Forrest S. Latta, President

November 2023

Volume XLVII, Issue 11

In This Issue...

Ann's Article............................Page 3

Committee Preference Form..Page 4

CLEs.......................................Page 5

Lawyer Assistance..................Page 9

Mentoring Moment..................Page 10

Young Lawyers........................Page 11

Women Lawyers......................Page 12

Significant Decisions................Page 13

Nominating Report...................Page 13

50-Year Lawyers......................Page 14

In the News..............................Page 19

Mobile Bar Foundation.............Page 21

Birthdays..................................Page 24

  2023 OFFICERS

President - Forrest S. Latta

President Elect - Raymond L. Bell, Jr.

Vice President - Judge Judson W. Wells, Sr.

Secretary - Gordon G. Armstrong, III

Treasurer - Mary Margaret K. Bailey

Asst. Treasurer - Brian K. Smithweck

Executive Director - Ann Forbes Sirmon

Editor - Tiffany Ray

President’s Message

Let me give you an example why our November meeting has become one of my favorites, and why you should attend, too. I knew Larry Hallett for decades and probably saw him over a hundred times. He was a great guy. But I never knew he flew 250 missions in Vietnam as a carrier-based fighter pilot; that he served in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia; or that his college training was actually in chemical engineering. Now all I can think about are the questions I would ask him. Larry will be among those remembered November 9 when we salute our members who died in the past year. One cannot leave that meeting without a deeper love and appreciation for our fellow members and how we are all tied together.

Ironically, this November remembrance meeting began as a one-time plan to catch up on the backlog of memorial resolutions a few years ago. (We used to read memorial resolutions throughout the year at each bar meeting.) It was so successful it became a tradition! The Resolutions Committee of Kathy Miller, Mark Newell, and Charlie Potts does an amazing job. Please do yourself and the bar a favor and join us November 9—I especially recommend it for young lawyers.

Let me recognize one of our most important MBA committees—our Grievance Committee, currently under the chairmanship of Cooper Thurber—and express our entire association’s thanks to its members. Their work is vital to our professional reputation, and it draws compliments from our state bar leadership. The committee’s primary role is to ensure that our profession meets the public’s expectations when it comes to ethical conduct. Its members are carefully selected, and they spend countless hours working on behalf of our bar with little recognition. Please help me thank the committee members: Russ Copeland, Lisa Deen, Jim Newman, Jeff Perloff, Jessica Pilgrim, Caroline Pope, Scott Stevens, Mary Stone, Mike Strasavich, Greg Vaughan, Kristy Waldron, and Judge Holmes Whiddon (Ret.).

Very important – please submit your Committee Preference Form if you have not already done so!! Please do it right now. It only takes a minute. Here is a link: https://mobilebarassociation.com/page/CommitteesSections

Congratulations to Kathy Miller on her election to the Mobile County Judicial Nominating Committee. Kathy is a former MBA President and will make a great representative. The level of interest in that election was very encouraging. Our bar association is strong.

Alabama’s Adoption Laws are being amended. Congratulations to Judge Don Davis and the MBA Probate Section under chairman Deena Tyler for hosting a timely Lunch & Learn for members. Professor Penny Davis of the University of Alabama School of Law, who is the leading authority on the subject, was the featured speaker. Getting her was a real coup, thanks to Judge Davis.

It seems too good to be true, but Judge Davis also has called to our attention the new Lawyers for Liberty program that pays lawyers to serve as poll workers PLUS offers four hours of CLE credit. It is part of the state’s election security for the 2024 election year. The state seeks to have one lawyer in each voting precinct (there are 80 precincts in Mobile County) in exchange for 4 hours of CLE credit and payment of $150-200/day. There are multiple elections next year, the first being the March 5 primary. You must apply through the local probate office and complete training (for which you are paid) starting the day after Mardi Gras.

A quick update on the Alabama Bar Exam: We are one of 40 states that adopted the Uniform Bar Exam several years ago. Some of you may be surprised, as I was, to learn the bar exam is no longer three days long, and no longer has an Alabama component. Examinees instead watch a four-hour video on Alabama law, which is untested. But now, the UBE is being overhauled for 2026. It is called NextGen and will focus on reasoning and issue recognition rather than black-letter law. That change has triggered some serious concerns about whether the exam is being watered down. The Alabama Board of Bar Examiners, and particularly, the Alabama Supreme Court, which ultimately decides whether to implement the proposed changes, are considering the issue. Many different ideas are on the table regarding bar admissions. Stay tuned.

Past is Future

A character in one of William Faulkner’s novels once said, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” I was reminded of that recently.

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to speak with Fred Heibert, Chief Archaeologist for National Geographic. He was in town in connection with the exploration of the Clotilda. As everyone knows, the sunken remains of the last American slave ship were discovered in the Mobile Delta. Heibert said the Clotilda is the single most significant find in North America in a century. He said he considers it one of the highlights of his 35-year career, comparable to his work restoring Christ’s Tomb in Israel. Those were some amazing statements from a respected source. He really got my attention. I asked what he thought should happen, and Heibert said he believes Africatown and the Clotilda, if handled right, have the potential to attract millions of visitors, as they represent an epic chapter in world history. As many of you are aware, it also is a story that includes many intriguing legal issues – both historic and modern. I have long thought our Mobile Bar Association has a unique opportunity to build the historical legal record of the Clotilda, and to offer a webinar that I think would interest people far beyond Mobile. There are many possibilities for what we could do with this.

In a similar vein, I was at Brookley Field recently getting a tour of all the anticipated changes. I am fascinated by the irony that Airbus, a French company, chose a site only yards from where Bienville’s Chateau once overlooked Mobile Bay in the early 1700s when the French first settled here. Bienville’s home was said to be on the bluff at Garrow’s Bend along the shoreline of Mobile Bay near the current Airbus Engineering Offices. From there, he and his guards could spot approaching ships coming up the bay and quickly gallop to Ft. Conde to man the guns. Flash forward, and it’s not hard to visualize a light rail connecting our new airport to the downtown hotels and businesses. The rail line is already there, and soon the airport will be, too. Incidentally, back then Bienville WAS the law -- prosecutor, judge, and jury. I read where he once imposed the death sentence on a Swiss soldier by ordering him sawn in two, per the code of his Swiss military unit. It happened on the parade ground near our modern state courthouse. Much more to say about these topics, but I have hit my word count. Suffice it to say, signs are everywhere that Mobile’s past and future are intertwining to drive future growth – and that means legal demand.

Let me hear from you with your thoughts, questions, or suggestions about our association. I hope to see you on November 9!

Forrest S. Latta

Mobile Bar Association, 2023 President

During the meeting:

• We will remember Mobile Bar members who have passed away over the last year. They are: Robert Austin Beckerle; Douglas Kendall Dunning; Brock Bingham Gordon; Lawrence J. Hallett, Jr.; Judge Warren L. Hammond, Jr.; Ralph Edward Massey, Jr.; Judge Dominick John Matranga; Bill Clayton Messick; James Manson Murray, Judge James T. Patterson; Andrea Pearson Pennington; Sydney R. Prince, III, Howard Murfee Schramm, Jr.; Tazewell T. Shepard, III; annd Franklin Louis Shuford, Jr.
• 3rd Year! We will Call the Roll of those current members of the MBA, lawyers and judges alike, who have served in all branches of the military. Make sure your profile on the website is up to date so we do not miss anyone!
• We will vote on the 2024 Slate of Officers.

Sponsor for the October Luncheon is SmartBank.

ADVANCE REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2023.

NOVEMBER REMINDERS:

3rd Year! We will Call the Roll of those current members of the MBA, lawyers and judges alike, who have served in all branches of the military. Make sure your profile on the website is up to date so we do not miss anyone.

NEW DATE FOR BENCH AND BAR: Please join us for the annual Bench and Bar, slated for the NEW DATE of Friday, December 15, 2023, at the Riverview Plaza Hotel. This year’s event is a scaled-down version of the annual CLE, but it will continue to provide lawyers and judges practicing in Mobile County with quality continuing legal education, as well as opportunities to network with fellow attorneys. Registration is now live! Firm sponsorships are also available. Click here for more information and to register!

Reporting CLEs to the Alabama State Bar: The Alabama State Bar’s new CLE portal went live on October 13; however, there were some issues with the update. We have tried to input CLE credits, to limited success. We were advised to wait a while longer to input the remainder of the ten CLEs yet to be reported, so please be patient.

Thank you for your continued support! Look forward to seeing you soon. Happy Thanksgiving!

Onward,

Ann

P. Ann Forbes Sirmon

Mobile Bar Association, Executive Director

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The Mobile Bar Association offers opportunities for you to volunteer on several committees. As a committee member, you can connect with other attorneys, contribute to the legal community, and make an impact. It's time to start considering whether/how you would like to volunteer on one or more of the MBA's Committees for 2024. To join a committee, complete the preference form below.

DEADLINE TO COMPLETE: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023.

Make an impact! Get involved! Volunteer with the Mobile Bar Association!

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ADVANCE REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2023.

Bankruptcy Section Meeting/Lunch and Learn

Tuesday, November 14, 2023 | 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Jury Assembly Room, Federal Courthouse

CLE credit: 1.0 hour

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MORE INFORMATION SOON!

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS

MONDAY. DECEMBER 11, 2023.

During the Bench and Bar Conference, you will have an opportunity to:

• Spend one-on-one time with area judges
• Available CLE credits: 3.0 + 1.0 Ethics
• Network with others in the legal profession
• Visit table vendors
• Our last in-person CLE for 2023!

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LAWYER ASSISTANCE

        Consequences of One Lawyer’s Failure to Find the Right Solution to His Mental Health Issues

I write this to encourage lawyers to take care of their mental health and to protect their livelihood and practice by developing and maintaining good business practices.  After graduating from law school, I went to work for one of the top law firms in a mid-sized Southern city, where I became a partner and worked for over 20 years.  But, during my last year there, I started having trouble focusing on my work, so much so that I thought I might have something organically wrong in my head.  A partner in whom I confided suggested that I have a psychological evaluation.  I did, and I received a diagnosis of major depressive disorder and anxiety.  Interestingly, I was having some of the same symptoms I helped a family member navigate years before but did not recognize in myself.

I started treatment, both with depression and anxiety medication and with counseling.  As I learned more about the symptoms of depression, I came to realize that I had suffered from major depression three times earlier in life, though never to the extent I was experiencing it when I started treatment.  That recognition changed my diagnosis to chronic depression, which meant taking medications for the rest of my life if I wanted to avoid further debilitating depression.

So, what were the symptoms I missed that allowed me to slip so deeply into depression?  Because the symptoms crept up on me slowly, I did not notice any decreased interest in doing things.  I never really felt tired, or that my energy level was low. I had never slept well, and practicing law certainly didn’t help, so I never noticed a change in my sleeping habits.  My appetite was good, but I did have a symptom of anxiety – even if I was hungry, when I sat down to eat, my stomach would knot up after just a couple of bites.  Although other people recognized that my mood was depressed, I didn’t, in part because I had always been somewhat depressed, and in part because the deeper depression came on gradually.  I never really felt like I was a bad person or that I didn’t have self-worth.  But I was having enough trouble concentrating that it was significantly affecting my work, and, although I had never heard of suicide ideation, I had it.  I was never tempted to commit suicide, but I knew how I would if I were going to, and every morning, as I drove to work, I checked to see if the opportunity was there. I just didn’t realize that was abnormal.

What is my take-away from my experience?  Self-evaluate by running through the checklist of symptoms (set out in the preceding paragraph) to see if you have them.  If you have any doubt, ask those closest to you whether they notice any of the symptoms.  If you notice symptoms in others, observe them more closely to see how they are acting and managing their lives.  As difficult as it is to ask them how they are feeling—and in asking, push what you may normally consider the limit to understand what is happening to them, their lives may depend on it.

My progression toward normalcy (whatever that is) was slow, and for several years, my medications changed fairly often.  After a number of years, I reached a level I thought I could live with, but even then, my emotions were flattened because the medication that raised me out of my deepest depression also caused flattened emotions.  As a result of these flattened emotions, I let things that I should have worried about roll off my back.

Because of my depression, I joined my State Bar’s Lawyer Assistance Program and took pride in the fact that I wasn’t in the program because of an addiction until one day the leader asked me if I had ever considered whether I was addicted to work.  I realized I was, and also that I had trouble relinquishing control of work enough to delegate it.  My failure to place limits on my work life and my tendency to let things roll off my back probably contributed to my ultimate downfall.  Because I was working too hard, I wasn’t taking care of my firm’s business.  My firm lost lawyers and paralegals because of that.  As a result, the firm got in a financial bind, and I took money out of my trust account when I shouldn’t have.  When I couldn’t pay it back, I self-reported to the State Bar and agreed to disbarment.  I had lost a good legal career because I let things I should have worried about roll off my back and worked so hard for clients that I didn’t take care of my firm’s business.  The take-away from this is to take care of your mental health and place resaonable limits on your work life.  Include in those limits on your work life time to take care of the business aspects of your practice.

Finally, more than 15 years after my diagnosis, a family member suggested a depression medication that worked well for her.  I switched to that medication, and it has made a world of difference in me.  I now have a much broader range of emotions, and I pay attention to some of those things that, previously, I might have let roll off my back.  My advice on this front is to be observant about how changes in medications affect you; be patient because it may take a long time to achieve the best recovery; and don’t be afraid to remain at an occasional plateau to allow yourself some time without the risk of moving backwards by changing medicines too quickly.  Don’t stop trying new combinations of medications and/or counseling until you are truly functioning well.

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MENTORING MOMENT

By Greg Vaughan, Mentoring Committee Member

Practice Pointers: Preparing Opposing Counsel and the Mediator, and Some Random Thoughts on Mediation

The following is a summary of my remarks (part two) on preparing opposing counsel and the mediator for an upcoming mediation, which I recently presented to the Mobile Bar’s Mentoring Program CLE on mediation:

Preparing opposing counsel (and the insurance company) to mediate

Remember the comprehensive position statement we discussed sending to the mediator?  Have you considered sending some version of your position statement to opposing counsel (about 14-30 days in advance)? Are there any big secrets to your case at this point? Why not signal your ideas as to case value (with a reasonable opening demand) and give the insurance company an opportunity to consider your thoughts when setting reserves.

Preparing the mediator

Even if it’s the morning of the mediation (and I’m embarrassed to say I’ve done this before), send the mediator a position statement. Even if you only have time to send a short e-mail, it’s better than sending nothing and showing up and explaining to the mediator in the opening session—and in front of your client—what the case is about, liability issues, your client’s damages, and your thoughts on case value. If you need help with your client, particularly reasonableness, call the mediator in advance. And, if you find yourself in a time crunch and can’t send a written position statement (relax … it happens to all of us) just call the mediator and relay the basic info.

What motivates parties to settle (my opinion)

Risk. You’ve been hired to help evaluate and explain risk. If you represent the plaintiff, have a conversation about the risk of a defense verdict, or a small verdict, and the risk of increased expenses creating a net result that’s worse than a mediated result. Also, discuss the nonmonetary value of a resolution. I explain it like this: “What would tomorrow look like if you didn’t have this lawsuit to worry about.” Without fail, my clients (and parties in mediation) have a look of relief and maybe crack a smile. You see, peace of mind has a lot of value. Lawsuits detract from that. Lawyers need to be reminded that non-lawyers are not conditioned to deal with protracted litigation—it wears on people daily.

If you represent the defendant, oftentimes it’s more of a business decision. But there still can be significant risks: the risk of a large verdict, the risk of continued defense costs without a good result, the risk of an unhappy insurance carrier. Why chance it if you can get the plaintiff and the plaintiff’s lawyer in a range that makes sense—in a range that’s hard to turn down (considering the risk)? If a pre- or post-mediation letter to the insurance carrier (from the mediator) will help get the carrier on the same planet, just ask.

Compromise is not a four-letter word. Mediation is not a place of battle. Put down your weapons, understand what you are there to do—and what you’re not there to do—and make an earnest effort at resolution. Trust me, it’s ok to settle what needs to settle. If you’re like me, there’s probably another case right around the corner that will need your attention (or maybe it’s the one collecting dust in the file cabinet 😊)  

***

I’ve spent a lot of time around more senior lawyers and judges through my involvement in the bar’s mentoring program. This collection of articles is some of what I have learned there – and some of what I’ve learned along the way.

If you have any questions, comments, would like to suggest some future topics please send me an e-mail at: greg@vaughanpoe.com or call 251-432-8883.

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YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION

By John Leech, Young Lawyers President

Our November Young Lawyer Social will be held on Thursday, November 9, 2023, from 5:30 – 8:00 PM at Ruth’s Chris Steak House, sponsored by Cunningham Bounds. There will be live music by Ben Cook & Roy Durand. All Mobile and Baldwin County judges, lawyers, and staff are welcome to attend.

The December Young Lawyer Social is scheduled for Thursday, December 7, 2023, from 5:30 – 7:30 PM at The Royal Street Tavern, sponsored by Rimkus.

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WOMEN LAWYERS

By Tiffany Ray, Women Lawyers President

THANKS! Much thanks to all who came out for our Fall Social on October 10 at The Cheese Cottage (see photos below.) The event was a meet-and-greet opportunity for members and candidates for local office, and turnout was terrific. Thanks to all our local candidates who took the time to speak to members: Mark Erwin (probate judge candidate); Judge Vicki Davis (Circuit Court judge incumbent candidate); Johanna Bucci, Eucellis Sullivan, and Richard Foreman (District Court judge candidates); and Sharla Knox (Circuit Court Clerk candidate).

GET INVOVED! Some of our current board members will be rolling off this year - if you’re a MBAWL member and interested in supporting local women lawyers by serving on the board or our Trailblazer planning committee, contact me at tiffany@taylormartino.com. If you’re not a member but would like to be, let me know that, too.

COMING UP: Stay tuned for info on our last event of the year—details will be announced via email and in the MBA Monday announcements. Dues invoices for 2024 will go out in early January. And, in the works for February or March is a half-day CLE on being your best trial lawyer. There are lots of great things ahead—I hope you’ll take part.

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In Watters v. Birmingham Hematology and Oncology Associates, LLC, No. SC-2022-0907 (Ala. October 13, 2023), the Supreme Court held that certain intra-company communications did not constitute “publication” when viewed through the lens of a defamation action. Affirming the judgment of the Jefferson County Circuit Court, the Supreme Court held that statements and findings reported by a law firm to the Defendant medical practice’s executive board and physician partners, when such law firm had been retained to investigate anonymous allegations made about the practice, were “the legal equivalent of statements made directly to oneself.” Because “publication” under the defamation analysis requires communication to a third party, such statements and findings could not be publication.

In Morrison v. May, No. SC-2023-0112 (Ala. October 6, 2023), the Supreme Court held that neighboring real property owners were not entitled to redeem certain real property under the current statutory tax sale redemption scheme. According to the Court, although Ala. Code § 40-10-82 provides that the right to redemption is not extinguished when there is continuous possession of the tax sale property, this protection is only available to the original owner(s) of the property and their successors; it could not be claimed by the neighboring property owners who claimed an equitable interest in the tax sale property through adverse possession.

By Brian Murphy, Immediate Past President and Nominating Committee Chair

The following Mobile Bar Association members have been nominated as officers for 2024. They were presented to the membership during the October Membership Luncheon on Friday, October 13, 2023, and will be voted on during the November Remembrance Luncheon scheduled for Thursday, November 9, 2023.

The 2024 Slate of Officers is:

President-Elect: Judge Judson W. Wells, Sr.

Vice President: Mary Margaret K. Bailey

Secretary: Jenna J. York

Assistant Treasurer: Gordon G. Armstrong, III

Pursuant to the MBA bylaws, our current President-Elect, Raymond L. Bell, Jr., automatically elevates to the position of President, and Brian K. Smithweck, our current Assistant Treasurer, automatically elevates to Treasurer. 

Thank you to the members of the Nominating Committee who participated in the consideration of these nominees. If you have any questions, please email me at brian@braswellmurphy.com.

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JUDGE JOHN F. BUTLER

Judge Butler received his undergraduate degree from Troy State University in 1965 and then enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he became a non-uniform Special Agent of Army Counterintelligence and received a commission as a Second Lieutenant. He served in Vietnam from 1967-1968 and received a Bronze Star. He retired as a Colonel in 1995. Judge Butler entered the University of Alabama School of Law in 1970 and, in 1973, received his Juris Doctor degree. He was admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 1973. He began his legal career with Coley & Coley, later Coley, Coley & Butler. In 1980, he left the firm to become a Referee (Assistant Judge) to Judge James T. Strickland at the Mobile County Juvenile Court. Upon Judge Strickland’s retirement in May 1982, John was elected as a Mobile County Circuit Judge. With the Youth Center, he heard not only juvenile delinquency cases but also child custody cases involving unmarried couples. Judge Butler retired in January 2004 after 24 years of service.

JOHN T. CROWDER, JR.

John received his undergraduate degree from the University of South Alabama in 1969 and his Juris Doctor degree in 1973 from the University of Alabama School of Law. He was admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 1973. John practiced as a trial lawyer for over 35 years at Cunningham Bounds. In 1998, John was appointed Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Alabama. He retired from Cunningham Bounds in 2022. John established a scholarship fund for pre-law students at the University of South Alabama and a scholarship for law students at the University of Alabama School of Law. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award from South Alabama in 2020 and was a charter member of “Pioneers for Justice” in the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation. John served the Mobile Bar as a member of the Entertainment Committee and as Chair of the Courthouse Committee, and he was a member of the Nominating Committee for many years. In addition, he was involved as Vice-Chair of the Civil Practice-Federal Courts Section and was a member of the Civil Practice-State & County Courts Section.

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JUDGE CHARLES H. DODSON, JR.

Judge Dodson received his undergraduate degree in 1970 from the University of Alabama and his Juris Doctor degree in 1973 from the University of Alabama School of Law. He was admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 1973. Judge Dodson worked at the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney from 1975-1977. In June 1977, he was appointed as a judge in the 13^th Judicial Circuit Court; he retired from the bench in June 1993. He then practiced with Sims, Graddick, & Dodson until July 2004, with Dodson & Steadman, P.C., until August 2017, and as a solo practitioner until his retirement in 2022. Judge Dodson was involved with the Mobile Bar as a member of the Domestic Relations Section.

LEE L. HALE



Lee received his undergraduate degree from Spring Hill College in 1970 and his Juris Doctor degree in 1973 from Duke University Law School. He was admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 1973. In 1974, he graduated from Northwestern University School of Law Prosecution School. Lee started his law career at Hamilton, Butler, Riddick & Latour, then from 1974 through 1979, he served as a Mobile County Assistant District Attorney. From 1979-1980, Lee was Deputy Attorney General of the State of Alabama, and from 1981-1986, he served as a Special Assistant Attorney General. In 1981, Lee went into private practice, initially in both criminal and civil practice. Since 1995 he has practiced exclusively in general civil practice in Mobile and Baldwin Counties. Lee has been involved with the Mobile Bar as a member of the Workers Compensation Section. Lee is married to Margareth and has three children and six grandchildren.

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THEODORE L. HALL

Ted received his undergraduate degree from the University of South Alabama in 1970 and his Juris Doctor degree in 1973 from the University of Michigan Law School. He was admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 1973. Ted began his law career in 1973 at Bryan, Nelson, Nettles & Cox. He then served as Director of the Legal Aid Society of Mobile. He became a partner in the firm of Hall & Friedman, and later, Hall, Friedman, Ashbee & Laden. He has been a solo practitioner since 1984, with a law practice focused on representing bankruptcy debtors. Ted was a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee off and on from the late 1970’s until 2006. Ted has served the Mobile Bar for many years as a member of numerous committees. In addition, he has been involved with our Bankruptcy Section from 1986 to the present, as well as the Legislative Section. Ted has been married to fellow attorney Patricia W. Hall for 34 years. They have four children and three grandchildren.

CHRISTOPHER G. HUME, III

Chris received his undergraduate degree from Duke University in 1970 and his Juris Doctor degree in 1973 from the University of Alabama School of Law. He was admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 1973. Chris clerked for United States District Court Judge Daniel H. Thomas from 1973-1974. Since 1974, Chris has practiced with several firms, including Miller, Hamilton, Snider & Odom for 17 years, and presently, with Armbrecht Jackson, where he maintains a civil litigation and mediation practice. Chris has served on the Board of Directors of the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association. He has also served the Mobile Bar as a member of the Programs, CLE/SLE, and Bench & Bar Committees, and has been a longtime member of the Archives and History Committee. Throughout the years, Chris has also been a member of numerous Mobile Bar Sections. He was Chair of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section in 1997 and Chair/Co-Chair of the Workers Compensation Section from 2014-2016, and he is still active in both sections. Chris has been married to his wife, Noreen, for 25 years and is the father of three children and grandfather of five.

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GREGORY L. LEATHERBURY, JR.

Greg received his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama in 1969, his Juris Doctor degree in 1972 from the University of Alabama School of Law, and his LL.M in Taxation in 1973 from New York University School of Law. He was admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 1973. Greg began his career in 1973 at Hand Arendall, later Hand Arendall Harrison Sale, where he now has “Of Counsel” status. In 1996, he moved to Orange Beach and opened the firm’s Baldwin County office in Foley, later relocating to Fairhope. Greg served on the Alabama Law Institute committees that prepared the Revised Alabama Business Corporation Act and the Limited Liability Act, and he is currently serving on the Business Entities Committee. Greg also served as Chairman of the University of Alabama Federal Tax Clinic and the Alabama Tax Institute Federal Tax Seminar. Greg has served the Mobile Bar as a member of the CLE/SLE, Nominating, and Fee Dispute Committees and has been involved in the Probate, Legislative, and Criminal Practice Sections. Greg and his wife, Susan, have two sons and five grandchildren.

WALTER R. MEIGS

Walter received his undergraduate degree from Birmingham Southern College in 1970 and his Juris Doctor degree in 1973 from the University of Alabama School of Law. He was admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 1973. Walter began his law career in 1973 at the Judicial Department for the State of Alabama, and, since 1975, has been In-House/General Counsel with several maritime companies. Walter has been actively involved in Mobile area business and community affairs throughout his career. He currently is a member of the Mobile Bar In-House Counsel Section.

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RONALD A. SNIDER

Ron received his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama in 1970 and his Juris Doctor degree in 1973 from the University of Alabama School of Law. He was admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 1973. From 1973 to 1979, Ron was with the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, first in the Office of the General Counsel, and then as Assistant Secretary. He also served as Assistant Secretary of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation from 1976 to 1979. In 1979, Ron was a founding partner of Miller, Hamilton and Snider in Mobile, which expanded to offices in Montgomery, Birmingham, Atlanta, Miami, and Washington, D.C. He served as Managing Partner until the firm’s merger with Jones Walker in 2008. Ron and his wife, Virginia, have two children and four grandchildren.

JAMES A. YANCE

Jim received his undergraduate degree from the University of South Alabama in 1970 and his Juris Doctor degree in 1973 from the University of Alabama School of Law. He was admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 1973. Jim entered the practice of law with Cunningham, Bounds and Byrd, which soon became Cunningham, Bounds, Yance, Crowder and Brown. He remained with the firm for 30 years, serving as Managing Partner for many years. He assumed “Of Counsel” status at the firm in 2004 until 2009, when he joined his son Tucker’s law firm as “Of Counsel.” In 1975, Jim was appointed to the Executive Committee of the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association; in 1982, at the age of 35, he was elected the youngest President in the history of the organization. In 1983, he was elected to the Board of Governors of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Jim served the Mobile Bar as a member or chair of numerous committees and sections. He was President of the Mobile Bar in 2004 and is one of the founders of the Mobile Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the Mobile Bar. He was the secretary of the Foundation Board in 2003 and the Vice President in 2004. Jim has also been involved in numerous civic and charitable activities in his community and state over the years. Jim and his wife, Frances, live on a ranch near Loxley where he raises Black Angus cattle. They have four children and ten grandchildren.

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KUDOS: On July 14, 2023, MBA Member Henry Morrissette was announced as a new Board Member of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC). The IADC is the preeminent invitation-only global legal organization for attorneys who represent corporate and insurance interests. An IADC member since 2002, Henry is a past chair of the organization’s Amicus Curiae, In House and Law Firm Management, and Trial Techniques and Tactics committees. He served on the faculty of the IADC Trial Academy and as program chair of several IADC major events. Congratulations, Henry!

DIED: MBA Member Bill Clayton Messick died on August 16, 2023. Born in 1954, Bill was affectionately known as “the Professor.” He is survived by his wife, Gloria.

DIED: Longtime MBA Member Brock Bingham Gordon died on August 27, 2023, in Anderson, South Carolina. Born in Brunswick, Maryland, Brock attended Furman University on a basketball scholarship. Prior to matriculating at Tulane Law School, he served two years in the 101^st Airborne. After law school graduation he moved to Mobile, Alabama, to clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Daniel H. Thomas. For the next 25 years, Brock enjoyed a successful and fulfilling law practice at Johnstone Adams. After retiring, he returned to South Carolina, where he worshipped with Mountain Lakes Church in Clemson. Brock is survived by his wife, two children, a stepson, and six grandchildren.

DIED: MBA Member Charles Bennett Long died on August 27, 2023. A native Mobilian, Bennett graduated from St. Paul’s Episcopal School in 1997. He went on to graduate from the University of Alabama and Cumberland School of Law. Following law school, Bennett moved home, became President of the Orange Beach Marina, and worked in real estate. In the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, he began handling first-party insurance claims. In 2013, Bennett joined his brother, MBA Member Earle Long, at Long & Waite. The two went on to form Long & Long in 2015. Bennett was a member of Saint Ignatius Catholic Church and several mystic societies. He is survived by his wife and three children.

DIED: Retired MBA Member James Manson Murray, uncle of MBA Member Tom Sharp, died on September 4, 2023. A Mobile native, Manson graduated from Murphy High School in 1948. After earning his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Alabama, Manson joined the U.S. Air Force and served in the JAG Corps in Wichita, Kansas. From 1954 until 2018, Manson practiced law at Vickers, Riis, Murray and Curran, now Maynard Nexsen. He was known for his calm wisdom and love of Mobile Bay. Manson was survived by his wife of 69 years, Marietta Jones Murray, who died on September 11, 2023. They are survived by two daughters, four grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

DIED: MBA Member Lawrence Johnson Hallett, Jr., died on September 8, 2023. A lifelong Mobilian, Larry graduated from the McGill Institute, now McGill-Toolen, in 1960. After graduating from the University of Alabama in 1964, he joined the Peace Corps and spent the next two years in Ethiopia teaching chemistry and setting up Ethiopia’s first educational television station. Later, Larry joined the U.S. Navy and trained as an aviator. He served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Hancock during the Vietnam War, flying nearly 250 missions in A4 Skyhawks. He earned his J.D. from the University of Alabama in 1975 and subsequently returned to Mobile, where he practiced law for decades. Larry is survived by his three children and six grandchildren.

DIED: Ouida King Baker, mother of MBA Member Brent Baker, died on September 14, 2023. Born in Pike County, Alabama, Ouida graduated from Central High School in 1961 and was a member of Epworth Methodist Church in Phenix City, Alabama. In 1971, she and her husband opened Baker Office Supply, serving the Phenix City and Columbus, Georgia, areas for 27 years. Ouida was active in both the business and civic communities. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, three sons, 13 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.

DIED: Noreen “Ninky” McAllister Vickers, widow of deceased MBA Member Marion “Monnie” Richard Vickers, Jr., died on September 14, 2023. Monnie co-founded Vickers, Riis, Murray and Curran. A longtime resident of Mobile, Ninky was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and raised in Bay Shore, New York. She is survived by three children and four grandchildren.

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The following applicants were approved for membership by the Mobile Bar Association Executive Committee. They were welcomed into the Mobile Bar Association on Friday, October 13, 2023.

ACTIVE MEMBERS:

• Paige Oldshue, graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1994, admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 1994, and is a solo practitioner.
• Jake Barnes, graduated from Florida State University School of Law in 2021, admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 2023, and is employed with Maynard Nexsen, P.C.
• Caroline E. Pope, graduated from Cumberland School of Law in 2023, admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 2023, and is employed with Stone Crosby, P.C.

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS:

• Cassandra Buer, graduated from Louisiana State University – Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 2022, admitted to the Florida State Bar 2022, and is employed with Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, PA.
• Robert P. Sparkman, graduated from Cumberland School of Law in 2021, admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 2021, and is employed with Lloyd Gray Whitehead & Monroe, P.C.

Last Will & Testament search: Annette Baker-Evans from Mobile, AL. She passed away on September 19, 2023, in Tuscaloosa, AL. Please contact daughter Alexis Baker by phone at 251-349-5404 or by email at alexisatbaker@gmail.com.

Cunningham Bounds is proud to announce that 13 of its attorneys have been recognized in the 2024 editions of Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch. They are Skip Finkbohner, Toby Brown, Dave Wirtes, Steve Nicholas, Glenn Kushel, David Cain, Billy Bonner, Robert Mitchell, Lucy Tufts, Brian Duncan, Nick Moraitakis, Aaron Maples, and Joseph McGowin.

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What: Annual Judge Harry J. Wilters, Jr., Lecture

When: Wednesday, November 1, at 7:00 p.m.

Where: University of South Alabama MacQueen Alumni Center | 100 Alumni Drive, Mobile, AL 36608

Cost: Free and open to the public

Available CLE Credit Hours: 1.0

How to register: No registration required.

What: 2023 SABRE Analytics Summit 

When: Thursday, November 16, 2023, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Where: University of South Alabama MacQueen Alumni Center, 100 Alumni Drive, Mobile, AL 36608

Cost: $189 Early Bird; $229 General Admission

Available CLE Credit Hours: 5.0 + 1.0 ethics

How to register: Click here for more information and to register.

What: Mobile County Probate Court’s Appointed Lawyer Training

When: Thursday, December 14, 2023

Where: Mobile County Probate Court | Courtroom 1

Available CLE Credit Hours: 5.3 + .5 ethics

How to Register: Click here for more information and to register.

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For a full list of upcoming events in 2023, click here to visit our website.

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Listed below are members who celebrate a birthday in November.

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