The Laird Baker & Blackstock News July 1, 2003 No. 4
A publication of Laird, Baker & Blackstock, LLC, Attorneys at Law, 501 N. Main, Opp, AL 36467 Tel. 334-493-9716
www.laird-baker-blackstock.com

Announcement of Mill Closing Prompts Firm to Offer Free
Debt Counseling

Our firm deeply regrets the closing of the Opp and Micolas Mills announced recently. It is yet another example of how NAFTA has hurt our area and comes through no fault of the workers and management who worked tirelessly to keep it open in the face of a bad economy and foreign competition.
We recognize that many families are struggling with the situation and are unsure where to turn to pay their bills.
We are pleased that Andy Blackstock is offering free debt counseling consultations with our firm as a service to those in need. He will be glad to lend an ear and provide advice on options available to anyone who cannot pay their bills.
To explore your options, call and ask for an appointment with Andy.

LEST WE FORGET

Many times as Americans we forget the sacrifices that Alabamians and Americans make for us in service to our country. Many serving in law enforcement, fire protection, public office, and our military sacrifice their own family time and risk their lives for our freedom and protection.
As we celebrate our Independence Day, it is important that we remember to honor them. Most of us have family or friends who have been called away to serve recently. Close to our firm, these have included one of our secretary’s husband who served in Afghanistan and Wes Laird’s brother-in-law, Jamie Cassidy, who has served this past year with the 131st from Florala at our base in Anniston.
David Baker was appointed y the Governor in 2000 to be on the Alabama Battleship Commission. The Commission is dedicated to preserving and protecting the Battleship Park in Mobile so that generations to come can honor the sacrifice of Alabamians who have served in all branches of service.
Baker noticed this spirit during recent veteran reunions held at the USS Alabama and the Battleship Park. “It has been an honor meeting and listening to the Veterans as they return to their ship and tell about their experiences to know by what they are saying that they would serve again if called. The men are extraordinary and their legacy of service over self are what make our country great and strong,” Baker commented.
We now have a younger generation serving and protecting us. They have the same spirit of service as those before them. While others ask “what’s in it for me”, these young people ask “what needs to be done?”
During this Fourth of July, thank those around you for their service in your own way. They are the patriots keeping this nation strong and great. Freedom is never free nor easy.
And thank God for keeping this country “one nation.”

PRAYER

It seems that most everywhere we turn people are talking either favorably or unfavorably about Governor Riley’s tax reform package and the state of our education system.
Our own Opp School System had to make a number of difficult choices at year-end to make ends meet, including terminating many teaching and support positions. This was due to an estimated cut in funding from the state as well as cuts in local tax revenue.
While many are quick to point a finger, it is important that we recognize that the problems Opp City Schools face are problems that most schools are facing statewide.
Our problems are only made more complex by the closing of local mills and textile plants. We hope and pray that expanding companies such as Hyundai suppliers will recognize that Opp and Covington County has a lot to offer - the most valuable of which are the workers of this area. We need new industry to fill the void of jobs in this area.
We also have to have a stable source of funding for education in our state. Education is broke. The legislature passed a law on the last day of the session to restore funding. However, the money is not there to make it until the end of the fiscal year, leading State Superintendent Ed Richardson to say that all the schools may have to be closed October 1 if the tax reform package does not pass.
Some will say we are in this jam as a result of poor management. However, the schools have dealt with cuts in funding for a number of years. This is a result of a tax system in Alabama that has unfairly taxed the poorest people in the state while the large out of state timber companies get a free ride at our children’s expense.
We admire Governor Riley for having the political courage to take a stand for what is morally right and propose a tax reform package that seeks to correct these injustices.
While we are not taking a stand at this time about supporting the referendum because we have not reviewed all the components of the package, we would ask all our clients to try to take an objective look at it. We understand it would amount to a tax cut for most workers, but we are still analyzing it.
Most importantly, we ask you to be in earnest prayer about what is morally right in insuring that our children get the best education they can get. We ask that you pray for our mill workers who face the loss of jobs. And we ask that you pray that God’s will be done in the upcoming referendum.

Defeat of Nursing Home Package Was Right Thing

We applaud the legislators who had the guts to help kill the nursing home package recently in the legislature which would have placed a $250,000 cap on damages if a nursing home killed, abused, or injured your loved one.
We have always felt that our senior citizens should be protected from abuse. While there are good nursing homes, there are far too many bad ones, and the only way to insure that they do not abuse our senior citizen residents is through the award of damages in court when abuse or neglect does occur.
While we have never sued a nursing home in Alabama, we are aware of egregious conduct in some cases, such as the case in North Alabama where a resident was allowed to suffer hundreds of fire ant bites.
The nursing homes have tried to say that the reform was needed because of escalating insurance premiums, which they say is a result of lawsuits.
The reality is that the insurance companies are charging them more money to make up for their losses in the stock market, and blaming it on the trial lawyers. That’s par for the course. We’ve been falsely blamed for so much at this point, we keep expecting to be blamed for 9/11 at any point.

LAIRD TO BE KEYNOTE
SPEAKER AT STATE
CONGRESS

Wes Laird was the keynote speaker at the Alabama 4-H Leadership Congress in February of this year at the State 4-H Center.
There were about 200 teenagers in attendance at the weekend long event.
“Relating to a group of teenagers is always a challenge,” said Laird. He added “but these are some of the brightest young people you will ever meet.”
Laird, who serves on the Alabama 4-H Foundation Board of Directors, received a standing ovation from the crowd after challenging them to be a moral example to others and to set a good work ethic.
The young people in attendance serving on the state 4-H council asked Laird to return in July to deliver the keynote address to their State 4-H Congress at Auburn University. “It is quite an honor to be asked back by these outstanding young leaders,” Laird said.

We Say Goodbye

It is with much sadness that we say goodbye to one of our best friends, Rev. David Franklin. Franklin, pastor of First Baptist Church of Opp for the past six years is headed to Macon, Georgia.
David has been a true friend to those of us in this firm. He has taught us how to live the joyful life, how to walk closer to God, how to minister to others, how to have a personal relationship with Christ — how to be men. He, in his humble way, would say it wasn’t him, but God.
Thank you for being God’s instrument. Thank you for leading us toward the Light. We are better for it, as a firm, a church, and a community.
You and your family will be sorely missed. Godspeed.

More FYI:

-Our firm handles most areas of practice, including auto accidents, personal injury, wrongful death, insurance fraud and bad faith, divorce and custody, criminal matters, wills and probate matters, bankruptcy,
and real estate, including property disputes and condemnation.

Laird Baker & Blackstock, LLC

Wesley L. Laird
David S. Baker
Thomas A. Blackstock, Jr.
Opp
493-9716

- No consultation fee for bankruptcy or civil cases.

-No recovery, no fee in civil cases.

No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
www.laird-baker-blackstock.com