Bad Bet

The Nevada Supreme Court has imposed a six-month suspension of an attorney

Starr has admitted to the facts and violations as part of the guilty plea agreement. The record therefore establishes that while employed by his previous law firm, Starr failed to keep the firm and a corporate client apprised of Starr’s progress in obtaining state licensing for the client to become a sports betting vendor or marketing affiliate. Starr further lied about gaming license applications and approvals in different states and provided the firm and the client with fictitious gaming license documents purportedly granting approval from governmental authorities in various jurisdictions.

Sanction

we suspend attorney Mark Robert Starr from the practice of law for 6 months commencing from the date of this order, followed by a 24-month probationary period subject to the conditions outlined in the conditional guilty plea agreement. Those conditions include that Starr continue to seek and fully participate in psychiatric and mental health treatment; that Starr obtain an attorney mentor approved by the State Bar; that Starr meet monthly with the attorney mentor regarding general legal practice management, fiduciary responsibilities to clients, trust account management, and work-life balance; that the approved attorney mentor timely provide quarterly reports to the State; and that Starr engage in no additional professional misconduct following the date of this order that results in a screening panel recommending new disciplinary charges be filed.

The case is IN THE MATTER OF DISCIPLINE OF MARK ROBERT STARR, BAR NO. 14765 (December 11, 2024) (Mike Frisch)