Opinion ID: 2457042
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Former Attorney-Client Relationship

Text: The record shows that the parties disputed who Johnson & Gibbs represented during Epic's formation. Anderson introduced Johnson & Gibbs's internal records that showed AMI as the client, that Johnson & Gibbs billed AMI as the client, and that AMI paid Johnson & Gibbs more than two million dollars in fees for Johnson & Gibbs's services in forming Epic. On the other hand, George testified that he understood that he personally was Johnson & Gibbs's client because Johnson & Gibbs prepared and negotiated his employment compensation package with AMI. There is also evidence that after Epic's incorporation Johnson & Gibbs considered Epic as its client and that Epic paid Johnson & Gibbs's legal bills. However, when the majority completes its review of the record, its conclusion is that the only evidence in the record is that the firm did represent George individually in setting up Epic. In doing so, the Court attempts to explain away the some evidence that AMI was in fact the client and that George as AMI's salaried employee could have been representing AMI's interest in the spin-off. The Court weighs the evidence and judges its credibility to reach its conclusion that there is no dispute in the record that the firm represented George personally. In doing so, the Court ignores its own precedent that an abuse of discretion does not exist if the trial court bases its decision on conflicting evidence and some evidence reasonably supports the trial court's decision. See Davis, 571 S.W.2d at 862. Thus, there are factual disputes about a former attorney-client relationship between Epic and George and Anderson's attorneys that the Court may not resolve. See Grant, 888 S.W.2d at 468.