Title: STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. TAYLOR
Citation: 2011 OK 5
Docket Number: 
State: Oklahoma
Issuer: Oklahoma Supreme Court
Date: January 24, 2011

STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. TAYLOR Annotate this Case STATE ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. TAYLOR 2011 OK 5 Case Number: SCBD-5716 Decided: 01/24/2011 THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA FOR PUBLICATION IN OBJ ONLY. NOT RELEASED FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION. State ex rel. Oklahoma Bar Association, Complainant, v. Michael C. Taylor, OBA # 8877, Respondent. ORDER OF IMMEDIATE INTERIM SUSPENSION ¶1 A Complaint and Application for Immediate Interim Suspension has been forwarded to this Court by Complainant, Oklahoma Bar Association Office of General Counsel. The complaint alleges mishandling of client funds held in the client trust account of Respondent, Michael C. Taylor, in violation of the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct Okla. Stat. tit. 5, ch. 1, app. 3-A (2001 & Supp. 2010). Complainant asserts that Respondent's conduct poses an immediate threat of substantial and irreparable public harm requiring his immediate suspension from the practice of law. Additionally, Complainant seeks an order prohibiting Respondent from withdrawing funds from his client trust account(s) until an audit may be performed. Respondent has answered and denies misconduct, requests that no order of interim suspension be issued, and further requests that this Court instead "select the preferred manner of oversight of the trust account until all the evidence [concerning misconduct] can be heard." Respondent is hereby suspended from the practice of law effective immediately. This interim suspension shall remain in place pending an opinion from this Court which determines the appropriate final discipline to be imposed. Pursuant to Rule 9.1, Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings, Okla. Stat. tit. 5, ch. 1, app. 1-A , Respondent shall notify all his clients having legal business pending with him within twenty days by certified mail, of his inability to represent them and of the need for promptly retaining new counsel. He is directed to comply with all other requirements of Rule 9.1. Respondent is hereby prohibited from withdrawing funds from his client trust account(s). He is directed to show cause within ten days from the date of this order why the prohibition should not remain in effect and why this Court should not permit an audit of Respondent's trust account(s) to be performed by Complainant. This Court hereby authorizes Complainant to freeze any client trust accounts held by Respondent pending further order of this Court and directs any financial institution which maintains such accounts on behalf of Respondent to immediately comply with this order. DONE BY ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT IN CONFERENCE this 24th day of January, 2011. /S/CHIEF JUSTICE CONCUR: Taylor, C.J.; Colbert, V.C.J.; Kauger, Watt, Winchester, Edmondson, Reif, Combs, JJ.