Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Eminent Domain, Injunction, Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, Takings

Texas Supreme Court rules court of appeals has interlocutory jurisdiction for denied MSJ even though plea was denied months earlier

City of Magnolia 4A Economic Development Corporation and City of Magnolia 4B Community Development Corporation v. David Smedley, 16-0718 (Tex. October 27, 2017). This is a flooding case, however, the issue for the Supreme Court is a litigation procedural one. The Court
Read More

Board of Adjustment, Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Zoning

City’s letter advising of BOA decision was not “the decision filed in the board’s office” for purpose of BOA appeal deadlines under Chapter 211 says Austin Court of Appeals

  Lisa Risoli v. Board of Adjustment of the City of Wimberley, and the City of Wimberley  03-17-00385-CV (Tex.App—-Austin October 19, 2017) This is a board of adjustment appeal where the Austin Court of Appeals remanded the property owner’s claims back to
Read More

Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, Ultra Vires

Texarkana Court of Appeals holds the vote and decision not to vote on District business cannot be an ultra vires claim

Kilgore Independent School District, et al. v. Darlene Axberg, John Claude Axberg, Sheila Anderson, and the State of Texas 06-17-00060-CV (Tex.App— Texarkana, October 12, 2017) This is an appeal from the denial of a plea to the jurisdiction where property owners brought
Read More

Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, Ultra Vires

District immune from suit challenging the validity of district actions, but Plaintiff entitled to replead as ultra vires claim

 Bexar-Medina-Atascosa Counties Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 (Cross-Appellee) v. Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District (Cross-Appellant) 04-16-00536-CV (Tex.App— San Antonio, September 13, 2017) This is a declaratory judgment case between two local governmental entities. The San Antonio Court of
Read More

Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Litigation, Procedure, Sec. 1983, Sovereign Immunity, Takings, Ultra Vires

Town immune from claims to invalidate vote where no ordinance was actually adopted says Fort Worth Court of Appeals

Peter Schmitz, et al  v. Town of Ponder, Texas, et al. 02-16-00114-CV, (Tex. App. – Fort Worth, August 31, 2017). This is an appeal from a final judgment against the Plaintiffs who attempted to force the Town to enforce its zoning laws
Read More

Contracts, Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, Ultra Vires

Interlocutory appeal mooted by Plaintiff’s non-suit, even though Plaintiff refiled similar suit directly after dismissal

City of Sealy, et al.  v. Town Park Center, 01-17-00127-CV (Tex. App. – Houston [1st Dist.], August 24, 2017). This is an opinion where the court held the appeal is moot, but where the City asserted mootness was not applicable due to
Read More

Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Litigation, Procedure, Ultra Vires

Inmate’s ultra vires suit against DA, courts, and county dismissed due to claim for retrospective relief

Smith v. District Attorney’s Office for Smith County, et al.  03-16-00828-CV (Tex. App. – Austin, August 23, 2017) This is an inmate declaratory judgment case relating to the inmate’s conviction in which the Austin Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of the
Read More

Contracts, Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Litigation, Mandamus, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity

San Antonio Court of Appeals holds river authority can be compelled to attend contract arbitration

San Antonio River Authority v. Austin Bridge & Road, L.P. and Hayward Baker Inc. 04-16-00535-CV ( Tex.App— San Antonio, August 9, 2017) This is an interesting case where the issue of sovereign immunity impacts whether an entity is a “party’ to a
Read More