Constitutional Challenge, Official/Qualified Immunity, Sec. 1983

U.S. 5th Circuit holds deputy entitled to qualified immunity on state-created-danger claims, but not wrongful arrest claims

Keller v. Fleming, 18-60081(5th Cir. July 23, 2019) In this §1983 case, the U.S. 5th Circuit reversed the denial of an officer’s qualified immunity defense for a state-created-danger claim but affirmed denial based on unlawful arrest claims. Gerald Simpson was struck and
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Constitutional Challenge, Official/Qualified Immunity, Sec. 1983

U.S. Supreme Court holds “clearly establish” prong of qualified immunity defense must not be defined with a high degree of generality

City of Escondido v Emmons, 17-1660 (U.S. January 7, 2019) City of Escondido police received a domestic violence 911 call from Maggie Emmons. Officer Jake Houchin responded to the scene and reported Emmons had sustained injuries caused by her husband. The officers
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Constitutional Challenge, Official/Qualified Immunity, Search and Seizure, Sec. 1983

U.S. Supreme Court holds 1st Amendment retaliatory arrest claim barred because probable cause exists and plaintiff has no objective evidence of retaliatory motive

Nieves, et al., v Bartlett, 17–1174 (May 28, 2019) In this First Amendment/retaliatory arrest/§1983 case the U.S. Supreme Court held the presence of probable cause eliminates the First Amendment claims as a matter of law. [Comment: warning this is a 48-page set
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Constitutional Challenge, Litigation, Mandamus, Procedure, Sec. 1983

Mandamus action: Pre-suit discovery precluded as petitioner did not support the petition with evidence and trial court failed to issue mandatory findings

In Re: City of Tatum, Texas, 12-18-00285-CV (Tex. App. – Tyler, December 21, 2018) This is a writ of mandamus original proceeding where the Tyler Court of Appeals conditionally granted the City’s relief and precluded a potential party from taking pre-suit depositions
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Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Litigation, Sec. 1983, Separation of Powers

U.S. 5th Circuit holds promoter of sex convention had standing to sue after City passed ordinance banning convention

Three Expo Events, LLC v City of Dallas, 17-10632 (5th Cir. October 24, 2018). This is a First Amendment case involving a sex convention where the U.S. 5th  Circuit reversed an order granting the City’s motion to dismiss. Three Expo Events, L.L.C.
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Constitutional Challenge, Sec. 1983, TTCA

Fort Worth Court of Appeals holds trial court lacked jurisdiction to hear civil lawsuit for wrongful arrest/malicious prosecution since Plaintiff was convicted of 1 of 3 indictments

Nathaniel Washington v. City of Arlington Police Department, R. Walsh, Taylor Ferguson, Brian Salvant, and George Mackey 02-17-00337-CV (Tex. App — Fort Worth, Oct. 4, 2018) This is a civil rights and tort case where the Fort Worth Court of Appeals affirmed
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Constitutional Challenge, Litigation, Sec. 1983

U.S. 5th Circuit holds 1) IA and CID not required to share evidence and 2) disclosure of exculpatory evidence is a “trial” right, not a right before accepting a plea offer

Alvarez v City of Brownsville, 16-40772 (5th Cir. Sept. 18, 2018) This is a §1983/jail altercation case where the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit reversed a $2.3 million-dollar jury award and rendered judgment for the City. [Warning, opinion plus
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Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Land Use, Litigation, Procedure, Religious Freedom, Sec. 1983, TOMA

City immune from claims it misapplied its own ordinances or procedures, but not for TOMA claims

  Peter Schmitz, et al v. Town of Ponder, Texas, et al. 02-16-00114-CV, (Tex. App. – Fort Worth, May 10, 2018). This is a substituted opinion. Summary of original opinion found here. This is an appeal from a final judgment against the
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