First of all the "friend" is a reseller and not icann accredited, so any icann rules do not apply to the end user.
Even if it was there is no rules that say that renewal notices have to be sent.
The only thing that matters is what contract or agreement did the customer have with the reseller?
A domain registration is a contract for use of the domain for the period of time which was agreed, if the contract expires then the customer has no rights to it whatsoever. Its usually customary to have a grace period but its not required.
Legally i would not worry about it at all, hell enom does this themselves.
I had to pay enom $160 to get a domain back for my client who did not renew, it said it was in "redemption period" but really enom renews them with their own money to try to extort money from you. Its not the real icann redemption period.