Attorney Profiles

Douglas J. Kent
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Shareholder
phone	(215) 575-2605
fax	(215) 575-0856
email	djkent@mdwcg.com

Douglas J. Kent, a shareholder in the Casualty Department, has been representing insurance companies and self-insureds for more than 25 years. Doug focuses his law practice on complex and high-exposure cases involving insurance coverage, bad faith, premises liability, construction accidents, motor vehicle accidents, products liability, marine, and inland marine.

Doug has been involved in over 50 published opinions. He has argued before the United States Court of Appeals and has been before the United States District Court on numerous occasions. In addition to handling a full caseload, he serves as Unit Manager to the Casualty Department and as account coordinator for many insurance companies.

Doug began his legal career at Masterson, Braunfeld, Hinsworth & Maguire and then joined the law firm of LaBrum and Doak before joining Marshall Dennehey in 1995.

He has lectured for numerous clients and organizations such as the CPCU Society, the Insurance Institute of America, PLRB, and the Insurance Society of Philadelphia on such topics as insurance coverage, bad faith, and premises liability. He serves as a Judge Pro Tem for the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia.

Currently, Doug serves as the Defense Research Institute's Pennsylvania State Co-Liaison, Insurance Law Committee.

Doug was the author of the Pennsylvania Section, 2001 DRI Unfair Claims Practices Statute Compendium of the Defense Research Institute and a contributor to AIC 35 Property Loss Adjusting for the American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters and Insurance Institute of America in 2003 and AIC 33 Claims Handling Practices in 2006.

In 2005, Doug was voted a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer.

In addition, he has an AV Peer Review Rating by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell.

Doug is a graduate of Penn State University where he majored in history and participated in varsity athletics. He graduated magna cum laude and was named Phi Beta Kappa. He received the Penn State Superior Scholar-Athlete from Joe Paterno. Following graduation from college, he attended the Villanova University School of Law where he received his Juris Doctor in 1983 and served on the Moot Court Board.

Significant Representative Matters

Judgment in favor of insurer based upon trial proof that insured committed insurance fraud in property damage claim by trucking company. The court also held that the entire claim could be denied when the insured commits fraud as to a portion of the claim.

Case dismissed for coverage for hemophiliac's claims for alleged contaminated blood products resulting in HIV/AIDS exposure because claims did not occur during the policy period.

Judgment in favor of insurer finding that defects in UM/UIM form for personal auto policy did not require higher limits of coverage.

Judgment in favor of insurer finding that their coverage was excess in a case in which multiple policies covered owner and driver.

Defended class action alleging property damage to flood victims based upon development of a shopping center.

Defended Republican Committee for a local county in claim alleging illegal conduct forcing employees to make political contributions.

Judgment in favor of property owner for shooting by a third party, resulting in a severe brain injury to plaintiff. Defendant proved that there was a lack of notice and that the security system offered was not inadequate.

Award in favor of property owner where plaintiff alleged he fell, since there was a lack of notice.

Defended products liability action against distributor of printing press with alleged defects of no interlocks, lack of safety guards, and missing part resulting in loss of plaintiff's arm.

Year Joined Organization:: 1995

Areas of Practice:: Insurance Law; Bad Faith; Premises Liability; Construction Law; Motor Vehicle; Products Liability Law; Marine and Inland Marine

Bar Admissions:: Pennsylvania, 1983; U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1983; U.S. District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania, 1987; U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 1988

Education:: Villanova University School of Law, Villanova, Pennsylvania, 1983
J.D.
Honors: Moot Court Board, The Trial Advocacy Award, Villanova Team, Nat'l Trial; Pennsylvania State University, 1980
B.A.
Honors: Magna Cum Laude
Honors: Phi Beta Kappa, Rhodes Scholar nominee, Penn State Superior Scholar

Published Works:: Damages Section, Martindale-Hubbell, 1994-1995; Co-author, Complete Operation-A More Consistent Approach to Insurance Coverage for Loading and Unloading Motor Vehicles, Defense Digest, 1996; Co-author, Pennsylvania Superior Court Affirms Importance of the Lack of Constructive Notice Defense in Premises Liability Wrongful Death Action, Defense Digest, 1997; Co-author, Good Faith Effort Requirements and Guidelines for Service of Process Under Lamp v. Heyman, Defense Digest, 1998; Co-Author, Case of Failure to Properly Serve Action Statute of Limitations Rule in Question, The Legal Intelligencer, 2001; No new UM/UIM Forms With Policy Changes on Renewal, Defense Digest, 2005; Co-Author, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Questions Extending the Statute of Limitations Against Defendants When Plaintiff Serves An Action Properly, Defense Digest, 2001; How to Protect Yourself Before Litigation Begins, Commercial Realty Review, 2000; Pennsylvania Section, 2001 DRI Unfair Claims Practices Statute Compendium, Defense Research Institute, 2001; Contributor, AIC 35 Property Loss Adjusting, American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters and Insurance Institute of America, 2003; AIC 33 Claims Handling Practices, American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters and Insurance Institute of America, 2006; Protect Yourself Against Bad Faith Allegations, Society of Registered Professional Adjusters' Newsletter, 2006

Representative Cases:: Delaware County Memorial Hospital v. Midland Insurance Company, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19327 (E.D. Pa. 1985); Rose v. Bartle, 692 F.Supp. 521 (E.D.Pa. 1988); Council of Unit Owners v. Carl M. Freeman Associates, Inc., 1989 Del. Super. LEXIS 13 ( 1989); Rose v. Bartle, 871 F.2d 331 (3d Cir. 1989); Rose v. Bartle, 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 561 (E.D. Pa. 1990); Kolimaga v. Bartle, 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 569 (E.D. Pa. 1990); Reed v. Bartle, 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 570 (E.D. Pa. 1999); Dougherty v. Royal Zenith Corp., 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5386 (E.D. Pa. 1990); Dougherty v. Royal Zenith Corp., 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10807 (E.D. Pa. 1991); Doe v. Travelers Corp., 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12766 (E.D. Pa. 1991); Rhone-Poulenc Rorer v. Home Indemnnity Co., 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14708 (E.D. Pa. 1991); Rhone-Poulenc Rorer v. Home Indemnnity Co., 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14791 (E.D. Pa. 1991); Lucker Manufacturing v. Milwaukee Steel Foundry, 777 F. Supp. 413 (E.D. Pa. 1991); Lucker Manufacturing v. Milwaukee Steel Foundry, 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15524 (E.D. Pa. 1991); Rhone-Poulenc Rorer v. Home Indemnity Co., 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18172 (E.D. Pa. 1992); Special Investigations Agency, Inc. v. Pacific Insurance Company, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16802 (E.D. Pa. 1992); Mortgageling Corp. v. Gottfried, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10959 ( ); Ervais v. Fireman's Fund Insurance Companies, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 753 (E.D. Pa. 1992); Ervais v. Fireman's Fund Insurance Companies, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8249 (E.D. Pa. 1992); Jet Plastica Industries, Inc. v. Goodson Polymers, Inc., 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 449 (E.D. Pa. 1992); Jet Plastica Industries, Inc. v. Goodson Polymers, Inc., 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 799 (E.D. Pa. 1992); Emerson v. Adult Community Total Services, 842 F.Supp. 152 (E.D. Pa. 1994); Emerson v. Adult Community Total Services, 848 F.Supp. 44 (E.D. Pa. 1994); Palucis v. Continental Insurance Company, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11811 (E.D. Pa. 1998); DiLoreto v. CNA Insurance Company, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20261 (E.D. Pa. 1998); McGrory v. Kaiserman Associates, 557 Pa. 654, 1999 Pa. LEXIS 71 ( 1999); Continental Insurance Company v. Fetterman, 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16387 (E.D. Pa. 1999); Fleming v. CNA Insurance Company, 52 F.Supp. 2d 499 (E.D. Pa. 1999); Continental Insurance Company v. Davis, 56 F.Supp. 2d 513 (E.D. Pa. 1999); Continental Insurance Company v. Kubek, 86 F.Supp. 2d 503 (E.D. Pa. 2000); DiLoreto v. CNA Insurance Company, 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 343 (E.D. Pa. 2000); Rudisill v. Cont'l Ins. Co., 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 15946 (E.D. Pa. Sep. 12, 2001); Scott v. Cont'l Ins. Co., 65 Pa. D. & C. 4th 24 (Pa. D. & C. 2004); Vosk v. Encompass Ins. Co., 851 A.2d 162 (Pa. Super 2004); Lewis v. Consol. Freightways Corp., 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3248 (E.D. Pa. Feb. 28, 2005); Lamond v. Rubin, 2005 Phila. Ct. Com. Pl. LEXIS 463 (Phila. Ct. Com. Pl. Sep. 27, 2005); Glens Falls Ins. Co. v. Blatt, 2006 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 269 (Pa. D. & C. March 22, 2006); White v. Cont'l Ins. Co., 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 37295 (M.D. Pa. Feb. 6, 2006); White v. Cont'l Ins. Co., 2007 U.S. App. LEXIS 8877 (3d Cir. Apr. 12, 2007)

Classes/Seminars Taught:: Audit Documentation and Ethics, Philadelphia Premium Auditors' Society, 2008; Property Damage Claim Analysis, Pennsylvania Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, 2008; Insurance Fraud and Criminal Referrals, Pennsylvania Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, 2008; Garage Liability Coverage, Property Loss Research Bureau, 2008; Electronic Discovery and the Claims Professional, AIC Conferment Speech, 2007; On the Hot Seat: Testimony of the Claims Professional, Pennsylvania Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, 2007; Pennsylvania Personal Auto Law and Ethical Issues, CPCU Society of Philadelphia, 2006; UM/UIM Claims and Bad Faith, Delchester Claims Association, 2005; Insurance Coverage, CPCU Society of Philadelphia, 2004; Contractual Indemnification and Insurance Claims, Insurance Society of Philadelphia, 2002; Bad Faith, Knox Marine's 10th Annual Yacht Conference, 2002; Instructor - insurance coverage, bad faith and premises liability - multiple clients of the firm

Honors and Awards:: AV Peer Review Rating by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell

Professional Associations and Memberships:: Building Owners and Managers Association of Philadelphia, Codes and Legislation Committee; Defense Research Institute, State Co-Liaison, Insurance Law Committee; Insurance Institute of America, Associate in Claims Advisory Committee; Pennsylvania Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (PAMIC), Claims Committee; Pennsylvania Bar Association; Pennsylvania Defense Institute; Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel; Philadelphia Bar Association; Professional Risk Insurance Managers Association

Past Employment Positions:: Masterson, Braunfeld, Himsworth & Maguire; LaBrum and Doak