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Maryalyce Cox

Maryalyce Cox Shareholder

Houston
  • t: 713-210-8943
  • MaryalyceCox@MehaffyWeber.com

Maryalyce Cox joined MehaffyWeber in 1999 and became a shareholder in 2005. She specializes in civil litigation defense, with an emphasis in retail and restaurant defense, products liability, premises liability, construction defect, labor and employment law, toxic tort, and insurance defense. Ms. Cox has successfully tried to verdict cases ranging from construction defect to employment discrimination, and from personal injury to premises liability in counties throughout the state of Texas. She is licensed to practice in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.

Ms. Cox received a B.A. from Northwestern State University in Interdisciplinary Studies. After graduating Magna Cum Laude, she attended the University of Houston Law Center. During her time in law school, Ms. Cox served as the Editor of the Houston Journal of International Law and was a John & Becky Moore’s Scholarship Award recipient. After graduating Magna Cum Laude, Ms. Cox joined MehaffyWeber shortly thereafter. Ms. Cox has recently been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® for her work in Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions-Defendants (2024).

In her spare time, she volunteers her time to serve as President of the Ray Walsh Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating cancer and helping cancer patients with medical expenses. Additionally, she volunteers at her children’s school, serving as past-president and current treasurer of the Theatre Booster Club and working with the All-Sports Booster Club.

EDUCATION
  • University of Houston Law Center, J.D.
    • Graduated Magna Cum Laude, Order of the Coif, Order of the Barons, Casenotes and Comments Editor of the Houston Journal of International Law, and John & Becky Moore’s Scholarship Award Recipient
  • Northwestern State University, B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies
    • Graduated Magna Cum Laude, Member of the Purple Jacket Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi, recipient of the Scholars-College Research Award, Athlete of the Year for Cross Country and Track Runner, and Rhodes Scholarship State Finalist. Voted into the University’s Athletic Hall of Fame for Cross Country and Track.
  • State of Texas, 1999
  • State of Oklahoma, 2011
  • State of Louisiana, 2011
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Texas
  • United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
  • American Bar Association
  • Houston Bar Association
  • State Bar of Texas
  • National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association
  • Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
  • Hospitality Lawyer
    • Mackrell International Hospitality, Travel and Tourism Practice Group Chair
  • Ray Walsh Foundation, President
  • Best Lawyers®
    • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions-Defendants (2024)
  • Super Lawyers
    • Selected to Texas Rising Stars list by Thomson Reuters (2006 – 2012)
    • Selected to Texas Super Lawyers list by Thomson Reuters (2013 – 2020)
  • AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5.0 Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Selected as an H Texas Magazine “Top Lawyer in Houston” (2011-2012)
  • Selected as an H Texas Magazine “Top Women in Business” (2012)
  • Back to the Basics-Simple Steps to Take to Avoid Accidents on Your Premises,” Sabine Area Restaurant Association, January 2012
  • Hospitality Law CLE -Food and Beverage Breakout Session Panel Member, February 2011
  • “Fit for Human Consumption,” Food and Safety Law; Food Safety Solutions eMagazine, Winter 2013
  • “I Didn’t See That Coming! Foreseeing Criminal Activity on Your Premises,” Hospitality Lawyer eMagazine November 2012
  • “Proper Employee Training: The First Step in Preventing Personal Injuries,” CMAA Legal Newsletter, Summer 2012
  • “Avoiding a Negligent Security Case: Keeping Guests Safe and Hotels Out of the Courtroom,” Hotel Management, January 2012
  • “Eliminating the Risk and Liability of Food Borne Illnesses,” Food Safety Solutions, Summer 2010
  • “Back to the Basics: Simple Steps to Avoid Accidents on Your Premises” Texas Hotel Law Library on Litigation and Texas Restaurant Law Library on Food & Beverage, May 2010
  • “Joint Defense Agreements,” Defense Research Institute, For The Defense, March 2001

Construction Defect Lawsuit
Maryalyce Cox, Construction

Maryalyce Cox received a defense verdict in a construction case involving the design and construction of an upscale cigar bar in Montgomery County.  The plaintiff was the owner of the bar and alleged the cigar humidor failed to maintain the desired humidity and temperature levels and later developed mold forcing the business to close down.  Ms. Cox represented the general contractor.  After 5 days of trial in 2017, the jury found that our client complied with his contract, did not breach any warranties, and was not negligent. The jury found DTPA violations and awarded damages of over $800,000 only against the engineer and architect, who settled pre-trial.

 

Personal Injury/ Non-Subscriber Lawsuit
Maryalyce Cox, Personal Injury

In January of 2019, Maryalyce Cox arbitrated a high damages case in which an employee sued her employer, a non-subscriber to Texas Worker’s Compensation. Following the arbitration, the arbitrator ruled that that the employer did not violate any duty owed to the employee and awarded the employer a complete victory.

 

Employment Discrimination Lawsuit
Maryalyce Cox, Labor and Employment

Maryalyce Cox received a defense verdict on behalf of a restaurant that was sued by one of its employees for retaliation. The employee claimed he was fired for filing a worker’s compensation claim and missing work for an injury that his co-workers and boss believed were not work-related. After a 5 day arbitration in 2017, the arbitrator ruled in favor of the restaurant, finding the employee’s firing was not retaliation.

 

Construction Defect Lawsuit
Maryalyce Cox, Construction Defect

In May of 2018, Maryalyce Cox received a defense verdict on behalf of a contractor who was sued for construction defects during a home remodel. Following the bench trial in Harris County, Texas, the judge ruled in favor of the contractor.

 

Trucking Accident Lawsuit
M.C. Carrington and Maryalyce Cox, Personal Injury

In December of 2017, Mr. Carrington and Ms. Cox received a favorable verdict in a lawsuit that resulted from an accident between an 18-wheeler and a passenger vehicle. The driver of the passenger vehicle alleged a traumatic brain injury and the case was tried in Harris County, Texas.

 

Employment Lawsuit
Maryalyce Cox, Labor and Employment

Maryalyce Cox received a summary judgment on liability in a race and age discrimination claim filed in federal court by an employee who alleged that she was constructively discharged from her job. The case was filed in federal court in Jefferson County, Texas.

 

Tom Hampton, et al v. Petrotex Fuels, Inc.
M.C. Carrington, Maryalyce Cox, Commercial Litigation, Breach of Contract

The firm received a summary judgment on liability in a breach of contract case between a gas station owner and a petroleum motor fuel distributor. The firm also won damages on a counter claim tried to a jury. Both sides filed motions for summary judgments. MehaffyWeber’s motion for summary judgment was granted on liability, the case was tried on damages in February 2015 in Jefferson County, Texas.

 

Automobile Accident Lawsuit
Maryalyce Cox, Personal Injury

Maryalyce Cox received a defense verdict in Jefferson County, Texas when a jury found her client was not negligent and did not cause the automobile accident that resulted in the plaintiff’s injuries. The jury instead placed liability on the plaintiff.

 

Bryan Bebee, et al v. Altec Industries, Inc., et al
M.C. Carrington, Maryalyce Cox, Products Liability

Attorneys from MehaffyWeber successfully represented an equipment provider in a products liability case in which the plaintiff was electrocuted on a jobsite with a summary judgment on liability in Polk County, Texas.

 

Michael Lamar v. HEB, Inc.
M.C. Carrington, Maryalyce Cox, Premises Liability

MehaffyWeber successfully defended a premises liability case and received a summary judgment where the plaintiff claimed he injured his hand while he was a customer of a store.

 

Michael Jiron Edwards v. E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, et al
M.C. Carrington, Maryalyce Cox, Premises Liability

The firm successfully defended a premises liability case and received summary judgment in a lawsuit regarding a railroad crossing.

 

Robinson v. E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, et al
M.C. Carrington, Maryalyce Cox, Premises Liability

The firm successfully defended a premises liability case and received summary judgment in a lawsuit regarding an eye injury in the workplace.

 

Tiffany Adams Dudley v. Kirkland’s Stores, Inc.
Maryalyce Cox, Premises Liability

MehaffyWeber received a summary judgment in a premises liability case in which the plaintiff slipped and fell inside of a store.

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