Kenneth J. Metzger, Esquire
Background
Ken was born August 14, 1954 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but moved to Florida shortly thereafter. He earned his bachelor’s degree with honors in 1977 from Florida State University located in Tallahassee and his law degree from Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in 1981. Upon law school graduation and admittance to the Florida Bar in 1982, he was selected for the Navy’s Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG). While serving on active duty, he served as Staff Judge Advocate for the Naval Medical Command, Southeast Region directing legal matters for all Naval Hospitals, Branch Medical and Dental Clinics, and other U.S. Naval healthcare facilities in nine southeastern states, including the Drug Screening Laboratory for the Atlantic fleet. He also, was appointed Special Assistant U.S. Attorney to assist with federal malpractice litigation of military healthcare providers and facilities as well criminal prosecution matters of all civilians on three U.S. Naval bases located in Jacksonville, Florida. In 1985 he completed active duty and begin private law practice with an Insurance Defense law firm in Orlando. In 1990 he joined a professional liability defense firm in West Palm Beach before returning to Tallahassee in late 1992. From 1993 to 1995 Ken had both a solo private practice and was a Senior Attorney for Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and the Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA) where he exclusively handled medical license disciplinary litigation before the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH). From 1996 on Ken returned to private practice exclusively focusing on a statewide health care and professional regulatory defense practice.
He is the founding partner of Metzger & Associates, LLC and limits his practice to administrative health care regulatory law matters and professional licensing and disciplinary defense of licensed individuals and business entities throughout Florida. He is frequently consulted by criminal defense and professional liability civil litigation attorneys statewide to assist with their complex healthcare provider defense cases as well as retained by several hospital and pharmacy clients to defend their healthcare facilities and providers with various regulatory agencies. Mr. Metzger is also, authorized legal counsel for numerous professional liability insurance carriers representing their professional insureds.
He is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in State & Federal Government & Administrative Practice and is AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated and was previously selected by Florida Super Lawyers. He is admitted to all Florida State Courts as well as the U.S. District Court, Northern and Middle Districts of Florida, the U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit and the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. He is a retired U.S. Navy Captain with the Judge Advocate General Corps. A active member of The Florida Bar: Health Law, Administrative Law and Trial Lawyers sections; the Florida Academy of Healthcare Attorneys, Florida Hospital Association, Florida Pharmacy Association, American Bar Association: Health Law section and American Health Lawyers Association. He has also authored articles and been a guest speaker on many healthcare topics.