Mayor entitled to qualified immunity in First Amendment employment case; Police chief’s report to outside agency was not his action as a citizen but remained within his job duties

Gibson v. Kilpatrick, No. 12-60905 (5th Cir. December 11, 2014). This is a First Amendment in employment matter case where the 5th Circuit reversed the denial of the Mayor’s qualified immunity defense. Chief of Police Gibson reported Mayor Kilpatrick of Drew, Mississippi
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City not liable for back pay or reinstatement for initially failing to provide a hearing with hearing examiner but court has jurisdiction to issue prospective relief if appropriate

Michael Hamilton v. Mark Washington, in his Capacity as City of Austin Civil Service Director, et al., 03-11-00594-CV (Tex. App. Austin, December 23, 2014) This is an appeal from the granting of a plea to the jurisdiction in a civil service indefinite
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3rd Court reverses years of AG opinions; now holds attorney/client privilege is confidential as a matter of law and an inherently compelling reason to preclude disclosure under PIA

Greg Abbott, Attorney General of the State of Texas v. City of Dallas, 03-13-00686-CV (Tex. App. – Austin December 23, 2014) This is a Public Information Act (“PIA”) lawsuit where the Austin Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court order allowing the
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Cursory investigation does not equate to awareness of fault and mailbox rule does not apply to TTCA notice provision says 13th Court of Appeals

Texas Department of State Health Services v. Laura Gonzalez, 13-14-00259-CV (Tex. App. – Corpus Christi, December 18, 2014) This is a Texas Tort Claims Act (“TTCA”) motor vehicle accident case where the Thirteenth Court of Appeals reversed the denial of a plea
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