Jennifer B. Dempsey

  1. People /

Jennifer B. Dempsey

Jennifer B. Dempsey

Partner

  1. People /

Jennifer B. Dempsey

Jennifer B. Dempsey

Partner

Jennifer B. Dempsey

Partner

Atlanta

T: +1 404 572 6985

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Biography

Jennifer Dempsey has extensive experience representing corporate clients, commercial product manufacturers, financial institutions, healthcare companies, and individuals in complex commercial litigation and disputes. She serves as co-leader of the Firm's Toxic Tort Class Action and Mass Tort Team. She handles commercial tort actions, commercial contract disputes, insurance and surety litigation, financial institution litigation, and class action defense in the courts and arbitration settings.

Jennifer represents regional, national and international banks in cases involving such matters as lender liability, RICO, participation agreements, and fiduciary liability. Her practice also involves the management and coordination of multi-jurisdictional litigation and national product liability litigation.  By way of example, Jennifer has been on the team acting as national class action counsel for one corporate client, national discovery counsel for one of the country's largest retail companies, and national coordinating counsel for product liability claims against a manufacturing company.  Additionally, she has defended numerous class actions for a variety of corporate clients.

Jennifer is active in the community and has previously served on the Board of Directors of CHRIS Kids, a non-profit association devoted to improving the community by providing children, adults, and families with high-quality, trauma-informed behavioral health services and support systems, and Everybody Wins Atlanta. Most recently, Jennifer was appointed to the Atlanta Children’s Shelter Board of Directors.

Jennifer frequently speaks on legal issues such as preparing to defend your contracts in litigation and evidence. 

Jennifer has been involved in a number of high profile pro bono matters before the Georgia and federal courts. These matters have included voting rights matters with the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and matters with Lambda Legal.

Jennifer has experience appearing before the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Georgia on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants. 

 

Areas of Focus

  • Toxic Tort

Civic Involvement & Honors

  • Benchmark Litigation, Litigation Future Star, 2014 and 2017
  • Robert F. Mullen Pro Bono Award, 2016
  • CHRIS Kids - Board of Directors, 2014-2016
  • Georgia Super Lawyer, 2012-2016
  • Atlanta Legal Aid Society, 2014-2015
  • Georgia Rising Star, 2006-2011
  • Everybody Wins! - Board of Directors, 2006-2012
  • Atlanta Women's Foundation Destiny Fund Class – Member, 2007-2008
  • David T. Howard Middle School Athletic Booster Club Board of Directors
  • Atlanta Children’s Shelter Board of Directors

Professional Affiliations

  • Atlanta Bar Association
  • State Bar of Georgia – General Litigation Section

  • Pro Bono Coordinators (Atlanta)
  • Women's Forum Affinity Group Leadership Team (Chair)

Admissions

  • Georgia, 2000
  • United States Supreme Court
    United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
    United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
    Supreme Court of Georgia
    Georgia Court of Appeals

Education

Georgia State University, J.D., with honors, 2000

Frostburg State University, B.S., 1993

Experience

COMPLEX, CLASS ACTION, AND MASS TORT LITIGATION:

  • Defended major industry manufacturer against claims by multiple municipal water supply providers seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages related to alleged use of per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) in Georgia and Alabama.
  • Defended major industry manufacturer in proposed class action alleging damage related to use of per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) in Georgia.
  • Represented multiple clients in response to Georgia State Attorney General’s Office investigations regarding customer billing practices and other issues.  
  • Represented national waste management provider in proposed Georgia class action asserting breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and related claims associated with alleged failure to provide contracted services.
  • Defended large manufacturer in several matters involving a tragic work-place accident.
  • Defended automotive services company in proposed class action in Florida litigation asserting Florida Telephone Solicitation Act claims.  
  • Obtained judgment for multinational financial services company related to multi-million dollar defaulted loan obligations secured by a business jet aircraft.
  • Represented over fifty banks in a loan participation in their claims against a developer involving an $89 million revolving line of credit and subsequent fraudulent transfer litigation.
  • Represented national credit card processor in the defense of tortious interference with contract claims arising out of acquisition of competing company and alleging over $100 million in damages.
  • Represented over sixty individual bottlers and an associated trade group in claims against a national beverage concern alleging violations of a national beverage distribution agreement.
  • Represented a bankruptcy trustee in fraudulent transfer claim against sellers of stock in a leveraged buy out transaction.
  • Represented multiple banks in class actions alleging violations of the Electronic Funds Transfer Act.
  • Handled investigations regarding safety issues and employment issues at manufacturing clients.

PRO-BONO REPRESENTATION:

  • Christopher Inniss, et al. v. Deborah Aderhold, et al., 1:14-CV-01180-WSD (pro-bono co-counsel to Lambda Legal in challenge to Georgia same-sex marriage ban)
  • Donald J. Trump v. Brad Raffensperger, No. 2020CV343255 (pro-bono counsel to Georgia NAACP and others)
  • Georgia NAACP, et al. v. State of Georgia, et al., No. 1:17cv01427-TCB-WSD-BBM (pro-bono counsel to Georgia NAACP and others)
  • Georgia NAACP, et al. v. Hancock County Board of Elections and Registration, et al., No. 5:15‐cv‐414‐CAR (pro-bono counsel to Georgia NAACP and others)

Resources

Publications

  • "Lessons Learned in Recent Participation Agreement Litigation," The Banking Law Journal, co-authored with Bill Custer, November/December 2014
  • "A Re-Evaluation of Arbitration in Light of Class Actions and Appeal Rights -- Is it Still Worth It?" Georgia Bar Journal, August 2005

Speaking Engagements

  • Speaker, "Business Litigation," Institute of Continuing Legal Education: Simulcast Series, March 2020
  • "Multistate Practice and the Attorney Client Privilege," In-House Legal Department, June 2017
  • Speaker, "Georgia Evidence Code," 2016 Annual Meeting of the State Bar of Georgia, June 2016
  • "Unlicensed Practice of Law," Client Seminar
  • "Social Media Evidence," on numerous occasions

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The Best Lawyers in America® 2024
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BCLP Team Highlighted in ‘National Law Review’ for Voter Rights Work
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Sep 30, 2020
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Blog Post
Nov 28, 2017
Courts Continue to Weigh in on the Issue of Website Accessibility
Blog Post
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Blog Post
May 20, 2013
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Apr 20, 2012
New Legislation Introduced on ATM Notices
Blog Post
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Class Actions Filed Against Four Georgia Banks Over ATM Physical Fee Disclosure