ADA, Discrimination, Employment Law, Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity

A defendant attempting to obtain dismissal for lack of evidence must use a no-evidence motion for summary judgment, not a no-evidence plea to the jurisdiction.

A defendant attempting to obtain dismissal for lack of evidence must use a no-evidence motion for summary judgment, not a no-evidence plea to the jurisdiction. Special contributing author Laura Mueller, City Attorney for Dripping Springs Edinburg Consol. Ind. Sch. Dist. V. Ayala,
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Discrimination, Employment Law, Litigation, Procedure

Notice of a termination is the date on which the 180-day clock starts for claims of employment discrimination under state law regardless of internal appeals of the termination.

Special contributing author Laura Mueller, City Attorney for Dripping Springs Monte Alto I.S.D. v. Patricia Orozco, No. 13-21-00136-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi Nov. 4, 2021) (mem. op.). In this appeal from a trial court’s denial of the school district’s plea to the jurisdiction,
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Discrimination, Employment Law, Litigation, Procedure

Tyler Court of Appeals holds EEOC complainant’s deadline to file suit begins to run when his complaint is received by the EEOC, not when the appeal is perfected

  Gunter P. Coffey v. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 12-21-00015-CV, (Tex. App – Tyler, Oct. 6, 2021) This is an employment discrimination, hostile work environment, and retaliation claim in which the Tyler Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s order granting
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Discrimination, Employment Law, Whistleblower

Evidence that a decisionmaker knew about the report of illegal activity is required to prove a Whistleblower retaliation claim.

Special contributing author Laura Mueller, City Attorney for Dripping Springs Houston Community College v. Sabrina Lewis, No. 01-19-00626-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.], June 29, 2021) (mem. op.). In this appeal from a trial court’s holding denying the college’s plea to the jurisdiction
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Constitutional Challenge, Discrimination, Employment Law, Litigation, Retaliation, Sec. 1983

U.S. Fifth Circuit holds former police officer failed to establish same-sex sexual harassment by supervisor even under recent Bostock decision

Brandy Newbury v City of Windcrest, Texas, 20-50067 (5th Cir. March 22, 2021) This is an employment discrimination case where the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the granting of the City’s motion for summary judgment. Brandy Newbury was a police
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Discrimination, Employment Law, Litigation, Procedure, Retaliation, Sovereign Immunity

14th Court of Appeals holds ex-employees trigger date to file a charge of discrimination only occurs when employer’s discriminatory animus becomes sufficiently clear and he has suffered a tangible employment action

Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas v. John Carter, 14-19-00422-CV (Tex. App. – Houston [14th Dist.], January 14, 2021) This is an employment dispute where the 14th Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of a plea to the jurisdiction filed by
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Discrimination, Employment Law, Litigation, Procedure, Retaliation, Sovereign Immunity

14th District Court of Appeals holds all elements of a circumstantial-evidence retaliation claim (including pretext) are jurisdictional, plus court lacked jurisdiction over Plaintiff’s discrimination claim

    Margaret Fields v. Houston Indep. Sch. Dist., 14-19-00010-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Oct. 15, 2020) This is an employment discrimination and retaliation case where the Houston Court of Appeals (14th Dist.) affirmed the granting of the school district’s plea to
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Discrimination, Employment Law

The Second Court of Appeals held that a plaintiff who resigns cannot prove an adverse employment action when the only evidence of constructive discharge was forthcoming investigation

Special contributing author Laura Mueller, City Attorney for Dripping Springs Univ. of North Tex. Sys. v. Lisa Barringer, No. 02-19-00378-CV (Tex. App.—Fort Worth September 10, 2020) (mem. op.). In this discrimination case, the plaintiff sued the University for age discrimination after resigning
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Constitutional Challenge, Discrimination, Employment Law, Litigation, Official/Qualified Immunity, Procedure, Sec. 1983, Sovereign Immunity, TTCA

The First Court of Appeals held employment discrimination claims cannot be brought under the TCHRA in state court where the same claims were previously dismissed in federal court.     

  Special contributing author Laura Mueller, City Attorney for Dripping Springs Suran Wije v. David A. Burns and Univ. of Texas, No. 01-19-00024-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] September 3, 2020) (mem. op.). In this employment discrimination claim, the plaintiff sued a University
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