Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Injunction, Litigation, Procedure, Takings, Tax

City’s summary judgment reversed and remanded under failure to address Patel due-course-of-law analysis; dismissal of all other constitutional challenges to utility late fee ordinance affirmed

Gatesco Q.M. Ltd d/b/a Quail Meadows Apartments, a Texas Limited Partnership v. City of Houston, 14-14-01017-CV (Tex. App— Houston [ 14th Dist.], October 20, 2016) In this case the 14th Court of Appeals affirmed-in-part and reversed-in-part the granting of the City’s summary
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Constitutional Challenge, Land Use, Sovereign Immunity, Takings, Zoning

City immune from delay in zoning approval due to City Attorney’s mistaken understanding of municipal boundary line

City of Floresville, et al.  v. Starnes Investment Group, LLC, 04-16-00038 (Tex.App— San Antonio, September 28,2016) This is an interlocutory appeal from the denial of a plea to the jurisdiction in a case where a city employee mistakenly informed a property developer
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Constitutional Challenge, Litigation, Procedure, Public Works, Sovereign Immunity, Takings

Homeowners properly pled a taking by flooding due to channel reconstruction and temporary embankments says El Paso Court of Appeals

  CITY OF SOCORRO, Texas v.  SAMUEL CAMPOS, et al, 08-14-00295-CV (Tex.App— El Paso, September 14,2016) This is a takings/flooding case where the El Paso Court of Appeals held the Plaintiffs properly pled a takings case. The residents contend that the City
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Constitutional Challenge, Employment Law, Litigation, Mandamus, Procedure, Takings, Whistleblower

Town’s Interlocutory appeal timely under scheduling order, but permissive appeal by Plaintiff was untimely

Sarah Swanson v. Town of Shady Shores, 02-15-00351-CV (Tex.App— Fort Worth, August 18,2016) This is a Texas Whistleblower Act, Texas Open Meetings Act, due process, free speech and Sabine Pilot case, but the main thrust of the appeal is litigation/appellate procedure. So,
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Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Public Works, Sovereign Immunity, Takings

City immune from suit for reverter given language of deed says 4th Court of Appeals

The City of Laredo v. Northtown Development, Inc. and Gateway Centennial Development, Co., 04-15-00736-CV (Tex. App—San Antonio, August 10,2016) This is a takings case based on an alleged reverter in public property where the Fourth Court of Appeals reversed the denial of
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Litigation, Procedure, Public Works, Takings

County properly initiated clarification of interest in public road; statute of repose can be raised in plea to the jurisdiction

John Herbert Matthews v. Colorado County, 01-16-00092-CV (Tex. App—Houston [1st Dist.] July 26,2016) This is a road abandonment case where the First District Court of Appeals affirmed the granting of the County’s plea to the jurisdiction. In 1951, the Colorado County Commissioners
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Agency, Constitutional Challenge, Declaratory Judgments, Health and Safety, Land Use, Litigation, Preemption, Sovereign Immunity, Takings, Vested Rigths

If you have a case involving Chapter 245 vested rights, zoning changes, and distance restrictions on alcohol sales read this 71 page opinion

FLCT, Ltd. and Field Street Development I, Ltd. v. City of Frisco, Texas, 02-14-00335-CV (Tex. App.- Fort Worth, May 26th 2016) Owners are two partnerships that own adjacent property in Frisco. FLCT’s tract is located on the actual corner; Field’s tract is
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Board of Adjustment, Constitutional Challenge, Land Use, Litigation, Official/Qualified Immunity, Procedure, Sovereign Immunity, Takings, Ultra Vires, Zoning

Trial court properly dismissed various claims brought against Board of Adjustment

Glen Sumner v. Board of Adjustments of City of Spring Valley Village, Texas; The City of Spring Valley Village Texas, Art Flores, and Rickie Prichard 14-15-00149-CV (Tex. App- Houston [14th Dist.], May 17th 2016). This is a board of adjustment and takings
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Constitutional Challenge, Eminent Domain, Litigation, Procedure, Structural Standards, Takings

Ordinance 30 day limitation to appeal BOA determination was not a statutory prerequisite, so trial court retained jurisdiction of takings claim

Nancy Wedgeworth v. City of Amarillo, et al. 07-15-00301-CV (Tex. App. – Amarillo, May 17, 2016) This is a structural standards case where the Amarillo Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s granting of a plea to the jurisdiction. Wedgeworth owned a
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