Iowa Supreme Court permanently revokes the license of Decorah attorney David Strand

The Iowa Supreme Court on Friday permanently revoked the license of former Decorah attorney David Strand "because there is sufficient evidence to prove Strand converted client funds."

At issue were Strand's handling of the estate of Shiloh Deal and his representation of Darlyne Hackman.

The Iowa Supreme Court found that Strand kept two $100,000 payments from insurance companies in connection with Deal's estate.  The justices said that while Strand had repaid some of the money, "Of the $200,000 received by Strand from the insurance companies, Strand kept $128,500 for himself."

Strand was fired as the attorney for the estate.  The new attorney asked several times that Strand transfer his files to the new attorney, but Strand did not.  The Supreme Court also ruled that Strand had made "a misrepresentation and an omission" in his response to complaints made to the Supreme Court about the handling of the estate.

In Hackman's case, she had sold real estate for $15,000, but did not receive payment until 10 months later--after she had filed a disciplinary complaint against Strand, to which he did not respond.

In Friday's opinion, the Iowa ruled that "There is convincing evidence in the record to show that Strand converted client funds."  The justices said that finding alone was enough to revoke Strand's license.

Strand has agreed to a plea agreement in which he plead "guilty" to five criminal charges filed against him in the wake of the complaints.  Under the terms of the plea agreement, Strand would enter guilty pleas to four counts of first degree theft and one count of third degree theft.  In exchange for Strand's guilty pleas to the five charges, prosecutors have agreed to recommend to the judge that any sentences imposed on the first three criminal charges would be served concurrently.

However, a presentence investigation ordered in the case was not completed on time, so Strand's sentencing on the criminal charges has been postponed.