Agency, Declaratory Judgments, Finance, Litigation, Procedure, Public Works

Expedited public securities law cannot be used to challenge TCEQ permit says Third Court of Appeals

Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority v. Texas Attorney General, et al, 03-14-00393-CV (Tex. App. Austin, February 26, 2015) The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (“Authority”) filed a suit against numerous entities asserting the San Antonio Water System (“SAWS”) improperly filed an application with the Texas Commission
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Declaratory Judgments, Land Use, Litigation, Sovereign Immunity, TTCA, Ultra Vires, Vested Rigths

Suit against City employee, individually, dismissed, but ultra-vires claims remain even under Sec. 101.106 of Civil Practice and Remedies Code

Charles N. Draper v. Greg Guernsey, in his Capacity as Director of Planning and Development Watershed Protection Review Department; and City of Austin, 03-14-00265-CV (Tex. App. – Austin, February 25, 2015). This is a land-use dispute but the opinion focuses on the
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Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Land Use, Litigation, Procedure, Sign Regulation, Takings

Changing tri-display billboard to LED billboard is a reconstruction and not merely a change in “electrical wiring or devices” so required a permit

Garrett Operators, Inc. v. City of Houston, 01-13-00767-CV (Tex. App. – Houston [1st Dist.], January 22, 2015) Garrett Operators, Inc. (“Garrett”) filed a declaratory judgment action against the City of Houston (“the City”) regarding the application and interpretation of the City’s Sign
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Civil Service/Collective Bargaining, Declaratory Judgments, Employment Law, Litigation, Mandamus, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, Ultra Vires

Civil Service Director ordered to submit appeal to independent hearing examiner, but City immune from damages

Richard Stubbs v. The City of Weslaco, et al., 13-14-00054-CV (Tex. App. —  Corpus Christi, January 8, 2015). This is an appeal from the dismissal of a mandamus action where the 13th Court of Appeals reversed the dismissal and ordered the trial
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Civil Service/Collective Bargaining, Contracts, Declaratory Judgments, Employment Law, Litigation, Mandamus, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, Ultra Vires

City not liable for back pay or reinstatement for initially failing to provide a hearing with hearing examiner but court has jurisdiction to issue prospective relief if appropriate

Michael Hamilton v. Mark Washington, in his Capacity as City of Austin Civil Service Director, et al., 03-11-00594-CV (Tex. App. Austin, December 23, 2014) This is an appeal from the granting of a plea to the jurisdiction in a civil service indefinite
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Civil Service/Collective Bargaining, Contracts, Declaratory Judgments, Employment Law, Litigation, Mandamus, Procedure

City plea was not a challenge to jurisdiction but an argument on merits so it should have been denied holds Amarillo Court of Appeals

Richard Zambrana v. City of Amarillo, 07-13-00058-CV (Tex. App. – Amarillo, October 8, 2014) This is a civil service case regarding a firefighter where the Amarillo Court of Appeals reversed the granting of a plea to the jurisdiction and sent the case
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