BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2019)
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BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE
SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE
10 CADILLAC DRIVE, SUITE 220
BRENTWOOD, TENNESSEE 37027
TELEPHONE: (615) 361-7500
(800) 486-5714
FAX: (615) 367-2480
E-MAIL: ethics@tbpr.org
Website: www.tbpr.org
RELEASE OF INFORMATION
RE: ELIZABETH ANN SHIPLEY, BPR #32721
CONTACT: STEVEN J. CHRISTOPHER
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
July 16, 2019
PUTMAN COUNTY LAWYER CENSURED
On July 16, 2019, Elizabeth Ann Shipley, an attorney licensed to practice law in Tennessee, received a
Public Censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
This public censure arose out of two disciplinary complaints brought against Ms. Shipley. In the first
disciplinary complaint, Ms. Shipley was tardy in the payment of restitution to a former client which had been
made a condition of an earlier public censure.
The second disciplinary complaint arose out of an overdraft on Ms. Shipleyâs trust account. On October
22, 2018, Ms. Shipley received $500 from clients in connection with a custody case. The funds were for the
pre-payment of the clientsâ portion of attorney fees to the court appointed guardian ad litem. Ms. Shipley
initially deposited the funds into escrow, but later transferred them to her operating account. On December 3,
2018, Ms. Shipley instructed her assistant to forward the funds to the Court Clerkâs Office but failed to specify
that the funds were no longer in escrow. Ms. Shipleyâs assistant issued a check to the Court Clerkâs Office on
the trust account, resulting in the overdraft.
By these acts, Elizabeth Ann Shipley has violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15 (safeguarding
client property) and 8.4(d) (conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice) and is hereby Publicly Censured
for these violations.
A Public Censure is a rebuke and warning to the attorney, but it does not affect the attorneyâs ability to
practice law.
Shipley 55081-4; 59310n-4 rel.doc