IOWA
WCF Courier
By PAT KINNEY, pat.kinney@wcfcourier.com
WATERLOO, Iowa — A prominent local attorney with a long history of community and professional success had died.
Tom Staack, a partner in the Dutton Braun Staack Hellman & Iversen law firm in Waterloo, died Monday after a short battle with aggressive pancreatic cancer, according to friends and colleagues. He was 65.
“He was recognized by his peers as one of the very best trial lawyers in the state of Iowa,” said law partner Dave Dutton. “He pursued justice with determination that was quite amazing to watch and be a part of. And he pursued his community affairs with the same passion, the same commitment.” …
In the legal arena, Staack and attorney Chad Swanson of the Dutton firm represented many clergy sex abuse victims in legal actions against the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque. The archdiocese paid out more than $12.3 million to 47 victims over the three settlements from 2006-08 plus counseling and a public archdiocesan apology to victims.
“He gave the victims their voice and gave them a chance at healing,” said Steve Theisen of Hudson, of the Iowa chapter of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests.
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