Sovereign Immunity, TTCA

Misuse of information in the operation of cemetery does not waive governmental immunity because operation of a cemetery is a governmental function.  

  Special contributing author Laura Mueller, City Attorney for Dripping Springs City of Raymondville v. Isabel Elizondo, Noe Espinoza Jr., Roxanne Franco, and Antonio Espinoza, 13-21-00375-CV, (Tex. App – Corpus Christi – Edinburg, May 26, 2022) (mem. op.). In this appeal from
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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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Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Land Use, Sec. 1983, Sign Regulation

U.S. Supreme Court holds Austin on-premise/off-premise sign regulation is content neutral

Special contributing author Laura Mueller, City Attorney for Dripping Springs City of Austin, Texas v. Reagan Nat’l Advert. Of Austin, LLC., et al, No. 20-1029 (April 21, 2022). The primary question in regulating off-premise signs differently than on-premise signs is whether such
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Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Litigation, Mandamus, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity

Texas Supreme Court holds the law requires more than conclusory references to the statute’s elements in order to waive immunity

Patrick Von Dohlen, et. al., v City of San Antonio, 20-0725 (Tex. April 1, 2022) This is a declaratory judgment – statutory cause of action case brought against the City of San Antonio (“City”) for violating Chapter 2400 of the Texas Government
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