Attorney Robert A. Skipworth Faces Disciplinary Complaints in Both Texas and New Mexico
Published on August 25, 2025
El Paso attorney Robert A. Skipworth is the subject of two separate, yet strikingly similar, disciplinary complaints filed in both Texas and New Mexico. The complaints allege a pattern of professional misconduct centered on his representation of homeowners' associations (HOAs), including accusations of filing retaliatory lawsuits, acting without client authority, and engaging in dishonest conduct. Together, they paint a picture of an attorney using his law license not for dispute resolution, but as a tool for intimidation across state lines.
The Core Allegation: Litigation Without Authority
The most serious charge, central to both complaints, is that Mr. Skipworth filed foreclosure lawsuits in New Mexico in direct defiance of his client's instructions. According to the filings, the El Mirador HOA (EMHOA) board formally adopted a policy on July 15, 2024, to not pursue foreclosure unless an account balance exceeded $7,500. Evidence submitted with the complaints, including emails, shows Mr. Skipworth and his office were aware of this policy.
Despite this, on November 21, 2024, he filed two foreclosure lawsuits in Doña Ana County on behalf of the EMHOA for amounts well below the threshold—one for $5,778.44 and another for $3,912.39. This action, the complaints argue, is a direct violation of both Texas Rule 1.02 and New Mexico Rule 16-102, which govern the scope of an attorney's representation and mandate that they abide by a client's decisions.
A Pattern of Retaliation and Deception
The complaints assert that this was not an isolated incident, but part of a broader strategy of retaliatory litigation. The catalyst for the dispute was a homeowner publicly questioning the HOA treasurer's 16-year non-payment of dues. Days later, Mr. Skipworth was retained, and his first invoice included billing for "defamation" research. Emails submitted as evidence show Mr. Skipworth expressing personal animus, writing "I really want to file this one" and "When can I sue this guy?" in reference to the homeowner who raised the initial questions.
The New Mexico complaint further alleges that Mr. Skipworth was complicit in unlawful corporate acts, providing legal counsel for the secret filing of a 16-year-old, procedurally invalid bylaw amendment designed to retroactively justify the treasurer's actions. This, combined with his alleged failure to research New Mexico statutes regarding HOA meetings, forms the basis for a violation of Rule 16-101 (Competence).
To establish a pattern of dishonesty, both complaints point to an incident in Texas where Mr. Skipworth allegedly made a material misrepresentation in writing, claiming to represent a different HOA, Sierra del Sol. This claim was later refuted under oath by his own client, suggesting a violation of Rule 4.01 (Truthfulness in Statements to Others) in Texas and Rule 16-401 in New Mexico.
What's Next?
Both complaints are now pending before their respective disciplinary bodies—the State Bar of Texas and the Disciplinary Board of the New Mexico Supreme Court. These bodies will conduct independent investigations to determine if the evidence supports the allegations of professional misconduct. If violations are found, sanctions can range from private reprimands to the suspension or revocation of Mr. Skipworth's law licenses in both states.
For a complete timeline and to view the evidence submitted with each filing, please see the individual case pages: