Frederick T.Smith
he/him/his
Partner
Labor & Employment
fsmith@seyfarth.com
PROFILE
EXPERIENCE
NEWS & INSIGHTS
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Fritz represents employers in all phases of complex employment litigation.
More About Fritz
Fritz is an experienced employment litigator based in the Southeast who manages several of the firm’s largest employment portfolio relationships, leveraging his teams’ collective experience and his commitment to client service to deliver superior results and value. During his tenure as the chair of the firm’s Employment Litigation and Counseling practice group, Fritz was one of the principal architects of the SeyfarthLean administrative agency charge and employment litigation flat fee service offerings and one of the firm’s early adopters of Six Sigma business process improvement methodologies to deliver legal services. As a result, the majority of the routine employment matters that Fritz and his teams handle across the country are done so under flat fee and other alternative billing arrangements. Fritz employs the same philosophy and methodologies in efficiently managing and successfully resolving class and other complex employment litigation actions.
Fritz represents employers in numerous industries (including financial services, background screening, risk information, technology, retail, defense, hospitality, health care, and biopharmaceutical ) in a wide variety of labor and employment law matters. Fritz devotes the majority of his practice to state and federal court litigation and arbitration (AAA and FINRA) matters, including actions involving claims brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and various other local, state, and federal statutes, as well as a myriad of state law tort and contract claims.
Fritz has significant experience representing employers in all phases of complex employment litigation, including:
- Multiplaintiff and class action lawsuits under the ADA, Title VII/Section 1981, the FCRA, RICO, and state law claims
- Collective actions under the ADEA, EPA, and FLSA
- Lawsuits filed by the EEOC in federal courts across the country
- EEOC Commissioner’s Charges
Fritz also serves as a trusted advisor to General Counsel, C-suite executives and their management teams, and HR professionals regarding their employment policies and practices to help them comply with local, state, and federal laws and to avoid the expense and other wasted resources associated with state and federal court litigation. Fritz also is a nationally recognized authority on workplace drug and alcohol testing policies and practices.
Fritz is also the Co-Managing Partner of the firm’s recently opened Charlotte office.
Fritz represents employers in numerous industries (including financial services, background screening, risk information, technology, retail, defense, hospitality, health care, and biopharmaceutical ) in a wide variety of labor and employment law matters. Fritz devotes the majority of his practice to state and federal court litigation and arbitration (AAA and FINRA) matters, including actions involving claims brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and various other local, state, and federal statutes, as well as a myriad of state law tort and contract claims.
Fritz has significant experience representing employers in all phases of complex employment litigation, including:
- Multiplaintiff and class action lawsuits under the ADA, Title VII/Section 1981, the FCRA, RICO, and state law claims
- Collective actions under the ADEA, EPA, and FLSA
- Lawsuits filed by the EEOC in federal courts across the country
- EEOC Commissioner’s Charges
Fritz also serves as a trusted advisor to General Counsel, C-suite executives and their management teams, and HR professionals regarding their employment policies and practices to help them comply with local, state, and federal laws and to avoid the expense and other wasted resources associated with state and federal court litigation. Fritz also is a nationally recognized authority on workplace drug and alcohol testing policies and practices.
Fritz is also the Co-Managing Partner of the firm’s recently opened Charlotte office.
Education
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Education
- JD, University of Pennsylvania Law School
Comparative Labor Law Journal, associate editor
- BA, Wake Forest University
Magna cum laude
Admissions
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Admissions
- Georgia
- Illinois
- North Carolina
Courts
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Courts
- US Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
- US District Court, Middle District of Florida
- US District Court, Northern District of Florida
- US District Court, Middle District of Georgia
- US District Court, Northern District of Georgia
- US District Court, Southern District of Georgia
- US District Court, Central District of Illinois
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- US District Court, Southern District of Illinois
- US District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- US District Court, Western District of Michigan
- US District Court, Western District of New York
- US District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina
- US District Court, Middle District of North Carolina
- US District Court, Western District of North Carolina
- US District Court, Western District of Tennessee
- US District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
- Supreme Court of Georgia
- Georgia Court of Appeals
- Georgia Superior Courts
- Illinois Supreme Court
- Illinois Appellate Court
- North Carolina Supreme Court
- North Carolina Court of Appeals
- North Carolina Superior Court
Related Key Industries
Related Key Industries
Blogs
Blogs
EXPERIENCE
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EXPERIENCE
- (W.D.N.C 2024) (district court granted national banking associations’ motions to dismiss plaintiff’s failure to hire claims brought under Title VII, the ADEA, and the ADA).
- Wilson v. First Advantage Background Servs. Corp., No. 21-CV-06071-SRB, 2023 WL 5667905 (W.D. Mo. July 18, 2023) (district court denied class certification to putative class of consumers who claimed their background checks were inaccurate in violation of the FCRA).
- (4th2022) (court of appeals affirmed grant of summary judgment to national banking association and denial of summary judgment to former employee in connection with his failure to promote, termination, and other race discrimination claims under Title VII).
- Garner v. Lowe’s Home Centers, LLC, 5:21-cv-00121-KDB-DCK (W.D.N.C. 2022) (district court granted company’s motion to dismiss employee’s Title VII race and gender claims for her failure to allege she suffered an adverse employment action).
- Frazier v. First Advantage Background Servs. Corp., 3:17-cv-00030-MHL (E.D. Va. 2019) (district court dismissed, with prejudice, multiple class action claims brought by 18 named plaintiffs against consumer reporting agency under the FCRA for lack of standing and inadequate pleading).
- Erickson v. First Advantage Background Servs. Corp., 1:16-cv-01894-ODE (N.D. Ga. 2019) (trial court granted directed verdict in favor of consumer reporting agency in a lawsuit brought by consumer under the FCRA).
- (D.S.C. 2019) (district court granted summary judgment to national banking association in defamation lawsuit brought by former employee, holding that bank’s statement to FINRA regarding the reason for employee’s termination in Form U5 was protected by a qualified privilege under South Carolina law).
- Rozelle v. Munich American Reassurance Co., No. 1:16-cv-03828-LMM (N.D. Ga. 2018) (district court granted summary judgment to company in lawsuit brought by former employee who claimed the company failed to rehire him for two positions in retaliation and because of his race, sex, and age in violation of Title VII and the ADEA).
- Business Health Sols. v. First Advantage Corp. et al., 2:18-cv-10931-PDB-DRG (N.D. Ill. 2018) (plaintiff voluntarily dismissed class action brought under Telephone Consumer Protection Act).
- (N.D. Ala. 2018) (district court granted motion for summary judgment to national bank in lawsuit filed by former employee for race and sex discrimination and retaliation under Title VII).
- Abram v. ALDI Inc. et al., No. 8:16-cv-00072-EAK-TGW (M.D. Fla. 2017) (district court granted summary judgment to company and one of its presidents in lawsuit brought by applicant who claimed she was denied employment because of her race in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1981 and the Florida Civil Rights Act).
- Hurtado v. ALDI Inc., Case No. 2017-CA-008760 (Hillsborough Cty., Fla. Cir. Ct. 2017) (plaintiff voluntarily dismissed Fair Credit Reporting Act class action against employer).
- Pasternack v. LexisNexis Occupational Health Sols. Inc. et al., 14-4101 (2d Cir. 2016) (court of appeals affirmed district court order granting drug testing program administrator’s motion to dismiss employee’s negligence and fraud claims).
- Whitten v. MetLife Securities Inc., 16-00122 (FINRA 2016) (arbitrator denied claimant’s request for expungement of termination information in Form U5 and for compensatory damages).
- Muir v. First Advantage Background Servs. Corp., 2:16-cv-00521 (D.N.J. 2016) (district court granted consumer reporting agency’s motion to dismiss employee’s FCRA class action complaint).
- McGuire v. 3M Co., 6:14-cv-02015-LCS (N.D. Ala. 2016) (district court granted employer’s motion for summary judgment in lawsuit brought by former employee for race discrimination under Title VII and 42 U.S.C. § 1981).
- Rocheleau v. First Advantage LNS Screening Sols., Inc., 15-1588 (6th Cir. 2016) (appellate court affirmed district court grant of summary judgment to consumer reporting agency, holding FCRA’s two-year statute of limitations barred lawsuit).
- Millman v. First Advantage Background Servs. Corp., 2:15-cv-00134-DRH-GRB (E.D.N.Y. 2015) (district court granted drug testing service agent’s motion to dismiss donor’s disability discrimination claims under ADA and New York State Human Rights Law).
- Kugler v. LexisNexis Occupational Health Solutions Inc., No. 1:12-cv-00840-WCG (E.D. Wis. 2015) (jury verdict in favor of drug testing service agent in connection with donor’s negligence claim under Wisconsin law).
- Holland v. Compass Group USA, Inc., 2015 WL 4208623 (W.D.N.C. 2015) (district court granted employer’s motion to dismiss lawsuit brought by former employee for race discrimination and retaliation under Title VII and wrongful termination under North Carolina law).
- (11th Cir. 2015) (appellate court affirmed district court grant of summary judgment to national bank in lawsuit by former employee for national origin and sex discrimination and retaliation under Title VII, discriminatory pay under EPA, and disability discrimination under ADA).
- Johnson v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 1:12-cv-03823-TWT (N.D. Ga. 2015) (district court granted employer’s motion for summary judgment in lawsuit brought by former employee for race discrimination and retaliation under Title VII and 42 U.S.C. § 1981).
- Stovall v. Compass Group USA, Inc., 2014 WL 2803522 (S.D. Ala. 2014) (district court granted employer’s motion for summary judgment in lawsuit brought by former employee for race and religious discrimination and retaliation under Title VII).
- Mynatt v. Morrison Mgmt. Specialists, Inc. et al., 3:12-cv-00303-RLJ-HBG (E.D. Tenn. 2014) (district court granted employer’s motion for summary judgment in lawsuit brought by former employee for disability discrimination and retaliation under ADA and gender and race discrimination, hostile work environment, and retaliation under Title VII).
- Austin v. Compass Group USA, Inc., 2:12-cv-02564-RDP (N.D. Ala. 2014) (district court granted employer’s motion for summary judgment in lawsuit brought by former employee for race discrimination and retaliation under Title VII).
- Jackson v. LexisNexis Risk Sols. FL Inc., 3:11-cv-00778-WHB-RHW (S.D. Miss. 2013) (district court granted employer’s motion for summary judgment in lawsuit brought by former employee for gender discrimination and retaliation under Title VII, age discrimination under ADEA, and infliction of emotional distress under Mississippi law).
- Toussaint v. JPMorgan Chase & Co., 32 524 00285 12 (AAA 2013) (arbitrator granted summary judgment to employer on claimant’s national origin and race discrimination claims under Title VII and Florida Civil Rights Act).
- (N.D. Ga. 2013) (district court granted a national bank’s emergency motion for TRO and preliminary injunctive relief in connection with former sales executive’s breach of non-solicitation agreement).
- Securitas Security Services USA, Inc. v. Whitt, 5:12-cv-00690-AKK (N.D. Ala. 2012) (district court granted employer’s emergency motion for TRO and preliminary injunctive relief in connection with former employee’s breach of non-disclosure/non-competition/non-solicitation agreement).
- Holland v. Levy Premium Foodservice Ltd. P’ship and Compass Group USA, Inc., No. 11-14518-BB (11th Cir. 2012) (appellate court affirmed district court’s dismissal with prejudice of class action complaint brought by luxury suite attendants at the Georgia Dome, Philips Arena, and the Atlanta Motor Speedway to recover service charge on suite food and beverage purchases through common law claims of breach of contract, breach of third-party beneficiary contract, unjust enrichment/quantum meruit, and conversion).
- Lefevers v. GAF Corp., No. 00-5667 (6th Cir. 2012) (court of appeals affirmed award of summary judgment to employer in ADEA and Tennessee Human Rights Act lawsuit brought by former employee terminated as part of a reduction-in-force).
- Alms v. LexisNexis Occupational Health Sols. Inc. et al.,S. Dist. LEXIS 27081 (S.D. Ala. 2012) (district court granted summary judgment to drug testing program administrator in connection with employee’s negligence, wantonness, and defamation claims).
- (N.D. Ala. 2011) (district court granted a national bank’s motion for summary judgment in lawsuit brought by former employee for sex and pregnancy discrimination under Title VII and race discrimination under 42 U.S.C. § 1981).
- Gordon v. LexisNexis Screening Sols. Inc. et al., No. 3:10-cv-00579-CWR-LRA (S.D. Miss. 2011) (district court dismissed plaintiff’s Fair Credit Reporting Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and negligence claims against consumer reporting agency).
- Smith v. AlliedBarton Sec. Serv. LLC et al., 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 107552 (W.D.N.C. 2011) (district court granted consumer reporting agency’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s Fair Credit Reporting Act, invasion of privacy, and unfair and deceptive trade practices claims and its motion to dismiss co-defendant’s claims for indemnification and contribution).
- Morgan v. Kilgore Flares Co., 1:09-cv-01056-JDB-egb (W.D. Tenn. 2010) (district court granted employer’s motion for summary judgment in lawsuit brought by former employee for race discrimination under Title VII and Tennessee Human Rights Act).
- Maddox v. Chase Home Finance, LLC, 1:09-cv-02943-JOF (N.D. Ga. 2010) (district court granted company’s motion to dismiss pro se plaintiff’s discrimination lawsuit because of failure to timely serve defendant).
- Boatner v. ChoicePoint Workplace Sols. Inc. et al., 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 44264 (D. Or. 2010) (district court granted consumer reporting agency’s motion to dismiss cross claims for contribution and indemnification).
- Woo et al. v. Nike, Inc., 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38465 (N.D. Ga. 2010) (district court granted employer’s motion to transfer case in restrictive covenant litigation involving former employee and her potential new employer).
- Chambers et al. v. North Highland Properties, Inc. et al., 1:09-cv-00291-WSD and 1:09-cv-00502-WSD (N.D. Ga. 2009) (district court granted commercial property owner’s motions for summary judgment in ADA Title III lawsuits).
- Lerman et al. v. The City of Fort Lauderdale, 346 F. App’x 500 (11th Cir. 2009) (court of appeals affirmed grant of summary judgment to city in lawsuit brought by group of police officers who alleged that the city discriminated against them because of their age in violation of the ADEA and the Florida Civil Rights Act by implementing an early retirement incentive plan), denied, 130 S. Ct. 1543 (2010).
- (S.D. Ga. 2009) (court granted a national bank’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s Title VII and common law tort claims).
- Culverson v. GSC Atlanta, Inc., 1:07-cv-00655-JEC (N.D. Ga. 2009) (district court granted employer’s motion for summary judgment in lawsuit brought by former employee for race discrimination and racial and sexual harassment under Title VII).
- Conner v. Lafarge North America Inc., 343 F. App’x 537 (11th Cir. 2009) (grant of summary judgment affirmed in lawsuit filed by current employee who brought claims of race discrimination under Title VII and Section 1981 over denial of promotion).
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Webinar Recording: Navigating Marijuana Law for Employers: Compliance, Testing, and Policy Essentials
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Firm News
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Recognition
08/17/2023
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Legal Update
Jul 5, 2023
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Select Recognition
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Select Recognition
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Litigation - Labor and Employment (2013-2024)
- Recognized for Labor & Employment (Georgia and North Carolina) by Chambers USA (2014-2024)
- The Power List for Employment Law by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly (2024)
Publications
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Publications
- Co-Author, "Minnesota’s New Recreational Cannabis Law Results in First-Of-Its-Kind Drug Testing Scheme," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (July 5, 2023)
- Co-Author, "Method and Madness Behind New California and Washington Cannabis Laws," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (May 11, 2023)
- Co-Author, "New Charlotte Ordinance Expands Employment Non-Discrimination Protections," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (August 31, 2021)
- Co-Author, "Connecticut Becomes the 20th Jurisdiction to Legalize Recreational Marijuana," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (August 26, 2021)
- Co-Author, "North Carolina Changes Separation Payment Requirements and Employer-Notice Requirements for Employee Wages," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (August 12, 2021)
- Co-Author, "Marijuana Breathalyzers: Could New Testing Methods Help Employers And Employees?," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (November 7, 2019)
- Co-Author, "DOT Amends Employee Drug Testing Requirements," Management Alert, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (November 15, 2017)
- Co-Author, "Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Rules That Employers May Need To Accommodate Off-Duty Medical Marijuana Use," Management Alert, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (July 18, 2017)
- Author, “Marijuana at Work - Medical or Not,” ASA Staffing Success (January/February 2014)
- Author, “The Straight Dope on Medical Marijuana,” ASA Staffing Today (February 13, 2012)
- Quoted in “Medical Marijuana Laws Create Dilemma for Firms,” Business Insurance (February 14, 2010)
- Author, “Law Firms Must Respond to Recession,” Atlanta Business Chronicle, at 28A (July 3-9, 2009)
Presentations
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Presentations
- Co-Presenter, “Navigating Marijuana Law for Employers: Compliance, Testing, and Policy Essentials,” Webinar, Seyfath Shaw LLP (December 19, 2024)
- Interview, “Changing Dynamics,” Invest Charlotte | 2022-2023
- "Workplace Drug Testing: OSHA’s New Standard Interpretation Clarifies the Requirements," Webinar, presented by Seyfarth Shaw LLP (January 10, 2019)
- Expert Interview, “GC Agenda - Labor & Employment,” Practical Law The Journal (April 2018)
- Speaker, “SEC Confidentiality Provisions and Whistleblowing Highlights,” 16th Banking and Finance Forum, Charlotte, North Carolina (November 18, 2016)
- Expert Interview, “GC Agenda - Labor & Employment,” Practical Law The Journal (April 2016)
- Expert Interview, “GC Agenda - Labor & Employment,” Practical Law The Journal (July/August 2015)
- Expert Interview, “GC Agenda - Labor & Employment,” Practical Law The Journal (April 2014)
- Expert Interview, “GC Agenda - Labor & Employment,” Practical Law The Journal (October 2013)
- Expert Interview, “GC Agenda - Labor & Employment,” Practical Law The Journal (July/August 2013)
- Speaker, “Best Practices for Drug and Alcohol Testing - What You Need to Know,” American Staffing Association Webinar (February 23, 2012)
- Speaker, “Recommended Practices for Drug Testing and the Use of Medical Marijuana,” Lexington Insurance Webcast (March 10, 2011)
- Speaker, “Preventing Substance Abuse in the Workplace: How to Implement a Successful Program That Saves Dollars and Lives,” Brickhouse of NY, Inc. Webcast (October 26, 2009)
- Speaker, “State and Federal Legislative Update,” Employment, Labor & Benefits Issues for the New Economic & Political Environment Seminar, Atlanta, Georgia (May 15, 2008)
- Television Interview, CBS 46 Investigates: City of Atlanta Payroll (February 20, 2008)
- Speaker, “Controlling Substance Abuse,” National Association of Tower Erectors Convention, Orlando, Florida (February 12, 2008)
- Speaker, “Avoiding Legal Jeopardy: Legal Trends in the Staffing Industry,” Labor Finders International, Inc. Convention, Miami, Florida (August 18, 2007)
- Speaker, “Religious Accommodation Principles: Balancing Bible Belt Values, a Diverse Work Force and an Increasingly Secular World,” Compliance Boot Camps for the HR Professional, Dalton and Atlanta, Georgia (April 3, 2007 and May 15, 2007)
- Speaker, “Protecting The Executive Suite,” The Association of Corporate Counsel, Atlanta, Georgia, (June 20, 2006)
- Speaker, “What Advocates Want From Mediators: Empathy? Effectiveness? Evaluation? All of the Above?” The American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution’s Spring Conference, Atlanta, Georgia (April 8, 2006)
- Moderator, “Conducting Investigations of Complaints of Harassment, Discrimination, Fraud & Corruption”, NorthStar Conferences LLC’s Advanced Approaches to Labor and Employment Law and Employee Benefits for In-House Counsel Conference, New York City (May 5, 2005)
- Speaker, “Cutting Edge Ideas on the Use of Affirmative Defenses,” The Atlanta Bar Association Advanced Employment Law Conference and Retreat, (March 18, 2005)
Civic & Charitable
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Civic & Charitable
- The Fletcher School Board of Trustees
- Pro bono counselor on employment issues to multiple non-profit organizations in Georgia and North Carolina
- Wake Forest University Alumni Council
- Adjunct Professor, Wake Forest University School of Law
- Center for Banking and Finance Board of Advisors
Fritz represents employers in all phases of complex employment litigation.
More About Fritz
Fritz is an experienced employment litigator based in the Southeast who manages several of the firm’s largest employment portfolio relationships, leveraging his teams’ collective experience and his commitment to client service to deliver superior results and value. During his tenure as the chair of the firm’s Employment Litigation and Counseling practice group, Fritz was one of the principal architects of the SeyfarthLean administrative agency charge and employment litigation flat fee service offerings and one of the firm’s early adopters of Six Sigma business process improvement methodologies to deliver legal services. As a result, the majority of the routine employment matters that Fritz and his teams handle across the country are done so under flat fee and other alternative billing arrangements. Fritz employs the same philosophy and methodologies in efficiently managing and successfully resolving class and other complex employment litigation actions.
Fritz represents employers in numerous industries (including financial services, background screening, risk information, technology, retail, defense, hospitality, health care, and biopharmaceutical ) in a wide variety of labor and employment law matters. Fritz devotes the majority of his practice to state and federal court litigation and arbitration (AAA and FINRA) matters, including actions involving claims brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and various other local, state, and federal statutes, as well as a myriad of state law tort and contract claims.
Fritz has significant experience representing employers in all phases of complex employment litigation, including:
- Multiplaintiff and class action lawsuits under the ADA, Title VII/Section 1981, the FCRA, RICO, and state law claims
- Collective actions under the ADEA, EPA, and FLSA
- Lawsuits filed by the EEOC in federal courts across the country
- EEOC Commissioner’s Charges
Fritz also serves as a trusted advisor to General Counsel, C-suite executives and their management teams, and HR professionals regarding their employment policies and practices to help them comply with local, state, and federal laws and to avoid the expense and other wasted resources associated with state and federal court litigation. Fritz also is a nationally recognized authority on workplace drug and alcohol testing policies and practices.
Fritz is also the Co-Managing Partner of the firm’s recently opened Charlotte office.
Fritz represents employers in numerous industries (including financial services, background screening, risk information, technology, retail, defense, hospitality, health care, and biopharmaceutical ) in a wide variety of labor and employment law matters. Fritz devotes the majority of his practice to state and federal court litigation and arbitration (AAA and FINRA) matters, including actions involving claims brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and various other local, state, and federal statutes, as well as a myriad of state law tort and contract claims.
Fritz has significant experience representing employers in all phases of complex employment litigation, including:
- Multiplaintiff and class action lawsuits under the ADA, Title VII/Section 1981, the FCRA, RICO, and state law claims
- Collective actions under the ADEA, EPA, and FLSA
- Lawsuits filed by the EEOC in federal courts across the country
- EEOC Commissioner’s Charges
Fritz also serves as a trusted advisor to General Counsel, C-suite executives and their management teams, and HR professionals regarding their employment policies and practices to help them comply with local, state, and federal laws and to avoid the expense and other wasted resources associated with state and federal court litigation. Fritz also is a nationally recognized authority on workplace drug and alcohol testing policies and practices.
Fritz is also the Co-Managing Partner of the firm’s recently opened Charlotte office.
Education
Click to expand content section
Education
- JD, University of Pennsylvania Law School
Comparative Labor Law Journal, associate editor
- BA, Wake Forest University
Magna cum laude
Admissions
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Admissions
- Georgia
- Illinois
- North Carolina
Courts
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Courts
- US Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
- US District Court, Middle District of Florida
- US District Court, Northern District of Florida
- US District Court, Middle District of Georgia
- US District Court, Northern District of Georgia
- US District Court, Southern District of Georgia
- US District Court, Central District of Illinois
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- US District Court, Southern District of Illinois
- US District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- US District Court, Western District of Michigan
- US District Court, Western District of New York
- US District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina
- US District Court, Middle District of North Carolina
- US District Court, Western District of North Carolina
- US District Court, Western District of Tennessee
- US District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
- Supreme Court of Georgia
- Georgia Court of Appeals
- Georgia Superior Courts
- Illinois Supreme Court
- Illinois Appellate Court
- North Carolina Supreme Court
- North Carolina Court of Appeals
- North Carolina Superior Court
Related Key Industries
Related Key Industries
Blogs
Blogs
EXPERIENCE
Click to collapse content section
EXPERIENCE
- (W.D.N.C 2024) (district court granted national banking associations’ motions to dismiss plaintiff’s failure to hire claims brought under Title VII, the ADEA, and the ADA).
- Wilson v. First Advantage Background Servs. Corp., No. 21-CV-06071-SRB, 2023 WL 5667905 (W.D. Mo. July 18, 2023) (district court denied class certification to putative class of consumers who claimed their background checks were inaccurate in violation of the FCRA).
- (4th2022) (court of appeals affirmed grant of summary judgment to national banking association and denial of summary judgment to former employee in connection with his failure to promote, termination, and other race discrimination claims under Title VII).
- Garner v. Lowe’s Home Centers, LLC, 5:21-cv-00121-KDB-DCK (W.D.N.C. 2022) (district court granted company’s motion to dismiss employee’s Title VII race and gender claims for her failure to allege she suffered an adverse employment action).
- Frazier v. First Advantage Background Servs. Corp., 3:17-cv-00030-MHL (E.D. Va. 2019) (district court dismissed, with prejudice, multiple class action claims brought by 18 named plaintiffs against consumer reporting agency under the FCRA for lack of standing and inadequate pleading).
- Erickson v. First Advantage Background Servs. Corp., 1:16-cv-01894-ODE (N.D. Ga. 2019) (trial court granted directed verdict in favor of consumer reporting agency in a lawsuit brought by consumer under the FCRA).
- (D.S.C. 2019) (district court granted summary judgment to national banking association in defamation lawsuit brought by former employee, holding that bank’s statement to FINRA regarding the reason for employee’s termination in Form U5 was protected by a qualified privilege under South Carolina law).
- Rozelle v. Munich American Reassurance Co., No. 1:16-cv-03828-LMM (N.D. Ga. 2018) (district court granted summary judgment to company in lawsuit brought by former employee who claimed the company failed to rehire him for two positions in retaliation and because of his race, sex, and age in violation of Title VII and the ADEA).
- Business Health Sols. v. First Advantage Corp. et al., 2:18-cv-10931-PDB-DRG (N.D. Ill. 2018) (plaintiff voluntarily dismissed class action brought under Telephone Consumer Protection Act).
- (N.D. Ala. 2018) (district court granted motion for summary judgment to national bank in lawsuit filed by former employee for race and sex discrimination and retaliation under Title VII).
- Abram v. ALDI Inc. et al., No. 8:16-cv-00072-EAK-TGW (M.D. Fla. 2017) (district court granted summary judgment to company and one of its presidents in lawsuit brought by applicant who claimed she was denied employment because of her race in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1981 and the Florida Civil Rights Act).
- Hurtado v. ALDI Inc., Case No. 2017-CA-008760 (Hillsborough Cty., Fla. Cir. Ct. 2017) (plaintiff voluntarily dismissed Fair Credit Reporting Act class action against employer).
- Pasternack v. LexisNexis Occupational Health Sols. Inc. et al., 14-4101 (2d Cir. 2016) (court of appeals affirmed district court order granting drug testing program administrator’s motion to dismiss employee’s negligence and fraud claims).
- Whitten v. MetLife Securities Inc., 16-00122 (FINRA 2016) (arbitrator denied claimant’s request for expungement of termination information in Form U5 and for compensatory damages).
- Muir v. First Advantage Background Servs. Corp., 2:16-cv-00521 (D.N.J. 2016) (district court granted consumer reporting agency’s motion to dismiss employee’s FCRA class action complaint).
- McGuire v. 3M Co., 6:14-cv-02015-LCS (N.D. Ala. 2016) (district court granted employer’s motion for summary judgment in lawsuit brought by former employee for race discrimination under Title VII and 42 U.S.C. § 1981).
- Rocheleau v. First Advantage LNS Screening Sols., Inc., 15-1588 (6th Cir. 2016) (appellate court affirmed district court grant of summary judgment to consumer reporting agency, holding FCRA’s two-year statute of limitations barred lawsuit).
- Millman v. First Advantage Background Servs. Corp., 2:15-cv-00134-DRH-GRB (E.D.N.Y. 2015) (district court granted drug testing service agent’s motion to dismiss donor’s disability discrimination claims under ADA and New York State Human Rights Law).
- Kugler v. LexisNexis Occupational Health Solutions Inc., No. 1:12-cv-00840-WCG (E.D. Wis. 2015) (jury verdict in favor of drug testing service agent in connection with donor’s negligence claim under Wisconsin law).
- Holland v. Compass Group USA, Inc., 2015 WL 4208623 (W.D.N.C. 2015) (district court granted employer’s motion to dismiss lawsuit brought by former employee for race discrimination and retaliation under Title VII and wrongful termination under North Carolina law).
- (11th Cir. 2015) (appellate court affirmed district court grant of summary judgment to national bank in lawsuit by former employee for national origin and sex discrimination and retaliation under Title VII, discriminatory pay under EPA, and disability discrimination under ADA).
- Johnson v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 1:12-cv-03823-TWT (N.D. Ga. 2015) (district court granted employer’s motion for summary judgment in lawsuit brought by former employee for race discrimination and retaliation under Title VII and 42 U.S.C. § 1981).
- Stovall v. Compass Group USA, Inc., 2014 WL 2803522 (S.D. Ala. 2014) (district court granted employer’s motion for summary judgment in lawsuit brought by former employee for race and religious discrimination and retaliation under Title VII).
- Mynatt v. Morrison Mgmt. Specialists, Inc. et al., 3:12-cv-00303-RLJ-HBG (E.D. Tenn. 2014) (district court granted employer’s motion for summary judgment in lawsuit brought by former employee for disability discrimination and retaliation under ADA and gender and race discrimination, hostile work environment, and retaliation under Title VII).
- Austin v. Compass Group USA, Inc., 2:12-cv-02564-RDP (N.D. Ala. 2014) (district court granted employer’s motion for summary judgment in lawsuit brought by former employee for race discrimination and retaliation under Title VII).
- Jackson v. LexisNexis Risk Sols. FL Inc., 3:11-cv-00778-WHB-RHW (S.D. Miss. 2013) (district court granted employer’s motion for summary judgment in lawsuit brought by former employee for gender discrimination and retaliation under Title VII, age discrimination under ADEA, and infliction of emotional distress under Mississippi law).
- Toussaint v. JPMorgan Chase & Co., 32 524 00285 12 (AAA 2013) (arbitrator granted summary judgment to employer on claimant’s national origin and race discrimination claims under Title VII and Florida Civil Rights Act).
- (N.D. Ga. 2013) (district court granted a national bank’s emergency motion for TRO and preliminary injunctive relief in connection with former sales executive’s breach of non-solicitation agreement).
- Securitas Security Services USA, Inc. v. Whitt, 5:12-cv-00690-AKK (N.D. Ala. 2012) (district court granted employer’s emergency motion for TRO and preliminary injunctive relief in connection with former employee’s breach of non-disclosure/non-competition/non-solicitation agreement).
- Holland v. Levy Premium Foodservice Ltd. P’ship and Compass Group USA, Inc., No. 11-14518-BB (11th Cir. 2012) (appellate court affirmed district court’s dismissal with prejudice of class action complaint brought by luxury suite attendants at the Georgia Dome, Philips Arena, and the Atlanta Motor Speedway to recover service charge on suite food and beverage purchases through common law claims of breach of contract, breach of third-party beneficiary contract, unjust enrichment/quantum meruit, and conversion).
- Lefevers v. GAF Corp., No. 00-5667 (6th Cir. 2012) (court of appeals affirmed award of summary judgment to employer in ADEA and Tennessee Human Rights Act lawsuit brought by former employee terminated as part of a reduction-in-force).
- Alms v. LexisNexis Occupational Health Sols. Inc. et al.,S. Dist. LEXIS 27081 (S.D. Ala. 2012) (district court granted summary judgment to drug testing program administrator in connection with employee’s negligence, wantonness, and defamation claims).
- (N.D. Ala. 2011) (district court granted a national bank’s motion for summary judgment in lawsuit brought by former employee for sex and pregnancy discrimination under Title VII and race discrimination under 42 U.S.C. § 1981).
- Gordon v. LexisNexis Screening Sols. Inc. et al., No. 3:10-cv-00579-CWR-LRA (S.D. Miss. 2011) (district court dismissed plaintiff’s Fair Credit Reporting Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and negligence claims against consumer reporting agency).
- Smith v. AlliedBarton Sec. Serv. LLC et al., 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 107552 (W.D.N.C. 2011) (district court granted consumer reporting agency’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s Fair Credit Reporting Act, invasion of privacy, and unfair and deceptive trade practices claims and its motion to dismiss co-defendant’s claims for indemnification and contribution).
- Morgan v. Kilgore Flares Co., 1:09-cv-01056-JDB-egb (W.D. Tenn. 2010) (district court granted employer’s motion for summary judgment in lawsuit brought by former employee for race discrimination under Title VII and Tennessee Human Rights Act).
- Maddox v. Chase Home Finance, LLC, 1:09-cv-02943-JOF (N.D. Ga. 2010) (district court granted company’s motion to dismiss pro se plaintiff’s discrimination lawsuit because of failure to timely serve defendant).
- Boatner v. ChoicePoint Workplace Sols. Inc. et al., 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 44264 (D. Or. 2010) (district court granted consumer reporting agency’s motion to dismiss cross claims for contribution and indemnification).
- Woo et al. v. Nike, Inc., 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38465 (N.D. Ga. 2010) (district court granted employer’s motion to transfer case in restrictive covenant litigation involving former employee and her potential new employer).
- Chambers et al. v. North Highland Properties, Inc. et al., 1:09-cv-00291-WSD and 1:09-cv-00502-WSD (N.D. Ga. 2009) (district court granted commercial property owner’s motions for summary judgment in ADA Title III lawsuits).
- Lerman et al. v. The City of Fort Lauderdale, 346 F. App’x 500 (11th Cir. 2009) (court of appeals affirmed grant of summary judgment to city in lawsuit brought by group of police officers who alleged that the city discriminated against them because of their age in violation of the ADEA and the Florida Civil Rights Act by implementing an early retirement incentive plan), denied, 130 S. Ct. 1543 (2010).
- (S.D. Ga. 2009) (court granted a national bank’s motion to dismiss plaintiff’s Title VII and common law tort claims).
- Culverson v. GSC Atlanta, Inc., 1:07-cv-00655-JEC (N.D. Ga. 2009) (district court granted employer’s motion for summary judgment in lawsuit brought by former employee for race discrimination and racial and sexual harassment under Title VII).
- Conner v. Lafarge North America Inc., 343 F. App’x 537 (11th Cir. 2009) (grant of summary judgment affirmed in lawsuit filed by current employee who brought claims of race discrimination under Title VII and Section 1981 over denial of promotion).
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Firm News
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08/17/2023
210 Seyfarth Attorneys Chosen as Leaders in Their Fields by Best Lawyers in America 2024
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Legal Update
Jul 5, 2023
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Select Recognition
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Select Recognition
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Litigation - Labor and Employment (2013-2024)
- Recognized for Labor & Employment (Georgia and North Carolina) by Chambers USA (2014-2024)
- The Power List for Employment Law by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly (2024)
Publications
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Publications
- Co-Author, "Minnesota’s New Recreational Cannabis Law Results in First-Of-Its-Kind Drug Testing Scheme," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (July 5, 2023)
- Co-Author, "Method and Madness Behind New California and Washington Cannabis Laws," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (May 11, 2023)
- Co-Author, "New Charlotte Ordinance Expands Employment Non-Discrimination Protections," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (August 31, 2021)
- Co-Author, "Connecticut Becomes the 20th Jurisdiction to Legalize Recreational Marijuana," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (August 26, 2021)
- Co-Author, "North Carolina Changes Separation Payment Requirements and Employer-Notice Requirements for Employee Wages," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (August 12, 2021)
- Co-Author, "Marijuana Breathalyzers: Could New Testing Methods Help Employers And Employees?," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (November 7, 2019)
- Co-Author, "DOT Amends Employee Drug Testing Requirements," Management Alert, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (November 15, 2017)
- Co-Author, "Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Rules That Employers May Need To Accommodate Off-Duty Medical Marijuana Use," Management Alert, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (July 18, 2017)
- Author, “Marijuana at Work - Medical or Not,” ASA Staffing Success (January/February 2014)
- Author, “The Straight Dope on Medical Marijuana,” ASA Staffing Today (February 13, 2012)
- Quoted in “Medical Marijuana Laws Create Dilemma for Firms,” Business Insurance (February 14, 2010)
- Author, “Law Firms Must Respond to Recession,” Atlanta Business Chronicle, at 28A (July 3-9, 2009)
Presentations
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Presentations
- Co-Presenter, “Navigating Marijuana Law for Employers: Compliance, Testing, and Policy Essentials,” Webinar, Seyfath Shaw LLP (December 19, 2024)
- Interview, “Changing Dynamics,” Invest Charlotte | 2022-2023
- "Workplace Drug Testing: OSHA’s New Standard Interpretation Clarifies the Requirements," Webinar, presented by Seyfarth Shaw LLP (January 10, 2019)
- Expert Interview, “GC Agenda - Labor & Employment,” Practical Law The Journal (April 2018)
- Speaker, “SEC Confidentiality Provisions and Whistleblowing Highlights,” 16th Banking and Finance Forum, Charlotte, North Carolina (November 18, 2016)
- Expert Interview, “GC Agenda - Labor & Employment,” Practical Law The Journal (April 2016)
- Expert Interview, “GC Agenda - Labor & Employment,” Practical Law The Journal (July/August 2015)
- Expert Interview, “GC Agenda - Labor & Employment,” Practical Law The Journal (April 2014)
- Expert Interview, “GC Agenda - Labor & Employment,” Practical Law The Journal (October 2013)
- Expert Interview, “GC Agenda - Labor & Employment,” Practical Law The Journal (July/August 2013)
- Speaker, “Best Practices for Drug and Alcohol Testing - What You Need to Know,” American Staffing Association Webinar (February 23, 2012)
- Speaker, “Recommended Practices for Drug Testing and the Use of Medical Marijuana,” Lexington Insurance Webcast (March 10, 2011)
- Speaker, “Preventing Substance Abuse in the Workplace: How to Implement a Successful Program That Saves Dollars and Lives,” Brickhouse of NY, Inc. Webcast (October 26, 2009)
- Speaker, “State and Federal Legislative Update,” Employment, Labor & Benefits Issues for the New Economic & Political Environment Seminar, Atlanta, Georgia (May 15, 2008)
- Television Interview, CBS 46 Investigates: City of Atlanta Payroll (February 20, 2008)
- Speaker, “Controlling Substance Abuse,” National Association of Tower Erectors Convention, Orlando, Florida (February 12, 2008)
- Speaker, “Avoiding Legal Jeopardy: Legal Trends in the Staffing Industry,” Labor Finders International, Inc. Convention, Miami, Florida (August 18, 2007)
- Speaker, “Religious Accommodation Principles: Balancing Bible Belt Values, a Diverse Work Force and an Increasingly Secular World,” Compliance Boot Camps for the HR Professional, Dalton and Atlanta, Georgia (April 3, 2007 and May 15, 2007)
- Speaker, “Protecting The Executive Suite,” The Association of Corporate Counsel, Atlanta, Georgia, (June 20, 2006)
- Speaker, “What Advocates Want From Mediators: Empathy? Effectiveness? Evaluation? All of the Above?” The American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution’s Spring Conference, Atlanta, Georgia (April 8, 2006)
- Moderator, “Conducting Investigations of Complaints of Harassment, Discrimination, Fraud & Corruption”, NorthStar Conferences LLC’s Advanced Approaches to Labor and Employment Law and Employee Benefits for In-House Counsel Conference, New York City (May 5, 2005)
- Speaker, “Cutting Edge Ideas on the Use of Affirmative Defenses,” The Atlanta Bar Association Advanced Employment Law Conference and Retreat, (March 18, 2005)
Civic & Charitable
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Civic & Charitable
- The Fletcher School Board of Trustees
- Pro bono counselor on employment issues to multiple non-profit organizations in Georgia and North Carolina
- Wake Forest University Alumni Council
- Adjunct Professor, Wake Forest University School of Law
- Center for Banking and Finance Board of Advisors