Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Litigation

U.S. Fifth Circuit holds standing for First Amendment violation can be shown through chilled speech without the need for actual arrest or citation.

    Special contributing author Laura Mueller, City Attorney for Dripping Springs Anthony Barilla v. City of Houston, Tex., No. 20-20535 (5th Cir. Sept. 10, 2021). In this appeal for dismissal for lack of standing by the district court, the U.S. Fifth Circuit reversed and remanded the district court’s order, holding that the intention to […]

Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Litigation, Procedure, Sign Regulation, Sovereign Immunity, Structural Standards

Tyler Court of Appeals holds a motion for new trial did not extend the time to perfect an accelerated appeal

SignAd, Ltd. V. The City of Hudson, 12-21-00056-CV, (Tex. App – Tyler, Sept. 15, 2021) This case is mainly procedural, and the Tyler Court of Appeals held SignAd failed to timely file its notice of appeal, either as an interlocutory appeal or of a final judgment. This is a billboard construction case where the City […]

Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Finance, Injunction, Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, Tax, TOMA

13th Court of Appeals holds City sufficiently complied with TOMA and Tax Code in 2019 when it adopted its annual tax rate

Leftwich v City of Harlingen, 13-20-00110-CV (Tex. App. – Corpus Christi, Sep. 9, 2021). This is a declaratory judgment suit to declare the city violated procedural requirements when it adopted its tax rate in 2019. The Thirteenth Court of Appeals held no alleged violation constituted a waiver of the City’s immunity. Leftwich alleges the City […]

Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, TTCA

Trial court’s granting of City’s plea to the jurisdiction considered void because it should have issued its order in the separate case created by the plaintiff’s bill of review

 Clayton Richter, Dorothy Richter, and Jonathan Richter v. City of Waelder, Texas,13-20-00494-CV and 13-20-00495-CV, (Tex. App – Corpus Christi – Edinburg, August 12, 2021) This is a flooding case, but the opinion focused entirely on procedural problems where the Corpus Christi Court of Appeals dismissed the appeal, noting the court lack jurisdiction over the appeals […]

Litigation, Official/Qualified Immunity, Procedure, Search and Seizure, Sec. 1983, Sovereign Immunity, TTCA

Pro se appellant could not prevail on summary judgment appeal when he failed to appeal each ground for summary judgment.

   Special contributing author Laura Mueller, City Attorney for Dripping Springs Elezar Balli v. Officer Florentino Martinez, et al., No. 14-20-00030-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] August 10, 2021) (mem. op.). In this appeal from a trial court’s summary judgment in favor of the defendant officers, the 14th Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s judgment […]

Agency, Board of Adjustment, Constitutional Challenge, Land Use, Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, Zoning

Dallas Court of Appeals holds trial court had jurisdiction for BOA appeal only, but no monetary or constitutional claims could survive the board’s plea

  City of Dallas, et al v. PDT Holdings, Inc., et al. 05-21-00018-CV  (Tex. App. – Dallas, August 24, 2021). This is an appeal from a board of adjustment decision where the Dallas Court of Appeals reversed in part and affirmed in part. PDT Holdings, Inc (“PDT”) applied for a permit from the City to […]

Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, Uncategorized

El Paso Court of Appeals holds since city appealed denial of a plea to the jurisdiction, but not the final judgment entered at the same time, court could not hear the appeal

The City of Brady and Brady Police Department v. William Dale Scott, 08-20-00155-CV (Tex. App. – El Paso, Aug. 16, 2021). The El Paso Court of Appeals determined it did not have jurisdiction to hear an interlocutory appeal from a Chapter 47 suit to determine ownership of property. This case started when City police seized […]

Board of Adjustment, Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Land Use, Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, Structural Standards, Takings, Ultra Vires

Fourth Court of Appeals holds plaintiff suing for BOA decision must be given opportunity to replead to show timing of when the BOA decision was filed in board’s offices

Alpha Securities, LLC, v City of Fredericksburg, 04-20-00447-CV (Tex. App. – San Antonio, Aug. 10, 2021, no pet h.). This is a board of adjustment appeal and declaratory judgment action where the San Antonio Court of Appeals agreed no jurisdiction existed, but remanded to provide the Plaintiff the opportunity to replead. Alpha Securities purchased real […]

Litigation, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, TTCA

Inmate failed to show the County had actual notice of his claim within statutory time period

Christopher Branch v. Fort Bend County, 14-19-00477-CV, 2021 WL 2978639 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] July 15, 2021, no pet. h.) (mem. op.) This is Texas Tort Claims Act (TTCA) case where the Fourteenth Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s granting of a dispositive motion and holding there was no evidence the County was subjectively […]

Agency, Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Sovereign Immunity

Property owners around lake drained by GBRA had no standing to sue as they possessed no particularized injury

Jimmy and Cheryl Williams, et al. v. Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority and its Officers and Directors, 04-20-00445-CV, (Tex. App. – San Antonio, July 7, 2021) This is a takings case where the San Antonio Court of Appeals partially reversed and affirmed the trial court’s judgment on Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority’s (“GBRA”) plea to the jurisdiction in takings […]