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ALABAMA STATE BAR
_
....LEXIS"·f'.EXIS" ..-.-
""".""" ADVANTAGE FOR SMAil. LAW FIRMS
TheAlabama On Iht Co,~r The c&m photograph features 1991·98Ahbarn11 State Bar Pruidenl S. Dagnal (Oag) Rowe and hia famity allhcir home in Iluntsvillt. From Id\ to right auo:!aughkr Ami. IRa. wik Melissa. and son D;rg. Jr, Mr. Rowe ~ in Huntsville with the finn of BurT " Fonnan UP.
IN THIS ISSUE THE FII!ST A"iNUAL VANCE CuP TEE-Off': AtABAH>\ VS. GOORGIA .........................•......279
or THE
CMLLAN REPRESENTATION
MIUTARY CUEr.'T By Mkhatl A. Kirtland ..........................•... , .. ,288
WHAT EvERY lAWYER SHOUUl Kriow ABOUT RW'flRMATlON AND REOEMP'TlON IN CIW'TER 7 BANKRUPTCY CAsES By M. OOnald Oavis. Jr..•..••.•...•..•..••..••••••• , ••••• 296
QUAUFlEO IMMUNITY AND ITS E\'OUJnON IN TI-lE ELI:."VEtml CIRCUIT By Lisa Huggins ...........•......•......... , ••• , •• ". ,300
NEW
L\w OFFICE H ANACEMENT
AssiSTANCE PRocRA."I DIRECTOR: LAURA A. CAI,WWAY .......................•..••.•. 306 ~ .. -
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ALABAMA STATI BARONLINE ............................................... www.• 'abar.org
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PRESIDENT'S PAGE
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n llCUPting this gavtl from Warren must fiB! ackoo.,lcdge "i!h humili!)' my gl1l.Utudt for the honor you have bestowed on me ~ my pride in having this O!lJIOI1uniry to 5e!\'t this hon· orabIt pn;it$5iOn and our stat~ biro In xaptine this ~lity, I am minl.tl'ul thai I stand on the shoul&n of my 12(1 .. (\10. usan in this o/Iice ..too worked mi#ltiIy and ~ nu:fl lor !his IlI'Ofwion aOO for our bar. I abo lUIiR tNllIespiu Ihci6e dIorts,lhtR remain darmirog trmds in our profwion
I UgIllioot, r
Unity, Professionalism, Service TM foIhrlng ITmIlrlts _1hI;~ bIJ /Joe 1991-98A1d..... SI4~ &r I'mlikrtt. 0.., /lotty, ... Jut, 19 during 1M _IMI ...mi", .. Crmth eo..-.tic>It, I'k L«I oF MoIJIk "'" ..... finn.tdu 1M 1991-98 ,tJI~.,..,.prrs;.
-.....
no " . " ... , . ' " '
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and mudI to br done. The challenges we faa om not ntw. Indttd, it is thrir chronic and setmingty intJ'K"Ubl.r notu", thai is partic:IJ brl)' i lanni iii-
Iu we
1000~tMr sllarl this ~r. I wou ld li ke
life of 0\1.
yea. in the to share with
you some of my reflecliQru and plans. Pint, I bel~ it is critical that tho trrnd \l.IWlrd bctioniWion d this bar be ~ Thethtmeolthis~
mttt·
iog has been "Coming Horn. to Monlgomrry," 'n tilt bro;drr >mS< of our nmI to uni{y tht bar, ;an appoO!:. iak thtmr and tilt ~ ~ miifII br ~ Home 10 tht Ab/wrwI Stale IW'; I ~ you to join in our nJoru and ~ to iNun tNl thisbar_aIl its "otlllb~1'$: pWnti/fs 1.l>I'Yft'S and defmst ~ male ""ym and female la¥o)'t'rJ. white ~rs and black m..)'I'fS. city Ia\o.ytl'und "country" I<Iwyers. big finn ~ and solo Iawyns. There is i place at the t.abIt for us ill. I ruliu thai we c;annot a<kq ...... te!y rep~nl 01' Hrvt this dive .... "",rnbn· >hip if "''I JIl' not iWilU 0( OUr membrrs' prdl'$$~1 nmIs and coroa:ms. Consequtntly. lIS I t~1 Uw: Rate this yur lind visit ioaol bat$. I pIlOn to spmd IS much time lilltni"lllll I do Wlcing. This input from OUT mombers will boo c.itiQ IIo our succas. so I encourage )'OIl to communicate lind participate. I'TU\(H II" ••. who WIIS president 01 this body in 1950. wrote that the bu ....'II.k 01
.-Ior
OUT profession ;. not Uw: small group of iu publicized lullers. but the rank and m. momberJ ......·ho speak up and pilch in." 11l.iot oI»crv~tion h>$ ne'loer txtn truer lhan it is today. This probltm 01 /actionitatioo 01 OUT profusion is rtbttd 10 ~ ~td by " troubling dtdint in ~iwl and eMlity M'IlOIlII our "'.IIms. Some hiwt ... INI. the loss d eMlity by ~)'tTS is sirlll'J/)' M'I inunpob4t ~ of II aenmI dtdint d civility in our .sociny. Whilt ~ is undtn~ \coo eMlily in sporu. in x:hoob, in the streets ~ in ~ !hot is no UCUK lor boorish bthaooior in this ~ Our profa.sioo is one that WolIIfounded on principle.\ of roIlegiality. courtHyand profwionalism. Some would aJiut that !hue Irt ouldated notions from days, gone by and that ualous a£M). ClIC}' and IUCCf:I$ in tho mark~ ffqUil't l>irtd guns....tlosot prartju is dIU· actfriztd by intimidation. Mstility. ;obra. sMntss. c:onfnlnbtion. ~ bullying. To theo,llltwy.
~~~short·
si;udnl counI~ to the -pnr.ctitioom" ...too 051: them nI tnhara Iht ~of~lII ruthIus pmsitf:l pn;J6tq by the miWrtunt d the public. W. 1II1 rtCOgnix tilt trmd, but what WI ...... do iIbout it? Iv. an individual. r
urge )'OIl to be 1I role modtl and a mentor. t iUf!lleSl th:rt ...... o,lIltinually ask our· Rives: Is my actioo too>ething 01 wllich 1 ('.VI be proud III the end of the day? What W(lU1d IT\)' opouit and children think? Can it stand the light of day? As I bu. wt Moe adoptrd lind Rnt 10 the iUpmnot court for ;IS ~roval Rulr 910 the MCLE RulH "'nich ",ill UqU;re new admiUfH to IlIke II one·time, mandatory l is·hour COUrK in profes.. liooIlis.m within _ )'Ifll' of lIdmitlance. Also ....... lire studyi"llll mvltor program Ihrougtllhe joint . fforts of the Slat. bar and the Young uwyon' Section, In Ih. meantim ......-e will .. k
~r)'
local !!.Jr to lPOIUOI' at lust ont prOl/:ram each )"Ou on prdlWionaliml a.nd civility. This brukdown 0( civility is just one ~t of tho: broIdtr deterioration of professionalism. II reant ARA rtpOrt 0( a threr.-)'tar study of professioNlism cites.., a TOOl. GlUM the wioJesprUIJ ptf«plion that «onomk dm"Iands interftu with our dtYotion to tho: t..Jitioml idub of integrity. CO!I"lI)t"Imct, indtptndtnct and deYoIion to public ",Met. In this vtin. as Judge Billll<:lwfn once uill:
'"No one can den)' tNt JOmt Ja-..-ytrs are IOOWJd mon: tJ., oonsidtr.llion O(bw.d iIIld butter than right and ~ wi tmt thty ser.rn to be mort ~ r to have their namu in the newspaper than on SI. Peter"s ron. They constilUlf 11 SITI1lI1 ptrcffiLljlt 0( all the mtmbtn of the bIIr, but likt bbdc ~ in ~ Rock. thty are \/try ~ While it is not IruI: 0( law»trs. _ 0( IIPJ'It$. tNt 11 single one in 11 !!.J~I can spoit lItl tho: mI, one can ntvtrthtltss giYot a bad odor 10 the
coIImivt repWlion.. AI tht reant EIewnIh Circuit Judicial CorItm1CIe. GoorgilI Chid" .IusIitt ROOm IltnNm oI:6trved tNt woe _ proItuionab _ n.tividwIs au 100 irM:Wed in bilLab1r hours _ 100 tittle irM:Wed in buikliAi bo'~1' bo~ in our farnilifs, in OIlr II"> fwion wi in OIl. OlItUl"U1ities. We need 10 set the monI tone KIT OIlr OIJIT\IOO/lities.lIIPiring rr.iI to mud"> to be president of tht D.lIJntry dub. but rather 10 be pres;dmt of tho: helIrt lUnd. As
Khoot I[I1Iduolion: "'Time is not just 5Omtthlna)'Oll bill. but something )'OIl~; [ ..... n«d tollllilce It for oursdvtS lind make it for others.·
Matt.htw Klaner said 1II NY\J"s rectnt
~
EKh of us is--« ohould I>E-troubltd by tho: public ptrctption of our profession. We Set. it in the mtdi.l...... hear II 00 the stud ond ..... tvtn tnduu it (rom our fritntk. Three yQrs ICO. Spud SuIt SOltwytd the b,l,r <;Ommi$$iOOl'fS, the presi. dents of the local !!.In. OUr commlltHand wk foro: chairs, lind the past·presidentJ of this !!.Jr. Ovtrwhtlmlngly. they ir>diGlIM thaI the InO$t Important issue facing tilt bIIr is the image of ou r profession. I don't betl~ 1m! COIlctm is any tess today. The proptr rt 5ponst to Imt concem is not handringing. piSSive resignation. or apology. Former ARA President George Bushnell uid it Juccinclty: ""The best way. the only WlIY. to improvt our I~ is w wII11inaly oI:IYious tNt ..... oI'Itn eMrlook II. You must it"'" the public...The priority 01. this profession IIMys and prinwily has IIftn one 0( $t~ to «11m without thinlci .... of oursetvtl. . .And tlw is oot tilt responsibility of justlthis] !!.J., il is the obI;~lion of evtf)'
'-ror."
Those will be the tOOnes for the comina yQr---4inily, Pro/eqionall.<m ~ Service. I m)'Oll oow 10 Join TM (and join)'Ollr !!.Jr) in tNt effort.
C umberland School of Law of Samford U niversity Continuing Legal Education Sep'mnber - December 1997 Seminar Schedule Septem be r
O clober
November
December
Develop .... entl and Trends in Hulth Can Law 1991 - Birmingham 19 Insuran et L1w Upd .. te iUld T~nds - Birmingham Lawyering Skills 101 - Birmingham 26 8th Annual Bankruptcy L1w Sem in .... - Birmingham 3 Eviden ce L1w ft tltllrillg 1ltooours A MII ..d · Birmingham \0 Essenti als of Elder Law Practice- Binningha m \7 24 Medic.. 1 MalpriClice Upd ate - Birmingham Civi l Procedure/Appellate I't .. ctice Semm;u- - Birm ingham 3\ 11th An nual Workers' Co mp ensation Semin;u- - Birmingham 7 Litigaling the Class Acti on Lawsult . Birmingham 14 The Art of Effective Spu klng for Lawyers f ellt .. ri"g S tel1~" D. 2\ S tllrk - Birmingha m Rfi:e nl Develop men ts for the Civil Lilig;atOl - Mobi le 5 Emerging Trends in Civil Liability - Birmingham 5 C\II1"entlssu" In E.... p loym ent L1w - Birmingham \\ Scimlific Evi de nce · Birmingham 30-3 \ C LE By The H our · Birmi ngham
12
\,
For spocific in/onnalion.oout any ... minar wrile Cumberland Cl.E, '" call870-2:l91 ... 1-800-888-7454. Samford
'1
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'M'
>O f
E XECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT By Keilh 8. /lorman
www .•'ab ••. o rg-A Hit!
The Alabama Stat. Bar home~ continues to undergo changes, ....i!h impYO'JI'rn¢nts being mad~ daily to malee the ",,,bsite rrH)" user friendly and pI"<). vide more information. Our goal is to
POTPOURRI
maintain a convenient site for you to ~cce$S useful information. We are receiving nUffiI'rQtI$ favorable comments iIbout the homepag., (rom many of you and also from members of the public, both inside and outside Alabama. tn Qne !.eVI'n-day period in July, our web >trw. recorded a total 0(9,880 successful hits Or an m~rage of 1.411 hits per day. Of the identifiable hilS. ntarTy 4 percrnt _TO from oulside the
United StattS. The identifiable hits from within the U.S. indicated that web bro-.'sers from the state of Virginia
accessed our homepage the most. foll(lI<w by br<M'serl from the states of Alabama and GMrgia, . rsproi""ly. W. will continue to improve the bar', homepage. As "" do, we hope that you will help us grow with this new information tool by giving us your suggeshom ~nd C<)mmenl$. It'. N •
.,e~
Too Early To Think
About Retirement
The American Bar Association Members Retirement Program i5 worth coruidering if )'OIl are looking for a retirement plan. EstAblished mou than 30 yean agG. the program·s gool has cGlUislenlll' been \0 help law firms. both largo: and small. estAblish and 1YI/Iintain retirement plam. 11wc program offers multiple iRS p....... pprowd plans (""". sioo. target benefil, TTIOIIe)' purchase. profit·sharing. 401(k)). in"",tment options. and fiduciary and participant
~--
.. rvic ... as "",n as consulting and administrative services that make it very easy and OO$t~ffective for the finn to offor a comprehensi,,, retirement plan. The program is available to 2IfIl' finn that employs at least Gne partner Gr shareholder who i5 a member or associate of the ABA or of a stat. or local bar lW.lCiatiM that is repre.. nted in the ABA·. Hoose of Delegates. Presently. the ABA Program has 52 plans from Alabama. invo!\Jing 623 par· tkipanu with more than $J2.{)()O,OOO invested. Contact the program administrator. State Street Bank and Trust Companji, at 1-800-826-8901 for more information. Lega' Services Corporation Still Facing Uncertainty In July. the House Appropriations Su!>oommitte. on Commerce. J~tict. and State. and the Judiciary and Rel.ted Agendes include\! only S141 million for Ltgal SeNk.s Corporation in its version of the appropriations bill for fiSC/iI )'I'ar 1998. By comparison. LSC received $283 million in 1997. The Senate AppropriatiGIU Committee accepted without debate the recommendation that LSC receive $300 million for fiSC/iI ~r
1998.
The Hou .. subcommittee '""port COm" despite the fact that LSC has labored under the restrictions imposed Ol!er the IMt K'J('ral ~rs limiting the type< of civil C.ue$ which LSC offices acTOS> the nation can handle. During the IMt session of Congru,;, a bi·partisan offort sa.-ed LSC from being dismantled. The fight still continues. Unfortunatel~. some in Congress believe that if LSC funding is abolishe\!. the
private bar C'Qn and should handl. the hllndrfds 0( thowands
Why 6,000
0( civil C<l5eS lor 011' ~I cilium. While wt aU doing more
in lighl of 11K l~telt round of budgtl cul4 for I.SC. tht priv3t e bilr alone cam>Ol har>dle thil tr\Ol'mOllS burdtn. I ~ that )'OIl will let )'OIlr congmsioml rtpresml."IIM: know the imporWl« of conlinued ftde",1 funding for Itgll strvicn for OIlr poorest titiwfIJ. A$ • ~r. t hopr you will lpeak up for thost who can·t.
Lawyers use
Chap7••13
* &$I Typo:Sellool< in &nk",pcy Forms
.. Good s..",lce To know About Not long • • my ilSSQCUotion coIltogut. Robtrt B. Finl.,.. "KUIM: diTKtor <J the AlabarnI. State ~rs kooi:iation. callfd me to lell me aboul I leTViCf; that il offued II)' th.ir ilSSQCiation. He told fit that Ul result 01 having rtceM:d lTW"Iy ttltphone illlluioo UIO the availability 0( mired trooptrsior specw pro;eru. he his colltcttd • nUlTllxr <J biogl'llphies <J rell rtd trooptrs inltreslt<.! in special dd.lib III welt III full ·t ime employment. Th is servite il availabl. ~nd ImY bt of partieullo. int~rut to la~,.. 0 . law firms for such thines U ;ocCident I'tcOI1SI.ruction.lor Wimple. This stTViCf; il optn fo r rtqOHts from iIf1~U in AIlI:rolmiI with lroop« u tirtn locatfd Ihroughout the $Ute. If you art inttr..ttd, you ImY caJl tho AlaNfTIII State ~rs
11 F:I5Ie:st, f~ dw:>~
* "The only .sol"n.·,~ with buill-in lnwl/igl!lIIl/eip.
* AUI<>maIic: Pl,n Drafling. 54 cuOiom pLons 10 II;l1ls/'y , )I
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* Filing ch<!d:-Ibc:I. dtcnI q~lon.uJfe
* I-blrill-on-du.i< ,..,.wns (0< aU courts llul 13k/! Ihem.
OEMO DISK . REFElENCES MONEY lAO( GlJARANTtE
(ALL 800 BESH·13
Association at (334) 265-2782. They will stnd copin of the biographin (or lhe t'OQP(I"$ Ioattd in your lru. for)'Oll to «Yilw and to contact. If you haYI: Ml)' quationl, you fTIIIy llso \".Ill Robrrt Finlry. •
through proven t<"C~niquH fo r. • INking ~rslWlvfobjlfClions • ntabllshlng propo1" 1000nditions • recocnlzlllg and dnUnc wilh l\N,.,..y • usllIg lM 8 steps of ... ~rt ttSlirno~y. and • the 7 jmpNc~mtnl mtlhoo.
H....... w,,",1 .ttendees sa.1d about SIeve'. prestnl31!on In 1996: ""Stark"s sty.. and _ _ of humor kept my al1fnlkm!"' ~ Iit kepi Uw ,udltft« Involved, Ustd good el<lmpts 10 l\\lke points, and iHnthUJia~ aboul his 1Qpic. ~ "'One 01 tht besl stml .... rs I havf . ttended !"'
• Ullng Mautr. stnltgIH will Mlp)'Oll wtft the evidtnUary wusbdo ... and at trial
SPIce Is Umlltd ~nd this prognm:tiiU fill up FAST! Can Cumberl.nd Schoot ol .... w CLE all -1O(1.1811·7454 TODAY
Cumberland
'"' ----------------------------------------------------------' ..:01'0·::7.'::,:-
iii
ABOUT MEMBERS, AMONG FIRMS " 1OOn MytrJ anooullU5 thf. ~n_ ing of his off", It 317 20" Street.
North. Suitt 2](1. Binningtwn,l5203. Phont (205) 322-8684. Arthur T. Powell, III . foTJtWrly with Knizlry & P""'t ll, Innoun~J the opening of his office ~t 920 Dauphin Strnt. Mobile.~.
Tht mlIibng ;oddrt$$ is
P.O. JkD; 40456, 3fi6404456. I'Iloow (llot) m-aJIO. Richlrd W. ViCh," U\nou~. the •• Ioution of his office In 230 Beardtn
Road. Pel.... m, 35124. Phone (205) 664-699 1. 8r1h H. Gtrwia , formtrly with Chula Cbrk. mnourKU tht oponing 01 Iv. offk. lit lilt Brown
*'
Marx Tower. Suitt 403. 2000 First
A""nut, North. Birmingham. 35200. !'hone (205) 715-4445. Clydt 1>. Rlio. announce, /I ,,,",ngt of ;oddrcss 10 1516 Wytlb Dri,,". Cl,lnltuvil1t, 35976. I"hoo... (205) 582·8681. Jlmu P. Burford, III anOOUn«! tlw ...,Iocation of his affoc. 10 13 18 Alford AwnlK, Suite lO!. Birmingham. 15226.1'hone (2iJ5) 822-3433. An1~ E. Callimcm ~nces ~ c~ fA ilddre5.S to 1905 14"' Ave",,.. South. Birmingham. 35205. Phone (205) 930.9800. Charln C. Cnwford, IV. formerly with thr Aru ~ncy on Aging. ;anr1OUnces the optning fA his air..:. ~I tile ~l~ Offl« emter. 407 Fourth A~nue , sr. Decatur. 356(l1. Phone (2{l5) 355.s870.
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C»nlhla DorgU. MeMun. announcH llle Ulocalion fA her alrltt 10 809·82 ~nt Awn .... P.O. 801640. ~nt 365Z6.1'tIont (3J.4) 625-0880. Olano M. Port.... announc:ts tile ukr cation of IItr office 10 IIOS E.asll'ark Drive. Suitt 100, Birming/lam. 35235. Phone (2GS) 8J6..4821. I4lc:hwI G. Graffeo 0Ir"II'I(lUn0!:!he !do). cD:>n 01 his oIf"n 10 3800 CoIonnodo ~. Suitt 630. Birmingham. 3524l. I'Ilone (205) 96S-9100. Richard O. Clftr announces ~ dwl~ 0( address to 600 lucki. Drive, Suite 412. 8irmingNm,lS223.f'hIlIw (205) 991.&440. Arnold Charios Fmman lias rtllm.! from ildM dul}> as district attomoy 01 tho Sixth Judicial Circuit. Tuscaloosa. and ...;11be ser.ing ~ ~ district ~ as .-itd. His new addna is
338 RMrdIIt DriYe. TlrSQlnoP 35406. IIU Ir.unullu 11111
10000111457 JS IICnllnllS. lit. 1111 I'IlUWIAWlII""
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I'Ilone (205) 349-1252. Sydney Albert Smith . former!)' gen· eral coun~1 to the Alablo"", Boord 0( Pardons lOcI Paroles. ~r>CtS hi$ rdirrmtnt IS chid assist.1nt diotrict allOl'nf)' IOC' IIIe ~lfIh Judicial Circuit MIll pnmcutor for tile lwelfth Circuit Drug Thsk Forc •. His IKW addru.'! is
P.O.l)rawer 389. Elba, 36323. Phone (3).t) 897.3658.
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Jo ....than Croll. formerly with Pri"",e. Pook &: CT0!05.11as :KCttllN a
position with lilt TlIsal _ County Oil trict Att omey'l Offlte. Offices art located at 714 Grftnsboro A~nu •. 410 County Courthowe. T\I$ClIIooM, 35401· 189-1. Phone (20S) 349- 1252. E. I. u"PonI de Nt moun ComPln~ announcO$llut ~: ... Iyn II. SnnUt)' tw botcome asso.;iat. I/wual counsel for Debwau litigation. with o(ficn Iocaltd at 1007 Marlett Strft!. 0-7142. Wilmington, De"""ar. 19898. WalHn. r ns &: JimmtQOd anr1OUnc:es tlut C. Cugory Burtt" has become an asso.;i.t •. Offict . Jrt located 200 Clinton A\'tnut . Wut. Suite 800, Hunl.!ville.l58G4. The "",il· ing ~ress is P.O. 8oJ: 46- I'Ilone (2051 536-7423. Adeda1'O T. Agboola and Darryl Bend... announce the formation of Bender &; Agboola. Offices art located at 711 18" Str«!, North, Sirminghoam. 3520J..2207.1'Ilone (205) 322·2500. G~gory S. C.";",,,no. La..,. II. !(nn..... MkhHl L. Rob...u. l)a.,id A.. Klmberioy. and I'hllip E. Milu announce the for""'tion of Cu,lmano. Knnt<. RoIm1, & Kimberlty. OffICtS
m Ioaottd il 153 S. ~ Stlftt, Cadoden. 35901. Phont (21)5) 543-0400. Rushton. Slib ly, Johnston &: Garntt announc:es tllat Amy Vibbm Rowman has become .. member of the finn. Offocu are Iocattd at IS. Commerce Str«!. Montgomery. 36lo.t. Phone (334) 206-3100. IbnU & BI'OWII anroounctS that Nan<)' Itowen. furmtr statr altorney for Judgt; Roger Monro. 01 tho ALlbam/I Cou rt of CMI Appeals, has jointd thr firm IS ~ ¥1C'>CIaU 0IIi0es an 1ocatod aI. 200IM Sou~ Patkway. Sulk 520. Rinn~
3S2Q9.1'Ilone (205) 879-1200.
r . ...i5. W. rfoeld &: Kanaday
announcu that Kathni ... M. Thoml(lB hi.liointd the finn. O/flCft Ir~ Ioattd at SunTTmt Cmt ... "24 Church Strrd. s..it~ 1900, NHhvillt. Tonnus« 37219·2387. I'hone l615) 244·5200. While, Dunn & Booker announcts a ch.>.ngt 01 addrus to ZOO N. 21" Strttt. iI-W$ty Buildina. Suilo 600. Birmingham. l5203. Molion hwlulln.. of Birmingham announcu Ih.>.t Johlo .... It Man .. id' hi.I betn appoint~d to tht newly creat· ~d pOIit ion of "ict·pr~Jid~nt. human ruou rcu. and corporat~ couruol. Jdrrqo L Luther and Rulknt C. Okltnhu>1 announa the Jormlltion of Lulhrr &: O\dt.. buT1 and thai DanBY J. Colli..., Jr.. Michxl A. Mont«-ry and Iklly M. Tum.. h.>.ve become usociatu. OffictslTt locattd"
Rivtrview Plaza, Suite 609. 63 S. Royal Strttl. Mobil •. 36602. ~ mailing
ilddrtss is P.O. Boo! lOOJ. 36633. PI10ne 1334) OJ..868&. Md}a\id. NolIlid " \\'ul iIOIlllOUllCU thai Donald E. Eichn. III hu bm.>rm an usoc~tf. OlrlctJ art Iocattd at 1ht TruSlmark Building. Suitt 840, 248 E. Capitol St reet. Jacbon. Mississippi.
formIItion Ii. Donaldson" Culn. O/flCes II'~ Ioattd at The CII~ 1l00K, 1314 Cobb Lam. Birmingham. 35205. ~ (205) 933·5758. HIl .. bridl/t. Mions, Ro,en" Smith anOOUnets lhal Thorn.. Wt r1h T"hagard. III has btcomt I partner.
&: o.-tnllll", MId that Sltphtn A. Siriddand. C«i1H R. BuIlt, and J. Otftk 1)n>"lIlIn conlinue as usociales. D!fICU an! Ioaottd at 1905 14- Awnut. South. Hinningham. 3S205.l'hone 12(5) 930·9800. John T. Alley. Jr. and Jobn W. om,ft IIrt localtd al 600 IAlCk~ Orivt, """ ttn. ) •. Ii. the firm of AIIt,.!I1ht Wckit Building, Suitt "15. Wllon announu ~ cI_ 01 the oKlCt Birmingham. 35223. The mailing at 214 N. Prairie 511ft1, P.O. Boo! 5(106, ilddrw is P.O. Box S30886.35253. Union Stmngs. 36089. All comspon· Phone 12051879·1100. dtnc:e Ihould be mailtd 10 2941 Xtlda Eull Sha"'mugh. LLC. announces Road. Suite A. Montgomtry. 36106. that M. Slephen Dlmpie. and Krislin Phone 13J4) 279-3866. J. Wt.lpha' h.>.w btcomt USOCiales. Cal.... WoItn" Kin...,. iIInIIOtII"OCtS Office"'rt Ioaottd ;01 .w7 Conli StMI. th;ot Tra<y N. HnodrU: hI$ j(Iintd tho finn. P.O. Bole 996. Mobilt. 36601·0996. 0IIica~ 1oaud;ol22 InYtmessCtnter Phone (334) 4]2..1413. ~.Suilt300. Binningtwn, 35242. ~ Sd ••ebo. &: Gny armunces I'honr (205) $5888. lhal !'my C. ShuttleJWOl1Io. Jr•. IJoward Community Bank announces lhat Y. Oowney, T~"" M. ThruhtT itnd James Thorn.. J. Bucha~n has been named A. I... ton., k. have brcomt U$OCiates. vic:e.pruidtnt and usis\.int gent",1 OftiaurI! located it TWo P<:rime!tr hrk. cou~1 and IkQjamln R. Will. III ha.s South. Sum 100. Birmiroghlm.l52U bHn named II sIIff allomt)'. OffICU '""' I'honr (2OS)967$Z2. tor.altd It Miin Stlftlill Jot R~ P.O. t.- Offltts of RkIuol"ll S. Jaffe Bole 1100. Blountsville. 3S031.1'Ilom anro(OU!"O(ts Ih.>.t the fi rm ",me has (205) 429·1002. chan~d to Jaffe. Siriddand. lku"' ,,-_ _ "noell. Browoo. Tumtr" lIonley C
39201. I'hont (601) 948-3305. Capouano. Smith. Wamd " Klidd .... announcu the rtlocation 01 oKlCtJ to 322 A~ma Stlftl. Montgomery.
36104. Phone (334) 834-3891. D. Rokrt Sbnkodi k. and J. CIart< Stankosld ~ the OptIling 01 Stanloollci " Stanlroold. Offices a.tlocat· td .... 314 MagooIia Avmut. Suite C. l'airhopt, J65J2. Tht ,,*linII.sdna i$ P.O. Boo; 521. l'airhopr. J6533. lMTy B. Mooot and Albnt J. 1'ro..Idalt, II . ~wilhAshe, Thoner. MOOrt & W"gIlt, announce the IormIItion Ii. MOOft & TmuodaJe. OffictJ an! Iocaltd at 201 S. Court Stn:.l Suite 5iO. SunTMI Bank 8uikli~ f1ormct.l563O. I'honr 1~)7 I s.ol20. RoIIt.oa " IklMr announcu the rtlocation of oKlCeS to 200 CooA StrHt. Montgomery. 361G4.1"hone (334) 83-t.7000. Adler Roth,child and Oavld H. limmt "",," anMllnet the formation 01 Zimmemwl" Rotlu<hlld. OfflCtJ art tor.attd at HIO Comrntrct Stlfft. Suilt 900. Montgomery. 36I04.1'Ilom
(3341262·2400. Oavid It. Dodaldson. Oavlcl). Cuin and 1'lmfLa D. Ikard announce tilt
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annountU tiwol lkotl D. ",'ald"" has jointd Iht firm. ()fficQ art IocaItd at 2340 Woodcmt~. Suitt ISO. BirmingNm, 35209 and 301 S. fourth Strftl, ~ 35901. !'hone (205)
.........
ROHn, Cook, SIt4jt. DI.i s. Camlll " Jonn an!lO\locn that W. BQdford Roono, J •• has b«omt an O$WCiato. Oflleos arolocated at 2117 River Road, P.O. 1lol2727, 1\ISQ100$.l0. 35403-2727. I'm:- (205) ~'-5000, Simmons, B",nlOn " SuKT lll!lO\lncn that RtbKa A. Walko., fo. merly III UIoOCiltt of Iht firm. has bmJn..: I ~rtnrr IIld tM firm rwne has ~ 1(1 Si.. monl, B"'n...... SuKT " ""alktr, that Cbnncl SI"'_.... Jr, is now of COWISd. ~ that J. Eric Mdtnon, M.lanie L LooI\cy and Vlnn A. Spn:f haw ~ UIoOCiatn. Offten irt Ioaottd at 1411 Ibinbow 1>r"M. Ga<bden. 35901.1'hont (2051546-9205.
I'nxtor & I'augbn an!lO\lnctS that J. llradlty Proctor has bttomt III usoci. .10. QffiCf$.n kIcIoted at 201 N. Norton Aw.--. Sylacauga. 35ISO. The ""ilina; adIlras is P,O. 80112129. F'ItolM (205I2-4USZ7. Andrt' M. TbffcI IUVlOUO'aS the kIrrNtio:ro of Andrt' M. ToIfd. P.C. 51..... D. Altmana and !mid S. ~ arr ....00ita 0I'Ikts art Ir:lcat.d at 925 financial Cmter. 505 N. 20'" Slrtfl,lIirmingham. 3SZ03. Phonr 12051252·7115. LucII, Alvis " I\'aoh anflOunce> that J. Stew Clom, Leigh Ann King and St ......rt Spring.,. haw bt<:omt sharehoI<k"- Officu art kIcIoled at 2SO Park I'lace ~r, lIirmingham. 35203. !'hone (205) 25103448. Balch & Bingham ~ that r ...... w. SmIth. CItna C. '01'...... and lAiI S. \\'ood" .. ~ IlIYt bocomt pr;libotr ... and that .'IIMtia E. Bulb. Chart.s A. BurIIhart. x.ndaI C. I>uaton. Robert P. r~ Miriam Co n.rris, hmioon H. HmkII, M. I.ah lIucbon. Doug!» B.
Kauff....... \\illiam O.~.IoM W. Md;ullough..IoM 1'\dIt. b.g. Willi.m W.
Stewart. Gal)' t;' S..m.-an. Sptno:tt M. ~ A¥Io F. ThomhiI, and .loHphinc R. \'i'li&h11llYt joined the lirm as associ· ala. OII'oas;an located in 1Ii~ HurQyilit and MontIJI(lOnny. AIabanvo ... \\~D.C.
Chari.. L Mdtr'lOll and 8tf'nanI B. C.... former ~nholdtrs in "".... n. C",m" Andtrson.an!lO\lnct the for· ""lion of Mdtnon " Clrr. and that ~tty 110l1li111 lIyrn~. J~nnir.., M. Chambli.. llltl Kylo O. M•• H ngale nt associates. Offices art located atlho Sterling C~lltr~, Suilt 304, 4121 Carmicha~llIoad. Monl~ry, 36106. W. Mt'CoIIum Halcomb and Joffny II. \\'crthtim ~ the Ioomotion a( Ibkomb & Wrrthrim. 0Ifi0es art Iocat.d .2231 Fint"-North.IIi~ 35203.1'hone (205)251-01)07. Rive, & h ltnOfl annoonca tiwol ~"itl D. Sparb. rormtrly .. shart· hoi .... in Toff.1 " Sparlts. has bccomt an UIoOCi.lIt. OffICa Ire Iocaled il 1100 .·Inancial Ctnltr. 505 N. 20" Strut, Birmingham, 35203·2601.1'I>ont \2il5) 328·8141. •
ALABAMA DfVORCE, ALIMONY AND CHII ,D CUST ODY HO RNBOOK TH1 RD EDITION by P tDD)' A. Davis
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• Ricb.rd I't'. Moore, .enior litigotion ro,msel
for the United States Attorney's Office in Mobil., has bm1 awarded an AlIamk
Feltow.hip in Public Policy. The Fellov.'Ship program WII$ .,./abIWwd by the British government in 1994 to commelllOl'llto D-Day and
the United States' con· tribution to the libera· tion of Europe. The program pt'VI'id<s outstand· ing AmeriUlfi prof.... ,ionals "i!h practi<:al cperience in p.Jblic pol. icy in tile United
Kingdom and the European Union Moore will be in residence at Oxford Uni"" .. ity where...,
will conducl an independent .tudy of the potential use of spe· cial juries in complex, while-co llar. fraud cases both in England and the United States.
Hi. candidaq for the fellowship was sponsorro by J. Don Foster, U.S. Attome}' for the Southern District of Alabama. Moore will be on ltav. from the Justice Department from Augwt 1997 to May 1998. • Th. new officers In. the Tusaloo!a County Auocl.tion are: President; St~ Wigginl Vi«>.President S<oll Don. ldwo
BIT
Secrdaryll'r.... uru: Chuck Malone
• The Creater Birmingham Defense !.;owyers A..wc:i~ti()fllw elected officus for 1997-98. They are : ~si dent: Kennelh J. Gomany President ·elect: Richard S. Jaff. Executive Vice·pres ident: J. ,11 ••• <), Relfe, Jr. Secretary: Wendy William. Treasu~r: Rlch.>rd In ; Immediate Past Pr..ident: J .. hn A. Ikntin. • Nominations
00.0 a~ Open
-9''9'1 1!1"I,e
b- the 1998 'Spirit of Excellence
Tht_~
Awards: conferred annu.llly ~ the American Bar Association C<>mmission 00 Opportunities for Minorities in the I'rol...,ion. Tht first awards, pre$l'nted in 1996. w .,'" Launched under the theme "Ad A&ra Per Aspora. ..... 1"0 the SIMs Through DifflClllty: and each recipient ..... been dJOstn to rerognize his or her exceptional achievemtnts despite barriers of racial or ethnic bias. Th. deadline to nominate recipients for the 1998 awards is September 15. 1997. The awards wHi ~ p..... nled during the ABA', 1998 Midyear Meeting in Nashville. Nominating forms and additional information are available from Hale Chan. (312) 988-5655 (wice): (312) 988-5647 (fax): or ABA Commission on Opportunities for Minoritie. in the Profession. Spirit of Excellence Award. 750 N. !.;oke Shore Drive. MS 10.2. Chicago. lIIinoi. 60611. • Elizabelh 1I0iland lI utchin •. a memb<:r of Walslon. Wells . Anderson", Bains. LLP, has been elected a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counstl. The American Colleg. of Trust and Estate Coon ... ' is an association of ~rs who have been recogni:ed as outstanding pr<>elitlon. ers in the fields of estate iUld tru.<t pliUlning and administra· tion. charitable planning, .. Iated taxation. businus SUcces· sion . and insurance planning. • Pour members of the Alabama State Bar were honored ruently by The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation for attaining Life Fellow status. Having demonstrated their com· mitment to the ideals and gO/iI. of the Poundation. the follow· ing la"Y"r5 became Life Pellows: Ben II. lI .rri., III of Johnstone, Adams. Bailey, Cordon and Harris. LLC. in Mobile; the Honorable J. Cornlan HOUl! .. n of the Alabama Supreme Court: John H. ~01"TOW of Bradley. Arant. Ron & \\Ihile in Birmingham; and Jamu Jerry Wood. general caun ...1for the Alabama Home BuilMrs As5ociation in Montgomery. The Fellow. is an honorary organization of attorneys. judges and law teach~rs whost professional. public and pri"ate careers have demonstrated ouUlanding dedication to the wei· fare of their communities and to the highest prir.ciples of the legal profession. Established in 1955. Ihe Fellows encourage and support the research program of the American Bar Foundation. The objective of the Foundation is the impfO"ement of the I.gal system Ihrough r.",arch conctming the law. the administ ..· lion of justice. and the legal profession. Fellow. are li mited to one·third of on • .,.rcent of Iav.)~rs licensed 10 practice in each juri.d iction. •
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Of the ;t(l(l bill. ,"". paued, 42 ..~ vetot'd. 166 w ..... .tvmi....! 10<;..1 bill .. 122 wore .il""," iaaons 10 special oq; ... izal,oru ..."'..... , bill •.~ special au"," mobile lap QI" o«cc!l:d ooly.,... cily or "al. agency. Consequcmly. ooly 72 bills .....,'" of sl'lcwi&! ronc<:m. The r."" welf"", binI dili<"'srd in the July ...Woo of TM Alllbama Ltr.)..,r. The ~F"mily Ass;',.ncc Prop;tm" bill ...... ~ did /101 pa$1 bioI wi1J he imple........ ed by adminiSI""'"" rule. The foilowinlLaw Ins.itulc btlls, ... hk" paucd the Lqio.lal_. ~ all • freelive January l. 1998: UnIform MuJ,iplt Pcnoo AttounlJ (AO!. 97-644); uee Ankle 5 "U1ICfl of Cred~" (A<1 97·702): ood Uniform 11M0fSIa1C Family Suppon AC1 (Ao, 97· 24'). Transr.... on Dulll s...curirk, R..i~"'lion (A~I 97. 703) Wali AUBU.I I. 1997. March 1997 AI(lINIn'" /..aWl'"
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Addi,ionalllClS of ~ 10 lawytTI are: Mt 97. 1111 f'r<wide$ a 'UOIUlory form (or I durable pow<:r of IUomey for mal:. in, heallh em d«lsion •. AOI 97·360 Anlrnds!he durabk power
of auomey acllo SJlC<"irlOally inc:ludt JI(WI'<11 of allomey f", heaJlIi nn:.
At! 97·~ 1 6 Adops 1\196.,.. in«> !he
Code of AI ....... At! 97.261 Rai~!he "",,~ion of <OWl "'porters from Sl$~ 10 S38.263 pe' yu,. At! 97-' 11 Requi~ C.,.liloon A,ainSl Dome~l~ VooIcnce. Inc:. 10 eslabii,h Sian. dards (or domeslic .k>knce shell"" rncmbe ... h ip 10 " ""ble lhe &holle", 10 .111. funds. Arl 97-413 Wl)I1!tku ohccl: rharge i. increasod SI per year from Sll 10 ulli.
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ctwac a minimum ofSIO", S ~nl of !he POl"""nI '" deflull$. ...·hie.......". .. ""altf. At! 97 ........ 1 Allo:>ws I...,or ........ oou... lies 10 esl.Obhl-h I rtJionaJ jail willi !he aulhorily 10 opcrlle. Arl 97 ........ 2 II"", I., .... lerm abortions. Mt 97-485 Prohibits phy~icians (rom performi", parrl "1 binh aiKJ<lion •. A<I 97-'n LimilW pon""n.hip< are permillw 10 use the abinvilliOll··LP.~ in lIS name. M t 97-494 Im~ an addillonal $30 pmon found luilly 01 dri. .inll .-evotod. .... spmded or CanttJcd driver', license. ~Iy .... any
Art 97·552 Amends !he 13A. II .8 aiminallwas.srnerll >IIlule 10 clarify harau ..., communkalions. Aft 97.!54 E<1m<h!he li __ pe""" .....y ter'IeW !heir r~pirtd drivor', l;';"nsc from """ year 10 I~ yeaB. Ar. 9 7·556 A""'nds 32.5.1.. 191 . the
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$I""'e. 10 1111;",.",.11 fine.. by $100
and 10 pi"". lhe nlOney in an "" Im""ired Dri. er·s Trusl Fund:'
.1.<1 97-621 A"",nds 12·15·32 10 prnni, IIIe juvenile c:oun 10 "'lain jurisdiction <NCr Ithikl beyond lheir 21$1 birthday 10 pay ronn:. COW; and laIilulion. .1.<1 9 7-625 A"",nIls *"lions of !he """'"""'" code 10 tonform .... W I",al. "",nl 01 oorponiJOIIS. pannmIIips and other limired hltbilily business "",il;'$10 !he fedo:-ral i _ ,.. codc and delel. individ ....11 from !he ALabfoma Mulli,SI:IIC Tax Compact. Ac. 97-6! 1 Amends Ot.pte, 22 of Ti, I. 17 and Ot'",e' 1$ of Till. 36 ~min, .Joelion fln"""e I."" 10 ",guJ~le and rep<l<I rai .ing campailn fundS and u~ndilures. ,\(-1 97· 7 U Amend. 13A· 7·29. aimi. n.allillerinl. 10 mOl. I ",but~ ""'. sumpion .. hen tra>h il f.... nd burin, 0 penon's nome. Art 97.7I ! U",ronn C<ounvalion Eastmml Act whidl providcJ ror lhe ere . Ilion. .... fon:cmcnl. modirlCllJ(lll.. dun· . ion. ond Irn1I1""tioot oI .............. ion e_"",nIS on "'01 pmpc:rty for """",.,.,.. lion. """".Iion a<Id 01110, purposes. ACI 97·72J Provides for >IIIC J.w pro-hibilin.omployoe.l (rom di 5Criminat ing on !he basi. of lae in hirina. job ",'"n. lion. oQlOpcn,,'ion and OIher condi,ion. of empIUY""'nt. The pockel poru ~kl be deli""rtd tile fi..., """'k in Sopoomber. Any<>nc wishi", ony other or ',,"he. information C(lfICOf"n. i"l lhe III<li,_ or ony 01" iu projects ""'y obu.in iii....fo"nallon by ..,.,tacling Bob McOorIey. din'Cfor. Abbarna law InstillMe. P.O. Box 8614ll. TuxaIooosa. Allbarna 3.S436-OO13. FAX (lOS) 148· SoIl I. I'IIone (lOS) 348.7411. Ch:d: ,.... !he l/lSIi,ule ....... P"tC"' wwwJ.w•
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MEMORIALS
Alfred W. Goldthwaite Ralph L. Bland CuI/mail
Admilled: 1947 Died: February 12. 1997
Montgomery
Ralph Gans Holberg. Jr.
Admilled: 1948
Mobile Admilled: 1932 Died: April;' 1997
Dil!d: May 13. 1997
Arth ur J. HaRes
John Patrick ~rlton Binninghom Admil/ed: J960
Bimlillghllm AdIllI~led:
1948
Died: May 8, 1997
Died: May 18. 1997
Vance Reed Iloo''ff
ShrevepOrt, 1..4 Admit/ed: 1972
Died: la/wary 25.
1997
Richard Hughes Clem , Sr.
Donald H. Pallerson
TWSSlIille Admitted: 1977 Died: April 23. 1997
Florence Admitted: 1959 Died: May 28. 1997
Michael Donald Cook Valley Admitted: 1973 Died: May ll. 1997
Thomas Kern Se lman Jasper
Admitted: 1938 Died: April21, 1997
Henry Heller Brownell Cliflon Fnnldin
Binninghom
Admilled: 1994 Died: March 28. 1997
" . . . PT .... . . , . . ,
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Montgomery
Admilled: 1943 Died: March 14, 1997
Lisa Mic helle Shlnnon
Birmingham Mmil/ed: 1996
Died: March 13, 1997
Tee l.A JfC!i hL~'t G-cu We h,ve waged wi. over wlter. haWed each other for gridiron glorv, arid bickered OVer who is ahead of whom 811he end of the liJlfl. Now, Ihe Alabama -Georgi, rivalry
has entered. new aren • . Thi. fall anorneys Irom Alabama will have a chance 10 gain glory on the 9.&On& when they lee-off agains! Ih eir G&Oryian colleagues 81
th e 'irSt IInnual 'Vance Cup.· Ttlls event. named in honor of late Eleventh U,S. Circuil Judge Robert S. Va~. i. $l; he<luled for September 25 and 26 in Birming ham. The maleh play
fo rm' l will be panerned eher lh al a llhe Ryder CUP. wtl id> i. &e110 lake piece Ihe following weekelld in SOlogrande. Spain. All proceeds I,om the toumament will benefit children's hospitals in both Alabama and Georgia,
Tournament organizers Cha.I•• Ham of Fairhope and Tim Om.,d of Birmingham would like 10 see Ihe Vance Cup develop inlo an annual face·off between the two neighboring stete bsrs. Thev hope that it will give allomeV$ on opposite sides 01 the st8te line ~n oppOrtunity to become beuer aCquainted . The idea for Ihe tournament was putted around for over a year before being formally adopted by the Exeeuti ve Committee of the Birmingham Bar Association. Organizers are now active ly seeking volunteers. participants and corpOrate spOnsors. "Aller meeting with Robert Va1l(;e. Jr. and discussing with him Our goals for the Vance CuP. ' said Charles Hem, 'we ~new we had an idea that could make a difference to a number of children in the stales of Alabama and Georgia."
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DISCIPLINARY NOTICE
Di ••bllit, - Mobile attorney r eler Au stin Buoh
"'as tralUlerred to diSllbility inacl;~ .talu. pUI'Suanl to Rule 27{c), Alabama
Rules of Discip linary Procedure, oIfoc_ live June 26, 1997.llIul. 27((); Pet. No. 97·0961 Suspensions · emeva attorney I);nid Jerome Ibni$(Hl was interimly suspended ~ onler of the Dbdplillllry Commiuioo of tht: Alabama Stat. Bar cll"ectNe May 30. 1997. Harrisoo ,,<IS SUSptnded purr.uant
BEST [\SE
8i\'\KH LIII ['y
10 Rule 2(l{aJ,AIabama Rules of Disciplinary f'rocedure. The Office 0( General Counsel filed a petition pu,"uanl 10 Rule 20(a) b;uro upon his criminal conviction in the United Stales Dislrict Court for the
Middle District or Alabam3 and his con... nt to !<lid interim suspetlSion. The Oi",iplinary Commi.. ion further ordered that Harrison be restricted from maintaining a trust account. IRuie 20(a): Pet. 97·\01 . On April I!. 1997. !hi' Disciplinary Boord acapted a conditional guilty plea from John M. Gn)'. II in connect;oowith six pending di",ipiinary CiIS6 Gray accepted an IS-month su.pernion to run concurrent "'ith an interim suspemion he had re.n .. r"ing for 16 monllu prior to his plea. 'OJe six case. were part 01 the l)isciplir.uy CoolmiMion's ooruideratioo in the interim sw.peruion. Under the plea agreement. Gra}' must petit;oo for rein· lIatemenllASB No. 9.\-059(A). et al.1
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01 the Disciplinal)' Coolmission 01 the Alabama Stat, Bar tft'ectiYe July Z. 1997. W..too ....a\ "'~ pur.;uant to Rul< 20(31. Alabama Ruta 01 Disciplinary Procedure. 'OJe 01 Gmeral ~I med 3 petition pursuant to Rul. 20(3) bastd upon Weston's refusal to compl)o with repeated requests for infOT'llkltion from the Office 01 Genefill Counsel. The o;",iplil'llll)' Commission further onlered that W.ston be restricted from maintaining a trust account. IRule 20(3): Pet. No. 97·111
. Cadsden attorney \r,rgil McDanie' Smith recei,-ed a public reprimand without general publieation on July 16. 1997. In s.,ptember and October 1996 Smith was out of hi, office for anum· ber of ..... eeks due to health problems . During the tinw Smith was out of his office. paralegal in his employ pre· pared divorce papers for a client. signed Smith's name 10 them. filed them with the court and obtained a divorce for the client. The DiSCiplinary Q,mmission determined that Smith's actions consti· tuted a 'iolation of Rule 5.3(b~ of the Rules of Professional Conduct of the Alabama State Bar which requires a lawyer having direct supervisol)' authorit~ over a non· lawyer to make reasonable efforts to enSure that the person's condm:t is compatible ..... ith the profeS5ional obligations of the la"'}>er. IASB No. 96·297(AJI
Public Reprimand. ' On July 16, 1997, Tallassee 1.W)~r Ch.rles B. Pi.ne.... rec,ivtd a public reprimand without gener.l publication for violating Rule 8.1(b) of the Rules of
. Montgomery attorney D.bor.oh Farrington Cot receiwd a public rep. rimand without general publication On July 16. 1997. The reprimand ..... as administered b.eause Coo f.iled to
• c.rdendal. attoml')l Gal)' W'O)_
NEW WINnows VERSION
ProfeS5ional Conduct by failing to respond to a la",{ul demand for infor· miltion from an admissions or discipli · l'1li1)' authority. Pie""''''' had been auempting to ha"" thre.t Now York 1"",>~rs admiued pro hac vice in the Circuit Court of Talladega County. The applications were deficient. and numer· ous lett..s "'~r. sent to Piene .... in an dfort to drar up the problem over a two-year period. On s.,ptember 18. 1996. the general counsel asked for a writlen response explaining the contino u.d deficiencies in these application,_ Pie""."" did not respOnd until after he was notified in January 19971hat the Disciplinal)' Commission determined he should be disciplined . [ASB No. 96-
Wu ton ....a\ interimly su.pended by order
Off".
respond to a complaint filed ~inst her by '" former client. Despite having bun rflIuested in writing to respond to this complaint on H\'tn different occ.uions by t~ Offi« of Gemrat Counset of 1M AJ~ State Bar and by ~ Critvan« CommiU.., 01 tilt Montgomery County Bar, Cot f;ailed or rriused to respond to these requests Of to otherwiH provide any information regarding the complaint which has been (,jed against her. The OiKipHl\llry
8o.ird determined that Coe's failuR to rupond to theH requests constituted i violition of Rule 8.1Ib) of t~ Rules of Professional Conduct of the Alabama State Bar which provides that a ta-.,~ wit not knowin&Jy fail to rupond to II ta-.,1'ul de""nd lor information f..... m;on admi»ion or disdplinllry authority. IASB No. 96·045(A)I Anniston I~r lIuel W.o;yne Low received II public reprimand without
general publlcition on May 16. 1997 IS pIIrt of a pita ilIl'ftmen!. Low failed to keep his client ~UOI\IIbly infol1"lltd ;about the status of the client's tnt. and failed to promptly comply ,.;th rusoroablt ~quests for information. The DiKiplimry!kllrd ordeml that Low ft«M II public reprimand with· out gtnenl publiation. and a one·year suspension to be held in ~nce. Low will be on probation for a period ~ .. _:>JSJ
Notice QfuIlIIlUln,. ley. Jr.. \OI'Ilo:w whereabout.. a~ un""""'.... musl ~r tIw: Alabama Stale Bar's formal dlKiphnlll')' charges .... ithin 28 days of Septell"lber ]5. ]991. or. the~after. the charges conlaiool lhe~in wll be dti:med admitted and pNle diKipline $hall be impo:scl againsl him in ASH NO<!. 91.12fi. 92·218. 93·322 and 96·361 befoR the Disciplinlll')' u.o.rd of lilt Alabama State Bar.
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\\"dIiam .·elix Mathe-. wtlOSt ,,~.,.. u.w-n. must answer the AloI;wna Stat. II.>r's tQmW d.tKiplinary charge$
...,thin Z6 days of September 15. 1991. or. thertaft ... the charges COIllalntd therein shall be .Jeemed admiued and OIjIprOpriale discipline shall be il1lJl(*d agairW him in ASB No. 96--368 btfort lhe l)i.lciplinary &ard d. the Alabama State liar.
William f elix Mathewl , whose whereabouu art unknown. must anSwer the Alabama Stat. Bars formal discipliMry chaTl!u within 28 days of Septem~r 15. 1997. or. thu.alter. the thaTl!O!S contained therein shall be de.med admItted and appropriate discipline shall ~ irnpo:scl ~inst him in ASB No. 97.115(A) befor. the Disciplil\lll')' Board of the Alabama Slat. Bar.
"'i11iw ftb ," bthtwl. ...'host ...t.ereabouU are ~n. must /IfISIO'er the AIabima State II.>r's IonnaI disciplinary dwges Mihan 28 d.l).. of ~ 15. 1997. or. therutltr. the charge$ contained themn shall ... dmned idmttted and 1I'f~ ..... """ dis-oplint wllhe illlPO'td agatnst him in AS8 No. 97·I9:kA) befoR the Discoplinary &ard d. the Abbama State liar.
NoHce il h.rtby gi~n to "', iliam f , lil< Mil""". ,,'1>0 practiced law in Pelham. Alabama. and who" whereabout.. are unknown. that punuanllo an order to show cauH of the !)iKiplinary Commission of the Alabama State II..... dated Junt 25 . 1991, h. hll$ 60 days from tilt: date of this pubHcaHon (September 15, 1997) 10 come into complianc_ with the MlI1ldalOI')' Continuinl! Legal E:ducatioo requ irem.nts for 1!I96. Noncompliance of tIw: ~tCLE requirements shall result in a $USptosion of his license.ICI.F. No. 91-\01
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Notice i. IItreby given to J ... Jr. of Birmingham. Alabarm that he must respond to the charges in disc;· phnary file ASB No. 96--:!OO(A) with'n 30 days from the date of \hill public.ation (September 15. 1997). !'ailu.... to respond lhall r!:SU1t in furtMr ~ by tIw: Office of Cm..al Counsel. IAS8 No. 96--2OO(AJ]
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Hundreds of people in our community need legal assistance but can't afford it, You can help them by joining the Volunteer lawyers Program. All we ask is that you take two cases per year. When you enroll, you have the opportunity to choose the areas of law in which you will accept cases. So, please join us in this worthwhile effort. Just a few hours of your time can make a world of difference for our profession and our community.
To find out more about the Alabama State Bar Volunteer Lawyers Program, call the Alabama State Bar at (334) 269-1515 Of visit the Alabama State Bar's web site at http:// www.alabar.org.
Disciplinary Notlc. (Ctinlinwd fi'IIm
/>age
2i!3)
of two ~ars with certain specified con· diliOlls.l..cM WM court·appointed to probat~ tilt. est.t~ 01 i dtmknt who had no h~il'llMng in AlItwna. He filed i pdilion for administration and nolice to creditors. Over a 13·month period. the d«~~nfs sister contaocted lAM ~1iI1 Ii"," about tilt. .....tus of the e ..... te.l..cM "",,red her tNt III necessary sleps had been tak~n to probate the estate, Some 21 months after being appointed to p'~te tilt estate, l..cM had not concluded tilt. 1N1l.., TN Wnily lhen hired mother I~r to look into the INlier, That I~r wu unsuccessful in having Lov~ com· pl~te the probate of the nute, Th. DiJcipli .... ry so..rd directed lAM to withdlilw from handlinglht Hute. IAS8 No, 95·264(A)) ~ ~r John I~ ~
RJchani
a public f!]lri.
rnand ...ithou\ ~r.>I pOOIic3tion on May 16. 1997 lOr Nving biltd to txpbin I matte, to ~ Vltent reasonably ntCwary to permit ~ client to makt infonnoed dtcision!. ~ the rtprtSmtation.
IloIliogsworth _ hired 10 pursw I rnWlciI m:alpriCtK:e claim. HoIli~ mel the client at IItr home, at ....hich time .she prOYided him with medial ~ Mer /11OI'fc thio1l)'Ul' had passed. the dim! npt' i.. .....,;1 diI6o;uIty in CI,lmITU'lialin ...i!h Hollingsworth about the we. The d>ent eventually \\\!Ill to lIo1lingsworth's 0/1'1« to rtlrieYe her fik lOr the purposes of Inking ntW ~ at ....ttidl ti ... HoII~ ~Wd the dient that the sututt of 1imlllltlons had expired. In responding 10 the complaint, llolling. sworth OO<lttr*d that ht nM1' ajilrm;\ to
tMe the ..., bo.IIlor Wno.t. rwo )'WI _at~ tofind_~ to handle the ... lor the climt..1AS8 No. 95-Z'i51 .~ \awyu
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public rtprirnand ...;thouI. general publicition lOr YioLuil1jJ Rules 8.1(b) iUId 8.4(i) iUId (g), AIabami lluiQ of l'rofusional Conduct. This di.lcipiine was irnpooaI btauK 01 the ~ attor· ~I
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neYs faihlf~ to rapond to rtpeaIed ~ lOr iddillonal i,*,",,-ion by the ()ffice d Gmelill Counsel ronc:mling a complaint filed by a former cHent.IASIl No. 9f>.233Wl •
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RECENT DECISIONS Hg Wilbur C. SillJermon
units with respect to certain sections of
Banknlptcy Court holds Bankruptcy Code sections
1000bl.nd lei ~t1tutlonlll In '" NVR LP.. el aI.. Bank •. £.0. Va.. 206 Bankr. 831 (/>\.:Ir. 7. 1!l97),3O B.C.O. 843, Bank,. LEXIS 41 I. In !hi, chapter 11 reorganization, the debtor'5 plan ~ a COIl$lruction by the bankruptcy ,..\alil-'\' IQ 3 refund of stat. real ..ute transfer and rewrdation taxes. The ,equest was granted only a short time after the U.S. Supreme Court case of Seminole 7li1x. oOlorida v, florida (116 S.CL 1l14) which held thai "'htn ~ was """Tcising il$ fMJ"'I'1'5 under Article I of the Constitution. i\ could not abrogate the immunity of the State allowed by the Elewnth Amendment. The ,tote taxing authorities requested reconsi<leration by reason d the Seminole decision. The debtor resisted the applicability ri Stm>inok by ''lIuing (\ ) that to allow the Stato', WIlt.nlion would deny the debtor equal protection of the application of the fourteenth Amendment; (2) WI the ta:<. illl! authorities waived their EloM'nth Ammdment immunity ....+>en they filed a proof (If claim. The court in its endnote I first catted allentioo to Section 106 of the Bankruptcy COOe, by the follawing, ' S«tion 106 of the Bankruptcy Cooe consists of thr« subsectionl. In ~ ]06(31. Congress abrogated the sover· eign immunity of all gCMmmental
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the Bankruptcy Code, In fl06(b). Cong'eM ded.ffillhat a gowmmental unit which files a proof of claim will be d«med \0 !la,'. waiwd its SOV"reign immunity with respect to. claim "thaI
arose out of the 5.lme transaction or OCCurrern:e out of which the claim of such I/O"emmental unil aro.-t." In §106(t). Cong.eM autooriud lhe eslate to offset any claim it m:ly h.. ... against
the gO\'emment.1 unit notwithstanding a claim of sovereign immunity. The rourt then stated thai !kmi,,01e rendered Bankruptcy Cooe sections 106(bl and (e) as an unconstitutional
attempt by Congress \0 Hmit \h. reach of lhe EI"""nlh Amendment by ""ud." ing its p""'" undor the bankruptcy law_ The Opinion held that the prQ\/i.ion that the r.ling of . proof of claim constituted
• w.j""" Was an attempl by Congress to
ovade the provisions of the Elewnth Amendment; Congress cannot dictate to the judicia!,), a standard for determining whether a state has waived ;t. immun;t~ as allowed under the Eleventh Amendment. The Bankruptcy judge discUS$<'d the case of Southem S/a' Foods. 190 B.R. 419 (E,D. OK. 1995) which reached a rontr,,!,), view. 1'tK= NVR LP. court without hesitation stated th.lt Sou/hern Slar Foods was decided incor· rectly. and that a majority of courU since Seminole havoe .. tu$ed to follow Southem Star. The court further stated that any waiv" by a .tate of the Eleventh Amendment protedions mwt be expressed without ambiguity, and that the mere filing 01 a proof 01 claim is insufficient to constitute a waiver. Comment: It was ront.nded that Cre· dence should be giw:n to §I06(b) ~use of the lact that the fourt«nth Amendment was enacted alter tho Eleventh Arnondm.nt .• nd thus legi,la· tion enacted under the fourteenth
Amendment would supersede the £Ieventh. Howe>er. the court in this case said that it ,"",uld not accept the thea!')' that § 106 was based upon the Fourteenth Amendment "Wlicabi!ity as there was nothing to indicate such a lact. The SemiMII: case has gestated a plethora of articlu on its meaning and possible amplification. The issue is that of <:OTI5titutiomal law. Until one or more of the ca.s.es reaches the Supreme Court, undoubtedly, the states will use SemiMl1: as a dderue whenever actions are taken under the Bankruptcy Code. Wyoming U.S. District .Judge holds Eleventh Amendment Immunity was abrogated by Cong..... in enactment 01 Bankruptcy Code
llYoming Dcparlnumt of Tron5fJ()rtation 11. Straight, DC WYO. May 15. 1997, _B.R.~ 1997 US. Dis!. LEXIS 7400. After debtor filed a chapter 13 case. the i'<)'oming Depllrtment of Transportalioo (DOT) C3llC<:'led her duadvantaged business enterprise status. The bankruptcy court held the DOT in cootempt as violating the automatic stay and iUlti.discrimirntion clause of the Code. whereupOn the DOT argued the Eleventh Arnondment immunized it from any award of fees aro:l costs. On appeal. the District Coort in discussing Seminole Trit>.? of florida (US. Sup. Ct. 1996) rommenled on the ~ition in Seminole of .$IXh immunity being :.brog;oted by Ia>o.s passtd WIder the Fourteenth Amendment. The court merred to the Oklahorrlill:>ankruptey case of In '" Southem Star Foods, 190 B.R. 419 (1995) which held that
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although bankruptcy ""'.. are under Article I of the Constitution. that they are enforctd through the Fourteenth
Amendment 11 commented that although SouthEm Slur ~ "pre&minole", it was folkrwed in the ";lo$t&mirlQle" case of In rc lloodrld<, 200 B.R. 96J (Bktcy S.Ga
1996). The distrittjudge concluded byswina tNt MIl iflle weft his w.terprtUtion 01 Cmstitutiooa/ law. the slalt ~ ...-aM.:! irlYOOllity by filirC I proof d claim. ~ in
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Commtnt: Flip a ooin-~Vomil1g or Nl'H LP.? Undoubtedly. amplification by the U.S. Supreme Court will ~ required to d«ide el<actty how far &minol~ exttndJ; in interpreting bo.nkruptcy law.
u.s. Su~ Court ....,Ide..... 1_ of c olla t _· In Cha pte r 13 c a . . A.$$«ioll'S Ccmnwrr;iol CoTp. ... RaM.. _S.Ct~ Junt 16. 1997. U.S. Lf:XtS 368S.. Associates Commercial Corp. (ACC) held a lien on a tractor truck owned by debtor Elray Ruh. At the time Ruh filed his Chapter 13 cast. S41.]7] was the balllra~. Undt, 1506(1) 01 the &nkruptcy CoIIr. tho $KlIn. t)' 01 ACC wu only to tht exlml of IJ..vai.m ofllw crrdilor:' inlnet in IIH! ....IQI~ .. inlnul in lhilrollol<=i. with the rmIlIindtr Ming ullSfCUred. IWh had Ihree allemalivu: (I) IIIIVt ACC accept his plan. (2) return the oollale",l. or (3) cram oo..·n under §1325(aIl5). 1Ie eleCled cram <10-..11 .... hich all(ll<." pa)'menU owr the life 01 the plan ..... hich totallhe pm.ent valut oIlhe ooUateraJ .... ith the li.n Ming ret.1oined by ACC. ~ QUeStion was as to tht wlue of/he rollo/mil. ACC claimed ~t .... Iut 01 S41.000and IWh o;ontmdr<! IhIII fouckwlrt ...1. atnO\Int utim;otre! al $31.875 should g<Nnil. The &nkruptcy Court and the Fifth Cin:uit ilgrted .... ith Rash. The U.S. Supr.mt Court re\ltrsed by an .ighl·lo-on. majority, wilh Justice Ginsburg .... riting Ihe opinion. Justice Giruburg firsl refi«ted on the thrH difftrtnt value mnw.r4 in the variOU$ ciT("uil$, 10 wit: (1) repla<;tmtnt. (2) for«lo$urt ...It. (3) midpoint bdwftn the two.]n ~Itcting rtpbumtnt co.t. J.....i« Cinsburt stlItN that the first Sf1ltmce 01 1506(11) defining $KlInt)' atnO\Int to M "to tilt. atent 0I1IUd1 creditor's interest in lhe Htat.'S inlerest in such property" limil$ the KCUred portion to the IlOiUII of/he roIla/eral. EMmplu 01 the tstate'J interUI not being the tntir. value of the collateral would be that 01 the debtor owning only a part intertst in tilt. collateral . 00' of the crrdilOO' hokling I junior lien. which WOIlId n:quirt _frtainmtnt of IhIIt intern!. ThUJ, ' ..... ice Giruburg s.aoid the first Kntmce 01 1506(11) te]1s what must ~ evaluated but not how. sne lhen discUSifd lhe SKOOd ~nlenc. concerning "how" value i. determined. which i. "in light oIthe pUTJ)'m of the valuation and oIlh. p' oposed di.position 01 tM UK 01 ,mh property." She determined lhat if lhe debtor proposed to oontinut using the property (which IWh dtsirrd). the fortebure JlIIIxbrd WOIlld derut \hoe iKt~ wooIing oIlhe stlIlute, as no JitniflC3llCe WOIlld M givtn 10 the debtor's decision lIS to choius oIretmlion or 1IIrrmder. IhIIt fUr\M' r."lacemmt .... lut will protect the creditor againsl deterioration and default. staling "that actual u~. rather Ihan a foreclosurt ... te that .... ilI not Ltke place. i. 1M prope' guide under a prtscription hinged to lhe property's disposition Or use." She concluded her opinion with tilt. followins HIItera: "In sum, under 1506(11). the .... \tIe of ~rty ret.1o,nrd bKIIuse the debtor hal uercised the fl32S(a)(5)(B) 'cram down' option is the al$t the debtor _Id incur to obtain alike l>SeI for the lamt ·proposed ... use·: al~
Commtnl: In alOOlnott. Justice Ginsburg midt ~ clear tNt OOS! ...-as not the ""n:IIR d the coIlat.r.aI bond new. but r1Ither fair market value. i.e., the pria: a williTqi buytr in debtor's "tllation would Pill' a willing selltr fill' property d like age
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and condition. Justice St....."" the lone dissenter. in his three pa~ OPinion pointtd 00.01 that §506(a) ~in th~1 the Coo:It. not just in tho Chapter 13 cram ob.n, and that tho maioriIY IJI)inion .-. a/bds I windfall to the ISldm«urtd crrditOO' at the eqltf"ISf 01 the \IIlKClOrrd mditors. fit btf;evn tNt fortdoJun: val ... ......Jd be (l(lnIistmI ...;th the $LtI.utory schrmi: by ktfping rtSpectivo: rl:CXMo1ts Ii Sf.COJrtd and W'I5«\Irtd crrdi· 1001 tho same throughout the BankruptCy Code. Query: Dots the m'iewed case apply only in Chapter 13 cases or will it be uniform in all banknIptcy C35H? •
In-State Mediation Training lApptoved for CLE cred,t and Alabama Center for Dlspule ResolullOn IOSler reg,stralooo)
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By Michael A. Kirtland
ith num<rOUS military bases and 0Ili: of the largestlliltional guard organizations in the nation. lawyers throughout Alabama moy often be called upon to represent military dienu in a wide variety of matters. The tendency of many l.a\o.yetS i5 \0 assu"", that the Judge Advocate Gtr>eral (JAG) office on baSi' "ill take care of the nero. of military personnel. While it U true that office will provide gtntnlltgal advice and draft 5imple wills for military persoontl. the» do not represent indi,-rdual service membtrs in cMlian courts. Genenlly t"- matlers "ill be of a cMI nature, running from ill$urance disputes to divorce. 1l"""tWr. /lSSuming that the military client in a civil matter should be treated 00 differently from civilian clients may lad Ihe unwary attomty into legal problems. This article will discws 5(KIle basic information that any attomty should be aware of before beginning representation of mili· tary dients. The article is limited to active duty military per· sonnel Usues. invollling Ixoth regular military members and members of the national guard and reserve while on lCtiv~ duty. and does no! addres5 the eltem;"" art" (If veterans rights or special "I"I'U of the law related to retired mHitary personnel.
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The Soldiers' and Sailor.' Civil Relief Act The basic legislation covering civilian courts and military personnel is contained in the Suldim· and Sailors· Civil Relief Act (SSCRA). 11) USCA U 501·593. Thi5 Act was originally writlen in World
War 110 prewnl milillory inductttl from Ming kg,J11y tlirmtd by virtue of their mililMy ~Mce lind their ibstn« from their home jurisdktion. II ~ a1rnded and rmsed during World Wu 11 and IllS bem ~ttd sinc. then. Most of the QSt law <XII1Ctmlng inttlTlrmtion of this c:om~1u lOCI Sltms from 19405 trll tutf. Unfortuna.tely. bwiUK of the c:ompluity of the law, it is filltd ..... ith uctplioru, and QSt 1_ mould be cardull~ re~uchtd before stakinll OIlt a leg,J1 pOSition t..u..d on tht law. The basic PuI"flOK of the act is to ensure ttlit military ptr· wn~1 ~ "dtvott thei r tntiro e~rgy to the defonlt needs of the Nation" by pro...iding for lWpOnslon or ulension of st."Itutn of timit."ltions for civil tWli"hlin il"l"Olving mitit."lry membm...' The term""ptnom in lhe millt."lry itrvict" is JPKi(" iclOlly dtrontd 101 not only actiYt duty rnembtn of the Air fom, Army, Na,,.. Mari~ Corp5, and Cout C.... rd, but .150 Public ltulth SoNic. offi«.. a.uigntd to the Army or Navy. and National Cuard Or Restrw ptrsonnel ..... hil. in active ftderal ~",ict. from r«eipt of th.ir orders to .. date normally 6Q !liys beyond thei r roltase from active dUI~.' MO$\ of the basic Wua r.on<eming U$t ofSSCRA. regardlw of the type of case. ill\'Oh>t whtIhtr or not Iocil ccuru an obtiin jurisdktion O\'tr milillory rntn"brn.. SSCRA "'tities the snvia mrmber to main hi$ or her stat. rtsiclency while in milit."lry KfYitt m:l1"JU\ICfl1.! other iUtn from cl&iming the mm1ber as a sIIIte rnidtnt by virtue of being itationed "ithin lhe borders of the sute In Alabama. lhe legisl3ture has ended alll' ~u.stion as to ...iltther the itMa m'''nber is . ntitltd to IOCCW to itat. and local courts as l nonrui<ltnt. by S!ltCirlCllly deduing tNl milit.70ry ptr_land their spouses shall M dtmltd ~ for the limittd purpost of commencing civil actions in ccurt.' The lUOITIt)I should rtm<mbo:r tNt the purpost of lhe lCI is to prevent lhe ~""ce member from being unfairly burdentd by civil actions as 11 resull of his or her ~~nct dOl. to miliury ~",ict and nol to eliminate the ~ility of the ml'mber to . ... ci~ Ifllal riJlhI.! or to prewnl other! from ~eking civil reme· dies against milit."lry ptrsonnel prestnl within the $lale. Only whert the mtmbtrs art ibstnt from tho juriJdiction ....here the ast" is brought, due to their military ~rvict, ~ the lCI be invokfd. Evm then. opn:ir", Jofctions d the act. must be consulttd prior to determining ",-htthH SSCRA ...ill lOPPIY. as rula within the act differ depending on lhe type dkgal lOCtion souJlht. SSCRA has ~nerally been dttmnintd not 10 M applicable 10 carter ~rvitt ml'mbers. ex«pi in circurrutances prewnting their awear.l.Ilce due to re.wignmenl.' Whilt SSCRA ....ys lhe ~Mce member is prottdrd against ,uit while in mi1it."lry KT· ~. Ciit 1M has rtpe<Itrdly ~ OUI the position that the military members rights must be "maltrWly OIIl«ttd by rt:asoo d milit."lry itrvia.... Hi'fIQ' ........ sllltus as • mnnber d tho military don not pmttd one from SUil 1"11e lCI statts tNt whm a penon in military st1"Vi« IllS legal action brought ~ilUl him or her. tho ~....;ce mto "b.r may M<!k ~ stay d tt.,t IOCtion. or in the ...... of • de!/oult j~nt. t.,ve the ast"
rfOl)tTltd. by filing notice with the court thai the mtmbtr was ibsent from the jurisdktion ind their rights \lltrt maltTiilly ifftdrd by their milibory ~Mce.' In the QSt of a dtbult judg. mtnt. the party seeking the delault judgment must file an i/Iidavit with the ccurt stilling that the ~ is not in miliury it....;ce.' H,-"",",,"r. it is at this pOint that CUt law compIiclOtn the inun. In many juriodictions. including AIabarna. courts tIive rultd LN.I if a milit.70ry member even mesa OOIice that they art irwoking SSCRA to slay the proceedings. the member hu made an App"arar>« in the Cl$I mel is thoroforo lUbjf:d. to the jurisdiction of the court Onee the member has made an ;ljlpUraoce mel submitttd to the jurisdiction of the court. SSCRA no app/ia and the case ...;11 protttd.. 1"11e end result is that lhe attomty must oomully ...'tlgh the alUllI' to be t."Ikm befuft submitting my motions or IIOIictI to the court Contact with the bIit JAC o/fIU is appropriale. Ailowing the bast 1cga.1 ~lVicn o/foce to file a standard notice of military it!Viet and intent to invoke SSCRA may be the besl COUIW, "'ther lhan filing the notice on behalf of your cli.nt. · In m:.ny instancts. the Acl iUttfwhcn combined with QSt ~w have efftdiYtly CfUlfdl "Catch·22" lor the civilian ~Itomey or lhe client who likt my iIICtiom. ."""~r. on« J.lICteSJfuIIy irM>bd. the bunkn JhifU to the plaintiff t o _ the pnMsionI 01 the act. In order 10 do this. the intiff will h.aYt to dlOW Itlit I) the milit."lry mtmber if delibermly m:I willfully.tlellll'ting ~ 01 the Wua. 2) the defendant is not acting in good faith, 3) the dtfer>danl hu had ample time Opportunity to prepart, and his or her milit.70ry ~Mce has not prewnttd PI'Wor preparation for the QSt. and 4) tNt the dtltndint is using the act. to shield WTOI\IIIloing. U On« invoktd, the burden to 0YtI"C(mI' SSCRA del......,. is subotanti3ol.
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OIworce r .rhIop$lhe mosl common art. for civilian rtprestnution 01 milillory membe.. is diV(lrce. While the cau~s qf diV(lr~~ among military porsonn.1 are the same as in any marriag•. military ~""ce does afftct jurisdictional iMUes, division 01 <mrillol _\$ and ~hil~ custody matt.n. AJ Itiisb.tiYtly dtfir>ed .wote residenl.!. milit."lry mombers stationtd in Alabama may ~tIC di'l'orct in Abbloma CCUrU. aul
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as legal resid.n!> of tm,ir hom. state ~s ...",,11, the military client may ~Ome to)'OU with a notice that a divorce action has been filed in the service ""'mber's home staleY Either state may ta ke juriidiction of the maller, Should the .. rvice m.mber Srtk cou .....1 from)'OU concerning po$Sible divorce action, you should familiari"" your .. lf with the divorce slalutes of Ih. service member's 110m. sl.1lt.befor. advising him or her whether to file in AI3bamll Or in their 110m. juriidiction. Despite the trend t"",,,,d commonalit~ 3mong jurisdiclions in dom .. tic mailers, juri5diction still makes a difference, and mil itary members are treated differently depending on the state where the divorce is med. An additional juri$dictional consideration when hand ling a military divorce c.... is wm,th.r the service ""'mber it a legal resident of a community property state. II so, ~ptnding on the sptcifics of the case. it may be more advantageous to the client to file in the home stale or 10 avoid community proper· ty concerns through an Alabama filing. In 19S2, Congress passed the Uniformed Service. Former Spou... Proleclion Act (USI'SPAl, ellecti~ February I, 1983.d This act was in reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in NcC<J,ly v. NcC<Jrlg. in which the Court d""larro that milil.1lry r.tirem""t pay was a ptrsonal entitlement and denied COmmunity property sl.1ltl15 to it under Ca lifornia law." Th. acl did not detwnine milil.1lry rdiremont to be di"isible, but rathtt rdurntd to the states Ih. dteis ion as to .....,.th.r it was a divis· ible mIIrital asset. In 1993, Alabama became the last state to permit the divi sion of military retirement pay as a property
asset. subjtet to division in an action for divorce. Q lience. whether or not the member is currently eligible for retire· menl benefits. the attomey must consider this potential asset in planning a division of marital asstts. USrSPA further defines the eligibility of former SpOuses to obtain a pOrtion of the se,,·ic. members retirtd pay. to be paid dir""tly 10 the lormer spou.. by the government through • formula which con· si"".. the length of the mIIrri.ge, the length of milita!), service and the "'~rlap belween the two periods. - In any twnt. dir""t payment is limitt<! to a maximum of 50 percent oflhe disp<mlble retired pay of the "Nice member." Ewn where military retired pay is not divided as a marital asset. it may still be considert<! as a SOUrce of income for alimony or child sUPpOrt PIlrpose~ Careful consideration ml15t be giwn to the wording of the settlement agre''''''nt concerning division of retired pay. USFSPA sp«ifically allows for the division of "diSpOsable" rel;re · ment pay. This is defintd as that pay available 10 the military retire. afler deducliQrui for Il debts to the United Statn, 2l federal. state and local taxes, 3) govtrnment backed lifo insurance (SGlI or VGlI), and 4) disability pay. " It is this last area which can be especially ".~ing in the ..Illement agreement. A military member obtaining a disability rating upon retirement must wai,,,,, an equivalent pOrtion of his Or her mili taT)' retirement pay in order to receive \ale fl« disability compensation from lhe Veterans Administration. ~ Bul disability pay is a per· ronal property right of the wteran and may not be assigned. According to case law, it is not subjtet to division as a marital
Graduate Tax Program The University of Alabama Schoo( of Law Tbc Uni""rsi~y of Alabama School of Law announces anocher cycle of the Graduate Tax Program . The next cycle will begin in January 1998 and end in D«ember 1999. Tbc de~ LL. M. (Taxation) will be awarded to those woo complete the
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on a pan'lime schedule for tbe benefit of pracTicing attorneys . Two coo""" are offered each se"'''ster for six consecutive semeste .. , i""luding (he swnmer semesters. Classes meet Wednesday nights and Satur<i..ly mornings.
llle GTlIduate Tax Program operates
llle Program will be offered in Birmingham. TllSCalOO$3, HU/ll5ville , Momgomery. and Mobile. Courses wiU be Laught on
tbe University of Alabama System' s [ruercampus Interacti~ Telecommunicalions System ([ITS), which allows <tude/ll5 at allloc3tions to participate in class discussions. 'The 1994-96 cycle of the Program was succcssfully conducted on the IJTS. llle Graduate Tax Program was begun in 1m. Eight tW(I-}'<'ar cycles have been offered: four times in Birminglt.a.m, once each in Mobile, Momgomery, and Huntsville. and once ~t multiple sites using tbe [ITS. More tlLan ISO allorneys have reeciw:J degrees from the Program.
Courses will be taught by full-time faculty members of the University of Alabama School of Law and well·recognized pra:;ti~ioners.
Application deadline: October I, 1997
To
T«]UUI
an application write o. call:
Admissions Officc University of Alabama School of Law P.O. Box S7OO82 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487--0382 !'bone: 205-348-5440 Tht UniwTsiry '" A/abama is an (qual tmploy_nt/equal mucationa! oppoTlWliry institution.
...... t, though it ~ be comidertd in det~rmining tOOll incomt for alimony and child support purpost;S.. But. since the military IT>fmber will not be di...bility r3ting until tilt time Ii ~ti~ment. INt amount will not be known al the time of the divoT« setlltment atrftmml Bta_ the memo bt. ""Wu I portion of hi' di~ rdimnenl incomr.lhlt portion is no lonile' oJMsiblf ;as p;ort of the proptrty M1. tI.ment, therd,y reducing tilt ...J... 1i the ..Itle-
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L>'!:ry milita.,. IT>fmlxr with ZO or moIl:)/Urs of military ..1Vk:e, ,till on activ( duly. is automati~ny cowrtd by tilt Surviwr Be .... fit Progr3m (SRI'). p.ovidini milit;,ry pension ben.fits to the spou" or former JpOU~ 01 the mil it;,ry member.;as well as to mioor dependent children. This be .... fit.mounu to 55 percent Ii the membtr'J pension be .... flt unlil lhe spoust rtlmrrlu or lurtli 62, at which tim< it is reduct<! to off..t the availability Ii Social Security brodits.." AI the time of rdirtmmt from military K"";«. the Sj)OUSf must con· cur in writing 10 any el«lion of SBP bmdlls Ir$s than the nw<imum amount.tiawtd by law. While this may Kem a wry desirlble be .... fit under I dillor« Ktlltmenl the lItomry $hoold artfully wtiiJ! the costs 01 the prvgram and its bent. fils wlltn wmp.lrtd to a sundar<! life insurance policy. " 'he.. tilt military member is helIlthy and insur3ble at the time 01 the divorce or retirement (not lIl""l'S II ,,,lid assumption) a standardlif. insurance policy often p.ovides mo.e potential income to the former spou~ at less cost than is a,·.ilabl. under SIJf'. H~r. where the military member has htalth consider3lioru which prohibit the ability to obtain civili .. n life insurance. sap providn an imporbn! ......1 to be cOf\$idi!rtd in the divorce uttltmtnl. In addition 10 rdiremmt ~ and SUMvor bentfil$, continuo ing brodilJ for tilt formtr j,pOUSf. including modiaol bendits. tr... uc:hange and commis.wy privileges must bt utcrn into account in the ullltmtlll prottU.l.ih the dir«t ~I of rdiremrnl ~. lhey m: drifrmintd by II k>nnu~ COfIii6tring Itngth of lilt rm.~,ltngth 01 mililAry Kf\ict and tilt ptn . 011 of ow.~ betwHn thtse timts. In 1M area of child ,uP\'lOrt, the milit;,ry mtmber', entirt pay and ~lIawancH may be considered in lhe dttenni113tion of child support amounts. Collection 01 chil d support through direct paymenl by the Otlenst Finant.and Accounting SfNic. il ~.t •• mintd by individual milit;,.,. .. Nic. rul .., which differ drastically f.om 1M Ajr Fo.et', policy 01 support "suffieient to iUP\'lOrt" the needs 01 the former family. to tilt Navy's policy of providing up to I maximum oI:v.5th of ~,. Involunury att.Khmtnl of child support pa)'ffitnls;, providN for under ftdtrallaw, lind .equi.es i coort ordt .... In iKldition to fimncia.1 issues, child custody COfIii<k~ionJ differ for military penonntl. Since _ ire becoming an incruoingly mobilt society. Car leu lied to OUT ~ial roots. it isl ctminty that tilt miliury membt . ....m be iUbj«t to TUioIignlTlfnt, w ..... Uy in inothtr SUt~ or coonlry. Considtralion mUlt be given in lhe settlemmt agreement 10 how 1M KMee member's reassignmtnt will aff«t the "'!iu· lion schtdule, as well;as to who will bear 1M Iogiltial ind
financial burden of long ~i.tanct visitation. Many ~wytn use in thtir uUlem.nt agtumtnu which dots not pennit tht child to bt tak.n outsi6t tht ilate by eithe. p;orml, "iihout tilt ptnllissioo of tilt other. Clearly, thislypt of C~Wf austS mort probltl'llS than it 5OI\'tJ if includtd in II miliury dillor« setUtmtnt. whether tilt mili\.lfy mtmbt. is to be the custodW or non.(U$\odilll p;o.rnl. If both pa.mU an military mtmbtrs. tht issues of child custody and child iUpport must be twn more artfully consilltred. and "standard" c"u$lis relating 10 who will rowr 1M child for modial a.e and other support and cwtody matters are oot appropriate.
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Will. and estate Planning The emphasis of the le~1 assistance office is 10 eruure thai tht CI has I will, with much ~ consideralion ... to how well thai will meets 1M individual's estate piannini needJ.... The \\1St majority oIltgll assislan« offices al military imul~tioni II\II~ the auumption that the KMct membt.1'IHdi only I Ii"",le will, leaving ewrything to tilt SpOUK or parmts, and can'l possibly n«d Knous <$ble pianning. which in any ewnt is not I K', ,ice ptnonntd by the JAC. Rarely is the will qmstiormai .. provided by the legal usist.ance oIflct suffident to determine " ..... ther the UMct m.mber shoul~ be advised to Kek more in-depth Htate plannini. Many civilian attorneys tend to make the ",me assumption. The young soldier who enlers your office and tells you he comes from a poor farm family may in fact be from l Midwestern farm family that i. ash poo' , bul 0WfU a Ifood sized /ann, with ~nd ..... llIfS thai require sophisti. cated estate planning. If tho individ ..... l who corntS to you is a unior milita.,. offi« •• lit or she may N>'!: KCUmu~ted signif· iant:as>t1J ow. the COOTK of their a rff1', ReQUK of nume. · OUS rtass"""",nls throughoul the o;artfr, thoK _Is rmy be spread CMr II ""mbt. of SUtts.. As estate law ..... ries widely from iIaI. to itate. in dtpth qutStionilli of the tr.ckgroond of the military client;' ah.'lI)'S 1IWfOP~1t before nt,mpling to rt'\lU a detenn .... tion of tst.ote plannina 1'IHdi. In the ewnt of 1M dtath oIlhe military member or Ij)OUU, whilt stationed in Alabama, the Llw permits lhe probale of the nut. in Abbama or tilt horntc stale of tho 6tceased." Alabama', probate expeTlie bur~.n i, low compar.d to many !tatt!, and even where the sUNiving spouu dots not intend to remain resident permanently within Alabama, there may be a significant cost advantage in comp;orison with !tatn which tr... probate emu on a percenUit of the valOR of the estate. Init"l aosiSUn« to the miliury (I"nl or spouse is proYided by the 100.1 tr... usualty assistance office, which Is _II wrsed in the btntfitsa ..... ilable to the SUMvor 01 a d«ustd military me..wr. Languoge relkcting the military ~r.ice of the dim! should be dralttd into the tlienl'l willll\ong with ~~ dirtCting the encutor to ronsult with the QWIIlty assislan« offICI of the neauiI milibory illttal~tion at the time 01 dGth. Ewn whe .. such language is not providtd for in tilt "ill. tht attomry mwt be a,,'are 01 this usistancf 50 as to tf\SUre all availabl. military and w terans Mndils ~ be obtained. Orw of the most .....Iuabl. assels of the dece .... d IItNice lTIfmber
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will tik~ly bot: his o.~. &rviwnen's Group Life Insurance (SGLI). which is 11I.....11y $200.000. "'hitt this is norrnI.lly ~d ouWdo the prOb.I.te utat. to tho designat..! booo,dlory in the pOIicy. ..totu theu Ire cNIIt,*, to the insurance PII)'I'Iltllt. I~ lIttOl"lleY should tor n.....,. oIl1t lust two di/fm'lICu brtwttll a $Undard civilian tife insu ......... policy lIrlII an SGLI policy. Firil. the SGLI policy. its PII)'ITItIlt and atM. matl~n. lIU geMmed by f..!enlillw. and any challtnga 10 the pOlicy PiOl'lntTlt lIU. by 1lIw. W<cn to ftdt...:J court. not stale C(IOJrt.SKornlly. as "';Ih the obtainine 01 child suppOrt lomOtmts. procedum for ~Iishing beneficiaries under an SGU policy difft. from se",ke to Krvice. though all a.t I/OIItmtd by 10 USCA 1965 el seq." BtcauK militir)' members art often depl~d from thei r rtg. ula. duty stalion 10 locations outside the stale and O\ItNeaS." durable r-oer of ..ItOTl>t)' m.1Y be IIpproprilte. Whil~ this is often "Titten by the b;ue Itgal oifICe. the civilian lIttorot)' Nn. dling otht. mltten for tho military clitnl m.1Y 100 be ask..! to draft this document. Many IItomeys and climls pmer to hive .. durable power 01 attorney wltkh only takes e/fm upOn the deployment 01 the military member. and in fxt. the JAG offict ...il1 ~MIy discourage IIny long sllIoding powt'r oIlitomry. By using II ~nging dur~1t power oIl1l101" 110)'. a copy.x tho temporary duty orders can be lottached showing tNt the circumstances ,,"'hieh ~ivatt the springing poIO'tr are currently in effect.
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Crt",INlI ~_t.tlon ""'hilt criminal"'pnsentation of the militar)' member is less common. it don occu •. and the civilian criminal defense altomtyl'lftdl to understand the r.lmirlQlions 01 military KMct in criminal ilctions. For t~ military mtmbeT cNrged .,.;th 1I crime in stlt. or /menl <:OIlrt. the rt1)'amtalion is essmtially the $MM as for any othtr dimt. though pO$.$iblt non-judiciltl ~ions takm by the military ag.ltinst the individ .....1 IS II mull of the civilian crimil\lllllClion mwt be consider..!. In lIddilion. possible KnttnCing lengths ...ill aftKI ...'heIher 01' not the military member is kept on the .olls of his or her mili. tar)' se",ice or dropped from tho$t rolls.. The civilian attorney should become aware of the ~",ice polieiu concerning sen· tencelengths !>efore entering into any plea bargain agreements with prosecutorJ. The other possibility is that a military member ITIIY wish to .,.tain you. Krvicn for I military court martilll procHding or non-;udicial punilhment procHdin,g. In that evenl the KM« member "';11 ilbo ~ the ItI'Yicts 01 the military lIUllllmnse counsel. The civilian attorney will aut ........ t.iCloIIy be considtrtd the lud lltorney in the event 01 rtl ... tion lor military prQCHd. ings.. However. the civilian lIttcorney should W<t lIdv.intagt 01 the presal« oIlhe .ra ..Itf'tfIK counsel ...'ho C.irt proYick substanlilllusistanct in the ilttu of~ on specirlQ 01 military bow and court mlrtilll procedure, as wen IS mlking 'KOITImen· <lations on legal $Irat~iH and their eHeclivenep. or IlICk 01 .lTectivenu.l. in the military court Kiting. In short. the lrtll
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defense counsel Clon be .. tremendous uset to the cn'Hian attor· ney attempting to practice in l military court or non·judicial punilhmmt procHdine.
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Yun .,go military buts ltnded 10 Wst br outsilk the city limits and n.'lIY from I~ civilian pOpUllIt.ion. In today's world mitiUry........torn 1M lIrlII work 1I1onasilk the civilian S«Ior. As l result. the pO$.$ibility that)'OU mll' be Clollw upon to Tq)TUenl military personnel is ,ruter todiy than ..... r before. Spttial Clore must be taken to ensure the numerous special laws pertaining 10 military "er$(ll1nel au considertd. complied with. and invoked when performing legal work for the military mem!>er. H~r. with special Clre. 'epreKntinQ the military client can be lIsignifi(.lOnl and ple~t a<!dition to the civilian attorney's practice. •
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Notice Mic..... S. I..nift of Montgomlf'/ was inad •• nenlly I,ll all 01 tIl,list 01 sPlong 1991 ~dmmees \0 tha Alabl ma Slate Bar. Momn suce.uM"" completed III PIIrtJmo'
of the ba r exam and was Idmmad to the state bar in Ap,jI1997. The Alabama State
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Preparation 01 Research Memos Slate & Federal Case Law Searches Slate & Federal Slatuta Searches Stale & Federal RegulatiOn Searches WESTLAW Searches legislative Histories eila CheckinB'dhrsrdiZing OIALOGIME LIN Searches Newspa~he$
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OPINIONS OF THE GENERAL C OUNSEL By J. An/hon!l MclAin, r;erwro/ counsel
The Alabama Rules of l'roIessioroi Conduct are constantly ,,,,,;ewe<!, intorpreted and applied by the Office of Ceneral Counsel in an effort to provide
Restrictions Ona Lawyer's Right to Practice Law
eillical guidance to Alabama .Uorn~. The Office of G<!neral Coun~1 i..,ues some 1,700 informal opinions annually to throughout the state. These informal opinions consist of either a written response to a lawyer's dhic.al inquiry. or ethical adllke imparted by bar counsel"';a telephone am""''''I;on.
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From time to tilm. ethical issues ""hich are new. usually of first impression, result in the is.<U.lnee of a lonnal OfIinion by the Disciplinary Commi..ion of the Alabama Stale Bar. which opinion btrome binding on the Commission. as we ll as on lawyers licensed to practice in Alabama. These formaliztd opinions of the Commi.. ion are available from the Off"e of Ceneral Counsel oft~ Alabama State Bar, and are presently being loadtd on ttw bar'~ website at UJu'W.%bar.org.
In
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of Alabama lawyers, it becomes appar· tnt that certain ethical issues dominate the rendtring of 5el'\licu by the practi· tioner, In an dfort to educate the bar, the Office of Cenenl Counsel reprint.s certain formal opinions of t~ Disdplinary Commission in The Alal>amo Ltmyer.
J . Anthonw Mel. in
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R.ctntl~, one ethical issue which Iw; rKeived. substantial number of inquiries, but which Iw; not been dealt with in a formal opinion, i nV<ll~s set· tletnl'nt agrumenli between parties in litigation wherein counsel for one or
more of th. parties agrees not to pursue future cases inV<llving the .... me OPPOS' ing party or parti ••. In an effort to add ..ss this issue short of a formal opinion, this column will discuss the applicable pr""isions of the Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct. which dearly address the ethical ramir.cations of .Iuch an agreement. Rul. 5.6(b), Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct. states: •A la"'Y"r shall not participate in offering or making an agrument in which a restriction on the lawyer's right 10 practice is part of the settlement of a controversy between private parties.· The Comment to Rul. 5.6 states: · Paragraph (b) prohibili a lawyer from agre.ing oot to represent other per· son. in connection with settling a claim on behalf of a clien!." Neither the rule nor the comment contains any exception, modification or interpretation of the simple prohibition contained therein "a lawyer shall not." The prohibition c(1'>'ers both th. ·offer· ing or making"' of any ouch agr«ment. The rule prohibili that agreement which contains an~ prO'Jision which places a restriction on the 1.....'Y"'·. right to practice. La....'Y"rs an: encouragtd \0 review this straiglitfoN'ard rule and tho com· ment, and insurtthat their mllemen! agreem.nts comply with the ethical mandates of this rule. The reasons for the prohibition are found in the inherent connie! cr.at.d by such a proJX)S>lI ..... h.rein the lawyer is confronted with an (}ff.. which i~ vel'}' attractive and acceptable to th.
di~nt. bul would rnlriet thai altomey from r~puHnling any futurt liliganU in malltrs involvirlll the SlIme opposing I"rty or parti... 5«ondly. Ihi. typt of rtStrietion would deny poleniia ll iliganlliheir ehoice of coun~1 by eliminating those lawyer. from Ihe pool of available lawyerJ. l..utly. thl OYtrall concept of ~Illing cia;"" would 1>0 cloodN b» the subt.rlug. prO\i.ion which in aunt. il an attempt to "buy oIr the l~rs($1 in queslioo. The Disciplinary Commission Iw ~reviously rtnder~d lUI opinion which does deal wilh Ihe eoncept of confidentially as to ~ttlemenl agreements. In 110·91·17. publi5hed in the May ·93 issue of T~ AJooonw LINger. lhe Commiuion cktermined thai it WiU dhially ~rmissiblt 10'1" a lawytr 10 participate in /I conficknliJ.1 $flllt....,nl ~n though thtr. rnay 1>0 a "poSJibilily of r.., c~u.ncn on Ihird I"rIi., or the public." The Commission rtasoned thai such an agreemenl. even though imposing more restrictions on coon~1 thill the client. was ~rmissible under Ih~ Ruin of Proftuional Conduct . The Ruks 01 Prolu.ional Conduo;! <;()nlinut 10 1>0 ~ in II practial..,l\5t. SO as to .... i.t the pnditiontr. not impede him. Recognizing the bedrock ofth.lawytr·client relalionship as being loyalty to the client. Ih. prohibition contaiMd in Rule 5.6(bll1ll'rely Milltn lhe plWibilily 0( Ihi$loyally being Ihrulened with improper in«ntivn offered counsel which could impair Iheiaw).. r"s indtPffldtnl profu"onal judgment. •
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Uniq"" in ""ptrit"Ct. Uniquo in droic;otion. Uniq'''' in Abbama. Th~··.., allo""-1' ..ith .... ore ,hall 00 tears of f"lIcai,.., ,i,k: indu''')' "',,,,",'ledgc and tale"'. t"''' M ~J>Pi No ,,<)mkr 'heu. ,ha, \":I11ry TIll. Undc ....Titing Coun ...1. And tt...y·r .. rtadt· to h.lp )"01'. J ust call 1-800-8U·I688 today.
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WHAT EvERY LAWYER SHOULD KNow ABOUT 1Jij(])~ ~EJDCfR
INCHAPIER 7 " mtnt months thm has bten much diKul.5ion IIbouI rnffirlTllltion ilgIftmtnl> in 0Japt.. 7 bank· ruplcy cases as a result 01 Stars. Roebuck &: Company's odmiWon UlII\ it tl(rc~ "f\awed \tgaI juc.Wnent" in tile tx«\J . ' tion 01 nalfirmltion ~mtnts. n.. Unitod Stales Hankn.opCcy Court ~ the District of M.w.ai:husttts <X:1r"llmwd this Slattmtnt by ruling in I CDt IhIII Stears lOoIaIod the discl1i~ injunction by inviti~f1I'O R ddJton to rWlinn a deb! and thm not filing the ~ ...;!h the Court. The Banlcruplc)' Court also artirlld lor ZlkmmI purpOK$ II tW 01 iIIl ddJtor$ "flo hid ~ .wiled mllinNtion ¢Ittillblb with Sun.. Sino: thm the U.s. Aiton'lty in Bolton hid ~1aI1 civilsuil ~ SuB in an dJort to skip its tUlfirmation pnctiw. The ~ionI mno:tmirC StM. ~ ~ brought to light simibr pr1IIdica by othtr fi~ irulitulion$ and notional rrloil crtdilon. This ilrtick atttmpis to pn:Mdt key irIonnation roncmoing the rt~nNtion right found in S«tion 524 of the BankruptCy Code and discusa the rtlattd rtlkmplion tights Ioolld in Section 722 of the Hankruplcy C(xIe.
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Redemption and reaffirmation au two stp.:lt'alt, though rtlatW. rtmedi'$ made available to II Chlopter 7 individual debtor to ~nable tilt dtblo. 10 .euin certain ~rs'.>naJ property llial strves as collateral stCuring an indebtedness. Redemption. todifird at II u.s.c.lm. provides lhat a debtor may reMem peroonal Pl'Of"'rty from" lim 5«Uring il dis_ chargublo «K>sUm." drbl by payin, to the _urN crtllitor the 1~5W' 0( the fii. market ""h.~ 0( the collateral or the iUllOIInt 0( the claim owtd u 0( the date 0( bankruptcy. iWffifflllltWn. c:odirlfd it II U.S.C. f52-4(c). contrmplatts lin agrmnent beI\o.'ftIl the ddltor and the itCl.lred creditor wbtrdly i ddlt tNt is otherwiw diKhlorgabk with mpfd to the pe ........ llillbility 01 the ddltor. is rtaffirml'd or rtnq/Otilot. til by the contracting p;ortie5.. The .nffifflllltion remody pr<>>'idts lin IIlteTTllltM method pursl.lllnt to which lo debtor may l ltempt to retain po;w.I'$$ion oI_ured coIlllter~1. Such an alteTTllltivl:, obviously attracti~ to the ~ebtor financially unable to redeem the s«urtll collateral.;s tilt eQuitable cOm· pliment to II U.S.C. 1722. Simply, a debtor incap;oble of Or unwilling to t~nder II lump·sum redemption am! redeem the _ured coll.te.,,1 for il$ fai. market vllu. may r.affirm with the creditor. contrawi .... /I debtor confronltll "i!h the crNitQ' unwilling \Q aecutell rtnejJOt iattll ag«<:ment IN}' .. uin the itCl.lred collat.ral by rtdwning it for its llIi. marht ""Iut • ...-hid! ..... Iut IN}' be .... Mbntialty Ius thin the contract ....1 indebttll.-. If /Ill ind~ ddJIor's schedules 0( -a and liabilities intIuIk oonwmer debts JtQIred by propertyd tht e:st/Ile. II USc. 1521(2) falllilti the debtor 10 Ak II ~~ r:J his inlmlion with mped 10 the retention or .... mndtr of tNt property "ithin 3(1 days 01 the petition. The deblor is further rtqUired \Q perf<lml his staltll intentions within 45 days of filing the mtt· ment <Jf intention. N<!Iwilhstandillllthe afomaid rtqUi .. ment,
thmi is no Jtalt'd ~ty lor the Wlun of the debtor 10 UII'IlIlIY (e) I~ \a"oyer fully lllvised the debtor of the Itg,ol with lhr ~oi 11 U.s.C.I52I (2). Whmwo'HM ottd ...i!h effect and COfIiotqutrla$ 01 the ~mmt and any the I'iilurUlh dtbtor 10 0JIllCI/y with 11 U.5.C.IS21(2) cowts ddault undt. tilt agr«mtnl. xroM tilt country ~ ~ !hemailerindifk.tI.I....lnsiluMionsilMllving~prollldtbtoror ..tIt .. 1M Some cowts nqui .. dd!tors 10 compIdt tilt slManmt upon debtor', Ll-..ye ....ill not furnish the ffilUirt<l dtd.l .. tion thrtat of losing their ~ disc:twat or bring klur<I in a;n. or ~ffid.a\;t, the bionkruptcy court must iIPI»'O"! lhe .taI". tempi oi COlIrt. 0thtT COlIrU rtqUire nothiog. firmalion a,gretmtnt. AI such hearing the COlIrt is In Tavlor II. AGE Federal Credit Union (In re Tag/fir). 3 F.3d required to infoml the debtor: 1512 (11th Cir. 1~3). the Elevo:nlh Circuit Coort 01 Appeal$ (1) IMI the agrmntlll is not required bylhe Ilankruptcy Iltld that a Ctu.pter 7 debtor may not retain ooIlaleraJ without Code. ur.Jo.r non.bankn;ptq law. or undo. any <lgrttmtnl either rtdttming lilt property or ruffinning the debt. Tho not mille in~with Stction 524{c); TalJlor Court did not 5lalu-ha1 hipprntd if 1M ltidline (2) of 1M legal efftct and COI'IKqUmCts of tho agrH~ iIIId the dtbtor ~ dont neither, It~,. iI5 CIlitf U.s. mmilloo i ddault under the IllirHmelll Judge~ .. Mitchell of the U. S. &nktuplcy Court 10. the Additicnally. the 8.inkruptcy Court is required to determine Northtm District 0( AIaIwno. noted in the tl$t 0( In re t/I;ot!ht agrwnen\ does not impoK iIf1 undue hudihip on the Norman, No. 94..05643-10."'·7 (Bkrt()l.N.O.Ab.. Jan. 8. ]997), a dtbtor or ~ depmdent o(!ht debtor iUId il in the dtbtor"s belt interut. close rudiOll of the tl$t show!. t/I;ot the court of appeab dir«t· ed the diltrict court to affirm the bankrupt()l court's ordtr If you represent creditors there ITt sew..] poinu to C()nSid. compelling the debtor to enter into a reaffirmation agrtttmnt er. flrsl. reaffirmation contemplates" consensual agrtement or to mltem the propert)'. In ~Ior the Stclion 52] deadline ,. credilor ,""nnot bt ~quirtd to ~affirm I debt on tums ~ p.Wed by the ti_the onkr was entertd on mot;""i:j[l";'=~~~ e to it f~quently this pOint becomes relrvlnt the CredItor. Therefore. the E~nth Circuit implicith: ld r has sewral dtbtJ owing 10 the oarne ~ilor. thIIIl ddltor rr-.y ruffirm or rtdttm ~tf the roe date :hid! lire HCUred iUId OIhen "-hich i~ unstp.Wed. The only dtadlint dato: ~ed with enlimes the ddltor ~ to only raffirm INItion ~mtnts is found in ] I U.s.C. ISM l. red dtblS and discharge !ht URNCtJred "-hich proYidts thalli re.affiTmltion agr« i is In these Instances the creditor an only mfortrabl. if it is mttred into bdore I requ • ruffinnation of the unsteurtd dtbtl c"''lIe is gl"lllted in a caR. l]O.·e 0 it as" condilion \0 reaffinnillJlthe The procedure coneeming the reaffinnat secu d debt. Stcond, the reaffirmation agreta consumer debt dtpends upOn whether th men tds to bt filed with the hankrupt()l COIl brior to the diKhar~ order bring gnnt. debtor is Rflresented by legal counstl. If t debtor is represented by legal counstlllnd I .-rlAfI"'~ . rd. the ~irs tl$t delllOlWntts ih.Iol cred. Iowil\ll Jteps IT. follOl<-"td. rufli1"l1W.ion will '? .. itors kI make loUr. thit rtaffiTmllion agrft. menlS . 'l1li pro MI debtors l~ filed with the hank(1) lhe ajlr«mmt is madt briort the IlrJ.nf rupl()l schedt.Iled for I hrllri"ll brfo~ tht dischirte disdurgto; . . . .=~~ir teredo rourth. creditors Ihould br <:OrI«mc:d as to (2) the agr«ment contains I etur and conspicuous whether the Surs tl$t will be limited to silU/itions inwMng slatement which adl.i ses the lleblor thit the lIIrtt"",nt pro w debtors. Surs has ~milt~ that it did not m~ the r~Jf. ma~ be rescindW at any time prior to diKharge Or with· firmation agreements in 2.733 tl$ts. but there may hi~ boten in 60 days aft •• such ag~emeot il med with the court. instances where the llebtors wt"re not reprekoled by counsel during the reaffiTmltion proct" iUId I reaffirmo.tion agrttwhichtver occurs later. b)' giviOll notice of resci ..ion to the holdor 0( such claim; mtnt was signed "i!hout the debtors counsers koow\edgf; or 131 the ~mtnt conuins l cJur lind conspicuous lIP\II'lMl. ltiltment which idvises the debtor thIII such ~mmt If you ITPrtstnt i creditor you 1I1O IlHd to br a.."lU thit is not required by tht Binkrupl()l Code. under nonb.lnlclleptOding on the timing 011 rescWion decision by II debtor. rupt()lblw, or under iUly lI[r«mtnt not in iKWrdanct with the prOVilIions ofSKtion $241,1; (41 the agr«menl is filed with the bIInkrupt()l court;
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(51 the lIIr.ement is i>«Qmp;lnied b)' a dtclaration or lIlidllvit of the dtbtor'llawyor that represented the debtor during tht course of negotiating the .... ffiTml· tion ~r«mmt thit IlI)the ICr«mmt rep .... nu I fully informed md voluntary agr«mmt by the debtor. Iblthe lIIIr«ment does not impoK iUl undue hird· >hip on the debtor or ~ dependent of the debtor;
Richard Wilson & Associates Reg istered Professional Court Reporters 804S. ~~ MonI~, A1abl..u ]6104
264-6433
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,jon be included in the reaffirmation firmation process. If thtjl don't be li e\~ agreement speci~ing that if the debtor reaffirmation of a particular debt is in rescind.. the reaffirmation agreement, the best inlerest of the debtor Or the debtor's dependents, coun..1should not the debtor wa.i~ any defense to Ihe creditor filing a non-dischargeability agree to sign the required doclaration action within. specified time pe~ ~5daVII.and let the bankruptcy court the matter. Further it goes following the rescission noti~ithstanding the passage of I ~63r wllhou S3{ing. that if debtors' date. 11ow<:\"t•. such a Irac· counstl<~] gns a falst declaratIon or affiilaVlt thel",,-yer IS Open tual provision is proW "y not enfor""able in c rt. for la'4.,er atlark by the To fully protect the edi· .. ~ debt<>'i\should the debtor tor that has a non - is~ I regJ \ the reaffirmation chargeable clllim a#inst dedsi later. the debtor. the cr~~l~\o", The t pOlOtto discus.s is la ..yer should obtai rom what p~ns if a dtblor refu 10 reaffirm Or redeem the bankruptcy cou extension of the deadlt date consumer propert~. As fOT fIling a non-discharg il ity . the Eleventh Circuit action against the debtor 10 ~te that has held with regard to penonal is beyond lhe date the debtor ~ ~ ~uring a <lobi in the Chapter rescind the reaffirmation agreement. scenario, the debtor has only three If you represent debtors you may con· options: reamrm the debt, redeem the sider contacting former clients 10 delerproperty; or surrender the property. min. if they ha\" been inVQI~ in an Other circuits provi<lo a fourth option: u.., debtor k.elll the collateral as iong as improper reaffirmation pT(>Cess. Likewise, debtors' counsel should be lhe payments On the secured debt are alert to their responsibility in the reaf· kept cumn\. HoY."eWr. this OIltion was 5PfCifie<olly rejected by the EI<:\~nt h Circuil. The logie<ol remedy available to a creditor where the creditor and debtor reach an impasse reg.:>rding reaffirmation of a debl and the discharge order has not been entered. is to requrst that the automatic stay be terminated to permit the debtor 10 rfC<)\,"tr its collat· Ctnifted Fliud F.x.mi .., R"lph eral. Once the discharge order is So.unrnetbd.O'A.ha!dMud . ~ entered the bankruptcy automalic stay to tnJI:inS lUI! >I!arI<y$ go'! the "'1"'1c.ases. In such an instance and presumttstitrKny. dep;>IOlioo 1!.Ip. and <2\e'ing the property securing the repayI\'IitOO wl)Z tIw ('0<11"--\"",:= ment of the debt was claimed exempt by -~ Fa .,..,. 20 j'W'. attorn<')" ho~ .... the debtor, the creditor e<on re.:over its lied on him b-~ voIuotlooi. fo. collateral (but not the underlying debl) mtSlc amJIInllng. lnvnt!g.lllvt K_ through either .. If-help remedies or use "",ntlng (,",if and UItninoI mottmj, of state court remedies. and ~and..wtdilp4f<.. All can be said aboul redemption. Lillie in .11, OItomey> tIovt fOl.llld h!> IIdp The redemption remedy is deri'"td from im.. tuoblo tn Q~lIng d.>m>ges. the Uniform C<lmmerdal COOe. The H..."" /trip y"" roo. remedy is limited 10 "tangible persona l CaJJ,.,.. fUr 8 ~~Iarioro. property intended primarily for person al, family or household Ust_" II U.SC, Ral ph Summerford, §722. If an indi"idual debtor wants to CFE, CPA property, the debtor must file a redeem C{lII /(J(/{lY _~ ~r;1'''' _ motion with the bankruptcy COIJri and __ obtain permi>sion to do so. Wai'~r of redemption rights are not enforceable. 111m : m • .utIOOTII HAmil M.llA • 1901 ~I!H A~HUUroiTII • 'IUIIN6IIAAt AI • JmJ The bankruptcy court will determine
the creditor could get e<ought in a situa· tion where the debtor properly rescinds a reaffirmation agreement alter the deadline date has passed for the creditor to file a non.dischargeabiHty complllint against the debtor. Although the reaffirmation remedy is commonly used in situations where there is personal property .. curing tho repayment of a debt, Section 524(c) doe.<; not limi! the reaffirmation remedy to such ,ituations. Rather. any debt that is dischargeable in a Chapter 7 ~ e<on be the subject oh reaffi rmation agreement. A creditor may ha~ a type of non·dischargeable debt that requiru the creditor to file an ad"eThal}' proctt<!ing in the bankru~tcy case and obtain a judicial determination that the debt is non-dischargeable in bankruptcy (such as where the debt was procured by fraud On the part of the debtor! . It is not uncommon for a debtor and creditor to enler into a reaffirmation agreement where there is no dispute concerning the dischargeable nature of the debt. If a ta-...yer er.c(lunters such a situation, il is rtrommended that at a minimum, a contractual provi -
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When you need expert valuation or litigation support, call the specialist.
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1M rtdelTlfll.ion amount. As the mc:wing party. thl: debtor will ........ tht initial burden of pmving ....tw the fair Il'IlIrUt value 01 the coIbtt~ is UHl the amount of cIebt owed. If thl: emli· lOr disputes tither. tht creditor must pmrnt rvielena to rdlut 1m clebtor's testimony. Rtdmlplion oontempbtes I lump sum paynwnt by thl: debtor to tht $WJ1'fd ,I'fditor. although a stcurtd creditor can agrff to I'fdtmption on an in$\;Illmtnt payment hasis.
The ruffirmation and redemption remfdie$ ~re two impor. tant aspects 10 Chapter 7 ban kruptcy. with which evtty Lawyor who finds hirnKlfin tm bankruptcy iOrt~, either .. debtor's
coulIKl or iii crtditor', ~I . ..t>ould be farniliu.
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e~cluding only "the plainly incompetent and thost wOO knowingly vinlate the law." Malley v_Briggs. 475 U.s. 335,341 (19$). Qualirltd immunity ","",r> a J'IlbIic officer sued in his indr.idual capacity. It il; not aw1icabte to the official sued in his official capacity. as an officialcapilCity claim i. essentially a suit against the government and theMore subjoct to the immunities applicable to the employ;,'l! entity. such as Elevmth Ammdmmt immunity. I(enrudrv" Craham,473 U.s. 1S9 (1985). Qualified immunity"",," not bar an adion against a public officer in his offlCiol capacity for JlTOSI)tCtiIo'e
.. lief, as oppostd to money damages. Graham , 473 U.S. at 167 n. 14. A crucial feature of qualified immunity i$ the opportunity it affords a public officer to appeal a court's denial of immunity without waiting for a final judgment. Interlocutory appeals from summa ry judgment orders denying quali · fied immunity have beCQme a rQUtine practice in civil righl.$: litiga_ ti'ln. In 1995, the United States Supreme CQUrt's decision in Johnson v. kmes called into quuti'ln the defendant'. ability to ,..,Iy on immediate appeals 'ln this isoue. 515 U,S. 304 (1995). But since the John.<Qn v. Jones decision, the t:1"",nth Circuit Court of Appeals seems to be raising the hurdle. that plainliffs must dear in Qrder to OVI'rcQme qualified immunity, while continuing tQ entertain appell ate jurisdictiQn where a fac. tual isoue is construed to constitute • "core qualified immunity" issue. A tore qualified immunity isoue is whether given conduct, supported
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by evidence sufficient that a jury could base a decision on it.
is objectively reasonable in light of clearly established law. In his special ooocurnoce in McNilNaJl v. Jo/InsQn. 101 r. 3d 1363 (11th Cir. 1996). Judge Robert Propst quoted an unidentified ..,eaIrer as saying. "Keeping up "i!h qualifoed immunity is a full· time job: Id. at 1366. By the time thisartk~ is publW>ed. the EI""""th Circuit will undoubtedly ha>.", isouro roughly a dozen more deci>ionuddr~ing qualified immuni\),. for the reasons explored below. lawyers representing individual goo.oernment offi· cials would do ",,,,lito keep trad: ul tt..... opinion.<. Hlsfo~
. nd Purpos. of ,"- Immunily The rtCOgnition ul a qualified immunity for public offlCffS is the mult ul ajudicial balancing ul interests between the need for a private darnageo remedy in the event ul abuses of authority. and the need to lohield public servants from the consequences of litiga. tion. Lawsuits attacking the discretionary ptrlorrnance ul public duties adve~1y affed officials' zeaIou$ purwit of their public function. They abo dec""",,, productivi\)' by taking the offICials away from tt..... functions. The soci.1l costs of allowing actions for darnageo .,gainst public oIIieials include a drlrimenLol dfect on the abili\)' to attract qualified JI""""'" to serve in those WSitions. Harlow II. fitzgerald. 457 U.s. 800. 1114 (1992). Harlow o:h.mge<.I the fil(e ul qual if.oo immunity. fonnerly knoI<IIn 11$ "good faith" immuni\)" by eliminating any subjective oom""""nt from its .....ty,;is. In most cases, a drlenninotion as to the pr~ 01. subjective good faith involves eJItensive diSCO\leJ)' and "ill ultimately present a question of fact. Thus. the lIarlow Coort concluded. the inclusion 01. good faith 11$ a <;Omponent ul qual ified immunity is inimical to the countervailing intrrest ul having immunity decided quickly on a motion to dismiss or for sumnwy jU<!grntnl451 U.s. at 816. Largely for this reason. the Supreme Coort held that qualified immunity should be based on the objective reasonableness of the defendant's conduct in light ul clearly Hlablished fedtrallaw. The standard tSbbhshed by Harlow is that: IG\<JI.",rnment officials performing discretioo.l1Y functions generally are lohiekled from liability for civil o;Iamages insofar 11$ their conduct does rot violat. dearly establW>ed oorutitutional or stotutOT)' rights of which a reasonable person """Id have knoI<IIn. Id. Thus, ,,+>en the defendant raises qualified immWli\),. the plaintiff has the burden of pn'Mng that a reasonablt public officer would not have believed her actions to bt lawful in light of dearly tSbblished law. This requires a showing that the right the plaintiff cb ims to have bttn abrogated "'as clearl)i tSbblW>ed at the time ul violation. kl<krwt>" CMghlw.. 483 U.s. 635, 641 (1987); Jo/InsQn" G iflaro, 74 f.3d 1081. 1091 (11th Cir. 1996}. Rights may be clearly established by enactment of stotutes or ordinances. More often. they are tSbblished by ~ law interpreting constitu·
.,.,. '"""""
kKler.ion oddressed the criteria for a rul. of law to be "clearly established." and declined to recognize brood. general rights as sufficient to "ithstand this test, Rather, "(tlhe contours of the right must be sufficiently clear that a reasonable Q/lkial woukl UJ"od<>ntand that whtlt ~ i$ doing vioIat ... that righl" 483 U.s. at &40 [emphasis added.) The factual frarneworit ul the right alleged·
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Iy ,;olated must be clear movgh to allaw the reasonably prudent otrlOO" to recognize ",+>en he is infringing upon il Eleventh Circuit c.ue law provides some guidance as towhat constitutes a violation of a clearly established constitutional righll'or example. in Do/ihite u. Maughon. 74 f.3d 1027 (11th Cir. 1996). the court affinned the denial of qualifiw immunity toa social worker at a state mental health racility. The defen · dant social worker knew that the plaintiff>' son had threatened suicide and tried 10 injure himself. yet t<Xlll him off close ~r. vation within two days after he had attempted to hang himself. The social worker also failed to notify any p;<ychiatr;"t Or psy" chologist about this behavior. and failed to continue protective measur .. that had betn put in pia« for the bo}-. lfthejulY found this e>.idence to be true. the coon said, it 'o\IOUld consti· tule deliberate iooifferena to the bo}-'. seri""" mtdical Offi!s in light 01. a I'rior c.ue with ver")' .imilar facts. At the time of the boy's injury. there was a dearly t stablished Eighth Amendment right for the I'roI..ssiorols at the defendant mental health center not to be deliberately indifferent to his mental health need$. 74 ~".3d at 104~. As in the prior ...... (G""'-'QI! v. Kemp. 891 F.2d 829 (11th Cir. 1m!). a reasonable person in the social worker's wsilion would have known thai her conduct constituted delibtrate indifference to the decedent's rights. Also, in Cooper" Stmlh. the court denied qualified immunil}' to a Georgia sheriff who refused to renew the <;Ommission of the plaintiff. a deputy sheriff. Ml.. the plainHff cooperated "ith the Georgia Bureau ul Investigation on. probe into COlTUption in that sheriff's departmml 89 F.3d 761 (11th Cir. 19961. At the time of the deputy"s """._-al, it was dearly established that it was a violation ulan tmjl\o.,.ee's First Amendment rights to take adverse mw\oyment action because of the employee'. cooperation with a law enforcement inqoiry into COITUfIIion. Prior cases put a reason-abk sheriff in the defendant"s WSition on ~ that it was unconstitutional to refuse to continue the plaintiff's employment for cooperating with the investigation. Another sheriff was refused qualifitd immunity in 'TfnJa1 II. Marotgomtl1]l County Commn .. 32 f.3d 1535 (11th Cir. 1994). The"" the pbintiff dispatcher was terminottd after she t.stified .,gainst the loheriff in a Stt and race discrimination ...... brought by aliler employees. In the discri mination case. the trial judge had warned the sheriff rot to retalillte .,gainst the dispatcher for her testimon~. In TirI<k1I. the Ele>.",nth Circuit found that the dispatche(s testimony was prOltded by the First Amendment: that there was no e>.idence that it impedtd her wor!< or that 01. the sheriff's oIIiee: that there was sufficient e>.ideoce from which a julY cou ld find that the staled reason for the dispatchers ter· mi""tion "'as prdextual; and that. given the judges warning, no reasonable person in the loh.riff's pOSition could have failed to realize that t.nni .... ting the dispatcher """Id constitute retalia· lion for her prOlected sptt(:h. Therefore. the sheriff WII$ not enti· tied 10 qualified immunity. In McMifli<m v, JOOrucm , the court of appeals denied qua lified immunity to a county sheriff. an investigator. and an Alabama Bureau of Investigation agent. 88 f.3d 1554 (1 1th Cir. 1996). modified. 101 1'. 3d 1363l11th Cir. 1996), reh"g rn bmlC drnied 109 I'. 3d 773 Illth Cir. 1997). The plaintiff. McNiliian. was charged with murder. tri ed and convicted. Witnesses laler recant~ and the conviction was overturned on appeal. The
ElMnth Circuit dtnit'd ~iflf<l immunity on thot bMis d ..... thai thot thrtt con5pired 10 hold thr pbintiff on ~ ruw.1 IioII1W1 Prioon whilf waiting tn..l, lor the purpOSl: d punW!.ing thr plaintiff. Tht ~l.i.inliff in l'kMitlkm had .. clearly ~ished f ourteenth Amendment righl. as .. pretrial deliinee. !lOt to br punished until he was convicted. Tht a.ppellate court 5.1id tNt M1l though it lound no ~ ill\'Olving simil.i.r /xis. thr tvi<krn ci inlml. to purilih prreJudrd qualiford imnw.mity, '" any ~ (lffic::YI in the drfencbnts· POsitions should haw b--.lthal il was unoonstitutiorW to intentionally punOO .. prrlmi dtuinee. Ilecause intm! or PUrpOSl: is an wenlial eltmml ri I FoortWllh Amtndmenl YioIalion, the evidtnte ci \kfendants' intent could be considered in the Qualified immunity analysi!. Tht ilJIIIf llat. rourl abo /(lund. based on ...idrnu tNt the \klmdanl.l pltitnttd coenxd and I"Itrjured testimony in the plailllitrs criminallrial. thaI "e>MY ~ olfocialwould hlYe knooooo... tNt routing Ii co-<.It(trlIbnll to IQ\ify bbt¥ would vioIale pbintitr$ rigJlts. 88 1'3d at 1570. Tht i»ue d ","Il.ether iUbjectM Inlm! !NY br considered in the qua.lir.ed immunity ~naly$is tan br sticky. Arornpari$Ofl ci Mel/illimt and 1\lllm u. Sc/tu..,fbtl. 112 1'. 3d 1127 (\ lth Cir. 1997) with lhe en /Jane opinion inknkiru 11. ToIlotkga Cil,l 8ctmI 01 £duallion. 1151'. 3d 821 (11th Cir. 1997), indiaota tNt the Itg.ol ~ iIflIP/iabie to the puticul;or CORIIitutional rigJlt it iiwe dttermintJ the uknl to ",-hid1 thot oII"iCW', intmt !illY br considered. dn\(o:
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public: oIIiciiI nIiIes the dtknse d qudirord mnunity. the pbintiff ban; the burdtn ci .ro.."ing th.)t the riSU allegt'dly WlIoted "'......, durly abbIished at the time ci the OXIni/i1ulional tJan.!.tlrtSMon. Bar~ 11. )og>wr. 865 ~: 2d 1187. 1100 (11th Cir. 1989). Tht Et...-enth Circuit has for!1lffit time rto:oJgniud the [01. lowii1ll two-part irWysis lor qw.lilit'd immunity ciai,"" I . Tht dti"mdant ~ irrrnunity must first ~ ~t "1w: _ -.tire ",;!hin the KqII' 01 . . diKntionary Mhority whm the alJtetdIy....oo¢al acts occumd. 2. \\lIm dti"m1an!'s burdtn is 5.1tisfied. the plaintiff ban; the burden ri proying that dti"mhnfs conduct ""W>bted clearly estab-
liI.hed constitutional law." Rid! ... l)oItm. Stl l'.2d 1558. 1563-64 (\ 1\h Cir. 1988). quoting ~ ... .A:Joboo. 716 1'. 2d 847 U Itheir. 1983). ThtstC(lnd part 01 the 1tSI0N)' he SIlIil into IWO analytical ..q,;.oU. both 01 which .. ~ questions 0Iiaw: the eou", must detmnine Ii) the SIltte 01 the dwly aUblishtd law at the ti"", ci the ~f$ iid. and (b) .....hethtr the~ is • genuine isaue 01 fact ... to whether that con· duct YioIated clearly embIiIhed legal rights. Coor:sm ... M~tifliiJ". 9391'. 2d 1479. 1487 (1 1th Cir. 1991) cilirlg Rich, itt. ~\any rKmt £lcwnth Cira.oil Wots .... m to skip OWl" \hi! twoPO", IniIysis. probobIy beaust in most QSts it is ~ ficile. Only r;wtIy is it disputed thiIt the o/Iicialwas actii1ll within the KqII' d his discrtticiNry ltllhority as a goyemmmo: oIfictr. See. efj., sum.. II FultOll Coon/g, 7~ F.3d 266. 269 {11th Cir. 1996).
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U$uaIly, the real i!.we to Ix .>ddrmed at the ool$et is whether the right that the plain~ff daims WILl ioo-J dearly established. If the violation claimed by the plaintiff has not Ixen established at the time of the incident at issue. then the ddendant is due to bo: di$miSi"d based on his immunity. The dea. ly established nature of the right is a Question of law for the trial court. If the court determines that the right is dearly established. the question bo:comes whether a rt"awnable public offi· cial could have beli"".d that his conduct was lawful. Johnson v. Clino" . id. This )'ear. the ~;Ieventh CiTt\lit e>:f'~ the plaintiff'$ burden in tenru; Ill" another two-part test whi<:h appiIrt"ntl)' assumes that defen· dant has met his burden W1der the ow. step of the Rid> test. According to the panel in lli<ta CommwU·tll $en;ice< v. Dean. in on\e. for a plaintilf to dtfeat the qual ified immunity dtferne. he must lotKM~ (i) that Defendants· CQni.luct vi(>. l.l.ted his dearly established loon· stitutional1 rights. and (iii that a ~Ie go.."mment official"......,1d have been aware Ill" those rights. 107 1'3d 840, 844 (11th Cif. 1997l. Sinc. the purpose <I qualifittJ immunity is to avoid. to the txt""t possible. even participating in the litigation, these questions will usually be adoJrmed in either a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule IZ(b)l6). Of in the context of a motion for wmmal)' judgment. The United States Supreme Court has recognized that qualified immunity QUe$IiOnS should be .>ddressed at the ea.!;est pOMible stage Ill" the litigation. Siegert v. Cilley. 500 U.S. 226 (19911: I/Wller I'. /JIyan1, 50Z U.S. 224 (199]). In many CiL$I':S, partkularly those involving the !lctions of police officers. there wilt be a factual dispute over exactly what did hap. pen ~e.g.. how mudl force the off"". used in effecting an arrest) Because fed. R. Ca,. P 56 requires the courts to exami".. the record in the light rrIO$l favotable to the non·""""",t. the 'II'I'S. lion of whether the plaintiifs rights ""re violated must be decided based on the a5SUmplion that the plaintiff's evidell« is taken as true. and all inferences drawn in her favor. Do/ihile u. /IIvugi1on. 74 F3d 1027 ~ 11th Cir. 1996). Even SQ. the plaintiff. burden is hea>.y. Since the./olulson " Jones decision. th. Eleventh Circuit has hor....J the standard st1 forth in Harlow. Mallet! and Creighton such that ..... n if the law alleged to be viol.ltttJ is cleari)' established. the plaintiff still has the borden of lotKMing that ....."hen the defendant /IClttJ. the law <'Stablished the contoo ... of a righl SQ dearly thai a reasonable offi· cial "......,Id have unde ... tood his acts were unl.tl.ful: Po:;t o. Cilll of Ft.IAUderdow. 7 r. 3rd 1552. 1557 (11th Cir. 1993). modified. 14 F. 3rd 583 ~lIth Cir. 19941. The Post Opinion as modified wilhd.ew langua,ge in tht original Opinion to lhe effect lhat a plaintiff must produce evi· denct to allow a fact finder to find that no reasonable perSQn in th~ offici.rs position could have thought the situation jU$ti. fi~d the lItts.t i$Su •. HQ'oI.·.:ver. FOIl u. Holslrm. 94 F. 3d 1528
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(II th Cir. 1996) strengthened the Post panel'$ modified con· clusion with double negatives: No jul)' could find that it "......,Id have been unlawful for lworl<e ... in defendant.'!· $ituationllo do as Defendants did if the "",",".lacked d~riminatOf}' intent. More important no jury could find that re.l$ONlble child custody "wk .... would never hvve done the things def.ndants did bot for a discriminatory inlent. 94~: 3Td at 1535 (emphasis i>dded) The FOIl panel held that •·... en with .... id.nee in Ihe .=lTd of discriminatory intent on the part of the defendant.'!. Qualified immunity may be available. "'That state officiab <:an act law· fully ..... n when moliv.ltttJ by a dislike o. hostility 10 certain protected behav. ior by a citizen is well established. ICitation omitted.1 That state offi· dais <:an be motivated. in part, by a di.like o. ho!;tility t(>Wa.d a certain protectttJ class to which a citiun belongs and .till acllawfully i$ like· wise e,tablished.ICitation omit· ted.1" 94 1'. 3d at 1534. Fog's condU5ion that. under the facts in that case. evidence of discriminatory intenl was not .nough. of itself. to overcome a rootioo based on QualifittJ immunity is consi5Imt with poI.\·lIrrrlow Eleventh Cireoit and Supreme Court precedent establishing that an offcial"~ wbjective intmt is ii'n'l ....ant to the analysis of oojec!iw rea..(lnab~ &e lAWter ,ulla/)ama M,If Ilniversitll, 28 I'. 3d 1146. 1150 (11th Cir. 1994Hon rehearing "" b.:mc). citing.-lnder.ioo. 483 US. at 641.l.assiter quOtttJ "ith approval the decision in A:Ist. which declared. 1111 case law. in factual tenns, has not staked oul. brighlli"... Qualified immunity almost a!lo.<I)'S povtects the defendant 7 F.3d at 1557. Fog also emphasized the fact that there was evidtnce of wffi· dent ia\o.ful motivation. along "ith the ",ideo<:.. of discriminatory inlmt. on the part of the dtfendants. Thi.o; ",idencc essentiali)' made it • case of mixttJ motives.. In the .,resell« of evidence of valid reasons for the actions. the defend.mt.'! were entitled to quali. fottJ immunity. 94 F3d at 1535-36. While the facts of the case al bar nI'I'Il not be the sam< as those in the case law held up as ~howing that th. dtfen· dant violated a dearly ostablished constitutional right. they do "need to be materiali)' similar'" in order for the pl.l.intiff to owrc.ome a claim of qualifittJ immunity. ;\d:m1$1'. SI. Wde OJuntll Sheriff's 1)epI.• 962 F. 2d 1563. 1573 (11th Ci •. 1992). quoted in Umiter. id. ~·or qualified immunity 10 be surrendered. pre-aisting law must dictate. that is, t",ly compel ~not just suggesl or allow <lr raise a QlIf:'diQrl about). the conclusiQrl for every likHitw.!ed. .easoNble govemmenl agent that what dtfendant is doing vioIatttJ federal law in lhe cir.
""II
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28 F.3rd at IlSO ~emphasis in original). The language in Lassiter" and Fay strongly indicate. that. "ith·
out a case "OIl pOinl" with regard to the $p('Cifoc conduct und«· Wi.n by the defendanl official, the officiAl is probably due to be dismissed as an indi\idu.al defendant. 1Wo other cases contain ewn stronger stalements aboul the need fw a plaintilf to cile a case "ith nearly idenlical f~ Con.ider tho CilWil', Ianguag¢ in
&Iesv.//unl: We know of no appellale de(:ision 00 the ~:C;1.Q1 ProIedion clause lhal holds that the Irogth and tho nature of experience in govemment se~ cannot be .. lied on in flXi"ll the pay of employee< doi"ll similar work. ..Nothi"ll in the Equ.all'rolection clause plainly says thl.l reltvant experience cannot be torUide~. 3 F.3d 374, 379 (11th Cir. 1993). 1Wo yeal"$ later. in &melle v. Folmar, the court said:
No case bindi"ll in this circuit clearly established as a l.g..i matt.r that plainliffs' resignations we ... in these circurnstaoct.s. dischl.rg<>$. And. no case has been cited to us lhat clearly established (in 1990 bd"o.. Wibon ~ publicly) thai a >JioIation4·liberty·interest claim would arise where the employee fl!SignIOO his empk:r,menL ..aOO wh... the emplo.,oer"1 stigmatizi"llstalements were made afier the employee had resigned. 6-t F.3d 598, 601 (lIth Cir. 1995) (emphasis in original). See also SnisstJ. 74 F. 3rd at 269-7(). Finally. in./f>..uns v. 7I1/11l1kga Cilll &arrl of&/ua.Ition. an en
bane court of appeals ,"aCilted a panel decision refusing to grant qualified immunity to school officials in a search context. liS F. 3d 821 (11th Cir. 1997), The parents of two eighl·year-old girls sued the school board and individual teachers claiming that the elementary schooI>tudents' Fourth Amendmenl rights were vio>laled by a strip search conducted 10 find another sludeIl!"s mil.si"ll 5e\ieI1 dollars. The court held; Awlyi"ll the prirocipies explicilly slated in lAssiter. we oonc:lude thai. al the time these ...... nts look place. the law pl'rtaini"ll to the appliation of the Fourth Ammdment 10 the search of students al schooll\ild not been dev.1oped in • conc.. le. factu.allysimilar conlext 10 the extenl thaI edocalors were on notice thai their c0nduct was eonslilutionally il1tjll'nnis.lible. 115 F. 3d at 828. Sttmingly to the cootral)'. however, Willker v. Schwag,." 112 F. 3d IIZ7 (11th Cir. 1997). held that in ~'irst Amendment retaliatory discharge/demotion claims. subjective intent or motivalion "is a criticalelemenl of the alleged COn>Iitutionai violation" and therefort must bt torUide~ as part of the qualified immunity """lysis. Since the plaintiff produced wMlanliaJ evideoc:e thai his prot~· ed speech embarrassed the defendanl and Pr<Mded • rI"IOti-Je for retalialion, the court assumed al the wmmary judgmenl.~ that the def.ndants did indeed retaliate against him for hi. ~h. "J'he 1~lIlker court found thai the /act.,; of 5eWI"3.l earlier First
POsmON ANNOUNCEMENT
Clerk of Court The Uniled Stales Court of Appeals fo. Ihe
Eleve~lh
Circuit
in~ile5
applicalions f.om qualifi ed pefllOnS for the posi·
lion 01 clerk 01 court. appointed under Ihe provision. of Section 711of 11lle 28 of the U.S. Code. This senior lWei posiliOn i. Ihe court·s prinCipal Cllie processing and record. manager, who also has b.oad responsibil ity for person· nel. budgel, space and facililies, and m.nagement inform.tion. The complete announcemenl is Ele~enth
a~ai l .ble
from the
Circuit Personnel Specialist, 56 Forsyth Slr"t, NW. Atlanta, Georgia 30303. Phone (4041 331·3847. An appl i.
cant must >",s",,05 8t I... t. bachelo(s degree and should hold an
ad~anC<KI
degree in law. public administration Or
ether related fie ld. Applicants shou ld send. reSume and. lener outlining the applicant"s badground and qual i/ica· lions.
~plic.tien.
shoUld be mailed to Norman E. Zoller, Circu it Executive. 56 Forsyth Street. NW. Atlenl •. Georgia
30303, end should be .... nt so .s 10 .rrive not laler than S.ptem .... 17. 1991. The ss lary ,ange fer this >",sition i. $81.845·$114.313 (JSp·I6-171 depending upon qualification •. The Eleventh Circuit i. an equal ".pportunity employer.
Amendment employment cases from the Supreme Court and the EI~tl1 Circuit wert "materially similar to the instant case." This r..ctual similarity seems to be the only way to reconcile lilllh>r
witl1 fOg andknkins. D/g,.•• /on on srare Immunltl•• Qualified immunity. as ~~ in this article. is a defense agaillSl. federal causes 0( action. Suil5 against ir<liYidu:l1 officiab and employtts based on state causes or action are barred by sowr.ign immunity as oootained in Article I. Section 14 0( the Alabama Constilution. which bars suit against the state in all but certain given circum;tances. Article I, Section 14 abo bars suits against an oIf>cial when the ,u~ is, in effoct, Or\( against the state. Alal>amnStatelJodqv. S:uon. 631 So. 2d 943 (Ala. 1994). H<"NIIe\",r, w.... ,...;gn immunity does not bar a suit against stale officers for "tOfU committed willfully. maliciously. and outside the 5«11" 0( their authorities.' McMilliDn. S8 F.3d 1554. at 1572. If a suit against the offIcer in his individual capacity is ba.ed upon the office"'s performance 0( a discretionary function. the offi· cer also has the defense 0( the discretionary function immunity. NIl1K:l1 ll. Mal/hws. 622 So. 2d Z97 (Ala. 19931. Di.lcretionary function immunity prolffts officials from liability for their errors in judgment in perfonning discmionary acts, "t~ <OS to which
there is no hard and 1;>$1 rule as to the course 0( conduct that one must or must not take and those acts requiring aen:ise in judg_ ment and choict and invol\ing what is jllSt and prOper under the circumstances.' Unght lJ. Ity,m. 682 So. 2d I. Z (Ala. 1996). This stale·law immun ity does not. however. protect an official acting in bad faitl1, ,,;lIlu11y. maliciously or fraudulently.llI. To make the whole area more confusing. Justice CooI<"s concur· ring opinion in /?om' ll. Siale. 614 So. 2d lZn (Ala. 19961 equates the te"", "discretionary function immunity' and "qualified immunity: In Rorer. the Alabama Suprmle Court declined to adopt the fr<ieral courts· doctrine allO'o\.ing immediate appeals where stat. emplO)'f:t'S are denied immunity. Hw............ in Rorer. the is.we on appeal was not an indi.idual emp~·, qualified immunity, but the state agency's sowreign immunity pursuant to Article I. Section 14. The United Slates Sup""me Court upheld the stale courts· right to decli"" to foll,-,"" the Ir<ieral procedural rules regarding interlocutory appeals earlier tl1is year ink>'ln<onv. Fankell,_ U.s.~ 117 S. Cll800 (19971.
Appealability 1ht immWiate appealability in froml COlIn 0( an order denying qualified immunity is a pcM'I'rful tool. If the coun denies a motion to dismiss or for SUffifT\ilry judgment which is ba.ed on
Alabama State Bar Names Law Office Management Assistance Program Director The Alabama State Bar Jl!C<lntly named Montgomery anorney La" •• A. Collowoy dire<;tor of il. La w Office Managemenl Assistan~ PrOgram. be<:oming one 01 only 14 olhe, state bars in Ihe nalion to im ptemenl such a pro· gram . LoSI year, Ihe bar"s So lo Practilioners and Small Fi rms Task Force ree· ommended the lo rmation 01 the program 10 provide office management information and ,..,rv ices to Ihe large percentege ollhe bar engeged as so lo practitionero or in lirms 01 five lawyars or less. A library of mate rials on law office ma nagement will I>e housed at slal8 bar headqua rte r• . Calloway mosl recently was engaged in the pr ivate practice 01 law as a shareholder of Blanchard & Calloway. P.C. She was previous ly employed as ass ista nllegal officer 01 Regions Ban k. She i. 8 graduate 01 Troy Siale Un iversity and , eceived her law deg ree from lhe Jones SChoo l 01 Law in January 1981.
Laura A. CalloWIlY
_.......... ,..,
qualified immunity. public official defendant> have traditionally been allO'\'Jed an int~locutory aP\ll'al from that decision &e Mitchell". Forsyth. 472 U.s. 511. 52611985). This "<l> one of the few ~ions to the genolrai rule against interlocutory appeal, except in IIIo5e CMeS spocifically ~ forth in 42 U.S.C. § 1292 and Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(b). SorneIiIlleS thi.!; can l'Qult in rtpditive appeals. See. e.g.. l'i>ta Communitll Serviais, supra. In the case of qualified immunity. the courts reasoned. aliOWilJlC. of an interlocutory appeal was pari and parcel of the dtlense. Without it. the public offi~r WOI,ld clfectively be dtnied lhe benefit> of immunily in the """",I th:llihe trial judge misinter· preted the law ar d""", not to ~knowIe~ the sl",nglh of the doctrine. Mitchell al 52&-28; 1M! also Flim! v. Gordo/! , 775 ~:2d 1551 (11th Cir, 1985). Iohtuot> v.lone< arguably reined in the SoWningly automatic right to appeal a dtnial of qualified immunity. .Iohr!scn arose from the Sevrnth Circuit', ,..,{usa] to exerei$< appelLlte jurUdictioo O\"r an appeal {rom the dutrict court's dtnial of qualified immu· nity. 515 U.s. 304. liS S.Ct 2151. 2153. 132 L Ed. 2d 238 (1995). Jones' wil alleged that he was arl'Qted after police foor>d him on lhe street in an insulin $<izure. He sued r"", polic ..... n. claiming lhat they used e<as$r... force in hi.!; arml and that they later beat him at lhe police station. Three oIlhe ofr.C<':rs filed a motion lor summary judgm.nt at the conclusion of discovery on the ground that. whatewr evidence lhere might be again.t other defendants. there was 00 evidence of exceniw 10m: or other wrongdoing against IIIo5e Ihree officers. The dislrict CQurt. t.o.,,,,,,,r. ruled Ih:ll the", was
substantial circumstanlial evidtnce to support a thfory that thoy were at leasl presenl when Jones was beaten. Citing Sevenlh Circuit precedent establishing poIentialliability if police officers allowed others 10 beat the plaintiff. the trial court denied their motions. When the defendanll appeal.d this decision. Ih. Seventh Circuit dismissed on the ground that the appellanll were ch:lllenging the trial court's determination that sufficient evide""" exi'ted 10 p"'sent a triable issue 01 fact. Thi, was not an appealable "final decision." according 10 the high Court. In order 10 bf appealable. the issue must be "purely leg;!l"; DoH a g;"en set offacts support a claim of violation of clearly estab· lished law? Sinc. th~ defendanll were appealing lhe trial court's determination of evidentiary sufficiency, as opposed to ill construc· tion of clearly established law. th.", was 00 ap[>ellale jurisdiction. Had the ~t in lone< casl hi. appeal in lerms of a challenge to the (!is. triel court's conclkJSion that Seventh Circuil law esiablUhed a right 001 to have police offi· eers stand by while other police officers attack an am:ste., would the r=1t haw been tht same? The answ.. to thi, question i, lar from clear. Justice Breyer's opinion indicates thai the holding is based targ.,1)< on the police officers' spocific argument that there "<l> 00 ..",ide"", of their personal i~1 in tht beatings. See id. at 215l-S4. The Elev<nlh Circuit Court of Appeals has inteljlreted jolm30n as po,ing 00 impedi .... nlto its appellate jurisdiction over "core qualified immunity" issues. CotIn!II v. Ol/duV!lI. 85 Po 3rd 1480. 1484 (11th Cir. 1996). citing Johnson v. Clifton, 74 Po
.......... ,.., "',•
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Annual Dun
S«tMm
Administrative La....• ........................................................................................•................... $20 Bankruptcy and Commercial Law...................................................................................... $20 Business Torts and Antitrust Law ...................................................................................... $15 Communications Law ........................................................................................................ $15 Corporate Counsel .............................................................................................................. $30 Corporation. Banking and Business Law .......................................................................... $10 Criminal Law ...................................................................................................................... $10 () Disabilities Law .................................................................................................................. $20 Elder Law ............................................................................................................................ $15 Qi Environmental Law ............................................................................................................520 Family Law ..........................................................................................................................530 Health Law .......................................................................................................................... SI5 International Law .............................................................................................................. 530 Labor and Employment Law ........................................... .ifpracticing less than 5 years-$10 if practicing 5 or more yea rs-$30 l.itigation ............................................................................................................................ $15 Oil. Gas and Mineral Law .................................................................................................. SI5 Professional Economics and Technology Law .................................................................. $25 Real Property. Probate and Trust Law .............................................................................. $10 Taxation .............................................................................................................................. $15 Workers' Compensation Law ............................................................................................ 520 Young Lawyers' .....................................................................................................................0
cr
TOT"- _ _
Remem.ber: Attach a separate check for each section. Mail 10: Sections, Alabama State Bar. P.O.
• "Wi!" 'HM
17N_,-
Bo~
671.
~' ontgomery.
AL 36101
3n.1 M ](191. My ~whidl is dtfirwd a$ an aMtr3d i$$ut 01 bw nlating to qtWifltd immunity is $Ubj«t to Olpptli»! jurisdiction; if 0.. dtnlIl is based n>m in part on l -disputed i$$ut 01 law: thm aP\l<llatt jurisdiction obtairu. xcording to Ccilroll. After CciITl!II. it is clear that a decision b;ased on a "disl!Uted i$$ut 01 law" may corutituu a judicial rf«liflition 01 whtthtr tht I¥t5 01 othtr asa os compamI to tht ~ 010.. ~ at Nr f;(lmpol a drtrnnination thot tht ddtnlbnt oIfic:W "'viobttd durl)' tstabIOOcd corutitutiorW righu 01 which l I'USOfI.lbIt POOOl'l would hav!: known." 'Tht court in Cci/roll recited in detail the facts Ixfort the trial court in order to undtrtaU its!epl iItIIOiyI,,- 'Tht EllYmth Cirroit p;onrl ac:~ IhtJohns()nu..Jotws rule thlt ~Illou jurisdiction dot:!; not mtnd to a INl oourt', finditJes ffPrdi~ rvidwliary $UIf",imcy• ..,lyillll on 0.. Court', $UbsoeQutnl decision;n &hreru u. Mtelkr. _ U.S. ~ ]]6 S.C!. 834. 133 L.Ed. 2d m (1996). In &hrerls. lhr Ninth Cirroit Nd dK~rwd jurisdiction oyu a IfOOnd opptaI 01 a qtWiford irnm.mity o;Iaim from a di$trid. oourfl I'IOI'd(!lCific order Slating that thm _1Ic:tuil issuts rtrnaining • to defendant Bdlrms on a corutitutional claim. 116 S.Ct. At 1!38. The Supmnt Court granUd «rtior>ri. and distinguishfod Behml$' cas< from Jo/JIoon IJl' stating that tht lau.". case did not IWtrruit Iht principlt IhIIt s.urnmary judgment detrnninalions on <r-liliford immunity which in'ooM "abstr3d issues 01 law" ;n l!lP"'hHe ".b'Irls(Jor pormib pttitionfr to daim...that all 01 tht f;(lr'duct wtm.o.. District Court dmntd tutIicimtIy ~ lor I!Ufl'lO,IoeS 0( SUl1lll'llory judgment met tht Harlow 5Iandard 01 'objective legal ruson.lbleow.· " Id, Tht latle1 staltmentlJl' tht &hretIs court is p-roI»bIy tI>e best dtflllition 0( a ton' qualifitd imrnI.rIity iI$ut.. To Ix appralabIt. lhr iuut must not IN. whtItotr tilt Mdenoe is IUfficitnt to ~ the bet findtr's ;'.feoa thlt lilt defmdant iliCtually p;orticipMtd in iliCtiYity ...+lid> \Iiolaltd clwl)o estJblWltd C<Q\lIutionai rigtU. Rather. it must Ix whet .... r. taking tI>e evidmi:e d the dcl'tndant's
p;ortkubr ~ in tht liak ff10ItI bvonbIe to the JiWntiff. and ~..., tilt pu,ciplti muncialed in Ht1r/oID and othrT q..oali. fial immWlityGNS: (I I the coostitutional riglll which 0.. plaintiff claimo to hal'e been violated was clearly estJblished; or (2) the defmllanl'l conduct viobttd ciurly tsbbIWItd bw. Sa !'lolli/lion D. Johns()n. 88 f.3d 1554. 1563 (11th Cir. 1996). Theftfore, it lP\'ltlIrs IhIIt a "co« qualifitd immunity" dettnniNtion IWtr which an apptllatt court may e. erciK jurisdiction iUCtotoins ...m ther the plaintiffs ",rsion of the defendant's allq/f<! constitution,lI vioblion is not objtc!r..... 1y rusonable in liiUlt 01 ~Iiahtd bw ~fIIIlNt the pmiculu c0nduct allegal is uncorutitutioNl.
Pr.ctlc.1 Appllc.tlon. Sometimes, the best defense is a good offtiUt.l~rs npre5ef1tillll ]IOYemment officiab sued indMdo.lally for oonstitutional .... 0Ihtr Itdml viI.>IalionJ should ~ 0XInIi<Irr lilt ~ dIMMing tht qualifitd imrruIity deIenK very wIy in tht titig.llion. lflllt.., is no cItarIy eWbIished liw f"fgiI!ding the sutl;ect 01 the ~nt, the individual off""r $hoold be di$rrois$td. Evm if the law is clearly tstablished. but the.., is no st.:otutory authority or Qst bw ~fIII a bet situation very "rnilar to that described in lilt c:ompIaint. the deienst $hook! be ditlicult lor a ~ to (I'o'efCI.lmt bMnl on rtanl ~!.
If 0.. deftfIK fails in tht INl court. rwn at an early JbCe. then is the OS>lion 01 an Inttrlocutory lP\'ltlIl. In such appU.ls. the apptlJate argument must be bastd on a COre Qualified immunity i"lIf. ratMr than tht sufficiency 01 the tvidmce. On Iht other hand. an O]IjlOiotni may be able to <;I)m'iflCl' the apptllau court that it has no jurisdiction to hur tht lfIlpt<d IJl' ugu. ;ng th:iot tht trial court's decision did not illWiYt I QutStion 01 liw on a rore Qualifi«.! immunity iuue. but mtnly a dettnn;Ntion of evidentiary sufficiency. •
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........... '"' -
l'..QNSUMER J'!NANCE
llGAl MPECfS
QRBUYING
of
ON TIME
-DIVORCE
... ourlines im/JOTtlUlI ru/Jeccs of buying on credit (md pri11l:i/Jal killru of cons1Imer IT!!!Ulj1ians mId tenns
,. ,offers o/nlol15 alld choices illoolwd in divorce
Alabama State Bar Publications Order Form The Alabama SI",c Bilr is pleased to m,lkc ,lvailable \0 IrKUvidU(l1 ,11!omeys, firms ilnd IOCil ll)iH assnc:iations, .1\ co~, on ly, a scriC5 o f broc::hures Oli 1'1 vMlcly o f legal topics of interest \0 Ihe general public. Hclow is iI current listing of public Information brochures available from the AI .. bil mii Stille Bil r for d iStribution by
loca l har ;tSsociations, under established guidelines.
Brochures Law As A C.lrecr
$10.00 per 100
Q ly, _ _ $ _ _ __
... op(Xlrtunitics ;mel challenges of a law Cilfeer today.
Lawyers ;"Inri Lesal Fees $ 10.00 pe r 100 Q ty. _ _ $ _ _ _ __ •• ,<1 SlimmilfY of basic infOrmation on common legal questions (lnd proced\Jre~ for the B~ner" l publiC
Last Will & Testament
$ 10,00 per 100
. .. covers <:Jspecls of estate planning and the impor~ ilnce of 1l1lving
Legal Aspects or Divorce
il
Qly, -
$ _---
wi ll
$ 10,00 Iler 100
Q ly, _ _ $ _ _ __
$ tO.OO per 100
Q ty. _ _
... offers options and choices involved in divOrte
Consumer Finance or " Buying on Time"
$ _-,---,;_ _
",o u ~ l ine5 important co nsidcra ' i(Jn~ .wd pruvldes advlco on finOlncial maners affecting ~he individua l or filmily
Medi.1tion .. .AnotiJer Method for Res(Jl viny Disputes
$10.00 lIe f 100
Qly, _ _ $ _ _ __
... provides an overview of th e mediation proceS5 in q\Je51i o n ·a nd - iln 5 w~r form $5.00 each Q ty. _ $ _ _ _ __ A .cry li.c Urochure Stand ... Indivldual stand imprinted with individuill, firm or bM a~soda[ion nnrT'lc for usc OI t distribution l>oin15. O lle st;1I1d per brochure is recommended. Name 10 imprint 011 slaml : _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ SubtotJI $ _ _ _ __ Mailing Address Shlpj}inS & H andling$ 5.00 TOTAL$ _ _ __ Plcasc remit CHECK OR MONEY ORDER MADE PAYA8l.E TO THE ALABAMA STAn BAR for the amount listed on the TOTAL line ,1nd forward il with Ihls ordl!r form 10: Susan H . Andres, Director of CommuniCilliOlls, Alnh.1ma SI.... te BM, p.o. Box 671 , Monlgomery, AL 36101, (33 4) 269· 15 15
3,olae~TEM.ell.glH
CLE
OPPORTUNITIES
The following il1-slale 11tOgroms hU/v OC'i'l1 approved for credit b, the Alabama /IIundalofll CU: Commission. NOUJt>IX!r. ;,,(ormullOIl is uIJQi/(ible (ree of chart/I! Oil OtlCr 4,500 approved program; nationwide i(/elllifiL,(/ by localioll dale or SI1(!Cially urel' . Con/act the NCLE Commission office (If (jj4) 269· 151.5. or J·800.J54 ·6154, alld {/ camp/atll CU,' ClIlim(/or will b4! /IIujletlto you,
SEPTEMBER 3
RESIDENTIAl. ANO COMl'lIERCIAL EVICTIONS IN AlAlJMIA Birmingham
Holiday Inn Hedman! National
8u s in e~s I n~titu te
CLE credits: 6.0 Cost: S149 (7151835·8525 4
'l\Jscal()OM Alabama liar Institute for CLE CLE credits: 3.0 COSI: $75 (2051 348·6230
,.
1. Ot;VELOPMENTS ANO TRE NDS IN II £ALTII CARE LAW
Birmingham Holiday Inn Redmon! National Busincss Inst itute CU; credits: 6.0 Cost: $159
Birmingham Cumberland InsUtule for CLE C I.~~ credits: 6.3
VEt' ENDl NC WRONGFUL
l1irmi nghllm
Ramada Inn &I Suites National Business Institute CLI:: credits: 6.0 Cost: $149 (715) 835·8525 4 OIVORCE LAW: A SVSTEJlI FOR
YOU R PHACTICt; Birmingham
HealthSouth Conference Center Alabama Bar Institute for Cl.t: CLE credits: 6.0 Cosl: $ 185
11 UNIFOltM COMr-IERCIAL CODE SEMINAR Birmingham CT Corporation System CI.E c rediL~: 2.3 (800) 833·3217
"Birminltham
~I EIJ IAT I ON
ADVOCACY
foledi cal Forum o( the Civic Centtr AI.. b;lma Bar Institute (or CLE CLE credits: 6.0 Cost: $165 (205) 348·6230
(205) 348·6230
4·6 Tm~
r-IED IATION PROCESS AND SKILLS OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Mobile t-1ediation Corporation
CLE credits: 22.7 Cost: $650 (800) 237·3476
•
RESEAHCII ON THE INTE RNET
(800) 888-745<1
ADVANCED CQN$l1WCTION LAW IN ALAnMlA
(1 15) 835·8525
Dl SCHARCE ClA IMS UN DER ALAIlAMA LAW
BirminlJham Cumb<!rl.. nd Institute (or CLE CI.E credits: 6.0
12·13 r-UDYEAR MUNICIPAL LAW SEM INAR
Orange Beach Alabama League of Municipalities CI..~; credits: 6.0 (3341262·2566
,.
SEVENTII ANNUAL IIEALTH LAW SEMI NAR
(800) 888-7454
1.
INSURANCE LAW: !)AD FAITI! CLAIM S
Birminghllm Lorman Business Center CLI:: credits: 3.8 (7 15) 833-3940 17 ALAUMIA FlmERAI. FIOUCIARY INCOME TAX WOIU(SIIOI)
Blrminghllm Profusiona1 Education Systems CLE credits: 6.7 (7 \5) 836-9700
,.
CONFIDENTIALITY OF MEDlCA1, RECOHDS
"Iobile Lorman Busincss Center
CI.I-: credib: 3.9 (715) 833-3940
,.
CRIr-Il NAL DEFENSE LAW Birmingham
IlealthSouth Conference Center Alabama Bar Institute for CLE .tPlH"OE~
, no?,
J"
O E POS ITIO~'
elE Opportunltl•• (Conlinuedfrom page 199)
CLE credit>: 6.0 Cost: $165 (205) 348·6230
"
INS URANCE COVERA(a: ISSU ES Birmingham Cumberland Inslitute for CLIO CLE credit>: 6.0 (800) sss.7454
,..
ALABA.'IA F.:DERAl. FIDUCIARY I NCO~E TAX WORKSHOP Montgomery ProfessioNI Educalion Systems CLE credits: 6.7 (715) 836·97{)O
,..
8'" ANNUAL BANKRUPTCY LAW SEMI NAR Birmingham Cumberland Inslitute lor CLE CLE credits: 6.0 (800)888·7454
,.
OIL. CAS & MINERAl. LAW Tuscaloosa Law Center Alabama Bar Inslitule for CLIO Ct,E credits: 6.0 Cost: $165
,.
(205) 348-6230
BASIC WAGE AND n OUR LAW IN
'"''''''''
Mobil. Nalional Business Inslitute CLE credill: 6.0 (715) 835-8525
,.
PLM'NI NG FOR TilE ELDERLY AND DISABLED Birmingham HeaithSoulh Conference Center AlabalT\ll Bar Institute for CLE CLIO credill: 6.0 Crul: $165 (205) 34S-6230
,.
EVIDENCE LAW: ARTISTRY AND AOVOCACY IN THE CLASS ROO.'ri Birmingham Cumberland Institute for CLE CLE credit>: 6.0 (BOO) 888· 7454
"
WORKERS' CO."1PENSATION FOR TIlE GENERAl. PRACTITIONER Bi rmingham Lorman Business Cenler CLE credits: 6.0
, ALABA!>!A n :O.:RAL .' ID UCIARY INCO""E TAX WORKSIIOP Mobile Professional t:ducation Systems CLf; cred its: 6.7 (715) 836·97{)O
TAKING AN EXPERT'S
,,,
.... . . ... ,"'
"
TORT LAW UPDATE Birmingham HulthSouth Confnence Center Alabama Bar Institute for CLE CLE credits; 6.0 Cost: $165
(205) 348·6230
OCTOBER
~--
PRACTICE Birmingham Cumberland Inslitute for CLE CLIO cr.dits: 6.0 (800) 888·7454
"
INTRODUCTORY CONSTRUCTION ARBITRATOR TRAINI NG WORKSIIOPS Mobile American Arbitration Aw>ciation CLIO credit>: 6.8 Cost: $125
(404) 325·0101 23-25 TilE MEDIATION PROCESS AN D THE SKILLS OF CONFLICT RESOUrr lON Montgomery Mediation Corporation CLE credits: 22.7 Cost: $650 (800) 237·3476
,..
INSURANCE lAW Birmingham Civic Cenler Alabama Bar Instilute for CLIO CLE credits: 6.0 Crul: $165 (205)
(715) 833·3940
lAWYER ING SKILLS 101 Birmingham Cumberland Instilute for CLIO CI.E credill: 6.0 (800) 888·7454
,
,
Birmingham HealthSouth Conference Center Alabama Bar Instilute lor CLIO CLE credit>: 6.0 Cost: $165 (205) 348·6230
17-18 ADVA..... CED FAM ILY lAW: RETREAT TO THE BEACH GullShores Quality Inn Beachside AlabalT\ll Bar Instilute for CLE CLIO credits: 0 Cost: $1 95 (205) 348·6230
"
ESS ENTIALS OF ELDER LAW
,..
348·6230
ALA8A.\fA SALES AND USE TAX: AN OVERVI EW AND UPDATE Montgomny Lorman Business Center CLE cre<lits: 6.0 (715) 833·3940
2. MEDICAL MALPRACTICE UPDATE Bimtingham Cumberland Institute for CLIO CLE credit>: 6.0 (800) 888-7454
"TRIAL SKILLS Birmingham HeaithSoulh Conference Cenler AlabalT\ll Bar Institute for CLE CLE cre-dits: 6.0 Cost: $165 (205) 34S-6230
"
CML PROCEDUR£JAPPELLATE PRACTICE
Birmingham Cumbtr\and Institute for CU: CU: credits: 6.0 (800) 888-7~SoI
NOVEMBER 7 BANKRUPTCY PRACTICE
Ilirmingham Alabama Bar lrutitutt for CLI:: CU: credits: 6.0 Cost: $1 65 (205) 348-62JO
7
..
CU: "edits: 6.0 Co$t: $150 (800)826-7681
lITiGATI NC TIl E ClASS ACTION lAWSUIT
"
PRACTICAL DEFENSE m' OUt ANI) OUI ACCIOEto.'TS Auburn SRI ProIwional De\l!lopmt-nt Stmillo>rs eLE c«<lits: 6.0 Cost: $15(j (8001826 ·7681
12·111
OI\·OIl.C[ A,'10 CHILO CUSTOO\' MEDIATION TRAI NINC
BirmingJ"m Cumbt rland Institute/or CLE CLf: crN i": 6.0 (2051888-7454
"
JURY St:l t:CTlON
Birmingham Medk.>! Forum of the Cr.ic Ctn ler AIWma Bar Institutt lor CI.E CU: credits: 6.0 Cost: $165 (205) 348·6230
MontgOmtl)'
II " A.."S"UAL WORKE RS' CO:-tPENSAT IOS SEM INAR Birmingham CumbtrWld Imlilutt lor ClE CLE , ..mib; 6.0 (205) 888-7-tSol
"PRACTICAl, OE t'EN SE OF OUI 11."0 OUI ACCIOE~S
Moo""",,,
S<:hool for Disput. Ruolution CLE credits: ~O.O Cost: $!185 (41)4)299·1128
..
REAL I::STATE Birmingham Wynlr~ Ilott l ~ ..... Bar Institutt /or CLE CI.E credits: 6.0 Cost: $165
"TIl E ART OF EFFECT IVE SPEAK',,"C FOR lAWYERS
fEATUR INC STEVEN O. STARK Birmingham Cumbtrland lrutitute for CI,E e LE credits: 6.0 (205) 888-7454
(205) 348-6230
SKI ProfessioNl [)evelopmtnt Stmi""rs
P apJmnni,} cxpbins
hm. ncid\cr Cbr~n(c l'b rro" nor Alli"u, h""h ,c~rnNeJ the "n~ Ie· di men;l<mal. lin~.If.think ll\J: ~rn' to )'" ~I"">lt dieM and
attorne\, thou
eriden", in ,he '9\.1;. The\, ""r~ n<lt ahnd}...,J "ers;"", ,'Ii (''','er;, The" ~ndlc", dr,>!t tn utwc",and and aprred"t~ the world OUt,;de the r" "r ,,"II.
"I d>ei' "ffi~~ rf<l\'iJ~'" J:.aL,,>« h' their hvc;. The\, l-c.>lh ",,, l ed hml to.> 8C<l"jr~ a tyl'" of cnli~lll~"cJ
" i",km\
'nil''''''''''
,h.l[ Ihelr liws and the J;.-(, of J'«.'J'lc th,'\' <em:,1.
r""'r 14lOO-S- ~ O<>Iy l!i.9'5 """ 13.00 SAH
~
,1M "' "", """ ,,, ~ ~ ... ~. ,
CLASSIFIED NOTICES RATES: Members: Two free list'ngs 01 50 words or less per bar member per calendar year EXCE PT 10< 'pO$l!1OO w anted" 0/ 'position offered" listIngs -
$35 per inserlion of 50 w ords or leS$ . $.50 per ad ditional word:
Nonmembers: $35 per insertion of 50 words or less. $.50 per ad ditional word . Classified copy and payment must
be received accord ing to the following publishing schedule: September '971 •• ue -deadline July 15, 1997;
November '97 I ••ue-dead li ne September 15, 1997. No deadli ne extensions will be made. Send claSSIfied c opy and payment. paya ble to The Alabama Lawyer. to: Alabama Lawyer Classifieds, c/o Rita Gray.
P, O. Box 4 156, Montgomery, AJabama 38101 .
SERVICES PC LAW: NortIl Am9rica's loading ....... biIi1g a:::c:tIUIlti'I SQftwar9. CurrenIIy
am
serving WfJ( 11,000 law firms. E"PI the e/Iideo ICies 01 the wroows (16 or 32 biI)
Iuty meg.ated ~, Fuly feaIured, ~
accounting system 'ndo.D'"og oonIIia ched<!l and a case ~ option. AMICUS ATIQRNEY. We also <3'1 supply electronic daIa ~ In)m n>:)S1
pas(.popo.aar soI!wa/fls, onsiW
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WSIOI'l1izaIion aro ~
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daSSes. cal Pro8iI (800l 299-91n. TRAFFIC ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTlON: Focus on
\I EOI<::\ I, , 0['1:\ L
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1$$..e5. legal lesli mony. including deposition aOO trial. I\cei(j(ffit 3r.aI% is. scene scale drawing. an<j evidence evaluation. Expen wimesslcoosultant (since 1992) with trial an<j deposition e. peril>roc<!. Registered Protessional Engineer. Technical society member. Over 20 years engineering oxper"""",. Traffic Accid&nt Reconstruction Training. Nuclear Eng;"""";ng (MS) aOO Physics (BA) . Cont.ac1 John E. Reinhardt, P.O. Brnc 6343. Hunts"';lie, Alabama 35824 Phone (205) 637~,
TfiAfflC ACCIDENT RECON· STRUcno+I: EvaluatiO<1 01 highway
design. RIlODnstruded <>Yef 3,000 accideRl$ 0<1 highway$. Weals, rail· roads. highway construCIIon zC>neS irMJIving 1tcd<s. vans, cars. pedestrians. farm impIoments. Computer ani· mations arod drawings prepared. Over 40 yea's' engineOOng e"penence. FuR ACTAR C<lrt1fication, John T. Bates. PE .. 1·800·29Q·59SO. LEGAL RESEARCH ANOWRmNG: R~arch. brief arod memQIanda wr~· ing , assistance with peadings. discov· ery aOO all aspec1s 01case prepara·
tion. Ex perienced researcher and wr ~er. licensed Alabama attOl "'-'Y and member 01 tho Alabama State Bar since 1979, Katherine S. W&ed. PO. Brnc 590104 , Birmingham. Alabama 35259. Phone (205) 941-1496. No rep. resentalion is "",de tha t 1118 Quality 0/ me legal services to N perfot'med is 9f8lJMr than me QUIJ~ty 0/ legal ser· vices perfot'med by other "'W)"'IS. SKIP TRACING-LOCATOR: N&ed to
lirod sorneone? Will locale the per$On 01 no 100 lor basic searcl1 . with 87 per. cent successful rate, Nalionwide. Conl>dential, 0tI>I1r anomey neerIed searches, reports. records in many areas !rom oor exte-nsive datat>ase. T9I1 uS what you need. Verily USA. Call loII·lfee (888) 2·VER IFY. , TRAFfiC ENGINEER:
ConSllltantiExpert Witness. Grocluate, registered, professional engin_ . Fony years' uxperier'lC8. Highway and city design, traHic con"eI deYioos. ciry zon· ing. Write 01 caU lor resume, I&as. Jack W. Ctlambliss. 421 BoII&hUfSl Drive. MontgolOOfY. Alabama 36109, Phone
1334 ) 2n·2353 FORENSIC DOCUMENT EXAMINER: ~, typewriIi"g, altered dooJ. ments, medical records. WoIs, contracts. deeds. ~ anonymous 1ett6tS. Court-Ql,Wlied. Ei!t11Ooln years' experi-
o:onm. Cenifiod: American Board 01 Rlrensic Document Examiners. Mo;wrbor: American Society 01 OJestio"ed Oocument E• ....-..ers, American Academy 01 Forensic Sciences, ~em AssociatiDn 01 For""",,, DocumenC Examio:'Iets. cmW\aI and civi
..-..c.n.y & 1....., ... 0;1 roo.1Sic 00:n0'rl0!InI U0b008100 " ..078 BiWIIcn Woods Court. rM:ord (A1\a'U) Geo<oia 30519.1'to:;wlt (770) 61 4-4440. Fax (770) 271..a57 AnoRNEY JOBS: HIwvanI Law SdIooI C8>II our pobIicabon. "PrtobabI, !he m<>$t oomprehttn$ive IIQU..,. 01 rlatioowide and "'t&rrlal k:w\af jot> open.
Ings ~ b\I ou, <>Ib ..-.I _ be 1he S\artItIg ~ 01 any jot> sea<d'o b\I ~ kd<ing to dIangt jobs." Each rnonlhl\r Issue contains 500-600
cu,mnt (public:l\lfrvat8 _ ) jobs. $45--3 montha. S7s.6 mo:wr\hI, ContacI: Legal E""*,,"*,, FIepon. 1010 ............, " - HW. $Ie. 408,AB. W8$t1,ogton. DC 20005. (800) 296· £1611). ViulMClAME X. DOCUMENT EXAMINER : ~ of ~ documenIa. Ceo-lified
IcIrensoc: ~ and document ..am ...... Thorl, )'ears' e>:pM;.no. in al Ior&Jts;c dox:o.omerrt problems. Forme-rt,. Chiel au ' ttl oed DocumIonC Analyst. USA CtinwIaI kweslig3tion laboratoriM. ~te (<*1iI*l). 6rotish FSS Diplomate (cer1Ifled). ABFDE. Mtimtoer: A$ODE : IAI, SAFDE : NACOL RM.ume and 1M ..:heduIe upon ~. Harat Maret GicIion. 218 ~"""~ 0rM, Augu$Ia. a-gia
30907. Phone (706) 800-<1267. DOCUMENT EXAMINER : Certif*l Forensic Oocumenc ~. CIoieI documem . . _. ~
~ of Forensoc SQences. ,tIimd. Am«ic:an Soa,d 01 ForenSIC Docu ......l ExamiMrs, American Academy 01 Forensic Sc:MoceI. Soc:iIoIy oed Document Exanw>ers. 0... 20 years' . 'perience In . tale and ledtfar eou ,l!! In Alabama. Lama< Mill&r. t t420 N. Kendal Drive. Suite 2Ofi..A. Uoani. FlonIIa 3317e. In Birrnrogr..". pIICIfIII (205) $88"'1 se. In MIami. pIICIfIII (305)
AI,..... ,
01 00 ..';
897-962S. "P1ch I ....... ~ Funcing lor ..-.I client:
rou
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rour
WORKERS' COMPENSATK»I PREWUN OISPUTES: C<rcad J.lat'nI SrriIh b"caa h
•
'-"'P
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,.......,....;.,-'<ers. ~
...
lid., buys . .... and appr.... aI map~ IetS. CaliI-8Q0422· 6686, or Ia. 1·908-686·3098. Masl&rCa'd. Viall and American Express ....:.pled. Ca~ i$$Ued h print and DI'Ii'>I' at www.law· booI<e>c~ . o;om •
mam d$p.rM irM>Mng payroll, das$iI-
LAWBOOK$: Save 50 p&r<*lt on YOU'
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Iawbooks, CIII National Law F\esoorOli. .t.rnera'l ifoIOe# Iawboob deale<. Huge ~ lowes1 prio:ft. Exceaent "",aIiIy, Siltislacbon guaran. leed, Cal ur to sell YOU' u~ Ilooks. Need sneMng? We sell ' - . bfard ........ steel and WOOd ~ II <iscoIn prio:ft. "... ~ (1-80027'!H799). National Law ~.
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SrriIh ' - __ 11 .000 I"o:>,q ....... . . IitigaIirg u:tI di:IpuIes. b" 8I'Id agairtsI the ~ InclJstry. J. ~ SmIIh. ~ & SmIIh. PA. 1330 Tho' ..... Road. till/' . AoridiI 32XIl. f'horw (904) 385-8IXlO; (904) 2'22· 1i3O; Ill>: (904) 561-6080. SECURITY NEGLIGENCE: Special OIlCpor1ISe In ~ idly• ...,..my IrIlllW'ig and securiIy proceobea. hIIhored lou' MCUm, l8JCtbooks. Tl'ir1y years' oombi\tClexper~ In 118W ,1ly IIfi(j law enb'otmenl. Cor1tac\ Ron Vause. 1-800-72fHl191.
POSITIONS OFFERED EXEctmVE DlRECTOA: The Legal Aid Society of BmwIgham. a non-profit ;,gooey prQYiding irodioent dtItn6e set· \/lOllS to JIIIetson eour., F8niIy C<ut.
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TOXICOLOGIST: CI-.miCII ~ gist. 25 years' experience in h:IosIry. QOVGfnment and u....... ,siIy .esea,ch and teaching Silmpling IIfi(j \oil. ness. OUI. proo1od liability. SOT a"Id Ala " .. ,ibeI 0.. P.ic:twd L~. F'hont (II(W) 398·21&8.
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eUS/NESS SALES, MERGERS AND ACOUtSrTiONS: lei ... help J'IIUf Iami· t, rus..- cIierII sellhIif business ... • co"fidenbllt , , , and honeIrl """'""'. We Sjl8Cializl In &mal companies with 11M to 1S million dollars In annual sales. ContacI Rick SchcKInc:Jo,oer lor men intIrn\pon. New Sou1h CaptaI. Inc. . 1702 Cachenne Court. Surte 1·0. Autun . 3S83O and SunTfUSl Bank Suilding. Suite 321. 1246 l it Averoe.
CoIumbJl. Geor(Iia 31901 F'hont (334) aaJ.ll786; Iu (334) 887-&100.
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proIccung ~QI" famil~ and "Lolc. 1lIrou", insu""",e and fi ..."".. L~
27 .... 469. F.. (305) 596-2618.
STRUCTURED SETILEMENTS: InIorm J'IIUf c'enlsi Top doI¥ p;IId lor Insuraroc. H!dements. SlJUClUl'IG set' 1Ien'IetII _ . business notes and periodic pay ...... t comract •. Kelp diems OIlCpIore tneir options, Ca~ tOOay. ... <JbI9oria L'!bur diem .... rtIOIiwo straighIb'ward . . . . . eeMc:e.
HNnIand CIfIUI Furdng. Inc. (800)
FOR SALE LAWBOOKS: -.... S. ...... & Co., Inc .. soMng 1he II>QaI corTIO\'IUI'IiI lor I:Ne<' 70 rears, We buy, sen, appraise 01 O!wbcx>ks, Send wamlis1S to: WI (716) 883-5595 Of pIICIfIII 1-81)O.49&434t1.
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...TTORNEY POSmON: Roi\OW major stall I(IIi'ICy in lliII Vii. 1983. ADA .,...,...... . . . . . . E , I tooneIiIs anc:
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salary Miwtun .... yen. -.peoieoa in IriIi ....::... Serd rIiiIl.lM kI: ~. P.O.Ib: 1$1 1. Alabama 36H12· 1511.
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ATTORNEY POSiTlON: Pres\igIol>s
Birmingham law li,m -'<s assodatel
PoIitionI avaiiabito in rNI est.aMIco<potitogabOn pracIICiI at-. Send
........ 10: Hiring
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MISC ELLANEOUS WANTED: ...,.,.,.,. t\I'NIg "'-ledge 01 • ...., W. and Te5WTIenI Pf'IPII,,,: lor Hefty F. Je1er and 0eIene ....... in JetiIIo . . ,. Bibb. T'w ......... or please """""""" Ii J. ~. S227 6th ...-..e. Nor1h. 8itnWognam . "'abilm~ 35212. Ptocone (206)·m · &515 or ~ · 537· 4 250
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Notice
1 11 I) 0 It '1' 1\ N '1' ! Licenses/Special Membership Dues 1997-98 All licenses 10 prectice law. as w ell as special memberships. ere sold Ihrough the Alabama State Sar headQuaners. In mid·September, a dual invoice to be used by both annual license holder, and spocial members will be mailed 10 every Iswyer cu rrently in good standing w ith the bar. If you er. actively praClicing Or anticipate practicing law in Alabama belween OCIOber 1. 1997 and Seplamber 30,1998, ple8" be sure Ihal you purchase an occupetionallicense. Licenses are $250 for Ihe 1997·98 bar year and paymenl must be RECfIVED belween October 1 and Oclober 31 in order to avoid an aulomalic: IS perCflni penally (537.50). Second no!iCflI will NOT be sent! An anorney not engaged in Ihe private prac!iCfl 01 law in Alabama may pay Ihe special membership fee of $125 to be considered a member in good standing. Upon receipt of payment, Ihose who purchase a license will be mail ed a license and a wa ll el-size license for identification purpOses. Those electing special membership will be senl 8 wallet·size 10 card for both identification and receipl purposes. II you do no! feeeive an Invoice, please nOlify Diana Weldon, membership services director, al 1·8(lO.354· 6154 (in-Slale WATS) or (3341269- 1515 IMMEDIATELYI
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