Matt Hennesy

Matthew “Matt” Hennesy

A vivid memory from Matt Hennesy’s childhood is a visit with his father to a client who had been catastrophically injured on the job.

“He was in a wheelchair and my dad wanted to make sure his employer had installed a wheelchair ramp at his home as required by law,” Matt recalls. “It made me proud that my dad could help him. It was one of many experiences watching my father help people in our region who had been injured as a result of negligence of others and it made me want to help, too.”

To that end, Matt earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Georgia, School of Public and International Affairs in 2000, followed by a Juris Doctorate degree from John Marshall Law School in 2004. Today, his practice is dedicated solely to representing automobile accident victims and injured workers. Among the most challenging but worthwhile elements of his work is helping clients effectively deal with insurance companies.

“I often meet with clients who have been ignored or lied to in regard to their insurance claims,” he says. “It is very rewarding to give them a voice and help them see their claims through to a resolution.”

He points to a particularly memorable case in which he represented a family whose father was killed in collision when a commercial truck crossed the center line and struck the victim’s vehicle head on.

“The insurance company completely denied liability and offered no settlement when given a chance to reasonably close the claim,” Matt said. “We filed suit on behalf of the family and fought with the insurance company for over two years. As we approached trial, the claim was finally settled for $2 million. It was a record recovery in the family’s county and the largest recovery for a 91-year-old in a wrongful death claim in Georgia at the time.”

Matt is also committed to supporting the Childhood Cancer Awareness Group of Coffee County.

“It’s a cause that is near and dear to our hearts since one of our former employees had grandchildren diagnosed,” he says, noting that his wife, Lori, currently serves as the organization’s chair of the board of directors. Matt also has served on the boards of the Community Foundation of Coffee County, Coffee Regional Hospital Foundation and Douglas Golf and Country Club.

Involvement in professional organizations includes serving as President of the Douglas Bar Association and as the representative for the Waycross Judicial Circuit on the Board of Governors for the State Bar of Georgia. He’s a member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, the Coffee County Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Network and First Presbyterian Church of Douglas, GA.

A “rabid Georgia Bulldog fan,” Matt, Lori and their daughter are avid travelers with love for seeing the sights throughout the American South.