People v. Michael J. Tauger. 20PDJ022. April 17, 2020. The Presiding Disciplinary Judge approved the parties’ conditional admission of misconduct and suspended Michael J. Tauger (attorney registration number 01902) for three years, effective May 22, 2020.
Tauger’s law license has been suspended since 2011. In May 2019, Tauger was contacted by a former client about a commission dispute with another brokerage company from the sale of real property. Tauger told the client he was suspended. Nevertheless, the client requested that Tauger review the matter. The client paid Tauger $1,900.00 to review documents and assist him, though no written fee agreement was entered. On several occasions Tauger emailed other parties involved in the matter; these emails included legal analysis, statements about tortious interference, and references to confidential settlement communications. The email address Tauger used included the domain name “taugerlaw.” The other parties believed he was a lawyer representing the client based on the nature and content of his emails. When he was asked directly about his relationship and status, Tauger was vague and stated that he was semi-retired and assisting in the matter. He did not clarify that he was suspended and unable to practice law.
Through this conduct, Tauger violated Colo. RPC 3.4(c) (a lawyer shall not knowingly disobey an obligation under the rules of a tribunal except for an open refusal based on an assertion that no valid obligation exists) and Colo. RPC 5.5(a)(1) (a lawyer shall not practice law without a license, unless otherwise specifically authorized).
The case file is public per C.R.C.P. 251.31.