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Resilience – re·sil·ience: The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.

Membership Meetings: As we stated earlier, our plan is to move forward with having our Membership Meetings in-person. Due to COVID-19, our membership meetings will be a little different. Such as:

CLEs: The CLE and Mentoring Committees are working hard to bring you quality CLEs for the remainder of the year. Listed below, in the bulletin, are the dates and topics for the seminars. Mark your calendar! More information will follow in the coming days. Also, always be sure to check the website. It is constantly being updated with Association information.

MBA Website: Speaking of the website, I hope you have had the opportunity to log-in and use the website. It is such a great resource for you. In the bulletin, please check out the section on tip for navigating the website. There are many ways to connect and get involved. A couple of important things to remember.

2021 Committee Preference Forms: Last but not least, it is that time of year to start looking forward and asking you to consider serving on a committee with the Mobile Bar Association for the 2021 year. We have several committees that you can be a part of. As a committee member, you can connect with other attorneys, contribute to the legal community and make an impact. In the bulletin, you will find a link to complete your form. The link does take you to the website, and you will have to log in to complete, so remember that log-in information. Deadline to complete the form is Friday, November 6, 2020.

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Join us as the MBA and SAVLP partner together and present this CLE. It will be held immediately following the October Membership Luncheon. Due to COVID-19, ADVANCE REGISTRATION is REQUIRED by TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2020. We will NOT be able to accept any walk-ups.

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Join the MBA Mentoring Committee as they present a Federal Court CLE covering the fundamentals of practicing law in Federal Court.

The last meeting of the Mentoring Committee's book club will review the last chapters of the practice development book,Tiger Tactics, Powerful Strategies for Winning Law Firms.

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.

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The Mobile Bar Association offers opportunities for you to serve on several committees. As a committee member, you can connect with other attorneys, contribute to the legal community and make an impact. It's now time to start considering how you would like to volunteer in one or more of the MBA's Committees for the year 2021. NOTE: You will have to log into the website to complete the form.

Gourd your loins, Six Flags is hosting a frightfully thrilling time at HALLOWFEST this year and we're inviting you to get batty with us. Our haunted experiences are happening every weekend from September 19th through November 1st, so mark your calendars (if you dare) for the spookiest season of the year!

CLICK HERE for more information and to purchase discount tickets.

Promo Code: FALL8

Jury trials begin again in September, and 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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For your first-time logging in:

When registering for events on the website, be sure to sign-in. This will ensure you receive member rates and credit for attending events.

Your invoice from the MBA are now generated from the website and are sent to you via email. To view the invoice, there will be a clickable link to the invoice. If you are unsure it is from the MBA, please call us at 251.433.9790 or email tanderson@mobilebarassociation.com.

If you are a member of the Mobile Bar Association and you attend one of our CLEs, you can track your credits and print your Certificate of Attendance from your profile on the website. Here's how you access it. At your profile, your CLEs and Certificates are listed under Professional Development. The system will allow you to print or email one credit or the full transcript. ALSO, your Certificate of Attendance is available for each CLE credit too. To the left of each Seminar entry are three icons. These icons are for the Certificate of Attendance. Click on the printer icon to print the certificate or select the envelope to email it to someone.

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A reminder that hours for CLE credit are due by October 30^th. Please make sure that you have updated our office manager, Nickelle, on your current pro bono cases so we can report your CLE credit. If you still need additional hours, consider joining us at our annual CLE on October 24^th. The CLE is free to current SAVLP volunteers or to attorneys who sign up to volunteer.

Update Subject Guidelines: 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. Click here to view and update your volunteer opportunity form.

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She was a trailblazing attorney whose first argument in front of the Supreme Court concerned an Alabama case. In 1973, she represented a young U.S. Air Force lieutenant in Montgomery who was denied the housing allowance and medical benefits given to male service members in Frontiero v. Richardson. In doing so, Justice Ginsburg altered the legal landscape for gender equality cases. She steadfastly litigated gender equality cases not only on behalf of women but also men and families. Cases won by Justice Ginsburg extended Social Security survivor benefits to men and families regardless of sex.

Justice Ginsburg was a master of the dissent, which she once said she was “writing not for today, but for tomorrow." She wrote a call to arms for the legislative branch to take action in the Alabama case Ledbetter v. Goodyear, and Congress promptly responded. 

Justice Ginsburg taught that one should “fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you." She is remembered for her unlikely friendship with Justice Scalia. Both were fiercely intelligent jurists who often memorably eviscerated the other’s opinion. Their mutual respect - despite completely different and sometimes warring ideologies - remains a great example of civility today. This ability to advocate for one’s position, yet remain professional and even cordial with the other side set a great example for the legal field, and I believe one we should aspire to whenever possible. This will always be a part of her impressive legacy.

The Vernon Z. Crawford Bay Area Bar Association will host its next general body meeting on October 30, 2020 at 12:00pm.This meeting will be held virtually with a Halloween twist! Members participating are asked to wear a costume to join in on the fun and be considered for the costume contest. Additionally, Judge Sonja Bivins will host our "table talk" as we wrap up the year before electing our new board. Please start thinking about nominations. We will also highlight our annual accomplishments and recognize our member of the year! We look forward to you joining us. For any questions, please contact President Suntrease Williams-Maynard at s.williams08@yahoo.com.

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In a case close to one of first impression, the Alabama Supreme Court in Synergies3 Tech Services, LLC v. DirectTRV, LLC, No. 1170765 (Ala., August 21, 2020), held that an employer could not be held liable via respondeat superior for the alleged theft of a diamond from the customer’s house by one of the employees because it was outside the scope of the employee’s employment.

In Thompson v. State, No. 2180977 (Ala. Civ. App., August 28, 2020), the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals held that a notice of appeal filed with respect to a judgment as to which a Rule 60 motion had been filed was filed prematurely when it was filed before the Rule 60 motion had been ruled on and, thus, the notice did not secure jurisdiction by the appellate court.

Repeating a familiar refrain in recent years, the Alabama Supreme Court in Holt v. Holt, No. 1190025 (Ala., August 21, 2020), held that the absence of a formal order of removal of an estate administration from probate court meant that the circuit court never acquired jurisdiction and that, as a result, jurisdiction remained with the probate court.

In a case of first impression, the Court of Civil Appeals in Ex parte Stephens, No. 1190457 (Ala. Civ. App. 2020), held that ad administrator ad litem was required to be appointed in a case in which the statutory requirements were clearly met even though the trial judge did not do so.

DIED: Patricia Ann Thomas Ray, mother of MBA Member Royce Ray, III, passed away on August 31, 2020 after a long battle with leukemia. Born in Newton, Mississippi, Pat graduated from Mobile’s Vigor High School before attending the University of Montevallo, Spring Hill College, and the University of South Alabama where she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. A longtime member of Spring Hill Presbyterian Church where she served as Deacon, she was a strong devoted wife, mother, grandmother, family member and friend. Pat is survived by her husband of 62 years, two children, and three grandchildren.

DIED: On August 29, 2020, Cynthia Clark “Cindy” Langan, mother-in-law of MBA Member Mark Wolfe, passed away. Cindy was a native and lifelong resident of Mobile. She attended grade school at St. Mary’s and graduated from Bishop Toolen High School in 1958. She was a member of St. Matthews Catholic Church for many years and a die-hard Auburn fan. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, four children, nine grand-children, and two great-grandchildren.

DIED: Grandfather of MBA Member Alex Katsimpalis Garrett, Dr. Tom P. Katsimpalis, better known as “TomKat,” died on August 24, 2020. Born in Gary, Indiana, TomKat was a natural athlete and basketball star. After setting many basketball records at Eastern Illinois University, TomKat joined the New York Knickerbockers. He taught and coached young men at Altamont and Clinton, Illinois. He eventually completed his Ph.D. at the University of Northern Colorado, Greely and returned to EIU as Assistant Athletic Director, Athletic Director, and Professor. TomKat is survived by his wife of 68 years, two sons, three grandchildren, and three great-grandsons.

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AVAILABLE: Complete volumes of law books available. If interested, please call 251-432-6685 and ask to speak to Belinda.

If anyone prepared or knows the whereabouts of the last will and testament of Carlos Michael (Mike) Maddox, please contact S. Gaillard Ladd at (251) 405-1300 or via email at SGL@AJLAW.COM.

Adams and Reese is pleased to announce the inclusion of eight Mobile, AL attorneys in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America (by BL Rankings, LLC) and Ones to Watch (denoted with an asterisk). They include: C. Britton Bonner (Government Relations Practice), Robert C. Campbell III (Commercial Litigation, Education Law, Litigation - First Amendment, Litigation - Labor and Employment, Litigation - Municipal), Andrew B. Freeman (Mergers and Acquisitions Law), Randall Scott Hetrick (Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment), W. David Johnson (Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law), Victor H. Lott, Jr. (Corporate Law, International Mergers and Acquisitions, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities/Capital Markets Law, Securities Regulation, Timber Law), Raymond G. Russell (Corporate Law) and A. Patrick Dungan* (Government Relations Practice).

Maynard Cooper & Gale is pleased to announce that Evan N. Parrott was recognized among the Best Lawyers 2021 Ones to Watch in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, and Bankruptcy Litigation. This recognition is given to attorneys who are earlier in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice.

Office Space for Rent. Move west where your clients are. 1,500 square feet includes fully furnished reception, furnished secretarial and kitchen areas. Mechanical room with hardwired internet and phone. Phone system installed. Four Attorney offices. Contact Angela McArthur at 251.591.3168 for a virtual tour or contact Greg McAtee at 251.689.4536 for an in-person tour. Add: 4087 Cottage Hill Road, 36609 for excellent exposure and signage is available.

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Shop at smile.amazon.com and Amazon will donate 0.5% of eligible purchases to the Mobile Bar Foundation with no fees or extra cost to you. Click here to learn more about AmazonSmile.