| Description: |
Robert Jess Taylor-Manning (WSBA No. 21890, admitted 1992) of Richland, WA, was disbarred, effective 2/19/2024, by order of the Washington Supreme Court. Chris Chang acted as disciplinary counsel. Robert Jess Taylor-Manning represented themselves . Seth A. Fine was the hearing officer.
The lawyer’s conduct violated the following Rules of Professional Conduct: 1.3 (Diligence), 1.4 (Communication), 1.5 (Fees), 1.15A (Safeguarding Property), 1.16 (Declining or Terminating Representation), 8.1 (Bar Admission and Disciplinary Matters), 8.4(c) (Dishonesty, Fraud, Deceit or Misrepresentation), 8.4(l) (Violating a Duty or Sanction Imposed by or under the Rules for Enforcement of Lawyer Conduct in Connection with a Disciplinary Matter.)
Taylor-Manning was found to have violated the Rules of Professional Conduct by 1) failing to act with reasonable diligence and promptness during the representation of clients; 2) failing to keep clients reasonably informed about the status of their matter, and/or failing to promptly comply with reasonable requests for information; 3) collecting an unreasonable fee from clients; 4) removing the advanced fees from trust prior to earning them and/or failing to provide reasonable notice to a client prior to removal; 5) failing to refund the portion of clients’ unearned advance fee deposit after the clients terminated Taylor-Manning’s services; 6) making a false statement in a deposition taken in a disciplinary investigation, 7) failing to promptly provide a response to disciplinary counsel’s requests for a response to the grievance; 8) failing to act with reasonable diligence and promptness during the representation of clients.
Decision documents: Hearing Officer’s Decision; Disciplinary Board Order Declining Sua Sponte Review and Adopting Hearing Officer’s Decision; and Washington Supreme Court Order.
|