PERSPECTIVE

           

Right now, uncertainty is the only thing that is certain. 

           

The problem with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic is that there is no reliable visibility beyond informal guesstimates as to the course it will take in the United States, and what things will look like when it abates. I use the word “abate” because until there is an effective treatment and vaccine, the risk of continued infection cannot be eliminated, and until it can be eliminated it will pose a continuing risk and cause damage to the economy. If we knew that the pandemic would be over in 30 or 60 or 90 or 120 days, then things could begin to start getting back to some type of normal.

 

With respect to the different approaches to social isolation that have been implemented in different countries and even in different regions in the United States, I suspect that what has been done here in the U.S. is about as aggressive as our population could or would tolerate. The political right is inclined to open up sooner and more broadly, due to the incredible damage to the economy. The political left prefers keeping things locked down longer and more tightly, mostly due to preference for safety over economic concerns. Moderates are sensitive to both and want to open the economy in a thoughtful staged way to see if it works, or if this disease blows up again.

 

I think the average joe here in the Deep South - meaning working folks and small business owners, including lawyers and law firms - feel like they have cooperated and gone along with the shutdown, but have tolerated about as much isolation and economic pain as they are willing to endure. I think people in the Deep South are fed up with not being able to work and with extreme social isolation, and they believe that now it is time for them to take care of their families (economically) and save their businesses - even if that means they will put themselves at risk by going back to work. 

           

Like you, I have been inundated by emails with trite uplifting messages like “We’re all in this together!” and “Stay Strong!” On TV, the only advertising more prolific than that of lawyers are TV ads from insurance companies and businesses stressing how worried they are for me and my welfare. In the meantime, politicians in Washington D.C, and the media are engaged in back and forth games of “gotcha” where they pretend that every snarky question asked by a reporter and rude answer by a politician is a bazooka gun battle, when all they are doing is shooting spit balls at each other, none of which is helpful.

           

In the midst of all this, I received an email with attachment from my good friend and law partner, Buddy Brown, and the message hit home. Here it is:

           

If you can fit the entire population of the world into a village consisting of 100 people, maintaining the proportions of all the people living on Earth, that village would consist of:

           

There would be 52 women and 48 men; 30 Caucasians and 70 non-Caucasians; 30 Christians and 70 non-Christians; 89 heterosexuals and 11 homosexuals. 

           

Six (6) people would possess 58% of the wealth and they would all come from the United States of America. 80 would live in poverty; 70 would be illiterate; 50 would suffer from hunger and malnutrition; 1 would be dying; 1 would be being born; 1 would own a computer; 1 (yes, only 1) would have a university degree.

           

If we looked at the world this way, the need for acceptance and understanding would be obvious. But consider this: if you woke up this morning in good health, you have more luck than 1 million people who won’t live through the week. If you have never experienced the horror of war, the solitude of prison, the pain of torture, were not close to death from starvation, then you are better off than 500 million people. 

           

If you can go to your place of worship without fear that someone will assault or kill you, then you are luckier than 3 billion (that’s right) people. 

           

If you have a full fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, and a place to sleep, you are wealthier than 75% of the world’s population.

           

If you currently have money in the bank and your wallet and a few coins in your purse, you are 1 of 8 of the privileged few amongst the 100 people in the world.

 

If your parents are still alive and still married, you are a rare individual.

 

If you can read this message, you are fortunate because you do not comprise 1 of the 2 billion people who cannot read. 

 

So, in the grand scheme of things, no matter how much we have been inconvenienced and dinged up because of this COVID pandemic, we need to have perspective. We are the fortunate few.

No June Membership Meeting

Thanks for joining us during our Law Day Virtual Forum

It is available to view on our Facebook page.

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Happy June! I hope everyone had a safe and fun Memorial Day weekend. I’m still in the same mindset that I was in last month. I am still working through the change and chaos. It is described in the quote that I shared last month: “ In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity .” – Sun Tzu

 

Right now is the perfect opportunity to embrace the change that surrounds all of us. There is change in how we work, how we live, and even in how we communicate. It is being felt in everything we do. Do you see many changes taking place in how legal community operates? I do. In a recent Forbes column, law firm consultant Mark Cohen ponders, “Is law’s present its future? The contours of the after-Corona industry have yet to be shaped, but there is little doubt COVID-19’s legacy will survive its cure.” Read more of Mark’s insights on the reformation of the legal culture here .

Strategic and generative questions are also relevant for the Mobile Bar Association. How will the COVID-19 impact the MBA? Internally and externally? How will it impact our programs? How will it impact us short-term and long-term? These are questions that your Executive Committee is considering. To help us through this process, we sent a membership needs survey for you to complete. If you have completed the survey, thank you! If not, please take a few minutes to take the survey. Let your voice be heard. To complete the survey, please click here . The survey will be open through Friday, June 5.

Lastly, as we continue with offering our events through Zoom for the month of June, here is a good “how to” use Zoom YouTube video. It’s a great refresher and good for first-time users of Zoom. Click here to view video .

Embrace the chaos. Seize every opportunity. Persevere. You will win in the end.

Enjoy your summer! I look forward to seeing you virtually very soon.

Onward,

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The Mentoring Committee will once again offer its Coffee with the Courts programming.  The concept is to provide a forum for our members to get to know our local judges over a cup of coffee.  At each session, two to three judges will present on the topic: Five Good Things We See Lawyers do in Our Courtroom. All participants receive one hour of CLE credit. The meeting will be held via Zoom. Space is limited to 100 participants.

Cost: Free for attorneys practicing 1 to 12 years

-------- $25.00 for attorneys practicing 13 or more years

Registration is Required in Advance.

Coffee with the Courts Guest Judges: Mobile County Circuit Court Judge Brandy Hambright and Mobile County District Court Judge George Zoghby

Moderated by: Winston Grow of Cabaniss, Johnston, Gardner, Dumas & O’Neal, LLP

By Greg Vaughan, Chair

Fellow members of the Mobile Bar, the Mentoring Program is pleased to announce a new CLE to our slate of programming:  The Mentoring Program Book Club .

 

Here’s how it works:  

 

This year, we will review the practice development book  Tiger Tactics, Powerful Strategies for Winning Law Firms   over the course of four months. Each month, starting in June, we will gather (via Zoom for the time being) for a 90 minutes discussion hosted by the Mentoring Program and local lawyers to review several chapters of the book.  

 

1.5 hours of CLE credit will be given for each gathering. And, thanks to the generosity of the publisher (James Ruane) and your Mobile Bar Association, there will be no charge for the book or the one-hour of CLE credit, if you are a current member of the Mobile Bar Association with 12 years of experience or less. All other members are invited to join us and normal CLE rates will apply. The book will be sold to you at the Mobile Bar's cost of $7.00. We have ordered 100 copies of the book. Copies of the book are available on a first come, first serve basis.  

 

The books will arrive around June 8. If you’re interested in joining our club and reserving a copy of the book, please send an e-mail to Ann or Tammy . They will have a copy available for your pick up at the Bar’s headquarters. 

Our CLE schedule is as follows:



Registration is required in advance.

Amazon.com provides the following summary on Tiger Tactics : 

 

What is Your Dream? Being a lawyer is difficult. Creating a sustainable and profitable firm that works for you is even harder. Most lawyers never get there. Most lawyers feel stuck in jobs. And many lawyers who choose to work for themselves struggle to make a profit or make any time for their lives. Tiger Tactics is about unlocking your dream. It was written by five lawyers who have individually gone on to create million and multi-million dollar practices. Tiger Tactics is about the stories, the struggles, and the practical advice necessary to thrive in the law practice jungle. Want more access and discussion? Join the Tiger Tactics online community at  https://www.facebook.com/groups/tigertacticsbook.

The MBA Mentoring Committee CLEs are sponsored by:

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PROBATE SECTION CLE

ONE-HOUR CLE | ZOOM

 

Wednesday, June 10, 2020 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM

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Type in the following:

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Password: MBA2020

Once logging in for the first time, for security purposes, please go to your preferences and update your information and change your password.

Credit Card Fee:

For any credit card purchases on the website, there is a $2.00 credit card fee. The new website does not automatically add the charge. You MUST type 1 in the box beside the credit card fee to complete the process.

CONSIDER DONATING TO JUROR COFFEE

13TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COURT

For many years the Mobile Bar Association has proudly sponsored free coffee and condiments for Mobile County residents called to serve as jurors in the 13th Judicial Circuit Court. Although it may seem a small gesture, if something as seemingly insignificant as a fresh cup of coffee can make the jury process more enjoyable, we believe it is a benefit to the system as a whole.

The Mobile Bar Association is currently asking MBA Members to consider donating either $50.00 or $100.00 to help us continue this tradition. If you are interested in donating to the Juror Coffee Fund, please click here . Thanks in advance for your consideration and contribution. 

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VERNON Z. CRAWFORD BAR ASSOCIATION

By Suntrease Williams-Maynard, President

The Vernon Z. Crawford Bay Area Bar Association hosted a virtual haply hour to connect with its members on May 7, 2020. We are appreciative of all those that participated. The Executive Board is encouraging members to send any announcements (i.e., promotions, change of careers, weddings, etc) to  [email protected] . Despite these unusual times, we still want to take time to recognize and celebrate the many great things that are still happening!

We also want to encourage our members to participate in the virtual webinars that are being hosted by the Alabama Lawyers Association (ALA) at no cost. You may register for a series of webinars on ALA's website. ALA is also going virtual for its annual meeting this year. Please mark your calendars for June 4th to make plans to attend. Please watch for updates on the website.



Wishing everyone continued health and safety during this time. Should anything be needed, please do not hesitate to send an email to  [email protected] .

YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION

By Catherine Spann, President

Happy June! I can’t believe we are almost halfway through the year. The Young Lawyers Section is excited to announce we are going to hold a Zoom yoga class on June 18, 2020, at 6:00 pm. Everyone is welcome. Please look out for an email with more information.

 

To join the e-mail list, please e-mail me, Catherine Spann ( [email protected] < mailto:[email protected]> ), Vice President Blake Richardson ( [email protected] < mailto:[email protected]> ), or Treasurer Johana Gerheim ( [email protected] < mailto:[email protected]> ). For updates and additional information, please follow us on Facebook (Mobile Bar Association Young Lawyers) - click here and Instagram - click here .

A NOTE FROM YOUR ASB BOARD BAR OF COMMISSIONERS

By Zack Moore, ASB Commissioner, Place 1, Fred Helmsing, ASB Commissioner, Place 2, Bill Lancaster, ASB Commissioner, Place 3, Bryan Comer, ASB Commissioner, Place 4, Jim Rebarchak, ASB Commissioner, Place 5 and Raymond Bell, ASB Commissioner, At Large

The Alabama State Bar recently published the proposed revisions to Rules 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3 of the Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct dealing with lawyer advertising. Please review the proposed revisions carefully and comment as you feel appropriate. The deadline to submit your feedback on the proposed rules is due by Friday, June 12, 2020.

Click here to view the proposed rules and comment section .

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In a case of first impression, the Supreme Court held in Pollard v. H.C. Partnership , No. 11180795 (Ala., March 13, 2020) that the appointment of a personal representative that occurred before the two-year limitation period of the wrongful death act expired related back to the filing of the wrongful death action.

 

In another case of first impression, the Supreme Court in Ex parte Gray , No. 1180999 (Ala., April 24, 2020), held that, pursuant to Ala. R. Civ. P. 15(c)(3), an amended complaint filed less than 120 days after the filing of the complaint in order to correct the name of the defendant related back to the filing of the complaint and was not barred by the statute of limitation that had run between the filing of the complaint and the amendment. The assertion was that the wrong defendant was named as a matter of error.

 

In Lerftwich v. Brewer , No. 1180796 (Ala., April 3, 2020), the Supreme Court held that the fact that two jurors were married to each other did not disqualify them from serving on the jury.

NEW MEMBERS

The following lawyers were admitted to the Mobile Bar Association on Friday, May 8, 2020.

ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP

KATHRYN S. CARVER, graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1986; admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 1986; employed with Carver Law.

 

SAMANTHA NICOLE FOX, graduated from Loyola University of New Orleans in 2018; admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 2019; employed as a Law Clerk for Judge Wesley Pipes.

 

SUSAN ZUNDEL HAM graduated from Cumberland School Law School in 1991; admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 1991; employed with Ham & Associates.

 

KEVIN K. HAYS, graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1990; admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 1994; the Texas State Bar in 2013; employed with Hays Law Firm LLC.

 

LISA J. HILL, graduated from the University of Alabama Law School in 1997; admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 1997; employed with State of Alabama, Department of Human Resources.

 

CHRISTOPHER L. NIXON, graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2019, admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 2019; employed with Phelps Dunbar LLP.

 

FINLEY BROOKS REEVES, graduated from the University of Alabama School of law in 2019; admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 2019; employed with Stone Crosby, P.C.

 

AMY LYNETTE ROBERTSON, graduated from Mississippi College School of Law in 2017; admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 2019; the Mississippi State Bar in 2020; employed with Kubicki Draper, P.A

 

SABRINA BOSARGE RUFFIN, graduated from Mississippi College Law School in 2010; admitted to the Mississippi State Bar in 2010; the Alabama State Bar in 2019; employed with Hand Arendall Harrison Sale LLC.

 

RYAN D. SEANOR, graduated from the Arizona Summit Law School in 2015; admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 2015; employed with Gardberg & Kemmerly, P.C.

 

BENJAMIN M. WARREN, graduated from Cumberland School of Law in 2018; admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 2018; employed with Greene & Phillips.

 

DOUGLAS M. WILSON graduated from Cumberland School of Law in 2018; admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 2018; employed with the District Attorney’s Office.

 

KEITH J. VIOLANTE, graduated from American University, Washington College of Law in 2016; admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 2017; employed with Austill, Lewis & Pipkin, P.C.

 

 

ASSOCIATE MEMBER

 

JUSTIN DAVID KOPF, graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2013; admitted to the Mississippi State Bar in 2013; employed with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

 

OLIVER JAMES MCDONALD, graduated from Columbia Law School in 2015; admitted to the New York State Bar in 2016; employed with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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By Dru Lauren Bishop, Pro Bono Manager

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hamper the economy and upend business as usual, I’m sure many of us are grappling with big questions of how to move forward, promote sustainability, and continue to serve our clients. South Alabama is feeling the effects of this economic downturn sharply. We are preparing to see an increased demand for pro bono services due to COVID-19. Please sign up to be on our panel of volunteers, and if you have signed up in the past please take a few moments to update your volunteer opportunity form .

 

On our opportunity form we will also ask you about how you would like to see pro bono clients, including a new Zoom option. The use of technology to assist our clients will be one of the silver linings we will continue to use as we move forward. We are working to set up a station in our office for our clients without internet or phone access to meet with their attorneys and potentially attend ZOOM hearings. 

 

For those of you who still may be hesitant to volunteer for areas of law with which you are unfamiliar, fear not! VLP has mentor attorneys at the ready who will be happy to lend their expertise to our volunteer attorneys. We also offer sample forms for many common case types for our clients that you may not see in your practice. If you have a question about one of your cases, please call the VLP office, and the staff will connect you with an experienced mentor attorney in that field. Additionally, we are in the process of updating our mentor contact list. Please, if you have expertise in an area of law and are committed to ensuring access to justice, sign up to be a mentor on our opportunity form .

 

We also know many of you take pro bono cases outside of our program. If you and your client are willing to fill out a few simple forms we can offer you CLE credit and insurance through our program. This helps us keep track of our community needs and accurately report pro bono service of the local bar.

We would love for you to get involved. Look for our monthly emails or email me at [email protected] to find out about upcoming volunteer opportunities. Click here to complete our volunteer opportunity form .

 

Thank you for your service!

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DIED:  On May 9, 2020 MBA Member Albert Neil Hudgens passed away at his home on Dauphin Island. Neil was born in Montgomery in 1929 and received his B.A. from Tulane University in 1952. After graduating from Tulane, he served as a pilot in the United States Air Force on active duty from 1952 until 1957 and in the Reserves until 1975. He was a recipient of the National Defense Service Medal and attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Upon his release from active duty, he attended law school and graduated from the University of Alabama in 1959. Neil practiced law in Mobile for forty years. When away from his practice, he enjoyed hunting and fishing with his friends and family. Neil is survived by his two children and two grandchildren.

 

DIED: Mother of MBA Member Jeff Hartley , Ann McPhillips Grace “Nancy” Hartley, died on April 25, 2020 at home in Mobile. A native Mobilian, Nancy grew up in St. Mary’s Catholic parish before she moved across the street to Bishop Toolen High School and graduated in 1955. Immediately following her graduation, Nancy went to work at Cummings and White-Spunner Real Estate. She graduated from the University of South Alabama in 1974, then taught special education at Augusta Evans School for 32 years. Nancy was a Master Gardener, a member of the Herb Society, and a long-time volunteer tutor for the Sickle Cell Anemia Association. A devout Catholic, Nancy’s faith was resolute and carried her through life. She will be remembered for her hospitable nature and contagious laughter. Nancy is survived by her husband of 63 years, four children, five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

 

DIED: Mobile lawyer Holly Lee Wiseman died at home on April 17, 2020. A graduate of Princeton University and Boston University, Holly was deeply influenced by the example of her civil rights activist parents. She began her career as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama and then prosecuted political corruption crimes for the Alabama Attorney General. Holly spent 15 years at the U.S. Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. She handled voting rights cases, prosecuted hate crimes, police brutality and human trafficking. The DOJ conferred its highest honor, the John Marshall Award, on Holly for successfully prosecuting the first case brought under the U.S. Trafficking Protection Act of 2000. Holly worked abroad as a DOJ consultant fighting human trafficking and corruption and later helped New Orleans establish a new agency to monitor its police department. In 2013, she returned home to Mobile, where she worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney until her retirement in February of 2020. Holly’s passion for life was unbounded. She loved music and would sing and play the piano for whoever would listen. Holly is survived by her five siblings, several nieces and nephews.

 

DIED: Mother of Mobile lawyer Coleman Meador , Cynthia (“Cindy”) Long Meador, passed away on May 1, 2020. A longtime resident of Uniontown, Alabama, and more recently of Daphne, Cindy was a beloved substitute teacher in Uniontown and later a full-time teacher of drama at Montgomery Academy. She volunteered with the Aid to Inmate Mothers at Julia Tutwiler Prison and was named Senior Volunteer of the Year by the Junior League of Montgomery in 2004. Cindy never met a stranger. Hugs were many and heartfelt. She loved her family, Auburn football, theatre and acting, music, dancing, tennis, playing the piano, travel, the beach, reading, movies, cooking, and teaching children to swim. Every song she sang was full-voiced and generally off-key. She didn’t care. She loved life and she will be missed beyond measure. Cindy is survived by her two sons, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

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Associate Attorney Opening - Insurance defense firm with offices in Alabama, Florida, & Mississippi, seeking Associate Attorney for Downtown Mobile location. Experience in Civil Litigation preferred but not required. Competitive compensation and benefits. Qualified candidates must be Alabama Bar members in good standing. Please submit resume to Norma Bradley (e-mail:  [email protected]   or fax: 251-694-9392).

 

The Mobile County Public Defender (MCPD) seeks dedicated attorneys to serve as Assistant Public Defenders . The Mobile County Public Defender's Office will provide full-time, high-quality, zealous representation to indigent defendants in the Mobile County District and Circuit Courts. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at 5:00 pm CST. Click here to view the full job description .

POSITION AVAILABLE as assistant reporter of decisions , Alabama appellate courts. Starting date for position is expected to be September 1, 2020. Applicants must be members of the Alabama State Bar; an undergraduate or a graduate degree in English helpful but not required; experience in editing preferred. Requires knowledge of legal-citation formats and strict attention to detail. The assistant reporter is a full-time employee expected to work in the Heflin-Torbert Judicial Building in Montgomery and not remotely. Salary range for this position is $61,024 to $97,696, depending on experience and ability. Submit application letter with résumé by June 15, 2020, to Sean Blum, Office of Reporter of Decisions, Alabama Appellate Courts, Heflin-Torbert Judicial Building, 300 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-3741.

C . Richard Wilkins announces the opening on April 1, 2020 of C. Richard Wilkins Attorney At Law Professional Limited Liability Company at 7070 Bruns Drive, Mobile, Alabama, 36695. Phone (251) 287-6087.

Adams and Reese is pleased to announce Attorney Suntrease Williams-Maynard has been named one of The National Black Lawyers’ (NBL) Top 40 Under 40 in Alabama. The award is extended to only forty lawyers in each state who, “exemplify superior qualifications, leadership skills, and performance in their areas of legal practice.”

DOWNTOWN OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE:  Beautiful, spacious office in an historic home in the beautiful DeTonti Square neighborhood. Plentiful onsite parking, including an EV Charging space, available conference room, waiting area, and kitchenette. Receptionist onsite. Internet provided. A block from the Federal and Bankruptcy Courthouses. Perfect for a Solo, or out of town firm desiring Mobile presence. 205 N. Conception St.  Contact HENRY BREWSTER at 251-338-0630 or [email protected] .

 

Fairhope individual office space available . $350-650 depending on size office. Utlilities included. conference room, kitchen, lobby. Call 251-610-1001.

A DONATION HAS BEEN MADE TO THE

MOBILE BAR FOUNDATION

In Memory of

Mayer (Mike) Perloff

By: Irvin Grodsky

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TRI THE GULF

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Please consider making a tax deductible donation to the Mobile Bar Foundation:

Name: ____________________________________________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________________________________________

Phone: _______________________________________ E-Mail: _____________________________________

YES, I want to make a donation to the Mobile Bar Foundation -

In honor/memory of: ______________________________________________________________________

Acknowledgement sent to:

Name ____________________________________________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________________________________________

YES, I want to become a member of the Mobile Bar Foundation -

__ Life member ($5000, can be paid in up to 5 annual installments

__ Sustaining Member ($100 or more annually)

__ Regular Member ($50 - $99 annually)

__ Member of MBA practicing 5 years or less ($25 - $99)

__ I would like more information on including the Foundation in my estate planning

I donate my gift of: $__________

Check: __________ (Please make checks payable to the Mobile Bar Foundation)

*Credit Card: Visa/Mastercard# ____________________________________________________________

Signature: ______________________________________________ Exp: ___________________________

Mail to: Mobile Bar Foundation, P.O. Drawer 2005, Mobile, AL 36652



* All credit card transactions will incur a $2.00 processing fee.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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Listed below are members that are celebrating birthdays in June:

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