Benton N. Wood
Recognized since 2009
Orlando, Florida
Employment Law - Management
Labor Law - Management
Litigation - Labor and Employment
Benton Wood is a partner in the firm's Orlando office. He represents private and public sector employers in all aspects of employment and labor law.
Benton specializes in employment law litigation and has litigated a multitude of employment-related claims on behalf of management, including: sex discrimination, race discrimination, age discrimination, national origin discrimination, disability discrimination, unlawful retaliation, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) violations, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) violations, Equal Pay Act (EPA) violations, Whistle-blower retaliation, workers' compensation retaliation, civil rights violations (including violations of the 1st, 4th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution), unpaid wage violations, breach of employment contracts, breach of settlement agreements, defamation, invasion of privacy, assault, battery, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligent hiring.
Benton also has extensive experience representing public and private sector employers throughout Central Florida in employment arbitrations conducted under the rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) and the Florida Arbitration Code.
Benton represents management in other labor matters, including labor negotiations, impasse proceedings and unfair labor practice litigation with the State of Florida Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC).
Contact & Links
- Lawyer Page: https://www.fisherphillips.com/attorneys-bwood
Location
- 200 South Orange Avenue, Suite 1100
Orlando, FL 32801
Education
- University of Miami School of Law, graduated 1992
- University of Florida, graduated 1985
Bar Admissions
- Florida, Florida Bar
Affiliations
- Central Florida Credit Association - Former President
129 The Best Lawyers in America® awards
66 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards

Recognized in The Best Lawyers® in America 2023 for work in:
- Employment Law - Management
- Labor Law - Management
- Litigation - Labor and Employment
Special Focus
- Arbitration and Mediation
- Litigation
- Management
- Public and Private Sectors
- Title VII Litigation
Hornfeld v. City of North Miami Beach, 98-0580-CIV-Huck/Simonton (S.D. Fla.)
Obtained defense verdcit from jury in trial alleging age discrimination in employer''s use of early retirement program.Hull v. Cash America, 98-607-CIV-ORL-19A (M.D. Fla)
Obtained jury verdict in trial of age discrimination and retaliation claims for failure to promote assistant store manager.Merrick v. Rinker Materials, 5:08-CV-00060-WTH-GRJ (M.D. Fla.)
Obtained jury verdict at trial in defense of age discrimination claim based on employer''s decision to terminate lease agreement of contract driver. Jury held that Merrick was an independent contractor and not employee of Rinker. Rinker was at risk of being forced to convert all of its contract drivers to employee status had the jury found Merrick to be an employee.Kemp v. Volusia County, et. al, 764 So.2d 770 (Fla. 7th Jud. Cir.)
Obtained reversal on appeal based on trial court''''s admission of inadmissible expert opinion testimony.Your browser is not fully compatible with our automatic printer friendly formatting.
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