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Final
Distribution Order Entered in $41 Million Class
Action Settlement
Judge Ashley McKathan entered an order December 9 for the distribution
of the $41 million class action settlement in the 16th Section and
School Indemnity Lands case.
Laird, Baker & Black-
stock served, along with three other firms, as class counsel in
this case.
As a result of this case, school systems across the state will be
receiving checks in January. Opp Schools will receive about $650,000,
out of which about $500,000 can be used immediately. This will provide
a substantial downpayment on a new elementary school, if the Board
sees fit to use it for that purpose.
Construction Accidents on Rise
We have seen an increase in construction
accidents in our area with the four-laning projects under way. Some
are due to drivers not slowing down in construction zones.
However, some are being caused by the excessive speed of dump truck
drivers working for the construction companies.
We are currently representing one client who has suffered extensive
injuries as a result of a dump truck driver speeding through a construction
zone and not keeping a proper lookout.
When 80,000 pounds of a speeding truck crashes into a car, the car
and its passengers usually lose.
National No-Fault
Bill Dangerous
With the election out of the way, the push
is on for national tort reform.
There are three main bills coming:
One involves medical malpractice, which may be a problem in some
states. However, it is important to note that Alabama passed measures
in 1986 all but eliminated med mal in our state. We only know two
lawyers in the entire state doing med mal. One of them told us that
he reviews about 1200 claims a year, but takes less than 20 cases.
The second bill seeks to curb class actions by Federalizing them.
Class actions have risen as a result of limits on punitive damages
which make it impractical for consumers to bring suit over being
ripped off by a few hundred dollars. Without class actions, consumers
will be easy prey for unscrupulous companies.
Finally, the most dangerous bill is a no-fault auto insurance bill
that sounds good at first, but on second glance takes away the rights
of victims to recover for their pain and suffering and other non-economic
loss.
It is ironic that the current administration believes in allowing
states to govern their own in every area except the Court system.
Those who truly believe in less government should fight these bills.
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Alabama Trial LawyersGive to Needy
Children
In December, Stewart Springer
of Birmingham, a trial lawyer, decided on his own to launch a
toy drive for needy children through the Alabama Trial Lawyers
Association. He simply posted an e-mail about it to all of us
who are members of the Association.
Within a matter of days, over $10,000 was given to this drive
and toys were purchased for children that might not otherwise
have a Christmas.
The contributions were administered by Sue McInnish and the Alabama
Civil Justice Foundation. Many trial lawyers give to this Foundation,
which has given over a million dollars to children’s programs
in the past few years.
Roy Moore
Speaks
Laird Baker & Blackstock associate
Trey Burgess recently invited former Chief Justice Roy Moore
to speak to the Opp Rotary Club. The public was invited. Well
over a hundred were in attendance for his speech, including
former Justice Terry
Butts and Circuit Judge Ashley McKathan who recently has drawn
the media’s attention for wearing a robe with the Ten
Commandments embroidered on it.
Whether you agree with his stand or not, Justice Moore’s
speech was stirring and thought- provoking.
Baker to Coach Upward Basketball
Our own David Baker is coaching
Upward Basketball. When he isn’t coaching basketball or
practicing law, he’s teaching
Sunday School for seventh and eighth grade boys.
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VIOXX
& OTHERS
By now you have probably heard that the drug
Vioxx has been removed from the market due to studies that show
it causes stroke or heart attacks.
The manufacturer rushed to get this drug on the market because it
found itself behind its competitor that makes Celebrex.
If you have suffered a stroke or heart attack since taking Vioxx,
we will be glad to evaluate your potential claims against the manufacturer
of Vioxx at no charge to you. Simply call our office for an appointment
and bring a printout of your medications.
Blackstock’s
Open Home
For Christmas
Our own Andy Blackstock, and wife Amy, opened
their home to the public on the Christmas Tour of Homes in December.
They recently purchased the Stewart Home on Whaley Street from Gordon
and Frances Spurlin.
We are glad they are calling Opp home these days
Congrats to Opp Cheerleaders on
Winning National Championship
The Opp High School Cheerleaders brought
home the National Championship this past week after competing in
Nashville at the Opryland Hotel. They won the State Championship
in December.
Laurie Grigsby has done an outstanding job in coaching cheerleading
teams for OHS since moving to Opp a few years ago.
Congratulations to all the cheerleaders, and to their assistant
coach for the competition, Laken Laird, otherwise known as Opie.
Laird Baker & Blackstock, LLC
Wesley L. Laird
David S. Baker
Thomas A. Blackstock, Jr.
Charles A. “Trey” Burgess, III
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
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