David E. Schrock

Attorney

Smith Mills Law Color Bar_25%.png

Dave is a senior attorney with the firm and chairs the firm’s litigation, municipal law and nursing home law practice groups.  

Dave focuses his practice on insurance defense, the defense of government and municipal entities, civil rights litigants, workers’ compensation clients, and nursing homes and assisted living facilities. He has represented hundreds of clients through numerous insurance carriers for more than 30 years in negligence, construction liability, premises liability, automobile accident litigation, and wrongful death claims.  

Dave assists and advises numerous cities, counties and police agencies across the state of Iowa, in both state and federal courts, on civil rights, police and municipal law and employment law matters. He has represented more police agencies than any other attorney in the state, having represented nearly 50 law enforcement entities across the state of Iowa.

Dave frequently presents on topics such as police and municipal liability, workers’ compensation and employment law topics, and has been published in national law journals on topics involving constitutional law and police liability. He has argued numerous cases in the Iowa appellate courts, as well as in the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

  • Municipal Defence
  • Government Compliance & Internal Investigations
  • Trucking, Railroad & General Transportation
  • Civil Trial Practice
  • Family Law
  • Legal Mediation

LICENSURE

Dave practices in Iowa state and administrative courts and the federal courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa. He has also appeared on appellate matters before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Dave is also an honorary Iowa Sheriffs’ and Deputies’ Association member. He is a member of DRI (Governmental Liability, Medical Liability and Healthcare Law, and Small Law Firm Network Communities) and the Iowa Defense Counsel Association.

EDUCATION

University of Iowa College of Law, J.D.
University of Iowa, B.A.

PUBLICATIONS

“Old-School Analysis of New-School Technology: Supreme Court Prohibits Warrantless GPS Tracking in United States v. Jones,” DRI For the Defense, December 2012

“Super-Holder in Due Course Protection of FDIC Extended: Kilpatrick v. Riddle Bars Investors’ Federal Securities Fraud Claims under the D’Oench- Duhme Doctrine,” Journal of Corporation Law, Winter 1992

SEMINARS

Presenter, “First Amendment Audits: Law Enforcement in the Fishbowl,” – Iowa Sheriffs’ and Deputies’ Association Winter School, December 2021

Presenter, “Law Enforcement and Jail Liability Update,” – Iowa Sheriffs’ and Deputies’ Association civil school, summer 2019

Presenter, “Defending Use of Force Claims and Police Pursuits,” – Police Liability Seminar, July 2018

Presenter, Selected Topics in Iowa Municipal Law, Open Records Law, and Case and Legislative Updates, - Smith Mills and Schrock Law Firm annual municipal law seminar, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017

Presenter, Selected Topics in Law Enforcement Liability – Burlington Police Department and local law enforcement agencies, summer 2014/2015

Moderator and presenter, “Walking the Tightrope: Avoid 4th Amendment Traps,” and “Case Update and Recent Decisions in Police Liability Law”– Police Liability Seminar, November 2014

Moderator and presenter, “Open Meetings and Open Records Update: Practical Considerations and Pitfalls,” – Smith, Mills & Schrock's Annual Municipal and Governmental Law Seminar, October 2014

Presenter, “Protect Your Claim File,” – Smith, Mills & Schrock's Annual Workers’ Compensation Seminar, April 2014

Presenter, “Defense of Section 1983 Liability Claims,” – Police Liability Seminar, April 2013

Panel Discussion, “Trends, Liabilities, and Claims in Police Liability,” – Police Liability Seminar, April 2013

Presenter, “Recent Developments in Iowa Workers’ Compensation Law,” – Smith, Mills & Schrock's Annual Workers’ Compensation Seminar, April 2013

Presenter, “Liability Issues re Iowa Roadways,” Iowa County Engineers Association, December 2012

Presenter, “Significant Changes in Iowa Workers’ Compensation Legislation, Rule Making and Case Law,” – Smith, Mills & Schrock's Annual Worker’s Compensation Seminar, April 2012

Presenter, “Emerging Issues in Cyber Liability Law,” – Iowa Communities Assurance Pool Agent Seminar, November 2011

Presenter, “Independent Contractors: What Employers Need to Know,” – Employment Law Seminar, October 2011

Please contact me for a complete list of publications and seminars.

When Dave is not in the office, he can usually be found outdoors, road cycling, fat biking, skiing or kayaking. He and his wife and four children love the Minnesota Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, backpacking and exploring the national parks. In the fall, Dave can usually be found cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium and the Central Michigan Chippewas, where his daughter plays volleyball.  He is active in volleyball, officiating Iowa High School volleyball and USAV club volleyball.

Dave is a former City of Ely's Parks and Recreation Commission member, the Aiming for a Cure Foundation committee, and a volunteer with Junior Achievement and the United Way. He is a past board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Cedar Rapids and the Linn-Mar Schools Foundation and is a supporter of the Mount Vernon High School Foundation.

Newsletter Sign-up

Get latest news and information from Smith Mills Law

Click Here to Sign-up