Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Health and Safety, Injunction, Land Use, Public Works, Sovereign Immunity, Takings

Texas Supreme Court holds city’s civil-enforcement of utility payment ordinance was not an unconstitutional taking

  City of Baytown v Alan Schrock, 20-0309 (Tex. May 13, 2022)  In this takings case, the Texas Supreme Court held the City of Bayton (City) did not commit a taking by withholding utility service in order to collect unpaid utility bills.
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Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Health and Safety, Injunction, Sovereign Immunity, Takings

Texas Supreme Court holds general-law cities cannot impose a revenue-based licensing fee for construction trash haulers

  Builder Recovery Services, LLC v. The Town of Westlake, Texas, 21-0173, (Tex, May 20, 2022)  In this case, the Texas Supreme Court held that general law cities have limited authority to impose license fees for solid waste collections.   The Town
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Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Health and Safety, Injunction, Litigation, Nuisance, Sovereign Immunity, Takings

First District Court of Appeals holds property owner could not bring a takings claim based on judicial order regarding substandard building

Jaime Jaramillo v. The City of Texas City, 01-20-00654-CV, (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.], Feb. 8, 2022, no pet. h.) (mem. op.). This is a takings case brought after the City initiated an enforcement action for a dilapidated building. The First District Court
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Board of Adjustment, Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Litigation, Sovereign Immunity, Takings, Vested Rigths, Zoning

Fort Worth Court of Appeals holds Plaintiffs properly plead constitutional challenges to City’s short-term rental ordinance

  City of Grapevine v. Ludmilla B. Muns, et al, 02-19-00257-CV (Tex. App. – Fort Worth, Dec. 23, 2021) This is an opinion on rehearing where the Fort Worth Court of Appeals reversed in part and affirmed in part the trial court’s
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Declaratory Judgments, Eminent Domain, Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, Takings

Fort Worth Court of Appeals holds one city was not entitled to a plea to the jurisdiction in condemnation suit brought by adjoining city

Town of Westlake, Texas v. City of Southlake, 02-21-00241-CV  (Tex. App. – Fort Worth, Dec. 23, 2021) This is an interlocutory appeal from the denial of the Town of Westlake’s plea to the jurisdiction in a case where the City of Southlake
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Declaratory Judgments, Health and Safety, Injunction, Land Use, Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, Structural Standards, Takings, Zoning

Texarkana holds city properly supported its summary judgment to permanently enjoin mobile home park

Polecat Hill, LLC, et al. v. City of Longview, Texas, et al. 06-20-00062-CV (Tex. App. – Texarkana, December 2, 2021). This is a nuisance/permit case brought under Chapter 54 of the Texas Local Government Code where the Texarkana Court of Appeals affirmed
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Contracts, Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Litigation, Mandamus, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, Takings, Ultra Vires, Vested Rigths

First Court of Appeals holds 380 development agreement was an agreement for goods and services (waiving immunity) but dismissed all other claims brought against the City by the developer

Town Park Center, LLC v. City of Sealy, Texas, Janice Whitehead, Mayor, Lloyd Merrell, City Manager and Warren Escovy, Assistant City Manager, 01-19-00768-CV, (Tex. App – Hou [1st], Oct. 28, 2021) In this contract dispute, the First Court of Appeals in Houston
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Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Litigation, Procedure, Takings

The plaintiff failed to show that damages were insufficient in a condemnation case where there was sufficient evidence supporting the judgment of the trial court.  

  Special contributing author Laura Mueller, City Attorney for Dripping Springs Castellanos v. Harris County, Texas and City of Baytown, Texas., No. 01-20-00414-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] Oct 7, 2021) (mem. op.). In this appeal from a trial court’s judgment in a
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Board of Adjustment, Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Land Use, Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, Structural Standards, Takings, Ultra Vires

Fourth Court of Appeals holds plaintiff suing for BOA decision must be given opportunity to replead to show timing of when the BOA decision was filed in board’s offices

Alpha Securities, LLC, v City of Fredericksburg, 04-20-00447-CV (Tex. App. – San Antonio, Aug. 10, 2021, no pet h.). This is a board of adjustment appeal and declaratory judgment action where the San Antonio Court of Appeals agreed no jurisdiction existed, but
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