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Attorneys

Gayla Corley Shareholder

San Antonio, Austin, Houston
  • t: 210-824-0009
  • GaylaCorley@MehaffyWeber.com
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Since being licensed in 1994, Ms. Corley has focused her practice on defending claims for personal injury, premises liability, food-borne illness, liquor liability, harassment and discrimination, wage and hour violations, breach of contract, fraud, products liability and wrongful death/survival. Her practice includes representation of diverse business concerns such as restaurants and retail establishments, employers, insurance companies, healthcare providers and other private interests. Ms. Corley is experienced in all aspects of state and federal litigation from suit investigation through trial and appeal. In addition to her litigation background, Ms. Corley has represented clients before administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the United States Department of Labor, and the Texas Workforce Commission. She has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation (2021-2024) and Medical Malpractice Law (2022-2024) and was recently named Best Lawyers® 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” in Beaumont for Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants.

Practice Areas

Commercial Litigation Healthcare Liability Insurance Defense Labor and Employment Personal Injury Defense Products Liability Defense Professional Liability Retail and Hospitality
EDUCATION
  • St. Mary’s University School of Law, J.D.
  • Texas A&M University, B.S., Journalism
  • Baylor University
  • State Bar of Texas
  • United States District Court, Northern District of Texas
  • United States District Court, Southern District of Texas
  • United States District Court, Western District of Texas
  • United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
  • United States Supreme Court
  • Texas Association of Defense Counsel
    • Area Vice-President & Director
    • Treasurer
    • Executive Vice-President
    • President-Elect
    • President
  • Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
  • National Retail & Restaurant Defense Association
  • Defense Research Institute
    • Retail and Hospitality Committee
    • Employment and Labor Law Committee
    • Women in the Law Committee
  • Texas Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • College of the State Bar of Texas
  • San Antonio Bar Association, Member
  • San Antonio Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • Board Member, UT Health Science Center Cancer Center Council – 2012 – 2014
  • National MS Society, Wells Fargo MS 150 Bike Team
  • Livestrong Foundation, Top Fundraiser
  • Best Lawyers®
    • Named Best Lawyers® 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” in Beaumont for Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
    • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation (2021-2024)
    • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants (2022-2024)
    • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Litigation – Labor and Employment (2024)
  • TADC President’s Award – 2017
  • AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5.0 Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • San Antonio Woman magazine, “Women in Law” –  2020
  • Scene in SA, Best Lawyers in San Antonio
  • Co-Chair, 2023 TADC Winter Seminar
    Presenter, 2023 TADC Annual Meeting – “Truisms From Jimmy Buffett as Applied to Jury Selection & Opening Statements”
  • Faculty, 2022 TADC Trial Academy
  • Panelist, 2022 National Retail & Restaurant Defense Association Annual Conference, “Labor & Employment Law: Welcome to the Wild, Wild West”
  • Presenter, 2022 TADC Winter Seminar, “Jury Trials in the Age of COVID –or- Who Moved My Cheese?”
  • Panelist, 2021 State Bar of Texas Advanced Personal Injury Course, “Trying Cases in the Age of COVID”
  • Presenter, 2021 TADC Winter Seminar, “Lights, Camera, Ethics”
  • Panelist, 2020 National Retail & Restaurant Defense Association Annual Conference, “Employment Law Update: Where We’ve Been…Where We’re Going”
  • Presenter, 2018 State Bar of Texas Advanced Evidence & Discovery Course, “CPRC § 18.001 (and friends)”
  • Co-Chair, 2018 TADC Summer Meeting
  • Panel Moderator, 2017 State Bar of Texas Advanced Evidence & Discovery Course, “The ‘Do-Not’s’ of Trial Objections”
  • Co-Chair, 2015 TADC Spring Meeting
  • Presenter, 2016 TADC Spring Meeting, “Hot Topics in Employment Law”
  • Co-Chair, 2014 TADC Trial Academy
  • Presenter, 2013, TADC Annual Meeting, “Finding Your Inner Atticus: Defending The Unpopular Client”
  • Presenter, 2012 TADC Spring Meeting, “What A Tangled Web We Weave: Ethical Pitfalls In Fielding Unsolicited Requests For Legal Representation”
  • Co-Chair, 2012 TADC Annual Meeting
  • Presenter, 2011 TADC Summer Meeting, “Exploring The Boundaries Of Witness Preparation”
  • Co-Chair, 2010 TADC Winter Meeting
  • Presenter, 2010 State Bar of Texas Advanced Civil Trial Seminar, “Social Media & Its Impact On Litigation”
  • Presenter, 2009 TADC Summer Meeting, “Facebook, Twitter & The World of Social Media—What Trial Lawyers Need to Know”
  • Editor-In-Chief, TADC Magazine, 2017-2018
  • Co-Author, “Our Little Magazine is All Grown Up,” San Antonio Lawyer, March-April 2016
  • Author, “Judge Barbara Hanson Nellermoe: From Books to Bar to Bench,” San Antonio Lawyer, November-December 2014
  • Author, “Expedited Actions: Speedy Justice at What Price?” San Antonio Lawyer, January-February 2014
  • Author, “Judicial Profile: Cathleen Stryker,” San Antonio Lawyer, July-August 2013
  • Co-Author, “Practicing Law Tips—Unsolicited Requests for Legal Representation,” San Antonio Lawyer, May-June 2012
  • Obtained summary judgment in premises liability case where Plaintiff claimed traumatic brain injury after being struck on head by ladder inside store
  • Secured defense verdict for car dealership sued for faulty repair work on vehicle that allegedly sparked fire in Plaintiffs’ garage
  • As co-counsel, obtained multiple summary judgments against claims by landowners seeking to prohibit development within neighborhood
  • As co-counsel, defended driver in rear-end collision where jury found liability in amount less than Plaintiff’s documented medical expenses and less than client’s final pre-trial settlement offer
  • Obtained summary judgment in premises liability case where Plaintiff alleged to have slipped and fallen inside store on rainy day
  • Assisted car dealership in preparing response to Department of Labor compliance evaluation of client’s equal employment opportunity policies and obtain DOL closing letter
  • Performed investigation of alleged discrimination by local school district and offered recommendations to district’s counsel and school board
  • As co-counsel, assisted in obtaining summary judgment for restaurant accused of improper tip pooling practices in violation of Fair Labor Standards Act
  • Secured dismissal of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charge against employer client by employee claiming racial discrimination and retaliation
  • Assisted in negotiating favorable resolution of claim against employee for alleged violation of non-solicitation covenant in employment contract
  • As co-counsel, obtained judgment of $2,200,000 for manufacturer client on claims for damages arising out of promissory estoppel and negligent misrepresentation
  • Assisted in negotiating favorable resolution of claims for damages and equitable relief against client accused of violating Lanham Act
  • Drafted employment manuals and provided advice to numerous clients regarding implementation and application of policies in day-to-day business workings
  • Obtained judgment for outstanding amounts due to banking client following borrower’s default on a series of promissory notes and guaranties; successfully defended against borrower’s post-judgment Motion for New Trial
  • Secured transfer of venue under 28 U.S.C. § 1404 from United States District Court, Western District of Texas to client’s home state pursuant to forum selection clause in contract between the parties
  • Negotiated favorable resolution for client accused of violating Fair Labor Standards Act
  • Obtained summary judgment for healthcare client on Plaintiff’s claims for constructive discharge
  • Negotiated favorable resolution for developer client sued by multiple homeowners following construction of multi-level apartment complex
  • Obtained summary judgment for healthcare client sued under the Age Discrimination Employment Act
  • Secured dismissal of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission charge against employer client by two employees alleging age discrimination and violations of the American With Disabilities Act
  • Obtained non-suit for healthcare client sued for premises liability after cabinets in treatment room fell from wall and struck Plaintiff
  • Obtained summary judgment for healthcare client sued for negligence and negligent training/supervision after alleged injury to patient during medical transport
  • Advised car dealership on strategy in deflecting negative publicity following alleged racially biased advertisement
  • Obtained multiple summary judgments in action against client by recording artists alleging breaches of contract and violations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act
  • Defeated Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel after Court ruled that requested discovery violated Federal Rules of Civil Procedure’s proportionality standard
  • Secured no negligence defense verdict in rear-end collision and successfully overturned trial court’s order granting new trial
  • Prevailed on summary judgment for grocery store chain in premises liability action
  • Negotiated favorable settlement for less than paid-and-incurred medical expenses in premises liability action involving nationwide chain
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