In the Matter of Andrew David Taylor

841 S.E.2d 661, 308 Ga. 490

• Court: Supreme Court of Georgia
• Decided: April 6, 2020
• Docket: S20Y0815
• Status: Published

Opinion

308 Ga. 490 FINAL COPY

S20Y0815. IN THE MATTER OF ANDREW DAVID TAYLOR.

PER CURIAM.

This reciprocal discipline matter is before the Court on the

State Disciplinary Review Board’s February 3, 2020 report and

recommendation that this Court disbar Andrew David Taylor (State

Bar No. 940522) from the practice of law in Georgia. See Georgia

Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 9.4 (b). The reciprocal

proceeding arises from Taylor’s disbarment from the practice of law

in Nevada. The State Bar of Georgia properly served Taylor with a

notice of reciprocal discipline, see Bar Rule 4-203.1, but he failed to

acknowledge service and did not file any response or objection to the

imposition of reciprocal discipline.

Taylor was admitted to practice law in Nevada in 2004 and has

been a member of the State Bar of Georgia since 2009. On July 5,

2019, he was disbarred from the practice of law in Nevada by the

Supreme Court of Nevada. The Nevada Court determined that Taylor misappropriated more than one million dollars of clients’

funds, commingled personal funds with clients’ funds, and opened

numerous law firms with different trust and operating accounts to

mislead the Nevada Bar and his clients, in violation of multiple

disciplinary rules. In addition, the Nevada Court determined that

Taylor entered into litigation-advancement loan agreements on

behalf of his clients without their knowledge or consent, used the

funds for his personal and business expenses, and failed to repay

many of the loans. The Nevada Court also determined that in

responding to the disciplinary matters, Taylor failed to comply with

reasonable requests for information from the Nevada Bar and made

false statements of material fact to the Nevada Bar.

Based on a review of the disciplinary procedures and rules in

Nevada and the corresponding disciplinary procedures and rules in

Georgia, the Review Board concluded that disbarment is an

appropriate level of discipline in Georgia for similar misconduct and

found no basis for recommending anything other than substantially

similar discipline. See Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 9.4 (b) (3) (i)-(vi). Thus, it recommends that Taylor be disbarred from

the practice of law in Georgia.

Having reviewed the record, we agree with the Review Board

that disbarment is the appropriate sanction in this reciprocal

discipline matter. Accordingly, it is hereby ordered that the name of

Andrew David Taylor be removed from the rolls of persons

authorized to practice law in the State of Georgia. Taylor is

reminded of his duties pursuant to Bar Rule 4-219 (b).

Disbarred. Melton, C. J., Nahmias, P. J., and Blackwell, Boggs, Peterson, Warren, Bethel, and Ellington, JJ., concur.

DECIDED APRIL 6, 2020. Disbarment. Paula J. Frederick, General Counsel State Bar, William D. NeSmith III, Deputy General Counsel State Bar, Jenny K. Mittelman, Andreea N. Morrison, Assistant General Counsel State Bar, for State Bar of Georgia.