Alabama State Bar Hires Autumn Caudell as Asst. Ethics Counsel

Autumn Caudell has been hired as Asst. Ethics Counsel in the Office of General Counsel. Autumn will work with Tripp Vickers in the Ethics Division. She'll also support the day-to-day operations of the Practice Management Assistance Program (PMAP), which is responsible for helping lawyers understand and implement best practices in the operation of a law office. Welcome Autumn!

Reserve Your Hotel Rooms for Midyear Meeting by Dec. 23 

The 2020 Midyear Meeting is January 22-23 at the Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores. The deadline to reserve a hotel room with the bar’s discounted rate is Dec. 23. Click here to make hotel reservations at The Lodge at Gulf State Park. You can knock out all your CLE hours for 2020 in January for only $150; you'll get to network with more than 100 judges from across the state; and hotel rooms are only $115 per night! For more information or to register, click here.

Huffaker Confirmed as Federal District Judge

Last Wednesday, Montgomery attorney R. Austin Huffaker, Jr. was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be a federal District Judge for the Middle District of Alabama. Read the full release and statement from Sen. Richard Shelby here. We also congratulate attorney Jerusha T. Adams, who was appointed Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court, Middle District of Alabama. You can read more on her appointment here. 

New Online Service Available for Medicaid Benefit Recovery and Subrogation Claims

When a Medicaid recipient receives treatment for an injury or is involved in a tort settlement, Medicaid’s Third Party Division looks to identify any primary payment source like homeowners, automobile and other liability insurance as well as court-ordered restitution. The Alabama Medicaid Agency has contracted with Health Management Systems (HMS) to enforce the Agency’s right to recovery in subrogation claims and requests for medical records. HMS performs the evaluation and case-tracking functions of all casualty and litigation cases for Alabama Medicaid. Attorneys and insurance companies can now utilize this new online service called SOLARIS (Subrogation On-Line Attorney Referral Information Service). Read more here.

ADLA to Host Dec. 12 CLE Webinar on Facebook Libra: The Planned Internet of Money
 
Facebook announced a June 2020 plan to launch Libra, a cryptocurrency on a decentralized blockchain. On Dec. 12, ADLA will host a webinar that will provide a basic overview into cryptocurrencies and blockchain, and review Facebook’s ambitious plan to bank the nearly 1.7 billion adults who still remain outside of the financial system who have no access to a traditional bank. The issues are complex, as both U.S. and foreign regulatory bodies are grappling how to classify Facebook’s Libra project. The webinar is open to ADLA members and non-members. Click here for registration info.

The Birmingham Bar Association Annual Meeting          

Birmingham Bar members are invited to attend the 2019 Annual Membership Meeting on Dec. 13, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., at the Birmingham Bar Center. Meet the winners of the Public Service Award and Lifetime Achievement Award, learn who won the elections for 2020 Executive Committee positions and hear a preview of the BBA's plans for 2020.The meeting is designed to last one hour, so members can move on to the Annual Membership Party at 5:30 p.m.

Oral Arguments

• The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals will hold oral arguments Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. View the docket here.

• The Supreme Court of Alabama will hold oral arguments Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 10 a.m. View the docket here.

Decisions and Opinions