The Arkansas Supreme Court today affirmed a 90-day suspension and $10,000 fine of Hot Springs lawyer John Skylar Tapp for misconduct in a paternity case.
Tapp, according to the opinion, first agreed and took a fee to represent a woman seeking to establish paternity, but she changed lawyers after Tapp had learned details of the case. He refunded most of the payment. He later was hired to represent the man being sued and disputed unsuccessfully a motion that he disqualify for a conflict of interest.
He didn’t contest the findings of the Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct that he had violated ethics rules. But he said the license suspension was excessive. The court said the punishment was within the bounds for “serious misconduct” and deceit or misrepresentation were grounds for such a finding. The Supreme Court noted that Tapp had a lengthy disciplinary record, with six cautions, a warning and six reprimands for various lapses. Given the finding of serious misconduct and a disciplinary record that “demonstrates a substantial disregard of his professional duties, we do not agree with Tapp’s contention that a suspension is unduly harsh under the facts of this case,” the Supreme Court said.