Mary Kathryn Kurth

Attorney

Bio

Mary Kathryn is a North Carolina native with litigation experience in cases involving serious injuries and medical malpractice. Mary Kathryn has committed her legal career to fighting for those who have been injured by the negligence of others. She is a passionate advocate who cares deeply about her clients.

When not practicing law, Mary Kathryn is very involved in the community. She is an active member of the North Carolina Bar Association, North Carolina Advocates for Justice and the Wake County Bar Association. Mary Kathryn is also an active member of Edenton Street United Methodist Church, where she serves as the coordinator of her Missional Community’s service project, which provides a meal once a month at the New Bern House in downtown Raleigh.

Mary Kathryn serves on the North Carolina Bar Association 4ALL Statewide Service Day Committee, the North Carolina Bar Association Women in the Profession Committee, the Wake County Bar Association’s Public Service Committee, the Campbell Law School Alumni Association Board of Directors and the Meredith College Paralegal Program Advisory Committee. Mary Kathryn chairs the Service Committee for the Campbell Law School Alumni Association Board of Directors. Mary Kathryn also leads the service projects at Edwards Kirby.

Mary Kathryn lives in Raleigh with her husband Richard Kurth and their son.

Education

Mary Kathryn is a native of Tarboro, NC. After graduating as valedictorian of her high school class, she attended NC State University, where she obtained her B.A. in political science with a minor in Spanish in 2008.

Mary Kathryn has always had an interest in the law. She earned her paralegal certification from Meredith College in 2010 and worked as an NC Certified Paralegal until enrolling at Campbell Law School in 2012.

During law school, Mary Kathryn was on the dean’s list and was awarded multiple competitive merit scholarships. As a law student, she worked at the NC Department of Justice, in both the Tort Claims and Health & Public Assistance sections, and at the NC Department of Health & Human Services. Mary Kathryn was a research assistant to Professor Patrick K. Hetrick.

During law school, Mary Kathryn was a member of the leadership board for the Campbell Law Innocence Project, which is dedicated to exonerating those who are wrongfully convicted of crimes. During law school, she also began working at Edwards Kirby as a law clerk. After law school, she was in the first class of Wallace Fellows at Campbell Law School. As a Wallace Public Service Fellow, she helped oversee 15 student pro bono projects varying from drafting wills to representing clients in obtaining domestic violence protective orders.

Notable Cases

$1.5 million settlement after a child drowned in a pool with lifeguards on duty.
$6 million settlement for a child who suffered paralysis from an injury at a recreation center.
$9.45 million settlement for family killed in tanker truck crash.
$1.2 million settlement for a mother who was injured during childbirth.
$1.05 million settlement for an employee seriously injured after falling down an elevator shaft.
$1.35 million settlement for driver who struck parked tractor-trailer resulting in amputation of left arm.
Preston v. Movahed, 374 N.C. 177 (2020) – NC. Supreme Court case clarifying procedural rules that apply to medical malpractice cases.

Awards

2024 Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch”
- Appellate Practice
- Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
- Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
2023 Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch”
- Appellate Practice
- Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
- Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
2022 Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch”
- Appellate Practice
- Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
- Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
2021 Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch”
- Appellate Practice
- Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
Business North Carolina Legal Elite Young Guns (2021, 2022)
North Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Star (2020, 2021, 2022)
National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40

Memberships

North Carolina Bar Association
North Carolina Bar Association 4ALL Statewide Service Day Committee 2019-2022
North Carolina Bar Association Women in the Profession Committee 2020-2022
North Carolina Bar Association Women in the Professional Committee Nominating and Awards Subcommittee Co-Chair 2020-2021
2019 North Carolina Bar Association Leadership Academy
North Carolina Advocates for Justice (NCAJ)
NCAJ Auto Torts & Premises Liability Section
NCAJ Professional Negligence Section
NCAJ New Lawyers Division Membership Co-Chair 2019-2020
Wake County Bar Association
Wake County Bar Association Public Service Committee
Campbell Law School Alumni Association Board of Directors
Campbell Law School Alumni Association Board Public Service Committee Co-Chair 2020-2021; Chair 2021-2022
Meredith College Paralegal Program Advisory Committee
Edenton Street United Methodist Church
Edenton Street United Methodist Church West Raleigh Missional Community Volunteer Coordinator