2006 Chambers and Partners Ranking

Chambers and Partners has released its 2006 ranking of law firms, and the Firm along with two of its partners achieved one of the top rankings issued in Alabama. Described as “Mobile’s finest”, Chambers reports that “the firm offers a range of legal services and enjoys a particularly strong reputation in litigation.” “The firm has successfully tried many high-profile cases in both federal and state courts, and it is expert in large and complex matters.” Among the Firm’s attorneys “Frederick Helmsing is praised for his diverse litigation practice, as is the effective John Leach.”

Ryan Luna Joins Firm

On January 25, 2006 Ryan Luna joined Helmsing, Leach as an associate attorney. Ryan is originally from Dora, Alabama, a small suburb of Birmingham. Ryan attended Lambuth University in Jackson, Tennessee on a football scholarship and graduated in 2000. Ryan then received his law degree from Cumberland School of Law in 2003. Before joining the Firm, Ryan’s practice was primarily in insurance defense litigation in state and federal courts.

Firm wins Just Compensation for Landowner

Warren Herlong represented a landowner whose Florence, Alabama property was partially taken for a road widening project. The Alabama Department of Transportation testified to only owing $131,000 as just compensation for the taking, but after the two and a half day jury trial the Firm recovered a judgment of $402,720 plus approximately $115,000 in pre-judgment interest for its client.

Firm Helps Church Recover Missing Money and Furniture

Warren Herlong and Casey Pipes successfully represented the AOH Church of God and the St. John AOH Church of God in an action to recover money and furniture that were taken from them by former members and the former pastor of the St. John AOH Church of God. The Jury returned a verdict in favor of the Firm’s clients in the exact amount requested by Casey and Warren, $557,227.26.

Warren Herlong Teaches at ABI-CLE Seminar

Warren Herlong presented a paper at the Alabama Bar Institute’s Continuing Legal Education (ABI-CLE) seminar entitled “What Every Real Estate Lawyer Needs To Know” which was held at the HealthSouth Conference Center in Birmingham, Alabama. Warren’s topic addressed the power of eminent domain and the condemnation process and procedure in Alabama with specific emphasis on representing the owner in a partial takings condemnation action.

Russell Buffkin Appointed to Serve on PACT and 529 Fund Board of Directors

Russell C. Buffkin was appointed by Alabama Governor Bob Riley to serve on the Board of Directors for the Alabama Prepaid Affordable College Tuition (PACT) Program and the Alabama Higher Education 529 Fund. These two programs operate under authority of Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code to allow states to create prepaid tuition programs and college saving plans. The Board of Directors has authority over the management of the funds, and Board members are chosen from the higher education community and the business community. More information about these funds and programs is available on the Alabama State Treasury’s web site at http://www.treasury.state.al.us.

Alan Alexander Elected President-Elect of Alabama Defense Lawyers Ass’n.

Alan Alexander was elected the President-Elect of the Alabama Defense Lawyers Association (www.adla.org) at its Annual Meeting in Sandestin, Florida on June 4, 2005. Alan has been a member of ADLA for the past 20 years, having previously served as a Committee Chairman and Director within the organization. Alan will assume the duties of President of ADLA in the Summer of 2006 for a one year term. ADLA was founded over 40 years ago, and it now boasts a membership of over 1,100 Alabama attorneys dedicated to the defense of civil actions and the promotion of fairness and integrity in the civil justice system.

Firm Wins on Judicial Estoppel Theory

The Firm secured summary judgment for its client on the grounds of judicial estoppel arising out of a plaintiff’s failure to list the underlying civil claim against the Firm’s client in the plaintiff’s bankruptcy schedules. The order issued out of the Mobile County Circuit Court and was recently affirmed on appeal by the Alabama Supreme Court (Verneuille v. Buchanan Lumber of Mobile, Inc., 2005 WL 1189598 (Ala. May 13, 2005)). This case is yet another example of how the Firm’s bankruptcy practice and experience can assist the Firm’s general litigation practice.