Discrimination, Employment Law, Litigation, Procedure, Retaliation, Sovereign Immunity

14th Court of Appeals holds ex-employees trigger date to file a charge of discrimination only occurs when employer’s discriminatory animus becomes sufficiently clear and he has suffered a tangible employment action

Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas v. John Carter, 14-19-00422-CV (Tex. App. – Houston [14th Dist.], January 14, 2021) This is an employment dispute where the 14th Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of a plea to the jurisdiction filed by
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Constitutional Challenge, Litigation, Official/Qualified Immunity, Sec. 1983, Sovereign Immunity, TTCA

Beaumont Court of Appeals holds City is not liable for alleged failure to create a police report, failure to investigate, or failure to prosecute as asserted by Plaintiff

Caryn Suzann Cain v. City of Conroe, Tex., et al., 09-19-00246-CV, 2020 WL 6929401 (Tex. App.—Beaumont Nov. 25, 2020)  This is an interlocutory appeal from the trial court’s order granting the City’s motion to dismiss, plea to the jurisdiction, and traditional motion
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Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, TTCA

14th Court of Appeals holds describing the general place where an injury occurs is sufficient for Tort Claims Act notice.

Special contributing author Laura Mueller, City Attorney for Dripping Springs Metro. Transit Auth. of Harris County v. Tracey Carr, No. 14-19-00158-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [14th]  January 12, 2021) (mem. op.). In this appeal from a trial court’s order denying the city’s plea to
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Constitutional Challenge, Contracts, Declaratory Judgments, Litigation, Sovereign Immunity

The Tenth Court of Appeals held immunity waived for airport lease based on improvements made by tenant

  Special contributing author Laura Mueller, City Attorney for Dripping Springs City of Cleburne v. RT General, LLC, No. 10-20-00037-CV (Tex. App.—Waco  December 16, 2020) (mem. op.). This is an interlocutory appeal from a trial court denial of the city’s plea to
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Litigation, Sovereign Immunity, TTCA

The Eleventh Court of Appeals held that failure to monitor or provide medical care for an inmate who was injured in a county jail is insufficient to waive immunity under the Tort Claims Act.   

  Special contributing author Laura Mueller, City Attorney for Dripping Springs James Garms v. Comanche County, No. 11-19-00015-CV (Tex. App.—Eastland   December 18, 2020) (mem. op.). In this appeal from a trial court’s judgment granting the city’s plea to the jurisdiction on a
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Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Litigation, Procedure, Religious Freedom

Third Court of Appeals holds church’s motion for new trial in water rate EDJA case held valid given unique and troubling circumstances in case

City of Magnolia v Magnolia Bible Church, et al., 03-19-00631-CV (Tex. App. – Austin, Dec. 18, 2020) This is an interlocutory appeal from an order granting a new trial and denying a plea to the jurisdiction in a water rate case in
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Constitutional Challenge, Employment Law, Litigation, Retaliation, Sec. 1983, Whistleblower

The Ninth Court of Appeals affirmed judgment for City in First Amendment/Whistleblower claims since no causal connection was present

Special contributing author Laura Mueller, City Attorney for Dripping Springs Samer Shobassy v. City of Port Arthur, No. 09-18-00363-CV (Tex. App.—Port Arthur  November 19, 2020) (mem. op.). In this appeal from a trial court’s judgment dismissing the plaintiff’s retaliation-in-employment case.  The Beaumont
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Litigation, Official/Qualified Immunity, Sovereign Immunity, TTCA

Beaumont Court of Appeals held Plaintiff failed to overcome emergency responder exception under Texas Tort Claim Act in vehicle accident case

Texas Dept. of Pub. Safety v. Kendziora, 09-19-00432-CV (Tex.App.—Beaumont, Nov. 5, 2020) This is an interlocutory appeal from the denial of Texas DPS’s plea to the jurisdiction in a case involving a car accident while a DPS trooper (“Chapman”) was responding to
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Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, TTCA

The Sixth Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of TTCA case because the trial court was not required to review a late-filed amended petition in making its decision on summary judgment. 

  Special contributing author Laura Mueller, City Attorney for Dripping Springs Raul Gonzales v. City of Farmers Branch, No. 06-20-00054-CV (Tex.App.—Texarkana  November 5, 2020) (mem. op.). This is a Texas Tort Claims Act (“TTCA”)/vehicle accident case where the Texarkana Court of Appeals
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