Lawsuits Way Down in Alabama – Big Business Taking Over
One of our judges keeps asking why no one is filing lawsuits. Of course, we are still filing lawsuits, just not near as many. The Alabama Supreme Court has virtually done away with fraud and bad faith against insurance companies in Alabama. Punitive damages have been capped. Every time a legislator sneezes, another tort reform bill is introduced offering immunity to his special interest group.
It is plain to see from the statistics that we are at a point when the pendulum has swung way too far against those injured and defrauded. In 2000, 11,644 tort lawsuits were filed in Alabama. In 2002, it was a little over 12,000. In just ten years though, the number has fallen drastically. In 2009, the number had fallen to 8,543 according to a Civil Justice Survey of State Courts.
It most likely is far less than that now, judging from the Covington County docket. And the politicians continue to take away the rights of the working class to bring suit against Corporate America, or worse yet, Corporate China. Just this year, our legislature voted to take away some of your rights to sue for injuries caused by defective products, many of which are manufactured in China, India, in other overseas countries that pay allow workers to be paid slave wages.
It is happening on the Federal level also. The U.S. Supreme Court in the past couple years struck down limits on corporate contributions to politicians. And we wonder why they take away our rights in the name of big business?
We must wake up to the corporate greed that is taking over our government.
BEWARE FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND MY SPACE
My Space is not always your space. And Facebook may just be where the enemy downloads your picture.
We advise clients to be very careful what is posted to social internet sites. More and more, the enemy is stalking the sites in divorces and lawsuits. You would be surprised what can be used against you in court.
When you are linked through Facebook, even pictures other people post of you can be found and magically appear in evidence.
Social media sites can be fun, entertaining, and can keep friends in touch. But be careful about that tweet, picture, or rant being taken out of context. You never know whose hands it might end up in.
NO MENTION OF INSURANCE IN THE COURTROOM
The insurance giants on tv want you to believe that they are on your side in a wreck or a disaster. Yet any time there is a natural disaster, hundreds or thousands of people must seek justice in a courtroom because they cannot obtain from their own insurance company.
Make no mistake, big insurance, just like big banks, is out for one thing and that is the big bucks.
Did you know that in Alabama, we cannot even mention auto insurance in a trial involving a car wreck? That’s right. Even though the insurance company is almost always who has to pay if the injured Plaintiff receives a verdict, the Plaintiff nor his lawyer can tell the jury the defendant has insurance.
PUT EXPERIENCE TO WORK IN YOUR CASE
Laird, Baker & Blackstock has its roots in Opp in 1987, when Wesley Laird took over the law practice of Loggins & Loggins. Tim Loggins was going into corporate work and Eugenia Loggins was taking office as Covington County’s District Attorney. They left a successful private practice representing clients for many years in trouble with the law, injured, seeking divorce and custody, or needing a real estate lawyer.
Laird expanded the practice into the area of bankruptcy, having just finished a clerkship with a Bankruptcy Trustee, Walter Crownover of Tuscaloosa.
David Baker joined Laird in 1993 as an Associate and soon became a partner. About three years later, Thomas A. “Andy” Blackstock joined the firm and later became a partner as well.
The combined experience of the three partners is sixty years in the areas of trucking litigation, auto wrecks, personal injury, wrongful death, real estate, wills and probate, divorce and custody, criminal law, and bankruptcy. With each partner heavily concentrating in specific areas, it allows more efficient concentration on particular cases.
The common denominator is care. “Andalusia attorney Sid Fuller told me years ago that he always believed if a lawyer cares for his clients, the rest will take care of itself,” said Laird. “He was right. If you care about people, about clients, then you will do everything you can to help that person.”
Whatever your legal need, the lawyers at Laird, Baker and Blackstock care and are ready to help.
Chuck Boyd's Story
Laird, Baker & Blackstock
When Experience Matters
Laird, Baker & Blackstock
Toby Hollinghead Talks About Representation
by Law Firm After Her Accident
“On the day of my auto accident, the farthest thing from
my family’s mind as I was on a life flight to a trauma
center (at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola) was the need for legal
representation. During the weeks that I was in intensive care
my family did not think about the high cost of medical and rehabilitative
service costs.
Bills would begin arriving in huge quantities,
along with threats of collection agencies. It was at this time,
during this crucial period, when we retained Laird, Baker & Blackstock
for their assistance.
Attorney Wesley Laird took over my case completely. And through
his professional experience, laced with a big dose of humanity,
my needs were met.
Wesley Laird, along with his assistant
Amanda Stewart, worked tirelessly to get the best outcome possible
for me. I was guided easily and effortlessly through this horrendous
time in my life.
My appreciation of these professional,
caring people goes beyond words. I will be eternally grateful
for the wisdom and compassion shown to me and my family during
this time.” ---Estoria “Toby “ Hollinghead,
Folk Artist, injured in accident with large truck on May 4, 2009.
Laird Joins ALAJ Board of Directors
Rebekah McKinney took the helm as President of the Alabama Association of Justice, formerly the Alabama Trial Lawyers Association, at the Annual Seminar in Sandestin in June, becoming the first female President of the organization. McKinney practices in Huntsville as a partner with Watson, McKinney and Artrip. She named Wes Laird of Laird, Baker & Blackstock in Opp to fill the position on the Board of Directors representing 1,2, and 3 member firms.
Legal
Assistant Amanda Stewart, Deidra Laird, Artist Toby Hollinghead,
and Wesley L. Laird at Just Folks Coffee House discussing commissioning
of art piece for the coffee house which also house the offices
of Covenant Community Church in Elba"
Client Shayla Stoudemire and Allison McVay, Legal Assistant "When I was unable to move my legs as a result of a rollover car
accident in a road construction zone, I trusted Wes Laird of Laird,
Baker & Blackstock to represent me. I am glad I did. They
provided professional representation resulting in the best care for
me and my case." Shayla Stoudemire, Client.
Blackstock Carves Crop Insurance Niche
Lawyer Thomas A. (Andy) Blackstock, Jr. is fast carving a niche in the crop insurance litigation field, representing farmers with crop insurance claims. Farmers are one of the most under-represented sectors of our economy, largely due to the fact that crop insurance is far different from other common casualty insurance policies, making it extremely difficult to arbitrate a claim. Andy has spent countless hours in litigating claims for farmers, many times assisted by Wes Laird. Both Blackstock and Laird come from farm families in South Alabama, giving them a healthy dose of understanding the nature of the business. When not litigating crop insurance claims, Blackstock handles real estate title searches and closings for the firm.
Laird,
Baker & Blackstock
Your Hometown Law Firm
Over 50 Years Combined
Experience In Offshore, Trucking, and Construction Accidents,
Real Estate, Criminal, Probate, Divorce and Custody Cases
Trust your important
legal matters to people who care about you
right here at home -- with the experience to take care of your
needs.
Laird,
Baker & Blackstock –When Experience Counts 493-9716 in Opp
“No representation is made that the quality
of legal services to be performed is better than the legal
services offered by other lawyers.”
Sampling of Settlements/Verdicts
$41 Million Settlement in School Board Class Action
$6 Million Settlement in Product Liability Car Accident
$2.75 Million Settlement in One-Vehicle Car Accident in Construction Zone
$1.00 Million Settlement in Product Liability Case (Truck Accident)
$1.35 Million Settlement in Large Truck Accident near Construction Zone
$1.40 Million Settlement in Large Truck Accident
$1.0 Million Verdict in Large Truck Accident in Construction Zone
$900,000 Settlement in Large Truck Accident
$750,000 Verdict in Car Accident Case
$185,000 Verdict for broken ankle for Vietnam Veteran
$500,000 Verdict – Oil rig back injury
$500,000 Settlement in Car Accident Case
$350,000 Verdict in Oil Rig Case
Caring for People
"I decided when I opened in 1987 that
the people of our area needed aggressive representation - someone
who cared about their problems, not the bottom line of the big
corporations and insurance companies. At Laird, Baker & Blackstock,
we care about people. That is why we will never represent insurance
companies. We are dedicated to providing our clients with the
best service we can. Whether you have been seriously injured,
are having problems in your family, or whether you are buying
a home, we will do everything in our power to meet your needs.
We put people first."
-Wesley Laird
No Recovery - No Fee in
Death, Accident, Insurance, and Injury Cases
Alabama State Bar Regulations
require the following on all attorney's ads: "No representation
is made that the quality of the legal
services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal
services performed by other lawyers."