CompFox Logo
AboutWorkflowFeaturesPricingCase LawInsights

Updated Daily

Case Law Database

Access over workers' compensation decisions, including En Banc, Significant Panel Decisions, and writ-denied cases.

Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

New York Charter School Ass'n v. Smith

This case involves appeals from two Supreme Court judgments concerning the applicability of Labor Law article 8's prevailing wage provisions to construction, renovation, repair, and maintenance projects undertaken by charter schools. Initially, the Department of Labor (DOL) had issued an opinion that charter school contracts were not subject to these provisions but reversed its stance in 2007. Various charter schools and related entities challenged this new determination, but the Supreme Court dismissed their applications, ruling in favor of DOL. On appeal, the court applied the two-part Erie County test, including modifications from a 2007 statutory amendment, to determine if the projects were subject to prevailing wage laws. The appellate court concluded that charter agreements do not satisfy the requirements of a contract for public work involving laborers, workers, or mechanics, thus reversing the lower court's judgments and declaring charter schools exempt from Labor Law article 8's prevailing wage provisions.

Charter SchoolsPrevailing Wage LawLabor Law Article 8Public Work ProjectsDeclaratory JudgmentCPLR Article 78Educational CorporationsStatutory InterpretationLegislative IntentErie County Test
References
4
Case No. Nos. 03-14-00283-CV and 03-14-00360-CV
Regular Panel Decision

Texas Education Agency and Mike Morath, Commissioner of Education, in His Official Capacity v. American Youthworks, Inc., D/B/A American Youthworks Charter School Honors Academy, Inc., D/B/A Honors Academy And Azleway Inc., D/B/A Azleway Charter School

This case involves an appeal by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Commissioner of Education Mike Morath against temporary injunctions granted to three charter holders: American YouthWorks, Inc., Honors Academy, Inc., and Azleway, Inc. The charter holders sued after the Commissioner initiated charter revocation proceedings under new 2013 legislation targeting underperforming open-enrollment charter schools. The district court had temporarily enjoined further revocation actions. The appellate court examined whether the charter holders' claims, including constitutional and ultra vires assertions, could overcome sovereign immunity and invoke the district court's inherent jurisdiction, given statutory prohibitions on judicial review. The court ultimately concluded that the pleadings did not sufficiently invoke such inherent jurisdiction, and thus, the claims were barred by sovereign immunity, leading to the vacating of the injunctions and dismissal of the suits.

Education LawCharter SchoolsCharter RevocationAdministrative LawJudicial ReviewSovereign ImmunitySubject-Matter JurisdictionTemporary InjunctionsDeclaratory ReliefUltra Vires Claims
References
71
Case No. 03-15-00528-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Sep 03, 2015

the Texas Education Agency and Mike Morath, Commissioner of Education, in His Official Capacity v. Academy of Careers and Technologies, Inc. D/B/A Academy of Careers and Technologies Charter School

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Commissioner Michael Williams, acting as appellants, sought to revoke the charter of appellee Academy of Careers and Technologies Charter School (ACT) following three consecutive years of unacceptable financial and academic accountability ratings. ACT challenged this action, alleging violations of its substantive and procedural due process rights, an unconstitutional taking of its property, and ultra vires actions by the Commissioner. The district court denied TEA's plea to the jurisdiction and granted ACT's motion for a temporary injunction, allowing ACT to remain open pending a full trial on the merits, citing significant constitutional questions.

Education LawCharter SchoolTexasDue ProcessProperty RightsInjunctionSovereign ImmunityAccountability RatingsUltra ViresAdministrative Law
References
68
Case No. No. 8
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 10, 2022

Ersin Konkur v. Utica Academy of Science Charter School

Plaintiff Ersin Konkur, a math teacher, sued his former employer, Utica Academy of Science Charter School, and High Way Education, Inc. (doing business as Turkish Cultural Center), alleging he was coerced into making 'kickback' payments from his wages in violation of Labor Law § 198-b. The central legal question on appeal was whether Labor Law § 198-b contains an implied private right of action for employees. The New York Court of Appeals concluded that the legislature did not intend to create such a freestanding private right of action, highlighting the existing robust enforcement mechanisms available through criminal prosecution and administrative action by the Labor Commissioner. Consequently, the Appellate Division's decision to dismiss the complaint against High Way Education, Inc. was affirmed.

Wage KickbacksImplied Private Right of ActionLabor LawNew York Court of AppealsEmployment LawStatutory InterpretationEnforcement MechanismsWage ClaimsAdministrative EnforcementCriminal Prosecution
References
26
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

LTTS Charter School, Inc. v. C2 Construction, Inc.

Justice Guzman dissents from the majority decision allowing a privately run charter school, LTTS Charter School, Inc., to pursue an interlocutory appeal. The dissent argues that LTTS is not a "governmental unit" under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, as its status and authority are derived from an agency-granted charter, not directly from legislative enactments or as a "school district." Guzman criticizes the majority for implicitly addressing the substantive question of whether such private charter schools possess governmental immunity from suit, an issue not squarely before the court. The dissent emphasizes strict construction of interlocutory appeal statutes and highlights concerns about constitutional limitations on legislative power to confer immunity on private entities.

Interlocutory AppealGovernmental ImmunityCharter SchoolsStatutory InterpretationCivil Practice and Remedies CodeEducation CodePlea to the JurisdictionDissenting OpinionSovereign ImmunityNonprofit Corporations
References
13
Case No. C-5672, E-2429, C-5878
Regular Panel Decision

Buffalo United Charter School v. New York State Public Employment Relations Board

Petitioners, consisting of Buffalo United Charter School, Brooklyn Excelsior Charter School, and National Heritage Academies, Inc., initiated a CPLR article 78 proceeding to challenge and annul a February 14, 2011 decision by the New York Public Employment Relations Board (PERB). The PERB decision asserted jurisdiction over the charter schools, rejected National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) preemption claims, and determined that assistant principals were neither managerial nor confidential employees. Petitioners contended that PERB lacked jurisdiction due to its joint public-private employment doctrine, that the NLRA preempted PERB's authority, and that PERB erroneously found the assistant principals lacked managerial or confidential status. They also argued the PERB decision unconstitutionally impaired their contractual rights. The court largely upheld PERB's jurisdiction, ruling that the Charter Schools Act superseded PERB's joint public-private employment doctrine and denying the NLRA preemption claim. However, the court annulled PERB's determination regarding the managerial and confidential status of assistant principals at Brooklyn Excelsior Charter School, reinstating the Administrative Law Judge's original finding on that specific issue.

Charter SchoolsPublic Employment Relations Board (PERB)Taylor LawNational Labor Relations Act (NLRA)JurisdictionJoint Public-Private Employment DoctrineManagerial EmployeesConfidential EmployeesCollective BargainingCPLR Article 78
References
24
Case No. NO . 14-0776
Regular Panel Decision
May 13, 2016

Mike Morath, Commissioner of Education, in His Official Capacity Glenn Hegar, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, in His Official Capacity The Texas State Board of Education And the Texas Education Agency v. the Texas Taxpayer and Student Fairness Coalition Calhoun County Isd Edgewood Isd Fort Bend Isd Texas Charter School Association And Joyce Coleman

The Supreme Court of Texas reviewed multiple challenges to the constitutionality of the state's public school finance system. Plaintiffs, including various school districts and associations, alleged the system violated constitutional requirements for adequacy, suitability, and financial efficiency, and imposed a statewide ad valorem tax. Reversing the trial court's extensive findings, the Supreme Court held that despite its imperfections, the school funding regime met minimum constitutional requirements. The Court emphasized its deferential standard of review, stating that it would not usurp legislative authority by dictating policy changes, and remanded the issue of attorney fees.

School FinanceTexas ConstitutionEducation SystemAdequacySuitabilityFinancial EfficiencyStatewide Ad Valorem TaxJudicial ReviewLegislative DiscretionStudent Achievement
References
20
Case No. 03-01-00491-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 11, 2002

West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District Coppell Independent School District La Porte Independent School District And Port Neches-Groves Independent School District v. Felipe Alanis, Texas Commissioner of Education The Texas Education Agency Carol Keeton Rylander, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts And the Texas State Board of Education Alvarado I.S.D. Anthony I.S.D. Aubrey I.S.D. Bangs I.S.D.

Four Texas school districts, led by West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District, appealed the dismissal of their action seeking a declaratory judgment that the state's school finance system is unconstitutional. The districts contended that the $1.50 tax cap had become a de facto floor, forcing them to tax at the maximum allowable rate to provide education, thereby constituting an unconstitutional state ad valorem tax. The appellate court affirmed the dismissal, ruling that the districts failed to state a viable cause of action because they did not allege they were forced to tax at the cap specifically to provide the constitutionally-mandated 'accredited education.' The court also found the claim unripe, emphasizing that the focus should be on whether the state's requirements forced a lack of meaningful discretion in setting tax rates for an accredited education, not on a desired level of education or the number of districts taxing at the cap.

School Finance ReformConstitutional ChallengeAd Valorem TaxationEducation FundingDeclaratory JudgmentAppellate JurisdictionRipeness DoctrineTexas Constitution Article VII, Section 1Texas Constitution Article VIII, Section 1-eProperty Tax Cap
References
30
Case No. KP-0488
Regular Panel Decision
Mar 05, 2025

Untitled Texas Attorney General Opinion: KP-0488

Section 3 of Senate Bill 763 directs school boards and charter governing bodies to vote on whether to authorize employee or volunteer chaplains. The Attorney General clarifies that the term “chaplain” refers to an official, substantive position within the educational institution, implying specific chaplain-related support, services, and programs. Therefore, resolutions that acknowledge a policy’s silence on chaplains for “any position” or allow chaplains for “any open position” are noncompliant. Compliance requires a vote specifically authorizing hiring for “a school chaplain position,” aligning with the legislation’s intent for a designated role.

School LawChaplaincySenate Bill 763Texas Education CodeStatutory InterpretationSchool BoardsCharter SchoolsEmployee ChaplainsVolunteer ChaplainsReligious Services
References
18
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Mount Sinai Union Free School District v. Board of Education Port Jefferson Public Schools

Mount Sinai and Port Jefferson School Districts had a long-standing contract for Mt. Sinai to send its high school students to Port Jefferson. Following a deterioration of relations and an increase in Mt. Sinai's student population, Mt. Sinai decided to build its own high school. New York Education Law § 3014-c was enacted, requiring sending districts to consider teachers from receiving districts as their own employees. Mt. Sinai challenged this statute, alleging various constitutional violations. The court dismissed claims by teacher, parent/student, and taxpayer plaintiffs for lack of standing, and then dismissed the remaining Contract Clause claim by Mt. Sinai, granting summary judgment to the defendants.

School DistrictsTeacher TenureEducation LawContract ClauseDue ProcessEqual ProtectionStandingAbstention DoctrineSummary JudgmentFederal Civil Procedure
References
17
Showing 1-10 of 2,016 results

Ready to streamline your practice?

Apply these legal strategies instantly. CompFox helps you find decisions, analyze reports, and draft pleadings in minutes.

CompFox Logo

The AI standard for workers' compensation professionals. Faster research, deeper analysis, better outcomes.

Product

  • Platform
  • Workflow
  • Features
  • Pricing

Solutions

  • Defense Firms
  • Applicants' Attorneys
  • Insurance carriers
  • Medical Providers

Company

  • About
  • Insights
  • Case Law

Legal

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Trust
  • Cookies
  • Subscription

© 2026 CompFox Inc. All rights reserved.

Systems Operational