BENTONVILLE — The former city attorney for Rogers was fined and reprimanded Friday for his actions by the Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct.
Ben Lipscomb must pay a $4,000 fine and $100 case costs, according to findings issued by the committee. Lipscomb and his attorney entered into discussions with the executive director of the committee which resulted in an agreement to the punishment.
The committee found that Lipscomb was ineligible to hold the elected position in Rogers after May 2011 because Lipscomb no longer lived in the city. According to the committee's findings, Lipscomb accepted and received approximately $500,000 in gross salary and benefits which were public funds to which he was not legally entitled.
The committee found that Lipscomb violated rules by:
• Suing his sole client in November 2014 in federal court which was described as a conflict of interest.
• Using information gained from being city attorney against the city which was to the disadvantage of the city.
• Using a Rogers city employee under his direct supervision to prepare court pleadings in his case against the city and other documents for Lipscomb’s personal business.
• Voting in a Rogers city voting precinct in which he did not reside in the Sept. 13, 2011 election.
Lipscomb agreed to resign from office under a settlement he reached with the city in Jan. 2015. He received $253,222.49 from the city.