Richard J. Riley - Birmingham, AL
Attorney at Marsh, Rickard & Bryan
Motion Practice Lawyers in Birmingham, AL
2222 Arlington Ave S Suite 210 Birmingham, AL 35205
- Free Consultation
- 1 Super Lawyers®
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28
Years
Experience
Birmingham Motion Practice Lawyer
Updated: 10/22/2026
Areas of Practice
- Motion Practice
- Appellate
- Post-Trial
- Probate
Attorney Information
Overview
Richard Riley has devoted nearly two decades of practice to helping those suffering from injury and death receive compensation. After opening his own law practice less than two years out of law school, Riley has handled hundreds of appeals and has written thousands of briefs.
Growing up in a small rural community and doing farm and factory work during high school and college, Riley learned the dangers the poor and underprivileged face daily. He believes it is no coincidence that many that benefit from Marsh, Rickard & Bryan's services are those of modest means. "It is the poor and underprivileged that have to use the cheap products, that have to work the dangerous jobs, that have to live in unsafe apartments, and that have no choice but to receive services from the least credentialed professionals. It is no surprise they are the ones getting hurt and killed."
As more and more court matters are handled through written advocacy, Riley's practice is vital to the firm's mission. A lover of literature and storytelling, the thing Riley finds most fulfilling about his role at Marsh, Rickard & Bryan, P.C., is working with a team of premier attorneys and staff to weave the client's tragedy with the law through legal reasoning to give the court a compelling document why the client should prevail. He believes it is our calling to tell these stories. "The public needs to know who is getting hurt and why. And my favorite stories are those where we have helped a victim to rise up, to take control and to return to a dignified life in spite of what has been done to them."
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Best Lawyers, 2026
- National Civil Justice Institute 2021 Appellate Advocacy Award
- Super Lawyers, 2024, 2025, 2026
Other Sources of Feedback About Richard J. Riley
Included on the 2026 Mid-South Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2025 Mid-South Super Lawyers list
- 2024 Mid-South Super Lawyers list
Education
Legal Education
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Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama, 1998
J.D.
Honors: cum laude
Non Legal Education
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Cumberland University, Lebanon, Tennessee, 1995
B.A.
Honors: magna cum laude
Major: Social Science
Current Employment Position(s)
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Partner
Past Positions
- Richard J. Riley, P.C., Attorney, 2010 - 2016
- Riley & Riley, P.C., Attorney, 2003 - 2009
Classes and Seminars
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Business Law, Samford University, 2001 to 2011
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Criminal Law, Samford University, 2001 to 2011
- The Injured and Absent Employee
Representative Cases
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Ghee v. USAble Mut. Ins., __ So.3d __, 2023 WL 2720996 (Ala. Mar. 31, 2023)
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Ex parte Huntsville Emer. Med. Servs., 372 So.3d 538 (Ala. 2022)
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James River Ins. v. Ultratec Special Effects Inc., 22 F.4th 1246 (11th Cir. 2022)
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Ex parte Pinkard, 373 So.3d 192 (Ala. 2022)
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Ex parte Russell, 314 So.3d 192 (Ala. 2020)
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Resurrection of Life Inc. v. Dailey, 311 So.3d 748 (Ala. 2020)
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Williams v. Aguirre, 965 F.3d 1147 (11th Cir. 2020)
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Ex parte Ultratec Special Effects Inc., 296 So.3d 801 (Ala. 2019)
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Ghee v. USAble Mut. Ins., 291 So.3d 465 (Ala. 2019)
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Foster v. Maloney, 785 Fed. App’x 810, 812 (11th Cir. 2019)
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Jackson v. Wal-Mart Stores, 753 Fed. App’x 866 (11th Cir. 2018)
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HealthSouth Rehab. Hosp. v. Honts, 276 So. 3d 185 (Ala. 2018)
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Cooley v. HMR of Alabama Inc., 747 Fed. App’x 805 (11th Cir. 2018)
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Hutchinson v. State, 66 So.3d 220 (Ala. 2010)
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Banks v. State, 845 So.2d 9 (Ala. Crim. App. 2002)
Published Works
Articles
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Riley, et al., The Better Position Rule, Not the Loss of Chance Doctrine, Applies in Alabama Medical Liability Cases, 47 Am. J. Trial Advoc. 259 (2024).
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Richard Riley, Yes, You Can Recover Against a Supervisor, 45 Ala. Ass’n Just. J. 56 (2024).
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Richard Riley, Rule 512A(a) the Banquet of Consequences Following Your Opponent’s Invocation of Privilege, 44 Ala. Ass’n Just. J. 44 (2023).
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Richard Riley, Preserving Fairness When the Defendant Elects to Inform the Jury About A Pro Tanto Settlement, 43 Ala. Ass’n Just. J. 48 (2022).
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Richard Riley, et al., Effective Jury Instructions in Medical Malpractice Cases, 42 Ala. Ass’n Just. J. 48 (2021).
- Richard Riley, Damage Caps Do Not Apply to Healthcare Authorities, 41 Ala. Ass’n Just. J. 63 (2021).
- Richard Riley, The Effect of Inflation on Alabama Wrongful Death Verdicts, 43 Am. J. Trial Advoc. 361 (2020).
- Richard Riley, Get What You Want — Using the Protective Suit to Combat Personal Jurisdiction Attacks (and Keep Your Case in Alabama), 41 Am. J. Trial Advoc. 365 (2017).
Bar Admissions
- Alabama, 1998
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Alabama, 1998
- U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1998
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Alabama, 1998
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Alabama
Other Affiliations
- Alabama Bar Association, Member, 1998 to Present
- Birmingham Bar Association, Member, 1998 to Present
- Alabama Rules of Appellate Procedure Committee, 2020 to Present
Photo
Videos
Contact
2222 Arlington Ave S
Suite 210
Birmingham, AL 35205
Phone Number: 205-794-0088
Fax Number: 205-879-1986
Email: Send a message
Hours: Mon - Fri: 8am – 5pm
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