Raymond L. Bell, Jr., President

October 2024

Volume XLVIII, Issue 10

In This Issue...

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

CLEs.......................................Page 7

Lawyer Assistance..................Page 10

Mentoring Matters...................Page 11

Young Lawyers........................Page 12

Women Lawyers......................Page 14

VZC Bar...................................Page 14

Significant Decisions................Page 15

SAVLP......................................Page 16

In the News..............................Page 18

Mobile Bar Foundation.............Page 19

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

  2024 OFFICERS

President - Raymond L. Bell, Jr.

President Elect - Judge Judson W. Wells, Sr.

Vice President - Mary Margaret K. Bailey

Secretary - Jenna J. York

Treasurer - Brian K. Smithweck

Asst. Treasurer - Gordon G. Armstrong, III

Executive Director - Ann Forbes

Editor - Tiffany Ray

President’s Message

Welcome to the season of cooler temperatures, more football, pumpkin spice lattes, and all things fall. I really enjoy this time of year. It is not too hot, and everyone just seems happier.

Thank you to our federal court judges and the Federal Civil Practice Section of the bar for the outstanding “Coffee with the Court” CLE. The program was very informative and the judges provided a great overview of what they are currently seeing in the federal courts.

I heard once that you could tell a lot about a community by how its most vulnerable members are treated and who cares for them. I’m convinced that if the most fragile members of a community are served by other members of the same community instead of by outsiders, that community is strong and caring and will prosper. 

The United States Constitution provides for representation (“access to justice”) for those who are indigent in criminal matters. However, access to justice in civil matters is not a right and, in most cases, it is a privilege far too often limited to the few. Therefore, it is incumbent on us to do all that we can to help. Our veterans, seniors, and low-income families need our help in basic civil matters in the areas of housing, family safety, healthcare, disability claims, wills, and workplace and consumer issues.

Although I am sending out a cry for help, I have to share that Alabama lawyers are already stepping up to help many of our less fortunate citizens. In fact, Alabama lawyers have exceeded national standards and serve our communities statewide better than lawyers in other states when it comes to pro bono: According to the Alabama State Bar, we lead the nation in pro bono service by lawyers. We have handled nearly three times the number of cases of lawyers in other states, we have one of the highest lawyer participation rates in the United States, and we have the highest per capita rate of pro bono services by private lawyers. 

I commend those who are already helping, and I hope to encourage the rest of us to do our part. Members of our community need our help in basic civil matters. If you are interested in helping those in need of civil legal services, please contact the South Alabama Volunteer Lawyers Program. People in need of assistance contact the staff at VLP daily, and they can connect you with someone in need of your services.

I had the pleasure of attending a meeting recently with Presiding Judge Wesley Pipes, Arthur “Art” Powell, the head of the Mobile County Public Defender’s Office, and members of the Indigent Defense Committee. The meeting was filled with numbers, statistics, and multiple accounts of the challenges the Mobile County Public Defender’s Office faces. I was intrigued by what I learned during the meeting, so I conducted a little further research on the office and what it has been doing in its four years of operation.

The office was launched in October 2020 with a modest budget and a handful of initial employees. Over a few short years, its headcount has grown, and it continues to meet the needs of those in our community who have a constitutional right to effective representation before our courts in criminal matters.

Currently, the office has four lawyers in leadership with approximately 30 other lawyers serving as trial attorneys. The other 25 professionals in the office serve as trial coordinators, social workers, client advocates, investigators, and paralegals. This group, which operates similarly to a medium-sized law firm, provides indigent defense each day in all of the courtrooms in Mobile County’s Circuit and District courts and the juvenile court system. The office is responsible for providing representation for individuals charged with common everyday crimes and those facing the most serious offenses that occur in our community. In addition to courtroom advocacy for its clients, the office is involved in community outreach, civic and youth engagement, and multiple other public and community activities.

Soon the office will be expanding to meet the needs of clients who will appear before our new District Court Judge, and it will be increasing its presence at the Strickland Youth Center with the permanent placement of attorneys within juvenile court locations.

I applaud Art and his team for what they have accomplished in such a short time. Thank you, and keep up the great work.

Mark your calendars: The annual Red Mass will be held October 4^th at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception at noon. The event is open to all lawyers and all religious affiliations.

Let’s Do More! As fall progresses, our days will get shorter and temperatures will be cooler. Unfortunately, many families are not prepared for all that comes with the changing of a season. Let’s remember, and be mindful that others need our donations, clothing, and other items for warmth and shelter.

This month I am asking all of us to give what we can to the groups and agencies that assist and provide necessities to aid those in need during the fall and winter. It takes so little from a few to give a lot to those who need it most.

As always, I remain...

Sincerely,

Raymond L. Bell, Jr.

Mobile Bar Association, 2024 President

During the meeting:

• Recognize 50-year lawyers: J. Hodge Alves, III; James W. Bodiford, Jr.; Thomas F. Garth; Edward G. Hawkins; Maxey J. Roberts; William A. Robinson; Thomas S. Rue; Daniel G. Sayers; Patrick H. Sims; Stephen R. Windom
• Announce Slate of Officers for 2025
• We will be collecting canned goods for local food pantries.
• Speaker is Judge Ben Brooks

ADVANCE REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2024.

-2-

Happy October! I am looking forward to sitting on my balcony and enjoying the cooler days and nights.

This month, I’d like to devote my monthly article to offering some helpful reminders.

To get the MBA Member Rate: Please sign in to your profile before registering for an event. If you are a member of Mobile Bar, you already have a profile on the website that you can sign into with your username and password. You can reset your password at any time. If you do not know your log-in credentials, please contact MBA headquarters, as we are happy to assist. Also, make sure your legal assistant has access to your log-in credentials.

Update your MBA Profile: Your log-in credentials also give you access to update your member profile at any time. Please help us by keeping your information - employment, phone number, email, and professional & personal addresses - as up to date as possible. We maintain the website with more than 1,100 member records on a daily basis, so your assistance is greatly appreciated.

New Office Location: Don’t forget! We are no longer in the LeVert building. We are across the street at 150 Government Street, Suite 1000A.

MBA Membership Directory: You can view the MBA Membership Directory two ways: 1. By logging into your profile on the website, or 2. If not logged into your profile, by going to the tab marked “For the Public,” selecting “Member Directory,” and typing in a name. Tip: I recommend typing in just the person’s last name, because if the person goes by his/her middle name, the profile is not going to show up.

CLEs: MBA Lunch and Learn CLEs are underway. The available CLEs for the remainder of the year are listed later in this issue of the Bar Bulletin. They are all posted on our website, too.

One CLE that I would like to bring to your attention is our Bench and Bar Roundtable CLE Luncheon, scheduled for Tuesday, October 29, 2024. It will be held at the History Museum from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM, and participants will receive 1.5 CLE credits. Join us for a lunch buffet followed by a roundtable format with local participating judges. It is a great opportunity to discuss topics one-on-one with our local judges and to network with fellow attorneys. Registration is now live! Click here for more information and to register!

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



Onward,

P. Ann Forbes

Mobile Bar Association, Executive Director

-3-

Dear Editor:

I am writing as an older practicing attorney in response to our President's comments regarding lawyers adapting or not adapting to the changes in an ever-changing environment characterized as "Uberization." September 2024 Volume XLVIII, Issue 9. 

Respectfully, I must take exception to some of what Mr. Bell suggests. First, I agree that change is inevitable.  However, though he did not suggest otherwise, I think it should be noted that in the context of Mr. Bell's message, change is not necessarily always good and should therefore not always be adopted. Granted, technology has affected the practice of law dramatically. I've been at it long enough to remember dictaphones and carbon paper. I remember my first use of a floppy disc. And I remember Ferrell Anders' hard copy of the Mobile Bar sports news! Yet now, here I am at my desk at my home (where I spend half of my "office time") typing and emailing my own letter to Tiffany Ray, the editor of an online Bar Bulletin that I received in my Google inbox. All good!

Sadness sets in however, when I realize just how isolated all this technology can make us. I'm hopeful I can work out the remainder of my career in the presence of folks for whom I care and whom I hope to manage and train in a personal context and in an environment where trust can be built, feelings safely shared, and personhood supported. Frankly, I don't believe that can be accomplished remotely. The change noted by Mr. Bell is not a mediation-friendly one. It does not foster dialogue, relationship, or trust. For me, there simply is no substitute for a handshake or communication involving eye contact. (As opposed to looking up someone's nostrils while on a video conference!)

I believe there is a path towards success for lawyers who cleave to some of the old ways of practicing law. Those old ways don't, and really can't, mean the exclusion of new technology. New lawyers have knowledge in regard to new tech which, no doubt, began during their infancy. What they need, however, in my humble opinion, is a good basis in human relations. Relations that require personal contact and physical presence in meeting, negotiation, and mediation, and in the courtroom.  Meaningful physical presence stands to become a lost art if we as lawyers cannot find a way to excel while cleaving to time-proven methods of personal interaction.  AI may as well take over the profession if we cannot find a way to retain the vestiges of our humanness in what we bring to our practice of law. God forbid the simple handshake is lost to us as professionals.

Sincerely,

Barre Dumas

General Counsel

NOTE: We will from time to time include comments on Bar Bulletin articles received from MBA members. This is not to open up a forum for discourse.

-4-

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 2025. To join a committee, complete the preference form below.

DEADLINE TO COMPLETE: MONDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2024.

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

-5-

COLLECTING CANNED GOODS

DONATE!

We are collecting canned or other non-perishable food items for local food pantries. We are accepting:

• Canned meats (tuna, chicken, etc.)
• Peanut butter
• Canned vegetables
• Fruits, canned or boxed
• Canned meals (soup, macaroni & cheese, etc.)
• Dried or canned beans, pasta, rice, and cereal

Where to drop off: MBA headquarters at 150 Government Street, Suite 1000-A,

or the October Membership Luncheon.

Deadline date to drop off items: Thursday, October 31, 2024.

-6-

OCTOBER CLEs

Bankruptcy Section Meeting

Tuesday, October 15, 2024 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM

Available CLE Credits: 1.0 | Cost: Free

Location: Federal Courthouse, Jury Assembly Room

-7-

Join us for a lunch buffet followed by a roundtable with local participating judges. It is a great opportunity to discuss topics one-on-one with our local judges, as well as network with fellow attorneys. Advance registration cut-off is Friday, October 25, 2024.

CLEs FOR NOVEMBER - DECEMBER

-8-

ON-DEMAND CLEs

-9-

LAWYER ASSISTANCE

By Beth Rehm, Lawyer Assistance Committee Member

The Positives of an ADHD Attorney

October is ADHD Awareness Month. While many associate ADHD (Attention- Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) with children, ADHD also affects adults, and particularly lawyers. 

A 2016 study by the American Bar Association found that 12.5 percent of lawyers reported having ADHD, compared with 4 to 8 percent of other adults. And these numbers are on the rise. Many of the symptoms of ADHD mimic those of depression, and many with ADHD go undiagnosed. Several bar associations across the country are initiating programs for both attorneys with ADHD and those who work with them.

Sure, those with ADHD may have difficulty concentrating or realizing how long a task will take. But many have developed coping skills, such as making written (not electronic) lists that are visible throughout the day to check off tasks as they are completed, maintaining a sleep schedule, setting off alarms during the day for certain tasks (some forget to eat lunch), reducing distractions (putting the cell phone on silent and in a desk), cutting down on sugar and caffeine, or meditating.

Despite the stigma sometimes associated with ADHD, there are numerous positives an attorney with ADHD offers. Attorneys with ADHD tend to be more creative and optimistic, present alternative arguments and legal theories others have not considered, thrive on tight deadlines, and have the ability to hyperfocus, meaning they can draft well-written briefs much more quickly than other attorneys during a time crunch (odd, as the “AD” in ADHD stands for “attention-deficit”). And, they are resilient. Some of you reading this article may wonder if you, too, have ADHD.

While you do not want to ask someone if they suffer from ADHD (hello, Americans with Disabilities Act), if they exhibit certain habits, or if the attorney self-discloses an ADHD diagnosis, use their strengths—for example, their ability to work well under tight deadlines, or to review briefs or motions to look for alternative arguments others may not have considered. Include them in conversations about difficult cases—the ADHD attorney will be thinking in the back of his/her mind about different theories. The ADHD attorney may be a true asset to the practice of law. In fact, some see these attorneys as a gift.

One other thing to consider not just for ADHD attorneys, but also for new attorneys, attorneys working on a team, or an attorney working outside his/her normal area of practice: Take the time to write clear instructions of the work that must be performed and any pertinent issues of law. Each of them will appreciate this.

Do not think of attorneys with ADHD as lazy (they are not and often excelled in law school). Instead, harness their exceptional, but different, abilities. You can help create a win-win for all.

-10-

MENTORING MATTERS

By Greg Vaughan, Mentoring Committee Member

Who Can We Compliment in Front of Others?

Do you remember a time when another lawyer went out of their way to compliment you in front of others?  I do.  As a young associate at Richardson, Spear, Spear & Hamby, I handled several cases opposite MBA Member Rick Holston.  The cases were aggressively litigated by both sides.  We had our share of disagreements along the way, and I’m sure I made a few “speaking objections” during depositions (I’m trying to be better these days 😊). Rick and I weren’t unprofessional toward each other, but we weren’t exactly friends either.

At the conclusion of those cases, Rick did something I believe lawyers don’t do often enough: He complimented my efforts in front of others—specifically, to my boss (David Hamby), the insurance adjusters on the file, and the mediator.  Rick made it a point to tell my supervisors and the mediator how hard I had worked on the cases, and that the favorable result we achieved was due, in large part, to my efforts.  That meant a lot to me—I still remember it to this day.  I will always appreciate the high degree of professionalism Rick demonstrated by complimenting my work in front of others.

Why don’t I do more of what Rick did for me?  Are lawyers fearful that complimenting opposing counsel in front of others will make them appear weak or harm their business?  Perhaps.  But it shouldn’t be that way.  There are long-term benefits to giving a compliment when it’s deserved.  We should actively seek opportunities in this profession to publicly praise not only our fellow lawyers, but also legal support staff, members of the court, court staff, the clerk’s office, court reporters, bailiffs, and everyone else who helps the wheels of our industry turn.

The famous poet Maya Angelou once said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Do you want to leave a lasting impression on someone who does good work in our profession?  Give them a public compliment—it will undoubtedly encourage them to continue their efforts.  Moreover, it will enhance our level of professionalism and strengthen our standing in the legal community as leaders.

________________________________________________________________________________

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

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

-11-

YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION

By Amanda Herren, Young Lawyers President

Young Lawyers officers recently presented The Family Center with the money raised on its behalf at our 2024 Trivia Tournament. Thank you to our sponsor and participants! This year was a great success—we donated $3,250!

We are excited to continue our monthly gatherings with our judges. Beverages with the Bench is an excellent opportunity for younger MBA attorneys to enjoy a drink after work with members of our bench. Please join us Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at POST from 5:30-6:30 p.m. This month's event is sponsored by Moore Law Firm, and we are grateful for their support. We hope to see you there. 

-12-

-13-

WOMEN LAWYERS

By Ginger Poynter, Women Lawyers President

Mobile Bar Association Women Lawyers' next get-together will be on Tuesday, October 15, at 5:30 p.m. at Grace on Dauphin Street. We will be nominating officers for next year. Please feel free to bring a friend. 

VERNON Z. CRAWFORD BAY AREA BAR ASSOCIATION

By Maxine Walters, Vernon Z. Crawford Bay Area Bar Association President

Registration is now open for our biennial Mardi Gras CLE, scheduled for February 28 and March 1 at the Admiral Hotel. The CLE will present guest speakers from all over the state covering a range of topics, a scholarship award brunch, and a balcony parade viewing. 

You may register here: https://bit.ly/mardigrascle. 

-14-

In Powers v. Chadwell Homes, LLC, No. SC-2024-0269 (Ala. September 20, 2024), the Supreme Court granted sanctions pursuant to the Alabama Litigation Accountability Act, Ala. Code § 12-19-270, against parties for frivolous filings and dilatory tactics employed in the judicial process.  Noting that the appellants in question had attempted multiple failed appeals, bankruptcy filings, and a petition for writ of certiorari to the United State Supreme Court, while simultaneously living for 10 years in a house toward which only approximately $400 of the mortgage note had been paid, the Supreme Court held that the appellants had misused and abused the judicial system and granted the appellee’s motion for sanctions.

In Universal Dev. Corp. v. Robbie Dellinger Hatti Grp. RE, LLC, & Harsha Hatti, Nos. SC-2023-0645, SC-2023-0666, SC-2023-0705 (Ala. September 20, 2024), the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal because an appellant had not received an adverse ruling in the case appealed.  Although multiple cases involving overlapping parties had been consolidated pursuant to Ala. R. Civ. P. 42, the fact that appellant had received an adverse ruling in one or more did not entitled them to appeal a case where no adverse ruling was received, as each case remained separate and distinct.

In the same opinion, the Supreme Court additionally held that an amended final order that added prejudgment interest calculations to damages totals in response to an Ala. R. Civ. P. 60(a) motion did not extend the time to file a notice of appeal from the date of the original order.  While appellant’s Rule 59 motion and notice of appeal would have been filed within the applicable time frames after the amended order, the Supreme Court held that adding the prejudgment interest, which had previously been agreed upon by the parties, was a correction of a clerical mistake and therefore did not extend the time for post-judgment motions and appeals.

In A&W Contractors, LLC v. Colbert, No. SC-2024-0037 (Ala. September 13, 2024), the Supreme Court held, inter alia, that a party had failed to properly challenge the sufficiency of evidence presented in support of a fraudulent misrepresentation claim.  Although the appellant presented multiple arguments as to why the claimant had failed to sufficiently demonstrate reasonable reliance as a required element of the claim, the Court noted that the appellant had failed to move for judgment as a matter of law at the close of all evidence pursuant to Ala. R. Civ. P. 50(a), and had therefore failed to preserve an objection as to the sufficiency of evidence. 

In Sawyer v. Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, No. SC-2023-0603 (Ala. September 6, 2024), the Supreme Court overruled prior decisions relating to personal jurisdiction over out-of-state defendants pursuant to new jurisprudence from the United States Supreme Court.  Overruling Hinrichs v. General Motors of Canada, 222 So. 3d 1114 (Ala. 2016), and applying the framework issued in Ford Motor Co v. Montana Eighth Judicial District Court, 592 U.S. 351 (2021), the Alabama Supreme Court held that, even when there is no direct causal link between a plaintiff’s claims and an out-of-state defendant’s contacts with the forum state, specific personal jurisdiction may still attach if the defendant’s contacts with the forum state “relate to” the plaintiff’s cause of action.

In Mobile Investments, LLC v. Corporate Pharmacy Services, Inc., No. SC-2024-0115 (Ala. September 13, 2024), the Supreme Court affirmed a trial court’s entry of default as a sanction.  Notably, the Supreme Court explained that the alleged failure of the defendant’s attorney to inform defendants about trial court orders mandating discovery responses and compliance with court orders did not preclude entry of default judgment, as the knowledge of the attorney is imputed to the client, absent fraud or collusion.

-15-

Each Wednesday in October at Noon.

Oct. 2 from noon - 1 p.m. | Register here

Ethical Considerations When Using AI with Autumn Caudell, ASB Office of General Counsel

Oct. 9 from noon - 1 p.m. | Register here

Alabama’s New Adoption Laws with Penny Davis and Amy Osborne

Oct. 16 from noon - 1 p.m. | Register here

District Court Practice with Peyton Faulk and Kelly McTear

Oct. 23 from noon - 1 p.m. | Register here

Social Security Update with Frederick Effinger

Oct. 30 from noon - 1 p.m. | Register here

Family Law Update with Jana Garner

Thank you to all of the attorneys who volunteered in August! We are able to make an impact in the community because of your hard work and dedication!

-16-

MOBILE COUNTY PROBATE COURT

ANNOUNCING LAWYERS FOR LIBERTY PROGRAM

The Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen and the Alabama State Bar have implemented the Alabama Lawyers for Liberty program which offers mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE) credit to Alabama attorneys who attend poll worker training and serve as poll workers. 

Requirements:

• Complete and submit application before 10/16/2024
• Be appointed by Mobile County Probate Court to serve as a poll worker
• Attend the required poll worker training (Beginning on Wednesday, October 16, 2024)
• Serve as a poll worker for no less than 8 hours on election day at the polling location designated
• Complete the certification form, have the county probate judge execute his signature, and submit the form to the Alabama State Bar

After completion:

• Receive 4 hours of credit each time the above requirements are met
• Limited to 8 hours of credit per year

-17-

DIED: MBA Retired Member Augustine “Gus” Meaher, III, died September 8, 2024. A native Mobilian, Gus graduated from UMS, Tulane University, and Tulane University Law School. He worked tirelessly for his alma maters, serving on various boards and committees at Tulane, and was recognized as UMS’ Alumnus of the Year in 2015. For 50 years, Gus was an esteemed philanthropist and member of Mobile’s legal community. He served as a board member and president of the A.S. Mitchell Foundation for more than a quarter century and was named Volunteer Lawyer of the Year by the South Alabama Volunteer Lawyers Program in 2014. Gus was predeceased by his wife of 49 years and is survived by his six children.

DIED: Wife of MBA Member Jay Ross, Shelia Yvonne Ross, died September 13, 2023. As a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Shelia was an outspoken advocate for brain and stroke patients for 25 years. As Director of USA Health’s Comprehensive Stroke Program, she worked to strengthen hospital treatment protocols, educated the public on early stroke recognition, and actively assisted in patient care.  During her tenure, USA received national accolades related to the program she helped to build and grow. Sheila was predeceased by a son and is survived by her husband, four children, and 10 grandchildren.

DIED: Mother of MBA Member Kristy Waldron, Joan Hughes Waldron, died August 15, 2024. A native of Dade City, Florida, Joan moved to Mobile upon her marriage in 1965. After earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from the University of South Alabama, she taught Special Education in the Mobile County School System for over 30 years. Joan devoted her life to helping others, especially the disabled, and was an active member of Ashland Place United Methodist Church. Joan was predeceased by her husband of almost 56 years and is survived by two children and three grandchildren.

DIED: Mother of MBA Member Barney March, Katherine Dobbs March, died July 30, 2024. Born in Lakeland, Florida, Katherine met her husband at the University of Alabama and moved to Mobile after they married. When her children were young, Katherine was active in their school activities, the Junior League of Mobile, and all things Mardi Gras, especially the Mobile Carnival Association. She loved fishing, sailing, and flying planes with her husband and hosting her grandchildren at her home on Dog River. She is survived by her husband of nearly 61 years, two children, and four grandchildren.

DIED: Father of MBA Member Bryan Duhé, Willie Joseph Duhé, III, died July 21, 2024. A Louisiana native and longtime resident of Mobile, Willie attended LSU and was a lifelong fan. His career in pharmaceutical sales for Wyeth/Ayerst and Pfizer spanned 50 years (1964-2014). Willie served on the Dauphin Island Property Owners Board, was President of the Davidson High School Boosters Club, and was a licensed instrument-rated private airplane pilot. He was predeceased by his second wife and is survived by five children, 10 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.

Are you and/or your legal assistant in need of a Government Plaza ID Badge? If the answer is “YES," then the Mobile Bar Association is your first stop to acquire your ID Badge. Each badge is $50. For more information, please contact the Mobile Bar Association by phone at 251-433-9790 or email at info@mobilebarassociation.com to start the process.

McPhail Sanchez, LLC, is proud to announce the celebration of the firm’s 30^th anniversary. Congratulations!

Galloway Johnson Tompkins Burr & Smith announces that its Mobile office has moved to RSA Battle House Tower, 11 North Water Street, Suite 18250, Mobile, Alabama 36602. All other contact information, including our phone number and email addresses, remains the same.

Chief Legal is proud to announce that two of its attorneys have been named in The Best Lawyers in America 2025. They are: William R. “Bill” Lancaster and Jordan Gerheim.

Cunningham Bounds is pleased to announce the firm has again been selected for inclusion in the 2024 Chambers USA Legal Guide. Additionally, Cunningham Bounds received the Chambers USA Legal Guide’s highest Band 1 ranking in the area of Litigation: Mainly Plaintiffs and Skip Finkbohner, Lucy Tufts, and David Cain received recognition as leading individuals.

For Sale: Historic building in immediate proximity to Government Plaza and courts at 205 Church Street. The building dates back to 1844 and is an ideal location for a law firm. Please contact Jeremy Milling by phone at 251-421-0919 or by email at Jeremy@Millingre.com for further information.

For Rent: Renee E. Thiry, Esq. has space for rent at her office and/or possible partnership opportunity. Please contact Renee by phone at 251-478-880 or by email at thiry.renee@gmail.com.

-18-

-19-

For the past 30 years, members of our Association have played a large part in the success of the Mobile Bar Foundation. We can’t thank you enough for your support over the years.

The Mobile Bar Foundation strives to improve the legal system, promote justice, and support the legal profession's dedication to the Mobile community. Last year, we provided grant allocations to eight area non-profit agencies that are directly making a positive impact in Mobile County. Our goal of making a community impact was successful!

Many of you contribute when paying your membership dues to the Mobile Bar Association or by making contributions to memorialize or honor a loved one or friend. We greatly appreciate your continued support in these ways.

As you and/or your firm prepare for year-end donations, please consider making a tax-deductible gift to the Mobile Bar Foundation. Contributions of any size are greatly appreciated. Donations may be made by credit card or check. To pay by credit card, sign in to the Mobile Bar Association website at www.mobilebarassociation.com, and click on the tab DONATE. If you would like to donate by check, please complete the form below and mail your form and check to Mobile Bar Foundation, 150 Government Street, Suite 1000-A, Mobile, Alabama 36602.

I hope to see you at the Mobile Bar Association’s December Membership Luncheon on Friday, December 13, at the Battle House Hotel. During that luncheon the Mobile Bar Foundation will proudly present our 2024 grant allocations to area non-profit agencies.

Thank you again for your continued support of the Mobile Bar Foundation. We are 30 years strong because of YOU!

Sincerely,

Karlos F. Finley

Mobile Bar Foundation, 2024 President

-20-

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)

__ Associate Member ($100 or more annually)

__ Regular Active Member of MBA ($25 - $99 annually)

__ 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.

-21-

The Delano Palughi Chapter of the St. Thomas More Society will sponsor the Annual Red Mass Celebration on Friday, October 4, 2024, at 12:00 PM at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. A brief reception will be held following the Mass. Your support and attendance is greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions, please contact Greg McAtee at 251.689.4536.

-22-

The Mobile Bar Association has on file the 2024 Survey of Florida Law CDs. If you are interested in checking them out to get MCLE credit, please contact Jeffrie Morgan at Mobile Bar Headquarters by phone at 251.433.9790 or by email at jmorgan@mobilebarassociation.com.

What: National College of Probate Judges – 2024 Fall Conference

When: November 13 – 16, 2024

Where: The Lodge at the Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama

Available CLE Credit Hours: 8.0 + 1.0 ethics

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

-23-

Listed below are members who celebrate a birthday in October:

-24-

STAY CONNECTED