Agency, Board of Adjustment, Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Health and Safety, Injunction, Litigation, Procedure, Sec. 1983, Sovereign Immunity, Structural Standards, Tax, TOMA, Zoning

BOA appeal deadline of 10 days applies to Open Meetings, declaratory judgment, and as-applied constitutional claims, holds Dallas Court of Appeals

Tejas Motel, LLC v City of Mesquite, by and through its Board of Adjustment, 05-19-00667-CV (Tex. Civ. App. – Dallas, June 4, 2020). This is an appeal from a Board of Adjustment decision regarding non-conforming status in which the Dallas Court of
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Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Official/Qualified Immunity, Religious Freedom, Sec. 1983, Sovereign Immunity

U.S. 5th Circuit adopts 1st Amendment unbridled discretion/prior-restraint standards in federal suit against Texas Governor

Freedom from Religion Foundation, Inc. v. Greg Abbott Governor of the State of Texas, 18-50610, (5th Cir – April 3, 2020) This is a First Amendment case regarding immunity and viewpoint discrimination where the U.S. 5th Circuit adopted a specific prior restraint
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Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity

13th Court of Appeals holds it does not have interlocutory jurisdiction to hear 2nd motion which is nothing more than reconsideration of first plea to the jurisdiction

City of Elsa, Texas v. Jesse Diaz, 13-19-00109-CV, (Tex. App – Corpus Christi – Edinburg, April 2, 2020) This is an interlocutory appeal (2nd for the case) in a contractual immunity case where the 13th Court of Appeals held the City’s summary
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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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Contracts, Sovereign Immunity

Contractor properly complied with administrative dispute resolutions in contract, so properly exhausted administrative remedies holds Dallas Court of Appeals

  Dallas Area Rapid Transit Authority v. GLF Construction Company, 05-19-003930-CV, (Tex. App – Dallas, April 3, 2020) This is an interlocutory appeal in a contractual immunity case where the Dallas Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of DART’s plea to the
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Contracts, Litigation, Sovereign Immunity

School district failed to establish unauthorized contract, even with TEA report declaring contract was executed in violation of procurement laws

Harlandale Independent School District v. Jasmine Engineering, Inc, 04-19-00638-CV, (Tex. App – San Antonio, March 11, 2020) This is a breach of contract/immunity case where the San Antonio Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of the school district’s plea to the jurisdiction.
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