Update, Aug. 14, 2023: Kent Barkouras categorically denies the allegations of the complaint filed by HD Nursing, reported below. He believes it was in response to his lawsuit he filed against the company in June. Read more about Barkouras’ lawsuit against HD Nursing here.
Original story:
A Benton patient safety consulting company is hauling its former president into court to stop him from representing himself in connection with the company.
HD Nursing LLC, which provides safety content and consults with hospitals, fired Kent Barkouras of Las Vegas on May 8, according to court filings.
“Kent, however, continues to represent himself as President of HD Nursing, to make contacts with clients and constituents of HD Nursing, and generally to hold himself out as an agent of HD Nursing,” according to the lawsuit filed July 13 in Saline County Circuit Court.
HD Nursing also is suing Barkouras’ wife, Brandi Barkouras, who was a former independent contractor of HD Nursing. She also was terminated from the company on May 8, the lawsuit said. HD Nursing moved for a preliminary injunction to prevent the couple from representing themselves as employees or agents of the company. A hearing on the motion is set for Aug. 7.
The company also accused Kent Barkouras of misrepresenting his qualifications to land the job. Barkouras, a minority unit holder in HD Nursing, was appointed chief compliance officer in May 2020 and promoted to president in February 2021.
The company said that Barkouras touted that he was a “former contract attorney” and bragged he had represented the boxer Lennox Lewis. He also said that he was a successful entrepreneur.
But the truth was that while Barkouras attended law school, he never was licensed to practice law in any state, the lawsuit said.
In addition, “Kent has a long history of failed businesses, including the dissolution of three businesses he formed during his tenure” at HD Nursing, the lawsuit said.
HD Nursing said had it known about Barkouras’ history, it wouldn’t have appointed him president, a job in which he handled client contracts that dealt with legal and compliance issues.
“Kent’s lack of qualification betrayed itself in his job performance and led to his termination,” the lawsuit said.
The accusations against him include breach of fiduciary duty and fraud.
HD Nursing is represented by attorneys John Doyle Nalley of Lovell Nalley & Nalley of Benton and Brian Brooks of Greenbrier.
Kent Barkouras didn’t return a call or an email message seeking comment.
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