Henrikson v. First Union National Bank

Henrikson v. First Union National Bank Summary

What Happened

An employee named Henrikson had a dispute with First Union National Bank over a contract disagreement. The case involved whether an agreement made in September counted as valid under time limit rules, and whether a written agreement made in December properly recorded an earlier verbal agreement between Henrikson and the bank.

What the Court Decided

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals partially sided with each party. The court upheld the lower court's decision that certain claims were filed too late under time limit rules. However, the court disagreed about the written agreement issue and sent that part back to the lower court for a new decision, saying there were unresolved questions about whether the December agreement actually matched what was verbally agreed to in September.

Why This Matters for Workers

This case shows that verbal promises from employers may not count without written proof. Workers should request written confirmation of any important employment agreements, especially if an oral agreement was made first. Time limits matter too—employees must file claims within required deadlines or lose their right to sue.