The Honorable Donald S. Kurtz is a former Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Kings County where he presided for 18 years over the Jury Coordinating Part
and the City Trial Readiness Part. During his tenure, he oversaw the court’s entire inventory of trial-ready civil cases which consisted of personal injury and tort matters including construction, motor vehicle, premises liability, labor law cases, employment, contract and business disputes, attorney fee disputes and other commercial matters. He also presided over the Non-Jury Trial Readiness Part, the Early Settlement Conference Part, the Central Compliance Part, the Default Judgement Motion Part, and an all-purpose Trial Part. While presiding over these various trial parts, he regularly conferenced cases and negotiated settlements quickly and effectively.

Prior to his election to the Supreme Court, Judge Kurtz was elected to the Kings County Civil Court. During his six years on the Civil Court bench, Judge Kurtz presided over nearly 400 trials, including more than 100 jury trials, non-jury trials, small claims trials and trials involving unrepresented litigants. He often presided over the Civil
Court’s trial assignment part as well as pro se trial and small claims proceedings, housing court proceedings, and commercial landlord/tenant proceedings.

Before becoming a judge, Judge Kurtz served as law secretary to Justice Sebastian Leone, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Kings County and Justice Frank J. Pino, Supreme Court of the State of New York, Kings County.

Practicing attorneys that have appeared before Judge Kurtz have commented:

— “I have appeared before him many times, and each time he was even handed and respectful to everyone. He Is extremely
effective as a settlement judge.”
— “He understands the strengths and weaknesses of each side and utilizes them effectively to get attorneys to settle.”
— “He is a nice guy, even-handed, great temperament, puts fair and full value on cases.”

Judge Kurtz is available for mediations throughout the New York Metro Area.