Harry S Christenson was a firm partner from 1952 until his death in 1980. He attended Manhattan College, graduated from Albany Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1939 at age 23. He entered into private practice, which he left to serve as an Army captain in World War II. At the end of the war he returned to private practice, and, in 1952, he joined Cooper Erving as a partner.
He was a strong and tireless advocate for his clients, which were numerous. One his noted cases was for his client Dr. Albert Vander Veer, a prominent Albany surgeon who was completely disabled as a result of being hit by a golf cart. In the personal injury and product liability suit that followed Christenson served as co- counsel with famed trial attorney Al Julien. The result was a substantial jury verdict, reported to be the then highest ever awarded in Albany Supreme Court.
The incident also produced another lawsuit relating to Dr. Vander Veer’s disability insurance policy. This case resulted in a significant precedent in New York’s highest court, the Court of Appeals. The Court found in Vander Veer v. Continental Casualty Co., 34 NY2d 50 (1974) Click here for decision. that Dr. Vander Veer had, as a matter of law, materially misrepresented his medical history, despite the jury verdict and Appellate Division findings of fact to the contrary.
Christenson served as an Albany City Court Judge from 1956 to 1958, and was a member of the Albany City Planning Board.
Judge Christenson was a director of First Trust Company and trustee of Albany Savings Bank and was also very active in the community. He served on several charitable boards, including St. Peter’s Hospital, Bender Laboratory, Christian Brothers Academy and LaSalle School.
He died in 1980 at age 64.
