Paul Tharp, Esq.

Paul Tharp is a dedicated professional who manages personal injury cases at Arnold & Smith. He also leads the firm's appellate and post-conviction practices.

With over two decades of experience, Paul has become a trusted advocate for individuals who have endured injury, assault, abuse, or the loss of a loved one, employing his expertise to seek justice in personal injury cases. Throughout his career, Paul has achieved a track record of success, securing multiple multimillion-dollar jury verdicts and settlements while consistently demonstrating a tenacious commitment to pursuing cases to their fullest extent. He has effectively presented arguments for criminal and civil appellate and post-conviction cases before all the state and federal appellate courts with jurisdiction in North Carolina, including the United States Supreme Court.

Raised in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Paul's academic journey led him to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington after completing high school. During his time there, he showcased his talent as a varsity basketball player for three years while pursuing a degree in English and a minor in Philosophy, which he earned with magna cum laude honors. Following his undergraduate studies, Paul obtained a teaching certificate and devoted three years to serving as a high school English teacher.

Motivated to further contribute to the legal field, Paul pursued his legal education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. During law school, he actively participated in the Moot Court Invitational Team. He leveraged his writing skills as a columnist for two esteemed campus publications, The Daily Tar Heel and Mere Dictum. Upon graduating from UNC Law and successfully passing both the Florida and North Carolina Bar Exams, Paul and his wife Tisha established their residence in the Charlotte area.

Throughout his career, Paul has gained extensive experience through bench and jury trials in various state, federal, and administrative courts across North Carolina. He has also authored appeals and petitions in civil and criminal cases, presenting them before notable judicial bodies such as the United States Supreme Court, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Eastern, Middle, and Western Federal District Courts in North Carolina, the North Carolina Supreme Court, and the North Carolina Court of Appeals. As a result, Paul has honed his advocacy skills and appeared before nearly every judicial district in North Carolina.

Within the confines of Arnold & Smith, PLLC, Paul's professional focus has primarily revolved around personal injury cases, ranging from motor vehicle incidents resulting in fatalities and serious injuries to civil rights cases involving excessive force and wrongful arrests. He has also tackled post-conviction relief petitions and appeals and general civil and criminal appeals, consistently displaying a comprehensive understanding of injury and appeal-related matters. While his work spans North Carolina, Paul diligently represents clients throughout the state.

One particular area of expertise for Paul lies in Car Crash Cases. These cases predominantly involve negligence claims, where drivers on public roads are legally obligated to exercise reasonable caution. When drivers fail to fulfill this duty and cause a crash, they become liable for the resulting damages. North Carolina law mandates drivers to carry liability insurance, while many also have uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, medical payments coverage, and additional types of coverage. In Car Crash Cases, meticulously identifying and securing the maximum coverage required to compensate individuals for bodily injuries sustained in accidents is often crucial. In some instances, legal action is necessary to vindicate the rights of those injured.

Paul's expertise also extends to Civil Rights Cases, which typically involve individuals who have suffered injuries due to the negligent or intentional conduct of law enforcement officers, government entities, or their employees. At Arnold & Smith, PLLC, Paul has effectively represented injured parties in lawsuits against various entities, including states, agencies, cities, counties, universities, public school boards, charter schools, and numerous individuals employed by these organizations.

Another integral aspect of Paul's practice revolves around Appeals and Post-Conviction Relief. In an unfavorable civil or criminal judgment, litigants have the right to appeal the decision. Moreover, they may be able to file post-trial motions, Motions for Appropriate Relief, petitions for writ of certiorari or habeas corpus, or undertake other legal measures to safeguard their rights and interests. Within Arnold & Smith, PLLC, Paul has successfully represented numerous clients in civil and criminal appeals and other post-judgment actions. His diligence has yielded favorable outcomes for clients in appeals heard before esteemed bodies such as the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, the North Carolina Supreme Court, and the North Carolina Court of Appeals.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Paul values his personal life and makes time for hobbies. As an avid runner, he enjoys exploring the foothills of the Carolinas through hiking with his family. Paul and his wife, Tisha, take pride in raising their son and two daughters, cherishing the joys of parenthood alongside their professional pursuits.