Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Elections, Injunction, Litigation, Procedure, Separation of Powers, Sovereign Immunity

Texas Supreme Court holds county official removal statute is subject to Texas Citizens Participation Act and sovereign immunity is waived for attorney’s fees of losing party

State of Texas ex Rel. George Darrell Best v Paul Reed Harper, 16-0647, — S.W.3d – (Tex. July 29, 2018). This is a Texas Citizens Participation Act (“TPCA”) case where the Texas Supreme Court held a suit to remove a county official
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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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Declaratory Judgments, Employment Law, Injunction, Litigation, Mandamus, PIA, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity

City of Houston can be sued by pension board for non-compliance with statutory pension provision and PIA

  City of Houston, et. al.  v. Houston municipal employees pension system, 17-0242, — S.W. 3d — (Tex. June 8, 2018). City of Houston created several local government corporations to which it transferred some of its employees. Specifically at issue is the
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Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Litigation, Mandamus, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity

Texas Supreme Court holds county commissioner has no authority over plats, so is an improper party to suit by developer

W.A “Andy” Meyers, individually and in his capacity as Fort Bend County Commissioner v. JDC/Firethorne, LTD., a Texas limited partnership; from Fort Bend County; 14th Court of Appeals District (14-15-00860-cv, 514 sw3d 279, 12-22-16) In this land development suit, the Texas Supreme
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Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Land Use, Litigation, Procedure, Religious Freedom, Sec. 1983, TOMA

City immune from claims it misapplied its own ordinances or procedures, but not for TOMA claims

  Peter Schmitz, et al v. Town of Ponder, Texas, et al. 02-16-00114-CV, (Tex. App. – Fort Worth, May 10, 2018). This is a substituted opinion. Summary of original opinion found here. This is an appeal from a final judgment against the
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Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Land Use, Litigation, Procedure, Vested Rigths

Trial court abused its discretion in awarding attorney’s fees to City in vested rights and declaratory judgment case

Patsy B. Anderton, et al. v. City of Cedar Hill, 05-17-00138-CV (Tex. App. – Dallas, May 25, 2018) The Dallas Court of Appeals affirmed-in-part and reversed-in-part a judgment for the City of Cedar Hill (“City”) in a case involving a non-conforming use
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Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Mandamus, PIA, Ultra Vires

City did not act in bad faith under PIA in cost estimate calculation; City established it produced all records discovered

Mark Rines v. City of Carrollton 05-15-01321-CV (Tex. App—Dallas, February 13, 2018) This is a Texas Public Information Act (“PIA”) case where the Dallas Court of Appeals affirmed the trial courts order dismissing the Requestor’s lawsuit. [Comment: this case is a rare
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Annexation, Injunction, Mandamus, Separation of Powers

In annexation opposition, Dallas Court of Appeals opinion could result in trial courts using TOMA injunction provision to prevent legislative acts not yet up for vote

In Re: City of Mesquite, Texas 05-17-01303-CV (Tex.App— Dallas, November 14, 2017) In this original mandamus proceeding, the Dallas  Court of Appeals held the trial court did not abuse its discretion in granting certain injunctive relief prohibiting annexation in an extraterritorial  jurisdiction.
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