Mere acknowledgment a police report exists does not establish actual notice of claim because the existence of an investigation alone is insufficient to demonstrate actual notice says 13th Court of Appeals
City of Mission, Texas v. Lucila Gonzalez, 13-20-00138-CV, (Tex. App – Corpus Christi & Edinburg, July 22, 2021)
This is a premise liability case under the Texas Tort Claims Act (“TTCA”) where the Corpus Christi & Edinburg Court of Appeals reversed a denial of the City’s plea to the jurisdiction and dismissed the claims.
Gonzalez was taking the trash out at her residence when she slipped and fell, striking her right knee on the ground. It is undisputed that the fall occurred on private property. However, Gonzalez alleges the area where she fell was muddy “because of negligent repair work to a water line rupture” by City employees. City firefighters emptied the water line across the street from her residence. Gonzalez alleges that the released water flowed across the street, causing the muddy condition and her fall. The City filed a plea to the jurisdiction, which was denied. The City appealed.
Under the TTCA, a governmental unit must be given notice of a claim against it not later than six months after the day that the incident. The letter of representation Gonzalez sent to the City does not comply with the written notice requirements of § 101.101 because it fails to reasonably describe the incident, the injury claimed, or the time and place of the incident. Gonzalez asserted the police report established actual notice of claim; however, no police report was in the record. The City’s mere acknowledgment a police report exists does not raise a fact issue because the existence of an investigation alone is insufficient to demonstrate actual notice. Nothing else in the record indicates actual knowledge of the claim sufficient under the TTCA. The plea should have been granted.
Panel consists of Chief Justice Contreras, and Justices Benavides and Silva. Reversed and rendered. Memorandum Opinion by Benavides can be read here. Docket page with attorney information found here.
