City of Bellaire v Johnson, no. 11-0933, slip op. (Tex. June 7, 2013) This is a Texas Supreme Court case in which the Court determined the definition of “employee” for purposes of the Worker’s Compensation Act bar includes “borrowed” employees from independent
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State of Texas v Momin Properties, No. 01-12-00854-CV, (Tex. App. Houston [1st Dis.] June 6, 2012) This is an inverse condemnation case brought up via interlocutory appeal from a denial of a plea to the jurisdiction. The State built an overpass on
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Employment Opportunity Commission v. Houston Funding II Ltd, et al., No. 12-20220 (5th Cir. May 30, 2013). This is a sex discrimination case under Title VII in which the EEOC was a party. The essential holding is that an employer cannot discriminate
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Cox, et al v. Sasol North America, Inc. No. 12-31123, slip op (5th Cir. May 24, 2013) While this is not a municipal case, the holding can have a significant impact on municipal litigators. Essentially the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
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Maryland v. King, No. 12–207, slip op (June 3, 2013). In a divided decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held police could take DNA samples upon the arrest of an individual as part of the regular booking procedures. The court analogized it to
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Skeen v. City of Richardson, No. 05-13-00064-CV (Tex. App. – Dallas, May 31, 2013). This case is of interest to municipal prosecutors in particular. Skeen was found guilty of an automated traffic signal violation in municipal court and challenged the constitutionality of
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City of Canton v ZANBAKA, USA, LLC d/b/a DUKE’S TRAVEL PLAZA, NO. 12-12-00006-CV (Tex. App. Tyler May 31, 2013). This is an interlocutory appeal from the denial of a plea to the jurisdiction based on sovereign immunity from a contract. ZANBAKA, USA,
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National Rifle Association of America, Inc. v. McCraw, No. 12-10091 (5th Cir. May 21, 2013) This is a Second Amendment challenge to the Texas statute, Tex. Penal Code § 46.02(a), prohibiting non-military persons under the age of 21 from carrying handguns in
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Haire v. Louisiana State University Agricultural and Mechanical College, No. 12-30290 (5th Cir. May 21, 2013) This is a gender discrimination case where Haire was a female major at the Louisiana State University (“LSU”) police department and alleges she was not promoted
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