Dick Tieszen
Richard P. Tieszen is the managing member of Tieszen Law Office, Prof. LLC. He is a 1975 graduate of Black Hills State and thereafter obtained his juris doctorate degree, cum laude, from the University of South Dakota Law School in 1979 as a Thomas Sterling Honor Society Award graduate. Richard was admitted to practice in South Dakota in 1979. He had the honor of clerking for Judge Robert A. Miller, who was then the presiding judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court in Pierre, South Dakota.
Richard began his private practice career as a trial lawyer, primarily in the area of criminal defense and plaintiff trial work. In 1986, Tieszen left private practice to serve in the capacity of South Dakota Chief Deputy Attorney General, under Attorney General Roger Tellinghuisen. In December 1989, Tieszen formed the firm of Tieszen Law Office.
In addition to the state courts of South Dakota, Tieszen is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota, the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.
Tieszen has received the highest possible peer review rating in legal ability and ethical standards from the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review. His law practice, which includes considerable trial work, encompasses insurance defense, gaming law, administrative law, education law, environmental law, and business/corporate law. Since 1984, Tieszen has represented a major insurer and other nationwide business entities as South Dakota state retained counsel.
Tieszen Law Office, Prof. LLC, represents the City of Fort Pierre, and defends school districts in litigation throughout the state of South Dakota. The firm has formerly served as counsel to the South Dakota Petroleum Release Compensation Fund for nine years doing environmental law.
Tieszen has lobbied in the State legislative arena for 38 years representing many interests, presently including a major insurer, the South Dakota Sheriff's Association, Waste Management of South Dakota, Inc., Associated School Boards of South Dakota, and Pharmaceutical Care Management Association. The firm has represented interests in the area of public policy including gaming, pharmaceutical industry and many others including technical education in South Dakota.
He and his wife, Kay Thompson-Tieszen, raised two sons: Ryker, who is a trust officer at Aegis Custody in Pierre, SD, and Kyler, who is the owner of Tieszen Electrical of Pierre, SD.