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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: JOHN MICHAEL BOUCHER, #022446
CONTACT: STEVEN J. CHRISTOPHER
BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
615-361-7500
April 6, 2023
KNOX COUNTY LAWYER CENSURED
On April 5, 2023, John Michael Boucher, an attorney licensed to practice law in Tennessee, received a
Public Censure from the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Mr. Boucher agreed to represent a client in pursuing an employment discrimination claim. Mr.
Boucherâs client signed a contingency fee agreement. The fee agreement required the client to forward $5,000
to Mr. Boucher for anticipated case related expenses. The payment was deposited by Mr. Boucher into his trust
account following receipt. Mr. Boucher subsequently unilaterally modified the fee agreement by claiming the
$5,000 payment as a fee and removed the payment from his trust account. Mr. Boucher then appeared as the
clientâs legal representative in an administrative complaint filed with the Equal Opportunity Employment
Commission, despite the fact that the clientâs employment discrimination claim had no valid factual or legal
basis. Mr. Boucher also failed to maintain good communication during the representation.
By these acts, Mr. Boucher has violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.4 (communication), 1.8(a)
(modification of a fee agreement), 1.15 (client property and funds), 3.1 (meritorious claims), and
8.4(a)(attempting to violate the Rules of Professional Conduct) and is hereby Publicly Censured for these
violations. As a condition of the Public Censure, Mr. Boucher shall be required to return the former clientâs
$5,000 payment within sixty (60) days of the date of acceptance of the Public Censure.
A Public Censure is a rebuke and warning to the attorney, but it does not affect the attorneyâs ability to
practice law.
Boucher 70502-2 rel.doc