Knox County lawyer permanently disbarred
Published July 5, 2023; 7:18 p.m.

KNOXVILLE - Effective July 5, 2023, the Tennessee Supreme Court disbarred James E. Foglesong of Knox County, Tennessee, from the practice of law. Mr. Foglesong consented to permanent disbarment because he could not successfully defend the charges alleged in a disciplinary investigation pending against him.

Mr. Foglesong represented a client who, while living, received monthly pension benefits from the City of Knoxville Pension Fund. Following the client’s death in March of 2016, Mr. Foglesong continued to accept and deposit the Knoxville pension checks into his client’s bank account and used his power of attorney to withdraw said funds for his own use over a five (5) year period. Following criminal investigation, Mr. Foglesong pled guilty to a class D felony theft in April of 2023 and received judicial diversion.

Mr. Foglesong’s ethical misconduct violated Rules of Professional Conduct 1.15 (safekeeping of property) and 8.4(b) (misconduct).

Mr. Foglesong must comply with the requirements of Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 9, Section 28, regarding the obligations and responsibilities of disbarred attorneys.