Cory J. Person is a partner in Freeman Mathis & Gary’s Tampa office. Mr. Person’s practice focuses on the defense of claims in the areas of tort and catastrophic loss, labor & employment, fair housing, and commercial litigation throughout Florida. A “big picture” thinker, Mr. Person works diligently to obtain the best possible resolution for his clients. Clients appreciate the focus and attention to detail he provides to resolving every matter as well as his ability to address potential issues which could arise in the future.
Mr. Person’s Tort and Catastrophic Loss practice includes defense of claims involving premises liability, construction accidents, product liability, and negligent security. He has represented clients in retail, hospitality, construction, and transportation sectors as well as non-profits, religious and charitable organizations. In addition, Mr. Person has significant experience defending healthcare providers and agencies in negligence and medical malpractice actions.
In Mr. Person’s employment and fair housing practice, he handles matters before federal and state courts throughout Florida and before administrative agencies. His labor and employment practice encompasses the issues that employers may face in managing and interacting with employees, including employment discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims, wage and hour claims, FMLA, ADA and FCRA claims, and disputes surrounding enforcement and defense of non-compete, non-solicitation and confidentiality agreements. Mr. Person also has experience representing business and corporate clients in the areas of commercial and real estate litigation.
He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law, where he served as president of the UNC Trial Team and UNC Trial Law Academy. Mr. Person also served as Managing Editor for the UNC School of Law First Amendment Law Review and was awarded the Gressman-Pollittt award for excellence in Oral Advocacy.
Mr. Person is the immediate past president of the Hillsborough County Bar Association and is a past president of the George Edgecomb Bar Association, the largest African-American voluntary Bar Association in the Tampa Bay area. He is a member of the Defense Research Institute and the International Association of Defense Counsel, a select invitation only organization.
Prior to law school, Mr. Person served as a Non-Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Among the awards Mr. Person received for his service are the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Achievement Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.
