Background
Beatriz Sosa-Morris watched her parents' American dream come to fruition when they started up their small business called "Angleton Tire Shop." At that moment, she knew that she wanted to realize her American dream and enter a profession in which she could assist others through difficult times in their lives, which is how she finds fulfillment. Her first job was at the family tire shop where she discovered the meaning of work ethic. Her family turned a rundown fruit stand into a tire shop where every member of her immediate family has worked. Mrs. Sosa-Morris was not afraid of working hard and getting her hands dirty while working at Angleton Tire Shop, and that work ethic has followed her into her professional career.
Mrs. Sosa-Morris was born in McAllen, Texas, and raised in Angleton, Texas. She attended Angleton High School and graduated in the top 10% of her class. She received the Smith-Hudson Scholarship for Sam Houston State University where she was a multiple honor organizations. Only three years after graduating from high school, she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business and a Bachelor in Business Administration in Economics, graduating Magna Cum Laude.
Mrs. Sosa-Morris is a native English and Spanish speaker and she studied abroad in Puebla, Mexico, at the Universidad Iberoamericana. While abroad, she studied international finance and international business administration. After graduation from Sam Houston State University, Beatriz Sosa-Morris attended South Texas College of Law. At South Texas, Mrs. Sosa-Morris graduated Magna Cum Laude, top 10% of her class, and took the bar exam prior to graduation.
Mrs. Sosa-Morris has first-hand experience representing injured people. Often times, insurance companies will take advantage of the vulnerable position an injured person is in, and that is when they need someone on their side to fight for what is just. When it comes to negotiating, Mrs. Sosa-Morris will not back down from what is just for her clients. Whether it be an automobile accident, medical malpractice, or a work place injury, Mrs. Sosa-Morris has experience getting those injured individuals the compensation they deserve. She has represented numerous injured workers at Benefit Contested Case Hearings ("CCH") and Benefit Review Conferences ("BRC").
Additionally, Mrs. Sosa-Morris has protected the rights of those injured by pharmacies. She understands that those seeking medication for their ailments are put in grave peril when given the wrong medication or the wrong dosage instructions by the pharmacy. As a result, Mrs. Sosa-Morris fights for her clients, and has successfully settled numerous cases against pharmacies.
Further, Mrs. Sosa-Morris has fought numerous employers in order to get her clients paid in accordance with overtime and minimum wage laws. By working at various businesses prior to becoming an attorney including Wal-Mart, Target, and Sonic, Mrs. Sosa-Morris knows how hard people work for an honest day’s pay. Consequently, Mrs. Sosa-Morris fights against businesses on behalf of working Americans for wages they are rightfully owed. Mrs. Sosa-Morris has taken the fight all the way up to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals where she successfully received an opinion favorable for Marine Expeditors/Supervisors.
Wage and Hour Case Results
- $700,000 settlement for work from home employees denied compensation in 2013;
- $140,000 settlement for work from home employees denied compensation in 2014;
- $600,000 settlement for oilfield workers in 2014;
- $500,000 settlement for oilfield workers in 2015;
- Over $1,750,000 in wage and hour settlements in 2014;
- 8 wage and hour claims settled in 2013;
- 12 wage and hour claims settled in 2014;
- Defeated various Motions to Dismiss;
- Conditionally certified over 5 cases both in 2013 and 2014;
- Won on a motion for summary judgment for overtime wages for Marine Expeditors;
- Successfully defended an appeal before the Fifth Circuit for overtime wages for Marine Expeditors. No. 14-20253; Zannikos, et. al., v. Oil Inspections (U.S.A.), Inc., et. al.
- Over $7,000,000 settlement for independent contractors in 2015;
- Over $1,200,000 in settlements for oil field workers in 2015;
- Over $334,500 in personal injury settlements in 2015.
Personal Injury Case Results
- $100,000 Settlement for an automobile accident victim in 2013;
- $ 70,000 Judgement in a medical malpractice case in 2013;
- $127,000 Settlement for an automobile accident victim in 2014;
- $200,000 Settlement in a medical malpractice case in 2014;
- $100,000 Settlement for an automobile accident victim in 2015;
- Over $650,000 in personal injury settlements in 2013;
- Over $1,200,000 in personal injury settlements in 2014;
- Over $160,000 in personal injury settlements in 2015;
- Over 70 personal injury settlements in 2014;
- Over 50 personal injury settlements in 2013;
- Over $334,500 in personal injury settlements in 2015.
Bar Admissions
- Texas
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
Education
- South Texas College of Law
- Doctor of Jurisprudence, Magna Cum Laude, May 2011
- Order of the Lytae, 2009
- Phi Delta Phi, Honor Society, 2009
- South Texas Law Review, Associate Editor
- Corporate Counsel Review, Associate Editor
- STCL Langdell Scholar, Fall 2009, Spring 2010, Summer 2010, Fall 2010
- Sam Houston State University
- BBA International Business, May 2008
- BBA Economics, May 2008
- Magna Cum Laude
- Smith-Hutson Business Scholarship recipient
- Omicron Delta Epsilon, International Honor Society for Economics, 2007
- Beta Gamma Sigma, International Honor Society,
- Alpha Kappa Phsi, Public Relations Committee
- Society for Human Resource Management, 2007
- Golden Key National Honor Society
- International Hispanic Association, Fundraising Committee
- Universidad Iberoamericana, Puebla Mexico
- Courses in International Finance and International Business Administration
- GPA 4.0, Study Abroad completed Summer 2006
Cases
- Zannikos v. Oil Inspections (U.S.A.), Inc., --- Fed.Appx. ----, 2015 WL 1379882 (5th Cir. 2015);
- Coronado v. D. N.W. Houston, Inc., No. CIV.A. H-13-2179, 2014 WL 2779548 (S.D. Tex. June 19, 2014);
- Coronado v. D N.W. Houston, Inc., No. CIV.A. H-13-2179, 2014 WL 6674292 (S.D. Tex. Nov. 24, 2014);
- Kesley v. Entm't U.S.A. Inc., No. CV-14-01105-PHX-NVW, 2014 WL 7178378 (D. Ariz. Dec. 17, 2014).
Professional Associations and Memberships
- The State Bar of Texas, Member
- Houston Trial Lawyers Association, Board Member
- HTLA Woman’s Caucus, Member
- Texas Trial Lawyers Association, Member
- Mexican American Bar Association, Member
- Houston Young Lawyers Association, Member
Miscellaneous
- Volunteer with Adopt an Angel through HYLA, 2011-2014
- Participated in the Houston Half Marathon, 2013
- Participated in the Aramco Half Marathon, 2014
- Volunteer with Houston Trial Lawyers Foundation, 2014