Chari •• Crook.Mo.'lgomery

T;\.<;K FORCE ON l'-llNoRIIY PAR11l.1PAlION

;\.""D OppoR11.MTY

Clu.lr: Eugene R. Verin.Bessemer .........................................428·4400 \let-cll.ir: Rooney A. "'1<1l<. Birmingham ...................... ........ .....250-8400

Bo.o.rd of bar Commin ionen LiIIi ... n: J. Mason Davis. Birmingham ... .............. .................... 930·5134 Youn, La~ .. ' Repnlonlath...: Linda S. Perry, Mobile .................................................. 432·2700 Staff Liii,on: Keith B. Norman. Manlgomerg ........... . .......269·1515 M.mbe.. , Han. Charlu Price. Monlgomerv John James Coleman. Jr .. Birmingham John C. Falkenberry. Birmingham Beverly Poole Baker. Birmingham Houston I.. Brown. Birmingham CleOjlhus Thom.u. Jr .• Annis/on 0(lores R. Boyd. Manlgon",rg Tyrone Cariton Mearn . Manlgomerg 326 1 September 1992

William H. Mills. Birmi,'Uham JeSSi' P. Evans, Ill. Birmingham Ed ....ard Still. Birmingham William B. Hairston. III. Birmingham James D. Pruelt. 8irmingham David Wirtes. Jr .• Mobile William W. Watts. Mobile Patrick H. Tate. ForI Pa!l"e Douglas J. CenlenO. Birmingham John D. Saxon. Birmit'Uham

Chair: Robert E.

~r.

Man/gomery ....................................834·7800

\""' • ...,h. ir:

Ali« J. Hancock. Madisan ........................ .......... 461·7526 BOlOrd of Bar Commiuion.... Li.i ... n: John E. Cha.son. &y Mi1lf!tle ...........•..............•...........931·2 191 Young ....wyen' Reprnentath·e: Thom.u J. Methvin, Monlgomerv ...................... 269·2343 THE AJ..I.BA.'1A

~WYER

Staff Li~iJons: Keith B. Norman. Monlgomerg ...................................269· 1S 15 Mil ton Mos:;. Monlgomerg ...........................................269·15 15 Membrl'$: Jeff,!), A. Fo,h... MOI,lgomerg Glen ~1. Connor, Birmingham Edward B. Raymon . Tusk_ William Kenneth Roger$. Jr. , Birmingham Darlett Lucy./llobile Y.D. loU. Jr.. /llobile Leo E. Costello . Birmingham William J. Bro".-er.Birmingham William D. Kichob. Birmingham Donald M. Phillips.l..onell William S. Halsey. Jr .. Anni$lon l.a..1:11 A. Womack. Birmingham &veri)'" Brady.Auburn James A. Philips.Mobile Jam .. A. Tucker. Jr .. JllCkwn Robert H. Allen.Mobile Michael Simonetti. Birm;"gham

PRoFESSJO.:'W. Et'ONO,"IfICS ""D 'I'E:utxoLOGV

Co.\[\1JTJlE Ch.ir: Romaine S. Scott. III. Birmingham ............................328·8141 Vlu·~h.ir:

laV«<!a Morgan Battlt. Birmingham .........................254 ·3216 Young uwytl'$' Rep,uenlat"1:: Duane Wilson. TuscoI00Sil ........................................... 349-4300 Sta ff Liaison: Keith B. Norman.Mo'Ugomerl/ .... .............................269·1515 ,l1eml>ers, Philip C. Ihvi$. MQIllgornerg C. Porter Brock. Jr .. Mobile Patrida Cobb SI<.'Wart. Scollsboro John R. Calvin. Birmingham Robert L. Barnett, Birmingham Salem Resha. Jr .. Birmingham Gregor)' A. Kennemer, Birmingham Stan Field. TruSSlJilie Oan J. Wil li ngham. Cullman Robert D. McWhorter. Jr .. Gadsden Henr)' B. Hard.g .... Montgomerg Charles H. Booth. Birmingham Samuel Fisher. Birmingham John Richard Carrigan, Bim,fngham Scott A. AbIW}'. Birmingham Thomas B. Prickett. It. (Jnronlo William !'I. Woodward. Jr .. Hunlsville Lum Duke Searcy. Opftika Richard H. Cater .An"isIOl' Michael C. Quillen.Birmingham Randall M. Woodrow.A,misla" G. Ihnit l Reev'$. Shelbg THE ALABA.'1A U.WYER

T~K

FoRCE 0'... 11iF. Qr,Uny OF LIFE

Chair: James Jen,}· Wood. Montgomery .................................834·30(16 \lce-<:h.ir: WHliam Gantt. Birmingham ...

......251· 1193

1I000rd of Ba. Commi n ionfrJ Liaison: Cathy Wright. Birm"'>gham ........................ 254· 1000 Young La"'")"t .. · Repruentali'1:: Stepht n R. Copeland, Nobile . ....................... ............ 432·6;51 Staff Liai .... n: Keith B. !'lonnan. Monlgomery ...................................269·1515 M.mbrrs: Percy Badham. 8irm;,>gham Jam .. L Birchall. Bim,ingham Robert C. Tanner. Tuscaloosa Lynn W. Jink>. Ill. U"km Springs Frank W. Riggs, Montgomerl/ Jim Sears. TusC'<Iloosa Kendall W. Maddox. Birmingham C. William Da\'enport,Birmingham James E. Vann. Birmingham Linda S. Pert}'. MoiJil~ Robert T. Cox, AnnistOll Sheloonnie Coleman·Hall. Mobile William G. Nolan. Birmingham William ,uhley Howell. tH . Birmi'>gham Sher« Martin. Florence Gary Charles Smith.Birmi'>ghom

Ti\.'iK FORl'E 0.-'; SJ>ECI..UJZAJ1ON

Ch.ir: Will Lawrence. Talladega ..................•..............•..... .....362·0081 \1u...;h.>Ir: William K. Bell. HUIIls",·/Ie ......................................... 533·241 0 BOI-rd of Bar Commin ioners " i, l,on: A. J . Coleman. Decalur ...............................

......... 353·6824

\ ·oung La"'")"trs· ReJlT1:Jentati'~: Howard N,i,wtnd ... Tuscaloosa ................................349-4300 Staff Li. i.... nl: Keith B. Nonnan. Monlgomerg ...................................269·1515 Robert W. Nor,;'.MOIIlgomery....... ............ 269·1515 Tony Mclain. Monlgomerl/ ............................ 269· 1515 ,V(embrn: \\r,lliam D. Col.man.Monlgomerg Nick Gaede. Jr.8irmingham Bill Johnson, Tuscumbia Kalh~ Marine. Carroliion Hugh Nash, Oneonla Sam Rumore. Birmingham Sue Thompson, TuscotOOS/l Billy Carter, MonlgomeY/l September 1992 / 327

Billy Walton. u,{ajp!tte Robert J. Veal. Birmingham William A. Ralliff.Birmingham Ralph l10ward y.ilding. Birmingham Lucy C. Hicks. Birmingham Alic~ H. Martin. Florence William Alexander Mauley. Mobile Iknny L. RGberts. Gadsden Abram L. Philips. Jr .• Mobile John Percy Oliver. II, Dadeville Herndon Ing•• IIJ.Mobile Gr.gg S. t:verelt. Montgomery; W. D.wi, Malon •. Ill. Darh(1l1

SI'f'.CW. Lwsos Co~[\1ITJlE FOR 11IE BIR'mt;u\"1 Omcr OF DIE IRS ."' em MI'I' Harold Kushner. Birmingham Gilbert Duku.IIJ.Mobile

JOhn C. Watk ins. Jr .. TuscalOl)$fl Anita Lynn Young, /llOI.lgormirll David R. Proctor./IIonlgormirg Dr. Arthur c. Sweeney, /IIonlgormirll John E. ~kCulley. Norlhporl Donald R. l1amlin. Fell Cilll I'rallCn R. Niccolai. Mobile Jo Alison Taylor. Birmingham John E. OtL Birmingham Micha.1 L. Hall. Birmingham Jeffrey H. Roberts. Cullm(1l1

Chair: William D. Scruggs. Jr .. Fori Puynt ............................845·5932 Stafr Li.i . ....' Reginald T, Hamner. Monlgormirg .............................. 269·15 i5 Meml>e.. : John A. Ow\>ru. Tusculoosa Phillip E. Adams. lr .. ()p;Jlika

LNurrnoRIZED PRAcncr OF lAw Membel'l:

Gregory L. ~athbu1)'. Jr .. Mobile J. Theodore Jackson. Montgomerll Thomas J. Mahoney. Jr.. Birmingham

Chlir: Patricia Shaner. Montgomery; .....................................2424116 Vice-chilir: lim Rives, Montgomery .......................................... ...834-7680 BOlrd of Bar Commillio~el'l Lillilon: Wayman G. Shw... ~ta .......................625·5555 Young u...-yeu· R.pr..~ntalift: Arthur T. Powell. Mobile ..............................................433-8310 Staff Liaison: Keith B. Norman.MOlllgomery ................................... 269·1515 Membon:

Charles L. Denaburg. Birmingham Clifford L. Callis. Jr .. Gadsden Stephen L. Sexton. Birmingham Robert Eo 1.«. Montgomery Edward M. George. /IIonlgormirg Bttsy Martin Harrison. Birmingham Pamela Baschab,BuIl Minette John T. Harmon. Montgomery Ceal}' A. Gaston. /IIobile Dr. Charles L. Jonts. Troy 328 1 &ptember 1992

Chair: David B. Cauthen. Dl=tur ....................... .............. ... 353· 1691 \1«·chair. L. Bruce Ables, Hunls";lIe .........................................533·3740 Boan! (If B.r Commiss ioners Liai.on: Lynn RGbertson Jac""",n. Clailian ......... . ..... 775·3508 \'oung Lawytrs' Rep<nentati,-e: William O. Walton, Ill . ()p;Jlika ................................ 745·6466 Staff L ..ifOdl: Robert W. Norri •. Manlgomnll ................................ 269· 1515 Milton Mos.s. Mantgomery ........................................... 269-1515 Vicki Clas.,roth.Monlgomnll ................................. ... 269· 1515 Members: Thoma.-; A. Smith. Cullman

Marlin V. Maclaughlin. Jr.. Ja:>pt!r Howard Belser, Decatur Brently A. Tyra. Birmingham Bttty C. Lovt. Talladega Harwell Davis.1I1.lIixsan, TN Rufu. E. Elliott. 111. Birmingham Anthon)' C. Willoughby. Birmingham Nev" Conway, Greenville Clark finU'fonlgomery; Ed\o.'~rd Earl Da";$./IIantgome'Y Jotl Colliru, pfr""ix City Daniel Btnton. Fairhope John E. Byrd. Dothan Richard Aleunder. Mobile M. Dale Marsh.Enl...-prise J. Huntl!'}' johnson. Doth(1l1 THE ALABAMA LAWyt:R

1992-93 SECTIONS Section members

~re

lawyers interested in administratiVf;

proc~.ding..

at the fed ..al and stat. 1",,1. M.m~rs include government attorneY'''' well .. private pra(:tilionns . The lee lion presents a program during the annual meeting of the state bar and has been active in the implementation of the

Alabama Administrative Proudur. Act. The section also SPOllsors Ihe Eugene W. Carter Medallion. an award giwn annually to a former public servant [or excellence in balancing the righl5 of individllab against the interests of government.

tions, defamation of business, stockholder litigation, and employment relations . An annual seminar is usually held during the annual muting of the slat. bar. Ch. ir: Lee E. Bains. Jf .. Birmingham .................................... 250\-1000 \'ke-chair: Lee Zell, Birmingham.. .. .......................................... 328-Il4SO Seadll')fl reuurer: Clen Waldrop, Birmingham ......................... 581--0700 r\ewtlett.r "itor: .. .. ______ .. __ .... 521·8627 Patricia Mandt, Birmingham ........ .

Chair:

Floyd Sherrod. FIQrence ........................ ... .

. .. __ .767 _2020

C~ir·eled

Olivia H. Jenkins. Mmlgomery .. _..............................271 ·7855 Vice..:".;r: Char les llurham. MOrllgorTWTy ......•.•.•..............•..........2n -2710 Secft'tary: Nerce,ia Ludgood. Mootgornny ..... _______ ._264_1471 Treasurer: ~l. frank Caskey, Montgomery .................................... 242.75067 Eu"uth.. Commilll'l': Aloin T. Prestwood. M(JI1/gomery ................................ 264·6401 Al L. Vreeland. TuscalOO$d. .._._ .................... 345·3440 .. ...... __ 242_7300 ~larga .. t Childers. Montgomery ....... .

Co)l\fl\\1CAl10i\'S 1A\\ Attom,,},s who might be interested in jOining this SKtion include thost who have an interest in radio. television. cable. newspaper, maga.tinelbook publications , publi c ~tility or com· man carri~r issun (including cellula. telephone service) and related subjects such as defamation. privaC)' and public acee,,! law. Not Onll' attorn eys who represent businesses of this nature. but also attorneys representing municipalities on these issues would likely be inttrested in this section. Chair: E. Cutter Hughes. lIu>1lwilie .......................................517·5152 \i«-chair: ~n IIlake.Birmingham .............. ... ___ ..... 972·2556 SH:TI'taryl\" reasu rer: Mark lVilkerson,Monl~rv .................................... 265-1500

The primary purpOse of the BankruptC)' and Commercial Law Section is to lacilitate communication among ill; members concerning bankruptC)' and commercial law matters and legal decisioru. with a "i~ toward promoting corui st~nt application of these laws in the "ariorn; districll; and circu ill; of Alabama. The section I>as four standing committees: bankruptcy practice: commordal practice: CLE/annual meeting: and communications/newsletter. Additional committe.. are appoimed on an ad hoc basis. The section sponsors CLE program> and a law school wriling competition. and also is involved in promoting legislalion needed in the commercial law practice. Chair: Robert B. Rubin,Birmingham ....... ______ , .. ................. 251·3000 \'ce·"hl ir: Richard It Cater. Annis/O>1 .. .. ........................ 237-&515 Se.:re tlr)': Robert P. Reynolds. TuscalOO$d ...................................345 -6789 Treu .. rer: M. Donald Da"U!. Jr .. Mobile .. _......... 434·0109

BUSL\'F.SS TORTS M"D Avnnusr L\w This section is concerned with bus in ... lit igation. including ani it rust. trade regulation. interfe rence with business relaTH£ A!.<I.8A.'.!A LAWYER

This section is invoh.. d in projects of interest to ever)' memo ber of the bar. The seclion works with tht Alabama L1Iw Insti. tuto. revisin~ the corporate laws of Alabama. and publishe. a ne..'sleltu for section members. Ch.ir: Ceorg., Maynard, Birmingham .................................... 250\-1000 \'i«·chair: Neil C. Johnston. Mobile ............. .............. _____ ......... 432·55111 SH:TI'Iaryl\" realu rer: Curtis Jones. Birmil1ghum .......................................... 945.651}9 Coundl M.mbors: B. Judson H onnin~ton, Ill, Huntwille.. ...730·2521 Joseph IV. Spransy. Birmingham ................................. 250\-7252 lValter R. BI'.... Montgwnery.. _____ ...................832·S800

The Criminal!.aw S«tion is comprised of bar membel'$ hav· ing an interest in mailers relating to the criminal justice '1'5tem of OUr .tate and federal courts. The area of crim inal law constantly is chan~inS and provides many opportunities for acti\'\' discussion and input. lnvolwment in this section will provide ITlI'mbers wilh conlactsthroughout the Slate. September ]992 1 329

Chair: Ceorge Higginbotham,~mfl'. ............ ........ 425·3214 Chair-elect: Ken Moo~, 8essIlmer .................... ....428-4 141 Stcnbryll"rusunr: Rel:>e<:ca C~en, RU.<Sellvill~ ..........................................331·0800 Board Memben: fI<¥J Likins. Opelilra .................... .......826·8614 Bill Blanchard. Montgomery ....................................... 269·%9 1 Thomas E. Mitchell, Albertvill~ ....................................878·5002

Services and activities of the Environmenta l Law Section are professional imprO\'ement in the field of environmental law. analysis and rewrting to mefnb.,rs of d• ....,lopment. in the field. and communication with other law;'frs practicing in the environmental law area , Ch.oir: Karen LaMortau~ Bl"}'an. Tuscaloosa .....752-5543 Ch.oir..,led: Thomas L.. Johnston.Montgomer/l........ .. .. .. 271 -7SS5 Vlco_ch.olr: John P. Courtney. 11[, Mobile ............... ,.......................432-4481 Secrttary. Allen S. Ree>·u. Mobile ............... .. .... 432·5511 Treasurer: O. James Goodwyn. Jr .. Montgomerg ..........................242·3165 Immedi.le Pul PTel idenl: Neil C. Johnston. Mobile ...... .. ......................... 432 ·5511 N..... I.U.... tditor: .. ....... 349-4300 Duane Wilson, Tuscatoosa. ............... I'rognm c"mmit1H Chair: Neil C. Johnston. Mobile ............................................... 432·5511 legi,llli.. CommittH Co-<h.i,..: Craig Kneisel. MontflO mfl'/I ......................................... 242·7300 Olivia Jenkins. Montgomerg ........................................271 · 7&55 Membtuhip Commiltu: Blane H. Crutchfield, Mobile. .. .. ..................... 432·55 11

Immedi.te Pu t Chair: Randall W. Nichols. Birmingham ................................93.0·9000 becuti,~ Committee: J. Michael Manasco. Montgomfl'/I ................................ 270· 1300 William K. Bell. Huntsville .............. ,.,. .. .......533·2410 William W. Lawrence, Talladega.. ...................362·0081 J. Timothy Smilh. Birmingham... .. ..................870.3363 J. Floyd Minor. Montgomer!l ........................................265·6200

HE.unllAw This section is open to rmfnb.,r> of the pl.intiffs and del• ...., bar who are in\ere:;ttd or involved in the e<er·broadening inter· face between law and health care. including but not limited to various statl and federal issue5 5uch as Medicare fraud and ~buse, payment probkrru, "",rget and acQui,ition of h.alth car. entities, antitrust, fiscal managermnt. p«r review. provider malpractia, individual rights. and supreme court actions. Chair: Lant Davis. Birmingham ......... . ..52 1·8623 \1ce-ch.air: Joan Rag.dale. Birmi''9ham ,................................. ,......930·5242 Stcrttaryll"Nil urer: Rick Harris. Montgomery .............. ............................. 242·5052 Council Meml>e .., Charles Durham. Montgomery .................................. 277·2710 Gregg E''frett. Montgomerg ..................... ........293·8737 Joe Campbell. flunt5~'il/e ... .. ............. 535· I 100 Denna Bertucci Waddell. Mobile ..................................639.(1188

This section includes lawyers from throughout the slate whose practice involves work in Ihe areas of 1.00r law. fair employmenllaw, employee benefils law and occupational safe· II' and health law. In add ition to providing. forum for the uchange 01 informatioo and ideas. the "",clion sponsors an annual I"v-day labor l ~w semillilr and. with th.labor law """lions of various other .tate bars. c"...ponsor> an annual mulli· state labor and employment law seminar. Chlir: W. Spransy. Birmingham ... .. .......... ,.,.254·7252 Vict·chlir: CregoI"}' B. Stein. Mobile .............. ,...............................433-2002 SecretlrylTreuu rer: Jay D. SI. CI.ir. Birmingham ........ 52 I-8344 Executi,~ Committee: John J. Col.man. [II, Birmingham ................... ,.,........251·8100 Paul D, Myrick. ,IIobite .................................................432-3444 Leslie M. Proll. Birmingham. .. ................. ..... 322-1100 David Smilh. Birmingham .. .. .................. 254-1000

J~ph

The Pamily Law Section of the Alabama State Bar was established in 1984. II publish.. a newslette r for the benefit oflamil y law practitioners. It also has a legislation subcommittee whose function is to consider state and federal legislation in the area 01 family law and the law of domestic relalions and 10 suggest ne.ded reforms. The .ection has a logal education subsection which present. prograrru for the member>.

Chair. William R. Blanchard . Montgomery ........................... 269-9691 \1ce-ch.oir. Amy Slayden. Hunts'JilIe ,................................. ,........... 533·7178 TreuuNr: John C. Calhoun. Jr .. Birmingham ..............................251-4300 StcNtl1')'/New5ldter tditor. Herndon Inge. III. MoJJile .............................................432·1444

330 I Seplember 1992

ImG.U10N

The Litigation Section seeks to (I) provide a forum where all trial attorneys may meet and discuS.! common problems; (2) provide an extensive educational program to improve the THE ALABAMA LAWYER

compet~no:y

01 t~

md (3) improw t~ ~md~no:y. fConomy of litigation and work to curb ibuses tri~1 ~r;

unifot'mity ~nd of I~ judicill procw..

Chiir: AI"" C. Clint. BirmirlghQm _.. ___ ....... _..................._..328·5330 \1«.-:hlJr. Richard em. Mcnlf1OnN!r¥ ............................................834·II80 S«rttary(Treuwrer: Joon P. Scotl. Jr .. Birmi1lghom ...._. .......................... 251-8]00

Th~

Chair: Thomas~.

Carth.Mobik .. .......................................... 432--4481

\'itt-<:hair: Scott t. Ludwi.e. Hunlll-';!I, ............................... ___ ...511-5149 S«rtlary. John H. Cooper. Birmingham ............... _.. _....... _........930-5108 I. R«se Murray. IlI .BirminghQm .......................... __ ..326-5386 Newlittter co-chain: Ala B. wth.lll. Birmingham .................................. .251·8100 Thomas J. Mahont)'. Jr"Birminghom ...................... ..521·8224

Oil. and Minoral Law Stet ion was established in 1976 Ind consist! of an oil and gas division and a hard mintr· ~I$ division. Tht primary purpose of t~ section is to keep itJ mombt:rs a~~riHd of devtlopments in the I"w. ind this is KCOrI1pli!hed by co-sporooring with ABleLE an ann~J semi. IUr on oil, PI lind mint ...1 Iiw. u_lI ... 'IJONOrinS i "mini· Hmina'" lithe SotClion mHting during t~ Inn",,1 lTIttung of the SU1~ bu. Currently. tilt section is p~ring , hIondXlolt on oil. PI and mint ...1 bw in Alabamo. Chiir. Jimn J. SIe<Igt'. Tust:u/rxJsll .................. _.....................l45·5440 \"Icc.-:halr. Oillnd Cu; Thomu W. Holley, Tuscaloosa ...... .............................34S- I5n \'l«.-:halr. liard ,... In .... I., Ila mld n. lliee. Jr .. Birmingham .................................481·6105 SecrttiT)l; William E. Pritchard, III, Mobil~ .. .............................. 4324481 Trtuurtr: I>u.Ine A. Cnhim. ,l/(JlJilt.............................................432·6151

This Stction ~rJ.11:! with and aosi.u tho Cumrlind Insti· tuttlor Continuinl/ltgli Educa1ion in prt"]lUing and prtStflting pmgnms rtwlng 10 ruI PfOI)trty. lIustlnd probate malttrslQr membm of tho ~ State Bar. Tht ..ction. abo in ~rlI' tion ...;!h the CumbHLmd School of~. publishes i periodic nn.-sI.1ter reviewing rectnl court decisions deiling wilh rul propel't)'. trust and probate matters and rtpOftt ot~r ~t\trs of cumnl inlertsl relating to t~ tOlli"-,, An annual seminar Is ~kl in conjunction with tilt annua l1'1'\Uling of t~ mte ~r. Chair. Robtrt R. Sexlon. Birmingham ................................... 324·4400 \;a,.-:hIolr: Pilmer Smith Uhman.l'fool!JOt1lf!rV .......................... 241-8000 S«rttafJl'T"rtlllll'tr. RorNine S. Scott, Il l, Birmingham ........... _.......... __ .328-8141

in Ihi. section i. primarily composed of III pTKIilionfrs. Tht section ,i\lto ol"'cial ~mplusil to Ala~~ WI maUlrs lind Ius ~en involvtd in chlonging Ali~ma law and wisling the ~partment of Revtnue in writing WI regu· lation •. A prO(lram is htld each year during tilt ann~1 meel· ing of the $lIte bar. M~m~flhip

TIlE ALAIlAMA LAWYER

The Workers' Compensation law Section H~ks to raise tilt lIwirentss Ind understllndinQ of the ba r community with regard 10 ...'O<ktrs· comptnsoatiofllegal matte .... C.... ir: ChIorll:! F. Carr. Birmi>lgham .......................................m-8141 \1«.-:hair. Wa)'Tlt R. Wolff. Hunl5tilk ..........................................5301·2205 S«rttaryIT rt15urer: Cary C. Purs. Birmingham ........................................254·7090 Put dwr: Sttvtn W. ~"rd. TWCQI_ ........................................ .349·2000 Newlletter chlir: John J. Coleman, Ill. Binninghom .............................. 226·34 15 Semin ... chair. J. Fffd McDuff. Birmingham .......................................945·6511 Council '' 'tmbtn: St~phrn E. Brown. Birmingham ................................. 254-102:3 Robtrt Wyeth ...... Jr.. Birmingham._ .. _.....................323-1061 Randllil B. James. NonlflOtMr6 .....* .............................262-0500

The Young la~fI' Section 0( the AWwn.!. Stlltt Bar is «ImpOsed of all Ia~rs who art 36 yors of Igt and under Of

who hIo,,. been admitted to t~ biT for thl'tt ~ars or less. The section conductJ various seminars Ih roughout the yu r for Il~rs .nd oth .. pro/ulioMls , 11 also spOnsors servi« projeclS designed 10 aid the public in their understanding of the law and assist in solving I~gal problems. Thu~ are no dun linct persom ....ho ire mtmbtn of lhe Abbama Statt Bar ;ond fulfill 1M Igt or odmission rtquirtmtnlS iutomatiCilly irt ~

....

Pl'" ..... t: Sidney W. Ja.doon. Ill. Mobil' .....................................433-3131 Pl"tlidtnl-t1Kt: A. Lultr Hayu, lit. 1tIQn1flOll>t'¥ ....... _ ........... _ ......... .263-6621

Secrtlll)" Herbtrt lhrold Wtst. Jr .. 8,'rmingharn .......................252-8800 l'TtU III'tr.

BarT)' A. Ragodalt. Birmingham ...................................930-5283 Immtdllte Pllt Pl"t lidtnl: Keith B. No..,.,....n. Mo.,lgomllr/l ............................... ,...269·1515 Sept~mbtr

1992 I 33 I

C·L·E OPPORTUNITIES The fol/(xdng programs haw been approwd by the Alabama

Mandatorv Continuing IAgaI Education Commission (or CL£

credit. For information regurding olher ot'(1i1oble approoed progr(1mS. conillCl Di~ Weldon. administraliV<! ossi$11m1 lor programs. a/ (205)269·1515. ami II complele CLE calendand/l be mailed /0 you.

24 Thur.day

SEPTEMBER

17 Thur.da», KEY lSSU£S IN WETlANDS

REGULATION IN ALAllAl-\A

MOTIONS PRACTICE (video replay) Sheffield. Ramada Inn Alabama Bar In~titute for CI.E Cred it:!: 6.0 (800) 627·6514

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MOTIONS PRACTICE Birmingham, Civic Center Alabama Bar institute for eLF. c..dits: 6.0 (800) 6Z7-6514

MOTIONS PRACTICE (video replay) Dothan.~dalnn

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WITH THE A.\\ERICANS WlTI-J DlSABIUTIES ACT Birmingham. Wynfrey Houl Cumberland Institute for CI.E CrNits: 3.0 (8001888·7454

25 Friday

SMAll ESTATES; PtANNI~G '" ADMINISTERING Birmingham. Civic Center Alabama Bar Institute for ClE Credits: 6.0 (800) 627-65]4

B Thuraday

KEY iSSUES IN ADViSINC ELDERLY CLIENTS Birmingham. Wynfrey Hote) Cumberland Institute for ClE Credits: 6.0 (800)888·7454

9 FridaY

REAL ESTATE Montg<Jmer)'. Madiwn Hotel Alabama Bar Institute for CI.E Credits: 6.0 (800) 627·6514

BASIC ISSUES IN CONSUMER BANKRUPTCY Birmingham. Wynf.ey HoM Cumberland Institute for eLE

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ilEAL ESTATE Birmingham. Civic Center Alabama Bar In.ltitute for CI.E Credits: 6.0 (800) 627·6514

BASIC ISSUES IN BUSINESS BANKRUPTCY

Birmingham. Wynfrey Hotel Cumberland Institute for CU; Credits: 6.0 (800) 888·7454 23 Wedne.day

29 Tuesday

IMPACT OFTHE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT Of 1991 Mobile National Business Institute. Inc. Credit:!: 6.0

(7151835·7909

ADVMCED 1lf.A1. ESTATE lAW IN

AWl"'"

Birmingham National Business In.ltitute. Inc. Credits: 6.0

(7 15) 835·7909 332 I s.ptember 1992

HOW TO TRY AlITOMOBll.E TORTS LITIGATION Birmingham, Wynfrf}' Hotel Cumberland Institute for CLE Credit:!: 6.0 (800) 888-7454

30 Wedne.dey

IMPACT OFTHE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1991 Montgomer)' National Business institute.]nc.

14 Wedne.day BASIC BANKRUPTCY IN AlABAMA

Birmingham National Business Institute. Inc. Credits: 6.0 (715)835·7909 THE ALABAMA lAWYER

15 Th"r, de),

BASIC BANKRUPTCY IN ALABAMA Huntsville N.tio ..... I Business Institute,lnc, Cr~dits: 6.0 (715) 835-79<l9

16 frlde), THE BASICS OF PRACTICE IN PROBATE COURT Wlbile, i\dmiral Stmmes Cumberland Institute for ClE Credits: 6.0

29 Thursd.)' TORTS Huntsville, Civic Center Alabama Bar Institut~ for ClE Credits: 6.0 (800) 627·6514

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(800) 88s.7454

22 Thur,de),

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Alabama Bar Institute for ClE Credits: 6.0 (800) 627.6514 23 frld.)'

TORTS Nontgomery, Civ;c Ctnter Alabama Bar Institute for ClE Credits: 6.0 (800) 627·6514 WORKING SMARTER NOT HAROER Binningham, Carr.way Convention Center Alabama Bar lrutitute for CLE Credits: 3.3 (800) 627·651 4 DEVELOPMENTS IN CIVIL PROCE· DURE: STATE AND FEDERAL Birmingham, HOOYi'r Complex Cumberland Institute for ClE Cred it.<: 6.0

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BUSINESS TORTS & ANTITRUST Binningham. Tutwil.. Hotel Cumberland Institute for CLE Credits: 6.0 (8001888·7454 12 Thur,d.), DA;\lAGES Binningham, Civic Center

Alabama Bar Institute for ClE Credits: 6.0 (800) 627-&514 BASICS OF BANKRUPTCY Binningham, Civic Center Alab;uru Bar Institute for ClE Credits: 6.0 (800) 627·6514 FRAUD LITIGATION IN ALABA.~IA Mobile NatiO!\lll Bwiness Inslitute. Inc . Credits; 6.0 (715) 835·7909 13 Frld.y DA;\iAGES Montgomery, Civic Cenler Alabama Bar Institut~ lor ClE Credits; 6.0

18001627·6514 BANKR UPTCY Birmingham. Civic Center Alabama Bar Institute lor ClE Credits: 6.0 1800) 627·6514 WRITING FOR LAWYERS lIirmingham, HOO'V<'r Comp lex Cumberland institute for ClE Credit.<: 6.0 18001888·7454 FRAUD LITIGATION IN ALABAMA Montgomery Nalio .....1 BU$iness Institut~,lnc. Credit.<: 6.0 (715) 835·7909

(800) 88s.7454

27 Tu.,d.)' OS HA CONPlIA1'lCE UPDATE IN AlABA."IA Birmingham Nal io.....1Business Institute. Inc. Credits: 6.0 (715)835·7909 28W.dn.~)'

OSHA C0.'1 PllANCE UPDATE IN AlABA.~1A Iluntsvi!le National Business Institute for ClE Credits: 6.0 (715) 835·7909 TilE AlABA.'iA lAWYER

Mandatorv Continuing Legal Education Commission 1992·93 Lynn Robertson Jac~son. eha". C layton. Alabama

J Mason DavIS. BIrmingham

George W Royer. Jr .. Huntsville Samool A Rumore. Jr .. B"m'ngham

John A. Russell. til. AlIC<lI/lIIe Conrad M Fowler. J, .. Coiumb,ar>a Ca,ne C'Rear. III, Mob,1e

Danoet T Warnes, Guntersvolle James E. WIII,ams, Montgomery

MCU; Comml. . lon . ten Ketth B No<man, d"e<:toI ot ptOgrams Alabama Stale Ba, Montgomery (205\269· t5t5 (800) 354.(;t 54

Diane Wa ldon, adm,n'stralOVB

asS,stant lor pmgrams Bar

Alabama Stale Montgomery

Stptember 1992 1333

Commercial Litigation in the United States Supreme Court by ERIC C. BRUCCINK

Introduction By this article I hope to furnish something of a Coo~'s tour of commercial claims against the federal gowmmenl. Litigation against the govern mont can generate some of the most stimulating

ment into natural cltavage planes. It can be approached by subject matter. by forum. by statutes. by type of relid sought or .wn by underlying themes. The trouble with striking all these planes is that they intersect. and th.

and challenging litigation in the rederal rouru.

n.. jo.su", are often complex and

frequently have far-ruching impact. The subject is sutr.ciently broad and fraught with contl"<)Wrsi.. thai the pre_ sentation has to be in outiirlt lonn. with

highlights on some of lilt hazards and rKurring them",. At a trial level. commercial claims againsl the federal gowmment are >CiI\-

lered aCToSS five fora - the United States Claims Court. lhe district COUrll.

the various boards of contract appeals. the Tax Court, and the Court of International Trade. My focus will b. the Un ited States Claim, Court. however. That is partly because it is what I know most about. "nd partly because virtually all commercial d"ims agairnt th~ federal g<M'rIllmnt ~ither take place in the CI"im, Court or could b~ litigated in some form in the Claims Court) The discussion begirn with the prin· ciple of sovereign immunity. The bal· ance will set out the sources and the limits of Claims Court jurisdiction over va rious ,ubject matters. and explain parallel Or similar lit igation in other jurisdictiorn. The article will conclude with a brid discussion of some pecu· liariti.s and common pitfalls.

I. OVERVIEW, WHAT IS A COMMERCIAL CLAIM? There are several fracture points dividing lit igation against the govern·

334 / September 1992

It is as much the

duty ofCovemment to render prompt justice against itself, in favor of citizens, as it is to administer the same between private individuals. Abraham Lincoln

result tends to look like a pile ofrubble. The Simplest way to get into tl\l: ,ubject is to describe what I mUn by a commercial claim. That. in tum. is done most quickly. if perhaps superficially. by listing the types of c.ues our court can and cannot hear. About forty perunt of the Claims Court docket 2 consi,t, of cont",ct ~s. The "lISt majority of thaI cont",ct jurisdiction;s limited to claims for monty that is presently due. i. •.• not for drelaratory rflief. A ,,,,,,11 fr.Clion of

contract claims are for pre·contract award injunctive relief. for example. to have a bidder reinstated into competi · tion for a contract award. About 25 percent of the c.ues are tax refund claims. In addition th ... are a small number of declaratory judgment actiorn brought by org.:>nizations claim· ing to b. tax exempt under LR.C. ~ 5OI(c)(3). The court also hears certain t}'pes of civilian and military pay daims. The simplest .... mple of a civilian pay claim3 would be one brought under the rai r Labor Standards Act against a federal agell<1' employer. typically for a group of workers seeking overtime wages. Mili· tary cases typically involve claims that a serviceman was illegally separated or denied disabil ity retirement. Another part of the court's jurisdic· tion. and perhaps one of the most important ones in terms of impact or dollars. if not in terms of numbers of case,. is takings claims und .. the United State, Constitution. This is particu, larly true in view of the increasing numb<r 1>1 claims made for regulatory takings. Or -inverse condemnation •. " The balance of the court's cases are pri · marily made up of Indian claims. claims of patent infringement by the gO''('rnment. and claims under a s\;ltu· tory entitlem ent "hem. , such as a grant- in-aid or agricultural ,ubsidy program. What I mean to e~clude from the defi · ni t ion of comme rcial suits are tort claims. declaratory Or injunctive r.lief sought under the Administrative i>roce· durts Act. Social Security Act claims. most claims by civilian employees. and other suits of iimilar character. TltE ALABA."IA LAWVER

Although such cases can havt: direct or inclirect monetary f.llout. most people would not consider them commercial claims, and they cannot bot brought in the Claims Court. The}> h.w historical· ly been within the ju risdiction of the district coum. or more recently. in the c..e of per",nnel claims. of the Merit Systernl Protection Board.

II. THE ESSENTIAL INQUIRY: HAS SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY BEEN WAIVED? The beginning and ending point of any discuuion about eommHcial claims "l!ainst the feder. 1 gOvt:rnment has to be sove reign immuni ty. As a principle it may be un der iUS/iult and out of vogue in various quane" . but it nonetheless forms th. backdrop for . 11 suits in the Claims Court. Despite the owrwhelming impact of the adminis· t",Ii"" state. and the fae! that the gO\'. ernment is constantly involwd in law· .uits. a ll the basic underpinnings of sowreign immunity still u is\. particu· larly when it com .. to recover ing money damages. Evt:n though the principl. is arguably pre ·constitution.l. it clearly has its plainest manilestation in Article I , 9. clalJ!.e 7 01 the Constitu · tion: "No Money shall be drawn from

ErI ~

BruHl nk J udge 6 .ugg ,n" wu nom,n",e by P,..,,!,nl ReagIn a nd c"""~med". joJd g<l of ,r-,e UI'\IIiO<l

Sta,,, eta"", CoJrI on Ap ,1I

15. 19 8 6

H. is • cum

J~ vd .

graduate 01 Aut>utn

...

'''''''ing n 1971, rd ""',ter'.

Urw_ty,

~.~

dOgroe .. 1912 ~ 8<UQOtI1< ~>'Od his J C '" 1915 Irom Uni •• ,oU y 01 Atabama ~ 01 \..oW, _ . r-,e w.. not. _ c0m01 ..... Law _

"'*"" _

He w.. appolntld OireClo ' , OTTic. 01 IIppeo" ~ at tnfI U S M"," Sys_ P'Oleebon Boa' o, or> No • • m ~.u '982, a nd .... eO ,he," unl il h" a ppOmlmenl 01 'hi Claims eo..t. He _ as law c... 10 CI>ef Judge F,,", r.teF_ cA ThII Nonh1Im 0. •. uiCl 0I~, _ then was an assoc ..,. at lno CotI\o<1 lirm cA Har<fW>Ck. _ & s.g.. ,...1. fr<:<n llln ·19, no _ ............ <I1rICIOI at ..... ""_lAw insl'lIJte . ..c:I from 19798 2 wu an o..eeiOI. wil~ ,"" MOnl ~ f;(m at 50_, en... & Sa ... Born., Ko.Ildj&1t. In _ , . at Ovtch pat· ...., r-,e _arne a ,...nxal.ziO<l O~ ; "'" at ThII U'I'od St ...... 1960

THE ALABA.'1A U.WYER

the Treasu!),. bu t in Constquence of ApprOpriations made b~ Law." n.e~ are at least th= - Ior lack oh boiler word - -tltments" of. waiver of .o,,~rtilln immunity that have to bo con· s idtred. A r g uab l ~ on J~ the last element _ e~ation of. forum for htar· ing a certain type of claim againSI Ihe govemment - truly constitute> a waiver of sovereign immunity. Tht Supreme Court has taught. 1Io\o..."",r. that tilt pri . mary juri sdie!ionaJ stalute applicable to Iht Claims Court. the Tuc ker Act. 28 U.S.C. f ]49](1)(]1 (]988). discussed below, creates no substantiw right to relief. Having a lorum with no wbstan· tn", right is small CQIlSOtahon, W I preler 10 think of these three elements iU neCessary 10 "perfm" a waiver of immunity. The nrst element is be,t illust rated by a 1990 decision of t he Sup reme Court . Office of Persomlel Nanage · ment v. Richmond. 496 U.S. 4 ]4 (1990) . Richmond wa<; a federal annui. tanl. He was concern ed about the amount of outside income he could earn before jeopardizing his annuity. He called his lormer .gency and spoke with. per",nnel speci . li,t, who gavt: him a figure. Richmond. in reliance On the spedalist's representation, earned up to that amount. It turned out , 1\<:Jw. ever. thot the statement wa<; wrong. He had u ceeded Ihe statu tory limil and his annuit~ was reduced . Richmond sued lor the withheld amount, pointing to . classic cas. of estoppel. Ruu lt? Tht Supreme Court held that he could not recover. A federal employee. ewn one acting within th e .cope of her employment. cannot woivt: the gOvt:rn· ment's right to insist on compliance with the sta l ute. Wh ~? Because Congress only waived sovere ign immu· nit~ to the extenl set out in th. statute. To go beyond that would mean Ihal a single government employee, and not Congress. had acce .. to the Treasu!)'. One slep, therefore. in circumventing sowreign immunity is thaI your client must be lin kt<l to an appropriation 01 funds. In other words. Congrtss h.. to have intended Ihat your cl ient, under the particular circumstances. falls into a class 01 pe r",ns or entiti" that could get money out of the Treasury. The second element has 10 do with authority of the gowrnment empl~e with whom your cli ent drals. In t he

Richmond example. the personnel olficer had authority to act. The a(!l.'ice wa<; ju~t wrong. Suppose the following. Congress ha<; appropriated monies that the Ai r Foree may use to build new run· ways. You r client gets Ihe contract. In the midst of performance. one of the government engineers, who acts like ht knows what he', doing, tells the con· tractor to use a higher Quality 01 con· crete. Unknown to the contractor. the engineer has nol been instructed hy tilt Cont racting Offieer to ma ke luch a change. The engineer has no indepen· dent authorilY to act. The Contracting Officer, who has been delegated authori ty to ma~ amendments to the conlraCI. is unaware 01 the instructions. Your dient's requtst for extra compensation would probably be tumt<l down. unless the Contracting Ollic", rat ified the instruclions. The reason i. that there is no such Ih ing as apparent authority when you dtal with the go. ernment. The dient assumes the riSk of ma king certain that the person it deals with has actual authoritj> to obligate the gowrn · menl. In olher words. only .Omeone within Iht chain of delegaled authority from Congr.ss through the £xecuti'e branch can obligate lederal fund.. The third elemen t of waiver i~ fo r Congreu to create a forum for su its. For decades after the count!)", lound· ing. there was nO general wa ivu 01 ",vere ign immunity. For example. if ",meone had a contract with the gov· ernment on which he wa<; not paid Ihe full amount. the onl y ,"cour.., was to get a private hill through Congress. That circum,t.nce has cha nged dra · malically. Th. district courts, th o Claims Court, the Tax Court. and variow board. and administrative agencies h ... boen given ju risdiction to hear suilS against the government. These delegations will be exa mined below in the context of the var ious Iypes of clairru; against the government. The pOint is. when luing the gowrn· ment. a litigator ha<; 10 add ress alllhree cone",m: I) Is there some legislation {or a constitutiona l prov ision) th.t links ml clienl 10 an appropriation of lund,? 2 ) Were the government act ions on which the li tigator i, relying taken by persom .uthori..d to act? 3) Is there a forum that has been authorized to he.. claims of this Iype? September 1992 / 335

These concerns are not tr ivial. Although many of the path. through the Claim. Court ar~ well·worn. they are narrow. Small deviations can lead to uneJCpected and c05tl~ resuill. To us. an analogy from the ring tom booth at the earnililll : You don't gel credit for lean· us. Sim ilarly. in the Claims Court (and the same point i. true for other juri.· dictions that handle money claims). you have to precis.ly ring the boUle. Any· thing else drop. into that black abyS$ called sovereign immunity. With that long introduction , I want to focus on the twes of cases the Claims Cou rt han· dles_

III. JURISDICTION OF THE CLAIMS COURT; CONTRAST WITH OTHER FORA

The Court of Claims. our predece5S0r court. was established in 1855. 5 III ini· tlal role was to issue a"" isory opinions to Cong ress about disposition of what were. effectively. equitable claims against the governmenl. It eventually was made a real court. whose decisions did not have to be app roved by

Congress. It had both appellate and trial functions. 1"IIose functions were split in 1982. with passage of the Federal Courtl Improvement Act. 6 The old Court of Claims ceased to uist7. and two new courts ..... re formed : th e United States Court of Appeals for the Fed...1 Circuit and the United States Claims Court. The Fed.ral Circuit is an Article III appellate courl. It has ..clusivt juris· diction to hear appeals from the Claims Court. the Merit Systems Protection Board. the Court of Vet ..ans Appeals. the Court of International Trade. and the various boards of contract appeals. S It is also the only circuit court that hea rs appeals from a ll the distric t courts in cases involving patents or casu aris ing under the Little Tucker Act. to be discussed beIO\<'. The Claims Court is an Article I trial court. III jur isdiction is geographically broad (nationwid e). but substantivtly na"O\<·. Fundamentally. it hears com· mercial money claims.ga imt the feder· al gO"ernment. All filings are done in Washington. D.C., but trials are held anywhere in the country. For court· room activities short of t rial. out·of·

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2U62nd Aw. No rt h · Binningham, Alabama Dottkal<d 10 lh< So-r>ire Sl....da .....

336 1 s.ptember 1992

or ... r ...",tty SI_ tn2

town counsel a.. normal ly allowed to appear by telephone. There is no right to a jury. In the absence of a specialized statute. the lim itations period applicable to actions brought in the Claims Cou rt is si ~ years.9 The court has its own ,. t of proc.dur.1 rules, but they are la rgely patt.. ned after the Federa l Rules of Civil Procedure . The Fede ral Rules of [vidence are applied. The court has 16 aeli.·e judges. who are appointed b}' the President. with the advice and consent of the Senate.1O The judges sit separately. and their decisions are not binding on each other. The Un ited States is always the rlamed defendant in the Claims Court. Jt is .. presented b}' the Department of Justice. Although the government cannot initio ale claims in the Claims Cou rt. a. a defense. it can assert all}' set-<>ff Or coun· terclaim it has_It Claims Court rules perm it third·party practice. although no .. covery can be direct~ obtained against a third·party defen dant. Instead. if an entity has been prope rly joined as a third·party . the rtou lts of the Claims Court litigation may be asserted against i\ elsev.·here. This dots not run afoul of the seventh amendment. ,I/arvlo"d Qm,all/l Co. u. /l"iled Slales. 135 Cl. CI . 428. 141 F. Supp. 900 (1956). The single most important piece of jurisdictional I.gislation with respect to the Cla ims Court is the Tucker Act. It i. found at 28 U.S.C. § 149Ha)(l). Th is statute was passed in basically il.i present form in 1887. It gi'~s the Claims Court trial jurisdiction over thr •• dass· es of claims: e.:pre.. or implied· in·fact cont racts: 13 claims based on the fifth amendment to the Constitution: and claims founded upon any oc t of Congress or regulation of an executive department th3t can fairly be construed to mandate th e payment of money. Wh3t these typo:s of caseS 1'13"" in com· mon is that the sovern ment has in effect made a promise to pay nJOO<)' to someone. By ju dicial gloss. it is clear that the money at issue has \0 be due. In other words. the court does not. at 1...1 under the Tucker Act. have authority to award declaratory relief. 14 There i. a comparable provision. called th e Little Tucker Act. lhat gives the district COUrtl ju risdiction over identical typo:s of cases. so long as the amount in CQrltro'",rsy is not more than $ 10.000. 15 The Tucker THE ALABANA !..\WYER

Act Jpe(ifi(lily ucludu jurisdiclion ~r too claim&. II is worlh emphiSi,ing Ihll Ihe SUPUITIe Court Ills held I~I ~ Tucker ACI don nol crule I substlnli~ righl 10 collet! monty dl~S from lhe fOvtrnIMnl. 16 Those sub.t~nli~ righlJ heII~ to be tI .....,htre found in toOlrxts. lhe Constitution, $btut... or extC'Uti ..... re~ulations. Thtu are other jurisdicliooIIl statules relaling 10 commercial clairm. Por sake of brevity, they will bo considered in the laqlP contexl crulN II)' the more pervl.li ..... Tucker Act. "- Conlrac l cb t... Virtually all contrlCl lilill~lion ag.>inst 1M ~ ...l g.:Mmment is now jJ<Mmed by the Contl'lltl OisIlut.. Act of 1978. 41 U.S.C. II &01·613 (1988) (-CDA-). The CDA Ills Tn'Oluliooi.td how I"IlOSI tonlTlct KlIoni ag.>insl lhe jJ<Mmmmt lOre litill"led. Tht act ..Is up a compulsoty administrati ..... dispute resolution proccu for mOlt types of contraclJ. It creatu the role 0( a Con· tracting Omcer (-CO"I. The conlractor mUlt gel itJ operating instruclions through Ihe CO. and all c1;l.irm m.... t be ,ubmitted 10 the CO. Allhough the adminislrall~ prOCelS ls compulsoty. final decisions on ldminisl ... ti~ clai"", lITe nOl. howtW' .• ntitl.d to a pnsumption of correclness if Ihey art appuled. l1 Appeals oIa final <.kcision an go to .i~r the ChirN Court or 10 one of ~ numerCHJS agency boards of conl.",t lWUIs. The [imit.ttions period is diff...· ent , however. The contuctor has 90 days from a final decision to appeal to a boord. 18 or one yur to go to the Clairm Court. (t cannot do boIh.20 The diltri cl courts have no ju risdiction under the COA. Th. balanct of what [ will say aboul 1M CDA is set out in Part IV. 001ing with some common pitfalls. With respttl to the CDA. there are many. Thos. contuct CIIU that are still brought directly under ~ Tuclttr Act. 1.1 QIlP(IIStd 10 tn. CDA. typic:>J1y inmh.., implied.in .fact COI'ItTICU.2:2 or COI'ItTICIS largely controlled by regul:iI\ions. such as price·suppo,1 or IIr~nl.in.a;d pro· gr.mu.23 conlrxll in .... hich 1M """",rnmtnt i, uWn". rather than bUfing. good> or s.ervices. 24 or other unique cir· cumnancn. 25 Tucker Acl contract

TItE ALABAMA LAWYER

daims Irt subjw to the general six· yo, limitations period. HistoriCoilly. lhe CLoinu COI.Irt has not hid juriidic:tion to grlllt in;ul'lC"tM or dtdauto'1 rtlid in the absence of a porticular legillal;"" grlllt. The ctaim. in other words, must be for monty presently due. Thl$; limitation lIls.olso botn applied in the conltxt of Claims Court COA cliinu. ThIlS, if ~ toOlr",tor ~ b«n cltfaull ttrmiNIed by u.. gov.. nment. it cannot challenge that act ion unless it has "monetized" the controversy tither by submitting a claim to the CO lor termiNtion dam. lIln. or by ippulinll ~ final dtcilion on a govtrnmtnt demand for rt t urn of monies. Zfi In this respect. the boards 01 toOtl'lltl appul ~..... broader jurisdic· lion. The Ffdtn.l CirttJil has held u..t tn. bo.I.rds ~y heir -naked" IPPtlOh of a delault ttrminalionP P rt _con l nc l ." ••• Inj an ct i n rollef Thtre il one lre~ in which lhe Claims Court. u wtll U othtr fora. has been gi~n purely inju~ti"" 1'0""'1"$ in de.l_ ing wilh toOtracl disputts. The Ped..al Courts Improvement Act gave the Claims Court "uthority to grant pre· conlract ' .... ard injunctive relid to a bidder. if the complainl is m.d bofor. the contnct is l ....... ded. 28 U.S.C. f 149I{a)l3). There "re comporablt procedures ~vajlabLe ~foro tht Co""rll Services Bo,a,d of Conlract Appuis \"CSBCA"'. lInd the Ceroml Accounling OWn (" GAO"I. Tho GSBeA h~ndlu cl~;ms involvinll solieitations for pur· chue of autom"t;c d"tl proctssing equipment. 4{1 U.S.C. f 759 (1988). The GAO (Complroller ernrral) can hear all other pre ·award cla ims. 31 U.S.C. § 3552 (19881. MOil bid protem go to either ofu.... two entities. If the contract hlS alrudy bun ~,.rdtd. ~ .wit lor injunct;"" rditf hi.! to be brought in district court. 28 So IonII as 1M COmpll;nt is filed prior to ~rd. howevt,. $UbHqutnt ~ 01 1M contn.ct will not di"tSt the Claims COI.Irt 01 jurisdiction. 29 The Jt.ln<l.ard 01 revi.w in bid diopul .. is much narro-...,r thelln it is .... ith rtJptct 10 disputes arising out of performlnce of ..... ",d.d contracts. The issut is whether tho implied contract of "fair and honut" consideration of the bid

breached. Thil Ills b«n construed in i way similar to the standard of revi.w ipplied by distric:t courts under tM AdminiSlralirt Procedures Act. 30 The CO's decision is only r~THd if it is found to be arbill'3'1. CoIpricioos. iIf1 ~buK of discretion. withoul rational basis. or vioLat;"" 01 law or regubtion in i prejudi~l fllhion.31

"'";IS

B. Coro.tltal lona lla lrinp cla h".

Tht only corutitulional provision that has been construed IS allowing a money rtCOYrty un~er the Tuc ker Act32 is Ihe filth amen~~nl takirlJlll clau..,. which oblig.J.tu the QOYtmmtnt 10 pay for u.. valut of private properly it t ~ku for public uu . These casu, which ITe referred to 1.1 -in~1"K condemnation" prooffdings. Itnd to WI into two typrs: ph)'SiColl invasion or dwruction asts. and cia,,,,,, based on regubtoty or kgislal;vt takings. What thty ha"" in common is u..t some o/fociil KliOf!l3 of the United Stites QOYtmment Ills depriwd the pl"intif( 0( the poSKssion. UJ.e or v~lut ofproperty. Thty are thu, diltinct from lormii condemnat ion proceed. ing. ..... hich are initiated II)' I~ government itself and hal'e to be brought in lhe district courts. The iswc in u.. lal· Ie' prontdin& is not ....helher u.. gov. ernmenl hells uhn tM prOptrtf. bul only w~t it Is worth. In iIf1 inverse con· demnation lUil, the pbint;1f r.T$l has 10 esbblish that tM fOvtrnm.nt aclion amtituted a taking. although valuation CoIn bKomt a JNjor iswc. Tht t)'llt$ 01 eases adjudicaled undtr the I.I.king. cLou.. an be ilI .... ITlted by listing some 01 tht judgments entered in the CI~ims Court .... ithin Ihe last t.....o Yelrs. Th. fiSure in parenlh..., i. tho ~mount recovered: denial of dredge and fill permit under Clnn Waler Act.l.ooel<!dia lIarbtY. Inc. v. United Siaies. 21 Cl. Ct. 153 (l990) (52.650.000); Florida R<>elc Indu$lria. Inc. v. United Slates. 21 CI. Ct. '61 (I99{11 (1 1.029.000): "lmood orc~rd dull'O)'W by loIo.'ered ......t ... table rtsultin& from f~...t iTri· g.J.tion project. C/J#k 8.oker. el al. ". Uniled Sloles. No. 8Hi75C (Cl. Cl. Oct. 22.1990, ($1.25(1.000): legisLot,,,,, dosignation of private lindl IS in "addi· lion- to nalional pa rk. Perch Assoc .. Uli. v. Uniled Sioles, No. 89CV·610 (C1. CI. [)ec. 18. 1990J (S80.884,995); elfe,1 of Surface Mining Cont,ol and Reda-

,,'so

S.pltmbtr [9921 337

m~tion Acf s 3<l prohibition on surface mining of p ropert~, Whilnev Benefits, Inc. v. United Sioles, 926 F.2d 1169 (Fed. Cir. 1991) (S60 ,296.oo0l; BHl'Utoh /111 '1, Inc. v. Unil~d Stoles, No. 86CV-565. (CI. CI. nec. 20 . 199 0) ($1.500.000); failure to take all property rights associated with condemnation of land for Whi te Sands Missile Ran ge. McDonald v. United Siaies. No. 84CV. 403 (CI. CI. ~'ar. 21. 1991) ($650.000); destruction of land by recurrent fi ood· ing. caused by federal channel ization project. TUm£r U. UnilM SI(1t~s. 23 CI. CI. 441 0991) ($224.920).

C. Tn claim. There are Ihree types of tax cases hea rd in the Claims Court. In 19 15. the Supreme Court held that th. Tu ck er Act gi,""s lhe Claims Court jurisdiction over lax refund claims.35 A prerequisite i. a timely admini,trati"" refulld claim . I,R.C. § 7422Ia). and full payment of the disputed amounl.36 By statute. district courts are givtn similar jurisdiction .37 Full payment in advance is what distinguishes tax r.fund claims in eithu the Claims Court or a dist rict court from

deficiency cases brough t in t he Tax Court . !ke I.II.C. i 6213. ",. sewnd type of tax cue is on. for a declarato!)' judgment that an organi· zation is lax exempt under lec t ion 501(c)(3) of the revenue code. The Cla im. Court, the Tax Court. and the Distr ict Cou rt fo r th. District of Columbia share concurrent jurisdiction 10 hear such =5.38 Th.SO' are de ItOO(l determinations, but they a re b.... d On th. record ~mbled before the Com· missioner of the IRS.l9 As to Ih. rea· Wn.! stated in the Commissioner's decision. the pla intiff b.-:ars the burden of proving them to be wrong..I(J A third type of tax c.a£e h.ard in the Cla im, Court. i. on. for review of administrative adjustment requem by partn t rships. 41 This jurisdiction is .hared wi t h t he Tax Court. and any appropriate district court. As to the strategy invol""d in practi· tioners picking between the thru fora typically available in tax litigation. I can only pass along the factors I ha"" heard mentioned by attorneys. One obviOUS consideration as bet~en a deficiency suit on Ihe one hand (Tax Court) and a

r.rund cl ai m on the ot her (dist rict court Or Claims Court). is whether the cHent wa nts to pay th. dd ,dency up front. an d if successful, coll ect bad< inter.st Al w . as in the di$lrict court.. the range of discove!)' avail abl. in the Claims Court is broader than that typi· cally employed in t he Tax Cou rt. Secause appell ate review of Tax Court ded.iOfl$ and decisiofl$ of local district cour!J; is to the r. gional circuit court. attorneys !IOmetime. ha"" the option of picking a more fa",rable forum. They may prefu th. decisional law in the Claims Court . with its appellate review in the Federal Circuit . Whate,·tT the reUOfl$. the number of rdund claims in the Claims Court is much ,mailer than tht number of deficiency suiU in the Tax Court. although the aVl:rage si~e of th. claim in th. Claims Court iJ; many tilms larger than in either of the other two fora . D. Statutory and .... lIulatory dalm.

As to cla ims based on a .tat ut. Or extc uti"" regulation - the only li mit i. a lawyer' . imagination. Some ea.y exa mples are the Fair Labor Standards

NOTICE All Alabama Attorney. Changes regarding Licensing/Special Membership Dues 1992·93 Act 1192·600 was passed by the Alabama Legislature and amends Section 40·12·49. Code 01 Alabama, 1975, effective October I, 1992. This act involves important changes as lollows : I, License lees increase Irom $t50 10 $200. Special membership dues increase from $75 to $100 . 2 . Anorneys no longer purchase . from a county probate judge or license commissioner, annual occupational licenses to practice but. inslead. purchase these from the Alabama State Bar. Alt licenses to practice law , as well as payment 01 specia l membership dues, wi ll be sold through the Alabama State Bar Headquarters . Licenses mUSI be purchased beTWeen October 1 and Octobe r 3t or be subject to an automatic 15 percent paoa~. second no tices will not be sen t! In mid·September, a dual invoice to be used by both annual license holders and special members wi ll be mailed to every lawyer admitted to practice law in Alabama. Upon receipt of paymem.those who purchase the license will be mailed a license and wallet·si~ed license for idenmication purposes. Those e lecting special membersh ip will be sent a wallet·s ized 10 card lor identilication purposes and a lso to serve as a receipt If yOU eSc not receive an invoice , please notily AI;ce Jo Handri~ . membe rship services dire<;tor, at 1-800-3545 154 (in·s tate WATS ) or (205) 259-1515lmmedlately l

338 1 September 1992

THE ALABAMA LAWYE R

Act. or other miHtary'2 or civilian ~ st,tutu.~l The tut that is alwlYs iWlied is whether the statute Of regulation , f/lilly construed. mlnd .. tes the ~ent of money.~· n,. Jtatutt Cln either IIffinTllltively din:ct the paymenl 01 money. IS in the case of pay SUtutu. Of il CIIn do so by ill1lllication. lIS when the gowmrTll'nt ~ ,"egtdly imp~r. Iy eucled the plaintiffs monty undrr color of a stlllutt which tht plaintiff claims ~ betn milollpplitd. 4S The lat· Ie. is Iht rtal basis of the Claims Court's tu r.fund jurisdktion.4Ii E. Conlln..lon. l n fennce ca .... Som.timu litigants havt no legal right to rtlief. but Ihey may havt a strong equitable cI/lim. For uampl •. lho stalute oIlimit.l.tionl may M .. run on an othuwin valid claim. If the claimant can gd Conllrus to PilU a pita of sptCial ttgislation rdtrrin(llhr C:t.H to Ihe Claims Court. those legal drftll$ts "'ill not be a bar.47 Instead. Ihr co....t wililooIc primarily at the equities of the sit..ation. and will makt. r<'COm· mendation to Congress to eithu pay t~ claim or not. Since this involve. an advisory opinion rather than a judg· rTII'nt. this jurisdiction would otlwrwise run IIfoul of the -cut or contr~'"'Y" clause 01 Articlt 11I. if the Claims Court wen not In Article I court. For the "me ruson. Ihne is no .. ppellale revirw 01 a ClamlS Court rtcornmmdal ion. Instud. the Ini liill decision is ""d. by a singl. judtlt. and il is then rtvitwed by a th ru·judge panrl of Claims Coort Judtlts. It is lhe only substllnti ... occuion on which judgu of the court sit in pantls. Puhaps this is one reason the judgu of the court are so collegial. F. Mlter llan"u. jurlldldloD n,. court hears claims that the feder_ al g~rnmenl (or 0 ... of its contractonI Infringed a private Pillent. AlthoUlih the theorttial basis of this jurisdiction is the flfl.h amtOO"",n! talcings clause, there is now also I special statute that lIivu Ihr court jurisdidion to hear such claims. 28 U.S.C. Ii 1498. Indian claims for money ~roc«d UR«r both sptCi~liud StaWtlli and the Tucker Act. Although small in numbe". bolh paten t and Indian claim. tend to be some of the most complex and time·

THE Al.ABM\A I.AIVVf;R

conJuming onu. Indian claims. for example. somttirnes involvt millions 01 XTtS oIlaOO. tens 01 thousands of documents. and Kcountings going back to the nilltt«nlh emtury. In 1987. Conllrus rn .. cted the ~atioNI Yaa:i ... Injury Comprns.olion Prog ram U \ 0 com penn" pu,ons injured by childhood ~lICcinu;ons. ~ claims are tried by Sprcial MIlS' tu. Ind then Ipplaled to the Claims Court. There are olher 5plcialized juri ,· dictional statutes. but they art infre· Quently in~oked and not worthy of 'Pllce in .. brit"f summary.

IV. CO....ON PiTFALLS It is hard 10 know which prculiiritits of lu,nlltllt ft<lm.! I/OWmmtnl to dis· cun. By >Q)' of lIenerll comment. Itt "'" MY lhat beaust oI--.reign immu· nily. jurildlction II I constant issue. Problems with Ihe stltute of limili' tions. or lack 01 authority. or .tatutOI)' prtrequisitu to plrfecting a claim are frequently addreued. not u affinTlllti,.. deftnsu. i.e .. wliveable. but as faiIU~$ of lubjKt matter jurisdiction. It might be more lrCcurate to ",ow tllest deftmu u impliatin~ the authority of the court to grant r.lief. but in any t\'I:'nt. since they are generally trwtd IS u..xrcut_ ting ju risd ictoon. they ire somtti""" brought up on the court's own ;nitia · ti .... even on appuI.49

A. I.. uu unolu Ihe Coot ..... t DlI-

putuAeI A number of problems arise in coo· ntdion with appliation of the Contract Di5putU Act. For eumple. the aCI requi rts that claims of oV.. S50.000 mU5t be certified. 41 U.S.C. Ii 6(l5(c)II). Regulations50 have Itridly limited who can sign. In United Slarts v. Grumm(1JI Aero,pace Corp., 927 F.2d S75. 579 (Ftd. Cir.). em. dmitd. 112 s.. ct. 330 (1991). the Ftdenl Circuil upheld ~ regulatIOns. Suppose I CiIIst !lOts up on Ipplll of lin aWlrd 10 the contractor. can the Ftdtral Circuit raise II problem with ~rtifltllion on its "",...1 Yts. Why? Btuun Congre" hu only waived sovereign immuni ly 10 the uttnt ell/lressed in the CD,\. 51 The Ftderal Ci rcuit recently held in Dau'CQ CO.ulruclion. Inc. v . United Siules. 930 F.2d 872. 877 (Fed. Cir.

1991). that I ~laim dots not am. in tilt ibitnet of a di$fltllt. In otlltr words. if th, partiU .re slill negot i~ting. the plainliff cannot limply break oil. trut the last wrillen reSpOrUt from lhe CO 15 I final decision. Ind go to court. Moreo ... r. e~en if Ihe CO haJ issutd what purpOrts to be I roml dKision. if in fxt there ill deftel in Ihr claim. the finil decision is i nulli l y. W. M. Schlosser Co. v. lJriited Siaies. 705 F.2d 1336. 1138 (Fed . Cir. 1983). The court hM also betn strict in enforcing the tie· mtnts of whit constitutes an adminis· trative claIm. S« Mingus Conslru~lol"$. Inc. v. United States. 812 ~.2d 1387 (Fed. Cir. 1987): COn/r aCI Cleon;nfl M(J;"t~. IfIC. v.lirIittri Slules. 811 F.2d 586 (Ft<!. Cir. 1987). In $Om, malee cemin your clitnt has artfully com· plied with the proctdural requirernenll oIlhe CDA.

B. Olhu cctliinoct ""cull ..rllI~. Consider I relattd plCUliirity of iIOV" ern"",nt contract law that 50metimes catches contractors b)' surprise. Sup· post the gOYernment agency ntSlects to put into tht contract a clause that is rtquired b)' the applicable regulations. Are the PIIrtits bound by Ihat clause even though it wu omilled from the contrllct? Yn, under the "Christi~n" doctri .... 52 Virtually.1I government contract, now comt ""th Itrrnination Ior_· nionce claU$t$. wtlich give the goyem· mtnl b~ po:J\Oo"tn 10 terminalt a coo· tract. n,.r. Ire sornt good failh limit.l· tions on the goyemrTll'nt's righl simply to wllk away from I contract. but. b)' and large . it can. and it will be liable only for incidenta l expenses. S3 If appli· cable. the termination clause precludt5 typic.1 brtach damages, such as 1011 profits. for eumplt. fn addition. whtn the goyemrTll'nl imprOperly trrminates for def.. ult, it is Iypic.ally "'...."td IS ha.... ;nII invol<td the t",nillliion for convt· nitnet c1iuse.s.t Under the "~ rin' doctrifW. a sub· contractor may not Sut on Ihr g.... ral contract in lho Claims Court btcau.t il is not in privity with the gowmmtnt. 55 Such claims may be pl"O$t<:uttd in the name of the primt conlractor. but only if the prime has either paid the subcon· traclor. or remains liable to it. 56 At. ~ al.tady been mentiomed. there Stptember 1992 / 339

is 00 such thing as apparent authority in dealing with the federal government. For the .. me reason. the government cannot be eSlopped from challenging the legality of its employtts' conduct.

C. Secllon 1500 One additional peculiarity i. particu · larly dangerous to the unwary. That is 28 U.S.C. ~ 1500. Section 1500 prevents a li t igant from suing in the Claims Court ifit m. pending in another feder· al court a suit Or process wilh respect to that .. me claim. This slalUte, adopted in 1868, was 3 response to multiple claims arising out of COlton seilures during the Civi l War. Owners were suing in both the Court of CI.ims and district courts. Although i number of judicially·created exceptions had devo:l. OI"'d (llltr the last 100 )'t'a ... they were all """pt aside in April of this year in a case called UNR lrufus/ries, u. Uni/ed Sioies. No. 89· 1638 Wed. Ci r. Apr. 23, 1992). which involved a seriu of

'n,.

related asbestO$ indemnity claims, The Federal Circuit held that section 1500 means precisely what it ..ys. It bars a Claims Court proceeding if there i. a claim pending in di s trict court. on whatever theory, if it arises from the same OPI'rati .... facts. The difficulty comes. of cou~. in the coincidenct of t...."(1 phenomena: uncertainty about whether the case should be in district court Or Claims Court. cou · pled with a lapSing limitations period. Sometimes it is difficult to determine ....'hether a claim sounds in tort Or con · tract. tort Or t.">king. o. taking o. Quiet title . On other occasions. monetary relief might only be available in the Clai"", Court. whereas dediratory relief could only be obtained. on the identical facts, in a district court. Se\'tral of the litigants in the UNR h,dustTies litigation had their Claims Court cases dis· missed, e.... n though their tort 5uil$ in dist.ict court had also l>een dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. It would appear,

.fter UNR Im/uSlrks. that a litigant may have to choose wh d h .. to pursue money .elid in the Claims Court. or declaratory relid in the district court, even if both courts would othe.wise havo: jurisdiction.57 One .meliorati.... llrocedu.al device to bear in mind is create<! b~ 28 U.S.C. § 163111988 ). That section permits transfers between the district court. .nd Claims Court to cure jurisdiction.1 problems , assuming a filing in only 0I11! forum, and prop.. jurisdiction in the othe •.

V. CONCLUSION This summary cannot substitute for an indeplh examination of a compl ex jurisprudence that i. occasionally qui xotic. The subject is not. howe"er. arcane. Although many practitioners make it. specialty, with a knowledge of a few basics. it is fully accessible to any gene.allitigator. •

r-----------------------------------------------,

ADDRESS CHANGES Complete the form bel"", OSLV if theft" are any chang.. to your listing in the currentA/abomo fur Diroctory. Due to changes in the statute i!<M:rning election of bar commissioners. ,,'" now are required to uw members' office add'ess· e!;, unless none is av.ilable or a member is prohibited from receiving st.">te bar mail at t.... office . Additionally. the Alabamo BoT Direc/ory i. compiled from our mailing list and it is important to use business addresses for that reason. NOTE: If ....", do not know of a chanllfc in addres.s .....'" cannot make the necessary change. on our records. so please notify w; when your address changes. _ _ _ _ _ Member Identification ISocial Security) "umber Other _ _ __ Mo_ Choose one: Mr. Hon, Mi" :J ~ls. FullN.me _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Business Phone Numl>er _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

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L _______________________________________________ ~ 340 I Septembe. 1992

THE AlAIl ....>.tA LAWYER

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SepltmMr 1992 / 34 1

SUMMARIES OF GENERAL LAWS ENACTED ANDCONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA ATTHE REGULAR SESSION, 1992 ·P,ooided through the cour tesy of/he f.egislalive Refererlce Service Act No. 92.63 , S. 73 , amend. Section 17.20·1. Code of Alabama 1975. relating to the divi.ion of the ,tate into con· gr.S5 i on~1 districts. to redi5!ricl the congre,sional district. based on the 1990 census.

Act No. 92.108, S. 80, amend. Sections 2·3·24 , 2·19·130. 2· 26-71. 2·27.6, 2·27·30, 9.aA·3. and 41·9 ·243. Codt ofAlabama 1975... Iating to the memocrship of certain commiuees. orga· niulio"",, and oommi.. ioru pt'. laining to farmers and agricul. ture. to ren.e! the change in name of Alabama rUm Bu",au rederation to Alaball'l/l Farmers ~·weration. It will also ratify and confinn actions taken by Alabama Farmers Federation. Act No. 92. 116, S. 36, continuu the existence and functioning of lhe State Pilotage Commi.. ion , Act No. 92 .117. S. 37. continues the uistence and func· tioning of the Boord of Examiners of Mine Personnel.

Act No. 92.118. S. 42, continues the existence and func· tioning of the Public Servk. CommiS$ion. Acl No. 92.119, S. 47, continues the existence and func· tioning of the Boord of Auctioneers. It also amends Seclions 3.4-4·21.3.4-4 ·29. and 34-4·50. Oxk aI Alabama 1975. to pro· ~ide further fOT the board. Acl No. 92_120, S. 48. continues the existence and func· tioningofthe Alcoholic ~rage Control Board. Acl No. 92_121, S. 38, continues the existence and func· tioning of the Alabama Board of Socia l Work ~;xamineTS. It also amends Sections 34·30·4. 3.4·30·22. 34·30·50. and 34-3052. Cede ofAlobamo 1975. to provide further for the board. Act No. 92-122. S. 39. tmninates the existenco and functioning of the Examining Boord for Professional Entomolo· gists. Plant Pathologists. Ilorticulturists. Floricu lturists. and Tree SurgeQ!lS. It transfers the duties oflhe board 10 the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries and amends Sections 2.28·1 10 2-28-5. inclusi"e. and 2-28·8. Cock ofA/abamo 1975. to tramfer the dulie,,;. Act No. 92-123, S. 40. continun the existence and func· tioning of the Alabama liquefied Petroleum Gas Board. It also amends Sections 9-17- HlI. 9-17-Hl4. 9·17. IQS. and 917· 107. Code of Alabama 1975 . to provide fur ther for the board. 342 /September

Act No. 92_124, S. 44, continues the existence and func· tioning of the Alabam:l S.curiti.. Commission. It al$O amends Sections 8-6·53. 8-6-110. 8·6· 111 . 8·6-113. 8-6·115. 8-6-116. 8·6·118. and 8·6-1 19. C«k of Alabama 1975. to provide fur· ther for the commission: and it repeals Section 8-6-1 ]4. C«k of Alabama 1975. r.laling 10 the State Industrial Revenue Bond Advi5(lry Council.

Act No. 92 . 125. S. 46. continue> the oxi.<ttnco and func· tioning of the Board of Examiners in Psycho logy. It also amends Section 34-26-2 1. Cock of Alabama 1975. to provide further for the board. Act No. 92-126. S. 49. continu.. the exiltence and func· tioning of the ikpartment of Insurance. Act No. 92-127. S. 50. continues the oxistence an d func· tioning of the Alabaom Real Postate Appraisers Board. ]t also amends Secliom 34-27A-I3. 34-27A-15. and 34·27A_2Q. C«k alA/abama 1975. to provide further for the boan!.

Act No. 92-128. S. 51. continu.. the oxistence and func· tioning of the Alabaom Boord of Funeral Service. Act No. 92-134, S. 53. continues the existence and func· tioning of the Alabama Indian Affairs Commission. It also amends s.ctions 4 1-9-708. 41-9-712 . 41-9-713. U-9 -715. and 41·9·716. Cod~ of Alabama 1975. to provide further for the commission. Act No. 92-152, H. 253, amends Sections 17-]0-12. 17-16II. and 17_7_1. Code of Alabama 1975. relating to primary dections and ab.. nt.e balloling, to shorten the t ime period for delivery of absentee ballots for the 1992 elections. for the r.ling of declarations of candidacy. and for certification of can· didates for the 1992 congressional election.

Acl No. 92. 154. S. 1I6, makes supplemental appropriations from the SpeCial Educational Trust Fund to the Butl er County Board of Education and the Dale Count~ Board of Education for the fiscal }'UT ending s.ptember 30. 1992. for .. pairs 10 any ochool damaged by windstorm or fire in the counties. Ad No. 92.155. H. 631 , proposes an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 190 1 relating to volunt.er for. departments. fi re protection. and emeTllency services in Cal-

THE AU\BAMA U WYER

i1<>un CQunty and the levy and collection of additional ad valorem tax •• for the fire protection and tm~rgency selVicts .

also amends Sections 34·37·6. 34·37·8, 34-37·9. and 34·37·15. Coda ofAlobam(1 1975. to provide fu"her for the board .

Ad No. 92.169, S. 194, amends Section 41 · 14·30, Code 01 Alabama 1975. relating to th~ in"estment of state funds. to provide furth er for the authority of the State Trusurer to deposit funds in .tate depositories and when funds may be invested in obligatioll.\ of the United Stat.. or its agencies. It also makes appropriations from the (.eneral Fund to the State Treasurer to implement the act.

Act No. 92·183, H. 224. amends Sections 12-2·2. 12·2·7. and 12-3·10. COOt of Alabama 1975, ,..,lating to decisions affecting the tenure of employttS of public school., to give the Alabama Court of Ci,;1 Appeals exclusive and ronal jurisdiction of appeals of such decisions. This act would have become effective upon the ratification of the constitutional amendment prOp05ed by House Bill 252 of the 1992 Regular Session which failed to pass.

Act No. 92·173. H. 468, amends Section 25-4 ·72. Code 01 Alabama 1975. relat ing to the un~mployment compensation "''I'ekly benefit. to increase the maximum benefit.

Act No. 92.184, H. 230, repeals Section 40· 1·32.1. Code of Alabama 1975, enti tled the - Proration Prevention Act 01 1988: It """uld have been implementtil only if the constitu · tional amendment propoMd by House Bill 252 of the 1992 Regular Session had been rat ified. House Bill 252 did not pass.

Act No. 92·174, H. 287, is the "Employment Security Enhancement Act:· It amends Sections 25-4·3-1. 25-4.32. 25-4 · 54. and 25-4. 143. Cede of AJal!arna 1975. relating to unemployment rompe ...... tion, to provide fu"her for the rates of unem · ployment compen.. tion contributiom. It also establishes the r:mpkl).ment Security Ennancement Fund in the State Trea:;ury. Act No. 92·175, S. 296, makes a supplemental appropriation from the Alcohol and Drug Abu .. Court Referral Officer TrU.\t Fund to the ~tandatory Drug Treatment Program f(}r the fiscal )'<'ar ending September 30. 1992. Act No. 92-111, S. 35. c(}ntinu~5 the existence and func· tioning of the Alabama Real Estate Commission. It .1.0 amend. Sections 34.27_2. 34·27.4. 34-27. 7. 34·27·8. and 34· 27·31 to 34· 27·36. inclusive. Code 01 Alabama 1975. to provide further for the commission. Ad No. 92.118, S. 41. continue. th~ existence and func· t ioning of the Ttlecommunications Division of the Inpart· ment of Finance. It also amends Section 41 ·4·284. Code of Alabama 1975, to provid e for the destruction of telephone records six montru aftu payment of th~ bill. Act No. 92_179. S. 43, continues the existence and func· tioning of the B<>ard of Publi c Accountancy. It also amends Sections 34· 1-4. 34-1· 11. and 34·1·12. Code 01 Alabama 1975. to provide further (or the board. Act No. 92.180. S. 45, continues the oxi.tonce and func· tioning of the Bo.>rd of Heating and Air Conditioning Contrac· tors. 1l also amends Sections 34·31·18. 34-31 -21. 34-31 ·25. 34·31 -26. 34-31·28. 34· 31·29, and 34-31·32, Code 01Al(1/Jam(1 1975, to providt further for the board. Act No. 92.181, S. 52. continues the existence and functioning of the Alabama Boord of Cosmtlology. It also amends Sections 34·7·19 and 34·7·21. Code of Alabama 1975. to provide lu"her for the board. Ad No. 92·182. S. 100, continue. the existen~ and func· tioning of the Pl um~TS and Gas f itters Examining Board. It

THE ALABAMA LAWYER

Act No. 92.185. H. 236. amends Section 41.19-3. Code of Alilbama 1975. ,..,Iating to state budgeting and finandal man· agement. to provide furth~r for effec!i,.. management of .tate governmenta l operations. It is the "8udget Management Imp"".. ment Act of 1992: Act No. 92·186. H. 254, is the "A labama Taxpa),<,rs' Bill of Rights and Uniform Revenue Procedure. Act: 11 amends numerous .. ctions of Titles 11. 22. 32, 35. and 40 and repeals numerous sections of Titles 9. 22. 32, and 40. Cork of Alal!a· rna 1975. ,.., lating to specifoc procedures for sPI'ciflC taxes. to standardize procedul'l" for administering the revenue law •. Act No. 92.203. H. 666, amends Sections 40·17·31. 40·17. 70. 40·17·81. 40·17·102. 40·17.103. and 40-17-122. Code 01 Alabama 1975, retating to gasol ine and other motor fuels. to increase the excise tax for gasoli ne by r" .. cenlS a gallon. Ad No. 92-204, H. 665, amends Sections 23.1·300, 23·1 -301. 23-1·306,23·1-307.23 ·1·313.23·1·314. and 23·1.317. Cede of Alabama 1975, relating to the Federal Aid Highway Finance Authority. to provide (u"her for the issuance of obligations by the Alabama Federal Aid Highway Finance Authority and for the lISe of proc«ds of obligations of the authori ty for the purpose of anticipating and prQ\i iding lor the ftileral snare of the cost of constructing federal aid projffts on lhe state highway system. Act No. 92 .2 05. H. 669. amends S«iion 40· 17· 2. Ccxk 01 Alabama 1975. re lating to motor fuel •. to levy an additional excise tax of five cenu per gallon On moi(}r furl used in the operation of any motor vehicle on the highways. Act No. 92.206. S. 107, amends Sections 37· 6·3. 37·6·8. 37· 6·9.37·6· 10.37· 6·12 , 37·6-1S. 37·6·22, and 37·6·30 and repeals Secti on 37·6· 17. CO<k 01 Alabama 1975. r~lating to coope ratives organiud for the purpose of supplying rtectric selVier , water and sewer service. and television reception ser_ vict. to provide further f(}r the organization. operation. and powers of the cooperati'~ and to the right of coo~rati,""s and certain municipal gas districu to terminate or decline service to customers under certain conditions. Septem~r

1992 ! 343

Ad No. '2.207. H. 555. propoM~ an .rmndmenl 10 thl' Constilulion of AIab.unI of 190110 provide for IhI' elt<:tion of lilt !'til Cily IIooord of Education. Ad No. '2·208. H. 359, proposes an amendrllfnl 10 tilt ComIitution of AbbIma of 1901 ulat,ng 10 tilt comptrwtion of tho: JUIItt of ....Ie of Pkuns County. Act No. 92.209. H. 164 . ..... nds ~Iion 36-27-49.3. COik 01 Alabama 1975. rtlating to th€ purctwt of milililry $INlet in the Employeta' or Teachers' Retirement System. to add apl>fllate judgu of Ihe Judiciat Rdiromenl System and to allow certain mimbtu of thi rttirement system.! to purchue crtdit for ilCt i~ milit.lry duty. Act No. '2·218. S. 274, .mrnds SKtion 36.1-4.3. C()(k 01 Alobama 1975. rtlating to dtd\lCtioos from lilt ularits oIlule tmpioytn. to rtquiu tNt a ctrt.'lin nu~r 01 II&le tm~loy· UI r~uut a Ip«ific ulal)l deduction btfor. IhI' deduction an bt rNCIt by tho! SUtt Corntltrolltr. Act No. 92·222. H. 52. amrnds Sections 4(}.1·33. 40-12 .190. 40·12 · 192.40· 12· 196.40· 12·198. and 40· 12·200. COik of Ala/xlma 1975, nllOting to the Iktnsing of dil tributors of rootor fuell. to prO\ide further for the liconsing. Act No. 92.223. H. 154, amen<U Section 17-4·150. CO<h of All1bama 1975. relating 10 lx>ards of registrars. to provide for the appointment of ~itiooal rlIfmbers to tht board of ngis· t ...., in any rounty whkh has two rourt/louKs. Act No. 92·227. H. 605 . amtnds Sections ]2· 19·71. 12·

19·72. 12· 19· 171. 12· 19· 172. ]2·19·1R 12·]9· 175. 12· 19· 176, ]2· 19· 178, .nd ]2· ]9· ] 79. Code 01 AlobamtI 1975. nlat· ;llfIto court f;OJU, to temponrily incn_ tho: ftt. and rosU in circuil and districl courU. It also m.k .. l uppltmenUI approprilOtions for the fiSellI year ending Septe~r 30. 1992. md appropriations for Ihe fiS<:lOl )'tar endillfl September 30. 1993. At! No. 92·245, H. 131, requir" a commercial party boat license issued by Ihe Division of Marine Resourcn of the Depart"",nt of COIIStMlion and Natural Resourcts for ctrt.'lin

Ad No. 92.259, H. 612 , proposes In lOmend"",ntto the Constitution of Alabama of 190] to .uthoriu tho Covington County Commission to esublim fin prottction districts in tho: county "nod I~ md collect additioNl PfOI)trty \ales for fort prottction mil I'QCtJt oquadi in tho! rounty. Ad No. 92.214 , S. 530, proposes In "mendrmnt to the Constitution of AlWIN 011901 to uUblish an .duul;oo ilCcountability loam in Mobilt County and to provid. for tilt levy or additional Id valor.m tu to /inane. schools in tho county. Ad No. 92.276, H. !l65, proposes .n imendm.nt to the Const itution of Alabama 011901 to levy i sal., and \I$( tax in Umutoo< Counly for the Atlltns City IIooord of Eduation and lho Limtstoo< County IIooord of fo:dUCltion. Act No. 92.277 , H. 799. propose. an Imtndl1ll'nt to tht Constitution 01 Alabama 01190110 providt for tho: eltction of lho Ta!lidtllll City IIooord 01 EdllC3lion.

Act No. 92.278. H. 841 . PTOPOKS an imtndrmnl to tlw Constitution of Alibami of 1901 to authorin the Centva County Commission to I~ and coll.cl ~itioNl ad valorem \all for the maintonanu of till )'loil and courthowo. Act No. 92·303, S. 131, arllfnds Section 36·29·14. Qxk of Alabama 1975, relating to the proctdure for offiurs. tmpio)'· tu. and ... tir\'e$ of c.rtlin municipalities. lin districts, ....al .. and fi ... authority districts. and tilt Lt~ 01 Municipalitics to be COIItred under the Sute Empioytn· Health Insurllnct Plan. to lu\horin urtlin iddilioNllt"tt. county. "nd municipal .ncies and regional planning "nd ~Io!lment commissions to participate in tho: plan. Act No. 92-342, H. 475, "nmds Section 36-25-9. Cotk of All1bama 1975. nllting to tilt code of ethics for public otft«rs ind employtt~ to .lIow ....1nUte brokers. ,"#nl$. <kwlopors. apPrlIisers. and mortgage ban~e., to st!'llt on state. county. Or municipal regulatory boards or commissions.

boo",

Act No. 92-343, H. !I08, ammds Sections 40·23-1 and 40-234. Cod/! of Alobamtl 1975. rtlating 10 ults and .... In. to provide fur orrtain tax exemptions rttTOilCli~ to Janwu)' I. I~.

A(I No. 92·252. S. 464. proposes In Imendrmnl 10 Ihe Constitution of AI"~IN of 1901 consolidating UndtT ont county public luthority or corpontion my public .uthoritie' or corpontions crellod by liwrtnco County for economic dtvtlopmrnt in tho counly PUl'SUlntto Constitutiooil Ammd· ment No. 190.

Act No. 92.344 , H. 392. Imendl Section 9_53. Code of Alabama 1975. nlatingto I fnsh .... at.r fishing license. to incruw its rost and describe furtlwr whtrt it is required. It abo rtqui .... a ultwaln fLshin,lial'l$t for ctrt.'lin PO"""' and in c~rt.'lin arus.

Act No. 92·253, S. 229, makes supplemtntal apPTOllrialions from tho Spodal Educllional Trusl Fund ind Ihe Gtntral Fund 10 the Otpartmtnt of Finance, Telephone R.volving Fund for the /i1Cll1 year ending September 30, 1992.

Act No. 92-418, H. 614, provides for tilt funding and Optra· tion of the Medicaid Program by requiring lhe transfer of moneys from publicly·""md hospitals to t~ Alabama Molhers and liabies Indigent Cart Trust fund. The act will remain

344 1 Stlllember 1992

THE AIA8A.'\A l.A.WYER

dfe,tive only n long as adequate federal financial participa· tion in the Medica id Program is available and will expi r~ September 30. 1995. Acl No . 92-435, S. 526, amends Seclion 39·7· 14. Code of Alabama 1975. relating 10 boards of Irustets of municipal improvement aUlhorities. to prOliidt that the boards shall con· sist of five members that are qualififii electors ~siding in the a... selViQ<! by the authority. A<I No . 92-438, K. 79, amends Section 36·2 1·70. Cede of Alabama 1975. relaling to Ihe Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund. to incre... the benefits paf'3ble to members of the fund. relroactive to October 1. 1991. Ad No. 92.439, K. 454 , prohibit. any college or universi· ty from spending public funds or using public facililies to unclion. recognize, or support any group Ihal promOles a lifestyl e or actions prohibited bj' the sodomy and ... ual mis · conduct l.w •. It also proh ibits any group from pe rmitting or encourag ing its members Or other. to engage in Or provide materials on how 10 en~ge in Ihe lifestyle or 'Clions. Acl No. 92·440. K. 615, amend. Secl ions 40·26B·20. 40· 268·21. 40 ·268 ·25 . 40·268-40. 40·26B·41. 40· 268-43. and 40·26B .45 . Code of Alabama 1975, relati ng to the privilege tax on nursing f.cilities and hospitals. to provide further for the tax. Act No. 92-443, K. 438, amends Sections 2, 3. and 5 of Acl No. 91 ·667. S. 432. 1991 Regular Session (n",,' appearing in Chapler 2,,", Title 4. Code 01 Ala~ma 1975)...Ialing 10 lhe Alabama International Airport Authority. to pTQ\'ide lurther for the incorporation and members of the authority . Ad No. 92.444, H. 15S, amends Secl ion 36·27· 50. Code of Alabama 1975. r~l ating to temporary legi~lative employees being co"",fii bj' the Stat~ Em pIOY'e,' Reti .. ment System and State Employees' Health Insurance Plan. to make co,.. ,"g_ opt ional at Ihe discretion of the employee . Act No. 92-445, H. 189, makes an appropriation from the Crneral Fund to the Alabama', Voung Woman of the Vear Program for the filQI year ending September 30. 1993. Act No. 92-446, K. 190, makes an appropriation from the Crnnal Fund to the America'. Voung Woman of the Vear Program fo, the filQI year ending September 30. 1993. Act No. 92-447, H. 192, makn an appropriation from the Crneral Fund to the Beacon House·Ja:;per for the f[!Ca1 year ending September 30, 1993. Acl No. 92-448, K. 205. makes an appropriation from the Ce ntral Fund to the Elf'ton Re<:o-.. ry Center for the filQI }"\'ar ending Seplember 30. 1993. Acl No. 92. 449. K. 210, makes an appropriation from the THE AlABAMA IAWVER

Ceneral Fund to Ihe Lighthouse Counseling Cenler for the fis· cal year ending Seplember 30. 1993. Acl No. 92-450. K. 215, makes an appropri ation from the Ceneral fund to the Council for Parenting and Protecting Children for the filQl }... r en ding September 30. 1993. Acl No. 92-451. K. 216. makes an appropriation from the Ceneral Fund to the Retired Senior Volunteer Program for the fruter Crandparent and Senior Companions I'rograms for the fiscal }"\'ar ending September 30. 1993. Acl No. 92-452, K. 220, makes an appropriation from the Ceneral Fund 10 the Shoals Ent .. preneural Cenler for the fi •. cal year rnding Septrmber 30. 1993. Acl No. 92-453, K. 195, makes an appropriation from the Ceneral Fund to Ihe Commission on Aging for the Ca.. Assurance System for the Aging .nd Homebound for the fiscal year ending September 30. 1993. Act No. 92-467, S. 595, ma kn a supplemental appropriation from the Public Road and Bridge fund to the State High· way Depa rlment for tho fiscal year 1991-92 for fedual aid matching and state maintenance. Act No. 92-471. S. 606, providu for the authority of any Class 2 municipality to prescribe standards for the continued use and occupanC)' of buildings. Ad No. 92.476, S. 1l0, prO\lides for the employment of additional legislative security personnel. Act No. 92·520, K. 179, makes an appropriation from the Special Educational Trust FUnd to the o. partment of Public Health for the filQl year ending September 30. 1993. Ad No. 92-521. H. 180. makes an appropriation from the Special Educational Trust Fund to the Co,.. rnor's Commission on Ph},.ical Fitness for the fiscal year ending September 30. 1993. Act No. 92·523. H. 286. makes an appropriation from the Special Educational Trust Fund to the AIDS Task f orce of Alabama. Inc .. for the fiscal }"\'ar ending Seplember 30, 1993. Act No. 92·524, K. 594, amends S.ctioos 8·6· \0 and 8·6· 16, Code ofAla~mQ 1975... Ial;ng to securities. to .. quire fil· ing of notice of i$Suance lor certain securities exempt from .. gist rat ion ; to provide further for exemptions of certain ex~hange listed securitiu; to provide artain authority to th_ Securities Commission; and to prOliid. remed ies for violat ions of the Alabama Securit ies Act. Act No. 92·525. H. 181. mak~s an appropriation from the Special f,ducational Trust Fund to the Spart Science Exhibit CommiS$ion for the fiscal year ending September 30, t993. September 1992 134$

Ad No. 92·526, H. 350, propo~e~ an amendm~nl 10 Ihe Con~titution of Alabama of 1901legali :ing the operation of bingo games for prizes Or money by certain nonprofit orga· nitations lor charit able. educational . Or othu lawlul purpos· es in Walker County outside Ihe corporate li mits 01 Jasper. Acl No. 92·527, H. 351, propo.e. an amendmont to the Constitution 01 Alabama 01 1901 legalizing the operation 01 bingo 8/lmes lor prius or money by certain nonprofit or8/lni. tations lor charitable. educational. or other lawlul purpoSts in the City 01 Jasper. Act No. 92-531, H. 340. creltes and establishe. the Alabama Scl1oo101 Fine Arts to!J.e governed by a board 01 trustets. Ad No. 92.532, H. 82, defi n~. and provides for the estat>lishment 01 com mun ity de"elopment dislricLo; and prescrilJ.es the method by which alwholic IJ.everages may IJ.e sold within the districts. Act No. 92.533. H. 115, makes an apprOpriation lrom the Ceneral Fund to the Legislative Reference Serviee lor the fiscal )'tar ending SeptemlJ.er 30. 1992. Act No. 92-535, H. 798, is the 'Alabama Brewpub Ac!." It further regulates the manufacture and sale of !J.eer in wet counties and wtl municipaliti.. by providing for the licensing of brewpub. to brew and .ell beer On the ",me p",mi"s for on·p",mi ..s consumption only. Act No. 92.537, S. 122, amends Articl .. l. 3. and 4 01 Chap. t.. 5 of Title 25. Code of Alabama 1975. to re"ile the Alabama Workme n's Comperuation Law. It al:;o ",peals Sections 2~5·16. 25-5,70 to 25-5-75. indusive. and Secti<ms 25-5-1 40 to 25-5180. inclusive. Code of Alabama 1975. It changes lh. name Wo,kmen'sCompen",lion Law to Workers' Comperualion Law. Act No. 92_543, H. 588, amends Section 40·17·11. Code of Ala/Ja"", 1975. ...,Iating to tax liability for the sales and uS<' 0/ molor fuels. to provide further lor the tax l i~bility. Act No. 92-544, H. 191, makes an appropriation from the Special I-:ducational Trust fund to Camp ASCCA in Jackson Gap for the fi scal year ending Seplem~r 30, 1993. Act No. 92-545, H. 193. makes an ~ppropriation from the Special Educational Trust Fund to the Bevill Center for Advanced Manufacturing Technology and to the Bevill Advanced Elfctroni" Cenler at Sparks Technical Coileii<' for the fiscal year ending Sep tem~r 30. 1993. Act No. 92-546, H. 194. makes an appropriation lrom the Special I-:ducal i on~1 Trust Fund to the Black Belt Human Resource Deve lopment Cen ter for the fiscal year ending Septem!J.er 30. 1993_ 346 1 SeptemlJ.er 1992

Acl No. 92-547, H. 197, mak .. an appropriation from the Spedal Educational Trust Fund to the Chi ld .. n'. Hospital in Birmi ngham for the fiscal year ending September 30. 1993. Act No. 92·548, H. 198, makes an apprOpriation from the Special Educationa l Trust Fund to the Chi ld .. n·. and Women 's Hospital in Mobile for the fiscal year ending September 30. 1993. Act No. 92.549. H. 202, makes an appropri~tion from the Spe<:ial Educational Trust Fund to the bploreum Nu~um of DiSCO\-~ry for the fiscal year ending Septem!J.er 30. 1993. Act No. 92-550, H. 203, maku an appropriation from the Special Educational Tru.t Fund to the Kate Duncan Smith DAR Scl1oo110r the fiscal year ending Septem!J.er 30. 1993. Acl No. 92-551, H. 208. makes an appropriat ion from the Special I-:ducational Trust Fund to the Alabama Humanities Foundation for the fiscal ;·.ar ending September 30. 1993. Act No. 92. 552. H. 209 , makes an appropriation from the Special EducatioNI Trust Fund to the Alabama League for the Ad>'ancement oIl-:ducation for the fi scal ;'I',r ending !)(ptem. ber 30. 1993. Acl No. 92-553, H. 211. makes an appropri.tion from the Speci.1 Educ.tional Trust Fund to t he Central Alabama Opportunitie. Indu.strialization Center for Ihe fiscal year ending September 30. 1993. Acl No. 92-554, H. 204, makes an appropriation from the Special Educational Trust Fund to the East Al abama Child !)e\'I'lopment Center for the fi scal year ending Septembe, 30. 1993. Acl No. 92-555, H. 207, makes an appropriation from the Speci.1 Educational Trust Fund to t he Helen Keller Eye Research Foundation fo, the fiscal year ending September 30. 1993. Acl No. 92-556, H. 292, makes an appropriation lrom the Special Educational Trust Fund to tho Macon County ArLo; Manifesto for the fiscal year ending September 30. 1993. Act No. 92.557, H. 218, makes an appropriation from Ihe Special Educational Trust Fund to the Alabama YMCA Youth and Government lor the fiscal year ending Septem!J.er 30. 1993_ Ad No. 92-558, H. 446, establishes standard:; lor m<>m\>ership in the Alabama Ne"'"Ilrk of Child...,n·s Advoc.2cy Centm. In<. Acl No. 92_559, H. 511, makes an appropriation from the Spedal Educat ional Trust Fund to Educational Resources. TIlE ALABAMA LAWYER

Incorporated Icommonly known as the Frwlom the r.scal ~ar ending Septem~. 30. 1993.

Forum~.

for

Act No. 92·560. H. 214, makes an appropriation fTQl1l the Special rducational Trust Fund to the Cle"eland A"enue Y~tCA for the fiscal yur ending Stptemb.. 30. 1993, Act No. 92_561. S. 305, makes an approp.iation from the Ceneral Fund to the Department of Ag.iculture and Indust. ies. Ag.icultural De,-elopmenl St",ices Program to bt allocated to the Boll Weevil F.radication Foundation for boll w"eyil eradication for the fiscal ~ar ending Septemk. 30. 1992. Act No. 92.562. S. 211 . amends Sections 11-98-1. 11-98-2. 11-98-<1. 11·98-5. and 11-98-6. Code 01Alabonw 1975. relating to emergency telephone service and communication districts, to provide further for the seNice areas. the structure and pOWu. of the board of commi.. ione •• of a dist.ict. and the type of emergtncy seNic •. Acl No_ 92-563. S_ 437, authori.es the Supreme Court and the Courts of Appeal to employ cutain personnel. It repeal, Sections 12.2_150 to 12-2-156, inclusi"e. Section 12-2-158. and Sections 12·4·1 to 12·4·4. inclusi"e. Code of Alabama 1975.•elating to the Marshal and Librarian of the Alabama Sup.eme Court and the Reporter of Decisions of th., Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal<. Ad No. 92.564, S. 375. empow..s the State Oil and Cas Board to autho.i ze and regulate the sto. age of gas in under. ground reservoirs , strata. or formations in conjunction with condemnation rights and eminent domain procedures. Act No. 92.572, H. 575, allows any Class 5 municipa li ty to adopt an ordinance creating a housing code abatement board to re1llO\-e structures that are unsafe to the extent of creating a pub lic nuisance. Act Nco. 92·577, H. 638. aml'nds Section I of Act No. SO· 573. S. 513, 19SO Regular Session. relaling to the compensa· tion of the circuit judges in the 16th Judicial Circuit. to prohibit an increue in the compensation unl ... the increue is p. ovided by local law. Aet No. 92.578. H. 201. makes an approp.iation f.om the Special rducational T.ust Fun d to the Project DARE and DON'T Drug Education Programs for the fIscal year ending Septembtr 30. 1993. Acl No. 92.580. H. 200. mak.s an approp.iation from the Special Educational Trust Fund to Constitution Hall Village at Huntsville for the fiscal }'i:ar ending Stptember 30. 1993. Acl No. 92·581, H. 213, makes an app.opriation from the Special Educational Trust f und to the Special Schools for Special Education for the fISCal ~ar ending September 30. 1993. THE ALABAMA LAWYER

Act No. 92-582, H. 217. makes an approp.iation f.om the Ceneral Fund to the Alabama Travel Council for the f,scal )'tar endin~ September 30. 1993. Act No. 92·583. H. 222 , makes an appropriation from the Ceneral fund 10 the Child Advocacy Cente~ for the fiscal ~ar ending September 30. 1993. Act No. 92·584. H. 199. ma kes an app.opriation from the Ceneral f'und to the Coolition Against Domestic Violence for the fiscal Y"ar ending September 30. 1993. Act No. 92-585, S. 3 08. amend.< Section 9·14.29, Code of Alobama 1975...lalinG to stat. pa.ks , to exempt from certain laM concossion OperatiON at nate parks that .ecei,-e annual

g.oss .eceipts of S100.000 or less. Act No. 92.586, S. 23. creates the Impai.ed Drivers Trust Fund in the State Treasury to provide .ehabil itati,-e seNices to residents of the state with certain types of injuries. Act Nco. 92·587. S. 74. amend.< Sections 14-2·12 and 14·216 , Code of Alabamo 1975. relating to the Alabama Correc· tions Institution Finance Authority. to authori~e the i.. uance of additional bonds and to all ow the bonds to be sold at public or private sale. This act will become effecti"" aft er the Easter· linG Facility has been reopened and all teminated emp loyees .eemployed. Acl No. 92.588, S. 246. amends Section 11-<15·9.1. Code of Alabama 1975. relating to the issuance of a summOnS an d complaint by mun icipalities for violat ions of certa in o. di. nances. to p.ovide further fo. lhe violation"~ ACI No. 92-589, S . 525, 1"'rmits certain goYernmental entities to hedge against in terest rate. iny..lment. payment. and , imita •• i,k. in connection with their activities by mtering into -swap agreements." It also provides the conditions. requirements, and ddlnitions for -swap agree. ment,." Act No. 92·590, S. 72. requires public schools to emphasi ~e reSpOnsib le suual behavior and prevention of ill egal drug use in those programs and curriculums that include instruction on the ,ubjeds. Act No. 92·591, S. 195, makes a condit ional appropriation to tnt Department of Agriculture and Industries for th .. fi scal )'ear ~nd ing Septembe. 30. 1993 to indemnify O»TleTS of swine o.d .... d condemne d and dest . o}·ed for the prevent ion and eradication of the dise~s of hog cholera, Alrican swine fever. and other swine diseues. Acl No. 92-592, H. 584, places a moratorium until January I. 1995 on the permitting. constroction. or expansion of CfTSeptembe. 1992/ 347

tain new u r existing sanitary landfills in any t(}unty which contains coastal areas. Act No. 92.593, U. 449, makes ~n appropriation from the AgritultuTal Fund fur the use of the Department of Agricul · ture and Industries for the fiKa I y<'ar ending September 30.

"" Ad No. 92·59 4, H. 318, makes supplemental appropria. tions to the Alabama Department of El:onomic and Community Affairs fOT the fiscal year ending s.,ptember 30. 1992. Act No. 92.595, U. 69, ma~ a supplemental appropriation from the Alcoholic Bevonage Control Fund to th e Alcoholic Beverage Control Board for the fiKaI \'far ending Sl'lItember 30. 1993. Act No. 92·596, U. 71, make. a supplemental appropriation from the Alcoholic Bewrage Control Fund to the Alcoholic Beverage C<>Tltr(}1 Board for the fiscal year ending Septembe r 30. 1992. Act No. 92·597, H. 34, is tM "Alab.lma Pawnshop Act"· It provides for the regulation and licensing of pawnbroke.. and repuls Sections 8·1 · 80 to 8·1-84. inctusive. Code 01 Alabama 1975. It also make s an appropriation to the State Banking Department from the Ban king Assessments Fe.. fund for the 1992 fiscal year for the implementation and administration of this act. Act No. 92. 598, H. 247, requires the lessee of tax exempt property t(} report certain information relative to the property to the tax asse...,r who is required to report to the Department of Revenue which then reports to the ugislalOre. Act No. 92.599 , U. 246, is the "Tal Incentive Reform Act of 1992." It author i... the abatement of ad valorem taxes other than thoSi' im postd for public school PUfJlO'eS and f(}r public education and mortgage and recording taxu incurred in utablish ing Or expanding industries in the state. It also amends S«tion 40· 7·35. DxJe of Alaoomo 1975, and repeals s..ctioru 40·9..\0 to 40·9..\9. indusive. DxJe ofAlaOOma 1975.

Traffic Accident Reconstruction

ALBERT MEDINA P.Q. OOX l4OPO

34 8 ! Sept~mber

MOHTOOMERY . ~

1992

Jell<

~)VI·~

Act No. 92"600, S. 324, amend. Secti(}n 40-12..\9, Code of Alabama 1975. relating to attorney business licen.., taxes. to inc ..".., the taxes and to provide further for the collection of the taxe.. Act No. 92-601 , S. 365, amends s..ction 13A-5..\(l, Code 01 Alabama 1975. re lating to capital offen..,s. to induM ,,"'ithin the list of crimes punishable as capital offen..,s: murder when the victim is under 14: murder in which the victim is killed "'hile in a dwelling from a deadly w.apOn fi red outside the ""·elling: murder in which the victim is killed in a motor vehi· cle by a deadly weapon fi red from oUl$ide that motor ,... hide: and murder in which the "ictim is kill ed by a deadly weapon firt<.! from a motor vehicle. Ad No. 92·602, S, 19, provides for mandatory erro .. and omissions insurance c(}verage for all active real estate licensees. Act No. 92"603 , S. 248, exempts all property owned by C(}mmunity Hea lth Systems, Inc .. and the Walker Regional Medical Center from any state. county , and local ad valorem taxes. Act No. 92·604, S. 452, authorizes and provides for the pay. roll deduct ions for state employees for the roster Care Trust Fund. Act No. 92. 605, S. 457, provides for a IlOluntary checkoff designation On state inrome tax returns for contributions 10 the Foster Care Trust fund. Act No. 92·606, S. 260, amends S«tion 26-16-30, DxJe of Alabama 1975. relating 10 the Children·s Trust Fund, to pr(}'ide for the irwestment of trust fund money. Act No. 92 . 607 , S. 321 , revist! and supplements the exist ing syslem for .. gistering certain vita l rec(}rds and statistical data. It als(} specifically repeals Sections 22·9·1 to 22·9·79. inclusive. Code of Alabama 1975. relating to vital statistics. Act No. 92·608 , S. 109, provides for examinations and the iMuanCl' of licen!"s to persons in the home building industry, prowiM' for the adoption b)' counties of residential housing building codes: and cr.. tes the Home Builders Licensure Board. This act is required t(} be adwrtised in each county in a """"spaper of general circulation Once a week for thlu consecuti,.. weeks prior to im plementati<>Tl. Act No. 92·609, S. 5 9, amend. s..cti ons 16-13·52 and 16· 13·52.1, Code of Alabama 1975. relating to the number (}f teach .. units olloo.o.·ed, to provide an alternative method for detennining the number (}f current teacher units earned b)' a particular school system. THE AlABAMA I.o\WYER

Act No. 92·610, H. 186, makes an appropriation from the Spedal Educational Trust Fund to Talladega College for the fiscal year ending September 30. 1993. Acl No. 92 ..tH), H. 185, makes an approprial ion from Ihe Special Educational Trust Fund to the Coosa Valley ~1edical Center School of Nursing for the fiscal year ending September 30.1993. Acl No .. 92-812. H. 184, makes an appropriation from the Special Educational Trust Fund to ~1arion ~I ilitary Institute for the fiscal year ending September 30. 1993.

tiVi' Tag Program. and Ihe Environmental Commemoratke Tag Program. Act No. 92·623. H. 616, amends Sections 40 .. 1.. 31. 40 .. 21 .. 64. 40 .. Z1-80 1040.. 21 ·84. indusiVi'. 40 .. 21-86. 40 .. 21 .. 87. 40 .. 21 .. 100 10 40 .. 21 .. 104. indusi ..... ,md 40 .. 21 .. 121. Cede of Alabama 1975. relating to the utility gross receipts tax. to increase the tax and the ulility SErvice use \ale on intrastate telegraph and telephone services and provide further for distribution of utili .. ty gr05$ receipu tax receipts_ It also repuls Sections 40 .. 21 · 58 and 40 .. 21 .. 59. Code of Alabama 1975. to repeal certain t~le .. phone and telegraph license taxes.

Act No .. 92. 613, n. 182, ma kes an appropriation from the Special Educational Trust Fund to Ihe Departmenl of Youth Services for the fiscal year ending September 30. 1993_

Act No. 92. 624 , n. 445 , mak~. an appropriation from the Shipping Poin t Inspection Fund to the Department of Agriculture and Industries for the fiscal year ending September 30. 1992.

Act No. 92.614. H .. 163, makes an approprialion from the Spec ial Educational TruSI Fund to the Lyman Ward Military Academy for the fiscal year ending Seplember 30. 1993.

Acl No. 92.625, S. 214 , amends Section 41-5-21. Co</;! of Alabamu 1975. relating to audit reports by the Office of F:!\aminers of Public Accounts. to provide for confidentiality of th . working papu. u .. d in th~ preparation of audit reports.

Acl No. 92 .. 615, H. 187, make. an appropriation from the Special Educational T'Tmt Fund to Tu.ke~. Unilltr>ity for the fiscal year ending September 30. 1993. Acl No. 92 .616, H .. 196. makes an appropriation from the Specia l Educational Trust Fund to United Cerebral Palsy of Alabama. Inc .. United Cerebral Palsy Im--elopment Center for East Central Alabama. Simpson· May Cerebral Palsy Cenler. Ce~b ...1 Palsy Housing Foundation. United Cereb .. l Palsy of Mob il •. and United C.rebral Palsy of HuntwiUe for the fiscal year ending September 30. 1993. Acl No. 92 .. 617. n. 178, makes an appropriation from the Special Educational Trust ~'und to the Department of Educa· tion far the fiscal year ending September 30. 1993. Act No. 92·618. H. 188, makes an appropriation from the Special Educatio",,1 Trust Fund to Walk"" County Junior College for the fiscal\ur ending September 30. 1993. Act No. 92 .. 620. H. t 76 , is the education budget. It make> appropriations for the suppOrt. maintenance . and development of public education and for debt service and capital improve .. ments for the fiscal year ending September 30. 1993_ Ad No. 92.621 , H. 177, is the general fund budgd. It makes appropriatiQns for the ordinary expense, of the oxecu .. tive. legislative . and judicial agencies of the state. Acl No. 92.622, H. 470 •• mends Section 32 .. 6-1SO. Cede of Alabam a 1975. relating to personal; ~ed and distinctive com .. memorative licen... plates. to provi de for the Atomic Vderam NUKED Comm.morative Tag Program. Veteran Commemora .. THE ALABAMA LAWYER

Acl No. 92.626, S. 93, includes in the defi nition of "minori .. ty· for pu rposes of affirmative action programs. American Indians or Alaskan Nati .... s or persons having origins in any of the original peoples ofNarth ~rica •

PROBATE BONOS COURT BONDS . Adm! ni stu tor ' a/Executor' s/Persono.l Represen t a t ive's Bonds .GU$r dian(Conservator"/C~ittee Bonds .Testwnen ary Trustees Bonds . Recei vers Bonds .Tr ustee in Li<l.uidation Bonds .T r ust ee in Reo r goniution Bonds . AttacluDent!Gar nishment Bonds .Replevi n Bonds . Inj unction Bonds 'lndeMity to Sheriff . Appe"l , Supe r sede"" , St ay of Ex e cution Bond. When you need 0 bond Jusl Coli

Jack Mc Cam Mickie Me Carn Edwards for Profusional Smice 251 . 4062

FAX: 328 . 0247

Realty 1nswonoe Agency. Inc . P.O. !lOX ~175 lIitmD";/lxm>. AJaborng ~25.S I'!l<:nO (20S) 25 (-40(,2 rAJ(. 328.QZ41

September 1992 1349

DISCIPLINARY REPORT R.I".tatement • Mlc:hu l lAe AJbup .-u uinswrd to tilt PQCti~ by OtIkr of the Supre ...... Court or Alablma. dftctiw June 23. 1992. (Pot. No. 9]·091 • Jackt"" Willi . ... Stoh • . In EI~. ~IN attorney. was reinstaltd

to Ih' praclin of II"" by or<k. of It.. Sup.tmt Coort of Aiabamll. dleetlo. July 2]. 1992. (I'd. No. 92-05)

DI.berment • On April 28, 1992 EufiuL"l lawyer Sa.utl If:Mal. trt, Jr. _ dishirrtd f.om the prxlict of la.... by th. Suprtmt Court of "]"bam.. , nid di,b, rmtnt to Income e[futiy. as of ".bruaty 21. 1991. LtMaistre had b(en f(lun.d guilty of rT\f.i1 f.loUd which is " v;olu;cm of Rule 22(IH21. Alabama Rults of Oisdpl'r\lry f'r'oudure (lnttrom). (Rule 22(1)(2) rtt. No. 91·071

An,",

"'.penslons • On June II, 1992 JI .. CLIJ' finc h. u was .usPtr>dtd from tho practice 01 law for thrtt)'tclr1 \0 become tfftcliw r.bruary28.1992. In November 1991 .• not ice "'"I pllced in The AlaOarna lAIu,!}u, advising Fincher thai h. had 28 d.l.ys from NoYtmMr 15, 1991 to m., &n &n5WI:r to disciplinary charQU; oth· e,.....iK tM <hlrSti would"" dtemed • dmH ted ~nd ~lIpropriate diKipline would M impO$td against him. ,. htlring on the application for &faull judg· ment ind \0 dttermine discipline wu held February 18, 1992. The Ippliation for do/ault judQment Wif sr~nted February 28. 1992 ind 1M l}iscipliJUry IIoard chair s,goW an ordt. suspending Fincher for i period of thrtt yurs, (ASB N.,.. 89· 166. 89.177 &nd 89,235) • Montgomery liW)'tr Rlch • • d J . Cr. "If'UII wu suspended from tM pooict 0I1iw by order 01 the Supreme Coort of AllIhaIN for a period of fou r ~~1"$. eff~ct i~ July n. 1992. Cras.green wu convicted of twa Counis of Kcuritiu fraud. involving miwppropriation of commit/lltf1t 1«" in violation of IS U.S.C. 78j(b) Ind 781f(lI), Grusgrttn wu sentenced 10 M imprisoned for three months on tach 350 I s.,pttmbtr 1992

count, to run concurrently. (Rule 22(1)(2) IPn. 119HlllI.

Public Re pri"",nds • Huntsville ~ltorney IIII."J' Cole. "'... Burtoll was publicly reprim.mdtd in 1'000 Iotp;onte CUQ. ASB No. 90·735 - Burton wllS ~uintd to me II civillCtion for adient ariting out of lhe pu,,1\uI' of a <... m· mudal busine55 by tht client. Burlon suted he would ha~ the CllK filed by the end. 01 Dtttrnb« 1989, but did not do so until March t990. By April 1990. lhe dienlllPProachtd Burton iboul fiI· ing II Chapter 13 B~nkruptcy and to dt/tnd l collection action brought by AmSO\l.th Bank. Within the next three months. Burton .:ontinutd to represent thu ht "IllS proltCiing the clienl's intemtJ in .lIthest INtlers. In~, he did ab$Olutely nothing an them. The ditnl had a defaul t judgment taken against him b}' AmSouth. His originill Lawsuit Willi dW'niSMd. &nd the ~lIer 01 tht bUlintu sued him for non·p.ay· menL Burton ~r filed the bankrupt· cy, but the dient only Inrnod thi$ by contilcting the bankruptcy cou rt him· .. If. Th roughout tht clitnt'l relation· ship with Burton. ht hid to endurt continual lvoid,nce Ind inttntiOl\ll1 mil«prewnll.li<.>ns ~t 1M status of hil cun. Burloo repeatedly fiiltd to rtsp(lnd to any of the ciltnt'l allega· tioJ1$ when as~ ed to 110 SO by the Madi. son County Bar AssociitiO<l. ASB No. 9146W - Burton wu publicly rcprill'W'Odtd for enpging in .:onduct which refltcttd acMrstly on his fll· ness to practice. On s.,pttmber 5. 1991 Burton was dul~ notictd to appear before the board 01 bar commiJ.siontrs for the IdminiJtflliO<l of iI publk reprimand (unreLated to ASH f90.735). Burton will· lully lailed to ippnr II the dtsiQnated lime wilhoul having ""en personally excused by the presidtnt of the stale har. • Joe JI .... Elte, of AnnislO<l "liS rtUintd by a client to pursue II divorce modifiation. The clitnl Id''anted to Estep hil attorney's fee. However, the client Willi unable to tOmmuniate with E$lep about the .latus of her cast. She

then filed, complaint agiinS! Estep with the bu. The Office of Cenenl Counsel fo,.....udtd the complainl to Eltep rtquntinQ i wrilltn rUp(lnse the .. t .... lI aving received no luch rtSporut. the Office of General Coonstl hid the sheriff ptOON11y se"" a writlm request for I rt$pOfISIt to the ~nI on Eotep. Eottp hu ntvrr replied to the compLaint. ,. rMew 01 the court r«Ords failed to disclou any pleadings med by EJtep O<l behalf of h ... client. The DiICi· piilWy Commiuion ordered thai Eottp be publicly reprimanded for willfully nogl«ting I lepl matttr enll'\l$ltd to him. I"" failing to ketp • client ruson· ably informed about tht status of a mat· ttr. for engaginQ in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud.. d«tit, misreprclotnt.lo· lion or "'i11lul milCOnduct, and for en&aiing in <;(Induct pnjudiciill to the administration of Justice ilnd conduct which w"trstly rtIlectJ on his filno~ to practice Law. (ASB No. 91·708) • TII...d,t H. Flmbroulfh of Pell City WaS hir.d by In individual concerning thaI individull'J IlItmpU to recrwu cntain antique automobiles which had Men wrongfully con~rted by othtrs. The client provid.d Fim_ brough ...ith the nttdtd doxumtnt.lotion to proceed on the clienr. behall. and also poid to Flmbrough 1 Itt of S7S0, Intlusi~ 01 the filing Itt. Tht client' • case was schedu ltd for two seplnte he. rings. One hearing was continued. and Fambrough fliled to iPpe... it the second hearing. IlllYing betn unable to .:on\.iCI ~ to dUcuss the INt· t", tht clitnl checked with the clerk's office and diICow red that his cast had been dismissed by the trill court's lI"nting of a Jummny judgment in favor fA the dfftnd.l.n~ Fimbrou,gh took no furthtr ICtIon on Mhall 01 the client. and provided no explal\lllion to the client for his milf~J sance. The Disciplinary Commiuion ... rdered thllt Flmbrough "" publicly reprimanded for willfully ntgleetin, a 1~1 miller entrusted to him, for wI· inS to keep his client reuonJbly informed ~bout the 5tatus of his cast, and for failing to t ~p lain a mailer to the

THE AU.BAMA UWVER

e~tent

reasonably necessary to permit the client to mab informed decisions regardi ng the representation. (ASB No. 91 ·670) o ln ASB No. 91 ·690. Ca.,.l€. n avi, of Centre was retained by an individual to me a lawsuit. After not hearing from Davi. for Quite .Ome time. the client called Davis. Davis told the client that he had filed a 5125.000 lawsuit on the clienr. bfhalf. After experiencing fu rthe r difficulty in communicating with Davis about t his matter. th e client checked with the circuit clerk·s office and was informed that no such lawsuit had ewr bfen filed. The client file d . complaint again.t Dav;'. Davis was Ie .. than dil igent in reSpOnding to the com· plaint. The Discipti nuy Commission ordered that Davis be publicly repri.

manded for willfully neglecting a legal matter entrusted to him. for failing to seek the lawful objectives of his dient. for prejudicing Or damaging his client during th e course of the profeuional re lationship. fo r failing to keep his client reasonably informed about the status of his case. and for engaging in conduct prejudicia l to the administra_ tion ofjustic(. (ASB No. 91 -(90) o Sylacaug a attorney Michael Ant h on)' Civtnl was publicly repri manded on ~lay 22. 1992 for fail ure to _k the lawful objecti,"~s of his client. for failure to carry out a contract of employnwnt. and for engaging in conduct which reHeelS adversely on his fitnt .. to practice law. In April 19M. Givens filed suit for a client. but took no .ction what.oever

thereafter. On at least two occasions. he misrepresented the status of the case to the dient. After the grievance was filed. Giwru; faited to coop<'rate with eithu the Tal · ladega County Bar Or the Office of Cen · eral Counsel in thei r investigation and processing of the complaint. (ASB No. 89·283) • Bir mingham attorney Wtllle L. William. was publicly reprimanded on May 22. 1992 for vi olating Rule 3.3(al (3) of the Rules of Profusional Conduct which provides that a la~r shal l not offer evid ence known to be false. and Rule 4.1(a) which provides that a la~r shall not knowingly make a false statement of a material fact to a third person. Williams represented hi. client in a

NOTICE tice law in Alabama. Upon 'eceipt of payr!lem.thosa """" pur. chaS8 \hi! Ooanse win bemailed aib;!nseand walil.lt"$iloo

All Alabama Attorneys Cha.-.ge-s regarding UcensingiSpeciat M4lml)ership Dues 1992·93 AclI92-600 was passed t»' t .... Alabama L"IIisialu,e and amends Section 4t).12·49. CcdfI of Alabama. 1975. aHeetive October 1. 1992.

This act involves impOtlant cha.-.ge-s as follows: I. Licenso leos inaease I,,,,,, S ISO Ie S2OO. Special mom· l)ership dues increase Irom S75 to $100.

license tor ide nt~ ica t ion purposes. Those elocting speciat membe,ship will be sent a wallats ized ID ca rd 10<" idamnication purposas arod als.o to setva as a r"""ipI. ~ yoo do rool ,,,,,,,iva an invoice. please notiljl Alice Jo Ha-nd,ix. mombe<ship services di,oct<>r. at 1-.800-354·6154 (in'Slata WATS) or (21)5) 269-1515 Immedlatelyt

poi J r c h as e ..........."'" ......'" poiJ': ':"="'~:';~ :":":':"'~':':::::::::~~~=:~_:;~~~~~::

judQ& or licoose ocmmissicno,. annua l occupalional

licenses 10 practice b\II, inSlead . the Alabama 2. All AUOmeY" no State longerBar. ticeflSOSIe "'act;"" ~. Iaw.as~llas",·

mem of SPeCial mombership dues. wi~ be sold through Ih8 Nabarna Slata Bar Headquar· ters. Ucenses musl be pufChasod between Octo· be< I and Octobe, 31 or be 5ubjact iO IlI1 automatic 15 percent per-.alty. Second notle ... wltl net be senti In mid-September. a d\Ial invoice Ie be used t»' bott1 a....... aI Ooanse holders and speciaf members witt be mailed Ie 0"","" iawy'" admitted Ie prac-

THE AU\6AMA u\WYER

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&ptembfr 1992 / 35 1

domutic dispole in which child custody w;os ~rded 10 his cI~nt'~ a-hu.lwld. Thtru.fter, lhe client noIif.ed Williams tllal she did nol w~", to ~ppullhe _rd d cwtody or 10 purwo Iht maIler further. Howner. lhe client's pftstnl huwnd fell Illal his wife should purwe ill atttmpt 10 IwIe Iht dtcision r~rw4, Tht dient·, h~ ....,.. also~ clienl d Will;'~,;os Wl'1I ;os a ptnonal friend. The client's husband ~ulhoriud Williams 10 proceed with Iht cast. On Ih. basis of his convtrulion with the ditn" l husband, Williams forged the client's name 10 an affidavil in support of I Motion 10 Alttr, AIMnd or Vaeale Judgmenl and notarized the forged signalure in his capacily ;os I No\.;Iry Pul). Ii<;. \\'hen lhe client dUcoYtrnl thot Iht Motion ~ been filtd, sht COOlXttd the court ind Ilad the MOlion dismill~. The OiKiplin..,y Commiu;on delermined thol, :as discipline for Iht aboYedeKribfd (onduct, Williams .lIould rfftNt a public rf1>rimand ...ilhout gen. ml publication. (ASII No. 91·645) • lion attorn.y Phillip Lou" Crun was public ly reprimanded fOJr violating Rule 1.5(11(11 which prohibits an iuomey from cllarging or colleding a fet in ~ domntic rtlations matter which is conlingenl upOn Ihe amounl of Ilimony, support or property stule· ment. Cretn cllarged I divorce dienl S250 dollars for I diwra willi the pro. vision llial the fft would be lIightr if I Irill _ ,",cellll')'. There wn I trial l/ld by then lhe client llad jliid S400

dallus. plus lhe filing ~e of S97 daHal"$. When lhe client went to C,"n's offict 10 pick up Ihe divorce pipers, he cllaTlltd her an IdditlOn&l S500 dollars bastd on lhe rtsull oblaintd it Irial. Crten tried 10 justify lhe iddilionll chirge by Silting il only unounltd to 3 percent of Iht v,lue of rul property ' ...... rdtd her Illrial. (ASII No. 91-865) • Gadsden Ittorney John Cunnin,h.m was publicly upr;mandtd July 15, 1992 in cOlln«liOll with hi. llandling of ~ perlOnll injury matter. He fail~d 10 <OOptrale in tht ba.'s In~e'ligation 01 the grievance tha! .n.u~d from the eist. On M~y 30, 1990, Cunningham ...-as rellined 10 rtprtstnl .. minor ..."110 ....:as injurtd in an accident. n.. cast "'"as ultimalely selllt<! in Oclober 1991. n.. minor's mollier filed I gdevince .. gainst Cunningllam .. tier Ihe stille· IMnt d lhe cast. Sh~ alleg~ llial h. convinced them 10 accept the uttlemen\ on irw;omp!ete informalion. failtd to communkile and keep he. infonntd, and wn noI trulhful aboul cenain mal· ters usoeilted wjlh the cast . Cunningllam n~r ••• pOrH!td to Ihe allegalioru of the complainl, in spilt of Je\'eral written uquelts that ht <kilO. Rule 8.\(b) of lhe Ruin of Proftssional CondUCI providts lliat a ~r sllall noI flil 10 .espond 10 .. lawful dtmand for infonnilion from i diKiplilllry authori· ty. tASB No, 91 ·n7) • Donll. T, T...... le .. unclrrto<.>k to rtpn:stnt the inl.mll of lhe presidenl of i painl contra.ctil'lll ~ny for lhe

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purpOiSt of _ring .arne $27.000 in reliinag. ~nd other monies Ihe p""si. denl ~11 wert owed 10 his company by. C<)11.ltTUClion company. Another painl conlr .. Clor broughl an aelion alilirul Ihe bonding company of Trawick'S clirnn wmplny. In lum. lhe bondil'lll wmplny IUtd Tra...ick's client and lhe offi«rs of his company, Tra....ick·s client deliwred 10 Trawick III pleadings and OOcUmtnl. Ind .n~d Tra.... ick·. strvices lor defense of alililigation involving Ihe clienl and his company. The inwstlgalion into the facls of the fo . mlll grievlnce against Trawick m."taltd lhal Trawick 1It\'t. filtd .uil on behilf of Ihe clienl or his company ;>piN\1ht oonstruction wmpany which allegtdly owed .ellinlg. and olher monies 10 the clirnlilldfor his~ . Th. clienrs home was subnquently levitd upon by Ihe bonding comjliny b:astd on lilt bet llial lhe Qst IIad pro. ceWtd 10" final judgmenl lIglIinSl the elienl Ind his company, wilhout Ihe climl tlltr llaving been advi~ by Traw-kk dillY Juch judgment. Trawick·, clienl filed a g.ievance which WaJ In ..... tigated by the Birming_ h,m BlI' A$$O<:ialion Crievance Commime. The inwslililto. fo. lliat body wrote T.iWick requnting a written ruponn 10 the IIriennee. HIving reCt,,~d no rCSpOrut, Ihe invntigalor lIglIin wrote 10 Tm.ick and pbccd sewr· II Itltpho,", nils 10 him concerning SlIme. In i le1tphont corn't1'Wlion "";Ih Ihe in~sligator, Tra"'ick adYistd lhe invtltillator lhat his respOnst ....:as "in Ihe m'il." Howe,~r, Ihe in~sligitor newT rtceiwd I~ such ft5]lOllSe.FiOll· Iy, aller numerous lelephon~ call5 10 Trawick by lhe invntigator. lhe investigator recti"",, I response from Trawick. However, Tnwid had disclosed in i lelephone con~r ... tion with lhe invtstigalor tllat he could neilher admit nor deny Ihe IlIelillions of Ihe compl,inl and tIIat he ~ no means d prtMding lny OOcumtnllllion which .....,..Id chalItnt< the Illtllalions of the cornpbint. The invtstigllion disclosed Ihll Trawick f.iltd 10 file iny iclion on btllalf of his dlenl. Furthe., it iPptlrs Ihat constni judgmtnUi were enlertd against Tnwick', clienl without the elien!"s consent. The Discipli nary Commission of the Alabama Slate Bar or<kred, pursuant 10

THE ALABAMA L.o\WYER

Rul. 8(0)(21. Alab,ama Rules of Disci · plinllT'jl Pt-octdure (lnlerim). t!>it T",,,,~ ick bo publicly repri .... ndtd for 'iolating Rule 1.3 (~r's willfully lIfikcIing. lellil tmU. . . ntrusled 10 him). Rul. 1.4(&) (requiring 1I ~r to keep a client reuonably informed aboul thr .tal... of I matter and promplly complying with rea$On_bl. TtQutslS for info,rn.)lionl, and Rul. 1.4(bl (TtQui ring i I.~r to oxp!.ain a mailer to the extent reasonably nects$oll)' 10 penn it the client to make informrd decisions rtgard ing the represmt.:ltionl. AiIIl»ma Rul .. of profmionalConduct, tASBNo..91·301) • Mon lgomtry iHorney J o b n A. T. ...... wu publicly reprimanded by ttw Alabama Sutt Bar on July 15, 1992 for violltillll DR 1· 102(A1(6) of Iht Code of I'roIessionaI Rl'$p()tUibiiil¥ by engaging in conduct tNt rtnecu ~ ....Iy on his

r.tntSli to p~lico taw. The Oisciplinal)' ~rd fOllnd that Tlbor wu rtliined by I'""nl$ of a dto:&Std child 10 .... 'estnl Ihom in a medical rna]p~tic. claim. Appro.im~tdy one yur lfltT Min, "1.ained. Tabor mQYtd his practice from Grunville. Aillbarmo to Birminghllm without noIifying hi, clients. In ]990. Tabor lTIO\'ed his p"dice from Birmingh~m to ,l-I on t Qomtry. but aQain f~ilf~ to notify his ~Iients. When sum· mal)' judgmrnt was granled in the case, Tabor neglecled 10 notify his dienl$ of this fact. The Disciplinary Hoard funher found t!>it throughout his repreStnla. tion Tlbor ~on,i' l ,ntly failtd 10 ~,pond 10 telephone calls and Itllers from his ditnl$ or to O1herwiSt com· municate with them con~ming their CIH. tASl:I No.. 90-831) • Mon tQomoT'jl l\torney J o b n A,

T. ~ o" Wli

publicly reprirn.)nd~d by the Allblmi Stite Bar on July 15. 1992 (or (~i1urf to comply with an or<kr of tM Oisdplin.II''jI Commission in ool<ltion of Rule 2(dl of tho Ruin of DiscipliniT'jl Procfdur. llnttrim). The Disciplinny Bond found thll T.bor ",~s gi"tn <I public r.primand without gtn ...l publie<uion in AS8 No, 9O",,031A} but (ail.d to ~ppe~r (or administration o( the public repri. mand as scheduled. Administration of the public repri . mand ""as ruch.dul.d a Stcond h me. bul aglin TaOOr failtd Or r<fused to awrlT. Tabor was gMn I public repri· mand lor his liilure or refusal to appear in compliinct ,,·'th tM COmmiSllion's order in ,lIdition to Ihe ptlblic Ttpri...."" imp(*d on him in ASB No. 90.o3(A1. tASB No. 9 1-433) •

Cumberland School 01 Law Presenls

NOTICE Disciplinary Proceedings 5.111. M . McConnell. attorney a] la w. whose whereabouts are unknown. muSI answer the Alabama State Bar'S formal disci· plinary charges wl]hin 28 days of Sept. t. ]992 or, thereafter. Ihe charges con· tained therein shall be imposed against her in ASS No. 9t-330 before the Disciplinary Board 01 Ihe Alabama Slate Bar Disciplinary Board Alabama State Bar

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]992/ 353

ABOUT MEMBERS, AMONG FIRMS

ABOUT MEMBERS

Arlington Awnut, Bi rml~h;om, AlabaITIII 35205, Phon. (Z{i5) 933·2900.

Cra la: R. lul'1l anr\(lunets the relocali on of hi. omce \0 308 I'r~nk Nelson IJu ilding. The mililin g add.us is P.O. BOl 130277. Bi rmingh am. Alahama 35213. Phont (205) 323·3241.

W.I. Mathe ... Innouncu the opening of his offien bt Ill! East Moulton St"u. Sui tt 1. Decl l ur. Alabama 35601. Phone (205) 355·6070.

Luu •• Ahll " Kirby announe .. tNt J. Stt~en Clem and Let,h Ann Klnll I13w joined Iht firm H associates. Orfie", are located at 250 Pa rk Pllce Tower. 2001 Parle Plae • . No rth. Birminsham, Ala!»ma 35203. Phon. (205) 251 ·8448.

M. Clay Ra,oda l• . Iormtrly a pin1· ne. ""th Starnn 6; Atchison, announcts lhot ~ina: 01 his o/flCe at Fality Build· ing. 1929 3rd Awnue. North. Suite 550. Bi rmingham. Alabami 3S203. Phone (205) 251-4n5.

C.lll nl ... Jo hn .ton. Gardllu. Dllm .. a O'Nea l Innouneu thai Rkhard Eldon Duu and Ca thryn i\. Bt..,..ln I13w become auociatts of the firm. OffICtl an: IocIttd in Birming· ham and Mobile. Al.lb.ima.

Thom .. T. Rtynold . announcn thlt lit h.u KCepttd iI position:ilS ~ .... r_ i1 counsel of ,uooclaUon RI.k Manall.",onl Scrvlce Comp a ny. Offices art located at H4 ElSt !'I rk Avenue. Lake Wi les. Florida J3S.5J . Phone (8 13) 676·1681.

Gardlle.., a Knop' announces tilt nlocation of iu Mobile office to 1015 Mont limu Dr ive. Suite R.t. Mobile. " la!»1TIII 3&609. rho"" (205) 343-11 11.

Dr. J I ... YlclruJ' . formu ly wilh Copeland. Fnnco. & rtW1 " Gill. il now prol'ulO' oIlpeech communica tion 1\ Tro, Sta le UnlnnllJl. "'M" lit teach" (OUI'SH in oral communic.lllion Ind in Iht criminal Justice p.o-

gram. Sanh Jane Llnd.~ , formtr ju di. cia l clerk for Un ited Stalel [)i sl . ie t Court Chie! Judge Al t. T. How. rd. Jr. and Judge Charles R. Butler. Jr .. Soulh· em Distr ict of Alabama .• nllOllnen that she hi.J jolMd Ike Tenne..ee V,lIey Authorlt,'. ornce or Ihe Cenual eou n le l. Iter n.tw mailing ilddress is TVAIOCC, 400 Wut Summit Hilll>rM. Kno.ville . Ttnneun 37902. Phone (615) 632-4109. John IIIdeio. lnllOUO«I Ike opening of hi, office in Iht law omen of JohnlOn , IEtherd,c '" Dowll n, at 131 North Oatu Street, Dothan. Al.lbamo 36303. The mo il ing ~ddrtss is P.O. Bo~ 1193. Dothln 36302. Phone (205) 793 ·21 55.

Dwlllhi M. Jtll, Jr .• formerly;mo. tilttd with lht firm of Babr & Jett. ~n«t that lit has Ioated his office at 402 Cordon Orin. 5W. DeclhH. Al.lb.i1Tlll ~1. Phone (20:5) 351.1303. Don O. While anno,mces tIw n:1oal ion of his office to 4325·A Midmost Driw. Mobile. Alabimo )6jj09. Tht new mailing addren il P.O. Box 91185, Mobilt 36691· 1185. 1'1>0"" (205) 3447511.

Frederick M, GuOtid announ ces the relocat ion of h is o ffi ce to 24 20 354 / Stplember 1992

AMONG FIRMS

I.,.

8e.. WII . on, All en, MaIn" C r o .. Innouneu lhit Jull l An ne 8ea.101 h.u btcome In associ.J1t of tilt firm. omen art located at 207 Mont · somery Strtet. Hhh Floor. Stll Build. ing. Montgomery. A1Ibama. Tht momna: idd.us i. P.O. Box 4160. 361034 160. I'tIont (205) ut·2343.

PUlOli1 41 tlluhardl announces tNt Clydt AI.., Blan"u,hI,. for. merly city ittorney for the City of l!unuvill •• his bKome iI member of tilt firm. whkh will be 1t.rJo,.." H Pa~DI. [berhudt " Blan"en, h lp. Offien are I~ted il AmSouth Crntfr. 200 W. Clinton A~nue , Suitt 703 , Huntsville. AllNma 35801. I'hont (205]533·2172,

Hablla.d, R,>",olob. II1.cll .. aln '" .'lbn,ld announces thll "Ichul D. Sm tih hlS joined tM firm. and the firm name wHl be Hubb ard, Rey. nold •• SlDlt h . Mcilwain" 8rab· rttld. Offitu uc located at 808 Lur lee n Wa llace Boulevnd , No rt h. Tu"alooll, Alabama 35 403 . Phone (205)345· 6789.

Hl.1llood , Clen land '" Pierce announcos thu II1.lch . . 1 S h up S,...... a n his become an aswci.Jte. OffICtl an IocIttd al 120 S. Ii..... Strut. and themailinllldd rusisP.O.Bo~ 3310. Auburn. AlaNma 36831. PflOM (205) 821 ·3892.

BI..,. C. Lea"d l an noune.. that Rollert IE. Lee his btcomt H50Ciattd ...i th tilt firm and tNt tilt firm has n:1outed 102()5 MidiiOll Awnue. Suite It.. Montgome!)'. Alibami 36104. Phon. (205) 834-8663.

Portuneld . H ar p u '" Mill. announces tht r.I«ltion of its offices to 22 I nwmt~ Ctnter f'arkw~y. Suite 600. lIirminlli1am. AlaNITIII35242-4821. PlOnt (205) 980·SOOO.

Phel, •• O.. tn •• J en"in" GllllO n '" Fo .. ler innOunctl Ihat S,.. lo T. Caner hiS become a partne r in Ihe firm. C. Blrton Ade,", has joined the firm H a part""r. and Ka"n C. Wt\ . 1I0rn hal become ,uDCilted wit h th. Tl I ~;

ALABAMA LAWYER

finn. Offices are located al1201 Creens· boro Avenue. Tusca loosa. Alabama 35401. Phone (2051345·5 100. Ha"l . " Ha"b announces that Allee H. Marthl, formerly of Almon. McAlister. Ashe. B.:.ccus &; Tanner and formerly an assi.tant U.S. attorney, We.tern District of Tennesue. Dep;,rt· ment of Justice. has joined the firm as a partner. The firm name has been changed to Hnr!., Harrla " Martin. Offices are located at 407 South Court Street. florence. Alabama 35630. Phon. (2051 ;64· 1358. Byrd" Spencer annOune .. tho relocation of its offices to 203· A W. Main Str. et. Dothan. Alabama 36301. Phone (205) 794·0759. Ro~n, Cook, Sled,e, Da~i., Carroll " Jonea announces that Shuu Martin has become associated with the rorm. Ofro ••• are located at 1020 Lurl«n Wallace Boulevard. North. Tus.aloo5ll, Alabama, The mailing add .. " is P.O. Box 2727. Tus.a loo .... 35403.

P enick" Broon announces lhe firm's relocation to 319 17th Street , North , Suite 200, Birmingham. Alaba · ma 35203. and that DanUa Halldnl , Jam u Love, Debra Bennell Parker and Maleu T •• y lor.Wrl,ht have become members of the firm, Trlmmlu. Atchbon oi; Hayley announces that Wlnl ton R. Gro" has joined the firm. Offices are located .t 2737 High land Avenue. Birmingham. Alabama 35205. The mailing address is P_O. Box 1885. Birmingham 35201 · 1885. Phone (205) 251·3151. Bond" Botu announces the con · solidation of it. Riverchas. office and downtown Birmingham office . • The Daniel Building. 15 South 20th Street. Suit. 1325. Birmingham. Alabama 35233 , The finn's Huntlvill. off". has bun relocated to tile AmSoutll Center. Su ite 705. 200 Clinton Avenue. Nil'. Hun!svill •. Alabama 35801. The firm also announce. th,,! Ron C. Sykatul has become an associate with the firm.

Au.r " A~ar announces that William D, Azar has become associ· ated with the firm. Offices are located at 260 Washington Avenue. Mont · gomery, Alabama 3611)4. Phone (2051 265·8551.

"00.

THE ALABA.'IA u\\VYER

G..dner, Middlebroon " flem, In, announces that Chrillopher E. Krdchak and William H. Ruce have become ..sociat.. of tho firm. Offices are located at 64 N. Royal Street. Mobile. Alabama 36602. Phone (205) 433·8100. Mark 8. PollOn and John C. RobbIn . announc e they have withdrawn from Polson. Jones. Bowron &; Robbins and are now practicing as Pollon " Robbin. at 2001 Park Placo , North.

"1ll< Ubrm'y', ~.k:It "'ritI,. of pro>idoIt:. i""'"...., • G",",,"i ,00 ,,,,,_,,,, of • M";,,I Oed""'"'" ''''''' _ " o f , _,,,,,,,,,,,, wi'~ Q1lP """"i...... 'Tht

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Sirote " Pennutt announces that Thom .. A. Analey and Brent L. Crumpton have joined the firm's Birmingham office and Jeff Kohn has join.d th • •'o1ontgomery office, The Birmingham offico is located at 2222 Arlington Avenue. South; tho mailing address is P.O. Box 55727. Binningham 35255·5727, Phone (205) 933·7111. The Montgom.ry office is located at One Commerce Street, Suite 600. Mont· gome,), 36104. Phone (205) 263·\022.

Ed,.. C. Gentle, III .nnounces that Lin F. Crumble., formerly an associate with Coggin & Duh. has join ed him as a partner. under the name of Gentle" Gnombln. Offices .~ located.t 1928 f'irst Avenue. North. Suite 1501. Colonial Bank Building. Birmingham, Alabama 35203. Phone (205) 325·1530.

~p<J'-" $impl~ or rompll'x ~ills in minwtu "11h ti/'omqs'Compwru Net· work soft"'(1r~. Th~ sl,"~·specifk programs ask mul'ipl~<hoiuandfill· in·,h~·bIGn* questions. ,k.n w mp<Ju tailored do<:um~m...'hick can be ~dj t· ed ...irh )'QUr IB.\I·comp<Jriblt ...,rrI pmussing soJr..."',-", U.~r/ri.ndly, no commnnds to /tum

Najjar Denabur, announe .. that Rache l J. Moore has become associ· ated with the firm. Offices are located at 2125 Morris Awnue. Birmingham , Alabama 35203. Phone (205) 250·

Ramaey. Badfy, MeDou,le " Col. lIer announcn the re location of its omce. to 212 W. TrO)' Street. Dothan. Alabama 36303. The new mailing address i. P.O. Ot'llWe. 10\86, Dothan. 36302.

Theiler announces that SlIvu B. Eberly has become associated with the firm. with omen located at 3450 First National Tower, Louisville. Kentucky 40202. Phone (502) 589·2627.

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September 1992 / 355

Su it ( 200. Birmingham. Alabama 35203. PhoIW (205) 252.B88. T. Roe Fuu., II announ~t' t n. r~loution of Ili$ firm. L.n,l ton " fuur. to thoe ungston·F.llu. l.Iuil~. ing. 201 N. PRsi<knt Shut, JloCbon, Minwsi",,; 39201. Phone (6(lH 969-

Kort•• " Pond. Offices an located at 150 Gov.rnmtnt St rut. Suitt 3003. Mobil., Alabama 36602. Phon. (205) 438· 1308.

Dick &: Wl l nu. Officn u. lonted at 100 Wuhington Strut. Suitt 200, Hunhvilt •. Alabama 35801. I'hont (205) 533·1445.

W.Uau, J o ..... n . R.lllfr, Byen "

Dominick. Flelc hu , Vtll.ln" Wod &: L1o,d IInnOunCts that B. Booa •• DO .. nl, J •. 111>11 J . Mltchtll F ...t, J •• haw btco.>rne mtmbtrs 01 tilt firm. lind Vlclori. V.nV. I... nb .. reh Nom. Iw bKomt iUl woeiaU 01 tilt firm. OffICes 1I.. locllled III 2121 High· IandA'..., .... BirrningNm.~ Tht mailirc addrw is P.O. Boll 1387, Binn_ ingham 3S201.1'Ilom (2(}5) 939-0033.

B •• ndt announeu that B. Cltnn M .... odr. form.rly senior attorney

''''.

Y•• ro .. t. "',. tU " Tn ,)o. alnOUnCU t~t Dnl. F. MlceU Iw bKomt ;an II1$0dlll. of tilt linn. OfIicu are Iocatod It 2100 SouthTTUIt TOW!r. 420 N. 20th StrH!. BlTm,nen.m. Abb.I.. 1n113S20J.1'honc' (2051326-61 )1.

""Ih Vukan ~btuills Company, hu joined the fi rm u a poonJll'r. Tht finn all(lltlOOUnct:l thol JI"'" E. Feri'" IO n, III ind MtUsn 1'1. Jonft ~ joined tilt linn 101 U50Ciatn. Offlen II .. 10001I1td it <!OOO SouthBrid~ Parkway. Suit. 525. Birm inghim. Aillbama 352O!J. Phont (205181O.QS55.

Cecil,. L. K.rr.. ,",' llorr,. S. Pod . IV Inoounce thoe forlnlltion of

Rlch.r. E. Dick and Mich u l K_ Wlln t . IInnOunC. tht formation of

Sc holl" T .. mu IInnouncts Ihlll Peter A. d.S. ..... III. formt1ly in pri. ''''I~ P<XI~ in Tuscumbi.l ind fomv:rly i boN d~rk to Je"tnon County Circuit Judge MIl />Iullill$. Iw btcomt iSSOci· atoll with tilt firm. Offous are located It iI4 Offi« P~rk Circle. Suitt 315, Rinn· ;nghllm. Aillblmil 35223. I'honf (205) 871·~.

Tu., L. Mock Innoun~u t hat Sheila J. fl. her Iw become woei.t · ed with tht firm. Officts .re loc.te~ at 401 N. Main Strfft. Tuscumbia. Alaba· ma, Thf mailing add rf" il 1'.0. Uo. 740. TU$cumbia 356 74 . Phon. (205) 386-7090. B.rtt C, D........ Mleho.1 T. Murphy and J ohn T. Rendtr Inn(lUn(f t~ fOrrTllltion 01 D.. m .., M ....", " Bendt •. 2O!J N. JOKhim Strut, Mobil •• Alllbalnll 36603. I'hont (205) 431 06000. Plen • • C.... " Alror. IInnounce Ihllt H. Willi .... W. . ..... , fo. rmrly "'ilh the Offi« of the Gowmor ind lhoe AUQI'JII')' G<:lIfnr, Offi« ohhoe Stale 01 AWoama.Iw;o;ntd the linn. Tht lIlIil· ing addrtiS;s P.O. 1knI: 16046, Mobilt, ~366 1 6.

Hanl l, Cadden" S h . n b In· thn Arlb ... W. On hn bKomt usocillltd with tilt firm. OffICe II.. Iocattd III 214 Johnston Str«t. S.I::., lind tho mamnS ~dd rtSi is P.O . Sol 2688. Otutu •• Ailibarna 35602. I'hon. (205) 340-8000, noun~n

Corha", iii Wa ld rep innoune", that Koren Brown Enn. has become an usociat •. OfIicts are ]ocatw II 2101 61h Awnu •. North, Suile 700. Birmingham, AI.balm 35203. !'hone (2OS) 2543216. • 356 /Stpl .mtotr 1992

TIlE AlABA."IA l.o\WYER

REPORTS FROM

IOLTA

GRANT RECIPIENTS

A Helping Hand TUSCALOOSA COUNTY by ALYCE MANUI' SPRUELl. (This is Ih~ fir:;1 in u serle$ highlighting IhOSl! u'ho hal.. bmefiled from the AJalJama Law Foundation', /oI-TA program.)

as · sis· t a noe : the act or qivlng aid or support see s ynonym3 at he lp

uring lhe 1992 annual meeting of the Alabama Stale Bar, I had the wonderful responsibility of

the most r"cent ,'.rsion of The /land1>0010 for Older Ala!x1mions to the board of the Alabama Law Foundation. Th~ foundation. in deli"~ring

conjunction with the Tuscaloosa County Bar Associatinn. had provided 56,500 of funding 10 allow 5,000 newly revised copie, 10 be printed for the Legal Counsel for th. Eld.rly (.

divis ion of Ihe University of Alabama Law School ClinieaJ Prngram). These handbooks are provided through nulrilion cenIus, nursing homu and other locations in the western corr;. dor of Alabama. This was not the first time that the foundation Iwhich is funded by our JOLTA funds} had provided significant assistance to Ihis office. With a $\'cond year of proralion looming, Ihe Legal Counsel for Ih. Elderly cou ld not replace a slaff attorney for the summ.. of 1991. The foundation provided funding for three public interest law internships in this offICe, The$\' third.year stuMnts provided in"aluable mislanc. to the ind igent and elderly throughout we,\ Alab.ama ""h il e gain ing personal knowledge of Our ,tate', need for volunt . .. lawyers, Th. siudents ,,;e •• asked to provide summa.its of Iheir .. peri· enc., at the end of the summ..: to describe the$\' narrat i.... s as moving and insp irational would be a gross underst.tement, fOunding public inl..est law internships is not unusual for 10LTA funds, The North Carolina Bar, for .,<ample, has provided a,.istance for students from f, .... different North Carolina law schools for over five ye.rs, These funds have enabled numerous first_ and second·year .tudent> to "perience public intere.t law service. Th ••• Un iver'ity of Alabama Law School .tudents were recipients of Alabama Law foundation grant> for the summer of 1992. Two students are working al the Alabama Capitall'lep· resentation Resource Center while the third "'"<:In a summer internship with the Southern Environmental Law Center. None of the$\' students could ha .... pursued this d.eam wilhout the JOLT A fund .,.istanc._ THE AI.ARAMA 1.J\\I'Y~;R

An an acti,'!' "",mber of Our bar, the benefit> from the foun. dation g.ants to the over 37 county law libra.ies and to the various l.aw Day and adult literacy project> are obvious. How, .ver, the benefits from grants to entilies such as Ihe Tuscaloosa Children's Center, which provides outruch and counseling for abused children in ou r may ne"..r be known. Such assistance is the key to the succo.. and survival of these types of projects throughout the state. As the immediate past chair of the Tuscaloosa County Legal Aid Committ~e, I can al$O attesl to the a,.istance recei,'!'d by our bar from the Alabama Law Foundalion. The ... grant> ha .... been crucial to the operation of Our free legal cl inics thai occur twice monthly. Our bar has also recei .... d funding for Our domestic arbitration project which has been an immen ... help to our domestic relations court and ba •. The most unique assistance our bar has received from th. foundation ,,''''' a grant to our Children's Hands On MU$\'um (CHOMI. CHOM developed an exhibil for the elementary age children that allowed thei r pa.ticipation in actua l court procudings_ With bar association members act ing as judges andlor as attorneys, well.known slorybook charaClers like Alire in Wonderland and Jack in tht Beanstalk "".... re charged and .ubjected to trial for unlawful trespasS and burglary. The exhibit was popular and .... ry beneficial to Our area school chil·

.re.,

d.. n.

Assistance, according to several sourceS I checked, is syn· onymous with Ihe concepl of help , ThroujJ.h Ihe Alabarru Law Foundalion grants rec.i .... d by the Tuscaloosa County a. ea , true mistance has been given to the eld.rly, the indigent, the children and the fulure la~rs of Our .tale, who wilt. it is hoped, continue our bar'. dedication to support our state and our communili ... The helping hand of mislance from the AI.t>ama Law Foundation has been firmly grasped by our area - and greeted with much appreciation and continued gratitUde. •

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September 1992 / 357

RIDING THE CIRCUITS The Ru ..... 11 County Ba. Aaso< I.. li on el«ted new officeN at ib June monthly meeting. The new officers are: Pr..id.nl: Patrkk P. Loftin, Pheni~ City \;ce.prt$ldent: Michael J. Be llamy. Phen ix City Sfl:retllry/Treuurer: Charles E. Floyd, Ill. Phenix City

The TUfta lo o .a Co u nty Bar A..oc lat/on ,.«nlly held its annual meeting and the following oflke.s were el«ted for 1992·93: I'rtsident: Dan N. Cibson, Tuocaloosa \l«-p ... idon l: Kathryn Mee.

Harwood. Tuscal<X:6a Sure!'!,),!!'re.,.. ",r: Robut H. Sllaw. Jr .. Tu",aloosa.

NOTICE All Alabama AHorneys Cha"OH regarding Uce<1singlSpe· cial Membership Dues 1992·93 AcI .-92·600 was passed by the Alabama Legislalure and amends Section 40·12·49. Co$ of AJaba· /mi. 1975. eHectMJ Oc10b0r 1.

''''.

An affordable legal encyclopedia is just a phone call away for the Alabama attorney. At Lawyers Cooperative Publ ishing. we

ulldoo!and )'OUr need /Of sources that can give you f.s~ n:)·non5t~, inex· per15iw answeliwyour legal inquir>es. Look 00 further than LCP's integrated lib ... ry 01 legal publications, which in_ cludes (>lIr Am Jur 2d series. where yoU'll fond encyclopedic, IY-Z stHI!ment of the <ompl~ bodv of I.w _ stale and federal, (;"' il and criminal, wbst<l nli lie .nd proced ,,".1- and much

_ , all al an affolWble pricel

~ your lawyers Cooperalive Plblishing rerte§entativeS, we are the vital link between our prod<>C!S and you. We wi l IOOrIc with you to as\OeSS your particular needs and Il'quireme<lts ~nd share our thoughts 011 whal resourt:eS wi ll be of!he grea~ value to your practice. Together, we will fird creative, effective. and COlI-saving awmaches 10 the art of /egal resea rch.

let us show you the proc:l<>C!S thilt ca n he Ip )'Our "'ab.i ma practice-from ALR II> Am Jur 0< uses to US l Ed . We'll demonstrate howour cross.(t'/erencing system wi ll liIve you time Ind money. Ind we'll give you the lam about OUr interest.(ree terms. JuS! COnLlct your loca l represent<llive or d ial 1-80(1.762·

5272 eX!. 5221 today!

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K>.-en oa.;.

000-"",11 •• G.'I 1-104 11f,l--'1)5

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M.., ~'" Bi",,;ogt>am (105) 87 1.6)<&

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Mut" .........o,TN (615)89)-880(1

1111.

Utl'.yers Coopcratil-e Publishing

ThIs aC1 involves important Chaoges as 101101'15: 1. license fees increaS<l ffom $150 10 $200. Special member· ship dUllS incr""... from $75 to

"00

2. Anorneys no longer lIU'cha .... lrom a county probate judge or

license commossione<. annual occt)pationat licenses to praC1ice 001. instead.llUrChase toose lrom 100 Alabama Siale Bar. All licenses to pradice law, as well as payment ol special memo bership dues, will be sold through the Alabama State Sa, HeOOqLl3r· leIS. Ucenses muSt be purcl1ased belW99n Oc10b0r 1 and October 31 Or be suOject to an automatIC 15 pereanl peMlty. Second noticM wltl not be senti In mld·Se!>tember. a dual invoice 10 be use<! by both annLl3llicense r.oidolS and special membe<s wilt be mailed to every lawyer oomine<! 10 praC1ice law In Alabama. Upon r_>pI 01 payment.those wr.o pur· chase the license wilt be mailed a license and wallel·size<! IlcenS<llor Idootilication pYf»0S6s. ThoS<l electing special member· ship will be sent a wallet·size<! tD card for identification purpooos and also 10 serve as a receipt. Ill'O\J do not receive an InVOICe. ~ase notiIy Alica .Ie Hood'; •• membelShip S<lrvices dir&clOr. all· 8O()-354·6154 (In· state WATS) or (2051269-1515 Immediately!

. " . - . . , - . . . . . _...._ _ 1<69<

358 1 SeptemMr 1992

THF.: ALABA,'\A L.l.WVER

HELPING THE ALCOHOLIC COLLEAGUE by 8£17Y REDDI' (ltJd RUTH WOODRUFF Copynght C 1992. Amman Bor Association. ~rinttd by ptrmission 0( American Ba. AssocilItion. (The irtic~ originally ~rt<I in lilt />by 1m ~ 01 Thit~~. Vol. 3, No. 3. Thit ProfaJioooI Lawver is published by 1M Specilll CootdiNling Committee on Profm;OOlIlism ol tilt Aml:rican Bar A.$socialion CtnlU for I'rdtuioNl ReSjlOO5ibi1ity.)

I ,II

emernber lhllt e.~er. bright young associate you hired ~ few ~U5 back? Who could haw Qutw:d he would tum oot to be a problem folr the firm! He's miUing IJIIlOinlmmtJ.. coming to WOI'II 1~lt ind i$(liiting himulf from cowo.lltn. People around the offier an 5urling to Wk him. E"ftl .. few

•

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ditnts hlw calltd \0 voice conums ibout his compntntt. You can ~lIlhlol i dO'o<'n,,·.. rd spin! hu btgun for him and fYidtnu has sl.uted 10 _wear tNt he may be drinking exctssi\~ly. but is it really any of your busln."? What could you do about his problrm .n;way? For many la",yu!, watching. colItagllt suffer from chemical dtptndtn· cy;s a frustrating and ronfusing uperi. .nu. Often il i$ Itmplin/ilGOO oothing and hGpt tllli 1M probkm dies ilSdf. UnfGTtuNtdy. JIcohoI dtptndmcy is a prog~iw difot~ tlllt will ooly WOlfS· tn if igoortd. Akoholism is J cllronic illnw m:I CII1 bt (ml if unlUJlro. In 1986. IlcohoIism"~ 1M ninth ~Jding Clust Gf dutll in tht Uniled Slates. nusing Wfr 26.000 dUlhs thai ~u. (Alcohol and ifNI/h. 19901. E~n in situations thai art not ytt lift·lhrtattning. Iht prk. lor ignoring Iht problem II Incredibly high. ~·irst. Tm: AI.AJIAHA LAWn:R

th ... is the alcoholic's ptrsonal and professional lin'ulatioo. Stcood, in the contul of In alcoholic lawytr. memIItrs of Iht lawytr"1 fi.m muSI sha.t ruporuibihly lor mistakn or misdtfds of tM Jddicl.d ~r .• ilh.. llIrough TnlIlprKli« luib or Pn:WssiQn;o! discipHnt lor failure 10 asiUrt WI all mtm· btrs of tht firm conform to u.. ((lIies rults. (S« Modd Rul. 5.1 on rnponsi. bilitiu of a parlnn or supervisory In,ytr.j Mo.t imporunlly. Iht unchedtd ,dvlnct of Ilcohol dtp"n. dency in IJwytrl Cln adv.rstly afftcl comptl.nl reprutnlation of clients' l,sal malltrS and ullimalely destroy public Irwl in Iht I.g.l profossion. Law)'trl. lik( tht rtll of 1M POIlulalion. art not immunt from the ...-ages of alcohol dtpendtncy. A new study ~ the National C.ntor for Ittllth Slatislics rtpOrU thai Marly 43 perconl of Idult Amtricam.lboot 76 million pe0ple. hi'~. probltm drinktr in u.. family. AwroxifNtoly 75 perctnt of Idull5 drinJc It IU.\I on« or twice.)'tar during coltb'llions 0. sp«ial oc~sions. Many drink modt.III.ly, SOmt drink huvily wilh no ..riOUI probtoms, and about 10 pl'rctnt drink in I way that cau,tS problem l fo. themselves and others.

In Ihe legal community, tht statistics tvtn mort lurtlin8. A study span· lond b~ Ihe WaJhinglon Stile Bar Associ.ltioo found that Oller 18 perctnt 01 Iheir III~rl wer. ~lcol>ol do ~n. d.nt. \l.et...."n SO perconl ~nd 75 ~r· <tnt of;all di$cipliNry ases Ntiomridt involvo cheminl dependency lind ~PPf01UTllttly 60 perctnt of di$Ciplint CUti in C'lifomil inV(lI,.., chtminl dtptndtnce or emolional distress. (Slalt Si. 01 Calilomil. Lawyer Ptr50llll Assisu ...u Programl. Fortunately, lher( is holp avail.ble for impairtd lawyl'rs. Then art step,! colltaguts can lake to htlp addicttd I~W}'I'rs belou they cau.. i.upa •• bl. d.o.mag. and becomt liw;..,r diKipli .... SUlist;cs. ~u

lden tltylne n •• probl. m Tht finl step is to know impairmonl. It difflCull to ~iu

is"fa.ct il pe0ple olttn loout invading tilt priYl<)' of oth .... HOIO"eYor. alcoholism indicators are neogni.· ~bl •. It II not .... CUSlry to be an expert on Ih. symptoms and progression of Soplomber ]9921 359

the diSt..,. to become part of the solu· tion. Early intervention provides the best dUInce of~lping the akoho li c. An alcoholiC predictably exhibits ident ifiable characteristics 01 emotional disruption. destructive conduct. inter· p...onat difficutty and responsibitity avoidance. l50e bo •. ) If ot .... ral indica· tors are present and the person contino ues to drink inappropriately despite continuing problems related to the drinking, it rna,' be time to gi .... otrious co"-lideration to an intervtntion.

The Intervention Alcoholism is not an insol· ub le problem. It can be tn:ate<.L One proven method of addre .. ing the problem 01 addiction and mot ivating the problem drin ker to otek help is a lonnal intn· .... ntion, Inlervention is a well -established process that interrupts the course 01 alcoholism. It pr(l\'ides the amicted person with lacts about thei r symptom. th"t others ha,-e seen. It also bring. lorth expressions of love. caring and support for gdting he lp to combat the addic · tion. Well · planned lo. mal inte rventions ha .... about a 90 percent success rate in gett ing individuals to a place where they can be ~aluated and gi .... n assis · tance o. treatment 4S n.ce .... ry. Also. inten.-entions Ue 100 percent success· ful in giving the immediate circle of lamily and Iriend.. an unde ..tanding of the illne" and a .ecovery plan lor thenuel.... s_lt is ne .... r necessary to wait for someone with a drinking problem to 'hit bottom!" One individual in the drin ke. s circle can review the indicators 01 alcoholism and renect upon personal leelings and r..etions in deciding to inwst igate the use 01 an interwntion. Fortunately. lor those in the legal p.ofession. help is not I~r away. lawyer assistance pro· R ..... ' h llr_ _ .CE"'-.• OI..,oo''O'· _ _ _ «IOsutUnt .t p."~,, ".."",.t ""'vo _ .

s..""," on

P.,.

Rwt~ Wood"'" Ru," Wooo,,"" ", ....... ot •• ,to' 10' t", ABAiB"" Lo .......· ........... "" "'.....""'" Coo>~

360 f 5optember 1992

ALCOHOLISM INDICATORS II colleague ma;J ha<'e u drinking problem if he or she: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Frequ~ntly

drinks to drunk~nne",. Moids non·drinking friend.. or occasions. Manipulal.~ others. Ori,-e.\ ,,'hen drunk . Has receiwd one or more OUls. Fails to lollmo.' thn:m,gh On responsibilities o. commitments. Deflects with anger and blame all Mtempts to discu", drinking_ Promists tocut dmo.ll on drinking and ... ms to Iry to do so. Frequenlly embarrasses family and friends _ Alwa}'s has an alibi lor drin king· related behavior. Seem.> to ha,.. memory blockl al li"",s. Has asked another lawyer to CO\--er lor himlher in court stveraltimes in Ihe past few months. Has been noticeably d.unk at ,",... al .eeent social affairs. Fail, to app<>a. al scheduled meetings with clients. Shows a deterio.ation in quali ty 01 work. Has started to avoid having lunch "'ith the normal group. Frequently takes long lunches. App<>ars noioceably drunk or different after lunch. Has olten been ill on ~\ondays o. Fridays .

grams are dewloping throughout the nalion. The ABA has list~ 01 contactl 10. lawyers ' assistance program, in <vet)' slate. (S .. box. page 361.) These program5 operate hotlines that can refer people to appropriate resouren fo. assistance by professional interwn· tionists. In some states the programs have their own trained. certified 'o'Olun· teer inten.'enors who lorm teams that follow the same proce", of education, training and planning that ~ profu· , ion.1 does before conduct ing an int.."ention. The inten... nor, whether profeloSional Or volunleer, will explore the f'4Sibility 01 planning an inten... ntion b)' asking the caller que,tions such as:

• Are the'e enough indicators of alco· holism ? • What are the caller', goals? • Is there real ca.e and concern? • Are there other participants to be includ.d? • Will the calle. contact potential par· ticipants and b.ing them together for tra ining? • What are the participants' goals? 00 they care or just want to "get even?" IThose who ,.,.ant to puni5h or gd ""en with Ih~ problem drinker will not be accepted as participants.) The inten.~nor will also e~plain that th~ major goals are to show the ako · holic the reality 01 the disease and to provide trained as,islance in dealing

TIlE ALABAMA UII-'YER

ARE YOU CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROBLEM? Collugllu of an impaired 1~W)'er may r•• l emb.rruJrd. <onfund.

h'llllus 10 address lht situalion. Tt>t~ •• <lChoru can rnull in !)fha," lor that mask' the problem. A col· l.ague may, for • .ampl •.

• Try to controllhe la ...')'tr"s drink· ong. • AIlgri!)' Luh out at the IawY'er. • 1.0'" confide",. and lrust in tht 1Jy,)'tr. • Avoid tilt lJy,')'tr. • l>tny the bIo-,.rr'sdrinkmg pmbItm.

• CO'o'u for tilt drink•• by wuming o. shifting ••• pOnsibilih.s within the firm Of making UCU~5 for the I.",yer's f.ilurelo perform.

When colltaguts rtaCI in Ihese Wal'S. they are contributing to Iht (ourM 01 Ih, alcoholism by IOftening or rrmoving Ihe pain Ih. alcoholic

angry, .euntfu1. anxious, guilty, or

with that reality. The interwnlion wil l also help participants .,plilee their own .n.bUng behavior with ruponsible action •. IS •• bo>.] Participants lurn how to b.come part of the salution ratilt. than lilt problem. The ;nterwoo. ffilIy IIdviK pulling /I tempoQry hold on pl.l.", "'hile $OITIl or 1111 membt .. of the group lltend support mHtings for friends.nIl funiliH 01 alcoholic$. TheM' ~.tinIiS can bt In imporUnt trllnsition 10 the ~rflll mil tmOtiomlly cllar1fllllnlOlphm of .." inteNtlllion. ThoK i"",*,~ netd 10 an mough aboullht problrm drinker 10 ulmly and couragtously SilItt Iht fKu aboul Ihtir txptritncn ..,ith tilt alcoholic', drinking, KUinlllolide Jny lOP' or rtstnlmtnt. Tlwy need to Ix aIIle 10 ""l' " 1an ~ you" ~d !TItin it. They miy abo nttd 10 Ilre~n to Silltt ind silInd by ont Of two nillltic chingn they will makt in how they inltract with tht alcoholic. For tum · pit. a partner may hi~t to uy. ·You W'en a valued ",",mbtr of this firm. but haw becomt a liability. If you continue to drink. "'i: will haw to Itt}lOU go: During tht Iraining phase, tilt inltr· venor tducalu the group abou t tht dynamics of akoholism as they affeci the alcoholic and thoM close 10 him or Tm: A1.A1lAMA t..\\WER

her. I'articipant. are coached on Iheir individual rolu and wrilt dmo." .pecific dellil l about rectnt personal incidents with tht alcoholic. including the ir ov." fullngJ about thtH t\'i:nts. Ind s\lIte· mtnu of thtir concern and de.ire to help. Tht intervtnor ..,illiiso help the group pre~re for lItuing tilt Ikoholie to tilt m«ling and for conducting the "'"'tlin, ilKif. The sptCiiliM. will con· lrolillt muting, assuring tilt alcoholic thlot t\"eryor"ol' is there bra ..... they (:iOre and WlInt to htlp. ~n, Iht alcoholic to liMen 10 t\"e1'l'OlY before responding .nd .nsurin, thlot tilt m«ting IoIIows tht /IIIIrw!·upon plan. Us""'!)'. urangemtnU for an ""'1....lion appOintment Of a IrUlment bed ire mid. bdore the int • ..vtnlion and. wilh Ih. imJ)4lired \aw)'tr"s tonMnt, an otppOinl",",nt for an Ult.. menl Jnd appropriate Irtll",",nl fol~ lilt m«ting, Thert rmy be imbiva.lenct aboul ~rtic· ;~lin8 in lJl int~"""'tion. but the willingnn.! 01 individuals 10 bring an inler' ~nlion inlo Iht lile 01 someone Ihey Icnow and eire about ;s an importllnt sttp on lhal per....,·. road to htalth. It cln ilso hi: the entry inlo a recovery path for each 01 tilt concerned partiei. pIInu. •

,",'OUld otherwise oormal!), upenence from his dnnk,ng. llIal ,nvolo.'emtnt IlIov."'i or enables tilt ;""",im! t.oW)otr 10 be deludtd into belitving that tM problem, can be corr.ct~d wi t h t\"elYOOe's htlp. It allO deludes family and Inends into belieVing that thert must be IOmething Iht}' C()Uld do dif. ferently 10 slop the drinking. or, alternatively, that the situation is beyond hope and the alcoholic cannot be helped,

ADDITIONAL

RESOURCES Law firms, law Khoolt, ba.r a»o. ciation., disciplinary agencies lnd la""r assistlnce programs acrolll the count')' can n",,' "nt or pur· chas. a videotape depictins the steps of In onte"''tnlion. For in/or· mMion about la ...')' .... altoholi,m and the int."'tntion procus. con· tad Arthur Ca.",;n. assistant profes· sionalism coun~1. ABA Ctnter lor Professional Rupon,ibility. S4] Sorlh FairbJnkt Courl. Chicago. Illinois 606] ]-33]4.13] 2) 988·5294. for info rmation about ot h.. resouren rtlated 10 II")'"'' sub· slanct ob ...... indudingdirn:tories 01 stat. and local ta...)'i:r asslSilInct programs ami natlONl worbhop Imt. · rials. contact I)onnl Spilis. staff di ' tclo r. ABA CommiSlion on Impaired Attorneys. 541 North fair· b.lnks Court. Chicago. Illinois 6(1611· 3J 14. Phone (312) 988·5359.

September 1992 I 3!i1

~ ~ ALA8AMA STATE SAR lH~I'H()N[ lOS-lb9-1 ; 1; P,O. 8O~ b71 MONK.QMERY, Al.AII"'...... l6101

0... Abba"" uW)'Or. W. Ir' pl.... d 10 1<11 yoo 1M AI .... "'" Sta1. B.o,. th"",gh its Lawyors It.lping La,,)'trs C<>mmin.., Iw ;mpl."",nt.d > com~ re ... ",i"" P"'lIram I.... i1,1Mse in 11>0 I.gal community with suNtan« >bust probl.rIU. The ALA·PALS li'osi\i"" Ac,;"" «Ir .... W)~rsl i•• groop 0( '."yo.. who cksj" to ... is' .UNtan« -...... ';ng mtmbt .. 0( th, l,ga1 community .nd their f.mili ... W. Ir' Ml.,.r1 of tho di"'iplin>r)' pro.,.... nd haw botn granted an .normy-clion! privilege .,.,. lhe boo,d of bar rornmi .. ion<rs to prot«t di.dosu, .. m>dt in onlt. to ... i1t • ,ubotan<.-abta,ng ...., ... ,. St. Ala. Rule of !'rot",'",,"1 C""duct 8.3 ,<I. AU-PALS Iw thrt< missiCHU: (lI lc1tntific.tion and invtOlig>t ion 0( sub!Un<. >bust problems of I.,,·)'..>: 1211,t>lrntnt and "habiliUli"", on<! (3) follow_up'nd "'cowry. W. rt<"gni •• thot oddicti011 10 .kohol or .,IK. dnJg. i•• pri"",1)' chronic ill"" .. and i, 1\01. moQI dtf«t o. thorn,.' Oeficitr.cy. Th ... is "" k"""'" cu'. for chemical cltptr.lt.-.c)'.nd the ""ilily 10 handl. lrI)' quanlil~ 0( drug> wil l gel prop ... i.... 1y ""' ..... CII<mic.ol d.pendon<)' i,. howe><,. lrutablo and III< <ou , .. m>~ be .,,.,ttd by 10l.ll >l»li"""". /. om mood-oll.ring .... l»l.I"" ••.

AU·PALS h;u droft.d gUIdeline> w',,<h im~lemenl' pr<>i!ram 0( inlorvenlk>n /01"")'0'" wilh .ullol. n« a..... problom. whkh off«1 their ~rof",",",,1 conduct. 11'0 re«il'<. in ronfidt",o. inform>tion from any ""'I'« roncorning any iaw;.. r thou~t 10 ha..... p,obl.m_A di",,..I.nd conti<lenti.1 im>eOlig31ion follO'wo .Iong with. canlul ...,.tuation 0( tho 1><1 •. The committee tll< n m> k., ncommendalions 10 III< 1a"''1''' conu,ning ""''''.. 0( II<lp. All in,utigoli<>ru an conducltd by "'Iunt..... with III< k""",·I.dg. and aUlhoritolk>n 0( tho chairman. The rehobilit.lion l'O'l;on go""", 11y .tans wiln • rrn ...· by tho cha;,man w;th tho ",Iunl"" of tho;, ... utt.<, II II>< lll",· ""l' i. beli ...... d 10 problem. til< dt<:ilion is madt .. to wll<tll<r to apj!ro>ch tho bwytr pnv.lOly, or, ,,;th full 'on.<id· .,..I k>n 0( tho t>riviloged ,nd ronfidtntial ....tu .. 0( til< mallor, .nt;>! litho ... in an .llompl to ",,,ua& him to .. ok holp. The ... """I oo"",..""ty. _Id i""lud. part ....... o. family membe .... The for .. habititati"" ... in· Or OUI·patitnl 1... lment and Akoholic> Anonymou •.

""I'< ,

,hoi,..

ALA-PALS will contin"" wilh I follow.up and mowr)' p'ogram to monitor .nd ... i<l tho ...,ownog >!Iom"),.nd to k.. p tho AL'.·PALS projt<l ~d "" thallhe P'OIIr.tm an <..l ily 10 tho .t.I. ha. thai il i. ",rimming: it.< w k, The "'Iunl.... ~ .. d""l'1 from 1>",),<", judg... nd I.y .... n in Aabomo wllo.,. .«"....,ing <homic.olty d'l"'ndenlpe'""" o. "...,.. 1",. .."...1 lifo 0' pro/'e$Sion;tl experi."". ha,.. p.ompted in lhom, .i"" . .. inl.,est.nd """"m in holpiog <h<mic.olty dtr><n. d<nllo,..,.e .. _ The gool. '" ALA·PALS a .... foil""'" • To odU<.>to lho logol community in Alabama ,,,,,coming the di ..... 0( .Icohol"'" and en,mical clepe ndtnq, particular. ty .. the dilusc ofl.ct.< thorn. • To i<l<ntily <homjalty <k",ndtnll>""jt" in AI.ha".,.. • To <leltnni .... lhe jlOO!.iblo chemical de",ndon<)' '" ~n, ~'" in AI..,.".,. ,..110 i. thus idtntir...J. • To .,rang. intt".. nti..,. in tll< I"",. '" p.actking <I><mkally dt",nlknt I>wy''', using .11 lhr n"",.et< ""ailahl. an< aWro[l'i.alt in u.:h cut. including f.mily, I.iondo, 13w part ....... otht. 1.,,')'< .... jU<lg.... nO ,lItmi<.ol ciepl:ndoncy «>un • ..10....

II'. f.. 1,u.. lhal whe n the.. g,.. I, In ""'t, tho publi. wilt b< protWt<l and thos.t memb< ... of lhe log.t communily ,,'110 clesi .. IIttp will .."..,in .. productivt memho ... 0( the ha. an< OUr ""itty. M.any . ffo.u >nd much o..,.nd ilu •• of time hao brought us \0 Ihi> f'Olnt o(hoing obi. 10 oil'T the AU\·PALS p,c.gnm 10 ho lp ou.I"''', Pi .... kr.ow thore i, o:oofidenti, 1 help if you o. somw .... in l he 1.g.1 communily)'OU kflO'W """do Ihi. p..,. gram. Pl.... call "'" al 1Z{l51 328-5330 for .. fe ... lloAU\-PALS or .m...... 10 ~u.Sli<>ru, Co,dialty, Tw.llll'ynn, ,hair La",),<" H, lpi ng Lawye .. C""""iU.. Alahama State 110. Koitn toOo""",. Alohamo Sl>lt Il>r Il&i"",

362 1 September 1992

TilE: AI.ABA.\\A LAWYE:R

THE UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE

LAW? by DAVID 8. CAlffHEN and L. BRUCE ABLES

lUI

he "'I\lIuthoriud pr~ti(f oIl¥>o is indirf(tly Ikfintd by Alabama Cl)Ik 134·3·6

(1975 ) whtrtin It mtu ",too IN}> practi« 1.1... in AllIb.imi. "Ill) Only such pt'rsonI III lIrt rf1!ul.l,ly 11«"",d h;a"" lIuthority 10 practice I~.

(b) For the purpOsu of Ihls chapter, Iht prxtia: of law is dtfintd;as fol. \I}\Oo'5:

\\'hotw,.

(I) In a .eprestnt,I;"" capacity appur$ a, All advocate or dnws papers. pleadings or documents. or

performs any act in connection wilh proctedings pending or

prospec tive bdor. 1I court or .. body,

~rd.

committee. commis·

sion or office. Wf\ltiluttd by llow or hiving ,utoo.ity to take evidence

in Or seult or determine conh'O"Usin in 1M unciK 0( t~ judie;,1 JX.lWI" 011"" slltt or any ,uildMlion thertol"; or (2) For .. considt~lion, KWlI.d or ","cuniary bondil. p.Utnl or inlicipaltd. di •• cl or Indirtct.

lIdvises or counsels .. nather;as to s«"lar liW, or d~ws 0<' proc"res 0<' Ullsu in the d~wi", 01. ~ptr,

doc"",.,nt or in$\1'\Imtnl ,ffrClint or ITlatint to _"In riihlJ; or (3) r or a considerition, nwud or pec"niuy benefit. pTeHnt or ;mtkipoottd, dind or indil'«l,.sou ;my X I in' npUStntati~ ~ity in behalf of ilnothu tending 10 obUin or RCUIT for such other the prevention or Iht redrtu of iI wron~ or lilt enfor«menl or tstab· lishment of a right; or (~l As a vocation, en/o fcel , s",u rn. settln. adjusll or compro-

THE ALABAMA LAII"I'ER

mi$H dllaulttd, c:cnt~rttd or dis· puted xcounts. claims or dlrmnw between persons with neilhu of whom iIt is in privity or in the Kia· tion 01 nnploytr and employH in the ordin.ary Hrut; il pOOicing law. Ie) NOlhing in this stClion shal! be const1'\led 10 prohibit any ptrson. firm or corpo~tion from attendin~ to and caring fo r his or its o""n business. claims or demands. nor from preparing abstracts of title, certi/)oing. guaranteeing or insuring litlu to proptrty, real or ptrsonal, or an intertsl therein. Or a lim Or encumbrance therton. but any such person, fi rm or corpo ra tion tnJOlit(I in pnpuinQ abstracts 01 title, certifying. QlLl"",t"ing or ill$uring tilln to real or ptrson/ll property ire prohibiltd from pnparing or d!')Wing or pnxuring or assi.ting in the dmooing or prtpl~tion of <IH<b, conV1'yances, mortg.ogos and any papff. document or in.trument dfectin. or rtlUinlllO secu lar ri,hts, ... hich uts irt htrtby defined to lit an iCt of practicing la .... unltu such PffSQfl, firm or OJIIporation ~II hr.'\' a JIfI,lp'itl.ary ;nttTat in such property; howto.'I'r. Iny soch ptQOfl, firm or COrpOTll' l ion so tngllged in preparing abstriCtli of litle. certifying. guaran. teeing or insuring \itlu s!lJ1l lit ptrm iutd 10 prepare or duw or procure or mist in tilt dra"ing or pnpooration of l imple affid.vi(J or SIItemenh of fact to be used by sllCh person. firm or corporati"" in l upport of its title pol icies, to be relained in ill mel and not to be ncordtd:

The Itgislat;",\, inlent by this Metion "as to insun thiol layptople would not

$Of"'" othtn in a rtpftitlltati~ ~ity

in uei! requi ring Ihe skill ,ond judg· ment of lictnsell itlorneys. Sill/' t:x Rei Porter v. Ah/lrIlmQ A.ss;ociQlion of c-Jil

ExeruIi<>a,338 50. 2d 812 (Ala. 1976). What aboul the dnofting or filling In of blanks in printtd forms of inll ru· menu relating to Ilind by rUI ulite agtn ll. brolctn, l il l. companin or mlmagtrS as conslituting the praclice of law? Tht Alabama Supreme Court in the Calf of Coff"" CountV Abstrael u. Stale E.r Rei Noruood. 44 5 5o.2d 852 (Ala. 19831. basically answ~rs this QUes· tion. This dtcision prohibits the diKW' sions of law or purely mec~nical filling in of b~nks in artu l!lJt traditi~lIy have bttn Ihe I.rritory of altorne~s. The decision also says. in an arta 1!lJ1 can be lIS fflUghl ... ith complications and pitfalls as pu,,~ing rul tNlt. an attomt)' is tilt only appropri.t.te jXTJOI'I 10 give legal advict and determine tltKtly whlot type of iruC1'\Iment be"'- roll the ntt<b 01 lilt p.l.rtin. This case was dtcided nearly len )'fa" ~ Then hu betn .... ry litllt judidat ktiOfl in this uea since. The ast of Ltllqff"l Till' Ins. Corp.. ... I'ella. 5n So.2d 578 (Ali. 1990) held in poort thiot a litle c~ny hid bruchtd ils duty 10 disclose i known tille deftct. an IRS Rillhl of Redemption. Juslice Houslon dissenl· ing and concurring in poort oottd t~t

--.. •. -_0 .......,..,... ....- ...... eo.Id

e c:.uo-.• _ _ . _ .." ....

~. ~

___ so...

"'otIIoo .. u..

L .""'. Abl . . L. !n<:4_ . ..................... _ for", .. _ '''''''' UIIIo . _

""'" ",,,,",:eo ., _ _ ....., ....

tIorr,

September 1992 1363

tht

V~lla C&.Ot

stood in contrut \0 lhe Counlv decision Italing Ih.. there .... u no duty 10 diKlose on Ihe pUI of Ihe l ille com!,"ny to Ihe pu r· chas«s. noting IN! CoifH CounlV Mid tillt companiu art forbiddtn 10 Si~ 1tg.>1 advi~. Vella, 510 So.2d 587. II'hel he r .... e ~re cogninnl 01 it or 001. lhert i. I I,emtndou. IlTIOIlnt of umulhoriud prxlicf olbw condUC:lw in Ab~fN. TM ~rage b)'pf1'SOO Iu.. no idu Whil Iht unaulhoriud p,,"ice of Ilw is. Or why Ihtrt art sl>luln in t'Ytry Kile prohlbilina 1M ullIull'Mlrizcd prlClice of I&w. Clearly, Iht pul']lOH is to protect Iht gtM'" public. Mool rt~1 fillte agtnt. 11>11 binktra do nOI know tht Itgal difference belween " dew conwying property to !,"rt in u join! Itnln!. wilh rishl of survivorship /Ii oppoKd 10 leninl5 in COmIDOO. The , .... rage binker or finllncial institulion don not recOlln;.t the Itgal si gnificance of" bink account undO! join t namn .... ith s urvh'o rship provisions as oppond to an aCCOunt opened in the name of In individull Cof(~~

wilh only the right on the part of the other plfty to be I signalory. Most would not relliu thaI ....h.n an account i. ~ntd by iI PlITent wilh ont or Iht I"nnt'. fi .... childrtn u a joint account with survivorship arrangement. tht child on lilt iCCOUnl will tBt tho entin account upon the dUlh ol tilt puenl The DIM. four childrtn will take nothina;. C\bYiow.Iy. this is not ..'hal tilt PlITtnl ifltended. TI>c ~nktr "",,'i~d Ihe Iccount to bt OSXn.td in Ihis mannn. and Ihis il ,iving le,al advicc. Tht llMee is .... ry detrirnmt.allo tilt public. 'l'htrt Irt fNlly UUS INt need 10 be ~ into, such :as; (iI) Tht $.lie of boob; or forms dnigned 10 ellible laymen 10 achit'Yt It,,1 Tf$lIlts "ilhoul ;WisliflCt ol attor·

..,.

(hI 'I'ht prxti<.:e by a crtdit collodion agency of Ih'fattning deblor. that ItgallClion will be brought Or con· Itmpl3ttd if the debl is not paid. Your comments on neas Ihat you have encountered On a regular ba,i. .... htrtin non ·l awyers are giving legal advice II wliciled. • AUOITORS . I

NOTICE All Alabama Attorneys C\w1g81 feOiIIdIng ~ aaI MIo,_""", 0.... 1m·$:) AcIIfS2-fiOO ...... paSMd by ... A1abamI t..goslIl ..... and _

SoctiDn "0-12"9. Cc:WoI~· ma. 1975. • 1Id.. ~ I. ,~ .

This lrCI ..... ct.es im\XIniIm dIanges.~ ;

tJc:.ns,o,... inaQMlfom $150 1OS200. Speciallloeo,o.· thip -.1focrwM Irom $75 10 $100. 2. Anorneys no lon\l8t purchase. from a ooumy ~~ jo.oo;Ige or licenH cornmiuionat. atWOUal I.

aa:upalooro;oo1liotnMs 10 pr~

bYt. ",stead. purchase theM lrom!he Alabama Slale Bat. All Wcenses 10 praclice law. al

wII as p.lyrMm of iIpitCiaI rMm· bership dues. will be sold tIItougII \he A/aba"", S"'la Bar .... ~. lars. Lk:erosM 0'i'IUS1 be pu«:ha&ad

beiweell 00::\0beI1 IOrfId 0ct00et 31 or be "",,10 .............100'; 15 pe<OIi'it pw\IIity. Second nolieH wUl no! be MnlI In ,m.s.pt.mbolo'. a do.o.I irM;oIQe

10 be UMd by boIt'o ........ Iio::IItM

• We are NOT simply a referTlll service. We work closely with you to 8URD YOUR CASE • AU medical experts

• •

BOARD CERTIFlED

""'Cr'al~~~~

P.o. Box:t2007 SI. I'tltnbu.-g. _1'1742 573·1333

364 1September 1992

hoIcIat'I and ~ ~ will be .....a.d 10 .-y tawr-r IdrroinIrd 10 paaioo _ in A1abamI. Upof\ ~ 01 ~.thoM_ put. chase the ...... will be ..,.;Jed • license and .......·1iHrcI1io::IItM lor ~tion~

Thole eIIcIorIrg apIrCia\ " ... ,ibM· ship wiI be sent I willet-siz.clIO C31d lor identilioouon po.otpOIft IOrfId aIoo 10 _ as • .-.pt. n yoo do not taceNe In inYoice. please notify Allee .to Hendri:< . rMmbolt'l.hip II8IVicIs dirKlor." I · 800-354·6154 (iI'I'I1811 WATS!

(205! 26S1·1515 Immedl." lvl

THE At.AIlMlA U.WVt:!1

NEW ALABAMA WORKERS' COMPENSATION ACT by STEVEN FORD (The author acknowledges with appreciation the assistance of Philip Segrest. a 1992 graduale of the University of Alabama Schoof of Low.) INTRODUCTION

The new Alabama lI'orkers" Com~nsa!;on I.aw signed by G()\.'ernor Hunt on May 19. 1992, lIthe ,"suit of a two·ytar process which attempted to address the g''''''ing problems in this arta. The Department of Industrial Relations initiated the reform and once its actions beame known "advisors" began coming Qut of the woodwork. Ultimately. many individuals. groups. urgani,alions , and coalition. attempted to direct and/o, innuenee the COurse of the proceedings and the final OUlcorrH' which made for. political jigsaw puzzle. The initial .dorm bill was introduced in May 199 1. in the regular "'ssion 1)/ the Legi,lature. Informal n~goti.tiono .ctually had begun befort the bi ll was introduced and continued th roughout the 1991 session. The bill quickly passed the House but died in the ~nate without being ''lied on when the ussion ended in July. Behind-the_scene negotiations continued throughout the remainder of the sum"",r. fall and winter until Governor Hunt called for formal negotiations immedi · ately before the special session set January 27 . 1992. These for. mal negotiations failed to produc. a consensus •• nd ther.after the sptcialsession basically consisted of more intense negotia· tions and politicallobb;ting. Although progress was made , the .peci.1 "'ssion f.il.d to produce a bill and the issue was introduced once aga in in the 1992 regular session. Continu ed negotiations , lobbying. and a ,·.riely of pressures e~ntually led to th~ new act. Nndless to ."y. no ,ingle anS\<~r could $<Il isfy ..... ryon•. Th. final .... rsion of the bill rep .... nt. a true compromi.. containing many provisions in which the line in the sand was drawn. In some lim ited ways the process could be likened to the labor and birth of a child. The two·year labor was at times painful, int.nsi .... and exhaust ing. whilt at the sa"", time mixed with determination. apprehension and uoond ·guessing. The birth of the bill brought a feeling of relid and $<Itisfatlion. ~.. t with that f""ling was a sober realization that it pOs>e5&td the poten· tial for both good and bad. Only time will tell if tho real issues fadng workers' comp<en· sation have been .ff. cli .... ly .ddr .... d or whether the act i. only a band-a id placed on a I. sion. Or perhaP5 a complete mis· diagnosis. The follOk'ing is not a technical analysis of the new act. but simpl ~ a top ical summary of the changos in the law preiented from a neutral standpoint. TilE ALABAMA LAWYER

I. APPLICABILITY Under prior law the workers' compensation statutes did not apply to an empl"Y"r who r~8ular ly employed less than thru employees. The act rai ..s the minimum number of .m pl"Y"" to r.~, ..cept for those employers in the business of Con· structing single family, det.:>ched resi dential ""~lIings. Also. now under §25-5-1. an .mploy~r is anyone who "emplOj's another to perform a ..,,,,ice for hire and pays wag.. directly to the p<erson.- Employee mean.l "..... ry pierson in the ""'ice of another under any contract of hire". Under prior law contained in §25·s.lO. t~ attempting to ...·ad. liability by "h.me or artifice a .. declared -employers". However. this s.ection explicitly forbad. a construct ion imP05. ing such liability on ,ontra,tors and suocontractors. The new act deletes this provision .. Iieving contractors and subcon· tractors of liability. Empl"Y"rs electing not to aceopt (<WI'r.g. must now gi.... employees and applicants conspicuous notice of that facl. Under §Z5·5·50. school boards need not prO\'ide cO\'erage until they reeei"" adequ.le fund!; from the s"",,ial education trust fund. The act also contain. a special prQVision allowing volun· t""r fi .. r.ghters to .. eei .... coverage from their departments. bastd upon the $<I1.ry thoy oam in their .. gular jobs, It doo1s not make ,'Olunteer firemen's regular .mployers liable.

II. INSURANCE A. Emp"'l'tt'I' OpUOIll 10 MeUte pa,ymetlt of .0m~ .... Uon Where the employe r elects 10 acl as a .. If-inourer and the director rules ad''eruly. the act .. pedites appeals in 125-5S(d)(2) by provid ing that the presiding judge shall within ten days aft .. not ifiClition of appeal assign a member 01 the court to hear the case and the matter shall be set lor hearing at the earliest avail.ble time. Under prior law. trials of these issues ",e" to be '"w ithout a jury unles. the employer demand, a jury trial at the time of taking such appeal". The act strikes this provision permitting a jury trial. The act raius the minimum fine for failure to secure compensation from S24 to SIOO and authorius the court to impru.t a SIOO per day civil fine. In regard to employers insurance poli""" filings which contain agg ..gate industry data of classir.cation of risk.! and premiums ar. to be public records und .. §Z5-5·S(1)(2). ~ptember

1992 / 365

S. Employer SlII of Rl,hb - 125-5-8(,) The ~mplOl'er may. by ",r iUtn requost . r~quir~ his insur· anc~ carrier to provide a list of claims made. amounts paid. details of the workers' treatment. and notice of any propOSed settlement. Failure to comply subjects the insurance carrier to a fine of bd"'een $25 and $100. In addition. if a cou rt find> that an employee made a fra udulent claim. the employer may fire the worker without worrying about §25-5- 11.1 sanctions.

C. Small Employer IncenU~e Ph"" _ Scdlon 50. The act will permit insurance carriers to gi'"t" p~mium discount.! of 10 percent and 15 percent to small ~mployers who do not suffer any on-the -job injuries for one and two )'fars. respecti.-ely. Sim ilarly. the insurance carrier may usess a 10 percent surcharge against a small employer who suffers two Or more I~s. The act defines "small employer" .. an employer who is not uperienced · rated for wor kers' compensation insurance p urpOSeS and whou annual workers' compensation premium is less than $5000.

III. LIABILITY FOR AND AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION A. DennlUon I. - 125.5. 1(6) _ Wages consist of earnings subject to federal income tlxation and reportable on the federal 1';-2 ta~ form. including volun\llry contributions made by the employee to a ta.-qualified reti",ment program. volun taT)' contributions to a §125 Dtfeteria program. and -fring_ beneflts- as newly defined (only the employer's portion of health. li fe and disability premiums). Average ",.. kly earnings shall not include fringe benefits if the employer continues the benefits during the period 01 time for which compensati on is paid. 2. Injury - 125_5_1(, 1 _ Under prior law. injury included diseases resu lting proximately Irom th~ accident. Th~ no>\>' defLnition would include "occupational dise ...." and di......' ",'ulling "naturally and unavoidably· from the acci dent. Additional ly. th~ definition includes "physical injury caused by either carpal tunnel ,yndro"", di-'Order or by other cumulatiw trauma disorder. if either disorder arises out 01 and in the course of employment-. Ho..~,-er, the burden 01 proof for such disorders has hoen increased to clear and convincing evidence. The act considers "",ntal injuT)' and mental di.order to constitute an injury onl y ",hen proximate ly caused by some ph)'$ical injuT)'. This lim itation ahad» exists in case law.

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B. Compen.a llon I. Pumanent Pa rtia l OIH bIlIty _ , 25-5-57 (31(11 If an empIO;'e~ suffering a non -scheduled injuT)' ~turns to work at the same Or greater wag<. his disability is equal to hi. ph)'$ical impairment and no evidence of voca.t ional disability i. allowed. If the employee loses his job within 300 ,,~.Iu; 01 the date of the injuT)'. he h.. two years to ask the court to ",con' ider his rating and at this time may p",sent evidence ofvoca.tional disability. The court may not recoru;ider the assess"",nt if the employer establishes one of the following by clear and convincing evidence: (l) the employee is on strike. (2) the employee quit voluntarily wittlQUI good cause. (3) th e employee was fi",d for a dishonest Or dangerous act in conneclion with hi. work. (4) the discharge was for misconduct after the employee receiwd a warning. or (5) emplO}"t"elost a necessary license which he w.. responsible for maintaining. In the new hearing. the court is to consid er -accommodat ions" that would permit the emplO}tt to continue work ing. 2. Pumanent Tota l Dl , a bility _ 125-5-57(4) _ What. under prior law. constitutes the sole basis of permanent total disability ",""u ld undtr the act be prima facie evidence of permanent total disability. but is not the basi. of the award. An emplO}"t"e refusing to accept "reasonable acCOmmodat ions" ca nnot be de.m~d permanently totally disabled . Where permanent total disabil ity is the r~sult of a second injuT)' and the first injuT)' is not in the same employment. the employ.. i. entitled to compensation only for the degree of injuT)' he ",""uld have received in the latter accident if the ear· Ii .. injury did not exist. Thi. rnult loll()\\'s from the eli mination of the second injury trust fund. The emplO}'ee must file an affidavit of gainful employment if he recei,-es employme nt dut to an accommodation.

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3. Dnlh - The act eliminates exclusivity of payment of benefits for death following disability in §2S-S_S7(5)_ In addition. §2S-5-tiO mandates payment of $7.500 to the esL1 t~ of a """rker killed in an accident when the worker h.. no depend. nls. §2S-5-67 was amended to r~ise allowable burial expenses from SI.OOO to 53.000. 4. Dtlll,)' in PlI,)'ment _ §25.5.591b1 _ Pailure to pay compensation without good cause within 30 day. alter it becomes due results in a l5 perctnt penalty. C. Me4ica l upenKi I. Mdlul upen, .. _ Employer i. respOnsible to pay the p",v3i1ing rate , not the actual cost. of medical expenses under §2S-5-77 . The dtfinition of ' pre"ailing- is set forth in §25-5-1 and means moSI cOmmon in the area. Th~ method of determining the prevailing ral e for participating and non-participating hospi\llis is set forth in §25-5-77(a). Par certain situations set forth in ~25-5 · 77(i). the parties may seek an ombudsman review with regard to medical expenses. Disputts regarding rthabilitation may be ,ubmill~d to the court.

2. Ml1e-..ie - 125-5. 77(1") - Employer must pa)I employee mileage costs to and from medical and rehabilitation prOYiders at the same rate prOYided by law for official state travel. 3. EmplO)lft Llablllty - 125-5.77(11) - Emplo)'fU are not liable for compensable med i c~l expenses. Thi5 means the health care provide"s only reCOurse is against the ~mployer. THE: ALAElA' 1A l.AIVYER

4. 0 . 1l1,li In PlI,II1IIenl - 125-5-77(h) - Failure to pay undisputed medic..1bills within 25 days re,ult.< in ~ 10 percent late penalty. Fa ilure to pay thi' penalty could resutt in a civ;! penalty of up to S500. O. O~~upallon ..1 DI ........ - 125-5-110 The reform act combines former Articles 4. 5. and 7 on Occupational Diseases, Occupational rneurr>O<oniO';i" and Occupa· tional Exposure to Radiation into one unifit<! Article 4 without changing ~ny of the substan ti,~ .... w. The new Article 4 does sd t~ statute of limitations consistently at IWO years. The repealer provision in 151 of the act mistakenly repeals Article 6. which deals with Occupational Pneumoconiosis of Cool Miners, and leaves in place Article 7. which deals T"tdundantly with occupa· tional .<posure to radiation. This clerical error was in all ,.. r· sion:; of the bill and was retaintd in Ihe enrolled act. E, Llmit .. tlon. On Rtco""ry 1. Oru , Tu lln, _ §25-5-5I _ An employff may not reC~r for an accident "due to the inju .. d employff being into<icated from the use of alcohol Or impai red by illegal drugs". The employtr can demand ~ drug le51. Rdusal of the employff 10 comply predudes compensation. A po.i ti'~ test is -conclusi,.. presumption of impairment". The empl.;,;'er mu.t then prove lhat his impairment caused the acddent. 2. MI....pre ... nla lion -125.5-51 _ An employte can· not r«eive compensation whrre he mi, repre",nt. hi. physical condit ion on an employmen t application and the injury .. ceive<! aggravate.! thai condition. The tmploytr must put a wrinen notice of this li mitation on the application in bold typ". S. Setorr. _ 125·5"57(6)(e) _ The employe r may deduct from compensation payments the proceeds of disab ili· Iy insurance "'hen the employ", pr""ides th~ benefit.< or raid for the plan. The emplo}"er may recei,e a setoff in week' aga inst compensation owed if he continues the injur~d employff's salary. If the employee receive. bac~ pay for any ptriod . he forfeilS to the tmplO1ltr comp"nsation paid for that pe riod. 4, Employu Sub ...,al]on _ 125-5·11 - In regard to third· party action:;, the new act expands the empl~r"s right to subrogate the disabili ty benefit. to irn:lude medical benefits and vocational benefit.<. It furth .. provides that, in the evenl a portion of the judgment is uncollectible, the ,ubrogation interrst of the employtr may be reduced. 5. (;o.ommonla l Acton _ 125"5·11 _ An .mpl~e may pursue a collateral action aRainst a g<J>.'I'mmenlal agenC]l provi ding occupational safely and health se",ic.. or its emplO}.. e on ly for willful injury. Such an agenC]l making safety inspections on behalf of self· insured emp loy.. is immune under §25-5·S3 from all civil liability excepl for ",illful acts. 6. WalUn, Period _ 125·5·59 _ Prior law impOsed a 21·day waiting period to receive the first Ihree days compensat ion for temporary total and temporary partial disability. The new act extends this waiting ptriod to unschedultd ptr" manent partial disabilily, permanent total disability, hernia, and death .

IV. LITIGATION A. Statute or IImllaUolU The new act sets the limitations period uniformly al two years from the point of accrual in §25·5·80 and ~25·S·117.

OJ""o..-.., _ 125·5-81/0

The act places limits on disc~ry. No more than t"..., depo· sitions for nch side may be ta ken except for good CauSe sh",,·n. Il",,'ewr. each party may ta ke the deposition of .''I'ry other party. No more t han 25 interrogatories can be pro· pounded by either party. Parties must exchange copi. s of med· ical records , which are authenticated as business records under Ala.R.Civ. Proc. 44I h). Each party may depose the oppOs' ing party'. physician.

C. Burden of Proof -

§25.5.81(~)

Except for case. of cumulati,.. stress disorders, proof .hall be by pr.pond",ance of the evidern:e. Here the act e.lS<ntially codi. fies ca", law. The burden of proof in ,,"... rkers' compensat ion ca",s ha.< been 10 reasonably satisfy the trier of fact of the claim. At le",t one case has held that th is burden is no less than thaI in olher civil actions. Apparently, there was SOme confusion about the "any evidence" sUndards u'ltd by appellate couru in revi ....·ing findings of f<let. The "any evidence" stan· dard has been the standard of review not the standard of proof, In cases of cumulative stress disorder, proof mu ,t be by "dear and comincing" evidence. This is a quantum of proof greater lhan. preponde rance. The act expands on the term in ~25·5·81(c).

O. Siandard of R.~lt" _ 025·5. 81 (el The act adopts a n~ standard of review. In considering the "standard of proof ,d forth herein and olher legal issu..", the legislature in §25·5·8\(ej direct.< tho court of civil appeals to act without pruumption of correctnus. Thi.language invites Ihe court to treat a, a Question of law Ihe i!.Sue of whether proof w~s .ufficient; this issue is not one of law bul of fact. Th~ act goes on to st~te Ihat "purt find ing, of fact" may not be re ... rsed if they are supported by "substantial evidence". Thi. "substantial evidence" language was used in the tort reform legi.lalion which aboli'hed the sciotilla rule. Previ · ously, the appellate courts w{iuld not rewr5l' the find ings of the circuit cou rt if baud upon "any evidence", and if any rea· son~ble rev ie w of th.t evidence supports the trial courfs judgment.

E. Fe..... nd Co.t. _ §25·5·90 The judge fixe. the attorney's f«s of the emplO}" e "upon the h •• ring of tho complaint for compensation, either by law Or by settlement". The expenus of lil ig~tion and feu chargffi by the attorneys representing the emp loyers must be reported to the Department of Industrial Relations.

V. THE OMBUDSMAN PROGRAM A. Duliu or the Ombulbm .. n _ Stellon 37. Participation in the ombudsman program is electi .... The ombudsman is a merit sy,tem em ployte who has demorutrated familiarity with workers' compensalion law. He prepares the September 19921 367

claim lor thr Btntfot Rtvifw ConfeI'tllO', in which capacity he (H meets ..i lh or provides informlllion 10 the cL1imant. (2) imatigatH rornpL1inu.. olrId (3) communiatea on btha.1f 0( the cL1imaJll with tho tmplo)oer insu ranct arritr, Inc! hulth a", providers. In doing so, lit II) medilteS disputts and assists with claims. (2 ) infomu loll parties 0( their righu. Inti duties (upt. (wI)- wheu:. Pilrty is unrtpff:Unttd).;and (3) insu. es that the (L1imo file contf.in .11 "'1#, medial. .ntI ott..r rKOrds ."d documents rtltvant to Ih. diSpUttd i!SUeS. The ombudsmaJl miY not make .Iormil I'ttOrd and may not like testimony as such. but he miY;uIt q~ions ol tho .mplO)'fr. tho nnplo).fl. and the iruurarlCe COIT1JWl)' \0 supple""'nt o. cillrify the cL1im m• • He may nOI se,..... a.s an advocate for anyone or assist a party .flu the Benefit lIeview CoofererlCe.

B. The Bu.enl Rni_ Confn-ence _ SKlioo 38" This is • norHdwrsuill. inlormil pr(ItHding. ."..,iL1bl. on lOY claim .rising after J."uary I. 1993. II is not mandalOf)'.nd is ."..,ilable only "m tho employ", .nd It.. tmplo).ft consent. Th. Benef,t Rtvi .... Conference tw three pur']105es. The first pUr']105e is to upl.in. both orally and in writing th. rights ol lhe parties and the prondu", neceSS/lry for prottcting lhoM righlJ. The Stcond purpose Is: (11 10 dis.:ow th. f<Kts of 1M claim; (2) 10 miew the inlormlolion ."..,i\able for tvaluatin.g the claim: ;and (3) 10 IXline.te the iMUeJ ollt.. (l;oim. The third purp05e is to med~1t disputtd issur:s by mutwJ ;t.g.eement.

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C_ Dlspllle Reselutloa _ SKlion 39" I. Dtsplltelt !kl,,","-n £ ,."loyer end £ .. ,Ioye~ - The Benefit Rtview Conf~u:nn may r=11 in ~itht r . porl~1 or . complete rCK>1ul ion ol theH disputes. If lhe (OIlftrenn results In a portial r.solution. the ombudsman ilia pre pare a wfitten Klllement ;t.gre.ment. The ~reement mwt bt in writing mil signed by the po rlin .nd the ombudsman. An ~greement si,entd puBlWltlo thiS KClion slWl be bindin. on.11 Pilrties. unless within 60 d.i.ys .fler the ;o.gre.ment is signed OJ .p. pl'O"ed, the court on a finding 0( fraud. newly d'K<I'o'I'rt<! evi· IXnn. or Olher good ClIo~. wll relitvi' .11 po.rlies of tho efftct o(the agre<'ment. If the Benefit Re.iew Conference results in a full resolution of Ihe di.pute. the ombudsman prepues I wrillen report. IIOI'I'e1l", this report is not .dmissibl~ evidenc~ in ~ou.l. It (OIltlins a stllemenl oItt.. issUH rnoIYtd """ tho ombudsnw"s recommtrnbtions .... rding Pilyrt\tnt or IXni.l.l 01 btnt· fits. In such mallen. the circuil court will iWard attomt]l's feu just a.s in • 'egul" court Klion. 1IO""1'""r, In allorney may rtpreHnt any party before an ombudsman without first getting permission of the court. 2. DJ. pllle. Bd_en 1... lIrance Companlu _ Some· times insunnce OI)r'I1pUIits will dis;o.gree IS to which is liable on a claim for which compenHtion is cln rly due. The ombudsmaJl miY enler in Interloculory Order requiring Q(h insufJfICe comPil"Y to Pill' a pro ratf. wu: of the comptON' lion due It-.. claimant. UpOn a final dnenni~tion ol liability. the in.urance company wh ich is liable musl reimburst the company whiCh is not.

D. MIKell.oeOIl, .......1.10... _ Sedlon 37· The Department of lOOuMrial Relations establishes the om· budsman program. Each eflll)loyer must .,,~ his employtts notice ol the program by posting in one 0<" rtI(>rt rons;>icuous place .. The Report 01 Pirst Inju ry "ill (OIltain a deSCription 01 the se",ices available. Th. ombudsman will gi,~ each claimant wrillen notice of the usl!l~nce available in prosecuting his claim.

VI . MEDICAL SERVICES BOARD II. eolllpOl.ltlon - SKllon 43" The bO<Ird will hIve five members, The directo r of the Dtl'"rtment of ln~wtri al Rel.tion. (hereinafter rdtrrt<llo ' Oireclor"} will appoint theK members from. list of nomi· ntH submiutd by the Mtdiatl Association ol Alabama. Board membtn will K,..... n~·yu. terms. Inil~1 appointments .... 11 bt st.agge.td so lhat • new mnnbt ...·,11 bt lppointtd "Wry )'U'. BoanI members may it,..... t..v terms.

B. Renll ... eratlon _ Section 43" Board members will recti"" $101) 1"" d.i.y or pQrtion thertal spent in 1M performaoce of the duties of Ih~ir office. Board members ...ill also receive reimbursement ror I~I upensu. The Departmenl oflndwtrial ~lations is ruponsible lor these Pilyrt\tnts. a.s ..~II as providing neeeUlry meetin\l."d office space •• OO Stcrtlllrialanr.l (lerial suppOrt. C. Operation - Section 43 " The board may adopt ruin i/OVerning ill own proceedings.

THE AlA8A;\IA LAWYER

One member is elected by the board to U~ as chairman. "!"he board meets at Iusl ~U.l.rterly ~t a tum .md piKe which the chairman duignales. The chllirman may call meetings more fnquently if he duml it necullIry. The bolord func· lions as a put 0( the State Department 0( Industrial Rola · _Om. D. P..-n a nd D.. lln or the Roar4 _ Sectlon 44 . The bolord will $tully. dtvtlQp and implement such guidt-liroes IS a~ ntussal")' UK! ~~ble ~rtainong 10 provision 0( medial servicn and dettrmin.llion 0( mfdiul mcusily. The ~rd "ililludy. design and in1fllelTlnll unifQfll1 cla,ms processing forms for physiclllN 10 use in report,ng medial information to employers and insu rance (Omp,niu. The bolord will ""><!y. dtvise lnd del'flop (bul nol impltmentl a unifQfll1 system QI utilization rfView iIfld QWOlily USurmc:e f..... medial servicu providtd by ph~Wu. The boiord will lhen recommend Ihis syslem 10 the direClor. The bolrd ... ill address and lIiw cON,dullion to lhose malleu which are d"tclfd to it by the director. The bolord lr\IIy enter into con· lracts ..·ith members of the hnlth CiU community in OFIItr to provide Ihe bolord IKhnical expertise in dischllrging its own dutiu. The board may establish regiol\l.l committen"to per· form any ruponsibilities specified by the bolord and programs tstablished for the delivery of medical services under this aCI". Regional committen ... ill be com!!Oud of physicians who.serve at the ple",u ' e of the board and rtceive the same immunitiu granted the board mem~rs. The Alabama Admin · iSlrMi,'e "rocedure Mt go-."trns implemenlalion of Ihis provi· sion. E. Marlmum F« Schtdule _ S<tcllon 45. The bolord will c.:okulate a milleimum fee schedule by adding 7.5 perunl 10 the preferred provider reimbursemenl 0( Ihe s.t.ate·, Lorge.! htalth Colre Hll'iu pLon illCQrpQn.ted under 110· 4-100 10 f 10-4-115. Ala. Code (19751. "!"he board may submit a revised inilial schedule. but the revision amounts may not excw.l the inilial iUOOUnts by rTII)rf: lhan Z.5 ~rcent. The Itg· i,l~ture inlends this schedule of f~s 10 .uppLonllra••t.tioNl compelilive rn.trkel m«hanlsnu.. TIlt emplQytr is not li~le for medical chllrtfJ ..... ich ucmIlhe mu,mum f~ schrdult. A$ stated abow. emplo~es art not liablt for oomptnlllbit medical t:lpeNH. "!"he bolord ~ adjust lhe (en for IhrH mosons: ( I ) 10 KOOUnt lor 1M cost of living inut~ based 00 U.s. Dtp.irtlTlnll QI ~ s.t.atistics. (2) 10 rtflKt c.... ngt$ in technology and medial pn(1iu. (3) 10 rellect .Iioo 01 a W 00 medial services. "!"he tax referred to would not hi: i simple iTlCl)mt or "Its tu, bul a gmt",l truwction w such as Ihil ..·hieh wiS recently prOpOsed ~fore lhe legillature. Those pa)·ing workers· compeNIIlion cLoims may enler inlo conlracts with hulth Colre providers at any mutually ~reed upon price. F. lmm " nll1tl _ SecUon 4 7The boo..~ ~nd those working for il receivt immunily from ci,·illiabilily -arising 01.11 of or reLoted to the decisions, opin· ions. d.eli~rat i oru. re!!Orts, or publkalloru' of tht boiIrd. To receiw this protection. il must make such decisions (ll in good faith. (21 ... ithoul malice. and (3) butd UJXIn then avail· ab le inforlr\lltion.

THE ALARAMA LAIWER

VII . ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION A.. Dutlu or tIw Dlreclor - 125-5-2; 125-5-3; Section 40. The di"'ctor is ",spon,iblt for conlinuinQ education 0( those working in the area of workers· comptns;o.lion. for filing In annual rtjX)r\. for aJll'Ointing certain ildvoiQry OOmmitlHS. and for galhering data appropriate for making dtcisions rtQuired under the KL The diretlOr is 10 find. but not establish. 1M pm·ailing rale 0( comptNIIlion. The act considen the prtvllil· ing note to hi: self-detennining. Thr act also gTllnts lor lhose acting on ~half QI the dirKl.or. immunity from cil.illiability for decisions mode in good fiilh ...ithoot malice. UK! based on tllm &v.Iilllblt information.

B. Tn..1 Fun" _ Secllon 48 . n.. bill eliminales lilt Second Injury Trust Fund. II cuales an Administnotil.l' Trust F'uoo. "!"he AdministQlil'f Trust Fund ...-oukl ~ suppOrtt<l by in assessmenl levit<l upon insurance arriers. self· insured omploytrs. and group funds. The bill pr0vide. lor the initial &SstSSmtnl not 10 ucmI ~.5 m.llion, and also an Innual ;ossnsment not to exceed SS million. TIll.! fund would pay for COSIS of programs under Ihe ict. Th is fund would al.., pay for any claims ... hich are already I'f!led againsl the SKood Injury Trust Fund. There can ~ no r«QYtry of lump sum ntormy·s fees from the Administnotiw Trusl ~·und.

C. Sa fot,y - Sull on 3 1The legislature states an intenl to promote safety. "!"he direclor is author i,.d to establish a safety program under which safety engineus would consult with Induslry. and advise industry in ways to make working cooditions safer. O. Effec:ti _o 0 . 1.. _ Secllon 53- a nd Secti on 5!l· MOSI of Ihe aci"s prO'>'i,ioru btcarm tffect;w upon pU.Ujfo and lI'PTOYal by tM Governor 00 Moly 19. 1992. Cerllin specif· ic provisions chonging prior Low 110 into effect AuQu$\ I. 1992. These proI.isions include: 1M ...... delinition oI ..-agts; lubrog.tion for \'OCltional and mediCiI txpflUtl: drug testing and impairmml; m;'rtpresenUlion 0( physielll condition and poor injuries; oor'rlplrable ,,-age section dealing with ...;atiQtl.l.l dis· ability; selO(f proviSions; sutute of limitallonJ; sundud QI proof: and standard 0( review. Tht Ornbudsmlon Program will 110 into dfec:tJantll.ry I. 1993. Regarding applicability <J tilt .....' act 10 Wsi;ng Qsta, the iltpartmenl oIlndustriol Rellltions hal issued I memol"U"lllum which s.t.ates 1....1 "tM law which is in dfKl.lt tilt dati: 011'" injury appI~ to lhat injury'". CONCLUSION Not aillegi$lalion;' ~nerlCill and certainly this KI tonU;N ib shart of quellionabLe prwisions. Many 01 1M reforms provided for in 1M bill will .. qui~ an idmin;'lralive m.mtwQrk in ordotr to detennim e.actly"""· they will openole 10 achieve lilt goo.ls ... t OIlt in the new stitules. [~Iitvt the succus or boilure of these reforms will ~ determined by Ihe credibility and integrity of lhe ~min;'trati,.. fr<l/Tle\o"\)rk used 10 iniliate them. As to the other pr<Msioru. only time and appellate construction willll1UlO'er the tOllgh queslions r~"'d by the new la.... •

- This s«{;on ;s new 0",1 there ;s fIQ comlspondlng s«tiQn tinder prior low. Stptem~r

19921369

RECENT DECISIONS By DAVID B. BYRNE, JR. and IV/LBURG. SILBERMAN SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES ,",urol'S must be ~1iIe-qualified~ in capital c . . . . Margan v.lliinois, Case No. 91·5118 (June 15. 1992l. Ma~. prOSpl'cti,.. juror in a capital trial who stat •• that h. or sh. would automatically ,'\)\. for death if the defendant were convicted be disquali fi~ for <:au$\" The Supreme Court answered yu by a .ix-Io-Ih... margin.

In an opinion authored by Justict White. Ihe Court ruled that a capital defendant has an absolute right under

the Due Process Clause of the Four. teenlh Amendment to ha"" question. prued to pOtential juror. to det .. mine whether they would automatiC.lliy vote for Ihe death penalty upon convicting

the ddendant of a capital offense. The Supreme Court ruled that an Illinois trial judge. refusal to permit such Questioning after a sp«ir.c request from the dden5l' was re\'er5ible uror. Th~ Morgan decision is importimt for three r."SOnS. First. it reaff"m.d the Sixth Amendment guarantee that a cap· ital 5I'ntencing jury must boo a fair and impartial body. "If a jury is 10 be provid·

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ed the defendant . ...,gardl.... of wh.ther the Sixth Amendment requ ire. it. the JUT}' must stand impartial and indifferent to the extent command.d b~ the Sixth Amendment: Second , the Supreme Court declared tmot a juror who will automatically \'Qte for th~ death penalty in e"ery capital case should be excuSid for cau5l'. "Even if one such juror i, empaneled and the death 5I'nten« is imposed. the State is disentitled to .xecute the sentence: Third. the Court held that a capital defendant. upon request. is entitled to have " rever5l'_IVi/herSPQOn" questions postd to pr(lOptctive juror> in order to ensure the right to an impartial jury and to guarantee the rtmo\,al of exclud· able jurors, Justice Scalia wrot. a strongly wordt<l disstnt. joined by Chief Justice Rehnquist and Justice Thomas which read in ptrtinent part, "Not only mllit mere)' be all ow.d. but nOW onl;' the men:ilul mal' be ptrmitteu to sit in judgment."

Mental illness and the crimi" nal process Foucho u. Louisono. Case No. 905844 (Ma~ 18. 1992). May a itate .eep peopte I'reviow;ll' ilCQuitt.d of crime I»' reason by insanity conr.ned to mental hospitals after tht}' regain their sanity just because they still might be d~nger ous to others? The Supreme Court said no in a /i,-e·to-Iour decision. The opinion. authored by Justice White. held that state officials violated the defendanrs due proc .... right, b)' keeping him institutionalized after PiYchiatrists said h. was sane. Some of the doctors were unw illing to say that he no longer posed a threat to him5l'If or oth eo. Justice O'Connor wrote a separate concurring opinion in which she emph/o· ii.od how narrow sh. consider.d the Court', holding. Justice O'Connor said that states may boo able to detain a ptrson who regains sanity "if. unlike the situation in this case. the nature and duration 01 detention were tailored to refle,t

pre ... ing public ..fdyconcoms related to the acquittee's cont inuing dangerou,"

"'" State's right to mask symp" toms of mental Illness Riggi>u u. Neve/do , Case No. 90·8466 (May 18. 1992). Did state .uthorities " iolate a ,""ntally unstablo defendant"s fair trial rights under the Si xth and Fourteenth amendments when they forced him to take anti ·fi5YChotic drugs during a trial in which he WM pleading iTl$.lnity? In Riggi"•. a ..,."n-to-two majority. led by Justice O·Connor. held that the forced administration of the anti-psy"hotic drll.(!. mellaril. to Riggins during his capital murder tria l violated his Sixth and Fourt.enth amendments rights. Justic. O·Connor. citing the American Psych iatric Association's description of the drug's side effects. found that the medication created the strong possibili ty that Riggins' ability to consult with his lawyu. to testify at trial and to undeT5land the trial proceedings ,,'ere "impairt<l: Once. defendant moves to terminate treatm.nt. the Court said. due proc . ... require, the Stal. to .how that tr.atment is medically appropriate and. con" sidering Ie .. intrusive alternatives. eSlential to the def.ndan!". safety or the safety of others. Speedy trial Doggelt u.

United Stutes. Case No. 90·

857 (June 1992). Did the federal govern. ment violate a def.ndan!". constitution· al right to a speedy trial by waiting mOre than eight years after his indictment to try him. even though the delay was caused I»' negligence and not deliberato I'roerastinalion? The Supreme Court said yes by a f,,-e-to-Iour margin. In an opinion authored by Justice Souter. the Court held that Dogg.Ws conviction must be o\'trtumt<l. "Where bad fa ith delay woul d make rel iel virtually automatic. neither is negligence automaticall~ tolerable simpty becau5e the accu5l'd cannot demonstrate el<ilcll~ how it has prejudiced him." THE ALAIIA/ol,\ l,..\.WYER

This ;s I sii"iflCanl dtcision beaUS( ;1 dep,llrts from prio' prece~nl ..... hich ffiI\Ii, «! xhw lirrno:>mtr;olion 01 prej ... · dice 10 IIw: ~ tU\llli"ll fn::m delay in In cuu. In ~II. Ihe S... premt Co ... rl held Ihl! Ihen comu I l ime ..-11m dday (oruI.ilulU I denial 01 juslice ..... ithoul the necessity 01 requiring Ihe dtfendanl 10 proYe demonstrable prtjudice.

hls on . xt. nd. d to d. fe n s. us. of pe r. mptory s trik es Grorgia u. Mt:CoIlum. COISt No. 91·372 IJune 18. 19921. Do criminal deftndants violau 1M ConsIilUlion when they US( 'lee ill I basi, for "eluding. through perempto,y chilionges. p,ospective jurors from Iheir I.ills? The Court iIIISWt~ )U by a stYl1l·to.lWO .... rgin In an Opinion by Justice Blxl<num. tho Suprtml: Court Mid lhil 1M Constilutloo prohibits a crimi~ dd"endanl from lfIIPIIi"ll in putpO$tful.-..cUI discrimina· tloo in tilt fXtrcist d portl1ljll0'l' chillengn against ratlal minorities. The Cour!"s holding in McCollum furl her extends the decision in &1W1l u. Kenlucq. 476 U.S. 79 (19861, which limited raciall)l biased US( 01 ptremplOTy .lriMs against racial minorities by lilt stale. In McCollum. Ihlft white ddmdanlS ~,e chlrged ..... ,Ih lI",ull upOn Iwo Afr;can Amt.icllns. ~fore ju'l' selec· tion btgln, Ihe I,il] judge denied I motion fil«l by tilt State to prohibit IIw: defendM\!S from uucisinl porempto'l' slriku in a ncilily billsed manner 10 uciude black veni.e members. The SIIle Ippnled the Cou,,·, ruling Ind the Ctorgia Sup,eme Courl held Ihat the Constilution did nOI limit defense use 0/ portmplO'l' slri kes. In reversing the decision of the CeorQia Supreme Cou ,t . the Uniled SIItu Supreme Courl mlde Sf yenl findings about" ddend"nl"s right in Ih e conte l t of criminal trial. Justice 8lxkmun I'&SoOI"I«I as follows: ~ illll 1M IwIdi dIM stale or lilt dotfens.t. if a tOurt allowJ juro1$ 10 bt uc:1uded btause 01 ,roup bw. it i. I wilhn, pllllitiPlInt in I scheme Ihal could only undtnnine tM ve'l' foundation of OUr system of justice - OUr citi· zens· conr.dence in il. As I pucti,,] matte r. the Supreme COIIf!"S decision in fIIcCoilum is of little pre(edenlial consequence in Alabama.

The Alabama lIppeliate (ourts have Ilrnd)' rultillhit poTtmptory strikes by ddellK .....")'01$ Ife subjecl to &Iwn·, tn<;hina;, 5« Lcniq u. 5/0/". 6 0;.,.. 25 (Ala.CrimApp .• J~'l' 17, 1992). Hued upOn lhe substlnlilll body of cut law followil\ll &Ison. McCollum will require defense co ... nsel ...·ho ucludu II minority group member from ju'l' service. to bt preparW to g~ in e~planation 0/ the Jlrike thaI it i. not racilily biOlStd. i.e .• a racr-neutral re;u.on. if the SUtt objec!i.

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fIIedina u. California. C.... No. 918378 (June 18. 1992). May statts roqui.., de~ndants 10 btlr tM burden of provi"ll tmy ITt incornptUnl to Sl.and !ri;ol] The SupTtme Court al\S>rt~ yU i" I

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JUJtice Ken!>tdy Tt~ thaI such II requirement would not violate i defm· dan!"s due proc'ss rights. -It is tROUgh that a state affords the (riminal defen· dant on whost bthalf a pin of incompt· tern:e is asserted a reasonable opportu · nity to demorutnte that he is not rom· potent to stand trial.II is the writer's opinion Ihal this dtcision has a substantial impact on the que.tion of who hu the burden of lIOing forward lIS opposed 101M ulli· rnalt burde" ot porsu~inglM Court ,hat the dot~ndant don; not undtntand tho nat ... re of the (hirers lnd i. unable to e««tively cooperate with counsel in lhe de~lIK.

ty. both pre· lind poIt·potition. which securily inlertlt Will 10 protect not only the S3.()()o,()()O lenl po$I.-potition, but also the pro.potition S34,()()O.OOO. At the tim. of Ihe filing, the $34.000.000 pr •• pUition debt WlOS und ..s" ..... d b, lpproximiloly $24.000.000. but by ruson of Ihe financing order Ihis pre-pelilion debt beume fully secured by all of the debtor·s Iuds. The Bankruptcy Court o'·erruled credito ..· objections to its or iginal financing orde r. appeal was taken. request for stay denied. and the Oistrict Court, on appoal. then not only denied the request for I StilY bUI also drnied tM motion and dismissed the appolll lIS mool ... nder 1364\e) whi(h Pl'OVldts lhil tM U\'OIiiI or modiflCa' tion on awnl ot QTlInting authorl.... _ tion to obtain crNit dots not affect the vlliidily of Ihe lien unless I stay Will obtilined. The Eleventh Circuit. in II diSilirumenl ... ith other circuilS. <tat· ed that Ihe ilwul ...ilI not moot. that cross·(ollattralization was not authorized by 1364(e). and. further. thit the Bankruptqo Court under §lOS don not have the right 10 dtviate from rules of

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t t c.s. In t~ Maller of ~rooIr Manufacturing Compan¥. Inc .• 1992 WL. 124355. II1th Cir., June 25, 1992). The Unll~ SlItts ~nk",ptq Court for tilt Middl. District 01 Ceortia lIpproytd an emerQency finaMi"g order in which Manuf,cturen Hanover Bank, holding I $34.()()O.()()o cLaim. ~rwl to lend the debtors an additional S3.000.000 10 fadlillte the reorganiution. In doing so. Manufactu rers lIan over received a security inlerest in all debtor'sproper·

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For Information Coil (800) 827·1457

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, VA 23230

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p.io.ity ~nd distribution in th~ int.... t of justic~ and equity, as ·,1 is lin imfJ'trmi~ib!e metm.'i of obillining POSI-p"Iilion fim",cing. • (emphasis .upplied). CO,\I~I ENT, Undoubtedly, this case is going to put a dam~r on bank financ· ing within t~ Eleventh Circuit jurisdic· tional bord... , and probably in othu areas where the circuit courts hm~ not rulw_

U.S. Supreme Court say. holding. In pen. ion plan. under ERISA excluded trom bankruptcye.tate. ""lIerson o. Schumale, ~.S. ~ ~.Ct._ (1992 LW 127069) (June 5, 1992). The Supreme Court has fmall)' settled this question which occasioned a split among the ,arious circuits. The debtor, Schumate. had an interest of $250,000 in a ~nsion plan which was ERISA·qual ified. M •. Justice Blackmun authored the opinion, which st3ted that ~54!(c)(21 al lows a debtor to uclude from th. p.op .. ty of th. e,tate the debtor's interest in a plan Or trust which contains a transfer restriction enloreuble under any relevant nonbank.upl9 law. The Fifth, Eighth, Ninth and Eleventh circuits had int.r· preted this as applying to restrictions thai would Qualily only under spendthrift t.ust law. of the state. Justi" Blackmun, in .. luling this interpret3_ tion, said that the.e is nothing in §54 1 suggesting that a .eference to non· bankruptC)' law pert3ins exclusively to the law of a st3te, and that if Congress wiShed to rut.ict it to stat e law, it would have said so. CO MME NT: The State of Alabama has a special statute wh ich p.ovides that the ERISA and IRA interests a.e exempt. In view of the above holding, it would seem to make no difference if the lund. are considered not to have become a pa.t of the •• t3te. E''€n if an IRA fund is held not to be bound by Schumule, the Alabama Exemption Law. unless unconstitutional, would take it out 01 the hands of the trustee. It is assumed, but not a loregone conelusion . thaI this decision also will apply to IRA as the legislation which p.ovid'! for setting up the individual .. ti.ement accounts and p.ohibi t ing alienation is simi lar to that of the emplo),ment bener.t plans. 3 72 / Septem~r 1992

Sup.eme Court gives .bsolut. etfect to bar date tor objec· tion . to c'.lm of exemption s In Tall/or Y. Freeland & Kronz, _U.S~ ~.CI.--.J I992 WI. 77247) (April 21. ]992) the United States Sup.. me Court he ld that a trustee ""00 failed to objt<:t to the debtor's claim of exemptions within the time presc.ibed b}' Rule 4003 of the Bankruptcy Rules was barred from objecting to a debtor', claim of exempt ion even where the debtor had no colo.able claim 10 the e~emption under the BankruptC)' Code. In TOlllor, t~ debtor was the plaintiff in an employment disc.imination claim at th. time of the fIling of her bankruptcy petilion. The pendency of the diJ<:rimi · nation suit ",as diJ<:losed to the trustee and creditors on the debtor's J<:hedul ... At the fi.st meeting of cnditors, debtor', atto.neys d isclosed to the trust.e (Taylorlthat they estimated the debtor would .eco,'.r $!l0,000 in her suit. The t.us!ee fa iled to object to the debtor's cla im of e~emption within the time specified in Rule 4003(bl (30 days after the meeting of c.. ditors). Thereafter, debtor .eoowred $110,000. The trustee sought to recover the por_ tion which had been paid to ..spondenls as ~ttomey's fees on the ground that the debtor had no statutOTjl basis for claim · ing th e proceed. of the lawsuit as uempt. The BankruptC)' Court onlered a retum 01 the amount necessary to pay off the debtor's unpaid ,,~ dilo ... The Thi.d Circu it .eversed because the trustee had failed to timely obj«t to the claimed exemption. The Sup .. me Court affirmed this rul· ing, oolding that the Bankruptcy Rule 4003(bl bar date to claims was absolute. The Supreme Cou.t .ejected the trustee'S argument that the debtor lacked good faith in ~rting her claim of e~emption. The trustee lurther argu.d that the Court's holding would "eate imp.ope. incentives for debtors to claim property exempt on the chance that the trustee and creditors would fail to objt<:1 to the exemption on t ime. In r~spo"'" to the .. arguments, the court noted that debtors and their attorneys face penalties and sanctions for improp ' er conduct which would limit bad_faith claims 01 exemption. by debtor,. The court further stated that Cong.ess could enact legislation to .emedy any

difficulti e. caused by the Sup.eme Court 's reading of the Bank.uptcy Rul • . In a very st.ong dissent. Justice Stevens stated that h. wou ld ho ld under the fa<:t5 01 this c~.e th.t tht time for filing objections to the debtor5 claim 01 e.emptions should be .q uitably tolkd. Justice Stevens would hold that the fding of. frivolous claim for ..emption is tantamount to Iraud 10. the pur· pOses of deciding when the 30·day peri · od begins to run. COM~'ENT: Despite the trustee's fail· u.. to timely object 10 th. debtors claim of exemption . the court's ruling seems inconsistent with the equitable princi · pals governing bankruptC)'. The creditors should not be punished by the trust ..'5 failure to file a timely objection, particu· larly where the claim of exemption had no basis in law_ The court ,pedfically found that the claim 01 exemption had no basis under the BankruptC)' Code and mentioned the availabil ity of sanctions for bad-faith claims of ..emption. Clea.Iy, the cou rt could have g.anted the requested relief. as a sanction against the debtor in this case.

A quick pat, peck or kiss Wallrer v. MQI"~r. lOth C.C.A., --" _ 2d~ (March 26. 1992), 22 B.C.D. 1284, ,tate exemption statute creating .xemption in IRA and KEOCH was valid. Besl ProduclS, Inc .. 22 B.C.I). 1288 IBankr. S.O.N.V. ~'arch 27,19921, secured creditor i5 entitled to adequate protection only from date of its motion for relief from stay. NOI'elill ". ""Ions. 8th C.CA!lSS F.2d 243 lMa.ch 30, 1992). Fee enhance· ment - Lodestar amount is not suffi . cienl if se""ices of altorne)' are .. traurdina.)'. In such cue, enhancement should be allll>l'f<l. In re Club ..!sIOC.. 11th C.CA, 956 f.2d 1065 I~brch 30, 19921. In a Casl' involving -substantial consummation-. the Eleventh Cireuit held that "'en if thrre had b. ~n -substantial ConSummation- on appeal of a secured credi tor's motion for -relief' from stay, for the appellate court to reject the appeal for mootness, it must dete.mine that it cannot grant effective .elief. Here it did deny the appul. stating that the case had proceed.d to a point whe . e • effecti"e relid was not possibl. _ THE ALABAMA lAWYER

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September 1992 1373

SPHING Kimberly ftend,i(k Adam. Robert Brown Aderholt William Michael Adkins

o..co $u..u, Aunonorde ""liliam Davi. Au. Timothy Ree •• Balducci Jud)o Harrison Barganier Julia Ann Beasley Betsy Ellen Berman Cathryn Anne Berrymar1 Anthony Dow Birchfield, Jr. Larry CI ... I1« Black Becky Allen Black Chari.. Wa lt.. Balkrnt)l Bradley Willi.m Brian Bodm •• Ihvid O",<hemin Briggs

Rita Maria oril.. Corl Stan ley Burkhalter

John r:nc Bumum Tillman earrrkrr, J•. Jame. Doug]", Carter, Jr. Sh..; Wood C."",.

Shef)'11 O<nl.. Cashin n""id Brian CII.:m<ollo. Jes<ph Franci. Cirelli. Jr.

James Stoven Clem Todd Gregol)' C...,,'ford Cena Hight.,..."<!, Dilnkls Carolilll' R<>btru Darby CrowtH ht. [)ellard.leben

Thomas Bryan DEnham

Angela Self Denton K.lly IA'igh Dickinson Donald Dua .... Dotrr. Jr. Victor Arnell [)Ullos< Shiel. Kay F'nmiT'

SheilaJ.n Fi,he, Chari.. Eddie floyd, III

Ion Mit,hell Folmar Michael Louil fond"," Pot.. Sean Fruin Ralph Bernard Cemllony, J•.

1992

Mary Usli. Hoot.n Timothy Alltn Hugh ..

Co.in"" Tatum Hunt Glenn f:dwin Ireland Mark Allen Joc""'" GlennAmeJacob.. n Larry La,,,n,,,, Joh""'" Antoinette Jon" Roy """'·.rd Kadol ChristOpher Edw;\rd Krafchak William Robert Lancastor .'1.ry Annette Largin Jouph Brady Ltwi. Angola Drni.. Long ,"",rrw Momo< l<>v<tt c",ry Cleati<e Luke Larry Ray Mann Dilnie! Chi.holm Maroon t: li.tabeth Cowart McAdory Jame, Kenneth McCollum. Jr. Nichol .. John McDol\ilid Patrick Dun NcMurtray Eknjamin Earl N... dith Daoid Francis Miceli Nary<lIm Simmon, Mitchell Diloid Lawre~ Moneu>. Ir. Rachtl Jackson Moore Lateerah Muhommad H.. ry Eknjamin Nullen Jerry Donald Nurphr ~ John David Norri. Sarah Williamson Parrish JamtS Drr.k Peterwn Chorlu Bo""'d PiennZll Nancy Simmons Piepho Carl St..en Pittman Rrynold. Eugene Pitt<. Jr. EliZllbeth Ret>etta Ragsdale Donald Chari.. Rashtr

Jack Sun!"" Classco>: Lars Thomas Granade Andr~ Robert Creene Winston Rau l Crow John Ralph Gunn Dan iel Gary Hamm Thomas Emil Harrison. Jr. K.. in Ihvid Heard Mich.n. Sparrow Holm< G"J'nor l.« tt.mlein Dor~n Mary Herman Hil.ry Laura Hockman Edward Benjamin tlodgson Paul Ray Holland Jam.. Luke Homich

3 74 / September 1m

ADMITTEES Eloinel.ube] Haymon Robin frank Reynolds Barba.. .'1...1Rogers·Martin Oaphne R.n~ Rudi«11 Vane ... Diane Rudolph Ronald 1I'3}",e Rumll John George Schorr. IV Pamela Ragan Scott Sara Jay Senesac Eldon D.;ne Sharpe GlonnAlienSh.dd Kenneth Coy Sheets. Jr . Kenneth Wa,'ne Shelton. Jr. John Richard Shoo,mak.,. Jr. uigh Be..I.,. SimTOOlU Cw~ndolyn Dr"""" Skinn" Allison uigh Smith Kent Elliot Smith M.rg;.ret Ellan Smithson John Quiocey Some",m. Jon Mart in Sepchal,ko Myra Btth St.>gg$ Evan ue Stapl., LaDonna Baker Ste",.rt William Kennith Stewart Sue EUen Summers Carlton l.« T..I Steven Lamar Terry Stephen Mitcholl TUlUt2Il1 Chari.. CarterTumer \"octory Da"'n Walker John William Waters, Ir. Thorrw Ellis Wheeler. Jr, Carl Daniel White Richi. AII.n Whitten Cr~gory O'Oellll'i"ins P.m.la Marie Wilson U. David Wiru;ton Shirley Ann Z.igler.o.bome

SPRING 1992 BAR EWI Statistics of Interest ,iuing for .um .... ,................ ,..... ,', ...... "....... ,...... ,....... ,...... ,.202 Number «rtiCled to AI"",ma Supreme C<>\lrt _ .134 e.rtificaHoo rate .. .. ...... .. ...... . ... 56 pen:<nt C.rtification per«nt21g.., • Un;,.... i\)' 0/ Atab.una .. .. ...... .. _.. .. .. ....... .. ... 74 pe"",ot • Cumberland School 0/ Law ................ ... ;O""rce "t .. 42 percent • Binning""'" School of Law ... ... 76peree nt • Jo"". Law lru;titutt .. .. ....... 0 percent • Mil.. CoII.go 0/ Law ... .. .... .. ~umbe,

THE AL\BAMA LAWYER

THE AL\I3AM,\ l,.\WYER

Stplemi!er 1992 1 375

LAWYEHS IN THE FAMILY

DIoI.,

f._ Silo". 1l9'l~1 >nd EIdo>tI Shotpt (l91l'11 I_i' .... ",'''''')

Cor1n... lIl.," ~"n l{1ml ond J..... R.II .... 1197~ ) I_I'.... r.tJ>t,-~I,.)

c..t llonld \Ilia. om),wId Eam .. ' R>y Will .. (1'1/11,))

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J ulia Ann lit...., 11992) ond ..... \...6 ...... 119621 (_ill.., ro''''')

J. 5 _ 119921 .... Rkhonl

shot........ um) (admj" w . fallon)

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B.SI_ llml"'" W. K<1I 51...." 119')21 (<<Hldmill...)

(,"'onT«1 119921. r nn~ s . T.. l

Robt" ..... ".,., 11992) .... BoNI1

... ny L. Joh .... 119!l2' ....

119151. JudI!< H'-II). T..I, Jr.

_ 1 l {l95'J1 (adml"N, fa/lin)

S.ndn L. ... hn .... 11986) I _ill",. rriIt/

11976) and 1 '*'1 J. T.. I, Sr. (1949)

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0... 11985) (_itlft', (.,,-, 1JroI/wr,

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376 1 Stplember 1992

THE ALABAMA u\WYER

The Use of Depositions at Trial and Preserving Objections:

Is An Objection To The Form Enough? I II by ROBERT S. McANNALLY

~r t~ ~$I four ~mby~ of decisions number Iht AI,blm" Supreme Coort hi"f ~r~ tilt

admissibilIty of dcpOJilion [..'imony at

' trW. Considmd in light of the Al.lbllma Rults of Ch,ill"rocedurt, these dedsloos ha"f an imllK! on lilt rommon practice of ob;roing solely to the form of a ques· lion at depasllian. This article will rMtw boll! 1m fcunl dtcisioru and tht lpplOble A*ma lIulfs. '"" _II ... di>CUMinQ the cmtrginQ nHd for 100ft SIlO"

H<)WfW::'. 32(1}(3) rtfeu~s OlMr circumslanCn under "'hich non· Plorty depOSiliom lore admiuiblt .. ""de~. Thfy Ire: (I) tM willlW is dead;

(bl the wilnt'" is more lhan 100 milts from the Ioation of Iho trial or in a state diffuent than the localion of the trial (whe re the witnesse', abo M",e .... as not procured b\i tM party oiftring tilt IiepOSition);

leI the ,.j11lW Is unable to IUend due

ciflC ob;tdionullht dtpo5ition lewl.

Adml .,. ib lllt,. 01 depos itions a t trl • • ARer Rule 32 conlTolJ Iht ust of deposItioN

in coort J)I'OCttdingJ. Whilo

this "'kit will fO<;'W on trial procud· jng>. il should be oottd thlot Iht restrictions placed on tht admissibilit)' and usc of depoJit ion tut imony apply to

motion practiee as welt as trial procwi· ings. As a result. when an objKlion is pftstrvi:d at deposition. " party may object it lilt wmmary judglTW'nt sbge to tht use of inadmissible evidence 10 nUle ~n issue of llet. Rule 32 proYitln Itwol (I) lilY 6epo$ilion may be used u impuchmen l .gainJI 1M depOnen!. lond (211he depOSilion of I Plorty o. ooignmd rfllreMnlallY! lI\IIy ~ uS«! lor lol»' pu rpOS(. TheM IWO uSU of depOSi· lion IUlimony II IrialloTt ,,'ell known and commonly ulili.ed, os is Ihe UM of depOSition le,limony 01 I d<)Clor or denliS! un der 32(1)(3). THE ALAHA."\A LAI'/YER

10 ;tie. illnt"'. infirmity or imp' is· onmenl: td) tM w;lnt'" is I licenKd physician 01' denlllll_ aboY!):

(0 tilt partyoffering lilt depOSllion hu Men unable 10 procure the aUtn· -unce of tilt witnt'" by subpoena: Or igl exceptional circumstancu uist mAking it desirable, in the ;nln .,t of justke and "'ith due regard to the imporlance of preMnl ing 1M lesli. mony of I wi lnen orally in optn tOOrt. 10 allow tM depOSition to be ~d.

o..th 01

~dl .

... oV. ryR

.po. iUon For II\IIny ~ll1liligalOI1 recogniutl distlnclion bet ...~en depOSitions lhal ,,~re laken (01' tM ptlrJ)(lKS of di~ry Ind those taken to be admitted .. ..vidonet at l"a1. This di51inclion is encooraged by Iho lIules of Ci"il P,oce· dure. which s/!!'cifica lly al low inquiry inlo mailers t hat are inadm issible

under lIule 26. anti pn:Mdt lor • rdu· .Iion of the Rults 01 Evidence with "gard to testImony laken subject to objtctions under lIule 32, Prior to 19;0. federal lIule 26(a) stlted thllt dejlO5i. tions could be labn lor "th~ purpo!it of discovery or for use os ..vidence in lhe action or (or bolh purpoMs", Although any dist inction that exi,ted und .. the Rulu was deleted when the Ru les ...... re almnded in 1970, in practice the dis· linclion remAined. often rnulting in the partin taking 11 "dilCQ\'fry depOSi. tion" init;,.lIy to be lollowftl by. "trial" drpo.>r;ilion It a bIer -Ute, The Inue wu nOI specifically atltlrused by tilt AWMma Courts unlil F.x Pt1rl~ Cools. 527 So.2d 1292 tAl. 19S8). wtM:re one of lhot defendants in 11 metlicalll\lllpTKIice lIClion noticed tilt depOSitIon of the plaintiffs physician .. perl wilneu, Prior to Questioning, bUI on Ihe record, the defendant attem pled to limit the scope of the deposition by duignating il a "di!.Covuy" dtpOSition. thereb\i disallowing its uK al 1';<101. The ~Iaintiff refused. sial· ing that it WllS his inlention to elki t ~mi",ible testimony on cron·examifIlIlion, After proceeding ...ilh 1M depo.silion, the dtlendant filed a motion seeking an ool" from lilt Coorl p .... hibitlllg tM uK of the dtjlO5ilion at t. ial. arguing Ihlt "[T[o permil [the e~rt'sJ teslimony in its presenl form 10 be rud 10 the jury depriv .. theM ddtnd.nU of t he right to efftctive cron·examination,"ld. al IZ93. The Irial judge granled Ihe motion. slaling that had the plaintiff intended to elicit Stplember 19921 377

trial testimony from the witness, notice should have been provided to the opposition. On ~pptal. the Alabama Supreme Court r"',., .... d the tri.1 court. rejm ing the distinction bet",.,en disco,,.,ry and trial depos ition>. Ini t ially the court pointed to the defendant'. deposition notice which stated that the deposition was being tlken for "the purpose of di,· covery or for use as evidence in this cause . or for both purposes. in ~ccor· dance with the Alahama Rules of Civil Procedure". The court then cited Rule :J2(al(31 which allw." the depo$ition of a witness. whethor or not" party. to be used under s~ciflc ci rcumstances (in this case, if the court finds that the witness is a ph)'sician or dentist). Th<> court ",.,nt on to note that both the lith .nd 11th circuit courts of appeal had specifically disallowed the distinction between depositions taken for disro.,.,ry and those to be used at trial. Responding to the defendant's "lack of dfective cross-.,..mill/llion" argument, the court suggested that interrogatorie •. not a preliminary "di.Kovery" deposition. are the proper whicl. for di.Kovery of opinion testimony in order to prep>."" for depo$ition.t On. ;'Ur later. the Cools decision was cited in £X !'art. flotlon. 547 So.2d 450 (Ala. 1989). where the tri.1 court grant· ed the ddendant"s motion for .ummary judgment basfd on the plaintiffs failurt to submit fXJ><'rt testimony against one of two treating physician> in a medical malpractice case. The plaintiff appealed , 'pointing to the testimony of an expert who. although he had been retained to testi/;> against only One defendant. had offered opiniorlS agairlSt both defendants in his depOsition. On appeal, the court held that as the plaintiffs expert witness f~1I within ont of thf ex«ptiorlS listed in ARCP 32(a)l3). hi. depos ition could ~ us<d for o"g pUrpoSe, induding establishing a b,..,ach of the st.andard of cart ,

RobertS. McA"""IIy _S~

...,

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l,.,....

QI_d-..m ....

_ooy _ .... u.-...

<II _ _ $<tIoOI <II

378 ! s.pt.m~r 1992

To hold diff.rent l;' would "impermissi· bly limit the uS< of depositions under Rule 32(a) ... "lit shou ld be noted that fiul/o" was. scintill. case). Standing "lome the Cools and Hullon deci.ions have a Significant impact on attorneys attending depoSitions. Whi l. both deciSions u ise in the conte~t of medical m.lpr~ctice lit igation .• nd as such may appear narrow in scope" r... iew of the ..ceptions allowing the uS< of non· party deposition testimony at tri.1 demonstrate. that. for the most part. they encompass circumstances that are oot predictable. If the application of the e"eptioms we~ made at the time that the deposition wos taken th.re would be some notice to the participating allorneys that the deposition could ~ I.lkd as trial testimon;'. llw.'('Wr: "The .. istene. of one of the conditions set forth in Rul. 32(a)(3) is to be determined 01 Ihe lime the d~ilio" in offe~d into evidence, and if anyone of thO$<' conditions is sati,fLed then the depOsition is fr.ely admiSSible and may be used by any party for any purpost".

Coots. 627 So.2d at 1295, (£mphasis added), M a ~sult. attorneys appearing at a deposition are forced to assume that with very few e"eptions. it is pOs. sible that every depOsition will be read into evidence at trial. Objections at d e position Rule 32(d)(A) and (B) provide that: "(A) Objections iIS to the com~ tent;' of a witn ... or to the competence , relevancy. Or materiality of testimony art not waioed by failure to make them ~fore or during the taking of a deposition. unle .. the ground of thf objection is one which might have been obviated or remowd if prestnted at that time: (81 Errors and irregular ities occurring at the oral examination in the manner of taking the deposi· tion. in the form of the questions or an.wws. in the oath or affirma· tion. or in the conduct of the par· ti •• , and .rrors of any kind which might be obviated . removed Or cured if promptly presented. are wai'",d unless seasonable objection thereto i. made at the taking of th. depos ition.-

~lost practitioners a,.., familiar with thest rules to the extent that (1) obj"tions as to competency. relevancy and materi~lily are res<r.'ed and (21 objection. a, to the form are waioed if not mad. at the time of the depo$ition. The potential danger to the attorney attend· ing a deposition lies in the exceptions contained in both ..... hich specifical ly ~tate that objections Uf ,,"ulud if the grounds art such that they might ha,,., been obviated had the objection been made at the time of deposition. It shou ld also be noted that this waiver ~pplies not only to objections as to the form of the qu .. tion. but also to objections concerning: I. Competent;' of a witness: 2. Relevancy: 3. ,l1ateriality: 4. The oath or affirmation: 5. The conduct of the parties: and 6. £rrors of IlT1g kind

M a ,.."ult. the f~il ure to pose aspecific objection may "Il.'l' as a waiver of th~ right to object ollrial if the trial court feets that the defect was curab le. In an attempt to amid wai,'''. partie. generallf enter into a stipulation which tracks the language of Rule 32(AI and (B) .... ith regard to preserving obj~ctiom other than as to the form of the ques· tion. As this stipulation may vary with different court reporte ... it i. advisable to obtain a copy of the st ipulation being used prior to entering into a , tipulation on the record. However, as shown below, the Alabama courts will not allow the parties to rtly on stipulations to escape the uceptions contained in 32 (AI and (B). Preserving objections Faced with the fxpanded potenti.1 for admissibility of deposition te,timo· ny und .. the Cools decision. tho preser.'ation of objections at the time of deposition becomes critical. Th. issue then becomes what t)"pt of obj,,· tions must be made specifically in order 10 ",'Oid w.iwr under the exceptions contained in Rule 32(A and (B), Citing the "u,ual .tipulation" di.Kussed above. many litigators have reli ed almost exclusi"ely on objections "to the form " of a question to preser.,., objec· tiOrlS. In Mc!<ell'IJ v. Daniell, 587 So.2d 980 TH£ AUlli\MA [.,\WY£R

!A.II. 1991). tht plaintiff sl/td thr IItftn· dant blJ~d on dlml'~1 Illegodly r~ctiv~d in In lulomobil. aceid,nl. Tht plaintiff nolictd thr dtposition of tht plaintiffs tro.Hng physician which was taken under th~ slipulation Ihat all objtclioos othrr INn those to the fonn olluding questions were rutr\"td untollr~l. \\"hrn thcltonllho witnm·s 09lnion tntimony. th. p\l.intiff ap~.· ently failed to II)· thr n«t$SaT)' predi. Cite. At trial Iht plainliff introduced th~ depolilion. and when the opinion quutions Wnt rud tht ddtndanl made an obj«lion Iwtd on thr ilUUffi· cienl predicate which the trial courl

SWUlined. On appul. the Alabama Supremt Court r«ogniud INI. stl""lilian had

bttn tnttred into. but held thai Ih. stlpulltion ",ffteti,·dy" ineorpOntod Ihe pro'o~siolU of Rule 32(bl di...,11SMd. Ibo,·e. Citing Rule 32 (dIl3)(Bl. tho couri held that the defendant had waivN his right to obj«t to the deposition tutimony at trial by failing 10 obi«t lit the time of dtpolition: "ITlhe Ruk rt"quirn th.>.t. if a timely objtclion would enibl. tho qut$l.ioMr to rtlr>tdy 1M probltm so INt the SilIN fnlimonfl could be recti,,~d in accordanct with the law. the objeclion must be made at the time the deposition il Llhn". Id. al

'84

Th. McKe/.'1I d«im>n IN"" thr first TtcOinition by th. Aillbl-IN courts of thr broad nctptian to rt$tT\"td obj«. tions under the Rules. Although OOm·

mtntators have 10nQ recOQnized tho pOlonlill1 for ..·,iver of the righ t to object 1II,iai (the McKeI"fI opinion cit,s both Moore·1 FwtTllI P.oetke and McElroyf Alabama [vldel\\:e). thore had rre~iou51~ been no discussion of Iho nceptlon ~s applitd 10 a sptcir.c fact "tlUlion. While McKtf<,¥ fIIils to pro,ide l btnclunarlt by which the pTllCtitione. elIn judgt wllttht. or not a 5pt· eifle IItficil is one thai "miQht be obviat· ed, removed or cured if promptly p.utnted", the cour!"s willinQness to modify Iho partiu· stipulation and lilt broad languag. 01 the 09inion luggut thlll e~.T)' objeclion should bt mad. with some dtgru of sp,eifitily. lind lrQ"'U ~1lII. objfctloru "10 thr fonn" withoul furthrr e. plal"llltion Or basis.

.......

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bcu:mo.~ t...p ......... ~ J'"r16 brtnlht,Jy..-....l_cl......n"'"poo I 6 I b dtol .... _~andl~CQ'"'."~I ... IepI.du:a.ion. Tho cv. t>!aIII.II\ ......., ~ .... d.wttM "-"'clbw and ~ pIuo~ oItJt......IytnI abirios. tdO and - " - 1'·1 ",.... I"I>Iianwide ""' oittws I~.

,....a.~

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Kdp)<Udll,-~yo.rlepl

Kdp_br<cmraOA

CLA Rto.iew Coone -O:.ober 28..JJ ~ N<dt Can:&.a

/1' ~g Al ilhe best, f,,_ ... _ .... CM_ ....._/&,.w.. ..""""IoIot.t.._ -.... . . ..., " "11<1.".,.-...,1,,, ,\.,,_ "'-«oMt/ t.y.J~. ~JlIlIl.411' l"AX~J"w",m

THE Al~llANA Ul.1I''{ER

September 199'2/379

Objection ~.b ...." Ail litig,ttors haw bt~n pruent at ~ ""p!.>Sitioo ..'htn ~ attomty lIStd objec· tions is an opportunity to ed,toriali" or cO<lch the deponent uling "lpukinQ objections". CiVl'n tht M«$Sity to PQIe .pecific objections in order to lIvoid "'1;"'n. where do ~T objections end and improper objections begin? Ont It""",1 mlSiit"'te is&Ufd a stand· ing ordlr for lISt where speakillll obi«· lions bKamt lin issllt. Note U",t here. thf COtlrt p~n the .... rdln 01 abuin" ;n,g a specifIC objection on the qUQIion· ing p,Jrt)': 4. O~jcc:tlo,," Unlt$S the inltrroQ.lt· in,g ~r rfljutsU furthtr uplam· lion. no IlIwyer may object to a quution in any mannu uce~t 10 say "I obj..,t," and to mil Iht fol· Ioo..·ing addi/iofIol items: lI. 'hde N.... be. TIlt num6e- 01 r«l. eral Rule of Civil Procedure or of Evidenco. or ci\.lltion to a stalute; b. Privlle,e Tht n.l.mt and 50Urce of a privilege; c. Form Th~ word$ "to the form of th e question." If and only if th~

interrogating law~.. r ask5 for a further nplination. th e object in g porty may .tate only Or\t Or more of tlK following: ambiguous lIrgumrntatiw askN and OU1S\Oo..rtd assumts a fact not in tvid.nce compound conf""ng or unintelligible hypothetical question misustd iuding mi$quotn a wil ..... or uhibit narrative IIIlSWH nqutSted O'<'Crty bfOlld or gme",] '"1ht obi«Hng Lo ..~r 01>011 rrW<t no further objt<'lioo unless the inllTr'tlQllt· inQ llI...,..r so requests.' It is allO nottwOtthy that the liJt of obj.ctions allo ..·.d dots not include mat.riality. r.I ...·ancy or competency is d;"';u~ in Rule 32 {d). This new postu re is not entirely defensive. Another common sc.nario find. on. a\lorney objecting to th e form. but refusing to identify the basis for hi, or her objectiOfl when reque'ted

Don't Risk A Valuation Penalty. Introduce Your Clients to Business Valuation Services. john H. [}.wis 111, PhD, MAI.SRPA. ASA. presidefll rJBusinr$S Valu:uion Service Inc., is theonlydesi&natoo ASA Busin.",; Valuation appraiser in Alabama. Busi1'105 Valuation Servicesprovidcs consuh:ation by the hom. appais31 reportS and exptn te$[imony in ca5C$rJ:

o &tatc planning o &tateS<:ttlcmcm o Marital dis5olutions o Rttapital itations o Employee stock QY.·nership

o Bankruptcy proceoedings o Me'l."fS or acquisitiolls o Blly-iCll agreo:men.tS

o Dissidmt stockholder suitS

plans Contac, John H , Davis HI , PhD, MAl, SRPA. ASA 4 Office Park Circle . Suite 30S • Birmingham. Alabama 35223 P.o. Bo~ 530733 • Birmingham . Alabama 35253 (205 ) S'XI· I026

380 1Seplember 1992

to do SO by th. quest ioning puty. In light of {>Ic1(elv/I. luch a rdunl will provi~ additional grounds for waiver il$ tlK policy of thit dtcision snms 10 be the opportunity for cure allowing the admissibility of tvidtnce II all.

Concl ... lon In light 01' the pOIentialldminibili· ty of mml ""poaitiON at tr,aland lhe potential wliver of objections if the objection could argulbly be cunti .... ...... rules havt emerged for thooK who intend 10 prottcl thei, ri,hl 10 ob~ct lit trill to Ihe ildminibilily of depoai· tion tntimony. Un~ r COO/I. It unnot be UJumed that only th. depoai . tions of Ihe p"tin and medical uperts will be admillible {although thil will c.rtainly remain Ihe norm), Ther. is nO longer any doubt that .wry deposition mllst SOlVe the "015· pu rposes of discovery and potential trial testimony, With regard to objections. the part its mal' stipulate to s)l«ilk conduct dllr. ing the taking of a deposi t ion. but whtr.. that conduct is contrary to the Nu lts the couru will opt for tht sJ\eeif. ic language of lh~ NIII •. No long. r will "objectiON to the form of the ~uestion" SOM as a POnlCta. Although {>Ic/(elt'll arOlf in a depositiOfl whue tht p,Jrtin had s t ipulllled that ufl objec t ions UCtpt is to tlK form of luding ~Ufs· tions were otttnsibly rtlerved. it il conceivable that an objection to the form alarM: would be dumed insuffi . cient by tlK COllrt to PIIt the OflIloting PiTty on not ice of tht specific e.,Or which might be "obviated, rt!llOVl'd or cured". It will be in tilt judllC's d;"';~ tion 10 make a dettrmination u to "i1r1l1tr "" objtcllOll was suffiCIent so IS 10 pul the OflIlot,ng party on notice of a ddect, using as a gllidtlint th. brOld l,nQuag. of Rill. 32 and the {>Ic1(I!/"/l decision. As such. 10 avoid ,,·ai''tr. it will be necesury to Itale a specific objection in lerms lhat, it I minimum. direct the OIlPOSition to tht ddect. allowing an opportunity for cure. •

Footnote.

TII~;

ALABAMA

U\\\IV~R

HELPING OrnERS HELPS Us AIL Judge Learned Hand once said, "If we are to keep our democracy, there must be one commandment:

Thou shalt not ration justice. "

In l •

attorneys.

"'i: recogn;~e

this 'commandment" of

eqUdlity under the law as a come~tone of Our judi·

cial system. We understand thai all citi ha,.. righto; and libertiu undu law and that the ability of pe.sons to stem. such rights and liberties. or to r.sol.-o ""11.5

conflicts. depends upon access to the legal system. Too often.

"",son. cannot

afford legal representation in maners

vital to their well -being and. conse · quently. suff.r \'iolations of their .igll\.!. It i. part of Our natur.... attorneys I(}

want to remedy such '""ongs and sol\'e problems for tho$(' ten fortunate than our .. IV€, through advocacy. Organized pro bono programs not only help gua.antu equal access \0 the law. but also provid~ opportunities for attorneys to do just that. i.e" participate in the pr.,. cess of making Our legll system work for all people. By getting involved in pro bono activo i!ies. a lawyer can see an immediate. positive effect on another human being', life. Volunteering your skills and experti>t to aneth .. perron in cr i,is provides a It\II'l of perronal sat isfadion TH~: AI~\I:lA."IA

LAWYER

often different from the day·to · day practice of law, As has been said by attorneys who regularly include such work in th e ir practice. pro bono ;s "good for the profusional soul." and in a time of increasing career dissatisfac· tion among attorne}'$. it may hi' a way back to the essence of what being a lawyer and a professional is all about. If you. your fi r m or your 10<:31 bar association is interute<! in sponsoring a pro bono program for civil Q>ts in your area. contact ~1.linda Waters. director of the Alabama State B.. Volunteer La,,~rs Program. at (205) 269·1515 in ~lontgome1)l. or write for info!'1'lkltional materials.t P,O. !lox 67L ~lontgome1)l 36101.

Pra bana hana. roll upd.te Alabama attorneys participating in organized pro bono prOjects for civil ca>ts we~ recognized for this comm it· ment to providing Itgal so,....ices to the poor in the first annual · Pro Bono Honor Roll" publishe<! ;n the July t<li· tion of The Alabama 1.<1";/ler. The fol · mistakenly QVl'r· lowing attorney' looked and WE thank them nov.' for their

"'<T'

dedication to making access to justice a reality for all citi.ens in their communities. regardless of ability to pay: Paul W. Brock. Mobile Jonathan Alexander Brown. Vernon M. Jill Can us. ~lobi1e C. William Cill.

~\ontgomery

Willie Julius Huntley. Jr ..

~lobile

RQ)I M. Johnson. III. Columbiana Kelso Jones.llirmingham Daniel R. KI3.\ing. Mob ile Stephen Brian u\' inson. Anniston F lo~'Il1..

Likins. Jr .. Opel ika

Julian L. McPhillips. Jr" Montgomery Robert H. Turner.

~\ar;on

If)lOU "'QUid like to participate in pro bono activiti .. through the Volunteer Lawyers Program. please ",rite for information and enrollment forms. • September Im / 38 1

• M.E.M.O.R.I.A.L.S • JA.'1 ES L EE T EACUE

Whereas. hm(J Lu Tugu( wu bo}rn in Birmingham, Alabama on February 15. 1948 ",hUt he rtcti,'fd his early education. 11. received his

bachelor's deg ••• in accounting in 1971. rnaslds de~r •• in vocat ion.1 rehabilitation counseling in 1972

and juris doctor dtgru in 19SO from the Uniwrsity of AI~",,". II. "<\$ a _mbe. 01 tIN: s.,,,,,h and 8.1.. LtgII Honor Society and the Famh law Society. Jim was with

\Ilt St<Itt Vontiol\J;] R.habililation StTVi~ from 1972·n. WM,US. the Mobile liar AssocWion <ltli... to ... member his namt and 10 rerogniu !lis contributions to Q\I. proftslion lind to IhlS tommuni!y; Now, Ih"don. be it known. Illat Jlmn l.n TUgUf dtpIrttd thiJlif. on ~ ]8, 1992. Jim became usoci.1led wilh Lt. Hale in 1981 1M wu .. poor!n.' in the firm of H.I•. Hughes & Tugue a\ the tilTlt of his dutll. H. had b«n a clerk with the Alabama Court of Crim inal Appeals.nd ",as hor.ortd in 1983 by bting I\J;mtd as on. of the Outstanding Young Ntn in America by the Unittd St,tu Jay'Cen. Jim was a membt. of the baptist church and ~ to pt:!,)' tennis .. nd golf. J,m WIll bt long ~membt.ed for his ste~fut friendships among hill fellow b~n and il$ an ~M, detumllltd ~tt 01 the righu of hi!! di.nU. II. ill .urvr.'fd by hOi wifi,. Wanda Sandy Teague; two sons. Jmo.n L Teague. J•. and I4'nt J. Tugue; t-...J daughten. Ashlry D. Tugue and 8T)Tln M. Teagu •. all oIl'lirhope. Alabama. .. nd his mother. Norma F. Ttl4Ut of Hueyt"""fl. A\abarnL

- Jmr A. Mc[)ooY!Il, Prrsiderll Mobile Bar A.<soci<Jlian

GEORGE C. H AWKI NS On the 9th day of August 1991. George C. Hawkins departed thi s life. Gtorge H~-Icins is truly missed by the dtilOns of Etow .. h County lIld of the stat. 01 AliboolN, George was known in the Iti'l community is a consummat. trialla",)·." H. ,erved is p.esident of the AlaNm.I T.i .. 1 Lawyers Association (then known as Alab .. m .. l'I .. lntiff's Lawyt .. A..odation), ,ssistant attorney genenl. legal advisor to the Governor. and president of the Etowah

382 1 September 1992

County Bar Assoc:;ahon. and "'IS one of the "ery f.... 11",).. n from AlaNIN eo.... to be inducted into the Internation ..1 Acad'my of Trial LaW)'fu. H. pruticod la,,' in Gadsden, Alabama for.9 )"urs. maintaining an acti,'. pnochee unlil his (!uth. Grorge was no strang.r 10 the propl. of Alabam.l. H. was known for his aggre~i'.. leadership and adhe",nct to deep and paramount convictions when he ","".. d in the Alabama l.egislature. George ","".. d two terms in the House of Rep· resentiltiws from Et",,'ah County and al"" St,,1'd aJI Speaker Pro Tern. noo. I,adtr lIld cllai. oIth. Hou"," Wa}"> and ~'tans Committe •. 1M press t'fCOI!niud hIS qualitin when they wltd him the outstandong oralor 01 the mte Ltgisla· tu ... , ouutanding member of the Ltgislalur. ~nd the best debat~r in the Ltgislature. Ctorgr MNf'Iltht Alabo .... Stn· .. tt as the second in comllWld. As the MOlItor from Et",,-all County, he "'U el«ltd by hi' colleagues to St"" as pTe$i· dent pro t~m during the term 1963·67. Ii. ""'" " .. II respedfd over the ,tatt for Iht many worth"'hilt Irgi.lati ... :tehi..... ments in "ilich he had betn a rromoter or a leade •. 11. co-sponsored the compelo\"" bid law for the state. He "'3$ a sponsor of Itgi,lall'.. rupportionmenL H. ,pon""red billl for jury Sfrvi.. for women. It. ",as the nag·bearer for all veteran legislat ion rautd during his terms. Georg. eamed a ""lid r.putation as a hllnI·work,ng Stnator for all tht propl •. H. Mrved in r" .. different administrations. as .... 11 as auOTnry for the Stilte Department of Rtwnue under Cow.· nor Fnnk 1>i1Ofl. aJI assistant anOTN)' geroenl during the administnotion 01 Cowrnor ChllullCO)' Sp;Irlu and as I~I advisor during the fint ~ministrlltion 01 mor Jamu

eo...

E. Folsom. Aft,r he left polilo ilnd returned 10 Gadsden to prlldice ]aw, he continued to distingUl$h hilTlStll in his prol.~ional and civic endtavors. lit organiud and oplrllttd Hawkino Mortgage Company. as ~II as Sf,,';ng as a member of the bo;Ird 01 directors of the Merchant and F~rme,.. Hank and [xcflang. Bank of Attalla. He allO Mrvtd a. director of a life insurance company and many other companies. George liawkins was bom in ~:Iora, Tennns« on lhe 4th day of Decomiler 1918. He graduated from Etowah fligh School and attended tht Uni''trsily of Alabama. H. recei,.. d his law degree from the University', School of Uw in 1!»2. Gtorgr Hav.'kins contributed in I meaningful way to his profnsion. the st .. te of Alibloma, his f.. mil)' and his Church. H. adh ..1NI to the hillhul Jlandard, and "'U uniformly ......mI and ..cImirt<l. Ht is .urvi,-td by his ... if., Jtan T. Ilawkins; hi. chilo dren. Geo.ge C. Ha,,·kins. III, Laura R.",,-dn, Da,~d H. H~'kons, John Hawkins, and Clorol Simmons; and grand· child ... n.

- Gregory S, Cus;m<lOO Gadsden. Alowma

THE AlABAMA LAWYER

• M.E.M.O.R.I.A.L.S • [SCRA.'1 BEASU:Y

JA.'1ES A.

PtYwt

8irminglwm

8irmirlghum

Admitted: 1930

Admilled: 19~

Ok.,}: June 29, 1992

Dkd:M~r211.1992

CIIRISTOPIIER HARTWELL DA~lS

CllARl..ES A. l'Ot:LLNITZ, J M.

l'IonlflO"lCTll

nortmCfl .4dm,~ltd:

Mmilled: 1931

193.l

Di<'d: March 18. 1992

Dr\>rtJuJyW.I992

'A.'1ES EDWARD HART. J R.

Rov LEE S.'1ml

"'""= Admitted: 1970

Pfrmix Cil,

Mmilled:

1 92~

DiN: June 24. 1992

Vied: June 11. 1992

FRANK JACKSO~ MARTIN

ROBERT FRANK SPUTT

F()fl Mven:, f 'lorido

AJmilled: 1927

Mmilled: 1976

Died: April 30, 1992

Died: July 5, 1992

ALnIfJ) M. ~

J ...."ES LEE TEAClJE

Birmingham

MOOihl

Mmilled: 1950 Dkd: June

n. 1992

;ldmi(/O'rI:

1980

Died: May 18. 1992

PLEASE HELP Us

000

We have no way of knowing when one of our members is deceased unless we are notified. Do not wait for someone else to do it; if you know of the death of one of our

members. please let us know.

&pt.mMr 19921 363

CLASSIFIED NOTICES RATES: M ember., 2 free lisUr>gt. per bar member per calendar year EXCEPT for "pos<hOn wanled' Of "1'05111011 oIl&red' itsMgs S35 per nserl"" 01 50 words or less, 5.SO per addouonal word, Nonme mber., S35 per -.nsertoon 01 SO WOlds Of less, S.50 per additional word ClasSllied copy and payment m~sl be received according to the follow.ng publls~n\l SChedule Se plembe. ' 92 Inu-..;!eadltne JlIiy 31 , 1992; Novembe. '92 I • • u e--deadline September 30, 1992. Nodeadl'lle IIXlensiOI1S Wlil be made

Sood classihed copy and payment. payable to Th6 Alabdma L....yer, to, Alabama La..yer C~ssdiedS. C/o Margaret Murphy, P O. 80)( 4156. Montgome<y. Alab.ama 36101

FOR SALE

• For Sal., The La wbook Ellchange, Ltd. buys and sell s all major lawbooks. stale and lederal, nationwide . For all your law_ boo!< noods. phone 1·8Q0.422·

6686 MasterCard . VISA and American Express accepted .

• Fo. Sale: Save 50 percenl on your lawbooks. Call National Law Resoufce. America's largest law-

book dealer Huge inventories. Low prICes . Excellent quality. Your SaHslaction abso lutely guaranteed. Atso, ca ll America's largest lawbook dealer when yO\) want to sell youl unneeded boo~ s, Ca .. for your free , no-obligation quote s, 1.800.27g. 7799. National Law Resource,

• For Sale: Model Rules of Profes· slOnal Conduct, Pe rSOf1a l copies available for $5 (inc ludes pOSI· age) Mail check to P,O, Box 671, Montgomery, Alabama 36101 . Pre-payment required

• For Sale: William S. Hein & Co" Inc" serving the legal com· munlty for over 60 yea rs, We buy. sell, app raIse al l lawbooks Send want lists to; FAX (716) 883. 81000' caLi 1·800 · 828 · 7571. • Fo, Sal e: Used Harris Lanier word processing system ConSIst· ing of Concept 4000 Network Server with 256K RAM, 20 M8 HID: 6SOK 5 1{4· disc drive Con· 384 f September 1992

cept 1400 WO(kstation with 20 MB HID; 650K : 5 1/4" floppy disc drive and Node kit - keyboard and monitor, Two Concept ltoo Medialess workstations with ~ey boards and monitors, LanIer LS· 08 desktop laser printer. Two Lanier LQ·40 (Iette, qua lity) desktop pflnte's (one printer has track leede,) Harris Lanier DOS and perspective word processmg soft· ware $3,000 0 ' best ol l er , Schmitt & Harpe" 213 Ba... nett Bouleva,d, Tallassee, Alabame 36078. Phone (2051 283·8855. • For Sale: Georgia Appeals and Georgia Reports. Good lor begin. ning practice Best oUer Send inquiries 10 Meacham & Flow· ers, P.O. Box 9031 , Colum. bus, Geo,gia 31 908. Phone (7061576-4064. • For Sal e: West's Alabama Reporter for Southern 2nd , vol· umes 439·557 ThIS set is 39 ha 'd bound books rot.one (2051 877·7792. • For Sala : Mu,pI1y's Will Clauses by Joseph Hawley Mu,phy Pub· lished by Matthew Bender. Cur rently updated - Cost $610 new, WIll se ll lor $100 . Volumes t. 2. 2A. 3. Lindey Separation Agree· ments and Antenupllal Conlracts by Alexander Li ndey. Published by Matthew Bender. Currently updated - cost $460 new, WIll sell lor $75, Volumes t. 2. 3. Coo· tact Alice Hancock, UAW

Legal Services Plan. rot.ona 12051461 .7526. • For Sale' OHice furniture. suppl ies and eqUIpment lor sa le , inc ludmg desks, chairs . conier. ence lable, cop,e' . Ia>: machine, telephones . and dictat,on equip· ment. Lawbooks . Code 01 Alaba· ma, Southern Reporter, Sup'eme Court Reponer, and many mo'e, Avai lab le lor viewing al 639 Martha Street, Mont90m" e ry , Alabama, Monday-F,I· da, alter 5 p.m. Call (2051 834-9636 and leave ameS· sag e. • Fo, Sale: The Estate of Kenneth Cooper . auorney at law, is accept· ing bids 00 a complete law liDlary conslSllng 01 apprOximately 639 volumes, The law IID1ary includes a complete up-to-date set of Code 01 Alabama as revised in 1975. consisting Of 2S volumes, as well as an up·lo-date sel 01 Alabama Reporters So. 2d conslsling 01 99 volumes The law library also contaIns 515 addItional volumes from sets such as Shepard's. ALRs and Modern Legal Forms. Al l interest· ed partieS should wrile the law office at Zoom Box 1000, Bay Minette, Alabama 36507. rot.one (2051937.7412. • Fo, Sale: Complete sets wilh all current supplements of ALA. ALA 2d . ALA 3d. ALR 4th, ALR 5th, ALR Fed, ALR Digests - $2,(XXJ, musl pic~ up In Gadsden. rot.one 12051547.6801. THE AWl.BA."IA LAWYER

SERVICES •

S .~"lc. :

Traffic engmeer. eonsullantl.xpet1 Wflne$$ Graduale. laglSlefed. prolessoonal engneer Forty yea,,' experIenCe Hogllway and clry roadway desIgn. traffic eonlrol devices. CIIy:rorw1g Wnte or call for resume. lees. ".ck W. Ch.mbll . ., 421 B.II.hu~.t D~I"., Montgomery, AI.b.mil 3&109. Phone (2051272. 2353.

• Se."lc.: Lel;lal rasearch help. EJcperienced anomey. member of Alabama S,al. Bar smce 1977 Access.o Slllle law library WESTLAW eY"lable Prompt deadlIne searche$ Seoah Kathryn Fa.. n e ll, 112 Moo~. BullcUng, "ontgom . ry, AI.bama 36104. Phone (2051 277 · 7937. No repres6rlIlWon is made that the QUII/Jty 01 the legal ser· vices 10 be performed ;s greater lhan the Qvailly of legal serv'ces perlOlf'll6d by oltler la"'YEIrs.

St. P . t.reburg, Flo.id •• Phon. (813) 579-6054. FAX 573.1333

• S .... lce: Insurance. expe" witness SI" •• In , ur.nc. M.n· .11. .... n' Con.u.t.nt. (srnc:e .970) Available to COO$\ln and/ot /urnish expert 1&SlImony in areas 0 1 p.opelly/ClSyalty Insurance, emplcyM benefIts and business hie insu.ance Stafl inclyde JDs WIth Insurance indYslry experi. ence Due to hrm'S core-c:onsult· ing praClice W,lh corpotate and government cl,ents. we are partrc· ularly QU8l1lied If1 matters involvIng coverage flIerprelabon. rnstJf · ance rndusIry customs and practrces . profeSSIonal Ilabihty. bad farlh , rales and premn.ms. eontr(). veiled property clarms. pollution. clalms·made issues. and insurer Insotvency IlIIlral (1rSCllSSlOn and impreSSIons olJered wltho,,1 charge C.II Edw •• d W. 51" • • , Cf'CU, CLU o. "im .....h.n, "0, CPCU, AAM .t 18131577. 2780

• S • • "lc.: Examinatoon of ques-

lioned documenls. Handwmrng. lypeWflung and ralated examlna· lIOnS. Interna'lOIlaJly coull-qualihed exper. wItness DIplomate. Amencan Board 01 Forensre Doe· ument ExaITWlefS Member' American sOeretv 01 Ouestroned Documant Examners. \he InlernabOnaJ Assocralron for ldenl,hcatron, the Brrl,sh Forensic ScIence Society and .he Natronal Assoclalion 01 CrimInal Oelense Lawyers. Rellled Chiel [)oeyment EJcamln. er, USA CI Laboraloties Ha na May • • Gidlon , 218 "1!I~~y. mont D.r"., Auguat., Geo.· gl. 30907. Pho ne 17061 8GO4267.

• Service: HeAl wi eva.ale your cases gralls for mIII~ and causalIon Chnlcal reps WIJI come 10 you. oIIice gratIs II your case has no mer~ or if c:ausalron is poor. we WIll also prOYlde a hee wllllen repo.t Stata aU,daY'ls super· rushed Please see dIsplay ad on page 364 H •• llh C.re Audi. to'a, Inc., P .O . Bolt 22007, nit; ALABAMA I.AWV"R

• S.rvic. Cenlhed Forensic DoeUmeo1 examIner Chiel docr.ment e~r. Alabama Department of ForenSIC Serenees. retlled B.S .. M S grad"ale. "nlVefslly·based reSlden, IChool In documoflt exanw\811Orl Published nalronally and internahonally EIghteen yea.s· trill .xperoence state/leder· al co".I, 0/ Alabama FOfgery. altaratlOllS and document alllhen· licily axamlnatlolls. Cnminal and non·crlminal mailers. American Acadomy of FOrellSic Sciences. American Board 01 Forensic Doc· umenl Exan'lll'lflfs, American Society 01 Oyest loned Document Examiners L.m •• Mille., 3325 Lo.n. Ao.d , ' 2.316 , P.O. Bo. 360999, Birmlng. h. m, AI.b.m. 35236-0999. Phone (2051968--4158.

POSITIONS OFFERED • Po.,tlon Off.r. d: Major Alaba· ma law lirm seeks lawyer wllh extensl~e expenence III enyiron·

menIal law to develop form"s errvtrorvnenlal law departmen1. Prefer exlenSl~e expene-nee In compli. ance and oblllr'IIng permtS undef RCRA and CEACLA and assrsbng clrents W01h erMfOlllrerltal aspocrs 01 bUlrness transactIOnS Strong experience. eeademlc quali/ica· tlOllll and client deveIopmonl skills .equored Conlld.nU.1 r.ply to P.O. 80. 1986, Blrm· Ingh.m , AI.b.m. 35201· 1986, AU.ntion: Hiring Attom.y. • Po.ltlon Offe~.d, Bllmingham bankrup tcy Irrm is seeking \0 establish offices in Monlgomery and Mobrle Our linn wooAd like to Irnd sote p.actllloners In these cnres who are interested in asseellilng w'th us Send resume 10 Offlc. ".n.ger, 15 S. 20th St... l, Svlte 1325, .innlng· hem, Alab.mII 35233 • Po.ltlon Off.Nd Attorney jobs. Nalione l and Federal Employment Repor. HIghly .egarded month ly detailed li,.ing of a1tomey and law.reialed jobs WIth \he U.S Govemmen!. other public/pri~8Ie emplcye,s In Washlnglon. DC . ihroughou1ihe U S and abroad 5CO-6OO ~ jObs each ISSUe. S34 lor three months , $58 lor SIX month. F. d e , .1 A e po~ta , 1010 Ve nnont A". n ...., NW, ' ",,08·A8, W.ahinlllton, O.C. 20005. Phon . (2021 393· 3311. VISA . nd M.s'erCard .cc.pt.d. _

Richard Wilson & Associates Reg istered Profess ion al Cou rt Reporters '7 Mlld~ Sl.ree1 Mor1rgome-ry ..... Iabam. 36104

264-6433 &pttmMr ]992 f 385

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Itr. Gl!orgO! Itt;.Cor.lck ilI.l, 1I1 S..,r_ Court of Alibi.. ~~ Do';.,. A.... "nl" .... y At. 36130