Leslie Hayes Russo (1955-2010)

In Loving Memory of Leslie Hayes Russo
Founding Partner
1955-2010

Leslie Hayes Russo was a founding partner of Otway Russo, LLP., the predecessor firm to Otway, Russo & Rommel, P. C. Her practice focused on serious personal injury, medical malpractice, product liability actions and appeals to state and federal courts. Ms. Russo received her law degree in 1986 from the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. where she was a member of the law review and was selected as commencement speaker for her graduating class.

Ms. Russo previously served as legislative assistant and speech writer to United States Senator Patrick J. Leahy. Before joining Otway Russo, LLP she served as law clerk to Judge Theodore G. Bloom of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals (retired).

Ms. Russo was on the Board of Governors of the Maryland Association for Justice (MAJ) and served on its Amicus and Publications Committees. She was Assistant Editor of the Trial Reporter, MAJ’s scholarly publication. Ms. Russo was also a member of MAJ’s Legislative Committee. She was appointed a Fellow of the Maryland Bar Foundation. She was a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, the Wicomico County Bar Association and the Anne Arundel County Bar Association and was admitted to practice in other jurisdictions in connection with major appeals. She contributed to amicus curiae briefs on behalf of MAJ in connection with landmark decisions of the Courts of Appeal, including Rivera v. Edmonds. She was a frequent lecturer on the subjects of appellate advocacy and product liability. She was appointed to the statewide Joint Commission on Juries.

Ms. Russo handled numerous appeals to Maryland’s appellate courts and wrote and lectured on appellate advocacy.

Ms. Russo was the author of numerous publications. Her writing focused on issues of trial and appellate advocacy and liability for defective products. She was the co-author of Maryland’s leading volume on the law related to personal injury cases based on defective products (product liability). Among her other publications are “MARYLAND PRODUCT LIABILITY LAW” (MICPEL 2d Ed. 2004); “Final Judgments and Interlocutory Appeals,” APPELLATE PRACTICE FOR THE MARYLAND LAWYER: STATE AND FEDERAL (1st and 2nd eds. MICPEL), and various articles in The Maryland Association for Justice’s publication, Trial Reporter, including, “Top Ten Appellate Tips,” (Winter 2005); “Arguments Against a Pale Stipulation,” (Fall 2003), “Product Liability Update: Halliday v. Sturm,” (Fall 2001); Product Liability: Ford Motor Sales v. General Accident Insurance,” (Summer 2002); and “Can We Appeal Now?”, Trial Reporter (MTLA, Summer 2000).

Ms. Russo enjoyed writing literature for children, and was the published author of many poems, including “The Cows of Connemara,” CHERUBIC CHILDREN’S NEW CLASSIC STORYBOOK, Vol. I. She served on the Board of Trustees of the Wicomico County Free Library. She is missed by all who knew her.