Letter from Blacksher to Opposing Counsel

    BLACKSHER, MENEFEE & STEIN, P.A. 
ATTORNEYS AT LAW 

405 VAN ANTWERP BUILDING 
P.O. BOX 1051 

MOBILE, ALABAMA 36633 

JAMES U. BLACKSHER TELEPHONE 

LARRY T. MENEFEE (205) 433-2000 

GREGORY B. STEIN 

WANDA L. COCHRAN June 5 ’ 1988 

H. R. Burnham, Esq. Warren Rowe, Esq. 
Burnham, Klinefelter, Halsey, Rowe & Sawyer 
Jones & Carter P..O. Box 180 

P. O. Box 1815 Enterprise, Alabama 36331 
Anniston, Alabama 36202 (COFFEE COUNTY) 
(CALHOUN COUNTY) 

Jack Floyd, Esq. D. L. Martin, Esq. 
Floyd, Keener & Cusimano 215 South Main Street 
816 Chestnut Street Moulton, Alabama 35650 
Gadsden, Alabama 35999 (LAWRENCE COUNTY, SMITH & LIGON) 
(ETOWAH COUNTY) 

David R. Boyd, Esq. James G. Speake, Esq. 
Balch & Bingham Speake, Speake & Reich 
P.O. Box 78 P. 0. Box 5 
Montgomery, Alabama 36101 Moulton, Alabama 35650 

(LAWRENCE COUNTY, SMITH & LIGON) (PROCTOR OF LAWRENCE COUNTY) 

¥. 0. Rirk,"dJr., Esq. Barry D. Vaughn, Esq. 
Curry & Kirk Proctor & Vaughn 
P. O. Box A-B 121 North Norton Avenue 
Carrollton, Alabama 35447 Sylacauga, Alabama 35150 
(PICKENS COUNTY) (TALLADEGA COUNTY) 

Re: Dillard, et al. v. Crenshaw County, Alabama, et al. 

Clvil Action No. 85-T-1332-N 
  

Gentlemen: 

In light of Judge Thompson's ruling on May 28, 1986, I am 
inviting all of your clients to reassess their settlement 
positions. It appears from the preliminary injunction that, 
unless the defendants prevail at the trial on the merits in July, 
the Court will order special elections to be held before January 
1, 1987. Although the order does not deal with this question 
specifically, past experience with Judge Thompson strongly 
indicates that he will likely order the new elections for all 
seats on the county commissions if the case must be fully 
adjudicated. If you have clients who are hoping to serve out all 
or at least some part of the terms for which they have been 
elected or for which they may be elected in the elections this 
year, the settlement process may be the only route available to 
them. Escambia County is an example of how Judge Thompson was 

 



  

® e 
Messrs. Burnham, Floyd, Boyd, Kirk, 
Rowe, Martin, Speake and Vaughn 
June 5, 1986 

Page Two 

willing to approve a staggered remedy that allowed incumbents to 
serve out their terms when it was presented by way of a proposed 
settlement. 

The plaintiffs are swinging into full action in preparation for 
trial on July 23. There are at least three or four 
lawyers, two expert witnesses and two paralegals who as of now 
are devoting much if not all of thelr time to this case. As 
always, we would rather engage in serious settlement negotiations 
sooner rather than later to avoid unnecessary time and expense. 
Please let us know as soon as possible what your clients’ 
positions are with regard to settlement. 

Best regards. 

Sincersly, 

BLACKSHER, i pa & STEIN, P.A. 

Yee: 
es U. Blacksher 

    
JUB:pfm 

cc: Edward Still, Esq. 
Reo Kirkland, Jr., Esq. 
Terry G. Davis, Esq. 
Deborah Fins, Esq. 

 



BLACKSHER, MENEFEE & STEIN, P.A. 

ATTORNEYS AT LAw 

P.O. Box 1051 

MoBILE, AL 36633-1051 

Deborah Fins, Esq. 
NAACP? Legal Defense Fund 
99 Hudson Street, 16th Floor 

New York, New York 10013