Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Health and Safety, Injunction, Litigation, Nuisance, Sovereign Immunity, Takings

First District Court of Appeals holds property owner could not bring a takings claim based on judicial order regarding substandard building

Jaime Jaramillo v. The City of Texas City, 01-20-00654-CV, (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.], Feb. 8, 2022, no pet. h.) (mem. op.). This is a takings case brought after the City initiated an enforcement action for a dilapidated building. The First District Court
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Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Land Use, Sec. 1983, Sign Regulation

U.S. Supreme Court holds Austin on-premise/off-premise sign regulation is content neutral

Special contributing author Laura Mueller, City Attorney for Dripping Springs City of Austin, Texas v. Reagan Nat’l Advert. Of Austin, LLC., et al, No. 20-1029 (April 21, 2022). The primary question in regulating off-premise signs differently than on-premise signs is whether such
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Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Litigation, Mandamus, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity

Texas Supreme Court holds the law requires more than conclusory references to the statute’s elements in order to waive immunity

Patrick Von Dohlen, et. al., v City of San Antonio, 20-0725 (Tex. April 1, 2022) This is a declaratory judgment – statutory cause of action case brought against the City of San Antonio (“City”) for violating Chapter 2400 of the Texas Government
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Agency, Civil Service/Collective Bargaining, Declaratory Judgments, Employment Law, Litigation, Procedure

Fort Worth Court of Appeals affirms trial court’s authority under Civil Service Act to vacate a hearing examiner award, remand for a rehearing, and require a separate hearing examiner

Shea O’Neill v. City of Fort Worth, 02-21-00214-CV (Tex. App. – Fort Worth, Feb 3, 2022) This is a civil service case (which has already gone up and down the appellate ladder) where the Fort Worth Court of Appeals affirmed the trial
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Agency, Board of Adjustment, Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Litigation, Procedure, Zoning

Lubbock Court of Appeals affirmed board of adjustment condition to re-evaluate variance request after a set number of years

MVP Raider Park Garage, LLC. V Zoning Board of Adjustment of City of Lubbock, et al, 07-20-00261-CV (Tex. App. – Lubbock, Jan. 12, 2022) This is a board of adjustment case where the Lubbock Court of Appeals affirmed the BOA’s denial of
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Board of Adjustment, Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Litigation, Sovereign Immunity, Takings, Vested Rigths, Zoning

Fort Worth Court of Appeals holds Plaintiffs properly plead constitutional challenges to City’s short-term rental ordinance

  City of Grapevine v. Ludmilla B. Muns, et al, 02-19-00257-CV (Tex. App. – Fort Worth, Dec. 23, 2021) This is an opinion on rehearing where the Fort Worth Court of Appeals reversed in part and affirmed in part the trial court’s
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Declaratory Judgments, Eminent Domain, Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, Takings

Fort Worth Court of Appeals holds one city was not entitled to a plea to the jurisdiction in condemnation suit brought by adjoining city

Town of Westlake, Texas v. City of Southlake, 02-21-00241-CV  (Tex. App. – Fort Worth, Dec. 23, 2021) This is an interlocutory appeal from the denial of the Town of Westlake’s plea to the jurisdiction in a case where the City of Southlake
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Declaratory Judgments, Health and Safety, Injunction, Land Use, Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, Structural Standards, Takings, Zoning

Texarkana holds city properly supported its summary judgment to permanently enjoin mobile home park

Polecat Hill, LLC, et al. v. City of Longview, Texas, et al. 06-20-00062-CV (Tex. App. – Texarkana, December 2, 2021). This is a nuisance/permit case brought under Chapter 54 of the Texas Local Government Code where the Texarkana Court of Appeals affirmed
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Attorney Fees, Civil Service/Collective Bargaining, Declaratory Judgments, Employment Law, Injunction, Litigation, Procedure, Ultra Vires

Amarillo Court of Appeals holds fire marshal’s office employs firefighters who are entitled to civil service protection

City of Amarillo, Texas, et al. v. Nathan Sloan Nurek and Michael Brandon Stennett, 07-20-00315-CV, (Tex. App – Amarillo, Nov. 18, 2021) This is a civil service case where the Amarillo Court of Appeals affirmed in part and reversed in part a
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