Matt Hennesy

Matt Hennesy is a partner at Farrar, Hennesy & Tanner, where he has practiced since 2004 and where his father practiced before him. He's devoted his career to standing up for auto accident victims and injured workers across South Georgia. Matt represents the Waycross Judicial Circuit on the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Georgia and is a past president of the Douglas Bar Association.

The Wheelchair Ramp He Still Remembers

One of Matt Hennesy's clearest childhood memories is riding along with his father to visit a client who had been catastrophically injured at work. That single afternoon showed him what the work was really for.

"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. 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 the negligence of others, and it made me want to help, too."
— Matt Hennesy

He earned his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Georgia's School of Public and International Affairs in 2000, finished his law degree at Atlanta's John Marshall Law School in 2004, and came back to Douglas to follow in his father’s footsteps.

The Second Generation at a Firm Built in 1949

Arthur Curtis Farrar, Sr. opened the practice in Douglas in 1949. Matt's father joined the firm years later, and Matt followed him into it in 2004.

That pattern has repeated more than once here. Matt practices alongside Kirk Farrar, the third Farrar to take cases at this address, partner Drew Tanner, and Drew's son Andrew Tanner.

Four attorneys, three families, and one office that has been in the same town for more than 75 years.

Standing Between You and the Insurance Company

Matt takes auto accident cases and workers' compensation claims, and nothing else. Clients usually reach him after an insurance adjuster has already told them something that turned out not to be true.

That part of the job is what he cares most about. A claim handled through the Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation or through an auto insurer runs on deadlines and paperwork most people see once in their lives, and the company on the other side sees every day.

"I often meet with clients who have been ignored or lied to in regard to their insurance claims. It is very rewarding to give them a voice and help them see their claims through to a resolution."
— Matt Hennesy

The Case He'll Never Forget

A commercial truck crossed the center line and hit a car head on, killing the driver. The insurance company denied liability outright and put nothing on the table when it had the chance to close the claim.

"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 Hennesy

Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different, and the value of any claim depends on its specific facts.

Board Service and Giving Back

Matt has served on the boards of the Community Foundation of Coffee County, the Coffee Regional Hospital Foundation, the Sheriff’s Promise Foundation of Coffee County, and the Douglas Golf and Country Club. In the legal community, he was president of the Douglas Bar Association and now represents the Waycross Judicial Circuit on the State Bar of Georgia's Board of Governors.

The cause closest to the family is the Childhood Cancer Awareness Group of Coffee County, which grew out of a former employee's two grandchildren being diagnosed with cancer. Matt's wife, Lori, chairs its board of directors.

"It's a cause that is near and dear to our hearts since one of our former employees had grandchildren diagnosed."
— Matt Hennesy

A Devoted Family Man

Matt describes himself as a rabid Georgia Bulldog fan, which in Douglas is less a hobby than a civic position. He, Lori, and their daughter spend their free time traveling, most often somewhere in the American South.

The family attends Douglas First Methodist Church Church.