Pretrial detainee properly plead a deliberate indifference claim to medical needs against corrections guard says U.S. 5th Circuit

 Alderson v. Concordia Parish Correctional Facility, No. 15-30610, (5th Cir. Feb 9, 2017) This is a pretrial detainee constitutional suit against a state correctional facility and several employees. The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of all claims except one, which was a personal claim against an employee who was allegedly deliberately […]

Dallas Court of Appeals dismisses referendum/mandamus claims against council but allows mandamus claims to go forward to trial against City Secretary

City of Plano, Texas, et al. v. Elizabeth Carruth, et al.  05-16-00573-CV (Tex. App— Dallas, February 23, 2017) This is a referendum case where the Dallas Court of Appeals dismissed all but one of the Plaintiffs’ claims under a plea to the jurisdiction.  It held the trial court had jurisdiction to consider the merits of […]

State immune from suit for mineral interest relating back to Spanish land grant

Galan Family Trust v. State of Texas, et al, 03-15-00816-CV (Tex.App— Austin, February 24, 2017) This is an inverse-condemnation/trespass-to-try-title case where the Austin Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of the Plaintiff’s claims. The Galan Family Trust (“Trust” or “Plaintiff”) sued the State of Texas for mineral interests the Trust asserts they own due to […]

Driver who told City he was “shaken up” but “OK” did not provide actual notice of personal injury claim says Fourth Court of Appeals

 City of San Antonio v. Charles Cervantes, 04-16-00569-CV(Tex. App— San Antonio, February 22, 2017) This is an automobile accident case under the Texas Tort Claims Act where the San Antonio Court of Appeals reversed the denial of the City’s plea to the jurisdiction which was based on a lack of notice. Cervantes worked for the […]

City held to be acting both in a proprietary capacity and a governmental capacity involving lease for mineral interests says Dallas Court of Appeals

The City of Dallas v. Trinity East Energy, LLC, 05-16-00349-CV(Tex.App— Dallas, February 7, 2017) This is an interlocutory appeal from the granting-in-part and denial-in-part of a plea to the jurisdiction involving an inverse condemnation claim for mineral interests. The Dallas Court of Appeals affirmed-in-part, reversed-in-part, and remanded. The City was suffering a budgetary shortfall and […]

Town entitled to enforce mediation agreement against property owner over sand dispute

Doyle Wells, Sea Oats Investments I, L.P. f/k/a Lamkin Properties Limited Partnership, and Quixote Dunes, Inc. v. Texas Department of Transportation and Town of South Padre Island, 13-15-00175-CV (Tex.App— Corpus Christi, February 2, 2017) This is a takings case involving allegations the City took sand from the Plaintiff’s property without due process or just compensation. […]

Minor harmed after being thrown forward when bus driver had to stop suddenly qualifies under TTCA immunity waiver

 Arlington Independent School District v. T.P. as next friend of R.T., a minor,02-16-00249-CV (Tex.App— Fort Worth , February 9,2017) This is a Texas Tort Claims Act vehicle accident case involving a school bus and a minor where the Fort Worth Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of the District’s plea to the jurisdiction. R.T. (minor) […]

Employer could not negate a negative so lost on plea to the jurisdiction in Whistleblower case.

Billy D. Burleson, Jon J. Mark, and Craig A. Bennight v. Collin County Community College District, 05-15-01361-CV(Tex. App— Dallas, February 8, 2017) In this Whistleblower Act case, the Dallas Court of Appeals reversed the granting of the College’s plea to the jurisdiction as a fact question exists within the record. Three police officers, Billy Burleson, […]

Texas Supreme Court holds attorney/client privilege, by itself, is a compelling reason not to release under the PIA even if an entity blows a deadline

  KEN PAXTON, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS v. CITY OF DALLAS; from Travis County; 3rd Court of Appeals District, No. 15-0073 (Tex. February 3,2017) This is a Texas Public Information Act (“PIA”) case where the Texas Supreme Court holds the attorney/client privilege, in and of itself, is a compelling reason to prevent disclosure under the […]