Declaratory Judgments, Eminent Domain, Land Use, Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity

San Antonio Court of Appeals affirms county’s jurisdictional challenge and award of sanctions against property owner

Kehoe v Kendall County, 04-19-00825-CV (Tex. App. – San Antonio, July 15, 2020). This is a declaratory judgment case involving a private property easement where the San Antonio Court of Appeals affirmed the City’s plea to the jurisdiction and awarded sanctions against
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Contracts, Sovereign Immunity

Former City Manager properly alleged breach of contract under Chapter even though the actual contract document was not presented to the city council.

Special contributing author Laura Mueller, City Attorney for Dripping Springs City of Port Isabel v. Edward Meza,  No. 13-19-00070-CV, 2020 WL 3786249 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi July 2, 2020) (mem. op.). This is a breach of contract case where the Corpus Christi Court
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Contracts, Sovereign Immunity

Corpus Christi Court of Appeals holds recovery in breach of contract case under Chapter 271 waiver of immunity dependent on contract definition of “owner” – attorney’s fees are recoverable for any contract covered by Chapter 271 waiver.

Special guest author Laura Mueller, City Attorney of Dripping Springs City of Corpus Christi v. Graham Constr. Servs., Inc., 2020 WL 3478661, No. 13-19-00367-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi June 25, 2020) (mem. op.). This is a breach of contract claim under Chapter 271
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Litigation, Sovereign Immunity, TTCA

Texas Supreme Court holds TTCA waives immunity for slight negligence claims, which applies to common carriers (buses) and imposes a higher degree of care for passengers

VIA Metropolitan Transit v Curtis Meck, 18-0458 (Tex. June 26, 2020) This is a Texas Tort Claims Act (TTCA) case involving a VIA bus accident where the Texas Supreme Court affirmed a jury award against VIA. VIA Metropolitan Transit is a governmental
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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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