Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Land Use, Tax

Water District property entitled to tax exempt status even though District rents to private business on river front

Tarrant Appraisal District v. Tarrant Regional Water District 02-17-00042-CV (Tex. App— Fort Worth, January 25, 2018) The Tarrant Appraisal District (“TAD”) asserted part of the property owned by the Tarrant Regional Water District (“TRWD”) was not “used for public purposes” and therefore
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Employment Law, Whistleblower

Dallas Court of Appeals holds ex-police officer failed to establish his termination was in retaliation for whistleblower report of “pronoun confusion” in PD assault report

Michael Hackbarth v. University of Texas at Dallas  05-16-01250-CV (Tex. App— Dallas, January 4, 2018) This is a Texas Whistleblower Act case where the Dallas Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s granting of the University’s motion for summary judgment. Hackbarth was
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Annexation, Declaratory Judgments, Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity

Waco Court of Appeals holds property owner was precluded from bringing further claims for disannexation

Karen Hall v. City of Bryan, 10-16-00044-CV (Tex. App. –- Waco, January 3, 2018) This is a disannexation lawsuit where the Waco Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s summary judgment motion dismissing the Plaintiff’s claims for disannexation. This is the third
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Declaratory Judgments, Litigation

Tyler Court of Appeals holds even though it was established more than 100 years ago and no street has been built, mere non-use of a dedicated road easement does not amount to abandonment.

The Jesus Christ Open Altar Church, et al. v. City of Hawkins, 12-17-00090-CV (Tex. App. – Tyler, December 21, 2017). This is a property dispute case in which the 12th Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s declaratory judgment regarding the City’s
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Civil Service/Collective Bargaining, Constitutional Challenge, Contracts, Declaratory Judgments, Employment Law, Litigation, Mandamus, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, Ultra Vires

Dallas Court of Appeals disagrees with El Paso Court of Appeals and holds civil service commission dismissal of grievance is still subject to appeal to district court

Rodney D. Bailey v. Dallas County, et al.,  05-16-00789-CV (Tex. App. – Dallas, December 21, 2017) This is a county civil service case where the Dallas Court of Appeals affirmed-in-part and reversed-in-part the County Defendants’ plea to the jurisdiction filed in a
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Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Litigation, Mandamus, Procedure, Sec. 1983, Separation of Powers, Sovereign Immunity, Tax, Ultra Vires

El Paso Court of Appeals holds non-appearance jurors failed to show waiver of immunity in contempt/fee challenge case but should be allowed to amend.

Joshua Luttrell, et al v. El Paso County, et al., 08-16-00090-CV (Tex. App. – El Paso, December 20, 2017). There is no way to categorize this case in a single sentence. In the thirty-nine page opinion, the El Paso Court of Appeals
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