Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Public Works, Sovereign Immunity, Takings

City immune from suit for reverter given language of deed says 4th Court of Appeals

The City of Laredo v. Northtown Development, Inc. and Gateway Centennial Development, Co., 04-15-00736-CV (Tex. App—San Antonio, August 10,2016) This is a takings case based on an alleged reverter in public property where the Fourth Court of Appeals reversed the denial of
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Declaratory Judgments, Religious Freedom, Tax

Neither appraisal district nor religious organization established entitlement to MSJ on tax exemption question regarding elderly housing, so full case remanded says 1st Court of Appeals

National Church Residences of Alief, TX v. Harris County Appraisal District, 01-15-00900-CV (Tex. App- Houston [ 1st Dist.] August 9, 2016) This is a tax exemption case where the First District Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s order denying a religious
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ADA, Discrimination, Employment Law, Litigation

Amarillo Court of Appeals holds 1) no race discrimination when employer hires from same protected class, 2) broken ankle is not ADA disability in this case, 3) age difference alone is not enough

Arnold Jordan v. Tarrant County Hospital District d/b/a JPs Health Network, 07-16-00034-CV (Tex. App—Amarillo, August 2, 2016) This is an employment discrimination case where the Amarillo Court of Appeals affirmed the granting of the Hospital District’s summary judgment motion. Jordan alleges Tarrant
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Constitutional Challenge, Sovereign Immunity, TTCA

Plaintiff could not establish City was substantially certain any actions were likely to cause flooding

City of Magnolia, City of Magnolia 4A Economic Development Corporation and City of Magnolia 4B Community Development Corporation v. David Smedley, 09-15-00334-CV  (Tex. App—Beaumont. July 28,2016) This is a flooding case where the Beaumont Court of Appeals dismissed the Plaintiff’s claims against
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Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Elections, Injunction, Preemption, Separation of Powers

Permanent injunction prohibiting city from holding election on red light cameras dissolved

The City of Cleveland et al., v. Keep Cleveland Safe, 09-15-00076-CV (Tex. App—Beaumont, July28, 2016) Plaintiff, Keep Cleveland Safe (“KCS”) filed a petition attempting to stop the City from placing an issue on the ballot for the May 2014 election regarding photographic
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Litigation, Procedure, Public Works, Takings

County properly initiated clarification of interest in public road; statute of repose can be raised in plea to the jurisdiction

John Herbert Matthews v. Colorado County, 01-16-00092-CV (Tex. App—Houston [1st Dist.] July 26,2016) This is a road abandonment case where the First District Court of Appeals affirmed the granting of the County’s plea to the jurisdiction. In 1951, the Colorado County Commissioners
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