code: private void ensureTaxonomyDoesntExist(Request request) throws ResourceAlreadyExistsException {
          try {
              doGetResourceById(request);
              throw new ResourceAlreadyExistsException(String.format("Taxonomy '%s' already exists.",
                      request.getProperty("name")));
          } catch (ResourceNotFoundException e) {
              // expected case
          }
      }
docs: must be called from within class monitor