Wednesday, November 27, 2019

RSRM Mourns the Passing of Partner Raymond A. Richards, Sr.





Ray Richards, one of the original partners of Rollins, Smalkin, Richards & Mackie, L.L.C., passed away on November 20, 2019 in Berlin, Maryland. 

Mr. Richards was born on November 5, 1927 in Washington D.C., and at the age of 18, enlisted into active service of the United States Army. After his service, Mr. Richards obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore, School of Law. He was admitted to the Bar in July of 1953, and thereafter, joined RSRM, where he practiced for almost 40 years focusing on workers’ compensation and insurance litigation. He was also a member of the Bar Association of Baltimore City, the Bar Association of Baltimore County, the Maryland State and American Bar Associations, and the Association of Insurance Attorneys.

He is survived by two brothers, two children, three grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. A service and celebration of life will be held on January 12, 2020.

Photo Courtesy of Eastern Shore Cremation & Funeral Service.


Monday, November 25, 2019

RSRM Welcomes Horton McCormick!


Horton McCormick graduated cum laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 2018, and graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2015.

While attending law school, Mr. McCormick was a competing member of the National Trial Competition Team, served as a Rule 19 student attorney in the Civil Advocacy Clinic, and was a law clerk in the legal department of the Johns Hopkins Health System. Before joining the firm, Mr. McCormick was a decision writer for the Social Security Administration where he consulted with Administrative Law Judges regarding Social Security Regulations and drafted disability determinations.

Outside of work, Mr. McCormick spends his time reading, volunteering, and playing music. He also enjoys spending time with his friends and family.

Mr. McCormick joined RSRM in October 2019. His practice focuses on general litigation and insurance defense.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Governor Hogan Appoints New Maryland Judges!

Governor Larry Hogan recently appointed new judges to fill several vacancies in both of Maryland’s appellate courts as well as in the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore County and the Circuit Court for Baltimore City.

District Court of Maryland for Baltimore County

            Governor Hogan recently appointed Guido Porcarelli, Bruce Friedman, and Michael Siri to the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore County. Judge Porcarelli received both his B.A. and J.D. from Syracuse University. He has extensive litigation experience and was a partner in the Law Offices of Frank F. Daily, P.A. before being appointed to the bench. Judge Porcarelli was also a member of the Attorney Grievance Commission Peer Review Committee.

            Judge Friedman received his B.A. from The University of Maryland, College Park and his J.D. from The University of Maryland, Francis King Carey School of Law. Prior to his appointment, Judge Friedman was a partner at Winegrad, Hess, Friedman & Levitt, L.L.C. where he focused on debt collection, personal injury, and traffic cases. Judge Friedman also founded Child Support Services, an organization focusing on the collection of delinquent child support.

            Judge Siri also obtained his B.A from The University of Maryland, College Park and his J.D. from The University of Maryland, Francis King Carey School of Law. After law school, Judge Siri clerked for the Honorable M. Brooke Murdock at the Circuit Court for Baltimore City before joining Robinson Woolson, P.A. as an associate focusing on products liability cases. Since 2004, Judge Siri served as a partner at Bowie & Jensen, L.L.C. where he focused on cases dealing with construction law and employment disputes.

Circuit Court for Baltimore City

            On September 25, 2019, Jude Anthony F. Vittoria was appointed to the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. Judge Vittoria received both his B.A. and his J.D. from the University of Virginia and holds a Master’s degree in psychology from The College of William and Mary. Judge Vittoria founded The Vittoria Law Firm where he focused on commercial, construction, and real estate law. Before being appointed to the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Judge Vittoria was an Administrative Law Judge with the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings and served as the Treasurer of the Bar Association of Baltimore City as well as a board member on the Board of Governors of the Maryland State Bar Association.

Maryland Court of Special Appeals

            Governor Hogan also appointed E. Gregory Wells and Steven B. Gould to the Court of Special Appeals, Maryland’s intermediate appellate court. Judge Wells is a native of Washington D.C. and received a Bachelor of Arts in Government from The College of William and Mary and his J.D. from The University of Virginia. Judge Wells served as an associate at O’Malley, Miles, McCarthy & Harrell and was the first African American to serve as the State’s Attorney for Calvert County. Judge Wells also served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Appeals Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General. Prior to being appointed to the Court of Special Appeals, Judge Wells was a County Administrative Judge at the Circuit Court for Calvert County.

            Steven B. Gould was also born in Washington D.C. and received a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Pennsylvania in Economics and his J.D. from The Boston University School of Law, cum laude. Judge Gould is a founding partner of Brown, Gould, Kiely, L.L.P. and is experienced in litigating complex commercial litigation cases. Judge Gould served as the chairperson of the Commercial Litigation Section of the Bar Association of Montgomery County and is active member of Congregation B’nai Tzedek where he acted as general counsel.

Maryland Court of Appeals

            Governor Hogan appointed Brynja M. Booth to the Court of Appeals, Maryland’s highest appellate court. Born in New York, Judge Booth received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Bucknell University and graduated cum laude from Washington and Lee School of Law. Judge Booth was a founding member and shareholder of Booth, Booth, Cropper & Marriner, a civil litigation firm located in Worcester County and was a Town Attorney for several towns on the Eastern Shore until her appointment to the bench. Judge Booth also served as the President of the Maryland Municipal Attorneys' Association.

Congratulations to all.


-Jordan Kramer, Law Clerk