TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Jul 28, 2021

Knox County lawyer James William Friauf received a public censure today from the Tennessee Supreme Court. Friauf was retained to prosecute an employment action and a written fee agreement was executed by his client. The agreement allowed Friauf to charge an undisclosed hourly rate if he chose to withdraw from representation. During an unsuccessful mediation, Friauf used the fee agreement to pressure his client to settle his action; demanded payment of $63,261.46 in attorney fees at an hourly rate not previously agreed to; and misrepresented to his client that the Board of Professional Responsibility had ratified his demand for fees and expenses. Friauf agreed to a conditional guilty plea acknowledging his conduct violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 7.1 and 8.4(a)