Constitutional Challenge, Discrimination, Employment Law, Litigation, Official/Qualified Immunity, Procedure, Sec. 1983, Sovereign Immunity, TTCA

The First Court of Appeals held employment discrimination claims cannot be brought under the TCHRA in state court where the same claims were previously dismissed in federal court.     

  Special contributing author Laura Mueller, City Attorney for Dripping Springs Suran Wije v. David A. Burns and Univ. of Texas, No. 01-19-00024-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] September 3, 2020) (mem. op.). In this employment discrimination claim, the plaintiff sued a University
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Sovereign Immunity, TTCA

The First Court of Appeals held City EMS providers are “health care professionals” therefore claims related to emergency medical services must be brought as health care liability claims requiring expert reports.  

  Special contributing author Laura Mueller, City Attorney for Dripping Springs City of Houston v. Shirley Houston, No. 01-19-00255-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] August 25, 2020). In this medical negligence case, the plaintiff sued the City after being injured during her ambulance
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Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, TTCA

El Paso Court of Appeals holds under Texas Tort Claims Act that a proper jurisdictional analysis should “not involve a significant inquiry into the substance of the claims.”

City of El Paso, Texas v. Joanna Cangialosi, 08-19-00163-CV (Tex. App. – El Paso, Aug. 31, 2020). This is an interlocutory appeal from the denial of a plea to the jurisdiction in a Texas Tort Claim Act (“TTCA”) automobile accident case. The
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Contracts, Sovereign Immunity, TTCA

Waco Court of Appeals held that a contract for a Water District to provide water services to a customer is not a contract that waives governmental immunity under Chapter 271 of the Local Government Code.

Special contributing author Laura Mueller, City Attorney for Dripping Springs Mclennan County Water Control and Improvement Dist. v. Matthew and Rachel Geer, et. al, 10-17-00399-CV (Tex. App.—Waco, July 22, 2020). In this governmental immunity case, the Waco Court of Appeals dismissed the
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Litigation, Sovereign Immunity, TTCA

Under the Texas Tort Claims Act, injury to self by suicide is a foreseeable injury under the motor-vehicle waiver of immunity when officer did not properly fasten a seatbelt of a detainee 

Special contributing author Laura Mueller, City Attorney for Dripping Springs City of Austin  v. Sayeed Anam, et al., 03-19-00294-CV (Tex. App.—Austin, July 30, 2020) (mem. op.). In this Texas Tort Claims Act, the Court of Appeals upheld the trial court’s denial of
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