Marital Privileges in Georgia: What You Should Know DISSENTERS’ RIGHTS • FICTION CONTEST WINNER • LEGISLATIVE RECAP West Group New art--”Muscular Research cite” 4c full page 2 GEORGIA BAR JOURNAL Editorial Board D. SCOTT MURRAY, Editor-in-Chief SCOTT FAIN BERTSCHI E. PEYTON NUNEZ ERIKA CLARKE BIRG MARISA ANNE PAGNATTARO ERIN REYNOLDS CHANCE ROBERT R. STUBBS CHARLES M. CORK III JOHN M. SIKES JR. June 2001 • Vol. 6 No. 6 MELISSA ALLEN HEATH JOHN I. SPANGLER III REBECCA ANN HOELTING JERRE B. SWANN JR. MICHAEL K. JABLONSKI DIANE BETH WEINBERG On the Cover: Georgia law recognizes two marital privi- MICHELLE W. JOHNSON KRISTEN H. WEST SARAH HOWARD LAMAR J. MICHAEL WIGGINS leges “to foster the harmony and sanctity of the marriage W. FRAY MCCORMICK PAMELA Y. W HITE-COLBERT relationship.” What you should know begins on page 8. THEODORE H. DAVIS JR., ADVISOR QUICK DIAL WILLIAM WALL SAPP, ADVISOR Officers of the State Bar of Georgia Attorney Discipline ............... (800) 334-6865 ext. 720 (404) 527-8720 Consumer Assistance Program ...................................... (404) 527-8759 (ex officio members) Conference Room Reservations .................................... (404) 527-8712 Fee Arbitration ............................................................... (404) 527-8750 GEORGE E. MUNDY, CEDARTOWN Continuing Legal Education Transcripts ....................... (404) 527-8710 President Diversity Program ......................................................... (404) 527-8754 JAMES B. FRANKLIN, STATESBORO ETHICS Hotline .................................. (800) 682-9806 (404) 527-8741 President-Elect Georgia Bar Foundation/IOLTA .................................... (404) 527-8766 WILLIAM D. BARWICK, ATLANTA Georgia Bar Journal ..................................................... (404) 527-8736 Secretary Lawyer Assistance Program ................ (770) 612-1122 (800) 327-9631 JAMES B. DURHAM, BRUNSWICK Law Practice Management ............................................ (404) 527-8772 Treasurer Membership Records ..................................................... (404) 527-8777 RUDOLPH N. PATTERSON, MACON Meetings Information .................................................... (404) 527-8790 Immediate Past President Pro Bono Project ........................................................... (404) 527-8763 Professionalism ............................................................. (404) 527-8793 S. KENDALL BUTTERWORTH, ATLANTA YLD President Sections ......................................................................... (404) 527-8774 Unauthorized Practice of Law ....................................... (404) 527-8743 PETER J. DAUGHTERY, COLUMBUS Young Lawyers Division ............................................... (404) 527-8778 YLD President-Elect HEADQUARTERS JOSEPH W. D ENT, ALBANY YLD Immediate Past President 800 The Hurt Building • 50 Hurt Plaza • Atlanta, GA 30303-2934 Editors Emeritus • (ex officio members) (800) 334-6865 (404) 527-8700 FAX (404) 527-8717 Visit us on the Internet at www.gabar.org WILLIAM WALL SAPP, 1999-2000 South Georgia Office THEODORE H. DAVIS JR., 1997-1999 L. BRETT LOCKWOOD, 1995-1997 244 E. Second St. (31794) • P.O. Box 1390 • Tifton, GA 31793-1390 STEPHANIE B. MANIS, 1993-1995 (800) 330-0446 (912) 387-0446 WILLIAM L. BOST JR., 1991-1993 FAX (912) 382-7435 CHARLES R. ADAMS III, 1989-1991 Manuscript Submissions L. DALE OWENS, 1987-1989 The Georgia Bar Journal welcomes the submission of unsolicited legal manuscripts on topics of DONNA G. B ARWICK, 1986-1987 interest to the State Bar of Georgia or written by members of the State Bar of Georgia. Submissions should be AMES AULDEN R 10 to 12 pages, double-spaced (including endnotes) and on letter-size paper. Citations should conform to A J C. G J ., 1985-1986 UNIFORM SYSTEM OF CITATION (16th ed. 1996). Please address unsolicited manuscripts to: D. Scott JERRY B. BLACKSTOCK, 1984-1985 Murray, Attorney at Law, 1030 Powers Place, Alpharetta, Georgia 30004. Authors will be notified of the TEVEN OLLINS Editorial Board’s decision following its next meeting. S M. C , 1982-1984 The Georgia Bar Journal welcomes the submission of news about local and circuit bar association WALTER M. GRANT, 1979-1982 happenings, Bar members, law firms and topics of interest to attorneys in Georgia. Please send news releases and other information to: Joe Conte, Director of Communications, 800 The Hurt Building, 50 Hurt Plaza, STEPHEN E. RAVILLE, 1977-1979 Atlanta, Georgia 30303; phone: (404) 527-8736; [email protected]. ROBERT H. WALLING, 1975-1977 Layout and Design by Lenz Design & Communications, Inc. 119 E. Court Sq. #201, Decatur, Georgia Communications Committee Publisher’s Statement The Georgia Bar Journal (ISSN-1085-1437) is published six times per year (bi-monthly) by the State WILLIAM E. CANNON JR., ALBANY Bar of Georgia, 800 The Hurt Building, 50 Hurt Plaza, Atlanta, Georgia 30303-2934. © State Bar of Georgia Chairperson 2001. One copy of each issue is furnished to members as part of their State Bar dues. Subscriptions: $36 to ILLIAM ODSON TLANTA non-members. Single copies: $6. Periodicals postage paid in Atlanta, Georgia. Opinions and conclusions W D , A expressed in articles herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Editorial Board, Commu- Vice-Chairperson nications Committee, Officers or Board of Governors of the State Bar of Georgia. Advertising rate card will be furnished upon request. Publishing of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of any product or Staff service offered. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to same address. JOE CONTE Disabilities Director of Communications If you have a disability which requires printed materials in alternate ROBIN E. DAHLEN WENDY ROBINSON formats, please contact the ADA coordinator at (404) 527-8700 or Assistant Director of Administrative Assistant Communications (800) 334-6865. JUNE 2001 3 Merchant and gould p/u april 2001 page 4 4 GEORGIA BAR JOURNAL JUNE 2001 VOL. 6 NO. 6 Table of Contents Corporate Counsel Share Views, Strategies Hard Work, Camaraderie Drive Cover Story By Robin E. Dahlen Savannah Bar Association 30 By Bonne D. Cella The Marital Privileges in Georgia: Symposium Examines Ethics 52 What You Should Know in Settlement Negotiations In Memoriam By Barbara J. Nelson By Patrick E. Longan 54 8 32 Law Practice Management Slaying Paper Dragons: Document Legal Article Pro Bono Management for Today’s Practitioner By Natalie R. Thornwell 56 Fairness and Fair Value: Why Discounts The Georgia Justice Project: are Now Inappropriate Under Georgia’s A Unique Approach Lawyer Discipline Dissenters’ Rights Statute By Douglas B. Ammar 58 By James D. Blitch IV 34 12 Lawyer Assistance Program Pro Bono Honor Roll 59 38 Book Review Features Maintaining Effective Collaborations By Carol Todd Thomas 2001 Legislative Session Departments 60 Proves Productive for Bar CLE Calendar By Mark Middleton From the President 70 18 Strength in Numbers By George E. Mundy Ad Index Revised Article 9 of Uniform 6 74 Commercial Code Adopted By Dana Smith Kull From the Director Classifieds 22 Lawyers: Honorable Professionals 74 By Cliff Brashier Board of Governors Meets at Pinehurst 7 By Robin E. Dahlen Fiction 28 From the YLD President The Year in Review The House By S. Kendall Butterworth By Stephen L. Berry 43 66 Georgia Trial Reporter 44 Bench & Bar 45 Who’s Where 48 Voluntary Bars Douglas County Bar Association Promotes Education 8 By Peggy H. Walker 50 12 JUNE 2001 5 by individual effort. However, we are STRENGTH IN NUMBERS all committed to improving the justice system and our profession. While many lawyers volunteer and go beyond the call of duty, I have con- cluded that the combined resources of 31,000 Georgia lawyers are necessary The challenge of providing to enable the State Bar of Georgia to competent, qualified and ethical legal maintain the highest quality of service service to the public cannot be to our membership and the public. secured simply through the good The diversity of our membership efforts of lawyers who are “joiners” is a strength. Although we all individu- and who voluntarily reach out beyond ally hold different opinions and beliefs, the boundaries of their practice. As a there are core values that bind us unified, integrated bar, our Georgia together as a professional community. By George E. Mundy lawyers produce an enormous pool of Serving our legal system demands diverse views and talents within the extraordinary effort from all our he State Bar of Georgia context of a shared set of core values. lawyers. Individual rights, freedoms became a unified, integrated While there are many dedicated and and diverse views can be preserved, Bar in 1964, and the path to but in the context of standing together unificationT took almost 40 years. to preserve the core values upon which Forming a mandatory association of our justice system rests. lawyers was a formidable challenge The diversity of our Together, we have the resources considering the process of unifica- to present a strong voice that cannot tion in Georgia was lengthy. Since membership is a be ignored and hopefully attracts and there remain today a minority of utilizes the creative energy of a large states that do not mandate bar strength. Although we all group striving to effectively repre- association membership, it comes as individually hold different sent the profession. no surprise that reasonable people The State Bar of Georgia is not can differ on this subject. opinions and beliefs, just an organization that we are In fact, many question