Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Mandamus, PIA

Order for City to release documents under PIA and certify compliance was not a “temporary injunction” entitling City to interlocutory appeal says Houston’s 1st District Court of Appeals

  City of Houston v Dolcefino  Communications, et al., 01-17-00979-CV (Tex. App. – Houston [1st Dist.], October 30, 2018 This is an interlocutory appeal in a Public Information Act (“PIA”) case where the First District Court of Appeals determined it lacked interlocutory
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Contracts, Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Public Works, Sovereign Immunity

Contract for sale of waste water to golf course is a governmental function and no waiver of immunity exists for breach claim

City of Merkel v Copeland, 11-16-00323-CV (Tex. App. — Eastland, October 18, 2018).  This is a governmental immunity/breach of contract claim where the Eastland Court of Appeals reversed the denial of the City’s plea to the jurisdiction.  The City entered into a
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Board of Adjustment, Declaratory Judgments, Litigation, Sovereign Immunity, Ultra Vires

Board of Adjustment’s plea on declaratory judgment claim granted as UDJA is a redundant remedy says Austin Court of Appeals

  City of Wimberley Board of Adjustment v. Creekhaven, LLC; and William D. Appleman, 03-18-00169-CV (Tex. App. – Austin, October 18, 2018) This is a board of adjustment appeal case where the Austin Court of Appeals reversed the denial of the City’s
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Litigation, Sovereign Immunity, TTCA

Husband’s testimony greasy area had cones, but warning was inadequate was enough to create fact issue on plea to the jurisdiction says 1st Court of Appeals in Houston

City of Houston v. Marion Crawford, 01-18-00179-CV (Tex. App. – Houston [1st Dist.], October 9, 2018) This is a premise defect case where the First District Court of Appeals in Houston affirmed the trial court order denying the City’s plea to the
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Contracts, Declaratory Judgments, Litigation, Procedure

City and EDC established personal/specific jurisdiction over out-of-state financial institutions involved in failed EDC project

City of White Settlement, et al. v. Benjamin S. Emmons, and Source Capital, LLC, 02-17-00358-CV (Tex. App. – Fort Worth, September 27, 2018) While involving a governmental entity, this case is more about personal jurisdiction over an out-of-state financial institution involved in
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Constitutional Challenge, Litigation, Sec. 1983

U.S. 5th Circuit holds 1) IA and CID not required to share evidence and 2) disclosure of exculpatory evidence is a “trial” right, not a right before accepting a plea offer

Alvarez v City of Brownsville, 16-40772 (5th Cir. Sept. 18, 2018) This is a §1983/jail altercation case where the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit reversed a $2.3 million-dollar jury award and rendered judgment for the City. [Warning, opinion plus
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Health and Safety, Litigation, Official/Qualified Immunity, Sovereign Immunity, TTCA

Lack of due care finding by accident review board is evidence only of negligence, not recklessness under emergency responder exception to TTCA

Harris County v. George J. Spears, 14-17-00662-CV (Tex. App. – Houston [14th Dist.], September 25, 2018) This is an interlocutory appeal where the Fourteenth Court of Appeals reversed the denial of the County’s plea to the jurisdiction in this emergency responder/vehicular accident
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