Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Eminent Domain, Litigation, Separation of Powers, Sovereign Immunity

Texas Supreme Court holds one public entity is not immune from condemnation suit filed by another

HIDALGO COUNTY WATER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NO. 3 v. HIDALGO COUNTY IRRIGATION DISTRICT NO. 1; 21-0507 (Tex. May 19, 2023) In this immunity case, the Texas Supreme Court held that governmental/sovereign immunity does not prohibit one political subdivision from utilizing eminent-domain proceedings against
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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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Attorney Fees, Constitutional Challenge, Contracts, Eminent Domain, Injunction, Land Use, Litigation, Procedure, Public Works, Sovereign Immunity, Takings

Fort Worth Court of Appeals analyzes the law-of-the-case doctrine and determines private property owners did not establish claims against a city regarding fee simple land ownership

City of Mansfield, et al., v Saverings, et al, 02-19-00174-CV (Tex. App. – Fort Worth, July 16, 2020) In this lengthy opinion, the Fort Worth Court of Appeals holds certain private property owners did not establish a right to declaratory relief regarding
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Declaratory Judgments, Eminent Domain, Land Use, Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity

San Antonio Court of Appeals affirms county’s jurisdictional challenge and award of sanctions against property owner

Kehoe v Kendall County, 04-19-00825-CV (Tex. App. – San Antonio, July 15, 2020). This is a declaratory judgment case involving a private property easement where the San Antonio Court of Appeals affirmed the City’s plea to the jurisdiction and awarded sanctions against
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Constitutional Challenge, Eminent Domain, Litigation, Sovereign Immunity, Takings

Eastland Court of Appeals holds conclusory statements in pleadings insufficient to plead jurisdiction – facts are needed to establish City had intent to commit a taking

  City of Albany v. Diana Christine Blue and Elva Rae Sanders, 11-18-00051-CV, (Tex. App – Eastland, April 2, 2020) This is an interlocutory appeal in a nuisance and inverse condemnation case where the Eastland court of appeals reversed the denial of
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Constitutional Challenge, Eminent Domain, Litigation, Takings

14th Court of Appeals holds flooded property owners’ claims lack jurisdiction in district court

San Jacinto River Authority v. Reba Ogletree, et al., 14-18-00043-CV, (Tex App – Hou [14th dist.], Jan 28, 2020) In this inverse condemnation case the Fourteenth Court of Appeals dismissed the homeowner’s claims for lack of jurisdiction. Homeowners, whose properties allegedly flooded
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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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Board of Adjustment, Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Eminent Domain, Injunction, Land Use, Sovereign Immunity, Takings, Ultra Vires, Vested Rigths, Zoning

Zoning amendment was not retroactive and property owner had no vested interest in perpetual use of his property for a specific purpose says Dallas Court of Appeals

  Hinga Mbogo, et al. v. City of Dallas, et al. 05-17-00879-CV (Tex. App. – Dallas, June 19, 2018) This is an appeal from an order granting the City Defendants’ plea to the jurisdiction in a constitutional challenge to zoning laws. The
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Constitutional Challenge, Eminent Domain, Sovereign Immunity, Structural Standards, TTCA

Trial court properly dismissed subsequent purchaser’s TTCA and Takings claims after City demolished house

Jorge Rodriguez v. City of Fort Worth, 07-16-00037-CV (Tex.App. – Amarillo, December 8, 2017) This is a takings/condemnation and TTCA case where the Fort Worth Court of Appeals affirmed the granting of the City’s plea to the jurisdiction. Prior to Rodriguez’s ownership
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