Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, Uncategorized

El Paso Court of Appeals holds since city appealed denial of a plea to the jurisdiction, but not the final judgment entered at the same time, court could not hear the appeal

The City of Brady and Brady Police Department v. William Dale Scott, 08-20-00155-CV (Tex. App. – El Paso, Aug. 16, 2021). The El Paso Court of Appeals determined it did not have jurisdiction to hear an interlocutory appeal from a Chapter 47
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Board of Adjustment, Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Land Use, Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, Structural Standards, Takings, Ultra Vires

Fourth Court of Appeals holds plaintiff suing for BOA decision must be given opportunity to replead to show timing of when the BOA decision was filed in board’s offices

Alpha Securities, LLC, v City of Fredericksburg, 04-20-00447-CV (Tex. App. – San Antonio, Aug. 10, 2021, no pet h.). This is a board of adjustment appeal and declaratory judgment action where the San Antonio Court of Appeals agreed no jurisdiction existed, but
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Agency, Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Sovereign Immunity

Property owners around lake drained by GBRA had no standing to sue as they possessed no particularized injury

Jimmy and Cheryl Williams, et al. v. Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority and its Officers and Directors, 04-20-00445-CV, (Tex. App. – San Antonio, July 7, 2021) This is a takings case where the San Antonio Court of Appeals partially reversed and affirmed the trial
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Contracts, Employment Law, Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity

Since City’s plea to the jurisdiction only challenged non-jurisdictional facts, plea was property denied in breach of contract suit

  City of Del Rio v. Henry Arredondo, 04-20-00409-CV, (Tex. App – San Antonio, August 4, 2021) This is a breach of contract suit where the Fourth Court of Appeals held that because the City’s plea only challenged non-jurisdictional facts, the plea
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Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Litigation, Sovereign Immunity, Ultra Vires

Trespass to try title claims failed to waive immunity, but court remanded to allow further pleading attempts

City of San Antonio v. Albert Davila, Individually; Madeline Davila, Individually; and Albert Davila as Trustee of the Albert Pena Davila and Madeline Davila Living Trust, 04-20-00478-CV, (Tex. App – San Antonio, August 4, 2021) This is a trespass to try title
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Agency, Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Health and Safety, Nuisance, Takings

Junk vehicle owner failed to establish ownership in municipal court, so was not entitled to sue for taking in later suit

  Jane Vorwerk v. City of Bartlett and John Landry Pack, Mayor, 03-21-00001-CV, (Tex. App – Austin, August 6, 2021) The Bartlett Municipal Court declaring a 1986 Toyota mobile home to be a junk vehicle. The municipal court found that defendant James
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Constitutional Challenge, Litigation, Official/Qualified Immunity, Sec. 1983, Sovereign Immunity, TTCA

Eastland Court of Appeals holds deputies entitled to qualified immunity after takedown broke suspects jaw as video did not show constitutional level violations

Peter Klassen v. Gaines County, Texas, and Gaines County Deputy Sheriffs Ken Ketron and Clint Low, 11-19-00266-CV (Tex.App.—Eastland July 15, 2021) This is an excessive force/§1983 case where the Eastland Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s granting of the County’s and
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Civil Service/Collective Bargaining, Declaratory Judgments, Employment Law, Litigation, Ultra Vires

San Antonio Court of Appeals held City park and airport police could proceed with declaratory claims to establish collective bargaining rights

  City of San Antonio and Erik Walsh, in his Official Capacity v. San Antonio Park Police Officers Association, et al, 04-20-00213-CV, (Tex. App – San Antonio, July 14, 2021). This is a civil service/collective bargaining suit where the San Antonio Park Police
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