John D. Bennett

Partner

Atlanta, GA | Savannah, GA
D 678.996.9056
jbennett@fmglaw.com

Education

  • University of Georgia School of Law, Juris Doctor, cum laude.
  • University of Georgia, B.A. English.
Overview

John D. Bennett is a Partner in Freeman Mathis & Gary's Atlanta office.  Mr. Bennett represents both private businesses and local governments in employment and complex litigation matters, ranging from cases brought by individuals to high-exposure class and collective actions. He is the Vice-Chair of the firm’s Labor and Employment Law team and Chair of the firm's Southeast Employment practice team.

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Bar Admissions

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Georgia Court of Appeals

Georgia State and Superior Courts

Supreme Court of Georgia

U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Georgia

Representative Cases & Clients
  • Van Cleave v. University of the South, 2022 WL 2115304 (M.D. Tenn. June 13, 2022) (granting motion to transfer venue in Title VII and Section 1981 retaliation claim)
  • Owens v. Propes, 2022 WL 1109431 (M.D. Ga. Apr. 13, 2022) (granting motion to dismiss employment claims filed under the First Amendment, Stored Communications Act, Fourth Amendment, and for invasion of privacy)
  • Davis v. B&B Inc., 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 147495 (M.D. Ga. Aug. 6, 2021) (dismissing race discrimination lawsuit by former employee against restaurant employer)
  • Loiseau v. Thompson, O’Brien, Kemp & Nasuti, P.C., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 228368 (N.D. Ga. Nov. 9, 2020) (granting summary judgment to employer in alleged off-the-clock FLSA overtime case)
  • Gatto v. City of Statesboro, 843 S.E.2d 623 (Ga. Ct. App. Oct. 21, 2019) (affirming grant of summary judgment to the municipality pursuant to the doctrine of sovereign immunity)
  • Hunter v. Will et al., 833 S.E.2d 128 (Ga. Ct. App. Sept. 9, 2019) (affirming trial court’s grant of motion to dismiss “complex and convoluted” case against county ethics board based on appellant’s failure to timely obtain hearing transcript necessary for appeal).
  • Raybon et al. v. CNH Industrial America, LLC et al., 2017 WL 10403452 (N.D. Ga. June 29, 2017) (granting motion to remand action removed based on alleged fraudulent joinder of non-diverse defendant).
  • Norris v. O’Connor et al., 2017 Wl 924475 (M.D. Ga. Mar. 8, 2017) (granting motion to dismiss race discrimination claims asserted against a law firm under Title VII and Section 1981).
  • Triad Construction Co., Inc. v. Robert Half Int’l, Inc., 679 Fed. Appx. 748 (11th Cir. 2017) (affirming grant of summary judgment in complex negligent hire and retention matter based on failure to comply with pre-suit notice requirement set forth in underlying contract).
  • Futrell v. Southeastrans, Inc., No. 1:20-cv-04674-WMR-RDC, 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 117597 (N.D. Ga. Apr. 1, 2021) (granting motion to dismiss intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent hire, supervision, and retention claims asserted against employer by former employee).
  • Davis v. B&B Inc., 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 147495 (M.D. Ga. Aug. 6, 2021) (denying motion to proceed without paying filing fee in race discrimination case)
  • Millspaugh v. Cobb County, 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 251431 (N.D. Ga. Dec. 16, 2021) (granting summary judgment to employer on claims of First Amendment retaliation and Georgia Whistleblower Act retaliation).
Affiliations
  • Georgia Bar Association
  • Lawyers of Distinction
Client Successes
Awards and Recognition

  •  2023-2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®
  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in America®, 2021 Edition in the field of Employment Law – Management
  • Georgia Super Lawyers, Rising Star
  • Georgia Trend Magazine, Legal Elite
  • Charter Member, Lawyers of Distinction
  • U.S. Business News, Best Lawyers