Where Did the Pledge Come From?
In early 1986 Jim Fox sold his practice in Alcoa TN, to move to Knoxville and open the Law office of James D. Fox. The move included being only the second firm in Knoxville to ever advertise on TV. A few months later Jerry Farmer stopped in at Jim’s office to visit his friend. Jim told Jerry that things had been going so well and he needed help to expand. In that same visit Jim decided and offered Jerry a full partnership if he would try a case for him later that week. Jerry happily accepted, won the case and a Partnership was born. In 1992 Jim Fox’s son joined the firm and later in 1994 Jerry’s son Bradley joined as well. It was around that time that one of the sons brought to the Partners a settlement sheet of a client on that sheet it stated Fox and Farmer would be paid $6,000 which was more than the while client who would be getting paid only $4000. It was then that Jim and Jerry told and educated the young attorneys that since Fox and Farmer was formed it has always been a policy that no client left a settlement with less money than the firm and that’s the way we will always continue to do things. They called it the Fox and Farmer Way.
Questions People Often Ask
Does this apply to every case the firm takes?
Yes. The pledge applies to every personal injury matter the firm accepts. It is not a promotion or a limited category of case.
Does it mean the firm charges a lower percentage than other lawyers?
It means the fee will not exceed what the client receives. Where a standard contingency arrangement would produce a larger fee than that, the fee comes down.
What counts as money the client receives?
Court-ordered payments out of the settlement, such as bankruptcy payments or a child support lien, count as money to the client, as do pre-settlement funding loans and other payments the client directs elsewhere. The full statement accompanies the pledge on this page.
Can a lawyer normally take more than the client from a settlement?
It can happen, depending on the fee agreement and what else has to be paid out of the recovery. This pledge is the firm's commitment that it will not happen here.
What does the first meeting cost?
Nothing. Consultations are free, fees are contingent, and you owe no fee unless you win.
How Fox and Farmer Applies This to Your Case
Ask about it in the first meeting, and ask any other firm you are considering the same question. At Fox and Farmer the answer has been the same since 1986: the client's share is never smaller than the fee. Cases are worked by more than one attorney, out of offices in Knoxville, Johnson City and Chattanooga, and nobody is treated as a file number.
If you were hurt and want to know where you stand, the conversation is free. Call Knoxville at 865-531-9400, Johnson City at 423-390-0000 or Chattanooga at 423-531-9400, or contact us online and someone will get back to you.
See Case ResultsLast reviewed: August 2026
This page was reviewed by Steve E. Fox, licensed in Tennessee since 1992.
Content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Tennessee attorney for guidance specific to your situation.
