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Henry N. Patterson, Jr.

Partner
Phone: (919) 942-5200
Toll Free: (800) 458-2541
Fax: (866) 397-8671
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Attorney Henry N. Patterson, Jr., is a Founding Partner of Patterson Harkavy, LLP. With more than 50 years of experience in the practice of law, his practice is focused on workers’ compensation, labor and employment, and disability entitlements. Hank is a Board Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law.

Hank graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1963 and from UNC Law School in 1966, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif. Before entering private practice, he served as law clerk to the Honorable J. Braxton Craven, Jr., of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and worked as an attorney in Region 11 of the National Labor Relations Board.

He has served on legislative study commissions and as Chair of the Workers’ Rights Section of the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, Co-Chair of the North Carolina Bar Association’s Workers’ Compensation Committee, and member of the Advisory Council to the Chair of the North Carolina Industrial Commission.

Read about Hank’s recent activities on our blog.

Areas of Practice
Bar Admissions
  • North Carolina, 1966
Certification/Specialties
  • Board Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law
Professional Experience
  • Patterson Harkavy, LLP, Founding Partner, 1970 – present
  • National Labor Relations Board, Attorney, Region 11, 1967 – 1969
  • Honorable J. Braxton Craven, Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, Law Clerk, 1966-1967
Education
  • University of North Carolina School of Law, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 1966 J.D., Order of the Coif
  • University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 1963 A.B.
Professional Associations and Memberships
  • American Bar Association
    • Workers’ Compensation Committee, Section of Labor and Employment Law – Past Union-Employee Co-Chair
  • North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers
    • Workers’ Rights Section – Past Chair
  • North Carolina Bar Association
    • Workers’ Compensation Committee, Litigation Section – Past Co-Chair
  • North Carolina Industrial Commission, Past Advisory Council Member
  • College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers, Fellow
  • National Academy of Social Insurance, Past Member of the Membership Committee and Study Panel on Workers’ Compensation Data
  • American Association for Justice
  • North Carolina State Bar, Past Member of the State Board of Legal Specialization Workers’ Compensation Specialty Committee
  • National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives
  • AFL-CIO Union Lawyers Alliance
  • Workers’ Injury Law & Advocacy Group, Member of Board of Directors
Notable Cases
  • In re Sarvis, 296 N.C. 475, 251 S.E.2d 434 (1979) (labor dispute disqualification for unemployment benefits ended when employees unconditionally offered to return to work notwithstanding pending NLRB proceedings)
  • Fayne v. Fieldcrest Mills, Inc., 54 N.C. App. 144, 282 S.E.2d 539 (1981) (depression from frustration from delay in recuperating from compensable injury is itself compensable)
  • Taylor v. Cone Mills Corp., 306 N.C. 314, 293 S.E.2d 189 (1982) (byssinosis is an inflammation of an external contact surface of the body and compensable within the meaning of 1963 statute)
  • Mitchell v. Fieldcrest Mills, Inc., 84 N.C. App. 661, 353 S.E.2d 638 (1987) (permanent and total disability was caused by compensable back injury and pre-existing diabetes and osteoarthritis aggravating each other and acting together)
  • Haponski v. Constructors, Inc., 87 N.C. App. 95, 360 S.E.2d 109 (1987) (psychiatric testimony that inability to work was from increased depression secondary to chronic pain supported change of condition)
  • Pickrell v. Motor Convoy, Inc., 322 N.C. 363, 368 S.E.2d 582 (1988) (the presumption arises that death is proximately caused by a compensable work related injury when death occurs within course of employment)
  • English v. J.P. Stevens & Co., 95 N.C. App. 466, 391 S.E.2d 499 (1990) (pregnancy was not intentional intervening conduct interrupting the chain of causation from compensable back injury to need for Caesarian surgery)
  • Hyler v. GTE Products Co, 333 N.C. 258, 425 S.E.2d 698 (1993) (employees are entitled to lifetime medical treatment for compensable injury without showing of change of condition)
  • Dinkins v. Federal Paper Board Co., 120 N.C. App. 192, 461 S.E.2d 909 (1995) (change of physical capacity to earn wages alone is sufficient to reopen claim on the grounds of change of condition)
  • Weaver v. American National Can Corp., 123 N.C. App. 507, 473 S.E.2d. 10 (1996) (Commission reversed when findings impermissibly disregarded coworkers’ corroborating testimony)
  • Kanipe v. Lane Upholstery, 141 N.C. App. 620, 540 S.E.2d 785 (2000) (employer has right to direct medical treatment only after accepting employee’s claim)
  • Shoemaker v. Creative Builders, 150 N.C.App. 523, 563 S.E.2d 622(2002) (employee is not required to participate in vocational rehabilitation when futile; injuries from vehicle accident caused by the effects of compensable encephalitis are compensable)
  • Rawls v. Yellow Roadway Corp., 219 N.C. App. 191, 723 S.E.2d 573 (2012) (employee entitled to full compensation where no scientific basis to apportion between injury and unrelated causes)