Alabama Case Commentaries

De Novo Review of Ambiguously Marked “Logo Ballots” in Alabama Election Contests

Date: Sep 9, 2026

De Novo Review of Ambiguously Marked “Logo Ballots” in Alabama Election Contests 1. Introduction Maxwell “Mike” Blackmon v. Randy Brock (Appeal from Conecuh Circuit Court: CV-22-6) is an Alabama...

Ecclesiastical-Abstention Is Not Jurisdictional Where Neutral Principles Can Decide Church-Property Deed Validity (and § 10A-17-1.06’s Statement-of-Authority Requirements)

Date: Sep 9, 2026

Ecclesiastical-Abstention Is Not Jurisdictional Where Neutral Principles Can Decide Church-Property Deed Validity (and § 10A-17-1.06’s Statement-of-Authority Requirements) 1. Introduction Cassandra...

Ex parte Escambia County Commission: Statutory Servant Immunity Bars Respondeat Superior Claims Against County Principals

Date: Aug 25, 2026

Ex parte Escambia County Commission: Statutory Servant Immunity Bars Respondeat Superior Claims Against County Principals 1. Introduction In Ex parte Escambia County Commission (Ala. Aug. 21, 2026),...

Rule 60(b) Orders Are Not Appealable When the Trial Court Reserves “Limited Relief” Issues Necessary to Dispose of the Case

Date: Aug 25, 2026

Rule 60(b) Orders Are Not Appealable When the Trial Court Reserves “Limited Relief” Issues Necessary to Dispose of the Case 1. Introduction In Mobile Investments, LLC v. Corporate Pharmacy Services,...

Concurrent Equity Jurisdiction Does Not Eliminate Circuit-Court Superintendence: Mandamus Remains Available Against Jefferson Probate Court

Date: Aug 25, 2026

Concurrent Equity Jurisdiction Does Not Eliminate Circuit-Court Superintendence: Mandamus Remains Available Against Jefferson Probate Court Introduction In I. Ripon Britton, Jr., and Gregory H....

Interlocutory Default Judgments Moot (Rather Than Deny) Pending Motions to Compel Arbitration and Remain Nonappealable Until Damages Are Assessed

Date: Aug 25, 2026

Interlocutory Default Judgments Moot (Rather Than Deny) Pending Motions to Compel Arbitration and Remain Nonappealable Until Damages Are Assessed Case: Ivy Fund Manager, LLC v. CDH Real Estate...

Limited “Sharing” Protective Orders Are Permissible Under Alabama Rule 26—But Must Be Case-Specific, Jurisdiction-Binding, and Return/Destroy-Coordinated

Date: Aug 21, 2026

Limited “Sharing” Protective Orders Are Permissible Under Alabama Rule 26—But Must Be Case-Specific, Jurisdiction-Binding, and Return/Destroy-Coordinated Case: Ex parte State Farm Fire and Casualty...

Mandamus Compels Lift of Stay for Insurer Duty-to-Defend Declaratory Judgment While Allowing Continued Stay on Indemnity Issues

Date: Aug 11, 2026

Mandamus Compels Lift of Stay for Insurer Duty-to-Defend Declaratory Judgment While Allowing Continued Stay on Indemnity Issues 1. Introduction In Ex parte Association of County Commissions of...

Writ Quashed with Horsley Disclaimer: No Implied Endorsement of Lower-Court Reasoning in an Abandonment-Based TPR Appeal

Date: Jul 15, 2026

Writ Quashed with Horsley Disclaimer: No Implied Endorsement of Lower-Court Reasoning in an Abandonment-Based TPR Appeal 1. Introduction In Ex parte M.P. (Ala. July 10, 2026), the Supreme Court of...

Acceptance of Liability Under a Municipal Traffic-Camera Ordinance Moots Later Declaratory/Injunctive Challenges, While Independent Tort Claims Survive

Date: Jul 5, 2026

Acceptance of Liability Under a Municipal Traffic-Camera Ordinance Moots Later Declaratory/Injunctive Challenges, While Independent Tort Claims Survive Case: Ex parte City of Tuskegee et al. & Ex...

Spencer v. Vapor Technology Association — The TCA “Preservation Sandwich” Shields State ENDS Sales Restrictions (and Health-and-Safety Findings Can Justify Foreign-Origin Limits) at the Preliminary-Injunction Stage

Date: Jul 5, 2026

Spencer v. Vapor Technology Association — The TCA “Preservation Sandwich” Shields State ENDS Sales Restrictions (and Health-and-Safety Findings Can Justify Foreign-Origin Limits) at the...

Street-Defect Municipal Liability Requires Admissible, Defect-Specific Proof of Prior Notice Under § 11-47-190

Date: Jul 5, 2026

Street-Defect Municipal Liability Requires Admissible, Defect-Specific Proof of Prior Notice Under § 11-47-190 Case: Ex parte City of Birmingham (In re: Demarco Stoudmire v. City of Birmingham),...

Moore v. Capesius — Oral-Examination Right Must Be Honored Before Discharging a Garnishee; Attorney-Signed Corporate Garnishment Answer May Substantially Comply with § 6-6-451

Date: Jun 30, 2026

Oral-Examination Right Must Be Honored Before Discharging a Garnishee; Attorney-Signed Corporate Garnishment Answer May Substantially Comply with § 6-6-451 I. Introduction Moore v. Capesius (Supreme...

Licensed-But-Misclassified Contractors: Alabama Declines to Void Contracts Absent True Nonlicensure and Reaffirms “Substantial Compliance”

Date: Jun 23, 2026

Licensed-But-Misclassified Contractors: Alabama Declines to Void Contracts Absent True Nonlicensure and Reaffirms “Substantial Compliance” I. Introduction In Construction Services, LLC v....

Interpleader to Adjudicate State-University Hospital Liens Is Not Barred by § 14 State Immunity (Ala.)

Date: Jun 14, 2026

Interpleader to Adjudicate State-University Hospital Liens Is Not Barred by § 14 State Immunity (Ala.) Case: Wood v. Health Care Authority for Baptist Health Court: Supreme Court of Alabama Date:...

Parker v. The Bank of New York Mellon — Complaint Naming Only Deceased Defendants Is Void Ab Initio and Cannot Be Cured by Amendment

Date: May 21, 2026

Complaint Naming Only Deceased Defendants Is Void Ab Initio and Cannot Be Cured by Amendment or Substitution (Even in Post-Foreclosure Ejectment) Introduction In Parker v. The Bank of New York Mellon...

U.S. Bank Trust Nat’l Ass’n v. Bonilla — Wantonness Requires a Jury Where State of Mind Is Disputed; New Postjudgment Legal Theories Need Not Be Entertained

Date: May 21, 2026

Wantonness Requires a Jury Where State of Mind Is Disputed; New Postjudgment Legal Theories Need Not Be Entertained 1. Introduction U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as trustee of the Igloo...

Ex parte Spencer: HFOA Sentencing Discretion Cannot Be Nullified by Pharmacy-Robbery Parole-Ineligibility Language

Date: May 20, 2026

Ex parte Spencer: HFOA Sentencing Discretion Cannot Be Nullified by Pharmacy-Robbery Parole-Ineligibility Language Court: Supreme Court of Alabama Date: May 15, 2026 Case: Ex parte Altonio Spencer...

Unsworn Estate-Removal Petitions Do Not Divest Probate Jurisdiction: Intervening Circuit Orders Are Void and Not Retroactively Cured

Date: May 20, 2026

Unsworn Estate-Removal Petitions Do Not Divest Probate Jurisdiction: Intervening Circuit Orders Are Void and Not Retroactively Cured 1. Introduction Case: Thomas v. Thomas (SC-2025-0804), Supreme...

Wilder v. City of Hoover: Lujan Standing Bars Claims Against a Public Board Absent Causation, and a Board Cannot Displace the Mayor’s Statutory Appointment Power

Date: May 20, 2026

Wilder v. City of Hoover: Lujan Standing Bars Claims Against a Public Board Absent Causation, and a Board Cannot Displace the Mayor’s Statutory Appointment Power 1. Introduction In Wilder v. The City...