San Antonio Court of Appeals affirms county’s jurisdictional challenge and award of sanctions against property owner

Kehoe v Kendall County, 04-19-00825-CV (Tex. App. – San Antonio, July 15, 2020).

This is a declaratory judgment case involving a private property easement where the San Antonio Court of Appeals affirmed the City’s plea to the jurisdiction and awarded sanctions against the Plaintiff.

Kehoe asserts Kendall County improperly accepted a 40-foot easement across her property and sought a declaration no easement exists. She brought suit under the Uniform Declaratory Judgment Act (“UDJA”) and the Texas Private Real Property Rights Preservation Act (“PRPRPA”). The County filed a plea to the jurisdiction, which was granted, and sought sanctions asserting Kehoe previously sued over the easement and lost. The trial court granted sanctions and Kehoe appealed.

The court first held that Kehoes’ arguments in her brief, even broadly construed, do not address the trial court’s jurisdictional dismissal. The briefings consist solely of bare assertions of error, without citations to applicable authority or the record. Since nothing was properly briefed for review, the plea to the jurisdiction remains properly granted. Likewise, Kehoe does not address the standards for sanctions and so they are likewise affirmed.

If you would like to read this opinion click here. The panel consists of Justices Martinez, Rios, and Watkins.  Opinion by Justice Watkins.