Attorney Rich Cassady 

After graduation, Rich began his career as a law clerk for the most senior Circuit Court Judge in Mississippi, the Honorable R.I. Prichard, III. During that time, he assisted in handling all types of cases; from a "wrongful life" case to crafting a felony murder rule. He left the judges in 2003 to enter private practice, first in Hattiesburg, and then in Gulfport, Mississippi.

While in private practice Rich concentrated almost exclusively on insurance defense. He also handled a number of successful appeals to the Mississippi Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Mississippi. While this work was professionally rewarding, he eventually realized that representing people was what he wanted to do. This point was driven home in the wake of Hurricane Katrina when he successfully defended local renters against their slumlord landlords looking to evict poor people so they could raise the rent and take advantage of rising rental prices in the wake of the housing shortage.

In May 2006, he moved his family to Franklin, North Carolina. Since moving to Western North Carolina Rich has represented people accused of all sorts of things; from communicating threats, domestic violence (both men and women), DWI, sex offenses, weapons offenses, drug offenses, and murder. He has represented people in tribal court, state court, and federal court. Since 2006, Rich has had 2 federal criminal jury trial acquittals and had another 4 federal indictments dismissed. In March 2020, Rich got a not guilty verdict in Cherokee County for a man accused of First-Degree Murder.

Rich also handles personal injury cases, which he refers to as "balancing his soul," since he used to defend insurance companies, as well as family law cases, such as custody, child support, and divorce.

Rich's life experiences have taught him pride, patience, and perseverance. He was raised in a middle-class family on a union salary and was the first male Cassady to graduate from college, let alone go to law school. He served honorably in the United States Navy for 9 years and made 2 overseas deployments to the Arabian Gulf in support of the first Gulf war.

Rich also has a broad array of legal experience to go along with his life experiences. He has worked extensively with judges, and has seen cases from that perspective. He has represented insurance companies, and has seen cases from that perspective. He has represented people like you, who have either been accused of a crime, sought representation in a family matter, or injured through the negligence of others. He has also handled state and federal appeals and has seen cases from that perspective as well.