Texas Supreme Court says Tort Claims Act dismissal does not affect amended pleadings which add sec. 1983 claims

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES V. WATSON, et al. 12-0830 (Tex. January 9, 2015) This is a Texas Tort Claims Act case where the Texas Supreme Court holds that while individual employees are entitled to dismissal for tort claims, they
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Civil Service Director ordered to submit appeal to independent hearing examiner, but City immune from damages

Richard Stubbs v. The City of Weslaco, et al., 13-14-00054-CV (Tex. App. —  Corpus Christi, January 8, 2015). This is an appeal from the dismissal of a mandamus action where the 13th Court of Appeals reversed the dismissal and ordered the trial
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Sergeant’s offered comparators we not “nearly identical” to support discrimination claim says 1st Court of Appeals

  Harris County, Texas v. Kenneth Bankhead, 01-13-01005-CV (Tex. App. – Houston [1st Dist.], December 30, 2014) This is an interlocutory appeal from the denial of a plea to the jurisdiction in a race discrimination employment case. The First District Court of
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Mayor entitled to qualified immunity in First Amendment employment case; Police chief’s report to outside agency was not his action as a citizen but remained within his job duties

Gibson v. Kilpatrick, No. 12-60905 (5th Cir. December 11, 2014). This is a First Amendment in employment matter case where the 5th Circuit reversed the denial of the Mayor’s qualified immunity defense. Chief of Police Gibson reported Mayor Kilpatrick of Drew, Mississippi
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City not liable for back pay or reinstatement for initially failing to provide a hearing with hearing examiner but court has jurisdiction to issue prospective relief if appropriate

Michael Hamilton v. Mark Washington, in his Capacity as City of Austin Civil Service Director, et al., 03-11-00594-CV (Tex. App. Austin, December 23, 2014) This is an appeal from the granting of a plea to the jurisdiction in a civil service indefinite
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3rd Court reverses years of AG opinions; now holds attorney/client privilege is confidential as a matter of law and an inherently compelling reason to preclude disclosure under PIA

Greg Abbott, Attorney General of the State of Texas v. City of Dallas, 03-13-00686-CV (Tex. App. – Austin December 23, 2014) This is a Public Information Act (“PIA”) lawsuit where the Austin Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court order allowing the
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