(1930 - 2013)
Richard Grand was known by many names with Sentimental Richard, Tucsons Million-Dollar Mouthpiece, and The Word Merchant being a few.
In 1962, Richard lost two jury trials in one week. The unrelated cases both involved women who suffered injuries when their high-heeled shoes caused them to trip and fall. He never took another high-heel case and never lost another jury trial. In 1971, Richard won a verdict of $1.1 million in a traffic accident case in Tucson. In 1972, he won what was then the largest personal injury award to a single plaintiff in American history a $3.5 million verdict for a man burned in an accident. In 1983, Richard represented actress Mary Martin who was injured in a San Francisco taxi collision. But Richard was probably best known for his 1983 representation of Roy Garcia, a Tucson policeman who was severely injured when he was accidentally shot by another policeman. The $3.6 million verdict made national news and led to Richard being interviewed by Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes.
Richard could be pretty funny when he wanted. In 1982 he was the recipient of the Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary Watermelon Loony-Entertainer Award. He also participated in their seed spitting contest - and won!
It was after his 1972 verdict that Richard founded the Inner Circle. After Marcia, his wife of 62 years, the Circle became the major and most important thing in his life. Richard's lifelong efforts at preserving excellence in our craft by founding the Inner Circle will be his enduring legacy. Richard served as President of the Inner Circle from its inception in 1972 through 1975.
