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
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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
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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
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Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, TTCA

14th Court of Appeals holds administering drug is the “use” of tangible personal property for immunity purposes

University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center v. Lance McKenzie, Individually and as Representative of the Estate of Courtney McKenzie-Thue (Deceased), Deborah Diver, Individually and As Next Friend of Jensen O’Hara, a Minor 14-16-00681-CV (Tex.App—Houston [14th District] August 3, 2017) This is
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Constitutional Challenge, Litigation, Official/Qualified Immunity, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, TTCA

Officer and Police Chief entitled to dismissal under sec. 101.106(f) of Texas Tort Claims Act after alleged assault during arrest

John M. Donohue v. City of Boerne Chief of Police James Koehler, Officer Pablo Morales, and Martha L. Donohue, 04-16-00190-CV ( Tex.App—San Antonio, March 8,2017) This is a Texas Tort Claims Act case where the San Antonio Court of Appeals affirmed the
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Eminent Domain, Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, Takings, Ultra Vires

State immune from suit for mineral interest relating back to Spanish land grant

Galan Family Trust v. State of Texas, et al, 03-15-00816-CV (Tex.App— Austin, February 24, 2017) This is an inverse-condemnation/trespass-to-try-title case where the Austin Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of the Plaintiff’s claims. The Galan Family Trust (“Trust” or “Plaintiff”) sued the
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Constitutional Challenge, Litigation, Official/Qualified Immunity, Procedure, Sec. 1983

Citizen thrown out of city council meeting allowed to go forward with some, but not all claims against presiding council member and police officer

Heaney v. Roberts, No. 15-31088 (5th Cir. January 23, 2017) This is a First Amendment retaliation/discrimination case where the Plaintiff, Heaney, was ejected from a city council meeting allegedly due to his statements at the meeting. On September 18, 2013, Tom Heaney
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