Eastland Court of Appeals holds conclusory statements in pleadings insufficient to plead jurisdiction – facts are needed to establish City had intent to commit a taking

  City of Albany v. Diana Christine Blue and Elva Rae Sanders, 11-18-00051-CV, (Tex. App – Eastland, April 2, 2020) This is an interlocutory appeal in a nuisance and inverse condemnation case where the Eastland court of appeals reversed the denial of
Read More

13th Court of Appeals holds statute of limitations properly raised in plea to the jurisdiction and “damage” to real property is limited to two-year SOL

Danis Tucker and Beverly Tucker v. City of Corpus Christi, Texas, 13-18-00328-CV, (Tex. App – Corpus Christi, Feb. 27, 2020) This is a takings claim where the Corpus Christi Court of Appeals affirmed the granting of the City’s plea to the jurisdiction
Read More

14th Court of Appeals holds flooded property owners’ claims lack jurisdiction in district court

San Jacinto River Authority v. Reba Ogletree, et al., 14-18-00043-CV, (Tex App – Hou [14th dist.], Jan 28, 2020) In this inverse condemnation case the Fourteenth Court of Appeals dismissed the homeowner’s claims for lack of jurisdiction. Homeowners, whose properties allegedly flooded
Read More

12th Court of Appeals holds a regulatory civil enforcement suit did not constitute a taking by a conservation district

Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District v. Mountain Pure TX, LLC  12-19-00172-CV (Tex. App. – Tyler, September 18, 2019). This is a regulatory takings/compliance enforcement case where the Tyler Court of Appeals reversed the denial of a conservation district’s plea to
Read More

Texas Supreme Court holds plaintiff in red-light challenge lawsuit was required to exhaust administrative remedies before filing for injunctive relief

Garcia v City of Willis, et al., 17-0713 (Tex. May 3, 2019) In this constitutional challenge to red-light camera case, the Texas Supreme Court held the plaintiff was required to exhaust administrative remedies before bringing his constitutional-takings claim. Luis Garcia sued the
Read More

December 2018 Condensed Summaries

The problem with December is courts try to get cases off their desk prior to the holiday break. Clients like to get stuff resolved before the holiday break. Which means a lot of stuff happens in December preventing me from keeping up
Read More

City not liable for takings claim because of alleged failure to enforce ordinances against neighboring property owner/developer

City of Mason v. William Robin Lee, et al.  04-18-00275-CV (Tex. App. – San Antonio, Nov. 7, 2018). This is an interlocutory appeal in a regulatory takings case where the Fourth Court of Appeals reversed the denial of the City’s plea to
Read More