Who We Are
John V. Lee
John started his firm in 1993. His practice is the premier landlord-tenant eviction firm in Southwest Alabama.
John graduated from The Florida State University and holds Bachelor and Master’s Degrees with Honors. He attended Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law where he was a member of the Cumberland Law Review. He received his Juris Doctorate Degree in 1978.
John served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Richard Holmes, Alabama Civil Court of Appeals. After completing his clerkship, he joined the law firm of Sirote & Permutt, PC, one of the largest law firms in the state of Alabama. In 1983, he became a stockholder member of the firm.
In 2005 and 2006, John participated in the committee that drafted Alabama’s Uniform Residential Landlord Tenant Act (URLTA) and created the new and current eviction law which became effective on January 1, 2007. In recent years, he has participated in drafting subsequent amendments to the Act.
John is a speaker at The Alabama Judicial College (Judge’s Forum), The Alabama State Bar, The Mobile Bar Association relating to landlord-tenant eviction law continuing legal education. He is the Delegate to the Alabama Apartment Association.
Taft Hughes
Taft Hughes is a lifelong resident of the Mobile and Baldwin County, Alabama area. He began his education at Spring Hill College before earning his Business Administration degree from Auburn University. Taft then attended Vermont Law School, where he obtained both his Juris Doctor and a Master’s degree in Environmental Law and Policy. He returned to his hometown to settle down and start a family.
Professionally, Taft is admitted to practice in all Alabama state courts and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama. He also serves as a Special District Court Judge for civil cases in Mobile County and regularly handles landlord-tenant eviction dockets in both Mobile and Baldwin Counties.
In addition to his legal work, Taft is an active member of the community. He is involved with the Mobile Bar Association, Baldwin County Bar Association, Mobile Lions Club, and the Alabama Apartment Association. He also serves as a board member and legal advisor for the Mobile Bay Area Apartment Association and is a board member of the Alabama Apartment Association. His dedication to his field and community was recognized in 2022 when he was voted "Best of the Bay" by the Mobile Bay Area Apartment Association.
Taylor Acton
Taylor's firm duties include speaking with clients who have pending eviction cases, preparing for trial, legal research, managing the firm's calendar, and communicating with judges, clerk's offices, and sheriff's departments in the eviction process.
Taylor interacts with clients on a daily basis answering questions and relaying pertinent information regarding the statuses of cases. She has been with the firm for over 15 years and enjoys the professional relationships she's formed with each of our management and apartment clients. She is dedicated to ensuring each matter is handled in a timely and efficient manner.
Taylor is a member of The Mobile Bay Area Apartment Association and attends monthly meetings. She enjoys continuing her education in the area of Landlord-Tenant eviction law. She also manages residential rental properties in Mobile and Baldwin Counties. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering in the community with the Junior League of Mobile.
Bethany Madison
Bethany’s firm duties include preparing and filing new suits, communicating with clients and defendants, managing the Mobile and Baldwin County trial dockets, and monitoring the firm’s file tracking system.
During her college years, Bethany worked with the firm as a receptionist and legal assistant. She is now employed full-time as a paralegal. She is excited to be working alongside talented law professionals and is looking forward to developing relationships with area apartment managers.
Bethany is a member of the Alabama Association of Paralegals, which offers continuing education and networking opportunities for paralegals. In her free time, she volunteers with a local animal rescue organization, Krewe de Rescue.