We trust you had a wonderful Christmas and that it was a time of togetherness for you and your family and a time of thanksgiving for God sending His son, Jesus, to us.
We also hope and pray that you will have a good year in 2004 and wish you and your family health and happiness.

Former Employee Graduates Law School

Trey Burgess, son of Dr. and Mrs. Chuck Burgess, graduated from the University of Alabama School of Law in December. He will take the Alabama Bar Exam in February.
Trey clerked for Laird, Baker & Blackstock one summer and has helped out on other occasions when needed.
Trey was a strong leader at First Baptist Church and at Opp High School and should make a fine lawyer.
Congratulations Trey and good luck on your future. We are proud of you.

Grimes Works Until Wedding
Another Opp native, Anna Grimes, daughter of Johnny and Sally Grimes, is back home after graduating from the University of Alabama.
Anna will be the smiling face that greets you at our front door until her wedding in April.
She will be marrying former Crimson Tide defensive lineman, Jarret Johnson. Jarret now plays in the NFL for Baltimore, where
they will make their home after they are married.
Anna plans to work full time for a charity when she moves.

Jury Returns $185,000 Verdict

In November, a Covington County jury returned a $185,000 verdict in favor a local resident who fractured his ankle in a car wreck. The fracture was a severe break that required surgery.
David Baker of Laird, Baker & Blackstock represented the plaintiff, a Vietnam veteran. The verdict was against Hartford Omni Insurance Company, the plaintiff’s own auto insurance company. The suit was filed after the company refused to pay for the plaintiff’s damages under his uninsured motorist coverage, for which he had been paying premiums.
Uninsured motorist coverage is supposed to cover a person for damages caused by an uninsured or under-insured motorist. The insurance company for the person who caused the wreck had previously settled, paying policy limits. However, the limits were not enough to cover the plaintiff’s damages.
It is a shame that a person has to sue his own insurance company to force them to do what is right.

A Fight With Another Insurance Company

In another suit, Laird, Baker & Blackstock has filed against Farmers Exchange Insurance Company.
The facts of the case involve a lady who, when leaving her employment one night, was assaulted by a man who robbed her and stole her vehicle. He then proceeded to run over her with her own vehicle, causing her to lose her leg.
Her vehicle was insured with Farmers Exchange Insurance Company. She had both liability and uninsured motorist coverage.
Farmers Exchange denied payment on the claims for damages saying that they did not have to pay under the liability portion of the policy because the driver was not a permissive user of the vehicle. They further denied the uninsured motorist coverage because she was run over with her own vehicle.
The case should be set for trial later this year.

Employees Make Firm Successful

One of the keys to a successful law practice is its employees. They cannot be overlooked here.
T.J. Carnley, Sandy Brown, and Debbie Sherman bring a combined experience of more than 20 years in the legal profession to our firm.
They sure make the wheels turn smoothly.

Free Debt Counseling

Andy Blackstock of our firm continues to offer free debt counseling for those finding themselves in a financial crunch.
The local economy in Opp continues to be a tremendous concern that we should all pray about. There is much talk around town about what’s next since McDonald’s closed.
The families of those who have lost their jobs in and around Opp are in our prayers.
On a brighter note though, it looks like the mill will continue to operate with a reduced labor force, and Service Zone is adding 50 to 100 new jobs a month for the next three months. These are blessings we should count.

Firm Files Class Action on Pipe Manufacturers

Laird, Baker & Blackstock is one of five firms from across the country that have formed a consortium to handle claims for convenience store owners and others due to failed underground flexible pipe.
The claims involve plastic pipe installed at many convenience stores and other gasoline dispensers.
“A large percentage of this pipe is failing and leaking across the United States,” said Wes Laird. “In some cases we are seeing huge spills of gasoline into the environment. It could end up being one of the worst environmental disasters this country has ever seen if the pipe is not removed.”
Laird, along with the other four firms, have filed two suits against manufacturers and distributors seeking national class action status. The suits seek injunctive relief and call for the removal and replacement of all underground flexible pipe distributed by Total Environment and Environ.
The suits are filed in Montgomery and Union Springs.

Low Interest Rates Keep
Re-Financing Strong

Even though the economy locally is slow, re-financing real estate remains strong, thanks to low interest rates.
Andy Blackstock with our firm handles title opinions, issues title insurance, and does loan closings and is always glad to assist you with all your real estate needs.

INJURY CASES TAKEN ON A NO RECOVERY, NO FEE BASIS

Laird, Baker & Blackstock is always pleased to offer free consultations to anyone who has been injured or anyone having a problem with an insurance company.
It is not necessary to be able to pay us up front in most cases. We will work out a percentage basis of payment for you. This is called a contingency fee. In other words, our fee is contingent on whether we are successful in recovering for you.
If we recover, our fee is a percentage of the recovery. If there is no recovery, you owe nothing.

We Can All Do Our Part to Attract Industry
We can all do our part to help attract new industry to our area. As most of us know, our area has had several visits from Korean companies looking for a new home.
Koreans in general like to see trees and nice landscapes. They place a high value on the environment.
We should all strive to make sure our homes and businesses make a good appearance by picking up loose trash and paying attention to our yards and flower beds.

Men’s Fish Fry to Feature John David Croyle

All men in the area are invited to a fish fry Monday night, February 2nd at 6:00 at the First Baptist Church of Opp Fellowship Center.
John David Croyle, father of Alabama quarterback Brodie Croyle, will be the featured speaker. John David Croyle runs a home for homeless children.
The tickets can be obtained for $7 from First Baptist Church or other area churches.

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