Biography
KENT FRANDSEN has practiced with PARR RICHEY since 1977, concentrating in civil litigation, electric utility law, zoning and land use, and education law. Following graduation from law school in 1975, Mr. Frandsen served as a law clerk to The Honorable James E. Noland, Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.
Mr. Frandsen has tried nearly 100 jury trials in state and federal courts, representing both plaintiffs and defendants. He has filed briefs in over fifty appeals, and on four occasions he has persuaded the Indiana Supreme Court to reverse published decisions of the Court of Appeals. He serves as general counsel to two central Indiana public school districts. For the past twenty-five years he has primarily defended rural electric utilities in tort lawsuits all over Indiana. He has also served as panel chair in over 300 medical malpractice panel proceedings administered by the Indiana Department of Insurance. Mr. Frandsen is a certified civil mediator and has conducted over 300 civil mediations.
Education
- Indiana University School of Law, Indianapolis, Indiana
- J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence - 1975
- Honors: summa cum laude
- Honors: Branch McCracken Memorial Scholarship for post-graduate studies
- Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
- B.S., Bachelor of Science - 1972
- Honors: magna cum laude
- Honors: General Co-Chair of the 2016 BMW Championship
- Honors: PGA Tour event held at Crooked Stick Golf Club
Bar Admissions
- Indiana, 1975
- U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1976
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana, 1975
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana, 1977
Published Works
- Mr. Frandsen has made numerous presentations on topics of tort law, education, electric utility, and insurance to attorneys and other professionals
Classes & Seminars
Pro-Bono Activities
- The Community Foundation of Boone County
- Ulen Country Club
- Crooked Stick Golf Club
- Boone County Economic Development Corporation
- Greater Lebanon Community Vision Committee
- Boone County Chamber of Commerce
Representative Clients
Ancillary Businesses
Fraternities or Sororities
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association, Member
- Indiana State Bar Association, Member
- Boone County Bar Association, Past President
- Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, Member
- American Association for Justice
- National Association of School Attorneys
- Indiana Council of School Attorneys
Practice Areas
- Civil Litigation
- Zoning and Land Use
- Electric Utility
- Education Law
Representative Cases
- Clark County REMC v. Reis, 178 N.E.3d 315 (Ind. 2021) [in an issue of first impression, Supreme Court entered judgment in favor of REMC in a dispute over fringe benefits]
- Benefiel v. Wright Hardware, 128 N.E.3d 458 (Ind. App. 2019) [reversing a defense verdict in a wrongful death suit because of improper expert testimony]
- Boyland v. Castle Farms, Inc., 71 N.E.3d 81 (Ind. App. 2017) [upholding an adverse possession judgment in a boundary dispute]
- D.Z. v. State, 100 N.E.3d 246 (Ind. 2018) [filed successful amicus brief in Supreme Court's reversal of court of appeals decision imposing Miranda obligations in school misconduct investigation]
- SCI Propane v. Frederick, 15 N.E.3d 1015 (Ind. 2015) [in a case of first impression, Supreme Court set aside a multi-million dollar award of attorney's fees in an action under the Indiana general wrongful death statute]
- Pope v. Central Indiana Power, 937 N.E.2d 1242 (Ind. App. 2010) [affirming the entry of a directed verdict for electric utility in negligence case]
- Deiss v. Greenhouse Development, 926 N.E.2d 63 (Ind. App. 2010) [affirming a board of zoning appeals' construction of term "drive-through" facilities in a local zoning ordinance]
- Porter Dev. v. First Nat'l Bank, Valparaiso, 866 N.E.2d 775 (Ind. 2007) [mandating the award of attorney fees to a bank which had initiated an interpleader action]
- Babyback's Int'l v. Coca-Cola Enterprises, 841 N.E.2d 557 (Ind. 2006) [Supreme Court rejected part performance and promissory estoppel as exceptions to Indiana's statute of frauds in multi-year contract setting]
- Biomet v. Barnes & Thornburg, 791 N.E.2d 760 (Ind. App. 2003) [in a case of first Impression, Indiana courts adopted the "continuous representation"rule to toll the statute of limitations for legal malpractice]
- Jay County REMC v. Wabash Valley Power Assn., 692 N.E.2d 905 (Ind. App. 1998) [affirming an injunction prohibiting electric distribution cooperative from withdrawing from a generation and transmission cooperative]
- Lueder v. NIPSCO, 633 N.E.2d 1340 (Ind. App. 1997) [reversing a defense verdict based on incorrect jury instructions in negligence action involving injuries from a power line contact]
- Bradley v. Eagle-Union Schools, 647 N.E.2d 672 (Ind. App. 1995) [rejecting a landowner's challenge to school district's right to engage in pre-eminent domain testing of land]
- Lantis v. Astec Industries, 648 F.2d 1118 (7th Cir. 1981) [reversing a defense verdict in a products liability case due to incorrect jury instructions]
Honors
- Law Clerk, Hon. James E. Noland, United States District Court, Southern District of Indiana
- Selected to Super Lawyers: 2005 - 2026