Birmingham Bar Association

In the News

After 37 years of service, BBA Executive Director Beth Carmichael is transitioning to retirement.  Please read her message to the Bar as well as BBA President Greg Hawley’s message, available online.

PLACE 3:	Highly Qualified	Qualified	Not Qualified	Unknown
ALFRED BAHAKEL	31%	28%	6%	35%
DAVID CARPENTER	3%	9%	9%	79%
PLACE 4:	Highly Qualified	Qualified	Not Qualified	Unknown
CHUCK HUNTER	2%	6%	33%	59%
HELEN SHORES LEE	45%	38%	10%	7%
PLACE 14:	Highly Qualified	Qualified	Not Qualified	Unknown
CLYDE JONES	40%	36%	7%	17%
PATRICIA STEPHENS	8%	10%	7%	75%
PLACE 17:	Highly Qualified	Qualified	Not Qualified	Unknown
PETER DAVIS	1%	5%	18%	76%
KENYA L. MARSHALL	2%	8%	19%	71%
NICOLE "NIKKI" STILL	44%	31%	4%	20%
PLACE 20:	Highly Qualified	Qualified	Not Qualified	Unknown
PHILLIP BAHAKEL	11%	35%	21%	33%
AGNES CHAPPEL	12%	26%	15%	47%
R. LELAND LESLEY	4%	13%	8%	75%
JULIE PALMER	7%	13%	6%	75%
LEE B. POWELL	3%	9%	9%	79%
GERRI ROBINSON	2%	12%	13%	72%
PLACE 23:	Highly Qualified	Qualified	Not Qualified	Unknown
DOROTHY BATISTE	1%	4%	14%	81%
ALFRED T. NEWELL	0%	2%	12%	85%
CARNELLA G. NORMAN	1%	6%	32%	61%
DENISE POMEROY	38%	23%	1%	38%
PLACE 24:	Highly Qualified	Qualified	Not Qualified	Unknown
GLORIA BAHAKEL	16%	32%	25%	27%
AMBER LADNER	5%	17%	17%	60%
STEPHEN WALLACE	30%	24%	6%	40%

There are no fees or ongoing charges for the registration and use of AlaFile for receipt of notices and orders. All that is needed is a working e-mail address. The registered attorney will receive court orders and notices immediately upon the entry of the order by the judge. If the lawyer does not "do" e-mail, it is suggested that a member of his/her staff can register. Please read the full article in the Alabama State Bar Addendum.

The Birmingham Bar Association has announced the class for the 2010 Future Leaders Forum which will begin on August 10, 2010. The mission of the Forum is to cultivate leaders among a group of attorneys who have been practicing 3 to 7 years. The class will meet 5 times during the fall and will focus on defining the highest ethical standards for attorneys, encouraging diversity in the practice of law, enhance relationship-building skills, developing knowledge of the community, promoting public trust in the profession and balancing work and life. Those named to the class are: Rip Andrews with Marsh, Rickard & Bryan, P.C. Melissa Bodie with Legal Aid Society of Birmingham Clayton Bromberg with Starnes Davis & Florie, LLP Jason Bushby with Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP Matthew Casey with the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office Charity Davis with Law Office of Charity M. Davis, LLC Lauren Davis with Huie, Fernambucq & Stewart, LLP Stephen Fitts with Hand Arendall LLC Kevin Garrison with Baker Donelson Tiara Hudson with H. L. Penick & Associates, P.C. Daniel Hugunine with Balch & Bingham LLP David Kinman with Johnston Barton Proctor & Rose LLP Hope Marshall with White Arnold & Dowd P.C. Stephanie Mays with Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C. Hughston Nichols with Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, LLP David Perry with Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C. Charles Price with Haskell Slaughter Young & Rediker, LLC Oscar Price with Christian & Small LLP Katherine Taylor with Spain & Gillon, LLC Rachel VanNortwick with Lloyd, Gray, Whitehead & Monroe, P.C. Jose' Vega with Sirote & Permutt, P.C. This year's Forum will commence with an orientation and social session on August 10, 2010, at which time the program will be broadly outlined and participants will get to know one another. Four detailed sessions from September through December will follow the orientation session. Participants must miss no more than one of the monthly sessions in order to successfully complete the program. The Forum concludes with a graduation reception following the final session at the home of Judge Scott & Cameron Vowell.

Gregory H. Hawley has been elected the President of the association for 2010 and James S. Lloyd has been elected as President-Elect and will assume the office of President in 2011. Steven F. Casey is the Association's new Secretary-Treasurer. Elected to serve 3 year terms on the Executive Committee were John N. Bolus, Robert P. MacKenzie and James L. O'Kelley. These officers and Executive Committee members were announced at the Association's 124th Annual Meeting held on December 11, 2009.

Peace of Mind & Unsurpassed Protection - Medjet As a member of the BBA you may become a member of Medjet at significant savings. You have a team of guardians available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year all working together to counter the odds of catastrophe. With its hospital of choice medical evacuation and repatriation membership program, Medjet provides the utmost in peace of mind. Medjet arranges transport for its members who are hospitalized more than 150 miles from their primary residence, either in the U.S. or abroad, to the hospital of their choice. Annual individual membership is just $190, up to age 75, and $300 for family (normally $250/$385) For more information call: 800-527-7478 and identify yourself as a Birmingham Bar Association Member or go to www.medjet.com/bhmbar

The Executive Committee of the Birmingham Bar has approved the formation of a new A. D. R. Section. Watch this web site for more information.

The Alabama Supreme Court has, as of October 24, 2008 (effective immediately), amended Rule 3(b), Rule 4, Rule 5, Rule 6(e), Rule 11, Rule 55(a), Rule 58, Rule 59.1, Rule 77(d), and Rule 79, of the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure. Please take note of the important changes in this PDF Order from the Alabama Supreme Court.

Announcements

Updated! Medical Discovery in Civil Litigation
New Online Resources Available

BBA ANNOUNCES CARNEY AS BURTON BARNES AWARD RECIPIENT
The BBA announces Jack T. Carney as the recipient of the L. Burton Barnes III Public Service Award.

JUDGE GRAFFEO AWARDED JUDGE DRAYTON JAMES AWARD
The Young Lawyers Section of the Birmingham Bar Associated awarded Jefferson County Circuit Judge Michael G. Graffeo the distinguished Judge Drayton James Award on February 19, 2010.

2010 Young Lawyers Officers and Executive Committee
The 2010 YLS Officers and Executive Committee have been elected...

Revised Differential Case Management Plan and Scheduling Order
Please read this article about the newly revised DCMP and Scheduling Order.

Probate forms now available on CD-ROM
Click for more info...

Helping to Prevent Elder Abuse and Resources Available
article by J. Brannon Maner, Carolynn H. Moore and Brandon K. Falls

ATTORNEY CONFLICTS - A. D. R. COMMITTEE
New Committee Created for Dispute Resolution

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE ALABAMA RULES OF EVIDENCE
The Alabama Supreme Court has reactivated the Advisory Committee on the Alabama Rules of Evidence for the purpose of conducting a comprehensive survey of the rules...

Future Leaders Forum
Congratulations to The inaugural class of the Birmingham Bar Association's Future Leader Forum

NEW MEMBERSHIP BENEFIT
SAVE ON OFFICE SUPPLIES WITH OFFICE DEPOT

New Forms Available
Fee Arbitration Committee Forms

Federal Court Procedures and Forms
U.S. Bankruptcy District Court forms and procedures

America's First Federal Credit Union
BBA members eligible to participate

Code of Pretrial and Trial Conduct
Provided by the American College of Trial Lawyers