Introduction - Litigation Bio
A shareholder in the Litigation Group, Kent represents clients in a wide variety of healthcare law and commercial cases. He has been practicing law since 1974. Most of Kent’s litigation experience in recent years has involved health law, contracts, governmental regulatory agencies, probate/trust, and employment issues. Many of his clients are healthcare professionals and groups in licensing board proceedings. He also serves as a mediator and arbitrator. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal courts including significant appellate practice, and also represents clients in administrative hearings before governmental agencies.
Prior to joining Fredrikson & Byron in 1986, Kent was the Chief Deputy Attorney General for the State of Minnesota. Kent has appeared before the United States Supreme Court on several occasions, including the presentation of a successful brief and oral argument in the First Amendment case of Heffron v. International Society of Krishna Consciousness, 452 U.S. 640 (1981).
Education
- Cornell University Law School, J.D., 1974
- Ohio University, M.S., 1967
- Bowling Green University, B.S., 1966
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota, 1974
- U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, 1974
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 1976
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1976
Practice Areas
- Litigation
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Medical Practices Defense
- Health Care Fraud & Compliance
- Trusts & Estates Litigation
Selected Publications & Presentations
- "And the Suit Goes On: Reporting Malpractice Settlement and Verdicts to the Board of Medical Practice," Minnesota Medicine, January 2003
- "Alternative Dispute Resolution," MILE, May 2001
- "Complaints to the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice in FY 2000," Minnesota Medicine, November 2000
- "Alternative Dispute Resolution," Spring 1995
- "The Board of Medical Practice Improves Its Complaint Handling System," Minnesota Medicine, January 1995
- "New Law Avoids Unnecessary Punishment of Impaired Physicians," Minnesota Medicine, September 1994
- "Risk Management: Appropriate Behavior or Sexual Misconduct," Minnesota Physician, September 1994
- "Risk Management - Physician Prescribing Practices: Potential Pitfalls to Avoid," Minnesota Physician, December 1992
Professional Activities
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Hennepin County Bar Association
- Adjunct Professor, Legal Writing,
William Mitchell College of Law, 1981-83 - Board Member, Loan Repayment Assistance Program of Minnesota, Inc.
- Member, Minnesota Health Licensing Board's Complaint Process Task Force, Fall 2000
- Attorney with Minnesota Attorney General's Office,
1974-1986 (last three years as Chief Deputy Attorney General) - United States Air Force, Captain, 1967-71
Community Involvement
- Volunteer for Second Harvest Heartland food bank