James Harvey Tipler - #80748

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February 15, 2008

JAMES HARVEY TIPLER [#80748], 57, of Mary Esther, Fla. was suspended for three years, stayed, placed on three years of probation with an actual 15-month suspension and was ordered to take the MPRE, comply with rule 9.20 and prove his rehabilitation. The order took effect Feb. 15, 2008.

Tipler stipulated to five acts of misconduct in three matters.

In 2001, he was convicted in Alabama of interfering with judicial proceedings, a misdemeanor. While representing the plaintiff in a medical malpractice case, he tried to offer a videotape into evidence, creating the impression that the tape was in its original unedited condition. In fact it had been edited, although Tipler said the edited portions were inconsequential.

As a result of the conviction, Tipler was sentenced to pay a $1,000 fine and $100 to a victim’s compensation fund.

In another matter, he was suspended from practice in Alabama the same year and was ordered to deposit $487,714.80 into a specified trust account. The money was for payment of a contingency fee alleged to be due to another law firm in a wrongful death action. Tipler did not deposit the money.

In 2005, Tipler was suspended in Alabama for engaging in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice and conduct that adversely reflects on fitness to practice law. While representing a dancer at a strip club on a charge of aggravated assault, he charged the client a fee of $2,300 and entered into an agreement with her that she would receive a $200 credit every time she had sex with him and $400 if she arranged for other women to have sex with him.

Tipler had a previous discipline record in Alabama and Florida.