Slade v. City of Marshall No. 15-40517 (5th Cir., February 10, 2016) This is a §1983 wrongful death case where the 5th Circuit affirmed the dismissal of the Slade constitutional claims by the trial court. When City officers were dispatched to a
Read More
Stem v. Gomez No. 15-50264 (5th Cir. February 8, 2016) This is an appeal from a dismissal for failure to state a claim where the United States 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed in part and affirmed in part a constitutional claim
Read More
The City of Friendswood and Kevin Holland v. Paul and Carolyn Horn, et al., 01-15-00436-CV (Tex. App. – Houston [1st Dist.], February 11, 2016). This is essentially an inverse condemnation case where the First Court of Appeals reversed the denial of a
Read More
Serafine v. Branaman No. 14-51151 (5th Cir. January 12, 2016). This is a First Amendment/Professional Speech case where the U.S. 5th Circuit invalidated as unconstitutional part of the Texas statute regulating psychologists. Mary Serafine ran for a Texas Senate seat and described
Read More
James v. Boise 15-493 (U.S. January 25, 2016). This is a case involving attorney’s fees for suits under 42. U.S.C. §1983 (constitutional violations mainly). Essentially, the U.S. Supreme Court held the test for determining a “prevailing party” is dictated by federal, not
Read More
Campbell-Ewald v. Gomez, 14-857 (January 20, 2016) The United States Supreme Court issued this opinion on derivative sovereign immunity for contractors. The United States Navy contracted with Campbell-Ewald Company (“Campbell”) to develop a multimedia recruiting campaign that included the sending of text
Read More
Vicki Ward v. Lamar University, Texas State University System and James Simmons 14-14-00097-CV (Tex. App. Houston [14th Dist.], January 12, 2016) This is a Texas Whistleblower case. The panel previously issued an opinion (summary found here), but after a motion for rehearing,
Read More
City of Carrollton, Texas v. Milan Hamrla, Petra Chudejova, Michael and Laura Brewer, Dalia Chavarria, Diane and Gene Hines, and Keith Effert, 02-15-00119-CV (Tex. App. – Fort Worth, January 7, 2016). This is an interlocutory appeal from the denial of a plea
Read More
Dr. James Jones v. Angelo State University, 03-14-00112-CV (Tex. App. – Austin, December 18, 2015). This is a religious discrimination/failure-to-accommodate in employment dispute where the Austin Court of Appeals affirmed in part and reversed in part the granting of the summary judgment
Read More
Mullenix v. Luna 14-1143, 2015 WL 6829329 (U.S. Nov. 9, 2015) The U.S. Supreme Court issued this qualified immunity case in a police chase/§1983 lawsuit granting the officer involved immunity for shooting a fleeing suspect. When officers in Tulia Texas attempted to
Read More