Picture of Jennifer Jones Thomas

Jennifer Jones Thomas

Partner

Jennifer Jones Thomas is a partner in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller. She joined the firm in 1999, and her practice includes health care regulatory law and litigation, education law, expropriation/property litigation, business litigation, antitrust and unfair competition, class action defense, and appeals. Prior to law school, Jennifer earned her Masters of Health Science from the LSU Medical Center and worked in the health care industry.

In the health law arena, Jennifer represents local, regional and national clients in litigation, administrative and regulatory matters involving: Medicare and Medicaid fraud, abuse, audits, overpayments, and recoupments; Stark and Anti-kickback law compliance; HIPAA compliance; the Federal False Claims Act; the Louisiana Medical Assistance Program Integrity Law; the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices Act; healthcare provider licensure; and Louisiana health care regulations and legislation. Jennifer’s representative experience ranges from assisting individual health care providers before the numerous Louisiana licensing boards to defending national corporate clients in False Claims Act and Antitrust lawsuits filed by the Louisiana Attorney General.

Jennifer has represented Parish school systems and private and parochial schools in litigation, regulatory matters, property acquisitions, planning and zoning, contract negotiations, intellectual property protection, and employment disputes. Jennifer has also prepared internal policies and procedures as well as employee and student handbooks. Jennifer has advised educational institutions extensively on the Federal Family Educational rights and Privacy Act, Louisiana education statutes and regulations, and the Louisiana Public Records Act.

Jennifer assists local, regional and national clients in commercial litigation, property acquisitions and disputes, zoning and pipeline expropriation projects.

Jennifer is a Health Law Specialist, certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. She is listed in The Best Lawyers in America (Health Care Law) from 2023-2024.

Representative Experience
  • Health Law
    • Represents pharmacies and pharmaceutical manufacturers in defense of MAPIL and unfair trade practices litigation filed by the Louisiana Attorney General
    • Represents physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, physical therapists, pharmacists, pharmacies, registered nurses, optometrists, respiratory therapists and social workers before the Louisiana state licensing boards
    • Represents hospitals, nursing facilities, continuing care retirement communities, independent living facilities, assisted living facilities and personal care homes before the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals
    • Represents hospitals with regulatory and transactional matters, including licensing and charge of ownership
    • Represents Medicare/Medicaid providers and suppliers in defense of audits, post-payment review and overpayment determinations
    • Represents home and community based waiver service providers with regard to reimbursement and licensing
    • Assists health care providers with developing Policies and Procedures related to regulatory compliance, including HIPAA
    • Represents pain management clinics with licensing, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals investigations, and development of policies and procedures
    • Represents medical and vocational case managers in litigation matters regarding bad faith Workers' Compensation claims
    • Represents physicians with hospital credentialing and privileges disputes
    • Represents health care providers in defense of federal False Claims Act litigation, including qui tam lawsuits
    • Represents qualified health care providers in defense of medical malpractice claims in state and federal court
    • Represents medical directors in drug screening cases
    • Represents child care providers before the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services
    • Represents healthcare providers with the submission of Facility Need Review applications with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and administrative appeals of denied applications
    • Represents physicians in negotiation of employment agreement
    • Represents healthcare providers before the Louisiana Legislature and Louisiana regulatory agencies with regard to promulgating and amending statutes and regulations
  • Class Action Litigation
    • Represents national Preferred Provider Organizations in class action Workers’ Compensation litigation in state and federal courts
    • Representation of clients before the Louisiana Supreme Court on matters related to Workers’ Compensation PPO Class Action litigation and scope of liability under the Medical Malpractice Act
  • Expropriation/Property Litigation/Planning and Zoning
    • Representation of a global energy company in expropriation litigation, land use, planning and zoning, and related matters for construction of pipelines
    • Representation of a global energy company in property boundary litigation
    • Representation of several local clients in zoning disputes with the East Baton Rouge Parish and Iberville Parish Planning and Zoning Commissions
  • Commercial Litigation
    • Representation of a health care company in lawsuits involving contract and indemnity disputes
    • Representation of national and local clients in antitrust, unfair trade practices and redhibition litigation
  • Education Law
    • Representation of the Parish School System in its desegregation litigation and with respect to the separation of school systems. Litigation included the minimum foundation program funding, sales taxes, ad valorem taxes, transfer of property, indemnity, student transfers and assignments, and employee benefits.
    • Representation of large, independent, private school in a variety of legal and business matters, including contracts, real estate matters, employment issues, construction law, and intellectual property matters.
  • Appeals
    • Preparation of numerous appellate briefs, writ applications, emergency writ applications and oral argument before the Louisiana Courts of Appeal (first chair)
    • Preparation of numerous briefs, writ applications, and application for rehearing including oral argument before the Louisiana Supreme Court (first chair)
    • Preparation of numerous briefs, writ applications, and motion for costs including oral argument before the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (first chair)
    • Preparation of successful opposition to writ of certiorari to the United States Supreme Court
Education

Jennifer earned her B.S. from Louisiana State University in 1992 and her Masters of Health Sciences from the LSU Medical Center in 1994. She earned her J.D. in 1999 from the LSU Law Center where she was a member of the Moot Court Board.

Admissions
  • Admitted, Louisiana, 1999; United States Supreme Court; United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana
Memberships
  • Baton Rouge, Louisiana State and American Bar Associations; American Health Lawyers Association; Louisiana Hospital Association Society of Attorneys; Louisiana Nursing Home Association; Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners; Baton Rouge Medical Group Management Association
Articles, Publications and Presentations
Community Service
  • Capitol Area United Way, Community Partnership
  • Louisiana School for the Deaf Foundation, Secretary
  • Louisiana State Bar Association, Chair of Administrative Law Section, 2019-2021
  • Team Captain Baton Rouge Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
  • Zeta Tau Alpha Alumnae, LSU Chapter
Reported Cases
  • Acara v. Banks, 2010-0741 (La. 6/18/10), 37 So.3d 996.
  • Warren v. Louisiana Medical Mutual Insurance Co. 2007-0492 (La. 12/2/08), 21 So.3d 186, rev.d on rehearing (La. 6/6/09).
  • Broussard Physical Therapy v. Family Dollar Stores, Inc. et al., 2008-1013 (La. 12/2/08), 5 So. 3d 812.
  • Central Community School Board v. East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, 2008-0036 (La.App.1Cir. 6/6/08), 991 So. 3d 812.
  • Acara v. Banks, 470F.3d.569 (5 Cir.2006).
  • Holcomb v. Ethicon, Inc., 2005-2117 (La.App 1 Cir 11/8/06), 2006WL 3208460.
  • Saulsberry v. Edwards, 2008 WL 108670 (E.D.La 2008).
  • In the matter of the succession of Lubertha D. Brantley, 99-2922 (La. App. Cir. 11/3/00) 789 So.2d. 1.