Number 8
November 21, 2005
TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’ - AND THE LAW FIRM IS TOO
by Wesley L. Laird
I believe it was Bob Dylan who wrote recently how everything changes. Laird, Baker & Blackstock is no exception. During the past year, we have seen one lawyer leave the firm and two lawyers join. Trey Burgess left the firm in the summer and has opened his own office. We wish him well.
In June I received a call from Steve Sansom in Florala that he was ready to take life a little more easy and wanted to know if we were interested in opening an office in Florala. Specifically, he wanted us in his office on the main drag as he began to wind down his own office.
Steve Sansom is one of the main reasons I landed in Opp in 1987. He had opened his practice there in 1983 and was already established when I got ready to open my own practice. The political atmosphere was turmoil at that time in my home town and between that and Steve’s success, I wasn’t sure Florala was where I should be. Steve built a tremendous solo practice there as a country lawyer.
A veteran Army helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War, Steve soon became a fighter in the courtroom as
well, winning many large civil verdicts, including a $37 million verdict in Elba against Yamaha for a defective four-wheeler that caused a young teen to be permanently brain damaged.
Since Steve and our firm had long represented the injured and oppressed, as well as practiced in a lot of general areas, doing wills, deeds, probate, and divorces, it didn’t take long to decide to expand. Steve is now a member of our firm, serving as Of Counsel to Laird, Baker & Blackstock. We are pleased to have Steve. And I am very proud that we now have a presence where I grew up, along the sidewalks where I romped as a kid.

Laird, Baker & Blackstock Enters Fast Growing Florida Market- Toni Kinner Joins Firm
The firm has entered the fast-growing Florida market with the addition of Toni Kinner as an associate lawyer. Toni grew up in Laurel Hill and attended college at LBW, AUM, and Stetson University Law School. She has a Masters in Business Administration as well as a law degree. She is licensed to practice currently in the State of Florida and will be sitting for the Alabama Bar Exam in the near future.
“We believe this is an opportunity to take advantage of the fast growth in population and the economy across the state line,” said Wes Laird. “There is a lot of business overlap.”
Kinner will handle divorce and other domestic cases, real estate closings and deeds, and traffic cases in Florida.
We Are Thankful
As Thanksgiving is upon us, we want to pause to say THANK YOU to our God above and to each of you who have made 2005 a tremendously successful year for Laird, Baker & Blackstock. We are especially thankful for our dedicated employees, T.J. Carnley, Debbie Sherman, Buddy Holley, Kristen Coghill, Allison McVay, and Renee’ Stephens, who professionally handle our business day in and day out.
To our clients, though we may seem stressed at times, please know that it is our pleasure to represent you and do what we were trained to do. We want you to feel comfortable in talking to us about any of your legal problems. Whether your case is large or small, it is important to us because it is important to you. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your lives.
We are thankful for the economic growth our area is beginning to experience. It has been a long time coming and no one knows better than we do the suffering many people have endured through the tough times. We pray the tough economic times are over for Covington County.
Last but certainly not least, we are thankful for our families for putting up with us when we are ill-tempered or when you have to give up your time for the cause.

Opp Sees Economic Growth
I have said it before, but one of the most rewarding things I have ever been a part of is to work with Mayor H.D. Edgar and a solid city council this past year on economic development.
Through the efforts of working together and thinking outside the box, we have seen the stabilization and growth of the Johnston Industries jobs, the addition of MFG/Alabama to the Opp Spec Building on the by-pass, the beginnings of cleaning up and sprucing up downtown, and the ground-breaking of a new hotel on the by-pass.
Our existing industry, including Mizell Hospital, American Apparel, and H.B. Paulk have also added a considerable number of jobs.
Again, we are thankful.

WEBSITE PROVIDES USEFUL INFO

We encourage you to visit our website at www.laird-baker-blackstock.com for more information on our firm.
Each partner in the firm handles specific areas of practice. We handle personal injury and wrongful death, oil rig injuries, product liability, fraud, divorce and child custody matters, real estate transactions, bankruptcy, and probate.
Feel free to call and set up an appointment to learn your rights. There is no charge for consultations regarding injuries or fraud or bankruptcy matters.
If we agree to pursue a civil case for you, it is normally handled on a percentage of recovery basis; therefore, you pay nothing unless we recover.

Arts Council and Opp Fest
Another resounding success this year in Opp was this year’s Opp Fest. Our collective hats are off to the Downtown Redevelopment Authority for a good time had by all.
Laird, Baker & Blackstock was certainly proud to give back to the community and be a part of this in various ways. The firm helped sponsor the entertainment by Second Wind of Mobile.
In addition, Andy Blackstock chairs the newly- formed Opp Cultural Arts Council, which sponsored an artists’ reception downtown and decorated the windows of several buildings. Wes Laird and music partner Lamar Morris joined in the fun with some picking and grinning, along with Billy Barnes and his group as well as artist Toby Hollinghead. Everyone seemed to have a grand time.
The Opp Cultural Arts Council is signing up members for $25. We encourage you to join as the Council will be bringing more entertainment to town.