Justice Department sues Google over Army reservist's reemployment; Google disputes the claims
The Justice Department alleges Google failed to restore Army reservist Mark Davisson to equivalent work after military leave. He retained his pay and title, but allegedly lost account responsibilities and opportunities. Google disputes the complaint.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
On October 29, 2026, Mark Davisson, a former Google employee and Army reservist represented by Justice Department lawyers, filed a USERRA lawsuit against Google. The complaint alleges that Google failed to restore him to work of equivalent status after his 2022-2023 military service. Google says it disagrees with the claims.
The complaint says Davisson kept his pay and title but received no customer accounts, later joined another team and was terminated in an August 2024 workforce reduction. It seeks reinstatement, lost compensation and other relief.
Read the full background
The pleaded claim concerns reemployment of like status, including responsibility and opportunity. The complaint recounts a second military leave and termination, but those allegations do not by themselves establish a separate finding of retaliation. Google's spokesperson says the company takes employment-law compliance seriously.
Timeline
1 timeline entry on this page. Dates: October 29, 2026
October 2026
Davisson files a USERRA complaint through Justice Department counsel
Claim
The lawsuit seeks equivalent employment, compensation and other relief over Google's alleged failure to restore like status.
[01]United States Department of Justice
The government represents Davisson in a lawsuit alleging that Google failed to restore equivalent status after military service.
Mark Davisson v. Google: USERRA complaint · United States Department of JusticeNo. 1:26-cv-09465, Document 1, paragraphs 13-33 and requested relief[02]US files lawsuit claiming Google wouldn't give employee new job following military leave
Reuters reporting republished by CNA, including Google's response from spokesperson Atle Erlingsson.
US files lawsuit claiming Google wouldn't give employee new job following military leaveGoogle spokesperson Atle Erlingsson's emailed response
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
United States Department of Justice
Google failed to reemploy Davisson in a position of like status after military service.
What is disputed
Google's alleged failure to restore Davisson to employment of like status after military service.
Sources (1)
- Mark Davisson v. Google: USERRA complaint · United States Department of JusticeNo. 1:26-cv-09465, Document 1, paragraphs 13-33 and requested relief
Response record
Responses
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2 responses. Newest first.
United States Department of JusticeSouthern District of New York U.S. Attorney's Office, representing plaintiff Mark DavissonDirectly involvedBefore this statement
The complaint says Davisson kept his pay and title as a Key Account Executive, or KAE, but lost customer-account responsibilities.
"Google has violated USERRA by failing to reemploy Davisson in a position of like status, i.e., as a KAE who was responsible for managing a specific customer account, which is the position in which he would have been employed but for his military service."
CondemnedCase context: Justice Department sues Google over Army reservist's reemployment; Google disputes the claims
Full statement and sources
The government alleges that Google failed to restore Davisson to work of like status following military service.
After the statement
It requests reinstatement, lost pay and benefits, damages and changes to policies and training.
Mark Davisson v. Google: USERRA complaint · United States Department of JusticeNo. 1:26-cv-09465, Document 1, paragraphs 13-33 and requested reliefWhy this label?
Relative to Google's reemployment conduct, the complaint expressly alleges a violation of servicemember protections.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Google LLCCompany, through spokesperson Atle Erlingsson in an email to ReutersDirectly involvedBefore this statement
Reuters describes the government's allegations about equivalent employment after military leave.
"We disagree with the claims in this complaint"
DeniedCase context: Justice Department sues Google over Army reservist's reemployment; Google disputes the claims
Full statement and sources
Google disputes the complaint and says it takes employment-law compliance seriously.
After the statement
Erlingsson says Google investigates allegations of workplace wrongdoing.
US files lawsuit claiming Google wouldn't give employee new job following military leaveGoogle spokesperson Atle Erlingsson's emailed responseWhy this label?
Google expressly rejects the complaint's claims about the alleged reemployment violation.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(2)
Original text
Mark Davisson v. Google: USERRA complaint
Relevant passage: No. 1:26-cv-09465, Document 1, paragraphs 13-33 and requested relief
About this source
The government represents Davisson in a lawsuit alleging that Google failed to restore equivalent status after military service.
- Author
- United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
US files lawsuit claiming Google wouldn't give employee new job following military leave
Relevant passage: Google spokesperson Atle Erlingsson's emailed response
About this source
Reuters reporting republished by CNA, including Google's response from spokesperson Atle Erlingsson.
- Author
- Jonathan Stempel, Reuters
- Published
- Accessed
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- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Justice Department sues Google over Army reservist's reemployment; Google disputes the claims
- First published
- Last updated
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- https://disputeindex.com/cases/google-mark-davisson-army-reservist-userra-lawsuit
The Dispute Index. "Justice Department sues Google over Army reservist's reemployment; Google disputes the claims". First published: 2026-10-30. Last updated: 2026-10-30. https://disputeindex.com/cases/google-mark-davisson-army-reservist-userra-lawsuit