BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2025)
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BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE
SUPREME COURT OF TENNESSEE
10 CADILLAC DRIVE, SUITE 220
BRENTWOOD, TENNESSEE 37027
TELEPHONE: (615) 361-7500
(800) 486-5714
Website: www.tbpr.org
RELEASE OF INFORMATION
RE: STEVEN CARL FRAZIER, BPR #007098
CONTACT: TIFFANY D. TANT-SHAFER
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
April 17, 2025
SULLIVAN COUNTY LAWYER CENSURED
On April 17, 2025, Steven Carl Frazier, an attorney licensed to practice law in Tennessee, received a
Public Censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Mr. Frazier was retained by a client for representation in a property boundary dispute in Hawkins
County. Mr. Frazier received a $5000 retainer fee from the client, which he deposited directly to his operating
account. Because Mr. Frazier did not obtain a writing signed by the client explaining the partiesâ intent and
amount of non-refundable funds the payment was not a non-refundable retainer. As a minimum retainer fee,
Mr. Frazier failed to deposit the funds into his trust account and wrongfully commingled the client funds with
his own. Mr. Frazier did not track his time nor issue an invoice reflecting the legal services provided to the
client nor his fees earned. Mr. Frazier did not communicate to his client the basis or rate of his fee and expenses
for which the client would be responsible, making his fee unreasonable. While Mr. Frazier offered to refund
one-half of the clientâs fees, the offer was after three years following the clientâs filing of a disciplinary
complaint, and the fees were never refunded. In addition, while Mr. Frazier was under an obligation to maintain
communication with his client until the representation was terminated or complete, he stopped responding to the
clientâs requests for updates and took no further action on the clientâs behalf.
By these acts, Mr. Frazier has violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.4(a) (communication), 1.5(a) &
(b) (fees), and 1.15(a) & (b) (safekeeping property and funds) and for these violations is hereby Publicly
Censured with the condition that he refund to the client $2500.00 within thirty (30) days hereof.
A Public Censure is a rebuke and warning to the attorney, but it does not affect the attorneyâs ability to
practice law.
Frazier 100601-2024-1 rel.doc