Workers’ compensation defense firm Bradford & Barthel announced that original co-founder David Grant died Oct. 12 in Alta Loma.

David Grant

Grant helped found the law firm in 1997 and contributed to its growth to 13 offices throughout California. He retired in June 2014.

"David was an excellent attorney who knew the law and how to apply it to get the best results for his clients,” founding partner Don Barthel said in a statement. “He was respected by all sides. He also acted as a mentor to younger attorneys.”

Prior to his legal career, Grant spent four years in the U.S. Navy as a seaman. Following that, he was a California Highway Patrol officer for nine years.

He was an avid woodworker and loved working on antique cars and attending car shows. Grant was also a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Mark Fletcher, the firm's managing partner, said Grant was a great defense attorney, a mentor and a friend. Fariba Jafary, a senior partner and manager of the Ontario office where Grant was based, said, “David was not only my mentor, but a father figure to all of us at B&B, Ontario.”