Constitutional Challenge, Contracts, Declaratory Judgments, Discrimination, Employment Law, Injunction, Litigation, Mandamus, Nuisance, Retaliation, Separation of Powers, Sovereign Immunity, Takings, TTCA, Whistleblower

December 2018 Condensed Summaries

The problem with December is courts try to get cases off their desk prior to the holiday break. Clients like to get stuff resolved before the holiday break. Which means a lot of stuff happens in December preventing me from keeping up
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Constitutional Challenge, Litigation, Mandamus, Procedure, Sec. 1983

Mandamus action: Pre-suit discovery precluded as petitioner did not support the petition with evidence and trial court failed to issue mandatory findings

In Re: City of Tatum, Texas, 12-18-00285-CV (Tex. App. – Tyler, December 21, 2018) This is a writ of mandamus original proceeding where the Tyler Court of Appeals conditionally granted the City’s relief and precluded a potential party from taking pre-suit depositions
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Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Finance, Tax

Texas Supreme Court disposes of various natural gas compressor taxation suits by holding taxing location is inventory yard, not temporary physical locations

Ward County Appraisal District v EES Leasing, et al, 15-0965 (Tex. Nov. 16, 2018) The Texas Supreme Court issued several connected opinions relating to the proper taxing entity for compressor equipment and pipelines. EXLP Leasing owns and leases out compressor stations used
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Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Eminent Domain, Injunction, Land Use, Sovereign Immunity, Takings

City not liable for takings claim because of alleged failure to enforce ordinances against neighboring property owner/developer

City of Mason v. William Robin Lee, et al.  04-18-00275-CV (Tex. App. – San Antonio, Nov. 7, 2018). This is an interlocutory appeal in a regulatory takings case where the Fourth Court of Appeals reversed the denial of the City’s plea to
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Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Litigation, Sec. 1983, Separation of Powers

U.S. 5th Circuit holds promoter of sex convention had standing to sue after City passed ordinance banning convention

Three Expo Events, LLC v City of Dallas, 17-10632 (5th Cir. October 24, 2018). This is a First Amendment case involving a sex convention where the U.S. 5th  Circuit reversed an order granting the City’s motion to dismiss. Three Expo Events, L.L.C.
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Constitutional Challenge, Sec. 1983, TTCA

Fort Worth Court of Appeals holds trial court lacked jurisdiction to hear civil lawsuit for wrongful arrest/malicious prosecution since Plaintiff was convicted of 1 of 3 indictments

Nathaniel Washington v. City of Arlington Police Department, R. Walsh, Taylor Ferguson, Brian Salvant, and George Mackey 02-17-00337-CV (Tex. App — Fort Worth, Oct. 4, 2018) This is a civil rights and tort case where the Fort Worth Court of Appeals affirmed
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Constitutional Challenge, Litigation, Sec. 1983

U.S. 5th Circuit holds 1) IA and CID not required to share evidence and 2) disclosure of exculpatory evidence is a “trial” right, not a right before accepting a plea offer

Alvarez v City of Brownsville, 16-40772 (5th Cir. Sept. 18, 2018) This is a §1983/jail altercation case where the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit reversed a $2.3 million-dollar jury award and rendered judgment for the City. [Warning, opinion plus
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Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Elections, Injunction, Litigation, Mandamus

City obtained mandamus to remove TRO preventing display of budget meeting which addressed fiscal impact of pending charter election

  In re Sylvester Turner, Mayor and Dave Martin, Houston City Council Member 14-18-00649-CV (Tex. App. – Houston [14th Dist.], Aug. 23, 2018) This is an original mandamus where the 14th District Court of Appeals in Houston reversed a trial judge’s order
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