Michael W. Ballance

Background

Michael’s practice focuses primarily on workers’ compensation law. He represents clients at all stages of workers’ compensation proceedings, from mediations through appeals to the Supreme Court. Michael has appeared in no less than seven Supreme Court and 20 Court of Appeals cases involving workers’ compensation claims. These include the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Adams v. AVX Corp. Michael serves as an adjunct professor at UNC School of Law where he teaches Workers Compensation Law and Practice and at Campbell University School of Law, where he teaches Legal Research and Writing. Michael is also certified by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission to conduct mediated settlement conferences in Superior Court and Industrial Commission cases.

Michael, a native of Raleigh, clerked for two years for Chief Justice I. Beverly Lake, Jr. on the North Carolina Supreme Court, and was in private practice with another law firm in Raleigh for a number of years. Michael joined the workers’ compensation team at Young Moore and Henderson in 2003 and is now a shareholder. Michael is married to his high school sweetheart, Jennie, and they have three sons. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, cheering for his kids’ sports teams, and on the rare occasion when there is some time left over, reading history and working in the yard.

Practice Areas

• Workers' Compensation
• Employment Law
• Appellate Practice
• NCDRC Certified Superior Court Mediator

Education & Bar Admissions

• J.D. with Honors, University of North Carolina School of Law, 1996
• B.A., magna cum laude, North Carolina State University, 1992

Admitted in

• North Carolina, 1996

Awards & Achievements

• Listed in North Carolina Super Lawyers™, 2009
• Who’s Who: American Law Students – 15th and 16th Editions
• First Place – North Carolina Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulation Writing Competition, 1994
• American Jurisprudence Award, 1994
• Editor-in-Chief, North Carolina Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulation

Professional & Civic Activity

• Wake County Bar Association
• North Carolina Bar Association
• N.C. Association of Defense Attorneys
• Adjunct Professor, University of North Carolina School of Law, Workers’ Compensation Law and Practice, 2004-present
• Adjunct Professor, Campbell Law School, Legal Research and Writing, 2009-present
• Adjunct Professor, University of North Carolina School of Law, Research Writing and Appellate Advocacy, 2001-2006
• Employment Law Instructor, Wake Technical Community College, Raleigh, NC, 1998-1999

Publications & Presentations

• “Rewarding Liars and Punishing Truthseekers: The Misguided Law on Misrepresentation at Hire in North Carolina Workers’ Compensation and a Proposal for Legislative Change,”  Charlotte Law Review, Vol. 1, No. 2, p. 277 (Fall 2009).
• “A Stitch in Time Saves Nine: Returning Injured Employees to the Workforce Quickly, Efficiently, and Legally,” Lorman Educational Seminars, Raleigh, North Carolina (May 2007).
• “An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure: Minimizing Loss by Being Proactive,” Lorman Educational Seminars, Raleigh, North Carolina (May 2007).
• “Workers’ Compensation: New Laws and Significant Recent Decisions,” UNC School of Law Festival of Legal Learning, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (February 2006).
• “Presumption? What Presumption? Sims, Clark, Perez, et al.,” North Carolina Bar Association Workers’ Compensation Section Meeting, Greensboro, North Carolina (February 2006).
• “Johnson v. Southern Tire: Implications for North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Claims,” North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys, Raleigh, North Carolina (March 2005).
• “Advanced Legal Drafting for North Carolina Paralegals,” Institute for Paralegal Education, Raleigh, North Carolina (Summer 2004).
• CLE Presenter – “Workers’ Comp Depositions: Getting Solid Medical Testimony in this Unique Context,” North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, Raleigh, North Carolina (January 2002).
• CLE Presenter – “Overview of North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Law,” Lorman Educational Seminars, Raleigh, North Carolina (May 2000).

Milestones

• Clark v. Wal-Mart., 360 N.C. 41, 619 S.E.2d 491 (2005).
• Roberts v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 173 N.C. App. 740, 619 S.E.2d 907 (2005).
• Adams v. AVX Corp., 349 N.C. 676, 509 S.E.2d 411 (1998).
• Zimmerman v. Eagle Elec. Mfg., 147 N.C. App. 748, 556 S.E.2d 678 (2001).
• Bostick v. Kinston Neuse Corp., 145 N.C. App. 102, 549 S.E.2d 558 (2001).
• Jenkins v. Easco Aluminum, 142 N.C. App. 71, 541 S.E.2d 510 (2001).

Disclaimer: The above information may not necessarily reflect the attorney’s entire record, and the outcome of any particular future matter cannot be predicated on the attorney’s or law firm’s past results.