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n iii
lahama attorneys want coverage where it counts! Many commercial malpractice policies contain a penalty-for-refusalto-settle clause. This clause can be used to force an insured to accept an offer of settlement or, if rejected, pay the difference between the offer and the ultimate verdict. By contrast, AIM's policy gives its insureds protection and peace of mind. AIM will not settle a case without an insured's consent and will not penalize an insured for refusing settlement and going to trial. AIM's poli cy even guarantees its insureds a voice in selecting defense counsel. AIM does what most commercial insurers refuse to do:
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FAX (205)980-9009
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When it comes to bar association member benefits, Avis always rules in you r favor_ "We Iry harder" by offering you low, competilive daily bus in ess rates along w ilh special discounts for bolh business and leisure renlals. And jusl for the te<:ord, now you can enjoy \\iIluable offers like a free upgrade and S IO off a weekly r enlal. See the coupons below for details. As a bar association member, you'U also appreciate ou r many conven ient airport locations and time-sa.ving services Ihal make renting and rel urnin~ an Avis car fast and easy. With an Avis Wizard Number and an advance res.ervation, Avis Express- lets you bypass busy rental counters at over 70 U.S. and Canada airport locations. And du ring peak periods at major airports, Roving Rapid Return- lets you depart with a printed receipt in seconds if you are a credit card customer and require no modifications to your rental charges. At Avis, juslice is served every day. To take advantage of the offers below. call your travel consultant o r the Avis Special Promolion number toll free: 1-800-831 -8000. Be sure 10 menlion your Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number:
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AVIS.
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THE AWlWiA WlWVER
__....._....._._..__._.._.._--_..
\\C try harder.'
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We try harder: - ----_
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SEPTEMBER ]9941 261
IN
BRIEF
Septtmber 1994
Volume 55, Number 6
ON THE COVER: RoginaJd T. Itomnt. has rru"d .. Stcr<tlry and f. ........ tive Dir«ta. of tho AlWma SUI< I!>.r •fI. r 25)'an of sorvia. IIi. Itnu'" .,..;,. him tho nali",,", soni.,. stale barexecuUII< in point 01 .. rvia. Pictured i. the Hamno, family, 1,It to right. Anno, Chrh, Pot'kk ,00....1«1. Rrggi •. PhoIo bg Crosby Thoml"" PIIotavraphjJ ofTuscaI<xw. AlIlI>I1ma
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE: A Trlbut~ to ReUle Hamner
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Comm/ttH •• nd Tuk Forct.. 1994 ·95 ...... ,....... ,...... Pruidtnt', POi< ........ .264 fKt.<.Il'U Poll .. .. .266 Exocutivt Dimtor'. 1«1'0« ... .. .. .... .267 ,.276 Logisbti"" Wrap-Up ._ ............ . Al»ut M, rnbtrs.Among firms ............... 278 Annual M«ting Highlights.... .. ...... .2&l Sui IdiI\iI AI.bMna·. Courth<>u><. .. ....... 284
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........................ 303
Opinions '" It.. Cln.r.ol ew"",1
CLE Opportunitif ..... . l>iociplinal)' R.pOrt .... .
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folNIA."-' S TATE IlAM HEAI>QUAIlITMS STAFF
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262 1SEPTEMBER 1994
THE Al.-'.BAMA [..\\\IYER
THE ALABAMA LAWYER
SEPTtMBER ]9!M 1263
PRESIDENT'S PAGE
LET'S UNIFY OUR UNIFIED BAR
I'tl
s we ~gin whal I btliew is the I 16th year of OUr Alabama State Bar, r first thank Spud Seale for his hard wo rk and the manner in which he has presided aver OUr bar thi. past year. Spud led the board of bar commissioners through some difficult i.. u"" and •
it ;s through his persistence and Ilard work those problelTJ.l .re, for the most part, behind us. I know it has been sa id many tim .. in th;, oolumn that "it is • pri"';)ege to serve as YOU' president." For me, '" I am sure it has bun for a long lint of our presidents. it is indud a privi· lege with special meaning for me to.eM ill president of the Alabama State liar. But I ,elliu there i••
1(>\ more to this job than the litle. This bar and its members rightfully expect that
1994, I reminded those am!mbled uf an incident early in the I%S presidenlial campaign. The nation was thon in IUnTl(lil O\'er the Vietnam war and racial violence. While President Nixon .....asgoing through Ohio, he saw a 1ittle girl holding up a ho~made sign ..... hich said, "BRING US TOGETHER AGAIN." Thai sign became the theme of the succes:;ful Nix(lll campaign. I hasten to add thai I do not want my tem of office to end as President Nixon's: IloweYer,l would like w; all to think on the togothemw theme. t would like to help bring our bar togethtr again. I My again because the fragmentation and division "~are experiencing is of comparatively .. unt origin. We ....." .. , until recent timu, a unified bar by law and in practi.,.,. I sense a hung .. for a return to that unity. I have heard this from so many lawyers and judges from all parts of the state. An appellate judSt' said m(l$t appropriately in a recent letter to me:
I and the other officers will >1: ..... the bar well and continue \0 ilCoomplish the mission and duti •• we are charged with for the bener,t of OUr profession and the pub· lie. On December 13. 1878. the Alabama ·We are a/ a erucia/time far Stat~ Bar Association .....as organized "'ith aUT nab{e profession. We. as a member.;hip 01 30. TodaJI we IwJe over lowllers, "e~d ta come I10ck 10 10.000 member.;. In 1923. the bar. by act lire Alabomo: Slate Bor as tire life of legislature. became the fir.;t (~ec(lnd sauree of aur profess ian. The $(Ime MY) unified. i.e" mandatory. bar in Slate Bor must be lire tJrguniUl' Ihe country. By this Act, ",'ery la .....l'er lion lhot mcompos,ws all 01 us, licensed to practice law in Ihe State 01 <md il mw;1 be Ihe orgunizalian Alabama became a member of the AlabaIhol all of us support.• ma Siale Bar. The Alabama State aar Broox Q . Hot..... unde rlook a public and prolonional How true it i,l Regardl.,.. uf legal speresponsibility to accomplish the matter.; il ci~ltifS or special interests, we should was charged with performing when it work together in our common goals of became a unified bar in 1923, This responsibility "as under· imprQ\ing the profes:;ion, imprO\'ing the image of our profesuken by and mw;1 be achievtd by Alabama lawyers. sion and the work of the bar in .. rving the public. Every While"", are · unified" by law, our bar has in recent years lawyer has a suke in the Alabama State fur and an obligation experienced increa>ing Iragmentation and diKord. To $(Ime to support it degree this is understandable. W. are lawyer. wilh diwr$e We ha~e just received the report of the Long Range views and "'" a~ adl.~rsarial by '"'tu~. w. haw our legal spePI~nning Task Force headed so ~bly by Camille Wright cialty <wociations and special interests. But when it comes to Cook. The Tl'port has !l(It )ll't been adopt<:d by the board of bar the m~i(lru and goats of lhe Alabama State Bar we can and we commissioners but, among other t hings, it recognizes mw;1 do a better job of working togelher. that the Alabama State Bar has an obligation. "To u~ lhol a In my acceptance remarks belore the oonwnUon on July 21, standard policy of inclusian be inslitutior/a/ized and rommu· 264 / SEPTEMBER 1994
THE AlMIA.'1A U\\\'YER
ni'I1/,d /0 m,mbllrl of /h, prof,uion al Ih' P<lramoun/ ~ 10 separotim/ tmd liilji"Nntotiorr. • 1 urge uch of you 10 W(lrk t""''iT'd unity of putpCIK this yur lind to lid bfhind this bar. W. we~ all "fry oonnmtd "t>m RfUit H.......... dKidtd to
~Iire from hi, pO$ition as our utcutive dirt(tor after serving SO well and $0 faithfu l!» for 2S }'tars. I can't top Ihe well-deseJVtd accolades Qivtn by $0 man}' 10 Reggie. I can only thank Reggie for hiJ fmrKiship and guidance O"f' the yurs and for his g"at ~ 10 the "wyers and people 01 Ab/:tmII. W. will nrUin!» miss Rtggit andAnnt. We wish thrm tht but.
It il uid ,,'h~n on~ doo, doni "fry (ortu~~ 10 ~ J po!fJOn with
Jnolh.. openl. We ar~ tht knowItdgo and npe:. ,ienn 01 K~ith Norman to Itep in as euculM di redor at thiJ erud.. I I'mr. kith iJ t..:ktd up by .. wry J.bk .wr who do a lI:rul job in handling tht everydly work of tht bar. Our EI~cul ive Council. committees and t.a.sk foren an in place ~nd rudy for the new yur. When we consider all of 00' r.SOU'''''I. th ... iJ r>O rtUOn. other than diKo rd. why we can't aceompliJh lhe W(lrk we are charged with doinS. So let's gellogethtr and eo 10 work. Again. I thank you fof giving mr IhiJ opportunity 10 HTVt 00. proftsSion. •
Important!
Licensing! Special Membership Dues 1994-95 ""licenses to pra~tice law are sold through the Alabama State Bar headquarters, as well as JI.lyment of special membership dues-the same as last year. In mid-September. a dual invoice to be used b>' both annual license holders and special members will be mailed to ...'el)' lawye r currently in good standing with the bar. f( you ure uclil'f!/y practicing or anticipate practicing law (n Alabama between October I, 1994 and September 30, 1995 please be su re that you purchase an occupational license.
Licenses are $250 for the 1994·95 bar }'ear and payment must be
re~eived
between October 1
and October 31 in order to avoid an automatic 15 percent penalty ($37.50). 5«ond nolicn wUl nol be &enl! An attorney nQt engaged in the active practice of law in Alabama may pay the special mem-
bership fee of $125 to be considered a member in good standing. Upon receipt of payment. those who pu rchase a license will be mailed a license and a walletsize license for identification purposes, Those electing special membership will be sent a wallet-size lD card for both identification and receipt purposes. If you do not receive an invoice. please notil)' Chriltie T:traDtiDo, membership services director, at 1-800-354-6154 (in-state WATS) or (205) 269-1515 immediately!
SEPTEMBER L9!M / 265
FACTSIFAX POLL Lawyers Serving the Public and Their Communities The state bar's Commillee on Lawyer Public Relation s. information and Media Relation s wams to hear about your local bar association public service activities. We want to let the public know all the good things lhat lawyers do for their communities. but we need your help! Please use the following fax memo \0 tell us about the projects you've been working on during the past year- we look forward to hearing from you!
FAX MEMO
TO:
Margaret L. Murphy (205) 261-6310
AT:
!-'ROM : __""""";;;;;,_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ ( Your Name)
of thc _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _'C oumy Bar Associmion
DATE: RE:
Dale of Event Complete Description of the Events:
Panic ipants/Volunteers:
Was tile event publicil.ed?
If so. describe how. and allach any newspaper articles or photographs
Who should we comae\ for more information?
Telephone No. 266 / SEPTEMBER 1994
TIlE Au\RAMA u\WYER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT
THANKYOU ~8e
It Resolved by the Board of
Commissioners of the Alabama Stale Bar that Reginald T. Hamner be and
he is hereby elected as the Secretary of Ihe Boord of Commissioners of the
Alabama Slate Bar; he 10 begin his
duties on the first day of June 1969.... ~ - Minutes, Board of Commission -
ers Meeting, May 2, 1969
I II
he ,impl. word. above launc hed a 29·yea r·old lawyer , barely four years oul of law Khool. on a magic c.orpn ridt thaI his now stOpped to refuel. What I trip! It would be impONible to chr onicle the happenings on this Irip in the spiCe allowed: suffice it to u.y that ove r thue put 2$ ytan. ou r p rolusion hll g rown d ramaticall y in number &I we have marched towlrd new horilons and into venuu nol dreamed of only a short time bolore. [ have been fort unUt to have tnjoyfil i front TfIW lut for much 0( this i<h"tnlur •. Throuahout it all, it has been the prOpk I have worlced with Ilona the Wiy who llcaw mide it all so worthwhile Ind personally rtWlOrdina. It iJ to all 0( you that I say. "lHA.\'K YOU: for allowinll me to shliu our jourM)' tOliether. You an too numerous and too speci~1 to mention individwolly. and far too many ... ~ but rmmonti oItht a rlier part of Ihil f~tastk VO)'ll[e. At [ hJve work ed withi n the organind bar at the local. statt. rtgional and natlo ...! lew is. I continue to marvel at the wisdom of our founders who placed the Al a bama
THE ALABAMA LAWYER
State Bar on the firmest off()U~tioru 115 ~us ago. a foon. duoon that has stood tht tUI of lime. Thi l founduion hat not Idt uS Irtf from chillen,! lnd it ne~tr will. II dots. howtv .., offtr mon lnd wom.n who have chostn to pursue th. rul. of law within Iht profu.sion I moan. to Rok trut juttin for III. This 1111 bun my pol. stu. I Ca n ima"n. no botter muns through which to n~ oor prokssion INn in the work 01 the OJiiniztd bu. In r.ctnt months. I h'''' bun touched by your warm I.ttors, phon. ellis Ind nUmtT01.IS other adl of kindness and friendship. I t hank you for the years of lupport and encouragement you ha~ gi~n 1M II we ha~ $Ought to ~rw the public togtthu through ou r proft!.1ion. I leave this office with the sun knowledQt that no ba r e.ecuti~ in the land hIS had better support of an associa· tion·. elected ludulhip, ils voluntee r workers or <I more dedicated prol.$$io ... t Itaff 01 coworkers. Any credit tllcat hiS come my WiY is daht/ully shlred w,th you and those who pm:tdtd us in our bloT'1 work CMr the run. I hive uked thll Anne and Ou r SOnl, Patri,k ind Ch ristiin, shue the tcMr photo of ~ AJdJoma ~ with mt. Our family liltrally hal grown up with the Alabama and AmenCin bars. Withou t Anne's support and our sons' re«ivini Ius than my undivid· ed at t ention on perhaps too many occasions, those accomplilhments durmd posilive or productive by others would not h/lvc been pONiblt. As [ shilt iurs and tnte r upon new challenan. I am confident of OUr har's futurt. [ bid you not la~1I for I ~ to SU you soon and often. [ thank ,..... for thiJ rutSI of opportunitia. I will em this.. my final "Eut;\II ive Dirtdor"," column. by Pinophnsill,Q Dr. David Mathews' r!mar~ to a c.... mpiorWtip footlwl ttam not too Iona 1iO: ·CTtatnw in :any field his 10 come OUI of iOmt kind 01 trndition and it is our job to makt ~rt.o.in the IBdi. tion that iJ the Alabama Statt mt~ as much and stands for as much for those woo are yet 10 corne as it has for uund !hoot who have aone bdof( us." •
au
SEPTEMBER 1994 / 267
ANNUAL MEETING T-SHIRTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE!
(AI,J. T 路 SKlm AIr SIZE
XLI
To 0.0拢11:
S',~lI Cou;t~
01: .!I(lSf;l' ()UlU 1'01:
$10.00 ,,,YUU: TO ,"E"AlA&uIA STAn BAflR
"'
Au.&\.1IIA ST,\T[
BAIt
COlr,YE:mOS T,SHIRTS
P.O. Box 67 1 Mo~'TG01'I.:RY.
268 1SEPTEMBER 1994
AL 36101
TH~:
AUBAMA lAWYER
REGGIE HAMNER
A
fter 25 yurs of service;lS fUCUtM director of the AIWma Stat, Bar. Rrggit fWnnotr mires this )'Ur. His KMa to the association I'W Spanned four ~ dun"ll whkh ho I'W witneued i ",_rbble 1I1'1l'1'o'th in the numbtr 01 membm 01 our prot'euion. and ho Iw IUCltiSfutty battJtd to prtHf'I'I' the intfirity and prokssional· iun 0I1awym practicing in this .... t•• It I'W not btm ~ ~ WI< _ public perttplion 01 b><o")'ers I't1Nins It I low ebb. Uncb.unted. Rtggi. I'W O\IfFlftfl the inUitution 01 continuing IegiJ educ»ion program., mtrueturi"ll of the bar ~tion, imp~mmt 01 ditcipliru.r"jI proemings, Ind, rtttntly, tho completion of an addition to the 5U,t. bar ht~dquarttrs. He \uvu for his succtUOr. Ktith Norman. large shoes to fill. As I mtuurr of respect which h. was gam • ..,d. friends. profusional colleaguts. and fonntr bar presidents offtr hertafl .. thoir rtminisctnct of "Reui •. " Ht ...iIl ~ missed - we wish him ... tli in his futurt
-
THE AL.4.BAMA UWYER
SEPTEMBER 1994 1269
THE M .... N .... NO T H E H OU R
ritf but trut. 1M 25-)'Or I(WI: &/fair bet~fn Reg;· IIlld T. H~mnu and tIM: Alabam~ StUe BIr brought together the miI1 and the hour. For about 1M first 70 ~~I'$ of its o:m. tena. 1M AbIwnl Stat. Bar was <I nla· tinly small group of inOutnti,1 and dedit_ted m~le Anglo Saxons. The.e men stood In high p~es of ladtrship in their churches, communitiu. and politi~l institutions. and they also prac· ti«d law. The end of World War II Mr· aided i beginning of a dramatic ~ chlnte akin to " revolulion. ThtN w;U I dl'llNtic inc:rtut in both 1M number. KlC iIf\d IIltional origin of lawytl'$ iIf\d the typtJ of law th.it thty
,-
Underlying Ihut changn were i numlxr 01 facton: 1M (;1 bill of rights th&t tNbled I growing numlxr 01 stu· dtnts to a\lend law Khool; the ()JIe1'Iing of tIM: Cumb""lllld School of Law; Iht growing number of injuries thllt mult· td from tht un of automobile. and complic .. ttd machinery; and n<>l the IUlt. the fact tNat la~1'$ started maI<. ing money. A profusion W;lS .""Iving into i busintN. To mtet this rising legal population. the A(allilN SlUt B~r building W;lS tompld«l in 1964. A ~)'Urs liter i CiliulU' eonrtrmct on Alab>1N State Courts initiit«l i drM for procedural rdorm of the system. With tht IlIr huded in tilt right direction. Judge John II. Scott announced his rttirement ;lS 5«r.· tal')'. A surch <;(Om· mitte. composed of T.B. Hill. Walter Mimi •• nd Oliver " P;" Brantley recommended Reginald T. Himntf to tlk.
J". ScotI'J plact_ On lune l. 1969. Regilllid T. Hamner look on the job of lX«UtM secretary of a bar association I;Om· posed of somt 2.000 me m b.rs t hat .mployed a staff of fwe. It 270 I SEI'T£MBER 1994
THE 25-YEAR LOVE
AFFAIR Bg \lillium 8. HainiM, Jr.
was I/'Mmtd by a 4IJ.man board of boor commissionfrs. lis pmidtn! was decled at the annUolI meeting of the !LWlCia· tion by parlicipanls in thllt meeting. Its vic.-pre.id.nt was elected by tilt board of bar commlssion.rs following t he annUolI ".,..Iing. To the staff. the board of bar commislioners. the lawy .... tIM: ~gi.l .. turt. lind 1M public in ~""ral. Regilllid T. Hamn.r b.came "Relillie". H. hIS known mort Alabama Iawytn by name _ fact than Ill)' other penon. livina
or dead. H. h;u I ~rtattr knawl~ of the .. ffaiu of this association .. nd ils ~mben th&n lJlYOIIt tbe. Durin8 his W>urt. the membtrship in 1M boor _ the numbtr of staff PfflOll· ntl IIrtw to fin timu ill 1%9 .iu. Ik$pite lilt magnitude of tho. i""ruse. Reggie h;u always found ti".,. to dtwtt his .ntlllY to the probl.ms of tIM: bar and its membership. bt tho$t problems large or small. Wilh a fingtr On e~ry pulse. 1M: found the time to take ~re of Ih. most minute detail. 11 made littlt difference if the task was to find a hotd rtseMtion for I procr.>l5tillll.ting la"'~r or aUendina a legislati~ swion in tIM: dud o f nillht to shepherd ~ bill of i~ to lilt lawytl'$. A pri~ .... mpLt of Reggie's dtdi~ tion to the probl.ms arr.ding Ia~ .. occurred in 1978 in conn.oction ...ith 1M Ind;~nt I)ffense Fund. Tht fund ",'U broke. l.I~rI just WUt not 8ettinll paid. Tht Inditent Otfenst Commitltt ncommended an increase in tht F~;r Trial TU .nd 1M jppliation of that tax to municipal courts. Tht board of boor commission.rs determined that such a mOVe wu not politically fusible. The «.ommitle. det.rmined oIIM:rwise and a bill was prtsenllo t .... IAgo.laturt. Reggie pul his txptrtist to work and the bill p;used to tilt 8ntitudt 01 tho$t ~r:I wh o ",·trt providing indigent clients wilh 1'811 Itl'Ykn. Th. crisil of tht moment wu met because of the conCtr11 of our utcutiYt 5«rtt."lry. Reggi. is ITIOJt ""ible at tht lllnUolI conwntion Ind thtse COIWtntions h.ivt pre· sented som. unu.UiI1 problems. Sinct time in memorial the con~ention hosted an annual banquet. This concept hit the skids wilh the addrus of Attor. Ctneral lohn Mitc .... II the HunlSvillt con~n· tion in 1972. This .... IS probably Ihe most boring iddrtss tv .. perpetrated on a aptiyt audim«. The addrtSS '""lUld h.iw IIftn dtliV1'rtd to I hungry audienct ~ it not btm for the ntgotia t ion btl",.. n RellQi. and ~ who supplied the food. Th. host motel was on a
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TH r. ALABAMA LAWYER
COD basis with ils wndors. Since the hotel coutd not noat the price of the me.al. Reggie had to ""f the vendors on the spot for detivery in order to get Ihe food on th~ tabt~. And talk about noat. A rairu;tonn hit Hunlsl'ilie at a later convention and Ihe hotet ""rking 101 was Hooded. Few cars were spared that day , "I survived the nood" became a badge that showed the OOlication of the convention·goers. In 1973 the association incurred the vrnth of the Mooile Legislative Delega· tiOI) when it took the convention to Biloxi. Tht association got back in good gracu with the promise of "never again." With that, Reggie starttd wor~. ing On an alternative: Gulf Shores. It took almost ZO years bdore Reggie was able 10 negoliale enough hotel space in Gulf Shores so it could t>o.t the convention. At the first Gulf Snores con· vention. the buffet line featured a whole roast pig. Ed Turntr wu hu rd to remark. "In Chatom we don't butcher
hogs until after the first frost. This must be a Toad kill.Gulf Shores brings a new dimeru;;on to Our annual medings. In his 25 yea rs Reggie has had to work with 26 bar pruidenl$. Different per· sonalities. dif· ferent objectives, and different work sch~ dul ... To each of these was the task of education. For at lust on. of thu. presidenu, Reggie had to go so far al to ghost write the presidential letten for The Alabama Lau!ger. These were the only presidential leiters to meet Reggie's full approval.
The bar eXilm jumped from a trickle to a Hood when the Legislature did awaf with the diploma privilege. There were 619 applicants to sit for the .... m in July 1994. That equals 6 percent of the pre· sent bar and 31 percent of the membership of the bar when Reggie took over as executive secretary. This. in a small measure, is indicati,-e of the increase in the workload (Ntr the past 25 yean. As did Judge Scott, Reggie leaves lU with tangible evidence of his stewardship in the additions to the bar head quarters. Thanks largely to his work, we havt' the space to carry out the function, of t he bar in .ye -plusing surroundings. a signature tribute to a man who has meant so much, What this bar and ill; individual mem bership have received from Reggie is not just execulive leadel'$hip. although it is that. He re we have a man who has loved the legal system and the lawyers and has devoted the prime of his life to make both bette r. That he was able to do 50 in the face of explosive change is proof positivt' Ihat we we .. bl ..... d with a remarkable individual. •
i
)'our case presen tations can criti call y influence a juror's mind. We ca n pro"ide animation assistance for: - Vehide acciden ts . Product U~~i~r___
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THE AlABAMA LAWYER
SEPTEMBER 1994 / 271
in hi, t we a repOrt 01 Qy. what a (O!,lntain I Ii in Romt. that om Voould no! e!l1!llo!l .. ptftOR who ~ .. lllOboot roonlloins. bill i!Utea.d Voould send to make ir>qUiry a ptrson who hu never Sftn any fount .. in, at att. Montaigne concludtd th.>.t an expert on tht subject would only come back and rffl()rI how thai roonlloin _like another fountain in Milan. or how that roo .... tain _ diffmnl from another fountain in Flortnce. A ptr$Orl pmoiously igno",nt of the sub}ect would give .. mort iSCCUr3tt rtpOri. When calttd upon 10 record the timn and retirement of Reggit tbmntr. Morltaiitot ........w. ct.oify .... IS a poor obstM;r, boauIt I was .. ''''1mb.. of tho IIoiI.rd 01 Bar Commissiontrs 01 tho Alabima Statt Bar lor tilt t.t 20 ~ 01 true
~·s tero\OJ"t IS ~ dirtetor.licow-
Mr. I "'" report and 0'lC00"d lor the history
of this bat. tNt all
w good l!ld p* ciou, ftw of the bid .".ru ri JUk bar WI the t.t 25 ~IrS can be laid 10 Reggit llamntr. AIlInogh it is not well known Mre. the
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TIlt Amtrican Bar Association conducb an annWoI trainillllituion for pmidmts~ltct of tilt VllriouI5t.l.tes and Ia~ mttropolitm blor olUOCiations. One of the topics at In intt01$ive session WIS ,truetu", and reorganiZlOtion of bar ISWc"tions. TIlt prototypt dbpla)'ftl on tIM: pOIIttT board WIS tIM: ~ SUte BIIT. At tht conclusion of tht prtstnllotion Iliwn by a fOO11'Oer ABA prnidtnt from the Midwnt, he gl.ve this lIMu. "You em appoint committ_ and hire consul . tanIJ about the way 10 reorganize your bar olUOCiation. or you em sa'''limt and nil tht Alabama State Ibr and stul from it with c:onfodmu.." ~it I-Wnner was and is tIM: profn$ioo\II who designed tIM: mocItl bar __ clation. EveT)' year thert is I turTlO'."tr In the board of bar commission ers. and every yea r theft il a change in preskknts, bul ReUie was tho constant profeniona] who kept the amateun oo.ot oltroubk. The policy and dirtetion lTe uUblished by amateurs. some gifted. SOmt mediocrt. but amat.un ntwrtheless. The orllaniution .• taff. ruin Ind framework that .afely and successfu lly cor.ducted tho5e amateurs. the gifted and mediocre. WeTt the h.>.ndiworlt 01 Reginald T. lIamntT. I love lawye rs ilnd I 1m proud of thll IIU. bu. I know Iht hundreds of c..l .. mitits that have been avoided ilnd th. hund reds of IUCCUIU that can be recorded. dut to the skill and wor k of Re ggie lI amner and his pndeCtssor. th. late Judge John B.
S,,"
is Iooktd ~ by the mt of the bar lISlociations in the Unitrd States i>$ the roodtl bar moeiltion. Our structUft. cur dilciplin uy
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Ibr is widtly recogniud IS tht right w~ todoit.
272 / SEI'TtMBER
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THE ALABAMA ~WYER
'" LI FELO NG F RIEND
Ifeklng friends, b)' defi· nilion. are made whik ....I! are young. Over the COU!'$ll 01 .. lifelime. they are Ihr people with whom but tnH'. with whom . t.n. school iSi
; ty 10 form .uch
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vnLLlNG A SPADE A SPADE
Ju,med in "Future
creation of a d~. certain event.! mUSI also oc:cur in order for a clau to 1M: dHrom dow!. As 1i00i< around at this con~ntion I 1ft J(Wral famili.u fuu fr()ITI lilW school days who entered that dus 01 li/ei0r4 1m" M Ihr ... lentiew march 01 lime pushed ul inlO an age where for us IMt class clo$td. One 01 those 1m" ...... Rtggle Hamner. Bock \<I'lltn we were in \l.w school in the e.aorty '60>, lhe CIf'I't1\'o'hrlming mojori. \y of our classmates was both male and marritd. Reggie and I ..... re both bachelors ~t the time and, without spouyl mponsibilititJ."~ Itw bichelon \eIIIkd to congregate. Reggie came from ne~rby Northpo.t and during my law ",hool )'Urs hil wonderful mother ~ gener· ously \0 my girth ~ I w~ a frequent guest at thrir table. We oIIen Ituditd together in ma.athon Huionl on the eve 01 euml. uler, "'i: .... ert in each oIlltr's wtddingand ha~ nmained good friends owr thr )Un. The Reggie 1 mttthrn posses$td char· Kler and pt'$OTIlIlity Irlils that ha~ served him "'i:1I in his servi« to Ihr Nr and Ihe public. Reggie hIS II gi ft of instant .eCllIl of a ~ast forest 01 famity t~ and with e.aose ~ ncorutruct thr lineage 01 people from all owr thr .ute. His elephant·lik< memory permits him to ilon: and recall cIefds. both honorable and quntionable, oil-II ....ho trOlS his poth. ForturIMety for Reggie mel lor us. he has a . trona: StI\St 01 right and wrong that hot unhesitatingly appliH. Rellllit has a franknHS that 1 find relreshing in ~ limES wbm IUI)t1'ficilIli\Y mel 5<OC. charine an often a rowr for a different attitude behind .,.,.,', Nek. 1f)'Oll pI$S his test hr willle!)'OIl know on Ihr >pol and the samr ruit OIjlpliH if )'OIl fail. Uncltr thr ttiding 01 the ptnt:hant lor calling a ~ I SpIlde. I nmember the iiOf)' .....1 Ihr Wry prominent bwytritgisl/lto. who !tWl)' yean 0lg0 ....role ReaTHE AL\BAMA LAWYER
gie to protest the ~r muting tlking pIKe in Bi\ol.i, MilSilSippi ",ther than here in Alabama. ReUie did not "",II thilleiler-wrikr having atltrwXd previous bar conwntions and. as you might opo:d Reale to do, he ~t to the atln!. llance recordl and lound C(Infirmalion. ~'$ npty ncittd '-' pJu.std he_ to lum of the wriltr's .<Irong intnts! in bar ron~ntion attendance, contnry to whal OIW migI:It oI.htnoise roncludt from iI .eview 01 the rw>rds. The confronted c:anp\l.lnant, I am told. ~ oobty with a one-wonl reply, "Touo.:.he: Another (lusmale hu wid tha.! 1M: first rtClllls Reggie as a ,hurlnder for TUJuLOOD County High Sd'lool. In many mped$ 1m spirit lhat ltd Reggie 10 IMt urI)' role hu markfd his .mi, ties 1M' a lifetime. Time and agoin hr has brought \Iii enthusiasm to bear on us as he worked \0 increase our level 01 proiUlionalism. J wiLl not hrn list the galuy of outshnding llwyers lnd natioNl figurts IMt Ilt has broughl to rorwtntionl ow. the )Uri for our inspi· .ation il/ld rduClltion. Nor will I recile thot rNny sienifiCllnt actomplishment.! of the Alabama Statt Bar under his l~d· ,.-.hip. Thiol samr chter\t.idor spirit pr0pelled him \0 the presidency 01 the Unilllr$ity of Abbima NalioNl Alumni Association I few )Un 0lg0. As tilt bar has grown, TIWlY younger than !,II haw (:I.lIIlt to know ~ onty as the miln who somehow should be blilmtd fur the bar eumination. AtlO, R,";,'I ketn StI\St of ri~ht and wrong maw him pllly by the rults. Thus. for ot/Itn, Reggie is ~'Il only as tilt on. who had to IllY that some spK~ trWment or requested favor wu simply
Grttlts always killed thr me$St!l~' when he brouihl bMI news. I .uppost his SlItc:wor, Keith Noo'lNn. is ctc. rnough to the sctI'It by now to know lhat u- difficulties simply"(>.lIIlt with the turf." Then is another Jilk of Reggie that mrriu mention. For his fritncb he has a fierce loyalty lhat dots not ....u or wane with circunuQn<:t or pOPUlar vir.... or powI" or innuence. Those of us close to Rt~ ClIf\ rKOUnt blcs U l fraternity brother f~lIm OIl hard timn ....hom Regtit has~. ck:strItd. the son 011 sec· retary who 'fctiwd Reggie's help in ~1Im, the UnNtrsity to look with favor on a schob.I1hip lPPlication, the ton 01 daughttr .... ho n~tded a rtcommendation, a judge under criticism lor unpopu· \I.. rulings lor whorn Rt8llit nputt<!ly IPOkt lII', a conlr(lllOtTSial football COKh thai Rt8llie sUPJlOrled to the end. and lilt ;antaIotts could 110 on mel on. My role today "'3$ described 10 me a few Wtt~ ago II one who was 10 ~ Rt8llie as an old friend from Ih~ rank lnd filt of the bar lIS opplItd. to a fonTltr bar pmidmL 1 have !ailt<! to build a fin big mough 101 this ~ lIS I i0oi< bKk owr ~ remarb lnd rtaliK IMI they II.ck the ftquisite scon:h. I know that the bu will be In good hinds with. Ktith Norman, bul, for me, it will neve . be the samr without Roggit. •
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S~ I'TEMBER
.. ' Il00
1994 1273
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A GENTLE""'N FROM A LABAMA twas JanUlry 19, 1983, 1 had ;wumed the position d tJ«\ltNe dirutor d lhI: Tnu'IHSft Bar AssociMion only two 111)'1 bdor~, It was a rainy, dtpmsing morning. madr I<I!,lfV by lhI: r.ct tNt I had 10 quickly get aoxustomtd 10 ntw prOirams and ntw penonroeL Things weu not goillll well. Shortly aft~r t~n o'dock, Ihe reeoplion;st nol ifird mr Ihal "a g~nlleman from AI~blma i, on tho line." When J picked up tho rec.iver II distinctly south.rn voiet "id, "This is Reggi. Hllmn ... Wel(ome to biT ;u.soc;at;on mllnllg~m.nl. [ just wanled you to know Ihllt the Alab.imll Silit Bar is rudy to do anything il an to help you. I' m IIl1l1ious to mHI you." After thllt rorMrwtion tndtd.1 suddenly f.11 11 lot tldt ... Another pro(tsSional 5ttmod 10 tloU and f\'tfl though we had not md. Rtggi.r Hamner was llrudy II fri.nd. Whon Wi: did med in Ntw Orlnns the following monlh, I rnliztd that R.ggio llrod I hIId II lot in common. Not only do we shIIu a prof.ssio~ both truly .n)O)' it. W. au both laW)'t'r$ and d.ri"" I grnl dnl of 5olti.faction from promotinll the pOSiti"" a.spects of Ih. 1'8111 f)'Strm. And we IIU both grnl f~ <I. coiltit' lpOrU. IIgued nrly in our fritnd~iplNt if lhI: SEC had II mumb~JIti tournamtnt. we'd be th.,•. R.ggi. is probably the biggut AliblJni, fan I hIIw known lind. linn I grrw up in Knmvil1r Ihr.. bloctu from tht lIT stlldium. 1 hII"" met I multitude <I. Alabanu sup. porttrs.. Whll. the ri""try has lost wmt of its lumr, we both ClIn still get
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• •• HE CARES NOT ONLY FOR THOSE WHO DIRECTLY SUPPORT HIM BUT ALSO FOR THOSE WHO HAVE A SIMILAR PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY BV Gilbert N. C4mpbelt, Jr.. c.tE
rathtr txcitetl aboullt. I rem.mhor the year that Reuit was pr•• idont of AlaN· nu's niitionllliumni a.ssocia!ion. Ht hIId null)' duli,s including, of eour~, o;ompul$ory ltltndanu It 1IIIlhI: AWIonu footb.ll1 pmu. I ClIlled Reggi' the wttk bdor. tho Ttnntsset·AIl,baml pme lind Slid. "J hilt. to rain on the Plradr of tht rutiona! pTtsid~nt but somtthlng t.lls mt this i. Iht Vols' )'tIIr. " Ala.s, it wa.sn·I, and whtn I WiS told I h&d II ClIIi at 8:30 the followlns Monday mo rning, I lenew who it would bo. Reggi. limply said, "Your weather foreta!! gOI J ub.hnti~lIy rtviKd about UHl p.m. Satur~y:
In ordt. to bt .uccessful in lSSOCilltion nunottmtnt. ont hII. to be II " ptoplt ptrson" and Reuie Hamorr i. 11 pro1'\1; penon rIOO fIlmil. Hr 11muin.ly liku ptoplt from 1111 b.lck,grounds. lit iJ .qually III home with tht support slaff of' con""ntion hotel Or IhI: Plftnus in , silk stockinll law firm, He truly enjoyl 274 1 SEPTEMBER !994
hl:ari"ll from hi. mtmbt .. lbout thrir familiu, their Juec.u" and, ind •• d, their conerrns. This is why h~ i. so widely rtlptcted In our bUJin..s~ he Clrts not only lor those who dir«tly .uwort him but llso lor thew 10m ha"" a similar proftsSlonlol1"f:lPOll.ibility. \\11tn I ....a.s /ac«l wilh II major tloretr deci.ion MWrlI yean ago, I soughl RoSgi.'1 advic •. H. said, "It III boib do\o.'Il to your bouie i!llllnets. If this is the right I1""ICM for you. you alrtad» know il. But mntmbtr. Cil, you also "know that thi' islhe en of artificial turi and that grass truly nuy not bt as grHn out yonder as )100 think it iI." [ didn't uu the job and I hlvr nt\'tr uQrtlted i\. 111t lirul thing I will 1I1wa)'$ umtmbtr llbout R'Ui. Hamn.. i. his vasl knowledlle of cities lnd thtir altTU ' tiona, both in lhI: Uniled SUt.. and tht rut of the world. In my vain momrnl> I uHd to think of mysrlf as eosmopoliIln.. ~nd thtn I md Rtggi •. I .;nctu!y btli ...-e if [were going to San Lui, ObiJpo and I aslctd R.ggie to rKilmmend a good rntaur~nt. he would simply say, "You should try tht M~jestie just w",1 of the courthous •. Alk for the prime rib. 011. arod Gil, t.U thrm Rtggie Ham· ntr ~nt you: My proI'euioNllSSOCiation with RellIIi. is ntlring ilS tnd but it's btrn a IUper ricIt.. W.W Jhaml much, laughed much. and hid somr truly grta! li~ togtlhtr, ROllii. onc:t told nit, "You'll 1M II lot longer and be II lot happier if you alwllyslllk. your prof... i..., ~rious· Iy but !"IeWT lake yourself 100 Hriously: Thlt il now my IIdopted cr~.d and 1 btlitve it complttrly. I'll miss my lISSOCiation with him but I'm su" that wt'li continue to visi ! ocCllsionllly. I'll continut to Htk hi. counstl and will value his i!llight inlo poHti(;S, nwoagtmtnt, soothern philos· Ophy and lift In general. 1 1m<.... we will renu;n good fritn\h. ..uccpt. 0( cou .... on that third Saturday in October. •
TIlE AU\8AMA LAWYER
A S TATESMAN . A F ACI LITATO R, A V ISIO NARY
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f"", weeks ago a candidate for the Jl'05ition of ueculive director of the Ameri-
can
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Associ~ti o n
telephoned to ask, "\ \'h;lt does an rxecutive director do?" for IhI' ensu ing hour and a half r shared ",ith the inquirer my experiera and my thoughts about the role of the execut;"" director Ii a bar association. It later occurred \0 me that I might "',.,e lhort~ned the co,we.sation substantially with • twQ.sentence answeT: "The ideal executiv< di .. ctor do • • what Reggie Hamner has bun doing for the past 25 years on behalf of the Alabama State Bar. Copy Reggie lIamnerl" There are three specia l qualitie. thai betn the. hallmark of Reggie Hamner's unstinting service to the I.~rs of Alabama aod to lOOse "t,om the prof....
ha,.,
5Ion serves;
-A statesman who has bte-n " catalyst and a self·eff""ing I.ader. Reggie's dforu led [0 the initiation of IhI' bar leadership conference. to train local bar offic .... section leade ... and lta!e bar committee heads. During hi> tenure the JlQ\'l'manct procedures for the state bar have been revaed to enlarge the size of the board of bar commissioners according to the p0pulation of each judicial circuit and to allow fOlr the election Olf the presidenteltet by mail ballO!. He led the Alabama St.te Bar·s successful efforts for the adoption of. new judicial artieie IOl the Alabama State CnnstitutiOln. FOlr this dfOlr!. the Alabama Stale Bar rtte;"<ed the annual "Award of Merit" of the American Bar Association. Undtr his directiw and leadership, the Alabama Legislature was prevailed upOn to change a syslem by
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Boo<l N_ Bert H. Eortv_!he execut"" <1""10< 0/ !heAmetocat1 Bar Assoc>a!IOI"I frnm 19&4 to 1961 He c...-rMdy IS ",. .idenI 0/11>1 Atnetocatl Ba,
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<lent 0/ Elrf\> Coch-.... .\ Olson.• CI-Ocagot>oM(l """""We oearc!> !itm INn ""","" on ,fltairwl_<:h8I !or _ _ lewyeIIfo< rorpotat><n and law Iirmo
THE AUJIAMA I..-\WYER
which probate judgu collected occupa tional licellSo': fees from members of the bar. The clJaos of the former system gaw way to a pl.n by which the Slate bar receNts the annual li~ fw and "'as thereby enabled tn maintain tighter fISCal control and more accurate records. -The ultimate facilitator who ;." a rare combil\iltion of tlIteutiw. ~r. organizer and financial counstlor. Under Reggie·s leadership. the bar staff has gr.,.", from four to 3(1 empl0}-'U5 and lhe annual budget from Ins than S5OO.OO0 10 nearly S3 million. He di rected the regula-
"COpy REGGIE HAMNER" By Berili. &r!y
tory. administraliW, licensing. membership serviec; and legislative affairs during a period of g..,..-th from f~r than l.soo lawyers in 1969 to its present membership in uee .. of 10,000 lawyers. The stale bar's headquarters has been exlensiwly remodeled and enlarg<:d to providt more than fIw times the.paa a'-\lilable in 1969. All state bar operations Jnd record. haw been fully oomputerized and a growing lisl of membeuhil' ,"rvicn includes life and disability imuranct. pn)l'e$Sionalliability insurance. discQunted computer a'listed legal research. reduced costs of overnight mail service. and iI host 01 other il\fJO\,,,,tions respond_ ing to the needs of the members of the state bar. - A visionary .... ith boundless energy and the highest level of crt~tivity. Over the past 25 ~rs. the grievance system and the admissions operations 01 the bar have bwl revised. ~ new Code of Profession~l COlnduct h.s been adOlpted. a MandatOlry Continuing Legal EdllQtion program ha5 been put in place. the Atlor· ntj>'s Insurance ~' utual of Alabama has betn created to proviok profe$Sional liability insurance fnr members of the bar. and • statewide I [ service has been Stale Law Founda_ tion ....as founded in 1987 to administer funds gentrat ed from inte rest earned On la"'l-"'rs Irwt ac-counIS. thereby providing funds for legal services to the poor, the enhancement of the administralion of justice and student scholarship$. In 1969. Reggie Hamner, .1 Ihe age of 29. became the youngest person ever named to head a state bar professional staff. Today. 25 ~rs later. he is the senior stat. bar ex<1Clltive in point of service in the United States. He has. through his stalesmanship. his leade .. hip and his visiw. achieved and exe.edt<! the hi~st standards of professional service and is the embodiment of whal an executive director can do. • SEPTEMBER 1m ! 275
LEGISLATIVE
WRAP-Up
By ROBERT L McCURLEY, JR. Constltut""", ...... nclment. In 1901. AI.IIa",," pused iii current ronstitution whidl is tht ,;.u. ~ Iiottll of Alaha",,"', conllllulions. PrtviOUI constitutions ~re approwd in 1819. 1861. 1865. 1868. MId 1875. In 1969.• ronotilulion;.l commission _ , rulfli by 1M lA,ill,luu . Out of th.1 Clmf Ammdmenl 323. the ·j...... ~ill article", wllkh _ lPProwd in 1913. The bal · iUlCt of tilt proJl)OQl Ii ~I to bf, I(ted on. In 1983. tilt legillature poUsed. "cluntd up" Yfr1ion of tht ]90 I ConsIi · !ulion only to see it Wtfn oK the ballot by 1M lUprtmt court when it ruled thl.1 tht enti re constitution could nOI be amended by Ont lmtl\llmtnt. In 1993. Iht AI.bam. Lt",I.!u,t pa..ed a joint rnolulion. Act 93 ·8AS, dirt<:ling the Alab.tma Law Inltitute 10 $Iudy and prestnt 10 the judicillY com · mitten of tht Ltgisla!u.!: recommtndi· lions Mr amtndmtnts to lhe constitution
mtnt "'hkh would gi"" buk rights to crimt victims. Tho MJ>mdnv:nt proYida. !hit tilt LtgisIlItUI'I' W'I poW legislation to ,i"" trimt ,ictims the right 10 be 1'1'1" Imt at all S\.IgeI of (rimi~1 procmIings and tM right to be coruulled at tM
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A nother amendment prohibits the atablishmmt of a SUprmumtrary poti. tion lor «rlain otroci.J.1s and alkJws those afftcled to poortic~e in lht employfts' retirement system. An additional
on an artic!e·by-.!.rtic:l. basis. The ]901 Alabllm.a Constitution Cu.· rently hu 5St amendments. In JUM tilt people of Alabama approved the Iut three of thtH ~mtndments: ~ fourth ~mendment tha t wll proposed wu
l'I'imro. Ouring tilt I~ Itgisllltiw tum. 28 consti t ut ionat Jmendmenu wtTe JPpro~d by the IA:gislature lnd are awaiting a SUtewidt VOlt 01 the PfOPk in N<'Mmbtr.
Sut.wOeS. _ndnlent. Act 94-349 is • constitutioNl ;amrnd·
ammdmmt provides that «Ttain county ad VJIomn Iu off.ci.J.ls may participate in a mimntnt J)'Stem in lieu of a SUpU' numtrllry pn)flrmt. Court COIU Thru ;amrndmmts illow OOI.Inties to impose additional (ourt COSU. The amendment for Barbour County is s!,«iI1cally lor jails. MId lht other two om lor Sumter and fillapoosi counties.
topk:. 'CIt' count... Eltrtn countiel have tOn$titutioNl amtndmenu daling with VJriQuI $UbjKts from comptnlalion of w pl'tlblote jud,Qt to tilt eltclion 01 the county bond of tduc:ltion and otlltr rNlltrs.
MIsc •• " _ . topk:. An amend"",nt inc,,:astI tilt liR of the Judiciil InQuiry Commil5ion and the Court of tilt Judiciary to add • di,. trict judgt to both. Another constitutional amendment amends t he "Call ahan Amendment', Amendment No. 425. which was In altem:,\te way of amtnding tilt AlOIlwna Con.mution that reQuired only the county afftcttd to \/QIe on tht constitu · tiOl\llI amendment. The conltiMionotlily of this pTO«du~ Wi.! questiontd b)' lilt United Statu lU$tke Department under 15 of lilt Voting Righu Act of 1965. The Allornt)' CenUlIl, In an opinion to Gov· ernor Jim Fols<>m on April 10, 1994. recommended the rtpul of Amen dment US mil lhat I r'ItW amendment be propoHd. l1\i, constitutioNI amtndmtnt (Act. 94·611 ) metU the obJectioNble parts and w'ill ;oaain lliow only tilt coon· I)' ifftdtd to VOlt without the _ i t ) ' ofa stattwidt VOlt on Mryiuue. AlabimII has long bHn d ted to havt tilt tona<-It constitution in the United States. It ~I" that it iii only 1Oi", to g"~r.
FI,.. protection .nd
For furthtr inf~ion, conliCl Bob McCurley. Allbama Law I~titute, P.O. Boll 1425. TUICIIOOSI. Alab.ama 35486. or call !Z05) 348·7411 . FAX !205) 348-
..... rg.ncy meclk:a. _,...k: ••
8411.
Foor counties (Co.i11jtOO. fillapoooa. Blount and Elmore) havt amtndmtnts dulin, with riOising lues within their jurisdiction to pfl)Yide for fil'l' proltction and emtrgtocy mtdic.i.l .. rvi«l. 81ngo g ...... Two counties, Covington and Hous· ton. have cOll1ltilutional amendments to allow for bingo gamu to be played in tlltircounty. 276 {SEPTEMBER 1994
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THE Al.ABAMA LAWVER
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The GarrisoN Barret! C!VUP
FlIMionaIlInd DWW oIfio.. fgr law ~mu. ""<foil} 4aiInN r.o rt/It<f I'" duirnl
a/ G ~icwlar ",...,Ii«, reqIIi", 1M ..... ir;.Uy '" an ~td ..<h~«IM" ond inufior, ~"", 'I'M Garrison Bamn <In.wI> has J-Wd dailn ""Oro, indwdi..., ~ "..,............ and ifIGct /IbminI:, for fIR!tninmf IquI firw 1&. . . . . .1 1M ~
*htau and "'" ""... ruocnkN b,- I'" ABA JOURNAL Ito ito oItsip ...........
610 SHADES ClEU PARKWAY ' SUITE 1400 '
UR~INGHAM.
AL J!109 ' 101·610,)090
ABOUT MEMBERS, AMONG FIRMS ABOUT MEMBERS Vickie E. HOUK announces the relocation of her ollke to 80S1 Highway 31. Calora, Alabama. Tho! mailing addrtloi! is P.O. 80, 160. Calera 3504(1. Phone (205)
668-2800. Bruton Wagnon announces Ihe relo-
cation of his offja> to 215J 14th Awnue. South. Birmingham. Phont (2051933·0031.
Alabam~
35205.
Cinetle A. Dow announces the relocation of her omee to 1821 Third Awnue. North. B.....""'•• Alabama 35020. Phone (205) 42$.2223. Stenn L. Cochrun announces the relocation of his offiee to 3928 Montclair Road. Suite 217. Ilinningham. Alabama
35213. Phone (205) 879·7Z2& David B. K. tn , forme rly assistant aunrney general for the Alaborna Attor. ney Gentral's Office, annnunc •• the opening of his <>flke al 402 lay Dam Road, Clanton. Alabama 35(145. Phone (20S) 230.0940. Jon. than E. O,mlnt. formtrly on activt duty in the U.S. Navy Judge Adv0-
cate Ceneral' s Corp.• nnouncu he is assistant solicitor for the T£nth Judici.1 Clm>it in South Carolina. Th. mailing addre~ is 100 S. Main Stred. Anderson. South Carolina 29621. Phone (803) 260· 41)46. Ozmint is a 1990 admitta to the A1abamaStat~ Bar. Luther J. Slnng•• III . formerly direc· tor. fe<.kral affairs. So""t Inc .. announces the opening of his offices in Birming· ham, Alabama and Washington. D.C. E. B.itton Mon roe . formerly with Burr & Forman. announ«1 the opening of his off,ce at 205 20th Street. North. Suite 4\0. Birmingham. Alabama 35203. Phone (205) 252·0844.
AMONG FIRMS Sonley K. Smilh, formtrly of Porter. field. Hnper & Mills. and lIobert 278 {SEPTEMBER 1994
C. Thomu annOunce the formation of Smi t h" Thomu. l.l.C . Offices are located at 132 First Street, South. Alabaster. Alab.ma 35007. The mailing address is P.O. Bo x 586 , Alabaster 35007. Phon. (205) 663·6929. Curti. Wright. II announcu his ass0ciation with the firm of Dortch. Wright "Wright Offices are located at 239 Col· leg. Street. Gadsden. Alabama 359{12. The mailing add .. " is P.O. Box 41)5, Gadsden 35902·0405. Phone (205) 5464616. Siro te " Ptrmutt annOunCts that Rodney A. Max has joined the firm as a shareholder and that L~'t1da L Hendrix. Chuln I. Middleton , J. Scoll Si m., Matthew A. Vega. and Cail C. Washing· ton ha~ joined the firm as associates. The firm has officn in Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery and Mobil •. Alabama. Miller. Ihmmon. Snider" Odom became a Limi ted Liability Company under the provisions of AIWama law and is nOW Mille •• Haml1lon. Snider " Odom. L.L C. E. B. rry Johnson. Eric J. Oyu and Jun M. POWffI ha~ becomt associates with lhe firm's Mobile office. Offices are located in Mobile and Mont· gome,y. Atabama and Washington, D,C. John.ton. B. rton. Proctor. Swedlaw " Naif announce. that LH M. Pope has joined the firm as an as.sociate. Office. a.e located at 29(1) AmSouthlHarbe . t Plaza. Birmingham. Alabama 35203· 2618. Phone (21)51 458·9400. Ol,cho.r " Auoeiatu announces thai Ann L \\1th .... poon has become an associate with the firm. OffiCI'S are locat· ed at '17 omu Park Circle. Suite 100. Birmingham. Alabama. The mailing addm.:s is P.O, Box 531228. Birmingham 35253. Phone (205) 879·9905_ AI"a M. 1.0mb. ", formerly a depuly di.trict attorney for the Fift~enth Judi· cial Circuit. and Branch D. Kloul, for· metly of GlasSloth & Associate •• announce the formation of I.ombert &.
KIoe ... Offic~ are located at 115 Goldthwaite Stlfft, North. ~tontgomuy. Alaba· ma 36104 Phone (205) 263·5282, Lee " Sul1i,'~n announces that Ann Goodn.r has joined the firm as an associ. ate and William L, .'rI athil, Jr. i. no longer affiliated with the firm. Omces a.t located at 2001 Park Place. North. Suite 51)0. Park Place Tower. Birmingham. Alabama 35203. Phone (205) 323·1061. Parker. Brant ley &. Wilbuon annOunCes Ihat Oarla T. Furman has joined the fi.m a. an associate. Offices a.. located at 323 Adams Avenue. Mont· gomery. Alabama 36104. The mailing addre~ is P.O. Box 4992. Montgomery 361034992. Phone (21)5) 265·1500. Anthony L Cicio. Sr. annoUncel thai Anthony L. Cido, Jr. h"-1l become an associate with the firm, and the firm name has changed to Cido &. Cido . Offices are located at Cicio Profe~ional Building. 2153 14th Avenue. South. Birmingham. Alabama 3521)5. Phone (205) 939·1327. J.y Wa lTu. formerly a partne r with H"-1Ikell . Slaughter, Young & Johnston. announces his association with Don Spri~ of Reno, Nevada and the for. mation of Springme)'eI' &. Waller. Offices a.. located in Reno. Nevada and Birming· ham, Alabama. The Birmingham ofti« is located at The Park Building. 2140 11th Avenue. South. Suite 422. Birmingham 35205. Phone (2(15) 933·9983. aarry S . •'rI ...... formerly of Haskell, Slaughter. Young & Johnston. has become a shareholder with Berlrowitz. Lefko>.il •• lsom " Kushner. Ofr.ces a.. located at 1600 SouthTrust Tower. 421) N. 21)th Streel, Birmingham. Alabama 35203. Phone (205) 328·0480. Rivtl & Peteuon announCH that Valerie T. Kisor has become an associ. ate. Offices are located at 1700 Financial Center. 50S N, 21lth Street. Birmingham. Alabama 35203. Phone (205) 32S--8141.
Owen."
Can.... announces that AI)a M.nley SPNeli . formerly assistant dean THE AU\IIA1>\A LAWYER
MId dirtctor of Law Dewlopmtnt it tht UnMl'llty of AIabamII School of LIw, his join(d th( fi rm. Offices ,It( lonled at 2720 61h SIred . TUK~loop. AI~b<>ma 354 01. The mailing l ddrus i$ P.O. Brnc 03 1707. rusc~ loo..a 35403·1101. PhoM {2051750-0750.
Dou,lu J.
anroountH Ihllt Jeff,"" K. Crimu and I.. C.roli"t Meethtt hl~ becomt ~sf(l(;i~lt$ ... ith the finn. Offic.s are Ioc;itN ,I 401 Madi son Strtet. Huntsville. Alabama. The ma iling iWdrelS is P.O. Box 508. Huntsville 35801. Phone (205) 536-1199. F"ftS
Johd A. Ru utll. 11I annoonC(s Uw: 'UOCill ion of P. lrlck J . Andunn . Offi<:t$ .rt Ioc;ited ~t 202 BrOil! Streel. Aliceville. Alabama. The mailing address Is P.O. lIox 333. Alic(';illt 35442. Phom (2051313-87 14.
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Offices ilre loc:attd.1 3821 Lorl\l. Road, Suite 101. Binningtu.m, ~ 35244. Phont (205) 133-!I455.
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Buntin. Jr.. forrntrl)o of Buntin,
Cobb &; Sht.l1y. Slrphtn T. EthtraIgt and Len E. Do .. Un • • nnounce t he fo, mllion of Buntin, t;lhtrtd •• " Dowlln • . Offic(S ue ml~d il 185 N. Oita Street. Dothan. ~ 36303. Thr mail." addrus is P.O. So. 1]93. DotIwl 36302-] 193. Phont (205) 79J..33n. Baoicu, J.ntclc;y " N_lI announces the firm's nam( hils boen chinged 10 Jan«lc;y. N_lI. Potu. 11a... &: ,",'elll. and thllt E. B. SIron. hils b«....... n _ilIt~. Officti ut localed in Mobile and Binning!wn. Alabama.
lIarwrll E. Coale, Jr. ,nd Cilbtrt F. Ouku . 111 .nnounce tilt fOrmlilion of Coal. " O.. ke • . OffiC(s art IOQled .1 51-D r.con Si red, Mobile, Alabam. 36607. Phone (205) ·m .2625.
M. C]a~ Ragsdale announces that E. AnNI Slrickland. formtrly ~n _iate ...ith Johnston, Barton. Proctor. S_d la ... &; Nliff. hIS beoome In .ssociale. OfftCtIart mted in the .... r1tY Build· int. 1929 Th ird A~nu', North. Suitt 550, Birmingham, Al.bama 35203. Phone (205) 251·.mS.
Eysler. Koy. rubb. ",uyer &; Roth announces thlll John R. 8'Uotto, Jr. hIS bocome .n ISlOC;ate. Officn I f( mtN III 402 E. Moullon Shul. S.£., Oralur. AI.!)o.1nIO 35601. Tho lnIOiling .dd rest is P.O. lIox 1607. Deu t u r 35602-] 601. Phone (Z05) 353·6761.
Webb &; EltY announcu Ihat Fn.nk E. 8anlralon. J •• hils become an associ· lilt. Officts ~ '( IOCiled III ]66 Com_re, Str •• t, Suite 300. Nonlll<><Mry, Alabaml 36101. Tho mlili", addn:ss is P.O. Brnc Z38. Monlgomery 3610]·0238. l'hont (205) 262-ISSO.
BeU Richard son announces Iht alSOI.. Frul..... OffiC(.$ are local.d al 116 S. Jdftuon Stn. t . Huntsville. Alabam •. The mailing lIddrUI is P.O. Box 2008, Hunls"'lI. 35804. Phone (205) 533·1421.
8 . J udlo n Ilon n ln , lo n . III an_ n()W"ICes his promotion to assimnt gen· en.1 counsel Inln,nph CorponUon. The .... i1i"ll addrus /obit StOp HQOO.4. Huntsville. Alab<oInlO 35894·001. f'hon.t (205) 730·2521.
1I0lbtrg &; Holhr, .nnouncu that Michael Ral ph Holber., forme rly Ii... cltrk to tilt Hon. Etlwlrd II. McOrr. molt, hili bocome ~i'led ... ith tho firm. OffiC(s art loc.ted at 8l}.I Com· _ree Buildint. 118 No Roy.1 Strtet. Mobile. Alabama 36601. Tht mamng .ddress il P.O. Bo. 47, Mobile 36601 . Phon. (205) 432 -S863.
Funk lI o .... r d Ih ... thorno. S r. , formerly of Ba lch &. Bin8h'm. an d Frank Ho.-lTd H... l h orn e, Jr. innoul1ce lilt fOrmlilion of Hawthorne " H...-t~. I..I..C. OffICtl irt located 11207 Monll/OlTM'ry Stml, Suile 1100. Montgomery. Alaba ma 36]04. Phone (205) 269·50]0.
c~tion of T.mm~
Wllm. r " Shepa nl .nnouncn thit Walt ... A. Kolty hils I)o,ome I putntr. Offi,u Ire louted il ]00 Washington SI,(el. Suitt 302. Huntsvillt, AI.ma 35801. Phont (205)~. WoCHia ll &; M.dd ox announc", that Morton 8 rian SI.ughtt . his I>«ome an THEAl.ARA.~
LAWYE R
S ..... r .. Litt]tloa ,nnounces thit CUflon E. 51. 1... lnd Mlchad Bn.d~ O'Connor tu."" becomt members of tht fi rm. Officn are IOCiled al Coloni al Financial Cent tr. One Comme rce Shut. Suite 100. MOI1lgo1m!)', Alabarnll 36](W.. Phone (20S) 834-7800. Do"ell O. Fuch .. . nd Dn ld O. 'nnOuna the fo rmation of Fancher" Calm . with o/fi<:t$ mted at 401l.ay Dam Road, Clanton, Alabama 35045. Themail ingaddress is P.O. Bo. 185, Clanton 3504S. Catc~
MtCUIKMy Stafford Lang announcQ that Eltn. A. Lovo,. . fo rmer ly with Compass Bank. hils joined tht finn IS In ISf(I(;illt( in thtir Nt ... Orlean' office. The mailing lIddrtlS is M3 MagII_ ~ i ne Slre et. Ne... Orlunl. Lo ui. iana 10]30·3477. Phone ~S04 ) 596·2 865. I..cM7,< ill 1987 iWmiUtt 10 lilt ALlbami Statt Bar. Morpn. ' - i l " IIoddIaI IMOWlCH
tNt Jobn E. DIIn itl hlls joined the finn in its Wuhington office as of rouruel. Daniel i5 I 1964 admitltt to the Alab<>· .... State Bar. •
IIfDICU D[\T\I II \IPR \ITICf [\PfRTS
William WlI ey IIorton , forme rly I shutholdtr with Huktll. SI,u8hter. Youn8 &. Johnston. hIS joined IlEALTIlSOlITH RohQllltatlon Carpontion lIS group vict'president, ~l ser· vicu. Officn are lonted at T... o Pt rimeter Par k. Sou th, Birmingham. Alib.l. .... 35243. Phon. (205) 961·7116. SEPTEMBER 1994 1Z79
II
ANNUAL MEEEnNG July 18-21 , 1994 Perdido Beach Resort . Orange Beach, Alabama
[iii Mrs. Ramo (right) with Grande CimllOallirm SpeIlk'" k;hiey Dickerson ofAnchoTllge
EI Plena'il S<l5Sion SfWi1k~ Dr: Bowell F.
White, who discussed mOrlag",g stress, u'ilh Pmilknl Spud $role
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/W(JerIQ Cooper Ramo, presilknt_ elect nominu of Iht o'U>.. H'A • ellna/e speaker of(he &neh & Bar Luncheon
The Harmon
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PresidenllPld Nrl. Seale (center! /J'lth Judicial AwardofMerit """i17iml Judge Wi!/;111T/ R. Gonion and his Ill!fe,
ED Members enjo . • II nUp/IM III the famous
"Redm!c/r R" '
"'1l'rIJ .,"" Ffora-&mo
Nesler, of Mrmlgomerfl.
280 I SEPTE~1BER 1994
TIlE ALABAMA I..>.WVER
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btochsilk Membmhip R«qJIioo oms /wid Tuesda¥ rvming aliM Pvdido £koch Rtsorl.
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~ Chiltlrm p/i1".J games and won priNs 01 lIN ChildJ'rn'$ QmIirJDl jpOIUOi~ bg Jnsur. anat Sp«iaiisls, Inc. ofAllan/II,
niE AI.A8AMA IAWVl::R
SEPTEM6tR 1994 128 1
III.
Panel mrmfn1rs. feft to right, Judg€ Irlge Johm;cm Marlha Barnell Call!
:V:'9hl and Vi'!;na
Cr~node gathered (or brea/rfost b~fore Iheir preser:tolirm~
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lednesdQy ror W"""", In Legal ProfessirYn.· Not pictured i£ parNl' member I"" Hon. VO>l.lellq Pmn McPflerson.
Participants of the golf /Ollmo 11K't11
ailM Cotton Crw< Course. cran
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R"chord [kif ond RodnelJ Max, two of the ,
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participants in Wedm""ogs Case in Medialio" "
282 / SEPTEMBER 1994
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humorous_. lroil rtlkcting his 2$.gmr Cartf!r all~
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Tull Harr~1I of OtRlilra u'lm the grand prize ThuTJd<l¥. an IR'tI
~ Alva LamMI 01 N()nl~ pu-
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sents "remtn'Ia" from nt)Ied A/obamitms in honar 01 Reggie HlJmnn~ upcoming rt'lirrment.
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Past PreJldml Spud SetJI6 01 Monl(JOmerg. '94.95 Prlsider/I Broox IANnJ oITWCQIoosa
Holmes 01Mobi/t and Presidml"li«l John
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SEPTEMBER 1994 / 283
NOTICE TO ALL ALABAMA STATE BAR MEMBERS
ARE NOW AVAILABLE! ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION HANDBOOK WITH MEDIATION MODEL The Alabama State Bar', Task Foret OIl Altemativ'e Dispute Resolution has prepared a handbook add ..... ing aUernati,-e d ispute resolution (ADR) procedure. curr£ntly available in Alabama with a focus on mediation. The pu,-pose of the handbook is to provide a useful 1001 fOT judges and auomeys in utili2ing ADR in Alabama_(All judges will be provided a copy through the Alobaffi/l Judicial College .)
The handbook can b. purchased by •• nding th order form below with your check. payab le to Alabama Stale Bar AnI! Center.
r--------------------------------------------, I I
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ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION HANDBOOK WITH MEDIATION MODEL ORDER FORM Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Addre" _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ __ City _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
S ... lo _ _ _ _ __
Zip _ _ __
Telephone Nn. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
FonmleTi of leol than 20·
Send _ _ copies o f t h. AD R
Handbook It S I 0.00 peT CilPl' for a total of For orden 0( 20 or more·
Send _ _ «Ipies af tho AnR Handbook at $8.00 per COpy
for a tollol of
Man check JIll.';Ible to:
'---
._--
Alab;oma Sllot. Bar ADR Center
I and >mi l to
I
AW».ma State Bar c/o Koith Nonm.n P. O. Box 671
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Monttomery. AL 36101 IL ____________________________________________ ~I
284 1 SEPTEMBER 1994
THE AL\BA.'"\A IlIWYER
BUILDING ALABAMA'S COURTHOUSES SUMTER COUNTY COURTHOUSE BV SANU~'L A RUIofORf.: JR.
Thft fol/ow;n9 co"U,/Ues "hidar, of Alaboma'. counlJl CfXlrlhous~s_lheir
origins and sam, or lhe /1«Jple "'ho Cf)nIributaJ IrJ their gtOU'lh. TIw Akbor..... U",,"" plans /0 nm orw rocmIV's 110'/1 in each iswe of/he magazm... ff /IfJU " " II"JI plllJlQljr aphs of eariV Or prtslml courthouses. plt<lu forward Ihem II):
Somuel A. Ruma", Jr., "'Iglionico & Rurr>otv. 1231) Brorm /11<= T _. Birm· ingham, AJaIJomo 3£'Il1
SUMTER COUNTY
he Ira thot i$ now Sumler County hu In ut .tmtly ooIOOul past II is Iooottd in tht middle of whal wtTt 0fIU tm Choctaw Indian lands, and lilt turitory wn a cenler fo r tude . Tht Eu,..an ~ F'ml«, EngWw,I. and Spain.lOli CCIfTIPt\t'd for inI1~ ttM.re. Tht fiu! .ignifinnt and conlinuing F.un)p<an contact in lilt area took pia« in 1735when the frmch btgan construction 01 Fort ToulbKbt ... ~n miLiury 0lI1pOit. It __ ~ttd on the T~ Rive, MU JI~nt ·dlIy Epes in Sumter County. In 1163. the frfnch lOll! their NO.lh AmeriCAn holdings, .nd Iht fort QITIe urodr. British t(lfltrol. They rmamtd il Fort York. It was ntvl:'r $u<;c''lJful in British Iw>ds bmo~ thty f.lilcd to win C~ fri.ndship. 1M British iubM · QUtnily abandontd the fort. In 1780, the Spanish claimed the aou, rrlluilt the fort. and renamed il Fort Conf.d.ration. It ~"",in.d in Spanish Iwlds only brieny bmouse tM Tm ,ty 01 vu...ma 011783 ;awarded the '-'d north 0131 drgrfti 01 \.1.litudo ...itich included the fort. to tilt Uniled Stales. In 1786. the United SUles goo... mment
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Tm: ALABA."tA U\WYER
mad. the fir$!. 01 stWrai ItUlia with the CI'oocUw nation ..ilOH lind CO'OfmilTlOll 01 pmtnl.-my MississiPlli ..... a portion 01 weskm ~ Eamlmty guaranteed hunling rights. promi5.td ~rotection. and pnl'Vi<kd for lrading posts. However. the Chocuw lands. including Ihe territo1')' thit beamt Sumtor County. are ~rti~. ..,gricuIlural arus. which attt'Kled cotton plantui whole lands in thor .151 .... r. bling depleled. SttU.~ kept prusing southwulward. violating Indian trUly rights and pressuring the iQYernrYltflt to open up lrv.lian Wlds lor Sftlitmml In 1801. lhe Chox:uwi «ded lind on tho MWWippi Ri\Iu to the United StItes. In 1802. they sa... up tome d thoir land in soulhwul Alabama. In 1805, fi,.. mil· lion rn(In! Kres wen: ooltd by the tml)' d Ml Outer. In 1816. they sil!Wd anoth· er tmoly 1M.. up all d their \.1.nds hIoI d the T(ltIIbigbft RMr. 1l1ii lUity ..'U signed 1\ the trading pOil of Coorgt Gainn. a Unit.d Sta tu Indian agent. about 100 yards from when ro rl
Tomb.dx 0lIl:. stood. In 1820... further land couion took pllCf. Invin8 the ~ only a frxtion 01. their fonntr luods in Miuissippi and only the llU$ 01 prutnl..da)o Sumt. r and Choctaw coun· liuinAiabama. The fin.ll aCI in the disappearanCt of the Choctaw nation from the 50Utheast took ploact in 1830. The Unittd SlalH Clnirw pa..ed the Irv.lian ~11'lO'41 Act that year auihoriling I'nsidtnt Joackion to force the Ind~ns to """'" ",est of tilt Mi$SissiPlli Rivtr. By the Truty 01 Oioc· ing Rabbit Creek. Scpltmbtr 27. 1830. thor Cl\oct.Iw, ii811<!d away lilt rnt of their lands. Thry movtd to Oklihoma and Arltansu bll"'.. n 1831 and 1833. Thor stage was now sd for the crnlion of Sumt.r County. Allbarna. As I direct mult d the Indian nlllOYll liW, a ViSt IRlOUnl of It..;I01')' came undtr Alib;lm.l. control. The Aim"", Lf4isbture emtt<! ten ntw oountia on Otctmber 18. 1832. Nill<! d the counties wen in the eastem part of AIahami and SEPTEMBER 1994 / 2S5
.... r. derivtd from Cre. k and Cherokee lands. These counlies were Barbour. Ben· ton (later called Calhoun). Chamben. CooM. Mawn. Randolph. RlISS(ll. Tallade· ga.. and Tallapcx&. One county Will created in ..... est Alabama from Ihe Choctaw lands: Sumter County. " 'hen the former Indian lands came on the markel for ....1. and homuteading in 1832. many of those "ttraded to ill fertile promi5l' were from the Carolinas and Virginia. Sumt.. wu named for General Thorrw Sumter. a RewlutiOOll!), War hero in South Carolil\ll. who had died on June I. 1832. j~t as the Indian lands w'" opening up. SUmler had been born near Char· lott .. vill •. Virgini" on Augusl 14. 1734. A•• young man he ..... as involv ed with mili tary expedi l ions against the Cherokets. He married a South Carolil\ll woman in 1161. Sum ter gained great fame during the Revolu· tionary War. earnin g the nickname ·C.mecocl! of Ihe ReV<llulion". He kept the largest body of militia under arms in the colonies and used them to fight British regulan. He also "..aged warfare through surprise raids againSI Ihe British in South Carolina. Hi. efforll forced the British to wilhdra ..... fTom the C.rolin .... and this directly led 10 the ultimate British surrender at Yorktown. After Ih. war. Sumt.......... elect.d by South Carolina to the fint United States Congress. He laler 5I'rved from 1801 to ISH) in the United Stales Senate. He lived to the very old age of 97 and sUIi rod. horseback until the day of his death. Port Sumler. South Carolina .....as I"\aIlle\l in his honor. and the athletic teams of the University of South Carolina to this day are called the "Pighting Gamecocks" in "",mo!), of the old general. On January 12. 1833. an acl of Ihe Alabama Ltgislature se t up a ,even· member commission which ..... as appointed to organize counly govern· ment and to select a site for the ne ..... county's courthouse. At ill first meeting. only .i. memb-tn attended. Pour loca· tions ..... ere placed in nomination for 286 1 SEPTEMBER 1994
county seal: Fishe r's Slore; Hickory Hill ...... hich ..... as also called Sumterville: the Chi le'. Place: and an old Choctaw s;le where Livingston stands loday. On Ihe next day allsevtn members attended the meeting.•nd th~ I..iving.ton .it. received a majorit~ of votes. It has remained the only county 50al for Sumter County. The town of Livingston was I"\aIlle\l for Ed"'ard Livingston 0( New York. who was
Secreta!)' of State under Andrew Jackson al the time Sumter County was created. Livingston was a la"",,"r. born in 17&-1. who served as United States Congressman from New York from 1194 to 1800. Whil. in Congress he became friends wi t h Andrew bckson. then. Congr.ssman fTom Tennessee. A highlighl for Liv· ing.ton·s congrw;ioI\IIl carttr took place when he voted for Thomas Jeffenon O'iI'r Aaron Burr in the fi~ presidential eWction decided by the House of Representatives. Livingston left Congress 10 become United Stat •• Attorney for the District of New York. and he was appointed mayor of New York City. In Decemb-tr 1803 he left N....... York in the midsl of a financial scandal where a trusted friend had stolen mont)' from the city. Livingston decided to Slart a new lif. for himself in the Louisiana Territory. He . rr ived in N.w Orloalli in Februa!)' 1804. He immediately became a person of influence. During Ihe war of 1812. Livingston assisted Andrew hckson at the Battle of Ne ..... Orleans. II .....as Liv· ingston ..... ho brought Jean Lafitte 10 the
.id of Jaekson in securing victory ""er the British in 1815. Living.<ton practiced la..... and became prominenl for his work in s.implifying !he Louisiana Code. In 1820. he was elected to the Loui.iana Legi.lature. In 1822. he returned to Congress. this time as a Represtntati~ from Louisiana. In 1828. he was chosen to ,uve in the Senate. In 1831. his old fr iend Andrew Jackson appointed him Secreta!)' of State. It was at this time that Liv. ingston. Alabama was named in h;s hono r. In 1833. he became Minister to Fran<:e. and in 1836 he died in N.w York .tate. fIVe days short of his 12nd birthday. The first courthou5l' in Sumte r County was a log slruclure .rected under the direction of the origi· nal commission. most likely in 1833. It was localed near the inlersec· l ion of West Main and Spring .treet •. The floor cons;sted of log. planed off to form a smooth sur· face. The ...... lIs had cracks b-tl\o.'ten the log.. Specta· tors often look advantage to observe proceedings from the outside. Early counly records indicate that the building COlt 5149.50 to comtruct and $40 to finish on the insid •. On January 23. 1834. the counly ITeasurer was authorized to pay Jacob Allen fOT his services. These figure ....... ro well within the statutory limit of $800 that was Sd for this purpo5l' by Ihe Legislature. The first court held at the courthouse was organized by Judge Sian L Perry of Tuscaloosa. Tradilion in Livingston also
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rtalUnts thai JotYtnl 01 the tarIy ~Iig)ooo dtnominalions in Iht Ill"'n used Ihe courthouH as thtir muting pia« from 1833 to 1836 WIlilihty could construct t/w:ir 0\'I'n church buildi. Thm. this structu~ _ imporUnI lO the poIilic.al.
liwttTWlI goyemor 01 ~ma. A.chitects for Ihe new courlhouse we.e Aus/eld &; CII4opm;in. The builder
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rdigicu and sociaIlik rI wty u"ir-.!Jton. The log courlhouu strvtd Sumle r County ~11837whma new bride struc· lure _ buill This bullding_ I greal I'isuiI i~1. Ilowe\oer. the builder h.xI oonstructtd I \ltfroM building, and in 1838 Iht foomialion rI the oourthouse g;n.'t way one day whilt the building ,.... unoccupied. No one was injured as lhe walls 01 the new structu~ ooIlapstd. This buildiroi Nd 10 br tom dawn. A thin! <:O\IrthouH was corutructrd in 1839. This rdiroa was a lwCHIory while fnmt buildilli 0( CoIon~ deJitn. II ~ chimneys two stories higtlthal stMd as fireplaus on both HOOTS. and it con· uir>td larJ!f: windows IWtktd by double muliers.. U ler lhe counly trtcled two olher fnmt buildings fo r Iht circuil derk and county IrtHure •. DtSpile Iht fici 111401 Sumltr Counly wu leu Ihan Itn years old. it had a number of lu r prising diSlinctions by 1840. Sumter _ I ''try futile COllnty. and planle" wilh slavu rushed to this land. In 1840. iPPrtlllirnllttiy 30.000 ptr· Kl<I5 IrmI in Sumter County making il Ihe largul counly in pOpublion in Alabama. One pllnll1;on. owned by Jertrnlih Brown. had 11.000 iIO'tS 100 rro;n tIw1 1,000 iIIYel. The blKk popu. lalion in Sumtfr COIJnly ,ignifiClntly outnumk~ the while. Cotlon _ the chief finn product of Sumter County. ,nd Gainesville on lhe Tombigb« Rivtr bewm a principal cot· Ion shipping port. In 1840. Ga inesville had , population of 4.000 and was Ihe third largut city in tilt stale. TOIIay it is little more lhan a village. By 1840. LivinllSton had become lhe cenl .. for anlebellum civiliulion in Sumler Counly. liS slnets ~re lined ...ith IU~UOUI homes. Its civic 1ft "'as ITIIIrktd by elfP!lCt. cullu~ and rdlne· men!. A Khool for girls "'111 founded tIw:~ in Iht ]830:s. II tYOIwd inl,u Nor· mill School for IQChers and ullilTlllldy btcunt lodIy's LMngston UnNmity. By IrKing ils roots. Livingston claims Iht tiUt 01 third oIdt$1 college in AIah.una. In 1880. a fire deslroyed lhe separale ci . cuit cle. Ic's building. and many ~a'ly
THE ALABAMA LAWYER
rKonll ...ere \ltltroytd, A lpecial tax was levied 10 build I fi.tproof brick building on Ihe soulhwell corner of the public sqUl~ for a pl'Obltt offlCe.;meI the coun· ty rebuilt the circuit clerk's structure II the wnt lime. The third courihouK ~rmI Sumte. County untill'loYtmbtt 2. ]901. when il ...as deslroyed by a firt. The circuil clerk's oKoa _ m«I5hortly thereafttr in ]902. On July ]1). ]9(12, the comer· stone wlS Ilid for I new eourlhou,,", which still stMS Sumler County Iodi}>. The cornerstone laying,.... a ll/lia tlltnl. attended by many public of/idals. including Dr. Ruuel1 M. Cunninsham.
The buildilli is constructrd 0( brick. lern·cotta. lnd SIOnt. II contains two stories. ill allie. and a dock w...:r. The dimensions oIlht buildingl,,", 140 feel long by 80 fut wide . It ha5 four enlrancu. The liructu""' ..... built in the Creek Revival slyle and contains an eight·sided domed C:UPOIlo. II was placrd on Iht National ReSisler of Hisloric Pbces on March~. !972. II COllrtOOust anna ..... «ln$lructtd in 19n A final sidenolt on the courtlwu.. concerns Ihe wen on Ihe cou rlhouR grounds. II .... borrd in lhot 18S0s;mel the waler from Ihe well was found to 11M: I silnorlClfll minr~ CUlIent. Many ptOp\t came: from far lWl'J pious 10 wnpie the .....1., from the courthouH ~n at Livingston. Awooden Pi"ilion cootaining a ~1JOdI..lilte roof ... u plKfll 0Ye. lhe ~n 10 provide shad!' fo r visilors. This pavilion"'li replaced in 1924 wil h • b.ick slructure that prestnlly shelters the "'til on Iht oourtOOust groonds. •
Are You Utilizing One of Your Most Invaluable Assets? CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY • Neuropsychological Evaluation o( Head Injuries • Cotnpetency and Psychological Testing • Disability Determination Evaluation • Worker's Compensation Injury • C hild Custody Assismnce Samuel E, Fleming, III, Ph.D, Clinkal Psychologisl
Nine Years of Experima: As An &peri Wimw With a SproaU, in Neurop~
821l9th l'bct South Birminghom. Al )5222
~'REE INITIAL CONSULTAllON
(205) 595-6565
SEl"TEMBER 1994 / 287
BAR BRIEFS • David A. Garflnnl . a P/lrlner in the Jacksonville. Flor id . firm of Datz. Jacobson. Lembcke Ii: Carfinkel. has been designated b)' The Florida B<lr a.s a board-cert ified marit. 1 and family law la~r. {;amok.1 is a 1983 admitte. to the Alabama Stale flar.
• William Burton
1I.;uton. III and
Edg ar M.. doT Ell iott. II I. both of Ilinningham. wer. recently elt<:led Fel-
lows of the Amuican Bar f oundalion. Established in 1955. Fellows <"COUT' age and suppOrt the ...starch program of the American Bar Foundat ion. Hairston. of the finn of Engel. Hai~ton " Johan$On, is a 1983 graduate of the University 0( Alabama School 0/ law. Ell iott, of the firm 0( Ri ..... Ii: Peluson, is a 1953 graduale oflhe Uni .... rsily of Alabama School 01 Law,
t.,
• The G.... 8innlngh.m Criminal Defense I..awyeTi A.. oeialion recently
elected new officers. TIlt new president is Albert C. Bowen. Jr.; president -elect, Virginia A. Vinwn: ""ecuti"" vice_prui _ denl. John A. unline; secrelary. John C. Robbins: Ireaso rn. Donald L. ColI«. Jr.; and immediale past pruidenl , C. Tommy Nail. • J odilh F. Todd, wilh Ihe Birming' ham firm of SirOle '" Permull. was recently el"led a Regent (a member or the gO\·.m;ng board) of Ihe American College of Trost and E. tate Coon •• 1. The American College of Estate and Tru.1 Coon~1 is an international organization of la""Y"rs who are $killed and txperit nced in the preparation of wills and trosts; estale planning; probate procedore; and administration of trusts and estate. of decedent •. minors and incompelents. • Birmingham attorney Ah'a C. Caine recently became the president of the
Nati onal Alumni ~iation. Cumberland School of Law. Samford Uni,-ersity. A 1970 Cumberland graduale. Caine is a forme r Alabama State Bar presidi nl and practices wilh Hare. Wynn. Ne..-ell '" Ne..'ton.
• Boyd F. Ca mpbe ll of Montgomery wa. recen t ly appoin ted chair of the Immigralion Law Committee in the General Practice Seclion of Ihe Ameri · can Bar ,\$$OCialion. The Section repr~nts approximately 13.000 lawyers throughout the country. and has 60 committees. Campbell ;s with the firm of Campbell Warner McBryar of Montgomery. • Henry H. Self, Jr., a partn.,. wilh Ihe Florence firm of Self", Self. rteent· ly became a Fellow of the American Colleg. of Trial Lawyers, The College i. a nalional association of 4.700 Fellcrws in the United Stat" and Canada. •
Notice
Proposed Alabama Rules of Evidence The Alabama Supreme Court has pending before il a proposed set of Alabamo Rules of ~;videnc. , Those rul .. as rorst proposed ,,-ere published in the So. 2d Advance Sheet dated May ):l, 1993 (special Alabama edition). Following lha! publication. the court accepted and considered comments to those proposed rules, Th.,.e proposed rules ha"e been revi~d , and as re"ised. are again pending bofore the cou rt . A full-ttxl publication of those ""ised propmed rules appears in a So. 2d Advance Sheet daled on or aoout August 18, 1994 (spttial Alabama editionl. The court again inviles comments regardin~ those pTOl'OS"d Alabama Rulel of ["idence (as revised). Comments Ihould bo in wr iting and should be r.led wilh Robert C. Esdal •. clerk of the Alabama Supreme Court. Judicial Building, 300 Dexter Avenue. Montgomery. Alabama 36104·3141; commenl. mu.t be filed no later than Dec~mber 30.
1994.
Go-orgo Earl Smit h RepOrter &f Decis ion. Abbama Appelble Courts
28S / SEPTE MBER 1994
THE AJ.oI.BAMA l.AWYER
OPINIONS OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL By ROBERT ~v: NORRIS, general counsel
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"In June of 1988 C. S. C1l1lle to me for ad'vice in
regard \0 her work- rt l.ttd injury whilt in the emp loy of SAC. on Or about F.bfU~ry 4. 1988. DurinQ the COUl"K 0( my represo:ntation 0( Ms. $ .. f;octs ClITIr to my attention which would indicate that she was haralKd by ~ tIIlp\oytr and rl"IOU partkularty. its pllin] n\ltK. I liad l oorn/)e. oIo;(1nYfrsations with lilt lttorney for SAC .. the pmonnel ~r for S.A.C~ l rel>abilitation nurse hirtd by the
workmrn's comptnution cuntr. and two emp!oyus of tht WOi k",.n's COITIPtnsilion ame. COOOtming my clienrs mrdi · cal condition MId the fact ~ 1thought she was ~ing ""'-d by the pWu nulV.. On two or thm- ocasions 1,,-as c:onQcttd by the personnel mlINgtT of 1M ('.Ofn!W1l' \oro desired \0 know wlw:n my dim! would ~ rduming towor\<. lit was quilt insisItnl upOn obt.IoininC this know~ beca"", he uid he IIHdtd to maK. provisioru for ...,placing her if she would not be ~k and needed to take ca, e of .dmini$trative matlers. Butd on information that I obtained I wrote the pel'$Oflnel manager a lett • • Jtaling that my clitnt would not M returning to work beaUS( of the rtCOI'Ilmtndatior\!l 01 her doctors coroctmlng her mrdiClI iIOd menlal condition resulting from her i!\iul)'. J ~~ tndosed willi tllil idtt. I copy of thr ~ttu thi.1 I senl to the person",,1 ~r. "Upon ftCtivi..., IT!)' Ittttr tht pef$OOlltl 1l"\lNit. RIliItd to mt lidttr mtini 11111 Ilt consid..-.:d tIW IT!)' diml hlcI quit To my ~ r hid 110 further contact with Ihr penonntl rrIlfl· . r MItt thi!; pOint. On August 28. 1989. I, Wng with f;tXOUn. 5tI. brougIIt I lUit ~t SAC. on behalf of C.s. in tht cita,lit «>uri. Tht wil .II~ i!\iurits ~~It undH lilt ....o.k· mm'l OOITlIltnNtion ~ oftht SUtt of ~ lnd ,110 lUted i claim for wrongful diKhllrge 0. lenninatioo undtr tht_ ....o.kmen·s compeflSlltion act These two CiUSU of aclion wtre laltr KYe.td 10. Kparalt Iml. A jul)' trial "'M rtlluultd ~ tht plaintiff for tht CIUK ot' action b.ued UpOn wrongful tennina· lion. "Duri..., tilt COUnt of diKcMtry tht doPO'lition of tht person· ""I ~r. ItC .. was llktn by tht plaintiff>. At the dtposition ~t •. c. r'Nodt tilt folJc:,..ri..., lIatemmt when iSktd about I con· ~fAtion thai Ilt hlcI with rot:
An.-r: 'That. in ewn<:e. Ms. O. IllS quit and silt ",ill not Ix .. turning 10 work.'
"Suhsequen\Jy tht deftndant. SAC .. notictd my di'POSition and it WilS laken in paT! but not roncludtd on the 6th of March. 1991. "At my dtposition «>Uruti for tilt ddtlllbnl raised questions iboul tilt J>TQ!>ritty of !TIt continuinQ to .. prtKnt my dimt lnd tulil)'i..., II tilt trial of tilt ClK and cited Disciplinary Ru~ 5101 (8) of tilt CODE Of' PROFESSIONAl RESPONSIBJUTVOf' ruE AlAR.oI.\IA STATE BAR.. I hIw tonSisttnUy RIlintairotd to tilt iltomtyS lor tilt dtfmdants MId lilt court that ~ upon tilt disco\lel)' tIW _ ""'" IIld to cIak Ihlt il would not bt-=_ _ry for !TIt to testily in tilt ClK unlus tilt personntl nw.ag.-r lor tilt dtftndmt or tilt workmm's OOITlIltnNtion nunt or tilt tmployH:. of tilt insur;mce Cirrie. tutifotd IS 10 InIOtters that _ .. disc:usstd brtween US prior 10 lilt instiption of tilt i.J>,."Suil Ind IhIIl soch testimony wall conlrary 10 my understanding of OUr conversation. t nQt htird Ui)1hing to date thlll would leld me to ~li("V't thai I would be c.alled .u l witfll'ss for the pllintiff in Iht cut in chit! or for impeachment purP05U
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said in those dis<:uslions.?' hgf: 132. Lints 1$& 16: Anlwtr: 'TIlt only thi..., that I .. mtmbu SIlKillly Mr. C. told !TIt was when silt quit'
Pag< IJ2. Lints 17. 18" 19: Qut. l;"n: 'And wllalwas tllat?" TtlE ALAlIAMA lAWYER
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against Mendanu' witnesses. My fuling is that t~ only testi· mony I might give would be for impeachment of one of the defenst witneloSeS previQU$1y mentionW if they Wl'U to change their te.timony or t •• tify to fact. that wer. cont rary to my memory of !-aid communications. "Because t~ defendants have made ,.. rious umarks concerning the pr!J9riety of me upustnting my client and tutifying as a witn . .. at the trial I would appreciate it very much if you could answer the following questions:
can I continue to represtnt C.S. throughout the remaining di5COllery procedures in thi$ case? 2. Can [ repruent C.S.• t the trial 01 the wrongful dischuge action andlor workmen·$ compensation action? 3. If I am ca lled upon to gi~e testimony to impeach defendant$' witnesse$ concuning my commu· nicatioru with them would I be Tl'Q\Jired to withdrawl 4.11 it becornu apparent that I may be called upoo for the K>I. pUrpo;>:li' 01 impeaching testimony given by the defend.nr. witn.~s conc. rning whether Or not the plaintiff voluntarily terminated her empkJy· ment, may 1 continue as her attorney and give such testimony Or .m J required to withd raw at that point? 1. First.
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290 I S£I'1'EM8ER 1994
s. If Ihe Defendants call me required to withdraw?"
iI$
a witneloS. would I be
NSWER, QUESTION ONE: Yes. the 1awytr witneloS rule is not applicable to the pre·trial phase of litigation. NSWER, QUESTION TWO: You IT\a}' represent C.S.• t the trial of the work · men·s compensation action ,ince it is ' unlikely" that you would be a "neceosary witness··. 1l!e answer to )'Our question concerning the represtntation of C.S. at the trial of the wrongful discharge action iscontained in 3, 4 and 5 below.
1 '1
NSWER, FOUR QUESTIONS THREE, & FIVE: You must withdraw from the representation of C.S. in the wrongful discharge action, if. al trial. )'Ou art. called upon to testify concerning whether or not the plaintiff voluntarily terminated her emplO}lment. unlelS with· drawal.t that pOint would work a substantial hardship on your client. Your withdrawal in this in$tance would be mandated without regard to which party called)lOU iI$ a witness. Your di.... Qualification in this mailer. ~r. would not e~ttnd to cocounstl or other me~rs 01 your firm. ,
I JIISCUSS'OS:
Rule 3.7 of the Ruleo of Professional Conduct of the Allbama State Bar. effective January 1. 1991. continues the traditional and well_utablished pr0p05ition that a la'\Oo)"t!r who represents a client in a litigated matter rna")' not alK> appear in thai mailer as a witneloS. Rule 3.7 prwides!lS follO'o<os; "3.7 \.)wyfr As. WitneloS (a) A la"'Y"r shan oot act !IS advocate at a trial in which the lawyer is likely to be a necessary witneloS. e ~cepl where: (] ) the testimony relates to an uncontested iloSue: (2) the testimony relate. to the nature and ~alue of legal so;:rvices rendered in the case: Or (3) disqualification of the lawyer would work sub$tantial hardship on the client. (bl A la~r IT\a)' act iI$ advocate in a trial in which anothtr la"1'eT in the la"'Y"r·s firm i. likely to be called as a wit· neloS , unl e•• precluded from doing 50 by Rule 1.7 or Rule 1.9." The prior I.wyer witness rules DR 5·101(8) and DR 5·102 oontained the 50mewhat vague language rt.garding the condi· tions that would lead to diS<1ualification. i.e .. when a la")"t!Y "knows or it is olwiou$ that he or a I"")"t!r in hi. firm ought to be called as • witnen." The .ffect of this langUilg. in .orne ;ru;\ance. caused counsel to be disqualified on mere specula· tion. The language in new Rult 3.7 it mon carefully dTllwn ~uiring ... ithdTllwal on!)' when the la")"t!T i$ "likely" to be a "neces.sary" witne». Consequently, the dedtion to withdraw can, in good faith. be delayed to a time doser to the date ofth.
I
THE AU\BAMA l.oI.WYER
tN!. At thit point, the liW)'tr would then determinr wh~ther his continued representation at lrial would be permitted under Illy of the thrtt w:eptioru in 3.7 (a). ~ third actption 13.7(,,)(3)1 10 the ~r wilncl rule is 1M most importuJt because it permits if! fquillbk ~LuJ,cina 01 the ;ntmll 01 the partia. ~ntly, lliwyer may non· tinue as if> adYoaote at tri.tl nom though ho is • wilncl if the harm to his dient caused br his withdrawlll is not OIJI'«ighod br tho hirm to lhe opposing party. This uctption il fimilar to the w:eption found in DR 5-101(8) (~) but 1_ mt ricti~. The langmge in DR !i. IOI(8) (4) permitted a lawyer to continue as I n ooVOC.lte at trial if his disqualification would "work a Jub· s/an/lal hard$/Jip on the client because of the dis/inc/i... value of the IlIwyer or hil firm as counl~ 1 in a part iculu cau ." (empnui,"dded) The r.tw language permi ~ a blolancing of the rquitit' without tieing subsuntial hardship to the diJ/inc. liL~vatUf! 0( the ~r. firully. Rul~ 3.7 ib) makeJ it clear tNt the disqUiliflcation is perfOnlllind il not impu ted to Olht. mt mbrTl of tht lawyer's linn. Thus. I solution. and I flClOr. in baLuJ,cina the equil in i nvol~ed in dis.qu"lification . is 10 permit "not her w..-ytr in the firm to continue the tml ~Id th.>t bt<:ome nrassary.
In the fact JitUition thit)'Oll poK)'OII Jtal~, "I hi~ tonSismaintained to the attorneyS/or the dotkndants and the court that twtd upon the discoYtry that 1« hi~ had to dat~ thit it ""lUld not bt nt«SS.Iry for me to testify in Ih~ use unlw the pusooroel mifligtr for the dot/mdanl or the work· rroen', compensation nulW or the ffTlPIoyuJ 01 the ;nsurvv;e arTier testifird ~ to matt~n lhat 1«", d~ bttwem us prior to the instigation of the lawsuit and that such testiroony "'iIS oonlrary to nil' understanding 01 our conversat ion." in yj(W oI)'OUT unctrtlointy conctrning whether il will bt roeces· u.ry that )'OU bt: a wilnn" )'OU ~y dt~ a withdraw,,1 <\«i . sion to l uch time that any unwuinty is rti(llw d. It should bo noted that it does not b«ome "necessary" that a lawyer bt: • witnns simp ly becaUK Ihe oPpoling party ilSl~ rtl that Ihe lawye r ha$ knowledg. that might be r~l twlt. If, in fact, il doel bt<:ome "nea:ssary" that )'011 bt called as. witness. whothor btfore tNI or during trW. then)'OU must withdraw as counsel at the trial unless your testimony r~l.tu 10 an uocontested iNue or wi thdr.wal would cause a lublllnt",1 h.>rdlhip on your d~nl In this rqp.rd. if possible, you should pftp;i", a>counsel to plllCHd with the IrW should il become neusu.ry for )'Oll to bt it. witnea. • IRO-91.191 I~ntly
Notice Rule 70A (Interim), Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 33, Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure 8}' ~n order d"td;'~ Jul)' 1. 199-1. the suprenle <:our! ilfntndtd Rult 33. AIaOOmoo RuleJ of CrimlrW I'roctdure. 50 that it 00 ~r a""lies to contempts IIrising in c" il cut$.. By an order ellect"" Jul}' II. ]99-1. tht COU r! adopted Rule 70A (Interim!. Alabama Ruin of Ci,il Procedure. to pr(l'oi dt ~ rule I/O'~rn;ng contfmpU aril ing out of civil cuts. Those rutes h.:o,-e ~n published in Southern 2d advance shuts dale July 7. 199-1 and Juty 14. ]99-1. TIle supreme cour! now ha" pending before it txlensive p~ amendments 10 the Rults ofCi,·ill'rocedure. When the (our! a(\S on those proposed amendments. Rule 10A (Interim) may be incorporJted into Ihe rutel <IS a permanent rule. In the meanlime . the cour! in"itel commen~ from member. of the bar and other interested peri(lnl regarding the substance of this interim rule. ~ court al50 invites comments regarding whether it would be good to incorporate the substance of Rule 33. Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure. and the 5ubltance of Rule 70A (Interim). Alabama Rul •• of Ci"il Proadure. into one rule dealing with allllS;ltC\S of contempt and to be placed in tile Alab.lma Rules of Judicial AdminiJlralion. Any comments .hould bt in "'riling ar>d should be filed ..ith Ro«r! C.•:s.JaI•. clerk of the Alal:>ama Supr.me Court. Judicial Building. 300 Outtr Awnue. Montgomery. ALlbama 36104·3741; comments mull be filed 00 IIIter than Odobtr 31. 199-1_
GMrge Earl Smith Reporter of Dtcls lons A1"bl ml Appelii te Courts
THE ALABA.'1A L.-\I'/YER
SEPTEMBER 199-1 / 29 1
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THE AlABAMA LAWYER
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Carr I£ilh a CfJPJI of their lJook. Alaba ma Wom ,.. Compenu lion Pra<:tia Hook. 1994 [;<1llion. The prrx:eeds from lhe OOoirllrt being donated /0 lhe Kid< ' Chance Scholarship Fund. BooIr1 mall be purchased by smiling a checle (or $63.95 It) he fundrai.ing efforts of num~r om volunteers Pilid off when fl ,.. young people received Kids ' Chance sc:l1OlarshipS totalling $30,1)(l(l at the annual meeting of the Alabama State
T
Bar. Kids' C~ was set up to provide scholarshi.,. for high school, college or Ie<.:hnical school student who .r. child. en of workers killed or permanently
and totally d ••• bled in an on . the ·job xddent. The scholarshipS were
u.. ,5eC-
ond se t awarded since the fund was THE AU\llAMi\ LAWYER
utabH.hed in December 1992 by the Wnrh r.' Compens.alion Section. The fund is administered by u.. Alabama Law Foundation, Inc .. which is • charitable tax-. umpl organization. Ki ds' Chane. has been 'nlhrniastically supported by ali lhose ilWOtwd in workers' comperJSation: attorneY'. brninu ses. rehab ili tation profes.ional., medical providers, insurance agents. and organized labor. Ch ris and Tim Basselin of Birmingham are the first siblings to r.c.ive
scholarships. Chris will be a junior at University of Alabama al Birmin gham where he i. majoring in malhematics. Tim ...illbe a freshman at Eva~1 Colle~ in Springfiel d, Missouri and plans to enter the min;.t.". Their father was a heavy equipmtnt mechanic who bec""", poIrmanenlly disabled when the bucket of a machine being I"'epared for delMry fe ll and struck h i. head . ~l eli5sa Parker of Mobi le is the first repeat redpient of a Kids' Chane. schol· arship. Melissa attended the Uniw rsity of South Atab/lma last year and has trans· ferred to Bishop State Community Col. lege. Her father was injured when the floo r of a silo he was working in gave way be noath him. Melisu plans to become a physical therapy assista nt because she has reen the help her father has receivtd from his physical tht:rapisl.';. Tim Browning of Ethelsville receiwd a scholarship to attend Mis.sis.sippi Slate Uniw rsity. Tim will be a SOphomore and is studying forestry. He chose to attend MiMiMippi State so that he can Ii"" at home and help his father. Mr. Browning worked as a mi llwright for a paper COm· pany and became disabled when the homing blew on • valw he was repai r. ing and soaked him with a wood t ...I · nwnt chemical. Kelly Spence of Mobi le received a scholarship to attend the Uni'''rsi!y of South Alabama. Kelly ...il1 be a freshman and plans 10 become a leache r. Her father worked for a t ree service and became permanently disabled in a fal l. Many lawyers an d law firms have SEPTE MBE R 1994 1 295
ton(ribull<! to Kids' Ctw.c:~. John CoItman UId Pete Cobb at Bikh &: Bingham ha~ wriUfn a book on workfrs' tompo_lion IIw with 1M procttds bring donated to Kids' Chanu. H&lthSouth. AlibimI "-r. Birmingham Stttl UId Adrno ha~ bun Ihf progrJ.m·, major tOrpOralt s.pon$(lU. 'Thf AlaNmI Mlf lnsurus A.uocialion (ASIA). an associa·
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296 1 SEPTEMBER 1994
•.
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THE AIAI:lAMA lAWYER
T
htn are two llro«du'l.l grounds in the AI~bama Ruin of Civil Pr()CeduTO for I rtqutst that I
trial court set aside 1I cleflult judgment. TheM Ire Ht forth in Rut" ~(c) VId 6O(b). With 'Hp«t to tllch, thut a •• difft.tnt stmdonh aw1itd by 1M tJW co.n'. although quitt limilu standards for appellate revifW. II britf survey .... ill be provided hen of rtctnt Alabama
Supreme Court un law (oncerning lucCtss!",1 efforts 10 H I aside default judgmentl.
Whil, no groun.dl art dtK.ibtd in Rul. 55{cl. Rule 6Otb) specifies that dtillull judgmtnls IN)' bt H1 ,ujde lo.-
th. following reasons: I) mistake. inadverUne •. Sur-
prist, OT ncu .. hl. neglecl; (2) MWly discowred evidence -mich by due dili~nc. could not t\l.vt
bun diKtMmI in tllnt 10 IOOYI: for a new trill uneSt. Rule S9(b); (3) fraud (whether htrttofor. denominated Intrinsic or u\rin. sicl. mis .. prutnlltion, or othu misconduct of.., ~n.e party; (4) the judgment is YOid: (51 the judg. .....nt hu bftn atisf\td, nlUSotd. Of dischMgtd, or I prior judgment upon "'hidl it is ~ Iw b«n revoelWd or ~rwiK ~ttd. or it is no longor oqui tabl. Ihat Iht
THE ALABAMA UWYER
judimmt .w.ould ~"" pl'O$peCtiw applicalion; or (61 any oth.r reason justifying relitf from tilt optration of tilt judgmtnt.
A5 willllt shown, rti/lrdlus 01 tilt dui' .... tion u a Rult SS(c) or Rut. 60 motion. case bw focustS on thru pri· mary areas of inquiry in noalwoting tht grounds ustlUd. Tht Ihre.·fiIClor analJIIis requires a showing of a rmrilorious dtferuo, C(Kl$idtration 01 pOtenti&l prej. udict to tht non·moving party. and culpable conduct ollhe mcM"lI party. The inilialground$ $ptCifitd in Rul. 6O(b)(1) ptrmits a dttioult judgment 10 bt Kt aiide Imed on i Ihowing 01 rnislal<t: or tlttu,W,l. n.gIK!. V"iOl1l illustrations from cw law of tht "txeu,W,1t neglect"
ground! inctude SOK'C"wl efforu to It! itISicIe i dd.wlt judgmmt when: tilt 9JfTIInlnI and CI.lIJ1Ibint ""'n: rni$pb<aI. &f.~ Morl~ Co. I). GoIJbIr.F'ilt Lumbtr Co., Inc., 565 So. 2d 138 (All. 19901. when: tht Il1OYlOt WoIIIl.I1'oa":a.n: hi$ attor· ney had w;lhdraWTl from tht CWo Kir/land a. For i Morgan Aa/hoT/'/N SeUH!r Inc., 524 So. 2d. 600 (Aa 1988). Cf when tht altomry ~ for tht dtQu/t hid I '"heavy wotIdoid" m;I "Kri. OIlS illnw ~ his family." Ex Purlt Lorw. 500 So. 2d J (Aa 1986). 0thPr IUOCtIsfuI ~ have betn Imed on the moving prta" and accidtntallol.l of a role by i
~,
tbims adjuskr,la", MQrtin, 533 So. 2d 185 (Ala. 19S8) or by «ouruol, SIQr<Jgil €qui/ies. Inc. v.. Kidd. 579 So. 2d 605 (Aa 1991). Rule 6()(bj(2) ~uirts i showi"i 0( newly discoYotrod Mdmct ~ich by due dili#nu could not have bttn discoYotrod in (illlt to ~ for I ntw Ir;"1 undtr Rult 59{b)." An illustration from a Rult 59(b) o:aK i$ an &dmi"ion that a slip and fall was staged. Slrlm~ I). GI'f!7t'SO'I's Foods. Inc., 608 So. 2d n1 (1992).1lw: ntwly di,covond tvidtnc. must b. mitt rill . not mertly cumullli~t or imptac:hing. and "such as will proNbly dw\it tht l1'5ul!. ..." Id. il722. The nut ground in Rul. 60(bI(J) involy .. fraud or misconduct of an adwl'$l: party. For HiITlplt. in Wamm I).
Riggins. 484 So. 2d 412
~
1986).
Rule 6O(b)(J) relid from J judgllltn( di$miui"ll a case for b.~k 01 prowcu· tion wu uphtld where the fraud of an adverH party consisled 0( reneging on an agrument 10 uecut. I note for HI· tlement of the us •. It is noteworthy, 1150. thaI tht Rult 6()(b)(3) motion wu IIrlnud. Ind Ihe Irill court action uphtld on appal. dt$pitt tht fJCt that tilt motion wlS filtd mort IMn four month, ifttr judgment. The Alilballll Supreme Court reasoned that thf: pbin_ tiff' motion was timely ,inee it was ~II
SEPTtMBER 1994/ 297
within the th ree-year period for an inde~ndent action to sd a.side a judg· ment./d. at41 4. A ftctn t discussion of the Rule 60(b)(4) grounds for attac~ on a wid judgment may be found in Fisher v. Amara",,,,i, 565 So. 2d 84 (Ala. 1990). The judgment wa.s set a.sidt for lack of personal jurisdiction bawd on improper se,,·ice by pubHC/ltion. The court defined a judgment a.s void "only if the court rendering it lacked jurisdiction of the subject matter or of the parties, or if it a<ttd in a manner inconsistent "ith due process." Id. at 86 (citing Wonder II. Sou/hbound Records, Inc.. 364 So. 2d lI73 (Ala. 1978}j. It should be noted here that a Rule 60(b)(4) motion involves a different standard of review than the other Rule 6O(b) subsections since the court held "[wthen the grant or denial tUm5 on the validity 01 the judg· ment. discretion has no place for operatioo. If Ihe judgment is '-"lid it must be set .. ide ...." Fisher. S65 So. 2d at 87. Rule 6O(b)(5) requires a showing that the judgment has been satisfied. released, discharged or that -it is no
longer equihblt thaI the judgment should havt prospective appHC/ltion ...." While no recent Alabama caSts wert located construing the provisions of Rule 6O{b)(5), the situation in HatllUlh II. Blackwell, 567 So. 2d 1276 (Ala. 199(}) is analogous. Although the case in1lO1,-.:d a Rule S5(c) motion, the dden· dant was succe'>5ful on ap~al in over· turning a default judgment based on allegations of accord and satisfaction. Id. at 1279. The Alabama Supreme Court has held that the "any other reason" grounds in Rule 6O(b)(6) is reserw:d for "oxtraordi· nary drcumstanc ..- inV<llving ca.su of extreme hardship. Ci/V of Birmingham II. Fairfield. 396 So. 2d 692 (Ala. 1981). The court has also he ld that Rule 6O(b)(6) is exclusive of the ground. in 6O(b)(l) through (5) SO that "relief can· not be obtained under (b)(6f if it would have been available under one of the other fi~ cialUl'S.- ~. v. Damico, 536 So. 2d 938, 941 (Ala. 1988). The analysis of the catchall provisions in Rule 60(b)(6) u uclusive of othe r grounds, should be reconsidered, ,ince
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298 /SEPTEMBER 1994
the typt. of extraordinary circumstances that wauld justify a Rule 60(b)(6) mation would neceuarily involv~ a showing of excusable neglect, meritori· ous defense Or any number of other rea· sons whiCh might have been argued earlie'. Such a reading of Rule 6O(b)(6) as an equitable 5upplement to the pre· ceding subsections was uprused by Judge Learned Hand in Uni/ed Siaies v. Korahalios. 205 F.2d 331 (2d Cir. 1953) in which th e grounds for relief was "excusable neglect" although subsection (6) was the hasi. to reopen the judgment. ~ II Charles A. Wright & Arthur R. Miller. Federal Pr/lClice atld Procedure, § 2864 at p. 218 (1977) . Conside ring Rule 60(b)(6) as an extraordinary circumstances supple.mnt to the grounds enumerated in the preceding subsections of Ihe analogous federal Rules. woold be consistent with the intent that subsection (6) pTO\';de a further basis for equitable relitf. According to Leamed Hand: It seems 10 us that subsection (6) must be ..ad, ont only a.s to sub.ection (I) but as to 121 and (3). It is extreme ly difficult 10 i=gine any equitable ground!; for relief that these three subsections do not cover. for subsections (4) and (5) are not really for equitable relief al all. Subsection (6) on the ot her hand is itself dearly fo r equitable relief. and. if confined to situations not covered by the first three subsections. would be extremely meager. even assuming that we could find any scope for it at all. Moreover. if we could, it would be a strange purpo .. to ."rihe to the Rule to say that. although subsection (6) was no more than a kind of receptacle for "ut igial equities. it should be without any limit in time. while the other and the usual equitable grounds for ..lief were narrowly limited. w. do not belie,·e that this was il> purpOse; we think that it w.. meant to provide for situa· tions of extreme hardship. not only those. if there be any. that subsections (l). (2) and (3) do not cowr, but those that they do. In short_to put it quite badly-we read the .ubsection .. giving the
THE AIABA."IA LAWYER
court a discTdionlry dispensing po ...... OYfT the limitation imposed by the Rule itself on sublKtioni (II. (2) UK! (3) ...• Karo/rQliaJ. 205 l'.2d at 333. The uH of Rule 6Olb)(6) 10 expand thf operation of tilt flCUSlble neglKI grounds in subSfction OJ is alSoD sup. pOrttd by Iht rt$ult in Lft II. Marlin. 533 So. 2d 185 (Ala. 1988) in .... hich the trial court wu reversed for failure to Sfl nide a dflault judgme nt involving el<C~blt neQ1Kt (10.<5 of a file during th o prOCell of movinQI. R.l1cf wu appirently baud on subsec t ion (61 sine. the Rul. 6O(bl motion .... u filed beyond tilt lour month limit. Tho c0ncurring and diutntinQ opinion also analyud the mull in tentll of substc· tionlll l UK! 16). The Rules specify tN.t a Rul. 55(c) motion must be filed .... ithin 30 days after the entry of judgm.nl. Rule 60 motions must be filfd ......ithin I reason·
lIlle time." but for the enumerated rea· sons (I). (2) arid (3) within four months MItT the judgment. A Rule 55(c) motion does not automatiCoil1y btcome a Rult 60 motion if not rultd on within 30 dilys. sin« it is denied by optration of la .... pUl'iuant to Rult 59. 1. Kirtltmd, 5U SoD. 2d at 603. A Rult SStc) motion. amtndtd after tht 3O·day period. but within the 12(1·dly period./TIIIY be treat· ed II I timely filed Rule 6O(b) motion. & Parle Umg . SOO So. 2d 3 (Ala. 1986). T~ L<lnv <l«ilion il further significant sinc. it recogniud "that under our Ruin of Civill'ro«dur. the r.omenc~· ture of I motion is 001 controlling." Id. at •. SH alro Ex Porle Har /ford 1m. Co.,3901 So. 2d 933 (A~. 1981). Despite the sI<lted 12(1.4ay limiliotion for filing a Rule 6Olb)(I) motion ~d on nellS· IIlle nel/lKt. theu is also puac!ent for succnsful Rule 6O(bIl6) attack on a drlault judgmtnt bued on ~ 01 a filt by the ;ruul'lnCe adjusttr. in which the motion ....u filed beyond 120 diys. In
D. Marlin. although 1M judgment wu entered AUQust 19. 19&6 and the motion mtd Decembe. 24. 1986. th.e trial oourt wu ntYtrtMlw Tro'tr!ied for flilure to Itt uide tM default. \\'hil. the diloSt11t in Lft o. Martin points out the motion to n l uide .... u filed "btyond the four·month limit". m So. 2d .. t 187. tht majori ty presumably ~d tilt audit of ItnielleY on Rul. 6<llbIl6) or Ih. furt h.r provisions of Rule 60(b) .... hkh prtservtl the tri~1 court's discrttion to reOptn a judgm~nt within thrtt years:
LeI!
Tllis rul. don not limit Ihe of a <;ourt to entemin ilTl independent IoI;tion willlin a r...· ronablt time and not to ntend 111m )'Urs ilfttT IIIe mtry of the judgment. ... po'II'lI '
A4. R. eiv. P. 6O(b). II should ..Iso be notfd thaI theu is no time limit if the judgmmt is atlioektd for sul:>jrct ...,.It.r jurisdiction sine. Rule 12(h)(3) pro·
Notice Position Available The Unit«l Statu Court of Apptals lor tile Eleventh Judicial Cin:uit imites applications from qualifi«l pt •.
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TilE ALAfW.IA LAWY~:R
SEPTEMBER ]9941 299
vide! "whe"e~r it appears by sugges· tion of the parties or othe""'ise that the court lacks ju risdiction of the subject mattn, the court shall dismiss the action ." Similarly, thue is Alabama precedent recognizing that "the on ly limitation with reg.rd to attacking a void judgment is that it be done within a rea$Onable time," Marshall v. Mid· State Hatm!S, 1m:.. 468 So. 2d 131, 133 (Ala. 1985) (judgment void due to dde<;· tive service of process). Also, with resp«t to a void judgment, it should be unnecessary to alleS<' ,md pfO\'\! a meri. torious defense. Ml &wing Machine UI. /I. Shelbll Finana UI., 384 So. 2d 126, 129 (Ala . Civ. App. 1981)) (citing Rain<! /I. First W",t"", Bat,k, 362 So. 2d 846 (AI •. 19(8)). The analogous provi· .ions I)f Rule 6O(b) of the Federal Rules extend the fou r· month peril)d tl) one year for reasons (I I, (2) and (3) and, it is suggested, that future WoIisions of the Alabama Rules shl)uld delete the four· month limitation altogether, to allow equitable relief pursuant to Rule 6O(b) within a reasonable time. As a general rule, default judgments are not favo .. d in th e law and, if the failure to fi le an answer was uninten· tional or the defendant can make a valid showing of . meritorious de/ellle, thell' should be a preference in favor of .set· ting ilIide the default. As the Alabama Supreme Court has stated on numerous occasions. "it i. axiomatk that the law favors fair trials on the merits of case.: Crosby 0, AvorI Products, Irn:., 474 So. 2d 642, 644 (Ala . 1985), and there is further sUppOrt in the Alabam<! Consli · tulion for the "liberal exercise of a trial court 's discretion in favor of sett ing
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aside default judgm~nts. " Williams 11. UI/orria/ &mk, 626 So. 2d 1247. 1249 (Ala. 1993), citing Article 1. S«tions 6 and 13, Alabama Constitution of 19(1l. While the William. decision oonsidt .. d denial of a Rule 55(c ) motion, the oourt noted that thell' had been no appeal of l subsequent Rule 6O(b} motion. The fol · lowing general language stressed the disfavor in Which default judgments should be held: We, therefore, emphatically hold that a trial court, in det ..• mining wheth er to grant Or to deny a motion to set aside a default judgment, should exercise its broad di.crt t;onary powe .. with liberality and should balanet the equities of the case with a st rong bias toward allowing the defendant to ha,-e his day in COIJrt. Williams, 626 So. 2d at 1249. The Il'fer· enee to broad diJ;Crt tion,uy l'O""rs, it is suggested. should al$O operate in f.vor of a liberal exercise of diJ;Cretion to set aside,defaults pursuant to Rule 61)(b) since, on other occasions, the Alabama Supreme Court ha, . 1'0 emphasized that " a trial court's discre tionary authority under Rule 60(b) is much broader than it is undu Rule 55(c)." DoL« o. Crosby Lumber UI.• Inc .. 561 So. 2d 11)86, 1091) n. 3. (Ala. 1991)). Ci .... n the constitutional guarantees and the preference for tri.1 on the merits, a fair interpretation of the case law is that there is a presumption for trial on the m erits so that doubts should be rtsOo,ed in favor of the defaulting party. It is suggested tha t the trial cou . t should therefore begin an analysis of a default wi t h the " presumption that cases should be decided on the merits whene.... r practicable." Bailey Mortga~ UI., 565 So, 2d at 140. AI$O the decision in Kirtlond /I. Fori Morgan Authority Sewer &rvice, Inc., 524 So. 2d 600 (Ala. 1988), indicate. a strong judici a l policy of resolving doubts in favor of the defaulting party: We ha.... repeatedly held that the trial taurt's use of its discretionary authority should be re$Olved in favor of the defaulting party where there is doubt ill to the propridy of the default judgmtnL Kirtland, 524 So. 2d at 6()4.6(15. The Kirtland decision , as noted, has adopted. "three· factl)r analysis" that
should be undertaken by a trial court when detennining whether to grant Or deny" motion to satisfy a default judg· ment. The supreme court in Kirtland found that .ince it may. in som e instances. be difficult to balance the need to promote juditlal economy and the need to prese rve an individua l's right to defend on tt>. merits, the thru· factor analysis should offe r proper guidelines to the trial court in making such a dete rmination. Although the t .. t. in Kirtland addresse d such a determinat ion in the context of Ru le 55~c) motions, the A I~bama Supreme Cl)urt hill ,ubsequently cited Kirtll11td asautho.ity in the Rule 6O(b) context ill "'ell, though the trial oourt would ha~ broade r discretion un der Rule 60(b) than under Rule 55(c). See Lee o. Mar· lin. 533 So. 2d 185 (Ala. ]988); DaL« o. Crosby l.um/wr Co., Inc" 561 So. 2d 10&> (Ala. 1990). Corueq u ~ntly, the r",,· SOrting in Kirt/and should al$O apply til a Rule 6O{b) motion seeking relief from a default judgment, since the balancing of judicial economy with an individual 's right to defend on the merits WQuid still be required of the trial court. The Kirtlond three ·factor analysis is .. t forth ill foil"",,: To alleviate th e difficulty involved in deciding Rule 55{t ) motions and to tnsu rt that jus· tice will be served. clea r guide · lines need to be established and then implemented by trial courts. Thus, WI' hold that a trial court's broad disc retionary authority under Ru le 55(c ) should not be exercised ",ithout considering the following th..., factors: l. whether the defendant has a meritorious defense; 2. whether the plaintiff will be unfairly pll'jooiced if the default jud,gment is set ilIide; and 3. whether the default judgment Will a Il'sult of the defendanfs own culpable oonduct.
S24 So. 2d at 605. Each of the thrtt Kirl· fond factors "ill hi! britfly considered. The first factor is the me rito ril)us defense. In discussing whether a party has a sufficient meritorious defense. the Alabama Supreme Court in Kirlland stated that the defense "must be of such merit ill to induce the trial court rea· THEALABA."1A u\WYER
sonibly to infer thit illowing the ddeme to be litigated woutd forn«ably ilter tM outCOfTl( of the CaM'." Id, i t 606. The tri,,1 «IUrt l1o(ed not be con· vintfll !hit the ddnIK xt /orth by the Ikfaultin,a ~rty would mult in prevail. ing at trW. it is only ~uired "thaI thr mCIv.lnt is PI'!p,lred to prutnt I plaUJi· bit deftnu." Id. il 60S (Quoting EJ.
ParI, Illinois (;mlral CuVR.R..
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2d t283. 1288 {Ala. 1987)1. tll ustrations of fTl(ritorious Or plausi· ble ddenus accepted by the courl indude i mere question offact lIS to tilt s\.lno;\ard of CiTt. PreKOlt u. Baker. 28 ABR 2515 (Ala. ~y 6. 1994llmtdical rnllpracti«). a lick of perJOOll jurisdiction. CrHI v. Cator iAaJirIg. Inc.. S44 So. 2d 936 IAli. 19891. or i disputed xttkment. IIllnnah v. 8l1l(:1n«1I. 567 So.2d 12n. 1278 (ALI. 19901. With rtgird to tM Hcond prong 0( the court's thm·fllCtor iftilysis in Kirt· land. it is du,r !hit In)' prejudice to tho plaintiff in setting uicle I default must be substintial, Recently. Ihe Alabama Supreme Court, in applying the Kirl· land tnt with rupect to pl'!judice, has h.ld that the pomiblt lou of tvidtnc. due to lhe pauage of lime would 001 be subsuntiai pl'!judict, }ltmnah, 567 So. 2d lit 1276. In IIddition, tl>( court has also I>(ld I~t a 5howin,a of clelay 01 !ho liligation ind Iddlt ionll cenu which would result. Ire ilso insufficient to uublish IUMt",nti,1 prejudice to the non' moving ~rty. Strmtge Equities. Inc. If. Kidd. 579 So. 2d 60S (ALI. 1991). In the ITIO'I rtcenllkcision eoosiokrin8 prejudice. PracoII v. Baker. 28 ABR 2535 (Ala. May 6, 199-1), tilt court rQ' soned there wu no prejudice demon· straled by plaintiff that could not be remedied by an order imposing on the moYilnt lhe IIdditional <;();§i.o octallioned by tl>( okl.l.y in trial. The OOUri indicaled thai C()!IIJ of depositions of lddilional uptrl witnultl coul ~ ~ impost<! on the mOVint. With ruptet to IIl1e8td f",udulent tl10nsfen by !ho okfaultiRJI plIrty.the court indkiled thai sufficimt relief would ~ ifforcIed by the Alibami Uniform f"nudulenl Trms/" AI;t, Sec· tion 8-9A· 1 '11«1. Ala. Code 1975 indicitin8 "any delay Cluud by selling uide the ddlult judgm ent and con· ducting I tri .. t on Ihe merilJ to obtain another jud8ment would not substan· tillily prtjudice Ihe plaintiffs in any
THE ALABAMA U.WYEH
dfort to .. v,il thernsdvu of tht reme· dies iIforded by tl>( FDudulent Tnmhr Act Id. i t 2S4I. With rupect to the third fllCtor, tht trill court looks III the culp,lbility 01 the \kfeno;\ant"s tJOnducl "Conduct commit· I~ willfully 0<" in bid faith <;OIIStitut~ culp,lblt conduct lor p<lJJI05e$ 01 \ktn· minin8 whtthtr a ddiult jud8mtnl should be Ht uiok." KirllarnJ. S2' So. 2d at 607. The Kirtltmd d«ision indicate, Ihal Mgligtnce by itself is iruuffic~nt and to precludt setting aside a default, cutp,lble conduct must be characttriud by -Oillranl disnsptct for court rules, dtlib...." and knowin8 dil roQard for judicial authority or inlentional non· ruponsivenw.." fd. it 608. Co!lsequmt· Iy. the courts have ~jKkd in III1IJrnmt of culpible conduct in ,ituat ions, for .umpl•• in which .. ~ft lilig.>n l, IIIhou8h f.. llIn8 10 appur it Iriil. ..!tempted to obtl;n i continuinCt. l'rnl:rilt. 28 ABR ,I ~; and in which a defendanl !wl intentionally i'l'Oidtd ser· vice of pror.eu. f"ries Comdional Equip.. Inc, v. Coo·T«h, Inc.. 559 So. 2d .557. 562 tAla. 19%). The rearoning in the Fries d«ilion. in p,lrl. was due 10 !ho size
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of thr iudimmt, which was S750.OOO. Id. at 563. Succus/ul t/forts to avoid tl>( cmncteriAlim of conduct IS culpable. inc111c1e tl>( Kirllond decision. in which the dtfmdant did noI iPPW" it trial and _rttd tNt he did not know his i\tor· rey hid withdrawn IS counsel. In Saiky Morl{lQ9f Co. II. (";obIM.Fitft Lumbtr Co., IJ'IC~ 565 So. 2d 138 (ALI. 1990). il was eoosiokml neglect ratMr than culp,lble conduct in which the Jummons an d \XIIIlplaint I-.a.d bttn misplaced. U"",,ise in SIOr'f19i' t'quilies. Inc. u. Kidd. 579 So. 2d 605 (Ala. 1991). the AIabima Supreme Court held !hit the trial courl's oknial of a motion to Jtt aside a \kfault judgmmt was an ~ 01 di$erttim when ..,,;,;.: pille" '«I'! Io&t by in ittomq. Also. in Lu If. NQ;lin, tht AlibilTll Supreme Court I>(Id!hit the trial courl's dmiil 01 , Rule GO/bl motion for rtlitf from a default judgrnmt _ ~ abuse 01 dis<n-tion where lilt defendint !wi "bttn in the proce" 01 movin8 his ;nsurinct ~ fTom one location to inOIher, and !hit tl>( summons and oompiainl '«rt accidtntally put in a 00. with closed files." 533 So, 2d at 185. NOlwithstandinQ diffennces in
Cumberland School of Law of Samford University Presents James W. McElhaney's Master Advocate Series: Proving Your Case and Expert Witnesses - The Art and The Law Friday, November 18, 1994 6 CLE Credit Hours Medical Forum of Ihe 8'1am-Jdferson Ci vi c Cenler
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SEPTEMBER 1994 1 30 1
tr~tment Qf Rule 55(c} and Rule 6O(b) motions at the t rial level. the same standard of reviN applies to each. With .. s~t to denial Qfa Rule 551cl motion. "the applicable standard of reviN and appeal stemming from a trial courfs granting or denying a motion to set ""ide a default judgment is whdher the t rial court·, decision constituted an abuse of discretion." Williams, 626 So. 2d al 1248. The abuse of discretion standard i.o; also applicable in Rule 601b) ca!lts. [)QLee. 561 So. 2d at 1091. Bul see Fisher, 565 So. 2d at 87. recognizing a tri.t judge ha.s no discretion under subsection (4). ("if the judgment is void it must b. set aside"). Situations in whiCh an abU!lt of discretion haw!>Nn found include. for example. a substan· tial dollar amount in considering the S750.000 default judgment in ~sct)1I v. &iker. the potential for incon>istent judgmenll against multiple defendants in which the defaulting P/lrty was held liable while a non-<lefaulting defendant was not held liable. Ex Parte Thr<!t1l1. 28 ABR 298S (June 10. 1994); and a consideration 01 Alabama consWutional guarantees and the litigant's ·p..amount" right to a trial on the merils. Williams. 626 So. 2d at 1249. In consider ing the d.adline for and timing 01 an appeal. it should be noted that a Rule SS(c) motion. if not granted within 90 days. i.o; automati· cally denied by operation of law pur· suant to Ru le 59 .1. ld. at 1248. A Rule 60 motion. however, is not limited by t he gO-day limi tation in Rule 59.1. Cockrell v. World:' Finesl Chocolale Co.. Inc .. 349 So. 2d 1117 (Ala. 1977). Further. an order granling a motion to set aside a ddault judgment is inler' locutory and not appealable. £I!(lns v. Sharp. 617 So. 2d 1039 (Ala. Civ. App.
$
WANT YOUR MONEY
1993); Fisher v. Bush, 377 So. 2d 968 (Ala. 1979). Conversely, the denial of a motion to set aside a default judgment is appealable. LermarrJ v. Lermard, 560 So. 2d ]080 (Ala. Civ. App. 1990). l! ,hould also be noted tlla! "the denial of a Rule 60 motion i.o; usually appealable and tllat a motion to reconsider canfl9! take the place of an appeal." /d. at 1083 (citing Ex Parle /)ou:!ing, 477 So. 2d 400 (Ala. 1985)). The ~is to nek reviN of an interlocutory order granting a motion to !Itt uide a default judgment would thul bt by meam of a petition for writ of mandamus. Ex Parte Lang, 500 So. 2d 3 (Ala. 19S6) (writ dtnitd). The practitioner Should emphasize the Alabama constitutiolllli guarantets and presumption in favor of trial on the meri" in presenting an attack on a default judgment. Particular care ,hould bt e:<ercisci to comply with the 3D·day and 12(}-day limitations periods set forth in the rules. Whil e the re is precedent for successful attack on ddault judgmenll "made within a rea· .sonable time" beyond the 12(klay period, the exerci!lt 01 trial court discretion i$ much broader in appellate review of mo!;oru f'led bt)lOnd the 120·day peri· od. It also appear> that the case law places primary emphasis on a consider· ation of the meritorious defen!lt and the reasons "",e rted for exculo/lblt neglect in failing to file a timely answer. While the defaulting party could bt heartened by the fact tllat all current membtrs of the Alabama Supreme Cou rt have in recent yea ... voted at leut once in favor of reversal of a trial court for ..fusal to set aside a default judgment, Sff, e.g .. ~scoll v. Baker. 28 ABR 2535 (Ala. May 6, 1994) (Hornsby. C.J .• Almon, Houston. Kennedy, COOk, H.); Ex Parle Th rtall, 28 ABR 2985 (Ala. June 10,
Now?
We Buy Structured Settlements, Annuities, Contracts, Notes, and Deeds 01 Trust '"
A Inv'$lmfi/1 Fvndlng
(314 ) 355·3577 J 02 /SEPTEMBER 1994
$
]994) (Hornsby, C.J .. Almon, Shores, Kennedy, Cook, JJ,); Bai/eli Morlgage Co. v. Gobble·File Lumber Co .. Inc.. 56S So. 2d 138 (Ala. ]990) (Hornsby. CJ .. MaddOJl. Almon, Silo,..", Houston, Steagall. and Kennedy, J1.); Cunningham v. Gibson, 618 So. 2d 1342 (Ala. 1993) (Hornsby, C,J .. Shores, Steagall, Ingram, J1.), a .ucce..ful attack on a default judgment i5 by no meanS automatic. Despite the statements of the presumption for trial on the merill and constitutional guarantees, there are I numbu of recent cas., affirming the trial court's refusal to set aside defau lts. See. e.g .. Dobson's Pelting Zoo v. Coens, 611 So. 2d 257 (Ala. 1992); Hughes v. Cox, 6(1l So. 2d 465 (Ala. 1992); Baker v. Jones, 61 4 So. 2d 450 (Ala. 1993); Barber v. Fllirbrun, 618 So. 2d 1327(Ala. I993}. While no attempt is made to evaluate case law 5ustaining lhe enlry of default judgments, it is sufficient to observe that the entire subject is governed by considerable judic ial di,cretion. The same abuse of discretion standa rd is applied for reviN of the trial court rul· ing regardless wheth~r the default judg· ment i.o; !Itt aside. As noted above, it i. also recommended that the Advisory Committee On the A1abanu Rules con· sider removal of tht four month time period in Rule 6O(b), which is inconsis· tent with case law which has properly extended the 120-day period, and incon· sistent with tht general provisions of the rules which requi .. filing only with . in a reasonable time or within tho three-year puiod fo r an independent attack on a judgment. Imposing only a "rusonable time" limi tation on Rule 6O(b) motions would also be consistent with the considerable discretion already • v,..ted in the trial court.
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TIlt: ALABAMA LAWYER
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1. DrNIWIIItn. f1imUnt1Ioam Janws C. lIMIon, S., BimlhItJIoom Richard F. Oil •. Bmn¥<rm David ~ II.M<>bi1e
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Oakley W. MoI\<ln, I." Hon/f1I)m0'J IoIIChoeI It. Filii'''''' ~ C. NulPopo, Columbus. GA lam.. L Klintrelte., AIm.. lion. L 1:. ~ V.....", Julian D. Butlor. Hunl:lrilk \\'~ C. Sbt ...... DIMonIQ
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La.,.,. B. Eliason. Birmin9lwm Krbll Dowdy. Mon/gom;!T//
TIlE AUlIA.'IA LAWYER
GrttlOtr S. Cusir'l'lOllO. c..t.dm-M1-6328 TOOI'J' G. MilleT, ~25&.IOOO IJoord of B.ar c..m ..>I •• IoM.. 1JAiH<I: Frtdtritk KU)'ktIldaU, Ul.BIrmiPW/lam-
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I. Mwoy Relf••Jr .. Birm ingham I...... O. SllIndrid(t. Tusarior>la Dou(Lu I. FHl,IIUJ1U<.'/Ik
Robofl It. Adams., Birmiztt1Mm ~I
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Timoth)' M. C"'IIl". MoMI. lI0b0 fl y, Clork. Mobik Robofl Cwin. ). .. Birminglwm ThomaoR.Jona..Jr•• ~ TtfT\lBulIo.rd. DolMn John C. Ktlwy, ~
CharIu B. Iksl, a-t J. yo...... IIowmon, AnrIiUon 5.>mutl C. MtKt""I. CuJf ~ Robofl 8. Adtrhol~ J/Qlqdtk I \\\\1 1'1 1'1 Btll 1I11\IHI\ .... I\fOIl'I\1111\ \\IJ 'It lfl\lIfl \1 Ii 1\'>
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Mar,..tt L Murphy.
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COI\IllIntt S.lwnt,Mobile ""'icy W. lki.... Birminglotlm /oIothIItl N. Mdntyrc.lJirmJngh4m
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IJoonl .f Bat c-....... _ .. Uai-, John liollis l,""ksIln. Otm/(lft-l5S-2OGI
Suff LIWon: Ktill' B. Nonnan.Monlpot""'l'-U!l.15IS
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Sltrtbtn V. Hammond.
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I. Im,ton l'JuiIt.lit1intPlon MICNtI Otnni> Roe<n. AmWon Mork AlI~n ~1I, III. /)t>dftIi/k Andr(\< I. Rultn>. Mobik
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s.a.Ury, La..,..,. R.r,,,..1Sorvkt: Kolhtrine Crumo r. M<lnlgomery~ 269·1515 Mtmbero: Cliff Wriiht. F'lo~ J""k Boohr W..",r, MO<1l'_'ilk Jimmy B. Pool, M<lnlgomerjl
JOOn Da"id Knight. Cullm(ll'l Ruth Ston< E.. II. Co<h<kn n.:.ma. A. Smith. Jr .. Cullman J........ Albert lloli. It.. T\=Q100SIJ Philli~ M. Lali•• Mobik J........ A. Kff. i •.• Bimlinglwm John F. lone>. Ir .. Andalwia
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Thomas E. ilryonl. Mobik-l32 .... 671 \'kt-clulr.
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SUff t W-: Robert W. No.ri •. M<lnlgomerjl_269_1515
Mombon: Orri n K. Amto. III.Mobik Robert W. Ritd< •• {f<DIlwilk Penyn Godbtt C..roll, Bimlinghom Jou-ph A. I:rnquin. T\=Q100SIJ Wendy Brooks C...... Bimlinglulm Michael R. Silbtrman. B.inningll"", J. CU$ty Y.. rou~ Bimlinghom lamu I. Bumnoll. J... Binningham Jim Vichry. Monlg<>rnet'f Suso. J. 11'.1• .,. Monlgomerjl Joo:l H. M<lnIJ1Onlt'jl Willi.un II. J>ryo •• J... Bimlingham C. Mike Benson. Auburn f'r<I(. Chari .. D_Colo. lIimlingham
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Membtn: Michael McNair. Mobile L. B<:mard Smithart.llnion Spring. Joon Ricktt., 8inningham CoMn M. Whitesell.I ... Monlgomerjl G...,.g. B. llam •• 8inningham Ann """'hall, Birmingham Willi>.m B. Woodward. Jr .. I/unlwille Sa.ltm /Qsper R. Gnham E>dal<. IT.. Binningham Michael S_s..1y. M<lnlgomerj/ S. AItt Spoon. Monlgomerjl J.mes lerry Wood. M""I~ /Ita.,..nne M,IIw. Monlgomery Gerald 8. !aylor. Jr.. Birmmg/lam Roy 11'. Crang.r. III. Monlgomerjl
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Fronk M. C.p. io. J/unlwill~17--5ISIJ \1u--<halr:
Hon. Coin K.nntdy,Mobile-690-8488
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lull>. C. Kimbrough , Birming/lam_ 991--6367
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.'1embero: Willi>.m C. T""h •. I... Birminglulm J. Donald llanlu. Mobik John J. Park. Jr .. BinningMm Robert T. Mta<Iow£, III. Opelika .... David falol.l. Chariest"", SC And ..... J. Col ......... Bimlinghom I~k W. W.lla«, J ... Mrmlgom<'7"y Wt.loy Schue.. I... Auburn Richard r. AUe ... Monlfl'>171C"¥
Donald C. ltuhtr. MOIIlgomeTJI B. Boo.., o.:...u. Bimlinglulm Victor Kelloy, Binningham William H. Ro<, o...rmlO E...... tt M. Uroch. Dal""ille
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"""um E. Scully, Ir .. Mobil" THE AlABAMA lAWYER
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lohn D. Saxon. 8iTm;"gh<m> Dobow. P. fisher. Birm;"g""'" Sharon A. Woodard. Birm;"g""m Robtrt L McCurlt\', Ir.• Twcl}JOfJ6I) \\,Ili.m C. Wood, Birmil!gham /. Robtrt ~ul k. ProtMII. Chorl.. Crook. Montgomery William H. Mill •• Birmil!gham loon P. SOOI.t. Birmingh<m> Michatl E. Upchurch. Mobih
W. Crtg W01d.Ume/1 William O. Kirk. Ir.• Carrollton Loon Be"",rd Smillurt.l!niol! Springs
lohn N. P>P\»1WIOil. M""I~
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Boverl» Pool< Bak ... Birm;"gham Houslon L Brown. Birmingham Cl'''Ph", Thorrw. Ir .. kIn':'lon Dolo< .. R. Boyd. Monlgomt'll Tj-rone C..It"" MtMl$. MonlfllJ1m!rlj K.Mtth J. MoodollOhn. MonllJO"1"'ll Thorrw R DoBny. MI)7!11/O'M'II 'Ihoma$ H.m~ Figll .... Mobile Will"", tUrold Albritton. IV.AndaIUJia Robtrl Simms Thompson. TusicegN lerril.. P. SUlhorli •• Hun/will. R..... BI.dunon_H.>gler. Bir",""",,,,,, Slo'wart C. Springer. B.irmil!gham Palrid. T. Moodl. Birmingham H"". Ken""lh O. Simoo. Birmil!gham Dometri", C. Newton. Birmingham
H"". V3J\Ult>. P. Mcl'he""". Monl~ Tamara Vounjl Ltt. MonI{lOmlt1J
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ll. . . . l i ..-<twr: E. Al,lon ~. BirmMam-251-1000 Board of II>r COlDml.. io.... Ll.oi .....: W. N. W'Ioon. Fori Puy~;..o.ln
You", i.alo)'tn. Rtp .... nlltlYe loon S. _ . IT., Mont90"""11269-31S!! Staff LI.oI....,., T<>ny MCLain. M""I~ -15 15 Robtrt W. Norri •• Monlgomt'1'-269'1515 M.mbtn: lama D. Prutlt, Birmmg/lam Uavid WirtH. Ir.. Mobile Will"'" W. W.II<.Mobih POllick H. "Tltl<. fl. Puyrw
THE ALABAMA LAWYER
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I1DHtwr: V. D. Loll. I,.. Mobile--432-'S55 Board 01 Bar Commin"'"" .. lWlOn: loon E. ChuM. Ba!! Minello-937 -2191
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Bill» L Cart... Montgornng Saw. L Thorn"",n, 1U¥a10l)$a Wade K. Wright. Gunlersvilh Mory Koy Loumer. Birmingham Tho ..... H.1k>ggs. IT.. DemopoIil I. Fnnk He.od. Coiurn/W:ma lanie B. Clarke, Montgomery Kendall W. M.ddo:<, Birmingham lu lion L McPhillips. Ir.• Monl~ loon M. K.nntmtr. Tus<urnbid An<lrew I. Sinor. Ir .. Birming/l<m> Mory L Campi'i. Birmingham \),an C. King, III. ~ Sam M.pl... Birmil!gham Edward L D. Smith. Mobil~ Caru, A. RobinS<)l1. Jhmlwille Mory Belli M;rntipiy. Mobih W. D. King. IV. Cam,JIIQfI Mark E. EII".CJeve/imd Moria Y. Ntwm,... Dotlum Mo""" W. Reid. klnWon
I. M'lltvin. Monlgom<1)f-
269-2343 Staff LWoon: Mill"" M<>ss. MonIIJ(Ntl#rjf-W_1515 ,'I.mbon: Boverlyt B~.Auimm 1am«A. Phi!ip$.Mobih lam« A. Tucktr. Ir .• Jadc$lm Robtrt II. Alltn,Mobil~ Mi<luel Si".",.W. Birmingham WHiiom K. Rogers. Birmil!gham Clen M. Connor. Birmirtg/tom R. Mi~e Conlt\', Birmingham
Dovid C. 1101 ....... Drund""", Angel. D. Long. Monlfl(jrM1"1l Cerald L Mill ... Birmingham Mo,k E. Elli •• CJ....-Iand W. Te"y Builli'd. Doth"" Thomos Uwi. 0",;:<. MounIl1m _ H. Marie Thorm"". Monlfl(jrM1"1l
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242-7300 Board of 11>. C."'mi.."'" .... Llal"",:
1 \'Ii 101l( I 0\ '010 \'1)"'1\11 11K'! l'IHlllTlO\I.J:I" ,~
Pa.ul A. SnnUey. MonlflOlD"'/l-265-1500 \1«-<l1a1", Elizabeth Nosh. 0-:..,111-625..3911
Boord . f Bar Comml.."'...... lWlO ..: lohn R..... II. lt1iM.-;II~T.I.$71 4 y... ng U")'f'" R.pn .. nl.tIYe : Mitchtll C. Alltn. Birmil!gharn-2;,4_1000 Staff lWlO1O:
Keith B. 1'l0ITTI0Il. Mon11J(Ntl#rjf-2/i9.151S
lorry Porch.
Ru.tr.!lIvill~_3900
Young i.alo)'tn. Rtp .... ntal ... Molk C. Wolf•• Mobi/~· 7766 Sialf UIollOa: K,ith B. Norm;rn. Monlfl(jrM1"1l-269-1SIS
101,,,,1:><... , Dr. Arthur C. S..... noy, MonlfJ<JlDery loon E. McCulley. Norlhpovl IItidi Harp, Birmingham C. P.igt Willianu. Birmingham Raymond I. H,a""\home. MQflt[JOml!'1l leffrey H. Robtru. Cllllman Elizabtth R Bt.wor. Birmingham Ben M. BaxIty. TUJcatoo.a SEPTEMBER 1994/309
Emily S. 1Iondo. Bi~m Robe" E. Leo. """'I~ Robe" IllIownIn. I . .. Birmintl/llm> Il<Uy Mlo",n H.urison. ()ouIW.'ipriniJS Dmix lana ........ ~. Binnil......'" StffI/>tn W. Cutlwit. Birmitw/ttm> AahIcy""'" Aytrs,1IirminfI/OIlm \\'ill~ Ito\I Far ..... Bi"" ....'wm John A. Br..n.. ~ \\'ill~
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\1cwhaIr. William R. Ki .... Mo>nI~-24I.8OO(1
BouoI ., Bar C-.......-... liaiMD: Lynn Robertson Iltkootl. Qar'_775-JS06
Help Light the
V_", Lowyon' RtpnHnl>lI• .,
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MDA ...b«IIust MDA htlp$ Pft'pl~.
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TIIEAtABA.'tA t.>.WYER
DISCIPLINARY REPORT Di.........t. • HWlIsviIIoo a1tomqo D...... C. Craddock _ disblrrtd by order of 1M Supremt: Court of ALlbunlo. dftctive Mirch ]8. 1994. The SUp«1M court disbimd Craddock baKd upon the DisdpJil\llry Boud of the A~ITII Sui. Boor ordering Nid dis· buTnonl in thm' sepu;ott discipli ... ry fiI~ In on! moUt. , Craddock _ pajd a $1.000 I'flliner to fil.
suit on the dient', behalf. ~r. CrlIddock floilfd to fil. wit as promiKd,1IId "Iso f.. ilf<! 10 rdund \0 the dient the Sl,ooo rd.linu. CrNdock r"lltd to reply to any of the client', writttn corTtspond.nn IS 10 the It.lus of the cut and failed to rupond to any ttltphone calls of the cliffil The Discip]il1.iry Board found CrJddocJc Quilty of willfulntgltct of lle8l1 mautr "n!""ltd to him (Rule 1.3), of flili"ll to upiloin I ""It•• to the txttn! uuonably IItCfU,l.ry 10 permit the elient 10 rnaltt inforrl"ltd decisions regarding 1M representation (Rule 1.4(bH. of failing to keep the client rusoruobly informed about th. matte. and promptly comply with rea$onlbl. "quuts for information (Rut. HII)), lnd of engaging in conduct that adverstly r.ntets OIl his fitness to practice law. In the second It1.llter, iI client contacted Craddock about possibly filing /I medi QI It1.llpUclkt Klioo. Craddock agrn>l 10 handle tilt matter on a contingency fn basis. Craddock misreprtsented 10 the dient that he hid filed the malpricliee loction. Subsequently. tilt dient diS«l'Jtred lhit Craddock hid not filed I suit bul had merely writlen illetler 10 ~ physici/ln in qunlion. Cr/ldda<;k failed 10 kup appOintmtnu wilh the dient to >IiKuss the~, and Wled to rupond to letters from the client The client filed. grievance 19.)inst CndcIock. Cnddock fiiled to rupond to Ihne itP/lrile requests of the tlunUville-MidOOn County &r Au«;"tion Neki.., a ra.ponH to ~ dien!"s complaint. The Disciplinary 80Ird found that CDddod;·s iCtions constituted i viNtion 01 Ruin 1.3, 1..4(i), 8...t Ig) and 2(e), AliI1»ma R... ia 01 DiKiplinary P"r«t<lure Ifail. ing to ~opand 10 iI rcqutSt for a rI:$I'IOI"IK Of for inforrnlolion in a matter inwlvi.., lawyer conduct from tilt DiKipiinary Com·
mission}. In the third maller, CndcIoo:k _ hirtd by an individual to prob;iolt thor n\ilte 01 the individual". dtcuwd malher. Con· trilry 10 tilt inslruclions ollhe dient. Cmdock pursued iI wrongful death loction conttmina tilt rnot.Mr's dealh. In JIll" wit thorreof, CllIHIdock rteeived iI chtclt for $.4(),OOO p')'lble to thor formo:r utc\llors ol illt mother's n\illt. CDddoc:k failed 10 tirMly p'y oYer 10 thor ntclWlll"jI P'rtln lilt f... ncb enlrusttd to him. EventuaUy Crn!dock wrOIe i chtek to Ihe cHent in the amount oUJ.I,7S4. tlowtYtr, when lilt chtek WillI prntnt,d by the clienl fo r p;oymenl il was returned marked " Insufficient Funds". Craddock failtd 10 mah aoad on the trust Iccount ch.ck in quution. The Oisciplinary 80Ird found that Craddock·s actions constituted violations of Rule 1.4(1}. l.S(b) (failurt to eommuniQte to the dient tilt basis or rale ol his fet), I.S(c) (f.Hu re to provide the client with a written s\ilttment
THE AIABA.'1A lAWYER
SUtirqllht OI1tCOlTll' 01 the matler and the rmmry ob~intd): I.IS (b) (failun to promptly del;""r to thor cI~nt the f\Inds thlt the dient was entitled to rtteive); 1.15(() (commingling of funds); 8.4)b) (commit i crimillil xt that renecu ~rstly on thor lilwyer'o honnty, lfUI,tworthinus or fitnus i f lla"~r in other rupt<;~); ind 8.4(g). ind Rule 2It). Alabama Rul" 01 DiKiplinary Procedure. Fonnal charges were filtd ~insl Craddock in tach oIliltK ..... tt,"'. Although properly N~d in each caw, Cradda<;k failtd to ",own<! in iIfI)' ...·Iy, with a default judgmtnl btina: mitred in uch of the.., thrH CiIIQ.. Even thouah rtet1vi", notia 10 awtar for 1 Mari", as to discipline. Cnddock failt<! 10 appur at said haring. The Disciplinary BoIOrd, upon idjudiQtion ol guilt of 1l110l"TTlil chargu ~;nst Craddock, ordtrt<! lhat lit be disbarrtd.[ASB Nos. 92-415. 93-002. 93-056[ • J eny DeWitt Baker. I tlun~vil!e lawyer. Wa$ disbarred from the prlclia of law by order of the Supreme Court of Alabalt1.l effective May 17, 1994. Baker failed to rupoml to 14 formal charges and a default judgment w," entere~ on Febru· ary I. 1994. On April 1. 1994. a hearing to detmnine dis(il1lint was held before. the Oisciplinary Board of the Alab,ama State
REAL ESTATE ATIORNEYS LASER SOFlWARE A. co mpl ete line of R ea l E s t ate C losi ng Progra m s inc lud in g X H U D 's, B...yer & Se ller S tat e m e nt s, Di s bu rse m e nt R q;istf'r, C h e1:kwri t ing JIl Deeds, Mortgages, Notes, & Affid al'its II Ti tle P o lidtli, Co m m itm e nts a nd E ndorsem enl$ :ill: FNMA a nd More
O n e ti me d at a e ntry. all ca lcu lation s perfo rm ed, high quali ty pri nting of co m p le te doc ument, wi t ll d a t a , ge n era t ed on pla in paper. CA LL FREE (8 13 ) 76J·SSSS
~
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110 N.W. JnI Aft, O\;,~. l ~, )4972 SEPTEMB~:H
1994 / 311
Bar and. ~ Ithough Baku Wa:! duly noticed as to the time and place of the hearing. he failed to appur. The Oisciplinary Board considered the cllarges "d«med admitted" pursuant to Rule 12(0) (4) of the Rules of Disciplinary Procedure and mat. ters in aggrav~tion and determined tllat Baker should be disbarred from the practice of law. The Disciplinary Board also ordered that Baker make restitution in the amount of 520)160.87 in various amounts to 12 former clients. IASB Nos. 92·159.93-150.93·185.93·186.93·211.93·213.93·236.93_ 248.93-285. 9J.Z91. 93·292. 93-294. 93 -320. and 93·333) au.pen.ion. • The Supreme Court of AI.b~ma tempOrarily suspended Auburn attorn~ J"". Fem:1I Solnt •• lfecti~ April 22. 1994. Saint'. suspension was pursuant to Rule 20(a). Alabama Rules 0( Disciplinary Procedurt. Saint was previously notked to appear before the board of bar commissioners to rtcei~ a public .... primand with ge~ral publication for multiple violations of the Ruin of Professional Conduct of the Alabama State Bar. Contrary to nprus direc· tions of the president of the Alabama State Bar. Saint failed to attend the board of bar commi..sioners· mnting as ordered. He thereafter failed to provide satisfactory documentation as to the reason for his absence from that meeting. Due to Sainl's failure to comply with orders of the Disciplinary Commission and the pres ident of the ALabama State Bar. an interim suspernion of Saint was 5OI.Oght by the om" of General Counsel of the Alabama State Bar. The Disciplinary Commission enlered a restraining orde r
e flt < ~
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I
prohibiting SainI from practicing law. This restraining oNer was acknowledged and made tffecti~ April 22. 1994. by order of the Supreme Court of Alabama. [Rule ZO(a) Pet. 94·(1I] • Effecti,.. July I. 1994. Birmingham attorney Dwight LH Driskill has been suspended from the practice of law for noncompliance with the Mandatory Continuing Legal EduClltion Rules. (CLE No. 94-051 • Florence .. Uomey Oennl s r>eal Odfm was suspended by ordtr of the Supreme Court of Alabama for a period of90 days. said suspension effective beginning July 6. 1994. The Disci· plinary Commiuion of the Alabama State Bar had ord ered Odem's suspension pu,"uant to Rule 22(aHZ). Alabama Rules of Disciplinary Procedure. based upOn the fact that Odem ....as convicted of a felony in the United States District Court for Ihe Northern District of Alabama. Odem's con~iction was for a violation of 31 U.S.C. Sec. S324(J}. and 18 U.S.C. Sec. 982. Odem's , rilm in\llMtd his dep:>Siting funds of $10.000 or le..s in an aUempt 10 avoid the bank's repOrting the amounl3 in question to the fedfnll/O'il'mment. [Rule 22(~} (Pet. No. 93OJ}I ' ,l1 ichul Sbn1qo Sheie•. a Birmingham laW}'t'r .....as tf m· porari ly suspended from the practice of law effective June 27. 1994. by order of the Disciplinal)' Commission. pursuant to Rule 20(a) of the Rules of Disciplinary Procedure. Sheier. by his actiorn ..... as CIIusing or was likely to cause immediate and serious injury to hi. clients and to the public as evidenced by the large number of serious complainl3 filed against him and by the facl that Sheier refuses to respOnd Or cooperate with the disciplinary authorities of the Alabama State Bar and tw . by his actions. attempted to thwart the process. IRuie 20(a) (pet. No. 94·02)) • Richard LH Taylor. a Birmingham la"';otT .....as suspended from the prattice of law for 120 days by order of the Disci· plinary Board. Panel Ill. The Disciplinary Board. after hearing. found Taylor guil ty of willfully neglecting a legal matter entrusted to him in violation of DR 6·101(A) and Rule 1.3; for f.. iling to .eek the lawful ohjecti....,. of his client. failing to CIIrry out a contract for professional service. and for damaging his client during the CQurst of the profe..sional relatiornhip in violation of DR 7-101(1\)11). (2) and (3); for failing to provide competent representation to a client in violation of Ru le 1.1; and for failing to respOnd to a demand for information by disdplinary authorities of the bar in violation of Rule 8.1. Taylor. after being retained to defend a client in a la .... suit. failed to reSpOnd to a request for admissions and interrogatories and failed to comply wilh an order of lhe circuit court to .... spond to the request for admissions and interrogatories. This failull' caused a $500.000 default judgment to be entered against his client. Taylor look no action to have the default judglmnt .. t asi"". thus caus ing his dient to lose his ho",.... Taylor failed to respond to requests for information from Ihe Birmingham Bar Association Gri.vance Committee. The Alabama Supr~me Court ordered Taylor . uspended. effecti~ June 27. 1994. IASB NO. 92.540)
Public R. prl .... nd. • Monlgonwry attorney Keit h Au. born was publicly repri·
THE AlABAMA L\\\lYER
mandtd. with genenl publlC.l.tlon. b)' the
AI~bama
State Bar
on May 13. 1994.
Ausbom uprtstnted i party defendant in litiption concern·
ing W IUto loan. In Tepustnling the defendant. Ausborn llso filed I counttrdiim. The maUer procHdtd to i Iriil with I jl,l(\gmtnt btilllliwirdtd in fi'lOl' of the pwntiff 19linsl Aus· born's client, iod .. jl,l(\gmtnl 19liNt Ausbom', client on tIw cOllntuclilim. Ausbom tlwn ~Itd the cut on bt~tf d his c1itnt to tIw AWwna Court dCivil A#il$. The opposing plrty southt W'OClions undtr Rule 38, AlibI· ma Rules d A#tlilte l'Yoctduu, and/or the AlibImI Liligoo· t ion Accountibllity Act for Ausborn', filing 011 frivolou, "",,"ll. Tht court d civil apptloU affinntd the xti(ln 01 tIw lriil court in .. _iuen opinion. Although the court 01 civil ~ls denitd the Rule 38 ulid requuttd b)' the oppo6ing party the court did onkr S500 in IIttomcy', Ita 19linst Ausborn PUl'Wlllt to tIw OppO$illll party', tllim undtr !he Abbo· ma Litiption Accountability Act. 'nit court in iu opinion criticised Ausborn', Klions luting IptdrlC.l.lly.... "[ S)hould Ihil cast not mut the crittria for In USUImenl of cosh 19linsl an offendi", ,,\torrey PUrMlint to ALM. il is diffiC\llt to imagine I cast tlllt would." The court furtlltr detennintd lhat tilt iWUI, as ....'tll as Ausborn', brief. wtU both "ground· Ius in fxt wd in liw." Formal cha rgn wtrf filed against Ausborn. AUlborn ten· dered a guilty pita admiuing violations of thru stparate provi· I;ons of the Alabama Rulu of Profulional Conduct, .ptcificilly, Rule 4.4, in thai he failed to .t lptct the righu of a third person in filing the frivolous pro<:ffilings, that he violat. ed Rule 8.4(i), in that he violated the RuIn of Professional Conduct, and .. violation of Rule 8,4Id), by engaging In con· duct prejudicial to the idminislnlion of justice. The reprimand Idminilttred to AUlborn b)' the bar noted thit since Ausbom ' , dite of idminion in 1991, he hu Ttceivtd two other public reprimands ....ithout sentnl publica· tion. [ASB Nl}. 9J4rol
ABRIEF LOOK AT Continuing Legal Education for the 1993 CXJmpliance Year By IWth B. Norman 1ft 1m lilt MCU C 0" ' ' - ' I1IIaI oI],YO ......... I .. n.._.g....-_fnlcnlho,... \Ioofo:ft- or lilt 1m l.410 ..... _ r oI.f\ot_ ... M,.-oIlho .... I ' ........ .....
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TH E AlAIlAMA lAWYER
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• TU5c.I.loosa attomty John A.lan Blwnl was publicly repri. manded. without Sentrl] publiCltion. by 1M Alibi.m.a St~te ~r on M~y 13, 1994. A compilinlllld bun filed ~g;,inst Biwns by. d~nL Bivtns failed 10 timely re$pOnd to inYtltig;,. tory rtqUtIlS from the TusalOOSl County CriMOr'I« Commit · tH. :as wtll :as tIw Office d Ctntrll Cou_1 d lilt Alwma Slate Bar. Bivtns enlered ~ guilty plu to Yioliting Rule 2(. ). AIibImi Rules d Disciplirury I'ro«dure. "tlich Rule Ttquim thll dil· dplin. bt impoHd upon. ~r who b.ill 10 respond 10 II rtqUtIt 01 ~ di$cipliJII.ry .uthority for • mponst to a bi.r com· pliint.jASB No. 91 · 134 )
• On Ftbrw.ry 28, 1994, the DiKiplirury IIoiIrd 01 tIw AlibI· .... State Bar kCtpttd i conditionlt guilty pia from a\torrey O••id M. TaMn', piuding guilty 10 II violition d Rule I.lS(b) which ,1.le, Ihat " .. .IIW)'er shill promptly delive r to the dienl....1Iny funds or otlltr prOIltrty that tilt client ... is entitled to Traivt ... ." On October 18. 1991. the circuli court ordered interpleaded funds to be pa;d to Tlonner', client, Tlonner did not notify his cli.nt of this order, and picked up the funds without authority to do so. He kept the money untillhe client filwa grievance apinst him, IASll No. 92 ·3341 •
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SEI'TEMB~:R
1994/3 13
YOUNG LAWYERS' SECTION By HERBERT HAROLD WEST, JR.
IIII
As president of th. YLS. 1 also wint to Imp~ the communication between the section Ind the 10Clllfliliatu. In tht put. the prUidenu 01 the local iffiliatn wen ofttn membtrs of the YI..S £ui:utivt CommiU« ind ill overt iUempl to communicate ...... not r>tCtS. s.u y. In rtCtnt yUri. ho,,·evtr. this hN not i ...... ys bttn tilt tlIW. lind both the YLS Ind tht lffilillts hIVe mlntd ~nl opportunities 10 ""Ork togethu. As , bellinninll. I invite the pruident of tlIch locailifiliatt to "Utnd III VLS Executive CommiUtt
am hono red to hm the
privlleg. of Krvillg as presi· dent of Ih. Young Lawyers'
$«tion ol 1m A~ Stat.
<::>M purpose for which th. YLS ""Ii or~iud is to
Ill. for the upcoming yor.
providt • PI'OiTilffi ol KlivitiQ Jttrxti".. 10 the of the SKtiQn and Mlful 10 the legil profusion. In fulfillment of this miMion, the Kction has many ongain, projects, including 1m: annulil
mt"'"
Sandestin !)(milli.
III
lwo-dlly seminar
..t S&ndtltin. f1o ri~), tht Yooth Judi.
cw ProQram (a joint I'r()gTilm with the
mwings.
YMCA \0 stag_ mock trial competitions lor high school students). the bar admi .. ions ctrtmonin for spring and fall admlttus ... nd a Minority High
School Pr.-Law Conltrenct III confer011(. for minority high school Siudenl'l ~rou the Stilt who Ir. inttr .. ttd in at tending law school). Unfortunately, many you", "W)'!n '''' Unno'iI'" of tho
S«tion'l Klivilits and tho OppOrtwUlits \0 gd involved in N. Ktivities. In the uptOminC)'W'. I will fOC\l$ on i:rIctus-
HAL WIST
ins youngllwy'''· "wartneSS of and inwlYemtnt In YI..S iClMtia If}'OO ilr. interested in bK:oming inYQNtd in any ri the pra;e.:u or IIwt an idu lor a I1tW pro.iect. contIct me it {205f716-S200 or any ri the oftktl"$ d the.s«tion: Prr:sidtnttItct Buddy Smith; StcrflUy Andy Birchr~ld:
or Treasum Robnt Hedge.
Fin"lIy. I thank Los Hay .. lo r his oull~nding Itadership lS president the PlSt ynr and for his leadership lS I VLS o/licu lind membe r of the Extcutive Committtt in prior yeus. I "liO think aar!,), Rigsdl!. fo r his urvict u stcrtt,!,),. trusu rer ,nd • rmmber oftht Euculiw Commillu. (.(, lII1d 81ny', entrgy lind ludtrship pl"O'o'fd 10 be i.....,.lwb\t lind will be sort-
•
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CnU Now To IIcduce Overllcud!
Did you do 129 conlplete closings in ...l.. Month with ...l.. Secretary using ...l.. Computer? ~
8 ....--""'_··--~ 314 1SEPTEMBER 1994
. . ...
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THE AUJlAMA UlWVER
RECENT DECISIONS By DAVID B. BYRNE, JR. and WILBUR C. SILBERMAN
SUPREME COURT
OF THE UNITED STATE5-CRIMINAL Un""" n.. 1ed m l5d'~Jnor ron,ictionl may be Uled to enhan« pu ni.hmm l Nichols v. lIniled SIllies, Case No. 92· 8556,62 USLW 4421 (June 6, 1994). M.-.~ judges delennining the length of prj50fl ,entencu conside r defendant.' prio r mi.d.muno. convictions even if the defendants had III) legalru:lp (oounsel) in th e urlier case? Th. Supreme Court Mid yes b)J a si~·to-\hree \IOIe. Ni,""'" pleaded guilty to federal felony drug charges; he was ~d criminal history points under the United State.
Federal Sentencing Guidelines. including one point for a .tate mild.meano. conviction for driving while under the ionuence (DUl), for whicll he was fintd bul not incarcerated. TIlat criminal his_
tory point increast<l the maximum SOn!tner of imprisonm ent under Ihe guidelines from 210 to 235 months, Nichol5 objected to the Court ', u5e of hi' uncoulW!led DUI c.om'iction to enhance punishment relying upon Baldasar II. Illinois, 446 U.S. 222 (]98O). Chief Justice Rehnquist, writing for the majority. held that such considera· tion does not violate a defendant', Sixth Amendment right to coulW!l if the earli· er conviction did 001 result in imprison· ment . The decision ove rturn ed the splinter~ \980 Supreme Court ruting in Boldosor u. Illinois., which had been construed b)' lower federal oourb to ban consideration of uncounseled misde· meanor.; in enhancing 5ent~ncu. Specif· ically. the Supreme Court held that, ronsisttnt with the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments, • "nteneing courl may consider a defendant's previow uncoun· "led misdemeanor conviction in sen· tencing him for a subsequent offense so long as the previow uncou....,l~ misde· meanor conviction did not re,ult in a .enlence of imprisonment. The high THE Al.4.fIAMA LAWYER
court eopressly rejected the pelitioner's due procen contention that a misde· munor dolendant must be warned that hi. conviction might be used in the future for enhancement purposes. Slate drug tu Cln trigger double jeopardy provisioru of Constitution Montana Deportment of RelJeJ'l"€ /I, Kurth Ranch. Case No. 93· 144. 62 USLW 4429 (June 6, 199' ), May the state impost drug·pOSSts>ion!axe!; on a defen. dant who alrudy had been subject~ to crimin.1 penalties' A sharply divided Supreme Court (fivf-lo-four) said no. Montan. law enforcem ent officers raided the Kurth family fann; the officers arrested the Kurth>, and confoKat«i and later de5lrO}'ed their marijuana pl,lOis. Alter the Kurth> ple"de<! guilty to drug charge,. the Mont.na Department of Revenue attempted, in a .. parate pro· ~ding, to oollec! a state tax impostd On the Jl'O.'SWion and 'torage 01 dangerous
drugs. The Montana Act expressly provided that the "\ax" i. to I>< "colle,ted only after .tate Or federal fine. or forfei· ture. ha~ been satisfied." The issue present on certiorari was whether lhe tax, an ...... ment equal to eight times lhe product's market "alue. was a form of double jeopudy invalid under the federal Constitution, Justice Stevens. writing for the majority, held that the Montana tax violates the rorutitutionaJ prohibition against suoct$· siw punishments for the same offense. The decision is significant because it mar ks the first time that the Supreme Court 1w coocluded that imposition 01 a tax can amount to double jwpardy. The Cou rt rea,oned that taxes .rt usually motivated by revenue·raising rather than punitive purposes. Montana's tax departs far from normal re~nue laws. Its high nte and deterrent purpose. in and of themulws. do nol necessarily render it puniti"". but other unusual features set it apart from ITIOSt taxe.. It is conditiontd on
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the commission 0( a crimr, which makes it penairather than the mere gathering of r"""nUf. It is also e>«>cted only alttr the taxpayer has been """"led lor the pred$\' conduct that gi\lt$ rise to the tax obliga· tion in the first pliKe. In summary. JU$lia SIewn$ o;all<:d the Montana tax ....a concoctiofl of anomaHe.. too lar retl"OO'led in crucial re .. pects from a standard tax <We$Smrnt to eso:ape characterization as puni5hment." The predictable result ....as a violation of the Fifth Amendmrn!"s 0;100ble jeopardy provision.
Se ntencing argumont In ","pllal cuu Simmoos v. South Q,ro/ina, Case No. 92·9059.62, USLW 4509 (June 11. 1994). Does a capital defendant have the right to tell a $\'ntencing jury that the only alto>r· nalive to a <luth sentence is a life prison term "';!hout chance 0( parole? During the penalty phase of Sim· mons' South Carolina trial. the State argued thai his future dangerousness .... as a factor for the jury to conSider .... h.n deciding ....hether to sentence him to death or life imprironment for the murder of an elderly .....,man. Ii""..",.r, the trial judge refused to give the jury Ihe defendanf .. proposed instruction t!;;ot under SWe law he was ineligible for parole. When asked by the jury ....hether life imprisonment carried with it the pOSSibility of parole. the court instructed the jury not to conside r pa role in reaching it. ....,rdiet and t!;;ot the ternu life impri ronment and death stntence were to be understood to have their plain and ordirulry meaning. The jury returned a stntenee of death. Justice Blackmun wrote a plurality opinion joined by Justices Stevens. Souter and Ginsburg. Justi« O·Connor wrote a more narrowly .....,rded COnCUr· ring opinion. joined by Ch ief Justice Rehnquist and Justice Kennroy. JlI$hct Blackmun reasoned that state courts may not bar jurors, many of whom might think a "life stntenct" does rot really mean a lifetime behind bars. from huring ilbout the irnpos.sibility of parole. The petitioners jury ~Iy may have believed that he could be released on parole if he were rot l'l<eCUted. To the extent that this misunderstanding peNaded the jury·s deliberations, it !;;Od t he effect of creating a false choice beho.ftn $\'ntencing him to death and sen· tencing him to a limited period 0( incar. TIlE ALl.BAJ.\A LAWYER
ce ration. The Irial cour!". rdusal to apprise tht jury of information so CnlCiai to its detennination. particularly whro the State alluded to the ddendant"s futuR dang<>rousness in its ~rgument. canrot be reconcil ed with this court·! Wl'1I·estab· lished precedent. interpreting the due process clause. MOreQVfr. Ih~ trial court·s instruction that life imprisonment wOlllo be under. stO{)d to have its plain and ord inary meaning did not satisfy Simmon's "quesl for a parole ineligibility charge. sin« it did nothing to di$pelthe misun· derstanding reasonable jurors may !;;o\". about the way in which any particular state der,nes"life imprisonll"l(nt." Gender_baud Jlrlku prohibited J.E.B. v. All1bama. c.s., No. 92.1239, 62 USLW 4219 (April 19. 19941. Does a lawyer violate the 14th Amendmen!"s equal protect ion dame when using a peremptory challenge to exclude a prospective juror based only on the per" son·s gend .. ? The Supreme Court answered yes in a six·to-three decision. "Cender, like race. is an unconstitu-
tional proxy for juror competence and imparliality: wrote Justice Harry A. Blackmun. In a stries of decisions dating back to 1986. the Supreme Court has aga in extended the rule in Bat5Ol'l which origi· nally barred lawyers from excluding black pOtential jurors because nf their race. J.E..B. resolwd a split among the circuits as Wl'1I as conflicts between vari· ous statu ove r extending the rule in Balson to gender-based .. trike!;. C.. atodial interrogation " "quel t fo r coo ....1mu.t be unequlvoetl Davis v. Ifni/eli Siaies. Case No. 92 · 1949,62 USLW 4581 (June 24. 1994). Is a slI$pecr. remark, "Maybe 1 should talk to a la ....yer." a request for counsel? o."s. a member of the United Stales Navy. initially .... aived his righ t .. to remain silent and to counsel when he was inteNieWl'd by Naval [nwstigalive ~Nices agenl5 in connection .... ith Ihe murder of a sailor. About an Imur and a hal f into th e intervi ew. Davis said . "Maybe I should talk to a lawyer." However ..... hen the agent. inqui red ifhe was
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asking for a I~r, he replied lhal he .." no\. The NIS agenls looI! i sho" brul<. The pttitioner _ ~n ",minc!· td 01 his ri"",1S and the inte,w.., oon!in· ued lor mothtr hour until the suman askeil to ha~ i I~r prewnt before wyi"ll ~i"ll elst. The mililMy judgt: denied 1\" motion to SUPJIms the stalt· ment made ~t the inltrview holding that his mention oll ~T during the intu· rogation .. as not a requt.1 for roun ...1. He was COnvicled of murder ~nd, ulli· m~lely, the Cou rl of Military Appeal5 affirmed . JUlticf O'Connor dtli .... red th. opinion of Ihe Court affirming the ronvic· lion. The Supreme Court held: AIItr a kno)\<ling an.d ...... Iunl...y WltMr 01 ri"",1S under M,'randa p. kiltIrw, J84 u.s. 436. ~ enfortt. ment offi«n may oontinut quu. lioning until and unkss a susp«\ clw1y ~ iIfl ~tonw:y. A SUIp«\ is mtitttd to the assistMJcc 01 counsel during custodial inttrrogation twfl lhough lhe Constitution does not pn:Mdt for -.II lMistanct. Id.. ~l 469-473. II the SUSped ilMlkes lhal right at any time. the police mlllt immediildy CU$e que!il:ioning him unlilan aiiornty is preWnl. Eduvrds v. Arirona, 451 U.s.4n. 4M-485. The Eduvrds rule !It......
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inlo .....aMniI his pmoioo.DIy _rtoo Mirunda rights. md its ltPPIicability requi ,es cou rts to determine ....toethtr!he ~ aduoIIy i'MlI<ed his right totounstL JlIItict O'Connor rusontd that this is an <.lbjtdivl! ir'Oluiry, requiring IOOJI: stale· moml that can be reasonably conslrued to be an el!prullion 01 ~ Ilesire fo, an alto'· n~y'. aui,tanet. If the rd.rence is .m:.iguouI or equM;al in that I IUSOO· ablt otfictr in light 01 the circumstances would I>M undtntoor.! only that tho ...... ptd: might be ~ the right 10 coun· seI, EdMrds does not rtqUire that ofIictn iIop quationing the iUSPfC\.
Bankruptcy Decisions Attorney'. f«1 Ill"""", bank In Inttrplu dtr . ullin blnm.plcy court In ,,!'fonda/ag Shores Cooperative
318 1 SEm:MBER 1994
/lousing N.m" ] ]lh Ci r" (~ May 23, 1994ll] F. 3d 380: 25 8.C.D. 1094. In a housi .... cooptnliw . ..tIkl\ Lilt, filed i ChipttT II bitnkruptcy QSt, $] million "1$ depo.iled by the lenant. will\ a bItnlt. Tht ttTllll\$ divicltd into two IX· lions, which mulled in i frenzy 01 liti· gation. In the binhuptcy Ulle, th~ trustn filed In Idver~ry proceoding aQainst the bank. tho bank counttr· claimed against Ihe tru5tee. ind also filed an inlerpltlldcr in the bankruptcy court as to third·party claint$. Th. main bankruptcy c.lU ..as di5mi~d, bul 11\. Idve rJlry proceeding concerning the dtpoIil remaintd, The bitnkruplC)' court I'fjecltd the bank'. claim for 1~1 ftt> incurrtd In the main cast. the advtrsanr procetding. iIld in a fed~r3l rourt cast involving Ihe partin. BOlh Il\e bankruptcy and district courts held that the lepl Itt. """' I 00$\ 01 the bank', bu,in"", ind th.at the bankruptcy liW fumiJhtd no basis lor ill iWltrd. fioo,o,'tYcr, the EI~nth Circuit r~rwd hold· inQ that In , .. aTd .. all an .quilible maller .. holly wilhin Ihe discretion of Ihe bankruptcy court ~nd Ihat th. bankruptcy cou rt abused its dilla'linn in fiiling to conlidtr th~t as Il\e bank ..as in innocent siockhoider, it "'15 entitltd to IltOTnt')'$' feu in oonlt'OVl'r· ,in in .. hich il IIad no inltrest in the
outcome. Com .... n!!
The Eleventh Circuit distinguished Ihi. interplude, from on. in ..tIkh a bank i, in the bu.inou of Kling as I fiducianr. Here the bank Wlt$ Kling sole· Iy liS I deposilory. App~T.ntly. had il bun acting in I fidutiiry c~paci ty 115 part of 115 IruU bUliness. the bank ...-ould not ha .... been IIi101O't'd the fe.,. U.S. S up~m' Court ruin that d~blor motor C2frier CIInnat coiled for fiitd, bul w id, n lto
Stcurit, SuuiclS. Inc. rI. K·Marl 114 5.C1. 1702, 25 8.C.D. 1026,
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(U.S. P,,, M~y 16, 19'!/.t). In Ihi. cast. lhe debtor motor arner oontracteil 10 carry goods It a price lower than the rite on file .. ilh the ICC. After filing under Chapter II, the debtQr sou8h.t 10 recover tho difference under the doc· lrine lhat lhe conlract ..as not bin.ding. and that the tl\ippfr wH roJponsible for lhe filed rates. In /I dividtd decision, lhe Supreme Court rejected Ihe debtor's THE AlABAMA lAWYER
alllum""t and held the filed tariff rat .. were void, thereby concluding tha t there were 00 rates on file. The debtor had rontendl'd that to hold contra to il5 view would ront ..""ne the 1989 Maislin caSe (497 U.S. 116. 121). which held that the ICC could not by non -enforce· ment allow parties to agree to a lowe r rat. , which practice W<;Iuld cause price discrimination. The opinion concluded: Trusteu in ban kruptcy and debtoT5-in.pomession may rely on the filed rate doctrine to collect for underchallles .... but t~ may
001 collect for undercharges rosed on filed. but void. rates.
Eleventh Circuit hold. inlntlt accru· ing during Chapter l i on Inde <ndl. 10rl ' po ll -peti ti on wu acco rded IdmlnlSlntlve upenoe priorily up to Urn. of con ... nion to Chl pter 7; bow· I\"r. Blnkruptcy Court did not Ibuu di lcrelion in nol allowing Immedilte ~ymenl
In re Color-Tex Industries. 19 P.3d 137 1. 25 B.C.D. 929. (lith Cir. (Ca.) May 2, 1994). This original Chapter II
cue converted to Chapter 7. The trust ••·• final repOrt at th. time of con· version reflecled over S150.000 in unpaid debls. The trustee contended that Chapter 7 administrative claims. 5ul't'r-priority claims. and Chapter I t administrative claims militated ..gainst immediate payment. Th e ban kruptcy court allov.,.d claim of perfoTlT\ance of requested carpet-finishing services to a creditor as a Chapter II administrati"" claim but denied a requesl for inter••! and immediate paym.nt. On appeal. tile district court allowed the interest claim
Notice
United States District Court Northern District of Alabama
In He: The Matter oC The Huppolntment oC T. !IlIdwl Putnam as. United Statu MIglstnte Judgt The current term of the office of Unit~d States Magistrate Judge T. Michael Putnam at Birmingham, Alabama is due to expire F~bruary 8, 1995. The United Stat~ District Court is required by law to ~tablish a panel of citizens to consider the reappointment of the magislra\ejudge to a new eight-year term. The duti~ of a magistrate judge position include the following: (I) conducting mo.st preliminary proceedings in criminal cases. such as initial appearances, bond and detention hearings, and arraignments; (2) the trial and dispo$ition of misdemeanor cases; (3) conducting variOUli pretrial matters and evidentiary proceedings on reference from the judges of the district court, including civil discovery and other non..di$positive motions; (4) conducting preliminary review!i and making recommendations regarding the disposition of priMmer civil rights complaints and habeas corpus petitions; and (5) trial and dispoSition of civil cases upon consent of the litigants. Comments from membeT5 of the bar and the public are invited as to whether the incumbent magistrate judge should be reeommended by the panel for reappointment by the court and should be directed to: Perry D. Mathb. Clerk of Court U.S. DUbkt Court for the Nortbcm DI.bict of AI ....m. 140 Hugo L. BIId: U.S. CourtbouM
1729 FIfth Avenue. North
BInn'. . . . AL 35203 Comments malt be recelwd no later tbIn FrIdI;y. October 7. 1994..
THE A!J\RAMA LAWYER
s r: rn;MBER 1994 ! 319
up 10 lilt ti mt of conyusion. ~fltr whicll il Iklcnnintd ltlot it wouJd t...... only II fifth priority undt. f726(l) (5). Tile [I~nlll Circuil. in rtvie\O'ing undt. Iht "cltarly tl'fOlltO\lS" ~tandanl. dtltrmin~ tllil Ille bankruptcy coort twI not abustd ils disculion in delay-
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iflll ~t. buotll'» inltrat is con· c. rn~, il not~ Ih. U03(b) (I ) dot. not SflKifially pl'lMlk for Iht righl 01 an ~miniJtnl~ clailTWlllo in((rest. but ltlot sinc. iU IhI stclion 'Ut' tht ttrm "includinj" IMre was 00 prollibi· lion ,gllinot such aliowance. In a detailtd discuuion in which Ih t EleWnlh Circuit rt«lllni.~ the ambiguity in legislalivt hlslory. md 1M con· niet in dtcidtd GloWS. Ihe Court ulied
relitl' from thl automalic my u of II futurt datt. More IIIan Itn days lifter 11K mIry of lhit oTdtr. /I crtdilor filfll I motion sttking to r.i.utat. IhI lull)matic stay or In tilt .. lterNlivt. 10 sla}> Iht first mortgagtt', fortdosur. of tht debtor's rul property. Finding thaI t h movan t had failed 10 seek .econsideration of the court's prior orde r granling ~Iie( from the ~utomat· it stiy 10011 concluding that the movant must initiate an advtrsary p.octtding to ob ta in injunctive rtlief, Ihe boonkruptcy courl ,truck Ihe motion . On appnl to tht district rourl. Judgt ""ker dismi$$ed 011 untimtly the appul of the prior order g~t;nM ttlitf from lilt lutOlNtic slay since tho appuI was perftc\~ more than ten days &fIer the entry 01 that order. Mltr 19tteinM ...;Ih lilt boonkruptcy coorl', coru;lll$ion t"'t tht Bankruptcy Code 00e. not authori.e the reinstatement of the lulOlNtic stay once It hiS terminaled, Judge Acker amrmed tht bankruptcy court's striking I molion neking injuclivt relid on the ground that .uch .elid mUSI be soughl in lilt Iorm of an acn-er· firy proemin" •
upon In t'1I' Allied MtchoniaJI Smtke. 885 r.Zd 837 (]989) and Nkhol(J5 D. Uniled St(Jta. 86 S.CL 1674 (1966) that inlerUI In ruling on Iradt dtbts incurud durinll tht ptndtncy of a Chapter II proceeding should be ICCOnied administnl~ ape~ priori. ty similar 10 inlcl't..t on In cblrru. bul thll upOn conv'rlion 10 Chapter 7. OKCrutd Inttrut Ihtre&fltr is only fiftll priority undt. l726(a) (5).
Adver ury p. ocu dlng uquiu d to "ulnst,t. l utomi llc illY" In rt SIIIC,. 167 B.R. 243. 1994 WL 182908 (N.D. Ala .. April 19. 1994). The bl!lkruptcy court snnled IhI hokIt. of II first mortgagt on dtbtor', property
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• MISSISSIPPI VALLEY T ITLE •• • • INSURANCE COMPANY •• S\n'eI., P,O. So.. 2428 Jacbon. MS m25·1428
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THE ALABAMA UWYER
Winston F. Groom. Sr. .... ' II'",· _F.Cro:m..
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Gilbert E. Johnston, Sr.
- . . . til ........ lIIo _ , ht ttmaUWd ......... UI lIIo Army lint,... "..., ~ ht rtUrtd in 1965 tIa"n~ .,I0".,..d ,~ •• w 01 h.u-
.............,_1n1hio0jft0l ..........w..... .... "'''' nun, or hi' I"n""'on. M,. G.oom wI' an .."II"nl ,to,ylOlI",. lie paoud on 'h ...1011 to h.. - . ,ho d .. lin""iohtd .u'ho •• Wi .. ,on f Croom. J•. 01 I'<>int CIw. 111_ ,tpOIU ttla,tho inspt.
trnont_l. .'11. Groom ~ In lilt ~ offict oi lilt GM&O IWJIOIod dun"ll ,lit 1920s. ..... in lilt 19500 ht was >ppoinltd • ..r.... "" lilt U.s. BonlcruplO)' Coon. U. mu""" ~is priy.... nd ~i. pract,,,, 0/ Ilw In Mob,l. IfW'IItIl .1 ...... 60 )'ta .... A mon 0( mony inltmu, Mr. Groom _ on ."",i.., >nd ........... lIfUi<Ion' on 1935 0( 'ht MoM" !.illl< Tho .. " ~ W» Ih' I.".unn", 01 .. v".1 loul 'h ..... l'ouP'. A. ov,d , .. 10'. h. _ ,n octo.. .......-bot 01 tho _I< Voohl Club
v.,. pile,,,..... '.1
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I.t".•
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whI:>.1\iOI'<d
hit >nd """"'.
hoi ionII a r f t f tht
101., G• ..,... do" .. d I........... "'iu>ction "..., tho _ _ of low, Ih,..- "'" """ in .."""It tho till ...... oi b.. cl""ts. Ju. , Iowyo ........ pr>ruccoI in oil courts and han-
dloIl •
e"""
cMI ..... enmi ..... I"Iis prac1. ..........,.if'.od tho, of •
"""td lrom Yol< ' - Scho:lol >nd ..... called
II" U"P'"'' 01 B"m,ntll'tam, _
Gilbo., E. Job"'I"". during .. ,...d two orod a half )'tOT' in Ind ....... """)'tar os a lit.ltnanl_1 00 tht olContnl M.a .. hall: ...... IIlfERu.5, ho tho PrKli" oIJow
1994;and.
'" I~
WU~Rt:AS. Cllbtr' E. John"on cam. from ChOClJlO to B,,",,",,,",,, WIlli 1"Iis ..... tnts .. a <h,1d. U••tttndoN ~ lI'th School and ...... clw p' ..... nt. H" t....:u.t· td from II" t'nlYt ... W 01 AIoIwna. ....... " lit ...... a ..... mbo' 01 PIu s... Kawo-. OI)K ..... w» Cadt1 (olonol 01 II-O.T.C. lit £o;od-
Ih. fi,m WH lohno'on. lI>.. on. P1OC1or. sw../Jow It ~. Ctlbo .. .Iohno......... ruor po" ... , ...... Ih;, r,'m ..... " ""'>lnd'ng thr~ ................... """""Y: ono!. WIIEREAS. h" wu a m"m"', ol,h. SoutholiJ< l\ailI'" a... ..h ..... ng ......... toft. wot .... hai ....... 01 tht _ 01 &po
Wl I ~Hf-"S.
W
tho _r )'tar"
.10"
be"" on B"m,n"",", ""nng on 1986.
Lindsay Clay Callaham, Jr. indsay Clay Cal l1h'm. ) .. .... "',n NoYtrnbo, 12, 19017 and di«l 3u", II. 199-1, lit _ a.Jmilttd to Iht Al.>bama Slal. 6>, M.>y U. 1987. III. "lico os .il .... . - . bul Clay ",11 "..w .. ",th '" in tht nunJ", t)'t": S\onol'nt ....... W1th I"Iis _ to
L
_ .... on _ "'" on I"Iis loot. r-'!o to I.wCh W1th ....... curly hair hkr, IInlI<!" I'Od. poe ..mly W>illnt to ht;o. >Ode • , -my a.Jvmory hit ..... I"Iis pro-
"'''''''''Il
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aI" h" """""" W11k WI' ..... w" WIll """ tum.
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.............
,...~
THE AlABAMA U.WYER
knowIrdi<.
hi&hUt ... 1 ....... prin-
oItI"Iis ~
..
"" ,ho
boo ... 01 tno.st ... 01 Samford Univt.. iry for
I~l;""',
Glib ... E. John"o •• Sr. WII .n aoliv. UI.mb .. 01 ,h. ... Ollhl. C,ly and Iho Sla'. of Alab,rn, and d'jII.,.d ,ni,lir, May 11.
Il~RF.AS.
hll I.mily ""
_ D. Ridlanl _ ..... Pn.... nl JoI"'ilo liar A..oela,1on
....so ...noty 01 "'"'It.... _
inlothoArmyin
W< "",u.n w,1k
01 II·,"""" f. Gr«!m. S•.• _ .... _ Iht """""Y of our frimd ..... leilaw ..... mbo. who ... mpl,fitd Ikr<>lqlhou' ~
""!!Ion)"
yo ... A man
oN.rx'" in his """"lor "'1)"
now l. for"" Gum~. which _ .,,,nlly .dwtd os I .,.,.,.;.. umt from. his rot"" h,m about. ", illh".,.,'>ood OC<lu>'nlO"". Now. ,,,... for •. bo II fuMe. rnoIvtd by tho mtmbt .. o(tht _l< I'\ar ~
w"
IS Y"'" n. pa .. ~r ..,den' of Bmninatoam (oonll)" Club, Tho CI..,. R.d· " ..... Club and \\11 .... Point (<>unll)" CI.." 0. ..
WIIUEAS. Cilbert
~ by h"
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Jobn""" is 'u'-
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"oulnl" Kalh""n. J. !'Iyall; and In"" ION. G,lbo" E Job..,,,,,. J••. M",iII E. Jo/InoI"" ..... ClaW. Eo.lolon>ton.
........
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Please Help Us The Alu60mo Wlrll""
·M~rno,ials·
"ction i$ ~Ji~ to prwi~ ""'mbers
01 tho! b.l.r with inform.l.tion about the <k~th of thoir collu3uts. Tht AIW· IN Slate &or mil the Edilorial Bol.n:I hive no WlIy of knowing ..men one of l'f notified. PIuK lake the Ii"", to proYidt lIS with th» inlomWion. If you wM to write $OITIfthilli Ibout the individwJ'J life and prolessionlll iCOOmplillhmenu for publiation in the rmguirw. pIus.e limit your tonlRlmU 10 250 WOfds MId Hnd lIS a picture if poiSiblf. Wf rtsf1Yf tho! right 10 edil all inform.l.lion submitted for tho! ·M~morW$· Hdion. PIf_ ""nd notiflC.l.tion ~tion 10 the foIlowilli
our membeB ill dece.ued unless ...,.
.ddreu: .'It . .... ret L. Mu.,.h~, TM It/"km. lA""rr. P.O. BOJ 4 156 . .'lt on t.om~ry. AL 36101
S~:I'1"EMBER
19S4 / 32 t
Douglas w. Stockham, III EREAS. Dou"I .. W. Slockham III. l momb<' ol.lho Birml""ham 11>, 4wcialion .. r.,. 1m. dltd allho of ~S, ond. WH£RE'.AS. Dougl .. W. Sloc~h.m II! IoId mn. mtmb<r ollh. Aiah.onu SlOt. Bar .irK< 1982: ond WIIERE'.AS. Dougl .. W. Stoc~h.m 1l! ~... a gradual< oi In<.." Sp,ingo S<;hool.
W: oao
Gabrielle U. Wehl
W
M.di,on ComlY a... Ao.socia-
tioo """" togetho, to II'Y tribute 10 GoItridI! U~ W<h l. "ho ~ ... d .w.y on April 9. 1994; and.
WnF.REAS. C'Dd,lIo Urb.no"i<. Woh l w•• born In Syracwt. N<w York. ond .... OOtd coriell< at S..... I Briar Colltg.. ond!1tt Un i.... "iry of Aiab3m> Schooi of I.lw On T~ AIobo· m.o. grWu.>ti"l1 with . Juri> Doclor ~,...;
--
NlmiiUd, 1956
lMd: luly 13,
I~
Charlu IlOUIlon B.. umonl 8;",,~
Mmill<rJ: IS« ~: !4>clt 19'9l
Lind.Qy Clajo Callaham. Jr. IIi!,."""... NlmIit<rJ: 1m lMd: J.ot II, 199-1
w.,.
our «>Uoagu. "ho "rve<J 0"' p,ofo .. ion ond community ", II.
NOW. TIIERH·ORP.. IT IS IlE RP.BY RF.SOLVEI) by tit< ElItcu"", Committ .. 01 tit< Birmingham II>r "'"""'''tion. thai thi> "lOlution be .prtad upon the minute.< oi this """mill« and 11011 copit> thenof be ..nt to hn """. Doog~ W, Stod.lum IV ;rrtd It'v.·i. Stockham, _ 11111.... N. cr..-Ir Pr<.ld",t IIlnnlnl"'o< 11>, " uO<iot;on
WIIEREAS. ~" wi'" to "'p .... our d.e<p .. ",.d i.r Douglas W. Stockh.m III and
><!mineO 10 tl>< Aiabom> Sl.>l< 11>. inI9n:and, WIlf.REAS. Cobri'lie Urbo""",iOJ Wohl on.·y .. , clerhhip with Cirouil luJS< John o..id 5"<><4/ ..... in M.dilO" c.;..,nlY. Aiab3m>; "...-..1 ... ,t.>fI .ttorn<)' with the l.<g.1 Aid Society of Mobilo; .nJ ",th the Legal Strvkn ~ of AIah.o. m>. In Mobile. Alobomo:;rrtd pr><tic<d ",th the firm of 11<11. Riclolrdson & S~ in l1U11lMlle. MO<li"", CounlY. AIob.trN.. unUi _i"l1 lhe posit"'" of il<ner>l C<l<I!\i<l lor DP Aoooc i..... wilh o(Iic .. in lIunlOvillo , M><Ii>on CourtlY ............... "t.ich posil .... "" ... 1<1 .. tit< tim< of ..., dt.alll; ond. WIII:REAS. Gob,i.lI. IJrbo.,."..i" 11'0 , 1 nt.hli,h,d. ropuI .. ion ••• perlOn of integrity ;rrtd di$nity. ;rrtd dioti"l1uW>ed her..1f in all _ of """"'UI1ity and pro/u-
"rved.
C",,;I Max"'lllllkason
sion.t IiI<; ;rrtd .vned the r<>p<c! of her 1,1· ro..~,.;rrtd all ",tJO knew her.;rrtd
1I11ERl'AS. Gabrielle
IJ~
lI',h l ;,
",rvivtd by her husband. Ma"-;n /, lI"hl. Ir.. ""mbe, 01 our b.lr. ;rrtd • >On, Man.inl. Wehl.llI. ~""""j'O."I": and. WlIE~EAS. G3hri.lI. Urtrln""';<t Wohl and re.<;ItCled fnenJ. ;rrtd "'" a d"'inguilhed ot;.." of tIIi. community. and it i> in gr.rl<'ful ""''''''''' ;rrtd _ialion 01 h<f <oo,rib<Jtion> to thi> communit~. 10 he, profwion. ond to thl> >ssoc .. tion lit>l th~ rt>O!uhon ;, adopted.
• ".f'«\td
""'. val"""
D.S""""".
-JolIn P-midtnl H.nu.illh'l><!i ..... County Bar AuociO!;on
Honce E,~relt earth. III
Jamu Runell M.cElroy
Bffm~
Adnrili"" I9JO
Hom'..,;i~
lMd:luly8, 19'Il
N/mi,/#tt 1!I'll
Nlnti,/#tt 1\15(1 Di<d: M>tclt 17, 1991
lMd: IW>t 2S, 19'Il
Richanl o....n Fanl. Jr.
-~ Mm;rlni: 1948 Died: July 1O.19'Il
-
lIarry Whilehead Gamble. Sr. Mm;rl<d: 1m ~:
July 19. 19'9l
Robfrt E. (),rttr 11m'''"""",",
,..,illon Guy eam:1t
Mm#ltd: 1968 o;,,;tMordt3Ol.1994
N/mi"«/: 1961
322 1 SEPTEMBER 1994
our ~oIouncr .."" 011 ... in lit. fW'lng oi
~.
;rrtd "'...
HfRl'AS. II>< Hun".iir,·
./Of;' G. Bamard
tit< Unw.","y of Ari..".,.. ond tit< Birming. twn Scltool of Law: IDIi. WIIER~AS. Dougl • • W. Stoc klum III u.ed h i. l.g.1 . km. a• • n <mploy" 01 Alabanu P...~, Comp,any . n" hi, ><Imi,· ,ioo 10 II>< bo~ ancr. WtlF,RF.AS. Dougl .. W. Slocl< ham III m.ml><' 01 fim Uniltd M<lhodi.t Churoh. Sy"""u",. AJab>m.&: and. WHERUS. Dougl .. W. Siockh.m III "'.. fruly of hi, time to hi. <ommunily;
IJirm~
lMd: !4>clt 28, 1994
Juli.. HUI!» Griswold Cn,.",.,.. Mmitlt"ilo 19U
Dti<d:lune 16.1994
William Cannon Irby. Jr .
Bffm"'?f>am
--
War-rrn S . Reu e. J r . Nlntilit"ilo 1'129 D'.Uu".21.1~
Willillm "1nfred Walson
IM/il:.
,~Nlnti,/#tt 1!I5O
Nlmilttd; 19017
Died: June 5. 19'9l
lMd:!4>clt 16. 19'9l
Charles Mitcheliliidd .111tm1oJ. ~ Mmilietl: 1962 DioIt. June 9. 19'9l
-
lIm;'min I..a"",n« Wuson Mmitlt"ilo 1949 DW';Mo,cIII8,199-I
THE A1AIlA."IA LAWYER
CLASSIFIED NOTICES AATES: Memb Ira: 2 free listoogs ot SO WOfds (It Ie$S pel' 1Hi, member per caIendat' year EXCEPT lor "positl()tl wanted' ()("posItIOn oIfered" listongs - $35 per insenJon 01 SO WOfds Of less, $.50 per additJonal word; Nonme. . . .rs: $3S per inSeftoon ot 50 words Of less, $.50 per add~iOI\IIl word Classified COpy and payment must be received IICCOfding to the 101l0wlnO publishing schedule , Sept . mb,.. '94 i ..... - deadline July 31, 1994, Nov.m"~ '94 ' . .110 deadline Seplember 30, 1994: no deadline extenslone wiH be made Send classif ied copy and payment payable 10 The Alatwna La..,..er. to' Alabama
LII~
Classilieds, c/o Margaret
Murplly, P,O. 60K 4156, Montgomery . Alabama 36101
FOR SALE
,,.t.
• LAW8OOKS: WIIIm S. HIin & Co. Inc., ..,...;ng .. ~ c;:orrYrII,JIIIlDr ..- 60 W, buy . ..... app< ...... lawboo.... S.nd wlnt li.t. to : Fa. (716) 88:).S595 (It phone 1«l().828-7571 .
.,..rs.
• LAW8OOKS, Save 50 I*C*1t on ycu \jI1'I'booQ.
c.JI
N!IbOf\fII law AlISO'''',.,.
"m"ica'. 1.,Ou, lawbook. dealer . Huge ;"..,..,tont.. Lowe.1 priaI •. E:cceIIeoI qualil)l. Satislacdon O_anleed. can La to ~II your ", • ..-ded books. Need lhelving? We Nil ne .., brand name,
.tH' and wOOd IlMlving .t discount pr;.;.•.
F,"
• LAWBOOKS: The ~ EJ<Change. lid. buys and ...... Iawbooks. and '«Ietll . ""t"", ..Ide. FOf a n ""'"" 1a.1loD!o ...ciI. phone 1-800-422· 668&. MwIfCan:I. VISA and American
quotn. 1·Il00-279·1199.
National lew ReIoI.o'oI. • LAWBOOKS : -""1IiQhd\I dam-oed IIIwboob lot sale Irom Alabama COmm8fClal1blnkruptcy/ p!ainliff li, m. 0. . . ., ~ .. 011993. ~ Mho HetIrigan _ '205) 933·9207.
LAWBOOKS: 5upnme Coun Reports.
volym,. ' ·70: 72·75: 89 ·1098: 110· 1118 In11"m , dltlonl: 127 volYmes. S 1.500. 50.2<:1 S.rill , volumls 1·132 with len ~ volumes, S6OO. Phone Myron AlIIn$tltit1 _ (205) S4&-6314. CODE: CompIeII up-IO-Oale SII 8MOtated Ct>tM of "UrNm• . 1975. $300.
........
PhonI (205) 543· 2435 . aM:
Lalh~m
LAWBooKS , Complill law library. E.CllIlnl condnion. W,II up a ,a,. . Ala . Dlglll; Ala. App. R,p.: AI• . Rapo<ll: Ala . RI9O""; ,f.mJy, Trial.; POf 111. 2nd l 3n:I: lIogaI Forms: Ala. CodH: &>.pardi. All up 10 data. Contact Don Ha'deman, CY llm~n, at (205) 739-0087.
THE AI.ABAMA U\WYER
~
"'*'
......,
• OFFICE SPACE : Dcwnlown Binning· ham. Two oIfion fronting "" 20th Street. NortI\ (Birmingham G,een). plus secre· la,ill ol!q and , 1Oflgl . Receplionist. oopiet and I.,. m&eI*>& available. Ideal for a~ in privall po-actice. Call (205) 328-7240 for~tiorL • LAKE CA BIN : '--'" Maron cabin. On point WillI loll of p<WICJ'. WiIh Ituge dod<. grN! ...... . . . . .. perfad for 1ImIy. UIy ~ CATV • ..",... Iif. Phone (205) 857·2251 or ,205) 857-2653. • OFFICE SPACE : Bllutilul , newly ~ suota of IWO oIfioes Iocared wiIhin 1·2 mInuIaI of MoroIgotne<y CoI.nry Counho\<H. Pt<11Ct tor so~ practi· tionII. Complliti ... !Im'IS .... neootiabIe cal (205)265-2002 lor inlormation. OFFICE SPACE : AmSoUlh/Ha.bert Plaza. Bitmil'lgham. lUbiaaH QPIX)Itu. "'ry. Exqullota 5.55-4 ~a f.... l. 28th 1IoOt. thougItI!uty pIanneG with conle<· a...:a. lib,ary a""; .I~ eO,"I. offices.
V_ 10 ",. lUI. ....., _ partonII inspacIIon cal
~
with \he U.S. Govern-
ment. 0IhIr pubIitIprivar.
~
in
Waa/WIg ...... D.C. thtougho\<t tha U.S. a""; abroad. 500-600 MOw jobs each issue. $)110< .... ~; $58 10< $<II """""" f'tdIraI Aepons. 1010 Vennotlt AVl1lul. NW • •• 08· ... B. Wash'ngton,
D.C. 20005. Phona (202) 393·331 1. VISA arw:l MastarCanj ~ed.
FOR RENT
a
Iaw·,lIaled
W8Sl. FOf ~
a...... or
C.nly Gilben .t (205) 252·6999. J.H. Barry & MoIIon Properly Company. n:..
POSITIONS OFFERED "'TTORNEY JOBS : National and Feder· al EmpIoymen! Repo't Highly ,egarded monthty dIlI11<Id li.t ..... of o""""'Y and
SERVICES EXPERT CONSULT...NT: CI\iId ilbus.e conau!lal1t with • .,ens"'l ;,wast;gariva
.nd cu. Up"lenea eUffeoUy Imployed at . tat. I•• al will p,ovide
e". ",I,"",:, a"";lo. edo.>calionll
progr ...... In ilbuH ..... 01 Factiloous D,.o,d" lIy P.o.y . Munch.useo IIJI Pro.y Syndrome, and "".ual abuM. Non-G.orgil CUll only. Reasonable'. Re!to_OCI&. l.aui$a J. Last.. P.O. Bo. 737. Cony&f'l. Georgia 30207. Phone
l.o.) 785-7&08. • PARALEGALS : A11.ntlon ~ttorney s end perwnnll dirllCWS. The National Academy 10. Pllilagi l Stud ies ha s qU llillld p""egal, In you. IOCII I.ea , udy tor amploymen t in la w officn and corporal""". Out paralegal orldu.l" ar. tr&inIId .. a"OIS of law. IUCh II larriIy, ... estate. _ . oirninil. ~I. arw:l corporaM 1IIw. Student *"~. ~ no tan tor IhIsa SMVIon. For.tditiOtlaf inIormabOt1. caltha "",*, • • Office at 1-8O().285-~25 . a.or. 30011 .
........ ...
...
PROFESSION"'L LEG"'L INVESTIG ... • TOR : l.Ic:enMd and _ . Spociab1"11 In IInlnclll and le<:Yritl" .alated ....... e lOten,iv, e'pe ri'lICe In wllile coria, InvtlligatiO<1. Ind caSi prepara.
SEPTEMBER 1994 ' 323
tOn lot trial. For cornidenl'-! DOIIIUftJo·
1131"lIadaral cou'l' 01 "'Iabama . Fo,oer, . alt"ltlonl and documenl authenticity "xamInIIlic:>rII. Crimlnal and non-<:rimlnal man&fl, ~ Acade· my 01 Fo"n,l" SCI,nc". "'ma,;can EIo.ard 01 FOfIf'IIic 00c:u"""1 ExaminIrs. American SocMt, 01 Ou<ISlionotd Docum.nl bamln.... Lama, Miller. 3325 loma Road • .:!·316, P .O. 80_ 360999. 1IotmingNom. Alabama 352360999. PI'oone (206) 1illlJ8-41S8.
tiona or copy of C.V. and ,.I."no,,,. ~ Wyman 0. H9gins at (206) 2M8892 or P.O. Box 21 t071, MomgQI'MrY. Alabama 36121. • DOCUMENT EXAMINER : ~ 01 Que.tioned Docum.nt •. Ceflitled Fo,.",1e: Ha_~ing and DocufMnl EurrWIII. T~._ Jfif1 ,~. ..-a in allorensic _ pootller'lI. Formefly. CNet 0ue$1ioned Doc:umem AnaIyIl, US ... CrinWIaIlnvestiQation t..bor-,coritl. Di""""ale (ctlfl~ied)-antilh FSS. Diplomat" (ctlflill"d)_AElFDE. MIn'tIer. ASODE; IAJ; SA.FOE: NACOl. R•• um. and Ie. sch.dul. upon ~. ~ Iby9f Gidion. 218 Merrymont Drive. Augusla. Geor;iII 30907. ~(70(1)
FORENSI C OOCUMENT EXAMINA· TlON : Handw, ltlno. typew'il lnO. ake,ud documents. C~mlnal and civil mattefl. Mudi<:al ,ecords. wills. can· tracts. dHda. c:I'oecQ, anonymous Iel· 18'5. Court qual,lIad. Thlrt, year l co"'biroed ABFDE 0IIf1Ii0Id. Membe,.. Am"ican Acad.my 01 For.nlic ScI.nc.. Am e,kan Society 01 Ouestior oed 00c:urn<InI &amin&r$. In~ AMociation lor !denti1lc:aUon. Ca,ne, & Nelson Forensic Docum.nt labo,ato,y, 5855 Jimmy Cartillf Boul,v'rd, Norc,os. (Atlanta), G«>rg;. 30071. Phone (404) 416-7690.
'>4*."".
861).4267.
,,,",ell
, LEG ... L RESE ... RCH : L"'SIII help. Exper i,"ced attorney. mernIleo 01 Alabama Sta1e Ba, ~ l\1n. -'ccew 10) _ l aw Iibary. WESTlAW available. P,ompt dudlin. lurch... S ..ah Kathryn Fa,n"n . 112 Moor, Building . MonI\lO'fllfY. Alabama 3fi\o.. PhoM (20S) 2n-7i37. No ''-1.11'''''' ~ me. that 1M quality 01 1M 1eOaI-· .... .to ". ptJrlormed. grNIer "., file quttlity 0I1<1QaJ SIIfVico perfotm«I by
-"'..,......
• DOC UMENT EXAMINER : c"ml,d Foren llc: Documenl Examln" . Chl" documenl . xaminer, Alabllma [)e.part· ment 01 Forensic Sdences. ,,,",,, B.S.• M.S . <>O-......t•• unive<sity·baHd ,HI· dint Id>ool In dor:umenl .......liDn. Publill\ed nat,onall, and inl"nally . Eight"n year. Ifial •• p.,lanc.
• AUDIO TAPE EXPERT: EnhM"""." ~ ....iyIII and In., 11v.· lien 01 aucIirI ancI1ape-f<IIaIed ma!t&f1o. T-"Y yeatS ",0" .ionIoI aucIirIex;>lll...,........... GriIIin, Fcr.nsic: T~ s.. vic",. 518 E . C.pll01 5111111. '4 10. Jackson, lAillinlppi3920t. Phon, I · 800-TAPE·SERV. Fax (601) 353-7217.
TU.EI'lIOSE
EXPERT WITNESS: T,u$1 wilnns. Forty pan InIIl ft'IUIIl:oiIIio 00IIr tori<. " - m&IIIgIW. trusI division. Contact low.tl F. Steph.n •. LLB., (601) ~3305. No '.... u· bI is madoIlIhIrt til qualIy oIlefp1 _ .
loper."".
FACSIMILE (lOSI .H 6-ll\6
(!WIJIS·9tH
ANNA LEE GIATT INA AJ"TOO;<!"· ~01 ~ &A.lw.ct JIl!1
_1IodJq.
Annol«c--. • .c. M.pdoo CoII>o. ""'" s.-11S·ltlla.-.m ... ....-Soo..h
no.
... ._.-'.__. _... __ ........_'''''' _. . _ ~~JSIO!l
.........".
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324 1 SEf'TEMBER 199-1
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/he quali!y of I<!g'" ~J perlormId by OIMrIa..,.....
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