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Donna Renfrow Rutala, B.S.N., J.D., practices in the areas of medical malpractice defense litigation and health law. In her work, Donna represents hospitals, physicians, and other health care providers in civil litigation as well as administrative proceedings. She also advises hospitals on health law and employment law issues.

Donna has trial experience in both the federal and state courts of North Carolina and has appeared before various administrative tribunals including the North Carolina Medical Board, North Carolina Board of Nursing, the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy, the Employment Security Commission, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Donna joined Young Moore and Henderson as a shareholder in 2007, after practicing a number of years with another law firm. While attending the evening law program at NCCU, Donna worked as a risk/claims manager for UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill. While in that position, she was involved in analyzing, negotiating and resolving patient claims against the hospital system and provided education to hospital employees in the area of risk management. Donna’s unique combination of experience in the health care setting enables her to provide an in-depth understanding of multiple problems faced by the health care industry. Donna is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America™ and has an AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

She is married to William A. Rutala who is a professor in the Department of Medicine at the UNC School of Medicine and Director of the Statewide Program for Infection Control and Epidemiology. They reside in Chapel Hill and have two daughters, Melissa and Meredith. Her hobbies include international travel and photography.

Contact & Links
Location
  • 3101 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 200
    P.O. Box 31627
    Raleigh, NC 27622-1627
Education
  • North Carolina Central University, J.D., graduated 1989
  • The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.S.N.
Bar Admissions
  • North Carolina, 1989
Affiliations
  • North Carolina Bar Association - Member
  • American Bar Association - Member
  • National Association of Professional Women - Member
  • N.C. Association of Defense Attorneys - Member; Past Member of Board of Directors; Past Chair of Medical Malpractice Group; Past Chair of Judicial Committee; Past Member of Board of Directors of NC Defense Fund
  • Defense Research Institute - Member
  • NC Chapter of the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM) - Member
  • Litigation Counsel of America - Fellow
Court Admissions
  • U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of North Carolina

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
Awards:
  • Listed in Business North Carolina Legal Elite, in Litigation (2010)
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Medical Malpractice Law–Defendants (2013-2020) and in the area of Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants (2014, 2015)
  • American Jurisprudence Award in Appellate Advocacy
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Medical Malpractice Law

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