Agency, Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Health and Safety, Land Use, Litigation, Preemption, Sovereign Immunity, Takings, Vested Rigths

If you have a case involving Chapter 245 vested rights, zoning changes, and distance restrictions on alcohol sales read this 71 page opinion

FLCT, Ltd. and Field Street Development I, Ltd. v. City of Frisco, Texas, 02-14-00335-CV (Tex. App.- Fort Worth, May 26th 2016) Owners are two partnerships that own adjacent property in Frisco. FLCT’s tract is located on the actual corner; Field’s tract is
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Agency, Declaratory Judgments, Sovereign Immunity, Ultra Vires

A determination that is wrongly decided does not render that decision outside an official’s authority for ultra vires purposes says 13th Court of Appeals.

Cameron County Appraisal District and Frutoso Gomez v. Thora O. Rourk, Et Al. 13-15-00026-CV (Tex. App. – Corpus Christi, January 28, 2016). This is primarily a Uniform Declaratory Judgment Act (“UDJA”)/Ultra Vires case but with the underlying claim asserting a tax on
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Agency, Employment Law, TOMA

Teacher lacked “public standing” to challenge Open Meetings Act violation since he had individualized injury says Dallas Court of Appeals

Dallas Independent School District and Michael L. Williams, Commissioner of Education v. Adrian Peters, 05-14-00759-CV (Tex. App. – Dallas, December 14, 2015). This is essentially a Texas Open Meetings Act (“TOMA”) case even though it has administrative law undercurrents. The Dallas Independent
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Agency, Public Works, Ultra Vires

Replacement easements are not costs “properly attributable to the relocation” of utility easements says 14th Court of Appeals.

Texas Transportation Commission and Ted Houghton, in his official capacity as chair the. Texas Transportation Commission v. City of Jersey Village, 14-14-00823-CV (Tex. App. – Houston, [14th Dist], October 15, 2015) Texas Department of Transportation is widening U.S. Highway 290 to include
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Agency, Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Litigation, Sovereign Immunity, Ultra Vires

Texas Supreme Court creates new standard holding governmental regulations must be more than rationally related to governmental interest under Article I, § 19 of the Texas Constitution

ASHISH PATEL, et al  v. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATION, et al, 12-0657 (Tex. June 26, 2015) In this regulation case, the Texas Supreme Court held the Texas regulation for licensing of eyebrow threaders (the “Threaders”) is not rationally related to
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Agency, Contracts, Declaratory Judgments, Land Use, Sovereign Immunity

Tax abatement agreement does not waive immunity under Chapter 271 of Local Government Code, but filing counterclaim did says Beaumont Court of Appeals

The City of Conroe, et al v. TPProperty LLC 09-13-00509-CV (Tex. App. – Beaumont, June 25, 2015). This is a breach of contract case involving a type of HOT agreement and tax abatement in which the Beaumont Court of Appeals modified the
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Agency, Declaratory Judgments, Employment Law, Litigation, Procedure, Ultra Vires

Police officer plaintiff failed to establish jurisdiction in Worker’s Compensation Act case

  Jamie Harvel and the Austin Police Association v Texas Department of Insurance- Division of Workers’ Compensation And Commissioner Rod Borderlon, In His Official Capacity, 13-14-00095-CV, (Tex. App.– Corpus Christi, May 21, 2015). This is an interlocutory appeal from the granting of
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