(a) Complaints and Testimony
Complaints submitted pursuant to these Rules or testimony with respect thereto shall be absolutely privileged, and no lawsuit predicated thereon may be instituted.

(b) Official Duty Immunity
Members of the following shall be immune from suit for any conduct in the course of their official duties:
(1) the Executive Committee of the Alabama State Bar;
(2) the Disciplinary Commission;
(3) the Disciplinary Board;
(4) the General Counsel and the staff of the Office of the General Counsel;
(5) Local grievance committees and any executive committee or member of a local bar association while serving as a part of the local grievance process;
(6) a Bar Commissioner while participating in the grievance procedure;
(7) The Board of Disciplinary Appeals;
(8) The Prediscipline Diversion Board;
(9) A Disciplinary Hearing Officer; and
(10) The Disciplinary Clerk.

In addition, any financial institution reporting an overdraft of a lawyer's trust account pursuant to the provisions of Rule 1.15(e) of the Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct shall be immune from suit for any conduct in the course of its official duties in complying with Rule 1.15.

(c) Reporting of Professional Misconduct
A lawyer acting in compliance with Rule 8.3, Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct shall be immune from civil suit.

(d) Unauthorized Practice of Law
Members of the Alabama State Bar serving on the Alabama State Bar Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee or on Unauthorized Practice of Law Comminees of local bar associations and members of the State Bar staff investigating unauthorized practice of law complaints, or taking action against individuals for the unauthorized practice of law, shall be immune from civil suit for any conduct in the course of their official duties. A person submitting an unauthorized practice of law complaint to the Alabama State Bar shall be immune from civil suit. (Amended effective October 9, 1991.)

“Note from the reporter of decisions: The order amending Rule 15(b), effective August 1, 2000, is published in that volume of Alabama Reporter that contains Alabama cases from ____So.2d.”

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